IC: Sedriss Nathemus, Darth Voidwalker, Darth Feros/Darth Krayt, and Darth Arach
Location: Dungeon Hallway, Sith Temple, Korriban
“Finally!” Arach breathed, relieved as she saw Hesper turn and head down to the tunnels. She took a moment to decide her next move.
She could follow Hesper down to the tunnels, or she could help the two men who had passed. Admittedly, she wasn’t sure how much help she could be, but she was willing to do what she could. Decided, Arach followed the two men back toward the entrance, avoiding the debris that started raining down.
Before she reached them, Arach felt another presence. This one was foul and evil. Arach hung back a bit, not wanting to reveal herself just yet.
Feros had seen them run by. It hadn't really registered until now, as he watched Arach sprint past, heading back towards the Dungeons, that it was Nathemus he'd seen earlier. And he could feel someone else familiar, almost jovial inside the tumult running through the Force. Voidwalker!
Feros didn't stop to think for a second. He'd been through far too much with those two to run, tail tucked, to the tunnels while they stood and died nearly alone. Yes, the dungeons were caving in, but he wasn't going to leave two of his allies behind to die. They'd need the two of them soon.
"You know they're probably going to die. And us with them, if you do this." Krayt said to him, inside his mind.
"I'd rather die standing than live running." He replied.
It was utter carnage the sights that greeted the Sedriss. Words or thoughts could not comprehend what he had just witnessed in that moment. The foul presence of decay kept creeping forth, ever drawing nearer to the Dark Lord and his brother in arms.
This is it. I was made for this. Almost surprisingly, the Darkshear had worked to perfection. The doorway had bouldered the entrance blocking any more invaders from entering the Temple, and though it crippled the oncoming Ancient Lords, it also barricaded them and their Masters in the small area in which the New Sith Order’s defenders made their last stand.
While the Dead-King had been knocked aback by the Sedriss’ entropic waves, the other two continued their charge forth. Nathemus was brought to his knees by a power he knew all too well, for he’d used it himself numerous times. It was the advanced Drain, the Death Field. Bulbous sores began to streak across his body, and the pain was incredible. But he'd been there before. A Lord of Pain craved hurt like this.
Kain was deified. The Order would tell tales of Him. Few would know the truth. He was mortal-like once, as were we all. However, His contempt for the Sith drove him to create me, and my brethren.
I am Voidwalker, first-born of His lieutenants. I stood with Kain and my brethren at the destruction of the empire. I would have served Him a millennium. Over time, we'd become less human and more ...divine. Kain would enter the state of change and emerge with a new gift. Some years after the master, our evolution would follow. Until I had the honor of surpassing our former Lord. For my transgression, I earned a new kind of reward... agony.
There was only one possible outcome - my eternal damnation. I, Voidwalker along with my brother Nathemus, was to suffer the fate of traitors and weaklings - to burn forever in the bowels of the Field of death.
Falling, burning with the intensity of white-hot fire, I plunged into the depths of the abyss. Unspeakable pain... relentless agony... ... time ceased to exist...... only this torture... and a deepening hatred of the hypocrisy that damned me to this hell.
An eternity seemed to pass, and my torment receded, bringing me back from the precipice of madness. The descent had destroyed me... and yet I lived.
"Voidwalker... You are worthy."
Instinctively, Nathemus raised a shield of Resistance through the Dark Side. His prowess with defense was among the best the New Sith Order had to offer, and he intended to mitigate some of the effects of the Drain.
The ancient dark armor was drawing nearer. He could still only assume that it was the most ancient inhabitant of the armor, the Sith King Adas. His left hand quickly reached for the great Axe he'd attached to his back moments earlier while his right swirled with his next preparation of power.
The dungeons were collapsing around them, no doubt a result of the gargantuan being outside. Dust and debris was everywhere, and it crashed against the Sedriss' ashen skin. Voidwalker was next to him. Nathemus could feel the entropic power building within him. The brothers were very similar in their chosen Force disciplines, though not the same.
"Voidwalker, my brother, this occasion demands I offer you a drink. But unfortunately I have none."
"
Voidwalker..."
"
Voidwalker..."
The two voices both called out to him simultaneously, seeming to merge as one coherent voice both within his head and outside. It was the words of Nathemus that he clung to, to help himself focus on more than the agonizing pain that his body had endured.
His heart was beating rapidly as if he was experiencing a heart attack. Though from the attack that they had just survived or from the sheer anger that he now felt building inside of him. Yet as long as his heart was pounding it was a sign that he still lived. Not only did he live, it meant that his blood would circulate through his body faster. The healing properties of his blood, blessed by the biomechanical hand he possessed would hopefully start working immediately. It wouldn't be enough to completely heal him, but hopefully it would help him start regaining his strength.
He was angry, rage filled that he and Nathemus had been caught off guard so easily. Angry that he didn't have the chance to attack. Angry that he felt so weak. Angry that Dreadwar had betrayed them all. Anger quickly evolved and ruptured into the realm of hatred. Hatred for the pain he felt and all he wanted was for their would be attacker to feel that same pain. He would inflict pain at this attacker that dared to attempt to bring harm to the New Sith Order. He willed it and he'd be damned if the Force didn't obey his command. He was more than any Sith, he was the War Priest, the Dread Heir!
No matter how much hatred he now held for Dreadwar, the former Emperor was still a part of him. And for that his hatred only grew, knowing that he now hated a part of himself more than ever before. He never wanted to be Emperor, but now he had a reason to want it. Even if the temple completely collapsed, as long as one wall stood, he would sit atop it and claim it as his throne. A throne that would rule with one purpose to kill Dreadwar, the deceiver and destroyer.
During the blindsided attack he'd fallen to a knee, but now more than ever he was determined to destroy all that he could, but if this was to be their last stand, then he would share this final moment with his brother.
"Unfortunately we don't have any, because you drank it all, brother."
Arach heard their voices travel faintly down to where she was standing. Well, at least she got the name of one of the men. She cautiously crept closer, her eyes fixed on the third man. This was the source of the evil that she had felt. She sensed he was injured.
As she got closer, Arach raised her hand towards the threat and focused her growing anger. Her one desire: Inflict as much pain and suffering as he and his allies have dealt. She wanted him to feel it a thousand- fold.
Feros turned and ran after Arach, stopping alongside her. He could feel the Dark Side rolling off of her in cascading waves of pure, unadulterated hate. It was hot and sweet to him, like the warm spray of blood from a rent enemy as you felt him die.
The creature, if it could even be called that anymore, approaching them was emanating its own form of Dark Side power, cold and calculated. The macabre, grotesque abomination, striding forth in pure mockery of sane existence itself. Through the dust and debris of the rapidly-collapsing dungeon hallway, it cast an ominous scene.
"Nathemus! Voidwalker! Make some room, we're coming in!" Feros yelled as he threw up a barrier of force energy and ran forward, alongside the two others. A strange feeling washed over him, standing shoulder to shoulder with the two men he'd seen so much with. For an instant, a memory carried him away.
Banquet Hall, Sith Temple, Korriban, 155
The powers that be had put this feast on, and it was truly a sight to behold. Nothing had been spared. The tables were covered with meats and dishes of all the highest worlds in the Galaxy, and the proverbial cup runneth over with wine. Actually, in Feros' case, it ran over literally. Voidwalker had already had a bit more than his fair share of said wine, and combined with his usual jovial self, he was always able to cut through Feros' normally serious and dour exterior.
Coatlec was across the table, having his share as well. The three of them laughing and enjoying themselves. They all knew well it may be some time before they were all back around a table enjoying food and drink again. Feros, being the fatalistic one, broke the mood.
"You know, it could be some time before all of us are back here again. I set off on the Hand tomorrow for Coruscant. Gods only know how long that campaign will drag on." He said softly.
"I'm still in awe that I've been chosen for the mission, or that I've managed to stumble my way into the rank of Master."
He set his cup down as a vaguely familiar woman walked by a couple tables over, looking their way. He knew her to be Darth Arach. He nodded to her, with a lopsided, warm-headed grin, and went back to the conversation.
"What of you two? I want to know where to look you up when I return."
Coatlec grinned as he took another drink from his glass. The three of them had already had so much today, but what was a couple more?
"Congratulations on your promotion to Master, Feros. I'll be heading back to Nur to focus more on my Sorcery. I've been growing very fond of a power that projects entropic waves. Raspir's Gatekeeper has some more training in store for me. Be careful out there, you've got a drink on me when you get back. What about you, Voidwalker, where are you off to?"
Voidwalker sat his cup down, a grim feeling sat in the bottom of his stomach. Not from his drink but from his actions during his last mission. This was supposed to be a feast for all of the Order to enjoy, and why shouldn't he enjoy it? He'd left Onderon some time ago and he made it, he made it to Korriban. But that victory had come with loss as well.
"...Why do you want to go to Korriban? I can tell you've got the Force about you, but why not just... keep on living? Use your gifts to have a good career, lead an amazing life like I have, rather than going to bloody Sith school?"
The words of Garn Tarcrulus ringing in his head.
Perhaps Garn had been right, why waste my time here? No. Garn was foolish, and weak. That's why he got killed so easily by that Jedi. I'm here for my own reasons, and that's all that matters. He decided it better to not dwell on the words of dead fools. He knew what he wanted, and he was going to get what he wanted. But that was tomorrow, tonight was a feast.
"Well tomorrow I'm heading out into the Galaxy to receive more training. Maybe Dromund Kaas, or another planet strong in the Dark Side. I'm nowhere near as accomplished as either of you, Masters. I'm merely an apprentice, but by time you get back from Coruscant I'll have proven myself and gained strength. Who knows, perhaps I'll even be a Darth myself or even a Lord by then. But that's tomorrow, and we're here now. So let us feast!"
Dungeon Hallway, Sith Temple, Korriban, 157 - Present Day - Armageddon
Nathemus chuckled. He was slightly taken aback by the Sith Lady who rolled up to the oncoming Sith King, but he hoped her own powers would assist the Sedriss and the War Priest.
"Aye, we did, didn't we?"
"Yes we did. Nothing left to do now but the other thing."
His eyes now glowed an icy blue, and he cast his great powers of ice towards the King and his entourage, hoping to freeze Malleus, Hord, and the fallen behind Andeddu to absolute zero.
"Brother, if this be the end, let us not meet it as unworthy Sith, but as our father's sons. If this is our last day, will you wait for me in Chaos?"
"Brother....this day, I will Race you there." Voidwalker struggled to get to his feet, the armored hulk just before them, the entire temple shaking, debris falling around them. The scene was apocalyptic, there was a strong chance that they would all die here and now. It seemed hopeless, but there deep from within him the feeling that had gnawed at him previously was there again, craving and begging to be released. This primal hunger that when released only meant uncontrollable chaos. It left him a monster with no sense of self.
"Voidwalker... You are worthy." A haunting and twisted voice called out to him again. There was no mistaking it, it was coming from within his own mind.
"Accept your demons and rain down chaos! Do not be a fool and get yourself killed."
Not anymore! If I'm going to die, I'm going to die fully in control of who I am! This is my power, and destiny is what I decide it shall be.
A young woman had come to their aid. He didn't know her name, but he recalled seeing her at the battlements when he retrieved Kain.
Who was she? Even Krayt had shown up.
The hell is he doing here? Is he finally ready to die for good and stay dead? No matter, he'll die soon enough. but....this monster before us will be the first to fall.
Voidwalker stood now completely all the way up, with a rejuvenated sense of purpose. He did not falter or stumble, he stood with pride and hatred. He had only one goal before he met his untimely demise, destroying everything he could, starting with what was in front of him.
Voidwalker stepped forward past the Sedriss, his eyes locked on the one that sought their destruction. Voidwalker stared into the void of the armored Titan. He felt the rush of the dark side raging within him like a solar storm. He could feel it building, raising higher and higher as if there were no limit to the darkness within himself.
"Nathemus," Voidwalker shouted, his tone different from the more familiar tone he'd had with his brother, now it carried the weight of unquestionable authority.
"I said I'd race you, so consider this a head start. Take Krayt and the girl and get the hell out of here now. Go!"
Feros pulled the Dark Side into himself, feeding off all the Dark Energy around him as he did. His hands shot out with his sabers, and he imagined the result of what he wanted. He wanted to see its insides. He wanted to repaint the Temple with the viscera filling its malformed, rotting, emaciated frame. He wanted to rend it from the very face of existence. As he saw it in his mind, a scream crawled its way up from his throat, more animal than man.
The shout coming from right next to her, startled Arach. She almost dropped into a defensive stance before his words caught up to her.
He knows them, she realized. She allowed herself a very brief moment to close her eyes in relief.
When she opened them, Arach ran after the newcomer she remembered was named Krayt and felt for the being in front of Nathemus and Voidwalker in the Force. As she got closer, she released her power and started striking him from the shadows in a flurry of attacks, also releasing a fraction of her pent up fury, her own growl mingling with the animalistic scream of the man beside her.
What the hell are they still doing here? "I said to go!" Voidwalker exclaimed with the same authority as a General would demonstrate when ordering his troops across a battlefield in a storm of blaster fire. But Troopers knew the price for disobeying a direct command, and good soldiers follow orders. Although the Sith we're anything but soldiers. However, it was clear that he meant what he said, this would be a headstart to chaos. Nathemus might have beaten him to the rank of Lord and to the battle first, but this race was his alone to win.
"Don't be arrogant, Voidwalker." Feros said, raising an eyebrow.
"Save that for Catalyst."
"You say I'm arrogant. I say, damn right. That's pride. Pride in the Sith I am!"
"Well he's going to die, but he does have guts." Krayt said.
"Not the right time."
With not another word to offer his companions, Voidwalker took one last final step towards his adversary. The cold creeping feeling of death reaching for him, tickling the back of his neck. Yet he stood tall and proud. The Dark Side radiating from him as if he were a beacon in the dark. This was no longer the rogue Sith that had entered through the banquet hall archway earlier in the day.
This was a being of nobility. Not the sort of nobility that came from royal blood, and certainly not of celestial nobility. That honor belonged to Kain. Voidwalker stood as the sort of nobility one rises to when the call of need arises. He truly was The Prince of Destruction.
He eyed the villainous attacker, as the temple shook. Dust and debris fell from the ceiling, the walls quivering in fear from the dastardly powers that had been set free on Korriban when Dreadwar and his army touched the planet's surface. The cries of battle and death echoed throughout the temple of the Sith. Death was upon him, reaching to finally sever his connection to the living plane and yet all he could do was smirk.
"You should find a crevice in which to cower, only scuttling from the shadows to devour a victim already ensnared in your cowardly trap. But you’ve made the mistake of leaving me unbound, and it is you who must succumb to my will."
Suddenly unleashing all of his power, rage, hatred, and fury as he released the power of the Dark Side. He focused all his power on attempting the Darkshear, aiming its destructive might at the ancient Dark Lord. Projecting invisible waves of his own, just as Nathemus had. Yet his waves of entropy were aimed directly on the armored giant. Fueled further by his talisman of concentration. He willed, no he demanded for his victim to age and fall before him.
Nathemus now attempted to run towards the crumbling tunnel stairwell, hoping to make it there before its collapse, and motioned for Voidwalker, Arach, and Krayt to go and follow him. He turned back for a second to cast a telekinetic pull toward Voidwalker, hoping to hoist him back to the stairs and out of harm's way of the axe-wielding Sith behemoth.
As Nathemus ran, Feros was close at his heels, hearing Voidwalker after unloading his attack. This had been his intent all along. He meant to get the two of them out before the dungeons collapsed, which they were on the verge of now. Chunks of masonry were pelting all of them, even as they ran. He put on a burst of speed out of reflex, and as he neared the stairway, he dove backwards, reaching out with the Force and wrapping Voidwalker in an invisible hand of energy, yanking him towards the stairway with everything Feros had.
"Jump, Voidwalker! Jump!" Feros yelled.
Arach spun on her heel and ran after Nathemus and Krayt. When she caught up to them, she added her telekinesis to help them pull Voidwalker back safely.
With all of his concentration focused on his attack aimed at the ancient Lord, Voidwalker barely heard the words calling out to him. It was clear that they were not going to leave without him. Trusting in his mismatched band of allies, Voidwalker jumped back as hard as he could. Aimed back down the hallway towards the doorway leading to the underdelve, still releasing his potentially devastating attack. His fate now rested in their hands….
Powers & Equipment Used:
Nathemus: Force Resistance 5, Cryokinesis 5, Telekinesis 2
Voidwalker: Inflict Pain 4, Darkshear 4, Talisman of Concentration, Bota (Via biomechanical hand that constantly pumps it into his bloodstream)
Feros: Feed on Dark Side 3, Force Rend 4, Tutaminis 4, Telekinesis 3
Arach: Inflict Pain 3, Shadowstrike 4, Telekinesis 3
TAG: @Darth Dreadwar, @corinthia, @DarthNoxia, @dragonsith13, @Grievance Vexx, @Reiis Invadator, @Nacros_Telcontare, @Kielor, @Jihadi Quartz, @Helkosh, @Darth Solus, @Cardun Vrek, @Darth Xxys, @Reatith Blodraald, @Darth Cruor, @Darth Kain, @Admiral Volshe, @Catalyst, @Undying Master Xiannarr, @Hadzuska_The Jester, @Keres Dymos, @skira, @Zareel Jhenan´doka, @Volacius, @Drakul_Xarxes, @Darth Thana, @Sith_Imperios