Combat Master’s Note: This battle takes on a unique format, as it is the conclusion of ACC: Fading Light. You will be encountering two NPCs with another player. The two NPCs present are Darth Necren and Lanis (one of the three bounty hunters mentioned in his character sheet). How you wish to deal with the other player combatant is up to you entirely, but all three characters should be reflected according to their character sheets in your writing.
A deadly storm now rages over the skies of Begeren, so massive in size that it has spread across the horizon from the Valley of Monuments. The fury of the storm has torn asunder buildings and monuments alike as it has spread across the face of the planet. The terrible storm’s destructive purpose may be unknown, but there can be no doubt that it originates from the palace at the center of the Valley of Monuments. Even the palace itself has not done well in the storm; ancient stones haven yielded to the incredible power of the storm, ripping holes in the once glorious building. Now, with the storm seeming to grow ever stronger with each passing moment, a small number of the Brotherhood’s best have found themselves square in the center of it.
You’ve maneuvered your way through the palace so far with little problem, narrowly avoiding gaping holes in the palace itself and ascending one of many narrow staircases upwards, undoubtedly towards the origin of Begeren’s most recent devastation. The One Sith have been an ever-present harassment, but the underlings you have come across were far more worried about the storm – and their own survival – than you. Whatever quest has led you here, you realize that your only hope lies atop this palace. Early in your climb up these stairs, you could see others in the distance making their way upwards, but it has been some time now since you have seen another living soul.
After a significant climb, the stairs end atop a large platform, four separate stairways snaking down from here. The platform has two, large, wrought-iron doors – both ajar. A bright glow emanates from the room, and you can hear the faint sound of two people conversing – a man and a woman.
As you slip inside the door, you immediately notice this room is out of place in the otherwise ancient palace. Advanced computers, holoprojectors, and displays cover every inch of floor and ceiling. In the center of the room, seated around a holoprojector, is an Iktochi female, Darth Necren. Across from her is a seated male Mandalorian with three yellow stripes on his shoulder – Lanis. In Lanis’ hands is a small, glowing datapad.
“The master will not be joining us – their breaching the palace changes everything,” Necren says, addressing the Mandalorian. For someone so loyal to the Council, she seems oddly at ease with the bounty hunter – a known associate of the One Sith.
“Not that it matters,” Lanis replies, shrugging his shoulders. He glances down at the datapad, and taps a few buttons. “We’ve got to get out of here, anyway. His handiwork will level this place – and everything around it. Nothing will remain of his work here. The ritual will remain – Wait!” Both your attention and Lanis’ turn immediately to a figure entering from the right, but it is Necren that notices you. Throwing her hands towards you, the doors behind you slam shut.
In a blur, Necren is on her feet, her lightsaber snapping to life. Lanis slips the datapad into a pocket in his suit and pulls himself to his feet, drawing his sword. As you prepare to fight, you glance to your right and notice the newcomer, too, is readying for a fight.