A pair of massive, ancient doors loom at the entrance to the throne room. Upon opening, they give way to a large chamber with a high ceiling carved smoothly into stone. The chamber itself is the size of a professional holo-ball court but the hard-tile flooring has been sand-blasted to perfection and patterned symmetrically throughout. Tall, rounded pillars frame a center dais that forms an elevator platform. Perfectly centered on the low platform is the heart of Clan Arcona's power--the Serpentine Throne. The ornate throne stands several feet above the head of even the tallest Shadow Lords. The dais is back lit by an ever glowing wall of flame that attunes itself to the order-color of the current Consul. A sable carpet trimmed with white lays down over the shallow steps and continues all the way towards the entrance doors.
The Throne Room is completely sound-proofed, and almost feels like entering a vacuum. Voices carry easily, but never leave the chamber. A combination of alchemy and engineering allow the room to be shut off from the rest of the Citadel while maintaining proper ventilation for the unique curtain of flame. It maintains a steady room temperature, ignorant to the climate outside and throughout the Citadel's ancient walls.

His eyes focused on the Obelisk Templar that was standing with hands clasped behind him, Zakath ascended to the dais where a wall of flame cast the sole occupants of the Serpentine Throne room in flickering violet light. The usual clicking of the heavy talons of his feet were muffled by the sable carpet that rolled away from the throne down the steps and out to the door. The Barabel came to a stop and inclined his head in a gesture of respect.

"My presence was requested." Zakath said, his voice coming out as a sibilant whisper. "How may I be of service?"

"I have heard stories about you." Uji replied, quiet and assured as he nodded to the Sith Battlemaster. "I want to test your combat prowess for myself, if you're willing."

"As you wish." Zakath said as he cocked his head slightly. "What stories? I tend to keep a low profile."

"Oh, that you did." Uji allowed a thin smile to touch his lips as he began to remove his jacket, folding it up neatly before setting it on the floor next to the throne. "For all of your commendable service to our House and Clan, there is precious little known about you after you advanced in rank from Dark Jedi Knight."

"Good." Zakath replied as he removed his lightsaber from his belt, bringing it to a ready position but not igniting it yet. "What stories?"

"There are rumors that you took down Andrelious Inahj when you were a Knight, and he a Sith Battlelord." Uji said as he drew his own lightsaber. "Any truth to that?"

The Sith allowed a toothy smile to appear, revealing rows of razor sharp teeth as a low chuckle emerged from his throat. "Yes. He spoke about human supremacy. I... [i]educated[/i] him on my opinion on that."

"Impressive. I can see why he would dislike you." Uji's thin smile widened. "But other than that, precious little is known. Why is that?"

"I value my privacy." Zakath replied after a few seconds. "What rules, Aedile?"

"No dismemberment, otherwise until one of us concedes." The Templar replied.

Zakath considered it for a few seconds and then dipped his head in acknowledgement. "Accepted."

"Then ready yourself." Uji said as he ignited his lightsaber, pale golden light springing into existence.

Zakath didn't bother to reply as he thumbed his lightsaber on, the traditional crimson blade of the Sith Order appearing as he shifted to a loose guard position. The two warriors stood staring at each other for a long moment before Zakath began the first move, his blade flicking forward into a heavy overhead attack aiming to slice the Aedile in two. But Uji had already anticipated the move and by the time Zakath's blade descended, the Templar's blade was in position to block the attack, forcing the Sith back a step in order to parry away the following counter attack.

The Barabel let out a sibilant hiss as the two began to walk in a circle, facing each other while their lightsabers hummed and crackled in the cool air. Zakath's eyes narrowed as he tracked every gesture of the human's hands, noting the the tight control Uji kept on the movement of his blade. A eyeblink later, the Templar's blade blurred forward, aiming to cut through Zakath's shoulder. The Sith was already stepping backward though, and the blade cut through empty air as Zakath pivoted on his heel, his bloody saber sweeping down to slice off Uji's hand. Only a quick jerk back prevented that from happening as the Templar broke off and spun away, his blade now raised in a guard position.

The Barabel growled as he raised his blade, his blood now beginning to flow quicker through his limbs as he stared steadily at the Aedile, daring Uji to make the next move. The Templar did, advancing forward with his blade at a raised angle. Zakath stepped sideways, slowly heading toward the stairs as the two warriors maneuvered for position. Another sweep of Uji's blade was brutally beaten back as Zakath intercepted the attack with a heavy block that forced the Templar back a step.

"You're not as aggressive as I expected." Uji said as he spun away into a guard position, eyes intent on the Sith Battlemaster. "How curious."

"This fight is not over yet." The Barabel growled as he raised his blade, his eyes beginning to glow a demonic violet. "You will taste blood soon."

“We will see whether you have what it takes, Battlemaster. From what I’ve seen of your Order, you spend far more time posturing than you do proving yourself,” the Obelisk smirked for a moment as he spoke, his saber snaking out, testing the Barabel’s defenses. Uji’s strikes were light, never intended to harm Zakath, merely to test his reactions. The Aedile of Galeres remained impressed by his opponent’s ability to predict his feints and counter effectively.

As they crested the staircase, coming upon the Serpentine Throne Uji extended into a lunge, realizing a moment too late as Zakath’s reptilian features twisted into a grin. His opponent’s blade suddenly changed from the more powerful two handed grip into a duelist’s single grip, and Uji knew he’d overextended as his attack was met with a parry. In the next instant, Uji felt the Barabel’s freed hand connect with his jaw, the backhand sending him reeling in pain.

Uji recovered in a heartbeat, feeling the pain coursing through him ease as he drew on the Force to control the damage, his free hand massaging his jaw for a moment. Zakath pressed his attack, returning to simple, sweeping, powerful blows, Uji either dodging or turning the attacks aside as his mind raced to recognize his opponent’s changing style. Again he waited for his opponent to leave himself open, his blade lashing out to only to find Zakath’s grip on his saber change again, deflecting the Templar’s blade before lashing out with another backhand.

This time he felt blood well from his lip as the blow landed, his confusion from before turning to anger at his own stupidity. “Dun Moch is it? Clever trick.” Uji’s irritation brought a flash of amusement to his opponent’s face. “I had thought you would rely on brute strength. I shouldn’t have assumed Shii-Cho was your only style.”

“You should know by now that we Sith are more than we appear.” Zakath’s eyes glowed brighter as he spotted his opponent’s blood. Uji only had a moment to resume his stance before Zakath closed the distance, his saber descending in a two-handed overhand blow. Uji began to turn aside, his own saber meeting his former subordinate’s to deflect the blow. As he attempted to force aside the attack, Zakath growled and Uji barely sensed the danger in time: the Battlemaster’s attack suddenly shifted as he threw all of his weight against his opponent, the Force gathering within the Sith to fuel his attack.

Uji found himself unable to deflect the strike, instead forced to block his opponent’s blade directly, the two clashing as Uji drew on the Force to enhance his strength, matching Zakath’s anger-fueled strike. Feeling himself being pushed back, Uji could see the murderous glint in the Barabel’s eyes as his face contorted, his tongue lashing out as if he could taste blood on the air. The crimson blade edged closer until Uji began to feel the heat of it against his skin, the mixture of light from the two blades nearly blinding.

The Templar’s single handed grip began to falter under the pressure of the Barabel’s use of brute force. Uji’s expression shifted from angered to an icily calm: for an instant, the parallel of the Sith’s barely contained wrath and the former Jedi’s calm acceptance seemed to mirror their respective order’s clashes throughout history. Realizing the futility of attempting to overpower the larger warrior, Uji allowed himself to be pressed back, Zakath’s maddened gaze splitting into a grin of victory as he pressed forward, sensing an opportunity to end the battle as he cast the Templar’s saber aside, sending it tumbling down the staircase. Uji fell back, focusing on avoiding his opponent’s accompanying blows, weaving away from the attacks as he positioned himself.

As Zakath swept forward, his saber arcing out, Uji leapt backwards, propelling himself through the air to land beside his lightsaber. He rose to his feet as Zakath stood above him, his eyes matching the crimson glare of his blade.