Private Dread Wolf : Butcher King

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Carnifex

"…I have no right to ask anything from you. You saved…What was left of me. I can't imagine how hard that was but I need you to promise me…please…that you'll never go near the Mountain again."

Naedira had only ever asked one thing of her wolf, and that was to stay away from the Mountain. They did not mention him by name, save for the moniker they had given him. He had met the Sith Lord on several occasions since Srina Talon had picked his broken body off the frozen heap of ice and rubble. Gerwald had promised to kill him in one of those encounters after stopping him from unleashing a Nocna Mora to defend his home. Those creatures should not have ever been created, but had they not, Naedira’s soul would have never survived.

Gerwald supposed he owed the Sith something, but his promise to Naedira stood. He would not seek out Prazutis Zambrano.

There was another Zambrano which interested him.

Darth Carnifex was an imposing figure. To some his name was synonymous with what it meant to be Sith. A former emperor several times over, his storied past was known to many, and the legend of his exploits had a far and famous reach. What Gerwald did not know was whether there was truth to them or not. He supposed he held a certain curiosity and wanted his own opinion.

Darth Empyrean did not like him.

His Echani mistress seemed to trust him as much as one could trust a Sith.

The Malsheem should have been considered one of the wonders of the galaxy. It was certainly a testament to Sith engineering. Gerwald had never seen anything quite like it, and his feet had stepped foot on the decks of many Confederacy assets which rivaled what his eyes currently beheld. His transport paled in comparison to the gargantuan vessel, and for a fleeting moment the wolf felt small. That was a difficult thing to accomplish.

His armored boots echoed in the hall. While this meeting was not hostile, Gerwald was not going to approach the Butcher in a casual manner. Perhaps it was precisely how he should have, but this was their first meeting. The wolf had not made his mind up about the former emperor himself. Should there be a subsequent meeting then Gerwald would be more relaxed.

…or he would be more on guard.

As he came into the room where they would be meeting, Gerwald bowed out of respect. The beast was not completely mannerless afterall. Srina, Naedira, and Lunara, had all ensured the brute knew how to act in various situations. Carnifex demanded a certain propriety, not because anyone had said so, but because his station required it.

“Thank you for your gracious hospitality,” the wolf said as he rose to look the Butcher King in the eye. “This meeting has been put off for far too long.”

 

[Darth Carnifex]

To traverse the immense interior of the Malsheem was no small feat. Beneath the kilometer thick outer shell was a sprawling city, whose name was Dis, simultaneously rising from the ground and projecting down from the roof of the worldcraft. As the Dread Wolf descended into this labyrinthine city, he was ferried forth as a passenger of a massive railcrawler. Immense structures passed by the crawler's glasteel viewports, some large enough to rival those found on city-worlds like Coruscant.

But it was the Imperius Spire that dwarfed them all, a gargantuan monolith that bridged both hemispheres of the internal city. It was here that the Dark Lord of the Kainate resided, the nucleus of His galaxy-spanning shadow empire. Gerwald was led into the spire by a guard of red-robed praetorians, the journey made in complete silence as they passed by endless winding hallways, cavernous courtyards, and nigh bottomless pits that yawned deep into darkness.

It was not a throne room, but the chamber in which Gerwald was delivered was nonetheless impressive. Towering statues of Sith both ancient and modern stretched from the floor to the ceiling, wrought out of smoothed and polished basalt. At the room's center was a depression, arranged as a seating area with marble benches cushioned by luxurious pillows. But the Dark Lord was not there, He stood at the far end of the room, the side which terminated in a wall made entirely out of shimmering crystal. Beyond it was a gladiatorial arena where slaves fought and died for the amusement of the Dark Lord and His extended family.

"Indeed it has." The Dark Lord half-turned to look at the Dread Wolf, His gaze alone bearing down with immense authority. A glass of amber liquid was held in His left hand, the cubed ice clinking as He swirled the glass absentmindedly. "Darth Empyrean's executioner," emphasis was placed on the word Darth, as the Emperor had often insisted on being referenced by his full title. "And the confidant of our Lady-Empress Srina Talon. Make yourself welcome in my home, Lord Lechner. Those who sit in the good Lady Talon's favor have earned my hospitality."

A gynoid made from sparkling gold and silver approached Gerwald, a tray of drinks held aloft in one of her dainty servo-arms. They would offer the Dread Wolf a drink, and would soon after retreat regardless of whether or not he took one.

"What brings you to the Malsheem, Lord Lechner?"

Gerwald Lechner ​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Carnifex

There was the word again, executioner. Gerwald could live with it, but he was not sure whether or not it was accurate. For now it was as good a reputation as any. Darth Strosius had pointed out as much. Empyrean’s brother had pointed it out as well. It seemed the wolf had a favorable position, and he was in the perfect place to exploit it. If there was anyone who would know how to navigate the precarious world of the Sith, it was the Epicanthix who stood tall in front of him.

Gerwald looked to the drink cart which had been presented. Blue eyes fell to what appeared to be whiskey. The amber liquid was poured into the glass before it was taken into the hand of the beast. He stepped toward the crystal which Carnifex had been facing. His attention was drawn to the arena below. The wolf knew what was taking place down below, and more importantly the status of those in combat. It begged a question the wolf would have to reconcile.

How was he supposed to simply ignore what he was watching for the sake of keeping the fragile stability the Order currently held onto?

The wolf took a sip of whiskey before answering.

“My life is indebted to her many times over. Though, you already know this.”

Was there more to say on the matter? Again, he felt Carnifex flattered him. Gerwald would not have called himself the confidant of the Dread Queen. In fact, as his eyes moved to regard the Master Sith, he felt there were things his mistress had shared with him that Gerwald was not privy to. The wolf still had time missing, and perhaps one day Srina would tell him why, though it would not matter. Their relationship was not dependent on what she shared or hid from the beast.

Then came the timely question. What was the purpose of the meeting? Why had Gerwald left the safety and comfort of Jutrand?

“Curiosity.”

It was as true an answer as Carnifex would receive. Gerwald could not be any more honest as it was the only reason he had sought the Dark Lord out. Another sip of his whiskey created a pregnant pause, a silence long enough to allow the answer to settle between them.

“I am well aware that the emperor and his wife hold very different opinions of you. It was time that I formed my own. Perhaps I also wish to see whether I should paint you the same color as Prazutis. Are all Zambranos alike?”

Gerwald was not aware of what the Butcher King knew of his encounter with the Mountain, or whether he wanted him dead. His hatred would not be difficult to detect. The wolf did not hide it. It was not a secret or hidden knowledge that once learned could be exploited. If anything, it was the one thing everyone seemed to know about him.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The two fighters struggled fiercely in the red-dyed sand, both of them adorned with intricate tattoos that indicated that they were slaves. More than that, it detailed just what kind of slaves they were, where they had been taken from, and various other identifying markers imposed on them by their Kainate slavers. Both had been stripped down to simple cloth fundoshi, and primarily fought with their bare hands. Weapons had been thrown into the arena at certain intervals, but they were currently discarded as both slaves disarmed one another and were grappling to the death.

"Curiosity can be a dangerous thing, Lord Lechner. It can lead people into uncertain danger that otherwise would've been avoided." His eyes glowed with the Dark Side as He looked from the arena to Gerwald, and then back to the arena. One of the slaves had gotten the upper hand, and had the other in a tight choke-hold. The contest only ended when they snapped the other slave's neck. But, instead of being rewarded or guided out of the arena, the victor was instead set upon by dogs loosed from kennel doors built into the arena walls. Sound did not permeate through the crystal wall, but much was easily conveyed.

At the mention of Prazutis, the Dark Lord couldn't help but smile as He turned His back to the crystal wall and walked further into the suite. "My uncle and I are quite different, although on the surface it does not appear so. It is true that we do share the same goals and beliefs, but we differ on manner of execution. He told me all that He did to incur your wrath, Lord Lechner, there are few secrets kept between close family. There are many in the galaxy who feel as strongly about me as you do about him."

Carnifex invited Gerwald to take a seat, the Dark Lord resting upon a wide and well-cushioned leisure couch. "Which is why I was surprised to learn you wanted to meet me here of all places. The Lord of Death is here with us, in this very station, perhaps in this very room. He is a shadow, you see, a phantom lurking within the shade of your neck. He could be anywhere, he could be nowhere. Concept such as time and space mean little when you have become one with the darkness."

Gerwald Lechner ​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Carnifex

“It may also bring about unexpected gains.”

The answer was a brief rebuttal. Gerwald knew better than to argue directly, but he also was not so afraid that he would not challenge a difference of opinion. This was not a hostile meeting, or meant to be, after all.

He listened as the truth of what Carnifex knew was revealed. The wolf was unsure which was more maddening, the fact Carnifex knew or the former emperor’s choice of entertainment. It reeked of slavery for the sake of slavery, and Gerwald could not stand it. Fortunately they turned toward a seating area. He stomached it for what he hoped to accomplish with the meeting, and for the sake of the friendship between the Sith Lord and his mistress.

It was not a surprise to hear that while the Zambranos held similar goals, their methods were different. While Carnifex was known as the Butcher King, Prazitus was something more sadistic. It was Gerwald’s opinion anyway. Yes, there were some who wanted Carnifex dead, much in the same way there were many who wanted Empyrean dead. The wolf knew of those that wanted him dead. It was the price of leadership during times of war.

“So you know then.”

It was a statement.

“A promise to one I hold dear keeps me from exacting whatever revenge I seek. I was a young and foolish pup then, and did not listen to those who told me to stay away. Now that I am powerful, I have been asked to stay away once more. This time I shall. Even if he is here, I will not seek him out.”

Gerwald sipped the whiskey once more.

“And you seek this oneness?”

It was a simple question, but the wolf was certain he already knew the answer to it.

“It is a wonder my mistress trusts you, considering. She was the one who ensured I made a full recovery. I owe her twice over now, and you will find I am very protective. You do not seem to give me a reason to be. It was one of those curiosities I came to satisfy.”

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"A different oneness, but totality all the same."

The Butcher King took in the measure of the Dread Wolf, dark eyes watching the executioner carefully. In the good graces of Srina Talon he may be, but he was still an attack dog of Darth Empyrean . Darth Carnifex did not entirely trust him just yet, the disapproval of the games beyond the crystal wall evident enough of his distaste for the values the Zambrano Clan placed emphasis on; the strong dominating the weak.

But that, in of itself, was a symptom encouraged by the defunct Confederacy, who while led by a Sith Lord abhorred the institution of slavery. Carnifex would see such an institution revitalized in the former territories of the Confederacy if He could, and He was making inroads in with old powers to see it done.

"Srina Talon is an exceptional woman, none like her exist in this universe. Her and I have connected on a level few could comprehend in it's intimacy, a union joined by similarities beyond the scope of flesh and blood. Our secrets are shared." Lady Talon wore His phylactery around her neck everywhere she went, and He in turn was godfather and haru to her children; hidden from their father, Empyrean. Some would whisper that they've conspired in other ways, but that was simply unfounded gossip.

"We share each other's confidence. She has spoken of you many times when we are together. This is the first time I have truly met one of the old Knights Obsidian, I was never very inclined to meet with that order. After the Confederacy became a non-entity, I had struck for Geonosis and laid waste to the Knight Obsidian's Citadel. It was my first true encounter with the Knights Obsidian. I must admit I was not very impressed with them, although I can see why they made you their Lord Commander. You outshone all of them."

Gerwald Lechner ​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Carnifex

Gerwald smiled at the mention of secrets. He knew something of them, and had a few of his own. For now the Butcher did not need to know what they were, save one. Perhaps this Zambrano would help him where the other had intended to take his life. The wolf found himself in an interesting position, and one of the few questions in his mind was how to exploit it.

Did he want to?

At least they found a point to agree on. Srina Talon was an exceptional woman. There was something between them, something Gerwald could no longer remember. Time had been lost, and while the wolf assumed it was the result of extending too much energy, or letting the Echani siphon too much of it, he was unsure. Time was not the only thing missing, and the more of it which passed Gerwald started piecing some things together.

The wolf had learned something, but what was it?

It would be set aside for the moment as it seemed the Butcher King was attempting to provoke, or give a sideways compliment. Gerwald was unsure of how to process what he was hearing. Certainly the Sith Lord knew those which remained at the citadel were not a representation of the Knights Obsidian by any stretch of the imagination.

He shrugged.

“After the Confederacy became a non-entity the majority of the remaining order followed Metus to wild space. Though my strength was not why I was selected. It was because I understood the weight of giving orders that sent people to their death. Srina… she saw fit to teach me the art of politics.”

It was a word Gerwald loathed, and yet the wolf had learned to play the game. The masks people wore to hide what they truly wanted could be pulled away in several ways. Gerwald preferred a more direct approach, but the Echani had taught him to get those across the table to peel the mask off themselves. Carnifex would not remove his mask for the wolf, not easily. Did Gerwald even want to try?

“You do flatter with your compliments, however.”

His eye turned back to the arena.

“Why?”

Gerwald turned back to the Butcher.

“At one point Srina had negotiated an agreement that the Sith would purchase droids to replace slavery amongst Sith. I know you embrace it. It is one of the reasons why Empyrean hates you so much. I came from a culture with a caste system. You are surrounded by those who abhor the practice… so why?”

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"It is the natural order."

The answer was just that simple, and the Dark Lord was tempted to just leave it at that. But He would be an ungracious host if He dismissed His guest's questions so brusquely. So, after a moment of silence, He decided to further elaborate. "When you look at the structure of nature, the latticework of relationships that bind predator to prey, flora to fauna, and environment to it's inhabitants, you come to understand the power dynamics which reside in all existence. In analogous terms, the Sith are the apex predator of the galaxy, preying upon all that exist and will exist within nature. Those at the lowest in the latticework of relationships I mentioned, are those who are destined to suffer the strength of those at the top of the ladder."

Outside, the dogs had been corralled and the refuse cleaned up for the next bout of entertainment. More of the Zambrano clan filtered into the stands to witness and marvel at the spectacle of brutality, to jeer at those condemned to die for their amusement; they who considered themselves so far removed from the common dregs of the cosmos.

"Do you condemn the wolf for preying upon the lamb, Lord Lechner? Hunger must be sated, thirst must be slaked. If the wolf did not hunt and kill and consume, then it would wither and die. We Sith are wolves, plying the dark forests where the Light of the Jedi does not shine. We sate our hunger upon cruelty and violence, slake our thirst upon the blood of those ground to pulp beneath our ambitions, and consume countless souls to sustain our existence. If we were to go against our nature, to forcefully reshape ourselves into something antithetical to who we are, then we cease to be Sith and become something different; something lesser."

The crowd roared, although what they cheered for was just out of sight of the two men in the luxurious suite; safe from the stench and the blood of barbarity. "I do not think of Srina Talon lesser for clutching to her ideals, Lord Lechner, I truly do not. But I cannot so easily abandon the heritage of a legacy that stretches back seven thousand years. Our forefathers built civilizations upon the backs of slaves, the weakest in nature. Morality has nothing to do with it, the concept of good and evil, right and wrong, are ephemeral and subjective. I believe in what you have done and what you will do, the simplicity of action. I kill because I can, I take because I can. I enslave because I can. There is no other justification, there needs not be."

"Moralism is a disease that has taken root in the youngest of our Order, Lord Lechner. It is a virus borne from errant Jediism, proliferating through a lack of discipline and lapse in ideological fidelity. Even now, some among our number choose to bed with animals, sub-sentient trash like the Mandalorians; a dying mongrel breed." The venom in the Dark Lord's voice was biting, sharp and toxic. It was clear where His opinion lay on the matter. "For now, Darth Empyrean may play his games how he wishes, that is his prerogative. I will do as I wish in turn."

Gerwald Lechner ​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Carnifex

Natural order was an answer Gerwald could actually accept. It was likely the only answer he could accept. Naedira Darcrath may not have taken it well, and he could only imagine how Srina Talon would respond to the view which Carnifex now suggested. The wolf knew better than most what the Dark Lord implied, and it was perhaps for that reason he used the illustration which followed.

Gerwald shook his head. To fault the wolf would have meant faulting himself for his need to run through the woods, to feel the thrill of the chase, or to taste hot iron running down his throat. He knew what it meant to be a predator, but thanks to his uncle, Gerwald also knew what it meant to be prey. He preferred to be the predator.

A simple nod was his only response for the moment. Carnifex competed with the roars of the crowds which Gerwald could hear with precision. His heightened senses meant in this situation he had to work harder to put his personal feelings aside on the matter of what took place beyond their vision. The wolf knew what was happening. He could still smell the blood. It stirred something within him.

He was the predator.

He was the wolf.

It was interesting to Gerwald that both Carnifex and Srina Talon could not only co-exist, but demonstrate a level of care and affection toward each other. Naturally the wolf knew where their hearts lie, but if there was ever any case to be made that those who should be enemies could be friends… confidants… it was with these two.

“I kill because I can, I take because I can. I enslave because I can. There is no other justification, there needs not be.”

At this Carnifex had Gerwald’s full attention. It was not the same exact wording of what the wolf understood, but it was said in the same manner. The principle of it was the same. Naedira had told him. Srina had told him. It was an inescapable truth which would make Gerwald embrace what it meant to be Sith.

“Sith take what they want.”

This was how he answered.

It was the same answer Prazutis had given the wolf when he asked why. Prazutis did it because he could. Why had he killed Naedira and bound her in the way he had… because he could. Gerwald was beginning to hate this answer as much as he hated the idea of duty. Yet, like duty, he had come to believe in it.

He looked back to the arena.

“So if I said I wanted to take the place of the slaves that are about to face whatever it is that has the crowd cheering so loudly… you would not stop me?”

Gerwald set the glass of whiskey down the table and stood.

“I did not come here to fight, nor to debate the merits or failing of moralism. If we are to get to know each other, then what is more altruistic than combat. You observe me in the arena… then I observe you. Battle shows us who we are.”

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Dark Lord's grew wider, more predatory.

Hungrier.

He could indeed come to appreciate the Wolf for what he was, although He did not believe they would ever truly see eye-to-eye. But they needn't in the first place, the Sith were not ones to merrily find compromise and to give ground. They fought viciously for their own reasons, whether it was for the individual or the collective. That Carnifex and Gerwald understood one another at this level was enough, their mutual faith in Srina Talon binding them.

"I would not stop you, Gerwald Lechner, and no one else will either. To watch slaves kill each other is one thing, but to bear witness to a savant is another. They will clamor for more." The Epicanthix have long been purveyors of blood sport, which had always taken numerous forms throughout their long and storied history. Darth Carnifex had revived the practice of sacrificial sport, but the concept existed long before Him. Typically, Epicanthix fought one another until a certain amount of hits had been achieved. First blood, second blood, third blood, and so on and so forth.

Death in the arena for Epicanthix warriors was exceedingly rare, as it was viewed that an Epicanthix warrior was too valuable to let die for sport. In ancient times, a slave or similar scapegoat would be killed in the losing warrior's stead. Carnifex had revived that practice. Before that, warriors simply accepted the loss without the need of another's death, but those who still followed Carnifex were adherents of the ancient rites; they would not accept loss without a sacrifice.

"But do know, Gerwald Lechner, that my people are proud of their martial traditions. It is spiritual to them. So fight well."

Gerwald Lechner ​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Carnifex

Gerwald had expected that there would not be much pushback to his request, or musing. The answer he received did make him wonder why they would use slaves at all then. If a savant, a warrior, could produce such a response, certainly it was a waste to spill the blood of those who served them. What the wolf struggled with on principle, he now could not reconcile with what seemed to be resourceful.

They were different creatures. Carnifex had long been able to afford what Gerwald could not. Perhaps it was simply a matter of perspective. What the Wolf would see as waste, the Butcher could afford.

He stood, and placed the empty glass on the table. A nod was offered to the former emperor. Gerwald was beginning to understand why Srina appreciated him, even confided in him.

“Thank you for the drink.”

His steps carried him toward the arena. He watched again as the battles raged on below. Carnifex had been agreeable to the proposition, and so the wolf was obligated. It had not been his intent to find himself in combat when he arrived, but events turned as they did. Gerwald had learned to take advantage of the opportunities which present themselves.

The attendant which had escorted him to Butcher King now led him from the meeting lounge to the arena entrance. A voice boomed over the sound system announcing the change in combat. His eyes turned up to his host, knowing the towering Epicanthix would be watching. The warning about his kin reverberated in his mind. His people took the martial competition seriously, and the wolf aimed to please.

A gate opened to reveal a Mantellian Savrip. It was massive, a thick beast with strength of a creature at least ten times its size. Naturally it would mean Gerwald would not be able to match with brute force. He would have to outsmart it. The beast roared and began to charge. Pressing the force to his legs, the warrior leaped over the monster. The wolf could not get caught up in the massive grip of the Savrip.

It would pulverize him.

Gerwald landed on its back. A knife was pulled a sheath on his thigh. The blade was sharp, kept so by the care given to it by the warrior. He drove it just beneath the beast’s skull, at the base of it where the soft tissue was exposed.

It fell with a thud.

The crowd clamored and shouted for more.

Gerwald looked up to where he knew the Butcher would be observing once more as if to ask whether he approved or not.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The announcer called out Gerwald's name in the thick, heavily accented language of the Epicanthix, eliciting a chorus of cheers from the crowd. When the Mantellian Savrip was brought out, the cheers shifted to a call for blood. They continued to cry out to Gerwald as he fought the gargantuan beast, and when it was finally felled the stadium erupted into a frenzy of celebration. They called out his name in a harmonized cry.

"Gerwald!"

"Gerwald!"​

"Gerwald!"​

Drums were beaten and horns bellowed. The Epicanthix watching from the stands stamped their feet in praise, stretching forth their hands in blessing and prayer. Arena servitors moved onto the sands to drag away the Mantellian Savrip's corpse, clearing the arena for the next bout. Picadors with bare chests and barbed spears prowled around the edges, where the sand met the metal walls. The ground beneath Gerwald's feet rumbled as a great elevator began to ascend.

When the gargantuan door opened, what emerged was a horrid amalgamation. It's body was furred, matted with blood and grime. Each limb ended in vicious claws, and a crown of jagged antlers protruded from it's brow. Two huge, horrid teeth jutted up from it's lower jaw, while the rest of it's mouth was a mangle of sharp teeth. A thick tail thumped the sand as it stalked forward on all fours, eyes glazed over with hunger and pain.

Without warning, it started to lope forwards. Thick globules of spittle ran out of it's toothed maw as it extended wide, trying to bite Gerwald right in two.

Gerwald Lechner ​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Carnifex

A roar erupted in the arena as Gerwald felled the beast. His name echoed across the stadium, and yet the wolf paid it no heed. This was not the first time he had heard his name called out after a victorious battle, and it would not be the last. His mind went back to the early days of his training, the dirt pits of the Stewjon military outpost where he first learned to fight with crude and rudimentary weapons. They taught him everything he would need to easily adapt to lightsaber combat, though as the new opponent was revealed, Gerwald knew this would not be as simple a victory.

One thing ran through the wolf’s mind as he looked on the beast.

Do not get caught in its grip.

A massive roar quieted the crowd as the creature set its eyes on Gerwald. Just as the other beast had done, it charged. Rather than run toward it this time, the wolf ran. Boos and jeers began to echo as it appeared that the former Lord Commander was running from the fight. This was not the first time he had heard boos in an arena either. This was not about getting the crowd on his side at this point, but rather, it was about surviving long enough to learn the monster’s weakness.

Once he reached the wall, Gerwald turned. A smirk pulled at his lips. He had covered the floor faster than the beast had. This time, the wolf ran for the creature. The crowd stood to their feet and began to cheer once more. Chants filled his ears once more, this time shouting for Gerwald to kill the beast.

The wolf kept keen eyes on the long arms of the beast. He dropped to his knees as the giant swung. The crimson hue of his crossguard came to life as the wolf cut at the ankles of the beast. It stumbled as it roared in pain. Turning as he stood, Gerwald cut the achilles of the other leg and watched the beast fall to the floor of the arena.

THUD.​

It grew quiet for a moment. With a swift slice, Gerwald relieved the monster of its head, and held it up by the antlers.

The crowd cheered once more as the wolf lifted the trophy toward Carnifex’s gaze.

They were beginning to understand each other.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

A shadow fell upon the arena, and all grew silent.

Descending from the uppermost reaches was the Dark Lord Himself, gliding down upon the air with cloak billowing out behind Him. None spoke, none hardly breathed. For though they yearned for spectacle, the sight of their Saziliebm omk Sozeal, their Sovereign and Savior, swept them up into a deafening silence. Many then fell to their knees, busying themselves with the silent ministrations of prayer, others watched solemnly, but all were reverent.

As Carnifex's feet touched the ground, the crowed seemed to crane forward and watch His every step. The beast's headless corpse was picked up and thrown aside as one would throw aside a piece of refuse, later to be taken away by the arena tenders. Only when the Dark Lord stood before the Wolf, did He stop, towering over the other Sith as His shadow seemed to engulf him. "Many fine feats you have performed, Dread Wolf. Allow me to test you, so that all who bear witness will see the truest measure of your strength."

As the Dark Lord talked, He slowly unclasped His cloak and let it fall away at His feet. Then His tunic fell away from Him, slipping down past His waist and leaving His entire upper torso bare. A mesmerizing tapestry of black tattoos covered the majority of His bare skin, stretching out from the center of His chest and reaching all the way to the tips of His fingers. They were runic in nature, inherent of the Sith and the Dark Side. Each line was made purposefully, and the whole of it radiated with dark power.

"Use any weapon of your choice, Gerwald. Do not hold back."

Gerwald Lechner ​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Carnifex

The Wolf looked away for one short moment, and in the next, the Butcher King had descended. There would be no new creature. Another beast was not something that would satiate the crowd. Instead it would be the one thing all of them wanted to see. Their champion had entered the ring. It was something the wolf had to consider, and he needed to tread lightly. Even if he defeated their god, the wolf may lose the displeasure of the more religious among them.

Blue eyes took in the massive form of the man. This was where he differed from his uncle. Perhaps Gerwald had not earned the right to face Prazutis in a more honorable way. The wolf had been nothing but a plaything to the Mountain. Maybe he was just a toy to Carnifex as well. Regardless this was the arena where he would prove his power had grown. The Wolf deserved to stand in the same room as the Zambranos. He was no longer the young pup which Srina Talon had to rescue.

Gerwald Lechner was their equal.

Tendrils of the force reached to wrap around a thick bo staff which hung on the wall of the arena. It was taller than what he was used to. No doubt the weapon was made for Epicanthix. There was no reason for lightsabers in this bout. His sabers and hammer fell to the ground. In the same manner Gerwald let the armor fall with it, and the upper tunic removed was shortly tossed beside it. He was a physical specimen of what a warrior should be in peak condition. Just because the force made him strong, it did not mean he neglected the body.

“Only if you promise the same.”

It was a foolish request, but it was the only way the spectators would come to respect the wolf for what he was. Gerwald Lechner was confident the Sith before him would have no trouble ending his life should the Dark Lord wish it. This was not about death, however, and somehow Gerwald intrinsically knew it. Glory and honor were the items at stake, namely his. Carnifex had said it. He would test the wolf so the crowd which gathered could see the height of his true power.

The force moved again. This time it was to send another staff to the hands of the Butcher. They would face each other with the same weapon. Whatever rules of the fight were about to be determined he supposed. Though the wolf understood that on occasions such as this one the bout was likely to be determined by…

“First blood?”

His eyes bore directly into the gaze of Darth Carnifex. If the former emperor was looking for fear in the wolf’s stare he would not find any. Gerwald had faced death too many times to be afraid of what lay beyond it. He knew what it would bring, and that knowledge removed any apprehension the mystery of it created.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Dark Lord's outstretched fingers wrapped around the staff as it flew into His waiting hand, the weapon perfectly calibrated for an Epicanthix of His size and stature. It felt like an extension of His body, not unwieldy or cumbersome at all. Spinning the staff around, the Dark Lord assumed an aggressive stance and leveled the staff directly at Gerwald. The other man made due with the same weapon, although it was outsized for him.

"First blood it shall be."

He pushed forward, sand kicking up beneath His feet as He closed the distance in a few breaths. He struck low, then high, and then a flurry of strikes with both ends of His staff. He didn't need to call upon the Force at this time, this was pure skill and instinct. Even so, each blow rained down upon Gerwald was powerful and would've knocked the staff from any lesser man's hands. But the Wolf was no such man, he'd proven it already.

Above, the crowd watched approvingly as their God-King fought the Wolf. Each strike brought above a chorus of cheers, many Epicanthix actually standing up to watch the fight rather than sitting back. Drums beat in a rapid, but concise rhythm, war chants rising up above the cheering. This was their God, the epitome of their culture and faith, fighting amidst the sand and sweat of the arena as any of them would. There was no greater honor bestowed upon them than this.

Carnifex moved to sweep Gerwald's legs out from under him, following up by trying to strike the Wolf with His staff.

Gerwald Lechner ​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Carnifex

The crowd roared when the terms were settled. They would see the wolf bleed, they were sure of it. If their god bled, well, then Gerwald was truly one of them. Regardless, the terms meant the spectators won. Truly, none of them thought they would witness the bout before them when they awakened for the morning. Two masters of death and war facing each other.

Carnifex waited for as long as honor demanded. It was good to see that the concept was not lost on the Sith. Granted, it may simply have been because for some reason the wolf had already earned the butcher’s respect. That in itself was a hard thing to come by. Had their previous conversion not gone as it had Gerwald may have though it was simply because of Srina. Instead it seemed that Carnifex knew of his accomplishments, and they had entitled him to the display he had now been granted.

His staff planted into the ground. Gerwald winced as he felt the force of the strike collide with his staff. Carnifex was strong, much more than Gerwald could have anticipated even accounting for the man’s towering size. That miscalculation had allowed the leg sweep to be successful, though the blunt of the blow had been absorbed by Gerwald’s weapon enough to keep from damaging his leg.

He had to roll. The Dark Lord did not wait before taking advantage of having the beast on his back. Fortunately the wolf was quicker and more agile than his own frame suggested. He was Lupo after all.

Gerwald rose to a knee as he swung the staff around in an attempt to mimic what Carnifex had just done. While he did not think the Butcher King would fall for it, the former Lord Commander was hoping it would prove enough of a distraction for his next attack. Stepping toward Darth Carnifex, Gerwald flipped the staff upward in an attempt to uppercut the Epicanthix just under the jaw with the butt of the staff.

Regardless of its success, Gerwald would be back on his feet.

The crowds were still roaring!

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The blunt end of the staff connected with the sandy floor, kicking up particles in every direction. He struck again as Gerwald rolled away, leaving a deep trench in the sand where His staff landed. Carnifex advanced as Gerwald came to a knee, spinning His staff to catch the retaliatory strike before it could land. It gave the Dark Lord barely enough time to dodge, the wooden staff passes mere centimeters from His face as He threw Himself back.

All while the crowd roared their approval, stomping their feet and chanting hymns. It reminded the Dark Lord of His homeworld, where such games would have been held beneath the endless blue sky. The sound of ocean waves, the smell of distant rain, and the heat of the jungle are senses intimate to any Epicanthix who knew the wonders and glory of Panatha. The children born and raised after it's destruction know only simulacrums, cheap imitations. The Epicanthix people have a blood connection to the soil of their homeworld, and cannot replicate that sensation through any means.

But one day, they will return.

The Oracles have seen it.

Carnifex rushed forward, growling viscerally as He leapt into the air to try and strike Gerwald from above. When His feet touched the ground, He dived out of the way of Gerwald's next strike. Spinning along the ground, He hopped up to His feet and locked staves with Gerwald. Their lock turned to grappling as Carnifex sought to take Gerwald by the shoulders and throw Him hard to the ground.

Gerwald Lechner ​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Carnifex

The attack missed. Gerwald figured it would, but he had hoped to catch the Sith Lord by surprise. Skill for skill, Carnifex had more experience than the wolf, though they both had seen their fair share of combat. It was the thing which made their battle interesting. Trading volleys which were designed to feel the other out but also cause pain and victory if the opponent proved unable to defend themselves.

It was entertaining for the crowd. Their cheers grew louder as the Butcher took to the air. Were they not locked in battle, Gerwald would have found himself mesmerized by the sight of it. Carnifex was large, but with the aid of the force he leaped higher than the wolf had seen any man fly.

He was forced to roll out of the way. Gerwald was not ready to demonstrate the extent of his strength. Were he to block the strike with ease, the crowd would hate it. For some reason the former Lord Commander seemed to understand that the crowd needed to be appeased, they wanted a show. It did not matter who won or lost as long as those watching were entertained.

Their staves locked with a loud crack.

In another motion Carnifex grabbed Gerwald by the shoulder. It was then the wolf learned the physical strength of his opponent. He was tossed to the ground like a rag doll. Gerwald used the force to absorb the shock of the collision, sending a cloud of dust into the air. Suddenly the wolf was in the air, his staff falling down toward the Butcher King’s head.