More in Common

[Kyyrk]

Dorin stood in the small antichamber outside the temporary office that his meeting had been scheduled in. Well, stood was a strong term. Dorin paced like a caged animal. He hated waiting for nobles. Though, in this case, it was his fault. He'd been ready for some time and decided he wanted to wait near the office. The more he thought about it, the less ready he felt.

His armor was still war torn, marked and scarred from the various blasts and shots and cuts he'd sustained in the battle. He'd spent almost an hour trying to clean it up, before finally resorting to polishing the parts that he could, and wearing his dress cloths, draped down between his legs, about his neck, and the simple cape hanging off his right pauldron.

His black veil was pulled down over his eyes, filtering light so that he was not blinded by the ambiance around him. And in the light, soft gold threads were visible, twisting and weaving in intricate patterns across his face, resembling eyes, and a stream of tears down each cheek. The threads were bright enough that they could be seen in the proper light, and yet soft enough that they were not always so, giving them an almost ethereal feel as the images came into sharp contrast and disappeared just as quick.

His sword, polished until it gleamed in the light, was perched behind his right shoulder, light glinting from the blade as it shone through the gaps in its sheath. The lightsaber, in similar fashion, was attached in a simple harness across his left breast. All in all, a surprisingly formal appearance, and yet he was still worried about this queen, and the opinions she might form of him.

As he paced, he muttered to himself. Practicing his introduction. Dorin Arkx. Dorin of the House of Arkx. That one sounded better. House of Arkx. It wasn't a large house, but it still counted as nobility somewhere in the galaxy, right? Probably not one the queen would recognize. Dorin paused. He shook his head. Useless. He'd just go with his gut. What's the worst that could happen? He flexed the fingers on his left hand, willing the slight tremor to stop. He brought the armored gauntlet up to attempt to rub his palm through the armor, and stopped pacing. He let out a small sigh. Relax, Dorin. You went toe to toe with a Terentatek. You'll be fine...

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay was indeed in the little make-shift office. Reconstruction of the Royal Palace was currently underway after the destruction caused by the liberation efforts. Of course she was sad to see her old office and bedchambers decimated. What could be salvaged and saved was already dug out. And with her husband's return, she had once again been spending her nights at their hidden Estate.

Now it was time for research. She had an Empire of sorts to rebuild, beginning with Commenor. With that came plenty of contracts and deals. Since the signing of the Treaty of Commenor with the Sith, her planet had lost it's neutrality. Yet with the treaty dissolved, she was free to take her government into whatever direction she had wanted.

Of course what direction that was had yet to be decided.

Kay shut off her datapad and got to her feet, stretching out her limbs and muscles. At least she wasn't wearing some stuffy gown today. A day of work meant slacks and a blouse that were a little oversized for comfort.

A look at the time caused her to jump. "Oh no!" [member="Dorin Arkx"] was waiting for a meeting. And she had lost track of the hour, causing him to wait. Quickly Kay approached the door and opened it, her eyes searching for the man. He was easily spotted and...blindfolded? Well that was something that Einon had left out.

She cleared her throat. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I am usually more punctual.
But please...come inside." She stepped to the side to allow Dorin in.

 

[Kyyrk]

Dorin looked up from his musings. The woman standing across from him was just a little younger than he was. This must be the Queen. If from the way she addressed him, more so than her appearance. Einon was right, she did not seem to be much like other nobles. He stepped through the door at her invitation. "I have dealt with nobility before. Rest assured that your apology for any delay is unwarranted, as you have made my other appointments seem glacially slow by comparison."

His veil turned slightly, golden details coming into focus and fading out as he surveyed the room. Not that he expected much of a place like this. The palace would be much nicer, this was simply a stand in. And yet...there was something inviting about the space. He turned his attention back to [member="Lady Kay"] and said, "I thank you for taking the time to speak with me all the same. I do not envy you the task of rebuilding this city, or the lives touched by it." He smiled softly...grimly, his stubble-lined mouth and jaw, a sickly pale color, the only part of his face visible under the veil. "Though I can commiserate."

He offered her a bow as he introduced himself. "I am Dorin, of the house of Arkx." He paused, as if trying to decide what to say next. He straightened back to his full height. "I am a hunter. Of things both mystic and ancient. Though I would imagine our mutual acquaintance has already told you of this." Dorin looked at Kay, eyes roving behind the veil taking in every little detail he could. "He speaks highly of you. You should be proud to have a man such as that in your employ. In all my travels I do not think I have ever seen one so devoted to his people."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay closed the door after [member="Dorin Arkx"] stepped in. "I don't make it a habit to have people wait.
I'm sure that their time is just as precious as mine."

She followed after him, watching as he seemed to study the room. Although it was hard to do with the interesting veil that covered his eyes. It was hard to tell if he was blind, or just sensitive to the light.

Kay bowed her head as he introduced himself. "Lovely to meet you. And yes, Einon has told me a bit about you. He suggested that it be beneficial for me to have you around. He also tells me that you fought some Sith Warbeasts and a Sith...spirit in the Warehouse District?"

Einon liked to leave out details that he figured others could learn for themselves. At least that's what he did with her...The man was lucky that she valued him so much. He was like a brother. "Einon is very loyal to Commenor. He has devoted his life to the planet.
He'd even go against me if he figured that it was best for the Commenori to do so. Some might be threatened by such a notion. But I value his viewpoint."

 

[Kyyrk]

Dorin chuckled quietly. Lovely to meet him? That was perhaps the first time he'd heard that. Not that he was generally unpleasant, but...well... Folks usually only called upon him when they needed a job done. And time spent talking was not time spent working. "Often times the greatest critics make the soundest allies." Dorin turned his attention back to [member="Lady Kay"] and folded his hands behind his back. "It would sound, however, that he gives me more credit than I am due. The beasts were...simple enough. Save for the Terentatek, but..." Dorin shrugged. "All in a day's work."

He fell silent for a moment, searching for the right words. "The...Spectre was a challenge, yes. But, not entirely out of the realm of my duties. I still do not know quite what led it here, or what its purpose was. And each idea or theory is more dire than the last." He smiled softly, as if to reassure Kay that he was simply overthinking it. "But, if we are here to discuss business, then perhaps we'd best discuss business. I'm sure you have a host of more pressing matters at hand."

Dorin coughed quietly, folding his hands at the small of his back. "The services I can offer range from combat to consultation. While every member of my Order is...was skilled in combat, each of us have specialties beyond this. In my case, that skill is as a loremaster and arcanist. History, Lore, and enhancing items with the Force. Though I am skilled in and prefer matters of the Arcane Arts, I am not opposed to conducting more menial tasks. Surveillance, escort, VIP acquisition of both hostile and friendly targets, the like. If you have work for me, I would gladly take it."

 

[Kay-Larr]

"Perhaps for some it'd be all in a day's work. But not for everyone. Sith Warbeasts for most are difficult if not nearly impossible to defeat." Personally she hadn't run across any Warbeasts, nor would she know how to defeat them. It was Einon that had told of [member="Dorin Arkx"] 's achievement. And she had seen it as nothing less but heroic.

As for the Spectre, Kay had an idea. The planet was occupied by the Sith. No doubt there were sorcerers and others among them that would use the resources on Commenor to enact disgusting rituals on her people. But of course she didn't know for certain, as she was mostly kept away from everyone.

Now it was time to get to business as it were. Although she wasn't pressed for time, given that Dorin was her last appointment of the day, many others would always assume that she had too much to do with very little time to do it in. Sometimes that was the case, but not always.

Kay nodded as he laid out his skillset. And now she understood why Einon sent him here, if not just to keep one of the few friends that he had close at hand. "That's quite an array of skills. I could use an advisor in lore and the arcane arts. Sorcery, most especially Sith Sorcery is something that I've been unable to combat. And because of that I had been captured on more than one occasion. Is there a way to...block it somehow? With some kind of talisman or object? My wedding rings help protect me from attacks on the mind, but that's about it."

 

[Kyyrk]

Dorin paused, giving Kay...almost a look. As if this was not the first time he'd heard this question, and now understood something he previously did not. "Well, that would certainly explain why Einon took such an interest in the subject on our first meeting. In which I will tell you the same thing I told him. The short answer is no. Sadly, Sith Sorcery is...far more complex than many realize. There is no one cure-all to ward against it. Take that Spectre, for instance. There's nothing you can do to prevent something like that, and that falls squarely under the realm of Sith Sorcery. But, if you were to give me something...more specific, I might be able to come up with something.

Dorin paused, almost as if realizing the two of them were still standing. He gestured to the seats and said, "Please, I would hope you are not standing on my account..." He smiled softly at her. Then, a thought occurred to him. Since it was...relevant. He withdrew the lightsaber from its holster on his chestplate, and offered it to [member="Lady Kay"]. "There is, however, more than random chance at work with that Spectre. I believe it to be connected to this item." Dorin looked at Kay for her reaction, having sensed that she shared his gift. Or curse. The...sickness in the crystal was still clearly evident to those who could listen to the Force. It created almost a nagging at the back of the mind. A sensation akin to smelling an unpleasant odor. "It was discovered within your...Hall of Elders, I believe it was called? A long lost artifact dating back to the Zakuulan war nearly five thousand years ago."

He paused for a second, then continued. "That Spectre was...ancient. Its physical form died some time ago, and...It created an armored shell for itself, distinctly taking the appearance of Sith Warlords from the Zakuul era. When it was destr--Well, I should say when it was driven off, it imparted a warning to me. A threat of sorts. It knew my purpose here on Commenor. Whatever it was, and whatever it serves, did not want me to find that blade. For now, the best I can offer is a connection to Tatooine, and the hope that more answers lie there. But...there is a larger force at play, and that Spectre may return unless I find a way to destroy it for good."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded a little as [member="Dorin Arkx"] explained to her about the fact that there was no simple way to ward of Sith sorcery. One didn't need to be psychic to see that she was slightly disappointed. Maybe she partly expected it. But still, she had hoped for something.... "I've twice been caught and held by some spell that creates tendrils of black smoke. They come at me and wrap around me like coils, stopping me from being able to move and cutting off access to the Force. I don't know how to stop that."

She sat herself down, but not before pouring a cup of tea for herself. Kay brought the cup up to her lips and had a sip, her eyes drawn to the lightsaber that Dorin had brought. It gave her a feeling that she recognized, but it was always distant. And now it was in front of her. But the Hall of Elders? How did he know about it? "Did Einon fetch it for you?" So few knew of the existence of the place..

"What level of threat does this Spectre cause us?" Of course she needed to know what could be threatening her people now.

 

[Kyyrk]

Dorin turned to face [member="Lady Kay"] as she sat down, the light now shining directly upon his veil. The golden imagery of a weeping face was clearly visible, unless Dorin turned his head one way or the other. A brow was arched under his veil. Tendrils of black smoke? "Hmm. That, I believe I could counter... I'll...need time to think of something, however." He watched quietly as she sat down, then questioned him about the Spectre. And about his involvement with the Hall of Elders. "No, he...he took me there." Dorin's head drooped a bit and he reached up to scratch the back of his neck. "He...wanted to help me."

He set the lightsaber on the desk, and clasped his hands in front of him, looking Kay in the eye as he continued. "As for the Spectre...I cannot say for sure. It...seemed to be testing me. It...attacked the Sith but...only because they attacked it first. I don't think it poses a threat to you. Just me. And anyone that gets in its way." Dorin watched quietly for a moment as Kay sipped her tea. He felt he couldn't dance around the issue of the breach into Commenor's most sacred place. He'd have to come clean. Best he start deciding how best to put the story when she inevitably asked for it...

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay was relieved that [member="Dorin Arkx"] knew of some way that could protect her from such a Sith spell. That brought her some hope. However when he spoke of Einon taking him to the Elder's sacred home, she raised a brow. "He took you there?" Hardly anyone knew of the place, let alone were brought there. It was meant to be a secret. Yet she trusted her friend and if he believed that Dorin needed to go in there, then there had to be a good reason for it. "I trust his judgement...although I do hope that you intend to keep it's existence a secret?"

Her eyes dropped down to the lightsaber placed on her desk. She didn't recognize it, yet there was a familiarity to it all the same. After he finished speaking, she looked up to him again. "Testing you? Is this a Spectre of someone you once knew?" Or perhaps it was a relative? She wasn't quite sure. Never before had she encountered one, yet with everything that had happened on Commenor lately, she couldn't be surprised either. There was bound to be plenty of oddities drawn to the planet.

 

[Kyyrk]

Dorin offered Kay a humorless smile. "Keep what a secret?" He figured his meaning was clear enough to [member="Lady Kay"] concerning the hall. I had a healthy amount of respect for the secrets of other cultures, especially being from such a secretive people himself. His mood grew more somber, however. He sat down opposite Kay, rubbing his hands together, staring at the lightsaber. "I...I think so. Sort of. Not exactly."

Dorin looked at Kay, leaning forward in the chair so his elbows rested on his knees. His body language suggested he was quite tense. "I do not know who the Spectre is, or was. But I know it is connected to this blade. There is a memory stored within. The blade's forger. A Sith named Verros. He came to the defense of Commenor during the Zakuul War, back in 3630 BBY. This blade...I can only assume was offered as a gift. A pact between Commenor and Verros that he would come to their aid should he be needed again."

Dorin picked up the lightsaber an turned it over in his hands, studying it for a few moments. "I found it in the Hall of Elders. Held by a statue of Verros. It was a simple affair, but adorned with a symbol I know all to well. Verros was...my ancestor. And...well...He was the founder of the Force Hunters, for what little such a feat is worth now."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay smirked a little as she caught his meaning for sure. So this was why Einon trusted [member="Dorin Arkx"] . In some ways they were similar. Yet in many ways they were quite different entirely.

Now the conversation shifted to a more serious one. Kay picked out the tension in Dorin's body as he tried to answer her. A brow was raised as he spoke of the blade's forger having made some kind of pact with Commenor. For that blade to remain with the Elders was indeed a high honour, a symbol of a promise to be kept.

"Whatever happened to Verros? Did he ever return?" Her mind traced back to her research into some of Comnenor's history. She couldn't recall the Sith Lord's name at all. Perhaps she should look into it more.

 

[Kyyrk]

Dorin opened his mouth to respond, but found the words caught in his throat. His chest felt tight as the weight of his impossible task dawned on him once again. And for the first time since his meeting with [member="Lady Kay"] had begun, his resolve cracked. "I...I don't know. No one does. I'm...chasing the ghost of a ghost." Dorin tossed his datapad onto the table, and tapped a button on his gauntlet. The datapad spoke with an electronic, synthesized voice. ​"Recalling last search....Query...Verros. Searching....No current records found. Accessing archives.....searching.....searching....searching....one entry found. Verros. Age: Unknown. Species: Unknown. Status: Deceased. History: Verros served with distinction during the Dread Wars on Oricon, and died on the front lines, surrounded by the bodies of his enemies. He shall forever live a hero to the Empire."

Dorin stared at Kay, letting the information sink in for a moment. "The Dread War, of course, happening in 3639 BBY. Two years before he was confirmed to be at the Battle of Commenor in 3637 BBY. The most conclusive lead I've been able to find about Verros, and it's a lie." He sighed quietly reaching up to rub the bridge of his nose, and leaning back in his chair. He looked...defeated. At the end of his rope. "I do not know who he was...what he was...or even what he did. All I know is that whoever he was, history wanted to forget him." Dorin looked back at Kay, sighing quietly. "I vowed to find whatever I could, so that I might better understand what legacy my order will have left upon this galaxy when I die. Now, knowing that he is my ancestor as well....The thought of what I might discover is terrifying to me."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay raised a brow. The ghost of a ghost? Her eyes fell to the datapad that [member="Dorin Arkx"] had tossed onto her desk. A search program did it's work and she listened carefully to it. So many unknowns; it was like a needle in a haystack. An extremely large haystack.

"Perhaps it was the Empire that wanted his story's end to change. Perhaps they thought that he was a turncoat when he helped to protect Commenor. But instead of tarnishing their image, they chose to claim him as dying in the Great War instead. History is written by the blood of those that might remember it. If one side wanted to hide something, what better way to do so than to create their own version of events?"

Kay chewed the inside of her cheek and then opened a drawer in her desk, pulling out a paper, pen and a small device about the size of her palm. She remained silent as she wrote out what looked like a letter. On the bottom of it she applied her signature before using the small device to imprint her Royal Seal onto the paper. Looking up to Dorin, she held the paper out for him as she put the items back into her drawer with her free hand. "Your search for finding more on Verros has ties with Commenor's own history.
So that makes it important for us too. This letter will give you unfettered access to anywhere on Commenor or it's moons, plus it gives you my personal backing and trust if your search sends you into the worlds of our allies. I hope that it will help you in solving this mystery."

She couldn't keep the man here, not when such a puzzle sits in front of him. "You will of course be under my employ during this research, for as I said, it is to do with Commenor's history as well."

 

[Kyyrk]

Dorin looked at the letter quietly for a moment before reaching out to take it, reading it over. He folded it neatly. "Then I suppose that's that." He looked back to Kay as he tucked the letter away someplace safe. "I can't help but think you would have more for me to do. Work of this nature is...hardly time consuming. And, if I am to spend time off planet, I would imagine there's more to be done than simply searching for ghosts of an era long past."

Dorin sat forward in his chair, his usual honed and focused demeanor returning. "And...I would ask your permission to keep the lightsaber, should the memory within prove useful to review in the future. I promise it shall come to no harm during my travels." Dorin's gaze turned to the lightsaber, still sitting on the desk as he spoke. "And...I would consider it proof enough of our contract. If it was still hidden away in the Hall of Elders...I think we can both agree whatever pact it symbolized is not yet fulfilled." His gaze lifted to [member="Lady Kay"] again, a soft yet grim smile forming. "Otherwise, I wish to return to Arbra. Offer...offer my people the burial they deserve. Once that is completed, I shall pursue what leads I can find."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded to [member="Dorin Arkx"] as he commented on her having more for him to do. She had told him earlier, but much had been spoken of since then. "Finding ways to help me fight against some Sith Sorcery would be good. Like those dark tendrils I told you about earlier.
One of these days I will come across my torturer again and will have to fight him. He always uses the Force when he fights and more often than not, I lose against him..." The hate that that Sith had for her was very strong. He saw her as a failure; his failure that he wanted to erase. But she always had friends and allies to help her and rescue her when she needed it.

Another nod given at his request to keep the lightsaber. "You may have it.
If there were no traps set off in the Hall where you had gotten it, then perhaps the Elders kept it there for you to collect. I can't pretend to know what they were thinking, but such a thing is possible."

Even after death, the Elders showed themselves from time to time. Kay had seen them and spoken with them before, while she was pregnant. It was their warnings about the future that helped her in the decision to get her kids to live seperate lives after they hit their teen years. She didn't want to endanger them with any of her choices. And it was good that she had. For surely they'd of been taken hostage if she didn't.