#riderofthemaelstrom

[swtorpadawan]

Good stuff - here's my take: The inconsistencies with the Scions of Zakuul are one of the biggest letdowns of the KOTFE/KOTET story. 1) We were told by Heskal that the remaining Scions would eventually reach out to us after Asylum. (They didn't.) 2) Oramis and a handful of Scions show up on Iokath, telling us they are the only survivors. (They aren't.) They tell us that Tyth will be our greatest challenge. (He isn't.) She tells us we'll become a god after we beat Tyth and the others on Iokath. (We don't.) 3) A handful of Scions appear on Nathema, fighting beside Atris without explanation. 4) A handful of Scions show up during Echoes of Oblivion, trying to free Valkorion. (They fail.) Very frustrating. Such potential squandered. I do have to challenge a couple of points you make: 1) Knights don't draw their power from the throne; they draw it from their BELIEF in the throne. (That's why Senya didn't lose her power when she joined the Alliance. She was putting her belief in a "restored" throne, as it had previously been.) 2) Valkorion was consistently obsessed with precognition. That's why he kept Revan alive for 300 years. I believe that he formed the Scions for the same purpose. I think they were giving Valkorion their visions, and not the other way around. 3) Obviously, a lot of the issues you and I have raised are the writers' fault. (They didn't know where they were going.)

I really wish they had a better plan, and had kept to it.

So, while I was RPing my former Scion of Zakuul OC in SWTOR, and a theory crossed my mind:

What if Valkorion actually had a hand in the things the Scions see, and what they saw being fullfilled was actually a direct result of either Valky’s actions or the actions of the Scions himself? It i mentioned in KOTFE Chapter 12 that the Knights draw power from their loyalty to the Eternal Emperor. Wouldn’t be much of a stretch to assume the Scions have the same, considering the fact that they seem to be fanatically loyal to Valkorion, much more so than the Knights. It would only make sense that their strong affinity from precognition came from the Emperor somehow.

Also, from what we know, Zakuulans were pretty fatalistic when many of them followed the Old Ways. Belief is a powerful tool of control, so it would make sense if Valkorion formed an Order dedicated to following fate, and then through some sort of a link grant them visions they were supposed to follow. And the Scions, being the fanatics they are, always made sure the visions came true. Doesn’t help the fact that Heskal, the one-time head of the Scions, has white eyes, somehing also encountered among people possessed by Vitiate on Ziost( could also be that he is blind, but it’s never specified), and that almost all of the things they predicted had something to do either with Valky lending a hand, or with them taking actions for said prophecies to come true.

Which brings me to a rather disturbing conclusion. If the Scions are still capable of seeing during Iokath with Valkorion is gone, it could mean 3 things: 1) They are lying and have ulterior motives. 2) No matter how unlikely this is, Valkorion is still out there in some capacity, manipulating things through the Scions. 3) Something else, just as dangerous, if not more, than Valky, is granting the Scions visions.

It’s pretty far fetched, but still the thought of Valky returning doesn’t make things easier. Tell me what you think, people.

[swtorramblings]

Darkest Throne: The Passing Years

Art commissioned from @fleeting-sanity. Apologies for Old Man Arcann, and for what follows, but thank you so much.

Chapter inspired by @riderofthemaelstrom post here. I wrote most of it before remembering this post, and then it was too late. Used with permission.

I try not to tag people too often for the stories, but since I asked her not to put up the art: @menollywanderer, @aearyn, @sapphic-sith, though it may be a bit painful.

The final chapter of the Darkest Throne, the tale of Arcann if the Outlander chose to kill Senya, but he then chose to serve his sister. It is not a happy place, and touches on dark themes.

Summary: Arcann has succeeded in all of his goals save one. It is now time to complete that last task.

Part One: Escape Previous: Dragons

Upon his throne, Arcann looked out at images from across his Empire. He had surpassed his father in almost all ways. In his conquests, his reach, in the order and, eventually, peace he had brought. In the destruction of the Old Gods, felled by his own power and that of Knights brought from all over the galaxy. In his conquest of Iokath, which trebled his power. In the looting of his father’s vault and gaining control of its contents.

In the blood he had spilled.

The only way he had not surpassed Valkorion was in longevity. Still mortal, the Emperor had rushed to accomplish his goals in the paltry few decades he had. And he had succeeded in that short time. Only one task remained.

He turned to face the Eternal Throne, and, with it, his sister. His greatest failure and regret.

At first, he had kept her there to give his reign legitimacy. There had been those loyal to her, and he’d wanted them to know that she had fallen, and to whom. Eventually, her presence had become a comfort. He had always told her that he would not lose her, and now, she was always beside him. As she should be.

He had tried to find another solution than dreamless imprisonment, a way to end her madness, to give her a life. He had found one, early in his reign, but had never used it. He did not know if it was a better answer. Now, he was out of time, and the only alternative was her death or perpetual imprisonment. He could not accept either.

His attendants lifted the block of carbonite from where it was mounted, carefully, even reverently. They were young, too young to have lived through Vaylin’s reign, and Arcann had expunged all records of that time. Ordered that no one speak of them on pain of death. He accepted the role he had wrested from her, and knew that history would recognize him, correctly, as a monster. He refused to allow it to view her as the same.

He lead the way to the ritual chamber, hoping that he had the strength left to do what was necessary.

She was just regaining consciousness, her memories a jumble. She remembered her brother speaking to her, kindly. Then, his betrayal. A sharp sting in the neck, and nothing more before waking wherever she now was. She felt weak and her eyes were unseeing.

Her Force powers were not much stronger than her body, but she could sense him in the dark. Her first impulse was to lash out, to try to destroy him, but she couldn’t. She wanted to run, to hide, to never be found. She was on the verge of tears as she said, “Father?”

Arcann felt a sting at the word. Was he so like their sire, now? He knew his sister would hate him, but did he have to bear her fearing him? “No, Sister, he is truly gone.”

The fear she had been feeling dropped away, but the rage remained. She knew it was useless. “What have you done to me, Brother?”

“I have delayed your fate. You have been in carbonite for many years.”

“What, you were that afraid of me?”

“Of you. For you. Now, all of that ends.”

She blinked furiously, trying to see him. “So now you have the courage to kill me? Fine. End it, Arcann.”

“No. If that is courage, I do not have it.”

“Then why are we here?”

“I cannot let you destroy my work, and I will not let you destroy yourself. We are here to free you, finally, the only way we can.”

She could see him, slightly. He not only felt to her senses like Father, he actually looked a bit like him, too. So old, so calm. So uncaring about everything. No, almost everything? She was too tired to tell. Some of her earlier fear returned. “What do you mean?”

He did not want to explain, even knowing how little it would matter. But she deserved to know. “I will break the bonds Father placed on you, but that is only part of the problem. The pain you have endured, the things you have seen and done. Perhaps, with time, you could overcome all of that. I like to think so. You are strong. But you are too powerful, too uncontrolled, to risk that. So, all of it must be forgotten. All of the pain, all of the betrayals, washed away.”

“What? No! They make me who I am! You may as well kill me!”

He sighed. “No, though that may be your wish, I am sorry that I am too selfish. You must survive me.”

She had started to struggle against her own weakness, trying to act. That stopped her. “Survive you?”

“I have lived long. I have done terrible things to bring order to the galaxy. It will soon be over. I expend the last of my life to save you.”

“Then, please, don’t do this, just let me go. I don’t want to be alone.”

He laid his living hand on her shoulder, bent down, and kissed her forehead. “You will not be.”

Voices rose around her, other presences she had not sensed. Arcann glowed with power, his own, theirs. He sang to her, like her mother had so long ago, though the words were strange.

The final fall of Izax Brings hope to all life Feel the peaceful warmth Leave behind your strife. Your old life must end Before it is too late. Feel the tears of Scyva Wash away your fate.

He began to trace the markings she had received in her cage with his power. They burned, causing her to cry out from the pain, but she could feel her chains falling away. It was almost worth the suffering, and now, maybe she could muster the power to stop him from what came next.

Before she could act, he whispered, “Goodbye, Vaylin.” Yet again, she felt a stabbing pain, and nothing more.

The last of his strength spent, Arcann fell to the floor. Shortly, he could feel his servants lifting him, making his body comfortable. It did not matter. All that mattered were the voices he heard. He smiled.

“Thank you, Son.”

“Come, we shall wait for our sister.”

He died content.

She woke, not knowing where she was. A metal room, filled with people. She did not know them. She did not know herself.

There was a man, scarred, bearded, unmoving. Her eyes were drawn to him. She stood and approached, though her legs were weak. “Who is he?” she asked of those surrounding him.

A woman approached, tall, blue skinned, with yellow, faceted eyes. She responded, “One who would have burned the galaxy for you, and almost did.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.” She reached out a hand, almost touching him, but pulled her hand back. “Did he at least have some good in his life?”

“Perhaps some, here and there. Not enough. But, I hope, he had some good in his death.”

“I’m crying. Why am I crying?”

“I cannot say. Come, you have family to meet, and they will care for you well while you learn.”

The nameless woman finally looked away from the man, and asked, “Who am I?”

The other woman smiled down at her and said, “That is your choice.”

[swtorramblings]

Darkest Throne: Post Mortem

Just a few random bits that I wanted to comment on. Putting under a break because they’re not entirely relevant and, obviously, contain spoilers.

Vaylin’s “Redemption”: What Arcann does may seem odd considering that I’ve complained about Arcann getting similar treatment (though keeping his memories). I wanted it to be questionable, and even Arcann was not sure he was doing the right thing, but he was desperate and did the best he knew how. My problem with Arcann’s is partly that it seems like they’re saying that expunging his understandable anger is definitely right, which makes me very uncomfortable. 

Vaylin’s Family: If anyone is wondering, yes, I am implying that Arcann at some point had children, and they are going to care for and reeducate their aunt. That would be the entirety of the “some good here and there” in his life.

I finally kill Arcann in a story, but after a long life and on his own terms. I’m not sure that counts.

Inspiration for Arcann’s motivations from Chapter 6 on are partly from a comment on Tumblr about how his anger isn’t the problem, anything that drives you to that kind of extreme is. He wants to protect his sister, in his way, and he does or allows terrible things to do so. He also has a lot of hate, but it’s not his sole motivation. I have two suspects for who posted that, but can’t find the post.

Thanks again to @fleeting-sanity and @cystemic for the art for three of the chapters, and  @riderofthemaelstrom for the idea for the last chapter.

[yourdragonageocs]

Woah! She’s so pretty!! Lovely face, lovely eyes, cute nose! And great hair! Great job!

My current Inquisitor, Eris Trevelyan. I wonder if I should make the eyeliner less thick and move the mouth a bit up though.