I have posted this story on a number of forums before, it was one of the most enjoyable pieces of writing and came at a time when I needed to delve into something deeply. The story recounts events of one of my characters Darth Draconis and an adventure to resurrect Darth Cruor, during the story a number of events unfold. The story is during a period of time when Draconis was wandering the wilds of Korriban on many quests.
The following is a collaboration between Lord Cruor and Lord Draconis beginning many an adventure before the OST following the original Sith Trials games. I wrote this in 2016 and shared it on the JCF and wish to share it here. I hope you enjoy!
(working on updating much of the formatting)
~Some 60 years before OST
~Korriban Wilde --- Pesegam Minor Mountains-- outskirts of unknown village
The wind was howling as the storm raged, visibility was near zero... blotting out even the light reflected from the moon. Pelting walls of sand roared across the desert scape, then as quickly as it had arrived, the sand storm gave way to the night sky. Before too long the red sand shifted slightly giving way as something rose from the earth. The canvas hide that had been concealing and covering something shed a layer of red sand as Draconis uncovered himself from beneath the sand where he had weather the intense storm, adjusting the wrapped cloth protecting his face. Before rolling and stowing the hide and setting out towards a nearby mountain range. Dawn was closing in as the night sky gave way to the glimmer of a rising sun, reflecting over his shoulders against the mountain range growing closer as he trekked forward. Unfurling the tan cloth wrapped around his face covering all but his eyes, which were covered by black goggles, he could see what he had been searching for in the distance at the base of one of the mountains. Nestled at the beginning of a mountain pass was the small village he had identified years ago. The first sign of civilization in months as he passed a moisture harvester on the outskirts of the mountain village. All paths had led him to here, decades of searching to this one obscure place. Never meaning to be found… as much had been put in place, to keep the secret buried here hidden for all time. The morning sun rose higher as he reached the village draped by sheer mountains watching over it. The village was calm, still waking from its nightly slumber as a few humanoid like beings, could be seen beginning their days with duties and work. The ping of hammer and durasteel could be heard, harkening that this place still held onto old traditions that blended with a slight influx of technology granting some semblance of balance of the old and the new. Cloaked in his ragged robes Draconis' gaze moved from left and right and back again. Draconis could feel some wash of the force as this place as it clearly held secrets of its own apart from what he sought. No one had noticed his arrival, not that he was attempting to mask such, as he observed and viewed the small huts and stone structures. No one was the wiser that death had arrived in their home, moving deeper amongst them with only one purpose.
Three children rounded the corner of a stone building, suddenly coming upon the hooded and ragged robed dark figure of Draconis. One of the boys slammed right into him, knocking himself down, quickly recovering in fear as he looked up startled and afraid. A second boy grabbing him by the arm frantically helping him up as the two began to shuffle back before turning and running, shouting words as if alarmed. The third boy who had stopped shy of running into the dark being now in front of him, stood silently. Either mesmerized or frozen in fear. Draconis crouched bringing his gaze in line and to the level of that of the child’s. His face still concealed behind the shadow of the hood.
"You are quite fast! Young one."
Draconis tone was inviting and complimentary towards the child. Draconis had recognized the dialect of the fleeing boys of that of a more primitive language used by many of the distance and remote villages. The boy looked back almost stunned that Draconis spoke to him clearly in his native tongue. The ancient languages of the Sith had all but died out, but the foundation of many of the communication in these remote places still held onto small pieces of the long dead languages. Draconis was impressed by the young one’s resilience.
"And clearly a brave young man!"
The boys concerned expression changed to a more relaxed demeanor as he seemed reassured that he was such a brave young man by the dark man before him. "I... I will train with Shaolo one day; he is the villages greatest warrior. He already says I will grow up to be a good hunter!" The young boy was clearly proud of the distinct honor afforded him, as merited in the village caste system. "I.. I am not afraid of anything! Have to watch over and protect my peeop.. people. Tis our resbunsabitities." Draconis grinned slightly, amused at the child’s deep pride in his village and responsibilities.
"I see everything." He gave a wide proud smile.
"Didn't your parents teach you to not talk to strangers?" Draconis tone became more concerned, as he leaned forward slightly in his crouch.
“I am Tolr, what is your name?” The child was blunt.
"Draconis."
"We are not strangers anymore." The child responded quickly. Again Draconis was impressed, the child was sharp, unrelenting, and unafraid.
"Tell me Tolr, have you ever seen anything like this?" Draconis unfurled a cloth upon which were a number of Sith runes and symbols. Tolr pointed and pressed his finger tip against one of the symbols.
"Granfade Shaola." Associating it with someone. The boy clearly recognized one of the ancient symbols, distinctly one associated with a priest caste from long ago.
"Will you take me to granfade, Tolr?"
“Come with me, Draconis.” The boy spoke happily as he reached and grabbed Draconis' hand pulling him along. Tolr lead him through the village past many of the villagers as the village was coming more to life. Still few came to pay attention or notice him as the young child led death closer to what he sought. “The mountain screams, granfade saves us.” The child spoke clearly referencing the nearby mountains and something that lies therein. Unknowingly offering further confirmation to Draconis.
They soon came upon a large hut, rapping on the doorway as Tolr announced their arrival. “Granfade? Granfade?”
“TOLR!” A woman’s voice cried out in fear. As a woman ran up snatching the child. Clearly the boy’s mother, as she began chastising the child, noticing the dark being and scared to death at the sight of Draconis and her child holding his hand. Reeling back with the child away from Draconis. “Draconis.” Tolr yelled out. Upset with being separated from his new friend. Draconis' hand fluttered, Tolr's mother came to a dead calm instantly ceasing the fearful fit and subsequent attempt to flee with her child. Her mind glazed over from control of Draconis, as she tranced at his will. Tolr dropped unaware of his mother’s zombie like state.
“Tolr, you are a brave one. I am glad you are my friend now. This is granfade's home?” Draconis gesture behind him towards the hut. Tolr nodded his head up and down. “Take this. Give it to your mother and run along with her to home. Next time I see you, you had better be a strong hunter, always keep those eyes open!” Draconis' pale hand reached out grazing the cheek of the child while placing a large sealed package of portions, enough food for over a week in his hand. Draconis rose staring at the Tolr's mother. “Tolr is fine, and the village is safe.”
“Tolr is fine, and the village is safe.” The young woman monotonously recited, then blinked looking down to see her child and smiling happy to see him, before turning to return home. As he walked with his mother, Tolr looked over his shoulder smiling as he waved back at his new friend, the gesture was met with a slight return wave by Draconis.
“They... are not safe... Are they?” The voice of an elderly man spoke from behind Draconis. Draconis turned to eye whom he knew would be the marked granfade now standing at the entrance to the hut.
“No. No, they are not.” Draconis' tone changed completely. Darker. Determined and singular as he addressed the village elder.
Draconis moved towards the elder whom waved him forward into his hut.
“Priest!” Draconis spoke, clearly recognizing the elder man as something far more than just a village shaman and elder. Much more than just granfade, as he proceeded through the hut entrance into the elder’s chambers. The hut was what one would expect of an elder… Trophies, artifacts, and rugs covered much of the living quarters as a fire glowed within a small furnace heating the hut. The man was indeed frail in body, utilizing a polished wooden cane to aid him as he passed Draconis who had stopped in the middle of the hut as the priest walked across the hut towards a skin wrapped chair. All a fitting ruse.
“I knew you would come, eventually. Many of us knew you were not dead.” He clearly knew such as well. The priest spoke eluding to the one whom had cast Draconis out. The priest coughed. “I know why you are here... The priest spoke with a heavy heart, grieved by the fact at what was about to transpire. Much care was taken to hide him away.”
“Time has been good to you priest.” Draconis spoke seeing through the façade and noting the fact that this once Priest at the Sith Temple clearly had prolonged his life well beyond expectancy, much like many of his brothers and sisters of the court of the Sith from that time. The time of shattering and purge. When Lord Cruor had been discarded, during that time his body and mask separated. The priests and priestesses removing his body, some of them devoted to saving his essence, some determined to hide the fowl beast of Cruor away from the galaxy for no one to find ever again.
“Many of us hoped... you would never come!” The man sat down opposite of Draconis wrapping a fur blanket over his legs for warmth. Distraught over the fact that this meeting was finally happening. “I assume I am the last?” The priest questioned, knowing in his heart and mind that Draconis being here meant that none of those who had hid Cruor away still lived.
“You are priest. And not all by my hand.” Clearly referencing the fact that the hunt for Cruor and it was not limited to him.
“The village?” The priest spoke. His senses heightened at the thought. Gravely concerned at the death and destruction that stood at their doorstep.
“Save your heart priest.” Draconis reassured the elder priest. “You need not fear bloodhounds from afar pouncing on this place, save giving me what I seek...”
“The mountains scream.” Draconis recited what the young village child Tolr, had said about the mountains. Demanding an explanation from the priest.
“The dark side swirls around that place... we buried him deep within the mountain. Still it swells with darkness. Several of us stayed there to protect the grounds as long as they had breath. However, one by one they were all driven mad by the wellspring of darkness.” Draconis was intrigued by the fact that the dark side devotees were corrupted yet even further than they already had been.
“Somethings are left best undisturbed.” The priest spoke as he began to rise in his chair. “Besides his body is of no use to you, as only his mask will reunite his essence and soul to his physical self!” The priest spoke almost chiding Draconis as if thinking he had presented an impasse that no one, not even Draconis could surmount. “Your efforts are in vain Lord Draconis. The Death Mask was destroyed!” The priest grinned, almost gleeful.
“You mean this…” Draconis produce the battered and dark death mask, the one of the true Harbinger, holding it forth in front of the priest. The priest's face grew deathly pale, utterly stunned and fearful. The priests hand rose in an attempt to lurch the mask free from Draconis' grasp, attempting to call it to him through the force. While the Priest’s knowledge of ritual and rite was immense, his prowess in the force was not nearly equal to that of the Sith before him. Draconis flung his free hand towards the priest, knocking him back in his chair and racking his body into a convulsing back arching hold. The priest eyes grew wide in fear, knowing that Draconis had all the pieces of this grand puzzle aligned. "Your weakness for this village betrays you priest! Or does it?” Draconis stepped forward, holding the man through the force. “It would be a shame if little Tolr and his pretty mother...”
“NOOOO.” The priest shouted in a gruff voice, with a cough. Draconis released the elder as he dropped back into his chair. Draconis was close to the elder man, leaning in. “You will show me the path, priest!” The priest had no resistance, and neither could he stand up in any capacity to the Sith Lord. The vision of his village burning and slaughtered raced through his head. “I... I will.” The priest said in a defeated breath. “My gran-daugte knows where the mountains scream. She will take you.” The priest clearly admitting that he could not make the journey. “She will meet you at the mountain pass at tomorrow dawn after I speak with her.”
Draconis nodded bowing slightly to the elder priest. In no formal show of respect, but mocking the broken man. “Your village is safe priest. Be at ease ganfade... I have no quarrel here.” The dark ragged figure removed himself from the hut taking his leave, noting the rekindled fire in the Priests eyes.
~Dawn -- Mountain pass
Draconis stood in plain sight awaiting his guide, whom appeared jumping down from one of the rock buffs nearby. Her jump clearly guided by the force, she was adept. Landing in a crouch nearby Draconis. The priest's gran-daugte rose un-cowling the tan hooded robe from her head revealing her face. She was striking, beautiful, Draconis could now see the make-up of the villagers more clearly through this young woman as her slightly reddish toned skin contrasted her shortly trim darker red hair. Draconis knew that the races of the ancient Sith were all but known to be extinct, but this world clearly molded and shaped those that inhabited it to its will. Including these remote isolated tribes and villages. Giving way to the evolution of what was needed to survive on this harsh world, and as such while bloodlines of the ancients had been broken, traits and characteristics still rose from its ashes. This young woman along with her tribe perhaps molded by such, along with priest's bloodline having been passed down to his granddaughter.
“Grandfade, bids me to guide you.” The young woman’s tone was pleasant, but direct and demanding. “Follow me.” Before Draconis could offer any reply she took off in a brisk pace up the mountain pass. “After you milady...” Draconis spoke after the fact of being left behind at pace. Not concerned at all at the head start his guide had.
Their pace was unrelenting, the young one had stamina. Draconis could feel her drawing upon the force to spur her forward. She occasionally looked back before returning to her fast pace as they hiked and climbed through the mountain scape, each time surprised and flustered as if expecting to have lost Draconis given her blistering pace. Only to find him right in step behind her.
“You move with grace young one.” Draconis offered up a polite but sharp remark towards the young woman. “You feel it flowing in you. Don't you? What is your name my dear?”
“Granfade says not to talk to you!”
Draconis grinned amusingly at the thought of the priest trying to protect her.
“You do not need to talk. Only listen.” The young woman offered a huff of disapproval at Draconis’ words as she paced up the path faster.
“This place calls to you. You can feel it. I know.” Draconis began in at her. In fact, her services as a guide were becoming less and less needed as the wellspring of darkness was calling to Draconis. He knew she was drawn to it like a moth to flame. “When we arrive. I beg you to return. You are not strong enough for what is going to happen. I fear for your safety my dear.”
Draconis grinned knowing that he was playing into her. The young woman was full of pride, he saw this already. She was strong in the force and budding with potential. She stopped in her tracks and turned back to Draconis, the sand and stone beneath her feet sliding as she came to a halt. “I am stronger than you, wraith! Granfade told me what you are Sith! And the screams do not scare me!” The young woman’s eyes were focused and determine, hardened by her hatred of Draconis already, hatred of the Sith.
“Did your granfade tell you he was Sith?” Draconis spoke as he passed the woman brushing her shoulder as he passed by. Flashing a tattoo on his wrist and showing the mark of the Sith, the same Sith tattooed symbol on her precious granfades forehead. Her demeanor changed dramatically, shocked almost in disbelief of the revelation from Draconis. Her hardened eyes blinked in disbelief as if not knowing how to take the news. Draconis pressed on...it was amazing what a little revelation could do, shaking one’s beliefs and foundation of upbringing to the core. Something so simple. The idea that, someone that she had loved, had lied to her all her life. The priest was wrong to have sent her as his guide.
The young woman quickly caught up to Draconis, coming alongside him as Draconis was homing in on the source of darkness.
“You lie!” She said.
“Hmmm, sometimes.” Draconis grinned back.
“Granfade, is a healer and deliverer. Where did you get that?” She pointed at the tattoo.
“Granfade said not to talk to me...” Draconis chide the young woman with a sadistic grin. The young woman huffed annoyed, her eyes and gaze narrowing as if burning through the side of Draconis' skull. “We are here!” Draconis announced, the young woman surprised at how she was now the one being guided. The cave entrance laid before them.
“Stay here.” Draconis pressed on passing through the wide cave entrance, the foreboding mountains swallowing up everything around as the dark energy mangled the surrounding grounds giving a twisted appearance to all things. Jagged rocks and spires rose where normally smooth rocky outcroppings should have been. The darkness radiated. The young woman, briefly appeared to heed the Sith's advice, but impatiently followed him down. Time passed, as they traveled deeper into the mountain finally coming to a dead end. Draconis knew she was behind him, he knew she had followed him down all along. Unmarked and hoping to be forgotten Draconis singled out the large stone before him, the priests and priestesses had made sure to not mark the grave. Attempting to offer no clue as to his whereabouts. But that was to the uninitiated. “I need your help.” Draconis spoke to the young woman, referring to the fact that he knew she was there in the darkness, despite her best efforts to hide from him. “I am not strong enough.” Draconis spoke, though the fact was that he was more than strong enough in the force to move the boulder. “Need my help for what?” She asked. “Moving the boulder.” Draconis retorted.
“Move the boulder. How?” The young woman asked inquisitively.
“We need to do it together. Do as I do, reach out. I know your granfade showed you.” Draconis loosed the boulder slightly, but waited for the young woman’s power to cling to it. In fact, as the bolder lifted and moved away from the entrance, Draconis had lowered his hand as the young woman moved the boulder away all by herself. She looked in disbelief as she saw that Draconis’ arm had been lowered the whole time, shocked at what she had done. Draconis was testing her. Through the passage they went, the rocky cavernous depths giving way to a large vaulted cavern, large enough to fit a good sized freighter in. The far end of the cavern dropped off as a black abyssal crevice offered no return for anyone who would fall. Torches of the chamber came to life upon their entrance illuminating the room with a sudden brilliance. The chamber was plane, not adorned with markings or carvings of a Sith Lord. Just plane as if the contents of this place were shoved in and forgotten about. The only distinguishing features were a side anti chamber which looked to be some sort of multiple room living quarters carved into the rock and the stone sarcophagi in the center of the room. As they approached, they noticed two skeletons sitting up against the tomb. One had a rather long dagger imbedded in its chest, while the other was in pieces, the torso and legs separated by several feet. Some of the fellow priests no doubt.
The large tomb was plain save one inscription on the top slab. Draconis noticed the young woman trying to discern and make out the markings. "What does it say?" She asked.
Draconis ran his hand across the top of the slab. He could feel the Gen'Dai's Death Mask radiating within his satchel. The journey to find this tomb complete as he read the inscription to himself as he came to the end of it. Turning to face the young woman who was mesmerized and enthralled by all that was happening.
"Oh... it is a long chronical of this being’s life... a warning to all... a last attempt saying...."
"A last attempt at saying what?" Her interest clearly heightened immensely.
Draconis leaned down as he stretched his arms out grasping the edges of the stone slab. Sadistically grinning.
"Saying don't open the kriffing tomb!"
Draconis pushed the slab over sliding it off onto the stone floor, the impact breaking it into three large pieces. Rather anti-climactically. Nothing extravagant happened. As was expected… As Cruor had decayed so had this place, drawing it down into darkness like the black abyss at the end of the room. The withered and scarred corpse of Darth Cruor lay silent, some tendons and fibers of him showing as the cloth wrappings had deteriorated even with the short passage of time… Clearly they had not embalmed him. No doubt they had no idea how to, Draconis marveled at his physiology. He could not hope to attempt to understand how everything worked. There were no bones to secure, no organs to embalm, just fibers, nerves, and tissue to attempt to wrap, and thus there he was. Silent, devoid of any spark.
Draconis produced a jar placing it on the edge of the tomb. "What are you doing?" The young woman asked.
Feeding him. Draconis plainly replied as if it was obvious. His tissue is dormant. Sealed away from all life, it has been unable to regenerate and heal. We must aid our friend in healing himself. Draconis spoke as if instructing the young woman already in the ways of the dark arts. Draconis pulled a small serpent like creature from the jar, which quickly opened its mouth producing fangs, had Draconis not controlled its head it would have easily bitten the young woman. Draconis pressed the fangs down into the rotting corpse of Cruor.
Even in this state, his body will react... drawing upon its nature to heal itself. The venom will act as a catalyst and spur the body to react. Draconis satisfied that enough venom had been deposited, raised the serpent and flung it at the young woman. Whose eyes grew wide as she stepped back. Loosing the spear quickly from her back and stabbing it through the head as it attempted to coil on the ground. She offered no words, but merely stared angrily at Draconis. She was quick. The silence of the chamber was faintly broken as the soft sound of irregular thumping emanated from the tomb. The young woman peered over to look upon the corpse, which now shown a small spot pulsating with hues of red and purple.
Draconis stepped back satisfied ,staring at the tomb but addressing the young woman. You were supposed to have killed me by now. Draconis plainly stated. The young woman was caught off guard, still mesmerized by everything as she had played right into his hands. "I... I.... granfade..."
"Granfade lied to you my dear." Draconis stepped forward goading the young woman. "NOOOO." She lashed out thrusting the spear forward at Draconis' head. Draconis swatted it to the side and raised his hand vaulting her up and back with the force. She impacted the stone floor with a thud. "Come on you are stronger than this." Draconis stepped forward. She hopped back up quickly producing a dagger which she thrusted and sliced with repeatedly. Her moved were precise and fast, and would have landed had she not had been facing a dark master. Draconis evaded the moves countering with block after block and subtly evasions. Draconis countered with a fist strike to the chest forcing her back onto her back. "STRONGER. AGAIN." Draconis yelled. Springing up she raged, the woman twisted and flipped through the air leveling a kick as she landed followed by a sweep at his legs, bringing the dagger up arcing across his chest. The moves missed, but finally put Draconis on the defensive for once. The power in her was growing, as she pressed forward her kicks and punches growing stronger, more forceful. "Your granfade was a murderer!"
"NOOOO." She screamed. "NOOOO. I HATE YOU! " Draconis leveled another blow, this time to the head followed by another blow forcing the young woman back with a force push as she slide across the stone floor of the cavern. "Do what you came to do! KILL ME!" Draconis taunted her. She ran at him, thrusting the dagger forward in a killing strike. Draconis met the thrust, grappling her arm and forcefully dislodging the blade. NOT with this. Draconis screamed back at her, continually he seemed to casually counter all of her efforts to kill him.
The young woman screamed at length with rage. The shock waves beginning to ripple, as Draconis braced himself from the force scream. The echoes of her scream reverberating throughout the chamber before coming to a still silence. Shocked at what she had just done. The young woman looked around, as if unable to comprehend what she had just produced from down in her soul.
"Good Talredene." Draconis said with a grin. Now go and when you return do not come alone. Draconis again catching her off guard by apparently having known her name all along. Talredene reeled back stunned at the events of this day, what she had seen, what she had done... Draconis knew she would not be the same, the vein of power she had tapped into would need to be fed.
Weeks had passed since unearthing his corpse. The chamber was littered with drawings of runes, symbols, writings and markings. As if the entirety of the chamber had become one giant chalkboard to Draconis as he worked things out. The clap of boots could be heard against stone as Talredene emerged from the chamber entrance, flanked by two young men of similar age to her. They entered the chamber looking about, before focusing on Draconis crouched beyond the tomb with his back to them. Staring and musing at the writings strewn about in his vicinity. "Draconis!" Talredene called out. Draconis intrigued that she had done her homework as well. "I have come to finish you!"
"You do not sound so sure my dear... " Draconis offered a retort. "We shall see..."
Her head hurt, the pain was excruciating. "How could you!?!??" She stared into the eyes of one of the young men, once her friend, a warrior that she had brought with her to end Draconis. His back was pressed against the tomb of Cruor. The two struggled over a dagger... Draconis had watched as the young man had been easily broken and turned against Talredene, scheming and giving into the prospect of lust and credits. It had been too easy... the one struggling with Talredene had even betrayed the other young man who lay bleeding on the chamber floor after slicing him deeply, after both of them had tried to take advantage of Talredene. This place was powerful... twisting them quickly... bringing out the worst desires in their hearts. Draconis watched as the young man tried to force the dagger back upon Talredene. However, it wasn't until the man felt a strange pull on his back, that he felt any panic. As a red and purple tendril rose wrapping around his neck yanking him down onto the open tomb. Talredene reeled back in horror as the young man’s face went flush. She watched as his skin began to whither, the very essence of him being drained as his body became limp. The tendril recoiled slowly, unwrapping from the now dead man’s neck, and his drained and dried out lifeless body fell down onto the floor. Draconis looked on, as Talredene strode over to the other young man still alive but wounded. The other warrior who had tried to do things to her, his face was pale at what had transpired. Talredene thrust the dagger into his side while picking him up and dragging him towards the tomb. Clearly enraged with the force she picked him up. Using new found strength in the darkness, before slamming him down on the tomb. Turning away and leaving the body of Cruor to do its work as the young man's scream was silenced. Talredene stood stunned and in disbelief of it all, her clothes torn and hands awash in blood... "You did what you had to do, Talre." Draconis flanked her coming about to gently grab her shoulder while he reached down for the dagger clutched in her hand.
"You did what you had to Tarle." Draconis repeated as he calmly loosed the blade from her hand She stood stunned and in disbelief of it all. "You saw what was in their hearts didn't you?" Draconis spoke to her, as the visions of her granfade and now dead young warriors together flashed in her mind.
"I saw Granfade..." The young woman muttered, upset and emotionally twisted. "I saw him tell the boys to murder me... after we had killed you!" Her gaze rose to stare Draconis in the eyes with the new realizations of truth. Her expression searching for meaning in it all. "You twisted them!" She shouted angrily at Draconis, looking to shift the blame away from what she knew was true now...
Draconis retorted back. "You know better than that! These boys made their choices, and you would be ravaged and dead now had you not stopped them!!!" Draconis sternly reinforcing the reality of events, lividly angry at the young woman doubting her decision to kill them.
"Granfade is not who he seems to be!" Draconis pressed his words harder, again hammering the truth which the woman now knew. "He has had the luxury of playing the village shaman for years and years. A wolf among sheep and now he shows his true colors to you. Now he is consumed more than ever, drunk with a lust for power.... and he will stop at nothing to get it young one!"
"I saw them give him a mask." Tarle spoke softly. about a vision of things to come. She knew about the mask… Draconis was impressed as his senses were heightened, he knew that in time she would learn of it. Draconis pulled the mask from his satchel. Instantly she recognized it. It called to her as it called to Draconis and all those who came near it.
"The priest knew the mask would call to you." Draconis said purposefully referring to him as the priest now and not her granfade... his tone softer but more serious. "He could not afford to have you claim it for yourself... but he needed your strength and for you to kill me first."
Tarle knew now why she had been marked for death, a simple lust for power.
"We all have choices Tarle." Draconis spoke as he stepped away, walking a few paces away as he breathed deeply, while looking over the tomb of Cruor. "Leave now and get as far away from this world... go as far as you can, never returning, or... stay." Draconis turned pacing back towards the young woman who had begun to compose herself a bit more, wiping tears and blood from her face. "I warn you though... if you stay you may not like what you become..."
"What is it you want?" Draconis said waiting for an answer.
Tarle's eyes burned with hatred, as she spoke under her breathe. "I want revenge."
She was quick. Strong. Cunning. Ruthless. Deadly.
Peace is a lie...
and someone is always scheming...
And so the men sent to kill them, had met something they had not expected... In the dead of night she worked her way through their camp, catching them by surprise in a flash and effortlessly one by one cutting them down, swiftly, ruthlessly, and silently. Tarle pushed the now lifeless corpse of one of the men off the cliff edge as she loosed her blade from his neck.
"Every time you fail!" A voice spoke in Draconis' head. "Each time you hurt us! Yet you tell the girl to run!" The voice grew louder... "the priest is right leave him be!"
"No... I found him."
"I have never questioned you Master, but I worry that this will be the end of you. Cruor... Why?"
"I cannot tell you why, all I know is that I must."
Energy course all around, tendril of blue, purple, and white energy reaching across a large expanse. The visage of the Gen' Dai 's head and mouth full of needle like fangs rushed across the black expanse... as his mouth opened coming at him. Burning Orange and red Sith eyes boring through his skull... Energy surging as the Sith sought to consume him and anything in its path. Pure power clawing its way back.
...a surge of energy coursed through him, as he was hurled back away from the tomb and the Death Mask in place on Cruor’s face. Draconis slid across the stone floor coming to a halt out of breath and heaving in pain. Smoke rising off of his robes. Aching in pain as he gathered himself… crawling across the floor before slowly rising and stumbling to the tomb of Cruor. All of the pain coursing was worth the site of the Death Mask radiating, glowing on the Gen’ Dai’s head. As Draconis knew he had finally succeeded in dragging Cruor back from the spirit plane. Draconis collapsed rolling onto the floor, blacking out from exhaustion.
Mountain cave entrance.... high above dessert village below.
The bright pale moon illuminated the vast desert bathed in the night sky, a crisp light breeze funneling up the mountain side fluttered a nearby fur blanket as Draconis sat staring out across the landscape from an outcropping in front of the large cave opening. A nearby fire crackled and danced. Before him was an endless dessert shadowed by the Korriban sky. Talre rolled over pulling the heavy mess of blankets with her. Her hand traced up Draconis back to his shoulder as she rose, pulling herself along with a fur blanket wrapped around her, which was the only thing between her naked flesh and the crisp air, closer as she slid up next to him. Talre leaned in, her fingers further tracing the lines of a tattoo down Draconis' pale chest, as she kissed his neck. It was then that she saw what Draconis as staring at. Far below even at such distance the flames and smoke from the village could be seen blazing. I saw this in my dreams. She said. Somberly, but not surprised. I knew this would transpire too. Draconis replied still staring out across the view, as Talre leaned forwards wrapping her arms and the blanket around Draconis and her. "Why did you not kill him, master?" Clearly she spoke of the priest, her grandfade. Draconis could feel that she wanted to act, internally she was raging at the site of the village ablaze. Her discipline and training was the only thing keeping her composed, along with the fact that she had already known that this would come to pass.
"When I awoke our friend, I knew they would start to come." Draconis spoke referring to those with knowledge of or affinity to the mask. " You are drawn to the mask. As I am. As the priest is." Draconis spoke plainly. It was better to see our enemies from a far first, rather than them strike directly at us. Talre stared out across the night sky along with Draconis, intrigued at the thought and how such would be accomplished. They would seek the priest out first as he would seek them out first too upon their arrival, and as such we view our enemies from a far. "I understand, but how?" Talre asked, and the it hit her. "Tolr!" She softly exclaimed as she remembered the scene of Draconis crouching down handing the boy rations, now making the connection. "Yes... my eyes and ears from the beginning." Draconis' response confirmed her thoughts, as Talre spoke up again. "And thus the Priest unknowingly drew those seeking Cruor's mask out into the open, where we would see them first." Draconis again nodded confirming.
"Time was on our side, however now things have changed. Until now all of the Priest attempts have been in vain, they have been like water against this mountain, with you culling them down every time." Draconis' pride swelled for a brief moment at the thought of the well trained and now deadly apprentice's handiwork. Draconis kept his gaze forward across the desert sky, but his tone changed as if unsure about something. Clearly trying to make sense of his thoughts. "When I called Lord Cruor back, something else heard the call as well, bursting through the tear I had created." Draconis paused, wondering if he had made a mistake, if it was all worth it. "Something from an older time…. weathered. Filled with more malice and desire, than I have ever scene." The mountain breeze kicked up slightly coursing the flames of the nearby fire to rise a bit from the influx of air. "No doubt it passed us by in search of a host, knowing in its fragile state it needed a willing and more malleable host to leach onto." Talre could already see where Draconis was going with this, as he confirmed her fear.
"The priest has made a deal with this entity, selling his soul thinking he can outsmart it in the end, falling prey to the entities silver tongue. I am sure of it..." Draconis looked down at the village, seeing the waste and destruction the Priest had unleashed in his madness. "That is why the village burns as the priest enslaves and twists it to his will. Drunk on this new power the Priest moves against us with his new found strength and followers. While the spirit consumes him and those around him, thus growing stronger by the minute."
"I wanted you to have the satisfaction apprentice... of finishing the Priest one day. And it seems that day is here." Talre looked down at her old home, that of the burning village with fiery focus and determination. "I will not fail you master."
~Dawn
The smoke trailed off into the morning sky in the distance as both Draconis and Talre sat meditating, entranced while bathing in the energy of the mountain. Draconis' eyes opened quickly followed by Talre's as she sensed the growing surge. Draconis stood up slowly coming to the outcropping’s edge as he peered down the mountain, quickly followed by Talre's gaze as they both eyed the trail of dust climbing the mountain. "At least four hundred." Talre spoke, clearly referencing the line of dust and loosed rock as the column of beings scaled the mountain path en-route to the cave entrance. "Four hundred and seven." Draconis chimed back at the apprentice, grinning. No one gets to that chamber! I need not tell you what happens if the Priest and his new friend get their hands on that Death Mask...
Talre rushed past Draconis en-route to her position. Apprentice! Draconis called to her… his voice full of respect and confidence, as he produced a silver hilt with a black grip. "Lord Cruor won't mind if you borrow this today." Talre called the hilt to her hand with the force. She had admired the pair of lightsabers for too long inside Cruor's tomb, only ever training with the staffs, spears, and swords that her master had presented to her. For the first time she held one, as she looked up returning a grateful and eager smile while nodding. Before clipping it to her side as she disappeared bounding down the mountain of the cliff edge in a controlled fall, the tails of her tight tan tunic wrappings catching the wind as she descended and landed gracefully. Her master’s words echoed in her head, reinforcing her will. Twisted.... slaves.... They are no longer your kin. Perverted by his lust for power.
The roar of a mass of beings grew louder as the slaves scrambled up the wide mountain path nestled within slow rising inclines to each side, stumbling over each other spurred on by the force and will of their master. Scars lines their faces and bodies; they were distorted shells of their former selves. Now only a mindless rabble of infused malice and lust for destruction armed with spears, shields, and all manner of improvised archaic weapons drew closer. The roar came to a head as the mass came around a bend in front of Draconis, charging with a mindless rage.
Draconis met the advance equally at the choke point, his blade unsheathed in a smooth motion cutting down the first slave to reach him. Another fell, along with another his blade slicing from one to the next... as Draconis pushed back the column causing several of the slaves to fall back into the oncoming column, slowing it down as a few slaves rolled back down the slope tumbling. The attack from the side gouged a path straight through the column as Talre and a flash of red saber darted through it felling several slaves in one attack. The near mindless hoard buckled as Draconis continue to work his way down the column smoothly slicing from side to side, taking slave after slave with him. Talre circled around bring the red saber to bare darting through the line again, this time taking even more with her in the second attack. The roars of the hoard could be heard as it scrambled to keep climbing the slope, as the whip from their master cracked in their minds driving them rabid with rage. Their momentum slowed as they were force to not only content with the slope, but with also the dead bodies piling up on the wide mountain path. The hoard came to a halt as Draconis hurled a blooded mass of bodies with the force into another wave with Talre matching her masters move, doing the same. They hoard was stymied...
A roar broke through the sounds of battle, but not that of the hoard itself... the unholy sound traveling down into Draconis' soul. The horrid mass of a beast clawed its way up the path, tossing aside slaves as it followed a path of power it was drawn to. Its razor tusks goring those in its way as it made a path towards Draconis. A Jedi killer.... a Terentatek. Draconis heard a second roar marking the arrival of a second one, which he eyed baring down on Tarle. Draconis leapt into the air using the downward slope of the mountain to an advantage soaring down the mountain side and landing down the slope. The Terentatek that had been charging at him roared and reared around now coming down the mountain slope gaining speed, pummeling through slaves in its way. Draconis worked fast concentrating as the boulder he loosed slammed into the second Terentatek, driving it down and off the path of Tarle. Draconis grabbed her gaze from a short distance, as she sliced down another slave. Yelling with urgency. "To the cave!" Tarle's leap showed she had heard her master as she leaped up the mountain. Reminiscent of how she had when she had first led Draconis up this mountain, however this time she carved her way through the slave drones in earnest surrounding them.
Draconis darted barely evading the charging Terentatek as it swept its massive arms and claws out grasping at and trying to devour Draconis, overshooting him and sliding down the mountain path taking several slaves with it. Draconis could feel where the beast had clawed across his back.
Draconis pommel struck a slave as it charged at him, spinning and impaling another charging drone, sliding his blade out quickly as he began to traverse up the sloped path. The Terentatek roared as it regained its footing and began to scramble back up the path, the second one joining it after reeling and recovering from the massive boulder strike that had kept it from devouring Tarle. Draconis kept moving upwards, not looking back despite knowing the beasts were baring down behind him. With Tarle up ahead, both Master and Apprentice carved through slaves on their way back up to the outcropping near the cave. The path was a mess of bodies and weapons, the earth soaked already from the blood of the slaves. Talre reach the top first, turning to see the path of carnage below unfolding as the hoard moved up the blood and body soaked path. A wave of slaves charged forward reaching the outcropping, before Draconis could. Talre moved meeting them head on as she engaged again. Slicing through the first slave to meet her while swiftly moving onto the next… beheading it in one clean stroke, as she moved to the next parrying its sword before slicing across its chest. The saber hummed as she twirled the blade felling slave after slave, she held her line but the numbers were still coming to bare. Forcing her back, as she was knocked to her knees, a slave slicing her across the arm as they began to circle around and closed in on her. Draconis heard her deafening scream and saw the shockwave flow out from the outcropping as slaves flew back in all directions into the air plummeting down the steep mountain side. The force flowed in Talre as she raged with anger, her eyes ablaze with fire. Draconis continue to draw close with the Terentatek right behind him. Talre continued her onslaught impressively mustered a stream of lightning which flew past Draconis over his shoulder. Striking one of the climbing Terentatek, which roared in response, absorbing the energy seemingly unfazed as it continued to charge up the mountain path.
"THAT WON'T WORK ON THEM!" Draconis shouted out with obvious concern for the growing severity of the situation as he had finally made it up to the outcropping. Quickly loosing a nearby boulder sending it cascading down the path slamming into the lead Terentatek, bringing it to a brief halt, but certainly not stopping it. The hoard of slaves flowed around the briefly halted beast, surging forward. The slaves began to pounce as the two stood their ground against the them. The embers from the fire from the night before grew as Draconis poured his power into them as a wall of fire erupted engulfing a mass of slaves nearly incinerating them as flailing slaves fled on fire while other dropped to the ground blackened and burning. The fire was enough to cause one of the Terenateks to drift close to the outcropping edge. Which Talre quickly recognized as she charged at it without fear, the Terenatak roared as it reared up to its full height. Draconis followed her attack leaping up into the air. Talre's lightsaber strike landed slashing across the tough hide barely rendering any noticeable damage but stunning the beast momentarily as Draconis landed with a forceful impact.
The ground buckled under the beast’s feet as it began to slide back as part of the outcropping gave way. The far arm and claw slammed down across Talre side knocking her back as the beast fell back into the air off the sheer cliff down towards the rocky base below.
A spear pierced his back as Draconis scooped Talre up under his arm as they hobbled to the cave, with the roar of the hoard and second Terentatek growing loader behind them. Draconis and Tarle slammed against the cave wall, heaving for breath. Tarle looked at her master, both of their faces stained and splashed with blood some theirs and some their enemies. Draconis reached down feeling the gouging wound the Terentatek had inflicted, as Talre's back arched as pain coursed through her body as she gasped and screamed in pain. Their eyes met. FOCUS AND USE THE PAIN! STAY ALIVE! Draconis clasped Talre’s hand tightly embracing her. Talre nodded, trying to focus as she gulped, a droplet of blood escaping from her mouth. Draconis eyes were ablaze looking into hers. Draconis did what he could briefly to channel a sliver of healing to his apprentice, but there was no time. The roar was growing louder... the clawing and scratching... but it was not coming from the cave entrance... it was coming from below.
Cruor appeared motionless as energy he projected had been surging down the abyss... the flash of scales smashed through the chamber door shattering rock everywhere on its way up to the surface. Clawing its way, its glowing red eyes illuminating the darkness as it rushed towards them. A fearsome sustained roar emanating from the darkness. A greater Hssiss dragon burst through the cave entrance out into the open. Pummeling the remaining Terentatek forcing it down to the ground as the two titanic beast roared at each other, the Hssiss Dragon clamped down on one of the arms of the Terentatek unleashing its venom while thrashing and ripping it from its socket, the tusks of the Terentatek bore into the side of the Hssiss, which whipped around with its tail knocking the Terenatak back. With its arm mauled and hanging by tendons the Terentatek roared and charged as the Hssiss slammed into it again, clamping down on one of its legs this time, digging and working its teeth and jaw back and forth despite the claws of the Terentatek ripping at its hide, the Hssiss' mouth came about clamping down this time on its side. Terentatek roared and fell succumbing to its wounds as the Hssiss roared.
The blade of Draconis went down to the hilt as he landed right below its neck, jerking the blade to the side as the Hssiss bucked from the uninvited guest on its back. Draconis jammed the imbedded blade forward as the Hssiss dragon lurched forward clawing its way to a charge. The cresting wave of slaves was trampled as Draconis pressed the dragon forward plowing through them down the mountain path. Slaves were flung and eviscerated, as Draconis carved a path through them as he held on astride the dark dragon’s neck.
The surge of energy and lightning slammed into Draconis knocking him back off of the Hssiss dragon, as the creature was engulfed in a ball of massive force lightning. Its bone structure flashing through its skin as it smoked and convulsed before going lifeless sliding through the sand to a halt. The Priest infused with the entities power stood down range as the lightning ceased to emanate from his fingertips. Draconis could feel pain all throughout his body, as blood dripped down his arm.
You fool Draconis! You cannot stop me! The Priests voice was augmented.... darker and more foreboding, twisted by the entity that possessed him. Draconis turned making his way back up the mountain, his body screamed in pain as he reached the outcropping again. Another jolt of pain as lightning wrapped him, as the Priest bore down on him from behind, causing him to drop to his knees.
Draconis saw her, eying Tarle at the cave entrance sitting and leaning aginst the cave wall. She was trying to hold on too…. unable to move though as her Master was hit with another jolt from the Priest. Both Draconis’ and Tarle’s eyes were ablaze, reaching for each other their fiery eyes met as they both barely held on to their last breathes, understanding that they had fought to the end. Love and hate, holding onto embraced memory of each other the night before, and all these years.
(Music) 145
The Priest paced around him as Draconis crawled pulling himself forward. "I will have your head Draconis! After I bring you my gran-daughte's!" The Priest turned with a vicious grin as he began to move towards Talre, who stared in fear barely hanging on as her last breathes were leaving her.
The Priest was lurched back as Draconis clasped the Priest's neck with both hands, surging in power as he drained and drew out with all his might the force within Priest. The entity was immensely powerful as the connection burned within Draconis' mind, the entity buckled within the Priest, too weak to be imprisoned in the Priest's body should the Priest die, it raged. Screaming through the force, into Draconis' mind. Draconis pressed further as his own body began to succumb to the entity caught between Draconis and the Priest now.
A wave of power hit Tarle's face as the wind from the force discharge brushed gently against her face, stirring her from the clutches of death. She could see a specter distorting as it flashed in the air, before giving a bellow some roar as it rocketed away… the entity fleeing leaving the Priest, his body contorted as the strength and power afforded him by the entity left him.
Tarle’s gaze came down eying her master as Draconis clutched the cliff edge, hanging with his arms outstretched grasping. Staring back at her looking into her soul. Master and apprentice. Draconis slid back without warning his strength giving way. The tears began to roll down her cheek as her chin quivered. He was gone.
---------Lost-------
The feeble Priest struggled down the cavern past where the dark side dragon had burst through the chamber... stumbling onto the stone floor, the old and near crippled man crawled… pulling himself up towards the tomb, to claim it. It was his now!!! The mask was his finally! The near fully regenerated Gen Dai lay silently asleep in his tomb with no mask covering his face. The Priest panicked.
No, no... reaching down into the tomb searching frantically for it. NOOOOOOOO.
The voice from behind him was familiar.
Yes.
It spoke softly with satisfaction down to the very soul of its being. The Priest whirled around, the lines of the old shaman’s face tensing as his eyes widened as Tarle plunged her sword through him down to the hilt. Her eyes locked on his as the Priest shuttered, falling lifeless back off of the blood soaked blade.
The clang of the sword echoed through the chamber as she looked over at the tomb of Cruor, with hate and respect.
Overcome with emotion she screamed, directing her anger at the silent Sith Lord who still slept. The price of it all took its toll, she buckled falling to her knees weeping. Only to look up briefly and see a bound book wrapped with her name inscribed on it.
------------------Dusk----------------------
At the base of the mountain the wind was howling as the sun began to give way to the night.
Korriban was paying no attention to Draconis' still and lifeless body. As beside him the mask, loosed from his satchel, began to be covered by the massing sand blown against it.
Xen Gaal. Darth Cruor.
Names spanning milennia of existance, that meant nothing here beyond the veil.
He had shed his physical form and transformed back into the Force during the time of purge. Only the most powerful Jedi and Sith could hope to retain their consciousness and individuality.
Xen Gaal was such a being.
He was aware. Slumbering while his dreams revealed to him deep mysteries of the nature of the Force. He saw everything, felt everything, yet was too weak to cross back to the other side. Not yet.
He had to wait, and wait he did.
How long he could not know, time had no meaning here.
Only the Force had meaning.
---------------------
He had felt something. A pull. Something had called him back. Something familiar.
A voice, deep and seductive. There had been no sensation of motion yet inevitably he found the voice, or maybe it found him. No matter.
The voice luring his deathly visage which gazed upon a scarred mask with hollow eyes, made of the rare metal phrik. Infused with an essence upon it's creation.
As it neared powerful streams of blue, purple, and white energy lashed out and seized his being, violently pulling him towards the mask. There was no escape, this time he would know what it felt like to be born into the world.
There was only pain. He knew pain, this was the pain of life, but never had it been like this. His body.....his body......was close to death. Only the mask, his mask, sustained him in this hibernation. His Gen'Dai body could heal, but it would take time.
Time he had.
Restless as he slumbered. Yet again, he was aware.
Events like memories flashed through his mind seeing what had transpired as he slept.... The dragon. The priest. Tarle. Draconis. Struggle. Everything. Conciously aware, yet frozen in time and space as his senses grew... more attuned now than in his previous life, though as in death it was but a dream.
However nothing is permanent, as he had felt his mind, body, and soul growing in strength. As he did a pulse of power radiated from the depths of the mountain.
Everything was aligned. Undoubtedly there would be Jedi and Sith powerful enough to feel this beacon, this warning.
Would they be wise enough to prepare?
He was Death Reborn. The Harbinger of the True Sith. Darth Cruor.
He could feel the call of the planet Korriban. Feeling what had transpired here while he had slept, all of it. And what of his mask? He yearned for it! As it called to him...
"Draconis" His voice cracked, scratchy and difficult to speak for the first time in over a century. He reached out with his senses, searching for the one who had risen him. An old, friend.
There was nothing. Not on Korriban, not anywhere...
Laying inside the tomb, Cruor's fiery eyes suddenly opened. The Harbinger had awakened.
The following is a collaboration between Lord Cruor and Lord Draconis beginning many an adventure before the OST following the original Sith Trials games. I wrote this in 2016 and shared it on the JCF and wish to share it here. I hope you enjoy!
(working on updating much of the formatting)
~Some 60 years before OST
~Korriban Wilde --- Pesegam Minor Mountains-- outskirts of unknown village
The wind was howling as the storm raged, visibility was near zero... blotting out even the light reflected from the moon. Pelting walls of sand roared across the desert scape, then as quickly as it had arrived, the sand storm gave way to the night sky. Before too long the red sand shifted slightly giving way as something rose from the earth. The canvas hide that had been concealing and covering something shed a layer of red sand as Draconis uncovered himself from beneath the sand where he had weather the intense storm, adjusting the wrapped cloth protecting his face. Before rolling and stowing the hide and setting out towards a nearby mountain range. Dawn was closing in as the night sky gave way to the glimmer of a rising sun, reflecting over his shoulders against the mountain range growing closer as he trekked forward. Unfurling the tan cloth wrapped around his face covering all but his eyes, which were covered by black goggles, he could see what he had been searching for in the distance at the base of one of the mountains. Nestled at the beginning of a mountain pass was the small village he had identified years ago. The first sign of civilization in months as he passed a moisture harvester on the outskirts of the mountain village. All paths had led him to here, decades of searching to this one obscure place. Never meaning to be found… as much had been put in place, to keep the secret buried here hidden for all time. The morning sun rose higher as he reached the village draped by sheer mountains watching over it. The village was calm, still waking from its nightly slumber as a few humanoid like beings, could be seen beginning their days with duties and work. The ping of hammer and durasteel could be heard, harkening that this place still held onto old traditions that blended with a slight influx of technology granting some semblance of balance of the old and the new. Cloaked in his ragged robes Draconis' gaze moved from left and right and back again. Draconis could feel some wash of the force as this place as it clearly held secrets of its own apart from what he sought. No one had noticed his arrival, not that he was attempting to mask such, as he observed and viewed the small huts and stone structures. No one was the wiser that death had arrived in their home, moving deeper amongst them with only one purpose.
Three children rounded the corner of a stone building, suddenly coming upon the hooded and ragged robed dark figure of Draconis. One of the boys slammed right into him, knocking himself down, quickly recovering in fear as he looked up startled and afraid. A second boy grabbing him by the arm frantically helping him up as the two began to shuffle back before turning and running, shouting words as if alarmed. The third boy who had stopped shy of running into the dark being now in front of him, stood silently. Either mesmerized or frozen in fear. Draconis crouched bringing his gaze in line and to the level of that of the child’s. His face still concealed behind the shadow of the hood.
"You are quite fast! Young one."
Draconis tone was inviting and complimentary towards the child. Draconis had recognized the dialect of the fleeing boys of that of a more primitive language used by many of the distance and remote villages. The boy looked back almost stunned that Draconis spoke to him clearly in his native tongue. The ancient languages of the Sith had all but died out, but the foundation of many of the communication in these remote places still held onto small pieces of the long dead languages. Draconis was impressed by the young one’s resilience.
"And clearly a brave young man!"
The boys concerned expression changed to a more relaxed demeanor as he seemed reassured that he was such a brave young man by the dark man before him. "I... I will train with Shaolo one day; he is the villages greatest warrior. He already says I will grow up to be a good hunter!" The young boy was clearly proud of the distinct honor afforded him, as merited in the village caste system. "I.. I am not afraid of anything! Have to watch over and protect my peeop.. people. Tis our resbunsabitities." Draconis grinned slightly, amused at the child’s deep pride in his village and responsibilities.
"I see everything." He gave a wide proud smile.
"Didn't your parents teach you to not talk to strangers?" Draconis tone became more concerned, as he leaned forward slightly in his crouch.
“I am Tolr, what is your name?” The child was blunt.
"Draconis."
"We are not strangers anymore." The child responded quickly. Again Draconis was impressed, the child was sharp, unrelenting, and unafraid.
"Tell me Tolr, have you ever seen anything like this?" Draconis unfurled a cloth upon which were a number of Sith runes and symbols. Tolr pointed and pressed his finger tip against one of the symbols.
"Granfade Shaola." Associating it with someone. The boy clearly recognized one of the ancient symbols, distinctly one associated with a priest caste from long ago.
"Will you take me to granfade, Tolr?"
“Come with me, Draconis.” The boy spoke happily as he reached and grabbed Draconis' hand pulling him along. Tolr lead him through the village past many of the villagers as the village was coming more to life. Still few came to pay attention or notice him as the young child led death closer to what he sought. “The mountain screams, granfade saves us.” The child spoke clearly referencing the nearby mountains and something that lies therein. Unknowingly offering further confirmation to Draconis.
They soon came upon a large hut, rapping on the doorway as Tolr announced their arrival. “Granfade? Granfade?”
“TOLR!” A woman’s voice cried out in fear. As a woman ran up snatching the child. Clearly the boy’s mother, as she began chastising the child, noticing the dark being and scared to death at the sight of Draconis and her child holding his hand. Reeling back with the child away from Draconis. “Draconis.” Tolr yelled out. Upset with being separated from his new friend. Draconis' hand fluttered, Tolr's mother came to a dead calm instantly ceasing the fearful fit and subsequent attempt to flee with her child. Her mind glazed over from control of Draconis, as she tranced at his will. Tolr dropped unaware of his mother’s zombie like state.
“Tolr, you are a brave one. I am glad you are my friend now. This is granfade's home?” Draconis gesture behind him towards the hut. Tolr nodded his head up and down. “Take this. Give it to your mother and run along with her to home. Next time I see you, you had better be a strong hunter, always keep those eyes open!” Draconis' pale hand reached out grazing the cheek of the child while placing a large sealed package of portions, enough food for over a week in his hand. Draconis rose staring at the Tolr's mother. “Tolr is fine, and the village is safe.”
“Tolr is fine, and the village is safe.” The young woman monotonously recited, then blinked looking down to see her child and smiling happy to see him, before turning to return home. As he walked with his mother, Tolr looked over his shoulder smiling as he waved back at his new friend, the gesture was met with a slight return wave by Draconis.
“They... are not safe... Are they?” The voice of an elderly man spoke from behind Draconis. Draconis turned to eye whom he knew would be the marked granfade now standing at the entrance to the hut.
“No. No, they are not.” Draconis' tone changed completely. Darker. Determined and singular as he addressed the village elder.
Draconis moved towards the elder whom waved him forward into his hut.
“Priest!” Draconis spoke, clearly recognizing the elder man as something far more than just a village shaman and elder. Much more than just granfade, as he proceeded through the hut entrance into the elder’s chambers. The hut was what one would expect of an elder… Trophies, artifacts, and rugs covered much of the living quarters as a fire glowed within a small furnace heating the hut. The man was indeed frail in body, utilizing a polished wooden cane to aid him as he passed Draconis who had stopped in the middle of the hut as the priest walked across the hut towards a skin wrapped chair. All a fitting ruse.
“I knew you would come, eventually. Many of us knew you were not dead.” He clearly knew such as well. The priest spoke eluding to the one whom had cast Draconis out. The priest coughed. “I know why you are here... The priest spoke with a heavy heart, grieved by the fact at what was about to transpire. Much care was taken to hide him away.”
“Time has been good to you priest.” Draconis spoke seeing through the façade and noting the fact that this once Priest at the Sith Temple clearly had prolonged his life well beyond expectancy, much like many of his brothers and sisters of the court of the Sith from that time. The time of shattering and purge. When Lord Cruor had been discarded, during that time his body and mask separated. The priests and priestesses removing his body, some of them devoted to saving his essence, some determined to hide the fowl beast of Cruor away from the galaxy for no one to find ever again.
“Many of us hoped... you would never come!” The man sat down opposite of Draconis wrapping a fur blanket over his legs for warmth. Distraught over the fact that this meeting was finally happening. “I assume I am the last?” The priest questioned, knowing in his heart and mind that Draconis being here meant that none of those who had hid Cruor away still lived.
“You are priest. And not all by my hand.” Clearly referencing the fact that the hunt for Cruor and it was not limited to him.
“The village?” The priest spoke. His senses heightened at the thought. Gravely concerned at the death and destruction that stood at their doorstep.
“Save your heart priest.” Draconis reassured the elder priest. “You need not fear bloodhounds from afar pouncing on this place, save giving me what I seek...”
“The mountains scream.” Draconis recited what the young village child Tolr, had said about the mountains. Demanding an explanation from the priest.
“The dark side swirls around that place... we buried him deep within the mountain. Still it swells with darkness. Several of us stayed there to protect the grounds as long as they had breath. However, one by one they were all driven mad by the wellspring of darkness.” Draconis was intrigued by the fact that the dark side devotees were corrupted yet even further than they already had been.
“Somethings are left best undisturbed.” The priest spoke as he began to rise in his chair. “Besides his body is of no use to you, as only his mask will reunite his essence and soul to his physical self!” The priest spoke almost chiding Draconis as if thinking he had presented an impasse that no one, not even Draconis could surmount. “Your efforts are in vain Lord Draconis. The Death Mask was destroyed!” The priest grinned, almost gleeful.
“You mean this…” Draconis produce the battered and dark death mask, the one of the true Harbinger, holding it forth in front of the priest. The priest's face grew deathly pale, utterly stunned and fearful. The priests hand rose in an attempt to lurch the mask free from Draconis' grasp, attempting to call it to him through the force. While the Priest’s knowledge of ritual and rite was immense, his prowess in the force was not nearly equal to that of the Sith before him. Draconis flung his free hand towards the priest, knocking him back in his chair and racking his body into a convulsing back arching hold. The priest eyes grew wide in fear, knowing that Draconis had all the pieces of this grand puzzle aligned. "Your weakness for this village betrays you priest! Or does it?” Draconis stepped forward, holding the man through the force. “It would be a shame if little Tolr and his pretty mother...”
“NOOOO.” The priest shouted in a gruff voice, with a cough. Draconis released the elder as he dropped back into his chair. Draconis was close to the elder man, leaning in. “You will show me the path, priest!” The priest had no resistance, and neither could he stand up in any capacity to the Sith Lord. The vision of his village burning and slaughtered raced through his head. “I... I will.” The priest said in a defeated breath. “My gran-daugte knows where the mountains scream. She will take you.” The priest clearly admitting that he could not make the journey. “She will meet you at the mountain pass at tomorrow dawn after I speak with her.”
Draconis nodded bowing slightly to the elder priest. In no formal show of respect, but mocking the broken man. “Your village is safe priest. Be at ease ganfade... I have no quarrel here.” The dark ragged figure removed himself from the hut taking his leave, noting the rekindled fire in the Priests eyes.
~Dawn -- Mountain pass
Draconis stood in plain sight awaiting his guide, whom appeared jumping down from one of the rock buffs nearby. Her jump clearly guided by the force, she was adept. Landing in a crouch nearby Draconis. The priest's gran-daugte rose un-cowling the tan hooded robe from her head revealing her face. She was striking, beautiful, Draconis could now see the make-up of the villagers more clearly through this young woman as her slightly reddish toned skin contrasted her shortly trim darker red hair. Draconis knew that the races of the ancient Sith were all but known to be extinct, but this world clearly molded and shaped those that inhabited it to its will. Including these remote isolated tribes and villages. Giving way to the evolution of what was needed to survive on this harsh world, and as such while bloodlines of the ancients had been broken, traits and characteristics still rose from its ashes. This young woman along with her tribe perhaps molded by such, along with priest's bloodline having been passed down to his granddaughter.
“Grandfade, bids me to guide you.” The young woman’s tone was pleasant, but direct and demanding. “Follow me.” Before Draconis could offer any reply she took off in a brisk pace up the mountain pass. “After you milady...” Draconis spoke after the fact of being left behind at pace. Not concerned at all at the head start his guide had.
Their pace was unrelenting, the young one had stamina. Draconis could feel her drawing upon the force to spur her forward. She occasionally looked back before returning to her fast pace as they hiked and climbed through the mountain scape, each time surprised and flustered as if expecting to have lost Draconis given her blistering pace. Only to find him right in step behind her.
“You move with grace young one.” Draconis offered up a polite but sharp remark towards the young woman. “You feel it flowing in you. Don't you? What is your name my dear?”
“Granfade says not to talk to you!”
Draconis grinned amusingly at the thought of the priest trying to protect her.
“You do not need to talk. Only listen.” The young woman offered a huff of disapproval at Draconis’ words as she paced up the path faster.
“This place calls to you. You can feel it. I know.” Draconis began in at her. In fact, her services as a guide were becoming less and less needed as the wellspring of darkness was calling to Draconis. He knew she was drawn to it like a moth to flame. “When we arrive. I beg you to return. You are not strong enough for what is going to happen. I fear for your safety my dear.”
Draconis grinned knowing that he was playing into her. The young woman was full of pride, he saw this already. She was strong in the force and budding with potential. She stopped in her tracks and turned back to Draconis, the sand and stone beneath her feet sliding as she came to a halt. “I am stronger than you, wraith! Granfade told me what you are Sith! And the screams do not scare me!” The young woman’s eyes were focused and determine, hardened by her hatred of Draconis already, hatred of the Sith.
“Did your granfade tell you he was Sith?” Draconis spoke as he passed the woman brushing her shoulder as he passed by. Flashing a tattoo on his wrist and showing the mark of the Sith, the same Sith tattooed symbol on her precious granfades forehead. Her demeanor changed dramatically, shocked almost in disbelief of the revelation from Draconis. Her hardened eyes blinked in disbelief as if not knowing how to take the news. Draconis pressed on...it was amazing what a little revelation could do, shaking one’s beliefs and foundation of upbringing to the core. Something so simple. The idea that, someone that she had loved, had lied to her all her life. The priest was wrong to have sent her as his guide.
The young woman quickly caught up to Draconis, coming alongside him as Draconis was homing in on the source of darkness.
“You lie!” She said.
“Hmmm, sometimes.” Draconis grinned back.
“Granfade, is a healer and deliverer. Where did you get that?” She pointed at the tattoo.
“Granfade said not to talk to me...” Draconis chide the young woman with a sadistic grin. The young woman huffed annoyed, her eyes and gaze narrowing as if burning through the side of Draconis' skull. “We are here!” Draconis announced, the young woman surprised at how she was now the one being guided. The cave entrance laid before them.
“Stay here.” Draconis pressed on passing through the wide cave entrance, the foreboding mountains swallowing up everything around as the dark energy mangled the surrounding grounds giving a twisted appearance to all things. Jagged rocks and spires rose where normally smooth rocky outcroppings should have been. The darkness radiated. The young woman, briefly appeared to heed the Sith's advice, but impatiently followed him down. Time passed, as they traveled deeper into the mountain finally coming to a dead end. Draconis knew she was behind him, he knew she had followed him down all along. Unmarked and hoping to be forgotten Draconis singled out the large stone before him, the priests and priestesses had made sure to not mark the grave. Attempting to offer no clue as to his whereabouts. But that was to the uninitiated. “I need your help.” Draconis spoke to the young woman, referring to the fact that he knew she was there in the darkness, despite her best efforts to hide from him. “I am not strong enough.” Draconis spoke, though the fact was that he was more than strong enough in the force to move the boulder. “Need my help for what?” She asked. “Moving the boulder.” Draconis retorted.
“Move the boulder. How?” The young woman asked inquisitively.
“We need to do it together. Do as I do, reach out. I know your granfade showed you.” Draconis loosed the boulder slightly, but waited for the young woman’s power to cling to it. In fact, as the bolder lifted and moved away from the entrance, Draconis had lowered his hand as the young woman moved the boulder away all by herself. She looked in disbelief as she saw that Draconis’ arm had been lowered the whole time, shocked at what she had done. Draconis was testing her. Through the passage they went, the rocky cavernous depths giving way to a large vaulted cavern, large enough to fit a good sized freighter in. The far end of the cavern dropped off as a black abyssal crevice offered no return for anyone who would fall. Torches of the chamber came to life upon their entrance illuminating the room with a sudden brilliance. The chamber was plane, not adorned with markings or carvings of a Sith Lord. Just plane as if the contents of this place were shoved in and forgotten about. The only distinguishing features were a side anti chamber which looked to be some sort of multiple room living quarters carved into the rock and the stone sarcophagi in the center of the room. As they approached, they noticed two skeletons sitting up against the tomb. One had a rather long dagger imbedded in its chest, while the other was in pieces, the torso and legs separated by several feet. Some of the fellow priests no doubt.
The large tomb was plain save one inscription on the top slab. Draconis noticed the young woman trying to discern and make out the markings. "What does it say?" She asked.
Draconis ran his hand across the top of the slab. He could feel the Gen'Dai's Death Mask radiating within his satchel. The journey to find this tomb complete as he read the inscription to himself as he came to the end of it. Turning to face the young woman who was mesmerized and enthralled by all that was happening.
"Oh... it is a long chronical of this being’s life... a warning to all... a last attempt saying...."
"A last attempt at saying what?" Her interest clearly heightened immensely.
Draconis leaned down as he stretched his arms out grasping the edges of the stone slab. Sadistically grinning.
"Saying don't open the kriffing tomb!"
Draconis pushed the slab over sliding it off onto the stone floor, the impact breaking it into three large pieces. Rather anti-climactically. Nothing extravagant happened. As was expected… As Cruor had decayed so had this place, drawing it down into darkness like the black abyss at the end of the room. The withered and scarred corpse of Darth Cruor lay silent, some tendons and fibers of him showing as the cloth wrappings had deteriorated even with the short passage of time… Clearly they had not embalmed him. No doubt they had no idea how to, Draconis marveled at his physiology. He could not hope to attempt to understand how everything worked. There were no bones to secure, no organs to embalm, just fibers, nerves, and tissue to attempt to wrap, and thus there he was. Silent, devoid of any spark.
Draconis produced a jar placing it on the edge of the tomb. "What are you doing?" The young woman asked.
Feeding him. Draconis plainly replied as if it was obvious. His tissue is dormant. Sealed away from all life, it has been unable to regenerate and heal. We must aid our friend in healing himself. Draconis spoke as if instructing the young woman already in the ways of the dark arts. Draconis pulled a small serpent like creature from the jar, which quickly opened its mouth producing fangs, had Draconis not controlled its head it would have easily bitten the young woman. Draconis pressed the fangs down into the rotting corpse of Cruor.
Even in this state, his body will react... drawing upon its nature to heal itself. The venom will act as a catalyst and spur the body to react. Draconis satisfied that enough venom had been deposited, raised the serpent and flung it at the young woman. Whose eyes grew wide as she stepped back. Loosing the spear quickly from her back and stabbing it through the head as it attempted to coil on the ground. She offered no words, but merely stared angrily at Draconis. She was quick. The silence of the chamber was faintly broken as the soft sound of irregular thumping emanated from the tomb. The young woman peered over to look upon the corpse, which now shown a small spot pulsating with hues of red and purple.
Draconis stepped back satisfied ,staring at the tomb but addressing the young woman. You were supposed to have killed me by now. Draconis plainly stated. The young woman was caught off guard, still mesmerized by everything as she had played right into his hands. "I... I.... granfade..."
"Granfade lied to you my dear." Draconis stepped forward goading the young woman. "NOOOO." She lashed out thrusting the spear forward at Draconis' head. Draconis swatted it to the side and raised his hand vaulting her up and back with the force. She impacted the stone floor with a thud. "Come on you are stronger than this." Draconis stepped forward. She hopped back up quickly producing a dagger which she thrusted and sliced with repeatedly. Her moved were precise and fast, and would have landed had she not had been facing a dark master. Draconis evaded the moves countering with block after block and subtly evasions. Draconis countered with a fist strike to the chest forcing her back onto her back. "STRONGER. AGAIN." Draconis yelled. Springing up she raged, the woman twisted and flipped through the air leveling a kick as she landed followed by a sweep at his legs, bringing the dagger up arcing across his chest. The moves missed, but finally put Draconis on the defensive for once. The power in her was growing, as she pressed forward her kicks and punches growing stronger, more forceful. "Your granfade was a murderer!"
"NOOOO." She screamed. "NOOOO. I HATE YOU! " Draconis leveled another blow, this time to the head followed by another blow forcing the young woman back with a force push as she slide across the stone floor of the cavern. "Do what you came to do! KILL ME!" Draconis taunted her. She ran at him, thrusting the dagger forward in a killing strike. Draconis met the thrust, grappling her arm and forcefully dislodging the blade. NOT with this. Draconis screamed back at her, continually he seemed to casually counter all of her efforts to kill him.
The young woman screamed at length with rage. The shock waves beginning to ripple, as Draconis braced himself from the force scream. The echoes of her scream reverberating throughout the chamber before coming to a still silence. Shocked at what she had just done. The young woman looked around, as if unable to comprehend what she had just produced from down in her soul.
"Good Talredene." Draconis said with a grin. Now go and when you return do not come alone. Draconis again catching her off guard by apparently having known her name all along. Talredene reeled back stunned at the events of this day, what she had seen, what she had done... Draconis knew she would not be the same, the vein of power she had tapped into would need to be fed.
~Preparation~
Weeks had passed since unearthing his corpse. The chamber was littered with drawings of runes, symbols, writings and markings. As if the entirety of the chamber had become one giant chalkboard to Draconis as he worked things out. The clap of boots could be heard against stone as Talredene emerged from the chamber entrance, flanked by two young men of similar age to her. They entered the chamber looking about, before focusing on Draconis crouched beyond the tomb with his back to them. Staring and musing at the writings strewn about in his vicinity. "Draconis!" Talredene called out. Draconis intrigued that she had done her homework as well. "I have come to finish you!"
"You do not sound so sure my dear... " Draconis offered a retort. "We shall see..."
~Ascension~
Her head hurt, the pain was excruciating. "How could you!?!??" She stared into the eyes of one of the young men, once her friend, a warrior that she had brought with her to end Draconis. His back was pressed against the tomb of Cruor. The two struggled over a dagger... Draconis had watched as the young man had been easily broken and turned against Talredene, scheming and giving into the prospect of lust and credits. It had been too easy... the one struggling with Talredene had even betrayed the other young man who lay bleeding on the chamber floor after slicing him deeply, after both of them had tried to take advantage of Talredene. This place was powerful... twisting them quickly... bringing out the worst desires in their hearts. Draconis watched as the young man tried to force the dagger back upon Talredene. However, it wasn't until the man felt a strange pull on his back, that he felt any panic. As a red and purple tendril rose wrapping around his neck yanking him down onto the open tomb. Talredene reeled back in horror as the young man’s face went flush. She watched as his skin began to whither, the very essence of him being drained as his body became limp. The tendril recoiled slowly, unwrapping from the now dead man’s neck, and his drained and dried out lifeless body fell down onto the floor. Draconis looked on, as Talredene strode over to the other young man still alive but wounded. The other warrior who had tried to do things to her, his face was pale at what had transpired. Talredene thrust the dagger into his side while picking him up and dragging him towards the tomb. Clearly enraged with the force she picked him up. Using new found strength in the darkness, before slamming him down on the tomb. Turning away and leaving the body of Cruor to do its work as the young man's scream was silenced. Talredene stood stunned and in disbelief of it all, her clothes torn and hands awash in blood... "You did what you had to do, Talre." Draconis flanked her coming about to gently grab her shoulder while he reached down for the dagger clutched in her hand.
"You did what you had to Tarle." Draconis repeated as he calmly loosed the blade from her hand She stood stunned and in disbelief of it all. "You saw what was in their hearts didn't you?" Draconis spoke to her, as the visions of her granfade and now dead young warriors together flashed in her mind.
"I saw Granfade..." The young woman muttered, upset and emotionally twisted. "I saw him tell the boys to murder me... after we had killed you!" Her gaze rose to stare Draconis in the eyes with the new realizations of truth. Her expression searching for meaning in it all. "You twisted them!" She shouted angrily at Draconis, looking to shift the blame away from what she knew was true now...
Draconis retorted back. "You know better than that! These boys made their choices, and you would be ravaged and dead now had you not stopped them!!!" Draconis sternly reinforcing the reality of events, lividly angry at the young woman doubting her decision to kill them.
"Granfade is not who he seems to be!" Draconis pressed his words harder, again hammering the truth which the woman now knew. "He has had the luxury of playing the village shaman for years and years. A wolf among sheep and now he shows his true colors to you. Now he is consumed more than ever, drunk with a lust for power.... and he will stop at nothing to get it young one!"
"I saw them give him a mask." Tarle spoke softly. about a vision of things to come. She knew about the mask… Draconis was impressed as his senses were heightened, he knew that in time she would learn of it. Draconis pulled the mask from his satchel. Instantly she recognized it. It called to her as it called to Draconis and all those who came near it.
"The priest knew the mask would call to you." Draconis said purposefully referring to him as the priest now and not her granfade... his tone softer but more serious. "He could not afford to have you claim it for yourself... but he needed your strength and for you to kill me first."
Tarle knew now why she had been marked for death, a simple lust for power.
"We all have choices Tarle." Draconis spoke as he stepped away, walking a few paces away as he breathed deeply, while looking over the tomb of Cruor. "Leave now and get as far away from this world... go as far as you can, never returning, or... stay." Draconis turned pacing back towards the young woman who had begun to compose herself a bit more, wiping tears and blood from her face. "I warn you though... if you stay you may not like what you become..."
"What is it you want?" Draconis said waiting for an answer.
Tarle's eyes burned with hatred, as she spoke under her breathe. "I want revenge."
~Raw, Angry, and Determined~
She was quick. Strong. Cunning. Ruthless. Deadly.
~Honed, loyal, and Refined~
Peace is a lie...
and someone is always scheming...
And so the men sent to kill them, had met something they had not expected... In the dead of night she worked her way through their camp, catching them by surprise in a flash and effortlessly one by one cutting them down, swiftly, ruthlessly, and silently. Tarle pushed the now lifeless corpse of one of the men off the cliff edge as she loosed her blade from his neck.
~Many years later... and too many times to count~
"Every time you fail!" A voice spoke in Draconis' head. "Each time you hurt us! Yet you tell the girl to run!" The voice grew louder... "the priest is right leave him be!"
"No... I found him."
~Precipice~
"I have never questioned you Master, but I worry that this will be the end of you. Cruor... Why?"
"I cannot tell you why, all I know is that I must."
~Beyond the veil~
Energy course all around, tendril of blue, purple, and white energy reaching across a large expanse. The visage of the Gen' Dai 's head and mouth full of needle like fangs rushed across the black expanse... as his mouth opened coming at him. Burning Orange and red Sith eyes boring through his skull... Energy surging as the Sith sought to consume him and anything in its path. Pure power clawing its way back.
...a surge of energy coursed through him, as he was hurled back away from the tomb and the Death Mask in place on Cruor’s face. Draconis slid across the stone floor coming to a halt out of breath and heaving in pain. Smoke rising off of his robes. Aching in pain as he gathered himself… crawling across the floor before slowly rising and stumbling to the tomb of Cruor. All of the pain coursing was worth the site of the Death Mask radiating, glowing on the Gen’ Dai’s head. As Draconis knew he had finally succeeded in dragging Cruor back from the spirit plane. Draconis collapsed rolling onto the floor, blacking out from exhaustion.
~Stealing Time~
Mountain cave entrance.... high above dessert village below.
The bright pale moon illuminated the vast desert bathed in the night sky, a crisp light breeze funneling up the mountain side fluttered a nearby fur blanket as Draconis sat staring out across the landscape from an outcropping in front of the large cave opening. A nearby fire crackled and danced. Before him was an endless dessert shadowed by the Korriban sky. Talre rolled over pulling the heavy mess of blankets with her. Her hand traced up Draconis back to his shoulder as she rose, pulling herself along with a fur blanket wrapped around her, which was the only thing between her naked flesh and the crisp air, closer as she slid up next to him. Talre leaned in, her fingers further tracing the lines of a tattoo down Draconis' pale chest, as she kissed his neck. It was then that she saw what Draconis as staring at. Far below even at such distance the flames and smoke from the village could be seen blazing. I saw this in my dreams. She said. Somberly, but not surprised. I knew this would transpire too. Draconis replied still staring out across the view, as Talre leaned forwards wrapping her arms and the blanket around Draconis and her. "Why did you not kill him, master?" Clearly she spoke of the priest, her grandfade. Draconis could feel that she wanted to act, internally she was raging at the site of the village ablaze. Her discipline and training was the only thing keeping her composed, along with the fact that she had already known that this would come to pass.
"When I awoke our friend, I knew they would start to come." Draconis spoke referring to those with knowledge of or affinity to the mask. " You are drawn to the mask. As I am. As the priest is." Draconis spoke plainly. It was better to see our enemies from a far first, rather than them strike directly at us. Talre stared out across the night sky along with Draconis, intrigued at the thought and how such would be accomplished. They would seek the priest out first as he would seek them out first too upon their arrival, and as such we view our enemies from a far. "I understand, but how?" Talre asked, and the it hit her. "Tolr!" She softly exclaimed as she remembered the scene of Draconis crouching down handing the boy rations, now making the connection. "Yes... my eyes and ears from the beginning." Draconis' response confirmed her thoughts, as Talre spoke up again. "And thus the Priest unknowingly drew those seeking Cruor's mask out into the open, where we would see them first." Draconis again nodded confirming.
"Time was on our side, however now things have changed. Until now all of the Priest attempts have been in vain, they have been like water against this mountain, with you culling them down every time." Draconis' pride swelled for a brief moment at the thought of the well trained and now deadly apprentice's handiwork. Draconis kept his gaze forward across the desert sky, but his tone changed as if unsure about something. Clearly trying to make sense of his thoughts. "When I called Lord Cruor back, something else heard the call as well, bursting through the tear I had created." Draconis paused, wondering if he had made a mistake, if it was all worth it. "Something from an older time…. weathered. Filled with more malice and desire, than I have ever scene." The mountain breeze kicked up slightly coursing the flames of the nearby fire to rise a bit from the influx of air. "No doubt it passed us by in search of a host, knowing in its fragile state it needed a willing and more malleable host to leach onto." Talre could already see where Draconis was going with this, as he confirmed her fear.
"The priest has made a deal with this entity, selling his soul thinking he can outsmart it in the end, falling prey to the entities silver tongue. I am sure of it..." Draconis looked down at the village, seeing the waste and destruction the Priest had unleashed in his madness. "That is why the village burns as the priest enslaves and twists it to his will. Drunk on this new power the Priest moves against us with his new found strength and followers. While the spirit consumes him and those around him, thus growing stronger by the minute."
"I wanted you to have the satisfaction apprentice... of finishing the Priest one day. And it seems that day is here." Talre looked down at her old home, that of the burning village with fiery focus and determination. "I will not fail you master."
~Dawn
The smoke trailed off into the morning sky in the distance as both Draconis and Talre sat meditating, entranced while bathing in the energy of the mountain. Draconis' eyes opened quickly followed by Talre's as she sensed the growing surge. Draconis stood up slowly coming to the outcropping’s edge as he peered down the mountain, quickly followed by Talre's gaze as they both eyed the trail of dust climbing the mountain. "At least four hundred." Talre spoke, clearly referencing the line of dust and loosed rock as the column of beings scaled the mountain path en-route to the cave entrance. "Four hundred and seven." Draconis chimed back at the apprentice, grinning. No one gets to that chamber! I need not tell you what happens if the Priest and his new friend get their hands on that Death Mask...
Talre rushed past Draconis en-route to her position. Apprentice! Draconis called to her… his voice full of respect and confidence, as he produced a silver hilt with a black grip. "Lord Cruor won't mind if you borrow this today." Talre called the hilt to her hand with the force. She had admired the pair of lightsabers for too long inside Cruor's tomb, only ever training with the staffs, spears, and swords that her master had presented to her. For the first time she held one, as she looked up returning a grateful and eager smile while nodding. Before clipping it to her side as she disappeared bounding down the mountain of the cliff edge in a controlled fall, the tails of her tight tan tunic wrappings catching the wind as she descended and landed gracefully. Her master’s words echoed in her head, reinforcing her will. Twisted.... slaves.... They are no longer your kin. Perverted by his lust for power.
The roar of a mass of beings grew louder as the slaves scrambled up the wide mountain path nestled within slow rising inclines to each side, stumbling over each other spurred on by the force and will of their master. Scars lines their faces and bodies; they were distorted shells of their former selves. Now only a mindless rabble of infused malice and lust for destruction armed with spears, shields, and all manner of improvised archaic weapons drew closer. The roar came to a head as the mass came around a bend in front of Draconis, charging with a mindless rage.
Draconis met the advance equally at the choke point, his blade unsheathed in a smooth motion cutting down the first slave to reach him. Another fell, along with another his blade slicing from one to the next... as Draconis pushed back the column causing several of the slaves to fall back into the oncoming column, slowing it down as a few slaves rolled back down the slope tumbling. The attack from the side gouged a path straight through the column as Talre and a flash of red saber darted through it felling several slaves in one attack. The near mindless hoard buckled as Draconis continue to work his way down the column smoothly slicing from side to side, taking slave after slave with him. Talre circled around bring the red saber to bare darting through the line again, this time taking even more with her in the second attack. The roars of the hoard could be heard as it scrambled to keep climbing the slope, as the whip from their master cracked in their minds driving them rabid with rage. Their momentum slowed as they were force to not only content with the slope, but with also the dead bodies piling up on the wide mountain path. The hoard came to a halt as Draconis hurled a blooded mass of bodies with the force into another wave with Talre matching her masters move, doing the same. They hoard was stymied...
A roar broke through the sounds of battle, but not that of the hoard itself... the unholy sound traveling down into Draconis' soul. The horrid mass of a beast clawed its way up the path, tossing aside slaves as it followed a path of power it was drawn to. Its razor tusks goring those in its way as it made a path towards Draconis. A Jedi killer.... a Terentatek. Draconis heard a second roar marking the arrival of a second one, which he eyed baring down on Tarle. Draconis leapt into the air using the downward slope of the mountain to an advantage soaring down the mountain side and landing down the slope. The Terentatek that had been charging at him roared and reared around now coming down the mountain slope gaining speed, pummeling through slaves in its way. Draconis worked fast concentrating as the boulder he loosed slammed into the second Terentatek, driving it down and off the path of Tarle. Draconis grabbed her gaze from a short distance, as she sliced down another slave. Yelling with urgency. "To the cave!" Tarle's leap showed she had heard her master as she leaped up the mountain. Reminiscent of how she had when she had first led Draconis up this mountain, however this time she carved her way through the slave drones in earnest surrounding them.
Draconis darted barely evading the charging Terentatek as it swept its massive arms and claws out grasping at and trying to devour Draconis, overshooting him and sliding down the mountain path taking several slaves with it. Draconis could feel where the beast had clawed across his back.
Draconis pommel struck a slave as it charged at him, spinning and impaling another charging drone, sliding his blade out quickly as he began to traverse up the sloped path. The Terentatek roared as it regained its footing and began to scramble back up the path, the second one joining it after reeling and recovering from the massive boulder strike that had kept it from devouring Tarle. Draconis kept moving upwards, not looking back despite knowing the beasts were baring down behind him. With Tarle up ahead, both Master and Apprentice carved through slaves on their way back up to the outcropping near the cave. The path was a mess of bodies and weapons, the earth soaked already from the blood of the slaves. Talre reach the top first, turning to see the path of carnage below unfolding as the hoard moved up the blood and body soaked path. A wave of slaves charged forward reaching the outcropping, before Draconis could. Talre moved meeting them head on as she engaged again. Slicing through the first slave to meet her while swiftly moving onto the next… beheading it in one clean stroke, as she moved to the next parrying its sword before slicing across its chest. The saber hummed as she twirled the blade felling slave after slave, she held her line but the numbers were still coming to bare. Forcing her back, as she was knocked to her knees, a slave slicing her across the arm as they began to circle around and closed in on her. Draconis heard her deafening scream and saw the shockwave flow out from the outcropping as slaves flew back in all directions into the air plummeting down the steep mountain side. The force flowed in Talre as she raged with anger, her eyes ablaze with fire. Draconis continue to draw close with the Terentatek right behind him. Talre continued her onslaught impressively mustered a stream of lightning which flew past Draconis over his shoulder. Striking one of the climbing Terentatek, which roared in response, absorbing the energy seemingly unfazed as it continued to charge up the mountain path.
"THAT WON'T WORK ON THEM!" Draconis shouted out with obvious concern for the growing severity of the situation as he had finally made it up to the outcropping. Quickly loosing a nearby boulder sending it cascading down the path slamming into the lead Terentatek, bringing it to a brief halt, but certainly not stopping it. The hoard of slaves flowed around the briefly halted beast, surging forward. The slaves began to pounce as the two stood their ground against the them. The embers from the fire from the night before grew as Draconis poured his power into them as a wall of fire erupted engulfing a mass of slaves nearly incinerating them as flailing slaves fled on fire while other dropped to the ground blackened and burning. The fire was enough to cause one of the Terenateks to drift close to the outcropping edge. Which Talre quickly recognized as she charged at it without fear, the Terenatak roared as it reared up to its full height. Draconis followed her attack leaping up into the air. Talre's lightsaber strike landed slashing across the tough hide barely rendering any noticeable damage but stunning the beast momentarily as Draconis landed with a forceful impact.
The ground buckled under the beast’s feet as it began to slide back as part of the outcropping gave way. The far arm and claw slammed down across Talre side knocking her back as the beast fell back into the air off the sheer cliff down towards the rocky base below.
A spear pierced his back as Draconis scooped Talre up under his arm as they hobbled to the cave, with the roar of the hoard and second Terentatek growing loader behind them. Draconis and Tarle slammed against the cave wall, heaving for breath. Tarle looked at her master, both of their faces stained and splashed with blood some theirs and some their enemies. Draconis reached down feeling the gouging wound the Terentatek had inflicted, as Talre's back arched as pain coursed through her body as she gasped and screamed in pain. Their eyes met. FOCUS AND USE THE PAIN! STAY ALIVE! Draconis clasped Talre’s hand tightly embracing her. Talre nodded, trying to focus as she gulped, a droplet of blood escaping from her mouth. Draconis eyes were ablaze looking into hers. Draconis did what he could briefly to channel a sliver of healing to his apprentice, but there was no time. The roar was growing louder... the clawing and scratching... but it was not coming from the cave entrance... it was coming from below.
Cruor appeared motionless as energy he projected had been surging down the abyss... the flash of scales smashed through the chamber door shattering rock everywhere on its way up to the surface. Clawing its way, its glowing red eyes illuminating the darkness as it rushed towards them. A fearsome sustained roar emanating from the darkness. A greater Hssiss dragon burst through the cave entrance out into the open. Pummeling the remaining Terentatek forcing it down to the ground as the two titanic beast roared at each other, the Hssiss Dragon clamped down on one of the arms of the Terentatek unleashing its venom while thrashing and ripping it from its socket, the tusks of the Terentatek bore into the side of the Hssiss, which whipped around with its tail knocking the Terenatak back. With its arm mauled and hanging by tendons the Terentatek roared and charged as the Hssiss slammed into it again, clamping down on one of its legs this time, digging and working its teeth and jaw back and forth despite the claws of the Terentatek ripping at its hide, the Hssiss' mouth came about clamping down this time on its side. Terentatek roared and fell succumbing to its wounds as the Hssiss roared.
The blade of Draconis went down to the hilt as he landed right below its neck, jerking the blade to the side as the Hssiss bucked from the uninvited guest on its back. Draconis jammed the imbedded blade forward as the Hssiss dragon lurched forward clawing its way to a charge. The cresting wave of slaves was trampled as Draconis pressed the dragon forward plowing through them down the mountain path. Slaves were flung and eviscerated, as Draconis carved a path through them as he held on astride the dark dragon’s neck.
The surge of energy and lightning slammed into Draconis knocking him back off of the Hssiss dragon, as the creature was engulfed in a ball of massive force lightning. Its bone structure flashing through its skin as it smoked and convulsed before going lifeless sliding through the sand to a halt. The Priest infused with the entities power stood down range as the lightning ceased to emanate from his fingertips. Draconis could feel pain all throughout his body, as blood dripped down his arm.
You fool Draconis! You cannot stop me! The Priests voice was augmented.... darker and more foreboding, twisted by the entity that possessed him. Draconis turned making his way back up the mountain, his body screamed in pain as he reached the outcropping again. Another jolt of pain as lightning wrapped him, as the Priest bore down on him from behind, causing him to drop to his knees.
Draconis saw her, eying Tarle at the cave entrance sitting and leaning aginst the cave wall. She was trying to hold on too…. unable to move though as her Master was hit with another jolt from the Priest. Both Draconis’ and Tarle’s eyes were ablaze, reaching for each other their fiery eyes met as they both barely held on to their last breathes, understanding that they had fought to the end. Love and hate, holding onto embraced memory of each other the night before, and all these years.
(Music) 145
The Priest paced around him as Draconis crawled pulling himself forward. "I will have your head Draconis! After I bring you my gran-daughte's!" The Priest turned with a vicious grin as he began to move towards Talre, who stared in fear barely hanging on as her last breathes were leaving her.
The Priest was lurched back as Draconis clasped the Priest's neck with both hands, surging in power as he drained and drew out with all his might the force within Priest. The entity was immensely powerful as the connection burned within Draconis' mind, the entity buckled within the Priest, too weak to be imprisoned in the Priest's body should the Priest die, it raged. Screaming through the force, into Draconis' mind. Draconis pressed further as his own body began to succumb to the entity caught between Draconis and the Priest now.
A wave of power hit Tarle's face as the wind from the force discharge brushed gently against her face, stirring her from the clutches of death. She could see a specter distorting as it flashed in the air, before giving a bellow some roar as it rocketed away… the entity fleeing leaving the Priest, his body contorted as the strength and power afforded him by the entity left him.
Tarle’s gaze came down eying her master as Draconis clutched the cliff edge, hanging with his arms outstretched grasping. Staring back at her looking into her soul. Master and apprentice. Draconis slid back without warning his strength giving way. The tears began to roll down her cheek as her chin quivered. He was gone.
---------Lost-------
The feeble Priest struggled down the cavern past where the dark side dragon had burst through the chamber... stumbling onto the stone floor, the old and near crippled man crawled… pulling himself up towards the tomb, to claim it. It was his now!!! The mask was his finally! The near fully regenerated Gen Dai lay silently asleep in his tomb with no mask covering his face. The Priest panicked.
No, no... reaching down into the tomb searching frantically for it. NOOOOOOOO.
The voice from behind him was familiar.
Yes.
It spoke softly with satisfaction down to the very soul of its being. The Priest whirled around, the lines of the old shaman’s face tensing as his eyes widened as Tarle plunged her sword through him down to the hilt. Her eyes locked on his as the Priest shuttered, falling lifeless back off of the blood soaked blade.
The clang of the sword echoed through the chamber as she looked over at the tomb of Cruor, with hate and respect.
Overcome with emotion she screamed, directing her anger at the silent Sith Lord who still slept. The price of it all took its toll, she buckled falling to her knees weeping. Only to look up briefly and see a bound book wrapped with her name inscribed on it.
------------------Dusk----------------------
At the base of the mountain the wind was howling as the sun began to give way to the night.
Korriban was paying no attention to Draconis' still and lifeless body. As beside him the mask, loosed from his satchel, began to be covered by the massing sand blown against it.
Xen Gaal. Darth Cruor.
Names spanning milennia of existance, that meant nothing here beyond the veil.
He had shed his physical form and transformed back into the Force during the time of purge. Only the most powerful Jedi and Sith could hope to retain their consciousness and individuality.
Xen Gaal was such a being.
He was aware. Slumbering while his dreams revealed to him deep mysteries of the nature of the Force. He saw everything, felt everything, yet was too weak to cross back to the other side. Not yet.
He had to wait, and wait he did.
How long he could not know, time had no meaning here.
Only the Force had meaning.
---------------------
He had felt something. A pull. Something had called him back. Something familiar.
A voice, deep and seductive. There had been no sensation of motion yet inevitably he found the voice, or maybe it found him. No matter.
The voice luring his deathly visage which gazed upon a scarred mask with hollow eyes, made of the rare metal phrik. Infused with an essence upon it's creation.
As it neared powerful streams of blue, purple, and white energy lashed out and seized his being, violently pulling him towards the mask. There was no escape, this time he would know what it felt like to be born into the world.
There was only pain. He knew pain, this was the pain of life, but never had it been like this. His body.....his body......was close to death. Only the mask, his mask, sustained him in this hibernation. His Gen'Dai body could heal, but it would take time.
Time he had.
Restless as he slumbered. Yet again, he was aware.
Events like memories flashed through his mind seeing what had transpired as he slept.... The dragon. The priest. Tarle. Draconis. Struggle. Everything. Conciously aware, yet frozen in time and space as his senses grew... more attuned now than in his previous life, though as in death it was but a dream.
However nothing is permanent, as he had felt his mind, body, and soul growing in strength. As he did a pulse of power radiated from the depths of the mountain.
Everything was aligned. Undoubtedly there would be Jedi and Sith powerful enough to feel this beacon, this warning.
Would they be wise enough to prepare?
He was Death Reborn. The Harbinger of the True Sith. Darth Cruor.
He could feel the call of the planet Korriban. Feeling what had transpired here while he had slept, all of it. And what of his mask? He yearned for it! As it called to him...
"Draconis" His voice cracked, scratchy and difficult to speak for the first time in over a century. He reached out with his senses, searching for the one who had risen him. An old, friend.
There was nothing. Not on Korriban, not anywhere...
Laying inside the tomb, Cruor's fiery eyes suddenly opened. The Harbinger had awakened.
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