Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
Posts: 1,192
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Dragus on Sept 19, 2022 7:03:56 GMT -8
Location: Cloak of the Sith | Roon | Luna Surface
Dust and rock scattered as teams of vacuum clad worker rats scraped deep into the lunar surface of Roon's moon, hewing away with vibro-pickaxes and power hammers, widening the tunnels extending from Darth Astera's subterranean facility. As with the surface of the planet itself, some deposits of cortosis were found buried beneath the satellite's crust, thus, the resident expert overseeing the mining project was called from his operational centre in the bantha graveyard and attended these new tunnels.
Unlike the verminous slaves, the towering figure of Krell required no pressurised suit. He didn't breath. The former tomb guard of Freedon Nadd had his bones housed in the frame of a Sith Elite Warbot, one with a long flowing cape of tanned human flesh that draped down from his spiked shoulder pauldrons to his armoured boots. The massive ostrine greatsword of his remained sheathed on his back, mag clamped over the cape to his Sith iron backplate. Two sinister crimson photo-receptors fixed in the eye sockets of his yellowed skull cast an eerie red glow in the darkened depths, reminding the slave meat of his presence at all times. When that failed, he reached for the electro-flail hanging from his reek hide belt to offer further 'encouragement' to the worker gangs pressed into service.
A loud crack and rumble sounded as a power hammers shockwave generator blasted through stone and forced a hole in a hollow cavity in the mine. The other workers chipped away with their vibro-pickaxes until a large enough portal was carved for the servant of the Great Devourer to pass through. As lumen sticks were held aloft by the workers, it became clear the miners had stumbled upon an ancient tomb buried beneath the surface of the moon. Krell focused his mechanical eyes on a dozen mummified bodies laid atop immaculate marble plinths, near perfectly preserved due to the absence of bacteria in the airless pocket. He wrested a lumen stick from a miner and held it over one of the bodies to get a better look. They were grey skinned, though that could have been the result of decay, and far larger bodied than standard humanoids. Xenos of some unknown origin. The work was halted and an archeological expert was summoned from the port city of Nime.
Several hours passed while Krell stood guard, motionless as the bodies in the tomb they had stumbled upon. Eventually the expert arrived, a bookish human male in a void suit that appeared winded by the walk from the lunar facility into the mines depths. The faceplate of Krell's helm remained flipped up, exposing his terrifying skeletal visage to the human that stumbled into the tomb.
Apologies for the delay. Stated the human through his suits voice modulator, addressing the disturbing warbot with a slight tremble in his voice. I am Dr. Ivan Zanzabur of the Roon Institute of Archeological Discovery and Research.
Krell remained immobile, unable to convey any emotion except pure menace. When the vocabulator fitted between his bone yellowed jaw began to speak, it was with a grating metallic shriek.
"What are they?" Growled the warbot, unsheathing his massive ostrine blade that caused anything it neared to become rimed with frost. He used the greatswords tip to indicate the bodies resting on the marble plinths.
Nodding, Dr. Zanzabur stepped forwards and reached up to his void suits helmet, instinctively attempting to adjust his spectacles before realizing it was impossible to do so at the moment. Smiling awkwardly, he walked over to the mummified bodies and began to examine them, one at a time. He hummed and he hawed, occasionally bending over and flashing a small hand held light over various parts of the preserved cadavers.
Mu...mu...most interesting. Stuttered the human. It appears you've stumbled upon an ancient Taung tomb. We have precious few examples of their species as they went extinct several thousand years ago, but it is theorized they settled on Roon at one point, before later migrating to the Mandalore system. I've never seen specimens as well preserved as these. This is an incredible find.
Taung, thought Krell. Though the former tomb guard was hardly a historical expert, he was aware that species had been the precursors to the current Mandalorian culture. He was certain his master would be most interested in studying their DNA, despite the possible degradation the bodies were certain to have succumbed to over the aeons.
The nightmarish warbot turned to the lead ranat worker and growled a synthesized command. "Gather up these remains and see them transported to Draggle Rock." The sheer menace in his tone left no room for argument. The rodent nodded and with the help of its kin, began to make ready the bodies for transport. The archeologist, on the other hand, was less thrilled with this idea. Dr. Zanzabur walked over to Krell and raised a hand.
Nu..nu..now hold on. The...the..these specimens belong in a museum! Stuttered the human.
The doctors protestations were short lived. With barely a flicker of movement, Krell's frigid greatsword swept across the human's torso in a diagonal arc, cleaving him in twain from shoulder to hip. The human didn't even have time to scream as his corpse rapidly cooled in the airless vacuum. The specimens were then gathered up as instructed and transported to Rishi.
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Darth Sirona
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 287
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Post by Darth Sirona on Jul 1, 2023 22:41:50 GMT -8
With a flash, the XoXaan and Lore Hunter dropped from hyperspace. SIrona had been careful and calculated to drop into realspace outside of range of most common orbital defense positions. SIrona watched the scanners and coms, and instantly noticed the two operational Golan IIIs. She was glad she dropped out so far from the planet. Now she waited to see if she would be contacted or if she would need to be the one to initiate.
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Post by Elarinya on Jul 1, 2023 23:05:09 GMT -8
In the travel time it had taken to get from their location in the corner of the galaxy to Roon, Ela had gotten cleaned up and donned her MESA Armor and was seated in the cockpit of the Guruthos. She wasn't sure what sort of welcome they would have upon Roon, but if things weren't friendly she would be better off prepared to launch than not. She switched her comm link to the same frequency as that of the XoXaan's to keep up on incoming or outgoing communications
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
Posts: 1,192
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Dragus on Jul 2, 2023 5:20:16 GMT -8
A shimmering curtain of cosmic dust scattered as a large object emerged from the celestial veil known as the Cloak of the Sith that surrounded the Roon system, appearing as an ethereal phantom at the dust clouds edge, trailing a train of glittering particles. Starweirds shrieked at the end of Sith iron chains shackled around their ankles, attached to the fire blackened hull plates of a Lucrehulk-class battleship, whose ring carrier was covered in a forest of rusting durasteel spikes plasma welded to its surface. Frozen bodies was stacked upon these sinister poles, stripped down to the bone by the journey through the dust cloud, rattling as the wicked dreadnought glided through the void. The core ship at its center pulsated with an unnatural red light, the meltmassif ore its hull was comprised of made the large sphere look like the malefic red pupil of a dark demonic eye. That was a pretty good description of the Dark Apothecary's mobile monster maker, what he affectionately referred to as his Haemonculus Occulori. As the bizarrely dressed battleship emerged by some terrible coincidence from the dust cloud directly behind where the recently arrived cadre of most welcome villains first appeared, its looming form cast a shadow over the XoXaan's hull, coming close enough that those inside would sense the aura of despair that permeated the dreadship's filthy deck plates. It slowed to a stop behind the research vessel, its maneuvering jets braking at the last minute.
"What iz the meaning of thiz?" Raged the reprehensible reptile known as Dragus as the doors to his private study slid apart and an irate looking barabel with obsidian hued scales and a blood red right eye materialized, wearing a charcoal coloured rishii feather robe that appeared to have been recently soiled with a wet splotch of blood. The amethyst gem of the rakatan ocular implant set in the draconian's left eye shone with contempt as the villainous velociraptor stalked into the central focusing chamber that served in place of an actual bridge. At the heart of the large room was a massive contraption of brass tubes, crystals, and alchemically attuned lenses. Squeaking ranats scurried around the room, pulling switches and squealing directions at one another as the scaled scourge ascended the central dais on two clawed feet that left talon pricks in the floor with every step. "Whichever one of you idiot-mice iz driving causssed me to ssspill a sssteaming cup of caffeinated ssspider blood all over my freshly ssstitched cloak." He bared the gleaming incisors that filled his terrifying jaws and misted the air with crimson flecks as he exhaled a hot breath of rancid air. The deck rats quivered and shook under the Famine Lord's horrific stare. Several squeaked at once in a series of indecipherable sentences of rapidly delivered rat-speech, which remarkably the saurian Sith understood.
Apparently the reason they had stopped was because something was in their way. That was rather annoying, especially as he seemed to recall leaving instructions to simply destroy anything in their path. No, wait, those were the orders for the crew of the Covenant of Blood. These were a whole knew group of vermin. Well he'd have to torture that lesson into them later. For now, best to have a look at this thing.
The feathered serpent climbed into a seat for what amounted to a giant telescope, what the Blood Wyrm often referred to as the Scrying Scope of the Eye, which allowed him to peer out into the universe to unravel its greatest secrets. He turned the ornate set of gyroscopic platforms and lenses around until the amethyst gem of his implant spotted the research vessel in their way.
"Ah, I sssee the problem." Hissed the Hungering One, removing his implant from the scope and bringing a claw beneath his crocodilian snout, flaking loose scales as he scratched his chin. "There'z a ship in our path. Well, tractor it aboard and letz be on our way. We have a ssschedule to keep."
Like clockwork, a tractor beam projector powered on and attempted to snag the XoXaan and pull it towards the ring carrier. If the research vessel made it inside, they would be greeted with all manner of absurdity and horrific terror. The interior was poorly lit, illuminated by a million tallow candles of congealed human fat bleeding greasy wisps of smoke, which mingled with long narcotic clouds of hallucigenic fog that wept from burning wrought iron braziers hanging from the ceiling. Scabrous rodents the size of children scurried in the dark places, leaving their foul spore wherever they pleased to form a sort of filthy mouldering mat. Mutant creatures with furious crimson eyes and salivating fangs screeched out from the beast pens that lined most of the interior.
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Darth Sirona
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 287
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Post by Darth Sirona on Jul 3, 2023 11:57:47 GMT -8
Sirona was unfortunately slow to react. Perhaps it was the overwhelming dread that the ship that materialized on her six, or maybe it was curiosity at what being had constructed such a ship. What ever the reason, the XoXaan, and the smaller Stealth X-Wing flying alongside were caught in the beam. After some light swearing, Sirona hit the ships red alert siren. She instructed her research assistants to take cover with Tesh, while she and the trio of Nightsister adults armed themselves along side her EG droids. Outside, the view made most of the other's fearful and nervous, but all it did for Sirona was pique her interest and curiosity. To the Sith these horrors seemed to be artistry, such mastery of Sith Alchemy... Sirona needed to learn from this individual. The conditions of outside were a stark contrast to her usually sterile and well let lab. Sirona took the lead at the entry ramp. Before lowering the ramp, the historian keyed into the PA system that projected her voice out side her ship. I am Darth Sirona, Darkside Historian. I have come to Roon to study it's history. We mean you no harm, but will protect ourselves if necessary. Sirona stopped transmitting and took a few deep breaths, hoping that whoever commanded this vessel was the talking type.
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Post by Elarinya on Jul 3, 2023 21:08:10 GMT -8
As soon as the alert came through that they'd been tractor beamed, Ela pulled herself out of the cockpit of the Guruthos and met Sirona and the trio of Nightsisters at the boarding ramp. Her twin sabers were still hidden within her Combat Suit, whilst her pair of blaster pistols had been quick released into her hands. She kept them raised and pointed towards the ramp as her suit speakers activated :: Not exactly the welcoming party I would have preferred... ::
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Darth Xitan
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 177
Affiliation: The Cult of the Eternal
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Post by Darth Xitan on Jul 3, 2023 22:09:43 GMT -8
From the Veil of the Sith, a squadron of Annihilator-Class Starfighters zoomed forth, going on their usual patrols. Within the cockpit of the lead craft, the mask of the Sith, Xitan, glanced outward and noticing an interaction between the familiar Lucrehulk-class Battleship, that was now the floating lair of the Sith Lord, Dragus, and an unfamiliar vessel that had recently come into system. The Acolyte felt a presence, two in fact, that were steeped in the Dark Side. He keyed his squadron to fall into line and report to the Lucrehulk's hangar bay to investigate what's going on.
The twelve starfighters came into the bay, zooming right over the landed craft that had been brought onto the battleship. For a moment, Xitan's starfighter hovered just a bit off, allowing his cockpit to inspect that which Lord Dragus had caught. The vessel looked familiar, the Acolyte having noticed the design being inspected by agents of the Eternal when they came to Korriban and found diagrams of various spacecraft, left by a nonexistent Sith cult. Were these people once members of it? His starfighter then zoomed off and landed with the rest of his crew. Xitan disembarking seconds later as he noticed troopers, within the bay, gathering as the armed contingent to inspect whoever had come to Roon. The masked male looked in that direction before glancing about, not seeing Dragus just yet.
So, instead of waiting, the Sith Acolyte came forward, moving towards the troopers that were gathering. Xitan's eyes looking over the vessel in the mean time. Then his gaze focused on what likely was the place where crew could disembark. He approached that area with the rest of the security detail, his hand upon his lightsaber as he readied for whatever may come forth. He expands his senses, in the Force, to see what he could sense and pinpoint the two, in particularly, that seemed linked to the Dark Side. Sensing movement within the craft meant they were alert and planning something...
Has anything been done so far?
The Sith inquires to the commander who was just off to his left.
=Security Commander= A message was spoken. A self-proclaimed Sith Historian, Darth Sirona. Said she came to Roon to study.
Xitan looked at the XoXaan-class vessel, looking about at the various viewports and possible points of entry. Nothing had been done to show hostility, but there was a sensation of preparations within. Still, the fact that this Sith willingly identified herself meant that she understood she was caught... or could easily be a ruse of sorts.
Keep the ranks tight and be ready for any action.
Xitan remarks as the commander nods. The Acolyte then moves forward some, standing just before the disembarking ramp which was raised. The Sith, for now, listened, with the Force, waiting for when would be the right moment. No one could be too careful these days in an ever-shifting galaxy.
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Darth Sirona
The Sith Eternal
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Post by Darth Sirona on Jul 3, 2023 23:12:31 GMT -8
Sirona sensed the growing presences outside the craft, none of whom she recognized. After a moment more, Sirona reluctantly hit the switch to allow the ramp to lower, taking the lack of open hostility as a good enough sign. She descended the ramp first, keeping her hands up and away from the lightsaber hanging from her belt. Peering around, she noted the new fighters that had flown, before turning to face the gathered force in front of her, then she spoke what she had been able to quickly prepare before she had lowered the ramp. She recited it with the same nerves and cadence of an amature actor who had only just gotten their lines a second before being pushed on stage. Yet Sirona tried her best to put on the confidence she had watch Malvus wield many times. I was unaware that such a gathering of our kind was occuring, or else I would have come sooner to offer my service. Sirona bowed to the masked one, who radiated the most power among the assembled, the bow was not only showed her deference but also gave her a moment to drop the confident facade before rising again. Behind Sirona the three Nightsisters shifted nervously as they watched, readying themselves for the first sign of hostility.
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Post by Elarinya on Jul 3, 2023 23:36:35 GMT -8
Unlike Sirona, Elarinya was not so trusting of their new hosts and descended the ramp with her Pistols still in hand while her Helmet HUD scanned and classified the group gathered to welcome them. Most of the group were classified into what the system considered grunts. At that point, her focus fell upon the Masked individual whom appeared to be in charge of the rest as Sirona did her best to confidently address him. Unlike her friend, Ela did not bow nor drop her weapons :: And who the hell are you supposed to be? :: It wasn't the most diplomatic way to open relations, and she had no doubt Sirona might berate her for it later, but Ela would rather remain suspicious of anyone they met than just welcome them as a friend. Unlike Sirona's happy idealism, Ela was much more jaded about those claiming the title of Sith. The masked figure before them seemed steeped in the Darkside, the same as them, but that did not make him a friend
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
Posts: 1,192
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Dragus on Jul 4, 2023 16:49:54 GMT -8
A crawling mass of molted skin and rigid carapace crept through the ring carrier of the lucrehulk, skulking on five chitinous arachnid legs as it scurried past hissing battle hydras and chittering vermin. As it emerged from the narcotic fog circulating the vents, the jagged plated thorax of a nadir spider appeared, roughly the size of a landspeeder. A corrosive acid drizzled from its beaked mouth, sizzling as it pooled on the floor, eventually eating through the deck beneath where it spattered a scampering rodent that squealed exquisitely as it shriveled up and died. Mounted atop the monstrous spider's back was a throne crafted from yellowing bone and sinew, a morbid piece of furniture that was occupied with a reptilian figure shrouded in a robe of black rishii feathers. The top half of a rishii skull rested on the seated saurian's black scaled snout, its beak curving just over the end. Under closer inspection one might even recognize the bizarre vulture for the barabel he was rather than the bird he seemed to be pretending to be. Claws with talons resembling butchers hooks rested on the arms of the bone throne, tapping away as the horrific arachnid beneath him approached the ramp of the research vessel.
"Why, that'z Xitan of courssse, my dearessst Valefor." Hissed the Dark Apothecary from his comfortable seat atop the riding-spider. Dragus rose from the chair and slowly disembarked, sliding the haft of an ornate looking saber-cane from the arachnid's backside. He placed the cortosis tip on the filthy deck, resting his right claw on the decorative ruby red orb topping the fancy walking stick, then stalked up to the base of the ramp, where he saw two feminine figures who were most likely the occupants of the ship they had just tractored in. The Hungering One's black lips split apart in a sinister grin, stretching impossibly beyond the borders of his scaled visage, exposing row upon row of razor sharp incisors that filled his open maw to near completion. A forked tongue slithered out from between his forest of fangs, flicking as it sampled the new and unique aromas to grace his humble and quite mobile abode, misting the air in front of his face with crimson flecks. "I'm sssurprised you don't recognize him, though perhapz you are sssimply not yet acquainted? Oh how delightful! I do ssso enjoy an introduction."
It was only then that Dragus noticed something different about Valefor. He leaned in closer to Elarinya, completely absent any concern for the firearms she was holding. A whirring sounded behind the amethyst gem set in the saurian Sith's left eye, while the scaled brow over his bloody right orb narrowed in obvious study. Slowly the drake lord leaned back and brought a claw under his snout, scratching at his chin with a crooked talon until scales began to flake away.
"Hmmm, come to think of it, you ssseem a bit different az well, Valefor." Rasped the reptilian at Elarinya, clearly speaking to her. "Have you lossst weight? Of courssse, that'z it. You mussst have received my invitation to Draggle Rock. I'm pleasssed, though I worry the kyber ssstudded ssspeedo the night ewokz hemmed for you will no longer fit. On the plus ssside you ssseem to have grown a ssspectacular ssset of breastz." He nodded his snout. "Sssimply sssuperb. It would ssseem there are no limitz to your sssorcery, Valefor, I'm quite impresssed."
While anyone with eyes could plainly see that Elarinya was not Valefor, the fact of the matter was that Dragus rarely relied on his eyes, preferring to trust instead in his powerful sense of scent. He could determine the chemical composition of a thing simply by giving it a sniff, hence the confusion. Elarinya, who was largely a female clone of Valefor, smelled the same as her male counterpart.
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Darth Xitan
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 177
Affiliation: The Cult of the Eternal
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Post by Darth Xitan on Jul 12, 2023 16:46:49 GMT -8
Xitan didn't really have much time to talk, considering Lord Dragus came to the scene. However, what came next from the Dark Apothecary would certainly add ammo to his fellow Councilors who sought his downfall. Beneath his mask, the male's eyebrow was arched at how the saurian was completely wrong about who the red skinned female was that had directly spoken to him just seconds earlier. The mask of the Sith seemed focus on Dragus who continued with his wrong evaluation. Only after speaking did the Acolyte gesture to Elarinya whom the Sith Lord had completely misunderstood who she was.
You ought to get your Force senses checked, Dark Apothecary. That's a woman, not the Fabricator-General.
Xitan scoffed under his mask, willing to correct one that was higher ranked than him. His mask now returned to the pair who had begun to disembark. The white-haired female had some Nightsisters with her while the other, the dark haired and red-skinned individual, kept her weapons raised. There were certainly a series of clicks as the Stormtroopers behind the Sith Eternal members didn't like the sight of weapons that weren't theirs. Instead of addressing the hostile one, Xitan chose to focus his attention on Sirona.
One does not simply come here knowing we are here.
It was the Dark Side and, thus, the Supreme Leader who beckoned to the potential and proven. Only the rift-raft and unworthy would not be able to sense the echo in the Force that was the Supreme One, the absolute leader of the Sith Eternal. The fact they were hear, and that Sirona spoke as she did, indicated that they were brought here by the Dark Side and/or, likely, the presence of the Dread Lord that commanded them from the depths of the Nullus Beacon.
You are only allowed to come because there was a beckoning in the Force.
An invitation through the Dark Side.
Just like the rest of us that gather here and call this system our home and headquarters.
Xitan's mask then glanced off towards the hangar bay door, sensing the Force begin to twist and convulse slightly. A presence seemed to be watching them from afar, from the depths of his abode. Only confirming that these two were brought from the stars at his invitation. The Sith Acolyte turned, gesturing to the security detail as they lowered their weapons now.
Now, who are you two?
Guests ought to introduce themselves first, not the host.
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Darth Sirona
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 287
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Darth Sirona on Jul 13, 2023 7:07:15 GMT -8
Sirona's attention had been stolen by the Barabel, or what was once a Barabel, that approached her companion and spoke very familiarly with her. The beast was clearly the source of the spawn and vileness that rutted about them. Sirona was both intrigued and repulsed by the being. But soon her attention was snatched back to the masked humanoid Sith before her. He spoke of a summons through the Force. Only a very powerful being could accomplish such a feat with such supposed accuracy. However, this could all of course be a lie, deception woven by this possible Master and Apprentice combo. All the same, Sirona felt they had little option but to play the hand that had been dealt to them and put a hand out on Elarinya's arm, to steady her. The still shortest person in the room, once more drew herself up, with all the authority she could muster before she spoke again. I am Darth Sirona, Archeologist and Historian of the Sith Conclave, adopted Daughter of Viox Savage of the Blackguard, and Apprentice to the great Darth Malvus. I came here to study what was left of the Dark Brotherhood's headquarters. I follow where the Force leads me, since the fall of the Conclave, continuing my work. I had no intention of trespassing against fellow Sith. Sirona, her false confidence still holding mostly thanks to the adrenaline, gave another small bow after her formal introduction. Now I would wish to know the names of my... hosts.
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Post by Elarinya on Jul 13, 2023 22:12:22 GMT -8
As soon as the skull helmed Barabel appeared, Ela had shifted one of her pistols toward the new comer. But it was once the Barabel spoke, calling her by the name of Valefor, that her second pistol joined the first. Her aim and focus remained solely upon the Saurian then, following him as he dismounted his organic throne and continued to confuse her with her Father. Whether by purpose or by accident was unclear. Her thumbs flicked the chargers on her pistols as the Barabel drew himself up close enough she could smell the rancid stench that rolled off him. Were it not for Sirona's presence, and the hand that gripped her arm, she might have carved a pair of blaster bolt sized holes in the creatures visage. She glared hard through her helmet visor, thumbing her pistols off their charge sequence and raised them up into the air before the quick draw mechanism retracted the pistols back into the forearms of her armour :: You would do well to listen to your friend over there bird brain... I am Elarinya, Warmaster of the former Sith Conclave and Guard for Darth Sirona. And you will not mention his name in my presence again... :: Unlike Sirona, Ela's list of titles and accomplishments was quite short and rather uninteresting in comparison. She had no desire to bring her parentage into this introduction, nor did she wish to mention her time under Maethoriel. It wouldn't be long before the former was discovered, and neither of those here seemed to have been in the Conclave and thus would not know the name of her former Master. She would just have to follow her partners lead for now and try and play nice
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
Posts: 1,192
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Dragus on Jul 14, 2023 6:05:08 GMT -8
Valefor, but not Valefor. Hmmm, how curious. It was a rare thing for his usually impressive nose to mislead him, but in this instance it would seem it had. That left him with a few follow-up questions of his own, but that could wait for the time being. These visitors were correct, introductions were in order.! A grating metallic shriek sounded as a serrated Sith iron spike dragged across the surface of the filthy deck floor, as the Dark Apothecaries overlong tail slithered out from beneath his charcoal hued robe of rishii feathers and slowly rose up behind his back, swaying rhythmically from right to left as his shoulders swayed oppositely from left to right. The slit pupil of the drake's blood red right eye distorted and seemed to spiral out from its black centre, almost hypnotic in fashion. Then, first escaping as a slow trickle as the mad draconian made his presence known, his aura expanded out from the core of his being like an all consuming hunger, drawing the very warmth from the air. The unique properties of the Haemonculus Occulori caused the ship around them to act in some capacity as an echo chamber for the Force, reflecting his growing aura back at them until it was practically oppressive and his words were heavy on the sour air around them."I have many namez, but perhapz you will have heard of thiz one." Crimson flecks misted from his bleeding maw with every stressed syllable, soiling the front of his robe with quickly cooling vitae. "Among the oppresssed ssslave-meat of the Outer Rim, I am known az Draguz the Magnificent, Sssith Extraordinaire and Massster of the Alchemical Artz."Pater Mutatis! Pater Mutatis! Pater Mutatis! Pater Mutatis! Sounding first as a whisper on the wicked hangar winds, a chant formed on the foetid lips of the bestial population that occupied the ring carrier, a symphony of squeaks and spoken words delivered in Pzobian black-speech. The verminous veneration of the Dark Apothecary seemed to charge the cloying air around them. Pinching the sides of his robe between talon tips, the saurian Sith curtsied before Elarinya and Sirona."Ssso you're Viox'z pup?" Inquired the Hungering One, focusing the pulsating amethyst gem set in his left eye socket on the self proclaimed historian of the two. "And Sssith az well? Wonderful." The scales of his cheeks creaked as his chainsaw grin stretched just a little further. "It would ssseem my wayward little brother haz raisssed you right. Alwayz knew he had it in him. I sssuppose that makez you my niece." Neptis Mutatis! Neptis Mutatis! Neptis Mutatis! Neptis Mutatis! "Sssilence!" Snarled the black scaled barabel, instantly quieting the beady eyed vermin lurking in the shadows, before once more turning his sinisterly smiling snout towards Sirona. "Oh yez, before the Blackguard were a figment of hiz fancy, Viox belonged to another Order." Beneath his scaled right palm, the ruby sphere topping his saber-cane grew luminous with an inner fire contained within its polished shell, split in the centre by a slit black iris that focused on Sirona first, then Elarinya. "The Eye haz not forgotten my brother, nor have I. That makez you family, thuz, you are mossst welcome on Roon." Then he looked at Elarinya. "Both of you." And then at Xitan. "Both of them."
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Darth Xitan
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 177
Affiliation: The Cult of the Eternal
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Post by Darth Xitan on Jul 17, 2023 20:45:57 GMT -8
Affiliation with two defunct Sith factions... either these two were just stragglers or they were survivors. However, whereas the Blackguard Imperium went out with quite the bang, from the Sith Eternal had gathered, there had been no signs of a civil war or internal conflict in the planets that intelligence believed were controlled by the Sith Conclave that Elarinya mentioned. In fact, when their agents came to investigate, it was quiet... absolutely quiet. There were signs of departure, left in the sands and dirt, but nothing like a struggle. One was of position and a bodyguard, yet clearly not some dog. The other had connections to two powerful Sith, at least one that Xitan knew of, and was a self-proclaimed Historian of the Dark Side. What a pair.
Xitan's mask turned slightly as Dragus babbled about like he always did. He turned a simple greeting into a long-winded welcome. Perhaps there was a reason why Lord Dragus was never one for the diplomatic missions and other Sith were selected to do such things. And yet, here they were, Dragus the Greeter. Still, at least the situation was defused nonetheless. Noticing how Dark Apothecary clarified that both were welcomed, the Acolyte's eyebrow arched beneath his mask.
I believe that is determined by the Voice or the Supreme Leader, Lord Dragus.
They were the political authorities after all. Yet, the stamp of approval by Dragus might get them somewhere. Or raise questions.
I bet the Voice would love to see your stamp of approval though.
The Sith now turns his gaze back to Elarinya and Sirona. Suppose he ought to introduce himself, least the Dark Apothecary make it a long-winded one.
I am Darth Xitan, one of the Supreme Leader's Favored... and Despot of Eriadu.
An unofficial title, considering the Dark Council was hardly happy at the independent actions by Xitan. However, the boons of Eriadu's industries and manpower were hard to ignore. So, in a ways, the complaints balanced out with the gains of the system. Even now, the Fabricator-General was marching upon Geonosis, to further solidify their grip in the region and gather additional foundries for droid soldiers, weaponry, and vehicles.
You two will need approval to get through the Veil and to what lies beyond.
Xitan points in the direction where his starfighter had come from, where the Nullus Beacon lurked.
I will go handle it here in a moment.
Oh the joy of speaking with the Voice more than likely.
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Darth Sirona
The Sith Eternal
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Post by Darth Sirona on Jul 18, 2023 17:59:58 GMT -8
Sirona's attention was grabbed by the horrifying creature that she would soon learn was called Dargus. A name she had in fact heard in hushed whispers among travellers, almost like a boogieman, but it seemed he was all too real. Sirona could have shrunk from existence at the display Dragus put on as he introduced himself. The cold in the air turning her increasingly frequent breaths to smoke before her face. But then she came to learn he shared some connection to Viox. Despite her fear, caution, and general mistrust of other Sith these days, she felt like he was truly genuine in his welcome of her and Elarinya. Sirona even felt the corners of her mouth turn up as the feather clad barabel referred to himself as her uncle. She even had to suppress a slight giggle as the rodent like creatures chanted her new 'title' from the shadows. And then Uncle Dragus dropped another name she had heard of in the past The Order of the Eye, a group sworn to the protection of the Eye of Palpatine. They had always gone below much of Sirona's notice, mostly due to a lack of material at hand to research, but she was eager to add an entry for them in her holocron. The historian was also keen to learn more from this crafter of flesh. Soon though, her mood was brought down by the masked individual, who was now stating that Dragus in fact lacked the authority to welcome Sirona and her entourage into the fold. Sirona's attitude of the pair now seemed to flip, while initially she had feared the mad Barabel and looked to Xitan for a friendly 'face', she now found herself wishing to us Dragus as an interpersonal shield as she had done with her master and father. Her veil of fake confidence was wavering as she began to speak again. I- uhm... I am honored to meet you both. I- I understand that you have your secrets to keep and- and would take it as no ill will against me if your master judged me not worthy of joining your ranks, though would then ask that me and mine be allowed to depart in peace. Sirona's voice trembled as her typical soft-spoken and shy nature began to manifest again at the most inopportune time. The bookish Sith felt herself moving ever so slightly closer to both Dragus and Elarinya, for there was still a chance things may not end well.
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Post by Elarinya on Jul 18, 2023 19:02:02 GMT -8
Despite the oppressive nature of Dragus' presence and the Chill that filled the air, Ela did not balk and stood tall as ever. Her armoured suit served to keep the worst of the chill with the internal temperature controls. Her history and knowledge of the modern Sith was extremely limited compared to Sirona's, mostly because it had not been deemed necessary for her to know for her training previously. However, the Alchemist's name had come up during her research into her Father. Back then it was just a name on a page. Now she could put a face to it. Xitan, in comparison, seemed a little underwhelming.
Unlike the others, Ela could hear and feel the shift in Sirona's position. Something which caused her to curse barely audibly under her breath as she stepped closer to putting herself between Sirona and Xitan :: You said yourself that we were beckoned here, no? Few people are powerful enough to call across such vast galactic distances in such a way, and I doubt your Master summoned us here, only to turn us away or deny us passage beyond the Veil... Besides, Lord Dragus said we were welcome on Roon. What lays out there isn't Roon, and it won't turn us away if it's as powerful and great as you claim it to be. But we're happy to go find someone more serious about wanting out talents after a short holiday here... :: It was a very bold strategy, but better to step up and tap in to a situation Sirona was seeming to start to tap out of. There was equal chance her confidence would work perfectly, or it would result in some punishment by those present or the being that had called out to Sirona
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
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Post by Dragus on Jul 19, 2023 6:47:56 GMT -8
How disappointing. When the Great Devourer had heard that dutiful and order abiding Xitan of all Sith had conquered Eriadu without the express permission of the Council of Seven and earned the Supreme Leader's ire, the Dark Apothecary had been quite proud of his talented mentee. Finally the wrathful warrior was showing some gumption, taking for himself rather than waiting to be instructed. It was perhaps for this reason that the younger Sith wanted to do things by the book, thus returning to the Supreme One's graces as a member of the Favoured, after likely earning a rather severe scolding from the Voice for his actions. The Blood Wyrm could hardly hold that against him, though as something of an expert when it came to being on the receiving end of the Supreme Leader's vexation, the Hungering One also had no qualms about side stepping those concerns. They'd probably blame Dragus anyways.
CLANG! Sparks leapt from the deck as the black scaled barabel's overlong tail thumped the ground, striking its stained surface with the flat of the blade capping its end. The serrated spike resonated as the residual vibrations rang out of it, followed by audible clapping as the saurian Sith brought his scaled palms together, eagerly applauding.
"Well ssspoken, sssweet Elarinya." Clearly admiring her displayed temerity. "However there iz no need to play hard to get. Xitan can hardly be faulted for hiz ssstrict adherence to ssstandard procedure, jussst az I know he will forgive me for choosssing to cassst sssaid procedurez assside."
With his scaled visage already stretched beyond rhyme or reason into a villains grin, the mad alchemist brought the pure cortosis tip of his ornate saber-cane down on the floor, tapping the dirty deck twice in rapid succession. Tap-Tap! Then the deck beneath their feet began to rumble slightly as the ring carrier's engines started to fire up in response to his signal. From the view of the stars through the energized barrier of the hangar, the green and blue orb of Roon began to grow larger, as the ship began to move in that direction.
"The Sssupreme Leader and hiz ssstar fortresss can wait." Lisped the lizard matter-of-factly. "I shan't have it getting back to my horn-headed brother that I played poor hossst to hiz delightful daughter and her protective paramour during their firssst trip to Sssith Eternal territory, essspecially while on holiday. Roon may lack the majesssty of Pzob or the charm of Draggle Rock, but it iz not without attraction." Then he turned towards Xitan and prodded the Sith warrior in his chest-plate with a crooked claw. "You shall attend az well, Xitan. Your dutiez can wait and I believe an unssscheduled excursssion will do you well. Besidez, I am confident the Voice will find thiz deviation in procedure more palatable knowing you are acting az chaperone."
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Darth Xitan
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 177
Affiliation: The Cult of the Eternal
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Post by Darth Xitan on Jul 25, 2023 18:24:16 GMT -8
The Sith's mask turns now to look at Dragus as he overrode his remarks on seeing to the approval of these two, brought by the Force to Roon. This was a stark contrast from before, considering members like Karnac and Sanguinus had to prove themselves and then were admitted into the fold by a member of the Council. Xitan had been involved with the latter of the two while Karnac had been watched by Xazatar and communicated, in the end, by the Voice of the Eternal. He was even given a task by Melabor to kill a member of the Favoured which secured him the rank of Sith Master and ensured a candidate of a rival was defeated for the Headmaster.
Xitan had been brushing recently with a more independent streak and caused the Council to grumble. Certainly, his actions could be viewed as a means to regain favor and quiet the voices against him. True, the Sith did want there to be quiet. It was hard enough to turn anywhere it seemed without an agent of Xazatar breathing down his neck or eyeing where he went. Hence why Xitan kept to his new post at Eriadu more than often. They wouldn't dare move against him considering where he was among power and prestige within the Favoured, even some of his own brothers and sisters of that rank and file were impressed and showing an inclination of allegiance towards him personally. Still, there was a way things were done and it seemed Dragus wanted them overlooked for now. At least, this time, Xitan wouldn't be blamed... perhaps slightly indirectly.
Last I heard, Dragus, the Blackguard Imperium is no more. I doubt you have to worry about this horn-headed brother of yours.
His mask now turns to Sirona, looking at her through the slits in his mask.
And if she joined this Conclave, then clearly her allegiance to an adopted father was not too strong...
Merely an observation by the Sith. If they weren't going to respect the way things were done, then why respect a heritage and lineage? For this Sirona left the side of a powerful individual, who took her in as family, for another that was equally powerful. She seemed timid and nervous moments before, but she had played a game well of surviving. Survival was something Sith were good at. It was the key to their revivals and preservation.
I suppose the Voice can't argue with me if I stay around to keep an eye on things. Make sure these guests of yours are looked after and not turned into experiments like you enjoy doing to others, Lord Dragus. Seeing as the Supreme Leader beckoned for them, he will be happy to know they were welcomed and given the full hospitality of our order.
Xitan, who had stood before the pair, finally moved to the side, permitting them to disembark fully. Yet, his mask seemed trained upon Sirona.
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Darth Sirona
The Sith Eternal
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Post by Darth Sirona on Jul 25, 2023 20:13:38 GMT -8
Sirona was visibly greatful at Dragus' suggestion and welcome. More and more the lizards excentisities endeared him to the historian. Truly starting to feel the excitement of learning what secrets Roon and Dragus had to offer, the woman stared longingly out the hanger bay toward the planet. But her attention was snapped back to the present as the masked man, Darth Xitan spoke again about the Blackguard. Xitan may as well have drove a stake into her heart when he brought up her betrayal. It was something she was deeply ashamed of and loathed about herself. She had betrayed so many close to her; her Jedi master, Viox, and most recently the Conclave, having mostly left it to its own devices as she had become so absorbed in her own work she neglected the cracks in the foundation. Sirona's head dropped as she looked at her feet on the boarding ramp. She was no better than any Sith, she had turned her back on those who supported her unconditionally for nothing but her own ambitions. Her fists clenched as she dug her nails into her palms, trying to keep herself from crying. She barely had heard what Xitan had finished with, only registering him moving to the side as she glanced up, her face scrunched up in anger and pain, the faintest trace of tears starting to form in the corners of her eyes. Sirona struggled to keep her voice even as she replied, not making eye contact with either of those before her. I... thank you for your hospitality, Lord Dragus, I look forward to my time here. Now- now if you will excuse me I must see to some things on board my ship before I disembark... With that flimsy excuse, the trembling woman turned and began to retreat up the ramp of her ship.
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