In the Shadows of History

[Darth Tagus]

The Great Library of the Sith was a place Tagus had associated with far more than any throne room before he had ascended to leadership and even after he could often be found here rather than anywhere else. It was his home far more than any of his ships or any of the chambers he had been given to sleep in.

He was, after all, a bit of a nerd.

Yes, Darth Tagus was the kind of man who enjoyed reading a long tome about the history of Sith Lords long since dead. Equally, he was the kind of man who enjoyed going out into the Galaxy to snatch pieces of history from the hands of those who would abuse them and those who were unworthy. Sometimes this meant that he had to be the first one to go and get them from their resting place, as was the case with the First Blade.

Sitting in the library at a long reading table with a copy of a book long since decayed away due to time, Tagus waited. He had sent word out to other Sith and Imperial Agents to see who would be willing to accompany him on this journey.

It promised to be a doozy after all.

What Sith hadn't heard about the Tomb of Darth Kravos or his holocron?

@Malon @christhebarker

 

[Zannah]

Zannah was the type of Sith to keep to herself, especially after the Order's recent defeats, but very few Sith would refuse the call of the Emperor—even her. She wouldn't ever admit it, but his summons had aroused her curiosity. Whatever mission lay before him was a dangerous one and had to be equally important to arrest his attention given the state of the Order. If that was true, then the mission was certainly worthy of her attention, as well.

Towering over the aids scrambling about the halls of the library, with her raspy mechanical breath as her herald, Zannah stalked into the reading chamber, black cape billowing behind her. Per the Emperor's orders, she had come prepared in her armor and with her weapon at her side. The Emperor didn't appear to want to waste any time, which was just as well, because she had no patience for wasted time either. With some distance still between them, Zannah stopped and beheld the man who held all the power in the Sith Order.

He was a green-skinned Mirailan—a man barely shorter than she was—with smoldering yellow eyes that traced the lines of text he appeared to be reading. The Emperor, Darth Tagus, was less imposing than Zannah had imagined, but she had long stopped judging beings by their outward appearances. Especially in the Sith, appearances could be wildly deceiving. She eyed the holobook in his hands. A volume on Darth Kravos, one of the first Sith Lords. Now her interest was greatly increased. Did the ancient Sith Lord have something to do with why he had summoned them there?

She stood motionless. Other Sith might bow, but Zannah was not so servile. Only those who earned her respect would see her kneel. Even so, she did have the wherewithal to remain silent until spoken to. She would not presume to demand answers from a master of the dark side of the Force. When he was ready, Darth Tagus would tell her why he'd summoned her. Until then, she was content to stand still like a gargoyle in her armor and await further instructions. @Nefieslab @christhebarker

 

[Zarya]

Zarya had never been to The Great Library of the Sith before today, with her studying on ossus and then joining the Imperial Republica, she hadn't had the chance with all the constant fighting, though she wanted too, as one can't know too much. The number of books and archives were more than enough reading for a life or two and she wished she had enough to read some of them but her reason for her being here wouldn't allow her time for that, as an invitation from emperor are not common especially for an acolyte and being wouldn't set a good example.

Zarya strode into the Reading chamber from behind the tall figuire that stood opposite the Emperor, she didn't recognise so presumed she was an acolyte but her height was imposing nearly standing a half taller than her though she had fought bigger. stoping next to the other sith she bowed her head to the Emperor, this wasn't the first time Zarya had worked under Tagus, they fought to conquer Iridonia some years ago, where he earned her respect as a capable commander and leader, even though she disagrees with him letting go of the empire, she still respected him.

She waited in quiet with other Sith for Tagus to respond to their presence.

@Nefieslab @Malon

 

[Darth Tagus]

Zannah arrived first and just kind of stood there like some strange statue. Tagus glanced at the tall pureblood for a second before continuing with his readings. She had arrived on time - she didn't bow and he didn't acknowledge her. Doing what you were asked wasn't really worth commenting on.

When Zarya arrived however, Tagus didn't immediately react. He waited until she bowed to him before raising his left hand and firing a streak of Force Lightning directly into her upper body. It would send her backwards with the force and the pain of it before Tagus cut it off almost absentmindedly.

"You were late."

There wasn't any other scolding or comments because none were needed.

Standing from the table, Tagus brought his mask to his hand with the Force but didn't put it on for a moment. Instead he waited until Zarya had at least somewhat regained her baring before continuing.

"I am going on an expedition to the tomb of Lord Kravos." he told them without preamble, "I expect to find defenses, of course, and knowledge beyond this entire library in certain matters. I've selected you to join me due to your natures and your training - do either of you wish to leave the room now?"

@Malon @christhebarker

 

[Zarya]

Zarya's eye grew wide in surprise at seeing the forcing lighting a heading straight for her, she wasn't prepared for it, all she could brace herself for coming pain. it pushed her back a meter and forcing her to the ground. The pain was seering for the brief time it hit her but she did not cry out in pain, only groans behind gritted teeth were only noises that escaped.

Zarya slowly picked herself up from the floor with slow deep haggard breaths and stood up tall, the chest piece of her armour slight smoking from impacts of the lighting, she answered the Emperor's question with one word "No," There was no hesitation in her voice, just sheer determination.
@Nefieslab @Malon

 

[Zannah]

Zannah had, of course, heard of the tomb of Darth Kravos. Typically, journeying into the tomb of an ancient Sith Lord was a bad idea—and Darth Kravos in particular was thought to have placed brutal traps within his own tomb—but the Emperor was powerful enough. And Zannah herself was, of course, interested in its contents. Perhaps there was some secret about the ancient Sith worth learning in the tomb. Something that had been lost in the intervening centuries.

She didn't flinch as the Emperor's lightning blasted the other Sith backwards. The Emperor had little patience and Zannah could at least respect that. Subordinates were to obey their Masters. At least until they were strong enough to usurp them. To the Emperor's question, Zannah shook her masked head. She was indeed afraid of Kravos's tomb, but this was good. Fear was a powerful ally of the Sith if said Sith learned to harness it. Zannah let her fear fuel her connection to the dark side.

She would not fail.

"No, Master," she replied.

The reverence in her voice was sincere, for the moment. Besides, she fully suspected that if either one of them had backed out, he would have killed them then and there—as was his right as the leader of the Order. @Nefieslab @christhebarker

 

[Darth Tagus]

Good that neither of them wished to leave the room at least - even after taking a blast of lightning, Zarya was still here and now Zannah had confirmed that she was staying as well. Tagus looked at the two of them for a moment longer, assessing them, before tilting his head slightly to the side.

"Darth Kravos was a warrior above all others and a leader few could hope to match. His legacy is untarnished, even if the descendants of the man have left much to be desired." he tapped the desk with a finger, "But we are not going there because he was a warrior or a leader; we are going there because he was a sorcerer of great and terrible power."

And such power was something to covet.

"Do either of you know what Darth Kravos mastered before his death?" He grinned, a dark expression lightened in no way by the display of pearly white teeth, "Abominations. Do either of you think to have the stomach to raise such monsters?"

If they did... they would learn. There were so many different levels of power when it came to abominations that even weaker Sith such as they would be able to learn something. And the more Sith who could create the creatures the more they could work as a force multiplier.

@Malon @christhebarker

 

[Zarya]

Zarya had studied most of sith history her main focus was during the early years of the sith empire and the time just before of the exiles, and you couldn't study that period without reading about Andraste and her three husbands, so she knew the answer but she presumed the question to be rhetorical,

"I have no interest in the creation of Abominations, my emperor. Though the recovery and spreading of lost knowledge is something i am interested in, so i will learn so that others may learn as well" the sith aren't at there strongest and they needed to boost the force somehow so sacrificing her conviction of being againest abomination was a small price to pay for the continued existence of the sith.

@Nefieslab @Malon

 

[Zannah]

Zannah looked to the other woman, Zarya, but then returned her focus to the Dark Lord. Any discontent she had with the woman's answer was hidden behind her mask. The Sith were at the weakest point in their history. Not since their founding had the Order been forced to hide in the shadows of the galaxy. Darth Kravos was one of the men who brought the galaxy to heel. To learn from his teachings, to learn the techniques that he learned, might be the key to repeating his success. Did Zarya really not see this?

"Yes, Master," Zannah said simply. "We are Sith. Power is our birthright."

And I will stomach any darkness — any monstrosity that crawls within it — to obtain that power.

Of course, Zannah was well-aware that the tomb of Darth Kravos was likely a deathtrap. The ancient Sith Lords didn't take kindly to their resting places being pilfered, even by the Dark Lord of the Sith and his minions. But that too was a test she intended to overcome. For if she could survive the tomb of one of the Sith forefathers, she will have proven herself to the Emperor as a worth candidate to join the ranks of his Sith Lords. One of the few capable of restoring the Empire they had lost. For that, she would pay any price. @Nefieslab @christhebarker

 

[Darth Tagus]

Neither of them backed down from the challenge or the knowledge of what was to come and that was good. Let it never be said that he had time for people who were uncertain, who hesitated. When destiny knocked you answered the call or you died an unimportant peon in the lives of beings greater than you.

Well if neither of them seemed enthused about this for personal reasons - which was good.

At this stage in the life cycle of the Sith, they needed to realize that infighting would serve them ill. There was a time for cutting the fat, for removing the unworthy but it was not when seemingly the entire Galaxy wanted them dead. The unworthy would find themselves in shallow graves before long anyway.

He eyed Zannah though. The answer was short, blunt and exactly what he expected from her. He nodded once before striding forwards.

"Master yourselves and come - let us face the remnants of Kravos."

- End Thread -

@Malon @christhebarker