Ziost - Crown of the Sith Empire

The manse of Lord Orethion was small, taking up so little of the otherwise vast estate. It's expansive grounds spread out around the modest dwelling. Even though it still comprised several levels, with spacious sleeping chambers, meeting halls, recreation chambers, and all the comforts of the lower Sith aristocracy, what few chose to question was why the ancient Sith temple, turned abode, was so minuscule. Any visitor to Korriban knew the grand pyramids and vast tombs of the ancient Sith priest-kings. And yet, this edifice was startlingly small....above ground.

Sunk deep beneath the earth, buried millennia ago in some natural disaster, the full temple laid waiting. The roaming grounds were truly just a way to keep others from building atop or into the grand structure. Though picked clean over those thousands of years, the massive chambers, and ornate contraptions of the original temple laid intact.

Lit by thousands of crystaline lenses reflecting and amplifying the light from the top of the structure, Jun-Tsu stared up at the monolithic orrary housed just beneath the surface of the planet. The great orbs hung suspended in their trajectories, and all around the witch could feel the old power here. Nothing like the untouched tombs on Korriban, but even after millennia, a Sith temple still held to the power of the Dark Side.

"Zend her down to me, v'once zhe haz arriwed," Jun-Tsu's voice echoed quietly in the vast emptiness. One of her sisters nodded and departed.

Silently, the witch stepped to a small alter just below the orrary. There had been arranged an ornate chalice, etched with elaborate markings and made of some dark metal. To its side rested a small kyber cystal. Far too small to be of any use in a saber, but just enough for her purposes. Beside that lay long strands of fiber, loose and clean. A smooth golden disk, no larger than a child's palm, rested before her. And at the center was a well worn bowl, heavy and stained, with black veins stretching out from its pitch basin.

Despite stepping in from the cold, Sinea did not feel any warmer. She pulled her coat closer over her regalia, as she followed one of the Farro sisters through the maze of the mansion. It was certainly an interesting architecture..was one way to put it. Another way would be to say it was creepy even by sith standards.

Finally she met her hostess. "Jun-Tsu, long time no see."

The witch drew back her hand slowly, as it had danced over the various objects, assessing them one by one. "Yez, Lady Okatesh, it mozt zertainly haz."

She turned with that same languid pace, her robes shifting with each subtle movement. "Zhank you vor accepting mein inwitation. I apologize for zhe lack of a meal, yet, but....I zhought you might enjoy zhis."

She beckoned the seer forward, towards the alter, and more fully beneath the massive stone planets that hovered above them.

Sinea moved forward slowly, looking intently at what was offered. Her smile was polite, though there was some fondness in it. "I will make do. What are you offering me, dear Lady Farro?" She raised an eyebrow in question, but moved to stand next to her hostess.

"Zome morning zpell vork, iv you hawe interezt," the witch once more turned to the assembled ingredients, which now included several vials and carafe filled with various potions and powders.

"Ve vill need protection of many kindz in zhe dayz to come. I am not az zenzitive to zhe far reaches of zhe Force, but ewen I hawe my vayz to zee darknezz approachez. Blut und an all-conzuming void. Vhat zhat mein rezources allowed me zhe vreedom to craft true protectionz againzt zheze malignant forces. But zhiz vill hawe to do."

"Hawing zhe zkill ov anozher trained in zhe ancient artz, vill help."

Jun-Tsu Farro wrote:"Zome morning zpell vork, iv you hawe interezt," the witch once more turned to the assembled ingredients, which now included several vials and carafe filled with various potions and powders.

"Ve vill need protection of many kindz in zhe dayz to come. I am not az zenzitive to zhe far reaches of zhe Force, but ewen I hawe my vayz to zee darknezz approachez. Blut und an all-conzuming void. Vhat zhat mein rezources allowed me zhe vreedom to craft true protectionz againzt zheze malignant forces. But zhiz vill hawe to do."

"Hawing zhe zkill ov anozher trained in zhe ancient artz, vill help."

Sinea observed all the small pieces and parts laid out on the archaic altar. "I suggest something against fire. And don't lap up blood if you see it." Her own reply was mysterious as she laid it out, but she was interested in the topic it seems.

"What are your expectations that are going to happen?"

"Zhey call it zhe alkemical artz for a reazon," Jun-Tsu spoke in an almost humorous tone. "But vith any zkill, ve vill create a potent talisman againzt zhe forces of zhiz planet, be zhey blizzard or deazhly cold. Better to ezplore Old Ziozt und pozzibly beyond."

Jun-Tsu Farro wrote:"Zhey call it zhe alkemical artz for a reazon," Jun-Tsu spoke in an almost humorous tone. "But vith any zkill, ve vill create a potent talisman againzt zhe forces of zhiz planet, be zhey blizzard or deazhly cold. Better to ezplore Old Ziozt und pozzibly beyond."

Sinea smiled. "That is your plan then? Taking a gander at the ruins of Old Ziost?" An amulet that would protect against cold or heat was certainly appealing to the Pureblood who felt cold all the time on this force-damned planet.

"Yez," Jun-Tsu answered simply.

"Zhough I do not vizh to owerztep, I zopke vith Darth Arya, yezterday und she vas mozt zpecific zhat you vould azzizt." She made a quick glance over her shoulder. "But iv ve to zhiz, it vill be togezher. I know vhat I zeek zhere....if it iz zhere, but you are not zome mere azziztant or aide."

Jun-Tsu smirked and returned to her her work. "But I vould like to zhink zhat Darth Arya zends you along az her eyez und earz on zuch purzuits. Zhe may be a great boon to mein vamily, but she did not become zhe voman zhe iz today vithout keeping an ear to zhe ground, for murmurz of pover."

Sinea smiled and listened while parsing Jun's archaic speech. "Seems certainly interesting...and what do you offer in return, dear?"

She stepped up, next to Jun-Tsu. "you seem to have settled in nicely."

She smirked at the question, "I know not vhat Darth Arya vill giwe for zuch an azzignment, but I hawe already zupplied her vith mein daughter....of a vashion."

The witch moved to the opposite side of the alter, so that they could face one another.

Sinea quirked her eyebrow. "And what do you expect to find?"

"Union vith zhe Umbră-Ușoară," she answered, as though that explained everything.

Silently the mystic closed her eyes, her pale fingers stretching out over the implements arranged before her. "Feel zhe energiez, az zhey courze betveen zhe objectz." She instructed, with a calm tone.

"Already you can hear zhe call of zhe Dark Zide, no?" While faint, those of their skill, could feel the resonance between the ambient objects. "Lady Okatesh, you muzt channel zhe Forze, while I make ready zhe fetishez."

Taking up the bowl, Jun-Tsu rested the tiny kyber crystal within. As precious as the gem was, the Sith witch lifted the heavy pestle, and striking the crystalline structure, shattered it. Over the course of several minutes she ground the crystal to dust. As she did so, she could feel the light of the Force draining from the fragile diamond, drawing in the power of the Dark Side.

"Keep focuz, Lady Okatezh," she said, as she continued the rite. Taking up the loose fibers, she began to twist them, over and over. Her hands would have hurt with the strain of creation, had she not been so thoroughly trained in these arts, and her mind so focused on the talismans' creation.

Lifting a sylus, she closed her eyes and pressed it into the golden disk. More time passed, as she painstakingly etched each groove into the soft metal. Jun-Tsu began to mumble under her breath. It was hard to make out at first, but as she progressed, Sinea could make out that it was some other language, perhaps that of the Farro witch's homeworld.

With each line she carved, the words she spoke shifted, in a rhythmic chant. When her etching was done, she lifted the disc, appraising her work. All the while, her lips moving in her incantation. With a hand to each side, she focused intensely on the etched metal.

Placing it into the bowel with the powdered shards, she lifted the carafe and vials. Pouring them in exacting measures, the concoction seemed just a mess of parts, with the crystalline dust floating at its surface, while the heavy metal residing at its bottom.

But Jun-Tsu appeared unperturbed. Her lips ceased their chanting, and an intense focus overtook her face. From her fingers poured an emerald mist, so much like those she had helped Sinea conjure on the field of battle those many years ago. The energies flooded into the basin, and as she did so, she lifted the bound cord she had created and dipped it into the concoction.

"Join me, Lady Okatezh," She placed her hand over the bowl. "Let our villz be v'one."


Discipline (Willpower) (Easy) - Protective Amulet = 3eP+1eB+3eF+1eD = 1 success, 1 triumph, 3 dark side


Activating:
-Clever Construction: The crafter finds an inspired way to fashion more while using the same amount of material, creating two of that talisman instead of one
-Hidden Purpose: Add [Setback die] to any checks made to determine the talisman's true function
-Careful Measuring: By carefully measuring materials, some are saved for later. The character retains
supplies worth 50% of the material price needed to craft the talisman (this can only be selected oncel.

Sinea followed and supported. A part of her considered it mumbo-jumbo, another part of her has seen the power inherent in Jun's rituals once already. She let the Force through her, joining with Jun's own aura, mingling the two Forces together and weaving it into the items laid down before them.

"It is a strong sound, demanding." She replied as she let some of her guards down. She let out a long sigh when finished, the exercise was certainly draining.

"What do these do, Jun?"

As the two women focused, the emerald emanations turned to dark tendrils, coursing off of them like steam. Drawn to the bowl, the concoction began to shift in color and content. For several long minutes they had to focus, and while not strenuous was a challenge of will.

Jun-Tsu forced their power into the mixture, as the darkness arced from them and tiny beads of sweat began to form on their skin from the exertion. But then it was over, the witch ceased her focus, and the energies dissipated. The liquid of the bowl circled slowly, as though stirred by their will. And as the two women watched, the black waters began to whirl more intensely, siphoning down into the bottom. After a few seconds, the waters had absorbed into the disc. It's golden color had blanched to a pale silver.

The Farro took up the disc and dug her nails into its side, and as she did so there was a faint groan as the metal split in two identical pieces. She worked quickly, wrapping the cord around and between the two. Then with a simple pull the cord snapped, again into two identically sized pieces. Jun-Tsu smiled.

"Vhile ve hold zhez ve vill newer fear cold or heat or any environ vhere mere man vas meant to dvell."

(Item is a protective amulet; will PM you the specifics, though I think you have the book)

Sinea accepted. "Thank you Jun, dear. The first worthwhile gift I received since coming here." Finally, she didn't have to worry about the cold! Wonderful!

"Old Ziost certainly sounds interesting. What we can find there I am sure a horde of knowledge...and danger." She smirked. "How is your child doing? Last I saw her, her skills were growing leaps and bounds."

"She iz, az ewer, a prodigy in her ztudiez, zhough zhere iz ztill much revinement zhat zhe must learn bevore she vill be truly great. But zhe haz taken to her lezzonz vell, und haz a rapport vith your mazter. She haz taken to calling her auntie Arya now. I do not know how mein zizterz care for zhat, but it iz a zmall zhing zhat zeemz to make her happy."

Jun-Tsu Farro wrote:"She iz, az ewer, a prodigy in her ztudiez, zhough zhere iz ztill much revinement zhat zhe must learn bevore she vill be truly great. But zhe haz taken to her lezzonz vell, und haz a rapport vith your mazter. She haz taken to calling her auntie Arya now. I do not know how mein zizterz care for zhat, but it iz a zmall zhing zhat zeemz to make her happy."

Sinea smiled. "Her power did seem to be growing last time I saw her. Raw power, she is full, but still far from having the necessary fine control." She smirked. "Auntie Arya, oh dear." She let out a breath. "Been a few months since I last saw her."

"She haz been much zhe zame, zo groving zo vast. To zhink in juzt a decade or perhapz a bit more, zhe vill outshine uz all," there was a bittersweetness to her voice.

Jun-Tsu Farro wrote:"She haz been much zhe zame, zo groving zo vast. To zhink in juzt a decade or perhapz a bit more, zhe vill outshine uz all," there was a bittersweetness to her voice.

Sinea smirked. "They grow up so fast." She let out a slow breath. "She will have a lot of challenges ahead, in her life."