Mierin Cyndane: The Rise of Darth Lanfear
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 Mierin Cyndane: The Rise of Darth Lanfear
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| Title: | Mierin Cyndane: The Rise of Darth Lanfear | ||
| Type: | Factual RP Novel | ||
| Content: | The Sith Warrior Mierin Cyndane goes from being another Sith Warrior to the Empire to being a Knight to The Aeons of Korriban, and apprentice to a Sith Lord | ||
| RP Status: | Closed | ||
| Author: | User:Darth Vicente | ||
| Notable Characters: |
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| Side Information | The story will be expanded on as time allows | ||
The Rise of Darth Lanfear follows the story of Mierin Cyndane, a Sith Warrior who joined the ranks of the Aeons of Korriban before the offset of the Schism War.
Contents |
Mierin Cyndane: The Rise of Darth Lanfear
Chapter One
Prelude
Mierin still couldn't believe it. The Treaty of Coruscant. Signed by the Emperor's dark council. How could it be? It didn't seem right, when such a fatal blow had been delivered to the Republic. She knew as well as anyone it didn't mean the war was over, but Sith Warriors such as her had been bred to enter the fray of vast battles against republic forces. At thirteen, she herself had already fought in one battle, over Balmorra. It didn't seem right.
She ate quietly, and noticed not far away were four members of a guild. The Aeons of Korriban, they were called. They had always interested her, but were also an enigma. It wasn't often that they left their temple, which stood adjacent to the one they had given to the Empire as an offering.
"I returned from Ord Mantell just a week ago," a Twi'lek among them complained, speaking Basic, surprisingly, "And already he's got me traipsing off to Tatooine. It's hectic work."
"Be grateful," a Nautolan woman smirked, "I've heard most of the Empire is chafing under this new peace. At least we have the freedom to continue fighting."
A Selkath responded, though she was not fluent in their language. A human responded mirthfully, "Personally, I'm looking forward to taking the fight back to Tython."
"Yes, I hear after the fun we had on Coruscant the Jedi all decided to head back," the Twi'lek replied.
The Nautolan muttered, "I wish I had been able to join the great battle."
Mierin considered for a minute. She had heard that the Aeons were always willing to welcome most Sith into their ranks. Nervously, she approached the party.
"Excuse me," she started, adjusting her armor in a vain attempt to conceal her anxiety. "I wish to join your guild..." she trailed off, realizing how silly she must sound. She expected them to burst out in laughter. She expected them to tell her she was wasting her time.
But they didn't. In fact, they seemed to be examining her. The Nautoan then asked, "How were you taught? Are you an Assassin, or a Knight?"
Mierin blinked in confusion, "What?" Embarrassment filled her face when she realized she's probably said something that would reject their interests.
Instead, she shook her head, "I apologize, I spend little time outside of the guild. The way the Empire would ask... are you an Inquisitor, or a Warrior?" Understanding came to Mierin as she reexamined the question. The Aeons of Korriban existed before it reunited with the Empire two hundred years earlier, so it only made sense that their terminology was a little varied.
"I am a Sith Warrior," she replied, unable to mask the pride that always accompanied the statement. The Nautolan nodded and pulled a data pad out of her robe. Handing it to Mierin, she nodded and led the party away, leaving her to contemplate.
The instructions were to visit the north side of the Academy at sunset the next day. It was difficult to sleep. It had been a very impulsive decision, but upon acceptance, she felt thrilled. Life in the academy had grown dull, but she had heard of the guild's exploits, and couldn't help but be thrilled for a chance to be apart of it.
The Ceremony
Mierin was surprised to see a large amount of Sith gathered around the base of the temple, some as young as her, some much, much older. After listening to a young Bith speaking to an elderly human, she realized that all of them were new recruits.
There were some in the crowd engaged in conversation, but most were silent, and apprehension filled the Force. Not far from her, Mierin could hear a Rodian speaking to himself, questioning whether or not he was ready. That made Mierin a little nervous, but she could sense through the Force that she would be fine.
An elderly man with fine clothes and a neat, gray beard stepped onto a balcony that overlooked the gathering. Beside him stood a boy a couple years younger than Mierin, but one who carried himself with the pride of a grown man, wearing a black cloak.
"Each of you has taken your first step into a larger world," the elderly, human man announced. "You have chosen to take the path of a Knight of Korriban. Kneel before me." Mierin wasn't the first one to follow the order, nor was she the last, but everyone in the crowed moved slowly and awkwardly to obey.
As the last knee touched the soft ground, the familiar snap-hiss of lightsabers echoed around, and a circle of cloaked Sith carrying their scarlet blades in front of their faces in a form of salute surrounded the gathering. Mierin held her breath; she had not sensed them or even seen them before, but there they were.
A Nautolan, the one whom invited her, she realized, looked at a data pad and called a name. Someone within the crowd stirred and approached the man and knelt again. Mierin couldn't hear what was said, but soon another name was called, and several others. Nervousness struck Mierin, but she suppressed it. Before long, her name was called, and she strode timidly to the man she had begun to assume was a Sith Lord. Kneeling before him, she heard him speak softly, but with power behind each word.
"Mierin Cyndane." His voiced was strong, but he spoke softly. "Do you swear on your life to forever adhere to the code of the Sith?"
"I do," she said slowly, trying not to choke up in her fear.
"Do you swear to adhere to the guild laws, and serve as a faithful Knight?"
Mierin's breath caught before she could answer, but she managed to say "yes."
"I, Lord Vicente VI, Grand Lord of the Aeons of Korriban, hereby welcome you to our order."
"Thank you mi'lord," she breathed as she was sent away.
Chapter Two
A New Master
Seven standard months had passed since Mierin had become an Aeon. Much to her surprise, she was still an apprentice; all Knights were trained by the Lady Narcassius, the Nautolan who had inducted her.
But after two months of training, she was hoping to attract the attention of a master. Despite her prowess, she wanted to continue training and learning, and being more actively involved in the war.
This day was just like any other. Mierin was called first to the sparring circle, catching a gimps of all the more experienced guild members keeping an eye out for an apprentice. She activated her training saber, facing down her opponent. He was a Trandoshan a little older than her. His name was Bo'torr, and she had defeated him on several occasions.
"Begin," Narcassius commanded. Mierin reached out with the Force, gripping Bo'torr by the throat, slamming him into the wall as she choked him. He escaped the grip, but only just, and charged madly. Mierin smacked his arm with the tip of the blade, sending a numbing sensation through him that imitated loss of limb.
The Trandoshan dropped his blade, and she blasted him with a telekinetic attack before he could retrieve it. Taking his lightsaber in hand, she stabbed Bo'torr in the throat with both training blades, sending him into shock. Mierin dropped her opponent's weapon on his chest as she departed the ring.
After watching a few more fights, Mierin was summoned by Lady Narcassius.
"Yes, Mi'lady?" she asked, bowing. She saw that beside Narcassius was a human woman wearing eccentric robes with a necklace made of some type of bone. Oddly, she carried no lightsaber that Mierin could see, but she knew the Assassins were masters of deception, and could easily hide one even from someone as perceptive as her.
"Mierin, this is Lady Selene Morrigana," Narcassius told her. "She has requested to be your new master. Do you accept?" Mierin welled up with pride, but did her best not to let it show.
"I would be honored," she admitted, bowing to Lady Morrigana.
"So be it," Narassius declared. "It was an honor to train you, child."
"Come along, girl," Selene ordered. "I don't have the patience to stay on Korriban all day."
Mierin packed her things, and on her way out she encountered a boy just a little younger than her, wearing a black cloak. He was almost as tall as her, too.
"Don't I know you from somewhere?" she asked.
"Yes," he said coolly. "I'm Vicente Heartnet VII. You may know me as Darth Vicente VII."
"The Grand Lord's son?" she asked. When he nodded, she asked "What brings you here."
"I heard you were leaving," he said. "I've heard that Lady Narcassius regards you as her favorite student, that your lightsaber mastery is on par with that of an adult."
Mierin blushed. "Lady Narcassius told you this, did she?"
He shook his head. "Lord Qaran, actually. He's the teacher of the Assassins. That, and I've seen your skills first hand."
That surprised her. "And you were impressed?" she asked, realizing too late how vain she sounded.
"Yes, very," he said. "In fact, it's because of you I've taken Djem So as my second form."
"Your second form?"
"Yes. As tradition, I've mastered the seventh form, Juyo, to correspond with my being the seventh Vicente."
She nodded in understanding. "Well it was lovely to meet you. Wish we could have sooner. But I must go, Lady Morrigana wants me to hurry."
"We'll meet again," Vicente told her. His tone became much darker and serious. "I don't when, and I'm not sure why. But I sense conflict will reunite us. I sense much conflict in this future. Not between us, but...." When he grew silent, Mierin placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Perhaps the Treaty of Coruscant will lose sway and we'll fight again," she said. That brought a smile to his face.
"I hope so," he said. "If I go into battle, I would like you to have my back." Mierin smiled as she left, amazed at how mature he was. She figured that was the price of his bloodline.
When she got to Selene's ship, she found her new teacher waiting. She sat in the shuttle, placing her pack at her feet.
The flight to Hoth was a long one, and on several occasions she deconstructed and rebuilt her lightsaber to pass the time, sometimes with and sometimes without the Force.
Once they finally arrived, Mierin was led outside into the snowy landscape. "Welcome to your new home, my apprentice," Selene told her. Mierin drew her cloak close for warmth. It was beautiful, but deadly. The perfect place for the Sith.
Chapter Three
Growing Tensions
Mierin entered the room she shared with her master. Four years of tutelage, bordering on five. She hated Selene, but it was her own fault for accepting her apprenticeship. Using the Force, she dismantled her lightsaber, examining the red crystal inside.
She didn't hate her situation so much. She rather enjoyed the privileges she received by being an Aeon on Hoth. Hoth was, after all, one of the storage homes to the Holocrons owned by the guild. And she frequently saw action across the galaxy.
Keeping each component of her lightsaber suspended perfectly in the air, she examined how each piece fit, and examined the different ways light was reflected and refracted in the red crystal.
Just the week before she had gone to Alderaan to fight. That caused just one of the many arguments with Selene.
The soldier surrendered when his squad was killed. Mierin disengaged her lightsaber. Selene ordered her to kill him.
"Why?" Mierin asked.
"He's the enemy, you fool girl!" Selene exclaimed. "He deserves death!"
"There's nothing to be gained by killing him," Mierin retorted.
"Did you not hear me?" Selene demanded, "He is the enemy!"
Mierin defied Selene, glaring into her yellow eyes. "He's surrendered. If he fights again..."
"He will fight again! He's a Republic soldier!"
Mierin looked at the soldier. "If I let you live, will you resign? Never fight again?"
The soldier shivered. "Yes."
"Then I will let you live. Go now. If I see you again, you die."
"Thank you!" he breathed, getting up to go. But as he began his retreat, Selene blasted him in the back with Sith lightning.
Mierin examined the crystal from a new angle. The lightsaber was another thing the two of them differed on.
"The lightsaber is a Jedi tool," Selene had once told her. "We Sith master the Dark Side and do not truly need such pathetic weapons." This had wounded Mierin's pride immensely. She had dedicated most of her life to mastering the Sith blade.
"Such a petty practice," Selene said, when Mierin spent her free time practicing Djem So. She missed Lady Narcassius sometimes. Selene herself taught Mierin very little, though the experience she'd gained on the front lines was invaluable. But she only learned by doing or looking through holocrons. It defeated the purpose of accepting a Master. She could have simply continued training under Narcassius for another few months, and she could have been a full Knight with no restrictions. But, she made her choices, and now she had to live with them.
She brought the pieces of the weapon together and locked them in place. Placing her hand along the sleek durasteel, she ignited the blade. A chime came from her commlink.
"Lady Cyndane, dinner is being served in the main hall," sounded a droid. Mierin uncrossed her legs and deactivated the lightsaber. As she entered the corridor, she needed to draw her cloak close to shut out the cold, but when she entered the main hall, she found most of the planet-side guild members gathered, eating at the long table.
She situated herself near the far end of the table, just opposite Selene, who ate her soup in silence. Mierin helped herself to a slab of meat imported from offworld. Ignoring the chatter of the hall.
The droid situated at the head of the table, two seats away from Mierin announced. "News from Korriban: Lord Vicente the sixth has died. Killed in action." All conversation stopped. A spoon bounced on a metal tray and a glass dropped and shattered. Mierin's heart stopped for just a beat. "Due to the unusual circumstances behind the Dark Lord's death," the droid continued, "the Guild Throne has two potential candidates. Darth Zhan, and Darth Vicente the seventh."
Selene spat her soup back into her bowl. "That boy is seriously being considered?" She asked incredulously.
Mierin slammed her fist on the table. "And why is that so hard to believe? He's been raised since his birth to lead this guild."
"The young Lord Vicente challenged Lord Zhan to a duel in the Valley of the Dark Lords," the droid continued unperturbed by the outburst. "Lord Zhan declined."
"Naturally!" someone burst out. "It would be a waste of time to fight a child! The throne is practically his."
"Any true Sith would have accepted!" Someone else retorted. "It shows his weakness, shortsightedness, and fear!" More arguments rose, for both sides, and as they grew heated, someones face was smashed into the table. Several lightsabers became active, filling the room with a warm, red glow. Mierin caught Selene's eyes and glared into them. Even from Hoth, they received most guild news, and Darth Zhan was far too nearsighted to lead the guild.
She remembered to the boy she'd met on Korriban. He must have grown in the interim, but she didn't know enough to make a judgment, other than that he had to be a better leader than Darth Zhan could be.
"Darth Zhan is the rightful ruler," Selene announced. "Blood isn't everything, and Vicente is a child. Zhan was chosen as Lord Vicente's second, and little Vicente was just blessed with a name and a bloodline."
"Vicente isn't the shortsighted fool Zhan is," Mierin retorted. "Zhan would have us all destroyed by his second day." Selene glared at her.
"With everyone here as my witness," she said through grit teeth, "You are no longer my apprentice."
"Good," Mierin replied.
Selene and several others left, and Mierin sat down to continue her meal.
"News from Tatooine," the droid continued, as though nothing happened. "The new pod-racer from Dromund Kaas has won the season opener." Mierin tuned it out, and focused on her food. She was no longer bound to Seleene, but she wanted to stay on Hoth for just a little longer.
She was grateful to find out that Selene had removed herself from the registry on their room, and when she returned, she found it to be free of her possessions. A little searching revealed that nearly half of the occupants of the outpost on Hoth had gone to Korriban.
Chapter Four
The Massacre of Hoth
It had been over two months since the news had divided the outpost. As Mierin hovered over her bed in a deep meditation, she wondered how the rest of the guild was handling the change.
News from Korriban had been updated every hour of every day, but no progress, as of yet.
She had heard that the gatherings on Korriban bordered on violence. Mierin's eyes followed the blade of her lightsaber. There was no majority on either side, but she knew that it didn't matter; the Sith didn't rule through petty elections like the Republic. The Sith believed in strength, and the Aeons prided themselves on living up to that culture.
A sharp sound filled the Force, and she disengaged her lightsaber, diving for the floor just in time to escape the explosion. She heard three loud booms, but she felt the rumble of several more.
The Republic has found us! she thought to herself. She ran out of the facility, her lightsaber lit, ready to repel the enemy. But when she stepped out to the vast expanse of Hoth, she didn't see one Republic uniform or Jedi lightsaber. There wasn't a single Republic gunship.
No, instead she saw the red lightsabers of the Sith. She saw black cloaks and armor descending from ships bearing the insignia of the Aeons of Korriban. Betrayed! She was smacked in the chest with a bolt of Sith lightning, and likely would have died if she hadn't put up a Force barrier at the last second. She skidded on the ground, hitting the permeate fortress.
"Surprised to see me?" Selene called as Mierin pushed herself up. She caught a second bolt of Force lightning along her lightsaber, letting it dissipate. "Zhan's orders, this whole colony dies!"
"No chance!" Mierin grunted, diving out of the way of a third bolt of lightning, cutting through two attackers. "Why have you betrayed us?" She demanded. She dove behind a permeate structure, feeling the force of another bolt hitting the ground near her.
"Darth Zhan is the rightful ruler of the Aeons!" Selene professed. "To disobey his order would be treason. Once this outpost is wiped out, we will ensure the Council sees it was a Republic attack. They will be forced to choose one Lord, and they will choose Zhan, who has had experience in war."
Selene gripped her lightsaber. She'd only have one shot at stopping this. She jumped from cover, and Selene attacked with lightning. Mierin endured a constant onslaught of Selene's lightning, sure to let as much of it as possible become absorbed into the blade.
She saw for one brief instant a hatred in Selene's eyes just before she cut through. She looked down at Selene corpse and felt triumph fill her heart. A petty practice, she thought mockingly.
Her gloating was cut short when she was forced to parry a lightsaber strike from the back. Her lightsaber flickered for a moment and she swore. Countering Selene's power had damaged it severely. As she cut down her opponent, the lightsaber shut down, sparking.
She looked around at the carnage, and saw masses of black cloaked bodies littering the snowy grounds and smoke billowing from the base. She had no way of telling who won. She found Selene's shuttle and lifted off.
Chapter Five
Darth Lanfear
Mierin entered hyperspace and set course to Taris in order to allude and pursuit. She opened an emergency comm to the Council on Korriban. The holograms of several figures appeared before her, mostly seated, with two standing. She recognized Darth Zhan and Darth Vicente standing before the council, though Vicente's back was turned.
"What is so urgent, child?" asked a Twi'lek Sith Lord.
"Dire news from Hoth," she said. "Darth Zhan ordered his supporters to attack our outpost to make it look like a Republic attack."
"This claim is a slanderous lie!" Zhan protested, addressing Vicente more than Mierin.
Vicente crossed his arms. "I trust you have sufficient evidence."
Zhan took a step towards Vicente and growled. "I don't know what you have planned, but it won't stand."
"Uploading video feeds and communication records on-board this shuttle," Mierin said, transmitting files. "I can't be sure of the condition of the outpost, but the leader of the attack, Selene Morrigana, and several other Aeons died during the battle."
"This evidence is irrefutable," one council member began, but before Mierin could pick up on more of the conversation, the transition was cut. She shivered to herself waited. She deconstructed her lightsaber and found that almost every piece had been broken or burned out.
The next three days she she spent on route to Korriban, but she received a comm message from Darth Vicente.
"Meet me on Dromund Kaas," he told her. A chill ran down her spine. Was it a trap set by Zhan? Still, whether it was or not, she had to go. She put in the coordinates and prepared.
She dropped out of hyperspace around the Sith capital, surprised not to see an ambush waiting in store, and landed in the closest port to the palace. It was raining, as usual. It didn't take too long for her to find Vicente. He was standing underneath an overpass to keep dry. He waved her over and crossed his arms.
"I told you that day we'd meet again," he said with a smile. Mierin wished she could smile back, but she just felt drained. His smile vanished, "And just as I had foreseen, terrible conflict accompanies it."
"If I may ask," Mierin interrupted, "why did you summon me?"
"Firstly to thank you for rooting out Zhan's betrayal," he said.
"What use was it?" Mierin asked. Vicente beckoned her to follow him as he began to walk the streets.
"I am the Grand Lord," he said solemnly, "however... there was a rift. At my coronation, Zhan and several others professed that they were the true Aeons, and any who followed me were importers and traitors. He declared war on us."
"I failed then..." Mierin gritted her teeth.
"No," Vicente replied. "You prevented a shadow war, and ensured we weren't deceived. At least now we know who the enemies are. But back to what I summoned you for." He stopped walking, and faced her. "I would like to take you on as my apprentice." Mierin froze. She was tempted to say yes, but jumping into an apprenticeship like that was what got her into the situation with Selene.
But Vicente was not Selene, and on top of that, he was the Grand Lord now.
"I accept," she told him, bowing.
"A Knight without a lightsaber is hardly appropriate," he told her. She blushed, remembering the fate of her weapon. Vicente shifted his robes, granting Mierin a glimpse of the many lightsabers at his belt.
He picked one, and handed it to her. It was a sleek, silvery weapon. She ignited it, inspecting the scarlet blade. She disengaged it.
"It's beautiful," she said, placing it on her belt.
"We have much to do." He led her to his ship, and escorted her to a meditation room. The two sat in silence for almost a day, the only sound being the hum of their lightsaber blades.
Finally, Vicente said. "Are you willing to become my apprentice, and accept all that it entails?"
"I am," she said. "For I am Darth Lanfear."
