War-Torn | Dantooine (open to Sith & Jedi)

[Darth Petrichor]

"It is a paradoxical existence, to be sure. But the thing about paradoxes, is that even if they are contradictory, they are no less true."

The stench of the Morchirsa still hung in the air as Minka Vosh told the young boy to leave. Petrichor found it interesting that she had gone through such lengths to keep the boy safe. She certainly was no average darksider. The boy's chaotic dash for the nearby town showed the pure fear that resonated throughout this planet. Petrichor couldn't help but to feel angry with the Sith for what they had done here.

He wasn't entirely sure what she had meant by her comment. It seemed that she had indeed suffered under the hand of the Sith. It wasn't really much of a surprise, the Sith were known to be cruel in their training. The rigorous and brutal methods were designed to strip one of their identity and turn them into pawns to the Dark Side. Even his own master had resulted to such methods, although fortunately for Petrichor, the unending conditioning didn't fully catch on within him. He was able to hold on, and kept a piece of himself in the end.

"Unfortunately, I do not believe that it will be that easy. The Sith have spent so many years drunk with power, that I fear many will never be free. However, that does not mean that the cause should be abandoned. Until the Sith understand their errors, we will be locked in this endless blood feud."

As he heard her speak of control and passion, he took a deep breath. Duality... it seemed that so many Force users were stuck on the concept. It wasn't enough to prevent Petrichor from getting through to the Zabrak though.

"The idea that control and passion are mutually exclusive is merely a delusional piece of propaganda used by Jedi and Sith to keep us at odds with each other. The acknowledgment of passion, of anger, of fear... it is not only the correct course of action, but necessary for the preservation of one's mental state. The way that you channel that is what makes the difference. It is possible to take those feelings, and make them work for you without becoming their slave."

He knew that it wasn't an easy path to follow. The Sith's views of the Dark Side sometimes took years to extract from the minds of those who had been indoctrinated. One could almost liken it to removing the damage of a computer virus, or extracting a demon from a possessed individual. It was a long, hard road, and many had failed along the way. He never let it kill his hopes for the Sith though, and he never would.

"My followers work from the shadows because it is the most efficient way to carry out our mission. There will likely come a time when we have to become more visible, but I will not risk the lives of my people until it is absolutely necessary."

It was a reality that the Order would have to face eventually. Petrichor knew that the Sith would eventually come to him in full force. The Order had taken precautions to delay this inevitability, but they always knew. It was why Petrichor had decided to begin making himself known again. He wasn't going to ask his followers to do anything that he wouldn't do himself. Unlike the Sith imperials, he would always lead from the front.

"It may take months, years, or even centuries, but my followers and I will bring the Sith back from the abyss. And yes, that may mean that we will be on the field of battle with them one day, if necessary. But I refuse to sacrifice any more lives without being sure that there is no other way."

It may have been hard to believe that he, a Sith lord, sought to preserve life, but he meant every word of it.

 

[Minka Vosh]

Naturally, he had a rebuttal or clarification for every snag she tried to pull in the tapestry of his truths. For the first in a long while, the Zabrak found herself in thoughtful consideration about a being aside from herself. Tools, pawns, enemies, circumstantial and fleeting allies, obstacles...those were the unofficial labels everyone she encountered would fall into, inevitably. Friend? No. Not anymore. And anything else in between simply didn't warrant recognition, as they'd all failed in her past.

That was because no one could be trusted. If the Sith Empire instilled one unyielding principle in her, it was that. She'd even gone so far as to staff her own ship strictly with droids since her escape. It made so many things easier to deal with, like getting some decent sleep.

Now here he was. Defying all of those molds...and with such perfect composure. Petrichor had done nothing but share his own bits of knowledge and wisdom, and of all things, it left her feeling suddenly...unsettled.

It was infuriating as much as it was intriguing.

Minka stared at him for a time, letting him finish without interruption. There was a subtle crease in her brow. It did little to explain what exactly she was thinking, but did hint at the intensity within. There were many thoughts churning, but she didn't quite know what to think of him, and that was unusual. Her assessments of people were generally decisive and firm.

"Where did you come from? I find it hard to believe you were forged in the Empire. You sound more like a wayward Jedi." Deep down, she would like to believe that the Masters and other dark Force users she'd been raised with were but a small, perverse facet of a much larger and complex whole, but she didn't. Still, perhaps she was wrong...

"What you are proposing is not possible. I understand your intent...but it would reshape Sith into a completely different entity. They have operated within the same code for millennia. Sith will always reach for the ultimate power, at any cost. Control is limitation. Peace is a lie, an ideal the weak strive to obtain."

A flicker of anger and frustration passed over her, and then vanished like a door slamming shut. Her thoughts were like shrapnel. Sharp and piercing, but born from chaos, and flinging in all directions. New questions and curiosities formed in the midst of her own convictions, and they began to mix like oil and water.

Minka closed her eyes. The creased brow remained, looking as if she were lost in concentration. If nothing else, it was clear that this exchange was creating a disturbance on some level, for likely multiple reasons. When she reopened her eyes, she tilted her head towards the buildings and homes of the nearby town. Eyes squinting beneath the bright sunlight.

"Creating a new empire--something different and separate--that, I think could be possible. But evolving the Sith as they are? The strongest will never change their ways. They have no reason to. What they have, and what they've achieved, will always tempt others to follow. There will always be apprentices with the goal of usurping them, or gaining more strength and power by association, and by learning from them. The power they have tapped into is the most addictive and corrupting drug of all." A grin flashed quickly on her face then. "I know...I still crave it every day."

Minka glance back to him, once again more thoughtful than angry, but it was tentative. Another swing of her own pendulum that never ceased.

"War would be inevitable for you, if you persisted on your path, but you know this. Sith do not tolerate opposition of any kind. They crush, or 'reform' through brutality. If you want to preserve your followers, remaining in the shadows is your only option. Even if you found allies with formidable numbers..." The twitch of a bitter, but no less amused smirk appeared. "Well, you've met the Jedi. They're in an endless dance with the Sith that stretches from the beginning of time. If you want to join them, I'm sure there is plenty of room on the floor, but Sith are tireless."

Her body shifted, taking a step towards him. Finding herself drawn to him, despite the confliction he caused. Or perhaps that was the reason she was drawn in the first place. "Now, why Dantooine? What could possibly be here for you, other than death?"

Darth Petrichor

 

[Darth Petrichor]

Petrichor took his time listening, taking in every word that Minka Vosh said to him. She had clearly seen some of the darkest parts of Sith indoctrination... a process all too familiar to him. He had to admit, there was a part of him that felt sorry for the Zabrak. The cruelty of the Sith had clearly made her into someone who didn't easily place trust in others. It was to be expected; barriers meant security within the Sith. They would be willing to stab any of their brethren if it meant furthering their own goals.

"Heh, indeed, there have been Sith who have mockingly referred to me as 'The Grey Sith'. In truth, I grew up on the fringes of the Empire, or at least, what was the Empire at the time. My master was as much a Sith as any of our overlords, if not more. He was ruthless, and eventually, he had to die. I then decided to travel to some of the oldest holy places of both the Sith and the Jedi, learning what I could along the way."

Petrichor almost stumbled when mentioning his master. It had been many, many years since that fateful day, and Petrichor had mostly moved on. Still... that day was the most pivotal in his life. It was the impetus of his rebirth into the man he was today. He may have placed it away from his thoughts, but it would always be a part of him.

He looked up, closing his eyes and feeling the world around him. Taking a deep breath, Petrichor found himself once again grounded within the Force.

"The Sith tell you that peace is a lie because they do not desire it. They say that control is limiting because they lack the strength to pursue it. My book, which the Sith tried to suppress, states the following:

There can be no freedom without passion.
Through passion, I find strength.
Through strength, I find patience.
Through patience, I find peace.
Through peace, I find freedom.
The Force shall be my tool, my weapon, and my guide."

He took a moment to shift his focus back to her. His next words held the slightest hint of sarcasm.

"You can see why many have wanted me dead."

Taking a couple of steps toward the town, he looked down to the corpse of one of the fallen Morchirsa.

"You see, there is another way. My followers and I have found another path. One where the Dark Side is a method of enlightenment, rather than one of destruction. True, we likely won't be able to change the path of the Sith as they stand, and it likely will come to violence one day. That is a day I wish could be avoided, but unfortunately, I'm not sure. Perhaps as the Empire meets its inevitable demise, there will be a small chance. Only time will tell."

He pondered her question for a time before answering. He knew his initial reasons for coming to this planet, but now he was wondering if the Force had brought him here for another purpose. Perhaps this chance meeting was the Force trying to show him a window into the future. Perhaps he was meant to guide this lost darksider out of the abyssal depths of her training. Either way, he would happily oblige.

"I came here due to the recent battle that took place. I only recently came out of exile, and have been getting more personally in tune with what has been happening. I wanted to see the destruction for myself; to see how far this false Sith'arii had gone to ensure that his power remained unchallenged."

He stared off toward the village for a moment.

"Part of me wishes I had arrived sooner..."

 

[Minka Vosh]

Minka watched him even as he turned his attention to the town. There were many opinions, judgements, and even more questions flitting about her mind like erratic insects. Only increasing in number, as time passed. All trying to settle on one unified appraisal on him, and still failing. He probably thought she was misguided and short-sighted. That her views were permanently stained by her experiences in the Empire. He wouldn't be entirely incorrect, but there was a slow transformation occurring since the day that she was forced to leave.

Sometimes she wished she had left sooner, of her own free will. But a younger version might not have lasted even this long. The Sith did teach her very much about her own potential, especially in light of the seemingly limitless possibilities, with the right knowledge and strong enough will.

Nevertheless, there was a change happening. Like a hot ember cast out of a roaring pit, she was acclimating to a galaxy outside of the harsh, and for many lethal, environment...and all the different personalities and experiences it had to offer, from star system to star system.

"And what would you have done? Would you have saved the planet, arriving a week earlier? Bid an entire fleet to ceasefire? You would have died with the rest of them, if you tried." She spoke bluntly, and in such a way that it sounded as if she doubted his abilities. That wasn't necessarily the case. Backwards though it may seem to the average person, it her case, it was a sign of respect. Charm or diplomacy were disingenuous, and not to be trusted.

"Unless you have an army of clones at your disposal... The Jedi would have turned on you as much as the Sith. There was nothing to be done. I think it odd you'd even come here now, knowing you have so many enemies within the Empire. Wouldn't some recognize you by your mask? If not, then your name. Yet here you are with only two tuk'ata at your side."

A hand idly fingered the pommel of her lightsaber as it hung on her belt. Making a mental checklist of the skills she'd witnessed him use, and wondering what else he hid up his sleeves. She wanted to test him, but she wouldn't. It would be wiser to conserve the energy she had left, in case things went south. If not with him, then with another unexpected obstacle. This planet was no safer for her than it was for him.

"Why call yourself Sith? If your beliefs differ so much from theirs that it's put you in opposition, why do you care for them at all? Leave them to turn on each other. Most will not change their stagnant minds. All they want is to scheme, consume, retaliate in an endless cycle. And the ones who do listen to you...what makes you think they won't betray you in the future? Just like you betrayed your Master, and I betrayed mine... Reinventing the lessons they instill among each other and their apprentices is like trying to remove cancer. All you need is a single cell left behind, and it propegates."

Darth Petrichor

 

[Darth Petrichor]

He was perplexed by this young Zabrak. It was becoming more and more clear that she had broken away from her masters, at least in part. He could still sense the struggle within her, however. A continuous ebb and flow of rage and calmness seemed to flow through her. A young darksider transitioning from one path to another...

In some ways, it felt all too familiar.

"I wouldn't expect to have stopped the carnage. That being said, if I could have saved even one from the destruction, it would be an improvement. I doubt they would have succeeded in my annihilation. If they could have killed me, they would have a long time ago."

He appreciated her candid nature. Too many darksiders were wrapped up in formality. They pretended to adhere to such frivolous roles until they had the opportunity to strike. Considering this, Petrichor appreciated honesty, even if it were of a blunt nature. Honesty had been in short supply as of late, so it was a welcome change of pace.

"Yes, many would recognize me, both by name and mask. All the more reason to not come here with a larger presence than necessary. As to why I'm here... I needed to experience the effects of the current regime firsthand. I needed to assess the situation as it currently stands, and determine if it was time to begin moving forward with my plans."

He took a second to pat Sutta and Taral on the head.

"In truth, these two are all of the protection I need. They are my eyes and ears when I am otherwise preoccupied. Their fangs are sharp, their senses are precise, and their loyalty is unwavering. One could even say they are my closest friends."

Petrichor didn't visibly notice when her hand moved to the lightsaber, but he made a mental note of it. Instead, he simply continued.

"You are curious about the extent of my abilities. If you wish to see, we will have to find a more secure location. We are too exposed out here to be wasting energy on such efforts."

He took a moment to reflect on her final comment. There had been many days where he had asked himself such a question. There were even times where he had almost given up on his mission. In the end, all of those doubts had faded, and his resolve remained unwavering.

"I call myself a Sith because that is what I am. In some ways, I am more of a Sith than many who claim to be. It is those who lust for power that have deviated away from our original identity. It is they who should be questioning their place within the order. Those who follow me are free to do as they wish. If they want to divert back to their ways, then they are free to do so. They stay because they believe in our cause. Perhaps that is difficult to believe, and yet, it is not any less true."

The wind caught up again, blowing the stench of death through his nostrils. The first time he had truly experienced the sensation was when he killed his master. So many years dead, and yet, he somehow still plagued Petrichor's existence.

"In regards to my master, I only did what was expected of me. If betrayal is expected of you, then can it still be called betrayal?"

He was extremely curious as to how Minka Vosh would react to that last comment.

 

[Minka Vosh]

"Two tuk'ata guardians on a planet full of enemies, and no concern. Perhaps you are right...they cannot kill you." She considered him in light of the glimpses she'd witnessed from his own mind, and and their slaughtering of Mochirsa. There was much yet to discover about him, naturally, but she couldn't sense any deception from him. For someone who was by default paranoid and distrusting, it was...almost a conundrum. Searching for the expected dangers or treachery, and being unable to find them.

The calm Sith. Powerful enough to overcome death, with no desire for conquest--only peace. He shouldn't exist. The universe was playing a massive practical joke on her. She truly had no idea what to do with him.

"Or perhaps you have simply been lucky. There is always a bigger fish in the sea." Her palm gripped her lightsaber, but her stance was relaxed, and it remained on her belt. "Like you, I have evaded death as well. Who knows... Maybe we would be a match." There was a mild, even smile on her face as she watched him. "Of course, I'm sure to be much less of a target than you. The Empire should be content with my absence, so long as I stay out of their way. You must have had more practice staving off assassination attempts."

Interesting that he would sense her desire to test his skills, but to be fair, she wasn't attempting to hide it either. "But you are right. This is not a good place to stay--for any reason. I have already lingered much longer than I intended." A couple hours longer, at least. Leaving her grounded ship for so long, even in a decaying wasteland, did not sit well with her. Nor did leaving her other ship in orbit, even if it was being manned by a small team of reliable droids, and was cloaked.

"Expected betrayal..." Minka laughed. "A paradox. But the thing about paradoxes, is that even if they are contradictory, they are no less true." She mirrored his own words to him with a grin. "No... It isn't a betrayal in the purest form. The apprentice is meant to surpass their Master, and the proof in their own mastery demands the fall of their own mentor. If they are incapable of killing them, either through direct combat, or through some other strategy, then they are weak and undeserving. That is the game, which you played yourself... I, on the other hand..."

The grin slowly disappeared and her jaw clenched lightly. A new ember of irritation emerging, as she recalled her own past. Recent enough for the wounds to be relatively fresh. "Regrettably, I did not kill my Master with my own hands. I stood by, while others took care of her for me. She experienced true betrayal. And then so did I." She stopped in a heavy silence, with much left unsaid. It didn't matter. The past could not be changed, and the hatred she felt would be wasted on him. Part of her resented that. It had been some time since she killed another Sith, and she missed the satisfaction it gave her. Always brief, but she felt it.

"Where is your apprentice now? Or do you have none, and let your academy teach for you?"

Darth Petrichor

 

[Darth Petrichor]

Petrichor was amused by the comments made by Minka Vosh . She seemed so used to the idea of betrayal, it was no wonder that she didn't trust him.

"Indeed, I did play the game. My master gave me little choice. But in playing the game, I learned its futility. There is no point in constantly stepping over the corpses of our own in pursuit of power."

He took a step toward her as he continued.

"If we weren't so distracted by such pursuits, your master likely wouldn't have had to die. Think about it... how many of us have died by the hands of our fellow Sith? It serves no purpose in the end. It may have worked during the time of the Rule of Two, but that was a long time ago. Isn't it time that we moved past such base ideas?"

When she asked about his apprentice, Petrichor felt a sense of nostalgia within himself. He hadn't seen any of his apprentices in a long time, and was unsure as to what had become of them. It felt like ages since he had personally taken an apprentice. In some ways, he actually missed it.

"To answer your question, my apprentices have earned the title of master. No need for betrayal, no need to usurp me. They have since left to find their own path in the galaxy. Now I rely on my instructors to guide the students through their training. That being said, if the right pupil came along, I would be willing to take them as an apprentice. But until then, I keep my focus on the future of the Order."

He knew that the idea probably seemed ridiculous to the young Zabrak. Many couldn't fathom the idea of a Sith allowing his apprentices to become masters without killing him. It was the Sith way, after all, and one that they had followed for thousands of years.

"You see, we do not seek to dwindle our own numbers. Instead, we respect the presence of those who would follow the same path. We cultivate talent instead of snuffing it out. After all, we have enough enemies in the galaxy to be turning on each other at the academy."

There was no way to ensure that she would believe his words. No way, except for one...

"Perhaps you would like to see it? You might be surprised by our little haven."

Petrichor took a moment to feel the planet through the Force once again. He could sense faint energy signatures in the distance. Nothing to worry about yet, but he figured it would be best to keep an eye on them. There were likely to be more Sith, or at least, more of their beasts. He knew they would eventually have to keep moving in order to avoid detection. He was very skilled at hiding his presence within the Force, but he wasn't willing to take the chance.

"Regardless of your answer, I believe we should move on. There may be more patrols on the way, and I would rather avoid attracting more attention than is necessary. My ship is not far from here. If you want, we can head there."

He felt the presences get closer as he spoke.

"Preferably, sooner rather than later. It seems they are indeed coming this way."

 

[Minka Vosh]

"No... My Master deserved her death. The regret is that her colleagues executed her before I could. It was inevitable. I didn't believe I was strong enough to do it myself, at the time...but now I'm not convinced. I'm sure my own outcome would have been the same, regardless. Being forced to leave the Empire has proven quite liberating, so for that, I have no complaints." She glanced in the direction of the buildings and homes. The sun was sinking lower now. Angled just enough to cast harsher shadows and rays of gold and orange. In the distance, she could sense the encroaching presence as well. If she ran into a patrol alone, they might do little more than ask questions. She wasn't infamous, after all, and she was far from 'home'. The trouble that followed was more likely to be a result of her own stewing disgust and loathing, and the instinct to kill them all.

"I have met many who did not attempt to kill their Master, and simply left. It's not the unspoken requirement that it used to be, but it's nevertheless a common fate. The theme is always about power or revenge...and politics." She sneered the last word. There were few things she hated more than politics. Funny in a sense, as her natural talents leaned to mind tricks, manipulation and the like. She was capable of playing the game quite well, but the only time it interested her was when she was tasked with killing someone. Otherwise, it was all tedious nonsense, and she had no patience for it.

Minka eyed him sharply then, considering his offer. It took a moment to make up her mind, and in truth, she'd been mulling over her opinion of him ever since he first opened his mouth. New information warring with preconceived notions and past experiences. Curiosity warring with doubt. She could see no profit in following him anywhere. Visiting another academy was the last thing she wanted to do, especially with another Sith...even if he was different. And yet, something told her she should go.

"Hm... It is far from the borders of the Empire? Maybe... Yes. Show me."

Turning her back to the town, she sifted through the tall grass towards the ever darkening tree line. She had been enjoying the sun, but it was time to go.

"I brought a shuttle down from my own ship, but it's probably farther than yours. I never planned to detour here." Her eyes narrowed slightly at her own words, though it appeared as if she was merely searching the trees. Saying them out loud forced her to acknowledge that she was doing something out of character that was difficult to rationalize. Perhaps she could blame it on the Force guiding her for unknown reasons.

Darth Petrichor

 

[Darth Petrichor]

Petrichor let out a small chuckle as he heard her words. The unending cycle seemed to never break, and he wasn't sure that it ever would.

"Yes, perhaps your master did deserve such a fate. And perhaps you were strong enough. Perhaps not. In the end, I find that asking questions of things that have already come to pass is often unproductive. Nevertheless, we do still find ourselves asking such questions in times of uncertainty."

There was a subtle implication within his words, as he could sense a slight air of uncertainty within Minka Vosh . Almost as if she were searching for the answer to a question she didn't fully understand. He wasn't sure what the root of all of it was, but he felt it. He matched her gaze as she looked at the village in the distance.

"Ah, the drab and convoluted beast that is politics. I believe we share the same sentiment. Unfortunately, there are times where politics are... unavoidable. Luckily, I don't find myself in those situations often anymore."

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a datadisc and holding it out to her.

"This is a copy of the text that put a target on my back. It provides a general layout of my teachings and thoughts. In case we get separated, it contains encoded directions to the academy. All you'll need to do is open the text, and reach out for me through the Force. The disc will do the rest of the work."

Dantooine ended up providing him with more than information about his enemies. The planet had given him an ally.