Faction Going Away to College | Sith Academy

[Vita of House Marr]

It was hard not to look around, even standing in the middle of a great crowd assembled, he likely would not be able to see anything at all. Yet, even as he stared resolutely ahead, lost to his own thoughts, for in his mind there was a safety that even the Manse's great walls could not provide.

His thoughts, time, and time again, asked him to turn his head to either side.

To look past the heads of strangers wearing the same gaudy uniform as him, and towards the walls of a place where he had not once ever been. However, the risk of actually catching one's eyes, the awkwardness of the question on if they wished for some sort of interaction... He delved back into his thoughts. Of course, for him, there was no place he had ever been, outside of the hallways, passages, and rooms of the centuries-old Marr home, apart from certain rare escapadees and expeditions organised for his, and others of his blood's benefit.

Most of them had been to Alvaria, where he had always been promised room and board at his... older cousins's palace. Yet the one that always stuck with him most had been when the Manse had been abandoned during the Ouroboros Crisis...

...He was glad those uncertain days were over.

His curiosity finally won out, as he squinted his vision through the rows and columns of foreigners that had arrived at Jutrand, for after all, though like most of those here, he had never been within these specific academy walls, unlike most he was at least of this world. He held no great love for that fact, he might have loved the Manse, walls and all for which he had been raised and grown his entire life.

But Jutrand itself...

Sometimes he wondered why it had been here that his great-great-great-grandfather had chosen to make the Marr home. Though he supposed, it was only in relatively recent times that had had been renewed again as their home, grandfather, father, and uncle had spent most of their time upon Bastion and Dromund Kaas, before...

He had to wonder what luck of the draw had the remnants of the Sith reestablish themselves upon his family's homeworld, the beating heart of the sprouting tentacles that was the renewed Sith Empire. Likely there was an answer if he searched through his books for long enough, but...

...While he imagined this academy would have a great library that might have been even superior to the Marr collection, even superior to what his royal... 'imperial'... cousin held upon his Palace.

The days for easy afternoons, sitting by a comfortable seat, a roaring fire, or a heater to accompany his thoughts, as he laid stacks of treatises, books, parchments, and a datapad, were unfortunately, likely far behind him.

He gazed up alongside the great pillars that held up the ceiling above them, this grand building which housed them all at the moment, and further on, where he would be actually housed for the next few years...

...Would he ever truly find it like home?

Unfortunately, architecture was far from an interest of his, such that he would not identify anything markedly interesting about it, was it old? Was it new? What style was it to fit? Who constructed it? Who designed it? Such were questions that flooded through an ever inquisitive mind, without being in position to answer them.

Had this been a relatively recent construction, a Sith Academy truly made for Sith in the comparatively minor span of time in which the Sith Empire ruled here? Or had it been a construction that had already been in place here, there used to be a Jedi Enclave on this world, his father had once told him, they had made it so their family had to live in hiding, part of why the younger Marrs were always held in such recluse behind the defense and safety of the Manse.

Even after the Sith had arrived here, burned the Enclave away.

Such tradition remained.

Might they now stand upon the bones of the Jedi who had been slaughtered here?

It was a disconcerting thought in some regard.

But he could not help the glimmer in those red orbs at that specific cognition.

Such ruthlessness was exactly what they required from the Sith, such ruthlessness would be exactly what would make him among the 128, such ruthlessness would be exactly what would allow him to stand at his cousin's side...

...Such ruthlessness would be exactly what would let Vita surpass Malum entirely.

---

He blinked his numerous thoughts away as the Provost's words boomed out from above them, his mind quickly adjusting to the voice of the man who would be for the next period of his life his superior, in position, in title, if not in name. Yet, whether the man had good blood and breeding in him or not, Vita would accept him as he was.

The Provost of the Imperial Academy of Jutrand.

While he, was for now at least, a student.

A student was a scion of the great Darth Marr...

...But a student nonetheless.

Such that he keenly listened as the Provost continued to speak. It was certainly different from the training and tutoring he had come to expect within his own life, yet that had been brutal in all other ways... though he imagined this would far surpass that by the end. Still, though he listened, Vita could not help but be disappointed in some sense.

Much of it was set dressing, and at the end of the day would matter little.

Who cared for the thousands who would fail here?

Who cared for the 128 that made it through?

It was the top that mattered, everything else, everyone else was quite literally secondary.

It would be his struggle to reach that paramount mountain, it would be his doom to fail here when he knew whatever struggles he had faced thus far in his life, whatever struggles he would face within these walls, they would certainly pale to whatever struggles would await for him, that he needed to face, outside these walls. Malum... held little time for him these days, yet, his letters had made that so undeniably clear, their rare meetings had resulted in him... realising his cousin was far older than the ten years that separated their births now.

He would be there soon.

He promised.

Still, there was some information of note he supposed, three tests he quickly surmised, perhaps four, for this first round, a measure of Midichlorians that he already held the answer to, an interview of sorts, a test of strength, and a test of finesse. Simple enough, yet with so many assembled around him, and those watching from above... his parents, Malum, and other cousins...

He swallowed, only now realising a drink of iced water might have done him some good.

He breathed, the air filling his lungs, expanding his chest, as he allowed his mind to calm itself when it ran away from him like this, he held all the knowledge in his mind, his body was conditioned and trained for all this, and his soul... knew the darkness as well as it knew his own hand. There was no one else among this assembly who was more prepared than he was.

...Apart from likely his other cousins littered among the crowd, unfortunately, they had not been stood near him, no doubt his nerves might have been less shot if they were. Still, he knew his cousins well, they might be a challenge, but he would surpass them too.

Still, he would not complain if by the end the Marrs here proved their supremacy over the others, a nice friendly competition between those he was comfortable speaking to would be far preferable to the other course.

Unfortunately, despite the confidence he held in his family, the butterflies in his stomach were indicative enough that much like most of his life, he would not receive what he wanted.

"Ooah!" Vita a beat after the others, parroted those around him, at the end of the Provost's words, slamming his left fist into his heart, as the annoyance creased his brow.

He had lost himself to his thoughts again.

It might not have cost him anything yet, but the day was still young.

Thankfully it seemed that no one had noticed, especially as the great black doors of the academy with their great sound opened with a crack akin to thunder. It was the tradition of Marrs to lead, such was what his father had always told him, ironic as it was always his father who followed his older brother, just like Vita would follow his own elder cousin. So, it was Vita who held back.

Red eyes were far more keen to examine as others performed the trials before him.

The watcher would see the axe headsmen's axe as it befell one that rushed forward to their own annihilation. That was what played out mostly, some who had their blood drawn would be turned away as results failed to materialise... or rather the results that materialised were far from what was required.

Those were the lucky ones, he imagined.

Even those who faced the embarrassment of failing to lift the boulders, or otherwise being unable to unlock the locks likely still held better fates.

Then those who actually were wounded by their foolish antics.

Still, some caught his eyes, there was the girl who had received a midi-chlorian score so impossible that he had to wonder if the machine had broken, he imagined so, she did proceed onward after all, and would go on to put on a rather impressive show with both the boulders and the locks.

He saw Lady Irina Jesart and Marcus Dinn , some of the only names nor faces he recognised in these proceedings, not due to any personal attachment he held to strangers, but for that, he knew these were among those who his cousin had sponsored. Vita knew at the end of the day, that despite any wish to keep to himself, or at the very least keep to his own blood.

He likely would need to eventually...

No, that did not warrant a thought, if he could not thrive alone, he did not deserve to thrive at all.

Still, regardless of his opinion of the idea, of those his cousin had sponsored, he could understand why, they were quick and able to pass the trials. At the very least it was nice to know there was some guarantee that they would not be foes, in the years to come.

There was another too, Veradun Sharr , he seemed to struggle, yet that was of little surprise, he was rather all new to this as Vita knew. Of course, Vera- Sharr's position was rather interesting, one of the few that held two sponsors, despite he himself having only recently been brought into the Sith Order. He was lucky in that sense, but it would also make him a target.

But for Vita himself, he was some sort of anomaly.

Brother to Vita's newly found cousin, Revna , yet not related to that cousin.

Vita had already struggled with the revelations Malum had brought about regarding their House's perhaps most... infamous tradition. He had been shielded for much of his for his youth, yet Malum's revelation had struck so deep into their House's core, that its reverberations could still be felt years later.

It had made their House as strong as it possibly could be, as pure as it could be.

Yet all that loss...

Sharr was not his cousin by blood, but if he was a sibling to another cousin... Vita would make the effort, he supposed.

Something about it struck in his heart for reasons he could not quite fathom.

Or perhaps admit.

He idly noted others that passed, a veritable army of Echani, a rogue Firrero, and a smattering of other human and alien individuals. Some gave impressive displays, others simply toed the line, he supposed that in a test such as this, where it was pass or fail, there was little reason to expend yourself.

Especially when the unknown awaited.

Vita took the step forward, near the end-middle of the pack, it would do him little good to be among the last, among those that would definitely be noticed, if only because everyone else was done, and they were impatient to move on. He already knew that there would be those watching him, he already knew he would believe there were a multitude of imagined eyes upon him.

He certainly did not need any more actual ones.

He placed a finger on the waiting receptacle, took a seat, and gazed up towards the one that would ask him questions, two tests in one, smart.

"How long have you known about your Force sensitivity? From early childhood? More recent?" The plain-spoken man asked, no doubt having asked tens of other prospective students the same question the last few minutes.

Vita kept his composure as the flinch threatened to break his brow, as the needle extracted a drop of his blood, and began processing, red eyes glimmering as a ghost of a smile considered itself for a moment before returning unused, "My entire life." The eyes had made him worthy the very moment he was born.

"And how was this discovered? What were you able to do? Did a Sith observe this?" The surveyor continued, quirking an eyebrow, perhaps not quite believing Vita's answer.

Vita could only feel the brush of annoyance at that, "The Marr eyes show my ability at conception, my parents say as I child I drew my toys without touching them, and my parents, my entire House, are Sith." He answered icily, he should have spoken less, yet it answered the questions enough, and would hopefully provide him the ink to link the dots.

Unfortunately even as his cousin sat the Dark Council, their House was not given the respect that they deserved.

Malum had done much to change that.

Vita would do just as much.

More.

Thankfully it did seem the surveyor's eyes did register recognition, such that he began to quickly tally off some measures on the datapad.

"What other ways have you been able to use the Force?"

That was a marvel of a question, "...I have been trained my whole life to use it, I think I shall show everyone in the next few minutes," Vita spoke, as the air itself seemed to drop a temperature, as his eyes glimmered in crystalline frost, and to seem to solidify his point.

The machine next to him finished its processing.

Gazing at the number which he knew as well as his birthday, as well as Life Day.

The surveyor had no other questions.

Annoyance should not have fueled him, but it was a very known fact that emotions acted as an excellent kindling and fuel for the Force's way. Standing up from the seat, giving naught but a second glance towards the surveyor, he found himself standing beside many a stone, many a boulder, who had been shifted and moved as previous would-be students undertook their tasks.

Vita breathed in the air deeply, allowing the sounds of all those around him to fall away, the cacophony of voices that melded all together into something entirely unrecognisable, the sound of machines whirling, the sound of stones rising, and locks turning, all at this moment that mattered, as he closed his orbs away from the world.

Was the stage.

And the show he would put on for himself.

He felt the Force in the air, as a gentle breeze, he felt it in the presence of all those around him, he felt it as it drew itself into his chest with every breath, its presence a comfort, as it extended out from his heart with every beat of his heart, flowing along veins and artery, as it swirled around his body.

And he snapped his eyes open, an explosion of power mounted out of him, an invisible ichor extending out of his body, and towards the stones in front of him. He felt the conductor of the orchestra, the spider of the spun web, as he breathed out softly, the stones began to rise, gripped onto by the presence that protruded out from him.

Rising higher, and higher.

The ceiling might make the most reasonable goal.

He might make them spin too.

Spin as he stacked them on top of each other.

Stack them atop each other while raising them to the ceiling, but spinning them in opposite directions.

He allowed the stones to fall, a great crash with each fall, a poor beat of the war drum if only for a few stones were raised.

He had achieved what was necessary, there was little reason to expose himself now.

Even as his eyes glimmered.

Even as part of him...

He breathed out, a breath longer than the others, as he proceeded onto the locks, three of them in front of him, having been saved from the calamities of whatever the students around him had attempted. He knew little of locks, for all he had read he could not claim that as one of his interests, truthfully of the three out of four tasks he had completed, this one was the one that brought him the most concern.

He had mused an idea.

The Force would grant him sight into what otherwise might be impossible to see.

The Force would allow him to make a perfect key made of its very essence if he could simply hold his concentration.

Vita breathed.

The broken locks of previous attempts flew forward and smashed into the three standing before him.

Damage was inevitable, but through the power of locks, the locks were unlocked, unclapping as they fell on the floor, or otherwise dangled on their frames.

He imagined not everyone would much appreciate the irony or humour in that.

Yet as Vita gazed about, most still too distracted in their own conversations to notice his antics, and no Academy official rushing over to stop or reprimand him.

It seemed regardless of his method, he had passed.

---

Vita listened intently against the wall, out from sight, out from mind, as the Sepruchal priest arrived, at his back the Praetorians which he had only ever seen deployed with the Emperor... was he in fact here watching?

That was a disconcerting idea.

He had little time to consider it though, as his eyes narrowed at the announcement from the old corpse's lips, the girl with the impossible midi-chlorian count, Lady Jesart, and some angry Echani. The scion of Darth Marr clambered his teeth, as he breathed narrowly, no doubt his cousin would be pleased that one of his sponsorship had made it among the top.

No doubt his question would only be why it had not been the one with his blood.

He flexed his fingers, he had been wrong, it had not been a simple pass-fail test, they were judging for their rankings even now.

And he had lost his easiest opportunity to place himself at the top.

Was that his only chance?

Had he in his own arrogance thrown away the best chance he had at reaching the top?

Had he already... failed?

No...

He could not...

His breathing grew in tempo, for while his mind twisted, his ear was still listening.

No...

...He still had ample opportunity.

He just simply had to put aside his own cowardice.

Even as his heart fell.

Groups?

He needed to find his cousins immediately.

---

Spoiler

Firrerreo Soldane Talon Viers Connory Kai'lyn Jarek Voss Annika Starfire Udren Zeln Aerik Lechner Darth Carnifex Soah Ty’Jyn Fiolette Yvarro Renora zambrano Lunaria Talon Srina Talon Gerwald Lechner Meili Feng Quinn Varanin Alina Tremiru Vestara VII Astrid pentoghast Zarava Dekki Thelnic Vath Sasha Stellacend Sage Lumiya Matteo Guo-Yian Rosalia Aros Rayth Kadann Eira Dyn Darth Aegrotus Nevheda of Tsis'Raki Alaqai Temuha Ilentos Kalosi

 

[Matteo Guo-Yian]

Tags: Rosalia Aros | Open

The smile was new.

Most people around these parts seemed more familiar with 'smirks' like they were fifty year old scoundrels in a dive bar currently swindling someone out of their hard-earned cash. It would be depressing to see so much self-interest and opportunism from children if he hadn't been steeped in exactly the same kind of rigorous culture himself.

It was only the short bouts out of the compound at night that gave him a measure of normalcy. Did these people have anything like that in their life?

"I don't see why not." He murmurs softly once the message landed on the group. Some of them would die and by the sound of the Priest it might be more than some.

Matt was anxious, yes, but the idea of dying here in the Maze didn't accelerate the fear. While most here had assumed they'd be safe, his parents had been entirely clear in their expectations. They gave him a funeral the night before sending him to the Academy. He didn't have to sit in a coffin and nobody spoke about how much they'd miss him, but the sober ceremony with chants and pastries on the side hit it home for him.

They didn't expect him to return the same or at all.

Either way, the Matteo they had known would be dead.

"I know you have no reason to trust me, but I will watch your back if you watch mine." He said quietly, hoping not to be overheard by the ravenous priests and Lords. "They want to make this a zero sum game. You win, I lose, or the other way around. But it doesn't have to be that way, agreed?" And he offered a tentative hand for a handshake.

 

[Irina Jesart]

Irina rolled her eyes at Firrerreo 's response, offering food to the girl asking. Irina hadn't come across many of his kind, but she knew well enough that any Firrerreo that offered help, did not do so because they cared. They were self centric. She also knew that giving your name to one was an equally stupid idea.

Whoever Viers Connory was, she was going to learn the hard way if this was how easily she trusted. She was opting to ignore all of them when the girl asked where they were. Her head snapped round to stare at her in disbelief, her gaze flicked to the Firrerro's face, there was something almost predatory there, like a sly fox the hard convinced a rabbit to befriend it. She gave a small shake of her head and turned her attention back to remaining students completing their test, keeping half an ear on the conversation as Renora zambrano rapidly redacted her statement and tried to make friends. That one, was not to be trusted.

Irina snorted as they both gave their names willingly. "Idiots." she muttered under her breath as they broke away from one another to mingle with others. She should mingle, make allies but truth be told, Irina wasn't sure of any of them yet. If she made the wrong ally today it could be the death of her tomorrow.

The Praetorians entrance sent a wave of fear over the students, silencing the chatter as they moved to line the walls, their presence created more waves than the Sepulchral corpses. Irina rose smoothly to her feet, regarding them with caution, but not outright fear. Her gaze pulled away from them as the priest began to speak, the praise he offered at their success so far mediocre at best. As far as Irina was concerned, the time to celebrate success was when she was one of the 128 remaining.

As the faces of the top three rose in the flames produced, Irina found herself staring at herself. A cold dread fell over her. Oh, she was sure somewhere in the stands above them that her father would be swelling with pride and no doubt her sponsor would be equally proud, but in that moment, she had become an enemy of everyone. A target painted on her back.

Her face remained impassive as she felt eyes begin to fall upon her, she ignored all of them, focusing on the priest's words, only just loud enough to get past the sound of blood rushing in her ears. Only when he stepped down, his warning of possible death waiting for them ringing in their ears, did she begin to meet the gazes of those who looked at her.

It would have been wise for the three strongest to team up, but Viers was accosted quickly, scurrying away with the Frirrerreo and another. That left her and Jarek, she scanned the groups nearby to find him, only to have her view blocked as Renora was the first to approach her.

Irina turned her body to face her entirely and gave her a slow look from head to toe and back up again, like she was surveying something beneath her. She knew enough about the Zambrano name to know they led with their arrogance, believing that because Carnifex was their sire, they were owed the galaxy. Renora would be useful as much as she would be cannon fodder.

"Very well." she accepted in a dismissive tone, sweeping past her towards the group of echani that had gathered alongside the golden eyed students coming to stand next to Jarek Voss "Jarek," she said softly her dark eyes settling on him, barely giving the other around him a second glance. "Would you like to join us?"


Soldane Talon Lunaria Talon Udren Zeln (I think that was everyone left in that little group, apologies If I missed anyone. )

 

[Rosalia Aros]

Tag: Matteo Guo-Yian | Soah Ty’Jyn
​

Nerves. No matter how stoic a face the other acolytes put on, there had to be a tingle of anxiety. It was like a collective pulse, quickening. Even Rosalia's stomach felt a flutter or two. No doubt, there were some that let excitement override nerves… or that's what they told themselves.

She gave her new companion a small nod when he agreed to venture into the maze with her.

It was odd to think that some – or many – of her many aspiring acolytes would fall. Their blood would spill on the ground and their bones might stay there, lost in the many twists and turns of the labyrinth. Fascinating. Rosalia turned a wide-eyed glance over her shoulder when Matteo spoke in a hushed tone. She turned towards him, silent for a moment as she considered his proposition.

"Agreed," she said, giving his hand a quick shake to solidify their deal.

He was her competition, but he might also be a friend – and she'd never had a friend before. It would be a pity to lose.

Rosalia drew a breath.

"We still need another." Her dark eyes scanned the crowd ahead. There were many already grouped together in sets of three. Though, there was still bound to be some still looking.

 

[Thelnic Vath]

Objective: Find a team
Location: The Royal Academy of Jutrand
Equipment:

• Datapad
• Lightsaber
• Hover-crate with various research instruments
• Academy Uniform

Tags: OPEN | Nevheda of Tsis'Raki | Sage Lumiya

Thelnic had no expectations of finishing with honors so to speak. But he made it through the first test without any question and was now preparing for what was going to come next. He hadn’t shown the limits of his Force prowess, but if he did not require tutelage he would not be at the academy in the first place. So he expected that the challenges would be stepped up, but he was confident that he would earn his way inside. Though the fact that his sponsor had remained anonymous, even to him, was not a good sign of the faith placed in him. Thelnic didn’t need others’ faith though. He would show his worth and earn his spot.

The new grouping of potential students was much smaller than the one that had stepped into the first testing grounds. Some because they could not use the Force to the proper level and others because the physical presence of the Force was not high enough. It didn’t matter what the reason they were gone, Thelnic wished the good riddance and puffed his chest out in pride as he waited for the next step to be announced.

”Rudimentary?” Thelnic grumbled under his breath as the priest spoke. The young Arkanian knew it to be true, but still if he allowed it to be stated aloud without opposition there was a possibility that his pride might be crushed. He had only passed one test. And though he was confident they would throw nothing at him that he was not capable of pressing through, he hated that his current accomplishment was diminished.

His smile reappeared however when the priest stated that those from minor houses had made their families proud. Thelnic came from outside the Sith. His new place in the galaxy would not care what the opinion of his family was. In his estimation that made his passing a bigger deal than a smaller house success story.

The names of the highest testers were announced. That was expected. It created competition and put a mark on the back of those who would need to prove more. For Thelnic, he knew that was not his lot. He was behind many of the students who grew up with the Sith. His current value was not as an apprentice. He had to work to get there. He was the hidden gold in the ore, the diamond hiding in stone. It would take work to get there, but that was just what Thelnic would do. He didn’t need to finish first. He needed to qualify. Once in the academy he would soak up everything that was offered and when the time came then he would be the best. Peaking early was nothing to be proud of.

The announcement of groups was a bit of a shock and disappointment to Thelnic. Firstly because he was familiar with no one other than the girl who had introduced herself at the opening of the ceremony. Others had seemed to collect in groups. Two of the three displayed leaders of the pack Thelnic had recalled seeing together with a few other Echani. It was odd to see so many gathered, but Thelnic supposed that it made sense for them to group together. He didn’t pay enough attention to know how many of them there were. He wasn’t sure if their number was divisible by the limit of three per group or if some or all of them would have to spread out. Thelnic really did not care. He couldn’t seek out a group based on popularity.

He would however need to find a team however. The question was how to go about that. Let them come to him or seek them out. His eyes looked out into the thinned crowd of young hopefuls. If he saw Nevheda he would try to make a team with her, but his eyes did not find Nevheda, they found a short green skinned young woman with purple hair. She was an oddity in the crowd. That always appealed to Thelnic. And though she was currently speaking with others Thelnic decided that he would approach anyway. As he got closer he noted her webbed ears and his intrigue grew. For a moment he hesitated, was this really the best reason to form a team? Curiosity. After the brief pause he continued anyway. He had no knowledge of anyone in this room’s skill. There was no good logical way for him to choose team members. He had to go with his gut.

”Hello,” Thelnic opened with a brisk nod of his head as he got within reasonable distance of the green-skinned girl. ”I noticed you talking to some others…but if there is room on your team. I would like to volunteer. I am good at all academics, and strong I promise.”

 

[Soah Ty’Jyn]

The glowing Togruta was grating on Soah's nerves. If he had merely kept his tongue or perhaps not had started this conversation pointing out why she hid and instead made terse commentary on where she'd find food, perhaps Soah wouldn't have gotten aggravated at Kai'lyn . But the more he spoke with that slithery tone and flicked his tongue, the more he made her skin crawl.

"If you had belife in your strength, you would have committed to the first slice..."

The Felacatian snarled with a distinct growl at Kai, nostrils flaring. As she had no idea if she could commit to slicing this idiot's throat without getting in trouble, she had held back. Yet the taunts were enough to engrain him as a foe permanently instead of a friend.

The fool just wouldn't shut up.

"Get the kark away from me, or I swear the next time I see you, I will rip out your throat with my teeth." she snarled at him, shoving past towards the food with a purposeful speed to get away from Kai'lyn.

Just as she managed to grab a few bites to regain her focus. The group was rerouted to a new area. With narrowed hazel eyes, she watched the image as the details of the next test resulted in what could only be her weakest area: working with others.

All her life, she'd survived on her own. Getting to play nice with others to survive whatever this Labyrinth held was a bitter pill to swallow. Once again, she felt the chill of anxiety rush down her spine, acid churning in her belly.

Focus.

Once again, her hand went to the pomme of her bone Tu'kata knife. Soah didn't know anyone here. Already murmurs would flow around her as others would partner off, far better at socializing and making a good appearance than she.

Her nostrils flared again. This time, the Felacatian breathed in deeply. Scents filled her nose with clashing series from different avenues. Sweat, perfume, soap, food, anxiety, fear. If she had to find others, then Soah would use her senses to pick out who would be the best to align herself with that were healthy and did not have the distasteful scent of prey to them.

Those hazel eyes would flick left and right before her nose drew her to Rosalia Aros and Matteo Guo-Yian . A boy and a girl that stood together. Soah watched them as they shook hands, perhaps coming to an accord. They did not seem to have a third and, from her vantage point, fulfilled the appropriate qualifiers for the situation: healthy, good teeth, what appeared to be good physiques, and, more importantly, didn't give her a sense of disgust.

"We still need another."

Without further ado and purposeful steps, the Hunter weaved her way towards them, each step silent until she was at their side.

"I will be the third," Soah told them, her lip ring flashing under the light with no introduction, charming smile, or even a pleasant greeting. Just a simple statement that expected no refute. They had two, they needed a total of three. She was available and now they would have it.

​

The question would be if they would accept it.

After all, she had the look of a wild girl about her: thick hair in massive braids, a series of geometric black tattoos covering her face and arms, with sections of solid black dye on her hands and fingers. She wore simple leather armor, with a small blade at her hip and a belt with a series of pouches that hung there.

 

[Matteo Guo-Yian]

Tags: Rosalia Aros | Soah Ty’Jyn

Rosalia agreed and it kinda surprised him. He had been fully prepared to get laughed at, but perhaps it was all part of a longer plan. Make him comfortable and then stab him in the back. This was probably paranoia, but that didn't mean it wasn't true. Still for now he had to trust her because he couldn't and watch her and watch whatever creatures would be in the maze.

"Yeah, let's see who-"

He got interrupted by the appearance of another girl. This one seemed a bit more feral. Funnily enough it made Matteo more at ease instead of less. He didn't have an issue with wild animals... or people acting like wild animals.

That was honest in a way. He could handle honesty even in its unrefined form.

"I suppose you will at that. Got a name or do you want us to refer to you as 'Third'." A bit dryly there before he started to follow the crowd towards the entrance of the maze. Some of the groups, the more emboldened and brave, started enter. Disappearing out of sight. It was sobering to think he might never see them again.

He sighed and looked to his current team members.

"No time like the present, yeah?" Unless they stopped him Matt would move to enter the maze. Every group disappeared to their own specific location, not wanting to stay close to the others, which was just as well. Trust was on low reserve here. "Do you guys have any weapons with you? I know they screened us... but..."

Right now Matt wasn't sure yet if he ought to reveal he managed to sneak in the two artifacts his parents gave him. A bracelet around his wrist... and the imprint of a knife in his sleeve. The former... he wasn't really sure yet what it could do. They just told him to give it a try. Which seemed suicidal to him, because when do you ever just 'try' a Sith artifact?

The other was a knife that seemed to exist in several places at once. It always found his way back to his hand and if he concentrated, they duplicated in the air. Useful... potentially.

 

[Kai'lyn]

Soah Ty’Jyn

Kai'lyn had already stepped behind her previously, so when Soah tried to shove past him only to walk back to the crowd, it must have been some silly attempt at showing her dominance over him with physical contact. Nevertheless, he stepped away with fleet-footed accuracy and a playful spring in his step. He did not allow her to touch him a second time. She wouldn't get that opportunity ever again. He watched her go and moved a hand to the decorations of teeth he wore on his headdress. Should their paths meet again, he would ensure her teeth would only adorn his headdress. Her bark was worse than her bite, in his opinion.

Kai'lyn's eyes scanned the room, watching as various students bickered, cowered, and made pacts. He didn't seem to heed the prevailing notion of caution that filled the air. Rejection didn't sit well with him, to say the least, and he padded directly toward the next destination without trying to befriend anyone. He felt a childish sentiment of anger whel up in his chest. He'd been alone his whole life. No one ever truly cared or stuck around. No one ever wanted him around. The only time any one ever wanted anything was to use him for their goals. Sofiel was no better than the slave masters he'd escaped. There was always betrayal, and always a temptation greater than any semblance of loyalty. There were the strong and the weak. Kill or be killed.

As he made his way toward the entrance of the Labyrinthian, Kai'lyn's mind raced with thoughts of survival and superiority. He didn't need her... he didn't need anyone. His entire life had been a trial of independence and resilience; a trial by fire of relentless challenges that he overcame against overwhelming odds. He thrived in solitude, where his cunning and ruthlessness could shine without the hindrance of alliances or friendships.

The shadows of the Labyrinthian loomed ahead, a dark and foreboding maze infused with the Magicks of the Dark Side. The entrance seemed to beckon him, a challenge that he was eager to face head-on. His confidence was unshaken, his resolve steeled. He would navigate this twisted place on his own terms, relying on his wits and strength to overcome whatever trials lay within.

As he crossed the threshold into the labyrinth, the oppressive atmosphere seemed to close in around him.

The darkness was his companion, the unknown his playground. He reveled in the challenge, the thrill of the hunt.

He didn't need the support of others. He was a predator, born to hunt and survive in the most hostile of environments. The labyrinth was just another proving ground, a place where he could demonstrate his superiority and secure his place among the elite. Failure was not an option; hesitation was a weakness he couldn't afford. Friendship was only a liability.

In the darkness, his thoughts drifted back to Soah and her snarled threats. She was a minor annoyance, a blip on his radar. If their paths crossed again, he would deal with her swiftly and decisively. His focus was on the trials ahead, on emerging victorious and proving his worth.

The stakes were high, but he thrived under pressure. The thrill of the challenge was intoxicating, fueling his determination, his tenacity.

In the end, it was about dominance. Kai'lyn would conquer the labyrinth, outwit its guardians, and emerge stronger for it. He would prove that he needed no one, that he was a force to be reckoned with. He would succeed. He would dominate.

 

[Sage Lumiya]

Location: Academy
Objective: Find a team
Tags: Thelnic Vath Nevheda of Tsis'Raki

It didn't take long before Sage found herself accompanied "Sure, we team up, academics and strength huh? Interesting." she tried nodded slowly and smiled. She wasn't that academic herself, she didn't need to be on Felucia, but she had a powerful physical body. "I'm at my best underwater probably, I'm hoping some of this labyrinth is flooded... Apple?" she held the apple given to her by Firrerreo aloft in her long spindly digits that wrapped most of the way around the piece of fruit. Would he accept the in the same way that she had. Her ears moved subtly as she listened out to sounds around them and glanced across at the entrance.

"I'm sure I just heard a scream, this is going to be fuuun!" There was a menacing grin on the Undine's face, she was much better at violence than she was at force imbued party tricks and in her mind being the one to hear the scream was significantly better than being the one to scream. "You coming too?" She said to the other dry skin, a dark haired human looking woman ( Nevheda of Tsis'Raki ) and she made to walk towards rhe labyrinth entrance. The other groups looked quite intimidating if she was honest, she would bet on her self in a darkened room, fighting empty handed, but she got the feeling that the different people orbiting each other did so for reasons of political networking with people in their own circles, something that Sage was an absolute novice at herself, again, it was of little use in the swamp.

"I'm Sage, like the flower." she said.

 

[Veradun Sharr]

Veradun observed the other prospective students who had passed their initial tests from the sidelines. Some ate and drank, others joined together in small groups to find some sort of common ground with others their own age - or perhaps to sniff out potential allies or rivals. Even with him being relatively new in the Force, the young teen could sense a thickness in the air that seemed…unnatural. He could almost sense the growing tensions, the fear, uncertainty, nervousness and envy that was building in the atmosphere. He had felt this sort of invisible aura before in the Cathedral on Formos; the priests and priestesses had explained to him that what he was feeling was the dark side of the Force itself, and that it wasn’t something to be afraid of - but to embrace.

A few students would approach him from time to time, asking what he had scored on his blood count - almost as if to find some sort of ground to stand on with bragging rights. “Who cares? Clearly it was good enough that they let me in. That’s all that matters.” he would reply coolly to those who tried to pry that information from him. It really wasn’t their business, he told himself as he watched them drift away.

His piercing blue eyes would flicker to movement at a hidden door in the blackened wall, and he watched with wary interest as a sort of priest surrounded by red armored guards appeared, their very presence commanding the attention of all the students who were gathered around. Voices died away to whispers, and then to silence as all eyes turned to regard the robed corpse-like priest and their entourage warily. Veradun recalled learning about the Sepulchral priest and the infamous Praetorian Guard - though he did wonder why they had come. From what he had heard, such red armored Sith were normally seen with the Emperor. A spike of icy dread pierced through the young boy; was the feared Sith Emperor going to come now and address them?

No…thankfully not. Instead, the priest addressed them all - congratulating those who had made it thus far. Veradun listened and watched in silence, curious to know what was going to happen next. The ancient priest announced that amongst them all - a few had risen to the top, to be noticed by the others, or hated for their success. The pale boy remembered the names and faces present in the three flames, and though he did feel a surge of jealousy at first…he quickly caught on to something that proved to be rather insightful:

Those at the top, garnered more hate and envy than they did pride and comradery from the other students around him. It made him realize that being elevated to such heights made one…vulnerable. He knew what hateful, jealous children could do to one another. He had once been a street orphan before his sister had found him, and he had experienced first hand the pecking order amongst the packs of orphaned children he had roamed with. He had a feeling such a thing was going to occur here in this Academy as well. Veradun wondered just how long these three would stay at the top - or indeed, even stay alive. If they were worthy of being in the lead, they would stay there. If not, others would prove better than they.

He listened intently as the priest moved on to explain the next series of trials and tests they all would need to complete before being able to move on. These sounded like they would be far more challenging and dangerous to the participants, and Veradun had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that many of the faces he was seeing now he would never see again. Not that he really cared - he didn’t know any of them, and therefore cared little for what happened to them.

Taking a deep breath, the boy turned his gaze to look upon those around him. He would need to find a team and quickly, as any who entered into the maze beyond alone surely wouldn’t make it out alive. Many others were doing the same and forming up with students they had either gotten somewhat comfortable with or teaming up with others they didn’t know. A sense of urgency filled Veradun as his pale eyes roamed the crowd - and landed on someone he was somewhat familiar with. He moved quickly then, slipping through the crowds and ignoring glares and glances and even those tugging on his sleeve to get his attention, coming to stop beside the raven haired and crimson eyed youth he’d seen before while visiting Alvaria with his big sister.

“Hey Vita! I see you made it in too, but I’m not surprised. So…wanna pair up for this? The sooner we get in, the better our chances of making it out on the other side.” he asked the young Marr boy, hoping the other would accept his query to group up together.

Tag: Vita of House Marr
​

 

[Jarek Voss]

Jarek felt a deep darkness within his chest as he waited for the groups response to his speech. What he saw when he turned around was a sight to behold. Never before had he seen such figures, or felt such darkness and power. It was exhilarating, even addicting. Greed, hunger, longing, raw emotions stirred within Jarek, for he craved that darkness. As the priests were talking, three flames suddenly appeared. Within each flame, a face appeared, and one of the faces was his. Jarek could hardly believe it as the priest explained each face in the flame.

Pride, arrogance, entitlement, even stronger raw emotions swirled within Jarek. A wicked, sinister smile crept across his face, basking in the glory of self-importance.

"I...I feel...."

Before Jarek became completely lost within his hubris, he felt a tidal wave of emotions, but it was not his own.

"I feel... fear....so much fear."

Jarek closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath while lifting his head slightly.

"There is so much fear... and....anger....hate...at me!"

Jarek had never felt this through the Force before. Underneath the sea of fear was deep-seated hate directed towards Jarek. Being called out for his efforts in the first set of trials had placed a giant target on his back, he would be hunted and tested. He event felt murderous intent.

Jarek let out a small chuckle.

"Yes...I can feel all your anger and hate. I can feel it all!"

Jarek let the storm overtake him, using it to fuel his own anger and hate.

He was pulled out of the sea of darkness when the priests continued talking, explaining the next trial, then disappearing into the darkness. Groups began to form almost instantly, with the Red Guards (whom Jarek had never seen before) taking the groups, one at a time, into the darkness. Jarek turned around towards the group, only to see people were already forming groups. Before Jarek could think of a plan, Irina Jesart approached him, asking if he would like to join her group. Two of the three heads of the pack in a group would be powerful indeed, especially going into this labyrinthine.

"Yes, we would make a powerful team. However, you said "us", who is the third member?"

 

[Ilentos Kalosi]

Ilentos looked upon the others that had made it as far as him. None of them appeared impressive, though Ilentos would not underestimate them. They do not surpass his strength and skill, but desperation was a powerful emotion. Caution was the name of the game now.

A low growl from Ilentos' chest was drowned out by the entrance of the cloaked guards. He peered at them with interest. Then, the priest pulled in his fierce gaze. Ilentos accepted his congratulations for making it as far as he did with pride. In his eyes, to not make it at least this far was laughable. Looking up at the current favorites and not seeing his own face there brought a scowl on Ilentos' face. He knew his worth, and the hidden faces were yet to be wise to it.

He would show them.

The next test was just ahead. A labyrinth, likely massive in scale. Made to break the acolytes. Or downright kill them. Only, for this, Ilentos would have to group with others. He groaned at the thought. While it would be necessary and likely better his chances of making it to the next step, he would not be ecstatic about it. First, he would need a team.

"Hmmm. No. Not them. No. Hmm. This will be tougher than I imagined." he thought to himself.

Groups were forming quickly, yet none approached Ilentos for his exceptional potential. He was almost offended at this. Were these acolytes so quick to see their lives come to an end at the hands of the labyrinth or, if it came to it, Ilentos himself.

"Fools." he growled with disgust. "Should any two of you truly wish to survive this labyrinth, follow me. The rest, I wish you luck in what comes after."

Firrerreo | Soldane Talon | Viers Connory | Kai'lyn | Jarek Voss | Aerik Lechner | Darth Carnifex | Soah Ty’Jyn | Annika Starfire | Fiolette Yvarro | Udren Zeln | Lunaria Talon | Srina Talon | Gerwald Lechner | Meili Feng | Quinn Varanin | Alina Tremiru | Darth Malum of House Marr | Marcus Dinn // Vestara VII | Thelnic Vath | Veradun Sharr | Irina Jesart | Renora zambrano | Matteo Guo-Yian | Rayth | Kadann | Astrid pentoghast | Zarava Dekki | Eira Dyn | Darth Aegrotus | Nevheda of Tsis'Raki | Alaqai Temuha | Sasha Stellacend | Sage Lumiya | Rosalia Aros​

 

[Rosalia Aros]

Tag: Matteo Guo-Yian | Soah Ty’Jyn​

Rosalia turned as they were joined by a third.

It was a teen girl with quite a feral look – tattoos and a lip piercing. Though she was shorter, there was something imposing about her. Rosalia arched an eyebrow as she tried to figure out just what it was. A predator, perhaps…

It took one to know one.

For her own part, Rosalia's appearance was rather tidy and almost prim. It was suitable for training with a dark tunic, slim pants and knee-high boots. Her dark hair was worn up and out of the way. There was little about it that hinted at her true nature. However, there would be clues – to those that really looked for them.

Rosalia gave their new group member a nod and a quick introduction, "I'm Rose."

Then, she glanced back to Matt. "Weapons?" A mild, closed-lipped smile. "I've got some." Rosalia glanced at her nails like she'd just had a new manicure. But really, it was the retractable claws of her species that would hopefully give her an edge.

Others had already entered the maze.

And it was now their turn.

Rosalia focused. There were many beating hearts within the walls of the labyrinth. She could almost feel the rush of blood, the energy. It was intoxicating. She remained a few paces behind Matt and stayed aware of Soah. There was no telling what they'd find here.

 

[Karok]

Karok's arrogance and pride was apparent as he observed the defeated masses. He knew his biology gave him an edge—his physical prowess and innate resilience set him apart from these lesser species. The sight of their weakness only reinforced his belief in his superiority. He straightened his back and lifted his chin high. I am better in every way.

However, beneath his self-assured exterior, a seed of nervousness twisted in his gut. The academy's trials were not just physical; they delved into the metaphysical realms of this so called Force. This was where his confidence wavered. He had heard rumors, very recently, of the mental and spiritual rigors that awaited him, challenges that would test his very soul. Or so they say. I am Gen'dai.

Karok wasn't the only one who had arrived late. Around him, a few other latecomers stood, their expressions a mix of apprehension and determination. Like him, they understood that they would need to catch up quickly if they wanted to excel and survive. The academy showed no mercy to those who lagged behind. Soon I will catch up and prove my worth.

" Halt, I require proof of sponsorship." a Overseer said flatly and extended a hand. His foot tapped three times before Karok decided to slowly hand the near-human the documents. " Karok, sponsored by, Well will you look at that. Mordecai Zambrano . Interesting, Move along to your new attire get changed and continue."

Karok had no words for the man. Just a scowl at the gesture to new clothes. In fact the entire outfit looked like poodoo. How am I going to fit in this? Why is there a ....ruff...on this?! WHAT THE KARK IS THIS! Needless to say Karok eventually did get changed and then "altered" the outfit but tearing off the sleeves and gutting the ruff attached to the front of the neck. The hood of the outfit he genuinely enjoyed and he mocked those around him acting as if he was Sith himself.

Whatever it means to be Sith. Honky religion. I guess I will find out soon.

The mask he completely discarded and left on the floor. Refusing to wear it.

[Trial I: Bloodwork]

Karok watched as the Overseer prepared a syringe like device.

"Hold out your arm," the Overseer commanded in a curt tone.

Karok blinked and refused.

The Overseer frowned. " We will need to draw your blood to test your midichlorian count."

Karok stood there, dumbfounded. The concept of drawing blood was foreign to him. Gen'dai did not have blood in the traditional sense. Their physiology was composed of a dense network of regenerative tendrils, not veins filled with liquid. He chuckled at the absurdity of the request, his laughter rumbling through the room.

The Overseer's expression darkened. "Is something funny, initiate?"

Karok struggled to find the words in Basic, gesturing to himself and then to his arm. "No... blood," he finally managed, the guttural sounds of Huttese making his accent thick and hard to understand. An argument ensued, the Overseer growing increasingly impatient and angry as Karok continued to repeat the phrase over and over again. This one is a moron. The language barrier only made matters worse. Karok's limited grasp of Basic clashed with the Overseer's ignorance of Huttese and the Gen'dai species.

"I said hold out your arm!" the Overseer barked, stepping closer, his anger palpable. "You will comply, or you will face the consequences."

Fire within flared. That was a word I did understand. Consequences. He felt it boiling inside him, a white-hot that began to steam and clouded his judgment. The Overseer's accusations and demands grated on him, each word a provocation toward violence. In a desperate attempt to restrain himself, Karok bit down on his own tongue with his needle-like teeth. There was audible slosh within his maw. The young Gen'dai winced from the pain and then with a guttural growl, he spat his severed tongue at the Overseer's legs. It hit with a wet splat, splattering a fist sized lump of dark crimson tendrils on the Overseer's robes.

Standing up and looming over the Overseer he exclaimed one last time what he was trying to say all along. This time with defiance in the eyes like a volcanic eruption. " NO... BLOOD!" Karok has passed, Meaning he let the Overseers do with what they want with a sample of himself. There were other's behind him in line and for the sake of progress this was allowed.

​

[Trail I: The Stones]

Among them lay a cluster of large, diamond-shaped stones that had proven to be a significant challenge for the initiates. Karok approached these stones with a mix of curiosity and trepidation. He had seen many struggle with this test, the task of lifting the stones with the Force being an ordeal that few managed to conquer.

The other initiates labored intensely, their faces twisted in concentration and effort. Some succeeded in lifting the stones, though only for brief moments, while others failed entirely, their frustration evident in their dejected expressions. Karok's nervousness began to manifest as he observed them, hesitation creeping into his thoughts. He had never attempted to lift objects of this size using the Force. The task seemed insurmountable.

The Overseer's voice cut through his thoughts, sharp and grating. "Lift the stone, initiate! Use the Force!"

Karok felt a shiver of anxiety. He glanced at the Overseer, who stood nearby with a datapad, ready to document his performance—or lack thereof. The Overseer's tone and choice of words felt like glass against Karok's flesh, each syllable a painful reminder of the stakes. Refusal to lift the stone meant failure, and failure meant returning to a life of servitude under the Hutts. The realization kindled a deep-seated fear within him, which quickly morphed into anger, and then into a seething hatred. This inner suffering created a typhoon of negative thoughts and emotions.

His vision began to blur with red and the dragon within consumed him. With a sudden burst of speed, he blitzed towards the first pillar, his enhanced strength propelling him forward. Gripping the stone tightly with his powerful hands, he lifted it overhead with ease—not with the Force, but with raw physical power! He slammed it to the ground, a impact that resonated through the training grounds.

Ignoring the Overseer's shouts and commands, Karok picked up the stone again and hurled it into another pillar, then another, and another. He roared in fury, his voice echoing off the walls as he continued his destructive rampage. The stones shattered into smaller debris under his relentless assault, his rage driving him to destroy everything in sight. The Overseers were taken aback, their protests and threats falling on deaf ears. Karok's rebellion was a spectacle of raw power and defiance. Finally, at the peak of his rage, he closed his eyes, drawing upon the well of anger within him. He flexed every part of his being, summoning the Force through sheer willpower. In his mind's eye, he visualized the broken debris lifting off the ground, rising higher and higher around him.

When he opened his eyes, the shards of stone were floating in the air, suspended by his will. The Overseers watched in stunned silence as Karok held the debris aloft for several moments before releasing his grip, letting the pieces clatter to the floor. Chest muscles heaving heavily, Karok stood amidst the wreckage. He had defied the Overseers and proven his strength, but more importantly, he had lifted the all the stones or what was left of them.

​

[Trial I: Childish Games!]

​

Standing before his final task, the Gen'dai felt his frustration mounting as he was instructed to use the Force to solve puzzles and pick various degrees of locks. This task, simple enough in theory, required another demonstration of his Force strength—a feat he was unsure he could replicate so soon after his previous exertion. He was done playing childish games. His black eyes darted around the room, searching for something or someone to exploit. By this point, the Overseers no longer saw Karok's long pauses as hesitation. They could now see the cogs turning within his mind, calculating his next move. When the young Gen'dai found what he was searching for, he balled his fists and lumbered away from his task. He walked through a series of other tests being conducted without a second thought and straight for his target.

Across the room, a shadow was cast over an initiate who had just completed the locks and puzzles trial. This near-human, with dark hair and a satisfied smile on his face, was oblivious to Karok's approach. The last thing he saw was a large metal boot descending on his upper thigh. CRACK! A sickening pop and fleshy crunch filled the chamber, followed by a blood-curdling shriek. The initiate clutched his leg in shock, writhing on the floor in agony. The limb forcully snapped at the femur and angled in a unnatural direction. Karok, with a firm grasp, dragged the injured initiate across the room to his uncompleted puzzle and then claimed the completed one as his own. He would survive. Out of sight and mind. Out of commission for months. He was pathetic.

Looking back the the overseer and then beating his chest he managed to say one word in basic.


" Pass."

 

[Lunaria Talon]

Direct Tag: Soldane Talon | Darth Carnifex | Aerik Lechner [OPEN]
Alias: Artemis Dreadmoor
Wearing: School Uniform

Many of the prospectives that she caught sight of…Looked like them.

That didn't mean they were all Echani as not every pale child with flaxen locks needed to be from the homeworld she had never seen…But it was fascinating. It gave something she had never had. A little dream that they might be able to visit one day. Both Soldane and Lunaria had seen countless photos of the verdant world, but, it wasn't the same as being there. Maybe…With more family. More people who might see them as more than strange, reclusive, albinos.

Aerik Lechner asked a question about their sponsor and her head nodded in the affirmative. "I think so, " but she didn't want to say anything more. It was harder to keep a lie going when more details were added to it. She had to be Artemis Dreadmoor. Not, Lunaria Talon. "I'm just going to do my best and let the adults sort out the rest."

She felt the eyes of Sasha Stellacend for a moment but didn't have the wherewithal to make an introduction. Not like Soldane had with Jack Voss a few moments later. It wasn't that Lunaria was incredibly shy or anything of the sort, but everything felt overwhelming. There were so many people to keep track of. Trying to guess what they were planning or thinking was enough to make her head explode…But they had to—Didn't they? "You know what I mean Rivan…", she chided her brother, but there was no real effort in it. "Completing the tests in a way they didn't ask for makes you stand out."

It made a memory. For better or worse.

He gave their pseudonym's to Jack but before she could join the conversation…

The water she had offered her brother was taken from her hand. Luna had noted @Udren Zelm approaching but of all things, hadn't, thought he would get that close. She pulled her hand back and rest her foot back on the ground…not sensing or seeing danger…But did that really mean anything? The hair on the back of her neck went back down and some of the rigidity left her body when the similarly white-haired young man introduced himself. People who wanted to pick a fight didn't usually introduce themselves—Right?

Hearing what he had to say a small frown turned the edges of her lips just slightly downward. Luna didn't necessarily think the water was poison or full of void dust but there was a lesson to be taken from it. Trust nothing. Trust nothing and no one…She glanced at Sol. No one, but each other. "…Thank you.", she murmured to Uldren before mercurial eyes returned to him. "But…You can't be sad if I win."

"…And I do intend to win."

Sol made a few solid points while Jack Voss sat down opposite him and it caused Lunaria to laugh lightly. It was a soft sound in such a charged environment. Light—Like little bells. Her shoulder bumped his.

"Just be glad that if I croak you get my stuff…Just make sure I'm buried in something—"

She was going to say "nice" but Aerik Lechner was actually growling at Udren Zeln and for a moment she thought the auburn-haired boy might hit the other. The goblet in his hand was crushed. Was he so out of control that such a small thing sent him spiraling? Her eyes were wide and trained on his fist for a moment, now, sensing danger. Not directed at her specifically but it was there all the same. Simmering beneath the surface of his skin. How had she not noticed before?

"Hey, Aerik.", she repeated after he gave his name…Confused, by the display. But knowing it couldn't lead to anything good. The assumption that they would all instantly be friends was foolish one in a trial that was literally pitting them against one another. It was foolish in any context, no matter their hair color, because friendship had to be earned and that took more than a glass of potentially rank water. "Both of you...Cool it."

Viers Connory appeared out of the throng of people, brushing past them, as if they were little more than tall weeds. The comment that she made about Uldren's face caused Luna to glance down so that she could hide the faintest smile. It was rude to do so, but, "fugly" was not a word she'd ever heard before. Viers was indeed…Creative. When addressed by name, she looked up again, a little surprised that the brunette had heard her name over all the commotion. "I…", she began, but paused, without accepting the gift. Her expression folded into contrition before glancing back at Uldren. "It looks delicious but I'll have to decline. I'm not sure it's safe to eat."

Both siblings had been taught many things, but, detecting poisons in food? That was fairly advanced if she understood correctly and she didn't want to fail the same potential test twice. Hearing that Viers was also Echani piqued her interest though. She couldn't have been full-blooded…But then again, neither was she, or Soldane. "Are you? Have…You all been to Eshan?"

There was a gentle mix of curiosity and jealousy there.

Lunaria knew one home. One place…And outside of the occasional visitor, her brother, Haru, and their mother…

It could be…so very lonely.

Jack Voss asked the group about forming, perhaps, some sort of mutually beneficial pact but before they could really get into it their attention was called by the Sepulchral Priests. They were so death-defyingly creepy that it didn't take long for the chatter to fade as all those who passed the initial exams to look alert. Luna was no exception.

She should have been upset that she wasn't one of the three faces the Priest revealed. The small warrior in her heart hated not doing all she could, but there would be time for it later. When the parents and sponsors went home and they were left with nothing but themselves. With that in mind she merely nodded her head in acceptance and joined in the polite clapping that others engaged in. She hadn't been able to see Jarek's trial, but she had seen Irina and Viers.

It wasn't undeserving.

Then came the information on the next test and her stomach twisted in anticipation. A touch of fear. Would they really be left to bleed to death on the floor? Remembering what Udren Zeln had spoken so confidently before…Yes. There was a sinking feeling when she realized…Yes. They would. To acknowledge death at such a young age was an abstract concept. Lunaria wasn't learned enough to really grasp the concept of non-existence…But she knew pain. She had trained hard, so hard, that there were times when she could hardly drag herself out of bed in the morning.

Silver eyes followed a hulking creature ( Karok ) while everyone began to pair off suddenly. Were the proctors so certain that the danger lay within the maze ahead? Her eyes were still, quiet, while an initiate screamed in the distance. She hadn't seen Karok strike…But she did see the blood, now. Her hand held on to Soldane, pulling on his sleeve almost imperceptibly, expecting that they would be together.

Her gaze flickered between some of the students present. Uldren, Aerik, Viers…Jarek was already taken.

"…We need a third..."

She left that choice up to Sol.

 

[Srina Talon]

Tag: Fiolette Yvarro | Gerwald Lechner [OPEN - Just watching in a corner]
Location: Jutrand Academy [Audience]
______________________________________________________

The skin across her knuckles became thin and whitened when the next stage of testing was announced.

While she was incensed for the sake of her own young, in truth, she despised this portion of the exam. The “kill or be killed, survive or die” notion that so many Sith clung to in extremes felt incredibly counterproductive. Cutting down a flower before it had a chance to bloom was a waste of resources and potential. Not every student would have the same rate of growth. Some—Might not even peak until well into their twenties. In the moment…They were children. Youth, being tested.

Interrupting now would spit in the face of tradition, but more importantly, would undermine the confidence of the participants. If the Empress of the Order didn’t believe in them?

What was the point?

“I have a habit of breaking tradition that I will not apologize for. The Sepulchral, Dark Council, noble houses, and the elite few will simply need to learn to accept that. It may be seen as tyrannical…And if so? Let tyranny reign. To fight progress is to seek stagnation. To fall backward in time while the galaxy evolves without us...”, her words were quiet but there was an authoritative bite that showed her sincerity on the subject. Srina couldn’t say that every elder member of the Order needed to be replaced, but there were quite a few roles that would benefit from the freshness of youth. In the end…Someone would need to carry on the mantle. Someone would need to ascend as Emperor or Steward. It was just a matter of cultivating and finding that person. One with clear vision—And enough skill, training, and power to shake foundations. “I aim to move forward. Never, back. We must provide the building blocks for their learning…”

“So that they may shape the Sith Order. It is their future we create.”

Her eyes turned toward Darth Carnifex and Darth Malum of House Marr for a moment. It was unrelated to the subject at hand but there was something about the combination of the two in the same small space that drew reason for concern. Kaine was no fool while Malum remained ever opportunistic. She would wait, for the time being, to see if he had better judgment than Strosius when it came to interacting with others.

Rather than draw attention to it her focus returned to the viewing portals.

Srina kept her face shrouded for a reason.

Now, was not the time.

“Perhaps.”

The singular word was all she would offer Gerwald Lechner about the intentions of the Butcher King in regards to the placement of his progeny. Her wolf was quite useful but there were times when he became a hammer and decided that all issues looked like a nail. There was a subtlety required when dealing with others that he inherently lacked. Srina had not commented on the usage of the term “Sith Empire” because it was likely a slip of the tongue. They were, still, an empire at heart, the very clinical definition of one. The Kainites, the Tsis-Kaar, the Eternalists, and many others still hid themselves away beneath the banner of one supreme authority. If it all went to hell?

Similarly, as Darth Carnifex had taken the brunt of their scorn for the fall so many years ago…There was only one who would truly carry the burden of failure in the present. Only one, the nation would hold accountable. How…Very quickly the tide turned, when the impoverished, forgotten, ignored, slighted, and otherwise neglected people rose up.

“We are two sides of the same coin, my wolf. We can only strive to accomplish more than those who paved the way for the success we hold now. Every generation is built on the back of those who came before…Regardless of their victory or failure. We are…What we are.”

An Order. An Empire. Did it matter?

As the names of three prospective students were announced by the Sepulchral, she quietly noted their performances. Evaluating, with her own perspective. As Gerwald Lechner asked her a second time about her thoughts on the children her gaze flickered toward him. She knew, his desire. To hear her praise his young as any father who cherished his young would. To have her approval over all…But could he not see that was part of the problem? The very nepotism she had just described?

“…It is too soon to tell. I will wait until the testing concludes fully to make my decision.”

She would not choose to sponsor his children unless they earned it. She would not choose to sponsor her own or any others unless they earned it. This was not a popularity contest, nor, would she make any snap decisions based on lifting a few rocks.

The Academy, inherently, held the fate of the nation.

She would treat it with the respect, sound mind, and consideration that it deserved.

 

[Eira Dyn]

Location: Jutrand
Outfit: Academy Uniform
Tags: Iuuna Talon (Sponsor)

Others had mingled, ate and grouped together while Eira was simply observing the differing groups. There were the ones with sponsors, ones who had shown great competency in the trials. The ones that Eira was assigning as people she would have to compete with. Ones she was determined to be better than. There were others, some who were of a background similar to her own. Ones who came from no important family and no legacy of power, there were several who demonstrated skill and power, others were mediocre. It was interesting to see. Her sponsor had put Eira at a certain rank of expectation, she was sponsor by the House of the Empress.

There was a burden on her to be more than ordinary. More than simply capable. Eira had to be exceptional in a way she had never thought about being till today.

When the announcements came on who had demonstrated to be the most potential, Eira's red eyes flashed to the trio, they had been named from the first trials. It was a huge momentum and ensured that they were ones to watch. Targets to bring down. Eira listened again and heard the next trial. It was a test of combat skill but also working in a group. Group work was the bane of Eira's existence. At least in this moment, she knew she could fight well enough to pass, Iuuna had ensured that. But it meant that the time she spent observing and assessing others had prevented her from building rapport to form a group.

This was a problem.

Especially when she noticed that the top three were already in groups of the maximum size. She couldn't work with one of them and attempt to outshine them in the next trial. Easier to demonstrate her superior skills side by side. But Eira sighed and looked around. Plenty of others were grouping into threes and she was not sure who was left out or who was needing a third to complete their group. She tapped her foot as she thought about who was best and then just shook her head. No, she needed to just prove to be the best and force her group to win. It didn't matter on who was in it or who she had to drag over the finish line.

Stepping forward, Eira spoke up, "anyone need someone who is a strong fighter to get through this? I am available and I can drag anyone too nervous or unsure about this next trial through to success." Eira called out loudly, it was a bold, potentially arrogant sounding claim but there was fire in her eyes and she was determined she would achieve victory even if she had to do so alone.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"You believe that the power of Jutrand and the power of Dromund Kaas are divided, separate. You believe falsely, to bend the knee to one is to bend the knee to the other." The Dark Lord of the Kainate made little effort to elaborate, He felt that there was no need to bandy distinctions when such truth was foundational to the Empire's existence. It did not matter if one in the Empire believed that they served Darth Empyrean upon his throne at Jutrand or Darth Carnifex at His throne at Dromund Kaas, for they served the same purpose.

Slowly, and with deliberate movement, the Dark Lord unclipped the lightsaber that hung from His waist. The hilt was shorter than what was typical for a lightsaber, only capable of being held in one hand at any given time. Where the emitter would be was a trio of sharp, powerfully built talons that clung to a jagged pillar of black, ossified crystal. The crystal had been shorn straight down the middle, creating an ominous forked canyon from which the shimmering crystal could be seen, peeking out from the base of the stone.

"You believe yourself clever and beguiling, Lord Marr. Perhaps to the acolytes in the yard below you are, but you invite destruction by pretending to be so in the presence of true Lords. Darth Empyrean and I are not so easily fooled, nor do we react kindly to betrayal. Your companion Strosius only exists so long as he obeys the Order, though he frequently gnaws at the hand which feeds. You have shared in his foolish delusion aplenty, Lord Marr, but there is still hope for you."

Carnifex activated His lightsaber, the blade snapping to life right within the gap riven through the center of the crystal. The blade crackled and spat errant discharges of energy, as though the weapon itself was bestowed with the anger of it's wielder. It's light bathed both of them in a deep crimson glow, accentuating the sharp angles of themselves and their surroundings. No doubt, it could be seen from down below as well. "Hold yourself to this new pledge you have made, Malum Marr, if your desire is to truly reconcile as Xyrah has indicated. I have been given the authority to put you down if you do not."

The blade shrank back into the emitter, and the red glow faded. But in it's absence, in all places where the light fell, the color seemed desaturated; muted. Sapped of warmth and vitality.

Darth Malum of House Marr ​

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

It might have been a shocking revelation once, to some degree it still was. Even as he kept his composure in the face of a mask that was all too willing to break at the slightest provocation—the Tsis'Kaar objective, what had allowed his Mistress to form the Triumvirate ever so many years ago.

The division between Darth Empyrean and Kai- Darth Carnifex .

Seemed bridged.

Something had happened on Mustafar, something which had made the possibility that they would annihilate each other, or at least one would annihilate the other, rather moot.

Such was not his Mistress' intention, in fact, it was always more Ali- Darth Strosius ' desire. Yet, even Malum could not deny that the continued antipathy that the two great greatpowers held, was one of the few advantages that they held in this long undeclared cold war.

That it was bridged he had long suspected.

That it was now confirmed, even after still there seemed to be great at least dislike between them...

His heart allowed itself to lament a solitary tear.

To some degree there was comfort, he had but bowed to three in his life.

And one was dead.

That the other two were united...

...There was some simplicity in that.

Yet every other part of him, was far more focused on the revealed hilt of the lightsabre that protruded out of the once Dark Lord of the Sith's robes, red eyes narrowing and and staring carefully. There was not much he could say of the blade, and the one that perhaps knew more was frustratingly silent at the back of his mind. It was shorter than a regular hilt, and the emitter from appearance alone seemed painful, while the crystal... black, as much as Kaine's heart, yet the crystal was unfortunately much more exposed than that organ was.

Malum offered a cold smile at the rest of his words, "I should hope not, after all, it may present some rather distinct security concerns if those that have lived far beyond natural limits, were so easily charmed and beguiled," At some point he had to fast conclude that there was no point hiding his hand, after all.

Between them convincing themselves they knew exactly what was happening.

Alongside the very real possibility that they held the ability to see through him without any more than a look.

What exactly was the point?

He should have flinched, had he been younger he very well might have, fortunately, he knew there was little reason to draw a hilt without exposing the blade, such that he only gazed almost... curiously towards the crackling and spitting charges, even as... life itself seemed to shy away from the blade's glow.

Been given the authority to put him down?

It was not inconceivable that Darth Empyrean wished him dead, in fact, he would be surprised if he did not wish him dead.

However to give said authority to someone else rather than do it himself...

...That Srina Talon would allow that order to be given.

No, this was within Kaine's authority... so why did he word it like that?

"...You once duelled Darth Nwul , and it was a rather impressive display, yet I cannot claim to know if he impressed you, it has been many moons since the Malsheem, so why not see if it will be so easy to put me down." Malum returned, a challenging flame turning aglow in his orbs. It had always bothered him to some degree that Nwul had been given that chance, that opportunity, that propelled him forward to new heights.

Was there fear in that pronouncement? Certainly, it took a willpower uncharacteristic to keep the tremor out from his voice, as it tremored out across his soul.

"Let a bout prove if all this... leniency... I have been granted has been for the benefit of the Empire, let it prove if I require cleverness or guile any longer."

But there was a longer game to play ever still.

 

[Soah Ty’Jyn]

Tag: Rosalia Aros | Matteo Guo-Yian ​

​

"Soah." The girl would reply, providing a curt nod towards Rosa and Matteo at their names. Not the best in terms of socialization, but it provided the information requested. Soah was of the mind that there was little need to add any extraneous fluff to her responses when being direct and to the point worked well.

Especially considering the unknowns they were about to face within the maw of that Labyrinth. Odds were, there would not only be traps but also ones set up by their direct competition as well.
​

"Do you guys have any weapons with you? I know they screened us... but..."

"I have my Tu'kat knife," Soah replied, her sharp teeth flashing under the light, revealing she wasn't quite human. Should she shift, her teeth, claws, and the razor-sharp spikes along her back would make her body a weapon in of itself, but that wasn't something Soah wanted to divulge just yet.

"Among items, I can apply to its blade." there was no need to detail what that might be; the implication signified that she may carry materials that could edge the blade to provide secondary aftereffects if nicked by her dagger -- be it poison or a strong soporific.

"I can also pick up tracks and pick up scents."