Words and Traditions

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Ever since the day that Animus had said to find the other Sayings Ren had combed over the many scrolls to be found in the palace library. She had learned many things about the Sayings since.

The Sayings were a series of scrolls, a collection of works of the 54th Emperor Uueg Tching. They were converted into print for the nobility.

The original scrolls were taken by the Galactic Emperor to be placed into the private vaults but it was unknown if they made it there. So. The tiny scroll handed to her on the day she dressed for the review of the military center came from where?

Ren looked about the room she sat in the dust covered scrolls of long ago with the new works of the age. The scroll given to her by the handmaiden could be from when the Sayings were printed for the nobility, or the reprint for parliament.

Ren had found many words of wisdom written by many an author -

The strongest, smartest, and wealthiest have the most power. And power is the only law - Anon

Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting

Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.

Love is a single soul inhabiting two bodies - Aristotle

Ren sat back and thought about the night before. How long had she been here on Atrisia was it months? When she walked among the populace now she could hear them thinking about Mythos, their thought lingered on him being a demigod but there was still a minor resistance within their ranks.

The People of Atrisia some wanted their freedom and to stop being the stomping grounds for a growing military that would conquer more worlds. Was that to be the poison from within? She was not sure and her visions of the future were jagged and fluid at the same time.

Ren could feel the cold, wrapping her arms around hugging herself for warmth, she contemplated the things she knew.

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

[SIZE=12pt]Ren was quietly reading another text when the shuffling of feet reached her, looking over she could see Izumi standing quietly. Graciously the woman had given Ren the permission to call her by her given name rather than by the traditional, Ito-san.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=12pt]“Kogo Ren there is something you must attend to.” Ren had tried for days to get Izumi to just call her Ren the compromise it seemed was Kogo Ren. It was close and Ren would not continue the debate with the woman who seemed driven to ensure everything according to tradition was met.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Ren looked at her, “I trust that you will make the food that Tenno Heika will enjoy” It wasn’t that she didn’t want to have some kind of control of the household but some of these things were what relegated woman to servant positions.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Kogo Ren there are five women to choose from for the position of Gosai” Ren thought for a few minutes, “What is Gosai?”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Izumi smiled and nodded, “the second wives, the concubines”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Ren lifted a brow, ok she would stop researching now to hear this. “Gosai, was this the Tenno’s wish?”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Izumi clearly did not understand why Ren wondered if it was his wish, “Kogo Ren it is tradition”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Ren stood up, “tradition for the Tenno to have concubines, and for me to choose them” Well wasn't that a kick in the shin, the wife got to chose what women would share the bed. It was a good thing Atrisia had so much tradition,[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Izumi nodded, “Yes you though you are not married to the Tenno you are recognized as first wife the Kogo, and you choose those that will be presented to the Tenno.” [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]Ren did not even know how to react to this her mother would have plenty to say about something like this. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Kogo Ren the families of these women receive stipends from the treasury for gifting their daughters to the Tenno” A payment for their gift like a dowry except without the ceremony.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Ren nodded, great she thought it’s a tradition and it’s tied to economics. [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]“Are they daughters of nobleman?”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Izumi had to think for a moment, “a couple of them are, and some are not they were sent because of their beauty and skill” Ren looked at Izumi, "Did you chose them Izumi?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Izumi stepped closer, “Kogo Ren must remember women of Atrisia are not as fortunate as women of the galaxy. They serve their families purpose, the family serves at the will of the Tenno.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Ren sighed, “Ok Izumi, let’s go look at potential Gosai”[/SIZE]



[SIZE=12pt]

Spoiler

Tenno (Heavenly sovereign)

Spoiler

[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Tenno Heika (his majesty the heavenly sovereign)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Kogo (chief wife)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Gosai (second wife)

[/SIZE]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

[SIZE=12pt]Ren walked into the room to see five women on their knees. “Izumi, have them stand” She was not better than them in any way and this constant bowing at times got on her nerves and bit into the very fabric of her.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Ladies” Ren got closer and began looking at them they were exquisite and very clearly Atrisian by birth but the last woman when Ren got to her she did not look full Atrisian. “Your name please”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Cobalt blue eyes looked at her, the dark hair framed her face, a slow and almost predatory grin came over her face, “I’m Arabella Darkhold”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Ren nodded, “Darkhold is not a Atrisian name”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“No it is not, I am of the House of Togashi” Ren nodded ok that name sounded Atrisian. “Your family sent you?”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“No.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Ren became nervous she was not armed, after all she was in the palace there should be nothing to fear here in the palace.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=12pt]The other women became very nervous and just like children frightened of the dark they ran to leave the room. Ren looked at them go, “Well if they can’t handle this conversation they certainly aren’t fit to be second wives to the Tenno”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Ren’s gaze came back to Arabella, “Tell me why you are here” If she had wanted to attack she would have done it already.[/SIZE]

 

[Arabella Darkhold]

[SIZE=12pt]Arabella smiled. She wore a long pink cloak, slowly she removed it and offered it to the servant woman, giving a slight bow Izumi moved to take the cloak from her. Izumi knew the House of Togashi and she had heard rumors about it as well. ARabella now stood in a black outfit (without the mask, hood, bow, and bolts). [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Arabella keeping her head held high as she had been taught by her teachers, “Bring a pot of tea please” Arabella motioned to go and sit. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Ren seemed stunned into silence, for whatever reason, and it suited Arabella’s purposes that she was.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]She waited for Izumi to leave once the older woman had left them alone Arabella did not relax, “My father is missing, he has been known to be gone for a time in the past but never this long. I would like to approach the Tenno to ask if he could help look for him” Arabella smiled.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]She had also heard of the Tenno and his feats, and she as a trained Sith could offer help to him, She also had other attributes that would perhaps help to further the Tenno’s ambition[/SIZE]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

[SIZE=12pt]Ren paused, “And what you want me to get you in to see him?” Ren wasn’t sure about this woman her aura was all over, odd and her manner made Ren feel insecure. Arabella was beautiful.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Are you wishing to offer yourself as a second wife as payment for him finding your father?” Arabella did not say anything but the implication was if she came in to be second wife then that had to be her plan, yes? no?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Ren wasn’t sure how she felt about any of this right now, she really felt that the woman before her had another agenda, and why had she not seen this coming. Was the axe affecting her as well now?[/SIZE]

 

[Arabella Darkhold]

[SIZE=12pt]Arabella nodded, “Yes I would like to ask you to have him grant me an audience, it is said he listens to you” The things she would discuss with the Tenno would be about words, traditions and arrangements. She wished she knew where her father was and how he would view what she would do.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Oh she had an idea that he would be angry with her, but if it found him and brought him home, she would do it. Would she have to offer herself as a concubine to the Emperor? She did not know, but surely as one Sith to another they could find some accord.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Arabella smiled at Ren.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Can you, well will you do this for me?”[/SIZE]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

[SIZE=12pt]Ren was on the fence, she completely understood why Arabella wanted to find her father. If she could have found her own just by asking, she would have. She would have done almost anything for her father if he were missing.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Ren’s own blue eyes met with Arabella’s, still something felt off but she could not deny the request, “I will ask the Tenno to see you”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]It was then that Izumi came in carrying the tray, Arabella waited for her to serve, while Ren went to help her. Ren turned and smiled at Arabella, “It would be nice to have someone else here to speak with, pass time with when the Tenno is busy.” Ren was making polite conversation and for the first time she felt a twinge of jealousy.[/SIZE]

 

[Arabella Darkhold]

[SIZE=12pt]Arabella smiled, “Of course I can show you my father’s library, we visit some of the sites of Atrisia if it makes you comfortable, I hear the giant Antz are making an appearance.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Arabella felt proud of herself, this was a tiny victory and hopefully it would help her to find her father. Arabella had reached out for her Alderaan family wondering if perhaps he had gone there but he was not there. Where was he had had not come home since Coruscant. If he had died she would know, so he had to be alive.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]This Emperor, the Tenno could he really help?[/SIZE]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Ren looked at Arabella, "Giant Antz you say. I would like to see that" The Scientist in her always peaked out when it could. Ren had to reconcile that there were circles of influence that she would never revolve in, the circle of Atrisian Nobility for instance.

Even though she was considered Mythos' companion that did not make her of noble birth. And Arabella Darkhold could have come through the front door and asked for an audience with the Mythos. So, what was she up to that she chose this route.

Ren motioned one of the guards over, "Please send a paige to the Tenno, ask if he has time for an audience" Ren did not say she was bringing Arabella she would explain that when she arrived.

[member="Lord Mythos"]

 

[Arabella Darkhold]

Arabella could tell almost immeidately that the woman referred to as the Kogo Ren had not been trained in the arts that it took to be a member of nobility, she was common and easily swayed.

But if all went well as she hoped and if the Tenno could help her in return perhaps this would be worth doing after all. Would her father have agreed? She was not sure she knew he acted with emotions bu tnever had they been the soul guidance of his actions. Arabella felt her emotions were controlling her actions, the need to find her father.

Arabella also had not yet determined how far she was willing to go before she had even tried to come in with the offered ladies.

Whatever happened in these next few hours Arabella hoped in time would lead to her father.