Prologue
A brown haze settled over the planet Almania, diving deep among the grey, dead trees of the thick forests. Nothing remained on the planet after millennia of wear and tear. Every last resource had been processed and used, rendering the planet nothing more than a graveyard of what it once was. The sunshine that actually penetrated the thick clouds was so weakened by the smoke and fire that it provided only a minuscule amount of light, thus creating an ominous and indeed deadly look.
No one dared venture to that planet. Almania was a desolate cemetery, with thick, gnarled trees serving as tombstones of the once magnificent society.
Millennia ago, the Ziostians inhabited the planet, using and reusing it's food and water sources until nothing could survive. They were a tall and gaunt, blue skinned species that thrived on weak amounts of sustenance. During their reign on Almania, they created a vastly intelligent and royal society, returning to the monarchial roots of their forebearers. The queen of Almania, Vettelum Seygovia reigned over her people for almost three hundred years. During her period of rule, she built an aesthetic kingdom of magnificent castles and cities. Only Coruscant could rival what she created.
That was long ago, when the fields and glades were green. They had been scorched into non-existence. Only the thickest buildings, castles, and strong-holds survived the atmospheric strain, evolving into worn out stone structured silhouettes on the burgundy sky. The planet was nothing more than a dried rock that floated through the Universe. It was here that the Vettellum force-wielders survived.
The Vettellum, a small band of force adepts, thrived within the stone structures on Almania. They derived their name from the most powerful queen the Ziostians had ever known. An archaic cult, they lived on off-world supplies, utilizing tools and weapons many would consider uncivilized. The Vettellum were known for their barbaric and simple views of the force. They considered it magic, and mastered it to their full abilities. For two millennia after the fall of the Ziostian rule, the Vettellum continued to dwell within the old fortresses and institutions that survived Almania's apocalypse. They were strong, and they were becoming a threat to the Republic.
The Vettellum elite had become tainted with what the Jedi called the Dark Side of the force. They had yet to understand the seduction of the Dark Side. It was beyond the Vettellum's comprehension.
There were three Vettellum elite: Nagath'e the Wise, a shrewd and brilliant humanoid that watched over the entire Vettellum Order. Halegoth the Cold, a simple and brutal force user. And Diagoth'e the Young, the most powerful Vettellum that had ever lived.
Diagoth'e the Young was a Ziostian, and had severed himself from all of the Ziostian customs. His smooth blue skin often enticed the young females into sordid affairs. Truly, Diagoth'e was the envy of the Vettellum cult.
Nagath'e the Wise was the leader of the Vettellum and kept order within their ranks. He judged others with his sharp tongue and wit. Often he accused the lesser members of the Vettellum without proper cause and suspicion. The power that he held over the others had seduced him. He feared for his own life, and studied constantly the teachings of his ancestors for the key to immortality.
Halegoth the Cold was an idiotic and angered Devaronian, with red skin and thick horns protruding from his brow. He stood as the muscle behind Nagath'e's commands. He was also tainted by the Dark Side.
Though all three members were actively teetering on the edge of good and evil, they never knew it. To them, the seduction of power was nothing more than an everyday aspect of their lives. The Vettellum was once a large coven of magic wielders, but since the appointment of Nagath'e the Wise, the population had dwindled to a select few. There were no others to fill the fallen. It seemed outwardly that the Vettellum Coven was dwindling into non existence, but paradoxically, the Dark Side was rising.
Across the galaxy over the years, the Jedi could feel the growing disturbance in the force. It was such a dark cloud that it proved deadly for many Jedi. With the taint of the Dark Side flowing freely through such a large group of people, it was impossible for the Jedi Order to concentrate properly on their work. The Dark Side clouded their minds. It was a shadow across the Universe. If the Jedi were to survive much longer, they would have to confront and destroy the Vettellum.
Halegoth stood over a fellow Vettellum coven member, eyeing him evilly. In the dim red light that pierced the thin holes in the castle's dungeon, Halegoth seemed to be a demon of woe. Crimson skin covered his shadowed face as he gazed at the trembling Vettellii, who in the next few moments would be dead. He had been tried and convicted of thievery by their Master, Nagath'e the Wise.
The Vettellum code of conduct was not a hard code to follow, he thought. Why should this sniveling piece of trash be allowed to live? It took a matter of seconds for Halegoth to decide the Vettellii's fate. Death.
With a simple twist of his wrists, Halegoth severed the life-giving connection between the thief's spinal cord and brain stem, letting him slump to the ground with a sickening slap.
"You have been tried, convicted, and executed by the Vettellum Coven," Halegoth whispered with a smile over the dead body. This was his favorite part of the day. There was no room within the Vettellum ranks for those of less than pure judgement. Thievery would be met with instant death.
(This is the beginning of the final installment of the trilogy. Feel free to tell me what you think. If everyone likes it, I'll keep going. It's up to you)!