Bread and Wine

[Gav Mortis]

There's an old saying which claims that "Blood runs thicker than water." One has to wonder that with such a blind allegiance to family, would the ultimate consequences of an individuals decisions be worth the sense of honour and tradition to which the phrase refers. Tradition was a simple concept; follow the ways of old without question - if something isn't damaged, why try to fix it? Honour is something which is fickle and misleading; more often than not, honour is confused with selfish pride rather than selfless dedication. And family; to Gav that was a concept which for a long time now served no purpose and had no relevance.

If Gav had been a locomotive, family was the rock on his track. It was the very cause of his collapsed life when he was young - then he fled; first in fear, then once fear had subsided, doubt plagued his conscience and never did he summon the courage to go back. Soon he grew in confidence and confidence grew in himself, however that fear and doubt had become anger and hatred - the same anger and hatred that had saved him in the wilderness, that had made him strong and self-reliant. Hence his lack of trust of others, which is understandable. So off he ventured unsure of the future and what fate had waiting in the shadows.

And now, here he is. This is where this path had taken him to, at least so far. And ironically, this path might be bringing him back to his family, his real family however - one which would not judge or neglect him, nor would it bring him pain or suffering; this family would in the end bring about ultimate victory. There was no doubt. So one must again ask, does blood really run thicker than water? And the answer is yes, the blood which gives, and as easily takes, life. The blood which stains battlegrounds a vicious crimson. There is a reason for that, there is a purpose, and in this case, the purpose of family and ones very existence.

In his lungs, the air was cold. So cold it stung inside, nevertheless it was refreshing, especially compared to the harrowingly miserable, polluted air of Coruscant or some other over-industrialised hellhole. The night sky was empty, void of stars or any other signs of life beyond the planet. Actually just because the sky was black, did not imply that it was night here, because this place is void of light literally and metaphorically. Gav was only beginning to work his way about these local terrains, which were riddled with sharp, jagged ice formations. There was a sense of foreboding being generated by the planet itself in some strange way. Like it was trying to tell a story of a age long gone.

The Sith had chosen to walk to the sacred grounds from his ship, which had landed a couple of kilometers away - he did not wish to disturb these hallowed, untouched regions; ice crushed under his foot and he was trying frequently not to slip until finally he arrived at another cliff face to one side of a deep, narrow gorge. It's blue and white shiny surface shimmered in the darkness, it was silent and peaceful yet buried deep inside were rooms and corridors undisturbed for millennia. From within there was emanated a darkness so pure and innocent, unlike anything Gav had ever felt - almost like, no definitely a place which had never had any Light Side presence infect it's sacred walls.

This was where he'd agreed to meet with the others and decided to go on ahead inside in order to escape the numbing cold that saturated his flesh freezing his bones, it was beginning to hurt. So on he went, deep into a dark opening from which hung glittering stalactites varying in size but gave a solemn beauty to this place. Gradually the ice thinned on the ground and walls and the stalactites were now few. Being revealed were ancient stone walls, still perfectly structured and strong. Gav stopped walking suddenly, as he had ventured so far forward that he was unable to see where his next step would take him as it was so dark. Not removing his rucksack, the Sith, dressed in traditional Sith robing for this occasion, raised his left hand and closing his eyes said: [I]"Without the Light, there would be no Darkness."

As he said this, a warmth grew in his stomach, quickly worked his way up into his chest were it began to burn then suddenly dispersed. Then simultaneously, rows of torches along the corridor walls burst into flame illuminating the murky, old passage which stretched further and further into the cliff and rock. Continuing, Gav came to a staircase, a very, very steep one at that, the type ancient monks built up to Mountain-top Monasteries however this one was descending. The stairway itself was not illuminated but at base of it, quite a distance away there was a glowing which indicated another passage or something else.

Gradually, the Sith arrived at a large, flat stone wall. It stretched some twenty feet tall but was only the width of the corridor, being made of marble its surface shined and Gav recognised this design - so without hesitation he approached it. Again raising his left hand and closing his eyes he not only stepped up to it but then into it. His foot and some of his leg entered the walls face and sent ripples of disturbance throughout it, like it was made of liquid. Ritualistically, he stepped through the rippling wall, which once he'd passed through returned to it's original solid form. He was now at his desired destination - hopefully the rest weren't too far behind.

[Seth Darkserpent]

It was widely known that the Caamasi had the most thorough memories any race had ever possessed. They were able to replay both joyous and sorrowful occasions, right down to the last detail. Some Caamasi explained it as watching a holographic clip of times past. Such a tool could come in handy, but it also had its dark side. Everything had a dark side. The Caamasi were also prone to experiencing terrible memories, memories that were melded into their mind from the moment it occured. Such grievances, which were constantly replayed when thought about were enough to drive one mad. For most Caamasi, their most vivid memory was of their own planet's destruction. An extremely small number of Caamasi had witnessed their planet being ravaged by the terror of technology. A peaceful planet, with a peaceful nation ravaged by the inspiration of war. No less then a few decades later the planet Alderaan, a peaceful planet in its own respect, was destroyed by the Empire's superweapon.

These acts of war were inspired by the dark side of many sentients. The emotions anger, frustration, fear, sorrow were just a few of the ingredients that binded the Galaxy together. The dark side and the light side balanced the Force out. It was not known who the first Jedi of the Republic were, or how the theory of the Force came to be. It probably originated before the Jedi themselves. Then there were those who practiced unsanctioned techniques and defied the orders of the Jedi Masters. These "renegades" were quickly banished from the Order, and the growing Republic itself. The Jedi rejects were quick to find refuge from the Galaxy in an uncharted group of systems. The inhabitants were a primative race that were awed by these "Dark Jedi" spells being casted before them. They considered their new masters as Gods. These people were called the Sith.

The cold chill of the wind was enough to redden the skin on his cheeks. Seth's current thoughts based on history past were shattered by the strong gust of cold wind. The feeling of the air against his face was enough to resurrect the dead. It had certainly opened his eyes to the reality that surrounded him. His boots were etched in the thin layer of snow that covered the dirt below. This environment was not a total ice cube, but it was certainly not a tropical resort. The thought of sentients inhabiting this barren rock did not seem practical or realistic. Seth Darkserpent had once been told that looks can be deceiving. The quote bore no importance to him at present. He was not here to write up a geographical report on the climate and populace. No, he was here on different matters.

His dark brown eyes scanned the area for any unusual landmarks. He was near his destination, Seth was sure of that. Unfortunately, he was also lost. The Dark Jedi had never been one to be punctual for occasions, no matter how hard he tried. He had been disciplined in the past for his failure. Such did not matter. Failure was necessary to continue the path to near perfection. Flawless victories came few and far between, thus it was foolish to expect them. Barely did evil triumph, or good for that matter. Seth had often wondered why the Jedi continued on with their pathetic duties. They could never obtain full peace, he was sure of it. During his time spent with them on their homeplanet, Seth had lost all respect he ever held for any of them. The mere thought of those who squandered their gifts so shamelessly was infuriating. Seth was the master of his emotions at present. His mind was free of its demonic imprisonment. He dismissed the thoughts of hatred as if they were subserviants under his direct command.

Seth Darkserpent took a step forward. His black boot crunched the snow under his foot, putting up no resistance. This snow had the durability of powder, and resembled it visually. The Dark Jedi's body was not hindered by the low temperature. He was clad in black garb, covered in his dark armor. Seth had kept this wardrobe of his locked away until recently. His quantum crystalline gauntlets could survive supernova blasts. They were specially forged with the metals extracted from the gas giant Yavin. Even Seth did not want to take the time to recall how they had fallen into his possession. It was safe to assume he had not made them himself. Contradictory to Seth's boundless knowledge of history and artifacts, he was no more of a scientist then he was a Jedi. Science did not interest him, unless it was related with something that did interest him. The two meter long cloak that Seth wore on his back did not have a special feature. It was simply a black cloth woven together with black thread.

Now...I suppose it would be wise to wear my mask. I have not donned it since... Seth's thoughts trailed off with the wind around him. He had not worn his mask for the past month. In that month, some had the privilege of seeing his real face. He would regret the decision of having taken it off in the first place, but Seth knew such was necessary. In the end, all had turned out right. Now he was here, among his comrades and among his Master. Seth was most eager to serve his Master again, after having commited so great a sin. He would make up for past mistakes, at all costs.

At present he was to find the meeting place his Master had set earlier. His presence was requested there, and it was the least he could do to show up on time. And he would do just that. Seth contemplated using the illustrious power of the Force to detect his Master's presence. Though he would probably succeed at that, the thought itself was too easy. He preferred doing things the hard way. In the end they were more rewarding. He continued on, step after step.

<font size=1>Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch.

<font size=2>He took a few more steps before reaching into his chest plate and pulling out a mask. The Dark Jedi raised his head and tightly pulled the mask over his head. It's cool leather felt odd over his bare skin, but at least it would bring him a minimal amount of warmth. That itself was worth the discomfort of having to have a mask cover his face. He swept one hand across his body and took hold of the cloak that hung at his back, like a royal gown. He wrapped it around his armored body and continued to walk through the barren iceland.

Success, as he had expected earlier.

No more then twenty meters away, a cave opening stared back at him. The black maw resembled the mouth of a sarlacc. The very thought of arriving at his destination brought a grim smile to Darkserpent's face. Few things amused him or brought satisfaction to him these days. Now, was he at least on time? Seth rolled up his sleeve momentarily and caught sight of the digits on the programmed chronograph. He was early, most fortunate, considering his previous record. Seth continued onward at a quick pace toward the cave. One would infer he was worried that something would happen between the time it took for him to reach his destination.

The inside of the cave itself was quite beautiful, as far as beauty went. The stalacites and stalagmites reflected light from the cave opening. The light was unneeded though, it seemed the torches that hung from the ice covered stone walls had been lit. It did not take a Verpine to guess that Gav had already walked past these halls. Seth followed the icy cave corridor, envisioning what it could once look like. Seth arrived at a staircase, which caused him to momentarily pause and take a deep breath. With a stride of confidence, he pressed onward climbing up the staircase. Seth was met with a large stone wall.

Interesting...

The illusion was one that could not be seen through. It took Seth's excellent ability to make educated guesses to solve the riddle. He pressed his hand against the wall, and naturally it went through. Seth closed his eyes, admiring the craft of this illusion. Perhaps he would learn to weave deception so skillfully one day. Until then, he would observe the creations of true technique. Seth pressed his whole body through the stone wall and crossed through to the other side.

"Master Mortis, I am here as you have requested." Seth calmly stated as he stepped further into the room. Undoubtedly others would arrive soon enough. He expected to see Jeseth Cloak, being his fellow disciple of the dark arts. He was here, on time.

The beginning of a good day was forming before his eyes.

[Darth Havok]

I believe in who and what I am.. No cause is worth abandoning my honor..

This was indeed a journey unto itself that Havok felt would make him a man of distinction.. It was a special honor for him to receive the request he’d received from his long time comrade Gav Mortis.. And his longing to prevail with the utmost triumph, was a goal he would more then place high on his achievements once these tasks were brought to a stage of completion on this fateful day.

Darkness was gathering, and after this day a suffering would begin for many.. Just who? You might ask yourself. That, in essence has yet to be clearly decided. For wherein one persons fate lies, another’s is directly or indirectly affected for the fates of many lie in the empathy of all as a whole.. In all life there are countless mysteries, answers for which many seek and some never fully attain. In the case of Darth Havok one in particular reined above all other.. With the circumstances before him he felt these answers may soon present themselves and all hope for his life’s purpose would soon piece itself together.

Havok studied the outlining areas more from habit than interest from a small view port within his craft, not to say being at this place didn’t peek his interest. His life had to long depended on animal alertness and the ability to discern slight movement from shadow, from a dangerous path to that of a more secure route. Unknowingly landing several hundred metres from the caves entrance, he slung a pack over his back and gathered a staff in which he’d forged, a sacred stone mounted upon it. This item held a deep symbolism to the dark warrior, he felt it was a key unto itself, a key for which would unlock those mysteries for which he sought to unravel..

Wearing proper attire for the blistering cold weather in which he was about to set afoot in, Havok slung a scarf around his face leaving only room for his eyes to guide his way.. Closing the shaft upon his exit, the wind was viciously blowing snow now at an angled arch, curling and looping as it embedded its furrowed engravings layer upon layer of the fluffy wet solidified liquid..

He took the time to look in all directions before proceeding, instinctually knowing in which the path that was before him he headed into the wind, holding his head low and drudging a trail through the thick blanketed snow.. His feet sunk deep with every impression, to just below the knee though this just slowed his progress the storm grew spitefully, and he pressed on. Traveling for a short distance though feeling as if he’d been trudging for hours from the merciless cold..

A short time later he reaches the entrance to the Cave, and upon entering pulls back the scarf from his face.. The cold biting the edges of he features as he extends his arm out holding the staff, speaking a short conjuration the green stone glows with an unknown power lighting a large area around him.. Pressing on through the tunnels and passage ways and through the hall of lit torches he comes to the descending staircase and looks out over an edge.. His eyes widen with exhilaration as he looks on in awe to the spectacle of wonder, it has been so many years since he’d seen such a place, but never a place as this..

Having maneuvered the stairs he continued at a steady pace and arrived at the marble wall. Taking in the sight yet again, he looked around to see no other path to take, he turned back towards the wall, and extended his staff.. As the end of it disappeared a pleasing grin danced about the Sith Masters face as he continued forward and passed completely through it.. Seeing he’d arrived at his destination with a few of the others already having shown up, he slings the pack from his back and sets it upon the floor. A slight nod of reverence he made to the two in the form of a greeting as he awaited for whatever was to come.

[Jeseth Cloak]

Smoke trailed up from the slush ice around Jeseth's ship. He had been in such a hurry to get planet-side that he had completely forgotten the landing gear... the result was a split hull and chemical fire that pretty much left the ship inoperable. Jeseth's black marble-like eyes narrowed as he gazed outside of the view screen, slightly upset with himself. Right on schedule... A sigh escaped the Dark Jedi's lips.

Stepping out of the cockpit, he pushed his way through debris; clothes, junk, and remnants of the previous ship's owner. The limbs had somehow tumbled out of their storage compartment... but it didn't matter anymore. This ship would never leave the planet's surface again. Whenever the fire died down, it'd just be coated with ice and buried where it now stood... probably for centuries. He would have to really on Seth or Gav for a ship until he managed to get his own.

After several minutes of scrounging around in the dark, he found what he was looking for: An amber-colored pendant with an alien insignia scribbled upon it. It was attacked to a silver chain necklace. Jeseth placed it around it his neck, his presence in the Force instantly dying away without a single ripple. It was quite amusing that he had <a href=http://www.swforums.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8587>acquired</a> it on Hoth, and now here he was using it in a place just about as cold, if not colder.


<font size=5 color=orange>Snap-Hisss....</font>


His saber erupted to life, cutting easily through the darkness with it's cool orange hue. Sparks flew as Jeseth drove it through the ship's loading hatch, which had refused to open mechanically. The chunk of metal fell away with a trail of smoke. He carefully walked through the hatch, avoiding the smoldering metal that was still cooling along the edges of it. another biting hiss, signaled the saber's deactivation.

Outside, Jeseth's feet were met with a horribly cold, but he hardly noticed it, his pale snow-like flesh far too conditioned to discomfort to notice the sharp change in climate. The fire and heat of the ship had melted a pool of ice water into the surrounding area. Jeseth waded through it, sniffling as a few snowflakes fell past his nose. He wasn't that far from the coordinates he had been given... He could see footprints leading ahead of him, and he kept alongside them, following their lead. By the large size of the marking's, he could easily tell that they were Seth's boot-prints.

At last he came to a cave, but he was in too much of a hurry to bother admiring the ruins. He made his way down the dimly lit tunnel, his cloak blowing behind him. He would have time on the way out to appraise his surroundings. He hadn't even given a thought to the fact that he had completely trashed a site that had most likely been untouched by mortal hands for eons. His ship's fuel would likely flow into the ice and continue to melt away at it for a few months...

Seth would likely call him wreckless... but it was a single planet among thousands more. He stopped and turned his attention up at the stone pillar, sensing that someone had gone by it not even minutes ago. This is where the corridors ended. He pressed his hand to it, passing through slowly. He bowed to Gav and Seth, then nodded an acknowledge to Havok, who had never met, and was quite curious about.

[Garrett Blade]

Well this snowball was certainly a welcome contrast to the equally, though oppositely harsh climate of Tatooine. He didn't know how he had arrived here. No more than he knew when he arrived here. All that he understood was that he was here. The nature of Gav's request to meet him here had been explained prior to the actual request. It was something to do with a get-together that would bring them closer. His initial interpretation of Gav's words were, as usual, followed by sarcastic and incomprehendible comments. But after sitting down and pondering the request, as well as a reflection on Gav himself (though no mirror was involved at this time), Garrett was able to make some logical sense of the matter - though Garrett's sense of logic is, at the best of times, sketchy. Nevertheless, he had since prepared for the meeting.

If only he had adequately prepared for the journey to the planet. A five day trip with nothing to do except talk to oneself is not the best way to enlighten oneself in preparation for an important meeting. Add to this the fact that Garrett's already unstable mind was odd to his standards as of late, and you could more or less say that Garrett was feeling out of himself more than usual. If he could concentrate on something that was actually important, then perhaps he could put himself into the correct state of mind by the time he arrived at the meeting place. And as if that wasn't bad enough, despite the hyperspace journey being as cold as hell, the daft bugger didn't even have the sense to wear his damn winter-clothes during the flight. Now, however, he was dressed appropriately.

He was encased in a midnight-blue thermal suit, locking out the cutting ice-winds. His white eyes were protected by a double-plated transparent plasteel visor, tinted blue to match the suit. His thick, fur-lined boots stabbed the icy ground with two inch daggers that lined the soles of them.

Garrett occasionally stopped to look behind him, thinking that someone was following him. But each time, he was greeted by nothing more than icy footprints that carried on for almost forever. So he would turn around and carry on walking, humming to himself to keep himself entertained. He could sense death all around him as he neared the shadows of a jagged ice formation that reached up high into the darkness. He decided that it was time for a little rest, and so he sat himself down on one of the fallen crystals that were almost two metres in diameter. As he was idly looking around, he noticed someone underneath the ice pulling faces at him. The white, dead-looking eyes widened as they stared up at him, and it pulled tongues as they did. Garrett was infuriated at this and so jumped down and began to hack away at the ice with his gloved hands. The subterranean icicle-imp responded by clawing away towards Garrett, trying to attack him also. After a few minutes of getting nowhere with the ice, Garrett spat in the imps face and carried on, but not before he had reclaimed his rucksack from upon the crystal he resided on moments ago.

After a few more hours of walking, Garrett reached a vast gorge that had plunged itself into the ice. "Should watch where you're going!" said Garrett to himself. it echoed throughout the black void as Garrett proceeded along what appeared to be an uneven path cut into his side of the gorges valley side. As he made his careful way, he paid close attention to the icy wall next to him, keeping an eye out for the mischievous little imp within the ice. It was darker down here, and so he could not be sure. But as he walked, he could almost clearly see a face staring right back at him. A half hour later and Garrett arrived at a flight of steps that led down. Their peak was more or less dark, lit up by the reflective ice cavern they resided in, though a light was coming up from the bottom. Garrett stepped on the first step, only to be thrown backwards, smashing his skull on the top step, and then sliding painfully down the death-trap staircase.

After being knocked unconscious for almost twenty minutes, Garrett came to. He stood up and gave the staircase a contemptuous glare. He cursed something before
turning to the wall in front of him. Garrett knew it was a door. He'd just forgotten how the hell it was opened. He began to punch and kick away at the ice, screaming and
roaring at the top of his lungs. A stalactite fell to the ground, almost cleaving him in two. He turned around, giving the assassin a critical once-over before falling through a freezing cold pool. His chin smacked the floor with as crack. "So that's how it works!"

[Gav Mortis]

In ten minutes time, the second of five would pass through the stone wall and Gav wanted to be formally prepared for Seths arrival, hence he set to work of preparing what was neccessary for their plans. He allowed his rucksack to slip from his shoulder and he caught it by the handle in his right hand, he was about to crouch down and open it when suddenly something occured to him which took the Sith by suprise. This chamber which he was standing in was last inhabited by the great Sith from milennia ago, almost instantaneously he dropped his rucksack and as it hit the floor so did his knees.

The sensation was overwhelming, beyond description. Losing control, Gav had almost been forced to his knees, his reaction was involuntary, the sense of humility was almost enough to make one weep; his head bowed forward so far that it touched the freezing, stone floor. With closed eyes he kissed the floor, for a moment he thought he'd lost all grasp of sanity but there were voices in his head - in fact they were everywhere, almost like voices from the past, still echoing from these walls, undying.

"My Lords, as of this moment I am your humble servant and what transpires here today will be done in honour of your legacy. A legacy which will not die, one which I and those who enter this hall today will humbly carry on our shoulders in the name of my people."

He said that in a way in which he didn't know what he was going to say after each word, did he have control over his own words in this place - he certainly hoped he would. Shortly after, he rose to his feet and before he did anything else he simply couldn't resist taking in his surroundings.

The chamber itself was poorly lit, at regular intervals along it's encircling walls hung burning torches; they were held in dull, iron supports which had eroded somewhat over the ages but had the conditions not been this cold there would be nothing left of them. The torches themselves were made of large bundles of hay, surely they were replaced on a frequent basis when in use. The crackling of the burning torches at the far end of the rrom was relaxing, it broke the silence comfortably.

His eyes strained somewhat to see the top of the chamber shrouded in darkness, the summit of the dome reached high up and the sight was stunning. The wall was divided into hundreds of reasonably sized images of a primitive nature, rather basic but far from indesipherable. They told the history of a proud people, each image had been carved into the stone surface with remarkable precision which must have required the utmost patience to accomplish.

Unsuprisingly the air deep down here was crisp and clean; in no way had it been polluted by the corruption of time and that which calls itself civilisation and if this to civilisation was a regretion; Gav wished he'd just de-evolve into that which was pure and real. This place was real, there was an innocence about it which was truely beautiful to him. He could feel it inside and all around him.

Slowly, scanning his surroundings Gav made his way towards the center of the chamber, accross a delicate floor which composed of elegant marble of a blood red and black texture, it almost looked like a deep ocean below him it was so perfect and entrancing. How in the world such a primitive civilisation was able to create such a magnificent piece of architecture was beyond Gav's imagination and he chose it was better not to ponder on such unneccessarily distracting thoughts.

In the center of the large floor proudly stood an alter, it was interestingly plain and simple in comparison to the rest of the large hall and suprisingly small. No more than two meters in diameter, what was interesting about it was that it was a perfect circle, it's circumfrence was perfect, smooth to touch. It had no legs, it was simply a large stone slab on the floor and on it's surface was etched a flawless, symetrical star of five points in total. Each prong of the star touched the edge of the alters circumference and the outside of the star shape were strewn randomnly, many, many candles of varying size, some tall and thin others short and thick. They weren't fresh candles, as one could see the dripping wax which had solidified not only on the candles but on the alters surface.

The whole situation was surreal, just like he had read there were rested at the edge of each point of the stone-etched star, plain, wooden goblets and alongside each one there could be found a dagger, each one varying in length and decor. He grinned thinking that it seemed as though someone had prepared this table for them as though their arrival had been expected. The more he thought about, the more he believed this is what he was destined to do - as though his entire life had been leading to this moment, the ultimate commitment.

He made his wat around the table to the one prong of the star from which he faced opposite, the entrance to the chamber, the large marble surface. He looked down at the deep goblet and next to it, rested to his suprise a dagger made of sharpened slate, it had no decoration whatsoever. It was nothing more than a piece of slate with one end sharpened as a weapon. Probably, one of the first types of dagger used by the builders of this structure - it had many markings meaning that it had been used in the past, eons ago and now wasn't as sharp as it once was.

When he looked up Seth was standing opposite, and the wall behind him was just settling. Gav smiled - Seth was not only on time, he was the first out of the others to get here. A very good sign.

"Master Mortis," he said, his voice echoed hauntingly above the crackling fires all around, "I am here as you have requested."

Nodding to his disciple, Gav replied, "Welcome Seth, I trust your finding of this place wasn't too difficult - it is rather obscured I must admit."

Seth agreed and began arranging what he had brought with him, his boots clanged as he stomped about. Gav cringed, wishing he hadn't worn those awful eye-sores, plus they might damage the floor. But to say the least it had survived generations of wear.

Returning to what he had begun, Gav delved into his rucksack and carefully took out an item wrapped tightly in protective packaging to survive the journey here. Although the packaging was transparent, it had been wrapped so many times that it's contents could not be identified; that was until he finally unwrapped it, revealed an old, leather bound book, it was reasonably thin and of a regular size and placed it on a small iron stand that was situated inside the star prong in front of him, just further than the goblet before the Sith.

All this time, Gav had become so involved in what he was doing he'd forgotten that he'd not pulled back the hood of his robing but then decided to leave it as it is to show the importance of the occassion. Seth had already chosen his own place at the alter, at the end of another point on the star, he began inspecting his equipment.

Suddenly, the wall began rippling and both Gav and Seth looked over to see Darth Havok emerge with a satisfied grin, giving them both the nod of greeting which Gav had so much grown fond of, Havoks' formality was interesting and respectable. He seemed to know what he was doing and Gav chose not to patronise the Sith Master by giving him instructions. Shortly after followed Jeseth, who reverendly passed through the wall and bowed to his master and Seth.

Gav suddenly realised that he had not introduced Havok to his disciples when Jeseth nodded to him.

"Forgive me, I've been somewhat preoccupied here," Gav said to Havok, then turning to his disciples said, "Sith Lords Jeseth Cloak and Seth Darkserpent; the strongest disciples to grace The Sith Order," he gestured to each of them, finally nodding to Havok, "And this is Darth Havok; The Sith Empires greatest Master with whom I've had the honour of working with in the past."

Whilst waiting upon the arrival of one of the most interesting and contraversial Sith Masters ever to practice the dark arts, Gav began explaining the procedure to the three Sith in attendance - he'd already gone over the routine with Garrett in detail on Tatooine. Fifteen minutes passed and Gav after finishing his briefing, opened the book to the appropriate page, tainted by the colour of time.

Suddenly there was crack which echoed throughout the chamber and Gav, startled looked over towards the entrance where Garrett Blade could be seen scrambling to his feet.

"I can't believe you forgot how it worked," laughed Gav as Garrett, who looked a little irritated after falling through the entrance, made his way over.

"I'm sure this this Sith Master needs no introduction," chuckled Gav, "Garrett Blade - and I think the only individual you might be unfamiliar is Darth Havok here, of the Sith Empire."

"We shall begin shortly, just arrange the neccessary articles and if you have any doubts voice them now."

Naturally, Gav's tone had become completely solomn and serious, everyone was here and soon the sacred ritual would commence.

[Jeseth Cloak]

Jeseth had been studying the table’s markings when a crack signaled the arrival of Garrett Blade. He knew the man from his former tenure at The Sith Order: Volatile, eccentric, and somewhat deluded. Jeseth had been under the impression that Garrett was being pursued by The Sith Order - now, here they were; Three member of The Sith Order's council standing beside someone who they were supposed to have sworn as their enemy. He couldn't help but question the matter.

What am I doing here, for that matter? He had sworn the Sith as his enemy, planning their destruction with every waking second of his life, assuming their traditions and studies as his own in an attempt to find their weaknesses... He was a wolf in sheep's clothing - but he had learned that those he considered his enemy were not Sith at all. They were children grasping at straws... Attempting to recapture the legacy of power that their ancestors' masters had left behind.

Dark Jedi had once ruled over the Sith. If Mortis was truly a blood decent of those creatures... then my, how the tables had turned. Now he was a subservient to Mortis... and soon... he would be his equal. Yes, he could live with such a compromise. He would be, in part, becoming that which he had set out to destroy. If only he had known then what he knew now.

Jeseth smiled as he heard those words, "We shall begin shortly, just arrange the necessary articles and if you have any doubts voice them now."

No, I have no doubts.

The jagged dagger he had stepped up to was also stone, plain and without decoration, but this one was made out of pure black onyx, not granite. He noticed that the other daggers were also comprised of different minerals... Primitive, but to Jeseth they were beautiful in their own right. This entire temple was a marvel of Sith culture. What had happened here to turn this planet into a giant ball of ice and snow? He’d have to inquire about it after the ritual...

He reached inside of his coat and black shirt, pulling an amulet up from around his neck. Suddenly, the others could sense a rush of presence fill the room as Jeseth removed it from himself. He had been apparently a dull spot in the room since he had met the others, and those who had been watching must have already pieced together what the amulet’s purpose was. Jeseth had to slaughter a family of archeologists and battle two Jedi to get it, and for what it could do, it had been worth it.

[Seth Darkserpent]

Seth watched as the other three arrived, all one after the other. First came Jeseth Cloak, an individual whom had crossed paths with Seth Darkserpent more then any other being present. Seth knew Cloak to be a Dark Jedi of the Black Hand, long before most others did. He himself had requested to be taken to Vjun, but Jeseth solidly refused and tried to kill Darkserpent. Seth survived the attempt and persisted further. Jeseth showed him the way to Vjun, rather then bringing him there. Soon after Seth Darkserpent gained admittance into the illustrious Black Hand. He and Jeseth shared quarters on the ashern planet, that once served as Vader's fortress. It wasn't unusual to spot Jeseth on Corellia either, where an underground group of powerful Sith operated. Seth was also a member of this group, known as the Sith Order.

The next to emerge from the fake wall was a figure that Seth was unfamiliar with. He was tall and daunting, certainly a figure of importance. Then Seth recognized him, pulling up a memory from the past that bore no meaning to him as of present. Darth Havok was a member of an elite group of Sith, once known as the Rogue Sith Order. Since then the Rogue Sith Order had merged with the great Sith Empire. It was then that the Sith Empire grew even stronger in power, increasing in number and in warfare. It was during Seth's short time at the Sith Empire, that he had caught sight of Darth Havok, seated atop his Council chair. Yes, this man was of great importance to the Empire and an asset to their power.

Seth bowed his head formally, as Gav introduced himself and Jeseth to the Sith Master Havok. Darkserpent was not a huge fan of the Sith Empire, after having been there and experienced how they operated first hand. He'd made himself more enemies then allies during his stay at the Sith Empire, but all of that was irrelevant now. He was able to put aside his past experiences with the Empire. Seth knew nothing about Havok, but the more he gazed at the man who was almost as tall as him, the more of an enigma he became. If Gav has befriended him, then he is trustworthy. Now is not the time to question Gav's choosings. Seth pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind, forgetting about them almost instantly.

Another arrived only a few minutes after Havok, flat on his face at that. Seth was surprised to see Garrett Blade return his gaze. He'd been quite a hellmouth on Corellia, a Sith who simply could not be barred down to one place at a time. Seth allowed himself a small smile, remembering some of the chaos that Garrett had caused throughout the Sith Order. Some believed he had a mental disorder. Seth had to wonder himself if this was all true, or if Garrett Blade was one great actor. Gav referred to him as a Sith Master, which did not surprise Seth. He could only fathom some of the adventures Blade had gotten himself into during his time away from the Sith Order. Garrett Blade didn't look for trouble, nor did it look for him. He was trouble. Nevertheless, his presence would be most welcome by Seth Darkserpent.

Seth had chosen his place among the five points of the star. He was right beside Jeseth, absently sensing some of the other Dark Jedi's thoughts as he reached for the dagger. Seth removed his gauntlets and tucked them away, deep within the bowels of his cloak. He knew that Jeseth had questioned his own reason for being here. During his time at the Sith Order, Jeseth had made quite a few allies, and even some enemies in the Empire. Seth was quite aware that some could stand to watch Jeseth die beneath their feet. He imagined some were actually praying for it to happen sooner or later. Seth himself had enemies as well, though not as much as his dark "brother."

His fingers clasped around the dagger as he rose it until it was level with his dark brown eyes. They danced across the blade of the dagger, examining every single particle it owned. He was intrigued by the craftiness of the blade, something that could only be achieved through magic. It was safe to say this dagger was probably as old as this room, crafted in a time when the ancient Sith Empire thrived with power, riches and resources. It's downfall had occured shortly after Marka Ragnos' funeral. It was then that the political system of the Empire began to spiral downward, somewhat like what was probably happening with the current Sith Empire. He ran the blade across his finger, just lightly enough to avoid striking any blood. The blade was very sharp and deadly, but it was also powerful. He'd felt it's power through the Force. The dagger cried for attention, cried out to it's wielder to be used on someone, to slay something. Seth grinned openly, bareing his white teeth. He hoped he would get the chance to use it one day.

Seth was interested to see what the rest of this day would entail. Already he had been re-acquainted with Jeseth and Garrett Blade, and met Darth Havok. As he played with the dagger in his hand, he noticed the architectural design of the room. The architects of this magnificent chamber were not stupid creatures at all. Their mathematically advanced minds allowed them to construct the chambers in which Seth now kneeled in. He also felt something, every time he focused on the soft whisper of the Force, probing at his brain. This room was a prison for the lost souls trapped inside. They were not evident in sight or in sound, but Seth could feel them.

He wondered what the others were thinking at this point in time. Gav seemed to be preparing for what was to come, whilst he handled an ancient book. Seth was interested in what the contents of the book held. Perhaps he would know, soon enough...

[Garrett Blade]

After dusting himself off, despite the lack of dust in the room, Garrett opened up his black rucksack and began to search for the item he had brought. Rumbling through the various other items that just happened to be in the bag, Garrett pulled out a small metal thermal flask. he unscrewed the lid and took a long gulp of the contents. When he had finished, he pulled the flask away from his lips and wiped away the excess liquid. His teeth and mouth were stained red, as was his hand, now. He replaced the lip and secured it tightly and placed the flask on the icy floor beneath him. Next to vacate the black void was a yellow and magenta striped ball. Garrett bounced it on the floor several times before crushing it in his hand with a look of disgust in his eyes. He threw it to one side and rummaged further. Amongst the other items in the rucksack were a single red-bladed lightsaber, a few humanoid bones (two of which were femurs) and a red and yellow striped hat with a propellar on top of it. Finally, Garrett found what he was looking for. He returned the other items into the rucksack and stood up off his knees.

Garrett stepped towards the altar and placed his blood-stained hands on it's stony surface. He ran his fingers along the top of the magnificent, ancient table. The pentagram that lay on top of the altar was slightly rusty at the tip where Garrett was standing. perfect. he had chosen his position. As Garrett was standing by the altar, the bare palm of his hand scraped the pentagram star point, cutting him slightly. A small blood smear could be seen on the tip. Garrett payed it no mind, but noticed that he was standing between Jeseth and Gav, not quite opposite Seth, but close enough. That left havok with only one place to take, the point that was, like Seth, not quite opposite him, but close enough.

The dagger that lay before Garrett was approximately nine inches long, with six of those being devoted to the blade itself. It was heavy, maybe three or four kilograms, quite a lot for a mere knife. But it was no ordinary knife. Moro daggers of this type were extremely rare, and this one itself was unique. The blade curved away from itself, and was warped near the tip. It was stained a jaded-green colour, with black and purple grain-like washes in it, resembling a marble surface only much more dull. The hilt itself was made of cast iron, black as death and cold to Garretts already cold skin, in an already cold room.

Garrett was ready. All that was left now was to wait for the ritual to start. As he stood before the altar, expressionless, his gaze wandered over to the wall to his left, just beyond Jeseth. That blasted Imp was staring straight back at him. His eyes lit up and he glared at the mischevious little monster with a blazing fury. How could it have the gall to follow him to this place!?

[Darth Havok]

After their short exchanges of pleasantries and greetings the time was before them to embark upon this journey and for the ceremony to begin.. Havok knew very little of the other three individuals that had also taken this journey, but this worried him not.. He’d heard ramblings of a few of them amongst his council at the Empire.. But he was not one to judge merely from word of mouth, and that of actions from one’s past.. This was an extreme misjudgment in his mind.. Only through direct interaction could one draw such conclusions with a clear perspective. Yet even then unjust opinions could be drawn.. .

He stepped forward, filling the last position that which needed to be taken.. His staff in hand, and having shed his exterior clothing; he was now clad in his traditional robes as were the others.. He studied what was upon the alter and then gazed up, not looking at anything in particular he performed a few slight meditations, preparing both mind and body for the mysteries of what would follow..

[Gav Mortis]

From what he had read, this ritual had only be carried out once, however what the Sith had to wonder was, "Has it only ever been carried out once or just carried out successfully once?" It was something which had been a source of worry to him, however he was willing to take the risk for he had a great deal of confidence in himself to control the power involved in it. He had carried out ancients rituals before, following carefully the guidelines for such procedures - as for the others, he was unsure whether or not any had engaged in ancient rituals like this or what experience and knowledge of such things they possessed. It was of no relevence anyway, he had made up his mind, they were all going to take the risk, for better or worse. Needless to say, Gav had confidence in all present with such matters, ortherwise they would not be here.

Once again, the only disturbance in the chamber was that of the crackling torches, all were ready to begin, including Gav and so, his hooded head bowed as he began looking over the small book before him. Soon enough, he began to speak or so it seemed, was he communicating telepathically with the four in attendance? The voice they heard seemed unlike Gavs' and the tongue in which he spoke was unlike anything they had ever heard before.

<CENTER>Shirucum osda kannucum shillada
Ecumdo dauste chay cucheca
Acumetay Teda-Shevira
Crutedas ucume</CENTER>

The words were spoken with the most peculiar prenunciation which seemed to change Gav's voice somewhat; it sounded cold, harsh and primitive. He sounded more like a beast than a man. This was the language of the Ancient Sith.

He looked up, his eyes had an empty look, almost as if he was no longer there in mind or spirit, only in body. Gav seemed to look straight through those around the altar, strange as it was, he began to speak, but regularly now, reading the book.

<CENTER>"Here are five;
The Five willing to become one
As prophesised in the second book of Damu Rae:
'When all that is left of the red flesh, is in the red blood of man.
Five warriors will rise upon a star and bring the light of hope back into the darklands of Ache-Uste. On this day, blood will be shed, but none will die. Five lords will fall and a King will reign. A King of Vengeance. By the blood of the many, will the will of one be fulfilled; as it was, it shall be."</CENTER>

There was a brief pause, his voice echoed, rising rapidly into the darkness above; the now distant crackling of flame was no longer comforting. Gav's gaze returned, meeting the eyes of those in attendance. There was a person behind those eyes once more, an individual. Again he spoke, cold and formally.

"Each of the Brothers of Old, had to make a sacrifice - not to a God, nor to a power but for each other, for their principle. Our principle is one of unity, respect and unconditional allegiance to one another. Trusting that you have all brought an item of neccessary significance, present it, in turn to your fellow Sith here and share how it is a representation of yourself. I shall start, the once we have each said our part the book will be passed to my left to be read by Garrett."

Slowly, Gav took from out of his robing a scroll, tied at the centre with string, not for one moment did his eyes leave their fixed gaze on those around him. He untied the scroll and open it out, the paper was fresh and young but it was no longer white; all over it was marked with crimson juxtaposition of images or letters that were indecipherable, not matter how hard one looked.

"This," he began, "Is Gav Mortis. He began his life like this sheet of paper; young, fresh and innocent but as the years went by he was affected by people or events in his life. Only a child, these events left scarred him deep, for like this paper; he had endured suffering at the hands of many. Hence the blood. The markings are representations of important events in his life, they had permanently stained his very being, he was changing otherwise he wouldn't have survived. All this, tainted his very soul. He became corrupted, unclean and unwanted."[/I]

He paused, and diverted his glance a moment to roll the paper up and bind it back by the string. Looking up once again, he said, "That was when Gav realised what was needed. A change; a reform which would allow him to start anew." Suddenly, Gav moved the scroll in his hand so that the edge of it touched the tip of a flickering candle flame. Silently, the scroll caught fire, moving it out of the flame it continued to burn, slowly the red embers ate away the papers edge, moving inwards staining it a dark brown. Whilst it burned he continued to hold it and began talking once again.

"The only conclusion Gav could come to was to end that which he was; an individual. He wanted to lose all identity and define his action on principle rather than feeling, but that is imposible. A lepper might as well set themselves on fire and hope to be cured once the flames die, but the only thing that dies is him. Self-destruction is not the key, but self-completion. I am yet to meet the man who has gained without sacrifice. Becoming a complete instrument of Darkness is the way we can achieve our goal, through uniformity. Through self-sacrifice, the brothers shall achieve self-completion."

By now Gav had let go of the burning paper, just as the flame had reached his fingers. What was left now, was a smoulering, dark ash; it reminded one of the aftermath of a forest fire; scorched earth, lifelessness.

"There will be times when we have believed and will believe all is lost. Then remember this; it is not until that when one finds themselves lost, will the way to self-fullfilment be shown. Today, I have lost all and Gav Mortis will die. Tomorrow, I will be groping in the dark to find the way but mark this; like a Phoenix from the ashes will be born a new man. A King with the power of five and the Will of Darkness will be done."

[Jeseth Cloak]

Jeseth listened to Gav speak, completely drawn in by his story. He held the pendant he had removed from around his neck tightly in his left hand, the thick brown lace attached to it trailing down from a part between two of his fingers. The winged man’s eyes were aloft in the dark and gloom, and the torch light could not reach them easily.

He looked to the others, his black eyes scanning their faces, and then proceeded to speak. “This represents all that I am.” His hand came up before the four others, his fingers uncurling from around the prize which he held. It was a pendant forged by the Sith, imbued with the power to mask one’s presence in the Force. “Forged in the fires of war, created to be nothing more than a deceiver… he has fulfilled his purpose…” His eyes were visibly sad.

“But once a tool’s purpose has been destroyed, what is their left for it? This mortal coil weakens, and no more am I the man I once was. The time has come for this tool to be melted down… to be reformed for a newer purpose - A purpose worthy of such a sacrifice…” The pendant sparked loudly, blue streams of lightening wrapping around it as it bubbled into melted ore within the palm of Jeseth’s left hand. He ignored the pain, not caring that it was burning through the glove and the artificial flesh.

Jeseth finally ceased his show of Force Lightening. The black oil-like metal and shattered pieces of crystals were still steaming in his hand. He angled his palm towards the table, letting the hot substance drip onto the ashes that Gav had left behind.

[Garrett Blade]

Garrett took a step back from the altar. A wooden staff shot up from beneath the stone ceremonial table, which he caught in one hand. He placed it on the altar, pointing in to the centre. It was carved from the branch of one of the great trees of Kashyyyk, and coated in the dry blood of a Necromancer. The end nearest Garrett was sharp enough to pierce skin, and the blood enhanced its strength to pierce other materials too. The other end was twisted and warped around some unidentifiable thing inside it, and darker in tone to the rest of the staff, which was no more than 25 inches long.

"Two hundred years ago, a mentor of mine ventured with me to Kashyyyk to forge this weapon of death. We had to slay countless numbers of Wookiees to get to the sacred tree.Once we had achieved it, we returned to our crypt and began to forge it. Once it was completed, he told me that it's power could be increased it I were to coat it's length in the life essence of a powerful being. He was naturally referring to a Jedi of some sort, but I had other idea's. I'll never forget the look on his face as I drove the weapon through his heart."
The other four pairs of eyes instantly flicked to the object inside the twists and turns of the staff end, then back to Garrett.

I smothered the thing in its creators own blood, giving it some rather unusual properties, much like myself after I drank the rest. The warped and twisted end is a representation of my mind.

Garrett then took the staff in his both hands, with the sharp point mere millimetres from his chest...

But this blood has lost it's potency. It is time for a renewal...

Without warning, Garrett thrusted the staff into his chest so hard that it ripped through to the other side. He pulled it right through. It was now covered in his own blood. He held it out over one of the flames, hardening it somehow.

Metaphorically, this staff is now dead - and stronger for it. I plan to pursue such an advantage in the near future.

Garrett placed the staff to one side, not bothered whether or not anybody had noticed the heart was now replaced with his own...

[Seth Darkserpent]

Darkserpent watched as the three warriors sacrificed something of their identity, a material possession that defined them better than anything else. He glanced around the circle, noticing it was his turn to speak and make a sacrifice. After him, Dark Lord Havok would be the last one to make a sacrifice. Seth was unsure what Gav intended to do after all the sacrifices had been made. Was this only the first step of the ritual? The questions were better left unanswered at this point in time, Seth noted. He entrusted his life in Gav Mortis' hands many times and he would do so again, until his life was finished.

The candlelight flickered for a moment as Seth's eyes registered on the middle of the circle. His gaze focused upon his dark master Gav, who'd given up his identity. Next came Jeseth Cloak, who'd also sacrificed his identity as a master of deceit. The last to gaze upon was Garrett Blade who'd drove the weapon of Necromancy through his own body. The story he told would send chills down a normal man's spine. Seth wondered if his sacrifice would be equally significant when compared to the others. They looked at him with an expectant gaze, urging him to proceed with the ritual.

The shrill wind spiked at Seth Darkserpent's naked face. He was not used to such a cool climate, and it was hard for him to adapt under harsh conditions. His eyelids drooped down, allowing his pupils to become mere slits under the layer of skin that protected them. The original dark color took on a light orange form as Seth summoned the demons within himself. The dark power that lay dormant for some time now rose from its crypt and surged through his body. A wave of confidence consumed his body and mind and cleansed his doubts.

"Fear is a most interesting asset, and can be powerful if channeled properly." Seth's eyes shifted to each present at the proper intervals. "It is an emotion of the Dark Side, that we call upon and use. The Seth Darkserpent you knew but a few months ago, was a man with great fear...The fear for failure. Fear can be powerful, if one knows how to wield it properly. Sadly, Seth Darkserpent did not know how to use his fear for advantage. How does one use a gun when he does not know how to fire it?"

His gauntlet covered hand disappeared behind the veil of blackness that he wore beneath his armor. Like a serpent in the night, his arm slithered into an inner pocket and searched for its prey. A moment later, he tugged out a simple black garment that could be defined as a mask. The material was woven from Adumarian silk of the finest kind. The thick material could withstand harsh weather and many metals.

"It was fear that consumed Seth Darkserpent and controlled him, rather the intended opposite. He went to great lengths to avoid failing his Master, and to avoid failing himself." Seth's eyes flickered, taking on an even brighter orange hue. His fingers curled around the mask and grasped it tightly, as if he were choking it. "Eventually, he was determined to end his own life, but did not have the nerve to."

Seth followed Gav Mortis' lead and set the tip of his mask on fire, through the flames that had been prepared for the ritual. He held the mask in his gloved hand, and watched it burn, as did everyone else present. Darkserpent had the beginnings of a wicked grin on his face, as he took much pleasure in watching the item that masked his identity diminish into nothingness. He gazed unblinkingly at the burning mask until only the ashes were left resting on his gauntlet. He tipped his hand to the side and let them fall to the ground.

"Seth Darkserpent sought out the help of the Dark Lords. They allowed him power, in exchange for total devotion to the Dark Side of the Force." Seth spoke with much passion as he recalled the events of only a week ago. The visuals were still fresh in his mind, reminding him of the difficult tasks. "The mask that covered the failure itself has been destroyed. Now all present, gaze upon the face of a man who was been born anew. No longer am I controlled by pitiful emotion."

Seth allowed his last few words to echo through the recesses of their heads.

~ Now I am in control! ~