Video; un: darkness (Storytime With Maul!)

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul's doing a little better than he has been the past few months. At least he's not all corrupted into insanity like he was for a couple of weeks in July or about to breakdown after his video in June. Sharp-eyed viewers will notice he's got a new piece of jewelry. On the ring finger of his left hand, there's a black, sparkly wedding band made of Darkblood. Yep, Maul got hitched. But who would be crazy enough to marry the Zabrak Sith Lord? A question one can ask if they're feeling especially brave.]

Everyone always thinks they're the hero in their own story. And it's easy to justify that you are no matter what you do because you're the main character in your mind. No one ever wants to admit they're just one of the side characters or even the villain. And how do you even know when you've become the bad guy? It's easy to say what actions you undertake are for the greater good or at least something that will get you what you want. You keep telling yourself that until you look around one day and see the only monster around you is yourself.

[He leans forward.]

I am very fond of stories. So I'll tell you a story about a villain from my world and you can tell me one about a hero or villain from yours in return.

Once upon a time, there was a young man who had darkness in his heart. He coveted power amongst all else and to that end he committed many monstrous acts to gain it. When he saw that his family stood in his way, he killed them all without thought. Over the years, he gained power but it was never enough. Always, he wanted more. Eventually, he realized that no matter how much power he possessed, he would lose it all when he died. And so he sought to gain immortality.

He eventually found a Sith Lord, very old and wise, who told him he had discovered the secret to living forever. "Become my apprentice, do everything that I command, and I will teach you my secret," he told the man. And so he did. Day after day, year after year, he obeyed the Sith Lord, committing many more atrocities in his quest to gain immortality.

He would often ask the Sith Lord, "Am I ready?"

The response was always the same. "Not yet."

After many years the man, no longer as young as he once was, began to grow impatient. He went to his master. "I have done all that you asked. Teach me what you promised."

The Sith Lord merely laughed in his face. "You will never be ready to learn."

The man felt rage rise up within him. "Why not?"

"Because only a Sith who has no fear can conquer death. But you? You will always fear dying no matter what you do and so you will never master the secret of immortality," the Sith Lord told him with contempt.

The Sith apprentice was furious. He felt he had been lied to and so he waited. His master never slept, for he had seen the future and knew he would die in his sleep, but his apprentice was cunning. Eventually, he got his master drunk, and the Sith Lord finally fell asleep. So the apprentice took up his lightsabers, stabbing his master in his hearts, and killing him. Only then did his anger abate and he realized he still did not know the secret to living forever.

He would spend the rest of his life seeking it out and never finding it until the day he died, always shackled by his fear instead of facing it head on and conquering it instead. He used the power he'd acquired to create a vast empire that stretched throughout the entire galaxy but still it was not enough. Always he was afraid of what was to come at the end of his life. And when he finally died, betrayed by his own apprentice as usually happens with Sith Lords, it was done so screaming in fear as he realized he had failed in his lifelong ambition.

[He pauses for a moment, examining his claws without looking up.]

That was a true story by the way. It is called the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise. Sith Lords often have a dramatic way of doing things, especially when it comes to teaching their apprentices.

Comments

video | un: duty

[martyrofduty]

A story or a history? Not all stories are based on real people.

[survivalthroughhate]

Whichever you like. I don't prefer one over the other.

[Video] username: justanadventurer | Spoilers for Dark Knight 50

[aetherweaver]

[Nara'a looks tired, his whole body drooping a bit, but he has a story he hasn't yet told. When he speaks up his voice is somewhat rough.]

Sure. I'll tell you a story.

Once there was a famous adventurer who did everything people asked of him. In the course of doing so he found a heretic's body, the remains of someone hated by the church for wielding powers that they did not understand and could not control. He touched a crystal near the body and found a man standing before him, offering to teach him those dark arts.

He did what his teacher asked - slaughtered creatures, communed with the darkness within, and saved many innocents. But still he would not stop helping when people asked.

His teacher told him to stop. But this, he could not do. Even when his teacher cursed out those who tried to get the man to help, he would not stop. Eventually his teacher told him that they would go away to a distant land, where people did not know him and could not ask for his help. He told him that he would await his answer.

The day came, and the man went out from a fort to help others once again. He came back to the camp to find slaughtered people on the ground - innocents. And among them his teacher stood, waiting for him. He fought his teacher, the blows echoing throughout the snow-filled landscape. And his teacher revealed his face for the first time... and it was the adventurer's face. He had wished for a teacher, and so one was given to him. But even in the face of his own self he could not give in.

He struck his teacher down, landing the mortal blow... but one's dark side cannot be so easily killed. His teacher stood, looking at the man with all of the knights behind him... and told the man he would always be watching and waiting to take the reins before disappearing. The commander told the knights to never speak of it again, and they didn't.

But some stories just have a way of getting out, don't they?

[survivalthroughhate]

Sounds like you learned a valuable lesson from that experience.

[Maul is assuming that story was about Nara'a given his username.]

Is that why you still have a compulsion here to help so often?

[Video | SN: JustLuke]

[faithfulson]

[ It takes Luke a moment to actually respond, because the story made him pause, falling into deep thought. It wasn't hard to figure out this story was about the Emperor, but it wasn't lining up with the man he had confronted. That person had not been afraid of death, had encouraged him to kill him more than once, as a matter of fact. It took a moment for it to sink in on why that was, and it left him panic-fumbling to respond, not even think of making his video private. As soon as he was connected, all he could focus on was blurting out: ]

I think he found his way to immortality.

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul immediately sits up and pays attention to what Luke says. The subject of Sidious between them always does that. His own voice is a little sharp as he answers.]

What do you mean?

( video | un: kenobi )

[jedies]

Was that opening really necessary?

[ it's hard to tell if it's awareness or not. ]

[survivalthroughhate]

I've been mulling things over about myself lately. What people see when they look at me and what I want to be remembered for.

video; un: rider

[kaientai]

Hm. I dunno what a "Sith Lord" is exactly, but this guy doesn't sound very wise at all if you ask me.

[survivalthroughhate]

A Sith Lord is one who follows the Dark Side of the Force.

[The answer comes automatically. If Maul had a gold coin for every time someone asked him that question, he'd have a sack full by now.]

I suppose he thought himself as such after surviving centuries. I don't know how many apprentices he took on during that time but he managed to outlive all but the last one.

Video; UN: Cuddlebunny

[lightthedarkness]

The more I hear about Sith, the less... well I can't even say impressed cause I never was but I'm gonna use the word anyway, but the more unimpressed I become.

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul gives a deep chuckle.]

The petty, small nature of most really does become evident at times like this, doesn't it?

[He's well-aware he's included in there. Maul knows there is no one who can be as petty as him sometimes.]

Video; UN Lothrat

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Squinting, because where to even start with this drama.]

I can totally believe Sidious bragged about how he managed to kill him master, maybe even in a way to teach you.

But. Ok. First question. Who actually named Plagueis 'the Wise', then, if this was back when the Sith were hiding? Did he just name himself that?

[survivalthroughhate]

That......is actually a very good question.

[Maul looks thoughtful.]

I always assumed it was his own Sith Master who did it hundreds of years ago, but knowing the ego of most Sith-- [Yes, he is aware enough to include himself in there.] --it is quite possible he did it himself.

video; un: lady

[dohaeris]

[sansa smiles in her raven makeup, scary stories about evil kings are familiar to her.]

Oh, the Seven Kingdoms had a hundred stories about kings like that.

[the night's king might strike a little too close to some people's home for a public network thread, so she chooses a more recent one.]

It reminds me a little of the story of Harrenhal.

[she remembers it was supposed to be littlefinger's seat, and hesitates only briefly. she leans forward like a storyteller around a campfire.]

Harren the Black was the last King of the Iron Islands to rule over the Riverlands. He was said to be a cruel and fearful man. His seat in the Riverlands was only little, because House Hoare held so many, but he wanted a grand castle. So he forced the people of the Riverlands to build him one, and thousands died laboring for him. He wasted all their coin building the biggest castle in the Seven Kingdoms. It took him forty years. When it was done he went around telling everyone it was impenetrable, and he stocked it well enough to outlast any siege. But then Aegon the Conqueror came on his dragon Balerion the Black Dread. When Harren refused to bend the knee to him and his queens, he blasted Harrenhal from the sky. You can still see where the stone melted. Harren died, of course, and all of his sons died with him.

The Targaryens gave the Riverlands to House Tully of Riverrun, who helped to repair Harrenhal well enough to use, but it's said to be haunted, and that every house that holds it comes to a bad end.

[littlefinger said that. well, sansa intends to see that he'll come to a bad end, even if he never lives in it. her mouth quirks to one side ruefully.]

We had scarier stories than that in the North, though. My brothers liked the ones from the Nightfort.

[survivalthroughhate]

There's certainly something to be said with burning everything down as a solution to a problem. It takes care of everything in one fell swoop.

[Maul's done that a number of times in the past, though as of late he's gotten a bit more creative regarding ideas on how to deal with them.]

If your brothers liked stories such as that, what kind did you prefer?

Video: Un: Naegi11037

[cloversandcranes]

...Getting betrayed by your apprentice is considered a normal thing for these Sith Lords?

[...That doesn't sound very sustainable. Is this a common theme in villains or something? He would think constantly worrying about being betrayed would be exhausting at best and incredibly destructive at worst.]

[survivalthroughhate]

[Makoto is not wrong thinking those things about Sith Lords for it's all very true.]

Very much so. The idea is that once the master has taught the apprentice all that they know and made them strong enough, the final test to see if they can succeed their master is to be able to kill them. And yes, they teach their students knowing very well that is meant to be the outcome.

( audio | un: salvatore )

[prescind]

This is a lot to take in.

( and he thought he had a fucked up sort of life. )

Where Sith Lords get their flare for drama?

[survivalthroughhate]

I don't know. Perhaps the Dark Side just encourages it in its acolytes.

[Really, Maul can't say anything, he's dramatic as fuck just like the rest of them.]

Voice; un: ...

[opress]

[He'd heard bits and pieces of the Sith desire for immortality before. He'd never been exposed to the full version such as this. It left him with the same opinion that he had for personal aspiration for immortality.

He sighed heavily.]

Personal immortality is pointless if you are old and weak. Being immortalized in history in name and immortalized by the strength of your bloodline is far more brave.

Only cowards seek to never die.

[survivalthroughhate]

Well put, brother, well put. I have no fear of death any longer. That was forced out of me long ago.

[Sidious may have been terrified of death but he'd done enough to his apprentice for Maul not to be the same.]

I seek for my name to be remembered as long as there are people in the galaxy. My immortality shall be my infamy.

video | un: ilikemeat

[velvet_teen]

[ Alice has been feeling achy so she is really enjoying the schadenfraude here, out of spite. ]

Ha ha, what an idiot! He wasted his entire life trying not to die and then he died anyway!

[survivalthroughhate]

[That gets a genuine laugh out of Maul.]

A very good way to look at it.

video; un: endless

[manyone]

Kihihi. I certainly never thought of myself as the heroine. I was always the villain, but then I suppose I had more insight into myself than most humans

[ She does listen to the story, though, with attentive ears and a curious expression. ]

It's said that on the island of Rokkenjima there was a witch of the forest. Those who wandered into her domain would meet a great misfortune if they were unwise or unlucky. Of course, there was a man who made a deal with the witch! He summoned her in a terrible ceremony an in exchange for his very soul, he received ten tons of gold, with which he built his fortune and became fantastically wealthy.

He built himself a mansion on this lonely and miserable island of Rokkenjima, interested only in increasing his wealth and in once again seeing the Golden Witch. So it was that the island of Rokkenjima had two masters. The man, during the day and in the night the Golden Witch who roamed the halls of his mansion and the paths of the forest, cursing all those she met with misfortune if they weren't quick enough to show her proper respect. Tools went missing, doors went unlocked. One servant who insulted the great witch even had an unfortunate accident and tumbled down the stairs. How sad!

As the man grew older and older, he forgot that he needed to respect the Golden Witch. His family, ungrateful sons and daughters, didn't believe in the Witch. So they gathered to divide a fortune that was never theirs, but one which belonged to the Witch. When the time came for the man to die, she would reclaim it, along with his promised soul.

For their hubris, for their vanity, for their selfishness and cruelty and a dozen other sins, the family was punished. The whole family and it's house was destroyed, leaving only a single survivor, who had the good fortune not to be on the island. A whole family, punished for their sins by this terrible Golden Witch, Beatrice.

I hope you enjoy it.

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul indeed likes that story.]

If there is one thing I learned from my mother, it is this: always show the proper amount of respect towards witches. They are not to be messed with.

audio | un: sds

[fogsong]

He wasn't all that wise if you ask me. He led on his dick of an apprentice and somehow never thought that he'd be killed by him. It should have been obvious.

[ sorry Maul she has no stories to tell in exchange ]

[survivalthroughhate]

That is the way of Sith Lords for you. They always think they will outlive anyone, always beings smarter and stronger than those around them.....until the day comes when they are not.

[Video] un: QueenCobra

[abornfighter]

[Tory listens to the story, but it's the ring on Maul's hand that catches her attention.]

Nice ring, Maul. I don't think I've seen you wearing it before. Is it for a special occasion?

[survivalthroughhate]

Hm?

[It takes him a moment to realize what she's referring to.]

Oh, you mean this?

[He fiddles around with the Darkblood band.]

No, this is my wedding ring.

video | un: dito

[syncopathic]

Seems like he was caught in a paradox. No need for immortality if you don't fear death in the first place, after all. Only cowards want to live forever.

And I'll choose not to take offense at the implication that we all deny that we're monsters. You're wrong, though-- some of us know. Some of us even embrace it.

[He says it as if it's something to be proud of; a badge of honor. Maybe in his mind it is.]

[survivalthroughhate]

You have learned the moral of the tale well. His own apprentice would go on to learn it as well.

[For all that Maul was screwed-up by Sidious, one of the few things he did teach his son properly was that there was nothing to fear about death. Maul isn't scared in the least about dying.]

Then you are wiser than those that continuously deny that they are still good instead of realizing how far they have fallen.

text post; un: peerless_hobo

[xiaoxiuya]

[Damn, Maul's so cool he can make even that tropey mess sound good. Shen Yuan would give him kudos, if he weren't unsure how he'd respond.]

A cautionary tale indeed. I know a similar one: a master magician once lived on a mountain peak with eleven other masters, teaching students and honing their craft. All the world believed the master, who we'll call Lord Autumn, to be a wise and virtuous man, but this reputation was only a mask he wore to protect himself from the consequences of his cruelty and lecherous ways. In truth he abused his disciples, murdered one of his peers, and even sought to marry a young woman he had raised himself from childhood. The youngest and least favored of his students, however, was a young man who had grown up in poverty and tragedy, without even a mother to guide him through the world. This young man tried a thousand tricks to win his master's approval, but in vain. Lord Autumn merely reviled him, called him a beast, and began the abuse anew.

In time it was revealed that the young man was of mixed heritage; though his mother was a human magician, his father had been the emperor of the demonic race, and so Lord Autumn at last repudiated his disciple completely and threw him into an endless abyss, filled with fire and monsters of every description, in the expectation that his disciple would quickly perish. Instead the young man returned, stronger than ever and himself the master of a cursed sword which he used to conquer the human and demonic realms, and even the heavens. Once he had declared himself emperor, the former disciple wooed and married the young woman Lord Autumn had wished to take for himself, systematically destroyed Lord Autumn's reputation and slew his allies, and finally made Lord Autumn himself his prisoner.

Once Lord Autumn was within his grasp, the emperor punshed him for all his crimes through torture and mutilation, eventually removing his feet so he could not flee from his fate, his hands so he could never strike another, and his tongue so he could no longer speak words of wickedness. Lord Autumn suffered for many years before eventually dying of harsh treatment and misery. Once he was dead, however, some people said that his punishment had been too harsh even for a man of his crimes, and that this proved that the emperor truly had been a beast at heart all along. Others said that if the emperor were a beast, it was only because Lord Autumn's hatred had made him so. I have always wondered which was the truth.

[survivalthroughhate]

Perhaps a little of both. Sometimes there is darkness in one's heart that is always there, but it only turns into wickedness and cruelty when it is nurtured by an evil presence in your life.

[Maul knows that all too well after the life that he's led.]

I like that story. It resonates with me.

video | un: echo

[individualized]

I find it quite simple to believe I am not the "main character".

That tale raises...many questions. The man's master is particularly paradoxical. But perhaps the answers would have no bearing on the apparent message.

[survivalthroughhate]

Not even of your own life?

[There's genuine curiosity in Maul's voice, wondering how this person truly views themselves.]

I would say it was just the way the story was passed down but most of it was true. Perhaps they were all simply fools in the end.

[threelayers]

Living forever is for chumps.
Live forever, and you will live forever surrounded by your regrets and failures.
Know that you'll die, and you'll have a reason to care about the little time left.

Of course? I'm not a great example when it comes to using that time wisely.
So, old friend. What do you say? A fable that I like? Or a story of an actual person.

I've got both.

[survivalthroughhate]

Well put, my friend. I seek the type of immortality that no one can take away from me and that comes from sheer infamy, nothing else.

Tell me a fable. Your world holds such fascinating ones from what I remember.

[He recalls Ozpin telling one in Deerington that Maul greatly enjoyed.]

text; un: 3167

[lludw]

["Everyone always thinks they're the hero," huh? That's a revealing statement, as is the following musing about being the 'bad guy.'

Lucius is under no such illusions. He's no hero, either in temperament or importance. Just somebody. Though he can, at least, get a few things done.

Of course, saying that would be a revealing statement. So he doesn't.]

Is it really a tragedy when nothing of value is lost?

[survivalthroughhate]

I didn't name the story. The apprentice did. I think he did so as a bit of an ironic joke.

[Sidious always has had a twisted sense of humor in Maul's opinion.]

voice | un: valravn

[warminded]

Do you believe yourself the hero of your own story? Or a monster? You sound like you're speaking from experience.

[And as interesting as Maul's story was, that interests him more.]

[survivalthroughhate]

I am no hero.

[Maul says flatly.]

Everyone else's story always needs a villain. And I have been happy in the past to provide one.

Video | Clickclickbloom

[onekindsoul]

It sounds like what your master did to you was just repeating a pretty long and awful cycle, huh?

[survivalthroughhate]

It was. Not that it excuses his actions at all. He had a choice when he became a Sith but he never gave me the same courtesy. He simply foisted what he wanted upon me and damn any choices I actually would have made on my own.