The atmosphere on Mustafar is thick, burning with sulfur and volcanic ash. No sunlight is able to penetrate to the surface. Located at the end of a raging lava river lies a towering, complex black structure unlike any other. Designed and constructed by the Sith Lord Darth Vader during the reign of the Galactic Empire as a testament to his own might, the former Sith’s personal residence sits on the site of an ancient Sith cave and the planet of his greatest defeat. The unique structure consists of a large obsidian central spire flanked by taller tuning towers to help channel the dark side. Lava ebbs and flows through the building, providing power to various systems and ambient lighting throughout in a design synonymous with the dark side of the Force and the building’s creator.

With the castle’s location recently discovered from the darkest corners of former Imperial archives, agents of the Brotherhood have been dispatched to reclaim the Sith site and any relics of value. Thought forgotten in time for almost thirty years after the death of the Dark Lord and collapse of the Empire, the place where “Jedi go to die” still holds many secrets and surprises; from Sith and Jedi artifacts to Vader’s personal effects and access to the nexus of dark side power the castle is built upon.

Hidden in the depths of the castle lies Darth Vader’s meditation chamber, constructed in the ancient Sith cave where he created his first lightsaber and completed the transformation into the Dark Lord. Inside, a single catwalk extends from the black durasteel door to the center of the room, hot swirls of red and orange lava filling the floor of the chamber while an excess of steam adds a slight haze. Surrounded by four obsidian tuning pillars lies a raised platform, a single obsidian throne in the center. Like the rest of the castle, the entire chamber has been constructed to channel the dark side energy within.

It is here that you have found yourself, either seeking to attain the secrets within for your own gains or to ensure they shall never be found by another. However, it is rare that any seeker of forbidden knowledge would walk such a path alone. Pursuers and companions alike can often be found. More so, such disparity can cause conflicting points of view on what the best course of action shall be.

Whatever may happen, the empty throne stands resolute and watches to see what shall come of those called by the dark presence within.

The interior cabin of the YT-2000 shook as the vessel entered a planetary atmosphere. The ship’s owner, the rogue Jedi Turel Sorenn studied a holomap of their destination thoughtfully stroking his graying beard.

“These coordinates had better be worth the price we paid for them,” the former Odanite remarked casually.

The Sadowan Sith Xuner Holst sat on the opposite side of the passenger compartment inspecting his weapons with careful precision. “The coordinates line up with references to an ancient Sith cave in some of the academy’s older texts,” He gazed up at his assigned Jedi partner with unnatural yellow eyes. “This is Lord Vader’s fortress, where many Jedi met their end.” The Sith stared for a moment hoping to get some kind of rise from his forced companion and got little more than a raised eyebrow.

“Yes, I’m sure it’s creepy,” Turel said dismissively as he shut down the holoprojector. “The sooner we secure the site and whatever old trinkets the cartels are buzzing about the sooner we can get off this boiling rock.”

This mission had been hastily thrown together as a joint venture between the Shadow Academy and the Shroud Syndicate, the latter of which stumbling across the intel of the rediscovery of Lord Vader’s secret fortress. Xuner had been the closest Brotherhood asset with knowledge of ancient Sith when Turel got the job from the Shroud Syndicate. The rumors of what Vader’s fortress actually held were vague, some references to a mystical doorway, others to secret weapons and hidden knowledge.

A colorfully painted magnaguard droid came bumbling out of the vessel’s cockpit. “We’re making our final approach, and it looks like we aren’t the first ones here.”

“What do you mean?” The Sith looked up from his weapons and inquired in a gruff tone.

“Oh hey cutie,” the droid replied in a synthesized twang. “There’s a shuttle already on the landing pad and bodies from the looks of things. It’s a hot mess.”

Before either could reply the ship came to a rest on the ground with a thud.

Turel secured his things and headed toward the docking ramp. “Well let’s go see for ourselves. Grinder, protect the ship.”

The magnaguard placed its hands on where the hips would be on a sentient, “Alright but if that pilot droid of yours starts playing music again I’ll scrap him. Call if ya get in a pinch sugah.”

The Jedi rolled his eyes and continued down the ramp with his Sith companion following behind. Vader’s palace was every bit as imposing in person as the legends described it. A single tall tower of dark stone with a soft orange glow coming from within. Turel felt cold and sick to his stomach as soon as he feet touched the tainted ground while Xulner felt a burst of strength flow through him. There were blaster scorch marks and dead bodies littering the walkway from the landing pad to the palace entrance. The bodies appeared be mercenaries of assorted races mixed alongside an insectoid race Turel was unfamiliar with.

“Mustafarian,” the Sith commented as his Jedi partner studied one of the mysterious alien bodies with curiosity. “The native species of this planet.” Turel nodded and did a quick sweep of the other starship on the platform.

“Well, the shuttle seems empty. Nothing in the cargo section, no personnel. That’s unlike the Cartels to not leave a getaway driver at least. What happened here?”

Xulner looked around, “appears the locals were protecting this place.” He readied his rifle and moved toward the entrance, “let’s see how far the cartel got.”

Turel dutifully followed with his right hand instinctively staying close to his lightsaber. The unlikely Jedi-Sith duo entered the main chamber of the palace only to find a squad of Weequay mercenaries setting up in a defensive position with an odd figure in a worn metal mask standing with his arms in the air facing what appeared to be a wall.

Still undetected the pair ducked behind an ancient pillar to take stock of the resistance up ahead. “I count eight, maybe ten mercenaries and that weirdo in a mask,” Turel whispered.

Xulner paused, weighing their strategic options. “We still have the element of surprise on our side. We can handle some common thugs.”

The former Odanite stroked his beard thoughtfully, “I have an idea. When you hear them screaming, start shooting. I’ll try to cover for you with my saber.”

Turel rubbed his hands together as he tried to focus on the currents of the Force. The dark side was palpable here, almost drowning out his connection to the light. There were too many mercenaries to touch all their minds with a detailed illusion, he just needed a quick distraction.

“Did you hear that?” one of the cartel mercenaries shouted.

“I think so, what that a growl?”

“RANCOR!!”

Suddenly the entire chamber filled with the sounds of blaster fire heading away from where Turel and Xulner were standing.

“Now would be a good time to start shooting,” the Jedi quipped.

As a practitioner of the illusion power himself the Sadowan was mildly impressed at Turel’s distraction. He leaned out of cover and took aim at what he assessed to be the squad leader. The Jedi readied his saber, prepared to jump out and deflect blaster bolts while his companion sniped the enemy.

Then the masked figure abrupted turned around revealing blazing red eyes that gave both Brotherhood agents pause. “WHO DARES INTERRUPT THE WORK OF LORD MOMIN!” the figure bellowed. He waived his hand and the illusion broke. Turel shook his head as he felt the surge of dark side energy sever his link with the mercenaries’ minds.

“Whoa, did you feel that?”

Xulner nodded as he took the first shot felling the squad leader.

“That weirdo is a Force user!” Turel hissed as he ignited his saber and took up a position to block for his Sith partner.

The masked figure who had identified himself as Lord Momin seemed incensed at Turel’s presence. He raised his hand again sending a translucent wave of telekinetic energy flying at the former Odanite. Turel tried to dodge, but the wave caught him and sent him careening backward into another pillar.

“Ow!” The Sentinel exclaimed as he pulled himself up and ducked for cover.

“KILL THE JEDI!” the masked man bellowed in a rage.

“This mission just got a lot more interesting,” Xulner remarked to no one in particular as he prepared to take his next shot.

“You know …”

Xuner began as he interrupted himself by firing another slug from the rifle. One of the Weequay mercs pulled out a grenade. Noticing this, Xuner lined up another shot and fired a slug. The projectile whizzed across the open area landing firmly into the upper left forearm of the victim. The grenade dropped to the floor, exploding seconds later. The shock wave from the grenade shattered the bones of the mercenary’s, reducing his to a bloody mess as shrapnel perforated his head, upper left arm, and abdomen.

As the first mercenary fell to the ground, Xuner shifted his barrel to the right, tracking Lord Momin. Holst fired another round, expecting to burn a hole through that combatant’s forehead, but the slug was blocked as Lord Momin looked at Holst aiming towards him. He used the Force to pull a fourth Weequay and used him as a shield. Xuner, unfazed by this, fired five more slugs. Each slug was perfectly aimed for Monin’s head, but the Lord moved the now dead mercenary around, still using his limp body to absorb every impact in a different part of the torso.

Turel recollected himself in time to notice the final mercenary pointing his blaster rifle in his direction. The Jedi quickly stretched his arm out, reaching out with the Force, pushing the blaster rifle into the direction of another Weequay, who was riddled with bolts, falling to the ground in pain. The rogue Jedi scrambled to his feet. He rushed past blaster bolts as some had harmlessly impacted into the floor around him with others flying past his head and torso.

As Xuner was engaging Lord Momin, he was blinded to what was happening around him. Vesh, however, did manage to take notice of Turel’s situation.

”The Jedi’s going to die. Leave him.” Her words echoed thought his mind with hate and annoyance for the Light-side aligned Force User.

Without skipping a beat Holst stood up, exposing himself. Much to Vesh’s surprise, he completely ignored Lord Momin and pointed his rifle towards the final mercenary. He fired three slugs past Turel’s head. The Sadowan drew out his DX-13 Blaster Pistol with his cybernetic hand.

In a clear demonstration of his skill set, the Sith contracted all the muscles in his body, turning himself into a fixed gun position, allowing himself to fall into a trance-like state. Having to choose between the Sith or the Equite, Xuner to Vesh’s dismay, chose to save Turel. Pointing both his rifle and pistol at the group of mercenaries that remained, the former Lord Commander wasted the alien. Trying to distract Lord Momin for a moment, Xuner flicked his wrist to Lord Momin and fired three bolts without looking at the masked combatant, who easily dance around them. The other Weequays wasn’t so agile, however. Although the aliens’ harden skin was able to more easily resist to blaster bolts, it wasn’t able to properly dissipate the kinetic energy of the three slug rounds that ripped into their bodies. Before Xuner was able to see the xenos fall, he turned his attention to Lord Momin, dropping both pistol and rifle. Turning his body to brace for an impending attack, he threw his cybernetic arm up to raise a barrier of Force energy. With his flesh-and-blood arm, he throw a quick small blast of Force energy at Turel.

Turel, through his eyes, had just witness a Force User quickly pull out a slugthrower rifle, holding it in one arm. The three slugs were fired in such a rapid succession, that he wasn’t able to notice each round as they passed his head. As he neared towards the Human, he was met by the blast that Holst threw at him. Turel witnessed Xuner being flung so far back, he slid off the small landing platform they were on. Turel turned his gaze to Lord Momin. Despite Xuner's attempt, Turel was left with not only Lord Momin, but the three mercenaries that Holst shot down as they were not killed, merely incapacitated. Caring not for the aliens at his side, the masked Force User extended both arms out as light blue electricity began to arc throughout Momin’s body.