Quaestor Report - 15/11/08

Prologue

None of the assembled Kunians knew how it had gotten here. It was as if one day it had simply grown from the floor of the assembly hall, and to look at its foundations, one could be forgiven for thinking that was exactly what had happened. More a work of art than a piece of furniture, the polished onyx stone seemed fused with the floor, a faintly organic sheen, like sweat, to the smoothed edges where it met the ground. From there it rose up in sheer sides, its middle stopping at thigh-height on a man, where it was padded by a thin, royal blue cushion of unembroidered linen.

The armrests arced forward, each ending in a strange, symmetrical carving; a sliced half skull on each side, the single eye-socket containing a gleaming diamond that flashed in the low ambient light. The second eye, where the skull was absent, was a raised carving of a stylised sapphire eye, and some trick made it seem that this eye crackled with electricity. Folded black wings stretched forwards to shroud all these, the feathers so meticulously carved that they seemed to flutter in the still air. The armrests were similarly padded by blue cushion, and merged at the backrest, which rose further to the ceiling, similarly padded, before ending in a fluted point that would shade the chair’s occupant. Behind it pulsed a huge blue-white crystal, casting a heartbeat-like rhythmic glow, and the shadow that stretched before that light made it seem as if wings stretched towards the assembled Dark Jedi.

Yet the chair was unoccupied now, and instead two people stood silent vigil beside it; Cipher K’oranian Isradia and Galaphile Dupar, facing the crowd. Ralph Vundu, Aedile of the House, stood a short distance away, his black coat and grey robes edged in a similar blue, his cool Cerean features betraying nothing as he sought to calm the House in the wake of the ominous summons. The beautiful Kara Rohan, swathed in hooded cloak and Knight robes, whispered softly to Prelate Cethgus, the newly anointed leader of Exar’s Shadow, the ridge horns of the Zabrak giving his face a fearsome cast and his metal arm armour clinking softly. At his side stood his loyal apprentice, Cern Unnos, the Sith resplentendent in crimson robes.

Behind them arrayed the might of the ancient House; the grand Obelisk Primarch, Quejo, a mountain of strength and pride; the plant-like wiseman, Ood Bnar Sythe’rae, his tree-like form still and quiet; the young Protector Mehrunes Dagon, shadowed in purple and black; Jedi Hunter Brema Nekaka, observant and aware as only a Sith could be; Knight Koga Rage, clanking softly in battle armour and cloak, the stance of an Obelisk obvious to all; and at the back, ominous and forboding, the Elders – Arion Sunrider, Corran Force, Scorpius himself, wise and powerful, knowing without words what this was about.

The hubbub became silence as Cipher and Galaphile in unison stepped down to join their comrades at some unseen signal, and a heavy gong tolled a single, shattering note from the entrance hall. Carefully, Ralph Vundu stepped towards the now unguarded throne, and looked over his House, “It seems that—“

“—the Master has arrived.” Finished another voice, directly behind him. Spinning in surprise, the Aedile stepped back quickly in shock, for suddenly the chair behind him was occupied. The deep, rich voice rolled out across the assembly hall like the slamming of the doors of hope, and in the recesses of the throne’s shadows, two points of sapphire blue glowed in cold, intense points.

Dark Adept Jonaleth Isradia leaned forwards, the shadows of his hood disappearing to reveal the delicately carved features, hard, cruel lines and slender mouth framed in medium length, glossy black hair, his robes short at the elbows, but trailing dangling sleeves and flared cloak, all in black edged in silver. “My name is Isradia,” he intoned, “and I am the Master here now.”

Far away, the mighty doors of House Exar Kun slammed shut.

Introduction

Welcome, welcome everyone to my first report as Quaestor for a long, long time. I like to keep myself short and to the point on most occasions, so forgive my waffling in this introduction. For most of you, you have never known me as anything but a lingering presence in the House. Some of you might be aware of the roles Ive played over the years, but none of that is truly important, and it can be summarised by saying that I have been in the Brotherhood for eleven long years, spread over several clans and positions, and have in my time created a library of works, some of which are still in use today.

What is truly important is yourselves.

The Brotherhood, despite all pretences otherwise, is for you, to have fun, to socialise, to be acclaimed for your skills or to simply share a love, whether it be Star Wars, writing, gaming or otherwise. You can put in as much or as little as you like, and will get back that in return. It is a place for you to be heroes and villains, for you to be Legends (you’ll here me talk a lot about this topic, and at great length, so I wont bore you here with it). I want to know about you – what you want, what you need, what you want to do and what your story is. Star Wars, despite its name, is never about war, ever. It is about the individuals – Luke, Leia, Anakin, Palpatine, Solo, Chewbacca – who live on the background of the war, their stories and triumphs and losses. War is impersonal and distant, but their stories are close to us and meaningful, and the same is true in the Brotherhood. Its your story, make of it what you will.

As you can see from the above – I do love a nice dramatic story.

News

Much of interest, as Braecen so wonderfully condenses – Character Sheets (http://www.darkjedibrotherhood.com/dbjedi/comments.asp?ID=R:11943), Clan Templates (http://www.darkjedibrotherhood.com/dbjedi/comments.asp?ID=R:11946) and Eclectic Pedagogue (http://www.darkjedibrotherhood.com/dbjedi/comments.asp?ID=N:5371) positions to name the highlights.

Projects

With the help of Braecen, and soon others in the Clan, we are creating a wondrous project we shall call The Reclamation, aimed and re-unifying, re-creating and writing the majestic and tumultuous history of our great clan to unify it in purpose and theme. Some highlights include revisions of Clan Powers, updates of the mythical history of our institution and the update of our holdings, fleet and artefacts to live up our great stature.

Conclusion

I operate an open-door policy. Come to me by email or IRC, even by MSN or Skype if that is possible, and talk. I am a willing ear for anything you wish to say or have heard, and I will do my best to help and advise. I have been used in this way for a long, long time, and there is no reason you cannot benefit from me – it is what I do. I shall make you the best you can be, or die trying.

Written by my own hand,

his Excellency, the Grand Duke of Vardor,

Dark Adept Jonaleth Isradia,

Necromancer of the Ninth Order,

Tharchion of Imperial House Isradia.

DA Jonaleth Isradia (Krath)/Exar Kun of Plagueis, RS / AK / SB / GC-S / SC-SoI / StA-WG / DC-LC / (GNAg) / (BNAu) / Cr-1D-5R-5A-7S-1E-2T-1Q / CF / LSS / SoL-TC / S:-7M-6Al

Dossier: 289

"Vae Victus! - Woe to the Conquered."