Private Through Suffering It Shall Bleed

[Revna]

Takes Place After the Events of These Threads:
Part One
Part Two

---

...What have I done?

Revna looked at her small, pale hands, visions of blood and lightning and death rippling over the surface of her mind, her spirit numb and detached as she relived the scenes over and over again. She was tired and sore, and hadn’t slept much at all for a couple of days. She hurt too; not just physically from injuries she had sustained in her fight against Tyros, but in her soul. She had murdered the man for a lightsaber, then fueled by guilt she couldn’t let go, she tracked his family down-a wife and two children-and murdered them too…in a twisted way of showing them “mercy”, and reunited them back together in the afterlife, so that they would never be apart again. All she had wanted to do was spare them the pain of knowing their loved one was gone forever. She had taken him from them…so she felt it was only right that she fix what she had broken.

She had hoped to absolve herself of the guilt, to be rid of her weakness, and in a way she had. But their deaths still lingered, still haunted her.

Destroying them had killed a part of her too, replaced by a cold darkness that made her eyes glint golden now instead of the stormy gray-blue she had been born with. A transformation within her had truly begun the moment she had made her choice and given in to her own desires, choosing to kill for what she wanted instead of just simply taking it and letting the man walk away. For her effort, she had gained a hard earned trophy, but had suffered an injury in the process.

Her injury had been a little worse than she had initially thought, too; the rib hadn’t just cracked, but fractured in multiple places and one piece had punctured her lung. Not bad enough to be life threatening, but enough to make her a bit miserable. She had applied healing patches in an attempt to promote faster healing, but it was still painful. She hoped the injury healed more before her Mentor found out about it, if he ever did; she still hadn’t decided on if she was going to tell him that she had been injured in the fight or not.

And hopefully he was still “gone” when she returned back to Formos. She knew she would need to explain how she got the saber, but she wanted to do it in her own time. It was the perfect cover story for the real reason on why she had snuck out of Formos-making a journey across the galaxy in order to meet up with a Jedi padawan she had fought against a couple months prior.

She had a feeling that, despite having the saber and her accomplishment, he might be a bit upset with her, though it was hard to say one way or the other how he would react to hearing the truth. She had seen him grumpy, even downright angry, from time to time, but he had never directed his wrath at her. He’d been a touch stern a time or two-almost in a parental way, but she had been a good apprentice over the four months that she had been under his guidance, at least that was what she believed.

The young woman could only imagine how the Wonosan High Priest would react or feel upon learning about this deviant, secretive behavior of hers.

“We will be arriving at the Dresuoti shortly, Miss Revna. Just waiting in the queue to land.” the smuggler pilot called back to her, and she silently looked over all her gear to make sure she had everything. She triple checked to make sure her hard won prize was still on her belt.

I can’t wait to be back in my own bed… she thought to herself tiredly, feeling the weight of all that she was burdened with in the moment. Hopefully I can get a few hours of sleep after I get back home…


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

"...And where is the young Acolyte Revna?"

A question that he had asked a few hours after awakening from his weeklong meditation yet one that he was only just now getting the answer to. He could sense her distinctive presence the moment that she entered into the atmosphere of Formos once more and it made him briefly pause in his work to glance up, as though he could actually see the vessel despite being in his workshop. So she had been off-world then. How curious.

Darth Strosius chose to take a break from his most recent prototype for a moment, setting down the tool that he had been wielding and idly shutting off the datapad that he had been reading the archaic blueprint from. He reached up to his mask and tapped on the communicator to send out a message to his most trusted cultist. :"Exarch Limont, can you spare a moment to visit the landing pads? I have a quick errand if you wouldn't mind...":

---

The ship moved through the queue surprisingly quickly, given the other ships that were still loading or unloading cargo themselves, and was soon directed to one of the landing pads closest to the settlement proper. A woman clad in a somewhat ornate and elegant, yet still fairly simple and predominantly black like the robes that typically adorned the priests of Wonosa, dress stood at the edge of the landing pad as the ship touched down. Her hands were clasped in front of her which, combined with her smile, gave her an altogether demure appearance.

The red tattoo on her head and the Sith runes lining some parts of her dress signified something a bit different from that initial assumption however. "Acolyte Revna, I presume?" She greeted once the young Sith revealed herself. Her tone was warm and welcoming and despite looking no older than Revna herself, carried a certain air of authority and maturity about it that was hard to place. "Welcome home."

Revna

 

[Revna]

Darth Strosius


Revna felt the ship shudder around her as it pierced the atmosphere of Formos, coming in to land near to the settlement itself. She gathered up all her gear and checked with the pilot to make sure he had all his credits owed to him, before she turned to step down the ramp and back on familiar soil.

She was glad to be back home, so much so she heaved a relieved sigh, before hearing a female voice call her name and her head snapped up to see a woman standing at the edge of the landing pad. Revna looked the woman over, taking in her rather regal appearance, the mark on her forehead, and the runes along the hem of her robe? Dress? She looked absolutely stunning, and there was a presence about her that Revna couldn’t quite place. The woman seemed kind enough, but there was an authoritative air about her that made the young Sith straighten up a bit and regard the woman with a cautious air of respect.

Internally, the young woman was a bit unhappy. She had hoped to arrive back to Formos without much fanfare or recognition. But clearly that hope was quickly fading away. Though tired and exhausted, Revna let her senses stretch out, and she felt her heart skip a beat when she felt the familiar presence of her Mentor.

He had returned before her. This…was not ideal in the slightest.

She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before offering the woman a tired yet hopefully polite smile. “Ah, yes ma’am. I am Revna.”

The little Acolyte gave the woman before her another, closer look and her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. She hadn’t met her before, yet she had a feeling she just might know who this was.

“...You must be…Exarch Salneva, correct? I wasn’t…expecting to see you here. Or anyone for that matter. So…did you come here on your own or did someone send you to fetch me?”

 

[Darth Strosius]

A full grin stretched across the woman's face for a moment, her eyes seeming to almost glow in a literal sense as the hints of longer canines became obvious in her smile for a moment before she responded. "My my, you are an insightful one!" The Exarch raised a hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle, as though she was positively delighted. "I can see why the High Priest has taken such an interest in you. Cleverness and wisdom are his two favorite traits among his flock."

For one who had listened to Darth Strosius as closely as Revna had it would be obvious that the Exarch seemed to be somewhat mirroring his tone. Her lilt and wording was reminiscent of his and it was clearly purposeful, the main difference being her voice was far smoother and with a hint of an accent common among the oldest members of the cult. That and the sheer reverence with which she spoke the title of the masked man, much like he did when he spoke of the Dark Side or the Force itself.

Thankfully the Exarch was quick to answer her questions in spite of her slight eccentricities. "I am indeed the Exarch. Salneva Limont, a pleasure to finally meet you!" She offered a curtsy and bowed her head slightly, but her piercing gaze never left the Acolyte. "And I was indeed sent to 'fetch you' as you say, although I find that term a bit vulgar. The High Priest has risen from his meditation with new insights from the Force itself and wishes to share these with you, as you have been absent from the Cathedral and the Dresuoti."

There was an odd glint in her eye as a hint of a smirk appeared at the corners of her smile, a subtle upturn of her lips that was easy to miss to an untrained eye. "I'm sure he's very curious to learn the details of your little...excursion as well." She turned to the side as if to allow Revna to walk past her or at her side and gestured back towards the Dresuoti. Towards the Cathedral which loomed over them all. "Will you walk with me, Acolyte?"

Revna

 

[Revna]

Darth Strosius


Revna regarded the regal looking woman with a mild expression of wariness for a moment, watching her carefully as the woman grinned at Revna’s statement. Something about her seemed…different…to the young Sith. Her eyes almost seemed to glow for a moment, and Revna noticed sharpened, longer teeth which almost appeared fang-like. She had the briefest notion that she was being regarded by some sort of…hunter or predator.

For a moment, Revna was reminded of Lady Tremiru, whom she had briefly come across while attending the Life Day Gala with Darth Strosius. The Sith Lady had carried the same sort of predator-like gleam to her eyes.

Revna’s small half smile widened further for a moment when the woman before stated that she was an insightful one, confirming to the young Acolyte that this was indeed the Exarch. She noted the way the Exarch spoke of the High Priest; the tone of reverence directed towards him was not lost on the young Sith. Over the four months that she had been under his guidance, she had come to deeply respect and revere him as well.

Truthfully, she had started to see him as almost family to her. More than a Mentor, more than her High Priest. Though she was perhaps too…reserved to confess that to him. She didn’t know if the truth of seeing him as family would be unwelcome.

“Well I am honored he has taken such an interest in me. The feeling is mutual, as he is a very interesting man and I enjoy what he has to teach me.” Revna replied before the woman confirmed that she was, indeed, Exarch Salneva Limont. She curtsied and inclined her head in Revna’s direction, but never took her gaze of the young Sith, and Revna held her gaze somewhat boldly in return.

“A pleasure to finally meet you as well, Exarch.” the Acolyte responded respectfully. She listened to what the Exarch had to say, and felt a slight twinge of disappointment that she had been gone when he’d come looking for her to share these insights he had received while ‘away’.

Her extra travels had delayed her return longer than she had wanted, and now she was paying for it. And from the statement Exarch Limont made, it was made very clear that her absence had most certainly been noticed.

Her cheeks colored up a bit and her smile turned a bit sheepish. She’d been caught red-handed, and felt much like how a child might when caught trying to sneak cookies from the cookie-jar. She didn’t miss the faint upturn of the woman’s lips in the barest of smirks, stating that the awaiting Sith Lord was curious to know about Revna’s little excursion.

“ ‘Curious’ ? Yeah, I am sure he is. Oh boy…” Revna mumbled as she noticed the woman step aside, asking for the small Sith woman to walk with her. “Yes; I’d love to walk with you.”

Be escorted, more like. And there is no point in putting off whatever is to come next…

As the young Sith began to walk with the Exarch, she cast her gaze back to the regal looking woman. “I remember Lord Strosius mentioning you when I first arrived here to Formos. I was eager then to meet you, but acclimating, and training and missions kept me away from officially meeting you until now.” Revna paused and tilted her head in thought for a moment. She was still in her clothes and robe which had dried blood on them from her more recent killings, and no doubt carried the scent of death upon the fabric.

“I assume my Mentor is in the Cathedral awaiting my…arrival. Do you think it might be possible for me to stop by my quarters before we go see him? I need to change out of these clothes; I would like to be presentable…you know? Unless you’d think it would be better to not keep him waiting any longer…”

 

[Darth Strosius]

"They do tend to do that yes." The Exarch nodded, her gaze drifting between Revna and the path ahead as they walked together. "I myself have been kept busy these past few weeks, otherwise I'd have sought you out earlier as well. The work of our High Priest is never done as you know." She stared at the bloodstains for a few long moments before finally blinking, for the first time since they had begun speaking, and regarded the question with a slight smile. One that was oddly comforting despite the somewhat ominous nature of her demeanor.

"He's waited this long, I'm sure he wouldn't mind a few more minutes of delay as long as you're comfortable. If nothing else I'm sure I can occupy him and buy you some extra time for yourself." It wasn't like the High Priest had demanded her presence immediately after all, if he had wanted such a thing then she wouldn't be the one waiting to greet Revna. A little extra time wouldn't hurt anyone so there was no need in rushing the poor girl.

She glanced around as if to check for any prying eyes or ears before leaning in slightly to whisper something to the young Sith. "Between you and I, the High Priest has been very engrossed in his new projects since his revelations so he'll probably be very preoccupied until you meet with him," A slight grin adorned her features as she stood back up straight and continued on the path to the Dresuoti. "If you can lead your discussion into his revelations then perhaps you won't even have to fully explain your little venture."

As fond as the High Priest seemed to be of the Acolyte at her side, the Exarch was more than eager to try and aid the girl here or there where she could in this instance. Darth Strosius would be the one to determine when he was satisfied with Revna's testimony in the end but a few hints could go a long way towards lessening the potential reprimanding that she would receive. If indeed she received one at all. For all she knew the expedition of the Acolyte could have been a very productive one in terms of recovering information from Sith long past or from their current threats and foes.

Besides she'd rather their first conversation be pleasant and fruitful given how close they'd be working together in the future, if the High Priest's earlier command had been any indication. "Do tell me Acolyte Revna, what do you think of the Dresuoti and the Order of Wonosa as a whole? The High Priest told me he gave you a rather in depth tour during your first week with us. He seemed very impressed and determined about your acclimatization into our community. Once he and I even spoke of doing your initiation rites within your second week here."

Obviously that hadn't happened as of yet, mainly due to the masked man's attention having been drawn away from Formos for some time in order to combat threats in the Outer Rim, but she still thought it worth mentioning. She wanted to gauge the Acolyte for herself, to see exactly what it was that had captured the attention of the High Priest himself.

He always took an interest in training the cult's Sith of course, for obvious reasons, but Revna was different. Unique in some way that most others in their ranks weren't and as such had been awarded more of his attention than the rest. It made her very curious and eager to chat with the young Sith, to the point that her pace was noticeably casual and gradual despite the fact that they were indeed being waited upon.

Revna

 

[Revna]

Darth Strosius


“No, never done. He is a busy man with dreams and goals and I think we both know that he won’t rest until he’s accomplished them. Or at least made a valiant effort in doing so. I aid him where and when I can, as we all do.”

Revna noticed the longer than normal stare at her clothes, and figured the Exarch was taking notice of the old bloodstains. She then offered Revna a smile and stated that their High Priest could probably wait a little longer. The little woman smiled at the Exarch’s offer of distracting Darth Strosius so she could change and get freshened up, and raised an eyebrow in curiosity as the elegant woman beside her seemed to look around both of them carefully before leaning in to whisper to the young Acolyte. Her statement made Revna grin further, her eyes glinting with a burning curiosity.

“I am very…interested in these revelations he’s had. And whatever project he is working on.”

She noted the Exarch’s words, a way for Revna to perhaps…distract her Mentor enough or shift his focus to what his revelations were instead of why she had snuck out. She considered it, tilting her head from side to side in thought. “Perhaps. It certainly is worth a shot. But I suspect he will be very curious as to where I went for over a week…I wasn’t expecting to be gone that long, if I can be honest. I had hoped to return before he had concluded his business. Seems I failed in that regard.”

Revna walked alongside the Exarch in silence for a moment, her mind wandering to just how her High Priest might react upon seeing her again. Ever since she had made the decision to stay here and join him in his cause, she hadn’t felt any fear towards him. But right now…the unknown of how he might react did stir up a twinge of discomfort. But…she had brought this down upon her own head, she mused to herself.

The little Sith turned her gaze towards the woman beside her as the Exarch asked her a few questions. Her cheeks dusted pink slightly when she heard that he’d been impressed with what he’d seen in her in the early days of her joining the community, and she blinked in surprise when she heard that he and the Exarch had discussed doing her initiation rites in her second week. Of course, that had been sidelined due to the various missions and campaigns her Mentor and she had been involved in, and she was very thankful for those “outings”: they had given her so much experience and helped hone her skills and showed her what she was capable of. Hopefully such outings had shown the Sith Lord what she was capable of too.

Her thoughts went back to the questions the Exarch had asked of her, and she pursed her lips in thought. “I love it here. I enjoy the sense of community, the sense of belonging to something greater than one’s self. Being a part of the Dresuoti and the Order of Wonosa has given me a sense of purpose and direction. I have something to work towards, something to defend, something to provide for, something to help expand. It certainly has forced me out of my shell, that’s for sure. When I arrived I was very…reserved, shy. Of course, Lord Strosius made it pretty clear that while he understood why I felt that way, it wouldn’t be tolerated and that knowledge helped me purge such things from myself, so that I could better serve the community and the Order. I certainly am not the same person I was when I arrived, and I can only attribute that to this beautiful community we are a part of. That our great High Priest has poured so much of his passion and vision into.”

There was a brief pause, before she continued. “I believe in our High Priest and his visions for the present and the future. I desire to see it come to pass, and I desire to help him as I can. We are not…looked upon with favor by the wider Sith Order and I feel that it is very important we have a united front, a united community, a united Order. He inspires loyalty and devotion in his people, in me, and in doing so I think it would be fair to say any of us would do anything to keep his vision alive.”

Revna glanced at Exarch Limont, a small smile on her face, before she turned her gaze forward to the pathway ahead of them again. “I hope my response satisfied your questions, Exarch Limont.”

 

[Darth Strosius]

"Oh that he won't." The woman let out a soft laugh, knowing just how true that statement was. The High Priest was almost never idle and indeed never had been for as long as she had known him, even his week of slumber was hardly restful as he spent the entire time deep in meditation in an attempt to commune with the Force. "I'm sure he'll understand that your errand was one of utmost importance if you intended to keep it so secret. The matters of the Sith often come at strange hours and with sudden inspiration, at least so it seems from my perspective."

Even after all the years spent working with Sith, and of course Darth Strosius in particular, the minds of those blessed with the Force were still somewhat of a mystery to her. Something that she was never meant to fully understand given her lack of said blessings she supposed. "Well he will most definitely be curious, however it wasn't as though you were strictly confined to Formos yes? You weren't explicitly prevented from leaving to my knowledge."

The Exarch sounded helpful, almost hopeful, as if trying to lift the younger woman's spirits. "So in that sense you've done nothing wrong in terms of what you were supposed to be doing." The winning smile she gave off really sealed the reasoning behind why Salneva was the one chosen to be the chief ambassador of the cult. Between her youthful appearance and her brilliant grin she was almost hard to deny, seeming to make up for all the charisma that the High Priest could lack in many instances.

Said grin only widened as Revna answered her question, her piercing gaze staring at the Acolyte as though she was trying to see the intent in her words rather than just hear them. She always did so enjoy hearing from the citizens and residents under Wonosa, but to speak with another Sith aside from the High Priest was something of a rarity. Typically her path rarely crossed the few Sith within their ranks due to the nature of their service to the Order. They were far too useful to be contained to matters of diplomacy after all, no matter how many times she tried to convince the High Priest otherwise.

There was a subtle crinkle at the edge of her eyes as her grin shifted back into a more reserved smile when the Acolyte's gaze returned to her, facing forward with her head noticeably held a bit higher. "More than satisfied, Acolyte Revna." One would almost think that she was glowing with excitement and pride were it not for her quickly shifting back into a composed and placid expression. Having her life's work complimented by another Sith almost reminded her of the early days of the cult when the High Priest himself was but an Acolyte. Simpler times indeed.

She cleared her throat as she brought herself back to the present and nodded at the buildings around them as they made their way along the streets of the Dresuoti. "I have seen the vision of the High Priest develop and grow more than most. The Dresuoti as it is, Formos in general, is far from the original intent and vision of Wonosa when it first began. And yet..." Her gaze drifted over the buildings lit up with families and friends enjoying their evenings in peace and quiet, secure and without a care in the world until the next day dawned.

"And yet, I think that it wound up becoming something far closer to his true desires in the end. Even in our earliest days we were different from the rest of the Sith, separated by a unique and common outlook and circumstances. It was only fitting that we became as we are now, the will of the Force made it so I believe." The Exarch looked back at Revna as another comforting smile crossed her elegant features. "The Force guided you to us, just as it guided us to the High Priest. It warms my heart to know that we simple flock of worshippers are still worthy of such blessings and boons."

Revna

 

[Revna]

Darth Strosius


Revna carefully kept herself composed as she listened to the Exarch say her piece about her Mentor understanding the secrecy of her errand. She knew the truth of course, and she knew for certain that the Sith Lord would be very displeased with her if he discovered the truth. If she could keep the true reason behind her departure hidden and secret, then she would. But she knew better than to believe that he wouldn’t sniff out the truth eventually.

“No…I’m not confined to Formos, at least…I don’t think that I am. However…I didn’t exactly seek permission to go out on my…excursion. I think he might have some issue with that. But I’m not sure…I shall soon find out one way or the other.”

Salneva’s responses and personality was uplifting for Revna, and she couldn’t help but smile a bit, even though the Exarch had no idea about the truth. And the young Acolyte was fine with keeping it that way.

Revna could feel the Exarch’s piercing gaze on her as she gave her response to the woman’s questions, and the little Acolyte was pleased to hear that her reply had been satisfactory. The young Sith listened as the older woman shared some of her own thoughts and experiences on the vision of Darth Strosius, and Revna listened to every word she spoke, an expression of fascination on her face.

“I am thankful for this place. Even if it turned out to be something different from what the original plan for it was. I agree…the will of the Force shaped this to be exactly what it needed to be, and it will continue to do so. So long as we listen and follow its guidance, then we will continue to receive blessings and boons. I look forward to seeing more embrace our way of being, of more Sith joining us, united under the same banner. Beyond developing myself as a Sith…I desire to see all this grow and expand.”

Revna smiled at a few folks she had come to know within the community, returning their greetings as she and Exarch Limont walked on by.

“What are your views on the Force and the Dark side, Exarch? I am curious to hear your personal thoughts or beliefs on such matters.”

 

[Darth Strosius]

The Exarch agreed with Revna's remark about still potentially lacking permission to leave with a small hum, idly knowing in the back of her mind how strictly the High Priest wanted the secret of Formos guarded. If word got out of the backwater smuggler world being a haven of Sith, specifically the Sith of Strosius himself, then both the Jedi and rival Sith powers would move to destroy it. She had seen just as much of the destruction of the old Sith Empire as he had and she knew well enough just how desperate he was for such a fate to be avoided.

The oldest members of the cult might have survived the fall of one empire but she doubted that they'd be able to survive the fall of Formos if it ever came under threat. To that end perhaps any reprimanding towards Revna would be focused on that, on the necessity of staying hidden. Hopefully he wouldn't scare the poor girl with the grim tale of the empire's fall and his own fears of the same fate befalling them a second time.

Thankfully Revna's words on the fate and course of the cult were more than enough to put a pep back into her step as it were, a small grin cropping up onto her features as she listened. "I see your time with the High Priest has been productive, you sound just like him." Well like him when the cult was younger and the Sith himself was more idealistic. He still burned with a passion and zealotry but these days his words were of the more practical variety when they spoke, about plans and orders rather than simple goals. An appreciated change of pace of course, one made to face reality.

When her own opinion regarding the Force was asked she noticeably seemed to straighten up and square her shoulders with pride, confidence evident in her smile as she responded. "While I may not be blessed with the ability to experience the Force as you do, and thus I am limited to the role of a mere observer, I have been surrounded by the Sith all my life. Although most predominantly the High Priest of course so don't be surprised if I repeat his words." Doing so was part of her duties after all.

"The Force is the great creator and current of the universe, all have been crafted and exist by its divine will and hand. It guides and flows through all living beings. Some might call it fate or destiny but in reality it is simply a current of the Force." As expected Salneva's words were filled with the similar sort of zealotry and reverence as Darth Strosius's had been. However that reverence began to dip into worship as she continued.

"The Sith, those blessed with the Force, are able to draw power from it as their currents are stronger than those unblessed such as I. They are meant to be divine instruments of its will yet so many veer from the path of the righteous for their own means. Those that call themselves Jedi fool themselves into believing that by restricting themselves from the universe they can learn of the Force's true nature, as though disconnecting themselves from its gifts and works will somehow help them. The Dark Side is what they call the true nature of the Force, the very power that Sith draw from."

Her hands clasped together in front of her chest as if in prayer and her eyes became half lidded, perfectly timed with their arrival before the great Cathedral. "The High Priest is one of the only Sith that is truly in touch with the Force's will. For as He was shackled in body the rest of us are shackled in soul, but not Him. His wisdom and power allows Him to commune with the Force itself! He is our savior, He is the galaxy's savior, and He will set us all free." Her voice was quivering before she took a breath and cleared her throat to recompose herself.

"He denies His divinity however, a humble showing. One that I hope He will abandon in time, so that He may realize that His will is second only to the Force's itself."

Revna

 

[Revna]

Darth Strosius


Revna felt her cheeks flush with blood when Salneva remarked that the little Sith sounded like her Mentor in the words she had said to the Exarch. It wasn’t the first time she’d heard that she had adopted characteristics of her stoic Mentor, but she still blushed furiously whenever it was mentioned or brought up. It was something she was both incredibly proud to hear and humbled by; she looked up to the man, the Sith Lord, and ever since she had agreed to serve him and serve both the the Sith Order and the Order of Wonosa, she had worked hard to integrate his beliefs, his visions, his ideals into her own.

She smiled and looked down at her feet for a moment before glancing at the Exarch. “I don’t know if Lord Strosius knows just how much he truly means to me. I know I haven’t been around for too long…a few months I suppose. But I’ve spent much of that time with him, even fighting alongside him. I’ve spent time with other Sith such as Lord Marr, but…” she paused for a moment before continuing, “...our High Priest has my devotion, my loyalty, completely. This place has my heart, and I look forward to serving both him and the rest of the folk here to the best of my ability, each day. I didn’t think that I would feel so strongly about something or someone in my entire life. I…don’t always see eye to eye with Lord Strosius or agree with some of the things he does or says but that has never changed how I feel about being here and being his acolyte, his little shadow.”

Revna fell silent after asking Salneva her thoughts on the Force and the Dark side, and waited for the older woman to say her piece as the little Sith listened intently to the woman’s response, smiling knowingly when she mentioned that some of what she said might remind the young Sith of words often spoken by the High Priest.

The Exarch’s views of the Force were very similar to Revna’s own beliefs, and she couldn’t help the smile that crossed her face as the elegant woman worshipfully spoke on the divinity of the Force, of the Dark side, and the unique connection the Sith had with it. She mentioned the Jedi and how they restricted themselves, and Revna’s thoughts returned to her recent conversations with the young Padawan, Jackson. She had learned more from him about the Jedi than she had anywhere else, and she was thankful to him for it.

They both had discovered just how similar the Sith and the Jedi could be, enough so that the young Padawan had begun to question the line that separated the two sides. Revna had walked away from that experience with a new understanding, and a desire to plant the seed in those who would hear it, and turn them to the Dark, to the truth.

As they reached the steps of the Cathedral, the woman clasped her hands before her, almost in a prayer posture, before continuing…and her words captured Revna’s interest, especially with how she spoke about their High Priest, a being filled with divinity.

The little Sith realized that the Exarch considered Darth Strosius a sort of god, walking amongst them and filled with the divine will of the Force. A divinity the masked Sith Lord apparently denied.

“I don’t tell him that his will is second only to the Force’s will. I simply listen and obey his words with the acceptance that this is true. I hear the Voice of the Dark side guiding me, and oftentimes it mirrors the words, the teachings, the spoken will of our Lord. The Voice has even told me that it recognizes him as one of its own, one of its Sons.” Revna murmured to the woman beside her, sharing with her information that the little Sith hadn’t shared with anyone before this moment.

“When it recognized him as its Son…I took note of that. The Voice doesn’t…recognize every Sith as one of its own. So the Force, the Dark side, has a greater plan and purpose for him. He may not see it in himself, but the rest of us do. And all we can do is serve and be faithful to his vision, his cause. I have found that obedience to him is obedience to the will of the Dark itself, and it makes me happy to serve in such a manner.”

Revna looked upon the Cathedral which lay before them, and she felt a squeeze of nervousness around her heart. Soon…she would have to face her Mentor and give an accounting of where she had gone and why. She had the perfect cover story…she just hoped he would buy it and not dig too deep.

Would he know that she was hiding something from him in the end? There was only one way to truly find out.

“You know what…I won’t bother with changing. I wanted to look nice and presentable for him, but he’s seen me drenched in blood before. I am not ashamed to go before him as I am now.”

 

[Darth Strosius]

As Revna revealed her devotion to the masked man, Salneva's grin widened once more as she recognized the familiarity and common notions that they both seemed to hold in one way or another. There were differences of course, for she had been in the cult almost since the beginning and had little if any contact with other Sith outside of the cult, but the end result was largely the same. Perhaps someday in the future the two of them should discuss the finer details of their little disagreements with the masked Sith, just out of curiosity and to get to know one another better.

The mention of a Voice was surprising, a genuine look of shock crossing the Exarch's face and replacing her typical smile for a few moments, but she seemed enthralled by the idea at once. "How fascinating! You are more blessed than most to hear this Voice, young Acolyte." She hung on to every word that Revna spoke in regards to the Voice, mainly given that it seemed to confirm that which the pair of them already believed. "Not even the High Priest has heard the Dark Side directly, although he has gleaned meaning in its currents as few others have. We are very fortunate to have you here Revna!"

Salneva was practically vibrating with excitement as the Cathedral's great doors were opened by a pair of Priests, a noticeable and prominent new sense of purpose in her stride as she walked alongside the Acolyte. "You must be a herald of some kind, perhaps even an oracle or seer! It is no wonder that the High Priest is so interested in you with such a blessing. One day if this gift of yours were honed properly then you could serve as the mouthpiece of the Force itself!"

Her words were hushed and whispered, as to not attract unnecessary attention, but were no less dripping with sheer joy and fervor. There was a very good reason that she was the second highest priest in the cult after all. A role that she might one day lose to the very woman at her side but one that she would give up happily if it was to one that could hear the Voice of the Dark Side and spread its words to their followers. It wouldn't be the only sacrifice that she had made in the name of Wonosa.

"Oh he isn't one for caring all that much about appearances anyway, I doubt he's the most presentable right now as it is." She giggled and did a little wave as if to banish any lingering concerns that Revna might have regarding such matters. If the High Priest were still tinkering away then he was undoubtedly far from his usual splendor and ornate attire, more concerned with simpler garments that he could get stained and messy without issue whilst he was working. A state that was always quite amusing to watch due to how little it had changed since he was a mere Acolyte himself.

The Exarch led the way to the door which led down into the Cathedral's basement, her excited footsteps setting a quick pace for Revna to follow. "I just know that he'll be delighted to see you and share with you his new revelations! They were quite profound when he recounted them to myself and the other priests." She pressed on the hidden switch and the wall slid open to allow them access. The cells in the hallway were still empty but were notably cleaner than usual, as if recently dusted and prepared in case they needed to be put to use.

The door at the far end of the hall which kept the Undercroft separate from the rest of the basement was slightly different however, the runes across it were glowing despite it not being held up at the moment. Not only that but the chill and dark presence that lay beyond it were far more prominent than they had been the last time that Revna had been there. As if refreshed or renewed in some manner. Salneva didn't seem privy to any of this however, instead practically skipping down the hall without a care in the world before knocking on the stone slab that served as a door.

"High Priest, I have retrieved the young Acolyte Revna as per your request~!" She flashed the Acolyte a grin despite the lack of a response. After a moment though the stone slowly slid up to allow entrance, Sith Lord in question could be seen hunched over one of the workstations that dotted the room. He appeared to be tinkering with something, a welder in one hand and a pair of pliers in the other, as he glanced at a forge to his side that was glowing with heat.

His usual heavy robes were on a rack next to the workstation, leaving him in more simple and subtle robes that weren't too dissimilar to the practical and functional ones that Squires were adorned with. His mask was still present yet his hood was lowered, allowing the entire helmet to be seen rather than just the face of it. He didn't glance towards the door as he responded, too occupied with whatever he was tinkering with at the moment. "Thank you Exarch, you may return to your usual duties. I wish to speak with the Acolyte alone."

Revna

 

[Revna]

Darth Strosius


The look of shock that came across the Exarch’s face with Revna’s confession of hearing the Voice, was not lost on the young woman. For a moment, the Acolyte wasn’t sure if Salneva’s shock was bad or good - though she became quite surprised herself as she heard the older woman’s remarks. Especially on the fact that her own Mentor didn’t hear such a voice from the Dark side. She had assumed that anyone who connected with the Force, with the Dark, could hear its whispery Voice.

The doors to the Cathedral were opened for the two of them, and the presence of the Dark side washed out over the young Acolyte and - like she usually did - she paused briefly once inside to simply stand still and feel it, closing her eyes as she did so. There was still so much about the Dark that she didn’t know, didn’t quite grasp or understand. It was mysterious and alluring and -

- The other woman’s voice brought Revna back to the present, and she opened her eyes to look at the Exarch as she continued to speak, and the smaller woman blinked in surprise with what she heard.

“I - I wouldn’t go that far…” Revna stammered quietly in response to being an oracle or seer, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of red, almost as if embarrassed by such statements. “I…I’m no mouthpiece for the Force. Just - one of many who enforce and follow its will and guidance, or I try to anyway.”

Exarch Limont giggled as she seemed to agree with Revna’s statements about not needing to change; and the little Acolyte wasn’t surprised to hear that he probably wasn’t the most presentable himself, especially if he was in his workshop. She followed the woman down into the basement of the Cathedral and past the hidden wall, her interest piqued further with the older woman’s words. Revna certainly was curious to know what these revelations were, and she had a feeling that her Mentor would share them with her when he was ready to.

“I…look forward to hearing about these revelations, if he chooses to share them with me.”

The door at the far end of the basement caught the young woman’s attention almost immediately; she noticed the glowing runes, and she could more acutely feel the cold presence of the Dark side beyond the door ahead. She cast a glance towards the woman with her, and noticed that the Exarch seemed none the wiser to the near overwhelming presence of the Dark. It both amazed and broke Revna’s heart that Salneva could not feel the Force the same way she could, and she was seeing first hand the difference between a non-Force sensitive and one who could sense the Force. She made no comment about it, however, choosing to keep her thoughts to herself.

The Exarch announced their presence to their High Priest, who was on the other side. Revna could sense his presence, and her belly fluttered again with some nervousness, though she made an attempt to keep her face as straight as possible as the stone entrance began to move, opening to allow admittance beyond.

Revna’s eyes roamed over the scene before her, taking in the sights. Darth Strosius seemed to be working on something rather intently, his focus not even shifting to regard the two women that were in the doorway to his lair. Gathered heat from within billowed out to wash over Revna and the Exarch beside her, and the young woman shivered slightly, which brought forth a wince of pain as the act jostled her still-healing broken ribs. It was a strange contrast to feel the icy chill of the Dark side and the boiling heat of a lit forge coming from the same area.

The young woman stepped into the chamber - one she was somewhat familiar with by now. She’d been in here before, of course…but never alone. Her eyes roamed around a bit more, but found their way back to the hunched form of the Sith Lord before her. His usual attire was hanging up nearby, and he wore dark robes that were far less ornate and capable of getting dirty or damaged.

Though still a bit nervous, Revna also felt her pulse skip a beat in excitement. She was always happy and energized when around her Mentor - even now, with the uncertainty of how he might react to her presence, her being missing, and the blood on her robes still.

And no doubt he would notice the unmistakable pulse of the Light side of the Force emanating from her presence. She could feel it, thrumming from the lightsaber that she had just recently acquired - the saber that was tucked into her robes a bit, and mostly hidden from view.

Her Mentor dismissed the Exarch, and Revna cast Salneva one last smile of appreciation before the heavy stone door closed, sealing her within the room with the Sith Lord. The little Acolyte approached the workbench he was at, making sure not to touch anything, before coming to a stop. She kept a straight face, despite the mild inner turmoil she was feeling. She wondered briefly if he was aware of this or could sense it from her, but she wasn’t sure. All she knew was that the Force sometimes did strange things, and seemed to connect people in different ways.

…something she had learned while on her visit with the young Jedi padawan, Jackson.

Her eyes looked upon whatever device he seemed to be working on, a curious frown creasing her brow before her gaze shifted to look at the man himself. She took a deep breath, wincing again as her expanding lungs put pressure on her injuries and brought a sharp wave of pain. She composed herself quickly before speaking in a softer tone of voice, almost as if hesitant to disturb him from his work.

“You wanted to see me, High Priest?”

 

[Darth Strosius]

The Exarch would share a smile with the Acolyte, giving her a little wink as she curtsied and bowed her head towards the tinkering Sith. "Of course my Lord." She quickly left the two Sith alone, the door sliding closed as quickly as it had opened. The Sith Lord still sat tinkering in silence as Revna approached his workbench and the clump of metal and wires that he was picking at with his tools.

It was a decidedly small device, barely larger than the tip of a finger, yet the wiring and intricate patterns that adorned the internals of the metal casing were surprisingly neat. He shifted slightly to allow her better view of it, a series small tanks and containers of liquid visible at the core of the device. The masked Sith leaned over to the burning forge and plucked the tongs from their place beside it, setting his other tools down to open the door and reach in to pull something from within.

A glowing hot piece of metal sat within the tongs as he pulled them back from the forge and closed the door to it, holding it up so that the both of them could examine the metal's brilliant yellow color. It was in the shape of the Sith symbol that was displayed on his heavy robes and on the banners that dotted the settlement's walls and buildings. The symbol of the Cult of Wonosa.

"Indeed I did, and it appears that you have been quite busy whilst I was meditating." He then plunged the metal symbol into a nearby tank, one full of a deep crimson liquid that had a very metallic scent if one were to bend down close enough to it. As he swirled the symbol around in the quenching tank, he finally looked at the Acolyte. "I know a Jedi's blade when I sense it. I can only guess what you might have done to get it." What exactly she had gotten into that ended with her managing to secure a lightsaber was unclear, but the feat was no less impressive.

The prize in her possession was one that she had no doubt earned through great struggle, a great victory and reward for any Sith. What mattered most of all though was that she had returned to Formos in one piece and seemingly unharmed. Aside from her robes in dire need of replacement and herself in need of a hot bath. Both of which could be sorted out after she had answered his questions and revealed the answers that he himself had come upon during his slumber in turn.

He pulled the symbol from the tank and set it atop the workbench, little whisps still floating up from its cooling surface much like the smoke from the wicks of the candles in the room. Based on the size of the symbol it was clear now that the two were side by side that it was indeed the missing piece of the casing for the device, all it needed was to be cleaned up and welded into place to complete it. "The lightsaber, may I see it?"

Darth Strosius held out a hand, his fingers slowly uncurling to open up his palm towards her. A deliberately slow and methodical act. The last thing that he wanted to do was insinuate in any way that he wished to rip her prize from her grasp now that she had returned. It was hers to keep, but first they both had to share what they had learned before it could be properly tended to. "I claimed my own blade from a Jedi you know. It was the first mission that my master sent me on. Only by the will and generosity of the Force did I succeed and take his blade as my own."

Revna

 

[Revna]

Darth Strosius


The young Sith’s curiosity over what her Mentor was working on overcame her, and she was more than happy to get a closer look when he shifted to allow her a better view of his handiwork. She briefly glanced at him one more time, before getting a bit closer.

The object in question was rather small, and very intricate and delicate. The wirings and patterns were neat and orderly, and she could see what appeared to be very small holding tanks of, filled with liquids or other substances, their purposes unknown to her. Her attentive gaze followed the man as he reached into the forge to withdraw an object that had been within with a pair of tongs, the glowing yellow piece presented briefly so she could get a view of it. The little woman recognized the Sith symbol immediately - as it was the insignia of the Order of Wonosa.

Her Mentor’s response to her question was spoken without anger or any real negative emotion or reaction. Her uncertainty and fears eased up a little bit, when she realized that he wasn’t going to launch straight into a scolding session. He might yet still, she mused as she responded:

“Ah…yes. You could say that. Seems you’ve been busy yourself…what is this that you are making, exactly?”

Revna observed the Sith Lord as he dipped the glowing Sith symbol into the quenching tank - the liquid within a deep crimson red, and she recognized it immediately for what it was: blood.

And it was fresh, from the looks of it. That would explain the tidiness of the holding cells beyond the door, and the much stronger, renewed presence of the Dark within this very room. A chill danced across her skin, briefly. She was no stranger to the idea, the truth, of sacrifices being made in order to produce items within this chamber. It didn’t exactly bother her, but knowing what had transpired here brought dark images into her mind.

The man finally turned his masked face towards her, looking at her for the first time since she stepped foot within his work lair. Revna’s cheeks reddened a bit when he correctly pegged the lightsaber on her person as having belonged to a Jedi. His comments about what she might have had to do in order to take it brought back the recent memories of her fight, and the killing of the man’s family afterwards, and she shifted on her feet slightly, her gaze flickering away from his hidden features briefly. She didn’t feel remorse for what she did, but the pain of it still lingered.

As did their blood on her robes.

Her Mentor removed the symbol from the quenching tank and Revna watched in silent reflection as the wisps of smoke rose and curled into the air before dissipating, the scent of charred blood reaching her senses briefly. It was an irony, sickly sweet scent that reminded her of seared meat, in a way. The little Sith peered closer at the two items on the workbench; it appeared that they were meant to go together, and that the entire object was just a stage or two away from completion.

Revna lifted her gaze back to Darth Strosius as he asked to see the lightsaber in her possession, slowly extending a hand out towards her, palm upwards. The movement was methodical - truly, if he wanted to take it from her he could easily do so. A brief flash of possessiveness came over her, but she blinked it away as she reached into her dark robes and slipped the saber hilt free. She held it in her hand, looking upon the object and feeling its weight once more…before she gently passed it over to the Sith Lord, depositing it into his hand.

Yes, she had won this saber through bloodshed and pain, and yes it was hers by right - but she knew better than to tell a Sith Lord no, when they asked for something. She wouldn’t withhold the saber from the man anyway; she was proud to show it off to him.

As she released the blade to her High Priest, he shared with her that he too had won his first blade from a Jedi; it had been one of the first missions his own master had sent him on. She smiled at the revealed story from his past; she was always happy to hear his stories - though they usually came tied to a lesson she had to learn.

“This saber…was buried with a dead man.” She replied quietly, slipping into the memory and speaking it as it came back to her. “I…I had a vision from the Force. I saw a dead tree on a hill, a gravesite, and a lone man. I was guided to a planet out here in the Outer Rim…and I found the same thing I had seen in the vision. The man was…the clone of the one buried. A Jedi Master, long since gone. But his clone seemed to share the same memories, same knowledge. I didn’t even know why I had been brought to that place in the beginning. Neither did the man I…I ended up fighting. I recognized the touch of the Light side in the grave, but I didn’t understand what it was at the time. The man…Tyros…he, well it was awkward. He had a vision too…a vision of death. And he came back to his father’s gravesite. We both came to realize why each of us was there, and he was determined to leave the place alive. To return to his family…”

A single tear dripped down her cheek then, her gaze averted as she stared into the glowing forge as more words spilled forth from her.

“It wasn’t an easy fight. I was injured, but it is healing. Somehow he…unlocked a part of himself that was attached to this Jedi Master. Knowledge, skills. I wasn’t fighting the Jedi himself, but it was damn close enough. It took all of my focus, all of what I’ve learned…just to live through that. He made one mistake though; he got cocky, confident, and I didn’t hesitate to put my sword through his chest. I wanted that saber in his hand. To make you proud of me. To prove that I can do this…all of this. He died in my arms, but not before I got to see the last thoughts in his mind, of his wife…his two children.”

Another tear or two followed a path down her cheek, dripping into the blackness of her robes. “I…I did something terrible, High Priest. I…I felt so much guilt for taking him from his family. I know what that pain feels like as a child…to have your parent ripped from you. I couldn’t let them suffer with that kind of pain. It seemed cruel. It was my fault that he was taken from them, afterall. So I used his memories to…find them. I had to go into the Core, but I found them. The…Voice, the Dark…told me to sacrifice one of his children to it, because she was Force-touched. I…obeyed. And I killed them all. So they could be together on the other side, and never apart. A whole family...gone, because of me.”

Revna shifted her gaze, once a stormy blue but now mixed with the golden amber of the Dark's corruption - to look at Darth Strosius. She had no idea just how he would react to all of this. She knew it was perhaps the darkest thing she’d ever done, and for one blinding moment, she was afraid that he would send her away because of the truth now revealed to him of her dark deeds. She didn’t know if she could handle being rejected by him now, after everything that had happened in her life that had led her to this moment in time.

 

[Darth Strosius]

"This is a prototype, something I've pondered on for many months but that I now see as...essential." That was technically correct albeit not the entire truth, in reality the purpose behind the device was something that he had worked on and off with over most of his cult's history in one form or another. To grant his followers, or at least his Sith, even a fraction of the healing ability that he himself seemed like a wild dream. And yet with the device before him so close to completion, it seemed as if it had become very real. Now he just needed to find a few test subjects to try it out on.

For now he chose not to disclose such sordid details to the young Acolyte though. Just in case his prototype never reached fruition he didn't want to implant a false hope within her, nor did he feel like explaining the nature of his own healing at the moment. Not when he had far more questions for her at the moment than she should for him.

Especially given how quiet she became once he mentioned the lightsaber in her possession.

Her robes were bloodied and damaged yet she herself seemed rather intact so he doubted that it was her own that adorned them. That and if she had bled that much she probably wouldn't be walking right now at the very least, those blessed with the Force were only so durable after all. As expected her gifting of the weapon was one of slight reluctance, not that he could blame her, and as such he did his best to retrieve it from her grasp gently and with a light touch. As though to imply that it would be easy for her to snatch back should she need it again.

As Revna began recounting the tale behind the lightsaber his gaze and fingers trailed over the hilt, seemingly in tune with her words as his thumb slid across every detail and marking. It had clearly been well crafted and cared for once upon a time before it was apparently buried with its wielder. Her story of a clone and visions was fascinating, and certainly one that only spurned more questions than it answered, yet there were no interruptions on his part as she spoke. Indeed he seemed to grow completely still once the tear appeared and her gaze shifted away.

Sure enough the cloned Jedi didn't go down easy, they rarely did, but the fact that Revna stood before him still was more than enough proof of her worth and his weakness. Pride as usual was his downfall it seemed. A common trait among Jedi of this age, although one that was certainly not lacking within the ranks of the Sith either. But then the tears resumed and he felt his eyes widen slightly behind his mask as he slowly and silently rose from his seated position when she continued.

Her eyes stilled him, those that were now infiltrated by the influence of the Dark Side. His own hidden golden gaze bored into hers silently for a few moments before he lifted the lightsaber up between them, tilting his head down slightly to regard it once more. "When I was your age, I watched an empire fall." Darth Strosius spoke in a wistful tone, one rare and entirely anathema to his usual one full of righteous passion and wrath. One somber and tainted with regret of past failures.

"I watched as the armies that were meant to protect the empire turned on one another out of desperation, as people turned against their neighbors out of necessity, as Sith turned against each other out of greed and pride. They were all fighting to survive as all that they had ever known and worked for crashed down around them." He recalled as he idly toyed with the weapon in his grasp, the burning heat of the forge seeming to fade as a chill from an unseen and impossible wind swept through the pair of Sith.

"There was so much death, and pain, and suffering. I could hardly understand it, let alone attempt to halt it in any meaningful sense. Once I had gathered who I could and left the falling empire behind, I decided to take a peek into the Core. Into the Alliance and their precious Jedi. Growing up I had always been told that they were keepers of the peace and protectors of the innocent, so I wondered to myself; 'Where are they now when they seem to be needed most?'" Finally he looked back at Revna and for a brief moment one could almost glimpse the burning yellow orbs that lay behind the black visor as they flared with a deep seated hatred.

"They were celebrating. The Sith Empire, their hated foe, had fallen. And yet the greatest 'Sith' still lived, fleeing with their tails between their legs, so there was no victory over them. No, instead they were cheering as countless souls suffered and bled one another just to survive another day. That was the day that the Jedi's lies became so very apparent. They didn't care for the people of the Sith Empire, just as they never cared for the numerous slaves that are still shackled to this day." The chill in the air seemed to constrict, like a predator wrapping around its prey. It even became so cold that for a few moments the freezing air was almost burning in sensation.

"Banish your remorse, child. Banish any thoughts of kindness and mercy you have for any of those wretched Coreworlders and their precious Jedi Order. They all deserve to burn." To accentuate his statement the forge suddenly glowed brighter, illuminating the room and making Darth Strosius cast a shadow over the young woman before it slowly died down and fizzled out entirely. Finally he offered her the lightsaber once more, his hand barely wrapped around the emitter end so that the switch was facing towards her.

"The Force bid you this action. It called you to this weapon and then it led you to the last remnants of this Jedi's legacy. And you acted just as any Sith would have, just as they deserved. You extinguished them." He took a breath and straightened up his posture slightly as he nodded. "You have done very well indeed Acolyte Revna. And it is time that your prize be claimed, for I know how you can permanently rid yourself of any lingering guilt and doubt whilst at the same time making this weapon truly yours."

Revna