Private Churning Tides

[Lirka Ka]

They dubbed this place “bartertown”, the crudeness was enough to make Lirka almost want to laugh: all the younger species in the Galaxy and their endless lack of any sort of grace, drama, or anything between those two things. But it mattered not, this time around, for today it was business.

The Galaxy churned, and opportunity had presented itself in the endless tides of warfare: and with Thustra securely clasped in her metallic claws, Lirka’s machinations could begin in full. And bartertown had now fallen right into her sights, or more so, it’s master: one Lunafreya Solidor

What information she had been able to dig up on the woman had placed her perfectly into what Lirka needed to be done, and the cruelty that would be needed to keep the newly formed Crimson Dawn functioning. Lirka’s shuttle landed with a groan, and the dark armored figure that laid within stepped out with heavy footfalls.

Lirka was a towering monster of jagged metal and curved horns, glares colder than the icy planet that surrounded them sent many of the weaker willed souls in the town scattering: and those who wished to dive too deep into questioning the Sephi’s presence quickly had their lives cut short with a flick and a slash of her blade an their incessant questioning ceased.

As the sephi strode, she found those she deemed far more…”useful” for her current hunt. Words, low, growling with distortion, came from the helmet.

“Bring me to Annatar, I have business to discuss.”

And in true fashion, with her newfound title as “Empress” Lirka was quick to shoot out stern and cold demands.

 

[Lunafreya Solidor]

T A G S | Lirka Ka
G E A R | Here.​

It felt as if it was all a big fancy joke. Destiny seemed to laugh right at her face, first there was the situation regarding forced labor, followed by Kyber Dark in Bastion, practically forcing her hand to flee from the imperial space in search of a planet that she could make it her ‘own’. It was funny that this place would be easily found on one of the ancient texts of her people, leading her way to the Elenna System. Only this time she chose to hide who she was as she took control of the nearby planets, by presenting herself only as Annatar and her forces as the White Hand, Lunafreya began moving her troops towards conquering the system and its resources. Lies were necessary for the time being, the imperials had eyes everywhere and she intended to suck on their resources into creating her army and succeeding into expanding her grasp around the galactic throat.

That was much more easily said than done. She had to deal with planetary local rulers and how to overthrow them, there were the Mornedhel to concern herself, the Imperials, her dealings with the Sith and she had her own personal affairs to resolve, all while keeping herself away from the keen of eyes that were always lurking in the Confederacy. So one could imagine her surprise when someone arrived on the planet and specifically called out for her alias. Worse than being discovered, was the fact that it was evident for her assistant that the creature that called out for her was in fact a Sith.

Clad in her veermok full body fur, Lunafreya sat down on the larger chair amidst the broken hall of the old palace in which those that controlled Bartertown liked to brag about power and control. Beneath her mask, her face could not be seen, and only her lips wee visible, as Lunafreya turned her head and awaited for her ‘rude’ guest to arrive, wondering in silence as to why this event was happening before her eyes, was this punishment from the gods that she worshiped? Or was this what she understood as 'fate'?

 

[Lirka Ka]

The heavy footfalls of Lirka's armored form heralded her arrival long before she came into view, in all of her truly alien glory. A creature that eschewed any notion of gender behind dark and overlapping plate, two glowing eyes within a horned helm that gave away no emotion, and an aura of hate beyond years. But this was no assassin, had Lirka deemed that her goal today their meeting would be nowhere near as formal as it was now.

Be not mistaken by the Empress of Thustra's brutish demeanor, for within that alien form held a cold, calculating, malice that would make even the most cruel of men tremble.

"And you are who they dub "Annatar"? I must say, your actions here have been...most impressive."

The towering mass of Lirka stood in it's full glory now, the lights slightly shining against the gunmetal plating: her words were masked under heavy distortion, with only the slightest hint of a thick accent creeping through. Lirka had learned much of what this "Annatar" had been attempting, such forces could not move without catching the eyes of many, and Lirka knew all too well how to gain the eyes of the Underworld.

Lunafreya Solidor

 

[Lunafreya Solidor]

T A G S | Lirka Ka
G E A R | Here.​

It was a dark, musty-smelling room. Where a raised dais stood in its center with a heavy curtain of golden metallic links, it should serve to cover up anyone who sat in the ruler 's chair. And in its place was a figure dressed from head to toe with a fluffy white veermok coat, not even allowing the outline of her eyes to be discerned, of its shape or color. A creation of her own to be used by her, in order to hide her presence with the Force, making her invisible and at the same time making it impossible to surrender the identity of her true name and face. The imperials had forced her to take that path, after Bastion she had become more paranoid with humans that she had shared the battlefield, the garrison massacre in JanFathal was proof of that, forcing the female hand to use clones to maintain the appearance of her governance in front of Tavlar's dog army in order to escape the pursuit of the bastard's inquisitors. And there were her own people to worry about, the Elzeri on her motherland shouldn't know about her true intentions, not yet, and she should keep herself like a snake in the dark, hissing and lurking.

At the foot of Lunafreya's podium was Gentiana, her personal assistant, as well as her accomplice in that farce. The maid tilted her head to the right in a thoughtful way as she focused the yellow orbs on the creature in front of her, while Lunafreya herself let her thought travel the paths of imagination in search of meaning in the actions of the figure in front of her. With no time to elaborately search for her past, Lunafreya had to settle for what the digital traces left on HoloNet could deliver to her for that encounter, although the Force's invisible eyes could say more than a few lines of writing ever would say.

'Another monster.', Her eyes concluded. Returning to the farce, Annatar raised his hand from the arm of his chair, waving his black leather gloved palm in the direction of the guest.

"I appreciate the veiled admiration, but I very much doubt that you came all this way just to just ooze praise. I am what I am, whatever that is or whoever that is, Lirka is what you call yourself, yes?" Her arm returned to the seat rest. "I don't think we have met, not directly at least, but I can admit that I have heard something here or there about your... nobler deeds. And I must say that I am impressed with the visit, as well as with objectivity instead of paparicose, for I believe that would be too tiring for both you and me. So please..."

She smiled behind the white fur, not because something she said was funny but due to the sound of her own voice, leaving the notorious honeyed female tone and being distorted by the fur cloak to a male tone. In silence, Lunafreya awaited her answer.

 

[Lirka Ka]

Standing as a creature more automaton than flesh, merely a suit of armor and the void in the force that surrounded it: but with the name Lirka it gave some sort of acknowledge. At least Lunafreya Solidor was smarter than most, and that was a trait that Lirka had come to value greatly over the brutish pawns she had become so used to. No need for empty facades and false identities this time.

"My praise is not easily earned. Savor the rare treats of this Galaxy when they present themselves."

She held the mannerisms of an Empress already.

"Christened by the blood of millions I stalk the void. And through my mind's eye, the path has been laid clear: the Galaxy has fallen into turmoil, you can see it as clearly as I can: look upon this meager rock you dub home, Annatar. A mere speck in the desert, but a testament to your abilities: abilities I need."

Dancing with prose and metaphor in every sentence it seemed, Lirka kept the "famed" and obnoxious artistry of a Sephi, but there was the absolutely and unshakable drive that Lirka had made herself known for: there were schemes in the works, always churning and twisting within the Empress's wracked mind. Her words thundered through the chamber, a resolute offer to this Annatar.

"In this Chaos, we shall find profit; the Crimson Dawn rises. And I offer you a place among it, freedom from this meager existence."

 

[Lunafreya Solidor]

T A G S | Lirka Ka ​

In a morbid silence, she heard every word so elegantly spoken by the creature that rose in that dusty chamber. The eyes behind the animal hood of her white cloak remained immaculate and almost untouched by the tantalizing words uttered by that creature of such cunning, one that she cannot help thinking how eloquently well placed those words were. Almost like a mantra at length rehearsed and carefully prepared on a tediously long journey, she cannot help identifying with that creature, at least by the methodical way of thinking. If the father was in a position to read her mind, he would probably suggest that she had matured, just to her displeasure.

The fingers wrapped in glossy black leather wrapped around her lap, with the index finger drumming against the fingers of the other hand. Her mind marinated the answer like the broth of a carefully prepared soup, the voice behind the garment remained altered, maintaining the farce through that deep and lying tone, making it impossible to discover her real intention.

"Crimson Dawn... Do you know what the galaxy is to me? A ladder. Many who try to climb it fail and never get to try again. The fall breaks them. And some, are given a chance to climb. They refuse, they cling to the galaxy or the gods or love. Illusions. Only the ladder is real. The climb is all there is." Her hands moved from the resting place and turned to the arms of her chair. "Why does a Sith would take this course of action? To abandon the Empire in its hour of need in search of... something else."

 

[Lirka Ka]

There was a silence, cold, hateful, silence. Always did the lot of the Galaxy disappoint Lirka in some way, and she voiced her concerns quite openly to Lunafreya Solidor with a distorted, crackling, sneer. Seems someone wasn't fond of Sith much at all.

"You speak of the Galactic Truth, only to throw whatever coy nonsense next. I am no Sith, they are ignorant fools blind to the way of the Abyssal Dark. I served the Empire out of bargains and promises, not the blind and empty loyalty of a zealot."

Lirka was always loyal to one thing in this Galaxy, herself. She was surrounded by pawns and useful distractions, these great factions that tore the Galaxy asunder were little more than means to an end, and the Empire had been the road to secure glorious Thustra: the Sumitra sector as a whole was now her's, the domain of Empress Lirka Ka. And the perfect safe-haven from her innumerable sins, for however long that'd last.

"I have seen the tides, and I have seen the portents, there is opportunity to be found within this Galaxy. And so I offer you a place within my rung of the ladder, to become something greater."

 

[Lunafreya Solidor]

T A G S | Lirka Ka ​

Her mind dived into the depths that made herself. Through the power of the ancient world, she travelled through its current, while her entire thought was dedicated to this very decision regarding the unexpected guest inside that dusky hall. Time almost seemed frozen, not due to any strange effect those two malevolent souls had, but her own species perceived time in a much slower pace than those of human species found around the galaxy, and in that slower pace, Lunafreya considered the proposition made to her by that monstrous creature. She wasn’t interested in what or who Lunafreya was, it was only what could be obtained from it that mattered. And Lunafreya wasn’t any different from Lirka, it was on her own gains that she weighed down on the scales inside the palace of her mind and nothing else.

She could live her entire life on the Elenna Nebula, or even dwell around the intrigues of the Confederacy, or she could do more. Even if that meant something much similar to death for the poor unfortunate souls found in the galaxy.
“Something greater.”, her lips muttered, repeating his words with a certain amount of curiosity. “Very well, Lady Lirka... I shall abide by myself on betting in your stakes by aligning myself to your view on galactic conquering, for I myself also dream of bringing about new dawn to a small galactic portion of this vast, vast universe.”

Her hand raised from the arm of her chair, reaching out to Lirka.
“How would you like to achieve this?”

 

[Lirka Ka]

Lirka paced ever so slightly, it was the stalking of a predator. Each movement was calculated and held a barely restrained power of whirling machinery and carefully crafted sinews. The desire for power moved her, it was an unsustainable lust: for even with blessed Thustra in her claws, she still wanted more the Dark demanded more, it demanded blood, murder, and chaos. But it was unfortunate so many in the Galaxy still had yet to see it's truth.

"Conquest?"

The "Sephi" monster let herself have a rancorous chuckle

"I do not care for conquest. I do not care to see another Empire added to the pool: for I possess command of all that which I have desired. No, I plan for chaos, to see the Galaxy alight and pull the profit from it's burned husk. The underworld pulses and churns, distant gangs and unorganized ruffians clamber in meager and hopeless existed. They have felt the cold embrace of the Dark, and they shall feel the crushing will of its Icon. They shall unify under the bloody sun, and we shall see the weak cower under our might."

She had the makings of any of the hundreds of so-called "Dark Lords of the Sith" that filled this Galaxy to the brim, but the irony of such a thing was lost on the woman now. She was back into one of her "moods" of zealous monologues, the ever enjoyable character trait.

Lunafreya Solidor

 

[Lunafreya Solidor]

T A G S | Lirka Ka
​

In an odd way of speaking, she understood that woman, in more ways than she wanted to admit out loud. It was almost embarrassing to her own thoughts, wasn’t she the one that wanted power, strength, and glory? Was the very reason she left her homeplanet, in search of something else, but still, the galaxy was filled to the brim with belligerent, power-hungry, misshapen aliens searching for the same things she was. As if originality was one of the best traits of her adorable personality, Lunafreya couldn’t help but to hate that on herself and unleash that fury on everything which lived and breathed around her.

She shrugged after the woman finished her speech and an amicable tone for her own words.

“Very elegantly said, If I may so myself... However, how far does your extent in matters of power can go? I never heard of your holdings before, even if I do keep myself away from the galactical stage, hearing things is somewhat of... a specialty of mine. And you are outside the Empire’s grip, where is your base? How many troops? How many other small factions have you rallied for this lovely bloody enterprise?”, her head beneath her disguise swung sideways, almost imitating a rattlesnake's movements. “Nuances, and more nuances. I’m well aware of that, but for me to truly join your crimson new dawn for this galaxy, is best to be cautious, wouldn’t you agree?”

 

[Lirka Ka]

Lirka remained a force of nature more than a person, all she could do was want never being able to be content with the power she had: she needed to exert her rightful dominance over all thing, it was how she would be saved from the Dark's crushing embrace when the day came and reality as they knew it ceased to exist. Only the strong would remain. With Thustra gained, the final gem in her crown had been placed: but all she could do was desire more.

She gave a sideways glance to the questions Lunafreya Solidor , they were smart enough questions: albeit annoying nuances.

"Thustra and Sumitra as a whole have faded into obscurity under the crushing dominion of Mandalorian and Jedi alike, but with each moment my grip grows tighter and my warriors branch to the other worlds of the Sector to see whom will bend the knee. And they all will, in enough time. I possess thousands loyal to me among the Sephi, and I shall turn more with each passing day albeit my grip on the underworld is...not what it once was. Petty gangsters and fodder have flocked to my will, but I have come here not to demand your obedience: I seek to grow the dawn as two Wills whom understand this Galaxy better than the rabble, the two-heads of the Serpent."

And sticking with the themes of the meeting, another rare instance where Lirka didn't completely assert dominance over another living person. Might be time to try the Corellian Lottery today.