Axis of Empires - Sith Thread

The Emperor meditated in the depths of the palace and the orbit of Angkor shifted beneath him. His sharp, red-skinned face glowed in the flickering flames around him, reflected by the smooth, reflective black durasteel platform he floated above. His mind, his presence in the Force was far beyond himself, his mind numb to the sharp teeth hidden in his armor that dug into his chest but the Dark Lord used its pain for fuel. He welcomed it, he let his presence even feel the pain of old scars across his body and let their torment sharpen his thoughts. Pain fed his hate, his anger burned into strength.

Here the deep heart of the mountain had been carved out, the Angkorian working tirelessly to forge a new altar for their mykalun, God-king. Below the capital city, he still felt in the Force the fading sun on the palace, the spirit of his people across the world, and beneath it all was the welcoming rhythmic beat of the Dark Side.

It was his duty to rule them all. His destiny birthed from the Force itself. His destiny which would break the galaxy.

“Your thoughts are troubled, my friend,” a voice loud in the quiet said. Cadamor did not open his eyes, yet he saw two tall Angkorian warriors standing behind in red-black robes, slender speared electro-weapons by their side as they stood guard over Bandari, who was still covered in the shadows of the cave.

"To reflect a troubled galaxy." The Dark Lord's voice was like a rumble, echoing through the chambers by the currents of the Force. His feet descended to the metal deck, black and gold robes gently guiding down beside them as the Emperor strode towards the edge of dais. From a tall platform topped with red plush, he withdrew two lightsaber hilts and they soon vanished beneath his robes. He took a long moment to gaze at Bandari, letting the creature’s presence rest in the air. “A galaxy which will gaze upon Angkor in wonder."

“Did you sense him, my lord?" Bandari's lean frame had appeared next to Cadamor like a specter, his presence engulfed in the shadows.

"The Jedi." The Emperor said knowingly. "He is seeking something."

"Reports from the military suggest Imperial space, but..." Bandari said as the pair turned towards the guards.

"He has retreated." The Dark Lord’s deep voice finished. He moved close to the Angkorian guards, his yellow gaze carefully examining them. The galaxy was finally aware of them, Cadamor only intended his most able to be near the Sith. He drew close to one, as though the Emperor would reach out to take his weapon. “For 10,000 years, since the great Keeper of Kingdoms," Cadamor spoke to the other Sith, "no King has sought beyond the stars. The krin’desh has awoken, and with it, the path of the Sith.” The Emperor gestured with his finger and pulled the doors open with the Force. The light from the chamber beyond backlit the wide silhouette of the imposing Angkorian Emperor.

The Dark Lord strode out of the chamber, the party following into huge caverns beneath the palace. The hollow caverns were large enough for speeders to travel through, marked with grey stone and red markings that connected and reached out further than anyone but the Dark Lord knew. They were quarantined from the general population and patrolled by the Sith.

"Shall we speak of it in front of the guards?" Bandari glided beside him, the familiar sounds of the palace echoing from far ahead.

"Tell me what you sense in them." Darth Cadamor said. Bandari was quiet for a moment, the footsteps of the Sith and soldiers echoing around them.

"Treachery is the way of the Sith." Bandari said. "They are soldiers, tested and blooded by your Empire. Bounded by honor."

"They do not see treachery as dishonorable." The Emperor said as the bright golden light of the palace began pouring in. "It is mercy they despise and the disease of weakness which it breeds." The tunnels ended into a arched opening revealing a waterway at the base of the palace. The Citadel stretched high into the green canopy of the Angkorian jungles, strong tan square towers with orange markings. Each mark engraved with major wars and conquests of the world's history and each stone in the high towers stood as a mark of the Sith’s might.

"The Corellian Jedi is strong." Bandari said as they began the trek towards the eastern wing of the palace.

"Broken." The Emperor snapped. “A warrior without war.”

"He will not keep his Order hidden, despite his desires." Even the Angkorian might have realized this was not the first time the Emperor and Bandari had spoken about this. "Should we will it. Just as the treaty has exposed them to the galaxy."

"They blind themselves." The Jedi's arrogance had brought enough war to the galaxy. From the days of ancient Empires, they had curtailed the order for which the galaxy so desperately desired. "Isolder's fear will decay them." As they entered into the main hall of the citadel, Sith moved carefully out of their path as each lowered their head before him. He could sense the power of the Dark Side radiate from the room, the raw strength of the Force beating like a drum. "You will accompany me to my flagship." He said to Bandari. With the revelation of the Sith's existence to the galaxy, many in his Empire stirred with excitement for the Sith to once more take their place. His choice to make peace with the Jedi Order left many on the world unsure, but he had swiftly ensured no Sith or Angkorian would question him, even if not understanding his machinations. The ancient ones had shown him the way. The spirit of the Sith that had formed him, molded him into the perfect vessel of dark power. His path, his destiny, was one of patience. To let the Sith idle in the raw power of the Dark Side, the powerful nexus at the heart of Angkor so they might grow to understand it. To find their power and strength in the ways of the Sith and their own will. They would learn to control themselves before the galaxy. Only by his hand would the galaxy grow.

Boarding a shuttle, the Sith left the palace and the world of Angkor opened up beneath the Emperor, as he stared down at it, still feeling the worlds pulse beat in his chest. Hovering high above the world, a ship crept above the dark side of the planet like a monster in shadows. Twice the size of a Star Destoryer, Echos of Eternities the mighty flagship of the Sith Empire swarmed with life within it’s darkened hull. The Dark Lord summoned all within the Empire who might offer themselves to his service and to let their voice be heard. He would bring them to solidified his grip upon the entire world, so he might teach them, show them the path of the Sith and show them how to desire.

They approached into a small, private hanger near the bow of the ship. The walls were bright white and sleek black, the reflective sides were lined with large, bold red tapestries bearing the Sith insignia. From the viewport, they counted fifty Angkorian in black and gold armor, each bowed before the raised platform. As the ship landed, the Emperor strode out and could feel the chill, filtered air of the ship intertwined with the warm radiance of the Dark Side.

“Let me be the first, my lord,” A throaty voice came from a massive human standing in front before him. His arms were the size of gizka, he had pale violet skin, and a silhouette the size of a small fighter. If the Emperor was aware of what species Darth Elium, Lord of War of all Sith military forces, was he did not share it with anyone else in the Empire. “to celebrate this day with you.”

“Mykalun,” A voice said from behind Elium as a slender Angkorian female slide from behind him. “The festivities, along with your subjects, will attend your throne.” Darth Absis, wrapped in twin teal and white robes, daughter to the Emperor.

The throne room awaited the Dark Lord, a opulent chamber at the heart of the vessel. A massive semi-circular translucent viewport on the ground opened all of space and Angkor beneath the dais. At it’s base was the grun’desh, the hellthrone, one of the seven thrones taken by Cadamor in his conquest. It’s heavy golden frame had twin wings carved into it’s side, the symbol of the Shadowscales of the past. The Emperor approached and took his place upon the seat as the gathering Sith bowed before him and he prepared to meet them. It was clear to anyone that would gaze, this man was built for nothing less than a throne.

It had been a while since Rezann had seen the Echoes of Eternities from the viewport of the shuttle carrying him, along with a few other fellow Sith, to it. In that time, they’d landed, been escorted through its corridors, and arrived at the hall where the Emperor would make his appearance. And yet, a single thought pervaded Rezann's mind. Awe. Rezann had seen some big ships in his time in the Ascendancy, and he'd heard tales of the Death Stars, of the Eclipse-class Dreadnaughts. And yet, seeing such a truly massive ship for the first time had left Rezann speechless. And not for the last time that day.

Rezann had always been good at keeping his feelings concealed from prying eyes, but keeping them concealed from the force, especially in the presence of multiple Sith Lords and the Emperor himself, was another matter entirely. Rezann focussed on keeping his thoughts away from the Ascendancy, but one still made it through his guard. So many Sith gathering in one place. Surely this would be a great opportunity to keep his eyes and ears open for information to relay back to the Ascendancy Defense Hierarchy the next time he was in contact with them. He supressed this thought almost as soon as it came to him, as he felt a foreign presence in the Force openly probing at his mind. He half-turned and all doubts as to who it had been disappeared. The truly massive form of Lord Elium, Lord of War of the empire, was staring across the room directly at him, his huge arms crossed in front of him as he appeared to burn a hole in Rezann with his eyes. Awe struck again, along with a pang of fear.

Suddenly, all such concerns were brushed away. The blinding light of a supernova burning among faded stars. The Emperor was here. His presence in the force was felt at first as an overwhelming pressure in the back of Rezann's mind, which gradually faded over a few seconds as he got used to it. All around Rezann, the assembled Sith broke from conversations and turned to face the Emperor, who by now was sitting on his throne. Rezann managed to keep his eyes on Lord Elium for a few more seconds as the massive form also turned, trying to make sure the man's attention was elsewhere before turning his full attention towards the Emperor's magnificent figure, clad in armor upon his throne. Rezann could only hope he'd be able to keep his true loyalties concealed, as he waited among the other Acolytes for his turn to pledge his allegiance.

He was a stranger in a far away land, thinking on why it all felt so familiar to him. His noble title and lordly manner felt insignificant in a place with such power. As he entered the grand chamber of the Dark Lord of the Sith, he kept to the edges of the revelry, knowing his white cloak and silver hair no doubt gave away his presence. For so much of Osiren’s life, he thought he understood power. It was what his family used as a weapon against their enemies, the grip his father kept across their Keep. Standing here in the bastion of the new, great Empire and in the presence of the truly powerful, Osiren finally understood.

Today he was prepared to bend the knee before the Emperor, should it be required. He came here on the wishes of his father, but it had been Osiren’s secret desire for power that had willed it. Osiren was the sworn sword of his father, willing and able to speak for him for all matters of their house and hold. He would come to the Sith and submit himself to learn their dark ways, swearing the fealty of his house and banners to the Emperor’s cause. Cain had read stories to his older brother for years, the tales of Jedi and Sith, the Knights of power in the galaxy. The power inside them, Osiren knew it must be awaiting within him. Today was the day he would begin to unlock it.