Begeren. Once a prosperous Sith world, it has been the site of numerous battles throughout the millennia. Grand halls and monuments were torn down and re-purposed by looting Republic forces thousands of years ago, before they were driven from the planet. Isolated settlements still dot the planet's surface, but the inhospitable, craggy, and desert-like terrain, along with the beasts common to many desert and Sith worlds, have kept most humanoids from colonizing. Occasional skirmishes have left debris scattered throughout the desert, and battles were fought here as recently as the Galactic Civil War. The planet is now under the control of the One Sith and is rumored to be full of all manner of priceless, ancient Sith artifacts.

The Dark Council has pushed forth to Begeren and the Grand Master, on his quest for ever more powerful items, has decreed the Clans and Houses seize anything of value. The unity shown by the Brotherhood during the beginning of this Crusade is fracturing, with the Clans and Houses growing tired and frustrated with the seemingly endless succession of battles. Tempers are flaring between former allies, with outright aggression no longer uncommon. Despite this, you have responded to the Grand Master's call—though whether it's to actually seize the items for the Brotherhood, destroy them, or use them for your own purposes, only you know.

You have followed the call of the Force to a stretch of desert wasteland, seemingly unremarkable save for the various rock outcroppings that dot the landscape. These outcroppings, though, hide a subterranean cave network, known to be a den of wraids. Though the entrances to the caverns are typically narrow and dark, these tunnels quickly widen. Below the surface, bioluminescent plants and lichen provide limited light.

You know that, despite reaching this place first, you won’t be alone for long, as an ancient Sith tomb is located deep within the caves the wraids now call home. Exactly what you’ll find in that tomb, you’re not sure—but it is something of great power, that much you can sense. You know it is your duty to find it, whatever it is, before any others can locate it. What you do with it when you find it… that is up to you.

As you near one of the entrances to the caves, you think you hear the sounds of footsteps, or maybe skittering, down below—and above ground, you hear the distant crunch of rock underfoot as someone else has found a different rocky cave entrance as well.

Lucyeth continued through the wrath of the harsh desert. The wind began to pick up and the Dark Jedi pulled up his hood to avoid the whipping of the sand. The Palatinaean moved through the desert wasteland towards his feelings in the force. The dark side of the force is strong on the planet and is growing with intensity as Lucyeth moved further into the desert. He came to a halt in front of a small stone and reached out with the power of the force. He knew that he was in the right place and pushed the stone into the ground to reveal a cave access.

The dark Jedi entered the cave and continued on through the vast network of tunnels, following the call of the force. He slowed his pace at a larger tunnel that entered into a larger chamber. He can feel the power of the dark side on the side reverberating to him, but he also felt a strong power from the leftmost tunnel of the room. Lucyeth turned around to another tremor of the force which revealed a tree like humanoid from the shadows. His skin appeared more like bark with features of branches that protruded from it. Lucyeth instantly recognized the distinct armor and clan markings of the figure that stood before him.

“Malik. What a surprise to see you here on this dreadful wasteland, heap of a planet,” stated Lucyeth.

“I know the power that is here and it is claimed for the clan Naga Sadow, on my behalf,” replied Malik Sadow.

“I beg to differ. I believe I was here first to make the claim for Scholae,” stated Lucyeth but the appearance of Malik appeared as a mere apparition.

Malik reappeared behind Lucyeth as the Palatinaean barely had the time to ignite his blade. The crimson blade countered the lightsabers of Malik Sadow with a thunderous clash of anger as the tunnel lit up with the glow of furious red.

Talking will be out of the question today. Lucyeth murmured to himself, looking on towards his battle ready opponent.

The Palatinaean pushed back Malik’s sabers and went in for a killing strike against his slower opponent, the Warlord only barely parrying the slash with his offhand saber before lashing out at Lucyeth with his other saber but the knight quickly brought his saber up to block the attack.

Malik gathered the force in his hand and sent a telekinetic wave at the Palatinaean sending him several meters back. When the Knight got back on his feet he froze, his whole body shivering, as he noticed the walls of the cave closing in around him.

The brief respite was all Malik needed to gather the Force from the surroundings to renew his energy, he threw his offhand saber at the Palatinaean, who managed to shake off the illusion just in time to dive out of the way.

He got to his feet and sent a stream of electricity at the Neti only to see him disappear as it hit, Lucyeth’s right arm flew up instinctively and raised a force barrier just in time to diminish the telekinetic punch coming from the Warlord’s real body.

The Neti sighed quietly, “I see they train their members well on Judecca, but it will not be enough young one.”

Meanwhile the Knight, who had placed his lightsaber back at his waist and had drawn his DL-22 blaster pistol instead, fired a couple of quick blasts at the Warlord, who had been preoccupied by his gloating, only managed to deflect a few of them taking a hit in the left shoulder.

Malik looked at the young human again, “This is your last chance Palatinaean, you can leave this cave now or you can be buried here.”

“I think I will take my chances with a proper burial,” replied Lucyeth but Malik was already in fast motion with force enhanced rage from the pain in his shoulder. The dark Jedi knew he had to take advantage of this opportunity with the left shoulder of Naga Sadow.

Lucyeth attempted a fast swipe of his lightsaber at the wounded shoulder, but the Neti was quick to deflect the swipe with his lightsaber. A swing of Malik’s other hand forced Lucyeth to stagger back on defensively to avoid a killing blow. Malik gathered his rage into his extended hand with a massive amount of energy. The room erupted with a noise like thunder as Lucyeth was pushed back to the opposite wall with a telekinetic push. The Palatinaean would have screamed in his own agony, but nothing would come out of his mouth as the wind was knocked right out of him. Lucyeth fell hard to the ground and struggled to gather air. He coughed up blood and grabbed his throbbing chest in severe pain. Lucyeth gathered his anger into a violent force of the dark side flowing like a hot fire throughout his body. The tremendous power of the force was released from the fingertips of Lucyeth as tendrils of violet blue energy shot towards Malik Sadow. The last ditch effort of Lucyeth was not enough to end Malik with his lightsabers simply absorbing the energy.

Lucyeth brought up his lightsaber in a weak attempt to deflect Malik. Malik pushed his emerald dagger into the abdomen of Lucyeth with crimson blood dripping onto the floor. The dark Jedi fell to the cold ground of the cave and began to convulse as more blood ran out of his body for a fatal result.

The Palatinaean answered the Neti with a wave of electricity emitting from his outstretched hand.

The Warlord blocked the attack with the blade of his lightsaber and shook his head at the Knight. “Very well, you have made your decision young one and now you shall die in this place.”

Malik pointed a creaking left hand, rippling with electricity at Lucyeth and blasted him with the pent up power. The attack struck the blaster held in the Knights hand causing it to explode.

The Palatinaean clutched his now ruined left hand, clearly trying to control the pain and healing it at the same time.

“Do you really think now would be the perfect time for that young one?” Malik asked while slowly circling his opponent. The Knight clumsily grasped his lightsaber in his right hand and pointed it at the Neti, ready to defend himself.

Malik looked at something behind Lucyeth and suddenly the Knight fell to one knee as Malik’s ignited offhand saber came flying out through his right thigh. The Neti grasped the lightsaber and quickly moved in to attack, severing Lucyeth’s right hand at the wrist.

The Warlord looked down at the maimed Palatinaean and laughed, “You should have taken the offer to leave when you had it, young one. Goodbye.” he looked up and grabbed part of the cave ceiling with the force, pulling it down over Lucyeth crushing him.

Malik reached out with his senses to locate the Sith tomb and headed towards it. As he got there he reached into the tomb and located the artifact that had called him to this cave in the first place, he looked at the thing in his hand and saw a gemstone giving off an eerie white glow, showing no signs of having been incased inside a tomb for millennia. The Neti pocketed the gemstone inside his robes and headed for the surface to his waiting shuttle.