E T E R N A L - E M P R E S S
Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud, Archon of the Primyn Group
Empress of Terraris, Supreme Commander of the Terraris Command, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud, Archon of the Primyn Group
Empress of Terraris, Supreme Commander of the Terraris Command, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium
Location: Akar Kesh, Tython
Equipment: 2x Sigra vibroblade | 2x Striith vibrosword | The Soulsabers | Heilagr MK. I Assassin Armour | Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | The Last Gift || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Writing With:
Zachariel Steelblood
- Ingrid feels her soul wants to connect to the ritual, but she is able to struggle with the feeling.
- Ingrid tries to make Zach realise what this ritual is and what he thinks will happen.
Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud, Archon of the Primyn Group
Empress of Terraris, Supreme Commander of the Terraris Command, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI ConsortiumObjective: Try to assassinate Darth Solipsis
Location: Surface, Tython
Equipment: 2x Sigra vibroblade | 2x Striith vibrosword | The Soulsabers | Heilagr MK. I Assassin Armour | Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | The Last Gift || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Writing With:
- Ingrid arrives to the place where she senses Solipsis, but Zachariel is in her way.
This day was interesting for the woman. Dromund Kaas was the first time that the Eternal Empire could actually reappear among the great powers of the Galaxy. Today was the second. They used to be there with Csilla and Korriban when the Ashlan Crusade tried to destroy the planet, though it wasn't very significant. But now yes; they were present with considerable force both on ground and in space. However, this day was strange and unusual.
The Maw was definitely the enemy of the Eternal Empire, and the Eternal Empress wanted them to fall, because of their actions, because of their methods. However, the fact did not matter at all whether or not Maw would be successful in destroying the planet. If so, well, there will be three fewer Nexus in the galaxy. They even do the Wardens of the Shroud a favour. At least the Wardens don’t have to perform openly and try something like that.
However, Ingrid was interested in something else today. She, like a lot of people in the galaxy, wanted to killDarth Solipsis . And the man was here on the planet. It was hard to not sense him as he was surrounded with the darkest focal point on the planet. And the Dark Side attracted her. Not because she was one of them; simply, it aroused much more hunger in the red-haired woman. Absorb and devour their power, as she did with the energies of Carnifex and Prazutis when they fought.
She was in constant contact withBaron Reinhardt Ström and
Aximand Sicarus ; the two men were responsible for ground and space battles, respectively. She asked them for constant reports. They knew the woman wanted to hunt down Solipsis on the planet's surface. Behead the snake, once and for all. That’s why she left her own troops when she sensed that Dark Voice was on the planet, too. Ingrid teleported near that place. However, here, before she could get close to Dark Voice, someone was already waiting for the Eternal Empress…
The man promised this at the Netherworld that this would happen. As she did as well, that is, she'll kill him, if he does not stand aside. Nevertheless, the woman had not yet attacked, but given her lover, the warlord of the Bloodsworn Tribe, a chance. A chance to live.
"Get out of my way Zachariel! You won’t get a second chance to stand aside!" her voice was ice cold, emotionless, now it didn't have the usual passionate and playful tone in her voice that the woman usually speaks to her lover when they are alone.
Objective: Tython Accord
Location: Surface, Naboo
Equipment: Equipment: The Soulsabers (hidden) | Brynja coat | Hersir Imperial Uniform | Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | The Last Gift || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Tags:Aerarii Tithe | Balt Vizsla |
Isla Draellix-Kobitana | Open
- Ingrid arrives to the meeting.
Naboo; ironically the former capital of the CIS. Although Ingrid agreed that it would have been difficult to choose a more iconic neutral venue for this meeting. The Eternal Empire said yes to GA's request and they travelled to the planet. Ingrid, as usual lately, was accompanied by
After landing, she was walking along the ramp, accompanied by the four bodyguards, and on the "runway" to the vehicle, which would take her to the rendezvous site. Ingrid had never loved bodyguards, but it was now a situation where it was all mandatory. There was also a fifth bodyguard with her, invisible. She trusted him the best of those present. NN220, formerly known as Alain Price. Commander-in-Chief of Shadow Company. The man was there with her at NIO and GA talks, and whenever she was negotiating with the AC. Only no one knew about it.
The last meeting with GA was quite tense, and although results were achieved, it was ironically easier to negotiate with the NIO. They were more like them.
<"Overseer, please try to be restrained. If the data is correct, the Enclave will also be present. It would be unfortunate if GA were turned against us as they are allies. Let the Enclave look like barbarians, savages, not us. We are more civilised than they are."> she told him.
They soon arrived at the meeting place. Here, she allowed the members of the delegation, or rather the reception committee, to accompany her into the meeting room. If all is true, Tithe was already here, and she greeted the man with joy.
"Old friend, Chancellor! Nice to meet you again in person. It last happened a long time ago." she greeted Tithe and gave a hand, accompanied by a sincere and kind smile.
Ever since they last met on Coruscant during her captivity, Ingrid hasn't aged a minute. Besides, one thing was still the same, the red-haired woman was really happy to see the Chancellor.
Objective 1/3
Tags:Ingrid L'lerim |
Anyone else warposting and attacking Akar Kesh, if you wish to fight, feel free to reach out
Duel: CLOSED
Warpost: DM me to work something out, NuMo#0475
Links: Weapons | Some vehicles and other stuff
Tython, final objective of the Brotherhood, last desperate gamble to destroy the homeworld of the Jedi. The Brotherhood had traveled far for this, sacrificed much, and they would sacrifice even more to achieve their goals. With any luck, they would succeed and leave the planet a desolate wasteland, or a debris field.
However, as the Bloodsworn took up position around Akar Kesh, as Zachariel stood to the defenses, he wondered how possible it truly was. As a warlord, the gen'dai was fed constant reports from every source he could get his hands on. Their reports were grim. If they didn't succeed now in reshaping the galaxy… well, they would burn that bridge should they need to.
For now, Zachariel had defenses to organize and a lover to hold off. He knew, all in the Maw knew, that the alliance would attack this place, seeking to kill Solipsis and stop the ritual. As such, there were those to stand in their way. The Bloodsworn were simply one of those defenders, and Zachariel one of its leaders.
Standing on the rocky outcrop, he looked across the rough defensive lines, and grinned. No matter what happened, this would be bloody. He could already feel it in the Force, the death and bloodshed that was happening and that would. Closing his eyes, the warlord breathed deeply of that rich scent.
--------
Opening his eyes, Zachariel's gaze swept the area. The scenery had changed, no longer was he atop a rocky outcropping, now he stood in a sort of dip in the mountain. He had left his prior position in search of a better place to fight, a place where someone may try to sneak past. This was all but perfect for it, and as Ingrid materialized across from him, he chuckled and shook his head. She had become somewhat predictable, at least to him. It helped that he knew her plans to kill Solipsis.
Her short declaration made him shake his head once more, arms still folded behind his back. They both knew the times for games had passed, now was a time for action. And that meant neither could stand down.
"My dear, you know as well as I, that won't happen."
Moving his arms from his back to his sides, he smoothly unholstered his weapons at the same time. Axe in one hand, sword in the other, Zachariel stood ready to fight, yet he didn't move.
In the defense of Akar Kesh and Solipsis, all that could be done to defend the Voice, had been done. In the case of the Bloodsworn, they were hardly used to being on the defensive. But needs must. As such, they set about with all their usual skill and no small amount of gusto, eager to fight in the shadow of their warlord and the Dark Voice once more.
Where they could, trenches had been hastily dug in what small time they had. However, these were hardly extensive and were instead focused on single squads. Most squads simply used the environment and their vehicles for cover. Others still were atop speeders and other vehicles, prepared to rush forward once the enemy engaged. The response of the Bloodsworn was many and varied, but they stood ready to defend Akar Kesh.
Heavy weapon teams set up on overlooks, regular squads huddled in cover, and others still prepared to rush forth. Above the din and clamor of war, the Chosen directed the loyal followers of the Bloodsworn, even as they too readied for war. Their orders had been simple, hold off any who dared try and interrupt the ritual.
War returned to this part of Tython, and the Bloodsworn began their desperate fight to hold off the allied forces. Across their lines, fire began to pour forth and war cries left their lips.
"For the glory of the Bloodsworn! For the Dark Three!"
And thus, the Bloodsworn fought.
Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud, Archon of the Primyn Group
Empress of Terraris, Supreme Commander of the Terraris Command, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI ConsortiumObjective: Try to assassinate Darth Solipsis
Location: Surface, Tython
Equipment: 2x Sigra vibroblade | 2x Striith vibrosword | The Soulsabers | Heilagr MK. I Assassin Armour | Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | The Last Gift || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Writing With:
- Ingrid not attacks Zach yet, but gives him a second chance to change his mind.
"This is your last chance to change your mind." she told him aloud.
~ I don't care if the Maw destroys this planet and the two moons. We will only win if there are three Nexus less in the galaxy… ~ she continued in a telepathic way.
"But your ruler must die today." and finished her words aloud again.
She really didn’t care about the planet and its fate. Zach needed to know exactly that. The red-haired woman watched as the man pulled out his weapons. She hasn't done the same yet. Ingrid still trusted that the man would have a better insight and decide he would let her do what she needed to do. Under her helmet, she smiled bitterly for a moment when she saw the weapons. They were dreadful weapons against anyone. But not against Ingrid. Those were only an ordinary sword and an axe against the woman; two resistant weapons, nothing more.
"I hope you know they are ineffective against me." she told him as she tilted her head a little.
There was no doubt that she would make the man's weapons in such a way that Zachariel would never be able to use them against her. The red-haired woman trusted the man as much as possible for her, but Ingrid was also paranoid. She left nothing to chance. Especially not her life. The Empress knew Zach was stubborn, so she hadn't walked in the direction of the man yet, because she expected the man to attack her at that moment.
"Be a good boy, drop your weapons and get out of my way!" she said.
She still hadn't pulled out her own weapons, Zach only got a second chance because the woman was enjoying her lover's company too much… however, there will be no third chance.
Snorting at her words, he shakes his head again. At her telepathic words, he scoffed. She still didn't understand, then again, the truth was hidden. The Maw wasn't simply here to destroy Tython, but tear the galaxy apart. Reaching out telepathically, he responded.
Objective 1/3
Tags:
Anyone else warposting and attacking Akar Kesh, if you wish to fight, feel free to reach out
Duel: CLOSED
Warpost: DM me to work something out, NuMo#0475
Links: Weapons | Some vehicles and other stuff
"Ingrid, one planet and all its moons aren't the goal of the Brotherhood. This ritual, it will destroy more than just Tython, it will split the galaxy in two."
Aloud, he laughed and responded with utter confidence.
"Solipsis will not die this day, and even if he should, it won't be by your hand."
Through this though, he understood what she meant. This world was simply one other to her, the same as it was to him. At the same time, it was the make or break it point for the Brotherhood. Succeed or fail, the success of the ritual would determine it all. And Zachariel would not allow Ingrid to interrupt it. And thus, despite her hopes that he would see reason, he wouldn't see her reason. Twirling them as she spoke of how ineffective they would be against her, he shook his head.
"In the end, they are still sharpened pieces of metal. More than enough with which to remove your head from your shoulders." Smirking, he cocked his head to the side. "Though the powers you imbued into these weapons have certainly come in handy. For that, I thank you."
"Further, one is yours, one is not." Holding the sword up before his helmet, in a salute of sorts, he lowered it and repeated it with the sword. "Which is it?"
Weapons at his side once more, the warlord made no move to lower either blade. She could try all she wanted, but he wouldn't move. She would not pass him this day, that he would make certain of. Twirling them idly by his sides, he still made no further moves. Ingrid expected him to rush her, he wouldn't give her the satisfaction. And so, he fully expected some sneak attack from his lover, so he watched, and waited for her to attack first, making it clear hers was the first move.
Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud, Archon of the Primyn Group
Empress of Terraris, Supreme Commander of the Terraris Command, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI ConsortiumObjective: Try to assassinate Darth Solipsis
Location: Akar Kesh, Tython
Equipment: 2x Sigra vibroblade | 2x Striith vibrosword | The Soulsabers | Heilagr MK. I Assassin Armour | Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | The Last Gift || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Writing With:
- Ingrid speaks Zach, and teleports after him, and continues her walking towards the temple.
"Zach, this is not how the Force works… Politically, yes he can divide and split diplomatic and political axes into two. But he can't do more damage to the Force than a local damage." she told him.
Through Zach, she had some idea of what Solipsis wanted. Large-scale plans. Maybe it would have been feasible, but only if all the major Nexus in the galaxy were attacked at once. However, she saw in the man's posture that he finally understood what the woman was thinking. That she wasn't here to protect the planet. This place did not matter to the Eternal Empire. Not really. And the woman would have sacrificed any planet in the galaxy to get the Eternal Empire to achieve its goals and get closer to the final plans of the Wardens of the Shroud.
Unlike her daughter, the Empress of the Eternal Empire was not a Saint. Neither literally nor figuratively.
But like everyone in this galaxy, she had to pretend. Alright, Maw didn't pretend, but everyone else did. No one was as spotlessly clean and good as they had shown themselves to be. There was a common enemy, yes. But nothing more. She or anyone who thought long-term was ready to compromise with others. For bigger plans, for ultimate success, for the well-being of the Empire and its citizens. That was something Ström didn't understand either; the "grumpy uncle" was a great soldier but a terrible politician.
"The NIO has already stolen from me the chance to kill the Emperor of the Sith Empire, you won't steal my chance to kill Solipsis." she told him.
That is, the case still hurt the woman's ego, it would have been the culmination of her assassination career. Actually, maybe it wasn't the NIO, it was Grayson. But it no longer mattered, nearly ten years after the war ended, the present was important. She sighed under her helmet again. She knew Zach knew exactly that it would be smoke if he cut off her head. Because of the Sith, she was not a human being for a very long time ago.
"Are you sure my head is truly my head?" she asked with a chuckle, mockingly, alluding to being a semi-Force entity who typically consists of smoke and transforms.
Ingrid finally took out the two daggers. Not the swords, not the lightsaber with pieces of Adrian's soul, but the two simple military knives. The red-haired woman concentrated for a moment and was no longer there. She hadn't attacked Zachariel yet, just teleported past him. She appeared again behind the man's back, at least a good six to eight metres. She looked back at the man for a moment, then walked on to the temple.
"Behind you, honey!" she said back to the man.
At that moment, she also felt that Eina and Geiseric had arrived on the planet, not so far from her and Zach.
Objective 1/3
Tags:
Anyone else warposting and attacking Akar Kesh, if you wish to fight, feel free to reach out
Duel: CLOSED
Warpost: DM me to work something out, NuMo#0475
Links: Weapons | Some vehicles and other stuff
"Then you understand little of the ritual planned this day."
Cackling laughter came forth from him. Perhaps she was right, perhaps she was wrong. It changed little, she would not pass. No matter that their goals aligned so often, or that she too wished to see the Force destroyed, or at least weakened. Both of them would burn anything to see things through, but she saw the need to kill Solipsis to reach those goals. Zachariel saw the need to keep him, for he was the primary reason the Brotherhood had taken such prominence.
The two of them knew that was their greatest weakness, their fractious nature. It was their true nature, and they didn't hide it. That gave them strength, the challenge to overcome and prove oneself to others. Compared to Ingrid, who even now spoke of her failure to kill another leader of her enemies. Had the true, factitious nature been allowed to be free, she may have succeeded. At the very least, there would have been a higher chance of success. But, because she had to 'play nice,' she couldn't take the EE against the NIO. Not while a greater threat remained. The Brotherhood was not so limited, letting Zachariel grin at his lover, seeing but another point where they were better.
Snorting at her, he shook his head as well.
"Physical or not, the point still remains."
As Ingrid pulls out her weapons, Zachariel stops twirling his own blades, focusing fully on her. He was expecting some surprise attack from her, so as soon as she vanished, he knew she teleported. As such, he whirled around, sword and axe flashing to cut behind him. Only, instead of cutting through flesh or clashing with steel, they cut through nothing. Growling upon seeing her so far away, he knew she didn't plan to fight him, only avoid him. Calling out to her with a scowl, his voice was filled with annoyance.
"Running my dear?"
Then, with an effort of will, he teleported as well. It had been something he'd been practicing for some time now, having seen the need to learn such a skill after being stuck in the Nether before Ingrid rescued him. Now he had learned the skill, after much trial and error, though he was hardly experienced at it. Nor could he go far, but it was enough to get him before Ingrid. And there he appeared, a mere meter before his lover. With a snarl on his lips, he swung his blades at her.
"Not so fast."
Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud, Archon of the Primyn Group
Empress of Terraris, Supreme Commander of the Terraris Command, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI ConsortiumObjective: Try to assassinate Darth Solipsis
Location: Akar Kesh, Tython
Equipment: 2x Sigra vibroblade | 2x Striith vibrosword | The Soulsabers | Heilagr MK. I Assassin Armour | Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | The Last Gift || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Writing With:
- Ingrid attacks back and tried to force Zach to make a mistake.
"Or you think he's more than he really is!" she replied without thinking.
Zachariel would not have been the first to attribute too much power to Dark Voice. Essentially, the entire Maw was built on that. She really hoped it wasn't like that, because she knew the man much more intelligently than that. Sure, she knew the man loved chaos, bloodshed, and the gen'dai couldn’t really think with a clear head during a fight, but he could be quite intelligent except for the fight anyway. However, his current words and reactions have destroyed this previously set up picture. To the woman's greatest regret.
Yes, Ingrid really had to play the "good"; though in her eyes there was neither evil nor cruelty in wanting to destroy the Force. It was something in the woman's eyes that would free the galaxy from the chains of the Force. It would finally free all the peoples of the galaxy. But it was quite a double view. On the one hand, she wanted this, and on the other hand, she would not be willing to pay the price to kill half the galaxy for it.
She knew the Netherworld was probably going extinct, but that was another matter. Although she was part of Netherworld, she belonged there much more than Realspace; she would have sacrificed the souls of the dead. Living creatures were a completely different matter, falling into a completely different category. She would have sacrificed herself, but not the innumerable other lives. That’s why the red-haired woman decided she would never join Maw, even if there were common interests. She did not accept the methods of either the Sith or the Maw.
"If I am one with the shadows, how do you want to solve it?" now her voice was mocking a very little.
Before teleporting, she showed him how she is able to melt into the darkness, into the shadows. After all, the Night Spirit transformed her body when she wanted her as a new host. Ingrid was the creature of the night, and now there was darkness in the middle of the Force Storm and all around them. After teleporting, she sensed that Zach was preparing to attack, but she wasn't there. The Empress laughed softly at her usual voice, like when a lover caresses her chosen one.
"I'm walking, honey! I'm walking!" she teases him.
The next moment, the man appeared in front of her and had already attacked. Ingrid lifted the dagger and stopped the blade swinging towards it. They knew each other's fighting skills very well, and of course each other. That's why she was made with something unexpected. She retaliated, however, not to the man, but at the skulls on the armour. The red-haired woman tried to smash one after the other, Zach's trophies. She wanted to anger the man to force a mistake, she was not a soldier against Zach, but an assassin. The vile game was part of the fight.
"If you think I don't understand the purpose of the ritual, tell me I think we have time for this!" she told him as she tried to crush another skull on the armour.
Objective 1/3
Tags:
Duel: CLOSED
Warpost: Anyone else warposting and attacking Akar Kesh, if you wish to join the fight, feel free to! Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the Skull Throne!
Links: Weapons | Chosen | Some vehicles and other stuff
Laughing darkly at those words, the warlord shakes his head once more.
"No, dear Ingrid. You think he's less than he is. Tell me, who else could have organized us? Who in all the galaxy could have brought about such a change?"
He gave her a moment to think, to realize what he said to be true.
"No one! Oh, there have been great leaders, those who brought about much change. But none have ever united the entire galaxy against them, none have wrought so much destruction so quickly. Others have been reviled, hated and thrown down. But they have had allies, become strong over the course of many, many decades. We have nothing and no one but the Avatars and ourselves! Our rise to fame and power happened far faster than any could predict, than any could slow. And that will bring about the change this galaxy so desperately needs, change the Avatars will bring."
She thought him lesser for attributing such power to Solipsis. He knew otherwise, the same way he knew the power of the Avatars. In his millennia of life, he had seen much, experienced more. Zachariel had seen powerful figures rise and fall, fought for and against them, watching them succeed and fail in equal measure. But their changes had been slow, easily removed, and far too reliant on just one aspect of the galaxy. The Brotherhood was not so limited, their changes evident for centuries to come. No one would forget them, no one.
"You believe he does not hold such power, you haven't seen what he is capable of. Nor have you seen the powers that aid him. All you see is falsehoods and lies, I tell you nothing but the truth. When this ritual succeed, the galaxy will be changed. And we will ensure it succeeds, no matter the cost."
The cost of this battle would be high, the slog here had been higher. But it had been a cost they had willingly paid. Staring down at Ingrid, he sneers. She wants to change the galaxy but won't pay the price for it, so she must be dragged into the reality, or left behind. He had thought she may change, see the truth. But considering her disbelief even now, he wondered if that would actually happen. Time would tell, but he began to doubt her then, doubted she would truly follow through.
Twirling his blades at her words, he simply continues to glare at her. If she didn't follow through, then what use would she be in the long run. Spinning about to slice behind himself as she teleported, he pushed those thoughts aside. Most likely, those answers would not be had today, so he focused on stopping her advance towards Solipsis. Teleporting before her, he strikes once more, only for her to block his strikes. Pushing in, he snarls at her, lenses glowing a dark crimson in echo of his anger.
This anger is broken as she suddenly strikes. He had expected her to attack as well, so at her strike he blocks the usual points she has struck. Except now, her blade sneaks past his guard and instead strikes a trophy of his. In doing so, she strikes one of the skulls near his waist, cracking it with the force of her blow. No easy task mind you, as these trophies are from Zachariel's most valued foes, those who had proven him a challenge, or been worthy in some form. During and after battle, Zachariel took skulls to add to his throne, those who were the most worthy instead joined his armor. Forever immortalized as a worthy foe in his eyes. Reinforced to endure the punishment his own armor would face, some of these skulls had been with the warlord for centuries.
And now Ingrid had cracked one, striking his most prized possessions. Her change in tactics pushed Zachariel to the back foot, unused to have to defend himself so. As such, some of her strikes struck true, sneaking past his guard to damage his trophies. More cracks appear, raising Zachariel's ire and anger, bringing it back in a way it hadn't been in many, many years. Then she spoke once more, slipping through once more, and smashing the first skull to pieces.
In that moment, for one eternal millisecond, Zachariel's mind froze. As the shattered pieces slowly clattered to the ground, the world slowed and then froze to the warlord. His thoughts traveled back one and a half centuries ago. He had been hunting a bounty hunter, the best of the time. Certainly one of the best Zachariel had ever seen. But he was used to hunting, not being hunted. And yet, he had given Zachariel a hunt to remember, to cherish. A hunt of cloaks and daggers, played across entire solar systems, and finally ending in a fight that had leveled three city blocks. The hunter had earned a place on Zachariel's armor. And now the skull was gone, shattered into pieces in a way that not even vehicle fire could have managed.
Then time continued and their blades locked, with him glancing down towards the pieces finally hitting the ground. No more than a second had passed, but as the warlord focused on Ingrid, it felt as if a century had gone by. Lenses suddenly flaring into a blinding glare, his crimson gaze locked onto Ingrid as he responded.
"You. Don't."
With a sudden roar, Zachariel struck back. Hate filled his every swing, rage made them faster, and pure, unfettered bloodlust, drove him on. In an instant, he transformed into a whirlwind of death and destruction, striking out and blocking at blinding speeds. And as he fought, the crimson glare of his lenses and the eyes beneath never left Ingrid, as he pushed, his growl echoed forth, vocalizing a fraction of the rage he felt.
Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud, Archon of the Primyn Group
Empress of Terraris, Supreme Commander of the Terraris Command, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI ConsortiumObjective: Try to assassinate Darth Solipsis
Location: Akar Kesh, Tython
Equipment: 2x Sigra vibroblade | 2x Striith vibrosword | The Soulsabers | Heilagr MK. I Assassin Armour | Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | The Last Gift || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Writing With:
- Ingrid successfully infuriates Zach.
- At the first time under their acquaintance, she shows her true power to him
"No Zach, I never underestimate anyone. You already know that. I’m just more familiar with shadow games and politics than you are. Anyone who is charismatic and is in the right place at the right time and is targeting the right layer. Populist politicians are always like that. I never underestimate the fanatics or the religious fanatics." she told him.
She acknowledged Solipsis' power, it would have been foolish not to do so. They had already met and she felt him several times. Last but not least, the woman did not like personal cults either. Did she have to ask herself when she lost Zach? She knew the man was a fanatic, but he had never spoken like that before. Would recent successes have caused all this? Noris, Empress Teta? She thought that was probably the case. Even the woman was surprised to feel these feelings, sorrow, and sadness for a few moments before she instinctively suppressed them. Because of that, as she saw her lover now.
ShHe had never felt such a deep chasm between the two of them, even when they were really enemies. Now she had to realise that Zachariel was not only an ally and a lover, but also a friend. No, she still didn't feel love, but losing a friend, or rather getting lost, was painful even for her. That’s why she didn’t let anyone close to her and kept her distance from everyone. Because of her position and work, she couldn’t afford to have friends. Because sooner or later they will all betray her or get lost and gone astray.
"Oh, Zach…" there was only deep sorrow in her voice.
No pity, just grief and sorrow. She didn't consider the man less because he thought so.
"I also saw and felt his power. You know exactly that few things can surprise me in the galaxy or beyond because I’ve seen a lot. I simply know my own strengths and abilities. Unlike others, I keep them secret and hide them. And maybe I'm doing this well." she told him. "I know exactly who is next to him, who his helpers are and what the Avatars are capable of."
Ingrid would have gladly shouted into the man's face what forces Zach thought she had? She had already faced the Prazutis and Carnifex duo three times and was still here. Ingrid surprised them too.
"If the Maw is really as strong and promising as you think, it shouldn’t depend on the leader, but on everyone in it. It has to remain strong even if Solipsis dies. A state, an army, a cult is only as strong as their weakest link. Tell me, Zachariel, how strong is the Maw in this regard?" she asked.
The red-haired woman studied the Maw religion, she knew it was a good thing for them to die and they were not afraid of it because the Avatars were waiting for them in the Galaxy-to-come. She knew it was a lie, the Netherworld wasn't what they were promised. It's something completely different. Ingrid was a little similar to them, she was not afraid of fighting either, and the members of her people want to die in battle because this is a worthy and glorious death. And only this.
"Isn't that everyone’s goal to get to the Galaxy-to-come? Or are they just lying to the brainwashed soldiers?" she asked coldly.
Ingrid chose a vile method that surprised the man a lot. For her, it was no joy, in fact, before she suppressed her feelings, she even hated herself for doing so. ShHe never wanted to crush Zach. If she had to kill him, she wanted to do it cleanly and quickly. Not like this. But now she needed the man's anger.
~ Please forgive me! ~ she thought to herself.
"I warned you Zach! I asked you not to force me to do so, I am not happy to do so." she said in a still sad voice. "And see why I said what I said."
Before the attack, Ingrid unleashed her necklace with telekinetics and pulled it into one of the pockets of her armour. She no longer hid her power and began to absorb the dark side forces on the planet, mostly from the ritual. As well as the energies and emotions flowing from Zach. She had done this before in front of the man, but she was much, much weaker then. Ingrid reached into the Force and accelerated on her own, the world slowing down around her. Her strength grew at every moment, she had plenty to feed on. As she moved, she picked up Zachariel's movement's speed to defend herself even more effectively against the man.
Since their last serious fight, Ingrid has accumulated more than three hundred years of combat experience, typically in the Netherworld. She didn't hold back now. Other times, she always showed the same amount of strength and talent as her opponent. Not now, she didn't care now if she was growing above Zachariel. One of the cuts hit his side, however, thanks to the continuous dark side energies, the cut disappeared as fast as Zach’s injuries from his regeneration.
Ingrid was still neutral in the Force, but her strength was still growing moment by moment. There were moments when she attacked her opponent in such a way that the attack might have caused serious injury because the man could have not defended himself but she did not finish it. She just showed that she could do it. However, her defences are nearly perfect, anyway, she used only a dagger against the huge sword and axe. They could probably only look like two blurry spots to an outside observer.
In the end, however, Ingrid tried to push Zach away from her with a strong telepathic push, and if that didn’t work out, she jumped further away and teleported away. The shadows moved around her alive, she was part of it. She glowed a silvery neutral light in the Force. Zach could never feel her as strong or determined as she is now.
"I don’t think I’m the one who is underestimating their opponent in this place. Do you really want me to teach you a lesson we'll both regret?!" she asked.
She reached out and the pieces of the broken skull / skulls rose from the ground and then agreed over Ingrid's palm. It took just four or five seconds and the skull/skulls was/were assembled, intact as before. She hovered it/them back it to the man with telekinetics.
"Tell me what they're up to, what they're planning!" it was no longer a request but an order. " The truth, not what they're lying to Maw! I accept that you believe in the Avatars, you worship them, you respect them as gods. But you also know that it is a lie when they promise a paradise. Zach, our goal is not to destroy the galaxy, not even yours. We want a different world, but not one that the Sith dominates or shapes into its own image. Please! This is exactly what you are fighting against, which you do not want either! Please tell me what they are planning! If it really is what we want, I will go and I'll try to kill him another day. You know I never break my word!"
Objective 1/3
Tags:
Duel: CLOSED
Warpost: Anyone else warposting and attacking Akar Kesh, if you wish to join the fight, feel free to! Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the Skull Throne!
Links: Weapons | Chosen | Some vehicles and other stuff
Zachariel snorts once more at her words. There is truth there, in most situations her words would hold true. Perhaps Solipsis had simply been in the right place at the right time, and yet he had still done more with that power than any other. It was two very different things to organize something, and to follow through and succeed. And few could say the Brotherhood hadn't succeeded in their goals. The dozens of worlds and systems conquered would attest to that, the countless more burned in the name of the Avatars was ample proof.
Tython was the last world in that string of bloody assaults. It may be the last one for them, but it would be a glorious end. And should they survive, then they would continue on as they had. Any who had fought them, knew them, would understand only their utter destruction would stop the Brotherhood. Watching Ingrid, he saw that she finally understood. Perhaps it had been how he'd expressed himself, or she could finally see the truth of the Brotherhood, of Zachariel himself.
The sorrow and grief in her voice made his eyes narrow. It confused him, made him suspicious. What did she know, or suspect, that he didn't? He had never hidden his beliefs from her, that of the strong ruling the weak, of the Avatars being true powers to be respected and followed. The further the Brotherhood pushed, the more this was proven to be true. They were led by a strong ruler, Solipsis, followed strong gods, the Avatars, and proved their strength in battle after battle.
"You have seen much, learned much, yet you're still blind." Laughing, he shakes his head. She hadn't seen enough. "No matter what you know, what you've seen and done, you still won't understand. Your power is great, the foes you've faced formidable. All have been overcome, beaten or escaped. But here and now, you will see. The Brotherhood is not one simple foe, the Avatars not one mere god, one belief system. They are more, and we are legion. The galaxy will run red with the blood we spill!"
Perhaps she would understand in time. The slaves of the Brotherhood were all equally brainwashed, the marauders all trained and then specialized in their warbands. The higher up the totem pole one went, the stronger the individual became. Strength ruled over all else. Where one fell, another would rise to take their place, leaving only the strong behind.
"Strength rules all Ingrid! Where one falls, another rises, and only the worthy continue on."
No one in the Brotherhood would ever admit how tenuous the alliances truly were, nor would any showcase this to others. So long as they had a leader to follow and an enemy to conquer, the Brotherhood would thrive. No matter the losses sustained, the enemies fought, or the battles won and lost, they would thrive. For no other reason than to ensure the strong would be there in the end. Whether this was the Brotherhood themselves, or another group.
"The galaxy is changing, it already has changed much. It will continue to change as time passes, we are simply the catalyst to bring about that change even faster. Should our goals succeed, the galaxy will be as decreed!"
All Mawites believed in the Scripture of the Hidden Maw. Above all believers were the Avatars, the Dark Gods of the Maw. In their name, the strong ruled and the weak served. They adhered to the dogma of the Avatars and the Brotherhood, following the words of the Heathen Priests. Of all the political and religious systems in the galaxy, the Brotherhood was one of the few that truly followed through in every aspect of who they were. Ingrid believed what was said to be a lie, but where was the lie? The Brotherhood followed the scripture, with every battle they changed the galaxy, forced that change on the non-believers.
Laughing loudly at Ingrid, the warlord of the Bloodsworn sneered. She may not enjoy what was about to happen, but he would. The strong ruled, the weak served, and the Brotherhood held true to its beliefs. He held true to his beliefs. And as her necklace was removed and they fought, that didn't change. Blade versus blade, will versus will, and centuries of experience on both sides brought them to fight. A blur to all but the two of them. Sword and axe versus daggers, the clang of the blades echoed around them, and each strike created sparks and one could see the air displaced.
Suddenly she pushed him back with the Force. And even that barely phased him, with him merely brushing it aside and slicing once more. Only, he cut through empty air. She had teleported once more, prompting him to straighten and twirl his blades about once more. He didn't look any worse for wear, despite what she had absorbed from him. There was simply too much death and destruction happening all around, he simply reabsorbed what was lost with the souls of others.
Watching her with wary eyes, he snorted as she spoke. He had suspected she would wish to speak once more, it's what always happened between them. In all their fights, they had spoken to one another in such a manner, between boughts of clashing blades. This was simply a more serious matter than those more light hearted fights. Twirling his blades once more, he snorts again. He is still a powerful warlord, a warrior and bladesman with a millennia and a half of combat experience. On top of that, he was a gen'dai. His confidence in the face of her words could be easily sensed.
That confidence didn't waver as she rebuilt the shattered skull, though disgust joined what he was feeling. She insulted the honor of that bounty hunter with such an act. Still, as it was floated to him, he held the skull in his hand, watching her as she spoke. He easily understood her words as an order, and scowled as he saw she still didn't understand. He hadn't lied, and she didn't believe him. Looking away from her and into the eye sockets of the bounty hunters skull, Zachariel's scowl deepened. Then his head shifted back to look at her, his rage evident as his lenses flared.
"I think... you underestimate me." With a single move, Zachariel crushed the skull once more. The skull had been lost in combat, an honorable end, even if it enraged him greatly. Moreover, he had been angered by the deliberate focusing of the skulls, rather than the loss itself. Rolling his shoulders in a false look of loosening them, he chuckled unamusedly. "This. Is. Paradise."
"I haven't lied my dear, not once. Should this ritual succeed, the galaxy will be torn apart by the forces at play. From this Force nexus to so many others, reality will break and bend to our will. Everyone will see the power we wield, the might we possess. And all our losses won't matter, because we succeeded." Spreading his arms wide, he laughs darkly. "THIS IS PARADISE INGRID! What comes after may be a lie, our souls merely devoured by the Avatars, or left to wander the Nether. But this? This is paradise. A galaxy at war, endless bloodshed, with the strong ruling and the weak following." His arms lower as he focuses on Ingrid. "If I must work with Sith to accomplish this, so be it. Once our goals are achieved, I will cast them aside, or be cast aside. Regardless, we will have succeeded. I will have succeeded."
The man did not answer her question. She didn't really expect it. If she had answered, she would have had to let the woman kill Solpisis because the Maw was strong enough without him. And if he says no; then he admits he is on the side of the weak, something Zachariel would never have done. It was actually the perfect trap, just a little annoying that her opponent ignored it, but perfectly understandable. She was already sure that this day was not when she would be able to rationally convince him. And in general, it almost always succeeded.
Today will not be like this…
Of course, she knew the words and ideals of the Mawite religion; that the strong must have ruled the weak and could have ranked further. When the man talked about the woman being blind; Ingrid felt the consequences of the ritual at that moment. The red-haired woman understood the words spoken in the distance before, as she spoke and understood in ur-Kittât perfectly. Her eyes widened, because of the energy she absorbed, her strength, her soul, wanted to connect to the ritual. The Empress groaned and fell to her knees from struggle. She never, but never felt so powerful hunger then as she did at the moment. She wanted to devour all the souls, she felt the way they connected, the way they fed Solipsis' ritual.
And that was wrong…
"I understand this, but it's not just about that for a long time!" she told him.
It’s the same hint that she knew what he was talking about. But Ingrid was unable to watch this in religious form. She wasn't blind, but she couldn't believe it. That was the difference. This was also the case for empires and states. Only the strong remained, the weak disintegrated, and collapsed. It was a cycle of life. Now the Maw is strong. The question is how long. No, that might have been the case at first, but she didn't think so anymore. She no longer looked at things small, but big. The present was fleeting, just a few seconds to her. She wasn't a human anymore, and she realised this after they defeated Omni.
And it was painful…
"No matter how much you’ve lived, you still see the galaxy so small, Zach!" she told him. "Don't look at the road that leads there. But what will happen after that? The road is irrelevant. And no, I'm not blind, Zach. I’m just no longer able to look at events and the flow of time like ordinary people. The fleeting seconds don't matter. Trivia like Maw, I, the Eternal Empire, NIO… could be listed. It no longer matters. For the past nearly three hundred years, I’ve had to figure it out. Everything is changing, yes. But what's happening here isn't what you told me long ago. No one will rule after this day." she said.
She had not yet risen from the ground, though she was already able to hold back her soul and overcome the temptations to join the ritual, to sacrifice her own life and soul at Solipsis' altar and will.
"That's not how the Force works. I can feel what they are doing. Not what you say! If they succeed in what they want… it will not bend the way you imagine. It will erase all life in the galaxy! Not only the weak, but also the strong will perish! Everyone!" she told him.
Now she got up from the ground, took off her helmet, and dropped it on the ground, stabbing the two daggers into the ground. Ingrid let her long red hair fall freely on her back and the wind played with it. The Empress stepped closer to her lover. She knew there was a chance the man would kill her. But she would have been ready for that. she would have been willing to assume it if she knew she could save him. She looked into the man's eyes as she approached. Meanwhile, Zachariel smashed the skull again. She sighed barely audibly.
"I never lied to you, never. Neither in the past nor in the future will I." she told him again. "I respect you much more than that. I don’t underestimate you, I always respected your decision, but now you’re biassed. I don’t care if you serve the Maw, I don’t care if you respect the Avatars as gods. But I do care if someone from the background wants to control you and convince you to do something like this with half-truths. I also care if it the price is your life or your soul!"
If she knew, she put her hand on the chest of the man's armour, where the heart of a normal living thing would be. She had done this before, in a similar situation. But now she wasn't trying to seduce the man. Ingrid looked up at the helmet, looked into his eyes. No, this place was not a paradise. Zach may have seen it that way. Was he able to understand the price he had to pay for it? She doubted that.
"I think from that moment, I'm trying to save your fething soul … old friend!" she said softly. "I don’t feel that you would be tied to the ritual. Tell me I'm right! Solipsis will devour everything and everyone, the full army of the Maw. Please… no, I'm beseech you, Zachariel, say you weren't so stupid! TELL IT!" she had already shouted the last words.
And she struck the armour, not to hurt or damage the man, it was rather helplessness and bitterness…
After all, she once promised that she would definitely protect the man because they wanted the same goal. And last but not least, Ingrid always did her best to protect her friends. And there were very few of them…
