Awakening

[Yoru Shakou]

Quietly sitting in thought, fingers tapping against the desk; she pondered the use of the force. It was true that the Magrath family was powerful, though that power could always grow. The Magrath family itself had a few force-sensitive beings in it; her grandfather being her most direct link. It was more than possible that it lay in wait within her, wanting for the right push that would bring it welling up from deep within. A sly smirk crossed her lips at the thought of her harnessing the force to strengthen her families position. Whom knew, perhaps she would even find a means to keep her as the matriarch of the family for just that much longer.

What she required though would be someone whom knew how to awaken the latent abilities within a being. It wouldn't be that easy either, though with what ties she had; The Baroness figured that someone was bound to appear whom knew something. As she often ever did, she decided that it would be best to sow the seeds quietly, rather than make a massive show of them. It was simple; as much as a hand written note could be that was to be passed within the Sith Empire and a few places beyond. Something simple to help her; something simple to push power from within.

A servant, one of many, stepped into the room. Simply bowing and taking the note; to be delivered to those whom would know how to properly spread the information, and quietly. Now all the Baroness had was time to wait and so the tapping resumed. Nails clicking against the top of the writing desk as she looked out the window.

@[member="Ashin Varanin"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Baroness Magrath"]

Avidon was a cloistered place, an interesting locale too. Shipyards, closely knit borders, only a stone's throw from Republic and Mandalorian space. Avidon would be assimilated by the Republic very, very soon. That much was certain.

To some extent, Ashin realized to her amusement, she'd become what Velok once was to her Empire -- a patron saint, a teacher of lost techniques, a guardian angel of sorts. It was even a little humbling, especially when a handwritten note could make itself across the galaxy to Annaj where she held court.

This was not safe space for her, all things considered. When she arrived, it was onboard the Peregrine, a small cloaked ship. The vessel made no appearance elsewhere, not in customs, not in the vicinity of the Baroness's residence. When Ashin walked into the room, it was pretty much literally out of nowhere.

"Baroness Raulyn Hawkshaw Magrath? Am I pronouncing that right?" She pulled down a hood to reveal eyes that glowed a faint Bando Gora blue. "I'm Ashin Varanin. Are you sure you know what you're asking of me? And are you sure you're willing to pay the price?"

 

[Yoru Shakou]

The surprise was enough; though the voice and an appearance by some other means was more than expected. As she quietly contemplated the political intrigue that was gripping the galaxy she merely nodded before standing from her seated position. Her back still to the woman as her hands ran along her gown. A small nod rose from her head before she turned. Yellow eyes meeting blue as she stepped forward.

"That is correct @[member="Ashin Varanin"]. The proper pronouncement."

A calmed voice filled the air as she stood there; taking a moment to take in the appearance of the being that was standing within her room and an arms length away. She knew that her system was in danger of being enveloped by either the Republic or the Mandalorians. She knew that the Sith Empire was at a death knell; however she also needed what this person could offer.

"I am sure of what I am asking. I would rather have the power to keep my home, than allow it to fall into the hands of the Republic. Their laws would ruin the Magraths and this system."

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Baroness Magrath"]

A dry chuckle whispered out. "Raulyn," said the conqueror of a quarter of the known galaxy, "the day the Republic doesn't ruin, debase, disrespect and cast aside everything it touches is the day I become a Jedi Knight again."

From her cloak, she pulled a small crystal cube, and held it up to the light. "This is a holocron, a simple one, containing only one technique: The same one that Darth Sidious used to hide his presence in the Force despite spending months or years of his live in company with the Jedi Council. Qey'tek meditation, it's called. I bought this from a Great Leap Forward salesman on the Coldharbor, the travelling Dark Side bazaar. Great Leap Forward is a semi-official company that disseminates all the secrets of the Jedi and Sith," she explained. "It's almost certainly tied to the theft of the Sith Archives several months back. But that's not important, though knowing about the Coldharbor might save your life eventually.

"You see, I can do what you want, but it'll send out a powerful disturbance in the Force. If any Jedi are nearby, they may feel that a Sith might be in Avidon, so you need to be able to hide your presence, and soon. This holocron will teach you how.

"So...there's only the question of the price. I'm giving you the power to become a god, Raulyn. To prove your commitment -- and you'll never get far without commitment -- I need three things from you.

"First, I need a code to bypass the Avidon System's space station if necessary, the same kind of code that would presumably let you and your top operatives leave or enter without question. I can get into Avidon with a cloaked ship, but I don't always have access to a cloaked ship. I wouldn't use such a code except as a last resort, but I do need it.

"Second, I need an identity for when I'm here. Minor nobility, with a small amount of remote land attached, would be ideal. Any habitable planet or moon in this system would do. You're in bed with me now, Raulyn, and when you need me, I need to be able to reach you without attracting attention and without going to too much trouble."

She held out her left hand and traced her index finger across the palm. Blood welled up as invisible force sliced into her skin. Her eyes tightened. "Third," she said a little hoarsely, then shrugged. "Actually, I'll waive the third requirement, on the understanding that your association with me never becomes public in any social circle -- and that's at the cost of your life or what you love most. Are my terms acceptable to you?"

 

[Yoru Shakou]

Quietly approaching when the holocron was produce, her fingers reached out. Touching along the edge before taking it into her grasp and turning towards what appeared to be a small table. A pillow resting upon it as the holocron was set down on it. Her hand glancing over a box as she began to listen to what was needed. The small ornate box was pushed open with a small squeaking noise from the hinges. The Baroness reaching into it and pulling out what appeared to be a small tube before she turned back. Her yellow eyes once more focused on the woman whom stood before her as she stepped forward.

"It is Baroness if you will. I can not have a Baronetess of Edenia calling me by my first."

Returning to the holocron that she had placed upon the pillow she remained quiet for a moment. Looking over her shoulder and back to the woman. A small gesture with her hand; while she thought on the information given. A ship named the Coldhabour and the Great Leap Forward company was carefully stored within her memories for a later use. A useful bit of information to say the least before she spoke again.

"That cylinder contains the code that you request as well. Likewise I do not announce my associations in public; nor do I make it a habit of leaving that type of information about."

@[member="Ashin Varanin"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Baroness Magrath"]

Ashin smiled faintly. "A careful woman, Baroness. I can respect that. Edenia would have been my first choice. I spent time on Dantooine as a young Jedi, and Edenia is much like it in many ways. Thank you."

She upended her sliced hand at head height, and blood dripped onto the floor. "I trust it will not be beneath your dignity to bow your head for this, Baroness."

Only a little blood remained on her palm as it settled onto the top of Raulyn's head. The blood burned and stung the scalp of the Baroness beneath the hair; it would leave a reddish mark, but that was the point of doing it on the scalp. It would remain invisible unless Raulyn decided to shave her head. Ashin closed her eyes, and, well...

The entire building trembled gently. Elsewhere, she knew, Jedi and Sith would sense a subtle disturbance in the Force. This Sith magic spell, gleaned from her guardianship of the Telos Holocron, was not something she did lightly. She'd only exercised it once, on the Wrathful One, the ruler of the Rakatan Infinite Empire.

Raulyn would feel her mind expand, her senses tingle with overstimulation. She would experience the Force, at a level equivalent to a barely-trained Apprentice. It was a good start to have. And Raulyn would be able to sense Ashin as a cold, hard presence in the Force.

After an indeterminate time, Ashin withdrew her shaking hand. The cut knitted up. "There was once a priest who was asked to lead his monastery, replacing an old and tired leader. The retiring leader said to him, 'There's only one appropriate way for me to refer to your call: Congratulations, and I'm truly sorry.' Welcome to new life, Baroness. It will bring you more heartache and risk than anything you've yet attempted or experienced, and I say that as one who has ruled and been responsible for worlds. But in the galaxy where we abide, sometimes there are no other options." Her hand closed into a fist, and the trembling ceased.

 

[Yoru Shakou]

The blood was something different; then again she had a myriad of blood from multiple species on her gowns and in her hair at one point or another. Even the blood of her youngest sibling had once stained a favorite gown that was later disposed of. Quietly bowing her head she gritted in a slight pain at the stinging feel of the blood burning a symbol onto her scalp; though not a single utterance of pain of voice of displeasure was heard at that moment. With the shaking of the building she knew that the process was becoming something more, feeling her mind slowly opening to the force. Feeling the strange field envelop her within as she quietly closed her eyes. The palace could take the shaking, it was build for much worse than a simple little quake.

As the ceremony finished just as rapidly as it had begun she stood from her bow. Her hands flexing in and out of fists before she brought an arm up. Her eyes closed as she quietly thought to herself, then it happened. At first it was a simple shaking, then a rattling before the cup that rest upon a shelf was lifted from its place. The silver goblet coming to her fingers before they wrapped around it; not bad for a beginning, though she of all people knew that it would need more training than just that. Of course now her focus was quickly taken back to the holocron and the secret that lay within. She would need that to keep herself protected. There was without a doubt the notion that others had felt what had just happened.

"Go to your Baronet on Edenia. There will be a servant to show you the way. When you arrive you will have a small house guard waiting for you as well as a small force of servants. Use them as you see fit Baronetess. I have an acquaintanceship to make with this holocron."

Her voice came out with a slightly shaken tone; a mixture of varying emotions that she quickly pulled down and wrestled control over. Her hand gracing over the holocron before she pressed slightly on the side to active it. Looking upon the image of the being that would train her in the ways of Quey'tek Meditation. In that moment she closed her eyes and quietly took a crossed legged sitting position on the floor. Looking up at this image and listening carefully to what it had to say.

@[member="Ashin Varanin"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Baroness Magrath"]

A slow grin crossed Ashin's face, and the Dark Lord of the Sith bowed to the exact proper degree. "Thank you for your time, Baroness," she said. Between one heartbeat, one blink, and the next, she was gone.