History Fanfic / PathOfRuin

''Path of Ruin'', by Rictus, is a Franchise/StarWars self-insert fanfic set during the Cold War featuring Aldrex Zare, a slave who was taken for training in Korriban after his Force-sensitivity was discovered.

It now has a sequel called ''Literature/DanseMacabre''. It can be read [[https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/danse-macabre-star-wars-si-sequel-to-path-of-ruin.983503/?post=80855125#post-80855125 here]].

It now has a sequel called ''Danse Macabre''. It can be read [[https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/danse-macabre-star-wars-si-sequel-to-path-of-ruin.983503/?post=80855125#post-80855125 here]].

* {{Beastmaster}}: Aldrex makes extensive use of Beast Control, often using it to force local wildlife to act as a distraction. [[spoiler:During his battle with Castor, he used it to drive a k'lor'slug nest into attacking the sorcerer's undead horde.]]

!!''Path of Ruin'' features the following Tropes:

The story can be found on [[https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/path-of-ruin-star-wars-si.541256/ Spacebattles]] and [[https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/path-of-ruin-star-wars-si.46895/ Sufficient Velocity]].

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: While not actually a character interpretation, Aldrex's interpretation of the Code of Ruin is vastly different from its creator's. Instead of nihilistic solipsism, he views it in the light of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism/ Stoicism]].

* ChekhovsGun: When Aldrex is sent to kill Castor Vol, it's mentioned that the latter stole scrolls filled with ancient Sith knowledge. This becomes important much later when it's revealed that [[spoiler:Aldrex never returned the scrolls, and kept them for himself for his own use; je uses the knowledge he gained from them in chapter 74 against Garsh]].

* ChekhovsGun: When Aldrex is sent to kill Castor Vol, it's mentioned that the latter stole scrolls filled with ancient Sith knowledge. This becomes important much later when it's revealed that [[spoiler:Aldrex never returned the scrolls, and kept them for himself for his own use. He uses the knowledge he gained from them against Garsh]].

* SupernaturalGoldEyes: Using the Dark Side Force will lead to Dark Side degradation. One of the symptoms of this is ones eyes becoming golden in color.

* OurDemonsAreDifferent: [[spoiler:In chapter 65, Aldrex summons a Smoke Demon, ab extradimensional creature summoned through Sith Magic, to use against his enemies. It takes the form of a LivingShadow in the general shape of a humanoid with glowing red eyes, but no other visible features.]]

* OurDemonsAreDifferent: [[spoiler:In chapter 65, Aldrex summons a Smoke Demon, a extradimensional creature summoned through Sith Magic, to use against his enemies. It takes the form of a LivingShadow in the general shape of a humanoid with glowing red eyes, but no other visible features.]]
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Iren, Aldrex's overseer, is one, at least so far as Sith go. While he is still an elitist snob and has less than generous opinions of those of lower station than himself, he does acknowledge when his acolytes (mostly former slaves and aliens) have done well. Additionally, he refuses to give one acolyte an advantage over the others that they have not earned, nor pick favorites from among their number. However, he is not against using them to advance his own agenda.
* RedOniBlueOni: Ianna and Terrak, respectively. Ianna is the more emotional of the two and is usually on the verge of a panic attack. On the other hand, Terrak is calm, almost zen-like. Their Force Bond helps stabilize each other.
* RefugeInAudacity: Aldrex relies on the absurdity of a student killing a full blown Sith Lord to keep people from suspecting him.
* TheSpook: [[spoiler:The scarred Sith has appeared several times, interfering with Aldrex's training before wiping his memory of each encounter.]]
* SurpassedTheTeacher: Aldrex shows remarkable promise when he kills Lord Renning while just a student, though he did have to resort to trickery over raw power to pull it off.

* AffablyEvil: While his internal narration often contains a great deal of [[DeadpanSnarker snark]] about some of the more stupid actions of the Sith around him, Aldrex typically remains unfailingly polite in conversation. In his words, it's mostly from pragmatism.
--> "Being rude has too many downsides. I usually make it a point to be polite whenever possible. It costs me nothing and can gain me everything.”

* CoolOldLady: Overseer Ragate comes across as this, though with more attempted murder, blood, and skulls than the normal examples. She also makes a mean cup of tea.

* EvilWeapon: Due to a mistranslation of some alchemy notes, Aldrex's sword is alive. It would be a CoolSword...except for the fact that it drinks blood a little too eagerly and really likes it when he kills people, putting it firmly into the evil category. Due to its origins, he has little idea of the full capabilities that he accidentally imbued in it. So far, it has resisted lightsabers (like his armor) and absorbed Sith Lightning.

* GadgeteerGenius: [[spoiler:Qiv. His instinctive skill with Mechu Deru combined with his experience as a mechanic allows him to construct functional combat droids from scrap metal and spare parts.]]

* HeartIsAnAwesomePower: When not studying Sith Alchemy or Magic, Aldrex spent time accruing proficiency in several more utilitarian powers that are either not flashy or powerful, but have nevertheless proven essential.
** Force Sight allows him to not only see in the dark, but also perceive objects that are invisible to normal sight.
** Beast Control lets him force animals to follow his commands. On Korriban, almost every animal would be an apex predator on any other planet. [[spoiler:This power lets him counter Castor's zombie horde, by enthralling a colony of K'lor'slugs to fight them.]]
** Force Track allows him to follow targets by the impressions they leave in the Force, even in the absence of footprints.

* {{Technopath}}: Qiv's main talent. [[spoiler:He uses this ability to build a small army of droids to protect his secret sanctum and subvert a protocol droid into attempting an assassination against Aldrex.]] Aldrex reads his notes and gets his own version. [[spoiler:He uses it to take control of sparring droids and make them fight for him.]]

* VillainProtagonist: As a Darksider, Aldrex qualifies.
* VillainRespect: Aldrex gets Darth Thanaton's respect for [[spoiler:getting away with killing Lord Renning]].
** Aldrex also gets [[spoiler:"Darth Mindfuck's"]] respect for the way he's beaten the odds stacked against him.

* BadassGrandpa: Aldrex treats any Sith that could be considered elderly with extreme caution as they would have had to survive long enough to get to that point.

* TheHeretic: As an adherent to the Code of Ruin, Aldrex is this by default as its tenets run in opposition to the standard Sith Code. As a result, it's not something he brings up in casual conversation.

* ImprovisedWeapon: Aldrex will use anything and everything as a weapon given the chance, usually by launching it at subsonic speeds with telekinesis.

* MetaphoricallyTrue: Aldrex never outright lies, preferring to make use of ExactWords and truths from a certain point of view. [[spoiler:It's what lets him go free after being questioned by Darth Thanaton on whether or not he "killed" Lord Renning.]]
* MindOverMatter: Telekinesis was the first power Aldrex discovered. Between then and when he was found out, he trained in only that power. While he has since started shifting to Sith lightning as his primary offensive power, he still uses telekinesis extensively for utility purposes.

* MundaneUtility: Aldrex will often use telekinesis to levitate objects to his hands from across the room rather than get up to go get them.
** He has also contemplated using Sith Alchemy to enhance his surgical tools so he doesn't have to keep replacing them.

* PerceptionFilter: Alrex's version of Force Stealth, inspired by Kreia. Using a variant of the Jedi Mind Trick, he convinces people to overlook his presence or to not consider him significant. He has tested it on other acolytes, but hasn't dared attempt it on anyone stronger.
* PragmaticVillainy: Aldrex prefers pragmatism over unnecessary cruelty. He also avoids many of the normal pitfalls of potential Sith, such as avoiding delving into Sith Alchemy and Magic until he has a teacher.
* SquishyWizard: Aldrex puts most of his focus on learning alchemy and rituals or in improving his Force abilities. As such, his swordsmanship leaves something to be desired. He has noticed this weakness and is trying to overcome it.

* BenevolentBoss: While not actually their boss, Aldrex is looked on favorably by members of the local troopers for actually giving a damn about their existence and helping out. This results in the former getting to call in favors with the latter occasionally, [[spoiler:one of which is smuggling Qiv offworld in a supply shipment]].
* TheBerserker: Though he tries to avoid it, Aldrex does occasionally fall into a blood rage when seriously injured or desperate. [[spoiler:When Castor seriously injures him, he literally tears the older acolyte to pieces with his bare hands, despite the power difference.]]
* BlackMagic: While he has extended his research to other subjects, much of Aldrex's time is spent studying Sith Alchemy and Sith Magic.
* BodyHorror: Even a grazing hit with a lightsaber does horrifying things to skin. After his fight with [[spoiler:Castor Vol]], the right side of Aldrex's face is a half-melted mess and his right ear is simply gone. Until he got it repaired with cybernetics and synthflesh, he couldn't close his mouth due to the muscles in his jaw being severed.

* CombatPragmatist: Instead of relying solely on his sword and the Force, Aldrex uses blasters and grenades when applicable. He also assembles and augments a suit of armor to protect himself. If it helps him survive, he will use any tactic he can think of, no matter how dirty.

* FeelNoPain: One of the utility powers that Aldrex has developed is [[https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Crucitorn/ Crucitorn]], otherwise known as the ability to dull crippling pain in oneself. [[spoiler:He used it in place of anesthetic during the operation to install his cybernetics.]]

** Sgt. Cormun lost both of his legs at the knee to a k'lor'slug in the Tomb of Ajunta Pall.

* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler:Darth Scriver, his two apprentices Tyrene and Ortan, and Aldrex face off against the Force ghost of Hakagram Graush. It goes poorly for them.]]

* DoubleJump: Aldrex uses well-times telekinetic pushes to accomplish this, allowing him to maneuver in mid-air to avoid incoming attacks.

** [[spoiler:Castor Vol was one.]]

* BenevolentBoss: While not actually their boss, Aldrex is looked on favorably by members of the local troopers for actually giving a damn about their existence and helping out. This results in the former getting to call in favors with the latter occasionally, [[spoiler:one of which is smuggling Qiv offworld in a supply shipment.]]
* TheBerserker: Though he tries to avoid it, Aldrex does occasionally fall into a blood rage when seriously injured or desperate.[[spoiler: When Castor seriously injures him, he literally tears the older acolyte to pieces with his bare hands, despite the power difference.]]

* BodyHorror: Even a grazing hit with a lightsaber does horrifying things to skin. After his fight with [[spoiler: Castor Vol]], the right side of Aldrex's face is a half-melted mess and his right ear is simply gone. Until he got it repaired with cybernetics and synthflesh, he couldn't close his mouth due to the muscles in his jaw being severed.

** [[spoiler:As a Sith Warrior, Tyrene is another example, focusing almost entirely on her martial skills. While it does result in her being a little BookDumb, it means she's much better at reacting to danger than Aldrex is.]]

** [[spoiler:Tyrene, the Sith apprentice that Aldrex meets during the Rite of Blood and Bone, is another example.]]

** [[spoiler: The mysterious Sith that is following Aldrex around is absolutely covered in jagged scars, to the point where hair doesn't grow on most of his head.]]

* MindRape: [[spoiler: After nearly nine months, Aldrex has noticed the presence of a strange scar-covered Sith Lord, though he has had his memory wiped each time. Whether it is to serve a specific purpose or simply to amuse the Sith is unknown.]]

* FallenHero: [[spoiler:Olia used to be a Jedi, fighting for the Republic in the war and helping refugees alongside her Master. However, the combination of her Master's death and the reveal of what he really did for the Jedi Order caused her to view the entire order as hypocrites. In emotional turmoil, she fled and buried herself on Nar Shaddaa, where she embraced the darker side of herself that she had been fighting against for years. Thanks to the Sack of Coruscant, she managed to avoid any potential pursuers. Mere months later, she was found by the Sith and brought to the Korriban Academy.]]

* HiddenDepths: [[spoiler:While Olia Fenn portrays herself as the confident big dog to the other acolytes, her interlude reveals that she is a mess mentally. The cavalcade of events that lead to her fall almost makes one feel sorry for the poor girl.]]

* ArmorIsUseless: Averted HARD. Aldrex maintains and improves on the armor he has managed to scrape together, augmenting it with Sith Alchemy and Sith Magic. So far, it's managed to tank lightsaber strikes with nothing more than some mild discomfort.