Rule of Three

[Darth Victress]

.

KORRIBAN, 0321 LOCAL TIME

The dark temple remained a locus for vile manifestations of dark sided powers, a beacon for corruption and hatred which further fueled her own wicked agenda. Darth Victress was dressed in her typical armor, the fallen blade at her side as she stood within the altar. Several hooded figures gathered around her, their racial heritage evident only the crimson flesh as hands seeped out of the their cloaks. The temple was seemingly desolate and abandoned, though countless secret passages existed from the Sith Stronghold, allowing Lords and lesser Sith to travel undetected and freely.

The pureblood were chanting in a tongue far forgotten, though the powerful sorceress could make sense of its inherent meanings. With the death of Niish Chichel, it had been rumored that the Dark Councilor would be seeking new apprentices to fill in that gap. It was foolish to believe that the rule of two existed only in a linear descent, for powerful dark lords were well known to have numerous secret apprentices. The Deucalian serve one such purpose however she had settled her attention on two others; two talented figures that had risen in the ranks of the Sith Hierarchy and would make an excellent addition to her cause.

Sorcery was utilized to empower the central flame within the temple's lobby, the fire oddly green as it reflected its Dathomiri heritage. The doors would slowly open, revealing two more figures grabbed in hooded marauder robes, her two new apprentices.

@ByakuyaXVTogami @KinkyPrawn

 

[Mid Samekh]

Mid had mixed feelings about being taken on as an apprentice. Sure he needed help to learn the ways of the force and Darth Victress could most certainly provide. But never in his life had he called someone master. He had always been the captain of his own soul and he refused to call anyone master. But he had the utmost respect for the Sith Lord. She had proven herself worthy of the title of Jen'ari in his eyes, but he wasn't sure that he would call her 'master'. No, Midwan Samekh would never utter those words in his life. Not to her or anyone else...that's not to say that he won't follow her orders to the letter. He was a priest, but also a soldier. And Darth Victress was by all accounts his commanding officer.

He was clad in his armour and the black cloak was worn over it. But instead of all his other weapons he only had three. A single lightsabre hung from his hip, his sith knife was sheathed behind his back and his Lanvarok was on his right arm. These three weapons were not only the most important to him, but they were honoured pieces of his people. He walked with pride, his helmet under his arm, but his hood rested on his head.

The doors opened and Mid walked in, bowing deeply before standing upright. "My lady." he said simply, politely and proudly. He wouldn't call her master, but he would feel nothing but honoured that she had chosen him as her apprentice. Along with fellow crusader Markov, he had no doubt in his mind that they would be achieving great things in the near future.

@Faded Truth @ByakuyaXVTogami

 

[Darth Perilius]

.

Markov had arrived at the temple soon enough. He had been requested to meet with Darth Victress in order to become her apprentice. Markov was excited for this, for he wanted to gain more knowledge of the Dark Side in order to further his personal and political agenda.

Markov had high respect for Victress, after all they had worked together and had similar goals and ambitions. He had worn his warrior armor, but without the helmet as he entered the temple. He went through the halls and into the room with the altar. The grand chanting rang through his ears as he bowed and then went for the altar, standing beside Mid.

“Hello... Lady Victress..” he said, briefly bowing his head. He was honored to be an apprentice of a Dark Councilor. This new partnership alongside Mid would increase his power and further his goals in the Sith. He appreciated the moment and was excited to learn from the Sith Sorcerer

@Faded Truth
@KinkyPrawn

 

[Darth Victress]

.

Darth Victress stood there for several moments, the passage of time was not of concern to her, neither was any care of what occurred elsewhere on Korriban. Eyes stalked their movements, purebloods looking out of their shadows as glistening yellow orbs carefully watched the dark councilor and the two powerful Sith she had summoned. Lights momentarily dimmed, the faint candlelight becoming nearly oblivion as wails of tortured souls washed through the Temple lobby. It was a hollow and eerie sight, as voices deep within the tombs buried underneath their feet would almost whisper to the two Crusaders as they joined the sorceress.

Her gaze first settled upon Markov, as Darth Victress slowly made her way over to him and rested her armored hand on his shoulder as he bowed in acceptance. A surge of dark energies would suddenly transfer from the master to her apprentice, a volatile power as it pulsed through his veins, corrupting them and transiently for only a brief second, if Markov were to cast a glance at his own hand he would see flesh decaying before it restored. It was a blessing of darkness, signifying that Darth Victress had accepted the young man into her service. "You may rise, Crusader Aletaus.." She spoke, slowly moving over towards the pureblood Sith.

The sorceress had prepared an application of Sith Alchemy before hand, her armored figure almost glistening with an unholy contour as she made her way over towards Mid. "Your allegiance to the Church of Sith is well known. Are you ready to accept this transition and usher in a new era of servitude to the Empire? The Confessor will teach you mercy and acceptance, you will receive only the promise of death and glory with me..." She asked towards the Crusader. Darth Victress knew that Markov voiced no hesitation, but Mid, even as formidable and promising as he was, knew that perhaps his attachment to the Confessor was too strong. It would be an important response, was the young man ready to advance into the Empire? Or would his own religious views obscure the path of enlightenment.

@KinkyPrawn @ByakuyaXVTogami

Spoiler: OOC

Testing some new post formatting out, seeing what looks good.

 

[Mid Samekh]

Mid watched as the Sith Lord blessed Markov with her powers. She was strong and her influence was far and wide. Mid was impressed by this power. In his mind he hoped that one day he might be able to wield such power himself in the name of the Dark Side. After that blessing she came to stand in front of Mid. He had to almost lean over to look at her short figure. He was a giant compared to her and even now the thought of it amused him. He made sure not to show it, though.

She asked him if he was ready to follow her. It was not an easy answer. It meant that he ran the risk of losing his faith as a priest and simply become another drone in the imperial war machine. He looked at the circle of Purebloods in the room. His own people, all there to witness this moment. He'd wager that he might recognise a few of them.

He looked back at Darth Victress in front of him. "My lady, you're asking me to abandon my religion to proceed. I feel compelled to remind you that I am, first and foremost, a priest to the Dark Side. I don't wield its power for my own gains. I wield it to spread its glory and influence to all corners of the galaxy. I'll accept your blessing and teachings, but I won't abandon my church or duty. The only death will be that of heretics against the Dark Side. The only glory will be to the Empire, the Sacellum and the Dark Side itself. Not for me." Mid spoke softly at first, but his voice grew as he finished.

He knelt down and bowed his head with one hand resting on his knee, like a warrior being knighted. "In the name of the Dark Side I accept your teachings, my lady."

Refusing her power would be madness. But he wouldn't abandon his duty as a priest for his own gains. Combining the two aspects, however, that was perfectly fine in Mid's eyes.

@Faded Truth @ByakuyaXVTogami

 

[Darth Perilius]

.

Markov had bowed as Darth Victress had approached him and placed a cold hand onto his shoulder. As he kept his head down, surges of dark pain erupted as if he were caught in severe gamma radiation, but he did not falter, as this was the Dark Side within him. Dark Power coursed through his blood with high levels of pain until it stopped suddenly, and so did the darkness. The Sith Lord asked him to rise after the initiation of dark. Indeed that pain was a trial of initiation to become the new apprentice.

“Yes my Lady...” he said simply as he rose from the ground to a stand. By the time he caught sight of his new master, she was already approaching Mid. The Councilor has questioned the pureblood’s allegiance to the Empire in comparison to the Sacellum. He sensed brief hesitation from him before diving into his own thoughts about the Church. Yes, he had joined it, but for the knowledge and approach to the dark side he craved. He had no mercy; only glory to the Empire and himself. His undying loyalty to the Empire and in his own perception, Rule of The Strong was empowering to him, and through this master and apprentice relationship he can further both Empirical and personal agendas.

He stood as he waited for Victress to finish the initiation of the other Crusader.

@Faded Truth @KinkyPrawn

 

[Darth Victress]

.

Darth Victress allowed Mid to speak in defense of his beliefs, that passage of time as he continued his spiel unimportant to her as the dark lord was never interested in learning of his opposition. She knew that he had a differing testament, but his nobility and the strength he derived from the Sacellum also provided him with fortitude, and that was one of the reasons she had chosen him as her apprentice. Darkness continued to pulsate in the palm of her free hand, almost making it appear as the armored appendage had been eaten away completely by decay as nothing but shrouds of shadows remained.

She chuckled as he finished, "Gooood..." Darth Victress said in response, opening her palm with a simple gesture as the alchemical process suddenly spewed forth in rivulets towards Mid. It would grasp at his throat and inner organs, almost crushing them in a painful embrace but the pain was not of discomfort, it was one of thirst. A hunger, satiety not completely achieved as the rush of vile energies crawled up the veins of his chest and through the neck onto his face. Ebony black tarred against the crimson flesh of his pureblood heritage, granting his eyes a hollowed appearance of corrupted yellow.

The boon would slowly dissolve, but in the short lapse of waking seconds it was active, it would grant Mid a glimpse into their future. The trio of powerful Sith, lead by the Dark Councilor herself as their wrath extended to planets across the galaxy. Carcasses of slain rebels and Mandalorians lay on the battle field in front of them, all the while the single, hovering throne of Korriban remained stagnant in his vision. A sudden flash of light bringing him back to the present, Darth Victress slowly walking away and climbing the steps to the second platform. "Your nobility is honorable, it shall provide you with focus and conviction. In the end, we all shall serve the Dark side, and with my guidance, you will rise..." Darth Victress said, moving to a raised platform where nothing but a stone wall intercepted her path.

Armored hand lifted upwards, seemingly knowing just where it was drawn as she laid it gently on the surface before tendrils of black smoke erupted from her palm and smashed into the stone itself. Rumblings shook at the temple foundation, causing the wall in front of them to partially open and reveal a second room. A large holoprojector remained in the center, not modernized by any means but rather reeked of ancient technology. Whoever used this room, likely was of a time period long before any of their birth. "Come.." Darth Victress said, as she moved inside. Temperature would drop gradually through the entire lobby, plunging them into a state of unnatural cold. It wasn't similar to the cold of Korriban's deserts, but rather the force itself tempering with the trio.

@KinkyPrawn @ByakuyaXVTogami

 

[Mid Samekh]

Mid kept his head held low as the Sith Lord stood in front of him. He saw her hand and knew that it was a dark, powerful energy, but he didn't move an inch. The dark powers shot from her hand and passed right through his armour. It pierced his skin and the power ran through his chest, face and veins. He grunted slightly as the dark powers crept through his body. He had never felt anything like it. It was painful, but not like torture or an injury. It was as if he was dying of thirst and hunger. But not of food or drink, it was so much more. A vision appeared before him. It was bloody, it was glorious and it stirred the darker part of him. The call for holy war. A crusade in the name of the Empire.

A flash snapped him back to reality and he had to stop himself from falling over with one hand as he recovered from her power. She moved away towards a wall ahead of them and as she took the precious few seconds to comprehend what he saw and stand back up. The wall opened up in front of her and she beckoned them to follow. Mid walked proudly towards her and followed her into the ancient room. His curiosity perked up with the sight of the ancient holoprojector. He would love to explore and document this room, but for now that had to wait. The temperature dropped and a slight shiver ran through Mid's body. He was no stranger to cold. Ilum, Hoth, the icy nights of Korriban, all these harsh conditions have hardened him against the cold...but this was something else entirely. Not natural whatsoever.

@ByakuyaXVTogami @Faded Truth

 

[Darth Perilius]

.

Markov watched as Darth Victress questioned and then initiated Mid. The dark side energy reeked from that part of the room as well as himself as the initiation of both were complete. Official or not, they were both now the apprentices of the Councilor, and Markov promised to expand his power and work with the two in defending and expanding the Empire and in the name of the Sith.

Soon enough, the temple shook as a new room opened in their wake, a seemingly holographic image inside the room, cold energy exerting itself from the new chamber. The Sith Lord gestured the two into the room and he followed suit directly behind his new master.

When they arrived in the room, a abnormally extremely cold shrouded the trio, not like any other temperature he had felt. It wasn’t natural, but an act of the force. Markov stood beside his master as he waited for further direction and explanation of the ancient object in front of them.

@Faded Truth @KinkyPrawn

 

[Darth Victress]

.

The cold emanated from the ancient force powers that resided within the hollow cavern, a secular region of the Temple which still stood sacred amongst Korriban. Darth Victress' presence was at first unwelcome, the natural defenses of the temple lashing back with its frigid temperature only to slowly warm as its resistance wilted away with time. A rivaling aura continued to emit from the dark lord, a stench of death and decay that partially engulfed her own armored figure. Parts of her remained visible while the others were simply a dashing flurry of shadows, slithering with an unseen windy apparition. She remained focus on the holoprojector before them, awaiting their arrival as she turned the device on.

"The dark temple shall remain our privileged grounds, you may seek my counsel or each other's within the properties of this compound. The powers are formidable and will guard our secrets from the watchful eyes of others.." As the rule of three would flourish, it was evident that this served as their council's new headquarters. The temple was distance from any remote activity on Korriban, and required a treacherous journey either through underground passageways or deep into the deserts where native purebloods would likely hunt unsavory foreigners. In either case, the surrounding environment would not dare interrupt their meeting, knowing full well the evil that resides within them.

Darth Victress brought up a new visual on the projector, one of an isolated village covered by swamplands. "Vjun.." She said, moving slightly out of the way so as to allow her apprentices to see easily. "I have received visions, a force haunting my dreams that is different than the power we already channel..."

@KinkyPrawn @ByakuyaXVTogami

 

[Mid Samekh]

The more Mid saw of the secret chamber the more it started to make sense to him. This was a temple or sanctuary of sorts, channeling the dark side of the force itself. To him it was hallowed ground. The cold started to retreat and it became more bearable. The powerful aura around Victress showed just what kind of power and magicks she wielded. Whether the be holy or blasphemous he could only guess, but either way there was no doubt that she was immensely powerful.

Mid came to a halt a meter or so away from her, his eyes moving between the holoprojector and her. "To be able to use these hallowed grounds as a base is indeed a great privilege. I have no doubt that the Dark Side would protect our work in our absence." he muttered as he looked the compound over. Once done he might actually explore the place, see what other facilities were down here. He would be lying if he said he wasn't contemplating moving his quarters from Ilum into here.

The name Victress spoke drew Mid's attention back to her. He cocked his head to the side. A different type of power? "A different power, my lady? What do you mean?" he inquired. It definitely caught his attention. What other power could there possibly be aside from the Force? Of course there was that crazy heretic on Prakith that they put down but that somehow felt different to this. Mid was a bit more skeptical than to chalk it up as mere heresy.

@ByakuyaXVTogami @Faded Truth

 

[Darth Perilius]

.

The Sith Temple's cold essence reeked of ancient dark power, which ran through the veins of Markov as he adapted slowly to the surroundings. Soon enough, the area became less prominent and painful to stand in as he took observation of the room. The temple and this room must be a conduit of Dark Force, and that this room was the center. The Dark Councilor turned to them and went on a monologue about the temple. Ah yes, the Rule of Three shall rise and this temple be its base. This temple shall be their base and that he would gladly accept it as so, and expand his power through the power inside and the path from it.

"Yes... This temple shall expand our agenda and power... Thank you for showing me and giving me access to this vault of knowledge... master," Markov said. "It is an honor to learn from here..."

The Crusader continued to listen to Victress' words and then she spoke of another place: Vjun. He had plans for endeavors on that planet, and from his research it contained a strong flux of Dark Side Magics. She spoke of different power. "A different power on Vjun... Interesting... Perhaps these callings are to something that can give us unimaginable powers.... Dark Side Magic that will give us an edge in our Crusades..." he said, his armor glistening in the light of the room. Whatever she was compelled to seek must be powerful, and that attracted his interest very quickly.. Markov was willing to learn of the power alongside his comrades, no matter the danger...

@Faded Truth @KinkyPrawn

 

[Darth Victress]

.

Darth Victress nodded as the two glanced at the projector, the Vjun dark temple was certainly a sight to behold given its rather elevated vertical ceilings. It was rumored that the temple was created in such a manner to facilitate the Force God's blessings upon its followers. Chilling air swirled around them, making standing on the hollow grounds uncomfortable but yet further propagated a certain thrill seeking indulgence. Shadows glittered across her body, manufacturing as they partially concealed her image still; the aura was deathly ill but completely obscured by the nefarious presence of the Dark side that existed around them.

The dark councilor moved towards the partially opened door, casting her left palm into a straight gesture as rivulets of ebony magics poured suddenly from her fingertips. Another manifestation of the Sith Alchemy she had prepared, as the smog carefully caressed the border of the door and created a thin veil that pulsed in the air. "Others may not enter, only with our blessing. You will return to these lairs in between your missions for briefings as necessary.." She said, shifting her attention now to the Temple once more. "A different power, different than the dark side but just as malevolent. It seems not from the Force, but seemingly from something else entirely..."

Darth Victress paused for a second, not able to give enough clarity to answer the pureblood's question. The truth was, she herself did not know all the answers, but was definitely eager to find out. "If it exists as it has in my visions, we will claim it for ourselves..." Her voice cold and robotic as it spoke. She turned away from them seconds afterwards, proceeding to exit the room. "We will depart for Vjun in the morning..." She stated, casting one last glance at the two of them before slowly vanishing into the darkness of the Korriban desert.

// end Thread