Mourning consumed the debths of his immortal soul. Manifestations of the very sorrow within his soul seized his sences. His body trembled with despondency, the emptyness within him filled only by the despair he felt. Those that he had come to love, he had abandond. Those that depended on his leadership, and divine stature now lingered endless lightyears away.

<img border="0" src="http://www.guerrestellari.net/gsnet2/11/infiltrator/infilt2.jpg" align="left">He was home... He could feel the Darkness within him grow, nurtured by an ancient aura, holding with it the secrets to self sacrifice. The eternal sadness within him continued to grow with it, almost physically paining him as he lay in silence, stairing into the blackness of space.

The ship decended into the eternal night of the planet, the darkside growing more and more potent with each passing second. Soft rain splashed against the cold metal paneling of the ship as the faint blue glow of the engines died down into nothing more than faint grey smoke, and then nothing.

As he stepped off of the ship, a flowing black cloak drapped over his head, sheltering his face from the soft mist of rain, he looked up over the massive cliffs that lay before him; up at the ancient Ziost fortress of the Ancient Sith Empire.

The spectral form of a fallen Dark Lord appeared before Xilen. The grand power of the Lord of Darkness blanketed the area in the shroud of eternal shadow. A disembodied voice echoed off every piece of matter in the surrounding vicinity.

"Xilen, you despair. You mourn for the loss of your battle and your ship. For the loss of your dignity. The feelings that you are shrouded in cloud your mind and weaken you. They are improper for a Lord of the Sith.

Anger, hatred, resentment, and above all rage should consume you over the losses you have taken to the insolent whelps of the Coalition. Chadd Fearsons, the habitual traitor, has betrayed you. This could have been easily foreseen. Voltimas has betrayed all, this.. was unexpected, and unfortunate.

I can show you the path to greatness. I can help you gain your vengeance upon the infidels who have dared these past days to disgrace the name of the Sith. My enemies are yours. Follow me, serve me, be loyal to me and I shall show you power beyond imagination. I shall lead you down the path to victory over your enemies. I shall bring you into the garden of righteous honor and lead you to the fountain of power.

Even these events I have foreseen. I am not so foolish as to not have planned for something of this nature. Even now there is one, loyal to me, approaching this planet with a fresh body for me. I shall be whole again.

Will you join me? Or will your misery consume you to the death of a fool?"

The pain had been intense, the sorrow doubly so. He had failed his Lord Maim, he had failed to die in his place. The Dark Lord was gone from the physical and, it was all his fault. No one would change his view on the matter, no one but the Dark Lord himself. Sadly though, Silk could no longer feel his presence, his dark touch.

He should have been with him, not half-way across the galaxy at this facility but, he had his orders. The situation would have be different had Silk been there, had he only been able to reach Lord Maim in time. This was not the wish of Lord Maim, however. Silks' unflinching loyalty to Dark Lord Maim was well warranted...

"You will stay, Sovereign Protector. You will stay and you will do as you are told."

The voice still burned in his skull, those last words and commands. Utterances from parsecs away directing him towards this facility, instructing him in its' use. How he wanted to be by his Lords' side, fighting and dying for him if the need called.

The very last touch he had felt from his Dark Lord in these few days had come with those words and then... nothing. Where the power of his Lord had filled him, Dioan Silk now felt only emptiness and longing. He had lost his direction.

This was not a life that he could live. Silk was too close to Maim, too close by far. Where others of the Royal Guard could continue on he could not, so dependant on the touch of his Lord was he.

Was this punishment or a test? There had to be a purpose to Silks' positioning, there had to be.

Darkness had welled up inside him and, not the darkness he knew but one of sorrow and loss. So overwhelming was the urge that Dioan Silk, most revered among the Sovereign Protectors, gave up. He had simply, quit.

Then, in the seemingly unending darkness, something stirred. Slow at first, but growing swiftly, a red-hot hatred welled up like bile in the gut of the guilty. As if a wave, it hit him... purpose.

Those who had wronged his Lord would pay, they would pay with their lives and the lives of those dear to them. Each being involved would share the same fate, the fate of a Sovereign Protectors wrath.

Plotting and scheming, Silk had slipped into a silent meditation much like his Lord often did when contemplating a course of action. It was in this trance that the voice spoke again...

"Sovereign Protector... Your time of loss is over. Now hear my command..."



Hours later he departed the planet aboard a transport, bound a unknown destination. Lord Maim was always in control... He'd never forget that again.

Xilen looked up, his newly aquired beard growing damp against the night rain. His soul trembled, the black aura before him transparent, yet full of shape, power and life. His body, following the lead of his immortal soul trembled, but not out of fear... out of excitement. Before him stood the almighty. The God of all Gods. The Dark Lord of the Sith.

"Master Maim, for years I have lingered in the shadows of the galaxy, awaiting my chance at triumph, and glory as our ancestors had tasted. A chance to strike back into the very heart of those that have defied the eternal order of the Sith. And I have failed where you have triumphed. I became a recluse, a single solitary soul within the debths and lazes of the Galaxy.

You know of my defeat, and of my agonizing loss... you feel the pain within my very soul, tormenting me as has our predecessors. The time has come to strike back! Reassert the power of the Sith within the Galaxy that has for centuries defied us. I accept your offer, My Lord and remain your most humble servant, as always."

Xilen's figure shifted within the darkness, falling into a deep and graceful bow before the deity before him. The eternal darkness swirled around him, the Dark Lord's aura retreating toward the ancient Fortress of Ziost. Come... the voice of the Dark Lord within Xilen's very soul sturred, and Xilen followed, a humble and obedient servant of the Dark Lord of the Sith.

<img border="0" src="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/steviebee/Ziost.JPG" align="left">Minutes past as if they were seconds, time melting away like snow in high spring, the cold drafts of the fortress seemingly unnoticed by the Sith Lord that followed the black aura into a dark chamber that rested deep within the bowls of the ancient Mandalorian, and Obsidian fortress.

"Your body, however mortal..." Xilen started as the aura came to rest at the end of a long dark table, the higher back of the chair reasserting the Dark Lord's supreme authority before the court of Sith Lords, and Sorceress'. "... Must be blessed by the lost souls of the previous Dark Lords of the Sith within the Valley of the Dark Lords. Should you fail to aquire their blessing, they will amplify the decay of your irregular body in exactly the same way they did Darth Sidious'. Perhaps a ceremonial admission into your new body within the valley would bring fourth more minions of the Ancient Sith teachings, my lord? A captivation of the true power of the Sith... the power to live forever at the will of Darkside..."

Xilen took a seat across the table from the Dark Lord, his hands creating an elegant dance of small pebbles and stones by means of the force.

Deactivating its cloaking device, the Sith Infiltrator Dark Journey, began a slow and deliberate approach to an unknown and isolated region of Korriban. Emerging like a black spirit in the night, Sedriss gazed at the barren terrain that lay before him, scrutinizing every detail with his fierce blue eyes. If not for the knowledge of Korribans history, he would have considered it a wasteland.

Removing his hood, the young sith flexed rippling muscles that were barely contained under his flowing black tunic. Reaching in to his cloak he accessed the datapad he had brought, memorizing the details and coordinates it held.

The Valley of the Dark Lords. How long have I searched he thought to himself.

Extending his force powers into the unknown regions ahead of him, Sedriss probed for signs of danger and treachery. Through his studies, he had learned that a myriad of dark creatures roamed this planet; leftovers from a long dead empire and the products of Sith alchemy.

The journey was difficult and tiring for the first several miles. A immense weight seemed to be pressing down on his spirit, discouraging him from continuing. He encountered massive labryinths of razor sharp rock and bottomless gorges. The long journey gave him time to reflect on what had brought him here.

Years ago as a dark knight to Master Brakiss, Sedriss had grown strong in the darkways. Known as a man of no patience, he excelled in combat and alchemy, using his powers for one purpose; the extermination of the jedi order.

During his training his master had explained about Korriban. He told of the tombs of the Dark Lords of the Sith and their minions. He showed holocron images of the fateful duel between Naga Sadow and Ludo Kressh over the title of Dark Lord of the Sith. The images had astonished the young sith forcing him to seek more and more knowledge of the place.

Other images, ones that inspired him to come here hovered in his mind as he crossed a difficult stretch. He could visualize the tombs of the Dark Lords that were located inside steep and jagged cliffs of stone, each carved with the grim visages of ancient Sith Lords and the echoing rock chambers, where the mummified remains of the Sith Lords lie in crypts carved with Sith hieroglyphs. He longed to see the giant crystal spire where tortured spirits, souls of vanquished jedi, forever doomed to torment were trapped.

The images vanished as Sedriss realized his folly. The power of the dark lords remained a threat to all who disturbed them.

I must maintain control or risk the fate of Exar Kun. he thought.

He thought of the dying words of Master Brakiss.

Go to Korriban you must. Prepare the way for the Dark Lord of the Sith. Your destiny it is.

Making his way through a long narrow canyon, sedriss began to notice trickles of pebbles and dirt cascading down the canyon walls. A loud roar echoed through the canyon like some massive beast on the trail of some unlucky victim. Quickly turning his gaze upward he saw the immense rockslide plummeting towards him.

The dark lords mean to be bothered he thought grimly

Using the dark energy flowing in his veins, he flooded the muscle cells in his legs, allowing the midichlorians to harness and focus the raw energy. Concentrating he lept to a small outcropping high above, barely escaping the assault.

They will pay for this treachery he screamed aloud

Despite his defiance, a sense of doom entered into his mind, taunting him and threatening him to give up his quest. Regaining control, he realized it was far too late to turn back now. He slowly made his way further North for what seemed like an eternity. Darkness gave way to a soft illuminating light, revealing a setting that both astonished and terrified him.

An immense valley loomed before him bathed in the pale red light of dusk. Sedriss saw two rows of ancient sith temples adorned with statues of ancient beasts long dead. This was the resting place of the dark lords of the sith and it radiated with power, beckoning Sedriss to come closer.

As he did he saw two lone two citadels guarding the entrance to the forbidden valley.

The Temples of the Guardian he thought

Relaxing his mind, he looked at the temples more closely. A dark presence hovered near but whether it was friend or foe Sedriss could not discern.

As he moved closer he saw the source of his uneasiness. Located near the first temple was a lone being. It was diificult to see detail but he stood transfixed on the long red robes, flowing gently in the breeze. Finding his lightsaber, he moved ahead with caution ready for the fight.

The most powerful son of a fallen Dark Lord exits his small ship on the planet of Korriban, sacred resting place of the Dark Lords of the Sith. This was not the first time he had come here. Infact, he had been born here. Few know what Diete Somir the Third's place within the Sith Ranks is, and few ever seem to care. What they do realize is that he is the holder of great power, and deadly secrets.

The High Priest of the Sith Race it was the duty of the one they called Lord Maim, mostly for the sake of confusion, to bring the body of the fallen Dark Lord to his temple in this valley. He was born to this position. Raised learning nothing else. He was born on this planet to a Sith Princess and a Dark Lord. Now he was the holder of the Dagger of Talshida. He was the keeper of the eternal secrets. He was the head of the Sith Religion.

Diete Somir was a name passed down for three generations now. A name that would carry on to his children and his children's children in the first born sons of his line. They were destined as the keepers of the great halls, the temples, the shrines, and the secrets of the Sith. They were destined to help the Sith survive and flourish in a galaxy set against them.

The man, without fear or worry, approached the entrance to the valley of the Dark Lord's and the great Guardians of the Temple.

Speaking in a voice which echoed off every surface, he began in ancient Sith to inform them of his place and his intentions.

(Translated.)

"I am Diete Somir the Third, High Priest of the Sith, Keeper of the Ancient Secrets, Defender of the Sith Faith, and guardian of this valley. I return now with the body of a fallen Dark Lord to place within the temple awaiting him. You will stand aside and allow me to my work in peace, oh guardians of the Great Valley."

<img border="0" src="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/steviebee/SithWitch.JPG" align="right">The soft winds kicked up the eternal sands that had collected on the outskirts of the Valley of the Dark Lords for centuries, resting only when the ancient spirits within allowed it. The dank smell of death in the air lingered as a reminder of the dangers that had past, and those to come. Her billowing red robes flowed against her slim figure as she stood in silence, her tender eyes bearing only on the man that approached from the Temples of the Guardians. His lightsabre remained within his iron fist, unignited but ready for a fight. Her stepd were slow, and disalarming as she stepped down the ancient stone stairway of the first temple on the left; The towering structure of which had stood the tests of time for well over five thousand years.

Her pale white face confronted him, nothing more than fancy makeup. With a click snap-hiss she ignited her lightsabre. "Lord Sedriss..." her soft voice spoke above the gentle breeze, her robes coming to rest at her sides. "I've been expecting you...."

The red of her lightsabre continued to linger at her side, the man before her seemingly suprised that she had come to know his name without a single word spoken between them. "Don't be so suprised..." she exclaimed casually, a soft grin appearing across her black lips. "We're Sith, remember?"

Moments later, a shrill foul smell permiated the air around them, a smell that lingered for thousands of years, yet remained painfully potent. The smell of the ancient Guardians of the Temples, spawned from the ancient alchemy of the Dark Lord Naga Sadow. She leaped forward, rolling on the ground, and then springing forward at Lord Sedriss, the snap hiss of his lightsabre coming fourth, but minutes too late... she struck forth....

The blue beast that had so silently approached behind him shrieked in pain, and slumped dead at the ground, it's intestines spilling out onto the dry sand benieth him.

"I advise you to prepare yourself, Lord Sedriss. Korriban is more heavily defended than you would suspect." Extending her hand, she continued. "Adriana Quinn, at your service." She took a step forward, dusting a few particles of sand from her crimson robes, looking back briefly. "Coming?" A faint grin smeered across her lips once more. The two figures continued into the heart of the Valley of the Dark Lords, Khaki, Obsidian, and Crimson colors dancing around them, each temple holding a unique, yet uniform architecture. The first temple, the Temple of Exar Kun loomed before them, the blazing sun rising slowly over the horizon. "Welcome to oblivion...."

Pitch darkness surrounded him, the incessant dripping of moisture trickling away in the depths of shadow. Other, less confident, beings would be put off by the oppressive atmosphere of Ziost Fortress... especially this deep in the bowels of the structure. Others did not have the touch of the Dark Side and the instruction of the Dark Lord of the Sith to rely upon. Nor was he alone, a vague intangible specter following his steps.

Though his footfalls came unseen to the average eye, Sovereign Protector Silk was sure in his direction. He had chosen this route because his cargo demanded special protection... The sort of protection the Royal Guard offer to only one being in the galaxy.

His task was to meet with and, deliver Lord Xilen and the cargo safely to Korriban... Safely to his Master, Lord Maim. A task he relished for many reasons, none of which he would name before any other then Lord Maim.

After a distance his path broke into the light, but Silk did not. It would not do to announce himself in such ways... though he'd probably been detected by his quarry by now. Guided by ancient knowledge Silk had negotiated through the various 'secret' passways of the fortresses and eventually, he came to the location of Lord Xilen.

He was garbed in the traditional armor and cape of the Sovereign Protector and, as he stepped from the paths exit, only partially in the light, he comprised the perfect image of a living weapon.

"Lord Xilen. I am to escort you to Korriban where my Master awaits."

Having spoken his peace, Silk fell silent with his helm trained squarely on the Sith Lord. Dioan lived a life of service to one of the greatest single powers in the galaxy (in not the single most) and had encountered many of the Dark Lords acquaintances and allies. As such his demeanor was imposing, as with all members of the Royal Guard tradition, while also remaining impassive and unassuming. Silk had never met this one before and, truth be known, had very little regard for any other then his Master. He would fulfill his orders and report to his Lord Maim... nothing else mattered.

The High Priest made his way now into the valley. The creatures and guardians parting before him and standing far aside of he who rules, protects, and controls them each. His mind was focused, but it still easily detected two outsiders to this place. Two.. Sith, yes they were Sith but they were still outsiders.

Maim turned to the guardian who now escorted him.

"Take this body to the Somir Temple. I shall be there shortly."

With that, he strode off in the direction of the two he had sensed. First he sensed them separately and now they were together. A pain hit him as one of the valley's guardians perished. He grew angry with those who would slay the rightful protectors of this place. Who were these Sith to assume so much? Who were they to destroy what he had created.

Deep blood red robes swirled around the High Priest as he moved silently across the valley. His robes were inlain with both gold and blood writing in an ancient, and almost dead, language. A language which most of the Sith could not even read and even fewer could correctly speak.

The Dagger of Talshida lay dormant at his side. This weapon, which would answer only one master, had a will of it's own. Within the weapon itself was held the soul of a long dead Priest of the Sith. He was known as the gatekeeper. The physical form of the weapon could not be controlled by the Force, but only by commanding the soul within it. It was not only the symbol of the true High Priest of the Sith but it was the key to many of the hidden secrets of this valley and of many of the other troves of hidden knowledge hoarded by the leaders of the Sith over the eons.

Soon the High Priest stood before a temple which never should have been built. A temple to the fallen Exar Kun. He was weak, and allowed the Jedi to destroy him utterly without planning for the future. He was nothing more than a Jedi turned down the Dark Path. He was not born to be Sith and would never truly have been so. His grasp on the Jedi teachings of his master held him still, even in the end.

The High Priest approached the two with the stealth that only he could posses in this place of sacred darkness. His mind wrapped around them and the place they all now stood. He spoke, slowly and with purpose.

"What is your business on this sacred planet, brother and sister of darkness?"

Several chunks of large rock broke loose under his heavy armored boots as he landed from his jump off from the edge of the canyon. The dark robed and cloaked Sith Lord slid down the side of the rocky canyon at a high speed, bouncing into the air whenever he flew off a large rock, but he landed with a heavy thud and continued on with the slide.

Lord Thane slowed himself gently with the Force when he neared the bottom of the canyon, until he finally stopped when he reached that point. Just behind him, two black armored creatures had did the same as he, following his exact path down to the bottom of canyon. The two creatures, Dravin's pets, emerged from the billowing cloud of dust that consumed the Sith Lord and scouted ahead for any who challenged his presence so close to the Valley of the Dark Lords.

Moments later, loud growls and the snapping of jaws could be heard echoing off of the canyon's walls. The Sith Lord took several steps forward out from the dust to partake on what all the commotion was about, only to find that he and his companions were surrounded by a small group of the blue-skinned creatures that served as guardians for the valley. The creatures formed a loose and distanced ring around the Sith Lord and his two companions.

Raising his hands outward to the guardians and closing his eyes, the Sith Lord concentrated on the creatures' bodily functions. Through the Force, Thane could feel their heart beating and the blood flowing through their veins. He took hold of their hearts, and began to slow them down gently, until the rythms and pulses were very fant. When he opened his eyes, all of the guardian creatures were lying upon the ground in a deep hibernation induced by the technique known as morichro. Lord Thane long before learned to quietly subdue the creatures whenever he visited the Valley of the Dark Lords, as not to anger those Sith spirits that they guarded. The Sith Lord continued on towards his trek to the ancient burial site, along with his companions.

The Sith Lord, and his companions, approached the Valley of the Dark Lords. Dravin could feel the power of the Dark Side radiating from the valley, just like the many times before he had visited this ancient place of power. Just ahead, close to the Temples of the Guardian, Lord Thane could see, as well as sense three beings. Two he did not know, but the third he knew, it was Lord Maim, first son of the Dark Lord Maim. His lord, the lord he now sought.