Private Seek And Ye Shall Find

[Revna]

“ ‘Tired of your company’? You’re the best company I’ve had in almost a decade; I’m in no rush to simply be done with it.” Revna blurted before she realized what she had said and her cheeks turned crimson again. She averted her gaze briefly as they made their way back towards the settlement and the Cathedral. “And…on top of that, you have a wealth of knowledge and information at your disposal. So of course I would want to study with you. It is of direct benefit to me.”

The crimson flush to her face remained as he pointed out her insightfulness, still not used to being told such things. To hear the masked Sith agree with her statement made her feel good; it validated her thought process and how she was beginning to view the Force in general.

She turned her face towards him when he remarked about being honored that she considered the place and the work of the cult a divine reward from the Force, and a light of conviction rippled across her face. “It is a reward. After everything I’ve been through, everything I’ve suffered…this is the greatest reward I could have been given. All because I…put my trust in the Force and let it guide me. It is hard to view this-” she gestured to everything around them with her hand, “-as anything except a payoff of my budding faith. It knows what it’s doing. How else can I explain how I ended up here, of all places?”

Revna fell silent for a moment as she looked ahead of them, and upon her surroundings once more. Yes, she was still new here. A fresh face…but this was already her home. To outsiders, it may not look like much…but to her, the Dresuoti was far more beautiful and grand than any noble’s estate she’d served or lived in.

She listened as he responded to her other statements, and she gave him a curious head tilt. “Why do you wait to start teaching about such things, like the history of the Sith, until later on in one’s training? Is there a purpose behind that?” After a brief pause, her curious frown deepened further.

“You clearly have been a…trained Sith for a while. Did you learn or study at that academy you mentioned to me yesterday? Or did you have a teacher, like how you’re teaching me now?”

The Acolyte knew her last questions were a little more personal, but her need to learn more compelled her to ask them anyway.


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

There was a slight pause and a tilt of his head at Revna's little ecstatic outburst, casting a glance at her from the corner of his eyes with what could have only been an amused expression beneath his mask given her own reaction. "Flattery will get you nowhere Acolyte." Darth Strosius responded with a small chuckle, both in regards to his company and the 'wealth of knowledge' as she said it. There were many that would dispute both such notions. "But yes, I suppose I can provide some more context and explanations that may be lacking in some texts."

Given how scattered and disparate many records and archives, the original ones at least, could be due to both time and intentional destruction it was only natural that it was easier to count most texts by sentences rather than by books or even chapters. A shame that few if any firsthand accounts were complete but it was the unfortunate reality. One that he could thankfully guide Revna through due to his own rather extensive experience with it.

"A great reward indeed, but one that you still chose for yourself young Revna." The masked man reminded, for he too had been blessed greatly by the Force and rewarded with its gifts. The gifts of power, of freedom, and of purpose. Albeit his purpose had been so unclear at first, seemingly just to be another of the countless faceless Acolytes thrown into the fires of the Third Imperial Civil War. "Your journey and faith in our family is a reward, but it is also a duty. Not that I need to tell you that of course. I have no doubt that your commitment to the Force, to us, will lead you to accomplish great things indeed."

Her question regarding the usual ordering of instruction wasn't too unexpected, but rather than a prepared or scholarly answer he simply shrugged. "Those born into our faith receive such knowledge in their youth. Those welcomed in later on in life such as yourself must be shown, not just lectured at. Especially when such studies go hand in hand with Sith training, learning the history in tandem with learning yourself makes those lessons far more memorable and relevant." That and typically nontraditional learning settings just worked far better for those that hadn't lived entirely inside the cult.

Darth Strosius paused in his stride for a few moments as she asked about his own training, a slightly hollow chuckle escaping him before he sighed. "No I never had a place at any academy. Far too much posturing and politicking for my taste, even if I had been enrolled in one. My master was a firm believer in..." He idly flexed out his fingers before curling them into a fist. "'On the job' training you might say. Success or Death was her motto, she lived by it. I made sure she died by it too." He spared another grim laugh as he shook his head before continuing on. "I learned in war. Battlefields were my classrooms, wounds and duels my lessons, such was the times that I found myself in. It was difficult, but I became stronger for it."

Revna

 

[Revna]

She tilted her head at his comment about her perceived words being seen as flattery and she averted her gaze, looking around herself at her surroundings as they continued on their way.

“Well, compared to what I know, you have a wealth of knowledge I can learn from. And I was simply being honest with what I said. Perhaps I should be more careful with what I say to others.” She replied in a slightly more muted tone of voice, reminding herself that she was still new here and while she was very excited about all the good things happening to her, she tended to let her excitement get the best of her.

She remained quiet as the Sith continued with his response to her statements, speaking only after he paused to give her a chance to reply in kind. “Yes, it is a duty. One that I willingly accepted. And we shall see where I end up at the end of all of this. I still have much to learn, much to grow in.”

The little woman listened to his response about how others were trained within the cult itself, the differences between those born into it versus those like her, who had come into it at a later point in time. She supposed that those who were born here would have grown up hearing and learning about the things she was learning, and indeed things she had yet to learn.

Her question about how he had been trained, however, gained a response she wasn’t expecting. His long stride paused briefly, and she paused in tandem with him, noticing his reaction to her more probing question. At first, she felt a bit of wariness as he seemed to recall or relive some past memory briefly and it did noticeably change his outward demeanor-even if he wasn’t aware of it.

Revna listened with rapt attention as Darth Strosius explained that he had never attended an academy for his training. Her brows dipped in a frown when he mentioned the word ‘master’, recognizing that in this instance he was not referring to a slave-master. Instead, he was referring to the woman who had trained him. Did…did that mean that he was technically now Revna’s master now too? Since he had agreed to teach her? He hadn’t referred to himself in such a way to Revna, not yet anyway. Maybe that was done so on purpose, due to her past?

She stopped walking completely and stared as he dropped a bombshell on her, before she moved to catch back up with him as he continued onward towards the Cathedral.

“Wait…you…killed…your teacher?” the little woman asked, her voice relatively quiet but filled with the surprise she certainly felt in the moment. She blinked a couple times. “I can’t imagine that was…easy.” She murmured, suddenly feeling very troubled and uncertain as thoughts began to swirl around in her mind.

She suddenly felt the stirrings of the Voice within her in response to the Sith’s finishing statement.

-Tested and tried by fire and blood, by war and death…- came the faint whisper through her mind, coiling like blackened smoke. -He is one of My own. Take heed, My child. For you will be tried as well.-

She swallowed hard, and spoke in the same soft voice, almost in a trance-like tone. “The Voice…it responded to your words. It said you were one of its own. That you were tested and tried through fire and blood.”

The young Sith woman walked in silence beside the masked Sith for a moment before she finally broke and asked the question that had been rolling around in her mind since he had revealed he had killed his own mentor.

“Am…am I going to have to kill you one day too?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she finally turned her face and gaze back towards him, uncertainty and perhaps even fear reflected upon her pale visage.


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

"Killed is a rather strong word." Darth Strosius mused with a shrug, seemingly nonchalant despite the grim nature of their discussion. "Myself and her other apprentice, Malum, retired her. She had grown complacent, clinging to the shadows and letting the enemies of the Sith gain positions of power within our order. She was just as much at fault for the current state of affairs as they are, and thus I knew that she had to be removed." Although there would be much context that Revna wouldn't be enlightened to just yet, he figured that would be enough justification to soothe her worries.

In time she would come to understand the full extent of just why his master and her powerbase had to be so drastically gotten rid of, but for now she had received all that she needed to know. His master's demise would be the final lesson in her studies into Sith history, a fitting conclusion that would let the Acolyte have the full weight and knowledge of the Sith's long and storied past in her mind before she began to see the plans for the future. His plans for the future.

When Revna spoke up again and mentioned her Voice, a topic that they still needed to discuss in further detail later, he glanced back at her. "Well...it isn't wrong about me having been tried and tested I suppose." As for him being it's kin in some way that would still be up for debate depending on what exactly her Voice was. "Turns out fighting in and surviving the war that brings down an empire is quite the learning experience. Thankfully for you, that will not be a concern. You'll be struggling in a war that will fix one instead."

As they walked on the pair of them were quite a dichotomy if anyone were around to notice. Whereas Revna seemed rather solemn and thoughtful, Darth Strosius was just as resolute and assured as he usually was. If anything he even seemed to have a slight pep in his step. Evidently his general lack of remorse or regret extended far beyond his acts of sacrificing the guilty and criminal.

Her question made his stride pause again as he turned to face her fully, sparing a few moments to simply return her stare with his own hidden gaze before he responded. "If you ever find yourself needing to ask that question, then I would have betrayed all that I sought to bring about and become just as decadent and complacent as those I wish to see brought to their knees. If that were to ever occur, then it would not be me that you would be killing." He reached out and slowly rested a hand on her shoulder in what he hoped would be a comforting gesture.

"But fear not Revna, I have no intention of betraying the Sith for my own personal gain. Not now and not ever. I seek to build a Sith Order, a Sith Empire, where Sith such as myself are not needed. Where those that have had to struggle and make tough decisions as I have will not be required, for there will be no great enemies to struggle against." The masked man gave her shoulder a small squeeze before he pulled his hand away and began walking once more. "Even if I am not meant to see it for myself, I shall see it brought to fruition. Or die trying. For this is what the Force has asked of me."

Revna

 

[Revna]

“You don’t need to be shy with what you say to me, my Lord. I’m smart enough to know what you mean when you say you ‘retired’ her.” Revna replied, glancing at the Sith while unaware that she had used the term ‘lord’ with him for the first time since her arrival the day prior. “You are not going to scare me off by using blunt and frank wording. I mean, I discussed sacrificing a Jedi in your Cathedral for crying out loud.” she chuckled before continuing. “If you killed her, with the help of this other individual Malum, then that is what it is. And by the sound of it…it had to be done. It just took me by surprise that you did that is all. It doesn’t change the fact that I want to be here, and it doesn’t change the fact that I still desire to be a Sith.”

There was much to the story surrounding such a killing that she was not aware of, and while she did burn with curiosity about the details of what happened, she had a feeling that it would be wise to keep her questions to herself on the matter. Darth Strosius was seemingly refraining from sharing the details surrounding the removal of his ‘master’... and Revna would respect that.

He responded to the words she had spoken on behalf of the Voice, and she thought she heard a slight touch of caution in his response. Of course, he wouldn’t know who or what the Voice was and while she had mentioned the Voice previously to him, it had been the first time she had repeated what the Voice had said…ever.

In fact, this Sith was the only individual beside herself who now knew of the Voice’s existence in her head, heart, and soul. Maybe…maybe he thought her a touch insane? Maybe she should refrain from speaking of the Voice or what it says in the future…

She smiled at his words regarding surviving through war, and listened as he shared that her experience would be different than his. She pondered his statement, that she would be fighting and struggling in a war that was to help fix the Empire. It was…an enormous undertaking, something that perhaps wouldn’t be seen or realized in her lifetime. But she could help her own way...would help, of that she knew was certain.

Her direct and pointed question on whether or not she was going to have to kill him one day too brought the tall Sith to a halt and he turned to face her directly. They stared at each other for a few moments in silence as she awaited his response in fearful anticipation. She couldn’t see his face nor his eyes; she had no way of really telling what he was thinking or feeling in the moment, and for a moment she feared the worst.

His reassurance brought her relief, and she physically relaxed enough that her shoulders dropped a little. He reached out a hand and to her surprise, gently laid it on her shoulder. She turned her gaze to his hand briefly before looking back at him with a far more open and vulnerable expression on her face that she otherwise should have had.

For some reason, the thought…the idea…of killing his man whom she barely knew did not sit well with her. And she didn’t understand exactly why this was.

“I…may not know you very well, and I know that will change the longer I am here...if you are willing anyway. But I suppose it would be safe for me to say that if I did ever see that you were becoming that which you despise, then we would already be at odds with each other and probably willing to fight one another. But I don’t want to…and I don’t really know why the idea of that scares me as much as it does.”

Revna tore her gaze away from his mask and looked down towards the ground. She almost felt…ashamed…for saying such things to someone she hardly knew. Like she had no place to do so.

Though she didn’t say it aloud, there was a statement he had made that she did not agree with…as much as she wanted to believe it to be true, and that was the idea that there would be no great enemies left to fight if he had his way and achieved all that he desired to in rebuilding the Sith Order, and the Sith Empire as a whole.

For as long as life and the galaxy existed, and different ideologies and thoughts and ideals existed…there would always be a great enemy to fight and struggle against. Of that she was certain.

His squeeze on her shoulder before his hand pulled away brought her gaze back to him and she offered a half smile before they continued on their way. “I…may not see the whole vision that you have yet, but I am willing to fight alongside you to further that goal you desire to reach.” Her smile turned a touch more devious. “Besides…if you achieve any greater standing within the Sith Order and the Empire itself…then that would benefit me and, of course, the rest of us.” She paused for a few steps, before her normal perky self was back and seemingly all trace of the uncertainty and fear she had shown him was gone. “So once we get back to the Cathedral, what would you like me to do? Just…rest? Maybe show me this reading material you have? Or maybe that would be for another day…?”


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

The masked man found it amusing that Revna assumed he was choosing an alternative wording for her sake, something that he'd let her believe without rebuttal. In truth he did harbor some level of respect for his master still. She was powerful and capable, taking her down had been by far the hardest trial of his life as a Sith in terms of physical and combat tests. Sorting out her powerbase had been an issue in and of itself, even after many of them had been culled by the Ouroboros Crisis as he intended, which only added to the matter. He and Malum may have indeed killed Darth Ophidia, but it was not so easy and blunt as the word would imply.

"It scares you for the same reason that I was scared of losing my master back when I was but an Acolyte. She was the most powerful Sith that I knew of, the one willing to guide and train me, the one that ensured my survival even if only to keep me around as a somewhat valuable piece in the long game of the galaxy." Unlike Revna, Darth Strosius had plenty of time on his own and being responsible for others that enabled him to separate himself from that view of his master. A long and gradual process which had birthed the independent Sith Lord that stood now.

"If you were to see my downfall though, you would also see that image crumble and with it the stability and security that I offer. That's what happened with my master. I saw her resolve and determination fail. 'Success or death' was what she always taught, so I held her to that lesson." He had no intention of making any of his cult have that same realization about him. He wouldn't abandon their mission and vision as his master had. "You'll understand in time young Revna. Thankfully you won't ever have to worry about such from me, but you'll see the signs in other Sith." Just as he had.

Darth Strosius chuckled as the Acolyte adopted a slightly more devious expression whilst mentioning the wider Sith Order, nodding as he glanced back at her and responded. "For one glance at my greater goals and ambitions, I wish to have the entire Sith Order and every world under its banner be like Formos. For a start." It was vague and he didn't bother to imply any actual plan for accomplishing such a feat, but it would be enough for Revna to keep in mind and work towards in the future. A hint that needed little to no real elaboration on his part.

"There's no reason that I can't start you out with some basic reading material for your spare time, but we'll save a full lesson in the library for another day. You'll need your rest. The Dark Side does not freely grant power, it will strain your body just as much as any vigorous exercise or taxing labor. Albeit in a mental sense alongside a physical one." Especially when one had been as active in one day and as varied with their power usage as Revna had. Her enthusiasm may outweigh her inexperience, but one could hardly argue with their body in such matters.

"Some history lessons to help ease your rest into something slightly more productive will be suitable I think." The origins of the Sith were hardly simple, even if one only considered the Sith's beginnings during the Hundred Year Darkness, unraveling such would serve as a decent first scholarly test for her. He had a feeling that the Acolyte at his side was not one to sit idle and waiting, so this task would be more than worthy of her time not spent practicing the Dark Side. "There is a bit more philosophy and faith to delve into but those are better suited for our lessons than readings."

She would discover the groundwork of the Sith Code in her readings, as well as the backbone of Sith philosophy and ideology in general, but the culmination was best to be taught personally. Or learned from experience. They neared the edge of the Dresuoti once more and the masked man idly adjusted his determined stride to one more casual. His cult rarely ever saw their High Priest in a hurry unless there was an urgent matter after all. "Is there anything aside from history that you would be interested in reading? I have plenty of tomes and digital archives that will be at your disposal."

Revna

 

[Revna]

She was quiet and listened as he offered a reason on why fighting or even being forced to kill him might have scared her as much as it did, and his reasoning seemed to illuminate the source of her fears well enough, though if Revna was honest with herself there was a slight personal reason behind those fears of hers as well. Yes, right now Darth Strosius was the most powerful Sith she’d come in contact with. Yes, he had been willing to take her in and train her. But deeper yet, he had given her a place to live, a place to call home, people to interact with, food and clothing, a job…even if it didn’t pay credits…and a purpose to help shape and guide her. She feared that if something should happen to him, if he died or walked away from everything (which she doubted he would), then she would be forced back into chains. She would be left feeling vulnerable again. Alone. Maybe she’d find another Sith to take her in and train her, but it wouldn’t be the same as what she had here.

Of course, she knew that one day she would have to go on her own, be her own entity. But right now was not that time, and she probably wouldn’t be on her “own” for quite some time yet. But by that time, she knew she would be ready for her independence, for the freedom to do as she pleased and pursue her own agendas, though her roots would remain here on Formos.

The little woman nodded in understanding as he continued, explaining that he had held his own master to the same ideology she lived by, and that should he ever fall away from everything he had done and built then everything would crumble down, and Revna realized in a moment of clarity that it was the idea of losing the stability and security he gave to his flock that scared her the most.

She cast her gaze at him as they continued the walk back to the Cathedral. “I…hope I never have to worry about that.” She responded quietly before looking back towards the towering structure that was home to her now.

The Sith’s somewhat vague comments on what he wanted from the Sith Order brought a small, knowing smile to her lips. He didn’t have to go into detail at all for her to catch what he was trying to say. He wanted the entire Order, the Sith empire, to be like Formos. If he had his way and actually succeeded in that ambition…then in her mind that would position him to be the emperor, or at least the de-facto leader, of that future Order and all territories it possessed.

“Hmm. Lofty ambitions.” she responded as her smile turned into a small smirk as her more typical brightness returned. “But something I am definitely willing to help you with. Especially if it leaves you being the ruler.”

But even if he didn’t become the ruler of this future Order reshaped to his ideals, she knew she would still serve alongside him.

“Yes…I am beginning to feel a bit…drained from everything that has happened today. I thought I had more energy, and I do…but I am starting to feel it now. I’m glad I listened to you when you said that enough was enough for the day.”

Her eyes brightened, and her entire face and persona exuded excitement and eagerness upon hearing that she could start with some history lessons. “Oh yes, I like the sound of that! Learning where the Sith came from would be interesting to learn, and important information to understand I imagine.”

The philosophy and faith portions were also something of keen interest to her-but she agreed with the Sith’s decision that it would be best to learn those things through lessons he taught her versus through reading materials.

“You know…I’ve never really been a…faith based individual. I just wasn’t exposed to any of that as a slave. I am very interested in it however, and I do have a feeling that those kinds of topics…faith, philosophy, whatever have you…would be best suited for in person teachings instead of from a datapad or tome or whatever. Especially since I feel that involves more…hands on kind of lessons or training. Just a gut feeling.”

The masked Sith asked Revna if there was anything else she might be interested in reading or learning about, mentioning that he had plenty of materials for her to use. A contemplative frown creased the small woman’s forehead and she pursed her lips in thought.

“...what about different abilities or techniques that one can do when using the Force? Surely gaining a better understanding of what I could start learning or eventually work up to would be good. I am smart enough to limit myself to things which are better suited to a beginner to learn.”

She paused for a moment then turned her contemplative frown towards the man beside her.

“I…do have a curious question for you. You referred to your mentor as your ‘master’. I…assume that is a thing amongst the Sith? I’m assuming too that it is also a…title?...for the one who teaches the other? If that is the case…why did you leave that form of address out when I asked you yesterday what I should refer to you by? If we are being technical, if I am your acolyte, your student, which you said I was…then that would make you a master, yes?”

She had her own idea as to perhaps why he hadn’t requested or demanded or asked that she refer to him as such, considering both of them had been slaves in their life, and the term ‘master’ meant something completely different to a person when they had been enslaved. But even with that idea in mind, she still wanted to hear and understand directly from him if possible. It might have been a bit of an uncomfortable question she posed of him, but sometimes one had to ask hard or uncomfortable questions in order to learn.


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

"If all goes according to plan, then you won't." If he had his way then his cult would not only outlive himself but also outlive all of the Sith's ancient foes, regardless of whether they be Jedi or those who would claim the title of Sith for themselves. Of course such plans were all organized around him dying a premature death with said enemies still active and threatening which wasn't ideal. Ideally all of his cult's enemies both current and potential would be cast down long before he himself was laid to rest and became one with the Force.

Darth Strosius cocked his head to the side and cast the Acolyte a look of both amusement and confusion at her remark about him being made the leader of the Sith Order if his goals were indeed realized. It was such a tempting idea, one which had led to power struggles and civil wars even before the title of 'Sith Emperor' existed, one which even now inspired rising powers within the order to shoot for the throne and attempt to claim for themselves, one that he doubted Revna knew the full weight behind.

He never sought the throne for himself. He knew better, for he had seen the deaths and destruction caused by and as a result of power grabs for that very position. Perhaps it would be necessary to bring about the changes he wished to see, but such a thing would have to be temporary, To be an emperor of Sith was to be the target of all Sith as well and he had enough enemies as it was. "Lofty ambitions indeed..."

The masked man nodded at her assessment and idly crossed his arms behind his back as he spoke. "Readings and recountings can give you a baseline to work with, but yes philosophy and faith are topics better experienced than discussed. We'll have more than a few entire days dedicated just to such topics in the future." He neglected to mention that such days and topics would hardly be obvious, and he most certainly didn't make note of how today was the first such lesson. One day she'd realize it perhaps but until then he'd make no effort to reveal that every lesson would have two facets to be learned. One overt and one subtle, a Sith staple really.

"I'll make sure to include texts regarding more creative uses of the basic Force abilities that you've learned today then. You'd be surprised how versatile one can be with telekinesis and lightning." Thankfully he had no shortage of tomes and records detailing how to make use of a limited power set like Acolytes had. The many long centuries of having to hide their presence from the wider galaxy made Sith naturally favor more practical power usage that didn't require great rituals or in manners that would be obvious. One of the few advantages of having to hide from their hated foes he supposed.

His gaze flickered over to Revna once more as she asked her question, and rather sheepishly at that, regarding the titles of instructors and indeed what his own was meant to be. "'Master' is indeed the title used by Sith Apprentices to refer to those that instruct them, but I do not go by it as I have no apprentice at this moment." That and to those among his cult which had suffered chains in their past life he knew that to ask such a thing from them would be cruel. "While I may be your, and every other Sith under my command, teacher that does not necessarily make any one of you my apprentice. An apprentice is an Acolyte taken under the wing of a higher ranking Sith, molded to fight and think as closely as their master as is wanted. Eventually the apprentice will be expected to either surpass their master or die trying, much like when myself and my master's other apprentice outsmarted and killed her."

The wind seemed to become more rigid as he spoke, still as if waiting for some sort of wisdom or reveal in the masked man's words. "To be an apprentice to a Sith is to be chief amongst their followers and forces, above all others in terms of both trust and capability. It is a sacred bond that the Sith had practiced for thousands of years and one that has resulted in each new Sith becoming stronger than the one before them." He nodded towards the Dresuoti as they approached its outskirts. "None of the Squires nor any of the other Sith under my command are my apprentices. They are independent and are expected to be loyal to the Sith first and foremost, not to me. That is the difference between my Sith and my apprentice."

He had been searching for worthy candidates of course but thus far his options had been fairly slim as it were. The skills and missions that he desired his Sith to have simply left little room for a proper apprenticeship. "I shall indeed take a Sith or even multiple under my wing as my apprentice some day, but for the most part I have not found suitable enough candidates."

Revna

 

[Revna]

She was definitely excited about the prospect of further studies and understanding of the philosophy and faith side of what the Sith had to teach her, but she brought that excitement back down to a more realistic measure as she knew that those lessons would come in due time and she had no need to rush such things. Truth be told, she had a feeling he would withhold teachings from her until he felt she was prepared for them, which was his prerogative. As the new student, she would have to be content with what she was given thus far to learn, to study, to train in. Revna knew that she would have her hands full soon enough.

She was just so…hungry to learn, to grow, to understand more.

The little woman perked up when he mentioned that he would provide her with texts that would go more in depth about the basic Force abilities she had exercised on this day. “Oh yes! I very much look forward to studying these. Now that I know I can do these things…I want to see just how much further I can take these abilities, these gifts. I don’t want to be content with just basic, learned skills. I desire to learn and do more with them, as I am able to of course.”

As they neared the Cathedral, Revna listened intently to the Sith’s explanation to her questions regarding the term ‘master’, and his statement made sense to her in the moment. She made mental notes as he educated her on the matter. She took note of the wind, feeling it pick up a little bit more and pressed against the both of them with more intent, and she brought her bright and curious eyes up to look at him. She noted his words, that a Sith apprentice had to rise above others in forces, in followers…someone worthy of the trust placed into them, into their capabilities.

It clicked in her head that…if she truly wanted to become a Sith and take her place within the Sith Order, then she would need to be accepted as an apprentice, if not by the Sith man walking beside her, then by someone else who was willing to take her on. She would need to prove herself worthy of that title. The idea, the truth, of the work that would need to go into that was daunting…but she felt a steely resolve settle in her heart, in her mind, that she had something else to work towards. If she wanted this badly enough…then she would make it happen, one way or the other. Maybe…maybe…she could prove herself to eventually be a worthy candidate to him in the future? She would need to work very hard for that, she knew. If it even happened at all.

Do you desire to be his apprentice? Came a whispery thought through her head. You should probably really consider that before you make a decision. This is only your second day here; there are many more days to come. You may find that he is not a suitable master for you. But give this some time, learn what he teaches you. The rest will fall into place when and as it is meant to.

She looked away from the masked man beside her, looking around the settlement that was her new home. Her excitement gave way to a sense of calm, of…peace.

“I understand; thank you for clarifying that for me. I…do hope you find suitable candidates that suit your purposes for what you need, what you are looking for.”


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius glanced back at Revna as she responded, a subtle shift of his head being the only real indication of such. It was like there was a hint of hesitation in her words, her previous excitement and eagerness having fallen into a calm demeanor. He'd almost call her thoughtful as though his apprentice explanation had inspired her into contemplation of a sort. How fascinating, yet not unexpected.

"Oh I think I have a few potential candidates in mind." His gaze turned away from the Acolyte as the doors to the Cathedral were opened to welcome them back inside once more, the priests now fully active in their duties and eager to receive the returning pair of Sith. The masked man greeted the waiting priests, as well as a few regular citizens who appeared to simply be visiting as the pair returned, but he didn't stop to talk long. Instead he kept moving forward and leading Revna back up the stairs where they had discussed her lodgings previously.

This time the meeting room and its signature table was bypassed entirely though as he headed for the door at the far end of the room. A small console sat next to it, him very clearly showing off a short passcode for Revna to see as he typed on it. "This section is reserved for Sith and priests alone, as some of these texts and relics can be...temperamental at times if proper respect and authority is not shown. The public records are downstairs."

With one final tap the door slid open to reveal a chamber full of bookshelves, with the occasional terminal or display case interrupting the shelving along the wall. A few tables surrounded by chairs dotted the area, mostly serving as places to hold an assortment of the candles that were commonly littered throughout the cathedral. An incense burner hung above the center of the room, a calming and welcoming aroma drifting down from it. Directly beneath it was a circle etched and carved in the stone, one that would be eerily reminiscent of the larger one in the Undercroft.

"The historical records and texts are kept in this section here." He gestured to one side of the room as he crossed over towards it, said section and terminal taking up the entire length of that wall. The history of the Sith was almost as ancient as the history of galactic civilization itself after all. "The terminal can be used much the same way but something about you strikes me as an enjoyer of the physical sort."

Darth Strosius looked over the wall for a moment before reaching up to pluck a heavy tome from the shelf, holding it in a single hand despite the great volume of it. It was bound in a sleek black leather and with some metal adornments on the cover, some tears and weathering along both the cover and some pages showing some wear and tear that signaled its age.

He turned and offered the tome to Revna with a nod. "This tome is one of the relatively more modern recollections, first penned in the time of the Galactic Empire. Unfortunately the scribe was put to death for snooping around in places that they didn't belong, but their work lives on." There were some corrections and addendums made over time of course but this text at least was as faithful to the original as they come. He had made some edits of his own as Emperor Palpatine wasn't known to be a Sith Lord at the time, nor his master Darth Plagueis and as such Darth Tyrannus had been recorded as the last Sith in the original text.

Revna

 

[Revna]

She took note of the robed Sith’s words that he had a few candidates in mind and she tilted her head once more, but decided to not comment on it. Maybe one day she would get to see this individuals that he had in mind, and it would give her an idea of what apprentice material might look like.

Once more, the pair of Sith stepped up through the doors of the Cathedral, and the still new yet not unwelcome chill presence of the Dark side washed over Revna once more, its potency still enough to pull the breath from her lungs for a moment.

She made a mental note to go and sit in the main chamber on one of the pews later on in the evening, simply to allow herself to sit and bask in the presence so she could truly feel it and start to understand it.

The priests within the Cathedral greeted them both eagerly, and despite her best efforts, the young woman found her shyness returning a bit and she subconsciously moved closer to the robed Sith…almost as if to use his size and presence to hide herself from the sudden attention they both were receiving. The masked man was used to it, clearly, but she was not. Though she knew in time she would grow accustomed to it and even embrace it.

After briefly speaking to the priests and even a few citizens who were inside the Cathedral, Revna was led back up the stairs and back into the meeting room where they had sat and discussed her lodgings the day prior. She followed him across the room to a door opposite to them, and was quick to catch on to the fact that he was imputing the passcode to the terminal in such a way to reveal it to her as well, and she memorized the short code almost instantly as she listened to him explain that only the priests and the Sith of the settlement were allowed beyond these doors, due the nature of some of the items within.

This only made her curiosity burn brighter and hotter, and her hungry gaze took in everything within the room as it was revealed to her.

There was so much in the space that her attention was torn, her eyes glancing around almost frantically as her head moved to take in her surroundings. Shelves upon shelves covered the room, along with terminals and a few display cases scattered about. The room also held several tables and chairs and light was provided by the same kind of candles that burned throughout the Cathedral. A pleasing aroma that seemed to ease the mind and clear it of internal thoughts and clutter filled the room, coming from an incense burner that hung from the ceiling above their heads. Revna’s eyes were drawn to the circle on the floor directly beneath the hanging incense burner, and she approached it with cautious intrigue, taking in its carved nature and recognizing that she’d seen a similar circle in the secret chamber underneath the Cathedral.

She looked up and back around the chamber around her; it almost pulsed with the Dark presence, like there was some kind of invisible beating heart within the room itself.

The male Sith’s voice drew her attention back to him as he gestured to a section of shelves and a terminal against one of the walls, saying that the historical records were kept in that particular section as he crossed over towards it. Wonder filled the young woman’s eyes as she continued to look around, almost bewildered by the amount of items and books within. She didn’t even know where to start…

"Wow this place is...amazing... Guess I know where I'm spending most of my time now..."

Revna moved quietly and slowly closer to where the taller man stood, watching as he looked over a particular section as he commented that he felt she would enjoy more physical books or objects over researching through a terminal, and she smiled slightly at his astute observation.

“I’ve…never really read a physical book before but I feel like I would agree with you. I think I would much prefer sitting and reading from a physical object in my hands than something from a terminal…but I’ll learn from any source if given the chance.”

The little woman turned her bright eyes and wonder-filled face towards him as he pulled a large book from the shelf with ease, and her eyes widened even further at the sight of it. She noted the sleek black leather cover and the metal adornments across its surface, along with the obvious signs of wear and tear. It certainly looked aged.

Revna reached out almost gingerly with two small hands when the Sith turned and held the tome out to her, taking it from him with care like she was holding something fragile and delicate. Immediately, her eyes were glued to it as she opened the front cover to peer at the first page or two, the light of hunger making her eyes almost glow.

She tore her gaze from the book to look at Darth Strosius as he explained the nature of the tome now in her hands. She was not familiar with the time period known as the Galactic Empire, but hearing what he said only further deepened her need to understand and gain the knowledge within.

“Does…this tome go over the history of the Sith entirely or just from the point of this ‘Galactic Empire’ you mentioned?” She questioned before an all too familiar curious frown creased her brow as she looked up at him. "Now I'm curious though...what part of Sith history is your...favorite? Maybe favorite isn't the right word...uhh, the period of time that draws your attention most?"


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

"You're free to come and go from here as you like, with whatever reading material you'd prefer. I know the sanctuary of your quarters may be more preferable sometimes." All Priests and most Sith of the cult were granted the same access after all so the library wouldn't be so quiet all the time. That was the reason for the terminals after all, a quick way to download one or two records onto a datapad to be read privately later. There was even such a terminal in his own chambers for that very use. Even if it was never utilized much given his preference for experimentation rather than education these days.

"It recounts the history of the Sith up until the Galactic Empire, when they were thought to be extinct. However there is an addendum explaining that the Emperor and his apprentice at the time were both Sith, as well as some additional context and information that is otherwise absent. It isn't the best as it isn't written from Sith perspective but it is fairly unbiased and accurate enough." There were a good few tomes and records from Sith both modern and from years long since past but at times their exaggerations and biases could be found in every word of the texts.

Sifting through that archive was a task in and of itself which he would entrust to Revna only after they had gone over the finer points of cross-referencing and sourcing. And not a moment before, lest her young mind be lost in the turbulent pages and writings of eccentric historians. When he finished his own record of Sith history up to the present day then most of that section of the archives would be made redundant anyway.

Her question made him let out a small hum as he seemed to think on his response for a moment, although he knew the answer well enough already. "I would say that two periods catch my attention and interest the most among the rest. The 'Reconstituted Sith Empire' as historians call it was by far one of the most fascinating and powerful Sith Empires across our history. Many Sith of note and renown that I will reference in your future lessons will come from this empire and time period." He would argue that the Sith would have achieved their final victory in that time had Darth Malgus succeeded then. But alas the pieces had to be picked up in the present where their forebearers had failed.

"The time of the 'New Sith' is one which I find especially useful in the present however. Many worlds in the Outer Rim became home to the Sith during that time, worlds that lay unclaimed and within our reach." The long story of the New Sith was full of successes and failures of course but more than that it held great potential in his eyes. Worlds with Sith history which could be revived, tales of new armies springing up to match and even best the strong Core Worlds with their Jedi defenders, and of course a resurgence in sorcerous and alchemical arts.

"Both were Sith at great heights, albeit very different ones. Yet for all of their differences and contrasts both were able to face off against the Core Worlds and the Jedi in surprisingly similar manners. Perhaps this shows the common weaknesses of the Core, or perhaps it shows where the strengths of the Sith inherently lay. Regardless both hold my interest each time I research the past." Strategies and potential areas of interest alike were always his goal during his little forays into the archives, for by now he already knew so much about the history of the Sith that he hardly needed to reread any records.

"The more recent history of the Sith is quite...muddled in terms of records but I have a few news articles and the like on the terminals that you can peruse at your leisure as well. Although I'd recommend getting some of the ancient history under your belt before you begin delving into the more modern times." Given how turbulent and confusing that the recent history of the galaxy as whole was it was better to understand the grand scheme of the galaxy first and foremost in his mind.

Revna

 

[Revna]

To hear that she was free to come and go from this particular place filled her with further excitement - especially hearing that she could take what she wanted from the room to read at her leisure elsewhere if she so desired to.

Young Revna didn’t know what to do with herself at the moment as she held the heavy tome in her hands. She peered at the Sith with her bright eyes as he explained that the book she held contained information and history about the Sith up until the so-called ‘Galactic Empire’. Hearing that the book wasn’t exactly written from Sith perspective didn’t really matter to her at the moment: she knew that if she had questions that she could simply ask the man before her.

Turning to look around briefly, the small woman spied a chair to sit in and she moved to seat herself, laying the large book down across her legs as she peered over it again before bringing her attention back to the robed Sith upon hearing his thoughtful hum to her question about which time period in Sith history caught his attention the most. She listened eagerly as he shared with her brief information about two time periods: the Reconstituted Sith Empire, and the New Sith.

“I…assume I will read about both of these time periods in this book?” She asked with further curiosity. “The history of the Sith must be a long one…judging from how thick and heavy this tome is! I can’t wait to read it all. Maybe I should take study notes or something…”

Her face, full of life and zeal and curiosity, stared into his mask. She could barely contain her almost child-like exuberance at being, quite literally, surrounded by knowledge that she just couldn’t wait to absorb.

“I bet you know almost everything that’s in this book already, don’t you? And whatever else is in this library. I imagine you have to know your stuff to be a Sith…”

Revna cast her eyes back to the book in her lap as he mentioned the newer age of the Sith, and that he recommended she familiarize herself with the Order’s ancient past before diving into the present. It made sense to her; she was more than eager to learn a thing or two about the ancient Sith and their ways. How it had changed over time, or if anything was still similar in modern times.

“Of course…there is wisdom in learning from the past. Of course, you are my teacher in these matters: I will do, or study, or read whatever you direct me to. But there is much here to keep me occupied for some time, I think…”

She smiled, a genuine one that reflected in her blue-gray eyes. “Thank you, High Priest. I imagine I’ll probably be in here until dinner…or later.” she chuckled. It wouldn’t come as a surprise to her if she got so sucked into her readings that she forgot to eat food.

“Umm, is there anything else you have for me to…do? Or am I free to stay and read?” She briefly looked towards the door that led out of the library. “Do…do I need to do anything to help out around the Cathedral? Any chores or duties I should be aware of before the night closes out?”


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

"They are both recounted within yes, with a relatively decent degree of accuracy given a lack of Sith sources to pull from." Much of the Sith accounts from those times were still censored at the time that the text was written, the only real sources being those scavenged from the defeated Sith and their opponents over the various conflicts of the eras. "The history of the Sith is one that has run parallel with the that of the galaxy itself up until even today young Revna, there is no shortage of tales and battles to be found."

He found it rather fitting how prominent the Sith were in the grand history of the galaxy, even if they weren't always striding across the galactic stage as a great empire. "After the end of the New Sith wars the history does get a bit lost due to the false prophet known as Bane installing the Rule of Two and scattering into the shadows. Thankfully the addendums at the end of the text that were added after the fall of the Galactic Empire which will help fill in some of those gaps."

The masked man felt a grin stretch across his hidden features at the excited look in the Acolyte's eyes, her expression proving to him that her reading would be very fruitful indeed. "Well I do have to proof-read everything before I can deem it fitting for my Sith and priests now don't I?" It wouldn't do for him to just throw archives and texts at his followers with some sort of quality check beforehand at the very least. His obsession with learning every scrap of Sith history and lore notwithstanding.

"Just remember to temper your exploration and learning with rest and proper meals young one." Darth Strosius warned with a small chuckle, idly making a note to have the priests check on Revna whenever he himself was occupied. The poor girl had probably been deprived of too many meals as it was already and he would not let her starve while under his cult's care. It wouldn't do to nourish the mind if the body starved because of it.

He simply blinked and cocked his head to the side slightly in response to her question at first, as if trying to determine if it was genuine or not. "I'm sure the priests would welcome an extra pair of hands if you're simply desperate to get your hands dirty." They always did love jumping at the chance at putting the youth of the cult to work in the Cathedral, keeping the candles lit and the floors swept among other menial tasks.

"But no, your only duties as of this time is to further your Sith training. In this instance, that entails reading and meditation to rest your body while strengthening your spirit and mind." He straightened up from the slightly leaning posture that he had adopted while the had been speaking, one that allowed them to be slightly more eye level as they shared the view of the tome. Now though his visor's gaze sat firmly on her as he continued.

"So if I hear that you are unnessecarily exhausting yourself in random odd jobs and chores for my priests, I shall consider it an affront to your studies and a disruption to your training. I trust you won't want to do that yes?" The sternness in his tone carried a lesson that he had learned from dealing with Sith and followers alike in the past. Those new to the cult, and even those born into it who were just becoming capable of serving it as they grew old enough, had a tendency to overdo it as it were. He had a feeling that Revna would be no different unless he put his foot down now.

Revna

 

[Revna]

Despite the fact that she was somewhat distracted by all the books and tomes and various other objects of knowledge and information around her, she did her best to be attentive to what the Sith told her as he responded to her questions. Revna made a mental note about this ‘Bane’ individual, and felt a rise of curiosity as to why he was considered a ‘false prophet’ by this masked man in the library with her.

“ ‘Rule of Two’? What’s that all about? Or is that something I’ll just have to learn about later on?” she questioned.

Somehow, it made sense to her that he would be knowledgeable about everything that had to do with the Sith; she did find it a bit interesting that he ‘proof-read’ anything and everything before giving it over to his priests or others to read. Though, she supposed this did make sense as well. He wouldn’t want the wrong information being passed around, right? She did see a slight problem with it, though - one she didn’t voice aloud. He was the gatekeeper of whatever information he deemed fit to pass on to those around him. She recognized it as a sort of control tactic, making sure that those who lived here or worked for him only knew what he wanted them to know, nothing more and nothing less. But, she supposed, that was the price to pay in order to live and stay here. People were free to come and go as they pleased, but she understood that for those who chose to stay - like she had - then of course he had the right to control what his followers knew, and what they learned about.

Little Revna nodded agreeably to his perhaps gentle warning that she make sure to eat and rest properly and not allow herself to get so sucked into her studies that she forgot such basic necessities. It would be a challenge, she knew - she had a feeling that it might be difficult for her to pull herself away from the library.

Her question about serving or helping out around the Cathedral was met with a head tilt and a somewhat cautious response. It didn’t surprise her that the priests of the place would welcome the help, and she made a mental note to maybe ask at some point if there were things she could do around the place, as she listened to Darth Strosius reaffirm that her only duties at this point in time were to read and to meditate, to strengthen her mind and her body and her spirit.

The Sith straightened up a bit more and looked upon her more …directly. It was a posture of authority that immediately captured her attention, and Revna went still as she gazed up at him from the chair.

His voice was stern, his words pointed and clear to the young woman: she was to focus on her studies, and pour her energy into learning what it meant to be a Sith instead of working tirelessly on various duties and chores around the place. She swallowed a little hard; it was almost as if he knew what to expect, or foresaw a problem that might arise and addressed it before it could get to that point. She nodded mutely for a moment, before finding her voice.

“I, uh…yes, of-of course. Focus on my training stuff first. Got it.”

Now if she would indeed follow those directions, was another thing entirely.

“Well, I won’t take up any more of your time. Thank you for today, High Priest…for showing me everything. I am most eager to see what I’ll learn tomorrow…though I think it is best that I just read for now. I’ll make sure to come to dinner, though it might be smart to send someone to make sure I actually do go and eat. Or go to bed, even.” she replied with a chuckle.

With her directions and expectations in order, Revna settled in on the chair and drew her attention back to its first pages. Almost immediately, she was drawn into the readings, the origins of the Sith themselves. Something she was to be a part of now.

The rest of the evening went as she expected it would: nearly one hundred pages had been read, its contents absorbed into her mind, before she was gently but firmly pulled away to join others in the dining area to eat supper. The large book was deposited into her quarters on her bed on the way to the cafeteria, before she then found herself seated at a table, surrounded by priests and priestess alike who were very curious about the newcomer. Of course, the Twi’lek she’d been introduced to the day prior - Brother Lanit, as she recalled - was true to his words in making sure she wasn’t too overwhelmed by the others. Revna wasn’t used to so much attention, and it was very difficult for her not to withdraw and shut down. As much as she wanted to, she pushed herself beyond her comfort limits, challenging herself to interact with them. Conversation ranged from how she was settling in, if she liked the place and what she thought of it, how her interactions with the High Priest went, how fortunate and blessed she was to have his undivided attention, and how thankful they were that she had found her way to them, and welcomed her warmly and with open arms.

Revna soon found herself relaxing amongst them all, her smile and laughter genuine, as she felt welcomed and truly embraced for who she was for the first time in her life. Of course, she jumped at the chance to help clean up as others moved on about their evening duties, before she was rather forcefully sent away to go rest in her quarters. Reluctantly she went, but once inside her room, she found exhaustion draping over her like a shroud. She tried to read a few more pages in the tome she’d been given to study…but soon found herself nodding off despite her best efforts. And that was how she ended her second day on Formos, and her first formal day of training: falling asleep with a tome of Sith history clutched in her grasp.

---

The Next Day


…Now what would have prompted his little runaway pet to come to this desolate, unassuming rock?

Voss T’vondt wondered idly to himself as he guided his starship towards a planet where the last known tracking ping had come from from his runaway slave’s collar. The red-skinned Devaronian was still recovering from the attack leveled against him by his pet; many a credit had been paid to some of the best healers he could find to help repair some of the damage she’d wrought against his mind. Had he’d known she was Force sensitive, he would have sold her straight away for a pretty penny. He knew many who would pay handsomely for one of her skills and abilities.

Truthfully, Voss didn’t know if his slave-girl would still be on Formos. She could truly be gone forever, much to his loss. He was only tracking her here to see if maybe, just maybe, she’d stayed long enough for him to catch her off guard. Many in the Outer Rim supported the slave trade, he had no doubts that they would hand her over to him, if only to avoid the wrath of the Hutts and the Kainites, those who controlled the slave markets…those who Voss often did business with.

He’d also heard rumors that there were some strange, fanatical Sith running around the Rim targeting pirates and criminal havens and dens, something he found to be almost absurd. Some of that had impacted him, even, but he never settled all his bolts in one basket, so to speak. It was wise to spread out, lest his lucrative business partners disappeared or went under, of course.

Upon entering the planet’s atmosphere and descending upon the last known location of his pet, he spied a small starport beside what appeared to be a settlement of some kind. He had a nagging suspicion that his runaway slave was there, but of course he wouldn’t be able to confirm that until he was on the ground.

After communicating with ground control and stating his “purpose” for visiting, citing some bantha-chit about a business proposal for the settlement’s “governor” he hoped they would buy into, he was granted permission to land. He circled the port and settled his sleek yacht into a space he was directed to near the end of the spaceport, and he eyed the various cargo freighters that came and went…noticing one or two that seemed to be offloading sentients of various kinds.

Interesting, he noted as he prepared to disembark. After checking his appearance in his private suite one last time before indulging in a sniff of his favored stimulant, Voss lowered the ramp and sauntered out of the starship as if he owned the place, his sulfur yellow eyes taking in the sights around him.

Watchful and somewhat guarded eyes watched him as he traversed the port, headed towards the main building he’d seen that was outside the settlement proper. He carried himself with pride, ignoring those about him as if they were dirt under his boots…which they were. Eventually, he reached the building, and noticed a myriad of individuals milling about…some even with slave collars around their necks.

Voss narrowed his eyes suspiciously, before a young seemingly human woman approached him with a rather open smile, though he noticed it did not reach her azure eyes.

“Greetings, sir. I heard you had a sort of, business proposal for us? How may I be of assistance to you?”

He smiled at her, putting his full charm on display. “Ah what hospitality, to be greeted by such a lovely young lady such as yourself.” He looked around one more time, looking at the settlement, and noticed the dark spire-like building near its center that appeared like it had once been a communications array. “I would seek to speak to the governor of this…place. My business would be conducted with whoever they may be.” he drawled once more as his yellow eyes slid back to the beautiful woman speaking to him. His eyes danced over her briefly, although noticeably. If she seemed to notice it, she didn’t react to it.

“O-of course. This settlement is overseen by Exarch Limont, on behalf of our High Priest. Shall I pass your message along to her?”

High Priest? What was this…some sort of religious getaway? Voss scoffed internally. But his mental gears were turning, as he started to piece together bits and pieces. Perhaps…the Jedi have some sort of operation out here to help runaway slaves find new lives…would certainly be something they would be involved in. And in such an unassuming place, quite smart. And of course my own pet would run into the arms of the Jedi…

“Would it be possible for me to speak to this ‘high priest’ and skip meeting with this Exarch? I believe this priest is who I need to share my…proposal with.”

The young woman seemed to take this in stride and dipped her head. “Of course. If you would wait here, I shall inform the High Priest that you wish to speak to him. May I have your name, sir?”

Did he give them his real name? He debated for a moment, before speaking. “Kardu Malloc, is the name.” he replied, providing a false name to her. He watched her turn and walk away, appreciating the view for a moment before turning his attention back to those who were around him. He had a strange feeling that getting his prized slave back might prove harder than he first imagined. If this place was some secret hideout for runaway slaves, then he had to be prepared for the issue of her being turned back over to him.

He would be diplomatic at first, of course. But if that didn’t work then he would just have to resort to his more favored tactic: violence and intimidation. His hand briefly rested on the holster of his new blaster - since his last one had been stolen by his pet. Oh when I get my hands on that little whore...

Maybe he’d take a few of these slaves along with him in the end as well, once he terrorized this place, and make a profit for himself later on. He was sure the Hutts or even agents of the Kainites would be happy to hear about this place, especially if it was operated or overseen by filth Jedi. He could almost hear the jingle of credits flowing into his accounts, and he smiled in barely contained glee as he awaited the presence of this so called 'High Priest'.

---

Revna was seated in one of the chairs within the Cathedral's library, her attention solely on the large book in her lap. After eating breakfast, she had returned to the solace of the library to read and study - hardly paying any mind to those who came and went. It was obvious to them that she was focused, and so she was left alone.

But her quiet solitude and study would be shattered, when she felt a ripple of danger, of recognition, through what she now knew to be the Force. The little woman pulled her eyes from the book as she looked around more cautiously, the hairs rising over her body, before she closed her eyes and focused more on that strange....feeling, searching...

Her gaze snapped open and her heart skipped a beat as a mix of volatile emotions cascaded over her.

He should be dead...I - I killed him...how is this possible...? her panicked mind screamed.

"He's here!" She whispered aloud, fear breaking through her voice as she rose to her feet. The tome fell from her lap with a heavy thud as she headed for the door that led out of the library, her steps carrying her swiftly forward, as her fear gave way to a rising surge of anger and bubbling hate.

She knew exactly why he was here. And she was going to end this, once and for all.



Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

The question made him chuckle but he chose not to give an exact answer, instead simply tapping on the book in response. While he would be more than happy to espouse each and every one of his critiques of the Rule of Two and its origin to the Acolyte at a later date, it was better that she got a better picture of what said rule actually was before he began his tirade. By the time he got around to explaining any of the context that would make the rule relevant the poor girl would probably be overwhelmed by an hour's worth of ranting. He could speak from previous experience regarding that.

Thankfully Revna was, for the moment at least, cowed by his stern tone and agreed with his order regarding chores. For now. From what little time they had spent together he had an inkling that it would not be so simple to convince her to focus entirely on her duties as a Sith rather than her ones as a cultist. A couple of the more senior priests would have to be notified to brush off any attempts from Revna when it came time for chores, a measure that had to be taken for sure.

"Oh I'll make sure that you're taking proper care of yourself Acolyte, fear not." He already had a handful of priests in mind that he knew would be reliable in helping shepherd the new Sith around the cathedral properly. Darth Strosius rolled his shoulders and finally stepped away from the Acolyte, moving towards the entrance of the library as he gave a little bow of his head. "I must take my leave for now, always more business to attend to, so shall leave you to your studies. Just remember to break for dinner and sleep young one."

With that the masked man left her to her own devices, his robes flowing behind him as he strode from the library through the meeting room and then down to the cathedral below. As much as he wanted to continue his lessons he did indeed have other duties and matters that demanded his attention. The Exarch would have his head if he missed another meeting about budgets and trade deals with the other surrounding powers for example. Besides, he had no doubt that Revna could keep herself busy in the library without his interference. Too busy perhaps.

-

It could be said that Darth Strosius was not a man that liked surprises. In fact given what form said surprises often came in given his position as a Sith Lord, one might say he loathed them in fact. What he hated more than anything else though was when potentially hazardous and dangerous surprises came in the form of unexpected and unwelcome visits to his cult's home. Now that was certainly something that put him rather...on edge. So to say that he was displeased when his meditation time after a long meeting regarding the new cliff expansion development project was interrupted due to some Devaronian coming to the spaceport with some business deal, would be an understatement.

The masked man had wasted no time at all marching out of the Undercroft the moment that the message had come through to him, eager to have the potential nuisance removed as quickly as possible. That someone had found their way to his cult's safe haven was cause enough for concern but that they were supposedly here on business meant that the person in question was either foolish or confident. Neither traits were ones he particularly enjoyed in strangers.

The familiar march to the spaceport was uneventful and thankfully so, for the masked man's frustration and annoyance were indeed very obvious to the members of the cult which had been there for some time and as such none dared to cross his path. Especially when he appeared to be on some sort of mission given his brisk pace. The troopers that guarded the spaceport were all too happy to direct the Sith to where the uninvited guest was waiting for him, the sight of their agitated lord oddly enough seeming to soothe the tension in their forms.

For while the High Priest was indeed unhappy, they knew that the disturbance would be handled within a few moments and without hesitation due to that very mood. Just as he tended to do with most other interlopers who mistook the settlement for a spice market or smuggler haven. Darth Strosius took one breath to calm himself and immerse his angered form back into the usual mask of calm and composure that he tended to adorn himself with before he opened the door.

"You requested my attention." He spoke as he stepped into the room, fixing the Devaronian with his hidden gaze and a small incline of his head. The door slid closed behind him as he took another few steps inside, crossing his arms behind his back as he regarded the interloper with disdain. "You have it. I believe I was told you were here about a...'business proposal' yes?"

Revna

 

[Revna]

Voss was growing impatient, waiting for this so-called “high priest” to show up. He had been guided into a building outside the settlement, and he noticed armed guards had arrived to keep a rather close eye on him. The building he was waiting in was fairly nondescript; it had tables and chairs and a place where caf or water could be poured into mugs and handed out to visitors. Voss paced with his impatience, weighing what he would tell this priest whenever he showed up. No doubt, the individual in question would be wanting to know what sort of “business deal” he had to offer.

The Devaronian was deep in thought when movement outside the building caught his attention, and his bright yellow eyes noticed a man, dressed in robes that were very much not Jedi-like. The crime lord narrowed his eyes as the man seemed to pause outside the door, before opening it and stepping inside, looking in his direction. Voss couldn’t see the man’s facial features, for the “priest” was wearing a mask. He gave the man in the robes a brief but more careful look over: something about him didn’t seem…right.

The door slid closed behind the man as he stepped closer to the Devaronian, pulling his arms behind his back. He inquired about the phony ‘business proposal’, and Voss offered a disarming smile.

“Yes…forgive my rather abrupt…intrusion into your space sir, you must be a rather busy man. I will simply cut straight to chase so we can be out of each other’s hair. My most valued family servant was last seen here I believe, according to my last tracking beacon; she was taken from me, and I’d like to take her back home where she belongs. Her family left her in my charge for safekeeping, you see, and I promised them I’d keep her safe and out of danger. She is a small and young woman, and rather pretty. Dark hair, blue eyes, a little bit on the shy side.” Voss explained, fabricating a story that he hoped this “priest” would buy into. Diplomacy first…and if that didn’t work, then he could resort to some intimidation. He watched the robed and masked man carefully, and something in his mind warned them that this was no…ordinary priest. He needed to exercise caution here. “Please, sir. If you know anything that could help me out…I’d greatly appreciate it. I’d hate to have to tell her family that she was stolen and ended up lost, or worse.”

---

Revna slipped past various priests and priestesses and towards the doors of the Cathedral, a dark scowl on her face. Before reaching them, however, she paused to look at a priest who was nearby.

“The High Priest…where is he?” she asked in a sharper tone than she intended.

“I am not sure, Miss Revna. He hurried out of the Cathedral and made for the port. He seemed a bit aggravated. It might be wise to give him some space right now, and await his return.”

“Thank you for letting me know.” she replied before turning around and pushing open the doors, ignoring the man’s calls for her to stay and wait. Though short and small, her steps were long and quick, carrying her swiftly through the settlement proper as she made her way towards the starport. Her heart was hammering in her chest, and her head was alight with all sorts of violent and dark thoughts and memories. She wanted to get to her old master first, before the High Priest ripped him limb from limb. She had unfinished business with the Devaronian.

She noticed troopers outside the main building where she had first met Darth Strosius, and figured the two of them were inside. As she made her approach, one of the troopers moved to block her path, and she came to an abrupt halt.

“Let me pass, please.” She said in a tense voice that made it clear she was not in the mood to argue. After a couple tense moments, the trooper moved aside to her pass, and she took a deep breath before pushing the door open, a tad bit aggressively.

Her eyes found the back of Darth Strosius, who was already engaging with the man she had hoped to never see again in her life, before she turned her fiery gaze to the Devaronian.

Seeing him in the flesh, and very much alive, brought a chill over her entire body…before she felt like someone set her ablaze in the fires of wrath. The yellow eyes of her slave-master met hers, and the false mask he’d been wearing fell away in an instant.

“Voss T’vondt.” The young woman hissed, as she felt the dark beast within rise like a tidal wave through her entire body, begging to be released. “You must have a death wish to show up here, of all places.”

With great effort, she tore her eyes away from him to look at the High Priest. “I don’t know what kind of chit story he fed to you thus far, but it’s all lies. This is…or was…my master. I thought I killed him…seems I was mistaken.”

She snapped her gaze back to Voss as she stepped closer towards him. “A mistake that I intend to correct.” Revna glanced in the direction of the Sith who had taken her in under his wing, as if almost seeking his permission to unleash the murderous violence that was rapidly building within her.


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

The masked man would listen to the Devaronian's explanation and claim with a mixture of wariness and tension. There was nothing honest nor decent about the 'businessman' from what he could tell and he had little patience to sift through whatever lies he was spouting to find the real reason for his arrival. Until he started describing this lost 'servant' of his anyway. There was no obvious movement nor sign of attention but Darth Strosius most certainly perked up when he recognized the description that the Devaronian gave.

He was talking about their new arrival, his newest Acolyte. And just like that he had given himself away. The High Priest would click his tongue and flex his fingers behind his back as he prepared to choke the lying slaver before him without a second thought. The same fate that awaited each and every one of his disgusting kind. "Well I'm afraid that we don't have what it is you seek here sir, however I can offer you something for your long trip." Right as his unseen will started to coil around the Devaronian's throat, the door was opened behind him and his focus was disrupted by a familiar presence.

Darth Strosius turned to regard Revna with a slight tilt of his head and the raising of an eyebrow, calling out what must have been the name of the Devaronian much like one would spit a curse. In but a few simple words she confirmed what he already knew and banished any potential doubts that may have lingered as he glanced back at Voss with a hidden smirk. "So...'servant' hm?"

Without hesitation his fingers clenched behind his back and the full weight of his power would clamp down around the Devaronian before any rebuttals could be made on his part, both forcing him to his knees and making him choke for every gasp of air he took. Despite the temptation though he didn't take the easy solution of just snapping the slaver's neck. That would be far too simple and quick for someone like him. Slavers were meant to suffer for their sins.

"By all means then Acolyte, correct it." With a wave of his hand he would release his unseen stranglehold, for now at least, and nod towards the Devaronian. "Show him the strength of the Sith, let your hate flow through you and consume him." For all the trials that he had in mind for the young Sith this one would prove more fruitful and revealing than all of them combined. He could put her through extensive and difficult tests and circumstances all week long but none of them were personal, none of them were raw and limitless, none of them would be like this.

So he watched carefully, ready to batter Voss back into the ground at a moment's notice if he attempted to lay a hand on the Acolyte. This wasn't going to be some equal fight or last stand on the slaver's part, this was his execution. No effort no matter how pathetic would be allowed. Only suffering and death awaited sinners and heathens that would dare visit his world.

Revna

 

[Revna]

The atmosphere of the room within the building filled with the swell of violent emotions, cascading both from the small woman - and the man that was the object of her ire. But despite the near overwhelming urge that tore through the small woman, and the tension that coiled in her legs - she restrained herself, looking at Darth Strosius, waiting for him to grant her this moment of vengeance.

But she wouldn’t do anything until he told her she could. Perhaps it was her slave conditioning holding her back, forcing her to be still until told otherwise. Or perhaps it was due to something else.

The masked Sith said something, a remark she recognized that was meant for her former slave master. Her eyes flashed with rage when she pieced together that Voss must have referred to her as his servant instead of his slave, when speaking to the robed Sith prior to her arrival.

Her entire body flinched when she witnessed the power of the Sith come over her former master, forcing him down on his knees before them both. She barely heard the sounds of his desperate gasps for air over the pounding of her own pulse in her ears, and she fixated on his face as he clawed at his throat. His fear, oh the sweetness of it, bled into the Force and she drank it all in.

Revna turned her gaze, her eyes now ablaze and golden, slowly back to the Sith - silently pleading with him to let her be the one to destroy the man that would dare to come after her. In that moment, she was more akin to a hunting hound that awaited the release from its handler, than she was a sentient being.

The words she was waiting so intently for were issued forth, and she was let off her proverbial leash. In the same moment, the chokehold Darth Strosius had over her former master’s throat was released. Even as the Sith beside her told her to show the pathetic man before her the strength of the Sith, her strength, a permission to give herself over to the hate that she felt for this pathetic man before her…she didn’t immediately move.

A strange sound filled the room, a sound Revna had never heard before, coming from the Devaronian who was still on his knees. It was almost a whimper, a plea.

For mercy.

For forgiveness.

Revna slowly tore her fiery gaze from the masked Sith to look at Voss, and her body turned to face him more directly. Time seemed to slow for her, as the edges of her vision clouded red - then black. Everything around her: the building, the tables, the chairs, even the Sith himself - ceased to exist. All that mattered to her in that moment, was the man in front of her.

Voss whispered pleas to them both, begging to be released, trying to bribe them with credits, with wealth - with power, anything he could leverage in exchange for his life, as he knew he had made a fatal error.

“...as if that would save you.” came the lethally soft whisper from the little woman.

Step by stalking step, she moved closer to him, closing the distance painfully slowly, savoring every moment of the buildup before she would unleash.

“There is not enough of time itself for me to wring every ounce of suffering from you, for what you have done to me.”

Another step.

“For what you have taken from me. For what you have destroyed.”

A final step, as she came within striking range of the Devaronian, who was now heaving breaths as he looked for any avenue of escape, his yellow eyes wide with fear. A fear she recognized; he remembered what she had done to him the last time she had unleashed her wrath against him. Her darkness.

“You showed me no mercy when I begged you for it, every time you ripped my innocence from me. Every time you shattered my bones just to hear me scream. Every time you made me suffer unspeakable horrors just for your entertainment…So why should I show you any now?” came her voice, hardly recognizable in the moment as it was filled with an undiluted hatred.

“You think he’s going to treat you any better than I did?” Voss hissed back at her, his voice quivering with his palpable fear as he tried another angle to get into her head. “What I did to you will be nothing compared to what that Sith will do to you! All he will give to you is death! You would be better off with me, you stupid girl!”

Revna’s hand lifted and made a clenching motion, as she willed the Force to wrap around his throat and squeezed his windpipe shut. Her eyes glinted dangerously as her face contorted with her barely contained fury.

“I would rather die serving him, even kneeled at his feet, than spend another moment listening to your disgusting voice, or living in your presence ever again.” she snarled - before she reached down with her bare hands and seized hold of the man who was larger and heavier than she was, and flung him across the room as if he was nothing but a stuffed toy - her strength empowered by the Force, by the rage and her hatred that burned so hot through her, strong enough to tear Voss even from the Force hold that the other Sith held over him. She didn’t care about the various items or objects inside the room as the body of her master slammed into tables and chairs, breaking a few in the process.

She had no weapon on her, nothing but her bare hands - but that was all she needed for the moment, as she lunged for him like a predator upon its prey. Every savage intention, every ounce of aggression that was coiled within her small form, was unleashed as she flung the Devaronian across the room a few more times, slamming him into more objects within and wreaking more havoc, before she launched herself at him and pinned him down and began to beat him with her own fists in her savage rage, her strength amplified by the Force as it flowed through her without restraint.

Voss tried to ward her off, even attempted to strike at her himself in the ruthless struggle, every attempt he would make would be cast aside - be it by her own hand, or intervention by the Sith who observed the carnage. She cared not that Darth Strosius was there and was witnessing her violence first hand; all that mattered was this moment, her vengeance for a life of servitude poured out on one being.

Suddenly, everything stopped. Voss groaned from his place on the floor, reeling from the pain and shock of being thrown about the room and then beaten by the small woman. Revna rose up to her feet and stood still, partially hunched over and breathing heavily as she stared down the man who had tortured her, had brutalized her in every way imaginable, covered in blood that belonged to both the Devaronian and herself. She hardly noticed the wounds she had accrued, feeling no pain in the moment through the sheer amount of adrenaline that pumped through her veins, and her body trembled from her physical exertion, and from the powerful emotions that tore through her without restraint. She didn’t even know if she could come back from depths of the darkness that consumed her, that fed from the rage, the hatred, the pain that poured from her like a river - and she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to come back from it.

Movement caught her eye, and she noticed Voss trying to pull his blaster from its holster, which somehow had managed to stay on him through the entire event. Her eyes narrowed, at the sight, and she felt herself scoff. With the power of the dark side coursing through her, what fear did she have for a mere blaster?

That was until he tried to aim it, not at her - but at Darth Strosius.

Little Revna reacted in an instant, her face contorting with indignant fury once more as she drew on the Force from around her and propelled it towards him in a wave - picking up the Devaronian and violently slamming him back against the opposite wall with enough force to crack it - along with several of his bones. With a simple twist of one small hand, the wrist holding the blaster snapped, and Voss screamed in pain as the weapon dropped from his hand and clattered to the floor. She didn't know what his intentions had been; did he think he could try and kill the Sith as a punishment to her, as his one last final stand to try and take something else from her? It was laughable.

For the next few moments, the only sounds that could be heard beyond Voss’s screams and cries for mercy that went unheard - were the snapping sounds of his bones as she slowly and methodically worked her way through his body, breaking the bones that he had broken in her.

But even despite the depth and intensity of her emotions, exhaustion was beginning to creep up on her. She was still so fresh, so new to using this dark side of the Force in such a manner that it took its toll on her body, on her mind, and her spirit. But she persevered, digging deep to summon what was left within her, bidding it to obey her will.

Revna had one last thing she wanted to show her master, to prove to him her strength, her power.

She let Voss’s body drop to the floor unceremoniously, and he crumpled like a sack of stones. Blood seeped and dribbled from various wounds across his body, and the glint of raw bone could be seen in some places as they jutted through torn flesh. The state of his body was a pleasing sight to her, but she wasn’t done yet.

“You know Voss…I actually thank you for what you have done to me.” she whispered, her voice laced with ice and lethality, as she stepped closer to his fallen form. His head rolled as he looked at her through dazed and pain filled eyes. “Had you not been so cruel, so savage, so merciless…I wouldn’t have become what I am now. I wouldn’t have stepped into my destiny, and embraced what I was meant to become. I never would have come here, and never would have met this Sith - and I never would have found my freedom from my chains.”

Revna came to a halt as she stood over him, a gesture of dominance towards a fallen foe, and stared down at Voss without an ounce of compassion or mercy on her face or in her features.

“And I never would have learned how to do this...”

She raised a hand, spreading out her small pale fingers with her palm facing him - and felt the last of the dark power flow through her as the hairs raised over her body in response to a build up of the electrical charge, one far stronger than what she had expressed the day prior. Arcs of blue lightning, glinting almost purple in places, erupted from her hand to cascade over Voss, and the scent of ozone singed flesh filled the room - though the electrical charge was not powerful enough to kill him, it was enough to bring her slave-master immense suffering, which is what she wanted to accomplish in the first place.

After a few moments, the flickering lightning crackled out and ceased, and Revna wobbled slightly on her feet as her hand dropped back to her side. She was very close to exhaustion, and could feel it trying to drag her into the black depths…but she still wasn’t satisfied with her work. She stared at the charred, broken, and bleeding body of her slave master - and all she saw the remnants of her past life.

A life that was all but gone now. This single man, still living, was the only tie left. The only chain left.

And she knew how she wanted to shatter it and free herself from her past, and be reborn anew.

The little Sith acolyte turned her head towards Darth Strosius, and looked at him in silence for a few moments as she gathered her thoughts and summoned the strength to speak.

“I want to sacrifice him, to give him to the Dark, in the Cathedral. I think that I will be destroying my old self, in doing so. And I sense that this is something that must happen for me to truly embrace becoming a Sith.” she paused as she looked at him for another moment in silence, her gaze searching his mask as a wave of sudden vulnerability washed over her. “And I want you to be there with me when I do this. Will you grant me this?” she whispered to the masked Sith, waiting in silence for his response.


Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius was not one to pry too deeply into the pasts of his cultists before their arrival to his care and community. Some enjoyed confessing their past life to him and his priests, a way for them to truly contextualize and move past the tragedies and mistakes they made before so that they could be renewed in their own eyes. Others wished to forget entirely, to wipe away all that they were and instead embrace a new identity in their service to the cult of Wonosa. Most that chose to don masks came from the latter group, eager to imitate the High Priest in order to try and inherit some of his presence and power so that their own inadequacies and past could be forgotten.

Revna was one that had straddled the line somewhat, as most often did, where she did share what she once was and the life she once had but not enough to where he fully understood just who she was before she found her way to Formos. It hardly mattered either way to the High Priest in truth, for all that he needed from his Sith and followers was their service and dedication, but before him sat a very intriguing opportunity. An opportunity not only to see more details of the Acolyte's history, but also to see how she destroyed it with her newfound power.

To watch the old Revna die at the new one's hands. Such a fascinating thing.

A rare occurrence that he intended to see play out in its entirety right before his very eyes. Starting with the pathetic begging and pleading of Voss once he had been let loose from the crushing grasp of the High Priest. He didn't dignify the plea with a response, his sleek visor leering down at the slaver. There was nothing that he could be offered by those of Voss's ilk that he couldn't take if he wanted it. Nothing that he could be bribed or tempted with to direct his wrath any other direction than at them.

And it seemed that the Acolyte was in agreement with that sentiment given the chilling stare that she was giving her former owner. She moved in then, like a hungry predator making its final advance on its chosen prey, with words full of venom and intentions that were nothing short of murderous in their desire and intensity. A whipping, potent whirlwind of anger consumed Revna and bore down on Voss like a force of nature and nothing could be said to dissuade her now.

Certainly not anything that the Devaronian himself would say, although the masked man did find it somewhat amusing that he was trying to turn the situation around on him. As though the ignorant and decadent criminals of the galaxy held any understanding of what the Sith were and what service to one entailed. A truth that would never be granted to their kind, for only death and suffering awaited the guilty that stood in the path of a member of Wonosa. That lesson would soon become very relevant to Voss it seemed.

Revna let loose on the slaver, a mixture of the Force and her own strength being her implement of choice as she battered him around as though he was some weightless training dummy or punching bag. A very satisfying display to the watchful gaze of Darth Strosius. There was some fight still left in Voss but each time he was about to crush the slaver back into the floor the Acolyte did so for him, clearly more than able to handle herself in this particular bout. Well that was until the Devaronian actually wizened up and changed up his tactics by drawing a blaster.

Right as he raised a hand to simply pull the blaster from Voss's grasp however, the barrel shifted towards him and he paused. A scoff escaped him at the sight, knowing that between his armor and his healing there was almost no way for a simple blaster to kill him in one shot. But Revna didn't know that. Instead she took the threat to his life very seriously and treated the slaver to a serious punishment in return. Well, several punishments really. Given that one could hardly account every snap and crack as one incident as she precisely broke her former owner in the most physical and brutal sense of the word.

By the time that Revna spoke again she had left her former master in a state that was as pathetic as he was, battered and broken on the ground where he belonged. She chose to finish him with a display of power it seemed. A power that she had specifically learned from their lesson together just the other day, with arcs of lightning that cooked the tender and bruised skin of Voss in one final act of revenge to showcase just how far she had come since he had been her owner.

And yet he lived.

A fact which made the masked man cock his head to the side in confusion as he glanced between the victim and the slaver, his hidden gaze inquisitive but with no actual interruption or provocation leaving him. Revna's request was something that he probably should have expected in truth, but it still caught him off-guard somewhat. That she wanted to drag out Voss's suffering was understandable and her desire to empower the Cathedral had been no secret so it was only natural that the two facets converged into said request.

Darth Strosius didn't respond, not directly anyway, and instead raised a hand. With a slight wave the door to the building opened and he finally spoke right as the Legionnaires guarding it tried to glance inside. "Guards, if you would please transport this slime to the Cathedral. And gather send word to gather the priests at the altar as well." His masked gaze remained fixed on Revna as his spoke, a subtle incline of his head punctuating his statement. "We have a new sister to induct."

Revna