Competition: [Ancient Possessions]: Disturbed Spirits

Finished
[Ancient Possessions]: Disturbed Spirits

You return from a mission, but you return changed. You no longer are the same as you used to be. There is someone inside your head. One body, two minds. You have been possessed by another being!

In a minimum 500 words, describe how you get possessed. How does it influence your daily life and relationships with other members of your Clan? Do you come to terms with your current state or try to get rid of the being that possessed you (or to convince it to leave)?

Entries will be graded according to the Fiction Rubric 2.0. You need to use your main character, alt or NPC with an available character sheet

Competition Information
Parent Competition
[SA] Mysteries Explained: Ancient Possessions
Organized by
Adept Xantros, Ciara Tearnan Rothwell Tarentae
Running time
2022-01-15 until 2022-02-14 (about 1 month)
Target Unit
Entire DJB
Competition Type
Fiction
Awards
First Level Crescents and Clusters of Ice as per VOICE guidelines
Participants
14 subscribers, of which 4 have participated.
Results
Member
Raleien Sonavarret
File submission
Shadow_Academy_entry.docx
Placement
1st place
Member
Adept Bentre Stahoes
Textual submission

This is a bit bizzare, Bentre thought to himself. What is a guy to do when he has two spirits in his head?

*These are the times, Kairn'tel, when you have to seize control.* The dark voice of his family's oppressor pushed at the back of his head.

"Defiler!" The gravelly voice of something unbidden escaped from Bentre's lips. "You have no power here!"

*Do you really think that this is the first time that this one has had the presence of another in his head? His voices alone are enough to drive one mad.* The old spirit groused. *Well, crazier, if it were possible.*

Bentre gripped the table, grinding his teeth together. "This is too much already! I have an Empire to rule. What do the two of you expect to get out of me.

*Power.* The old spirit groused. *The sort that Tasha'Vel and her grandfather could never have imagined. I want to grant you the strength to make the Dark Council bow to your will. Imagine, the likes of Pravus, Mav, even the Keibatsu groveling at your feet, waiting for your commands.*

"What sort of drivel is he asking of you, this pretender!?" The new spirit jeered. "I have access to powers, to spells, to rituals the likes that you would never experience with the influence of one so limited. The secrets of the Force itself are mine to command, and you would bow to this ghost of an oppressor?"

Bentre's mind reeled. His plans were falling apart around him.

*I have the plans for superweapons.*

"I have ages of medical secrets and arcane mysteries at my very fingertips.

*I have already helped to carve out a place for you in your labs, Kairn'tel. Do you think that I would lead you wrong at this time?*

"I have," the newer spirit, "access to things that even the Grand Masters do not know. The Children of Mortis, the location of the True Sith, the secret vaults below the surface of Tarthos and many secrets that went to the grave with Urias Orian!" The newer voice cackled with Bentre's voice. "Are you really willing to let all that slip through your fingers?"

*What if you let your current work slip?* The cool voice of the old spirit Ferras'ota cooed in the former Obelisk's ears. There are still secrets to be uncovered that current medical technology have only started to unlock. Look at the Collegium and it's work. Do you trust that this* thing *will possess anything they could not uncover?*

"But at what cost?" The new spirit hissed, stressing at Bentre's already raw throat. "What thing has he asked of you?"

*The legacy.* Ferras'ota grumbled. *All I want is to direct the path of the future and to complete my work. Our ways are similar, Kairn'tel. You know this."

"I...I don't know." Bentre hated to express the weakness in that moment. He shook his head, trying to will both voices to quiet.

"Weakness!" The new spirit shrieked. "Are you truly to heir to the legacy of Urias Orian or are you just a Corellian dog?"

*See how it pressures you. We have a history though, Bentre. You know what we seek to complete.*

"Time." Bentre gasped. "I need time. I don't have the means of extracting you both yet, and you both have some use to me. I will not force you both out. I will not force one of you out. I will not be commandeered!"

A shrill giggle escaped his lips. "Oh, what are you going to do to stop us?"

A knock came from the door of his office. Bentre cleared his throat, hoping his normal voice would reassert itself. "Come in."

"Sir." It was Takagari. "Is everything alright?"

Bentre waved a hand. "Fine. I am fine. Just having some doubts."

*Liar.* The newer voice seemed calmed, but the Adept's head pounded. This was going to take some getting used to.

Placement
2nd place
Member
Elyon de Neverse
File submission
Elyon de Neverse - Disturbed Spirits.pdf
Placement
3rd place
Member
Lieutenant Creon Neverse
Textual submission

*I'm a Rogue Sith, trained by Plagueis initially. *

"How did you get inside my head?" Creon asked out loud. He was alone so didn't feel embarrassed for seeming insane.

*Telepathy and Mind Trick mostly. Your Force Signature grew in the Dark Side after your recent Porg slaying mission. So, you gained my attention and were susceptible to my possession. *

"Not sure I like this. You could be a distraction."

*Nonsense, having a Sith possess you can quite often be symbiotic. What was the old saying? Two heads are better than one?"*

"Better how?"

**Well, I have knowledge that could be useful to you in your quest for wealth and power. I can protect your mind from others who use you or conspire against you. And I can absorb your Dark Side energy so it doesn't completely overwhelm you. You'll have the Dark Side as your weapon while still following the path of a Jedi. *

"These are but words. I would trust you only if there were results."

*That is something we will both have to work on to achieve. You are the body and your will. Allow me to be the mind. I am your Krath, you are my Obelisk. It's like Master and Apprentice only we switch roles. *
“Please tell me you don’t talk a lot.”

*I do, but I won’t allow you to lose focus. I understand the value of silence and won’t get in the way of the here and now. *

“It feels like an invasion of privacy. Don’t to the privacy of your own mind?”

*See. That’s the thing. With **Telepathy** people’s thoughts are projected aloud without them knowing that it’s receptible. When you think it is like you are speaking out loud. I try not to have a big ear but I can’t help it when you decide to think near me. *

“How many people go through with this?”

* Oh lots of people. You’d be very surprised with how much we Sith possess other people. Some play with others like a meat puppet, others protect their possession in the psychic plane of the Force. *

“You enslave people.”

* I mean I can leave and find someone who seems more like an agreement. *

“No no… Stay… If this is commonplace then I’ll need your help to get ahead.”

* Now you’re thinking tactfully. Well done.*

“So uhh, what’s the fastest way to get rich in the Brotherhood?”

*It’s the Regent’s economy. He has a monopoly on all the vendors of the Brotherhood. He decides what we get paid and how much items cost. He doesn’t understand inflation, so I don’t think anyone’s pay is going to get larger. So we will have to climb the ladder. *
“The ladder?”

*Yes, their structural ladder of leadership. Rank, the societies, clan summits, and offices in the DC’s staff. It all depends on how much your want to produce and the worth it is to them in paying you for it. *

“Well… bounties aren’t paying as much as they said they would. Lets see where this ladder takes us.”

Placement
No placement