Memorials

[Darth Nephthys]

At the ongoing construction of the Temple of Vahl

So it would start.

Nephthys’ small form would began to weave across the crowds of Vahla worshipers. They would need to coral them all as well as bring forth the tribute.

And tribute when it came to Vahl was a glorious and fiery prospect.

Supplicants and faithful around the galaxy would come to pay tribute to this temple. Prisoners captured from distant worlds to include traitorous Jedi and their allies -- all of those who continued to rebel under One Sith rule would soon be granted passage to the Goddess.

There they would see true light. True Power. True Glory on High.

They would be anointed in oils saturated with Paruvu and carsunum, stirring a sophomoric and half dazed stupor known to many of the Ember of Vahl’s faithful as a means to enhance their visions. In this they would become willing participants for the blood price. They would be dressed in the purest of white robes, fit to be tributes.

Sacrifice to the Goddess of Vahl was a normal affair, in this there would be no difference. The altar and the sacrificial pyre were the first monuments constructed besides that of the statue of Vahl.

[member="Darth Odium"] would soon be able to collect more souls tonight, as would consequently whenever a blood price would be paid to the Goddess.

One thousand bodies of various sapients would soon find purity within the flames of the Goddess of fire and destruction.

Their tribute would burn into ash, flowing into the ether and providing the Goddess the blood price she so craves.

 

[Darth Isolda]

Darth Isolda would peer at [member="Artemisia Vy Kar"] with a careful eye, what thoughts therein lay known only to her.

A moment later, as the tributes would be heralded towards the pyre at the center of the courtyard, Isolda would quirk her lips in seemingly deep thought. Her eye would sweep over a quiet Rutian @Eleena Miho awaiting to be spoken to, and her gaze would sweep curiously over her before she would answer Artemisia.

“Perhaps… let us ask guidance from the Goddess?” she would relay to the Sword of Vahl. A hand would reach out to touch Artemisia’s shoulder, relaying what would appear to be a measure of comfort. Guidance.

“The tribute to Her glory will commence soon, a baptism of the willing. Let the blood price clear the flame of Vahl.” she would motion to the large basin down the courtyard that loyal cultists were ever faithfully stirring the flames into an enormous pyre, encouraging her to walk forward towards the area.

“Let me anoint you, my sister. Shower you in her blessing so I can delve into the flames and seek clarity for you. I shall determine who this mysterious figure is. If he is Jedi it is of no surprise he wishes you dead. All Jedi seek to destroy us much like they did in the past -- but the Goddess has provided a means to take back what was maliciously taken from us.”

To [member="Darth Odium"] she would nod, encouraging him to follow. He too would find glory in the Goddess. Human sacrifice would grant him one thousand souls for his taking. For the Forging of the Dark Side Nexus.

“Come… Sword of Vahl. You shall lead us in this magnificent and glorious moment.”

 

[The End Narrator]

Artemisia stared down at the thousand souls who willingly prepared themselves to sacrifice to the Goddess of Chaos and Destruction, but why?


[SIZE=14pt]Because she demands it…[/SIZE]


"But they’re innocent, they have done nothing wrong!" An unfamiliar voice said within her mind.


[SIZE=14pt]The blood of the heretics shall rain upon the bLessed![/SIZE]

She could hear a cackling voice of something demonic etching at her soul, grabbing at her very innocence or rather, what remained of it and tearing it apart. It threatened to consume her very core, it begged her to fully unleash the rage within and give in to what she already knew to be comfortable with. On the other hand, there was a calming essence that touched her from afar, something that soothed her and made her feel almost sleepy. She was confused, it wasn’t supposed to be like this. She was supposed to be strong, reborn from the ashes of a broken woman who was found in a prison cell!

[SIZE=14pt]Tempered in flame and fury![/SIZE]


[SIZE=14pt]Confident and fearless![/SIZE]

Instead, she was like a raging, confused child who didn’t understand. She stopped suddenly, jerking against the grip of [member="Darth Isolda"] on her shoulder as she looked upon the thousand souls near the pyre. She turned to gaze upon [member="Darth Isolda"], crimson orbs piercing through the dark helm.

“What are you asking me to do?”

 

[The Red of Sinner]

[member="Darth Isolda"]
Romeo stood in the far back with a child, with strawberry blonde hair. His dark force presence swirled about in a raging fit.
-SOON I SHALL BECOME OUR GOD, A MALE DEITY FOR OUR PEOPLE!!!-
His mind rushed about to all sorts of plans. Whatever Darth Inferno was here for...no one would actually know why..or who the child was with him.

 

[Darth Isolda]

Isolda's brows would rise at her question. Ahh, the little Jedi was starting to stir, confusion clearly being written within that crimson gaze. A hand would extend to gently caress the cold metal of the helm that shielded [member="Artemisia Vy Kar"] 's face.

"It is who we are." she said simply. "What we are. Who you are."


"The Goddess demands a blood price, sister. In these tributes," her hand would extend to the seemingly wiling participants. "... the Goddess shall show them truth. A new life in the destruction of the shell of their old life."

A ornamental shiv would be presented to Isolda, as the tribute would circle around the pyre, getting read for what was to come. Before Artemisia, a young Jedi padawan would bow her head. The padawan braid had long since been severed, and she stood in front of Artemisia with an almost eager desire for what was to come. Almost. The eyes would be glazed somewhat, as if thoroughly intoxicated -- the combination of ixcetel cilonia and the anointed oils of paravuru.


"In death we bring new life." she would press the dagger within Artemesia's hand, and then gave a nod towards the young teenager dressed in white robes.

"The Goddess wills it."

 

[The End Narrator]

~I can’t do it, it doesn't feel right.~

YOU MUST DO IT!

~She is innocent…look at her.~

The lingering gaze that the Padawan gave Artemisia caused her to flinch, a rapid motion of images shuttered through her head. It was a series of jumbled images that were blurred and distorted in an odd manner. The flashbacks caused her to wince and even cry out, as she dropped the dagger to the ground. There wasn’t something right about all of this, these prisoners or Jedi were just marching to their doom like slaves. It made no sense, and the look in the woman’s eyes gave her more reason to question.

“No.”

She turned to [member="Darth Isolda"], a sense of fierce determination overcoming her. The rage within her boiling.

“No, I won’t do it.”

A finger laced in cortosis came down to point to the Padawan. “This woman is not willing, she is mucked up with some foul sorcery.” Her finger would come about to point in the face of Isolda. “The Goddess isn't giving me answers and neither is your Dark Lord.” She took a step back from [member="Darth Isolda"], more confused than ever. The images, what were they? How?

“You want a blood price, sacrifice your precious pet there or the other woman.” She pointed to [member="Darth Odium"] and then [member="Darth Nephthys"].

 

[Darth Odium]

[member="Darth Nephthys"] [member="Darth Isolda"] [member="Romeo Sin"] [member="Artemisia Vy Kar"]

The broad Nautolan blinked once and pulled a dagger from a sheath on his back then moved toward the woman who could not do the work of her own Goddess.

<<weak>> Odium said through the force as he drew the daggar across his own arm and splattered the blood on the pyre. <<I would walk into the flames on request.>>

The dagger again ran across his skin this time leaving a line on his olive cheek and then splattered it on the ground around the pyre in a ritual that did nothing other than in his tangled mind.

<<If you wish it [member="Darth Isolda"] I will do what she can not.>>

 

[Not Ordo]

[member="Artemisia Vy Kar"] [member="Romeo Sin"] [member="Darth Nephthys"] [member="Darth Isolda"]

"Blood calls to blood." I said to myself as I walked toward the pyre and stood at the front of the other Vahla that had come to watch the temple be sanctified. "The Goddess calls and her children come."

I stood with my black cloak and cowel down to obscure my face. There seemed to be a problem and a Nautolan began making a circle of his own blood around the pyre. I pushed forward to listen and breathed slowly as I tried to hear what was wrong.

My vahla ceremonial clothes had long been untouched but I remembered well the fleet and our constant search for the home we lost so long ago. I was not a Sith nor a Jedi or anyother such creature but I was a daughter of Vahla and that meant this place would mean as much to me as anyone.

I stood and waited watching the Chosen who seemed so familiar.

 

[The Red of Sinner]

[member="Jiana Korr"]
Romeo watched the actions transpire, thinking to himself.
-None of those fools realize what potential could be obtained thought these things!-
He folded his arms up across his chest, and spoke up from his position.
"IF SHE CAN NOT DO IT, ALLOW ME TO DO IT!"
[member="Darth Isolda"] [member="Darth Odium"]