Guala

[Julius Thonn]

Sometime after Mustafar

Bastion of Ren

Because he's white.

That was probably why Julius couldn't see Castor's face properly sometimes. If he stood in the sun on Virgillia, then it would mask his face due to his complexion.

Poor guy.

Julius sat on the steps and looked out over the valley that led up to the Bastion. There weren't many people that visited the place, literally none at all. Most of the inhabitants, what few there were, thought the bastion to still be abandoned, overridden with creatures and monsters and what have you. Julius, and the military knew better.

And the other Ren, of course.

Those weirdos.

Can't believe no one thought the same as me. I mean.. He's so old. I bet he couldn't even lead himself to a washing basin.

Julius shook his head.

The bald guy is probably dead anyway.

He rose to his feet, brushing the nonexistent dust off his knees.

"BALDIE!"

He cried out, yelling at the top of his lungs. For emphasis, even his eyes were closed, as if that would help him gain volume.

[member="Castor Ren"]

 

[Progflaw99]

Much had happened in the preceding days. Much that Castor had thought on, meditated on. The Order of Ren was unhealthy, even the Supreme Leader himself had hinted at such. Too often the Ren were left to their own devices, something Sieger had attempted to warn them of. Though the First Order had been victorious at the incursion to Mustafar the Ren arguably had little to do with it. They'd assaulted the historic castle constructed by the Sith Lord, Darth Vader but had failed to assist in much else - it was a point Castor had been well aware of. He'd managed to escape the battle with little more than wounded pride, even though largely he had been victorious, it spoke to the old adage that even the smallest of mistakes could have disastrous consequences.

As if the memory of the numbing blade were an actuality, Castor tensed his left hand, fingers closing on his palm and then extending. A deep breath filled his lungs, the warm air of Virgilia almost cold to the man's senses after having spent a fair amount of time on Mustafar. This place felt more comfortable, more natural. Silently the Knight of Ren moved, his feet leading him towards the front of the Bastion of Ren. Towards the steps which wound from the very base of the mountain, the Path of Jagged Stones. A dark tunic and trousers, plain in appearance adorned the Ren's figure, his sword Krigsgaldr at his side. It had become a comfort for him, the blade's dark aura calming, empowering. As Castor approached the steps, a lone figure sat nearly halfway down the first landing. Julius Thonn. The boy had been the object of his ire for some time, their meeting with Sieger. That experience had been awakening.

It was unfortunate for the young disciple, for as he rose and shouted the Knight had just recalled how he'd paid for the boy's insolence in the very presence of their leader. Stealthily he'd crept up, the boy oblivious - or at least he would be for the moment.

*SMACK*​

​

A back handed slap to the back of the young man's head sounded, no doubt an abrupt wake up call from whatever fantasy the boy had played out in his head. Castor had struck the boy hard enough to inflict pain but not hard enough to send the boy rolling, though it would yet be a surprise.

"Your insolence, does it end?" Castor asked, somewhat rhetorically. "Boy, gather your things and meet me at the armory. We are already behind schedule."​

​

He stood there, eyes boring into the young Julius, an expectant expression painted across Castor's features as he waited for the Disciple to react. The boy's insolence had cost him - perhaps this was just a part of his penance for the lack of direction he'd given the young man. While the boy hadn't exactly been his apprentice, by extension they were all brothers and sisters.

[member="Julius Thonn"]​

 

[Julius Thonn]

In the Ren's absence from the Bastion of Ren, the disciple Julius hadn't been inactive. He had trained himself. A lot. Though not in the ways of the Force. Physically. Daily, he ran through the Bastion of Ren and the surrounding jungle. With the return of a presence to the structure, many of the creatures had migrated further away from the Bastion, lest they become the target of the more predatory members of the Order.

Julius was certain he had spotted a towering black figure once, more akin to demon than humanoid.

Before he could even think as to what it could've been however, his ears perked up, but that was only a moment before one sideo f his head was clapped. Head twisting as he spun around, fists coming up to fight off his assailant. Where he was didn't matter, it was instinct driving him to move, but he had restrained himself from actually making an aggressive move against the hostile.

Baldie.

Maybe a little too loud.

Though his ears still rung.

Never again.

"Umm." Julius blinked, before he nodded. "Okay." And then he rushed inside, and within minutes he would've been at the armoury. He didn't own a lot of things, and he had been forced to bring even less items to the Bastion. He sported a black shirt, and black trousers, in a similar fashion to the bald Knight of Ren, which he had begun to do immediately after being crippled by the Supreme Leader.

"Where we going?"

He was capable of being serious, at least for a little while.

[member="Castor Ren"]

 

[Progflaw99]

His footsteps had followed purposefully, ending up at the Armory along with the Disciple. At the question, he narrowed his eyes as he decided on what he would tell the boy. Once decided, he motioned for the boy to choose his weapons. Castor himself had forgone any kind of real armor, the cloak and a pair of gauntlets all he wore aside from his tunic and trousers. The leather boots on his feet were soft, perfect for stealth.

"We go to the Deep Core. Arm yourself." Raising an eyebrow he posed a question. "Tell me boy, what do you know of Byss?"​

​

The Supreme Leader had issued forth the message, or at least he'd instructed the masters to relay it to the man - a sort of test no doubt, of both the Disciple and the Knight. Castor knew of Byss, but only through his readings of the archives and through the holonet - he'd never been there. Located in the deep core, it would take nearly a week to get there from the Bastion of Ren - a full week of being alone on a vessel with the boy. The thought caused the edges of his lips to twitch. It would no doubt be a test of his patience but perhaps that was the intended goal.

One of the planets fully corrupted by Emperor Palpatine over 800 years ago, there was no doubt in Castor's mind that they ahd been sent to seek artifacts, knowledge, secrets long since lost to history - but he also knew the dangers. He'd seen strange things in the records, mysteries of the Sith of old. He would not arrive unprepared.

[member="Julius Thonn"]​

 

[Julius Thonn]

Arm myself?

He walked forwards as his Mentor of Ren continued on to ask him about what he knew about the planet Byss. In truth, beyond physical training, he had conditioned himself with as much information of the past as he could. The Ren had little more information than the rest of the First Order's public orders, but Julius had always been the sort to know where to look. Friends primarily, sometimes family, even himself, teachers at the Stormtrooper Academy had always said it was instinct, that he would be a good leader.

Now, he questioned himself as to whether the Force helped him to cheat.

To put him in the higher echelons of the Force.

Where would I be... Without it?

And his typical light hearted features darkened for a moment as he lifted a polished chestpiece and shoulderguards. His pack was small to begin with, and it sported straps. He immediately dropped to the ground and hooked the straps through the armholes of the chestpiece before rising back up, but he placed the shoulder guards on now, strapping them before he said.

"I'm not fit for a weapon yet."

"Oh and... Nothing scarier than you I hope?"

[member="Castor Ren"]

 

[Progflaw99]

His own weapons had already been gathered - what they would face likely the boy wouldn't know, but Castor had been diligent in his reading of the archives. Byss had been the site of Emperor Palpatine's private citadel - at least until it was destroyed. According to the compiled records the hyperspace routes leading to the planet were few and far between, often mined - it would take them several days to traverse the distance between the Bastion and the Deep Core. The time would likely be spent piloting, he didn't yet trust the Disciple and as he thought further on it, he felt a twinge where the Supreme Leader had exacted his revenge for Castor's lack of leadership. With a quiet eye, Castor watched the young Disciple choose his armament, his equipment.

Castor himself began to gather his own equipment, a helmet also as he quickly gathered what he needed, armor plates disappearing into the oversized duffel he slung over his shoulder. He would be equipped, though what he brought he may not eventually use - better to be prepared. An arched eyebrow greeted the Disciples statement. *Not fit of a weapon? Foolishness.*

"You will choose - there are plenty to chose from, a sword like my own - or a blaster, the choice is yours but you will arm yourself."

Narrowing his eyes, he gestured once more to the racks of weapons. The boy was resistant, it was a struggle that he would have to overcome if he were to reach the boy and if he were to continue his path to knighthood - obedience was a core construct of the Ren.

[member="Julius Thonn"]​