Private The Raven and the Wolf

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Zelos II, The Sith Empire.
902 ABY.

The border between the Sith Empire and the so-called High Republic were contradictorily both the most highly fortified, and most quiet galactic border one could bear witness to. Both sides knew that conflict was inveitable, the ideologies of both states simply contradicted to such an extreme, their philosophies of such a divergence that neither nation could bear to exist in security while the other survived. Inheriting a conflict from thousands of years ago, the soldiers that marched in those perrenial wars may have long since turned to bone and dust.

But their sons and daughters were more than capable of continuing the struggle.

Yet, despite all which had indicated inveitable conflict, all was quiet on the eastern front. Yet, neither side were fools, as the initial salvo no matter who struck placing the prized Aur Diamonds at risk for the Sith, while for the Republicans, it would only be a few jumps until the Sith were at the gates of Naboo. Still, despite the massing of forces on either side of the border, adjustments made daily to gain any advantage, as defences were made, supplies gathered, and battleplans written, no war had yet broken out.

To the increasing nervousness and paranoia of those stationed on the front.

Any moment, they knew, they would be on the frontline of what would be one of the most destructive wars of recent memory, that if any past war indicated, promised those on the frontlines most likely would not see home. It was this cocktail mix of emotions that had very two distinct forces gather upon the border, to restore morale and confidence, and if rumours spoke true.

Begin preparations that would see the Sith cross over the border.

The first was the Second Legion, the victors of the eastern front, whose relentless raids and conquests, had brought the Blackwall to the border of the High Republic, and had seized untold victories within their maws. Dark Councillor and Imperator, if there was any man who held the confidence of the soldiery to lead them into a shooting war with a new foe, as the Sith seemed to find themselves surrounded by foes, it would be Lord Gerwald Lechner.

The second waas the Inquistorious of the Tsis'Kaar, a shadowy order that had existed for longer than the current Empire, all knew that if the masked faces of the Tsis'Kaar were near, it meant trouble for all that were near, yet, too there was another aspect to the Inquisitorous that brought about as much confidence as it did fear. The Commissars, those most popular and charismatic amongst the army and navy, who watched, but offered beer in equal measure. Led by a Dark Councillor all unto themselves, the exploits of Darth Malum were known to most of them.

That both Dark Councillors had their eyes upon the frontier was a bad sign, but it was a renewal of confidence all to its own.

Such was the bakdrop of events, that found masked Inquistorial agents, wading through the thick woods, ahead of them, led their leader, carving through the trees and plantlife with his Sith Steel blade as if a knife through butter, even in the moonlight, and covered by the thick mist, the rubies encrusted onto the black plate shimmered as he effortlessly pushed himself forward, a face hidden behind the mask of his most famous ancestor.

"My lord, we are nearing where we lost contact with the patrol." An aide called from behind, the heir of Marr only offering a silent grunt, a nod of his head in answer, as he continued pushing forward. Reinforcements would soon arrive, but it would be his luck, that it would be his Tsis'Kaar that were first on the scene.

Not unexpected, but still annoying.

The armoured group proceeded forward.

The sound of foreign footsteps hidden by the environment.

Gerwald Lechner

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

TAG: Darth Malum of House Marr

Seswenna, Sulis Van, Eriadu, Kabal, Rugossa, they had been worlds which carved a path to one place. The Dread Wolf had made it his aim to claim a world he called home. Jutrand was where he lived. Islimoore was where his kind had evolved. Stewjon was where he had been born. He was raised there. Despite the painful betrayal of his mother which took place on that world, Gerwald held fond memories of the planet. His life had been shaped there for better or for worse, and he would not see it fall under the control of those who make his presence there unwanted simply because of his alignment.

His progress was halted by unforeseen events which had reshaped the galaxy. Worlds were not where they ought to be, and those which Gerwald had raided and burned through had realigned once more. It was fair to say that his campaign would have to start again.

The stalemate which existed between them and the High Republic was also of concern to him. The Wolf often wondered if they had been ignored primarily for the fact he had saved the life of Briana Sal-Soren when she was younger. The cataclysmic event which had brought down the Confederacy of Independent Systems was one which had stranded her and Valery Noble. He helped them evacuate.

War would eventually break out between their nations, he was sure, but what would it look like? Was there a reason for it? It seemed they could not allow each other to exist on principle, but the war machine of the Sith Order had needed the rest. It was not infallible, though it was expanding. Soon they would have enough legions to wage various kinds of war if they wished. Though Gerwald often wondered to what end. His raids had left him more disconnected from the decisions on Jutrand than he wished, and the Dark Council was quiet as of late.

It made the movement of Darth Malum of House Marr a curious thing, and something Gerwald could not ignore.

Zelos II was wild, still. The wormlike creatures which could animate corpses required management, and often led to reports of missing patrols. Gerwald would see the beasts put down entirely because of the problem they caused, yet there were those among the Order which had desired to study the creatures for whatever potential they could harness from them. His raiders had been dispatched to put down an uprising of undead soldiers. The Wolf had joined them. It was not often such entanglements afforded him the joy of a forest, even if this particular one was haunted.

The sound of death filled the forest as the wolf tore through the undead which threatened Sith operations on the planet. He did not care if it was his own or Tsis’kaar. While publicly Gerwald seemed to behave for his own interest, the Dread Wolf believed in a unified Order. There were certain personalities which had to be dealt with, naturally. Younger Sith vied for power, snapping at it like hungry chicks desperate for whatever food their mother would regurgitate for them. It seemed it was the burden of youth to learn the most valuable lessons the hard way.

Gerwald had.

He did not need Marr to be a success publicly as long as Gerwald shaped things for his benefit under a hidden veil. Where the Dark Councilor would expect to find the second legion active, sometimes there were not. Certain information passed along to Tsis’Kaar agents. He did well enough on his own. What he had managed to accomplish despite the arrogance of his youth was impressive. Even the Dread Wolf had to admit it. Carnifex had called Gerwald a Revivalist, asked him to play a role among them. While it seemed to most align with what Gerwald wanted to see he could not say it was perfect.

A unified Order around the Code itself was ideal. It still begged the question of who would lead it. That was where so many had an opinion. Perhaps the day was coming when the wolf would take that mantle for himself. If it best served the Order he would. For now, he simply advanced it.

With the deed done, the raiders returned. Gerwald, the wolf, remained as the beast. It had been too long since he ran. The wolf wanted its freedom.