Dark Crusade - Scholae Palatinae

I see the contestants are making their way out onto the starting grid. This article was originally created as an entry for a Dark Crusade competition and is not official DJB canon content. It is preserved here for historical purposes only.

Previous: Horizon Crisis
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Dark Crusade: House Scholae Palatinae
Information
Conflict: Dark Crusade
Objective: Invasion and annexation of Sith Worlds by the Dark Brotherhood
Date: 36 ABY - 37 ABY
Location: * Avenger II Nfolgai Rhelg Bhargebba
Participants:	House Scholae Palatinae
Outcome: Ongoing Battle
Combatants House Scholae Palatinae Brotherhood Clans and Houses One Sith Commanders Xen'Mordin Vismorsus Xantros Archangel Kell Dante Muz Ashen Raken Dark Council Quaestors of other Houses Darth Krayt Darth Wyyrlok Yobd Nan Strength Battleteam Caliburnus Battleteam Acclivis Draco Scholae Palatinae Legions Scholae Palatinae Fleet Scholae Palatinae Fighter Corps Dark Jedi of the other Houses/Clans Dark Council Fleet One Sith Casualties N/A N/A Darth Necar Yobd Nan
[ Source ]

In the year 36 ABY, Brotherhood systems were attacked by former Grandmaster Zoraan. Following his death and the capture of his flagship, the SSD Avenger II, One Sith sleeper agents within the Brotherhood initiated a long planned attack. Every Brotherhood system felt the sting of a coordinated attack to remove the leadership and defenses of the Brotherhoood. Muz Ashen issued orders to all leaders of the Brotherhood. The time to strike out from the home systems had come. The Dark Crusade to claim ancient Sith Worlds, and route out the One Sith had come.

House Scholae Palatinae answered the call along with the other units in the Brotherhood. Fighting valiantly on multiple planets along side their brothers, they helped reclaim several planets for the Brotherhood. Their deeds and those of their brethren are found here.

Pre-Crusade

For over a decade, One Sith forces infiltrated Brotherhood space. Slowly they filled ranks within all Brotherhood units, sleeper agents waiting for the time to strike. They would strike at the heart of the leadership of the Brotherhood, hoping to bring it all down. They had one goal: destroy the Brotherhood before it became a bigger threat to the One Sith’s ideals and the teachings of Darth Krayt.

In 36 ABY, former Grandmaster Zoraan attacked the Brotherhood with a large force. Every system became infected by Lysu Thren’s Horizon plague. His attack was without mercy. Civilian death toll alone was over 30 million. He was slain by Grandmaster Muz Ashen shortly before Macron Sadow developed a cure to the terrible plague.

SSD Avenger II

The Avenger II

Main article: [[Assault on the Avenger II|Assault on the Avenger II]]

The Brotherhood had taken terrible losses. In an attempt to recoup some of their lost firepower, multiple strike teams boarded Zoraan’s flagship, SSD Avenger II. The Avenger II is a Super-class Star Destroyer, a massive and powerful ship that would add a great deal of power to the Brotherhood's fleet. They stroke quickly while it was attempting to flee the Shroud. A team comprised mainly of Naga Sadow members and a sole Palatinaean, Archangel, boarded. They secured the hanger from the Dark Jedi twins, Reaper and Frost. After more forces landed, including the Deputy Grand Master Raken, they moved forward to disable the security on the ship.

Dark Adept Dantella Novae, a powerful Elder, hampered their progress. While other strike teams dealt with general forces, this singular team had to subdue the powerful Elder. Novae used her abilities to control Kalia and set the team fighting one of their own. Through the use of a mind meld and dark side snare they managed to subdue the elder to be extracted by other Brotherhood forces.

The team, shaken, made their way to the bridge. There they faced Zoraan’s apprentice, Darth Necar, a severely demented man with near Grandmaster level ability. Along with him there were Terentatek to deal with. Between a powerful Sith Lord and the formidable sithspawn, it was nearly the end for the Brotherhood forces, but a thermal detonator along with a breach in the bridge’s hull led to the demise of Darth Necar. While it took many members to secure the Avenger II, the highest honors were given to this singular team for successfully removing the greatest threat on the ship. While forces were primarily from Naga Sadow, Archangel brought great pride and honor to Scholae Palatinae for being part of this team.

The full roster of this team was:

• Kalia Pepoi
• Atra Ventus
• Araxis Farron
• Methyas Pepoi L'eonheart
• Archangel

A Call to Arms

"A time for revenge and a time to grow the Empire. What could be better?"

― Xen'Mordin after receiving orders about the Crusade

It was at this time the sleeper One Sith agents received their call to attack. Traitors in every system began the attack. It began with disabling security, deactivating defense droids, and rigging surveillance. The Brotherhood was made more vulnerable than it had ever been before.

Then came the suicide attackers. Agents on every planet began targeting high priority members. For Scholae Palatinae they saw an officer attack his superiors at Fort Hammer on Ptolomea before killing himself. It was only the beginning. Assassins struck at the key Dark Council and unit leaders. Solari’s mechanical body was broken to bits at the Academy. Fremoc Pepoi was wounded at the spike. Raken was attacked by a large group of assassins, and left bloody and tattered. The Halls of the Royal Palace on Judecca came under siege. The Scholae Palatinae forces reacted swiftly to secure their leaders and powerful members. The entire Brotherhood was left in a panic to prevent a total downfall. But the subterfuge and assassinations failed. The Brotherhood was wounded, but very much alive - alive and hungry for vengeance.

Then the call came. Muz Ashen issued the order. The Brotherhood was going on the offensive. Not even the One Sith and Darth Krayt could get away with attempting an attack like this. Scholae Palatinae prepared its forces for the first phase of the attack and set its sights on Nfolgai.

Nfolgai

"This is the first true lesson for the One Sith. There are going to be more in the future."

―Xantros after successful conquest of Nfolgai

Nfolgai

The forces of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood simultaneously attacked two planets – Krayiss II and Nfolgai. The Summit of the Imperial House decided to assault the ancient Sith planet of Nfolgai. They saw it as a more interesting place because it provided more room for adjustments necessary to meet the needs of Scholae Palatinae's goals.

The invasion on Nfolgai involved fleets and ground armies of four units of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood – Clan Naga Sadow, House Tarentum, House Plagueis and House Scholae Palatinae. All of them had located their camps in different areas of the planet, depending on what was the most valuable target in the eyes of their commanders.

The Render

Thanks to the location of the Imperial House encampment, its members played a significant role in securing the wreckage of Interdictor-class Cruiser Render. The Render had crashed in the northern hemisphere, a frozen wasteland, over 3600 years ago. After hours of hunting and silent assassinations, they eliminated most of the maddened Mrlssi who nested in the remnants of the ship. However, due to being interrupted by the patrols of the One Sith, the Palatineans did not manage to get inside Render and to report back with the findings claimed out there. Clan Naga Sadow's team, led by Sanjuro Keibatsu, were the ones who managed to get intel from the Render.

Yobd Nan

Yobd Nan

The Imperial House was in an inconvenient situation, as far as assassination of Yobd Nan, the leader of the One Sith operations on Nfolgai, was concerned. Long distance from the encampment of the One Sith Forces forced the Dark Jedi of Scholae Palatinae to take numerous fights against Draethos, which inhabited southern parts of the planet. Forces of the Imperial House had taken efforts to fulfill this goal, as it had a crucial meaning for the success of the Brotherhood operations on the planet. However, due to the rivalry of other units which were involved in the invasion on Nfolgai, such as Naga Sadow and Plagueis, they were unsuccessful in their attempts to kill the Sith Lord. Other members of the allied Houses and Clan did whatever they could to slow the Dark Jedi of the Imperial House in their quest. It was members of House Plagueis who managed to land the killing blow to the Sith Lord.

Mausoleum of Sorzus Syn

As far as the infiltration of the Temple of Sorzus Syn, no one dared to go inside. Even the Summit of House Scholae Palatinae decided not to take up this mission, as they lacked the sufficient number of Elders, who might face the spirit of the ancient Sith and all traps, which were prepared for unwelcome intruders.

Still, the army of the Imperial House, including many of its Dark Jedi, was heavily involved in decimating the forces of the One Sith, which were present on the planet. It was a series of small scale battles and ambushes, which attracted no one’s attention, but which was as equally important as all other goals of the invasion.

After two weeks of struggling, Nfolgai had been liberated from the rule of the One Sith and the Dark Jedi Brotherhood gained control over the planet. Scholae Palatinae was glad to have been of aid on liberating the planet for the Brotherhood, yet very upset they were not the ones who carried out the major objectives on the planet.

Rhelg

"Anything the One Sith want we will take. And then we will use what they wanted against them."

―Xen'Mordin to House members upon arriving at Rhelg

Rhelg

Fortress of Ludo Kressh

During the invasion on Rhelg, the Imperial House had Team Alpha and Team Paladins sent out to explore the Fortress of Ludo Kressh. Known to be a resort for the Sith Lord, the fortress surpassed the life of its master and his legacy. Instead, the halls of the once mighty palace were filled with mystery, ghosts, and animals using the fortress as shelter.

Team Alpha, Team Paladins and the Assault on the Fortress

Team Alpha, consisting of Shadow Nighthunter, Xantros, Eetherbiail, Draco Maligo, and Varkain Athanas, journeyed through the Fortress of Ludo Kressh. Experiencing Force hallucinations and fighting off ice cats, the group made their way to the throne room of Ludo Kressh. Upon reaching there, they discovered the spirit of the Sith Lord himself. Engaging him in battle, Eetherbiail was eventually possessed by the spirit while trying to provide a chance for his team mates to destroy the nexus of dark energy radiating from the throne. Eventually, Eether was freed and the Dark Lord was destroyed.

Team Paladins also had its share of problems while making its way through the fortress. Archangel, Evant Taelyan , Thran Occasus, Kell Dante, and Koryn Thraagus fought Trandoshan hunters and experienced Force disillusionment. In the midst of the fighting, Thran was possessed by the spirit of Dor Gal-ram and led his fellow team mates on a chase to the throne room. Having to fight a brood of summoned silooths and the possessed former Scholae Emperor, their troubles worsened when Lady of the Sith Maxyn Vonnisia entered the room and challenged Dor Gal-ram. With both Vonnisia and a servant of Ludo Kressh occupied, Archangel attacked both of them rendering them unconscious. With both tied up, the team made their way out of the crumbling fortress.

Taldryan's Expedition Team

Consisting mostly of Elders, Jac Cotelin, Halcyon Rokir Taldryan, Keirdagh Taldrya Cantor, Shadow Taldrya, and Benevolent Taldrya Whiner were sent to the fortress under the supervision of Corpoal Coryn Vance and the Nephilim. The Elders encountered insanity provoked by the Force in the fortress, with Benevolent eventually turning on his comrades. Furthermore, the team ran into Elara Koressh, a prophet of Ludo Kressh, and a massive gathering of thralls. Things only got worse when Jac later turned on his companions consumed with a lust for the power of an armband. However, the team succeeded in destroying the prophet and securing the armband. The leader of the One Sith defeated, the fortress was finally taken. While Scholae was disappointed that it was members of Taldryan that successfully captured the Fortress, the teams involved learned a great deal about the former Sith Lord.

The One Sith

The One Sith is an old foe, but while the influence reached Rhelg, there were many instances that House Scholae Palatinae had to deal with. The One Sith decided to take Ludo Kressh's fortress for his own. There were rumored to be many artifacts and hidden secrets within the walls. The spirit of Kressh was also supposedly within the walls still. Maxyn Vonishia went to search the planet. The teams that were sent to Rhelg by House Scholae Palatinae had to find anything worthwhile before Maxyn did.

There were various landmarks oh Rhelg. Ludo Kressh's fortress was a massive structure that was surrounded by barracks and other military buildings. Totally, the structure reached mass proportions that took up a wide section of the planet.

The various High Valued targets

Maxyn

• Maxyn Vonnisia: A 32 year old Sith Lady from Kiffu. She was constantly in the shadow of her Kiffar brothers while she was in Clan Moxla. She sought to step out from under them and make a name for herself. She started this by leaving her clan and became a Bounty Hunter. Because of this, she was disowned. She was very good at her job and became well known as a supernatural hunter who would take almost any assignment and follow up on it. She was eventually recognized by Darth Krayt in 30 ABY and was trained on Korriban. She and her rival apprentice had instant dislike for each other and they were separated. She quickly rose through the ranks and her personality was well suited for it. She uses a saberstaff and is a master of Juyo and Vapaad. While on Rhelg, she was accompanied by several Sith acolytes and three bounty hunters, each of them were well equipped.

• Sith Aspirants and Acolytes: The One Sith sought to take back Rhelg, and to do so needed many people. These were people who joined the order and sought to gain glory and recognition and go up in rank. They were trained in combat, these supporting personnel were on par with elite military special forces.

• Black Sun Affiliates: The Black Sun Affiliates were connected to Maxyn Vonnisia due to her Bounty Hunter past. They were recruited to the One Sith cause with other criminal organizations. They are extremely well trained in melee and ranged combat with various weapons. They focus highly on agility.

The Independence Games

37 ABY. The tenth anniversary of the Exodus from the Emperor’s Hammer was celebrated by the Independence Games X. This was a much needed respite for all Brotherhood troops, combining rest, training and friendly competition. Scholae Palatinae had many members participating, with three athletes placing in the Top 10 Overall: Mayda Ferium, Kell Palpatine Dante and Archangel.

Bhargebba

"We're all mad here."

―The Madman Calan Thril

New Mission on Bhargebba

Bhargebba

Soon enough the fun was over, as Scholae Palatinae was called to the next target of the Sith Worlds, Bhargebba. Scholae Palatinae was told that Bhargebba presents a minor threat profile. Indicated hostiles include trained militia, One Sith aspirants and spacers. Space presence is minimal, except for a few known freighters. It is expected to find a headquarters for Mecrosa, the intelligence agency, and it is expected they are working for the One Sith.

Targets

• Mecrosa Order Headquarters with at least a dozen equites inside
• Sith Spirit of Loka Dan is possibly in the Forge
• Calan Thril, the Mad Man who was once in the DJB, then fled to Korriban but found by the One Sith and used to find the Forge

Calan Thril

Planet History

Bhargebba is a natural planet with a varied geography untouched by industrialization. It is kept as a beautiful getaway for Sith to take time and meditate. In 3200 BBY, Sith Alchemist Loka Dan established a secret forge stored up with Mandalorian Iron, Sith Amulets, and Svolten ryolite to create priceless weapons. It was located in the northern hemisphere of the planet under a vast expanse of grassy plains, blending in with its surroundings. For almost 200 years it stayed hidden and was the birthplace of many amazing weapons. However, the Sith Lord’s hunger for power and want for his weapons lead to the death of Loka around 3000 BBY. Much later, in 35 ABY, an expedition was created to find the secret forge of Loka Dan, but they never did.

Geography

Bhargebba is a paradise-filled world with amazing grasslands, fantastic forests, and beautiful ocean coasts. Roughly sixty percent of the planet’s crust is water, while the forty percent of land is divided into five continents. It has been left at its natural state for Sith to come and relax.

Landmarks

The Forge of Loka Dan The Forge is a facility for storing many materials used to make its famous amulets and swords. It is hidden underground somewhere in the north hemisphere, with an entrance hidden in plain sight. Only those who have the ability to speak the Sith language are allowed access to it. Some say that there are still two Sith artifacts on the Great Throne waiting for a master worthy of their powers.

Casualties

"Death is the one constant on the battlefield."

―Field Marshal Kell Palpatine Dante upon receiving the latest casualty reports

Private funeral for fallen Scholae Palatinae members killed in service during the Dark Crusade.

Current Casualties of the Crusade Campaign

Members of Scholae Palatinae

• Killed in Action: 12
• Wounded in Action: 30
• Missing in Action: 1

Members of the Imperial Scholae Guard

• Killed in Action: 531
• Wounded in Action: 2,304
• Missing in Action: 30

Members of the Imperial Fleet

• Killed in Action: 112
• Wounded in Action: 326
• Missing in Action: 23

Home System Impact

"Fear prospers in our absence, the populace anxious for our return, ready to be molded in our vision."

―Evant Taelyan discussing the unrest back home from the battlefield on Bhargebba

There is an ongoing influence within the Cocytus System due to the House’s involvement in the Dark Crusade, though the long term impacts are yet to be fully understood. Due to the absence of the Dark Jedi exerting control of local politics and economic activity there are those who are unknowingly starting to find successes where they had previously found resistance.

Ohmen, Judecca undercity and heart of organized crime in the Cocytus System.

Organized Crime

The House Summit of Scholae Palatinae allows certain individuals to thrive and find success within minor crime syndicates to keep balance in the system. Through planted membership and back door relationships, these crime channels are allowed to exist to give an outlet for black market activities. This results in specialized supplies for the House as well as keeping other organized crime from popping up or growing out of control.

As the Dark Jedi have been called to arms for the Dark Crusade, to find glory elsewhere in the galaxy, this network has been neglected. This has allowed talented individuals to begin making inroads into this system. Beyond the Imperius Syndicate and Zanche Family which are propped up by the Dark Jedi, there is a third calling themselves the Axios, which have begun a rise to power beyond their control.

The long term impact or how widespread this has become is unknown due to its nature, and still remains out of the attention of the Scholae Palatinae Summit. The majority of this pain is felt by the existing organizations that relied on Dark Jedi influence for success and inherently lack individual ability to exert fear and power necessary to maintain control.

Empty military supply warehouse on Judecca following military departure for the Dark Crusade.

Political Unrest

Prior to the Dark Crusade, One Sith attacks following the Horizon Crisis put the entire Cocytus System on alert. The residents of the system were not expecting a series of seemingly pointless terrorist attacks against their system. Nearly all the planets of the system had reports of terrorist activity but none more heavily attacked than the heavily populated Judecca, home world of Scholae Palatinae.

The military response to the attack was quick and prompt, sightings of soldiers in the streets of Ohmen became commonplace for up to weeks following the attacks. This was quickly followed by their absence not only from the streets but from local bases. Normally full of their armies they were now down to the skeleton crews running the bases. The majority had been called into service to the Dark Crusade.

Under the guise of a retaliatory strike against the terrorists, the military in reality had been called into the service of the Dark Crusade, as had the majority of the Dark Jedi within Scholae Palatinae. This left an absence of both military strength and formidable military leaders. Not just the absence of the people but the comforting sight of the House fleet watching over the small system did not go unnoticed.

Suspicions began to rise as weeks turned to months. The Senate had been without its Emperor at its head for some time, and the government's ability to respond to issues and domestic disputes rose. People began to worry about additional terrorist attacks against a limited military presence and fear began to quickly spread. People began to question where the military and politicians were and what was going on.

All these concerns got worse when local military bases began to aggressively recruit additional soldiers. They called it a call to arms to support the anti-terrorism campaign abroad. As the Dark Crusade continues, the level of unrest continues to swell. Although not yet at a breaking point, continued absence will most certainly have long lasting impacts on the level of trust within the system, though no catalyst has presented itself to set into actions that chain of events.

Participants

• Xantros 11518
• Dante 8955
• Archangel 7589
• Shadow 11405
• Mayda 8430
• Evant 9118
• Eether 11484
• Xen'Mordin 3783
• Moloch Argantes 8453
• Icy Acari 13574

References

• Nfolgai Assignments and Intel
  • Nfolgai Results
• Rhelg Assignments and Intel
  • Rhelg Results
• Bhargebba Assignments and Intel