A Bastion

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

Soliael stood at the very top of a massive snow covered cliff face, several meters behind him trudged his wayward apprentice. He smiled at her, then faced the sight that was before him.

Directly Across from him sat a massive fortress, half constructed from Duracrete, Neuranium, and half a dozen other materials, huge cranes and and almost innumerable amount of followers slowly moving bricks and plates of metal into place in order to further build the massive Bastion. Soliael let out a hot breath, fog forming in the cold mountain air as he stared at the construct with a considerable amount of pride. On the far edge he could see a huge Hypervelocity cannon slowly being concealed behind an earthen tower.

He waited for his apprentice to get closer, and then spoke.
“When I was a child.” His voice boomed, carrying through the massive mountain range, though he was unheard by the workers at the fortress of course. “My Grandmother told me of fortresses like these. Of Great battles fought at their foot. Of defenders holding out for months, even years, while armies and starships battered their walls and shields.”

Soliael did not often show nostalgia, but clearly he was pleased with himself. Excoron was finished, a paradise world and a citadel wrapped into one. The religious home of the Moross Crusade was perfect, in every way. Massive expanses of fertile farm land, huge tropical regions of untold beauty, vast mountains that stabbed into the sky filled with bunkers and defensive positions enough to protect his people, and now, a Fortress to complete it.

This Bastion was to be his home, to be his sanctum. It would be where Moross itself would survive if it ever came under attack, where Soliael would keep that which was most precious.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

The reason why Aerin was taking her time, was because she was enjoying the snow, the cold. Her body pumped with fresh energy invigorating to her senses. She wore the dress of her people, much suited to these conditions, her fur coat and leathers, but it was like spring on Midvinter, the biting ice months away.

Finally she reached her Master and stood beside him. She could sense his pleasure at the rolling sight before them. It is impress like nothing Aerin had ever seen thus far, although her experience in the galaxy grows daily, nothing like this would ever be found on Midvinter. It is beautiful here.

"Your Grandmother sounds like she was an impressive woman", she said in response, Aerin had heard her Master speak of her once before. "How can I help you Master?".

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]


He let out a chuckle. “You wouldn't believe you if I told you.”

Silencia was beyond impressive, she was downright legendary. Of course now she hid herself on Kuat and toiled away behind the scenes, but once upon a time she would have made even the most powerful Sith Lord quiver in their boots. Perhaps she still would. He smiled at that, then turned to regard Aerin, he wore no mask of course, on this day he wasn't Neth, but a simple Crusader come to check on the progress of the fortress.

“You've learned much over these past few months apprentice, and despite myself I have come to trust you.” Perhaps that was unwise, Sith rarely trusted their apprentices, but then again Aerin was hardly a Sith. “Today I will show you this Bastion, and at the end of this tour, I will offer you a place here.”

He paused for a moment, looking at the massive Citadel that was slowly coming together.
“You need not always stay with the Crusade forever, But I will offer this place as a home to you in your times of need.” Soliael didn't wait for her to respond, instead he moved forward from the cliff and down to a very precarious staircase that had been carved into the side of the mountain.

The False God liked Aerin, she was intelligent, powerful, and a quick learner. Qualities that he enjoyed in a person, especially someone he taught. He realized that The Moross Crusade was not home to everyone, but he had come to think of Aerin like a member of his family, and he would ensure that she always had a place to go.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

The look on her face would have told her Master everything. His gift to her had surprised her, she was simply here to help him with this project, but to be offered a place here was something she would cherish. She said nothing as she took in all in, her Master had moved down toward the Bastion and for a moment she just watched him.

Aerin is no Sith. What she is loyal and once someone has her trust and loyalty it remains, her Master had shown her much and taught her to be the best should could, it would be up to her now to progress within her talents and seek to find more.

She followed close behind, careful of foot down the staircase, "I am not certain of my place in the galaxy as yet Master, Midvinter will always be my home, but I am truly grateful for this gift you offer me, and I will consider this place my second home".

Aerin turned back to look once more of the snow fields with a smile.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

He smiled slightly, but he didn't respond to his apprentice. Of course her homeworld would always be the place to call home, but, he knew that often times such places became inaccessible. Though he had no official home world, he considered his mothers planet of Onderon to be where he came from. It was a world located in the middle of Republic space, a place that he couldn't get too even if he brought a fleet. Unlike many force users, Soliael couldn't hide himself from the Jedi, and were he to travel to Onderon, they would be close on his tail.

As they reached the bottom of the steps Soliael took his place at the beginning of the only road that lead directly to the citadel.

A hundred meters in front of the two Force Users lay a massive set of doors inscribed with pictures of the ten Gods of Moross, each brandishing an icon of some sort. Soliael stared at the huge brass doors for a second, taking in the sheer size of the Fortress that seemed to loom over them. A smirk came upon his lips as he began to walk.

“My Father built a Citadel on Dromund Kaas. It was a thing of vanity, not defense.” He mused to his apprentice, learning from him was as much a History lesson as it was teachings of the Force. “When the Mandalorians came, long after his reign, the Citadel was destroyed in only a day.”

As they wandered closer to the thirty meter tall doors, Soliael spoke again. “This will be different.”

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

She would recognise the symbols on the vast door, each God of Moross represented there, which made her smile knowing it was all a falsehood. But she marveled at the size of it, the gigantic doors towering over them only to be dwaft by the Bastion in its entirety. It was as if it had rose up out of the ground, carved into the rock of the mountain with artistry unmatched. This too reminded her of Midvinter, the fortification designed to withstand any attack for months, walled villages and cities form the first line of defense. The shields would do that job and with greater effect she did not doubt.

"Vanity without purpose is foolhardy", she said thinking of her friend, who she knew would admire the Sith Lord for his taste. "The design is elegant. Yet stands strong and proud and withstand others that dare to pull it down", she said more to herself.

Much work still need to be done of course, but Aerin knew she would enjoy this place. "Will there be a Keep?, my Lord". Even though all measure will be set in place if an attack was to come, it is prudent to have a haven hidden and a 'back door'.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

“The mountain will be the keep. Reinforced by Titanium and Neurathium, it will serve as the impenetrable heart of the fortress.” Even days of orbital bombardement would be hard pressed to sunder the entire mountain side, and in the very recesses of the earth, far beneath the surface lay a network of carefully planned and plotted caves that carved far out through the mountain range. These would serve as escape tunnel, vast and labyrinth like, created by Soliael himself.

The two drew closer to the doors, and slowly the bedecked gold swung open. They were silent, newly oiled and created the vast Citadel Gates moved with a grace untold. Soliael didn't miss a step, walking inbetween the huge gateway just as it opened enough for him to step through.

Just beyond the massive doors lay a huge open room, enough for an army, exactly what ti was designed for.

Parapets and defenses seemed to go on for several hundreds meters, overlapping walls that ensure even if the gates were breached, attackers would find themselves hard pressed to move forward. A series of huge walls moved to the side, hidden doors that allowed Aerin and Soliael to walk unobstructed until eventually they reached the far wall. Another set of double doors swung open and they walked into the Fortress itself.

There, the magnificent beauty of the carved stone became instantly apparent, huge statues and depictions of beautiful battles cut into the very earth.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]


This was beyond anything she had ever seen, nothing had prepared her for this and Aerin Firebrand stood once more the innocent girl from an isolated planet. Her Master had moved on ahead, simply because her feet slowed as her eyes lifted up and gazed upon an amazing sight. She turned in a circle not know where to look, it is majestic and frightening in it strength, it was like the walls folded in on her or looked down upon her as insignificant.

Nothing was left to chance, every single detail employed for one purpose, defense. And yet it is beautiful.

Realising she had fallen behind, Aerin quickly caught up to her Master. Vast statues now looked down upon them, appraising them of their worth to walk the hallowed halls. The beauty in the rock, now carved polished and patterned with its natural grains, gleamed and she could see her own reflection staring back at her.

"Who do these statues depict?", she said in a whispered for fear her voice would boom around the room.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

Soliael smiled at that question, as if it was one that he was happy to recall the answer to.

“Most believe that its Crusaders. Men and women who served Moross to the death.” He stopped in front of a massive statues, its golden featured outlined those of a woman holding what appeared to be an Ax, thick fur lined cloak covering her shoulders and a bone-tooth necklace biting at her throat. “The truth is these are men and women from my past. People who inspired me and drove me even before I created the myths of Moross. These are men and women that made me what I am today, or some of them at least.”

Soliael had lived a long life, three times as long as most humans and ages longer than most alien species, save perhaps Hutts and the like. Throughout his life time he had carved a path through thousands of peoples lives, and ended more. Such was the way of things when you were old, you touched upon the lives of many.

These were the figures that had influenced him particularly.

A few were omitted of course, those closest to him and those that hid themselves away. His immediate family, Silencia, his mother, Dissero. They were not present within this great hall, though only because he knew they would not want to be presented so garishly.

He Smiled at that.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]


She could not help but stare up at the statue of the woman. Aerin's eye taking her in from head to base of the stone sculpture, everything about her reminded Aerin of home, the people there and of herself. Aerin began to walk around the statue, as if pulled to do so, her face remained the same however as her eyes took in every single detail.

Fur, ax, her countenance every bit Valkyri. Could she have come from Midvinter? anything was possible, after all she had met other Valkyri that had done so, long before her final decision to venture into the unknown, which now seemed so childlike. "I like her", she said more to herself, before her eyes found her Master's once more. "Where is she from .. originally?", she asked, not really expecting him to say Midvinter, but now Aerin was curious that there might be others similar to her out in other parts of the galaxy.

It is interesting how the myths and Gods of Moross are so akin to her own of Midvinter, she does not believe in them however, hence her disbelief in those of Moross. Her head turned back to the woman in the statue, "She holds no shield". Something Aerin would never be without on the battle field.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

Soliael glanced at Aerin for a moment, then tilted his head upward towards the woman again.

“She was from Kiffu.” It was a world not unlike Midvinter. Harsh environment, though of a different sort. Kiffar were very much still stuck in a tribal society, and during the gulag plague their society regressed a fair bit, especially in the north of Kiffu where the cold mountains and harsh lands lay. Soliael remembered running into the woman there, and having her nearly try to kill him.

“Her name was Alviarin, a strong woman, gifted in the force.” She hadn't known it, only used her innate skill in psychometry to track Soliael through the tundra's. “She died nearly a hundred years ago.”

There was a hint of sadness in his voice, remembering a lost friend.

Soliael had lived for an age on the run, had visited a dozen worlds and met hundreds of people. Those within this room were the ones that remained with him to this day. People that had influenced and pushed him, taught him a skill, or aided him in survival as he wandered the galaxy.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]


As she listened to her Master speak of an old friend. She had a question in her mind. "Master forgive a rude question, but how old does this make you?".

Aerin walked back to him and stood. Her eyes falling around the entire place still marveling at the beauty. Her body relished the coldness and she could feel a strength enter her blood and fill her frame. The cold air feeding life back into her. Aerin only just tolerates the temperature of Exocron and at time needs to find refuge on hotter days. Although she now has the ability of Tapas she hates the feel of heat on her skin.

Her however, she was incline to remove her coat and let the coolness settle on her. She unbuttoned her coat and let it lay open. She also wondered what more her Master would show her of this place.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

He looked to the statue one last time, then turned away.

The False God began to walk through the corridors once again, leading Aerin to the end of the massive hall where a great stairway wound its way up to the second level of the fortress. The Great Hall and the second level were separated by nearly a hundred feet of solid bedrock to ensure that those who entered the hall would find it impossible to blow through the ceiling and enter the keep of the fortress. It was also reinforced with a second shield generator, making it almost impossible to pierce.

As he began to ascend the stairs Soliael spoke again. “I am nearly two and a half centuries old.”

He never much thought about this age, for his species he was actually still quite young, a youth who had only just grown into adulthood.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

She smiled ruefully, "I still have much to learn about the wider galaxy", she said. "You will outlive me. Valkyri live long them some, but nothing compared to you it seems".

Aerin followed her Master, as he began to ascend the wide staircase. The place seemed to have no end, and nothing was left to chance which she now learned to expect from him. She took this opportunity to look at her Master, not in reverence but as a man. He looks young in the face, but his eyes speak of experience beyond most. He walks with authority and command and holds his body proud.

Now she understood, now it was clear to her why he is so powerful at such a 'young' age. She began to think of her own mortality and in a sense, time wasted because of isolation and lack of knowledge of the force. If she had been trained from early years where would she be now, just how powerful would she had become? Although Aerin has learned much of the galaxy she still remains innocent in a lot of ways. At times she misses that innocence, completely oblivious to all the ways and machinations of the wide galaxy and to just live the simple life.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

“I spent my youth exploring the galaxy alongside my mother.” He recalled memories almost forgotten. “We traveled from world to world for decades. We did as we pleased, when we pleased, because we could. We traveled together for nearly the first century of my life, visited countless worlds, and yet we still didn't see the half of what the Galaxy has to offer.”

“Our physiology is more robust than humans, or even Valkyri. Yes I will outlive you, by far, but even I won't see everything.” He looked down at his apprentice as they moved up the winding staircase, its ornate marble and gold ingrained patterns seemed to pop out to the eye, and Soliael wondered exactly how much time such a thing took to create. He had never been a patron of the arts, and much of the embellishment in this place was not of his own direction.

He paused for a moment when they reached the top of the steps.

Before them lay another hall, though this one was much less ornate and grand. Instead it seemed to be a large circular room with ten doorways. Each doorway lead into a hall which had its own doors and perhaps beyond them the same could be said. At first glance, it appeared to be a maze of sorts, impossible to navigate unless you already knew the path you had to take.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

She let her hand rest and slid along the banister as they reached the upper floor. Aerin's foot falls echoed slightly within the circular platform. She walked ahead of her Master and looked at all the door lining the curve of it. Aerin turned back to him with a questioning look, however she turned her face to neutral.

"We are strong, even by basic standards. I have the capacity to four or five of average male strength and that is without enhancement of the force", she smiled remembering her first meeting with some of the other Apprentices of Moross, how surprised they were at her strength as they had underestimated her.

"I assume these doors have a purpose as well", she smiled now knowing everything here did. "Where do they lead?".

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]
Soliael smiled.

He wasn't new to overly strong species. The False God himself was quite a bit stronger than the average human, perhaps not as strong as the Valkyri, but to go along with his strength he had speed, near immortality, and unmatched agility. The races of the galaxy all had their unique little traits, and he supposed that some of them would be quite a surprise, especially given Aerins stature when compared to others.

That thought made him grin, though it quickly dissipated.

“Some of them lead to halls. Others to bedrooms, and still others to the outward sections of the fortress. This level is designed to be a maze, where anyone new who comes will get lost beyond all means. Sith Magics loom here. The doors will shift and change at times, and the air will seem to grow thinner to those who are unwanted. If all works properly though.” Soliael picked one of the doorways at random and motioned for Aerin to follow.

The concept of shifting and moving doors was not uncommon. It was first tried by Naga Sadow and Freedom Nad in their ancient tombs. The temple itself would seem to rearrange itself, when in reality the perception of those wandering would in fact be changed. Soliael had taken the same concept and applied it to his fortress.

They wandered in the hall for a few moments, passing two or three doorways before Soliael opened a large pair of wooden double doors to reveal an ornate bedroom with oddly Valkyri sentiments running through it. “People who call this place home should always find their way.”

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

"Magic?", although she had heard of Sith magic, she knew nothing of it. Aerin smiled now, such things they would say on Midvinter as they would describe the force. Even go so far as to call her 'witch'. There is a subtle different here, at least to her senses but nothing she would be able to accurately detect or even form a direction to. She would never question her Master's ways, as she cares nothing for alignment. No Sith is she, no Jedi, but simply Aerin with her own set of ambitions.

Passing some of the doors, she did not question their destination, she would probably follow her Master where every his wished, but she suddenly stopped as he neared large wooden doors. Such an oddity within the place, everything stone or marble and now this. She showed surprise on her face. Her surprise quickly grew as he opened the doors and before was a bedroom . . like home.

It was like she had just walked back in Midvinter, her face now set in wonder once more and her Master would see that innocent girl in it, just like the first day she had left Midvinter and had her first experience of the galaxy. Her eyes wide then as they are now.

She walked through the doors however, and looked around before turning back to face him. "This room is fit for a King".

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

“I have never visited your homeworld, though a few of the Disciples have.” Soliael said as he peered into the room, though he did not step foot into it. “I am told they attempted to make it feel like your home.”

If by now Aerin didn't realize that this was to be her room within the palace then Soliael would have to do some serious questioning on how he picked his apprentices. This was the only room in the entire Fortress that was themed this way, and elaborately so. His own room was far less fancy, containing almost nothing save for a bed, a desk, and a bathroom. The rest was simply used to house a large meditation pedestal for him.

There were many more bedrooms of course, though they were all royally made up in the styles of Moross and Exocron. Gilded with golds and silvers and beautiful as could be.

This room had been especially made for Aerin, and on the far side lay a thick set of doors that lead to one of the few outcroppings of the fortress, it lead out to one of the left most towers that outcropped from the mountain. It was all done in an effort to make Aerin feel as though she were at home. Soliael may have been a Sith, but oddly enough he cared quite a bit for those who were loyal to him,

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]


Aerin did something her Master would probably not approve of. She ran to him and embraced him in a hug. Realising what she had done she quickly released him from her grasp, however her face held a large smile. He had told her to consider this place home, that he had provided for her, but she was not expecting such a grand gift as this.

"The Disciples must have entered the Kings chambers". she finally said. Her mind went to the King for a brief moment, her biological father. Although raised by another man whom Aerin looks to for guidance even in his death, her blood father remains on the Throne and one day Aerin will aid the Heir apparent, to remove him and assassinate. But it is from this blood she gets her ambition.

She turned back into the room, and walked toward two large doors on the far wall, now she is curious and wanted to know what lay beyond them. Without turning back, "Will you not enter?".

Opening the doors the cold air poured in, the white light of the snow filled her eyes and all around her, as far as she could see, snow and ice. Her left her hands drop for the doors to her side and walked out onto the outcrop. The rooms are high up, the wind buffeted her red hair as she stood looking out over the fields of white. Aerin remained taking in the majestic sight.