Private To learn the Forgotten

[Xzaien]

Lehon, Rakata Prime. The Capitol of Revan's Sith Empire. This unknown world has gone by many names throughout the millennia. Found, forgotten, and then found again a decade ago by Pirates seeking their fortune. The planet itself had an extremely old history. Being one of triumph, failure, and then defeat. The Rakata on-planet were all but wiped out thanks to Valkorion millennia prior. A species extinct, but their home-world still remaining. Forever scarred with the remnants of great galactic wars long since passed. Even from orbit, three massive spires were visible, sticking up into low orbit. Parts of an ancient vessel no doubt. Long since entombed in the jungles and beaches of Lehon. The mark of Revan was visible, even above the sun that Lehon orbited. The ruins of the Star Forge lay dormant. Long cursed to forever be a beacon of Sith ambitions and what they could potentially end as. The remains of Revan's fleet, also stood. Ripped to shreds, and destroyed. Never picked over by scavengers and dooming their hulks to forever remain in space as a reminder.

The surface of Lehon weren't that different. Scattered across its surface, the remains of Old Republic Cruisers, and Sith Dreadnoughts lay broken and corroding in the oceans and sands. Spilling out their corroded fuel tanks and blackening the water around it. Interdictor Cruisers, Harrower Class Dreadnoughts, Centurion Battlecruisers, all of these were of history long since past. The veil of the darkside made itself prominent on Lehon's surface. A homeworld of a species whose very technology was augmented with the Dark-Side. Now forever doomed to be forgotten. Littered in the sands and jungles, the remains of Revan's Sith Troopers who sought to garrison the world for their own benefit. All that was left, was corroded pieces of helmets and chest-plates.

Remnants of the ancient Rakatan Civilisation were also visible on the surface. Remains of cities, swallowed up by the jungle. Or crumbling ruins of temples falling into the vast blue oceans to cover up its dark history. All that remained habitable, was the single massive temple which jutted out of a large island. Once a bright and beautiful building, even by Alderaani standards but now, in disrepair and with many of its spires broken or uninhabited.

The only sort of life left on planet, were the Sith Troopers who fled into the jungle during the Republic Attack on the planet. Devolving into feral pseudo-humans who still wore fragments of their ancient armor even to this day. A far-cry to what they once were. Barely human, and surviving by murdering, raping, and enslaving anyone who crashes on planet. How the mighty have fallen.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A message was sent one day. A message by an enigmatic force user directed to another. A message from someone as ancient as was powerful. To an aspiring Sith Lord. Darth Vindel. A man of many ambitions, a man of duty and power. Who sought the forgotten knowledge of the Dark-Side lost long ago. Could this be the return of the Prodigal Knight once more to lead the Sith to Victory, or was this a remnant of the Lost order of Dark-Siders who dissapeared into the galaxy following the Jedi Civil War? Many questions were raised, yet many went unanswered as Vindel headed to Lehon. Or was this... one of the Ancient Dark-Jedi who followed Ajunta Pall onto Korriban? What kept this person waiting all this time to share their knowledge? Was it a means of manipulating him? Or just to keep the darker aspects of the Force Alive for the future to understand?

As Vindel arrived on Lehon, his vessel seemed to be automatically steered toward the massive temple which jutted out of a seemingly random Deserted Island. Just on the shore, sunken almost the entire way up to its conning tower, sat a ancient Old Republic Hammerhead Cruiser. As his ship landed in a grassy clearing just infront of this temple. A sudden feeling awashed over him. Vindel could literally feel the Dark-Side permeating the area around him. Far stronger than Korriban by a long shot. Yet, he felt a singular void. A void which seemed to draw all the darkness toward it and inside of itself. Was this the mystery Dark-Sider he was looking for? If he chose to look around, Vindel could see a singular figure. Dressed in a Blood Red robe watching him from the top of the temple steps. Even from here, Vindel could see her face. A Cathar, obviously not one of the more animalistic types that exist now. No, this was one of the Ancient Cathar, who bore a striking resemblance to felinid elves instead of Cats. Her face was of white fur, decorated with black markings. Her eyes were a deep red. She seemed to be watching him intently. She raised a gloved hand and gestured toward him.

Darth Vindel ​

 

[Darth Vindel]

Vindel walked towards the Cathar, noticing the bright yellow eyes that stood out within her pale face. The gesture she gave prompted him to walk towards the alien. Wondering who this creature was, why she was here, what she sought. Vindel thought of his own salvation. The force had brought him here, to learn the ways of the dark side. Was this the sith he was sent to find, or was this a mere local, soon to meet a red blade? As Vindel drew closer to the Cathar, he noticed a disturbance in the force. This was not an unusual feeling, as it was similar to when he had entered the Sith Empire for the first time. However, it was only a similar taste of the darkness. Could it be that there was less energy within this creature, or perhaps more? Different thoughts clouded the mind of the young hopeful. The Dark side had brought him here, no doubt. His purpose with this alien was uncertain, yet at the same time, he knew exactly what needed to be done. Weather this was a situation of allegiance, or massacre, both depended on the blade.

Vindel ignited his crimson blade, bringing a dark red glow to his face, showing the abomination that lay underneath the hood he wore. If this was a mere local, they would run in horror, if they were Jedi, they would ignite their lightsaber and lock blades with him. Yet neither of these outcomes seemed to be imminent. Instead, the Cathar only looked pleased. The force energy Vindel had felt was not of a Jedi. He was now certain that he stood before a Sith. The power he felt was not of a great tragedy, nor the power that lay over the planet, and it's history. The power he felt came directly from the alien he stood before.

Vindel, now certain of what must be done, and eager for knowledge, lowered his blade, and switched it off. He knelt before the Sith, lowering his hood, and speaking the words of allegiance.
"I have searched across the galaxy for a teacher. The dark side grows stronger every passing day, despite this, the teachers within the empire do not see my methods, and ideas, as 'sith like'. I plead to you, Cathar, teach me the ways of the dark side, teach me the ways of the force. Thy bidding is my command, my master."

Vindel kept his hood lowered, awaiting a response from the Cathar who stood in front of him.​

 

[Xzaien]

​

Vindel must of heard of the legends. The legends of Dark-Siders so powerful, that they could cleanse entire worlds of their populations. Trillions being snuffed out within an instant. Despite the physical age of the woman before him. Not a day past twenty-six by the looks of it. But the force told him, that the being standing before him was ten-thousand years strong. And swirled with unholy power. She gazed upon him as he threw himself to her feet. Begging her for knowledge. But as she sat there, silent he knew that he had much to prove to her. An inkling in the Dark-side showed that she did not ally herself with the Sith Empire, but she was her own. A civilization of her own making, somewhere within the Galaxy. One of learning and fortunate teachings. Was to good to be true? A place that could potentially come to Rival Carnifex? Such treasonous thoughts. Such lustful poison inter-laden and seeded into his mind. Could it be true? Was the person before him as old as the Force Claimed? The silence was suddenly broken by the Cathar speaking to him. In a tone of a Mother speaking to a child.

"You must know that I am no Sith. I do not bow my knee to their Emperor Carnifex. I believe him weak, and ill-willed toward his subjects. I believe him a bastardization of what the Dark-Side should be. Like the rule of one. The rule of two. The ultimate failure of the Sith in my eyes. Is a failure to face their enemy in a unified front. As of now, they battle eachother across the stars. Unable to finish what they had started all those millennia ago."

"I warn you before I give you my verdict. That I will not assist you in gaining power. I am not your guide to Carnifex's throne. I am, and I shall forever be. Unaligned to the Sith. The power that I may gift to you will likely never exceed mine. I am certain of that. However, you must come to trust me."

"Sith, I hail from stars unseen by your galaxy for thousands of years. I have grown my own Civilization from the dirt. And I have conquered vast stretches of space in search of order in the Chaos. I offer you the same treatment. If you join me in my crusade, I will conquer evermore, and teach the superstitious and ignorant of their failure in an uncaring galaxy."

"I am, Xzaien. Autocrat of Cathay. And I will teach you how to flay the very flesh from your enemies, and burn billions with your fire."
​

A voice, clouded in mystery. Revealed only now, were the questions which could be conjured up in Vindel's mind. Join or suffer the consequences... To what end could this woman's power lie? A question, surely to reveal itself on the shores of Rakata Prime...

Darth Vindel

 

[Darth Vindel]

"I am no Sith, either, my master. I am simply a dark force user."

Vindel looked up to his master, hearing the questions manifest within his mind. He could answer them, if not for the excessive amount of them. He stood tall, in front of his master.

"I do not wish to become another mindless puppet of Carnifex, I am smarter than that, as you clearly share. I am seeking knowledge to gain power, in order to coup the Sith Empire, not for a civil war, but to separate the true Sith from the Empire. I align myself with them, only so that I may reach the younglings on Kashyyyk. Once the Jedi are defeated, and the Sith Empire is weakened, we shall destroy the Carnifex Empire."

With a purpose in his words, Vindel attempted to prove to the alien that he had a purpose beyond that of the broken empire.
To prove that there were Sith who did not need be Sith.​

 

[Xzaien]

​

Xzaien stood at the top of the crumbling Stone stairs which lead into the temple. She had her hands crossed beneath her chest. She gazed upon Vindel before speaking to him in this sultry motherly tone. Obviously, she could feel him out from here. His intentions, and perhaps his secrets. It was a frightening sight.

"I take you as a practicioner of Marka Ragnos. You prefer the Lightsaber over all other techniques."

She stepped down the stairs idly, her shoes making dull clacks against it.

"You must learn not to rely on your sword-arm. In an engagement, you may never have to use it at all. I am a firm believer that the power of the force precedes any lightsaber technique. Why engage someone in a Lightsaber cash, when you can simply mind flay them from meters away. With a Lightsaber, you are limited to only one enemy at a time, wheras... I have seen Dark-Siders of all types able to burn away entire platoons of men with their lightning. However now, I believe I am apart of a dying breed as Carnifex makes his subjects weak and unpowered."

"I am one of the few, that can conjure a Force-Storm large enough to destroy a Star Destroyer, and perhaps I could pass that knowledge on..."

"In you, I sense a growing yearning for power, a need to rise above his opponents and strike them down where they stand. I have seen the Sith creed, and once followed it myself long ago. But I have also seen where ambition and rivalry can cause a Sith organization to fall. Ragnos, Vitiate, Revan. These are all men who have failed to stop the infighting within his subjects, and I see that Carnifex has also failed as well."

"Your intentions to remove Carnifex are true. But that is a goal that you will have to persue on your own. I may be your Master, but I have my own plans. Now I ask you this. Are you willing to step aside your own personal beliefs and the removal of morality to destroy your enemies ruthlessly. Or are you weak like Carnifex? To gain power, at no cost."
Darth Vindel ​

 

[Darth Vindel]

The young Adept stood tall to his master, understanding of his duties.

"My lightsaber is my weapon, as is the force. The will to grow stronger is simply so that I can rely less on it as I do now. There are Jedi, and Sith, who are much more powerful than I, or just as powerful. In those cases, the Force will not be my only weapon, sometimes a blade is simply the only way to kill."

His Master told him of the failed Sith of the past, and the failed ideas of the Sith. She asked him of his own worthiness to her training, Vindel attached his lightsaber to his belt, and pulled down his cloak hood. His cracked face and pale skin burning within the sunlight. He told his master,

"The path to power always comes with cost. Carnifex gained his power through loss, but not enough to pay due to his empire. I am willing to step aside my own beliefs in order to destroy my enemies by any means necessary. The dark side is a weapon within itself, I only wish to become more powerful with it. The Sith fight each other, the Jedi kill anybody who disagrees with them. They kill without honor, without challenge. They kill whenever they get the chance, the dark side should not be used as a weapon of mass destruction. The Dark Side can be used to cause mass devastation, but not on the innocent. Carnifex uses his army to turn his own population into slaves, but never treats them above tools. Torture among slaves is common, and I see no purpose in it. The dark side can be used as a weapon of war, that is what I seek. I am going to be fighting a war for many of the coming years, against many empires. The Jedi, the Sith, the Confederacy, the Republic, they will all fall under a similar flag. But I am not yet powerful enough to fight this war, nor are my allies. I must become more powerful than Carnifex, if you wish to see him dead, train me. Train me to be powerful enough to get to him, and end his sad regime of the empire!"​

 

[Xzaien]

Xzaien stood idle as Vindel. Spoke. She listened gingerly to every word he spoke. Understanding his intentions, and heavy disfigurement with Dark-Side corruption. Compared to Xzaien, who looked almost as fresh as a Sunday Morning, indicated the differences between the two force users. One was literally born by it. The other, used it as a weapon of his own design. Xzaien spoke to him.

"I know of Dark-Siders, who cleansed entire worlds of their populations. Gone forever. Ziost. Nathema. Both of these were the products of destruction from the very same Dark-Sider. What makes you different so that you wouldn't do the same? Now, Rogue. Show me your power, your skill. I will deem you worthy of my knowledge, if you show me that power that hides within." ​

Xzaien shot a hand forward. Directly behind Vindel. In an instant, a great bubbling mass of Dark-Side Energy would slowly emerge from the depths of the Force itself behind him. As he turned to look, a roughly amorphous blob slowly surged forth. Forming in the form of a man, A man roughly equal in size to Vindel appeared to form. Clad in Black swirling robes of smoke, the only solid piece visible of his equipment, being the Ancient Mask of Revan itself firmly implanted where the head would be. Stareing at Vindel through black tinted lenses. The being that stood before him was a binding of Revan's Dark Half. Forced to serve forever a Master of terrible power.

The mass seemingly produced a Single lightsaber from its amorphous mass. Clutching it, in what could pass for its right hand. It stared at Vindel. Locked with his eyes as it raised the lightsaber up. Igniting it before him. A beautiful blade of Purple extended from its hilt. It prepared itself in a stereotypical Form Seven guard. Hard and fast, it was likely that this bastardization of Revan would use overwhelming speed and tactics to overwhelm him.

Xzaien's other hand shot forth, A similar bubbling mass being produced next to the spectre of Revan. Extending from it, and gaining color to its body. A dull crimson red, and a black colored cape. The markings on what could pass for its head were easily noticeable. Lord Malak.... Apprentice to Revan and duelist of amazing power. It too, flourished out a Crimson Bladed Lightsaber next to its Master. It uttered the words, in the infamous vocoded drawl.

"Fight for your power."

It assumed the Standardized form Five Pose. Vindel could easily assume that this specter of Malak would use tact, and brute power to bring him to heel. As he towered a full head above Revan. A follower of Marka Ragnos. Surely.

Xzaien seemed to stand upon her perch. Uttering the words that shall set off this battle.

"Bring them to heel Acolyte! Force their surrender."

And with that, the two Specters slowly closed with Vindel. Slow enough that he had ample time to react.

Darth Vindel ​

 

[Darth Vindel]

Vindel saw the cloudy visions of Revan, they seemed to appear simply out of the mind of this force user. They were simple allusions, Vindel would have stood still, but he was asked for a demonstration. He pulled his lightsaber from his hilt and into his hand. Igniting it, and hearing the high pitched hum from within the hilt, he assumed his most practiced form, Djem So.

With a defensive swipe, he was able to block the twin crimson rods from slicing him open. Holding the blade high, and pulling the projections' blades upward with him, he lifted his other hand, and blasted both of the figures with a moderate force lighting. The blue glow staining the walls around him, and his master. In order to show his master that he was as relentless as a Sith should be, he turned his back on the dying projections, and blasted the miniature storm directly at his master.

"The Sith are not ones to back down, Master. To stop an enemy before they can react, is to achieve victory before defeat is an option. Sith knowledge is our strength, the Jedi can temporarily use the dark side to fire a dark storm, or master the ancient lightsaber styles. The only true weapon a Sith carries opposite of his opponent is the knowledge we share, the wisdom we apply to our everyday conflcts. I may not be as wise as you, my master. But I know the true weapons of the dark side. This is what separates us from Carnifex, and his dying empire. Master, we stand opposite of the weaklings in the empire, and the morons of the Order. Although our views vary, our ideas of the force are the same. We stand allies, my master, but can you withstand the power of your apprentice? Show me your power! Show me why I should allow you to train me!!!"


Vindel blasted a storm at his master, hoping that it would stun her momentarily. The projections were gone, she wasn't focused on her defense, perhaps this was his victory​

 

[Xzaien]

Xzaien stood as she watched Vindel fight her force Constructs. She smiled as he easily deflected their blows. She thought of the Modern Sith. How they perhaps were soft. A Force Construct was easily predictable when it came to them not wishing to kill. However, Xziaen anticipated something within Vindel. An act that would perhaps see to it her ire and rage. To set fire to the rather Calm Dark-sider. As the Force-Storm screamed toward her. A mere eyebrow raise was all it took. A Massive Man, clad in Golden Power Armor suddenly appeared from overhead. Slamming against the Marble flooring as it cracked beneath his weight. As the Storm commenced onto him, it shocked him violently, however it seemed as if conductors within his Power Armor was seen absorbing the Lightning as it swirled around him. Harmlessly dissipating into the air.

Vindel could now see who it was, The massive twelve foot tall tank of a man. Easily three times the Size of Xzaien stood infront of her. Parts of his armor still humming with electricity. The Man's head was exposed, a white haired demon of a man. Battleworn by sand and grit, and scarred by weapons of terrible power. If Vindel knew anything about the Catharian Hegemony's Super-Human Monsters, the Sons and Daughters of Xzaien. He would know the being who stood infront of him. Lord Commander Relian Dorn, the Warmaster and Chief Tactician of the Catharian Hegemony's Legions. He had a scowl across his face, one of war. In his hand, perched and standing tall, was the infamous Lightning Hammer, easily with a head as big as Xzaien's torso, and just as tall as the man in Gold Armor.

Then if only to add to this sudden surprise. In a near perfect circle, and almost in complete Unison. Formerly camouflaged Catharian Army Troopers stood from their hiding spots. Dark Spots in the cliff face, Hidden alcoves in the Temple, and in the thick brush and bushes. Each of them Clad head to toe in Ceramite Armor of Catharian Design, easily reminiscent of Ancient Imperial Army Troopers, and Clone Troops. Each of them held in their hands, weapons of Light and Fire. Unheard of throughout the rest of the Galaxy. They all trained their weapons on Vindel. Assault Rifles, Squad Support Weapons, and Anti-Tank Weapons. A quite, titillating sight.

Then as if it couldn't get any worse. A full Tactical Squad of the vaunted Catharian Space Marines stepped forward from the Darkness of the Temple Entrance. Forming a V Formation with Dorn at their head. Each of them was easily half the size of their Progenitor Son of Xzaien. In their hands, Bolt Guns, and Plasma Cannons. Easily enough to melt a light-cruisers Hull. They were all dressed in the same heraldry of Dorn's Sons of Xzeench Legion. Clad in Black and Red Armor, with a Gold Trim. One of them, easily an Officer wore extra Gold Plating on his armor. And carried a Pistol the size of a full Assault Rifle.

Stepping forth beside her son, Xzaien revealed herself after everyone took aim at Vindel. She stepped forward, a smile across her face. She had her hands folded, and spoke to Vindel in the same tone she had earlier.

"First Lesson. Never be caught unprepared and Vulnerable."
Darth Vindel​

 

[Darth Vindel]

Vindel watched as his entire plan of victory was taken from directly in front of him. His master called upon an army that he had never seen, nor could comprehend. The Catharian Hegemony was not something to take lightly, their armies were devastating in battle, and their tactics would make the republic generals look like damn fools. Vindel stood with his lightsaber held in front of him, in the Shien form, one he had trained in, yet not familiar in. If they were to fire upon him, he would be destroyed. His life was in the hands of his master. She was right, to be caught unprepared in battle only lead to his quicker destruction. Vindel was not ready to face an army this powerful, if he could even survive the army's blasters, who knows how long he could outmaneuver them.

"Master, I am not prepared for this. This army you have summoned can destroy me, I will not lie. But I must ask, is this the extent of your powers? To call upon the services of your own men to take down a mere apprentice? Are you too scared to take me on your own? Is this why you left the Empire, because you were too afraid?"

He spoke directly to her, in an attempt to fish out her anger, and see her power for how it stood. He did not come to this temple to fight an army, he came here to be trained, and to find a master worthy of his raw, untouched power. If she were to strike him down for his own arrogance, so be it. However, if his master had the strength of a dark side master, which she claimed to hold, then blades would strike this day.

Vindel did not swing, and the warriors he stood against did not fire, a standstill was quiet and motionless, and this was the exaggeration of one. Vindel kept his focus on the blasters he stood against, waiting for them to fire, or his master to draw her blade.

"What will it be, master? Will you kill me here, or will you give me a chance to take you head on?"

Weather he lived or died depended on his master's choice. She could kill him by blade, sure, yet something told him that she would not. Something within Vindel called to him, a voice telling him to flee from this army, and back to the empire. Yet he ignored this voice, today he would either die or train. Any other option was irrelevant to him. It was anything and everything he could think of at this moment.

The silence stood still, until his master finally responded.​

 

[Xzaien]

Xzaien smiled as she stepped forth. Her demeanor oddly calm despite the obvious teasing perpetrated by Vindel toward her. He knew when he saw that smile. She no longer cared. She'd stand at the bottom of the stairs as she positioned herself directly across from him. She had her hands concealed beneath her flowing red cloak. A mere tapestry of cloth. She watched as he continued to speak to her. Mentioning the Empire seemed to have that expression of calmness twitch slightly as she presented her front. She allowed him to continue to attempt to draw her ire. Then, as all went quiet. She spoke.

"I never was apart of the Sith. In my hundred-thousand years of life. I have seen that misconception raised a multitude of times. I saw the Sith rise on their escape to Korriban. I saw their end during the Battle of Ruusaan. I have saw their rise and fall again, and again. Only now, after observing for these few millennia. I know. I seek not a apprentice or successor. I seek a man who can learn at least a few of my powers. Without the force merely destroying them through the strain."

"I seek not your death. For it would be useless to merely kill an Aspirant. I have made that mistake many times in the past."​

She stood infront of him. Unsheathing her hands. A deep vibrato effect echoed across the stone ground where they stood. A deep chill traveling through all present at the sky above began to darken. Above, swirling in its magnitude, a hurricane. Clouds dark gray, and even black in some parts which seemed to blot out the sun. As lightning crackled above, and the rain began to fall. Did the power become manifest.

If Vindel even took to gazing upon her face. The gentle orange glow had changed to a chilling Blood-Red. Her outward demeanor seemed calm as she folded her arms. She held that position as she gazed toward him with those sultry eyes. She spoke, her voice seemingly echoing with dark-side energy.

"Come. Let me taste of your power."
​

Even as the rain fell, Both Vindel and those around him felt nothing hit their clothes. A bubble was conjured up as the rain bounced harmlessly off it. Aside from the vibrato, and rain falling. There was no other sound... Infront of him stood Xzaien, arms crossed. Alongside her contingent of body-guards and Marines.

Darth Vindel