Personal Studies: House Saltaeon

[Joslae]

Spoiler: OOC Disclaimer

This is Joslae's personal studies into her families history. And my way of documenting it and sharing my writing for the public. Public being the players of HH, and Sith as well. This can be read ICly, but not by Acolytes or Imperials. I will also be adding more to this as I write more, and do look forwards to finally being able to share my lore with the wonderful people of Horuset.

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Entry #001

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"I am not one for idle retrospective, but sometimes my hand is forced. As heir to House Saltaeon I must study my ancestors, which is a difficult task considering the mass amount of ancient lore that I can look through. These entries will serve as a means to collect my thoughts in a concise manner, and to divide different topics and parts of history into more manageable chunks. This first entry will be to set the groundwork, to talk about what Saltaeon is, or what they should be. Disclosing my personal opinions about the family is not quite appropriate for these entries and I will attempt to write as though looking at the family from an outside perspective.
I suppose as good a place to start would be the current Patriarch, Darth Vhial. The Dark Lord is of course my father, and has acted as Patriarch since the death of my grandfather during the Sacking of Coruscant. Note his title, Darth Vhial and not Darth Saltaeon. This comes down to family tradition that we still adhere to, in that to hold the title of Lord or Darth Saltaeon one must hold the approval of the majority of the family. My grandfather was Lord Saltaeon, a feat he achieved by taking advantage of war to reduce the number of rivals, though his reign lasted just a few years. Darth Vhial is a respectable Sith in terms of strength and experience, but he has certain ideals and goals that do not sit well with the rest of the family, and thus he is named Darth Vhial. This primarily comes from his involvement with the Sphere of Biotic Science, rather than the more traditional Sphere of Ancient Knowledge that my grandfather and his father were members of.
Since Darth Vhial became Patriarch the family, and powerbase, has become substantially more public, even going so far as to maintain several large plots of land across major worlds in the Empire and keeping a small defensive fleet. This massive change came about from when Darth Vhial served his previous master, some Darth Valdes or the like, and was required to fill the public role of advisor to his master.
Before Darth Vhial there was Lord Saltaeon, a warrior of little renown and an alchemist of little talent. His name was barely recorded, he had no allies and very few enemies. A ghost in the shadowed parts of the Empire. Lord Saltaeon fought throughout the Great Galactic War, but did not live to see its end. During the Sacking of Coruscant Lord Saltaeon was present at the attack on the Senate Tower led by Darth Angral, but was killed during a counter attack by Republic security forces and at least one Jedi. Thus ending the era of Lord Saltaeon.

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With that topic covered, I would like to briefly mention the ideal Saltaeon. And that is a Sith knowledgeable in the arts of Alchemy and Sorcery. This stems from the earliest founders of the House practicing both those arts, and as tradition they have stayed with the family over the years. Many Sith who have held the family name have strived to advance their alchemical or sorceress knowledge further than the last, but there are naturally limits to that. And so in recent generations there has been a larger focus on alchemy, although thanks to my father’s contribution I do not believe any can surpass him. We will see with time. Maybe my brother will come close one day. I do believe that House Saltaeon may hold one of the largest repositories of lore concerning Sith Alchemy in the modern Empire, though much of it is restricted in access even to myself.
But this concludes my first recorded study of Saltaeon, going forwards the topics will dive further into history and more unique aspects of our culture."

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[Joslae]

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Entry #002

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"My second entry for my studies, this focusing on the very early history of House Saltaeon. Which is a topic of discussion, due to the uncertain origins of the family line. Each member of the family holds personal theories concerning original members and dates. I'll try to cover the most popular theories.

The earliest is that House Saltaeon was present during the Reign of Adas. Roughly 24,000 years ago from our current. The name linked to this era is Hosar. Some more elderly and stoic members of Saltaeon claim we are descended from Hosar, an advisor and sorcerer during that ancient era. There is little evidence to support this aside from claims and legends. Though it is still plausible that Hosar, also named Saltaon, served the Sith'ari and fathered our family line. He shares much with other members of my family.

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The second theory is that the family is much younger, and this is supported by the IRS. After the reclamation of Korriban at the start of the Great Galactic War a tomb was discovered belonging to Saltaeon. We know for certain this is where our family buried our greatest, and still do in this modern era. Searching the tomb shed more light on our history, placing some of the earliest members of Saltaeon as a few centuries before the arrival of the Jen'jidai to the Holy World. Thus placing the earliest known member, one named Daho, as around 3,700 years ago. Though Daho is just the earliest we can confirm, sections of the tomb are still lost due to the effect of age and time. Other details such as inscribed names or statues are worn down to the point that nothing could be learned.

I have been to the tomb just twice, it lies in the far southern reaches of Korriban, removed from much of the ancient cities and greater complexes. Not only does it act as a tomb but also a record of our history with great carvings and heroics. This is the source of much of my knowledge, and I shall talk more about the tomb further in future entries.

The next entry will cover the journal of one named Qunir Saltaeon."

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[Joslae]

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Entry #003

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"Third entry. Which I anticipate will be a bit shorter as I work through the journal of Qunir Saltaeon. This journal was burried with her in the family tomb, and is one of our oldest sources of information. It is roughly 3,300 years old. This places it well before the arrival of the Jen'jidai, but squarely during the reign of Dathka Graush.

Graush is a name that I must explain as it is an ancient name, but does not echo in our history like that of Ajunta Pal, Tulak Hord, or Naga Sadow. Graush was a Sith King who ruled Korriban. He and his warrior followers raged a bloodly civil war across the Holy World. And in the end Korriban was much more desolate than it was before, the valleys filled with blood. And Graush named himself Sith'ari. As the supreme ruler he turned from war and looked to Alchemy and Sorcery, giving birth to some of the most terrifying creations. He raised undead to walk Korriban and created a crystal which trapped the souls of the fallen, which then replaced his beating heart. The jounral of Qunir documents much of his rise to power, and the terrible atrocities that happened in his name.

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His rule was bloody, perhaps more so than his conquest. I know about this conquest as the writings of Qunir reveal that members of House Saltaeon fought on both sides of the civil war. Though the majority did support Graush, they viewed him the best bet for survival. And they were right, those who fought against Graush were destroyed. Qunir does not seem to regret this, she looks at the situation entirely as a means of survival.

But the journal then goes on to describe the reign of the new Sith'ari. He accumulated mass numbers of corpses. Entire cities were torched and razed even during this aparent time of peace. Qunir marks him down as cruel and bloodthirsty, even by the standards of the Sith of that time. He passed the time with meaningless sacrifice and drinking of much blood. He traded his heart and soul for many more, and opened himself to cruelty which would know no ends. Qunir allegedly grew to lament her decision to support Graush. She atteneded multiple meetings with those that conspiried against him, those who would eventually send assassin's to behead the Sith'ari. But much of that is missing. I do not know if she eventually played a role in his death, or if she pulled out due to fear. But I know that Graush was killed, his artifacts scattered and his body entombed within the Valley of Golg. Qunir does not seem sorrowful about the loss of her leige, as it allowed her, her family, and her species to survive.

In the end I feel this shows an important part of my familites culture; to play both sides of a conflict and to act only for survival. This is required less in the modern era, but it shaped the history of Saltaeon. But this concludes the third entry."

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Entry #004

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"Forth entry, and long over due, Plooma and war held my attentions more than study. But now I have some time to consider the past and the future. It is known by al that Korriban was the place of birth for the Sith, but it was Ziost that the Sith were raised, it was our capital after the death of the First Sith'ari, and it is where the Jen'jidai found the original Sith. After Korriban was left as the grave world of our people the early House Saltaeon relocated to Ziost and made our home there until it was later abandoned during the Great Hypserpsace War, when we came to Dromund Kaas.

For thousands of years Ziost was the home and center of House Saltaeon, but when abandoned much knowledge was lost. When the Sith Empire returned to the galaxy those many decades ago it was my grandfather, Lord Saltaeon, that saw the family estate or temple on Ziost reclaimed. Some lost knowledge was recovered and all was well, until Emperor Vitiate destroyed that world and all upon it."

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The destruction of Ziost was a great loss to the whole Empire, not just to my family. Though we had recovered what we could from the old estate and relearnt much of our history from it. Though I never once visited, there was supposed to be miles of vaults built beneath an unassuming estate building, these vaults acted as either storage for artefacts or as places of ritual to practice alchemical arts. Though rather interestingly, when my father became Patriarch, he had a number of these vaults destroyed and knowledge locked away from the residents. I can half way support that; the estate on Ziost had been granted to a branch family while the primary family remained on Dromund Kaas. And if I were to believe the rumours, then one of my distant relatives, Hujas Saltaeon was burried alive in those vaults.

Hujas saw himself as quite the alchemist himself, if he spent so much time in those vaults then it may stand to reason a cruel punishment would be for him to be burried in them. However the official story is that he died in the war. I cannot confirm this, I may not travel to Ziost to investigate the ruins as much as I may. Even in their current state I would believe they hold many tales of my families past, perhaps records of what life was like for Saltaeon thousands of years ago. What family relics could be found in the above-ground estate, weapons and armour. Or what secrets remain in those vaults. Genetic codes for Sithspawn? Holocrons? Oubliettes?

Ziost holds a wealth of  information that I hunger for, and yet it is held from me. I may one day visit. But not for some time, not while the world remains cursed and so long as it is forbidden by my family. They fear their own secrets, and fear I will use what I find there to take Saltaeon for myself as is my right. Their fears are well placed. If I ever visit Ziost, I will write about what I find, for now I can only write about what may be there. A ruined estate nestled in a valley, used for the creation of Sithspawn and weapons, onced prized as one of the greatest breeding grounds of Sithspawn outside of Korriban."

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[Joslae]

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Entry #005

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"A delayed entry. I had to stop for a long time to gather my thoughts. To address what had to be addressed. The deal that I made with Lord Iezkon was that if any information about House Saltaeon was to be found in the archives it must be public information. There may be other Sith reading my own journel. Darth Vhial is dead, and I am the Matriarch of House Saltaeon and it's Powerbase."

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I was informed of this news by the Dark Lord, a few days after my father was killed by Jedi Master Zaran Xin. I don't know if he was weak or his enemy was strong. I don't think I care. But in the aftermath, there are now multiple copies of Saltaeon, refusing to see me as the rightful Matriarch. My uncle, Daqzul, is calling himself Lord Saltaeon. My grandaunt, Tulae, as ancient as she is, has ralied my great uncle Kayyun and has taken their part of the family into hiding. No doubt with many ancient pieces of knowledge. Other aunts and uncles flock to Daqzul, while I have barely my brother and youngest cousin at my side. But I am in the light of the Horuset Sun, my family are not. They will not have the choice to kneel and surrender.

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I entered the tombs on Korriban for the first time, with my brother, we laid our father to rest there. A simple stone casket for his body, with a quiet ritual. Some personal items left with him. A distant relative who I met just once decided to attend, being my elder he was the one who carried out the funeral rite. The tombs were cold, far more than I would have expected from even Korriban. As much as I hated my father, he deserved to be there in death, just like I will be when my duty is done. In the coming months I make contact with stone masons to arrange a chamber for myself. That is a grim thought, and what I will leave this on.

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[Joslae]

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Entry #006

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"Further studies, my time thinking about the name Saltaeon plagued by thoughts of war. And even now, it is less study of my history and rather some self reflection. I write this entry as Lord Saltaeon, raised about Household Sith. There are now two Lord Saltaeon's in the Empire. I came into the title after the War on Dubrillion, fulfilling my role as Envoy of War, and doing all in my power to beat back the Republic at every turn. Thus, I was raised to Lord of the Sith, I cannot comment if there is any notable traditions or rituals concerning the ascension to Lord within Saltaeon, I have never witness it."

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And now both my uncle and I hole the name Lord Saltaeon. I have no doubt he'll hear about it soon enough. By all rights of tradition I should not hold the name, a member of the Saltaeon family cannot be Lord Saltaeon without the support of the mainline family members, hence why my father was named Darth Vhial. But my family are traitors, and not able to speak against me. They are my enemies, and there will soon be a day where I am the one and true Lord Saltaeon. And if I must be the last to bear that name, so be it. My uncle must have used trickery to hold the name for himself. I know this is public within the archives, and that others are likely to read this, so they are my witnesses of the promise that I will kill my uncle and his traitor kin. Soon I will study Taral V, and the many weapons and artefacts that have been kept by my family there for centuries. Along with their guardians."

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[Joslae]

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Entry #007

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"It has been a long time since I have last delved into the lore of my ancestors. A long time indeed. I've changed since then, my grip on the title of Lord of the Sith is solid, my house reaches far and my wrath is unquestionable. And I have taken a husband. Sith Tarimra, or Valeus Vexal Horuset now bears my name as his. Horuset and Saltaeon, joined by ancient ceremony. Although one surprise that came during the ceremony came from one unexpected, Sith Zarchas, he had revealed to my some secrets of my ancestors even I did not know."

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I was raised as a child on stories of Lord Yhaori Saltaeon, one of my ancestors some several centuries ago. THe acounts are difficulty to understand, but he likely predated the Jen'jidai. Often put on a pedestal as the best of us, a conqueror and leader who stood at the head of Saltaeon as dozens of factions warred across Korriban and other worlds in the Caldera; stories of him slaying a thousand foes in single combat, challenging Dathka Graush for the title of Sith'ari, an alchemist without peer that contained beasts escaping the Valley of the Dead. All the stories ended in the same way, Yhaori vanish from known history, and soon myths grew about that as well. I remember one that said he lost to a Dwomutsisqa and was forcefully pulled from this world into some other netherworld or hell.

But Sith Zarchas found something, a hint of what happened. A tomb bearing the name of Dharkan, it seemed to fit the time period of Yhaori as well as other names that seemed linked to him: Artion and Zyakir. Of all those names, only Zyakir remains as a Sith House, though of incredibly little not in the Empire. Inside the tomb of Dharkan there were traps and apparitions, but also a story told through illusions. It painted a picture of Yhaori as a ruthless tyrant who ruled those under him with fear, death, and fire. A warrior of note in his age, he fought with a Massassi Lanvarok and in a suit of Sith Steel armour, painting a picture similar to the early kings of ages past. Yhaori fought with Zyakir at his side against Dharkan and Artion, conquest seemed inevitable. Zyakir would however betray Yhaori, picking him apart with his enemies, and his body was divided and taken as trophies. In the tomb of Zyakir, the illusions seemed to be boasting of this great victory, she had kept his weapon and a single piece of his armour. Though now both have been returned to me, and new questions are raised: was this the true fate of Yhaori? And where is the rest of his body and equipment? Perhaps the modern remnants of Zyakir are owed a visit. New items to study, new avenues to explore, new history to learn."

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