A Dark Appraisal

[Progflaw99]

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Location: Bastion of Ren, Virgilia​

Time: Dusk​

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A vehement sneer crossed Sieger's features as he cracked his neck. The Supreme Leader's countenance had grown decidedly clouded over the past few weeks, his mind consumed by the events unfolding across the galaxy. The Galactic Alliance had been a pain in his side since the Order's formation, or at least this newest resurgence of the First Order - his order. Furthermore, the Order of Ren. A deep inward breath filled the man's lungs, a slow even exhalation the only audible sound in the vaulted hall. Sieger Ren, the Supreme Leader of the First Order, sat atop an elevated throne in the upper levels of the Bastion, the summons having gone out hours ago. Seated upon an ornate chiseled throne, his clothing indicative of his status, the elder man closed his eyes.

Soon those of the Order would arrive and when they did - it would be an effort to contain the raw emotion he'd felt coursing through his veins. Anger. Complacency had long been the enemy of any warrior, any leader, and Sieger had borne witness to it firsthand in the Order of Ren. Too long had he left them to their own devices, taken with the empirical nature of the First Order he had taken a step further into the shadows and away from those he would deem his children. As a wandering child, the Order had begun to take a turn away from his vision, away from the desire of their parents or in this case parent. How long had it been since the Ren had been bloodied? Perhaps never, merely a speck of dust in the eye of the galaxy and likewise just a blink would see them swept away. He had been far to lenient, far too coddling of their number. That would change.

It wouldn't change the moment they entered his presence, it wouldn't change the moment they left - but it would change. Too long had he left the Masters and Knights in charge, monitoring their own progressions and developing skills. In war, you couldn't afford to meander at your own pace, those who did rarely survived. It was about power, about strength, and without a force to drive them the progression and continued learning of the Ren had become complacent, happy to partake in "Morale" events sponsored by the Grand Moff. He smirked, [member="Natasi Fortan"] had her own cult of personality - morale for the troops had certainly been needed after the heavy losses at Kaeshana but the Ren? He had not forbade their attendance however he had taken note.

Soft. It's what they were. No longer were there true warriors among their number save a handful, no longer were they a force to be reckoned with - in fact they'd been chased off of Lothal with their tail between their legs and with his plans in motion they would be tested again, and soon. Perhaps this was the wake up call they needed, they would need their wits about them if it unfolded as he'd planned.

A solitary knock at the large doors caught his attention, his eyes slowly rising. It seemed the first of his guests had arrived, or perhaps all of them at once. The sound of footsteps filled the hall from just beyond the doors as Sieger reached towards the chalice which sat upon the arm of his throne. The darkened liquid had once filled the cup to the brim but now sat nearly half empty, or was it half full? Sieger smirked at his own internal monologue. Lifting the half filled vessel to his lips, he sipped gently at the liquid, his dark eyes flaring with a brief touch of crimson before resuming their more docile hazel. Setting the glass where it had rest before, he rose as the doors began to close behind the group who'd entered, the silence shattered by the closing crack of the large doors. He would wait, silently appraising each one of them as he stepped down from the elevated throne, a perpetual sneer across his features. These were the Ren? It truly had been too long since he'd involved himself in all the matters of his order - a mistake he soon sought to rectify.

[member="Castor Ren"] | [member="Samka Derith"] | [member="Isla Ashen"] | [member="Kyrel Ren"] | [member="Jaron Lesan"] | [member="Kriel Firin"]​

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"] | [member="Brennan Cabrol"] | [member="Phenex Ren"] | [member="Perth Levov"] | [member="Halle Ren"] | [member="Ara Ren"]​

[member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Julius Thonn"] | [member="Sivaprasad"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

She took a final spot check of her reflection in the mirror as she did up the top button on her jacket. "Flawless as usual, Samy," she said admiring herself. Then she paused to mentally slap herself back into focus. 'Samy' wasn't a nickname she'd gone by for a very long time but it had left her lips automatically in a bizarre slip of the tongue. Her eyes flickered across the room, the girl was still half convinced that her private quarters, and everyone else's, were bugged to monitor activity. She had nothing to hide from her superiors but moments like that would be embarrassing to be caught.

Perhaps the reasoning for her lapse in self was nerves. She didn't scare easy these days. She'd grown much from the days of an anxious child, now she was confident and assertive yet this occasion was beyond what she'd experienced before. The Supreme Leader himself had come to the Bastion and was awaiting her. She'd never so much as exchanged a message with the man she had pledged loyalty to before, she'd began to suspect he was a recluse. She'd even privately entertained the notion that the man had died and a grand cover up at the highest level took place to conceal it, not that she'd ever mention such treacherous thoughts aloud. But he was here and waiting for her.

Samka walked silently through the Bastion's hallways towards the meeting room on the highest point of their pyramid. She didn't need the received instructions to know where to go, she could follow his signature in the Force. Stronger than any lone figure she'd ever encountered before. She entered the room still silent, the man himself was sat on a throne but Sam averted her eyes before she could focus on anything. To stare at the man felt, somehow, sacrilegious. She'd always considered herself different from the other Ren, someone more of an individual. She'd dyed her hair to something unnatural and vibrant, she'd not yet taken a Ren moniker of her own instead opting to keep her birth name and she refused to entertain the idea that the collection of strangers she lived with were her family. This was an organisation which deeply relied upon one another but to Sam, these people were not 'brothers' or 'sisters'. They were only people she could trust to contrast with the people outside whom she could not. But despite her differences, she'd still undergone the years of conditioning to get to this point. The Supreme Leader was still something little short of divine. So she did not speak nor look upon him. She offered a deep curtsy and held the position with her eyes shut facing the ground.

[member="Rolf Amsel"]

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

Kaalia sighed deeply as she got up from her desk. She had been studying, something she often did to keep her mind sharp. The woman had orignally planned on physical training as well, but that got cut short. It had been announced that none other than Sieger himself would be arriving, and demanded the audience of every Ren. She assumed most of the others were nervous, perhaps even afraid, but Kaalia wasn't. It was obvious that he wasn't going to pat them on the back for a job well done, most likely the opposite, but she'd just step it up. Her embrace with the Dark side was a very slow process, but now that she had finally stepped over the edge the woman was confident in her newfound abilities. She could take the scolding and move on. After all, she was already looking to up her results in the first place. Kaalia stretched before leaving her quarters, her posture for now almost nonchalant. Perhaps she should've been more tense about this, but she simply couldn't bring herself to be. To her, this was simply a business meeting. If it came back to haunt her, she'd have to cross that bridge when it came to it.

The redhead hummed a melody as she made her way to the top of the pyramid that was the bastion. She was humored by how different the Ren were compared to her expectations when she joined. Where she expected a uniform order where every individual sang the praises of Sieger everywhere they went, she found quite a few outliers. She herself wasn't a shining example herself, personally looking at her Ren status as a deal that went both ways more than anything. She would receive tutelage in the Dark side and a place to call home, and in return she would work alongside the Order. It truly was as simple as that. Perhaps that was the reason their so-called 'father' decided to personally intervene. Kaalia cast the thought to the back of her mind, figuring she'd find out the answer shortly.

Kaalia stepped into the hall, impressed by the aura swirling around the man who without doubt had to be Sieger. For the longest time she had assumed the man to be a myth, carefully fabricated to unite people under a singular cause. Today, she was proven wrong. Her nonchalant posture was perished, and it was replaced with a more neutral one. She didn't speak and merely observed the room, waiting for the man on the throne to speak. The redhead couldn't deny the power she felt coming off of him, and so she decided to just go along with what would unfold. There was no need to draw the bad kind of attention to herself. She recounted the latest missions she had been on, thinking of how he would react to her endeavours. The first mission she'd been on was on Lothal were she served as backup to make sure everyone could escape in case things went south. Afterwards she was deployed to Val'Hala where they recovered a stolen shipment of phrik, then she was found on Hoth to retrieve Permafrost Crystals. That mission turned into an impromptu rescue operation as they found that Talz had attacked the mine. Of course, there was also the bloody conflict on Kaeshana. The woman also helped with setting up a military base on G'Rho, something she recently returned from. It wasn't a huge track record to go by, but Kaalia hadn't been among their ranks for very long yet. If criticism was sent her way specifically, she'd deal with it as it came.

[member="Rolf Amsel"]

 

[Kyrel Ren]

Kyrel was within his quarters of the Bastion, It was mostly a meditation chamber which housed a Bed and a refresher. Besides that it wasn't much to look at. He was studying records on force abilities trying to learn new skills, he had so far taken interest in Drain Knowledge and Deadly Sight, but when it came to learning these powers he did not know how. Sure he had self taught himself the most basic of skills with the Force, and a couple styles of Lightsaber combat, he felt that he needed to learn more, he desired more power and so would find ways to learn what he needed to learn weather it be through a Master or self teaching once again.

During his studies of ancient dark side techniques he was lost in a bout of reminiscing. It had been months since he started his path down the dark side. He had started out as a simple broken man with untapped potential, only to claw his way to where he was today. From Virgilla, Endor, Lothal to Kaeshana. He had fought his way to become a part of the now nine Knights of Ren, He fondly looked back on his journey with pride, but felt that even as a Knight he needed more power, especially in the coming war. After Kaeshana and his shameful defeat and small victory, he made a promise that he would never suffer a defeat like the one he encountered again.

His trip down memory lane was rudely interrupted by a tremor in the Force. He felt stopped in his seat, as he felt the immense power from the calling, he felt cold, a great power calling to him emanating deep within the fortress. He shut the datapad off and slowly but surely made it out of his quarters. His Cortosis weaved cape flowing as he made his way down the hall getting closer to the source of the call.

After several minutes of walking in a quick stride he made it to a set of big heavy doors, it was a room he had never seen before. As he reached out through the force sensing a very strong force signature on the other side, he saw that he was not the only one to receive the call, as he saw the disciple [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] and fellow Knight [member="Samka Derith"] enter the room. He grew increasingly curious as to how all the Ren were being gathered, but in the end decided that the only way he was going to find out was by following them and going in.

He walked in slowly, his breathing clearly evident as it echoed across the room. The room was dark with little lighting, just only enough to clearly see the figures that were inside as he walked forward, he felt a mixture of emotions, Anger, disappointment, and rage. He than gazed forward with his photoreceptors at what looked to be a figure standing in front of a throne. His eyes widened as it all made sense to him, and he thought to himself barely comprehending what was happening. 'The Supreme Leader is here, he has summoned all of us.' He could barely believe it, the man who he had sworn an oath to and who's will he faithfully carried out was here. The man who he had hoped to become a favorite of, a personal enforcer if you will was here. But he knew this couldn't be just a social call, he could sense that he was very angry and so it must have been very important to bring the recluse leader from wherever he lived in.

He walked forward standing beside Samka, he tried to hide his fear and excitement as one never usually saw the Supreme Leader and those who did, did not leave the room alive. Many thoughts raced through the mechanical monstrosity's head. Were they not worthy to be called Ren, and so were sent here to be personally executed? Were they not carrying out his will? Were they too weak in his absence? So many questions ran through his head but he would dare not speak to the god like being unless spoken too. He did not say anything outside the sound of his breathing and so he only humbly knelt before the Supreme Leader in both Awe and Respect.

[member="Rolf Amsel"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Seiger Ren; Supreme Leader. Father. Warrior. Myth.

Connor had heard the name and all the sub-titles associated with the one who led the First Order, but now the time had come to meet the man himself, eradicating the myth sub-title at least. Located in the upper pyramid of the mighty Bastion, Seiger would be waiting, and Connor assumed he would be one of many called to him.

He had been in his humble quarters for only an hour or so, alone, after parting ways with [member="Ara Ren"] when the order came. With so much to focus on and drive forward, the opportunity for an audience with the Supreme Leader came at no better time. Ara had asked him what he would do with his power and strength un-earthed from the Light, and Connor only saw progression and leadership. From the training to the expeditions to a planned invasion of the Mustafar Hex, Connor needed to step up not just for himself and Ara, but for the whole Order. The futile Sith Order was doing nothing but failing him; the absence of one who had said they would guide him to power, and instead forced to jump through hoops to prove himself to those not worthy of his time.

He left at once for the throne room that looked out of the highest point of the Bastion, and it took him a few minutes to navigate up the floors he had yet to explore. The Dark Side was rife the higher he got, and each step he felt the darkness seep from the walls surrounding him as he approached the conclave of bodies filing into the room. A few faces he recognised, most he did not. He was still the new boy on the block; the former Silver Jedi Master who had a lot to prove.

It was vast, flooded with the dusk light from outside and framing the figure of a wizened old Seiger Ren on his throne. Connor walked across and stopped with the others, who he now assumed were all called here for one purpose; the future of the Ren.

Ara wasn’t here, but right now she could do whatever she wanted if their recent…encounter…wasn’t up to standard for what she expected from him. The cards were on the table, but now it seemed their place in the Order was going to take over personal issues for a while.

Connor looked to the figure of Seiger, and stood stiil. Waiting.

[member="Rolf Amsel"] | [member="Castor Ren"] | [member="Samka Derith"] | [member="Isla Ashen"] | [member="Kyrel Ren"] | [member="Jaron Lesan"] | [member="Kriel Firin"]
[member="Kaalia Voldaren"] | [member="Brennan Cabrol"] | [member="Phenex Ren"] | [member="Perth Levov"] | [member="Halle Ren"] | [member="Julius Thonn"] | [member="Sivaprasad"]​

 

[Kriel Firin]

There was no journey for Kriel. He spent almost all of his time on Virgillia now, training Disciples. He still undertook active missions, but typically as training exercises for his young charges.

He currently had three, [member="Aria Ren"], [member="Celessa Beto"] and [member="Brennan Cabrol"]. Would all arrive at the summons? Possibly, but that was not his responsibility. There was unity in the Ren but he would never cosset one of the Disciples. They made their own mistakes and accepted their life was at risk every single day. That did not mean he would endanger them unnecessarily, but neither would he wrap them in cotton wool.

So he entered the great hall in response to the summons – his first meeting with the Supreme Leader. He did not necessarily see it as an honour as he was unsure why they had been summoned.

As he walked in, he looked around to see who else was here. Many, like him, wore armour and masks. His was not through choice but necessity – his ability to survive without the mechanics built into the suit limited to short bursts at best. And he noted that one of his former Disciples had already arrived.

And then he stood and waited. His mind did not wander into possible permutations as to why they were there. He was a patient man – and knew he would find out soon enough.

[member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Kyrel Ren"] [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] [member="Samka Derith"] [member="Rolf Amsel"]

 

[Perth Levov]

As dusk fell, Perth left her ship and headed towards the great hall of the citadel. She wore her usual black cloak, robes and boots. Her Ren mask was for once in a pocket in her cloak. She chose not to wear it, but figured it was not sensible to leave it on her ship.

She walked through the hallways, aware she’d not been here since she was first accepted as a Ren. She spent most of her time on missions and picked up training in the field and from any source possible. And as she walked, she wondered why her presence had been requested and wondered if there was some grand plan that she could support. To date her missions had been run-of-the-mill and hardly worthy of a Ren.

But she had been dutiful although – perhaps provoked by the summons – she was starting to question her role here. She was a warrior and so far, those skills had not been truly tested.

 

[Zmej Ren]

Summoned by the Supreme Leader himself.

The unusual request greatly underlined the importance of the meeting. Definitely something not to be taken lightly, Zmej realized the situation’s gravity all too well – the First Order’s greatest man would not waste his time with the Ren unless he desired to make an important statement. Was it punishment that awaited her at her Father’s hands? Hardly, or so she believed. She had performed exceptionally well throughout her duties, showing both dedication bordering on zealotry and lust for advancing the First Order’s interests, as well as crushing anyone who dared to oppose the empire. On the other hand, her fellow Ren could not say the same – rumours of drunken parties have reached the blonde disciple’s ears. When it came to those instances, she wasn’t so sure about the lack of scolding several Ren undoubtedly deserved.

And yet, Zmej Ren felt anxiety and excitement alike run wild through her body, worming through like flesh eating maggots. No wonder - she was about to meet the most powerful man in the galaxy, the Supreme Leader himself. Aside from the many legends and tales surrounding the mysterious figure, the young disciple did not know that much about him. Combined with the blonde’s powerful devotion to the enigmatic figure she did not even know in person, Sieger Ren was an object of both fear and worship. Oh, how much she wanted to please him, see pride in his eyes! As the pale skinned Ren told herself, the priceless Book of Anger penned by Palpatine himself was just a taste of what she intended to add straight into her beloved leader’s collection!

As she paced through the Bastion, encased in her usual armour that she had meticulously polished before putting it on, bent on looking good for the special occasion, Zmej wiped away several tears forming in the corners of her golden hued eyes. She wasn’t crying, but the thought of meeting the Father had caused an unknown plethora of emotions to swirl inside the young disciple’s mind and heart, making her far more emotional than she would have liked. It could not be helped, really. In a way, the teenage disciple saw this as a chance to finally have a man to look up to. A father to see her grow and love her. Craving the Supreme Leader’s affection, she would do anything to make him proud. After removing all signs of rivers running down her cheeks, she followed after others. No mask would cover her facial features today; nothing stopped the Supreme Leader from gazing into his daughter’s face.

It was overwhelming. His presence radiated pure darkness, an infinite vortex of power and cosmic knowledge threatening to swallow all who looked too deep. Caught off guard, Zmej gasped after entering the chambers, though she quickly collected herself and stood straight, all pesky emotions extinguished. Basking in the greatest moment of her life, the teenage Ren turned her eyes towards the ceiling and forced herself to not stare at the living embodiment of perfection and power. Every drop of willpower went to maintaining her posture, to stop Zmej from dropping to her knees. Overwhelmed, she fought the urge to faint. Such a strange feeling - after finally standing in her glorious leader's presence, all she wanted to do was to collapse and spend an eternity in his dark embrace.


[member="Rolf Amsel"]

 

[Celessa Beto]

Celessa approached the great hall with both excitement and trepidation. She had only been told the basics by her Master, Talon Ren, but she knew enough to understand the immense significance of being summoned by this 'Sieger' person.
From what she had heard so far, this 'Supreme Leader' has the power of a God, and is to be venerated and honoured as such by all Knights of Ren.
The cynical side of her countered such thinking by dwelling on the reality that he is doubtless mortal; he no doubt eats, drinks, and evacuates waste matter in just the same way as any other living being.
Ah well, Celessa thought as she approached the doors I had better show respect to this Sieger guy like everybody else, I don't want to stand out like a sore thumb.

She entered the Hall along with the crowd, and slowly made her way to stand near Kriel Firin , otherwise known as Talon Ren.
All at once a deep sense of foreboding filled her, it was as though even being in this room caused her to feel dread, for no apparent reason. Celessa was tempted to ask her Master why she felt this way, but thought better of it.
She tried to slow her breathing to a normal pace, whilst looking up at this figure descending from his throne, a man who inspired such awe and reverence from so many.
Unsure of whether to bow, Celessa merely kept her head low and stared at the floor for now. Hopefully she would blend in with the rest of the crowd, whilst wearing her standard armour and mask.
[member="Rolf Amsel"] [member="Kriel Firin"]

 

[WolfMortum]

[member="Rolf Amsel"]

Much had changed since he had last attended such a meeting orchestrated for the Knights of Ren, though this was also said to be unique among his former appearances, summoned by the Supreme Leader himself; Brennan had wondered when and if they would be called upon, he did not deny himself the thought of such things as they had been meant for his more sensitive of works. [member="Kriel Firin"] stood ahead, Brennan stepping through into the great hall and through his mask, sparing a glance across those that had arrived before him. His attire black, like many others though the face of his mask white as the omen of death, a scare tactic rather than a show of his character, he soon removed the helm and tucked it under his left arm, his hair being swept from in front of his eyes and gaze lifting, he straightened his posture and stepped forward to join alongside his fellow disciples.

Sieger Ren, he sat at the front of all those who had arrived, his chair the make of a throne which forced they look up to him, no doubt a reminder of his significance within the First Order. Brennan had seen no different from the Jedi nor the Sith though as he stood placing his hands to his back and awaiting this conference to begin, he studied the older man who no doubt wielded a strength far greater than his own. It was encouraging really, to finally see the face of the leadership of the Knights of Ren. Brennan had spent more time away from the Bastion rather than within it, unlike many of the others. He had attended training with his mentor, Kriel, yet when offered the time to himself, he isolated himself from his peers and sought to reaffirm the lessons his Master had shared with him aboard the transport prior to their last mission. Self control through the emphasis of ones emotions. After such a history alongside the two other Orders of force practitioners, to find a medium had proven difficult.

Though aware of Kriel's other students, he knew them not by name; their progress was another of his questions withheld from the world, yet no doubt had he inquire, Kriel would have told him that his concerns need only be on his own training. His progress was slow, yet it had been progress none the less. He was becoming skilled with the lightsaber, his former lessons under the Jedi aiding him in picking the forms back up though his vault lay in the control of the force and to that end, he had sought to mask his presence from those around him now, a quiet test of himself to gauge whether or not his ability to remain the 'off the radar' so to speak, had improved or otherwise. This of course, wasn't to say that he wasn't in plain sight but rather where the others could be felt within the flow of energies around him, Brennan's own was much more difficult to detect. In a way, there seemed a certain advantage in keeping himself well guarded; the less others knew of him, the fewer chances they had to take advantage. By way of the Knights of Ren, they all remained loyal unto one another and yet trust...-Trust was something else entirely.

 

[Ara Zambrano]

The summons had been awaiting her when she'd returned to her quarters. She'd prepared for the meeting in short order, choosing her new armored robes over her usual selection of shirts, vest, and pants. Her boots were there, as was her saber. She left her hair hanging in waves, still slightly damp from an evening swim. She chose to leave her mask behind, the supreme leader would know them all behind the metal and mechanics regardless.

Approval and determination shone through her eyes as she stared at herself in the mirror. She wasn't sure why the supreme leader was gathering them together, but even she could feel the spike of power radiating from the top levels of the Bastion, joined by more power as the Ren assembled.

Abandoning her quarters, she made her winding way up through the stone halls, glad once again that the Bastion had been built as a fortress instead of a castle. Lack of windows, terraces, and openings meant the Disciple could ascend to the apex of the pyramidal Bastion without her fear and anxiety taking control. A very large boon considering she was to meet the person many of the Order revered as a God and father figure. She owed him little loyalty save that of a soldier to her commanding officer, but the pure strength of his power in the Force had her reconsidering.

The chamber was easily found, the miasma of darkness emanating from all of the assembled players leaking into the hallway, bleeding into the cold stonework.

She nodded politely to [member="Samka Derith"], the knight who'd originally brought her into the Ren. As she came up beside her Master, [member="Kriel Firin"] , she offered the half-bow of respect that was due to him. She took up a place near her Master, a few steps to the side, joining the rest of the Ren as they gathered before their leader. A quick glance around the room offered her familiar and new faces and armor, a few very familiar. She offered [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] a slight smile and nod, before moving on. The last of the gathered order she chose to greet was [member="Connor Harrison"]. A simple tilt of the head and sly smile was all that was needed, her eyes sparkling with amusement and mischief.

The trio had been through quite a bit that day. Emotions had run heavy and power flowed, but they escaped the gauntlet stronger and still intact. Only the future would show how such bonds would be tested.

Turning her attention to the man seated in the throne above them all, she bowed deeply, expression flat, neutral, and respectful. The pure power radiating off of him sending a shiver down her spine, her own power aching to answer his call.

[member="Rolf Amsel"] | [member="Kyrel Ren"] | [member="Perth Levov"] | [member="Zmej Ren"] | [member="Celessa Beto"] | [member="Brennan Cabrol"]

 

[Mishel Kryze]

All Mishel could think of was the voice, the voice she had heard in the tank as she walked through the halls of the Bastion. She could hear Seiger in her mind, and she knew then the weakness she had displayed. The young disciple need not the electrical shock to her mind to know when she had failed her Father. Her Father who had taken her in, cared for her when her mother had abandoned her to the elements of a war-torn Tygara. Still, she approached the Chamber with her head held up high. She wore a black robe accented by a deep red that glinted crimson in the light, beneath her robes the same red tunic and a black leather corset, black trousers, and boots. One hand, gloved in deep red leather the other was free to hold onto her lightsaber that clinked against her hip. Mishel took note of all of her brothers and sisters, [member="[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=14px][FONT=georgia]Samka[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=14px][FONT=georgia] [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=14px][FONT=georgia]Derith[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=14px][FONT=georgia]"], [member="Zmej[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=14px][FONT=georgia] Ren"] these two she was most familiar with, her new cybernetic hand served as reminder of G'Rho's conquest. [member="Ara[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=14px][FONT=georgia] Ren"], [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] of whom she had become more than acquainted with at Dxun and during their lessons with [member="Kyrel[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=14px][FONT=georgia] Ren"] and of course, their drunkenness across the New Balosar sector.

She knew [member="Connor Harrison"] from Dxun and the Ball, the others, [member="Julius [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=14px][FONT=georgia]Thonn[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=14px][FONT=georgia]"], [member="Halle Ren"], [member="Perth Levov"], [member="Kriel [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=14px][FONT=georgia]Firin[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=14px][FONT=georgia]"], [member="Jaron [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=14px][FONT=georgia]Lesan[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=14px][FONT=georgia]"], [member="[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=14px][FONT=georgia]Celessa[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=14px][FONT=georgia] Beto"], [member="Brennan [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=14px][FONT=georgia]Cabrol[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=14px][FONT=georgia]"] she had yet to meet. Mishel's eyes looked up to Seiger Ren, and then she bowed deeply to her Father. The vat-grown Ren then lifted her shoulders up and stood side by side with her brothers and sisters. Recalling in her mind the words of Seiger Ren, his voice, his image - it was his face she saw in her mind. His words that taught her what it was to be Ren. It was he who released her from the tank and commanded that she demonstrate true strength. A glimpse of her hand, and Mishel already felt weak - even as a unique forceborn, she was still nothing more than an unlearned child. Mishel was filled with both fear and anxiety, nerves working on her mind thinking as to what purpose her Father would have summoned all of his children here. Surely it was not for pat on the back, no - she felt this was something more... far more, commanding.

[member="Rolf Amsel"]

 

[Julius Thonn]

From the streets of Dosuun, Julius Thonn had been brought to the Bastion of Ren. A relatively expansive structure for such a small Order, one would think. That one being Julius - he only came from average wealth, anything more than what his parents had owned was extravagant in his mind. The occasion was serious, he took it. At least, that's what his caretaker [member="Castor Ren"] had communicated to him when he had brought him along to encounter the Supreme Leader.

Others came before them, and when the entered the chambers it looked as if all was silent, as if Sieger Ren [[member="Rolf Amsel"]] was awaiting for the rest of the Order to fill up the space.

Fat chance of that.

Julius thought to himself, managing to maintain that straight face for the instant as he and his guardian took up positions with the rest of the inhabitants of the fortress. Huh, he thought to himself as he spotted the familiar seeming form of [member="Ara Ren"], but then, he didn't comment on it. Something had felt off about the girl anyway.

But then there were others like, [member="Mishel Ren"], [member="Zmej Ren"], even [member="Samka Derith"] all who he didn't know, and them him. It was an interesting change from how he went from relative poverty and being infamous amongst the lower class of people at home, to going back to being just 'another' person. These people weren't anything to him, and he wasn't anything to them. However, Julius knew that was about to change after today, for the Supreme Leader had given him his opportunity as he finally turned his dark eyes upon the man seatd before them as they all stood.

Once more, the young adult looked about the room to all the serious looking faces and he frowned, looking back to Sieger.

"This old guy is the Supreme Leader?"

If no one else was going to say something, Julius figured he may as well start them off.

"Can he even get off that chair?"

[member="Brennan Cabrol"], [member="Celessa Beto"], [member="Perth Levov"], [member="Kriel Firin"], [member="Connor Harrison"], [member="Kyrel Ren"], [member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

 

[Progflaw99]

​

Apprehension. Wonder. Even admiration. A complex cocktail of emotion swept through those present, Sieger merely noted it, his eyes falling first on one, then on another as he stepped ever closer. It had been of interest, seeing each one of them arrive. It was strange, seeing them here with his physical eyes and sensing their presence for himself. Too often had he learned about those he would call his children simply by casting forth his consciousness, a dark shadow through the Force - able to see distant places from the safety of his seclusion, able to watch those under his charge. It was nothing near as visceral as this. The Supreme Leader's footsteps took him down from his loft and among their number, his eyes falling for a moment on the young faces represented there. Samka Derith. A capable Knight, for certain. Her deeds had not gone unnoticed. His thoughts guarded, he continued - gaze now falling on Kaalia. This one he knew admittedly less about. Though not new to their Order, she had made less waves in the Supreme Leader's mind. While he strove to know each and every one under his charge to expect that he would know them all was impossible. She had been deemed worthy to become an acolyte, that much was evident by the way she held herself, the feeling emanating from the young Ren.

A few steps farther and his gaze fell upon the armored machination that was Kyrel Ren. The Knight had been recently promoted, in part due to his combat capability but he also had begun to show a modicum of maturity, to which the Supreme Leader had taken note. He was a capable warrior and that was something Sieger had taken note of. Giving no hint to his thoughts, he continued, appraising those assembled one by one, the silence uncomfortable for some, a relief for others. Next to fall before the master of the Ren was one of the newest to their cadre, Connor Harrison. A visible sneer crossed the man's features as he hovered about the former Jedi Master.

"I see we have a former Jedi among us, perhaps he will yet have wisdom for those of you in your youth - an explanation as to why the Jedi fail?"​

​

An almost playful tone entered the Supreme Leader's voice, a tone of disgust veiled weakly - almost a hint of laughter at the man. The question was rhetorical, but who was to know if the man would respond but the man himself. With a quiet huff, he moved on, Sieger's eyes falling on a Knight he knew of well, though not due to his public exploits. Talon Ren. Often obscured by shadow, the Knight had taken on the responsibilities that would often fall to a Master, teaching the acolytes, giving them a taste for what it was that they now claimed to be a part of. Secretly he was proud of the man - however none of his thoughts on the matter were discernible as his face remained in a somewhat twisted sneer, a simple nod of acknowledgment towards the masked man. Beyond the Knight stood another who had seemed to escape his notice, at least in a sense. Perth Levov - another promising acolyte, though for the most part untested. That would all change soon, a wry smirk the only thing breaking the frown on Sieger's face.

Next the soft footfalls of a patient man brought him face to face with another of their recruits, an acolyte who'd no doubt made every effort to ascend in the hierarchy. He'd seen her work and for the most part was impressed, however one thing gnawed at his mind. Loyalty. In question, most certainly not, though as of late the Supreme Leader had been riding on the shirt-tails of his fame and as he knew, that could only last for so long. Complacency was a dangerous enemy, even more dangerous than a physical enemy. Blind faith, blind loyalty would only take you so far - he needed to inspire those of the Order not simply teach obedience but to command it from a position of power, one born of something more than simple teaching but inspiration, of respect. His cold eyes gazed past the acolyte, moving further towards another of their number.

Celessa. One of the newest acolytes. Yet to fully be integrated into the Order, there was little to note though his expectations were high for the girl, just as they had become for every one of his followers. The days ahead would be dark, they would be hard - and it would be on each and every one of them to face them with perseverance. A familiar face to the Supreme Leader caught his eye, his footsteps continuing to carry him around the assembly. Brennan Cabrol. A particularly astute acolyte no doubt, taken on by Talon. Perhaps his background had seemed troubling at first but he could sense the potential there. There was a certain balance to the acolyte, something he'd not felt in many years. It was intriguing, how even an acolyte could remind a Master such as himself of the basic fundamentals.

Onward his gaze progressed, eyes now falling on yet another acolyte. Times had been difficult, his audience a higher concentration of acolytes than before he noted. Knights had fallen in battle, others had simply vanished - even given his extreme control of the Dark Side of the Force Sieger had yet to locate them. Another project that would require his attention. With the growing tensions between the First Order and the Galactic Alliance he had to admit, his attention had been divided, the complacency he now bore witness to among his Order a direct result of his own. This, was a wake up call. Ara Ren. She too had been an active participant among the Order but the subtle hints of adolescence still clung to her like the smell of tobacco. A glaring gaze was cast back towards the former Jedi. *Playing with fire already...* While not explicitly spoken about - relationships among the Ren could be tricky, but Sieger was not one to coddle those of his Order, they could learn just as well as anyone and if they didn't? Such meanderings were not of his concern.His attention averted back to the task at hand.

His slow and plodding footsteps stopped him before one of the younger acolytes, her espresso-brown hair and her features familiar to him. As much a daughter to him as the rest of the Ren, this acolyte was different. Brought to maturation much faster than a natural born child, Mishel Ren had undeniably taken on features of her biological parents. According to the reports and his silent observation of her 'rebirth', there had been a few minor complications. Very much the immature - she had dashed off on her own, a free spirited being. Much to his chagrin, like her biological parents. Sieger had tasked a few of the Ren to oversee her training, a much more intensive venture than a typical acolyte due to her lack of practical knowledge - such were the limitations of test-tube biology. His eyes met hers, a burning lance of intense flame would find itself digging into her mind - a more intimate view of the child's memories, experiences, being pried forth. It took only a moment and Sieger's hand came up to caress the poor girl's cheek. The pain likely momentary but the girls path undoubtedly riddled with recurring pain, something which caused him a grimace. That was the path, was it not? The path to the Dark Side of the Force had many facets, but pain was chief among them.

"This old guy is the Supreme Leader?"

The voice rose above the relative quiet of the room. Perhaps it had escaped the young acolyte's notice as he made jest at the Supreme Leader, perhaps he had yet to fully understand the power of what it was that he had joined, but he was wholly unprepared for what was about to happen. His footsteps were silent, speed of a practiced duelist aiding the man in his graceful and lithe advance towards the unaware acolyte. A hand as cold as ice reached outward, the Dark Side of the Force manifesting itself in the form of a spear cast of shadow yet invisible to the naked eye. As Sieger let his astonishment turn to anger at the boy, his hands extended toward's the acolyte's feet where the Force began to exert pressure, aiming to root the boy in place - against the power of Sieger it was unlikely he should break free from the deathly hold. With fire in his eyes, Sieger broke the silence with a brazen voice.

"You dare to insult me boy?"​

​

In an instant, the invisible spear shot forth, the tip aimed squarely at the young man's knee - all the while the pressure on his feet would reach bone crushing levels, the delicate digits of the human anatomy experiencing forces not accustomed to. Pain was a powerful tool, even moreso when affected via the Dark Side of the Force. It fed off pain, off anger, off emotion. What emotions the boy would feel were entirely irrelevant to the Supreme Leader, what was of import was his fear - he would learn to respect the Dark Lord one way or another and his insolence had earned him a lesson in pain. But the boy was not the only one at fault - as he exerted untold amounts of pain towards the boy another came to mind, a Knight no less. Complacency reared its ugly head. Leaving the boy to his pain and injury, Sieger took a quick few steps towards Castor Ren, the man who'd initially brought the boy to the Order.

"And you..."​

​

Voice tainted with malice, Sieger raised a hand towards the Knight of Ren, subtle energy fizzling in the air as the Dark Side began to collect at the man's fingertips. Then, in a sudden surge of power, electricity shot forth, arcing the distance between the Dark Lord's fingers and his target, the Knight of Ren. In his fury he had sent electrical current coursing through the Knight's now convulsing form.

"Do you not teach your acolytes respect?"'​

​

The question was asked but it was evident that the answer was self evident. The brief shock of electricity now fizzled out as small wisps of smoke rose from Castor's now prostrate body, Sieger's gaze boring into him, eliciting more pain, feeding off of the man's silent screams of anguish as his body fought his mind. Pain overwhelming caused spastic twitching and yet he did not cry out - at least one thing the Supreme Leader appreciated, the Knight's graceful acceptance of his judgement. Had the boy? No doubt his punishment had been harsher on the boy, his knee most likely the cause of great suffering - his foot paling in comparison to the damage the shadow-formed spear would have inflicted. In a fury driven rage the Supreme Leader whipped about, ascending several steps to stand above the rest of the gathered assembly.

"This... is what I have gathered you here for today. Since the beginning of the Order the Ren have been my eyes, my ears, my sword in the night - and now?" He left a dramatic pause as his eyes passed between the two Ren he'd judiciously handed punishment and those no doubt gazing in shock. "Now you appear to me little more than adolescents, children in the throes of youth - I find myself wholly unafraid. The Ren - Pah!"​

​

He took a step forward, a menacing gaze finally releasing the pressure crushing on the acolyte's foot as his voice seemed to fill the entire room.

"A mockery that will not be suffered - that is what you are. A time comes where we wage war against the enemies of the First Order and too long have we whittled away our time on trinket hunts, frivolous outings, and personal indulgences." His gaze fell upon the former Jedi as he continued. "Such wanton pleasures of the flesh must be an afterthought. You must be made to a purpose, a purpose I no longer hold patience for. You will be forged into living weapons more deadly than the Sith or the Jedi, you will become as titans upon the battlefield, but to do so... you require discipline."​

​

With his final word, his gaze fell upon them all, a subtle sensation wringing the very life from their bodies - fire spreading through their veins. Some would resist the pain and maybe even hold it at bay but they couldn't hope to do so for long. As the burning embers of pain began to reach a point, his voice shattered the uncomfortable silence.

"You disappoint me."​

​

In an instant, the force would withdraw, leaving the assembly to gather their composure, the pain reverting to less than a memory but the lesson was clear. The time for coddling, for respite was over. Now the Ren would be driven as if by hot pokers to their forging as a weapon to be used by the Supreme Leader. To his will they would succumb or risk being consumed by the fire that was his wrath. As the Dark Lord began to collect himself he pointed towards the acolyte he'd personally seen fit to wound as well as the Knight who'd brought him here.

"Your training will redouble - we strike soon. The object of your fury and your wrath must be the Jedi of the Galactic Alliance, the New Jedi Order they call it. Your target is Mustafar. Many of you know if its storied history but that is not all that lies upon its molten surface. The castle once occupied by the Sith Lord, Darth Vader yet stands. Seize it, and deny the Jedi anything that may lie within. Show them no mercy." ​

​

He stood, halfway ascended on the stairs which led to his throne. He was filled with anger, and yet now he held it back - listening. If they had questions, now was obviously the time to ask, to speak.

​

[member="Castor Ren"] | [member="Samka Derith"] | [member="Isla Ashen"] | [member="Kyrel Ren"] | [member="Jaron Lesan"] | [member="Kriel Firin"]​

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"] | [member="Brennan Cabrol"] | [member="Phenex Ren"] | [member="Perth Levov"] | [member="Halle Ren"] | [member="Ara Ren"]​

[member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Julius Thonn"] | [member="Sivaprasad"]​

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

When the gaze of Sieger Ren made its way over to Kaalia, She held herself. It would be stupid to think it was a good idea to show disrespect, but the redhead wasn't going to pretend to be someone she wasn't and go out of her way to show either respect or loyalty. Neutrality was the word that described her perfectly as the man appraised her. It was clear that a general scolding was going to be inevitable simply by feeling the presence he emanated, but she was ready to take it and move on. If he had any doubt of her capabilities, the redhead would simply prove him wrong. Not to please him, but for personal gratification.

Then, an unknown voice called out to confirm that the 'old man' was indeed who he claimed to be. Kaalia had to repress her amusement, already knowing what was going to happen. Sieger didn't hesitate to hurt the one that in Sieger's mind insulted him, in addition of [member="Castor Ren"]. She assumed he was the one who took the new Ren under his wing, and at this moment the woman did not envy his position.

There it was, the scolding Kaalia excpected. However, one thing nagged at her, the thing that was always at the back of her mind ever since entering the order; they were seen as nothing but tools of war. She had left the Jedi, the way of life she grew up in, to avoid being used as a tool for the purpose of another. Was the same thing about to happen here? The things Kaalia had learned here were invaluable, there was no denying that, but she was an individualist at heart. The woman shrugged off the thought for now, and would assess the situation later.

There wasn't much time between the shrugging off of the thought and the sensation of fire springing inside the redhead. She closed her eyes and tensed up, trying to use whatever strength she had to fight it off. Kaalia would never just let anyone hurt her without resisting, not even ones who in all respects outclassed her Force abilities. She couldn't fully fight off the pain, but what she couldn't battle was instead channeled to reinforce her presence in the Force. Hints of Sulphur trickled into her emerald eyes as she opened them again, but it disappeared when the sensation pulled away. There was the slightest hint of a smirk on the redhead's face, feeling empowered by the fact she didn't shy away from the pain she did feel and instead turning it into power. There was no target to use it on, and it slipped away, but if there was she would not have held back any of the channeled pain.

Mustafar. A planet yet unvisited by Kaalia, but that would change soon. Her ties with the Jedi were truly broken now, and she would gladly exact personal revenge on any man or woman who called themselves a follower of the Light. They had enslaved her, shackled her down to weakness. The opportunity to gain a better standing with Sieger was only a small bonus, something that would perhaps be useful in the future. It was then when she spoke. "When do we leave?" To Kaalia, it was the sooner the better. She was eager to put her newfound abilities in the Dark side to the test.

Spoiler

[member="Rolf Amsel"] [member="Ara Ren"] [member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Zmej Ren"] [member="Mishel Ren"] [member="Samka Derith"] [member="Julius Thonn"] [member="Kyrel Ren"] [member="Phenex Ren"] [member="Halle Ren"] [member="Isla Ashen"] [member="Jaron Lesan"] [member="Kriel Firin"] [member="Brennan Cabrol"] [member="Perth Levov"] [member="Celessa Beto"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

As the Supreme Leader began to move and come down to their level, Connor stood his ground, and watched him. Watched and felt him in all his Dark Side glory. He paid no attention to the apparent age of the man, for age knew no boundaries when the Dark Side fuelled your very soul. The Leader moved slowly but with purpose and clearly began an evaluation of those standing before him; ones who represented the Supreme Leader, the Knights and the First Order as a whole.

When he came to Connor, he simply maintained a respectful amount of eye-contact. He was not going to look away, or cower, or back down. Yes, he was the great “Connor Harrison, former Silver Jedi Master”, but that was a moniker to dissolve if he wanted to earn trust and respect of allies and friends. He welcomed the sneer, and the comment, for it wasn’t as bad as to be expected, and Connor lowered his head ever so slightly to acknowledge this.

To pass on his years of service with the Jedi – his inside knowledge of how their pitiful minds worked – would be valuable tool for leading and progressing with others. The time would come when that would be called upon, and he wouldn’t hesitate in selling out his former “family”.

Sieger Ren moved on, and Connor continued to watch him, feeling empowered in the presence of such a powerful leader. Each Ren he came to, Connor listened and took in their reactions. When he came to [member="Ara Ren"] it was hard not to react, but he didn’t. He looked at her, and at Sieger, but again maintained his respect and interest in the process of evaluating and understanding those serving him.

Ara was Sieger’s weapon. They all were. But Connor wasn’t going to break her or abuse her or misguide her away from them. If it came to it, Sieger would hear what she meant to Connor and how much her service to the Ren and the First Order was under no threat. Whether Ara felt the same in the moment she was faced by the Supreme Leader himself…well…that was up to her.

Connor swallowed.

Sieger moved on and when he began the scolding of the youth - [member="Julius Thonn"] - who clearly underestimated him, Connor gave a small smile. The pain of others was something he bore strength from, and it was a hard lesson to learn but one that was admirable – no molly-coddling or sugar coated words. Swift, painful action taken in a heartbeat to scold those not worthy of standing before him. Even one who was established - [member="Castor Ren"] – was not safe, and it showed Connor those who were weaker than expected and where he could work on proving himself. While he was no traitor to stab allies in the back, he would learn from the incompetence of others.

It was only when the spike in the Force felt like a vice in Connor’s head – in all their heads – that his gaze broke, eyes closed and fists clenched to stem the pain. His eyes burnt as he ketpt his head down, knowing this was part of a process to listen and to learn and to understand. The splitting attack coursed through his mind but he breathed hard and focused on his centre until it suddenly…stopped. The booming voice of Sieger was all that alerted him back to the room, glancing up at his cutting remark, but once again showing little emotion, just a solid look in the face of such power and questioning.

This was going to be something to prove to himself, to Ara, to the Ren and to Sieger himself.
And at the mention of Mustafar, the Ren seemed to stiffen, ready for the call to war to repel the Jedi forces intent on taking a Dark Side legacy to the Light. It wasn’t going to happen. [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] showed the willing she greatly needed. Connor nodded, and looked to their leader as he ascended.

"The Jedi must not be under-estimated,” he called out, and looked to the others. "We must show no mercy. Show now wavering. No compassion for their plight. Man, woman, child - any and all must be destroyed. They wish to eradicate us by any means.”

Connor glared back to Sieger, passion burning in those dark eyes.

"I will lead and carry the Ren and the First Order to glory with you all beside me. Mustafar will be our moment! The first of many!”

[member="Rolf Amsel"] | [member="Samka Derith"] | [member="Isla Ashen"] | [member="Kyrel Ren"] | [member="Jaron Lesan"] | [member="Kriel Firin"] | [member="Brennan Cabrol"] | [member="Phenex Ren"] | [member="Perth Levov"] | [member="Halle Ren"] | [member=Sivaprasad]​

 

[Zmej Ren]

Truth to be told, she quickly realized her physical inability to look at the man, and so Zmej shifted her gaze down when Sieger Ren’s piercing glare swept through the ranks of disciples and knights, a treatment most unnerving when one realized the man’s sheer power and felt him through the Force. It was unbearable, his silent judgement washing over each without ever uttering a word. It wasn’t until a disciple most foolish, most faithless dared to insult the god among men that the Supreme Leader finally spoke and cast swift punishment upon the one who did not know when to keep his mouth shut – and most likely lacked devotion as well. Instead of giving into anger, great mercy was what ruled Sieger Ren’s actions today when painful, yet light reminders grazed the disciple’s body. If it were up to Zmej, she would have ripped the outspoken man’s tongue out. Fortunately for many, she did not have that kind of authority. Not yet, anyway. As the First Order’s ruler scolded another Ren, she stood still, unflinching, back straight even if icy shivers ran down her spine.

Where was the excitement now? Fear and worry seemed to have replaced it. Something was about to happen. She felt it, a concealed danger slowly creeping forward. Once addressed alongside all remaining Ren, Zmej’s attention snapped towards her Father, listening intently. His message resonated especially strong through the blonde’s zealous spirit, Sieger’s disappointment worse than torture. None could deny the truth bluntly laid out through his words. Failing the most powerful man in the galaxy was more shameful than any other fiasco, especially if the judged were none other than his most elite agents, rightfully accused of complacency. How could they have fallen so low? For a moment, Zmej’s anger matched Sieger’s – it truly lasted only a short while as the man’s rage spiralled out of control and set everyone’s insides on fire. Pain became the dominant sensation, nothing short of being cooked alive. The dark destroyer’s armoured form finally collapsed to her knees, unable to bear the searing burn coupled with disappointment any longer. Tears flooded freely, escaping from their sulphur hued prison despite the teenager’s protests.

The Ren were weak, a mere shadow of what should have been the most powerful organisation in history.

No. She wouldn’t allow it.

And if others failed to do their job, she’d discipline the order of Ren herself.

Unable to bear the thought she appeared weak, more so in front of her beloved leader, the teenage Ren rose back up, silently promising to either take Vader’s castle or die trying. Tears were brutally eliminated, just as the pale disciple’s sorrow. Only anger remained, burning white hot, the greatest tool known to man. It was anger and hatred that wrote history, waged wars and dominated the galaxy. One with the powerful emotion, Zmej reminded herself of Palpatine!s wisdom written within the Book of Anger. Putting the long dead Sith Lord’s teachings to use was most desired, her soul lusted to unleash the destructive energy of the dark side upon the Alliance and remind the mongrel dogs of the primal fear of death. Like a living embodiment of vengeance, she would bring wrath and suffering to their homes.

Without questions, she stood surrounded by her brothers and sisters in faith, yet alone, left wallowing in her anger. Golden gaze with dark flames dancing within silently addressed all responsible for the drunken party she had witnessed, promising a change as soon as she got her hands on them.



[member="Rolf Amsel"]

 

[Kriel Firin]

The Supreme Leader was in motion. Kriel noted it but did not allow it to affect his concentration. He would listen when addressed and speak if requested. Otherwise, the Supreme Leader’s actions were not for him to question or second guess.

And then the Supreme Leader was amongst them. His words and demeanour did not afford Kriel any insight as to the mood or thoughts of the man. But then, he didn’t try to fathom them either. Kriel was in truth Talon Ren. The man that was had been rash and bold. The Knight that is was calculating and measured. He served where once he only dreamed of leading. He knew his place and the extent of his capabilities. He filled a niche that others chose not to occupy and he served it well. He produced Knights. One of his current crop would soon be one, one was not as close as Kriel had expected and two more were some way behind.

The public shows of power confused Talon Ren. Were they an act that reflected true feelings or a display to keep the rest in line? In truth Talon did not care less. He was dutiful and loyal – and he performed. It was true he spent more of his time training than on missions, but there was a need and he filled it. Perhaps with his new crop of Knights, one or two would pick up the slack and allow him to develop into the Master he had always planned to be. To do the Supreme Leader’s bidding through deeds greater than teaching.

Which is when he felt the pain. Subtle at first, it built and built until his body felt on fire. But it was a sensation he lived with daily – and his response was therefore instinctive. He took the pain and made it his own. He pulled the Force to him and wrapped it in his anguish. It was a daily ritual and he allowed the sensation to hone his control of the Force, to sharpen his manipulation of it.

For Kriel, the moment the pain subsided was almost a disappointment. It lessened his connection to the Force.

But he heard the rallying cry – the time was right to step out of the shadows and into the light – if only to bring darkness upon those they faced.

[member="Zmej Ren"] [member="Connor Harrison"][member="Kaalia Voldaren"] [member="Rolf Amsel"] [member="Julius Thonn"] [member="Mishel Ren"] [member="Ara Ren"] [member="Brennan Cabrol"] [member="Celessa Beto"]

 

[Perth Levov]

Perth was curious. Leaders, in her experience, were distant, yet here was the Supreme Leader walking amongst them. And the power he carried was palpable. She’d met a few Sith Lords and their aura was strong – but the man in front of her was quite literally a giant amongst boys. He could smite them all if he wished and she wondered for a moment if that was why they were here. Had they displeased him?

She shook the thought off as more of a Sith approach – but she was still learning what it meant to be a Ren and so she wondered if her expectation was built on a solid foundation or sand.

As he approached them, she noted he seemed to know so much about them. She expected none had met him before yet he knew as much of them as they probably did themselves – if not more. And she wondered what he knew of her – or rather what he thought of her. She wasn’t frightened of him per se – for in her mind, there was no point in an ant being afraid of the bottom of someone’s boot. What comes to pass, comes to pass. But she almost guiltily reflected on her time as a Ren.

She’d been dutiful – to the point of boredom – and she had learned much, although her need for training in dark magic had taken her outside the Ren. But given none internally could train her and she had killed every Sith she’d learned from once she’d taken what she needed, she expected this would not necessarily count against her.

She was shaken from her thoughts by a pain. It was as if her body was on fire from the inside. She tried to block it, hoping it was an illusion, but to no effect. The pain was not in her mind, it was real. She resisted the desire to sink to her knees as the burning showed no sign of abatement. Her body wanted to capitulate but her will refused to comply.

And just as the pain was becoming overwhelming, it stopped. She took a few deep breaths, aware she was filled with the Force and no doubt her irises had morphed yellow. The warrior in her was coiled like a spring, ready to strike – and she had to consciously calm herself in case she did something she regretted.

But rather than be angry with the Supreme Leader, instead she wanted to understand how he did it. She wanted to learn. She almost asked out loud to be taught, but caught her tongue at the last and remained silent. There would be time, for now they had a mission. And the Jedi would suffer for their dogmatic ways and Perth would prevail.

 

[Ara Zambrano]

As the Supreme Leader made his way off of his dais to inspect each one of them with an analyzing and assessing glance, Ara kept herself still, watching his progress. Sieger Ren stopped before the ex-Jedi and she was proud to see that [member="Connor Harrison"] didn’t back or shy away from the scathing comment about his history and former station. It had been a sore spot between them recently, and the girl was certain the comment was meant to dig into their pride, all of them. The term youth and the thinly veiled disgust did not go unnoticed, even as he continued tracing his path around the assembled Acolytes and Knights.

When he approached she inclined her head respectfully. His gaze bore into hers for a moment before flitting back to the Jedi on the other side of the room. Her own eyebrows narrowed in response, years of practice the only thing that kept a blush from rising to her cheeks. She wasn’t surprised by his knowledge of their familiar relationship and wondered how much he suspected or knew.

His aura was far beyond anything she’d felt before, overwhelming and oppressive. If he didn’t know the extent of their relationship, it would take but one push into either of their minds to divulge it. When he moved on, she allowed herself to breathe again, her moment of intense scrutiny passed without a word.

A voice rang out around the chamber, it’s familiar tones causing the brunette to wince where even Sieger’s assessing gaze had not.

Karking, idiot.

She watched, impassive, as the youth from Victoria spoke out and was subsequently disciplined. Her expression was flat and unaffected by the pain and swiftness with which Sieger doled out his punishment to both the boy and the Knight who she assumed had brought the man youth amongst them. Ara was instantly thankful that whatever Sieger suspected or knew of between her and the ex-Jedi was not enough of a problem to bring his wrath upon their heads.

Their leader turned his wrath upon the two men with words, not power, before focusing on the group as a whole. The blush she’d prevented before reared its ugly head as Connor was once again the subject of his attention, and her suspicions as to his far-reaching knowledge confirmed.

The warmth of blood rushing to her cheeks was replaced by fire in her veins. The burning torn a gasp from her throat and she dropped to one knee from surprise more than pain. She could see another of their order also fall, through the shimmery haze of tears that sprung to her eyes as her insides burned. Shutting her eyes against the pain, she forced herself to stand, pulling the pain and the burning sensation inward and replacing it with the slow boiling of anger until she couldn’t tell where one began and the other ended. She couldn’t control the attack, but she could use it to fuel her own power.

When the attack finally ceased, Ara opened eyes with irises ringed in amber and sulfur, an outward sign of the force swirling around her. She refused to look to her left, refused to give in to the urge to see how her two friends faired through the attack on their life-force. Her dark eyes hardened with determination and the bloodlust the pain had called forth, a voice taunting her to lash out and prove her strength. Instead, she let an easy smile cross her face, years of masking her true thoughts and emotions now a boon.

Mustafar. The place her saber was forged, where they would see the true might of the Ren. Ara had no questions, instead she bowed deeply to the leader that stood before them, her eyes shining with anticipation and drive.

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"] | [member="Kriel Firin"] | [member="Perth Levov"] |[member="Zmej Ren"] | [member="Samka Derith"] | [member="Julius Thonn"] | [member="Celessa Beto"] | [member="Brennan Cabrol"] | [member="Castor Ren"] | [member="Kyrel Ren"]