Faction Honor the Fallen || War in the Rim

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He stopped a fair distance from the entrance, close enough to be seen, and to see, but far enough to not be heard. Their conversation was not yet done, and far be it from him to expose friction among the Tsis'Kaar's ranks, as minor as it was. When the entire Order gazed at them with suspicion and no bit of justified anger, the last thing he wanted was to crack the facade of unity.

"It would be better suited in a campaign we waged, I do not deny, but we do not decide the war we wage, we only wage the war we are in, this is the opening salvo, and we will need to determine every facet of it," His gaze lingered upon the Wolf Lord and the Twice-Failed Emperor, "Especially when there will be many who will poison it."

A small breath left him, relaxing muscles that were long taut and heavy, "The one benefit of those actions is that no one will mistake us as forgiving or complacent, but it is our duty to make clear that we are not cruel nor... as childish as it is to say... evil." They were a state like any other, a people like any other, though pressed to the edge of annihilation had caused acts which were unsubtle and dangerous... they could not forget that.

Or they would become the very monsters which the galaxy saw them as.

And the only right act for a beast was to be put down.

He smirked beneath the mask, a smirk which did not quite meet his eyes, "She is more powerful than she looks," Malum uttered with no small part of the affection he felt for the woman... even if that affection was tempered with the... confusion? The... anger? The... he could not quite say what it was, but the affection was tempered with the feelings which held, that she had unleashed the Phobis device.

However, that did not compare to the feelings held for the man, who seemed to snap into existence, the screech as the Force heralded his arrival, was as unsubtle as it was boisterous. It seemed that his purpose to share what had taken place on the other fronts was to be usurped.

If Malum, finding his hands tightening around themselves, would even be able to express as such, without the temptation to do something that he would regret.

Alas, he had wished for his arrival, and despite the retreating fear that his thought had summoned the man, he knew there was something else to do which required the Emperor's presence. As Malum's cloak billowed in the wind, and without pomp nor circumstance, he took his place among the gathering.

He should have kneeled.

He might have spewed forth his guts if he tried.

So he simply nodded his head, "...I had not expected His Imperial Majesty's presence, the Alliance has been repelled from Dorvalla, and I am here to share news and figures from all other fronts." He still hated looking at the corpse... but all that was necessary for the cause, Srina was here, it might temper him somewhat, Kaine was here, it might temper him in another way entirely. Even as Malum's mind was stuck on Sluis Van... how many had you butchered?

It was not the first time... Makem Te... Feriae Junction... how many times had Malum made allownaces for it?

When had he stopped?

As Darth Empyrean exhibited his affection towards the one figure in the room that he cared about.

It might have been the only redeemable trait of their Corpse Emperor.

Ansisa Darth Empyrean Srina Talon Darth Carnifex Gerwald Lechner Kaila Irons Lina Ovmar

 

[Srina Talon]

Nearby Allies: Darth Carnifex | Gerwald Lechner | Ansisa | Darth Malum of House Marr | Lina Ovmar | Kaila Irons Darth Empyrean
Distant Allies: Kivah | Firrerreo
Location: Governor's Mansion Ruins
______________________________________________________

Detained.

The notion of allowing any members of the Alliance to breathe freely after they'd held the audacity to overstep their bounds made her teeth grind. The order that Gerwald Lechner had accepted without question almost drew her ire…Why had he not barked back? Why had he not questioned it? Such a lukewarm and seemingly humane response from her lips should have drawn…Questions. But it didn't. Not from anyone. Perhaps…Because it was the intelligent thing to do. The moderate thing to do.

Knowledge was power—The exploits of the Tsis'kaar were an excellent example of this when they weren't too busy standing in each other's way. Her command fell thusly into the same category as it always did. No matter how she felt about the Alliance…She was pragmatic.

Logical.

Broken holo-displays pressed pictures into the sky. The efforts to remove the dead from the streets were multi-faceted but whomever pressed the sight of pure blood-shed and carnage into the Holo-Net clearly felt like being divisive. The list of Sith Lord's who held that capability when comms were all but fried, combined, with the a warped mentality…Made the list of culprits exceedingly small. In the end…It mattered not. Placing the aftermath on display would make things more difficult in the affected worlds—But it would also give their enemies reason to pause.

If the Sith Order was capable of such atrocities in their own territory…What hope did they have unallied and rival planets would be spared? If they were willing to do this to themselves, the Jedi, would only be able to imagine what the Sith might be willing to do in retribution.

The fist that had thumped against Darth Carnifex in protest now lay still, knuckles resting against the cool of his armor, while she gathered her thoughts. Members of the Order seemed to gravitate toward them almost naturally. Spinning around the remains of the governor's mansion as if they were drawn in by the inescapable pull of a black hole. Her head tilted toward Lina Ovmar when her voice sounded to her left. It was crystalline, clear, and confident. "Do not apologize…You are here now. Please, set your people to aid in the task."

Her voice was in such stark contrast with what Lady Zambrano, now, Lady Ovmar might remember from their last encounter. There was some part of her that was bothered for so many members of the Order to see her with such blatant weakness weighing down her bones…But it couldn't be helped. If any of them truly knew the magnitude of energy it took to control a phobis device alone, for hours, while dueling a Jedi—And keeping an eye on the warfront?

None of them would question it.

The now familiar sound of Kaila Irons rose above the ambient noises of a scared city and her lips parted to reassure her, but, voice of the almost gentle giant that kept her close rolled over everything else in a calm wave. The Butcher King offered his own assurances, answers, to the questions that she had posed. He would have sensed her urgency. Her need to know, with confirmation, that their success wasn't just boastful rumors.

Her head found a place against his shoulder and stayed where it was. Head…Heavy. Kaine would also know more than most that it wasn't just spoken language she relied on. It was the strength of his hold. The security he emanated, pressing through, beyond an aura of omniscience and imperiousness…He was sure of himself. He was sure—And so, she could be too.

The Alliance would be hunted down. One by one…If need be.

Dry lips pressed into a thin line when the dark-haired man spoke of fidelity…The Echani couldn't help but disagree. She was not owed anything, for following through with her duties. They would have to come to terms in their own time with what she had done, and why, she had done it. Srina couldn't look backward—And wouldn't, given the chance. It was not the moral course of action…

But it was the right one.

Darth Carnifex and Gerwald Lechner spoke of who might oversee these worlds while they were in upheaval and she took the moment to herself. Letting them talk over her head. They didn't need her for that, nor, did she have any disagreements. Rather…She kept passively monitoring with wispy metaphysical talents. It was her eyes, when she could not see.

"Darth Anathemous…", she called for Kaila Irons with just enough volume to be heard. Srina was aware that the young woman was not her apprentice but she often took toward those around her without thought of who they belonged to. No matter the religion…They were all Sith. All her children. "How many battlefields have you waded through…Is this your first?"

Srina paused to breathe, eyes still shut, but…Her ability was lacking in the moment. Everything that existed in the Dark Side was bleeding together. "If you are harmed…Have your wounds tended. Take a moment, hydrate, and eat something…Even if you don't want to. We are faced with many dilemmas in Echnos and today will be even longer than the night…Main power is still down, communications, down. There is still the potential for hidden threats among the populace. Where would you start?"

The softly asked query was softened further when a flash of crimson eyes wormed its way into her psyche. The cold guidance and expressionless patience that she offered the flaxen-haired vahla was something Darth Malum of House Marr would have been intimately familiar with. Just as she was familiar with the oddly flavored anger, he thought he hid. Perhaps, he did. Their visits had prepared her to understand his general disposition…Not to mention that the Dread Queen was far more perceptive than the majority of the Sith that he generally interacted with.

"Malum…Let me see you."

She forwent his formal title, remembering, one of the many horrors that the phobis had gifted her. The specific instance in which the boy-king had been crushed in the mines of Dorvalla. Clearly, it had been a figment, a tool, of destruction, but even still…Proof went a long way toward letting her breathe while literal skyscrapers were burning. The pale woman did not recognize the blue-skinned female he arrived with…But part of her felt like she should.

Her curiosity was cut short when the weave of time and space began to warp.

It was not a natural process, enough, that even she could sense the disturbance. Some might have jumped at the intrusion of the ghastly Corpse King but Srina…Expected it. She knew the herald of his arrival as easily as she knew the clothes on her skin. His presence was a balm to the wild-fire Force that surged through veins that were clearly tapped. She had no more to give in the moment save for sage advice and succinct orders. Her eyes opened and her head turned slightly so that she could see Darth Empyrean …Her Maliphant.

Part of her felt startling relief that he was not…Gone. She had not forgotten his request.

The golden-eyed woman remained silent while Darth Empyrean and Darth Malum of House Marr added to the after-action report, briefly, confirming what she had hoped for. That the Alliance had been broken, spread too thin, and that they were well on their way toward exterminating the remains.

It bothered her that she could not…Feel her husband. Not in the way she had become accustomed. Her force bonds were still present but they were just as thready as her waxing and waning awareness. The ability to speak to him living or dead had never been an issue. Her knuckles rapped against Carnifex again…But this time? She was angered with herself. She could not be this weak… It was beyond pathetic. Arguably…She was likely the safest now than she had been since making landfall on this moon. But she felt undeserving of such focus and protection.

Undeserving of such deference.

If the Jedi somehow bounced back, now, with a hidden fleet or unexposed forces?

This so-called Empress would be entirely…Useless.

She would fail them all.

Srina sucked in a deep breath of air and once again buried any hint of emotion behind a mask of something that had the appearance of tranquility. "…Meldanya."

That singular word would answer a myriad of questions. My beloved, in her native tongue. It assured that she would be all right, given time, and that more than anything else…She was glad he had come. She always needed him, in any form. Empyrean might not have been able to feel what she felt, to know, what the phobis had done…The toll it had taken…But he would be able to understand it. He knew her better than she knew herself.

"I suspect small rebellions will begin to strategically appear. Many of the Alliance were embedded within the populace before we arrived…It stands to reason that some still are."

It was a bitter admittance, given, that she didn't want it to be the case.

But wishes and wants were irrelevant. It was the primary reason she was so hellbent on ensuring they were purged from the system…One Jedi left behind spewing rhetoric…Just one…

Could spark a whole revolution and they would find themselves back to square one.

 

[Eira Dyn]

Location: Echnos City
Attire: Assassin
Equipment: Daggers
Tag: Open

"Damn it!"

Eira could feel the pain coursing through her from the leg injury and the numerous other cuts that littered her body. She had prevented the mining stronghold be taken by the Galactic Alliance and Vince . But there had been a cost, her body was now in great pain and she had to face reality. She was weak.

"Pathetic... A nobody soldier resisted you Eira!" She cursed herself as she limped back to the main city. She was ashamed of the little progress she had made. Eira was meant to have wiped out the whole lot of them. She was meant to have killed every soldier that crossed her path. She was Sith, she was connected to the Force. Yet she was not strong enough. Sure she could blame her lack of a Lightsaber for the reason that she could only fight till there was draw. But deep down, she knew it was her lack of skills, her lack of experience that prevented from her success.

She hated herself for it. Eira burned with self hatred. She couldn't stand the fact that she was now demonstrating why she was so unsuccessful in the academy. Why she was forced to work a hundred times harder than anyone else, why she was burning herself out fast with little sleep and intense studying just to be still unnoticed and still fail to kill a soldier with no Force Powers. He hadn't beaten her but he had cracked the perfect Sith image she held of herself. He had damaged the dreams of hers.

No future ruler of the Sith would fail to end the life of a soldier. How could she live this down now?

Pulling the crystal from the Lightsaber she had stolen from the Jedi she fought, she stared intensely at it. Her second battle, her second failure to kill her opponent. Was this going to be her experiences now? Was she always going to fail? Gripping the crystal tightly in her hand, she growled loudly, the pain of her emotions and from her injuries caused tears to flow down her cheeks. She had even been failing to bleed this crystal in her spare time. She was weak, she was everything that she assumed her sister Cerys Dyn was. The years she had spent resenting her sweet, perfect sister who could do no wrong and how she craved the chance to demonstrate she was stronger. That she was better.

How could she do that now?

Her tight grip on the kyber crystal was tight enough that it felt like she was going to cut herself with the crystal. Her hatred, her anger, her pain all flowing within her and within the crystal. The self-hatred and the anger she felt about her weaknesses were the true trigger, the needed step as Eira was bleeding the crystal without even realising it. Her lone walk back to the city, isolated and suffering, it was the only time that Eira had been able to drop the façade of being superior. Of being powerful. Now she was allowing herself to feel her true beliefs, her true emotions and it was an intensity she had not expected.

All she could hope for was that her Master Iuuna Talon would not hate her for this failure. This clear demonstration of her inability to fight. That fear of rejection caused a whole new wave of self-hatred and self-depreciation cycle in her mind. Part of her wondered if she should leave, if she was simply unworthy of being Sith. "No... No, I can't quit. I won't. I just get stronger." She swore to herself.

Once she reached the city, Eira paused and opened her palm, the crystal was a new colour. It had changed in her clenched fist. Eira hadn't even noticed until she looked at the crystal now. It was similar to a blood ruby, a deep red and as if she had crystalized blood. "I... I did it..." It was a brief moment of relief and reassurance she needed. She could do this, Eira could be a Sith. She just needed to construct the Lightsaber now. Her mind raced with ideas on how to do that.

First though, she needed to find where she could receive some medical aid in the city now. Her injuries were exhausting her and she was still losing blood. Eira looked to see where medical support could be given to her since she had no clue on how to heal herself. Not yet at least.

 

[Credius Nargath]

​

The battle...if it had truly even been a battle at Sluis Van, had left its scars on all who participated, some were clearly more affected by the horrors and despair they had witnessed, while others...though much rarer in number, felt a surge of understanding and purpose throughout the whole ordeal. Alas, even then, those that did find purpose and understanding were forced to either die at the hand of the object of this newfound devotion or flee. Credius had observed what was going on for as long as he could, having been close to and part of the ritual which had unleashed such a primal monstrocity upon Sluis Van. He had observed the following moments, trying to not just understand the mind of the emperor, but also the nature and the core of the ritual which brought forth such a primal force which was in its nature not too dissimilar of his own. But Credius couldn't stay there, not if he wished to survive another day in order to continue his search, his experiments and his desire to obtain a new level of understanding over the Force.

As the massive Usurper managed to pull away from the carnage, it didn't take too much time for the monstrous being to find his ship in Echnos' orbit, where he'd have a much easier time to convene with the other remnants of the Invasion force at Sluis Van and the defenders from the other key positions. The fact the Galactic Alliance had been so brazen to launch not one, but multiple consecutive invasions was remarkable in the abomination's eyes, such reckless behavior was so unlike the Alliance that it made him wonder just how pressed for time not just the Sith Empire, but the Galactic Alliance was as well.

Letting out a sigh, followed by a groan, the Lord of Hunger hoisted himself into his concealing and more practical crimson satin and sileken garments, pulling the hood over his head as he chose one of his masks to veil the effects of having used too much of the absorbed power again. Even as he was clothing himself, his body was once again withering and aging, his skin after healing itself almost immediately started to turn wrinkly and leathery in texture, stretching taut over his face, sagging and suddenly tightening as the process of aging reached the point where he'd be no less terrifying in his looks than Darth Empyrean 's own Sepurchals.

Waving his hand through the air, a dark fog spread around the man before he vanished, only to reappear somewhat surprisingly to himself, not all too far from what would without a doubt be considered one of the greatest concentrations of the Dark side of the force imaginable, with not just the current, but also the former emperor, the head of the dark council and the Wolf...all in the presence of and concentrated around the empres... Srina Talon , A woman Credius knew all too well, he hadn't seen her in ages, but she was...memorable to say the least.

Due to his own status not even nearing the same level of those currently present, the abomination held his head low, which considering his bent and broken body wasn't much of an effort, yet he could still feel the weakness within the empress, the sorrow, the pain, the guilt, the overwhelming despair...but he also noticed that even in this weakened state, the instability, she was still more than enough to satiate the Force Vampire's hunger for a great deal if he were to strike now...but he wouldn't do such a thing, not just yet. After all, in her presence were none other than Darth Carnifex who he had served when he still utilized the moniker of Darth Halcyon, but he hated that name, that title, as it did not suit him, it was a title that may have been fitting for who he once was, but not anymore.

Darth Malum of House Marr and even the emperor himself were present, not to mention Gerwald Lechner who was but a young man last time Credius had taken notice of him, the Wolf truly had grown strong. The others that had gathered were perhaps not of the same order as those mentioned, but the Abomination decided to at the very least acknowledge their presence as well...in particular Kaila Irons whose strength in the force seemed...strange and familiar when it came to the way she seemed to be connected to it.

"Your Majesties, your grace, Milords..." As if he were some sort of wise old crone, Credius gave a careful, yet respectful nod to all those of higher rank than himself present, his own strength veiled and cloaked because of the use of the Dolos Amulet, but his nature and his depth within the neverending darkness beyond the veil were much harder to conceal with a mere trinket. Yet, he still bowed and nodded with the utmost respect, though not with any sign of humility or subservience. "Perhaps if I would be allowed to speak freely... I do think for now, the priority must be to tend to her majesty...I can sense a great deal of instability and pain... If permitted, I would not mind to alleviate her... anguish for now."

Raising a hand, as the red cloak fell down towards his wrist, a boney hand with long nails became visible, scars with runes and symbols of sith alchemy visible upon the skin which was rendered to have the same consistency and strength of parchment at this point. "There is also still the matter of the...tear, Lord Carnifex... I may be of assistance to you if you wish to take direct control over Sluis Van..."

Tilting his head a bit, the Force Vampire looked at the corpse emperor for a moment, perhaps the Emperor would have understood, perhaps not, but Credius wished to study the very ritual the emperor had performed and more importantly the very thing it had unleashed, as he felt a certain kindred thought to this beast which had fallen upon the alliance and the Sith's own forces with a ravenous hunger not unlike Credius' own.

Srina Talon | Darth Carnifex | Darth Malum of House Marr | Gerwald Lechner | Darth Empyrean | Kaila Irons | Firrerreo | Lina Ovmar | Ansisa

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Tags: Srina Talon Darth Empyrean Darth Malum of House Marr Darth Carnifex Gerwald Lechner Kaila Irons


Lina's eyebrow raised at the growl that emanated from Gerwald's throat, her emerald gaze shifting from the Empress to him. Such a good guard dog. the corners of her lips twitched as she fought back a smirk, instead showing the Executioner her empty palms a subtle signal that she was no threat to their Empress, before folding them behind her back. Her gaze lifted briefly upwards, at the barbaric display of images of their victory over the alliance. There were only a handful of people who might have ordered such a thing, and the only one she could not see close by was Darth Strosius .

It was effective, she supposed, but to broadcast it over the worlds that had suffered so much, perhaps a little tasteless. but then when had Strosius shown any taste other than brutality?

Her gaze flicked to Carnifex and his apprentice before settling once more on Srina. "It will be done, Empress. My forces and I are at your disposal." She had grown fond of the Empress in the short time they had been able to spend together, to see her like this… She was as strong as she was powerful, she would recover, this much she knew.

She flinched at the claim that Carnifex made upon these worlds. Her gaze snapping up to him. Too close. Him being here was far too close for her liking. Every move she made she felt his eyes on the back of her head, but now she would feel their burn. "Surely these people have suffered enough." she said softly, but Gerwald's confirmation and acceptance of the claim brought her to silence.

Perhaps she would be lucky, perhaps his focus would be only on these worlds and bringing them to heel. Perhaps she would be able to move without repercussions.

…Unlikely.

Before she could give it more consideration, before she could find a way to change the decision, the force seemed to scream. She knew it was him, he wouldn't have stayed away from her in this state for long so rather than falter under the pain his sudden appearance brought, she embraced it. Listening to his brief report, Lina shifted her gaze to a familiar presence approaching.

She offered Malum a small smile and nod of greeting as he joined them, his Shadow Hand stoic and silent at his side. Her relationship with Malum was an odd one, what had started with lust had settled into wariness on his part, he was unsure if he could trust her entirely no matter what assurances she offered that they were on the same side.

Lina looked back to Srina, a realisation dawning on her. Every person here, was here because this woman meant somethign to them. Empyrean may have been their Emperor, he was the brutal hand that was needed, but it was this woman that kept them all together, it was she who made sure that people who bore nothing but ill will towards one another could stand shoulder to shoulder for the same cause.

"If there are pockets of resistance, they won't survive Lord Carnifex's rule." That much she was certain of. there had not been a single uprising under his rule that had survived. The mandalorians were a testament to that. The only reason she had survived as long as she had was because she had spent so long running.

 

[Kaila Irons]

"The Empress will recover, it is by her efforts that secured our victory. All the Empire owes their Empress a debt payable only through unwavering fidelity. Remember this."

Kaila had spent countless hours wondering why her master remained with the order despite the shear power he could wield, and why he settled for Former Emperor rather than simply Emperor as he had once been.

Finally she knew why.

There was something between the empress and himself. She might never know what, but there was something.

"Of course, my lord" She bowed her head with no argument.

It was easy to see why, after all. Despite her unvoiced curiosities, her silent fascination with both the scene on display and the first true ruler she had ever met aside from her master, Kaila did not feel it was her place to question either way. Her fledgling ambitions were growing of course and she was far from the acolyte she had been years ago, but she was still a soldier of this empire, even if highly specialized and well trained compared to the blaster wielding fodder who now littered the streets around her.

Kaila was many things, but there was still a great deal she was not, it was not within her station to-

"Darth Anathemous…"

Eyes long golden with the dark side snapped towards The Empress, as if such a soft and low voice had been so much more.

She called her Anathemous? Darth Anathemous. Her eyes widened.

"I am Anathemous, Dark Lord of the Sith!"

The flames leapt to her side, and with one pulling motion, they struck in a roaring charge at the Jedi, fiery glow obscuring all else from sight in that dark city.

"And I will be denied no longer!"

Yes, she could see it now. When the Phobis took hold of her, she had become... something else. When Kaila's terrified screams finally ended, her lungs breathing out the last remnants of Kaila Irons, the dark side filled her empty vessel with a being of overwhelming violence. Anathemous was a name she had blurted out when at last embracing the dark side to it's fullest extent. For that brief moment, she truly was Anathema to everything in her path.

"…It is a pleasure to finally meet you…"

Her greeting was meant for the loss of Kaila Irons and the arrival of a new Darth.

That was when The Empress spoke to her in a psychic whisper that yet cut through the cacophony of war with sharp clarity. Kaila had spent so long chasing a title for whatever notions of freedom she associated with the privilege of rank, whatever belonging she associated with recognition within the empire.

The Empress had not merely recognized her as part of an empire, but picked her ears to grace out of so many across a raging battlefield.

She welcomed her with open arms.

"How many battlefields have you waded through…Is this your first?"

"Far from my first fight, my Empress, But indeed my first war"

Her black lips pursed in thought, unsure why the empress had taken any interest in one of Carnifex's assassins. Though Kaila supposed she might be one of his better pieces on the board. She'd killed the other apprentices, after all...

"If you are harmed…Have your wounds tended. Take a moment, hydrate, and eat something…Even if you don't want to. We are faced with many dilemmas in Echnos and today will be even longer than the night…Main power is still down, communications, down. There is still the potential for hidden threats among the populace. Where would you start?"

Oh?

She would wipe the blood from her forehead, noting how it was already beginning to darken against her black glove. Just a scratch then, she'd have ample time to answer this most interesting question. She would tend to her cauterized particle beam burns in time of course, as Talon commanded, but this moment was more important. From burns and pain she could derive power in the dark side, she could push through, Carnifex had seen to her tolerance for pain... But to leave the empress unanswered? she could not allow it.

"Well..." Her eyes had drifted down to the durasteel floor in thought. She was not trying to impress nor pursue some ambition with a "correct" response, merely preoccupied with giving it genuine thought and an honest answer.

"I suppose I'd lock down the city and dispatch teams to identify any survivors and check their records, under the guise of establishing a head count of course. It would appear that we were simply looking for missing persons or that bureaucratic error saw us repeating interviews, but in reality we would be looking for oddities, new arrivals, conflicting alibis, irregular documents, establishing a list of suspects really"

"The power went down before a frontline was even established. Someone must have already been inside" It was a suspicion she had from the very moment her battlefield had gone dark. There were likely few- if any- vents in a domed city with a toxic atmosphere outside it's confines, and even if there were, she doubted that there were not already orders for imperial forces to check building plans and lock down these locations.

"As for power and communications...? Perhaps we can salvage enemy equipment from outside the dome. An intact reactor can be brought from a disabled ship to serve as a temporary generator, communications could then draw from said generator"

It's what she would do, even if on a larger scale than she was trained for. An assassin and a kainite seeker had to be self sufficient even behind enemy lines or isolated in the wilderness while searching for ancient tombs.


With her piece said, Darth Anathemous ended the hypothetical with a nod as the empress both addressed and became swarmed by newcomers to the conversation, including Lina Ovmar whom she had not seen before but picked up on the subtle distaste for the plans of Darth Carnifex, and of course Darth Malum of House Marr who's masked face was equally foreign to her, although the name was certainly not.

Her golden gaze lingered on him for a time. The master of Marr had a voice which sounded much younger than she expected, around her own age even, assuming he was not some monstrous lich as so many seemed to be these days.

People such as...

"Sluis Van has been held, and the Alliance spearhead has been broken. The Mors Mon and the First Legion are finalizing the last details of their assault, and then we will strike back.", he offered flatly, his attention carefully studying Srina more than anything else."My love."

The Force screeched at The Emperor's sudden arrival, and despite how she loved to hear that malevolent omnipresence in pain for all it had done to her and to this galaxy, something about it made her jaw clench such that the muscles in her cheek visually sank.

She bowed her head low even still.

How ironic was this? She had come to this land a stranger who had only ever tread the lands of her master's enemies at his discretion, feeling so out of place within these borders. But in the span of a single evening, she was meeting all the most important figures of the empire by proxy. People she had only ever heard of in whispered rumors, but now she could put a face and voice to most.


Srina Talon Darth Empyrean Darth Carnifex Gerwald Lechner Lina Ovmar Darth Malum of House Marr Ansisa

 

[Kivah]

Location: Echnos City, TIE Reaper
Wearing: Udyr Biosuit, Black Leather Jacket
Equipment: BR-212 Jackal ACR, 2x Z-14 Auto Blasters
Tag: Eira Dyn

The shuttle hissed and vented a plume of gas alongside the ramp Kivah was sitting on in the style that many of the old Empire ships had done. Kivah had tried to 'fix' it or reroute it somewhere more sensible in the past, but had given up after realizing how much work (and credits) it'd take just to move the little white cloud machines. Sitting here, landed in a clear spot next to the road where someone's business had once been, while hoping to overhear a comm message that might send her off on some semi-important task had seemed foolish to the young woman at first. That changed as she watched the trickle of people making their way back into the city. They saw her and the poor fools in their desperation saw a soldier, a symbol that the Sith were still here with their order, that there may still be a future home for them here. She also saw the hooded looks sent her way, the calculations in the eyes of some that only saw her and an open ship with power. After drawing on one pair that thought to try their luck, Kivah had gotten her rifle and propped it up in the crook of her leg where she sat. People had stopped wondering about taking the Reaper after that.

Barely ten minutes later, during one of the lulls of traffic, a lone woman came limping up the road. She looked, not like a soldier, but beyond that Kivah couldn't place her. Maybe another contractor like herself? Placing two fingers to her lips, she let out a piercing whistle to get the other woman's attention. "Need some help?" She called out once the shrouded figure was looking her way. For most of the time she'd been here, the Cathar had simply directed those that asked for directions to keep moving, that someone would be there further on. There weren't a lot of medical supplies aboard the Reaper after all, it mostly for her own use or if another Zero got hurt. Something about this raven-haired woman made her reach out though, as if they were continuing through sheer stubbornness alone. "I've got water and some bacta if you want it." She added by way of explanation as she stood and slung her rifle.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Dark Lord of the Kainate stood implacable, face a mask of placidity. His eyes betrayed the broiling hate that ever simmered beneath the surface, for they ever burned with the raw, undiluted power of the Dark Side. Every muscle tightly coiled, holding in boundless energy that was only a thought away from being released. He was violence made manifest, the rawest expression of visceral brutality, of carnage and callous disregard. The veneer of nobility could only be maintained for so long, and His true self would shine through in moments of deepest depravity; the intoxicating lockstep tempo of war being His most sensual domain.

So it was, the cognitive dissonance at seeing such a monstrous figure -- one who had burned countless trillions in His endless escapades -- cradling the wife of His enemy so tenderly and with seemingly unwarranted devotion was exceptionally paradoxical. But the truth of it was theirs alone to share, the nature of their bond kept from all others. In essence, they were close confidants, conspirators of a grand vision. They plotted to secure the future of the Empire, safeguarding it against all who would profane its purpose for disastrous ends.

For now, the Dark Lord was in league with His adversary, the Emperor Empyrean. If not for the sake of Empyrean's wife, the woman Carnifex now held in His own arms, then for the security and secrecy of their shared plan. Perhaps there would come a time when Carnifex could cast down His foe, whether through battle or through exorcism (for the Worm ever remained a danger at the forefront of His thoughts), and another would be raised upon the throne of the Sith. One free from the Worm, unburdened by the unlife that hobbled the great Empyrean.

It was not His to covet, for the Dark Lord of the Kainate had long foregone such a base ambition. But He had worked tirelessly for many years to prepare another for ascension, to place them upon the throne as the new Emperor; while Himself, the ever loyal Eternal Regent.

He listened to the Emperor, to the Empress, and the myriad of people around them who spoke about their immediate actions following their triumph. When He found a moment to speak, His voice rang out with authority and finality. "Suffer not the Jedi to live. They are a contagion, polluting the minds of those who serve our Empire. Any Jedi who yet linger where they should not shall; be excised, and all they have touched made to lay bare all that they are. For the Jedi is insidious, they worm inside the minds of the weak -- those who doubt our truths. Only when no threat to our security remains shall these worlds be allowed to prosper again, but not a moment before."

His eyes fell to those who had pledged their service to this cause, gracing them with the enormity of His direct attention. "You shall be the swift sword upon which these villains are brought to a deserving end. Success will bring bountiful reward, failure will bring only discipline." He then looked to Kaila in particular. "Darth Anathemous has the right of it, she will be the Fist with which these worlds shall be wrung dry of ill influence. In this, she will speak with my voice and act with my will."

Srina Talon | Darth Empyrean | Gerwald Lechner
Lina Ovmar | Darth Malum of House Marr | Ansisa
Kaila Irons | Credius Nargath | Firrerreo ​

 

[Eira Dyn]

Location: Echnos City
Attire: Assassin
Equipment: Daggers
Tag: Kivah

She thought about the Lightsaber design that best suited her, one that appeared as as single bladed Lightsaber in combat until the very end when she would reveal multiple blades to disorient and annihilate her opponents, the issue she held was the fact that Eira currently only held a single Lightsaber crystal under her control. She needed more and she needed to spend time parading around as someone that only Iuuna Talon knew held the capabilities to either steal multiple Lightsaber crystals or obtain multiple kyber crystals before today.

There would be little hiding her progress now since she was going to forge her own Lightsaber and she knew she needed to forge her own as soon as possible. Especially since she was forging her own Lightsaber from a crystal she had stolen from a Jedi. She was even afraid that there would come a day that Ran Serys would collect on her mercy. That she was in some way indebted to the Jedi Knight.

For now, Eira had to focus on her progress and the fact that she had forced herself into survival. Eira was not one for self fulfilling prophecies but she could not deny that the absence of her sister, Cerys Dyn was also an example of her success. Until she had defeated her sister in combat, everything was just chance. It was just fortune favouring the Sith and that eventually the debt must be called. Eira knew her chances of unlimited success was not going to be unrivalled.

"...Please..." Eira's words formed, "...heal me..." Her words were hiding how severe the injuries she had suffered without immediate support.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Srina Talon | Darth Carnifex | Kaila Irons | Lina Ovmar

Srina’s order did not cause her wolf to bark back because there was no reason to. The idea of detaining those they captured was logical, but Gerwald intended to get what the Echani wanted without allowing them to live. He could not let the information some of them contained remain hidden, but he also could not let the poison of their infectious propaganda spread like a virus. Perhaps the Echani wanted him to fight back, to show that he would not bow to her every whim. Yet, Gerwald understood her reasons. Out of all of them which surrounded her, Gerwald had known her the longest.

If her orders stopped making sense, Gerwald would challenge them, he could challenge them. Those who watched him considered the man to be nothing but a lap dog, a loyal hound which did not know how to question those in authority over him. Rather it was a falsehood which the wolf allowed to be perpetuated. He had challenged her in private. For the sake of unity and the future of the Order, Gerwald aligned publicly and gave his criticisms privately.

“We will find them, all. I will have Oleander Webb see to acquiring the information personally.”

She would know what that meant, for she knew what he was.

His eyes turned to the Emperor. The quick regard for the Corpse King was the only exchange between the two. There had been so much death which came by his hand, and while the Dread Wolf did not understand the complexity of it, he did everything within his power to see the Order continue. Darth Empyrean would pull the wolf into his confidence when he was ready. Until then, Gerwald was determined to ensure the Order thrived.

The empty hands which Lina Ovmar produced were met with a nod. She could not harm his Queen. He let her pass. Credius Nargath was another matter entirely. Gerwald recalled him and his allies from his days in the Confederacy of Independent Systems. The man had been fixated on control of one system to the point he promoted the kind of unrest which would lead to it breaking the accords they had signed with the Confederacy. Whatever help he wished to offer did not come from a place of concern. The wolf only knew the man to think of nothing but his own self interest.

This action was out of character from what the wolf knew. Regardless, his line of thinking was incorrect. Empyrean was here. Darth Carnifex was here. Her wolf was among them. He did not need to touch her.

Gerwald stood in front of him. No one would pass to reach the Empress unless she, or the Emperor willed it.

“The priority is to secure these worlds after rebuffing the enemy. She will be attended to.”

She called for Malum, so the wolf allowed him to pass. Lina as well.

He listened to the words which Kaila Irons gave. Her plan was good, it was solid. Carnifex seemed to agree which was why he put her in command of the effort. Gerwald nodded once more at the decision.

Desiring to give Credius a chance to show he was not the person Gerwald remembered him to be. A smile pulled at his lips as he looked at the man.

“If you were to be sent to Sulis Van, how would you secure it? What would your plan be to ensure the shipyards are secured and efficient?”

 

[Spencer Varanin]

An old friend had decided to grace the galaxy once more. Spencer hadn't felt this particular brand of chaos in some time, but the flicker and spark she felt within her chest burned. The whispers and voices she had taken within her own cried out for its brethren. Feeling the pained cries of the consumed amused the former Echani Queen. As much as she sat upon the fence of the Force, the woman tended to lean slightly forward into the darkness.

Does it pain you? She cooed as the spirits melded into her own and crossed the galaxy. Do you wish to unite? Another question unanswered by the ambiguous. Spencer knew the answer, and for once, she would entertain the swirl of voices echoing faintly in her mind. It wasn't only for them. Spencer had personal feelings involved; the one who had dealt with the Phobis Device had been one of her favorites. Curses had been flung towards Metus, knowing the woman had been his apprentice. Had he not prepared the woman for things like this? Metus had once been her apprentice, and the woman expected only his best teaching to Srina. Spencer blamed herself. It was beyond the matter; the only thing she could do now was assess the damage.

Hopefully, there was a way to reverse or fix the damage that had been done by the Phobis Device. Spencer could still feel the device's heart pulsing through the Force. Which meant that it hadn't been fully dealt with. The whispers picked up, and Spencer stopped pacing and waved her hand.

"Silence."

Her voice echoed through the Force and throughout the ship. The galaxy went quiet.

A small crowd had gathered around the Empress of the Sith. Spencer drew a silken hood over her blonde hair and watched. Faces she had never seen surrounded the woman, while more familiar ones curled her lips to a smile. One figure drew more of her attention. The Corpse Emperor of the Sith, a familiar feeling passed between them, which he would potentially feel - but she figured it would be ignored. His concern was his wife. For a brief moment, Spencer saw Ashin in his features, and a warmth spread over her heart.

Observation would be what she did today; there was no reason to stir the crowd. For most, she was considered dead and rotting in the ground with her beloved. Yet for others, like the Empress - their connection was only strengthened with time. Residing towards the back of the room as others pledged to help, she focused on the Force. Threads illuminated before her eyes, showing the ties of the Living Force. Everyone was connected, and others had stronger strands. Unfortunately, she spotted the issue. A gentle but hidden wave of her hand and the threads disappeared. Srina's connection was obliterated by what she didn't fully know. Spencer would have to see what was contained in the device. Now wasn't the time, though, so she waited while the others talked and listened to their Empress's orders.

With what she observed, Spencer doubted that the woman she considered her cherished daughter would even be able to discern that she was even here.

Srina Talon Gerwald Lechner Darth Empyrean Lina Ovmar Darth Malum of House Marr Darth Carnifex Kaila Irons

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Sluis Van
​

Standing at the viewports that oversaw the space around Sluis Van from the shipyard's command center, the Lady of Secrets was seething. Her confrontation with Valery Noble and her son Aris Noble had just started to look interesting. Valery had demonstrated the ability to phase and she had placed herself on the other side of the Sith Lady, putting Taeli inbetween with her son behind. It could have likely been a tricky scenario, one where she would have needed to rely on her sorcery or she could have shifted her own position through the Force...

That all had been moot when she sensed the wave of death unleashed by the Emperor's ritual and the dark and twisted energies released to feed on the Sluis Van system and the fleets engaged around the shipyards. None were being spared and she had sensed the entity behind the devouring fog, a Nether entity gorging itself on both light and dark, any life force would do to sate its hunger.

She had disengaged immediately, disappearing into purple fog herself. Her first order of business, as the smoke and fog of the Netherworld spread and consumed, was to get Zarava safe. She had barely managed to do so when she had come under assault from the entity. Perhaps it had sensed her own ties to the Netherworld or it had sensed her power in the Force. Either way, it had taken her skill in sorcery and esoteric uses of the Force... and an unconscious use of her twins' and her wife's connection to the Nether to keep her own life force and ward off the fog.

Now she was taking toll of what the Emperor had wrought upon the system.

Sluis Van itself was in flames, orbitally bombarded and touched by the fog it seemed. Estimates were in the millions of dead. The fleets had been shattered, Alliance and Sith starships alike floated dead in space as their crews had been consumed. Each was a tomb of the dead. Command staff, those that had survived, were showing anywhere from a third to half of their forces present had been stripped of life and an equal number if not slightly larger number of fatalities had been inflicted on the Alliance.

Her wife was no doubt feeling her frustration that the Emperor's actions had nearly killed her. If she had been told about the ritual ahead of time, if she had been informed of what it might do, she could have contributed more in some way. She could have helped guide the wave of death to touch less upon their forces than the Alliance. She could have...

Her anger was bubbling and she knew it, and she could still sense the Emperor... and then he was gone. Dark thoughts gathered in her head, no doubt fueled by her irritation, but they were there nonetheless. She didn't take kindly to people trying to kill her, even indirectly, and certainly not after she had just put her family mostly back together.

She would start issuing orders to begin stabilizing the system, to start the ball rolling on reconstruction. She would send a message to Merryn to begin the process of bringing more direct oversight and control from Aurora into the system.

---

From the shadow of Darth Carnifex , a shape would start to crawl out of it. A small thing, moving shadows twisting together up to his shoulder until they solidified into the shape of a raven with amethyst eyes. While the Lady of Secrets was beginning to tend to affairs at Sluis Van, her presence and importantly her ability to listen in or contribute to something, would be established.

But also emanating from the raven perched on the Butcher King's shoulder was a wave of contained frustration in the Force, and some concern as the eyes saw the state of the Empress. Its head would swivel to look at those gathered; from Darth Empyrean showing some concern for his wife to Gerwald Lechner preparing the hunt at the command of the Empress to the apprentice to Carnifex Kaila Irons to the Marquis Credius Nargath to the ambitious and cunning woman Lina Ovmar to her fellow Dark Councilor Darth Malum of House Marr .

It would turn its head one more time as another presence she knew, she respected, was nearby. Spencer Varanin was observing, but the raven would not give her away, but merely look back to the gathering here.

 

[Kivah]

Location: Echnos City, TIE Reaper
Wearing: Udyr Biosuit, Black Leather Jacket
Equipment: BR-212 Jackal ACR, 2x Z-14 Auto Blasters
Tag: Eira Dyn

Up close the woman looked punch-drunk, Kivah had seen it a few times in the ring, even been that way a time or two herself. Unsteady, slow on her feet, and not talking too well. "Come on, we'll get you a seat." Kivah offered while making a mental note to check for a concussion, she'd had a few of those as well and the treatment for humans was probably close enough.

Once the woman had been helped inside, Kivah toggled the ramp closed so there wasn't a hole in the floor and folded down one of the ten jump seats lining the troop bay for Eira to sit in. The once Imperial shuttle was an obvious home conversion for the Cathar, exercise equipment cluttered the rear, and two speeder bikes were stacked in charging racks, to the sides of which she'd stacked a few packing crates. Beyond the closed door leading forward, the originally austere living space had been remodeled into comfortable quarters.

Kivah tossed her leather jacket aside, leaving her in just the grey and black skin-tight biosuit before pulling on a pair of sterile medical gloves she took from the quite comprehensive kit she took from under another seat. "Leg first, it looks the worst." Kneeling beside the hurt woman, Kivah filled a hypospray with an antibiotic cocktail mixed with a mild painkiller and muscle relaxant. It was the same stuff she used when a fight left her messed up. "My name's Kivah. What's yours? Do you want to tell me what happened?" She wanted to get this person's mind focused and her talking, keep her from fixating on the medical stuff and see how her mind was doing. Not that she was any competent judge, it was what the training holo had said to do and seemed to help the few times she'd patched up her friends.

 

[Darth Empyrean]

"One or a hundred sooth sayers would not sway our people's minds.", he said callously.​

​

"They understand what we fight for. Many, better than even the Sith in this room."​

​

It was a comment, to some of them, who had let their gaze linger on him too long. His eyes saw all, his mind allowed himself to understand those glances that took to long to depart, the twitch of a sneer as they came to understand what it was Empyrean had sacrificed at the cost of all others. For him, it was the totality of what his people had promised him - their very lives for his cause. What was there beyond him selling them when he felt it necessary?​

​

A Sith knew the price of a life, and they knew how to bargain with them.​

​

His gaze moved towards Credius Nargath , but his jaw only tensed as he studied the man. He was unfamiliar with any of his escapades, his triumphs, or his defeats. He was as transient to Empyrean as the civilians he had blasted away from orbit, and given the chance - he would use him like the others, until he had wringed out every ounce of life the man had to give. It was simply the way of an Emperor, and as all the Sith Emperor's before him, he would be detested. Because he knew what had to be done. They didn't.​

​

"Do what you will. Sluis Van means nothing to me.", he admitted, once more with a dismissive callousness that only reinforced how little his sacrifice truly weighed on him. It's shipyards had already proven there usefulness, and with the rise of organized resistance in the old League territory, it's use as a tributary node had become pointless. Any further extraction of wealth would require their direct intervention.​

​

"All that matters is preparing the Second Legion for war. I understand my brother -", he said with an annoyed emphasis, "- has assisted in finishing it's production near Terminus. Someone will need to be appointed as its Imperator. Decide by merit, by lot, by luck, it doesn't matter, but ensure the Dark Council puts forward someone worthy of the place.", he said with a look towards the Crow of Taeli Raaf , Gerwald Lechner , and Darth Malum of House Marr .

"Private plans will be put forward to build a Flagship. The Alliance has proven we need more forces abroad, and the Mors Mon can not singularly defend our territory as it once had. I will deliver these designs when I see fit.", he finalized.​

 

[Ansisa]

Tags: Darth Malum of House Marr Srina Talon Darth Empyrean Gerwald Lechner Darth Carnifex Credius Nargath Kaila Irons Spencer Varanin Taeli Raaf

Ansisa turned his words over in her head, analysing them. They had not started this war the Alliance had. To respond with such finality would help the Alliance's case in justifying the deaths today, but to be merciful after their attack was the cause of so much death and destruction? That would weaken their propaganda against the sith.

She gave a small nod. "I understand, my lord." she graced him with a small smile. "I'll see it done." Her gaze followed his own to settle on the group above them, letting out a small sigh as she climbed the steps with him to join them.

The power within the group was so tangible in the force she was convinced she could taste it. Keeping quiet and set slightly behind Malum's shoulder she did her utmost to not be noticed. She was an ant among gods and there was no telling which boot might come her way. She spent her time in the shadows, being in the limelight was not something she was entirely comfortable with.

Her hands folded behind her back, the gentle weight of a shikaar blade settling into her fingers. A comfort, not that it would be of any use to her here. Her red gaze shifted form one to the next, assessing all of them. The Empress, though clearly weakened, still bore strength in the aura around her, the Lord of the Kainites, a man Malum had sworn to kill though that was not common knowledge. Her eyes drifted to the raven on his shoulder, amethyst eyes blinking. A familiar…but who's? The executioner, a stalwart guard to her majesty, measured all of them and their threat level. The emperor himself was a formidable power, the corpse emperor…much of the death today had been on his hands, then she expected no less.

Gerwals questioned a sith she was not familiar with, the conversation less then interesting and Ansisa turned her gaze to their surroundings. Such a powerful group of people gathering would draw eyes and ears easily enough.

 

[Eira Dyn]

Location: Echnos City
Attire: Assassin
Equipment: Daggers
Tag: Kivah

Following the Cathar into the shuttle and noted that it was not imperial standard, she was sure this was something similar to a home base. Made sense if this person was someone who travelled a lot and wasn't a traditional soldier or required to follow the Sith Order rules as she understood them. For now, she was in too much pain to really formulate and slide into her usual questioning self.

Watching the Cathar get to work in helping her, Eira was appreciating the assistance. She hadn't learned how to heal her own injuries so her walking to the city had only made her injuries worse, especially the deep burn wound on her leg. Clearly she had taken a blaster bolt to her leg and she was sweating as she left the pain wash over her as the adrenaline fled her system.

"Ei...Eira... Eira Dyn." She panted, "got in a fight. It was tough and dangerous.... I did the best I could..." Eira sighed, she couldn't keep the front up that she had tackled something super dangerous, she was just focused on her injuries, and wanting to avoid suffering in her pain too much. "Fought someone with a sword and they had a blaster and sword."

 

[Credius Nargath]

​

Looking at Darth Carnifex as he so brazenly exclaimed his "former" apprentice would be acting in his stead, Credius' eyes narrowed a bit. This brash act of claiming both of the planets for his own and telling everyone that it would be Kaila Irons or Darth Anathemous who would reign in his stead made the withered, masked man chuckle wryly. It was so typical to see the former emperor swing around his might and his power as if it were nothing; a true sith...and therefor less interesting to Credius than the current Emperor...whose gaze did not escape the old man. In kind, the abomination of the force simply showed a hint of glee in his eyes as he met with Darth Empyrean 's eyeless gaze for that one moment.

Yet perhaps the moment the monster's attention was truly peaking, was when Gerwald Lechner , the Wolf suddenly asked what he would plan to do if he were to be given Sluis Van...something Credius now knew to be impossible, but he would at the very least amuse the Wolf's question. After all, this man, though not in a positive light, did seem to remember the monster as he had been before... when he still had different ideals, different dreams, when he was still roughly in his prime in the natural sense...

"It's efficiency would be mostly impossible to improve without...drastic meassures," The Abomination within the force chuckled softly, his voice somewhat hollow and reminiscent of any other man who had far passed the nineties as a human. "But to begin, I would take away every child that has survived the bombardment under the age of six or the equivalent thereof for non-humans and bring them to one of our many educational facilities to either mold them into loyal dogs and sith troopers that could bolster our armies, those among these children who are force sensitive...would be tested for their strength in traditional manners and without remourse. Anyone older than six and able bodied will be put to work, rubble needs to be cleared, dead need to be burned...and lastly...the shipyards themselves...why not droids for the time being. Droids and prisoners of war would work well... The shipyards are of little consequence for the time being if I recall."

Shrugging his shoulders a bit, Credius chuckled once more, leaning in a bit closer to the Wolf, the unnaturally bestial eyes visible through the holes of the mask now flaring with crimson and gold as if to emphasize his next chosen words. "But I could just drain that world...every single living thing a speck of dust, a miniscule flicker within the inferno that is my hunger. That would at the very least be a sort of mercy...to not have these people suffer the indignities they will inevitably suffer."

Chuckling a bit, the man looked at Carnifex again, his eyes beaming with a desire, a ravenous hunger. "They will suffer under the Twice Emperor's rule...and I will have none of it...none of their delectable fears, their despair."

Srina Talon | Darth Carnifex | Darth Malum of House Marr | Gerwald Lechner | Darth Empyrean | Kaila Irons | Firrerreo | Lina Ovmar | Ansisa | Taeli Raaf

 

[Kivah]

Location: Echnos City, TIE Reaper
Wearing: Udyr Biosuit
Equipment: BR-212 Jackal ACR, 2x Z-14 Auto Blasters
Tag: Eira Dyn

The hypospray let out a hiss of rushing air as Kivah injected Eira's leg with the healing cocktail. "You didn't have armor either." Kivah said bluntly, not realizing she was addressing a Sith, even an Acolyte, as she prepared a bacta-infused bandage that she began wrapping the other woman's leg in. "Even Sith with their lightsabers wear armor. There's a lotta kark flying around a battlefield," she eyed Eira up but didn't see one of the laser swords dangling from her hip as she finished securing the bandage. "You're lucky something didn't frag you before you decided to duel someone with a blaster." Artillery, tanks, poison gas, ambushes, all had made Kivah thankful for her armor at some point. Even moving through a bombed city without anyone shooting at her had imparted its share of bruises and scrapes.

"Stretch that out and let the hypo work, should numb the pain in a minute or two." Kivah continued as she went to work on the rest of the Sith's lesser scrapes and wounds with a bit of med gel. She'd checked the expiry date on the little tube and it was still good. Probably at least. An Espo Police Sergeant had sold off the lot when the prescient had replaced their first aid kits six months to expiry. When the task of disposing of the old supplies had fallen to him, the Sergeant had taken to the opportunity as naturally as any of the criminals housed in his cells.

"So, what had you out sword fighting in the middle of a war?" Kivah asked, hoping for more to this woman's story. Maybe what had happened to her unit or during the fight itself and why Eira no longer had her weapon.

 

[Eira Dyn]

Location: Echnos City
Attire: Assassin
Equipment: Daggers
Tag: Kivah

"Some Sith wear armour. When assassins are moving around swiftly, silently, armour is something that cannot be afford. It is too bulky, too noisy, too restricting in movement." Eira was stating her issues when it came to armour, but she knew that she was far from skilled enough to fight without some form of protection in the future. "Heavy armour also restricts one's ability in the Force." That was something she could not afford either since the Force was much stronger ally than her combat skills.

Shaking her head, "I was infiltrating... infiltrating a mining stronghold some Alliance soldiers thought they could keep. I made sure that they didn't benefit from that position." Eira did as instructed and stretched her leg out, wincing as she still felt some pain as she moved but it was less. Thankfully, significantly less. "It was close quarters, not open field like things were around here. Walking back here is what made me so weak." Eira confessed, not feeling ashamed of her weakness.

She had helped in the end and the Alliance had shed blood, they were shown to be failing, that was something in her mind.

"Well, still pretty new as an Acolyte so not gotten the chance to construct my Lightsaber." She pulled out the blood red freshly bled kyber crystal and held it in her hand, "but seems I will have a better weapon than a sword and some daggers soon enough. Just need to locate another crystal to create my perfect weapon." There was an ambitious glow in her eyes as she studied her crystal. The formation of her Lightsaber already coming together.

Looking back to the soldier as she pocketed her crystal once again, "how was the battle in the city? Did we suffer any major casualties?"

 

[Kivah]

Location: Echnos City, TIE Reaper
Wearing: Udyr Biosuit
Equipment: BR-212 Jackal ACR, 2x Z-14 Auto Blasters
Tag: Eira Dyn

Some of the things Eira was saying... Kivah looked up from her work, eyebrow raised as she considered. "Wait, you're a Sith?" She asked, suddenly remembering all the stories of them murdering people for the slightest reason and the way she might have been a little disrespectful just now. She also hadn't been calling her 'madam' or 'mistress,' or whatever Sith titled themselves. But then Eira seemed to be taking her comments honestly and was explaining rather than just stabbing. Not that it would have worked out too well for the injured woman. "Nice crystal," she agreed diplomatically when Eira showed it to her, because she could mind her manners despite what some people thought. Which was why she didn't question her further about the armor thing, even though she was sure that she'd seen a lot of Sith in armor. Maybe it was a propaganda thing?

Done treating the Sith Apprentice, Kivah wiped her hands clean with one of those disinfecting wipes and tossed it and the empty tube away before folding down a chair for herself across the small bay. "No idea," She confessed. "I usually hang out Rimward of the Northern State. Even cutting through Aliance space along the Hydian Way, I didn't make it in time to fight." Which she felt a little poorly about. She made the dangerous trip and wouldn't be getting paid for it. "Still, from what I've seen you had your standard bombardment, and heavy weapons being used. I guess it comes down to what you define as 'major casualties.' There was a victory, and as far as I know, that's all the Emperor and his lords care about."