Revna
Death is a part of life, we are born, we live, and we return to dust to create new life. It is up to us to spill the Red Water of Life.
The chains behind her strain as Varin struggles, Ignati still holding his head forcing him to watch. He strains his voice
“Nier?.....Where are you?”
A new memory fades in through the void of the gate as a sinking feeling looms in the put of Revna’s stomach of impending loss. She sees a towering man sitting upon a throne. His helmet is adorned with battle scars throughout years of servitude to war and conquest. Upon his brow is a wreath of iron thorns. He takes a deep breath as Revna feels her heart rate increase, it doesn't take long before she realises it is Varin heartbeat. Varin is before his father on one knee, kneeling before him. The throne is surrounded in a cobalt flame. A name for this throne is spoken into your mind. The Ignati Mortise, only the blood of a Mortifer ruler may sit upon this throne and gain access to all that the Palace of Carcosa offers. Weapons, droids, sentries, defense armaments all lie within the palm of the Ruler of the Ignati Mortise.
“Stand before me son, you have excelled in your combat training and have passed your trial for your Sith blade. Take up your arms.”
A droid adorned in blackened knight-like armor walks towards Varin as he stands. A name hits your mind CC-14 a Dr3n-gr Drenger class assassin droid. Salvaged from the parts of a similar assassin droid from the age of the separatists. This droid is Varin’s caretaker and royal bodyguard to the rulers and hairs of the throne. They command the droid army of Lord Mortifer.
CC-14 offers the sword to Varin bowing before him. Varin offers the same bow as he takes his blade. Lord Mortifer rises to his feet, a towering figure of around 9.5 feet. With heavy thuds he walks to his son with his large executioner's blade. Varin kneels once more as Lord Mortifer places the flat of the blade on each shoulder.
“Arise my squire.” Varin rises to his feet and you can feel he is holding in a tremendous amount of excitement but keeping a stoic face so as not to embarrass his father during the ceremony. A woman approximately 6 feet in height with fiery red hair and a face visor that's reminiscent of a armored face adorned with silver wings by the temples and a wreath of golden leaves kneels before him and places a round shield before him etched with the Mortifer family coat of arms. The coat of arms is a side view of a knight's helmet with a background of a maroon sun.
She speaks softly to him
“Lady Ravnika Mortifer of the shield maidens welcomes you to our arms my son.” Cheers and applause fill the room from various servants and citizens who have filled the room. Throughout the night festivities are made and joyous conversations of congratulations echo upon the walls. Music sends crescendos through the halls as Varin takes part in the celebration. Information comes to you that this ceremony is for a set of trials on becoming a warrior in the ranks of the knight class warriors.
As the evening goes by you see various joyous memories of music, song and dance, the night finally grows late and festivities are quieted down. The halls lay quiet and empty, save for a couple of restless children. You see Varin and Nier trying to sneak into the forbidden library of their father. Nier is posted as a lookout as Varin manipulates the lock.
“Hurry up Varin, I'm getting nervous.” Nier speaks with a shudder in her voice as Varin releases the lock.
“Got it.” Varin smirks. The sight of Varin smiling so much in this memory is almost alien to you, you have certainly never seen his eyes this full of life. The both of them quickly enter the room.
Nier looks around and speaks in a hushed whisper
“What are we looking for?”
Varin whispers back
“There was a book I saw the other day that I wanted to read, something about a family lightning manipulation. I bet if I find it and learn it then maybe I can rise through ranks faster.”
Nier stops and quietly snaps at him.
“VARIN! YOU KNOW THAT'S NOT HOW THIS WORKS.”
Varin smiles at her,
“A boy can dream can't he?”
“If father catches us he will….”
“Don't think about that right now Nier, focus on the mission. We can only move forward.”
Nier gives a very nervous nod as they keep searching. Moments later they hear a heavy hum and feel massive vibrations. Quickly they crack the door and peek in the halls. They see Lord Mortifer in his full armor quickly walking to the doors leading to the courtyard with Lady Ravnika.
“Find the children, they’ve come.” Lady Ravnika quickly orders CC-14.
Giving a quick salute and obedience to the letter CC speaks quickly
“As you wish My Lady.” The two parents exit the palace as CC heads back upstairs towards the children's room.
“What's happening Varin?” Nier’s anxiousness begins to peak.
“I’m….not sure Nier. Let's get a better look.”
Both of them quickly yet quietly scramble out of the room towards a window. There they see their parents stand stoically and strong as a small fleet of ships begin to approach.
“I’m not seeing any colors or coat of arms. Who do you think they are, Nier?"
Nier gives a soft shrug as she contemplates. They both then see Lady Ravnika run out of view towards the side as if getting some sort of flank. Their father still standing as an unmoving boulder. They see him turn on a holoprojector and speak to someone though they couldnt see who it was, but they clearly seemed more agitated and distressed as the conversation went on. Lord Mortifer ends the conversation with one simple sentence
“Kill me, but I WILL bring down swaths of your men to oblivion with me.” The holoprojector cuts off.
Varin lets out a couple of shaky breaths, something does not feel right. He looks at Nier who’s eyes begin to water. Varin quickly embraces her,
“Im sure we misheard that Nier, no one could kill father except time.”
Stillness and quiet engulfs the night sky as the red moon bloodens the sky. In an instant the ships fire a massive volley of missiles zipping along the sky in unpredictable directions, this is no ordinary bombardment. At least 53 missiles are flying towards the front of the palace as Lor Mortifer stands resolute. He glares at the fleet before raising his hand and there is a massive pressure in the air, vibration is sent through the children's body as one by one almost simultaneously each missile is forcefully detonated by the Sith Lord. He unsheathes his massive sith executioner's blade in one hand and dual wielded in the other is a massive mace forged from sith metals imbued with sith alchemy and dark magic. The cloud of dust dissipates as Lord Mortifer leaps onto one of the ships bashing his mace into the cockpit. The glass is no use under his might as he rips the pilot out of the seat, he then forces the ship to steer into another before leaping off.
As the children were watching another missile is sent their way, they try to react quickly before they both felt a heavy impact and a slide across the floor, embraced in the arms of CC-14. The wall begins to crumble as he shoulders Nier and grabs Varin by the hand.
“Come we are leaving” He pulls Varin with him with urgency.
"Your father has claimed Cobalt, we must get you to safety”
“WHAT'S GOING ON?!” Varin yells at the droid as Nier begins to cry from the loud noises. CC ignores the questioning teen and pushes on.
“CC-14 I order you to answer me! Please!”
“Now's not the time to question, it's time to obey your father's orders.” As they wander into the halls the windows shatter as several armed forces with blasters start shooting towards the trio. CC extends his durasteel shield deflecting bolts and shoves the children into a nearby closet. They grab a smoke grenade and detonate it in the middle of the armed militia, using a combination of his programmed stealth techniques and expert bladesmanship they draw their blade and one by one cut down each gunman. Varin peeks out of the closet getting a better look but all he sees is a cloud of smoke followed by frantic blaster fire and screams. Eventually a relative quitness fills the hall as CC stands before a pile of 15 dead forces.
Varin covers Niers eyes,
“Don’t look alright and cover your ears.” She nods as she covers her ears and Varin follows CC. As they round a corner CC is lifted up by an unseen force and thrown into the nearby wall. A man steps into the hallway chuckling. Varin could not get a good look at him as he was donned in full body armor and headgear.
A distorted voice breaches out of the speakers of the stranger,
“You can’t sneak past me children. I offer you a choice, join me and I will let you both live.”
CC quickly speaks
“DON’T DO IT, HE-” sparks fly as CC’s torso is crushed by this same unseen force. Varin hears CC’s sword clatter to the ground. Varin quickly grabs the sword and pushes Nier behind him.
“GET OUT OF MY HOME” He takes a stance.
The figure stands unphased.
“Very well, my mercy ends there sith child.” He pulls out a silver hilt and ignites a white blade. Varin’s eyes widened; he has never seen anything like it before. A blade made purely of light. No matter, Varin is now the one to protect his sister and that is what he will do. He gives off his best battle yell as he runs towards the assailant. He is then pushed out of the way as Lady Ravnika stands between them.
“Varin, take your sister to bay zero. NOW” She looks at them with a face he had never seen before as she passes him a small metallic box. Her armor is already adorned with some wear as she pulls up her shield and a metal staff, the end of the staff ignites with a dark crimson hue.
Varin is stunned by what he is witnessing but he shakes it off and grabs nier heading towards his room first to grab his Sith blade.
Lady Ravnika and this mysterious intruder circle each other. Not a word is said but a story is told as they begin to duel. Their weapons clash and spark, scoring burns into the walls. As they duel, more gunmen appear to surround them.
“We don't have time for this, shoot her down!” The gunmen aim their weapons as Lady Ravnika slams her staff on the ground shattering it but the illuminated blade stay afloat circling her. The metal shards swirl around her like a mass school of fish. The gunmen fire but the shards protect her as one by one projectiles are sent into the bodies of each assailant.
“Leave Jedi, you are not welcome.”
The jedi disengages his saber.
“Take the shot.”
A loud bang is heard as a window shatters and a spray of crimson decorates the floor, Lady Ravnika pauses for a moment before feeling a fiery pain just to the side of her sternum. She then collapses. After a moment the jedi approaches her.
“You should’ve stayed with the order Lady Ravnika, you had so much promise.” He walks over her and down the hall as she takes her last breath.
Varin sets Nier down in the room and starts frantically looking through his stuff.
“Keep those ears and eyes closed Nier.” He grabs his sword and sheathes it before heading out of the hall with Nier on his back.
The jedi stands waiting for them in the hall.
“Shall we continue Sith boy?” Varins heart sinks not seeing his mother, he knows that she is gone, but he tries to steel himself, he must press on with the mission. He raises his blade in a two handed stance. The jedi ignites his saber as they both stand before one another.
The jedi takes a couple of swings towards Varin as he parries them with his blade, Varin tries to counter but is also parried. Nier stands in the doorway of the bedroom keeping her ears covered but cant help but to peek. Varin seems to be holding his own against this jedi counter for counter. The jedi then force pulls a statue of a bust towards Varin forcing him to dodge, as he dodges the Jedi kicks him just below the sternum knocking the wind out of him. Varin lays on the floor struggling to breath, likely a rib or two is broken as he is then pick up by an unseen force and brought closer to the jedi.
“How unfortunate, you would have been a formidable duelist if you had come with us, but you have chosen your path.” He picks up his saber ready to deal a final blow before Nier screams distracting him. Varin uses the moment to kick the jedi in the face, knocking off his mask. The jedi falls backwards slightly before looking at Varin, revealing a human face, dark skin and long dreads tied tight behind his head, he glares at Varin with violet eyes.
“I’ll come for her next boy.” Varin freezes as he realises Nier has made herself a target. Thinking of any harm coming to her, Varin glares back at the jedi.
“You won’t take her, and you will not take me.” He growls at him.
“You will not touch her, I will kill you if you do!” He lunges at the jedi, reinitiating the duel. The jedi seems to duel him with slightly more ease but Varin does not care, he fights on trying to find a way to pierce his defenses. Suddenly a blow is felt on his face as the jedi backhands Varin to the floor. Varin spits out a little bit of blood from a busted lip.
“I’ve had enough of this children.” He holds his saber over Varin ready to strike downward.
“Sith should not be allowed to live, THEY ALL DESERVE TO PERISH!” He strikes downward towards Varin. The jedi feels an impact from the saber. Looking towards the ivory blade he sees a heavy blackened gauntleted hand grasped around his blade.
“DO NOT TOUCH MY CHILDREN!” Lord Mortifer holds the jedi up by his saber and throws him into the wall as he draws his sword, he presses a button in the missile of its hilt and the executioners blade begins to melt away revealing a deep crimson blades arcing with blackened lightning.
“You will make a fitting sacrifice to Ignati jedi.”
The jedi slowly stands on his guard as the towing figure stands before him. As he stands a gunman hidden in the shadows leaps for him with a vibrablade. Lord Mortifer quickly swings his heavy mace towards the noise and with a sickening wet crunch the assailant was silenced.
“OH it's been so long since i have had a worthy duel, fight me jedi or I will tear you asunder.”
The jedi runs toward him with his blade as Lord Mortifer deflects it while swinging his mace at him, the jedi just barely dodges it only to feel a massive fist slam into his sternum cracking a few ribs he lets out a pained breathless grunt as he is thrown to the ground.
Varin slowly picks himself up and grabs Nier,
“We have to go.” He pulls her further down the hall as the sound of sabers clashing echoes behind them.
“Keep your ears and eyes closed Nier, don't open them until I say so!” He makes their way to the garden exit and opens the door to see the garden completely engulfed in flame, the fires dance in Varin’s eyes as he watches the plants burn away. He shakes it out of his head and continues to pull Nier along
“DON’T LOOK, STAY WITH ME!” They reach a shipping dock and he begins to enter a code to “BAY 0” inside of Bay 0 are unmarked ships perfectly designed for smuggling and hiding. As the doors open they hear a voice behind them.
“CHILDREN!” They both look and see the jedi holding the helmet of their father. Varins eyes widen as the jedi tosses the helmet at them. The jedi is heavily wounded and almost looks to barely be holding on.
“YOU WON'T GET AWAY FROM ME!” He yells at them to the point his voice breaks and raises his hands. All of the ships in Bay 0 creak and groan before they collapse. Varin draws his blade again hoping this is the last time he will have to. If he can distract the jedi long enough he can buy Nier time to escape. The jedi ignites his saber and Varin yells again running towards him. The jedi lifts him with the force and slams him into the ground knocking the wind out of him, before he can try to catch his breath he is drug along the ground and slammed into a stack of heavy shipping containers. Varin feel a pop in his side as he lets out a pained yell.
“I’m going to finish the job Sith, and rid this galaxy of you and the rest of your family, YOU won't stop me from my quest….hopefully your sister won't put up as much of a fight.”
Varin hears those words and sees his vision go red. He growls to the sith
“You…will..not…TAKE HER!” His back ignites in flames as he crushes the nearby shipping containers and send the shards towards the jedi, the jedi deflects all of them and pulls Varin to him, Varin using the momentum darts towards the jedi with his blade slicing down, the jedi lets out a pained scream as his arm fall to the ground dropping his saber.
“YOU BASTARD” the jedi cries out to Varin and holds him with the force. Varin growls and strains against the jedi trying his best to move, as the jedi strains to contain him. Varin roars at him
“I'M GOING TO KILL YOU” As he yells he feels a heat build up in his mouth as lightning blasts out of his mouth towards the jedi knocking him back and releasing Varin. Gunmen show up just as the jedi falls and they pull him back, opening fire on Varin. Varin grabs a nearby plate and holds it in front of him as he runs towards the blaster fire sword in hand, one by one with his enhanced speed and strength he cuts down each gunmen as the others escape with the mortally wounded jedi. Varin stands before 13 dead gunmen before he finally begins to calm down. He sees Nier who looks absolutely frightened of him, Varin begins to walk closer to her before he sees his face in a nearby puddle. His face is covered in blood. He quickly tries to wipe it off with his shirt as he grabs Nier.
“We are almost out Nier, let's check bay 1.”
They both head towards bay 1 which is full of outdated ships and they both begin to board one. He hops into the cockpit and starts hitting buttons that he believes will start the ship. To his luck the ship roars to life as they begin to pull out of the bay. They can hear the impacts of blaster bolts in the sides of the ship as they begin to take off, before they can get their final thrust a missile impacts the rear of the ship critically damaging it. The memory fades to black.