Chapter 5: Crimson Ice

[Lord Iezkon]

“Ilum has proven to be that of a cold mistress. Her sharp kiss, biting frost, and chill seeps within my bones. But we are ever pushing on. It would seem the acolytes are in love with the place, moving to try and take crystals where they can, little do they know their use will be limited for their future, but, we shall see which of them are smart enough not to put them within a future saber. As for their role. Well. I believe now they will look to keep watch, try and prove themselves for the future, it is clear now the current generation wish to impress. But we shall see which of them prove of use.”

 

“As for what has taken place so far, scouting has been on the main accord. Locating if any threats were near has proven to be a task with the storms, but when an encampment of what can only be guessed as mercenaries, seemly looking to get rich from the planets crystals, we reduced them to dust within moments. Though, this was not the main events of this location. No far from it, while we remain on this snowy wasteland, I simply enjoy thinking back to the holo broadcast, one which will remain with me until the day I die. Sith Cautus, reduced to a beaten pulp by Apprentice Trakaton and Apprentice Hirak, it is clear the skill performed by the two out matched the sith 10 to 1. And only proves further they will go far. They are examples to be followed. And with this, mistakes are never forgotten, it is a simple matter of saying the House learned that day. That Darth Horuset does not tolerate failure.”

“The remainder of this voyage on Ilum resulted in harvesting of the crystals, watching over convoys. And I believe elements of testing the current generation of acolyte. Though I believe all of them will result in disappointing cannon fodder, some may prosper from these tests. And as such, may become useful to the house. To say the least.”

 

“But. Now I move onto the main focus. We moved to Ilum to deal with a pest, some vermin, a worm that had burrowed into the flesh of a mighty beast and we searched to stop its actions at the core, when the trade routes of crystals were broken, we moved to Ilum as a flaming fist of tradition. The Empires wrath to the very door of the problem and it has only proven so, every attempt at pushing any of our forces back has been broken, the assault on the outpost proved to not only be a success, but one that drove a deep blade into our foe, though the mishap of many acolytes who have been punished. The attack on the base was a slaughter, the targets of the attack stood no chance against the barrage of not only sith by Horuset forces, murder would not fit the description of what had taken place. For only Dewback to the slaughter would be close. Through the cover of storms the assaults on Ilums surface have taught many lessons and now with every evening past, I believe that Ilum has given each member of this house to think about. The lessons learned have seen grave conscious. Some far worse than others.”

- By Soyut Vipion, Apprentice to Lord Saud