The Fall of Korriban

[Varyn Rask]

The skies above Korriban roared with their blazing heat, beating relentlessly down on the sands below. Thousands of men and women - Sith and Imperial soldiers alike - prepared to defend the Korriban temple from the coming assault. Many more - what few civilians there were on this world - were still gathering together and launching the transport ships to escape.

Numerous worlds had already fallen to a mysterious force of unknown assailants from the Outer Rim. Combined forces of armed civilians, former Imperial expeditionary forces, and unknown aliens were swarming down on worlds all over the edge of the Sith Empire. Orbital bombardments, ground invasion, and complete annexation were the process by which this infection moved through the galaxy.

The Sith Emperor, Varyn Rask, moved among the men and women on the ground. His ever-faithful mask was in place, and his saber hung on his belt. This was to be a battle, and if Korriban was going to fall, the Emperor was going to stand by his men and defend her. If this was to be his end, then he would make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance.

Move those repeaters up the bank, he said, pointing to the slight embankment to the far side of the temple. It would provide defilade from the assault approaching through the valley and give a better line of sight onto the approaching forces.

We have limited time until the enemy arrives, so lets make this count! he shouted, watching as Sith Warriors adjusted their armor and gripped their lightsabers more tightly. Many of the Order's elite were here, and even Varyn's own royal guards - some of the finest warriors in the galaxy - stood by his side.

Flashes of light began to burst across the sky far above, and the long range communications began jamming, only allowing the most powerful of signals through That could only mean one thing: invasion.

They're here, he said quietly, more to himself than anyone else.

Sith and Imperials, the time is here! The Empire has stood for 500 years, and this temple long before that. The Force is strong with us, and we will not let it fall without showing the enemy our power! Stand beside me and fight! he shouted, his voice echoing and carrying with the Force until it boomed through the entire valley. He knew that high above the Imperial fleet was beginning its defense, but it was inevitable: enemies would find their way to the ground, and the fight would be in heat.

@Nefieslab (DM) Open to everyone! Please join to defend Korriban!

 

[The Storyteller]

The hour was late and the threat grew closer.

For centuries now, the Sith Empire had occupied Korriban and for centuries it had stood firm as the font of it's power - the central point from which it's insidious reach extended. Today it would fall but not to the enlightenment of the Jedi Order or to the fiery vengeance of the Mandalorians but to a new threat.

Or perhaps an old threat, long since forgotten?

The truth was that it didn't matter.

Forces from across the Galaxy came to Korriban this day as conquerors. A fleet sat in orbit, combating the defensive fleet of the Imperial world, and rained down plasma from relative safety while dropship after dropship descended upon the planet. Legions of aliens and former Imperial troops fought against their former allies.

Pain.

Hatred.

Death.

Korriban would drink up the blood of defenders and attackers alike - a planet of death and sand such as Korriban did not care who lived and who died. It cared only that the blood was spilled in anger and hatred, that the Dark Side thrived through the death that was brought down upon it.

Advancing from their drop site, hundreds of warriors began their assault on the Imperial lines. Lightsabers in red and yellows lit up the enemy ranks as Sith charged into combat against those loyal to the Emperor. The elite warriors of the Empire, those held close at hand to the Emperor himself, looked around each other.

Even from a distance they could recognize some of their own allies now charging recklessly towards them.

What could possibly have compelled them to revolt in such a way?

Already more of the enemy were landing, including a rather menacing hulk of a human Sith who was tearing through the right flank of the loyalist forces even as resistance was put up. More dropships streamed down from the sky, a tidal wave set to wash away the Empire of Andraste.

@Phoenix

 

[Callum Attar]

Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.​

Callum stood upon the arid lands, gazing at the scenery before him. This particular Acolyte had been raised in Coruscant, by the Republica. Frankly, he didn't much care for this planet's environment. Its conditions were harsh, and frankly there was little to do. These sands had not seen an ounce of his blood, sweat or tears, and many of those who had emerged from here had pegged the pure-blooded human as a racist, incompetent individual simply because those who'd raised him. There was little he owed this barren rock. But it was his history. This place, though devoid of charm, had birthed the very name Sith. And that had meaning. It had to.

In truth, when he'd discovered that Imperial forces were going to the Outer Rim to defend against an unidentified threat, and that he had been dispatched to Korriban, Callum firmly believed lady luck was smiling down on him. That none in their right mind would so much as consider overthrowing Sith rule there, of all places. So, upon first hearing that an attack was imminent, his training had taken over and he had diligently aided in the preparations, but he hadn't faced the facts until he saw a horizon littered with ships: The skies themselves prepared to crash down upon his heads, and nothing could be done about it.

When the enemy hordes made contact, and Sith clashed against Sith, the survivalist felt a string of roiling, turbid emotions coming to a bubble just beneath his skin and, as if by someone else's will, saw his sabre's crimson blade manifesting in his hand.

It was funny. Years ago, the Coruscantian vowed that never again would he place himself in a situation where Pride would speak louder than Reason. And yet, here he was. Silently staring at a scenery of carnage, drunk off of the tension it oozed, with the dark-side of the force gathering within him. He first steadied his footing, and then rushed towards what, judging by the speech, sounded an awful lot like a fight not even the Emperor himself believed they could win. In Callum's mind, this was how fools met their ends. But his feet carried him forward all the same.

Here, a stone's throw away from the edge of life and death, this otherwise unimpressive space-wizard chose to turn his back on his plans and ambitions, and charged into peril to stand for an ideal that, until this very moment, he hadn't thought he believed in. And he was fine with it.

Because this was Korriban, and he was Sith.

 

[Esther Nyx]

The archive's structures trembled, causing dust to fall down upon Esther's head. For a moment, she simply stood confused, dumbfounded by the whole situation. Korriban? The heart of the Sith - under attack? Who would be so bold? So foolish? Regardless, a humourless chuckled escape the Kiffar's thinned lips. How long had she been waiting for a moment like this? This was her chance, her one opportunity - to escape.

But how? To where? The sudden prospect was too much to process. Her first thought was to get on a transport, merge with the evacuating masses and get to safety but she'd still be under Imperial control. But if she tried to steal a ship, she could be caught in the crossfire. Esther wasn't a warrior, or even a trained fighter. She had been brought to Korriban because some Sith deemed her abilities usual. They had neglected her physical training in favour of fostering other aspects. At a time like this, it was a crippling disadvantage. But wasn't it worth a shot, to make a run for it? Better than to die here. She wasn't a Sith, she was merely one of their tools. Why should she have to die on this alien world, buried in and amongst its dusty temple?

It was now or never. The Force was with her; snatching one or two articles of scripts, Esther dashed out of the safety of the temple's archives. Once they were her prison and leaving their boundary gave the Kiffar her first taste of freedom, something she hadn't experienced in a very long time. Each step gave her a new sense of hope, an increase in speed. She didn't have to fight, she just needed to survive - just like she had always done up until that point.

At the sight and sound of fighting, Esther dived and diverted down from one hallway to another; she had learned well from her time in the temple. The best way to avoid a Sith's ire was to stay out of sight. She just needed to breach the temple's outer walls, then merge into the chaos and slip away.

She'd be a slave no longer. The thought brought tears to her eyes, tears that she had been bottling up for months. Let the Sith and their planet fall - Eshter didn't care. She was now on the run.

 

[Darth Inheris]

What strange new madness was this?

Inheris has heard whispers through the Imperium. Entities at the borders of known space, strangely affected footsoldiers and fleets raining fire from the stars.

And now they were true.

Even with the threat of the mandalorians and the Galactic Alliance, so much of the Empires forces were suddenly recalled to their homeworld, Korriban, to hold the line and keep at least a sliver of their forces still standing as they faced now a war on three fronts. And this new party to the fray was more unknown then any other, meaning the damage it could do was far higher.

She stood now close to the core of the Empires forces, her eyes gazing out over the mass of troops that blazed through the sky and tore toward the Empires lines. They would break upon this fortress like water on rock, such was what she had told her men of the Kuati 9th, loyal soldiers that had stood with her through some of the most infamous days in the Empires recent history. Part of her did not want to face that she now led them at its fall,

“Vaykaris, Primaris, on me! Dominus, heavy weapons by the left flank!” She called to her men in response to Varyn’s speech. Soon the battlefield was alight with fire and blood, blades and blasters crossing as the great forces met each other face to face.

Inheris could see the vile hulk charging toward the right flank, ready to burst through the weaker defenders there. She herself doubted she was any match, while notable in the Empire, it was not for her skills with a blade. Instead she drew her QuickDraw blaster from her belt and poured rounds out at the hulk, blasting it’s face best she could through the combat,

“Primaris, covering fire onto the right flank! Bring down that thing!” Her troops would cover it in a hail of fire as it moved forwards, their bolts searing through the biting desert air. The battle was only just beginning, but the hordes of enemies were already arriving in force. She wouldn’t go down just yet.

 

[Taalong Vorr]

There was enough leadership that had been called to stand as the vanguard of the temple that it would not due much to have one more Sith barking orders. They had been called the galaxy over, a near ceasefire on all front against the anarchist rebels, Mandalorians, and criminal scum while they were drawn back to defend their ancient site. The place of the greatest honor and tradition that the Sith would hold most dear. The perceived origin point to all that they were, and certainly the place where the most of the Sith had had their eyes opened to the teachings of the Dark Side.

In the years of war Taalong Vorr had felt a deepening uncertainty in himself. Having been left to die on many worlds now in the midst the Mandalorian Crusade and having to do battle with terrorizing forces of the rebels, all the while watching the Empire slip deeper and deeper into its own corruption. It became clear to Vorr that the poison stemmed from the mouths of every ambitious climber that dared to call themselves Darth. The schemers and plotters that saw their forces only as fodder and utilize the deaths of thousands for personal gain, rather then the betterment of the Sith culture and their Empire.

Though Vorr had been finding a new tempered way, he still believed in The Emperor and his new way. He still believed in his right to rule and power, ever since the schism. And as the call had come to defend Korriban, against whatever division or monstrous detachment this was, he would stand.

Taalong Vorr would stand where the climbers and schemers would not. Vorr would hold his ground because it was all they had, and the vision of a brighter future for the Empire lived on with their Emperor.

It was likely to him that this mass insurrection was the result of some greater scheme to destroy that Empire and all they had gained. To sew dissent and hatred amongst themselves in an inevitable battle of the force. But fight or fail, they would be met in battle and Vorr would stand there.

His own ship was docked amongst many at the Temple, but he was not the expert pilot that could help them there, nor survive in the air. Its crew stood by, and the number of Imperial Troopers under Vorr's command were staged for a siege. They would hold as long as possible. They would hold against the impossible odds. They would hold until the last.

Even as Vorr had his faith in the Empire wain amidst the corruption of the filth of its Lords... he would still stand.

He heard the speech from the Emperor. He heard his order. He watched his eyes and his moves. This was not the first time he'd seen the Emperor, but he still held a grand respect for his power and vision. He would follow him, and defend his Empire this day.

The enemy came, a coalition of the galaxy... even corrupted Sith that would stand against their Emperor... they came in masses, hordes, with unrelenting force. Vorr's troopers held and fired. He himself stayed with the Troopers, defending them, deflecting bolts and blades that would come near. He'd do it for his troopers, he'd do it for the Empire.

 

[Thelemy Oronays]

Thelemy Oronays had always trusted in the will of the force to guide him. The twi'lek worshiped that mysterious and ever present aspect of the universe, which brought forth life and ushered death alike. For Thelemy, the answer had always been clear as a crystal pond.

All things that lived would die, and anyone trying to stop death was akin to stopping new life, and thus, would die themselves.

But now here he was, fighting against others who seemed to be living truthfully by the will of the force as well. They sought to dominate, to bring death and return the sith to the force, and they fought with the power of the dark side at their command, the same as he did.

A normal person might doubt their faith, to see others wielding power that was supposed to be theirs. Another might fear the very likely death that was about to occur. However, as the Twi'lek Conjurer stood with his armor on, and his double bladed lightsaber igniting, a devilish smile could be seen on his face as lightning crackled on his fingers.

"Praise be to the Force, for it has delivered onto me, a most wonderful gift..." He said as he unleashed his lighting onto one of the charging foes. Snapping his blades into action, and advancing with a flourish, he began to clash with the invading force as the red winds and blood colored sky blew violently.

To be witness to such a slaughter, and feel it reverberate in the Force. To be first to witness all of that, would prove to be a most amazing experience. The force would never die. It would always create new agents of death, should they all perish here and now. And if that truly was the case, there was nothing to fear.

One way or another. They were all about to become one with the force.

 

[Roa Roa Grisbaw]

It had been a few months since Roa's departure from Korriban to return to her homeworld, Naboo. There, she had met her people, her family, who were happy to see her, but also horrified by her new capabilities and her, well, not-so-sane mind the Force gave her through that single year she was forced to do whatever her former master wanted. When they realized this, at first her family despised her, calling her a monster, but then they understood that it wasn't her will to do so, but they didn't anyway want her to be among them. So, the chief decided to temporarily exile her.

This... this hit her badly. VERY badly. But she understood their decision, and so she accepted her fate, leaving her village. As she couldn't go anywhere else, she went where she knew someone would listen to her, welcome her, and teach her: Korriban.

She had been there a week by now, and she heard about that new, powerful, strange force that was somehow warping the minds of anyone who defeated, turning Imperials against their own comrades. And now, they were on Korriban. She initially despised this place, and if she was like she was before returning to Naboo, she would have been happy to let the academy be destroyed, but... Now she was different. She wanted to know. To grow. To become more powerful. To discover the darkest secrets the academy's archives hid. But for that, she needed the academy to be in one piece, and so she HAD to defend it.

Now she was outside, lightsaber in hand, lit and ready to slash. She wasn't too far from the Emperor, so she heard every single word he said, and she ooked towards the battle. She wasn't sure about their victory, if they would at least push back their enemy, or they would be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers. But every single soldier, every single Sith counted, may they be a recruit or a veteran, an acolyte or a lord. She took a deep breath, holding her lightsaber a bit more firmly, and turned it on, the familiar click of the handguard accompanying the hiss of the plasma blades appearing accompanying it. She grinned wickedly, slowly walking towards the lines of soldiers fighting, walking along other acolytes, and braced herself.

 

[Jayscreec Alecwit]

Hours into the battle remnants of the Imperial Navy arrived. As the carriers released their fighters, the swarm of aircrafts above Korriban nearly doubled.

Most of the forces engaged the enemy from orbit. Among a squadron of Reflex-class starfighters Jayscreec flew towards the planet. Normally his ship would be used against other starfighters, before starbombers and other slow units engage. This time they had a special mission. They were tasked to cover troop carriers until they unload the reinforcements, or pick up injured personnel. Due the massive fight he kept his light deflector shield activated.

This starfighter also carried three concussion missiles. By the time Jayscreec reached low orbit he used one that missed his target.
"Red one, make sure LC three and four reach the landing zone in the valley," his commander said.
"Copy that," Jay said, wishing he would only survive long enough to use his weapons at least one more time.

The landing zone was a field in the valley behind an ancient Sith's ruins, the kind of ruins that provided some cover in it's shadow. Jayscreec noticed hostile ships approaching. He made an evasive manouver to get behind them. The two fighters had not bothered with him at all, they only pursued the carrier filled with soldiers. Jayscreec locked on his target and launched a concussion missile. The burning starfighter crashed into the dry mountains. The second target already opened fire. It was an impressive game, especially considering that the carrier pilot put down the smoking ship almost on the landing zone. The secondary carrier - LC four - was intact when it landed, in exchange for Jayscreec's Reflex-class starfighter. He was able to eject to safety after his ship was hit by laser fire.

 

[The Storyteller]

Spoiler: Cull Stats

Considered Level 3, FS.

The enemy advance was relentless.

The hulking brought bringing the advance on the right hand side roared it's defiance, grabbing up one of the loyal Sith and throwing the hapless man into the path of Inheris' blaster bolts. The brute roared as it charged after the flung person turned corpse, it's customer-made lightsaber as long as it's arm so as long as Inheris was tall.

Reaching down with it's physical strength and it's not-inconsiderable might with the Force. It's massive, but in proportion, lightsaber clutched dangerously in it's right hand.

The charge by the brute broke the lines of the defending Sith, causing the enemy to swarm the breach, pushing through and bringing the fighting into a bitter melee.
@Nightfall

--

Ships were beginning to force their way into the atmosphere of Korriban, some were pursued and gunned down but many more were able to break through the best efforts of the defending fleet.

Almost in a mockery of the defending Sith, a flight of five Dagger-class heavy fighters began an attack run, strafing the front of the main Sith Temple with laser and missile fire.

Rock and stone carved into the living mountain at the hands of dozens of dying slaves thousands of years ago began to crumble under the onslaught.

The flight began to bank away to bring themselves in for another pass.

This next pass would be aimed at something a touch more vulnerable than the weathered stone of the Sith Temple.

--

Spoiler: Brute Stats

Considered Level 3, Non-FS.

The next part of the assault almost no one could be prepared for.

From high above, red-hot chunks of debris began to fall towards the ground. Unlike the chunks of defender and allied ships than had been falling throughout the battle, there were only two chunks raining down. Also unlike the debris from before...

These were aimed.

The two crashed to ground with an earth-shaking force. One of them was closer to the Emperor and his elite guard and the other closer to a ground of regular Imperials ( @Ediwa @samdragon @Cainhurst Crow @Morse @Pontus ). The one closest to the group erupted from it's impact crater first.

It was a twisted mess of bone, metal implants and claws as long as men were tall. A true Abomination, found by the enemy hidden away in some forgotten lab or forsaken temple left by one of the long-since dead Jedi Exiles. Roaring with an unholy fury, it launched itself forwards with a sweeping swing of it's armored right arm and right hand claws.

--

Spoiler: Dragon Stats

Considered Level 3, Creature.

For the Emperor however, nothing so droll as some half-forgotten creation of a mad alchemist from over five hundred years ago.

For the Emperor himself the enemy had gone all out.

The dragon stormed free of the crater, it's wing slicing clean through one of the Emperor's personal guards as the man was stood too close to react in time. Unlike most of it's kind, the Dragon was clearly fully matured and armoured in sharpened black armour. Atop of the dragon rode a man with a lightsaber in his right hand and a fluttering, almost decayed, cloak thrown over his armoured form.

Spoiler: Rider

Considered Level 4, FS.

The rider fluidly dropped from the back of the dragon, igniting his lightsaber in his right hand as he extended his left hand towards the Emperor. The Force, the Dark Side, boiled around the man as he drew on it's power.

"You will bow."

It was a command, pure and simple.

There was nothing but sheer authority in his voice, completely devoid of any Force manipulation but it was still enough to make someone sit up and listen. The dragon drew it's armored wings up, exposing the eight other armored men that had been ferried by the beast. They ignited their lightsabers behind their leader as they stood opposed to the Emperor and his remaining personal guards.

Rings adorning the leader's left hand and his eyes began to glow an unnatural white.

"We shall guide your way."

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Rask]

No battle Varyn had ever been in during all his years of war was going to prepare him for this. Abominations and Sith Lords like the ones of old swept down out of the sky with a combination of ships, fighters, and dropships. Death fell from the sky as burning ships fell to the ground, kicking up sand and dust all around. The mask did nothing to filter out the smoke and sand that filled the air, and the scent of death was rank in the air.

Red Team, cover those fighters. Keep them off of us down here, he said, radioing to the fighter squadron above (@Ediwa) to keep the strafing fighters from tearing the ground troops to pieces. Hot chunks of debris fell down near Varyn and his guards, revealing moments later that... something was within it.

What began as a more standard assault, however, quickly began to deteriorate. Wicked, rotting creatures began to pound into the Sith forces gathered, and he knew that whatever had arrived pulsed with a darkness that surpassed anyone he had ever met. No Sith in the Empire could compare to what felt like a singular Dark Side nexus.

The wisps of smoke and sand were beat aside by the massive, hurricane-like beats of a dragon's wings, and the ground shook as it slammed into the ground. Its rider was the source of what he had felt, and one of the Emperor's six royal guards was torn to shreds as it landed. For the first time in many years, the Emperor realized that he was not only outmatched, but death felt near. Death had always followed him, claiming those in his wake - friends and enemies alike - for years, but he had always eluded it. If today was his day, it would not be so easy.

No, he said, voice a deep growl. He would not bow or cede the Empire to this creature. The repeater from the embankment opened up almost immediately, tearing down toward the armored men that were ferried by the monster. They may have been powerful, but the heavy blaster shots at such a rapid speed would tear up man, armor, and earth without consideration.

The royal guards raised their weapons, a combination of wrist-rockets and blaster pistols to the dragon and opened fire, looking to bring down the beast before it could cause anymore problems. And then there was the rider. The man had come forward, extending his hand to Varyn in offer, and the Emperor hadn't moved. While the guards moved to engage soldiers and dragons, the Emperor stood like a rock, saber tip digging into the ground and carving symbols into the dirt in ancient Sith.

You should not have come here. Your blood will soak this field. The Force wills it, he said, and as he said it, he leapt backwards and unleashed a telekinetic blast that skimmed the surface of the sand. It kicked up sand with a smokescreen-like effect before it would slam into the dark creature. But in his tradition, the true attack was not in the sand or the telekinetic blast. Those would be easy to avoid. In the sand and obscured by the screen, the real threat lay.

The tip of that lightsaber had created shards of glass from the sand and sent them tearing through the air, razor sharp and ready to impale the man, tearing flesh from bone. @Nefieslab

 

[Alysanne Drast]

"Idiot girl, what in the Force are you doing!?" She muttered as she pushed and shoved her way through the crowd, somehow managing to move against the flow of the fleeing masses. The mysterious invaders had finally arrived on Koribban and panic had set in within the citizenry. There had been more than enough coverage of their progress through Sith space for everyone to know exactly what fate awaited them if Korriban fell and they were left on the planet. No one wanted to stay here for that. Which just made her decision to fly into the planet all the more idiotic. She was running straight into the jaw of the beast, into the very heart of danger.

But like the other defenders opposing the invaders, she had a reason for being here. This was her home, where she had been born and spent the first sixteen years of her life. There were still friends and loved one here, people she cared for, people she would see brought to safety. So she had made some excuse about reconnaissance and made all haste to the heart of the Sith Empire. But she had been too late, the attack had already begun, and she had no idea where to find her family. She didn't much care for them, but she did care for the nannies and servants who had raised her, had been more of a family to her than her own parents.

She continued pushing her way through, till she suddenly broke through into a clearing. Not that there were no more people to push through, but they were simply frozen in place. Held in place by sheer terror at the sight that awaited her. There were Sith troopers up ahead, multiple crimson blades lit up against the invading forces. A sight that on any other day, any other battle field, would have inspired awe and confidence in these same crowd. But today it seemed insignificant in comparison to what they faced down. She could see multiple abominations, behemoths who could probably swat her away like a fly, and multiple strong presences in the Force. But what seemed to have caught everyone's attention was the dragon.

The Sith were handling it, she told herself as she began moving towards the old estates. She was here to rescue them, not aide the Sith. But as she ran past she heard the terrified wails of a little child, a little girl sitting on the ground crying her eyes out.

We defend and protect!

A voice echoed in her head as she came to a skidding stop. She looked from the child to the dragon, to the numerous other terrified faces around her.

We are guardians of peace in the Galaxy!

She ran to the child, picking her up and running to the nearest adult she could spot, pushing her into his hands. "Look after her, and get out of here!"

She didn't wait for a response, begining to move towards the conflict, towards the giant beast of terror. Her blade jumped into her hand, blue blade springing to life as she began walking forward, approaching the dragon from the side. Only then did she noticed the figures arrayed around it, spotting the Emperor among them. She simply nodded to herself and continued walking.

We are Jedi, Knights of the people!

She could not turn a blind eye to so many lives being in peril, she would protect them as best as she could. Even if that meant fighting side by side with Sith. She had to keep the dragon occupied or no one was getting out of here.

 

[Darth Inheris]

Chaos.

That’s what they were fighting within upon the dark sands of Korriban, and it may as well have been the very thing they were fighting against. So many like her had fought to make the Empire something that was beyond the fear and cruelty, something ordered, lasting. Here was the day like it felt it could truly be torn down around them.

As waves and rocks blasted into the battlefield, revealing soldiers and servants of their enemy, each more horrifying than the last. Not the least was the behemoth that rushed through the Imperial lines at her position, batting away her blaster bolts with the bodies of her brothers in arms, it’s lightsaber cleaving through her allies. It’s strength was clear and it’s threat obvious, and it’d break through far more if not confronted now. And with even a glance across the battlefield she could see far fouler threats stalking the killing fields, as burst above ruptured the Sith Temple with missiles from enemy bombers,

“Nocturne” Inheris called into her comms. The Audacious-class Corvette under her command was high above still, but with the battle on land becoming more desperate she would try anything to survive “Nocturne, we have bombers on our position, any support would be appreciated” she called to her crew. She doubted they could offer anything, but with the lingering threat of the ships above she’d call all her forces to her now. Even if they couldn’t make it in time, perhaps something could be dispatched to aid the evacuation. Only time would tell.

As for the behemoth, Inheris breathes in. Part of her feared that today would be her last. Part of her knew that today was always going to come. From that part grew anger, hate at that fact. And from that, the resolve to meet it.

Charging in, she met the creature, and Vaykaris, her personal soldiers, ran with her, raining fire on the creature. She herself held her blade and feigned an attack at the creatures lightsaber. However, the real damage would come from her other hand, a blast from her Violator disruptive pistol straight at the creatures chest. No matter what it wore or meant to block it with, a disruptor would tear through it.

Or so she hoped anyhow.

Desperate times, desperate measures.

@Nefieslab

 

[Taalong Vorr]

The troopers were holding their positions. Emplaced for a proper siege in defense of the temple and the homeworld of their culture. But this battle was not to be a traditional siege, nor was it to be fought against a traditional enemy. This was far from a typical battle, as strange and might beasts fell from the sky to do battle against the Sith defenders in an archaic and almost mythical fashion. The Sith on the ground were made to be either ancient warriors to stand against mighty fell beasts... or insects against the might of a boot that was slowly squeeze down upon their exoskeleton.

The floods of aggressors were being torn down presently, the veteran Troopers of the Empire more then capable of holding their own even against the odds they faced. They were not only defined by their machines, but also by the training and organization and leadership that the Sith instilled in them. They were each unit led by a distinguished Sith themselves, Crusaders and Lords who could anticipate strikes and rally against them with vicious fury.

Though there stood a mighty beast that stood before the Troopers, there was an even more grievous threat that landed within their lines.

Vorr had bore in mind the placement of the Emperor on the battlefield, his guard standing with the mighty warrior. But before him a beast of titanic proportion and ignited upon it warriors that landed there with clear intention.

Cutting the head off of the Empire... the slaughter of the Emperor would ensure a rout and the collapse of everything.

Vorr did not hesitate. Vorr would not falter. His duty was to the Empire, and to the Sith.

"To the Emperor!"

His order was clear to all those that stood near enough to hear him, and they turned to their charge. Vorr led the squad of troopers forward to stand with the Emperor. The squad opened fire on the mighty dragon and its Knights that came with it, though it was unknown to what end.

Taalong Vorr brought his long and heavy Lightsaber to a vertical guard beside the Emperor at his left flank as the Emperor unleashed a mighty blast forward. He would hold his guard and defend any counter blow that came against him. His yellow eyes gazed out through his Kaleesh war mask. This proud moment may be his last, but he would stand and defend the Emperor and the strength of the Empire until there was nothing left of him.

@Nefieslab

 

[Roa Roa Grisbaw]

Roa looked at the creature for a moment or two, recognizing it from some of the books she had read in the academy's archives. It was a beast created by some ancient Fallen Jedi, but she couldn't remember exactly their creation. She'd need to check that, if she survived, of course.

She swiftly leaped out of the beast's way, observing it for weak spots or similar, and prepared herself for the upcoming fight, taking the traditional Ataru guard, lightsaber held by her right side, vertically. She occasionally dodged a laser bolt and parried an another, but she still focused on the huge threat in front of her.

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Victress]

.

Darth Victress had vanished into solitude, for many had not heard from the councilor in days to even weeks. Her path was unknown, rumors milled that she had ventured out into the deep outer rims to seek powers beyond the Sith. Others said that she had just grown busy with duties across the galaxy, ensuring that Imperial might retained its superior dominance in whichever planetary system it found itself. However, as the whispers echoed through star channels regarding a mysterious force that had washed through rival worlds, the powerful sith lord knew better than assume that their homeland would not be a target.

Tears in galactic space disrupted her meditation, yellow stained eyes opening as Darth Victress' armored figure advanced from the Dark Council chambers and joined in the fray of Imperial and Sith alike. Several lieutenants joining at her side as she exited from the Temple grounds and took a step out into the open, head tilting upwards to observe the chaos that had befallen her world. It was a surreal sight, time slowing in its wake as a silence captured her and for the first time in years she momentarily hesitated. However, with a scoff she barked orders to those in her chain of command. Repeaters reinforced the upper banks, while air squadrons deployed from the star destroyers in orbital range. Imperial Forces would not be defeated without ample bloodshed, not anywhere in the galaxy, and certainly not on Korriban.

Darth Victress shifted her attention towards the melee onslaught before her, figure shimmering within the force forged Black Hades, she took a step forward. Right palm opened as the fallen blade flew into her grasp, crimson blade igniting with a hiss while simultaneously dark energies swirled around her. Eyes cast a glance towards Varyn Rask as he engaged against a mysterious rider while her ally Darth Inheris seemed to be engulfed in trials against a hulking monster. Only a split second to make her decision, Darth Victress moved quickly towards Inheris'. The monstrous Cull would be focused for sure on the Sith Lord, however she was certain her more powerful and nefarious presence would grab his attention. @Nefieslab

Darth Victress stood on the other side of the beast, approximately 15 meters away; wails of tortured souls echoed around her, a gift of the darkness she brought. Force magics brewed in her left palm while partial concentration was always committed to defense. Right handed lightsaber drew upwards and rested in a diagonal position across her torso. A brief chuckle escaped her lips, as she spoke outloud to her ally and friend. "Seems trouble always joins our paths together, Inheris. Need a hand?" She asked. @Nightfall

@Phoenix

Spoiler: OOC

Sorry for coming late to the party!

 

[Callum Attar]

A resounding crack sounded in Callum's vicinity, as rubble and dust were sent his way. He'd emerged unscathed, but many hadn't been so lucky. It hadn't sounded like a bomb, but by the time he could see it, the Acolyte wished it had been.

Sithspawn. And a particularly gargantuan specimen, at that.

The sinewy flesh, marred with scars and scorch-marks, riddled with protrusions made out of who knew what. This could've only come from an alchemist with a particularly twisted sense of aesthetic - as was the case with many a Darksider, sadly. Regardless, judging by the monstrosity's claws and its strength, it was evident whoever had made it had been powerful, and capable. This being was one Callum would normally have given a wide berth.

Alas, this day was not one for such considerations. He'd made his wager with the grim reaper when he first strode into battle. Backing down now was not an option. But Attar wasn't so stupid that he'd choose to take something that gigantic on in close quarters. So, with every weapon imaginable being fired all around, and with a good number of people separating him from the beast, the Acolyte drew his blaster and let off a couple of shots aimed at its head the instant it looked away, hopefully masked by the chaos of the full blown war that roared through these sands.

Something this massive would have far too much tissue blocking its other vital organs. The head seemed much smaller in comparison, and even if the shots lacked piercing power, there would be the chance that they impaired its sight or hearing... It seemed humanoid enough for that, at least.

To announce his intentions aloud, or really make any form of noise that cut through the crowd, would likely incur the wrath of the creature - something Callum would very much try to avoid. As a result, before he drew his ranged weapon the Acolyte deactivated his sabre, and attempted to mingle among the crowd, to not let the Sithspawn be able to pinpoint who had first hit it.

His strike would be nowhere near enough. In fact, Callum estimated it would do little but anger the creature. And Imperials would most definitely die as a result of this seemingly pointless gambit of his. But hopefully the remainder would be quick enough to catch on.

This thing was built like a juggernaut. The longer it drew breath and the deeper and more entrenched it could get within the Imperial side, the more difficult it would be to stop. They had to cut it down here, as quickly as they possibly could, if there was to be any chance of weathering this initial enemy charge.

The Coruscantian was much too concerned with his more immediate surroundings to notice the Brute that had pierced through their front lines, or the fully grown Dragon and its riders that now threatened the Emperor's life. Even the ships firing at the Temples had been purged from his mind. Outliving this horrid creature would require his full attention. And he could only hope those around him felt the same way.
@Nefieslab

 

[Thelemy Oronays]

Thelemy had seen the falling objects sailing towards his position as he dashed away from the spot. He was 20 meters away when the impact landed, shaking his footing as the Twi'lek looked behind himself at the crater. The monstrosity that pulled itself forward however was unlike anything he'd seen before, a twisted looking wretch of organic and synthetic material, or perhaps a living being so twisted that it was beyond recognition as such.

The imperial sneered with a look of disgust at this creature, "What an offensive display..." he said to himself with a snarl. This thing was not something born of the forces work, this was something elses creation, and it would need to be destroyed. Thelemy moved in as the brute came charging forward, some of his fellow sith going to engage with the other one, while others dodged its charge.

Thelemy did the same, jumping to the left as the creature came through with a sweep of its arms. He held his saber in both hands as he did so, and turned to swipe his crimson blade along the thing's face. A glancing blow as he turned his body to angle the other blade towards the beast, starting to circle the beast to attempt to get towards its back, and ready to jump back and swipe again should he need to, intent on ending the creatures life.

 

[The Storyteller]

The Rider didn't react to Varyn's refusal.

His refusal had been expected.

"You will bow."

It wasn't a question in any way - The Rider was telling Varyn something that was, to him, a certainty and it was a certainty because he would see it made reality.

The call to obey could not be refused.

All tried... all struggled and used every ounce of their mental fortitude to rebel but it was to no avail. There was no escape from the iron grip the Masters held over the mind, body and soul.

Drawing on the Force, The Rider wrapped it around himself in a whirling and twisting vortex as he charged forwards with his lightsaber trailing at his right side, held low and to the side. The whirlwind of the Force acted as his defense as he advanced in a dead-set charge, the sand and Force energy being twisted and diverted around The Rider rather than stopped outright.

This had... some effect on the glass.

Due to the motion of the defense, the glass was moved upwards and to the left. Some of it passed by the left side of The Rider's face without bother but some of it was not moved quickly enough. Glass and sand and Force energy tore at the left side of The Rider's face, sanding down his skin, rending bloody strips of flesh clean off, completely obliterating the man's left ear and pulping his left eye...

And The Rider didn't even slow down.

The Rider, had he been in full control of himself, would have likely been rolling around on the ground in agony. His pain was utterly ignored as the Masters utilized his body as a tool for their will. The Rider was not in control of his body, he was nothing but a puppet under the direct, and total, control of his Masters.

And the puppeteer need not concern himself with the pain of the puppet.

Using the Force with his left hand, The Rider gripped Varyn's shoulders with a Force Pull to keep him from getting too far away from him as he brought his lightsaber up in a charging diagonal slash from Varyn's left hip to his right shoulder.

To some men, the sight of a clearly wounded man charging despite the damage would no doubt shatter their resolve. The Rider and his Masters knew that Varyn Rask was not that kind of man - he had to be brought to heel through violence.

And so it would be.

--

The Dragon and it's entourage had to deal with some rather stiff opposition in the form of the Royal Guard and some of the assembled Sith and Imperials. None of the assembled Sith were as much of a threat as the Royal Guards though. Not only were they all strong fighters (Level 2 equivalent) but they were used to fighting as a unit as well. The wrist rockets sent towards the Dragon were a decent attack, forcing some of The Rider's allies to focus on disrupting their flight with the Force.

The Dragon itself roared, sending out a shock-wave that disturbed the flight of most of the rockets and caused them to explode prematurely. One of the rockets got through despite the best efforts of the attackers, striking the Dragon in one of the joints of it's left wing. It was armoured but the joints were always less defended than other areas. It's pain was felt through the Force but it was equaled by it's rage.

As the Royal Guards and The Rider's men met in a brutal melee encouraged by the enemy to make sure they couldn't be safely targeted by the repeaters, the Dragon lurched forwards on the ground, snatching one of the guards up in it's jaws and clamping it's jaws shut tight around the man.

Fighters streamed across the battlefield, laying down fire on the gun emplacements before they could lay down significant fire on the invaders. The fighters took some fire from both local fighters and the ship brought in by Darth Inheris but the large ship was still technically in orbit so it would take time before it was in a position to oppose. Instead two of the fighters exploded but the remainder were able to destroy the guns that were covering the Emperor and his guard, beginning another loop to come around for an attack run again.

Taalong Vorr came to the aid of the Emperor and he brought Imperial Troopers along with him to further aid the Emperor and his guards. Unfortunately for the Crusader, the nature of the threat was insidious in the extreme. The invaders were Imperial Troopers and Sith themselves and their minds had been turned to suit the cause of the mysterious attackers.

And they were not the only ones.

Two of the squad that Taalong had brought along were actually recent transfers from other units; units that had already been corrupted. Both of the controlled troopers stood behind the crusader some ten feet and opened fire on him from behind with their blaster rifles. When fighting an enemy that could assimilate your troops, bringing in numbers was never safe it would seem!

--

Cull advanced.

It was something the large controlled Sith was good at and it was something to be feared by many a defending trooper and acolyte. He was not advancing alone however as his own troopers and acolytes had followed along with him through the gap in the defenders' lines he had created. They opened fire on Inheris' own men, keeping them from firing on Cull as they had to instead focus on not being killed themselves.

The pawns from both sides would clash and leave the true threats of both sides to do battle themselves. Cull thrust his free hand forwards to blast Inheris with a Force push to the side that held her pistol, distorting her aim and throwing the shot past him.

Cull ignored Victress.

The woman came to his attention, certainly, but the Sith Lord did nothing to actually attack him while he was battling Inheris. His own and Inheris' attacks were already happening when Victress arrived on the scene.

Thankfully his own troopers and acolytes, their numbers swelling, were able to target her instead to keep her busy. If she wanted to waste time being dramatic then it would come at a cost. Two troopers opened fire on her with their blaster rifles as an acolyte (level 1) launched a boulder at her from the other side with the Force.

--

The Brute of twisted science and magic that faced some of the other Imperials was a beast in many, many ways. It's intelligence was entirely bestial in nature as reason and logic had long since fled the creature's mind to be replaced solely by the commands it's Masters had issued to it.

It threw a chunk of the earth at the gungan (@samdragon ) with almost casual ease even as it roared and focused on the other Imperials (@Cainhurst Crow @Pontus ) when it was struck in the head first by blaster shots and then by a lightsaber.

The creature stilled as it's frail head exploded in a spurt of gore from the attacks.

The creature seemed to freeze up entirely for a second... before a fireball erupted from the creature, spreading from it's body up to twenty feet in all directions from it. The flames were accompanied by a new change to the creature; eyes began to open, all along it's body, granting the beast almost 360 degree vision.

And it did not need it's head to function.

--

The Invaders had prioritized military targets but that was not to say that they didn't have their attention on the civilian side as well.

As the lone Jedi Master fought to protect as many people as possible from the onslaught, forces in the Invasion force picked up on activity within the civilian areas and forces were sent to intercept.

Another meteor-like crash occurred behind Alysanne (@Wit ) and from it emerged a single drop pod. The pod's door opened with a burst of cold air as a Nightsister Sith stepped free from the pod, green ichor magics spreading from the pod and into the ranks of the fleeing civilians.

"We shall guide your way."

The nightsister raised her hand to begin choking an unfortunate woman too slow to run.

"You will bow."

--

There was no verbal command given as none was needed.

One of the Star Destroyers controlled by the Masters and their thralls separated from the main assault force, guarded by corvettes, as it made ready to follow the commands of the Masters. The crew aboard the ship knew their task and they would see it done, directing the nose of the massive ship to it's target.

@Phoenix @Ediwa @samdragon @Cainhurst Crow @Morse @Pontus @Nightfall @Wit

 

[Varyn Rask]

Shame. Varyn saw the glass shred away part of the man's face, but he didn't even seem to notice. He could sense an agony deep below the surface, but it was completely and utterly masked by a determination to eliminate the Emperor. Varyn had seen the Dark Side fight through unbelievable things before, but this was different. He also didn't stop to ponder it.

The Sith Lord's feet set back onto the dirt, and he could feel a force pressing down on him. He could still move, but not as swiftly, and the power wasn't so much as to be a threat to muscle or bone. His mind dismissed the immediate need to defend against the grip without even giving more than a background thought in his mind. He could see the man charge through the swirls of sand, and his saber was at the ready.

His blade came in low, blocking the diagonal strike with one of his own. His blade was pointed toward the ground and his left hand unleashed a blast of lightning while his feet launched him upward through the air. He would certainly be free of the grip as the enemy fended off the lightning, and his blade kept between the pair as his feet landed behind the rider. No doubt, the rider would likely spin around just in time to block the saber jab aimed to pierce his heart from behind, but he wouldn't manage to get a strike of his own in before Varyn's.

Mere seconds had ticked by, and he had yet to notice the Star Destroyer barreling down from orbit, but its impending strike would no doubt be crippling to not only the gathered soldiers, but the temple as well.

Meanwhile, the Royal Guards were fighting for all they were worth. A second guard was chomped by the dragon, but the others were quick, scattering and dodging the attacks that were incoming as they swept in. The Captain of the Guard was most notable among them. The most experienced of the warriors Varyn had handpicked, he moved the melee weapon in his hands with blinding speed, slicing with laser precision at the throat of one of the soldiers deployed by the dragon as his other hand fluidly fired off the pistol in his hand with pinpoint accuracy at the left eye of another soldier. Even as he was attacking, he moved quickly enough to easily clear attacks launched at him. He was fluid death. @Nefieslab