News spread fast across the systems of the Shroud about the disappearance of the Justicar and members far and wide discuss in hush whispers, and in secretive locations about their next plot against the Dark Council. Across the Cocytus System there are many members who seem to be acting more strangely than before, and on the Isle of Deacht on Judecca Lexiconus Qor saw this first hand. First landing on this calm and pristine island coated in jungles and thick bush, the Quarren could tell this was going to be a diluted version of the wilderness he could deal with. The transport shuttle hissed softly as it landed on the sandy shore next to the House Imperium citadel, and as the ramp unfolded a muscular Human with a murky blonde haircut awaited with a casual stand in his military fatigues. With a sharp smirk on his face, the middle-aged man noticed the Quarren walking down the ramp with his medical backpack and approach with a hand extended.

“Lexiconus Nosolar Qor, allow me to be the first to humbly welcome you to House Imperium. I am Kell Dante, Son of Palpatine and your Quaestor. If you’ll walk with me, we can begin to discuss your duties.” Dante said softly as they shook hands and walked across into the town of Deacht. Lexic smiled and nodded softly as he strapped his backpack firmly to his chest and reloaded the harpoon for his rifle.

“Here in the Isle of Deacht, we have a militaristic view on things such as management, diplomacy and justice as a whole. There’s been some questions as to why i’ve chosen another for this position but i’m sure in time, we will prove to them it was a justified choice.” As the duo finally reached the roads of the town, they were met with a squad of soldiers armed with rifles and full armour. The group saluted the both men before following them from behind, their protective eyes darting everywhere in vigil.

“As you can see, this is not normal protocol. We usually don’t like to arm ourselves in our own home but it’s come to this through push and shove. The Justicar and his office have gone without a trace, the Council has gone quiet with reasons why, and I can only speculate something bad has happened. We will not let the people know they’re actually gone, but at the same time they might find out and we need to protect our assets from the men and women who decide to act against the Clan and the Brotherhood. You will be this guardian for the House.” Dante lectured further as they reached the central point for this town, where the main House offices sat. The building itself looked futuristic, but the furniture resembled a tribal look with intricate patterns and natural materials. Once inside, the soldiers split up to protect the entrance and the side offices while three soldiers stayed behind the two Sith who marched further inside and to a conference room with a hologram centred on the main table.

“Sir, we will be outside on guard if and when you need us. Just say the word, this door will be locked at all times.” Private Adams said once the duo entered, and quickly shut the door behind. Dante smiled as he worked his fingers across the holo-keyboard on the table to show the topographical map of Judecca. Several locations were placed in red, while others had a white dot beeping slowly, as Dante marched back to face Lexic.

“Here you will see this is clearly Judecca, with Ohmen here and the missing city about 4 clicks south west between each other. All of our assets are the white dots, these are the place we will protect with every piece of force and machinery we can spare.” Dante then zoomed in on a red splat located near the Missing City and placed measurement lines for reference.

“This is the last known location of a band of Dark Jedi we called brothers who decided to act against the Clan and form their own unit. We will not give them mercy, but no deaths are needed as they still are our brothers. We will capture and subdue all we can, and chase them down if they decide to retreat further into the continents.” As Lexic slowly studied the maps and it’s position, Dante tapped the Quarren’s shoulder and looked at him with determination.

“Can you do this for me, Lexiconus?” Lexic looked at the Quaestor for a second to find his expression a calm and collective persona, something he could actually tolerate for once. He then took the Quaestor’s hand and shook it firmly, a smile growing on his own face.

“I will protect and serve this Clan to the best of my ability. No one will overthrow the Emperor while we deliver justice. No one can escape my tracking skills when i’m pursuing them.” Together as Quaestor and Aedile, the pair shared a confident smile before turning back to the hologram and studying it further.

Thank you for a great competition idea!

Lucyeth
#13700

A quif of the wind rustled against the polka-dot shorts that sported the strong, tiger-tinted thighs of Lexiconus as he clunked his hands against the warmth of his white coffee. His eyes darted down the southern hall, which seemed ghostly as the charcoal banners curled and glided across the marble floor. Still not a soul in sight to collect a warm drink on this frosty winter’s morning, as the dew of the fields close by crawled through the open windows. The Quarren was unsure of what to do here, as he regularly use to chat with Daedric about the current affairs of the battleteam. The Warrior turned on his blue knitted squid slippers and pulled up a leather-faux chair in the cantina, then sat near a circular glass table and proceeded to groggily search for brown sugar. He scooped up two sachets between his dry fingers and tapped them lightly against the ceramic of his favourite silver mug. As the thin paper bags of sugar crystals tapped the rim of his steaming mug, a small clink could be heard from somewhere afar, living as just an echo. At first the sound was just part of the ambience inside the citadel, new building with new machinery.

“It just needed warming up.” Lexic thought to himself, ripping the heads of the satchels and slowly pouring them in the concoction of stimulants. The pieces of sugar that disappeared into the fluids scratched and grinded against one another so clearly, and yet the same sound was heard into the ambience around Lexic. The very same grinding of something heavy, and the scratching against something afar, stuck inside his head. His cerulean eyes darted across the immediate area and assessed the dimly-lit and abandoned room, nothing out of the ordinary. Another shiver shot up his spine as his mentality was getting the better of him, he thought it was silly to think something was monitoring him in such a well-armed fortification. However considering the lack of Force-users in this normally bustling room, his conscience began to ponder on the possibility of invasion. Suddenly like a shock to his body, a cracking shot through the air from the southern corridor and caused the Quarren to spill his luke-warm coffee onto the table and his shorts. His wide and twitchy eyes darted down the hallway, trying to pierce through the wispy veil curling and rising like a dance of phantoms.

From inside this unnatural cloth from the morning, a pale complexion arose and limped down towards Lexic. It’s muddy and bony hands extended and clawed the air, as chains snaked and constricted it’s arms with padlocks. Coming further into clarity, the figure was covered from head to toe in a snow white cloth that was unnaturally spotted with rustic stains. It’s twig-like legs slowly moved as the feet of this spectral grazed against the tiles, the same chains twisted and locked into place by strange chests of unknown origin. A raspy and wheezy whisper echoed from under the cloth as the figure limped closer and into the dim lights of the cantina. Unarmed and unprepared, Lexic whom became stunned in paralysis did not move from his soaked chair, and dug his fingers into the fabric of his seat. The clinks of the chains, and the grinding of the boxes against the flooring became all too familiar now, as the phantom now limped directly in front of the petrified Quarren until it was in reach. As if from exhaustion the being fell into Lexic and snarled out in a grotesque and frothy manner, shoving it’s face directly against the shrieking expression of Lexic. Then a small titter arose from behind the sheet as it were slowly pulled upwards.

“It’s amazing was a bit of chicken blood onto an old cloth and some mechanical gear from the hangar can do. Right, Lexic?” Bentre Stahoes appeared from behind the rags and chuckled louder this time, as he sponged the spilt coffee from the chair, then stood and tapped the Warrior’s shoulder.

“C’mon sport, you’re late to our long scouting mission. We’re cleaning up the last of Chelidon’s men and I know you’d never miss that.” The Devil’s Shroud leader then left the cantina with a peach, Lexic still hanging with a shocked expression.

Lucyeth
#13700