Skirmish Mission to Malachor | EotL vs. Diarchy Skirmish on Malachor

[Sword of the Lost]

A scarred world of raging tempests, petrified figures locked in eternal combat, twisted monsters, and volatile gravity storms, Malachor V is an ancient wound in the Force, which yet holds priceless artifacts coveted by many of the galaxy’s reigning powers. Previously under the control of the now-defunct Ashlan Crusade, a light side crusader state that controlled large swathes of the Tingel Arm at the height of its power, the world has since been left alone, save for a few isolated excursions undertaken by those seeking out secrets of the the world’s past.

In the wake of the Ashlan Crusade’s collapse, many dark artifacts and secrets were left secluded on the planet, locked away in a hidden storage facility built on the foundations of an ancient obsidian temple. This facility's original purpose was to hide away dark side artifacts so as to deny them to the Sith and any other dark side-aligned groups. To this end, not only was it constructed in a remote location, but it was also defended by a veritable army of battle droids to ensure its integrity even years after the Ashlans faded from the galactic stage.

Until now, its location was a secret.

However, owing to work undertaken by the New Imperial Inquisition, the location of the facility was found in the northern region of the planet, pinpointed to a site inside the temperate rainforests of the western continent. Acting quickly, the Moff Council authorizes a special operation on Malachor to seize the facility and recover its priceless artifacts, which are rumored to include the schematics to an ancient Sith artifact-weapon capable of petrifying living beings en masse.

However, unbeknownst to the Empire of the Lost, they are not the only faction to have taken an interest in the facility.

Owing to an intelligence leak by the Fifth Wing, the Diarchy—a rising superpower to the north of the Empire—has gained knowledge of the facility’s location as well. Thus, mirroring the Moff Council, the Diarchy High Council launches its own expedition to capture the facility, in the hopes of seizing its relics before the Empire.

With both factions moving to claim the same treasures, the stage is set for the mission to Malachor!

Spoiler: Points of Interest

Temple Foyer
The foyer is the primary entrance to the temple, opening out past the gates. It is a large, outdoor space surrounded by buildings situated to the front and to both sides. In addition to heavy battle droids and turret-droids, the foyer is also defended by SH-9 super-heavy battle droids, which the facility’s automated defense intelligence has activated in response to the incursion. These units are intended to serve as the main defensive bulwark, while providing robust, heavy firepower to deny entry to any intruders.

Artifact Storage Chamber
The artifact storage chamber is located underground and is only accessible from outside the temple by traversing a maze-like underground tunnel complex. As one of the most secure areas of the facility, its defenses include automated turret-droids, heavy war droids, and bodyguard droids. The dark artifacts stored inside are held within individual lockers, coated in thick layers of nullification resin that serve to silence their malevolent signatures.

Library Complex
Located in the top floors of the temple, the library complex contains within it various dark side holocrons and texts. Each individual text or holocron is stored within its own locker. Of particular note, virtually all of the texts and holocrons stored within the library have hidden runes that make them extremely difficult to destroy by conventional means. Among these texts are rumored to be the schematics of the ancient Malachor superweapon.

Much like the artifact storage chamber, the library complex is defended by automated turret-droids, heavy war droids, and bodyguard droids.

Spoiler: Setting and Information

• Dueling-centric skirmish between the Empire of the Lost and the Diarchy. Allies from other factions are permitted to join in reasonable numbers, so long as those allies have received permission from the staff of the faction they intend to fight for.
  • Mainly geared towards 1v1 duels, but participants may opt for 2v1s, 2v2s, etc. Try to keep the fights small to limit posting lag, or alternatively, pair off the combatants.
• Set in a hidden Ashlan Crusade temple-storage facility located in a temperate rainforest region on Malachor V. The area is defended by a complement of battle droids and has deployed shield bubbles to protect against the planet’s lightning storms.
  • The temple has three main points of interest:
    • Temple Foyer
    • Artifact Storage Chamber
    • Library Complex
• Heavy rain and storms. Time is late afternoon.
• Possibility for small-scale conflict to erupt between Diarchy and Imperial agents over the dark side artifacts and texts inside the facility. No fleets or armies, but small infantry squads in reasonable quantities are permitted. For those writing pilots, small-scale dogfights can take place over the temple for control of the airspace, but please collaborate with writers involved if attempting close air support actions.
• Void Stone is integrated within the statues surrounding the temple facility, but not in high enough concentrations to impede general Force use within the area.

Spoiler: Tag

Darth Nathrax
Dextra Tane
CT-2282 "Justice"
Diarch Reign
Diarch Rellik
Darth Nexion
Her
Kallous
Lissa
Iellax Pellis
CC-22849 'Zealot'
Lyssara Thrynn
B/U-800 "Evelina"
Laphisto
Demveath Okamsiu
Matthew Varrec

 

[Diarch Reign]

​

Location: Malachor | Underground Tunnel Complex
Tags: Her (not sure if it was ironed out who’s dancing. Open to all)

---

The Diarch traversed his way through the maze like tunnels on his way to the Artifact Storage Chamber. Ever since “The Network” the Diarchy’s intelligence apparatus had received the leak from the Empire’s Fifth Wing, the Co-Head of the Diarchy had seen to the retrieval of any artifacts personally.

Lord Reign had been eager to beat the Empire to the prize on Malachor, in an attempt to keep it out of others hands.

The blood-orange glow of the Diarch’s lightsaber blade illuminated the hallway, giving him just enough warning to block the blades of two bodyguard droids.

A flurry of blade work and the clash of energy weapons resounded in the space. Bringing his blade crashing down on the first droid, he bisected the automaton.

Focusing down on the single remaining droid, the Diarch put forth a series of horizontal strikes, and with a diagonal cut, he walked away from the droid as it fell.

 

[B/U-800 "Evelina"]

Location: Outside the Ashlan Temple Facility, Temperate Rainforest Region, Western Continent - Malachor
Objective: Secure the Artifacts
Tag: Lyssara Thrynn

The briefing which had transpired prior to planetfall had been short, if only by virtue of her objective being quite simple in theory. Like many others, Evelina was tasked with securing the Force artifacts within the subterranean storage chamber for the Empire. Naturally, she had been warned in advance of the facility’s automated defenses, which encompassed heavy battle droids, advanced bodyguard droids, droid-turrets, and yet more.

If all had gone according to plan, they would have been the only opposition that she would have faced.

“Do we know how many of the intruders are present? What about their affiliation?” Evelina asked the white-armored Imperial Marine officer moving next to her as the dropship which had brought them down to the surface took off into the sky. All the while, the other Marines—five in total—moved to clear the area, their field scanners pinging for concealed threats.

“No. All we suspect is that they are not Imperials. At least not our Imperials.” The Marine officer answered in a gruff tone, before coming to a stop.

“They must be after the same things that we are, then.” Evelina said. “Although that begs the question of how they learned about this facility’s location in the first place.” She added, with a slight frown. “The potential implications are…”

“Concerning, Butterfly.” The Paragon cut in, verbalizing Evelina’s unspoken thoughts. “Alarming, in fact.” He added, tone grim. “Regardless, we must proceed with the mission. I will order my squad to hold a perimeter, while you proceed inside the facility. With any luck, we might be able to stop more unauthorized intruders from getting inside.” He finished.

“Then that is what I will do. Thank you, Captain Tristan. I will notify you if I need reinforcement.” Evelina gave the hulking Paragon a nod, before turning to make her way towards the temple.

Moments later, Evelina was moving through the rainforest at a pace that an unaugmented human would have considered to be a dead sprint—a cautious stroll for her. Glancing at her HUD, Evelina reviewed the map of the terrain and the reconnaissance data as she ran. Her nose wrinkled as she thought back to the intruders. A small part of her wanted to encounter them, if only to satisfy her own curiosity regarding their affiliation. At that thought, the Butterfly shook her head, silently reprimanding herself. The intruders were not her objective. In fact, they were very likely obstacles. Competitors.

If they were after the same thing as the Empire (as she suspected they were), then there was likely only one way for her to engage them.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Princess Wrath
• Butterfly Tiara - Energy (2)
• Butterfly Tiara - Sonic (2)
• Blaster Pistol
  
  • Ammunition
    
    • Power Cell (4)
• Pink Vapor Spray Gas Canister (2)
• Kinetic Concussion Grenade (2)

 

[Lyssara Thrynn]

Malachor Forest​

Datapad | Knife Phrik | Blaster | Grappling Hook | nutrient tube | Flying broom
Tag : | B/U-800 "Evelina"
Location : Malachor | Forest

Today I find myself on Malachor, the perfect opportunity to test my new flying broom. It's just an ordinary cleaning broom, but with the speed of a Star Racer. So here I am, sitting on it with my legs dangling in the air, heading towards the temple where I'm supposed to go.

The area in the forest is vast and sprawling. I need to be careful not to get lost or stray too far. The faction sent me a map of the area, and I've managed to sneak my way here without being seen — let's hope it stays that way.

A suspicious noise catches my attention in the vegetation, the sound of a comlink. I'm not alone here, after all. At first, I think it might be an ally who came to reinforce and assist me.

I descend to their level, only to find that it's a girl. A girl with rosy skin and pink eyes. I don't know this one. I position myself slightly above her, making sure to be clearly visible. I must look like a witch sitting on my broom.

"Hey, I'm looking for an antechamber. Maybe you can help me? According to my map, the entrance shouldn't be too far away."

I sit sideways, ready to react in case she shows hostile intentions. Like me, she seems interested in the treasure in the vault. Perhaps she'll agree to help me? It doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[Laphisto]

Location: Malachor | Underground Tunnel Complex

Laphisto had gotten word of the facility on Malachor V through his network of contacts within the Empire of the Lost and his alliance with Darth Reign of the Diarchy. Though he had originally declined both factions' invitations to join their expeditions, he still found himself here, walking the ancient tunnels of this cursed place. He couldn't ignore what he knew—not after what he'd seen in the years following the Mandalorian Wars. He had helped search for this facility once before, its destructive power too great to leave unchecked. Back then, he had warned both the Republic and the Jedi about the wound in the Force this planet had created. They had listened, at least in part, but no one had been able to find the place.

Now, centuries later, here he was, retracing steps that had haunted his memories for millennia. The superweapon hidden here could not be allowed to exist. He knew the cost of such devices, the pain and turmoil they wrought. It wasn't just a matter of denying it to one faction or another—this thing couldn't be left for anyone. The only safe resolution was its utter destruction.

Every step forward echoed softly through the corridor, the sound of his taloned feet scraping against the cold stone floor. The walls of the tunnel were smooth but damp, worn down by time and the moisture that seeped into the facility. Laphisto's clawed hand brushed against the stone as he moved, the subtle vibrations grounding him in the disorienting maze of corridors. The air felt thick, almost oppressive, and the faint hum of distant machinery hinted at the facility's still-active defenses. This place had been built to last—designed to confound and protect its secrets for centuries.

With a flash of teal light, his vision shifted. He reached out with the Force, its faint threads illuminating the paths ahead in his mind. The Void Stone integrated into the facility dulled his connection somewhat, but not enough to stop him. He scanned for anything—a doorway, a marker, a sign—that might guide him toward the artifact chamber. His wings rustled faintly behind him at the thought of how much simpler this would be if the place weren't underground. If only he could just fly over the maze instead of trudging through it. The idea brought a wry chuckle to his lips, the sound soft and dry in the heavy air.

Still, he pressed on, his pace steady and deliberate. He wasn't about to let the oppressive weight of the place slow him down. He'd faced worse than this, and the stakes were too high to turn back now.

At the very least, he thought to himself, his ties to the Empire of the Lost and the Diarchy provided him a plausible reason for being here. If someone from either faction questioned him, he could simply shrug and say, "I decided to accept after all." It wasn't the full truth, but it was close enough. Whether they believed him or not didn't matter. What mattered was finding the artifact chamber and ensuring that the schematics for the superweapon were destroyed.

The corridor ahead curved sharply, the faint hum of servos reaching his ears as he approached. The facility wasn't going to make this easy, but then, nothing about Malachor V ever was. Taking a slow breath, Laphisto adjusted his grip on his weapon and continued forward, the glow of the Force lighting his way through the darkened labyrinth.


[open to all]

 

[Lissa]

Location: Ashlan Temple Facility - Malachor
Objective: Eliminate Opposition
Tag: Iellax Pellis Diarch Rellik

Lissa moved silently through the facility, her presence buried and shrouded as her form was rendered invisible to sight and sound. With the a not-insignificant quantity of non-Imperials moving to or even inside the facility, stealth was even more of a necessity than it had been before. Detection could mean getting bogged down in a fight or worse, falling into an ambush.

This floor is clear of intruders, but there are two droids ahead—bodyguard models. Lissa transmitted to Iellax via her armor’s telepathic transponder as she came to a stop to wait for her. It was an ideal method of communication while maintaining stealth. The library starts at the floor above us, the clone added.

I will take the one on the left. She transmitted.

In the next moment, Lissa dropped her cloak and moved as a leaping blur, landing on the broad shoulders of her target as she did. The gauntlet lightsabers mounted to her left arm ignited with a snap-hiss before being plunged through the back of the bodyguard droid’s neck—a weakpoint which circumvented the automaton’s heavy armor plating. The assassin pulled the blades out in a shower of sparks and molten metal, then kicked off of the droid to send her body flying in an acrobatic backflip while the automaton—now deprived of its head—was sent reeling forward.

Upon landing, Lissa immediately stuck out her arm, telekinetically arresting the droid’s momentum before it could crash to the ground. After gently guiding it down, the assassin turned around to glance at Iellax. It would be up to her as to how they would proceed up to the top floors.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Verum Light Armor Mk. II
  
  • Gauntlets
    
    • Verum Gauntlet Lightsaber - R
    • Verum Gauntlet Lightsaber - L
  • Boots
    
    • FAE/A-14 Energized Foot Gear
      
      • Replacement for B-11 “Gretis” Class Combat Boots
      • Jetboot Thrusters Removed
  • Utility
    
    • FAE/U-01 "Serenity" Anti-Signal Field System
• Verum Masking Ring
• Spirit Anchor - Earrings

 

[Darth Nexion]

Malachor V, a planet of death. A place where one of the most horrific events in galactic history took place millenia ago. Nexion had heard the tales and read the stories of the Mandalorian Wars, and it was this battle that truly made him fall in love with the era. So, when he got a holocall from the Diarchy that there was a mission to retrieve artifacts from the planet, it was one instance where Nexion could say he was glad to know the Diarchy... possibly the only time since he first met them...

When he first arrived on the planet, the presence of death was immense. For someone so familiar with the presence of Death, it was like the call of home. Especially when to him, the feeling of Death, the atrocity that had occurred here, was all too beautiful.

Eventually, he made his way to a nearby temple. He had read about these ancient temples of the Sith and was determined to find its library. A collection of texts and holocrons from ancient Sith Lords would be interesting to get ahold of. So, he set out to find it.

Tags: Open to any and all

 

[Diarch Rellik]

Calm among the Storm



​

Location: Ashlan Temple Facility - Malachor
Tags: Lissa Iellax Pellis

---

OBJECTIVE: Secure the Texts

As with Reign, his brother Rellik had already been moving within the facility. Having the leak in intelligence gave them just a short time to move before their new rivals had. There were no previous history between their factions but a hunt for artifacts always brought about conflict among the other forces of the galaxy.

It would be the Co-Diarchs priority to go to the library and find any esoteric knowledge left behind. Specializing in magic, alchemy and history the Diarchy hoped he would be able to break into the holocrons and tap into the knowledge within. The runes alone would be a struggle without any interference from enemy forces.

Under better circumstances the chance to walk Malachor V un-impeded would be celebrated. From the current communications coming in agents of the Empire of the Lost were all over the facility. Time would be of the essence as the Lord moved quickly. He had only wishes of sitting an analyzing everything, the figures trapped in stone alone had millennia's of a story to tell.

Several guard droids were on his path but anytime he passed one he just used Dark Magic to convince the droids scanners that nothing was there. The dampening of the temple was an annoyance but one that was overcome without multiple distractions at a time. If things became too hectic the thought of losing his abilities had crossed his mind.

The Diarch moved deeper into the levels until he had come across a door to his objective, In an objective moment of weakness as he studied the door in the dark abandoned hallway he had not noticed the Heavy War droids to his sides becoming activated.

Immediately without analyzing who he was the droids began blasting at the Lord. Using his Mastered Form III he reflected the bolts back at the droids. The blasters being overwhelming in their caliber. Even than, their shields were able to withstand their own bolters being sent back unto them. Probably attributed to the war they had been built for. Rellik would use the library doors to smash through their shields and create his opening. Moving to slice down vertically upon both droids within an instant.

The initial battle won, he moved into the library upon which he would bring one holocron at a time to be analyzed while he waited for an inevitable conflict. Diarch Reign "So far so good brother, nothing out of the ordinary for a world left in conflict with itself. I am in the library. Good luck to you."

[/SPOILER]

 

[Her]

---

---

Malachor V, Outer Rim Territories, Chorlian sector, Malachor system;
Inside the hidden storage facility of the Ashlan Crusade.
Tags: Diarch Reign | Maldor Mecetti

---

"I found the key. Yet the pins do not align. The door remains locked. I need them to reach it, Lord Trigonus."
"The Fifth Wing. To teach them all to fly."
-- Her talking about the Fifth Wing with Maldor Mecetti in Whispers of the Dead.

---

Equipment:

• The Cone of Silence.
• The Domestic Surveillance of Direct Threats.
• Lightsaber Hilt.
• Slicing Unit.
• Armorweave.
• Cortosis-weave armor.

[POST THEME]

​

Beneath the ruined skies of Malachor V, within the hidden storage facility of the Ashlan Crusade, sounds of adulation echoed through the tunnels which led to the Artifact Storage Chamber. The closer that Diarch Reign made his way through the maze the louder it became. Clapping, and a cheering crowd played in the eerie darkness of the facility, as a recording told a story about the coronation of the late Velran Kilran as he became His Majesty of all Imperial Kind, and mysteriously: his coup d'etat.

"So," Velran said with a ghoulish giggle. "You all think you're in charge here?"

As the Diarch entered the chamber he came across two figures clad in black garments. To the left stood the shorter of the two: a woman whose facial features were concealed beneath the cowl of her Sith robes. As the Rule of Two came face-to-face with the leader of the Diarchy the nearby recording continued to play in the background, and with it the sounds of death, as the late Emperor of the Empire of the Lost murdered the old Imperial Ruling Council and replaced it with his own amid a distorted blend of cheering, adulation and celebration from his coronation within Lianna City.

"THE EGGMAN WILL CREATE A NEW GALACTIC EMPIRE THAT WILL DO WHAT THE PREVIOUS EMPIRE COULDN'T!"

Velran looked up to the ceiling again. "AS RYCUS KILRAN IS MY WITNESS!" Velran shouted. "I REJECT THE MOFF COUNCIL'S DEMOCRATIC VOTE AND INSTEAD DECLARE MYSELF THE NEW EMPEROR OF THE EMPIRE OF THE LOST!"

As the sounds grew louder, and reached a fever pitch, the hooded woman to Maldor Mecetti 's left raised her head up to the ceiling and declared:

"Silence."

​

Above a Cone of Silence came to life and immediately engulfed the chamber in an impenetrable wall of complete, and utter silence as the device created a static barrier which cut off the still playing recording as well as everything else in the storage facility while shining an eerie white light upon the trio of Sith Lords standing within the last traces of the Ashlan Crusade.

"Welcome, Diarch Reign," Her announced within the barrier. From here the others from the Diarchy, and the Empire could not hear her voice, nor that of her accomplice, and their foe in front of them, so long as they remained within the static barrier that was cutting off all noise, and recordings. Indeed, this was done by design for the presence of the likes of Diarch Reign , and the others that he had brought with him to loot the facility of the stolen dark-side artefacts previously hidden by the Ashlan Crusade, was a machination of Her by way of the Fifth Wing: a conspiracy founded within the Empire of the Lost to reform it into a Sith Empire.

"The formation of the Diarchy, and it's subsequent rise among the elite, is of interest to us," Her continued as she faced off with Reign. "The Final War to cleanse the Galaxy of it's chaos, and insecurity-- to replace the current powers that be with a righteous Diarchy-- is a cause that can be backed by the likes of us." Averting her gaze from Reign to Trigonus she narrowed her gaze upon the Sith secretly known as Maldor Mecetti : an Imperial Moff within the Tion Cluster based on the planet Voss.

"Your alliance with the King of Korriban, coupled with your relations with the Trade Federation of Planets, suggests to me that the Diarchy has interest in acquiring associates, and their respective organisations, or governments, in order to create a powerbase to serve your cause. We possess common interests, and your brotherhood has potential, but are you strong?"

SNAP-HISS!

A crimson light erupted from the left-hand palm of Her as she activated her Lightsaber. Averting her gaze away from Trigonus and back to their new foe she took a step forward to challenge the Lord of the Diarchy.

"The late Emperor Kilran was most useful to us in our plans to change the Empire of the Lost and turn it into it's true paradigm. Within the Tion Cluster we have founded an organisation so resolute and insidious that it will see the rise of the Galactic Empire once more. With our powers in the Force the galaxy will be ushered into an unprecedented era of peace, and prosperity, that will see a new order that will last ten-thousand years!"

Pointing the tip of her Lightsaber at Reign the hooded Sith declared:

"Together, the Diarchy-- with us-- can achieve it's goals to bring order to this fractured galaxy. Will you join us?"

---

 

[Iellax Pellis]

Objective: Eliminate Opposition
Location: Ashlan Temple Facility - Malachor
Outfit: Armor
Tags: Lissa | Diarch Rellik

Malachor didn’t seem to Iellax like a great fit for a Verum mission when the ultimate Imperial goal was explained to the Nagai. Collecting artifacts was not what they trained for. This was their second mission. The first to collect a opposition engineer was somewhat in line with what Verum teams were supposed to do. But when we’re they going to get to hunt AND kill?

Their part in the mission was then explained by director Dextra Tane not to be the collectors, but to clear the way for others to collect. Destroying security droids had roughly the same appeal as looting artifacts. Then Dex explained that the Empire would not be the only ones present. Iellax and Verum Prime were to be the first ones in and eliminate opposition looters. That satisfied Iellax’ bloodlust and if she and her team happened to find something interesting during their hunt no one would object to them taking it.

Ideon and Nyree were sent to the Storage Chamber. Iellax and Lissa would purge the library of non-Imperials. It was not Iellax’ favored plan, but being able to focus on teamwork with just Lissa was a nice consolation.

Lissa’s “voice” in Iellax’ head for her only to hear brought a smile to the Nagai’s lips. She gave an affirmative thought to the clone’s plan and paused just a moment to watch Lissa become a blur of motion. Knowing the droid would be short work for Lissa, Iellax didn’t stop to admire the whole scene. Instead she burst into action herself. Perhaps not as fast as Lissa, Iellax was every bit as deadly. Depending on timing rather than speed, Iellax maintained her stealth tech and abilities until just before her own strike against the droid she had drawn as an “opponent”. It was hardly a fight as one blade extended from each of her gauntlets and surgically cleaved the droid in half. Lissa, the Nagai woman used the Force to escape making a loud ruckus as the droid fell in two pieces.

Iellax but her lip, imagining the droid were a flesh and blood adversary. But there was no time for such fantasies. <<Well that is done let’s get up to the library and find some real fun,>> Iellax communicated through the Force.

Knowing that Lissa would also be eager to move forward Iellax started up to the next level. Once inside the library the Nagai assassin heard a voice. Since they were the first Imperials in the library by design, Iellax knew they had found their first prey. <<Ok. Let’s see how swiftly you can strike a real opponent. I will distract, then you strike.”

Iellax reached out to their opponent and nudged a sense of some unseen threat from further within the library. She wasn’t sure if her opponent was susceptible to such a suggestion, but even if he wasn’t he would likely detect the attempt and that would give Lissa an opening to make the opening attack.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Verum Light Armor Mk. II
  
  • Gauntlets
    
    • Verum Gauntlet Lightsaber - R
    • Verum Gauntlet Lightsaber - L
• Utility
  
  • FAE/U-01 "Serenity" Anti-Signal Field System
• Verum Masking Ring

 

[Lissa]

Location: Library Complex, Ashlan Temple Facility - Malachor
Objective: Eliminate Opposition
Tag: Iellax Pellis Diarch Rellik

​

A real opponent. Lissa’s eyes lit up with equal parts delight and stimulation. It would be her chance to prove that she was worth everything invested in her and more. To prove that she had been worth saving.

Yes, Lady Obscurer. I shall strike true, Lissa resolved via the telepathic link. Then, the clone slipped back into invisibility, shrouding her presence as she followed Iellax up the stairs and into the library. Within moments, their target—their prey—came into view. Studying his features, the clone took in a bald, bearded man clad in robes and armed with a lightsaber that was visible on his person. And seeing the destruction he had left in his wake, Lissa knew that he was undoubtedly dangerous.

Thus, while maintaining her stealth, Lissa stalked into position as Iellax reached out to touch the man’s mind. Only once that was done did the clone get in close, her breath suspended inside her chest as she waited a few seconds for the potential effects to take hold upon him.

Then, she struck.

Leveraging her diminutive stature, Lissa lunged low and leveled a swift, surgical thrust towards the back of the man’s right knee with the twin lightsabers attached to her left arm, both of which were activated at the last possible moment so that the blades might impale her target’s popliteal in the process of ignition. It was an attack aimed to immediately disable him before a fight could truly begin, delivered in such a way that the assassin maintained her cloak and shrouded presence while doing so. As fast as Lissa could be, the true strength of the Verum lied in stealth and only engaging in stand-up fights when strictly necessary. Although the clone sensed that this particular target would likely be too advanced to be felled by a stealth attack, she knew that if there was even a small chance that a duel could be avoided, then it was an opportunity worth seizing.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Verum Light Armor Mk. II
  
  • Gauntlets
    
    • Verum Gauntlet Lightsaber - R
    • Verum Gauntlet Lightsaber - L
  • Boots
    
    • FAE/A-14 Energized Foot Gear
      
      • Replacement for B-11 “Gretis” Class Combat Boots
      • Jetboot Thrusters Removed
  • Utility
    
    • FAE/U-01 "Serenity" Anti-Signal Field System
• Verum Masking Ring
• Spirit Anchor - Earrings

 

[B/U-800 "Evelina"]

Location: Outside the Ashlan Temple Facility, Temperate Rainforest Region, Western Continent - Malachor
Objective: Secure the Artifacts
Tag: Lyssara Thrynn

Evelina planted her feet and came to a sudden halt before swiftly drawing her chakrams as a sensor ping registered in her awareness. She turned her gaze up towards its source, her eyes scanning for a visual. As the source of the sensor return came into view, the Butterfly cocked her head to the side, an expression of confusion registering across her helmet-concealed features.

A witch?! Riding on a broom?!

Evelina batted her lashes in disbelief, then shook her head as the woman spoke. Her features were peach-toned, framed by straight black hair that fell just over her shoulders and delicately-arched eyebrows. A piercing, blue-eyed gaze stared back at the Butterfly, their expression unreadable.

“I...” Evelina hesitated, before pursing her lips together. In spite of the woman’s eccentricity, the Butterfly knew immediately she was an intruder. She did not recognize her as being an Imperial, nor did the woman present herself as such.

More likely than not, they would have to fight. However, Evelina felt her nostrils wrinkle. Curiosity.

Only then did Evelina’s face come into view as she deactivated her helmet’s visor tint, revealing a quizzical expression struck across pale and rosy features.

“You are correct.” Evelina continued, lowering her chakrams. “It is not far from here. The antechamber that you are looking for is inside the temple, located on the middle floors.” A lie, delivered in a sweet, girlish tone. The Butterfly knew from the briefing that the artifact storage chamber was in fact underground. “Are you lost, by chance?” She asked, her tone curious and soft.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Princess Wrath
• Butterfly Tiara - Energy (2)
• Butterfly Tiara - Sonic (2)
• Blaster Pistol
  
  • Ammunition
    
    • Power Cell (4)
• Pink Vapor Spray Gas Canister (2)
• Kinetic Concussion Grenade (2)

 

[Lyssara Thrynn]

I slowed slightly, my fingers tightening around the handle of my broom as I observed the woman before me. Her chakrams shimmered faintly in the dim light, but that wasn't what caught my attention. No, it was that pale face, framed by delicate features, and that voice… soft, almost innocent, yet tinged with a calculated subtlety.

I narrowed my eyes slightly, my thoughts stirring. She knew something; I was certain of it. I could sense it in her overly measured demeanor, in the faint dissonance between her words and her posture. A façade, perhaps?

"Lost?" I murmured, my words slipping softly into the air like a fragile echo. An enigmatic smile spread across my lips as I raised an eyebrow.

"I wouldn't say that. I'd say I'm looking for something, i need to find the entrance, that's right. "

I slowly turned my broom, an almost lazy motion, to show that I didn't yet consider her an immediate threat. My icy blue eyes locked intensely onto hers, scrutinizing her every reaction.

"The antechamber, you say?" I replied in a light, almost distracted tone, before letting out a soft laugh. "How kind of you to point me in the right direction. It's rare, these days, to meet someone so helpful. But... "

I look at her more seriously, pretending to believe her barely concealed lie. That's not what my map is telling me, it's saying that the antechamber is deeper than that and that I had to keep going further than the levels it just indicated.
I inclined my head slightly, an almost theatrical gesture, while keeping a careful watch on her every movement. I continued, my gaze drifting for a moment to the dark trees surrounding us,

"I have the feeling you and I might have similar goals. Perhaps we could exchange a few truths, or cooperate ? After all, two curious minds can achieve much more than one,"

I let the silence hang for a moment, tilting my head slightly, the smile never leaving my lips.

"Unless, of course, you'd prefer to resolve our differences another way. But i prefer save my strength for the enemies in the antechamber, for there is no doubt that the place will be guarded. The choice is your!"

My fingers slid subtly along the handle of my broom, ready to activate a mechanism if necessary. But for now, I waited for her response, as patient as a predator weighing its possibilities.

B/U-800 "Evelina"

 

[Diarch Rellik]

​

Location: Ashlan Temple Library - Malachor V
Tags: Lissa Iellax Pellis
OBJECTIVE: Secure the Texts/SURVIVE

---

The library itself had a cool if not eerie ambiance to it. You could see the dust in the air moving slowly from the doors being ripped open earlier. A perfect time for study. Rellik would pull one of the Holocrons from the shelf and begin to try and decipher some of the runes to open it.

Obviously these had been processed multiple times by several high level force users. Whoever wanted this information sealed did so with great attention to detail. "This will not be something that can be done quickly. I will need to focus, I should have brought my bodyguard. Sith runes are known for being able to harness the force themselves. If I let my guard down here I could be hit with lighting or a stroke of madness."

A small time passed as Rellik stood there analyzing the holocron before him. Than it hit him, a feeling of danger coming from further within the library. Something had entered without him noticing. Something in the force had given him the premonition of danger. It would make sense as he was deep into the studying the artifacts that he would not have noticed its entry but something felt different; off.

As if lighting struck underground the feeling of danger shot through Rellik. Being a master of Form III and the feeling of danger given to him beforehand had given him instinctual movement within his leg; as what appeared to be two smaller lightsaber blades came diving into the back of his knee. The outer blade still cutting him - leaving a large gash near his fibula bone. The distractions of his work or the skill of the assassin had him in a bad spot.

SNAP-HISS!

Igniting his blade and moving to the side he took a defensive stance. He would not be able to tell how many attackers were in the room until they chose their moment to strike. He addressed the would be assassin. "Hello there." He stated with a smile. Now able to sense her after her initial attack. "Hiding your presence is one neat trick."

Feeling the danger of having suffered the first attack and knowing there might be more assailants in the room, Rellik attempted to create illusions of himself while also filling the room with an aura of hope and smoke. Assassins typically could feed off of fear or anger so instead he went for a lighter approach.

Focusing on so much would leave him open to being attacked again if they could sense him directly. His hope was that there was enough confusion to gauge the damage to his leg and see if he needed to withdraw immediately.

If they could tell which version was the real him, he would be in trouble. For now he would need to be ready and on the defensive until he can find weaknesses to his attackers. The initial attack was almost devastating. Rellik is an animal trying to hide his injuries and survive.

 

[Maldor Mecetti]

Malachor V, Outer Rim Territories, Chorlian sector, Malachor system;
Inside the hidden storage facility of the Ashlan Crusade.
Tags: Diarch Reign | Her
​

The figure standing beside Her was silent, as surely as if the cone of silence had divided him from the others in the chamber, rather than cutting off the world outside. Yellow eyes watched from over the edge of a black and gold mask. There was no emotion in those eyes.

Neither was there peace.

One could imagine almost anything one cared to imagine within their depths.

The figure wore Gintho silk robes, golden accents on the shoulders. A lightsaber was at his hip, but had not yet been drawn.

No muscle twitched. No action was taken.

Darth Trigonus might as well have been a mannequin, except that he had definitely walked into the room.

He stood, faintly illuminated by the crimson of Her blade, and waited impassively to see what would transpire.

Would they be welcoming a new ally into Her fold... or cutting down an obstacle?

Only the unfolding puzzle of time could offer an answer.

Spoiler

Sith Lightfoil
Ginntho silk clothes and cape, doubling as light armor.

 

[Diarch Reign]

​

Location: Malachor V | Hidden Ashlan Vault
Tags: Her Maldor Mecetti

---

The Diarch had followed the sounds of celebration into a chamber.
Seeing the two black robed figures, the one he had identified as the master spoke to him.

He was shocked to hear how far the rumors of the Diarchy had spread, and even more so at Her claim of potential alliance. But something was off about this.

The snap-hiss of the crimson blade confirmed his suspicions. More Sith.

Finally the Diarch spoke.
“You are mistaken..my friend. I hold an alliance with the King of Korriban because he feels as I do. Not for power or influence. The Sith are sick, be it the Sith Order operating from Jutrand, or this Rule of Two that stands before me.”

He activated his own lightsaber, the Blood-Orange color competing against the crimson of the woman’s.

“The Diarchy exists to protect the Galaxy from the Chaos of the Sith, and the false peace of the Jedi. You wish to bring about the next Galactic Empire, with a Sith upon the throne? Then you will find me wanting.”

He gazed at Her male companion, his stoic silence, the Diarch assumed to be preparation for a potential fight.

You may have heard my name “Darth Reign” it is a lie, I am no Sith. I am the cure to the sickness that is The Sith, and The Jedi. You make claim for peace and prosperity, what is to be done in the name of your peace? Will the common people of the galaxy be forced to give up their freedoms? Will your inquisitors prowl the streets looking for dissenters?”

These Sith before him may be “evolved” as he once called himself, but how they reacted to his rejection would tell him all he needed to know.

“As for my strength.. friend you will find me up to the challenge”

 

[Dextra Tane]

Personalized Stealth Bodysuit
Lightsaber
Modified PL-18 Standard Issue Blaster Pistol

Location: Library Complex


A purple blade slowly cut through the ancient metal door. Thanks to the superheated blade, it didn't take long for surrounding metal to weaken and crack. What came next was a swift kick causing debris to go flying everywhere. "Ah chit!" a young woman's hushed whispered echoed through the abandoned Library drawing the attention of 2 war droids.

Dextra could hear the lumbering steps by the ancient droids, she quickly deactivated her Lightsaber using the Force to expand the dust that was created by the debris to cover her infiltration. Hopefully the Droid's infrasights were so outdated that they couldn't see through simple debris. Calling upon the Force, Dextra zipped between the two Droids and hid behind the nearby bookcase. "I gotta stop showing off," Dextra said to herself. "I need to get a Holocron for command."

Question is where in this library is it?

@OPEN to anyone!

 

[Darth Nexion]

Nexion had just destroyed another pair of guard droids with one of his red blades. He had been wondering the library complex for a while now, and he could feel he was closer to other individuals in the complex. One was a familiar presence, Darth Rellik, but he was a fair way away. Instead, what caught Nexion's attention as he turned a corner was another individual in the hallway, hiding behind a bookshelf. She wasn't familiar to him, so she couldn't be Diarchy member, which meant she must be a member of the other group that had come Malachor.

Smirking, he began to approach her, showing little regard for subtlety or being undetected through sight, but keeping his presence hidden. As he was around 15ft away, that was when he made his presence known.

"Hello, miss. Fancy meeting you here. I don't suppose you're a member of the Lost Empire... or whatever it's called?"

___________________________________________

Dextra Tane

 

[Her]

---

---

Malachor V, Outer Rim Territories, Chorlian sector, Malachor system;
Inside the hidden storage facility of the Ashlan Crusade.
Tags: Diarch Reign | Maldor Mecetti

---

"Bonds of Unity Create Power;
Power Shared is Power Multiplied;
Power Multiplied Creates Purpose;
Purpose for Order over Chaos;
Loyalty Above All."
-- The Code of the Diarchy as taught by the Brotherhood.

---

Equipment:

• The Cone of Silence.
• The Domestic Surveillance of Direct Threats.
• Lightsaber Hilt.
• Slicing Unit.
• Armorweave.
• Cortosis-weave armor.

​

The revelation of a conspiracy between the King of Korriban, and the Diarchy-- made to purge the Sith Order-- was a shocking discovery for the Rule of Two. Indeed, while the Imperials, Sith expats and Tsis'Kaar operatives which made up the organisation-- no, their own conspiracy whispered by some as the "Fifth Wing"-- was founded on the basis of reforming the Empire of the Lost into a Sith Empire it's underlying, ulterior motives were based around creating enough division and chaos along the Outer Rim Territories to draw the likes of the Kainite, and other sects among the Sith, into conflict with the heirs to the Galactic Empire to weaken them as a burgeoning Grand Plan to destroy the Jedi Order took root within the Tion Cluster.

Crimson and blood-orange beams hummed malevolently in the chamber as Her stood off against Diarch Reign as their revelations came to the surface within the remnants of the Ashlan Crusade. Was it possible that this man, and his Brotherhood, had come to the similar conclusions that had led Darth Ayra to resurrecting the Rule of Two? Or was he telling a tall tale in order to discover more about the existence of the Order of the Sith Lords?

As these questions came to mind Her begun to navigate the outer edges of the static barrier and begun pacing around the Diarch as he stood tall in the center. "You are right... my friend. The Sith Order is sick, and you are the cure."

Every syllable ushered from Her's mouth were laced with the effects of the esoteric Force Power known as Mind Trick. Like a voice in the darkness she begun to whisper the seeds of praise into the recesses of the Diarch's cunning mind while simultaneously instilling doubts as the two Sith Lords whom had revealed themselves to him and his order attempted to bring them into the fold of the conspiracy that has embedded itself deep within the Empire of the Lost.

"Bonds of unity create power," Her spoke cunningly as she quoted the Code of the Diarchy to it's founder. "Your holy war against the likes of the Sith and the Jedi is a cause which warrants our attention, and if you are persuaded, our support. We are in agreement that the Sith Order has been plagued by decadence as false idols traverse the galaxy with their abominations bringing with them unwanted death and destruction to a dozen star sectors all across the galaxy."

"You need only look upon Tion to see that you are in the right, Diarch."​

As Her brought up the Fate of Tion the eerie white light of the Cone of Silence lifted and with it plunged the three of them into darkness saved only by the illumination of their activated Lightsabers. Above them the nearby projector cast a large picture which played them the destruction of the planet Tion as the Malsheem and His armada rained turbolaser upon the three moons and it's planetary surface.

---

The Fate of Tion: an intergalactic event that occurred in 902 ABY when the Dark Lord of the Kainite-- Darth Carnifex -- destroyed the planet Tion via the Base Delta Zero principle following the conclusion of the Siege of Tion.
​

---

As the behemoth that is the Malsheem bombarded the surface among a seemingly never ending sight of Star Destroyers the sound of hailing turbolaser filled the chamber and coupled with Darth Carnifex 's sickening symphony of destruction played the pleas of the Tionese and stranded Imperials as they transmitted maydays for mercy or assistance as the Sith destroyed the star system.

"Can you stand to sit idly by as they go unchallenged?" Her asked Diarch Reign as the recording grew louder, and louder. "Do you have the time to contemplate the deaths of me, and my apprentice, when your enemy has the capability to cause this level of destruction?"

With a flick of her wrist Her reactivated the Cone of Silence and basked the Diarch back into the eerie white light while above them the recording continued eerily playing the destruction of Tion without the noise of the helpless whose pleas were answered with an apocalypse that destroyed the world.

"You conspire with the King of Korriban: a Sith Lord known to me as Caedes. Among the dignitaries which attended his feast were the Trade Federation of Planets: an intergalactic conglomerate with it's hooks in the Galactic Alliance, Dark Empire and the Sith Order. Do any of them have an entire Empire at their behest?"

"Have any of them destroyed and reorganized the Sith Order as Darth Bane did before Us?"

As Her finished pacing around Reign she returned back to the side of Darth Trigonus and gestured to her apprentice. "Following the Empire's victory over the rebellion my apprentice commands the largest fleet in the Empire of the Lost. His victories at Lothal, Mon Calamari and Maldra 4 have made him a hero in the Tion Cluster granting him prominence, influence, and power in the Empire of the Lost. Our Fifth Wing has taken over the New Imperial Security Bureau; it's special task force in the Imperial Immortals; and has infiltrated the ranks of the other Imperial military branches-- all the while being backed, and supported by a member of the Dark Council on Jutrand."

Significantly Her did not expose who on Jutrand was backing the Fifth Wing conspiracy for it did not benefit neither herself or Trigonus for the Diarch to know. But the revelation that a Dark Councillor was acting with the influence of the Rule of Two was a cunning manoeuvre in order to feed the temptation that was now burying it's way within Reign.

"Imagine what the Diarchy could accomplish if it entered into collusion with the likes of us?"

---

 

[Diarch Reign]

​

Location: Malachor V | Ashlan Hidden Storage Facility
Tags: Her Maldor Mecetti

---

The Woman's offer was very tempting, and the allure of her words played upon the Diarch. She offered power, the power to truly enact change almost immediately as opposed to the Grand Plan he and his brother had been following. It was almost as if the words were worming their way into his very soul.

This is what gave him pause, having a manipulator and sorcerer for a brother, Reign learned early to recognize the touch of the Mind Trick. While the offer alone would have been appealing, the use of the force to attempt to sway him brought a quick rise of anger to the Diarch.

Anger and righteous fury that was only made all the more potent by the view of the destruction of Tion that played out in front of him.
This woman would seek to use him to further her own goals, and among the screaming of innocents his resolve was hardened.

When the Diarch spoke, his words contained anger yes, but a fervor barely kept beneath the surface. The Zeal and Idealism that had allowed the Diarchs to amass a following, to be able to bring challenge to the likes of these Sith.

"You are familiar with the tenets of The Brotherhood but in the same breath you speak of conspiracy, if your spies were present at the feast, you should know, I wore my declaration loudly. The Sith Order is sick yes, The SITH as a whole, are sick. You need to evolve, change, or be put down. I have not been sitting idly by, even now the forces of the Diarchy grow, expanding our reach and military might ever more, preparing for the day when whatever Sith Empire or corrupt Galactic Republic stands against us, will be met with their doom"

He was aware of the danger he found himself in. The Sith Lord and her apprentice would be a challenge unlike any the Diarch had faced, but he would not be bought.

"You speak of having the might of the Empire behind you, yet you operate from the shadows, you have infiltrated levels and sectors of the Imperial war machine, with which to stage what I am assuming would be a coup. You are creating Chaos if you truly knew me, truly followed the tenets of my order, than you would know. The Final Two tenets of the code are Purpose for Order over Chaos, Loyalty above all"

Reign fiery gaze never left the woman, he paused just briefly before continuing.

"Loyalty above all. You call forth the name of Darth Bane, the Sith Lord that created the Rule of Two.. a mighty man, but the problem he sought to correct within the Sith, never faded. The rule of two is inherently duplicitous, fosters betrayal and plots against your fellow Sith. One day the man at your side will betray you, just as you did your master. The Old Ways need to die, to be replaced with something pure. If I were to succumb to your desires, I would have bought power with the sacrifice of my very soul, becoming what we have set out to destroy. "

The Diarch shifted his weight slightly, preparing for what he was sure to be an attack.