<I>Jedi Hunter Archer Merchant sat motionless, facing Dajorra's falling sun, eyes half-closed and straining to watch its dying rays.<BR><BR>
Upon the creation of his lightsaber, he had been brought here by the Quaestor, personally, to a circular dais atop Arcona Citadel on Selen. It was the first time he had been allowed to the Ziggurat's upper levels: the Holy of Holies of House Arcona, where its greatest secrets lay. And, he suspected, if he failed in his tasks, it might well be the last time.<BR><BR>
The last rays dipped beneath the horizon, and a final ray of light seemed to linger, just moments, on the Jedi Hunter's face.<BR><BR>
It had been an apparently easy task: Meditate, without calling upon the Dark Side, without food or drink, with the sun full in the sky, from dawn to dusk. The Quaestor had given a simple but forceful warning as the Jedi Hunter had set himself down for meditation: Failure to obey would be met with death. After that, the House's leader had requisitioned the Journeyman's lightsaber and left him to his own devices.
Darkness creeped forward as the sun finally disappeared, cloaking the Journeyman in shadow. Night had fallen.<BR><BR>
Wordlessly, the Jedi Hunter stood and turned around.
Figures, robed, with lightsabers in-hand, stood upon the ziggurat, apparently waiting. Archer Merchant recognized many of them: Arconae, Summit and other luminaries, each important within the House. Still others stood silent and hooded, wordless and hidden. And before them all stood Zandro Erinos Arconae, Lord of the Shadow House.<BR><BR>
"Jedi Hunter Archer Merchant," intoned the Quaestor, "you have come before us seeking to be elevated, have you not?"<BR><BR>
Archer Merchant nodded, eyes downcast. "I have, Master".<BR><BR>
"Then understand that any hesitation, any disobedience, any defiance will result in death. Do you?"<BR><BR>
Again, the Jedi Hunter gave a nod, more cautiously this time. This elevation seemed unlike any other trial within the Houseâ¦there was an unspecified sense that told him that his very life was at stake, here. Around, the gathered Arconans seemed to tense just slightly, and fingers hovered over an activation button. "I do, Master."<BR><BR>
"Very well then," said the Quaestor. "What makes you believe you are ready to become one of us?"<BR><BR>
An easy question, to begin with. "I have finished all tasks set before me by the Summit, and brought each to a good end."<BR><BR>
"Oh?" the Quaestor snarled, suddenly, as his face contorted with disgust. "You mean the construction of this trinket?"<BR><BR>
Zandro Erinos Arconae reached within the folds of his robe, taking out a small cylinder.<BR><BR>
Archer Merchant recognized it instantly. It was his lightsaber.<BR><BR>
The Jedi Hunter looked at the Quaestor, shocked. "Yes," he said weakly, as Zandro Erinos Arconae weighed the weapon in his hand.<BR><BR>
The Quaestor snorted contemptuously, and tossed the weapon off the ziggurat without so much as another glance.<BR><BR>
"No!" Archer Merchant screamed, heedless of protocol. There, tumbling through the air, was a work of months: Something that the Jedi Hunter had poured his heart, his soul, and all his skill with the Dark Side in to create. And it was about to be unceremoniously destroyed by another's hand. It felt like someone ripping out his heart.<BR><BR>
And suddenly, that void within his chest was filled with anger. And power.<BR><BR>
Archer Merchant reached out a hand as fury spilled into his eyes and face, all propriety forgotten. The weapon abruptly reversed course, flashing to life before it had even finished settling in his hand. In a single, fluid motion, the Jedi Hunter ran through his Quaestor with the shimmering blade of his own making. <BR><BR>
The Quaestor seemed puzzled for a moment, as he stared at the Journeyman. Then, a smile appeared on his face. "Very well," Arcona's ruler managed to get out, before collapsing into shadow. <BR><BR>
Archer Merchant looked around, expecting the gathered Arconans to reach for him any moment now, but no such attack seemed forthcoming. Instead, the Arconae and Summit had their lightsabers still in-handâ¦but they appeared overall more relaxed, and some were even smiling. <BR><BR>
"Congratulations," a voice said. <BR><BR>
</I>But..no! That's impossible!<I> thought the Jedi Hunter, as one of the previously hooded figures removed said hoodâ¦only to show the face of Quaestor Zandro Erinos Arconae. <BR><BR>
Then, comprehension dawned. </I>Of course. A Force Wraith.<I><BR><BR>
The Quaestor approached him, seemingly without fear or tension. "You have learned the final lesson of the Dark Side." <BR><BR>
" It'sâ¦about power, isn't it?" Archer Merchant ventured. <BR><BR>
"It's </I>always<I>about power," the Quaestor replied, smiling slightly. "But yes. The final lesson is this: Power is never given away. It is always taken. If someone should block your path, strike him down. Even if that someone is me." <BR><BR>
The Jedi Hunter nodded, comprehension dawning. Around him, the gathered Arconans lit their weapons, one by one. Around the ziggurat itself, on lower levels, others responded in kind, until the night sky was lit by dozens of separate weapons. <BR><BR>
"Soâ¦what will it be?" Zandro Erinos Arconae asked, bringing forth a lightsaber of his own. "Do you claim the mantle of the Dark Jedi Knight?" <BR><BR>
Archer Merchant understood. Nodding slowly, he lit his lightsaber and raised it high. A hundred Arconans followed suit.<BR><BR>
Triumphant and ascendant, the newly frocked Dark Jedi Knight was first to shout as a hundred sabers pierced the sky:<BR><BR>
"ARCONA INVICTA!"</I><BR><BR>
I,Timeros Caesus Entar Arconae, hereby request a promotion for Jedi Hunter Archer Merchant, who has fulfilled all requirements for promotion under the Dark Jedi Brotherhood's promotion guidelines, as follows:<BR><BR>
Archer Merchant has been a Jedi Hunter for over six weeks.<BR><BR>
Archer Merchant has earned an Archer has earned a Dark Cross for his services. <BR><BR>
Archer Merchant has earned an Archer has a total of seven Crescents of varying levels. for his competition activity. <BR><BR>
Archer Merchant has participated in the following five competitions: Death Walkers Fiction, Arcona Presents for the Summit?, [Voice] Year in Haiku, House Arcona Random Trivia, The Basics Trivia, Price of Failure Fiction. ACC 2x2 Ladder Match Second Round , Third Round, Fourth Round, Movie Quotes Part 1, The Aftermath, [Fist] Console Gaming: Halo Reach (x3), Graphics: The Carnage. <BR><BR>
Archer Merchant has completed the following two Shadow Academy Leadership Exams: Leadership Fundamentals, Leadership Studies<BR><BR>
Archer Merchant has created and run the following competition: Archer has created the 'cornered' competition<BR><BR>
Archer Merchant has performed the following major House Task: Leadership of the Sukhur's Legion Battleteam.<BR><BR>
Archer Merchant has participated in two Antei Combat Center matches. <BR><BR>
Archer Merchant has created and run the following additional competition:Archer has created the 'adrift' competition <BR><BR>
Archer Merchant has finished his Wiki Article. <BR><BR>
Archer Merchant has earned the following Shadow Academy Degree: Archer has Dark Mavens in both Flight and Philosophy<BR><BR>
Archer Merchant has completed an additional final major fiction task, as follows: Archer has completed the Dark Sage: Writing SA Course.<BR><BR>
As Archer Merchant has met all the necessary qualifications, I respectfully request his promotion to Dark Jedi Knight. <BR><BR>
In darkness, <BR><BR>
KPN Timeros Caesus Entar Arconae
Timeros Caesus Entar Arconae, 2010-12-30 04:05:52 UTC