Are You Not Entertained? [TSE Dom of Luria Hex - AK,28]

[Darth Carnifex]

​

Wild Space​

Luria​

​

A flotilla of warships meandered over a bright green and blue orb suspended in a lake of stars, the light of the planet’s distant sun illuminating their durasteel hulls against the darkness. Several of the destroyers were marked with the Eye of Solomon on their ventral hulls, designating them as part of Emperor’s personal fleet.

And the crown jewel of it all loomed out of the darkness, a ship so titanically monstrous that it made the warships around it, each fearsome in their own right, look like toy boats.

The Behemoth listed lazily into position above the planet, casting a dark shadow over the land as a message was then dispatched to the individual principalities that ruled over the world. “Greetings Lords and Ladies of Luria, I am Kaine Zambrano; Emperor of the Sith, and I come to you with an offering. The Empire is expanding into your system, you can resist the inevitable and face your demise with your pride held high as your world burns around you. Or you can spare your people much suffering and submit yourselves to our authority, and proclaim your loyalty for all the galaxy to hear.”

A moment’s pause, “You will have one galactic standard hour to individually comply.”

The Emperor’s voice fizzled away as the line was severed, leaving the individual Lords of the Principalities to decide for themselves whether or not submission was preferable to destruction. In that time, the Emperor turned to look back at the towering woman behind him; one who even had him beat on vertical stature.

“Tell me, daughter. How many of these little worms will reject my gracious offer? By the day’s end, I suspect we will have our fill of Lurissian blood.”

Objective I: The Way of the Sword
The Emperor demands the submission of the Lords and Ladies of Luria and has given them an opportunity to surrender themselves to his mercy or face destruction. Some would have given themselves up, but others would rather die than kowtow to a tyrant like the Sith Emperor. Show them the error of their ways and exterminate them in their holdings, act merciless and without pity. No quarter shall be given.

Objective II: Participate in the Highland Games
Every New Year the Principalities of Luria convene in the Highland to participate in a contest for the title of “Glorious Victor”. Show these barbarians the superiority of the Sith above their weak traditions and win the games for the Empire.

Objective III: Investigate the Tree of Life & the Void
Integral to the Lurissian’s religion is the Tree of Life and its counterpart the Void. Both are potentially founts of Force energy and are tied to the spiritual energy of the planet. Investigate both of these phenomena and determine if they are any worth to the Empire.

Objective IV: BYOO

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

Objective: III The Circle Tree of Life
Location: Orbit of Luria
Gear: Nanquan | Robes | Lightsaber | Spellbook

[ darth lolcat theme ]​

The kitten sat in darkness.

It was a meditation upon the abyss, in which the young Cathar was attended by a surrounding circle of adherrents known as the Prophets of the Dark Side. The boy levitated in the center of the circle, body tucked into a lotus position, arms outstretched, as the Sith spellbook hovered open -- it's pages occasionally fluttering as pressure differences in the ship's internal atmosphere caused a breeze to pass through the chamber in which the dark acolyte was engaged in study of the mystic Force.

Those who clung to the light feared the darkness.

In the dark, there was nothing to fear but fear itself.

Whispers. Shadows. Images played through the child's mind as though he were looking in a mirror, darkly. Never quite clear. And changing. Always changing. The different permutations of the future. A single event, thousands of possibilities. Shifting and interchanging as any one course of events shaped those possibilities which remained, and opened the way for new ones to form.

The door to the meditative chamber opened. Amber catseye pupils opened, as the cat earred youngling raised his head up. Turning to look back over his shoulder, the boy watched as one of the Imperials officers steeped into the room.

"We have arrived at the Luriss System."

Folding his right hand over his left wrist, the boy tapped the wristlink that he wore. Simultaneously, throughout the room, a myriad of holo-generated windows appeared. Each displaying a different vantage point of the emerald world that lay below.

So this was Luria.

He was waiting to be impressed.

"Prepare my shuttle."

 

[Joycelyn Zambrano]

[member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Evaelyn Zambrano"]

Hands clasped behind her hip, legs a firm shoulder width apart, chin up and eyes sharp. She looked every bit the part of a Major of the Imperial Legion. Her uniform was pressed and clean, topped with a black cape, thrown off the one shoulder to reveal the bright, red lining. She had maintained a distance from the limelight of the announcement, standing in the shadow until called by her father, the Emperor.

"In an attempt at maintaining power under the grace of the Empire, the King will most likely comply to our demands."

Her hands detached from her back, one cape to rest at her side as the other brought up and enlarged the map of the planet.

"Whilst some of the duchies will fall in line with the King, others are simply waiting for an excuse to rebell." "Fortunately, the Lurians have exceptional coverage of their royal affairs and the Saaraishash have made some predictions based on similar planets pre assimilation into the Empire."

She brought in a new layer of the map, marking the borders of the duchies, colour coded to signify their expected stance on the invasion. Those closest to the capitol were most inclined to surrender, but the periphery, in particular the coast, were more likely to rebell.

"SIFIA tells us three houses were already plotting against the crown"

Three large swats of land were highlighted on the map. One of them was the coastal dwellers near the Grand Reef and one of the others consisted of large swaths of agricultural land, and the third a small, but prosperous mountainous region. All three were considerably wealthy and well armed. The surrounding duchies were also high risk, influenced by the three powers in their vicinity, but not yet at war.

"This southwestern region is likely to become a war zone. They will use our invasion as a way to legitimise putting their candidate, Duchess Foxter, on the throne." A smile crept over her lips. "If they win, of course."

With a nod, she made clear that it was all she had to present, even though she had ideas for how to attack. She was not a general and it was not her place to assume - Not yet. She had the path paved, and she was climbing.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Objective IV: Pyronium
[member="Ivory"]

Darth Ophidia's absence from the latest expansions of the Sith Empire had not been without fruit. From her travels and her communion with the Force, she had found new talent, new ideas, and new plans to further the power of the Sith, and the Sith Assassins in the Galaxy. As the Force would have it, her goals inclined towards one another, and now she stood with the Sith Empire in their invasion of Luria and its surrounding systems.

She was not there to wage war or take out political figures though. Not yet. The armies and the diplomats had such matters handled. Her agents would mop up the last dissidents when the Emperor had order restored. Darth Ophidia and her latest plaything protege were there to assault Luria's industry and bring it to heel.

"One more time, from the top."

She pointed at the central image of her litle spider-web presentation. There were three targets, four possible entranced numbered by preference, and a table of various weapons available for the job. There were daggers of glass, vicious poisons, personal explosives, stun guns, small pistols, and even a lightsabre. Ophidia was curious as to what weapons her new apprentice would pick,

"Who is he and how does he die?"

Darling raised his long, metallic hand from behind Ivory but was pointedly ignored.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

Objective IV: Pyronium
[member="Darth Ophidia"]

This was still new to her.

Relatively speaking.

It had come as a shock when Ophidia hadn't killed her. Instead... she wanted to train her. Ivory didn't get it. Didn't understand. Why would you attempt to train your enemy? Because surely that is what Ophidia had made herself on the day she queen-napped her. But that beatdown on their first day together? It had taught Ivory a worthwhile lesson. Mostly. She still tried to kill Ophidia at every opportunity she got. Somehow the fellow Rattataki only found it amusing.

That amusement infuriated Ivory even more.

Ivory peered at that flickering hologram one more time. Didn't sigh or roll her eyes though. "Delin Nemico. Twi'lek. He began his business as as slaver specializing in procuring rare courtesans for the Galaxy's riches. During the burning of the Core he relocated to the Tingel Arm. Used his remaining wealth to invest heavily in the gem and mineral trade." She was ready to move on. But Ophidia was still studying her with expectation in her eye.

The apprentice scowled at that, jaw set.

"I sneak into his estate and bash his skull in repeatedly, until he stops whimpering."

That was the exact opposite of what Ophidia had set out. Almost as if Ivory was doing it on purpose. Behind her the droid (Darling? Who named their droid darling, what the heck) seemed to cough. His servomoters straining as he raised his hand higher.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

He was proud.

Proud of his daughter, the wickedly brilliant and capable Darth Vornskr II.

More than most of his children she had taken his teachings to heart and use them to build herself up to incredible heights, embodying his lineage with grace and finesse. His eyes twinkled with admiration as he listened to her evaluation of the planet's culture below. "An exceptional observation, Vornskr." Oh, how it still felt awkward to refer to someone else by that name, the name he had worn for many years while in service to the Dark Lord of the One Sith.

A name that he had discarded in favor of Carnifex, but now one that his daughter had claimed for herself after proving her worth to him. There was no better individual to carry on that mantle.

"Inform SIFIA that I demand a full list of these dissident Lords and their accomplices, every member of their family, their servants, and those most loyal to them. It will be a worthy assignment for the Blackblade Guard, nothing in their entire arsenal can withstand the might of my most loyal warriors." The ruthlessness of the Blackblades would ensure that the Emperor's orders were carried out to the letter, no hesitation or weakness of morality moored these barbarous butchers from completing their hallowed task. "And you, daughter, will command my sacred soldiers in carrying out my will."

[member="Joycelyn Zambrano"]​

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Objective IV: Pyronium
[member="Ivory"]

"Crude."

She gave the droid a sharp look and the nezumi next to it gave it a pointed, but minute elbow in the thigh. Darling looked down at Akito, then at Ivory, before lowering his arm in resignation.

"And ineffective. Your physical might is still" A pause, one black finger resting on her chin. "-Inadequate for these tasks" "And your technique needs refining."

The finger then swished over to the table, tracing along its edge to frame the macabre display of tools upon it.

"You will attack him in his bed and kill him before he has the chance to wake up." "There are a selection of tools available"

Darlings arm shot up again, then pointed at the largest gun at the table. His robotic eyes gleamed with hope once again.

"If he should wake up, then Darling will attack the house from the ship." The droid made a small celebratory gesture "We would like to not have to do that."

"If he wakes up, the entire house will be on alert and he will attempt an escape." She picked up a shikkar and turned it back and forth between her fingers "Once he dies, some of the house will be on alert." "We will deal with those."

Akito crossed her arms and leaned back. She had already done her part and arranged for a poisoning of one of the other targets. The third was marked by one Darth Filiae who had reportedly set up a sniper position and hacked the house computers. These two had more experience in the field than Ivory, though Ivory could probably defeat Akito in a fight, easily, and potentially be a match to Filiae if the field was right.

"So?"

 

[Jairus Starvald]

Objective IV: Pyronium
[member="Darth Ophidia"]

"I think I can handle one fat Twi'lek, thank you very much." Ivory retorted. Their eyes met, held, lengthened, before eventually Iv grimaced and looked away. "I will kill him in his sleep. Fine." There was a fine line to tread here and they both knew it.

To some degree Ophi seemed to find Ivory amusing.

The rebellious nature, the wild care. It was simply in her blood. Pure chaos. But there were boundaries.... and Ivory was still learning them. She absently touched her scalp. There was just naked skin there now. It hurt. But it was a good reminder, wasn't it? Of her weakness. Of the madness just pushing beneath the skin. Her eyes moved from one tool of death to the next. They skidded past the lightsaber and didn't linger there. One day Ophidia might teach her how to use it without cutting her own limbs off.

But for now?

She found it distasteful.

There was no weight behind it. Unnatural and it felt weird in her hand. Like the crystal within was trying to talk to her.

Unnerving as feth. Eventually she curled her fingers around the glass daggers. They were a vicious sort. The moment they entered someone's body? They shattered and made it almost impossible to take out the pieces. At least not without damaging the vitals.

"Glass dagger through his throat. Make it impossible for him to scream. I will get it done, my Lord." Lord. She hated having to say that. But there was nothing else to it. It was just another reminder. One day they would be equals. On that day? Ophidia would regret touching her hair. She'd be reduced to her very fundamentals. Ivory would make sure of that. The next ten minutes were spend gathering up the other pieces of equipment. Nothing fancy sadly.

Rope, blackened armor, the basics.

Apparently a stealth generator was for the elite agents.

Twenty minutes later she dropped, then rolled with the fall against the grassy hill of the mansion. There was a slight slope here, but Ivory was prepared for it. Same went for the guard that just went around the corner. He'd die a moment later.

 

[Dahu Nobis]

Objective I


Another day. Another mission.

Dahu found himself aboard a SI-AIT on it's way to Luria. Yet another planet he had never seen before. He was excited. Not only for the new experience, but the potential bloodshed that was to come.

If it did come. If not, he was cool with that too. Just the opportunity to serve was enough for him.

The transport found it's way planetside. Dahu stepped off. There was relative quiet in the area. At least for now. But Dahu had a little feeling that something was going to pop off real soon.

 

[Joycelyn Zambrano]

For her father, the Dark Lord of the Sith and Emperor of the Sith Empire, to refer to her by her chosen title - It was a great honour, a sense of legitimisation. He was not simply giving her something for free. No, that would be an insult. He had accepted her claim, her authority and potential. She was Vornskr II now. There was no denying it without refusing the will of the Dark Lord himself.

Then again, even if he had not approved, would she have refrained?

"Your will be done." "It is a great honour, father."

She made a small bow, not taking up time with endless formalities, but still enough for due respect. She took this as a sign that she may present her strategy for the battles to come.

"With your blessing, I will suggest a threefold attack." "Ensnare them from the coast, from the East and the North, and push them into a position of no escape."

Her reasoning was apparent in the available imagery: If they pushed from the land, then the locals would find refuge in caves of the Great Reef, turning battle into skirmishes that could last for months, if not years. If they pushed only from the coast, then they would be turned toward the heartland and sweep needless counties into the conflict, some of which would aid them, and all of which would make bitter the victory. If pushed only from the coast on the West and from the Eastern lowland, then they would be pushed toward the mountains, again turning the battle into skirmishes and potentially opening a path for them to attack the capitol.

It was all there on the map.

"I would recommend Skull Squadron dominate the northern assault with bombers. Meanwhile, the main force of Blackblades assault from the east." "An amphibious assault should be launched on the Reef and coast, but that will demand its own commander."

She had a few in mind, and Joycelyn was well aware that even with this battle plan, there would probably be fights and skirmishes throughout the planet as dissent rose in face of the occupation. What she proposed was merely a way to deal with the largest, most imminent threat to a swift and secure occupation. If any of the three duchies were left standing, then they would champion a united rebellion on Luria.

A rebellion divided was so much more easily quenched.

[member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Evaelyn Zambrano"]

 

[Dante Sotari]

The Highland Games
[member="Jahangir Zambrano"]

Major Dante Sotari stood at attention several steps behind and to the left of yet another Zambrano. In her dress uniform no less. While they were in the shade of an awning erected over the box, it was an uncomfortably warm afternoon and the sweat trickling down her back was making her itch. Hazel eyes cast over to the pair of Blackguard there with her, and mentally appreciated that she wasn't in her armor at least.

This was not her section.

This was, in fact, the opposite of her section.

But [member="Darth Carnifex"] had 'given' her to [member="Jairus Starvald"], and now he wanted her here, keeping an eye on this princeling.

You should be better acquainted with the royal family, Major Sotari. I intend to help you.... rise.... as far as your talents allow.

And if I don't want to rise?

He'd smiled, and she'd hated him a little more.

Recently returned after a long absence or something like that, honestly, Dante didn't care. Right now she was some strange amalgam between an unneeded guard and a frelling cupbearer.

She would literally rather be getting shot at.

 

[Delaney Wilder]

The Highland Games
[member="Dante Sotari"]

The arena dominated the immediate area around it.

Packed to the brink with the people of Luria. This time they had visitors though. While the Emperor and his daughters waged war? Jahangir found himself in a different role. This was the first time the young man stepped into the light. As a Zambrano. As one of the Sons. Kissed by fire, his mother had kept Jahan secluded.

So he would know all that a Chosen of Vahla should know.

It meant that Jahan didn't blame the Empire. For not immediately putting him on the field. Who knew if his mother had taught him what he needed to know. "Major Sotari," he called out over his shoulder. His attention was still squarely on the center of the arena though.

From each side an individual approached. They'd meet at the center of things, of course.

"No, my cup is still full, thank you. Please sit." Jah indicated towards the empty seat next to him. Mother should have joined him today. But there were different plans sadly. "What do you think of the Games?"

Keen eyes suddenly shifted towards the Major.

 

[Dante Sotari]

The Highland Games
[member="Jahangir Zambrano"]

Sweet maw again? She's just refilled his cup. He drank more than she did-

Oh.

He wanted her to....

This was a trap.

Though, she'd decided some time ago, almost everything when it came to the Sith was a trap.

Why did she still work for them? Now wasn't that a loaded question. She could let her sign up lapse. She'd served for almost three years now. Enough time to earn a small pension if she wanted it. Not enough to keep her though. And then what? Would she go soldier for someone else? The idea of that prospect and process seemed exhausting. Mercenary work? How would that, ultimately, be much different? There would always be someone calling the shots, always some new client who was going to be a pain in her ass. Dante had grown up on Alexandria, signed up for service as soon as she'd been old enough- sixteen for junior service, then at eighteen full enlistment.

She didn't know what else she was good at. She'd never really made the space to find out.

And then there was the added complication of [member="Morgan Vance"]. He had a loyalty that ran true to the Empire. He'd never leave, though she didn't understand why.

Inwardly she groaned. There was no good answer. It was entirely inappropriate for her to sit with him. It was also entirely inappropriate for her to decline.

Kark you [member="Jairus Starvald"]. Kark you entirely, this is your fault.

With a silent sigh, she decided that if she was going to be mucking it up anyway, may as well be comfortable doing it.

"What do I think?" she asked, a little guarded, as she perched (stiff and uncomfortable) on the edge of the chair as indicated. "I think they are waste of talent and lives."

Blunt.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Objective IV: Pyronium
[member="Ivory"]

"The shikkar." she put down the knife. "Remember: Quick and quiet."

"Do not disappoint me."

No, she would have no stealth field generators this time. She had to learn to do it properly before she was allowed to cheat, lest she relied on the technology too much. Such an assassin would not be worth having. Even Filiae, so deep in technology, knew how to remain unseen without aides.

It was the most fundamental and useful skill in their arsenal.

Ophidia followed not far behind Ivory, shrouded by the Force, concealed from both sight and sound. She had not told Ivory she would be following either.

Stealth had always been the point in which she had surpassed her teachers, and her students had yet to surpass her. She had invented techniques herself, and mastered secrets unearthed from masters long since passed away. It was most unlikely that Ivory, or any of the guards, would be able to detect her presence.

She did not take action though. Instead, she observed how Ivory dealt with the obstacles.

First the walking guard, next the cameras, and then the standing watch.

Would she kill all of them? Distract them? Knock them out? Time would tell.

 

[Kassandra Zambrano]

Objective II - Win the Highland Games
Spectators - [member="Jahangir Zambrano"] | [member="Dante Sotari"]

Kass was never one to put much belief into fate, it was just a simple matter of being on Luria at the same time the Sith Empire had decided to make a move.

Coincidence. Nothing more than that.

It had been years since she had stepped away, after a deal struck that allowed her to fly from the nest. She had carved her own path across the galaxy, all under various alias and personas. And today was no different, having joined Luria's Highland games after a dear friend had recommended it.

Kassandra loved the thrill of a fight, especially ones that didn't rely on fancy gadgets or lightsabers. To her there was nothing more enjoyable than adorning oneself in a set of armour, picking up a sword and shield and knocking heads with a like-minded warrior.

She was in her element, and she was letting everyone know it.

"Come on, is that the best you can do?!" Kass slammed her fist against her shield, taunting the opponent she had just thrown to the ground. The Zambrano cut an imposing figure, standing at a giant's height like most of her kind. Armour covered the majority of her body, with the only skin showing were along the arms. A full helm concealed her face, with her raven black hair kept to one side and sticking out from the bottom.

Today she was the Stormborn, a travelling warrior looking to win Luria's Highland Games.

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

Objective: III The Circle Tree of Life
Location: Luria
Gear: Nanquan | Robes | Lightsaber | Spellbook

[ darth lolcat theme ]​

From the shadows, a pair of raptor-like eyes appeared.

The bird was in no way living, though neither was it wholly dead. It was Sithspawn. It was alchemy and the Force given wings. It was the kind of horrid beautiful that only the works of the Sith could have brought forth. It had the form of a vulture, the craftiness of a raven, and the eyes of a demon's that were dreaming.

It seemed to float through the shadows, moving in flight with an preternatural grace that seemed to only further the notion that this was a creature that was not of this world. Or any.

The familiar landed atop the branch of a large tree, beneath whose boughs a religious pilgrimage had formed in earnest. With each moment, more and more people came to join the procession of the faithful underneath the tree.

This was holy ground. This was a sacred place. In the hour in which [member="Darth Carnifex"] had given the Lurissians to decide their fate, people turned to religion to guide them.

The Sith courier emerged from the clouds a foreboding omen of what was to come. A pair of droid TIE fighters formed an escort, adopting a holding pattern that caused the TIEs to encircle the site in alternating flightpaths, as though weaving a figure-8 in the air.

The courier landed, several stormtroopers disembarking before the small, black robed child descended down the loading ramp. The broad, triangular ears on either side of his head gave his cowl a distinctive cat-shape. A young wyrwulf pup romped about, bounding out from the ship and darting back and forth along the boy's path.

As he started to approach the tree, a surge of Lurissian pilgrims gathered from under the tree began approaching. The rumblings of an angry mob were growing louder, as an elder man threw an arm out as he shouted at the stormtroopers, "Leave this pla--"

The man stopped in mid-sentence, his voice robbed as his eyes bulged. His hands flew to his throat, as he seemed to be choking.

Hand outstretched, fingers held in a menacing grip, the Sith kitten casually strode up to the man. "I come to offer respects to your gods on behalf of my master," the Cathar mused, before releasing the Force Grip with a dismissive wave of his hand.

The elder dropped to his knees as he gasped for air, while the child merely passed him by without so much as a second glance.

The crowd came together, as though forming a human shield wall to bar the boy's path toward their sacred icon.

Amber catseye blinked. "No?" the boy noted wryly, reaching up both hands to fold back the cowl from his head, allowing the hood of the robe to settle onto his shoulders. Pulling back the sleeves of his robe, the child took a moment to open his senses to the Force. "Very well then..." the boy muttered dryly.

The will and the word. That's what it took to cast magic. Well, that and the Force. And the Force seemed particularly powerful in this place. Which was why he had come.

Ancient High Sith was whispered, as the boy took one step forward with a sweeping gesture of his right arm. As he did, an aura of unease radiated outward. As the miasma spread over the crowd, the right side of the wall broke ranks in a sudden desperation to get away from the small, black-robed child. The words were whispered again, another step with a sweeping gesture of his left arm, as the wall fell apart to reveal a path through the people that led directly to the tree.

A Cheshire smile played at the boy's impish face. "That's better," the boy remarked, reaching up to bring the hood back over his head, even as he started on the path toward this tree.

 

[Delaney Wilder]

The Highland Games
[member="Dante Sotari"] | [member="Kassandra Zambrano"]

The presence of the giant was not lost on Jahan.

But with the full armored visage? It was impossible to disconcern what the species was. For all that the Vahla knew, it could be a Graug under the armor. It didn't have to be one of his own. "You think boldly, Major." Jahangir responded with a bemused tone. "But I can appreciate honesty, especially if I agree with it." This whole charade was a waste of time. The Empire had send some of their finest into the arena. But what was the point behind it, truly?

To show dominance, yes.

But... it was a waste. Their men and women were better served elsewhere as far as Jahan was concerned. Instead of being send to die, bleed out in an arena for the amusement of the crowd. He glanced to the side and noticed just the way the heat was affecting Dante.

The Vahla blood within ensured he wasn't effected by it.

Fire? It was his element. "Have some cooled wine with me, Major, you would be of no use to me if you had a heatstroke." Then Jahan did something that might surprise Sotari. If she was used to the proclivity of royal laziness anyway. He stood up himself, fetched a cup and poured some of the wine for her. Before settling back down and easily passing it to his... bodyguard. They both knew that wasn't true. The Blackblades was all the protection a Royal needed.

The Vahla guards? They were the insurance, so to speak.

"Cheers,"

Raising his cup to clink against hers, before taking a measured sip.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

Objective IV: Pyronium
[member="Darth Ophidia"]

Her instinct told her to just kill them all.

Less work later, no? They'd be butchering them all afterwards anyway.

But Ophidia was teaching her otherwise.

Oh, yes, you can kill or incapacitate everyone in your path. But should you? Yes, had been the wrong answer there apparently. Wrong. Every guard has their own schedule. Their mannerisms. Habits. What if you kill a guard that is just about to meet up with his colleagues? What if you incapacitate a servant, who should have brought dinner in five minutes? All these things leave a footprint. It creates suspicion and attention, where you don't want it. You are the anomaly and should strive to be the only anomaly.

Until you finish your job, that is. After that it is just semantics.

It was a load of chit.

And yet... and yet Ivory flowed into the shadows, utilizing her attire and blackened armor to melt into them. It wasn't easy. Once or twice Iv almost got caught. The third time? She was forced to punch someone in the face, hard, before they could alert the guards. A servant boy. Nothing more. But as her foot slammed itself into their throat? They were just meat. Meat that was making her job a little more difficult. Iv dragged him into a closet, covering the corpse with fabrics and clothing.

Best she could do this deep in the mansion.

The next problem was the camera system. It overlooked the only entry to the Twi'lek's bedroom, so.... what to do?

"Ugh. Why couldn't we just drop an anti-matter bomb on this place?" Ivory murmured while picking out the EMP charge she had swiped off Ophidia's ship. It hadn't been. Well. Part of the equipment offered. But she had noticed it the night before.

Figured it couldn't hurt having it.

It was a good thing the Pale wasn't here to notice she had nicked it off of her.

 

[Darth Prazutis]

Wild Space, Luria
Objective I...

The structure of Luria was old, some might even say archaic in nature through the monarchal system they have in place. Each of the principalities holds a vast degree of power over the world and each one vies for influence. But when the Sith Empire arrived the very idea of bowing to such a tyrant not of their world was enough to unite several powerful holdouts to form one sizable resistance force, with a strong planetary army to resist the worlds annexation. While many bowed through fear, others through deals orchestrated by the Lord of Lies, the holdouts still would rather die than bow to such a butcher.

They would oblige them.

It was on the estate of one such holdout that was targeted by the Dark Titan, who arrived with a small escort force of Crownguard. They stood before their master even as the transport was surrounded by the Duke's forces. But what rolled out from the ship was something far worse than any invading force. It was madness. A concentration of power unleashed in rolling waves that sent the surrounding force into chaos, the eldritch fury and crazed whispers drove some utterly insane shattering their minds, while others turned on their own allies and a slaughter followed. It was just the start and already blood flowed.

 

[Dante Sotari]

The Highland Games
[member="Jahangir Zambrano"] [member="Kassandra Zambrano"]

Her eyes cast down to the arena for a moment, but her face was carefully neutral. The black armored figure was one of 'theirs'. Was it better for them to win here? Dante didn't know. She just knew waste of life when she saw it. Not a soul that had bled out on the sands today wouldn't have made an asset for the empire if they had lived.

"I speak boldly," she said with a shrug. "I suspect most people think boldly but get stuck when it comes to just gettin' it out there."

It was, she knew, not how people usually interacted with the Zambranos in the Empire. Oh, she only did when asked something directly to be sure, but she'd gotten to the point where (as long as she wasn't RUDE) it seemed as though that track was the best to take.

Then again, that track was also the one that had gotten her here so maybe it was time to reconsider.

Her gaze moved back when he offered her wine, surprise flickering across her face then pushed down again.

"I am.... not permitted to drink on duty," she said with a grimace- genuine chagrin. Even before starting to work for Starvald, she had never- it was the one line she didn't cross. Right before everything had exploded, literally, at Rimcee Station, it had been close. But the Sith Lord had been clear.

An actual frown, small but distinct, as he pressed the glass into her hand anyway. The back of her throat positively itched with the desire to take a sip.

"Thank you, and cheers," she said, not really sure what else to do. She clinked the glass back, but didn't drink. It took every ounce of self control.