[IC] Journal - Valeus Vexal Horuset

[Rhysand Sekker]

Finally, I return. A year I spent in the hallowed halls of the Academy. And now, I return to my family; the House Horuset and its powerbase. I will now enrol in the Acolyte Program, to prove my mettle as Sith and Pureblood. Yet, I can’t help but think about the changes the Powerbase has gone through since the death of the Patriarch, my first cousin (once removed): Crannus Taral Horuset. His daughter, the former Lord Saud, now Darth Horuset, has taken over and ascended to become the Dark Lord of Horuset. She now reigns as the Matriarch and Dark Lord, guiding our family and powerbase through these times of strife. And despite the familial relation being only a great-grandparent, I am determined to serve the Dark Lord of Horuset with my every effort; as decreed by the Old Ways and the Edicts of the Dark Lord. Now is the time to see what occurred in my absence: time to prove myself as Sith.

Long Live Darth Horuset. Long Live the Old Ways. Long live the Empire.
-From the journal of Valeus Vexal Horuset, written on 27-4-23 ATC, It is written in High Sith IC.

[Rhysand Sekker]

I wanted to skin the old man alive for whatever information he might have. Yet, Kaellûs snapped his neck without even considering what he was throwing away. More efficient, of course, but less… enjoyable. Then again, what madness would it have been to skin the old man alive while the Acolyte-turned-Apprentice interfered? Yet, I wonder what information we could have extracted from the old man should we have been able to skin him. After all, he was an arms dealer, and those usually know things most people don’t. And pain forces one to give up secrets they would not dare give up otherwise.

Now, the Acolyte who fell to two junior Acolytes has ascended to become an Apprentice. I am disappointed, not only in myself and my brother but also in Sith Tarati, for allowing such weakness to flourish within the ranks of the Pure and the Strong. Yet, I am sure he has his reasons, whatever they may be. Now, I must prepare for next week’s Trial, try to avoid or crush the newly-elevated Apprentice. I trust my brother and I will be able to do both.

Long live Darth Horuset. Long live the Old Ways. Long Live the Empire.
-From the journal of Valeus Vexal Horuset on 28-4-23 ATC, the day after his first Trial. It is written in High Sith IC.

[Rhysand Sekker]

The Apprentice to the Dark Lord summoned me yesterday, inquiring for my purpose in the House. After hearing such, I am to know that “...there are possibilities to serve Darth Horuset in great ways. Should you spot them... For now, see what you can learn.". Naturally, I shall do as the Apprentice commands, for he is the Dark Lord’s Will made manifest. He asked me some questions when we did meet -- about which master I would wish to serve. As is expected of me as a member of the House and with my sense of duty and loyalty, along with my ambition and aims, I named his own master, Darth Horuset. Now to succeed where most have failed, now to survive and thrive, now to become an agent of the Dark Lord’s righteous Will.

Yet, my mind is once again drawn to Sith Tarati and his undeserving Apprentice. How should my brother and I approach this: the destruction or evasion of a Sith Apprentice? An Apprentice is no easy prey, and the more time we give her to prepare, the more time she has to train and become more powerful.
Time is of the essence. We must be hasty, but not uncareful.

Long live Darth Horuset. Long live the Old Ways. Long live the Empire.
-From the journal of Valeus Vexal Horuset, written on 29-4-23 ATC, two days after his first Trial. It is written in High Sith IC.

[Rhysand Sekker]

Pathetic. That is all that public, known duel for the position of ‘Alpha’ is. A true Sith need not announce their intentions to the entire Powerbase: that is the fate of aliens and the unworthy. A true Sith need not let their intentions be known, their will is to be followed without objection nor question: they are Sith, they are Superior.
Though the Acolyte organizing this entire ‘Alpha Competition’ shows that they are lesser; they are weak; they are inferior.

And yet, they have the gall to claim the title of ‘Alpha’. A title that should, for the truly Pure, not be bothered with, for what is a mark of superiority more than the red marks of a true Horuset? Since the ascension of cousin Cadeus, I fear that that simple truth has been lost among the acolytes. Regardless, I shall not (yet) be the one reminding them of that fact. That must be someone else-- Kaellûs, perhaps? He has the brawn, certainly. I shall need to consider this further before I take action.

In other news, I recently sparred with Acolyte Ruthut of House Sojutz, a House that is either small enough to escape the notice of the House or that has fallen deep enough to be unnoteworthy. He is to feed me information-- major and minor happenings within the Acolyte pool, while I can focus on other, more important, things, such as the Dark Lord of Horuset.

Long live Darth Horuset. Long live the Old Ways. Long live the Empire.
-From the journal of Valeus Vexal Horuset, written on 2-5-23 ATC, 3 days after his meeting with Appr. Arvanis. It is written in High Sith IC.

[Rhysand Sekker]

How dare he. An Overseer of the Horuset Powerbase dared place an alien and a human above the rightful Sith. He dared place the Impure above the Pure. And he lived to tell about it. Heresy and treason in its purest form. And yes, I admit I learned something-- Force Intrusion will doubtlessly aid me in the coming trial. Yet, what the Overseer did proclaim was downright heretical, though that can be expected from such an old fool. A Sith, but a fool nonetheless.

Ruthut shall teach the Twi’lek what it means to be pure. As for the droid, Sith Soti has rightfully taught him his place. And I was fortunate enough to watch it. While my previous impression was… Average, my opinion of the Sith continues to increase tremendously.

Long live Darth Horuset. Long live the Old Ways. Long live the Empire.
-From the journal of Valeus Vexal Horuset, written on 4-5-23 ATC, on the day of his second Trial. It is written in High Sith IC.

[Rhysand Sekker]

I failed. I failed myself and my family. I failed the Dark Lord of Horuset and her Apprentice. I disappointed myself. I disappointed my family. I disappointed Darth Horuset and Darth Audroti.

Yet, this Trial is just one among many. The task apprentice Arvanis gave me is yet to be fulfilled; I will become the Dark Lord’s Apprentice, even if through other means than impressing the Dark Lord through the official trials. Indeed, many ways that lead to ascension. I shall need to take the road less travelled, and while it may be frowned upon by the House, I shall need to venture out into Sith Politics, and for myself create a network I can rely on even as an Apprentice and beyond.

Long live Darth Horuset. Long live the Old Ways. Long live the Empire.
-From the journal of Valeus Vexal Horuset, written on 6-5-23 ATC, a day after his second Trial. It is written in High Sith IC.

[Rhysand Sekker]

"Valeus, report to my tower at once." So rang the command of Sith Soti, the Envoy of Purity, across the public frequency of the Powerbase. When I arrived at what I now know to be the Aeros Tower, she, the Envoy of Purity was waiting for me there. She has taken me on as her second Apprentice, for my Trial Notes -- despite the ‘Pathetic Failure’ note we received during the last Trial -- suited her purpose. Naturally, to her, I am also simply a pawn, a piece of prestige. For having a Horuset as an Apprentice, I do not doubt that that carries prestige with it. Regardless, I intend to serve her with my entire being, for through serving Sith Soti I serve the Dark Lord.

On the day of my ascension was held a lesson on Sith Alchemy by Apprentice Ashana Ronith and Neophyte Kalkoran, with a particular focus on the art of enchantment and artefact-making. What came out of Apprentice Ashana Ronith following the history lesson on Alchemy by Neophyte Kalkoran was pure and unadulterated Heresy, for he wanted to give aliens artefacts of the True Sith. The Heresy my master is duty-bound to exterminate from the Horuset Powerbase. I summarily asked my master for permission to leave, which was granted. I am determined not to be exposed to the teachings of Heretics.

Coincidentally, I am writing a piece on Heresy, something I intend to eventually publish to the Sith Archives, should my master permit it. For I recently came across the writing of a long-dead Sith Inquisitor working in the Sphere of Sith Philosophy, detailing a message I should wish to spread to the Horuset Powerbase and beyond.

“Heresy is like a tree, its roots lie in the darkness whilst its leaves wave in the sun and to those who suspect nought, it has an attractive and pleasing appearance. Truly, you can prune away its branches, or even cut the tree to the ground, but it will grow up again ever the stronger and ever more comely. Yet all awhile the root grows thick and black, gnawing at the bitter soil, drawing its nourishment from the darkness, and growing even greater and more deeply entrenched.

“Such is the nature of heresy, and this is why it is so hard to destroy, for it must be eradicated leaf, branch, trunk and root. It must be exorcised utterly or it will return all the stronger, time and time again until it is too great to destroy. Then we are doomed.”

Long live Darth Horuset. Long live the Old Ways. Long live the Empire.

-From the journal of Valeus Vexal Horuset, written two days after his ascension to Sith Apprentice of Sith Soti, the Envoy of Purity. The translation into Basic is not IC.

[Rhysand Sekker]

So much has occurred in the past few weeks, I have barely had the time to chronicle it all. I sparred with Apprentice Maerina Aeros -- sister to Sith Soti -- ending on the ground at her feet with her lightsaber pointed at my neck. The shame! The shame! But I must start at the beginning.

As to advance my understanding of the Sith Code I have, for a while now, been studying the Jedi Code, which I find a rather fascinating subject. A heretical one, of course, though rather interesting nonetheless. Noting the similarities between the Sith Code and that of the Jedi, I unknowingly encroached upon the heretical and treasonous while I recorded my thoughts on the matter, eventually presenting said document to my master in a message. A few hours later, she called me into the Spire’s Archives and asked me to walk her through it. And here, I think, is where her first sign of disapproval showed. I explained to her that I had been studying the Jedi Code and drew similarities between it and that of the Sith, noting the flaws in the former and the ways in which the latter shows such.

She was… surprised, I think and dismissed me as to read the document. I was told to wait in the foyer of the Spire, which I dutifully did. What transpired next I know not, though I have a faint idea. I think that Sith Soti, upon reading the document, contacted the Dark Lord and showed her the document, upon which she told Soti that I was to be summoned later that evening.

When that fateful time eventually encroached, I was summoned by my master to go to the training pit in the Training Room in the Horuset Spire post-haste. When I arrived there, I found my master and the Dark Lord of Horuset waiting, most likely for me. Entering the training pit and kneeling before the Dark Lord and my master… My memory fails me as to what happened next, though I clearly remember the Dark Lord eventually challenging me to a duel, which I accepted. I was null. I was void. I was terrified. For what is a newly-made Sith Apprentice when compared to a Dark Lord of the Sith?

Darth Horuset proceeded to wipe the floor with me. I could not even land a hit, but I tried. I tried with all my might, for it is better to go down in a blaze of glory than to go down without putting up a fight. After the ‘spar’ was done, I was ordered to fix my mistakes, on which I have been working ever since I came out of the medbay.

While I was in the Medbay, I think I was approached by Apprentice Nova, though I have never heard of him. A strange fellow, certainly. Cold, yet empathetic. He spoke to me. Chastised me for my failures. He taught me about Force Telepathy. A good skill to possess, certainly. Whenever I did come out of the medbay, I was challenged to a spar by Maerina Aeros (Apprentice to Sith Tarati), which I proceeded to lose, though I put up a good fight -- without my (own) blade. That is when my master’s disappointment reached its peak, I think. After my failure, I was at the Korriban Academy, thinking of my failures and my goals. I encountered a Sith, Utahis Aayu, with whom I proceeded to speak and communicate on a level I have only managed to achieve with my own brother, Kaellûs, though where he has gone I know not.

Sith Aayu and I exchanged contact details, and I have been in contact with him ever since. Perhaps that is the cause of what happened next. The next day, I was summoned by my master, and I was made a Neophyte. A figurative death sentence for any ambitious Sith. Since then, I have been working tirelessly to rectify my failures and banish any quality unfit of a true Horuset and Sith. For if I am to be worthy of returning to Sith Soti, I must be the pinnacle of what Chul intended his line to be: a bastion of traditionalist Sith. Perhaps this entire debacle is Typhojem's Holy Will. Perhaps this is what He intended for me…

Praised be Typhojem, the Left-Handed God, that He may guide me through this trying time. Praised be Mekhath, that He may grant me His favour so I can fight this battle.

Long live Darth Horuset. Long live the Old Ways. Long live the Empire.

-From the journal of Valeus Vexal Horuset, written sometime after his fateful duel with the Dark Lord of Horuset. It is written in High Sith IC.

[Rhysand Sekker]

It has been some time since I recorded anything. The last few weeks have been rather interesting. I had been spending my days writing and training in hopes of once more being worthy of the Envoy of Purity’s attention and tuition. That day has finally come.

“Welcome back, my Apprentice.”

One cannot imagine the satisfaction that rang throughout me upon hearing those words. Regardless, I am getting ahead of myself. Recently, I encountered a Sith Lord, a Pureblood, and a Sorcerer of an ancient bloodline. Lord Leolli of the House Quorran. We have since been meeting regularly, sharing tea and news great and small. We met first in the Imperial Center for the Arts, a museum I first visited with my master and Apprentice Vyrinne and a place I have taken a liking to.

She spoke to me of Crannus, and of Darth Horuset, who was engaged to one Darth Kerstas for a short while. According to Lord Quorran, the former Patriarch appeared at her ball for perhaps the last time he publicly appeared before his death and reamed out Darth Horuset after declaring the entire ball to be a waste of time. Oh, how I wish I had been present there, to see the former Patriarch. But he is dead now, so the only way I shall see him is his statue in the Horuset Tomb, should I decide to visit such.

Since then, Lord Quorran and I have been meeting regularly: an occurrence I look forward to greatly. Recently she showed me a mystery of the ways of Kizia, I think a ritual of scrying. Of looking forward in time, to the ever-changing strings of the future.

“Dnatizi ri irsursi. Saud dia tacha. Nisosuti wtisia an ri datar…”

“Enlighten the future. Fire and dregs. Bring knowledge to the now…”

The spell did work, as the cup of tea she was holding exploded in a blast of flame and only a pattern of ash was left in the cup. Next, she showed me the cup and asked what I saw in the ashes.

What I saw showed, according to Lord Quorran: “...A decent aptitude or at the very least the ability to lie.” For in the ashes left by the blast of flame, I saw a crowned Horuset Sun and the symbol of House Vipion as recorded in the annals of the nobility publicly available, along with a snake, poised to strike.

From her point of view, Lord Quorran saw something else. A book obscured and out of reach; from another angle, she saw a familiar place wreathed in flame. It was an interesting occurrence, certainly.

When next we met, Lord Quorran challenged me to break her amulet through the use of the Force while we were sipping tea at the Dromund Kaas spaceport. Her amulet clouds the senses and makes her appear as there and not there; as alive and dead. An ingenious invention. A mirror of the mind. Each excursion into it is mirrored and can be overpoweringly so. I failed to succeed in breaking it, but Lord Quorran seems to have been satisfied.

And then we come to the recent week. In exchange for training in the second form of lightsaber combat, I set out to discipline Acolyte Vee for Apprentice Noctalius, something that proved both easier and harder than I could have imagined. But I think she learned her lesson. Thus, two days ago, I was in the archives when Apprentice Noctalius asked me about my best qualities. I fear he started too soon, however, as Sith Soti approached him, demanding he ceases his ‘passive-aggressive messages’. He had been criticizing the Envoy telepathically. What happened next was… spectacular. Sith Soti demanded Apprentice Noctalius say what he had to say, which was quite the list, including but not limited to the fact that the ‘Arvanis brothers’ are, according to him, quite untouchable. I don’t know what to think.

Sith Soti… exploded after Zeldris left, and chased him to the cantina. I can’t say what happened there, for as soon as I entered, I was ordered out. Chatting with Apprentice Rûnil and Neophyte Zynn outside of the cantina until the Envoy arrived, I offered to bring her tea after she requested such and Apprentice Rûnil left.

What followed was interesting, to say the least. Sith Soti is helping Neophyte Zynn to build something, though what I am not sure. After the Neophyte had left, Sith Soti engaged me in conversation, speaking to me about my failures and my recent successes, including the operation ‘In the streetlights on the moon’ posted by Apprentice Ashana.

Sith Soti then took me on as her Apprentice once more. Thus, I remain as I was. A Sith Apprentice within the Horuset Powerbase.

Long live Darth Horuset. Long live the Old Ways. Long live the Empire.

-From the journal of Valeus Vexal Horuset, two days after regaining his Apprenticeship. It is written in High Sith IC.

[Rhysand Sekker]

The recent times have been rather interesting. Since returning to my master’s side, I have continued preaching and enforcing her will, spreading the immortal truth of our cause: that the Old Ways are the True Ways, the only path for our rightful Empire. In doing so, I have been judging the worth and potential of the Horuset Acolytes. A bunch of disappointments, mostly, though some do have potential. But those that do need to be broken and reforged until they can serve the Horuset House to the best of their potential. And so, I have been testing them, pitting them against each other, and using those poor unfortunate souls for my ends.

Speaking of Acolytes, Elena Vee died. Her heart stopped. I can’t say that I mind, she was an alien, after all, and a blind one at that. Though she was useful in her way, she could never be Sith. At least she served those in the House admirably until the end. I was present when she was granted permission by Sith Razia to off herself by way of a lightsaber. Such did not occur for Apprentice Nova interfered, taking the lightsaber from her hands. Razia had given her permission and granted her his lightsaber so the deed could be done quickly, but then Nova interfered. It was a pleasure to see her anguish- she attempted to assault the masked Apprentice, which is a beautiful thing to witness. So much suffering… So much death… To have that effect on someone, oh, that must be a beautiful thing.

But that is not noteworthy, and thus I shall refrain from speaking too much of it.

Finally, I have completed 'Qotsisajak', and have gained the approval of my master, and have received permission to send it to the Dark Lord -- or hand it over to her in person should she grant me such an honour. Thus, I have been composing a letter to the Matriarch, though it is a long and arduous process, for how does one approach the Dark Lord of Horuset?

I’ve spoken with Lord Quorran once more. It’s a thing I’ve begun to greatly enjoy, both the company and the tea. Though in this instance I left in a rage, for Sith Utahis Aayu has insulted the Dark Lord -- and by extension the entire Horuset Lineage. Rest assured that I shall not be speaking with him again, otherwise, I fear I shall kill him. I broke a piece of china in anger, something I greatly regret doing; it was indeed a beautiful cup, and I should not have broken it. Regardless, I continue to enjoy my meetings with Lord Quorran, which are truly a pleasure. In my most recent meeting with her, I have also discovered that Sith Aayu is the one who leads the Purist cult-- something I should contact Lord Quorran about. This could end the investigation into the cult, and thus we could use it to our advantage.

Once more in other news, I have been training Force Lightning with Apprentice Arvanis. I can’t say that I don’t enjoy it, but I do not trust the man -- as I shouldn’t, most likely; I’ve been training Shien with my master and Apprentice Vyrinne, with whom I have also been having regular spars. To see my master in combat is… unnerving, to say the least. She cackles, as if it is amusing, and fights with a ruthlessness I have seen only in the very best of Sith, and the Acolytes with the most potential at Dromund Kaas -- and undoubtedly Korriban. She is… very dangerous, and I pride myself to be worthy of her teachings as her Apprentice. Something I will not let go of again. It was taken away from me once: and I do not intend to let it slip again.

Long live Darth Horuset. Long live the Old Ways. Long live the Empire.

-From the journal of Valeus Vexal Horuset, written a few days after his spar against Sith Soti. It is written in High Sith IC.