Viox Savage
Blackguard Imperium
"You want the same as me. My redemption, eternal ascension. Setting me free."
Posts: 2,938 
Affiliation: Sith Order
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Post by Viox Savage on Jan 14, 2020 15:48:16 GMT -8
Under the continued rule of the Blackguard Reborn, Anobis continued to prosper. A small hiccup in production, consisting of a small revolt due to workplace practices was resolved efficiently, to ensure Anobis continued to be the major producer world it was intended to be. Aside from this setback, production of both food and minerals from the planet resumed with a barely noticeable drop output. The worlds of the Blackguard would continue to receive their goods as they did, ensuring the importance of Anobis and its resources.
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Post by Captain Azkul Travillius on Mar 21, 2020 15:35:31 GMT -8
103rd Regiment - Wick Battalion
Lieutenant Colonel Amara Roslin was in charge of Wick Battalion of the 103rd Regiment on Anobis. Safeguarding Safaeyet was crucial, as it was one of the major industrial and agricultural worlds within the Blackguard Imperium. With Cera Volkin's iron-fisted rule of the planet, it continued to produce for the Blackguard Imperium at a steady pace, ensuring foodstuffs and raw resources were available and ready to be sent wherever they were needed. Aside from a few minor altercations involving snitches and an underground drug ring, it was business as usual on Anobis, ensuring the Sith Troopers stationed there had a relatively easy posting for the time being.
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Post by Captain Azkul Travillius on May 4, 2020 16:00:44 GMT -8
103rd Regiment - Wick Battalion Governor Volkin's rule of the planet was iron-clad, which in turn stimulated the economy -forcefully. Because of this, those that weren't too tired from working in either the mines or the fields all day, began to resent her rule. Which made Lieutenant-Colonel Roslin's job a touch more difficult. Riots, while usually non-violent, seemed to be happening more frequently. If Governor Volkin did not take the correct measures to placate the populace, direct intervention from the Sith'ari would happen. And while never having served with him, Roslin knew the Sith'ari's temper was something to be truly feared... |
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Post by Captain Azkul Travillius on Sept 3, 2020 10:45:57 GMT -8
103rd Regiment - Wick Battalion Despite Governor Volkin's iron-fisted rule over Anobis, with the intervention of Wick Battalion, the riots and general resentment towards the Governor seemed to dissipate. A stern warning from the Sith'ari towards the Governor seemed to straighten her out enough to ease back on the rigidity of her rule. Even still, her rule of Anobis was tough. But relaxed enough to allow for some of the populace to rest and recover between shifts in the fields and the mines. |
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Viox Savage
Blackguard Imperium
"You want the same as me. My redemption, eternal ascension. Setting me free."
Posts: 2,938
Affiliation: Sith Order
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Viox Savage on Oct 10, 2020 10:52:38 GMT -8
Despite everything, the Imperium wasn't as infallible as it had tried to claim, due in large part to the Sith'ari's arrogance and his fracturing mind. Misaligned priorities, stagnation and even the lack of direction. All of these things contributed to the civil war that was erupting across worlds of the Imperium, and there were even Sith fleeing deep into the Sith Worlds, leaving many areas of the Imperium exposed, bare like a raw nerve. And true to the nature of the Sith, the more ambitious and opportunistic members of the Blackguard took that opportunity to pounce on the exposed weakness, scooping up chucks of territory and vying for power.
Anobis had always been a place of unrest. Governor Volkin's iron fisted rule has pushed much of the population into open rebellion the moment Vallius' forces decided to wrest control from those loyal to the Sith'ari. And while Vallius was a Sith, the son to the Sith'ari and rightful heir to the Imperium's throne, his rule seemed preferable over the Sith'ari's stagnating reign. Though there was still resistance to Vallius' new reign. And while the Governor's Palace had fallen, Safaeyet remained contested between the two opposing forces.
Fighting between the Sith troopers loyal to the Sith'ari and those loyal to the heir had split the city. And the citizens of Safaeyet had been caught smack in the middle. Troopers, tanks and walkers were engaged in a deadly tug of war clash over the city. Acolytes and apprentices with differing ideals would square off. All in all, it was an absolute bloodbath. Orchestrated chaos. Several districts within the city were belching thick black clouds into the sky from the fires and fighting happening. Entire city blocks were turned to rubble. But the fighting persisted, as those loyal to the Sith'ari refused to give ground. And among the loyalists, was former governor Cera Volkin, a Dathomirian Nightsister who was devoutly loyal to the Sith'ari and his grand scheme. And that was enough to keep fighting, at least for the time being...
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Darth Craxious
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 80
Affiliation: Clan Savage
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Post by Darth Craxious on Oct 11, 2020 8:44:22 GMT -8
Krajesh, now acting as viceroy to Vallius, led the forces of his overlord, from a Harrower destroyer in orbit over Anobis. With the palace under control and half the populace swayed to the prince's cause, it was but a matter of time to subdue the loyalists. The Sineteen stood on the bridge, the viewport open, beholding the surface of the planet below as the starfighter wings surged from within the belly of the ship. The officers relied information to the commander, who then proceeded to send the proper orders. The viceroy was analitical and precise, like a surgeon: the strikes and attacks were clean and swift, merciless and relentless. The brain behind the orders was a marvelous thing and whole regions were pacified in a single day, the loyalists unable to hold the ground against such a coordinate attack. Krajesh, however, was unable to break a certain loyal Dathomirian witch, whose magicks and prowess were contending the brilliance of the prince's lieutenant. Still, the Dark Side Adept was willing to battle against Viox's minion break her will. Vallius would have overlordship over the planet, one way or another...
Krajesh watched in the holodisplay as the powerful walkers crossed the scorched lands towards one of the locations where the loyalists were entrenched. A tract of the city had been ravaged, pulverized by blaster fire and bombing runs and the conscripted militia, red-clad stormtroopers and heavy walkers pressed on the attack. The starfighter superiority was evident, even against the heavy flak fire of the enemy. Dark Side Acolytes, wearing plastoid armor and hooded clothes led the assault, wielding their twin-bladed lightsabers, women and men trained in the watery moon of Mustafar under Vallius' gaze for many months.
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Nem Yin
The First Order
The dark expanse of the intergalactic void is not as empty as they would have you believe...
Posts: 405
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Nem Yin on Oct 6, 2022 8:28:34 GMT -8
In the woods around the shire of Safaeyet, young humanoid Frobo rested his head in the grass, enjoying the mid summers day. Birds chirped, crickets...well, I suppose they also chirped, but the frogs croaked, that much was for certain. As he lay there resting beneath the suns warmth, the young lad overheard the sound of rumbling wooden wheels on the nearby road into the small farming community. Hopping to his hairy feet, the wee wascal wan... coughs ...excuse me, as I was saying, the wee rascal ran towards the sound with clear excitement written upon his face. As he reached the road he stopped atop a risen mound beside the dirt path, spotting the arrival of a small wagon being pulled by a scaly canine-like creature. Unbeknownst to Frobo, this animal was called a bissop, a bioengineered beast from a galaxy far far away. Sitting on the wagon, holding a set of reigns connected to the creature, was a grey skinned Yuuzhan Vong in a loose set of robeskin vestments. A crooked hat of the same material sat upon his bald head, leaning just slightly to the left. With his arms crossed matter-of-factly over his chest, Frobo stared firmly at the Yuuzhan Vong and spoke aloud, bringing the cart to a halt."You're late." Said Frobo. "An intendant is never late." Replied the Yuuzhan Vong, lifting his glowing green mqaaq'it from the road to fix young Frobo with a stern glare. "Frobo Maggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."The two continued to stare at one another, looking as serious as both were capable of. After a few seconds of this the Yuuzhan Vong's ritually scarred face began to tremble, as did young Frobo's, and soon the two broke out into warm hearted laughter."It's wonderful to see you, Nemdalf!" Shouted Frobo with glee, before throwing himself into the Yuuzhan Vong's arms. Nem caught the boy and embraced him, patting the lad on the back as he continued to laugh in genuine merriment. When the moment had passed the two disentangled themselves from each others arms.Nem looked into Frobo's face and asked. "You didn't think I'd miss your Uncle Pilpo's birthday? Ho ho ho."Frobo settled down in the wagon seat beside Nem, as the intendant gave the reigns a slight jerk and urged the bissop to continue on its way. As they rode into down, Nem retrieved his signature pipe from a pocket in his robe and brought it to the right corner of his mouth, chewing on the end. Occasionally he would take in a lungful of medicinal smoke, before blowing intricate smoke rings, much to Frobo's delight."So how is the old rascal? I hear it is going to be a party of special magnificence." Shrugging "You know Pilpo. He's got the whole place in an uproar." Laughing as he smoked. "Well that should please him." "Half of Safaeyet's been invited, and the rest of them are turning up anyway. Hahaha." As they entered the small farming settlement, Nem could see the villagers hard at work tending the fields, providing provisions that would eventually see their way off world to feed the vast needs of the First Order. The locals were mostly a mix of stout humans and horn headed iridonians. Once these people would have been at each others throats, Anobis having long suffered a civil war, but no more. Now they spent their days in peace, something Nem aspired for his own people.So life in Safaeyet goes on very much as it has this past age; full of its own comings and goings, with change coming slowly, if it comes at all. For things are made to endure in Safaeyet, passing from one generation to the next. There's always been a Maggins living here under the hill, in Mag End, and there always will be.
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Nem Yin
The First Order
The dark expanse of the intergalactic void is not as empty as they would have you believe...
Posts: 405
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Nem Yin on Oct 28, 2022 10:04:52 GMT -8
One of Nem's first acts as the appointed governor of Anobis for the First Order was the construction of roads between the various settlements scattered across the planet. Ordinarily such a boost to infrastructure would be costly, but given that the Praetorite economy did not use currency, it cost surprisingly little. Manpower and resources was all it took, of which they had in abundance. The shaper caste members on the planet utilized the chazrachs for labour, while instead of building roads through the traditional methods of this current galaxy, they used the methods they had brought with them. Roads were grown using yorik-coral, smooth and durable, able to be erected in short order. Wherever their efforts were focused, highways between villages and towns were raised in days rather than months or years. Per the new governor's instructions, all shaping was performed with the intent of keeping Safaeyet as the prominent and most centralized location on the planet. All off world trade and commerce would be directed through the capital.
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Nem Yin
The First Order
The dark expanse of the intergalactic void is not as empty as they would have you believe...
Posts: 405
Affiliation: The First Order
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Nem Yin on Mar 20, 2023 8:30:14 GMT -8
Gravimetric waves kicked up a cloud of dust as the yorik-vec Bleeding Orifice swooped in low over the shire. Six segmented pincer like limbs emerged from crevasses in the coral hull, piercing the ground as the organic ship came in to settle on the lawn. A seam split across the exterior hatch-sphincter and a molleung worm unravelled to form a living ramp between the ship and the grassy plain it had landed upon. Nem emerged from the glow-lichen lit interior, his emerald green mqaaq'it seeming heavier than usual, barely glowing over the dark purple eye sacs they nearly sat on top of. He breathed through a starfish shaped gnullith rebreather that was adhered to the lower half of his face, pumping a steady stream of air along with a chemical mixture of his own devising. That chemical soup was pretty much the only thing keeping him going at this point.
The mission to Lehon, it wasn't quite what he would call a success, not that he was ready just yet to revisit what had happened there. What he needed more than anything after the events of Shili-Secondus and the Praetorite's subsequent revenge, was rest.
Scab, Nem's faithful chazrach manservant, hobbled a step behind the Executor. The bent over reptoid reached up claws fingers to catch Nem's living robeskin long-coat as it slipped from his naked shoulders, revealing the corpse pallor flesh of a Yuuzhan Vong male in their prime. Even with Uzas' younger body and Mira's upgrades, the battle with the slayers had taken it out of him. He wasn't sure if he would ever be the same Yuuzhan Vong again. Rubbing his brow, Nem extended his hand towards his companion, holding out his palm expectantly. Without missing a beat, Scab quickly procured the Intendant's signature pipe biot, then packed a fresh bowl before passing the crustacean to his master.
Nem reached up to his face and pressed a reflex concealed in the gnullith's side, detaching it from his face with a wet squelch, which he then traded the chazrach for the smoking biot. Placing the stem of the pipe to his lips, the FO Governor of Anobis sucked in a lungful of medicinal smoke, immediately feeling more connected with nature and all living things. He wondered if the Jedi experienced something similar when they called upon the Force. Exhaling rich narcotic smoke, Nem felt some of his worries and pains dissolve, replaced with a euphoric buzz. He hummed a tune to himself and he and Scab ventured through the village, greeting the chazrach villagers as they made their way towards Mag End, where Nem maintained his office and home.
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Post by Esthh Krazhmir on Mar 24, 2023 18:10:13 GMT -8
Esthh enjoyed the quiet, on the matalok there was usually something that was going on that you could hear something. The coralskipper on the other hand was small enough and insulated enough that one couldn’t even hear the air whipping by on the outside of the mica-like canopy. The dovin basal rippled gravity just slightly, but completely silently as he wove his way towards the coordinates. He slipped the coralskipper in just at dark half a kilometer from the coordinates, climbing out of the coralskipper, he closed the canopy and sealed it with his scent. Then he made his way silently just inside the wood line to the coordinates, taking careful note of all things around him, listening to the unfamiliar sounds of an alien planet’s nightlife.
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Nem Yin
The First Order
The dark expanse of the intergalactic void is not as empty as they would have you believe...
Posts: 405
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Nem Yin on Mar 25, 2023 5:19:36 GMT -8
It was the usual eclectic mix of woodland noises. Crickets chirping, owls hooting, the occasional snap of a twig as some small mammalian creature scurried over the leafy ground. Even with the fall of night, the climate was calm with a temperature that contained just a hint of chill as the autumn months began to give way to the coming winter. Most of the harvest yield by the locals had been collected and now was the time of year when the citizens of this world could relax and enjoy the so called fruits of their labour. One could even go so far as to suggest this world was peaceful, but the truth of this was threadbare, a thin layer of deceit built upon centuries of civil war. Anobis still bore many scars, its stretches of wild terrain rigged with all manner of sinisterly inspired traps that would impress even a Yuuzhan Vong.Well, it had impressed Nem at least. It was also the reason he had chosen this location for their introduction. One of his first acts upon assuming responsibility for the agri-world was to mark such places as off-limits to the locals, until the traps could be safely removed. Monofilament wire set between trees, motion activated auto-turrets, mines and buried explosives...he'd taken care of most of it, though you never know. He might have missed something. In any event, it meant their privacy was mostly assured. The only sentient life-form for some distance was the Executor's faithful chazrach manservant, Scab, seated on a ramshackle wooden cart attached to a bissop. About a kilometer away, there the dim-witted reptoid would remain until the return of its master, who was somewhere in the woods near Esthh's current position. Very near.Nem was watching the Supreme Commander, from somewhere. His mqaaq'it ocular implants easily pierced the veil of night that had set over the forest, studying Esthh Krazhmir from his place of concealment. He knew the name, though they had never been formerly introduced during the events of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion of the galaxy. Why would they? The Intendant had never ascended beyond the rank of Executor and it was the Prefects that tended to make all the damn decisions. Still, he had familiarized himself with the Praetorite military hierarchy as a part of his duties during that galactic conflict. He also was aware that Esthh and those under his command hadn't settled on Zonama Sekot at the conclusion of the war like they were supposed to. No judgement, mind you, his domain hadn't exactly honoured that commitment either. They'd bided their time until the opportune hour, then struck like an umrach ambushing its prey, their attack taking the form of a coup that overthrew the old power structures on the sister seed world of Tur Yenagh.The rest was history, really. This reborn Praetorite, as they had called themselves, was now led by the paranoid and highly secretive Domain Yin. They had something of a notorious reputation among Yuuzhan Vong society, even during the long crossing of the starless sea between galaxies. Out in the deep black, the worldship they traveled upon and shared with several other domains had become stricken with a particularly potent case of void madness. It had been Shimrra Jamaane's worldship that had investigated their now derelict former home, discovering his domain as the only survivors of those events. Rather than exterminating the survivors and expunging them from the record, as had become common practice during the great voyage, Shimraa took possession of the domain and proceeded to spend the lives of its intendants like a muun banker with an overabundance of credit chips. The Yuuzhan Vong War had bled Nem's domain dry, with only a few remaining in the aftermath of their defeat. After the coup, they had made their way in the galaxy, carefully navigating infidel space, interacting mainly with the underworld societies as they continued to gather intelligence just as they had been trained since leaving the creche. That had been, what, ten years ago now?Things had gone somewhat south since. It was his fault for establishing themselves on a sentient planet. Things with minds of their own tending to act of their own accord. Tur Yenagh had simply vanished, and Nem now something of a successful reaver in infidel space, had thought himself the only qualified Yuuzhan Vong to locate it. He returned after a decade of fruitless efforts to find infidel space much changed in his time away. The First Order had become the central power of the galaxy, deciding the fates of the numerous species and cultures that lived within its borders. The few others of his race he had been aware of were now gone, dead or etching out an existence for themselves on some forgotten scrap of land. In fact, he hadn't heard from any others of his species since his return, so imagine his surprise when old Esthh Krazhmir came knocking on his door with Nem's name on his tongue."Esthh Krazhmir..." Nem's gnullith-villip hybrid distorted voice sounded from somewhere in the woods to the right of the other Yuuzhan Vong. "Supreme Commander..." This time the voice came from the left. "They still call me Executor. Did you know that? I wonder if those titles have meaning anymore." The same voice, this time directly ahead. Trained from the moment they left the creche to be spies and assassins, the intendant's of Domain Yin had a number of tricks and techniques designed to obscure and disorient. Nem's was using a combination of villips planted around the forest, as well as an old Domain Yin misdirection technique to throw his voice. He was there though, concealed by the layer of second skin he wore known as a cloaker. His had been personally manufactured by Master Shaper Mira Yim, designed to swallow sound and blend in with his surroundings. Combined with the starfish shaped gnullith over the lower half of his face that even muffled the sounds of his breathing, and the intendant was practically a part of the shadows he hid himself in."What are you doing here, Esthh? Has the Unknown Regions lost its appeal?" The voice came from behind, just over his shoulder, only there was no one there. Domain Yin. As I said, paranoid. They liked their games.
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Post by Esthh Krazhmir on Mar 25, 2023 13:00:05 GMT -8
“A title earned always holds meaning. I may not command the forces I once did, and there may have been more deserving warriors than me for the title, but they are dead. When introducing oneself it is important to establish who one is talking to and their abilities, a verbal business card. Have you done something shameful that you should not be addressed as Executor?”
His maa’it implants flicked about as he spoke. He was a little surprised at the theatrics, but Domain Yin had taken to being more and more secret ever since the purge, or so he was told. He was a bit too young when all of that had taken place. He hadnt been a Supreme Commander when he came to this galaxy, but combat losses in the Unknown Regions had been high. What had been a powerful fleet had been whittled down over the years without replacements, and having less foreknowledge of what they would be facing, losses to higher officers at times had been...well. Information going back and forth hadnt been the issue, so his name wasnt unknown, it was the replacements of warriors, ships, and materials that had been the issue. Even when word was brought to Shimraa of Zonoma Sekot, there had been losses just in bringing the captured ships to him. When he had been escalated due to combat losses he had immediately committed heresy wholesale, who knew what Domain Yin had had to do to survive.
“What doesn’t lose its appeal? I came to find out what the condition of our people is. Do you have straight answers to that question? Or more games?”
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Nem Yin
The First Order
The dark expanse of the intergalactic void is not as empty as they would have you believe...
Posts: 405
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Nem Yin on Mar 25, 2023 18:46:19 GMT -8
Had he done something shameful? He hoped this warrior had time, that would be a long list indeed. Ashamed of their peoples defeat? Of course, they were a proud race, he could admit that. Ashamed of befalling Shimrra's deceit and allowing the lives of his domain mates to be spent like cheap currency? It goes without saying, those were his brothers, he loved them. Ashamed that his own actions and poor decisions had led to so much bloodshed and death, much of it on his own hands, much of it belonging to his own people? Yes, he felt great shame for that. Well, a bit of it he had enjoyed. Some of it had been downright fun. But mostly shame, that was something he held in common with most Yuuzhan Vong who still drew breath. They had become good at living with shame, and he was no exception."Games are a great gauge of character, which is what this is really all about." Were his words far away or simply whispered very close? It didn't matter, he could tell he was losing his audience and would have to make an appearance or risk losing out on something. Definitely something. He just wasn't entirely certain what that was yet. Ever so slightly, like a leaf on the wind, he shifted his weight."You're asking about our people. That is information that has meaning to me. The problem is, I don't know you, Esthh Krazhmir. I'd certainly like to, but trust is a hazard in my line of work, and I've never really been good at it."Twenty feet ahead of where Esthh was standing, ten feet in the air where the moonlight broke through the thinning forest canopy, a man shaped figure split from the trunk of a tree and gracefully walked across a heavy branch. Nem's cloaker bodysuit covered his entire figure from toe to neck, with a hood pulled over his hairless scalp ridges, its unique pattern shifting to match the starry night sky behind him. With the lower half of his face hidden away behind a gnullith, only his eyes were visible, shining like twin motes of emerald light that pierced the forest gloom. He lowered his athletic, lean as a bissop body, into a crouch as he stared at the other Yuuzhan Vong from his perch above. There was no mistaking where the next words came from."As I said, that information has value to me. Who are your Esthh Krazhmir, and what are your intentions? Tell me your story. You have my complete attention." His gnullith hissed as he finally allowed it to vent pent up carbon-dioxide in its reservoir, expelling a wisp of steam that temporarily obscured his glowing eyes.
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Post by Esthh Krazhmir on Mar 25, 2023 22:05:15 GMT -8
“Trust indeed. A story...to know me...to trust me…”
He looked up at the Vong in a tree, a paranoid Vong in a tree, his story was a secret for now, but Esthh’s story was not.
“A story as old as time? My story begins before we were brought into this galaxy, before Shimraa seized power...my kin Supreme Commander Zho Krahzmir was sent to this galaxy with a task force to scout, and encountered a planet later called Zonoma Sekot. He wasnt defeated, but fought to a standstill. It wasnt that a planet had defied him...the...planet defied him. A living planet, a dark omen. Shimraa seized power and anyone who mentioned the planet was killed. Thats why my domain was sent into this galaxies Unknown Regions, but you know this. Where else can a potential embarrassment go without being obvious, but sent the long way through nowhere to nowhere? A glorious mission to weaken the enemies gates from behind, far from the invasion corridor. Risk, danger, service to the gods...glory...a removal of a rival. You know this, any domain that could question Shimraa’s authority...disappeared there. The Krazhmir, the Val, many others. For the entire war we were left out there, groping blindly, taking losses, and not getting any replacements. My supreme commander was killed, and then his replacement was killed, and then his. We encountered things were were not prepared for, hungry, dwindling, lost, and cut off from everything but information from the known galaxy.”
His voice had started evenly, but quickly turned sour, then bitter, and dark as he relived the memories.
“The shapers dwindled, those that survived, and I committed...heresy… I ordered the remaining shaper masters to create shaper hand tools and to give me access to the qhasas lest we all die. Adepts were escalated before their time. We all committed heresy. It was small at first, and the priests counciled that all things are forgiven in victory. It was small at first, giving warriors and adepts access to the full shaper qhasas as the master shapers died. Those that were left couldn’t keep up...so they relented. First it was just upkeep, later it was food, and then weapon biots, and then we needed ones to do new jobs. Then modifications to ships, and then we gave up trying to hide it. The mission came first, we had to live to complete the glorious mission for our Overlord. All the way to Bakura and the Ssi-ruuk, to Aramadia we went, and back into the Unknown. Then the war turned badly and it was all I could do to keep my warriors alive. And then…”
His voice was only dark now, whatever light there had been, even in bitterness was gone.
“...and then. We found Zonoma Sekot again. Commander Ekh’m Val found the planet and engaged it. He captured several of the planet’s living starfighters, but those coralskippers that the planet captured and didn’t destroy...reports were that they simply fell apart, all the biots just...scattered...ceased to be a coralskipper. The old rumors were true, those that were whispered with the threat of death in my domain, deception sect priests… the rumors were true. Shimraa had lied, but he was the Overlord, and I ordered Ekh’m Val to take his fleet, such as it was after the battle, and take Shimraa proof of this planet, this evil omen. His reward was execution. I may as well have been his executioner. He was a loyal and skilled warrior...and he was betrayed. It was then that I could no longer support Shimraa. It had all become clear, we weren’t out there in the Unknown Regions for glory. We were out there to die. When the call came for all to rally at Yuuzhan’tar to fight the planet that we had reported and Ekh’m Val had died delivering in person, we were too far away and we had found other threats. Why should I have reported? Just to get executed? To have another of my warriors be executed for bringing truth? Shimraa was clearly not the choice of the gods, why fight the gods, if they existed to begin with. We heard the war was over. We listened to the reports of what happened. Yuuzhan Vong fighting Yuuzhan Vong, biots going feral on Zonoma Sekot….and our ships and war biots simply...tossed into a star. No future, no freedom, chaos and death. But I had my command to think about. Simply coming back, groping and fighting our way back would have wiped us all out. We were too deep, the threats to close, my duty to my warriors, all of those in my command, what there was of it…they were my mission, my purpose.”
He paused and took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh.
“We had to make our own destiny. We grew crops, grafted ships, grew weapons, munitions, biots. We probed, we scouted. We watched the threats and tried to gather information as we were able. All came down to the same thing. As many biots as we could grow...we couldn’t replace warriors without time. Time we didn’t have. I chose to withdraw from the Unknown Regions when I felt we had enough information to do so without sacrificing lives for no other reason than to throw them away. There are threats out there that are chilling, terrifying, but is it any different than here? The situation is different. The word that we had coming, disappeared after the battle of Yuuzhan’tar...the battle of Coruscant. My mission is the same. To guide my warriors into an uncertain future, wherever it may take us. So I am here, Nen Yim. Speaking to someone of my own species outside of my command for the first time in over a decade. Looking to see if there is a future, or if I must keep going until one of my warriors succeeds me in guiding my people.”
His maa’its focused tightly where Nen Yim’s eyes would be.
“What is your story of trust Nen Yim?”
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Nem Yin
The First Order
The dark expanse of the intergalactic void is not as empty as they would have you believe...
Posts: 405
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Nem Yin on Mar 26, 2023 5:34:23 GMT -8
Esthh Krazhmir story was one of duty turned sour, of survival and desperation. He listened with rapt attention, feeling all too familiar with the dynamics of this tale. It was one he understood better than most. He swore he had lived parts of the those events himself, but they couldn't well bond over their hate of Shimrra. Poisoned roots made a poor foundation for a relationship.He waited until the other Yuuzhan Vong had finished speaking, with the warriors request for Nem's story lingering between them as the seconds ticked away. Where to begin? How to make him understand? Words so often failed him, but actions were a risk, and his trust issues would not simply dematerialize because he felt a pang of familiarity in Esthh's words. Fortunately one of his conditions had already been met, which made him more inclined to be agreeable. His decision made, Nem slipped from the branch with a fluid grace, like a warm stream from a bissop making water in the shrubs. When his cloaker padded soles touched the ground, he didn't so much as raise a decibel of sound, so silent was the way he moved. Rising from a crouch to a height of just a touch over six feet, he slowly walked towards the warrior, stopping when there was an amphistaffs distance between them.Not that he was carrying one. The Intendants of Domain Yin much preferred their coufee blades. "Come." Hissed the Executor through his gnullith. "It is easier to show you than to explain with words." If Esthh had come this far in search of his people, perhaps he would be willing to go just a bit further. Nem stepped past the other Yuuzhan Vong, very briefly leaving an opening at his backside as he walked by, equal parts invitation and challenge. Getting stabbed in the back would be an excellent way to confirm his suspicions, though given how many times his body had been punctured and battered about these last few months, he would much prefer it didn't come to that. Mira could only piece him back together so many times. Assuming he wasn't stabbed, Nem led the other Yuuzhan Vong a short distance through the forest. In no time at all they reached the edge, which ended in a hill that descended down several feet into a calmly flowing stream of clean water. In the distance, the farming community of Safaeyet could just be glimpsed.That the Supreme Commander had ocular implants like his own did not escape the Intendant's attention. He was confident Esthh could see as well as he, even with Anobis twin moons at their fullest, casting a pale light over the naturally resplendent community.Nem raised his right arm towards the settlement, extending one long spindly index digit to indicate it. From their vantage point with their mqaaq'it zoomed in, they'd be able to just make out small glimpses of movement. There were signs of Yuuzhan Vong habitation intermingled with quaint infidel building structures, and there were chazrachs about. If Esthh examined closely, he would notice that most of the villagers were in fact chazrach, though these would be a far stretch from the war thralls employed by the Yuuzhan Vong at the height of their empire. These chazrachs were not the mindless cannon fodder they had been historically used as since the time of the great crossing. Despite the hour, several could be witnessed going about their nightly business, occasionally interacting with zabrak and human settlers. For the Executor's part, his focus was on Esthh's face, judging the warrior's reaction."I moved them here." He said, clearly referring to the chazrachs. "Our people spent their lives like currency, even in the times before our invasion, and very much during. There were so few left after the war, the only other sentient race we had brought with us from our home galaxy and were led to near extinction by our peoples careless disregard for their wellbeing." Reminding himself of that left a bitter taste on his tongue. "I moved them here." He repeated again, his voice still distorted by the gnullith over the lower half of his face. "You do not need to justify your actions to me, Esthh Krazhmir. Our people call me Yu'shaa, but I do not speak for the gods. I do not believe in them. I merely wish to understand you, and in turn, for you to understand what it is I am trying to protect, and why it is so important that I do so." He looked at his hands. "So much blood...I wonder if they will ever be clean."
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Post by Esthh Krazhmir on Mar 26, 2023 13:18:58 GMT -8
Esthh followed and let his eyes take in the scene before him. The scene merely added depth to what Nem Yin’s words, but Esthh was not impressed by them. A philosophy of guilt, little else. That philosophy of guilt was the first steps towards irrational zealots.
“I suppose we should have just left them in the old galaxy to die of starvation. Perhaps the grains in the field should go back to being wild and their children not eaten. The nuna here should be set free, and all death should stop. Everyone and everything. A wonderful philosophy in theory, reality proves it wrong at almost every opportunity.”
His mind briefly flitted through his own peoples history, and the brief history that he knew of this galaxy, a history that he had exploited in his own campaigns, then dwelling on the threats that he knew was out there, that he had seen, that had terrified him to his core. Something that he couldn’t defeat, not now, perhaps not ever. Perhaps far in the future long after he died and his body forgotten. Until then, his people would have to survive and grow strong enough to defeat it. Lest this galaxy fall like their own so long ago. What drove this Vong and what were his goals?
He turned towards this...Yu’shaa...prophet, and looked at him carefully, and after another few moments of silence he continued.
“Almost. What is it that you think will take to clean your hands? What will that do for you or others?”
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Nem Yin
The First Order
The dark expanse of the intergalactic void is not as empty as they would have you believe...
Posts: 405
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Nem Yin on Mar 26, 2023 18:52:48 GMT -8
Nem snorted through his gnullith. He'd heard these arguments before, from several different well intentioned Yuuzhan Vong that he trusted, which was rare if one knew him well. It meant Esthh was most likely right; however, if there was one thing that was true about the Intendant above all else, it was that no one made more of a hobby of wallowing in self misery than he. His brow furrowed and his tone was rigid, almost matter-of-fact. "Some actions are beyond penance..." His face, what little of it was exposed, seemed to soften in that moment. "...but I accede to your point."
He folded his arms over his chest, maintaining constant and unyielding eye contact, judging despite claiming not to. Lies were as integral to an Intendant as honour to a Warrior, though the ones he told others paled in comparison to the ones he told himself. Some days when he looked in the mirror he didn't recognize the Yuuzhan Vong staring back. Of course, the faces he wore didn't always belong to him either, so that might have something to do with it.
"I feared what you appeared to represent, Esthh Krazhmir. You arrived at my door with a matalok under your command and a warrior title on your lips. It was cause for concern, at first, but now I think I understand a measure of what motivates you. More so, you took a risk in meeting me here. I appreciate that, as it meant I did not need to seek you aboard your ship." He shrugged his shoulders. "Don't mistake me, I appreciate a good challenge, which that most certainly would have been. But as I said, there is far too much blood on my hands already, and not all of it infidel. I am very weary." As though to emphasize his point, the Executor's hand went to his scalp ridges and kneaded the corpse pallor flesh of his brow. He broke eye contact with the other Yuuzhan Vong, now seeming to be fixated on the ground at his feet. "For many years now I have shouldered the heavy burden of acting as caretaker to what few of our people remain in this galaxy. It has not been without challenge."
That was the understatement of the century. He looked up, once more locking ocular implants, though lacking some of the intensity they held previously.
"Yet how can I shelter them with one hand, while turning my other from you and those under your care?" He nodded, more certain of his decision than before. "I have no more right denying you access to your people than I do telling you how to make your way in this galaxy. With the old empire dead, the freedom to choose our own path in life is reward for surviving. So I will tell you what you want to know. I will share the location of our colonies, explain the treaties in place and offer my insight into the current state of politics among infidel society, with special care paid to highlighting the threats. I will tell you everything, but first...I will have your oath." His eye sacs bulged. "That you will seek to do no harm to those of our people that still remain. I think despite what you have endured and how you have been forced to adapt, an oath still holds meaning."
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Post by Esthh Krazhmir on Mar 27, 2023 11:38:48 GMT -8
Esthh looked back at Nen Yim, he wouldnt call him Yu’shaa, how could one call someone a prophet if the prophet in question themselves did not believe in gods.
“I cannot swear an oath, there are no gods to hold me to it. What I have is my word. That I do not seek harm to those who remain.”
There were no doubt those that still remained who played a hand in the long lies, though they were likely disgraced shadows of themselves, looked at as one used to look upon a Shamed One. They were deserving of death, but how many more deaths would result from trying to bring forth blood. If he even had the moral position to pass such judgement and execution upon someone, how could he sort those who were following orders and believed it to be the legitimate course of action, against those that did it for their own gain? With so much time gone there was no way to know. New friendships had formed, old had withered and died, the strings too intertwined to tug on or snip out without the fabric coming apart. If he found someone truly worthy of death...he could not say, but it was the truth that he was not looking for revenge or justice or whatever label could be applied. In the grand scheme and the immediate, there were far more important things to address first, and that list would no doubt never shrink to get the issue of long lost justice into the blaze bug pit.
“The matalok was insurance, of a sort. Ships are limited, and the Imperial Admiral that gave me this location to start my search, well I think I surprised him, and didn’t want to walk into a trap without some firepower to get out.”
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Nem Yin
The First Order
The dark expanse of the intergalactic void is not as empty as they would have you believe...
Posts: 405
Affiliation: The First Order
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Nem Yin on Mar 28, 2023 7:57:19 GMT -8
It was important to remember he was speaking with a member of the warrior caste. They thought differently than Intendants. From a warriors perspective it made sense to approach a potentially hazardous situation with whatever firepower was at hand, whereas Nem would have relied more on stealth and avoiding detection, as suited his Domain's specialty as spies and assassins.
"Your caution is wise." He nodded, affirming the point physically. "The infidel races of this galaxy have long memories and our people are not thought of kindly after the actions of the Yuuzhan Vong Empire." The Executor turned back towards the woods, leaving the village in the distance behind. With a sweep of his arm he motioned in the direction he intended to move. "Your word will suffice. Come, please. There are some things I wish to show you."
Nem crossed his arms behind his back, holding one hand in the other as he led Esthh in the direction where his Chazrach manservant Scab waited with the wagon. Overall it was a peaceful night, with only the occasional howl from a pack of Knaar in the far distance intruding on the calm. According to the locals they were quite dangerous when encountered in number, though for the few interactions he had with them, thus far he hadn't found that to be true. Perhaps it was simply a case of one predator recognizing another. Other than his spoken words, the Intendant was incredibly silent. The only sound he seemed to make was infrequent hisses of exhalation from the rebreather on his face.
"Those Imperials you encountered, they are...allies." He hesitated to use the word friend, despite his own personal interactions with the Grand Admiral and Emperor, whom he held a certain fondness for. "They call themselves the First Order. I encountered them after returning from a prolonged hiatus beyond the borders of this galaxy, though my domain has had several interactions with their predecessor, the Deep Core Imperial Remnant. For infidels I have found them to be honourable. A mutually beneficial arrangement was struck between our two peoples. In exchange for fertile land and Imperial citizenship for our people, we are to provide military support. Heh." Another exhalation of gas. "As though the warrior caste requires a reason to shed infidel blood. That is no judgement, but you must understand that those of us who lived through the events of the invasion are not so well adjusted as you. Many that chose to etch out a new life for themselves on Zonama Sekot after the war eventually came to regret that decision. My former paramour was a member of the warrior caste, and the dishonour and shame he felt at surviving was ultimately what drove us apart." Xarl... "He longed for death. I'm a grateful he found a worthy end, though I would have preferred it had not come about as a result of saving my life."
He wondered if there was something to bond over there. It wasn't quite the same as a heretical breach of the shaping protocols, but amorous relationships outside of the same caste had been strongly forbidden for a very long time. They were both heretics by the old standard, to varying degrees.
"After helping the First Order deal with a threat to one of their deep core territories, the Emperor rewarded us with stewardship over Anobis." He continued. "I decided to move the chazrachs here. It is my hope, given time, they might regain the autonomy we took from them. The Emperor also provided us with the world of Shili, where until recently we maintained a military damutek far from the prying eyes of its people. Secrecy, hiding in plain sight, it is the way of my domain."
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Post by Esthh Krazhmir on Mar 28, 2023 13:53:12 GMT -8
Esthh followed along listening to Nen speak as he absorbed the news with an open but critical mind, cataloging the information. Finally ending at the wagon with the Chazrach.
He didn’t agree with letting the Chazrach go to try to create their own society, they had been bred so far away from mental abilities, thousands of years from when he was even born that he doubted it could be done. They were however not his Chazrach and Nen Yin was entitled to try with his if he so chose. He might be successful but he doubted it. Freeing Chazrach but binding the Vong to an Empire’s wars seemed a bit of a violation of the thing on principle. Were the Chazrach who were freed also required for war should it arise? To give them their freedom and then immedietly use them as shock troops again, because that was all they could be used for, so far as he knew, was not freedom, but if they were not expected to fight as others were, then that would only breed anger and hostility towards them. A serious conundrum that he would have to ask about. It sounded like a very strange arrangement. Hiding in plain sight was as much of a danger as it was an advantage, but he remained silent on that, filing that information away for later.
He had many questions but one at a time.
“You said that this empire was an ally. What of enemies?”
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