Tenebra Libatis

[Simonev]

A Temple in ruins
His guardians arise
Will they appease the illusions?
Or will this be their demise?
​

Something was walking around the temple, it had a strange purple pigmentation and no visible features, it was a blank canvas for the Dark Side masterpiece.
It had no clothes or weapons over himself, both hands werebehind his back and he stared nervously left and right with his completely blue eyes.

Perfect Darkness is late
For the encounter near the Slate
This can't be Darkside's will
As here I can hear both Her and His very whisp!
Eheheh, Eheheh.​

He bursted on a sadistic laugh for some seconds before returning to the position of before, that thing was Len'Raz, a masterpiece of Sith Alchemy going wrong, that horror of flesh was waiting near the Temple's Entrance, waiting impatiently for his companion.
Their mission was to explore an ancient underground tomb and remove his guardians entirely from it, appeasing the Sith Wraiths that most probably inhabitated the temple.
Behind some broken pillars near him, a orange smoke started rising slowly up, slowly covering the actual entrace of the temple, composed of a little building built inside a mountain side of the area they were in.

 

[Valen Pelora]

The Darkside was spreading across the galaxy. The Empire’s reach was growing, casting a long shadow. The Republic was failing, the Jedi cowering in their temples. Light was fading from the galaxy being consumed by the dark. Fools still fought. Desperately battling to save their way of life, it was futile. The end was drawing ever closer. The Darkside would be victorious. The Faith would stand alone, rewarded for their servitude.

Alexia Morr, the Red Witch, and Priestess of Tund stood looking at the expanse of Malachor. The Darkside pulsed throughout the entire planet, it was unlike anything she had ever felt. Malachor was shrouded in secret. An ancient world that had housed generations of Sith. Alchemists, sorcerers, and witches had poured their souls into the planet. Old forgotten Temples littered the surface, hidden from prying eyes. The galaxy had forgotten Malachor, but Malachor had not forgotten the galaxy. The Darkside energies reached out in the universe, calling, beaconing, summoning.

The Empire had felt the pull. Alexia had answered the call. Malachor had secrets, old secrets. The residents of Malachor had been masters of the old ways. The darkest arcane arts. The Empire had forgotten much of what their ancestors knew. She had a chance to bring it back. Alexia had dedicated her life to reclaiming the lost ways. She had spent years piecing together history, spells, and alchemy. Dedicating her life to serving the Darkisde. She had joined the Priesthood to expand her knowledge. To learn at the side of Lord Cain, the greatest sorcerer the galaxy had seen in an age. He did not disappoint.

Alexia was learning faster than ever, but it was not enough. There were secrets she could not grasp, or Lord Cain would not share. He was guarded and she had not earned his full trust. She would in time. Patience had never been her greatest virtue. She had been unable to resist the pull of Malachor. She would unlock the secrets. It would come at a cost. The old masters still walked Malachor, and they were as dangerous in death as they had been in life. Few came to the dark world and ever left the same. The risk would be worth the reward. She breathed in the Darkside and put her helmet on her head. Her gauntleted fist tightened around the silver hilt of her Lightsaber.

It was a short walk to the entrance of the temple. The whispers of the past pulled at her mind. She forcibly shut out the calls. It would only get worse. The deeper they traveled into Malachor, the deeper they traveled into the temple, the stronger the spirits. This was only the beginning. Alexia did not balk when she saw the creature standing near the entrance of the Temple. She had been warned her partner was a Sithspawn. It was grotesque, but if it helped her pry open Malachor it would suffice. The dead were already marshalling against them. The entrance to the Temple was bared by glowing fire.

“The dead are waiting for us.” She gestured for the spawn to lead the way.

@Simonev

 

[Simonev]

She's here, She's ready
Let's delve into death Dark Lady...
​

The Sithspawn took a more animalistic approach as he used all four limbs to move toward the orange smoke, hiding for a few minutes before standing upright once again, with a much more composed and generally human position, he was now wearing his traditional set of armor, complemented with his two Phrik shielded gauntlets.
The influence of Malachor was extremely heavy on the Sithspawn, this had to happen at some point, the planet's influence was felt since Raz got out of the tomb for the first time, but actually being here was a whole other matter, the pressure was constant and painful for his already weak mental health.
At last, Len started moving toward the building, stopping just right before the glowing fire, one hand behind is back, and another moving toward the fire itself.

Funny!, the dead think I'm scared
But for knowledge, I will not stop for anything, too bad.
​

The creature started twitching his fingers unnaturally as he started moving with his hand open toward the flames, applying some form of Tutaminis, also called "Force Absorption" to absorb the glowing flames in front of him and dissipating their energy behind him as bursts of force lightning pointed toward the ground, slowly dissipating the flames and moving to the other side, not knowing if the flames would reappear behind him or simply leave the entrance open.

 

[Valen Pelora]

Alexia was uneasy, the creature was strange. Her faith was unwavering. Her heart was devoted to the Darkside, but she could not trust that thing. She had no sense of its motivations. No understanding of what pushed it forward. It was a mistake. An abomination of the Darkside. A perversion that never should have existed. The Darkness was meant to be pure, a black shroud smothering the Light. Len’Raz was the fumbling on inexperienced alchemists. Lord Cain never would have made such a grievous mistake. She was alone on Malachor, fighting the pressing dark.

The Sithspawn manipulated the elemental barrier blocking the Temple entrance. The creature absorbed the flames and converted the energy into lightning. It was an impressive use of the Force, far beyond anything Alexia thought the beast would be capable of. Energy absorption was difficult, changing the form of the energy required a deep understanding of the Force. As Len’Raz walked through the barrier, the elemental wall reformed. Her grimace deepened.

“Leave him, he belongs here. There is nothing for you.”

She spun, Lightsaber springing to life. The whisper had been in her ear, right beside her. The field outside the Temple was empty. The Force pulsed as before. She pulled her mental walls tighter, the old masters were setting to work. Malachor was a world of illusions. She would not fall prey to the false promises of dead men. She prayed to the Darkside her partner would remain strong. Taking a deep breath, she wrapped herself in the Force and walked through the flames. Her armor and the Darkside shielded her from harm. The heat was intense but not unbearable. She heard the voice again.

“Poor choice Priestess.”

She emerged from the flames and into a large stone room. In the center was a pulsing red orb, shinning a light on two massive doors. The door was inscribed in the old language of the Sith. She read the inscription aloud.

“Death is the first step.” The Darkside emanated from the orb, she could feel it pulling at her. This was only the beginning. They had to open the doors.

@Simonev

 

[Simonev]

Death, a wrong concept on so many, eheheh, so many fronts.​

The Abomination wanted to smile, but he had no visible mouth, so he just twitched his head unnaturally to emphasise his words, brute force obviously wasn't gonna work for opening the doors and the orb was releasing enough dark-side to give him conniptions, thankfully the few priest that remained close enough to him told him how to disperse these energies and keep himself human... but he didn't know for long he could put up with this.
"Death is the first step", a phrase that echoed in the mind of the curious Spawn as he moved through the room, thinking what had to die for them to pass through the door.

The Death of the body, the Death of the spirit.
Remove the red spark of life and just be done with it.
​

Placing both his hands near the orb, he could hear countless whispers, tempting... attracting... but of all he heard, no whisper knew his motivation, tempting him only with Power and Strength, things that didn't matter to him.
And at last, both hands started pulling some kind of red smoke as he tried applying the same technique used on the door, but after not long he would fall to the ground, spraying sparks of force lighting around him as the beast tried to disperse the newly acquired energy.

Death of the Spirit may not be an option...
...if both of us are not strong enough.
And as the obvious is out of the way...
...What do you think the inscription really says?
​

Len'Raz in the end managed to stand up, trying to maintain his old composed stance, although with much less success this time.

 

[Valen Pelora]

Alexia watched the creature attempt to open the door. It was a futile effort. Whatever energies were contained without the sphere were greater than either Sith could manage. She had sensed the power pulsating from the orb, she dared not touch it. There were ancient powers at play she did not fully understand. Len’Raz did not share her reservations. The abomination paid for his blind zeal. She watched her partner flail on the ground as he dissipated the energy.

She had an idea. Alexia breathed deeply on the Darkside. She pulled a knife from her belt and stared at her open palm. The Darkness required sacrifice, old Sith magic was fueled by life. Blood. She ran the knife along her hand, biting back a wince. Blood flowed freely. One more deep breath. She slapped her palm on the orb.

Alexia was in the same room. The cold dank chamber was different. Flames danced in the sconces mounted on the wall. Gone was the musty, dingy sent. The Temple felt alive, vibrant, and exciting. Her heart beat faster as she admired the transformed room.

“Clever.”

She spun, a hooded figure stood before the Temple doors. She knew this was the voice she had heard. The voice whispering in her mind.

“You would have served me well Priestess. Perhaps you still will.” The robed Sith spread his arms, palms up. “The Temple will welcome you, but that beast you travel with. It will betray you. The powers here are ancient, and hungry. The beat’s mind is weak. Alas, I tried to warn you. You didn’t listen.”

The figure was fading, the room shaking. “Who are you? What are you?”

A laugh filled her mind. “You will find out soon enough Priestess.” The room broke apart, and she was standing beside the orb once again. Palm still bloody she slapped it on the door. Creaks, moans, and groans echoed through the Temple. The doors swung open. The Sith were greeted with a puff of musty air. A long, dark hallway awaited them. She gripped her Lightsaber tighter and walked forward.

@Simonev

 

[Simonev]

The Beast looked up once again, holding himself standing with his two gauntlet blades, and as he saw the now open doors.... it laughed, a sadistic, maniacal laugh now filled the whole building, and as the beast twitched, spasmed until he was once again in an erect position, a new voice filled the room, it had a higher pitch, with a tone mixed between the one of a male and a female.

That... that didn't involve any kind of death
This is something we both didn't expect!
Well then, if this is his game.
It's time for both of US to play!
eheheheh... eh.
​

The Spawn started walking toward the hall as 3 blades spread out from each gauntlet, his figure was now more beastly, and his veins started pumping enough blood to make the veins themselves visible as red linings on the Beast's skin.
The Red Witch could feel something coming from the Spawn, centuries-old energies could be felt pouring out of his skin as it gestured to follow, it didn't turn, it didn't look behind, Len simply walked into the Hallway, and the Force-Forged weapons engulfed themselves with golden flames, but these didn't burn and didn't hurt, these just glowed menacingly on the various blades of the strange weapons he wielded.

Follow us, Fancy Morr
It's our time to shine, behind this door!​

 

[Valen Pelora]

The creature’s strange voice rang through her mind again. It was different than before, an unearthly mixture. It was unsettling. Alexia had encountered all manner of unique Sith. She was a diligent student of the Arcane arts, she had witnessed Lord Cain’s true form. The Red Witch was not afraid of the twisting of the Darkside. Physical appearance could be altered, physic speech could be tolerated. Unpredictability made her uneasy.

Len’Raz was unlike anything she had encountered, she did not know how to handle the creature. Now, he spoke with two voices instead of one. Alexia was in the heart of a planet consumed by the Darkside. Malachor was dark and dangerous. She was paired with a creature who may not truly understand himself. It was a chilling feeling. She watched Len’Raz stalk past her, his body changed. She could feel the ancient powers of the Darkside flowing. The beast’s weapons glowing in the hallway. Alexia followed, she was in no mood for games.

“There are dark forces at work here Len’Raz. They claw at your mind, rip at your soul. We must not heed their call.”

She silently prayed to the Darkside. She could not weather Malachor alone. She needed the twisted Darkside beast. She did not trust him, and she would kill him if he fell to the whispers, but for now they could only survive together.

@Simonev

 

[Simonev]

The Beast suddenly stopped after having heard the priestess, the unsettling sight of the armored creature just became more strange as it unnaturally bent backward, staring at her with its deep blue, lifeless eyes.
And then? then it chuckled, its arms slightly spasming around as the Witch would feel much... much more uneasy, almost in an unbearable way, but that would last only a split second or less, like if that was only a warning.
But as he wanted to talk, the room for him would change, shape and form becoming a series of unnatural prisms, and in front of the Beast didn't stand Alexia, but the same hooded figure that appeared to Alexia before.

...Always a pleasure to meet a Spawn

The figure talked with a... annoyed tone as it started circling around it, the Spawn couldn't move, remaining stuck in the unnatural position of before, before continuing to speak again, it stopped in front of the beast's head, staring each other and

I can feel your hunger, your age, but you didn't come alone, didn't you? where are your True masters?

We have always been here
Stuck into the body of the Beast
We are Insanity inside the Personality
We are Death inside Life
We may die, but our soul has no reason to strife.
As within our hosts, both Us and the Darkside thrive.
​

You are no more than hopeless phantoms, your weak host will succumb and obey just like everyone else, now let.....

As the robed figure tried to complete its sentence, the body of Len'Raz spasmed, erupting into a sadistic laugh as it forcefully started moving into its precedent position, strangely enough for both interlocutors.

One, One single miscalculation you did on Me Ghost. You Do Not apply your mortal concepts here, strength, weakness, force, speed, there's only one thing inside this Spawn, Zeal, burning and consuming everything that's not devoted to Bogan or the Darkside, now leave Sith, your discussion with my Masters stops now.

Impressive... but you will break Spawn, everyone does.


The Sith Ghost disappeared as everything turned back to normal for the Beast, meanwhile, Alexia should have heard everything, but for her, all voices were ghostly and heavily distorted, most probably being able to understand only parts of the phrases spoke by both.
Len'Raz hands were closed into fists as it stepped now toward the Priestess, towering over her as an aura of uneasiness started spreading into the whole hallway.

You will tell me everything, everything you heard now.

His voice now sounded... human, pristine in condition but with a mixture of hate, anger, and sadness, the Beast looked heavily concerned for what Alexia's response would be.
But no matter the response he would later receive from the human, Raz would respond to it slamming his bladed fist into the wall and turning toward the empty hallway once again.

We move forward Priestess, I will not bend to the dead, not again.
As that was a bond that could only be done as a man.​

 

[Valen Pelora]

The whisper returned, the old master of the Temple spreading his lies. Alexia was not his target. The tethered spirit of the Temple had stayed true to his word. Poking, prodding, and probing Len’Raz. Something was provoked inside the creature. She heard voices, too many to count. The haunting sounds poured from the beast. The Temple drank in the chaos. She brought her saber up as her feet slowly shifted. This was it. This was when the darkness of Malachor would consume Len’Raz. She could feel the creature battling, trying to stave off possession. She had little faith the thing would succeed.

A heartbeat passed, the whisper was gone. Len’Raz spoke with an almost human voice. It was a strange feeling to hear the voice of a man echo from a beast. He seemed to have regained control. The Sith Spawn appeared to be himself, whatever that meant. She was uncertain how long it would last. The longer they lingered in the Temple, the deeper they went, the less she could trust Len’Raz. His control could fade in a heartbeat. She would not rely on a beast that could be used against her.

“You must remain in control. Whatever darkness you have inside of you cannot take control again.”

She looked at the creature continuing to march forward. “I do not know which version of you this is, but I much prefer it.”

She followed behind Len’Raz. The hallway was becoming more narrow. They were getting closer, and closer to the heart of the Temple. She could sense the Darkside pulsing up ahead. It was growing stronger. Alexia had never felt anything like the Dark of Malachor. It was intoxicating. She knew there was danger of drinking too deeply. Even she was having trouble resisting the desire to plunge headfirst.

@Simonev

 

[Simonev]

This is... Argo, the true face of the Spawn, I'm surprised I even managed to be myself here...

The newly awake Argo was marching forward, the old energies suddenly stopping from pouring out of his body, the change would be felt immediately to the girl as the uneasy aura suddenly stopped.
But as the hallway was about to end, Argo's mind was clouded and stormed again by the voices, but this time it was worse... Much worse.
On Argo's eyes, a multitude of figure's appeared in front of him for some seconds, their bodies a twisted mold of flesh and steel, they stood around the Spawn and stared at him... saying one single phrase before completely disappearing.

What's the purpose of all this suffering?
​

The voices couldn't be heard by the other Priest nor she could see the figures, but this shouldn't have mattered for her as the Beast accelerated his pace and got out of the main hallway, and as one foot was set outside the narrow corridor, an extremely strong Darkside force could be felt coming out of the room, putting the Beast to his knees as it tried to resist it.

Stop resisting Beast, you shouldn't exist.

 

[Valen Pelora]

It had a name. Alexia was wandering through a Temple consumed by the Darkside, and just now she had met the true Len’Raz. She suspected ‘Argo’ was what the Spawn had been before the ritual. A soul trapped in a demon’s body. It was an existence she only wish on the deepest of heretics. She doubted ‘Argo’ had known what he would become. There was a stark difference between control. When ‘Argo’ was in command, the creature was less beastlike. Alexia almost believed he could make it through this. If she could keep ‘Argo’ near the surface they might have chance.

The pair walked through the hallway, Len’Raz speeding up. The Spawn burst from the hallway. She followed closely behind. They entered another large old room. Cathedral ceilings extended high into the air, shrouded in darkness. Small red orbs lit the corners of the room, a massive symbol was carved into the center of stone. Len’Raz was on his knees near the hallway. Alexia could feel the Darkside ripping at the creature. The Darkness was impossibly strong, they were close to the center. The Temple’s Master was growing anxious. She could not risk losing Len’Raz now, they were too close.

“Argo, shut out the dead. He is long gone from this world. His only power is that which we give him.”

“WRONG!” The thought pounded in her mind. The Force crackled and the purple shade of a man shrouded in a cloak appeared in the center of the room.

“My power was boundless in life. My strength has grown in death. This is my Temple, my secrets. I did not share them in life, and I will never share them in death. My Temple is your tomb.”

Alexia walked between Len’Raz and the shade.

“History has forgotten you. The Empire has forgotten you. You are nothing.”

An ethereal, piercing laugh echoed in the chamber.

“Then I shall make them remember.” Lightning shot from the shade’s hand. Her Lightsaber sprang before the assault, barely keeping the attack at bay. She could feel the dead Sith hammering her defenses.

@Simonev

 

[Simonev]

You... you don't know what you just did
Defying an Apostle's Host!? you can only bid
We will see who's temple this would be
Who will survive? You, Us...
...Or Me?
​

The Voices returned, stronger and more menacing than they have ever been thanks to the powerful Darkside energies that were present in the room, but the last line was said from Len... no, Argo's voice, the same energies of before started pouring out like crazy, becoming actually visible as they engulfed the Beast's body.
But these corrupting energies weren't against the Spawn, as it slowly absorbed them back into his body, rising up from his kneeled position and standing upwards, he was more animal than man in that moment, completely under the Apostle's orders, or so they thought.

Maim, Kill, Eradicate, Destroy, Disintegrate.
​

The Abomination howled with the worst screech a living thing could do as it dissipated completely the Darkside aura that was covering him.
It looked straight in were the eyes of the purple shade were supposed to be as it crawled toward the chains of lighting, shielding the girl with his gauntlets and laughing at the ghost's attempt to attack them.

I see them! I see all of them, your wounds, still flowing with the force, even in death you couldn't, you couldn't remove them!

The crazied look of the Abomination was one of bloodrthirst and hate, delving deep into the shade's eyes at it searched for more and more shatterpoints inside his body, but something else would interest all three partecipants at the moment.
Living Fire orbs sprouted out of his body, advanding toward the shatterpoint visible gaps in the ghost's physical form.

Hell itself is on my side, can you say the same!?

 

[Valen Pelora]

Alexia’s muscles flexed as she strained against the Lightning. The manifestation of the Darkside danced up and down her blade. She could feel her feet slipping slowly backward. This power was something only a few could muster in life. She could scarcely comprehend the power required in death. The spirit was as much a part of the Temple as the stone. He was drawing his power from the Temple, which drew power from Malachor. If they defeated the dead master the secrets of the Temple would be theirs. Unfortunately, that was becoming increasingly difficult. Alexia’s faith in the Darkside never wavered, but she was fighting a creature whose knowledge far surpassed her own.

The Lightning abruptly stopped. Her eyes locked on Len’Raz shielding her from the blast. Yes, she much preferred this version of the beast. The human trapped with the dead was a far better companion than the cacophony of voices. She hadn’t heard much of what ‘Argo’ had said. She had been focused on the Lighting, and it hadn’t stopped. Instead, the purple blast was joined by fire sprouting from Len’Raz. Strange.

She knew she couldn’t physically harm the spirit, but likely could touch him in the Force. Alexia reached for the Darkside and, again, was in another time. The more corporeal form of the spirit was staring at her. The large room was alive with training students, dark spells being woven all around her. She recognized some, other were completely foreign. The master smiled at her.

“This could be you, Priestess. I have taught generations of the Sith’s great sorcerers. They call you the Red Witch, perhaps you’d finally like to earn that little nickname.”

She tried to advance on the old man but her feet were stuck. He controlled the illusion. She was rooted in the ‘dream.’

“I’ll have all your secrets soon enough. Your best was not good enough, the spawn resisted your torments. Your power is fading.”

That same horrible laugh filled her mind.

“You can’t kill the dead, child. Has you master taught you nothing.”

She tried again to lunge forward. She was still stuck, still trapped, in the visions of a mad man.

 

[Simonev]

The room the Priestess was in was in full motion, with dark side users passing through and learning new, unorthodox spells, but that was another time, another place, the real room they were in was dead, crumbling and inhabited only by the dead.
And in fact, while The Red Witch was preferring to be blinded and fooled by the Master's mischieving nature, the Beast was still struggling against his actual, spiritual form, locked on what was a standstill, neither the Ghost's Lightning or the Living Fire sprouting from Len's body could reach each other, dissipating themselves every time they touched.

But as on the physical side one couldn't overcome the other, on the mental one Argo's was losing control to that wretched melody of voices that made up his "normal" state, slowly giving more control to them, both willingly and unwillingly, the Apostle's had to take full control if they wanted to overcome the Temple's Ghost tricks.

I am here... Master.
Don't you remember?
the day where for you, it all ended?
the day you thought I departed?
​

The Ghost face would change in one of disgust as in both the real room and the memories Alexia was watching this sick, childish voice would fill the room, overcoming the horrible laugh of the Master.
And on the real side, the Spawn eyes would become purple in color, symbolizing the full but temporary departure of Argo's control on the body, substituted by...

....Razoluw, Pureblood Sith
The one who forged the Apostle's will.
Trying to kill me? you worst trip
Now face me, the Darkside wants it.​

The Lighting would become more and more intense as the child-like voice simply laughed while shielding itself with the two shields, psychically reaching the Darkside as the body slowly advanced forward.

Now, he... she... It too appeared in the same vision of the other two... What both the ghost and the Priest would see would be disgusting, an unearthly mixture of flesh and metal, fused by the sheer power of Sith Alchemy in the form of what looked like a Pure Sith, but in reality wasn't.

Now now Master, who is she?
My Spawn caretaker?
How cute of her
If only she knew the truth!
​

The ghostly thing would circle around the Master more physical form multiple times while talking, it looked like there was some kind of relationship between them, but it didn't looked like a good one as the Master's face was now one of horror... watching how much power an alchemical failure could have harnessed on both life and death.

You... You can't be like this, you can't be alive, this never was intended... You are not real.
​

These words made the Sith-like construct stop mid-step, turning unnaturally its head at the Ghost without talking.
Alexia would have to stare at it all, unable to intervene with her body, but who knows if she could be helped by what seemed to be the Apostle's Master.​

 

[Valen Pelora]

The Force was in chaos. The Darkside boiled with tension, crashing through the Temple. Alexia was lost. When had no idea what she was watching. Manifestations of the Darkside sprung around them, Len’Raz was ensconced in a terrible aura. The Temple’s Master was faced with a darker adversary. She didn’t know what was real. She couldn’t tell friend from foe. Malachor was consuming them. They would become servants as so many had before them. Fear began to creep into Alexia’s heart. She underestimated the power of the planet, the strength of the dead. Was this where she died? No. She reached for the only thing she knew was real. Her bond with Ashlyn.

The Force bond rooted her to reality. She could feel her soul-sister, alive, and well. She clung to the bond to find reality. The bond was a curse, a punishment from Lord Cain. She had never been happier to be cursed. She pulled on the bond like a life line, centering herself. Panic receded, fear banished. She leaned on Ashlyn for strength. Alexia had no idea if Ashlyn could feel her, but the girl was saving her life. Her mind returned to itself. The dead were not the masters on Malachor. She was the Darkside’s loyal servant. Her faith was unwavering. The Temple, and the Master, had twisted her mind. She had forgotten who she was. She would have placed her faith in the Dark sooner. This was over.

Alexia drank deeply of the Darkside, pulling from Malachor and the Temple. She could feel the very heartbeat of the planet. She threw herself into the Darkness. The Force beat in her soul, rewarding her unyielding faith. She felt stronger than she ever had. The Darkside guided her hand. Alexia broke free of the illusion, standing in the old musty room. They need not fear the dead.

“Enough.” Her voice rang with the power of the Darkside. She spilled her mind out across the room. She felt the Master, the creature, and Len’Raz. The Darkside poured over the aberrations.

“The dead do not command the Dark. Faith is for the living.” She wrapped the Force around the long dead. She knew the spell, if barely. She began to chant. The room shook, the Temple quivered. She kept chanting. The Darkside smothering the Force aberrations. The Master began to scream. Alexia continued to chant, the Darkside ripping through her. She fed herself to the Dark. The room, the Temple, vibrated with the power of the Darkside. An unnatural shrieking filled their minds and then was gone. The ghosts of long dead had vanished. The power of the Master, and all his disciples cleaned. The Temple was theirs. Alexia fell to the ground. Exhausted. She barely managed to regain her feet, a door at the end of the room slid open. She slowly stumbled towards it, beaconing Len’Raz to follow.

“The secrets of the dead await us. You have earned this as much as I have.” Alexia was not sentimental, but she was truthful. “I could not have survived without your aid.” She shuffled into the room. In the center was a beautifully carved black staff. The power of the Darkside radiated from the weapon, it glowed with ethereal flames. It would be a perfect gift for Lord Cain.

@Simonev

 

[Simonev]

The Dream was shattering, everything in that once-alive room was melting away as the Priest fed on the energies of the Temple, unleashing them with a chant of sorts, the Master screams filling their minds as the dead abomination stared happily, laughing as the Master's form finally shattered on both worlds.

Thank you Caretaker but please keep the Spawn fed
As i don't want to do the ghost same end!​

It chuckled again after saying those words, and at last, as his figure started shattering too, it would disappear instantly, recessing back into the deep storms that clouded Len'Raz mind.

Back on the real, decrepit room, the empowered Len'Raz would once again be on his "normal" status, with its usual deep blue eyes and strange, but still somehow human voice, but it was also wounded and exhausted, exhaling a deep breath after noticing that nothing was trying to kill them.

So... No more surprises up ahead i hope? Also... If we are safe its the work of all dozens of me AND you, not just me, eheh.

The Spawn would move behind the Priestess, extremely inquisitive at everything around the black staff as it glowed ethernally with fire.

I wonder the purpose of such an artifact! Old and Powerful... Force Forged maybe? Or maybe its infused with ancient magic! The possibilities are endless...

 

[Valen Pelora]

Alexia entered the cold dark room. The only light spilled from the staff, it was drawing her closer. Pain from the Temple’s ordeals radiated through her body. Her mind, body, and soul, were exhausted. She had used the Force beyond her limits. It had drained her strength. Thankfully, all of this was nearly over. They could take the staff and retreat off the Force forsaken planet. Malachor was a Darkside nexus, but no ally. The planet belonged to the dead. There was no place for the living. Alexia’s tired legs carried her to the alter where the staff rested. Taking one deep breath she grabbed the staff. She expected the worst.

Nothing happened. She held the ‘flaming’ rune carved staff in her hands. She turned to Len’Raz and shrugged. It was a small miracle of the Darkness another trap had not sprung. She offered a silent prayer to the Darkside. This was over. She turned to Len’Raz, the creature was growing on her. The ‘Argo’ personality was almost human. Almost. It was the rest of the minds inside the beast she was less than fond of. A sickly-sweet smile crossed his face.

“A perfect gift for Lord Cain.” The High Pontiff would be pleased with such a gift. It was one small step in regaining his favor. Slowly, she was reentering the good graces of the powerful Sith Lord. Her bond with Ashly was less of a burden each passing day. She would be Lord Cain’s right hand, and Ashlyn would be the left. It was destined. It was meant to be. She stepped down from the alter and walked past Len’Raz, motioning for him to follow.

“I’ve had enough of the dead and their tombs.” She trudged through the Temple, retracing their steps. She expected Len’Raz to follow. As she walked she punched a few commands into her datapad. The droids in her shuttle would pilot the ship to the entrance of the Temple, and they could get off the Darkside rock. Mercifully, the shuttle was waiting as she burst from the temple. Her knuckles were white as she tightened her grip. She wasn’t sure what to do with the staff. Alexia handed it to one of the droids, requesting the servant safely stow the staff. Once Len’Raz was onboard they would return to Tund. She did not want to waste any time getting Lord Cain his present. The Priestess smiled again.

OOC: This will be my last post, if you want to post Len’Raz’s exit that would be awesome. I’m going to mark the mission as completed.