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.

"What a desolate place this is."

Hades shook his head as he considered his options. Stay here and see who might come through the other entrance or try his luck with the wraids. It is said to be wise to choose the enemy you know over the enemy you do not. The path was clear.

Moving as swiftly yet quietly as the situation allowed, Hades moved closer towards the slithering sounds he picked up just a few moments ago. Peering around the corner he made out the shapes of five wraids in a rocky chamber that was probably eleven meters wide and maybe seven meters tall in a mostly circular shape. The bioluminescent glow from the lichen was a welcome aid in his search for the other cavern opening he is hoping his there. Spotting the two meter wide exit on the far right side of what was apparently a wraid den, Hades took the time to glance behind him. More rocks being displaced. Whoever it was is getting close. Maybe five meters behind a small bend behind him.

Taking a small breath Hades turned his attention to a wraid in the middle of the group. Reaching out with the force Hades pushed the wraid into another wraid milling about to the creature's left. Startled, the second wraid grunted and growled at the first. The rest of the small group's attention was drawn to the disturbance. Seizing his chance Hades darted out from behind cover and sprinted two long strides before launching himself in a Force augmented leap to the far side of the cavern. He quickly dashed out of sight behind the opening. He quickly took stock of his surroundings and made sure he had not landed into even more trouble. Once satisfied, he slowly peered around the corner to await the mystery guest.

A human male appeared where Hades had been standing no less than a minute prior. He was tall, but slightly smaller than Hades. As the man stepped closer he could barely begin to make out his features and his features looked familiar. Hades' mind raced to match the face with a name. Finally, the man produced a golden lightsaber before matter-of-factly announcing to the still growling wraids, "You are in my way. Move. Now."

Hades eyes widened as the revelation hit him. "Oh the spawn that is everything wrong with this life, it's Yacks." He had met the former Admiral several times as part of the Emperor's Hammer and the Dark Jedi Brotherhood. They had spoken a few times. Usually mindless chit chat and formalities but Hades had always like and respected the man. As the Dark Jedi Master began to attack the unprepared wraids whom Hades now felt profoundly sorry for, he needed to create some distance between himself and Yacks for the time being. Moving deeper into the cave system he needed time to formulate some type of strategy to deal with this. Either a surprise attack or... Hades slowed slightly as his mind raced at an amazing possibility that had just presented itself. Hades had received intermittent reports of one on one battles between members of various clans, usually with a clear loser. Maybe this encounter didn't have to follow the same path because Hades might be a well trained Sith, but he could calculate the odds were not in his favor. Approaching a corner Hades felt an icy chill run up his spine. Grabbing his unlit lightsaber in his right hand and his slughthrower in his left he silently approached and peered around the corner.

Tuk'ata.

Hades repressed a shiver cursed his luck. The group of extremely dangerous beasts was perhaps eight or nine strong at best. Hades silently withdrew from the corner. Turning around he moved back the way he came by at least twenty meters before he came face to face with a certain Dark Jedi Master.

"Hello, Yacks."

Keirdagh had felt the presence of someone approaching behind him while dispatching the wraids, but hadn't had the chance to focus on anything but putting the beasts down. They weren't the most intelligent of creatures, but what they lacked in cunning they more than made up for in size. With that threat gone, he'd had the opportunity to focus on his visitor, and was unsurprised when Hades had hailed him. They'd never been close in the old days, but Keirdagh was well acquainted with the Tarenti. It's hard to share a common goal with someone for over two decades and not at least be aware of them.

Unfortunately though, these insane Crusades had put Keirdagh into the field against many of those whom, though he may not have classified them as friends or allies, he at least felt a kinship toward. Such was the pressures that they faced now, and such was the dilemma Keirdagh now faced. The problem was, the sensation he'd been following before getting tied up with the wraids, was that whatever it was he'd been sent here to find was in the direction Hades was coming back from now.

There was no indication that whatever was causing the disturbance in the Force had moved, but he had to be sure. Settling his emerald gaze on the Tarenti, he steeled himself against the actions that might yet prove necessary. "Hades, I assume we're here for the same goal." The other man's back straightened at the steel Keirdagh injected into his voice, and merely nodded, glancing over his shoulder while he did so. "I'd rather this not result in conflict," the Dark Jedi Master continued, "so if you happened to get whatever it was we've been sent here for... hand it over now, and we can both go on our merry ways." "Oh, I'd love to Yacks," began Hades, "but I don't have it. There's a bit of a roadblock up ahead. I was hoping we could work something out." Even as he was weighing the risk of Keirdagh and the violence he was threatening, he kept a wary eye toward his rear.

Maybe he did run into a bit of a problem back there, Keirdagh mused; still trying to make sense of the unease Hades was showing. All this sneaking around and doubletalk seemed unlike the man Keirdagh had heard of. "It all depends. Whatever is in front of us? It's coming home with me, or it's getting destroyed: either option is fine by me." As he spoke, Keirdagh began to hear guttural howls from whatever it was that had spooked the other man. Standing his ground, he continued calmly: "I don't need or want the glory. If you're ok with that, we can work together. If not, you can head on out of here, and nobody will even know you ever got close. You have my word."

"We're going to have to survive first," barked Hades, fear entering his eyes as he drew a blaster and turned back to face the way he came. "The bloody tuk'ata may have a thing or two to say about your plans to rob the tomb." The howls that Keirdagh had heard earlier were increasing in volume. Apparently, the ancient Sith on Begeren had left more traditional guardians for their graves than lumbering wraids he'd already dispatched.

An uncharacteristic moment of indecision gripped the old Master as they approached. He'd still not come to any accords with Hades, and the Crusades had heightened tensions between all the Clans. He had no indication that the Tarenti wouldn't just abandon him to a sure death if he charged in. Ultimately though, Keirdagh had little choice. If he was to retrieve whatever he was here for, he wouldn't be able to get past the tuk'ata himself.

Failure was not an option. Retreat was not an option. That meant he simply had no choice except to trust a possible enemy, and trust in himself to see the dagger before it lodged squarely in his back.

Striding forward, his saber held aloft and painting the tunnels in golden light, the Son of Taldryan made his choice. Positioning himself in front of Hades, Keirdagh shouted back "Cover me!", and prepared to meet the onrushing tide. Whether it was the intrusion into their demesne, or even the scent of blood from the dead wraids behind them, the tuk'ata came upon the two Sith in a full frenzy.

The steady report of Hades' blaster flashed over Keirdagh's shoulder as he planted his feet, and began striking out at the beasts. Teeth and claws scored hits upon his armour as he stood fast against their onslaught. Body parts and viscera soon littered the ground at his feet, and Keirdagh found himself overwhelmed. Behind him, Hades' blaster ran dry, and the louder, slower reports of a slugthrower began to beat a steady rhythm, the results far more gruesome than the blaster before it had been.

In a flash of pain, one of the beasts broke through Keirdagh's defenses, and its razor sharp teeth clamped around his left shin. As the razor like fangs sunk into his flesh, the pain threatened to overwhelm the old man. But rage took its place instead; "FRAK IT!" he shouted while dropping his saber. Grabbing the beast's head with his now free hand, he loosed a violent stream of lightning directly into his abuser's skull. The close contact of such a fierce explosion of energy ripped the fangs free of Keirdagh's leg in a spray of blood, and sent it careering into its remaining pack mates.