Faction The Killing Moon [SO War Council]

[Darth Caedes]

W A R
N E V E R
C H A N G E S

The chamber stank of petty ambition. Caedes stood among them, quiet and still, angular features cut in stark shadow by the glow of the war table. Scales shimmered faintly along his cheekbones and across his forehead, catching the light in a serpentine glint, while his eyes tracked each speaker in turn, unblinking. He listened as one after another bared their teeth in displays of self promotion and typical Sith politicking. Opportunist's greed dressed up as advertisements and real, substantive battle stratagem. It was an old routine, and a tiresome one.

"The people of the Core are desperate for saviors from the tyranny of their oppressors," Darth Strosius proclaimed.​

"Failed by the Alliance and spited by Solipsis. And that is where we shall make our mark."​

Strosius gestured in a fit of passion.

"We can turn the Core against Solipsis," he continued.​

"Ignite a fire which will burn down all that he has built by attacking the Alliance and in doing so weaken the Alliance itself in kind. And all without having to expend our Legions to carve a path first."​

Caedes took no part in their posturing, merely observed, collecting any fragments of wisdom for his own ruminations. Whatever private pride he might have felt at hearing his name put forward for the Council did not manifest as eagerness or celebration, nor did he crave for the theater of aggrandizing himself before peers. Competence, of the kind he was most familiar, required no herald.

When Taeli Raaf spoke, he inclined his head almost imperceptibly, recognizing a kindred focus.

"Our border with the Alliance will likely be their point of egress," she muttered, contemplative.​

He frowned, eyeing the map before him and sending quizzical glances to those gathered in the war table's glow.

"While we can agree that Strosius' place is, decidedly, not on the Emperor's own Dark Council—there is yet wisdom to be found in his words. And let us not forget that, disagreements notwithstanding, he is to be at least credited as a consistent warrior, reliably present on the frontlines of our Order's myriad conquests and appropriately feared by our enemies."​

At last, Caedes deigned to lean forward, palms flat upon the curving edge of the war table. His robes whispered as he moved and gestured, simple black Korribani cloth trimmed in threads of gold, embroidered with the iconography of Horuset, the ancient red sun of his world. His voice, when it came, was low and deliberate, like dry leaves in the crush of a clenched fist.

"To your point. The Core is already brittle and bent; near to the point of breaking," he agreed, nodding to Strosius.​

"They are already destabilized and primed for catastrophe. The people of the Alliance are newly oppressed," he mused, "rotting from the core and displaced by an increasingly violent Solipsis. They are fractured and desperate, with enemies abound, jumping at shadows. I need not remind this body that desperation breeds a fragile and gullible kind of volatility."​

Cruel pinpricks of light seemed to glimmer in the eyes of Korriban's King. He studied Darth Nefaron and Elane II of Kuat and nodded.

"I agree that their punishments should be steep, and also that there are more creative, more economically responsible alternatives than mere slavery."​

He gestured to the Dark Councilor.

"Similarly, I agree with the Lady Arcanix, insofar as utilizing a multi pronged approach. I would, however, remind this council that our own Holy Worlds crouch, concealed at our enemy's flanks, poised and readied for further victories, emboldened by the slaughter of our Confederate neighbors. We are a spear aimed to bleed and puncture our bloated enemies from behind and out of sight."​

A point on the map flared red beneath his touch.

"Obroa-skai," he announced.​

"A vital world and medical hub already on the brink of overflow as hospitals fill with the wounded warriors of their repeated losses. Vulnerable populations, especially those within their straining military complex, rely on the medicines and services provided by such facilities as the Aurora Medical Institutions. Furthermore, the Celebratus Archives represent one of the largest repositories of Alliance information yet held within their weakening clutches. The Jedi keep an Academy there. This world is disproportionately responsible for keeping their feeble Alliance breathing."​

The hologram shifted. Hyperlanes stretched out like veins, connecting the Core to the Holy Worlds. Caedes' clawed finger carved through the projected light, tracing these lanes through uncontested space into the Core.

"Let us strike from the shadows, wearing the faces and iconography of their nearest enemies. Let us whisper and place blame on internal divisions. Drive them apart from within. The Confederates, the Alliance, the Underlords, Solipsis' fledgling Empire. Let us wear their colors and conceal in the armor of their failed and fallen. The Lady Quinn Varanin espouses her relation to the Black Suns and their widespread hives of villainy? Let them then act in tandem with the Sith, incentivize their instinct to prey upon a collapsing Core. Let it slowly boil, let tensions mount, political rivalries stigmatize into hatred and violent prejudice, let them point their fingers and cry out in vain as the carrion close in around them."​

His gaze raked across the gathered Sith, unflinching.

"Every hospital that burns will become another violent riot in the capital streets of their precious worlds. The Alliance will blame the Empire, the Empire the Alliance. They will turn inward, lost in the clamor of defending against enemies at every front. And when they collapse, each of their blades dulled by disinformation and carefully orchestrated misguidance, the Sith will finally emerge, unified and inevitable. All at once."​

He straightened, the red spear of his projection driving through Obroa-skai and deep into the Core.

"We display defense," he gestured on the one hand, glancing again at Madrona A’Mia and Darth Arcanix.​

"We let them see us digging in. Bolstering the Blackwall. Preparing our Legions along relevant borders. Meanwhile," he gestured with the other hand, now glancing at Strosius, "we sharpen our flaying daggers, unseen, and position ourselves at their backs. When the Core tears itself apart, then we cut their hearts clean out in one motion."​

Elmindra Xitaar Helix Gerwald Lechner
Darth Carnifex Revna Marr Lirka Ka
Darth Nefaron Lina Ovmar Srina Talon​

 

[Darth Strosius]

​

Tags: Darth Empyrean / Lirka Ka / Darth Athora / Quinn Varanin / Lina Ovmar / Darth Carnifex / Helix / Elane II of Kuat / Madrona A’Mia / Srina Talon / Gerwald Lechner / Taeli Raaf / Jhyrack / Darth Nefaron / Darth Caedes
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The masked man stilled in His fiery rhetoric as the voice of the Twice-Failed Emperor rose above His own, His visor turning to cast a vicious hidden glare back at the Kainate's namesake. "Carnifex." The name was hissed like a curse, an insult. "Solipsis is little different from you and the rest of your vile ilk, no challenge for a true Sith such as myself, however he issued a Kaggath against our 'emperor', which I am not." Darth Strosius paused, His "wings" growing to wicked points as He turned to face the Lord of the Kainate properly. "Unless you have finally realized the folly of your actions and have decided to take your proper place? Kneeling at my feet and awaiting your death."

If only it were so simple, slaying Carnifex and finally ridding the Sith of one of their greatest foes would be quite the spectacle indeed. And with the crowd already gathered to witness it no less. Unfortunately there was another headache which stole His attention as she replied in kind. "And you can't even properly dictate and orate, let alone think you can hold any authority over me, you would do well to keep in Raaf's shadow. Where you belong." He sneered and scoffed at Quinn's apparent alliance with the Black Sun, pure disgust riddling His words even as she turned her back on Him. "There is no common cause to be made with criminal scum, although you and they do share many qualities. The Black Sun should be eradicated just the same as Solipsis and his rabble, not allied with."

Darth Strosius was actually paused by her challenge to the corpse, cocking His head to the side and peering at her with clear confusion. He was quite flummoxed. What could she possibly hope to gain by making such a bold declaration? Were it anyone else He might have respected it. Might. But Quinn as Empress? The thought was laughable. Inconceivable. Had they not suffered beneath the withering rule of the corpse for long enough? Must they be subjected to the whims of a bureaucrat thinking herself a Sith as well?

At least the SIBC representative spoke some sense, rather too practical and clinical for His liking but sense nonetheless. As expected Lady Madrona spoke favorably of her King Darth Caedes, albeit with a more interesting notion on strengthening the Blackwall for the conflicts to come. Not at all an unwelcome suggestion given the circumstances. Lady Srina would speak out next and as per usual she cut a swathe into what was becoming a rather nasty and disjointed argument. Although she didn't say anything that inspired confidence within the masked man at least, aside from the mention of some newly acquired forces which would aid them in the coming struggle. Perhaps she wished to have her own troops lead the coming assault?

He'd never known the "Empress" to lead in battle but there was a first time for everything He supposed. The Second Legion's Imperator confirmed his dedication for the battle to come, not a surprise but not unwarranted. The same couldn't be said for the timely arrival of another Dark Council member, the Lady of Secrets. A curse was hissed beneath His breath at her appearance, low and silent enough that it was either indecipherable or completely unnoticeable by most. Although He did find a sort of dark amusement at how she berated Lirka Ka for her insolence, a shame to lump in Helix with it as well though.

When her gaze turned upon Himself He didn't back down, just as He had done with Carnifex before He returned a harsh stare tenfold and seemed to brace Himself for a physical altercation. Unfortunately all that came were words. "It is quite well that your 'support' would be an insult to any real Sith then, not that it was needed at all in the first place." He snapped back before gesturing towards Quinn with an open hand. "And you'd be wise to temper your little apprentice, Raaf, before she gets hurt." His armored fingers snapped closed with a sharp noise and an even sharper undertone to His words.

At least the Malsheem would be put to use aiding the Sith for once, hopefully taking the full scorn of their foes and sparing the rest of them the trouble. Maybe if they were lucky enough it would be destroyed outright. Then the Third Imperator threw her voice into the mixture as well, on the heels of her Kainite master as ever, with quite a bit of drivel and rambling. Darth Strosius simply leered at the Imperator as she seemed to delve into madness and theatrics as though either would prove her apparent "worth" and supposed Sith status.

When she finished He glanced around the gathering and gave an exasperated sigh. "Can we not muzzle her? Please?" Or better yet carve out her tongue entirely, a duty He would gladly volunteer for. Lady Ovmar did her best to speak sense in the aftermath, earning a slight nod when their gazes met, but He knew her words and sentiments were rather dismissible amidst a gathering such as this. Only to be followed up by another corpse's voice, and this one not even sat on the throne.

Darth Strosius sent a glare and a rather obvious roll of His eyes towards Nefaron at his jabs and blind support of the maddened Imperator, only to call for the enslavement of their foes as though that would solve anything. "I invite you to test the 'freshness' of my 'laid low' blood right here and now, coward." He inclined His head proudly. "If you dare to step out of your precious shadows and into the real action for once that is, against a true foe and not some frightened rabble."

Even the banker chided Nefaron for his suggestion, expectedly highlighting the wisdom in the words of Lady Srina. If only the latter was wise enough to see how fragile any stability and peace that she could call for was. Darth Strosius whipped His head around to gaze at Helix with sheer shock and disgust, visibly recoiling at the praise he offered for the slaver. "Vile machine." Perhaps He should have had the droid scrapped when he was in his service some time ago. Clearly He would be doing the poor thing a favor.

When the King of Korriban did rear his head at last his first words drew the ire and scornful gaze of the masked man in an instant, as well as a scoff at the attempt at placation that followed. Were it not for His daughters incomprehensible attachment to Darth Caedes, He'd have half a mind to drag the other Sith over the war table and show him how brittle he was. At least he did offer some semblance of a plan He supposed, one that wasn't riddled with incompetence as others had been.

 

[Darth Athora]

"Tsk. I've heard of blinded by power. Yet to hear of deafened by power. Until today." Zahori rose from her seat and slammed her gloved fists into the table before her. Sparks of lightning bounced from the impact. She looked around the room, especially at those vying for power in a time of war.

"The Empress is right," she said as she pulled back from the table. "Your Emperor has called us here to discuss our next move against the false Sith'ari. Use it to earn your place on the Council. You are no politicians. You are Sith. We do not simply talk our way into power. We seize it. Bleed for it. Just as I have bled for the Dead God. The Kulthis Armada is prepared to defend Sith worlds. We will work in tandem with the Malsheem and her fleet."

Darth Empyrean | Srina Talon | Darth Strosius | Quinn Varanin | Darth Nefaron | Lirka Ka | Lina Ovmar
Darth Caedes | Helix | Elane II of Kuat | Madrona A’Mia | Gerwald Lechner | Taeli Raaf | Jhyrack​

 

[Helix]

Tags:
Darth Nefaron Darth Strosius Darth Carnifex Darth Empyrean Quinn Varanin Srina Talon Taeli Raaf Darth Athora Elane II of Kuat Gerwald Lechner Madrona A’Mia Lirka Ka Jhyrack @anyone else I missed here​

Helix, sharp-eared as ever, turned slowly to face Strosius. He did his best approximation of an exasperated sigh, meeting the Sangnir's rancor with a mild, surprisingly civil disappointment.

"I am a pragmatic being. Discounting a good idea simply because you dislike the source is unwise. Nefaron has been the source of many good ideas as of late, and I can't say I dislike many of them. You can either accept their worth at face value, or you cannot, but kindly spare me your venom when I do so."

"Not every disagreement is a betrayal, dear Strosius. If you've a problem with how I do business, and with whom, then you know where to find me. I am always open for discussion. Let's talk about it over dinner tomorrow. My treat."

Helix's tone was polite, if mildly patronizing, as if explaining the obvious to a particularly dim-witted child. He knew better, of course. To Strosius, daring to acknowledge the virtues of one of his enemies was the height of betrayal. He'd be very, very surprised if that invitation was accepted, but nobody could say he hadn't tried to be civil, here in front of everyone.

"Otherwise, this is hardly the place to air your grievances." The colony adjusted his posture, turning to leave. "If you'll all excuse me, I must return to my duties. If war is coming, then I have much work to do." He strode out of the room with his usual eerily-graceful movements.

 

[Elmindra Xitaar]

The Sith gathered within the Mors Mon to discuss how they would go to war, so Korriban's Court of Lords ensured that the Holy Worlds would be well represented at the event. Admiral Elmindra Xitaar stood beside her King, Darth Caedes , before the grand war table, the blue glow of the technological displays implanted within played against the sage green of her skin. In the corners, portals spun and yawned open—gateways that admitted many of the most powerful and influential among the Sith Order to discuss how to empower leadership within the regime and how they might collaborate to deploy forces in the coming conflict.

Elmindra took measure of each voice as it rose: Lirka Ka counseled a duel of emperors in obedience to tradition; Princess Quinn Varanin boldly urged expansion of the Council and the nomination of new blood; Darth Strosius recklessly thundered his bid and promise of opportunistic liberation for the Core's desperate peoples; Darth Carnifex dismissed Strosious' claim as unproven; Helix slithered in with a creed of utter annihilation; Elane II of Kuat parsed cost and consequence with a banker's disdain; Madrona A’Mia spoke for Korriban's gains and the merit of its King; Empress Srina Talon demanded that merit be proven in the field rather than in boastful lobby; and Gerwald Lechner , Taeli Raaf , and others apportioned legions and strategy until the web of proposals lay exposed. Elmindra stood with Naamino Zuukamano at her side, letting each argument wash over her, measuring ambition and liability in each tone. When an opening presented itseld, she stepped forward and delivered her counsel plainly.

"As many of you well know, Darth Caedes and I have long represented the importance of a united Sith Order, and we have proven the concept with what we have built and continue to build in our very own Holy Worlds. The reclamation of the Holy Worlds from the Ashlan Crusaders, and the Order's collaborative effort to defend them from those who wish to take them from us are among our greatest successes in recent years. Such successes prove what we are capable of when we work together," she began, before she turned to address the Princess.

"It appears you echo this sentiment in your call for an end to our internal squabbles and a rise in innovation, Princess. However, it appears your ambitions reach beyond Dark Councilor to the Emperor's throne itself."

She opened herself to address the room at large as she went on to make her point. "Lirka Ka is well-deserving of respect for performing her position as Third Imperator admirably but, as Elane pointed out--and many others seem to agree, she has yet to be claim the title of Sith, and she has yet to prove herself through extraordinary achievements and leadership."

"If the position of Dark Councilor is to be settled by merit, innovation, and extraordinary achievements through effective leadership and the efficient acquisition and use of resources, then Darth Caedes is clearly the most qualified for the position," she concluded, as if it was undeniable.

"In terms of our approach to the impending conflict, Obroa-skai is just one of the many vulnerable worlds at the edge of the Core that we could target in the way that Darth Caedes suggests. In essence, we aim to weaken our enemy's resolve by turning their most desperate populations against them through sabotage and misinformation." She let the words hang in the air and glanced at A'Mia, knowing she had more to add to the proposal based on what she'd been working on since the invasion of Brosi.​