Private The Elder Council

Kyyrk · Nov 11, 2020

C O U N C I L

Voph smirked softly at Gerwald's comment. He was warned not to trust Prazutis. "I never said you had to trust him. Just to be civil." Voph cleared his throat softly as he finished saying this, withdrawing a datapad to place upon the table. The meeting was underway shortly as the Jedi and Sith joined them around the table. The Vicelord began the discussion with a welcome, but not tarrying long on the niceties. Voph listened intently, even though he already knew what the matter of discussion was on. There were uneasy glances around, most of them related to the one known as

Darth Prazutis . A being Voph had never met personally. But as with so many others, his reputation preceded him.

Prazutis was the uncle of Emperor Carnifex. And such a being was not one to take lightly. And as Voph understood it, in the absence of Carnifex himself, Prazutis was poised to assume the throne. Unless he had been named Emperor already. And Voph knew for a fact that he was responsible for some degree of personal hardship for at least two other beings in the Confederate delegation. But things always became so muddled in times of war. Still, Voph stared at the man quietly as the Silver Jedi spoke first. They spoke of doubt. Of worry. What assurances could the Confederacy provide that the truce would last?

"This is not the first time the Jedi and the Sith have vowed cooperation in our shared history, nor shall it be the last, I feel." Voph's voice cut through the air with a deep rumble. He spoke directly to the Kaminoan who spoke for the Concord, and raised a very reasonable concern. The Sith were not known for being trustworthy. This was a fact Voph was intimately familiar with. For the briefest of moments, Voph wondered if he would have as many scars if he had been recruited by the Jedi first. But there was not point to wandering down that Gizka hole. Such a line of thinking was too lengthy to concern him now.

Voph pushed himself to his feet, rising to his full height as he addressed the table. "An honor to host the delegation of both Silvers and Sith. May you all have peaceful and productive stays within our capital. However brief they may be. I am Lord Commander Voph, leader of the Knights Obsidian. And though my role here is hardly to broker a truce, I do still stand for the ideal of peace. If not from our nations, then from those gathered within this room."

"The Sith are cunning and conniving. This, I know as well as the next. And yet, I would urge caution, Senator Concordian, in beginning the talk of peace with words of war." Voph had no interest in defending the Empire. The atrocities they were responsible for outnumbered the sands. He had even partaken in some of them. But that was not the matter of discussion today. "In the time of ancients, the Jedi and Sith stood as one against the threat of Revan and Vitiate. Civility is possible. And the very presence of the Sith Delegation speaks volumes to their willingness to assist in this matter."

Voph turned to look at Prazutis as he continued speaking. "In those days, the alliance had the Sith as divided amongst themselves as any matter of politics. The Sith have more honor and integrity than many allow them. And assuming that the house of Zambrano still holds the same values as they did in those days, I expect they will be more than civil in matters of alliance. Particularly one of a necessity such as this. Though our ideals may not align, for the time being our common enemy does." Voph offered a slight bow to the Sith delegation, something between a concession and an apology. "At the very least, however, I will request that the peace is kept within this room. If you feel the need to settle personal differences, we may do so later."

Adron Malvern · Nov 11, 2020

POLARIS

It was an all too familiar presence and a pair of calming hands that fell upon Adron and let his mind flow as water from a fall. There were times where he was without his closest friend and partner of war,

Srina Talon . They had commanded armies together, defended worlds together, and in the end it was their unity that had brought about all that Adron was this very day. Was it any wonder that she was the namesake to his dear son, Aries? His eyes were leveled against the Sith delegation and for some time they did not shift, why should they? Jedi, dogmatic and hypocritical though they were, did not concern him near as much as the personification of destruction laid before him.

His attention shifted when

John Locke joined the other members of The Confederacy's governing body, The Presidium. Locke's presence was met with a cordial nod to the man as well as a thin-lipped smile in response to his words. Were the situation different, Adron would find some comfort in the presence of his dearest allies, yet they were overshadowed by the torrent of unyielding rage that was placed firmly behind a silk curtain.

As the Vicelord,

Darth Metus stood and set forth the pace of the summit, the Exarch listened to his words intently. His Master was even more adept at hiding his true feelings and thoughts than Adron was. There was no surprise there, the path between their mastery of the Force was considerable, yet the distance between experience? Darth Metus reigned supreme in that category. For now. Adron found Metus' words to be as they always were, persuasively apt without having a superior foreboding about them. He listened and when the man's words came to an end he turned his eyes to those guests of Polaris so that he could gauge their reaction to the Vicelord's words.

The next to speak was a representative of the Silver Concord, Ipali Torru . The Kaminoan's words were paced and understandable, yet Adron did find something within him that unsettled him. Even he could not lay his finger upon it, yet he did not try too dearly due to

Kyyrk rising to speak next. The Lord Commander's peace was his to speak and the Exarch found some fault in the words. So much so that at the break of the man's words the Exarch stood from his own seat, gesturing to the Kaminoan delegate with an open hand.

"No, I believe the words spoken by Representative Torru are justly said." His eyes leveled against the Vicelord,

Darth Metus for a single moment before speaking on. "Why should we trust each other with peace? What have any of us done for another in the sake of peace?"

"Most of us in this room have tried to kill another at some point in time. Flag, Creed, State be damned. We hold no love for each other. There will be no peace." The Sith Lord said, his words almost ironic as he spoke the line from the Sith Code. "Because peace is a lie and we are here for the truth."

"The truth is we are under attack. Those of us in this room capable of civilized thought. Those who are capable of envisioning a better galaxy, regardless of the nature it would hold, dark or light, are under attack."

"The truth is if we could annihilate this threat alone we would never have stepped foot in this room together." He stated matter of factly.

"We are war. For years we have turned the tools of our trade on each other relentlessly. Now we have a chance to create a bulwark against a chaotic horde of grotesques. Sith, Jedi, Confederacy, Empire....it all means nothing if the people of the greater galaxy live in fear from a monstrous abomination." The Exarch stated simply before taking his seat once again.

"We're not here to be friends so let us not act as if it is to be so. We're here because the galaxy has a mess we don't want dripping into our front yards."

Darth Prazutis · Nov 12, 2020

Polaris Court
Naboo, Confederate Space, Sith Delegation

When the giant swept into the room and took his place in the huge chair in the center of the Sith delegation beside him was the Lady of Secrets Taeli Raaf on one side, and Grand Vizier Madelyn Lowe on the other. The Grand Moff Aut-X was positioned beside her. Telis Taharin was positioned on the other end alongside Cara Dorniarn to round out the delegation. Titles weren't a sign of ones true power on the galactic stage. But to walk in a room of the galaxies greatest, brightest and most influential minds and need no introduction? To have every single one of them know who you are in some fashion? That was power. If the Dark Lord felt any particular way about the delegation of Jedi before him his face gave no indication. As the giant took his place his expression was cold, apathetic even as his gaze fell across each assembled individual.

He knew them all.

In his capacity as Shadow Hand to

Darth Carnifex it was his job to know them. To fight every battle even the ones that hadn't come or might never come. Every battle, everywhere in his mind. To game out the moves like pieces on a chessboard, to know the players. To see each option and should the Sith Emperor consider a course of action it was his job to know things others did not, to be prepared with a plan, to identify and execute that plan on a moments notice. Unity wasn't always as strong as it appeared. In the time since the signing of a non aggression pact between the Sith Empire and the Confederacy of Independent Systems it was his job to prepare in the event of one of many futures. What if the Confederacy broke the pact? So many scenarios. It was his job to know them. To identify their strengths, weaknesses, to map out their lives and find the openings, see the vulnerabilities. There were no surprises at this table.

John Locke, Srina Talon, Adron Malvern, Gerwald Lechner, Luna Terrik, Voph.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Locke & Key Mechanics. John Locke was a leading mind in the realm of cybernetics, a once in a generation intellect, a corporate giant and titan of industry. The loyalty of this Exarch was nebulous at best. Already he had proven to the Lord of Lies that he was first and foremost a businessman before anything else. John Locke did what was best for Locke & Key. That made him dangerous for the Confederates. Out of all of them he would've been the one to target first in such a scenario. To entice Locke & Key with more lucrative options. Quite simply? He could be bought if the price was high enough. Locke was a big picture kind of intellect, give him the right view and he'll come to a conclusion on his own. In a time of war he would draw Locke & Key to him.

Srina Talon. Echani. The Ice Queen. The woman was about as cold as the storms of Hoth. In all accounts she was the most detached of the group. Human behavior seemingly didn't come natural to her. It was all an act designed to adapt behavior she had seen, or possibly actions for the benefit of others around her. The Dark Lord could feel the potential and see the darkness that lurked beneath the surface, contained beneath a well constructed façade. There was power there and he could certainly see why his old friend had chosen her to be his apprentice. He would have. The only difference between them? He would've unleashed her. Let loose the storm and let her butcher without end. There was something there he could relate to, something he could understand. It was in his understanding that she couldn't be bought, if war ever broke out she would have to be destroyed. It would have to be quick and brutal. For her there would be no chance. He would destroy her in mind, body, and soul so utterly she seemingly ceased to exist. To let her live in a time of war was dangerous and her loss would send shockwaves through the upper echelon.

Adron Malvern.

Darth Malphas, King of Illyria. The former Count of Serenno and Archlord of the Dominion held many names. Hatred burned in his eyes with fresh memory of the falling Dominion, his homeworld burning seared into his mind. Both had stood against the might of the Sith and both were broken beneath their fury. He was a powerful Sith Lord trained to perfection by the Vicelord. A highly gifted leader, tactician. Time and time again he proved himself to be a critical asset to their apparatus. Dangerous. But he had one glaring vulnerability. Wife. Child. To bring the King of Illyria out and to destabilize his mind he would target his family and take them from him, throw him off balance just enough to bring him and House Malvern down.

Gerwald Lechner.

The Wolf. It was evident he had grown much since they last met. Arrogant, entitled, brash, naive wretch. Another ruled by his own emotions. Tanaab. When the spineless dogs that called themselves Mandalorians refused to fight he took the field. It was during such a campaign that he would get his first test of the famous Knights Obsidian. What he found was sorely disappointing. A pathetic wench, a runtling that was supposed to be one of their rising stars, one of the more renown ones. She thought she could stand before him.

Naedira Darcrath shattered like glass. He could still see the look on her face when hope shattered and terror set in, when she went from warrior to the scared girl. The Mountain never forgets and he could still feel the snap of her bones with each collision of the bulkheads. When she had laid dying he sent her to the afterlife in agony, beauty defiled beyond recognition. But he still wasn't done. No matter how many times she lived or died. She wasn't done until he said she was done. It was about as much an achievement as stomping a worm into the dirt. It was easy to pluck the wolf from her memory bank. Make an example of her enough and the loose cannon would come running, a mad dog frothing at the mouth for vengeance. That day he reminded Gerwald just how small he really was, exactly what his worth was in this world. Nothing. The wolf would hear the Dark Lords voice ring in his thoughts just then.

"She won't dare speak now. Not while I'm here. A dog that's finally learned her place in death."

Luna Terrik.

Grand Marshal of the special forces division Dauntless. She was one of the best and brightest serving in the Ministry of War. It was no surprise that she was handpicked to manage security for such a meeting. When the Vicelord had a highly sensitive mission no doubt he turned only to Terrik to get it done. To take her out was simple. He would hunt her people, her soldier brothers and sisters. He would butcher them like dogs one at a time. That was a powerful bond not easily severed. Leave a big enough display and the right trail of bread crumbs she would surely follow.

Voph.

Relic. The mysterious Lord Commander was a man out of time. A product of a bygone age deep in the galactic past. Even with such advanced technology over the passing millenia history was so often skewed, forgotten, lost. The truth of Voph was deep in the annals of Sith lore during the days of Vitiate was when he truly hit his stride. Mystery was so often dangerous and required unraveling first. It was a one in a million shot that his life ended up the way it had. To be given another chance at life, a different life was a powerful thing. If a war had ever broken out he would've watched and learned. Observe how Voph reacted once bodies started dropping before making his move.

But it never happened.

Not even when the High King of Midvinter crossed the room and invaded his personal space did he display any sort of reaction. The look of anger was in gritted teeth and a clenched hand on his great foe's blade by his side. For many decades they warred against one another, the clash between Heavenshield and Zambrano had roots spanning decades. But in stark contrast to the Jedi he showed no visible emotion, no reflexive reach for any weapon if he even carried one at all. No. He wouldn't swing. But if emotion had gotten the better of sense? He would give the Jedi Master one shot. Just one. If he didn't make it good it would be the first and last shot he would ever get. "Thurion." Braxus replied. When the Valkyri spoke once more he snapped back a reply with a question of his own "Hows your son? Tell me, do you know where he is now? I do. Heavenshields do love their women." The love between

Thirdas Heavenshield and

Nida Perl didn't escape his notice, it was a weapon he used to drive the knife in deep. Before Thurion stepped away he grabbed the mans shoulder and leaned in to whisper in just one fleeting moment.

"She's never coming home."

Before the man could throw him off he removed his hand. There was something chilling to the way he said it. It wasn't a fervent devotion to Sith ideals. There was a certain finality to the words. As they stepped away his eyes fell on Caedyn Arenais. The boy had lost his mother recently. Good. It didn't surprise him to learn how she died. One he had given her the chance of true power. But she threw it all away. The woman lived like a failure and she died like a rat in the gutter. How fitting.

When the delegation had broken off to their own side he remained standing in front of his chair as the Vicelord of the Confederacy Isley of House Verd, Darth Metus his old friend rounded the table working the room like a showman. The only other with a presence closest to his own in the room in darkness. Isley was the finest student of a woman widely regarded as the greatest alchemist of the past eight hundred years, Rave Merrill. A peerless master of the forge. The power of Isley Verd was most concentrated in creation and sorcery. In such fields few could compare to his power and his creations were absolutely priceless. The former Mand'alor wore many hats throughout his life and although they were cut from the same cloth, they walked different paths beyond their roots. While Isley's diverted Braxus kept rising ever higher in shadow. When the Vicelord offered his hand he took it with the slightest smile at the mans remarks "Perhaps your getting shorter Isley. All the comfort living you've been doing here. Still ever the showman." The Dark Lord remained standing when the Vicelord returned to his place and began his speech. It was well crafted and it laid out the situation all found themselves with.

But then the rhetoric started.

Ipali Torru the Concordian began. It wasn't laced with the bile it would've been if it had come from Heavenshield or Starchaser. But it was enough. "I did not come here to discuss your failings in ideology Senator. Do not begin to question me now. I am here. That is enough." The giant finished. He gestured towards the side of the room where the Confederate delegation was sitting. "This parasite has been left to fester and grow under our very noses. All are responsible for its presence. It grows with each passing day. Its mongrel hordes threaten all of our people. This reality is under assault by a force that cannot be reasoned with. It must be dealt with. The Sith Empire is willing to do whatever it takes to end this threat." The words of Voph and his mentioning of his family name came as a surprise he hid. Although it wouldnt be strange of the man to hear it. Clearly he knew more. It would be something to revisit.

2,052

Taeli Raaf |

Cara Dorniarn |

Madelyn Lowe | Grand Moff Aut-X |

Telis Taharin-Zambrano | Caedyn Arenais | Ipali Torru |

Thurion Heavenshield |

Coren Starchaser |

Adron Malvern |

John Locke |

Srina Talon | Gerwald Lechner |

Kyyrk |

Luna Terrik

Coren Starchaser · Nov 12, 2020

They had to know he wasn’t happy. Coren Starchaser was a few things, but able to mask himself int eh Force he was not. It was why he claimed himself a Sentinel previous to his new life. He was never cut out to be a Shadow, but he could chase down the darkness and fight it head on. It was when they… the Sith came from the side. They came from within and destroyed his way of life. Was it for the better? Well, he was married now, life was more calm, but it was his way of life. His people, his brothers and sisters that were killed during that campaign. The day of the Shadow Fall and the months following. There were parts of this meeting that were already not welcome, the Sith being the lead of that.

And then

Darth Metus went and dragged his wayward cousin into the mix. “If I see him, Metus, I will. It is always a pleasure to see you.” The Confederacy had done wonders for his people, pulling many from literal fires as the worlds were coming down around them. And if he was not mistaken, a Jedi Enclave was built within the confines of the Confederacy. Not a bad thing, not in the least. But the Sith, that was another thing entirely.

He could tell before the other Jedi had spoken that Thurion was in the similar sorts as Coren. He sat, his listened, he glared down the Sith that were here. They were not welcome to him. But even Coren saw the strategic value of having them around, should the Bryn return to their space. Or the Sith space. Together, the two powers could unleash some damage.

But that was the cart before the bantha.

Thurion Heavenshield Ipali Torru

Thurion Heavenshield · Nov 16, 2020

POLARIS COURT
Naboo, Confederate Space
Representing Midvinter/the Silver Concord

Coren Starchaser | Caedyn Arenais | Ipali Torru

Able to temper his resentment of having to sit at the same table as House Zambrano for the time being, Thurion's thoughts were, admittedly, somewhat distracted as each side spoke gave their opening statements to determine the nature of this conclave. It was the Dark Lord's mention of his son that had caused said distraction, for while he knew full well Thirdas would not sit idly by while his beloved Nida was lost to the Sith, he could not help but worry.

It was a worry that came and went, but the High King was still very much present at the meeting.

In the pause that followed the words of

Darth Prazutis , Thurion received the urge to speak on his people's behalf. He stood and drew his sword, shoving the blade down into the surface of the table and left it there for all to see.

"I, for one, will not leave this meeting unless I receive certain reassurances. From you especially," he pointed an accusatory finger at Braxus sitting across from him. "I may have agreed to this gathering in support of Grandmaster Starchaser, but these are not Jedi robes you see me wear. This crown upon my head demands that I put the safety of my people before all else, hence why I now feel the urge to speak on their behalf."

"Midvinter does not belong to any galactic power; we are an independent, remote world and our ways may seem simple in the eyes of many. But we are free, unshackled by the politics of great empires and factions. I cannot leave this conclave with the reassurance that Midvinter will not fall victim to the Bryn'adûl... nor the Sith Empire."

He stared defiant and unafraid over at the Sith delegation, resting a hand upon the pommel of his sword still sticking out of the surface of the table.

"Do I have your reassurance, Lord Zambrano, that your Empire will not attempt to lay claim to Midvinter for the extent of this agreement to join forces? That you will not seek to make slaves of my people, or interfere in our daily lives in any way or fashion?"

His fingers now wrapped around the grip of his sword.

"And should the Bryn be allowed to besiege my homeworld, the free peoples of Midvinter will fight to the bitter end; for we would rather face our doom than to become slaves to a foreign power. And you would need not worry about another blade piercing this table on your next meeting."

Once the grim words had left his tongue, Thurion pulled the sword free from the table and stuck it back into its sheath. It was the way of the Valkyri that one should brandish their weapon when addressing an enemy in diplomacy, so that in the case of a disagreement words could be replaced with cold steel.

Cara Dorniarn · Nov 17, 2020

Polaris Court
Naboo, Confederate Space
_____________________________

Cara's arm shot forward to grab the trembling thermos, Thurion's display having shaken the table and threatened to topple her most precious commodity.

A reserved sigh escaped her lips as she slowly drew back into her seat after nestling the chromium canister between her boots. She waited and listened, hands steepled near her chest as she calculated the survivability of one planet against the hordes in the southern reaches. After the Jedi had finished his words on Midvinter Cara leaned down to take the satchel she had brought, the bag's fabric stretched by the many objects crammed inside. She threw back the flap and upended the satchel, a plastic cacophony clattering across the table as stacks of datapads and holodisks were dumped in a pile.

"Apologies, there's just so much to share." Her tone was unamused as she gathered devices which had strayed from the gray hill she had created. Before leaning back she swept her hand upward. Information within the datapads had begun to scrawl across their screens while holodisks played a myriad of unsettling looping and still images. There was nothing pleasant on display, the cluster of holograms and screens emanating a red hue that only befit the violence and loss they reported. Data on extinct species were the subjects of some, detailing the information known about their biology, cultures, languages, societies, and all else that was able to be salvaged. Some contained information on the Bryn'adûl in particular, making evident the Sith had gained quite a trove on Bryn biological intel. Other devices showed stills of planets, switching to orbital images of their hazy razed surfaces, then changing to display scenes of the indigenous. Dead and decayed, gathered into mounds, or used in whichever form the Bryn desired.

Onto one such holodisk Cara laid two fingers, torquing her wrist to slide the disk close to Thurion. "This is what we call a waste-- tragedy as well," she was quick to add the latter, "It is no matter of if this will happen to Midvinter, but when. Since you have stated that you prefer your people slaughtered and planet turned into a breeding ground of filth, I hope we can draft a more positive future. Since you realize that no one planet can overcome an infestation of these ravagers, Mr. Heavenshield, perhaps consider using the Empire as a barrier. If I overstep my bounds with this proposal then, well, what's done is done."

Cara drew a quick breath while she plucked a datapad from the pile. She brought up a map of the southern branch of the Tingel Arm, enhancing the sector Midvinter inhabited and showcasing the encroaching Bryn. "There is a possibility of making an agreement for your planet's sovereignty while still benefitting from the iron blanket of the Empire's protection." A large diagram of the suggested idea was shown. With one hand clenched about the arm of her chair she stood quickly, drawing the border of the proposed "wall" before descending into the comfort of the chair once more.

"I am not answering for our Dark Lord Prazutis, merely offering an idea that has been on file for this occasion."

CIS Representatives

Darth Metus

Adron Malvern
Faye Malvern

John Locke

Srina Talon

Gerwald Lechner

Kyyrk

Luna Terrik

SJC Representatives
Caedyn Arenais
Ipali Torru

Thurion Heavenshield

Coren Starchaser

TSE Representatives

Telis Taharin-Zambrano

Taeli Raaf

Darth Prazutis

Madelyn Lowe

Taeli Raaf · Nov 20, 2020

Polaris Court
Naboo, Confederate Space

The walk to the conference room where this summit was to take place she spent in quiet contemplation. Naboo had a way of making someone just appreciate their surroundings, even with such clashing energies in the Force. Their delegation was led to the chambers, and she gave a warm smile to

Darth Metus as she took the handshake.

"It has been far too long, Vicelord," she replied. "We really must meet more outside of these sort of occasions."

Purple eyes turned to the Jedi delegation, and as she took her seat beside

Darth Prazutis she gave an ever so slight smirk to the Jedi across from her. She didn't want to interrupt Metus's opening speech, it would be impolite, but she took some joy that she had to sit across from

Coren Starchaser . They had a long history, but she felt maybe he had finally taken her words to heart and was learning a different path.

She listened quietly as Ipali Torru,

Kyyrk , and

Adron Malvern spoke, nodding along to herself as yes, it was typical of Sith to betray and twist things around. It was in their nature, but it was also in their nature to be pragmatic when the time came. The dual crises the summit was here to address certainly called for that pragmatic school of thought.

Braxus's colorful description there besides, her lips quirked up again as

Thurion Heavenshield made his declaration about his homeworld, sword stabbed into the table and all. An eyebrow quirked at that, along with a quick glance at their hosts. They were worried about the Sith being the rowdy ones?

Cara Dorniarn did make an excellent point though, and a decent suggestion.

"I see now why Connor had such a pride issue," she said, her words directed at Thurion. The man she mentioned had long vacillated between sides of the Force because of that prideful streak. "We do not have slaves in the Empire any longer, our agreement with the Confederacy several months back saw to that. But Cara is right, no one world can stand along against the monsters in the Outer Rim. So many worlds and people have burned because of the Bryn'adul, so many cultures either shattered or on the verge of going extinct. It doesn't matter if your world is within Sith controlled space or not, but isn't your people's survival more important than pride?"

The Sith might desire to control the galaxy, but the Bryn'adul wanted it to burn and have it reborn from the ashes in their image. She gestured at the image Cara was projecting.

"That is the reality your world faces, that we all face. Extinction or cooperation, regardless of a banner that may or may not fly over a world. So, as Councilor of Galactic Influence, you at least have my guarantee that Midvinter, if we move forces to protect it and our flank, will not be subjugated and its culture and people will be allowed to stay in isolation."

Other Tags:
TSE:

Telis Taharin-Zambrano Grand Moff Aut-X
SJC: Caedyn Arenais
CIS:

Srina Talon

Gerwald Lechner

John Locke

Private The Elder Council

More options

Kyyrk

Vylmira's Wrath

Adron Malvern

K i n g

Darth Prazutis

Shadow Hand

Coren Starchaser

Moonage Daydream

Thurion Heavenshield

The Lion King

Cara Dorniarn

Nothing Given

Taeli Raaf

Bookworm

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