Private Reunion among storms

[Kaila Irons]

Wearing: Armor + Robes
Tag: Brooklyn Zambrano Darth Carnifex

The world of storms loomed all around them.

Every few seconds were interrupted by thunder over the hum of The Masquerade's engines as the obsidian craft descended through clouds into the sprawling city of spires below, each standing like pointed blades against the gray skyline.

Kaila navigated her ship to the designated landing platform with a serene grace, but her inner thoughts swirled like the storm outside. She had brought Brooklyn here under the guise of a learning opportunity, a chance to see how her fellow Epicanthix lived outside the black pyramid of Jutrand, and to learn of the sith holy worlds. Deep down she hoped it would show the acolyte just how brutal Kainites could be, and that she would never become like Him.

But she had ulterior motives.

Darth Carnifex had been informed of her impending arrival, but never her intentions. She could sense their familial connection, but could not rightly say from which branch of the family tree did Brooklyn fall, and so she was here to find out. The girl was—to her own shame—as much a peace offering as she was a student. It was time to make amends for her transgressions against the dark lord, and what better way than to reunite a family?

But first she needed to see for herself that He felt it too.

If He did, if her suspicions were confirmed, than she would double her efforts to guide the young Acolyte away from His path of brutality and upon one she believed more beneficial to the empire, and if not, she would still take interest in the giant's potential.

"We may be stopped by authorities," she explained, leaving the cockpit as The Masquerade touched down.

"Standard entry protocol. Kainite security has always been thorough, and my name is... it will draw attention."

The young Darth pulled a hood around her golden curls, peering out from under at the giant as she held out a similar cloak for the girl.

"The rains were endless last I was here, best keep ourselves dry."

All the while a boarding ramp descended before them, and the ancient city was revealed.

​

 

[Brooklyn Zambrano]

Equipment | In Bio

Location | Dromund kaas

Tag | Kaila Irons Darth Carnifex

She hadn't expected to be going on a trip this far away, with what she considered home to be so far away. The girl takes a peak at their map right as they came out of the hyperspace tunnel. This place was far beyond where she would have figured, only ever hearing about Dromuund kaas.

Her attention is of course taken by the window, gazing out at the black and red obsidian-scape that seemed to go on for miles on end. ​

"We may be stopped by authorities,"

"Huh?"​

Standard entry protocol.

"Oh!"

She had her for a moment there! Brooklyn wasn't too used to being stopped herself, normally on much larger craft where someone else dealt with this.

But it sure was nice to know that there was nothing to wo-
​

and my name is... it will draw attention.

"Wh- HUH?!"

Brooklyn asks in bewilderment as they land, being offered a coat to help stop the rain. A blessing really, she was rather sick of extreme weathers for now.

"So like- Are you some sort of criminal around here? Politics? Not what I expected when you asked if I wanted to go visit and see this place, I'm not going to get in trouble too am I?"

She fastens the coat, thankful for that at least.



​

 

[Darth Carnifex]

They'd been identified as soon as they entered the atmosphere, a pair of security interceptors emerging from a cloud bank to shadow their approach to the city. Just beyond, they could see the two-hundred meter sihlouette of the security monitor; little more than a reinforced hull with engines and quad turbolasers strapped onto it. It was the epitome of function over form, the boxy craft stalking their ship even more ominously than the interceptors.

Fortunately, all three vessels broke away when their ship got in range of the city, returning to the clouds. Unfortunately, that meant that she was in full range of the city's anti-air defenses, some of which pivoted to track her ship as it entered the spaceport. So many eyes were fixed on them it was impossible to not notice, especially as a small cadre of black-armored soldiers appeared to wait for them as they disembarked their ship.

The commanding officer would've been someone that Anathemous recognized, a tall wiry rod of a man with a cruel look. A long scar ran from scalp to chin, completely bisecting his face into two equal halves. Consequentially, one half had been adorned with ritualistic tattoos while the other remained unblemished.

His eyes, piercing icy blue, locked with Anathemous as she and her companion approached. For a moment, nothing was said, and then the man turned away.

"He's expecting you."

The soldiers turned with the man, following in lockstep behind him. It was the indication for the pair of women to follow, directly from the port to the sprawling citadel complex that dominated the skyline of New Kaas City. With their guide leading them, they quickly passed checkpoint after checkpoint, and got to see the full spectrum of life in Dromund Kaas' capital. From the workers toiling endlessly for their cruel masters, to the heights of hedonism and splendor by the wealthy elites. All maintained under the carefully curated order of the Kainate, enforced by the ceaseless watchful vigilance of the Eternal Father's enforcers.

As they passed deeper into the citadel, the colder the air got, and the darker everything became. Shadows became more drawn own, and seemed to writhe and dance on their own accord just out of sight. The guards became even more austere, and sometimes more monstrous, as they ventured deeper. It would have been an intimately familiar sensation to Anathemous, not so much for her companion. The Citadel itself seemed to come alive, a dark and malevolent presence pressing in all around them.

It was at the threshold to the throne room where their guide left them, disappearing down one of the infinite corridors and moving out of sight. It was up to the two of them to proceed onward, to stand before the Eternal Father; Anathemous' former master.

He who waited just beyond, sat upon His throne.

Kaila Irons | Brooklyn Zambrano ​

 

[Kaila Irons]

Wearing: Armor + Robes
Tag: Brooklyn Zambrano Darth Carnifex

Kaila did not answer for a time.

She simply stared ahead at the soldiers in waiting, and cradled her helm under an arm.

"Politics."

The young Darth smiled innocently and disembarked.

"I am a governor, but not a Kainite. They'll have questions, naturally."

"You'll be fine."

Brooklyn would be fine. As for herself, who could say.

She descended the ramp, steps unnaturally heavy for a woman of her size. Their arrival had drawn quite the crowd it seemed, and yet her golden eyes swept only briefly until settling on the black-clad guards, the scarred man in particular. It felt strange in a way, to have seen this face so many times but recall so little of the man behind the armor. Perhaps after killing her fellow apprentices, she'd given up humanizing fellow kainites.

"He's expecting you."

Kaila looked unsurprised.

"Very well."

She leaned close to speak with Brooklyn in hushed tones as they followed, however it was difficult given the staggering difference in height.

"These men belong to Darth Carnifex, leader of the Sepulchral. He knows and sees much, it is best we behave ourselves."


The trip through Dromund Kaas' streets was quiet and brief as expected, and the sith knight moved with familiar ease, taking only cursory glances at the many sithspawn and twistedly nostalgic locales. A forge she had commissioned to shape her cortosis, the tailor whom sewed her favorite cloak. An alley she'd once fought in.

There were new sights as well, new monsters guarding checkpoints, buildings which hosted new people, and many more Epicanthix than she remembered, a result of Panatha's grim fate no doubt.

She took one last look at the stormy skies as they neared the malevolent palace, allowing the cool rain to hit her freckled face.

But whatever calm the water may bring, she could still feel Him pressing against her senses like a vice. The pain was familiar now, tolerable perhaps, but still she dreaded the horror whom awaited inside. Nevertheless she pushed onward, taking a deep, steadying breath as they entered.

She pulled her hood away as the guards veered off, leaving them to approach alone.

"Be respectful," she warned.

A hypocritical thing to say, but she needed to see for herself that the girl was indeed a descendant of His, and for that she needed her alive.

Kaila pushed onward then, through the doors first, then a short distance from the throne.

She paused, meeting his eyes for but a moment. Her own turned molten, despite her deceptively mechanical expression.

"Lord Carnifex."

She bowed her head. Only her head.

Darth Anathemous gestured to the girl then, the one whom she hoped would hold His attention.

"May I present Acolyte Brooklyn, of the Jutrand Academy."

Her inquisitive eye never left His form.

​