The Three Wolves

[Adron Malvern]

Planet: In space above Ryloth​

Location: The Veil​

Time: Late Night​

Tags: [member="Faye Malvern"] [member="Darth Tacitus"]​

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~We do what we must~​

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Aboard The Veil, Adron's pristine Dreadnaught, the Sith Lord stood in silence as his crystal blue eyes washed over the planet that loomed before his starship. The last few months had been extremely interesting for the lord of House Malvern. He had discovered his once hated rival Kainan Wolfe was none other than Kainan Malvern, his elder brother who had been stolen from their House at a young age. This realization had, in the end, been for the best as it had ended a decade long conflict between the two estranged brothers. While they were not necessarily close, with their feud settled it was time to begin mending the rather destroyed relationship between them.

The young Lord had been wondering just how he would be seeing this to fruition. Yet with the return of their youngest sister, Faye it would now be a much simpler process. Perhaps even far less awkward. Adron was adorned in a silken tunic and trousers that seemed to nearly be shimmering under the dim light of The Veil's bridge. A shallow cape flowed over his left shoulder and met it's clasp over his chest. It had been a tradition of the House for the males to wear such capes with the emblem of their House embedded into the silken fibers.

"My lord-" A deep metallic voice called over the quiet bridge, causing Adron to hold a hand up and silence the droid. He could feel the presence of each of his siblings approaching the ship. There was no reason to have this automaton tell him what he already knew. "Is the meal prepared?"

"Yes, my lord. It has been created due to your exact specifications." Turning away from the viewport Adron began to make his way towards the droid, however it was soon true that the man was not approaching the Command unit and was instead making his way into the main hall.

His arms were clasped behind his back as he strode through the ship and made his way to the main hangar. A precession had been assembled to receive his siblings. Not one composed of soulless battle droids, yet by the sentient staff and officers of the starship as well as a few officials who served closely under Adron's command. These men and women were groomed and presented as if expecting royalty, which it may as well have been so considering their importance to Adron.

Upon entering the main hall the precession stood silently, keeping their eyes peeled on the empty spaces that had been left for the two shuttles. Adron stood silently, awaiting his two siblings with a conserved yet almost eager smile.

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[Faye Malvern]

Planet: Ryloth Space​

Location: The Veil​

Time: Late Night​

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Faye had become custom to the sigh of 'The Veil' hanging against the midnight backdrop of space. For the first time in a long time something was beginning to feel like home. Not because of it's position in the stars of the planet it hung over but because of the company she often found aboard. Her brother Adron was, and always had been, her rock in the middle of a stormy sea, the only dry land for miles around. They had been separated for years but the recent reunion had given Faye an opportunity to remember herself and where she came from. She didn't often forget but the memory was so easily buried away without a second thought. There had been nobody to look up to for guidance for years, nobody worth impressing save for a handful of people met in passing but now, with Adron here, Faye was blossoming.

The shuttle came to land with a soft bump that disturbed the sleek ebony curls cascading down her shoulders. A hiss filled the small cockpit as the landing ramp freed itself and extended down to touch the floor, Faye following shortly after. She moved gracefully, the shifting silk of her skirts pooling around her feet in such a way that she seemed to float across the polished metal floor. Delicate pieces of silver jewelry adorned her neck and wrists, the wrought metal providing a striking contrast against the tanned skin beneath. Around the gentle curve of her waist sat a belt of a similar fashion, the only difference was the emblem of a wolf worked into the clasp at the center. The dress itself was a vibrant lavender that met with the deep purple of the Malvern house half way down the long skirt. A thin hood of the same material rested on the top of her raven hair, partly covering the headband of silver gilded with sparkling orange diamonds.

Faye hadn't needed to dress up, she had never needed to, but other's opinions cut her deeper than they cut most. She could see and feel the truth of their clever facades and hidden frowns, thus there was always a reason to impress to the point of shock. Alongside this she was raised a Lady, responsibilities and all. Faye might have been ripped from her home at the tender age of twelve, but she fondly remembered the gowns and the jewelry an the late nights at fancy dinners. She still held such animosity for leaving Serenno behind and abandoning the life she had a rightful claim to, but all would hopefully be set right. In fact, Faye was under the impression her brother had called her to 'The Veil' that evening to discuss the very matter. As she effortlessly flitted across the shuttle bay her dark eyes flickered up to the procession all eagerly waiting her arrival, at the end of it all stood her elder brother and dearest friend.

A smile touched her expression, lighting up her entire face as the distance between them narrowed. Her arms wrapped around him in a loving embrace that lasted for a minute or so, afterward she took a step back to allow her eyes to scan the velvet material surrounding her brother's lean frame. 'It's been a long time since I've seen one of these.' Her fingers gently traced the clasp that kept his cape from slipping off his shoulders. If she hadn't known better Faye might have mistaken him for their Father. 'I would inquire the reason for all this effort but, you're Adron. You've never needed a reason or an excuse. None of us have.' She jested as her arms fell from their embrace. She turned her head to glance back at the shuttle bay, mainly on the empty space beside her own shuttle, the silk of her hood followed in one fluid motion. 'Are we waiting for someone?'

[member=Adron Malvern] | [member=Darth Tacitus]​

 

[Kainan Wolfe]

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[-Soundtrack: Tenebrae-]​

Attn: [member="Adron Malvern"] | [member="Faye Malvern"]​

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• CNS Midnight Exigent
  Ryloth, Confederate Space

The cold, uncaring vacuum of space writhed. It writhed as if a thousand rotten maggots gnawed at its flesh, it shrugged and labored and shuddered as if trying to rid itself of a predator and finally, with one last painful convulsion, it heaved and spat out even colder metal. Ten thousand meters of warship emerged from hyperspace like an abominable baby clawing its way out of its unholy mother's womb.

The massive dreadnought seemed to cut its way across the sky as it glided into position alongside the Veil, two gargantuan metal monsters flaunting the ever-growing power of House Malvern. Shaped like a spearhead, the flagship of Tacitus' Sword Armada was rightly heralded and feared as one of the most powerful warships in the galaxy. Its heavily armored hull bristled with weapons and sensors, all enveloped in a protective bubble by one of the most resilient shields ever fitted on a vessel. It was a ship designed to perform a single purpose: battle enemy dreadnoughts and emerge victorious and its immense firepower was equal to that of even the Sith Emperor's flagship. Its main weapon, the dual-emitter composite beam Perdition cannon could cut through shields and armor like a knife through butter and its reactors outputted power levels comparable to a small star.

A silver-plated shuttle emerged from the enormous warship's hangar, flanked by a squadron of T-77 stealth interceptors, six on each side, as it coasted towards Adron's own dreadnought, the formation silently crossing the boundary of the force field into its hangar in a perfectly choreography of steel and came to rest upon the deck. The shuttle hissed like a snake as its ramp slowly lowered to reveal a procession of beast and men in armor.

Stepping forward with the aloof, heavy gait of a military leader, a man marched in lockstep with the two columns of elite soldiers which flanked him on each side and a massive Loth Wolf tainted and reshaped by the unmistakable touch of the Darkside, padded by his side. His attire was the cold white of a grand admiral's uniform, adorned with the insignia of rank. A heavy leather cloak rested over his frame, the pelt of a wolf draped across his shoulders, all held together by a cold, gray metal clasp engraved in the shape of a snarling wolf's head. His hair was the silver-white of his uniform and his eyes a predatory gold, slitted like a cat's. The fingers on each hand ended in long, deadly talons that could crush bone and rend flesh and an unnatural cold spread out around him as his cloak seemed to ripple in an unseen wind. Four lightsaber hilts rested on his right hip, clasped to his belt, while a deadly longsword hung on the other side, a clawed hand resting on its hilt. He wore no jewelry, save for the steel of war.

The look in his eyes was ancient and hard, showing a window into the cold, calculating intellect of the enigmatic mastermind behind the fleets which shattered Nibelungen, Winter and Dredd. He made a stark contrast with Adron and Faye as he approached them. Theirs was the posture and attire of men and women born and raised in the refined customs of aristocracy, educated in the ways of the ancient traditions of their House. His was a different kind of nobility, one of a man forged by hardship and conflict, who claimed his power through strength and guile and the force of arms of one of the most disciplined armies in the galaxy.

The two columns of soldiers pivoted on their heels, facing inwards as they saluted their leader by bumping fists over their hearts, shattering the silence with a thunderclap. The soldiers were Wolfguards, deadly, silent warriors of the Eternal Empire. The man they escorted was their Emperor. There was no herald to announce his entrance or list his titles. The Reaper of Lorrd needed no such things.

The Sith Lord's golden gaze swept from Adron to his female companion as he spoke, "My lady, I am pleased to make your acquaintance," he said, his voice a gravelly sound as hard as his eyes and posture, first addressing the woman, as was proper amongst the polite circles of society, then his host. "Greetings, Adron. I answer your summons."

 

[Adron Malvern]

As the first of the two arrivals entered the hangar, Adron's eyes were locked on the shuttle. He could feel the warm dark presence of his youngest sister and it threatened to rekindle the smile he held only a few moments ago. The moment the shuttle touched down you could feel the air tighten. The crew and officials had been notified of the importance of this meeting and it showed in each and every one of them. As graceful as the night and twice as deadly his sister descended the ramp onto The Veil. She wore an impeccable lavender dress that was adorned with the seal of their House. It went without saying his sister was a vision that would drive the most conserved men to a proposal.

She closed the distance in between them and soon found herself greeted by a warm embrace of welcome. The Veil had been the closest thing to a home he could gift her due to the ever-moving nature of his station, yet he hoped his presence would improve the atmosphere. His trappings were familiar to her and he took pride in the way she spoke of it. As her hood fell and she spoke of the space beside her own shuttle Adron kept a mysterious glint in his eye, smiling softly at the woman before her. "Patience. I promise it is worth it."

Only moments later the second shuttle would appear. A sight different from what his sister had arrived in, Adron's elder brother's works could always be spotted. It had been some months since the truth of their share lineage had come to light and while they were not exactly loving brothers, their fued seemed well behind them. The feeling that came from Darth Tacitus was something else entirely than what he had felt from his sister. His sister was competent in the Force and skilled, especially for her age, yet Kainan was a fully realized master of the Dark Side whose talents rivaled Adron's. It was a wonder the two never destroyed a world in their times as enemies.

As the Emperor of the Eternal empire descended from his own ship Adron took a notice of his guard, the Wolfguard had been a pain in Adron's side for so many years. How odd to see them now as guests aboard his ship. In this brief moment Adron felt a flash, as the Force washed over him in the briefest of moments. His eyes beheld a vision that was powerful and imposing, yet immediately forgotten? This vision had told some story that the Exarch could not recall if he tried, however now was not the time to linger on such thoughts. The Dark Lord approached them and made his introductions, and as he spoke Adron could still feel the barrier he himself had erected between the Lords.

"You honor me." He declared, inclining his head to the man respectfully, his blue eyes never leaving the man's form. He held a hand out to Faye, if she would try to introduce herself. His eyes fell from Kainan to Faye and the man could not help but smile at the duo. His family, a far sight to what they had once had, but finally reunited. "I've had a meal prepared for us this evening, but first if you could both join me in meeting room."

He glanced down to the Loth Wolf who trailed the man and immediately wished he had brought his own pet, who was yet recovering from her wounds from their last fight together. In time she would have the chance to meet his siblings. Turning from the two Adron would move to the hall as he began to speak with a voice dipped in silver and mystery.

"House Malvern was erected sometime before the year nineteen BBY. It was present for the rise and fall of the Galactic Republic and all successors to follow into the present date. Our line has remained through hundreds of years and through this time it has never been tainted or exterminated. There are only two times when the House has been in jeopardy of destruction. The first time was shortly after the fall of the Galactic Republic. A Sith Lord demanded Orom Malvern to assassinate his father. Had Orom died, House Malvern would have been destroyed."

Adron led them through the halls yet he seemed to be in no great hurry, as he detailed their history very carefully. "The second time the House was in peril, and the most recent, was over twenty years ago. When the other Houses of Serenno conspired against us and sought our destruction. Their betrayal too ended in failure." He seethed, muttering as he continued. "But not without cost..."

"We do what we must. These are the words of our House that have been carried since before we were born and will remain long after we are dead."

Finally, the trio reached a pair of large doors that led into the ship's study. "I believed....I was all that was left, not counting that coward, Asher." Adron forced the doors open without touching them. His hands moved behind his back but a great pulse exploded from him, forcing the doors to part. What was inside, was an astonishment,

The room was filled with memorabilia that Adron had collected from the far reaches of the galaxy. From the ceiling hung several banners of the House. A single wall was filled with the lightsabers of their Jedi ancestors, what ones could be found. There was seven in all, each with a portrait of the proper family member placed above. "This room is all that's left..." Adron said, before the Dark Side began to openly flow from him. There was rage and anger but there was also control. As he turned back to his siblings he held a hand out towards each of them. "Twenty-five years ago there were nearly fifteen of us. After the war with the One Sith and the betrayal on Serenno we are few. But we are powerful. Three remain."

His left hand would rise over Faye, as he looked to Kainan, "Francesca Malvern, who survived the assassination against our family. Our long lost sister."

His right would rise to Kainan in turn as he looked to Faye with an equal gaze. "Kainan Malvern, lost to us after the battle of The One Sith and stripped of his identity. Now returned to us." He said, before tucking his hands back into the small of his back.

"Faye, you wouldn't know of Kainan nor he you. He was taken from us before I was born. But he is our brother and he is returned to us." He explained, his eyes falling on his elder brother with a silent nod.

[member="Darth Tacitus"] [member="Faye Malvern"]

 

[Faye Malvern]

The glint in his eye spoke more than his words did. The siblings had been far away from each other for the longest of times, but Faye still knew the man like the back of her hand. He may have kept his words close to his heart but she could read him like an open book. Her eyes, lips and spirit beamed with a smile that easily matched the fire of a mid-morning sun. It was good to be home, good to see her brother smiling back at her, but most of all it was good to feel like she belonged somewhere again. 'I've never liked surprises.' She jested with a soft tone, partly joking and partly not, raising a well-pruned brow in the direction of her elder brother. Faye then focused her gaze on the empty spot, her breath held in anticipation for the arrival of whoever caused the soft smirk on Adron's face.

The second guest was felt before his shuttle was even seen. The appearance of another ship, with it's own extensive crew, almost knocked Faye to the floor. The thousands of emotions merging together and shouting for attention forced her to steady herself by gripping onto Adron's arm. Her composure remained as it always had, calm and collected with an air of importance, but inside she was being torn to shreds. Pulled this way and that way by the clawing of all the emotions battling for their place in her mind. Her vice like grasp on her elder brother's arm increased as the stranger stepped from his shuttle, donned in rather impressive looking attire. Long, thin deadly talons and great hulking armor that made him seem twice his actual size. Faye couldn't help but shoot a bemused glance at Adron, her mind racing with a thousand and one thoughts as to who this stranger could be. She wanted to question Adron, but by now, she knew better than that.

As the commanding presence reached the siblings her quick midnight eyes scanned the faces of her brother and the stranger in turn. There was an indescribable mix of emotion spreading through the shuttle bay as they greeted each other. Animosity, fear, apprehension, determination, something akin to the feeling of love... A painful headache began to creep over her temples and Faye shook her head a fraction of an inch. It was hard enough being bombarded with the feelings of the entire thousand man crew aboard 'The Veil' and the dreadnought, now she was stood here trying to hone in on two individuals. She dragged herself away from the confines of her mind, finally resting her attention on the powerful presence that joined the siblings. 'Francesca Malvern.' Faye spoke quickly, though her words still flowed like wine poured from a silver jug. 'The pleasure is all mine.' Was it a pleasure? She wasn't quite sure yet. The only thing she could truly focus on were the catlike pupils set in violent amber eyes. They seemed to watch her no matter which way her willow like frame swayed.

As Adron began to guide them through the extensive corridors of the star destroyer he began regaling their family history and Faye couldn't help but wonder why. She knew all the history, all the stories, all the myths and legends. She knew the truth of it all. Perhaps it was for the strangers benefit. One ear was poised to listen for anything of importance, but mostly her gaze fell on the massive Loth wolf that lumbered by it's Masters side. Faye had always had a fondness for animals. Their emotions were simple affairs, mostly lying in the realms of love, fear, anger or sorrow. She was almost about to reach out to run her fingers through the thick fur on the top of it's head when she thought better of it. She had no idea what the wolf was like, or if it was indeed a wolf in the first place. Faye withdrew her hand quickly, holding it against her chest as the trio meandered through the halls, stopping in front of a set of double doors. A lump formed in her throat at the mention of the assassination. Mostly, she tried hard not to think about that fateful day, but it seemed today was one of those days were it was an inevitability.

There was very little time for her to think on though as the large double doors that blocked their path flew open with no shortage of dramatic effect, and it was worth it. Faye's eyes went wide and for a moment she had no idea what to focus on. Often, when you forget things, the memory is jogged again by a particular item, sound or smell. For Faye this entire room brought back a wealth of memories, both happy and otherwise. They came so quickly that her eyes welled with tears that threatened to spill out over her rose colored cheeks. She wanted to run forward, to reach out and caress the velvet material of the banners she remembered playing under as a child, but all she could do was stare in awe. The dark force rumbled, filling the room with a tangible atmosphere that made her eyes fade from charcoal black to a volatile amber, almost the same as hue as the strangers. Adron raised his hand and Faye was brought from her reverie to yet another surprise.

Her mouth hung agape for all of a second, before she remembered herself and brought her jaw up quickly. Once again her stare was set on the stranger, who she now knew to be her eldest brother. There was little to no resemblance between himself and the other two siblings, Adron and Faye were refined and delicate as only nobles could be. Kainan was touched by the scars of war, hard of disposition and of mind. She remained dumb for longer than a minute while her mind caught up with the events. 'I would chastise you for not telling us sooner if I thought it would make an ounce of difference.' Adron had always had a flair for the dramatic, as did most that came from House Malvern. Faye inhaled the musty air that was a sore reminder of home. Her now bright amber eyes sparkled as she addressed Kainan for the second time that night. 'Now it truly is a pleasure to meet you. I thought we were the only ones left.' She paused in her speech to prevent her voice from wobbling, the memory of that horrific day flashing bright in her minds eye for a split second. When she spoke again it came with a smile, directed at her eldest brother, that curled the corners of her lips up and crinkled the skin around her eyes. 'It seems we have a lot of catching up to do.'

[member=Adron Malvern] | [member=Darth Tacitus]​

 

[Kainan Wolfe]

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Attn: [member="Adron Malvern"] | [member="Faye Malvern"]​

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• CNS Veil
  Ryloth, Confederate Space

A look of apprehension briefly flashed in the warlord's eyes as the young woman introduced herself. It was only a small slip, as the Eternal Emperor regained his composure almost immediately, the same unreadable, calculating expression that he had displayed earlier, returning in his eyes. Yet, an empath like Faye would be able to see past the mask and pick up on the confusing mass of emotions that lay behind, a recognizable flash of shock, followed by the unmistakable taste of a deep sorrow. Others were harder to recognize, such as an oddly detached indecision, like a mathematician running an equation. A brief glimpse into an almost alien mind. Whatever had given him his feline eyes and deadly talons, had perhaps changed more than his physical appearance.

As Adron led them into the meeting room, a feeling of recognition faintly seeped through the almost impenetrable walls the powerful Sith Lord had erected around his mind, as he deduced Adron's intended purpose for this tour and Tacitus was hardly surprised. It seemed that theatricality ran in the family.

His eyes darted between the various relics in the room, a feeling of hollowness taking root in his mind, like a dull ache that had seeped into his very bones. Outwardly, he showed no reaction, but inside boiled a seething anger which fed a cold, deadly hatred, the kind which drove men to plot and scheme the most horrible acts of vengeance. And Darth Tacitus was the kind of man who not only had the skills, but the resources with which to pull off such a thing. He had spent a decade and a half quietly building up his power, spreading his influence to the farthest reaches of the galaxy and raising a powerful army. No one knew the true extent of the enigmatic warlord's reach, but the Eternal Empire was a sleeping dragon.

Listening to Adron speak of their family's history only accented the loss which Tacitus had suffered. Even now, he still felt like an outsider, an amnesiac severed from the memories he should have had and given strife and hardship in their stead.

"Powerful, indeed," Tacitus said, echoing Adron's words. "Our enemies only succeeded in sowing the seeds of their own destruction," he spoke his promise of vengeance, his voice a bone-chilling cold that held a promise of atrocities to come. What despicable, pathetic creatures their enemies were. Bloated and corrupt, arrogant in their beliefs and blinded by their pursuit of the hedonistic excesses they were so obsessed with. Tacitus had chosen the way of the old Sith, a path of cunning and strength, of men who schemed and plotted and honed their strength in the single-minded pursuit of purpose.

His hard expression softened somewhat as Faye's voice joined his and Adron's. "We have a lot to discuss, indeed," he responded, a steely resolve in his voice.

 

[Adron Malvern]

With his siblings in a similar minset to his own Adron nodded silently. The three had been reunited through a galaxy of hells and torment but now they were prepared to take their rightful place, far from where they stood. Adron tilted his head out of the room as he made his way back into the main spine of The Veil. He held a hand to his chin, stroking it stoicly before he finally found words to match his thoughts. "We've been underground for a long time. With our Seat at Serenno destroyed we have to start from the ground up to rebuild what we had...Well, not entirely the ground up. We have something our ancestors didn't have." He began the trek down the hall, an amused smile coming over his lips while he made his way down the spine. "We have The Confederacy."

Adron gestured to Kainan while his eyes fell over the form of his younger sister. "Kainan has claimed the title of Eternal Emperor and rules Nelvaan as such. He is also the Commander of The Confederacy's greatest fleet. With my own command in the Office of the Viceroyalty we could practically take The Confederacy if we wanted to." Ambitious words came with that amused smile, as if the man was considering the option.

"But we will not. The Confederacy is a place our family could call home for a thousand generations. I won't risk the stability we have for a basically unnecessary power grab." He explained, his tone showing the consideration he had in such decisions.

"That is not to say we cannot use The Confederacy to elevate ourselves. We need to announc to the galaxy that we are back and stronger than ever. We have strength, we have wealth, we have power. They need to see it." Finally, Adron led the trio into a meeting hall, outfitted with a rather considerable meal. Most of the foods prepared were serennoan in their inception, fitting for the occasion. "Well? Any thoughts?" He asked, taking a seat at the head of the table, gesturing for each of them to join him.

[member="Darth Tacitus"] [member="Faye Malvern"]

 

[Faye Malvern]

The swirling vortex of emotions the stranger displayed confused her beyond recognition. There was something distinctly inhuman about him, but what it was Faye couldn't quite put her finger on. There were the obvious indicators like the slits in his eyes and the sheet white of his skin but beyond that he was a mystery. She decided quickly not to dwell on it any longer than she already had. Perhaps now they were aware of their connection to one another questions of that nature would be more welcome. Faye was eager to get to know the brother she hadn't realized she had.

Faye turned on the heel of her expensive shoe to follow Adron as he left the room. For some reason she didn't quite want to leave the room that was filled to the brim with memories from her childhood, but there were pressing matters to attend too. 'I believe you've done a lot of work for us already in that regard, Adron.' Faye still wasn't sure how she would fit into this grand plan. She had her force abilities and she was extremely proud of how quickly she had mastered the elements, but she had always found words to be a more fitting weapon. The life of a noble Lady came with very little threats, when she had left Serenno she had learned to defend herself out of necessity. Premeditated attacks were far beyond her skill set.

Faye's reaction to Adron's question was instantaneous. The idea had been swimming in her mind since Adron had first invited her for dinner aboard the Veil, but it had just been an idea. Now it was useful. 'We could throw a banquet.' She slipped herself into a seat at the table Adron had lead them too, gesturing to the food to indicate what she meant. 'Father used to throw them all the time to show the other Houses how powerful we were, and it isn't a threatening move either. Perhaps a celebration of our reunion?' She glanced to each of her brothers in turn with a rather calm expression on her face. Not only would it accomplish the task in more ways than one, it was a chance for them to have a taste of their old life. A taste of what was to come.

[member=Adron Malvern] | [member=Darth Tacitus]