Private Secrets Of The Forge

[Aris Noble]

The feeling that he wasn't safe seemed to burn in the back of his mind. The Malsheem, the artificial promise land of the Epicanthix, was as vast and diverse as what he'd read on what Panatha was. It was abundantly clear that a lot had been saved for the planet's destruction. Grant it, much of it reminded him of Coruscant. Layers upon layers of city levels, where buildings hung down from above as if reaching for the very core of the world.

Grant it, the core wasn't a real world.

Aris had been given some free reign to wander. How much of it was actually free, he wasn't sure. How much was he being watched? How many eyes were on him? Hair dye would only go so far. If anything, he was certain the only reason he was walking alone was they didn't think he'd be a threat. That was a frustrating thought. He paused as he glanced towards The Spire. From what he'd learned, that was likely the most off limit places for him.

His expression tightened. This might not be the worst place to explore, just, how to get there- Ah. The base. It floated above like a star in the city sky, out of reach without flight. To anyone else. He bent at the knees as he readied himself, then jumped. He was gone an in instant, landing on a platform no one should have been able to. Then, made his way inside. He wanted to know everything. All that was lost, all that was saved. Why so many were here of all places.

He needed to know.

Darth Carnifex

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The interior of the Imperius Spire was a stark departure from the sleek, cold lines and angles of the habitation-scape beyond it's margins. The walls and floors were constructed out of glossy black marble, run through at irregular intervals with seams of sparkling gold. Torches that burned with an unnatural blue light hung from the walls, while tapestries fluttered from towering alcoves and edifices dedicated to profane idolatry leered down at Aris as he passed through.

It was as if he'd passed into a different time, a different place. The oppressive swell of the Dark Side pressed in from all sides, for there was no place in the galaxy furthest from the light than this -- the dark had gone into every facet of the Spire's construction, infusing it with malign energy from the moment of conception. Guards were sparse, patrolling in pairs or groups of three, their bright crimson attire a stark contrast against the black and gold surroundings. Friezes and mosaics were commonplace, depicting events from both ancient Sith and Epicanthix history, and even some that seemed to foretell future events.

Some of the figures looked suspiciously like Aris, or perhaps his father Kahlil, the hair modeled from actual silver and platinum.

What servants Aris did come across were primarily decraniated, that monstrous form deprived of a head -- instead replaced by ornate black cybernetic machinery, creatures stripped of sentience and rendered into little more than living droids. They carried trays of food and drink, disappearing down narrow corridors to carry out whatever ill task set to them by their cruel masters. Aris could hear the sound of laughter wafting out from open doors, alongside wailing, screaming, and more perverse sounds.

He could not linger for long, that sensation of danger creeping more and more up his spine. It was the feeling that if he tarried too long in one place, the Spire would swallow him up in its darkness. He ascended the stairs, coming upon a door marked by a strange symbol, one that seemed paradoxically familiar and yet utterly alien to Aris' eyes. Guards were coming, a routine patrol. He had no choice but to quickly open the door, slipping inside before it could shut again, just in time.

Inside was a spaceous office, each wall covered in rows and rows of holobooks and small trinkets. At the far end was a desk, facing away from an ornate stained glass window depicting the Son of Mortis legend, though his features more greatly resembled that of the Dark Lord of the Kainate.

Perhaps here, Aris might find some answers.

Aris Noble ​

 

[Aris Noble]

It was an animalistic crawling of his skin as he walked. Without the ability to feel the Force, he couldn't tell the darkness. He couldn't feel an absence of light. What he could feel, even if he wasn't aware of what it meant, was power. The way the hair on his body stood on end, how he could feel the pulse of adrenaline through his veins as he walked through the halls, he felt the strength of this place.

He paused at the murals. Between the patrols, the deracinated, he found himself studying them. His mind processed it quickly, memorizing everything he'd seen like a machine. Aris was, ultimately, more akin to a droid than human. If not for the fact he grew, if not for the fact he bled, he could very well be one. These murals, were they new? Did they get saved from Panatha?

There were questions now, more than he'd already had about so much. His expression tightened just a little, but he couldn't think on it long. Movement, walking. Guard. He slipped into the closet room. There was no sound within, no breathing, no heartbeats. He stayed by the door, just ensuring that the guards passed by before he did finally turn to look to the office he'd entered.

Mortis.

Epicanthic culture worshiped the Three, as well as more. The Father, the Daughter, the Son. Was this how he truly looked? Or another change? Part of him assumed the later, just because of who it was he was looking at. Carnifex. His eyes narrowed. Brief was the display of emotion, but he could feel the frustration. He couldn't ignore what his family had gone through because of that face.

Lingering on it wouldn't be of any use either, though. Instead he moved to the desk, searching it over. The room he'd happened in seemed far more.. More, than the others he'd passed by. If there was information, here was as good a guess to find it as any. Or maybe a map to find the place he needed.

Darth Carnifex

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The desk was large and spacious, but sparsely ornamented. Only a few trinkets dotted the desk, most of them not pertinent to whatever Aris was looking for. What was interesting was a holobook placed upon the center of the desk, one that looked quite a bit newer than the ones adorning the office's walls. Fortunately for Aris, it was not bound or encrypted. When he took it into his hands, the device powered on and upon opening to the first page, he would discover that it was a journal of sorts.

More specifically, it contained great detail about various excavations taking place on worlds all across the galaxy. Several names were noted, such as Had Abaddon, Prakith, Alzoc III, Mustafar, Yavin IV, and Nevarro, among others. It was clear that whatever these archeological digs were, they were taken place under the noses of several galactic powers, even the Galactic Alliance.

It became evident that the journal was written by the Dark Lord Himself, with several passages containing recounts of encounters with Jedi, with Lily Decoria directly mentioned. It said nothing of her fate, only that she had directly interfered with a dig site on Yavin IV. Other accounts went into more detail, with Darth Carnifex directly commenting on killing or imprisoning Jedi on multiple occasions. Some of these names Aris might recognize, but many more he might not.

Darth Carnifex was looking for something, something that kept repeating in His notes. Something that He referred to as the birthright of His bloodline, something that His ancient ancestors had left forgotten. He told about how Solomon's workshop beneath the Iron Mountains of Panatha had referenced a power source, one that Solomon had only imitated upon mastering the Rakatan technology left behind on Panatha. Now that Panatha was lost, all the Dark Lord had was the information and relics He'd taken from the workshop.

A power source.

A crucible.

A Forge.

The last few passages recounted the Dark Lord's infrequent sojourns with the Matriarch, she who was sequestered within the Imperius Spire. Though her mind was diminished, the Dark Lord found that in moments of strange lucidity He could glean much from her. The very last passage spoke of an incident, something that required the Dark Lord's immediate attention, and that when He returned He would speak to the Matriarch again.

He would ask more of her regarding the Forge.

Aris Noble ​

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris's eyes narrowed.

He hadn't expected to find the datapad unlocked, but it was a blessing on it's own. His eyes scanned through the pages as he scrolled through, his eyes and mind quick to absorb all the information. There were times he didn't like how inhuman he felt when it came to simple things like this, but right now it was incredibly helpful. What he read though only filled his heart with dread. He knew all the names. The New Jedi Order wasn't so large that Aris hadn't seen every Jedi in passing at least, and for him who remembered everything he'd ever seen, he knew them all.

At least their fates were known. Gruesome as some might be.

But the dread he felt only had his grip on the datapad tighten once it was confirmed. The object, the facility, that Darth Carnifex was searching for was the Forge. Perhaps he didn't know what it was completely yet, but he was on it's trail. What he had been searching for with Vera Noble and Zaiya Ceti was also being searched by the one man that he didn't want to know. It was the crack of the screen that pulled him back to the present. He'd forgotten to control his strength. Not good. He set it down before heading back to the door, listening already for footsteps, heartbeats, breathing.

This Matriarch knew more. If she was lucid enough, he'd find the information he needed. Once the coast was clear he made his way back out to start heading down the hall, careful as ever to avoid the patrols as he headed deeper into the heart of the Malsheem. He needed to know what the Forge did. He needed to know why the Orb only worked for him.

Darth Carnifex

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Ascending the steps was the Dark Lord Himself, passing through the doorway that Aris had minutes ago escaped from. The moment the Dark Lord entered the office, He stopped and stood silent for several moments. Then, with speed, He approached the desk. Narrowing eyes fell upon the holo-journal, the one He had left for the briefest moment to attend to another matter. Summoning it to His hand with a tug of the Force, He flipped the device open to discover a spider-web crack had developed; spiraling out from a single point where pressure had been applied to the point the glass caved beneath it.

Someone had been here.

Setting the device down, the Dark Lord turned and swept back out into the hall. Two of His Crownguard stepped forward to meet Him, their bright crimson armor shining against the black and gold of the Spire. "Inform the retinue that an unknown factor has breached the Spire. Search and monitor this unknown, but do not engage. I sense that the threads of fate converge, and I will see to them myself." The Crownguard saluted, closed fists pounding against their breastplate, and turned to carry out their Lord's decree.

Darth Carnifex then began His own search of the Spire, His intimate knowledge of the structure allowing Him to traverse it without difficulty. As He walked, the Shadow beneath His feet coiled up His body and draped itself around His shoulders. It took on substance and form, a woman's face emerging from the parting shadow as thick locks of hair cascaded down about her. Her arms hungrily caressed the Dark Lord's indomitable frame, her lips brushing against his ear.

"Do you not fear that you could not foresee this intrusion, my love? Your anger should be bubbling up at the indignity, but it's as subdued as a sleeping kitten." The Dark Lord seemed to ignore the Shadow's words for the moment, causing her smile to stretch inhumanly wide; black tongue licking equally black teeth. "Ah, now I see. So very clever, my darling. They are but a piece of this puzzle you seek to fit together. Let them do the work, and you shall reap the reward."

The Dark Lord finally acknowledged her, His eyes sweeping over to stare into her own. "You speak too freely for your own good, Ananta." To that, she only giggled. "Find them, Ananta. Lead them to her, my senses tell me that is what they seek. We will watch and wait." Her features grew more primal, more animalistic. She spun around the Dark Lord's body like a constrictor, her face parallel with His. She pressed her lips against His own, kissing Him passionately and deeply. As she pulled away, her features were already beginning to fade into indistinctness.

"As you wish, my love."

Then His shadow departed from Him, becoming one with the darkness of the Spire.

Aris Noble ​

 

[Aris Noble]

Without feeling the Force Aris was ultimately unaware something had ended up following him. A shadow wasn't something he could hear. Wasn't something he could smell or even see behind him. At least, not at first. As he stalked through the hallways to avoid getting caught the creeping sensation that something was there grew. Shadows dancing in the corner of his eyes, something menacing. Something was there.

He wasn't sure what it was, but it was enough for him to move quicker. At first he evaded it, dipping between the halls to try and get away from whatever it was. A sentry? A stalker? Eyes on him? For a bit he thought he was evading it, evading whatever was chasing. He realized too late that he was being guided somewhere. His expression tightened as he realized there were no more guards around. No more heartbeats, no breathing.

Save for one person.

Something knew he was here. And they'd brought him here. His hands tightened into fists before he took a breath. Eerily calm, he stepped forward. The logical part of his brain knew that this meant he was meant to be here, for better or worse. That whatever had lead him here could've killed him for trespassing. For breaking into that office.

So, he stepped forward through the waiting doorway. The only way out now would be through.

Darth Carnifex

 

[Darth Carnifex]

What lay beyond might have surprised the young Aris.

It was a bedchamber, a spaceous but sparsely decorated one. At the far end was a single bed, red curtains drawn around it's edges. Various machinery had been rolled up just beyond the margins of where the curtain had been drawn, each one lit up with various vital signs and other biometric data. The pumps built into one of the machines continuously moved up and down, a wheeze of air accompanying each depression.

Next to the bed, behind the machinery, was a small end table upon which rested various religious icons and a gently smoldering brazier of incense. They were clearly Epicanthix in origin, small stone figurines of the Father, Son, and Daughter propped next to the brazier.

Within the bed was a woman, considerably ancient by her appearance. The machinery was all hooked up to her, keeping her alive in spite of her body's degradation. They breathed for her, they cycled her blood, and they even kept her nourished. Her hair was a curtain of brittle silver strands, her eyes serenely closed as her chest rose and fell in measured intervals. Aris could only speculate how old she truly was, but it had to be several centuries at least; far beyond the natural lifespan of an Epicanthix.

Suddenly, as though sensing his presence, the woman's eyes snapped open. Both were covered over with cataracts, but even so they swept over to stare directly at the young boy as though she could see him all the same. When she spoke, all that came was a hoarse croak as a few fragmented words in Epicant drifted over to Aris' ears. But one word would strike a stronger chord than any of the others.

Kaine.

Aris Noble ​

 

[Aris Noble]

Hospice. That was the sort of room this reminded him of. Aris walked carefully, glancing over the walls, the murals. It wasn't just a rich person either. No one was close by, this place was secret. Who was this old woman he could see? More importantly, why had he been lead here? Such thoughts fell to the wayside as he heard the name whispered.

Kaine. The Epicanthix of Niv Hani spoke of the name. The King, before they were a god. Before they were Vornsk. Before they were Carnifex. Cautiously Aris stepped forward, warry of the woman who could see him despite being blind. He needed to know. An unbridled curiosity burned long into his mind. The need to know, to understand. He spoke up in Epicant.

"Do you know what the Forge is?"

Darth Carnifex

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Her words were a whisper, barely audible. Aris had to strain to decipher what she was saying.

"The Forge is the beginning, and the end."

She spoke of those who had long since passed to dust, warbling about the madness of Solomon made manifest. It had long been coveted by the line of Solomon, thought lost for generations. The Mad King had hidden it away from his own, jealously guarding the secret of his dark power. That boy, Solomon again given flesh, had found the workshop, but not the Forge. The Rakatans were crafty geniuses, they never placed all of their eggs into one basket. Solomon learned that long ago, the boy was only following the trail long cold.

Suddenly, the old woman sat up in her bed, a flash of strength. Her eyes settled on Aris, vestiges of lucidity dancing across her features. Though her eyes were glazed over with opaque white, she looked at him as though her sight had never diminished.

"You've seen it."

Aris Noble ​

 

[Aris Noble]

There was something incredibly eerie about how she just moved. Her whole body seemed to be kept alive by the machines attached to her alone, but he blinked, and suddenly she was sat up, staring right at him with blind eyes. And yet, he didn't flinch. He stared at her, trying to sort through her eyes, her words. He could hear her muttering. Most of it, inconsequential.

But she knew of it. The Forge.

"I saw the door, but it didn't open yet. Solomon said it wouldn't until the catalysts were collected. What do you know about it? What is it for? What happens when the door opens?"

Darth Carnifex

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"The door... The gate..."

The elder wheezed as she spoke, her eyes now unfocused; fixed on some distant point beyond their perception. She reached out with her wizened arm, blue veins pressed tight up from beneath the wrinkled, pale skin. The machines around them started to shake and vibrate, vital monitors beeping with greater intensity as her vitals exceeded normal parameters. The Force worked through the old woman, spilling out into the room around them.

"It is a font, a tap... The Wellspring... Eternity... Endless might... The Rakatans... Kaine knows... He knows..."

Suddenly, her head snapped to look right at Aris again. Lucidity again shining in her glazed over eyes.

"He knows you're here."

Aris Noble ​

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris couldn't feel the Force shaking itself, but he could feel the very air vibrating. His expression tightened as he braced himself for whatever was coming, but nothing did. Only a slurry of words. And a warning. His eyes widened. Kaine. He knew exactly who that was. So he turned on a heel and immediately rushed for the door. He'd gotten some information, something he might be able to use. But none of that mattered if he was caught.

He needed to leave.

Darth Carnifex