Faction Darkness in the Blood | An Age of Strife Story

[Lucien Dooku]

AN AGE OF STRIFE STORY
DARKNESS IN THE BLOOD
ACT I

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The unthinkable had happened, yet within the paradigm of the Empire's Age of Strife, such things that once were impossible had become the Empire's new reality. Upon the Imperial World of Concordia resides a notable contingent of Imperial Knights who've made the world their home. The planet had been chosen to house the Chapter of Knights for several years before the Emperor's death, with the Chapter in question being tasked with guarding this sector of the Empire's southern flank that touched the waning state of Silver Jedi. A great bastion of Imperial authority was erected to house the Knights in their endeavors, with its inhabitants referring to the isolated bastion as Fortress Mortis.

All was well until it wasn't, with communications between the Knights upon Concordia would cease almost overnight with Imperial command upon Bastion. Alarms were triggered unsurprisingly, as the Chiss rebellion had left the Imperials wary of such instances leading into the future. An expeditionary force was sent immediately, gathered from nearby sectors within days. Their arrival upon the world was confirmed, but the last communication received was shortly before the convoy veered off course in response to an emergency beacon several kilometers from the fortress itself.

Fearing the worst had occurred, the Knights would choose to handle the issue directly, with the Warden gathering together an ensemble of Knights from the most seasoned Chapters in the vicinity of Bastion, and together with an accompanying contingent of Stormtroopers, they would venture at once to Concordia under the escort of Task Force Dooku, the Warden's personal fleet.

Their objectives were simple.

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SCENE I - FORTRESS MORTIS

Enter the Citadel without delay, and reestablish contact with the Chapters who've gone dark if possible. If such is not the case, and the Warden's predictions that they have gone crestfallen en masse-- an event that had never happened in the history of the Empire -- comes true, then it is up to the Knights to take care of their own mistake, and eliminate the threat they might pose to the Empire. A small contingent of Stormtroopers will accompany the Knights, but this endeavor is one that is the Knights must rectify, and theirs alone--No matter the cost.

Be vigilant as you enter the halls of Fortress Mortis, for none of our most force-attuned Knights have been able to pierce an ever-present shadow that veils those who attempt to peer into it through the force.

SCENE II - THE MINES OF CONCORDIA

The locating of the missing expeditionary force is secondary, but nonetheless a contingent of the Knights' accompanying Stormtroopers were sent to deal with this at once. The expedition's transponders established their last location within what was once a hideout for the infamous Mandalorian group known as the Death Watch in times long past. All those sent to this location must be prepared for the worst, as a great mining shaft encompasses the majority of the base, meaning those sent here must be ready to deal with low-light conditions, and whatever may await them within the darkness below

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Spoiler: Set piece Information

Concordia - Planet | Thread
Fortress Mortis - Imperial Knight Fortress upon world - Faction Canon | Scene 1
Deathwatch Hideout | Scene 2, ground level
Concordian Mines] | Scene 2, underground level, primary setpiece for scene 2

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[Lucien Dooku]

DARKNESS IN THE BLOOD
ACT I
FORTRESS MORTIS
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An ominous wind pierced through the armored shell mounted on his chest, delivering upon the Warden a chilling premonition of what awaited the Knights inside Fortress Mortis. Their convoy came to a stop outside the massive gates, already left ajar before their arrival, and a pair of mangled bodies sprawled on the ground in between.

The scent of death filled the air with a rancid aroma, and it only grew heavier as the Knights departed their transports and formed up to enter the interior of Mortis itself. A familiar veil clouded his thoughts, coalescing into the minds of him and the force-attuned present as the shadowy tendrils of the dark side attempted to dull their senses from what truly lurked within.

"Be vigilant."

Lucien called out, moving to the front while a pair of stormtroopers surged forwards to remove the bodies out of the way of their advance. Cables were shot from their transports a moment later, each one latching upon the large gates before their engines revved back to life, and their wheels went into a hard reverse away from the Fortress. The gates were pulled open completely, presenting the advancing force of Imperials with a sight that should not have existed within the confines of an Imperial Knight bastion.

Death presented itself en masse to them. Mangled bodies littered the inner ward, many of them eviscerated beyond recognition, while others lingered upon the ground with signs of corruption through the force. Bloated skin and entrails swimming with disease and putrescent-seeking insects could be seen among the unliving, and through the corner of many of their eyes, the shadows seemed to move ever so subtly.

It was clear that the Fortress itself was no longer hallowed ground for the Imperial Knights. It was corrupted to the core of its foundations, or at the very least there was a taint lurking within Mortis that the Knights had never dealt with before, and would need to address before their leave from the planet could even be discussed.

<"Sir d-do you hear that?>"

His earpiece blipped to life, awakening him from the thoughts processing through his mind. He refocused his attention onto that lingering taint, the undeniable presence of alchemized dark energies coalescing through the air. It sung across the chilling wind almost as hidden as the vibrations that materialized around them, audible only through the connection that those present, be it Knight or otherwise, had with the force.

It was almost beautiful as the audible sounds of many voices came together as one, delivering their combined tones as a chorus of chanting hymns that otherwise seemed harmless, were it not for the deliverance of what it wished to accomplish. A vision entered his mind, and through it he saw a glimpse of what was bringing about this eerie chorus of voices. It was a ritual? Sith? No. He couldn't tell, not yet.

The crescendo of voices bombarded their ears until several of the Stormtroopers present were sent into a stupor, tearing their helmets off their heads to reveal trickles of blood seeping from the corners of their eyes, and delivering shrilling screams that mimicked the hymns that bombarded their minds without fail. Many of the stormtroopers clawed at their eyes, tore at their ears, and ripped and smashed at their exposed flesh before their comrades could bring them to a halt. They would join the dead already littering the ground-- but not for long.

Another ping sounded off in his ear. It was one of the Stormtrooper commanders from the group sent off to investigate the mines.

<"Sir-- we-- mines! The patrol-- we fou--" The words struggled to filter through a heavy, lingering static. <"I repeat-- the dead-- beasts! I rep--">

The line went dark. He attempted to reopen it back up, but to no avail. The doors to the fortress' interior proper swung open moments later, revealing nothing but an unnatural darkness where light should have been visible from within. A legion of feet marched through the darkness, echoing outside into the silence that surrounding the Knights.

A mass of shambling bodies, many of them as diseased, decayed and corrupted as the legion of corpses that littered the floor around them. The hymns that were once only within their minds were no audible from the source-- them. Whatever sentients these beings once were, whether they were the former Knights of the Empire or otherwise, it no longer mattered now. They were armed with blades of pure crimson, improvised bladed weapons or just the insatiable hunger that caused their diseased mouths to salivate at the thought of the flesh that waited for them in the ward.

The lightsaber within his hand activated at once.

"We may not know what awaits us, but it is our duty to protect the Empire at all costs, even if it means to march into the abyss. Forwards; Always forwards."

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[Aoki-Barran Mira]

<"My liege, its Barran. We're climbing round to the eastern courtyard, making our way in from there. Relevant Sit-Reps likely incoming soon, but ya never know.... In any case, afore I forget - happy hunting o'er there. Cairn One out.">

While Lucien Dooku 's main force had entered through the main gate, a second party had snuck in through the courtyard. Michael Barran , alongside others, including the newly promoted Sword of Michael Barran.

Barran's Shadow was well and truly a "shadow." She was mostly silent as she and her leader entered the dark, imposing citadel. They scaled the walls, leaping into the eastern courtyard. The stench of corpses invaded Mira's senses, and the knight actually had lifted her hand to plug her nose. Looking around, she maintained a mostly calm expression, despite her struggle to adapt to the stink of death.

It was a cruel, and frankly revolting, galaxy. Aoki Mira had known this. She had known this since she was a child. The Dark Side was upon the knights like a heavy, smothering cloak held over their heads. It was only the five senses that alerted her party to the undead surrounding her. The moonlight cast a pale light into the courtyard. Swaying corpses slowly approached, drunken and sluggish between the trees. They were poisoned with the Dark Side, its venom rotting in their veins. Heavy footsteps, groans of death. The mob of enemies crawled out from behind the statues and jumped down from the decorative rocks. Red lightsabers activated, red and foreboding in the mostly grey scale courtyard.

Despite her expression appearing unfazed, she internally was disgusted. The Sith, and Dark Siders in general, were despicable for toying the bodies of the fallen and dealing in Sith Sorcerery as necromancy. It was a defiling of the fallen, and a deep disrespect to the passed on. This opponent they faced... was completely and totally depraved.

She was even angered by what she saw, but she remained calm. She refused to let her anger cloud her judgement. Letting her emotions take over would only jeopardize the mission, and the opportunity to extract justice on the evil witch responsible for this impurification.

She extended one hand towards a cluster of undead. Pulling her mask completely over her face, she narrowed her oak brown eyes. From her palm, light burst forth, lightside affiliated and blinding to her chosen enemies, while giving herself the chance to see. Wordlessly, she drew her naginata, Hazukashi, and burst forth with remarkable, elegant speed and agility. The blade was made of cortosis, easily shorting out the crimson lightsaber blades as she cut multiple undead down. Gracefully, as if in a dance, she finished off six before falling back to the group. Foul crimson dripped off her blade as she fell in line next to Barran.

"The smell is lovely." She sarcastically vented, "Remind me to bring a can of air freshener next time."

What was disturbing was, Barran was usually more... responsive. And confident, and sure. Mira could tell he was haunted today, looking around with distant terror on his face. Eyes vacant and avoidant, unable to immediately answer. Something was attacking his mind, and Mira knew what it was like to be attacked by the past all too well. She sympathized, but she also knew what was at stake.

"My Lord, I have your back. But I need to know you're in the present."

Her voice was gentle, but at the same time stern enough to get the point across. She needed the leader she had pledged it all to here today. The young knight then gave him a nod of respect, "I will follow your lead."

Spoiler

Equipment:

• Light Imperial Armor.
• Imperial Lightsaber.
• Hazukashi, naginata pole-arm.
• Fukaikiru, wakizashi shortsword.
• Seijo-Ki, tanto knife.
• KXR-SFP-60x, blaster pistol.

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[DECEASED Erskine Barran]

wrong account

 

[Michael Barran]

1st post

DARKNESS IN THE BLOOD
AN AGE OF STRIFE STORY

CAIRN_ONE
IMPERIAL KNIGHT-COMMANDER OF SERENNO
DRUID-GRANDMASTER OF THE HIGHLAND BROTHERHOOD

TAGS
Lucien Dooku Aoki-Barran Mira

BORN OF BRIGHT STARS III: DANCING WITH THE DAMNED - PART 1

SUNRISE COURTYARD, EAST WING,
FORTRESS MORTIS, CONCORDIA (LATE 877 ABY)

<"My liege, its Barran. We're climbing round to the eastern courtyard, making our way in from there. Relevant Sit-Reps likely incoming soon, but ya never know.... In any case, afore I forget - happy hunting o'er there. Cairn One out.">
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To go through the front gate seemed wasteful, joy-killing to endeavour, so the East Wing was chosen in the hopes it would yield much greater challenges in the process, the sort the Wanderer always relished; though he was completely unaware of the unearthed traumas of yesteryear that awaited in the shadows, despite being able to detect a presence much darker lurking beyond the nearest-perceivable shrouds, something (or perhaps someone) much more insidious than the mere hindrance of drudged up memories from darker days. But despite the surprises that waited on the knights' arrival, poised to strike out from the dark, Barran was still ready and willing to put in the hard work for King and Empire, keeping an eye on all the Highlanders he brought for the objective as he planned their next moves beyond the courtyard.

'Randall, keep oor operators on the battlement path. Shoot down fae the high-ground - something's no right about this. Nothing else for it though, so I'm no allowin' for any mistakes this time around.... But anyways, as soon as I know you're clear, I'll hold position an' wait for backup. Jus' cover us for now, Br'er.'

Exchanging brief nods, Barran then left McBain to cover from the long north-to-south strip of handy vantage-points, stopping at the midway point some twenty yards away from his ever-vigilant Shadow; then after holding fingers up to count Aoki in for a well-timed, two-pronged jump towards the center of the courtyard below, Lord Michael made a visible, showy gesture of intent to land in the near distance with lightsabre drawn already, letting the pale-blue glow of his kyber illuminate the eastern battlements in it's cold, unforgiving light. The jump towards the center of the courtyard was easy enough, but when the unexpected traumas finally showed face, the Knight-Commander's state of shock barely allowed his body to operate on a sort of autopilot, acting instinctively as the hand utilised the curved grip of his lightsabre to vicious effect on Barran's vacant-minded behalf.

'The smell is lovely.'

The undead, horrors of which the Highlanders had faced once before already - traumas that seared their way into Lord Michael's mind almost ten years before that night.

Recurring flashbacks of a nightmare on Carlac.

And yet, despite the Druid's detrimental adrenal response, there were more helpful elements in play than just the near-spasmodic intuition of his own anatomy's response to severe duress, Barran was also fortunate that his hybrid-born Shadow was unperturbed in her efforts to watch her commander's back. Standing strong in her stance, and with as much strength in her strikes as could be found in the explosive-speed of his bodyguard's agility in action, Lord Michael could only imagine the aches and pains that Lady Raina would have endured in the process of preparing Mira for knighthood, as the Woad could see that such talents had been nurtured along the way.

'Remind me to bring a can of air freshener next time.'

Fortunate, as Barran didn't want to bring himself to call on the help of the Highlanders watching over their efforts, though not enough to keep him from escaping their scrutiny in the process of trying to fend off otherwise-easy assailants. Yet despite the memories of the telepathic horrors hidden within the menace on Carlac, the Druid was relatively quick to snap out of it, even if was sluggishly done as his Shadow looked directly his way as she reassured,'My Lord, I have your back. But I need to know you're in the present.', rightly hoping to yield something more effective than her commander had been so far. There was no doubt active concern in the tone of her voice, there was clearly a caring side to the way she tried to get Lord Michael's attention, especially in the moment she concluded,'I will follow your lead.', working beneficial wonders to keep the Wanderer's flashbacks and his traumatic spinal shivers at bay.

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'There was once upon a time when the Warlord-era lot saw these abominations as welcome sights, but I was one of those unfortunate enough to start my conventional tenure when this suddenly ceased to be the case. '

With a disgusted shake of his head, the catalyst for the Woad's slow shift to Pellaeonism suddenly reared it's ugly head once more, switching off his curved-hilt lightsabre and placing it on his sword-belt again as he continued,'Taking the Woads and my Highlanders to war against the same sort of undead we once threw in against the Sith Empire. Carlac changed everything for me - jus' feels like I've just come full circle again, y'know? Putting down rebellions, putting the dead down for the second and last time, just a shame this second time won't be the last time for us. Just the way it is though.', pausing to let the truth of the matter sink in for both Aoki and for himself for effect. Then in this wordlessness, the two Imperials would have enough time to allow the Knight-Commander to take his gloves off and carefully place them in his right trouser-pocket, time enough to up the sleeves of his coat in anticipation of the pain and surface-level damage his choice of weapons would bring to his fingertips.

'I deserve this, but with that being said, I don't mind paying a little penance every now an' again.'

The breeze, flowing southward past him, brushing against his nose, his beard and his right hand as he held it aloft with fingers lazily clicking together, seemingly in preparation for what the Wanderer had in mind for the nearest approaching zombies, though Barran's Shadow would soon find out that the air around them had a part to play in his little trick, resigned to watch on as Lord Michael lined up his first targets with a rather atypically-Woadish smirk on his face. And then, with a simple sliding contact of thumb on index and middle finger, the Druid clicked his fingers and threw the built-up pressure in what he assumed would be a thin, sharply cutting Force Wave as it had been before under similar conditions; but what the Knight-Commander hadn't considered, even though it should have been the first thing he factored into present-day application, was the fact Lord Michael was stronger than he was when he last utilised his Click-Wave technique in combat.

Much stronger.

Then all of a sudden, with eyes widening at the damage he had done with little to no effort at all, the Druid could only laugh in mirthful shock at the end result, especially after bearing witness to what could only be described as wide-reaching evisceration. Taking out the first and at least three more undead troopers behind as the click tore through the upper-torso and the head of his initial target, the Woad shook his head as his eyes drifted to the gory outcome of his making, then to his own fingers, then to his subordinate, shrugging whilst wheezing in his mirthful attempt to suggest he didn't know the Click-Wave would work so well this time.

 

[Katja Javik]

IMPERIAL SPECIAL FORCES
501st Legion
Apollo Kurze | Open
Objective II​

In one moment, the gravitas of the Stormtroopers buckled as they were thrust into a fray against assailants that were yet unknown, with many barely spared a moment to comprehend what had attacked them. They had not arrived at the mission ignorant to its dangers but there was equally little to prepare them for the horrors that lurked beneath the surface.

For those who hadn't been immediately bombarded by the initial attack, they were left dumbfounded or desperately attempting to protect their comrades and release them from the jaws of hell that had locked onto them.

The panic and shrieks of horror on escalated as soldiers came face-to-face with beings that could only be described as nothing short of an abomination. The first that Katja laid her eyes on was an indescribable creature that appeared as though it was falling apart with piece of skin and flesh almost melting from it and dripping into an oozing sludge on the ground.

Despite seeming worse for wear, it was having no issue contending with the stormtrooper that strayed too close. The creature lurched down and grabbed the man by the arm, lifting him from the ground and throwing him into the air, only to catch him in a grip he would never escape. It wasn't a huge beast but it was powerful enough that there was no hope for this trooper and they knew it, despite their futile efforts - It was too late for him.

With his limbs and head still hanging from the creature's mouth, as it wasn't large enough to fit the whole man inside, horrific screams pierced the ears of those nearby as daggers of teeth clamped down on his abdomen once, and again, until it was satisfied that he was dead. With no interest in eating the trooper, it dropped the lifeless, bloodied soldier to the ground, seemingly oblivious to the many blaster bolts it had been receiving in the meantime.

It was far from the only battle that they were contending with.

Elsewhere, a figure that looked humanoid, or as though it had been humanoid in a past life given its grotesque disfigurement, was closing in on a trooper, cornering him. Katja fired a shot towards the creature to draw its attention but it seemed fixated on the man that it almost had in its grasp so she quickly advanced towards the pair, retrieving the vibroblade attached at her waist as she did. The other trooper had managed to hold the creature at bay using a staff but she doubted his stamina would outlast that of the unnatural Dark side that they faced.

As she neared, she upped her speed to a sprint and leapt onto the creature's back, wrapping an arm around its shoulders so it couldn't pull her off. With her other hand, she ran her blade across its neck in a quick, single movement and let go to allow herself to fall to the floor. The creature's head rolled onto the ground and the body fell soon after. She received a breathless thanks from her fellow trooper to which she gave a brief nod of acknowledgement but her eyes remained on the ground.

Something didn't feel right.

These creatures weren't natural and they shouldn't expect them to behave as such.

An icy hand shot out and grabbed her ankle. Instinctively, she used her free foot to stamp on the arm to get it to release her and fired several shots for good measure. The body went limp again but they couldn't be sure that this was the end of it.

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[Apollo Kurze]

DARKNESS IN THE BLOOD
ACT I
MINES OF CONCORDIA
Katja Javik
173rd. Stormtrooper Legion "Myrmidons"

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<"Sir-- we-- mines! The patrol-- we fou--" The words struggled to filter through a heavy, lingering static. <"I repeat-- the dead-- beasts! I rep--">

The transmission attempting to make its way up the mine shaft and into the ear of the Warden had not been legible enough for the Knights within Fortress Mortis to get a clear grip on the situation. A Stormtrooper officer by the name of Landis had been the individual who reached out and above out of horror of the situation they were now in, and Apollo had been unfortunate enough to bear witness to the horrendous fate that the man would undergo just moments after the communication line had been severed.

The betaplast of his armor was ripped asunder by a mixture of serrated teeth and needle-like claws, his flesh being reduced to ribbons by the group of humanoid-esque monstrosities that engorged themselves upon the exposed cavities of his innards. The officer wasn't alone, no, his death would become one of a dozen who found themselves immediately overtaken by the increasingly vicious hordes of undead like creatures who assaulted their force with ravenous, murderous intent.

Screams of pure agony and dread filtered across their shared comms, drowning out those who kept their discipline to the standard in spite of the scene unfolding before their eyes. Apollo could only watch in horror as the hordes of undead made their way from deeper into the cavern, many of them shambling forth with pure disregard to the concerted barrage of blaster fire that aimed to bring them down to the last, but to no avail.

<"Apollo, this is getting out of hand!"> A fist slid across the pauldron of his Imperialized Beskar, drawing his attention partially away from one of the ravenous creatures he'd just finished putting down. The weight of his boot crunched down upon its putrid throat, and with a twist it descended further into the flesh, ending its hissing shrieks within an instant, the convulsion of its struggling body coming to an end as well. <"I know."> Apollo replied, his eyes still scanning across the caverns for any tactical advantage that would do them well in their current predicament.

There was none, as far as he could tell at least. The ambush of these creatures had caught them right into a veritable killbox, which despite their lack of firearms, still put the contingent of Imperials at a severe disadvantage. They would have to weather the storm, and continue to fight until an opening had finally presented itself. Retreat was no longer an option, in any case. A quick glance to their rear would reveal that the creatures were skimming the walls of the mine shaft from their rear flank, from their sides, and seemingly out of every crevice and crack in the walls themselves.

He holstered his blaster as a second creature darted in his direction, shrieking bloody cries of death the whole way. Bladed claws careened through the air in an attempt to bisect the Mandalorian in one swoop, only for the creature to lose its footing and miss as the inertial thrusters mounted on his backpack gave him the extra boost needed to fully avoid the savage arc of its claws. Already his hand was latched tightly around the hilt of his vibrosword, and with another burst of his thrusters and a hop off his feet, he'd rapidly be brought to a spiral at once, the blade of his weapon extended outwards and humming with activity.

The creature dropped to the floor, cut diagonally through its midsection with little effort on the part of Apollo. Before his feet would even touch the ground, his thrusters once more flared with life, sending the Myrmidon across the cavern floor with killing intent behind his actions. The vibrosword gracefully flowed through the bodies of the undead and monstrosities alike, tearing through chitinous claws and flesh alike, rupturing the decaying and bloated with shrewd precision in the case of the creatures proximity to his allies. The rest of the Myrmidons followed suit behind their squad leader's rear, their vibroaxes and swords being used to rip and tear the creatures who were left to the rear of Apollo's advance.

Apollo's foot finally touched the ground after a legion of eviscerated creatures were left in his wake, but only for long enough to allow a pivot of his form. Rekindled thrusters propelled him to his right, several more of the creatures being cleanly sliced through like a hot knife through butter along the axis of his advance. A sudden flair of propellant lifted him further up towards the cavern wall, his eyes focused upon a pair of Stormtroopers who'd been isolated as a result of the pandemonium ensuing. One was injured, yet the other continued to fight to protect their comrade despite the odds they collectively faced.

<"I want a triage position in the center of our collective position. Get the wounded to safety-- I'll think of something to deal with this shit show soon.">

He radioed across an open frequency, yet the message was clearly meant for the Myrmidons under his command. More of the creatures were incoming, charging at them with fanatical, reckless abandon in their quest to satiate their hunger.

"Not today."

His thrusters momentarily dampened, and with a twist of his body his feet pressed against the cavern roof, knees left at a bend in the process, before the bright radiance of his jetpack once more ignited to his rear. With the momentum of his jetpack, his knees shot forwards with as much force and speed that he could he muster. They would be overtaken in seconds-- but that was all the time he needed to do what must be done.

Apollo impacted with the group of creatures, his fist slamming onto the ground in between their sparse formation, buckling the cavernous earth and sending a potent shockwave rippling across the earth and air surrounding them. Decaying bodies were torn to shreds in the process, or otherwise sent flying across the cavern until they impacted against the walls, the floor, or otherwise. It was a momentary reprieve for the two, but it'd save their lives in the immediate present of the situation they were in.

One of the Myrmidons dropped onto the ground near them, and pulled the wounded trooper to a braced position against his side before lifting off and flying the man away, the rest of the squad followed in tow to collect more of the wounded across the cavern. Apollo approached the stormtrooper, shaking his aching wrist after the reckless stunt he'd just pulled, his opposite hand still clutching his vibrosword.

Shrilling voices echoed from further down the caverns, alerting them all to more incoming creatures. Yet behind them, the thunderous pulsing of something large slowly made its way as well. "What you did was admirable, but now's not the time for heroics." A momentary glance was afforded through the chaos of battle occuring across the mines, and he sighed, feeling the weight of death that surrounded them.

"Focus on staying alive, too many of our own have died already."
​

 

[Seydou of Thyrsus]

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Scene I
Fortress Mortis​

The stench of fire and brimstone filled the air, unnaturally drowning the smell of decomposing flesh and bones, and burning the nostrils of those unattuned to the foul stench of evil. Seydou of Thyrsus cast a sidelong glance at his argent cloak fluttering softly against the current of wind blowing from the mountains above into the valley below. Not an hour on the surface of Mandalore's moon and already hues of sulfur spread across the fine, spider silk fabric like a plague; the grim reality of the Sith Empire's mercy to absolve Concordia from the predicament that befell the neighboring world of Mandalore.

It was unusual for the imposing Thyrsian to find himself beyond the borders of his homeworld; its key strategic location, cutting into the clouds of both the sanctimonious Alliance and the impotent Concord, had turned Thyrsus into a Fortress World of the Empire. Seydou's Knighthood among the Order had mostly revolved around shoring up the security of his own homeworld, even more so with both galactic powers of the Empire and the Alliance throwing fists at one another at every opportunity. In between the two superpowers, it was almost inevitable that his people would once more find themselves in the midst of battles they so much relished.

And yet, the unusual was becoming the new usual as the vacant throne of the Empire ushered the ever-spanning realm into an age of strife. A time of uncertainty and distrust, of concern and distress, and of shifting allegiances and ambitious betrayals. The great troubles perturbed even the tempered warrior of Thyrsus carving a dark grimace across his stoic features. Known for his unusual reluctance for the lust of war his own people relished and sought religiously, the paladin itched for the comfort of his lightsaber's hilt.

A trinket of power, once gifted to the famed Sun Guard of old, by their Sith overlords had been relinquished to an esoteric chapter of the Knights for study. When its return to the Thyrsian vaults was due, there came no response and Seydou burdened himself with the task of pursuing and unraveling the mystery behind the trinket's eventual disappearance. His trail had led him here in the company of fellow Knights answering a distress call from the Fortress Mortis.

The doors of the temple swung open and sucked the very air away from the paladin's lungs as he held his breath in grim anticipation of what was to come. The harrowing wind sharply ceased as if siphoned away by the dark maw of the fortress' open doors into the abyss that awaited beyond. The ringing sound of silence that had befallen the small task force cracked under the arrhythmic march of boots growing louder from within the fortress. Like a pit of snakes suddenly revealed to the piercing sunlight of the surface, dozens of red blades snap-hissed in the hands of the wretched figures that materialized from the temple once sanctified.

In equal fashion, Seydou's argent blade came to life in his hands. The tranquil hum of his kyber crystal -- a complete antipode of the bleeding kybers violently reverberating and shuddering in the hands of the vile creatures that emerged from inside. Before he had become a Knight and forged into the tempered steel he was today, Seydou had traversed the wild stars along the frontier with his brother as monster hunters for hire under the brief tutelage and mentorship of a late Lord of the Fringe.

There was a thing or two he knew about slaying the unfathomable.

Instantly, the Knights, like a tidal wave of white, crashed into a sea of crimson blades. His blade swung like a flail, ravaging through the ranks of the living dead. The Thyrsian's strokes split cadavers into two with such strength that the two remaining parts were shot yards apart from each other. But the sea itself could not be parted; more and more monsters materialized into the courtyard seeking to drown the small task force solely by sheer numbers. Their fight was not here.

It was inside.

Where the Heart of Darkness pulsates waves of entropy.

"We must spread out!! -- find other ways into the fortress!" the paladin bellowed through the tumult of battle.

Lucien Dooku Aoki-Barran Mira Michael Barran ​

 

[Dionus Bharro]

Objective: I - Fortress Mortis
Location: Concordia
Tags: Lucien Dooku | Aoki-Barran Mira | Michael Barran | Seydou of Thyrsus

Knight Commander Bharro had seen much in his life. Years ago, he had walked the path of darkness, drunk on the power he believed he had. But that wasn’t true power. When he thought himself fighting against an enemy, a brother had revealed himself, and had shown the former Sith Lord the true meaning of what it meant to wield the force. The pursuit of pure and unrestricted power had corrupted Dionus, but he had been pulled back from the abyss and shown the way of Order and stability.

Today he stood as a paragon of the Order that was of the new Empire that stood atop the ashes of the Sith Empire. While Dionus had seen much then and in the years leading up to now, the sight that greeted him as the gates opened had not spared him the moment of pause experienced by nearly all of the others gathered together. His exposure to such evil was not new; in fact, it was among the many reasons why he had renounced his previous life. He never felt firmer in his convictions than now, in the face of such evil again.

"We may not know what awaits us, but it is our duty to protect the Empire at all costs, even if it means to march into the abyss. Forwards; Always forwards."

As the words echoed from Lucien’s lips, and the saber blades of their company ignited in unison - Dionus’ own saber staff would be among them. The elongated blade of white energy surged forth from his staff-like grip, glimmering with a certain edge that seemed all too willing to meet their foe in battle once again. Dionus’ own face mirrored the ferocity of his blade, bearing a grim resolve that looked through the abominations that faced them. He would not die today, nor would his companions.

This would not be their fate.

“Charge!” The order would echo amongst the courtyard, with the half-dozen other paladins accompanying Dionus charging forth at the side of their lord commander, who in turn charged alongside Lucien and company. The eerie song of the dead rattled in their ears, with the subliminal pressure of the darkness beyond pressing upon their consciousness. But it would take a lot more to push Dionus down or make him break stride. Instead, he lashed out with the force just as Michael did from behind the enemy formation, launching a surge of force energy that would crash like a wave upon the first ranks of the formation, which would in turn cause many to stumble within the attack Michael himself launched in turn.

Then, battle was properly joined. Many among them carried the red-hued blades of the Sith, with again many more wielding improvised blades, or their desiccated hands and appendages. Dionus’ blade cut through the latter such ones with ease, decapitating several such shambling horrors who sought to gouge through whatever exposed morsels of flesh may have been present between his armor plating.

The Knight Commander’s skills would be tested a bit more as his blade encountered that of one of the red-saber wielding foes, who themselves wore the ruined trappings of a former Imperial Knight. The two warriors’ blades would meet only briefly, and would soon rip apart as Dionus spun about with surprising deftness in his heavy armor. The awakened Knight would pursue with a ferocity and hunger that overrode any grace of skill he may have possessed before; his blade lashing out in an attempt to slash through the back-plate of the Knight he hoped to fell. Just as his blow was about to strike home, Dionus’ own blade would cut across the space and catch the wrist of the former knight, causing the blade to fall to the ground.

Whether it was through rigor mortis or some vestige of control that lingered, the blade remained ignited against the stone floor, but any threat it would pose would be temporary as Dionus activated the ‘bottom’ of his staff which issued forth another blade of white. There was little time to react, for it pierced through the rotten flesh of the knight and ripped his head from his shoulders, with his body slumping thereafter to the ground.

"We must spread out!! -- find other ways into the fortress!"

Seydou’s voice roared over the dinn, to which Dionus replied: “If we break now, we die!” His words would ring true, for the tide of undead before them knew no exhaustion or fear. They pushed against them with an unceasing will behind them - one eager for a single misstep or urge to fall back. As the tide swarmed around them, Dionus would fight his way to Lucian’s side, facing his back to his as they fought on.

 

[Sahar]

SAHAR|Imperial Knights|FORTRESS MORTIS
Tags:// Lucien Dooku Aoki-Barran Mira Michael Barran Seydou of Thyrsus

She chose to stay away from the front of the convoy, brooding silently to herself as she and the others emerged outside the fortress she'd once called home before. But something stirred, deep in the chasms below the fortress's floors, the beast beneath the boards, the same stirring call she felt every waking moment that threatened to distract Sahar from her devotion to the Emperor and the cause he'd created. She was no stranger; she fought it every day and devoted herself wholeheartedly towards Fels designs, others it seemed, were not as strong or dutiful as what the Emperor had lain down for them.

"We may not know what awaits us, but it is our duty to protect the Empire at all costs, even if it means to march into the abyss. Forwards; Always forwards."- Lucien Dooku

"Mhmph."

Sahar scowled, removing her cloak and throwing it to the floor as movement was heard behind the imposing gate; she looked towards Lucien and then to the others around her before smiling as she rested her hand on her lightsaber in anticipation. And sure, they got the response they were looking for as a sea of red emerged in the mist and their former brothers and sisters met them in vicious battle. ​

 

[Lucien Dooku]

DARKNESS IN THE BLOOD
ACT I
FORTRESS MORTIS
​

---

---

A rhythmic hum ebbed across the inner ward as the battle grew in intensity, unnatural vibrations beating a chorus of incomprehensible chants that seemed to emanate from the mass of monstrous and undead alike. Lucien could feel it-- whatever it was that had turned their former brothers and sisters into these monsters that now marched against those who they were sworn to be loyal. He felt shame in knowing that their deaths were inevitably on his hands, even if he was in no shape complicit in their fates at the end.

The structure of Knights that his brother left him was riddled with its own problems of bureaucracy and red tape, and given the climate of the Empire itself, there was only so much he could do to shuffle things around without assuming the risk of tearing apart one of the few organizations that reliably protected his position.

Yet as such, word did not reach him quick enough to the fates of the Knights upon Concordia, and their fates would not be singular if such a plague was not stomped out at its core. Both structurally from within, and physically on this world, to speak of the immediate need on hand.

Someone pressed up against his back, and he was able to afford the individual a cursory glance before he resumed his attention towards another mass of undead who were closing in on him quickly. A crimson blade was raised against him, only to find its decaying arm being violently ripped out of its socket, and the crimson weapon still activated within its rigid hand being used to slice cleanly through it and its ilk within the near vicinity of those around it.

They were reduced to a pile of putrid flesh with the wave of a hand, yet there was no time to rest with the appearance of yet more of their number following up to take their place once more.

He dropped the hand waving act, brandishing his lightsaber to deflect away several crimson sabers, their numbers being the force multiplier moreso than their fighting ability once more.

"We must spread out!! -- find other ways into the fortress!"

One of their comrades shouted out. Lucien agreed, yet the situation on the outside was far from being stabilized.

"Splitting our numbers further may not be the wisest choice, Knight Seydou." Luc offered his counsel in return. A series of grunts emanated from his lips as he swept his blade through the undead, continuing to maintain a steady pace to keep their numbers from overwhelming his side of him and Dionus' fighting position.

"We've got another group probing for an opening as we speak-- but if you've a suggestion to add secondary to this, I suggest you make it quick and concise, while we still have time."

Lucien pressed down on his earpiece, utilizing what few seconds he could muster inbetween the last group he'd cut down to reach out to Aoki-Barran Mira and Michael Barran .

"Mira, MIchael-- I need a sitrep when you're able. The situation is still overwhelming on this end, but we're looking to make it inside as soon as we can to meet up."

The message was sent, and he continued to fight on.




​

 

[Seydou of Thyrsus]

​

​

Scene I
Fortress Mortis​

​

Knuckle-plated fist connected with the mauled, deforming face of a former comrade, the splintering of bone and tearing of flesh broke through the sound of clashing blades. The Thyrsian knight snapped his hand back from the revolting mush, a grimace of disgust fracturing the stoic features of the paladin. But where there was one enemy, now there were two, then four, then six...

“If we break now, we die!”

"Splitting our numbers further may not be the wisest choice, Knight Seydou."
"We've got another group probing for an opening as we speak-- but if you've a suggestion to add secondary to this, I suggest you make it quick and concise, while we still have time."

"I'm afraid I've not been completely honest with you during our short brief-- agh!" Seydou groaned as a vambrace cut through lips and cheeks, leaving a bloodied trail across his face. He staggered back only for his senses to flare at a threat from behind. His wrist twisted around the hilt of his blade and without throwing a glance behind shoved the pommel of his lightsaber in the windpipe of another adversary seeking to capitalize on the brief opening in the knight's defenses. "--Warden."

"A dark trinket, once belonging to the Sun Guard of old, was given to the Knights of this chapter for study." he admitted reluctantly through a series of slashes, a hint of regret in his tone. It had been foolish to not divulge the very fine details of his arrival to Concordia along with the rest of the task force. Seydou was not certain of the item's properties, other than it being crafted by an ancient Sith Lord and gifted to the Sun Guard for their service. Whether it was this object's effect that had spawned this nightmare, he could not tell, but disclosing the information earlier may have aided the Knight's preparations. And yet, narrowing the gaze of the Empire on Thyrsus was not something he was keen on offering. Too late now.

"It is inside." Seydou grimly added, sensing the object's reverberating darkness through the murk of corruption plaguing the waves of the living dead. "They will wither us down here to the last man! The source of this... must be stopped."

Lucien Dooku Michael Barran Aoki-Barran Mira Dionus Bharro Sahar ​

 

[Katja Javik]

IMPERIAL SPECIAL FORCES
501st Legion
Apollo Kurze | Open
Objective II​

Once she was certain that the creature was no longer a threat, her attention briefly turned to the man who even without his expression visible, seemed shaken up. He had both hands pressed against the wall that he used for support as his legs threatened to give way. Upon noticing this, Katja hooked her arm under his and helped him lower himself to the ground. Under normal circumstances, she may have reassured him that he would survive this but at this rate it would be lucky if any of them did.

In assisting him, she had inadvertently backed herself into the corner as he had. Still, she had more than her fair share of similar situations, trapped with injured dependents during the rage of battle. It was what she had signed up for, after all. It was both a blessing and a curse as she was occasionally too far removed from battle to be concerned about getting shot but equally she often became trapped in the fray, bound by duty to protect, as she was now.

A loud snarl alerted her to one of the creatures taking notice of them and advancing at an alarming pace. With the vibroknife seemingly being one of the most effective weapons she had, she gripped the hilt tightly and took stance to intercept the humanoid figure.

It sank its nails, or rather claws, into the armour on her forearm once it got near enough and swiped at her with the other hand, trying to grab hold of her helmet. She struggled for control for a moment before plunging the blade into its abdomen and twisting, wasting no time in repeating the process where its heart ought to have been.

It howled and staggered back a few feet before attempting to swipe at her again but she planted a foot firmly against it and pushed it to the ground before slamming the heel of her boot through its skull.

There was no way she could content with many more than one at a time, but thankfully she wouldn't have to.

Her blade and white armour sullied by a substance that could only be assumed to be bodily fluids of some kind. As she wiped her heel across the ground, she lifted her gaze to meet the person approaching. She was unimpressed by his comment as it wasn't a mindset that she shared.

"And one more lives to see another day." She replied. "It's my job to make sure people get out of here alive." She told him before glancing past his shoulder in search of the growing rumbling sound that was beginning to reverberate throughout the mine. "Or to at least try..." She finished, idly.

The horrors they had seen thus far were nothing compared to the battle they were about to face.

"Suddenly, I hate Knights."

​

 

[Imperius Anathema]

---

DARKNESS IN THE BLOOD
ACT I
FORTRESS MORTIS​

---

Objective I

Lucien Dooku Seydou of Thyrsus Aoki-Barran Mira Michael Barran Dionus Bharro Sahar

​

His eyes narrowed ever so slightly as the gates were opened, his emotionless mask staring at the grave which was the courtyard, its image mirrorring in the reflection of the polished black lenses. The carnage was exceptional and the taint of the Dark side was overwhelming. This was the right place, the right time. Something had taken down the chapter and that had to be eradicated, the indication of it alone was which made Irdorax travel at high speed to join the Wardens task force.

"We may not know what awaits us, but it is our duty to protect the Empire at all costs, even if it means to march into the abyss. Forwards; Always forwards."

The voice of the Warden echoed as the inner gate started spitting out rows upon rows of vile creatures, living dead wielding corrupted lightsaber, ugly looking blades and whatever they got their rotted hands on. His white blade awokened along with those of his brothers and sisters, closing the ranks to withstand the assault. Defense was the incorrect option to choose here though, the origin was more dangerous than the minions.

The black templar stood not in the front row, but hacked and hammered down the enemies which reached him with simplistic strikes, amplified by his extended strength. Instead of moving into the eye of the storm, he right now made sure to keep his focus on the overall situation, rather than his own survival or holding the line.

With selective telekinetic pushes he hurled undead back who might have had a chance to attack a brother from behind, he threw small rocks and crumbles from the walls which pulverized chests or heads while looking for a possibility to shortcut this battle. The confession of Seydou of Thyrsus was ... interesting. It might alter the end of this mission, but with little influence on the current fight or how to overcome it. The insight provided would prove very useful though once they made it into the fortress.

Irdorax made a few steps back, his spot being taken by a Knight behind. With a swift look over his shoulder, above and around, the walls of the fortress as well as large equipment parts were jumping to his attention. Disigniting his lightsaber and hooking it back to the belt, he raised both hands, surrendering to complete focus, as he tried to lift a good amount of objects as well as breaking small parts from damaged wall sections, to throw them into the stream of enemies, aiming for the inner gate section and into the fortress, rather than where the imperials were fighting, to crush the undead and give the Knights space to breath, reform and counter-attack.

A great effort taking its toll . . .

​

 

[Aoki-Barran Mira]

Barran...

Beneath her mask, Mira's face was sad and sympathetic. She knew fully well what it was like to have dark memories forcefully attack. She worked hard now, using Hazukashi to protect both herself and him. The Force Snap proved that he was deadly as ever, but she worried still. Using Hazukashi 's length as an advantage, she blocked and cut with beautifully performed swings. The electrostaff end of the pole glowed blue in the courtyard's darkness.

Then, <"Mira, Michael-- I need a sitrep when you're able. The situation is still overwhelming on this end, but we're looking to make it inside as soon as we can to meet up.">

Mira looked over to Michael, who was too busy surviving to even hear the message properly. Mira Force Pushed the nearest undead away and activated her comlink, <"Lord Dooku, we are-">

As Barran struggled with his memories, battling by the skin of his teeth, Mira's voice had the smallest hint of the worry she felt inside, <"- engaged in battle and-">

Two undead came over. She once again disabled the lightsabers with her cortosis blade and cut them down, <"-Nearly done here, though progress is slow.">

She ducked away from a red shoto lightsaber. She reached out and grabbed the hilt, holding onto it as she adjusted her grip on her pole-arm and thrust the blade into the undead twi'lik knight. As the undead fell, she quickly stored the shoto on her belt and adjusted the naginata again. She continued to fight, <"We will join with you with upmost speed, sir. I apologize for our delay.">

She bit her lip. She was not as used to the naginata as she was a blade. She leapt next to Barran, back to back, and hung Hazukashi on her back. She tightened the leather rope holding it to her, then extended her hands to the remaining mob.

"Lord Barran, we must move to Lord Dooku's location."

She closed her eyes, concentrating. For a moment, the enemy moaned as they came closer. Then, a release of powerful Force Destruction. The undead recoiled in agony before the potent ability did its work. As they fell, Mira unsheathed Fukaikiru and Seijo-Ki. "Let us move. Stay close to me."

She ran towards the direction of the interior, sensing for the enemy in the darkness.

Spoiler

Equipment:

• Light Imperial Armor.
• Imperial Lightsaber.
• Hazukashi, naginata pole-arm.
• Fukaikiru, wakizashi shortsword.
• Seijo-Ki, tanto knife.
• KXR-SFP-60x, blaster pistol.

​

 

[Michael Barran]

2nd post

DARKNESS IN THE BLOOD
AN AGE OF STRIFE STORY

CAIRN_ONE
IMPERIAL KNIGHT-COMMANDER OF SERENNO
DRUID-GRANDMASTER OF THE HIGHLAND BROTHERHOOD

TAGS
Lucien Dooku Aoki-Barran Mira Dionus Bharro
Seydou of Thyrsus Sahar Imperius Anathema

BORN OF BRIGHT STARS III: DANCING WITH THE DAMNED - PART 2

SUNRISE COURTYARD, EAST WING,
FORTRESS MORTIS, CONCORDIA (LATE 877 ABY)

<"Mira, Michael-- I need a sitrep when you're able. The situation is still overwhelming on this end, but we're looking to make it inside as soon as we can to meet up.">
Overwhelming? Looks like we're set to get a whole lot busier tonight. So be it.

<"Lord Dooku, we are- engaged in battle and-">
​

With Mira's surprisingly powerful wave of Force-Destruction, along with Lord Michael's Click-Wave technique at the peak of it's lethality, it wouldn't take long for the Wanderer and his Shadow to clear the Fort's eastern courtyard and further infiltrate into the undead nightmare beyond. Seeing that Aoki had opted for her Naginata instead of her lightsabre, Barran switched off his own to opt for his Songsteel Cavalry-Sabre in holding to the choices of his subordinate, seeing accordances as means of improving cohesion between them in combat situations like these. All the while, the young Hybrid was replying to King Lucien on the Comm-Link as the Woad drew his basket-hilted blade and set to work in alleviating undead pressure wherever and however he could, beheading and stabbing through the eyes of the undead in accordance to Meyerite swordfighting form.

<"-Nearly done here, though progress is slow.">​

The long-practiced techniques would always make it easier for the Woad to concentrate on other matters, moving with unpredictable effortlessness as he listened in to the Hybrid-born Atrisian's situation-report, being as detailed as possible despite the voluminous amounts of foes they still had to work through.

<"We will join with you with upmost speed, sir. I apologize for our delay.">
​

And with that, both Imperial warriors jumped into the fray with free abandon as soon as Barran's shadow had concluded her report, utilising their abilities without distraction in the effort to find exploitable openings or actionable directions further into the fort. No problem for architects of studious Force-exertion, the likes that made it all quite comprehensive to observant eyes, much like those of the Highlanders on the battlement pathway a short distance behind them, providing cover from handy vantage-points whilst they marvelled at the sight of Lord Michael and Mira destroying everything in their path - fighting the walking dead in the full fervour of their fighting momentum.

'Lord Barran, we must move to Lord Dooku's location.'

It was time, a breach in the swarm had been found, though only moments after thinning out their numbers by means of hands-on, manually-fought means, such that would have tired out both warriors in previous years. But after nodding his affirmative, Barran replied,'Thats our best hope of assistance, good idea!', as he sprinted in pursuit to follow Aoki deeper into the dread of the dark beyond, shaking off any and all such concerns of fatigue as they both continued on with guard-forms held high. Even as they careened towards the courtyard entrance doors, both Barran and his Shadow were affording brief moments to turn around and use their Force-Abilities on the zombies giving chase, sparing no energies as they laid waste to every groaning, bloodied walking corpse who gave chase to their own deathly detriment.

And without breaking so much as a single bead of perspiration between them, there was clearly much and more left to give in their fight to reach the other Imperial knights, stated as such when the Woad concluded,'We have our momentum now though! An' as long as we remain wary wi' that dark presence in the north wing, we should be good to reach the main gate without any trouble whatsoever!', jumping into shadowy, relative safety of the inner-fort complex whilst the trusty Atrisian shut the door behind him. The consequent slamming at the door and the surrounding frame followed just moments later, with all the groaning mass of rotting stormtroopers and the like conveniently bunching up around the same focal position, crowding around the same point to the great fanfare of the Highlanders firing down from atop the fort's outer ramparts.

Then as soon as Aoki had cleared away from the door behind them, the sound of the Brotherhood's concentrated disruptor-fire almost immediately followed, forcing both Druid and Shadow alike to turn around and use their Force powers to shield their side of the courtyard entrance, though only until the salvo was finished a short while later. The Pellaeonist duo were safe for the time-being, given room to breathe and plan their next steps in relative peace, though as for how long exactly, neither Lord Michael nor Mira could say.

'Alright, Mira.... We utilise slyness, our eyes, an' the very sight the Force gifted us. So, as of right this very moment, an' until we reach our comrades, you an' I are the threats in the shadows now.... Follow me.'

 

[Dionus Bharro]

Objective: I - Fortress Mortis
Location: Concordia
Tags: Lucien Dooku | Aoki-Barran Mira | Michael Barran | Seydou of Thyrsus | Imperius Anathema

Lucien would doggedly fight at Dionus’ back as the grim tide of undead swarmed over them. As noted by the Warden himself, it seemed as though for every mindless drone they cut down, two more took their place. Their situation seemed pointless until Dionus realized they had the perfect means of punching through at their disposal - a series of stone pillars and rock-hewn piles flanking them on either side. But another of their company spoke up before he could capitalize on the discovery:

"I'm afraid I've not been completely honest with you during our short brief-- agh!"

"A dark trinket, once belonging to the Sun Guard of old, was given to the Knights of this chapter for study."

"It is inside."

"They will wither us down here to the last man! The source of this... must be stopped."

The implications of Seydou’s words were a lot to process, but Dionus could not afford to freeze in the middle of battle. Instead, the Knight Commander struck through the bodies of two drones who attempted to flank his right side, squaring up alongside Lucien as he cleared the immediate area to their left and gave them some breathing room to push forward. He then snapped his head to the small company of his unit that fought alongside him, and then to all of those around them; and shouted:

“Heave the stones on top of their formation! Stem the tide!” Dionus would push forward and lash out at any target in his path, which had the dual effect of cutting a swathe through their mass and distracting them from the maneuver he hoped those around him would engage in.

If his companions worked together, the stones would rip through the undead formation and completely disrupt the mass crashing against them - which would in turn allow for them all to pick them apart and push into the temple as opposed to being kept outside like a seawall braving the tides of the ocean.

 

[Volturius]

I. FORTRESS MORTIS​

The battle for the fortress entry raged.

Through the outer gates, a figure in black strode, cloaked in heavy robes. His visage was unmistakable, with the buzzard-like mask nestled within the deep hood of shadow, red eyes aglow and observant. The bright white of the Imperial sun was emblazoned on the dark figure, one on each shoulder, and served as a reminder that the Inquisitor was formless nothingness compared to the contrast of the mighty Empire. As such, Inquisitor Volturius walked the line between shadow and light, everywhere that was needed to uphold the ideals and prosperity of the state, its people, its leadership.

Likelihood of noticing the Inquisitor's arrival was low, given the nature of the scene, yet he made no attempts to conceal himself. The humanoid reached out a gloved hand, palm down, and felt a familiar canine-like head seek out the touch; and from behind the billowing cloak, three vornskr rounded Volturius, spread out as one might expect a pack. The undeniable leader was the cloaked sentient in their midst, as he sighed and spoke a single word:

"Hunt."

The lithe creatures growled and burst away from Volturius at speed, powerful muscles covered with short black fur propelled them toward the fray. And between the blaster fire, blades, shouts and encroaching presence of darkness from within the fortress, the pack of vornskr began to maul and rip and tear at the undead - they did not target the living Imperial Knights, not this time.

"I have arrived to assist in the purification of this place, Lord Dooku," Inquisitor Volturius spoke, as he moved to close ranks with his fellows. He maintained an unnerving observation of those around, watching for peculiarities. "Whatever the cause of this corruption, I will assess and determine how best to proceed, once it has been rendered inert and powerless over this place."

In his pet's wake, the Inquisitor stalked forward and withdrew his crescent-handled lightsaber, even as he listened to the communication between those present. The tactics employed were poignant, useful as steady progress was made, and the whole worked together as one as it should always have been. And yet, amid the battle, amid the voices, one suddenly stood out as Knight Seydou spoke...

"If this relic proves the source of this corruption--"

The Inquisitor craned his neck, unnaturally long, to peer at the Knight that had revealed the admittance of deception:

"--we will speak of this wilful withholding of information, Knight Seydou. I can assure you."

Inquisitor Volturius remained still, unmoving in all but the slow rhythmic rise and fall of his breathing, and stared. None escaped his scrutiny, none were above his suspicion, none were beyond his purpose to hunt and root out heresy within the glorious Empire. If the Thyrsian had lied about that, given the circumstances, it remained he could lie about other things... and the Inquisitor would ensure every last drop of truth was extracted to preserve the sanctity of the Imperial state.

None were above supposition.

None.

Yet, for now, it was time to fight.

Inquisitor Volturius activated his lightsaber, as the crimson blade burst from the emitter with a snap-hiss, and he began to slice through the undead. There was no remorse, no hesitation, no lingering thoughts of who the enemy once was; they were now each a taint on the purity of the Empire, and would be treated as such, removed like a poisoned limb without care or concern to preserve the whole. And if any present sought to question the Inquisitor's red blade... well, Volturius welcomed such query.

He was one that walked between shadow and light; he did what was needed:

"For the Empire, purge this foul corruption and restore the righteousness of this place!"

Lucien Dooku | Seydou of Thyrsus | Dionus Bharro | Imperius Anathema | Aoki-Barran Mira | Michael Barran​

 

[Dionus Bharro]

Objective: I - Fortress Mortis
Location: Concordia
Tags: Lucien Dooku | Aoki-Barran Mira | Michael Barran | Seydou of Thyrsus | Imperius Anathema | Volturius

When the order issued forth from Dionus’ lips, his comrades made to heave the boulders over the group of knights and into the mass of undead husks. As expected, the massive rocks ripped through the masses of desiccated flesh and bones, causing all manner of viscera to erupt in the air. Then there was the entrance of Inquisitor Volturius. The Knight Commander knew little about the mysterious Inquisitor, outside of rumor and speculation. Some among the Order questioned the man’s use of a red-hued blade - a tradition often associated with those who practiced the dark side.

Dionus was no stranger to the traditions of the dark side and those who practiced its arts, but that was a life he had left in the past long ago. Despite his misgivings, he could not deny the results of Volturius’ presence - as his vornskrs surged forth and tore through the undead masses that had escaped the fate of the rumbling stones. In due course, the previously endless storm of bodies would break, with the Knights gaining a respite from the carnage if only briefly.

The group would be led onward and into the temple - with the true corruption of what had transpired here visible for all to see. Bodies were... displayed along the walls and on once-consecrated statues memorializing figures of the revolution. Sigils were written in blood, with a dark power seemingly emanating from within them. A... presence lurked around them, but was unseen by the corporeal eye. While the ceaseless chanting of the corpses that had besieged them only a moment earlier had stopped, a subtle call could be felt in the air - as if beckoning those who entered the temple to continue onward.

“Be on your guard... whether the source of this desecration is the artifact Seydou mentioned or otherwise; there is more at work here than meets the eye.” Dionus cast a stray glance at Volturius. Despite the mistrust that Dionus held for the man, he couldn’t deny that they needed to depend on each other now.

The Knight Commander raised the comm frequency between Michael and his apprentice and the rest of the group.

“Lord Barran, this is Lord Bharro - can you hear me?”

Static garbled the transmission, but the Knight Commander could only hope he was getting through. “I’m not sure what your location is, but there is something foul at work here. There may be a stolen artifact at the source of this. Proceed with caution... Out.”

Dionus cast his gaze forward, and said without breaking: “Remember your vows. We are the Knights who face the darkness. We shall purge it from these halls.”

An eerie quiet would follow as they moved in, with similar vistas matching the displays they saw upon entry as they approached a giant antechamber that had previously served as this Knight Chapter’s meeting room. Upon entry, whatever fears may have been lurking in the back of the Knight’s minds would prove to be a reality.

A very tall figure, dressed in altogether alien robes and finery, stood at the top of an upraised dais normally used for the seat of the Chapter’s Knight Commander. Instead, It served as the pedestal for a relic that blazed bright gold - touched with the corrupting forces of the Dark Side which swirled about it with a violent purpose. Six figures wearing hoods were knelt prone on either side of the figure, as if performing obeisance as the central figure muttered in an ancient tongue.

Suddenly, a disembodied voice echoed through the chamber. <“You have come to your own deaths... Knights of the Empire. Your brothers who stood guard here could not stop us from The Awakening. You will not stop us either.”>

The floor would shake beneath them all, with stone breaking on either side of the party. More undead scions could be seen walking through the breaches made in the stone walls around the antechamber, and the six acolytes would rise from their prone positions. Surprisingly, they did not wield lightsabers - but instead a collection of bladed weapons that curved slightly inward in the shape of a scimitar. Their metal was of a blackish nature, and appeared to... hum as they moved them ever so slightly.

Peace remained only for a moment, until the storm broke once again.

“For the Empire!” Dionus wasted little time allowing the enemy to make the first move, instead charging headlong into the acolytes who only moments after began their charge as well. Feral howls would echo through the chamber as the scores of shambling horrors charged as well, descending from multiple sides upon the battered warriors before them.

 

[Marcus Voss]

Operation: Fortress Mortis
Location: Concordia
Tags: Lucien Dooku | Aoki-Barran Mira | Michael Barran | Seydou of Thyrsus | Imperius Anathema | Volturius | Dionus Bharro

The gun ship rocked from side to side as it descended to the entrance of Fortress Mortis. A black obsidian mask, held by a cloaked figure, was handed to the Inquisitor. 3 lightsabers dangled at his waist as he faced the door. Before the gun ship had even fully descended the door opened and he jumped out, followed by two of his guards. He had been monitoring imperial communications and had decided to assist in this operation of the Imperial Knights. Dressed in a black cloak with armour hidden beneath, he approached the entrance, not pausing as the stormtroopers outside turned to him.

With haste the Inquisitor entered the Fortress, ordering his two men not to follow. He surveyed his surroundings as he entered, reacting only slightly to the gruesome scene around him. Taking out his comm, he attempted to make contact with those already within the temple, but it seems his comm had failed. Technology was unreliable, as he had come to learn. Though in a place like this, he wasn't sure the force would prove an ally. He had little information on this little operation, other than that Lord Dooku and some notable knights from other chapters had gathered to purge the fortress of its impurities.

His pace slowly quickened as he made his way through the fortress, attempting to find where the party of Knights were located. He was caught by surprise when he heard a noise in the dark passages. Before he knew what was happening one of his blades flew to his hand, igniting with a dark blue flash, and sliced off the head of the would be attacker. It had already had an arm cut off, must have been attacked by a knight. He was less fazed by the fact he was undead, though curious how he read over that.

He quickened his pace even more, wanting to destroy the source of this corruption as fast as possible alongside his fellow Knights. His blade flew back to his waist, as the passage once again fell into darkness.
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