Faction The Hunt for the Dark Empress [Part I]

[Wyatt Morga]

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Hyperspace
Aboard the Uhl Valaviteco
870 ABY

Wyatt stood at the head of the holotable, his finger pressed tight against his chin. Displayed before him was the grainy outline of the Pomojema - grainy from its last sighting near the Daragon Trail, next to the slowly rotating bust of Ashin Cardé Varanin - slowly spinning. Nearest them both was a set of contacts, previous reports and the days since. The Jedi Master looked at all of this, and quietly devised a plan of attack in his head.​

​

His attention was broken as the others aboard the Uhl Valaviteco joined him. Legendary Jedi Masters each, from Romi Jade and Valery Noble , to Coren Starchaser and Julius Sedaire . The last to join them was Allyson Locke - his closest friend and confident. Each of them subscribed to a different order, some claimed no such allegiance - but they had all collectively decided to partake in this assault upon the Sith. To hunt down the greatest members of their order and bring the to justice.​

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As each settled in, said their greeting or stood stoic, Wyatt would begin to speak;​

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"As you all know, our ship is currently heading to the end of the Daragon Trail. The Pomojema, Ashin's ship and home, was last seen near there - and very likely, there are more witnesses we haven't been able to speak to. What information we have here was gathered by Allyson Locke -", he said with a motion to the Jedi Master.​

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"- the rest, is hearsay. From those nearest her ship, they have said it can be felt over long distances through the Force which will very likely work in our favor. The issue is getting within a few parsecs of the thing for that to work."​

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With a movement of his fingers, the holotable adjusted -​

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"For those who do not know - Ashin Cardé Varanin was the Sith Empress cirqa 835ABY. She is a legend to them, a Sith who claimed the height of their order and still lives to speak of it. She has comitted untold crimes, killed untold millions with her actions, and gives their Order hope no matter which side she sits on. More than likely, it is just her own at this point - there has been minimal reports of her being seen working alongside current players in galactic affairs."​

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"Known contacts include Spencer Varanin - Wife, Dissero another target of ours, and Kaalia Pavanos - a Sith who has turned their back on the Order some years ago. The problem with speaking to any of these are simple - they're either loyal to Ashin, scared to speak out against her, or simply wouldn't speak to us to begin with. Call it self explanatory, but the Sith Empress has alot of Sith friends - and Sith friends aren't friends of ours."​

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"The question we have to answer, is how do we find her, and how do we take her down."​

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

SVOLTEN
STYGIAN CALDERA
UNCLAIMED WORLD NEAR ASHLAN TERRITORY

Landed, the Pomojema loomed over Nighthunter Port like a castle five hundred metres tall. Sour tan ash-mist mingled with the clouds and concealed the academy ship's highest levels.

Rain stripped the grime out of the clouds and deposited mud in recent scars. A series of Drengir attacks had left their mark all up the Daragon Trail. Drengir attacked in any number of ways: roots prying at the blast doors, mind-controlled thralls' weapons and starships.

Scars overlapped with scars across the Pomojema. The sounds and sights of repair — local mechanics, local parts — enlivened the ship's forbidding exterior. Darksiders and battle droids guarded the hatches. Astromechs trundled around inside a force-field perimeter. The Pomojema's sensor scans ran twenty-four seven. And flamethrowers and dark side pyromancy had torched every scrap of plant life for eight hundred metres around.

No Drengir had come to Svolten. Yet. And everyone involved knew the weight of the word 'yet,' even if they couldn't grasp the implacable horror of a Drengir assault. The ship was clearly on the run — and offering enough cash and barter to outweigh the risks of lending aid. Ashin had even authorized trading some of the remaining escort fighters. They included hyperdrives, and in a brewing situation like this one, everyone felt the value of a getaway car.

That value, that dangerous trade, was the only thing that might get the Pomojema off the ground in time.

No doubt about it. The Drengir would arrive sooner or later.


Romi Jade Wyatt Morga Julius Sedaire Coren Starchaser Allyson Locke Valery Noble

 

[Julius Sedaire]

"She has a Mandalorian on her payroll too. Some mucky-muck type with a big name. My wife knew him, her Alor and Ashin's guy didn't get along..."

Julius stepped to the table, dressed in military-like coat over decidedly Alien-looking armor, but the flare waist and belt of the black garment looked almost Jedi-like. Somehow he appeared in a dress uniform, armor, and Jedi gear all in one and appeared comfortable. Still on the left shoulder, fitted to a black leather strap, rode a beskar pauldron with his wife's named carved in Mando'a, and he touched it briefly as if in memory and shook his head.

"We find her by looking for sudden economic prosperity or trade goods where they don't belong. She's on the run, right? She'll be fettering away goods and services to keep ahead of us. And look in the nooks and crannies. What I read seems to show those places as like home to her."

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Time to go to work. He knew that Celeste Rigel would be having a fit, but Coren couldn't sit around while his Jedi family was out there. Not family in the way his kids and Celeste were, but in something forged in fire and dyed in blood. As he was aboard the ship with those he had fought many a war with, he looked at the bust of Ashin Varanin. That was the target? That was… not a good thing. It wasn't hunting Rave, but may as well be.

As they were in lightspeed, Coren was able to get a sense of where they were moving. "If the ship is able to be found in the Force… I may be able to assist with that. Especially if its in lightspeed, I may not be a Merrill but…" He interjected, pretty much unprompted. As was his way. It was a bit early, if he was just patient enough to wait. He nodded to Wyatt.

"Like I said. Starships and the Force. And me. But d we know of anyone else tracking her? A Sith shouldn't be hard to find." But it wasn't like you could ask a Sith. They weren't the most honest.

 

[Romi Jade]

A lithe frame stood between two boulders -- Coren and Julius.

With a finger curled around puckered lips, she stood in her own silent contemplation. While musing over what the others were saying she found herself entranced with the digital bust of Ashin Varanin.

It hadn't hit her...not even a bit until...

Known contacts include Spencer Varanin - Wife...

"Varanin..." mostly under her breath.

Her memory started to shuffle back and forth, locating her time on Eshan; she'd just returned recently from touring the place.

"Master Romi," she greeted, inclining her head slightly. These events might be easier with a hand maiden... "Welcome to Eshan. ....Would you like some tea?"

"Wait, I know that name. Not from Ashin but from--The current Queen of Eshan. I-maybe a child? I don't know."

----

Wyatt Morga | Coren Starchaser | Julius Sedaire | Allyson Locke | Valery Noble | Ashin Cardé Varanin

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

Romi Jade

A HoloNet search would reveal that Noelle Varanin had taken the throne of Eshan fairly recently; that her mother Spencer Varanin had held the throne for many years before; and that Ashin had appeared in those circles more than once in a support and familial capacity.

Not as frequently as you'd expect, though. Given Ashin's known modus operandi — taking new names and lives and faces — an easy assumption would be that she'd played a somewhat more active, present role under a different identity.

As for that modus operandi, over the decades Ashin had revealed herself, or been unmasked, as Grand Admiral Shira Karrde of the Lords of the Fringe; Lady Ajira Cardei, Ashin's cousin and a Director General in the Naboo public service; and Captain Ashin Karrde, one of her own clones. It would become clear that, when the heat got high, Ashin tended to steal a new life and a new face, and live patiently like that for years until her enemies moved on.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Location: Uhl Valaviteco​

Valery: Appearance​

Outfit: Factory Link​

Lightsabers: Link!​

Tag: Wyatt Morga Romi Jade Coren Starchaser Julius Sedaire Ashin Cardé Varanin ​

​

It was back to action for Valery, which meant she had to leave her newborn daughter behind with Kahlil Noble , while she'd go out into the Galaxy again. It wasn't something she felt the most comfortable with, especially not considering the danger of the assignments the Jedi Covenant were handling, but she couldn't stay away forever.​

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So when the call came, Valery made her way over to their meeting location and stepped up to the holo table, where she greeted the others with a respectful bow of her head. During the briefing that followed, Valery remained fairly quiet and was once again reminded just how much history she had missed due to her stasis. ​

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It wasn't easy to make the connections the others were seeing, simply because she lacked all that background knowledge. But that wasn't going to stop her from helping in any way she could.​

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"Perhaps her indirect connections to the Queen of Eshan might offer us a route to her?" she asked after viewing the HoloNet reports that came up. "It seems our target has been present within those circles recently enough."​

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"Going from there, Master Sedaire's suggestion can help as well. If we find the first trace, regardless of how small it is, we might be able to unravel her path from there."​

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[Wyatt Morga]

Wyatt stroked at the hair on his chin as he listed in turn.​

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"She's on the run right? She'll be fettering away goods and services to keep ahead of us."​

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He looked at Julius Sedaire but shook his head;​

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"If she's on the run, its from someone else. If there is anything going for us, it's suprise - I doubt she knows we're coming. The Force tends not to speak to Sith in the way it does to us. As far as economic trends, I'm not sure I have the information network to even track something like that - let alone to know what to even look for. Allyson Locke -", he said with a motion to her, "- may be able to help in that regard."​

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Second, he looked towards Coren Starchaser , nodding at his mention of tracking her ship, but shook his head at the question;​

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"I'm not sure she's on anyones radar currently. The New Jedi Order and Silver Jedi are focused on Darth Solipsis - not Ashin. Unless she is running from the Dark Lord, or Empire remnants - but there's hardly a way to ask."​

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His attention, however, was moved to Romi Jade and the holonet search offered by the table. His eyes flicked over the information, before Valery Noble intoned on the information before he could.​

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"First, I'm unsure the relationship of Noelle Varanin and Ashin Cardé Varanin ; I couldn't ask a daughter to sell out her own mother. Unless she comes on our radar as a Sith - I think it best we leave her out of this at all possible.", he said as he wrapped his arms in front of his chest.​

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"Second, I'm not sure how easily we could even gain a meeting with the Queen of a planet. It's possible, given our connections, but I wouldn't risk unless we absolutely have no other options."​

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"For now - let us head to the Stygian Caldera. Sith of ever level have appeared there in the last few years, there's a good chance with its activity she may have returned for some time. Something about the region seems to draw the Sith back - a home away from home.', he mused.​

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" Julius Sedaire - do you know more about this Mandalorian? Other's she may have protecting her? All of us against her may be dangerous, but its doable - but if she has more than a few protectors, this could get hairy quick."​

 

[Romi Jade]

She nodded in a revelation towards Val.

Wyatt and the others may have been above certain strategies, but Romi wasn't -- albeit it'd be extremely difficult to navigate.

However coincidental...she didn't believe in those.

"Won't be hard to get an audience at all. It was the first place I hit on tour, If we ever return to this topic, and wish to pursue - I'm actually do back to visit the Queen soon. She and I have a budding relationship. I'd have to tread lightly, but any lead is a lead." She nodded.

"For now - let us head to the Stygian Caldera. Sith of ever level have appeared there in the last few years, there's a good chance with its activity she may have returned for some time. Something about the region seems to draw the Sith back - a home away from home.', he mused.

She nodded in agreement, "Fair. Should we split into teams?"

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Wyatt Morga | Valery Noble | Julius Sedaire | Coren Starchaser | Allyson Locke | Ashin Cardé Varanin

 

[Wyatt Morga]

"Should we split into teams?", the Blonde Bombshell asked.​

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On some level, Wyatt knew that the investigation would go faster - let them catch her faster, if they split up. On the other, if someone managed to find Ashin, or Ashin found them they'd be rudely outmatched if she brought backup. It was a trade of safety to efficiency, and likely something that would simply have to be made.​

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"I'll leave that to the decision of the greater council gathered. What does everyone else think? Where would we be best suited?"​

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Romi Jade // Valery Noble // Julius Sedaire // Coren Starchaser // Allyson Locke // Ashin Cardé Varanin​

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson chewed on her lip as she listened to the others discuss. Working in a team was still an awkward feeling. Others were dependent, needing the information she could offer while trusting her without a doubt. She hated that, the feeling of being depended on while needing to make sure her sources were correct. Not only for the Corellian's own safety but for the lives that she suddenly felt were in her hands.

The others talked, discussing the target, and when Wyatt's prodding finally caught Allyson's attention, she straightened up. Clearing her throat, the woman demanded the room's attention for a brief moment. "There's two of them. Children, from what I've gathered, Noel is the older of the pair." She nodded, "Quinn Varanin is a known associate of the former Sith Empire and has been monitored frequenting Eshan. The former Queen has suddenly taken it upon herself to have abandoned Eshan for some time now." The last bit of information worried her. While Ashin was someone formidable, if she had gathered her wife among other associates - were they walking into something they couldn't handle?

"As for the target's last known whereabouts, I will safely assume the dates corresponding with Spencer's sudden disappearance from Eshan maybe because Ashin showed up and convinced her to leave. Even so, her sightings have been sporadic, her being Ashin. I agree; I think she's running from something; I doubt it could be Solipis - personally, I feel the galaxy still fears beasts like Varanin and Zambrano." It was almost a relief as she spoke; Solipsis was still a pup compared to the other two Sith Lords; their history and deeds preceded them.

"In any case - splitting up sounds like a plan. I'm fine working alone."

Spoiler

//: Wyatt Morga //: Valery Noble //: Romi Jade //: Julius Sedaire //: Coren Starchaser //: Ashin Cardé Varanin //:

 

[Julius Sedaire]

People spoke, talked their talk, and then came tie to walk the walk as teams were suggested and Allyson offered to go alone. He snorted at that.

"Listen lass, no offense, but you goin alone is a death sentence. Any of us really is. At least, a team should be compromised of three. A pilot, a fighter, and someone good with intel and tech if possible. This is a military operation, not a holodrama. Dashin heroics lead to dead Jedi, as I'm sure ya know. But don't worry, most of us don't bite."

He flashed a toothy smile, aware of the warning against dashing heroics coming from someone like him was more than a little ironic given how he was prone to act. But usually he had the skill to back up the panache. Usually. At this moment he looked to Wyatt before speaking again.

"At least two teams. You, Coren, and Valery. Me and Allyson and Romi. It's the best team make-up I can see."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Location: Uhl Valaviteco​

Valery: Appearance​

Outfit: Factory Link​

Lightsabers: Link!​

Tag: Wyatt Morga Julius Sedaire Romi Jade Coren Starchaser Allyson Locke ​

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Looking over at Julius, Valery nodded her head in agreement.​

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"Regardless of our individual abilities, we should be prepared and ready for the worst — which means our target is unlikely to be alone. So we shouldn't be either." She looked at Allyson and understood where her proposal came from, having been used to operating alone as well. But this was a different story entirely.​

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"I agree with the team proposals as well," she said, looking between herself, Wyatt and Coren. She wasn't very tech-savvy and definitely not the best pilot out there, but she felt most comfortable as a fighter, and she had great skill at gathering intelligence.​

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"As for the Stygian Caldera, I advise great caution around Dromuund Kaas in particular. There has been a lot more traffic surrounding it recently, as I'm sure most of you know." All of the worlds there were dangerous, but the former Sith capital certainly stood out to her.​

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Finally, her orange eyes shifted back to Wyatt.​

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"Which planets do you suggest we start with? Any planet, in particular, that might make more sense for her to have passed in her travels?"​

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[Coren Starchaser]

The hunt for the Ashin Varanin.

This was going to be different. So many of the Jedi Masters that he had bled and fought with, they were here, and that could be all the help they needed. "I can focus and try to find the ship. If there is something dark in my hyperlanes, I should be able to keep at least what sector its in on my mind." The Master nodded with a smirk. "Better than any kind of sensors, until we can get a tracker on her." That would help him from needing to focus the whole time.

Echoing what Wyatt was saying, he nodded. "I'd not go after the family. Sith haven't gone after my kids to get me… Not that I know the first thing of Noelle, but a mother's sins shouldn't condemn the daughter."

They could head for the Caldera, see what they could find. Maybe keep the group together, though two or three teams would cover much more ground significantly faster. Looking up when Alyson was speaking, he paid attention to the woman. He always did. A fellow Corellian, and a crack operative when she needed to be. "Allyson, as much as I'd love to see you go off the leash. It may be better if we keep our ranks closed a bit now. Ashin's always been a thorne, but you know as well as anyone, she can take many at their best…" His eyes glanced over at Julius as he spoke.

"I'm ready, willing and able to work with whoever, and go wherever."

Wyatt Morga Valery Noble Julius Sedaire Romi Jade Allyson Locke

 

[Wyatt Morga]

Wyatt nodded in response to Julius Sedaire 's suggestion on teams. It even them out well enough, thought he noticed that past Allyson Locke - they were short a bit of utility. All of them were great fighters - arguably the best jedi duelists in the galaxy ignoring the Heavenshields.​

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"Seems we may need to look outside the Jedi ranks for some help. My own skills begin and end at being a Jedi - lightsaber, force powers, meditation. Some pilots, slicers, soldiers - they might be needed as we move forward.", he thought out loud to the others.​

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"In the meantime - the teams sound fine. Given that the Caldera is surrounded by a thick nebula, it's best we start on Korriban. Every hyperlane route connects there; and few get past it without someone noticing."​

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"In a few hours, we'll dock planetside and begin looking for signs if her traveling through. She's hard to miss - but there's a good chance we might not find anyone willing to speak to us. Between the Crusade and the Jedi firebombing the academy - Jedi aren't well liked anywhere in the Caldera. Credits might be the only thing that gets lips moving."​

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"Any other questions in the meantime?"​

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Romi Jade // Coren Starchaser // Julius Sedaire // Allyson Locke // Valery Noble // Ashin Cardé Varanin​

 

[Cord###]

SVOLTEN
Stygian Caldera
Nighthunter Port

While the cadre of Jedi Masters plotted Cord's ship, the First Kiss, landed at Nighthunter Port without issue. The vessel technically didn't have a transponder code, but this didn't seem to be an issue here. Cord didn't even have to grease any palms to dock, they just let him in. A sign of what to expect he supposed.

"If you're trying to get rid of me it's not going to work. You should listen to that nice Whiphid Shaman from Tatooine." The click-like voice rang through the First Kiss as Cord tried to leave.

"I'm not trying to get rid of you." Cord replied to the ghost. "I'm just going shopping." Cord replied as he left his ship. Cord was here in an attempt to 'up his game' so to speak. He'd been made as a Sith Alchemist at his last sale. The customer said he had a little talent, and let him in on the secret of the black market of Nighthunter Port.

It wasn't long before Cord found the bar he was looking for. He waIted in line as the bouncer at the door tried to look intimidating, check 'dress codes', and collect cover fees. When Cord got to the front of the line he flashed a token. The bouncer looked him up and down a moment.

"This way sir. You want the second door on the left."

Cord tipped his hat and went inside, going to the prescribed door. He put his token in a scanner adjacent to the door, prompting it open. He then followed a set of stairs underground until he found a bazaar of alchemical goods and ingredients that made Cord feel small time.

"Rhyolite and a 'cron" Cord said softly to himself, and began making rounds

Ashin Cardé Varanin Wyatt Morga Julius Sedaire Allyson Locke Romi Jade Coren Starchaser Valery Noble

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

SVOLTEN
Stygian Caldera
Nighthunter Port

Cord### might feel small-time in this particular dark side black market. To Ashin this place was small-time. It also happened to be her best shot of bolstering the Pomojema's depleted alchemical stocks.

Well, no. What this shopping trip actually represented was something useful to do while she waited on the repairs.

A young man shuffled by, a gunslinger of sorts, mumbling about rhyolite and holocrons.

"You don't want any holocron you'd find here," Ashin said. "Slim pickings. I did see a pile of worthwhile scrolls decomposing over here, though."

 

[Cord###]

SVOLTEN
Stygian Caldera
Nighthunter Port

Cord was a bit surprised that he spoke loud enough for another to hear. The woman's words however, reinforced Cord's quick glances. There was significant materials alchemy work, even more complex work like amulets, but little in the way of information. Cord took a look at the referenced decomposing scrolls. Perhaps they'd be useful, but in Cord's experience scrolls were preferred for Sith Magic over alchemy.

"Appreciate the advice stranger. Seems this may not be the market I need." Cord responded. He turned to face the stranger Ashin Cardé Varanin and noticed . . something. Cord couldn't quite describe it, but he had a feeling he'd remember this moment for quite some time.

"Pardon my forwardness, but you sound like you may have what I need, or know how to get it rather." Cord took a chance. "I'm looking for a cron, scroll, book or the like that covers advanced alchemy." He motioned somewhat around the bazaar. "A lot of this stuff is good quality. But very little of it is exotic. I need to figure out exotic "

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

"Pardon my forwardness, but you sound like you may have what I need, or know how to get it rather." Cord took a chance. "I'm looking for a cron, scroll, book or the like that covers advanced alchemy." He motioned somewhat around the bazaar. "A lot of this stuff is good quality. But very little of it is exotic. I need to figure out exotic "

SVOLTEN
Stygian Caldera
Nighthunter Port

Two Scar Worlds refugees, a Codru-Ji and a Hatch, lumbered past with bundles piled high in their combined eight arms. Watching them shop, Ashin felt a twinge of guilt for bringing trouble here. But she'd had no reasonable alternative that maximized her crew and students' chances of moving on ahead of the inevitable Drengir attack.

"The large ship outside town is the Pomojema, a dark side academy, serious students only. Do you have a portfolio — what have you made?"

 

[Cord###]

SVOLTEN
Stygian Caldera
Nighthunter Port

A portfolio. Cord had never been asked such a question before, but he actually did have a collection of his wares assembled for trade.

"My specialty is potions, tonics and the like." Cord shuffled his coat, revealing a satchel bag containing some of the prescribed materials. He pulled out a few sampler bottlers and handed them to Ashin Cardé Varanin as she expressed interest, allowing her to inspect as she pleased.

"Sith Truth Serum, classical sith poison, a tonic that allows one to forgo sleep for meditation, this . . . actually just makes caf." He explained, then pulled out a small bottle with a red liquid bubbling inside.

"This one is a refinement of an old forgotten potion." Cord said, then popped it's top and poured a little on the fingers of his offhand. He rubbed them together a moment before they ignited in flames.

"The classic version is ingested and affects the entire body, but this only ignites the area it's applied to. Still provides the body general resistance to fire though." He would bring his hands together after handing over the potion, or stowing it in his pack, then pull them apart and show his other hand wasn't ignited or damaged. He then used his own alchemy to quell the flames on his hand prematurely. Ashin would likely feel it.

"There are other things I can make of course, but this is what I figured would trade well."