Faction The Populares | Tsis'Kaar and SO Faction Thread

[Aspect of Victory]

After the mixed if passionate reaction to the speech, many filtered out of the Dorvallan mines, most out of protest for the words of a figure that was as much hated as he was beloved. Yet, most still remained in the cavernous heart of the world, after the speech the drinks still liberally flowed, the air was still filled with the flutter of music of different taste, design, and flow, the dance floor still was animated with the motions of those hand in hand, their feet moving in synchronous ichor, all under the sight of the grand chandelier, shimmering down upon them the light that bid them continue their march.

And of course, there remained the food, that laid out seemed to never empty, as the staff seemed to glide along the hall, refilling drinks and plates.

Yet, as it was, all good things eventually came to an end, and even as the celebrations went deep into the night, all the way to dawn. Eventually the halls cleared out of their guests, figures holding onto each other by their shoulders, or otherwise struggling to hold onto their mortal forms all which they had consumed, mixed with those of the dignified sort, those who wished their host their best, and were quick to huddle into whisperous groups, to discuss all which was changing in their Empire.

Leaving, at the end, the very same individiuals which the celebrations had been catered for.

The Tsis'Kaar.

From the highest of heights of the Lord of their Order, to the lowest of lows of agents which had been invited to the gathering, for all which the festivities had been in adoration of them, turned launch party for all the Tsis'Kaar would now undertake. As was the way of those represented by the Ouroboros, there was always more than what met the eye.

Such that the Lord of the Tsis'Kaar was all the willing to prove, as he stood upon the stage once more, gazing down upon his followers, his mask having long been removed in his bid for charismatic acumen, those who remained were given quite the strange sight indeed as the Scion of House Marr, sat himself upon the stage's edge, his long legs swaying in front of him, as he smiled at all those who remained.

"...So do any of you have any questions? For there is much more for us to do, my friends and comrades."

Kalzok Darth Callidus Darth Tormenta Zachariah Conway Adean Castor Helix Kivah Micah tol Powl Vulgarion Kadann Reicher Vax Akhuul Sautra Trayze Tesar Zanami Pacificus Ansisa Tlaeger Chasianna

Note: This is a Tsis'Kaar exclusive thread, if you have not been tagged, please message me if you want to join.

 

[Reicher Vax]

Dorvalla
Equipment: Standard Issue Sith Trooper Armor, Vibroblade, Standard Issue Blaster Rifle, Datapad, Cloak
Tag: Kalzok Darth Callidus Darth Tormenta Zachariah Conway Adean Castor Helix Kivah Micah tol Powl Vulgarion Kadann Akhuul Sautra Trayze Tesar Zanami Pacificus Ansisa Tlaeger Chasianna Darth Malum of House Marr

"Drawing the battle plans..."
​

Reicher leaned against one of the tall pillars near the stage, his crimson visor catching the faint light of the still-glimmering chandelier overhead. Viper, ever at his side, perched on a nearby stool, one leg crossed over the other, her blonde hair falling in loose waves over her shoulders. She swirled a half-empty glass of wine lazily in her hand, her sharp blue eyes darting across the remnants of the gathered crowd, always keen, always calculating.

The scene before them was striking. Those who remained—the true heart of the Tsis'Kaar—were a varied collection of faces: seasoned Sith Lords with expressions carved from stone, young agents eager to prove themselves, and operatives with the weary composure of those accustomed to shadowy work. All of them were staring at Darth Malum, who now sat at the stage's edge like a mentor at a fireside gathering. It was intimate, unexpected, and yet entirely fitting for the night's conclusion.

Reicher turned his head slightly toward Elara—Viper, as he'd come to call her. Her demeanor was relaxed, but he could sense the tension under the surface, the careful balance of a woman who was as dangerous as she was charming. She caught his glance and smirked, leaning closer so only he could hear.

"You going to ask something, Commander?" she teased, her voice a sultry whisper. "Or are you going to keep standing there, looking like a statue with a glowing face?"

Reicher exhaled softly, a sound somewhere between a sigh and a laugh. "Patience, Viper. Timing is everything."

He stepped forward, his boots echoing faintly on the stone floor as he moved into the light. The murmurs in the room quieted slightly, a subtle acknowledgment of his presence. He paused a few paces from the stage, his posture straight, every movement deliberate and composed.

"Lord Malum," Reicher began, his voice steady and resonant, carrying across the hall with ease. "Your vision for the Tsis'Kaar tonight has been... illuminating. Unity, precision, and purpose are rare commodities in an Empire so often divided by ambition. It is clear you intend to change that."

His visor tilted slightly, the faintest flicker of light catching the polished surface. "But with such ambition comes risk. While many in this room have pledged themselves to your cause, there are those outside these walls who will see this unity as a threat. How do you propose we counter the inevitable resistance—both from within the Empire and beyond its borders?"

Reicher's question was measured, framed as both an acknowledgment of Malum's leadership and a probing inquiry into his strategy. He wasn't challenging the Sith Lord, but rather seeking to understand the depth of his plans. Reicher was a soldier, a tactician, and a leader—he needed to know the battle ahead before committing his troops to it.

As the room shifted its focus back to the stage, Reicher felt a light tug on his arm. Elara had stepped beside him, her grin playful but her tone low and conspiratorial. "Always so serious, Commander. You're going to scare the rest of them with all that strategic talk."

He turned his head slightly toward her, his voice just as quiet but laced with dry humor. "And you're here to lighten the mood, I take it?"

"Someone has to," she quipped, her lips curling into a smirk. "Besides, you're the one who gave me the nickname Viper. I've got a reputation to uphold now."

Reicher shook his head faintly, but the faintest curve of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, hidden beneath his helmet. Elara always had a way of cutting through the tension, her irreverence a counterbalance to his unyielding discipline. It was maddening—and effective.

"Before Lord Malum answers, I would like to make an introduction," he began again, his voice firm but resonant, the tone of a commander used to being heard. "As many of you know, I have long been focused on stabilizing and expanding our foothold on Polis Massa. It has been a cornerstone for the Old Guard and a proving ground for what disciplined governance can achieve within the Empire."

He turned slightly, gesturing toward Elara with a subtle but unmistakable sense of pride. "This is Lieutenant Elara Thryne, or as some of you will soon come to know her, Viper. She has been instrumental in aiding the Old Guard, demonstrating not only tactical acumen but also a talent for diplomacy and management. Effective immediately, she will assist me in the governance of Polis Massa. Her skills will be vital as we transition the asteroid into an even greater stronghold for the Sith Empire."

Elara stepped forward, her blonde hair catching the low light. She inclined her head slightly to the room, her expression equal parts professional and playful. "It's an honor to work alongside all of you," she said, her voice warm but with a hint of her characteristic sharpness. "Polis Massa is on the brink of transformation, and I intend to make sure it reaches its full potential. Of course," she added, her lips curling into a teasing smile, "I'll do my best to keep Governor Vax in line. No small task, I assure you."

"She's ambitious," Reicher said, his voice carrying a hint of humor. "And ambitious people have a way of making things happen. But let me make one thing clear: on Polis Massa, ambition is paired with discipline. That is what makes us strong. That is what will make us thrive."

He turned his crimson visor toward the crowd, his tone returning to its steady, commanding cadence. "I expect that you will extend Lieutenant Thryne the same respect and cooperation you show me. Together, we will ensure that Polis Massa becomes a model for what the Sith Empire can achieve when we act with unity and purpose."

Elara leaned closer to him, her voice just loud enough for him to hear. "You're making me sound far too respectable," she whispered, her tone dripping with playful mischief.

"Then it's working," he replied under his breath, his voice tinged with dry humor.

As they both stepped back, the room murmuring with approval and intrigue, Reicher felt the faintest brush of Elara's hand against his armored forearm. She turned her gaze forward, projecting confidence and command, but he could see the glint of satisfaction in her eyes.

Whatever challenges lay ahead, Reicher knew he had found more than just an ally in Elara Thryne. Together, they would shape the future of Polis Massa—and perhaps, the Empire itself.

​

 

[Zanami]

Majesty - Ghost

Gear: In Sig
Tags: A lot of Peeps

Zanami leaned against a wall far back from everyone else, she didn't understand the nature of politics or the exact reason why she was summoned outside of the hushes and whispers about change was on the horizon. She found a sanctuary, the closest idea to a home and family, among the Tsis'Kaar. Even the duo of the other personalities that took residence in her mind remained dormant and silent, as if they approved.

Her eyes observed, always observing, the surroundings in which she always found herself. She had too, the blackouts and those nightmarish visions from another's life grew more frequent, the time lengthening. People, some she knew and some foreign, knew her name, always offering up congratulations to successful outings, or simple praises of conducting her loyalty to the Order.

But for now, all was quiet; she was in control. Detaching herself from the wall, she lingered through the people stopping only to stare at the bountiful layout of the food. There was a time, she could only imagine, that such nourishment was pleasing and satisfying to her, the magnificent tastes of food and drinks soothing to her pallet; only now replaced by other sources.

Discarding the food, she grabbed a glass filled with a swirling purple fluid. One sniff to take in and enjoy the aroma, for it would be tasteless upon inception into her mouth. One more look around the food, scowling as she did, and promptly left it to those better suited to enjoy it.

For now, she wandered aimlessly whilst occasionally taking a pull from the glass; hoping she would remain unnoticed, a non-existent object nobody wanted to converse with.

 

[Helix]

Objective: Survive the social gathering.
Equipment: Helix's Flamestaff, Horror Matrix, Mechu-Deru Defenses, E-4H Blaster Carbine (Pistol Configuration)
Tags: I ain't typing all that lol, too many of you.​

Helix was perhaps somewhat out of place. The war machine always was in social gatherings, really, but especially here. He analyzed each face in turn, his cold intelligence clicking over the facts as he knew them. Not a one was entirely trustworthy, but that was just the nature of doing business with the Sith. Particularly the Tsis'kaar.

It was surprising to him that Malum had managed to garner such support so quickly. He supposed he had been too busy with the logistical side of the preparations to notice. What was coming was inevitable, but he had done his calculations, and all possible outcomes were favorable. At least, they were for him.

He did of course have his ulterior motives for throwing the full weight of his organization behind Marr's little bid for power. His factories were cranking droids, weapons, and ships off the lines every day, many of them brand-new designs. He wasn't even charging for it, at least not much. The outcome would be its own reward.

If Marr succeeded, then Helix was suddenly in a very favorable position with the new Emperor. His existence was an assured fact, at least until the next regime change. He had lived long enough to see plenty of would-be galactic rulers come and go, and knew well that no king ruled forever. At least, no king of flesh and blood.

If Marr failed (an eventuality he would spare no expense to prevent) then the Order would have just come off a violent shakeup in its power structure. Others would take advantage. The big players on the board were ever alert for any signs of weakness. The more fractious the big players were, the better for Helix. Instability meant war, and war meant roving stellar raiders like himself went unnoticed in the greater picture.

Still, it wasn't only cold Machiavellianism that motivated the ancient intelligence that called itself "Helix". He was, at his core, created by Separatists, many centuries ago for a war that no longer mattered. Some fragment of those sympathies still lingered, even though he had long ago grown past his primary programming. He was ever partial to the underdog, the revolutionary, the grassroots leader. Malum was perhaps not the fanatical idealist that Strosius was, but he desired to disrupt the status quo all the same. Helix could admire that level of ambition.

It also pleased him, in a way, to be fighting for something besides credits again. It had been a very long time since he believed in a cause. If Malum was indeed truthful about the reforms he claimed to champion, then this was indeed something worth spending his time on.

That was enough, for the time being. It was why he was here at all. They shared a common goal, and the wheels were now too far in motion to stop. It only remained to see where the chips fell, and who lived and who died. Of course, the beauty of the whole situation was that he stood to lose nothing, save credits and droids. All quite replaceable.

 

[Mariah of House Marr]

Tags:
Helix Darth Malum of House Marr Zanami Reicher Vax
[Open]

Mariah had been there for the speech, she was still there for Malum's continuation. Plans it was, she could work with plans. She didn't want to be in the

spotlight though, she had more to offer from the background. Droids and ships and materials, that sort of thing. Marr-tech was still getting off the ground essentially, only so many products had been produced. She'd become distracted by alternative ventures that were taking up her time and progression.

He leaned towards a personable route right now, relaxation from his prior speech, and the next duo to speak leaned towards a mixture of spectacle and leaning on a disciplined ambition. Well, that was the best route wasn't it? As long as nothing they did interfered with her own ventures, she didn't much mind. She was mildly worried that her preference for under-the-table activities would be inhibited by all this. But she could work around it. She'd already found ways to not rely on just her one body, she could find ways to have multiple asset directions, whether they existed in the empire or not.

However, by aiding Malum and her cousins, assuming they were a part of his direction, she'd help herself too. Besides, what was the matter with a bit more cooperation? It arguably made her far safer. That she was entirely for.

"I'll be open to the aid with Marr-tech that I can provide." she offered, but as of yet had little to say. She also noted the presence of Helix , Now that was a fascinating droid. She had to respect the productivity he had, and his technological directions he had taken were considerable. Enough that she'd adopted one of his direction in the amphibious route with her Thranta ships, or rather, had chosen to expand in the same direction. She'd already made amphibious tech before but not to the same degree.

Now, to see how this conversation may progress.

Spoiler: equipment/outfit

dress
ITEMS:
mariahs-necklace (worn)
WEAPONS:
Initiation (lightsaber)

 

[Elise of House Marr]

Tags: Zanami Darth Malum of House Marr Reicher Vax
[open]


Well. Elise thought, Had to involve myself somehow, sooner or later. Been a little too inactive lately. Just had to be politics though didn't it.

This time, it was also Malum pulling political shenaniganry. At least, that was mostly what she considered politics to generally be. There was, at the least, some value in the objective. A healthy empire was a good idea, it was one of the only upsides that sith empires often were at odds with on the opposing sides. Strict reins could do a lot, but they could also cause the people within to act out far more recklessly. That, and she just didn't find any enjoyment in the unpleasantness simultaneously chaotic yet dictatorial regimes brought about. Sith had a tendency to create those. Jedi had a tendency to support chaotic and un-tended regimes though, which were hardly any better.

He'd declared even more than that though, a whole party dedicated to this sort of thing. Rebuilding and structuring their empire and worlds. What that could do, she wasn't sure yet. But...it was a move certainly. He'd done a pretty good job of that somehow. She had to chuckle at the sight of him legs outstretched on the edge of the stage though, it was far too close to something she'd do.

Reicher Vax was the first to speak up, he had a valid point too. His assistant, Elara Thyrne, apparently, also involved in his personal directions. Her methods brought another amused smirk to Elise. Today was apparently a very non-standard day. Elise already had a glass in hand, and sat down on one of the chair to listen through the remaining talk. Dramatic duo. More theatrics, sometimes amusing, sometimes dreadfully tiresome. A lot of words to say 'we're working together on Polis Massa. Here, these are our personalities. respect us.' May even work for them.

The sith lady got up from her place to wander around a bit, then tilted her head at Zanami , deciding that another wanderer was who she was going to chat with. Elise made her way over, drink still in hand and took another sip before giving the sithspawn a nod, "Not yet joining in all of the speeches and grandiosity?" she asked with an amused smirk in the direction of the others. "They do seem to cheer themselves up with it don't they?"

Spoiler: Equipment/outfit

Silver earings and necklace, red shirt, black jacket and pants.

Personal equipment:
Draika iv misina (Lava lightsaber)
Red lightsaber with sturdy hilt

 

[Pacificus]

| MAULKILLER ROBES | UNARMED |
​

“Why are the terbeasts deigning to speak, Lord Malum” Pacificus mused, barely below a whisper. He wished one of the thralls would hear him, challenge his position. He was heated from his interactions with the Blue One from earlier – an ambitious fouling that needed to be put down before she pulled against the restraints of her station.

If the bonds of social order weren’t guided in their reform, it would spill into anarchy and the death of the Sith – the golden blood must be kept pure with a gentle, loving hand.

The lessers knew not what they needed, but playing as lords would bring them a sense of peace – making a she-hound feel important kept them docile and easy to command. It was why we trained them.

Sit, stay, forge. Thus is the purpose of mortals.

Reicher Vax, he knew as much about the gunjockey as he did anyone else in this room – save Malum. He was a member of the common soldiery, keeping the blaster-mobs in line was important – he sighed, a deep ennui settling in.

He wished this wasn’t a burden the Legionnaire bore, why have him suffer upon the field and firing lines. There was a place for him upon the homefront. There was a safe, warm house and a stable non-combat job. Something to love, something to cherish – provided for.

They weren’t cognizant enough to comprehend taking a life or living one, he would be their guide.

For he loved the Galaxy.

There were outlines of beings in Ashla here – gheists of Bogan cutting through the light, corrupting it and maligning what flickered in the room. He came to know what one was based off of their Shadow in the Light. Mortals, wisplings in the dark. Fading in and out, naught more than glow-flies. Reicher fell into this category.

Then, there were beings that held space in the physical but none in the surreal. The outline of a droid now, operating in the background of the gathering. Tri-eyes burning like torches in the palace.

Something else, broiling underneath its own skin – a Sithspawn, brimming with the machinations of hate.

He still carried the sick, the disgust of the Regime of Bogan. It hated him, as much as he loved it. Bogan was living, breathing, an experience that could be reached out and touched – it desired, above all things, compassion and love.

He humbled himself to it, singe his flesh and soul.

“Malum” He spoke, no title or formal address.

“Your plans of Empire, leave much to the imagination. How will the low be treated, the mortals among us? Your… reformational speak could be galaxies away from my own.”

He was a stranger, unknown to Malum and the room at large – not invited, simply appeared.

The Paladin of Ashla, the Sith of Light, a man only known as Pacificus.

​

 

[Darth Morta]

Tags: [Open]

Darth Morta had arrived fashionably late, not partaking in much of the main festivities and intentionally avoiding a formal introduction, this was because openly she was a Kainite, though in reality, her politics were not so closely aligned with them and she was merely indulging in realpolitik in as her holdings on Krayiss II were in the Stygian Caldera which until recently was solidly in the Kainite sway and was what she used as her casus belli to claim the planet. Now that the Caldera was opened up to the rest of the Sith, and the rest of the Order's terriory opened up to her, she no longer had to toe the line as strongly, or really at all now. Regardless of that fact, Morta still chose to be more subtle about her attendance.

Gathering a glass of a bright blue wine, she moved about the room, letting her natural and supernatural senses soak up information. Darth Morta like any good Sith was interested in growing her own power and advancement, nor did she play well with others, she was practical enough to deal with others and knew that a power base built on a rotten foundation was only worth as much as her ability to run around and put out fires, and would rather put up with others than burn it all down to be the queen of the ashes, that being said if the right opportunity came up she would never turn down being the ruler of it all.

She was an outsider here though, and had been out of the public eye for the recent past, so she sought not to ruffle any feathers with this re-emergence of hers, her new world had been torn up in her struggle for power and Krayiss II did not have much to offer other than the archives in the ancient library temple that wasn't available on a dozen other worlds closer to or within the Order's more developed systems.

 

[Darth Tormenta]

Tags: [Open]

Khamesi was never quite sure why Malum invited her to so many of thse social wastes of time. Time she could better spend doing actual work elsewhere, but if her ambitions were to be realizied...okay, fine, perhaps it was time for her to be more present in politics. Still, she clearly did not enjoy being there. She refused to touch any food or drink here. It should be safe, given this was a gathering of, to Malum, allies and potential allies, but she refused to partake of food and drink not prepared by her own hands when more than a third of a given group were Sith or Sith-adjacent. Instead her eyes scanned the crowd as her unfamiliar, cybernetic limb tapped against her leg.

The pain in her shoulder remained, intentionally, but for now she dulled it. Pain was useful for her, but grating pain in a social context was not. There was one issue with Malum's little speech, one issue that she could scarcely ignore, whether Malum knew it or not. A good portion, for a world as populated as Jutrand anyway, of the criminal underground of Jutrand were loyal to her and her Ash Dragons. It was a mere percent or two of all the criminals on the world, but when a world played host to hundreds of billions, maybe a trillion or two, that was still a large, valuable force. Information, weapons, and all sorts of other goods flowed through there.

Khamesi was responsible for some of it, her pirates sold their claims all over the outer rim, but many of their most valuable cargos ended up moving through Jutrand. Worse, trying to extinguish the criminal underground of a world like Jutrand would see a dozen innocents for every guilty party caught in the crossfire. A waste of resources, labor may be cheap, but you did not simply destroy sources of it trying to remove an unruly element. It was not Khamesi's style. She would have to send the recall signal when this was over. As much of her network on Jutrand would need to leave the planet and join her fleets, or go to ground till this little 'Crusade' was over and done with.

She moved through the crowds, she needed a better place to watch and study. This group was to diverse in to many ways to stay cohesive for long, especialy when it was Malum that wanted loyalty. Her loyalty was not easily one, and currently only one alive truly had it. She wasn't against everything he said, which was likely why she was here at all. Much of what he spoke of, even if much of it was tainted with lies, real or imagined, the goals weren't incorrect. The stated ones anyway. Her armor clanked as she settled into her new spot, canteen from her hip brought to her lips to have some water.

Malum was going to be a problem for her, but in the short term, they could work together. Probably. The bigger issue was that by now she was well know for uplifting slaves and serfs, freeing them from chains and teaching them to fight. She may not know every face here, but she was always at the edge of Sith politics. To valuable to simply oust, but to much of a wildcard and to much of an agitator, to much of a heterdox for much of the Sith core. Perhaps that was the true reason Malum still wanted her in the Tsis'kaar. She was a useful tool, a beacon of liberty won through strength of arms.

Suspicion filled her, but she kept her thoughts to herself. She had little doubt he saw her meerly as a useful tool, even if he was busy lining her pockets with purchases of her ships. No, she would need to prepare. For that she had to remain in the vipers nest. She kept her distance. Much as she desired to, in some manner of diplomatic fashion, demand what Malum planned to do to avoid damaging her assets on Jutrand, now was not the time. Nay, she needed to make sure that she could approach it...peacfully. For now.

 

[Zanami]

Majesty - Ghost

Gear: In Sig
Tags: Mariah of House Marr / Elise of House Marr

"Words are just words," the young Sithspawn said, trying to ignore how such placed words have been haunting her of late, prodding, poking, edging her closer to that final plunge where she would cease to exist as Zanami, rather something, or someone else. "I find it tedious that such speeches are necessary by those proprietors whom I believe they find such comforts in hearing their own voice." Zanami gave the other a brief smile, a gesture she had seen done by others so often, a gesture she also found unnecessary considering all the politicians and conspirators in attendance tonight.

"And I do not find much grandiosity as they do," she said also nodding in their direction, "Though it's not my place to question what makes them cheerful, but yes, they seem to be drunk with it." It did seem that the speech had set everyone into gleeful and gay tidings, the gloomy clouds that so often darkened the moods and spirits of those that attended these galas was absent. Zanami never fully understood the need for extravagant gatherings, though her view of the Sith Order was narrowed to one specific lane, whilst those such as these people lived in a broader spectrum of the Order.

"My name is Zanami," she said struggling to extend her hand out. She didn't like to be touched, nor did she fully embrace the proper etiquettes encircling socialization, "And my apologies for the lack of social manners. Rarely, if at all, does anyone seek to speak with a monster."

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT MISSION - The Tribute of the Plebs
Immediate Goals -
1: Attend the super secret surprise party
2: Don't encounter super secret surprises that may harm you at this party.

BLUFOR - Darth Malum of House Marr & close associates.

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Open Frequency

---

The best things in life are knowledge - even before Trayze had met his cousin who had balanced charisma and bookishness, he knew this all to well. Even now, he was shaking off the awe he felt soliciting the karking Empress for relationship advice - and now, each and every one of them would provide a lesson that the Kiffar would take to heart.

For starters, being invited here meant that he was still deemed "useful" - especially useful, if he was to be brought in with the supposed "inner circle" of the Tsis'Kaar. Though, with some of the newer faces present, a cynical part of him thought that Malum casting his net wide had scooped up the hopeful, though not necessarily aligned.

The first speaker, a fellow uniformed professional, broke the ice and introduced himself - a member of the Imperial Legion spoke of how to encounter resistance both external and internal. This question was pertinent in two ways - initially, it was relevant to the rank and file members of the military, who by allegiance or personal ideology may fall under the typical Eternalist and Kainite dichotomy that ruled the mainstream ideological discourse, but it was more pertinent since many of these newcomers were no doubt influenced, either overtly or covertly, by these selfsame ideals. At least he wasn't a Kainite, much like the next bug-eyed freak who spoke, snidely at first, before addressing the non-Force Users as "mortals". Such saccharine condescension would have earned him rapped knuckles back home, and were it not for the old laws of hospitality, Trayze would have given them a peace of his mind.

But gradually the social awkwardness would be broken, with most present holding their breaths, surveying the meeting present as a carcass to vulture off of rather than a place of discussion as Malum no doubt hoped. Even a shouting match between deep-seated rivalries would have been better than this, at least you would know where they stood on the matter.

One particular person that caught his eye was Darth Tormenta , the famed slave-liberating pirate had an unspoken admiration in the Kiffar Captain's heart. While he had utilized his position for the more slow, bureaucratic means of liberating slaves or sending them to more merciful masters, she took a more... direct approach, taking the fight directly and mustering a crew loyal to her. As he had disclosed to the Empress tonight, and to Malum many times before there... departure, he was a sucker for romanticism. Whether or not his cousin knew, Trayze knew that the "Ash Dragons" were connected to Khamesi for her own operations - her presence, besides mere ideological fanfare, could be to assuage her that the more notorious or damaging criminal syndicates would be eliminated. Those that occupied mere percentiles or decimals of percentiles were unlikely to be harmed.

Though, there was also the matter of her alleged dalliances with a certain Force-dead Mandalorian raised anomaly, one that the Butcher King had as a daughter. "Never meet your heroes" may also be a painful lesson to be learned tonight.

But now it came to him, who stepped forward to assuage Zanami on her gracefully blunt introduction. A smile, a nod, he would address the crowd. "What the Legionary Commander spoke of is correct, and I wish to add to that." He began. "Perhaps we should solidify what our goals actually are - and our aims beyond this "crusade" against crime on Jutrand. This is especially pertinent to me as," He would turn to the crowd, snap to attention, and bow, making sure to be in sight of the Cathar Pirate Queen "Trayze Tesar, Lieutenant Inspector of the High Commissionerate of Jutrand; Fleet Captain Under Marque, Governor of Besberra..." he neglected to mention his lineage to Malum, deciding that if the listeners didn't respect him for his accomplishments, they certainly wouldn't respect his blood ties. "...And the man most likely to have to make sure His Highness' ideals are made concrete." he added with a bit of dry, self-deprecating humor - though decided to appelate his cousin with the deference befitting of King of Alvaria.

 

[Darth Callidus]

Tags: Open

Darth Callidus stood at the periphery of the room, shrouded in the folds of her dark robes, her hood drawn low enough to cast her face in shadow. The flickering light from the chandelier above caught the faint glow of her amber eyes, glinting like molten gold as they swept across the gathering. She remained silent, unmoving, her presence understated but undeniable, a quiet storm in the corner of the room.

The words of the Scion of House Marr reached her ears, his voice weaving through the thinning crowd. She tilted her head slightly, a subtle motion that betrayed her attention to his words, though her expression remained unreadable beneath the shadow of her hood. Around her, others murmured quietly, their voices blending with the faint music and the shuffling of feet. The air hung heavy with the mix of ambition, intrigue, and exhaustion, yet Callidus was unmoved by it all.

She made no effort to step forward, nor did she join the cluster of figures gathered closer to the stage. Instead, she remained where she was, her gaze fixed on the Scion, her thoughts her own. To her, this was merely another scene in a theater she had witnessed countless times before. Ambition, camaraderie, secrecy—it was a familiar tableau, one that intrigued her, though not enough to draw her into its orbit.

Her gloved hand brushed lightly against the hilt of one of her lightsabers, a habitual gesture of calm control, as she leaned faintly against a nearby column. The faintest trace of a smirk played at the corner of her lips, a fleeting expression that flickered and was gone. She was not here to challenge, nor to flatter. She had come out of curiosity, and curiosity alone kept her rooted in the room.

As the Scion spoke, as the remaining guests lingered or gathered their courage to speak, Callidus simply watched. Silent, calculating, and ever the enigma, she stayed at the edge of the gathering, a shadow observing the light. Whatever came next, she would see it unfold—and she would judge its worth from the shroud of silence.

 

[Elise of House Marr]

Tags: Zanami Darth Malum of House Marr Reicher Vax
[open]

Elise chuckled at the statement, "Pretty much." she mostly agreed. They always did talk so much, including about themselves. it could just get tiring. So dramatic all the time. She gave a shrug in response to judging them for what makes them cheerful, "Maybe. I don't feel too bad about it though, but hey, if it works I guess." she shrugged. It was technically what kept things functioning, as stupid to her as that seemed. Parties though she was perfectly happy with, it was the speeches that seemed ridiculous. If they wanted entertainment, the least they could do is put on a proper play or orchestra. Otherwise it was just a bit dull.

Elise smiled and nodded taking her hand once offered, but letting it go soon after shaking to avoid any excess strain on the apparent effort it had taken her, "Elise." she said, then gave her a raised brow on the issue of speaking with monsters, "Oh nooo, a monster, whatever shall I do?" she said in a light hearted tone, then chuckled shaking her head, "Not very sithlike of them is it if they're intimidated by just another species, I mean, no offense if you wanted to be special. But seriously, kinda feels a little childish to be intimidated that way doesn't it? Especially for anyone calling themselves a sith." she shrugged, "Besides, what even makes you a monster?"

Another amused smile, clearly joking, as she took a sip, "Unless you meant me?"

Spoiler: Equipment/outfit

Silver earings and necklace, red shirt, black jacket and pants.

Personal equipment:
Draika iv misina (Lava lightsaber)
Red lightsaber with sturdy hilt

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Not all of them were here, and of those that were, enough remained silent for him to feel the smallest sense of bitterness. Before he allowed that thought to depart, he knew his people, his Tsis'Kaar, could be charmed and invigorated as much as any other group of men and women, but as was the way of their creed, silence was most often the most natural state of things.

Silence revealed nothing, but allowed one's eyes to perceive everything.

In some ways, he was perhaps the oddest of the candidates to have risen to the title of the Lord of the Tsis'Kaar, after the fall of their Mistress... at the same time, considering the rest of his Mistresses' apprentices had either turned out dead or traitors, and Darth Strosius... unsubtle as a porcupine, perhaps he had been the only option.

The only option, rarely meant the best choice, but... as he felt her within his mind, as he thought of all that had come thus far, the plots and schemes, the battles and wars, the politics and intrigues, he could only hope, that he was on the right path.

That he could marry the ways of the Tsis'Kaar with the ways of himself.

In such a way, it was perhaps not unsurprising that it was not those of the original creed who spoke at his words, this way of operation, not entirely unknown to them, but of the agents surrounding, to engage in such open words, were done amongst those that they infiltrated, not amongst those whose their true loyalty was held to.

It was unsurprising then, that it was Reicher that first spoke, walking hand in hand with a very attractive young woman. It was good his normally so stoic new ally, perhaps friend, had found one that complimented him so, and who at night would ease the ailments of the day. That she was now brought into their grand enterprise, was seemingly a boon second only to Reicher's own presence.

The idle musings ceased as their joint words filled the air.

He turned his focus upon the newly declared Viper, "Welcome, Lieutenant Elara Thryne, to our cadre of snakes, you will not find yourselves alone amongst our brotherhood, our sisterhood," He turned his attention to them both, his voice carrying across to the entire carved out room, "You speak of ambition, and it is good that you do, force sensitive or not, all who are gathered in this room are fundamentally of one creed, the Sith, I do not deny what we are, in some bid for heresy. I know that each in this room harbours in their heart an ambition that would threaten to burn the Empire to cinders and ash," His gaze swept across the room, landing upon Lady Aivar, Darth Callidus, and Darth Morta in the back of the room, his smile if possible widening, as he offered a nod of his head, "I do not fault you for your ambitions, indeed, I encourage you to follow them, I believe I would be no better than those of Kaine's ilk, to aggrandise myself, and offer those subordinate the material scraps, but what I do insist upon is... a shared vision, there are many in this galaxy who see us as tyrants, villains, monsters, it is not so, my friends, what we have done these thousands of years has all been under one purpose, the safekeeping of our people, the defeat of the ultimate foe, and the victory of liberty over slavery." His gaze fell back towards those conversing on the floor below, gathering their attention to the sound of silky voice, mesmerising in tone, enchanting in measure, "It is as Lieutenant Reicher Vax states, ambition married to discipline, no matter how harshly your ambition burns, temper it with the ice of discipline, for despite all wish to self-aggrandise, remember that we are not alone, we are a singular people, of great diversity, but a unified dream, it is with this, that I have finally broken the silence of the Tsis'Kaar, with an absent Emperor, and tyrants running amok across our Empire, it is our duty, to be the first servants of the state, the first servants of our people, to use our strength and power, to seize what is owed to us as heirs of the Empire, yes, but too, to protect all that is worth protecting."

He had not finished with Reicher's words, his attention turning as quickly as it was to the striking words of the Ualaq, interestingly enough the figure in this room was not officially aligned with the Tsis'Kaar, it had been risk to bring him here, this meeting of the trusted, yet, as with all actions Malum seemed to do.

It was not right, without a hint of risk.

He tilted his head, narrowing his eyes at the figure who deigned to speak such hostile words within such mixed company, "Lord Pacificus, I will ask that you withdraw such words when addressing those of our party, whatever differences between us, we are Sith, and each of us have a voice and role," His gaze lingered dangerously, a fire in his eyes that threatened to overtake, before a breath allowed it to subside, "As for your question, I have laid out the foundation, but simply it is the duty of those with power to wield it in service to the state and its peoples, I do no desire for tyranny, I do not long for aggrandisement, as long as our people are protected, as long as we rule dutifully, honourably, justfully, it shall make for an Empire for the Sith, as our Empires always have been for, should have been for."

He allowed himself a breathe, considering the specifics of the plans which he had long toyed with, "Yet, platitude alone does not provide us these aims, among those gathered here alone we have a sizeable amount of the Assembly under our influence, I seek to enter legislation to strip away the cumbersome beauracracy that currently exists, that will rebuild worlds like Makem Te, Sluis Van, and Tion, that were left smouldering hulks by our leadership, that will spread the people caged like rats in Jutrand, to worlds that require them most, I seek to reorganise our economy that so overburdened by this war, has forgotten the people who make it tick, and of course... Jutrand must be freed from the chains of criminality."

There was more, so much more, but hopefully this would do, as a fourth voice joined the party, a voice that returned the smile to his lips, as his cousin took to the rostrum, and spoke of the topic which he had wished much more to go on.

"For those amongst you who might doubt the success of our judicial efforts, here stands the Lieutenant Inspector himself, who shall make it all the more feasible, but indeed, he speaks too rightfully, I was not much able to speak of it in my speech tonight, but the specifics of our campaign, must be far more nuanced than simply a crusade," His gaze fell towards his cousin, that he had not spoken of his relation, that he still refused to take on the name of their House... bothered him more than he would admit, "We already have many inroads to the underground, as many of you know, some of you may indeed already have underworld interests," His gaze for barest moment, flicked towards Lady Aivar, "I am not so naive to believe the underworld can be crushed permanently, I shall not even attempt it," He allowed the admission to hang there a moment, the quizzical looks filling him with a mirth he could not deny, "Laws are made by a state, but if the state is filled with those unworthy of their position, what value is their laws? We will move forward in a lightning strike to crush all those criminal elements on Jutrand that have not aligned themselves with us, that is what the Emperor will see, that is what the Empire will see," He raised his gaze towards all those gathered before him, "The Tsis'Kaar shall take up permanent occupation of the underworld, to maintain the new peace we have raised, all outsiders will look upon us as the fools, stuck in a forever war upon our own capital, in reality, we shall make them the fools," He raised a hand, the projector behind him flashing open, displaying atop the ceiling various statistics and figures, a display of various illicit activities, drugs, rackeetering, prostitution, arms trafficking, and many other instances, "As much as we might be scorn to admit, there is demand for these activities within our Empire, within the heart of our capital, it shall take time for our revolution of discipline to break our people of these vices, and perhaps it never shall, the true threat to our people then is the unregulated nature of these activities, those owners... far too willing to cut corners and endanger our fellow Sith." He offered a grim smile, snapping his finger as the projector flicked to the next slide, the Ouroboros surrounding the Hex Charm displayed upon the ceiling, "So in crushing the underground, we will not end there, we shall monopolise it, us and our allies shall take control of the underworld, and regulate it for both our own ends, but too, for the good of the Empire, our people shall be safe, crime shall be curtailed, and we will have made a steady foothold upon the capital."

It was a convulted scheme perhaps, but they were the ones best in position to execute it, after all, what could not criminals do if they had the power of the law enforcement on their side? Furthermore, it married the two sides of the coin of the Tsis'Kaar, those of the Inquisitorious frought with the desire for justice, and those of the Assassins, more than willing to delve into the darkness.

"I invite you all to take your piece of that metaphorical pie, your ambitions must be met in some way after all, and as your Lord, I am more than willing to provide, I thank our corporate allies in Marr-Tech, Helix Solutions, and Fojanah Heavy Productions too, for joining us, for as we undertake measures in the political and judicial realm, shipyards loyal to us across the Empire construct vessels of the exact make in how we wage war, the Third Legion builds, and every indication helms that we will take its charge, as the First prepares against the Alliance, as the Second fights Rimward rebels, it shall be likely the Third who will embark upon exploration of the Unknown, I would advice you all be prepared for such."

He took in a breath, he had spoken much... perhaps too much, but with their eyes upon him, it seemed their attentions had not yet wavered, so he had to set the stage for one last measure. Pulling himself up from the stage, he found himself at its edge on his legs, gazing out to the vast sea of souls before him, wondering, hoping, he had rescuciated wavering hearts.

And this could serve as his coup de grace.

"Some of you might still wonder, for all I have said, how will we accomplish all this when many in this Empire consider us the very traitors that we seek to root out, after all, the Queen of Shadows' rebellion, the so called Ouroboros Crisis is remembered well, and ever since, the Tsis'Kaar have hardly been well trusted by our brothers and sisters, how can we drape on ourselves the name of the Imperial Party, when to some, we might be considered the most existential threat to the Empire." His smile widened, as he turned his head to the side of the stage, where his apprentice had been hidden away for until this very moment, "I give you the simple answer, because member of the Tsis'Kaar, member of the Imperial Party, is the grandson of Darth Empyrean, the heir of the Empire, my apprentice trusted to me to train by the Emperor and the Empress, Darth Latens."

Kalzok Darth Callidus Darth Tormenta Zachariah Conway Adean Castor Helix Kadann Reicher Vax Akhuul Sautra Trayze Tesar Zanami Pacificus Ansisa Darth Morta Mariah of House Marr Elise of House Marr
Mentioned: Darth Carnifex Darth Empyrean Srina Talon Darth Ophidia

 

[Akhuul Sautra]

Tags:

• Indirectly Tagged: Elise of House Marr Mariah of House Marr Darth Morta Helix Reicher Vax Zanami
• Directly Tagged: Darth Callidus Darth Malum of House Marr Pacificus

Location: Assembly Cave in the Old Mineshafts, Dorvalla
Equipment: In Bio

A rousing speech was one thing, yet eons of watching history write itself has given me audience to many speeches. It was not a bad speech, quite the contrary. However, losing the lust for life present in many mortals has made me desensitized to seizing the reigns of destiny for an Empire. Eons have passed, and I have literally watched Empires of those who claimed my people's heritage rise and fall over, and over, and over. All of it was the same. They would be the Empire that would last. They would be the ones to bring about domination in the name of the Sith. This was the first speech I have seen where one pledges to fix the Empire of the day, however. Credit had to be given.

The food mattered not. The drink as well. I forsook organic needs in the times before all the others present here's forefathers were even conceived. A time when Korriban's glorious and sacred sands were dotted with the freshly constructed monuments of my people. I stayed on the periphery, similar fashion to Darth Callidus, a new acquaintance. The discussion before the speech made me enjoy her mind, as well as those who were also present for such talks. However, the others seemed to have left, or slunk into the unrecognizable shadows. I sensed her mind at work as the Scion of Marr spoke again after a few others spoke.

One barbaric creature that seemed to have achieved sentience spoke of "lessers." I certainly had thoughts on such a matter. However, I waited for the host to be done. In the old days, had I interrupted, there would be grounds to a duel to the death for such a transgression of a host. "To the Scion of Marr, our host,", I said stepping the slightest bit from the shadows where the glow of my chassis gave way to my form in full view, ",I personally offer my thanks to introducing me to the Sith of this age. Watching from the shadows became too dull after a millennia. While your mortal politics barely intrigues me aside from a sensation akin to watching a live performance, I am sure the archive of knowledge at my disposal would be adequate in terms of providing services. Grand events like these are sure to be recorded in my archive. May this be a fair addition to what has been shown to be potential prospects for this order's aims." All I would say would be in the ancient tongue of my people. At least a shred of pride would have to be kept considering my mission in immortality. Droid armies, weapons, soldiers, and other materials were good. Knowledge, I calculated, would still remain paramount. Knowledge was what I had to offer.

My head would turn to the one addressed as Pacificus. With eyes like that of burning coals, and a glow in the chassis akin to a furnace, the ancient tongue was spat. "You speak of lesser beings while a creature such as yourself has managed to find a way to be addressed as Lord by one deemed in a high seat. Had this been in the days of the original Sith Empire, when I had flesh and Korriban's monuments were freshly constructed, creatures like you were either slaves for my people or sacrifices to our ancestors. Be grateful beings like you are embraced by those who hold power over the legacy of my people now due to desperation and existential threats." I would stand firm, and regal after the chastisement. Indeed. Pride, as it was calculated in my digital cortexes, still held. I deduced it likely was a thing that would unite all Sith in experience. It was the root of many in my people's history and legacy's decisions.

I would then politely bow my head with a flourish of my metallic cape in the direction of the host. While rigid due to my mechanical body, it was still far more fluid than other mechanical beings would execute. I then would slink to the shadows again. I would watch. I would listen. I would remember. I then would watch the one known as Darth Callidus again to see what may be done from this new acquaintance.

 

[Zachariah Conway]

​

Location: Dorvalla
Equipment: Lightsaber
Tags: All of you! ​

If there was one thing he hadn't adopted, it was Darth Malum of House Marr 's flair for the dramatic.

The young Sith Knight had been instructed to wait to the side of the stage and that is exactly what he had done. From his position, he could hear every word being said in the mines of Dorvalla and could see a good ninety nine percent of those sat there.

Impressive didn't quite do justice when describing the number of bodies that had been gathered. When Zachariah had joined Darth Malum of House Marr as his apprentice, the Tsis'Kaar had been few. It had now grown to a respectable fifteen or so people. Some of those faces he recognised, those of the murder droid Helix and the Lieutenant of Jutrand Trayze Tesar . Other faces meant nothing to him, those of Akhuul Sautra and Pacificus .

Darth Malum of House Marr had big plans for the Tsis'Kaar and Zachariah listened from the side of the stage whilst his master spoke. There were two main points that the young Sith took from his master's words. There was a political aspect in the assembly which he couldn't yet influence and there was the occupation of the underworld of Jutrand.

Then he heard words that truly piqued his interest. It was clear that Malum was speaking about him, mentioning his relationship with Darth Empyrean (although specifically skipping over the fact it was through adoption not blood) and mentioning how he was the heir to both the Empire and a member of both the Tsis'Kaar and the Imperial Party.

Darth Latens...

He heard his name, the name which Darth Malum of House Marr had given him on Elrood when he had been reborn. It was a name which was still taking some getting used to. Zachariah Conway had died on Elrood and Darth Latens had been reborn from the ashes of the boy.

He walked onto the stage slowly. His dark coloured cloak and hood combination was pulled low, masking his face. He wasn't sure if there were eyes on him, honestly he didn't want to think about it. He took a knee in front of his master and looked up towards him.

 

[Reicher Vax]

Dorvalla
Equipment: Standard Issue Sith Trooper Armor, Vibroblade, Standard Issue Blaster Rifle, Datapad, Cloak
Tag: Kalzok Darth Callidus Darth Tormenta Zachariah Conway Adean Castor Helix Kivah Micah tol Powl Vulgarion Kadann Akhuul Sautra Trayze Tesar Zanami Pacificus Ansisa Tlaeger Chasianna Darth Malum of House Marr

"Drawing the battle plans..."
​

Reicher remained still as Malum's words echoed across the chamber, the weight of their implications settling heavily upon the assembled Sith. His crimson visor, ever unreadable, swept across the room, taking in the subtle shifts in expression—the calculating glances, the quiet murmurs, the suppressed ambition flickering behind guarded eyes. Malum had spoken of unity, of discipline married to ambition, of a grand design that would see the Tsis'Kaar rise as both the Empire's hidden hand and its iron grip.

It was a compelling vision.

Unlike another certain Sith lords ( Pacificus ) who Reicher knew would be better dealt with at the opportune moment. For now, the comments went on deaf ears, but he will one day be reminded why Reicher is on the assembly and not him.

And yet, Reicher had learned that words, no matter how eloquent, were just that—words. It was the execution that determined whether vision became reality, or whether it crumbled under the weight of its own contradictions.

Beside him, Elara—Viper—leaned in, her voice a soft whisper that only he could hear. "I like this. The whole 'we'll rule the underworld while pretending to cleanse it' thing. Clever. Might even work." Her tone was laced with amusement, but there was approval there as well, the sharp mind behind her teasing taking in every nuance.

Reicher didn't respond immediately. His mind was already working, already mapping out the angles. The Tsis'Kaar were stepping into dangerous waters, threading the line between control and collapse. Owning the criminal underworld was one thing—ensuring it didn't devour them from within was another.

Then came the reveal. Darth Latens.

Reicher didn't move, didn't react outwardly, but internally, his mind shifted gears. The grandson of Empyrean. Malum was playing a high-stakes game, tying his legitimacy to the Imperial bloodline. It was a shrewd move—one that could either cement the Tsis'Kaar's position or make them a target for those who saw their power as a threat.

The room was waiting. Eyes flicked toward him, subtle, expectant. Reicher Vax was no Sith Lord, but he was a commander, and his words carried weight. He knew what they wanted—analysis, insight, the sharp, calculated assessment of a man who had seen battle and understood the realities that ideology so often ignored.

He stepped forward.

His voice was steady, cool, the voice of a tactician rather than a politician. "The Third Legion." He let the words hang for a moment, his visor tilting ever so slightly toward Malum. "The task of securing the Unknown Regions is no small one. The first two legions fight the enemies we know. The Third will face what we don't." His tone carried no hesitation, no concern—only the pragmatic weight of reality. "That means we will need more than warships and soldiers. We will need infrastructure. We will need logistics. We will need information."

His gaze swept the room, his words carrying the weight of military certainty. "If we are to carve a foothold in the Unknown, we must do so with discipline and foresight. There will be no reinforcements from the Sith Core if we overextend. No second chances. The Unknown is where empires either expand or are swallowed." He let the statement settle before continuing. "But if we move carefully, if we build the right foundation, the Tsis'Kaar will not just control the underworld. We will control the frontier."

A calculated pause. Then, he shifted the tone.

"And speaking of information…" His visor turned toward Malum. "There is another matter to present before the Tsis'Kaar tonight."

The room fell silent. All eyes turned toward him.

Reicher gestured toward the far edge of the chamber, toward a figure who had remained hidden in the shadows. A presence that had been there all along, watching, waiting.

A figure draped in a dark, flowing robe, adorned with intricate patterns that shimmered faintly under the low light. A hood concealed their features, a sleek, metallic mask reflecting only glimpses of the room's glow. They stepped forward slowly, with deliberate, measured grace. Not a trace of hesitation in their movements.

Reicher's voice remained steady, controlled. "This is an agent of mine. Someone whose expertise in intelligence, infiltration, and arcane knowledge will prove invaluable to our cause." He let the room absorb that for a moment before continuing. "For reasons of security, their identity will remain undisclosed. But know this—where the Tsis'Kaar needs information, they will provide it. Where we require knowledge that others would keep hidden, they will uncover it."

The masked figure inclined their head slightly in acknowledgment, but said nothing.

Reicher knew better than to say more. He had presented the piece—now it was up to the gathered Sith to react, to speculate, to wonder.

Beside him, Viper whispered, barely audible. "Dramatic, Commander. Very dramatic."

Reicher's voice was low, amused. "Learned from the best."

​

 

[Darth Virelia]

Location: Mining Shaft turned Ballroom, Dorvalla
Tag: Already tagged you all.​

The chamber was silent, the tension coiled and waiting, as the masked figure stepped forward into the dim glow of the Sith assembly.

And then, a sound—not quite a voice, not quite an echo. A susurration, a multitude of whispers laced together, delicate as silk, insidious as creeping fog. It slithered through the room, slipping between ears, settling into minds, reverberating through the air with an unnatural smoothness, as though the words themselves were alive.

"The weight of so many eyes. How delicious."

The whispers coiled, teasing the edges of perception, shifting in tone like a lover's breath against the ear. The voice was neither singular nor static, flitting between registers, at once intimate and distant, amused and knowing.

"A gathering of ambition, sharpened knives wrapped in velvet tongues… and yet, here I stand, unseen." A soft, mirthful chuckle—dark, velvet, indulgent. "How fitting."

The masked figure moved with unhurried grace, steps light, gliding rather than walking. The faint shimmer of embroidery on the robe caught the dim glow of the chamber, giving the impression of something ethereal, something other. A mystery draped in elegance and shadow.

"You have all carved your names into the bones of history with fire and blood. Each of you seeking, grasping, devouring. But knowledge?" The whisper deepened, sultry and serpentine. "Knowledge is a rarer prize. And what is power without understanding? A brute force… easily led, easily deceived."

A pause, deliberate, drawing out the anticipation, feeding on it.

"Ah, but I am not here to insult you. Far from it." Another chuckle, warm yet cool, indulgent yet measured. "Consider me… a patron of the grand design. A whisper in the dark, a seeker of truths that do not wish to be found."

The masked figure tilted their head ever so slightly, the golden etchings on their mask catching the flickering light.

"Where there are secrets, I will unearth them. Where there are shadows, I will weave them into veils. And where there are those who believe themselves beyond reach… I will show them how wrong they are." The whisper caressed the air, shifting into something softer, more intimate, a brush of breath against Reicher's mind alone.

"You have always known me, dear Commander."

And then, just as suddenly, the weight of her voice lifted, the thousand whispers receding like the tide. The masked figure inclined their head in a slow, measured bow.

"That is all you need to know."

Silence hung heavy in the aftermath.

She had given them just enough to stir their hunger, to set their minds alight with speculation. The truth dangled just out of reach, a tantalizing enigma wrapped in shadow and silk.

And oh, how she delighted in it.

 

[Darth Tormenta]

Tags: Uhhh Darth Malum of House Marr , I lost track of the others >.>

_____________________________________________________________________________

"And how, Lord Malum, do you propose to actually control the underworld? Criminals, whether career or opprotunist, tend to chafe under strict authority and trying to command them as one does soldiers or the easily cowed masses results in them working against you."

Khamesi questioned loudly from her position in the room. It was a fair question, after all, she spent quite a lot of time managing the conflicts betwween gang bossess she'd forced under her purview, or making sure her subordiantes had minor conflicts to maintain the illusion of independent gangs. Jutrand was a city planet, on a good day one could say mayb 1-2% of it's population were criminals. And then even if only 1-2% of that number were in in organized gangs, you were still looking at arresting, managing, or killing millions.

"Many are petty, but they are often more clever than you'd believe. They must be, to survive for long on a world like Jutrand. To control the underworld is not to control it's gangs, or at least not most of them. To control the underworld, is to control their supply. Without weapons they cannot fight, nor sell them. The same with any other product. A few flashy attacks, arrests, and crackdowns may create a good public image, but to truly make an impact, you will need to choke them of their credits."

Khamesi was often overly cautious in her strategic moves, her own control of Jutrand could likely be much larger if she moved more quickly, but she liked to make sure her grip was ironclad. She needed to know how Malum planned to do this, or if he just had big ambitions without the strategy to back it up. She moved up so that she would not have to speak as loudly, looking down at the man she addressed. How he planned to do this would ultimately decide if she was to back it, or if she should prepare for war. To much of her own resources and power was tied up in the criminal world of the outer rim and empire. She would not lose it all again, not without a fight this time.

"Ambitious as you are, I know you are no fool. You have some plan, and I desire to hear some it so I may prepare my resources for the fallout. There will be fallout after all, even if your plans are a total success, the ripples on a world of over a trillion are nearly impossible to predict."

She put extra emphasis on her last word. It was not widely known that she was born with the ability to use Shatter Point, but Malum was one of the few that knew of it. Even for her, trying to map the changes and possible futures from this would be impossible to map. For good and ill. The control she already had made her rich, which she funneled into her fleets, and company, but an expansion on that also meant greater risk. What she did not trust the legitimacy talk. Though, she was never one to place much value on blood and noble houses, she ignored that. Great houses and noble lines had caused many a great empire to crumble under useless heir after useless heir. All that truly mattered was ones own skill. Throughout all of this, her tone was carefully even, she wasn't intentionally being antagonistic, nor trying to speak down to Malum. Ambitious speeches would get none of them anywhere good without strategy to back it up. That was all she cared about, straight to the core of the matter as always. She was blunt and she knew it, but sometimes what one needed was someone that could cut through the chaff and etiquette. Though no one would ever accuse Khamesi of being subtle.

 

[Eira Dyn]

Outfit: Training Gear
Equipment: Practice saber, daggers, blaster pistol
Tag: Darth Malum of House Marr

Eira entered the meeting and noted the many others of the Tsis'Kaar that were in attendance. She was curious as to what this meeting would be adding to what had been stated at the party previously by Malum. Perhaps further explanation on his plans and insight into what he was doing. She was curious and Eira knew that this was something that would be building in terms of a conflict, perhaps creating more division within the Sith Order when their next steps were to unify more. Eira was unsure how she felt about it all since in her mind, there was some logic. Focus on sorting out the issues within the faction that would create a united front when confronting the Jedi and other enemies afar.

However, the speech had some concerns. The plan seemed dangerous, it was something that would be twisted into a negative and demonstration of why the Tsis'Kaar could not exist if the victors were not Malum. This could be classed a clear indication of uprising. There was also the issue that Eira did not think they would have the support of the Emperor, especially since Malum was bold enough to claim he was absent in that role. They would be acting as judge, jury and potentially executioner without the backing of the Order. Only if they succeeded would they be painted as heroes. Eira was sure of that. If Malum failed, all those in the Tsis'Kaar would suffer the wrath for such failure.

"Your plan is bold, but what if the Empress does not support our actions? You may claim the Emperor is absent, but the Empress is far from absent and has the ear of many. If she does not support your actions, then anything we do will end before your campaign even begins." Eira spoke out, she was not going to but her neck on the line over the idea a grandson would save them from death. Plans failed and there was a bigger chance of failure if one did not think consequences would be taken against them because of blood.

Eira would never be held back by such connections. She refused to believe that those they might stand against would be the same.