Private The Chances are Slim

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

"There is...one thing," said Ashin reluctantly. It involved extended a measure of trust, and she never did that lightly. "I'm still determining what resources and abilities I'll need to have the best chance of helping Spencer return. I could use...access. For all my conflicted thoughts and feelings on the Sith Empire, it holds the finest Dark Side libraries since Ragnos.

"I could use a library card. And your advice on which archive or temple or academy is most likely to show me what I need."

 

[Onrai]

“If you can provide me with something containing either a sliver of or a bond to Spencer’s spirit, I may be able to do as I did for my herald and bring her spirit back from the Netherworld. Alternatively I could use the Sunstar as a means to open one of the former portal sites between this material plane and the realm of the dead, allowing you to enter, find her, and bring her back.” She said.

“but of course it’s not going to be that easy, and I’d be surprised if you wanted me and the power I now wield to be directly involved. As for libraries... with Bastion lost, the library of Dromund Kaas is the only one. Or you could ask of someone who has the knowledge of thousands of years now locked away in her mind.” She replied.

This was proving to be rather interesting.

Ashin Cardé Varanin

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

Ashin whirled around from the window's view. "Bastion fell? Bastion? I knew there'd been a battle near there, at Dubrillion, but I had no idea. This is the...New Empire, those people? I thought they were a splinter group, a pack of also-rans. Or was it some kind of a disaster?"

She tucked Vantai's offers away to chew on in private. Bastion falling offered tantalizingly limited context for whatever conflict had killed Spencer.

 

[Onrai]

"Yes." She said. "They lost Bastion. We did whatever we could to inflict whatever casualties we could, but unfortunately it wasn't enough against the onslaught by the "New Imperial Order," as they call themselves. They are a splinter group that basically was formed of disaffected Imperials, from my recollection, who did not like Sith dominance of the Empire." She replied, a sigh coming from her lips in frustration. The loss of Bastion was painful.

"Dromund Kaas is really where you can go. All I can do is give you paperwork to access the libraries."

Ashin Cardé Varanin

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

"That's plenty. You have my thanks."

The mask of Anger shot back to Ashin's face, slowing at the last second to fit and fasten into place. She adjusted the high collar of her black robe.

"And I mean that. The pieces are coming together, and you've provided more of them than you know. I owe you a favor, Lady Vantai."

 

[Onrai]

She nodded. "All I ask is that when you do what you need to do in order to bring her back, let me be involved." She replied. "As for such a favor - I truly am not sure what can be provided that I have not already gotten." She said. "But I will let you know what said favor is when it comes to me." Perhaps she could do similarly with Ashin as she had done with Kay were bad things to happen to her, though she did not wish for such to ever occur.

"I won't be Lady Vantai much longer, admittedly." She said. "I already intend to fill the position which the dead gods once held before they were all exterminated. I will let you know, though, what that new name will be."

Ashin Cardé Varanin

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

Ashin nodded. Being in debt to someone like this - no, not someone like this, this exact Sith Lord - set her on edge, but this conversation had been invaluable.

"Until then," she said, and left.