The Shadows of Life [ TSE Dominion of Ossus ]

[Dok Varuut]

Objective 3 - Exemplify The Sith
Location - Knossa, Ossus, Adega, Auril, Outer Rim
Allies - Darth Lucifus, Sera Sadow, Jorryn Fordyce

After some time spent resting, and mostly just waiting to see if anything else happened, Dok made the decision to move on. He had to dust himself, again, as his cloak and the uniform beneath it were both now covered in dust, mud, and perhaps a little dried blood. Not the first time any of that had been on these, and Dok had gotten used to getting them off. Once he was done, and satisfied with the state of his clothing that other people could see, he moved on, not glancing back at the people still mourning, nor did he further help clear the rubble. There was no point anymore, the people inside had all been removed, dead or alive. Now it was up to Knossa to take care of it. Instead, Dok had another destination in mind. Dok knew he wasn't the only Sith on the planet, and while he didn't know all the details, he knew some of the highest in the ranks were here. After all, no one wanted to tell an acolyte like Dok anything. He also knew their were other people here to convince the people of Knossa, and by extension, Ossus, to bow to Sith rule and accept their new place in life. So, if others had the same end goal in mind as Dok, it made sense for him to search them out, and join them in their efforts, even if he had already gone his own way a tad, as usual.

Dok yawned as he walked, before popping another piece of jerky into his mouth. He had this strange feeling that his time on Ossus would be boring, and tedious; he really wasn't looking forward to this mission, even if he had already technically started working on it. This was one of those missions that could drag on and on, in his mind anyway. It was because of the open ended goal, only a few people had the authority to declare such a job done, and even then, they might argue back and forth over small, petty details. Perfect for.....no, Dok had kept out of such underhanded tactics up till now, he wouldn't give in just because of a little boredom. Taking one last breath of clear air, Dok opened his eyes and took a quick look of his surroundings.

It didn't take him long to spot a gathering of three, though he entered only at the tail end of whatever was happening, as the taller, heavily scarred man released the face of one of the two shorter girls. Dok made his way to the group, but stood off to one side, more curious as to what was already happening than he was hesitant to be rude and interrupt. He may be a SIth, but he could have dignity, respect, and manners, something some of his old classmates never seemed to grasp. They had been little more than savages most of the time, but he couldn't deny they had power. After all, of them that had survived were now above him on the ladder, and here he was still stuck at....

No, no, keep calm Dok, don't let your frustration rule you. Patience is key in a Empire this size, even if he did des....no no. Dok mentally centered himself, this was why he preferred to be alone, the constant reminder of his own failure hung above him when he was with other Sith. He would do his best to keep it under control, but there was just something about groups that irked him in general, let alone once you add his petty hang ups, for yes, he knew that is exactly what they were. Yet, he could draw strength from them if he needed to, so at least they weren't useless petty hang ups.

 

[Darth Prazutis]

​Over time the wicked stronghold began to take shape.

An impenetrable fortress guarded by walls of reinforced black iron rose in the Eocho Mountains, honeycombed through the tall peak smooth tunnels were carved out of rock by the work of dutiful droids and the massive tunneling worms their efforts carved out halls, storerooms, dungeons, offices, living quarters, courtyards, and more up towards its peak while smoke continued to perpetually rise into the sky, black smoke from the mines down deep in the earth.

​Slowly but surely Malagard the Black Fortress rose glowing from within its dark walls with a deep orange light. The crimson banners of the Sith Empire fell hard over the spiked towers that protected its walls, facing an empty and exposed field of jagged rocks. Every section of the base was completed one by one, carefully inspected by engineers and immediately transports were sent down to bring the desired area online. More and more of the dark armored Gelian Sentinels began to take control of the fortress's fortifications, while extensive efforts were made to furnish and outfit the stronghold with everything necessary to run a Sith Fortress and forward military hq.

The darkness twisted and corrupted the region with every foul structure that rose into the skies, the temperature spiked in the region from the surge of industry working around the clock. Through the great halls the Shadow Hand walked to the tune of hammering as the infamous sith-imperial architecture was installed, furnishings brought in from massive supply ships descended from the great fleet above. The progress of Malagard brought a smile to the Shadow Hand's face for it was everything the Jedi Order despised, it defiled the sacred ground of this world by its very presence the great crimson banners hung everywhere as a stark reminder that in these times the darkness grew and the light faded with each world that fell under their control.

​High in the mountain spire he reached an exposed breach in the rock that allowed him to stare out over the vast mountain chain and down at the great forest that edged up against it. A darkness spread through it twisting the once peaceful wilderness into a dark murky wood so foul its very nature rose to create a canopy that even blocked the sun from entering. It was the dark work of [member="Coniferous"] and [member="Vessa"] that spread the dark side through mother nature. But deep within like a beating heart he could see the workings of [member="Darth Carnifex"], a low burning flame that flickered as bright flashes occasionally rang out from explosive charges. The most sacred temple of their enemy had been demolished right down to the bedrock through the efforts of his nephew.

​The light would fade from Ossus and in its place a darkness that would fester for generations to come. The Lord of Lies said nothing even as his entourage gathered around him, not a single word escaped his lips but the grimace of a murderer took root on his face.

Eclipse the Light
3

 

[Lemon]

OSSUS

---

---

AURIL SECTOR, OUTER RIM TERRITORIES | OBJECTIVE: 4

The humming sound of a Jedi's lightsaber encroaching upon the Mandalorian's position is all that the latter heard. Lost in a trance of focus, determination, and spite. A Bounty Hunter only ever had adversaries, not enemies, or so a man long dead once said. Perhaps Koda wasn't as great as he believed himself, falling victim to passion, victim to hate. In this galaxy that stretches far and wide, only the Jedi had earned their name as Fett's true enemy. A twisted satisfaction came from killing them, watching their bodies slump to the ground as their weapon rolled from their limp grip. Twisted indeed.

A single shot was reflected with ease, a second with difficulty, and a third struck it's target. A searing hole formed in the chest of his opponent. He was no Jedi anymore, whilst perhaps in his youth he fought off droves of Sith, slew many a foe- but now, now he was an old man. Weak, tired, and ready to die.

A breath lingered on the edge of his voice, dropping to a knee, two knees, and then the ground. The blue blade retracted into the weapon, rolling from his palm and out onto the cracked stone. "Please..." He just wasn't ready to die just yet.

No sympathy came from Fett. A permanent scowl hidden beneath his infamous helmet. The Bounty Hunter watched as the life drained from the old man beneath him, and for a mere moment the thought of 'what if' came to mind. What if things were different? But no, they couldn't be. This is who he was. Koda Fett, the Bounty Hunter on everyone's payroll. The man you called upon when someone was too dangerous to deal with yourself. When your armies are stretched thin you insert this man to cause enough havoc and destruction to level an enemy stronghold. To instill fear in someone who dare oppose you.

A metallic boot raised in tandem with a leg, and then forcefully thrust downwards. Crunch. Dead. Bounty complete.

---

---

 

[Darth Athora]

While activity stirred within the FOB, Zahori was still. Her eyes were staring into the deep red of the amulet she was given. She had never laid eyes on a Sith amulet before, nor did she have any idea what to do with it. An officer walked up to Zahori and saluted, awaiting the Admiral's attention. Zahori looked up for a brief moment before returning her gaze to the amulet. "What is it, Commander?"

"Ma'am, preparations are nearly complete. The complex is nearly fully repaired and renewed while the additions you suggested are ready to receive power. Estimated time of completion is 2 days, ma'am."

"Very well." At that moment, Zahori remembered what the Neti said to her about the amulet. It could control the minds of others at the owner's will. "Commander, do we still have that Jedi in captivity?"

"We do, ma'am. We brought him to the moon just as you requested so he may, as you said, watch his homeworld fall to the darkness."

"Bring him to me."

Moments later, two troopers were dragging a malnourished man to Zahori's feet. The defeated Jedi had a look of depression on his face as he could not even work up the strength to lift his head. Zahori squatted down to get on the Jedi's level. "Listen to me, Jedi. Listen well." Zahori held the amulet close to the Jedi's face, attempting to utilize its power. "Look at me." The Jedi grunted harshly as he lifted his head to look at her. "I can see you are attempting to resist. Save yourself the trouble and don't. Now, say my name and title, Jedi."

"Vice Admiral Zahori Denko of the Sith Armada."

Zahori's lightsaber suddenly ignited, it's blade extending through the chest of the Jedi and coming out of his back. Zahori leaned into his ear to whisper. "It's Admiral now, peon." Her lightsaber suddenly deactivated and the Jedi's body fell to the ground. "Not an efficient enough of a test. I will have to find another subject another time."

 

[Jairus Starvald]

Objective 2: Birth Fern and Flower
Nearby: [member="Vessa"] [member="Joycelyn Zambrano"] [member="Thyne"] and other fronds

Guards?

Head tilted an inch at that suggestion.

"No, child, you are here as a witness." Coniferous murmured resolutely as they entered the clearing of the forest. It was here that the darkness fled, before the light.... where was it? Red eyes studied, saw the damage the light was doing against the dark forestation around it. He stepped further into the clearing and then hissed softly. Looking down his feet, bark and wood and fern, were slowly hissing. As if acid was burning through them, but that was not the case, was it?

It was the darkside within that recoiled against the light of the ground.

This was... odd and yet it was only going to get more odd as they waited. Because before them? The forest seemed to... wilt, trees of dark, thorns of blood, slowly sinking away as something -- in the distance -- approached at the clearing.

​

Every step it took... green appeared- it was of the light and with it came the smol spirits that Coniferous and Vessa had chased away.

The wisps, creations of pure lightside, they had kept the forest green and lush for centuries if not more. They had pacified the wilderness, inspired by the Jedi that had made their home in the Great Library for many, many centuries. "They come..." Con hummed softly to Vessa as his claws reached into his own frame, vines and bark giving way until the digits pulled out a staff. But the wisps were not the true danger, instead it would be something... different.

Coniferous could feel it.

The pressing of the light as it approached on four legs.

He could practically see it, if not for its cloak of light blanketing the green sight from him.

 

[Joycelyn Zambrano]

2 - Don't you do it Thyne- What are those?

Witnesses huh? The tree had big thoughts of himself and of forests, but he seemed to not hold much credit to his companions, beyond little Vessa. She had seen some soldiers in the legion with similar stories. They graduated with exemplary ability and distinction, maybe found themselves a few loyal friends, and then forgot about the rest. They often died. As for the little one, Joycelyn could sense the spike of mistrust. It was fine, she adored that which burned. Of course she would fear the fire and cover that fear in rage and mistrust to those who wielded it.

Not everyone could see the beauty of Vahl.

"Thyne, keep alert. Eyes open and ahead"

As the little globules of animated light spread out before them in the clearing, Joycelyn casually drew the long, slightly curved blade of Zaudraka from his sheath. A small blue flame licked across the blade as it tasted fresh air.

buuuuurn it!​

"Nu riyikrauti ra ardira iw saud"

She concentrated on the blade and the fire that trailed up along its blade. It was not a wild roaring flame, but a blue flicked with yellow tongues catching on the edge. However, as she focused, three drops of flame fell from the blade. It looked like they were about to fall to the forest floor and start a fire, but then they stopped and hovered in the air. Sure, the grass curled a little as it would under a strong sun, but it would be fine. The three drops of fire then slowly grew into globules of their own, larger than the wisps and looking far more aggressive.

"Eat."

The globules spread, moving to attack the little spirits of light with their bodies of animated fire. A smile spread over Joycelyn's lips as she watched the three little balls of living fire tear into the little spirits.

[member="Coniferous"] [member="Vessa"] [member="Thyne"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Darth Ophidia"]

"Indeed, my Lord," she replied as the Emperor explained his philosophy on destroying the Jedi. He didn't need to mention that to her of course. She was living proof of someone studying their enemy in every facet to understand how best to destroy them. That did remind her though, she had come to Ossus for another purpose as well. She hadn't spoken with the Dark Lord since Rhen Var, using her apprentice as the conduit. Those experiments and the quest for the holocron were very nearly complete.

"In all the excitement, my Lord, I forgot the other purpose that brought me to Ossus," she stated, reaching into her robes. A small crystal was produced, engraved with a collection of Sith runes. Contained within the crystal, and accessible with a mere application of the dark side, was a memory from the events on Byss. She had felt the Dark Lord would appreciate viewing the memory, to see the destruction of such a champion of the light and his pure shock and surprise at the betrayal.

"What we discussed on Rhen Var has occurred," she said cryptically as the crystal was handed to the Dark Lord, throwing a glance at Ophidia. The Emperor had clearly not seen fit to divulge the secret to the leader of the Assassins, at least at present.

 

[Darth Athora]

The final preparations were nearly completed for the complex. With the military aspects completed, it was time to bring in Zahori's own assets with Koensayr Manufacturing. The addition of this location would be greatly beneficial for her and the Sith Empire. She watched from the FOB as dropships were bringing in molecular furnaces and more. All the complex would need to be fully efficient were en route or already being implemented. Once complete, the massive complex would be a beacon of industry in the system thanks to Zahori.

"Commander, get me Borik Maccon on the holoprojector."

"Right away, ma'am."

In almost an instant, the hologram of Borik Maccon came up before Zahori. "Ah, Admiral. I was waiting to hear from you. How goes the construction?"

"Just fine. Be sure to have our people on standby to occupy the facility. I want it up and running immediately after construction completes."

"Of course, Admiral. 4,000 men and women ready to work the factories as requested. Will there be anything else?"

Zahori looked down at the talisman in her hand. "No. That will be all, Borik. Return to your duties."

"Yes, Admiral." The hologram dissipated and Zahori returned to her chair, waiting for this operation to end.

 

[Sera Sadow]

Objective: 3 - Exemplify Sith Rule
Location: Knossa
Allies: [member="Jorryn Fordyce"]
Nearby: [member="Darth Lucifus"]

--

Sera almost visibly cringed at Jorryn’s response; Sith lords had a tendency to be a bit unsta-

And there it was. A rush of icy darkness flashed across Sera’s awareness and wrapped itself around Jorryn. At first, the young Assassin expected to hear a slow crunching noise, or perhaps to see blood leak from Jorryn's eyes, but no, nothing of the sort. Sera was a little disappointed - that would've been an interesting visual, if nothing else - but mostly she was just relieved. It was always refreshing to meet a fellow Sith of Rationality.

And then he started talking. It appeared that some Acolytes took their flair for melodrama with them all the way to Lordship. What was worse than that, however, was the way he inspected Jorryn, like a piece of meat at a butcher's or a beast of burden at auction. When she was much younger, she had seen men look at her mother in similar ways (although they had never gotten close enough to touch her, not without injury), and it made her just as queasy now as it did back then. Not that she let it show. Emotions were useful; letting someone else see them just made you vulnerable. Then he touched her. Took her chin in his hand, tilted her head up. Examined her.

Well, if he wanted a good look at her, he'd get it.

For the briefest of seconds, the facade dropped. Gone was the bubbly young fanatic, and in her place was Sera Sadow, face as stoic as ever, but eyes seething with hatred and disgust and tinted with just the tiniest hint of sulfur.

It would be so easy.

Sera's lightsaber was hidden in her coat. Bringing it to her hand with telekinesis was a trivial exercise, and from there, she could cleave this Darth Lucifus in twain with little more than a flick of the wrist.

So easy, and so tempting.

Then, just like that, the other girl was back, all nervous and tense and fidgeting in her spot.

"S-Sera Kirshe, Sir."

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Those were famous words, the ideology of conquerors past only defeated because they did not understand the ways of the Force. Then again, that was where Carnifex differed. He knew the Force, and he listened to the advice of others who did so too, and those who did not. The wise king takes council.

A little fire and destruction did help along the way.

"I will look forward to the fireworks then." "And their findings."

She watched closely as Taeli handed over the crystal and mentioned Rhen Var. A metaphorical gear clicked in her mind with what she saw and what she knew from other sources. She did not know what had been discussed on Rhen Var, but she was aware of some of the events ongoing in the galaxy.

She stared right back at her when the glance was made, eyes unwavering, unblinking, always searching.

[member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

His larger hand took hold of the crystal with a gentleness that would seem anathema to a beast such as him, yet he held it aloft quite gingerly. Carnifex looked it over for a moment, carefully studying the intrinsic detail of each reflective surface before he levitated it into the air with the Force. A small sliver of darkness exuded from the Emperor's being, imbuing the crystal with the spark of power needed to conjure forth the memory stored inside.

The Emperor watched with rapt interest as the memory of the Grand Marshal's execution played out, a dark smile curling his lips. "Excellent, my lady, excellent. Rhen's death cements our stranglehold, they will be undone from within."

Carnifex withheld the crystal, pocketing it somewhere on his person before facing the Queen of Shadows. "Ophidia, my darling, I do not think you and my companion here have been properly introduced. This is the Lady of Secrets, a secretive moniker for a secretive task. You'll be pleased to know that she has informed me of the death of the Galactic Alliance's Grand Marshal, Omai Rhen. The leadership of the New Jedi Order has been decapitated, albeit for the time being, but I have good intelligence that Master Taeli Raaf will be poised to replace him."

A subtle glance back at the Lady, "Our Lady will ensure that Master Raaf doesn't not overturn our victories."

[member="Darth Ophidia"] | [member="Taeli Raaf"]​

 

[Jairus Starvald]

Objective 2: Birth Fern and Flower
[member="Vessa"] [member="Joycelyn Zambrano"] [member="Thyne"]

Fear was a thing of the humans.

Did a tree fear the coming wildfire? No, they simply accepted what was to come and had pride in the fact that their ash would serve to feed the next generation. Did a rock fear the eroding waters? No, it remained where it was and weathered it, while knowing that parts of it would be spread across the rivers and slowly building the coastlines with fragments of itself. Did the flowers fear the raging storm? No, they were happy that their seeds would dance amidst the air and planted elsewhere.

While Joyce fought with fire, Coniferous isolated with nature.

Every wisp was taken by tendrils of vine, choked, fed upon and in turn the tree grew in stature. The light of the forest drowned by ancient momentum- the forest knew no cruelty, but it had no mercy left to spare.

As the Dalan grew the forest spirit reared its head.

It followed its little followers and where it touched- life appeared, but where it left... death followed in true balance.

​

Coniferous knew then- the forest spirit was not the cause of the light... no, it had been corrupted, shifted away form its purpose. It was not to blame, it had been touched by the humans. "The spirit of balance will be restored..." Con murmured as he approached it. The wisps died around them, one by one, but the spirit remained. It watched them with curiosity.

It knew.

Knew that something was wrong with it.

Otherwise it would have fled those red burning eyes and those that came in Coniferous' wake. "Lend me your strength," He uttered to those behind him. "I will finish what we started in the masonry of stone."

Its claws reaching out, slowly enveloping the spirit with its tendrils.

Whine, yes, it cried out but now it was too late and it had nowhere to go even as it struggled at the sudden encroachment. "Peace.... brother of the forest, I will heal you of your affliction." Those that were truly sick always fought the hardest. Part of them wanted to be healed, but the larger part... knew fear. The humans had forced their fear upon the spirit of the forest.

Coniferous would never forgive them that.

It would be many hours, days, but eventually the Dalan would reshape the spirit.

The forest of Ossus would be covered by darkness.

It was known.