Private Euclid (Darth Meritum)

[Darth Carnifex]

The skies above Jutrand thundered angrily, the overwhelming power of the Dark Side concentrated into a single place causing disastrous atmospheric distortions. Much of this was mitigated by city-sized weather stations designed to regulate the worst of the churning maelstroms, but much was left to rage on across the dark and dismal ecumenopolis. The surface of Jutrand, though dominated by towering spires and huge monolithic ziggurats, was sparsely populated beyond the most reinforced structures. It was beneath the surface level where most of the population lived, crammed into squalor and crime-riddled districts where life was brief and cheap.

Darth Carnifex, Dark Lord of the Sith, Eternal Father of the Kainate, and Voice of Dark Side, sat in meditation at the apex of a large ziggurat nestled amidst the endless cityscape. The storm raged about Him, winds and rain lashing His bare skin, but the Dark Lord was immovable. He drew power from the storm, letting it's dark turbulence wash over Him like waves upon a shore. Lightning stabbed at Him from the blackened clouds, but were absorbed into His tattoo-kissed flesh rather than burning it away.

His thoughts turned between many things as He sat there, exposed to the maelstrom. Of the plans He had set in motion, and the future He was working to build. Everything was moving into position at a glacial pace, but one that He preferred; move too quickly and He might galvanize those who would see to undo His future. Let it creep upon them before they were aware, and consume them beneath it's indomitable advance. Even now, His foes were none the wiser. He'd like to keep it that way.

But there was one who He could not ignore, at least not for the moment. The Emperor, Darth Empyrean , had been His adversary once, but now they had settled in a mutual existence thanks to the efforts of the Empress, Srina Talon . It was by her suggestion that He entreat with the Voice of the Emperor, to inform Him of the progress being made by the Sepulchral. Having taken over leadership of the enigmatic priesthood, Carnifex had been busy at work reshaping it to fit His designs, and had since spread His new priesthood out to every corner of the Empire and beyond it.

Where the Legions tramped and the Inquisition uprooted, the Sepulchral was there to plant and nurture. The minds of the masses were being bent to the will of the Sith, community by community, world by world. In time, they would be as little more than marionettes dancing to the pull of taut strings.

Rising, the Dark Lord withdrew into the temple. Dressing Himself in a long, unornamented robe, He moved into the reception chamber reserved for those of high esteem within the Sith Order. It was there that the Voice would be received, drawn into the room by a pair of Crownguard before they swiftly retreated back out into the hall; leaving the both of them alone together. Where Carnifex was a tightly wound storm of violence and hate, the gray-haired Meritum appeared more demure, more withdrawn and sagacious.

Perhaps that is why he had been chosen by Empyrean.

One could not see the dagger pressed against their throat, when they focused on the open hand presented to them.

Darth Meritum ​

 

[Darth Meritum]

Meritum, like many Sith, had found the storms almost enchanting if not rejuvenating. In the same way the Sith flocked to Korriban, Exegol, and Dromund Kaas, so too would they to Jutrand for the nature of the Dark Side. Here, in a world covered by city, it was all the more enticing as person after person fed into the storms with their faith and hate, their struggle and strife. Where it might have found its genesis in the strength of Sith like Carnifex or Empyrean, it sustained itself on the people now loyal to the Sith.​

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Soon, as so many worlds before, this world too would die. It was the cost of power on such a grand scale. He knew in spite of that, the Sith were going to keep it alive with daily transfusions of people. It had already begun to be its largest import next to food. For Meritum, he cared little for that; he'd leave the imports and exports to better men. He was only here to guide the Empire on behalf of the Emperor.​

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And so, today he would do just that.​

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The Sepulchral were a secretive bunch, and Empyrean had imparted that much to Meritum during their meetings. Empyrean spoke of them like a cancer, but Meritum had never been the Sepulchral's focus like the other large Sith were. He was, for all that he was, someone who had slipped through the cracks. Today, he would crawl out of one of them and be put before an Emperor he had served once. He was even a bit curious if Carnifex had ever known his name but he sincerely doubted it.​

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The Crownguard walked Meritum through the doors and then departed, leaving the two Sith there alone. Meritum had seen Carnifex before, but being alone with a giant always felt a bit different than it did from afar. He himself was not ordained in fineries or wealth, no jewelry or adornment. There upon him was nothing but the simplest of Sith attire - black and minimal, less than a suit but more than robes. It was very modern in that way.​

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"Greetings, Darth Carnifex."​

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"I'm Darth Meritum. I served you once, on Bastion, before the Imperials."​

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And, perhaps a bit ironically, Meritum offered the giant an open hand - a gesture far removed from the Dead God.​

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Darth Carnifex​

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[Darth Carnifex]

"I remember."

Those words fell with the same glacial weight as a collapsing star, all the power and authority that ran rife through the Dark Lord's veins enunciated in four simple syllables. But they were not spoken in spite or malice, only pure objectivity. The Dark Lord remembered, and that was that. It was rare for the Dark Lord to not commit a face and voice to memory, memory that He could still call upon with acute precision. He saw Meritum's face many times, at least relative to the brief moments their destinies intersected.

But beyond that fleeting familiarity, they might as well have been strangers for all that mattered.

"And now Darth Empyrean has bestowed upon you the gift of his Voice." He approached, slow methodical steps while His shadow drew large across the floor; the faint flash of a smile hidden in the encroaching darkness. "I have sought you out to speak of Sepulchral matters, now that my control over the priesthood has been established. Much has been done to bring the priesthood in alignment with our vision of Empire, plans are in motion to spread priests beyond our borders to the neutral systems. Our faith shall be heralded from every corner of this galaxy."

Darth Meritum ​

 

[Darth Meritum]

Curious.​

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He had no doubt the Twice-Emperor had a sharp mind, but remembering all the Sith that served him seemed a step further than he expected. It mattered little the grand scheme of things, they were strangers for all purposes - even if Carnifex's reputation preceded him.​

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"As it should.", he offered back with a nod.​

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"I am thankful for the position the Emperor has bestowed upon me. His duties take him elsewhere, so his time to look inwards is... limited. I find men who are capable of becoming leaders like you both have a tendency to look outwards - it is only natural, given our hunger and ambition. It is good to be proven wrong, in so far you are reinforcing our holdings, rather than expanding them."​

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"I have, however, been appraised of the Sepulchral situation. Excuse me for being blunt, Darth Carnifex , but is the Sepulchral truly under your control? What intelligence reports the Emperor has given me show their assets far outstrip our audits."​