Combat Master’s Note: This venue was designed for use with the Unleashed Force power setting. However, unless both combatants agree, Force powers as listed in the setting of the battle MUST be followed. If participants decide differently they must alert the Combat Master before the battle concludes, or else the battle will be judged with standard Realism grades for Force power usage. See http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Valley_of_the_Jedi for more information on this location.

The Valley of the Jedi. The legendary location of the final battle under the surface of Ruusan, between the Army of Light and the Brotherhood of Darkness. The battle ended in an instant when the thought bomb detonated, trapping the spirits of hundreds of powerful Force users within the Valley for over a thousand years.

You stand near the edge of that very cave, waiting on the tiered stone steps that circle the Valley. The ground is rocky and uneven, sloping downwards towards the center. Stalagmites litter the floor, small outcroppings of rock thrust out from the ground like huge stone blades. But the piles of rocks pale in size compared to the stone statues circling the Valley in perfectly concentric circles. The statues seem almost alive, as if the faces of the dead had been perfectly captured in the carvings and still held traces of the doomed souls they represented.

In the Valley's center, an enormous mound is raised from the ground surrounded by six stone obelisks. From the mound, a blinding light explodes upwards, casting a soft glow of orange, yellow, and red over the entire cave. The light is a source of unimaginable power, an outpouring of pure energy able to strengthen one's connection to the Force—a Force Nexus.

Standing near it, you feel the currents washing over you. The Force practically hums with suppressed power, buzzing against you as if electricity was caressing your skin. Already your strength feels limitless, but you know that by basking in the vibrant light of the crystal, you will achieve ultimate power.

But you are not alone in your quest. The power of the Valley has drawn others to Ruusan. As you prepare for battle, you feel the Force flow through you… waiting to be unleashed.

Vivackus let himself take a moment to bask in the history of this place. The Seventh Battle of Ruusan, the destruction of the Brotherhood of Darkness at the hands of Darth Bane, the beginning of the Rule of Two - it was here that the Sith began their long game through the lineage of his Clan’s own namesake and culminating with Palpatine. This was a beautiful place.

Vivackus was not merely on a pilgrimage. He was playing his own game. About a standard week ago, Clan Plagueis’ Consul announced he would be taking a seat on the Dark Council. Immediately and predictably, the Quaestors of Ajunta Paul and Karness Murr began plotting against one another. Perhaps it was Vivackus’ perspective outside the formal Plagueis Summit that lent him his current clarity of purpose. Two days ago, while in earshot of Koth, Vivackus announced he would be travelling to Ruusan.

The trap was set. Vivackus knew little about his Zabrak Proconsul, but that he was a Krath. Krath were curious. Why would a di Plagia leave take an absence during this period of internal strife? Why Ruusan?

Vivackus began strolling leisurely down the slope. He was not alone, of that he was sure. Somewhere in this valley, Koth was hiding, hoping to ascertain the Sith’s purpose. A seed of doubt trickled through Vivackus mind. The Force sat heavily in this place and Koth was adept at hiding. Perhaps he had made an error? The Battlelord pushed these thoughts from his mind. His advantage was what the Krath coveted: knowledge.

I must draw him out.

Vivackus suddenly broke into a sprint, kicking up dust in his wake as he bound towards the central obelisk. A shimmer caught the corner of his eye. Just a trick of the light? No. A slight imbalance in the Force was was barely perceptible from that direction also. It is easy to remain unseen while still; it is much harder to do so while moving. Vivackus had found his quarry. The only question remaining was how long it would take Koth to realize this. Abruptly turning, and drawing on the ambient energies within the Force, Vivackus bound to the right.

Snap-hiss. The red blade ignited and Vivackus swung downward at what would appear to be thin air. Just as the Sith was about to question his instincts, a purple beam materialized underneath his own and holding it, a pale-skinned Zabrak, clearly caught off guard by the sudden aggression. Assassins thrive on the element of surprise. Here, despite initial appearances, Koth never really had it.

“Have you figured it out yet?”

Koth did not reply, but the confusion was written across his face as he pushed back against Vivackus and disengaged. Another violet beam erupted from the opposite end of his saber and Koth flourished as he charged at Vivackus.

The Sith blocked and parried, allowing himself to be put on the defensive. Fortunately for Vivackus, while his technique was clean, the Krath’s assault was unfocused. Unfortunately for Vivackus, Koth’s mental discipline was strong. As Koth’s saber prodded Vivackus defense for holes, the Sith was similarly unsuccessful at probing for mental weakness.

Confusion morphed into determination and Koth refined his assault. Vivackus needed to take charge and go on the offensive in his own way. “You realize your best move is to swear loyalty to me,” Vivackus taunted as their blades clashed. The Sith emphasized this declaration with a wild horizontal swing of his lightsaber. Koth’s natural athleticism compounded with the Force as he performed a backflip out of danger… physical danger at least.

“Is there any limit to your arrogance, Sith?” Koth spit, “I am your superior in both rank and post.”

“The power of which, you have wasted by chasing me here. You could have - should have, even - taken the position of Dread Lord for yourself. You have left the Clan completely leaderless and spent several days following me through Hyperspace instead of solidifying your own support.”

“You question my loyalty to Clan Plagueis?”

“No.” Vivackus smiled, “I question your competence.”

Anger began to boil up within Koth, and an angry opponent is a predictable one. Vivackus rammed a tidal wave of pure dread through the Force at Koth’s mental wall and the distraction allowed him to finally break through.

Koth was forced to take a step back from the attack brought upon by Vivackus. The Zabrak focused his thoughts with the help of a calming technique taught to him by his former master. Though Jonuss had turned to the light, he had once been of the Krath Order and had learned to control his sometimes overwhelming rage.

The Proconsul of Clan Plagueis would not stand for the Sith's attempt to seize power. Though secretly he applauded the Battlelord's enthusiasm, publicly he would have to make an example of him. And a great example he would become.

Koth returned his attention to his subordinate and twirled his lightsaber in a flourish, creating a streak of violet light around him. The double bladed weapon reminded him so much of the Zhaboka he had used on Iridonia, which now rested in his quarters on the Anchorage.

Charging forward, Koth Rai'Hakk twirled his lightsaber over his head, spinning his body to his left continuing on his path to the Battlelord. With his focus restored, the Zabrak combined his will with the dark side and sent an illusion, a copy of himself performing the same movements, out in another direction as a distraction.

As expected, Vivackus immediately reacted to the tactic and attacked the illusion, realizing at the moment his lightsaber was about to slash through the image, that it was not the real Dread Lord's Wrath. Koth came up behind the human and struck with a fierce kick to the direct center of the di Plagia's back. Vivackus fell forward from the impact and did his best to roll with it but, due to his miscalculation, his lightsaber was dropped from his hand.

Koth did not hesitate to continue striking but not wanting to kill him, the Proconsul of Clan Plagueis chose to extinguish the blade of his lightsaber and instead bombard his subordinate with telekinetically thrown rocks and pebbles from around the valley.

Finally, he chose a much larger fragment of a boulder and held it over the Battlelord's prone body.

The air left Vivackus’ lungs with a gasp as the boulder crushed down on his chest. The Sith struggled against the weight for a few seconds before regaining his wits. Vivackus drew on the Force to shove it off of his body. Struggling to his feet and channelling his frustration into an electric jolt, the Battlelord released the energy in Koth’s direction.

The blue flash of light arced between the two, and Koth caught it in his hand, deflecting it into the ground. His body flinched slightly, indicating that his defense was only partially effective. Three lightsabers ignited again and clashed once more.

“You’re wasting your time here, Krath.” Vivackus said between slashes. “The longer you’re here, the weaker your position will be on return.” Koth made no verbal response, simply twirling his saberstaff against the Sith’s single blade.

The Pontifex was a blur in constant motion and showed no signs of tiring, but Vivackus was already beginning to feel the signs of fatigue.

This isn’t working.

Vivackus stepped backwards and breathed heavily as he deactivated his lightsaber. “I submit.”

Confusion and distrust was plainly written on Koth’s face. “Your attempt on my life fails and now you expect mercy?”

Vivackus shrugged. “We are both pragmatists here. You can kill me and leave, sure. But my earlier statements are no less true. But there is another possibility.”

Koth’s curiosity got the better of him. “And what is that?”

“Take the mantle of Dread Lord for yourself and appoint me as your Proconsul.”

Vivackus could see the calculations being performed in Koth’s head. Karness Murr is the weaker House; choosing Kz’set or Callus might be considered a slight to Ajunta Paul and drive them into open rebellion. Teylas was also a Sith and no more trustworthy than Vivackus. Choosing him as Proconsul would be a clear display of weakness by Koth. A di Plagia as Proconsul would help cement Koth’s currently uneasy position within the Clan.

“Was this your plan the whole time?” Koth asked, lowering and deactivating his own lightsaber.

“Of course not. I wanted to kill you. I always have a contingency plan. Come, my Consul, we have work to do.” Vivackus turned, leaving himself unguarded. He knew the gambit had payed off. If it hadn’t, he’d be dead already.

The Consul and Proconsul of Plagueis made their way back to their seats on the Anchorage.

Vivackus stared at the boulder being held over his head. He waited for what seemed like an eternity before Koth released his hold over it. At the same time, the di Plagia rolled out of the way, quickly getting to his feet. He located his lightsaber not far away and dove, picking it up as he rolled back to a standing position. As he assumed his combat stance, he ignited the crimson blade and faced his opponent.

“This isn't over yet, outsider.” Vivackus said, rage dripping from his words.

Koth ignited the twin blades of his weapon and with a flourish, readied himself for combat. He was disappointed that members of the clan, especially those holding the title of di Plagia, still considered him an outsider. Though he had been appointed Proconsul of the clan after having never stepped through the doors of the illustrious clan, he no longer felt like he didn't belong.

“I am no longer an outsider, Vivackus. I thought I had proved that already but if you need further demonstration then you shall have it.” The Zabrak charged forward utilizing the Force to aid in his movements; jumping from boulder to boulder in an attempt at disorienting the Battlelord. Though he was not as skilled in Ataru as he was in Juyo, the two worked well together; especially with his training as a young warrior on Iridonia.

Vivackus twirled his weapon with a flourish of his own, ready for the oncoming strikes. Koth landed before him and struck with his violet blades. Vivackus blocked the attack, the crimson and red energy blades clashing violently. Moving swiftly, Koth switched tactics attacking with the blade on the opposite end of his weapon. Vivackus had to move faster in order to parry the attack but managed to deflect it. Koth continued his assault; alternating strikes and even varying his technique by switching styles.

The Battlelord was tiring; the constant assault of the Zabrak's dual blades was becoming too much for him. Though he was a skilled combatant, Vivackus was using only one blade; Koth Rai'Hakk was using two, doubling his chances of landing a strike and increasing his ability to block any attack that the human made.

Koth released the hilt of his weapon with one hand and twirled it over the back of the hand still holding it; though dazzling with the streaks of violet light from the energy blades, it was a pointless maneuver. Unless you were planning to distract your opponent long enough to use your now freed hand.

With Vivackus' attention fixed on where the blades of the double-bladed lightsaber would strike next, Koth enacted the next part in his strategy. Extending his left hand, palm outward, Koth channeled the dark side and sent a telekinetic strike into the upper body of the human Battlelord. Vivackus was sent flying backward once more, cursing himself for not seeing the attack coming sooner. Koth stepped forward and twirled his weapon, returning it to a position where both hands easily gripped the hilt. Koth continued moving forward as Vivackus flew through the air. With a flick of his wrists, Koth tagged the human's lightsaber, slicing it in half. Continuing his movement, the Dread Lord's Wrath switched off his weapon, sprinted ahead of the Battlelord, spun on his heels and delivered a kick that landed in his midsection, slamming him into the ground. Koth left his foot firmly planted on Vivackus' stomach, holding him in place.

“It's over.” He said as the di Plagia lost consciousness.