[IC] Hirak's Holo Diary

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((Originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, May 2019))

Entry 51: Infiltration of Th’Asidra


*Hirak stepped into the view of the holorecorder, fully armed in his battle armour with his saberstaff clearly attached to his belt. The eyes of the Sith Lord had yet to calm down from what seemingly was battle. The blue-hued orbs set in the mask puslated almost whilst under the light of the Holo recorder. Hirak opened and clenched his gauntlets with a sickening crunch.*

“Today has gone from bad to worse. As I have already talked about we have found ourselves beset by attacks on our influence garrisons and trade routes within the city. However, we were clearly not prepared for even the thought that there might be more to it than that. It is clear to me now that this matter spreads not just outside our direct influence but within it completely. Even now mine and Lord Kalkoran’s contacts scour imperial space for any sign of a hidden enemy that extends beyond our control.

However, perhaps even in the seclusion of my own room in my own estate, talking about my next move is unwise. So I will focus on what has occurred. It all started when the leader of a local slave riot was murdered whilst in the brig. His death meant a complete halt into the investigation of what lead to significant imperial lives lost. Soon after the murder, we attempted to find whoever had committed this act of treason within Th’Asidra’s most inner compartment. Many weeks later we were drawn to the dead body of a Vipion girl. Since then there had been no sign of a re-occurrence until today. It started with a bad smell that began to be spread through ventilation system of the ship. Whilst we often get bad smells come through the ventilation shaft, this has the tinge of poisonous, lung splitting type of smells. With rebreather available we started by splitting the acolytes up into different parties, my own apprentice Siors leading one way and various of the Kalkoran Apprentices, as well as Apprentice Tasha, Soyut and Aljo among others leading the rest. Lord Kalkoran and I took point and progressed through.

From what I was told, the officer deck was full of enemies attempting to sabotage our computer systems whilst the hanger, where I found myself, was being primed for explosives. What was troubling is that we recognised these soldiers and those who had been in service of our powerbase. They had turned and been turned by some outside force. Dispatching those in the hangar deck was easy enough, the cleaving power of the saber staff I wield is tremendous. Simple “En Eff Yous” cannot fathom the capability of avoiding it. The Hangar Bays were quickly subdued and the explosives disarmed by our slicer imperials who still remained loyal.

We had successfully repelled the enemy as they had attempted to thwart us in our own Flagship. Whoever is wielding the strength of this sabotage has incredible reach, enough to bend the will of those who were once loyal and infiltrate our ranks without any wink or clue. If there is an opportunity for us to bring this to a close it will require more than just batting off would be incursions into the Dark Lord’s powerbase. We will need to find the source for it…

Perhaps Archayon could help. Hmm..”

*Hirak put a hand to his masked chin and rubbed the metallic edge. It was clear that the mask had almost become one with his sense of being, hiding the skin that lay beneath encased in a duranium shell.*

“I will consider our options. End transmission.”

*Hirak waved his hand towards the holorecorder. The devices whirred before it came to a distinct halt. The blue light that shimmered over the form of the Sith Lord shuddered and then returned within the device. After a few moments, it stopped completely ending the holoprojection.*

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((Originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, May 2019))

Entry 52: The Lying Acolyte


*Hirak walked into the frame of the shot donned in his long black garments, spaulders on either side holding it all together in what looked a regal outfit. The Sith Lord then moved a hand to his neck where he pressed a singular button allowing the entire beast-maw shaped masked to reel off his head slowly. It faded away until his true form could be witnessed: pale blue skin and tattoos that streaked across the sides of his head that looked like they were done by hand. Large arcing dark blue curves that cut across from his temple towards the back of his head, each with a small one underneath. However, once the closed eyes opened they had no semblance of belonging to a creature of his race. Instead, the dark and twisted deep shade of blue burst forth through the holoprojector that hinted at the disturbed hue. His voice was no longer hindered by the mask’s vocal emitter and instead, a wry smirk formed on his face.*

“Trakaton often asks me why I take such delight in the games that I play. It is because testing the capabilities is a useful past time that allows me to consider all possible future actions I should take. I have and always will learn from external stimuli - even in such a crude form as these wretches that arrive daily to my master’s stronghold.

However, there is one in particular that has offered me particular disdain. She is well known for her nascent ability to lie and lie often, not a bad trait for a budding Sith to have. Her name is Alencia Dista and from what I can observe her accent is reminiscent of those from Alderaan who swore their loyalty to the Empire. So far, I have observed her as rather too obvious at making up tall tales or perhaps it was too obvious to me. For immediately I took a liking to her rather amusing effect on the others. The chaos she caused was always a interesting way to observe the behaviour of others. After all, 'Peace is a lie'. However, she decided to stick her nose into my business and then it became personal. I am not forgiving. I am not lenient. I am relentless and I am unstoppable. Not even the likes of Zarrious or Stygian, or even my master, can truly stop my ascent. So neither will this little girl’s lying habits...”

*The Sith Lord sighed lightly and started to pace in the room as he spoke, clearly trying to collect his thoughts on the matter.*

“I summoned her into the training pit where she gave me a long winded report on my apprentice, Siors. Admittedly, I did not go unprepared. I myself made sure I was aware of all situations before I even entered the room. It was clear there were embellishments and that this acolyte was going out of her way to drag him through the dirt. I let her talk, I let her provide point after point that my apprentice had been entirely useless during operations and missions, exposing him as some sort of buffoon. To a degree she was correct but many of her statements I knew to be untrue and that was her error.

Once she was done I let her leave and explained to her that has been noted as an untrustworthy source. I will keep an eye on this one just in case her ambitions become a problem.

I will see if she can play the game that so many before her have played. A game of old that was passed down to me first by Tokiai, then by Darth Horuset and now one I take a great pleasure in inflicting upon others. Occularis learned swiftly. Then the now deceased Elayzek as he acted upon my orders upon the innocent Twi'lek, Lis'na. I wonder what turn this will take. It is almost palpable.

End transmission.”

*Hirak stopped pacing and waved a hand across towards that of the holoprojector, the recording device he utilised clearly facing him. It slowly whirred and halted before the blue flicker displaying his form shuddered. After a few moments, it disappeared down back into the machine before the mechanical nature of it’s unnatural whirr came to a grinding halt ending the holodiary entry.*

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, June 2019))

Entry 53: Valkara - Apprentice to Sanguinis


*Hirak steps into the frame of the shot and starts to undo his gauntlets, pulling them off his hands as he undoes the straps that bound the duranium handguards to his pale blue flesh. Once unstrapped the neatly put them down nearby on what the onlooker could only assume was a table. A light stretch, pushing his hands up towards the skyline as he relaxed his shoulders, a few cracks ensued at it’s culmination that were swiftly followed by a satisfied groan. The Sith Lord turned his attention back to the camera and began to speak, his tones dulcid reverberating through the device despite still wearing the beast-maw shaped mask that covered his facial features.*

“I have found in my studies of the ancient texts of the Sith that our forefathers, those that created the original Sith Empire and those who existed long before I was even a thought in my mother’s head, that the grooming of a successor is part of the Sith’s cycle. The strong eventually destroy the weak. They create stronger apprentices and the eventual cycle continues until we are able to crush the Republic and the Jedi Order. I have found more and more that as my tasks grow, my singular apprentice is not nearly enough to delegate tasks to. Not just for the reason that Siors is not apt at doing anything other than driving his head through a wall but more that he alone cannot satisfy Darth Horuset’s innate desire for success.”

*Hirak paused for quite some time as he mused upon his master’s whims. He flexed his hand and breathed in heavily before sighing.*

“Which is why I have taken the time to groom the young Valkara. I spoke of her tests and of her beginning, how I ripped the light from her and replaced it with the Dark? All this and the direction I gave her was to see her achieve total victory. I am pleased to say in the trials she performed as I expected. She has been trained before and it has made her senses keen. Her success only bolstered the idea that I required her for my plans to be successful. I have many plans and I will require that innate expertise she has: the possibility for battle meditation. This capability will make her a fine addition to my collection: a weapon to be turned on the Dark Lord’s enemies so that they will -despair- at the sight of his martial forces.

So I approached her in the corridor once the results were released. Meeting with the girl face to face, I am reminded at how the Dark Side has taken a toll on her once sickeningly pristine looking complexion. She had grown weary, angered and savage instead. In her eyes I could see the hatred, the anger she held against me. That rage would temper her and in time, it will be moulded. But to make her a vital asset, all the suffering she has received was necessary. I made her kneel and then commanded her to rise:...”

*The Sith Lord imitated the movements. First he held is right hand out, gesturing to the floor as if to indicated she should kneel, or rather some invisible force before him should kneel. He then indicated with the flick of a wrist, gesturing upwards with his hand for said invisible force to rise.*

‘Rise, Valkara, no longer an acolyte but my apprentice’

“It was a rather amusing affair. Her face contorted both from glee at escaping her acolytehood and her horror at now being well and truly under my thumb. I could feel the fear emanate from her body. It made me feel all warm inside.

Soon after I took her to the Kalkoran Estate, where I am stood right now. I showed her around and indicated which dorm was hers. The estate had grown, of course, as Lord Kalkoran took more apprentices. We made sure to extend the wings to accommodate his desire for a greater pool of servants. Of course, all of this has come with greater influence and greater power.

I’ll admit there is a secondary reason for taking the girl. I noted Lord Tokiai had been spending more time with her, or she with him. I disliked that intervention. I dislike the idea of my former master getting his claws deep into my soon-to-be  weapon. I also disliked the idea of him utilising her skill set against me. So naturally, I pressed the issue swiftly to make sure she was mine. I plan on never letting go until she either dies or my tasks are complete.

Such is the fate of an apprentice. Like myself, one day Darth Horuset will seek to rid me as a tool he no longer needs. But I am more than prepared for that…

End transmission.”

*The Sith Lord waved his light blue coloured left hand towards the holorecorder, the veins pulsating from his previous line of thought. A light snarl erupted from the mask’s reverberating vocal emitter before the transmission ended, the blue light falling swiftly into the machine’s upper transmitter. The whirring of the mechanical parts continued for a mere second until the holoprojector was completely and totally switched off, ending the entry.*

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, August 2019))

Entry 54: Skagendo Tea Party and the Twi’lek’s task

*As the holoprojector whirrs into motion, it displays the image of the Sith Lord currently known as Lord Sanguinis. Removing his gauntlets and bracers, the male Rattataki appears to be dressed in a short tunic with a slight raised collar. Whilst certainly his entire body is in the blue hue light of the holoprojector, it is clear the eyes burn a considerable flash of intrigue and sinister motive. Turning to face the recorder, Hirak let both arms fall to the side once the gauntlets were off. Both hands found the small of his back as he stood in regal posture, awaiting to say his peace.*

“For some time, Lord Seisu has been a stalwart ally of mine and Trakaton’s. She has represented a bastion of hope beyond that of Aregra’s father, Lord Dar and Darth Vossen that  others exist in the Empire who agree with the traditionalist sentiment. The strong must rule, not the weak. It is only befitting of Darth Horuset that I retain myself in that manner when in public or everything I’ve received would have been for naught.

This very night I attended a tea party - the Skagendo tea party. Now that Lord Seisu had in fact renounced her Nyash ties and returned to that of her actual bloodline, the House Skagendo, she had taken the moniker in her own enterprise. Whilst certainly her tea has had some political use for bridging the gap as an apprentice between that of myself and more worldly potential allies, it is quite frankly a waste of resources. As I entered, I noted the usual guests and allowed my apprentices to split off. Siors, who has very little in the form of political of social capabilities, was tasked with gaining some. Whether he succeeded or not is another question. I sent the other, my secret apprentice Ketzel, to keep an eye on Siors and learn what he could. Whilst -that- one is a large humanoid, he certainly knows how to stay inconspicuous.”

*A wry smirk formed on the lips of the Sith Lord as he considered the opportunity both had been presented.*

“Of course, Siors knows not of the others existence. I wonder what will occur from it. Regardless, the most important matter at hand was discussions with Lord Ashaan and Lord Seisu. The former, a large brute of a Pureblood, sees eye to eye with me on how the Sith need to behave and act. Whilst I’m sure his impulses are in the right place, I consider myself the superior Sith. But then again, how could I not be? I was chosen by Darth Horuset for a reason. So we discussed a potential alliance and another meeting, a matter that had been waiting and dawning us for some time.

Beyond that, my conversation with Lord Seisu went as planned. I requested her aid in alchemy, in the creation of two specific amulets. I will require… power for them, to fill what is required within and the training to utilise them. She will provide all of this and in exchange, well… I suppose a favour will be had. Seisu always knew how to tempt and gain a foothold. However, we were young once and now, both mine and Trakaton’s experience will outweigh hers in due course.”

*The stray hand moved up to the chin of the Sith Lord who stroked the dark blue skin, rubbing it softly in thought. Hairless eyebrows knitted together in a furrow of angst as he gathered his thoughts.*

“I have decided that the model I created with Elayzek all that time ago is a method that works unilaterally. Aliens are considered lesser and more often than not, our acolytes and apprentices are too arrogant to consider their actions might be directed by a puppet master. In such instances, I managed to take advantage of one such individual. Acolyte Leive: a Twi’lek with very little potential except for the fact that she listens and obeys. In exchange for Saberstaff lessons, I have offered her a deal: she is to utilise a listening device I’ve given her to discover whether or not Alencia Dista is attempting to subvert assets away from the Dark Lord’s powerbase. It is clear from the conversations with this Twi’lek that something is going on and I will get the proof I need from my master to put a black mark on her career forever in this powerbase.

Tokiai tried, Saud tried and even Cautus tried. But for all their worth, -I-, Hirak Sanguinis, will play the fiddle and no one else.

End transmission.”

*With a flick of the hand and the wrist, Hirak beckoned the recorder to halt in it’s recording. Shuddering to a close, the holoprojector saw the blue light disappear within itself once more, and the form of Hirak quickly dissipated. The hum of noise slowly diminished until the device turned itself off entirely.*

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((Originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, August 2019))

Entry 55: The Hunt

*Hirak stepped into the frame of the shot, fully masked with his beast-maw shaped carapace covering his body. Outfitted in his newer duranium armour, the left shoulder covered by thicker armouring and the right with a lamellar design, the Sith Lord appeared battle-ready and prepared. His saberstaff was attached to his belt still, as it seemed the Rattataki Sith Lord has immediately returned to discuss his activities immediately. Arms folded in front of his body, softly tucking underneath the breastplate’s armoured pectorals.*

“As I have discussed before, the human named Valkara had once been a rival when I was a mere apprentice. But in time I eclipsed even her, and then with her new rebirth to the Dark Side she started in our acolyte pool. Well, I have let her simmer and stir in the melting pot of beings that inhabit and as such she has made connections, even now as she has ascended. One, in particular, is an Arkanian by the name of Sovernus Nova. A member of the Nova family, wealthy Arkanians who shifted their allegiance to that of the Sith Empire - rightfully so. I have noted that there is a certain cleverness about this one. But more importantly, the dynamic in which he has changed the course of what I believe my apprentice should take. Truly, it was not expected, but it is wholeheartedly welcomed.

I have thought to myself many times on what the grand solution to this is and I can think of no other course than to fuel the fires of their friendship to an extreme point. I will fan the winds of change to predetermine the course that this will take and I will see truly where my apprentice lingers; whether she has true loyalty or not. Regardless of the results, it will be a fun and amusing game that I can play.”

*A loud grunt followed his last statement, one that belied a sense of amusement but also disgust. It was clear that Hirak enjoyed the situation but it clearly had not stuck to his original plan.*

“I have been tracking the girl as she has left the Horuset Spire. Watching as she moved into the jungles of Kaas. She believes that she is able to hide from me but even my master knows that through me his dark gaze is everywhere. I am both omnipotent and omnipresent. But she will learn this in due course, and so will the Arkanian. Stealthed with my field generator, I dampened my presence to the most minute drop and waited in their spot. I must give her credit, Valkara did choose a serene spot to reflect her old Jedi allegiances. Whilst the rain patters, they gathered on what is a mound in between a fork in a river, ever flowing from the constant storms. A lone singular tree gathered in the centre that created shade from the pitter-patter of the storm clouds above. So, I waited in the tree. Sure enough, the two encroached and began to speak with one another. I observed the feelings, the way that they conversed: it was clear there existed some sentiment. The joy of the Dark Side and being sith is that these emotions are allowed; to love freely and to feel is what makes us stronger than the celibate Jedi who deny what is natural.

In reality, what they shared is only possible because of me. I doubt she will ever understand that, nor he. -I- have shaped this from the very start. But I get ahead of myself. The next part is my favourite.”

*Finally unwinding from the events, a hand unfurled from his chest as he moved it up to his neck, pressing the button that allowed his mask to peel away from his head and return to the singular button. It revealed Hirak’s face in its entirety. The deep crimson eyes now a shade of dark blue in the holoprojector light stared outwards like a wolf hunting for prey. A wry smirk appeared on his face as the lips parted to speak again.*

“I then turned off my stealth field generator and leapt down, throwing my apprentice to the side and picking Sovernus up by his neck. It was truly delightful to see the fear. My apprentice stayed back - without a lightsaber she was nothing in comparison to me and the boy could barely do anything. I berated them, I told them this coupling and their actions were undermining my desires and that this made her weak. She screamed back that I knew nothing. Truly, she fell head over heels into my trap and my plan. So I threw the boy to the ground and utilised my Force Subjugate on him - I took away his will power so he was barely able to stand. It was there that I sensed that darkness within him. It was a power I had yet to feel, and one that eagerly connected with my own. I understood, at that moment, that there was potential there; some power that I could unlock and use as my own. But that is beside the point - I continued my experiment unhindered.

Valkara continued her protest so I threw him into the river, drew my lightsaber and ignited it. I was prepared to kill him and made sure my intent was known. But little did this Arkanian boy know that I had no intention, he was my bait - he was my puppet to get exactly what I wanted: Valkara’s aid in hunting down her old Jedi master. Master Eetu would prove to be useful to me and his connection to her, especially in this state, will be my advantage for victory. I gave her the choice: aid me or see Sovernus die -

‘Do you choose death or love, my Apprentice?’

I asked. She did as I thought. She chose Sovernus over her previous master. I let the boy go and I walked away, my answer complete. She knows if she renegades that something worse will happen. So we will see. For now, she will be a useful tool and bring him to me. So I had best get planning, shouldn’t I? Lord Seisu won’t wait forever and I can feel my Master getting restless. His tolerance of my blood is dissipating and I have no desire to die. Not yet.

End transmission.”

*Hirak waved a hand towards the holoprojector, signalling for the end of the recording. One last look of smugness erupted over his expression before the Sith Lord exited the scene. The blue light that had covered him sudden spluttered before returning into the machine once more. The recording had finished as the came to a complete halt.*

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, October 2018))

Entry 56: Eetu’s Demise

*Hirak stepped into the frame with a singular lightsaber held in his hand. It was clearly not the Sith Lord’s as his was a saberstaff of a particular design. The Sith Lord tossed the weapon around between his hands playfully before igniting it. From the hue of the holoprojector, it was clear that this weapon was not the one that Hirak usually carried but rather that of an ornate yet simplistic Jedi design. The Sith Lord then turned after his boast and showboating to place the weapon down on a nearby surface so that he could begin detailing what occurred into the holorecorder.*

“Truly all my planning has come to fruition. My apprentice is as gullible and foolish as I thought she had once been. You see, everything and everyone has a use. For Siors, he is a brute that I can throw at my lesser enemies and if he should fail, or cause issues, I can simply blame him. The Dark Lord, even Lord Saud or Tokiai would simply take it in their stride as they share a mutual disdain for my apprentice. But Valkara has her uses. Her past as a Jedi gives her connections and I have a reputation that I need to build. This is why I allowed her to contact him, to send a message to meet. In her mind, this was a genuine attempt on that was spurred on by my incessant and ravenous overbearing. You see, if there is one thing that Valkara hated more than feeling like she was truly losing the self that she had once had, it was her hatred for me. The only way out was to reunite with her original master, a Jedi capable of handling someone of my power level.

But my prowess of planning and deception goes beyond her simple mind. It is why Trakaton decided to align himself with an alien, because he recognised the potential even as an acolyte and ever since it has been that strategic mind that has offered our best solutions. So, when we needed the life force of a specifically ‘stronger’ force user - I was provided with the perfect opportunity. Utilising Ketzel, I sent the two of them to the meeting spot that Eetu had suggested to Valkara. With only my secret apprentice in tow, I was certain that Valkara thought they could overpower him and escape. It turned out that I was, like always, perfectly correct.”

*Hirak laughed, more than he had ever done so before, chuckling loudly through the robotic textures that the vocal emitter allowed on the beast-maw shaped mask. His eyes shone brightly as dark blue orbs, bolstering from the sheer thrill of his plan.*

“What they had not considered was that I had in fact tagged along, hidden by the stealth field generator and dampened my presence to almost nothing. Mired by the presence of Ketzel, who is strong in the Dark Side, as well as the taint that Valkara now possessed as a Sith Apprentice, I was CERTAIN the Master would be too focused on returning his apprentice to the fold.

Ketzel did as he was told and engaged in conversation, making sure the two conversed. Eetu rebuked the masked apprentice and engaged Valkara in words that seduced her back to the Light Side. Redemption, freedom and forgiveness. She was almost lost in the trance. If I ever needed a reason to strike her down for her unwillingness to give into true power, this was the moment. But one does to remove a tool until it is no longer useful. I sneaked my way past my apprentice slowly as they conversed in this cave upon this icy world that the master had chosen as the meeting spot. After some time, Valkara turned and Ketzel engaged the master - clearly on the back foot. But this is when I struck. From nowhere, I ignited my lightsaber during the middle of their fight and removed the legs from the Jedi Master in one swoop.

I can still hear his cries of pain and Valkara’s shriek of remorse at the sight of me. No doubt this image will haunt her forever. But her old Master was now mine to do with as I please. I instructed Ketzel to grab Valkara and return her to the shuttle whilst I dragged the unconscious Jedi Master back.”

*Hirak folded his arms in front of his chest. A gruff huff followed before he spoke.*

“Sadly, I had to preserve his life and bind his wounds to stop death. But it will be coming soon. I suppose I had best inform Lord Seisu of the good news…

End transmission.”

*At that, Hirak unfurled his arms from under his chest and waved it across towards the holoprojector to insinuate that the recording should finish. The machine shuddered and then came to a complete stop as the blue light that displayed Hirak disappeared back down into the machine’s inner core. A few moments later and the dulcet tones of the whirring halted completely.*

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((Originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, December 2019))

Entry 57: Alencia Dista - Traitor of the Powerbase


*Hirak stepped into the frame and it was immediately clear that he was holding an arm, a fully severed arm that had been cauterised near instantly by the cutting force of a lightsaber. It was held in one hand and clearly looked human, which made it seem almost abhorrent in the armoured dress of the Sith Lord. After inspecting it for a moment, turning it over and around he threw it to the side where it seemed to rest on something that was out of the shot.*

“In dealing with gnats, the best method is to leave a lasting effect. Alencia Dista has spent a gigantic amount of her time causing issues for myself and Lord Kalkoran. In every step, she is impertinent and troublesome. So, I gave the Twi’lek Acolyte Leive a recorder and tasked her with catching some of her vitriol that she talks about in private then provide me with the proof. Thankfully, this plan worked out. The wretched girl blabbed about diverting Leive and other assets to work for her Alderaanian, Republic loving family. It was damning and truly destructive.

So, as per our usual methods and as is expected of Darth Horuset, I showed it to him. His immediate response was to call for her death but such matters would make her a martyr. Instead, I posed a different suggestion. First, that I cut off one of her limbs in public and condemn her for her attempts right under our noses and secondly wreck her family holdings with unaligned freighters to make it very obvious that ‘accidents’ happen to those who align themselves with heresy.

This is in fact what we did. My master, despite his cunning, can be predictable and that predictability allowed us the free reign to decimate her entirely.”

*Hirak moved to his datapad and pulled up some video footage that showed the dive bomb of these freighters into Alderaan. Explosions erupted into a blue looking flames as buildings collapsed and individuals ran. It appeared like there was fairly heavy destruction that ensued and wreckages littered around the quaint valley holding of the Dista family.*

“I cannot tell you if many of her family died but most of her vineyards, housing and other assets were wrecked. No doubt servants and others were killed. But such is the nature of the Dark Lord’s rage against those that try sedition. Either way, to the grand finale.

After summoning the entire powerbase to the upstairs hallway of the Dromund Kaas estate, both myself and Lord Kalkoran confronted her by pulling her out. We showed her the footage, revealed that she has been caught trying to divert assets away and I swiftly removed her arm. The arm you just saw belonged to her and it gave me the most satisfaction to remove it from her. That pained expression that wrecked her face, the shock and the dismay; I soaked it up into my entire being and let it drive my passions. The thrill of this will serve me for many weeks to come as I savour that succor like the nectar of the Dark Side.

No doubt she will want revenge, one day. I welcome her to try but I doubt she will survive in this powerbase much longer. She is now one-armed, officially disallowed from getting a replacement and will need some sort of benefactor - though there are many that might do so to stand against the Kalkoran influence within the Horuset household. Those that do so are traitors in my eyes, and I will never see them in the same way.

I will never waver and never relent in my conviction to bring my master’s enemies to the sword and ravage entire worlds in his name, even if I am wary that as others rise his interest in myself will start to wane. But I have never failed him and I do not intend to. At the end of the day, Alencia’s downfall was another sign that I have not faltered. I will earn the right to be his Wrath one day, this I swear.

End transmission.”

*Hirak waved a hand and put away the datapad back into his belt pocket. Rubbing the side of his gauntlets he moved back and out of the shot to allow the holorecorder to shudder to a stop, letting the blue field disappear and settle back within the machine. The holorecording came to a complete stop as the noise of the emitter halted entirely.*

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((Originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, March 2020))

Entry 58: The Jedi Battlemaster

*Hirak appeared on screen in what appeared to be comfortable clothes with his right arm in a sling. The clothing seemed simple enough; a somewhat linen shirt that covered most of his upper torso but was then tucked inside space trousers and heavy black boots that secured his feet. The dark bags under his eyes seemed to have increased as they hung heavily under his deep crimson eyes. Yet his ashen white skin seemed to be unblemished if not for that scarring that had been inflicted in ages past. Yet, there was an intense look of rage and fury which culminated in his hairless brows as they knitted together much like a deep crevasse on some distant outer rim planet. His voice was not distorted, but hung low as if the Sith Lord was recovering.*

“I am today documenting my first encounter with a Jedi who proved too strong to beat at my current level. It is true that over the years I have competed in the highest stakes, taken to my utmost limit and overcome many obstacles. Yet, none of those experiences and the pain I have felt could crush this one. He is a Jedi Master, a Battlemaster who’s name I did not recognise yet will never forget. Emoral Heliolite. In all my years hunting the most worthy of foes, I have yet to find one that satisfies my hunger to hunt quite as this one.

Only Trakaton has been my match in terms of strategic play during a spar, as both of us have enjoyed the fruits of Sokan. It is true that no one ever teaches it in my Master’s powerbase, not since Zarrious. In truth, we learned more from the Dark Lord in action and Haiyca than anyone else. I was pleasantly surprised when this Jedi Master managed to employ it so well. He also seemed to resist my attempts to dishearten him, employing both mental and physical attempts at Dun Moch. Emoral is a Miraluka and seemed to see right through me; a fact that both disturbs and delights me. I have no need to hide in plain sight in his presence, but rather offer the fullest array of my arsenal.”

*Hirak smirked and leaned his head to a side as he offered a glaring grin at the camera, only to splutter and cough. He wiped the spittle away from his mouth with a groan before he continued.*

“I sent forth a Sith Barrage to kill those he protected, younglings or initiates of some sort, yet he saved them. I struck hard and fast, utilising my favoured form of Ataru to find openings, to break away the surface and then strike. Yet he countered and parried. I landed some blows but nothing concrete, nothing that could even be counted as a true strike. He always appeared to be one step ahead of me and when he wasn’t, he adapted as quickly as I did. To be honest, perhaps out of the two of us, I came away having learned far more than perhaps he expected.

I chased him through the forests of this world, allowing him to hunt me as I continued to pray on those he defended as a weakness. I even utilised some of my finishing moves, planned assaults and rotations to devastate my enemies, but he foiled those. I imagine that a Battlemaster must become a master of all forms of combat. So, it was easy to see I had met someone who exceeded my skill. Yet, I didn’t want to stop. I could feel the desire for strife and combat boil my blood to the point that it became ecstacy. Even as my body started to fail me and tired, as the Dark Side grew less potent and a fatal error saw this damnable injury...*”

*Hirak gestured with his left arm to his shoulder, which he then clasped with a light whince. His teeth, almost fanged, clamped down hard before relaxing as both mental and physical ailments seemed to strike all at once.*

“...I am glad that such pain was not the worst I’d suffered, so I could escape with my life, and that I had kolto in my ship. But I do swear, on the Empress’ life and that of my master, Darth Horuset, I will find you again one day. The next we fight, it will be a different Lord Sanguinis. You will fear the monster I will become, I guarantee it, Emoral Heliolite. But you will not die that day. You will live on and in that darkness you call night and sleep, you will see my face and be unable to rest. Mark my words…

Mark them.

End transmission.”

*Hirak waved his left hand towards the camera as his teeth grit in the anger and frustration of his injuries. He eventually moved out of the shot of the camera and walked off with a tired gait. A deep inhale could be heard as the Sith steadied himself emotionally. The camera then began to whir as it started to shut off, the blue light that had engulfed his form disappearing back within the machine itself as the holodiary entry finished.*

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((Originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, March 2020))

Entry 59: Venom

*Hirak stepped into the frame of the picture, seemingly recovered from his previous injuries. He had adorned himself in fixed armour, the standard duranium he had become accustomed to wearing. The beast-maw shaped mask still covered his head, like a carapace of rage and fury that masked the identity behind those deep sanguine eyes. He cleared his throat and began to speak.*

“An old ally has returned to the Capital and to Sith Space. Theran Dall also known as Therdel or by his title Lord Venom. An alderaanian who once found his service to the Dark Lord, once his apprentice, and apprentice finally to Lord Saud. In truth, he had many masters and as I’ve mentioned before left to find favour amongst others who would utilise him. The truth of the matter is that Trakaton and I took him for everything he owned, and when he left he bequeathed it all to us regardless. What we did not cannibalise we spent on making sure our share of power was more than adequate. Sernpidal, the goliath beast that it is, certainly was fed well.

But in truth the visit was one of a social matter. We have mutual acquaintances and Venom wanted to reconnect with those he deemed important. However, I knew truly that this man would disappear yet again. He would retreat to some far, long forgotten plane of existence on the frontier and never return. Theran never took any pleasure from politics, and in truth he had become worse and worse at playing the game of old that we had easily overtaken him. So, we stayed for some hours in my living room chatting about his time. He had been perfecting his poisons, training the abilities of the mind and challenging the force through illusions. That is how he had been destroying his enemies, from within their own fear-saturated minds. It was an intriguing method, I will say.”

*Hirak took the time to turn away and start to pace as he began to think, walking up and down the empty space that the holographic recorder could capture.*

“I gave him an update on his old apprentice, Siors, who I had taken as my first when he became abandoned. I explained the boy's temperament, and that whilst he was a suck-up, he had been somewhat useful. I explained I had tried to remove some of the bad habits he’d picked up whilst he had no Master but the truth was that Venom’s neglect had left an irreversible stain on his behaviour. Venom seemed not to care, he had taken many apprentices after. We discussed the Horuset powerbase some, regarding our new ‘Council’ that was run by Saud, Tokiai and Trakaton. Of course, I had very little to say in there but my influence was just as strong because Trakaton sat in. Trakaton and I have worked together for so long that instinct takes over and our schemes have become total intuition.

But again, Venom just wanted to laud over his time with Darth Tenebrus Dreyar. I’d only met him a few times but that was enough. This so called Black Guard had very little to do other than throw big words around and do as much as possible to seem intimidating. It fit the MO of Venom. But, as I said, our conversation was more of a catch up and once the tea was finished he departed.

I can only assume that this will be the last time I see him, unless he survives. I hope his death is quick, otherwise he would have suffered in life for nothing.

End transmission.”

*Hirak waved a hand towards the recorder, the camera shuddered as the holographic image of the Sith Lord began to sputter. The machine ground to a halt as the recorder stopped playing the entry. The whirring slowed as it turned off and finished the entry.*

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((Originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, March 2021))

Entry 60: Rain

*Hirak came into focus as he was standing by what could only be assumed to be some sort of wall of glass. More than likely, it was a window but the way that these images were represented it was impossible to see any of the interaction between objects other than the Sith Lord’s abject stare. He stood there for sometime before he began to speak, the mask no longer present but rather the Sith Lord’s casual attire. The linen shirt, slightly baggy at the body but clung to his arms fitted nicely with his extremely toned, scarred physique. Whilst certainly it was impossible to tell his colour, it was clear that this man is a Rattataki. Yet the Rattataki Sith Lord continued to stare.*

“This constant rain is beginning to sour my mood. It never stops on this world. I have lived here for many years and yet it never relents, not one bit. The world I grew up on is a barren planet, covered by sand, rocky outcropping and darkness. Hatred; fighting constantly and the rage of mercenaries in the fighting pits. On my world I was a mere slave and sent here, sent to become another slave until the Darkness within became reality. Much like this rain, I wanted to land on Korriban and then slink off it into another darkness. The Overseers tried to have me killed, put me into impossible tasks. I found friendship and cunning helped me there. But they were… lax… fettered by the progressive nature that shaped the Republic and not the Sith Empire. One particular Overseer, a man who had never enjoyed the infiltration by alien-kind shoved me towards the powerbase of Crannus Horuset, a Sith Pureblood who’s family line had spent eons eradicating anyone who opposed the Rule of Red-skinned force sensitives. And so, I left the barren wasteland of Korriban I felt so familiar at and came here.”

*Hirak’s hands gestures outwards, his arms making a wide circling motion to clearly indicate the entire world that he found himself within.*

“Dromund Kaas… the Sith capital. A dire place… jungles and rain. The rain never stops. It always pounds continually until it is interrupted by the crack of lighting. Much like my struggles have never stopped. I recall Lord Saud’s first introduction; clean, like the rain, but belaying a terrible aura of hatred. In truth, there are few rational Sith, sith who use logic and reason - tactical people who are the most difficult of opponents - and she is one of them. Lord Tokiai was brutal but could be predicted. My master is the opposite to Lord Saud. Like a raging storm he could change direction with any slight change of a breeze, and tempered me into what I am by doing so. However, on that first day Lord Saud did give me the blunt truth of it all, and then continued to invest in my future. As time went on, we became enemies but even then it was always perceived on two different levels. Like this rain… clean in appearance but the dirt it carried from the air was palpable.

Either way, I dislike this rain. And I hate her.”

*Hirak snarled and then snorted, a huff expression came over his features as he turned away from the window, now to look back towards the holorecorder. It was clear now that the eyes of hatred burned deeply. Whilst blue in the holorecording, the fury was unmatched. His eyebrows, no hair upon them, creased into a mass frown. Eventually, it eased and he held up one hand, a single index finger on his right hand raised as if stating a point.*

“There is only one truth in this galaxy, to learn you must suffer. How can victory be achieved if you have never lost. As time goes on, when the stakes are higher, your time to lose will be more devastating. Eventually, when you finally grasp true power, it is all over. I have seen many giants fall. Yet I, who understand what it means to lose, only fill that vacuum and -expand- it.

In truth, the era of the great Sith in the Horuset Powerbase ends with myself and Trakaton. Even should Saud, Tokiai or my master fall - no one will come close to us in capabilities and the gap will ever increase. Such is the way of the sith and true power.

Maybe one day, I will have the power to stop this damn rain…

End transmission.”

*Hirak waves his right hand towards the holorecorder, clasping it into a balled fist as he begins to walk out of the frame. The holo-projector starts to whirl to a halt, the engine within pulling the blue holo light back within itself as the machine stops completely. The entry seems to have ended.*