The Queen Mother awakes: "The gathering"

[Empress Akasha]

From that place, that most horrible and terrifying place that some called the endless abyss. Where minds are seared at a single glance. Where other's dare not look, cannot look. That unfathomable place, that even her children, the children of the damned, would fall into complete despair and total insanity if it were opened to them.

Many millennia had passed, empire's and civilized worlds had come and gone, but she had always been there, sleeping in her eternal slumber amongst them. Now she stirred, her deep green emerald eye's snapped opened, beckoned to a cry, a faint cry, to her it had not gone unnoticed. Her infinite mind awoke to them, they were lost, and her eternal heart reached out to them, calling to them. Over a great distance, spanning light years, they heard her, calling them home to her. To an unknown world forgotten to time. The Queen of the Damned awoke.

[Death Knight Soth]

Many thought's washed over the Death Knight's mind. Dark thought's that spanned to ancient time's when he had purpose and resolve. He would miss them, they would always have a special place in his vampyre heart. A place of dream's now, but no one could ever take that, and Soth knew, no one could. It was his to carry, like the relic's of old he had collected over his 5500 years of existence.

Soth watched as the countless star's passed as the transport ship the "Decadent" made it's way to a familiar place far from the reaches of any. Soth had equipped the "Decadent" with a scrambling device that would insure that no tracking was possible. Mockadane showed him that little trick. He wondered at that moment, if he'd ever see his good friend again. But in all thing's, path's always seemed to cross eventually, sooner or later, if fate seen it as so.

Soth glanced over to his blood sister, he could see the deep sorrow that distorted her beautiful face into masks of pain. Only rarely, Vampyres were known to cry, maybe once or twice in a century, but this day, of all day's ever, they both broke the bitter mold as there Vampyre heart's wept...Soth let his pale hand slip to hers, he gently squeezed it in a reassuring way, but her pain was his. They were now rouge's in the great universe, lost, but not forgotten. So much had they given up,..."But all good things come to an end my sister, but trouble not your heart m'lady, for tomorrow dawns a new day, followed by the blessed night." Soth spoke to her mind in soft cool wave's, as smooth as the finest silk. If he could relieve her pain and troubled vampyre heart, he would not have hesitated.

Alana shot her blood brother a troubled half smile. But her mind was soon again lost to the things that were around her. How insignificant it all became to them both. How eternity, immortal life, how it too looked so much more grim and uninviting.

Soth continued on his unknown victor, then it came to him. Faint at first, nevertheless it came. A call that gripped him like in no other way he had ever experienced. He knew her, yet he had never laid eye's on her! It was someone so ancient, so old, that his mind in that very moment was engulfed in her vast omnipotence.

"My child, you are lost, come home. Come to me, and wonder no more my young fledging." The voiced echoed through Soth's mind like the tower bell's in a great cathedral.

"Mother...?" Soth said, as it slipped from his mouth in a gasp.

[Alana Stormcloud]

Alana's heart ached at the loss of her coven family. She had lost so much in life and she had thought that she would never have to suffer it again when she had been given the dark gift. Her heart had died when she had left her uncle Mocky and it was dying once again with yet another bitter loss. She was grateful that she had Soth at her side to lighten the burden of her leaving her beloved master. Without Soth by her side she would not have been able to withstand the torment.

Alana felt his hand slip into hers, comforting her, letting her know that all would be well. She still worried she was so new to the night. Her throat tightened with her unshed tears.

Alana's brows furrowed when she heard a faint call. then her head snapped back from the force of the mind link. Had she been human her neck would have snapped.

A voice, one she had never heard before yet her vampyre heart knew. The voice telling her to come home, and with the message memories of times that were so long ago they were legends. The voice told of ancient lands and forgotten kingdoms. Alana shuddered with each sweet memory. She could feel her mind trying to close itself off from the powerful touch. The message itself was loving, irresistible calling her back to the beginning, calling her back to the Mothers embrace. The unshed tears now streamed down her face.

[Pandora Damaris]

It had been ages since Pandora had seen anyone other than Marius. The days were long in this empty "shrine" where they kept the catatonic Ashiva protected from those who would come to drink of the ancient blood. Pandora had become so weary of the redundant tasks which she performed each day. Even as an Ancient Vampyre, as many would call her, Pandora was not still without the wanderlust which plagued her in her youth. There was still so much to see, the universe was vast. Through the ages so much had changed and Pandora still looked upon all of it with childlike curiosity.

Perhaps that was why she had snuck away to Coruscant, without telling Marius. Just to be around other beings... even if it had to be the living was better than being at the Castle watching over Ashiva. That was when she had encountered Mortanius and the Death Knight. It was an interesting confrontation to say the least, one that neither of them would soon forget. Pandora sighed slightly as she walked down the long halls which were lined with the ancient Egyptian statues and made her way toward the Parlor. The silence was maddening, at times Pandora wished that she could scream. There was a time when simply looking at Ashiva would send her into an utter frenzy, she could not bear it. To see the glorified Mother sitting there motionless and without speaking. To hear the beating of her heart, it was at times unbearable.

For so long each day she would visit Ashiva in her sepulcher. To wash her body clean and give her new cloths to wear. Marius had long since allowed her that comfort. To at least be near her Mother Ashiva, even if her questions were met with nothing but silence. For so long Pandora could only sit for hours and weep at her feet, begging only that she speak to her. Those days were gone now, Pandora had long since come to grips with the fact that Ashiva would not speak until she wished to. There was no way for Pandora to somehow talk her into coming out of her current state...and deep down it now scared Pandora to think that Ashiva might awaken.

As Pandora lay herself down to rest in the Parlor upon one of the sofa's, a sudden and dreadful feeling rushed over her. Could it be? Pandora leapt out of the sofa and began running back down the halls from which she came, her long gown and cloak flowing behind her delicately. Rushing into the basement and down the corridor Pandora quickly tore open the massive door which kept Ashiva's doman sealed from any and all outsiders. As she ran into the room she skidded to a stop in utter horror at what she saw. It was true, Ashiva had awakened.

[Empress Akasha]

The mother felt her beloved daughter Pandora coming. She had always felt the thoughts and the feeling of all her fledglings throughout the ages. She had felt the new born to the night and the deaths of many, and yet she had not stirred from her trance. Ashiva had heard Pandora talking to her pleading with her to wake but in truth the Mother had not felt the need. They had served her well her beloved children Marius and Pandora. Marius always so angry at her for not waking and not being the goddess he so desired. Pandora so bitterly sad that the mother would not acknowledge her pleas.

It was the cry of the young ones that stirred her from her endless dreams. Alana so newly made such a strong and wonderful mind and the other who called himself Soth. She could sense he was a new vampire but his soul was old, not nearly as old as hers but old nothing the less. They fascinated her and there cries of pain and hurt had wrenched her heart as no other had done in quiet some time.

The queen turned slowly to look on Pandora as she came running into the room. Her eyes glowing like green flame and her skin bronzed glowed as if dusted with gold. It was what happened with age in Vampyres, they became so beautiful it was almost unbearable to look upon them.

"My daughter I want these four brought to me." The mother demanded in cold tones in a tongue so ancient it was only remembered by the three Vampyres of the shrine. Though the Mother loved her fledglings, her heart was now cold and empty. She would protect her children but it was because they were hers and she knew no other way. Just as she would kill one if they tried to take what was not offered by her no matter how much she loved them.
Pandora bowed her head in acknowledgment of Empress Ashiva's words, her mouth twisting with the words that wanted to spill from them. Her eyes welling with tears, Pandora wept for the first time in many millennia.

[Death Knight Soth]

The Death Knight closed his eye's momentarily as he reached out through the dark side of force. He had to get a better lock on the mind link that came to him. The Mother's cryptic haunting words seemed to woo him even closer to her mind, but he could not locate her whereabouts. But even his power's, the power's Soth had learned from age's past, fell short of establishing a permeant connection. This was simply an invitation to her. "But where was she?" Soth's mind pondered the thought in frustration. The Death Knight had not really considered any place were Alana and himself would go. It was open space to him and his young blood sister, a new canvas to paint a new life upon. The dreadful thought of leaving the Coven family had consumed them both as they left hastily without a marked destination. And how would Alana and Soth ever find her? The Mother of all Vampyre's! Was this a test within it's self? Were they even worthy to have the honor of laying eye's upon her? Thought after thought washed over Soth's mind. Then in despair and doubt, Soth looked down. His heart tugged at him. The human trait that he had inherited on his turning as a Vanpyre, and the ancient curse that would walk with him through eternity, left him with a deeply sadden spirit.

Alana also seemed to be lost in a deep state of melancholy. Her quietness only added to his own despair. However, Soth would never go as far as showing any sign of lost hope, or weakness to it's end. He would rather die an eternal death, then to break her spirit further. She was so young, so much has she not learned, nor seen. Then, as if fate willed it so, knowing that the two fledgelings could bare no more, the blessed answer came to them. The instrument panel in front of them flashed, then it's light's went out as the cockpit went black, then flashed back on as it strobe back to life. Normally this would have pulled a ship out of hyper space, but for some reason it didn't. "What the...?" Soth mumbled as his eye's narrowed at the panel. But this time, the realigned coordinates displayed another heading. A heading to a system that Soth had never heard of. Even the nava computer location display box had no name for the new destination. That could mean only one thing, it was an uncharted sector, or it was kept a precious secret until now! This new destination, would now lead them straight to the Queen of Damned!

[Alana Stormcloud]

Alana did not know what to say about the contact she had received. She could not put into words the power she felt coming from the Mother of all Vampyres. The Mother had shown her things that made her weep with bitterness and cringe in horror. She had been shown the sweet power that the Vampyres had in there grasp and how the generations had weakened compared to the Ancients. Now the Mother was calling her home and Alana had no choice but to obey.

Alana turned to Lord Soth to tell him what she had felt. To try to tell him what she had seen. As her eyes settled on the Death Knight she realized that there would be no need to explain. His eyes said it all, he had seen and experienced the same things she had.

Alana reached out to touch his arm when the power went down in the ship. Alana gasped in surprise that they did not come out of hyper space. When the power came back and the new coordinates came up Alana understood that the Mother was bringing them home to her. Alana sat back her eyes catching Soth's worry tinged both there faces.

"There is nothing we can do, my brother, we must heed the call..." Alana stated calmly, though her heart worried at what lay ahead.....

[Death Knight Soth]

Soth allowed the bulk fregit to remain on it's new course. The jump to the new sector was obviously uploaded into the nava-computer's central control system by an unseen power that he could only guess to be the "Queen Mother" her self. How powerless he felt in her shadowed supremacy. How insignificant and small were his own power's next to her simple display at what had just taken place. Even as a fabled Death Knight of old, Soth felt like a helpless child in her loving grasp.

Soth's mind wondered back to his Master Saurron. He loved his Master dearly, and even in that moment, Soth knew he would still die in his loyalty to him. After all, Saurron did bestowed the greatest gift upon the Knight he could have ever given him,...The Dark Gift! It was his deep empathy for his sister Alana that had caused the Death Knight to leave with her. Perhaps it was Alana's troubled past and the realization of knowing her uncle Mockadane was to close for comfort. Perhaps this was the reason behind why Alana felt compelled to leave the tender embrace's of her Vanpyre father Saurron. Even after so many years, the two seemed to be at great odds with one another. Would Mockadane truly ever understand his niece's decision in turning to Saurron for the comfort that he could never give her? And even though Mockadane was Soth's best friend and true kindred spirit's, Soth had to follow his Vanpyre heart and take Alana away from what was to much for her to bare. Indeed it was a bitter departure, Saurron had given the two fledglings their hearts desire's and Soth was very grateful for that. Saurron had taught him well, and Soth knew there path's would cross again. It was true with the Coven family, and it would always remain throughout all time. Blood was thicker then water, especially Vanpyre blood!

After some time, Soth landed the craft in a large clearing...They had finally arrived.

[Pandora Damaris]

Pandora hurriedly walked along smooth obsidian passage that led to the outside of the well hidden fortress. None knew of this place, and Pandora made sure that no one ever would. Only a select few had ever ventured this far at the Queen's request. Over the centuries, team's of explores and archeologist's had tried unsuccessfully to chart the unknown landscape, and in turn, they had lost their lives mysteriously for their near sighted curiosity, and Pandora knew there would be many more to follow in their foolish footsteps.

Pandora sighed to her self as she let her gloved hand run over the ebony blade of her long sword that was inlayed with ancient silver runes. The long sword, with it's serrated edges, was as strikingly beautiful as the woman that carried it. Blood Bane was the nick name she gave it. The strange magical properties that it was imbued with, drained it's victims of their life force. Even the strongest Vampyres were not immune to it's deadly effect's! She had no problem with dispatching any fledgling Vampyre that posed a real threat to the Queen Mother. She had done it before, and would not hesitate to do it again if need be.

The thought's of the four passenger's on the large ship that had just arrived were her's to easy read. Their minds were open to her like a large tome. A great sadness came from two of the passengers, but Pandora paid little mind to their melancholy as she sifted through their past and analyzed their true intent. They were all young and weak to her. Force wielder's they called themselves, but the true nature of the Dark Side was yet to be reviled.

The one who called himself Soth was intriguing to say the least. Old he was, almost as old in age as Pandora herself. A fabled death knight, but this ment little to Pandora. Male Vampyres were somewhat looked down upon by the raining female's that made up the Shrine. They would soon learn their places and Pandora would see to that. The one called Jedah, a Vampyre by his own hand captivated her thoughts for a brief moment. Obviously a winged race of sort's, but odd like the other male fledgeling Soth. Pandora was somewhat more fascinated with the other two aboard as her thought's fell on the female companions. They were strong in spirit, they brandished a true grit she was intrigued with. With careful guidance from her over time, they would then become true killer's of the night. If she chose to do so that was.

Pandora waited patently in the dark shadowy recess's of an ancient broken down structure that had been a temple long ago. Pandora could recall, back centuries before when the temple of Carpathia stood in all it's grandeur. It was magnificent, unsurpassed in it's time, but now, it was only a husk of a shell of it's former self. Time seemed to do that to thing's. But not with Pandora. With the passage of time, she only became more beautiful. Her countenance shimmered and glowed. However, this had it's small minor set back's at times. Pandora would rub her body with Aderian ash to cover the radiant glow that admitted from her. This was not out of shame for what she was, on the contrary, it was a conscious choice to do so in order to mingle with the other inhabitants that made up the vast galaxies. It was a way to observe other's without being an object of interest herself. Only a few over the millennia had ever laid eye's on Pandora in her true natural form. This was her choice of course. She at times would lurer her victim's through strong delusion's and serial dreams, and then and only then at time's, would she revel her nature to them. But sadly, by then the deadly eternal kiss claimed it's bounty. She would tenderly cradle them in her arms as life slipped by into oblivion. Saving them, setting them free from the torment that pledged them throughout their pathetic miserable life's. They were mostly lost soul's, people on the verge of death by their own hand, the lot of people that society had given up on. And Pandora was their angel of death, to answer their pleading call's when all hope was lost.

The repulser rocket booster's allowed the large bulky craft to settled to the ground gently. After a brief moment the large ramp door below the ship slowly lowered. Now it would only be a matter of time before the occupant's would emerge from their long journey. Called upon by the Queen of the Damned herself. Pandora would wait until the new arrival's stepped fourth, and then she would be there to greet them, if she chose to do so!

[Death Knight Soth]

The Death Knight Soth, with Alana Stormcloud, cautiously stepped onto the cargo ramp that led to the outside of the unfamiliar surroundings. It was a grim sight to behold indeed! One that carried with it a deep feeling of shear unholy emptiness. From first glance, Soth could only come to the conclusion that this new world they were about to step into was, and had been shadowed in a vial of darkness for some time. The landscape it's self resembled a barren waste land of death and decay that had died off long ago. Dead tress and tall shrubs littered the area around the ship. And from the looks of it, the unknown place without a name, looked as though it had not seen the light of day but a few time's a year. It perfectly suited the nature of the his kind. However, Soth could see why they were here. It was hidden in a far off rim system that even Soth in his over 5500 years of existence had never heard of.

Soth quickly glanced around as he held his arm back to stop Alan from proceeding further. There was something wrong! Something odd. He couldn't quite make it out. It was quite, to quite here! He seen no welcoming party, nor did he really expect one since it was a Vampyre's nature not to do so.


There was an enormous structure not far from them that resembled an ancient keep. A magnificent stronghold that seemed as dead as the over growth that precariously hid it in a shroud of decay and disrepair. Not far from the cargo fregit was a temple of some sort that was lettered with fallen huge pillars in front of it. Soth let his gaze rest steadily upon the structure that was adjacent from the ship, the Decadent. There seemed to be a force signature there. Faint, but nevertheless, something. Something that was allowing him to read it. Soth snatched his saber from his side.

"Alana, my sister, do you feel the a force signature coming from over there. Amongst the rune's to our right?" The Dark Knight knew if he was having a hard time reading what it was, or who it was that hid themselves in the shadow's, Alana probably would fair better in doing so on picking up on it. But he could wait it out if it called for it, after all he was what he was, a Vanpyre, patient and forbearing when time's like this called for it. Either way, Soth would protect Alana with his life if need be if this turned out to be a deadly ruse or a trap set by the caller. Only time would tell now.

[Alana Stormcloud]

Alana drew her saber that Soth had made her when the Death knight did. There was something very strange about this place. It was to quiet and it felt as if it had been empty of life for a very long time. She could faintly sense a presence standing in the shadows of the ruined building and her heart quickened. A very powerful someone. Alana could feel the tendrils of disdain that the shadowed figure held for them.

Alana turned to Soth, "My brother, all I can tell you is that whoever it is, its a female," she whispered softly. Alana turned back to the ship her eyes narrowed. For just a second she thought she had felt a familiar presence aboard the Decadent. Alana dismissed it from her mind as wishful thinking on her part.

Alana's eyes traveled over the barren wasteland, it truly was a perfect place for her kind. Alana could feel at peace here if they were accepted by whoever resided here. Alana sighed softly, they needed a home now, a haven that would mend the pain of leaving there beloved master. She turned her eyes back to the shadowed woman and sent a tentative link to her. "We have been called here." Alana sent the thought to the woman. Perhaps whoever this woman was she was afraid of them. Alana doubted it though...

[Jedah Lynch]

Upon tattered dreams the Sith vampyre stirred as the craft shook, hidden in the back of the craft with a female force user who he had so recently bitten they both lay in a self induced deep sleep to recuperate and rest until awaken. It had been an unexpected and overwhelming feeling in terms of need and emotion compelling them both to follow a call that the Sith Master could not even comprehend.

It had been a sensation unlike any other, one that Jedah had not felt in countless years through his existence when he had fallen to the dark side and began devoting his life and purpose to the conquest of the unholy and corrupt beings that plagued the galaxy like an infectious disease that knew no rest nor would be purged despite all available methods. One day he swore that the divine way, the Sith way would win out despite all obstacles, it might take years or decades yet it was one war he swore that would succeed.

Boosters upon the craft spit out flame slowing the vessels descent to a crawl enabling it to come to a gentle landing upon the planets surface. The two vampires known as Alana and Soth soon left leaving the other two sleeping vampyre alone in the ships interior, the call of the Queen Mother flowed throughout the Siths dreams projecting images of the woman sitting still like an statue. But no statue was she, no inanimate object.

From her came an incredible wave of power that beckoned him on towards her slumbering form. Not only power he sensed from her but a new divine dark way that was of the highest calling. A wave of longing, of need to see her face closer washed over him as he found himself running towards the Queen Mother.

Eyes opened wide as the Sith sat up gasping for breath that he no longer truly needed. They had arrived, this he knew somehow. A feeling, that same one in the dream now ate at his soul like a fire threatening to consume him. Who the woman was in his dream... The reasoning of her appearing to him was not fully known to him however such dreams never plagued him unless of great importance. It was a calling for him to fulfill another part of his destiny.