Ancient Grievances, Holy Days

[Pureblood-Sin]

The Sepulchre of Darth Tiamat, the first Red Sith to attain the mantle of Darth ever since the conquest of Korriban and Moraband, was filled to the brim with pilgrims who convened on Korriban; for the Sith Order, she was just another Darth in a pantheon of Darths. To her people, the Red Sith, she was anointed as the Qyash Unwozsa or "New Queen" in the Sith tongue, an addition to the Red Sith's own indigenous religion; the most powerful Sith Kings and Queens were elevated to godhood, and as such, were worshipped alongside the 'New Gods' of the modern Sith Order. Uhrsek could smell the strong incense in this place; its Kissai Priests, sworn to its maintenance from birth, had a habit of lighting so many that those who weren't used to it would gag on such amounts. Swathed in red robes, they circled the statue swaying skull-shaped censers that gave off another, more sweet-smelling incense that tantalised the senses. The Sith expected another sensation upon himself, the sensation of being watched by those who hated him and Sith like him. He was Inqazokka, a traitor...or rather the descendant of traitors. His family had collaborated with the conquerors of the Sith in the ancient days; for that, they were never forgiven. Hypocrites, he thought to himself, we've only done what our race had been doing long before the Jen'Jidai came. Instead however, they were all focused on the giant golden statue of the Darth herself; a line of pilgrims had been formed, each of them cutting their palms and smearing their blood on the statue as the priests chanted.

"Shed your blood upon the altar of the world."

Soon enough, it was Uhrsek's turn; cutting his palm along his khopesh, he left another bloody print upon the red-sheened gold. With this done, he muttered the words.

"For the blood that is to be paid."

Having seen all that he had seen, having heard what he had heard, the Sith had never abandoned the old gods; still carrying them with him throughout his years of life. His family fought to preserve themselves, there was no way they'd abandon their roots, lest it be a hollow existence.

 

[Astigi Ti'm]

Before defining moments, Astigi often travelled to Korriban on a pilgrimage of sorts. He never really participated in the rituals of the Kissai-caste, yet thought it important to pay homage to the Kings and Queens of old like Andas the immortal, Graush the betrayed and Tiamat the scion. Despite the predominance of Red Sith in the temple he stood out in his typical Massassi-armor and the frown on his face was heavy as his left hand stroked his facial appendiges. It were the Kissai priests that erected these sepulchres that had been responsible for teaching the jen'jidai the Dark Side proper. Some even, like the Tabashk, openly referred to one of them as Typhojem, a Kissai deity, and helped the Jen'jidai to submit their own kind to the will of lower species. The Massassi-caste on Ziost still held a grudge over the beheading of Graush, calling those Kissai traitors before all else.

And if Astigi wasn't mistaken, a traitor was nearby. "Nothing happened" he said as he approached Uhrsek and motioned towards the blood besmirched gold. "perhaps you should shed it all"

There was an immediate tension surrounding them as fellow Sith recognized both the warrior's armor and the Kissai by family name. Some tried to create further distance between them, but the sepulchre was too crowded and despite the will not to get involved, they all eagerly wanted to see Uhrsek's reaction. Astigi was no less eager, but with above average intellect for a Massassi the grudge held agains the Tabashk was much less serious in his eyes. If anything, proving yourself to be worthy now was more important than thousand year old sins. After all, if Hakagram Graush had been truly worthy to be a King he wouldn't have been beheaded by his own sword.

 

[Uhrsek Tabashk]

Uhrsek heard a voice call to him, referencing his most recent act...and something far more ancient judging by the tone of the last sentence. He sensed as the crowd tried to part, but could not do to the sheer density of it. The Sith turned to look upon the individual, possessed of the traits and armour of members of the Massassi Caste; braid flicking as he turned, he directed his single, glowing eye upon the individual who called him out. He knew very well that everyone here was expecting a show; they will get one, but on his own terms. A smile crossing his lips, tendrils swaying with the movements, Uhrsek gave his response.

"For what precisely? For my ancestors' betrayal of our people? For doing that which we have been doing for time immemorial?"

He then proceeded to cross his arms, his single-eyed gaze looked upon the Massassi; it seemed as though he were beginning to ultimately scold a child.

"A tad hypocritical don't you think? To do that which our civilisation was built upon. Perhaps you should empty your veins as well Massassi, your ilk have always spilled their blood for our people after all.

@Astigi Ti'm

 

[Astigi Ti'm]

Astigi felt a sudden spike of anger upon Uhrsek's dig at his people, but he wasn't about to attack a fellow Red Sith in a place of worship. His people and traditions were too near for him to destroy a place like this solely for sport. So instead he smirked, "For the New Queen to give you back your eye" he said and pointed shortly at Uhrsek's face. The reply caused some of the onlookers to relax a little, "After all" Astigi continued "the lack of vision will be a burden on the battlefield"

"Or am I not talking to one of Darth Vyrdesseus' slaves?" this was Astigi's real problem with the Kissai in front of him. Unlike many other species, the loyalty of the Massassi-caste had to be earned by strength and only after proving yourself worthy could you convince the warriors of the Red Sith to follow you into battle and even death. Something the current Dark Lord and even the Supreme Leader had yet to proof, "or did his tentacles make you believe he, too, is Typhojem?" laughter echoed through the otherwise dead silent sepulchre as Astigi made no attempt to hide the humour he saw in his own comment. In fear of Uhrsek, no one else dared to join in.

 

[Uhrsek Tabashk]

After the Massassi's insistence on asking the New Queen for a new eye due to potentially being a problem in battle, Uhrsek smiled; he could easily sense the Massassi's anger behind his witty response. Admittedly, such an allegation caused a flicker of fury within the Sith; he was a slave to no man, only serving for his along as service serves his own ends. When his time comes, he will bleed for his due; that was the Sith way, a creed older than the Sith Order itself. Uhrsek raised his eyebrow stalks has he spoke, a cruel smile revealing his pointed teeth.

"Speaking from experience Massassi, perhaps I have owned one of your kin and not known of it? A slave has little hope of release whilst a Sith breaks his own chains. Besides, I quite like having a single eye...it'll save me more on visual aids."

The Kissai then began to stroke his chin and tendrils and mock curiosity, eye glancing up at the ceiling in faux wonder before once more locking itself upon the Massassi. His smile twisted into a sneer.

"Tell me...why are you not in the Sith Order then? You claim perhaps not to be a slave of Vyrdesseus, but I think that is a lie to your very soul. Personally, I think its because you are weak; using the moral high-ground to serve as a veil to hide your weakness to the universe. At least I am honest about who, and what I am, can you say the same...Grotthu."

Uhrsek then turned his back on the warrior, regardless of what would happen next, he would be ready for what was to come.

 

[Astigi Ti'm]

Grotthu? Astigi's anger riled up. "The Massassi are no slaves, nor am I too weak to join an Order of have beens and traitors" the smirk had disappeared and through the words seeped the anger in great amounts. "What are you but not a glorified priest?" he looked at those that were watching them, scared as they were by his sudden show of anger and fearful that in his anger the young Massassi warrior would attack Uhrsek and take all of them with him. Astigi read it in their eyes and was somehow more disgusted by them than the one goating him into a cowardly attack, his anger flared even further "Look at this" he urged Uhrsek to turn around "What our species has become. Intermixed with humans to such an extent that they've adopted their cowardly ways. These aren't true Sith, but rather deluded fools too freightened to challenge authority."

He made a quick movement into the direction of the closest onlooker and the latter backed away with a yelp. "You want honesty, scion of Tabashk?" he said while shaking his head in disapproval "It is simple" he turned to look the Kissai in the eye "I am a warrior commanded by a warlord. You are a priest commanded by a hermit" the anger had largely ebbed away now that he had the time to think, but his words were said with a somewhat clenched jaw, showing that it was still there underneath the surface. "I am no less a slave than you, yet at least I fight for the betterment of the Sith, while you like your ancestors only fight for yourself. We're all here right now become we adhere to the old ways of the Sith, so let's not forget King Adas who chose to fight and die for his people instead of enriching himself and living even longer"