Event Tournament of Darkness (House Tenebris ~ Shadow Blade)

[Loharr Talem]

~IC: Loharr Talem~
~Krayiss II~

~Quest for the Title of Shadow Blade of House Tenebris~

------

There it was. A brief, minuscule moment where the present was quite unclear. What was the outcome of what just happened? Did he win? Did he lose? Did he live or did he die?

There wasn’t a lot going through Loharr’s mind, but what was there was quite simple. The mundane desire to know the results of his and his opponents’ moves.

It was almost like torture... almost...

Then, he felt a sensation wash over his body. It was a pressure, but it felt different. Not like change of air pressure, or even water pressure. No... this pressure was almost as if it were a phantom.

There, but not there. As if it were in a state of existence and non-existence simultaneously. It could only be one thing.

The Force.

He had no choice. Whatever was about to happen was inevitable. He felt the wave of pressure hit him, and immediately felt a sense of weightlessness as he saw the ground below him now... well... below him, but not touching.

Both of his weapons had deactivated, but he made an extra effort to keep his grip tight around lightsaber hilt. He was relieved when it worked, but the worst was yet to come.

Some seconds later, there came the unmistakable sound of pain, as he cried out, having slammed into the rocky slope, sliding and rolling for several more meters.

He lay there for a few seconds, hoping for some semblance of relief or solitude. But he realized that was no way to achieve his goals and conquer his ambitions.

Struggling to move, grunting and groaning all the way, Loharr slowly stood up. Facing the direction of the House Leadership, further up the mountain and ridge line.

He hurt all over, but he couldn’t help but feel like his ordeal was far from over.

~~~~~

~ Judges: @dragonsith13 , @Hadzuska_The Jester , @Darth Vesper ~

 

[Darth Cold]

IC: The Dark Vizier
Location: Krayiss II

The last match was interesting. You could feel the energy in the air. The sight of the prestigious title of Shadow Blade was within their grasp, but only one of them would be able to claim it. As the two combatants went over the side of the mountain, the Dark Vizier disappeared from the Headmaster's side. He was no longer needed to judge.

As Loharr came to a halt from his sliding and rolling, he lay there for several seconds before getting up and looking up to where he thought all of the House Leadership was. Suddenly he could hear high pitched laughing, Bud and Lou, the Dark Vizier's hyenadons were approaching with their Master between them, his often hidden Chaotic aura let loose for all to feel and fear. Chuckling he patted them both before speaking. "Well done kiddos. You were right, he did end up here." He tosses them both their own raw steak as a reward before shooing them back to his Starship. Before even looking at Loharr, the Dark Vizier removed his purple cloak and with his left hand drew a dagger that once belonged to Freedon Nadd himself. "I see you survived your little tumble kiddo." A lightsaber flies into his right hand from his sleeve, immediately igniting within his hand giving a sick green glow to his pale white face. His green eyes danced as if green electricity consistently flowed within them. "But your trials are far from over."

Taking a stance common to those who used Niman, The Dark Vizier studied this would be champion, and suddenly his lightsaber deactivated as he disappeared into the shadows, his essence suddenly missing altogether as if he were never truly there. His voice echoed around the current battlefield. "Can you fight what you cannot see?"



(Powers Used: Force Cloak, Conceal Essence)
(TAG: @Loharr Talem @dragonsith13 @Darth Vesper )

 

[Loharr Talem]

~IC: Loharr Talem~
~Krayiss II~

~Quest for the Title of Shadow Blade of House Tenebris~

~~~~~

Standing still, struggling to stand tall, Loharr was clearly not one for feigning wellness in such a manner. His breathing was ragged, sweat dripping down his face, the occasional breeze providing a chill. With each breath, a cloud of condensed in front of his face, before quickly disappearing.

He had cramps in his side, which, when paired with the moderate cut on his knee (which was now getting flooded by salty sweat), his facial expression was definitely one of discomfort.

Looking up at the House Leaders, he saw that the Dark Vizier was absent from them. Then he heard the sound of high-pitched laughing from behind him, so he turned his head to get a look behind him, spinning his body a few moments after. There was an uncontrollable, unpredictable sensation filling the air. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. That was such an unsettling feeling. He didn't like it.

"Well done kiddos. You were right, he did end up here." Came a familiar voice. It was the Dark Vizier of his House. He watched as he drew an ancient-looking knife. "I see you survived your little tumble kiddo." A lightsaber flew into the Dark Viziers' hand, a green glow illuminating his skin. "But your trials are far from over."

Kriff. First Zan'roc, then Urizen... and now the Dark Vizier. If he survived this... he might actually buy a drink from the cantina (and not water or tea, either).

Watching as Dark Vizier Joker enter a ready stance from Form VI, and so Loharr got into a basic ready stance, as he didn't have the energy to do much else. Igniting his own crimson blade, his hands trembling from the adrenaline coursing through his veins... or was it fear? To be honest, he couldn't tell. Though, seeing as the adrenaline wasn't a factor in either of the other fights, it was likely fear. Then the Dark Vizier vanished from sight.

The fear intensified, as did the trembling.

"Can you fight what you cannot see?"

And in a strange, uncharacteristic moment, Loharr decided to quip.

"I mean... I'm pretty sure I can..." He said, his panting slowing. "As for how well... that's to be decided..."

~~~~~

~ Opponent: @Hadzuska_The Jester

~ Judges: @dragonsith13 , @Darth Vesper ~

 

[Darth Cold]

IC: The Dark Vizier
Location: Krayiss II

"I mean... I'm pretty sue I can..." The child quipped while panting. "As for how well... that's to be decided..."

The Dark Vizier took amusement in that. Though what would come next would amuse him even more still.

Moving as silent, but swiftly as possible the Dark Vizier circled around behind Loharr. The boy's panting definitely was helping cover up what little noise the Dark Vizier made as he performed a one handed handstand with his back to Loharr, attempting to wrap his legs around him and flip him, all whilst he simultaneously attempted to stab him in the back of his left calf with the dagger.

(Powers continued: Force Cloak, Conceal essence)
(Tag: @Loharr Talem @dragonsith13 @Darth Vesper )

 

[Loharr Talem]

~IC: Loharr Talem~
~Krayiss II~

~Quest for the Title of Shadow Blade of House Tenebris~

~~~~~

Loharr was panting hard. Not as hard as he was when he had been thrown from his position from higher up the mountain side, but still panting. His opponent was invisible to him. Not just in the manner of sight, but through the Force. Even depleted of energy, he found he could still sense things or beings, but not this time.

This time, it was as if the Dark Vizier had vanished from the very fabric of reality.

As tired as he may be, Loharr could not let his worry cloud his judgement or distract his focus. His fear was also not helping the situation any better.

His eyes darted around the environment, looking for some clue as to where the Dark Vizier had gone, but was thus far failing to locate any leads.

He continued to moderately panic, before taking a deep breath as to regain any slight sliver of a modicum of composure.

Then he felt it.

A sensation of limbs clutching around his body from behind, there wasn’t anything he could do to counter it. He felt a pressure applied to him almost as if he were being pulled backwards.

So, to minimize the strain being pulled would have on him, Loharr jumped. Not a big jump, just enough to lift himself off the ground, and seamlessly continue on the preordained path his opponent had planned for him. He also deactivated his lightsaber, to Prevent it from harming himself. As he was being launched from his feet, he felt a slicing sensation along his boot. He didn’t know what it was, but he was at least happy his boots had held up this long.

Though whatever it was that had damaged his boots this time, May have damaged the boot to the point that it’s durability may have been pushed to its limits or further.

In an attempt to at least fight back, Loharr angled his left arm towards the area behind him, and activated the weapon, its thin, crimson blade protruding from him like a harmful spike from some foreign plant or animal.

His hope was to at least graze whatever had pulled him off his feet, but he was pretty sure that wasn’t going to happen.

~~~~~

~ Opponent: @Hadzuska_The Jester ~

~ Judges: @dragonsith13 , @Darth Vesper ~

 

[Darth Cold]

IC: The Dark Vizier
Location: Krayiss II

As Loharr was at the height of being flipped, the Dark Vizier released him and cartwheeled out of the way of the oncoming crimson blade. As he got to his feet, the dagger was sheathed, and the Dark Vizier was revealed once more. His smile matched his chaotic aura, and his green eyes dancing in excitement.

"Now are you ready for this?" Cackled the Dark Vizier as he raised his arm, and let loose an emerald torrent of lightning at, and around the surrounding area of Loharr. The lightning was toned down enough that if hit Loharr would feel excruciating pain, but would not die.


(Powers used: Force Lightning)
(Tag: @Loharr Talem @dragonsith13 @Darth Vesper )

 

[Loharr Talem]

~IC: Loharr Talem~
~Krayiss II~

~Quest for the Title of Shadow Blade of House Tenebris~

~~~~~

As he flipped through the air, he felt the lifting of pressure from his body. Whatever had grabbed onto him, had let go. He was thankful for that, as it gave him the range of motion necessary to land without too much trouble. He felt a shockwave of energy reverberate through his flesh and bones as his feet hit the ground hard, forcing him to stumble, quickly turning around to face whatever had thrown him. His lightsaber raised up in a defensive position.

It was the Dark Vizier.

"Now are you ready for this?" He let out with a cackle, lifting his arm.

Now... in his past experience, an opponent raising his hand to him after speaking, was never a good sign. Especially if one was as powerful as the Dark Vizier...

Thinking of no other alternatives, Loharr turned to his left, and jumped as far as he could out of the way. He still felt a small twinge of pain in his knee from his duel with Zan'roc. He watched as Lightning shot forth from the Dark Viziers' hand, illuminating the ground, air, and surrounding snowflakes with a strong, emerald green, glow. Innumerable bolts of electrified Force energy sailing through the sky at a rate that his jump simply could not escape.

He swung his lightsaber down, in an attempt to block as much lightning as he could, but that failed spectacularly, as the lightning struck his lower legs. Pain erupted through his skin and flesh, feeling almost as if his skin were on fire.

He roared out in pain, crashing to the ground with a solid thud, his lightsaber deactivating as his body slumped to the floor, his legs twitching from the pain and excess energy. The pain made him shiver, his grip loosening on his lightsaber, and so he dropped it. Only a few inches down into the dirt, but he still dropped it.

~~~~~

~ Opponent: @Hadzuska_The Jester ~

~ Judges: @dragonsith13 , @Darth Vesper ~

 

[Darth Vesper]

IC: Darth Vesper, Regent of Tenebris
Location: Krayiss II

"Get up." The voice heralded from the unknown, ethereal, yet malicious as if the speaker was irked and desired blood to be spilled. "Rise up and take up your saber." The call was now a resounding order. It seemingly came this time from the Dark Vizier. His lips were moving, sound was coming from him, however as he cackled the tone and image dissipated before Loharr. He was seeing things, he had to be, it was the only logical explanation. The pain was great and it coursed through him yet he still appeared to not be moving. "Pathetic. You, my prized apprentice. Cannot even rise up from the dust from whence you came." The image before him was no longer the Vizier of Tenebris, it was the image of Loharr's end, the image of his master. Lady Vesper, Regent of Tenebris. She stood before him, dark locks pulled back and plaited. The fabric of her training attire clinging to each of her delicate curves. Yet it was known she was far from petite and delicate. One look, one simple touch of her skin upon the flesh of another and they would be at her mercy.

"I trained you better than this, and here you are no better than you were when you set foot within this Academy, within this house. Surely you can do better." Crimson lips upturned in deadly flair as her tongue grazed over the blood red of the skin, as if she was indeed tasting his own blood. Vesper could have prepared herself, yet her apprentice was weak, so she stalked closer, her footsteps even and steady as she walked towards where her apprentice lay, his legs still twitching like the lifeless bulks of flesh and bone that they were; the Sith Lord still kept distance between the two.



Tag: @Hadzuska_The Jester @dragonsith13

 

[Loharr Talem]

~IC: Loharr Talem~
~Krayiss II~

~Quest for the Title of Shadow Blade of House Tenebris~

~~~~~

Loharr, his shuddering and shaking from the pain subsiding, heard the voice of his Master. He looked around, searching for Lady Vesper, only to see the words coming from the Dark Vizier.

"Get up." The voice said, it was strange seeing her voice coming from him, "Rise up and take up your saber."

He stumbled up to a kneel, reaching down to wrap his fingers around the metal tube that was his lightsaber. The feeling of the chilled dirt sapped heat from his hand. With his weapon back in his hand, he rose to his feet. Tired and exhausted, his confusion only went further, as the Dark Vizier/Lady Vesper spoke.

"Pathetic. You, my prized apprentice. Cannot even rise up from the dust from whence you came." The image of the Dark Vizier was gone, now replaced by the image of Lady Vesper. "I trained you better than this, and here you are no better than you were when you set foot within this Academy, within this house. Surely you can do better."

Her words stung... but they were true. For all his effort, he had not gotten any further than when he first arrived at the Academy.

"My... My most sincere apologies, Master..." Loharr winced, his legs struggling to stay standing up straight. "The results of this fight have been a disgrace to me, but more importantly... it has been a disgrace to you..."

~~~~~

Tags: @dragonsith13, @Hadzuska_The Jester, @Darth Vesper

 

[Darth Vesper]

Ic: Darth Vesper
Location: Krayiss II

Apologies meant nothing, the words from Loharr’s lips seemingly caught on the frigid gust that swept the dueling grounds as darkness blanketed the master and apprentice. Clearly an illusion as darkness would not have settled so quickly allowing both to reside with only the whistling of the wind and the bone chilling cold as their companions. Simple smoke and mirrors, costing her little. The Regent began to laugh, wrought with poison as her lips curled menacingly with delight. He would either survive this darkness and rise above it, or he would perish trying.

the laughter echoed off the darkness and flooded his mind drowning the apologies as Loharr struggled to his feet. The near silent clinking of metal and an evil vibration sliced through the cold darkness, as one of the Regent’s blades ignited, clearly called to its master’s hand. A second crimson blade blazed vivaciously casting Shadow upon Vesper’s face illuminating her siren like features.

His attention would have been gained, gaze upon the weapons that would end him. A quick flick and one saber was released from her hand spinning wildly through the air aimed straight for his weakened being.

Instantly, the second the blade was released it was followed by vibrant arching tendrils of deep violet that emblazoned the sky and the space between them. Loharr would have to choose. Block the blade and perhaps escape death, or block that which would drain his remaining reserves and lose his life in the process. The choice was left up to him.


Tag: @Loharr Talem @Hadzuska_The Jester @dragonsith13

 

[Loharr Talem]

~IC: Loharr Talem~
~Krayiss II~

~Quest for the Title of Shadow Blade of House Tenebris~

~~~~~

A choice.

That is what was before Loharr. He watched as the blades of two lightsabers ignited, cutting through the darkness. He was no stranger to illusions and he really disliked them. He didn't appreciate people messing with his head. Though he was also quite certain that if Lady Vesper knew his opinion on the matter (which she more than likely did), she didn't care about it.

He watched the weapons be flung forward, one then the other, with a vibrant, purple tendril following behind the second lightsaber. The tendrils would certainly be a pain... Force Drain always sucked. Though the lightsabers currently en route towards him were also a bad option.

There was one option he had in mind. To run. To add to that, he had felt some of his Force Power returning, a plus for him, as he hadn't been able to use any Force this entire fight. Though as he felt it, he immediately knew that it wouldn't be enough to protect against the tendrils. So reacting as quickly as he could, he ignited his own lightsaber, raising it to block the first lightsaber.

After he did that, he immediately jumped off to the side (his left, Lady Vespers' right), in an attempt to jump out of the way of the remaining lightsaber and the tendrils in one swoop. As he hung in mid air, he would be unsure about the effectiveness of his decision.

He hoped it was the right one.

~~~~~

Tags: @dragonsith13 , @Hadzuska_The Jester , @Darth Vesper

 

[dragonsith13]

Draconis
Krayiss II

The wave of energy sent Loharr tumbling down the slope. Grunting and groaning with each impact, he rolled down the slope, finally coming to a sliding stop. A dust trail evident down the slope where he impacted again and again collating at the spot where he had finally come to rest. A small brief dust cloud formed in the air around him before it was caught up in the steady mountain breeze and dispersed out into the vast mountainous sky expanse.

Noticeably fatigued and drawing closer to near absolute exhaustion, Loharr found his feet rising to face those that stood above him on the mountain ridge.

Draconis glanced towards the Dark Vizier, silently dispatching him. Joker moved down the mountain slope, his maniacal chuckling echoing across the landscape. Pausing for a moment Joker began jokingly pulling at Loharr, before disappearing into shadow by masking his presence physically and through the force.

Joker silently and swiftly closed in on Loharr. Joker suddenly appeared and moved into a grapple of Loharr before the man could even react to his presence. Loharr countered as best he could but was unable to resist the swift attack and was sent into the air. Joker would not let him rest as he followed up with a torrent of lightning. Loharr was caught by a glancing blow from the lightning aimed at him. He had done everything that he could to try and avoid the follow up attack, but to no avail. Loharr, reeling in pain crashed to the ground, causing him to lose his grip on his saber. The saber rolled to a stop on the ground next to him.

Draconis’ eyes glanced slightly toward the Queen Regent Vesper, silently invoking her to descend. Draconis watched as she gracefully moved down the slope, effortlessly coming to where Loharr lay, pausing and staring at him.

Beckoning him to rise and take his saber once more. The cloth of her robes and a wisp of hair caught in the cold stern breeze flowing across the mountain.

There was a fascinating manner in watching a witch at work. To the outside observer the spell and illusion she cast manifested itself in the fear and confusion that could be observed from the being or beings it was focused on. Loharr would be caught up in such a nightmare, twisted and pulled about confusingly trying to get his bearings while his Master, Lady Vesper continued to express her displeasure in his performance. She steadily moved forward, Loharr reacting as he finally Finding a knee, he came about to address his Master, the Dark Lady Vesper while voicing an apology for the results of the fight as if it meant something …

Draconis watched as Vesper continued exuded power over the area, drawing upon her talent of illusion, bathing Loharr in what was no doubt a dark and confusing vision to mire his mind in confusion. Draconis let a slight tug of satisfaction pull at the side of his mouth at the thought of what Loharr was beginning to experience.

Vesper ignited her two sabers, drawing them ready. Vesper launched one of the blades into a deadly spinning arc of energy towards Loharr, the second was readied but instead a current of dark energy began to flow from her hand. Several small dark tendrils snaked their way towards him, seeking to drain the very existence from him.

Vesper was making him choose.

Loharr reacted attempting to block the lightsaber, which was successful, the young apprentice however acted as if there was a second lightsaber he had to parry along with avoiding the dark tendrils. In reality Lady Vesper had only sent one saber at him. The dark tendrils had been the second attack aimed at him, not the third… Loharr had made a mistake in observing the attack and it would cost in both perception and time.

The dark tendrils would hit him partially, as he did his best to avoid them, a sort of glancing blow. The energy and potency of such a dark attack was one of significance and one that needed very little to be effective. Even a glancing blow was capable of inflicting a spectrum of events. It very much depended on the caster and subject unfortunate enough to be caught in its grasp. It was one of the few dark powers that was so multifaceted that it even subtly responded differently to people. Like the sting of a barbed whip the tendrils would inflict a sharp pain, and like a wild ravenous vine they would greedily look to ensnare him. The tendrils would begin to pull him into a level of pain and torment to an extent he would not be used to or have experienced.

It was like being suffocated and drained of yourself, your mind stretched. Your body was racked in pain. Mind tormented. The force would feel distant and as if someone was pulling it from your mind’s eye and soul. Followed by darkness. Pure emptiness and darkness. And then nothing. Your spark was extinguished and consumed by another.

If it was desired for Loharr to be dead, he would be. Equally though there was no mercy here. The young one would have to fight for his life, besting opponents in a contest was one thing, surviving and enduring was completely another. Loharr would be feeling the effects, the torment, and painful drain of his energy and soul as the dark tendrils cast upon him looked to latch on fully.

Draconis was now standing next to Lady Vesper, silently observing Loharr who was in the beginning stages of being ensnared by the dark tendrils.


@Loharr Talem @Darth Vesper @Hadzuska_The Jester

 

[Loharr Talem]

~IC: Loharr Talem~
~Krayiss II~

~Quest for the Title of Shadow Blade of House Tenebris~

~~~~~

Loharr had made a mistake. The second blade he thought was there, was actually the tendril from Lady Vespers' Force Drain. He felt the sensation. He felt his energy waning, a sharp pain across his arm as the Drain inflicted its effects onto him. He felt his stomach drop, as if a moderately dense pit had spawned in and allowed gravity to interact with it at an increased value.

His knees shook and struggled to keep him standing as he stumbled off to the side. His legs were threatening to buckle underneath his weight and his arm could barely hold itself up.

So this was the effects of a stronger Force Drain...

He had felt a weaker Drain in his duel with Darth Skyllan, back when he was known as Apprentice Acherjon. But then, he only felt the draining of his energy and the pit in his stomach until he had passed out. This Drain was far more powerful.

His consciousness was slipping quickly, but he couldn't allow that to happen. He couldn't permit himself to fail at such a crucial moment before him.

He thought back to his past, remembering all he did to get here. The people he had killed, former friends and mentors, strangers... if he failed here, how could he stand against the woman who had killed his parents? Trick question, he couldn't. The thought of allowing their deaths to go without retaliatory action infuriated him. His strength continued to drain, but he felt something. The anger within him began to fuel his body, he felt the Dark Side flowing through him, if only just.

He was still struggling to remain on both feet and keep his weapon up, but through his rage-fueled mindset had given him just barely enough energy to remain standing.

He shifted his feet clumsily, shifting his gaze back to Lady Vesper, but to his surprise, she was no longer alone. Lord Draconis was now next to her. He wasn't doing anything, just... watching. The tendrils were still interacting with his arm, so he did the only thing he could think of. He put up as strong a Defense as he could, but admittedly, it wasn't nearly as strong as it needed to in order to repel the tendrils completely, but hopefully it was enough to reduce the effects of the drain, if only by a small amount.

But even of this, he was unsure of.

~~~~~

~[Force Powers Used: Force Defense: 1 ]~

Tags: @dragonsith13 , @Hadzuska_The Jester , @Darth Vesper

 

[dragonsith13]

Draconis
Krayiss II

It was an unfortunate thing for Loharr to have come this far, he had risen above and proved his worth among his peers. Standing out and solidifying the case that he was the most powerful, skilled, and worthy among them. For him to thus now have put all of that in jeopardy with a simple mistake, a mistake that would cost him. Draconis noted his thought wandering, as he attempted to focus and regain the mental fortitude needed to keep fighting. But for how long? The drain from a Sith Lady was not something one would have much of a chance of fending off, particularly in his already weakened state. Een a more powerful being would be pushed, and Loharr was caught in its grasp. The drain had a firm hold on his hand as it had begun to snake up his wrist and lower part of his forearm as he struggled to keep his guard up with his lightsaber.

Loharr focused and channeled what energy he had left in an attempt to put up a defense with what energy he could muster. It only served to slow the inevitable, the tendrils would begin to spread and find their way up his arm as they continued to drain him further at that point he would no doubt lose consciousness. The drain would continue, his lifeforce and essence would be leached from him and his quest for the title of Shadow Blade would end with him dead.

Draconis continued to calmly stand next to Vesper watching Loharr. The purple tendrils of energy snaking from her hand to Loharr’s. Disappointing, the Shadow Blade represented House Tenebris, was their sword and the example of skill, perfection, and unrelenting determination.

“I see only weakness.” Draconis’ steady sinister tone finally broke the silence.

“In the shadows, a mistake will reveal you, cost you everything. There is no rooms for mistakes.” Draconis spoke scolding the young assassin, who was in excruciating pain and whether he realized it yet or not, was dying.

“Your lack of commitment has become evident.” Draconis’ words were like daggers, piercing and calling the young assassin out. “And because of such you will die on this mountain.”

Draconis looked on, the cold wind of the mountain whipping across the slope, as Loharr began to slip away. The sun had nearly disappeared past the mountain ridge above, and night was fast approaching. A fitting close, with the potential of a new tournament needing to be drawn to resolve things. “A shame.” Draconis offered.

Draconis’ eyes glanced at the purple snaking tendrils once more, and then purposefully at Loharr’s lightsaber. Shining in the early twilight light of the night. Once again at the tendrils crawling up his forearm and again at Loharr’s blade. “Commitment requires sacrifice.”

Draconis watched as Loharr continued to be slowly drained of life.

@Loharr Talem @Darth Vesper @Hadzuska_The Jester

 

[Loharr Talem]

~IC: Loharr Talem~
~Krayiss II~

~Quest for the Title of Shadow Blade of House Tenebris~

~~~~~

There was pain in his arm. Though there was not just pain there, but there was pain in his gut. Like A solid pit in his stomach, stabbing at his insides as he felt his strength waning. His Defense was useless, quickly faltering and failing, and his anger wasn't nearly enough to keep his strength up. He heard Lord Draconis speaking. Speaking of mistakes... HIS mistakes. Speaking of a lack of commitment.

That irked him.

“Commitment requires sacrifice.” He heard the Dark Lord say.

He watched as the Tendrils continued to creep up his arm. That last phrase from Lord Draconis echoed in his mind. He had to get these Tendrils free of his flesh. Still that line echoed in his mind. Turning his attention to his lightsaber, Loharr held his right arm out a little more, swinging his left arm at it. The thrum of the lightsaber hummed through the air, as the crimson blade hissed and shrieked as it severed his right arm just below the elbow.

Howling out in pain, he used what little strength he had to lunge forward and to the left, attempting to get out of the path of the Tendrils as best he could. In reality, it was little more than a meter or two.

With the pain where his arm used to be burning, he was able to focus more clearly. With bloodshot eyes, he turned towards Lord Draconis and Lady Vesper, raising his remaining arm to aim his lightsaber at the duo.

"I shall sacrifice... what is necessary... to sacrifice..." Loharr managed to pant out.

Tightening his grip, he rotated the weapon to the left. He was now fighting to remain conscious, even harder than he had before. But he couldn't allow himself to fall unconscious. He WOULDN'T allow it.

~~~~~

Tags: @dragonsith13 , @Hadzuska_The Jester , @Darth Vesper

 

[dragonsith13]

Draconis
Krayiss II

The sun having fully set, the mountain was bathed in the early moonlight of the night. With the heat of the sun, the cold bite of the wind along with the winter like chill was even more evident.

The smell of seared flesh rose in the mountain breeze. Joker now joined Vesper and Draconis. The tendrils emanating from Vesper ceased and standing before Vesper, Joker, and Draconis, with the remaining physical strength that he had left, Loharr brought his blade up into a guard position, pointing the blade out in front of him. His resolve had hardened, even as his physical self suffered. His ability to maintain his consciousness, feeding off of the pain and his will to survive as he spoke of his commitment to sacrifice.

Strength was not something singularly measured by the physical abilities of an individual. Loharr was physically beaten, but not defeated by any means. THAT spoke volume.

Draconis looked upon Loharr, satisfied with his perseverance and ultimately his willingness to sacrifice and demonstrate his commitment. Draconis confident that today and throughout this entire ordeal, the young Sith would have learned much about himself.

“Good.” Draconis offered his approval. Loharr had proven better than his peers and risen above them. “This is but a step in your journey.”

There was one final piece to his claim of the title of Shadow Blade of House Tenebris. Up beyond the ridge line that stood behind them, the mountain slope rose further still to the summit of this ridge. Upon it lay a small dagger of no distinct value or worth, wrapped in canvas cloth. A simple instrument of no specific design or alchemy other than it being a dagger. It’s significance being more about acquiring it than its value or properties. The principle of its wielder being the driving force behind its usefulness.

No ceremonies, no celebration… their life was one of the shadows. Unrecognized and silent. There was nothing worth more to it. Physically exhausted Loharr simply had to climb and seize it.

Draconis offered a simple nod, and turned on his heels, slowly fading as he climbed back up the ridge-line and disappeared out of site.

@Darth Vesper @Hadzuska_The Jester @Loharr Talem

 

[dragonsith13]

OOC: We are resetting while using this same thread.

 

[dragonsith13]

Shadow Blade Crucible ​

Anyone may enter unless they currently hold office under an existing House position. Example Vizier, Hand Regent, Captain.

Character sheets are irrelevant. You bring to the table theta you have as a writer and a character. No submissions are necessary.

Applicants will strictly respond to the post as having been placed on the arriving freighter, such will be your acknowledgment of participation. From there and once those who wish to participate have responded, I will proceed to post the next update.

En-route…

The ambient droning hum of hyperspace travel cascaded throughout the transport. Purposefully selected to be non-discrete, ordinary. Necessary to maintain the charade of simply arriving.

The necessary intention of blending in with the thousands of such freighters that traversed the space around the systems every day. Business as usual.

Hutt space. It could be said to have a certain feel to it. Throughout all of galactic history while Republics and Empires clashed. Rising and falling, the underworld remained permanent. Thriving and deepening its roots across milenia to entrench itself. Ensconced across ideologies, understanding and acknowledgement.

Culminating in what was ultimately the smell. The vitriol and thriving pungent smell that permeated everything. Even and profoundly in the dead of space approaching the system itself, the body elicited a response upon anyone who had previously traveled to this place. Those who were virgins to this stimuli, wide eyed and vulnerable could only speculate upon what was ahead on the surface.

Such is Nar Shadda.

​

 

[Ekrizdis Cygni VII]

IC: Cygnus
Location: Enroute…

Cygnus curled as far back into the darkness of the transport as he was permitted, trying to escape the maddening hum of the hyperspace tunnel. As usual he sought to deny himself the barest glimpse of hyperspace, a sight that always induced ghastly hallucinations, typically of star weirds with their keening shrieks. Even his raven was unable to snap him from those fits, the bird itself distressed by hyperspace.

So long as he avoided looking, his mind should be sound enough. But all the same he could sense his surroundings, even bolting across lightyears, he felt a certain rising tension. A lawless chaos. An underhanded tyranny intermingled with the clashing of the wealthy and the destitute. If he focused hard enough, Cygnus swore he could smell fuel, explosives, spice, liquor, pheromones, and the reek of pollution. They were bound for Hutt space, and he wondered if their destination was Nar Shadda.

It wouldn’t be his first time visiting the smuggler's moon, indeed the smuggler's moon was one of his first destinations after he parted ways with his sister and plunged directly into an unfamiliar galaxy. He’d needed credits, information and direction and in that putrid melding pot a Nagai wouldn’t attract too much attention. There a disheveled schizophrenic was as common as gizka. And an assassin could truly thrive. There he’d managed to scrape a meager existence, one which would eventually lead him to the clutches of the Sith.

What purpose the House of Shadows had in this mission was undisclosed to him, so for the moment he merely wondered if any of his spray painted murals and paintings remained in the alleyways and building facades.

 

[Arach]

IC- Darth Arach
En Route

Arach stood at the viewport, leaning against the sill. Her golden eyes, though staring out into the swirls of hyperspace, held a distant look and registered nothing. Her right hand resting against her chest as her fingers played with a pendant around her neck. Her thoughts strayed to everything, yet nothing.

She was brought back to herself when she felt a prickle of unease at her consciousness. The assassin turned her head, attempting to locate the source with her eyes. When that failed, Arach briefly considered remaining where she was, then decided against it. She left the viewport and followed the feeling of discomfort to its source.

Arach found Cygnus sitting by himself with a raven nearby. She didn’t speak, nor wonder. She merely sat next to him, offering silent support if it gave him comfort. She leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes, taking her own comfort in the dark.