Junction The Divide | TSC & TSO & ME Junction of Carratos, Ank Kit'aar, Sarka | IC

[Dral-Kar'ta Saandyr]

THE DIVIDE
​

Objective I, THE WAR COUNCIL
Location: ABOARD THE TYRANNY

Ship: The Bes'hurok (Iron Rock) Armed Adviso

Armor: Protector-type Beskar'gam

Primary Weapon: A-180 Modular Blaster

Secondary Weapons: Briletto PPK, Stun Baton,

Blade: Tal'Alor Beskad
Sidekick: Ta-2P0 (Tappo)

Interacting With : Siv Dragr , Veyla Krinn , Helix , Varin Mortifer

---

​

Although he would be content to stand here all day indulging in passive-aggressive thought about the Sith this was an opportunity to listen and learn so when Veyla's voice cut in on his thoughts he was willing to accept. His helmet did not move but his hidden eyes sought out the subjects in question. A hulking Sith in imposing and sinister robes which, in this particular room, was not uncommon and a… Droid… "Droids. Why did it have to be droids." He lamented to himself. But not just any droid, this one had a reputation that Dral-Kar'ta was aware of.

He gave a nod to Siv to indicate that he would follow Veyla and then voice to the both of them "I will accompany you Velya Krinn if you do not object." Before following her. It remained to be seen if he would choose to join the new conversation as well

As they approached Helix and Varin, he introduced himself after Veyla. "Dral-Kar'ta Saandyr of Clan Saandyr." He introduced with a slight bow of his head, enough to be polite but no more. He would wait to gage the response to their introductions. Veyla was more direct and asked a few poignant questions. His glance alternated between the three as the situation unfolded. This could be interesting… he would listen carefully.

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Mercy Srina Talon Quinn Varanin Aether Verd Ivalyn Yvarro Nagual Aria Talorien Cassilde Vortayn Varin Mortifer Helix Adonis Angelis IV Taeli Raaf Leontis Antalis Zeptepi Zambrano CT-312 Darth Carnifex Darth Prazutis Siv Kryze Darth Reign Veyla Krinn Dral-Kar'ta Saandyr Lirka Ka Adelle Bastiel Kurayami Bloodborn​

Interacting with: Leontis Antalis Astra Sadow Srina Talon Mercy Aria Talorien Cassilde Vortayn | Open

"Administration over heroics?" Lysander hummed under his breath. "A dangerous confession in a room full of conquerors; someone might mistake you for a functional asset." He regarded the Heir of House Antalis then, understanding Astra was precisely that someone. Her attention meant she had glimpsed something worth tending, perhaps a sapling in a field of cut flowers. "It's always the neglected art, isn't it? Everyone wants the glory of storming the gates; no one wants to unclog the sewers afterward." The smile held. "I've always admired quieter talents. The ones who hold a world together while others are busy taking it apart."

He drew a strand of moonlight hair from his cheek with two fingers. "Corporate access is where my curiosity lives. I imagine you'll spend a good while just keeping the place breathing. But once you're through the worst of that, once it's standing on its own, I'd like to hear what you're dreaming of putting there. Not the pitch, of course. The actual dream."

Turning back toward the cup bearer with feigned innocence, his brows arched. "Diplomacy requires prettier nouns." And then.. she was gone, along with the 'observer'.

Movement from another corner drew his attention. Blood bound him to one side; circumstance and alliance tied him to Quinn Varanin on the other. Arrangements to seek out Victport Graras for a meeting with certain Imperials were already underway. Fortunately, a certain cyborg seemed to have a clear grasp of the situation before there was further escalation.

The Empress' touch caught him, softening something around twin emeralds and giving an answer before words could form, warming him the way one does when stepping closer to a hearth after miles of cold. "Lady Talon." The bacta patch concealed at her throat was easy enough to notice; this time, only one brow rose. Concern, apparently, would be traveling in both directions tonight. But for now.. silence would have to suffice. Lysander lifted his chin just enough to acknowledge it.

Mercy's words soon drew his attention back toward the heart of the gathering. History between Sith and Mandalorian was an old wound, and perhaps laying it bare in the open air did more good than pretending it wasn't there. Better an ugly truth on the table sometimes.

With a half-turn, Lily Rhodes reappeared in the line of vision. His mind ran through the options. To ask her openly would possibly corner her, and to act as if he hadn't noticed anything would be its own dishonesty. So, Lysander tried slipping into the middle ground between the two.

<<Need I worry, cousin?>> Emissary discipline nudged him to smooth edges. With family, it was simpler. He only needed to make sure she was alright.<<You don't owe me an explanation. Just know that I'm here if you need me.>>

He stayed within that small circle a while longer, focus drifting now and then to the other Sith and Mandalorians close by. The night was young yet, with ample time left for another conversation to begin.

​

 

[Siv Kryze]

.​

​

Siv watched Veyla and Dral approach the two Sith, his visor following them for a moment before he decided there was little reason to remain a spectator. They had come here to listen, but listening did not mean Mandalore had to remain silent.

He moved to join them, the blue and silver of his beskar'gam making the Kryze colors clear even among the darker armor and robes of the gathering. His attention settled briefly on Helix before shifting to Varin.

" Veyla Krinn , Dral-Kar'ta Saandyr "

A small nod acknowledged them both before his visor turned toward the Sith.

"Siv Kryze. Warden of Concordia, Alor of Clan Kryze."

The introduction was simple, without ceremony.

"We've already heard plenty about what Mandalore and the Sith have been through. I'd rather hear what you intend to do about it."

His comm quietly clicked.

<< Adonis Angelis IV >>

A brief pause.

<<There's a clanker over here you might find interesting. Figured I'd give you the chance to come have a look.>>

There was the faintest hint of amusement in his voice.

<<Let me know if you're in.>>

Siv closed the channel and returned his attention to the conversation.

"Veyla has already raised the important questions. What is being offered, what is expected in return, and whether either side has reason to believe the arrangement will last."

His visor shifted between Helix and Varin.

"Mandalore isn't here looking for another master. We're here because there may be something worth building between us."

He allowed the words to settle.

"But that depends on what you intend to build."

Tag: Dral-Kar'ta Saandyr Helix Varin Mortifer Veyla Krinn​

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Arris Windrun //: Lily Rhodes //:

Lily's reaction was already in the past the moment Arris spoke again. Quinn's attention belonged wholly to her fellow Sith Lord. Arris' hatred for the Republic was understandable; Quinn was finding herself drifting into much the same place. Time and time again, they had proven themselves to be more of a nuisance than a necessity to the galaxy.

And now, with the ability to control the Force at will?

That terrified the Echani.

A small smile crossed her face when Arris told her she wasn't to blame. Quinn wondered if she knew the order to execute those responsible for whatever had turned off the Force had come from her. She figured if Arris knew, she wouldn't be standing this close to her.

Especially after how Abregado-Rae went…

She could still smell the bodies if she let her mind wander too far.
More and more, Quinn hated it, but she had resigned herself to understanding that this was part of her life now. There was no sense fighting it too hard anymore. Perhaps her role wasn't to stop it.

Perhaps it was simply to lessen it.

Still, Arris' words meant more than anything right now.

More than that, Quinn felt something protective in the way Arris wrapped an arm around the Eshan Queen's waist. Something almost careful. The gentle pressure of fingers against her side was enough to settle Quinn as much as anything could.

The closeness remembered.

Even craved.

Mercy's speech pulled at Quinn's attention, each word carrying through the room and finding its place. A little smirk curled at the corner of her mouth, reserved for moments like this. Mostly because she remembered the woman who had once wanted nothing to do with leading anyone, who had wanted responsibility for no one beyond herself.

Quinn would tease her later.

For now, her attention remained on Arris.

She leaned into the woman as the hold around her waist loosened at an agonizingly slow pace. Before Arris could pull away entirely, Quinn caught her hand and kept it within her own.

"If I chose the seat I wanted, Triumvir…" Quinn mused, her eyes drifting across the faces gathered around the table.

Most were people she had interacted with before. Some she had grown up around. Others she knew only through her mother and the stories attached to them.

"It would be deemed inappropriate by those who are here."

A playful smile accompanied the words as Quinn continued to hold Arris' hand, allowing the woman to guide her around the table. When they finally reached their places, Quinn took the seat beside her and settled in, letting the room have its peace.

It didn't take long for her to notice it.

Arris felt out of place.

Quinn leaned toward her again as the Triumvir sat. The hand still holding Arris' slipped free, only to settle gently against her thigh beneath the cover of the table.

"If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

Her fingers gave Arris' leg a gentle squeeze, something quiet and reassuring meant only for her.

Then Quinn leaned back.

Her hand returned to her own lap as her attention finally shifted toward her mother and the Titan.

Despite this, her eyes continued to wander briefly to the one beside her.

Spoiler: Tags

Mercy Srina Talon Quinn Varanin Aether Verd Ivalyn Yvarro Nagual Aria Talorien Lysander von Ascania Cassilde Vortayn Varin Mortifer Helix Adonis Angelis IV Taeli Raaf Gerwald Lechner Amelia von Sorenn Astra Sadow Leontis Antalis Zeptepi Zambrano CT-312 Darth Carnifex Darth Prazutis Siv Kryze Darth Reign Veyla Krinn Dral-Kar'ta Saandyr Lirka Ka Adelle Bastiel Mia Monroe Lily Rhodes Nephthys Nardithi-Verd

 

[Ivalyn Yvarro]

IY

IVALYN YVARRO

ABOARD THE TYRANNY

SITH COVENANT SPACE

EVENING • 907 ABY

♫ FETİH MARŞI | YELKENLERİ BİÇİLECEK | SENFONİK MEHTER MARŞI— ORMANGÜZLE SENFONİ ORKESTRASI

x

✦

In a room of the who's who of three nations, Ivalyn merely observed.

The Tyranny's council chamber had the particular quality of spaces designed to convey authority before anyone in them had said a word dark paneling, the low thrum of the dreadnought's systems present beneath everything like a pulse, the kind of lighting that flattered no one and illuminated everything. She had noted it on entry and filed it alongside everything else.

She held to the edge of the room rather than the center of it. The gathering arranged itself before her: Sith and Mandalorian and Covenant, the combined weight of three nations that had collectively reshaped the galaxy's borders in recent months, all of them wearing the particular energy of people who had come fresh from battlefields and had not yet fully set it down.

She knew these faces. Some better than others.

Gerwald Lechner, Dark Councilor of the Sith Order. She knew of him, spoken to him once at the very least, twice maybe.

Srina Talon. The Blackwall Empress. Lovely woman, Ivalyn had only met her once.

Quinn Varanin, whom she had met only in passing.

And then, moving through the chamber with her attention fixed like a navigational beacon, she made her way toward Taeli Raaf. Dark Councilor, in the formal register. Lady Raaf, in Ivalyn's own. The distinction was personal and she kept it that way.

They had much to discuss. Thyferra's aftermath still needed working through, and the conversation on Halm had opened threads that this room would not be the place to pull. But proximity was its own form of communication, and Ivalyn had learned a long time ago the value of simply being present in the same space as the person you intended to speak with before the moment arrived to do so.

At a distance, because distance was where she caught most things, she registered Helix. Ryoone was where she had placed that particular face in her internal taxonomy.

And then, with the faint inevitability of someone who had an apparently unlimited capacity for appearing in significant rooms, Kurayami Bloodborn. She was not entirely surprised. His connections were extensive enough and varied enough that his presence in the orbit of a Sith-run gathering with Mandalorian representation was less a coincidence than a predictable outcome. There was of course, the fact that he had been a long time family friend, a man who knew Lady Raaf in the 10th Empire, and her own grandmother. Mhm.

The goal was to see what this would all mean for her nation. Context, context... context.

✦

x

TAG

Nagual | Mercy | Quinn Varanin | Arris Windrun | Lirka Ka | Mia Monroe | Lily Rhodes | CT-312 | Siv Kryze | Adelle Bastiel | Kurayami Bloodborn | Gerwald Lechner | Varin Mortifer | Darth Carnifex | Veyla Krinn | Darth Prazutis | Amelia von Sorenn | Darth Reign | Dral-Kar'ta Saandyr | Astra Sadow | Leontis Antalis | Zeptepi Zambrano | Aether Verd

Template stolen from Helena Cross

 

[Varin Mortifer]

VARIN MORTIFER

Equipment: Durum Mantle | Black Blade of Chandrila | Eye of The Dragon | Heavy Sith Mace | Cross Guard Broadsaber | Wyrmfang​

One by one, new faces showed. Like wolves in a pack, three mandalorians approached the conversation as Varin listened to Helix’s words, his question turned back to him. Varin had remained silent as the Mandalorian warriors approached, their emotionless visors staring into him as if to read something he had no reason to hide. He could feel the distrust, but more evident, he could feel their curiosity.

Each one introducing themselves as well as the house they represented, Varin took note. A custom even his family had taken. Varin slowly dipped his head to the three Mandalorians, no scorn or annoyance in his body language. This was a time of gathering allies, and Varin did not have personal feelings to these people and their ways.

“Varin Mortifer of House Mortifer. Son of the great War Lords, Darth Valerious Mortifer and Lady Ravnika Mortifer. An honor to finally meet with members of the Mandalorian Empire.”

Varin looked at Helix for a moment.

“Medals are not necessary. Recognition is not what drove me to victory.”

No, recognition was simply a byproduct. Simply put, war and conquest was what Varin was born for.

Varin took another slow sip of his drink before his gaze fell to the Mandalorians that had joined him.

“Your people had lost much in your history. Your home, your planet yet your will to keep moving, to prevent your shortcomings from tying you down drove your people to do such great things.”

There was no venom or malice in his words, just simply his point of view.

“Loss drove your people to act as they did, to act as they do now. You all fought with purpose, to avenge what had fallen and to rebuild.”

Varin paused for a short moment.

“I fought with the same point of view. It was my purpose, my calling to raise that section of the planet to rubble. It was my purpose to remind our enemies what happens when you kick the nest. I am their consequence, their sentence.”

His gaze fell specifically on Siv. His points were clear in his introduction. Partnership, not servitude. The words drew a small smile from the young Knight.

“Of course not. We did not call you here for servitude or to be slaves. We would not have called you to such a meeting if we did not find some form of kinship with your warrior ways. What we intend to build, for now, is allies.”

Varin let the word hang in the air for a good moment. Letting that simple word carry the weight it needed.

“You are all fighters looking for the betterment of your people. I seek the same thing.”

Helix | Veyla Krinn | Siv Kryze | Dral-Kar'ta Saandyr​

 

[Anet Raine]

Efret Farr
Robes | Mask | Lightsaber​

Sometime after her conversation with A'Mia...

Anet wandered the streets of the Empress' Peace, the last vestiges of civilization on Abregado-rae following devastation. She moved through the crowd with disinterest. Many of them suffered - lamenting the destruction of their homes, the end of their way of life as they knew it. Others were just grateful to be alive and granted purpose under the new regime. For them, survival was victory. There were, of course, Mandalorians and Sith now scattered among them, perceiving different meanings in the aftermath.

The Sith turned the corner off the main road and now walked down a less-beaten street. She was all too content to linger on her thoughts until she felt a familiar presence in the Force.

'You.'

She pivoted and walked up a set of stairs, jumped the banister down into an alley, then came out onto an opposite street.

There she saw her...

But then there was a stab of jealousy. Why would Kirie need to meet her? Anet had everything under control. What possibly could a fallen Jedi have to teach that she couldn't?!

The heat of her jealousy lingered only a moment.

"Efret," Anet called out.

She was still wearing her mask, so the Dark Jedi wouldn't be troubled by the half-pantoran's emptiness in the Force. Though she would feel the twisted pride that emanated from her like a glow.

"It's good to see you. That was some battle, wasn't it?"

 

[Helix]

Tags: Varin Mortifer / Veyla Krinn / Dral-Kar'ta Saandyr / Siv Kryze ​

"A battlefield eventually gets cleared. What you build afterward tends to last longer."

"I quite agree." Responded the warlord, perhaps surprising his visitors. "There are many great builders and civil engineers among the Sith. At times, I turn my hand in that direction, but that is not typically what I am called upon to do. The Sith need killers far more than they need builders, or so they'd tell you."

"The universe seems to reward destruction just as it punishes creation, on a fundamental basis. I leave it to you to determine whether it is worth it to swim against the current. I certainly believe it is."

Acknowledging the two new additions to the conversation, he nodded.

"Mandalore isn't here looking for another master. We're here because there may be something worth building between us."

"I don't think the Sith are interested in mastering Mandalore. If they were, this discussion would not be taking place, as young master Varin correctly points out. See how the Republic has been treated if you don't believe me. If any civil talks happened there, I wasn't privy to them. Just moves and countermoves, and the taking of the world by force." Helix figured the fact that Mandalore was a bit of a tougher nut to crack might also have entered into their calculations.

"No, there's something more at play there, some understanding that bonds these three empires together in such an... unusual union. I can't decide whether it's above or below my paygrade to be curious about it."

The creature took another sip of his drink, imitated a grimace, and put it down on the table, nudging it away as though it were some sort of hairy and revolting insect. "Vile stuff." He murmured.

"In any case, I can't see that union fracturing now. Whether that's good for the galaxy, or good for me, is also below my paygrade. You'll find most use a similar calculus. 'Is it good for me?' they'll be asking internally, even if not externally."

"I've been around a long time. A long, long time by your reckoning, and that's been the only hard truth I've been able to find in the universe. There are two types of people out there. Selfish, and selfish liars. At least the first type will be honest with you, and lay things out as they are."

"The Sith, by and large, fall into this category. What you see is what you get. I can't say the same for some of the galaxy's other inhabitants. Better the devil you know, and all that."

"Varin here, for example, is selfish, and good on him for it. That's a virtue. But I don't think he's a liar."

“Your people had lost much in your history. Your home, your planet yet your will to keep moving, to prevent your shortcomings from tying you down drove your people to do such great things.”

True enough on all counts. The Sith didn't tend to diplomatically court those they saw as cowardly or without practical use. It was better to keep these people on side, lest their savagery be turned towards the Sith. In addition to all their myriad other problems right now, this was an eventuality that they could ill afford.

A liar Varin might not have been, but no diplomat either. Despite the flattery in his words, Helix considered it a bit impolite (and impolitic) to continue reminding their visitors of past conflicts, in particular conflicts with the Sith. If he were in their shoes, he'd still be plenty angry about it, and more than eager to seize a chance for some much-deserved payback. Time would tell if they proved to be more forgiving than he was.

Still, all of those conflicts were before his time with the Order, and thus, of no interest to him. As far as Helix was concerned, time began the moment he was involved, and ended along with said involvement.

"For what it's worth, I think our two peoples make better friends than enemies. I can enjoy a good fight as much as anyone else, but there's a reason behind every shot I fire."

 

[Eleanor]

A BUTCHER'S PEACE

Tags: Revna Marr

Eleanor kept her head low as she moved, shifting back and forth as she examined the tables she passed. The place seemed packed, with barely a single table without at least two or three people. She caught sight of one, but its sole occupant was presently sprawled across it.

And between the inane babble spewing from his lips, and the god awful smell, Eleanor did an immediately one-eighty and continued her search for a free-ish table.

Could she have easily just pulled the drunken fool off his table, and taken it for herself? Yes, but Eleanor had neither the desire or patience to deal with the headache that would’ve no doubt caused. Not just from the current occupant, but the attention it would’ve drawn too.

Instead, the young Sith continued her search, this time towards the back of the establishment. There she saw a young woman seated alone, her appearance making it apparent she wasn’t that much older than Eleanor. What she immediately noticed however, was the fact no one was bothering the stranger. Not even some drunken fool who thought they could get lucky.

No, aside from where the woman was seated, the table had remained untouched.

Making her decision then and there, Eleanor strode towards the table. She didn’t even need to focus on the eyes to know the raven-haired woman was a fellow Sith. And nor was Eleanor fazed by the stranger’s chilly aura. It melted against Eleanor’s, which was more akin to furnace; radiating heat, teasing the tempered inferno within.

“Is there room for one more at this table?” She asked, pulling her hood back enough for the woman to see her face. “I can assure you I’ll be better company than well…” Eleanor paused, glancing around for a few moments. “Anyone else in here.” She replied, a small smirk on her face.

 

[Tobias Dib]

Tags: Seren Gwyn , Open

"The Dunes of Despair." The two moved past the gate, where the troopers remained alert for any otherworldly threat. One hand gripped the massive hilt as they traveled across the empty expanse of desert, the dunes nearing with every step. He gave a sidelong glance at the woman, seeing her own hand on her lightsaber hilt. Wise to take precautions. And her words about neither Sith nor Jedi being useful in this realm drew forth a ghost of a smile. This place cared nothing for creeds or alignment. It was death and the Force—a twisted caricature of what most perceived reality to be. However, Tobias found more truth on this plane than in the living one.

"And do you carry a label? Sith, Jedi, or something altogether unique, Lady Seren Gwyn of Alderaan? Or is it Courtess Darth Eryndis?" His glowing blue eyes returned to their destination as the dunes drew closer. What almost looked like rain mist lay ahead. And yet, it appeared to rise instead of fall. As they neared, it became clear it was no liquid at all. Individual grains of sand rose from the desert, ascending into what looked like a cloud hovering above. However, the clouds were unnatural in their formation; they reflected the dunes below. He paused upon the threshold and looked to Seren.

"Each grain of sand is the life force of a sentient being who died in the throes of sorrow and suffering. Do try to keep any sand off your skin, or you will experience the desperation they felt in their final moments. Whatever you do, don't ingest any. You will desire a quick death if you do." With the warning given, he strode forward into the swirling mists of sand. The sensation of sand rising in its tumbling path was foreign. Small particles ricocheted against his cheek as it rose, sending waves of gut-wrenching fear through the edges of his mind. Surface-level emotions that didn't originate with him. And as such, more easily ignored and dispelled.

As they crested one of the dunes, Tobias knelt in the sand and dipped his free hand into a pouch on his kama to retrieve a metal flask. It was pushed into the sand until filled, then recapped and returned to the pouch. Was there a specific reason for taking a sample? Perhaps. Maybe for potential uses not yet ascertained. Regardless, the giant rose to his feet and looked across the terrain. In the distance, a mound rose along the top of a dune, stretching higher until the pointed end touched the upside down simulacrum of the dunes. It would take a moment for their eyes to disassemble what their brains said was impossible. An inverse tornado, a massive funnel running across the sand while the tail traveled across the inverted dunes in the sky.

Yet this entertaining sight was not what he searched for. However, the man was not disappointed for long. Bluish-white silhouettes journeyed toward the pair. Each group finally coalesced into individual creatures—nether hounds. The different packs slowly circled the corporeal living pair as Tobias waited silently. Four different groups of spectral dogs wandered about them. Each radiated a different feeling. The first, and smallest group, felt like the cold hand of death—a rank smell wafting from their tiny pack. The hounds' forms were misshapen, terrifyingly hideous.

The next two packs were more prominent. They were definitely hunters, predators. The hounds looked with wary eyes as they wandered around them. The last pack stood still, merely watching and not exhibiting rage, wrath, hunger, or a predatory outlook. These were different, almost like sentinels or observers.

"You asked me, 'Where are we going?' But not 'What are we looking for?' The answer to the latter is this: Nether Hounds. If you notice, their behavior is different. The smaller group is bound by darker energy. They are bestial, ravenous, destructive. Bond them to you by killing their alpha, and the rest of the small pack will follow you." He waved at the two middle packs. "These are more like the trained hounds, hunting dogs, of the galaxy. They will pursue and attack, or trail and follow, whatever prey you designate. You earn their trust by loyalty. Feed them here, and they will follow you. Continue to domesticate them, and they will become yours for life."

His glowing gaze turned to the pack, which sat and watched. "Now these may be more to your liking. I'd call them guard dogs of the ethereal realm. They serve a just master, protect them, and are more adamant in their prey. They don't hunt the weak—only the strong. And of the three types, this particular breed of Phantom Hound is the calmest and most protective. You only earn their loyalty through fearless action and a nobility of spirit. Instead of killing the alpha or feeding and domesticating them, you walk into their midst and offer a connection. Too much darkness, and they will attack you as a strong enemy. But with a more neutral inclination, a set of strong morals, and a desire to fight the strong and protect the weak, they will adhere to you for the rest of their days."

Tobias turned to the woman. "Choose, then take the pack as your own."

 

[Astra Sadow]

Astra gave a slight bow and a smile with Mercy 's kind regards. Not that her Executive Board had any power over her whatsoever, but they were satisfied -- else they would have tried to kill and replace her. Tried and failed, but that was another matter altogether. More important was that Mercy sounded pleased with the way things were progressing. That bode well for Astra's interests in the Core -- existing and future. And, she would like to think, it stood for Mercy to gain by virtue of having Sanguine so close.

Mercy also briefly introduced her and Leontis Antalis to Srina Talon . The smile never fell, but there was a sharpness to it when the Empress' attention was called. They had met albeit briefly. If Astra could convince her to support Sanguine's efforts that would be quite the boon. For them both, surely. The Core was home, but there was no need to remain isolated just to that region. An enterprising woman could always hire new talent to oversee additional subsidiaries or annexes.

"We shall," came the simple response. Shall meet? Shall only do what Mercy would? Wouldn't do what Mercy would? All of the above in the right circumstances.

While she smiled, Astra was not quite taken at the council being a selective body. It would be no surprise that a woman like her would want to hear what was said, and perhaps influence matters to her benefit. To not be invited signaled she hadn't gotten quite as much influence with even Mercy as she might have liked.

There were methods, but they wouldn't favor the ambitions Lysander had. Perhaps there would be a may to give them both what they wanted through tempering how freely the wanton destruction was employed?


As for Lysander von Ascania 's glance with Leontis Antalis speaking of administration and heroics, Astra just smiled. The Emissary of the Covenant spoke his peace, and she made no effort to interrupt.

"In the moment, the Destroyer feels powerful and unstoppable. Once that moment passes -- as it always would -- they are left with little to do. Little they are made for with so much effort devoted to the acts that made them powerful in the first place. Meanwhile, those that come after secure rights and authority over the long-term. Construction is not glamorous, but it endures... until the next Destroyer comes along, but then it is rebuilt anew. Life, as they say, always finds a way." It was both the Sith's greatest lamentation and also their greatest asset. If Life, Light, or whatever other moniker were to cease the Sith would have nothing left to occupy themselves. Nothing that'd spur them on to greatest acts of domination.

The Sith were all honorable Sangnir. Only, instead of blood they subsisted on hope.


The group disbanded, and Astra turned her golden gaze to Leontis Antalis . "I would never demand you follow me everywhere, you are free to socialize with whom you will, but," her eyes turned toward a particular group, "you are welcome to follow." He wasn't a formal student yet, though she hoped the man did more than contemplate the meaning of the Force. Nothing worse than knowing someone had talent they refused to make use of -- especially when that talent led to acquiring the freedom Astra believed anyone worth surviving required just to reach their starting line.

With a smile directed his way, she turned to drift over toward Veyla Krinn as the woman spoke of building things.

"That's not true," Astra interjected after Varin Mortifer and Helix spoke. She drifted closer to the group and gave them a collective bow at the waist. "Astra Sadow, Chairwoman of Sanguine Enterprises." One mustn't forget proper introductions. Now, back to her original statement, "It's not entirely true that the Sith 'would not' have called such a meeting if there was not some manner of kinship or desire for an equal relationship. I expect our Mandalorian guests had that thought somewhere in the back of their minds just now. After all, the 'Sith' as galactic community knows them comes full of baggage and presumptions. Not all of them unwarranted. Fortunately," Astra looked to Siv Dragr and Dral-Kar'ta Saandyr , "you won't need to take their word for it. You will find them as diverse as any other people with different ambitions and factions depending on whom you speak, but you will also find plenty with a mind to work with you rather than over you. If there is something to be built, it will come between people on both sides with that vision coming together to make it a reality."

A nod accompanied Helix's last statement. "The Mandalorians certainly wouldn't need to worry the Sith would ask them to beat their blades into plowshares. They would undoubtedly recognize the strength of your determination and skill with countless weapons. Your reputation precedes you throughout the galaxy."

 

[Revna Marr]

Wearing:
Ring || Lightsaber || Necklace​

The newcomer to the establishment moved through the crowds, looking for a table to sit. She briefly seemed to eye the table with the drunken bastard spread across it, but decided against it. Eventually, the young woman found herself in the back of the Cantina, near Revna's mostly empty table. Revna watched her from the corner of her eye, and felt a faint half smirk grace her lips when the other young woman made a direct approach to her table.

The stranger’s presence was heralded by an aura of radiant heat - something that did not bother Revna too much, as her own Apprentice burned with an inner furnace as well. Ember eyes slid from the drink in her hand and towards the newcomer, who was now lowering her hood so her face could be seen. Neon lights danced off of auburn hair and fair complexion alike.

“Is there room for one more at this table?” the other young woman inquired. “I can assure you I’ll be better company than well…” she paused and glanced around at the rest of the patrons in the establishment. “-anyone else in here.”

Revna gestured to the seat opposite to her at the table, her eyes glimmering with amusement. “Feel free. I wouldn’t mind some company…well, better company than what is already in this den of criminals.” She flagged down the female bartender again, who sauntered over, casting a glance between Revna and the newcomer.

“Get whatever drink you want, if you fancy one. I’ll cover it on my tab.” Revna said nonchalantly, before she ordered another drink for herself while the bartender was there, waiting for her to leave before shifting her attention back to the other young woman seated across from her.

“...so what brings you to these parts? Checking out the sights?” she asked curiously, before remembering manners and introduced herself. “I’m Revna, by the way.” ​

Eleanor ​

 

[Veyla Krinn]

Objective: 1
Interacting with: Helix Varin Mortifer Siv Kryze Dral-Kar'ta Saandyr

Veyla had noticed Dral fall into step behind her before they reached the conversation, and the quiet acknowledgment pleased her more than she expected. She had left the invitation open, and he had chosen to take it. Something reassuring was in having another familiar suit of beskar beside her amid the Sith gathering, particularly one belonging to someone who had his own reasons for weighing every word offered tonight. When Siv joined them moments later, Veyla's attention shifted naturally toward her Alor. His statement that Mandalore wasn't looking for another master was considerably firmer than anything she would have offered on Mandalore's behalf, but that was precisely the distinction between their places here. Siv spoke for House Kryze and carried responsibilities Veyla did not. She was here to listen, learn, and form her own judgment of the people Mandalore might find itself standing beside.

Varin's answer held her attention longer. The dark visor remained fixed upon him while he compared Mandalore's history of loss with his own sense of purpose, and somewhere beneath the helmet, Veyla's expression tightened thoughtfully. "Loss is part of it." She paused, careful not to turn her own perspective into an answer for every Mandalorian standing beside her. "I don't think vengeance is what kept me moving, though." Her helmet turned slightly toward Dral for a moment before returning to Varin. "Remembering what happened matters. So does making sure it doesn't happen again. But if all I ever did was look backward at who hurt us, I'd never have much of a life beyond them." Mandalore's history was filled with wounds, but Veyla had never wanted those wounds to become the entirety of what remained.

That didn't mean she dismissed what Varin had said about himself. There was something almost brutally simple in his declaration that destruction had been his purpose, that he had seen himself as a consequence rather than a hero. Veyla could respect honesty even when she didn't share the philosophy behind it. "I believe you when you say recognition wasn't what drove you." The faintest edge of dry amusement survived the helmet's modulation. "No one calls themselves the sentence unless they've already decided exactly why they're swinging the hammer or sword." Her head nodded in its direction and made it clear what she was talking about. She understood purpose. She understood choosing something and committing herself fully to it. His answer had given her considerably more insight into him than another account of what he had destroyed at Abregado-rae would have. "I think I understand your answer better now."

Her visor shifted toward Helix when he offered his considerably more cynical explanation of how alliances worked. Selfish people and selfish liars was a bleak way to divide the galaxy, though Veyla found herself less offended by it than she might have expected. At least he wasn't pretending that alliances were born entirely from friendship and mutual admiration. "I don't know if I'd reduce everyone to those two choices." There was a hint of amusement beneath the vocoder before she added, "But I prefer someone telling me what they want over pretending they don't want anything at all." That much she had learned during her years working contracts. Everyone wanted something. Credits, security, influence, revenge, survival. The dangerous ones were often those who insisted they wanted nothing in return.

Helix's earlier agreement about building had not escaped her either. Veyla regarded the mechanical warlord for another moment before speaking again. "And for someone who says the Sith need killers more than builders, you seem unusually convinced building is worth the trouble." It wasn't an accusation. If anything, genuine curiosity had entered her voice. "I think I like that answer better than the one about leaving enough bodies behind that nobody forgets you."

Only then did her attention return toward Siv. She didn't attempt to add to what he had already said about Mandalore's intentions or explain what an alliance ought to look like. That was not why he had brought her here. Instead, Veyla let the conversation settle for a moment, considering Varin's purpose, Helix's blunt assessment of self-interest, Dral's presence beside her, and the position Siv had laid out clearly enough for all of them. There was considerably more honesty in this small conversation than she had expected to find aboard a Sith dreadnought.

Over the private channel shared with Siv and Dral, her voice came out quieter. "They're at least answering the questions instead of selling us something." A brief pause followed before dry humor crept back into her tone. "Not sure I've decided whether that's reassuring yet."

 

[Seren Gwyn]

The name Tobias gave their destination earned a slight lift of Seren's brow, although the dunes themselves quickly proved considerably more interesting than their dramatic designation. She walked beside him with Voidstar beneath one hand, listening as he returned to the question they had been discussing before crossing into the Netherworld. Lady Seren Gwyn of Alderaan. Countess. Darth Eryndis. Sith. Jedi once, though not anymore. There had been enough names and titles attached to her over the years that choosing one as the definitive answer seemed almost contrary to everything they had just discussed. "All of them apply at certain times." Her amber eyes remained on the strange landscape ahead. "Seren is the one I prefer most often. The rest tell someone something about where I came from, what I've done, or where I happen to stand. None of them need to be everything I am." A faint smile touched her lips. "So unless we're somewhere that particularly requires a Darth or a Countess, Seren will do."

Her attention sharpened considerably when Tobias explained what the rising sand actually represented. Seren stopped short of the threshold and regarded the grains moving upward into their impossible reflection overhead with renewed caution. One touch apparently carried the final desperation of a dead sentient being, and Tobias's warning about ingestion made experimenting with the phenomenon considerably less appealing. Rather than trust clothing to keep every grain away from exposed skin, Seren raised one hand and drew upon the Force, shaping it around herself into a close protective barrier. She took a moment to make certain it enclosed her completely, extending around her head and beneath her feet rather than leaving some inconvenient opening for the unnatural sand to exploit. Only then did she follow Tobias into the dunes. Individual grains rose toward her and met the invisible boundary instead, sliding around its surface before continuing upward. Seren watched their strange ascent while maintaining the barrier with steady concentration. "I'll take your word for it." She glanced toward the flask he filled. "Though I'm beginning to suspect you have plans for considerably more of this place than sightseeing."

The inverted storm ahead briefly captured her attention, forcing her mind to reconsider what her eyes insisted they were seeing, but the approaching shapes soon provided something considerably nearer to study. Seren remained within her barrier as the spectral hounds separated into distinct packs around them, keeping her hand near Voidstar without drawing it. She listened carefully while Tobias explained the differences between them and, more importantly, what each demanded from someone who wished to earn its allegiance. The first possibility interested her least, almost immediately. Killing an alpha merely to force the remainder of its pack into obedience held little appeal. The hunters were different. Loyalty earned through feeding, trust, and continued care was something she could respect, and Seren's gaze lingered on them before eventually moving toward the final group.

Those hounds simply watched.

Tobias's description of them drew her attention more completely than the others had. They weren't looking for someone capable of overpowering them or willing to buy their loyalty with food. They judged what approached them and apparently made their own decision. More importantly, they protected rather than simply destroyed, sought strong prey rather than weak, and required something considerably more difficult to counterfeit than raw power. Seren wasn't sure she could describe herself with Tobias's words without qualification. She had done things since leaving the Jedi that the woman she had once been might have struggled to reconcile, and embracing darkness had been a choice rather than an accident. Yet neither had erased the limits she placed upon herself or the reasons she had chosen her path. If the creatures could genuinely perceive the difference, there seemed little value in trying to convince them of anything.

"Those."

Seren indicated the quiet pack with a small inclination of her head. She looked toward Tobias once more, considering his advice before releasing her hand from Voidstar entirely. The barrier around her remained firmly in place against the rising sand, but otherwise she made no attempt to armor herself in the Force or conceal what she was. "If their loyalty depends upon what they find when I approach them, I'd rather let them decide whether I'm someone they would follow."

She turned toward the waiting hounds and began walking into their midst at an unhurried pace. There was no weapon in her hand and no effort to impose herself upon them. Tobias had said the connection had to be offered, not taken, and Seren intended to respect the distinction. When she judged herself close enough, she opened herself carefully through the Force, offering the connection he had described without attempting to seize one in return. Whatever the hounds found there would include darkness, certainly, but it would also find everything Seren had refused to surrender to that darkness.

Whether that was enough belonged to them.

Tobias Dib

 

[Ayrith Drayen]

/// DIRECTIVE ERROR, USER NOT FOUND.
/// PENANCE IS OWED.
/// ADJUSTMENT REQUIRED.

///LOCATION: REDACTED
///OBJECTIVE: PUNISHMENT 1-3(BYOO)

"You've disappointed us, Ayrith."

Unsteady, tear-filled eyes struggled to make direct contact with the gaze of a man whose expression was stoic. A pain underlined his words, albeit only faintly. A weak, choked up sob escaped Ayrith's throat as she curled herself tightly into a ball upon a floor plated with tunqstoid steel. Her hands shakily covered her face, saliva and sweat coated her fingers as she began to cry, barely able to breathe.

Her chest was tight, her throat closing up.

"It's been quite a while since I've used that name, hasn't it? You always seemed fond of it, even if the others frowned upon the idea of giving you a proper name, not just a series of numbers and letters."

Ayrith's head lifted just barely, her face full of fear and misery. Her lips quivered as her mouth struggled to attempt one simple word, one syllable that she'd never uttered to any other person or being in her existence. A word others had used when begging her. Her body seized up, her skin screaming with a pain too immense for any kind of pleading to take place.

He watched her tremble and convulse, his thumb moving away from an activation switch buried within his palm.

"I want you to know that this hurts me more than you could ever understand. If they had their say in this, it wouldn't be mere agony... it would result in your end. Ayrith... my child, I thought so highly of you, I truly believed you were leagues above what came before you. Do you even understand why this is happening to you?"

Ayrith frantically shook her head yes, trembling.

A soft smile spread over the man's face as he let out a brief, almost relieved sigh.

"Then let us begin your... graduation."

Footsteps moved away, the sound of pneumatic doors hissing and sliding open, then shutting. Silence fell over the chamber like a weighted blanket as Ayrith's consciousness began to fade.

There were no dreams during this slumber. Only a void.
​

 

[Dral-Kar'ta Saandyr]

THE DIVIDE
​

Objective I, THE WAR COUNCIL
Location: ABOARD THE TYRANNY

Ship: The Bes'hurok (Iron Rock) Armed Adviso

Armor: Protector-type Beskar'gam

Primary Weapon: A-180 Modular Blaster

Secondary Weapons: Briletto PPK, Stun Baton,

Blade: Tal'Alor Beskad
Sidekick: Ta-2P0 (Tappo)

Interacting With : Siv Dragr , Veyla Krinn , Helix , Varin Mortifer , Astra Sadow

---

​

THE DIVIDE
​

Objective I, THE WAR COUNCIL
Location: ABOARD THE TYRANNY

Ship: The Bes'hurok (Iron Rock) Armed Adviso

Armor: Protector-type Beskar'gam

Primary Weapon: A-180 Modular Blaster

Secondary Weapons: Briletto PPK, Stun Baton,

Blade: Tal'Alor Beskad
Sidekick: Ta-2P0 (Tappo)

Interacting With : Siv Dragr , Veyla Krinn , Helix , Varin Mortifer

---

​

Siv joined them and after a brief introduction expanded on what Veyla had already asked. He would be interested in not only what was said in response buy how it was said. The berobed Sith knight was the first to respond. His words were unexpectedly sympathetic to the Mandalorians plight, if sympathetic could ever be used when referring to a Sith Lord. Perhaps it was a warriors acknowledgment to the sprit of another warrior race. The Sentient Non-Organic, not wanting to use the more common insensitive term, added a rather well reasoned an articulate response. A true answer without the appearance of subterfuge. Perhaps there was a palatable deal to be made here.

A sixth joined them who did not appear to be Sith or Mandalorian and exposed how an agreement could be mutually beneficial for both parties.

He had come here to listen and already he had already heard enough to make him think. He clicked his comms to respond to Veyla "It is already more than I expected. Their replies are more reasonable than I would have guessed. Are you sure these are real Sith?"He had heard a lot but that did not mean he could not speak. Turning to Helix he said.

"I believe at the core of things you are correct. At the end of the day, we all will do what we perceive to be in our best interest. But there is more to that kernel of truth. If we believe we want something, believe we need something we will reach out and grab it." To set action to his words he reached out his hand as if to grab something and closed his hand. "But you can not grab something without making a fist." And indeed, he was with his fist outstretched in a faintly aggressive posture. "Yet what defines what we see as our best interest? Is it strictly for ourselves?" He shook his fist for emphasis. "Or does our self-interest also include the ones we love?" He relaxed his fist so it was less aggressive. "Does it include our family or our Clan?" He released the fist and partially opened his hand. "Or does our self-interest also include our people and our race?" He opened his hand fully converting an aggressive fist into an outstretched hand. He held it there for a moment before letting it drop. "That is the true measure of self-interest. At the moment there is open space between the boarders of The Sith Covenant and The Mandalorian Empire. There is The High Republic between The Order but there is Order involvement in the Thandon Star Cluster. What happens when the common enemy is no more? There needs to be more than simply joining our fists together. For a truly lasting accord we need to join our hands together. Are the Sith willing to do that? Can the Sith do that?"

He posed the same question to himself. Were the Mandalorians, was HE, willing to do that?

Well, so much for trying to be a Ya-ya Fly upon the wall.

He clicked his comms again "Let us see how this continues."

 

[Aether Verd]

Wearing:
Armor - Darksaber - Mask of Mandalore
.​

ABOARD THE TYRANNY

Mand'alor the Iron was not alone.

Upon entering the Tyranny's gathering hall, Aether was flanked on either side by two trusted advisors. On his right was a woman who practically represented the history of Mandalore from the break of the Darkness. She bore as many scars as their people had stories of the century since they returned to the Galactic stage. And many of those years, she spent fighting the very religion which hosted them aboard. Her presence her? Her restraint? They were tangible symbols of her trust in his rule.

And this same trust could be felt throughout the space. Mandalorians of every walk, clan, and creed were scattered about the gathering hall. And, compared to their hosts, their armors made them stick out like a sore thumb. Good. It did Aether's heart well to see his people in numbers, especially here and especially now. Their presence meant that they believed in him. That, despite the animosity of a century, they chose the Resol'nare over vendetta. Aether had no intention of squandering their trust. Not now. Not ever.

For a moment, he waited, and found Adelle's voice buzzing within his helm's internal comm. If they were anywhere else? If the circumstances were any different? He might have been rightly amused by her wit. However, the Mand'alor's gaze was fixated on his people. His eyes swept from helm to helm, marking the Clans which had made the voyage. He saw faces he knew quite well. He saw banners that were familiar and brought comfort. He...even saw his sister glaring at him in that iconic way only siblings could muster. All of this was a whetstone upon the Iron of his soul.

Then, when Mia gave her sobering response, Aether's helm tilted in her direction. "Our limbs and veins will remain whole this day." are the words which echoed across their private comm. Yet the meaning laced within each syllable consisted of one word: Breathe. For now, he wouldn't ask anything more than that.

Soon, the moment came when Aether's attention was drawn away from his faithful and placed upon the pair who had beckoned him across the stars. The Empress of the Core and the Empress of the Blackwall stood side-by-side. And for a moment, his gaze found that of his godmother's...and her voice chimed within his mind. These words were enough to illicit a less than professional response.

<<Surely you mean extra supplies for me, yes?>>

For surely, he was still the favorite.

Right?

In any case, there was no time to dwell on the affections and attentions of his godmother, for their duties demanded all from them. It wasn't long before the two Empresses stood before the gathering and Mercy made her declaration. The most glaring words within her piece was the mention of Mandalore's genocide. Instinctively, the Mand'alor's helm moved and its t-visor came to rest upon the titanic pair of Zambranos. There was no malice in his gaze, only the same understanding from when he last stood in their presence.

Mandalore had burned because of weakness. Fifty years ago, his people prided themselves on being the strongest warriors in the Galaxy. Yet under the Infernal, Arasuum crept into the soul of Mandalore. Chaos soon followed under the direction of the Australis. It was no wonder that the tenth Sith Empire could betray Mandalore so easily. It was no wonder that they could set fire to their homeworld and ravage its very heart.

But today was not fifty years ago. Now was the era of iron being driven through flesh and adversaries being hoisted upon the cross. The weakness of Mandalore died with the Infernal and her lapdog.

Now, only Iron remained.

Thus, Mand'alor the Iron stepped forward, intent on following the Empresses into the private room for their exchange. And as beskar thundered upon polished floors, he spoke to his people:

"My brothers. My sisters. Children of Mandalore. Remember. By fire, our weakness was burned away. By struggle, our resolve was set in stone. By war, our conviction was made iron. We have risen from the worst the Galaxy has thrown at our people. Now, our desires will rattle the cosmos and break every adversary. I go now to shape the future. I charge you - take the measure of men and women before you."

He paused then, allowing a wry smile to form upon his lips.

"And upon my return, not a single drop of Sith liquor should remain. This is the Way."

With a motion with his helm to his left-hand and right-hand women, Aether entered the room. He would leave it to his diplomatically-inclined comrade to begin the introductions.

Srina Talon | Mercy | Quinn Varanin | Arris Windrun | Lirka Ka | Mia Monroe | Lily Rhodes | Adelle Bastiel | Ivalyn Yvarro | Kurayami Bloodborn | Astra Sadow | Leontis Antalis | Zeptepi Zambrano | Gerwald Lechner | Nagual | Varin Mortifer | CT-312 | Darth Carnifex | Darth Prazutis | Siv Kryze | Amelia von Sorenn | Darth Reign | Veyla Krinn | Dral-Kar'ta Saandyr | Adonis Angelis IV | Nephthys Nardithi-Verd + Open

 

[CT-312]

//: OPEN //:
//: Attire //:
//: The Tyranny - in Orbit - Empress' Peace, Abregado-rae //:

//: OBJECTIVE I - THE WAR COUNCIL //:

The Tyranny hung in orbit over the Empress’ Peace from the wounded world of Abregado-rae. CT-312’s armored footsteps fell into an easy rhythm behind the Princess, following a pace behind. She kept her visor forward without needing to turn her head toward every movement around them. The Halcyon’s cameras continuously fed the surrounding environment into the HUD. BARCA caught sight and expanded on a familiar looking vessel among the ships occupying the hangar. There was a small commotion around one side of the craft just as they were exiting.

BARCA kept the image open only for a moment longer before collapsing back into the surrounding feeds. CT-312’s attention settled once again on Quinn. Her brow furrowed faintly behind the visor. Of course. There were still signs of what happened since Thyferra, regardless how carefully the Princess carried herself. The Scout noticed the subtle adjustments Quinn had made from her recovering wound… CT-312 hated seeing it.

Everything on Thyferra had gone south so quickly that there had been little opportunity to adjust once the situation began collapsing. The Echani Royal Guards she had trained and positioned around Quinn performed exactly as intended. They had held their ground and protected their Queen for as long as they could until there had been nothing left for them to give. There was no failure she could place upon them… That almost made it worse. The battle droids she sent had found Quinn, but by then the injury had already been done. CT-312’s brows furrowed deeper. She should've sent more. Something that could have bought even a few more seconds or changed one small part of what had happened.

CT-312 understood the uselessness of dwelling on decisions already made. She understood the risks and even preparing for battle, no one could perfectly predict what the outcome may be. But still, it did nothing to ease the irritation or the heavy knot that settled in her chest whenever she looked at Quinn’s injury. Her eyes behind the visor snapped back up as the Princess began talking about the gathering ahead.

—A lot of people at this…

She remained quiet. A faint breath escaped through her nose as CT-312 kept the grumble to herself. The Scout gave Eira no more attention that was necessary. Whatever understanding had existed between them before Thyferra was no longer something she had any interest in maintaining. The Apprentice had shown enough of herself there for CT-312 to draw her own conclusions. There was no need for an argument or an explanation, nor some attempt to repair what had changed. It was simply no longer her concern.

Quinn’s next words had CT-312 blink slowly behind the visor, trying to determine whether the Princess was entirely serious. Meet new people… Here. Of all places… Giving a slow nod, there was very little else she could reasonably do with that. The next set of instructions that followed was far more practical. Keeping eyes and ears open for anything important, her helmet dipped a bit more immediately. That, she could do.

The gathering opened around them as they entered. It was packed with figures representing the three powers: The Sith Order, Sith Covenant, and the Mandalorian Empire. BARCA was already pulling up identifiers, placing names and affiliation along the edge of her HUD. Faces were matched against existing records and new profiles were generated where records were incomplete. The Princess moved forward into the crowd of her peers, CT-312 said nothing to Eira before moving in the opposite direction.

CT-312 moved slowly through the crowd. Keeping Quinn at the corner of her peripherals as BARCA kept a tracking marker as well. Conversations were already being filtered and sorted. As she continued to walk around, CT-312 felt detached from this meeting. The Sith Order had taken time to become somewhat familiar and the Sith Covenant she was not particularly fond of. There were individuals she tolerated, and one she actually approved of, Lysander von Ascania . Then there was the Mandalorian Empire, CT-312 was indifferent. She had visited Mandalore and there were several she had recognized. Adelle Bastiel in particular, as she was there during Naboo and Corellia.

Her gaze momentarily moved to the lower corner of the HUD. A set of feeds remained open beneath the constant stream of profiles and overhead conversations. Status markers of Pred-x and War-X units, tracking and navigating on Abregado-rae. CT-312 was doing her own investigation in the Empress’ Peace. It was one of the more stable regions remaining, yet something about it had gained the Scout's attention. A simple pull. Whatever lingered beneath the Empress’ Peace was drawing at the edge of her thoughts with a silent equivalent of a beckoning hand. Come closer.

As CT-312 continued through the crowd, her peripherals caught a strange movement around Quinn. Her visor turned sharply towards the Princess who was next to Arris Windrun . CT-312 stopped halfway through another step as BARCA pinged sharply, magnifying a portion of the scene. Arris stood and by her was a blond-haired woman ( Lily Rhodes ) whose hand was moving towards the weapon at the cyborg's side. CT-312’s right hand dropped to the hand cannon holstered. Gloved fingers wrapped tightly around the grip while the rest of her body became unnaturally still. Her jaw clenched.

Through the connection she shared with Quinn, the emotional shift between concern and surprise, then was followed by the sensations of the Princess bracing herself for what to come. CT-312’s grip tightened further around the weapon, ready to draw and execute— Quinn looked toward her. For a brief moment, eyes behind the visor locked with Quinn’s and she was given a small casual gesture that would have meant nothing to anyone else watching, but her. CT-312 understood it immediately. The tension in her hand eased as her fingers loosened around the grip of the hand cannon.

It would have been extremely easy to resolve the problem permanently. Walk over without drawing attention and putting a blade somewhere vital before the woman had an opportunity to try again. Tch. A quiet click of her tongue sounded inside the helmet. Her expression flattened behind the visor. CT-312 let it pass. Quinn had signaled that she was fine. Her decisions mattered more than eliminating potential threats before they became actual ones. She spoke within the confines of her helmet, “BARCA. Keep an eye on the one the cyborg brought.” Lily’s profile expanded and was added to the HUD, a priority marker was placed. “If it happens again. She’ll be dealt with.”

Soon Mercy’s announcement carried across the chamber, calling those summoned to the actual meeting. The atmosphere shifted as the figures from the three nations separated from the larger gathering into another room. CT-312 kept an eye on the Princess. Who appeared to wave away the earlier encounter with a smile before settling closely to Arris as the two began moving toward the room. Only when she entered, did CT-312 continue moving through the crowd, placing herself by the entrance. On guard, waiting.

Several alerts sounded inside her helmet. The chimes and beeps were different. Lower and less urgent. BARCA expanded the notification from the war droids on the planet.

[ ANOMALY DETECTED ]

Multiple feeds opened as the Pred-X moved through the dim terrain, while the larger War-X units followed behind them. One of the feeds stuttered with a brief interference before BARCA stabilized the transmission. CT-312’s brow rose behind the visor. The feeling that had been pulling and lightly scratching at the edge of her mind returned almost immediately as she looked at what the war droids had found.

Spoiler: Nearby Tags

Quinn Varanin Eira Dyn Srina Talon Mercy Arris Windrun Lirka Ka Mia Monroe Lily Rhodes Adelle Bastiel Ivalyn Yvarro Kurayami Bloodborn Astra Sadow Leontis Antalis Zeptepi Zambrano Gerwald Lechner Nagual Varin Mortifer Darth Carnifex Darth Prazutis Siv Kryze Amelia von Sorenn Darth Reign Veyla Krinn Dral-Kar'ta Saandyr Adonis Angelis IV Nephthys Nardithi-Verd Aether Verd

---

//: Netherworld - Empress' Peace, Abregado-rae //:
//: OBJECTIVE III - INTO THE DEPTHS//:
​

A few packs of War-X and Pred-X battle droids had already been deployed across what remained of Abregado-rae's industrial zone in the Empress’ Peace. The droids moved methodically through the destruction, the heavier and larger War-X units forcing paths through unstable wreckage as the smaller Pred-X slipped between collapsed structures.

Wherever they encountered machinery that still possessed even a trace of power, a slicer droid would be released. Jumping off the quadrupedal droids like fleas, its tiny body disappeared into the shattered terminals or exposed access panels, burrowing into whatever systems remained functional. BARCA began pulling corrupted security footage, emergency logs, and even incomplete records.

As the units progressed in the area, a newly revealed tomb underneath was relayed. The Pred-Xs’ entered first, followed shortly after by the War-X’s droids. Their yellow optics burned brightly against the darkness as they descended. BARCA constructed a three-dimensional map from their overlapping sensor feeds. The farther they advanced, the stranger the reading became. Several sensors began returning inconsistent measures, while brief distortions appeared across visual feeds only to disappear whenever BARCA attempted to isolate them.

The lead Pred-X halted at the edge of one of the chambers. Weapons of the battle droid units remained lowered, but the targeting systems activated. BARCA redirected every available sensor toward what occupied the space ahead. Something stood within the chamber that did not belong. A disturbance hung within the darkness. Its surface shifted in ways the droid’s optics could record but their systems could not properly interpret. Sensor returns passed through it, vanishing entirely or came back carrying information that contradicted itself.

A portal into the Netherworld.

[ ANOMALY DETECTED ]

The droids came to a halt before the distortion. Yellow optics filled the area, fixed on the unstable portal as they awaited further instructions.

"Send one through."

 

[Nephthys Nardithi-Verd]

Aether Verd

Nepthys didn't wear beskar to the function. She looked like a back woods shaman. In fact she would never be known for her machinations, because she all too often changed her color schemes out. Sometimes in even her best mood, she expresses herself in midnight black. She's too pretty to hide behind a mask, and she's single with a can't touch this attitude.

She didn't hear her brother speak through his comm, in fact she forgot her's…again. She hopes if he makes any decisions based on his trusted intuition to call it a night early, he will at least give a hand signal.

The Alor spoke about liquor. 'Is there liquor? Where's the bar? Liquor always helps make friends.' She is down with that.
​

 

[Zeptepi Zambrano]

ENGAGING: Corvin Sarre
Standing Near: Darth Reign

In Vicinity: Lysander von Ascania | Cassilde Vortayn | Aria Talorien | Quinn Varanin | Arris Windrun | Lirka Ka | Mia Monroe | Lily Rhodes | Adelle Bastiel | Ivalyn Yvarro | Kurayami Bloodborn | Astra Sadow | Leontis Antalis | Gerwald Lechner | Nagual | Varin Mortifer | CT-312 | Darth Carnifex | Darth Prazutis | Aether Verd | Siv Kryze | Amelia von Sorenn | Darth Reign | Veyla Krinn | Dral-Kar'ta Saandyr | Mercy

Hopefully her Apprentice Corvin Sarre is finished slouching with his hands in his pockets as Uncle Darth Prazutis showed up in a manner most impressive. Zeptepi stopped walking through the sea of people, and wide-eyed with mouth agape she looked upon him with absolute stars in her eyes. 'He is so AWESOME! That is my UNCLE!' She cast a smile in his direction.

As for Dad, Darth Carnifex , he is always surrounded by a harem of women. She can't keep track of them. Being a woman herself…she is ok with his choices, but those are not the kind of women she admires. She is appreciative that her Mother doesn't present herself as arm candy. She would ignore those women entirely and only greet her Father, on every occasion.

She stood with the Sith at her side. She could not tell which members of the Mandalorians were officer level material. She thought she would not know what to speak to any of them about.


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