Private Inquisition of the Wolf

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Wolfsbane | Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Strosius

Alisteri Haxim… or Darth Strosius… however he was going by now that Ophidia was dead, had found himself in the sights of the Dread Wolf. Neither Darth Empyrean nor Srina Talon had asked Gerwald to investigate the Tsis’Kaar agent, but that was why he had full autonomy to act as he wished, when he wished. There was something about his brooding, the angst which could be felt from the cold stares often felt even through the mask he wore. It bothered the wolf, giving Gerwald a sickening feeling in the pit of stomach. Whether it was well placed or misguided, there was truly only one way to find out.

A surprise visit.

Pterolykus approached the Bailiff Station a place known to frequently house the Sith Lord. It sat near the main hyperspace route for the Faldos system, a launching point for the Sith Inquisition. It was ironic to the wolf that he found himself behaving in such a manner for one that had carried out certain duties and tasks for the Inquisition, but such was the nature of Gerwald’s role in the Empire. He was not an inquisitor, nor was he the simple lapdog that he allowed others to think he was. The lupine had one purpose.

Unify the Sith under one banner.

Empyrean benefited from the close bond between Omnia and Valka. They also shared the bonds of servitude shackled to a life that had not been theirs to command. Gerwald knew what it was to shed that life as Empyrean had in his former visage. There was a loyalty born of kindred affection and experience that could never have been asked for or earned any other way. To say what Empyrean had gained from the wolf was unique would never perfectly convey the nature of it, though it would have to suffice as far as words could place it.

There would be no entrance to the station without Darth Strosius knowing it, not from the moment his ship was registered. The station would not deny Gerwald, however. No world or holding which claimed loyalty to the order would ever do such a thing. He traveled under Darth Empyrean’s seal. To reject the Lupo would be the same as turning away the Emperor himself.

Upon entry, Gerwald was met by an escort. First smaller ships to guide him to the appropriate hangar, and second by a set of foot soldiers which met him at the foot of his boarding ramp. A small nod was all he offered them as he walked down the ramp, his armor and weapons on full display. Gerwald towered over many of them. His imposing stature was enough to strike fear in those who were intimidated by such things. Many of the Sith claiming some semblance of influential rank were not often among that number, to their own folly perhaps.

“I wish to see your master.”

It was a simple request, one given in a manner and tone which expected compliance. Gerwald had long moved on from the day where he questioned his own authority of confidence to make such demands. He had grown into something the younger pup would have ever dreamed possible. Lord Commander of the Knights Obsidian still carried weight for those who had known the power of that order. It had been no small thing to lead them, and garnered a respect only few could touch.

He was stronger than he let on, more powerful than he allowed others to believe. His only display was the confidence which filled every step. The wolf knew one thing… it was better to make an ally of the Lupine than an enemy.

Today, Gerwald would learn which of those Alisteri would choose.

He bowed slightly when brought into the Sith Lord’s presence. It was not a gesture Gerwald was required to give, but the cordial grace offered was a method his Echani Mistress had ingrained into him. The wolf did not always have to bear his teeth. Threats did not cause one to open up, and Gerwald’s presence alone could be taken as such. A more lowly posture would help to dispel such a notion. He could only hope the Sith would have the same perspective and take the gesture for what it was.

An offering of peace.

“We have often found ourselves in the same room… or on the same field of battle… without actually meeting one another. I decided that needed to change.”

Gerwald nodded once more.

“My sympathies on the loss of your master. No doubt the details surrounding it have placed you in quite a precarious situation, one that perhaps I could help you navigate.”

 

[Darth Strosius]

Alarms and sirens went off around Bailiff Station the moment that the ship emerged from hyperspace, an unexpected interloper that immediately had the attention of the otherwise placid and serene station. A scan of the ship was enough to make the turrets and their gunners hold off on opening fire however, both on the station and across the handful of defensive installations scattered around the hyperspace exit. The ship was affiliated with the Sith Order, but more importantly it belonged to one Gerwald Lechner.

Darth Strosius didn't know much about the Emperor's executioner, but the lack of a proper fleet and no signs of weapons being targeted at his station was enough to pique his curiosity. For better or worse he had an unexpected and unwelcome visitor that he cared little to see. If he was confident that the wolf wouldn't have an armada waiting at his back at the first sign of trouble then he might have given the order to open fire. But he wasn't confident in that. Nor was he confident that the wrath brought down upon his head for the death of one of Empyrean's toys would be worth the satisfaction of seeing the interloper blown out of the sky.

So the weapons powered down and ships moved out to greet the vessel and guide it to the station, the defensive fleet that usually circled Faldos conveniently away on an assignment at the moment. And right when he could have used them too, what a shame. As the ship docked with the station he turned to his communication console and subtly contacted the station's control center. "Discretely prepare the station for full reactor meltdown. If our heads are to be claimed today, then we will ensure that Empyrean loses as well." A precautionary measure of course. Just in case.

The masked man rolled his shoulders and sat back in his seat as he composed himself and quieted away any stray thoughts or emotions that threatened to slip out because of the disturbance. Eternalists freely wandering about his station, especially one so close to the self proclaimed emperor, made his blood boil almost as much as it simply disgusted him. The thought alone made his teeth grind together, but he knew that he had to play the part of the calm and collected host for now. For whatever reason the executioner had come alone and was making his way to his office alone. Perhaps he was confident in his capabilities, and perhaps he had the right to be. There was only one way to find out but there was no sense in rushing to battle if his opponent had yet to make his move yet. For now he'd wait and watch as he always did. For now.

The door to his office, a rather sparsely decorated and dimly lit room, opened and made his head incline slightly as Gerwald entered without hesitation. Darth Strosius didn't bother rising up to greet his uninvited guest, instesd simply folding his hands in front of himself on the smooth black surface of his desk as his gaze narrowed slightly at the small bow. How odd, considering their vastly different places within the internal machinations and power of the Sith Order. What game was he playing at? "Welcome to Faldos." He stated simply, his tone as even and as cool as ever to match his visor's reflective gaze. A mask for his features and his emotions evidenly.

Faldos itself silhouetted its lord as he listened to Gerwald and observed the wolf carefully. Measuring and watching the slightest of movements or shifts in expression as he spoke. Indeed this was the first time that the pair of them had been in contact, or even this close, and Darth Strosius was thankful for that fact. It meant that he was under the radar as it were, too unimportant to warrant any attention and evidently not enough of a threat to kill off after the Ouroboros Crisis had been brought to a close. He liked it better that way, to be unseen and therefore unaccountable.

"A precarious situation?" The masked man's head cocked to the side slightly in a quick and rigid movement, either in some show of sarcasm or merely an odd quirk one. "Such as having an executioner from within the Emperor's own circle arrive at my doorstep?" He had to firce himself not to add any sarcasm or annoyance to the word 'emperor' as he spoke. Couldn't show his hand so early into their little chat now could he?

Gerwald Lechner

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Wolfsbane | Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Strosius

A welcome to begin at least. The pair were measuring each other, and Alisteri no doubt trying to determine why the wolf was at his door. All of it would be revealed in time, but none of it was official. Gerwald could decide the Sith’s life was forfeit and claim it on the spot, but that would not serve his own purposes. His curiosity was too great to simply cut down the life of one that could prove to be a valuable asset. Darth Malum of House Marr , for all his naive beliefs and empty platitudes had proven there were those among the former Tsis’Kaar that could at least be agreeable.

“Executioner,” Gerwald questioned. “If that is how you see me, but no, that is not the situation I am referring to.”

His gaze looked beyond the masked Sith and focused onto the planet which provided a picturesque backdrop for the imposed upon host. There was a beauty to it, and while the wolf preferred to keep his feet planted on solid ground that was not floating in the void, he could appreciate the views only such a venture could offer. It would be a shame for Faldos to experience the Emperor’s Wrath were Darth Strosius not careful in the game he was playing.

Perhaps the Sith was not aware that his attitude was not contained behind the safety of his mask. His face, certain expressions, could be hidden, but body language and certain inflections of the force could not always be shrouded. The disdain he held for the one that sat atop the Sith Order was not fully apparent, but it was not unknown either. Anyone keen to observe the distance kept, especially at gatherings, showed a man who did not wish to associate with the imperial couple.

Even with the Tsis’Kaar neutralized and collapsed, Alisteri still refused to embrace the truth. Life could not continue through the lens of Eternalist, Kainite, or Tsis’Karr.

There was only the Sith Order.

“Why would your actions be the thing to bring me to your door? To my knowledge you did not stand with her in the end.” Gerwald smiled. “Though I did not make it into the palace as a lone Sith trying to impress everyone set off every trap possible.”

Gerwald found the nearest chair and sat down. He would not remain standing if his counterpart was determined to sit. The wolf was not there in a display of strength, power, or position. The Lupine was there simply as nothing more than the predator he was. If this were a hunt, Gerwald was simply stalking his prey. For now that meant his actions and intent needed to be unassuming. Not even the former Lord Commander truly knew what his motives were in the moment, other than to have his questions about the man before him answered.

The wolf wanted his own opinion.

“What I mean is that you find yourself at a crossroad with options which seem to leave a bitter taste in your mouth regardless of which you choose.”

He leaned forward.

“As I see it, you declare loyalty for the Emperor and be seen as a traitor among the remnants of the Tsis’Kaar. The Kainite’s would still dislike you, but that is not new. You could ally with Carnifex, but then the Emperor would have every reason to remain suspicious of you. The Tsis’Kaar may understand. The option which is most problematic, and the one you seem to be leaning toward the most, is that you isolate.”

While it was not exactly true that the Sith Lord was doing anything of the sort, he was also one to remain alone in a crowd. It was almost similar to how Gerwald used to be, and a pattern the wolf could easily fall back into.

“What if there was a better option, or day I ask… a best option? Would you be interested?”

 

[Darth Strosius]

"Executioner is a good reputation to have amongst the Sith." Darth Strosius shrugged, in reality that was all that he knew of the wolf before him. Of course there was that nagging little whisper at the edges of his mind that could offer more insight, but he wouldn't let her get a word in even when he was alone. He certainly wasn't going to let her slip into his mind freely in such a delicate situation like this, no matter what knowledge she might be able to lend him about the man standing before him.

"The lack of a clear reason to visit is exactly what concerns me. If I was guilty in one form or another then I'd at the very least be expecting a visit like this." There was always the chance that it had been decided that he was simply too much trouble of course. That he wasn't worth the potential issues and rabble rousing he could cause in his position as a Sith Lord, a self claimed one at that. His shoulders twitched for a moment at the mention of his master and her demise but he was otherwise unperturbed. "Make no mistake, I did not stand with my master at all. I stood with the Sith, as I always have, she was the one that changed." The statement was colder than usual and said with far more intent. It was probably the most honest remark that he had made yet, and would make throughout their whole meeting.

His visor's gaze tracked Gerwald as he sat down, himself sitting back and folding his hands in his lap as a show of relaxation. He was rather interested to hear what sort of position the wolf thought that he was in, perhaps seemingly backed into a corner with no master for guidance nor protection. A rodent loosed into a pen of predators. It would also serve to see just how well his concealment efforts had been. Thankfully his view on the masked man's position was exactly what he, and therefore what many others must also, had anticipated.

At the very least the wolf was correct in statement regarding his shift towards himself rather than groveling at the feet of those that he despised. The dilemma of choosing who to bow to was no dilemma at all really, he bowed to no one anymore. Empyrean was a fool put in power and kept there convenience, doing little to advance the Sith other than popping up to crush the occasional dissenter. The Twice-Failed Emperor deserved nothing but a gruesome death for all that he had done tp the Sith, him and all that followed him. The only option therefore was to do exactly as he had been doing.

He couldn't help but wonder what it was that Gerwald was offering though, and especially why. Malum was the preferred heir to Ophidia, charismatic and able to mingle with the upper echelons of the Sith without issue. The masked man, for all that anyone knew, merely had one backwater smuggler world at his command and the loyalty of the Inquisition as well as a decent remnant of the Tsis'Kaar. Given how odd of a circumstance the Inquisition had been put into due to their allegiance to the Pale Assassin, they were hardly any more of a boon than any of the other remnants were.

So what did the wolf want with him?

Darth Strosius leaned forward slightly and moved his hands to rest on the desk once more as he clasped them together. "Do tell then, what would this option be and why offer it to me?" Charity and goodwill were practically unheard of for Sith. Especially for one such as himself with no allies to speak of and barely any presence in the political scene. There was nothing to gain from him so most naturally didn't bother trying to play nice.

Gerwald Lechner

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Wolfsbane | Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Strosius

Executioner was not everything Gerwald was, it was as simple as that. He was fine with everyone thinking that was all the wolf was, but he knew better, and it was his source of pride. The Lupine simply nodded when the words came from the Sith Lord’s mouth. It was a good reputation, but reputation was not the wolf’s motivation. He was more like Darth Strosius in that regard perhaps. Gerwald valued his autonomy, and he valued knowing he was more than what others perceived. It gave him power.

They both knew he stood with the Sith when the hour came, but that did not mean he had not been loyal to Ophidia. It was more complicated than the man wanted to admit, which was why Gerwald had said he was in a precarious situation. The Inquisition had been loyal to the Tsis’Kaar, at least under their charge. While they were independent, they leaned too close to suddenly find themselves free of the aftermath.

Certainly Darth Strosius was smart enough to know that.

At least he was willing to admit his master had been the one to change. It still begged the question why those closest to her had not seen it. Malum should have known, but Strosius should have been more keen to it. Of the two, Gerwald had the impression that there was not much Alisteri missed. He was too observant, too hidden in the shadow. There was nothing which happened among the Sith that the shadows did not touch.

Alisteri knew.

He had to have.

The question finally surfaced. What would Gerwald have the man do? A wolfish grin pulled at the corner of the bearded man’s lips. He knew it was not an inquiry for advice, but rather the Sith across from him was fishing. What would the wolf would have him do? More likely the question was would Gerwald say something or advise something that would put the wolf in a precarious situation. This was the kind of game the lupo had been taught to play. If only Srina Talon were there to see him work. If everything went well… Empyrean would eventually have his loyalty.

“You command a great asset to the Order. I know you know it.”

Would the Sith Lord even try to deny it?

“Like you, the Inquisition finds itself in an interesting situation. The Order knows it was housed under the Tsis’Kaar. The rest also know that several of that remnant has made their way to the Inquisition.”

Again, the wolf did his best to state what was common knowledge to all. It did not matter what secrets Strosius kept. What he allowed to be shared with the public, what he allowed the rest to see, had created the situation he was in.

Blue eyes washed over the man with studious movement. Maybe the wolf could discern what the Sith Lord was hiding, but that was not the purpose of his visit. Gerwald wanted to move the Order closer to unity, but that would not happen as long as those with influence chose to remain quiet or, worse, set themselves against that purpose. If that is what this Sith chose, then the wolf would show him what kind of executioner was.

What was Gerwald advising?

“Your particular situation affords you an opportunity that is only available to you. Yet, what you do with it will ripple beyond you and either make this Order great or divide it even further than what it has been. You may hold disdain in your heart for the Emperor, but if you are thinking about yourself as much as any Sith should be… you know it would be much better for you to get along. Make the Inquisition truly independent, and make it yours, completely.”

The wolf leaned back in the chair.

“No Eternalists. No Kainites. No Tsis’Kaar. It is time to come out of the shadows under your own banner. Malum has already made his own movements. You need to make your own. How many upstarts have already made moves to broker for power that they are not ready for, to shape this Empire in such a way that it would undermine everything you have worked for. Why not use the powerbase you have to shape the Empire? Empyrean and Carnifex are not a threat to unity. They are kept at bay from tearing each other apart. What happens in this Empire from here will be determined by those of us which have the autonomy to act as we see fit.”

Gerwald stood to his feet again.

“Will you stand with the Order still, or face yourself against it?”

 

[Darth Strosius]

The masked man let out a chuckle as he leaned back, his interest and curiosity seemingly satisfied by Gerwald's answer. Now he understood. This was about ensuring that his portion of the Tsis'Kaar and the Inquisition wouldn't be causing a fuss, as he had no doubts that Malum had already demonstrated the proper submission to Empyrean and his ilk. A smirk cropped up beneath his mask as he shrugged nonchalantly. "The Inquisition and the Tsis'Kaar remnants under my control are but fragments of what they once were I'm afraid. Without the institutional power they once held the Inquisition is little more than Faldos's military force, and the Tsis'Kaar are but a few dozen Sith that were smart enough to bend the knee."

Again that was technically the truth, his influence and power only really existed on two worlds and as far as the rest of the Sith Order knew it only existed here on Faldos. Even the Inquisition forces were hardly anything special compared to what many other Sith Lords had at their beck and call. While he did have his own forces largely hidden away from Sith space, they weren't much to speak of relatively either. He simply didn't possess the forces needed to make any great changes. Yet.

As the wolf continued Darth Strosius idly wondered if he was attempting to stroke his ego in some manner in order to elicit a greater response. Perhaps that would work on most Sith, but the masked man was not so easily swayed by a few words. For all his own planning and insight he was well aware that his position in the Sith Order as it stood now was undesirable, that there was little he could do in regards to making 'ripples' as Gerwald put it. If he could accomplish such things then he'd have already done so, or made the moves to do so at the very least.

A smirk wormed its way to his hidden features for a moment at the mention of Malum making his own way, but it faded quickly. He had some concerns with Malum after the death of his master but thankfully the boy could navigate the political game of the Sith far better than he could. He was the favorite of the Tsis'Kaar by far, but that also meant that he was in the eyes of those above far more as well. Something that he would come to regret in time for certain.

Darth Strosius had to hold back the urge to snicker at the mention of the two great powers being no threat to unity, and at the implication that threats to his work would come from upstarts rather than from upstairs. The wolf was naïve after all. Being so close to the self proclaimed 'emperor' of the Sith must have dulled his sense of reality and understanding of the situation then. Empyrean and Carnifex were the biggest threats to the Sith since the Rule of Two. The Parasite and the Weed which had burrowed so deep into the Sith that their presence was simply accepted no matter their faults and failures. His work had already been threatened and undone by the pair of them, not by Sith Lords beneath them that couldn't manage themselves in a proper manner.

He blinked as the wolf stood, his gaze tracking the other Sith's with a steady stare. "I will stand with the Order, with the Sith, always and forever." The way that he spoke hardly made the statement sound like either of the options that he had been given though. As always he chose the third option. "I have never once acted against the Sith, nor shall I. All that I do and have done has been to further the power and rule of the Sith without hesitation and to the most of my capabilities. To do any less would be a betrayal of both my allegiance and myself." His head inclined slightly as he nodded. "If you came here to dispense judgement upon an unruly upstart then I'm afraid you've wasted a trip Gerwald Lechner, I am the most loyal Sith of the Order."

Gerwald Lechner

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Wolfsbane | Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Strosius

“Weaker vessels have done more with less,” Gerwald pointed out.

It was a quick response. However clever the Sith Lord wanted to be seen, even if he did not, he knew better. The wolf had no issue calling him out on it. In his estimation there was no reason to downplay the strength of what he held onto. Even if it was a fragment of what it had once been, it was still more powerful than others could boast. His personal power base was more than what Gerwald currently commanded. That was a fact Gerwald hoped no one would figure out, though Srina Talon had given him plenty of ideas on how to keep it hidden.

Power was not determined by numbers, though they helped. Often the thing was an illusion which was commanded by sheer will. Authority was not amassed, rather it was given. As Ophidia had proven, any individual with rebellious intent could threaten to weaken and destroy what even the most powerful thought they possessed.

The simple truth was Darth Strosius held more in his hands than he let on, or gave himself credit for.

He was also delirious.

Gerwald did not believe for a second that he would never act against the Sith. While he tried to hide it, his ambivalence did more damage than outright rebellion. Were his actions blatant, the wolf would have reason to kill him and be over with it. They were not. Neither were his actions in support of what was in the best interest of the Order. In fact, his movements were non-existent. Strosius appeared to sit on the proverbial fence, neither for or against. The position he placed himself in was one of complete isolation at a time when the Sith needed his assets.

Was it all a well executed and elaborate act, or was it all nothing more than an excuse?

“An unruly upstart? If only you were, then this meeting would be much easier to conclude. I could simply take your head back to Empyrean and fold the Inquisition under my command. At least they would be serving their function in that scenario.”

The wolf grew quiet as he let his words settle. There was more passion to them than he had intended, showing that the Lupine was more concerned about Darth Strosius than he should have revealed. While others may have believed his indifference, Gerwald refused to by principle.

He did not know indifference to be a Sith trait.

They all wanted something.

Perhaps it was a good thing the wolf allowed the self proclaimed Lord to see beyond the curtain. A peek into his thoughts would not do too much harm, not overplay his hand, at least no in this instance. It would at least allow the wolf to elaborate on what he meant by them.

“Malum once asked if I would see the unity of our Order under Empyrean’s banner. It was a question with an obvious answer considering, but let me be a little more clear on what I truly wish.”

He sat back down.

“I simply want to see unity, and you may very well be the key to it.”

Again, the wolf leaned back. He needed to let the words settle. This one had influence on those who watched him. If he moved against Empyrean or Carnifex others would follow. Malum may have been the charismatic one, but Gerwald had seen too many like him to know that anything built on charisma was nothing more than a flash in a pan. Alisteri had staying power. He would bring stability to whatever and whoever he gave his loyalty to.

“You’re a fool if you don’t see it.”

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius let the snap fall off his shoulders as he shrugged, seemingly unbothered by the remark. "And I have seen stronger vessels do less with far more. Your point being?" Of course he knew what the wolf was getting at. Even without the Ouroboros Crisis taken into consideration Darth Strosius was far behind the curve when compared to most Sith Lords. Had anyone else possessed his long years of service they'd have put themselves into a powerful position, with legions and an armada at their command. They'd be a major player in the Sith Order whos presence could not be ignored nor silenced.

The masked man was not in such a position however. He was left with the scraps of a master who, in the eyes of the Sith Order, led a failed rebellion that got herself and most of her powerbase destroyed. She who had operated in the shadows for so long left nothing to her apprentices and inheritors but the shadows of her forces. And whether by intent or carelessness Darth Strosius hadn't pursued a high position afterwards, even if his allegiance could be considered questionable due to the circumstances of his current position. A self proclaimed Sith Lord with a governorship over a world only made legal by the now lost power of a formerly integrated force of the wider Sith Order.

The Inquisition and Tsis'Kaar had been carved out of the Order during the Ouroboros Crisis and by the will of the masked man they had yet to truly rejoin it and integrate as they had previously. They were no longer bound to the Sith Order and the status quo, but to Darth Strosius alone. And that had most definitely been intentional. The question still remained though of what exactly he intended to do with such power and resources, even if they were but remnants of a greater whole now lost to them.

The promise of a swift and decisive death if he were indeed to be proven as a dangerous upstart washed over him, his seated position shifting ever so slightly. Despite the clear threat it was equally clear that the masked man would keep his head. For now. Gerwald had no obvious reason to kill him and clearly seemed frustrated by that in one manner or another, though the exact nature of it eluded him. It mattered little when the result was the same. "The Inquisition served me well when I was bringing the Tsis'Kaar remnants back in line. I'd say that they were fulfilling their intended purpose by doing so." A rare note of confidence slipped into his voice at that, a glimpse of pride even.

An eyebrow quirked up underneath his mask at the mention of Malum having spoken with the wolf before, although he supposed it did make sense given his current visit. There was no reason to not investigate both inheritors of the Tsis'Kaar after all. Perhaps Gerwald was correct in his assertion that the masked man was key to unifying the Sith, but more than likely not in the same manner that he himself had in mind. "If your desire to unify the Sith is indeed true," His words were measured and careful, emphasized enough to show his distrust plainly for once. ", then we have the same goal."

A shared goal, but vastly different visions for both the path towards it and for the end result. Of that he was certain. "I am no fool, you can be sure of that. I am simply careful to make my moves. My status as a Sith Lord at all is controversial and my allegiance is in question, as you have demonstrated yourself." Again all was true yet with a lack of elaboration that left room for insinuation and hidden meanings. It seemed as though Darth Strosius was fond of such manner of speaking given their conversation thus far. "The Sith are unified under the rule of Empyrean. Both the Tsis'Kaar and the Kainate have been made to bow beneath him, so I fail to see how my contributions can be all that major. Unless..." His helmet tilted and his visor glinted as it caught the dim light, his hidden gaze boring into the wolf's own. "...unless the emperor suspects a threat in our ranks that I am unaware of?"

Gerwald Lechner

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Wolfsbane | Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Strosius

It seemed this one did not like correction, or simply needed to be right. His words were true, but Lechner also knew they were a deflection. They were not sparring with weapons at that moment, they were parrying with words. For now, Gerwald let Strosius have it. What he had intended to communicate landed well enough that he did not need to revisit his point.

Alisteri danced around technicalities. They were things which were factual, and yet continued to be a simple deflection to avoid the truth laid before him. Had the Inquisition followed him against the Tsis’Kaar, yes. They now housed some of the remnants, however. While they had served their intended purpose, it was only under the command of Darth Strosius himself. That was what made him powerful. Should the Sith Lord ever decide Empyrean or Carnifex determined to betray the Order… he could simply give the word.

The wolf likely thought further than the situation needed, and likely beyond what the Sith intended. Where the situation became so precarious, as Gerwald so aptly put it, was that if the wolf had thought it, others had also. Alisteri was no fool, and yet he remained still. This was not about being patient, not entirely, but it was not worth pointing out. Gerwald had to keep certain assumptions to himself to see if they were truth or fiction.

“You sit still.”

Gerwald at least allowed that observation to slip from his tongue.

“That is the perception, and if it is one you intended to give, then you have more than succeeded. Perhaps the purpose of my visit is to question that strategy. The difference between the Tsis’Kaar and the Kainites is that Carnifex still lives. With Ophidia dead, eyes fall to you and Malum, her apprentices, to see what you will do now.”

Was there a threat to the Order? How did Alisteri not see his indifference was exactly that?

“Do you Empyrean to tell you there is one before you get out of your seat to act? The Inquisition is meant to root out these threats on their own, are they not?”

His eyes looked directly toward the visor of the man’s mask. Gerwald supposed that his eyes were locked even if he could not see them.

“You do not strike me as a pawn, Alisteri.”

 

[Darth Strosius]

Sit still he did, both in a literal and figurative sense it seemed. Darth Strosius was nothing if not patient and calculating, it had taken years of planning and careful manipulation to ensure that the Ouroboros Crisis happened after all. Many long years of hiding his growing ambition from his own master even as he used the power and resources borrowed from her to plot her demise. Carnifex and Empyrean wouldn't be killed in a day, as much as he loathed to admit it. They were too well entrenched and their playing fields of personal power too vastly distant. He had to take his time in his work, else the whole operation would come crumbling down and bury him with it.

"The Inquisition must heal, and regrow anew." Darth Strosius spoke sternly, defensively. "Simply because it was the least entangled in the web of the Tsis'Kaar does not mean that it could act without it. Much of our surveillance of potential threats relied upon the extensive network that Ophidia cultivated over her lifetime. Many branches of which have been, as I'm sure you are no doubt aware, severed. Either from my influence or from life itself." For once real frustration seeped into his words, genuine anger at his state of affairs for the first time in their conversation.

"Our eyes are limited for now, but they are steadily regrowing once more. Beyond that our forces in general are lacking the proper facilities to rearm and manage a fleet and army capable of dealing with internal threats. And given the onset of new reforms in the wake of the Crisis, I have yet to get confirmation that the Inquisition is still an official branch of the Sith Order and thus has access to greater resources and facilities." He paused for a brief moment as if prompting Gerwald for some sort of statement that would solve that particular issue. "As such we have had to search for our own sources and places with which to rebuild the Inquisition to its former power and authority. Whether that be in the form of allies or ourselves has yet to be decided."

The pawn remark made the masked man scoff and shift in his seat once more, a hint of amusement evident as he crossed one leg over the other. "You know, I can't tell if that is meant to be a compliment or an insult." Nor did he really spare too long thinking on it either way. "However I must correct you, I am Darth Strosius." All humor faded into venom in a flash as his tone grew cold, but only for a moment before he cleared his throat. "You do not strike me as an interrogator. Which makes me assume that you weren't sent here by decree, but by personal want. So what is it that you want from me, Gerwald Lechner?"

Gerwald Lechner

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Wolfsbane | Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Strosius

Gerwald listened, learning the weakness of the Inquisition. The fatal flaw which had doomed it to inaction was they had remained too reliant on the Tsis’Kaar and its network of spies. It was more than a flaw perhaps, but rather a complete failure. It also meant Strosius did not simply flush out Ophidia. Why would the Tsis’Kaar turn on their own leader if it were not by design. While the wolf could not prove it, perhaps the man in front of him was more of an upstart grabbing for power than anyone truly knew.

That would be a turn of events and nothing new at once.

It would be…

…disappointing.

“And that is precisely why the Inquisition belongs to the Order. You say they served their function by rooting out Ophidia and her treachery, but your next breath makes them reliant on her network. You are right to be frustrated, frustrated that you did not see this weakness or failure sooner.”

Gerwald pulled back before he let his words run wild. He only needed to make one point, one which the self proclaimed Lord had already felt the sting of. It was a dagger that needed to be twisted while the wound was still fresh. Perhaps it would be a lesson the newest Darth would not forget.

Alisteri’s words continued to reveal a glimpse into some of the inaction. In some ways, the man was frozen. He had been captured by indecision, waiting on confirmation, looking for allies, or needing to rebuild the network on their own. Gerwald would not have ever guessed such a man would be rendered helpless by something with such a simple solution.

Confirmation did not matter.

Whether he made allies or rebuilt the network himself did not matter.

If Alisteri wanted to show his loyalty in the midst of uncertainty, he simply needed to move. A healthy Inquisition independent of any banner other than the Sith Order itself would be a boon to Empyrean. Yes, it could pose a threat, but like any tool or weapon, it could be guided. Would Darth Empyrean be the emperor forever, the nature of the Sith said no. Until the time he was not, if Strosius could accept the guidance of the Sith, or his Wrath, unity would be possible. As long as Gerwald acted for Empyrean the Inquisition would never have to. It offered an autonomy Ophidia never had.

“I want you to move, plain and simple.”

A pause.

“I will not presume to tell you the Emperor wants an active Inquisition, but I also will not tell you it is against his will. Consider that Empyrean is simply looking for those who are actively working to make the Order stronger. He has plenty of pawns, he does not need any more of those. Knights, counselors, are what he needs now. A unified order requires that our Emperor has eyes and ears, so that he can see and hear with clarity.”

The wolf stood and moved to the transparisteel view behind the Lord’s desk. Gerwald ignored the correction. Titles and names such as the man insisted on meant little to the wolf. They were a moniker, and nothing more. Maybe the Darth though Alisteri to be dead, and another rose in his place, but that was nothing more than a delusional thought of Sith philosophy.

He was no less Alisteri Haxim than Darth Omnia was any less Srina Talon.

“Rebuild the Inquisition. Lay your work at the feet of Empyrean. Become one of the voices he looks to for guidance.”

Gerwald turned to look at the man directly.

“Help shape this Order.”

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius dismissed the jab at his competence with a scoff and a wave of his hand, but no retort came forth for once. Gerwald did have a point. Had he truly been as observant and careful as he should have then he'd have realized that Ophidia was too similar to the other great powers of the Sith sooner. Perhaps he could have prevented her idleness and patient power building sooner than he did. Perhaps he could have even acted and prevented her and Empyrean aligning to declare the Worm's Heir as the Sith Emperor. He should have seen through her shadows far sooner instead of holding out hope that she would strike against the enemies of the Sith on her own. A mistake that he couldn't atone for, not while the Kainate and Eternalists still lived at least.

He had a lot to make up for his past complacency and even more to do in order to ensure a future for the Sith that he could only dream of, a future where those who held the Sith hostage currently were no more and their names and legacies were erased entirely. Perhaps someday that future would be a reality, but not soon and most certainly not while his own position to change such things was nearly nonexistent. He idly wondered if the wolf would be pleased with movements that would get him in such a position, given his assertion that he did indeed want him to make moves.

The masked man had his doubts that Gerwald's words of what Empyrean wanted were completely true, but he did not disregard them so quickly. One could never have enough pawns after all, however he was aware that in terms of Sith and others genuinely loyal to the emperor himself rather than to the greater Order or simply the status quo there was a distinct lack of Eternalists. The price of being the main authority was that so few actually wanted to be within the main hierarchy he supposed. It was far easier for one and their followers to carve out their little domain and garner support when they didn't command such a large area and force already. But of course Darth Strosius would rather blind and deafen Empyrean than offer any sort of aid as an eye or ear.

His gaze tracked the Gerwald as he moved to the view that encompassed the rear wall of his office, having to shift and turn in his seat so that he was still facing the wolf. He was silent for a long few moments as the two Sith stared at one another, as though he was considering his intent advice. It was a grand idea to be sure and one that would be tempting to most if not all Sith Lords, to be heard by the emperor himself and counted amongst his valued few. So it was only natural then that the masked man began chuckling suddenly.

A chuckle that led into a full blown almost maddened cackle, his shoulders shaking as his head lolled back and rested against his chair's tall back. After a moment or two his laughter calmed to amused huffs as he caught his breath, recomposing himself with one last sigh as he looked back at Gerwald. "I wasn't aware that you Eternalists were the joking type. Clearly I was mistaken." Darth Strosius spared another chuckle as he shook his head. "The favor and attention of the emperor is not something that I seek. If I have heard correctly, Malum is on that path himself anyway."

A risky and wasteful gambit on the part of the Heir of Marr but it was his to make he supposed. "I doubt that my vision of shaping the Sith would be a welcome one, given my more...grandiose views and designs." Given that said designs and views involved a complete dismantling of the powers that be he knew that it would be far more than just unwelcome in the inner circle of the self proclaimed emperor. "Besides, I am not one to grovel and be used as a mere advisor or tool. I have remained loyal to the Sith and served our order since long before Empyrean was even a notable name among our ranks, I will continue to serve to the best of my ability regardless of if I am listened to or not."

Gerwald Lechner

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Wolfsbane | Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Strosius

The wolf laughed. He truly believed Gerwald a loyal Eternalist, and perhaps he was correct. It was his greatest guise, and a loyalty which allowed him to hide his truth. There was a time when the fighter would not have hidden behind what he considered to be unwarranted stealth, but he had learned the politics of the Galaxy were often a game best played by one that could keep their brutality in check. Did that mean the wolf was somehow a merciful and benevolent individual? His own record would prove the opposite. Many deaths could be attributed to the beast, and he did not shed a tear over any of them.

He was a warrior, a predator, a wolf, he did not feel remorse for the lives he took. Gerwald had felt the sting of regret in his life, but those were over lives which did not need to be lost. It had been that view which saw him rise to the rank of Lord Commander.

Another laugh rose to the surface. To somehow suggest that Malum was the golden boy to rise from the Tsis'Kaar was pregnant with ignorance. It made the wolf wonder if he'd been wrong about the Inquisitor all this time. How could he not see what was plainly before him. Malum was being used. He was as much a pawn as the others which found themselves close to Empyrean without pledging as Eternalists. Alisteri could break the mold.

Lord Inquisitor had a nice ring to it.

"Forgive me, but I thought you were smarter than that. Why does a king keep a council close, Strosius?"

His eyes bore into the mask once again.

"What I'm offering you is a position to be close and yet remain outside. To give you the same autonomy that I have and remain ever so loyal without compromising yourself."

He stepped back to his seat.

"Officially recognized as the Lord Inquisitor, you would have the freedom to move as you see fit, a luxury you currently do not have no matter how much you try to convince yourself otherwise."

 

[Darth Strosius]

The laughter of the wolf in return was far from welcome, rather it made his skin crawl and his eyes narrow in suspicion. The masked man felt as though he was being left out of the joke, or perhaps even worse that he was the joke, and he didn't care for it. Not one bit. "Depends on the king and the council." He shrugged but his masked gaze held Gerwald's own, still and uncompromising. "Some need advisors that keep them updated and account for their failings, some prefer having a council from the people in order to give them the illusion of consideration and control, others just want to keep their most capable or most dangerous close at hand to keep an eye on them. It varies."

As for Empyrean's reason for his personal council, he could only guess. He never bothered to learn much about the inner circles of his enemies, aside from just who they were in general. His master enjoyed building complex webs of information and intelligence, full of spies and intrigue that would bring her all sorts of sordid details. He had not inherited such methods however. What else did he need to know if he already knew who to kill and how to reach them? Better to spend efforts building up to be able to make the strike, rather than figuring out the details of how to make it.

Darth Strosius clicked his tongue and slightly inclined his head as the wolf stepped away, as though satisfied with himself for some reason. "Was it not you that said official status mattered little? That my current position already awarded me the freedom of movement and opportunity?" A restoration of the Inquisition to its former status would indeed be a great boon of course, not only allowing him personal security in his position but also the ability to investigate and probe for allies and more enemies alike.

It was the cost of such status that made him turn up his nose at the prospect, so to speak.

"To have me in any position, regardless of whether it be close to yourself or Empyrean, is dangerous you know. What would the Sith Order say?" He tapped the side of his mask in a feigned show of contemplation. "One of the 'treacherous' apprentices of the latest grand traitor herself, now investigating on behalf of the Emperor and his executioner? You're not likely to get many positive opinions from such a maneuver you know." He had to figure out some way to get under the wolf's skin, to learn more about the nature of this sudden visit. And more importantly how to avoid another.

Gerwald Lechner

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
WEAPONS: Wolfsbane | Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
TAG: Darth Strosius

“You have never played chess, have you?” The question may have seemed off topic, but the wolf had a point. “It was not a game I favored as a young warrior, but it was required learning. My commander was not satisfied with making me a brute that simply killed like a tank, though, I am certainly seen to be just that.”

Many judged Gerwald by his size, and it was an advantage the wolf kept. Telling Alisteri he was more than brute was not as much of a calculated risk in his estimation because it was rare that a simple brute achieved what the Lord Commander had. Obviously the wolf was something more. What exactly could remain a mystery.

His gaze turned back to the view outside of the room they were in.

“A king gathers pawns to sacrifice, and the rest of the pieces for protection. As I said you are not a pawn, but you are also not the opposing king by any means. As long as I remain seen as Empyrean’s executioner, then what you fear will come to naught. You will not only be autonomous, but the Inquisition may remain so.”

It was a simple thing really. The Sith in front of him simply did not see it, or he did not want to. Gerwald was providing him a path forward, and not at a cost all too great. It was not loyalty to Empyrean, but rather an alliance with the wolf. Two autonomous forces which were determined to protect the Order. Darth Strosius knew that Empyrean would not sit on the throne forever. Who would sit on it next was of primary concern.

The unknown was more dangerous because not every option had the Sith in mind. There were not many Gerwald could name which would put the Sith above their own personal ambition. There were fewer still willing to find a way to make both coexist.

“You would not be loyal to Empyrean, nor would you be his Inquisitor. He does not tell me who to execute, anymore than he would tell you who to investigate. No, you would the Order’s Inquisitor. The position… think of it as a shield. Also, consider, it puts you close to the Worm should Empyrean fail to keep him at bay.”

 

[Darth Strosius]

The masked man quirked up an eyebrow at the question, offering a short nod. "I have played it only once so far..." He couldn't resist a smirk creeping up on his face as he remembered the death of his master. "...but I won the game." Not as decisively as he would have liked of course, Empyrean still drew breath after all, but he had most definitely won. A victory that many would be ignorant or unknowing of until it was far too late for the realization to matter, or so he hoped at least.

Learning a strategic game such as chess made sense for those put into positions of command he supposed, albeit the game was far more refined and elegant than true tactics. A decent simulation but not enough variability and versatility for his personal liking. It simply didn't account for more...eclectic and clandestine maneuvers.

The metaphor was most certainly apt though, Empyrean did indeed have many pawns to deploy and he was hardly in a position to be on the opposing side. For now. "The Order's Inquisitor hm?" He had his doubts that the wolf was being completely genuine in regards to rarely if ever being told whom to slay and bring his wrath to, but he couldn't deny that the offer did indeed sound tempting even for him. So long as he was not expected to report his findings in with Gerwald it was an arrangement that he could stomach he supposed, something that would give his new Inquisition the protection it so desperately lacked at the moment.

He paused, however, at the mention of the Worm. Well paused was a bit of an understatement, Darth Strosius went rigid completely. Like a body in rigor mortis. At the mention of that foul creature his master's presence once more made herself known, driving a deep spike into his mind and making his fingers dig into his gloves as his teeth gritted together in tandem. She was trying to tell him something while at the same time attempting to make some sort of rebuttal to the wolf, but he would allow neither.

After a few moments of silent mental war that to the spectator would simply appear as deep thought, he let out a hollow laugh as life seemingly returned to his form once more. "The Worm is dead." He snickered and shook his head at what he genuinely believed to be a joke. "The Eternalist throne long since claimed by Empyrean after that mess on Odavessa which got it killed. Do you expect me to defend the Sith from ghosts and specters now Lechner?"

Gerwald Lechner