Weaver of Fates
Out of Character Information
Intent: To create a Dark Side-aligned Force Nexus for RP purposes, providing a unique and powerful location for storytelling, character development, and exploration of the Dark Side of the Force. The Dark Sepulcher ties into the lore of the Sith Order and Darth Callidus, serving as a focal point for their influence on Denab.
Image Credit: X
Canon: N/A
Permissions: N/A
Links: N/A
Setting Information
Nexus Name: The Dark Sepulcher
Nexus Alignment: Dark Side
Location: Denab
Affiliation: The Sith Order, Darth Callidus
Size:
Medium – The Dark Sepulcher encompasses a cavernous underground temple and the surrounding desolate terrain.
Strength:
Strong – The Sepulcher exerts a potent and oppressive aura of the Dark Side, deeply affecting those who enter and drawing Dark Side practitioners to its power.
Accessibility:
The Dark Sepulcher is hidden beneath a jagged mountain range on Denab, its entrance concealed by treacherous terrain and cloaked in Dark Side energy. Only those with knowledge of its location or a strong connection to the Dark Side can sense and find it. The site is guarded by Dark Side acolytes and traps created through Sith alchemy. Access is restricted to members of the Sith Order or those deemed worthy by Darth Callidus.
Description:
The Dark Sepulcher is a brooding and oppressive edifice of ancient malevolence, carved deep into the jagged heart of the Crimson Maw, a mountain range renowned for its deadly terrain and unrelenting storms. Its presence is not merely felt but suffused into the very fabric of the surrounding environment. The air grows heavier as one nears the temple, carrying with it a faint metallic tang that lingers on the tongue, as though the remnants of bloodshed still permeate the atmosphere. The structure itself is an imposing monument to the Dark Side, a seamless blend of natural rock formations and deliberate Sith engineering. Its design exudes an otherworldly aura, with massive black stone walls veined by pulsating crimson energy that flows like blood through an open wound. These veins radiate an ominous glow, casting distorted shadows across the surrounding cliffs, giving the temple a spectral appearance that shifts and flickers with unnatural life.
The Sepulcher's approach is marked by treacherous paths and sheer cliffs, forcing would-be pilgrims to contend with the unforgiving landscape. Shattered remnants of ancient statues line the way, their features eroded by time yet still emanating an aura of quiet menace. The whispers of the wind seem almost alive, forming half-heard voices that unsettle the mind and sap the resolve of intruders. Upon entering, the oppressive atmosphere intensifies. The Sepulcher's halls are vast and labyrinthine, constructed from volcanic black stone polished to a mirror-like finish that reflects the faint crimson light. Every corner and crevice is inscribed with Sith runes, their glow faint yet captivating, like embers of forgotten hatred waiting to be reignited. The air within is unnaturally cold, chilling the bones and numbing the senses, a stark contrast to the burning intensity of the emotions it stirs.
The Dark Sepulcher is more than a sanctuary; it is a crucible of transformation, drawing forth the innermost emotions of its visitors—rage, fear, ambition—and magnifying them to their fullest intensity. To the uninitiated, it is a place of madness and despair. To those who embrace its call, it is a source of unparalleled power, a dark beacon that promises both strength and damnation.
Nexus Effects
The Dark Sepulcher heightens emotional intensity, particularly fear, anger, and hatred. Dark Side practitioners who meditate within the temple experience visions and vivid memories tied to their emotions, allowing them to draw power from these connections. The Sepulcher also acts as a crucible, forcing initiates to confront their inner turmoil, which can either strengthen their resolve or break their spirit.
Specific effects include:
- Amplified connection to the Dark Side, boosting Force abilities temporarily.
- A heightened sense of self, allowing practitioners to tap into their inner fears or desires as sources of strength.
- Hallucinations or visions tied to the user's emotional state, often reflecting their past or potential future.
- Weakened Light Side connections, making Jedi or Light-aligned beings vulnerable.
The Heart of Shadows:
The Heart of Shadows is the focal point of the Dark Sepulcher. This vast, circular chamber is where the nexus's power is most concentrated. Its walls are inscribed with flowing Sith runes, each glowing faintly red, telling the story of the Sepulcher's creation and the ancient Sith who first harnessed its power. At the chamber's center stands a massive obsidian altar, smooth and polished, its surface covered with intricate carvings that shift and change when viewed from different angles. A constant, swirling red mist hovers above the altar, imbued with the concentrated energy of the Dark Side. Visitors to the Heart of Shadows feel their emotions heightened to an almost unbearable degree. Rage burns hotter, fear becomes palpable, and hatred sharpens to an edge that feels almost physical. Many who meditate here experience powerful visions, often of their past traumas or possible futures, drawn forth by their innermost thoughts.
The Whispering Halls:
The Whispering Halls are an extensive network of twisting corridors that branch out from the main temple. The walls here are alive with movement; shadows seem to stretch and contract of their own volition, and faint whispers echo endlessly, their origins impossible to locate. These whispers are not random—they are reflections of the thoughts and fears of those who pass through the halls, often manifesting as disembodied voices of people they know or once knew. Navigating the Whispering Halls requires immense mental discipline, as prolonged exposure can lead to paranoia or even madness. For initiates of the Sith Order, these halls serve as a trial of willpower and focus, separating the worthy from the weak.
The Wailing Abyss:
The Wailing Abyss is a deep chasm located in one of the Sepulcher's more remote chambers. Its edges are marked with crumbling stone pillars, each engraved with ancient Sith chants. The abyss itself glows faintly red, and its depths seem infinite. Those who peer into it often claim to see visions—faces of loved ones, enemies, or manifestations of their darkest fears. The screams of the abyss are faint but constant, blending sorrow and rage into an unsettling symphony. Sith rituals often take place here, as the abyss is believed to offer communion with the long-dead Sith whose spirits linger in the dark.
The Black Gate:
The Black Gate, hidden within a rocky escarpment, appears as a jagged rift in the mountain. Its edges are adorned with Sith glyphs, etched into the stone and faintly glowing with crimson energy. These symbols are not mere decoration; they form an ancient barrier, capable of repelling intruders unless they bear sufficient Dark Side affinity. Beyond the gate lies a winding descent into darkness, where the air grows colder and the shadows more tangible.
Historical Information
The Dark Sepulcher is shrouded in mystery, its origins lost to the obscurity of millennia. Even the most ancient Sith records fail to pinpoint when or by whom it was constructed. The oldest known references to the site describe it only as the Shadowed Vault, a place of immense power hidden in the depths of a forgotten world. The lack of concrete details, combined with the cryptic nature of surviving accounts, has led many to speculate that the Sepulcher predates even the Golden Age of the Sith, perhaps originating from a time when the Force itself was still raw and untamed.
After its creation, the Dark Sepulcher seems to have fallen into obscurity. Historical records and legends suggest that it was known only to a select few, possibly serving as a secret sanctuary or ritual site for the most devout Sith practitioners. At some point, however, the Sepulcher was abandoned, its existence seemingly erased from memory. Some scholars speculate this was a deliberate act, as the temple's power may have been deemed too dangerous even for the Sith to wield freely. Others believe the temple's guardians or creators perished in an ancient conflict, leaving it to fall into disrepair and be consumed by the harsh terrain of Denab. For thousands of years, the Sepulcher lay dormant, its secrets buried beneath the mountains of the Crimson Maw. The surrounding environment, warped and corrupted by the nexus's lingering energy, remained hostile and inhospitable, deterring exploration and ensuring the temple's seclusion.
In modern times, the Dark Sepulcher was rediscovered by the ruler of Denab, Darth Callidus, who was drawn to the mountains by a persistent vision—a whispering presence in the Force that called her through dreams and meditative trances. The journey to locate the temple was treacherous, requiring Callidus to navigate the Crimson Maw's labyrinthine peaks and contend with the malevolent energy that seemed to guard the Sepulcher from intruders. When Callidus finally uncovered the Black Gate, she sensed the immense power radiating from within. Upon crossing the threshold, she was confronted by the Sepulcher's first trial: the Whispering Halls. The voices and illusions sought to undermine her resolve, dredging up fears and regrets from her past. However, Callidus, with her unyielding will, turned the trial to her advantage, using the visions to deepen her connection to the Dark Side.
Since its rediscovery, the Dark Sepulcher has become a focal point of Callidus's efforts to expand her knowledge of the Dark Side. She has established it as a hidden sanctuary for the Sith Order, though only a select few are permitted to enter its depths. Callidus herself spends extended periods within the Sepulcher, meditating in the Heart of Shadows and delving into the secrets of the Wailing Abyss. Despite her progress, Callidus believes she has only scratched the surface of the Sepulcher's potential. The temple continues to challenge her with new trials, and its deeper chambers remain unexplored, their secrets protected by barriers of Force energy and alchemical traps.
Under Callidus's guidance, the Dark Sepulcher has become a proving ground for members of the Sith Order. Initiates are brought here to confront their fears and embrace their inner darkness, undergoing trials designed to test their emotional and spiritual limits. The temple serves as both a crucible and a repository of knowledge, shaping the Order's philosophy and strengthening its members through suffering and self-confrontation. Callidus's long-term goal is to uncover the ultimate secret of the Dark Sepulcher—its true purpose. Whether it is a weapon, a repository of limitless knowledge, or a key to immortality, she believes the temple holds the power to reshape the galaxy. For now, however, the Sepulcher remains an enigma, its origins and ultimate potential hidden in the shadowy depths of Denab's most foreboding mountain.