Loyalty is Expensive

[grammaticus]

Darth Animus listened quietly as the three naval officers delivered there reports to the Dark Council member. Animus had dispatched them on reconnaissance operations he felt were in the interest of future military operations. Turning to the scribe he had standing beside his desk, he waited until the man looked up and nodded to him before turning back to the officers, dismissing them with a simple wave of his hand. The scribe waited until the officers were gone before turning bowing deeply to the Dark Council member, before departing the room as well.

Animus did not trust recording devices to take down important information. Too easily stolen by those who would use it to their own ends, and too easily misinterpreted. The scribe was personally loyal to Animus, as was his whole family. He would be escorted back to the servant quarters in the Citadel by several Sith soldiers, where he would transcribe the information and deliver a finalized copy to Animus later. The servant would later be found dead, but such was a minor detail. Servants could always be replaced.

A chime sounded at the door of his office, and Animus briefly waved his hand, the door sliding open to reveal the two visitors that Animus had sent for. Rising out of his seat, Animus came around the desk, standing at the top of the steps and gesturing for the two to come in. "Please, enter. It took you both long enough to arrive..." The words were carefully delivered with neutrality, though a hint of agitation was bordering the words.

One of the two had recently created a new weapon, a thing that offered numerous possibilities to those who knew how to use them. The prospect of getting one for himself was quite promising, if it proved to be as dangerous as he hoped. The other was the apprentice of [member="Darth Rowe"], another member of the Dark Council. He had asked them here so as to carry a message to their master. While they were here, he would take the time to question them.

It never hurt to learn as much as you could about your allies...

[member="Darth Hashira"]
[member="Nyx Tempest"]

 

[Darth Hashira]

Hashira stood outside the office next to [member="Nyx Tempest"], neither speaking to her nor wishing to be spoken to. He reached under his cloak and grazed the hilt of Lan'guroem his recently alchemized blade. He was hoping for a commission for a similar blade, perhaps such a commission would permit a set of weapons to be created, perhaps one for all on the Dark Council. Never mind though, he was getting ahead of himself. He briefly glanced over at the girl, Nyx, and sized her up. Suddenly, the door opened and three officers exited. Hashira stood around impatiently before a chime was sounded and the doors opened again. He entered the surprisingly spacious office.

''Please, enter. It took both of you long enough to arrive...'' Hashira seemed to catch an air of supremacy and arrogance in the way [member="Darth Animus"] spoke.

''Perhaps...'' he responded simply.

''I understand you are interested in my newly alchemized blade?'' Hashira shook off his cloak, and threw it over a nearby chair. He reached into his pockets and placed chainmail gloves on, handing a similar pair to Animus with no comment.

''Shall we...get down to business?'' His hand was on the hilt of the blade.

 

[Darth Rowe]

Darth Rowe was walking down the hall of the Sith Citadel that stood in the center of Akvase city, the hallways dark black walls lined with small red lights, red carpet under her boots as she walked. Her attire as dark as her heart.( Rowe's attire here ) Rowe was wearing a red corset with black BDU pants bloused into black combat boots, chains around her neck and then her hair up through a red hair band flowing down over her shoulders. Her eyebrow piercing mix with her heavy black eye shadow and maskera making her seem really uneasy to most. Rowe saw [member="Nyx Tempest"] go into an open door. Rowe stopped right before the door reading the name plate on the wall.

[member="Darth Animus"]
Dark Council
Imperial Offence

Rowe thought now was a good enough time as any to introduce herself to the newest Council member. She heard about him from the Emperor, he was a Darth, not a Dark Lord like her, but it was only a matter of time. She peeked into the door and saw Animus, Nyx and Darth Hashira. Rowe walks in and in a low femanine voice speaks among them all. ( Rowe's Voice ) You must be Darth Animus, I hope you serve this empire better than the last pathetic weaklings did, because I won't hesitate to kill you if you fail the Emperor. Rowe looks to Nyx and nods to her then looks to Lord Hashira. And you must be Lord Hashira, yes I already know all about you, you fail the empire I'll kill you too, cuz where I stand you have not proved anything to me. Rowe cracked an evil smirk and looked around the office awaiting a reply.

​

 

[grammaticus]

Animus smiled beneath his helmet as [member="Darth Rowe"] entered, folding his arms behind his back as he stared at her. He inclined his head to her as she delivered her threat, the smile never falling from his face as he stepped down the steps from his desk towards to the floor below. Every step was accented with heavy thuds that echoed through the spacious office, until finally he came to a stop just before Darth Rowe, looking down at her casually. After several moments of silence he nodded his head. "Should the day ever come that you make that decision, I wish you the best of luck."

Turning away from the Dark Lady, Animus moved towards [member="Darth Hashira"] casually, his arms still folded behind his back. "Indeed, business is quite important. Sparing time for more small talk, or poorly delivered threats does nothing but waste time. Now, if you would please describe to me the new weapon you have created. I am eager to see it in action, and if I approve, we shall see if you secure my interest in producing one for myself. I assure you that if we do, you will be handsomely rewarded." He kept his voice light, seemingly completely unphased by the threat delivered against his life mere moments ago. It might infuriate Darth Rowe, however Animus really didn't care.

In truth the threat had barely registered in his mind. His whole life he had been threatened by those above him, both truly above him and by those who merely thought themselves his better. Time would tell which category Darth Rower fell under. However, if she was hoping for a quick cowing of Darth Animus, she would be sorely disappointed. And if she thought she could simply beat him into submission...

Well, luckily for everyone involved, one of the two understood how to use restraint.

[member="Nyx Tempest"]

 

[Darth Hashira]

Hashira was moments away from revealing his sword when he heard the opening and closing of the door he had just entered. ''Curious,'' he thought to himself ''another visitor.'' He turned around and saw [member="Darth Rowe"] entering, by herself. It took her hardly any time at all to speak. She spoke to Animus first, threathening the council member to his face. He received the threat well, dismissing it with a cool arrogance. ''Foolish,'' he thought to himself ''If half the tales I have heard about Animus were true, he could strike her down before she finished her next sentence.'' Ironically, her next sentence was directed at Hashira himself.

''And you must be Lord Hashira, yes I already know all about you, you fail the Empire and I'll kill you too cuz, where I stand you have not proved anything to me.''

A flash of silver erupted from Hashira's hip.

The blade was out and it's tip was inches away from Rowe's windpipe.

KRA'COWWWW

A lightning bolt whizzed past the outside of the office's window and struck the ground, momentarily lighting up the whole room.

''You know nothing of me. Because if you did, you would know not to threaten me. The only thing sharper than my blade, is my tongue...you half-brained witch.'' Hashira spoke was utter contempt and disgust at Rowe. Hashira stood with the blade at her windpipe for a moment for and received her response.

He turned to [member="Darth Animus"], folding the blade down, maintaining his grasp on the hilt and lightly placing the blade in his chainmail guarded hand. He offered the blade to Animus as he began to speak.

''The sword is comprised of an ancient blade from Korriban with a more modern hilt. The sword itself is capable of many different things. Chiefly, like most Sith swords, it is immune to high energy weapons such as blasterfire and lightsabers. The sword has also been alchemized with the ability to infect the victim with a serious disease that will....run it's course...in 24 hours. Any flesh sundered from the body will quickly rot, making attachment impossible. Perhaps the most impressive of it's feats is it's ability to amplify Force Fear. A gemstone I placed in the hilt of the blade amplifies the power and scope of it's effect. Which brings me to it's last power, the ability to channel force abilities through the sword. Certain abilities, such as pyrokenesis, lightning, and fear can be channeled through the sword.'' Hashira looked at the sword like a proud father ''Impressive, to be sure.''

 

[Darth Rowe]

Rowe simply cracked a smile to Animus and nodded. Good Darth Animus, I appreciate that. Rowe saw the blade go to her throat from [member="Darth Hashira"] Rowe not even affected by the threat, could care less, but someone else would. Rowe looked in deep concentration as if she was sending a mental message. Then a cold death like wave of every came across the entire planet that everyone would feel. Lord Hashira might I remind you I am a hand of the Emperor, and a Dark Lady, and you just messed up, infighting is against Imperial Law, and by threatening me with your weapon, well you just broke that law. After your show and tell here, the Emperor wants to see you. Next time don't threaten me with a good time or I'll rip the flesh from your bones boy!

Rowe leaned back and watched the sword presentation.


[member="Nyx Tempest"]
[member="Darth Animus"]
​

 

[grammaticus]

Animus nodded his head as he took the blade, holding it up to the light from above as [member="Darth Hashira"] spoke. He experimentally twirled the blade in his hand, before entering a combat pose. He flew through a series of combat forms, the blade slicing through the air without resistance, small arcs of lightning following the blade. Once he had finished the movements, he turned back to Hashira, nodding his head. Gesturing towards the door, a slave was brought escorted by two Sith Troopers, the mans fear evident on his face upon seeing the gathering of those within. Animus waved of the Troopers, before stepping towards the slave.

Before the man could even cry out, Animus had plunged the blade through his chest, blood splattering the two Troopers behind the slave. As the man looked down at the object that even now as ending his life, Animus sent a small burst of sith lightning through the blade, the effect being amplified and enhanced by the blade itself. Animus turned to look at [member="Darth Rowe"] as the lightning shot through the slave, the intensity of it burning the mans skin off, and disintegrating the entire body after a few moments. He shook the dust and ash from the blade before holding it up to the light once more.

He flipped the blade and handed it back to [member="Darth Hashira"] with a smile on his face. "I find the blade acceptable. Now, should you survive what is to come, you will find work and employment with me. Now, off you go, all of you. I must prepare for the coming gathering." He turned and began to ascend the steps back to his desk without pause, not leaving the topic open for debate.

[member="Nyx Tempest"]