[IC] Orgkez's Holo Diary

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((originally posted by Orgkez, August 2019))

Not Public

Entry One - The Awakening

The recorder came to life. A red-skinned, scarred and black-dressed figure appeared... yet despite the color it was no Pure of Blood. No, two flesh protuberances erupted from his head, long and slimmer as they went on. One was curled around his neck, the other resting behind his back. Ritualistic tattoos covered his face and the lekku, yet a scar stood out most of all- an 'L' shaped mark passing across his left eye, visible and old. The Twi'lek hummed quietly as he looked into device, taking a moment before speaking.

"This thing works, mh... good."

He cleared his throat and shifted in stance, hands held together behind his back.

"I have long pondered upon this. Potential daily recordings of my doings, my thoughts and so on. Something however held me back from doing so. Something obscure deep within my psyche. Paranoia, perhaps. Once I had much to fear... now my fears have only evolved, shifted in form yet ever present.
Regardless, here we are. Today is the day I actually leave something that could be my legacy, the only thing I might leave after I am gone- if this device somehow survives. But it does not matter, it is not meant to be seen by others- only by other versions of myself. Hm, indeed... versions of myself.

At that, he fell silent. peering to his right before sighing, turning back onto the device.

"When I joined this Powerbase, I had little expectations beside the fact that, as an alien, I was worth less than the floor I was stepping upon daily. I had some form of potential as any Force-User, and I did my best to put it to good use. But I was naive... too naive, and but clay. In due time I was tempered under the flames of the Horuset's Forge. I called it Enlightement, and I still think to this day that no word would be any more precise. I knew the truth yet I sought to escape it, like a coward. I wanted to escape the truth that was my innate inferiority. Then I embraced it...

A maleficent smirk showed across his lips as he said that.

"I do not have to look anywhere. What I need the others give me. Insults, hatred, attacks. Good. Apply your distaste of what I am in whatever way you see fit. While I might fall onto that instant, I'll rise up stronger. I still fondly remember when the Dark Lord had her Apprentice, Rendvir Arvanis, punish me. The flaming charcoal falling upon my open palms, embracing the heat- the flames eating at my flesh and leaving a mark I still carry to this day...

Stopped at that if only for a moment to glance at his own palms, darkened and scorched still.

"...painful, quite so. Just as his Force Shock was- right into my being. The electricity flowing through my body, frying my flesh. I felt it... I followed the surge as it came to life into his being, went off his hand and then into myself. That was when I learnt that power's technique. To turn good out of bad. If only I could do the same with Force Lightning things would be much easier, considering the high amount I am granted on an almost daily basis. But I endure the pain, it tempers me further and further, sharpening the blade that I am.
Indeed, a blade. But not mindless. My Master and the Dark Lord provided enlightement to me... though Apprentice Nova awakened me. Another version of me came to life- slaying that prior just as it happened before. A process of shedding much like a snake. Out with the old, on with the new. From the fat, naive scholar to the boot-licking slave, then to the mute... then to the 'pragmatic'. Now I am something further developed. I have potential. Not to be the greatest of Sith- perhaps... but to become the greatest weapon that Lord Sanguinis ever created. The thought, hrm, delightful. But the path is far from easy.

The Twi'lek, at that, proceeded to shift in stance once more, his left arm moving across his chest and staying there, offering leverage to his right arm- which hand held his chin, pensive.

"Lord Sanguinis taught me a power that no other Apprentice of his ever learnt. Am I special? No. I am still exchangeable. But that does not matter. What matters is that there is some form of faith my Master trusted upon me. His iconic power shared with me- out of all. Why? Because he is aware I can change- for better. I have been shaped ever since I joined this Powerbase and I can keep on evolving. Yet I fear the time for shedding has come to an end. This might be the last version available, one from which I will build upon. The foundations to fulfill my Master's plans... and perhaps my future own.

A hum followed as the alien's face assumed a confident look with a gaze that seemed to be aimed towards the future.

"Much is at stake. Recently I have returned to a hard regime. Early day training- now paired with Apprentice Nova. We have been working hard, he seems impressed. I am not sure whether or not this all an elaborate plan to 'activate' something within me. Unleash my power at all times instead of on command. Cower like a dog until it's time to bark at the enemies of the Powerbase. Regardless... it's showing its fruits. I feel more confident, more powerful- more honed. When I fight... I can feel the true passion in the heat the battle. My hatred is not cold anymore... my fears, the frustration, the anger.
They burn. I burn. My enemies will burn.

At that a shot was sent right into the device, his brown eyes seemingly flaming for a moment.

[i]"End recording."[i]

And so it came to end, not before a smirk was visible onto the alien's lips.

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((oNot Public

((originally posted by Orgkez, August 2019))
Entry Two - Blasters and Eyes

The recorder came to life. The same red-skinned, scarred and black-robed clad alien appeared. A pensive look upon his face as he peered beyond the device itself, both lekku curled around his neck while his hands were held together behind his back.

"I spoke with an Acolyte. It has been a while since I have actually done something of the sort. To be quiet is a thing... but I've been a mute for too long, too submissive. I hold power, would be a shame to let it go to waste. So I put this Acolyte to use for me and my Master, Lord Sanguinis. But I have learnt from my mistakes as well. This time around it will be all much smoother, all more functional, safe. He is eager to learn and has always struck me as one of the best admist the current fresh batch of Acolytes. I will pass onto him my knowledge if he will prove himself up to my expectations."

A quiet hum followed alongside a wide, toothy grin.

[i]"Moving on, I kept on training. Harder. Again with Apprentice Nova- worked on Force Barrier and Force Shock. Then a brief pause. Regained some energy, had some water- and then sparred with Apprentice Vax. We exchanged blows as he assumed his Makashi form while I resorted to my Shii Cho, playing at a disadvantage. While my aggressiveness paid off at the beginning, he quickly found the upper-hand by jabbing and shimming through my wide arcs... so it developed from saber combat to Force Shocks, Pulls, Barriers and whatnot. It was a stalemate of sorts as we tired each other in the process of trying to land one heavy blow. He's good, which is helpful to back up someone as cocky as he is.

Today instead it was the time to train Shien, against the Droids. It went well enough. I can still feel the pain, useful to remind me of where and when I failed to deflect the bolts. But it wasn't enough... the Droids lack passion- I cannot feel the intensity I require to properly train. Hence why I have approached Corporal Tiberius. He has been authorized to join me in a training session, though I'd prefer to see more of those take place, so we'll have to see how the situation develops. The idea of training with an Imperial however is quite intriguing, and I am sure it will be productive, engaging and fruitful."

A brief pause, before he spoke the last words.

"Spineless no more. End recording."

And with that, the recording came to an end- again with Orgkez's brown eyes staring right into the device. [/i]

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

Not Public

Entry Three - Pain. Gain.

The recorder came to life. The same red-skinned, scarred alien came to life. This time around however his attire was different, the black and white robes replaced with a lighter gear, black and grey in color- one that helps highlight agility. His look focused onto the device, though the lingering pain is visible upon his face, both lekku curled around his neck.

"Hrm... I can still feel the burning sensation of Corporal Tiberius' blaster shots grazing my side and leg. The training we spoke about and he was authorized to assist me with indeed took place by the Spire's Training Room. My Shien is still unrefined, but it has improved. Once more pain helps me remind of my failures in the usage of this useful form, so that next time they won't happen again.

Been a while I haven't been to the Medbay, always a nice experience. Regardless... on to the other important happening of the day. Lord Dar, his Apprentice, Sith Varienna and a Major of the Imperial Army visited the Spire as they joined Lord Dar, whom I believe passed more time than most with my Master, Lord Sanguinis. We had brief contact which mostly occurred in the hallway of the Spire. There my Master actually offered me words I have been cradling ever since.

'I am sure in the future he will grow to emulate my position'.

At that, the alien fell silent. His look filled with pride- unusual for one of his kin.

"But as he said, for now I can only kneel and be unworthy. Though, I know how to best serve him. He has been overall 'silent'. No task in particular, no order in the specific. Actually, that interaction we had came after days of silence. Yet he expects initiative. I am to be obedient and skilled- not a whining child that requires guidance for every step he has to take. That is why I have been training nonstop in every ability I feel myself lacking in expertise. Like Sith Mitina told me, deflecting with Shii Cho is just the beginning- and that is why I am improving my Shien until it will reach acceptable levels from where the enemy's weapons will turn upon them as I'll wreck havoc."

A brief pause followed alongside a grin before he continued.

"That's looking a bit too much in the future, no matter how short. There is something else that struck me. Lord Dar. I believe I had the pleasure to meet him back at the Venue, where one of my many mistakes I did as an Acolyte occurred- and where I was punished and turned into a 'footstool' for I clearly lacked sense and proper thought. He said he remembered of me as quite fatter... and indeed those days are way past me. My physique now is toned, muscular- more fit to serve my Master and our Dark Lord also on field. Apparently his sight was so stuck upon my knelt form that Apprentice Arvanis' passing and greeting went unnoticed and unanswered, and thinking about that actually makes me cackle a little bit.

Though all this attention... not something I'm used to. Sure... there was a period where carrying a Vibrosword, as an Acolyte, put me under everyone's radar, but this is different. I assume he was somewhat impressed that a sluggish footstool came to be one of Lord Sanguinis' Apprentices, one of his weapons... and that is why I seek to keep up with this path that opened before me, for it was spoken by my Master and not a fruit of my imagination. I will take all that he will offer and give all I have. I won't just know how to best serve him. I will be the best to serve him, and earn his knowledge, earn the honor to walk in his shadow- follow his steps.

And I won't die trying. End recording."

Once more, a proud- confident look onto his face as he stared right into the device that was recording, before it promptly deactivated at the command.

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

Not Public

Entry Four - Power and Knowledge

The recorder came to life. The same red-skinned, scarred alien came to life, sporting his now new usual attire. He did not waste much time before speaking, looking into the recording device as his lekku this time around rested both over his shoulders behind, less 'gracious' in the look but nonetheless relaxed and collected.

"I am unsure if I am growing too bold, but I've began to make a more wide use of my 'power'. I remember when, as an Acolyte, Apprentices used me for their ends. Acquiring information, 'infiltrating' public events and collecting plentiful of them had quickly become my specialty to the point I almost did the same for every Sith above me. But now it is my turn to make use of Acolytes for my ends as well.

A smirk appeared onto his lips as he spoke that, clearly delighted by the thought of being the one in control, for once.

"The Acolyte passed the brief test I posed him. He's done one bold move which warrants, at the very least, my interest. To defy someone's threat in pursue of power... ambitious, perhaps foolish, but now I hold him within my grasp. One wrong move and his secret won't be such anymore. Another Acolyte grasped my interest, mostly because he is an Alien... and being one myself- I cannot help but see if the others beneath me will manage to do what I have done, prove themselves useful. So I've tried to set something in motion. To pair these two Acolytes together and 'oversee' their training, guide them towards a path I will make use of.

Of course, it will all serve a purpose. Time has passed since me, alongside Apprentice Vax and Apprentice Nova, handled a situation for our Master, one I looked into myself firstmost. A minor rebellious presence within the jungles of Dromund Kaas which we quickly put down and seized, around two dozen of slaves sent straight to Sernpidal and one prisoner taken. While our Master wasn't pleased that we let a rogue Sith live... he will be one useful asset until his utility will pass and so will him. Vax and Sovernus are to dry him of any other information he possesses... and while they will do that, I have begun looking into our next steps. Researching onto the information we already hold within our hands and train two Acolytes to assist us in the effort to eradicate this uprising once for all, not because we three cannot do it alone, of course... but why not make use of the Power we hold in a less 'combat-oriented' way?

Another smirk appeared onto his lips, before it fell and was replaced by a pensive look as he stared off the device, to the side.

"But aside from those power-plays, I also had the pleasure of speaking to Apprentice Ashana once more. I believe months had passed since we last spoke, for some reason or another. Once I looked up to him, to his power, to stand in his shadow as his Apprentice. Much has changed, though not my respect. He's changed, to some degree, and so have I. Regardless, we had a delightful conversation, one that enriched my mind for once. He spoke to me regarding Yuthura Ban's reading of the Sith Code, a bit different from the usual- straightforward and widely spread one, but all the same one which I can agree with.

'Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Conflict forces one to better oneself. It forces change, growth, adaption, evolution or death.'

Ah... the more I repeat this passage, the more I see my past. The conflict I had with Acolyte Aviria... now Apprentice or more, not sure, when I sought to escape her subtle controlling grasp- the conflict I formed with other Acolytes. The changes I went through as I was forged and tempered within the flames of the Horuset Forge. My physique changed over the arc of months, and my mind was enlightened plentiful of times, set onto the right path not without one 'heavy hand'. But now here I am, an Apprentice- one that strives to better oneself and craves the approval of his Master with the hope of growing into something more than just useful.

There's more of course.

'Through passion, I gain strength. It is our goal to be stronger, to achieve our potential and not rest upon our laurels.'

Perhaps there was some misunderstanding with the Apprentice when he asked me if I was content of my position. He read it as satisfied and 'accomplished' already in serving dutifully my Master. But what I meant was that I just felt 'good' about it. Regardless, all in all, it was an enlightening talk that what we had, despite it being somewhat short in the length- it was heavy in the substance of the words shared. He shared the opportunity of seeing my future if earnt... but it is not something I am interested in, truth be told. I wouldn't want to get more paranoid than I already am."

Silence followed, before his look moved onto the device, staring right into it with his brown eyes piercing through the recorder.

"But there is still much to be done. End recording."

And so the recording came to an end.

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

Not Public

Entry Five - Shifting Outcomes

The recorder came to life. A red-skinned, scarred figure standing before the device. Unlike past times, he wore long dark black robes, similar to his former Apprentice ones, and held himself on a crutch. Behind him no recognizable place. There were no windows giving onto Kaas City, nor any nature. Just dim lighted jagged walls of a seemingly brown color. His face had pain written all over it, sported through his never ending pained grin and occasional cough. After one of those coughs, he began talking.

"Our assault on Castle Valor on Jaemus was a failure, plain and simple. We were supposed to conquer it, make an Empire outpost by eradicating any and all republic filth inside... but instead it is now all debris, ruins. And admist those I could've been there myself, laying lifeless.

But thanks to one Acolyte, only my left foot remains under the rubble, crushed by one boulder. It was most fortunate that I have been speaking to Acolyte Viren for it is clear he only helped me to move further close to the reward he wishes, the power he craves and I can grant him. And frankly, he has been doing much to receive this phantomatic lesson. So he will receive it as I am a man of my word, but only once I have properly recovered and I'll be used to having a robotic left foot to walk with.

Speaking of that... I wonder if one can wear a boot with a cybernetic foot."[i]

Would've hummed, but instead a sudden spike of pain surged from his left leg throughout all his body, causing him to groan and cough. A quiet sigh followed, seemingly 'resigned' to the pain- shaking his head and shrugging it off after a moment before resuming his talk.

[i]"But if the assault on Castle Valor was a failure, our infiltration within a Jedi Temple was an outmost success. Lord Sanguinis, my master, skilledfully lured out one Master Jedi all the way to Dromund Kaas, to rescue a certain Jedi Knight. But this cue was their downfall. They were slaughtered like pigs and their 'carcass' became our skin. For the time it required, we impersonated the same Jedi we had slain and 'rescued'- walking further in the Temple, engulfed by the pathetic peace and kindness that surrounded its halls.

Fortunately, we arrived to the Council Room quickly enough. Soon, Vax positioned himself towards one Councilor and passed him side by side with his lightsaber. The time to kill them as well had come. Lord Sanguinis dueled a Master Jedi for a good portion of the initial fight, Vax got himself one other Councilor to battle while me and Sovernus dealt with the guard who struggled to understand what had occurred and frantically shot at us- their weapons turning onto them as my training on Shien saw its fruits, each bolt meant to kill me... killed them.

Eventually, more opposition came our way, with Jedi rushing to defeat us. One flung towards me with a powerful blow that would've possibly disrupt any stance I would've taken, hence why I resorted to applying my expertise on Telekinesis- promptly pushing him away from me and into a wall. He quickly recovered however... and rushed at me. It was there that I once more realized how poor of a duelist I make, with the Jedi opening through my Shii-cho parry and almost slicing me down. Vax however arrived just in time, parrying that blow only to be pushed away. In that fraction in which my foe was distracted, I passed him side by side with my own lightsaber and saw the life expire from his eyes.

The first Jedi I have ever slain myself...

...though admittedly it was mostly due to Vax's efforts that I managed to do so. Eventually, I will have to pick up onto Makashi, or some different form, to fill this void. I cannot hope to have an ally around ready to make up for my errors and spare me the pain of lacking in experience. And whilst I cannot train at all in my current condition... I can conduct plenty of research.

Silence followed, only to be abruptly cut through by a pained groan.

"Hrm... hr. What more...

Ah, yes. I have also had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Neophyte Valkara, my Master's former apprentice- though as she said herself, while lacking the official title she is still pretty much under his influence. Our conversation was not lengthy, but both me and Sovernus informed her of our current activities as a whole 'group', being Lord Sanguinis' apprentices, in our pursue of a rebel uprising lead by one or more Rogue Sith of considerable strength.

Albeit reluctant, she might be among us when we will set foot to eradicate their presence once for all from the Kaas Wilds, and that is most... pleasant. She shared her knowledge over one particular power she holds called 'Battle Meditation', which apparently allows her not only to bolster the strength of those she fights with, but also 'sap' it away. A double-edged blade for those who surround her, and one that clearly leaves little space for disagreements. Most intriguing."

The alien then proceeded to look elsewhere for a moment, adding a few more words.

"I have also begun to... look into some things. To increase my utility and power in a wider form. Something less about what I am... and more into... what I have. Only a thought for the moment, but one I've been cultivating since a while.

End recording."

And thus, with those words, the device promptly ceased the recording, the image of the wounded and pained Twi'lek fading.