Ziost - Crown of the Sith Empire

The crowds surrounding the space port were numbering into the several thousands now as word had come down that the Emperor would be arriving any moment now. The Immortal Emperor would be in the flesh among the people.

Dayi Risdol had her crew assembled on the landing platform ready to get the first footage while distinguished guests and those lucky enough to squeeze in were able to look on from a safe distance.

Summoned she was, and she was there. Lord Tenebrous stood tall and regal, dressed in her armor-like robes of silver and grey, detailed with golden color. While she looked stoic on the outside, inside her mind was going over the many possibilities of what would happen here and why the Emperor had requested her presence.

She doubted it was to offer her a PR opportunity, but if it turned out that way, all the better.

On one of the quieter balconies, away from the teeming masses, Jun-Tsu stood with Vas-Tsu in her arms. She didn't gawk and stare up into the sky awaiting the Emperor's arrival. She would feel it well before the need for such physical sight. At least if stories were to be believed, and after her dinner with Darth Arya last night, it seemed wise to assume that they were. A touch of fatigue had set in with the constant efforts of the day, to say nothing about the time shift from her home planet.

Back on Korriz it would have been a couple hours before dawn. And while, the trip and her thoughts had kept her awake to switch natural rhythms, some parts of it still lingered.

The child was tired but seemed to be looking downwards and not up.

Malorus was not a humble man by nature. But this is the Emperor. He waits in silent anticipation. Though his mind is going a mile a second. Did he dress well enough? What if the Emperor sees him? Will he make a fool of himself and dishonor his family and Master?

The Emperor was the political leader of the Empire. For Lucinia, that was hardly worth getting out of bed for. On the other hand, he was a powerful locus of Dark Side energy, perhaps the most powerful Force user in recorded history.

That was what brought Lucinia there. Easily recognizable as a Sith, or at list a Sith-impersonator, with the lightsaber on her hip providing the proof, she managed to get a reasonably close spot, along with a tiny bit of elbow room. She was dressed, as usual, in all black, her black hair bound up under a small black hat.

She stood, hands clenched, and jaw tight with excitement. This may be the event of a lifetime.

Xal hated crowds, but this was an undeniably significant event. The arkanian was not straining to look beyond the crowd for a glimpse of the Emperor. it would be a meaningless accomplishment. The alchemist was watching the crowd. He was curious as to the affect the arrival of one so powerful would be. Would the masses feel the Emperor's presence before he actually appeared? Would it influence them? To what effect? To what degree?

Dapper Dog wrote:
The child was tired but seemed to be looking downwards and not up.

Lost in reverie for a moment, she looked to Vas-Tsu with a knowing gentleness. Looking down to where her daughter gazed, she wondered what lay so far beyond her sight but was so readily available to her kinder.

They felt it long before the shuttle came into view… it was like an eclipse, the world did not darken physically but the shadows seem to grow larger, there were whispers that seemed to say the darkest fears into their ears. The hairs on the back of their necks rose up…

The shuttle touched down and hundreds of Imperial soldiers came to attention lining a walk way. The ramp came down and six Imperial Guards in their gleaming red armor filed down the ramp followed by the Wrath of the Emperor.

Then he came forward a full head shorter than his entourage and yet seemed larger than all of them. He moved slowly down the ramp as a hush filled the area. He reached the bottom and then proceeded down the long walk way lined with soldiers, flanked by his Imperial Guard and the Wrath.

He stopped his procession and looked into the crowd for a long moment and then raised a hand in an affectation of hello perhaps and the crowd burst into cheers and maddened crying and great shows of emotion…

OOC: Make a Force + Discipline check at Hard with two setback due to the Emperor’s power, Dark side pips can be used to resist the emotional power of the Emperor, granting success or advantage as needed.

It was a sensation she had felt before, back on Yavin when she had confronted him. She had won that time, and this time she was stronger too - her confidence made her stand against the overwhelming tide that was the presence of the Emperor.


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D1 LA Discipline + Force to resist the Emprah: 2eP+1eA+2eF+3eD+2eS 2 successes, 1 threat, 1 Light Side, 1 Dark Side


Dark Pip to cancel out the Threat. 2 success, 0 threat/advantage.

Lord Tenebrous wrote:It was a sensation she had felt before, back on Yavin when she had confronted him. She had won that time, and this time she was stronger too - her confidence made her stand against the overwhelming tide that was the presence of the Emperor.


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D1 LA Discipline + Force to resist the Emprah: 2eP+1eA+2eF+3eD+2eS 2 successes, 1 threat, 1 Light Side, 1 Dark Side


Dark Pip to cancel out the Threat. 2 success, 0 threat/advantage.

She was looking at a specific Sith.

Xyll had returned from her excursion on Korriban just in time, it seemed. She was dressed in her armored red robes, minus her mask. Such a crowd gathered, blocking her view. She forced her way to a clear view. This emperor had been hidden for *far* too long. She would see him, and judge his worth for herself.

And then came the shuttle; the presence within. Shadows, and a powerful pull through the force. Growing when he exited, accompanied by all of the theatrics, and the adoration of the crowds. It was certainly impressive...

...but she felt no passion or fear. She did not feel anything at all.

Force+Discipline: 3eP+1eA+2eF+3eD+2eS 1 success, 1 Triumph, 2 Light Side, 2 Dark Side


(DS to generate extra successes/or advantages, just for the hell of it, Triumph to be noticed perhaps? Or just being extra-unaffected.)

The effect was greater than he expected. Xal watched the Emperor's power ripple through the crowd, marveling at the scope of it.


- - -
[Day 1 - LA] Imperial Arrival, The Emperor's power: 2eA+1eF+3eD+2eS 1 success, 2 threat, 2 Dark Side


Dark Side to cancel Threat. Success

The minute she arrived at the crowded public dock, Shelzais cursed her curiosity and wished she hadn’t come. Something about the crowd turned her stomach. What was so exciting about a dried up old Human who couldn’t be arsed to govern ‘his’ Empire, anyway?

Then the distant figure appeared and... oh. She felt the power reach for her, closing on her mind like a fist, and it pissed her off. Shel held on to her fury, rooting down into it, and slipped free with an angry toss of her head. Contempt twisted her lush features as she looked about at the cheering, weeping crowds who evidently lacked that well of strength.

D1 LA—discipline hard vs. scary emprah: 1eP+2eA+2eF+3eD+2eS 2 Dark Side


Flip one dark pip to success and the other to Advantage—can I use that to notice a useful detail?

Resisting his power was not easy but they could see the weaker minds around break into manic tears and cries… some of the most easily influenced even tore at their eyes and flesh as if they were not worthy to be in his presence.

Shelzais in particular can see that the Emperor is enjoying the outflow of emotions more importantly she can see or feel or even taste dark tendrils coming out of the crowd into his being and it was most assuredly going from the masses into his being… perhaps a glimpse of the dark side at work?

As for Xyll she felt the gaze of the Emperor fall upon her, his eyes locking with hers. She could see a wide grin grow under the shadowed cowl and he gestured for her to come forward.

At the gesture of his hands the crowd was focused on her, the weak willed all staring at her in silence.

The Emperor's power, the aura of fear he created, was a tangible thing. Lucinia could feel it swell up around her, threatening to choke her, drown her. Fear tugged at her mind, assaulting her senses, the shadows around her seeming to deepen.

Lucinia loved it.

Her red lips peeled back in a grin, her breath hissing through her teeth. Yes, this was real power. She watched carefully, still grinning, doing her best to drink in the dark sensations.

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D1LA - Scary Emperor!: 1eP+3eA+2eF+3eD+2eS 2 successes, 1 threat, 3 Dark Side


Spending 2 wounds for one more dark side pip, turning all dark side into advantage.
FINAL: 2 successes, 3 advantage

Well, this was unexpected. And yet also entirely appropriate.

She stepped forward, robes flowing freely as she walked toward him without fear. There was only curiosity. Slowly she neared, and when she was an appropriate and respectful distance away she stopped, and looked at him, her expression neutral; only her eyes betraying the fact she was intrigued by all of this.

A moment passed, and she placed a closed fist on her chest, bending her head and body forward in a bow as a gesture of respect, as she waited to be addressed, or whatever else might come. He was the emperor after all. An immortal emperor wielding the adoration of countless. He commanded respect, even when one did not fall to their knees in fear as others might have done.

“Lord Nyx,” he said in his raspy voice.

“You have the Emperor’s ear, and I am feeling… charitable,” he said emphasizing the final word. “Walk with me.”

He continued walking and the procession started once more.

He moved slowly, a shuffle more than a walk as he continued speaking to her, “Do you think these people truly love the Emperor?”

She raised herself up again; and while she was previously impassive, now she had the smile of a wicked child on her face. To be recognized by the emperor, to have him know of her without introduction. Yes, this was quite the thrill.



She followed him as instructed.

"Most of them would cheer anyone who arrived with such fanfare. They would certainly clap their hands and cry their adulation for anyone who commands the forces that govern their lives. But few others, if any, could command such fear and awe with their mere presence. Or even maintain it in their absence."

"Do you love me, Lord Nyx?" he asked.