Introduction

As we close out another year with the end of 2023 in sight, I wanted to say a special thank you to everyone in Plagueis this year. 2023 was a great year for us, and the summit and I were able to write a large number of great recommendations for all of our members. It was a year of great success, but I'm looking forward to doing even better in 2024. As a bit of a tease, read our fiction update below…

Shadow of the Past: Epilogue & Prelude

Aliso City - Pinnacle
Unknown Regions
41 ABY

The sconces on the duracrete walls seemed to flicker, an aesthetic intentionally implemented by previous Dread Lords to give the throne room a more ancient feel. Selika had assumed it was to add an intimidation factor to any audiences seen by the Consul of Plagueis. She had no use for such superficial methods, but of the things she had sought to change when she had returned, this is very low on the list.

A pang shot through her head originating at her cerebellum. The center of the brain that controlled movement threatened to spasm, but the Dread Lord closed her eyes tightly and stiffened until the headache passed. She opened her eyes again and her perception lied to her. She was no longer on Aliso, but seated on the Dark Throne at the pinnacle of Ellesmeria on Kapsina, looking down at the war torn city that once was home to Clan Plagueis.

   "Are you, you?" Arden demanded.

   "I'm me again, yes," Selika answered weakly. "Single occupancy only, no uninvited guests."

   "And… him?" Alaris asked coldly, his voice made raspy from his screams.

   "He's gone," Selika said, trailing off.

   "Gone where, exactly?" Eiko questioned.

“Where exactly?”

Selika shook her head and looked down at Arden who was fidgeting with a datapad. “Hmm?

“Where exactly did those accounts go?” Arden Karn was trying desperately not to allow his annoyance to slip into his words, and was failing.

“Ask Alaris,” Selika spat out harshly, “the Twi’lek knows where all the money hides.”

Arden bit back a curse and then turned his head sharply back up at Selika. “I have asked Alaris. He was the first I asked. Then I investigated him for embezzlement, and while I found several suspect credit transfers, he has never stolen from me or the Clan.”

Another headache wracked Selika.

   Selika felt oppressive darkness all around her as she struggled to regain consciousness. She had assumed that the writhing mass of humanoid wraiths that had overrun her would have spelled her end, but the pain she felt throughout her body made it very much clear she was still alive. She kept her eyes closed and remained limp as she took stock of her condition. Probably a few fractured ribs to go along with the throbbing pain of other impacts, but it appeared that her limbs all had remained intact.

   "I can feel you in there," a voice spoke to her, a slight echo coming with it. "You might as well stop pretending."

Read the complete Shadow of the Past fiction update here.

Authored by Alaris Jinn

Ascension of the Proconsul

The biggest development on the Plagueis front was the departure of our on again, off again Proconsul Qormus (wait, who's that?) to the new Council position of Emissary. This left a void that needed filling, and there were several good applications and two absolute standouts. This one was an exceedingly tough decision coming down to the very narrowest of margins. Honestly, if I could have appointed two PCONs I'd have done so. However I was forced to select one candidate for the job.

As such, it gives me great pleasure to announce the appointment of Nora Olen as the new Proconsul of Clan Plagueis. I think Nora brings a number of new, out of the box ideas that will expand our avenues for member engagement, which has always been a high priority for Clan Plagueis. Though she is vacating the position of Ventress Quaestor, I think we also have some plans for that position and therefore applications will not be open at this time.

Great Jedi War Aftermath: The Lewt

The last of the various things to shake out from our second place finish in this year's Great Jedi War has finally gone live. Thanks to the efforts of our recently appointed new Herald, Plagueis has received our own set of custom reward robes in the form of the Ambition robe set based on Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati's robes from the recently aired Ahsoka show. Make sure to give thanks to Bale for the fine work that he did on this robe set!

Brotherhood News

Here is the news

• HM #11: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells - The one with wiki stuff in it.
• Emissary Report #1 - Setting the agenda and applications! - The one where this new guy nobody knows writes a report.
• Herald Report #7: Time to say Goodbye The one where Rian gets to be Santa one last time.
• GM #1 - A New DGM, an Old Bear, and Upcoming CS Changes - The one with Malfearak/Bale/Beard as Herald.

In Closing

And that's a wrap on 2023! I hope you all had as great a year as I did, and let's hope for an even better 2024. To everyone out there, Happy New Year!