Cathedral of Darkness

From Emperor's Hammer Encyclopaedia Imperia

The Dark Cathedral was constructed by a sect of rogue Dark Jedi over eighteen thousand years ago to serve as their base of operations. Since them there have been a few other temporary residence take refuge in it, but only until recently as the true potential of the Dark Cathedral been tapped into once more. Now belonging to the Hetaeria Validus it serves as their stationary base of operations.

Dark Cathedral Layout[edit]

Floor 6 - DUX & VIC Housing

The very top of the Cathedral's main building swirls and curves most like ice creme inside of a cone, only with windows and being perfectly rounded. The Sixth floor is reserved for the Dux and Vicarius. Each have their own Office, Lounge, Private Library, and Bed Chambers on this floor. The DUX and VIC are the 'only' two members of the Hetaeria that dwell here, not even guards are permitted on this floor. Though if accompanied by the DUX or VIC, any member of the Dark Brotherhood may venture here. Outside of the personal rooms to the DUX and VIC, there is the Hall of Whispers which is room that is believed cursed and blessed at the same time. In this room the DUX and VIC may communicate with fallen Dark Jedi, or even live Dark Jedi at great range. It is also a place of total serenity where the dark side may be focused to a pin point and used a double the users common ability.

Floor 5 - The Validus Library

Floor 5 was the original library for the Cathedral, as was seen by the few remaining holocrons and records by its former users. Due to its current set up, it was seen to be easier just to set up a more current library, thus the Validus library was developed and moved to here. The library is massive, taking up the entire floor. Certain sections of the library are restricted by rank and position within the Hetaeria but a majority is open for the masses. The library is defended by eighteen guard droids and newly installed auto-defense turrets which are located in the floors and walls.

Floor 4 - Command Center

The fourth floor is divided into different sections, though it is all known totally as the Command Center. The floor is divided into four locations with a four way hallway separating the four massive chambers. The elevator brings you directly into the center of the four way. Walking out of the elevator you would be facing the War Chambers, and Dueling Chambers. During Dark Brotherhood and Hetaeria operations the War Chambers is under the command of the Dux and Vicarius but when discussing pirating and personal operations the War Chamber is divided three ways between the three Pirate Lords. There are twenty guard droids defending the War Chamber along with the newly installed auto-defense turrets which like the library take housing in the walls, floor and ceiling. The Dueling Chamber is perhaps the most costly of the additions to the cathedral. The Validus have installed state of the art technology and droids to offer the best of simulated battle, or even provide an interesting atmosphere for two duelist to take part in. No explosives are permitted inside of this room, only blasters, lightsabers and the force. The room is restricted to Guardian ranks and above to use to ensure no useless deaths happen.

Behind the elevator are the two rooms which complete the Command Center. The Communications Center, and the Intelligence Center. The Communications Center is loaded down with computers that collect information from satellites, ships, and anything else that can send a transmission in the Pyrath System. There are two smaller rooms established within the communications center where the Dark Jedi may communicate with others privately. The Intelligence Center look a lot like the Communications Center, loaded down with computers but these are special computers with special users. The technology used here can hack into a Star Destroyer's navicomp and send them on hyper jump into a sun, or can be used to track down a single individual using their datapad to send a message to their mom while hidden in the jungles on some remote planet in the Pyrath System. All Intelligence is managed through this department of the cathedral, and access to this room is restricted to the DUX and VIC, or to a member with their permission.

Floor 3 - Training Areas

Though combat is an important study of being a pirate, Validus pirates study beyond this to become the most feared of all pirates in the galaxy. There are ten different rooms located on this floor, each of which is constructed the same. A semi-circle of bleachers around a single stage and podium. In these rooms the Validus learn from one another to become stronger and wiser. There are eight guard droids posted in each of the training rooms, along with the auto defense systems.

Floor 2 - Armory, Security, & Medical

Considered the sword and shield of the academy, floor two is where the Armory and Security Office is located. The armory holds half of the floor as it houses a near limitless supply of armor, weapons, and items to use in combat. All items are organized to restriction by rank of the Dark Jedi, though if powerful enough the Dark Jedi would need none of these weapons, only themselves. Connected to the Armory is the Security Office. Most of the security in the Cathedral is done by droids, but there are a handful of living security officials that work within the Cathedral, after all the droids have to be commanded by someone. The office takes up 1/3 of the armory and is filled with computers, droids, force cages, and anything else one could want to keep security tight in the cathedral. The Medical bay takes up the other half of the floor and can hold up to one hundred fifty injured or sick personnel at one time. Most of the medical staff is droid, though there are some living medical staff that work here as well. Any and all medical supplies can be located here. There are no restrictions for entrance to the medical bay, and it is guarded at all times by ten guard droids.

Floor 1 (Front) - Administrations

The first floor is halved. The front of the first floor is the main entrance to the cathedral which houses the administrative offices for the Hetaeria. There are eighteen different offices located here for different types of leaders within the Hetaeria, and the main elevator is also located directly in the center. Anyone that hopes to travel the cathedral and leave it alive must first go through administrations.

Floor 1 (Rear) - Hangar

The second half of the first floor is the hangar. It is large, but not large enough to store all personal fighters and vessels of those in Validus thus only Dark Jedi Knights and above may store their craft at the cathedral hangar. The hangar also houses a rear entrance to the Administrations area of the cathedral making it more hospitable to those who pilot their personal craft to the cathedral.

Sub Floor 1 - Ritual Chambers

The sub floor is actually a secret location within the cathedral. Its original use is unknown, but the dark side is very strong here and the chamber seems to have been set up for rituals. Not wanting to alter the purity of the dark side here, the Validus decided to keep the sub floor for any and all ritual and ceremonial occasions. When there is no ceremony or ritual the only members of Validus permitted to enter would be any of the Pirate Lords. Due to the purity of this location there are no guard droids used in the sub-floor.

It is rumored that the cathedral extends further underground than the ritual chambers, but some secrets are meant to keep..