Private On the Subject of Masks

[Taeli Raaf]

Obscurial Reliquary, Sadow District, Jutrand
​

Curiosity was a powerful motivator.

Having met with and observed one of the apprentices of Darth Ophidia, Darth Strosius , she had grown curious about the other follower of the Pale Assassin that had helped destroy her and the Tsis'Karr at present. The younger man carried a powerful last name, one steeped in Sith lore and history that had been checkered throughout the modern era. She had grown curious about what had brought him into Ophidia's service in the first place, whether he shared his fellow former apprentice's sentiments, and why he had attempted to claim a Lordship like Alisteri had.

The schemer in her, of course, was also of the mind that there was potential there.

An invitation had been sent to the young Sith for him to meet with Darth Arcanix at the administrative center of the Sadow District on the Sith capital, the district that was fully controlled by the Sphere she held on the Dark Council.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Darth Arcanix, Taeli Raaf , names he knew well, yet a woman he had never met.

Beyond careful gazes across ballrooms and assembly floors.

Yet a woman who he had many memories of, most not fond.

It was a surprise when the mother of monsters, a member of the Dark Council, invited him to her domain, the Sadow District on Jutrand, yet perhaps it should not have been too surprising, after all, Ali had vaguely mentioned that he had met with the woman recently, though it was his way to be frustratingly vague with details.

But it was enough for him to make some educated guesses. She wanted to meet with the two heirs of her, if that was for some personal reason, he could not quite say, but far more likely by his estimation, it was for a matter of politics and business, both Ali and him despite damage to the Tsis'Kaar, despite the partition of it between them, had somewhat of a meteoric rise since that dark day on Fiviune, distrusted by the Order at large, to one side traitors, to the other side betrayers.

It left them in a unique position.

Most would give them silence, others would try to usurp them.

It was the rare few that were bold enough to speak to them that held his interest.

Thus as he walked through the administrative centre of the district, making certain his replica mask of the great Darth Marr was securely in place, walking with the weight of his Mistresses' adjusted old armour. He was cautiously optimistic about the one he was about to meet.

Even if the parasite gave him enough to go by to know, that he was far from certain about that optimism.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Her young guest would be guided through the halls of the Reliquary, observed by administrators and Sith alike as he escorted to a special turbolift flanked by soldiers in knightly armor. His presence would be announced, and the security code would be sent from the desk above to unlock the lift for him to be brought up to her personal office and laboratory.

The first thing Malum would notice is the decision of the office to forego a view of the Emperor's palace. many Sith that held office would choose to make their ambitions clear by aligning their personal quarters or holdings to face the center of Sith power. Arcanix had chosen otherwise. The view would be of the large artifical lake that her engineers had painstakingly created in the district that was ringed by the upscale boulevards and mansions of those that worked under her. The message was a subtle gesture that her ambitions and interests lay elsewhere and that she was always on hand and watching her power base.

The second would be the sparse of the office. A few chairs around a holoprojector and further back her desk, and a few decorations she acquired over her many journeys through the galaxy. There would also be the feeling of the Force, above, that would speak of where she did her private experiments. It was more of an office for a business executive, rather than a Dark Councilor, but it spoke of how she viewed displays of wealth or power. It did not lie in the material world.

"Prepare an extraction team for transport to Yavin," she was saying to an armored figure from the display on her desk. "I want specimens captured so we can reformulate Silverrain for whatever changes were made. Let Soraya know I want a full report on this Twilight Fist group. I want to know everything about them."

The figure nodded and disappeared as purple eyes turned towards the masked man.

"My apologies, Knight Marr, I find several issues wanting my attention and all in a timely manner. But where are my manners, thank you for accepting my invitation to meet. I feel we have much to talk about."

She would gesture at the seat in front of her. Purple and green smoke would billow around her desk as refreshments and a steaming tea pot would appear.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

"My father yet lives, thankfully, but I have been instructed by the powers that be that accepting anything but my true status shall not end well for me, so if you do not mind, Lord Marr, or Darth Malum, please..." Malum said, apologetically, with the ghost of a smile, offering a nod in her direction in respect, before almost through a will not his, he glanced towards the artificial lake out the window.

His eyes had been actively searching and noting everything of interest, the moment he had entered the Obscurial Reliquary, and though there was much to see, and much to note, it was the lake that had not only caught his attention, but too his imagination. Jutrand, did not have lakes, in the traditional sense, a city world, through and through, its industry had belched black smog for generations, as the demand of industry had expanded the steel factories more and more, taking up the land on the planet.

And then too, the water.

The Manse was one of the few places in this world where nature remained, and even then, it had no lake.

He had grown up an entire life, to his adulthood, having never seen a lake. They had ponds, within the Manse's grounds, but a lake? A lake was something one read about, that held a multitude of life, that fell deep, so much one could drown before reaching the bottom.

And though when he left Jutrand, he had seen lakes and even more wonderous things.

And the lake he saw outside the window was far from a natural, traditional lake.

The mere concept, the fact there was a lake at all upon Jutrand.

It was enough to entrance him.

"...Or just Malum, if we were to forgo formalities, Lady Raaf." He swallowed the emotions of the sight, the barest spots of pink at his cheeks, not realising how caught out he had been, before turning back to the older, but no doubt still utterly gorgeous woman before him, existing in a rather bare office, who spoke of matters which mostly went over his head, "I do not mean to keep you from your important tasks, my lady, but thank you for your invitation, I will admit, I did not expect it," He spoke, mind quirking at the tea, trained to be cautious, perhaps indoctrinated to be paranoid, he was not certain of it, yet he took the offered seat, "But, I am glad to make your acquaintance," Thus now would come the question, of if they were to remain simple acquaintances, or if they held any use to each other.

Such was the way of the Sith.

Taeli Raaf

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"I have found that such formalities can be a double-edged sword, depending upon the company one keeps and how susceptible an ego or pride can be to slights or praise," she remarked wryly, observing the younger man as he seemed enamored with the waters beyond within the district. It had been at her personal direction, when the conflict between the Kainites and Eternals had brought devastation to Jutrand, that she had the lake and the many water features of the district installed. The lake was also attached to the Corbos Complex deep below, but only properly ranked Sith even knew the facility existed.

"And the tasks are not, as of yet, requiring of my full attention but they will in due time I'm sure," she continued, pouring herself a measure of the black tea within the pot into her cup. Amethyst eyes observed the caution as he took his seat, no doubt fed by the paranoia of the Sith and the man's own training under Ophidia. But if she had wanted to poison the up-and-coming Sith, she would not have invited him to her personal office for a discussion. There were many other, far subtler, means of poisoning a being that spiking a drink. The tea was just tea as she demonstrated by taking a sip of it.

"I find myself wanting to acquaint myself more with the next generation of Sith, and your pedigree and prior apprenticeship with Ophidia placed you high upon the list," she remarked, peering over her cup. "Especially as I've already had a few... encounters with your comrade. I can already see there are several differences between you and Alisteri, the least of which being a sense of decorum and diplomacy. I want to hear your opinion on the current state of affairs within the Order and the current stratagems in play such as what occurred in Javin Sector at Yavin and Celanon to start."

A smile would form.

"And feel free to speak your mind, Malum. Nothing you say will pass beyond these walls or carry to ears you might not want such... blunt appraisals to reach." They didn't call her the Lady of Secrets merely for her propensity for unearthing ancient knowledge and expanding upon it, what she had revealed she knew anyway.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

"Such is not false... I was raised to view titles and names with utmost care and reverence, old names, and great titles would have of course the greater prominence," He offered a wry smile that did not quite reach his eyes, she was remarkably cordial, but there was no doubt in his mind of the danger she could introduce him to if she so desired it, "Of course, beyond noble society, among the greater Sith aggregation, I was quickly taught that my way of viewing things was not so... common amongst all," The smile turned into something more bashful, Kaine came from a noble house, the Zambranos could certainly be viewed as a great family... in the neutral version of that word, yet Kaine even with his nobility, was not in himself... a noble man.

All the while, upon the Imperial throne, sat a man that... that his memories... that... their memories? Informed him was not noble at all, a slave, turned freedman, turned burgher, turned cultist, a brilliant man, with not a drop of noble blood within him.

And he had ascended to be the greatest Sith in the galaxy.

He stilled, realising he was lost in his thoughts, realising he had almost missed Lady Raaf had said, noting her own pour of her tea, and knowing at this point whether this was a poisoning or not, it would be rather rude to not partake. After all, his amulet would protect him from the worst of any attempt.

It would be leaving her quickly that may be the greater challenge.

Still what he did hear was enough for him to nod, for the next while at least, her attention would be on him.

That came with both advantages and disadvantages.

He brought the black tea to his lips as she spoke more, enjoying the sweetness and the fragrance, it was no caff in keeping him up, but it did taste far better.

And that likely would set the mood of this meeting quite well.

The cup was enough to mask the groan that no doubt would have left his lips otherwise, Ali- Darth Strosius, one of his only allies in the Sith Order, one of his only friends, hell one he would willingly call bro- battlebrother.

For all his prowess on the battlefield, for all his skill at arms.

The man could not be called even generously, a diplomat.

He needed to move even more carefully. Something he had been bred and trained to do his entire life.

That she gave him permission to speak his mind, that she asked him for his opinion on current matters, that much would not change anything.

He placed the still steaming mug upon the desk, the gears turning in his mind, considering exactly what to say, and what exactly was to safe, "...With the Kainites exiled to the old Sith worlds, and the Tsis'Kaar brought into the imperial fold, the Order has never been more unified..." Safe to say, truth as well, but far too obvious with any who had eyes, "Yet, calling it unified would be an overstatement, the two pillars of the Triumvirate have been removed, but many of the individual members of the Order only pay de jure fealty to the Emperor, feel that he is a useful tool for unity, do not loyally rally around him, only through obligation and greed if the Emperor orders new invasion."

That was his read, there was only a minority genuinely loyal, and though the Eternalist faith could creep up and take on the civilians within the Empire, it was a faith which venerated the Sith, rather than the unknown, cold, near-dead Emperor, he inspired no loyalty, he inspired no love.

He inspired fear.

And that was a useful tool to intimidate a foe, but not to gain the loyalty of a subject.

Especially when one had subjects like the Sith, so utterly confident of their own abilities and right to rule.

"...As for events at the Javin Sector, Yavin and Celanon, I believe the grand design of the Emperor and Lord K- Carnifex, has gone to plan, a war that has caused the Jedi and Alliance great suffering, as the threat continues to expand, even if beaten upon Celanon, the galaxy has known the price levelled upon Yavin, and the galaxy knows and fears what will come if it reaches the Core." His eyes barely drifted, avoiding her gaze as he looked to the back wall, his own reservations about using these spawn, how it went too far, how the specific targeting of civilians to expand the horde... was unconscionable, did she wish to hear that? Were her words false? "Yet..." His eyes met hers again, the purple amethysts that could not be natural... however... one could say the same about his own red rubies, "...The undead, to be used like this... the undead to be used at all, I fear the ramifications upon..." Upon? Upon what? The undead were working, as horrid as they were, they were advancing, causing damage, what if it was distasteful? They were Sith.

Yet... he remembered the judgement that Lily Rhodes looked upon him with, when he had revealed his own presence upon Yavin.

He remembered the duel with Valery Noble and Kahlil Noble where he had almost lost his own life, surviving only by the luck of a draw... and somehow Trayze Tesar had been left in a worse state...

This was a war they were fighting, a real war, not simply the conquest of singular systems in the Outer Rim.

And it scared him like nothing else.

"...If we are meant to rule this galaxy, rather than destroy it, I think the use of these spawn, makes us unworthy."

Taeli Raaf

 

[Taeli Raaf]

From behind her own cup, there would be the small little smile as he began to answer her initial questions. Even just his beginning words were evidence of someone that actually took consideration of such things as politics and the motivations that could drive a nation. He was choosing his phrasing diplomatically, guarding his words to not reveal too much as he had no doubt been drilled as an apprentice to Ophidia and as a member of the Marr lineage, but she had been at this game for longer.

There was candor as he spoke, and as he answered her second question on the gambit involving the undead, she appreciated that he did not hold back in his thoughts. Ones knew that Kaine was well aware of what she thought, and she had been taking steps to correct such an egregious use of resources. Malum's body language suggested apprehension in the current directive, perhaps even fear, as he considered what had occurred already. Perhaps he had even fought against some of the Jedi that had rushed to help those neutral worlds, but that wasn't too important to her at present.

"To address the first subject, if you or any of the others think Kaine and his followers were exiled to the Stygian Caldera, I would respectfully disagree," she said, still smiling from behind her cup. "He holds the worlds that have been under our charge for millennia, seeks to see them fully restored, and that is not even to begin adding in his own personal power base scattered across the galaxy. No, my dear Malum, it is not an exile. It is a choice that the Kainite occupy the Caldera."

She herself had once again reclaimed Ziost and part of her efforts was to rebuild it to an even higher center of research into the Force. There just needed to be time.

"As for the Tsis'Karr," her smile widened a little more, "Empyrean may have welcomed them back into the fold under you two... but make no mistake about how far that trust goes." A secret that not many Sith, even high ranking knew, was that the Emperor had given her task in making sure such sedition as Ophidia had unleashed would be far more difficult to conceal. Her Thought Hunters lingered among the population throughout Sith space, linked to the chosen of Darth Empyrean as needed.

"But you are right, it has created some semblance of unity if only held together through careful positioning and a healthy dose of fear, retribution, and greed. I agree that sturdier foundations are needed for the Order, but what those might possibly be are still in the growing pains portion of the Empire being established."

She would take a sip of her tea, and her delightful air would fade slightly as she turned to the second question she had asked, "I despise the use of undead personally. Well, I should correct myself and say I despise the use of zombies and other such rotting forces. There were reasons, and continue to be reasons, why I heavily restrict research into the Sickness and the reasons why can be clearly seen. A terrible weapon though it can be, it is also uncontrollable in the long term and a waste of anything that falls to it."

Her delightful air would return, although the smile would not quite reach the eyes that had become hard as gemstones. There would be no question as to her sincerity for Malum. She wanted him to see it and hear it.

"I would happily see it eradicated from the face of the galaxy, removing Darth Drear's folly once and for all, and as Kaine knows I've begun taking steps to blunt it from having the desired efficacy. Benefits of controlling a genetics company and being, if you'll forgive the self-praise for a moment, one of the more prolific Sith alchemists in the biological field of the art in the galaxy."

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

She was watching him carefully, the cogs in her mind were turning, and he was not entirely certain, but from what he thought was her lips curved upwards behind her cup, she was happy, or at least satisfied with his answers. Though he supposed, that might have been evident enough from the fact he was not actively under threat, those were the little things, he supposed.

The little victories.

Of course, he knew for the most part she was not likely to be a threat to him. Not in the sense that she was not capable, indeed she was both that and terrifying.

But he had memories of her, in some way, despite the feelings behind those memories, he knew she acted more... logically, rationally, than some of the more... difficult, Sith Lords who had either lost themselves to madness or simply operated in a sense of sanity far beyond mere mortals such as he.

Of course, it was not as if she could not act out of emotion, Sith rarely could, memories revealed tidbits of information, a past relationship, and three children...? Ones that he did not know if she was aware of, and certainly though knowledge might have been power, he had little interest in risking what was so far, a surprisingly warm reception.

But it did prove that... well even in being capable of emotion, she clearly was not ruled by it.

Or she was simply a very capable actress.

Either way, he could tread carefully knowing, that for the most part, it seemed the conversation was going well.

He brought the cup back to his lips, allowing his tongue to experience the sweet sensation of the black tea swirling about his gums before the heat slowly trickled down his throat. A calming little draught, enough to bring about a low hum to escape to his lungs, his eyes closing for perhaps a second too long before they were forced open by Lady Raaf's words.

She responded to what he said in order, clearly she had taken it all aboard in order, analysed it, and crafted counters. It was not expected, but pulling himself up, sitting straight upon his seat, it did inform him that there was little room to relax no matter how good the tea was.

"I cannot claim to understand the mind or motives of His Imperial Majesty or Lord K- Carnifex," Malum began, knowing this was dangerous ground, that the safest option was to simply nod along and agree, however...

...However... he was simply done with these defeats being characterised as anything but.

"I am willing to concede that it may have not been an exile born of complete defeat, might it instead a mercy offered by His Imperial Majesty," He had to thread the needle carefully, there was much of the Kainite War that he had experienced, but much else that he had missed, recovering from his hubris... but he knew that the Kainite resources had not been nearly as used up as Imperial propaganda had painted it, and he knew all could not have gone to plan, Darth Empyrean and his Mistress certainly did not prefer that Kaine lived, so what was the exact truth? "Otherwise to claim that Lord K- Carnifex simply had the strength to overpower both His Imperial Majesty and my Mistress, but simply chose not to, chose to abandon his powerbase in the main Sith worlds, for seemingly... little reason, chose to bend the knee, but did not need to..."

He brought the cup down gently on the desk, a small smile upon his face, "Well, the implication is that His Imperial Majesty is... weaker than all could imagine, a laughable claim, but one raised by some quarters, for after all, a rival was allowed to live, or... that Lord K- Carnifex, is as powerful as all know him to be. But then of course, it is difficult to ascertain his manifest purpose, on one hand, he remains the man the galaxy fears, yet, accepts at least legal subordination to another, he would abandon his seats of power after what can only be deemed a defeat," Even if the battle upon Mustafar had been a defeat, so had the battle of Jutrand for the Kainites, the Malsheem had been tracked and found in climatic battles on Ertrax and Aing-Tii both, he had even taken part in one of the assaults on the Worldcraft, even if it had placed upon the radar of the Twice-Failed Tyrant, and even if it had put him out of commission, it did speak to the Kainites being on the back foot, "Even if all of that was... according to some plan, to take advantage of the fall of the Ashlan Crusade perhaps, and retake the old Sith worlds, even if defeat was the choice made... it was a defeat," And not the first of its kind, the pattern shown here, of decisions that seemed lackadaisical, some greater good that... in this case perhaps it did benefit the Sith, but so many other decisions that the Zambranos had made in their history, the construction of the Malsheem itself, the abandonment of the Emperor, in favour of an uncle who could not be trusted to rule.

It all spoke to something sinister.

The pavement of Zambrano interests above Sith, it was no surprise, the Eternal Rule that Kaine espoused centred on his cult of personality.

The question was, did Lady Raaf see it the same way?

Did it matter if she did?

His smile widened, "But of course, at the end of the day, I am glad that both His Imperial Majesty and Lord Carnifex came to such an agreement, the old Sith worlds are liberated from those who would have harmed it, and it is best for the Order, and the Empire, that two such capable statesmen are retained on the same side, against the external enemies of the Order and Empire both." Of course, it would have made things so much simpler if Empyrean and Kaine had simply wiped each other out, it was what his Mistress would have wanted.

Alas, whatever agreement they had made behind closed corridors...

...It had left them in this mess, left Ali- Darth Strosius and him, all of the Tsis'Kaar, forever on the periphery, never trusted, and at any point, a dedicated campaign could be launched to wipe them out.

That was why they would always need to make themselves useful, and always have their loyalties above reproach. Imperial favour was the only way they could save themselves from annihilation. And once they were safe, they could move to act.

A lesson that Ali- Darth Strosius was failing to learn.

His smile cracked, feigned as much as it was real, had she read his thoughts? He did not believe so, he felt no intrusion... his defences held as much as he could tell, and she had seemingly not commented on anything he had thought which was far more incriminating.

But that was no guarantee, "Our Mistresses' betrayal was unexpected and a betrayal to all of us," Another of Darth Strosius' crimes... "It is the duty of the apprentices to atone for their master's actions, we know our purpose," How he so hated this lie, that it was their Mistress that had overstepped, when instead it had been...

...There was no point thinking more about it.

...Darth Strosius and he were equally culpable for all that happened.

He quirked his eyebrows at the answer to the next portion, he perhaps should not have been too surprised she agreed, he was confident enough in his words, but not confident enough to reach arrogance, he simply had said the truth as he saw it... and he knew he was capable enough at these things.

Still, to have her agree... it was somewhat odd.

But he took it on the head, "...Not to flatter, but His Imperial Majesty's choice to invite you to the Dark Council, was a good one," Was it? Was it really? An ally of Kaine, who seemingly had little regard for what the Order or Empire did as long as it did not impact her interests, and seemingly to rule was not one of those interests. He blinked... where had those thoughts come from? "...Not that I imagine it should matter coming from one so..." His smile returned to full form, "...Distrusted as I, but Imperial unity may benefit from more Dark Council appointments outside of His Imperial Majesty's direct circle, after all, how better to unite the Order than by the inclusion of those who may be potential naysayers and malcontents? If they have not yet been purged, when will they ever be? Better to have them close, than otherwise." His orbs were glimmering with both mischief and humour, oh certainly ambition existed for a Dark Council seat, his most famous ancestor held one and he had essentially ruled the Empire... but well, he had as many enemies as friends in this Order... perhaps far more enemies to be frank.

He would never hold a seat by mere invitation, for after all, he was not trusted, and for good reason.

Still, this was the Empire he served, and despite its leadership, he did want it unified, and... he would always look for its best interest. The Sith's enemies may have been within as Ali- Darth Strosius always ranted.

But their real enemy should be without.

He raised a subtle brow at the rest of her words, it was a subtle distinction between zombie and undead, and truly, he was unsure what the distinction was, but... as she continued her words, as the moon shifted between cold and warm, he felt a weight leave his chest, as his smile brightened considerably, "Then I am glad we have one as talented as you that will correct Darth Drear's folly, if there is anything I might do to assist, I would be more than willing."

There was much more he wanted to ask and say, draw further into the distinction she had drawn, ask why she was so opposed to them... his may have been on moral grounds... but her... was he wrong to assume there was something more personal?

And the offer to assist was a no-brainer, he was unsure how exactly he could help... he had all of his Mistresses' training under his belt and all the knowledge she had thought to give.

While of course, he had something far more... interesting swimming about in his mind, that too could aid in this.

But of course, the most important part of this, to make himself useful, to make himself invaluable.

Lady Raaf's loyalty may have been to Empyrean third, Kaine second, and herself first, one he could never trust.

But to learn from her.

To be an ally.

It would be invaluable.

Taeli Raaf

 

[Taeli Raaf]

The Marr heir was certainly proving to be more of a conversationalist than she had expected, considering her interactions with his fellow apprentice of Ophidia. Perhaps it was his noble upbringing that contributed to it, or he was simply of a more diplomatic persuasion? Either way, it was refreshing as she regarded him over her cup as he digested her points and responded in kind.

On the first subject, she could understand his point of view. As influential as the Marr name was, and the scion in front of her seemed to be rapidly building a following among the newer Sith, he did not have direct access to the maneuverings and schemes that occurred among the upper echelons. Not yet. To an observer, even one that fought in the conflict that had torn the Sith in two, and then three, it could certainly be construed that the current status quo was born out of mercy or agreement since it seemed illogical that Kaine would ever surrender his chance at power and the throne, taking a position even if only slightly below Empyrean.

On the second subject... that was perhaps the first untrue thing he had told her. It didn't take a mentalist to know that either, although she was skilled enough in those to take on one of the prodigies of the art and survive. No, it came down to sixty years of experience as a Sith and the ability to read people and between the lines, something that had served her well and helped facilitate her infiltration and subversion of the Alliance's predecessor. It was only logical that the former followers of Ophidia would be under increased scrutiny, even if they didn't realize what form it might take, but it was a logical course of action.

On the third subject, the flattery was appreciated with a larger smile, although she caught the blink of surprise as he spoke and seemed to pause. Interesting. What might have prompted that moment of perplexion? It would bear further probing perhaps, especially as he continued saying there was a desire to see more seats to the Dark Council filled out. Ah yes, there was the ambition for power that all Sith needed and why wouldn't a Marr heir desire a seat when their famous ancestor once held such power from his.

Perhaps if he cooperated with her in dealing with their undead folly and in the future, he might find the support one needs to find themselves at the table.

In time perhaps.

"To our first subject, I would like to propose a scenario to you," she said. "A thought exercise if you will indulge me. You find it hard to believe, or justify, why Kaine might subordinate himself to Empyrean, at least in theory and on paper, if he has as much power and influence that he does. From an outside perspective, I could even agree it seems illogical. But I want you to consider something. It would not be the first time. Kaine was Emperor of the Eighth Sith Empire for a time, before he took a position under the leader of the One Sith. He then was elected to the throne when the Sith Ascendancy and the pureblood faction based around Athiss combined into the Tenth Empire, the one you are familiar with. he then eventually relinquished that throne for unknown reasons to allow his uncle and then daughter to take it."

She would tap the side of her cup, almost in thought.

"It would seem to me a pattern develops at that stage that would certainly suggest ulterior motives to why Kaine would step down from power time and again, even as he espouses his philosophy of Eternal Rule. My question would be to you, to ponder, is what would be more important than ruling an Empire?"

She would not expect an answer immediately, giving him time to think on the matter.

"As for the matter of betrayal and support, actions will no doubt dictate how you are viewed. Your friend is certainly making a splash in the wrong ways if he wants to avoid... scrutiny. He seems to have a proclivity for making enemies out of potential allies, and a brashness that comes with zealousness and arrogance... but you seem to have a different direction in mind. You're playing the game well, your allies aside, and I do appreciate the offer of support in dealing with the rash plan of using undead to sow chaos in the Rim. Support like that can certainly be the building blocks to a more fruitful association. Such things often have a way of building upon themselves until reputations are unimpeachable and power and influence are too vast and varied to not gain a seat at the table."

She would turn her gaze out the window to the lake and district beyond and around it. Her alliances with Kaine and Empyrean to name just those two had been mutually beneficial, and it had led to all of this and more. And she was always looking to make more allies.

Darth Malum of House Marr