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| === The Krath Rite of Supremacy and the Exodus === | | === The Krath Rite of Supremacy and the Exodus === |
| Little of the history is known, lost in the times of war. The Exodus was particularly painful for the House as they fled their old home, carrying with them everything they could muster in that short time. Most of the old knowledge the House had was lost to the Emperor's Hammer, what they did save is stored, safely in the Qel-Droman temple on Arconeae Primus. | | Little of the history is known, lost in the times of war. The Exodus was particularly painful for the House as they fled their old home, carrying with them everything they could muster in that short time. Most of the old knowledge the House had was lost to the Emperor's Hammer, what they did save is stored, safely in the Qel-Droman archives within the Phantom Complex. |
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| == Qel-Droma Base == | | == Phantom Complex == |
| === History ===
| | The rebuilt House Qel-Droma headquarters is located within a secret pocket within the massive asteroid known as Port Ol'Val. Having been discovered by the members of Qel-Droma during a routine mission, this small hold-out was expanded into a massive structure after the obliteration of the House Qel-Droma temple. |
| The structure that serves as the Qel-Droman temple on Arconeae Primus is still a point of some contention, as well as anger. The building itself is an amalgamation of the technological and the ancient, bearing little resemblance to the ancient tomb House Qel-Droma once called home. | | === Complex Proper === |
| During the exodus from the Emperor's Hammer, [[House Qel-Droma]] was forced to almost literally cut and run, taking what they could with them in the way of documents, artifacts and databases. The sum total knowledge amassed by the House since its inception had to be placed into two categories: invaluable and expendable. And as no Krath deems any knowledge to be expendable, the hasty decisions made during the migration were both painful and costly.
| | The Phantom Complex, named such by the fact that while the house presence is rumored, it remains unconfirmed by the general populace, yet the entire asteroid is within the grasp of Qel-Droma, is split into 4 different levels concealed between the Jerem Plaza and the Minefield quadrants. Once a small holdout for a fledgling Black Sun lieutenant, the complex had been greatly expanded to house the Qel-Dromans after the destruction of their previous temple by the Yuuzhan Vong. |
| At the same time, the very temple that had served as home and archive for the noble House as well had to be abandoned, left for the pale splinter group within the Emperor's Hammer to deal with as they pleased.
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| Thus the loyal of Qel-Droma traveled far to the quickly acquired Dajorra system, armed with the bulk of their collected knowledge, but with no repository in which to store it, and no home in which to live.
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| Upon arrival on the sphere that would come to be named Arconeae Primus, the [[Krath]] found a jungle and swamp covered world, whose only distinguishing features were sporadic ruins indicating some long lost civilization that had once dwelled on the world. It was at one of these ruin sites, a fairly clear area in the jungle, approximately 1km square in size that House Qel-Droma decided to construct their new home. Focusing on a large, fairly intact structure left over from the previous inhabitants of the planet, the Krath first raised the pre-fabricated Garrison base acquired during their flight from the EH territories. The building was constructed within, and in some cases around, the existing structure.
| | On the eastern facing ends of the complex, nearest the Minefield, any viable ores were removed and minerals that would be sought after were corrupted by the Sith Alchemists to render them unusable. Electro-Magnetic pods were also placed in concealed locations, to cause disruptions in the automatic mining droids, causing them to short-circuit or even in two separate instances, turn on their handlers. After a number of equipment malfunctions, failed geological survey tests and the loss of three groups of miners, the closest shafts near the complex were abandoned. |
| This makeshift base of operations served well as a temporary shelter for the Krath and their many treasures, but the limitations of the garrison building soon began to show as the elements and native predators of the area began to slowly ware away at the building and its pre-fabricated materials.
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| But by this time, other planets in the Dajorra system had been explored and colonized by the [[Arcona|Clan Arcona]], and one of them, Arconeae Secundus, was discovered to hold a primitive culture of sentients. The Krath seized this opportunity, and had a large workforce shipped to their jungle world. Once there, the Krath invaded the minds of the simple beings, charging them with the task of constructing a home and monument worthy of their new masters.
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| Over months of back-breaking and treacherous labor, the slaves cut new building blocks from the surrounding mountains, and used the modern technology of their new masters to meld metal and stone into a mighty fortress.
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| === Grounds ===
| | The northern face of the complex is near the southern-most face of the Jerem Plaza cavern. Most of the buildings along that rock wall are either owned or under the influence of the Arconans, which prevents any further expansion south by the Jerem Plaza enterprises. |
| The grounds of the temple adhere to the general shape of the pre-exiting ruins. Light jungle terrain stops suddenly at a foundation of flat yellowed stone, whose ancient cracks have been filled-in with modern permacrete, giving the expanse a strange "gold-with-silver-veins" appearance in the glint of the setting sun. | |
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| === First Floor === | | The headquarters is unique among the structures of Ol’Val in many respects. First and foremost it is the only complex that is completely concealed from the general public. Well placed sources in the Ol’Val administration keep the complex completely off any charts or survey maps. Another unique trait is that it is the only structure that spans from near the topmost surface to the bottom of the asteroid. The final unique trait is the extensive rail system that connects to up to three separate exit points in various structures in every zone in Ol’Val, making the headquarters the secret center of the planetoid. |
| From the flat foundation one comes to a raised area accessible from a short but wide staircase to the main entrance. Just in front of this staircase are three perfectly intact obelisk stones; remnants of the lost civilization. The markings on these are, as of yet, undecipherable. They were preserved during the temple's construction because the Clan elders felt that, in an abstract way, the three pillars were representative of the three Orders of the Brotherhood. Just to the right of the three pillars is a separate raised dais, whose only unique feature is a large statue of Ulic Qel-Droma. The statue had been nothing more than a plain chunk of stone leftover from the ruins. But shortly after construction on the temple concluded, someone took the time to carve out a representation of the Dark Lord of the Sith, apparently with a lightsaber.
| | === Level Alpha === |
| | This is the primary housing level of the Qel-Droman headquarters, which are sparse in room and comfort, but contains all the necessities to maintain the House and its members. This level consists of a common room, 28 standard rooms, 6 large suite-type quarters, 2 large guest suites and the personal quarters for the Aedile and Quaestor of the House. The primary turbolift shaft, which connects all four levels of the complex, is on the eastern wall of the common room. |
| | ==== Quaestor’ Suite ==== Contains a standard sleeping chamber, guest reception/living area, ‘fresher w/ tub and sonic shower and large walk in closet. Also contains a private turbolift in the north wall, which leads to the Quaestor’s office one level below. This turbolift is keyed to the Quaestor’s genetic signature and cannot be activated by any other being. This room differs from the Aedile suite with the addition of a private meditation chamber on the eastern side of the suite. In a place where space is a premium, this addition is a valuable commodity. |
| | ==== Aedile’s Suite ==== |
| | Contains a standard sleeping chamber, guest reception/living area, ‘fresher w/ tub and sonic shower and large walk in closet. Also contains a private turbolift in the south wall, which leads to the Aedile’s office one level below. This turbolift is keyed to the Aedile’s genetic signature and cannot be activated by any other being. |
| | ==== Guest’s Suite (2) ==== |
| | Sleeping chamber, small guest reception/living area, ‘fresher w/ sonic shower and small walk in closet. These suites are reserved for guests visiting the House, either Arcona Summit, Galeres Summit, or other varied important guests. |
| | ==== Large Quarters (6) ==== |
| | These rooms are roughly twice the square living footage as a regular living chamber and are reserved for some of the older and higher ranking members of the House. These chambers have been customized by their respective occupants but all share the same basics such as a standard sleeping chamber separated by a small partition from a small guest reception/living area, ‘fresher w/ tub (or sonic shower, but not both) and small walk in closet. |
| | ==== Standard Chamber (28) ==== |
| | Contains a small sleeping chamber and a ‘fresher station with standing sonic shower unit. While the barest of essentials, these chambers are standard for all, and with most House members off-planetoid on missions, the decision to waste precious living space on non-essential comfort was an easy one to make. |
| | === Level Beta === |
| | This level, separated from Alpha by thirty meters of Ol’Val rock, is the primary administration level of the Phantom Complex. It was the primary level that housed the Black Sun presence on Ol’Val before they were removed by the Arconans. On the westernmost end is the main operations center, the single entryway nestled in-between the offices of the house summit. Also on this level are three smaller briefing rooms and a large briefing amphitheater separated by a wide gathering hall ending with the primary turbolift shaft on the eastern wall. |
| | ==== Operations Center ==== |
| | This secured area contains the observation and communications apparatus for the entire complex. This room has changed very little from when it served as the operations center for Black Sun, except that the hardware has been upgraded significantly. There are six status and control consoles lining the sides of the circular room. These six terminals control external functions such as surveillance and sensors of the different zones within Ol’Val. On a one step raised tier in a small semi-circle are three computer terminals which regulate the primary functions of the base, such as internal security and sensors, environmental controls and power regulation. In the center of the room, on a three step raised dias is the master control terminal. This coded and biometrically locked terminal is connected directly to the three story tall main computer core located in a secure silo beneath the operations center. If any information is to be added to the primary computer core, it is stored in this terminal until the Quaestor authorizes the download. |
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| Ahead from the top of the stairs the main archway leads to a long, wide hallway, lined with rows of irregularly spaced pillars. Most of these are original structures of the ruins, but approximately every third pillar is a durasteel replacement, most having holo-portraits of famous Arconans installed on their surfaces about 5 feet from the floor.
| | The main computer core beneath the operations center is one of the most protected structures in the entire complex. The computer shielding is a heat-reactive substance that through science and sith sorcery, is able to absorb the immense heat created by the computer core and transfer it through processing generators into the central power generator, which provides power for the entire complex without tapping into any of the standard Ol’Val power lines. This system makes the entire complex self-sufficient and also masks the heat from being detected by external Ol’Val sensors. |
| | ==== Quaestor’s Office ==== |
| | This office is a standard administrative office capable of seating fifteen at max capacity. Two large banks of computers are located behind the main desk, which has nearly un-restricted access to the main computer. Due to security concerns, only the main computer in the Ops center has total access to the core, but the Quaestor’s terminal has greater access than a standard terminal, but like all other terminals, has read-only access to the core itself to prevent software or data sabotage. On the northern edge of the office is a small private turbolift that leads to the Quaestor’s personal quarters. The only difference between the Quaestor’s office and the Aedile’s is a small rail car terminus located on the eastern wall. This maglev railcar leads to a small hub with a three-seater escape pod in case of a catastrophic event in which the QUA would need to evacuate the complex. |
| | ==== Aedile’s Office ==== |
| | This office is a standard administrative office capable of seating fifteen at max capacity. Two large banks of computers are located behind the main desk, which has nearly un-restricted access to the main computer. Due to security concerns, only the main computer in the Ops center has total access to the core, but the Aedile’s terminal has greater access than a standard terminal, but like all other terminals, has read-only access to the core itself to prevent software or data sabotage. On the southern edge of the office is a small private turbolift that leads to the Aedile’s personal quarters. |
| | ==== Main Auditorium ==== |
| | This room, the largest on this level, is shaped in a cone downward towards a center stage, the design maximizing acoustics in the chamber. This chamber seats 76 comfortably in coliseum-style seating. |
| | ==== Briefing Room (3) ==== |
| | Small square rooms containing three split rows of six seats for a max capacity of 18 guests and a small center podium facing the crowd. These rooms are ideal for small group meetings or battleteam briefings. |
| | === Level Ceti === |
| | This is the main transportation hub of the Phantom Complex. Over the course of construction, small natural tunnels threaded in the bedrock gave designers the idea of creating a network of transport tubes to give access to the entirety of Ol’Val to the house. At great expense, and with a large degree of stealth, small rail tubes were dug under the various caverns housing all the major districts within the asteroid. By purchasing or controlling various locations within these zones, small lift tubes were crafted in abandoned or little used structures allowing members of Qel-Droma access to any zone in minutes. The main turbolift system is in the center of this level, with small tubes branching out in all directions. The entrance to the Phantom Complex from the tube leading from the Docks is on the western face of this hub and is the primary entrance point to the headquarters. There are 25 entry/exit portals threaded throughout Port Ol’Val, and each district has more than one. A few of the more notable ones are listed below. |
| | ==== Portals of Note ==== |
| | • '''The ''Albatross''''': This star-hopper class shuttle was a wreck recovered from the walls of the Kas Tunnel after a disasterous failed entry in which the crew and passengers were killed. Once the vessel was removed and placed in the Docks repair area, it was quickly purchased by shadow agents of Arcona and placed in the farthest repair bay to await repairs. Inside this shattered wreck’s cargo compartment is a biometric key pad which opens to a turbolift car. This lift car descends six meters beneath the floor of the bay into a small cubby which holds three rail cars at any one time. These cars then transport visitors to Phantom Complex to the central hub. |
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| At the end of the main entry hall is a roughly square room whose center is taken up with what has come to be called the "Reflecting pool." Part of the original ruins, this pool has, since its discovery, contained none but the clearest and purest of water. The Krath have yet to fully explain the source of this water, or how its purity is maintained in the shallow pool. Nevertheless, the reflecting pool has come to be a popular location for meditation within the temple.
| | • '''Wing Kong Exchange Trading Company''': This business, which deals in rare and exotic items is run by Dav’Lo’Pan, a withered human and shadow agent of House Qel-Droma. In the back stockroom conceals the lift tube which is the most used of the three exits into the Besadii Entertainment District. |
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| Forward from the reflecting pool is a long, dark stairway that slopes gently into the earth and into the depths of the temple. Various sensors and security devices have been installed along this stairwell, programmed to detain, and if necessary destroy, anything the central computer does not recognize as authorized personnel. The stairway is completely unlit, and has no hand railings. No one is precisely sure what lies at the bottom of the large spaces on either side of the staircase; even Force-enhanced senses seem to be blocked from investigating them. One of the first tests of any initiate of the House is to reach the bottom of the staircase using the barest sense of the Force as their only guide through the treacherous darkness.
| | • '''The Shack''': This small, four room shack is considered ‘haunted’ by the locals that dwell in the Pride of Corellia district. After a bizarre massacre in which an unidentified male killed 6 people, cut off his own hand and replaced it with an automatic cutting implement and then jumped into a dark hole presumably to his death, the locals shun this small structure located in the northern end of the Pride. Since the ownership of the dwelling is unknown, Qel-Droma constructed an exit aperture in one of the smaller rooms and concealed the room from curious onlookers. Occasionally some thrill seekers come to investigate, at which time some Arconans have perpetuated the haunting myth with mean spirited use of Force Suggestion. This is the least popular exit in all of Or’Val and one of four in the Pride of Corellia district. |
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| === Lower Floor A === | | • '''The Vannacutt''': This dark stone building looks as if it was carved right from the cavern wall, and indeed it was. This six-story structure is one of the more popular hotels in Jerem Plaza. It was its particular construction that drew the attention to the Arconan engineers. Deep in the power core of the hotel, a small auxiliary power capacitor sits off to the side, looking like it’s connected to the primary power core. In reality, the capacitor is hollow and houses a small entrance turbolift. This is one of five portals within Jerem Plaza but it is seldom used due to the difficulty of a stealthy entry/exit within the busy, popular establishment. |
| Once reaching the bottom of the staircase, large durasteel doors open into a huge enclosed area, nearly the size of a standard city block. The majority of the area is taken up by secluded study areas, made up of large tables, comfortable chairs, and lit with soft glow lamps. But the centerpieces are the two formidable vaults at the far side of the room. These are the highly prized archives of House Qel-Droma. Case upon case, shelf upon shelf of scrolls, artifacts, and datacards hold the tales, researches, and discoveries of countless Dark Jedi and Sith throughout known history. The vaults themselves are essentially huge boxes made of a permacrete/durasteel mix, seamlessly melded into the bedrock of the temple's foundation. Huge doors are programmed to seal the vaults immediately upon either threat of fire, invasion, or any other potential catastrophe.
| | === Level Delta === |
| | This is the deepest level of the Phantom Complex, and also has the greatest amount of square footage, totaling well over double that of the entire complex combined. Carved in the semblance of the Massassi Temples, the pyramid shaped cavern was shaped by master masons to give the natural cavern the inner appearance of the ancient Sith ruins. With smaller chambers leading off from the center for private training or meditation, Delta runs from near the center of the asteroid to within 40 meters of the ventral surface, causing a slight distortion effect due to the natural gravity of the asteroid in comparison with the gravity within the system. Different floors have greater gravimetric disturbance, with the topmost floors being relatively stable and the outer levels with near reversed gravity. Various students of the more advanced forms of fighting tend to favor the middle floors, adding that bit of gravity flux to enhance their own personal sense of balance and environmental awareness. Varied training equipment and droids inhabit the multiple levels, each catering to specific situations and scenarios. |
| | ==== Center Pyramid ==== |
| | With a small level at the top, this area contains sixteen different levels, with standard gravity only at the top. On the lowest level, the standard gravity is reversed, causing the students to actually stand on the ‘ceiling’. As the levels meet in the center, the gravity shifts, causing a natural imbalance in most beings. |
| | ==== North ==== |
| | The northern pylon is a four sided chamber closest to the bottom of the central computer core. Specialized heating ducts channel excess thermal output from the core into this room, causing the standard temperature to be close to 38 degrees Celsius. This temperature can be increased to as high as 45 degrees Celsius, but cannot go any cooler than the standard 38. There are 3 floors, each with varied degrees of gravimetric distortion. This pylon is used for meditation and high heat environmental training mainly. |
| | ==== East ==== |
| | The eastern pylon, which is even with the top level, contains the House library and archive. Six separate meditation/study chambers radiate outwards in a semi-circle form the circular room. The primary turbolift is in the center of this structure, with circular bookshelves radiating outwards. This is the primary entrance point for Delta. Gravity is standard on this level. |
| | ==== South ==== |
| | The southern pylon is located off of the center levels, where gravity is at its worst. To add to the hazards of this area, this cavern, the result of a natural gas pocket during the formation of Ol’Val, was untouched by the masons and there are no lights or power sources anywhere within. Stalactite and stalagmites grow at odd angles, with natural crystal formations sprouting from various areas. Of all the training levels, this is the most dangerous. With gravity in chaos, no lights, no sounds and sharp points and obstructions, only the most confident Dark Jedi choose to train here. |
| | ==== West ==== |
| | The western pylon is similar to the north, being an environmental challenge level; only this level is near the surface and has no temperature controls. Life support consists of breathable atmosphere and that’s all. The temperature averages between -3 to -27 Celsius depending on the location of Ol’Val’s position in relation to Dajorra. All three floors are closer to the ventral surface, which makes the gravity almost opposite to normal orientation. |
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| Past the archives is a short hallway, whose most immediate destinations are the only recognizable remains of the original pre-fabricated garrison: two large barracks buildings, now part of the temple's overall structure. Each building contains two rows of living quarters, and a central area for dining, studying, and general socialization. Each private room is supplied with a bed, storage locker, and personal facilities, and can be customized to a certain extent by the current tenant. The barracks serve as the initial home for all incoming House members, up until the rank of Dark Jedi Knight is attained. At that point, the Dark Knight can opt to find or build his own dwelling outside the temple. But regardless, a handful of rooms are always kept "open" for any member's usage, should their studies require them to spend extended periods of time in the temple.
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| Past the barracks areas, the hallway begins a steady angled climb back towards ground level, and the next feature is the Communications Room. Here is housed the most state-of-the-art in communications technology. The Comm Room not only monitors HoloNet broadcasts and manages all incoming and outgoing communications of House and Clan members, but it has also been specially modified by the Arconan Krath. Unique to Qel-Droma is the fact that the Comm Center is also tapped into a long forgotten Imperial Ubiqtorate data stream, which not only allows for the most secure encryptions in the galaxy to be available to the House, but also provides access to many classified Imperial records. Despite this advantage, the Arconan Krath still struggle to crack into Emperor Palpatine's personal files pertaining to the Jedi and, more importantly, the ancient Sith.
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| Past the Comm Room is a voice coded, secure passageway. This leads to the area of the temple containing the private quarters of the House Quaestor and Aedile. A long hallway extends parallel to both rooms, and is adorned with various Clan artifacts, trophies, and intricate busts of Quaestors past. At each end of this hallway a large and powerful security droid stands guard to intercept any potential intruders. Both the Quaestor's and Aedile's chambers are large and heavily fortified, and the interiors of each are furnished to the occupant's wishes. A second, larger security door at the end of the hallway leads back to the reflecting pool, and the entrance of the temple.
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| Moving back to the archives room, a second passage on the south side leads to what has come to be called the Honor Room. Once the temple was completed, this room, an entirely intact chamber from the original ruins, was found to be a strong focus of dark side energy. While the reasons behind this focus is currently unknown, the plain chamber has become the location in which the ceremonies to elevate House members take place. Rumor has it that being granted a new title in the energy-filled room imparts some additional Force power to the honoree, but this has yet to be proven in any way.
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| Past the Honor Room, the hallway angles steeply upwards, leading back to and above ground level, terminating in the entrance to a broad staircase. This leads to the second level of the temple. The stairway was designed so that many House members could ascend at one time.
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| === Added Facilities ===
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| Shortly after the House Qel-Droma Phyle War, the House Temple’s architect, [[Vassan Rokir]], undertook a number of additions to the temple, to better accommodate the growing numbers in the House, as well as to mark the anniversary of the Brotherhood’s division from the Emperor’s Hammer.
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| ==== Laboratory ====
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| Off a newly made hallway from the entrance to the summit quarters, the Lab is a multi-purpose workspace for House members. Reserved on request, the laboratory is stocked with supplies both technological and alchemical, depending on the needs of the user. Anything from lightsabers to poisons could be created here, with the proper ingredients.
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| ==== Meditation Center ====
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| This hollowed-out area down the hall from the Laboratory is reserved as a sound proof, secluded area for members to conduct either individual or group meditative sessions. Several members sit within this room in complete darkness, in order to better commune with the darkness that resides within, and without.
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| === Conference Room ===
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| Down a newly made hallway from the staircase leading to the Oval Dome, a formal conference room has been added. This room is intended for use by Phyles or summit members to conduct more private conclaves than would be done in a wide public area, such as the Oval Dome. It may also be reserved by interested parties for private debate or conversation on the dark side itself, or discussion of special research projects.
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| ==== Storage Room ====
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| Down the hall from the Conference Room, a storage room has been added to warehouse food supply stockpiles and extra equipment, should Arconae Primus be cut off from Clan supply lines for any unforeseen length of time. The room also acts as a supplementary archive of many non-rare items from the House archives.
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| ==== Phyle Monument ====
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| Constructed to pay tribute to the superior Phyle of the House, the Phyle Monument to Dark Orb has been placed near the main entrance of the Temple.
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| At the top of the long staircase, visitors arrive inside a huge oval dome, whose size rests atop the majority of the temple's lower floors. This dome is supported by a ring of gigantic pillars that sit around the inside perimeter of the dome. The interior walls are covered in large murals depicting both House and Clan successes in battles and discoveries past. Otherwise, the dome remains as mostly empty space. The Oval Dome acts as the House's multi-purpose room. When not used for full House meetings, the dome can be reserved for training initiates in the use of the Force, lightsaber dueling, and meditation.
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| === History Mk.II ===
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| Shortly after the third Sith War of the modern era, House Qel-Droma initiated an internal conflict to, essentially, "cull the herd" for those worthy to hold a place as the most valuable and honored of the Krath in the House.
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| The conflict was long and arduous, with the two Krath Phyles fighting to become the favored denizens of the recently constructed House Qel-Droma Temple.
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| For over a month in the first quarter of the Dark Brotherhood year 1 A.S. (1 year After the Split) tyro fought tyro amid the stone hallways and jungle surrounding of the temple, all in an effort to impress their superiors, and themselves, of who was most worthy.
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| When the haze of battle cleared, the results were indeed very, very close. But a winner was chosen, and it was the Dark Orb.
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| Designed by Vassan Rokir, Aedile of Qel-Droma, who had as well designed the Qel-Droman temple itself, the monument rest near the entrance to the temple, displayed prominently for all who come and go. The base of the monument was carved from a block of solid, black rock mined from the nearby mountains. The plaque reads "Dark Orb," the letters made from the durable golden glitterstone and set into a base of wrought durasteel. The base also houses a repulsorlift field generator, which leds itself to the rest of the design.
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| Set on either side of the flat, square top of the monuments base are two angled spikes of a polished platinum/durasteel mix. These spikes each represent Knowledge and Power, the two basic virtues of the Krath Order.
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| And floating between the two spikes, thanks to the aforementioned repulsorlift field, is a large sphere of violet Corsuca stone. Polished to a mirror finish, the sphere is set to rotate in time with the rotation of the temple's homeworld, Arconae Primus. Qel-Droma Temple - © 2003-2004 Vassan Rokir and Clan Arcona of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood
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| == Notable Qel-Droma Members == | | == Notable Qel-Droma Members == |
- "The Shadows of history haunt us"
- ―House motto
House Qel-Droma is the second of two multi-order Houses serving Arcona. The current leaders of House Qel-Droma are Socorra Erinos and Scelestus. There are currently two active Battleteams, Shadow Gate and Void Squadron, led by Andrelious J. Inahj and Cethgus Entar respectively.
History of Qel-Droma
Arcona's Ascension and Fall
During the reign of Grand Master Khyron, a Dark Jedi House was formed in the system where Ulic Qel-Droma had seen his last battle. The House was named Arcona and its first leader was Sith Warrior Donitz. Donitz however never made it to the day to see his House fully established as the day before the Grand Master was to give his official approval and blessing, he disappeared into the nothingness of Space, never to be seen again. Instead of him, Krath Pontifex Gilkane was instated into the position of Quaestor, aided by Obelisk Warrior Dreadnaught. Arcona was blessed with a large amount of talent and immediately seized Right of Supremacy among all Houses in the next vendetta. After the vendetta, Pontifex Gilkane resigned to go into the wilderness and work on his own Force understanding and Dreadnaught was called upon to establish a new House's presence elsewhere. So the leadership of Arcona fell to Krath Priestess Lioness. Lioness was eager and talented, but she had ideas not in accordance with what the Dark Council expected and was in the end forced to resign her leadership. No replacement was appointed and House Arcona began to crumble.
Nighthawk and the New Arcona
It was several months later that a young and loyel Jedi Hunter named Nighthawk approached the Dark Council with the request for permission to rebuild the presence that had once been House Arcona. He had the support of Lioness' former Aedile, Sith Warrior Shark, and together they began a steady process of growth. In less than a year, what had been a dead House was a flourishing assembly of 70 Dark Jedi of all ranks and so it was decided to expand Arcona into a Clan. Two new Houses were formed, House Galeres on Garrida and, on the other inhabitable world of the Coronoda system, Mar Sala, a House was established to bear his name. Sith Warrior Shark was the first Quaestor of House Qel-Droma while Nighthawk was now Consul of Arcona.
Oriens Obscurum and the Reordering
While Arcona was prospering, a neighboring Clan, Scholae Palatinae, was doing far less well. They had deteriorated to a point where barely more than a single House's worth of Jedi were left and thus it was decided to downgrade the Clan to a House. This House was then given to Clan Arcona. Many talented members, especially veteran Sith called this House their home and it became a great asset to the Clan. Then came the day when Grand Master Khyron ordered the most massive restructuring the Dark Brotherhood had ever seen. No longer were Houses to have members of all three Orders but they were to concentrate their powers on one Order and its abilities, with a Clan having one Krath House, one Sith House and one Obelisk House. House Galeres had traditionally been strong with Obelisk members and had DJM Blazer, a former CoG as their Quaestor, so it was natural for them to become the Obelisk House. Qel-Droma was as natural a choice for Krath given their namesake and location, so House Oriens Obscurum became Sith. Archpriest Gavron became the first Quaestor of the restructured House Qel-Droma.
Lord Thedek's Reign
These incidents fell just before Grand Master Khyron retired. In his place, Lord Thedek was appointed Grand Master. As a result of his ascension, Nighthawk was appointed Master at Arms and Gavron was chosen as the new Consul for Arcona. The new Quaestor of Qel-Droma was Joker, although he unfortunately had to relinquish the post shortly after appointment due to a ship collision that left him out of commission for several months, nearly killing him. Following in his footsteps were Frost (aided by AED Zander) and then Alex d'Tana (with KPN Voranyen as Aedile). In this time, House Qel-Droma had two Krath Phyles, the Dark Orb Phyle and the Loreseekers. Following a gradual decline in membership, the Loreseekers were closed, leaving Dark Orb as the only Phyle in House Qel-Droma.
The Rise of Mejas Doto
While the resignation of Lord Thedek and the ascension of Lord Zoraan to the Iron Throne had little effect on the House, it still marked the timeline. Some time after Zoraan had assumed rulership, House Qel-Droma had again regrown somewhat. A second Phyle was reinstated under the command of Jedi Hunter Cyrax Lionheart, but Cyrax never made it to any exploits as he was one day found dead in his chambers. Succeeding him was Acolyte Kaiann, a recent graduate of the Shadow Academy. At the same time, Alex also resigned and am ambitious young Archpriest, named Mejas Doto, was appointed the new Quaestor of Qel-Droma. Dark Orb Phyle remained in the capable hands of Krath Priest D'hak and Pontifex Voranyen continued on as Aedile.
Another Haunting Visit
Around these days, the Cathedral found itself in uproar again. Several younger Jedi had apparitions, especially of Ulic Qel-Droma and those who had been killed centuries ago. In a dreadful night, Qel- Droma came back to once again haunt the place he died, leaving two Acolytes dead before finally being dispatched by the joint efforts of the Quaestor and several of the younger Jedi. They recognized the meaning of Kasal Diglapari's prophecy and thus it was decided to name the second Phyle Hell's Gatekeepers.
The Krath Rite of Supremacy and the Exodus
Little of the history is known, lost in the times of war. The Exodus was particularly painful for the House as they fled their old home, carrying with them everything they could muster in that short time. Most of the old knowledge the House had was lost to the Emperor's Hammer, what they did save is stored, safely in the Qel-Droman archives within the Phantom Complex.
Phantom Complex
The rebuilt House Qel-Droma headquarters is located within a secret pocket within the massive asteroid known as Port Ol'Val. Having been discovered by the members of Qel-Droma during a routine mission, this small hold-out was expanded into a massive structure after the obliteration of the House Qel-Droma temple.
Complex Proper
The Phantom Complex, named such by the fact that while the house presence is rumored, it remains unconfirmed by the general populace, yet the entire asteroid is within the grasp of Qel-Droma, is split into 4 different levels concealed between the Jerem Plaza and the Minefield quadrants. Once a small holdout for a fledgling Black Sun lieutenant, the complex had been greatly expanded to house the Qel-Dromans after the destruction of their previous temple by the Yuuzhan Vong.
On the eastern facing ends of the complex, nearest the Minefield, any viable ores were removed and minerals that would be sought after were corrupted by the Sith Alchemists to render them unusable. Electro-Magnetic pods were also placed in concealed locations, to cause disruptions in the automatic mining droids, causing them to short-circuit or even in two separate instances, turn on their handlers. After a number of equipment malfunctions, failed geological survey tests and the loss of three groups of miners, the closest shafts near the complex were abandoned.
The northern face of the complex is near the southern-most face of the Jerem Plaza cavern. Most of the buildings along that rock wall are either owned or under the influence of the Arconans, which prevents any further expansion south by the Jerem Plaza enterprises.
The headquarters is unique among the structures of Ol’Val in many respects. First and foremost it is the only complex that is completely concealed from the general public. Well placed sources in the Ol’Val administration keep the complex completely off any charts or survey maps. Another unique trait is that it is the only structure that spans from near the topmost surface to the bottom of the asteroid. The final unique trait is the extensive rail system that connects to up to three separate exit points in various structures in every zone in Ol’Val, making the headquarters the secret center of the planetoid.
Level Alpha
This is the primary housing level of the Qel-Droman headquarters, which are sparse in room and comfort, but contains all the necessities to maintain the House and its members. This level consists of a common room, 28 standard rooms, 6 large suite-type quarters, 2 large guest suites and the personal quarters for the Aedile and Quaestor of the House. The primary turbolift shaft, which connects all four levels of the complex, is on the eastern wall of the common room.
==== Quaestor’ Suite ==== Contains a standard sleeping chamber, guest reception/living area, ‘fresher w/ tub and sonic shower and large walk in closet. Also contains a private turbolift in the north wall, which leads to the Quaestor’s office one level below. This turbolift is keyed to the Quaestor’s genetic signature and cannot be activated by any other being. This room differs from the Aedile suite with the addition of a private meditation chamber on the eastern side of the suite. In a place where space is a premium, this addition is a valuable commodity.
Aedile’s Suite
Contains a standard sleeping chamber, guest reception/living area, ‘fresher w/ tub and sonic shower and large walk in closet. Also contains a private turbolift in the south wall, which leads to the Aedile’s office one level below. This turbolift is keyed to the Aedile’s genetic signature and cannot be activated by any other being.
Guest’s Suite (2)
Sleeping chamber, small guest reception/living area, ‘fresher w/ sonic shower and small walk in closet. These suites are reserved for guests visiting the House, either Arcona Summit, Galeres Summit, or other varied important guests.
Large Quarters (6)
These rooms are roughly twice the square living footage as a regular living chamber and are reserved for some of the older and higher ranking members of the House. These chambers have been customized by their respective occupants but all share the same basics such as a standard sleeping chamber separated by a small partition from a small guest reception/living area, ‘fresher w/ tub (or sonic shower, but not both) and small walk in closet.
Standard Chamber (28)
Contains a small sleeping chamber and a ‘fresher station with standing sonic shower unit. While the barest of essentials, these chambers are standard for all, and with most House members off-planetoid on missions, the decision to waste precious living space on non-essential comfort was an easy one to make.
Level Beta
This level, separated from Alpha by thirty meters of Ol’Val rock, is the primary administration level of the Phantom Complex. It was the primary level that housed the Black Sun presence on Ol’Val before they were removed by the Arconans. On the westernmost end is the main operations center, the single entryway nestled in-between the offices of the house summit. Also on this level are three smaller briefing rooms and a large briefing amphitheater separated by a wide gathering hall ending with the primary turbolift shaft on the eastern wall.
Operations Center
This secured area contains the observation and communications apparatus for the entire complex. This room has changed very little from when it served as the operations center for Black Sun, except that the hardware has been upgraded significantly. There are six status and control consoles lining the sides of the circular room. These six terminals control external functions such as surveillance and sensors of the different zones within Ol’Val. On a one step raised tier in a small semi-circle are three computer terminals which regulate the primary functions of the base, such as internal security and sensors, environmental controls and power regulation. In the center of the room, on a three step raised dias is the master control terminal. This coded and biometrically locked terminal is connected directly to the three story tall main computer core located in a secure silo beneath the operations center. If any information is to be added to the primary computer core, it is stored in this terminal until the Quaestor authorizes the download.
The main computer core beneath the operations center is one of the most protected structures in the entire complex. The computer shielding is a heat-reactive substance that through science and sith sorcery, is able to absorb the immense heat created by the computer core and transfer it through processing generators into the central power generator, which provides power for the entire complex without tapping into any of the standard Ol’Val power lines. This system makes the entire complex self-sufficient and also masks the heat from being detected by external Ol’Val sensors.
Quaestor’s Office
This office is a standard administrative office capable of seating fifteen at max capacity. Two large banks of computers are located behind the main desk, which has nearly un-restricted access to the main computer. Due to security concerns, only the main computer in the Ops center has total access to the core, but the Quaestor’s terminal has greater access than a standard terminal, but like all other terminals, has read-only access to the core itself to prevent software or data sabotage. On the northern edge of the office is a small private turbolift that leads to the Quaestor’s personal quarters. The only difference between the Quaestor’s office and the Aedile’s is a small rail car terminus located on the eastern wall. This maglev railcar leads to a small hub with a three-seater escape pod in case of a catastrophic event in which the QUA would need to evacuate the complex.
Aedile’s Office
This office is a standard administrative office capable of seating fifteen at max capacity. Two large banks of computers are located behind the main desk, which has nearly un-restricted access to the main computer. Due to security concerns, only the main computer in the Ops center has total access to the core, but the Aedile’s terminal has greater access than a standard terminal, but like all other terminals, has read-only access to the core itself to prevent software or data sabotage. On the southern edge of the office is a small private turbolift that leads to the Aedile’s personal quarters.
Main Auditorium
This room, the largest on this level, is shaped in a cone downward towards a center stage, the design maximizing acoustics in the chamber. This chamber seats 76 comfortably in coliseum-style seating.
Briefing Room (3)
Small square rooms containing three split rows of six seats for a max capacity of 18 guests and a small center podium facing the crowd. These rooms are ideal for small group meetings or battleteam briefings.
Level Ceti
This is the main transportation hub of the Phantom Complex. Over the course of construction, small natural tunnels threaded in the bedrock gave designers the idea of creating a network of transport tubes to give access to the entirety of Ol’Val to the house. At great expense, and with a large degree of stealth, small rail tubes were dug under the various caverns housing all the major districts within the asteroid. By purchasing or controlling various locations within these zones, small lift tubes were crafted in abandoned or little used structures allowing members of Qel-Droma access to any zone in minutes. The main turbolift system is in the center of this level, with small tubes branching out in all directions. The entrance to the Phantom Complex from the tube leading from the Docks is on the western face of this hub and is the primary entrance point to the headquarters. There are 25 entry/exit portals threaded throughout Port Ol’Val, and each district has more than one. A few of the more notable ones are listed below.
Portals of Note
• The Albatross: This star-hopper class shuttle was a wreck recovered from the walls of the Kas Tunnel after a disasterous failed entry in which the crew and passengers were killed. Once the vessel was removed and placed in the Docks repair area, it was quickly purchased by shadow agents of Arcona and placed in the farthest repair bay to await repairs. Inside this shattered wreck’s cargo compartment is a biometric key pad which opens to a turbolift car. This lift car descends six meters beneath the floor of the bay into a small cubby which holds three rail cars at any one time. These cars then transport visitors to Phantom Complex to the central hub.
• Wing Kong Exchange Trading Company: This business, which deals in rare and exotic items is run by Dav’Lo’Pan, a withered human and shadow agent of House Qel-Droma. In the back stockroom conceals the lift tube which is the most used of the three exits into the Besadii Entertainment District.
• The Shack: This small, four room shack is considered ‘haunted’ by the locals that dwell in the Pride of Corellia district. After a bizarre massacre in which an unidentified male killed 6 people, cut off his own hand and replaced it with an automatic cutting implement and then jumped into a dark hole presumably to his death, the locals shun this small structure located in the northern end of the Pride. Since the ownership of the dwelling is unknown, Qel-Droma constructed an exit aperture in one of the smaller rooms and concealed the room from curious onlookers. Occasionally some thrill seekers come to investigate, at which time some Arconans have perpetuated the haunting myth with mean spirited use of Force Suggestion. This is the least popular exit in all of Or’Val and one of four in the Pride of Corellia district.
• The Vannacutt: This dark stone building looks as if it was carved right from the cavern wall, and indeed it was. This six-story structure is one of the more popular hotels in Jerem Plaza. It was its particular construction that drew the attention to the Arconan engineers. Deep in the power core of the hotel, a small auxiliary power capacitor sits off to the side, looking like it’s connected to the primary power core. In reality, the capacitor is hollow and houses a small entrance turbolift. This is one of five portals within Jerem Plaza but it is seldom used due to the difficulty of a stealthy entry/exit within the busy, popular establishment.
Level Delta
This is the deepest level of the Phantom Complex, and also has the greatest amount of square footage, totaling well over double that of the entire complex combined. Carved in the semblance of the Massassi Temples, the pyramid shaped cavern was shaped by master masons to give the natural cavern the inner appearance of the ancient Sith ruins. With smaller chambers leading off from the center for private training or meditation, Delta runs from near the center of the asteroid to within 40 meters of the ventral surface, causing a slight distortion effect due to the natural gravity of the asteroid in comparison with the gravity within the system. Different floors have greater gravimetric disturbance, with the topmost floors being relatively stable and the outer levels with near reversed gravity. Various students of the more advanced forms of fighting tend to favor the middle floors, adding that bit of gravity flux to enhance their own personal sense of balance and environmental awareness. Varied training equipment and droids inhabit the multiple levels, each catering to specific situations and scenarios.
Center Pyramid
With a small level at the top, this area contains sixteen different levels, with standard gravity only at the top. On the lowest level, the standard gravity is reversed, causing the students to actually stand on the ‘ceiling’. As the levels meet in the center, the gravity shifts, causing a natural imbalance in most beings.
North
The northern pylon is a four sided chamber closest to the bottom of the central computer core. Specialized heating ducts channel excess thermal output from the core into this room, causing the standard temperature to be close to 38 degrees Celsius. This temperature can be increased to as high as 45 degrees Celsius, but cannot go any cooler than the standard 38. There are 3 floors, each with varied degrees of gravimetric distortion. This pylon is used for meditation and high heat environmental training mainly.
East
The eastern pylon, which is even with the top level, contains the House library and archive. Six separate meditation/study chambers radiate outwards in a semi-circle form the circular room. The primary turbolift is in the center of this structure, with circular bookshelves radiating outwards. This is the primary entrance point for Delta. Gravity is standard on this level.
South
The southern pylon is located off of the center levels, where gravity is at its worst. To add to the hazards of this area, this cavern, the result of a natural gas pocket during the formation of Ol’Val, was untouched by the masons and there are no lights or power sources anywhere within. Stalactite and stalagmites grow at odd angles, with natural crystal formations sprouting from various areas. Of all the training levels, this is the most dangerous. With gravity in chaos, no lights, no sounds and sharp points and obstructions, only the most confident Dark Jedi choose to train here.
West
The western pylon is similar to the north, being an environmental challenge level; only this level is near the surface and has no temperature controls. Life support consists of breathable atmosphere and that’s all. The temperature averages between -3 to -27 Celsius depending on the location of Ol’Val’s position in relation to Dajorra. All three floors are closer to the ventral surface, which makes the gravity almost opposite to normal orientation.
Notable Qel-Droma Members
- Mejas Doto
- Vassan Rokir
- Khobai Wrathraven
- JaM3z Lucius Entar
- Cyris Oscura
- Strategos Thanatos Entar
- Timeros Caesus Entar
- Sashar Erinos Arconae
- Orv Desserx
House Summit Chronology
Trivia
- Has been closed several times before, but always rises from the shadows to become a strong presence in the Clan once more.
- Previously led by several Consuls of the Clan
- Has a long history of association with the ACC, with Combat Masters Xizor, Cyris and Timeros all having been HQD members prior to their appointment along with former Quaestor Invictus having been a Combat Master prior to joining HQD. Furthermore, the current Quaestor is a current Judge in the ACC.