Alfhedil

Star Wars: The Succession Wars

A Dance With Aera Cura
Part the second

Eyes of a goddess,
I fall prison to.
A heart of a fool,
I've been cursed.

Taris - Spire Enclave, Solace's quarters

The scent of slow-burning candles mingled in the air with another smell, one which did not belong, yet with the intoxicating aroma of the tallow, it seemed right. They had been placed throughout the room at what seemed like random intervals at first, but the longer one looked at the erratic patterns, the more it seemed deliberate and precise. Channels of the force ran along the lines drawn between individual candles, the energy subtle and barely there, but when added together into the center of the diagram became a raging torrent center on one individual. She sat there, her robe cast open to bare her self to the one she summoned, both hands held to her side with her palms facing upwards. From her right hand she held a knife, the carved blade still sticky and wet with freshly let blood, her other hand cupping the blood which welled up from her opened palm. "I summon you..." her whisper was low and seductive, pouring her desire to see the being into her ritualized summoning.

Slowly, the blood cupped in her hand rose like a snake charmed from its hole, and began to coalesce before her. More drew itself from her palm and from the opened scars across her torso and upper arms, the wounds of years of dedication to this creature opening once more as she gave herself to the creature. Her lips parted in the mixing of pleasure and pain as the creature took what it needed from her and gave form to itself before her in the guise it once knew so long ago. The knife slipped from her hand as she crawled forward to kneel before the creature, touching her forehead to the ethereal boot of the force-ghost and drawing away to look up at the one she summoned.

Deep scarring ran across its form, the scars of countless wars and thousands of wounds marred its body, culminating in the face of one who had denied death and drawn power from the pain it inflicted on others and that which it suffered as well. "My lord..." her whisper was one of reverence for this being, this Lord of Pain, one who had rightly died so long ago that memory of his existence was forgotten by all but the most obscure of texts. His name was Sion, and this woman, this dark-jedi, was his, for she had given herself to him willingly and given him of herself a physical presence to interact with her as he saw fit. This time, he looked down upon her with the same disapproving glower he had given her when she first summoned him. Solace remained where she knelt as he reached down and took her by the throat, lifting her to stare directly into her face with his single eye. His grip was solid as he flexed his incorporeal muscles to slowly crush her windpipe, her body shaking as she began to struggle in the grip of the force-ghost she had given form.

As her robe fell to the floor, she was finally freed from the grip of Sion, her naked body collapsing as she tried to recover her breath from the assault. "What... Have... I done to displease you, my lord?" She struggled with the words, but fought against the pain, trying to appear strong and not the weak creature she was when she first summoned him. Sion took a step towards her, his ghostly foot crossing the threads of the force which ran between the candles and served to trap him within this room. Despite her loyalty to the dark lord, she was still wary of his power and could not risk him truly gaining a physical presence, knowing that it would ruin the Enclaves if he was to gain power again. "You." his voice was the crack of bone and the ripping of flesh, the spilling of blood and the opening of wounds. Only hate and insanity lurked behind the will of this creature, a sentience driven mad by eons of torment in the aethers of the force and bound to nothing but the whims of eternity. Solace felt a cold chill bore down her spine as he spoke, suddenly realizing that she was in very deep trouble as the dark lord was not merely displeased with her, no, it was furious. "You have failed to give me a form to stride this galaxy once more in. You have failed to do exactly as I have commanded you, and you still bend knee to a false-sith and hold pretentions that the bond of family is more valuable than what I have given you."

Her heart suddenly spasmed as she felt the grip of the dark lord's grasp upon her body, her own life-essence giving him the power to do as he pleased to her. Pain wracked her body as she struggled to endure the pain of her organs slowly failing in the grip of the creature, blood seeping from her mouth as she bent before him once more, trying to show that she was still loyal. As she did so, the pain lessened and slowly she was free of discomfort once more, the force knitting the damage dealt in the ravages of Sion's grip. "Your sister, she is beholden to your master." It was more a statement than a question, a statement that struck her more than the attack itself. "You will strike her down. Her body will be mine, and then I will strike down your master." Reaching down to grip Solace's face, he brought himself low and came barely a breath from her, "Then, I will show you my power in the body of your sister, and we will take what we please from whoever we please. This I give to you."

She felt the release of the dark lord as he turned from her and willed himself back into the aethers of the force, his time with her done, and his patience depleted. Solace lay in the bloodstained robes for several minutes before she brought herself back to her knees, tears running down her face even as she swore her loyalty to the dark creature, "Yes, my lord. It will be done..."

---

Taris - Spire Enclave, The Great Hall

It had been several hours since Ceres Bannon had been able to reach a compromise with the Black Hand, arranging a meeting between the leadership of the enigmatic group with the leadership of the Tarisian League and the Enclaves themselves. Standing at attention at the entrance to the Enclave from the space-port, Ceres and his honor guard awaited the envoy from the Black Hand, the Tarisian Alor standing beside him in a simple suit and tie, taking a more formal approach to the meeting rather than dressing in the full ceremonial garb his position as governor usually dictated. Then again, Sebastian Erazx was a very practically minded man who cared little for the vagaries of ceremony and much of the politics that came with it. It was not uncommon for him to simply leave a diplomatic proceeding that has taken too long, and on one occasion he was found to have executed a senator for taking too long to explain a new bill. Quick and to the point was his style, and he was as ruthless as he was concise, the countless bureaucrats and executives now homeless in the under-city could attest to that quite bitterly. Ceres quite like the man, and the man did have quite sense of style, his beard trimmed in a mimicry of Mandalorian tribal markings, and the Jaig eyes tattooed above his brow. Certainly a warrior-politician if there ever was such a thing.

Across from them was the delegation from the Enclaves, their gracious hosts, and likely the ones to keep some semblance of peace. Solace stood at attention, her grim look casting disdain on everything around her in her typical bitter and spiteful manner. He dearly wished that their master was here, for Solace was notoriously callous and ruthless, far more akin to the Sith of the outer reaches than her sister. If it wasn't for the importance of this meeting, he was sure that she wouldn't be beyond sending the whole party back to the city, with or without a shuttle. She was even dressed for battle, the intricate clasps and plates of the Jedi-Battle armor she wore polished to a sheen and a short-handled lightsaber clasped to her belt in a locked mechanism, to prevent another from pulling it free with the force. Requiem on the other hand, had freely trusted that this was to be a discussion between potential allies, taking it upon herself to dress in an evening gown that flowed down to her ankles. She was clearly unarmed, for anything of the sort would have no place to be clasped, and she had taken a great risk to dress as such. Regardless, her broad smile seemed to ease his fears, an aura of peacefulness exuding from her as she had no fear of what was to happen next. True to their heritage, both sisters wore bands across their eyes, so as not to expose the absence of eyes to their visitors.

The twins were also here for the disturbance in the force which had occurred the previous night, one which had unsettled many of the jedi within the Enclave, and made the twins very curious. It seemed as if it was indeed the case that their guests were force-sensitive, something that made the twins very keen to be present to meet them. With little else left, the parties waited for their guests, hoping that what was to come next could bring another ally to the GRM and at the very least form a partnership that both parties would celebrate for a years to come...

A New Age - Ancient Era NRP

HazmatMedic said
I use Wikipedia all the time! I don't think it is unreliable, I'm saying that some people think Wikipedia is unreliable. God, Alf, think before you post ;-)Also, by subtle I meant it isn't commonly known, certainly not as common as iron, steel or bronze.

=P

It may be subtle, but it is a very well known metal in the metallurgical circles as well as the modern industry. It is kind of on the same field as Cobalt, in that both are highly utilized by alloyers who create the high-speed steel needed for things like cutting tools and high-strain working conditions. I did a lot of my research on metals and construction of tools for another RP when I ran dwarves, so I still have about 40 some odd links on metallurgical processes and different metals.

A New Age - Ancient Era NRP

HazmatMedic said
I know people say wikipedia is unreliable, but I doubt someone would screw about with something as subtle as Vanadium, so I guess that counts as a reliable source. However, just because somethings makes no reference to something doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't happen. It might still happen elsewhere.

>Says Wikipedia is unreliable
>Uses Wikipedia link for acceptable weapons

Honestly, the whole debate over the reliability of Wikipedia is well and truly done, as it's one of the few large databases of information on the internet freely accessible to everyone. While textbooks are the most reliable source, it would be difficult for some of us to gain access to the same textbooks, and for most of us it would take too long to acquire these books to respond in a timely manner.

Vanadium is also not quite as subtle as you think, what with it being used in high-speed steels that are quite superior to standard steel produced without alloying.

A New Age - Ancient Era NRP

HazmatMedic said
As I understand, Vanadium IS commonly found bound to other minerals, however. Can I ask you both to source your knowledge?

My source is the wikipedia article, where it makes zero reference to vanadium found bound to iron in nature. Vanadium bound to iron is actually a high-strength alloy used to make high-durability steels where some of the higher-quality steel-alloys are not available/too expensive.

A New Age - Ancient Era NRP

So Boerd said
All in good time, Cosmic. They are settled though. Not nomadic.Vanadium in Indian iron facilitated its hardness to accompany the superplasticity it acquired from the manner of working as I undrtstand.

No, it didn't. Vanadium is not found naturally bound to Iron, and not much is actually known of the original Wootz process.

A New Age - Ancient Era NRP

So Boerd said
I am going to make a barbarian nation which, while having a small population, has superior metallurgic abilities due to presence of vanadium in the ores and crucible tech i.e. the wootz process

Vanadium was first discovered in 1801, and proved difficult to isolate with metallurgical processes until 1830. The metal also has absolutely nothing to do with Wootz Steel at all. Stay in the 5th Century.

Also, we have someone already using Damascus steel in their nation, perhaps you should talk with them about your ideas and hash something out?

Edit: lel, got ninja'd by the person in particular.

A New Age - Ancient Era NRP

HazmatMedic said If you were to say your soldier is carrying a Wakazishi, I would take it to mean he is carrying a Wakazishi-like blade, made of iron and without the fancy layering techniques the feudal Japanese used.

The difference we will practically apply is looks.

So, to summarise - all "future weapons" are merely aesthetic. Having a Wakazishi will NOT mean you have access to all the fancy techniques and immense power that Japanese swords have - that's feudal, not Ancient. It WILL mean you have a very pretty sword, though.Is that fair, Alf/Shimm?

That's not how it works, and you really need to do more research into your material before you make another post. Certain weapons are better than others because of the way they are constructed, and that is what I am trying to explain. There is also the point in that certain weapons cannot be made out of inferior metals because they will not hold their shape. Case in point, the wakizashi and tantos. They are significantly thinner in both the width of the blade, as well as the depth of cutting surface. A strong enoguh impact will shatter the blade if it is made of inferior metal, and then you are pretty much better off using the gladii, because its design was based off using more primitive metallurgy. Simply slapping on an arbitrary ruling as you are suggesting is breaking yet another of your own rules. Honestly.

Keep it realistic, keep it 5th Century. That is what YOU advertised to us in the interest check, and that is why we have chosen to give this another shot after the first thread died.

Star Wars: The Succession Wars

A Dance with Aera Cura
Interlude

Taris System Defensive Command Post

"..Look, all I'm saying is that the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence. Just because we don't know they are there doesn't mean that they aren't there." Eighty-Eight concluded the statement by gesturing towards the corner of the room, where both himself and the other clone had previously been standing before a bucket fell from the ceiling at seeming random. His platoon-mate, Sixty-Three was not impressed, however, a look of skepticism obvious on his face. "And I'm telling you, Eights, that regardless of-" his comment was cut short by the bucket being moved again, despite neither of them being close to it. Sharing a quick look, both of them smartly turned about and stepped out of the room, locking the door behind them. "How about we just agree that that was weird?"

"Invisible assholes." Eighty-eight muttered before nodding in agreement, and the two went about on their patrol. Command had apparently received word from "Faithless Remorse" on a fleet that had jumped nearby, and the commanders were on high-alert in case it was shenanigans by those imperials again. Regardless, the two clones went about their duty quickly and without further incident, though a run in with the gamorrean consultant from Hetty'c lead to more than a few harsh words exchanged between Sixty-Three and the porcine creature. Their patrol eventually lead them to the command centre, where Admiral Tarkev was reporting in via holonet, and was looking like he had just been told not to shoot at the inbound fleet. Such assumptions were made clear when their commander ordered Tarkev to immediately link command to the inbound fleet by slaving their comms to the command net.

Soon their commander was on live-feed with the Black Hand fleet, the holonet relaying his face and upper body to the new-comers. Dressed smartly in an immaculate cream-colored uniform, the commander was an imposing figure, for he was originally a front-line clone trooper, but had displayed the propensity towards leadership and strategic thinking at a grand scale, traits which had eventually lead to him being named Grand Admiral of the Tarisian League, no small feat for a vat-boy. "Greetings visitor." His tone was clipped and professional, come from his years of bellowing orders at clones and shouting commands from the pulpit of a Star Destroyer, "My name is Ceres Bannon, Grand Admiral of the Tarisian League Sector Defense Forces, and Legate of the Grand Republic of Mandalore, glory be to his name. We understand you to be a group calling yourselves the Black Hand, a group that we unfortunately know little of, but perhaps this will give us the opportunity to learn more about you, and we can come to a deal. For what it is worth, I have given clearance to your vessels to make way to Taris proper, where arrangements are being made for a delegation to negotiate possible alliances with your group and the Tarisian League. If it is deemed acceptable, we would also like to have a representative from the Jedi Enclaves present to further solidify negotiations."

Ceres clasped his hands behind his back, awaiting response from the Black Hand, and hoping that everything would go smoothly from here. Of course, eventualities were being arranged, with Taris' three ISD-I's and six Victory Star Destroyers being re-routed so as to provide a cordon for the incoming vessels and mask the hyperdrive signatures of inbound GRN task force "Resilient Sons". Resilient Sons were being brought in just in case the Black Hand turned hostile, their four Venator-I Type-2's and Type-1 being more than enough to level the playing field against the Lucrehulks that the Black Hand possessed when combined with the current fleet arrangement. He was also very deliberate in his contacting of the Enclaves, as what little information they did have of the Black Hand hinted at them being force-users, a trait that unsettled him, and he wanted some form of contingencies in place, in case things went south. All in all, things were being constructed in such a way as to allow either a peaceful discourse and the alliance between the GRM and another power, or the protection of civil assets through overwhelming force. This was what made Ceres Bannon a deadly force in the command of a fleet, and he intended to make damn sure things were peaceful here.

A New Age - Ancient Era NRP

HazmatMedic said I mean, it hardly makes a difference if my soldiers are wielding Gladii or Wakizashis does it? They're both swords, both bladed and both are designed to kill. The only difference that it practically has is the time periods, but they look dramatically different aesthetically.

And to return to the cinquedea, is it really that much of an issue if we have cinquedeas rather than, say, daggers? They do the same job equally well and have the same strengths and weaknesses, just one looks prettier than the other.

No. Just.... No. Honestly, if you truly believe that then there's really no reason for you to ban anything in the RP. By your logic there, since you've allowed crossbows, then someone could come in with compound crosswbows, since you know, they're both crossbows, and they both shoot bolts at thing to kill them. The only difference is the time periods, right? I mean, it's not like one is more efficient and just overall better than the other one, or that one utilizes materials that was previously unavailable when the other was made.

Right, now that we're going to be looking at this with history and reality. There is a massive difference between Gladii and Wakizashis. First and most glaring of these differences is the purpose either blade is meant for. Gladii are meant for lunging and stabbing. Wakizashi are meant for cutting and slashing. While you can slash with a Gladii, and you can stab with a Wakizashi, that is not what either is meant to do and your strikes will be ineffectual at best, and probably show your fighter off as desperate. Second of differences here, and perhaps the thing that is truly the worst of this ruling, is the construction of the blades. Gladii can be made from bronze, iron, or steel with the material only affecting the durability of the blade and the cutting edge. Wakizashi on the other hand, are made of specially forged steel, using techniques that are beyond what our civilizations should be capable in this era. Without using this steel, a bronze or iron blade, even perhaps a steel blade of the era, would be incapable of sustaining the structural integrity of the blade, and result in a vastly shortened life-span of the weapon.

There is also the point in which some weapons simply are better at killing than others, in that everyone should know that japanese blades were notorious for being sharp enough to cut into armor and many times through bone if enough power was put behind them. That is because of the construction of the blade and the quality of the material being used allowing the craftsmen to forge a cutting tool far superior to the weapon you have compared it to. This is because steel was very much a thing in the 14th century and later, allowing for the widespread use of this material in the creation of arms for the militaries of the time. Flashback to the 5th century, and steel is almost non-existent for how little it is used, since bloomeries were the only method of forging the metal.

So yeah, the ruling needs reversed to 5th Century, and only 5th Century. That is what you advertised in your interest check, and that is what we are here for. I'm pretty sure no one joined the RP expecting to have their 5th Century nation go up against plate-wearing assholes with katanas. Seriously.

A New Age - Ancient Era NRP

HazmatMedic said
Ok, how about "pre-500 AD, but most melee weapons are allowed."?For example, the cinquedea mentioned above is allowed, but we can't say "but I COULD build a cannon because ..." as that would be too risky.

And what of things like some of the more sophisticated pole-arms? It really should be a flat "Pre-500 AD" else you leave the door open for shenanigans. I am also one to agree with SovereignGrave in lieu of the whole "Everyone is educated!" type of thing, since that kind of goes against one of your rules about mega-culture. If we keep to the time-frame, then for the most part large portions of societies will be rather uneducated, and actual academia would be highly limited at best.