Hello I'm the author Ragnarra. As you may noticed the quality has changed that's because I rewrote the prologue so it makes more logical sense to the reader. For my previous readers I do apologize for the wait. Good things come to those who wait. Anyway: I own nothing casual disclaimer I also gain no profit off of this. Also see if you can catch my ElfQuest reference in there! Kudos to those who find it!
Prologue: Time of Strife
"Actions speak louder than words."
The Je'ddai Order predated the current order but one must wonder why did it collapse? What would drive such change suddenly without warning? To change everything they knew at the time? The Force Wars tore the old order asunder to answer that question followers of Ashla the light-siders and the followers of Bogan known as dark-siders. Friends became foes as the wars raged for decades, former allies tearing into each other like wolves they became what they feared. Being consumed by its power the dark-siders were unable to fight its raw strength they would become the first who were the dark-sides playthings.
This isn't to say that the fools didn't learn something from it because sometimes the only way to find out who you truly are is combat. You unleash a certain evil inside but in those moments you can find a bright star who will go above and beyond the call of duty those people are to be honored. Bravery is hard to come by even a millennium later and then some. If any of them had been actually paying attention to Tythons environs they would have noticed the signs, the warnings. The acidic soil which killed trees caused by volcanic activity* if any of them had noticed in the years to follow they would have been ready. They weren't.
It would be years however after the end of the Force wars and Rajivari form the jedi order creating the first tenants. If we are to judge what the order became later we must first look back to the beginning. Rajivari may have Fallen to the darkside persistent as a force ghost in the Fount on Tython centuries and even longer after his death. The Founders including Rajivari were Garon Jard who was responsible for the principle of calming our emotions to seek peace, Cala Brin who believed in justice so strongly that she thought we as jedi could cast aside our passions aside and ask for no favor seeking the truth, Ters Sendon the zabrak who would be a chronicler who created the first holocron made by a jedi order master. Ters Sendon was a quiet zabrak with infinite patience; it was he who had a hand in stopping Rajivari who was at the time holed up in his fortress which would become the first incarnation of the archives known as the fount of Rajivari.
One could say the counsel who fought against him and never expected this of him is it possible that the light side could be calmly insidiously blinding them? Why would such a caring and kind individual with high charisma be driven to destroy his own friends? These have convoluted answers if they are conclusive at all. Perhaps their respect of Rajivari is why he has a hologram on Tython you cannot destroy an idea as powerful as his especially with their never truly die especially through the force perhaps they hoped that in death he would be redeemed which is why he had such a hologram? Perhaps...perhaps.
Truth be told the orders past will define it even as they redefine it, redefine themselves throughout the ages as the times change. Tython was devastated when the super volcano on the planet erupted the jedi were forced to flee and abandon Tython. Some didn't make it consumed by ash, some still died a slow and agonizing death due to the ash accumulation in the lungs making it harder for them to breathe. If this wasn't the worst part the fact that it could be seen from space said a lot about the sheer explosive pressure behind it, as it reached far into the atmosphere with a large fall out.
Imagine one moment you're minding your own business and the next the force is hitting you with an explosive warning. Almost burning you metaphorically with the very warning itself you may heed it or not. Everything within the epicenter of Xalar peak for five hundred miles would die instantly a small mercy compared to those outside this instadeath kill zone who would suffer.
The hot ash would cover vast swaths of land even beyond that hovercraft based engines can't handle volcanic ash. Its like a wind turbine getting sandblasted in a jet the ash effects the deeper mechanics of it. Meaning they had no choice but to use every serviceable spaceship as eventually the ash would cause hovercraft to fail. Granted normal ground based vehicles were not completely unaffected if they used them at all if they had then perhaps more would have survived. Thousands of the early jedi order were slain not by the blade but by the fury of the Gods and Mother Nature's pure wrath.
As ash rained down as people force sensitive or no scrambled to flee as the ash mixed with rain creating a sort of slurry. The smell of sulfur in the air the fear and screams of scared children, teens even other people who are reacting with fear and panic. Crying and fleeing for their lives leaving behind everything that they didn't need some left everything behind. The unrest creates an uneasy pit in the stomach of a onlooker who is calm somewhat and logically assessing their survival. People are fleeing on foot, by bike, the rare automobile as many hovercraft were broken down.
Considering that hovercraft technology was still maybe a couple of hundred years old at the time meaning that it still had issues that a typical car would have. The engines had different designs on intake in regards to locomotion and how it started up what fueled it etc. In this the fact that their were parts that couldn't and wouldn't handle silica that was volcanic ash very well. Especially considering it starts on the outside but the deeper it works into the system the more likely it is to clog the filters somewhere or something equally important. It wasn't as efficient in such conditions which is why a lot more people used the internal combustion engine. For those who had access to one it might as well saved their lives while the hovercar after sucking in ash for so long would eventually just eventually break down after first exposure.
Ironic considering that the eruption would continue for hours after the initial one apparently just 'clearing its throat' as the cloud of ash rose to the stratosphere. If anyone was close enough to see it they would see strikes of lightning lighting up the cloud almost making it seem like something was in the center of the cloud. Something physical beyond just ash creating a eerie look as the ash was joined by rock and lava explosively the aching of rock moaning and roar of fury as it unleashed a shockwave into the sky you could see before unleashing its unholy fury. The roar of liquid magma being thrown up isn't some kind of comforting sound especially when the fiery death is attached to it. Hissing and liquidic roars from the earth mixed together as it rumbles violently.
This eruption would cause an ice age and wipe out over half of all life on Tython. If the people didn't flee to their ships when they had left the dead where they lay they too would have likely joined them in extinction. As they fled once more to the stars licking their wounds from a deadly force of nature that would not yield to any. It would spare none but the fortunate to escape its raw power and would leave plenty with the scars. As the jedi order would survive despite the early adversity but they would never be the same after they left Tython watching as their first home that was the only home that many of them ever knew.
On Ossus the grim and unlikable fellow was made the next grandmaster unfortunately the man was a battle hardened man who watched death and caused it himself at the time the title of Grandmaster was earned in a rather barbaric way. It was a good 24,000 years ago so the values were very much different than the current days after the Ruusan Reformations. Death was common, blood was spilled often as order had little meaning if no one could claim to enforce it. Even the Republic wasn't so clean cut to have the rules and enforcement necessary to police everywhere under its realm in many ways it was wild and untamed.
Still the order would survive even under the likes of a man who would be consumed by his own fatal flaws, his bloodlust, his need to control everything which caused him to clash with many. Awdrysta "Green Blade" Pina a human that looked to be in his mid fifties, his sun kissed skin and hardened visage grim. This is significant as he was bound to rules but even in the darkest of times where he acted out of spite and cruelty as he didn't want any sort of change. He may have been the grandmaster but its obvious that he ruled with an iron fisted approach to rule.
While he ruled as grandmaster the initial support he had dissipated as they saw what kind of man he really was. It's not like he was well liked rarely coming to the temple due to his grim unlikable personality. Typically the word 'democracy' never occurred to him nor did he desire any under his command to question him . Those who did would learn the dire consequences of daring to question him, in a era before the protosaber where swords were common as slugshooters the pain that would follow those people who dared question him would be lifelong. Even his own allies the high counsel itself as well would grow to fear him much like the Irish and Cromwell.
He came to Altraa and fought a vicious spacebattle in the nebula which made the Hera'rooksarin nebula become a dangerous raging storm in the middle of a ocean, more like a raging thunderstorm. He tracked the Legions of Lattow survivors to this planet which sawe him hunt them all down because their founder didn't agree with the way he taught children. A minor disagreement a petty one at that as Grandmaster of the Order the needs of the many outweigh the few or the one. His mind was clouded by wrath and hatred caused by the control freak tendency he possessed; he was a grim sort of man who's later campaigns would ensure the fledgling Republic would see the Legions as an enemy of the state. He abused his power likely giving the republic false information so they would aid him in killing the rebellious upstarts. Unfortunately for him not everyone was so blind as the Legion still had friends in the Order who had become disillusioned with the Grandmaster who's own personal vendetta was stupid.
Unfortunately for him they were informed by their allies who watched with horror and sought their friends the altraan people. The green vaguely pseudo-reptilian esque species from the unknown regions about two feet tall, ridged nose, prominent brow ridge, unique forehead scutes, long ears , clawed hands and feet with three fingers and toes on each. Their longevity was legendary then again the altraan people weren't exactly likeable by Pina's standards. Seeing the small green species associate with these captors infuriated him to no end he's the grandmaster he is in control...he-he had no idea as the one female smirked at him, a disgusted look forming on her face. Her reddish tan skin tone was marked by dark blue markings much like a togruta; her horns were formed much like a halo and were a dark black signifying her disgust.
Your lack of tolerance for any who are different makes me wonder if you are the false jedi. Her voice was clear inside their heads as she walked up to them after nodding to the informant.
"I am a jedi grandmaster. I don't answer to you." Pina growled furious as he and seven others were bound in living shackles which suppressed their force primitive yet effective considering that the vines were strong as iron and seemed to block his force. Truly ingenious. Unfortunately it also didn't have the effect of making him likeable.
She glanced at the green species at her side who seemed to be translating for her as he stood beside her. They wore similar clothing due to them both being both in the same department, reds and silvers though in very different fashions she wore robes which were embroidered with nature based designs while her companion wore designs which seemed more designs based on air. He was far younger with a pale emerald colored skin tone and orange eyes which seemed to examine everyone carefully.
Deserve it you do not. The male spoke and it caused him pain. They know this as black sending not exactly a dark side power either. As he gasps bringing his hands to his head as he's forced to relive every death and what they felt. His heart hardened.
False Jedi Grandmaster. She snapped glancing at the man standing next to him, a younger man with haunted green eyes and red hair.
"Grandmaster I'm sorry." The words of the knight next to him before they went into the nebula echoed inside Pina's head. Why did he say that? Why is she looking at him appraisingly?
To his shock she took out the master key which looked like a woven piece of wood formed like a hilt of a sword and tapped the knight known as Jurai Tor'kath shackles freeing him as they dropped to the ground.
He made his choice. It was the right one considering what you have done. The remaining legionnaires and their families are under our protection no matter what your desires are. She spoke very clearly telepathically and very uncompromising as she had no reason to court his ego even more.
"Forget this place should you ever return dead you will be." the green alien spoke in a coarse baritone his eyes narrowed.
"It would be wise to leave." Jurai agreed, rubbing his wrists his blue eyes showed contempt and rage for the grandmaster.
"Why would you betray me?" Pina asked shocked internally as his eyes narrowed at Jurai.
"You killed my friends and my wife!" Jurai sneered. It took a lot of balls to stand against him even more so when his punishment might be a fate worse than death. In those days it wasn't uncommon for jedi to marry nor was it discouraged
The grandmaster looked surprised before it turned to denial at having done anything wrong in his rampage despite proof being present to the contrary. Despite the proof of his wrong doing the hurt and pain he inflicted even when confronted with the fact the Togruta they were after had a small child about the age of five. Even when confronted with these hurts he inflicted not just on himself but his order and those who were by all means innocent and struck down by his cruel treatment.
"You strike down peoploe who don't agree with you Pina you don't deserve the title of grandmaster
Leave and delete any hyperspace routes you recorded or I will kill you without mercy you don't deserve. The woman roared telepathically.
As he was forced to leave the planet behind his legacy of terror and bloodlust would live on even as the tall woman watched on as the remaining followers flew away. As the remaining legionaries of lettow a single woman with her child in hand a togruta pair would always be welcome.
"Right thing you did."
Jurai nodded at the end of the day his conscience was clear the same cannot be said for Pina who will be judged for his crimes by the Gods themselves and be found wanting. He will be denied what he desires in death for you don't get away with slaughter over something petty even for those days, what he did wasn't acceptable nor was it acceptable to use the republic as a tool of his own vengeance and spite. It wasn't right to send people that you don't know to their deaths over a foe who wasn't hurting anyone over philosophical differences which is why the only survivor would be Kurai and her daughter Yuna unusual names for togruta's but their old names don't matter as there was only the now.
"From the ashes we shall rebuild what was lost." Kurai said relieved at the turn of events.
Several thousand years have passed since those dark days Ossus fell being devastated by a supernovae caused by a fool who followed Exar Kuun. Altraa was abandoned by its people after the Devourers and leviathans as they found a new world in Wildspace known as Zathar. As the years passed they watched from their planet rebuilding anew. The descendants of the legion and those who followed it became the Grey order who would survive in secret but not always. They were a mystery to the Jedi order who left them alone for the most part.
Its no surprise that during the aftermath of the Galactic war with the Sith Empire that resulted in the republic surrender or treaty the jedi fled to Tython their temple on Coruscant left to ruin after the Sacking of Coruscant. Retreating to their old roots while they did that the Eternal Emperor Valkerion summoned his knights of Zakuul.
"I have a task for all of you." He spoke to their commander and his wife Senya Tirall.
"What is your command?"
"There is a particularly troublesome group that I have allowed to live under a old pretense of coexistence however they are no longer required. I need you to head to their temple at Hetraaths and annihilate them in their entirety."
"And the children?"
"Will become knights of Zakuul."
He bowed her head respectfully as she and her fellow knights were dismissed from the throne room. He didn't say it but they felt a certain anxiety he felt about them in his minds eye he saw one little girl who's own parents left a deep mark on him. Her mother believed the then two year old was hiding something or conspiring against her and was a very disturbed individual her father believed children like love was a sign of weakness. He didn't care for his children like he should he didn't want them to follow in his footsteps Thexxan's death was ...regrettable but if the force wills it than it shall be even the darkside has rules that must obeyed. He was a rare exception due to his training and own raw ability his practice with his mother in his original body helped. He mentally shook himself he wanted to turn her this Titania because of the raw strength she showed in the force was far greater than even Lord Scourge.
He didn't mention it but he knew that when they met next it would be the last time they would meet its stranger but he was fine with that. In a odd way it made complete sense to his mind no one else would stand beside him would they?
Deep down he knew she might refuse.
Even as he ordered her entire life to be destroyed and her only home she knew to burn sealing his heart away as she would scream her fury and it hurt him more than the lightsaber thrust into his chest when the time came. Seeing her wrath tasting it like a sweet poison would be perhaps worth it. Behind closed doors the emperor wept for the first time in centuries because he could no longer destroy the galaxy for immortality. What point is it with no followers willing to obey his will to rebuild what he destroyed?
There is none.
A little over decade has passed since the Grey order was nearly destroyed but much like the motto "we are unburnt". They would persevere the survivors were fortunate but their temple was destroyed by the Knights of Zakuul. With it crashed the statues of Xendor embracing Arden Lyn his lover, supporter and perhaps more. The kind face of Xenor who's was more open to new ideas beside him was the four others: Sethul Asaiage the one who discovered a way to become a force ghost speaking of 'force priestesses' who tested him his stern face belayed a wisdom as well as great sorrow, Tun Bohoi a noorian a species with bronzed skin color and eyes which were unusual being orange with four green stripes which remind some of pupils in a weird way they might have been. Tun was known for having a great sense of humor being a man who unlike the counsel found the more close minded teachings to be stifling. His statue reflected his easygoing personality as well as his status as the legions battlemaster.
With their sacrifice one managed to survive and gathered the descendants of the legion and brought them to this sacred site on the slopes of Kuria on the continent Ura. The scenic vistas were something like out of a story book the main temple was only vaguely larger than the Dantooine temple and far more unique as it had a very artistic almost arabic look to the structure instead of being imposing it was beautiful inside and out. As the masters and knights as well as the peerages who were learning under the tutelage were slain in large numbers.
They were overwhelmed by sheer force the fact that the skytroopers manufactured by the Eternal empire. As many dozens fell to the blaster fire too numerous to count. Eventually you slip up and they could no longer hold their position. The temple was never sacked like this before. The bodies of humans, nautolans,weequays, trandoshans, near-humans just kept piling up as their numbers meant little as their lightsabers couldn't save them from death.
A older master a nautolan with blue white and red markings and purple eyes that brightened like a nebula when excited. Right now the masters first concern were the younglings and the padawans who needed to flee. The dark brown haired human girl with bright green eyes and a olive pink complexion. She had dirt and grim smudged on her face as she helped her master load the last of the younglings into the cart in the lower levels of the temple which would transport them to safety. After that they were on their own.
"Master someone's coming." Titania said hoarsely trying to keep it down as they sent the last group out. Reaching out with the force the master knew that he wouldn't make it out of this he long ago foretold his own death while saving another. Anyone lesser would be terrified but he conquered his fear long ago he wouldn't let it control him. His padawan however… Titania Oberius worried him she was stubborn but astoundingly a smart girl.
"No matter what happens I need you to live Titania you have made me proud."
"Don't say those things you make it sound like your going to die!" She shouted her voice strained and filled with worry and pain.
"Raising you was a joy no matter what happens." He raised a finger under her chin forcing her to gently look up with a simple nudge.
"Only you are in charge of your fate not the Eternal Emperor Valkerion, or your asshole parents. The only good thing those two hateful individuals ever created was you. Your mother when you were found thought a two year old was conspiring against her when you had no clue what that was or even how to do something like that. Your father may have been far saner but he was by no means kinder to you. When I found you your father threw you outside telling you to not come back. In the moments of absolute disgust I was tempted to run them both through with my lightsaber after sifting through his memories passively. I decided I couldn't leave you behind."
He swallowed thickly as oily tears started to form in his eyes. It must be said now so I have no regrets. Master Jukat thought.
"Raising you like you deserved to be raised."
"Master I…" she was speechless.
She was just told that her master saved her from a family that hated her and was brought into one that treasured her. Now to have it all taken from her in an instant the sixteen year old watched her entire life she knew fall apart in bloody fights in the halls she grew up in stained with blood in greens, yellows and reds. The temple's most sacred statues depicting the legions of lettow founders and most important figures were collapsed on the ground.
The door and pillar upon pillar was torn asunder their entrance was explosive and would haunt her nightmares for years to come. As she hugged her master one last time before disappearing down the tunnels. She knew not how he died other than with his death his body vanished into the force itself. It was sad but his final parting gift was a bronzium and electrum masters lightsaber. It was tradition to pass down a certain lightsaber for some.
Its during these days that she learnt how to survive. Hide and steal to survive. And finding a job at a local dinner in the middle of nowhere the Starburner.
—
Nico Okarr and Titania Oberius are old friends who knew each other as children. Its little known but Nico actually is passively force sensitive not enough to do anything extraordinary except live longer and be a general badass not only that but it allows him to escape easier and judge intent. He can't do much more than that really again he makes up for it in sheer spirit and mechanical skills.
While she grew up and gained a few scars from her adventures and facing off against those who hunted down survivors of the purge mercilessly. Unfortunately for them she might have spared them once out of pity when she was younger. She wasn't so naïve anymore in fact to those who hunted her and others from her order they knew her by another name hellraiser. You wouldn't know it by looking at her a five foot seven foot tall woman.
Her cheekbones were high and her hair long framing her face. As Satele Shran sat here at a booth with a mando looking wolfhead on the booth chairs. The symbol of their order was a wolf at one point with a series of stars behind it. Even when she's hiding her force sensitive nature she is absolutely terrifying. She looked as terrifying as a dragoness and its even said that Sith respect her for reasons: cunning and wrath being prominent in there descriptions.
"What does the Jedi Grandmaster want from me?"
"Your help."
She looked shocked but for a moment.
"Surprising considering how you treat heretics like me. You lot aren't so high and mightie now that Pina isn't leading you with an iron fist. I'll help you but you do not order me around like you do with your mutts." She said her voice was like steel and sent shivers down the masters spine in a way no sith living or dead ever could. Because words have power and she is most vicious if she wasn't she wouldn't have survived at all.
Even as she joined them it became clear to those around them that she was clearly not going to take any shit from anyone. She knew things that she shouldn't have known as well including the portal to the world between worlds. It wasn't something that she would share with just anyone as the portal itself should it fall into the wrong hands could destroy the fabric of time as well as reality itself. Which means everything will cease including the force itself the portals aren't numerous but there are at least six in existence.
"You seem disturbed by my presence." Darth Marr said coolly the fact he wore a mask and intimidating armor had nothing to with it. A lesser woman would have found it either arousing or intimidating she couldn't care less. Its his choice he likes it? Well all the power to him. Still she has been chafing under the bit.
"You weren't responsible for our Orders destruction of that I am certain and still what worries me is if the people who are under lord Vitiate find something worse. Zildrog may have been a means of transferring life at a price of ruthless madness and murderous intent of every being on the planet. If he finds the portal to the realm between worlds then he could unravel time and unmake us all. You must not speak of this portal to any other who would use it for their own selfish reasons, the consequences would be very severe and not even the jedi are prepared to deal with them."
As she looks deeply into the holographic display of six locations that she marked on the map she tapped the Planet Lothal.
"Lothal? The backwater planet is nice but it's steeped with the light."
Satele and the Outlander came in alongside major people within the alliance. Nico Okarr included lord Scourge, and to her shock the knight of Zakuul Senya Tirall. The two locked eyes and Titania glared at Senya.
"So the former knight was laid low like you deserved." Titania spoke with clear intent to antagonize indiscriminately pleased considering that low flame in her eyes that seemed almost amused but not quite. Guarding her true emotion keeping it to herself was a good choice but something about how she moved spoke of a predator staring down a rabbit. It was truly odd to see the Grey orders only remaining "known" active member though currently in hiding trying to start something with the Knight of Zakuul specifically a former knight of Zakuul. A order with no code except to enforce justice and chose neither side typically having a preference wasn't uncommon. She knows this all too well she still has the light whip lash burns on her back alongside numerous other battle scars caused by the Zakuul knights trying to utterly destroy them. Its bad enough they took away the Grey orders younglings while the initiates in peerages weren't so fortunate nor was anyone who had a master they were learning from.
"I don't need to hear this from you." Senya growled out. Titania wasn't impressed all of a sudden the bitch decides to rebel against a monster who's barely alive could barely be considered a living thing considering his lack of empathy goes to an extreme end. He used them to his own ends for this the Knights of Zakuul made a powerful foe in the tattered remains of the Grey Order. As their numbers hid under false names all of them knew the one codenamed Wolfguard, or the Fulcrum. For the jedi nd the sith in the room it was like seeing a reflection of their own fights contained for the moment but simmering with raw hatred that much tension and hate was directed at her so much it looks like Titania wanted her to feel the suffering her order caused and make her swallow it by force. This perverted vision wasn't something they overlooked in fact the entire time she kept one hand on either her saber or blaster the entire time mostly.
Titania smirked as the woman hit Senya's weak point. Her children. Her pathetic excuses for offspring Thexxan got off easy his brother didn't losing an arm and having a disfigured face then losing his mind to the darkside. She saw him as weak their was no doubt but unlike his mother who she personally had a vendetta with she had no quarrel with other than the fact he's trying to subjugate half the galaxy. He didn't deserve his title he hadn't earned it by birth because he's pathetic his ambition is meaningless considering his own brother Thexxan was killed by his own hand
"And the death that your order has reaped has been repaid in blood." She stepped aside that dark look that she gave Senya was one that only a jedi would give a darth in combat even so that cold analytical glare lasted for only a split second before she turned her head her hair flowing like fire. Darth Marr felt the familiar trickle of pure hatred pouring from her directed at one person.
This could get ugly really quick.
She is formidible willed I sense much to her that isn't entirely clear, Marr. But there is something you should know.
What?
Her words aren't just that I have a feeling that she is the Darth killer that has been purging the lower ranking darths who couldn't control themselves from slaughtering troops. Several survivors of the rampage of Darth Ulron upon his platoon…
Marr internally was disgusted by such raw savagery no restraint nor brains behind it then again Darth Ulron was all brawn and no brain he was capable of a tiny glimmer of potential which is the only reason why he became a Darth at all. Desgusting man even other Sith hated him its bad when even a guy known as Darth Rampage or something or other hates him. And Rampage or whatever his name was he knows him to see him is considered one of the most terrible sith to be born in our era. Mostly because of his pure sadism goes beyond what even our brotherhood finds palpable mostly because even Scourge mentioned it once that man personally makes a four hundred year old sith pureblood want to puke from the things he does.
Yes I recall his surviving officers saying he shaped the corpses into literal fleshy statues turning them into things that didn't resemble whoever or whatever they were originally. That part of the report had to be hard to write without one of them being ill.
My thoughts exactly, which is why the next part is quite curious they mentioned that a woman matching Titania's description coming down like an avenging angel and striking him down while he tried to finish the remaining ten off. Apparently he enraged her enough to forego any sense of sensible planning and cut him vertically in two.
She's done this before. Considering her knowledge of both of us she recognized both of us immediately. She likes being in control.
"Both of you, enough! I don't care who is to blame what your two's past is with each other. The main concern is how we defeat the emperor for good." the outlander barked stepping in with a vicious snarl.
"You do realize that you likely will have to stop Vaylin as well. The question is if the princess here agrees to ending her pitiful daughter's miserable existence." Titania asked her right hand cadeling her chin a sharp look as she sat down in a nearby chair elbow on the flat surface.
"Yes we are aware of that."
"Then you are also aware of the fact that his forces are dangerously close to a certain portal which they shouldn't be allowed near."
Standing up she tapped a few buttons his scattered forces were far too close to Zathar for her tastes. Zathar never wanted anything to do with the Eternal Empire and there was a reason for that. With Arcann poised to annex the system Zathar is a part of she couldn't allow that to come to pass.
"What I am about to tell you lot you will speak of to no one or I will find you and end you and wipe your smug grin off the face of the galaxy if you dare such a thing."
In all seriousness though she was deadly serious more so than usual she wasn't joking.
"The portal is found only in six confirmed places with the image of the Celestials known as The Son, The Daughter and Father. Each represents a side of the force, Son being the darkside, the Daughter being the lightside while father is the one who is balanced. A reoccuring theme seems to be the loth-wolves found around the image."
Showing them the image of the wall said to be the gate which unlocks the main portal.
"What we know is these portals can enter a world between worlds where the time stream is clearly vulnerable he's going to annex Zathar we cannot allow that to happen."
Tapping a few more keys bringing up the holographic display and location of the system itself known as the zeres-nemesis sector of wildspace located in the Nemesis system.
Zathar class m terrestrial planet orbiting a red star known as Nemesis third planet from the sun habitable. With two moons both habitable much like the planet below.
"We cannot …"
"Hear her out, Private Barclien," Jace Malcom said, his heavily scarred face from a grenade at close range trying to kill Darth Malgus. Who they met on the station above Korriban alongside sith Lord Vindican the thing is the fact that she was aware of this and how he received such scars alongside that highly intelligent look as he walked in with several troopers.
"I don't care if you can't or can either way if Arcann is completely beyond help then he might find the entrance if he does he could very easily change the past and the future as a result of his meddling. In the past the Grey Order sought to keep such secret because these portals could very easily in the wrong hands unmake reality. If that happens I don't believe it could be stopped so easily if at all existing in a place where the force holds no true meaning where darkness is nothing where light is meaningless all that exists is several pathways each step creates a look like your walking on black water yet the pathways are marked by white lines."
The gravity of how she knew this may have not yet sunk in as she glanced at the numerous people in the room Lord Scourge, Darth Marr, the Trooper Rose Caralan who has made her piece known the "half" twi'lek with red skin and mirialan tattoos on her lekku, a bounty hunter known for his own personal goals and sarcastic sense of humor who accompanied Darth Marr on a request of the Inquisitor who dealt with him before and was very impressed. The Human with mando'a roots who was sold by his parents for spice during hard times a act which he never forgave either parent for its said for this act that the Mandalorians turned on them. The human male likewise was an average looking human scar over his jaw no beard no tattoos visible brownish-red hair blue eyes known as Alaric. He is not to be underestimated
The Inquisitor was known for being a particularly light sided sith but do not let that fool you into a false sense of security cross her at your own risk she has long since earned Titania's respect and that is no easy feat either. She wasn't here nor was the Former Emperor's wrath who was MIA of late. Busy elsewhere in the Empire she presumed.
"Join me or not it matters little. You lot want to watch the little cocksucking bitch play emperor and possibly watch as he unmakes all of existence be my damn guest." She growled out her eyes aflame with purpose and passion her word when spoken were spoken like someone who knows how to lead. Somehow that didn't bother many except maybe Senya.
"The Eternal Empire is an infestation with no reason to exist; they live soft lives with little want or need. I hate it. Wars are made by men who wish to prove something." She looked regal as she passed by several intelligence officers and Satele said something about the force that she was no longer concealing her force. Her hands clasped behind her back.
"Men who wish to prove something go to war only to die like the vermin they truly are learning the truth of the matter is harsh even harsher to people who have to watch a fool play as emperor yet care little for governing any empire." She said her voice a rasp with so much raw emotion behind it, it was clear then that she knew far more than she let on as she spoke she glanced at Scourge.
"Men who like politicians go to war for glory and come back with thousands dead as they dream up wars for young men and women alike to die in like a never ending game! What is this to you some sort of bloodsport?" She spun on her heel turning to the darksiders and the lightsiders particularly glaring at them both before her gaze softened for some unknowable reason perhaps it's all an act? No she feels far too deeply. She cares despite what she says perhaps too much.
"Much like your little knights of zakuul unfortunately for you we don't die easy and unfortunately our order isn't just that of flesh and bone it is an idea and ideas are bulletproof. You may be responsible for the destruction of our order and us on the run but I assure you that this little game of yours is over. You wanted to make an enemy congradualations you managed to do that and repeat the same mistake the sith and jedi have been doing for centuries because the ones leading them are often insane or would love to destroy half a billion for shits and giggles. Like your leader who you obeyed like a loyal hound to his master you may not be a khnight of zakuul anymore and the only reason you or any of the survivors still draw breath is because you are still of some use and once arcaan is taken care of I'll repay the favor except I intend on doing something far more malevolent. I aint telling you but I hope that keeps you awake at night because the moment I decide that the rest of your order will suffer the same fate worse than anything your lot endured prior. Even better I'll make you watch unable to do anything as I kill your beloved remaining order,"
"You came into my den and expect my forgiveness no," She went behind senya grasping her shoulders painfully as Senya took the pain. "I expect you to watch your atonement for serving the betrayer the Immortal Chaosborn, he who devoured his own blood, as I destroy everything you wished to rebuild as I burn it to ash. You might beg for me to show mercy I will deny you that request because such pets of the immortal emperor will atone for their sins completely as I see fit but only after I see that your lot have completed your duties once you realize that I will kill every single last one like cattle to slaughter like you did us except I will spare none except those I wish to suffer immensely. Like yourself. Your pain amuses me greatly your fear is absolutely delectable." She hissed at Senya before returning to the topic at hand regaining her composure.
Did you feel that?
How could I not?
She would have made a fine sith.
No, she already is one and she doesn't even realize it.
"I care not for the lies spread by either side you both are idiots even more so thinking that this will go away by holding onto what little faith you have. Faith is for the weak and deluded I've seen grown men and women consumed by a living black tar who devoured them and then toyed with the mother reuniting her with her 'child' over and over again for its sick amusement while it devoured the child from the inside out using it as a sick puppet! It was a creature who was a celestial who went wrong and turned into the liquidic creature how I cannot no dare not comprehend. By all means if anyone has a right to be insane it would be me. Your wars are remarkably petty, much like what the first schism was started over should I bring that up just to spite you Jedi?" She said glaring at Satele.
"Follow me or do not either way they will suffer for daring to attack Zathar by either mine or the inhabitants. Foolish boy doesn't realize I anticipated such a move, nothing amuses me more than irking political figures to the point of madness even more so when they actually have some fight in them." Titania said her voice spoke with power and dismissal particularly on the topic of teamwork she cared not if you joined her did not she would work alongside people and alter her plans accordingly. Surprisingly she thought better
"Aren't you going to help us?"
She smirked.
"Prove your worth and consider it I will. I do not serve the undeserving, the last time I was fool enough to trust someone totally without fully understanding was when I was seventeen and all alone."
"Wasn't your mother the gilbering fool who believed her own family was conspiring against her? You resemble her a great deal except the obvious lack of insanity and severe mental health problems." Sayna said after a moment of deep thought bringing up the foggy memory of the madwoman being tormented by the emperor Valkerion himself before he consumed the life from her.
"Mad yes hated me pretty much my father saw me as weak and weakness like children couldn't be allowed which is how I was found. The main species on Zathar is capable of telekinetic cutting thankfully only using this in dire emergencies for defensive purposes pray that you never have to see it. They are an extremely long lived race longer than even the selphi and when it comes to their home they will defend it violently to the last. They aren't considered adults until they are in their late forties granted by then their full muscle growth sand bone density hardens being hit by one of them and have them mean it is like being hit by a train. I've been in fist fights before even with those of the sith species who are probably one of my favorites but the zatharians… their version of 'training' is nearly killing you in creative ways. Typically bloodlessly. Survive or die trying."
"And what of their race?"
"Horned, each horn is unique in position and appearance starts to grow in around age sixteen late onset of puberty at latest also shows emotional state by color. Clawed hands claws are nails harder than stone and easily capable of drawing blood, highly telepathic some of them find this mutated to something else. They aren't too fond of jedi who left them with a very poor impression specifically Grandmaster Awydrysta Pina considering he went on a rampage across the galaxy using the fledgling republic as his instrument of such vengeance over a minor disagreement on teaching methods. Petty immensely petty. The zatharians lived on Altraa and lets just say the battle in the nebula turned it into an eternal storm and his lot crash landed on Altraa where a member of the former legion of lettow was hiding with her only child. The records said five of the people went with him to a village only to kill everyone within and burning it to the ground to the horror of the remaining two."
"That's why many people don't realize that Pina had people who didn't agree with him severed after being marked. Where do you think the First Shadows came from? They didn't just appear they were his brain child considering the terror he would reep who was the tyrant and who wasn't? He purged any record he didn't approve of and people couldn't speak plainly against him lest they be force severed by him and terrified high counsel who feared him more than anyone else. Keep that in mind Satele if you dare speak to them be sure to be courteous and polite or you might find yourself quite headless or with the lower half of your body's entrails flowing on the floor." she told Satele, recalling her own dislike for immense cruelty considering the circumstances of her upbringing it was justified. She shuddered at the thought finding it very gruesome
Did she just shudder? Its unexpected that someone who could be so threatening could be somehow so ...
"Are you squeamish?" Darth Marr asked truly surprised at a sudden revelation he didn't take her for being squeamish. A odd trait considering his sinking suspicion
"No I just ...don't like looking at it in extremes again for reasons. It leaves an impression especially if the corpses were mutilated to begin with. There are many things I don't like, giant spiders being number one, my aunt Ari, Sarlacc's and of course rathtars." She mentioned she was going to mention how she had once escaped hunters who wanted to end her but thought better of it as it was neither the time nor place for it
"Rathtar? Why Rathtar's?" The mercenary asked an amused smirk on his face granted he was wearing a helmet but the force sensitive and those who knew him well enough knew he was
"You don't want to know." She said gravely giving the mercenary a look that if you so much as flinch I will strike you down because you irritated me. Her relationship with
It involved her transporting about three Rathtar aboard a ship and well they got loose and she barely escaped with her life its no different than the time she outran a summa-verminoth except with more screams and creepy yellow eyes following her wherever she went. That was back when she still had her XS stock light freighter Behemoth before she had to sell her to pay off some debt actually all of it. She learnt her lesson a painful one she might just steal some of the imperial tech then again she did steal a Fury class ship from a low ranking Darth who had a tendency to kill troops who displeased her. Carefully watching and waiting for Darth Syrena as well as gathering as much data as she could before she struck Fury classes like that one weren't easily boarded disabling the engines from being able to go to hyperspace with a device that was much like a circular explosive which it was planted their prior to taking off. She enjoyed the fight with the crew but Darth Syrena was begging for mercy after hours of being left with an interrogation droid after Titania got bored with the fight she was having with her. She was hoping the low brow sith had some measure of skill or at least enough to challenge her unfortunately she seemed only capable of viciously killing entire groups of force-blind individuals because they couldn't accomplish said task because of incompetant leaders like her.
"Lets hope that you lot are far more interesting than that lowbrow barely a darth stupid welp Darth Syrena. If you aren't well you're lucky I'm not evil then?" She spoke suddenly and just as soon as she came she was gone. There was a deadly edge to her tone even so nothing comes without a price and sometimes the price to be paid is higher than the steel that it is wrought in. Her words speak truth yet burn fiercer than any goddamned fire and that is what's terrifying she has no chip in her shoulder her words are spoken without a coldness found in the dark nor warmth found in the light. She is neither. And nothing terrified her more than the look she caught. It was a look of intent that if she stepped out of line she would be dead like Master Pina except she would make sure the Grandmaster knew her wrath. They had heard only rumors of her executing the lower ranked petty darths she had all but confirmed such a theory: she was deadlier than an inquisitor.
"You don't think-?" the mercenary began, Nico interrupted apparently sitting in the background watching all this unfold before him.
"No I know so she killed numerous sith she mentioned seventeen of the best inquisitors she has ever dueled falling to her hand and four other jedi though she never said why they died though with her it's pretty clear they were either being asses or being particularly bothersome. She can be quite ornery and a complete asshole. That…"He motioned to the door as he walked forward.
"Was her being nice, to complete strangers she doesn't trust. The only reason she's staying is because of me and she likes fighting as pointless as she claims it is. She's been fighting for every scrap she gets since the order burnt to the ground believe me when I say only the smart survive in wildspace all alone. Betray her and you will burn that much is certain."
For now the planning was underway while Titania got to work on her captured fury-class ship she saw a strange orange symbol in her vision that looked like a stylized starbird along with a ship she never would have imagined were ever built. Painting the said logo on the aerlions of her fury now rechristened in the blood of her foes but now calmer she rebranded it "Dragonheart".
Defeating the emperor's ghost was one thing but the way the ghost incorperial as he was towards Titania Oberius was very unsettling their was a warmth their as well as desire a sad kind knowing he would never have that. He spoke of the outlander being worthy but he had no idea that the fight was in the center of the outlander's mind which allowed him to take over hosts before. Granted the road was long and hard to get to this point already was harder than anything the jedi has ever undergone or their allies.
"Outlander fight him!"
The Outlander heard Titania over these past couple months the two got to know each other and became less prickly like a cactus. Fighting in the center of the mind the jedi would managed to use a holocron containing the tortured soul of Tenebrae's father and even gaining the aid of Vaylin who was pleased to finally have a choice for once before she vanished into the force after they helped kicking Valkerion out of the Outlanders head.
When the Outlander finally came back to reality Titania cried tears of joy a rarity. As she hugged the Outlander fiercely crying tears of joy for the first time in years she could live without fear.
You're okay? Thank goodness!
She would later rebuild the Grey Order; the temple was rebuilt sure but it would no longer be the main one. Her choice of a new temple on a certain planet called Zathros was a solid one, the planet was charted by the Jedi and the Sith decades prior. Zathros was a class m terrestrial planet habitable with no intelligent life and while the wildlife and flora is interesting its not enough to order any sort of extensive studies or have any xenobiologists stay behind to study it. Simply put the creatures are very average and lethal as they need to be in respect for the carnivores and well adapted for their environment usually. The flora well other than the usual poisonous mushrooms alongside normal edible ones, plants, and poison ivy-esque plants that you shouldn't eat or smoke for that matter**. Nothing really unusual it was a stable planet.
For the most part at least. It is here after exploring the planet she would rebuild the order except this time she would blend ideals from dark and light allowing them a choice in the sacred path. Combining the old sigil with a new one not with a gear but a stylized krayt dragon which Darth Marr approved of. The design itself spoke of both ends of the spectrum as the blue bird rose between them, tail feathers long and flowing. The stylized bird had wings raised above each. Its through her that the form of government was formed the sith were wild untamed and free so instead of a counsel they will have a parliamentary system the information chain will be hard to set up but perhaps a computer can aid with this?
Building the building to fit the theme without being overwhelming was something else but cooler more neutral colors didn't seem to clash too badly either. Eventually when it was finished Darth Marr and Lord Scourge took a tour of the building finding the cooler atmosphere of the part of the sith side much to the history and the liking of the Sith Lords. It had a nicer less imposing atmosphere that could be stifling on Korriban even the jedi who came commented on how well the two get along. She mixed the two very well and travelled all over finding several rare types of trees and plants that really added to the whole atmosphere of light and dark. Including a type of tree with red leaves that gives off a aura of melancholy and grief yet it wasn't overwhelming enough for anyone to kill themselves over.
The creamy grey bark was rough like your average american red oak like a ghostly tree with eternally red leaves bright red, when it blooms the flowers are a pale lavender and smells like happiness. It weeps a deep crimson sap. The plants within the sith version of a meditation room give off a sort of grey air in the living force. There is only about a handful of plants that give off an aura of pain or something similar naturally peppered in the room at tasteful locations which are far enough away from each other to not overwhelm someone while maintaining the right level of growing conditions they love.
There is even a lake with fish which are stocked every so often because of a feeling that some might want to go fishing. She thought of the hardship one has to go through to become a sith so perhaps they should focus stronger on survival skills? The sith were surprised and approved greatly knowing that even if the sith order fails as she has foreseen their culture will survive. Their way of life will survive in a way which was maintainable without creating another monster like Nihilius or Valkerion. What moved everyone who visited was the statues in the solarium from the barsan'tor, to the sith that helped stop the emperor, the outlander and most of all they noticed something else.
"Did you carve these yourself?"
"Yes, I find it relaxing."
"These are beyond finely detailed."
"Sometimes the simple pleasures are worth the effort as our people are in your debt. The dead have been avenged and can rest easy knowing the monster is dead."
"This ...how long have you been doing stuff like this?"
"Since I was around five my master of my peerage encouraged it when I first tried it out. I wasn't good at first but eventually I got good at it."
She captured their likeness and personality what's weird is she also somehow managed to give them unique force signatures. Identical to the person who it depicts.
"How did you manage to match our force signature?"
"I know you that's how. Its just hard to describe."
—
Even millennium later her name inspires fear and respect for jedi and Sith who hide in plain sight. Its the night of Grey's Birth when Yoda has a vision unclear and uncertain of a woman with black and red horns upon her brow. Lightsaber drawn eyes determined and lips drawn into a snarl behind her were younglings and… hatchlings of his own race?! But then the vision shifts suddenly as a man of our race tries his best to save his brother only to look over his shoulder and see an army of undead soldiers wearing white armor.
'Brother get up! We need you!'
The vision shifted again to a more romantic one under the stars a wedding? Its overshadowed as the vision changes revealing sith hunting younglings.
Yoda's eyes opened.
*I actually did research on volcanic eruptions and its fascinating stuff. Of note is Tambora is the reason for the year without a summer causing over 10,000 deaths on the island directly with only two survivors who gave their accounts. Around the Indonesian isle another 20,000 died due to starvation and a tsunami that was caused by it.
**As a general rule if its a vine and has a sheen to its leaves or just a normal plant don't eat it especially in relation to any species of the Poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac. If you don't know what it is don't eat it
Anyway a good rewrite all around.
If you guys are wondering, I actually based Pina off of his actual legends counterpart with the little background information I was given and considering what he did despite the era and thus the values being very different. I made him feared in fact one could say that Xendor was the true meaning of what it is to be a grandmaster despite his use of the darkside they never commited the same level of atrocities that the later Sith Order might. Not just because they weren't given the chance but because Xendor had the leadership and ability to be open minded it's this reason that it is assumed by me that they truly would have never fully turned away from the light. Basically he was the first maverick the first likely grey jedi or at least someone who attempted to understand the force more than a stubborn traditionalist order would. The studying of other force traditions and incorporating multiple beliefs into your own allows individuals to grow in ways they couldn't before. Pina's actions are actually not as far reaching as you may think though his rigidity would plague the order on and off for millennium after his demise against the last of the legionnaires.
Of note as well admittedly I don't think well on my feet or on the fly its not something I've ever really developed. As you've may have noticed Titania gets off topic very easily personally real life conversations often do the same. Also this plot point might come back up eventually after I'm done rewriting everything.