Manually added by Adept Morgan B. Sorenn

Legend has it when Ragnath peaks over Ulress' sky on the 4th day of the 10th month every five years, a shooting star will circle around the planet three times. This is to indicate the birth of a new wyrm.

Long ago in the ancient of days of Ulress, wyrms would crawl from their nest at the core of the moon to attack and swallow any species that attempted to dig its grounds. During the initial construction of Ulress, this became quite a problem as men kept dying left and right. An ewok, who was quite young and handsome at the time, was helping with the initial construction of the inhabitable planet when he came across a wyrm attacking the men with him. With a deep breath, he called upon the Force and shot electricity through the ground to destroy every single wyrm that came within a 2 mile radius of the area. He launched up in the sky with a bellow of victory and immediately spun towards the ground's surface and made his way towards the core of the moon.

When he got down to the core, and found the Wyrm Queen, the pair had a rather unusually polite conversation. After they came to terms, the Wyrm queen agreed to allow men and specie to come under the moon's surface if and only if a wyrm could be born every 5 years on the 4th day of the 10th month. This was the queen's birthday, you see, and her husband was never home in time to celebrate with her. If a wyrm child were to be born at that time each year, the queen would never be lonely again. She only sent her babies to attack the construction workers because she was afraid they would harm her, but the Ewok agreed that no harm would come to the nest if the wyrms stayed out of their way. A truce was agreed upon, and the ewok shone his staff high in the air. He spoke the magic Force words and allowed the queen to have a child every 5 years as she had asked.

----------------------------------------------

"So did that really happen, Gregryck?" Alara's ears swiveled with curiosity after hearing the old ewok storytelling to the younglings of Ulress.

"Legends say it did, M'lass," the ewok grinned at her.

"And I wonder who could have been a young and handsome ewok way back then with the capabilities to do that," Alara winked.

"Well, I would only know a few," Gregryck responded earnestly.

"So why on earth would an ewok be in the middle of nowhere here in Ulress to ensure that the construction of the underground cities could be fulfilled?" Alara smirked again.

"Well, perhaps he was paid to." Gregryck picked up his loose scrolls on the ground near his storytime carpet and placed them neatly back into his sack which he had on his person almost all the time now.

"Lately, pops, you've been quite the storyteller to the children of Ulress. Ever think this is what you'd be doing with your retirement?"

"Okay, first of all, Lass, who said anything about retirement? Secondly . . . I thought I'd possibly have grandchildren by now to spoil." The ewok glared up at his apprentice.

"Hey! I'm far too busy taking over a city here to even think about children. Do you really think Jorm is ready to be a father now anyways?" Alara held her hands on her hips and pursed her lips at her adopted father.

"Well, I understand that, but I didn't know you would be up to so much trouble at this stage in your life way back when I was planning retirement." the ewok replied. "Be careful lass, a child entering your life might come a lot faster than you think."

"Uhhh, wannabe Gramps, we are on the pill. We're okay in that region," Alara lifted her hands in the air.

"As if that has ever stopped the gods from displacing a young woman's life before." the ewok rolled his eyes and started heading towards the cafeteria. "Are you coming to join me for coffee at the cantina or what?"

"We all know that you spike your coffee, Pops." Alara nodded and walked beside the shortened teddy bear.

"Well I need *something* to keep me going when I'm busy following you around, lass." Gregryck admitted. "But mark my words, I'll need some more spikes in my coffee yet. That kid is coming whether you like it or not. The gods have told me so."

"HA! Tell that one to Jorm. I'd love to hear his response." Alara chuckled.

Manually added by Augur Elincia Rei

19:00, sunset
Nayaman Ruins, Seraph

Alara lifted her eyes from the jungle floor to the large, ridged blocks of sandstone that arched over the cave's orifice.

*There has to be something important in there . . . Too bad I didn't bring Artemis on this journey,* the Quaestor thought to herself. Alara stepped under the archway and flicked the switch on her favored lightsaber to light the path ahead.

The cave was lined with ivy, vines, and alien reptiles of which species she was definitely not familiar with. A three-eyed orange lizard blinked a few times at her before disappearing with camoflauge into the cave wall. The cave ceiling was a lot higher than she anticipated. With a glance upwards, she realized ancient Nayamans, or whoever decided to decorate in here, had shaped stalactites into an odd arrangement of chandeliers. With a twist of her wrist, the half-Sephi called upon the Force and threw fireballs at the torch spots. She clicked her saber off and fastened it to her belt.

The corridor had storage chests on each side of the wall, slightly dug further into the rubble of the main surface. However, it looked as though thieves had already stolen any spoils that were there, and they must have done it quite a long time ago since dust rested on the chests' lids. With a bite of frustration on her lower lip, Alara continued down the main hallway's path, stepping over rocks and skeletons as she went.

Suddenly she realized a giant sculpture stood before her at the far end of the highway. When she looked up as far as she could to see the top, pointed ears barely were noticeable through a warrior's helmet. With a gasp, she ran closer to find out more information.

" . . . Sephi? A Sephi? Could it be?" she spoke to herself aloud. As soon as she lifted her hand towards it and rested her palm on the soldier's massive feet. When she did so, the entire sculpture's armor lit up immediately, throbbing with a firelike pattern. She looked up in shock and recognized the eyes were flashing the same auras. When Alara looked down at her hand that had touched the statue, it began shining with the same effect, and much like a fire catching light, it caught to the rest of her arm and appeared with similar markings all across her body. When she looked to a nearby puddle, she saw it: her eyes, like fire, resounded flickering flames in her eardrums. She touched her newly marked face to feel what possible indent it coudl have made on her skin until the throbbing overtook her body in echoes and took over her heartbeat.

That's when she fell to the ground.

**Excidiac Mess Hall**
*Sinagra Villa, Ulr Uvi of Ulress*

"Look, Excidiacs," Alara paced the hall with her arms crossed behind her back in a solemn posture, "This is a serious endeavor. We need our best troops for the job. Who is willing to hone all their skills and effort into finishing this mission?"

"Meee! Let me!"

"Shaddap, Kat! It's obviously going to be me!" Levi knocked his comrade's arm down and raised his own in its place.

"You two quit your bickering! Alara will pick who she likes!" Shadow growled at her subordinates who immediately shrunk against a wall and hung their heads in shame.

"Aye, lassie. I'll do yehr job." A husky, elder sounding brogue came from the mess hall entrance. Members' heads began to turn and then cough to cover up their snickering as a nearly four foot flurry bear entered the room. His tabby-like fur practically sparkled in the hall chandeliers' light, though his eyes remained dull, as if uninterested with the scenario that he found himself in. He leaned on his staff, covered a quick yawn with his free hand, and hobbled over to the Quaestor, who evidently, was smiling widely at the sight of his presence.

"Ahh! My old friend! You came!" Alara ran up to her comrade and knelt down to give the Ewok a huge hug. Some Excidiacs gasped and even giggled at the sight. Gregryck frowned in their direction and hugged the half-Sephi back while whispering something in her ear. Whatever it was, it shot her back up in solemn stance like a rocket with her ears flickering with embarrassment in all directions.

"Right. Anyways. Gregryck, Thunderbreath is an old friend. And I think he would be wonderful for the job."

Rasilvenaira, who was sitting in the back of the room at this time with her feet up, finished chewing off a bone and placed it on her plate while she threw her feet down to get up and observe the fellow. "You think a teddy bear can take on such a serious job? I can't afford to lose this precious possession thanks to a midget mammal." The assassin circled the Ewok with tense frustration. Gregryck frowned back at the woman and bit his lip, as if holding back from saying something he would regret later.

"I trust Gregryck with my life. He's much more powerful than he looks." Alara placed her pale hand on his shoulder and looked to her Aedile. "If you allow me, I'll appoint him to be sure the job is done. You won't have to worry much longer. Your gizka will be safe."

Without a word, Rasilvenaira nodded and pivoted to return to her seat. "Aye. See that it is. I want it returned by tonight."

The crowd disbanded, though busting with murmuring and harsh looks towards the bear. Gregryck and Alara turned to eachother once more, gave another brisk hug, and saluted. The Ewok began to speak some sort of ancient Sith dialect in his lilt, clapped his staff down on the ground which illuminated the kyber crystal mounted on its sceptor, and took off through the doors.

Within a matter of minutes, the Ewok was back holding a purring, rather comfortable-looking gizka in his arms. At the sight, Rasilvenaira jumped out of her seat and ran, rather out-of-character, towards the gizka. She threw her arms towards it in an excited fashion and began to thank the Ewok over and over for returning her precious pet. "How ever did you manage to find him?! I searched everywhere!" Rasilvenaira hugged tightly to her pet which was still struggling to awaken from its previous slumber.

"Aye lassie, I've been a tracker for many years under many moons of our galaxies." Gregryck spoke with an air of mystery as he waved his hands wooingly to the chandelier lights. "I studied under many h'aahh Jedi and Sith alike to get to where I h'am todaayye." Suddenly he turned to face the Quaestor, who was sitting next to her Aedile and smiling yet again at the sight of her friend. "For I 'add to in h'order to keep up with a wee little 'Lara."

"Wait... He ... Raised you?" Shadow stepped forward out of the crowd that was previously playing Pazaak and dropped her cards on the table in shock.

"Someone had to, Shads. It wasn't just my rupings that helped me find my way." Alara grinned even wider at her sister.

"Aye. The little 'un was h'aa 'andful, but she's turned out good if I do say so meself." Gregryck held a fraction of his cloak with pride as he looked over his youngling.

"Huh. Well who'da thunk. No wonder she's got such a temper." Jorm grinned and looked back and forth from Quaestor to Master.

"AYEE WATCH YOUR MOUTH!" Gregryck and Alara suddenly bellowed at the same time.

What does it mean to be a member of Scholae Palatinae for me? Well, there are many meanings.

First of all, our clan has taught me the true meaning of family and friendship. When I first came here to the DJB, I had no friends, no job, a broken heart after a runaway fiance, a disease doctors told me I couldn't handle, and depression up the wah-zoo. I was hesitant at first, and because of this I didn't join as quickly as I was invited to by Shadow, but I eventually took the plunge, downloaded Telegram, and decided to explore this new world. Immediately I encountered wonderful friends that were ready and very willing to get to know me simply for me: not because of what I could do for them, what my mental illnesses and medical conditions made me do, or what boobs I could show them on the internet. They wanted to get to know me because they saw something inside me that I didn't see. And through truly getting to know them and loving them, I learned a way to also get to know and love myself. I have made life long friendships in the Brotherhood that have taught me honor, responsibility, leadership, perseverance, stewardship, and most of all, worth. This clan helped me better myself and believe in my strengths while they ever so lovingly challenged my weaknesses, doubts, and invited me to explore the unknown with them. Because of all this, to be a member of Clan Scholae Palatinae has a much deeper definition. It means to belong to a family that never leaves people behind.

Secondly, being a member means to come to an agreement even if parties still disagree. Many political advancements in my DJB career and the careers of others has brought this to light several times. Just because someone disagrees with you, it doesn't mean they can't work alongside you or like you. That's something being in Leadership with CSP has taught me. Though my 'German' (as Jorm likes to call it) side comes out often and can make me out to be a real 'Lara bitch, at the end of the day, I am taught to recognize solution rather than dissolution. I have been trained to expect agreement even among people I disagree with. It has brought true balance to the Force for me, I suppose.

Finally, being a member means to be an explorer. I was always taught from the get-go to explore new fields of the website, explore new competition types, explore the wiki, explore the Shadow Academy campus, and to explore my own interests and the interests of others. When I came to the DJB at first, I wasn't a huge Star Wars Nerd. (I know, I'm a heathen. Shush. Just pass the holy rum.) In fact, it wasn't until I dove further into the Shadow Academy classes that I truly discovered my love for the realm, especially the Advanced Lightsaber Studies course. It fascinated me. Then when I watched the movies over again with a new perspective and a much older outlook, I was able to actually understand what a Republic was and the politics behind what was going on behind the screen in front of me. This brotherhood has given me a much broader perspective on the Star Wars Nerdom as a whole, and has allowed me to find my home within it.

So there ya have it.

Alara's heart skipped a beat. It was time. She could see her prey, the sun of Seraph was setting in the background, it was just a matter of time before the time to strike would come. The Savant crept down the alleys of the Meraxis Empire and hung her head low underneath her cloak. She dared not make any eye contact with citizens that walked by in case she were spotted and interrogated for her presence here.

*The rumors and economy this Empire spreads makes me think of a legendary one... Reich was it?* Her lack of memory made her shake her head. *It is time to focus, not time to think on things that truly never existed.*

She placed her hand steadily on her hilt. Perfect. The shiny, newly poisoned Sith Blade she was just awarded was tucked away secretly under her cloak. It was ready for its very first kill. Her poison was meant to paralyze any witnesses it may come across while it would give a killing strike to the victim Scholae Palatinae waited longingly to destroy: The Meraxis Emperor himself.

Alara awaited the arrival of dusk in the city and eagerly watched the Emperor's March begin in the main street. There he was. The Emperor in all his glory: He wore a cheap suit with a ill-shapen bone crown on his head as mockery to any that betray him. The Dark Jedi moved quickly from the alley, hopped onto the medieval rooftops, and observed the early crime scene below.

*Damn,* she thought with a biting lip, *there is no way I'm getting myself in that crowd. I'll never get close enough.* Suddenly a thought popped into her brain that tickled her lips into a smile. Easy. I'll shoot him with my energy bow.

As the crowd drew nearer to her location, she found a tower to stand behind and lifted the bow to her cheek. The dashing emperor's cleanly cut black-hair came into sight, and gave her the perfect angle to strike. She breathed in deeply, called upon the Force for guidance in her mind, and let her fingers leave the bow's string. As if perfectly destined, the shot blasted a bolt of energy directly into the handsome emperor's temple, and knocked him clear off his faux leather throne. The crowd up-roared in both joy and in anxiety as each person was thankful for the shot that saved them from an anarchist Emperor, but were afraid for their own lives and began running across the street in frenzy. Alara let out a chuckle and smiled in satisfaction. The job was done. The Emperor was destroyed. It was time for the new Empress, Elincia Rei, to be in true reign on this planet.

Alara turned behind the tower and quickly flicked her left wrist in front of her to make contact with the Proconsul.

"Has the task been completed?" Braecen's voice echoed over the datapad.

"Aye. The Emperor has fallen. Let's show the rest of these Meraxis what we are made of."