The Rising Sun and the Falling Darkness

[Darth Prazutis]

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Atrisia was a planet home to the rigid Imperial structured society and center of the small Atrisian Empire that Lord Mythos carved out for himself. Their society was structured almost like the the Panathan Empire before the brutal civil war that tore it apart, and ultimately installed Kaine as the Supreme Leader of a more modernized government with a booming economy, as well as a racially pure society. But Braxus wasn't on Atrisia in the blazing heat in the middle of summer for a vacation, he had come on business.

The Prime Designate and Apprentice of Darth Vornskr sat in an Imperial shuttle mediatating as it descended from the Primeval-Star Destroyer 'Harbinger' towards the planet. The Atrisian Naval Defense Force designated Braxus's ship as a Diplomatic Vessel and a High Valued Person(HVP), sending with him a personal escort and clearing all major lanes of traffic so the Hand could quickly reach his destination: The Imperial Palace. While on a diplomatic mission Braxus made sure to do his homework with the man he'd be negotiating with, Lord Mythos Amul was the King of Atrisia, the CEO and majority shareholder of Warforged Incorporated. He wasn't chosen by the Dark Lord to be one of his Voices or Hands just yet but its well known he's eager to get himself involved.

The Apex Predator was well aware of Mythos's weaknesses too however, he was a very reckless individual, and he had a god complex. Braxus would make sure to stoke the man's ego while he was here, and play on recent events. After action mission reports show that Lord Mythos was engaged with Lord Kentarch in a battle against [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] and [member="Coci Heavenshield"], that turned into a fighting retreat when his ally fled like a coward in the middle of the fight, his values of honor ensured that the man was still beyond angry for that decision. 'Good..I'll play on that.' Braxus thought to himself. Thurion and Coci were the leaders of the Silver Sanctum and not two foes to be trifled with lightly, and most Sith crumble under the weight of Thurion alone let alone his wife of whom he is in perfect sync with. Although Mythos still paled in comparison to [member="Darth Vornskr"] his master and God-King.

Braxus's concentration as one of the guardsman rested their hand gentle on his shoulder, and the subtle landing of the shuttle immediately caused Braxus to determine the interruption. Braxus stood up off the floor and exited the shuttle surrounded by four members of the elite royal Crownguard, elite warriors that guarded Kaine and the Zambrano Family. Two of the six warriors stayed behind to guard the dropship, it was a formality really but one that he intended to keep. Since their victory at Lujo that brought Kaine back to life, Braxus and Kaine talked in detail of the events to come, the turbulent times ahead for all of them and what had to be done. So this meeting was orchestrated and Braxus carefully rehearsed what he was coming to offer.

The Herald walked through the large crimson, rectangular double doors that led into the secluded Atrisian Palace, receiving side-looks from the Jar'Kai, Mythos's own Royal Guard. They clearly were not used to the presence of other such elite warriors, perhaps Mythos rarely had such important dignitaries coming to visit? Or perhaps the silent, ominous presence of his guards were unsettling. Braxus took careful heed as he watched one of the soldiers disappear hastily into the throne room they had him waiting outside, alerting their King. Not too long after the large doors opened to the great hall that held the King of Atrisia's throne, and Braxus walked briskly down the hall.

A smile formed on his face as he looked up at the man and bowed. "King Mythos Amul, thank you for receiving me so hastily, I didn't run into any delays on my arrival." Braxus's hands slid behind his back, standing up tall. "I must say on behalf of myself and those I represent we must congratulate the Warforged Titan of Atrisia for his successes on Lujo...despite the untimely exit of his ally in the midst of battle, you not only survived the encounter but thrived in the midst of battle." Braxus added, it was merely there to incite emotion in the man.

"But I come here not on behalf of myself but on behalf of his Kaine I, by his own grace, Lord of the Royal House Zambrano, God-King of all the Epicanthix, King of Panatha, Bunduki, Fornow, Ravaath, Sorimow, Grand Duke of Canthar, Highreach, and the Underhold. Supreme Leader of the Kainate Authority, Voice of the Dark Lord and Warden of the Unknown Regions on matters of grave importance." Braxus said, trumpets sounding to herald the royal titles. "My master sends his personal apologies as matters of dire importance call him away, untimely death has a tendency to leave matters...unattended to for prolonged periods of time, he has a lot to catch up on."

 

[Mythos]

The throne of Jar'Kai was at the moment Braxus stepped in adorned with the flags of the One Sith and the might of the royal guard of Lord Mythos both flanking him and in the high places. When Mythos heard of the herald being present in the Atrisian system he could not help but shake his head. Apparently he had become quite the popular icon raising the wanting of support for both sides of the up and coming conflict. Upon his throne various mechanical tools worked about his body, laser pointed cauterizing droids weaved flesh and tissue around him after seventeen surgeries and four rib replacements left him in the critical state he was in. Now, those surgeries and bacta/kolto applications allowed Lord Mythos to be able to not only fight once again but also impart the image of a true warrior with scars beyond the count.

Titles, they worked magic on him, as Mythos thought himself grand and powerful and in part he was right. He had defeated countless foes and forged a legend for himself along those that would follow him. "I appreciate the aknowladgement from [member="Darth Vornskr"]..." He began, happy to finally make the acquaintance of the legendary sith lord he had idolized during his Acolytehood along with every other aspiring student in Glee Anselm. His tone however changed quite fast, the reason was simple. While [member="Darth Mephirium"] asked for his alliance personally, Vornskr had sent a messenger... for a warrior that valued honor as the highest of all commodities... Mythos did not appreciate the gesture.
"Yet I know what you come here for... if the God King of Panatha desires my support..."

Mythos stood from his throne, a force repulse of the darkside ripping the mechanical chips and inks in his body as he stood from the throne, anger and indignation beserking from his body with the movement. With one boot in front of the other Mythos approached the sith below him and behind him the force thundered like a storm ripping apart the stone steps of his throne on the way down. "Then why, pray tell... does he send you instead of coming himself?"

The words came our like a snarl but Mythos did not check the volume of his voice, with every word he started to raise his voice higher and higher until at the end of that statement the anger had consumed him. His hands clamped down into balled fists, the volatile and violent nature of his mood was soured by the pain of his injuries and the perceived insult from the panathan king. He stood before Braxus lifting his head to meet the towering warrior before him, almost twice his size and weight... yet so was Thurion and most of the enemies he faced... Size matters not.

Slowly the force began to calm, Mythos released his fists and forced himself to calm down and think about this in a rational sense that would advert a possible negative outcome. Silence.... then soft rhythmic laughter. Mythos nodded and licked his lips, then narrowed his eyes to the crown guard that sorrounded Braxus. "Lets settle this the old fashioned way shall we?... Kai!"

In the flash of a second, from the top of the ceiling one armored warrior dropped down wearing an amazing Phrik armor that dated back to the original Jar'Kai that protected emperor Akio in the Atrisian Empire of old. The man was masked, knelt before Mythos to his side and weilded a massive Vibropike as his main weapon aside from his lightsabers. This... Was Kai. Champion of Atrisia.

Spoiler

"My finest warrior... versus your finest warrior..." Mythos gestured to he his side as the handmaidens brought forth metallic chairs for them at the north part of the throne room so they could sit side by side and watch the combat to the death. "Let the strongest rule..."

[member="Braxus Zambrano"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

A warrior culture...

Braxus sighed and nodded as Mythos expressed his aggravation at [member="Darth Vornskr"] sending his personal apprentice. This was all part of the diplomatic process, but still he didn't bother explaining a man as warrior bound as his own Atrisian's would never understand. This was the problem with these warrior people they resorted to fighting, always fighting. Braxus couldn't fight Mythos on his own...Mythos was an accomplished Sith Lord who even now seemed to be hiding his own force presence, for the only dark side presence in the chamber emanated from Braxus alone. The Hand of Darth Vornskr thought about trying to talk the King of Atrisia out of this duel but it would only insult the man and his intelligence by trying to weave some sort of political jargon.

It was too late even as Kai, the Champion of Atrisia entered sight in an interesting display, completely geared up and ready for battle. Braxus grinned then as he noticed Mythos's smug face and confidence, he was sure his champion would mop the floor with whatever Braxus sent at him. He contemplated sending one of the elite Crownguard with him, any one of the legendary warriors would surely be enough to take down this champion, but no. Braxus fully intended to make an impression on this Sith Lord, this smug King of Atrisia that he would never forget: That Braxus Zambrano was the Hand of Darth Vornskr, the Avatar of Black-Iron, and that even in this capacity he was not someone that should be crossed lightly.

The Prime Designate nodded and looked directly at [member="Mythos"] "If this duel is what you seek than you will have it, Lord Mythos. But I must warn you now that my champion does not accept yields, and does not stop until his target is dead, I haven't stopped him yet, and I will not stop him now." Braxus said as he turned to one of the Crownguard behind him and pointed at one of the individuals "You, go fetch Gor'Kai please." Braxus said as one of the men hurried off while the Hand walked over to he little area by Lord Mythos and sat down while the Crownguard took positions opposite the Jar'Kai.

Several minutes went by and there was nothing, the guard had returned and whispered something into Braxus's ear but the man didn't say a word. It was almost long enough to doubt the Champion was even coming...but then something happened...

Boom, Boom, Boom BOOM!

A loud set of thunderous booms echoed through the halls, extremely heavy footfalls too large to sound like a normal sized human and certainly not one of the Crownguard. Quite suddenly then the doors of the throne room burst open as the origin came into view. A creature of gargantuan size came into view. It wore heavy battle armor under long, reddish-purple cloaks emblazoned with intricate gold patterns at the chest, back, and shoulders. Their heads were wrapped in heavy linen and covered by a large helmet resembling a golden Aquila with spread wings, and only its crimson eyes were visible behind the narrow slits punched through the armored face-plate. In his large hands he gripped massive vibro-axes decorated with bleached skulls and blasphemous trinkets depicting ancient Sith symbols.

This creature was an Imperial Sentinel, one of the elite guards the Vornskr'ei Cult produce, and the special protectors of many of their vast holdings, these elite warriors possessed no higher brain function, felt no pain, and knew no fear. They were directed by Seers, a tiny group safely tucked away on the Shuttle. It made no sound and barely moved as it stood in front of Kai, giving the man what could only be described as an utterly terrifying death stare, enough to make any hardened, grizzled soldier shiver in fear at the monstrosity before him. "This, Lord Mythos, is Gorkai the Bloodgorger." Braxus said as he looked back over at the man. "This is your planet, and your home, give the order and let blood be shed if you could." Braxus told him.

 

[Mythos]

Mythos nodded at the warrior that entered the hall... the fear in the room was palpable even without the force to enhance him. It was not of this world or any world for that matter, this.... monster that walked into the halls of Atrisia would have struck fear in the hearts of any single warrior in this world. Yet not Mythos or Kai, the champion of Atrisia. The only fear Mythos had was that his guest would provide no real challenge yet those fears were wiped away much to the pleasure of Mythos. He was glad to be taken seriously and the absolute best to be given to him for battle.This earned [member="Braxus Zambrano"] a comforting smile of appreciation and a nod. "He is quite a specimen..." He said while glancing to Kai who still knelt at before the floor where he landed, he showed no fear and showed no movements from where he stood.

Of course not all in the throne room were stalwart Jar'Kai who hid their true concerns, those with little spirit or no experience in war cried out in terror at the sight of Gor'Kai. Some wept in fear and other ran as fast as they could, screaming for their lives as if the massive monstrosity was going to chase after them as soon as they turned their backs. "Kai!" Mythos screamed and the warrior kneeling before the pavement jumped up into battle stance of Jar'Kai so fast that Mythos without the force could not track his movements. He turned back to his guest and procured a box of fine cigars below the cabinet of the small table between them. "They are the finest smokes in the galaxy, ZP tobacco and custom made... there is something I must discuss with you.... You may begin!"

With that command, the battle commenced. David versus Goliath. A spectacle to behold. His warrior instantly dashed forward with the power of the force aiding him in his movements and brandished the pike spear like a blade in one hand while in the other he conjured sith lightning to destroy his monstrous enemy. Kai was trained for decades in the arts of combat, even against a more powerful enemy he would not fall without extreme skill.... if Martha were still alive... she would have downed the creature before it walked through the door... but she was gone now... the thought of her bringing a sorrow to his eyes that was unshakable. Through the roar of battle in the background Mythos spoke to his guest while taking a special trinket from his pocket.... the Valthris.... and flicking it through his fingers as he spoke. "I do not know if you are aware how the battle of Lujo transpired... but i assure you things will never be the same afterwords..."
[member="Braxus Zambrano"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

Braxus with a maddening grin nodded towards Gorkai, so it begins...

As the man turned to charge so did Gorkai. The monstrous creature made a sound, a guttural roar that almost sounded like a thundercloud, or the rumbling of a volcano rather than any humanoid sound. But what the roar did do was create this almost unbearable stench of decay and death, as if a thousand dead and rotting corpses had been suddenly dropped into the middle of the room. The giants metallic stomps boomed once more as the creature broke into a charge brandishing its battle ready axe, just as lightning cascaded across his body.

The alchemized armor worked to dampen the effect and deflect some of it away but the creature was still struck. Anyone else, any normal human would be screaming in pain and writhing in agony, but not Gorkai, not this giant. It seemed as if the creature didn't even recognize the effect of the lightning that must of worked to char the skin it touched underneath. What Gorkai did do was bring a powerful vertical strike down towards Kai, a typical tactic for some lumbering brute that a warrior would expect Braxus took note, but this wasn't just a giant.

As assumed Kai wouldn't just stand there at the sheer force being dropped down upon him he would sidestep while the axe came down, crashing into the floor and briefly shaking the area with a tremor while boards splintered as it stuck, but the real attack came from one of the giant creatures fists that came down while the man would dodge the blow, its force a mixture of a falling mountain and a freight train at full speed, beaming for the man's gut.

Braxus nodded as King Mythos spoke and looked towards the man when an exceptional amount of darkside energy spilled out into the room like a flood. He thought it might have been Mythos dropping the facade, but it was this small purple gem the man was twirling like a toy in his hand. Braxus looked at it as he spoke "I was only informed that you and Darth Kentarch engaged the Heavenshield family, and that your ally fled and you managed to survive, I wasn't gifted with the details." Braxus said as he nodded in gratitude, taking one of the cigars and lighting it up, briefly puffing on it.
[member="Mythos"]

 

[Mythos]

The smell was bearable... slightly. The combat and clash of titanic proportions made up for it in Mythos' mind, surely he could withstand the awful stench of the rotting beserker in exchange for a battle of epic proportions. Lightning flickers its blue streaks across the giant bringing out the smell of charred rotten flesh to the distate of everyone present yet it was the next move that Mythos was most impressed by. It would seem that Kai had made a crucial mistake, one that Mythos had made when he saw the behemoth and one that Martha... would not have made. He thought the monster, because of his appearance, stupid. It had cost him an advantage yet Kai was still strong in momentum, met the first by backlipping on top of it and then jumping spear first to stab the eye of the beast... the sight was marvelous.

"Impressive" Mythos stated when he was the move then quickly got back on track. "After the battle with the heavenshields... I was hit with an ability i know now as the Wall of Light, i had not faced such a technique before...." He bit his lower lip remembering the flash then took a large puff of the cigar as he watched fight. "It disconnected me from the force and the injuries that i had sustained during the fight became impossible to sustain.... without the force, i was defeated." He finished, a fact and not an opinion.

His senses and instincts not completely gone Mythos reached up his hand to catch a rock sent flying through the debris with amazing speed. He needed to get used to not using the force... or it was going to cost him. "I awaited the final blow to die with Honor.... yet the Jedi master would not grant me death.... instead.." Mythos looked him in the eyes, the yellow flare of them gone since the battle. "He severed me from the force... "
The smoke blew from his lips into the image of the battle, Mythos had no fear of his reaction.... he was indifferent... he knew what he had to do. During the battle handmaidens had brought to Mythos large chest and placed it by his side... What was inside it would make even the greatest of kings drool in lust... Yet it was not to be open yet.

[member="Braxus Zambrano"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

Braxus leaned grinned and nodded as Kai expertly used Gorkai's own attack against him to jump on him and stab at his eye. But it wouldn't be so easy. Gorkai swatted Kai off with his open right hand that temporarily came off of the massive alchemized vibroaxe that was now driven into the palace floor. Gorkai from deep within unleashed another growling roar as with just one hand pulled the axe from the earth and turned to face the man. To those watching and new to seeing the Bloodgorger it was freaky, almost terrifying how focused this monster was, Gorkai was always focused intensely on Kai and he never blinked, those crimson eyes like burning orbs, he didn't even make sounds of heavy breathing due to the rigors of combat, or growl in pain from the Lightning that hurt him despite his protections. Gorkai charged towards him and used his longer reach and size to unleash a torrent of powerful axe blows, raining them down upon his opponent.

The Champion....the Monster of Braxus Zambrano never hesitated in his attack, he never gave Kai a chance to rest and was ready with a smashing knee or a stomp to keep him from getting inside, and it was almost criminal how he swung this axe with both two and one hand equally well. As the Herald of Darth Vornskr and Second in Command of the Vornskr'ei, not to mention the Prime Designate, the second in command of the Kainate Authority, the Vornskr'ei Cult made sure he had full access to these Sentinel monsters. Braxus used them to guard all of his holdings, and he picked out Gorkai for one of his personal entourage. The monster was unstoppable, a killer who came on top out of all the other Sentinels and survived Lujo with minimal injury, widely earning the nickname "The Bloodgorger".

"As you can see he knows no fear, and feels no pain. Gorkai's lungs are like iron and even then, he never tires or slows in combat. He can never be intimidated, bribed, coerced, or reasoned with, and he never questions orders, he's the perfect champion." Braxus said as his champion rained down strikes upon the crimson clad Jar'Kai champion.

He turned and looked at Mythos curiously as he began explaining what exactly happened, and Braxus did not expect that. He pulled the cigar out of his mouth and coughed in suprise as he mentioned the Wall of Light, it was an extremely rare and powerful light side power. But suddenly it all made sense to Braxus. Mythos wasn't hiding his dark side presence because he didn't have one anymore, it was like cooling embers once enflamed, the dark side gathering around Braxus, and it pulsed within this small purple gem the King was carrying. "Your serious? If you don't mind Lord Mythos I must see for myself." He said while the man had the cigar out of Mythos's mouth, reaching up towards Mythos and using the force to construct lightly around his windpipe. Braxus stopped with surprise shortly after as he encountered almost no resistance. If he were to do this to any other major Sith Lord, their power and superior skill it wouldn't be this easy to crush the man's throat, he wouldn't even be able to do this. "My apologies Lord Mythos I didn't mean to insult or slight you, I had to see for myself...to believe it. To be cut from the force...that's a fate worse than death for people like us." Braxus replied, eyeing the chest while he puffed on the cigar. "I've heard it's extremely hard to reverse, even harder than returning from death. Lord Mythos as a fellow colleague I must warn you without the use of the force, your political adversaries will seek to outmaneuver you with your newfound weakness, in this little game we play." Braxus replied.

Now the severed Sith Lord had a chest brought to his side, what was he doing? Braxus's attention was already split between the fight and what Mythos was already doing especially with a gem he couldn't use while severed from the force.

[member="Mythos"]

 

[Mythos]

Alchemized axes.... that was what the giant was wielding? Mythos became more and more impressed with every passing second, in the battle he had wanted Kai to face a real opponent and what he was granted was nothing less than a testament to the Zambrano family and their aptitude for war. Kai moved so fast that Mythos was envious of him, his speed was impossible to track as he zigzagged from left to right in between falling ax blows that ripped the very ground apart when they fell. Mythos recognized the strategy, it was that of getting close and slicing the legs off, take off the legs.....and the tower will fall. The bloodgorger now found that the champion of Atrisia would not fall that easy, his vibropike twirled around his hand over his head like a cyclone of destruction yet all around him death... was just one hit away. Kai had already been hit while in the air, and again in the ground yet speed caused the momentum of those swings to loose a bit of strength.... yet it was just a matter of time...

Mythos nodded to his guest, expecting the news to come as a surprise yet shooting him a confident smile during the whole ordeal. "Gor'Kai would make most Jedi soil themselves... but he is slow and something tells me he is not very smart." He said with a chuckle, Mythos would not tell him but he already had switched bets in his mind. Martha would have ended this conflict by now and what he saw from Kai, although impressive, was not enough, he knew the outcome of this fight shortly after a single ax blow ripped the cloak off Kai inches from his back.

His guest asked to see for himself, Mythos obliged and nodded, he did not know what exactly he would have planned to test him yet he had no fear of whatever it was. When the choke came Mythos reached for his throat and grasped it stoically, not wanting to show any pain or weakness yet also wanting to make the point that he was... without a doubt, telling the truth. When he let go Mythos gave him a confident smile and said.
"I would not lie to you Herald it is true... the power of the force has left me..."

He did not have any remorse or anger for the fact against the Jedi, on the contrary, Mythos was grateful that he was given a second chance to be a father and a husband instead of laying dead in a pool of his own blood beneath Lujo.The herald then spoke and apologized, Mythos waved a hand dismissively. "There is no need, you have shown be Honor in bringing such a warrior to my gates and appeased my desire for combat." He then stayed silent, hearing the words of the Herald with careful detail, hinging on every word and narrowing his eyes while twirling the crystal in his hand. When he had finished speaking Mythos nodded and bit his lower lip, Braxus was right in everything he had said and the way he said it was a bit more mild natured for a sith... perhaps be was just being political,none the less, Mythos agreed. "Indeed... yet my journey is not about regaining my powers just yet, i have more pressing matters to attend to..." He looked back to the fight with a smile, it was going to be over soon... one way or another and the servants would working for their credits today... "As for my political opponents... this is where you come in..."

With a nod the chest was opened and the crystal he had in his hands plopped inside it. The sight would have made even the greatest warrior gasp in amazement.... Phrik, hundreds of pounds of Phrik mined from demonsgate during a massive raid he had conducted next to the Warforged agents. "I need to die.... i need my funeral to be convincing...." Mythos looked at the Herald, his answer would determine if he would leave this place alive or not. "All records of my return burnt, all information regarding my survival in Lujo wiped clean from all databases in here and in Coruscant." He gestured to the open chest who shined an eerie glow of red due to the tint of the Phrik and the purple glow of the crystal, then he looked back to his guest awaiting his answer.

[member="Braxus Zambrano"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

Just one hit away...

Every turn death was just one strike away for this Champion of Atrisia, the axe wielding monsters barrage kept him dancing around and springing inside hoping to find an opening. The first few times Gorkai tried kicking or swatting him away as the man tried to get at his legs with the whirling pike he wielded, and then Braxus knew what was happening. The man's speed were lessening the strength of his blows coupled with the wear and tear of combat falling on him, as evidenced by Kai's narrow avoidance of an axe strike that took the cloak clear off his back. The man danced inside Gorkai's range once more and even landed a strike by partially impaling his leg with the pike, but that was his first mistake. It appeared as if Gorkai was going to crumble from the blow visibly hunching over except it wasnt due to pain or inhibition. Gorkai suddenly seized the other portion of the man's force pike that came through the back of his large leg, and pulled it through completely out the other side, driving a thunderous kick towards his torso to knock him away while the giant threw the vibropike at full speed, attempting to impale the man to the floor through one of his legs.

Either way the spear would be driven deep into the ground, and potentially damaged. Braxus grinned as Mythos quipped about the intelligence of such a creature, Gorkai didn't possess higher brain function but rather was being directed by the seers, that was a secret he wouldn't tell the man. "You'd be surprised...many people often are while making that assumption." Braxus said to Mythos. The man wasn't at all worried about the political repercussions from his severance of the force, the Sith Lords seeking to displace him would surely seize the opportunity given the knowledge that Braxus now possessed, soo why?

Now he understood as Mythos had the chest opened and Braxus sat forward in his chair in surprise. Phrik...lots and lots of Phrik coupled with a powerful dark side crystal. Mythos wanted to disappear away from Atrisia for a while, away from the political scene and take care of personal business on his path to supremacy once more. But he needed to ensure his competitors thought he was dead, were sure he was dead and he was certainly prepared to give up treasured assets to get it. "Lord Mythos what is that gem exactly? I've felt its powerful presence since you revealed it...its extraordinary." Braxus said while he inspected the contents of the chest carefully.

Braxus was certainly no fool to turn down such an offer, he wasn't being coerced to go against his own master, and it wouldn't stand in the way of his own goals, in fact it would further them to obtain these objects. "Lord Mythos if you want to remain dead you won't find any problems from me or my lord in achieving that, I will be silent on the matter, and it can be arranged..." Braxus said as he accepted the man's offer of Phrik and a powerful gem, in exchange for keeping quiet about his existance, and making his death more convincing.


[member="Mythos"]

 

[Mythos]

Mythos winced when Kai got kicked and flew to the other side of the arena like a thrown rock, then clapped and laughed. "Well done, well done indeed! haha!" Truly this battle was well worth his time and effort, the bloodgorger was seemingly unstoppable yet Kai, to Mythos' surprise did not stay down and instead pulled both the crimson lightsabers in his belt and eyes the beast with a ferocity that made Mythos' smile vanish from where it was. "Well then.... this is not over.." No sooner had the words left his mouth than Kai rushed back forward against the monster and twirled in mid air to catch the middle of the hand of the beast and slice it in two then... take the offensive. Kai mooved forward bathed in rotting flesh back to where the spear was still impaled with the hoped of jumping on the pike and using it a springboard to jump between the monsters legs and cut him clean in half. Weather Kai succeeded or not, Mythos was already pleased with the combat shown and his thirst for a spectacle was doused with the performance of both combatants... he found no words to express his gratitude for the clash of blades, it was an honor to him to be blessed with such a spectacle.

The ground shook beneath his feet at the rumbling of the footsteps of the monster and Mythos gazed back into the eyes of Gor'Kai through the smoke of his cigaro and even without the force... he knew he could take this monster on with just a few broken bones to show for it, bit Kai... Kai was doomed if he did not end this quickly, while Kai could tire, Gor'Kai did not. Most warriors understood this, Mythos had predicted this outcome shortly after Kai got hit the first time.

The Herald asked Mythos about the gem and before he answered he gave him a knowing smile. He knew that Phrik was and would always be one of the most prized substances in the galaxy he would willingly part with it in exchange for a funeral... the crystal however... was a gift he decided to give the Zambrano for two reasons, the first being that an artifact of such power could be easily traced to him and the second being that the Herald had pleased Mythos with his champion... a reward was in order. "That.... my friend... is the Valthris Crystal, the Dark crystal as it is known by the republic... birthed from the death of Donovia and the planet still suffers from its creation." He gestured to the chest and pointed directly at the crystal. "It makes you more powerful than you could ever imagine, however...." Mythos frowned, explaining now the greatest defect the crystal had. "The power of the darkside is so strong in the artifact... it causes nightmares, paranoia.. " Mythos looked around behind his back and to his sides then leaned forward to whisper. "It makes you think those around you plot against you... even if they did nothing of the sort..." He leaned back in his chair and puffed at the cigar while nodding as a warning. "For someone with power... paranoia is extremely dangerous, it does not affect me anymore thankfully, but i warn you of its effects before you have it.... as for your Lord and my death..." He smiled and chuckled beneath his breath.

He looked again to both his sides and the walkways of the ceiling... if his master found out and he knew that few things in the galaxy could hide from Ophidia... he would have serious problems. "A funeral would make things official, the word of Vornskr or yourself confirming it even more so and it would even serve to tie bonds between both sides after this conflict ends. If you can accomplish this...and i am sure you can..." He gestured for the chest to be closed and the soldiers to bring it to the hands of the crownguard. "More than just that will come to you..." He shot him a smile of confidence. "The Jar'Kai will leave with me as well... if the One Sith needs me you need not call... i shall be there"

[member="Braxus Zambrano"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

Braxus laughed as Gorkai kicked the man and sent him careening across the room and falling to the earth like a stone. But even as the man worked to recover and stand on his feet, the Bloodgorger was already on the move towards Kai, black hot blood still trickling down his leg, bubbling out from under golden plate to form on the floor. It smelled utterly putrid, disgusting, but it was overpowered. The beast from nightmares once again let out a long guttural rumble that this time echoed through the palace halls and a low wind came out of his mouth carrying hot breath straight into the nostrils of Kai and anyone unfortunately around to smell it. It was utterly disgusting, a wind of putrefaction mixed with a hefty stench of blood and gore boiled out whose horrific stench alone felt as if it could boil the hair off of your eyebrows.

The giant pulled his hand inside as the agile champion attempted to cut it in two, rather than slicing his precious hand the man would hit the armored forearm of the giant. Sparks flew as the lightsaber made contact with, and burned into the plate, it singed and burned into Gorkai's arm. The strike might, just might have cut through if the man was at full strength, if he wasn't wounded, and if he wasn't relying on speed that left his strikes already weaker than normal. Braxus was impressed by the champions fortitude and creativity as he took the initiative to springboard off of his pike and try to horizontally bisect the beast while his axe was overhead. It might have succeeded, if the axe's pommel didn't come down full force to crash against the man's shoulder.

Gorkai was special, he was different than the other sentinels the Vornskr'ei Cult made use of. While they all lacked higher brain function, Gorkai possessed it to some degree, it could be suppressed but through its existence Gorkai was able to maintain his individuality, and stand out from other sentinels. The Valthris Crystal, a force crystal of dark side power created through the death of a world, its famed existence was known to Braxus, but he never saw it before, and only suspected of its owner until now. Naturally its great strengths had potent weaknesses...nightmares, paranoia, he would have to be wary of the crystal. "Marvelous..." He said while listening to Mythos discuss it in detail as well as his wishes to remain dead.

Braxus made a waving gesture to one of his crownguard, and two of the individuals came over to grab the chest and take it back to his shuttle. "Certainly Lord Mythos, I have been well received here. I feel things are coming to a boiling point as civil war looms on the horizon, so once it is all said and done your "funeral" can be arranged, would you want it on Atrisia?" Braxus replied hiding a grin at the mans mention of future rewards. This arrangement of theirs was turning out to be very profitable indeed. "Of course, but don't count on your champion here being with you."

[member="Mythos"]

 

[Mythos]

"Judging by what i have seen" Mythos said with a chuckle at the mention of his champion not surviving the encounter almost mimicking his own thoughts on the matter. "I don't think you are wrong... still.." Mythos looked to the battle and what looked to be Kai's final moments as he aimed to split the beast in two yet met a roadblock in the form of the armor plate that the beast had, it was what seemed to be the end of the Atrisian champion once and for all. To Kai... it was not over, even if he saw defeat and knew that was no hope of victory he would fight on to the death because his training. The breath of the titanic abomination clogged up the entire throne room and it made Mythos cover his mouth and nose with his calm as his eyes squinted to avoid further contamination. "Damn..." He coughed at the stench, putrid and rancid air whirled around all those yet the Crownguard appeared to be un phased, Mythos figured it was due to their extensive time with the abomination that they had grown slightly accustomed to the stench.

Kai was not unaffected, the stench of the roar coupled with the plethora of broken bones and strained muscles caused him to flinch and hesitate giving the abomination just the opportunity he needed to land a the pommel of the weapon directly into the mans shoulder."That had to have hurt." Mythos said jokingly looking back to his guest with an approving nod. Kai flew again, this time his lightsabers digging into the ground creating a line of scorched golden steel in his wake... he was not done yet to the surprise of Mythos who raised an eyebrow in shock. "Hes... alive..."

The words left his lips just as soon as Kai gathered the force inside of him fueling himself with the pain of his injuries and the desperation to survive. Mythos could not sense him but he did not have to, he understood the nature of the force and when he gazed upon the champion of Atrisia he knee the dark side of the force was strong in him... and gathering. When Mythos blinked, Kai moved with force speed faster than even Mythos when was connected with the force, when he saw Kai again he was in the air, broken shoulder and all flying straight of the beasts' chest aiming to cleave through his chest and come out on the other side.

Mythos looked to his guest with a smile, glad that he too was able to provide a great challenge for Gor"Kai just like he was providing a challenge for his champion."Atrisia would be fine, [member="Nomkneer"] has been my general and served me well, he will probably take the reigns after my leave and do a great job in the position. I have arranged some of my engineers to design the tomb... " He smiled at the thought of them. "They gave their lives... for the construction" The insinuation was obvious, the reality was Mythos had it designed as a Labyrinth so no one could reach the actual coffin which was empty... between the entrance and the tomb a mile long labyrinth coupled with traps and guardians would lay defending as well as the pups of Groom... Tuk'ata hounds...

[member="Braxus Zambrano"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

Braxus leaned back and laughed as even Mythos reacted to the simply terrifying stench eminating from the Bloodgorger. None could take it and when the stench got this bad, Braxus knew the end was near. Along with Mythos the Ancient Hunter almost cringed as Gorkai shattered every bone in the mans shoulder and upper arm with one blow, sending him down to the floor like a sack of potatoes. But Braxus leaned forward in utter disbelief as the man even now managed to stand up from the blow, it was a miracle he was conscious. The Herald stood up from his seat then and briefly pulled the cigar out of his mouth, and barked "Gorkai! Stop playing with your food and do what needs to be done!"

Braxus slid into his chair as the order was given, of course Gorkai was trying to kill him but with subtle manipulation the creature's master wanted him to put on a display these Atrisian's would never forget, and he's done that 100 times over. The Jar'Kai in the chamber were utterly terrified of this beast, and those who werent were now throwing up from the stench. Gorkai stopped for a moment as Braxus spoke and suddenly everything in the room changed and the entire feeling in the room shifted, if it wasn't eerie and scary before, it had gotten much worse now. The monster's whole demeanor changed as his attention once more looked towards Kai, except he stared down at him with such rage, with a startling death stare.

The champion made one last attempt in the face of death as he gathered the force and jumped up with the might he had left to deliver one strike to the beasts chest, and his blow landed. Kai landed a successful impaling strike into Gorkai's chest, the lightsaber sinking albeit not as deep due to the armor. But as his blow connected the giant stumbled back and recoiled from the blow, but grabbed the man in his hand and started to crush him. Gorkai then left the axe impaled into the earth while he raised Kai above his head and with one guttural roar smashed him into the steel floor with a BOOM! The giant then picked up the large axe on the prone and wounded, but writhing in pain champion and brought it down into him, the blade smashed into the ground with a wet crunch as it severed the mans right leg and cut into his torso, a sure death blow but one that left the man still alive and screaming with pain, as if some force or his stalwart nature was keeping him awake.

Braxus looked over at Mythos with a serious look on his face "Gorkai cannot be reasoned with or coerced, he kills." Braxus said as a forewarning to what was coming. The gigantic beast walked around the man, leaving the axe trapped on his lower torso while black blood poured from his chest wound. Gorkai knelt down to the ground and moved close to the wounded man, and slowly pulled the mouth cover to the side, but even now only Kai would be able to see the creatures face...just before the end. Gorkai suddenly plunged his head down towards the screaming champion and to the horror of everyone in the room, a symphony of wet bones and tearing flesh as the creature began devouring the live man giving everyone in the room a terrifying display of why the creature was called the Bloodgorger.

Everyone in the room could have tried or attempted to help but no one dared to move while the wailing champion cried for help, dissapearing completely as Gorkai moved on top of his upper body and began to tear the man apart in a raging frenzy, blood spattering about and flesh being thrown into the air. After at least five full minutes of this, Gorkai stood up from the mans corpse and swayed slightly, but still walked towards Braxus and stood motionlessly a cool ten feet away covered in blood and gore, the remains of Kai were now pulped all over the floor in a gore indescribable mess. Braxus stood up and walked over to this champion, a smile on his face. "Excellent job Gorkai!" He said as the Sentinel knelt down to him, letting Braxus examine his wounds "Get back to the ship we need to get you all fixed up, excellent work!"

Braxus returned to Mythos and sat down next to the man "My apologies for the mess rest assured I will reimburse you for the repair expenses...and the cleanup. Now you understand why he's called the Bloodgorger, I dont think i've seen someone ready to duel him so eagerly as your champion." Braxus added. "But as we were saying Lord Mythos, your Tomb sounds like the ideal place to have it, and with your tombs...defenses, no one will ever find out the truth, but where will you go might I ask?"

[member="Mythos"]

 

[Mythos]

"So unsanitary..." Mythos chided at the sight of some of his own guard vomiting,surprising to say the least yet not unexpected as the guttural rancid stench of Gor'Kai's breath was nothing less that utterly disgusting. Mythos did not part his eyes from the battle and as Kai rushed forward Mythos shook his head while mentally chastising his chosen form, technique and approach as various mistakes neither him nor Martha would ever make. The lightsaber impacted the chest of the beast and was halted by some metal yet Mythos nodded in conclusion, thinking his warrior to have won after a deadly strike such as that one. He looked back to Braxus in confidence and shot him a wink of pride."It appears we both we-" Mythos halted when he noticed the beast did not go down and instead just recoiled back. "Impossible..." Mythos said under his breath, no being could survive an impalement of that power not even beasts with multiple hearts could... it was to Mythos something he had never seen before.

Suddenly Kai was being crushed by the hand of the monster and soon afterwords began to be devoured and Mythos now understood what they called him the bloodgorger. Mythos gawked, mouth agape in utter disbelief as Kai was devoured by the monstrosity one chomp at a time and his cried of pain and agony were suddenly silenced after one particularly disturbing crunch of bone and muscle. Mythos blinked and it was over, silence overtook the throne halls but slowly the roar of claps from the Jar'Kai and the other soldiers drowned the silence. "Well done... well done indeed, this was a combat worthy of my halls and my soldiers... you have gained our respect and admiration Braxus, your soldiers are of high standars and your warriors of true merit..." Mythos stood and nodded to the warrior extending his hand in friendship."Worry not about the mess, the servants will deal with most of it either way... as for where I am going..." Mythos frowned at the thought, not even he had thought of that yet and the question brought it to mind. "One place i am sure i will visit sooner or later is Korriban, other than that, to be perfectly honest I do not know... what i do know is that it wont be in one Sith space."

On their way out the crownguard were saluted by the Jar'Kai with bows and fists in the heart like brothers of the same chaste. It was a show of honor and respect towards those who they considered of equal skill. One particular crown guard received an Atrisian Sword from one of the Jar'Kai and even bowed along side him in traditional Atrisian mannerism. The sight was one of honor and culture, appreciation by the two warrior clans towards each other and a further bonding of friendship or brotherhood.

[member="Braxus Zambrano"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

Braxus was surprised on one hand at the respect and honor the Jar'Kai showed, but on the other hand it was something he sort of expected to happen. These were a warrior people and combat was a huge part of their lives, their daily customs, so seeing their champion get struck down even in such a brutal fashion they reveled in the good fight it brought. The man fought with honor and distinction against a living tower of destruction and despite his best efforts, he could not prevail and was yet another notch on Gorkai's killcount.

The Bloodgorger first garnered Braxus's attention while he was being used on Vornskr'ei Cult operations with a startling success rate at hunting down heretics across Panatha and breaking the record for the most prolonged operations without stopping to even mend wounds the creature might have sustained. Shorlty after Gorkai was often used as an executioner or a champion to fight in duels such as this, and when Braxus came to power in the cult he immediately seized Gorkai for himself.

The Herald took Mythos's hand and shook it in friendship "Words can't describe the honor and dedication of the Atrisian people, even in the face of destruction your warrior stood stalwart until the very end, I've seen very few warriors capable of such a thing before Gorkai ends them. " Braxus said "I hope you find what you seek out in the vastness of space, Lord Mythos. Oh and rest assured everything will be taken care of."

[member="Mythos"]