A Royal and a Rouge (Soliael Devin Talith)

[Nimue Stormson]

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Within the private dining hall of her palace Empress Nimue Stormson of Effekt was eagerly enjoying her dinner for the afternoon while awaiting an important guest. She was dressed in her usual emerald colored royal attire, her regal horned crown adorned on her head and her hair decorated with gold hair décor. Her scepter, a sign of her power, rested next to her seat as she dined on a small bowl of stew, an appetize before the main meal.​

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The dining hall itself was large enough to hold for a small party. The ceiling was high above and the expanse of the room allowed for almost every sound to echo no matter where you were. More than once in the past Empress had been both a server and a guest in this hall for her late husband, the former Emperor Victor Stormson. When this place was filled with enough people to seat at each available place at the table the noises would almost ring out across the palace like a choir.​

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As Nimue ate two of her handmaidens stood on standby if she needed anything. Often she would ask them if there was anything she needed to address of if they wanted any, both saying they’d eaten and didn’t want to disrupt her; despite it being her offer. The whole time she kept asking what time it was while awaiting her guest.​

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Recently Empress Nimue had heard of a former Sith named [member="Soliael Devin Talith"] who was currently without faction or loyalty; as least as far as she knew. She’d dealt with someone like him before and wondered if this “Rouge Master” would have the same benefit as a teacher to her as the last. From what she understood he was skilled in Sith magic, something she was intrigued by. Many a powers of the Force, as she’d learned, were capable provided the right teachers on the subject, and recently Empress Nimue had sought many teachers in the different ways of the Force and in combat and magic. All of these lesson, however, were kept in secret due to her people’s uneasy attitude towards such things. All they fully knew was that she was discussing political matters with them while learning how to fight.​

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Empress Nimue had sent a simple letter asking for Master Talith to come and meet with her so they could discuss an agreement. She’d even sent five pieces of silver as a token of good faith, the letter noting how more would be offered if he accepted. To show even more of how anxious she was to meet him a spot had been prepared for the Force master near her, where they would be able to talk and eat together clearly.​

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So much time passed and still no word as of yet. Nimue hoped that he was coming, or else she might have had to eat all alone.​

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Heavy boot steps echoed within the halls of this massive shambling palace, metal clanging against hard stone floors that seemed to resound and echo for miles and miles.

The origin of those boot steps was Soliael Devin Talith, dressed in suiting medieval armor that rather fit the decor of this place, something that he had obviously done on purpose. There was a slight smile on his face, a hint of a smirk. He knew why he had been summoned, and he knew that he would be denying what was wanted, at least unless he was offered something better than gold and silver.

Money meant very little to him, almost nothing.

He had more of it than most Kings, most Emperors or Empresses. Such was the circumstances when you lived for Centuries and invested wisely, when you were the ruler of a nation of billions. Though the latter was no more, it still had created a substantial fund that Soliael could draw from, a near infinite sum in fact.

Yet the letter had interested him enough for him to make the trip.

It wasn't everyday that a messenger found him with a hand written calligraphy note beckoning for his teachings.

So he had come, as he always did, without fanfare or guard. Soliael simply walked up to the door of the fortress and demanded entry, something that he was granted. Now he was lead into a massive dining room, his eyebrow raising as he viewed what was around him.

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Once the master had entered the grand palace in Halaban, Effekt’s capital, he was greeted by servants who, upon learning his name and purpose for being here, had escorted him to the dining hall. They travelled through a short distance of the palace walls, seeing different pieces of artwork and armor and weapons and the like, before reaching the small doorway to the dining hall.​

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“Master Talith has arrived, your majesty.” One of the girl servants said, making her look up to see him herself.​

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Once she did Nimue bowed and said “Glad you could make it, Master Talith.” She gestured to the seat awaiting him and asked “Care for some supper?” Despite his answer she looked to the guards and servants before saying “You may leave us. All of you.”​

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They all bowed and exited, leaving the two alone to discuss matters in private; something the Empress preferred given the nature of their business. ​

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[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]​

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He surveyed the food on the table, his eyebrow raising again slightly at the fancifulness of it all.

Of course denying the meal would be unfriendly, but unfortunately Soliael had trouble digesting real food. His physiology didn't really allow for it and he had no intention of suffering through the pain that it would likely cause him. With a slight shake of his head he moved himself towards the seat that had obviously been set for him.

“Pardon Empress.” He began, his tone respectful but rather aloof. “I'm afraid that such things are beyond me.”

Soliael left it at that.

He had no cause nor desire to explain himself or why he couldn't eat, it wasn't any of her business after all and in the end Soliael doubted that she cared in the least. She wanted what she had summoned him for, not to give him a proper meal.

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Given his response she shrugged and said “As you wish. Though I will say now, the stew is rather excellent today.” After that she’d taking a few more bites of what was in front of her before saying “I’m sorry if I’d pulled you away from anything important, Master Talith, but I felt the matter needed to be dealt with as soon as possible. As I understand it you have your hand in the ways of the Sith and their magic, something I’ll admit I’m interested in. Before you think me some power-mad woman bent on using it for my own intentions, you’d be mostly wrong. While power does interest me I also want to master my own abilities for the sake of showing my people there’s nothing to fear from them. The force and magic are feared in my world for all the wrong reasons, partly why I felt this whole matter needs to be kept secret. If I can show them it can be controlled then hopefully they’ll be more inclined to let galaxy’s people help.”​

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[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]​

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael picked up one of the knives next to his plate.

He plunged the blade down gently against the table, pressing the tip of it into the cloth place mat and then spinning the knife around with his thumb, holding it in place his his index finger as it began to slowly twirl around. There was an amused smile on his face, though it was not mocking or anything of the sort.

“If you hope to learn Sith Magic because you want to show your people it's nothing to be feared, then you want to learn the wrong thing.” Soliael said with a straight face.

Sith Magic was evil, corrupting, and most of all destructive.

There was no using Sith Magic for good, there was no controlling it. In the end Sith Magic controlled you, it devastated your body and ruined your mind. Good intentions were fine, but they never lasted.

 

[Nimue Stormson]

As she’d spoke Empress Nimue had seen him pick up the knife and spin it while she tried to give her reasons. Either he was listening or he already found the conversation boring. Either way it was obvious she would need to try everything to make him understand.​

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His response, however, made her sigh before saying “I know it sounds wrong, but I’m trying to learn what I can. It sounds dangerous but there’s not many around these parts who can teach me anything of use. I’m learned enough as it is in my world, but everything outside is a mystery. That’s why I look to those like you for help. Please, Master Talith, at least try to understand.”​

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[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]​

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