In the Realm of the Witch

[Aiwaz Khath]

​

​

DAGOBAH, DAGOBAH SYSTEM​

There was a sharpness that rested under the nose; a veritable stench that could not be ignored, but merely accepted with great distaste. Dagobah was a cesspit, from all could be gathered. Little was known about it, for it was such a place of minor importance in the grand intergalactic timeline, save for - of course - two significant things; the origin point of a new generation of Jedi, long ago, and the birthplace of a powerful Sith Lord.

Hymenaeus had not been on Kalee long before he was summoned by a minion of this beast, a supposed legend of an older order of Sith. Alas, his excelling with his preliminary training in the Sith Academy had doubtless given Darth Venefica cause to turn her terrible gaze upon this Pureblood, and his historical demonstration of ruthless cunning and leadership as shown on the battlefield as an officer, prior to his recruitment into the Sith Order, had surely only endorsed his credentials.

And yet, he had travelled across the galaxy to answer the summons of who Hymenaeus had perceived as a noble, powerful and impressive woman of the Sith, but was brought to a swamp of all places. He expected palaces, slaves, warriors, soldiers, that feeling of power. To be sure, he could feel a low, black hum stain the land, but little could be said for grace and prosperity for this place or anything that lived here. Had he been deceived?

Heavy boots slogged through thick, black sludge that clung to his trousers and forced minimal balance to Hymenaeus' stride. He would slip, save himself with a nearby branch or shrub, stumbling along the fogged marshes where vision was as distorted his connection with the Force. It was enough to induce a furious flame in his heart, and he would often clench his fist and yell in exacerbation, cursing with impatience the summons that brought him to such a place. All he would hear in return was the screeches, whimpers and moans of unknown beasts that lurked in the waters, above trees and somewhere amidst the fog that clouded his sight and his mind.

[member="Darth Venefica"]

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Standing in the marshlands, barefoot and full of anger, the Dagobah Sith's eyes tracked the ripples in the water, hoping one of the planet's many predators would grow brave enough to challenge the true apex predator of the swamps. Long ago, full of angst, she had dominated the planet, killing the more notorious creatures of the swamps; wearing their skins as a testimony to her power.​

​

During her exile, she had opted to avoid this place, not out of fear that she lost her power but because in her dark heart she had betrayed her true Master. Very few that course through the swamps of Dagobah survive, most either end up in the belly of a dragonsnake or staggering around trying to hold themselves together from the venomous bite from one of the vipers. Death was not just a foregone assumption of the planet, it was the mist that floated through the air in search of it's next victim. Dagobah, despite it's history, was not a planet for the weakened hearts.​

​

And now she had returned.​

​

Her homecoming, as serene as it may be, was not born of pleasure but business. In a rare move, the Queen of the Swamps had chosen to sire an Apprentice. She was not of the breed of Sith who wished to cheat death through living a life of immortality. Where they wished to see the galaxy through their eyes, or the eyes of those bodies they stole, she would live an immortal life through her teachings. In the past, she had two Apprentices, one was dead and the other lost never to be found. Tragic as it was to lose pupils that would see her teachings not survive the ages, she was alive and they were....whatever.​

​

Listening to the cacophony of sounds whipping through the swamps, she knew her chosen had arrived. The Force didn't need to alert her, the swamps where far more trusting than the Force. The Force, as great as it was, was full of flaws where the swamps where perfect. Many a fool died trying to hunt her in her swamps, trusting the Force or their own intuition when they should have put faith in the swamp's natural security system.​

​

Without turning around, her eyes remained fixed on the ripples of the murky waters.​

​

"You're late...and tardiness will not be tolerated. Remove your boots and join me in the water."​

​

[member="Hymenaeus"]​

 

[Aiwaz Khath]

Before there was opportunity to express anger, sincerity, apology, or whatever cacophony of emotion desired to express, Venefica's voice cut through him in an instant, silencing his mind and word in an instant. She commanded respect in her voice, her expression, her stance, and it was clear that if he were to cross this woman, he would surely pay a price. Yet, he had been chosen by this exile, and he saw this as a gift indeed. He would do what he could to earn the respect of his new master, for reputation of her power and diligence preceded her. Even in exile, whispers of her triumphs echoed along the halls of the new Sith. They did not forget.

Sitting on a stump, he endeavoured to pull his boots off, which had spent an entire afternoon sucking itself to his feet with the power of sludge and slime things Hymenaeus rather not think of. After picking off the leeches that clung to his skin, he stepped cautiously into the swamp once again, eyes flitting from the waters, to the surrounding marshland, to the Sith who stood before him. He could feel the sliming of eels and crawl of crabs along his toes. He took the hanging silence, encased in the mist, to speak.
"Lady Venefica, it is an honour to have received your summons and to serve under you. I endeavour to carry out your wishes." But a young whelp, the poor fool had little else to fully articulate his feelings to the Sith Lord, for the shadow that rested over this planet fogged his mind. But for all the discomfort that rested upon his mind, he understood he was reaching a new dawn. There were many fools across the galaxy, and much folley commited by them. But now, Hymenaeus thought to himself, was he able to realise his true potential. Now he would rise with the help of this powerful woman. Amidst the fog of this world, inside his heart yearned for fire.

[member="Darth Venefica"]