Private An Interview With A Goddess

[Asaiah Celwik]

Location: Nar Shaddaa
Tag: Vakhari Lutris

"You've never been here before Dag. This is where our family first started. The first Mother. Make sure you remember this Dag."

Asaiah stepped through the alleyways of Nar Shaddaa, almost gliding amongst the ground as she skipped seemingly without a care in the world. A bright grin plastered across her face whilst she had her left arm wrapped around her waist, practically useless to her. But that was fine! That's where the creature behind her was for. To act as her left arm and protect her. It couldn't speak and didn't seem as if it was listening but it was. Asaiah could feel the connection between herself and Dag. The blood that connected them let her feel what it felt. What it's simple mind could think. Dag was one of many creatures she hoped to make in the future but that was not important.

According to the report she had got from the Nar Shaddaa Bloodline, someone was requesting an interview. Who better to respond to the interview than the Goddess that had founded the Bloodline? Of course, Asaiah looked nothing like a Goddess right now. She was not graced with fine clothes, or shining jewels. No, she was dressed as if she was a regular person heading out to an interview! Adjusting the tie ever so slightly with her right hand before skipping once more through the streets, a giddy gleeful smile spreading across her visage contrasted by the emotionless and dead gaze of Dag behind her. No matter how much she skipped, how fast she moved, Dag was right there. Behind her.

It had been a long while since Asaiah could afford herself this much relaxation. She had been locked away on Polis Massa, through her own choice, to work on her experiments in peace. Using what resources her bloodline had been able to send her. The woman had left her favourite creation, her first one back at the lab. The creature that she so lovingly called her child. It had been left behind out of concern that this could be a trap. If Asaiah was to be captured or killed, that would be fine with her. It would also be fine if the same happened with Dag, the Dagobah Spawn, but she could not allow it to happen to her Child. It was a disgrace. All because she had killed a Jedi that had attacked her first. Her nose wrinkled at the thought before yet another smile came across her face as a glimmer of sparkles twinkled in her eyes, as she thrusted her good arm towards the boarded up and seemingly abandoned building in front of them.

"Behold Dag! Our home for the evening. Please do be a dear and open the door for me."

She could do it with her right arm, sure, but there was something satisfying about having a creation do the work for her. As she stepped into the safe-house, Asaiah took in the moment. The main room was vast but relatively empty. Various chairs strewn across the ground, alongside bloody tables where members of the Bloodline were busy extracting blood from their targets. The feeling that washed over her as she saw some of the various faces turning to look at her with looks of awe or amazement on their faces. Asaiah was sure that the Mother had done plenty of work inspiring the Faithful with stories of Asaiah's deeds. Meanwhile some of them carried on with their work, noting down plans on datapads or disposing of vile evildoers that had been...exterminated.

"Hello Children. It is a most uplifting sight to see you all working away. You're all working to make the Galaxy a safer place for those who aren't able to defend themselves. You are proving that you have the strength to tower over those who wish to harm you."

Her eyes sparkled as Asaiah headed over towards the vials of blood that had been collected from the "villains", getting ready to inspect them whilst the Faithful turned their attention over towards the sight of the creature plodding its way in, each step seemingly heavier than the last. Some of the less...believing Faithful's faces flashed with something resembling fear and terror, whereas those who are almost as zealous as Asaiah herself had expressions of awe and joy. It was unlike anything most of them had seen in their lives.

None of that mattered however as the visage of a familiar looking Twi'lek approached Asaiah. The Mother, though she seemed ever so slightly worse for wear. Dozens of bandages covered some of the skin Asaiah could see, and she could feel a deep pain radiating from within the Twi'Lek as Asaiah rested her hand atop the Twi'lek's shoulder for a moment, the glee in Asaiah's face fading to a distorted expression of care. They were meant to be a form of family that Asaiah had made to replace the one she had killed at the start of her journey, and so Asaiah knew she should care...but it was hard to bring herself to actually be worried.

"...Do not worry, Saviour. The journey of Vengeance is not an easy one. Please, you should go and sit. Wait for our guest. I sent one of my own to go and escort here."

The Mother's eyes darted towards Asaiah's crippled arm for a moment, a look of concern passing over their face before looking back over towards Asaiah who responded with a simple grin. It was an attempt at reassurance. To prove that Asaiah was still as capable as everything. But as a show of force, Asaiah squeezed the Mother's shoulder forcefully, as the grin twisted into something more cruel.

"You are right. I shall await our guest. But know that every moment I spend waiting, is a moment that I am judging your capabilities. Judging whether you are worthy a gift of strength or if you need a lesson."

And with that, Asaiah made her way towards the room pointed out to, breaking out into a grin at the sight of it. It was far more lavishly decorated compared to the main room, though it wasn't saying much. An old ragged sofa was pressed up against the wall upon which Asaiah threw herself down with a satisfying sigh, putting her feet up. In the other side of the room there was another chair, though it was far more comfortable looking compared to the metal ones out in the main room, alongside a table. Must be where the interviewer was meant to sit.

"Dag, guard the door for me. Wake me up when our guest gets here."

With the best "grunt" Dag could send through the Force, Asaiah rested her good arm behind her head and closed her eyes. It helped to be able to catch some sleep whilst you waited after all.

​

 

[Vakhari Lutris]

Tag: Asaiah Celwik

The scholar's companion.
On "The Arbiter Bloodline"
By: Vakhari Lutris​

---

Vakhari herself had chosen to set the time of the meeting to be at the zero hour, this was of course for the safety of the ones she wished to study. Not every little cult was allowed to practice and preach within the open streets, even more so if it was one that preached about justice. Such ideals conflicted with the very core of this wad of trash the Hutts called their own.

The pale garbed woman of course stood out among the crowds, but with an appearance such as hers it would be easily assumed she was Sith... And thus she would be mostly ignored by local Hutt cartel guards.

What little she had managed to get her hands on informed her that these weren't just a citizen's police, their methods aligned very closely to ones she had read about Sith doing for ages now. The plights and woes of the unfortunate were always abused by others, the girl herself cared little, if anything she saw it as just part of nature.

And so, with a faint rhythmic knock, Vakhari had arrived. Taking a glance at the creature that would be the one to answer the door, the thing looked like an acid victim.. How interesting.

If Vakhari was to be searched before entering, many vials had been attached to her belt, all easily identifiable as blood. No blasters, explosives, a little surgical knife, and a plain looking book.

Following after the strange woman would be M0RTIS, the droid's little claws holding up papers, pens, datapad, and an audio recorder above its head. It blinked its lights like some cation warning as it hurried along, placing itself next to where Vakhari was to sit... A handy desk.

"Asaiah Celwik, I presume? A pressure we could meet in such... An interesting area."

The woman's voice was soft, her mask giving it a metallic echo.
​

 

[Asaiah Celwik]

Location: Nar Shaddaa
Tag: Vakhari Lutris

"Come in! Come in! Make yourself at home! Dag, move to the side. Let her in."

For someone running a cult, and for someone who considered herself to be a Goddess, Asaiah was...quite laid-back as she beckoned Vakhari into the room, whilst Dag dragged itself to the corner of the room to stand silently. It's gaze scanning across the room, focusong on the small little droid for a moment before the creature let out a small groan. The woman was not searched however. Asaiah saw no need for it. She wasn't as paranoid as most should reasonably be in a situation like this. If Vakhari wanted to host an interview, then Asaiah would talk. Weapons got in the way of talking.

"Yes, yes. I am Asaiah. It is a pleasure to meet you...Vakhari is it? Please. Sit down. Be fortunate that I decided to come to Nar Shaddaa. In the past, you might have to tread through the swamps of Dagobah. Strange place. Quite an oppressive feeling. But it was a fond home."

As she spoke, Asaiah sat herself up on the sofa, resting one hand beneath her chin whilst the other continued to be wrapped around her front. Her eyes took in the woman in front of her for a moment, a small frown furrowing away at her brows. Vakhari did not look like any journalist or writer that Asaiah had met. It appeared appearances could be deceiving. Yet what caught Asaiah's attention the most was the other woman's belt. She could sense the blood. It was an interesting trait she had learned she had from a Sangir when she had first set out on her quest. The ability to sense blood. It was part of why the Arbiter Bloodline even existed in the first place.

"So. One of my Faithfuls told me you wanted to ask some questions about the Bloodline? This will be certainly intriguing. Most of the people who join have questions. You'll be the first non-Faithful who's questions I plan on answering."

Even just looking at her, Asaiah could see Vakhari knew her own strength. She didn't need to be shown it. And so, she'd have no place amongst the Bloodline. She'd be far too much of a risk. But it didn't hurt to talk about what Asaiah was trying to create.​

 

[Vakhari Lutris]

---

Tag: Asaiah Celwik
​

"Yes, yes. I am Asaiah. It is a pleasure to meet you...Vakhari is it? Please. Sit down. Be fortunate that I decided to come to Nar Shaddaa. In the past, you might have to tread through the swamps of Dagobah. Strange place. Quite an oppressive feeling. But it was a fond home."

"It would be the same to me, either I wade through trash and smog filled air.. Or through mud and humid air. At least Dagobah holds ancient secrets, but I suppose all that matters now is that I am here."

She takes her papers from the droid, clicking a pen.

"I consider myself a scholar, never have I went about to study and write about topics or peoples of interest. The feeling to undertake this little hobby came about from perhaps the most obvious source you could think of... Boredom."

The girl waves it off with a gesture, shrugging.

"Ah, but enough about little ole me."

Vakhari leans in a bit, pen at the ready.

"We should start with something simple, state the name of your group and the ideals you all follow."

Her droid places the audio recorder on Vakhari's thigh, the pale-garbed girl letting Asaiah see that the device was running. ​

 

[Asaiah Celwik]

Location: Nar Shaddaa
Tag: Vakhari Lutris

"Nar Shaddaa holds its own secrets. Yes, it might not be as ancient or as powerful as Dagobah, but Nar Shaddaa has one resource that Dagobah lacks in."

At that, Asaiah rummaged around in her jacket, pulling out a small teardrop vial of blood. There were so many different species packed together on Nar Shaddaa, and it was so easy for people to go...missing and not be reported. It was a boundless haven of resources as Asaiah placed the vial back into her jacket and turned her attention back towards Vakhari.

She could understand boredom. It was part of why she played with her experimentations in her lab. There was also the cruel sense of family that she wanted to make. She kept her chin atop her hand as Vakhari prepared to start the interview and Asaiah debated to herself how she should speak for the interview. As the caring motherly head of the family she was attempting to make...or as the Goddess of the Faith she was leading. Hm...The motherly role was for her Faithful. If she was to talk about the Bloodline, she would do as who they believed in. The woman took in a deep breath, letting the expressions fade from her face as she spoke.

"The Arbiter Bloodline believes that Justice and Vengeance are two sides of the same coin. A coin named Truth. And that like any living creature, most people avoid the Truth. They hide behind lies. Laws. It gives the Weak something to believe in, instead of themselves. It lets those with...evil and cruelty in their hearts rule over them instead."

Even if it was only her voice being recorded, Asaiah's entire posture changed as she spoke. Holding her head up high as if she saw herself above the Weak. Above the common people. Because she was. She was Strength. She had power that none of her Faithful even had. The domain of Vengeance belonged to her. It was almost ironic in a way, that Asaiah truly believed in her own words. She did not see herself as being cruel or evil. No, she was a benevolent Goddess. She rewarded those with Faith and punished those who Failed her.

"We believe that the Weak need to be shown their true Strength. In a way, there is a commonality between Us and the Sith. We both believe that breaking our Chains shall free us. But whereas the Sith believe in only breaking their own Chains, the Bloodline believes in breaking the Chains of those who can rise to their true Strength. We are a Family, that cares for our own. It is why the Head of every Family is known as a Parent. And those beneath them are our Children."

Asaiah rummaged in her jacket for a moment, pulling out a ragged old notebook. Splotches of blood and mud were caked over the cover as she flipped through the pages, mostly so that the recorder could pick up that she had a book in her hand.

"Every new member of the Family gets their own Book. A Book of Vengeance. They record down every moment of Justice or Vengeance they enact down in their book. The names of the criminals. Their crimes against the People. Whilst it is not a necessity, more often than not the first page is written in the blood of the Evildoers who held power over the new Child."

​

 

[Vakhari Lutris]

Tag: Asaiah Celwik

Vakhari nods along, her hand jotting down both what she was thinking along with what Asaiah was saying. The girl had a grace about her hands, a swiftness and finesse with a pen.

Yet, within her mind she held off from writing all that she truly thought. It was preposterous to assume that this rathole of a planet held any power like what the dark imbued swamps do.. Even more preposterous to say that the blood and flesh of the unsterile could serve for more than alchemical beasts... She was a Lutris, they built the bodies of Sith men and woman that the commonfolk called gods.

"I see, and some other questions I have for you.."

She pauses to check the recorder before continuing on.

"Firstly, how long ago was this 'family' founded? Has it been passed down from generations? Any previous leaders?"

Vakhari waits and listens, being sure to jot down what was said in response.

"Secondly, what had sparked the creation of these ideals? An unjust act that was the final straw? A collective of minds that put this together to help their local area? A dream?"

The girl taps her pen against the brim of her papers, resuming her writings soon after.

"And what happens if someone manages to fill that notebook you had mentioned? The 'book of vengeance' as you called it, is there some sort of award that is given? An increase in authority over those who haven't finished their book? Perhaps they are given the right to be your mouth and preach your teachings where you are not able?"

​

 

[Asaiah Celwik]

Location: Nar Shaddaa
Tag: Vakhari Lutris

She hesitated for a moment to answer the next question. It was a...touchy subject for Asaiah. The idea of having something passed down to her was...Well, it was something she wished could have happened. But it wouldn't ever happen. Her birth family was gone. Wiped out by her hand. They had been evil. But their blood was inside of her...Did that make Asaiah evil? Was this entire Faith built on a lie?

No. She couldn't let herself crumble like that. Not in the interview. She was better than her family. Asaiah was Strength. She was powerful. She was above the need of having a biological family. She had a new Blood Family. The Bloodline. And so Asaiah prepared to continue on with the interview, clearing her throat for a moment.

"I am the Founder of the Bloodline. There has been no previous leader. When it comes time for me to pass on, the Mothers and Fathers of the Bloodline will have to decide who will be next. I have Faith that they would pick a suitable choice. It is what I train them for. None of them will ever reach my position truly, but...I do not wish to live forever. One of them will have to take my place eventually."

The next question. How to answer it...Asaiah let her eyes travel across the room as she thought to herself.

"I have been doing it alone. For a long time. As a young girl, I always believed that there was far too much evil that people are blind to. They will pick on minor infractions, but major crimes? They're left alone out of fear. I decided every crime needed a suitable punishment. You steal? You lose a hand. You lie? You lose your tongue. You ruin a life? You lose yours. And so that's what I did to my parents. They ruined my life. They wanted to send me to the Jedi. And so...I enacted Justice. I then travelled across the Galaxy for a while. Meeting various people who helped me...discover my true self. To discover the strength I had. Which then lead to me deciding to do the same for my Faithful."

She took a moment to let silence fill the room, taking a small pause before she carried on.

"We work mostly amongst unaffiliated space in the Galaxy. Those who live there are easier to...awaken to their Strength. Take those in Alliance space. They believe too much in the Jedi and the Alliance to protect them. They have no need to gain Strength of their own. Those in Sith Space have too much...fear to rise up. And so we leave them to their Fate. You can not help those who do not wish to be helped."

And then came the final question, with Asaiah gently shaking her head at each reward she had came up with.

"Some of that may come with their achievements, but I do not grant that to them. They decide amongst themselves. Though I do reward some of them. We are a Family. A Bloodline. And so I...enhance their Blood. In my search to find if Evil truly does live in the Blood, I have found various samples of Blood that are...advanced compared to common blood. Most of which belong to Force Sensitives. And so...I reward my most impressive of Followers with this Blood. It does not give them Force Sensitivity...I am not at that level yet, but it enhances their senses. Their strength. And then we start over. They get a larger book to fill out. The more they achieve, the more blood they are rewarded with."

In truth, Asaiah was also using them as guinea pigs. It wasn't something she would ever admit, but it allowed her to test on them before she ever thought of using her creations on herself. She knew she wasn't trained in the science of Biology. Not by an actual teacher or a mentor. Most of it had been self taught. Experimentation. There had at least been a handful of Faithful that had...corroded from her Gifts. But most of them had so much belief in her that it was accepted. Those who could not handle the Gifts were not Strong enough.​

 

[Vakhari Lutris]

Tag: Asaiah Celwik

It was clear to Vakhari that some of these questions had put a straining upon Asaiah, the pale garbed woman simply nodding along as her hands gracefully dressed the pages with text.

"I see, so you have been at this for a while then? I suppose I have never asked myself if there existed 'evil' in blood, despite how long I have worked with such things."

A so called 'evil' in the blood of ill-favoured persons, another preposterous notion. Evil even in of itself was subjective to the girl, what even was evil? Would she call the Hutts who owned this planet evil? No, it was simply survival. Much like how she viewed Asaiah so far, smart enough to manipulate others for her own gain yet not smart enough to drop certain ways of thinking that the uptight architect considered 'backwards'.

"Would you say that your 'family' has improved the existence of the places where they are established? Do the locals who are not part of this group enjoy seeing your 'family'? Or has there ever been incidents of violence?"

She notes whatever is said so far.

"And, how would you say you and your 'family' collect the blood you seem to collect? Just from those you deem evil? Tithes from the faithful? From just about anyone?"​

 

[Asaiah Celwik]

Location: Nar Shaddaa
Tag: Vakhari Lutris

"It all depends on your view of Evil or Good. Some people believe it's a moral thing. That your actions decide it. I believe otherwise. Good and Evil are natural. Similar to the Dark Side and Light Side. I've noticed a difference between the blood of Force Sensitives that follow their own traditions. It is only natural that the same would affect non-Force Sensitives."

Asaiah sat back for a moment, crossing one leg over the other as she pondered upon Vakhari's next question. It was an interesting one to think about. She shrugged her shoulders afterwards, folding her good arm along her front.

"I wouldn't say so. No. Nor is that fully our aim. Our aim is to help select people. Those who are willing to rise up to their full Strength. Not everyone has that potential. I am sure there are some locals who are happy to see my Family, perhaps they see them as saviours. But I am not foolish enough to believe that everyone would think that. Though any violence reported is always justified in my eyes. Preventing Justice from being enacted is a crime in of itself."

If only she knew how hypocritical her point of view was. Asaiah truly believed herself to be a good person. A Goddess that graced the lives of the people who believed in her. In reality? She was nowhere near the level of people who would be true Gods and Goddesses. She was better than the average person at least. All these thoughts because of one single person twisting her ideals.

"My Faithful mostly collect from criminals or themselves. I do somewhat similar, but I take on...more opposing threats. There was a Jedi I hunted down with a group of Bounty Hunters because the Hutts had placed a bounty on the criminal."

Another sign of how twisted her logic were. Most would agree that the Hutts were evil. But Asaiah believed they were Just. They had placed a bounty on the Jedi for breaking their laws and customs. So it was only natural that Asaiah would have helped to enact Justice.

"It's where I got this injury."

She waved her hand towards her injured arm wrapped around her side. Beneath the bandages it was a burnt mess. She hadn't chosen to heal it. Not yet. It was part of what her experiments had been for. At the same time, it was also why she had Dag as her servant, to act as her arm whilst she was crippled in this manner.​

 

[Vakhari Lutris]

Tag: Asaiah Celwik

"That wound is rather.. Severe. I can't say I have heard of many Jedi that leave burns on foes, shockingly though it isn't non-existent. I don't understand how they do it without getting into trouble with their betters, burning someone alive has a- darkness to it."

The girl rolls her eyes a bit, an unenthused sigh escaped out from her mask.

"Perhaps their standards have fallen from grace, could also be why that Naboo republic sprang up."

For now Vakhari pauses the recorder, crossing a leg over the other.

"So far this has been rather informative, but now I have questions that don't belong on the recorder. In this little guide I intend to make about your group, are you wanting me to note the locations you had mentioned you were located at? And, along with that- what about your name? Is that something you wanted within the pages? Or would you prefer to keep it anonymous?"

This little project was inching closer to its finish, time to wrap up some things.

"Lastly- I could easily patch up that arm, the matters of blood and flesh are my specialty."

A smirk grows behind the pale woman's mask, only being noticeable by the rise in her cheeks. ​

 

[Asaiah Celwik]

Location: Nar Shaddaa
Tag: Vakhari Lutris

"He used the Flames of one of the bounty hunters against me. Yet it didn't work. He attempted to burn me to ashes, but instead he helped purify me through the Flames. It's not like his betters would find out anyway. His head was removed and taken away to the Hutts. I did have some respect for the Jedi. He told us about a group of people stored in carbonite on the planet. Some of those people joined the Bloodline when I freed them."

Asaiah had never expected to respect a Jedi. Her mind had twisted them. They were the villains in the Galaxy. Not the Sith. The Sith had helped her in her goals. Her aims. Whereas the Jedi just tried to hold her back. Yet Asaiah then raised her eyebrows as Vakhari ended the recording, tilting her head at the questions...

"I can give locations if you want. It won't be exact locations, such as where bases are settled. But I can give planets. If it helps to bring more...Faithfuls to my cause, then it would be helpful. I don't want my name mentioned however. Instead...you can refer to me as the Founder. Or another title, if you can think of one. I believe you would be far more skilled in it than I am."

That was another thing that Asaiah always made an effort in. She didn't want to be seen as some egotistical woman who believed herself to be some perfect Goddess. No. She knew she was flawed. She knew there were people who were better in certain things.

Yet once more her eyebrow raised at the offer from Vakhari, leaning forward for a moment to get a good look at Vakhari as she offered to patch up Asaiah's arm. At that, Asaiah reached for the bandages wrapped around her arm, and started to unravel them. They throbbed in pain, but that was one of the reasons why Asaiah kept the wound. It allowed her a reservoir of pain to have access to when she needed to use the Force. Once the bandages were unravelled, Asaiah let the arm limply fall to her side. If it wasn't for the Force and the treatment she had already given herself, the arm would have been necrotic.

"...I keep this wound as a lesson. Not to let my guard down. To always be aware to how destructive the Galaxy can be. I don't plan on healing it until I believe I've fully learned from it. It also teaches me how pain can be a tool. Both in inflicting pain but also experiencing...But if I was to let you patch it up...What's the catch? What would you want from me? I don't want to be anyone's guinea pig."

It wasn't something Asaiah was jumping at. Vakhari was still an unknown. Unlike Serina, who Asaiah trusted immensely and was one of few people that Asaiah saw as someone truly better than her in most things and saw as a trusted confidant, Vakhari was a stranger. An interesting one, yes but still a stranger.​

 

[Vakhari Lutris]

Tag: Asaiah Celwik

In Vakhari's mind, everything was her subject to study.

"Consider it to be a repayment for this interview, while you could leave that wound to fester... Burn wounds tend to get infected, and it is going to hinder your ability to maintain control."

Over in the lands of the Sith, beyond the black wall. Things like that wound were a sign of weakness, making it easier for the strong to control the weaker.

"I don't have access to my lab, so I can't just amputate and attach a new arm made with your materials. But I suppose I could still do a thing or two, make sure it heals as best it can."

She hands over her papers to M0RTIS, no longer needing them. It would be up to Asaiah now if she wanted care from the strange woman, blindly trusting was never a smart idea.. But what if she could help? ​

 

[Asaiah Celwik]

Location: Nar Shaddaa
Tag: Vakhari Lutris

"I've stopped the festering. I've had this injury for a while. I am still perfectly capable with it."

Asaiah stared down Vakhari as she spoke. She was no fool. She was not naive enough to simply trust someone to mess around with her body. Especially someone she didn't trust. She had been giving herself her own treatment to keep it steady. Because at the end of the day, the only one she could trust to experiment with her body was herself.

"It would be unfair to Dag as well. I am giving him a chance to prove himself, and for him to act as my arm whilst it's in this state. If he disappoints me, I'm returning him to the muck of Dagobah. I gave him life. Now I am seeing if he is deserving of it."

The Creature in the corner didn't seem to respond to the comments being made about it as it stood perfectly at attention, it's gaze intensely focused on both Vakhari and M0RTIS. It's job was to protect Asaiah, so it was paying attention to the two biggest threats to its Mistress' safety.

"I do...appreciate the offer however."

At that, Asaiah stepped up to her feet, heading over towards the door to open it for Vakhari. The woman was a guest here after all, and Asaiah at least wanted to be a good host.

​