Rakata Balls (Lords of the Fringe Dominion of Rakata Beta)

[Lord Ghoul]

Tucked away at the far end of a table sat a figure who remained unmoved despite all the theatrics. He would have remained unnoticed if not for being one of the few humans present. His clothes were all of a fine sable tone, yet unremarkable. A peculiar black mask obscured the upper half of his face, only heightening the man's enigmatic presence. Darkness he wore without, yet darkness he wore within. It draped across the furniture of his heart and soul, an aphotic cloud of corruption. Whatever he might have been in his past life had been twisted by the instantly recognizable taint of the Dark Side.

The stranger wore no visible weaponry of any sort, yet his posture indicated a relaxed ease and confidence only present in the very powerful... or the very foolish. His sallow face barely moved at the bloody spectacle before him. He only watched with bitingly cold eyes of a pale winter blue.

Without a word, he made a sudden gesture toward one of the Rakatan sacrifices. There was a spray of blood and fluids as its eyes were torn from their sockets. The Rakatan's screams pierced the air of the dining room like nails as it sank to the floor in utter agony. The two eyeballs floated over to the black garbed stranger's plate, where they dropped with two soft plops. He picked up a knife and fork and began to eat his meal.

The screams from the slowly dying Rakatan continued, drowning out all other sounds.

The stranger simply continued eating. Briefly, those eyes came to rest on @[member="Ashin Varanin"] and there might have been the slightest hint of a smirk on those sallow features.

 

[Darth Torment]

Isis watched as they exchanged pleasantries and eyed the Kiwi, she could sense it's pain and torment and could sense it's hurt and anguish and as she stood here she wanted to so badly to lash out and kill all these wretched Rakata for what they have done to it, she wanted so badly to reach out with the dark side and purge the miserable wretched life from the rakata and leave them as lifeless husks of death and decay in her wake but she wouldn't, she would stand idly as Ashin exchanged pleasentries with the vermin that call this planet home.

As she stands here she snickers at the rakata while holding back her aggression toward them and while sensing thee torment of the poor creature they tormented and enslaved, her seething anger boiling up in her and fueling her body with immense strength and speed, but she dares not act on this and just stands guard over ashin and her mate.... the wretched vermin offering gifts and proud of their murderous and torturous ways.

 

[Sargon Vynea]

The Enlightened One simply stared in awe for a moment at the Grand Admiral. This simple look spoke more then words ever could for it neared reverence. With a sudden shout he raised his arm howling in dark joy as he felt the force in his grasp. He treated it not as some sweet lover to coax, but as piece of iron to be beaten and molded as his will wish. The priests would be as to gods again to his people, and he would be first amongst them. He wrestled at it with hatred, a cold rage built up over the ages for a force that they were destined to. It had left them though abandoned them to be taken by their lessers.

He could feel the rage multiply within him and it was glory. The Infinite Empire would rule again and thrive throughout the galaxy as an matched power. Yet as he reached for it he simply didn't know what to do, his hate was powerful but he lacked the knowledge of how to use it. The plan still had to be continued and the offer made.

“Priestess, I must learn to harness this. Together we shall make my people great again, and the Infinite Empire shall span the stars once more. First though I bring an offer from Rakata Beta. We the Rakata will join your empire and ours together. Your empire must be tested first, and your strength in the dark side proven. Though after this I hardly find that need the entire caste must see your strength in the dark side of the force. The warrior caste requires greater ships and has agreed to join if you can create for us a true warship that will lead the way to victory, or in the nature of the Star Forge they find a war droid as acceptable.”

Turning his eyes to the Lord Admiral his lips curled up in a cruel smile. “Last we need the tie to bind us. As all empires due this is best forged in marriage. I offer you the hand of the Wrathful One, what would be the equivalence to a Princess. She is one of the greatest members of the warrior caste, and will be a fine wife. To her there is only one we will accept. Your Lord Admiral Dranok Lussk”

@[member="Dranok Lussk"]

 

[Garza]

All I could do was stare and drop my jaw as they called out Dranok. it took a second for me to pick up my jaw from the floor, but still Surprised as I was. I knid of felt happy and sad for the guy.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Tired now, Ashin nodded, sensing her people lead the Kwi and the rancor out of the room. "Our powers of creation will rise to the challenge. And test the strength of my people, Enlightened One, and you will not find it wanting. With me here, you see..." She gestured, in turn, at all of them.

The masked blonde. Spencer Jacobs. "The strategist whose iron will has conquered ten thousand worlds and bent the minds of their leaders."

The masked man. Mikhail Shorn. "The warrior who challenged an Emperor on a whim and lived to tell about it, who chased the heart of a dictator's lover in defiance of fate itself, who has conquered worlds and defied warrior cultures as proud as yours or mine."

The bodyguard, simmering with rage. Isis Fontana. "The most hated woman in the galaxy. An enemy of the Republic, of the Empire, of the Confederacy -- bold beyond boldness, silent as the grave, invisible at a whim."

The young man in the suit. Morna Imura. "The man who rejected his people for their weakness in bowing down to their enemy, and who walks alone. One of the greatest living masters of the power of fire."

The Lord Admiral. "The commander who has subjugated entire sectors, walked unafraid through lightning storms that flattened dozens of Force warriors, wielded the greatest of Sith magics -- @[member="Dranok Lussk"]. Lord Admiral Lussk, Master of the Sith, will accept the Enlightened One's generosity."

Eight million servants and a shipyard. He'd be fine with it. Clearly.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer watched as Ashin offered her gifts to the Enlightened One, she was curious about what would be offered. A smile cross her face as Ashin knew exactly what would impress the Enlightened One. They spoke of things Spencer knew little about, she was curious and continued to listen with her lips closed. Her stomach growled and she slightly slide the body of the dead out from in front of her. A familiar aura echoed the room and her eyes fell on the masked man when Ashin gestured towards him. A soft smile she reserved for him spread across her face then she turned back towards Ashin.

She feared the man had passed, but knowing that he was here and living made Spencer smile. The events continued to unfold in front of her and her fingers pressed against her mask pushing it against her face once more. She was curious to see where this was headed more so she was ready to head back to the ship – she was starving.

 

[Darth Torment]

Isis watched as the two leaders spoke with each other and observed their meetings with silence and impartial hearing, as she watched the kiwi depart she smirked at it and wished it the best knowing the creature would be well taken care of for now on, she had resisted the urge to take out her rage on them all and commanded her own seething animosity for the things these creatures were, as she remained silent and calm her grey eyes spoke a sacrificial killer a thousand ways over, as she continued to watch she snickered at the guards of this miserable race knowing if it came down to it she could take them all out.

As she stood here she calmed her mind and calmed her body and continued to observe.

 

[Sargon Vynea]

The Enlightened One smiled slowly, he hadn't thought it possible that the meeting would go this well. It was true for the most part he had gained little respect for them, but the Priestess he could not help but respect her power. He felt such power swelling through him he could not contain it. He nearly walked over to kill another, but withheld himself from it. There would be time for celebration later, for now he needed to end this.

“Very well, Priestess, your people invite you and your guests to Rakata Beta. We will start preparations for the wedding immediately. However we ask that bring only guests, they are protected by your strength now, Priestess. No harm will come to them while you are strong, this is the rule of the Infinite Empire.”

((OOC: I have a longer post starting the three objectives made by the Enlightened One... however this is a longer post... as such I'm gonna put this up so you guys can open it up talk … eat a salad... I will have the longer post up in about an hourish... consider yourself back on the Star destroyer ))

@[member="Isis Fontana"]@[member="Spencer Jacobs"]@[member="Ashin Varanin"]@[member="Morna Imura"]@[member="Mikhail Shorn"]@[member="Dranok Lussk"]

 

[Lord Ghoul]

The wet, pulpous texture did not seem disagreeable to the stranger, nor did he seem to particularly enjoy it. He did not acknowledge Ashin's claim that he was one of her people, neither did he contradict it. Hs entire demeanor remained aloof, apathetic. As if this were all beneath him. And indeed, it was. "What games mortals play"

He felt a gaze fall upon him and turned his head slightly. The blonde. No flash of recognition crossed his eyes, no playful wave or mischievous smirk. "That was in another life." He remained cold... distant.... and apparently waiting on something to occur. Though why he was truly here was anyone's guess.

 

[Valik]

"Other lives may be different, but that does not mean they didn't happen, nor that the potential isn't still there." Valik commented, as ran a toothpick through his teeth. He, like the others, was in a suit, but he also wasn't the most aesthetically concerned man in the world, as a bit of facial hair was enveloping his cheeks. In truth, Valik wasn't the type to attend these sorts of events at all, but Rakata Beta? A planet rumored to have ancient technology that was powered by the Force? Not something he'd pass up, even if he had to wear a suit to get in.

"So we're to have a wedding for the fleetlord? If you like Admiral Karrde I'm sure I could bring some drinks and party favors, the likes of which I'm sure would be remembered." @[member="Ashin Varanin"]

 

[Sargon Vynea]

The world of Rakata Beta was a lush world of dark green colors and animal life that had simply order or sense to it. The various species were more akin to a zoo or biological study then an any natural ecology. The Fringers would have very little time to study these things though as their arrival had been prepared for, and their time would be consumed until they proved their worthiness to be part of the Infinite Empire.

The structure of the entire relationship between Rakata was based upon respect and power, and one among them had earned the right. For her there would be no test, no need to prove what was already obvious. She was a Priestess of the Rakata and that was not a title to be given lightly. The others though would either prove they were worthy of being a part of the Empire, or serve it as slaves. There was no other viable option inside the Rakata mind. Anything less was simply considered food.

The Shipyards:

The Rakata shipyards was a vast web of construction station around the planet. It crawled with thousands of droids as they swarmed like ants over the hulls of ships. It lacked something though, something that had no simple name or solution, but was felt like a presence. The technology was present but the spirit of ingenuity, and flair of imagination had long ago been suppressed in the need to continually resemble the ships of the Infinite Empire. While the Empire at its time had been the greatest galactic power in the known galaxy at its peak, here and now it was but a shadow of a thought.

So it was that the dreamers and engineers of the Fringe were needed to help build a new line of Rakatain ships, and a battle droid to bolster their numbers. It wasn't the only task set before the Fringe, however for the warrior caste is was by far the most important. Those who chose to aid the Rakata in this manner would stay here in space working on creating a schematic, and those who lacked the streak of brilliance for creating the monstrosities of war would continue down below to the planet. To the graceful temple of the Rakata.

The design team had a room to itself with the Rakata military caste's council sitting in attendance as observers in the floor above. For the technologically inclined was a small cadre of slaves which had been set aside for their uses. The room was dominated though by a series of consoles which allow them to build the schematics for anything they wanted. Then with a simply push for a button the automated droids would began assembly it. It was simple to create something, but the trick was making something great.

The Rakata Temple

The Temple priests waited with impatience for the arrival of the various force users of the Fringe. The miracle of the Enlightened One was being whispered throughout the entire planet like a legend come to life. There had never been such a desperate hope, and never perhaps such a desperate people. They had held onto the dream and belief that the Infinite Empire would rise again. To the great majority it sill existed even in this single planet. As long as there was a single Rakata living, the Infinite Empire lived on.

It could not thrive though without the dark side of the force. It could not be truly glorious once more without a new Star Force and a fueling force behind it. The Star Forge was gone though, and the knowledge on how to make it vanished long ago. They had learned once though, they could learn again. It just required the healing of their soul to do. The void that marked the very purposeless in their lives. It simply required the Force and they would be great again.

The arriving Fringe Prophets would need to prove to the council their strength in the dark side. They were in good stead being lead by the Priestess. However, it must be seen that her's was not a simple fluke in the what would otherwise be an unworthy joining.

Rakata Beta High Council

Every ember of the three person council had an agenda, they were Rakata after all and such malevolence would never turn to harmony. The warrior caste wished to overthrow the priests and began mass production of what technology they had. It was time in for the Infinite Empire to spill forth onto the world and consume it.

The priests simply wished to consolidate their power until this new possibility of regaining the force was realized. They had long been fighting a losing battle against the warrior caste, and with each year more ancient knowledge was lost. They were fighting a losing battle of influence, but their chance to rise high and seek vengeance had arrived. If they regained the Force it was simply the matter of rediscovering their old technology. Remnants of equipment, and thousand s of undecipherable bits of data would have to be combed through and studied but they would rise again.

The third seat remained empty for now. It waited for the arrival of the official Fringe representative. Both castes were sure of themselves and their cunning. Whoever joined them would be no match for the wit of a Rakata and would bow to their wills. It was simply a matter of out maneuvering their counter to bring glory to the Infinite Empire.

@[member="Valik"]
@[member="Mikhail Shorn"]
@[member="Isis Fontana"]
@[member="Spencer Jacobs"]
@[member="Ashin Varanin"]
@[member="Dranok Lussk"]
@[member="Morna Imura"]

 

[Shinju]

@[member="Sargon Vynea"]

"No no no your not listening to me." Shinju held her hand to the prisoners mouth while he tried to speak and looked up at her. "Now when I ask do you want to come off the rack? you say..." He looked at her and tried to speak but then a chrono sounded. "Oh I'm late, I'm late for a very important thing... No time to kill you sweetie I'm late I'm late I'm late." Shinju skipped around and let the man off the rack as he plopped forward and came to a groan. His face going up while she skipped and a snap was heard. His hand being dug into by her heel and with a punt three of his teeth were hitting the wall. The knife came out and she spoke with a smile. "Your to old to eat.... But not to old to kill." With a slice his head was down and Shinju was skipping towards the door.

The path down the hallway of the hungry dark brought several looks to her, the fresh coating of blood and hand she was playing with more then enough to draw attention but it was also the idea she was going to be representing the Fringe down below. They were here as friends and that was why she was going. What better way to say friendship is magic then with rainbows and latex and all those pretty things you had. Oh the idea of talking to them before Dranok enslaved them. Maybe there would be some interesting tech they found or some long lost secret that allowed the commander to take more worlds over.

Soon enough Shinju arrived skipping into the temple and handing off the hand that had been picked clean in the shuttle, the one she was ehre meeting more then enough made up for it while laughs were had. "Hello, I am the Fringe rep and I am here to make sure all interests are protected. If you have any questions do direct them to me so I can answer and you all look so delicious I could just eat you up."

 

[Darth Torment]

(OOC Note: You're always a delight to read up on @[member="Shinjū Aÿasha"] Lol!)

Isis was waiting near the so-called priestess who is a former empress of the sith, conqueror of a thousand worlds turned dark jedi and secret leader of the fringe confederation... observing this from cold eyes she smirks at Karrde (@[member="Ashin Varanin"]) and waits to received word on what her mission will be, as she remains she curbs her attitude and refocuses her calm to keep up to par with a warrior, the only thing keeping her from using the force from breaking the neck of the enlightened one is Karrde and Yun-Harla... it's no secret Isis would never move against them since they are considered to be two of her closest allies so she'd be more willing to protect them to the death but she still seethes with ferocity at the mistreatment of the poor creature they saw earlier.

As she remained on vigilant guard duty she peered out the window for a moment wondering what would happen if she was able to create a vortex or a black hole to devour the worthless planet of Rakata Beta, she so wants to treat the Rakata the same was they treat their own slaves, to murder them and torture and beat them but that is somehow @[member="Dranok Lussk"]'s job to get done, for now she must sit it out and wait for the inevitable to happen.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

RAKATA BETA

They had come here after the banquet meeting over Annaj, and now the Chimaera hung in space over Rakata Beta. Beautiful planet.

"Thank you, @[member="Valik"]," said Ashin. "That would be...most acceptable. Just don't lose me this world. All I ask." She grinned with alchemically sharpened teeth. "And the rancor's yours to do with as you will."

"@[member="Isis Fontana"]. The Kwi is yours to take care of, to nurse back to health. We saved it."

She turned to @[member="Spencer Jacobs"]. "Yun-Harla, this is for you." She handed her the piece of the Star Forge.

"Now, Shinju's gone down to...negotiate. I need someone to back her up. Someone who's capable of self-examination and rationality. The rest of you...pick your battles."

 

[Judas of Vahl]

Dranok's jaw was still hanging to the floor at the earlier acceptance of his marriage proposal. I have to kiss her? What if she eats me on the spot? The Sith Lord attempted to shake the thoughts from his mind of doing anything with that scaled-mistress. Dranok tried not to think about the outcome of this relationship as he and Horak planted themselves beside @[member="Ashin Varanin"] on Rakata Beta. From orbit, he quite enjoyed seeing the plant and the billions of beings toiling forth for their leaders as they descended. However, if this marriage was successful, then he would become the absolute ruler of over billions of aggressive, fiendish, and capable warriors. Be that as it may, he was still quite shocked, to the point where his fingers were trembling.

In spite of his nervousness, he leaned closer to Ashin to whisper into her ear. "Is it okay for a Sith Lord to be scared?"

 

[Valik]

"You think I'd jeaprodize an opportunity for the Fringe to gain a unique set of technology?" He asked, with a hint of a grin forming. "There is wisdom in your caution, but I'll not endanger such possibilities." He said to @[member="Ashin Varanin"], as he heard the fleetlord @[member="Dranok Lussk"] speak of fear.

"A drop of fear is healthy Master Lussk, it keeps a man on his guard. No one's immortal in this galaxy, and those who think they are can have it stripped from them with the right tools." He mentioned, educating the man in a way.

"But enough of fear, you're about to be married! I believe social protocal dictates we have a bachelor party before hand. I've just been given a Rancor by the great Admiral, let's turn it into some new monstrosity." Valik goaded, before thinking of what a normal bachelor might entail.



Feth, he'd have to call @[member="Anaya Fen"] and see if she was available.

 

[Judas of Vahl]

The Lord Admiral gave a nod to the alchemist, @[member="Valik"]. Dranok knew the man by reputation and had met him once or twice, yet knew almost nothing of the man. Instead, he tucked the alchemist's advice in the back of his mind as it was sensible. "Indeed, Master Valik. I'm not too worried about ruling my new empire, it's the marriage ceremony. I understand that it's best to capture this planet intact, but emotional type deals aren't my thing." He gave a heavy sigh. "But it's all about that power."

Valik continued, suggesting the social outing called a "bachelor party" of which Dranok had never attended nor witnessed. His crew could fill him in with as many intricate details as they liked, but Valik's suggestion of doing some alchemy seemed a little more appealing than spending a night with a mistress covered in cake and alcohol. The Lord enjoyed to indulge himself sometimes, but only in the fashion of a respectable leader. Anything less would stir up future problems and take his eyes off the prize.

 

[Matreya]

Zaiden had sat silent, hidden among the shadows as always during the entirety of the banquet. He was clad in a shirt that seemed slightly to small, or a clear sign of his recent trials and rewards. The Rakatta were powerful and wise in to many forms, thus Zaiden felt his shortcomings held him lower then those that spoke, and as such he would not speak. But then they reconveened onboard, @[member="Ashin Varanin"] @[member="Dranok Lussk"] and @[member="Valik"] were speaking nearby, and Zaiden finally felt welcome enough to speak, "Why did I not get an introduction?" Zaiden said with a chuckle, "What did no one notice me among you?"

Stepping nearer to Dranok he grinned, "Good luck." With that being said, Zaiden turned and walked past the others, unsure of his place in this dominion.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Holding the piece of history in her hands she smiled, her fingers caressed the shard carefully knowing that it held so many secrets and had seen so much of time. Listening to the orders given she nodded and brushed by Karrde as she made her choice where to go.

She had basically two choices, diplomacy or the Force. Both she would be fully capable of doing, but her forte was with the Force and she headed towards the High Council. Knowing that they were not force sensitive she didn’t bother hiding her signature. The perfectly balanced aura of the master flowed freely as she entered. Bowing her head respectfully, she looked towards the priests. The woman had remained silent the entire time before and finally she spoke with a soft soprano voice.

“The woman you spoke to sent me here, my name is Yun-Harla and I’m here to be tested I assume. I’m the strategist of the Fringe. I do hope I do not disappoint you.”

To show a small display of her energy, the force washed through the room like a breeze, then quickly dissipated. From her knowledge she would need to display every ounce of her strength to them, especially from the dark side. A smirk spread across her face as she lifted her head from the respectful bow.

“Shall we start?”

@[member="Sargon Vynea"]

 

[Judas of Vahl]

At Zaiden's arrival, Dranok merely gave the Prophet Knight a nod as the Lord departed the room to carry out his duties. Grand Admiral Karrde had him tasked with modernizing the Rakatan's military, quite the fitting task assigned to the Fleetmaster. And so, with Horak at his side, Dranok left to meet with the Council of Warriors in setting up their empire's new military. The Lord Admiral didn't know who else would accompany him in the planning, so he merely strode into the center of the room and retrieved his tactical datapad.

"Council of Warriors, it is my pleasure to be in your presence. I am Lord Admiral Dranok Lussk, the organizer and strategist of the entire Fringe military. I handle all military affairs that delve in the planning and operating aspects." He paused to connect his datapad to the holoprojector at the center of the room, pacing away to give a better view. "This is my flagship, the Astral Horizon." Dranok tapped on the pad to bring up the massive vessel's figure, displaying the might the Fringe military wielded. He let the image linger a few more moments before pulling up a new image. "This is the current design I have for an interdiction battle cruiser. Capable of keeping enemy vessels in the sector to prevent fleeing whilst dishing out fire and deploying fighters."