Star Wars Roleplay: Chaos

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Private And it is well with my Soul

Prophet of Bogan
The Brotherhood had become quite traveled destination as of late. Normally the warship would be ferrying starfighters between ports but for the past week or so it had become a port all its own. Hidden away in a nebula within Wild Space and surrounded by a few stations to aid with logistics, the Brotherhood was serving as something of a command post for the Rimward Wonosan forces at the moment. Its positioning away from most known hyperlanes made it all but impossible to intrude upon and yet easy to reach from their various outposts and hideaways scattered around the nearby systems. In particular though, there was one factor which had been drawing in transports full of Wonosan forces aside from the brief centralized control point.

Their Prophet had returned.

Recently and without much fanfare or explanation but returned nonetheless. That was the main reason for the Brotherhood's current position in truth, being a rally point for those that wished to reconnect with Darth Strosius. Audiences of course were dolled out, prayers led, but most importantly in restoring the morale and faith of the previously leaderless followers of Wonosa were the sermons. One had been held each day since the announcement of His return and today was no different, with holoprojections of the even going out to those that couldn't manage to fit aboard the overcrowded cruiser which supported the occasions.

"Regrets." And what occasions they were. "Are they not held by all? Treacherous, quiet thoughts that weigh one down with notions of shame. Of guilt. Of could have or should have been, as though they are preferable to what is." Clad in new ornate robes and topped with a fresh mask identical to the one that had been damaged and torn weeks ago now, the returned Darth Strosius was at first just like any of His followers would have remembered. The whisps that drifted behind His back were barely distinguishable from the candle smoke that wafted from their place upon the shelf behind the makeshift pulpit. Many in the crowd clutched similarly votive candles, illuminating their silent yet eager expressions as their Prophet's voice echoed across the cargo bay.

"A burden, that is the nature of regret. One taken upon ourselves by ourselves and thus one that can only be cast off by the self." Gloved hands gripped the sides of the pulpit as a visored gaze briefly swept the crowd. "In my unfortunate absence I have been regaled with stories of regret among you, my brothers and sisters. Concerns that the Force, that I, had abandoned you. That you had fallen out of favor and now worked without your very faith unquestioned. Allow me to ease your burdens this day." Darth Strosius was tactful and intent with each word and gesture, hands seemingly idly moving yet aiding in weaving the tapestry that He presented in His sermon.

"It is not simple victory that we strive for, recall the holy code that has guided Sith from the ancient empires to our modern struggles. Victory is the path to broken chains, of course, but the Force is the ultimate liberator. Compared to it we are but leaves in its great river, drifting as its currents direct us to." Darth Strosius extended a hand in offering and solace to the assembled listeners and onlookers. "Heed well this fact above all others. Comfort yourselves in this. You have not failed, you have not faltered, you walk the path that the Force has laid out for you with each step you take. Even the stumbled ones that you perceive as shameful missteps are still done by the will of the Force, still along the path. The path that led you to the opened arms of your brothers and sisters in the faith. The path that led me back to you."

The offered hand clenched into a risen fist. "Let go of your regrets and banish your hesitation, Sith of Wonosa! Embrace your passions and be resolute in your faith. For we are the followers of the great liberator! The agents and orchestrators of broken chains! The galaxy's shackles have bent beneath you but only through certainty can they be shattered and cast aside as yours were when you were welcomed into the ranks of the faithful. Take pride, take heed, take strength, in yourselves and in one another. The Force has set you free!" Both hands were thrown up in exclamation, drawing forth a brief cheer of "Wonosa" from the faithful as the Prophet stepped back from the pulpit.

"And may it soon free all." Cheers became nods, bows, and kneels as shows of devotion before the assembled began to slowly filter out of the cargo bay. Candles flickered as Darth Strosius strode off of the stage, a tension slacking in His shoulders the moment that He had passed out of sight from the faithful.

Trayze Tesar Trayze Tesar
 

Trayze Tesar

Well-Known Member
CURRENT MISSION - Alone Saved...
Immediate Goals -
1: Speak on matters of Faith
2: Speak on matters of Death
3: Speak on matters of Life

BLUFOR - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius || OPEN FREQUENCY

It had reminded him of those tent revivals back on his homeworld, albeit in the cramped confines of a starship. Yet the fervor of the Wonosans had yet to die - even after the death of their founder during the Kaggath, or perhaps it was Strosius' martyrdom and apparent resurrection that the order of chain-breakers regained their zealotry.

He hadn't grown close to the Sith Order, thinking any Sith who had accrued a cult was chiefly vain, or narcissistic to the point of solipsistic - but the actions of the Wonosans had earned some manner of respect for the Kiffar. He had heard Malum speak highly of his "other brother", despite the other apprentice of the late Ophidia being his elder - an amusing commonality that may have its place in their conversation.

Trayze did not know Strosius, nor did Strosius know him - but he had hoped they knew of one another. Would Strosius begrudge him, for being kinsman of House Marr, or more for has absence in the succession battle for the Tsis'kaar? Would he begrudge Trayze for his nominal, occupational loyalty to the Kainate, or for his closeted, covetous loyalty to the Eternalists - in soliciting the Empress for advice on Eishandru Pica, and the rescue of the Princess Varanin?

Either way, he needed to be polite, not only were Sith like those testy - but Strosius had the experience to back up his arrogance, being alive here and now, speaking of regrets, and being a firebrand when he was alive. Candles flickered like distant memories, giving way to the hum of the fluorescent pathways within the ship. Trayze was there, listening in, but not amidst the crowd - for before he would pledge his loyalty to a group, he intended to know the individual.
 
Prophet of Bogan
As the halls around the cargo bay filled with the faithful milling their ways back to their ships or stations, Darth Strosius stepped into the lesser traveled pathways that liked this cargo bay to the next. He didn't acknowledge the unexpected guest waiting there at first, instead cradling an unlit candle in His gloved hands and moving to a little alcove that at one time had been some closet. Now it was a wall of candles and pictures, dates and names, the dead and the living.

He hovered the candle in His grasp over one of the flames that kept another lit, letting the fire spread to the wick before placing the candle atop the small memorial on the highest shelf. "Mister Tesar, I hadn't been informed of your arrival. Forgive the lacking pleasantries." Darth Strosius had sensed it of course, Trayze was far stronger and more prominent a presence than any member of His cult barring Himself. At least regarding those assembled aboard the ship anyway.

Finally His visored gaze would turn to the Kiffar, hands crossing behind His back. "Do tell, what brings you to our humble vessel today? Does the Tsis'Kaar or House of Marr have some request to make of me?" He had told Malum that He would need time to regather and reassure His flock, time away from the action and plans of His counterpart. An emergency could of course change things but He didn't sense that such was the case, or if it were then Trayze had the most practiced calm disposition that He had ever seen. Which begged the question of course of what was needed then.

Trayze Tesar Trayze Tesar
 

Trayze Tesar

Well-Known Member
CURRENT MISSION - Alone Saved...
Immediate Goals -
1: Speak on matters of Faith
2: Speak on matters of Death
3: Speak on matters of Life

BLUFOR - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius || OPEN FREQUENCY

"No emergencies, just wanted to swing by..." Trayze answered "A personal visit, Milord Strosius - don't trouble yourself overmuch for any formalities." It was the truth, and the whole truth - and while his arrival was largely casual, his purpose was far more serious. But now came the slight game of socialization, for Strosius remained a stranger, a stranger that was needing some formality before trust was established.

"Your... servants on Besberra spoke highly of you, and I speak highly of them." the Kiffar soothed the not-quite-mortal-anymore. "As Presiding Governor of Besberra, of course. They have adapted well to the local customs, and none of my people find any reason to complain about the... Order of Wonosa, at large."

Another truth, a truth well placed is far more an effective weapon than deception - for while a lie could travel thrice around the galaxy by the time truth rolled out of bed, it would arrive all the same - and do so with certain finality. Indeed, among Trayze's largely "night-watchman" regime, the Wonosans adapted to a culture of "responsible liberty" - there would be no masses of libertine expressions of "dark passion", but any Wonosan that was willing to go out on a limb for their neighbor found purchase among Trayze's supporters. Of course, those that believed Trayze was too neutral, or worse - a crypto-Kainite due to his repeated menial service to the SIBC, would just as easily find themselves amidst his opponents.

But now, both say the same thing - for better or worse, Trayze spent too much time wandering the planet, actually doing the work of law enforcement and meting out justice, and helping the locals to be a threat or an overt asset. He even visited a few of their meager holdings, invited of course, and alone, to listen to their gospel. The Kiffar, if reports are to be believed, seemed keenly intrigued when the matters swung to the fate of the Soul after death - and how Strosius conquered it, manifesting "communion" with something... godly during their Kaggath.

"So, I figured why not go hear it from the horse's mouth, shake hands with such a fine..." He let the pause resume, a well placed "uhh" to give the public persona of a yokel who knew not of high knowledge, esoterica, or anything that would cause him to not be underestimated. "...would it be proper to consider you a man anymore? I'm afraid we haven't formally met..." he offered a handshake, shaking off the brief visage of uncertainty. "Trayze Tesar, Overseer of the Inspectorate of Jutrand, Presiding-Governor of Besberra, Fleet-Captain Under Marque aaand... a cousin of a mutual acquaintance." Trayze declared.
 
Prophet of Bogan
"Oh?" That surprised Darth Strosius somewhat it seemed, His head cocking to the side as He regarded Trayze. "A personal visit?" He couldn't quite think of what might spur the Marr cousin to visit Him for anything other than business of one kind or another. Malum barely even contacted Him unless there was something that needed doing, most often of which was someone that needed to be put down. Very rarely was there anything of a personal nature worth discussing.

"Yes I've been slowly reconnecting with my more wayward followers, their presence on Besberra isn't surprising." One of the inherent interests of the Order of Wonosa was that of people, most especially people in need. Besberra was recovering under the leadership of their governor of course but the Sith Order itself was not a kind or considerate regime by any means. The Wonosan war on crime might have mostly been underway in the Outer Rim, but the worlds of the Sith were no less important in that eternal campaign.

"You'll find them very...capable and comfortable members of the community I assure you, but please do not hesitate to inform me if they need any correction." No Wonosan sects would be stirring up trouble with His direct order these days, a far cry from when He had been presumed dead. The rogue members of the Inquisition and their brief reigns of terror had been enough evidence of what the cult could do when left to their own devices. Thankfully from what He knew the Besberra contingent hadn't been among the more violent outbursts during His brief departure.

The pause made the masked man's head cock to the side again, silently prompting Trayze to continue both in curiosity and slight suspicion. "It would be proper enough, yes." Even if it wasn't the most accurate. He didn't hesitate to take the offered hand, giving it a firm shake. "Darth Strosius, High Pr-" A pause and a click of His tongue. "Prophet of Bogan, Lord of the Order of Wonosa. Former Co-Apprentice of our mutual acquaintance." He was still getting used to the new title that His faithful had given Him and it was evident.

"Now, while I do admire your curiosity and interest in my sermon, I suspect that you didn't come all this way from Besberra just to hear me ramble on." He gestured for the Kiffar Sith to follow as He turned, crossing His arms behind His back and beginning a slow stride down the passage. "What really brings you to visit me then? And don't hesitate to be honest with me, I promise not to judge."

Trayze Tesar Trayze Tesar
 

Trayze Tesar

Well-Known Member
CURRENT MISSION - Alone Saved...
Immediate Goals -
1: Speak on matters of Faith
2: Speak on matters of Death
3: Speak on matters of Life

BLUFOR - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius || OPEN FREQUENCY

Hands were shaken, and the slight test of each's aura in the Force told Trayze what he needed to hear. Self-assured this being may be, but not entirely beyond negotiation.
"I am to hear from you, whether Your Lordship wish to pontificate or be curt..." Trayze in kind was certain, a sense of self that aimed to excise whatever truth was to be found within the "Prophet of Bogan's" self - whether the Sith himself would be aware of it. Faith the Kiffar had in the finding of Truth, but he was not naive.

"Many of the Sith claim to be... divinely inspired, divinely touched, divinely charged." he began, placing a candle of his own amidst the memorials of those who had lost - among those who died to sadistic Inquisitors unreigned, and especially among those who endured the tribulations set upon by the Kainites. Trayze offered a gentle hand, allowing the Sith Lord to guide the Acolyte to where he may wish - and walked in kind. "As Governor of Besberra, I am given rule "By the Grace of Bogan for the Sake of the People" - a charge I take seriously despite my absence from the pomp of politicking..." he began, the mask of merriment peeling away to reveal someone inquisitive. Not simply in the manner of a detective-inspector, but a seeker of knowledge, a seeker of truth, a seeker of hope.

"In your illustrious career, you have faced forces that are... astonishing. Yet there is one constant to them all." the candle-light stilled, as if the flames themselves paused their burning to give ear to the exchange. "The meting out of death. The end of mortality. None have entered under death and lived, fewer still do so and still retain their empathy."

He laid a gauntlet of sorts, contrasting the Butcher King and the Dread Emperor with... this newcomer who dared to channel the power of the Gods of the Sith, and return to life after Kaggath. There was an air of questioning, the myriad of possibilities holding their breath before words were given to them...
 
Prophet of Bogan
"Don't give me the option Mister Tesar, else you'll find me able to pontificate all day long and then some." Amusement laced into His words for a moment, but only for a moment. "And do take your own advice of dropping the formalities. We are peers in the Sith are we not? Unlike most of the preening lot that claims the title these days, I have no need for honorifics." Darth Strosius did so despise groveling and false pleasantries. There was far too much of that in the ranks of the Sith as it was.

He hummed in agreement at the claims of many to be divinely attuned in some form, some more than others, and again in interest when Trayze mentioned his charge as governor. "You do well to steer clear of that 'pomp' as you say. Real leadership and action begins on foot and on scene." Not every matter on a planet could be changed with the mere typing on a console, even if one such action could set in motion many more. A more personal touch was always preferable.

The masked Sith's stride paused with the stilling of the candles, His expressionless visor regarding Trayze for a long moment as He seemed to listen and ponder on what exactly was being said. On what was being asked without any questions posed. The remarks were probing, inquisitive, seeking answers yet not quite making it clear as to what answers were desired. A blank slate, or a rope waiting to be coiled. He had yet to discern which it was.

"It is easy to cheat death, when it is not ordained by a higher power." He spoke finally, His head inclining to catch the dim light in His visor. "I had one foot in the grave and the other already rooted to the living. But make no mistake, I do not stand before you of my own volition nor desire." His voice dipped lower, more conspiratory in tone. His words came in a whisper, an almost sinful admission. "I saw it, Tesar. I felt it. I stood within it. The Force. The lifeblood of the galaxy, the endless river that connects every being that has, does, or will live. And if it was entirely my decision, I would have joined with it and become one with the Force as all will in time."

He exhaled a sigh and began walking once more, His voice rising back to its conversational level. "Tell me, you've heard my words and no doubt have heard the lies of the Sepulchral or even the trash of the Kainate. In your mind, what is divinity? What does it mean to be divine?"

Trayze Tesar Trayze Tesar
 

Trayze Tesar

Well-Known Member
CURRENT MISSION - Alone Saved...
Immediate Goals -
1: Speak on matters of Faith
2: Speak on matters of Death
3: Speak on matters of Life

BLUFOR - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius || OPEN FREQUENCY

If Strosius would be characterized, much like Malum, as a man of both words and actions - Trayze was notably silent. But he wasn't stone-faced. Microexpressions could be gleaned by the Prophet of Bogan, eyes widening in horror, in fear, the existential dread that came with one sentence.

"Were it his choice, he would have fell into the Force, to be erased, to "become one"." in the siren-song that seduced the Jedi. This was no lie, this was no obfuscation - this was the great bastion that guarded the great beyond. Proud and imperious it stood in his mind, an enclosing prison fortress that arose in implacable contempt for the very existence of the Soul - of the individual, daring it to defy, to rise, to fall in exhaustion.

His eyes returning to the present, Trayze registered the question, buying him a few scant seconds by quipping if he needed to "Ask for confession first, because what I say is my belief..." one beat, two, not the idle wiling away of idiocy, but the gnawing of questions in his mind. How much does he disclose? Had the temper of the so called "prophet" cooled since his resurrection? Or would he run to Malum to use this piece of vulnerability, of the hidden things he kept even from Malum, as a salvo in a successor conflict between the two successors of Triumvir Ophidia?

With a deep breath, he answered, truthfully, and the Force around him shifted. Passionate, not Dark - at peace, but not deceitful, he would be all he was, regardless of Strosius' opinions.

"To love and be loved." the Kiffar stated simply. "That there is a self to love, and a self to be loved. There is a divinity, an order to the cosmos. That which came to be, in all its beauty, in all its complexity, in all our agency... was not by accident, nor do I believe it to be done in vain." another beat, and... kark it, he decided to be honest. "Their Graces, Empyrean and Srina, their relationship - what they are... if there is a spark of divinity that exists as hope for Sith such as us... they're the closest thing to it."

Truth was a harsh thing, that which could save or condemn - but it would arise in inevitability. So the Kiffar decided to walk with it, rather than against it.
 
Prophet of Bogan
The emotions running across Trayze's expressions drew a silent chuckle from the masked Sith, although He didn't offer any real interruptions or provocations for the other man's train of thought. He wanted a proper answer and He was in no rush to receive it. Even if the initial response was slightly frustrating with how suspenseful and reluctant it was.

Luckily for both of their sakes the Kiffar did eventually find his voice and answer.

Darth Strosius cocked His head to the side at the answer, watching the other Sith as he continued and explained his reasoning. There was a noticeable clenching of His gloved hands whenever the powers that be were mentioned, but surprisingly He didn't launch into some tirade or lash out. Although it most assuredly felt as though He would have liked to for a good few moments before He reigned His presence in once more. "I see." There was a pause as He recomposed Himself before nodding.

"How poetic Mister Tesar, you must have plenty of admirers with such...romantic ideals." Ones that He didn't seem to quite understand given His unsure tone, but not ones that He dismissed. "I have a much different definition in mind myself. There are the trappings of divinity that we so often see and partake in, worship, prayer, sermons..." His hand swam through the air a moment as He searched for a word before gesturing at Trayze. "...spending time with loved ones. but these are concepts and practices that we mere mortals would use to placate the divine. To be divine is to be something else entirely."

He clasped His hands together in front of Himself, head tilting so that the light no longer glinted in His visor. "To be divine isn't to accept the offered sacrifice, Tesar, it is to lay down on the altar and let the dagger plunge." A concept that He meant both metaphorically and physically. "That is the closest that I have been to divinity. I did not conquer death, I let death leave me so that I could continue the work that was expected of me. So that I could return to the people that needed me. I straddled the altar, I let the dagger plunge, and I awoke in the living world once again."

He leaned in slightly, the pale wisps that trailed from His robes now visible as though His recollection had summoned them. "Do you fear death, Mister Tesar? Do you think you can conquer it? Do you that would make you more than a mere man? Because I can assure you that, if nothing else, you will find the path to divinity lies not in fear but indeed in love as you say."

Trayze Tesar Trayze Tesar
 

Trayze Tesar

Well-Known Member
CURRENT MISSION - Alone Saved...
Immediate Goals -
1: Speak on matters of Faith
2: Speak on matters of Death
3: Speak on matters of Life

BLUFOR - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius || OPEN FREQUENCY

More silence hummed along the candle-light, as words were heard, weighed, and dissected in the minds of both speakers. Trayze was no stranger to self-sacrifice, though perhaps not unto death - but something far far too close for his comfort - from even during his distant days as a mere gumshoe, he knew that to get the job done, to bring about the good change in the galaxy, he needed to put skin in the game.

"Fear... love..." He echoed, almost half wistfully, before burgundy eyes hardened, then softened. His mind and soul wrestling with what he knew was true, and what he had yet to know. "I do fear death. I fear death because it means an end to my service, an end to my potential. If the Jedi are to be believed, it would be the end... the end of me. My soul into the Force, like... like salt into the sea. Scattered. Dissolved. Never to be seen or mattered..." Honesty would have to be the policy going forward for Strosius was a friend of Malum, and as such, a friend of his.

"I fear... not the dying, but the things left behind and the things that lay ahead beyond that last breath." he confessed. "In conquering that fear, I conquer death. In knowing that I have lived well, and died for someone... well, I won't be divine, but I'd be decent." He added, an echo of self-deprecating laughter in the air, moving the flickering lights so.

As if he knew that the judgement of those who had given their lives for Wonosa - to freedom, even if it cannot be, would be harsh indeed.

"So... so is that what happened?" his eyes softened, almost as if a child tantalized by hope. "Was your return... duty or love?"
 
Prophet of Bogan
As Trayze answered His query, Darth Strosius listened and watched the Kiffar's expression carefully. As though measuring him through both mediums. "For all their foolishness, they are mostly correct in their assessment." He knew that well enough Himself, even if it had been but a brief dalliance before His soul was anchored back into His body. "You'd largely be swept up into the Force, leaving but an echo while the rest would join with the endless tide that flows throughout the galaxy."

Whereas Trayze clearly found such a fate distressing, the masked man could only partly sympathize. Duty to His followers and to the Sith was of the utmost importance but death had shown Him something else. Something that He had long thought and knew to be impossible. Peace is a lie, there is only Passion. But death had no passion, only peace. Idyllic in a sense even if it was exceptionally morbid.

He hummed in agreement at the assertion that self-sacrifice and a dutiful death would be a method to combat the feared demise. To die for a cause, for a belief, for those that relied on you, was indeed a noble thing. Perhaps the most noblest of all. "It would be among the most divine acts you could commit, Mister Tesar. Do not question or belittle that." Few things were worth more than such a notion.

At the question, one made with such a hopeful look, He couldn't help but offer a brief chuckle. "Not quite."

Were it so easy, were it so simple. "My return was...complicated you see. But in the end it came down to one factor above all else. One that I am still struggling to properly understand myself." One that He fully intended to decipher as soon as He was able, for it had haunted His sleep every night since His revival. "Divine intervention. That was what happened. I was reluctant but satisfied with losing myself, with joining with the Force. But the Force itself wasn't. It came to me in death, clad in a pale face with red eyes and adornments. And it brought me to life, for my work was not done."

Trayze Tesar Trayze Tesar
 

Trayze Tesar

Well-Known Member
CURRENT MISSION - Alone Saved...
Immediate Goals -
1: Speak on matters of Faith
2: Speak on matters of Death
3: Speak on matters of Life

BLUFOR - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius || OPEN FREQUENCY

Pale face... red eyes... surely not... The gears of Trayze's mind clicked at the most unlikely of connections. He wasn't sure what to ask, and so he did.

"...I may hazard a guess, Milord Strosius." the Kiffar ventured, recognizing that there was clearly something different... but not unfamiliar. Was it the same?

"But that may require you to remove your mask for a moment." Trayze explained. "Call it a... hunch. Intuition. But I could be mistaken..." he cleared his throat once to accentuate him bringing forth an honest to good pencil and notepad, as if treating this as a case. Whether that came from a place of belittlement or a means of re-grounding himself. Especially after the worst possible circumstance was confirmed - the Force awaited him with an open angler maw for his Soul at the end of his mortal existence.

Even now the shakiness in his being caused him to remain quiet, to stammer, to try and do anything to regain the footing on what he could do. "Could you... describe this figure to me? Any details, prominent or odd, no matter how insignificant you may think it to be..."
 
Prophet of Bogan
"Oh?" He cocked His head to the side at the question, His mask's visor catching a glint from the light above. "Feel free I suppose. I'm curious as to what you might guess." Perhaps something about the nature of death? The Force? His vision after His demise? That last possibility was the most intriguing but admittedly the most unlikely as well. If Trayze had any former knowledge of death prior to their talk then there was little point in him traveling all the way out here to meet with Him.

Darth Strosius paused at the mention of having to remove His mask, fixing the Kiffar with a somewhat taken aback body language for a moment. "I beg your pardon? What for?" He looked between the notepad and Trayze with the same confusion and surprise that dominated His tone. He couldn't even recall the last time that He had seen such physical instruments, let alone in active use at all.

"I...suppose I can yes." Eccentricities aside, He was interested in what results this might lead to. Perhaps Trayze was drawing patterns between depictions of the Force in various cultures? It was something that He had been interested in doing Himself but hadn't quite had the chance to yet. "Pale, like a Rattatki or Pau'an but aside from the red markings nothing distinct. No pores or anything, like a statue more than something organic. No hair, sharp features..." The more that He thought about it the more divine the figure really did seem to be, at least from His perspective.

Trayze Tesar Trayze Tesar
 

Trayze Tesar

Well-Known Member
CURRENT MISSION - Alone Saved...
Immediate Goals -
1: Speak on matters of Faith
2: Speak on matters of Death
3: Speak on matters of Life

BLUFOR - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius || OPEN FREQUENCY

"There are a variety of things that I have encountered during my tenure, sir." Trayze spoke, solemnly. "I... Understand if you may feel comfortable with the notion, but what you have described reminded me of... a certain species."

Of course, even if his hunch was correct, this didn't necessarily disprove Strosius' perspective either. Even Jedi need to eat - and mundane events can point to or support large scale events.

Scratching the notes in the pad, in addition to a rather... crude drawing. Humanoid, smooth, with arrows marking the atypical markings of Pau'an or Rattataki facial features. Clear as mud, Trayze sighed but at least it's a start...

"Perhaps it would be better for us to establish a timeline of events..." he elaborated plainly, "To distinguish what happened premortem, postmortem, and... after your resurrection." he looked back up at the Prophet, the Force now instinctively pressing into the masked man, a habit from his line of work as a detective. "Would that be all right with you?"
 
Prophet of Bogan
"A certain species?" There were some that did have some resemblance to the face that had pulled Him from death, but at the same time none that quite fit. None that He knew of anyway. Trayze was perhaps somewhat more traveled it seemed, if the Kiffar did indeed have some inkling of what He had seen anyway. It was too soon to dispel anything outright.

"I suppose we could yes, although I must admit I'm not quite sure where to start other than at my demise and then thereafter." Darth Strosius shifted His footing slightly, a twitch and a subtle shrug accompanying the movement. It seemed His untimely death was still something of an uncomfortable subject. A topic that He had been questioned on and had to explain several times now. It was understandable He supposed, but still a rather odd notion all things considered.

"I'm assuming that you've seen or know of the Kaggath's events yes? Malum managed a devastating strike and ignited a flame that quickly turned into a fatal wound. I felt myself being sent away, teleported to try and save me. But it was too late. By the time my body had left the arena I had already left it in turn." He paused and seemed to consider something for a moment before continuing. "Well...almost. I wasn't quite fully severed from it. It was like I was briefly split into two, with one half pulled into the Force while the other remained bound in my body as it was hastily stuffed into a bacta tank."

Trayze Tesar Trayze Tesar
 

Trayze Tesar

Well-Known Member
CURRENT MISSION - Alone Saved...
Immediate Goals -
1: Speak on matters of Faith
2: Speak on matters of Death
3: Speak on matters of Life

BLUFOR - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius || OPEN FREQUENCY

"Whoa whoa whoa, teleportation?" Trayze almost felt himself return to the facade of a bumbling bumpkin - a habit built up from navigating around rehersed alibis and others who might have something to hide. But Strosius wasn't hiding anything, not intentionally or knowingly - and with that he cleared his throat and jotted it down.

"I will... admit the more... esoteric practices of the Force are beyond my ken." he decided to reiterate and reestablish key points, the teleportation was a key point - whether the expression of energy caused the Wonosan overlord to expire, or if he had died beforehand. Isolate the incident and analyze it - use these points to spider-web a thread of potential causality. "But teleportation... could you, explain how that works?"

While woefully ignorant in the true depths of the Force, what Trayze Tesar had traded that for was an unparalleled ability to connect and accrue resources from those with ears to the ground - no doubt Strosius could make out some shorthand for potential contacts and eyewitnesses of the Kaggath, aside from bigwig Sith who no doubt have an agenda to enact.
 
Prophet of Bogan
"If you want a proper answer I'd recommend asking Malum, he's the one that performed it." He was somewhat surprised to see how unexpected the feat was for the Kiffar, assuming that he must have surely had some knowledge of the technique given his relation. Apparently the Heir of Marr wasn't as loose lipped with his secrets as He had expected. How interesting. "I do know the theory behind it although it's not a technique I've ever been able to perform myself, a bit risky I think."

There was nothing wrong with a good shuttle when one had the possibility of winding up on a random planet or floating in space as an alternative. "From my understanding, its a matter of locking onto some place within the galaxy via sensing it through the Force. Ideally and usually this is somewhere familiar and full of life, easy to picture and with the Force readily available there. The actual shifting of a person or persons from their current place to there is an exhausting affair as you might expect and is a bit...vague if you haven't done it yourself."

Theory was one matter but practical usage was another entirely and with something as delicate as teleportation the difference between the two could be astounding. Darth Strosius shrugged as He concluded His brief explanation. "Mine was messier than it should have been for sure. Not only did I die halfway through, I was still connected to my faithful and drawing power from them when it happened. They...didn't survive the severance either unfortunately."

Trayze Tesar Trayze Tesar
 

Trayze Tesar

Well-Known Member
CURRENT MISSION - Alone Saved...
Immediate Goals -
1: Speak on matters of Faith
2: Speak on matters of Death
3: Speak on matters of Life

BLUFOR - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Darth Strosius Darth Strosius || OPEN FREQUENCY

Curiouser and curiouser... Trayze made a mental note to corroborate this with Malum, now that the two were allies again. Helluva way to quarrel...

"So let me see if I understand this so far..." he began, refocusing on establishing a timeline of events. "When you felt yourself... begin to expire, you attempted to teleport - presumably to a friendly congregation of yours. After which, you... expired mid-transit, your body being sent to a location elsewhere, and your spirit... beholding the Force."

Trayze Tesar had seen many things that would rend hearts and caused strong men to retch during his tenure as a Detective - but the lingering, expectant, and ever devouring Force that awaited his very being upon his expiration... that seemed to cause him more trepidation than any disturbing detail elicited. In fact, if the Prophet were to recall anything esoteric, amusing, or even gruesome, it would be a welcome respite from existential dread.

"After that, you found yourself... in a bacta tank - where exactly was the bacta tank, and that you made your... physical recovery? Was it near the place you intended to teleport to or somewhere else?"
 
Prophet of Bogan
"I believe Malum intended to teleport me before anything fatal was done but given the circumstances that wasn't exactly possible. I was intending to run him through when it happened, I didn't realize I had been moved at all until I awoke in that tank." He grimaced behind His mask at the memory, one of searing pain and a victory that had slipped through His fingers in the worst possible way. His pride would have been less wounded if He had remained dead, even if it wasn't for the best overall.

"From what I can assume he managed to accurately teleport me somewhere in his palace on Alvaria, whoever he had waiting there had to work quick to prepare me before throwing me in the bacta tank. As I understand it my body was on its last legs before I was slipped into the bacta. Not surprising at all." The details were still somewhat of a mystery and He wasn't quite sure He wanted to know them anyway. "The next thing I remember I was seeing several visions from the half of me that had went to the Force, then I became....well as whole as I am now and I woke up in the tank."

Darth Strosius shifted slightly and felt His fangs idly ground together at His mention that He wasn't quite fully intact even now. A consequence of being shifted across space, having your soul torn from your body, and drawing power from external sources all at once. One that He had yet to rectify. "I don't know how long I was in the tank before I awoke but I do know that it was long enough for the surface level burns to heal so it must have been a couple days at least, if that helps."

Trayze Tesar Trayze Tesar
 

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