Architects of Energy

[Vereshin]

T h e m e​

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Rain fell sharply over a row of townhouses on the outskirts of Bastion's civilian district. Two figures clad in obsidian approached one another from either beneath an archway. Small bridges shadowed crevices and adjoined to hidden passageways. The smoke from the end of Vereshin's cigarette trailed softly from the pocket of shadows where he leaned, leaving a bright glowing end against the shape of darkness. His fingers caressed the handle of his umbrella as the thick, black curls of Darth Venefica emerged into his view.

The accomplished sorcerer welcomed the Sith Lady into the rarified community of nethermancy tonight. Together they joined their skills in an intimate project. Vereshin raised a hand and beckoned her forward, disregarding the fact that she was only a few minutes late. He wore a black trench coat which reached his ankles and leather gloves which gripped the handle of the umbrella on which he leaned.

"Lady Venefica, I am honored to welcome you into our little sect." Thin lips parted to reveal a smile of black teeth as Vereshin faced the other darkly architect of energy. "Please follow me, my home is not far." In the days before he met his lover, he would have kissed her hand or offered to take her arm. Such gestures were now reserved only for Pom. He merely opened his umbrella and allowed Venefica to share the shelter as he guided her through the narrow streets of Bastion.

Sorcerers gripped their robes and scurried to appointments, ladies clutched their dresses and hurried into taxis by the two Sith, who appeared unassuming beside the civilian populace. The presence of individuals dispersed as they arrived at a townhouse on the corner of the street, built onto the bank of the river and overlooking a grand bridge. Vereshin reached into his coat and procured the passkey, slid it into the lock and opened the thick door. His servant waited inside and offered to take the coats of himself and his guest.

"Ana, please prepare white tea. My guest and I have work to do." Vereshin slipped off his trenchcoat and scarf and handed them to the servant. Underneath he wore a black cardigan over a dark grey shirt and suit pants. He removed his footwear and revealed the tattoo of a thin inverted triangle on his ankle. As he stood upright, he smiled to Venefica and lead her downstairs. The black and grey stripes on the wallpaper turned to stone as they arrived in the basement. Lamps gave away to the candlelight and Vereshin pulled open a wooden door which revealed a chamber beneath the house.

"The entity I have designed is unique in their personality and bound only two me. Tonight we shall create two unique bodies of dark matter, each with independent coherence and servitude to us individually." Vereshin said as he entered the room. One one side stood a derelict desk sprawled with graph paper and notes. He moved to the edge and slid from the surface a large and thick sheet displaying an intricate geometric pattern. Each nethermancer displayed a slightly different approach to theory and Venefica supplied her own design of the demon Vereshin would assist in creating.

[member="Darth Venefica"]

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Walking through the district, the rain gently pummeled her returning to memory of days back home. The rain, not scented with the stagnant smells of the swamp, fell all around her, and with it came even more memories of home; Dagobah. Her heart yearned for a homecoming, though it would need to crusade a little while longer; there was still much to accomplish in the galaxy before sitting down upon a rotted stump to catch her breath. Hence the visit to Bastion.​

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Despite the weather, several people still conducted business as usual foraging through the droplets of rain to ensure their survival and status in society would remain unchanged; and to this the Lady of Madness mentally mocked. They believed themselves citizens of the Empire, but in truth they were nothing short of slaves; ripe fruit for the picking. Ignoring them, she rounded the corner glimpsing the embers of a lit cigarette that acted like a beacon, drawing her to the one she came to seek. The man's face was encompassed from time to time by the glowing of the pulled cigarette, yet his body remained hidden in the shadows and misty effects produced by the rain.​

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She came to study nethermancy, a concept she found to be both fascinating and educational. She had long since abandoned her pursuit of war and combat, in favour of wisdom and knowledge; such as her mastery of alchemy and necromancy. Where others believed the galaxy could be subjugated, transformed, and ruled over through pure force of might, Darth Venefica believed that it was the minds of geniuses that would one day bring the entire galaxy under one banner. And it was such a man now before her that would educate her further.​

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"It is indeed a pleasure to be accepted. But it is I that is honoured. Thank you."​

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Taking small sips of her tea, a liquid she never indulged in until now, her blackened eyes roamed over the design on the paper. Reaching her hand into one of the pockets secretly hidden away in her living robe, she produced a small piece of paper gently lying it on the table next to the geometric design. Reaching her other hand into an opposite pocket, she pulled out a crudely rolled clove cigarette and a lone match stick. With a flick of her thumb, she set the stick a ablaze touching the dwindling flame to the cigarette. Smoothing out the sheet as she opened it, releasing small puffs of smoke in the process, a design of an abstract origin was revealed.​

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[member="Vereshin"]​

 

[Vereshin]

Bare feet padded across cold stone as Vereshin eagerly beckoned the darkly woman into his cellar. Lowering his gaze, he combed each point the geometric chart for any possible miscalculations. Ana soon arrived carrying a tray baring tea and two cups which she carefully carried by Venefica to place on Vereshin's desk. The nethermancer leaned over from where he stood to collect the abundance of graphs and note and set them aside, allowing Ana to place the teapot and cups on the desk. The woman silently poured a steaming cup for the Sith Lady, which she handed to Venefica with a meek bow of her head. Ana left promptly following following a wave of dismissal from her master while he continued to purvey his numbers.

The door closed and Vereshin rolled up his chart, which he set aside next to the teapot. He took a bite out of a waiting biscuit and poured himself a cup of the white peony. Allowing the tea to cool for a moment, he slid a hand into his pocket and procured a silver cigarette case. He flipped open the lid and plucked a cylinder of cloves, setting it between his lips and snapping his fingers to ignite the end. A bright spark of electricity released and singed the cigarette, a trail of smoke rising from the tiny light of bright orange. As Venefica did the same, he inhaled once before lifting the teacup to his lips and savoring the ethereal liquid.

Setting down the cup on the saucer with a discrete clang, Vereshin motioned his eyes over the chart Venefica produced. He plucked his glasses from his collar and placed them over his ears before moving beside her to view the design she displayed. Colourless lips parted to reveal a smile of black teeth as he preened the geometry and the personal flair his associate applied to her own work. He allowed her to lay the chart across the slab in the center of the room and snapped his fingers to light the huge candles positioned on each edge.

"I am impressed, my lady." Vereshin stated with sincerity, motioning around each corner of the table while Venefica splayed her chart. "Let us begin then." He finished while the black candles flickered. "The chart must be imbued with an aspect of the physical world and the netherworld. One element of yourself to bind the entity to you exclusively and energy from the Void to summon them." He explained while walking over the desk, enjoying the texture of cold stone beneath his feet. On the opposite side to the papers sat a little wooden box. Upon flicking open the lid, Vereshin revealed an array of crystals. He selected one of shining black and held it before Venefica.

"Crystals compacted from dark matter are often used to craft void entities." He placed the crystal back in the box while raising an eyebrow. "However, the nethermancer must choose their own components." Vereshin finished speaking while allowing Venefica to prepare. The gentleman as always, he allowed to her to construct her demon first while he played the assistant before it was his turn to take the lead. He waited eagerly to view Venefica's own methods and the components she chose.

[member="Darth Venefica"]