Private A New World

[Adron Malvern]

Xobos Yakieer ~ Azurine City ~ Dragonne Royal Palace
​

The throne room was empty.

All meetings had been postponed. All assemblies had been rescheduled. All visitors had been recalled. The King needed something that was becoming so difficult to buy in the most lucrative of days. Silence. In the past few days it was as if the planet had been thrown into a number of taxing situations. They were problems and circumstances that were bound to arise. In the scope of the galaxy Illyria was yet a world in its infancy. It was not a mega-city planet, or a trade hub, or even capable of challenging planets like Vylmira in terms of prosperity. No, not yet. However, its rate of progression? No world could hope to match that. Thanks to the efforts of the King and Queen Illyria was a planet that was growing well outside of its natural means. With growth comes growing pains.

The King had been walking slow circles in the throne room, his eyes fastened on a single leather bound book. He preferred books to datapads. They were extremely more personable and for one such as Adron he could quite literally feel the weight of those who wrote into the books.

It was not long until the King closed the book in his hands that there was a subtle knock at the main door. "Enter." The man said, turning his eyes towards the threshold. The door was opened, revealing an Official of the Illyrian courts. The man wore long flowing blue robes flecked in silver and gold, with finely maintained features. His eyes looked to the King before he bowed his head respectfully. "Your majesty. We have summoned the Knight, Xobos Yakieer as you requested." The King glanced up to the man before nodded, waving a hand at him dismissively. "Send her in." He commanded, before turning and making his way to the throne.

There was yet one final gift he had to impart upon his apprentice before he allowed her some return to normalcy. He chuckled softly, lowering himself into his throne and waiting expectantly.

​

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Azurine City, Dragonne Royal Palace
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Lightsabers (1)
Mental state: Inquisitive
Tags: | Adron Malvern |

To say that the last few days had been abnormal would be an…understatement, to say the very least. Never before had Xobos been taken for anything more than a weapon to be sharpened. During this short period, she was being treated more like a hero than ever before. Her loyalty to the planet that she now called home only grew with each and every thank you, congratulations, or nod of approval she received. Illyria had welcomed the homeless into it’s open arms, only to see it’s loyalty be repaid with acts of true courage and love. Rarely did her mind wander to the misty landscapes of her ancestral, banished home anymore. Only when one of the voices brought it up did the planet cross her mind.

It seemed as though times were returning to normal not long after the few days of admiring and relaxation ended, starting with being summoned to a training session, then to the King’s chambers. Like thinking back to her home, it was rare for Xobos to think of Adron of just her master anymore. He was the King. She was one of the many knights who had pledged their lives to the defense of his kingdom, and to their home. While their relationship had not changed at it’s core, the knighting had added a new angle to it that she was only too happy to begin feeding into.

A man of blue robes and silver lining entered back into the waiting chambers, approaching where the masked and silent new knight sat. “The King will see you now.” His smooth, flowing words earned him a slow nod of appreciation from the masked Miraluka. Her freshly cleaned cloak pulled tight to her body as she stood, turning to make her way into the King’s chambers. Within her mind, the voices began to speculate exactly why they were here. “Are we being sent out on a new assignment I wonder, little knight…” Ambrus’s words wormed their way through her mind, punctuated with the new title he had seemingly delightedly begun to call her. Xobos took it in stride, as best as possible, and just passed it off as something that might change with the next title she would earn.

Her silence continued as she entered into the King’s chambers, eyes fixated on the man as she made her way forward. Once a few feet from his throne, she silently took her knee in front of him. If there was anything she had learned during her time as his weapon, it was to speak when spoken to. Not before, as that would only end up earning her a harsh rebuttal. If she was needed to speak on whatever was about to occur, she’d be asked for it. Otherwise…

This was shaping up to be another normal day.

 

[Adron Malvern]

The hall fell silent as the door's opened for Adron's favored apprentice. Xobos. A woman who he had taken from the cradle of a desolate world and raised her in the embrace of the Dark Side. Her power had magnified many fold since he'd taken her from that world, yet there was more training she needed to undergo. Her mind was stronger, but it was not yet the iron will of her master's. Still, these were things that took decades to cultivate. No small amount of years were needed for true mastery of the Force, and of self.

The Miralukan fell to a knee, descending down so flawlessly that her form seemed almost unnatural in the dim light of the hall. The King's amethyst eyes graced her for some time before he brought two fingers up in a smooth gesture. "Rise, Xobos." He commanded her before looking to that which he had molded. He stayed silent for some time before finally breaking silence to speak to his apprentice.

"You are growing into a fine young woman." He complimented her, something that the past had often withheld. She should not get used to it, however. "I thought you should know that. Your existence, though insignificant to this day, has been one I have been interested in watching."

"I've summoned you here because it is time for the next lesson in your training. A lesson that will open an entire chapter to you and all who are with you." He stood from his throne, smoothing out the subtle wrinkles that were laid upon his surcoat. Those eyes that bore into Xobos seemed to hold some amusement, but he would not reveal the secret of their shine. Instead he stepped away, gesturing for the woman to follow him with a slight beckon of the hand. "There is a province in the lands far West of here. A small mining town not far from the coast. It is within the lands of Viscount Raphael Boucher, a trusted bannerman of the Crown."

"The settlement is called Garde Noire. It was once the lands of a rather favorable noble by the name of Sieur Armand. However, the young Lord passed in an unfortunate mining tragedy a few weeks ago. He had no next of kin which means his lands are forfeit to the Crown. These lands are quite lucrative. The settlement is small and the people are...at unease. However, the Sieur was expected to make a fortune in his trade." The King led the woman to a desk that held a rolled up piece of parchment, the deed to these mining lands and the settlement it held.

There was a spare moment as Adron looked to Xobos before handing the parchment to Xobos. "By decree of the Royal House of Malvern, I hereby name you Sieur of Garde Noire, to be settled by you and your blood until the waters of Illyria run dry and her star burns cold."

The meaning behind his words were apparent. Xobos Yakieer was now a member of the Nobility.

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Azurine City, Dragonne Royal Palace
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Lightsabers (1)
Mental state: Inquisitive
Tags: | Adron Malvern |

There was a time that any sort of compliments from the King might’ve sent nervous shivers down her spine for the connotations that it might bring. Of course, this was still a thought that crossed her mind while the King praised the weapon she had become. Yet, the slightest bit of proudness lit at her chest, and while she did not make any outward show of it, when she stood, it appeared as though the new knight stood just a bit taller than when she first knelt.

A new lesson was not something that Xobos felt as though would be much of a surprise. She had come armored up and ready to take on a new challenge, after all. What did surprise her was how much Adron began to build it up. Typically if there was a new challenge or new skill to learn, there would be little buildup or even talk before the lesson began. When they had ventured into the swamp with her senses taken away, Xobos had to figure out the lesson completely by herself. There had been hints, of course, but it was survive or die. With the King building this lesson up, it made her mind wander to whether this would end up being a longer training session, perhaps even an assignment, than first imagined.

The talk only moved in a stranger direction when the King began to speak of a province far from the capital. At first, her mind then began to move toward her escapades while Adron had been gone. Had he heard rumors of another Baron spitting on the Kingdom’s rules? If that was the case, Xobos much more would have rather finishing her new pair of lightsabers before now. But..that wasn’t the way the conversation ended. It ended in a way that she might never had imagined.

For a few moments, where her eyes would have been underneath the mask just stared at the deed that had been placed in her hands. Mind racing at what had just occurred, it took a moment for it all to dawn on her. Eventually, Xobos looked up to the King, immediately bowing her head in response to the gift. “I..do not know what to say. Other than..thank you, my King.” Her gloved thumb rubbed up and down the parchment, allowing the moment to wash over her before the questions began to bubble up from her chest. Forcing them into a more streamlined and proper set of mind, her eyes once again moved from the document to the King.

“What can you tell me about this town? I have…quite a few questions at this point. I don’t expect them all to be answered…but I would like to have an idea what I am walking into, Master.” Xobos rarely at this point asked anything of adron. It wasn’t the most proper. But this was a massive new test for her. If she could get a decent amount of information beforehand, she thought, there was a chance that it would benefit her in the short and long term.

 

[Adron Malvern]

​

L O C A T I O N | Dragonne Palace​

T A G S | Xobos Yakieer ​

It was something, wasn't it? The feeling of shared pride in a single moment. Adron Malvern had taught many, but feld pride in few. Xobos had managed to become an exception in a galaxy the man condemned. Still, he said nothing as Xobos accepted her new charge with no small amount of gratitude. The King bowed his head, acknowledging her thanks before turning from the woman, making his way to a bar cart that was happily placed in the throne room for the King's use. He took hold of the first bottle that caught his eye, a fine wine from the vineyards on Naboo, something more suitable to the occasion, The man poured two flutes as he listened to the woman's words. ​

When he was finished pouring his wine, the man turned to hold a flute out to the woman. "The people of Garde Noire are native Illyrians. They are extremely proud of this, however the blood that has served them for over five hundred years has finally run dry. It will take a sure hand to bring them back to former glories." ​

The King paused for a moment, considering his words before looking to Xobos. "A Noble is much like a caretaker. Your people must be fed, clothed, housed, educated and at times entertained. Your lands must be well maintained, your treasury must be considerable, your taxes must be fair." He continued on. "Now, there are advisors and specialists who will be at your disposal. They will teach you how to properly manage your lands. However, a word of advice. Do not seek to impart your responsibilities on them. Instead keep them as counsel, use them, but never place power in them. The more knowledge they own that you do not, the power power they possess instead of you." ​

"From this moment on you build a legacy. You leave the galaxy an impression that may last for ten years or ten thousand years. That depends how sternly you hold yourself to a single virtue. Standard. Set a standard that all should follow for years to come. Be fair, yet stern, do not be a tyrant yet never shy from the blood that must be spilled for justice and the greater good. Do you understand this?" ​

"Holding the claim of Knight will grant you some favor among the people, however it is your leadership that will ultimately decide the future of Garde Noire."​

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Azurine City, Dragonne Royal Palace
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Lightsabers (1)
Mental state: Inquisitive
Tags: | Adron Malvern |

Xobos reached out to grasp onto the flute of wine, regarding it for the slightest of moments before setting it onto the desk. With it out of her hand, her pair of gloved hands reached up to unclasp the helmet from her head, a slight hiss filling the air as the air decompressed. The removal was purposeful, not slow, but not fast either. As the helmet was pulled from it’s place atop her head, a mess of dark, black hair obscured the pale smooth flesh where the woman’s eyes should be. Humanoids were…mostly nervous, unhappy to see a Miraluka without their eye mask. The lack of eyes unnerved them. Adron had been an exception in her time, allowing her to understand that some creatures in this galaxy had the ability to look beyond the physical features. Perhaps that was why he had been so keen to take her off Roon all those years ago.

With her helmet placed off to the side, resting on a clean spot on the desk, she moved back to grasp the flute and take the smallest of sips. She listened keenly as the King described the situation she was walking into, brows furrowing at the small details that he let lose. He knew that the new knight would understand the connotation of being sent to rule a place of native Illyrians, when she was most certainly not a native. These were proud people. It would more than likely only serve to undermine whatever authority she would have moving into this job with. It was a..frustrating aspect.
But, the King rarely gave gifts without strings attached. It was up to Xobos to make the most of it.

She listened to the rest of his words, nodding occasionally, sipping at the wine as she did so. All this talk of a legacy was foreign to her. Rarely had her mind wandered past the next days of training. Either it was firmly in the present, near future, or the past, but never in the future. Adron was asking her to consider things that had never crossed her mind. It was a humorous thing. Letting out a quick, soft breath through her nose, she looked up to the king, a smile gracing the edges of her lips. “I understand it..I just do not know if I can be what these people need.” Xobos knew the King would know she was not chuckling at his words, rather her humor was directed at her own inability.

“You know as well as anyone..perhaps more than anyone..how I suffer with a constant battle with my mind. While you might not know their names..you know of the voices that torture my mind. The peace we have found through your training has been a calming one, but there are still battles I fight on a daily basis to keep myself from losing to Ambrus..Ora..Lagos..and keep who I am. If I am not…of the soundest mind, and have only ever fought for myself..”

Her eyes cast downward, letting out the smallest of sighs. It was rare for her to speak like this, let her emotions run free. But if there was a time for it, now was the moment to allow her insecurities to speak. Even now, she could feel the voices restlessness, feel how they were unhappy of their names being spoken allowed. “How am I supposed to lead people who will not respect the blood that runs through my veins?”

 

[Adron Malvern]

L O C A T I O N | Dragonne Royal Palace
T A G S | Xobos Yakieer​

The King listened to his apprentices words and considered them for a fleeting moment before he chuckled at the thought of them. How many did Xobos believe stepped into the shoes of command or the blood of title and truly deserve it? Even fewer were able to rise to their new station and shine above the adversities that would be set against them. "Without guidance these people will be lost. Abandoned. Certainly you can understand the need for guidance, more than any other. You will become what they require because that is the need you must fill. Only those with no ability to grow should worry about such things. For you, it is merely a matter of how much time you will waste during this transformation."

"It took me years to become what I am and I did not have the guiding hand that you do." He told the woman.

Ah. The voices.

That was one of the larger aspects giving the woman pause?

The King held a hand up to the woman's words. "We are all in the service of something greater. You have been in my service for some time now and never have you shirked your duty. This service is no different, yet it is for these people who you will fight for now and for the legacy you shall craft." He told the woman, taking a measured sip from his flute. He ran a hand along his chin in a moment of contemplation before arching a brow at the woman's last words.

"Child, you forget. My blood is no more Illyrian than yours, yet in my heart I am their King and in their heart they are my people. You will learn to speak to them as I have. Not merely in their minds, but in their very being." He turned from the woman, making his way back to his throne as he drank a bit more of his drink. "Leading, commanding, and ruling people is a part of being a Sith. We are greater beings destined to rule over those our power can extend over. If you cannot convince them that you are not fit to rule them then they will stand against you, but first you must convince yourself it seems."

As Adron lowered himself into his throne he took another sip of his wine. It was quite refreshing, a nice summer wine that had been chilled to a cool point. His amethyst eyes gazed over the woman for a moment, before he turned to his flute once again. He shifted the azure liquid for a few times before setting the glass down on the table near his seat. "You will depart immediately. I'll see to it your duties with The Confederacy are waived for the time being, so you may focus on your efforts with your new province."
​

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Azurine City, Dragonne Royal Palace
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Lightsabers (1)
Mental state: Jeering
Tags: | Adron Malvern |

“You’re..not native Illyriran?” This new revelation gave her pause. For a moment, her eyes downcast into the wine, swirling it around in the flute as her mind echoed the swirling movements. She had..no idea that the King was not a native. Perhaps it had been said at some point, but this was the first time it was dawning on her. The people of this planet respected him. More so than perhaps any king before him. And ruling people was part of the sith culture, however, not a part that Xobos had engaged in until now. Garde Noire would be an interesting test. As much as she wanted to succeed, there was also the ingrained want and need within her body to make it so that the people of this town had a good life. Xobos just hoped she could be the person to lead them there…for her sake as much as thiers.

Taking a few moments to finish off the rest of her flute of wine, she turned to see that she was being ushered from the room. It seemed as though the time for questions was over. And now..now was the time to look over her new people. With a nod, Xobos set aside the glass flute on the King’s desk, then reached to retrieve her helmet from it’s resting position. It’s faceless, stoic features looked back at her as she stared downward, running her thumb over the serrated portion. Would this be the face of the leader the people would want to see? Or would they rather see her own? It was a question she would ponder on the speeder ride to the town. For now, she flipped the helmet the right way and secured it onto her head. The sense of comfort smoothed over her nerves. Her head turned to the King, giving him a respectful bow of the head, then turning to stride out of the room.

By the time she was outside, there was already an attendant who seemed to know where she was going. The walk to the speeder was a calm one, save for the few jeering attempts from the voices. “A town to rule over, hm?” Ora’s voice was first, and while the words didn’t cut, the tone behind them wasn’t exactly the most trusting. Ambrus’s words were much more to the point. “Perhaps if the people uprise quick enough, we can practice our saber skills while cutting off each and every one of their heads..” Her only response was to grunt, annoyed at the sentiment, instead focusing on hopping into the speeder once there.

For a moment, her mind went to what personal belongings she did have, and whether or not they would make it to this new town. They surely had a speeders or shuttles of some type, so she could always come back. That was, of course, unless the King had already taken care of it. And in the Knight’s experience…

The King had taken care of her well.

 

[Adron Malvern]

L O C A T I O N | Location Garde Noire
T A G S | Xobos Yakieer​

"No I suppose you would not know that, would you?" The King remarked with a certain smirk upon his face.

"I am from a world far from here, called Serenno. My family once held some esteem there, long before my banishment." He explained, before turning the conversation from the topic.

When his apprentice turned from the room, the King could not help but chuckle softly. There was another thing the man could have told her, yet it would be such a ruined surprise if he did. Better the girl find out herself.

Xobos would be escorted to a small shuttle that laid in the King's own private landing pad. The servants there ushered her onto the shuttle before quickly taking to the skies. The travel from the Royal Capitol to the young woman's new fief was a few hours. As it sat very well placed near Illyria's main ocean, however a few miles from the coast. From above, the land quickly turned from open hills to rolling mountains that seemed to range across most of the terrain. It was not long before the mountain was replaced with a massive wood and then eventually rocky, cleared hills. The hills spanned for miles, yet much of the terrain was shifted and burrowed into. Mining fissures ran from one side of the hills to the next and it was not long until the town of Garde Noir could be seen in the distance.

One of the servants spoke softly to the new Sieur, her head bowed in respectful deference. "My Lady, you are set to meet with a man who has been charged with upkeeping the lands until your arrival. A member of the Garde Royal who his majesty sent until a new Sieur was appointed." As the shuttle touched down on the landing pad, the rear door opened to reveal a small entourage awaiting the new Sieur. As the group bowed their heads respectfully, a single recognizable voice called out.

"My Lady." The former instructor to the Miralukan, Zax Krieson had aged some since last they met, yet there was no mistaking the rugged Imperial tone set before her. The man wore a leather jacket with black cargo pants and a dark green shirt. He stepped forward, smiling softly before speaking evenly. "It is good to see you again, Xobos." He said.

"I believe his majesty thought you could benefit from a familiar face." He said in a knowing tone.

​

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Azurine City, Dragonne Royal Palace
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Lightsabers (1)
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Adron Malvern |

One of the most influential parts of her training came neither through offensive force powers, or even through her training with the blade. It was Adron teaching her how to mediate in a way that would allow her to calm her mind and body. Perhaps he would not see it as importantly as xobos did, but he also did not know that the lesson came with the ability to speak to the voices in a very conversational way. She had first come across this ability, inadvertently, during the battle of Taanab. Partly using a power called battle meditation, she learned, she had been able to converse with the voices for a few moments. At that point, it had left her horribly disoriented and woozy.

Now? She had spent much of the journey to her new area of rule in a cross legged position on the floor, head bowed, chest rising and falling softly. The conversation revolved around the acquisition of the new kingdom, mostly, and had been free mostly of any sort of jeering. Most of their conversations in this space were. The voices seemed to enjoy being able to speak more freely with the one who’s brain they inhabited.

“It is certainly an…interesting situation we are now in.” The greenish blue orb to her right said, floating a few feet off the ground. Within her meditative state, Xobos sat in a dark abyss, the only light coming from the floating lights right in front of her. “I almost would have never thought we would be given something like this.” Before she could respond, Ambrus cut in, an annoying, but predictable, habit of his. “This is no gift, and I believe our master here certainly knows this. This is still a test. I would not trust that..man to ever give us a gift out of good faith.” There was a pause from Xobos as she thought on the voice’s words, allowing Ora the chance to respond herself. “There is always a chance. We did protect his kingdom, after all.” Ambrus most certainly would have had a sharp respond to this, had the Miraluka not responded quickly. It still felt odd cutting off a voice in her own..mind, but stranger things had occurred. “I believe you are both right, in part. This is a test…but I believe it is a gift as well. We must continue to do our best with it, continue to stay in favor. We do that..there’s more freedom in it for us.”

There was silence from the voices for a few moments, and while most might take that in a bad way, Xobos knew it meant the opposite. She could feel that they were satisfied for the moment, which was convenient timing, for she soon felt herself being shaken from her meditative state by the attending. With a soft nod, following by a, “thank you, my dear,” she climbed from her sat position to stand for the landing. Perhaps scenery watching would have been more prudent, but the voices took priority.

They always did.

It wasn’t often that she was greeted by any sort of welcoming committee, and most certainly not one that genuinely made her smile. Seeing that the grizzled, older swordsman would be joining her for the time being made her feel every so slightly more grounded. “I’m sure he felt as though it would be good to send the man who tried to..” Xobos trailed off, eyes flicking to the rest of the party for a moment. Perhaps it’d be better to not bring up the fact that this man tried very hard to kill her in her early days of swords training. A story for another time. First impressions and all that. “..tried to make me into a betters swordswoman. It’s very good to see you, Krieson.” For all she knew, he was here to spy on her and report back to her master. Maybe even sabotage her efforts here. But that didn’t seem right, at least for now.

Better to hope for a little sunshine before the inevitable rain.

 

[Adron Malvern]

​

L O C A T I O N | Garde Noire​

T A G S | Xobos Yakieer

P O V | Zax Krieson​

​

It had been some time since the former member of the Imperial Guard had seen the young Sith, Xobos. In that time she had certainly seemed to grow into her own. For a man like Krieson, who prized small moments of nostalgia, this was enough to put him in whatever could be considered a good mood. Still, he did not let emotion sway duty. The man gestured towards the group that had gathered to meet with their new Lady. "His majesty has also ordered me to teach you your place as Sieur. As the Lady of the Lands before you there will be many duties that you will be expected to weigh in on. The Aristocracy have favorable power in all realms of the land. Economy, Military, & Law are all things you'll be expected to provide insight on." ​

"Of course, you're not expected to do this without proper counsel. This is the Assistant Constable to these lands, Lieutenant Kor'en." The man who stepped before the two of them was a gruff Twi'lek with pale-yellow skin. He had a rather unappealing scar running down his neck, a kind of burn that seemed inflicted by some kind of energy weapon. He had a militant stride to him and wore the armor of the Illyrian Rifle Corp. "My Lady." He bowed his head respectfully, before raising his eyes to see the Sieur. "It is my directive to place you under the protection of the Regional policing force until a time you have assembled your own guard." The Twi'lek turned back to the group behind him, snapping back to another two soldiers placed behind him. The Illyrian soldiers walked around the group, placing themselves behind the Miralukan quietly. ​

Krieson watched the display before gesturing for Xobos and the group to follow him. "Illyrians believe that the Aristocracy are god-like in terms of esteem and honor. You'll see that there are many who hold the aristocracy at a higher light than many others." ​

It was no sooner than a man from a nearby group of miners charged out, yelling loudly.​

The man seemed poised to charge at Xobos, however before he so much as got within a foot of her, one of the Illyrian soldier's grabbed the man's wrist, jerking him down to the ground and pinning him to the dirt. The man yelled out loudly, "Maudit, sang sale!" The man spoke in a thick rural-Illyrian dialect that caused Krieson to sigh. ​

"....and some will not hold you to such esteem because they believe you to be unworthy of your title. It has already come out to the people that you are not a native of the world." Krieson said. ​

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Lightsabers (1)
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Adron Malvern |

It seemed as though introductions were the next item on the agenda, as the former teacher motioned toward the rest of the welcoming party. The twilek that stepped up immediately struck Xobos as a fighter, and not due to his scared facial features. Throughout her training, she had been around military, learned how they walked and held themselves. His candor was distinctive. Despite her earlier reservations, it seemed as though Adron had gone to some lengths to see that her stay, at least in the beginning, did have some form of comfort. The rigors of the military life had become a normal one to her, while the sways of the aristocracy would take much adjusting to.

Once flanked by the pair of guards, which was not an unwelcome feeling, Xobos made sure to bow her head to the alien with the most respect she could muster. “I appreciate you, Kor’en. I’ll be sure to ask for your counsel when I begin to build my own guard. I’m sure you’ll have plenty of insight that I will find useful.” Better to make friends now, even if within her mind, the voices found the little flanking show a bit less than useful. Xobos was thankful yet again they could not speak aloud for her.

“Since when did we become so inept that we needed guards to protect us? Have our skills slipped that much?” Ambrus’s musing were not misplaced, but Ora’s response basically summed up her own thoughts. “Must come with the territory. Can’t have a member of the aristocracy walking around with some sort of guard.”

While the pair went about their arguing in her head, Xobos followed alongside the grizzled imperial as they began to make their way off the platform and into the town. A sudden shouting caught her attention, enough ramble to make her slowly turn her head from where she had been looking up to Zax to face the group of miners. Even if it did appear as though one might charge toward her, she made no move to draw her weapon, nor did she once the man was slammed to the ground. Ambrus’s echoing laughter that filled her mind coincided with Zax’s sigh, spitting out a, “Oh, now I’m starting to like these puny guards..” in between fits of laughter. Xobos was much less amused at the display, but made no move to stop the guards nor approach the man. Rather, she leaned to the Twi’lek, speaking in a hushed tone.

“Make sure that man there is not harmed too much. Bad first impressions, and besides..hard to work in the mines with a broken arm, is it not?” It was a test as much as anything for the twilek. Could he control his men well enough that their little display of force would not put a bad taste in the miners mouth’s, or would Xobos be forced to already tighten their leash. A display to watch and observe, for sure. In the meantime, her attention turned back to Zax, giving a nod to his words. “It may be personified out here, and with my new position, but I have experienced plenty of…mistrust in the lack of Illyrian blood in my heritage. It has not stopped me before..” She trailed off, looking to the man on the ground, then to the rest of the miners that stood near him, glaring at her with all the hatred in the galaxy they could muster.

“It won’t stop me now.”

 

[Adron Malvern]

The Twi'lek stepped forward, leaning towards his Lady as she spoke to him. When the Twi'lek turned back to his men, he watched them roughly jerk the offender to his feet, one of them slamming a fist into the man's gut. Kor'en squinted at the sight before calling out. "That's enough! Get him to the detention center. A night in the hole will sober him up a bit." The two men nodded before pinning the man's arms behind his back and escorting him further into the town. Kor'en split from the party to follow his men and ensure they didn't do anything to piss off the new Sieur.

When the Lady proclaimed that the people's apparent distaste would not stop her, Zax pressed his hand to his chest in the natural salute of the Illyrian people. "Then you will not fail." He assured her.

As they made their way into the town, Zax spoke evenly. "Now, let me see if I can explain this properly. Garde Noire once had seven active mines which produced nearly every component needed to manufacture Durasteel. It was the vision of the last lord to open refineries so that the province could mine, refine, and sell durasteel without the need of any of it's partners. However, that is a dream that has sunken far below the capabilities of these people now." They made their way into the main spine of the town. The people were exhausted and most seemed to be drudging through their existence. "The death of their lord broke their resolve. They are truly lost without him." Zax explained.

"The main mine here is a Caravanium mine. It is the primary component in functional durasteel. It sells for enough, however now there are nearly half the people mining as there used to be...Many people have quit working or left the province entirely. If the settlement is to grow, if it is to survive, then we must restart the industry. There is only one group of people that can do that. The Garde Noire Mining Guild. Men and women who have devoted their entire lives to the trade and have much pride and respect to show for it. If Garde Noire is to return to its former self, then you must entreat them to rekindle the mines fire." He explained.

Xobos Yakieer

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Lightsabers (1)
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Adron Malvern |

Xobos was..impressed, to say the least.

A town this size, with aspirations that large, and a king that thought he could lead them there would be impressive to the outside looking in to practically anyone. For the most part, it even looked like they might make it there. With seven mines able to produce every single bit of the components needed to create durosteel, it was only a matter of time until they figured out how to purify and combine it themselves. Naturally, the middleman would get cut out, and the king and people of Garde Noire would profit greatly. Especially the King. But it did seem like he genuinely wanted the best for his people.

So while it did distress her that the town had fallen so hard almost as soon as the king had died, the foundation for a successfully run town was still there. She just needed the manpower, influence, and backing to do it. Not exactly the easiest parts of the puzzle to find, but with some resilience..perhaps she could get it done.

This mining guild sounded as though they controlled much of what was going on here. It made sense. The town’s main industry being mining, having a centralized way to negotiate did seem like the best way for the workers to proceed. If she had to guess, however, many of them would probably feel the same way toward her as the miners who they first ran into. That would make negotiations or talks much harder than they would be if that hatred wasn’t there. These were the cards that were dealt, and xobos had to just go on and play with them.

Standing there, allowing the situation to wash over her, the sense of dread and dawning began to rise up in her chest as she looked up to the formal imperial. “I would assume..meeting with this guild should be among my highest priorities to do very soon. How should I go about setting up a meeting with these..people?” This was why Zax was here, to help her in the situations that she knew not how to control or start. She knew he would offer advice, but what was said in the meeting would be ultimately up to her. Much like this town’s fate. Down to the words of someone who was beginning to feel very unprepared.

 

[Adron Malvern]

When Xobos turned her mind towards the mining guild, Zax nodded at her words. The mining guild were not pushovers. They had been in dealings with the Nobility of Dark Guard well before the dark age of Illyria descended upon them. Any industry that had a prime use of guilds had its own legs to stand on, which made the Guild's particularly dangerous to those nobles who did not know how to handle them. An organized strike could cripple the most bright eyed ambitions before they were ever off their feet.

"The Mining Guild's are not unlike the nobility, you know? They believe themselves to be proud Illyrians doing what is right for the people...and their profits. However, they are businessmen and businesswomen. They are not lords and ladies. The members of the Dark Guard mining guild are your citizens and you need to convince them that it is in their best interest to serve you as faithfully as they served their former lord. The King's Law prevails on Illyria and it is because it prevails that many areas that have been in decay are now flourishing. Perhaps you can reason with them with the sake of Illyria on hand...however you are not Illyrian. So their respect for you will be...shaky. Remember, the laws of Illyria are clear. You have total domain over these lands and their people...but you must be wary not to drive your people away. If the Guild wished, they could organize something as devastating as an exodus of their workers to another lord's mine."

Zax held a hand over his chin as he led Xobos through the town. "I believe you should visit their headquarters and show yourself. Show them that you have plans and dreams like their last lord...understand their strife but do not tolerate disrespect." He told the woman as they found themselves in the center of the town.

They stood before a rather simple building which held an emblem firmly etched into the front door. Two mining picks crossed over one another, with a single phrikite ore piece resting between them. It was obviously the Mining Guild's headquarters and before stepping forward, Zax stepped in front of Xobos. "Shows of force breed respect on Illyria, but push a man too far and he will never hold love for you in his heart, only hatred." He warned before stepping to the side and gesturing to the headquarter's front door. "After you, my lady." He said, pushing the door open with his free hand.

Xobos Yakieer

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Lightsabers (1)
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Adron Malvern |

Perhaps this mining guild would cause her more trouble than it was worth. Perhaps they would make her time her much, much worse than it needed to be. They could be a horrible impediment that would change her rule for the worst. But at the very least, they seemed structured. They had morals, ideals, structure. With adron, she learned quite a few things about the force. She learned even more about how the galaxy worked and what made it tick. Structure could be exploited. It could be undermined. It could be learned and played like a fiddle. There was no telling that if this type of behavior was going to be necessary with the mining guild, but if it was…Xobos was prepared to do it.

“At least they have some respect for me. I have rarely received any at all, so just getting the bare minimum is..refreshing.” Perhaps it shouldn’t have been so nice, and perhaps Xobos should have tempered her expectations a bit more. Still, receiving the smallest bit of respect now was a welcome change from her time of non-stop training. Here, at least, there were some small amount of people that didn’t see her as a monster, and her word carried a small amount of sway.

A meeting with the mining guild seemed like the best move for now, even if Xobos had a desire to go and set up what little she had in wherever she’d be sleeping. Business came first, and as they made their way up to the mining guild’s building, she could feel the anticipation beginning to build in her chest. Zax’s words were taken into consideration, followed by a nod. She knew how shows of force worked on Illyria. She had seen how they could be used effectively, and had participated in part in a few. It would not be a good idea to open with one, as she had no idea what made these miners tick.

Just as the door was about to open and she was to step in, Xobos paused. For a moment, she stood on the top step, stoic and standstill. Slowly, she reached up to the clasps on her helmet, unlocking them and pulling it free. Her dark brown hair cascaded down her shoulders, and for a moment, the smooth skin where her eyes should have been was shown. It was quickly covered by a simple mask. If this meeting was to go forward, the men inside deserved to see the face of the one that had taken the place of their king. Xobos would not be afraid to show her face. She would not be faceless to these men.

It was time to start being confident in who she was.

A Knight of Illyria.

The Sieur of Garde Noire.

 

[Adron Malvern]

Victory in labor.
​

The Guild hall was certainly nothing special. Inside the simple dwelling were an assortment of tables and a sparce selection of book shelves to either side of the room. The guild hall seemed to be crafted in an old cantina of sorts and appeared more like a small club meeting hall than a Guild Headquarters. Never the less, it was certainly busy. Every table was filled with gruff, roughly cut individuals who had the stink of ale upon their breath. Many sported short stubble for a beard and lowly hemmed or balding heads. Some had markings on their forearms, twin mining picks crossed over one another just as was displayed outside. Yet, all men within the hall fell silent from their uproar when their eyes were laid upon the blind woman who stepped before them.

They held faces of deep glaring, as if someone unworthy had stepped before them. None moved, not a soul. Yet, they did gaze at this woman as if they wished to tear her apart. As the Lady of Garde Noire stepped forward one of the men inhaled sharply, spitting a thick slob onto the already filthy floor. "Thousand greetin's, milady." He said hoarsely, with no sign of respect or fealty.

Another walked past the Sieur, placing two fingers on his brow in a mock salute as he sharply bowed his head. This man did not even speak, he merely grunted in passing as he stepped out of the Guild Hall.

"That's enough o' dat, you lot." A voice came from the end of the room, thick and rough with the unrefined slurs of Common Illyrian. "Get on wit' yer business." The old man called out, slamming a fist alongside the metal table he sat at. This man seemed a different breed. He was well over seven feet tall, by the way his massive form barely fit in his chair he seemed to be on the upside of two-hundred and fifty pounds. He had massive, scarred muscles that barely fit in the stained off-white shirt he wore and his eyes were in a perpetual squint, as if skeptical of the woman before him.

"Lady Sieur." The man called out, kicking out a chair from the other side of the desk to it would slide closer to the woman. "Pleasure. Name's Legget Guidry. I'm da Head Foreman in da mines and President o' da Garde Noire Minin' Boys."

"Jus' well you come down here, milady. Me an da boys were just talkin' 'bout puttin' up new roots in Moorewood or Cranshire...thinkin' o' leavin' these parts. Just not the honest work it used ta be, y'know? Be a shame to let all this fine, minin' muscle go to waste, catch my drift?" He seemed to have a jesting tone about him, yet every word that came out of Legget's mouth rang true. The Head Miner was looking to move his Guild out of Dark Guard and into a more profitable town. He looked around to his men, each of which were snickering or laughing at the man's display. He brought his lips up in a wide grin before finishing his words.

"What I'm sayin' is you might as well carry yer skinny arse back outta here. We're not workin' for ya." He said with a wide sneer.

Xobos Yakieer

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Lightsabers (1)
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Adron Malvern |

“Not exactly the clean halls of the capital anymore, is this, master..” Ora was not wrong for thinking so. Before entering, Xobos had expected the guild to look much more..professional than what appeared to be a converted bar area. The customers..workers of the guild fit the scene, at least. It wasn’t the most convincing first impression to say the least, but if it did effect Xobos’s mood whatsoever, she did not let it show outwardly. Rather, her stoic expression shown strong in the face of the mocking salute and the spitting from the miners. She could not let it effect her. Adron had taught her that letting someone get a foothold like that on you was the first step to your downfall. No, she was to be in control of the situation, no one else.

That stoic expression stayed strongly on her face as she made her way to the table of what had to be the leader of the guild. She took her seat at the table, allowing the man to speak as freely as he so pleased. This was his domain, after all. At least for the time being. He certainly had cards to play, and his threat of moving the guild and workers from Garde Noire was a tough card to have played against her. Not that it wasn’t expected, or at least thought about, from what Zax had told her, and she was honestly glad it had been played earlier, rather than later. The man seemed so sure of himself, so set in his ideals, that it would be quite the tough sell to try and get him to stay.

Xobos had never been one to back down from a challenge.

She started off with a nod, folding her hands into her lap as she started to speak. “Well, Mr. Guidry, I appreciate you letting me see you anyway, even if you seemingly have your mind made up on what is best for you and your people. I understand that is what you, as head foreman, want the most. A place that is both profitable and safe for your men and women to work in. It is an admirable goal to have.” Xobos did her best to sound genuine with her words, even if they might not hold the weight they would other places. These people might not like her, and may very well have no respect for her, but she wanted them to understand she knew what their motivations were, and respected them for it.

“And you are smart. You understand that this place..Garde Noire, will not survive as a town without your people’s hard work and guidance. You have leverage, so allow me to speak for just a moment.” Her hands were brought up to the table, now folded there, the straightness of her shoulders loosening for just a moment. “I am not of royalty. I was not born into it, only worked my way into this..position. I am not some…perfectly pristine family who had everything handed to her. I understand hard work. I understand that recognition for that work comes..rarely.” Xobos’s gaze moved from the head miner to the miners around her, whether they be jeering at her or actually listening to the words that she spoke. These men and women were the heart of Illyria. The heart of this town.

With a soft sigh, she looked back to the burly man, a slight smirk beginning to peak at the edge of her lips. “I wish to complete the vision that your former king had for this town. To turn it into a production juggernaut that no town in this hemisphere can challenge. That will get you and your men the recognition that you deserve. I will make sure of that.” Holding up a hand, she made sure the man did not speak. She knew what the next words would be, so instead, she got out ahead of the question before it could even be slurred out.

“What would it take to make it so that you and your men see through the vision of your king with me?”

 

[The High Court of Illyria]

LEGGET GUIDRY ~ THE OL' MINER​

Tags: Xobos Yakieer @ ​

While the young Sieur stood before the Mining Foreman he pulled an old pipe from his pocket, setting it on the table and arching a brow up to the woman. The large man began to pack tobacco in the clasp, before placing the pipe in between his lips with an unconscious squint thrown over at Xobos as he pulled an igniter from his pocket. He didn't care to interrupt Xobos, he wasn't that kind of man. He wasn't afraid to hear what others had to say, it was all the more fun to burn their little dreams down with his own simpler form of logic. While the Knight spoke, she had handed the man a number of compliments, but those meant nothing to the hardened miner.

Once the tobacco was lit, Legget took a very deep tote from the pipe. He exhaled a thick, nausea inducing cloud of tobacco smoke into the air before coughing out at Xobos' words. Whether it was a stuttered laugh or the smoke from the tobacco was yet to be seen. He inhaled sharply, spitting out a disgusting slob on the floor beside him before looking to Xobos. "Aye, ya be a Knight o' da planet. Don't think I don't respect that." He said, pointedly aiming the tube of his pipe at the woman before returning it to his lips. "But ya ain't been made no Knight for minin'. Ya don't know chit about it, do ya milady?" He questioned, giving her a spare moment to answer the question before he waved his hand at the woman. "Course ya don't. Ya a young one, barely older than the girls workin' at my Great Uncle's Cantina. What do ya know about makin' a mine successful. eh? What do ya know about the Garde Noire? Nothin'." He said, sharply. "So don't ya sit there an' tell me whats good for my boys, when you don't know nothin' about what we do, milady."

"Vision- ha! Ain't no such thing as a vision without knowledge. An' ya ain't got no knowledge about this." Though his words were blunt and harsh, the man did seem slightly interested in the woman's words. He glanced over to his men for a moment, each of which regarded him with a rugged, unsure shrug.

"Hmph." Legget sat silently, biting down on his pipe before shaking his head. "Ain't a thing we can do for ya..."

"...but." He paused, before his men looked to him with a confused expression. "Tell ya what. We ain't signed no contract to any other lands just yet so I suppose a deal ain't off da table. Da Minin' Boys are all about helpin' da people, ya know? Well, there's been lots o' people leavin' lately so its not like there are many people left to keep happy. Show us you'll take care o' the little folk and I might consider a deal with ya." The man said, crossing his arms over his chest before leaning back in his chair. ​

​

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Lightsabers (1)
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Adron Malvern | The High Court of Illyria |

The miners reaction was…about as Xobos expected. Perhaps she had learned to be pessimistic through the years of harsh training beating it into her. Maybe that wasn’t the way to look at the galaxy. Cali Ziiva would have most certainly disagreed with her on this type of mentality. But if one went into a situation expected the worst, then there was a good chance that you would either be correct, or surprised at the income. It was a good way to avoid being disappointed in the situation.

She hadn’t expected the miner to suddenly be on her side. There was no big reaction from the man, laughing with the rest of his boys about how they had tricked the gullible new Sieur and that they would be returning to the mines as quickly as possible. “Not that that wouldn’t have been a nice surprise…” In many other situations, she would have chided back at Ambrus’s grumbling, but her mind needed to remain on the present moment, especially when the head miner gave a possible glimmer of hope at the end.

Xobos chewed on the inside of her cheek for a long moment, gathering her thoughts on how to respond. “It would be ill advised for me to sit here and try and convince you I know what to do with mining, or that I even know what’s best for you people. In truth, you are the best one for that. You know your men, you know Garde Noire, and you know what makes these mines tick.” Slowly, she leaned back in her seat, contemplating her next words. The head miner knew what cards he held, and he knew he had the upper hand in this conversation. Xobos needed to find a way to make sure her mark on the conversation was left.

She looked around the room, beginning to speak once again. As she spoke, she met the eyes of every miner she could. “There is something very important that I have learned about the heart of Illyria. It’s that it does not exist within any aristocracy or kingdom, but within each and every man and women on this planet.” The new Sieur turned to look at the mining boss, giving him the slightest hint of a smile. “And it most deeply exists in the..little folk. Your people that spend their time in dark, working with their hands.”

A pause, then a nod in relation to the mining boss’s last words. “I am still learning, especially how to run a town like this. I want your people here, and I want to take care of them as best I can. But,” her voice darkened lightly, not so much threatening, but more so to enunciate the seriousness in the words that flowed out next. “But for me to do that, I need to know what you need to survive and thrive. I cannot give you what I do not know you need.”