Faction In Memoria

[Lily Rhodes]

The image of his true form was burned onto her brain, even as it faded and she as left to stare at the man who ws slowly decaying before he very eyes, she could only see the abomination for what he truly was. Her mouth had gone dry, her heart beat pulsed in her ears, she was pretty certain her legs shook slightly as he released her, taking a step back. She downed the remainder of her drink in one, desperate to seek some form of releif in the bottom of the glass and finding none.

"Monsters come in all shapes and sizes. I've spent my whole life encountering them. Sometimes working for them, sometimes running from them, and on very rare and normally stupid occasions facing them." She snagged another drink off a passing try, before bristling at his words.

"No one holds dominion over me." She met his gaze again, allowing that little bite of anger to steady her nerves as she considered his words. What could he possibly offer her? Power? that was something she could seek closer to home, within someone she trusted. Knowledge? No. what she needed, was purpose.

"I'll humour you, because lets face it, I haven't got anything better to do. What could you possible offer me, that I cannot seek elsewhere, besides a bad skin complextion."

Credius Nargath

 

[Credius Nargath]

Looking down on the woman downing her glass of liquor, even if she were to give him a defiant stare, Credius' own gaze upon her was that of a man looking down upon a child that had yet to move on from their swaddling clothes. It was a combination of arrogance both earned and innately within his very core. There was no rage, no hatred, no fear, nothing but cold and commanding power in his very eyes, made even more apparent when he raised his left hand in order to slowly remove his shades, revealing his eyes in their true terrifying glory and horrifying splendor. These were inhuman eyes, with slit pupils, a combination of glittering gold and crimson red, intermingling into a monstrous infernal orange and amber, with black sclera rather than white, further proving his standing and denomination as a monster.

"Let's hope for your sake than, that this is not one of those stupid occassions, shall we?" Again, that same dry and hollow chuckle escaped his throat, as his eyesockets darkened and the crack in his skin widened and lengthened. "Dominion...my dear miss Lily, if it was truly dominion I wished to have over you, do you really think we'd be having this...enjoyable conversation?"

The abomination's eyes fell once more upon the obnoxious man he had been eyeing this entire time, noticing that this time, the individual seemed to have finally decided to approach the ones he had not yet approached, walking rather pompously towards the pair, all smiles and bluster.

"Milord, Milady...can I offer you my...huh?" The man stopped in his tracks when Credius' hand reached out for the top of the man's head, his fingertips digging into the man's hair and cripping tightly onto his skull.

"Do not interrupt me when I am having a conversation, you pointless meatbag." As the abomination's skin seemed to start stitching itself close, the man whose head Credius was holding started to look emaciated, their hair growing gray and eventually falling out, their skin turning into something akin to dried out parchment, before finally, Credius released the man's head, having the lifeless body drop to the ground and shatter into naught but dust and garments laying in a heap on the floor.

"Now than...where were we?" Dusting off his colbert and combing with his hand through his blonde hair, the abomination smiled, glancing back down at Lily's eyes with his own gaze. "Right...you want to know what I can offer? I can grant you knowledge and power, teach you things no other sith can and in return you will serve a purpose...nay, you will HAVE a purpose, as someone who can act in my stead, be my hand, my ear, my mouth if need be."


Lily Rhodes

 

[Aerik Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Irina Jesart

Aerik heard little after Irina began to drag him to his father. She had to have been struggling against his weight, the density of his bones being stronger than the average human. The truth which Irina had known for some time was that he was not human. Those who knew Gerwald knew his children would not have been human. Hopefully the commotion was not drawing too much attention. Just because the event was designed for fun did not mean there were not those who would use any leverage they could get on Gerwald Lechner.

His mind felt like it was on fire, and his bones erupted in pain as though they were breaking. In a way there were. They grew, reformed, shaped, into what they needed to be in order for Aerik to change. His human self wanted to fight what was happening. That was the reason a pup needed guidance through their first change. Without the encouragement to let it happen, they could die.

The grass was soft, wherever he was settled, though for the moment Aerik had lost track of his bearings. His father’s scent was strong, he could smell it like he never had before. It was oddly comforting.

He tried to breathe like he was told. It hurt. The pain seared into his lungs like he had inhaled pure acid.

Aerik tried again, this time it hurt less.

Each breath that followed became easier, and with oxygen came enough clarity to his mind to realize what his father was saying. Breathe through it. He had to let it go and relax.

Labored and quick breaths slowed as the pup came to a place of peace. His chest rose and fell with each passing contraction of his lungs, and beat of his heart. For a moment everything stopped. The pain, the popping of his bones, and they started to relax.

He opened his eyes and looked at his father. He could finally hear his voice. A deep breath also revealed they were not alone. His eyes moved to the tree where Irina was standing. If he knew, Gerwald knew, but neither of them focused on her.

“You don’t have a change of clothes, it is a good thing you are not wearing your school uniform.”

The chuckle was comforting, but Aerik could feel another wave of pain welling up. Losing his clothes was the least of his worries for the moment. Aerik said nothing, but his eyes pleaded with Gerwald to make the pain stop. This was the most painful thing he had experienced in his life, and he knew nothing would ever compare to it again. Aerik just needed to get through it.

“Let it happen, and let the wolf out. Don’t fight it. You’re not long now.”

He really did not know what Gerwald meant. How could he not be long? Aerik lifted his hand, but realized it was not his hand. It was… well almost a paw. His eyes closed again, this time he focused his breathing and tried to envision his final shape. Bones began to pop again, and Aerik rolled onto his hands and knees. Even as he did he could hear the fabric of his clothes tear.

A loud howl escaped him as he stood, no longer human but, as a wolf. His fur was black as night. Orange eyes glowed stronger, as though they were made of fire. Wisps of smoke radiated from his body. The boy had become a wolf, but not.

Turning to his father he could see the expression on Gerwald’s face. Aerik was something new, something wholly unexpected.

 

[Irina Jesart]

Irina was silent, though she knew very well that both of them would be able to hear the rapid beating if her heart that she was certain was in her throat. Every crack and pop made her flinch and she prayed silently to whatever god might hear her that he would survive. He had to survive.

She couldn't look away, she wanted to, she wanted to remove the way his eyes pleaded with his father for freedom from the pain, she didn't want to recall the unnatural way his body bent and twisted as he began to change, but she was transfixed.

The howl that erupted from him sent chills down her spine, but it came with a wave of relief. Did that mean he was okay? That he had survived the change into… she let out a soft sigh, stepping forward finally from the tree line to get a better look at him. He was a wolf, but he was also so much more, smoke trailing from his fur like there was a fire burning within him.

“Beautiful.” She said softly, before realising that she had spoken aloud. Heat flushed her face. “Sorry.”

Aerik Lechner

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Darth Prazutis //:

Nights like this, Quinn avoided. There was nothing in her mother's training that prepared her for the overwhelming sorrow that came with ceremonies and places where people came to remember. The dead had left the plane of the living, some believed the Force absorbed the soul making them one with the Force. Others thought that the dead moved to another plane of existence, the Netherworld. Quinn believed in both, she had felt the souls moving about the living Force when she summoned its aid. She also had ventured into the Netherworld twice, first to fetch her mother and secondly to rescue Alina.

Quinn ran her thumb and forefinger over the locket around her neck. When she had decided to come honor the dead, Quinn had planned offering the locket in hopes of speaking with Vesta. Though she knew Vesta would never answer her. Vesta was gone and that part of Quinn's life was closed. Closing her eyes, Quinn replayed that moment in her mind, her memory too perfectly retained the memory. Everything was so vivid, the Echani could still smell the death around them.

To find a reality where they could be together. Vesta's words echoed against the Princess' lips. Listening to those words, opened the wound in her heart once again. What did Vesta mean by that? What was wrong with this reality? Did it all go back to the death of their mothers?

The question haunted Quinn. How different would Vesta's life had been if she had completed the assassination on the young Varanin? It was one of many questions, and none of them had answers that made Quinn feel a sense of closure.

People passed her and prayers whispered. Quinn closed her eyes as she stood away from them. The prayers turned in to whispers and they were answered by the Force. For some, they were true voices of the dead searching to bring comfort to those that called to them. Others, she could feel a sinister embodiment. She exhaled, pushing her will into the force, blending it and masking it the best she could. Quietly, the sinister voice - searching to latch onto individuals wanting to drive them into madness went silent.

Quinn pulled herself back inward. Her defenses rose and she kept herself separated from the rest. She stood closer to the alter, seeing several items belonging to the deceased. Fingers pressed against her locket, knowing that maybe if she offered it - Vesta would answer. The locket was infused with her blood, their blood joined together. Quinn knew the latter was only because she had been wounded when she was first given the locket. Once more, Quinn clutched the locket tightly, feeling the remnants of her lover and urged Vesta to return.

Silence.

Nothing had changed, but the wind blew and through the Force she felt a warmth. It enveloped her and the locket warmed. As quickly as it came, it went. It was a sign that maybe Vesta had found a reality where they were happy. Hopefully, in this reality, they had everything they had dreamed of. Quinn still loved Vesta, but she knew she had to let go - somehow.

Her eyes opened and she looked to her left, the warmth of the wind trailed. The young princess smiled softly, seeing that the man beside her was her love's mourning father. Feeling his pain and understanding it, she placed a hand gently on his forearm for just a moment, then she pulled away.

"Hello, Lord Prazutis, it seems we may be wishing for the same person to visit us."

 

[Kasir Dorran]

Soah Ty’Jyn

Her response was but a small glimpse into the academy, a reality that did not come as a complete surprise.

Whether anxiety, doubt, or the odd levels of happiness emanating around them, the essence of it all was palpable. It was instinctive to him, much like breathing air, to feel the intent of others nearby. The Felacatian was no different with each question he asked.

“The Sith certainly aren’t what they used to be,” he remarked as his eyes scanned the area behind Soah. “There’s now an entire generation of our kind craving coddling and comfort, clearly lost without purpose..” He trailed off, shaking his head slightly.

His gaze lingered for a moment before settling on the acolyte, coldness creeping into his gaze. "Even those without the gift of the Force can transform pain into strength. Consider a fighter born in poverty, seeking to break free from the shackles of their past. Their determination outshines any lightsaber. Even the most unfortunate among us can understand that true strength is forged in struggle and pain. They still face trials of combat, and find their own inner power within.”

Perhaps his words would also be a gentle, but simple reminder of what lay ahead, for she knew not the full extent of the tests one would face under his guidance--those that would push her physical and mental limits.

An invaluable gift, to be sure, but one that would not be fully appreciated until many years later.

As his mood began traveling towards the abyss, Kasir felt that anything else he could have added to their last topic would be better suited for a later time, preferably after one of their training sessions. Pushing aside the tray, he allowed his gaze to drift to the small, round pastry that he offered earlier. Looking back up at Soah, his head shook slightly once more, the disappointment clearly etched into his pale features. He then reached across the table to retrieved it. "You've truly missed out on the best item from the food booth,” he murmured, before taking a bite and savoring the sweetness of the glaze.

As the final morsel of it disappeared, he pushed himself away from the table. Their surroundings once more loomed before Kasir, threatening to send him into another state of confusion. "Shall we begin with a game?" he suggested, searching the nearby booths. "You should choose. One that looks..fun."

 

[Soah Ty’Jyn]

Objective: Carnival Row
Location: Carnival Row
Interacting with: Kasir Dorran

​

"How did they used to be, then?" Soah asked, her tone laced with a rare curiosity. She leaned forward, eyes narrowing as she wondered about the kind of training Kasir had gone through -- the one she never got.

As she took a sip of her drink, she hoped the food wouldn't decide to come back up on her; she wasn't used to anything this rich, and the last thing she needed was to embarrass herself. The taste was good, but her stomach twisted a little as it adjusted to the sudden, heavy meal. She slowed herself, determined not to show weakness.

When her eyes caught Kasir biting into a pastry he had offered earlier, her brow lifted slightly. The way he seemed to savor it was almost… precious? Soah wouldn't say it, but sweets weren't her thing. Too strong, too sweet. Clearly, Kasir had more of a taste for them.

He challenged her to pick a game, and as she looked around, she was reminded just how unfamiliar she was with carnival games. The colors, the moving lights, the odd sense of laughter that hung over everything -- it was all foreign. Her expression probably gave that away. She hesitated, then muttered, "Which could help with tuning my Force abilities?"

 

[Kasir Dorran]

Soah Ty’Jyn

Soah's initial question lingered in the air. His true thoughts on the Order, often masked behind a cool facade, were best to remain locked away, for now. After all, doubt was like a parasite that could slowly eat away at one's conscience, and he refused to undermine the very foundation he planned to instill in the acolyte.

“They weren't so emotionally fragile,” he suggested with a calm demeanor. Kasir casually reached his arms out and stretched. The movements were fluid and effortless as those with his weapon. “Nor were they in constant pursuit of seeking validation and forming meaningless alliances.”

The carnival food was interesting to say the least, nothing worth registering much thought over. For Kasir sustenance was just a chore, mere fuel to keep himself moving. He too, then reached for his drink, washing down the sweet aftertaste of the pastry, and thinking of a way to conclude their brief conversation. Before attempting the games, he wanted to leave a lasting imprint on her soul.

“Choose your loyalty wisely, as it will shape your future," he started in a low voice. His posture was relaxed, and his lips curled into a faint smile. “I will teach you how to escape this cage you currently find yourself in, and what it means to be a true Sith. You must not forget that only the strong deserve to lead. And with time, you will learn how to recognize those who truly possess it. They will be the ones you will need to align yourself with.” He paused, giving his words a chance to settle. “Should I ever falter, should I ever begin to display weakness, then you must not hesitate to turn your blade against me.”

The conversation ended, but he wanted the lesson to stick with Soah far into the future, to influence her path.

He slowly pushed himself up from the chair, trying to not reveal his lack of interest in this pointless carnival. Then, it was time to answer her last question. “None of them.” He drawled in a smooth yet cold tone, scanning over the game booths and their plush toy prizes. Unlike earlier, there was no amusement flickering in his gaze, but the smile was still there. “There’s nothing to be gained from tossing rings at a bottle.”

The limits of her training were still being revealed to him. "Watch their every movement, the smallest gesture, for they can reveal more than words ever could."

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Naedira Darcrath | Irina Jesart

He heard the girl. She had followed them. Her heart beat, he whispered her will for his son to survive the change. It was foolish, but Gerwald could not fault the girl for thinking she could will Aerik to make it through the night without dying. He supposed his son would not make it through the academy without making some friends, but this one seemed too curious for her own good. This one would likely get him in trouble before she helped him. The Wolf frowned as he looked in her direction. He could not pay attention to her, however.

The transformation was long. It was likely that most of the guests were gone for the night already, but there were always those who lingered late, well past what was considered to be reasonable. Unfortunately Gerwald was among them now. He watched on as his son transformed into something that was beast and demon. The wolf was expected. Its resemblance to the makeup of the Nocna Mora was not.

His mind returned to the times when had faced the thing which had kept Naedira bound. She had become one with it, or it had become one with her. Gerwald never truly knew what had happened. All he knew was that getting Naedira back into the land of the living was always going to be more complicated than the simple promise he had made. He should have been able to save her, but he had not. Srina had helped him, and it was why he would pledge his children to her cause as well as remain indebted to her.

“You should not be here,” he said to the girl. “It is not safe.”

Gerwald looked between her and the ravenous new creature he saw before him now.

“Through the pain he may not know you. You could be a friend, or nothing more than his first meal.”

He hated to address the girl in a way which would reduce her friendship with his son to such a simple thing, but it was fact. She was truly in danger if she remained, however, Gerwald did not think that would deter her or send her on her way.

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily was fairly certain there was not enough alcohol in the galaxy, let alone this party to remove the sensation of his eyes boring into hers. The image he had imprinted on her of his decaying form was nothing in comparison. She hadn;t lied when she'd said she'd met many monsters, hell the first person she had ever dared to think of as her family was a hundred year old whiphid who had cut off his lover's head simply to gain her power… but he had regret, he'd had remorse.

This one? There was nothing, no shred of hope, no goodness, no belief that his path was the right one. There was only cold calculated evil. so caught up in those eyes, she didn't notice the man approach them until Credius's hand reached out to seize his head.

"Don't!"

The word came out as a whisper, her expression twisted into horror as she could only watch, slamming her mental barriers shut as the mans panicked thoughts began to drift towards her. She hated hearing the screaming that continued to echoe there long after they'd drawn their last breath. Her eyes followed the corpse as it collapsed into dust and she swallowed against the lump in her throat, lifting her gaze back to Credius.

His complexion was perfect again, his hair no longer greying, but his eyes remained unchanged. Nothing he offered appealed to her. She might have been searching for a purpose, but he was not it. No matter what power he could offer her.

"I'd rather burn out my own eyes than serve any purpose linked to you."

Credius Nargath

 

[Credius Nargath]

As the words escaped her lips, Credius' eyes seemed to become dull, as he slowly averted his gaze. Gulping down the remainder of the liquor in his glass, the man calmly put it onto a passing tray as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Pity..." Snapping his fingers, the Abomination calmly snapped his fingers, turning around after making a short, courteous bow towards Lily Rhodes as a shadowy fog started to swirl in the air to his side. "You have quite the lovely eyes..."

Stepping into the swirling black fog, the monster vanished from sight, not a trace of his presence left to be sensed or seen, as he himself appeared within the bowels of his own ship, where he started to cough and stumble, with one of the Scelerati coming close to him.

"What are your orders?" The droid's cold, metallic voice resonated within the large, dark chamber.

"Plot a course for Pergitor," His lips forming into a cruel, vindictive smile, the abomination looked at the appearing liverspots on the back of his hand. "Burning out her eyes sooner than serving me... heheh, talk about a strong refusal. Guess the next time we meet, I'll just have to pluck out those pretty eyes to prove a point."

[Exit Thread]

 

[Irina Jesart]

Irina did take her eyes off Aerik as Gerwald spoke, his words of warning falling on seemingly deaf ears as she continued to approach slowly. She knew he was right, that the first turn was bound to leave Aerik out of sorts as he became accustomed to this new reality.

"Predators are more likely to strike something that smells of fear and runs away." she replied softly, finally taking her gaze off the wolf to look at his father. Aerik looked so much like him, aside from the eyes, where Aerik's were golden, Gerwalds's were a piercing blue.

For the moment, Irina forgot who he was, she forgot that she was talking to a Dark Councillor…to the executioner. In this moment, all he was, was a father to her friend. She blinked, turning her gaze back to the demonic wolf that stood between them.

"I'm not going anywhere." There was no room in her tone for argument. Tentatively, she extended a hand towards the wolf.

"Aerik?"

Aerik Lechner Gerwald Lechner

 

[Soah Ty’Jyn]

Objective: Carnival Row
Location: Carnival Row
Interacting with: Kasir Dorran

​

Emotionally fragile.

The words struck a chord with Soah, though it wasn't for herself. She snorted at the thought of those Kasir was referring to -- acolytes in the Second and even First Cohort who clung to underlings like they couldn't handle their own weight. Firrerreo was a prime example, always building his little web of followers, as if numbers could make up for his lack of strength. Soah's upper lip curled in distaste, a small, smug satisfaction blooming at the memory of the notes and journals she'd managed to pilfer from him. They have certainly come in handy.

Kasir wasn't wrong, though. Strength was the only true marker of one's place, and loyalty was something that needed to be earned. The more he talked, the more she found herself agreeing, her thoughts lingering on his words. Only the strong deserved to lead. She'd been doing fine on her own, but hearing it from someone like him made her ambitions seem sharper, more focused.

Then he said it: that if he should ever fail or show weakness, it would be her duty to turn her blade against him. It was rare, but in that moment, respect flickered in her expression. She approved of him even more for that.

"If you ever show weakness…" She grinned, flashing the tips of her fangs. "You can count on me."

As they stood, sated from the meal, Soah's gaze shifted to the crowd again, where the other patrons wandered around in their little games, oblivious. She was relieved Kasir also found the games trivial. But watching people -- that, she could get behind. Observing the way they walked, talked, even the faint scents they carried, all revealed something.

"Movements, scents, the way they talk and hold themselves…" she murmured, thinking aloud. "All clues to their state of health and strength. You can smell the sickness of death well before they're even aware of it."

Soah felt something akin to pride, a rare feeling in her chest. There was still so much to learn, but at least she was on the right path.

 

[Aerik Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Irina Jesart

The pup stared at his surroundings for a moment. They were all over the place, searching wherever the scent of what he was taking in pulled them. There was a sudden familiarity to one which was nearing him. His vision struggled to determine faces that should have been familiar to him, but his sense of smell made up for the gaps. He was not as certain about this new person as he was his father, or the scent of his mother and siblings, but he knew this one to be friendly.

He focused on the hand which was reaching for him. Several cautious steps were taken toward her. Aerik sniffed her hand before suddenly jerking his snout away. The noise of the night pulled him away. The events were winding down, and the carnival which had been set up for the evening was being dismantled. Banging and clanging of machines and booths being torn down and put away startled the wolf, and in an instant he was gone.

Power filled the muscles in his legs as the beast leaped over the tiny fence. His large form, even though it was still adolescent, had no issue with the decorative barrier. He ran to what was familiar.

Home.

It was likely to frighten those in the streets to see a large wolf with a trail of fire and smoke streaking behind it, but there was nothing Aerik could do about it. His form was something new entirely, and Irina had aptly put it, it was stunning, beautiful, and breathtaking. Those seeing the creature run about were likely to be as mesmerized and transfixed by it as they were to be frightened by it. Those who knew the layout of the city well enough knew it was running toward the tower which belonged to Gerwald Lechner .

He paid no attention to whether he was being followed or not. There was only one thing on his mind, and that was the comfort of familiarity, the comfort of his room. Something in his mind told him it would smell like him, like those he could trust. While the girl had been someone he knew, the animal was uncertain. She was kind, but her scent was not family. Everything he experienced was through the lens of something new, a paradigm he had never known before. Aerik was not thinking about what was right and proper, just what was safe.

His senses were overloaded.

He would find his way into the penthouse.

Aerik would sleep in his own bed tonight, and in the morning he would wake up human.

 

[Irina Jesart]

Irina couldn't help the smile that spread across her face as his dark snout moved for her hand, his steps cautious but not aggressive. He knew she was not a threat, nor prey. Though instinct told her not to move when his large head snapped towards the noise of the carnival being taken down. It was distant to her, quiet enough to be nothing more than background noise, but Aerik had been able to hear her heartbeat in his human form. Were his senses more powerful in this form?

She let out a breath as he leapt away turning sharply to watch him clear the fence with ease. Even if she wanted to, there was no way she was going to be able to keep up with him. Instead
Irina turned back to his father, only now remembering who he was and just how insignificant she must be to him.

there were shouts of surprise in the distance, but no screams to indicate that Aerik was hunting or attacking anyone. "Where is he going?" she asked.

Gerwald Lechner Aerik Lechner

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

The figure paused for a moment, a venerable second, before beneath the mask, slowly at first, increasing in volume, a chuckle drawing out into full laughter filled the air, the mask shaking with the effort to keep a face concealed that was caught in the exuberance of emotion, the cacophony born out of feelings real or imagined were quick to drift away along with the cold winds of night, the tall man catching himself in the end.

"Truly? I had not much realised, but in retrospect, I suppose that is certainly the case, my apologies, then Lord Webb." Whether the enunciation of that word was to be on purpose or not was left unanswered, as he entered into the depths of the maze, with naught but a silent signal for his companion to follow, as the hedgerows rose high into the heavens, and the sounds of the carnival became a distant memory.

"...Alas, no, I have little intention of speaking more about myself I am afraid," He turned his head, masked face turning back towards the Anzat, "Your life story, that, I am certainly interested in, you are not Sith, so what brings you to Jutrand?" What found you serving the Wolf? A second question burned in the back of his mind.

Oleander Webb

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

​

The masked Sith Lord quirked his head, seeming to ponder her question as if it was a matter that required pondering, "I hope you are not implying that I would do anything untoward, my lady," The figure finally gave in askance, before without warning or word, his hands had left her form, steps even if drowned out by the sheer cacophony of music, a thousand voices, and double the feet, still heard as they brought the tall form towards the door, the exit out into the cold night.

As he turned his head in question, hand grappling onto the knob, and wresting it open, a burst of cold air felt as hair stood straight and at attention, a moon shined brilliantly against the darkness, littered only by distant stars all reachable under the aegis of the Sith Empire, however, not yet conquered.

"Is it what you wish for, my lady? To fade into irrelevance? If so, I invite you to return to those crowds, wherein you will be yet another mask lost amongst Sith celebrating a victory we have not yet achieved," A pause broke the air, a musing silence as even masked, the fact that the man was considering was far too evident, "...However, if you wish to be beyond that, I invite you to come with me, to the balcony where we shall speak, nothing more."

His head turned away, and seemingly as if it was magic, he disappeared into the voidous depths of the outside, yet, his presence still remained, a ghostly whisper heard only by the one it was directed to.

"For the viper's eyes have fallen upon you, my lady, and he would be most interested in conversing of your future."

A choice presented.

Adean Castor

 

[Oleander Webb]

WEARING: x
WIELDING: x | x
TAG: Darth Malum of House Marr

A brow rose as laughter filled the air. Oleander hadn't thought his words to be particularly comical. "How you speak makes little difference to me. What you speak of is what holds importance." There was comfort to be found in the tall hedges. Had Oleander wanted to, he could slip away into their depths, truly embrace the moniker of shadow. And then the hunt could begin, again, if Death wanted as such.

"My life story is rather long and boring, I'm afraid." And not without gaps, though that might've been a blessing in disguise should he have to recount all the centuries of his mortal shell. "You're correct, I'm not Sith. I see no point in restricting myself to any one side." Light and dark, Sith and Jedi, it made no difference when they all died the same. "My current employer, however, holds an interest here, so here I remain for a time." Employer, teacher, by the Force even landlord was part of the list of titles Gerwald Lechner held over the Anzat.

Oleander had a sneaking suspicion his employer was known, even if he refrained from naming the Wolf. It seemed too fortuitous that the Dark Councillor before him would see fit to remove the carnival con artist and approach with the Nexu he had been eyeing, even with the previous talk of altruism. For a brief moment, Death considered if perhaps the hunt would become necessary.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

"You are the one that labelled me a politician if you could judge me as so, you are aware that at times, even most of the time, how one says their words are just as impactful as the contents of the words themselves," The figure continued down the path, forks on the road seemingly crossed at random, with the only commonality being movements that drove ever further into the shade of darkness, it was a quick pace, yet, not an uncomfortable one, a distance drawn between the spectre and the Anzat, however, even still providing enough closeness that a brusque conversation continued.

"Will you not let me be the judge of that, Lord Webb? Do tell of your self-proclaimed long and boring story, for one so young as I, you would be surprised what draws my interest," The masked Sith Lord stopped by the newest fork in the road, two paths made apparent for them, both equal in virtue and sin, which was to say none at all, paths that simply went left or right, "...Alas, sometimes a choice is foisted upon us, is it not? You might not be a Sith, yet here you are, most intriguing," The dark cloak whipped against the grass, as boots crunched against the earth, and continued ever forward, taking the right path, deeper into the depths, "...As for this employer, either they must be someone of standing, or they pay very well, which one is it, Lord Webb? Or is it neither?" The probes had the subtlety of meteors.

In the darkness, in the void of the unknown, there was no longer need for it.

Oleander Webb

 

[Adean Castor]

TAG: Darth Malum of House Marr

WEARING: x | x

"Untoward, no, only that I understand the hierarchy of such things, my lord." Now freed from his grasp, the vague gesture of her arms could easily be taken as in reference to the masquerade or life among the Sith in general. For one of her status, if a Sith Lord, let alone a Dark Councillor, ordered her to jump it would be a risk to even ask how high. It was a fact of life Adean landed somewhere between resentment and acceptance with.

The night's chill brought the undyed wisps of hair on the back of her neck to attention. While a shiver was easily suppressed by the need to keep up appearances, the sprinkles of gooseflesh decorated her skin as the cold threatened to seep in.

"Obscurity is safe," she said almost to herself as the choice was laid before her. And that was how she'd operated for some time. In the middle of the pack, no one questioned whether or not she actually had a place at the table. Under the guise of irrelevance, her ears were barely a consideration when acolytes exchanged poorly whispered secrets in the archives.

And yet a part of her couldn't deny that with that safety came a lack of progression. What point was there in knowing such secrets, such insider knowledge, and doing nothing with it? Just to let it forever gather dust in the library of memory? Leverage was another good safety net but it was one that came with an expedition date. She probably couldn't be an information collector forever.

The ghostly whisper caused her brow to furrow. 'The viper' wasn't a pseudonym that suggested someone she should want anything to do with. And yet, it was an opportunity.

With a huff of a breath to steel herself and one last glance back at the dance floor, as if searching for someone or something else to pull her away from making the decision, she stepped out onto the balcony. Into the unknown. "I'll admit you've piqued my curiosity. Tell me this, then, if you would be so kind - What makes you think anything I have to say will be of use to you?"