The Ascension Chamber
Morgul Citadel
Urikoth, Urikoth System
The Unknown Regions
40 ABY

The overhead lights flickered to life. For a moment, several went out, drinking in the electricity for the first time in an age. There was a spray of sparks as they returned to life for just a brief second before overloading. Several hooded Acolytes raced to place torches in their stead. The uneven lighting of the ancient flickering flame along with the bright steady hum of electrical ones made the chamber surprisingly more unnerving than it would have with only one or the other.

Kikiri Thalrym preferred the natural flame compared to the harsh overheads but kept that opinion to herself. Just as she kept her opinion on the thick coat of dust covering the entire room, floor, tables, instruments, to herself. Looking behind her she noticed the trail of footprints that were left in their wake as they entered the chamber. The Loom was important, but this was The Matron’s domain. Kikiri knew the importance of what was to come.

Built deep beneath Morgul Citadel, the Ascension Chamber was a simple and efficient room. While this was the location for one of the most important rituals the Children had, it had been several generations since it had seen any consistent usage. The Father had been wise, seeing the coming conflicts in the Republic, Empire, Sith, and Jedi, and the Children silently returned to the shadows. But that time was now over, and once again it was time for the Ascension ritual to be conducted. It was one thing to modify flesh with a crystal, but it was something else entirely to convert the soul itself into crystal.

Eternal life in a prison, waiting for the unchaining.

Kikiri was determined to see the Force unchained while still flesh and blood.

Thousands and Thousands of untold souls had been processed here. A painful experience, one that the Matron’s Shadebreeders had once had down to an exact science.

That exact science was very much out of practice as an Acolyte tripped over a restraining chain laying on the floor. Luckily, according to the Matron, the science itself had ascended, and a more efficient method had been discovered. Beyond that, few truly knew what the Shadowbreeders had been up to the last several decades here in the depths.

The Acolytes wheeled in a single glass cage, barely large enough to house the poor wretch contained within it.

“I do rather enjoy the old ways. Are we quite sure this method provides the result we need?” The Seer asked, tapping on the glass. The Matron nodded.

“Ascension has been perfected. No more usages of dozens of concoctions forcing the subject to ingestion and injection. One gas. Inhaled. The body of course will flush it out in time, but that takes far more time than it does to finish the rest of the process. We can process a dozen times more souls than ever before. Just watch,” The Matron said softly, almost like she was quietly trying to calm a child into sleep. She ran her hand across the glass, leaning in to whisper to the slave that was pleading for his life.

After a moment she pulled back and raised that same hand into the air, snapping her fingers. A small tendril of the Force flicked a switch above the cage and it began to fill with a deep red mist. The man inside choked and sputtered. Within seconds the gas was gone, and the slave was leaning against the sides of his glass prison coughing.

“It’s,” Kikiri paused. “Done?”

She had expected some more flair, given the importance of this rite. One of the glass panels slid down, allowing the slave to leave his confinement. He looked around confused, still coughing hard. The Matron looked at The Seer and tilted her head towards the man. In a flash, The Seer had her dagger out, effortlessly cutting through the man’s throat.

He fell with his cough turned to a pained gurgle.

And then his ascension began.

Read the complete fiction here.

Summary

• The Matron, leader of the Shadebreeders, demonstrates a new faster, and more efficient method for the Children to ascend a person’s soul.
• Grayblade Ernesto Hayes visits the Nexus of Light, looking to take the Brotherhood’s spy out of the equation.
• Ernesto and Saira share an awkward conversion, and Ernesto leaves his datapad behind.
• Saira wishes to return it, but her friend Qru offers to do it and takes off with it.
• Qru is apprehended by The Harbinger and Ernesto and is taken to the hangar bay.
• Saira sneaks on board their ship to see where they are taking Qru.
• Threads converge as Saira, Ernesto, and Kikiri arrive on Muisyle home of the Palace of the Father.
• Facing judgment before a veiled Father, Qru is sentenced to death by ascension.
• Qru inhales the red gas, and The Harbinger uses his Force-powered laser vision to burn two holes through Qru’s head.
• Qru’s body then goes through ascension, converting all the flesh and bone to crystal, trapping his soul within.
  
• Before Saira meets a similar fate, The Harbinger claims dibs, stating he has better use for her.
• The veil is listed, and all present are given an opportunity to see The Father in the flesh.
• The Father orders the Children’s fleet to prepare, the ascension gas has changed the game, and he desires to finally face the Brotherhood at last.

More Info

Hello everyone! Welcome to Chapter III of Shadows Unveiled. This is our last glimpse at the Children of Mortis before the Great Jedi War kicks off. Here we see some more of the “true” nature of our enemy, as well as some more info about their final goals.

The updated org chart, Wikipedia page, and faction page are still pending (I have a lot of admin stuff to get through with all of them) and will hopefully be available in a few days. I will be releasing a full report with a breakdown of the CoM at that time, though expect to see different pieces accessible as the update goes live.

At this time, the final research point buy-in has been sent to the clans. There is STILL a chance for your clan to earn some extra points, however, by participating in Operation SPYFALL. Those clans that meet the participation thresholds will be alerted when the competition closes on the 9th. The consequences of the research points will be fully revealed at the launch of the GJW.

With that, I hope you all enjoy this last chapter before the GJW kicks off!