[IC] Hirak's Holo Diary

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, February 2017))

The Acolyte

Entry One: My First Weeks and Tsuotas Akira

*Stepping into the frame stands a rather tall, broad and bald humanoid. The tattoo markings on each side of his hairless head indicate that he is from a tribal background, the pale white skin and the brigh blue eyes betray him as a Rattataki. Clad in the blackened robes of a House Horuset acolyte, the Rattataki stands resolute and stoic with his hands neatly placed behind his back clasping together at the small of his back.*

"Acolyte Hirak Holo Diary Entry One.

I have just completed my second trial in the Dujozi. Safe to say there's a lot I haven't spoken about since joining the House from the Korriban Academy. I should probably start from my first day. I knew next to nothing and that was to be expected. The academy is weak. It shies away from the brutality of it's past as Empress Acina attempts to breed willing vassals not monsters of destruction. It pleased me greatly that I was treated like next to nothing during my first days as an Acolyte and from then on in.

I sought the knowledge I lacked speaking to the Pureblood Lords and Apprentice, such beings like Yutal, now Lord Tokiai, and Lord Saud, the daughter of Darth Horuset. It took weeks to get up to the same stage as acolytes like Trakaton, a pureblood of particular... worth.

The first trials we ran into breakaway troops, including the ilkek known as Jen'thra. I had to rely only on my battle instincts, and my limited force array. Regardless, we did the deed with limited casualties, despite Jen'thra escaping. Trakaton found a lighter which he gave to me..."

*Hirak pulls it out and flips it open, allowing the bright flame of the Twi'lek lighter to show before shutting it off, shoving it back into his pocket.*

"Safe to say I am rather fond of it now. Found another one too, hopefully more will follow.

The next trial involved a blunder on my part; I walked into the Rishi den where we were searching for Jen'thra's location still dressed as an acolyte and was beaten up by a rather brazen Mandalorian for it... including Trakaton trying to play the part. After this, I ended up using my presence as a way to distract and confuse the guards whilst the others got what we wanted in a series of cat and mouse with various demands from the patrons. We got the information we needed finally, group force pushed a rather angry pirate and then fled. I do wish we had left Theran behind... he's frightfully dim-witted and follows Trakaton around like a sick pup.

In between the information gathering trial and the next, a few of us took part in a raid of a rebel Lord's plaza. Myself, Trakaton, Zirvesh, Raeniu Vipion and a few others managed to enter the complex alongside the Massassi Korse, who proved a useful asset in the field. It was the first time we had ever taken down a Lord and his Apprentices. Surely if this is the kind of weakling the empire produces now, I am very glad and fortunate to be in such a strong house as the Horusets.

Off-world beast slaying was our last trial, and subsequently more worthy of my skills. Utilising the Rattataki battle tactics I learned growing up in the Gladiator pits of my homeworld, we approached the Rancor beast with glass spears made from sand and lightning to penetrate the beast's weaker spots. I had a perfect vantage point, able to cut into it's lower leg tendons from above on the ridge. It was glorious, the power and strength I felt from such a position... it was empowering to say the least. I felt as if my chains were truly broken in that moment.

Regardless, from that angle I happened to notice Zunda do a...

*Hirak smirks viciously showing his teeth and fangs, betraying the lie*

...terrible thing, gripping Theran's legs from under him so the Rancor could try trample him. A good thing the boy is so agile or he may have been crushed. What a shame...

It was not long after this that I was sorted into the Dujozi, or winners section in High Sith, by the Lords of House Horuset alongside Trakaton, Zirvesh, Raeniu and Zunda. We were the most formidable of the Acolytes, the best that they had forged in the trials and were to face more challenges to come. We were given more important missions, harder to fit our skillset. I won't lie, this went to my head. An arrogance blinded me...

We started off strong on Balmorra, heading to a Markaran Droid Factory owned by a rival Lord. We had spent a lot of time trying to convince the local populace that the traitor Kinima'ija, an acolyte who had betrayed the house to become an apprentice in another, was in fact doing the job. When we had scoured the factory, murdered the apprentices within and set it to self destruct, I utilised the dead body of one of the apprentices to write his name in blood on the outside walls. I suppose that when the factory exploded my bit of hubris also vanished. Yet, I was brazen and told Lord Saud of my doings. This was a bad decision... better to keep your mouth shut, Hirak."

*Hirak points away from himself, but seemingly as if talking into a mirror.*

"This lost me what should've been a perfect score. I won't make the same mistake again. And sure enough, I did not in the second trial. I took a firm lead, as Trakaton was absent. No point allowing the strongest Acolyte's absence to marr my performance. We went across the barren crystal wasteland of Ilum, approaching the base. Getting off our speeders and leaving them nearby, we traversed by foot the other way, eluding guards as we went until we eventually placed an ambush to the north where the commander of our alligned Imperial outpost had told us was the weakest sector. Destroying all in our path, we managed to steal their IDs and their clothes before venturing into the base. After that it was pretty easy to get inside.

This was the tough part though, a Miraluka apprentice lay within. This was a strong force wielder and he just out of nowhere opened the door and came out to approach Zirvesh who was nearby trying to open the door. I hate to admit it, but the way she fooled him long enough for myself and Raeniu to get inside was... impressive. She has a gift with words, enough to fool anyone. Perhaps I should try to learn more of that? I'm far too blunt. Anyway... Jen'thra lay within, the brazen cur. We managed to beat her down into submission and I flung her over my shoulder. By the time we opened the door to get out, Zunda and Zirvesh had begun massacring the Apprentice whilst he was confused and distracted. Safe to say that this was another Lord with pitiful minions. Bundling the unconscious Jen'thra into a box and covering her in medpacs and various clothes to disguise her, we snuck out of the complex whilst the rest of the base was distracted and headed back to Th'Asidra.

On the flagship, Lord Tokiai said I had performed adequately, which if you knew the Lord it meant very good as he never -ever- gives out compliments. Taking that in my stride, I proceeded to return Jen'thra to her rightful place, the ray shield prisons of the Horuset estate. There, I spoke with her for what felt like hours. She tried lecturing me, she was sobbing and crying about her friends, afeared by my face and what it represented. They always try to lecture me, but I have no need for it. I have beyond their attatchments, beyond their fear because I thrive on it. Their hatred and anger feeds me.
With that in mind, I'll be sure to unleash it all in the next trial. I cannot wait.

End Holo Recording."

*The holo record shuts off quickly, the image of the Rattataki disappears as well swiftly.*

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((Originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, February 2017))

Entry Two: Lessons in Earnest

*A tall, broad and muscularly lithe figure clad in the darkened robes of an acolyte steps into the holoframe. He sighs lightly and scratches his head softly.*

"Entry two of my holodiary.

Today I spent most of my time training in Djem So with Trakaton at the request of Lord Tokiai. So much so that I ended up being late for a training with Apprentice Therdel. No doubt the Human will go whine to one of the Lords, I've grown accustomed to this sort of behaviour.

Regardless, myself and Zirvesh as per usual went full out during training to test each others capabilities. As it was a force training exercise, naturally she excelled but I wouldn't let that stop me. Instead, I poured my emotions into it; the clarity I usually gain in the heat of battle where my hatred, anger and fear become one entity... I made it difficult to say the least. I even got to fight one of the newcomers, but sadly I didn't hear Therdel state that I was only meant to batter him for one minute. I was unsurprised by the fact that the apprentice to Darth Horuset has much to offer.

After Therdel's lesson, myself and Zirvesh once more took to training. It seems she's started to learn techniques of entering another's mind to probe it and establish a connection. It's rather bothersome, and I find my untrained mind is unable to keep up for long. This I shall remedy at some point.

Sadly, the Lorekeeper Jädie interrupted. She's a wise Echani but has a penchant for entering into the sphere of the acolyte world just to dismemeber it and dismantle any semblance of knowledge. She reminds me of my studies of the Sith Triumvirate, Darth Traya that is. She feigns friendship with an ulterior motive. I can't tell whether her expression of love would be easily translated into hate. "

*Hirak sighs lightly and rubs his forehead, pressing his gloved hands alongside his tribal tattoos*

"Perhaps I have thrown myself too deeply into this cave, and I must retreat. "

*The holorecording ends as Hirak steps out of shot, allowing the beams from the holorecorder to shut off instantly and return to it's motionless state.*

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((Originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, February 2017))

Entry 3: Shii-Cho and the Importance of Subtlety

*Hirak once more steps into the frame, he limps heavily as he does so, a rather large bandage wrapped around his left thigh. A gloved hand flushes across his head leaving a red streak that lasts only a second across the top of his bald head. His eyebrows curtain together for a moment in a powerful frown before he eases them and lets out a long sigh of relief.*

"Entry three to my holodiary.

Today's events have opened my eyes to many possibilities. I had done as requested of me all day until our supposed Kizia lesson. I was unsure about this, it's not something I've been taught and I've always been told only the Purebloods could truly utilise it. I was pretty eager to prove that wasn't the case...

A change of plans, however. Lord Tokiai took over from Lord Saud and prepared a saber combat lesson. Starting with Shii-Cho. He asked who felt they were near mastering the form, and I raised my hand to say that I felt that way, having learnt as many of the moves as possible  and ways to interlock the strikes. However, I did not give our teacher the correct answer on combinations. I must remember that combinations allow us to become instinctive with the saber form, utilising the force as our trump card. When told this, I felt anger because this -is- an instinctive feeling. I do not doubt Lord Tokiai's teachings but his questions are always ambiguous as if he wants you to say the wrong thing...

Regardless, I learnt - I made a few more errors only due to a lapse in memory. This will be remedied, however. At the end of it we learnt a new combination:"

*Hirak reaches up to grab the hilt of the training saber attached across the back of his robe, pulling it from it's bindings. He then holds it int he traditional Shii-Cho stance of a two handed grip, his dominant hand nearer the hilt, the blade pointing 45 degrees away from him diagonally towards the ceiling. His dominant right foot is slightly further back from him. He then, as he speaks, attacks utilising the moves that he shouts out in a very authoritative tone.*

"Cho mok Zone 3 Feint! Cho Mai Zone 2! Sai Tok Zone 1! There..."

*Hirak sheathes the blade back into it's binding and stands up straight, his right hand instinctively rubbing his left leg.*

"At least now it's recorded whilst it's still fresh. A Shii-Cho combination.

After the lesson, I waited nearby the crystal formation due to Lord Saud and Lord Tokiai having a private conversation. I don't always like to pry but it's the first time I heard either of them... flirt with another living being. I am unsure whether to be disturbed or honoured by such a once in a lifetime sighting. Regardless, I learnt some interesting things: Lord Tokiai finds his strengths lie in Djem So and Shii-Cho, with greater knowledge pursued in the others. He considers Ataru a baseless and form lacking enjoyment. He finds his Makashi form lacking, however, and his Niman and Juyo are far from mastery (both of which he learnt from the Exile Lord). Lord Saud, strangely, does not consider herself competent in Niman - a form I would've expected her to know - but has wide knowledge of Makashi and Ataru for blaster defense. Unsurprisingly, Lord Saud never needs to draw her blade, although I have seen her pull it out from her sleeve; an interesting invention I must admit.

That was all interesting until Korse decided to butt in. She's become a rather intrusive annoyance, but I suppose that's Lord Tokiai mandate. I managed to palm her off onto an imperial officer and thought nothing more of it until said imperial officer later came to get me on Lord Tokiai's orders. I was to be punished because setting the Massassi onto an imperial captain is apparantly treason... Safe to say, Lord Tokiai didn't say I couldn't hide which I did. I spent a long time hidden behind crates in the Office until the officer found me, whilst the Massassi stomped around outside looking for me. I'm fairly sure I heard her slip up on one of the carpets. Anyway, after the Officer called me out, I managed to escape once more using the force as my ally.

Annoyingly, Occularis joined the hunt. I dislike how willingly she bends to another's will.  I then hid inside the Kolto tank upstairs in the medbay. Again, I avoided them until Korse and the Captain finally found me. It was frustrating to say the least but whilst Korse was attempting to smash open the kolto tank I projected an image of the Zabrak braiding Zirvesh's hair. Safe to say, it worked a treat and she flung off towards Occularis. Sadly, Lord Tokiai and the Lorekeeper were present and managed to avert this. By this point, I decided that I had enough of hiding. I stepped out, only to be shot in the leg and then threatened with imprisonment. Lord Tokiai's orders weren't being followed, so I hobbled back behind the Kolot tank to escape whilst the recently entered Arsus and Korse were fighting. Occularis tried to stop me, so I smashed her in the gut before the Imperial tried to shoot me in the chest. This was stopped by the Lorekeeper who ripped his weapon from him... thankfully, or I'd not be standing here right now.

A very eventful evening which ended with the last Vipion of Ziost mending my leg. I can't say I didn't enjoy it all... it reminded me of Home."

*With a simple smirk, ending it with a swift rub of his hand across his jawline, the Rattataki limps out of shot with the transmission ending soon after.

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((Originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, February 2017))

Entry 4: Lord Rai, Lord Saud and Darth Horuset

*The familiar pale skinned Rattataki steps into the frame of the holorecording. On this occasion, the male is completely topless with only trouser like clothing wrapped around his lower body in the usual fashion. Around his left shoulder, kolto bandages weave across the left side of his chest and down past his right side, covering his torso diagonally from the left shoulder. Before speaking, Hirak instinctively rubs it and cracks his neck by move his head from side to side.*

"Minor injuries from the previous night.

Since the last entry there has been nothing out of the ordinary. Djem So training has continued, I've furthered my grasp on the saber form and feel as if I'm coming to terms with it's brutality.

I was going to comment and discuss our efforts to find an item of use for the apprentices and Lords, including the discovery of a map but really it is all pointless. Such a story pales in comparison to what happened last night.

We had heard rumours that Lord Saud had once, before her engagement to Lord Zarrious, been with an Arkanian. None of us really knew his name. Last night, after a chance meeting I followed Lord Saud and Lord Tokiai down into the main antechamber. There, the Dark Lord had arrived with such an Arkanian in tow. He was withered, like an old bag, a mere sack of a man; more like a straw-hide cover than a mighty bastion of Sith power. He was nothing. Yet, the effect his presence had on Lord Saud... I cannot deny such emotion almost sent me into a spiral. It was a feeling I craved and have craved, to force someone so strong, so manipulative into a frenzy. I can barely even get the words out. "

*Hirak's usual non-chalant expression twists and turns into a vision of pure malice, his lips curling into a snarling smirk baring all his sharp teeth whilst his eyes widen and his pupils dilate with total excitement.*

"That sort of mental anguish is a desirable affliction for any seeking power. Darth Horuset utilised it in such a way I never thought possible. Eight years, he said, that her lover had been kept hidden away in the Spire. She never looked once, hidden in plain sight but never too far away. Such an agonising thought. It sent Lord Saud crazy, she was unable to do anything and it was the final straw when Darth Horuset choked the Arkanian as he tried to speak. He saber ignited, she killed the man she truly loved, beyond the feigns and the fake ceremony of her engagement to Lord Tokiai (perhaps more of a settlement due to the lack of other suitable purebloods). That was power, a power she will reap from no doubt. It was in this confusion that I saw a moments clarity. The man was dying and in a very short time I had a limited opportunity to see everything, to know everything possible and to find Lord Saud's weakest moments. Instead, I found out something very differently; I saw in the final dying moments of this Arkanian..."

*Hirak stops speak and brings a hand to his head. He leaves it there as he speaks, his speech strained*

"...Nothing I can truly state right now."

*Relaxing and breathing out his troubled mind, utilising the pace at which his diaphragm sucked in air to steady his heartbeat, the Rattataki steadies his form once more allowing his arms to rest easy at his sides.*

"Beyond that, I immediately was force into a battle against Trakaton in front of the Dark Lords. He is their favoured pet, currently. Beyond that struggle, I had only one goal in mind: show the Dark Lords that -I-, Hirak the Rattataki, are the bar that they set. Any below that bar and swept under the rug, and those above should fear the day that I rise up and swallow their ambition. I felt that was accomplished last night as I forced him to utilise traps, to become forced onto the back-foot just to get back into the fight. That was enough, my victory was not the loss but simply the knowledge I gained and the confidence I felt from my own victories.

Perhaps I'll muse more on that later, but right now my mind is simply -unable- to draw itself away from Darth Horuset's victory over Lord Saud. A pertinent reminder of the power he wields. Maybe one day that'll change...
Hirak signing out."

*The Rattataki steps out of the frame and then the transmission suddenly cuts off. Nothing more to be said.*

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((Originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, February 2017))

Entry Five: Force Intrusion

*A pale skinned Rattataki steps into the holoframe, his whole body appearing much like it would in any holocommunicator. Hirak peers out towards the left hand side of the frame, unwilling to stare into his usual spot as he speaks. The male folds his arms and frowns deeply before speaking.*

"Strengthening one's power in the force is an ultimate advantage against all those who have no usage. Sadly, it also means that your mind is fair game to those who've bent the force to their will.

To combat this, we've been training force intrusion by Lord Saud. It was necessary for us to push our force sense outwards to sense the emotional state of another being and then utilise our understanding of their emotions to determine whether something is a lie or not. This is the beginning step towards such powers like Drain Knowledge. It's... still a far way off but this gives an insight into discovering information.

To this end I practiced with Zirvesh..."

*Hirak shudders and then snorts, he seems more than slightly displeased.*

"She was once an apprentice before, her knowledge and her force capabilities are strong; it's well known that she's a favoured pureblood. Other than Trakaton, I know not one more favoured than she, and it's blatantly obvious. I was a fool to think that I could fight fire with fire, but eventually our training regime has grown.

We moved on from sensing emotion to establishing a link and being able to converse with another via the force. She battered my sense down and then applied force intrusion to discover whether or not I'm lying. This way, all our training could be done via a link and we could delve deeper into what it truly means to tell the truth from lies, like picking apart a worm infested apple from a good batch.

I let my emotions get the better of me and gave her too much, especially after the Lorekeeper butted her nose in once more. It was frustrating. But I'll get my own back at some point, it's a good thing that I've discovered information about my own species... the Rattataki mind is exceptionally strong at mental defense against the force, a hard nut to crack so they say. It requires some training but I'll eventually be an impenetrable wall, unable to be swayed or compelled to do someone else's bidding. I'll be independant.

End transmission."

*As Hirak speaks he walks off the frame and the holorecording ends, shooting back into the device.*

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, February 2017))

Entry 6: Mental Defenses and Force Apparitions

*Hirak walks into the frame, and brings up a chair. He sits down panting heavily, worn out with dark circles underneath his eyes. One hand moves up to his left eye and rubs it. He frowns deeply and snarls at sudden pain.*

"A lesson learnt from attempting to bridge the gap between two minds and not raising your defenses. My mind has been plagued by visions of Lord Rai, the one known as Vindictos, the fallen lover of Lord Saud a long time ago. He was an Arkanian and... I've learnt a lot.

I see visions of him. His pale pallid face appearing before me. I can't get these thoughts out of my mind. One simply mistake of not protecting my mind... how was I to know he was this strong? I knew nothing until I tapped in. I hate making mistakes. I hate them, I hate them, I hate them!

And now, the Lorekeeper... very intrusive as always... claims I could lose my sanity from this. I could lose my memories in favour of Vindictos' own, I could become the Arkanian in a Rattataki shell. How... disgusting. I've barely even had my own history!"

*Hirak roars with rage and picks up something off scene, a chair perhaps, with the force before launching it over to the other side making it crash loudly into the wall. He'd snarl, then kick the original chair he was sitting on away to the side completely overtaken by his rage.*

"At leats the Lorekeeper was useful and offered me some solace. No doubt I'll be indebted to her and that will present it's own problems. She'll attempt to gain Lord Saud's aid in removing the memories from my mind into a safer vassal so they can be stored and viewed, although I doubt Lord Saud will be told of this fact... maybe I'll retain some in my own mind? For now, I've been instructed to store what little I can in my own holocron, the one the Echani gave me for the previous trial. I can only store singular thoughts at a time, in very small amounts, but it does seem to lessen the blow..."

*Hirak breathes in deeply and appears to calm down. He then fetches the chair he kicked over, leaning down to pick it up and then sit upon it once more.*

"Besides this, we had a visit from Darth Vipion after an incident involving the Massassi. I don't want to go into too much detail other than the fact that Massassi are very dumb but brutish and too trusting of their tribe. Arsus wouldn't have suffered the way he did if he had had the foresight to listen to me and not invoke the wrath of Darth Horuset's sister, who in turn must've told Darth Horuset who proceeded to truly smash the pair of them. My Rattataki survival instincts outdo theirs, seemingly.

Regardless, in other recent news I met Lord Tokiai and Raeniu's father for the first time. It was... terrifying. Such a presence, it felt wrong and almost too disgusting to bear yet oddly comforting. I felt this hatred, this anger was understandable. I could relate to it. I could seethe in it and bathe in such a power, it was almost addictive. I could barely move from it.

Just goes to show really the strength of a Darth, the fear bred from it was intoxicating, I could almost smell it from the others. Sadly, Theran ruined it all by making Lord Saud order me out of the room. Clean up blood... is that what I'm truly worth to them now? Aljo I'd expect but me?"

*Grunts and rubs a pale hand across the top of his forehead, feeling the streaked tattoos on the side of his head softly and slowly.*

"Things will be shifting in the house soon, the norm will turn upside down. I can't wait for the chaos.

End transmission."

*Hirak would not move but stare down at the ground and sigh, as if finally finding some rest for what might seem like a very long time. The Holorecording waits a few moments before shutting off, draining the blue light down into the device once more.*

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((Originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, March 2017))

Entry 7 - The Final Dujozi Trial



*Hirak steps into the shot of the holorecording with a sling over his left shoulder. He winces somewhat from the whole ordeal before bringing up a chair like in the last holorecording. The acolyte seems worn, restless nights perhaps, signalled by the heavy bags under his eyes. Yet his eyes sparkle with a sort of defiance, as if his own soul was reaching out from his body just to stay afloat.*

"Matters have progressed significantly.

Yesterday the Dujozi Acolytes faced their final trial, and truly it was a trial by fire. Never have I seen such horrors before, nor felt such sickening taint. To fight a Sithspawn, one I correctly estimated was a Terentatek before we even entered, is truly the apex of my life as an acolyte thus far. It's hide was impenetrable, it's stench unbearable, it's blood toxic and its saliva almost... I don't know the biological term for it but it broke down fleshy matter into an edible substance. In essence, a terrifying beast to fight on Dromund Fels.

I believe the other acolytes and even the apprentices underestimate our capable, tactical and intuitive minds as a group; save Zunda perhaps, she barely makes suggestions. Regardless, we've overcome every obstacle by powering through it and ample preparation. It was made evident to me last night by Zaryaa's boastful tirade. She'd scored high for beating the weaker acolytes up, like an Akk Dog bullying a Womp Rat..."

*Hirak laughs and then coughs, clearly finding himself very funny. He winces slightly as his shoulder pains him.*

"... I'll explain why that's hilarious in a minute, extracting information on Quesh (albeit the world itself is dangerous but the task hardly rivalled it), and the slaying of Womp Rats as an offworld beast hunt (hence why I used that metaphor earlier!). Yet, the audacity to say she has the capability of myself, Trakaton, Zirvesh or Raeniu? It's appauling. In fact, I have no doubt in my mind that she'll get herself killed at some point for it. However, I can't say I don't love her erratic behaviour - but then again I've always favoured chaos over peace. Perhaps she'll be tamed by time.

Regardless, I've digressed, to the plan! After I had found a broken, long tooth from the beast still embedded in one of the foolish souls who had died before the beasts wrath, we ventured into the cave and hatched our plan. A bunker would be built on a high point in the cave so that we could fire off the repeater rifles we brought with us, the tooth would be attached firmly to a stalactite above and with the thermal detonators we'd dislodge them. From there, Raeniu and Zirvesh would guide the stalactite down on top of the beast, whilst other stalactites fell from the sky to hopefully pin it. At that point, we'd attack it's wound; later on we fashioned spikes out of ice from the outside area, much like we had done on Tatooine against the Rancor! Myself and Zunda would fire the blasters at it's eyes, trying to distract it or do some sort of damage.

After hatching the plan we set off to explore the rest of the cave and the summit ruins we eventually found. I'd have to ask Trakaton what truly happened in those ruins but I believe they found the Sithspawn, and after stealing some of the Sith Runes they found in the area it chased them. By this point I had taken all the ice spikes back down to our trap location, had begun to set up our positions and readied everything. Trakaton eventually came back with the runes and suggested we bring down a pillar or two to trip the beast as it comes. After doing that, we positioned the Sith Runes around them as the strange items slowed the beast down, according to the Pureblood. Regardless, we then got ready to prepare. Zirvesh, Raeniu and Zunda come around the corner as if their lives depended on it and the creature had disappeared...

We waited for what felt like hours until it appeared once more out of smoke, like a cannon it shot towards us. This was our moment, the detonators went off, the beast slowed by the rune was hit by the stalactites which did -NOTHING- to it until Zirvesh and Raeniu expertly shoved the tooth embedded stalactite into it's shoulder. It near about tore it's arm off and slammed straight into the bunker. The others moved away to the left, I drew it's attention by leaping up further behind myself. From there, we all used the ice spikes to sever it at it's right shoulder, making it bleed so heavily... I-.. I'd never seen so much blood before. "

*Hirak instinctively reaches up to his left shoulder now, gripping it slightly as he speaks, staring into the holocom's direction*

"I got caught by one of the swipes as I tried to avoid it, launching me into a wall and breaking my damn shoulder... a small price to pay for pulling off the plan correctly and giving us victory.

It then turned before wailing in death, dying from severe blood loss. It was terrifying, and our greatest victory. After we had all recovered and calmed down, each of us except Raeniu managed to take one of the Sith Runes back so that we might have some sort of bounty or trophy to return to Lord Tokiai. I had other plans though, opening up the belly of the beast to see what it had eaten inside... I sadly found one of my own kind, a Rattataki, half digested but not totally so I couldn't search him.

A lighter. I do love these lighters and it appears to be part of the set I'm collecting. It's... very precious to me this one. My own species lighter. I will continue to search for more though."

*Hirak reaches into his pocket and pulls out the bent over female Rattataki lighter, flicking it on and off for a few moments before pocketing the device. He'd grin widely.*

"Which reminds me, I need to be careful of Therdel. The apprentice said he wanted to open me up when I requested medical attention for my shoulder. If I hadn't manage to contact Trakaton, I could've been dissected by him... I do not know what's gotten into his head but he's mentally unstable. He whispered to me that one day he'll "find out what secrets lay within" me. All I know is that he won't get a chance to touch me... not yet at least. "

*Hirak sighs deeply and looks down, his right hand moving away from his pocket where he had just put away the lighter and instead rests on his face for a moment. He rubs it up and down as if trying to waken his motor neurones from the stimulation.*

"I'm unsure now what the future holds, we have completed the trials and now we must wait for the Lords to decide what becomes of us. Perhaps soon I'll be updating my holodiary with tales of apprenticeship and training under a new master. In all honesty, my whole body shakes with anticipation, I've been yearning for this day for so long... I can barely contain myself.

Five new apprentice? I hope the other acolytes fear that. End transmission"

*Hirak gets up and moves towards the holocom before ending it. He seems to manually switch it off this time. His gait as he walks up seems to betray his excitement as he's very light on his feet, almost hopping to the device before shutting it off completely.*

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, March 2017))

Entry 8 - Apprentice Therdel and Force Wounds

*Hirak steps into the frame of the holorecording, clad in his usual black robed self, his training saber attached firmly to his back brace. A brimming, gleaming expression on the Rattataki's face. He seems amused rather than his usually apathetic self.*

"It seems that my progress in the Dujozi Acolyte Trials has garnered a lot of attention. Apprentice Therdel, the apprentice to Darth Horuset, offered myself and Trakaton private tutoring in lightsaber combat before we ascend to the rank of Apprentice. My personal experience with Therdel is often mixed but one cannot deny he knows a lot about saber focused combat having beaten lords before as well as other apprentices.

Our training was early, a fresh morning truly and before a statue of the once emperor Vitiate no less. Training me explicitly in Juyo, he forced me to unravel my emotions and force my own control upon them. It is... a difficult matter to do such for my own emotions, I find it difficult to harness such strength due to my previous past experiences... but nonetheless it helped. After our grueling exercise, he took me back down to the camp we walked up from in Dromund Kaas and the Apprentice had captured a pregnant Rattataki woman. This woman I recognised to be Kolia, a fellow gladiator from back home. She was pregnant, supposedly with twins.  It must've been many years, not since I was taken to Korriban, that I had seen her. It was like she had not aged. But my friend had been caught, by the sadist Therdel no less. I knew she'd be destroyed utterly and her children taken too. So I did the right thing by my people and killed her myself, leaving the children alive.  If they grow up they can take their revenge, but she got caught and this was the only true release from her slavery.

Regardless, other than that outside training, it seems that Therdel has also thrown himself under a bus by declaiming Darth Vipion's niece (her name is Temekel, she's never given me a reason to hate her but like any Sith Pureblood she has an air about her... I'm sure I'll make my mind up on her soon) as a "wound in the force". Apparently, she almost destroyed the apprentice with some vacuum of power whilst he tried to permeate her mind. This annoyed the Lorekeeper no end. Temekel clearly wasn't a force wound, it seemed that Therdel had gotten confused or something. I'm not too sure what goes through that human's head anymore, honestly. Regardless, the Lorekeeper had to fix it."

*Hirak smirks, his Rattataki barbed teeth show as his lips curl into a vicious grin.*

"She really went to town on him. No doubt she won the argument as the Apprentice found himself rising up in anger unable to control his emotions in the face of such an aggravating assault.

Regardless, tomorrow we become Apprentices or simply stuck in between. I have no idea what the future will hold but surely it'll be... interesting to say the least. "

*Hirak continues to smirk brightly before waving a hand at the holorecorder.*

"End transmission".

*The holorecording switches off, the blue light image of Hirak disappears back into the device.*

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, March 2017))

The Apprentice

Entry 9: The Rattataki Apprentice

*A Rattataki dressed in blackened armour , a chest plate adorned over the top and one side strapped with a shoulder guard. Attached to his back is a vibroblade, the hilt stretching up over his head whilst the blade is nearly covered by an scabbard, a slit in the side making it accessible easily for the user. A glint in the pale blue eyes of the Alien shines a sort of pride, clearly he is in one of the happiest moments*

"Today I became an Apprentice. I will explain... We were called up rather suddenly to the meeting room, all the Dujozi, and addressed by Lord Saud and Lord Tokiai with the Darth's sister present as a witness. We were congratulated by all and proclaimed ready for the next step. Yet the Lord's decided that we also needed to remember our humble beginnings, where we came from and so decided to annihilate us with words so that we entered our apprenticeship with a clear mind, at least that's what I thought.

Thankfully Lord Tokiai gave me a rather backhanded compliment . He said I did better than my genome suggests which in his terms is higher praise than anything, despite calling me dense. Whilst I am a rather blunt individual I think he'll find I'm able to do far more damage as a dense brick than an alluring venus fly trap. Regardless, as my words betray I was assigned to him with Zirvesh, the rather quiet and obstinate Pureblood who no doubt will come out of her shell soon enough. Trakaton and Raeniu were assigned to Lord Saud with the former clearly hating the step down from Darth Horuset. Zunda was left as Tyro although has since been picked up by Cautus.

So, that's the news."

*Hirak smirks brightly at the Holorecorder, it betrays his sick satisfaction.*

"Lord Tokiai spoke with us after and has set us the task to find out how to create our synthesised Red Crystals. No doubt I will spend all my time doing so.

It's important to note the change of status that becoming an apprentice bears. The acolytes all bow to you, something I've never been accustomed to, and even the most troublesome, proud acolyte must dip their head and call me "My Lord". Satisfying is an understatement.

The future does indeed look bright."

*Hirak waves his hand and the Holorecorder shuts off, disappearing into the device.*

[Trakaton Kalkoran]

((Originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, March 2017))

Entry 10: Of Rattatak and Saber Crystals

*Hirak moves into the frame and paces somewhat. After a short while of stepping across the floors of what likes like the Estate of House Vipion, their large decorated walls surrounding the locale just behind Hirak, the Rattataki brings out his hand as a compact glowing red crystal floats around it like a toy. Hirak stares at it for a moment, peering towards it with some malice before looking up. His eyes have changed, the once pale blue that many would've have known the Rattataki to possess has suddenly diluted into a sickening amber colour. Nothing quite remains of the Male's once peaceful, calm looking visage (except for the scarring of course) but rather a malestrom, a tempest as it were, of hatred and malice washing over his face. The amber eyes glow as the Apprentice stares towards the holorecorder. For a moment he seems lost in his thoughts, composing his mind, before putting the crystal away, standing up straight and talking to the recording device.*

"As you may have noticed a few things have changed. I'll explain why in a moment but the most important part of it all is that I now have achieved the hardest part. I have forged a red saber crystal from my own malice and hatred, my own connection to the Dark Side. It is attuned to me and me alone.

To do this I ventured to Rattatak with my master, Lord Tokiai. It had been years since I'd left there. I had spent the majority of my youth fighting and killing in the pits to the North under the Warlord Netekur, who was even by the standards of my people a ruthless bastard. Regardless, we pressed on scouring the barren plains for any sign of life. Eventually we came across a ruined shelter near the pits of the central lands, famed for their brutality. My master sat me down and taught me the way to harness the power of everything around me to build a crystal. He showed me the three steps, one could do it at once but it required some practice. He told me the following:

- 'You must draw on your emotions, feed your hatred, your suffering, your rage, your fear, call upon it and draw onto it. Then allow those emotions to reach out and connect with the planet around you, connect with the Dark Side aura of this and use it as a focus point. Draw it into yourself, draw all that power so that it connects with you. Pull it into your centre and focus it, combine it all into one single mind. Your mind must be resolute, or it will kill you, no chance to turn back you must be one hundred percent committed. Then you draw it up through your shoulders and down into your arms, with both hands facing towards the forge you must concentrate the energy into the dark side furnace to build the crystal. Once it's focused into your arms you will notice the crackling of the dark side forming akin to lightning around you. Then, with all your might draw it into the centre of your hand and pour as much power into it as you can give without dying. This process will drain you completely if done correctly and in one go. However, you can do this two ways: the first is by building it up piece by piece or you can do it in one go. Creating it all at once will make a far superior crystal.' -

So, with that knowledge in mind, I practiced and practiced. He made me do the first option multiple times so that I might be ready to do it all at once near the pit. At this point, Lord Tokiai left to allow me to continue my task undisturbed. Instead, a contact was sent, one of my own kind. His name was Uattoral and whilst much larger than me had a certain tact to his way of thinking. I made him call me my Lord, as he had forgotten but then also called him brother. He said to me 'Either you are a Sith or you are of Rattatak, you cannot be both'. And whilst I thought of that I realised he was right, and I had to make a decision over the course of the next few hours before I left.
So we ventured further south, down the mountains and into the back entrance of one of the arena pits, covered by the the huge rock formations of my homeworld."

*Hirak shudders at the thought and then reaches for a chair with the force, dragging it across the floor to him so that he might sit down which he does, still staring off into the holorecorder with dark brooding eyes.*

"I could feel the slaughter as soon as we got close. The Dark Side was so strong in this place, all the death only helped to augment it's original strength. So we ventured further inside, managing to blot out all the cameras so that we entered the Vipion booth unsuspected... Yes, I'm sure you wonder why House Vipion has a booth in a Rattatak arena? Well, so do I, but it must be because the Darth himself enjoys the sight of the Rattataki people... killing each other. That's besides the point... anyway, I move forward to the middle to sit down in a meditative position before the forge, ready to begin forming the crystal. The forge itself was not magnificent, it simply hummed with dark energies much like the arena. Simple in design, more akin to a crucible with tools and higher walled edges that surrounded the focal point of the furnace. Darkened red and streaks of black to fit the colour scheme one might imagine of a Saber Forge.

I began straight away... "

*Hirak then begins to show exactly what he did, sitting down himself on the floor he begins to do the actions, allowing the hatred, the fear and the intense agony of his past well up within him. The effects of this would clearly be shown by a large Dark Side aura of red surrounding him and eventually as the story goes, the effects he describes also happen except for the final product.*

"I drew it in, I thought of everything that had pained me. My fear of death, my fear of never being strong enough, my fear of failure, my hatred against those who had squashed me into the ground, my anger against all those who stood in my way, the rage I felt and the enjoyment of battle, the thrill of murdering those before me; those who stepped in my way of power. I funneled this energy into myself, and connected to my homeworld... and it, Glorious Rattatak, spoke back to me in ways I had forgotten but also never recognised. It roared with fury, with the power of the Dark Side, it strangled all my failures into one chokehold: success. I will succeed. The words in Rattataki poured out of me even as I did not speak, it thrummed around me like a chant egging me on. With such power surrounding me I drew it in and focused it into one furious direction. With no going back, with little doubt in my mind I forged on like I had nothing left to lose. I drew this power up through my core and into both my arms, allowing the dark purple lightning to crackle off me so intensely I thought it my rip me apart. But that pain, that agony, only thrust me onwards. It drove me towards my goal and I -LOVED- it. It was glorious.

And as my tribesmen, my own species, died before me in the area throwing their crimson blood around to spatter against our notable pale skin, I thrust all this energy from my hands into the darkened forge before me to burst into life a mighty crystal that will serve me. No faults, no cracks, simply my will alone infused in one single red crystal at the perfect size. It took everything from me almost, and I had to give that willingly. I did give that willingly. After I had forged it, I was spent; unable to move my whole body drained until it recovered, I simply just lay there. Uattoral approached me from the side and slapped me awake. It worked... it jolted my system and eventually after a few minutes rest I was able to stand up and claim my crystal, my glorious red crystal. It called to me.. and told me it's name. 'Kor'ak', it means 'The Bloodied' in my tongue. Bloodied with the energy of my homeworld and it's people, their lives forged me into what I truly am: a Sith."

*Hirak groans and stands up himself, disappating the aura that he had summoned around him. He looks back at the Holorecording with his amber eyes.*

"We left the cave and by that time I had made my decision about who I am. I turned to the larger beast that had escorted me and launched him backwards into a wall and told him to bow, which he did, for I -AM- Sith now, no longer just a Rattataki ex-slave...

So I left in the Vipion shuttle, I hope I never return unless it's to conquer the entire planet under my thumb.

End transmission."

*Hirak waves a hand, but instead of his usual smirk that betrays his vicious tendencies, he retains a pallid, stone-cold expression. This was no joke or game to him, but a serious notion. Regardless, after a moment the holorecording disappears back into the device.*