The Second Triumvirate

[Kainan Wolfe]

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[-SOUNDTRACK-]​

Attn: [member="Darth Metus"] | [member="Mythos"]​

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• Windshear Keep
  Winter, The Shrouded Moon

Winter was world surrounded in mystery and rumor. The capital of the Shrouded Republic, this small moon of Nibelungen was hidden away by an unbroken shroud of volcanic ash, plunged into eternal twilight and cold, giving it its name. Few outsiders were permitted to visit this world, who's harsh environment was well suited to the harshness of its occupants.

Some would wrongly assume that the people of the Shrouded Republic had been exiled here, perhaps in punishment for some crime. Those who knew more about them, however, knew that they had chosen this world, themselves, to serve as an unforgiving home for an unforgiving people. Massive orbital installations floated above, in orbit, while the surface of the planet was littered with anti-orbital cannons, military facilities and prison camps, which dotted the landscape between cities. It was a martial world, built by a martial people in their image. There was little comfort to be found on this world and here, order, discipline and perseverance were valued above all. Although a democracy, the Shrouded Republic was a far cry from the core worlds.

Tucked away inside a volcanic valley in the northern hemisphere, the massive fortress that served as the seat of power for the Overlord, reflected every bit of that. Carved out of durasteel and cold, hard stone, Windshear Keep was so named for the constant, fierce winds which battered it, while a smell of brimstone from the volcanic plains below, gave this place an oppressive, unwelcoming atmosphere.

Three immense towers, connected by a windswept bridge, made up the imposing keep. Massive turbolasers and ion cannons defended it against attacks from above and below, while the whole comples was protected by capital ship-grade shielding which made attacks seem like a daunting task. The shuttle bay rested within the tower furthest from the Overlord's residence, while the tower in the middle served as a garrison. This was by design and it forced visitors to cross the windswept bridge and brave the harsh weather outside.

Inside his tower, the Overlord awaited the arrival of his guests, for important proceedings were to be discussed here, today. He awaited them in his library, a massive room filled with shelves, containing thousands upon thousands of holotexts and an equally impressive number of rare, paper books. That was the only furniture, aside from a reading table at the center of the room, surrounded by high-backed chairs engraved with wolf motifs, matching the engravings on the shelves and the frescoes on the walls, which depicted scenes of wolves chasing their prey and various scenes from the ill-fated battle of Krayiss II, the Dominion's last stand against the Sith Empire; which gave birth to the Shrouded Republic. This hall of Darkside knowledge also served as a conference room, serving as a reminder of Wolfe's power and of the history of his nation.

While he waited, the Overlord's attention was directed to the book in his hands, which described several ancient Sith rituals of necromancy and dark sorcery, a topic which Wolfe had recently began to study, the prospect of an undead army like that of [member="Skorvek"]'s Ascended, having caught his interest. Wolfe's power had grown swiftly and as it did, his nation also grew. Having aligned himself with the Ancient Eye as Mythos' vassal, had given him access to a vast wealth of resources and knowledge of the Darkside arts, which he had used to strengthen himself and his people. At Tatooine, the Galactic Empire had caught a taste of that strength. And it was only the beginning, the first step on the path to much greater things, for Wolfe did nothing without reason and power was only a tool, one to be used to further a much grander purpose.

 

[Srina Talon]

Location: Winter, The Shrouded Moon [Library of Windshear Keep]
Tags: [member="Darth Metus"] | [member="Kainan Wolfe"] | [member="Mythos"]

The young apprentice would have given almost anything to escape the confines of Sinner’s Well on Ryloth. It had become her home, different from Eshan, and yet she could still refer to it as such. It was beautiful, in its own way, despite the heat and general unfriendliness of the flora and fauna. Her Catra'diamtr, her Sky Demon, was also present on Ryloth. And yet…After being cooped up for so long, subjected to her Master’s new and improved training methods—she was relieved to be elsewhere.

Darth Metus seemed to think that she was not yet fully recovered, and despite her participation on Katanos VII, he was extremely reluctant to allow her to leave Confederate space. Srina knew that his intentions were good, knew that he was only worried, but if she was kept locked away much longer there was a good chance she might lose her mind. It was bad enough that her Master scarcely trusted anyone near her, save himself, even if the Supreme Commander of the Galactic Alliance was present.

With that in mind, both [member="Kainan Wolfe"] and [member="Mythos"] would be one of the few to see her outside of the protection of the Confederacy, and would have to consider themselves lucky. Darth Metus wouldn’t risk her for anything. She could feel it in every fiber of her being, that he would not, so her Master must have been considered these men trustworthy or important enough to warrant an audience.

The young woman was dressed in a black traveling cloak that was lined with equally dark fur, insulated, and protective against the elements. They had been briefed about what they would need to do to enter Windshear Keep before arriving, and truth be told, Srina looked forward to it. Her faith in her strengths had been shaken by the Imperial that had managed to run her through. She was strong, skilled, but she wanted to prove it. Both to herself, and those that watched her languish in a bacta tank, day in, and day out. Darth Metus would not allow her to hunt her demons. Ever the obedient apprentice, for the most part, she obeyed. This was the next best thing.

The intense weather did not frighten Srina. Being considered weak, or fragile, tore her apart. It offended her on the deepest level—and the only way to fix it was to become even stronger.

From a distance, The Shrouded Moon almost reminded her of Sullust, though, with much less Galactic Alliance propaganda. The people really liked to run wild with the gossip columns about their heads of state.

Srina crossed the bridge on her own. Darth Metus would follow shortly. Much like she had at the coronation of Mythos she would venture ahead and apologize, most contritely, for any delay.

Once inside the Keep her cloak was taken and she was ushered appropriately to the Overlord, [member="Kainan Wolfe"]. Srina had met him on more than one occasion, both before Tatooine, and after. He seemed to have a level head on his shoulders. It always made her feel strange to walk the halls of places meant for much greater beings, moving with her head held high, as if she belonged. Her immaculate diplomacy was what Darth Metus required—so he would have it.

Of all places in Windshear Keep, she was not expecting this meeting to place in an actual, honest to goddess Library. The pale-skinned apprentice was swathed in a svelte black dress that ran from her neck to the floor. There were flickers of silver filigree lining the edges of her form, running down the side of her body, flowing over the curve of her hip and spiraling to the floor. Long-sleeved, with white-hair pulled back into an elegantly braided coif, it would be a mystery as to where actually hid her lightsaber. For the most part, it looked as if she had been poured into the material versus actually wearing it. It didn’t leave much room to conceal a cross guard. “Lord Kainan…”, she informally greeted the dark-haired man pleasantly, her gentle tones breaking the silence, flooding his library with chimes of life. “Or should I address you as the Overlord while we stand on Winter? My knowledge of the appropriate formality is lacking.”

Srina paused, briefly, before continuing on. Her eyes flickered. Was that an actual paper-bound book on the shelf? Instantly, she was curious, but she hid her interest beneath layers of well-cultivated steel.

“My Master wished me to convey his apologies for being late. He is tending to a few things and will be along shortly.”

 

[Mythos]

Three thousand four hundred and sixty four tomes of Ankyptian knowledge and four hundred and fifty seven scrolls of Sith Magic from Tund were transported to this library just on the eve of Mythos' return from Thyferra. The sheer amount of them was inconsequential, all put together they did not make a full book to his liking but there were many secrets and tomes that did, he sought to fill this library with as much knowledge as he could, bathe it gold and hang it for the galaxy to marvel at. He headed to the library on board his own Angramar Cathedral ship unique in it's design and designated for royal travel only for himself, in his guard were the royal Anubian Prime Guard, each trained by Mythos himself in the art of close quarters combat and force abilities such as Telekinesis and Force Blast. They were a work in progress but none the less they marched with him in direct collision course with the library of Kainan Wolfe or as he heard... Darth Tacitus. A smile crept upon the lips of Mythos, if Kainan now walked the path of a Sith Lord this meeting would forge something only ever seen in the galaxy twice before. A Triumvirate.

Inside the cathedral ship Mythos had just finished his routine of training for the day and wore very little clothes as he now focused on re-hydrating and resting his limbs while the colossal vessel prepared to dock and powered it's engines accordingly. Every muscle in his body ached but it was something that had become a part of every day life for him, train, eat, sleep and kill... rinse and repeat. His quarters were shining and filled to the brim with war paraphernalia and gadgets for quality of life. Food was never too far away as he needed to eat almost five times a day to keep up with the insane loss of calories and fat he burned through every day. He stood from his chair and walked through a a glass chamber that sealed then blasted him with steaming water and pressure cleaners then scented oils and ointments for his long hair. It took less than sixty seconds.

At the end of the chamber was his wardrobe, a massive hall filled with clothes from various worlds depicting the fashion and customs of each place depending on nobility and stature. The one he chose today was a robe of red and gold that The Ancient Eye had designed, inlaid with gold, silver and precious gems as well as serving as an adequate battle armor. Rings for his hands, earrings with precious stones and of course... his Rudis and Skull.

His march into the place was one that stated his power and influence as ruler of not only this system but every system within the confined of Ancient Eye space, his body language and intensity, the violence of action as he marched into the library left nothing to be asked, if [member="Darth Metus"] was here he would need to show how we evolved from their last meeting... however to his surprise when he arrived he saw a familiar face in his place. A confused look greeted her followed by a wave of his hand dismissing his armed guards. His eyes traced her eyes, they lead them to the tomes. Actual paper written books were rare and few knew their appreciation... The Devil is in the details... The woman likes books?

He snapped to Kainan and gave him a smile worthy of his greatest champion. "Kainan. Legends say you split the sky." He said, taking two steps closer and producing from his cloak his classical midventirian wood, long draw pipe filled with Dark Bota. He ignited it and took a long draw, careful with the flames in such a place like this. "I believe the legends, I believe in you" He said, his eyes meeting that of Tacitus with an intensity that showed that first and foremost, Mythos had a hard time finding fault within Kainan, his loyalty had been up until this point unquestionable.

He turned now to face Talon, his face still smiling but one of curiosity. "Miss Talon I am glad to see you however I was expecting your master. Not that you should not be here, not that you are not welcome but I am surprised to see you here." He paused, letting the smoke blow from his lips and staring right over her shoulder to the books in her back. He passed the pipe to her and gestured to her to take it from him if she wished, perhaps she would enjoy Dark Bota as he did. "Anything particular you might be looking into while you are here?" He said, passing by her right shoulder and picking up a book from the shelves that he needed to look at in order to finish a particular manifest. He skimmed it, finding the page he was looking for then bookmarking it by placing a small dagger in the pages while turning back to Talon over his shoulder. "We have an abundance of Sith related topics here"

[member="Srina Talon"] [member="Kainan Wolfe"]
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[Kainan Wolfe]

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Attn: [member="Darth Metus"] | [member="Mythos"] | [member="Srina Talon"] | [member="Asteria deWinter"] | [member="Scherezade deWinter"]​

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• Windshear Keep
  Winter, The Shrouded Moon

The Overlord stood up from his seat as Darth Metus' elegant apprentice was led into the library by an attendant, flanked by a pair of honor guards from Tacitus' own elites, the silent and disciplined Wolfguards. The soldiers took up position on each side of the great, oaken doors and saluted smartly, bumping fists against their chestplates, the sharp clap being the only sound they uttered.

Tacitus' elite guards carried themselves with a quiet, precise aloofness which added to the surreal atmosphere of the Shrouded Republic. As with everything within the hermit nation, a shroud of mystery surrounded them. How exactly the scattered remnants of the Dominion transformed into such a nation as the Shrouded Republic in the meager timespan of a mere two years, remained an enigma.

"Ah. Miss Talon. Welcome to Windshear Keep," Tacitus said, his tone courteous and polite as he lifted her hand to his lips in the formal way a man greeted a lady. "Be at ease. While out in public, it would be expected of you to address me by my title, as Overlord, here you are amongst friends. I see no need for such formality, seeing as we shed blood together at Tatooine, thus forging a bond of warriors between us. You may address me in whichever way you please," he spoke to her.

Her eyes flickered to his books ever so slightly, the gesture so subtle that most would not have noticed. But not much got past Tacitus and his keen intellect immediately became aware of her interest. "Your master is a busy man, burdened with the task of ruling a nation, a responsibility which I am all too familiar with as well. His delay is perfectly understandable, given the circumstances and therefore no excuses are required," the Overlord explained.

Changing the subject, Tacitus offered her the large book which he had been studying, now tucked away under his arm. "A gift," he said. The large tome was bound in leather covers, with ivory carvings of skulls and bones beaten into them and lettering of the same material. The title read Codex Mortum and it was a compendium, an introductory guide of sorts, into the spells and rituals of Sith Necromancy, a discipline which, if mastered, would allow its wielder to bend death to his will and conjure abominations to unleash against his enemies.

Just then, another entered the chamber, prompting salutes from the guards and he seemed to dominate the very air with his presence. Tacitus greeted his sovereign lord with a deferential nod, for he had earned his respect and loyalty through his actions and leadership. This was one quality which set the Overlord above other Sith: loyalty, to the bitter end. "Welcome, your Highness. You honor me with your praise," Tacitus spoke, standing aside so that the God-King may seat himself at the head of the table. "The galaxy needed to understand that the Ancient Eye is not to be trifled with. I have sought to deliver the message."

Just then and in a timely manner, a pair of servants silently entered through the great doors, bringing silver trays bearing delicate crystal cups and pots of sugar, decorated with finely engraved silver figurines of wolves. Steaming tea kettles stood in the center of the arrangement, while exquisite silverware had been set just perfectly onto immaculate silken napkins.

Silent and precise in their movements, the two servants deposited the two trays onto the table, then retreated out through the doors, as silently as they had arrived. Everything here seemed to move like clockwork, like a well-oiled droid factory, efficient and precise.

 

[Asteria deWinter]

An invitation had been sent out to Lady deWinter, one to her and her niece [member="Scherezade deWinter"] and by none other than [member="Darth Tacitus"] who had been gracius enough to advise her niece on the matters he had learned throughout his own rise, a feet that Lady deWinter respected immeansely. Though her childhood, for the majority of it, had been filled with roses rather than thorns, the truth about her beginnings a harsher truth discovered later, her adulthood hadn't been so. The tower which had been built as the crowning jewel of their family life had crumbled and the blood had scattered, forcing each of them to make their own ways in life. Admittedly, only one of them had not succeeded in rising herself the way the rest of them had and yet, the eldest of the deWinter Dessel brood had a talent for survival against all odds. While Asteria would never applaud her eldest sister for this unachievement, she kept it in mind none the less as she built her life around the Red Lady as she had in the time when she had inherited it from her Mother and even now, centuries after they had lived and prospered, in an era when she had needed to build it from the ground up once more.

The blonde child of Shery deWinter didn't believe in failure though. It was do or die.

With the invitation sent, the Ice Princess, Sith Infilitrator class vessel had landed upon the platform without any trouble. Asteria had comandeered the helm, while Simon had done his best to assist her which had always been somewhat of an entertaining thought. "Stay here, we'll return shortly," Lady deWinter informed her faithful droid as she stood, adjusting her outfit as she did, standing, glancing to her niece. "Come along," was all she had conveyed to the teenager as she'd made her way out of the lift which would take them to the level below and from then on, the walk through the lower deck led out through the lower deck, which Simon closed behind them.

From within the ship, Winter had seemed interesting, however, it was only to see it with her own emerald gaze had given Asteria a complete sight. Twilight and a cold temperature. The Mistress of Elements might have not been affected but the cold as it suited her as well as it did but she was aware of it. She moved slowly, her outfit enabling a certain movement while her eyes observed her surroundings. It was a fascinating world, she could to that as someone rushed over to her. Asteria had still taken a moment to take in the sights before the deWinters would follow along the rest of the exterior before entering the structure, usher further inside before they had been brought before the library, doors opened up for them.

Her gaze would quickly land upon the three already present there, her eyes first resting [member="Darth Tacitus"] as this was, of course, his world. "Overlord," Lady deWinter addressed with the tiniest nod before she looked to @Mythos. "God-King, pleasant to see you here," the blonde offered with a tiny, diplomatic smile as she gave a nod to the supeior of the Ancient Eye. Then at last, her eyes wandered off to the female, [member="Srina Talon"]. "I do not think we have met before, I am Lady deWinter." Her brief introduction had come. No, Asteria was sure they hadn't crossed paths yet.

A momentary weakness occured in the woman whose heart was nearly consumed by ice as her emerald gaze darted over to the old covers neatly splaced against the shelves. It seemed a long time now that she'd the pleasure of being in the presence of such a collection. Her own had once been rather large for a single individual yet after more than seven hundred years in a destroyed deWinter villa upon Spira, they were no longer a collection to marvel in or use, time aging them beyond repair...

Inhaling a small breath, she regained her thoughts to divert attention her niece. "And this is my niece, her Royal Highness Scherezade deWinter," she made a brief introduction for the two individuals who hadn't met her yet. One was not necessary for the Overload, of course but it seemed silly to keep her in the back, her hand reaching slightly to the back, calling Scherezade to her side.

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Scherezade stared at herself in the mirror in the room that her aunt had graciously let her use on the Ice Princess. Her reflection... Felt almost like a stranger. Dressed in a gown proper for the occasion, her reflection seemed to her as anything but herself. The person in the mirror looked like she could actually be a princess of a planet, like someone who was the child of generations upon generations of people who not only had the power, but also knew how to play the game. She? She mostly felt like a pebble out of the water. Giving a little twirl, the girl looked at herself again. Her outside didn't match her inside, not in the least. But things were expected from her this evening, both from Lady deWinter and from Lord Overwolf, and she had almost begged for the opportunity that had presented itself in being invited here. She was not going to screw this up.

She was still glad that the gown was so long. It gave her a chance to keep her combat boots on, and unless the gown ripped, no one would any wiser about it. Weapons stayed on the ship though; there was no reason to bring her little knife with her to such a place. When her aunt told her to come along, Scherezade darted from the room, making sure to stay in line with her aunt. They were on a planet called Winter now, and the view of it was enough to take her breath away for the duration of a heartbeat. There was something about these sort of planets that managed to win her heart over every time. Coruscant had its charm, of course, but where destruction and decay were obvious, that was when she wanted to touch the planet, to feel it. She had no explanation for it, nor was she certain it was quite a normal feeling to have. But such thoughts would never be voiced in company such as tonight.

Tonight... Tonight was important. Scherezade knew she needed training in more than just the Force. Her lifespan, while technically stretching over half a millennia, only counted for about two months. But in these two months she was thwarted time and time again into danger, nearly died, made a fool of herself, and realized that events such as these could pose much more danger to her than a beserking rancor. So... She had to learn. And that, ultimately, was the reason she was here.

Keeping a demure facial expression, the child followed her aunt as she entered the meeting area, her green eyes taking in the sights of the people who were present. Other than Lord Wolf himself, she didn't actually know who any of them were, and with no time to properly prepare, she'd lacked the option to download files and sift through them, to know something about some people. They were all fresh faces, entirely absent from the information her grandmother had touched into her mind those two months ago. If it hadn't been for her aunt, Lady deWinter, Scherezade would've been truly alone.

She nodded with a smile to [member="Darth Tacitus"] when Asteria addressed him, and resumed with her towards the other people, to which Scherezade also focused on now. One of them, she called a God-King. Her mind reeled, wondering what the actual meaning of that was. Who was he? God-King of what? What he had done to achieve that status? The other, a woman, one that Scherezade found of breath taking beauty, was not introduced, and so she was left not knowing who she was.

And then Asteria presented her. Officially. Her Royal Highness. Scherezade took a step towards her aunt, giving the two other ones a proper smile and a nod, her aunt's advice from the last time the two were in a similar situation ringing fresh in her mind. You are royalty, you bow to none.

([member="Mythos"] [member="Srina Talon"] )