#knights of zakuul | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

voidendron · 2 years

Text

Routine

Whumptober 2022 Day 10: Poor Unfortunate Souls Taser | Whipping | Waterboarding Alternate Prompt 7: Protective

Star Wars: The Old Republic Characters: Sy'hen "Hush" Rett (Human, cyborg), Saa'tek "Gunshow" (Cathar/Omwati/Zabrak, cyborg), Jessi "Nexu Bait" Toklar-Sept (Human/Zabrak, cyborg), Kaiba "Red" Felshaad (Human), "Zip" Drakou (Zabrak) Warnings: Violence, Blood

---------------

It was routine. Something they did often, by request of the Commander.

Sure, the squad had started with a focus on humanitarian aid, but it had quickly become one of Commander Terrin’s favored squads for this kind of work. They were good, and she hadn’t wanted to hold them back with rebuilding efforts. The Barsen’thor and his students were more than capable of protecting build and recovery teams, and studying as they did so.

No, Inferno Squad had slowly transformed into scouts, and from scouts into an Alliance Intelligence team. One little thing, after another, gradually adding up until they could see with the quirk of Terrin’s brow that she saw far more potential in them than what she was requesting of them.

So, here they were. Another mission, scouting out suspected spies nosing around where they didn’t belong within Alliance territory.

Zip had a data spike plugged into a seemingly abandoned computer system (they knew it wasn’t, they just weren’t sure when the camp’s occupants would be returning), her eyes scanning walls of code as the rest of the team watched her back. Kaiba and Jessi standing close behind her, Saa’tek posted up high with nose in the air, and Sy’hen stalking the outer edges of the empty camp.

The shadows closed tight and uncomfortably around the former Knight, their eyes scanning their surroundings and one hand remaining at-the-ready to reach for their deactivated saber pike.

Something…

It didn’t feel right.

Their eyes drifted up to Saa’tek, whose tail was flicking and one ear gave a twitch, as he obviously seemed to notice it, too. Then, they looked to the team’s CO; Kaiba’s own gaze had flitted up to Saa’tek, before she tightened her hands on her blaster rifle.

Sy’hen noticed the silence, then. It was unnatural. There should have been the sound of fauna nearby—chirping, or rustling, or anything—but all was still.

They removed their pike from their back, but kept it off as they pulled the shadows tighter around themself, their Force shroud leaving a chill to crawl across their skin. They’d never been particularly fond of using it, but wouldn’t deny that it was an incredibly useful ability. And, as the only Force-sensitive of the squad, they were glad to be able to give the team that advantage, however small it was.

Their head snapped up to rustling; the noise was there, then gone again just as quickly.

Their eye narrowed as they ducked low and began creeping forward. Their hands tightened on their weapon, their steps were impossibly quiet over dead leaves as they used the Force itself to muffle any sound they may have made, and their eyes—

Movement. They weren’t sure they would have caught it unaided, but their prosthetic eye picked up on it and pinned the motion to the back of their mind.

Sy’hen surged forward; they felt as if they were lunging through the shadows themselves, until they were barely a step behind the stranger.

Zakuul Knight armor made their breath hitch, just for a moment. It was long enough for the other to sense them, and Sy’hen only barely managed to ignite their weapon in time to block the Knight’s own pike from taking off their head as they were pulled from their shroud.

A thought was all it took, and the comm built into their ear implant turned on.

“Hush to squad,” they said, voice impossibly soft and level even as they shoved their opponent away with a kick to the chest. “Camp belongs to renegade Knights of Zakuul. Number unknown—have engaged with one.”

They ducked in time to dodge a stone that the Knight lobbed at their head, huffing through their nose as a snarl found their lips.

Kaiba gave a stream of commands to the rest of the squad, calling for Sy’hen to regroup with them, before the line went dead.

They reached out through the Force for one last shove at the Knight—he must have been a Captain, once upon a time if his armor was any indicator—before turning on their heel and bolting back to the main part of the camp.

The sight to greet them was the rest of the squad trying desperately not to get cut in half by half a dozen renegade Knights.

Sy’hen froze where they stood, their own pike gripped tightly between their hands and remaining eye wide even as their prosthetic began running the information straight to their head. Six of them, seven counting the one they’d left behind who would surely be showing up to help his comrades any moment.

They knew Knights. They knew the training Knights went through, rigorous and unforgiving of failure. These may have been renegades, but they were still Knights.

Just like Sy’hen.

They swallowed.

No. Sy’hen had shed their title long ago. They were an Alliance Paladin, now.

But they knew Knights. Real Knights. Zakuul was an ally to the Alliance, and Knights were loyal and trustworthy and noble—at least, now they were, with the royal family no longer on the throne.

These weren’t Knights.

And seeing them wearing that armor, wielding those weapons… It made their blood boil.

Sy’hen was pulled from their thoughts when Saa’tek bolted toward them, grabbed them by the wrist, and dragged them behind cover where Jessi was hunkered down already. They never could get over the fact that their medic carried a giant-ass assault cannon, but she seemed to be tinkering with it as she cursed under her breath.

“Protect ‘Bait—her gun’s jammed,” the engineer said. “Red’s orders. I need to set up some foot traps around the perimeter and try to lure ‘em there.”

Their gaze drifted to Kaiba for a moment, locked in combat with who appeared to be the renegade group’s leader, and nodded stiffly. “Be careful,” they murmured. Saa’tek gave a loose two-finger salute in acknowledgment before he was darting away, using his smaller size to his advantage to keep from behind seen.

So, Sy’hen waited. Their pike was gripped tightly as they kept themself between Jessi and the “Knights,” who were obviously holding their punches as they surveyed the situation. Most of them hadn’t even engaged yet, instead hanging back and raking their gazes across their camp.

Which told Sy’hen they either hadn’t expected to be discovered, or didn’t have a plan in place for when they were. They strained their ears to listen to the Knights’ voices, and noticed they were young. Maybe even younger than Jessi, though it was hard to tell behind their helmets.

When Jessi gave a nod, indicating she’d repaired whatever the issue with her cannon was, Sy’hen lunged away to grapple with a Knight who’d attempted to get Kaiba while her back was exposed.

They weren’t sure whether they, or the renegades, were more angered at seeing each other. The attempted backstabber’s eyes pinned on Sy’hen’s weapon, then their armor that was now painted in the squad’s colors, and they could practically feel the snarl that came to her lips.

Fortunately, the renegades were young. Inexperienced. That, paired with weapons and armor and training that the squad was grateful about having a Mandalorian Commander for, as Terrin accepted only the best for her people, meant that even outnumbered they were a step above the Knights. What strikes of their pikes did meet, bounced off lightsaber-resistant plating; what blaster shots were deflected, simply left burns in the paint of the squad’s armor.

That was, until the leader shoved Kaiba. Though his hand did meet her chest, it was obvious with the momentum that threw her into a tree that he’d used the Force.

Their Captain slumped where she landed and went still.

Jessi, not only their medic, but their XO, took only a moment to swing her heavy weapon against one of the renegade’s heads—Sy’hen could hear a loud crack, could imagine a spray of blood or neck twisted at an unnatural angle as the body slumped to the ground and they realized that Knight had lost their helmet at some point—before she was giving out orders in lieu of their (injured? dead?) CO.

Sy’hen barely registered her words.

Instead, their eyes zeroed in on the renegade leader; his weapon was drawn, he was…

Eye widening, Sy’hen surged forward. The Force pulled uncomfortably at their skin, the shadows around them too close, too tight, too cold, before they were tackling the leader before he could take off Kaiba’s head.

The two rolled when they hit the ground, spitting curses and trying and failing to get enough space between their tangled limbs to get a handhold on one another. Their weapons were dropped somewhere along the way. It was the least of Sy’hen’s concerns.

The Knight was wearing a helmet—the Paladin growled and grappled to pull it off.

The moment it tumbled away, a fist was swinging. Sy’hen spit as the blow split their lip, returned the favor so their glove came back smeared with the blood running from the man’s nose.

He’d tried to kill Kaiba. Kill her. The squad’s CO, Captain Felshaad, who’d hand-picked each of them and gave them all a place where they finally belonged. Kaiba Felshaad, who’d looked to the former Knight—the former Knight, who’d once fought tooth and nail to tear down the Alliance—and stretched out her hand with a smile. Who showed honor and mercy and respect, even to her opponents.

And he’d tried to kill her while she was helpless to defend herself.

Sy’hen growled and shoved the man onto his back, straddled his chest with knees pressed harshly into the sockets of his shoulders.

They pulled a fist back; it cracked loudly against his jaw.

Again.

They didn’t realize they were panting, not until a hand grabbed their arm that was poised for another blow. They didn’t realize blood smeared their hands, or their armor, or the ground under the Knight’s head. He was wheezing; Sy’hen’s nostrils flared as their chest heaved.

Their arm twitched as if to yank away from the grasp on their elbow.

Then it dropped to their side and they swallowed. They allowed themself to be maneuvered off the Knight while Jessi knelt by his head to make sure he wouldn’t die on the way to a cell on Odessen. They…couldn’t bring themself to look him in the face as shame twisted their gut. The feeling only worsened when they noticed Kaiba staring at them where she was still propped against the tree; her brow was knit and mouth parted as if she’d tried to say something but it caught in her throat.

They’d…never lost their temper before.

Not like…that. Not to the point they’d beat a man within inches of his life with nothing but their fists.

Sy’hen swallowed again.

They couldn’t bring themself to look down at their bloody hands.

#swtor #knights of zakuul #tales from the void #voids ocs #oc: sy'hen rett #oc: saa'tek #oc: kaiba felshaad #oc: jessi toklar-sept #oc: zip drakou #whumptober2022 #alt no.7 #violence #blood

3 notes · View notes

eorzeashan · 10 months

Text

how it feels to be forced into being Commander when your PC isn't a leader

#swtor #ooc #kotxx you are very strange.#someone wrote ooc fanfiction about my blorbo...they called it knights of the fallen empire...isn't that crazy #how would you save zakuul...ummm i dobt know anything

74 notes · View notes

thenachlegacy · 11 months

Text

I just think it’s devastating bc it’s canon that it was Arcann who went and brought Vaylin back from Nathema, and during KOTFE if you watch all the cutscenes, even when he’s losing his temper he has a moment where he pauses and tells Vaylin that he’s “not blaming her” for all that’s going down, and acknowledges that Valkorian held her back the most out of all of them and it’s just sooo 🥹 upsetting because they were truly brother and sister, and loved each other and they never get a chance to be a normal FAMILY…

120 notes · View notes

volkgenie · 1 year

Photo

You taught me the courage of stars before you left. How light carries on endlessly, even after death.

arcann & thexan art by radacs

#swtor #Star Wars The Old Republic #Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic #star wars #star wars aesthetic #zakuul #knight of zakuul #arcann #thexan #valkorion

77 notes · View notes

imperial-topaz2003 · 2 years

Text

Arcann, what we could’ve had.

So, yesterday, I came across this discussion right here detailing on how a relationship between Arcann and the Outlander could potentially be toxic (great discussion BTW, go check it out), and it made me wonder what if Arcann was written a bit better?

Strap in, this one’s gonna be a long one. Now, I don’t HATE Arcann. I think he’s a fairly serviceable antagonist who does his job well and possess a threat to the main protagonists. He does have his sympathetic qualities, like his backstory being neglected by his own father, and the time on the Asylum where he was willing to let your companions go as long as you’re willing to surrender to him.

However...that’s all he really has. The whole rest of the time, he’s just a generic, raging warmonger with daddy issues. Then he’s taken to the Voss and either instantly cured of all of his negative qualities, or just eventually killed. Now, I do like post-Voss Arcann quite a bit, but I feel like there could’ve been a bit better buildup to his eventual redemption.

My suggestion? Make his sympathetic qualities more prominent. Instead of just being a tyrant for the sake of it, perhaps he was aware of his father’s plan to consume the whole galaxy, and dreads being just another pawn in his game. However, since his father’s one of the most powerful force users in the galaxy, all he could do was play along for now. But with Valkorion out of the way, he can focus now on ‘uniting the galaxy’, from a certain point of view. Essentially, he wants to turn Zakuul into a thriving civilization that can oppose any apocalyptic threat to the galaxy, wether that be Valkorion or something else. That would help make him to a foil to the Outlander. Both of you want to unite your respective factions against a common foe, but while you’re doing it through unity and inspiration, he’s doing it through control and oppression.

On top of that, we could also have a foil WITHIN the Eternal Empire. Enter Vaylin.

Perhaps instead of Arcann being the one who’s glassing planets and torturing people, Vaylin’s the one who takes that role. She’d be the one who’s responsible for the Eternal Empire’s more heinous actions, constantly going behind her brother’s back to achieve these actions. Meanwhile, Arcann can only really tell her off, because if he does anything about it, he’ll appear weak in the eyes of Zakuulan society. So instead of two batshit insane siblings, we have an orderly and focused brother, and his unhinged sister.

We can still have things like that chat on Asylum, but let’s take that up a notch. Perhaps he shows that he genuinely admires and respects the Outlander and wants them to join him against Valkorion, rather than just trying to stab them whenever he can. This could pave the way for philosophical debates between the Outlander and Arcann, discussing their methods and ideals and such. We could even have times where Arcann lowers his guard, showing he might genuinely believe the Outlander to a degree and gradually understanding them more and more. So, instead of just being Deus Ex Machina’d into being a good guy, he gradually goes from being your biggest obstacle to being your ally, in an organic way. This could make his friendship, and yes even his romance arc, seem a lot healthier and more heartfelt.

But that’s my two cents. What do you guys think?

#swtor #swtor talks #swtor discussion #knights of the fallen empire #arcann #arcann tirall #zakuul #valkorion

96 notes · View notes

raven-of-domain-kwaad · 1 year

Photo

I just really like the Sith red that Bryala and the Kines bring to Zakuulan fashion

#swtor #oc: bryala kine #knight of zakuul

7 notes · View notes

swtorpadawan · 2 years

Text

This Moment

Author’s Notes: The following story takes place in my Halcyon Legacy storyline during the five-year gap from Knights of the Fallen Empire. Content warnings for character death and implied character death. Seriously people – there’s some angst in this one, along with some negative tropes that I couldn’t completely avoid.

Slumped against the ruined wall of what had effectively become a foxhole, Nalen Raloch flinched as Bengel Morr wrapped the last of their kolto-pads around his injured left arm. Above them, the skies of Tython had grown dark with smoke even though the local time was still late afternoon. Mere meters away, the sounds of battle continued to rage, as Zakuulan walkers rained down rockets and fire on their position.

The Twi’lek Jedi had taken a blaster bolt from a Skytrooper as they had dived for cover, and he was struggling to bare the pain. But he suspected that his anguished reaction came less from Bengel’s application of first aid and more to the sudden absence in the Force he’d felt in that same instant. Glancing into the Nautolan’s dark eyes and observing the flicker of hardening resolve, he understood immediately that Bengel had felt the same thing Nalen himself had, confirming what had taken place.

Ako Domi was dead. Killed buying his fellow two Jedi enough time to flee to this makeshift trench.

They were now the only survivors of their battlegroup; what had effectively become the rear guard covering the Order’s final evacuation from Tython. They had both felt the others fall, one by one, until they had reached this point.

And they’d just run out of room to run.

The forces of the Eternal Empire were taking no prisoners. They had laid waste to first to Tython’s defenses, then to the temple and now to everything in their path.

It was possible in this moment that Bengel and Nalen were the last two Jedi alive on Tython.

Dozens if not hundreds of Jedi and Republic soldiers had met the Force this day, demonstrating incredible courage every step of the way. They’d known rebuffing the attack was futile, of course, but they could still ensure the future of the Order. Even as the defenders had abandoned the temple, they had successfully drawn the Eternal Empire’s forces away from the main evacuation points. Despite the overwhelming odds, the Jedi had been able to extract most of their number from the planet in good order. But the small battlegroups of guardians and defenders who had screened them – including Bengel and Nalen’s – had paid a staggering price.

They’d been preparing for this day for months. The Zakuulan invasion had stormed into the Republic unchecked, despite countless sacrifices by the Jedi and the Republic military just to slow it down. A few weeks before, Satele Shan, the Grandmaster of the Order and one of the few members of the council still alive, had gone missing during a mission to cut behind the Eternal Empire’s lines. Some who knew her were convinced that she was still alive – that they hadn’t felt her death through the Force – but regardless of the truth of the matter, her absence had finally signaled to everyone that the war was lost.

Nalen didn’t know the details, but he knew the Jedi weren’t retreating to another Republic world, one where they’d only draw more attacks from Zakuul. Enough people had already died protecting them. Gnost-Dural, the Order’s greatest historian, had claimed he’d found a place for them to withdraw and recover, as they’d withdrawn to Tython nearly twenty years earlier after the Sack of Coruscant.

Now, amidst the Ruins of Kaleth, south of where the Jedi Temple had once stood, Nalen and Bengel were making their final stand.

As Bengel finished wrapping Nalen’s wound, the Twi’lek couldn’t help but appreciate the Nautolan’s gentle kindness. The feelings were in stark contrast to his reaction to meeting Bengel Morr years earlier.

Nalen distinctly remembered hating him. Hating him for directing the Flesh Raiders against not only the Jedi, but against the Twi’leks of Kalikori Village, his people, as well.

He felt no small amount of shame for that hatred, as well as the shame for the actions he himself had taken in those dark days.

In the years since then, Nalen had seen Bengel turn into the kind of Jedi he was always meant to be. Kind, compassionate, always willing to sacrifice of himself for others.

Proving that the Force moved in mysterious ways, it had been Bengel who had aided Nalen the most in acclimating to the ways of the Jedi.

Nalen himself had been old for a padawan, and his experiences with the holocron of Rajivari had left him in an incredibly dark place.

He could admit now that he’d needed Bengel’s support.

In the years since, they’d effectively become partners, ever since Nalen’s Knighting.

Two years earlier, they’d both been absent on a reconnaissance expedition into the Flesh Raider territory in the Tythonian highlands when the forces of the Sith Empire – led by the infamous Darth Nox – had attacked Tython and briefly seized control of the temple. By the time their group had made it back, it was all over. The Jedi had regained their home and driven off the Imperials, but the losses had been high. It had been all they could do to aid in recovery efforts, helping the wounded… and counting the dead.

Both Nalen and Bengel had vowed that day to never allow such a thing to happen again.

Now the temple had fallen once again, this time literally. But if the bulk of the Jedi could escape, they’d make good on the promise made that day.

It would all be worth it.

Bengel lifted his head up as he finished patching up Nalen’s arm.

“The firing stopped.”

Nalen blinked, absent-mindedly checking his arm. He realized his companion was right; the whole valley seemed to have gone quiet. He heard only the crinkling of distant fire, and his own heavy breathing.

The Nautolan cautiously risked a peek over the wall.

“They’re getting into position.” He reported, ducking back and sitting beside Nalen. “Skytroopers, Knights of Zakuul and Walkers. They know we’re here.”

Nalen simply nodded his head sharply, checking his lightsaber.

“How many?”

Bengel turned towards Nalen. Nautolans had a somewhat unfair reputation for frequently smiling with unnerving grins, even at questionably inappropriate times. Bengel’s smile usually wasn’t like that. It was slight, but sincere and kind. Just like Bengel himself was.

Nalen had often found comfort in that smile.

But today – in this moment – Bengel Morr gave Nalen the grimmest, toothiest smile Nalen had ever seen, teeth and all.

“All of them, I think.”

Nalen looked down and chuckled. He didn’t know what kind of answer he’d expected, but he took comfort in the fact that Bengel could still joke at a time like this.

Before he could respond, the Twi’lek’s holo-communicator beeped.

Reluctantly, Nalen pulled it out and activated it.

A small projection appeared of Master Ulannium Kaarz, Barsen’thor of the Order and one of the few remaining members of the council. The man who had once foiled Nalen’s misguided efforts to destroy the Jedi back when he’d been under the dark side’s thrall.

The Mirialan had grown since Nalen had first met him all those years before, when Ulannium had just been a padawan and Nalen had been Kalikori Village’s premier defender, revered by his people as a hero. His passion to protect the villagers had led him down a dark path; one that Ulannium in his mercy and wisdom had saved him from.

Ulannium had already been considered wise beyond his years even then. Since those days, he’d emerged as the finest Jedi Master of his generation, the youngest Jedi to sit on the council in centuries. Physically, his build was still rather slight, but he now stood tall as a Gen’Dai.

As was the case with Bengel, Nalen couldn’t begin to express how much he owed to the Jedi Master. Bengel might have aided him down this path, but it had been Ulannium who had started him on it.

“Master Ulannium.” Nalen dipped his head in a heartfelt greeting.

Ulannium had told him more than once that he could call him by his given name. He’d never taken him up on that offer.

“Nalen. The last transport is away.” Ulannium grimly reported. His voice was unfailingly calm, despite the obvious urgence of the situation. “Master Oteg led the remnants of the First Expeditionary Fleet in a last-ditch attack on the Eternal Fleet ships in orbit. It worked. They sacrificed themselves to give us a window to escape. We’re jumping to hyperspace in just a few minutes.”

Nalen exhaled in relief, and he noted the reassured look on Bengel’s face as well. Like Ulannium and Gnost-Dural, Oteg had served as a respected member of the Jedi Council these last few years, but no one had ever forgotten that he was first and foremost an admiral of the Republic fleet.

The Jedi Master’s sacrifice this day had proven that beyond all doubt.

“Good.” He swallowed. “Then it was all for something.”

Ulannium nodded and pressed on. Business as usual. For all his tone, he might have been discussing an archaeological expedition.

“You’ll also be relieved to know there’s no sign that the Zakuulans are moving against Kalikori Village.”

Nalen exhaled again. He’d refused to admit it aloud to his fellow Jedi, but his greatest worry all this time had been that the Eternal Empire would turn and wreck the same destruction upon the people he had protected as they had the Jedi.

“The fleet is almost ready. We haven’t been able to hail the other battle groups.” He didn’t need to express what that meant. “What’s the status of your team?”

The Twi’lek had expected this question. His answer was at the ready.

“Bengel and I are the only ones left, Master Ulannium.”

The Mirialan’s face turned grim.

“There might still be time.” He offered. Nalen appreciated the sentiment, even it was no more than a pipe dream at this point. “Can the two of you reach one of the extraction points?”

He knew the answer to this question as well, but he still hesitated, looking over towards his more experienced partner.

Bengel simply gave Nalen a slight shake of his head.

There was no sadness or despair in the Nautolan’s features; a trace of regret, perhaps, but there was also a resolve and acceptance. Whatever nightmares had plagued Bengel years ago when they’d first met, whatever had made him take control of the Flesh Raiders and to threaten Nalen’s people… Bengel was an entirely different man, today. He was still haunted by his own actions during those dark days, but he was determined to make up for them.

That resolve filled Nalen with admiration and strengthened his own determination as he turned back to the projection of Ulannium.

“No.” he finally answered. “Don’t worry about us, Master Ulannium. Save the Jedi. Save our people. And…. thank you. Thank you for showing me a better path. Thank you for this chance. Thank you for everything.”

Nalen swallowed.

“It has been an honor.”

Through the holo-display, the Barsen'thor’s tired eyes softened.

“It’s been my honor to have known you, Nalen.” For a fleeting moment, Ulannium looked more like the young Jedi whom Nalen had met all those years ago, with a bright, limitless future ahead of him. “Thank you. May the Force be with you.”

The projection flickered then deactivated, leaving the Jedi alone.

Our people. Nalen had called the Order that for the first time today. If he’d felt like an outsider all these years, then now, in this moment at least, he was a Jedi.

He turned towards his companion. The Nautolan was gazing off into the distance.

“I saw the best Jedi of my generation fall to the Sith on Coruscant.” Bengel’s voice was sad, but clear. “Then I saw them try to do it again here on Tython two years ago.”

He turned towards Nalen, meeting his gaze.

“The Jedi will survive this day.” His confidence was infectious. “For my own part, as I see it, I’ve been living on borrowed time.”

Part of Nalen recognized that he felt the same. He padded Bengel’s knee affectionately, then rose, careful to keep his head down beneath the wall’s edge. Bengel followed suit a second later.

As Nalen gathered himself, he regarded Bengel, even now poised to leap out over the wall and give a final accounting of himself. Nautolans, as a species, preferred aquatic environments, he knew. Yet here, far from any body of water, Bengel was poised like a Nexu; grace and agility ready to explode with power.

For such a moment, Nalen felt he had to say something to express how he felt.

“Bengel… I just had a crazy idea.”

Seamlessly, Bengel turned back to Nalen questioningly. The Twi’lek found his courage and pressed on.

“When this is all over, would you like to join me at the cantina for a drink?”

Bengel’s dark eyes regarded Nalen, vacant for a moment.

The cantina – along with most of the Jedi temple – had been buried beneath tons of rubble hours before during the earlier attack.

The corners of Bengel’s lips turned upward in one of his kind smiles. It was full of warmth and made Nalen’s stomach turn over.

“I would like that.”

The Nautolan now reached out and offered Nalen his hand.

“You ready?”

Nalen smiled back. In this moment, he felt free. He reached out and grasped Bengel’s hand, squeezing it in his grip. This simple gesture communicating more than words ever could.

“I’m ready.”

He only wished they’d had more time.

But they had this moment. And that was something.

Moving in unison, the two Jedi leapt over the wall.

END

Author’s Notes: I don’t know how many of you have seen the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It’s a fine film, even if it is mostly dated fiction. This story was largely inspired by the final scene of that film. The emotional connection between the two protagonists – romantic or not – left an impression.

Bengel’s little joke is a Terminator 2 reference. (I don’t know how many of you are old enough to catch that one, either.) The stereotype about Nautolans is a Kit Fisto reference.

I regret not writing much about Ulannium until now. I chose this as my next piece in part to resolve that.

We never hear about what happens to Nalen Raloch after Tython, albeit we do see Bengel on Corellia. Both characters deserved a proper follow up, as do Oteg, who we meet on the Republic side during the two “rescue Revan” Flashpoints.

Ako Domi is the Jedi who was imprisoned on Nar Shaddaa in Shadow Town by the Sith Empire and turned to the dark side. Republic players have a chance to either rescue (and redeem) him, or to execute him. If you spare him, you get a letter from Satele thanking you, and informing the player that he was recovering. We never hear a follow-up after this, but I like to think that he met his end as a Jedi. The idea of a group of Jedi who had each experienced turns under the dark side and were now serving as the Order’s final defense was a compelling idea for me.

Tagging @taraum @kyber-heart and @grandninjamasterren who all expressed interest in this premise in a post I put on Tumblr ages ago.

Also tagging cavalier-life @consularmain @cuchulainnx19 @darksunning @imkerf-uffle-d @kemendin @kgoblin @lordviridis @sith-as-heck @starknstarwars @the-raven-of-highever @vexa-legacy for liking my Six Sentence Sunday updates.

#swtor fanfiction #swtorpadawan writes #nalen raloch #bengel morr #oc: ulannium kaarz #tython #kotfe #Knights Of The Fallen Empire #wrtieblr #oteg #master oteg #Ako Domi #the eternal empire #zakuul #the temple of tython #gnost dural #my writing #this moment

30 notes · View notes

bh-52 · 1 year

Text

Knights of Zakuul on Lothal

#star wars #the star wars saga #swtor kotfe #swtor #knights if the eternal throne #eternal empire #knights of the eternal throne #knights of the fallen empire #knights of zakuul #zakuul

2 notes · View notes

anchanted-one · 1 year

Text

I'm thinking about the Nathema arc again

Specifically, Zakuul.

They spent years aiding and abetting Arcann and Vaylin's tyrannical rule, so you know the Imps and Pubs would dearly love to serve them some sweet justice pie.

And they just had to "declare independence" from the only power that would have stood up for them.

Wonder if we'll get a letter someday where Zakuul is begging us to come back and save them from the pounding they're getting

#star wars #swtor #knights of the forgotten empire #knights of the eternal throne #zakuul

6 notes · View notes

emyustar · 2 years

Text

Orodin Skaal

Honor guard captain and knight of the Eternal Empire

#star wars the old republic #swtor #the old republic #swtor art #zakuul #knight #swtor kotfe #kotfe

5 notes · View notes

queen-scribbles · 5 months

Text

Breather

My SWtOR Secret Santa gift for @ishallobservethis! I had to do something with Felin soon as I saw she had a "tripped and fell in love by accident" arc with Koth. I love the Smuggler, I love accidentally falling in love pairings, and Koth always need more love. So I wrote them a little scene between chapters 7 & 8 of KotFE.

---

Despite her best efforts in the moment, Felin had never been all that good at subtlety. So it wasn't really a surprise when Koth caught one too many of her 'surreptitious' glances in his direction.

It was enough to prompt him to look up from his half-disassembled rifle, arching a brow at her. "Need something , Outlander?"

"No, um, I just... the stuff with the Heralds was... a lot." Felin set down the tools she'd been using to repair her own blaster. "Wanted to be sure everyone's okay after that, you know?"

"And I'm first on your list?" A wink. "I'm flattered. And fine. The rifle took damage, not me." He shrugged. "Not the first time I've been in a fight like that, anyhow."

Former military. Right. On the run for deserting because he had a conscience. He was used to danger, used to Zakuul and Asylum and didn't need her fretting over him. But I want to.

She didn't want to dwell on why that was. She cared about all her comrades in arms, that's why.

"Good," she said, clearing her throat. She picked up the tools and went back to work. There was just a little carbon scoring to clear away, but better to have it in working order now, under the circumstances. "I gotta ask, Koth," she started after a few minutes' companionable silence working side by side, "especially after that mess, what exactly did Lana tell you that had you all gung-ho to bust me out?"

"Bunch of stuff," Koth laughed, turning back to reassembling his rifle. "Findin' the lost riches of a crime lord, taking down some bigshot admiral--not to mention a near-mythic Sith. Or was he a Jedi?" He shrugged, brow furrowed as he slotted the casing back together. "Point is, she spun you up as this dashing hero who thrives on long odds."

Felin chuckled. "Somethin' like that. And what, your curiosity got the best of you?"

"Somethin' like that," Koth said, shooting her a grin. "Gonna take someone experienced with long odds and pulling down powerful Force users to deal with Arcann and Vaylin. Wanted to see if you were the real deal. She didn't mention you have a great smile, though."

She smirked down at the blaster. They'd traded flirty banter a couple times in the swamps; if he wanted to go again she was happy to play. "Can't imagine how that slipped her mind, it's one of my best features."

"Guess she was distracted by the skytroopers and Knights and wildlife chasing us," he deadpanned.

"I do bring a flare of adventure to the lives of most people I meet," Felin joked, biting back the odd little squirm that didn't want to see him hurt in the course of this adventure.

"Only most?" Koth asked, half-joking, as he secured the last pieces back in place.

"Some are too boring to be helped," she said with exaggerated drama, biting the tip of her tongue. as she finished and holstered her blaster. "Not you, though," she winked.

"Well, that's a relief," Koth said with a laugh. "Think I'd be a little intimidated if you found my life experience boring."

"You mean running from a galaxy spanning empire with a price on your head isn't normal for you, Vortena?" Felin said with faux-shock.

"Right now it is."

"Touché."

The hum of the engines shifted, rocking the shuttle just a little. The computer beeped, and Koth wiped his hands on his jacket as he leaned over to check it.

"We're dropping out of hyperspace," he reported. "Almost there. I should check on the Gravestone repairs when we land. If we're gonna use it to save the galaxy."

"Yeah, be bad for that hope--and the engines--to go up in flames when you try to take off," Felin said dryly. "Would hate for our dashing heroics to end before I have a chance to really see what y- the ship can do."

Koth chuckled, sent her a smirk. "Have a little faith, Outlander. Let me show off her moves." His expression sobered as a view of Asylum flashed outside the shuttle. "Be careful down there, huh?"

She nodded as they headed to strap in for landing. "Do my best."

The flicker of relief in his eyes made her heart skip a beat. Or two. Maybe she wasn't the only one worried.

Maybe she liked that thought a bit more than she should.

#queens fic #swtor secret santa 2023 #swtor #swtor smuggler #koth vortena #smuggler/koth

23 notes · View notes