Breaking The Habit: A Prize In The Iceberg

[The Confessor]

[fancybox2]

ILUM: THE SACELLUM OF THE SITH

0900 Hours

Members of the Sith church will find a Jedi holocron in the depths of Ilum and attempt to open it with no success. They then devise a plot to go after a Jedi who can open it for them.

Plot Thead ; Death Disabled ; @Nefieslab as DM
@EmilyHuene ; @Doomfingers [/fancybox2]

Ilum's icy temperament makes travelling to the Sacellum difficult on foot. Ships can land nearby though not directly near the temple itself which has been carved into the foot of one of its many glacial landscapes. Those familiar with its location have been granted access to its Secret Hangar which is also carefully constructed in the mountain side. Built with the finest Imperial design available, this temple is a glorious tribute to the Empire and all those under her command.

There are two parts to the Sacellum's inner halls: the temple itself and the inner sanctum. At the front of the temple's main hall stands its holy altar where the Head Priestess would bless and give communion to her followers. The long narrow halls of the temple work as tunnels in the cavern's of Ilum. There are many corridors that lead all the up into to the peak of the mountain where it is coldest. There are many private inner chambers in which one can pray, whereas one might simply wish to sit in the halls and stare at the beauty of the inner caverns.

One of these inner chambers is where Eriana Fox, The Confessor and head matron of the Sacellum, was waiting for one of her newest Speakers. Initiates of the Sacellum, her Speakers were charged with the duty of spreading the Word of her church to all members of the galaxy, not just those who were Force sensitive. Eriana wanted Sith alike to know that there was another way to see the Force than just as a tool for their own greedy use. Likewise, she wanted those who did not have that mystic touch to have a safe place and worship the way of the Dark side which has kept this galaxy safe for generations.

The Confessor had woken up early that morning, a fact evident by the no-longer steaming cup of caff she'd brought with her into this meditation chamber. The cup still had a little juice left in it but she wasn't about to drink it cold so it was left behind and forgotten. She'd spent this time while the drink cooled seated in the middle of the stone room, kneeling gently on a pillow. Eriana liked to meditate, to feel the Force throughout her. And here, in this place on Ilum, the Dark side could not be avoided. It tainted the very air they breathed and was like a miasma for it was so thick.

She was wearing her usual Sith Maraurder armor that fit her in her most valuable places while giving her the mobility to move without any hindrance. Her favorite curved lightsaber hilts that never left her side no matter what were gently hanging from a belt under her corset. Behind her back she had coiled around the same belt a Zygerrian electro whip for the added effect of being in control at all times. Though the whip could not be seen from behind as her white Imperial cloak with the Sith emblem in the center of the spine was gently draped over her shoulders. It was always cold on Ilum, but that was one of the many scary things about Eriana: she never seemed cold. Even when she plunged herself into the frozen waters in the lake under the temple, it barely phased her.

As her newest Speaker came into the room with her, she would not look up or turn around to invite him in. Instead, she merely spoke loudly enough for him to hear, "Good morning, Speaker Balguir. Have you prayed this morning?"

 

[Janiph Balguir]

He'd become more accustomed to the frigid planet and his newfound comrades, as odd as they were to him at times. These people, especially Eriana were so eccentric in their zealotry, something he himself tried to manifest when in their presence, though it came off as rather forced most of the time. Perhaps one day he would understand what it was that made them so peculiar in their thoughts and actions, but today was hardly that day. No, today would be one of many attempts to gain his matron's favor, his ambition of being her favorite speaker ever present within his mind. Janiph had endured far too much over the years to simply be just another follower, he was worth more, he deserved more.

When she spoke his name he couldn't help but wonder why she had summoned him in the first place. He had hoped she would impart some of her wisdom upon him, but he had learned that she was a bit aloof at times, always meditating or in deep thought on some likely trivial matter.

"I must admit I have not." His breath clearly visible as he spoke. "...Such an act has done not but perplex me, my dear." He gave a shrug, choosing to be honest with her, after all she was his mentor. If he were to truly have a foothold here he would need her trust. It was so easy for a sith to claim they served the dark side and not themselves, but he would show he was genuine in all aspects he could, including his spotless integrity...to her at least. "I came here in hopes you would explain how one properly does such a thing, as I have taken a knee and spoken allowed and within my mind to no avail. Is there supposed to be more to it?"

He simply waited for a response, he would wait as long as it took, after all he was her supplicant.

 

[The Confessor]

To answer her question Janiph would admit he had not prayed. It was not an action she would punish by any means, but she was a little bothered he hadn't yet tried. Perhaps he simply didn't have time? Eriana always made time, though she understood some Sith didn't have the level of believe she did. Which was a shame because as testament to that the Force had blessed her with so much power and several chances to prove herself in battle. If not for their own greed, what other reason would they need to follow in her footsteps?

Strangely he chose a term that did not bide well with her: my dear. That was not something she'd heard from him yet, let alone anyone else except for her partner. Though...he was no longer in the picture. Trying not to dwell on that fact she waved it away and took a long sigh. A gust of wind would rise up through the caves out of nowhere then die down after a moment. It was clearly her doing as she connected with the Dark emotions inside her.

His manners improved though as he then explained he hoped that she would teach him how to do so. That showed promise. And it was an acceptable answer to her question. She could not scold him for doing something incorrectly when one hadn't been taught in the first place. He'd earned a pass...this time.

"There is more than just taking a knee, my young Speaker. Much more." Standing up Eriana would smooth out her cape and turn to face him. As she stared ahead with her blank eyes he'd see her eyelids and skin tone had taken on a slightly yellow-ish shade. It was not too uncommon for Sith to change like that, but Eriana had always shown such reserve. The Dark side which she controlled had always been kept at bay. Now it seemed things were changing. Was it her power growing inside her? Or something else?

"Come with me then," she commanded as she walked past him. "Today we're going to venture to the dark caverns. I recommend you grab a torch."

They passed through several hallways until reaching a tunnel that began to descend. There, less and less structure was seen supporting the walls until they were merely in the caves themselves for not all of the Sacellum was built of stone and metal. Icy walls surrounded every side with the occasional Kyber gem sticking out. The Jedi had once come here seeking that power for their sabers. Now with the system under her control, Eriana kept them hidden and out of reach from the Light.

Deep down beyond the Sacellum's grand altar were sights unparalleled to anything else in this galaxy. Icy chambers filled with Kyber crystals lit the way to the darker corridors of Ilum. One such landmark was the running waterfall made from pure melted Kyber that extends to a lake so pure it is said to cleanse any impurities. Here, Janiph had been baptised into the Sacellum and given the title of Speaker by Eriana herself. But some of these wonders in Ilum are still uncharted from the scorn of battles centuries ago. These paths that lead further into the dark are off limits to any members of the church until their mysteries can be solved. This is where Eriana would take Janiph today.

For a good while the path down was illuminated from torches and lanterns hung about, but as they got further, they would find that the light reached them less and less. All until Eriana came to a door. It was a simple wooden door, nothing too special, but it was perfectly cut into the cavern wall so no air escaped from it. Eriana would reach into a pocket and take out a simple key to unlock the handle. Anyone could pick through it if they wished, or even break down the door if they saw fit. It was a gesture of faith that they did not. Only Eriana and her trusted members could descend further into the caves.

Opening the door let out a long breath of wind that had come up from the inner world of Ilum. It was cold, and full of malice. It would be enough to make any mere initiate tremble in their pants. But a seasoned Acolyte could walk through the miasma, though it might still make them feel uneasy. As she stepped through she gestured for Janiph to pass her before she would lock the door from the other side and return the key to her pocket. The path was no longer lit by anything and if Janiph wished to see he'd either have to have that torch with him (or some other light source), or ignite his saber if he chose to do so. Eriana had no problem navigating for see saw the world much differently than he.

"This is your test, Speaker Balguir. Here the Dark side is strongest. It will guide you to a place. Trust in it. Believe in it. Let it offer its wisdom to you. Don't fight it. Remember, try to let yourself be controlled by it rather than the other way around."

How this worked out could play many ways. The caves of Ilum were long and dangerous. Terrible dangers would lie in wait. But in the end, the Force would bring them to a lost holocron, abandoned and forgotten about by the Jedi of the past.