Darkness and Vampires, the best of both worlds

[Zye Woden]

Zye spun his short sword across the back of his hand, his eyes regarding the world passing him by with a cold, dull disinterest. Thyferra, once a hot and humid, life-filled world, was now nothing more than a wasteland. Xucphra, or at least what was left of this main port city, moved on before him with pathetic lower life forms. They were cattle, food if hardly anything else. He could barely stand to see them. They were the unwashed masses that lived hand to mouth. No higher calling. No higher purpose. Just living to eat and engage in some sort of pleasure. What a waste. He reversed the spin of his short sword as it played across his hand. Perhaps it was fitting that they would all pass on like the dust across a desert world like this one.

Even though the House of Woden had been cast out from Thule like refuse, Zye would not see himself lost in his calling to protect these lifeforms. Pathetic and pointless though they were, it was the duty of his kind to protect their lesser existence. There was no other way for them to evolve to higher beings after all. In a less existential sense, Zye was a hunter. He knew no other life. While he would have rather slew Sithspawn like the abomination they were, any quarry was a good hunt. Without that calling, he knew he would descend into madness. It was all about keeping himself busy, biding his time. And passing on what he knew to another Sanguinis Vamprika was the best way to pass that time.

He had heard of Vallory Sorenn-Syrush. The house was one of his distant cousins, but they were cousins nonetheless. She had wanted to dedicate herself to uncovering the art of the hunt. That was all fine with Zye. He would help pass on some of what he had learned the same way his father and uncle had passed their knowledge on. Through the hunt itself.

Huddled away in the safety of the shade, Zye waited. From behind the dark cloak that surrounded him, the Vamprika waited. What had once been a majestic, glorious hunting garb was now less than that thanks to a fall from grace that left Zye unable to tend to his armor and gear with the most expensive and lavish treatment. He was still unused to not having masses of wealth at his fingertips and he hated it. The hood covered his head, further protecting him from the unforgiving sun and easing his vision somewhat. The cloth drawn across his pale skin left only his eyes visible, each of them glared at the world with haughtiness. His dark eyes at last alighted on what appeared to be her form, and what smelt like her through the slaven, unwashed bodies. Zye sheathed his weapon and slipped into the crowd, stalking after her several steps until he had come upon the female he thought was Vallory Sorenn-Syrush.

“A good day to you cousin,” Zye said in his usual unholier-than-thou tone. His head inclined towards a seedy bar with glowing neons overhead that promised drinks and dancers, “There, perhaps?”

[member="Vanessa Vantai"] I [member="Vallory"]​

 

[Vallory]

Thyferra. The female Sanguinus Vampirka didn't exactly see this as a great meeting place. Desolate, a large wasteland. But, she couldn't really disagree. She had been lacking in adventure across the galaxy, and this was a chance she was willing to take. Vallory had arrived to the port city by paying a smuggler to get her here. And they had gotten her there, without any hassle so Val was glad for that. With her she brought some of those apple fruits she had discovered, back on the planet of Commenor. About four she had in a pack, one she was eating as she moved through the crowd.

She did not take notice of someone following, not until they spoke from behind her. She stopped, and before turning put on the most decent looking smile she could pull. "Cousin, it is good to see you too." She had not met many of House Woden, mostly sticking to her own house.

Vallory followed Zye's gaze to the bar, and gave a stiff nod. "It looks good. Hey, think fast" she said, tossing one of the apples she had in her pack before heading for the bar. As she went in, she settled in at a table.

[member="Vanessa Vantai"]

 

[Onrai]

Ugh, how ashen.

Vanessa had come to the planet of Thyferra for numerous reasons - for one, the traumatic death of practically everyone on the planet at the hand of the Sith's orbital bombardment meant the planet had anguish. Pain. Suffering. She was sure some sort of Force Nexus had been formed here, and thus was a perfect place for a laboratory, a place to give such darkness a purpose.

Already, fabrication of towers had gone up to summon lightning from the skies at regular intervals - this was deliberate, for the lightning was drawn into energy crystals that would use its power in the beam weaponry that the Sith were utilizing. A great hill of ash had been made, compacted, and dug into, a fallout shelter, officially, yet a laboratory in actuality where the development of the Reborn technology was going to proceed. Machines had already been brought in to dig up the ash in a large crater near the hill - cinder blocks needed ash as aggregate, and what better aggregate to use than the tainted soil of Thyferra itself?

But for now, she drank. People gave her space - though she was not a Sith who had participated in the world's razing, the aura of uneasiness she had generated was sufficient enough to keep most people away. She noticed a pair of pale humans come in - they seemed interesting enough. For now she drank and ate some sliced corned nerf - she appreciated the salty taste.

[member="Vallory"] [member="Zye Woden"]

 

[Zye Woden]

Zye made a note of Vallory’s inattention to being tailed. It was a rookie and deadly mistake. Granted, he did have a few thousand years of experience mere mortals did not, but he hadn’t even been trying hard at all.

The semi-sincere smile she plastered across her face told Zye that at least she was wise enough to know not to disrespect her elders. He returned it with an unseen, cunning smile of his own. But his words carried its sneer-tainted benevolence in a tone that he had all but perfected, “Charmed. To say the least.”

When she tossed the food at him before bolting, Zye reacted rather than thought. As a child, his father and uncle had made sure that Zye was at all times on edge and ready for attack. Foes come in all forms, they would warn him. Some dressed as children, some with a smile. Any failure to pass their repeated tests was met with the harshest of punishments. He recoiled at the fruit, swatting it away with his right hand. Only when it had tumbled through the sand did he realize it was an apple. He sneered at the disgusting vegetation as he crushed it under his boot.

He moved on after her, weaving through the crowds to the safety from the sun in the bar. He removed the dark scarf from his face as he sat at the booth that Vallory had chosen for them. He looked at the unclean table’s surface with distain before resting his elbows on it in a thoughtful, proper position.

“Very good,” he said with a haughty air. A scantly clad waitress came to take their orders, Zye waved her away, “Nothing for me.” If Vallory ordered anything he waited till she was done before addressing her further. She had made a number of mistakes, none of them had slipped by him.

“Observation is your strongest weapon and defense,” his words that followed were cold and cutting, “You are humiliatingly unaware of everything around you. The fact that I could sneak upon without hardly a trifle was nothing short of an egregious disparity to our shared heritage. I cannot understand how you have managed to survive thus far unless I remember that you utterly worthless and an insignificant speck of dust in this galaxy.

Second. You quickly and willingly agreed to meet at my stated location. The fact that you did not even stop to think for a fraction of a moment how horrifically fatal that could have been leaves me wondering if your mother gave birth to a sentient being or a brainless bantha. You never agree to your contact’s location, this could have been an ambush. It still could be, but I wouldn’t expect a blind and brainless moron such as yourself to come to understand such things.

“Third you have failed to select the best location for seating. We are hardly out of the optimal firing range should there be a scuffle, and we cannot see all the exits. Your trivial childishness has left us in a situation that otherwise could have been as safe as entering a rancor’s pit with naught but steaks for garments.”
He leaned back in the booth they were sitting at and let the criticism sink in. He hoped his words had functioned like a scalpel to cut away her weaknesses and hone this child into a hunter. It wouldn’t be a quick process, but he had high expectations and hopes for her. She needed a chance to redeem herself and show that his edged words had honed her further.

“Look around the room,” he said in a less cutting tone, “Tell me the best location in this room to find a weapon and the best to find drugs. Tell me the easiest person to kill and the easiest to pick pocket. Then tell me who the most dangerous person in the room.”

@Vallory I [member="Vanessa Vantai"]​

 

[Vallory]

Vallory waited for [member="Zye Woden"] inside bar, looking rather bored with one hand against her chin, elbow on the table and her other hand on the table, fingernails tapping away against it. Soon he arrived. "Thanks, I try" she said with a smile back at him. Then a waitress came by, and Vallory ordered some wine for herself. She quite liked wine. Then the waitress was gone. Now the Sanguinus turned to her distant relative, holding her head at an angle as she looked him up and down.

Then seemingly out of nowhere came ridicule. "Humiliatingly? Sorry to burst your bubble, but I didn't think to be looking for danger. Really, what could happen?" Then again, while she liked adventure, she also liked danger. And the smirk she wore as she said 'what could happen', she knew she was tempting fate. Then he called her worthless, and that she took offense to as she dug her nails into the table. Her face scrunched somewhat, and she held back any sort of remark back. This is what she got, for agreeing to a simple family meeting? Her emotions must have been radiating off her by now.

She forced a smile back when he assigned her a task. She began to look about. "Well, the darkest corner of course...but that would be expected" she said, with a wily smirk. She thought this as a trick question now. "So then, not in here. But rather behind. The easiest to pickpocket would be the most susceptible to my charms of course, which could be almost any drunk in here. The same goes for easiest to kill." Then her smirk seemed to disappear. "As for most dangerous, that'll be me if you don't explain all of this sudden rudeness." Really, she had no idea who she was messing with.

 

[Zye Woden]

"Humiliatingly? Sorry to burst your bubble, but I didn't think to be looking for danger. Really, what could happen?"

“Always. Look. For. Danger.” He punctured every word with steel-clad emphasis. “We could find ourselves in the center of a political coupe. A man could walk through that door with a blazing blaster rifle. The Wookie to your left and aft could decide to assault the Trandoshan on the other side of the bar and start an all-out rage war. Star destroyers could come overhead and either DBZ this planet like they did before or lay siege. You could be mugged. I could decide to turn you over to your own political enemies. A slaver could decide you’d make a nice profit and attempt to capture you,” he leaned in, eyebrows furrowed with intensity. Her life depended on understanding the next words were more true than anything else in this galaxy. He didn’t care for her beyond the natural biological instinct to care for one’s kin to have their DNA carried over to the next generation. But carrying that DNA meant nothing if the lessons of how to survive were lost. “Anything can happen. You are never safe. You are never secure. You are always one step away from a warzone.”

A few decades ago that might have been an overstatement, but Zye knew now that it wasn’t the case.

He could feel the anger rolling off her, he smirked with some satisfaction. If she could learn to harness that and use it to heighten her senses and skills, then they could really have something going here. Sometimes you needed to be cut down to rise up to your full potential. But, unfortunately, her answers were far from satisfactory. It was a start, but far from satisfactory.

"As for most dangerous, that'll be me if you don't explain all of this sudden rudeness."

The statement elicited a near-genuine chuckle from Zye’s lips. He leaned back, genuinely amused with her perceived power. He knew he wasn’t even the most powerful being in this room. He had felt the more powerful aura flickering from female on the other side of the establishment. She was dark and strong but in control and aware of what she could do. That combination made her the most powerful being in the room. Even stronger than Zye.

“Child, please, you are hardly a challenge to half the people here,” he waved her statement away. “I am never suddenly rude. I just see no need to pretend to coddle you. You are a part of the greatest race to ever evolve I will never consider how what I say makes you feel,” without realizing it, Zye had quoted his own mother. For a moment he flashed back to crying on the steps of their great hall as a young boy. Her words carried through the opulent but stern house like a thundercloud as he choked back tears from his young eyes. The moment had hardly lasted a second, and he was back in the bar, showing a potential hunter how to be better. “I am not your friend. Don’t count on that ever happening. But if what I say makes you angry, then use that anger to be better and prove you aren’t as worthless as I claim. If you can’t do that, then to the galaxy a favor, go ahead and die.”

The waitress returned with Vallory’s wine, setting it on the table, Zye nodded towards the dark Force adept in the corner, “A glass of your finest for the blonde in the corner. We will be taking her tab.”

The waitress hurried off to fulfill the order and Zye turned his eye back to the Vallory, “Lesson two; when you enter a Rancor’s den, ‘tis best to befriend it.”

@Vallory I [member="Vanessa Vantai"]​

 

[Onrai]

Vanessa raised an eyebrow, and gave Zye a smirk as she received the drink in question before seemingly returning to her own business. He had been acknowledged - but not much more than that. Such was deliberate, after all. She finished the drink before asking the server for another. This would be a fun time - especially once she got to know them.

Of course, she had no idea that they could suck... but that was something for another time.

[member="Zye Woden"] [member="Vallory"]

 

[Vallory]

Vallory felt something she had not felt for a long time. Somewhat...afraid. She came here expecting a simple friendly meeting. And yet she was getting lectured. Sure, one could never truly be safe but she never wanted to think about that, even though she quite liked the feeling of danger wherever it was. The thrill of it. "Danger? I am always looking for danger...I quite like it." She paused for a moment, putting a finger to her chin. "But, let me guess. Not a smart thing to do?"

Slavers. As soon as he said that, her face twisted with distaste. She had run into many unsavory folk on her travels. They were some of the worst Vallory had encountered. She reached to a hilt along her leg, drawing a knife while also slightly leaning back so his fight were in her peripheral. "Slavers can try. And they have. I lure them in, for I have a distaste for them. Then once I have them in my trap..." Under the table, she flicked it out of her hand and just by his feet. She found it impressive. She liked to show off her sleight of hand skills, how quickly she could draw. Yet still she had no idea who she was talking to.

At his next remarks, at being called a child, and worthless. "Worthless? I'll show you worthless" she hissed, not something she usually did. She was just about ready to put a fish against this guy's face, no matter if they were family. She didn't even take notive of the other eyeing.

[member="Vanessa Vantai"] [member="Zye Woden"]

 

[Zye Woden]

Zye wasn’t in the least relieved that the female in the corner at least knew they were on her better side, and meant her no harm. When she acknowledged them, he gave a nod of his own and a close-lipped smile in return. It was about the waiting game from there on what would happen next.

"Danger? I am always looking for danger...I quite like it. But, let me guess. Not a smart thing to do?"

“We are carnivores, Vallory, we literally drink blood. That desire to feel danger is part of your hunter instinct. It is neither foolish nor smart, its all a matter of what you do with it and if you rule it or if it rules you,” he gave a wave of his hand. He could feel her a little afraid, and he could smell it too in the subtle shift of her hormones. He couldn’t see the vague movement of her arm under the table, but it was exactly what he didn’t see that made him know it was coming. Her subtle body language had shifted from its usual state to something just a slightly bit more still and guarded. When her blade landed at his boots, he would stomp on it, slapping it to the ground before it could stick into the grime encrusted floorboards.

Zye’s telekinesis was weak for his training. He had focused on other things that were more exotic and keyed in to his needs as a hunter. He his hands giving a mocking clap as his mind slowly pulled the blade up and set it on the table near him. “Very good, you can stop slavers. Out of seven, you can prevent one. How amazing of you. I am so stunned and in awe that the least dangerous of them all is your strong suit.” Nothing but pure mockery came from his tone, “And the least likely considering the state of your face and figure. However, I suppose there might be a desperate freak out there with some strange tastes that would purchase you if you were discounted.”

"Worthless? I'll show you worthless"

She hissed and Zye snapped the fingers on his left hand. The dagger that lay on the table flew forward, embedding itself in the chair just to the right of Vallory’s ear, dangerously close. If she didn’t move the wrong way, she wouldn’t be harmed. As it still hummed from the impact, Zye extended his hand towards her, his fingers clenching together in a slow fist. He would form a weak Force Net around Vallory, the strands of the darkside sapping just some of her strength, pinning her where she sat and most importantly, giving her a taste of what real pain was. He was familiar with the art, both what it felt like in full strength and what it was to give it. It was one of the more favored forms of punishment by his kin when he had failed to live up to their expectations. On the hunt, it was a skill that could mean the difference between the death of a Sithspawn and its continued ability to ravage anywhere it desired.

“You let your anger take control,” he said with cold instruction in his tone, “That is an easy way to die. Anger is good, you should use it to fuel yourself, to push yourself. Hate is the path to victory, but only as long as that hate doesn’t control you, but you control it. Rage is power, but power unchecked brings more pain than you could possibly imagine.”
Zye unclenched his fist, releasing the net he had over Vallory, “Pain, anger, fear. These are your strongest tools. Use them.”

[member="Vallory"] [member="Vanessa Vantai"] ​

 

[Onrai]

Vanessa continued to look over the two vampires, unknowing of their existence. Her darkness was felt by them - she decided to see whether or not they had any interest in her. Getting up and telling the bartender she was done, she began to head outside, curious as to whether at least one of the two would end up following her. If so... Well, perhaps she could make some new friends. That was always the hope after all.

Wasn't it?

[member="Zye Woden"] [member="Vallory"]

 

[Vallory]

Vallory couldn't help to smirk at the nerves he had, continuing to insult her. At least that was how she took it all. She was about to make a remark when the knife she had thrown rose up, then flicked at just beside her head. She was at a shortness of breath then, and she swore the heart had skipped a beat even. Vallory rose a hand to grab it, then tucked it back into the hilt. "Some aim" she muttered under her breath.

Her fist clenched, and she was about to raise it. The female vampire then felt something around her, she froze. Her eye twitched in pain, she wanted to breath. This pain was unfamiliar, and it had her wanting to clutch a hand to her chest, she even held her breath at the sudden pain, and continued to. She felt weak, and when she finally breathed, she also tried to speak. "S-Stop....stop..." Eventually he did let go, and she fell forward onto the table. Vallory's hands barely just held her up and she took in some well awaited breaths. "What...what was that?" She held fear in her eyes...but that was belittled by interest. A sudden need to know this power. "What power....was that?"

 

[Zye Woden]

She asked, or as he saw it begged her to stop, but only when he felt she had learned her lesson did he let go. He was content to see that she appeared to have figured out how this worked. There was some fear, and more importantly awe. Not at him, that wasn’t what he wanted. She was in awe of the power he wielded.

What...what was that? What power....was that?"

“That,” Zye said with satisfaction, “Was the Dark Side. Its hatred, fear, and pain under control. Before you can tap in to that type of power you must become familiar with each of the former.”

She was hungry. Hunger was all that mattered. The stronger woman left, Zye tossed a few coins on the table as he rose, “Come. Lesson 3; follow your instincts. My instincts are telling me to follow that woman. If you want to learn more, you will find it along that path. Possibly with me,” he glanced at the door she had just walked through, “Or possibly with her. It is unclear.”

Face protected from the blazing light once more, Zye wove through the streets after this woman.

“Excuse me,” he said coming only as close as was polite, “Miss… I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name.” He smiled unseen behind his facial coverings, but some charm and manners were heard in his voice, “My name is Zye of House Woden from Thule. This is my distant cousin, Vallory of the Sorenn-Syrush family.”

He was haughty, arrogant, hateful, and fueled by bitterness, but when he had to Zye could have manners. “To what do we owe the pleasure of seeing you in these less hospitable parts?”

[member="Vallory"] I [member="Vanessa Vantai"]​

 

[Onrai]

So, they were following her. How interesting. She had sensed the usage of the Dark Side while she had left, but apparently they did indeed have an interest. "Vanessa Vantai. I'm here on business - this wrecked world is not going to recover without intensive external assistance. Assistance I intend on providing. We've already established an underground facility to manufacture energy crystals utilizing Adegan from deposits in Sith space and the lightning of the world's storm-ridden atmosphere. The facility also helps keep whatever vegetation is left from being consumed by lightning fires." She said.

"I'm also here to make use of this world's ash - it will be perfect aggregate for cement blocks." A macabre way of using the world's ruins, but effective. "Thyferran Cinderblock will be the cornerstone of rebuilt settlements on this world. As much as the Sith would love to say life has been eradicated, ironically enough, this world is an agriculturist's dream now that the soil is enriched with ash. Fruit and vegetable yields will be much greater now than they were before. We're also certain that traces of the organic materials used to make bacta can be found on the world."

[member="Zye Woden"] [member="Vallory"]

 

[Vallory]

Vallory had heard of this. Of the Dark Side. Such power, great power. She already saw it as worth it, worth the fear and pain she had just felt then. She was now yearning for this power, to have it. The many things that she could do. All the people she could manipulate, new ways to experiment with things. She grew a hunger for such power, as if afflicted by something suddenly. [member="Zye Woden"] had done well in tempting her with such power. Finally regaining herself, she stood to follow as he left. Missing out on her wine, but that was at the back of her head now.

She looked between them as they spoke, remaining silent. Vallory was already quite bored as they spoke of agriculture, cement blocks and such things. So, she continued to remain silent as Zye and [member="Vanessa Vantai"] spoke. However she did bow slightly when her name was spoken, as she was somewhat respectable...at times.

 

[Zye Woden]

Zye gave a nod as he listened to the lady’s reasons for being here. She was willing to utilize Agean crystals and take the ashen blocks to rebuild the planet. There was some sort of twisted poetic justice in the survivor of this catastrophe living out the rest of their lives in homes made from the ashes of their family members and neighbors. Zye didn’t particularly adhere to that brand of twisted revulsion, but he was all for the rebuilding and rebranding of a lost people group. More than that, he was also all for making more connections for House Woden—and more money.

“It sounds like this planet is ripe for the opportunity of a new birth,” Zye agreed with a slight smile, “Perhaps you would consider some external assistance from myself and my cousin?” he nodded towards Vallory, volunteering her to help. “I’m sure that traveling outside of what remains of this city is hardly an easy task and that there nefarious individuals in the wastelands waiting to prey on the supplies of well-meaning venture capitalists like yourself.”

[member="Vallory"] I [member="Vanessa Vantai"]​

 

[Onrai]

@Vallory @Zye Woden

"Death and rebirth are the cycle of the universe, as it is. I suppose any assistance could be required - I am capable of defending myself, I assure you, but your assistance in helping find some good deposits of ash to make cinder blocks out of would be fantastic." Of course, there were things that Vanessa did not know - for one, her presence as a Sith was certainly not appreciated by the surviving locals, and two... there were things. Terrible things that had been unleashed during the bombardment.

When they left the city, those things would be encountered.