Private Heresy in the Holy Worlds

[Kaila Irons]

It was strange to think that one so studious as Darth Anathemous had been to Korriban so rarely. She'd read of so many great sith lords who were now buried here, legends such as Marka Ragnos, Tulak Hord and, one of her favorites, the Form VI master, Exar Kun. And yet the loathsome Ashlanites, worthless zealots that they were, had sacked this world before she had a chance to study it for herself. By the time it had recovered, She had already pledged herself to the seekers, and been sent far behind enemy lines to collect lore of a more obscure nature, the Kainate having no need of her on such a well documented world as Korriban.

Perhaps it was ironic then that her own apprentice, Tamsin Graves , might be offered the hands on education that she missed out on. That is, assuming the academy lived up to her high standards. That is to say, that it was safer than Jutrand's own academy...

They made for an odd pair in that, viewing each other as something akin to siblings, perhaps even sisters in arms against fate. Nothing at all like the relationship between Darth Carnifex and herself, which often felt more like master and slave over the years, with only the barest of improvements coming quite recently. Such as her promotion to High Inquisitor. Most would see this recognition of her talents as an honor. But to one who'd honed her inquisitorial craft by hunting traitors and infiltrators upon Echnos, for which The Empress had personally risen her to become it's Military Governor, it inspired utter dread. She knew first hand what it was like to hide from the inquisition because she was herself a traitor to the Kainate, hidden in plain sight. Now the inquisition was being replaced by Kainites who had been uprooting people like herself since the beginning of the 10th Sith Empire, of which this was the 11th.

She would have to double her efforts just to keep up appearances, shift all her focus to these new duties.

Focus that could have gone into training her own student, her only ally. And it is for this reason which she considered allowing Korriban to pick up the slack which she could not. And that is why she had come here to personally review the establishment, to ensure that everything was perfect.


And so she crossed the valley of the dark lords and into the ancient school, passing all manner of robed acolyte and cloaked lord as she strode into the hall, the hot winds of Korriban billowing her silken cloak, revealing the sleek black armor and bodyglove beneath, and casting her hood down as a masked visage observed every face and movement keenly.

She wished to get a feel for the students here, glean from their expressions how they took to their training and how they were being treated. Were they looking over their shoulders, afraid that another student might stab them in the back? Did they stride with confidence, or was it an illusion meant to leave their enemies believing them stronger than they truly were? She would find out, in time.



Revna

 

[Revna]

How long Revna had been on Korriban, she wasn’t entirely sure; she’d stopped counting the days and nights of her captivity within Kainate space the day her Master died, for she knew that freedom would not come. At least, not in the way she thought it would come. Accepting that had been the hardest thing for her to do, and she still struggled with that. The device chaining her to the Shadow Hand was still embedded into her spine, still reminding her that she, effectively, belonged to Darth Prazutis. The agony the device had inflicted upon her had been a nightmare to deal with in the very beginning, but ever since Darth Carnifex had put her through sessions of torture to build her threshhold, she had come to accept and even somewhat ignore the pain the spinal cage caused her.

But…she had still looked forward to a future where she wasn’t bound to her dark overlords, and wasn’t forced to endure daily pain that would break most others. She had looked forward to being back with her Master, with her family, her people.

But those hopes and dreams were all ash now.

Her new hope, barely dawning and so very fragile, lay within the cold and harsh climate of Korriban. The Sith King had brought her here the day her world had shattered and it was here that he gave her a place of rest, a place to reflect, a place of freedom…even if it was just an illusion. Darth Caedes did not demand much of anything from her, though she knew the time would come when his intentions and purposes for her would come to light.

For now, however, she simply roamed the Palace of Vardin or the Kor’ethyr Academy filled with its various students from all walks and ages and stages of training. Only days prior she had witnessed the initiation trials of some new acolytes, and she had developed an interest in keeping track of the progress of a couple of its students: a determined Zabrak boy ( Naamino Zuukamano ) and a human girl who very much reminded her of herself when she’d been younger. They wouldn’t really know of her existence; she didn’t intrude into their space or make her presence known to either of them - but she watched from afar. She kept her eyes out on other students within the Academy’s walls as well; she’d started her journey as a Sith under the personal guidance of a Sith Lord, so it was intriguing to see how Sith acolytes learned in an academy environment. She sometimes found herself wondering what it would be like to one day teach in such an establishment, passing on her knowledge and experience to others.

Today Revna was once more in the Academy - dressed in her typical black clothing and wearing a cloak of finer material that was draped over her shoulders - watching from a catwalk that also served as a bridgeway as a group of fresh acolytes went through their forms as instructed by an overseeing Battlemaster.

Movement and the sound of boots on stone filtered into her ears, and the Disciple of the fallen Darth Strosius turned her head to see a figure, a woman from the looks of it, striding down the walkway that she herself stood upon. Revna tilted her head to one side slightly and her eyes narrowed as she recognized the Sith in her armor and mask as one who had been in the Kainate viewing box at the Kaggath - thought she couldn’t recall seeing the same woman in the box in the aftermath of her emotional release.

She continued to watch the other Sith as she approached closer, unsure if the other woman would recognize her or not as well - and if she did, then Revna wondered if she would keep walking...or if she would stop to say something about the fight or slander her late Master and High Priest.

She really hoped not - she didn't think the King would appreciate her getting into a fight while being a guest on his throne world.

Kaila Irons
​

 

[Kaila Irons]

Darth Anathemous was something of an enigma in that she should have been predictable, and yet the inner workings of the dysfunctional sorceress were sometimes a mystery even to herself. One had every right to assume that she would continue walking, and in fact she did pass Revna by a few steps.

But then she stopped.

It took a moment to halt that racing mind of hers and shift her focus onto a new train of thought, dragging a memory from the depths as she turned to regard the woman with a curious glance over her shoulder. Something about her stuck out to the young darth, and initially she did not know why, but as it turned out the newly risen High Inquisitor never forgets a face. Perhaps that is why her master had chosen her to lead his agents in this newest endeavor. A reward? or perhaps merely a pragmatic decision on his part.

"...you seem," she turned to the woman "familiar to me."

Though her tone indicated no ulterior motive but to satisfy her curiosity, her voice was rendered artificially cold by the mask she wore, a vocal modulator hiding it's true identity from those ears unfamiliar. Yet perhaps it was the mask itself which Revna recognized, previously cradled beneath her arm during the Kaggath. Or it was merely her presence within the living force, which had reeked of dead things, and ancient souls beyond her years from that moment on, though the amount of souls tethered to her young body had since increased.

"Ah!" It came to her like an epiphany.

"The Kaggath. You've quite the lungs on you as I recall, your scream shattered my old armor."

She was quite familiar with power of a force scream by now, but she had never felt it's touch from the aura of another until that day.

"Fear not, I know from experience that it is beyond control."

The Inquisitor did not seem upset by any means, in fact there was a hint of sympathy dangerously close to exposure.



Revna

 

[Revna]

Revna’s gaze trailed the other Sith woman as she passed her by, and stayed on her back as the other came to a halt a few steps away - before turning slightly and glancing over her shoulder at Revna. A cold and modulated voice echoed from the mask the other Sith wore, remarking that Revna seemed familiar to her. .

A somewhat defiant glint shined in Revna’s eyes when the dots were connected, and she faced the other Sith woman more directly, unsure of what was going to be said next. Revna was fully prepared to hear the Kainite remark cruelly about her late Master’s death, and she tensed as she began to draw power into herself - just in case she needed it.

“I would apologize for the armor but that would be a lie.” Revna replied coolly to the statement of her shattering the other woman’s old armor. Any chance she had to lash out against a Kainite was one she relished - though she had to be exceedingly careful with what she said or did these days. The wrong move could find her on the receiving end of a Dark Lord’s wrath and she was in no hurry to face such things again.

The next words from the other woman made Revna pause in thought and tilt her head to the left slightly, her burning gaze narrowing as she could have sworn she heard something akin to pity in the other woman’s voice. And she didn’t seem angry or even upset about the damage done to her armor.

Though Revna carried a similar fiery nature as her late High Priest - she also prided herself on reserving judgment of others until she knew for a fact if they were an enemy or not. Despite the fact the woman had been in the Kainate box, she had so far not done or said anything that would cause Revna to be hostile. Something else was different here, though, and the young Disciple couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

“Beyond control…yes - an apt deduction. I couldn’t have stopped myself even if I had tried or wanted to.” she murmured, the frigidness in her voice draining away slowly as she returned to a more neutral state of being, albeit one that was shadowed with pain, both physical and emotional. “So…you’ve experienced such a thing before yourself, have you?”

Kaila Irons ​

 

[Kaila Irons]

✱tsk✱ it didn't take a genius to see what was happening here. A force scream was emotionally driven, clearly she would have been close to Strosius in some way and so she was no friend of the Kainate, thus the initially passive aggressive response.

But then what was she doing in the Kainate box that day?

A hostage of some sort perhaps. A lover? an apprentice who'd somehow formed a closer bond with their master? only to be torn from everything they knew and loved. It was a familiar story.

Revna may not have been quick to judge, but Kaila had learned to survive by making quick and concise judgements. In an environment where a master's apprentices were trained to see one another as competition, eliminating one another at the even the slightest suspicion may not have made her any friends but it had kept her alive. The first betrayal stung deep, but it had taught her never to leave one's life to chance, nor trust in the arms of fate.

Yet, to her surprise, the young woman before her softened.

“Beyond control…yes - an apt deduction. I couldn’t have stopped myself even if I had tried or wanted to.” she murmured, the frigidness in her voice draining away slowly as she returned to a more neutral state of being, albeit one that was shadowed with pain, both physical and emotional. “So…you’ve experienced such a thing before yourself, have you?”

She was silent for a time, her faceless visage staring emotionless like some machine as it studied her carefully, and analyzed her words.

Until finally, she lifted her gloved hands over the mask, and it was removed.

Silken hair spilt out in waves over her shoulders, blonde locks flanking a familiar face that seemed far too young to have ascended the heights she had since last they spoke. But it was jaded by that experience now, not cold, but the life behind it seemed somehow less now than it had once been. Or perhaps it was merely the expression she wore, thinking on the answer to this young woman's question.

"...yes."

"During a battle, some time before the Kaggath. I was afflicted with prophetic visions of death, all faces close to me. I now know them to be true."

Though her eyes seemed aglow with the dark side, it was as if they lost some of their fire as they dropped momentarily to the floor.

"It would seem then that fate has taken from us both," she added with a resigned sigh, eyes flicking back upwards to study that familiar face once more.

"What was he like? Darth Strosius, I mean. Unfortunately, I am still something of a stranger in these lands, having been kept away from them for so long"



Revna

 

[Revna]

The other woman was silent for a few moments, observing Revna through the emotionless mask - before she lifted her hands up to her helm and removed it. Blonde hair cascaded down over the other Sith’s shoulders, contrasting sharply with the darkness of her armor. Revna looked into the familiar face of the other woman and studied her for a moment.

Though she appeared young - perhaps around the same age as Revna herself - one could see that she had endured trials and tribulations and bore the mark of age that came with experience. It was something that Revna could identify with herself. The life of a Sith was not for the faint of heart, and only the strongest rose through the ranks.

After a few quiet moments of reflection on Revna’s question, the other Sith shared her experience in a battle before the Kaggath had even taken place, where she had been granted visions of the deaths of faces that she knew. The other cast her eyes down to stare at the stone floor before her, and Revna simply remained quiet and still to let her speak on her own terms. She understood what death did to a person, especially if it involved people that one was close to or knew.

“Fate can take just as easily as it can give.” Revna murmured in agreement as the other woman lifted her face to look back at her. Her question about what Darth Strosius was like did take Revna by surprise, and for a few long moments the young Disciple was reflective and quiet.

“He was…passionate about what He believed in - zealous, to a fault even. That’s what His Sith name meant, you know. Zealous.” Revna murmured, pausing to steady herself before continuing. “He was fiery and opinionated, but wise and caring to those who looked to Him for guidance. He was daring - fearless enough to speak against the Emperor to his face, and bold enough to cross blades with the likes of Darth Carnifex. He didn’t stick to the shadows, like many other Sith do. A surprise, considering His master was the great Pale Assassin herself. He made His voice known, loud and clear. What He championed made Him disliked by many in the Order; He hated those in leadership who He felt and believed had failed the Sith…and anyone who practiced or upheld slavery held the deepest of His hate and wrath.” Revna paused once more to gaze at the other Sith for a moment, before she tore her gaze away and looked back over the younger acolytes who were still in the midst of their training session, watching their movements with a sharp eye for a few minutes before she spoke again.

“It was a great honor to serve Him, to serve beside Him. I learned a lot from Him, and looked forward to our reunion. But...now I must carry on without Him and carry forward a legacy passed to me with His passing, somehow.” She looked over her shoulder back to the woman. "Revna of House Marr, by the way. You said you were a stranger to these lands? Do you mean the Holy Worlds or in general? I'm a bit of a stranger here myself..."

Kaila Irons ​

 

[Kaila Irons]

The gaze of Anathemous was, despite her intentions, invasive in the way her eyes seemed to dart from Revna's own to her face and back with every crease of her skin held in a new expression, every curling of her lips into a frown, and sorrow tinged glance of those amber eyes.

They all painted a picture, an added context vital to truly understand the words spoken.

Honesty.

This was real respect being expressed, and the truest of grief.

Anathemous may have had opinions of the inquisition which Darth Strosius had left behind, Inquisitors she would now replace, It was certainly evident that he had touched many hearts and minds in a way which inspired not only loyalty, but devotion, out of something much greater than fear. In a begrudging sort of way, the young darth respected him for that.

Had he only pursued his passions more subtly, he might have built the empire which she dreamt of.

In truth that thought left her most jaded. As did her encounter with Kasir, as she had quickly come to see that though they had identical objectives, the Wanosa were in fact too zealous in their approach to be reasoned with. She'd learned the hard way that the fires which burn the bright but alone were oft doused first, never to spread their reach to unite smaller fires, never to reach the black tower which she sought to one day burn to it's foundations.

But perhaps this one might be... different. Perhaps in her captive state she might listen, and decipher her true meaning where Kasir had disappointingly deafened himself with the rush of violence.

"Revna of House Marr, by the way. You said you were a stranger to these lands? Do you mean the Holy Worlds or in general? I'm a bit of a stranger here myself..."

"Kaila... just Kaila" she offered a melancholy smile.

"Though some call me "Miss Irons" in lieu of a familial name. Most however know only my sith name, Darth Anathemous."

In truth she was a woman of many names, and few of them true. She belonged to no one and to nowhere, yet crossed the paths of everyone, and everywhere, even if but briefly.

"To answer your question —In general I suppose. I've spent most of my service to the Kainites as a seeker until coming here. Never really stayed in one place for long, always hunting for old tombs and new lore."

"Truth be told, The Kaggath was my first true glimpse into imperial politics. It was... a rude awakening, for one who believed in a united empire when I was first recalled here."

"Though I suppose you'd know that feeling well," she added, brows raised at the realization

"Being a Marr loyal to one slain at Lord Malum's hand, and witnessed from within the Diarch's long shadow to boot."



Revna

 

[Revna]

She was Darth, was she? Revna thought to herself as she continued to look upon the other woman, Kaila, noting the melancholic smile. I suppose I should show some measure of respect since she ranks higher than me… she thought further as she pushed away from the rail and turned once more to face the woman, and dipped her head in a small bow before standing straight once more.

“Lady Kaila.” she said softly to verbalize the show of respect owed to a higher ranked Sith, before standing quietly with her hands pulled behind her back to listen as Kaila answered her questions, revealing a little more about herself to Revna. Though she was making an attempt to be casual, there was no mistaking the rigid militaristic mannerisms that had been drilled into her head. Her posture was that of a loose parade rest, and her attention never strayed from Darth Anathemous, despite the distractions that were around them.

A glimmer of some dark emotion flashed in Revna’s fiery eyes when Kaila mentioned the Kaggath and how it had been her first true taste of imperial politics, and the reminder of what had been done by her own flesh and blood.

“Indeed. Truthfully, there are no words to describe how I truly feel. The Kaggath never should have been declared, and my cousin destroyed more than just his battle brother that day. But what is done is done.”

Revna heaved a deep and heavy sigh before turning her gaze away from the Darth for a moment. “Forgive me, my Lady. I am sure the family drama of a stranger is of little interest to you. What brings you to Korriban, to the Academy? Are you seeking an apprentice from the students that are here?”

Kaila Irons​

 

[Kaila Irons]

"You'd be surprised what does and does not interest me, Revna of House Marr" Kaila bowed her head in kind. Not due to any sort of rank, but merely to offer some semblance of manners which she may have neglected.

"But perhaps I've forgotten my manners by prying so much, a nasty habit imparted by my duties." she added with a slight sigh of her own.

"I suppose it only fair to tell you as much as you've told me then? I am not exactly searching for apprentices so much as looking for a place to teach them. My work keeps me busy, but I am most invested in the education of my student, an education I worry might be stunted because. However, I worry that Jutrand academy is too aligned with my master's own philosophy. That of overvalued suffering. I would very much like to avoid continuing His work."

"It sounds as though your master, if my assumptions are correct, secured loyalty more potent than those who do so through fear alone. In which case, I think you might understand better than most the sort of relationship fostered between my student and I."

"That being said," she gave her a somewhat sharper look, wondering if it were wise to continue speaking of this topic. Then again she supposed by the woman's reaction to her rank that they were not yet a darth themselves, and so perhaps it would be unwise of them to act against her if they were not so opposed to the kainate as she suspected.

"I believe my methods are... not aligned with Kainite doctrine. I trust you'll keep that part to yourself, won't you?"



Revna

 

[Revna]

Revna tilted her head slightly as Kaila offered a return bow of her own head, and a small smile curled on the side of her lips with the use of her name and house. She remained quiet as Kaila remarked that she might be prying too much into Revna’s situation; the little woman wasn’t quite sure where this other Sith stood in her loyalties. She was a Darth, and was or had been an apprentice to Carnifex. It made Kaila an enemy of hers, until proven otherwise. But Revna chose to reserve judgment until she knew for certain, one way or the other. She was not in a position to be gaining enemies, and she knew that.

She lifted her chin slightly as Kaila said that it would be fair if she shared more information, since Revna had done so herself, and she listened as the woman explained that she hadn’t come to the academy on Korriban to seek an apprentice for herself, but to find a place that could teach her own student. The more Revna heard her speak, the more she began to realize that something was…different about Kaila. Her eyes narrowed, not in suspicion, but with dawning understanding. And when the other woman stated that she didn’t want her own apprentice to be exposed to teachings that aligned with Carnifex’s philosophy, and that she desired to build a relationship with her own student that was not fostered on fear.

Revna’s reservations about Kaila started to crumble when she heard the woman declare that her methods were not aligned with Kainate doctrine.

“It sounds like you know all too well the rigid and frankly nightmarish methods he imposes upon those he sets his eyes upon and attempts to bring to heel.” she said, knowing full well this woman would know exactly who she was referring to. "Although I have no room to complain really."

A judgment was made, and one in favor towards Kaila, and Revna smiled at her, even with the sharp look the Darth was giving her. Could…this be a possible ally for Revna? It was still too early to tell…but the potential was there.

“Yes…I can keep that to myself. And your assumptions would be correct.” She murmured, pausing briefly as she recalled memories of her time with the cult and serving alongside the Sith Lord. “...If you are fostering a relationship built on care and wisdom and patience…one where you do not demand your apprentice kneel to you or call you ‘lord’ or ‘master’...then yes I would have a very clear understanding. That is what my Master did for me…and so much more. Perhaps that is why His loss is so much more painful than it otherwise would have been. But I don’t regret it for a single moment, and one day I hope to foster such a bond with my own apprentice.” She then offered a grim smile. “...if I live long enough to even acquire one, that is.”

Revna searched Kaila’s face for a moment further in reflective silence, as if studying her more closely, before deciding to speak what was going through her mind.

“If I can be so bold as to impart my own opinion - I think this would be a good place for your student; if I had my own, I would entrust them to Kor’ethyr - and that is saying something.”

Kaila Irons ​

 

[Kaila Irons]

“It sounds like you know all too well the rigid and frankly nightmarish methods he imposes upon those he sets his eyes upon and attempts to bring to heel.” she said, knowing full well this woman would know exactly who she was referring to. "Although I have no room to complain really."

"No room to complain?" she questioned with a raised brow.

Although her features seemed to soften as Revna confirmed the secrecy of their exchange, and judging by that expression, came to a sort of understanding.

...If you are fostering a relationship built on care and wisdom and patience…one where you do not demand your apprentice kneel to you or call you ‘lord’ or ‘master’...then yes I would have a very clear understanding.

"Hm. Care certainly, though she's never given me reason to be impatient. As for wisdom, I can only hope" she chuckled softly, having realized that she could afford to be a little more open.

“...if I live long enough to even acquire one, that is.”

To this however, Kaila became rather quiet, eyes dropping to the floor. She remembered the feeling well, and in fact she wondered every day if she might be discovered, leaving Tamsin Graves all alone and surrounded by their enemies. The thought of Tamsin being forced to take her place as Carnifex's apprentice alone was a fate worse than death, her own life being extended only by the guilt of knowing that Darth Xyrah would be inconsolable if she allowed the alliance to slay her in some war, or gave Carnifex reason to do the same. Else she might have sacrificed her life years ago.

And so there was no choice but to keep going.

“If I can be so bold as to impart my own opinion - I think this would be a good place for your student; if I had my own, I would entrust them to Kor’ethyr - and that is saying something.”

"Well," she afforded Revna a brief smile "perhaps I should have visited Korriban sooner."

"Though I should clarify that it will be my student's choice whether she trains here or not. Fate has taken choice from her one too many times already, and besides, I trust her judgement. She'll be a powerful sith one day, should she stay the path."

"Though on the topic of trust, I wish to ask you something" she steepled her fingers as the thought came over her.

"Why is it that we found one another in the Kainite box? The shadow hand seemed to know you, yet your loyalties seem to lie with the Wanosa. It's not often that I want to trust someone, Revna, so please know that I am making an effort, but as a seeker, It is equally rare for me to act without knowing as much as I can."



Revna

 

[Revna]

Revna huffed slightly, noticing the raised eyebrow. “...he made an offer I couldn’t refuse. So I can’t complain about what I must go through and endure at his hand. Still doesn’t make it any easier or pleasant.” she said, realizing she probably should have explained that better earlier.

She smiled again briefly at the woman’s chuckle; “I am sure a time will come when your patience is tested. Bogan knows I tested my Master’s patience.” Her smile turned more devious. “I am a rather curious soul, and when I had free time I often would sneak out and go adventuring. I thought I was doing it under His nose…but that was just foolish thinking. Strosius knew every time I left and whenever I returned I would be lectured for hours.” she finished with a hearty chuckle, as if the memories were happy ones. Kaila seemed reflective when Revna mentioned surviving long enough to gain her own student one day, and the little woman watched the young Darth for a few moments. Clearly the other Sith was thinking about something as her eyes had returned to the floor as the silence persisted. Revna mentioned the school, and her opinions about it, and that seemed to pull the blonde from her thoughts. Revna smiled in understanding and appreciation when the woman declared that she would have allowed her student to make the choice on coming to Korriban or not.

“Having one’s choices taken is something I understand all too well, as I was a slave before I became a Sith, so you have my respect for giving your apprentice the chance to make her own choices and decisions. Darth Strosius did the same for me, when we first met and I told Him I was looking for a Sith to train me. Knowing that one’s Master has confidence and faith in your ability to make your own decisions and choices is…a breath of fresh air and empowering. And even if I did make the wrong choices, He was there to guide me though He let me learn from those mistakes. It sounds to me like you are already headed in the right direction with your student.”

Revna pulled her hands behind her back once more when Kaila broached the subject of trust, and she listened to the questions imposed upon her…why she had been in the Kainate box the day of the Kaggath, if her loyalty was with the Order of Wonosa? The little woman inclined her head in acknowledgement of the Darth’s effort, of her desire to trust someone. The Disciple understood the weight and significance of what she was hearing, of what Kaila was saying.

Trust amongst Sith was a very rare commodity to have. And some would argue it did not exist, though Revna would say that was false. She trusted her Master, and she trusted Srina Talon.

“I appreciate the candor, Lady Kaila. And I will answer your questions with equal honesty. The circumstances around me being in the Kainate box is a long and painful story to tell. I was captured by the forces of Darth Prazutis as I was trying to evacuate some families from the Formos Dresuoti, which had come under assault by the combined forces of the Dark Councilor, Darth Arcanix, and her Kainate allies in retaliation to my Master and some…antics he pulled against Lady Raaf at a wedding reception. I can divulge more if you’d like me to about that. Some would say that Strosius was in the wrong for what He did but…I beg to differ, being an eyewitness to certain events that led to His actions.” Revna paused and took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts before continuing.

“Anyway…after my capture I was brought to the Shadow Hand, where he made the decision that the Kainate was to be my new home. I, uh, strongly disagreed with him and foolishly challenged him and nearly paid with my life. But, I was spared in the very end for his own purposes, and a device of his own making was placed upon my back that is connected directly to my nervous system and it binds me to Darth Prazutis and, by extension to Darth Carnifex as well. I go where they tell me to go, I do what they direct me to, and if I move to strike at either of them in an unsanctioned way, I am paralyzed. If I resist, I am tortured with agonizing pain that makes me long for death. Though, thanks to Darth Carnifex, I have learned to ...accept the pain, tolerate it even. And that is why I was in the box that day; it was the will of the Shadow Hand for me to attend and I could not refuse. I will never be free unless Prazutis removes the device…or he puts me to death. Or...I find another way out from under his control.”

She paused once again, lowering her gaze to the floor to stare at her feet for a few moments in contemplative silence. “But, I have learned to adapt, and turn the situation around to be of benefit to me, at least for the meantime.”

She raised her head and looked back at Kaila, and tilted her head to the left as her gaze pierced through the other woman. “I seek people I can place my trust in as well, allies. But I know just how challenging that can be, especially for us Sith. You hardly know me, but it sounds like we both desire the same thing. I will answer any other questions or inquires you have for me, if it will help you decide if I can be someone you can trust or not."

Kaila Irons ​

 

[Kaila Irons]

Kaila took a slow, steadying breath, and nodded. There was a lot to take in, but every scrap of information was no less important than the other.

"...walk with me, Revna."

She knew where this was all headed even before Revna made her offer, because it is exactly what she would have done.

After giving her surroundings a glance, Kaila began walking them closer to the edge of the room, trailing away from the crowds and students, further from any noise nor wandering eyes, and only once out of earshot did she speak.

"I ask of you these things because I am His apprentice. It is an experience in which I see no difference between it and slavery, and in fact it is a reason for the bond between my own apprentice and I, who was herself a slave in the city of Bestine, upon the outer rim world of Tatooine."

"But before this, I was taken by my lord from a hospital, having no memory of the events which brought me there. I lashed out, people were hurt. And by the cruel machinations of fate, He took notice. I did not choose to become sith, Revna. I was simply laid at his feet, and told to excel or die trying."

"I've endured many cruelties, but I think the most memorable are those which I still feel in my bones."

She went quiet for a time, the dark side seeming to radiate out from her with a vengeful malice. It was a subtle thing, a cold thing, which crept along the floor and into one's bones like frost in the night. Perhaps, if one had the power, they might even feel a glimpse of her pain.

"I was born Vahla, and so my bones were soft cartilage. Flexible. malleable. fragile."

"He has broken each and every single one of them at least once, and with varying severity. I survived only because one of his wealthiest concubines took pity on me, and had my skeleton infused with liquid Laminanium, which has since hardened well beyond the bones of humans."

"It would seem then that we both know what it is like, having been forced to adapt by men we did not choose to serve."

she threw a side glance at Revna.

"However,"

then came to a stop, turning to face the smaller woman.

"If we are to do this, you need to understand that I too have checks and balances which tie my hands."

Such as her deal with The Emperor.

"And it is because of these obstacles that my heretical intent cannot yet manifest action, and instead, my desire to survive until such a time must manifest in efficient service, lest I be discovered."

"I have been made High Inquisitor, of the organization which has since replaced your master's work. I have fought members of this old inquisition, who seemed in their zeal, unable to fathom that I am not the fanatic enemy they wished to believe me. To put it bluntly, Revna, I believe this blind zeal is behind the downfall of your people."

Kaila clenched her jaw, unsure how Revna would take this.

"This new Inquisition, it is but one phase of a larger plan. Unlike your master it might actually unite the empire, but out of fear. And so things are going to get very hard for people like us, unless we play along, hiding in plain sight. I have survived this long by making hard decisions. That includes working with my enemies if need be, or carrying out their cruel will. If we're going to work together, you'll have to prepare to make equally tough calls. Power is freedom, but power comes with sacrifice."



Revna

 

[Revna]

There was a brief moment of uncertainty, of tension, within Revna when Kaila bid that the smaller Sith walk with her. Revna stepped alongside the blonde and allowed herself to be led away from the students below, and other prying eyes and ears that might be nearby. Truthfully, Revna felt rather…secure…in the domain of the King. She wasn’t certain as to why she felt this way, but she’d learned long ago to trust her gut instincts. Whatever was spoken here in whispers, would not reach the ears of the one they both spoke about, but she couldn't tell Kaila this for she had no proof of it.

Once both women were away from others, Kaila spoke once more and revealed that she was, indeed, the apprentice of Carnifex. She revealed that it was due to the slave-like nature of her own apprenticeship that she had a completely different sort of bond with her own student, who had once been a slave herself. A softness came over Revna upon hearing the revelation; to her, it was just further confirmation that when given the chance even a lowly slave could rise up and claim power and freedom for themselves.

It was why she had been so passionate about doing the work her late Master had entrusted her with. As soon as she was free, she would return to carrying out that vital work in the Outer Rim. But for now, she needed to bide her time and grow stronger. And she was.

Kaila revealed a bit more to Revna about her own background, of how she had been taken by Carnifex and turned into his apprentice against her will. Unlike Revna, she had never chosen to become a Sith. She touched upon the cruelties inflicted upon her, and as she did so, Revna could feel a coldness seep from her - a pain and vengeful hate that she understood all too well herself - for it was the exact thing Revna felt for the Shadow Hand, and for what she had been forced to endure since her capture.

Her gaze snapped to Kaila when the other woman revealed she was a Vahla, and the expression on Revna’s face was one of surprised recognition. Not all that long ago, a man had arrived on her doorstep within the Malsheem, and had declared that Revna was a Vahla herself - though she hadn’t believed him at the time. But hearing Kaila speak upon her flexible bones, and how fragile they were, made Revna really and truly question if she was a Vahla too.

Revna did feel a smidge of jealousy that Kaila had been granted a way to avoid the annoyance that was constantly dealing with broken bones. She couldn’t even begin to count how many times her own bones had broken and mended, only to be broken again. And Carnifex and Prazutis had seen fit to break and shatter practically every single bone in her body now multiple times over. Revna was healed after every clash, but that process was often far more painful than the breaking of the bones themselves.

"I too have had the same experience. Even before my capture; my last slave master figured out how easily my bones could break and he took pleasure in breaking them whenever I disobeyed him. The Dark Lords...well, their training methods are brutal on one's body. But it sounds like you already knew that."

Kaila came to a halt, and so did Revna. She kept her molten gaze upon the other woman, and tension formed within her as the woman revealed that she had been made the High Inquisitor, and that Darth Strosius’s former titles and servants and his work had been replaced and dismantled. Kaila said that she had fought with members of the old Inquisition, but something in her words brought a frown to Revna’s face. Something didn’t sound…right.

“Hmm. Interesting…I will admit, I know very little about the inquisitors that worked under my Master. But they were more…independant. Some were devoted and loyal through and through, yes. But I wouldn’t say they were all…zealous, in the way you have described. That sounds more to me like you fought members of the Order of Wonosa - my Brothers and Sisters. We are a very zealous group, and a hatred for slavers runs deep - as most of its members are former slaves. Kainites are known slavers, therefore we hate them with a violent passion and seek to destroy them at any chance we get.” Revna offered her a tight smile, and for a moment that same zeal flickered in her ember eyes.

“Though, obviously, not all Kainites practice or dabble in slavery. Just like not all Kainites serve Carnifex. It is something where my Master and I butted heads; in His zealotry He would have included everyone not aligned to His ways to be executed, but I had the wisdom to see between the lines, so to speak. I see value in making allies with others that He considered our enemy. It…made me easier to deal with than He was, or so I've been told. He did not like it one bit, as you can imagine.”

Revna, however, did not agree that her people had suffered a downfall - merely a setback. But she kept that information to herself. Though trust was being built between her and Kaila, she was still far from knowing if the woman could be trusted with the knowledge and information about the cult and its people. Revna would safeguard them as best she could, even while in captivity.

“I am well aware of the sacrifices that must be made on the altar to power.” She murmured quietly, grimly. “I’ve had to make difficult choices and decisions over the last few months - and I had to accept all the suffering that comes with those decisions. So I do understand what it would take, Lady Kaila. I will do what I must, to achieve my goals, purposes, and ambitions.”

But there was something else that swirled within Revna’s mind, and her aura grew colder for a moment as she digested the information about Kaila becoming the a High Inquisitor in this new Inquisition. Her gaze upon the Darth then reflected the coldness that seeped from her, and there was a glint of wariness that hadn’t been there prior.

“...Darth Malum took control over the Inquisition as per the ancient traditions of the Kaggath, when he killed Darth Strosius. How is it that a Kainite, and an apprentice of Darth Carnifex for that matter, came to be in a position of power in the heart of the Sith Empire ruled by Darth Empyrean, and not only that…came into power in an institution that once belonged to my Master? Indeed, I smell a bigger plot in motion and alliances and allegiances are bound to change…” She paused once more, her gaze upon the Darth piercing and direct.

“Do you work for my cousin or answer to him?"

Kaila Irons ​

 

[Kaila Irons]

Her eyes narrowed, but not at Revna. In fact it did not appear as though they'd been drawn to anything in particular, for she was deep in thought. How did this come to be? her mind was strained for every scrap of information she could remember.

“Do you work for my cousin or answer to him?"

To this however, she smiled. It was a toothy thing, full of bitter irony.

"I was under the impression he hated me." she stifled a bitter chuckle.

"He believes I support regicide, or perhaps merely patricide, because I congratulated a young acolyte for slaying their abusive father, a manipulative monarch. I'm sure I've offended his noble blood or some... pardon my Ryl, Bantha chit. It was... not my ideal first meeting with a Dark Councilor, but at least I seem on good terms with the other two."

She shrugged, still unsure of where or with whom she stood in this ever changing empire.


"And I am afraid that this divide prevents me answering your question in confidence. All I know for sure is that the day of my master's founding speech, hundreds of families loyal to him perished upon Jutrand's soil before he'd even finished speaking. The rumors point to Empyrean's doing. Yet others claim some manner of deal was struck to prevent the Tsis'kar from casting the empire into another civil war, handing the Inquisition- Now but part of the Omnitiate- to Carnifex, who has married with the Sepulchral. And yet, no High Inquisitor has been announced to my knowledge. He's since withdrawn himself from the Holy Worlds, declaring victory in his crusade her, whilst the Malsheem currently orbits Jutrand. Whoever is actually in charge here, they've just handed him a lot of power, and he's been very tight lipped about how."

"It's bloody chaos out there." she muttered.

"But you are clearly wiser than that shadowy spear who attacked me, and so I will try to fill you in when possible. I do know that lord Malum is coming to my city soon, to discuss trade between our worlds so that Echnos may prosper even if my inquisitorial duties divide my attention. It's a long shot, but perhaps I'll have my answers then."



Revna

 

[Revna]

Revna stood still in her cold silence as Kaila explained that she felt that Malum hated her after a poor first interaction with the Dark Councilor. “That doesn’t surprise me - Malum can be easily offended.” She murmured. “And he is not a fan of Carnifex or anyone associated with him.”

She was quiet as Kaila told her honestly that she couldn’t really answer the question on if she served or answered to Malum, and went on to explain the shifting power structures that had happened after the demise of Revna’s High Priest. Surprise flickered across the young Sith’s face when she heard that Carnifex had pulled away from the Holy Worlds and had shown up in Jutrand's space with the Malsheem and the old Inquisition had come under the authority of the Dark Lord and had been renamed into the Omnitiate, and intertwined it with the Sepulchral of the Eternalist Church. She felt sick that Strosius’s institutions had fallen into the hands of His enemies, but there was nothing she could do about it. Truthfully, her only real concern was that of her Brothers and Sisters of the Order of Wonosa. She desperately wanted to know if the survivors were safe, and if her snake of a cousin had gotten his hands on them or not. She really hoped he hadn't; she did not trust him anywhere near the Wonosans.

A prickle of unease washed over her; something definitely was going on in the background, in the shadows. She was surprised that an all out war hadn’t already been declared between Darth Empyrean and Darth Carnifex, considering that the two were rivals and she couldn’t imagine that the current reigning Emperor would be pleased that a former Emperor had his worldcraft orbiting his capital. Perhaps the disappearance of hundreds of loyal Kainate families was Empyrean’s warning - but it was hard to say one way or another. She had a feeling that Lady Talon was the only one keeping the peace between the two Dark Lords, as she had deep connections to both of them. But again, Revna couldn't be too sure of this.

“Sounds like a storm is brewing.” Revna murmured, a deep and concerned frown creasing her brow. “The tides of power are shifting and we need to be prepared for it. I don’t know if war is looming ahead of us but…you are right. People like us need to proceed with caution and stay beneath scrutiny. Now is the time to make alliances with others who are like minded. Otherwise, we won’t survive whatever is coming next. I…am building a connection with the Sith King here, and gaining insight into how the Holy Worlds operate and its power and influences throughout the rest of the galaxy; having a connection to him might provide me a blanket of safety and security should the future become…dangerous. It is good that you are on good terms with the other Dark Councilors. I would strengthen those ties, for both are very powerful in their own ways and not to be taken lightly.”

Revna was quiet for a long moment, thinking and pondering on what Kaila had revealed to her, and her gaze lifted back to the woman’s face when she said that Malum was due to visit her city soon to discuss trade, and she would have more answers then.

“If I can make a request of you? Do not tell my cousin that you have seen or spoken to me. I won’t demand you share information with me but…I would like to know what my cousin is up to, if you are willing. Or anything that is going on in Jutrand for that matter. I don’t want to be blind to what is going on in the shadows.”

Kaila Irons ​

 

[Kaila Irons]

Kaila idly scratched at her chin as if weighing some decision. Darth Varynx had taught her quite some time ago that all information came with a price and should never be given freely, but traded as if a currency. She still needed to uphold her end of their bargain, but it was certainly valuable advice that had stuck with her since.

"I don't normally do favors, so much as exchanges. But I like you, you're uniquely respectful, but no sycophant."

she thought on it a moment longer, then nodded to herself.

"Very well, but I've one small condition: If my apprentice, Tamsin Graves , indeed chooses to study here in my absence, I'd ask that you keep an eye on her. Not spy on her, just..." she hesitated, desiring her student to grow but unsure just how much strife she must face alone to do so.

"Just watch her back, maybe help her learn, I'm unsure how much she really needs in order to grow."

She leaned against the wall, arms crossed. The idea of leaving Tamsin alone anywhere, let alone a sith world, was not a prospect she enjoyed in the slightest. However, Kaila knew she couldn't always be there, and though a master should not simply hand the world to their student, they should provide them the tools with which they would one day conquer it themselves. Perhaps in this way she could do exactly that, and keep tabs on her progress from across the galaxy.

Even now, she could feel their mutual mark. But it was not enough.


"Do these things, and I will share what I can, when I can."


She was already The Emperor's informant, perhaps then it was reasonable that she should be the same for others, if they could meet her demands.



Revna

 

[Revna]

Revna dipped her chin slightly in understanding upon hearing that Kaila didn’t normally do favors but exchanges. “I understand. I do not normally ask favors from anyone, and if I do then I make sure that I can offer something as payment in return. Knowledge and information comes with a price tag, that I do know.”

She was pleasantly surprised to hear Kaila agree to take on her favor, and listened as the woman imposed a condition upon her for doing so: keeping a distant eye on her apprentice, should the girl decide to attend the Korriban Academy. It was a fair condition, and Revna nodded as the young Darth leaned against the wall and crossed her arms.

“Should your apprentice choose to attend, then yes I can do this. I’ve no interest in spying on her, so there will be no issue in that regard. If you would inform her that I am here and available to her should she require anything, then that would be appreciated. I…don’t know who your apprentice is and therefore would not know who I am looking for amongst all the other students that are here.”

Revna was quiet for a moment as she looked at the blonde Sith, thinking about the exchange that was being made, before she made the decision to at least offer something in return for the favor she had asked of Kaila. “Likewise…if you require information from me and I have access to it, I can share it. Though I am not sure if I have anything of value to offer to you in that regard. I will not, however, share anything in regards to the Order of Wonosa. They are all I have left of my father’s legacy…and I’m sure you’ll understand my desire to try and protect them, even from afar and while I am a captive here in the Holy Worlds.”

Silence fell between them once more as Revna’s more curious nature swirled within; she hesitated for a moment, before asking a more personal question of the Sith woman opposite to her:

“...what is he like as your master? What…did he put you through? Forgive me if the question is...a personal one. I...I suppose I just want to know if he treats all his students the same or not. That and I've never actually interacted with anyone else trained by him directly.”

Kaila Irons ​

 

[Kaila Irons]

"Your father...?" she half muttered in surprise.

"...I'm... sorry"

Whether Revna meant this in a literal or metaphorical sense, she did not know. Kaila had no frame of reference, unable to even imagine what it must be like to loss a parental figure. Or perhaps she did? If only in that she'd never had one to begin with, at least as far as she could remember.

She shook the thought from her head before moving on.

"You are wise to hide the Wanosa from an inquisitor, even myself. If I were discovered and unable to don my enchanted wards," she tapped a finger against the mask in her hand, "one mind probing session could spell their doom. I understand your concern well."

A silence then stretched between them for awhile after, and for a brief portion of that time, Kaila assumed then that their business was nearing or had reached it's concussion.

Until Revna asked a question that gave her pause.




"You've never interacted with any of his students..."

"...because I killed them." she said each word with a slow, melancholy grace, as if weaving a tragic fairy tale.

"Some tried to betray me, others he forced me to execute. After I time, I learned the hard way not to bother knowing them. There was no time for alliances nor youthful friendship, only survival, only those who proved worthy to stand at his side, and those laid at his feet like womprats left at the doorstep by a Loth cat."

Her jaw clenched as what few faces she could remember came to mind. Only the first three or so came to mind. Not their names, just their faces. The others started to blur together, and she'd forgotten them long ago. Each was less a person now and more an objective, an obstacle she'd conquered on the training course, a quick kill and one of many.

"I'm not convinced he trains sith, so much as sharpens blades. We're tools, really, slaves to be used and discarded less than true sith. I've only met one other apprentice who survived the ordeal, trained while I was... preoccupied in the field for a few years. She is... frighteningly powerful. But... different. If she is capable of human emotion then I've yet to see it, and I've worked with her on multiple occasions."

Kaila spoke of Adeline Noctua , currently known to her as "Darth Keres", master of Dead Yalara, fledgling goddess of dreams and shadow.

"I think that's what he really wants from us. Blank slates, Unfeeling machines, not unlike his hordes of decraniated servants."

She swallowed at the thought.

Then Kaila came to realized that the ultimate proof of this theory had been left unsaid, and that whatever her master might have offered this woman, she must caution her against it. Not only for Revna's safety, but because she could not afford to lose a potential ally to his dark influence. And so a decision was made to share her darkest discovery.

"He..." she glanced around the room, then suddenly leaned in close enough to whisper.

"He stole me from Mandalore... and Erased all memory. whatever you do, he cannot be trusted." her words were as if they'd come off the tongue of a viper clad in silk, laced in a venomous fear which spread through her veins, momentarily melting away her mask of confidence as it traveled to her eyes, giving them a baleful glow as she stared over the woman's shoulder, as if her fight or flight instincts were on high alert.

It was a glimpse into the mind of Darth Anathemous which few would ever see, an impurity in the iron masquerading as gleaming steel. But there was an even deeper truth to it which she had learned well upon the glassed battlefield of Echnos;

One needn't be fearless to be sith, they only had to stand their ground.

Yet Kaila had taken a third approach, learning to react to fear with bestial violence. And so she'd cloaked this wild animal in a dress of black lace and lavender scented perfume, playing nice with lords and ladies while she waited patiently for her day to come. All this scheming and all this power she hoarded in secret, it was all preparation for the day she would have to face that fear again.

Whatever paranoia which Revna displayed then, Kaila could match, if not exceed.

"Know... this..." she struggled to unclench her jaw long enough to speak.

"The only reason I've not happily gone to my death by crossing sabers with Him... Is that I cannot allow him to dictate the fate My apprentice as he has done to me... And because his wife has given her heart to me, and I cannot bear to break it."

"The Corellians call it Hell. It is real, Revna, and in that place, Darth Carnifex is God."



Kaila closed her eyes, and pulled away, having said far too much despite covering barely a fraction of the horrors aboard the Malsheem.



Revna

 

[Revna]

​

“Yes. He wasn’t my biological father, but that doesn’t matter. Sometimes, the bonds you form with others are stronger than the bonds shared with flesh and blood. I...didn’t get a chance to tell Him the truth, either…before He died.” Revna murmured upon hearing the surprise from Kaila. She was also pleased to hear the woman’s agreement with her wisdom in wanting to keep the Wonosans hidden from sight and knowledge of others, and the fact that Kaila respected that desire of hers. It was just one more thing that allowed Revna to decide further that she could be trusted.

“I unfortunately know all too well the dangers of mind probing. Prazutis assaulted my mind when he captured me and though I was able to hold him off for some time I eventually crumbled under his attack and he saw locations of hidden outposts of my Order. I just hope they were abandoned before he got to them.” Revna confessed quietly before the two of them settled into the silence before she asked Kaila the more personal questions about her connection to Carnifex.

The tension returned, as Revna felt the energy shift around Kaila as she confessed that she had killed his other students. Hearing this did not surprise Revna in the slightest, and it seemed very much in line with what she expected the Dark Lord to do. But, it did make her wonder if this was something that may lay in her future as well…if she remained a student of his. Truthfully, she wasn’t his apprentice, or at least she didn’t think she was. He had referred to her as ‘apprentice Revna’ before, but she had assumed that was because it was what she was. A more grim thought entered her mind then as she digested this information.

...What if Carnifex ordered Kaila to kill her? Or ordered her to try and kill Kaila?

That thought did make her a bit…nervous. She knew that she would not be able to refuse such an order, due to the device embedded into her spine. She could fight it, but she knew she would eventually crumble. She just hoped and prayed things would never come to that.

She heaved a heavy sigh, her thoughts heavy and troublesome, as she continued to listen to Kaila’s story on how she had been forced to kill the other students…to the point where she eventually lost track of the number, the names, the faces. Her words were bitter, as she shared from her perspective how she felt that Carnifex didn’t train Sith, but mere tools…blades to be sharpened and wielded until no longer usable. She mentioned how there was only one other student who had survived, someone who was powerful, though she didn’t say who that was.

She tilted her head at Kaila when the other woman looked around the space they occupied, before stepping and leaning in to whisper to Revna…revealing her history that she’d been taken from Mandalore and had had her memories erased. She cautioned Revna not to trust him, and a very small smile curled on one side of the smaller woman’s lips, but she waited to speak further until Kaila had finished and stepped back.

“I don’t trust him, nor his Shadow Hand. I don’t trust any of the Kainites or those that profess to serve him. You might be the very first exception to that, Kaila. They both are dangerous monsters who will use and abuse anyone they see fit to, to achieve their own ends. I am aware of this, and it allows me to expect anything from either of them. I am playing a dangerous game with them both...letting them both believe that I am turning from my teachings imparted to me by Lord Strosius, and embracing the Kainate ways. I’m only doing this because they both have things that I desire from them, and I will do what I need to do to get what I want before my time is finished here.”

She shifted, her unease revealing itself, and she decided that - despite the fragile connection that was being built here…she would tell Kaila the truth of her predicament.

“It is entirely possible that he knows that we have met and spoken to one another. It is also highly possible that he has no idea. He has said that he has eyes and ears everywhere. I don’t discount it, but neither do I give it weight. I don’t speak of my…less than ideal thoughts and perceptions when I am anywhere near him or on his worldcraft... but on a place like Korriban or anywhere else for that matter? I speak a bit more freely. ” She took a deep breath, and looked the Sith woman in the face. What she had to say next could make or break the alliance she wished to form with the young Darth.

“I am a student of Carnifex. I say this, because there is something that you need to know. I hinted at the device on my spine, yes? Well both the Dark Lords control it, and therefore control me. I can resist their wills, but only for so long. It is possible that if your less than loyal ways are discovered, and they know of our connection…that I could be ordered to kill you and I would have no choice but to obey that command. Should this unlikely event take place then…I would ask that you kill me as I would rather die than betray the trust of an ally. I doubt something like this would happen, but it can’t be discounted. I..am in the works if finding a way to remove the device, but that might take some time. But I do believe us being allies is worth the risk, but with that being said…I will leave that final decision up to you.”

Kaila Irons ​