This was born from some AU RP that Einar-fox and I were having fun with.  It's basically our SW:TOR characters in a Sons of Anarchy type of world.  

Arannek is thevressclan's character and used with her permission.

"Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishing." -Anaïs Nin

[To: Darth Arannek]

[From: Lord Kindrak]

[Re: The Nightmare Lands]

In regards to the energies of the so-called Nightmare Lands, I've learned a few interesting things.

It's always been known, to some extent, that prolonged exposure to the energies there tend to wreck a person's mind, though it seems to happen most frequently to the Force blind (Botably Gormak and Reclamation Service drones.) or untrained Force users (They prefer to call themselves Voss). 

Agent Obisen Kindrak was with me during the last trip into that area; he was collecting data and artifacts for Darth Bi'ev. I took note of his action and reactions during the few hours we spent in the Nightmare Lands.

For reference, it is worth pointing out that Darth Achai has mentioned that Obisen is, more or less, not touched by the Dark Side. That will be relevant in closing.

At first, there seemed to be no effect other than Obisen mentioning having a vague feeling of 'heaviness' and uneasiness, but that could easily be attributed to the presence of a large number of mutated beasts in the area over anything relating to 'dark side energy'.

After roughly a half hour, I began to notice a fairly obvious deterioration in Obisen's mental state. In his case, it manifested in short bursts of temper, which is uncharacteristic for him, especially while on duty and in the presence of a Sith. Snapped replies, frustration with readings, things of that nature.

Nearing the two hour mark, in addition to the above, the Agent's body language began to give away his mental and emotional state; he appeared to be on edge, agitated, unable to relax and remain at least outwardly calm. When speaking, his voice was clearly strained and only remained below the level of yelling with a great deal of restraint.

By four hours, it was clear to me that work could not continue without risking permanent loss of the Agent. He had become physically aggressive, attacking me despite being aware (according to his words) that I was an armed Sith and could easily kill him. Ability to respond to logical reasoning seemed to be either lost or severely impaired. 

A brief struggle ensued, and I was  able to subdue and sedate Obisen and remove the two of us from the Nightmare Lands.

Once the sedatives had worn off, he had little recollection as to what had happened and appeared to be in a state of something similar to disbelief that he could or would have acted in such a manner but, aside from that minor confusion, he appeared to return to a normal state of mind within twenty-four hours after removal from the area.

While I was aware of the presence of Dark Side energies in the Nightmare Lands, they had little effect on me short-term exposure wise; I suspect, had I remained in the area for several days or weeks, it likely would have begun to gnaw away at my mind as well.

In Agent Kindrak's case, I suspect his lack of exposure to or experience with Dark Side energies aided in hastening how quickly his mind was nearly overcome.

I cannot recommend sending the Division's Agents to that area of Voss unaccompanied by one of our Sith or for any significant, prolonged length of time; it's very likely that any Force blind Agent would experience similar effects to varying degrees, and there are documented cases of minds shattered (for lack of a better word) beyond repair due to prolonged exposure to the energies of the Nightmare Lands.

It has also been well documented that wildlife exposed to the area frequently go mad or even mutate; I did not notice any  mutations in the humanoids that we encountered, though some of the most damaged were glowing so brightly with Dark side energy that even the Force blind could see its presence. Extended exposure appears to consume them entirely and in a literal sense.

It's likely that someone willing to embrace insanity for power would fall just as easily, but I've got no way to test that, and feel it would be a waste of resources regardless. Even if the power was attained, it would be at the expense of the mind, and there is no feasible way to control someone in that state; they could be exceptionally dangerous to everyone and would likely be difficult to kill.

"The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, is in its loyalty to each other." -Mario Puzo  

When my master asks to speak to me, and I don't immediately know the reason why, part of me prepares myself for the worst.  

It isn't entirely unwarranted.  Unlike the last few years, there was a time when he intended to beat sense into me and that was when he summoned me.  I wasn't given more freedom right away, he liked to keep me close when I was young.  I had bad habits, I wasn't born into the Empire.  I had much to learn, and he had to break me and and reshape me into a proper Sith.

He was a cruel, terrible man with a violent and swift temper.  And for a long time I felt as though I could do nothing right.  I was a skinny whelp of a boy, I was without form, a graceless sack of limbs.  I was reckless and stupid.  All the things I hear him say about his own sons.  

Something shifted eventually.  I can't really say when, but his insults became less barbed.  (Or did I just get used to hearing it?) And he praised me more often, giving me assignments that took me away from his immediate reach.  Failure was met with less freedom again, he had to keep an eye on me to make sure I wasn't falling back into old habits.  That I wasn't tempted to run from him, make a break for the Republic again.

But success was met with praise and gifts.  I remember the day he finally trusted me enough to give me my own ship.  The one that had belonged to his son, Elkoreth.  I could have used that ship to escape, finally, return to the Republic.

He knew I wouldn't.  He knew at that point my loyalties to the Empire (and more importantly to -him-) were strong enough.

Darth Arannek is more than just the facade he shows in public.  The cruelty, the anger, the hatred people see in his eyes and feel as he passes them are merely one facet of him.  They don't see him in more private settings, after his wife visits or when he's relaxing after a day's work.  

Once he trusted me well enough to see this side him, he had my loyalty.  Eventually he had my admiration.   And I daresay I love him more than I ever did my absent father.  

Last night he wanted to speak to me, and to bring Vith'alor with me.  But not to punish me for my transgressions this time.  He looked so... aged.  It pains me to know that I will soon have to kill him.  Before Setekh can finally manage it himself. Especially when he hears what our Master has decided to do.

He's formally adopting me, and making me the heir to his legacy.  Me.  An alien without a drop of Sith blood in me.  

Prompt 7: Holiday/Vacation/Downtime

Arannek wasn't very well known for having a calm temperament, even among Division members.   But most of them would be surprised to see him then, sitting on the couch with his feet up on a cushion.  It was the medication, they might think, or his still aching injuries.  He wasn't in his right mind to be dressed in the fuzzy red robe with matching slippers.

Achai sat on the floor, beside him, stripped of his fashionably black Sith attire for the time being.  He wore simple pants and a baggy synthweave shirt.  He knew better than to complain he couldn't actually see the holovids.  He could hear them and that was enough. Especially with the officer standing behind all of them to give his precise commentary on the realistic probabilities of any action scenes.

Vith sat beside him quietly, sneaking a hand over to lace his fingers with Achai's.  The Miraluka smiled faintly at the surreptitious act, but Vith glanced over his shoulder a few times to see if Arannek disapproved, or even noticed.  

If he did, he said nothing about it.   Nor did he seem to mind the commentary.  Or the twi'lek slave bouncing into the room with a bowl of snacks and a cheerful hello.  

They all knew the risks in pushing things, however.  While they were fine talking about the holovid, laughing, and munching on crunchy snacks everyone knew the one rule not to be broken.