Private Heart to Heart

[Darth Strosius]

"Vitals are steady, implant is transmitting as normal, anesthesia should be wearing off in just a minute. Another successful operation High Priest." The medical officer looked up at the masked man with a nod, both of them then returning their gazes to the unconscious Squire across the room. The medical droid finished closing the incision and injected the last dosage which would help alleviate the anesthesia's effects a bit faster before it allowed its patient to be lifted off of the operating table in front of it onto a stretcher by two nearby technicians. If one didn't know any better then they'd almost say that the droid looked pleased with itself as the technicians carried the Squire out of the room, leaving just the officer and Darth Strosius with it.

"At this rate we'll have every blessed member of the Order implanted and back into service within two weeks time." The officer noted as they typed on their console, moving to send for the next patient when a hand suddenly rested on their shoulder. "Your confidence and surety are much needed in these times to come officer." The expressionless mask and visor gave no real sign of emotion but the relatively comforting tone in his voice gave off an aura of appreciation and pride. "But you have been coordinating these operations all day. Go, rest and attend to your own affairs. There is but one more patient to be implanted today and I shall see her operation is carried out myself."

The medical officer blinked in surprise before reluctantly sliding off of their chair and giving a deep bow to the Sith Lord. "As you wish. I shall not forget your kindness this day High Priest, I am eager to return to my duties tomorrow." With that the officer turned on their heel and strode out of the room through the same door that the technicians had left through, with the visor of the Sith and the optics of the droid slowly coming to meet one another. "You've been working harder than most, this will be your last patient for the day and I want her operation to be as smooth and as painless as possible. Then you'll get your well-earned oil bath."

The droid beeped in excitement and raised one of its scalpel arms in a little salute as Darth Strosius pressed on the console and leaned in slightly. :"Send in Revna Sharr for her operation, we are ready to receive her now.":

Revna

 

[Revna]

To say Revna was nervous would be an understatement.

She had known this day would come, and the details and what to expect had been shared with her…but it still didn’t lessen the anxiety she felt. Laying her life into the hands of another to be willingly made unconscious and vulnerable, even for a procedure that was to help her on her future endeavors for her Master, was not an easy hurdle to overcome. But at least the Sith Lord would be there to personally oversee her procedure, that much she knew. It did give her some measure of comfort given the circumstances which loomed ahead.

For the moment, she waited and paced anxiously in the small waiting room for her to be called into the room where the operation would be carried out. She wore simple black robes for comfort for the procedure, and had made sure to cleanse herself so she was as clean as possible for the procedure. Her silver streaked hair was pulled back and braided to keep it all nice and tidy and out of the way, and she wore no other adornments.

Soon, the door to the small room opened and she was greeted by the technician who had been tasked with taking those who had been selected for the procedure into the room where the operation would be carried out. Her heart leapt in her chest and raced a bit faster, knowing that the time had come.

The little Disciple of Darth Strosius was quiet and obviously on edge as she entered the room, her eyes shifting around cautiously before they settled on the familiar masked and robed form of the Sith Lord and in a quiet display of trust to the man, she approached close and came to a halt, casting a wary gaze towards the droid before looking at the Sith.

“I am ready. Though I won’t lie, I am nervous about this.”



Darth Strosius

​

 

[Darth Strosius]

The droid busied itself with the clean up of the operating table and sanitization of all the necessary tools, quick and mechanical movements that the masked man idly watched as he drummed his fingers along the surface of the console. Medical experience among the ranks of the cult was rather lacking in truth, such was the need of droids such as these. One of the few services that he found necessary to import rather than expand on domestically. Training medics was one thing but surgeons and doctors were entirely different.

Some were naturally unsettled and untrusting of the droids, as they were a similar model to the ones that Hutts and other crime lords often used to keep their arena and warrior slaves alive after a particularly rough battle. They were precise and efficient but usually without much care or concern for their patients. Thankfully, as it turned out, a quick update and reprogramming solved that issue right away and instead of ruthless surgeons they were left with prideful but careful machines that ensured patient comfort and operation success first and foremost.

When the door opened both Darth Strosius and the droid would turn to look upon Revna as she entered, with the Sith dismissing the technician behind her with a little wave of his hand. He stood up straight as she approached and crossed his arms behind his back as he nodded at her concern. "I don't blame you, caution is natural. Caution will keep you alive before anything else. Allow me to assuage your concerns before we begin then, have a seat."

He gestured towards the operating table and moved to stand next to it, idly waving away the droid for the moment and making it step back. "If there are any questions regarding the operation and the implant then I'd be more than happy to discuss it with you and put any fears to bed. Or if you'd prefer a different topic to take your mind off it then I am here to listen as well." These past few weeks had been very busy indeed, the master and apprentice's talks having grown fewer and shorter as a result. A shame but such was the times at present.

Revna

 

[Revna]

With a dip of her head in obedience, Revna made a small hop onto the operation bed and sat down, folding her hands in her lap as her feet dangled over the edge. She was short enough that her feet didn’t even touch the ground, something that - even at her age and experience and status - irked her, for it made her almost look childlike.

The words of the masked Sith were a comfort; indeed, caution was natural and it would keep her alive. But the fact that he was willing to help ease her fears when other Sith Lords wouldn’t have even cared or bothered, meant something to her. Whether he knew it or not or even felt the same, such words and actions only strengthened the bond she felt for the man who had taken her under his wing.

Thus, there was no fear between apprentice and master. She could look at him boldly, eye to eye if she could, and not wonder if there would be a strike or a punishment of some sort. Some might look down on such a thing, and say that the bond was a weakness. But to her, it was a strength.

Darth Strosius inquired if she had any questions about the looming operation, or even opened up the topic of discussion to anything she wished, if it would help ease her tension and her worries. He was more formal about it, a teacher to a student, but it brought a smile to her face regardless.

“I suppose I’m more nervous about being unconscious and unaware. And this is me showing you a lot of trust and faith, as I won’t be able to defend myself should someone try to attack me when I’m at my most…vulnerable. That is a…scary thing for a Sith.” she replied honestly with a chuckle before her brows dipped in a thoughtful frown. “But I also don’t really know what…the implant is designed for exactly. You kept those details from me, on purpose I assume, until the time was right. Now that I’m about to have this placed in my body…could you tell me what it’s for? Its purpose? I assume it is to help me serve you and help carry out your work better…”


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Her initial response drew out a chuckle from the masked man as he nodded in agreement. "You really are starting to think like a true Sith. Rest assured, this operation is quick and your time under anesthesia will be no longer than a short nap. By the time you even think to check the clock when you wake up on the other side you'll be fit and ready to return to your duties." It was an altogether unnecessary assurance, one that no other Sith had been granted thus far. His presence alone eased most of their nerves without him even having to say anything.

Revna was different however. The Disciple of Faith deserved to have her loyalty rewarded and as such he continued despite how fond and familiar he knew he was being towards the other Sith. "Ah right, I forget that I never did explain that did I? My apologies, allow me to rectify that little oversight post haste then. Tell me Revna, have you ever seen me injured?" Without waiting for an answer he held out a hand towards the droid behind him and it gave him a scalpel.

He pulled the sleeves of his robe on his one of his arms up until only the last layer of Zeyd-cloth remained to block his skin from view as he spoke. "This implant is a project of mine that I've been dreaming of for many years. You see for so long I've wished that I could offer my followers and faithful the same...ability that I possess." Darth Strosius stabbed the scalpel into his arm, seemingly unbothered as he wrenched it out soon after with only the slightest flinch as blood began to drip from the wound.

There was something distinct about his blood however, something that he himself either ignored or simply already knew of as he casually handed the scalpel back to the droid for cleaning. Aside from just being almost maroon in color his blood also very noticeably maintained a slight presence in the Force even after it had dripped onto the floor. It was very easy to miss but it was highly unusual. It was almost as though his very body itself had some sort of attunement with the Dark Side.

"The power of regeneration." In but a few moments the bleeding had stopped and if one were to peer into the cut in the sleeve then they would see a hint of deathly pale yet unmarked skin. Not even a scar or scratch in sight despite the would that was there just a short time ago. "I tried a few methods you see, none of which had a good result without high cost." The High Priest pulled his sleeves back down before gesturing to the droid. "The implant is imperfect as well, as it can't regrow limbs to the extent that I can, but it will help you survive most minor wounds and even some deadly ones."

Revna

 

[Revna]

His assurance helped to ease some of the anxiety that Revna felt in the moment, and she felt her shoulders relax as the tension slowly slipped away, and a small half smile tugged at the corner of her mouth when he said she was starting to think like a true Sith. Truthfully, they both knew just how far she’d come since her first meeting with the Sith Lord, and she had been evolving more and more into the Sith she was meant to become - but she still had a ways to go. One day, she would face her trials to truly test everything she had learned, both in knowledge and about herself. And when she came out on the other side, only then would she acknowledge and accept herself as being truly Sith.

Revna’s attention was focused on her Master as he recognized that he hadn’t truly shared with her what the implant was for or what it would do. He asked her if she had ever seen him injured before, and as her mind drifted through different memories of being in combat with him, she couldn’t actually say for certain one way or the other if he had been injured. But before she could answer him, he had already procured a scalpel from the droid that was off to the side, and her brows came together in a familiar gesture of a frown. She was smart and quick to pick up on things, and it clicked in her mind that he was about to demonstrate something to her - by injuring himself with the scalpel in his hand. This insight was confirmed when he pulled up the oversleeve of his robes to expose more cloth that clung more closely to the skin of his arm. Her frown deepened as a myriad of thoughts filled her mind but before she could ask any of them, the Sith Lord plunged the surgical instrument into his arm, through the Zeyd-cloth and into the flesh beyond, eliciting a small gasp from the young woman as a spike of concern could be felt through the Force between them. It was an involuntary response, one that might have betrayed her more… deeply felt emotions for the Sith before her. Something she had kept buried within and from his notice for the most part.

She was quick to recover and tried to bury her stronger emotions before Darth Strosius could feel them, but she wasn’t sure if he had already or not.

Her attention soon shifted, however, as she noticed his blood begin to drip from the wound and to the floor between them. Revna stared at the bleeding wound before letting her gaze flicker to the growing blood splatters on the ground, her head tilting to the left in a now very familiar gesture of confusion and gathering curiosity.

Something was …different about her Master’s blood. Different from hers, and from the spilled blood of her enemies and allies alike. Even separated from him, the liquid contained the presence of the Force, something she picked up on rather quickly. The young woman’s golden eyes flickered from the blood, to the wound in his arm, and when she noticed it was no longer bleeding - to his masked visage as confusion and the burning light of questions and curiosity filled her eyes and face.

She registered that he had said something about the implant giving his followers, his faithful, a measure of an ability that he possessed: regeneration.

The little Sith woman was silent and still as Strosius further explained that he had tried other methods for his faithful to give them this ability, but such attempts had a heavy cost - though he didn’t explain any details on that matter, which only deepened her questions.

Her mouth dropped open slightly at the revealed truth from him that he could regrow whole limbs…though this implant wouldn’t be able to provide such an incredible healing factor to those who bore it within their bodies.

But the fact that this would allow her to survive injuries stunned her.

Revna gave him a directed and rather hungry, stare that the Sith Lord would recognize from her.

“I have questions.” she stated in a low voice before firing off the thoughts in her head before he could object or stop her. “First of all… how the feth is ANY of this possible for you?! Regrowing whole limbs?! Why…how…does your blood have a Force presence?! What other methods did you use before this implant came into being? Why weren't they successful? And...why do you keep yourself covered up like that? Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with exposed skin or without your mask for that matter. Don’t you like…die of heat stroke under all…that?? Is this because of this ability that you have??”

The young Sith paused to catch her breath, before a more firm expression came over her face and she pointed a small and pale finger at him - almost as if she was scolding him. “And don’t you dare give me your typical, vague answers. Now that I know you can karking heal and regrow whole limbs - I will cut off one of your own arms and beat the answers out of you with it if I have to!” she exclaimed threateningly, before she exhaled sharply and shifted her gaze way from her Master for a moment - a subtle gesture to show she recognized that she had allowed her boldness to perhaps get away from her a bit in the moment, though she offered no apology. She knew that if he had a problem with what she had said - he would tell her so.


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

There had been a flash of something from the Disciple, one short and quickly recovered from yet still very potent when it had occurred. It felt like concern but it was deeper. More than simple surprise or shock, even more than worry he might say. It was gone as quickly as it arisen so he hadn't had the chance to sense it further, but it was something he noted. Thankfully she showed the exact reaction that he had been expecting from his little show, that look of frustrated and almost furious curiosity. A look that made smirk beneath his mask.

Darth Strosius crossed his arms behind his back as she fired off a deluge of questions in rapid succession and with all the fire that he had come to expect from her. He quirked up an eyebrow as she paused to breath but still offered nothing in the way of response until after she had lowered her accusatory finger and looked away from him. "Hm. So I assume that something like 'the Dark Side is a pathway to many abilities some might consider supernatural' isn't enough of an answer then?"

The masked man chuckled and idly raised a hand as if in a reconciliatory gesture. "Allow me to answer your questions in a slightly...disorderly manner if I may. For the context is complex and interlaced, but you will indeed get the answers you seek." He began a slow circle around the operating table, pacing as he spoke. "You see, there are these...beings that roam the galaxy. Ancient, mysterious, and very unique. For they are not born like most species are, they are made. Parasites really. They convert other species into members of their own by using their blood, and it is by the blood of other species that they are sustained in turn."

He then pressed a hand to his chest and paused in his stride. "I became one such creature a long time ago, within my first few years as a Sith Acolyte." His steps continued but his gaze shifted to regarding his own hands, specifically at his right one. The fingers clenched and slowly flexed open once more as he spoke. "I regrew all that I had lost, healed every wound I had ever been dealt, and I became so much stronger. All for the price of blood. A thirst that can't be ignored, that can never be sated but only delayed. A curse to accompany such a boon."

Darth Strosius idly ran a finger along the edge of the table as he circled it, finally glancing back at Revna. "I wanted so badly to share this gift. I believed the cost to be one that could be paid easily, we were in a war after all. What was the occasional robber or enemy soldier going missing amidst an army of faithful and undying soldiers?" He paused, trailing off for a moment as he crossed his hands behind his back once more. "But the thirst was worse than I knew. For if it isn't sated...the Sangnir become enslaved to it. They become beasts alone, only able to think and advance towards their next meal. Salneva is one of the last Sangnir in the Order, one of the scarce few that didn't succumb. That didn't have to be purged because of my ignorance."

His shoulders slumped as his words became more like whispers, for the first time shame and regret filled his tone. The silence sat heavy yet he quickly perked back up and dismissed his somber tone with a wave of his hand. "I had to change my methods. I had to find another way to bring renewal to my followers, so I began experimenting. I knew that there had to be a solution somewhere, that the ancient Sith had to have discovered it. This implant is my most recent attempt and the only one to bear fruit. The only one that's come as close to what is needed with no dire cost involved."

The masked man turned on his heel to face the Acolyte once again, fixing her with an unseen look of determination and the slightest sense of pride. "For the longest time I attempted to find a solution in the Force alone. I made myself and the wretched of the galaxy the test subjects for such experiments. I learned and practiced methods of imbuing the very physical matter of our bodies with the Force, just like one does with metal for Sith Swords. I grew stronger, I felt more connected to the Force, but I never could get the method right for others. Not to the extent that was needed anyway, so instead I split my efforts into focusing on strengthening our bodies with Sith Alchemy while my regeneration project became more physical. The implant was the solution I came to. The perfect union of the Force and the physical."

Revna

 

[Revna]

Her gaze flickered back to the Sith Lord when he spoke again in a more amused tone, and she was relieved to hear that it wasn’t a reprimand for her bold words and her threat. She gave him a narrow glare, though it was clear that there was no true hostility or anger in her words. Just exasperated frustration that came with her burning curiosity.

“No. I am not accepting that as an answer!” she replied back with a huff, before composing herself and returning to her more usual attentive and respectful demeanor when he raised his hand to placate her. Revna gave the Sith a small half smile, before falling silent to give him her attention. She didn’t really know what to expect next, and when he started circling around the operation table she sat on, she realized that whatever he was about to tell her had significance and was perhaps more…personal.

Revna followed him with her amber eyes, listening quietly as the Sith Lord shared with her the existence of ancient beings, telling her that they were made and not born in the conventional sense, making more of themselves through use of their own blood…while consuming the blood of other beings in order to survive. They are hunters, predators… came the realization through her mind as she digested what he shared.

Then, Darth Strosius dropped the bombshell on her: that he was one of these beings himself.

Revna’s eyes shifted back to him sharply, alert and never leaving his form as he continued to circle around the table. She noticed him gazing at his right hand, flexing the fingers as he continued to share more, the revelation that he had healed wounds after becoming such a creature, and had become so much stronger than he had been before. But it came at a cost - a thirst for the life essence of others that could not be ignored, only satiated for a short time.

Her High Priest continued, casting a glance over at her as he did so, and revealed that he had wanted to share his gift with others - and implied that he had done so, but it had not turned out the way he had hoped it would. A chill ran over Revna’s skin as her breathing became almost nonexistent; she sat frozen in place, the only part of her that moved were her eyes that now regarded the robed Sith Lord with a measure of caution and wariness that one hunter might give to another who was far more dangerous than they were.

She then learned the name of such creatures, what her own Master was: a Sangnir. And that Salneva was one as well. Many mysterious and unknown questions Revna had had over time suddenly clicked into place, and that dawning understanding revealed itself on her pale face. But though many more questions formed in her mind and could be seen in her golden gaze, she held her tongue and let the man finish what he wanted to tell her.

Her wariness softened when she heard and felt his shame and regret, the first time she’d ever felt such things from her Master. The burden of sharing what he was had come back to haunt him, and a sadness filled the young woman when she learned that the others who had received his gift had to be…purged. He didn’t outright say it, but she had a strong suspicion that he had been the one to destroy those beastial individuals who had become lost to their thirst.

But almost as soon as the regret came over him, he waved it off and perked up once more as he shared further that he had changed his methods for his followers, his faithful. Individuals like her. But through experiments he had found something that had worked…the implant that she was soon to receive.

Revna stared at the Sith when he turned to face her once more, and though she couldn’t physically see his face or his expression, she could feel his determination and the pride he felt, if only briefly. She had learned to read him, in a way; she had studied his body language and learned to read or sense his emotions or presence within the Force itself, as it oftentimes was the only way she could tell what mood he was in, and how best to communicate with him. But this presented its own challenges: it allowed for a connection to be built and formed from her side towards him - something he could feel and be aware of too, if he noticed it. She knew that many Sith looked down upon such bonds, considering it a weakness and not something that should be formed between a master and their apprentice, but it had been done more out of necessity. At least, that was what she told herself - but there was far more to it than just that and she was too afraid to admit it to herself, let alone the man in front of her.

When he had finished speaking, a heavy silence fell between them. Many things churned within Revna’s mind; answers to a myriad of pondered questions and mysteries…as well as even more questions that arose to replace the answered ones.

“Well…now I understand why you don’t eat food like the rest of us.” the little Sith muttered, finally breaking the silence. “This…is a lot to take in. And I don’t suppose there are many out there that know about the existence of…what is it? Sangnir? What…what happens to those who do learn about the existence of them, uh…your…kind?” She paused again for a moment, leaving the rest of that question unsaid - her gaze flickering away to the surgical droid for a moment before turning back to the High Priest’s expressionless mask. “Are there others…like you and Salneva? Or are you two the only ones of your kind left in the Order? And… please forgive me if this is a rather personal question but why did you choose this for yourself? Why did you become a Sangnir? Do you regret that decision?”


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius didn't seem to move at all during the silence as he let Revna absorb all that he had said, his expressionless visor simply staring at her as he waited for her response. A response that drew a little laugh out of him when it came. "I do still need some nutrients that cannot be gained from meat and blood alone, I simply prefer to dine alone. Too many questions regarding my mouth of fangs come up otherwise." Among many other questions of course but those ones were usually the first to come.

"There are more than I know but less than you'd think. They are scattered, disparate, creatures of solitude and hunger that do not interact well with the wider galaxy. A few exist within the ranks of Wonosa still and even a handful within the Sith Order itself, but aside from that I cannot say how many there might be. Their existence is less a secret and more a...rumor. A little known fact." If he sensed her trepidation regarding his reveal then he chose not to comment on it and simply let his words serve as enough of a consolation that she was not in danger.

There was however a little pause and hesitancy of his own when she asked the two personal questions. Two questions that he had been hoping she wouldn't have, that he didn't want to answer. But he had promised her that she would receive clarity. "I..." His voice faltered, his head snapping to the side as though frustrated and surprised at himself for it. He hadn't done that in front of her before, and very rarely in front of his followers at all. After a moment to recompose himself he reluctantly spoke again.

"I was...in love."

Again notes of shame and regret slipped into his words but this time accompanied by a deep sadness, so anathema to his usual fiery and stalwart tone. "I was young. New. To the Sith Empire I was nothing but another face in the crowd, another Acolyte to be thrown into war. But then...then I met her." He almost sounded wistful as he slowly stepped away from the operating table, as though recalling some path he had walked in a memory. "She was...she was breathtaking. Strong, cunning, brutal, everything that a Sith should be. She was beautiful. And she treated me as an equal, as a partner. It was only a matter of time before she owned my heart, despite her noble status. But she never cared for such things, for such boundaries. Not when she returned my affections."

He paused in his little walk to run a hand along the top of the console that he had been standing next to when Revna first entered, his other clasped behind his back. "But the war took its toll on us both. I had lost a hand, she was robbed of both her arms. I was willing to settle for a cybernetic replacement, but settling wasn't in her nature." A hollow chuckle escaped him before he sighed deeply. "She caught wind of the Sangnir, of their ability to regenerate and heal just about every wound one could suffer. She asked for my aid and I gave it without question or hesitation. We tracked them to Nar Shaddaa, to a dingy and dank den of hunger and sin. There we were given the chance to become like them and she accepted eagerly, and I did so simply because I didn't want her to change alone..."

Darth Strosius trailed off and raised his head slightly from where it had sagged, barely noticing how his idly grip of the console had tightened until the metal beneath his fingers began to crack and dent. "Love...it blinded me. It drove me to seek approval and acceptance by one that in any other circumstance I would have despised..." His hand fell from the console as he turned back to look at Revna. "I don't regret it, because had I not become Sangnir then I wouldn't be here today. But I do regret why I did it. I regret that I allowed myself to be so...influenced and controlled by another. All because of a young and foolish heart."

Revna

 

[Revna]

“I…can understand wanting to eat alone, then. I would too if I was constantly being bothered by such questions. Is…is that why you wear a mask all the time? So you don’t have to deal with such questions from others?” Revna asked in a more quiet voice, though her curiosity was still evident.

To hear that there were others of his kind did make her a little wary once more, especially when she heard that there were a few within the Order of Wonosa itself, as well as some within the wider Sith Order. But, she was wise enough to know and acknowledge that nothing would change for her with the knowledge she now possessed; life would carry on the same, had she learned about this or not.

Now that might be a different story in regards to how Darth Strosius and his Disciple interacted from here forward. This revelation was nothing small or insignificant, and she knew that. The fact that he had even decided to tell her anything revealed to her that he trusted her with that knowledge. But…even then, she would now forever know what he was, and he would know that she knew.

There was both danger and assurance in that.

She could not have anticipated his reaction towards her more personal question of him, however - of just why he chose to become a Sangnir. Revna watched the Sith Lord carefully, noticing the hesitation, and for a moment she expected him to reject her question. She would have understood if he had - but to her great shock and surprise, he continued.

And what he told her next utterly shocked her, enough that she blinked in her surprise and her face showed the surprise she felt.

Her hardheaded, stubborn, stoic and zealous master who almost didn’t seem capable of such a thing…had once been in love.

Revna unconsciously held her breath as the notes of shame and regret echoed in his words, and the unmistakable lilt of sorrow colored the tale he shared with her. To hear him express such words of adoration for someone he once knew brought a cascade of tumultuous emotions and feelings within Revna, for they reminded her of how she felt for someone in her own life. And for a startling moment, all Revna could recall was her talk with the Sith Empress, who had tried to explain what love and affection looked like, what it was, to the little woman.

What Lady Talon had shared with Revna had revealed something to her that no one knew about. And probably never would - unless the hand of fate guided her to reveal the truth in time.

To hear that the war had taken its toll on them both, had left them missing parts of themselves, brought a small frown to Revna’s face. That frown only deepened the more he shared, the more he revealed. The young Sith lowered her gaze to stare at her folded hands, their hue darkened by the chaotic tumble of thoughts within her mind as she listened.

A silent revelation came to her then, something that made her skin prickle with an icy chill and her chest hurt. What was love…but a powerful form of devotion? Why else would he have willingly followed his former lover into that dingy lair, and went through the same process with her, without regard to his own ambitions or feelings on the matter? He said that it - love - had blinded him…perhaps that was true. But she didn’t know what love truly looked like. But she knew what devotion looked like. And to her, from what she heard from him…they were one and the same.

She felt his gaze upon her, but she refused to look up from her hands, even as he said that he didn’t regret becoming what he was…only the reason why he had done it. For a long time, all she could do was sit in silence, her thoughts zipping through what he had revealed to her…and what she was going through in her own young life, of the similarities that they both shared. It made her wonder…was she being foolish? Was she allowing someone to control and influence her? Someone whom she hadn’t seen and spoken to for some time?

For the first time in her life, Revna found herself wanting desperately to tell someone what was going on in her soul, her heart. Someone who would understand, someone she felt a…connection with. But he had trusted her enough to tell her all of this, to bare a painful part of his past life to her. How could she sully that sacred moment with her own struggles, with her own inner turmoil? No...she would keep it all inside, and drown in it. Even though she didn't want to.

After a few long moments, she finally found the courage to lift her head and look back at him briefly. She tried to make her face a mask, something to hide behind.

"What...happened, to make you regret going through that with her?" Revna asked him gently in a softer, more subdued voice. She wasn't sure if he'd share that part with her, as she imagined it was painful. But she asked him anyway; it was up to him if he wished to share more or not.


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

"I wear this mask because it is my face, the face of Darth Strosius." He idly reached up to tap one of the two blade-like extensions at the bottom of the mask. "Just as these robes are my skin. Just as your name is Revna Sharr, because all that came before is dead and better forgotten than remembered." A rather simple response but one that was no less true. "We are what we are now and that is all that matters. Names, faces, pasts, these things are unimportant unless you wish them to be so."

Darth Strosius crossed his arms behind his back as he let silence settle between them, let Revna drink in his tale and allow himself a few moments to try and ease the tension that had settled into his shoulders. To calm the swirling tides of emotions that were running rampant just beneath the fragile placid surface. Thankfully she seemed content to stare at her hands so he could spare all the little fidgets and twitches that he needed to in order to try and recompose himself in a satisfactory manner.

A composure that was almost instantly erased as she looked back at him and asked the dreaded question.

For a moment there was nothing from the masked man, nothing but an eerily silent stare. Then the screen of the console's terminal cracked, a noise which caused the droid to flinch and retreat slightly, as he let out a sigh. "She died." A stiff and carefully articulated remark that somehow seemed even more offensive to the ears than the cracking of the screen moments before it. One laden with venom and sorrow in equal measure and with such potency that it cut through the silence like a blade through flesh.

"The war. The Imperials. The Jedi. The Alliance. Those that claimed to lead the Sith, but only lead themselves. They took her from me. Just as they took Dromund Kaas, our home, from the faithful of Wonosa. Just as they took the Sith Empire." His shoulders grew slack and sagged even as his words grew to a more familiar tone. Gone was the sorrow, the regret, the pain, instead came the wrath of the High Priest once more. "We were separated, battling on different worlds, across different fronts. And I never saw her- I never saw the woman I loved again." A correction. An error.

Darth Strosius looked away from Revna, shifted his entire form to the side, and despite his efforts to remain composed it was clear to see that his hands were clasped together behind his back because they were trembling. But not with fear or sadness. Not when he spat his next remark with such fire. "The universe is cruel, my Disciple. And that cruelty manifested to punish me for my failings." His voice was hollow yet still somehow so vibrant and brimming with energy.

"The woman I loved had died. But one wearing her face, her name, even her Sangnir form and powers, came to me one day. But she wasn't the same, no matter what she claimed or what my eyes could see. I knew the truth." His hands slipped free from their own prison, hanging loosely at his side as his gaze shifted down to where his own robes brushed against the floor. "I knew that Alina Tremiru was dead." Loose fingers clenched into fists at a moment's notice, as though flinching from his own words.

"After all that I had done, all that I had...became for her, and she left me. Alone. In a galaxy surrounded by enemies, with no home and with a ship full of the last remnants of an empire that I alone hadn't abandoned. And after leaving me in such a state she didn't even have the decency to keep her visage from greeting me once more, albeit in a much more wicked and vile state." He looked down at his right hand and with seemingly great effort opened up his fist to reveal a palm now ever so slightly marred with indents from his fingers. Not that he seemed to mind.

"The heart is a cruel thing Revna. It is vulnerable and conquerable, able to be rendered to ruins and tatters before you even know that you've been struck at all. The one type of wound that not even I can simply shrug off and regenerate from." His voice was quieter and more solemn than before, a sudden shift that betrayed what lay beyond his spite and wrath. In this particular instance at least. "You will fall in love, it is inevitable. But do guard your heart carefully young one. Do not do as I did."

The masked man's gaze snapped back to the Disciple as he idly gestured at her with a wave. "If you do indeed find someone that claims your heart as you claim theirs, then do not let them wound you. Whether that be holding them close or never letting them in at all, do what you must. Take this lesson and think on it. Learn from my mistakes and dare not repeat them." He crossed back to the operating table in a few swift strides, the 'mask' falling over him and his rampant emotions once more as he resumed the position of teacher rather than speaker.

"Now, any other questions regarding the implant?"

Revna

 

[Revna]

She knew the question she asked him was deep, and personal. And she expected no answer or response in return, and she would have accepted that given the tense nature of his story, and the emotions it stirred up within him. She knew she was treading on a knife’s edge, and didn’t know if he would snap or shut down. She didn’t want him to do either, but she wanted to know more.

Revna kept her eyes on his emotionless mask for only a moment or two longer, before shifting them away due to the eerie silence that had befallen him, and she flinched when the sharp cracking sounds of the console’s terminal echoed through the small surgical room. Though she was tense, she did not fear the Sith Lord. Even in his heightened emotional state, she knew in her heart that he wouldn’t harm her.

But when she heard his next words, spoken with equal parts venom and grief, her gaze snapped back to him in surprise, and regret flashed across her face for even asking him such a question that made him re-live such a painful memory. She almost asked him to stop, but he continued further and she could do nothing but sit there, frozen in place as she listened as the fires of his wrath were rekindled. Her whole demeanor was somber when he looked away from her again, and she couldn’t help but silently agree with him that the universe was indeed very cruel.

That somberness melted away in an instant though when he revealed that his former lover had been none other than Lady Tremiru herself…who was also a Sangnir. More things clicked into place for Revna; now she knew why Salneva had reminded her of the Sith Lady that she had stared down fearlessly and spoken to briefly so long ago at the Life Day gala, the same one who Strosius had spoken so viciously to. Both were Sangnirs; both women had that predatory aura about them.

The little Sith woman watched her Master with the same somber silence that had overtaken her for some time now. She couldn’t even begin to fathom the pain of what he had to go through, of the hand that he had been dealt. His words were bitter as he recalled how the woman had left him, and in that moment Revna understood the words of caution from Lady Talon - that love could drive one to achieve great things, or to commit great folly. And it seemed that her Master had experienced that pain for himself.

The Sith’s wrath drained away, and his voice returned to being quiet and more controlled. His words carried a lesson for her, one that mirrored the same lessons she had heard from the Empress - and that alone made the knowledge sink far deeper than she imagined it would, and she was lost in thought even as he shifted back into the form of her teacher - composed and dignified - and made it clear the topic he had just discussed was over, as he asked her if she had any further questions about the implant she was going to receive shortly.

But Revna wasn’t quite ready to let the moment pass her by. She debated back and forth on if she should speak at all or carry on and miss an opportunity, the chance, that presented itself to share with someone of great importance to her. She stared at her hands for a long moment, before she looked up with a shadowed gaze to the Sith Lord.

“...I am sorrowful for having you relive all of that. But I thank you at the same time for imparting your wisdom to me on this …topic. I do not trust easily, and as it stands there are only two individuals in this entire galaxy that I would trust enough to share deeper things with…and you are one of them. I have...considered holding my silence but I cannot right now; if I do I will drown. Until recently…I didn’t know what love was. And if I can be honest with you - I still don’t, not really. I…sought out someone, the only other person I trust, to help me understand why I felt a certain way with a certain individual, who I haven’t seen or spoken to in a while now. And I know that you know who I am speaking of; I tried to hide my…friendliness with him but I know that you were aware of it.”

She paused for a moment and returned her eyes to her hands, idly playing with a fold of her black robe, feeling the texture in her hand as she tried to make sense of everything, and find the courage to speak more.

“My mother was supposed to show me what love is. But she didn’t. She chose not to - because what parent wants to form a bond with a child that will eventually be torn away from them, or could die? And as a slave-child, I was shown no love and therefore I grew up my entire life without knowing what it is, or what it looks like. I don’t think I would know that someone else was expressing love to me, unless I was told they were. I just feel…closer to certain individuals in my life; people I would do anything for, pay any price for, and make any sacrifice for. People I would face death and suffering for - and without fear or reservation. And if they betrayed that then I know that all I would feel is wrath, and probably repay that with my own vengeance. But that is not love to me, as I don’t feel the desire to show affections to these individuals. At least, I don’t think or believe this is what others call love. Or maybe it is…and I just don’t realize it. Something else...drives me. And it may be the only thing I ever feel, but maybe that's a good thing...”

She sighed heavily and looked back at Strosius once more, more reserved and guarded than she normally was.

“...Will the implant make me stronger too? Or is that something that is only a Sangnir thing? And speaking of which…” Revna paused as she considered her next words: “...you know me, and you are aware of how curious I am, or can be. I want to know more about what you are, about the Sangnir. And if you are not willing to tell me, I will go find someone who is. More than likely Salneva…but I would rather such knowledge come from you, as she is not my Master - you are.”


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

What he had assumed to be a simple thankful remark for sharing, perhaps a bit too much really, his tale quickly caught his attention as she mentioned that he was one of two individuals that Revna trusted in such a manner. Darth Strosius cocked his head to the side as he looked back at his apprentice with a mixture of surprise and curiosity hidden behind his mask. Of course there was the natural question of just who else had managed to sway her in influence comparable to himself but there were a few easy candidates.

Malum and his kin were the most likely options in that regard, albeit the Heir of Marr himself was quickly removed from that list of potentials given that the advice she sought from them was about a specific person that they both knew she was fond of. "Malum's protégé, Zachariah." As usual he had no qualms about answering the unspoken question, rather bluntly agreeing with her statement that he was indeed well aware of who she meant. He had been young and in love once after all and Revna's control over her emotions wasn't nearly as secure as she thought it was. Not from him at least.

"I cannot judge you too harshly for involving yourself with one of noble birth, I am no hypocrite, just be wary and cautious. Ensure that your...fondness is mutual before you delve too deep." That was a mistake that he had made, too blinded by his own wretched heart to see what was right in front of him. Yet he would not deny the chance for his apprentice to learn such an error for herself. Or, if one were optimistic, deny her the possibility of genuine connection and romance. Although he wouldn't say it aloud a part of him was hoping that this affection and interest were fleeting things, just in case.

Revna's lack of proper understanding about what love was, what it meant or even how to identify it at all, was far from shocking given the circumstances. Something that was different during their enslavement he supposed, he had gotten to live with his parents for a good chunk of his childhood before they died. There were some benefits of being in a slave colony after all it seemed. "Loyalty, care, love, all similar and all fueled by passion. But do recall that passion is what breaks the lie of peace, for no relationship is ever truly stagnant. Friends will grow apart or come closer together, loved ones will drift or remain by your side, those that you love may find ways to betray you and harm you in ways you never thought possible or they may find new ways of broadening their place in your heart and mind."

Rather than giving her a direct answer he instead offered context and wisdom, tips and clues that would hopefully help her find out the meaning behind her emotions all on her own. He never did like making it too easy on his Disciples after all. If he even could in this instance, at the end of the day this was a matter that only Revna herself could properly sort out and identify. He could sense her emotions all he wanted but to actually read her thoughts and the meaning behind those feelings was another issue entirely. "Stay true to your instincts if nothing else. They are rarely wrong, even if they are often poorly timed or uninformed."

Thankfully she shifted the subject to one that he could explain and go into detail about without much issue, with the masked man perking up a bit at the mention of the implant and Sangnir. As well as a scoff and a light chuckle at her remark that she would simply seek answers elsewhere if he wasn't willing to provide them. "Well you wouldn't have much luck in that regard young one. Salneva knows just enough about Sangnir to keep herself and the others like her cared for. And aside from myself there are only two others in the Sith Order that may know anything at all about the Sangnir."

There was a pause as Darth Strosius stood up straighter for a moment before leaning in, the light catching his visor in a menacing glint. "And you are not to speak with them. For they are not only enemies of mine but enemies of the Sith as well." He crossed his arms behind his back and began his pacing once again as all venom and intensity vanished from his tone. "The implant only offers healing I'm afraid. The additional abilities of the Sangnir are...difficult to replicate on any meaningful scale and that's only if such efforts succeed at all. Thankfully there are some other ancient rituals and techniques that I have come across that can help bridge the gap."

His pacing stopped in front of her and he idly gestured with some waves of his hand as he continued. "Battlelords undergo a series of rituals that grant them minor versions of more complex powers that normally take half a lifetime to fully learn and master for example. In my experiments in empowering myself with the Force I have crafted and discovered a few more unique rituals and methods too. However...nothing is without cost. Without price and drawbacks." He then nodded to where he knew she kept her lightsaber sheathed on her person.

"You remember the visceral reaction I had to that awful crystal that you couldn't Bleed? That was a glimpse at the main risk of such rituals. To imbue yourself with the Dark Side itself is divine indeed, but the Light Side becomes far more dangerous. I doubt I could set foot on a world with a Light Side Force Nexus for instance, or at least not for very long." A very inconvenient, and potentially deadly, drawback indeed. One that he had yet to find a cure or correction for. The keyword of course being 'yet.'

Revna

 

[Revna]

A smile touched her face when her Master spoke aloud who she had referred to in her statement, and nodded. “Yes…Zachariah.”

His statement about her involving herself with someone who was of noble blood made her smile turn slightly sardonic. “You know I am of noble blood too, right? I just don’t flaunt it like others do. And yes…wisdom would demand that I make sure he feels or thinks the same of me. Though he did reciprocate my friendliness…so I assume it is or was mutual. As I said before, we haven’t seen or spoken to each other for some time. He is a good friend, and I would drop everything to be there at his side at a moment’s notice. I do miss him…but it has entered my mind that I am simply a tool for him to use when he needs me. Such would be the Sith way, I suppose…”

There was a touch of something in her voice…pain?...but it was gone a moment later as the man shared more of his wisdom and insight with her, and she drank it all in…despite the fact that he was being vague purposefully. But she caught onto what he was saying quickly, nodding in understanding.

“I…feel like a relationship wouldn’t be real unless it had moments where it was tried and tested…right? Conflict makes us stronger. It’s how you learn who is loyal to you, and who isn’t.”

Again, Revna nodded with her Master’s insight to listen to her instincts. That had been something the Empress had said as well, though she refrained from sharing that much with the man. She knew he did not like the Echani, though why she couldn’t understand - Lady Talon was a wonderful woman, and she sometimes wished her stubborn High Priest could see her the way Revna saw her. But she knew that was likely to never happen.

And thus, she kept her visits and her relationship with the Empress a secret from him. One he would no doubt one day discover, but that was a problem for another day.

The Sith Lord seemed rather relieved that she chose to change the topic, and she smiled slightly with his scoff and chuckle at her threat to go and find someone else to learn about the Sangnir from if he didn’t share that much with her. She was a little surprised to hear that Salneva, despite being one of his own kind, wouldn’t be much help to the small Apprentice with that sort of information. He mentioned that besides himself there were only two others in the Sith Order that knew about the Sangnir, before pausing briefly. Revna felt the energy shift around him as he leaned in closer to her and she went very still as her Master made it extremely clear to her that she was not to speak with the others as they were his enemies. The venom and tone of his voice was like a blade into her brain; this was a matter he was dead serious on, and she knew that if she disobeyed him on this…there would be dire consequences to face.

Sometimes, she was cheeky enough to test him on things he told her not to do. This…was not something she would dare cross him on.

“I…understand, my Lord.” she replied in a more subdued, softer voice, her way of telling him that his message rang loud and clear.

Revna watched him return to his pacing, and all the intensity in his voice from before was gone as he went back into his teacher mindset. The implant it seemed would only offer healing, which was fine in her opinion. The fact that she was even being considered and blessed with this device was an honor. Other abilities that the Sangnir possessed were hard to replicate, but Darth Strosius mentioned that there were ancient rituals that could help with those.

He stopped in front of her again and the dark haired woman watched him attentively, listening and absorbing what he said about how his Battlelords underwent a series of rituals that helped them gain minor versions of more complex powers, faster than they otherwise would have. Though of course these rituals had a price to pay.

Something that Revna had slowly come to learn and understand: the Dark side had a price to be paid by those who sought after its knowledge and power. Some were willing to pay that price, others…not so much. Revna wasn’t entirely sure where she stood in that regard, not yet anyway.

“Yes, how could I forget?” she replied with an amused smile on her face. She hadn’t meant to laugh at her Master’s discomfort at the time, but she still found his reaction to the golden stone rather…amusing. But…now she understood a little bit as to why he reacted so strongly. It had clearly been a price to be paid for conducting one of these mysterious rituals on himself.

The woman tilted her head, curious as ever. “Can you tell me more about this or these rituals? You give me just enough information to snatch my interest and force me to chase down these answers.” she glowered at him for a moment, before narrowing her eyes. “And you still haven’t told me more about the Sangnir. I want to know more, everything. And you said I couldn’t go talk to these other two in the Sith Order, and I will obey you on that. But you never said anything about the others outside the Order…”

Her expression and gaze took on a daring, almost challenging, glint. “I’m sure I could…track some down somewhere, though that would probably be very dangerous for me to do. I’ll go anywhere to track down the knowledge that I want. Unless you share it with me, that is.”

She gave her Master an innocent smile though deviousness danced in her eyes, almost as if this was a little bit of a game for her.

 

[Darth Strosius]

"You might have noble blood somewhere in your veins, but nothing about you is of higher class." Were such a statement said by anyone else it would be an insult but Darth Strosius spoke it as though it was a compliment, a reassurance even. "You are Revna Sharr first and foremost. A bit of Marr heritage changes little in that regard." Part of him did idly wonder what the odds were that his apprentice would be related, no matter how distant, to the Heir of Marr given their previous shared apprenticeship. It was an interesting coincidence but it did explain Revna's natural aptitude with the Force.

The blessing of Force Sensitivity was often carried down the bloodline, such was one of the reasons he never discouraged the Sith under his banner from pursuing personal relationships. Some might even seek out and see if they could claim a grand legacy like that of Darth Marr but the masked man himself had no interest in such things. He was Sith and that was enough of a legacy for him to live up to.

He chose not to sway his Disciple's opinion of her potential interest one way or the other, simply letting her speak her mind and nodding as he continued with more generalized advice. Preferably if she did find someone to love then they wouldn't be of noble birth and upbringing, if only for simplicity's sake, but in the end it was her decision regardless. It wasn't like he was some heavy-handed father deciding who was or wasn't worthy of her attention and affection after all.

As expected the relationship chatter was swiftly moved past when the promise of secrets regarding himself and the nature of the Force came into the discussion. Her challenge made his gaze narrow but he knew that it was simply a tactic meant to draw out further answers to her burning curiosity. Well, that and a genuine threat. She did have a habit of wandering off whenever he was occupied, always coming back with new questions and even sometimes items that hinted at some adventure that he wasn't fully privy to. As long as she returned that was all that mattered.

"The rituals vary, as many things tend to do, but in general they come in the form of alchemical enhancement and imbuement of the body." Outright converting a Sith into a Sithspawn as most might think of was dangerous and inefficient, due to said Sithspawn often going feral from how their body rejected the Dark Side's influence, but minor modifications and additions tended to keep the Sith stable while still granting them some new abilities. "Most commonly they involve the extraction, imbuement, then reintroduction of blood into the body. This process is best done multiple times in small increments in order to give the body time to adjust and limit negative reactions as much as possible."

Negative bodily reactions were something that he could speak of with plenty of experience. Having such an enhanced regenerative ability did help mitigate the worst and more permanent side effects but it hardly dulled the pain of the body rejecting the new material. "There are also some more...physical imbuements. Replacing or plating a hand with imbued metal for example, or detaching a body part and imbuing it then reattaching it. Both of these process are naturally very risky however so I rarely employ them unless I'm certain the recipient can handle them."

Typically he only resorted to such exaggerated methods for those that either had proven themselves exceptionally capable or for those who happened to have a greater healing factor and body stability than most. Some species were simply hardier than others so it only made sense to vary the methods of application. "As for Sangnir, there are a few more details that I suppose are relevant."

Darth Strosius doubted that she would care whether they were relevant or not in truth but if he spun his words in this manner then it made him feel less like he was caving into her demands. "Sangnir themselves come in three varieties, that being Highblooded, Lowblooded, and Feral. Lowblood Sangnir are the most common as that is what one will become when first transformed, they possess regeneration and enhanced physical abilities. Serving as the baseline they can become the other two types based on a few factors and triggers."

As usual when the masked man was lecturing Revna, his posture had straightened and one hand had crossed behind his back while the other made idle gestures to enunciate his words. A seemingly compulsory stance that he slipped into seamlessly and without noticing. "Feral Sangnir are what occur when a Lowblood doesn't feed properly or for an extended period of time. They are why I had to find another solution to the regenerative ability that I possess, it is simply too dangerous to transform individuals on a large scale as most of them would inevitably become Feral. Mindless beasts who seek nothing but blood and care little for much else."

There was a subtle hint of the regret from earlier but it was swiftly brushed aside as he continued on. "Highblooded Sangnir are the pinnacle of the species, as they cannot turn Feral and they possess the ability to transform into a more beastly form known as a 'War Form' should they need even more strength and destructive potential. The method to become one is...vague however. I only became one by devouring an existing Highblood, but I can assume some ritual or other trigger would cause one to ascend to become Highblooded as well." The way that he glossed over and swiftly moved past the details of how he had became Highblooded was intentional and a hard stare served to dissuade any questions on that matter.

Some things were better left unknown and unsaid.

"However Sangnir can manipulate other species in ways other than simply increasing their own numbers. By using their special connection to blood and the lifeforce inherent in it they can slightly modify and influence other beings in a couple of ways, however I prefer to use the Force for such things. Similar results in the end." He then gestured towards Revna before crossing both arms behind his back. "Now, I'm sure you have questions and areas of interest?"

Revna

 

[Revna]

“I suppose you are right about that.” She said softly before she briefly cast her gaze down to her hands before looking back up into his mask. “But…to go from being a nobody, having no legacy, no family…nothing…to suddenly being connected to a family line that stretches back thousands of years, means something special to me. It fulfilled a wish I’ve had since I was a child.”

There was a pause for a few moments, before her somber expression returned to that of being a bit playful and devious, and a smirk tug at her lips. “But…it seems you can’t escape having a Marr around all the time. Though I’d argue I’m the better alternative to cousin Malum.”

The conversation moved on, with her issuing her challenge in the end. Revna waited to see how her boldness would be received, and for a few heartbeats there was silence between them. Up until this moment, she hadn’t really directly challenged her Master before in such a manner, and she was curious to see if he would give in to what she asked, or if he would rebuke her.

It took a lot of effort on her part not to smile in her small victory when the Sith Lord chose to speak on the topics. It seemed her threat had held some weight, enough to make her Master give her what she was after. Of course, he had the authority and the power to deny her challenge, even chastise her for it, but he chose not to.

He started off sharing about the rituals in how they involved imbuing and enhancing the body through alchemy - ideally through the blood, though she soon learned that whole body parts could be imbued and enhanced, though this process sounded dangerous and not something that an inexperienced Sith should dabble in. Revna listened intently, as was her usual manner, memorizing what he shared. Her curiosity was further piqued and even though she heard about the risks and the negative reactions that could come from such rituals, she found herself becoming more and more interested in the topic.

After a brief pause, Strosius switched the conversation to that of the Sangnir, and the small Disciple listened most eagerly. Perhaps some might have been…disturbed…upon learning the truth that the High Priest had shared with her. But to Revna, she found herself more intrigued than anything. She absorbed everything he shared, partially because it was more knowledge for her to take in, but also because he was sharing with her about who and what he was. And for her, that was special.

She was a little bit surprised by how much he chose to share, though she wasn’t going to complain about it by any means. She learned about the three distinct types of Sangnir, and what happened when one did not feed regularly. Based on what he was telling her now, and what he had shared with her earlier - she pieced together that the individuals he had talked about, the ones who had to be purged - must have become Ferals.

A hint of sadness rippled over Revna, as she thought about how hard it must have been to watch others be destroyed, who had been given the ‘gift’. She didn’t quite understand how the process worked, or if there was some sort of kinship involved when one created another Sangnir - but she imagined the experience was painful to the masked man. It certainly would explain the somber regret she’d heard in his voice earlier.

The sadness drifted away like smoke on the wind as the man continued, however. He shared about the Highbloods, that they were the peak of their species and thus had certain special traits - such as not being able to become a Feral, but also having a secondary form he called a “war form”. She blinked back a bit of surprise to hear that her own Master was one of these Highbloods, and that he had…eaten?...another to become what he was now? Of course, Strosius knew his young Apprentice well - and though he touched on the topic of how one could rise to become the elite of their kind, he didn’t go further into details, and she didn’t have to see his gaze or his face to know that the story behind that was off limits to her.

Darth Stroisus finished off his little lesson by sharing how the Sangnirs could manipulate other species, using their connection to blood and to one’s lifeforce - however he chose not to go this route, preferring to use the Force instead for such things. A small relief to her, as it did cross her mind if he had manipulated her in some way, shape or form - to keep her as loyal to him as possible. But she cast that suspicion away; her loyalty came not from an outside source, but from within her. It was still possible he could have influenced it - and in some ways he had, though not in the same way.

The Sith gestured towards her and asked if she had questions, and she couldn’t help but smile slightly.

“You know me so well. Okay first off - You…ate…one of your own kind?! Is that something that…that Sangnirs…do often? Is it like…a dominance thing? A territorial thing?” She was aware that her questions might be probing a little too far into the topic he was not willing to discuss with her, but she wasn’t asking in a way to manipulate him into telling her the story. More or less simply to learn more about the nature of his kind.

“And second - you have a ‘war form’ too, since you are a Highblood? Do Sangnirs have like…social groups or something? I was curious about that since you said that there are others in the Order of Wonosa that are Sangnirs too, and I assume you, uh, changed them. And uh…what, what do Sangnirs do with people who learn about who they are, that they exist? I imagine that the mystery behind their existence is kept that way for a reason, yes?”

Revna pursed her lips for a moment in thought after asking such a question, as a memory resurfaced to her. “Reason why I ask is because I recall something that happened a while back…someone told me what you are, back when I was staying with Malum. Called you a different name though…a…vampire, I think is what he said? Said you ‘fell in love with a noble vampire lady’ or something like that. He tried to undermine my…trust in you - spread gossip: ‘Your master keeps secrets from you, how does that make you feel’ sort of thing. I meant to ask you about it when I saw you again during that time period but…we were so busy that it was the last thing on my mind. Until now, that is. And I do want to know more about this whole...imbuing the body with alchemy and whatnot. All of this is just utterly fascinating for me, but I suppose it would be best to just deal with one topic at a time.”


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius could only offer a shrug in regards to Revna's apparent longstanding desire to have a family, or any kind of lineage to hearken back to. "So long as it pleases you." It was a sentiment that he could somewhat understand but not really sympathize with. He was so far removed from what he was, from who he was, at his birth. Such details hardly mattered when they were ones beyond his control, beyond his ability to manipulate and change. What he did and chose to be simply mattered far more than what he began as in his mind.

"Oh you most certainly are." That would draw a chuckle and a nod from the masked man, there being a noticeable relief in his shoulders for a moment as Revna's expressions shifted away from somberness and to a more lighthearted one. There were many Marrs but he wouldn't hesitate to label her as his favorite. If only because she was actually willing and able to listen to him and heed his words, even if she did sometimes hold a bit of a wild streak just like her relatives.

Thankfully despite the rather grim information there wasn't too much of a falter in her good mood, her curiosity seeming to shine through even in the darkest details of the nature of the Sangnir. And of course when he opened up the floor for questions she had no hesitation in asking. "I'm uncertain if Sangnir conflict often, but all of my conflicts with my fellow beings have been due to Sith reasons more so than anything else." A quick and vague answer, one that he didn't seem keen to elaborate on as he continued.

"I do indeed possess a warform, albeit one slightly altered from the typical by my experimentation with Sith Alchemy. Perhaps one day I can show it to you, but this room is rather small for it now." No part of him was left untouched by his work, by the hand of the Dark Side. That was the way that he wanted it. To be seeped in darkness until he exuded it from his form just as the Holy Worlds did. Thus far he had been doing a fairly decent job at it as well, if he did say so himself.

"I know some group together but I have sired no Sangnir beyond the small handful in the Order of Wonosa, nor do I feel the need to flock with my kind simply because we share a curse. Loyalties and relationships are better built from shared interests and actions in my opinion." The fact that he had come to blows with the other Sangnir in the Sith Order wasn't worth mentioning in his mind, for it would conjure more questions that would need far too much context to answer properly. "Typically one only knows of Sangnir because they are in their employ or related to them somehow, or because they are about to become their next meal. It is not so much a purposeful secrecy as it is simply a byproduct of our nature."

When her next words weren't a question but rather a recollection, it was the masked man's turn to be curious. He cocked his head to the side as Revna recounted a memory regarding someone that apparently knew of what he was, although he did very audibly scoff at the mention of the word 'vampire', and had relayed such to her. How intriguing. Something to look into later he supposed. "Well they were only half right, she was no Sangnir when I fell for her. And to call us 'vampires' would be akin to calling Sith and Jedi 'witches' or 'sorcerers'. A gross oversimplification that may as well be a lie."

His tone was dry and dismissive but it wasn't difficult for someone as close to him as the Disciple was to recognize the hints of interest and tension as he absorbed her tale and all of its implications. "You can give me some additional details sometime in the future, this person might be worth looking into." Which of course meant that he wanted every exhaustive moment of that conversation in vivid detail so that he could find out just who and how someone knew such approximate information regarding him. "I figured that such a topic would be of interest to you, I can give some brief overview."

Darth Strosius seemed far more willing and comfortable to shift the topic back to his alchemical work, something that he knew every detail and facet of unlike the Sangnir. And one that had far less dire results due to being undertaken far more carefully. "The main idea is very simple really, you recall your first lessons on Sith Alchemy? How it all eventually comes back to the modification of an existing material or matter via insertion and influence of the Dark Side? My experiments started with that very concept."

His body language and gestures were far more open and, if one dared to say such, enthusiastic than before. Not too dissimilar to how animated and passionate he became during sermons. "Sith have been modifying lifeforms since our earliest incarnations as you are aware, manipulating creatures into Sithspawn to use them for battle and labor. But Sithspawn were almost always mindless beasts because the rituals used to make them were unsubtle and cruel, overloading a being with the Dark Side until their mind was as broken as their body. I have no use for Sithspawn."

While he did find the art fascinating and he had tampered with some Sithspawning of his own, ultimately he considered them too blunt a tool for his liking. "Instead I experimented with smaller 'dosages' of the Sithspawn process as it were. Which was how I discovered that Sith could become empowered by such a process, granted access to more complex abilities that otherwise would take them years of practice. Not perfectly of course, and not without careful work, but nonetheless very productive and useful results."

Revna

 

[Revna]

Despite the somber, and rather personal, conversation that had transpired minutes prior, the atmosphere seemed to shift back into one that was more familiar to the Disciple as the Sith Lord answered her various questions regarding the Sangnir - though she could tell that he was still a bit uncomfortable talking about the topic with her. She almost felt bad for it - except her hunger to learn everything she could from him was stronger than the side of her.

Some answers he gave her she felt were…glossed over on purpose, but she was wise enough in the moment not to press further on such questions. She wanted him to talk, to teach her things…not get irritated with her and shut down the conversation. It was a delicate balance and even though she hungered for more, she refrained from pressing further about certain things.

Though the light of awe and deepened curiosity was plain on her face when he confirmed that he did have this ‘warform’. And he even mentioned that he might reveal it to her, one day - which made her mind race all the more about what a war form was, or what it looked like. As much as she wanted to know now, she decided she would rather find out first hand. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t voice her enthusiasm about it. “Oh, I certainly would be interested in seeing such a thing! In…the future of course. Whenever you feel like showing it off, I suppose.” Even though she was eager and excited to learn more, and to see such a thing, she left the decision on that up to him.

Revna wasn’t surprised to hear that he didn’t feel the desire to be around others of his own kind; she had a suspicion that the others probably wouldn’t have hung around either if they weren’t so invested and loyal to the Order of Wonosa. It made sense, and she agreed, that everyone that was a part of her Master’s operations - remained due to the loyalty and connection they all shared to a common cause.

…though she did find it intriguing that he called being a Sangnir a curse now, when earlier he had called it a gift. It made her narrow her gaze slightly for a moment as he divulged further answers for her to a more probing question she had asked about what might happen to someone who learned about the existence of his kind. Though her question had been presented in general terms, she had asked as a precaution for herself too. She didn’t believe he would suddenly strike her down because she now knew the truth of what he was, but it never hurt to know if she should expect some sort of threat to remain silent about this. Not that she would run around gossiping about it anyway; she held far too much regard and respect for him and his authority to do that.

“Well, you hid your nature pretty well from me. I had no idea your kind existed until you told me.” Revna said with a shrug. “Though now certain peculiarities about you and Salneva and…the other lady I met at the dance a while back…make sense in hindsight. I now know what to maybe look for, should I ever come across another Sangnir.”

Revna paused for a moment, before asking the masked man a question she had wanted to ask for a long time, but never found the courage to until now. “Why…why did she stare me down like that? I noticed you reacted almost defensively, like you were expecting her to do something. In hindsight, I probably would have been in serious danger had you not been right there, yeah? Do Sangnir kill their…victims, when they feed? Or does it depend on the situation?”

Her revealed recollection seemed to draw an interesting reaction from the Sith Lord. Revna noticed his curious head tilt, and though she couldn’t see behind his mask she figured he might have squinted at the revelation. He scoffed rather pointedly at the term ‘vampire’, and clarified that such a term couldn’t really be used to explain what a Sangnir was, and she was quick to disassociate the term with who and what he was.

Strosius was almost casual in the way he said that she could inform him of further details later on so that he could look into said individual - but she caught the underlying tension in his voice and his words. Her revelation had clearly caught his attention, and she suspected that she would be sharing a lot more about that particular conversation with her Master.

She almost felt bad for the young man who had said those things to her. Did he think she wouldn’t tell her Master about any of what he had said? Did he think he was beyond investigation for revealing such knowledge and information?

“Of course! I’ll share anything and everything you want to know about that conversation, and who said all this to me.” Revna replied almost innocently, though there was an almost wicked glint in her eyes. She would have no problem ratting that young man out.

Her questions about imbuement of the body with alchemy seemed to bring the more animated side of her Master out. He seemed almost relieved to move past the Sangnir topic; alchemy seemed to be a passion of his, as every time they discussed the topic, a different side of him would appear. There was a small smile on her face as she watched his animated gestures and listened intently, as she always did.

She nodded when he asked if she recalled her first lesson in Sith Alchemy with him, and had the key concept in mind as he went on to explain a process called Sithspawning. She had come across the term before in various tomes she had read while staying with her cousin on Alvaria, but she hadn’t dived too deeply into the topic at the time.

But to hear that it could be done on a Sith themselves, or on others, on a smaller scale - immediately fascinated her.

“Oh that is fascinating! So if I am understanding you right…you did this to yourself? And to others? What kind of complex abilities?”


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

It didn't at all surprise him that Revna was still curious to see his warform, despite his own reservations at being seen in such a beastly state. Her well of curiosity seemed endless and when it came to understanding him in particular she seemed almost exceptionally enthusiastic. Something that was as amusing as it was surprising. "You'll see it one day I'm sure. I personally don't see much use in it but I know my...contemporaries do favor it as a strategy relatively often." He much preferred his usual form and style, one cultivated over decades of training rather than granted by blood alone.

"Sangnir are far from the only...predatory species shall we say. Even if you only count for Near-Humans. Our true nature is always meant to be deceptive, like a parasite. Hiding among the rest of the galaxy's population without detection is simply part of our existence." Supposedly there were even other 'cousin' species to the Sangnir but he himself had never seen one, fellow 'vampiric' species that blended in just as well as they did despite having similar thirsts and hungers. A rather terrifying thought in truth given the implications.

There was a subtle but sharp inhale at the mention of how the other Sangnir had looked at her, as though the memory brought back some sort of soreness or ache that he was staving off. "It is...rather uncommon for someone to survive a Sangnir feeding. Often times one cannot be stopped by anything short of great force when they begin feeding, or the body running out of blood to soothe their thirst." It would become more apparent than ever precisely why he chose to keep the amount of Sangnir in his ranks very small.

"It is possible for a Sangnir to stop themselves and fight against their natural urges of course, but this is far easier said then done and most are too overwhelmed by the endless hunger in the moment to consider their actions. Thankfully the Outer Rim has no shortage of criminal scum and vile individuals that have no use aside from sating the thirst of myself and the others." A somewhat grim practice admittedly but one that kept his followers safe and alive and thus it was entirely justified. A small price to pay on his conscience in the end.

He never outright confirmed that she would have been in danger at the dance that day but what he spoke of was clearly in warning. To not let her guard down around creatures such as he, lest they take advantage and she be left a drained husk as so many before had been. He still couldn't say whether it was a shame or a relief that she had instead found her way into the company of the Empress rather than Tremiru. Both were equally vile and dangerous as far as he was concerned.

Darth Strosius had no doubts that she would be more than willing to entertain his curiosity regarding the man that had told her such secrets, even if they were only half true, but her agreement to do so put to rest any lingering concerns that she might be fond of that individual for whatever reason. Someone that knew of him, especially with events from so long ago, would be of great interest. A fun interrogation before a subsequent execution for thinking that they could turn his Disciple against him so easily.

"Well yes, I had to experiment and practice the techniques on someone and given my regenerative capabilities it was only natural that I be the main test subject. Any issues or mistakes could simply be carved away while successes could be kept." Even his own regeneration had been slightly augmented by such experiments, although that particular improvement could hardly be spread to his Sith as a whole for obvious reasons. Sangnir biology was slightly different to most species after all.

"Abilities that would normally take half a lifetime to learn, let alone wield in any meaningful sense. Typically one can just have their existing power amplified and their already mastered abilities would be amplified as well as a result, but there are some advanced techniques that most wouldn't have access to without such rituals." The Sith of Wonosa were fairly weak by comparison, a reliance on quantity over quality. Only a handful, including the Disciples and himself of course, were what most would consider proper Sith material as it were. But if they were blessed then they could be useful in his mind, so giving them an extra helping hand in the form of the rituals was simply a matter of leveling the playing field.

"Battle Meditation is one of the techniques granted to the Battlemasters by the rituals for example, one that allows for a Sith to influence an entire army and make their performance either exceptional or lacking depending on which side the Sith finds themselves on. Normally this ability can only be cultivated by years of training in influencing minds, and even then not without extensive instruction, but with a few careful rituals I can amplify an existing telepathic ability to simulate Battle Meditation. In a lesser form but one of course that is still useful and usable." Nothing was a substitute for proper training and work in the end. There were no shortcuts to power, not even by using the Force itself.

"The trick is to expand upon already known abilities, to modify what is already present in order to get the best results. Simply increasing one's power with the Force can lead to learning more advanced techniques of course but that is something that only the individual can do." Even with such augments, the Sith of Wonosa were barely satisfied. True to his teachings they would always reach for more, always struggle for greater feats. As they should. "I've granted Sith the ability to conjure storms of lightning into being, but in the end only their own willpower and determination can truly unlock greater power. I simply seek to give them the chance to do so."

Revna

 

[Revna]

For some reason, hearing that there were other predatory species out there in the galaxy surprised Revna. It was a stark reminder to her that, even though she lived in the galaxy, there was still so much she didn’t know about it. And likely never would, given that she only had a finite amount of years to her life, and she was certainly almost half way through her lifespan. Perhaps even more, if she were to die between now and old age.

She didn’t imagine very many Sith truly lived to be old anyway. It wasn’t a profession or a lifestyle where one could grow old.

But it made sense that such predatory sentients would hide in plain sight. True hunters learned how to blend in to their surroundings, to fool their prey that was around them, until the perfect moment came to strike.

She caught on to the sharp inhale from her Master upon mentioning the certain incident and person at the Gala event, and her face flushed slightly as she felt a twinge of guilt for even bringing up something, or someone, she now knew was a sore subject with the Sith Lord. Her curious nature and need to learn all she could sometimes pushed her past boundaries she shouldn’t cross. Revna was quiet as Strosius explained that victims rarely survived being preyed upon by a Sangnir, that their drive to sate their thirst was too powerful most of the time. It made sense to her as she considered what he said from a more analytical thought process. The little woman nodded in agreement that the Outer Rim certainly served as a good place to help satiate the hunger of her High Priest, and her Brothers and Sisters who were also Sangnir.

“What better use for them, if they are not to be offered to the Dark side anyway?” she said, almost nonchalant about the topic, seemingly unphased by the morbidness of it. Her expression turned more somber for a moment as she flickered her gaze back to his ever hidden face. “I…I’m sorry for bringing the Gala back up. I don’t mean to remind you of things that…that hurt.” Revna said in a much lower, softer tone of voice that she usually shared - indicating that she was genuine in her apology.

She took a deep breath and exhaled sharply, the conversation moving forward into the topic that brought out a different side to her Master, a side she was always happy to see. She found his passion for the things he took great interest in to be an inspiration for her own keen interests. Her attention was fixated upon the robed Sith as he responded to her further questions about Sithspawning.

His reasoning for experimenting on himself made sense in her mind: he was far more suited to dealing with whatever negative effects that may arise, due to his unique nature. The little Disciple shifted on the operating table she sat upon, becoming far more intrigued and curious as Strosius divulged further information for her to absorb.

Revna made a mental note when he mentioned Battle Meditation; she’d heard about the ability before, but hadn’t truly looked into it much. She knew Sith and Jedi of old made use of it, and it seemed that only a handful of each from either Order could be gifted with such a rarer ability. But to hear that such a thing could be granted by the rituals and experiments he had done with Sithspawning - now that truly captured her attention. The mention of telepathic abilities being amplified perked her attention even further, and no doubt such a thing could be seen all over her face and posture and probably felt even through the Force.

Perhaps this was because she had unlocked her telepathic abilities and had been taught further how to use it by the Empress. Not that she would tell her Master such a thing; she knew very well how he felt about Lady Talon.

But perhaps such a ritual could help strength and amplify that ability within Revna…it was certainly something for her to think on and ponder for down the road. Anything to increase her own power and abilities in the Force was on the table to the young Apprentice.

She couldn’t help but smile as her Master voiced the very thoughts that rolled around her head. “Oh imagine if I could conjure storms of Sith Lightning…nothing would be spared.” she said, a devious glint in her eyes. The thought was truly a fascinating and tempting one for her. “But you are right…it all boils down to the individual and their desire to become stronger and more powerful in their abilities.”

She paused for a moment, tilting her head at him. “And I want to become more powerful than I am now. I know it takes time and training and experience. But I’m not one to turn away from an opportunity to increase my own power in the Force, the Dark side. But of course, you already knew that about me…didn’t you? And you knew what dangling this in front of my face was going to do. Make me chase after it.” she growled at him with a mostly playful glare.


Darth Strosius