Star Wars Roleplay: Chaos

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Assassins in a Palace

Felucia - Imperial Palace - Way in over his head
An assassin living in a palace...now that's something one didn't see every day. He knew before that maybe he had gotten in over his head, but this much? This was bordering on the levels of the absurd. Dumah's foot steps echoed through the hall as he approached the throne on the far end. The only comparison he could make for the size of its hall were the streets of Coruscant, large and wide to encompass the breath of its citizens, and its evils. With a scheme of colors in greens and grays, it blended well with the atmosphere of Felucia, a jungle world that was as beautiful as it was dangerous.

Dumah's mind fell back on Telos, when he had encountered the...silent Sith Master. He thinks as much anyway, because shortly after he gave her his name to ask for her's in return, she didn't say a thing. The only thing that occurred was him being given a place and time to meet to leave Telos, which resulted in giving him only two hours to get ready. Plenty of time, but it was very strange he was told next to nothing about her, not even a name. He didn't spend that much time collecting his essentials, and when he arrived an hour early to scout out the ship he would be getting on, she was already there. So much for two hours, because they left right there and then. Once on it, The Vhailor was the only thing he knew about her ship, other than the fact it was an impressive ship.

Time past, few hours to rest, especially with the remaining headache he had, but the trip wasn't entirely uneventful for him. He read, though his mind buzzed with thoughts in the mean time. Landfall only raised his curiosity more, arriving at a palace for pity's sake! And here he thought he was a bit wealthy with what he had stored up from all of his contracts. Another thing were the guards. The place was guarded like a fortress...and he felt less like a guest and more like a prisoner, though he was free to move around as he pleased. Having set his stuff in one of their many rooms, he wandered the many halls and rooms until now.

The elegant throne sat atop the high steps, overlooking all who might reside before it. Dumah approached it cautiously, more because he wasn't sure how this situation would be determined by what it signified. If this was her palace, then this was her throne. That made her a queen, at least over this world he imagined, but he had a feeling she was more than just a queen with how she ordered around those Imperial soldiers from before. The comfort of the sword at his waist, or the blaster at his belt, gave no safe feeling for him in this place. Out of habit and necessity, he always wore a weapon, but now he was somewhere he knew they wouldn't help.

'I must tread lightly here...otherwise this would be a very short stay.' Dumah's morbid thoughts did not help but to increase his awareness of what he was doing here. Standing a mere few steps down from the throne, the size of this room could house a thousand easily within its space, the towering columns that were spread before it only enhancing the grandeur of its presence. With a palace and planet at your leisure, he wondered why he wasn't told a name. A test to determine his worth...or a test of his patience. Or both, or none; maybe she didn't feel the need, but it mattered not. Dumah sighed, his headache long gone, his hand healed over by medi-gel, but the sting remained.

If he was to serve her...he didn't know how. With power like her's, what use of a two-bit assassin like him was he?

@[member="Darth Kyros"]
 
There had been so much work to do, moving between bases of operation, from one end of the sector to the other, and Kära had been waylaid the moment she landed upon Felucia. "No - I've already told you, that isn't being moved." There was a subtle irritation to her tone of voice as she ushered the two servants aside as strode further down the hall. Lady Vi'dreya, he has arrived. The words buzzing in her earpiece caused her to halt. It was always interesting when one of the little birds fluttered back home, but which was it this time? A small smile appeared upon her lips as she detected an untrained Force presence within the Palace. Oh, she knew exactly who that belonged to...

Wandering through the halls of her Palace, soon to be Xaviers when he was of age with Thyrian as it's regent until such a time, she contemplated what she knew of this little assassin, the one she had recently picked up along a trade route. He was ignorant to the endless possibilities of the Force - that was the most distinguishing factor.

Moving through into her throne room she found the boy stood aimlessly at the centre of the room. Turning to one of the many little slaves running around she spoke in a hushed tone. "Get our guest something to eat and drink, and prepare a room." Then she made her way around the throne and down the dais towards where Dumah waited. "It is good to see you arrived safely, and moderately on time. I trust the journey was comfortable enough?" It would not do to begin on dreadfully bad footing, not if she intended for him to work with her rather than against her.

@[member="Dumah Zohar"]
 
"It is good to see you arrived safely..." Her voice carried out from behind him, vibrating slightly in the air of the large room, and so he turned to look, her descent down the steps already under way. "And moderately on time. I trust the journey was comfortable enough?" The pleasantries were new. Before, on Telos, she spoke with a different air, but now she seemed speak as if she was satisfied with him being here, at least from his point of view. However it was, time was not the issue for him. As an assassin, he could get his way across the entire galaxy without moderate difficulty. But still...

"Yes, it was..." He paused in his address, unsure what to call her. Miss, Mistress...no, that was too informal. Besides, she would probably slap him for saying that. "...Master." He bowed his head, familiar enough with these pleasantries. Attractive as she was, he wasn't about to step on anyone's toes, not with the status she possessed. He had wondered how the Guild would take this, but then again, the Circle cared little for who their assassins affiliated with. So long as contracts were completed, they cared little for anything else they did. "If I may be so bold...why am I here?"

@[member="Darth Kyros"]
 
When she neared him the woman tipped her head slightly to the left, looking at his form. “You should bathe and dress before dinner” she asserted, with a subtle wave of her hand. A young boy stepped forward, lowering himself to his knees a few feet from them. “See to it that my Apprentice has all he needs, and have the tailor fix him up some new garments befit of his status.” The little boy rose, and bowed across to them both, before hurrying off. “If you require anything Rhye will see to it” and with that the introductory discussion was dismissed.

“You are here to serve, but also to learn.” He had so much locked potential she aimed to flourish; even he would not be able to fault the skills she could provide an assassin such as yourself. “Show me absolute obedience and you will learn to meld with the shadows themselves, you will be taught how to kill without anyone ever knowing you were there.” Gesturing her hand she bade him to follow as she strode from the throne room and out into the main hall.

When she stopped she gestured up the stairs, absentmindedly urging him to proceed. Another child stepped forward. “Take him to his new chambers and ensure a bath is prepared. When he is ready, direct him to the dining room.” With that she turned on her heels, not waiting to hear further questions from her new Apprentice – she expected him to follow without question, only then would his true nature become unlocked.

@[member="Dumah Zohar"]
 
"You should bathe and dress before dinner." The first thing she says to him, and it didn't even answer his question. Dumah had a sickening feeling that this was going to turn into another apprenticeship where he would have to listen to everything his teacher said without question. Oh, how he hated these types of situations. It never did sit well with him to follow orders. The only reason he tolerated the Guild was because he would get paid by them, so it made sense to get something out of it. He hoped that this would be a similar circumstance. The thought of dinner seemed nice though. A young boy stepped forward from where he had stood before, and lowered himself to his knees, his head hanging low. A servant...

"See to it that my Apprentice has all he needs, and have the tailor fix him up some new garments befit of his status." New garments? Interesting...Dumah wondered what he would be wearing, as the boy rose and left. He liked having variation with his wardrobe. "If you require anything, Rhye will see to it." Rhye...wasn't that the short masculine form for Rhiannon, meaning 'great queen'? Either this was just circumstantial, or she had a bigger ego than he thought. "You are here to serve, but also to learn." Okay, definitely a big ego. Service to her? What did he get himself into now? If he could sigh, he would, but he restrained himself. This was way too similar to his years learning under his other teachers, but hopefully he would actually learn something this time around.

"Show me absolute obedience and you will learn to meld with the shadows themselves. You will be taught how to kill without anyone ever knowing you were there." Absolute obedience...this might be a problem. While he can already kill without anyone ever knowing he was there, what did she refer to? The Force the Sith were known to use? Better efficiency? Possibly, though that remained to be seen. As a rank S assassin in the Guild, a rank shared with Sorin, Dumah was deadly on his own, but her...there was only so much one could do. He hoped that this went somewhere, because giving absolute obedience was not something he was going to give. He could follow orders, do what she asks, but he was not stupid. He would not follow her blindly. He was no one's servant.

Gesturing to follow her, they walked from the throne room and into the main hall. The scenery of colors, green and gray, were even here. He could grow to like this place. She stopped and gestured up the stairs they came across, where another child stood waiting. What was up with the servants being children? Dumah had a feeling they were raised like this from birth. "Take him to his new chambers and ensure a bath is prepared. When he is ready, direct him to the dining room." She turned and strode away, without so much as a glance back. Out of all of the teachers he had, she was going to be the strangest.

"This way, my lord." The child proceeded up the stairs, and Dumah followed suit. Lead to a door, he entered a very lavish room. And it was big. The bed itself took a good portion, luxurious and probably equally comfortable. The curtains of the giant window made the room feel as if it would be swallowed by them. The last time he could remember being in anything close to this was one of the hotels he went to on his vacations, but even they did not compare. Fit for a prince...now all of a sudden he felt very inadequate for such accommodations. "My lord, do you desire to use the bath or overhang?" The question caught him by surprise, turning to face the boy who waited patiently, bowing when he turned.

"Overhang," relied Dumah, and turned back to look outside the window, the forests of the planet in full view. It occurred to him that if all of this was within her grasp, why did she come specifically to that bar? What point was there to it, if one could have whatever one wanted from their own palace? Was it just the right time, at the right place, with the right things all falling together to lead him to her, or her to him? He wasn't sure. The boy came back out of an adjacent room, said something about it being ready, and that Rhye would be here shortly. Dumah dismissed him absently, his gaze still outside. Something didn't fit...the sound of water finally registered in his ears, taking him out of his thoughts, and reminding him of what he needed to do.

-------

One hour later...

-------

With a step outside his room, his boots made no sound on the floor of the hallway. His new garments? Well, they were definitely different than what he is use to. Decked in black with a dark green outline and weave, he wore a form fitting jacket that had a split tail in the back. The rest, while plain in design, fit very comfortably to his body, and the utility belt around his waist made it so he could place quite a few things on it when the time comes around. Plus, his hair was trimmed up a bit from its ragged appearance, now done to the way it was suppose to be since he hadn't cut it in a few months. Rhye and the tailor were very forth coming with their services.

"The dining hall is this way, my lord." Rhye bowed to him and then proceeded to guide Dumah to where his new master would be.

'Time to figure out where all of this was going to go.'

@[member="Darth Kyros"]
 
When he arrived in the dining room she was seated at the head of the table, head turned as she spoke in a muted tone to an adviser at her side. After a few moments he bowed both head and body lowly to her, backing away without turning his back to her. "It will be done" he murmured before he left the room, with one glance at the Apprentice who entered. A sharp nod of his head signified a small amount of respect, and then he was gone.

"Have a seat" she said, with a lazy gesture, effectively permitting him to sit where he wished. The boy who had led him here bowed lowly and then slipped into the shadows, waiting until he was once again required. "I trust your chambers are fitting enough for you? Feel free to add what you require." There was no need for him to live uncomfortably, after all. "Try some of the stew; whole, hearty meal, it will keep you going for the rest of the day." Of course there were several other courses upon the table, too, he was welcome to try whatever he wished.

Kyros herself ate sparingly, as ever, her gaze lingering upon Dumah every so often but not enough to warrant a feeling of dis-ease from the boy.

@[member="Dumah Zohar"]
 
The dinning room, as lavish as the room and the rest of the palace, but when he entered, the long table was littered with food of various kinds. Some of them he could identify as exceedingly rare, and then others he couldn't identify at all. She was up at the head, talking to someone beside her. Dumah stopped where he was, and knew not to get closer. He was familiar with these. What is said to the Queen stays with the Queen. The man bowed low...very low, and did not attempt to turn his back to her. When he finally did, he was far enough away, and made a sharp nod of some matter of respect to Dumah. Dumah nodded back. He wasn't sure what to do otherwise for this man he knew nothing about.

"Have a seat." She seemed...distant to him, as if absently thinking about the meeting here in the dinning room. Rhye bowed lowly, and slipped away, no doubt staying nearby to see to the needs of his queen. Not that he didn't like them, but the idea of a servant doing something for him didn't sit well in his mind. More of a traditionalist in his profession, but he did everything himself. Less of a chance for another assassin to kill you that way, but she must already know this, or she wouldn't be where she was now. Why then trust others with her basic necessities? "I trust your chambers are fitting enough for you?"

"Quite." Answering her first question, he decided to sit two seats down from her. Closer to the food, but also not close enough to her to show disrespect. Taking the seat directly next to her would be very unwise.

"Feel free to add what you require. Try some of the stew; whole, hearty meal, it will keep you going for the rest of the day." Dumah grabbed a few different foods, idling on a few, while eating a few bites here and there. He wasn't hungry, but one can always have some food, though it will only be a little.

@[member="Darth Kyros"]
 
Dumah was, as ever, remarkably quiet. Yet she knew there were questions bubbling away in his mind. "Speak, Dumah; you must be curious, wondering why you are here, what your purpose is." She leant back in her chair, having had her fill already, and gestured forward Rhye. "Prepare Room IV." The young boy nodded his head and hurried away, loathed to fail his Master. Kyros waited to hear what he had to say, as further slaves entered to take away untouched food and cleared plates. She could tell her new Apprentice was not hungry, but enough food was left that he could resume the facade should he wish it.

The food would, of course, be eaten by the rest of the Household. It was an unwritten law that Kyros upheld. Certainly they were her slaves, raised by her own hand, but that did not mean they had to be treated like animals... At least, not unless they stepped out of line. It kept them steadfast and loyal, it ensured their full co-operation and limited any chances of false uprisings. Well fed, clothed, healthy... They even had a little leisure time every so often. But they were never in doubt of their position. The way it ought to be.

@[member="Dumah Zohar"]
 
"Speak, Dumah; you must be curious, wondering why you are here, what your purpose is." Speak...a command, though not an entirely unexpected one. How to answer...or rather, how to answer without making it seem like a complaint. He had a tendency to be blunt with his answers, speaking exactly what he thought when he didn't place a filter on himself; it was part of his silence, of course. "Prepare Room IV." Rhye obeyed his master without question, who got up quickly and went to his duty. Such obedience...speaking of which...

"Obedience..." he replied, as the servants began to clear up the food and plates, and he allowed his to be taken without question. He was satisfied with the meal, and he would have eaten more if his stomach did not complain of being overstuffed. What was now on his mind, however, was the conversation at hand. She told him to speak, so he would. His eyes were now turned to her. "You spoke of absolute obedience, that if I should give it, you would show me how to kill without anyone knowing I exist. An enticing statement, though you don't speak of any assassination technique that I am aware of. Coming from a family who trains assassins, that is a very long list. I am grateful for this opportunity, though I am concerned about the...prerequisite." He paused, unsure how to phrase this next question. The idea of being absolutely obedient was not something he liked, but his idea of it and her's may not be the same thing. Instead, it would be best to ask the more appropriate question.

"How would I show you...obedience?" Being a servant was one thing, following orders, doing what is commanded of them, but an assassin was an entirely different story. If she gave orders he had no trouble following, that is one thing, because that would be of his own free will. He was no soldier, and would not follow just any order. He would not waste his intelligence and effort on orders that did not follow a plan.

@[member="Darth Kyros"]
 
Kyros narrowed her eyes across the table to the words he spoke, and pushed back in the chair just enough that she could stand should she choose to. He was doubting her, and that would not do. She expected her students to trust in her judgement if nothing else, she was a Master in the Force, the Lord of a Sector, and one did not gain such positions without reason or cause. Tapping her hand against the arm of the seat she listened to him, but it was clear she had words to return when he was finished.

You doubt that what I say is true, however you were raised in an organization which did not focus upon one crucial aspect to the training you will undergo here: you are sensitive to the Force, a rare gift in this Galaxy, with a fairly high midi-chlorian count. THAT is how you will be able to do what I claim I can teach you, and that is why you have not heard of such methods of assassination before now.” Rising from the seat she settled her hands to her side, carefully straightening out a crease in her robes.

You show obedience by doing as I ask, when I ask of it.” She gestured to Rhye when he returned, his head bowed to symbolise his submission, and also that he had done as she asked. “You are not a slave, you are a student, but I expect the same level of obedience all the same. An Apprentice ought to trust the judgement of their Master, trust their experience and knowledge. You are an Apprentice of the Sith now, boy. You will not leave my service until you prove your worth and ascend to Knighthood. Do you understand?”

@[member="Dumah Zohar"]
 
"You doubt that what I say is true." Great...him and his mouth. He didn't say he doubted it, but he could see how she got that impression. "However you were raised in an organization which did not focus upon one crucial aspect to the training you will undergo here: you are sensitive to the Force, a rare gift in this Galaxy, with a fairly high midi-chlorian count. THAT is how you will be able to do what I claim I can teach you, and that is why you have not heard of such methods of assassination before now." So he was Force-sensitive...this was something he couldn't verify before. Though he didn't know what a midi-chlorian was, he knew he had annoyed her to some degree. She asked him to speak, though maybe he should have warned her before about his blunt nature. When she rose from her seat, he half expected her to yell, but all she did was straighten her robes.

"You show obedience by doing as I ask, when I ask of it." She gestured to someone to the side, whom Dumah had to turn his head to in order to see. Rhye, was it? He was still getting use to seeing them. His head was already bowed, and Dumah could only assume he had done as she asked. "You are not a slave, you are a student, but I expect the same level of obedience all the same. An Apprentice ought to trust the judgement of their Master, trust their experience and knowledge. You are an Apprentice of the Sith now, boy. You will not leave my service until you prove your worth and ascend to Knighthood. Do you understand?

"I understand, Master." Dumah replied, bowing his head to her. Though he did not agree with her interpretation of an Apprentice and Master relationship, his opinion didn't matter. She did make the distinction of him being a student, which was better than what he thought before hand. He would not argue. She had more experience than him, that he could not deny, but he did not view it as an absolute. In either case, she was his Master, and so he would learn.

@[member="Darth Kyros"]
 

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