Hand of the Lost Son

[Darth Maleficar]

"But ask me the secrets of Sith alchemy, and I would ask you for three measures of blood: one from a person you love, one from a person you hate, and one from yourself."​

Naga Sadow, Jen'ari of the First Sith Empire.
​

Draay 2, once an outpost of a secretive Jedi faction known only as the True Covenant; founded by Lucian Draay in a long passed age, the moon was used to construct a Jedi temple. Yet it wasn't any ordinary temple as Darth Maleficar knew all too well; in truth, the True Covenant had erected the holy place to serve as a reliquary...but not for their own treasures. In particular, t'was the treasures of the ancient Sith Empire that the temple was built to hide; one in particular, the Gauntlet of Kressh the younger, was what drew him and his cohort, Ayindri, to this backwater moon. Given that a new enemy had arisen within the Imperium, the High Arcanist knew such a powerful artefact could not fall into their hands. In ages past, Ludo Kressh had crafted the Gauntlet to protect the life of his own son and heir; pity the Lord hadn't anticipated Elcho to die of a ruptured stomach after over-indulging in alcohol on the eve of his own invasion of the Old Republic. An irony that wasn't lost on the Red Sith, the thought of it simply making him chuckle.

Soon enough, an electronic voice echoed around Sin'ryk, conveying the news that the shuttle itself was in High Orbit above Draay 2. Knowing that now was the time to convey a briefing with his subordinate, the High Arcanist wove a telepathic message into Ayindri's mind.

Come to my chambers young one, we've much to discuss before we begin our quest.

 

[Intratec]

She had just finished tying her sash, when she answered the summons. He robes appeared normal for the most part save for the fact it was one of her armored sets done in a delicate violet. Golden eyes cast about Sin'ryk's chamber once she had made her way there. Meanwhile he could hear her making adjustments. The sound of a Lanvarok slipping across supple skin before it locked in place. The near silent click of the lightsaber attached to something on her left arm. The effect was for speed, efficiency, and of course surprise. Yet as the door closed behind her, the Pureblood cocked her head from one side to another. As if attempting to hear something from a great distance.

"I am here, Teacher." the response succinct. "I sense as if something is off around this world, Teacher. Not quite right."

 

[Darth Maleficar]

Ayindri came, and Ayindri spoke; vocalising her deep suspicions about the world below. Flicking his lengthy of hair, the Darth began to speak.

"You are right to trust your senses about this world my dear, Draay 2 may seem pristine to the naked eye; yet there is a history to it that only those learned of it. A group of Jidai known as the True Covenant, a reformed sect of the Covenant that swore to eradicate the Sith before we could rise again, erected a temple here to serve as a reliquary for our artefacts. As you know full well, we have come to this backwater moon in the pursuit of such items...this one in particular you may be familiar with."

Sin'ryk knew full well that the young female before him would be more than familiar with the relic they came for; at the same time, he knew full well that she would also feel a degree of loathing and disgust with the beings who forged it. Such feelings were not shared by him, what with him being born outside the petty rivalries of the remaining Sith Households; indifference was the High Arcanist's mentality on this old rivalry, perceiving it to be a waste of time that can cost the surviving descendants very dearly. Stroking his tendrils, he continued.

"This particular relic we came for is none other than the Gauntlet of Kressh the Younger; forged by his father, Ludo Kressh, Elcho's gauntlet was quite a powerful tool. Tell me Ayindri, what do you know of its capabilities and the history that surrounds it...besides from being an expression of the cowardice of the Kressh bloodline."

The last words were spoken in a light, mischievous tone; Maleficar knew only too well what the Sith peoples of Begeren think about the Kressh; themselves being supporters of Sadowist ideologies, their feud had rage on for far too long in his opinion.

 

[Intratec]

Biting back a hiss, she cleared her throat than spoke. "Ludo feared for his son's life as Lord Sadow levied for the Old Empire to begin readying an attack on the Republic.. Supposedly it was made to make his son invincible to external harm. By allowing nothing to touch him, unless he wished it. But there was more. Ludo had sent him into hiding, out side of the Caldera. Except, Ludo died. And the Great Hyperspace ended in our defeat." she began to space now, hands behind her back as her lips dripped venom while retelling the tale.

"Elch, in his hubris and foolhardiness gathered some of the remnants of the Old Empire's fleet, rogues, brigands, pirates and began his 'celebrations' to seek revenge on the Republic and avenge his Father's honor." this is where a dark tittering laugh came next. "Except, he over indulged in Alcohol, and ruptured his stomach quite literally on the eve of his retaliation. He never achieved what he desired. And the massive fleet he had managed to build up fell apart. Scattered to the solar winds."

"My father would often have a single drink the night before he left on his various missions. But nothing more. Perhaps to mock Elcho, or to honor hour ancestors who could not share in the slaughter to come against the Jidai. I never knew."

 

[Darth Maleficar]

Listening to Ayindri speak, Sin'ryk could easily decipher the contempt in her voice; her words were practically dripping with all of the hatred she held for the bloodline of Ludo Kressh. Yet despite all that, she at least conveyed her knowledge of the Gauntlet's powers. After she began to speak of Elcho, she eventually began to laugh about the Kressh heir's fate, her following words filled with even more contempt. This made the Red Sith raise his eyebrow stalk slightly, though he himself was amused at the irony of the Gauntlet failing in its purpose; of course, a modern Sith Pureblood would probably be very mixed these days compared to the more or less homogenous bloodlines of the Red Sith tribes of his homeworld. Only the ancestors know the full extents of the Old Lineages, something that Sin'ryk had personally experienced for himself. He gave his own response.

"Indeed, one could relish the irony of Elcho succumbing to something his Gauntlet could not protect him from; alas, while I can never condone foolhardiness on a major scale, but a more pertinent question has arisen. Couldn't one argue that hubris is innate to our racial psyche?"

 

[Intratec]

Ayindri dipped her head in response, agreeing. But then again hubris could be found throughout the galaxy. Humans, Toydarians, Selkath, Mon Calamari. You name the race, it could be found.

"I believe the bigger mystery is, do you not believe it is found through the WHOLE of the galaxy? Every race, every state or planet. Hubris may be found there. Yet for us, because the Dark Side literally drips from our veins and we have senses surpassing the humanoid norm. Depending on the caste, that is. Would be enough for our species to have such hubris. Before Pall arrived, we had thrown off an enemy more despicable and powerful. The Rakata and it took but one man and his Sorcerer to rally our people to victory. He may have fallen eventually, but I believe it is he that every Sith before this Imperium strove for. Strength, Knowledge, Charisma. The sheer force of will to incite the masses. Lord Adas was the best example of our species. "

"I do not know how, or why, but Sadow's blood tells me to disdain Kressh. For me to step upon this world, it would be comedic irony and coincidence far in excess than I believe. I feel it in my bones."

 

[Darth Maleficar]

"True," began the Darth, "it seems hubris is everywhere; but indeed, the hubris of our people is well rooted, dare we say well deserved?"

Began Sin'ryk; as an Acolyte, he found it strange that his kin had been bickering with each other over a conflict that began in ancient times. Today, the Darth understood it all too well...but it was wasteful; the Sith, Red or Hybrid, were dying and they still were divided between Naga Sadow and Ludo Kressh. In doing so, they were slitting their own throats; not stopping to realise that they are dooming themselves. Just as he was about to speak again, a voice over the tannoy manifested; announcing that they are making their landing run. Gesturing towards Ayindri, he gave his instructions.

"To your chambers my dear, finish your preparations; their forces that will dog us in our pursuit of the Gauntlet...forces not of the living."

 

[Intratec]

She spared a moment to look down at herself, then toward him. "I am ready, I've meditated on this place for hours before donning my armoured robes. My Lanvarok, Saber and assortment of alchemical solutions." gesturing downward, she continued, "I may sound a fool, but, I have faced the whispers and lingering spectres of the dead on Korriban, within its Tombs; have resisted the the persona held within one Naga Sadow's Holorons within a room suffused with the darkside. At age twelve."

With a slow shake of her head, and shoulders set in helplessness, "I do not know what else there is to prepare. Except to gather the necessities of the wards against the unliving."

 

[Darth Maleficar]

"Simple," began Sin'ryk with a chuckle, "prepare for the unexpected, so that it may become expected."

Indeed, ghosts and booby traps were one thing...the world itself can turn against the poor soul that has dubious fortune to walk its surface. With such a powerful Sith artefact on the moon, only the ancestors will know precisely what will make Draay II's surface do. One can only imagine, not that it would surprise the Darth if such a thing were to occur. Soon enough, a shudder coursed through the shuttle as it made contact with the surface. Especially considering that the artefact held much power within its ancient form. Rising to his feet, the Red Sith took his seeing stick in hand; the dark energies that snaked within its deadly cargo crackled slightly within his grasp. Looking his pupiless eyes on Ayindri, a smile crossed his face.

"We are here, I've commanded the shuttle to land outside of the Jidai temple."
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Based on how clear it was and the presence of the star and planet Draay II orbited, combined with the sensation of warmth on his face, Sin'ryk knew that today was a pleasant day on the Moon. Yet that wasn't what he focussed his otherworldly gaze on, or rather, it was an old structure that had been ravaged by time; swaddled in foliage, the browned stone had decayed thanks to the embrace of the planet's seasons. Surrounding it was a river, that formed a shallow moat jotted with stone that had fallen from the dilapidated temple. For the Darth, it was here that they would begin the pursuit of the Gauntlet of Kressh the Younger. With a gesture, the shuttle once more lifted off; the pilot taking back into orbit around the moon. Once more, Sin'ryk turned to Ayindri; he imagined that she would probably despise being in the middle of a Jedi temple...even one that had been abandoned for so long and left to nature to reclaim. Just before he could speak, he felt a wave of coldness sweeping through the area, replacing the warm breeze. Slowly, clouds were beginning to form in the sky...in spite of the fact there was none before to mar the sky.

"You feel that? Tis the Dark Side growing in ascendancy here...it knows we have come for it. I've a feeling the weather will get worse, into the temple we go to begin our search."

 

[Intratec]

A grimace had marred her countenance at the answer, yet she steeled herself for what was yet to come. Yet as the shuttle landed and they took their first steps on Draayian soil she froze. The Light Side still lingered here; apprehension began to mount just as the cold, but welcome wave of cold power washed over her. Muscles relaxed, yet her eyes darted about still.

"I feel the Light Side of the Force here, waning. With no Jidai, could the Gauntlet's energies have begun taking root, poisoning this place?" yet she did not wait for an answer to come. Whispers tickled her ears and mind, the dead spoke easily and readily. Some in warning, others in offering greetings. The Pureblood clamped down on her will, shutting them out. But a feeling lingered here. Familiar yet she had not come to this world in her lifetime. "This place, I feel things here, Teacher. Things I cannot describe, faint yet familiar power radiating through the Light Side's tattered grasp of this place."

Moving her head left to right, old, etched stones marked the area, vines and vegetation reclining a once man-made structure. "Something is not right with this temple." warned while warily walking beside the Darth.

 

[Darth Maleficar]

Sin'ryk listened as Ayindri spoke, giving voice to many questions...and then ultimately conveying that she felt as though there was something wrong here. The older Red Sith admonished that as well, that the malevolence within the artefact has begun to seep into Draay II; he promptly voiced his own suspicions on the matter at hand.

"Perhaps the artefact calls to our collective Darkness, such a congregation of power may be affecting the world itself."

After this was said, he then gestured for the Acolyte to follow him into temple; in normal circumstances he would be expecting more warmth. Instead the air grew colder as they delved deeper into the temple, until their breaths began to form clouds within the hallways. Glancing around, it was more than apparent that nature was in the process of reclaiming the inside of the temple. Tattered pennants wafted in the otherworldly breeze, vines crept into the visages of worn-stone busts like a parasite infesting an unfortunate host. The Dark Side was abundant in this place, thinning the Veil between the realms of the living and the dead, and it gave the High Arcanist an idea of how he could begin the search. Turning to Ayindri, Sin'ryk gave his proposition to her.

"I've an idea here my dear; notice how the Dark Side waxes greatly here right? Well, I've a ritual that will invoke the spirits of those who have watched the Artefact, relishing the moment in which irony will take its course. Alas, it is your ancestors that are tied with the Gauntlet whilst mine were exiled for Heresy after Adas' death; long wishing it would fall into the hands of a Sadowist. However, it is your blood that is required...but only with your blessing."

 

[Intratec]

Ayindri's left hand stroked her chin while the Arcanist spoke, it was true, mostly. Yet what he asked of her lowered the lids of her eyes a little in suspicion. The further they had walked,the weaker the Light Side had become, with the Dark Side's presence growing ever stronger. "Perhaps your power, Teacher. While my blood is rich with the Force. I am no where near your equal, yet." Yet those lids remained narrow for another reason entirely. His wish for her blood to perform a ritual to raise the spirits which guarded the artifact gave her pause.

He'd been keen on teaching her lessons on trafficking with the undead, and here and now he wished to perform an invocation.

"And you believe my blood is important enough for this ritual you wish to perform? What will happen to me in the process? Do you know? Will we have wards set to seal the Spirits and bind them?" All valid questions, even as she moved forward, pulling the sleeve back on one of her arms. "I will do this, regardless if you believe it can be controlled. I do not know where you need to draw from, however, I do not desire a scar on my skin if possible." It would be correct in saying her interests were pique'd. Yet caution had cut in, even at the prospect of drawing a soul forth, baiting it with her blood.

 

[Darth Maleficar]

Ayindri's questions were more than valid; after all, she herself knew very well the nature of the spirits of the Ancient Sith. The Red Sith had the desire answer...well most of it.

"Seal yes, bind? Not as such my dear; we are merely summoning them from their tombs. Once we do that, we undo the bindings and send them back to their places of rest and invoke another spirit in the right place where the Dark Side thins the veil. As for your blood, I merely require 5 drops of it from the tip of your finger; one for each ancestor who will serve as our guide that will answer the call of their descendants. At most, we would probably need three drops, though five are recommended for remedying unsuccessful attempts."

After that was said, the Red Sith reached for pack and pulled out several phials containing shimmering powders and liquids that seemed to move as though they were alive. Dark Side energies fluttered within the immaterial realms, within the perception of his second sight. They seemed to gravitate towards where the Dark Side was strongest within the chamber; the High Arcanist proffered a phial of powder and liquid towards the younger Sith.

"Take these; with the powder, you draw half the circle. With liquid, you draw half of the protective symbols. I will do the other half; once this is done, then we will get to the bloodletting."

 

[Intratec]

If she were human, and had eyebrows one most certainly would have been raised. Five drops of her blood, one for each ancestor. So only a finger would do. Good. She hadn't wished a knife to mar her perfect skin, it'd require wasting a bacta patch to not leave a scar. Yet even as she stared at the preoffered phials, she rubbed her fingers together in a moment's thought before taking them. The phial cork popped free with an audible little pop; back bent forward she carefully drew forth a half circle of powder, it clung to the ground which perked her interest more. If only could take a sample, yet Sin'ryk seemed to have measured everything to within a hair's breadth of efficiency.

The other phial was a different story. She swirled the contents once, trying to gauge what was contained before unscrewing the silver cap. With a 'Come hither' gesture of her hand, the liquid poured fourth; the ground soon becoming coating in another half circle. His student preferred perfection in her work as the concoction, one that reached her nose, causing her enhanced sense of sell to wrinkle it.

"Both are complete, Teacher. Will a finger do for this, or will you need. . . a wrist." the latter said with with some apprehension. "Let alone, how are you sure any of those of my blood are amongst the dead here? Sadowist I might be, but we were not the only faction in the old Empire."

 

[Darth Maleficar]

As Ayindri got to work with her half of the circle, so did Sin'ryk work on his half; wrapping the Force around his own phials, the Red Sith pictured the symbols and shape that was to be drawn. Relieving them of their corks, the liquid and powder swirled outwards in answer to his mental commands. With a gesture, the powder swiftly swept upwards and then downwards, forming the semicircle that would create the wards. With the other, he wove it into intricate patterns; the liquid within the other phial began to shape itself into the runes that would channel the Dark Side into a barrier that would temporarily imprison the spirit until they had done their work. After they had both done their tasks, the Acolyte then spoke.

"Both are complete, Teacher. Will a finger do for this, or will you need. . . a wrist." the latter said with much reluctance. "Let alone, how are you sure any of those of my blood are amongst the dead here? Sadowist I might be, but we were not the only faction in the old Empire."

A smile crossed the Darth's face as he drew a very small metal slither and phial.

"Just from your finger will do...and I know very well that there were many political factions within the old Empire. Like I have said, your forebears would probably love nothing more than for one of their own to make use of a Kressh artefact. It seems our kind enjoy irony greatly. " He then proffered the slither and the phial to Ayindri, before continuing his words. "Now exit the circle and let those blood drops fall into the phial, I will join you shortly when I've finished the final piece of this puzzle."

After that, Sin'ryk then held his arms aloft and began to recite an incantation in the Tund-derived dialect spoken by the tribes of his homeworld. While his lips moved, his mind reached out to the Dark Side; grasping its cold tendrils and began to shape it with the skill of an artisan. Otherworldly music and roars echoed within a plane only those touched by the Force could hear; air shimmering at the congregation of power within this place. As the incantation continued, orbs of darkness took shape within his hands. With the music and roars growing louder, those orbs manifested into shifting fires that seemed to suck in the light. He then stopped speaking for a few seconds; with only the otherworldly sounds filling the silence. Then, a word of power surged forth from his lips as he slammed his hands together. A bright flash manifested, filling the centre of the circle with those same fires; with runes glowing, the Red Sith exited the circle.

 

[Intratec]

Answering his response with silence, Ayindri took the pre-offered items stepping out of the circle as she did so. Pricking her finger, the phial came open with a little nudge of the Force. She counted each drop that entered, careful not to let any reach the stoneworked flooring. Done, the finger quickly found itself between parted lips. Suckling on it until the bleeding stopped; while watching Sin'ryk, listening to every syllable uttered, every hand movement or arm gesture. The roars and music were far louder to her hearing, but she focused mostly upon him. The manifestations of fire molded into orbs. Her eyes slitting against the bright flash, speckles marred her vision once she dared open them again she found Sin'ryk had exited the circle.

Appearing as if a child suckling her finger, Ayindri held the phial and slither out to him. Yet her sight remained on the circle, eyes darting to every angle of it her head cocked to one side while she listened to something otherworldly coming forth from the rune filled circle.

When finally she took her finger away, she spoke: "I believe I will wait many years before trying this, Teacher. For I watched and listened to everything you had done. I will consider this educational and a warning of caution as well." admitting when she looked over toward him.

 

[Darth Maleficar]

"Until your power and prowess grows," began Sin'ryk, "it would be for the better; that your consideration of this moment is dual in its nature is a good one. Not all listens appear at face value. Now heed me, it is you who must speak with the spirits; they tend to respond better to their descendants due to blood connection."

The Red Sith then proceeded to retrieve the phial of blood from Ayindri's hand. Removing the cork, followed by a mental command, a tear shaped drop of red vitae floated outwards; caught within its embrace, it wisped towards the ritual fire that the High Arcanist had conjured. It then melded into the flames; at first nothing happened...but then veins of crimson began to manifest within its tongues. As this occurred, the Force began to scream with the endeavour as the fabric between the realms of the living and the dead was torn asunder. Had it been his own ancestors, summoning them in such a hasty manner would've been most disrespectful; in this case though, the end justifies the means. Soon enough, a figure began to take shape within the otherworldly fires; the Force began to grow silent, as though being torn apart had never happened. Within seconds, the figure had finally taken shape; he was a Sith of the old Empire, his regalia spoke as much. Head bald save for a single queue of hair at the top, facial tendrils horribly mangled and robed armour damaged. Crossing his arms, a deep voice surged forth from his scarred lips, speaking the old Imperial dialect of the first Sith Empire; his attention was focussed on Ayindri.

"I am Sa'dash Maroqzak, kinsman to the Jen'ari Naga Sadow; your blood has called to me, why do you disturb my rest?"

 

[Intratec]

Only a nod would suffice to the advice given. Simple spells were easy for her, as were the intermediate. But this was another beast entirely. As the spirit rose from flame and took shape, the girl observed his countenance and regalia damaged as it was. He held a small tuft of hair atop his head, and facial tendrils mangled. Clearly he had seen battle, and to speak of Sadow, that could only mean one of three things. The private war waged between Sadow and Kressh, her ancestor's own attempt to gain power, or the Great Hyperspace War. Choking down her awe, Ayindri strode forth close, but keeping a measurably safe distance from the circle.

"I am Ayindri' Za'til, direct blood descendant to Jen'ari Naga Sadow and it would seem your descendant as well Sa'dash. Many years have past, but our people live still. But this is not why you were called from your rest. I seek the Gauntlet of Elcho Kreesh, the coward Ludo's idiot son. And to claim it in Jen'ari Sadow's name as trophy."

"You were called by my blood, and know for fact I am what I say I am. Will you assist the blood of Jen'ari Sadow's heir in her quest?"

 

[Darth Maleficar]

Sin'ryk watched as Ayindri spoke to the spirit of Sa'dash, speaking about herself, her blood ties, the thing they sought out in the name of Sadow. Ultimately, the Darth could not care less about the divides that lay between the Sith who remained within the heartlands of the Old Empire; Sadow was an admirable being yes, but to be willing to die in his name many millennia after he was laid to rest seemed ridiculous. Then again, devotion to one's ancestors was something to be praised; the old Dark Lord simply wasn't the Red Sith's. Soon enough, the Sith spirit between them seemed to rumble with something akin to laughter; as Sin'ryk's intrigue began to manifest, the ghost spoke.

"Is that so? Then it is good that you wish to despoil the memory of Kressh's ilk; very well, you will have your assistance. I watched as the wars of the False Men occurred before the rise of Marmutin, when his puppets came for the Gauntlet, the Jidai strove to keep it from them. They took it deeper within the temple, a place as filled with the Dark Side as this one where I could venture no further. I cannot speak any further, being here in this wretched place taxes my strength." Sa'adash grew silent, before another bout of rumbling laughter manifested from his spectral lips; his ruined face became contorted in a parody of amusement. "Be careful blood-of-my-blood, there may be a few answers you may not like; have you the strength to overcome them should they be spoken?"

Before either of them could answer, the ghost than vanished. Stroking his facial tendril with intrigue, the Red Sith turned to Ayindri. He gave voice to his suspicions.

"Hmm, it seemed your forebear, as forthcoming as he was, seemed to hold much amusement as he gave his answer."

 

[Intratec]

Ayindri's eyes fluttered a little at the laughter and explanation. The warnings however did not go unnoticed, and one thing she had learned years before, be wary of trafficking with the dead. "His answer was as forth coming as it could be for all of my blustering of my lineage." came the response, as if it had all been an act. In truth it had, while she was Sadow's heir, since her being free of Begeren's Sadowist ideologies, her own had expanded. A lie was a lie, but it been told well enough.

"He either held something back, or we face greater peril should we summon more of my ancestors. That one was a Warrior, likely of the Great Hyperspace Wars. Or dealt in the private wars between Kreesh and Lord Sadow." it was as if she'd shifted gears completely. No venom dripped at the mention of Ludo's surname only thoughtfulness that lay ahead.

"Yet the answer caused a stir within me, within my core." a brief shake of her curtained hair and the Apprentice looked to Sin'ryk. "It would appear I have a colorful lineage. What is the next step, Teacher?" she had looked back to the circle, eyes narrowed slightly as her countenance took on a pensive look.