Nero Waits For No One [TSE]

[Sylara Vaal]

"I've been most well, thank you. The Emperor gifted me with a magnificent starship for my efforts hosting the party the other day. Nubian, too. The same sort of the ship the Queen of Naboo would use. It's quite luxurious! Lots of wardrobe space, too. And the personal quarters are incredibly comfortable. It'll be handy for getting around.", she said with a soft giggle. "I'll have to show you around it later, no doubt. Perhaps throw on a few new outfits I've been meaning to try on, if you don't mind helping me accessorize."

Soon enough, a random servant approached the edge of the pool, leaning down and holding out a platter of drinks, which Sylara helped herself to a glass of, sipping it before placing it on the side of the pool for later. She then turned her attention back to Vanessa, lightly massaging her shoulders. "I've been meaning to ask by the way, did you enjoy the party at the palace? I put a lot of work into that."

[member="Vanessa Vantai"]
[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Sylara Vaal"] [member="Darth Carnifex"]

"Congratulations on receiving the ship." Vanessa replied to Sylara as she was still scrubbed and massaged - this was surprisingly personal of the Emperor's concubine, and quite curious as well. "Perhaps. I'm not in any rush to do much of anything. Nathema is still manufacturing military equipment, and my detachments have been serving with Imperial units throughout the Empire on all fronts." She sighed. "Since our action was taken against the Mandalorians, I suppose there's not much to do."

She sighed, sitting back and waving off the servant when a drink was offered. "I appreciated the party, as did a lot of others, I'm sure." She sighed. "Relaxation is a luxury we should enjoy while we can still afford it."

 

[Vex Kezsul]

A pair once more entered the steamy baths of Bastion, but came with it presences most unique. The shorter, wizened, and aged, a Nightsister of many long years and dark secrets, clad in mysterious blue. A wild plume of ash grey hair lunged out of the wrinkled skull, braided and styled as a testament to the exuberant youth the crone once had. Her shawl was navy blue, and her gown of simple and unassuming dark brown.

Her companion however, was from humble. Dathomiri they were, but of Zabrak was their species. Like a smouldering flame barely contained, the bold and contrasting black and red atypical body paint of the Dathomiri natives. Such a flame strode with confident humility, only seen among the choicest slaves offered to the Butcher King. They did not flinch in the sight of the Emperor, but those gifted with the sight of the Force may see something more...odd.
Perhaps at the cost of whatever colour their irises once were, the Force...loomed behind them. That isn’t to say that their aura was nonexistent, just...there was a painfully tangible, almost humanoid presence standing behind them. Those who had the Emperor’s calling cards often employed or were involved in the Nether in some degree or the other, but...this was anomalous. It was as if someone lightly traced an outline of the Force around the young Zabrak, and replicated a darker shade of that outline within his shadow. Perhaps some work of the Warlock Gate? The Nightsisters had long since weaved their way in alchemy and magick as long as history could remember, so no doubt a unique extension of good will would be presented to the “Great Chief Beyond The Skies”.


While the old Crone would slyly, or sardonically regard the other wives and concubines, before bowing before the Dark Lord. Her companion, one “Vex of Clan Kezsul”, knelt down. On one knee, the soft colored garments shone like silver against the marble floor, resembling a dim ember waiting to be rekindled or spark in dance and service. While the Dathomiri elder regaled the accomplishments of music, dance, hygiene, and other homely duties, the less attuned to the force would note the figure. Indeed, the Zabrak had been toned and trained to carry oneself with submissive androgyny, their horns bound together in a circlet of chains that lead to the collar and portions of the dress itself. A sensible mix between a conservative and modest attire, but still enough to show their toned body, and tease the more lustful minded with an agony of well fitting robe and dress.

But what would sell to the Emperor, and may be deduced by the wisest in the Force, was the gift of Nethermancy...and Prophecy.

Long had the Nightsisters swayed and spake sooth with the currents of the Force and its many currents, and even though this was a male, he had shown a great deal of aptitude and portentous signs regarding his own fate, and his ability to foresee the fates of others.

While the Zabrak themselves tried to hide their fear and intimidation before the presence of His Majesty, Lord of All Sith, their spectral shadow looked on in indecipherable emotion. At the very least, they will be another set of hands to clean and massage the Emperor, or amuse the concubines with song, dance, and their ability to pull off being in a dress.

[member="Sylara Vaal"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"] | [member="Vanessa Vantal"]​

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"She is spoiled," the Emperor stated matter-of-factly in a tone quite mischievous without breaking the stoic mask he wore over his features. "I will have to reprimand her for her indulgence." One of the concubines wound a sudsy sponge over the Emperor's chest, tracing every angle of his tattoos and every jagged scar that mapped his weathered skin with the tip of her finger as she worked. Only rarely did she glance up at his Supreme Excellency, biting her lower lip before continuing at her task.

The Emperor took minimal interest in the conversation between Sylara and Vanessa, his eyes instead drawn down to a pair of new arrivals that had just passed beyond the archway below. He watched them ascend the marble stairs leading to his private bath, bidding them entrance when they were initially stopped by the guard. One was an old crone, stinking of magic, while the other was a nubile youth rippling with lean muscle and a femininity rare amongst his kind.

"And what have the Nightsisters brought to me this day?"

He arose, gently pushing away those attending to him, and walked through the thigh-deep water towards the edge. He reached out, slowly, to take hold of the youth's face, angling it from side to side before bidding the mouth open so he could inspect the teeth, like one would for an animal being sold at the market. The Emperor bade the youth to let his hands roam to inspect every inch, and when all was said and done the Emperor was satisfied with the quality of stock being presented before him.

"I suspect more than his body is up for sale, harridan, what else are you offering to me?"

[member="Sylara Vaal"] | [member="Vanessa Vantai"] | [member="Vex Kezsul"]​

 

[Vex Kezsul]

It was inevitable, that the slave would no longer stay on one knee. While they could hide their face and fear, to the Dark Lord, the intimidation was palpable. This was not the first time he was “inspected”, nor would it be the last. But between the sheer size of the Emperor, and the potency of the aura...they felt trapped. Less of a piece of art to be inspected, but more of a mouse being caught by a particularly wily nexu. It reminded him of the uncontrolled buffets of energy of the Nether, it loomed, coiled, and danced like a predator just out of eyesight. When the inspection was mercifully concluded, the Zabrak once more dropped to his knee. The Dark Lord didn’t need to see the fear in his eyes, or feel the quaking of his limbs any further...

“Of course not, My Lord. We of the Nightsisters would never present you with a mere common slave.” the crone gushed, before leaning in to whisper in the Butcher King’s ear. “We of the Covens have trained and discerned this one’s gift in prophecy...and even the alteration of the future.” she would turn to Vex, and give a slightly disapproving look. The slave seemed to be...soft in spirit, in spite of her training. “If nothing else, they will be an extra set of hands to please you in their service, Your Majesty.”

[member=Sylara Vaal] | [member=Darth Carnifex] | [member=Vanessa Vantai]​

 

[Sylara Vaal]

Sylara nodded in agreement, still massaging away at Vanessa's shoulders. "I agree wholeheartedly. One should fully embrace the delights life offers while we can. Most of us are not long for this universe, bar our Emperor eternal.", she said with a smile, before her attention turned to the new arrival, her eyes widening in admiration as she examined the androgynous male being gifted to the Emperor. She gently slipped Vanessa off her lap onto one of the other concubines, before arising up from the water, uncaring of the fact she was utterly naked.

She approached the zabrak once the Emperor had finished inspecting, circling around him briefly before gently cupping a hand to his chin, examining him closely. "Oh my. Arn't you beautiful! A most fitting gift for our Emperor.", she said with a wide smile, before turning her attention to the crone who'd brought him. "The covens of Dathomir continue to be most generous allies of the Empire. We thank you wholeheartedly for such a wonderful gift!", she said, gently bowing to the crone before turning her attention to the Emperor. "He's absolutely lovely! With your permission, my liege, I'll gladly see to his initial training for your service personally.", she said, gently nodding.

[member="Vex Kezsul"]
[member="Darth Carnifex"]
[member="Vanessa Vantai"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The mention or prophetic abilities certainly roused the Emperor's interest, his dark eyes narrowing as he intensely scrutinized the slave before him. He had long since been embroiled in a hearty obsession with the accumulation of oracles, seers, soothsayers, and prophets from across the galaxy, gathering them onto him and binding them to his will. The Cosmic Force was in perpetual flux, the future constantly changing with every action taken across the great wide cosmos.

Carnifex desired to possess knowledge of what would happen before it happened, the future made to serve the cause of the Sith.

"If this boy is truly a prophet as you have stated, then he will be a great gift indeed and the Nightsisters will benefit from such generosity. But if he is a fraud, then my wrath shall not so easily be quenched. I demand a demonstration of his abilities."

[member="Vex Kezsul"] | [member="Vanessa Vantai"] | [member="Sylara Vaal"]​