Dominion The Wretched Hive | Black Sun Syndicate Dominion of the Kastolar Sector

[Velzari Tharn]

B L A C K - S U N - S Y N D I C A T E
T H E - W R E T C H E D - H I V E​

​

She felt she didn’t deserve the iron. Velzari could sense it plainly in her voice, her posture. But he knew that she would take it if he demanded. Her loyalty, if nothing else, was unbreakable. Cold eyes pierced the Vigo while a manicured talon lazily traced the edge of the tool on the table. The smell of hot metal wafted between the Underlord and Mauve.

“The bounty placed on you by the Toydarians will soon be of little concern,” Velzari said ominously. Plans were already in place to punish the clans for their actions against the syndicate. The listing may yet remain on her head when all was said and done, but only because those in a position to rescind it would be dead or enslaved.

Velok Brokentusk is not an easy hunter to thwart - Mauve’s survival and ability to sow the seeds of chaos in Black Sun’s favor was commendable. Impressive, even. It would have almost entirely absolved her, if it weren’t for what came next.

“You chose the life of the Sith Princess Varanin over an indisputable victory for Black Sun,” the Underlord said. He left no room for argument or discussion. “Had the boy-king murdered her before the Council and his colleagues, we’d be counting credits from our casinos on Wielu instead of awaiting an uncertain decision from a room of confused imbeciles and their Royal bedmates.”

He rose to his feet and clutched the hot brand with long, green fingers. They wrapped around handle, lifting it with without hesitation. He stepped around Mauve, slowly, coming to a stop behind her. One hand found her shoulder and rested upon it. A gentle squeeze, almost fatherly, followed. Then the tip of the iron passed by her face, hot enough that the heat would be uncomfortable against the skin but still inches away. The Mark of Shame was almost glowing now at the end of the tool.

“Give me one good reason why I should forgive a betrayal of Black Sun for this… Sith child’s life.”

Tags: Mauve du Vain
​

 

[Hasuras Na-Gerra]

"Excuse me, you're standing right in the middle of the walkway." Her voice was slightly pointed and sprinkled with arrogance.

A haughty voice resounded in Gerra’s ears, he turned, a frown upon his granite features. He had not the beauty of a statue in marble, rather, the dominance of a mountain crag, etched and weathered.

The Vahla’s eyes tracked down and he found a pale woman of slight build and hair of shimmering, white-gold.

“Yours is a face I remember,” he rumbled, his voice impossibly deep, “You are the Princess of the Sith Worlds.”

A native of the Firefist, Gerra might have bent the knee to the Emperor, but he would not grovel and prostrate before this princess - if that is what she sought.

Still.

He took one step backward, permitting her passage.

“Yours is a presence I would not expect, here, so far from the Holy Worlds.”

This station was the last major one before an expanse of untrammeled space. Far removed from civilization.

Quinn Varanin

 

[Mauve du Vain]

Then the tip of the iron passed by her face, hot enough that the heat would be uncomfortable against the skin but still inches away. The Mark of Shame was almost glowing now at the end of the tool.

The heat roiled oppressively off the glowing brand and Mauve recoiled at base, instinctual level, hunching deep into the chair. She imagined the taste of the brand scorching and searing her flesh and a tremble went through her. Cold sweat trickled down her spine.

No. Please, no.

She wanted to beg, to grovel. But she did not. Instead her throat bobbed, she tilted her chin up, and she forced herself to meet the Underlord’s gaze with defiance in her eyes.

“Because that Sith child is the princess of their empire and an asset I have cultivated. I am so close to brokering a deal with her. Our influence, beyond the Blackwall. Her death would have ruined it all. She is next in line to the throne.”

Yes, the more she spoke, the more confident she grew. Velzari wouldn’t brand her. She was too valuable to him. Too important. Who else could have managed these feats? Not him.

Velzari Tharn

 

[Nero Drake]

BANTHA'S WILD CANTINA
KWENN STATION (OBJ 1)
Isur Jerec Asyr Levi

"Oh you're The Madclaw's men! Let's absolutely have that drink. Tell me everything. What's he like as a captain? What's his grooming regime?"

"So you've crossed paths with the silver devil himself and lived to tell of it."

Nero slid his bloody sword back into its scabbard. He even decided that he might like the ithorian after Jerec drunkenly offered him a free ship. Leading his own raids wasn't quite that simple. No crew worth sithspit on Kwenn Station or any other shadowport would follow a captain so young and untested but The Madclaw would be pleased. He might even let Nero keep the ship once the wookiee moved onto bigger and better things.

"You've done me a good turn and so I'll answer you true," the blast helmet swiveled back and forth as if its occupant was nervous about who might be listening, "Oh, he's a dread pirate that Cap'n Madclaw. Ruthless as they come but fair in his own way. Seen him pull a dejarik hustler's arms out of their sockets. Tis the blackest curse for any soul to swab the decks of a wookiee's ship. No creature should shed so much."

Nero lost track of the beast fight amidst so much jubilation over free spaceships. Pretty soon Jerec was being served enough rounds to melt the stomach of a large gundark from all his new grateful fans.

"What about you, mate?" he asked the karkarodon, "Any good tales about Delpho?"

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Mercy //: Hasuras Na-Gerra //:
//: Attire //:

Quinn looked back at the man who had recognized her. Eyes scanned him up and down, not to size him up, but to take in the sheer mass that the man was. He looked strong, but not brutish. There was a cunning sense in his eyes. Quinn could appreciate that. It wasn't every day you met someone who was brains and brawn.

As she made this passing thought, she looked towards Mercy and smirked. Gerra drew her attention again as he mentioned her far from the holy worlds. Quinn mused that he must be one of those Sith who only viewed the holy worlds as worth protecting. She wondered his reaction if he realized she was born on Eshan -- a world now dominated by the Alliance.

"I am the Princess of the Sith worlds, you're right." She answered him, "You can call me Quinn. I prefer it outside of the Holy Worlds."

With the bounty now on her head, she decided it would be better for her well-being to just go by her first name. She hadn't thought of a clever-sounding cover name quite yet. But why would she hide?

She paused and brushed her hair behind her ears as she thought.

"Don't see many Vahla out this way either, from what I've seen. What should I call you?" She asked with a smile.

Quinn rotated and leaned against the bartop, looking at the man. She recognized features of the Vahla, having known Kaila, who was mixed.
She didn't demand praise or groveling; instead, she waved towards the bar and looked to Mercy, "You two know each other?"

As much as Quinn wanted to quip and tease the Vigo, she restrained herself. It seemed Mercy knew the man. Their game was just for them, not to be flaunted in front of others. She had learned that small lesson the last time she and Mercy had met at a bar. It was still a reaction she hadn't expected, though she was touched.

Looking at the credits, she grinned, "So you're buying for all of us? How kind."

She quickly grabbed one of the pints that was poured and carefully sipped at the top of the beer, and offered another to the sizable man.

 

[Mercy]

Quinn Varanin | Hasuras Na-Gerra

The princess of the Sith Worlds.

Mercy shot her an amused glance but didn't make fun of it. It was one thing to make fun of Quinn in private, or among people that were their peers or friends.

Gerra was something else entirely.

She sipped again from her beer and hummed softly until Quinn addressed her again. "Oh, yeah, the big boy and me go way back." Mercy drawled there with those eyes fixated on the large warrior. "We took a vacation to Hapes just the other week. Caused a right mess, didn't we, lad?" A slow stretch there as she glanced towards Quinn.

"Big ol' shame you weren't there for it, darling. You would have quite enjoyed the mayhem."

A Queen dead, a regime overthrown, a new Queen in its place. Quinn might have heard of it, but maybe she hadn't realized yet that it was the handiwork of someone she knew personally.

Then back to Gerra.

"What brings you here, raiding the Inn next? Seems a bit of a downgrade." She smirked and shot a glance over her shoulder to the tavernkeep, who had blanched at the tease. "Just joking, Merion, keep pouring. Because yes, Quinn, I am buying everyone a round."

Especially since it wasn't her money. She had taken it from the Twi'lek she had thrown through the window just a moment ago.

 

[Velzari Tharn]

B L A C K - S U N - S Y N D I C A T E
T H E - W R E T C H E D - H I V E​

​

Velzari could practically smell the defiance, though that could easily have been the woman's vellus hairs singing as the iron drew dangerous close to her flesh. Do Zeltrons blister red before the flesh chars to black? Despite the sadistic glimmer in his eyes, he wouldn't get to sate his curiosity. Not today, at least. He backed the torch from Mauve's face, but only by a few inches - Velzari wanted to ease the threat so she may speak freely, but it was very clear that he could change his mind at a moment's notice.

Luckily for Mauve, she wasted little time providing a convincing offering.

"You believe this girl is worth more than what you cost me on Wielu?" the Underlord half-asked, half-declared. He didn't wait for his Vigo to answer; he knew she believed this, else she'd have taken the brand or begged for her life.

A safe route through the Blackwall, even relatively so, was a commodity almost as precious as time. If Quinn Varanin were truly the key to unlocking that door, then Mauve would have truly outdone herself. Sith space was a virgin market unspoiled by external syndicates since the wall went up and the stars shifted. The Underlord almost salivated at the thought of encroaching upon Sith-Imperial worlds... but there was much yet to be seen for him to believe such a precious victory was within reach.

And to grasp it, Mauve needed to be alive - and preferably not banished.

Velzari moved toward his desk, resting the iron on its surface and taking the seat opposite Mauve. "Keep your pets on a tighter leash, Miss du Vain. I will not be so patient next time."

His gaze was unyielding, but within his eyes, a clear command was issued: "leave my presence." Though before any attempt to retreat could be made, Velzari spoke again, this time with a dark interest in his voice. "If Princess Varanin is to be a willing cog in this mechanism, I should like to meet her myself. I trust your rapport with her is... strong enough to convince an appointment with the Prince of the Underworld?"

Tags: Mauve du Vain
​

 

[Mauve du Vain]

A tidal wave of relief shuddered through her and she found she could breathe again. She knew the value of what she offered him, but some part of her expected him to still try to use her as a lesson. It seemed her value did afford her some insulation against failures after all. And Prince Tharn could see that, plain enough.

"Yes, Underlord," Mauve stood from the chair, somewhat shakily, "I will see it arranged."

Fearing any further utterances might see him change his mind, she only bowed her head, then retreated. Only once the door to his office had fully closed behind her did she allow herself to take deep breaths, chest heaving as she allowed the panic and fear and relief of it all to wash over her in full.

Velzari Tharn

"This way," a guard tried to lead her by the arm, but she tore her it free.

"Get your hands off me," she spat, lashing out with a venom.

She needed to be free of this building and be somewhere she could be in control, preferably with a strong drink.

Dazed and wandering, she finally found a bar and plopped into a seat next to Kaila Irons .

"Pardon" Mauve said, eyes flickering, taking in the spiky, black attire, bearing, and molten eyes.

"What are you drinking?" the Zeltron said, offering a smile she didn't entirely feel.

Did she care that she was still wearing just the silken black robe from the spa? No, no she did not.

 

[Hasuras Na-Gerra]

What brings you here, raiding the Inn next? Seems a bit of a downgrade." She smirked and shot a glance over her shoulder to the tavernkeep, who had blanched at the tease.

The Vahlan giant snorted and shook his head in a ponderous motion. "No, Star-Arm. There are no riches to be gained from sacking this station. It is of more use to refit and repair my vessel."

Gesturing to his corsairs, he let them loose upon the inn, to gamble and drink as desired. They gave a whoop and fell upon the bar like a horde of vultures. Gerra watched them with mild disdain, speaking to Quinn as he did.

"I am called Hasuras na-Gerra, Scourge of Worlds. But you may call me Gerra."

Quinn Varanin | Mercy

 

[Kaila Irons]

Location: Kwenn Station, bar
Wearing: Dress
Tag: Mauve du Vain

Golden eyes shot sidelong as she sensed another lifeform in her periphery.

Much smaller than herself, pink skinned, and down to her silks. Unless bar could afford "live entertainment"—which she doubted—then this was someone down on her luck and in need of something stiff to distract herself.

She could practically taste the residual fear and stress.

"What are you drinking?" the Zeltron said, offering a smile she didn't entirely feel.

"Hm." the brought her glass up to sniff.

"Revnog, I should think."

She held that guarded expression and her drink a moment longer, but the more she looked at this woman, the more her freckled features began to soften.

Kaila slid her drink towards the Zeltron, gesturing for the bartender to get her another.

"Something tells me you need it more than I, yes?"

​

 

[Isur]

It was a bit of a shock that so many people were in this one bar. Weren’t there others on the station? Didn’t matter for Isur. He placed a few credits, honestly nothing more than actual aurodium chips from some conquest or another, onto the table. He was hoping for the Nexu to make a comeback. The underdog always surprised the Karkarodon.

Now the other surprise? A ship.

Offered to him? Of all beings.

The shark blinked twice, almost considering the move from the Ithorian. But a Vigo… perhaps.

But with that call of ships, it definitely threw the match into chaos. People shambling over, the Nexu and Crystal Fox ring knocked too many times. The shark slammed a hand down and growled.

“Fight. Then ships.” He eyed the others. They cleared away from the ring and towards Jerec.

“Delpho good captain. Find big whales of treasure.” Its what they called the galleons. “Many targets. Much prey to be had.” The Karkarodon effected what was an attempt at a nod. "They never see us coming."

Stygium covered Marauder Corvette and all.

Nero Drake Jerec Asyr Levi

 

[Mauve du Vain]

Kaila slid her drink towards the Zeltron, gesturing for the bartender to get her another.

Mauve did not need much prompting, she seized the glass, tipped it back, and drained the contents in a few long gulps. She set the glass back down on the counter and dabbed at the corner of her mouth.

"I'll take a double shot of Honoghr whiskey."

The bartender raised both eyebrows, "Uh."

Fair point, it was basically paint thinner.

"Make that two."

"Suuuure. Two double shots of Honoghri, coming right up."

The bartender gave a heavy pour into shot glasses and set them both in front of her, then put hands on hips to watch. Clearly, doubting she would follow through.

Mauve knocked back one, suppressed a sudden rush of bile, then dumped the other on down as well.

It took a lot to get two livers drunk, but where there was a will, there was a way.

Big, violet eyes turned on Kaila Irons .

"I'm Mauve by the way."

She said it the way someone might follow up a double homicide with an introduction.

"I hear there's a bunch of pirates reveling down on the lower tier. We should go. You look like a party girl," Mauve's eyes went to the absurdly high spikes of the dour black dress. She decidedly did NOT look like a party girl, but, Mauve would manifest it.

"Come on!"

Grabbing the much taller woman by the arm, she tugged her toward the exit and the turbolift shafts.

"Have you ever partied with pirates before? They're so raucous, it's absurd. You'll love it."

 

[Kaila Irons]

Location: Kwenn Station, being abducted by Mauve du Vain
Wearing: Dress

"Oh that's actually-"

Kaila watched what should have been her second drink vanish in an instant, outstretched fingers curling awkwardly.

Wow, the Sith thought. She really needed that drink.

"I'm Mauve by the way."

"Anathemous." she replied as easily as though it were her name and not the cultish title it was.

To her, it may as well have been.

Though at the claim that she looked like a party goer, the young Darth's lips curled faintly, then some more when she saw the Zeltron visibly processing the invalidity of that claim. But she decided to push anyway, despite it being so obvious what she was. This didn't even seem like a set up, no ulterior motive, just a woman looking for a distraction.

It was new. It was... nice.

As Mauve tugged her along however, she would soon find that the Darth was unnaturally heavy, like pulling at the arm of a large war-droid that refused to budge.

At least until she understood what was happening.

"Have you ever partied with pirates before? They're so raucous, it's absurd. You'll love it."

"With pirates?" she chuckled in disbelief.

Though as the bartender started complaining about the unpaid tab, Kaila decided to follow her anyway, walking faster.

"No, but I've knocked back mead with the Second Legion—the Jutrand Raiders—so, close enough I suppose?"

"...have you?" she questioned.

"Forgive my saying this but, neither of us look like women who belong here, do we?"

​

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Mercy //: Hasuras Na-Gerra //:
//: Attire //:

Quinn's excitement spiked — she didn't have to pay today? Perfect. As the bartender poured the pints, her gaze slid toward the harder liquors.

If she couldn't have wine, she'd at least have something worth drinking.

She lifted a hand, and the bartender moved without hesitation to take her order. The shot came quickly. Raising the glass toward Mercy with a grin, she downed it in a single swallow before returning to the pint.

She still couldn't decide if beer was a drink or a dare. The thick, bready liquid wasn't growing on her, but this was the game here — and Quinn played to win. Mercy won't ever win again.

The mention of Hapes drew a low chuckle.

"Poor Hapes has been in pieces since the Alliance planted its boots there." She sipped, reining in the sharper edge of her opinion — no point alienating potential allies over politics.

Still, it had been all over the holonews for months, and the mess showed no sign of fixing itself.

"Well, I hope the unlucky soul you crowned can handle both the Alliance and the fallout. Planets like Hapes should govern themselves."

She turned to Gerra with a polite nod. "A pleasure to meet you, Gerra. I'll be watching for your name — if Hapes was only the first." Her pint dangled loosely from her fingers as she leaned against the bar.

"Scourge of worlds," she echoed, an amused curve to her lips. "Quite the title. Tell me, what other conquests have you claimed?"

Her gaze cut to Mercy, brows arched.

"I'm sure I would have enjoyed the mayhem," she said, letting the words linger before sipping again. "You should have invited me."

 

[Jerec Asyr]

"Quite the offer. But I'm afraid I've already got the best ship a scoundrel could ask for."

"A man after me own heart. I'd sooner piss up a lightsaber again than trade my lovely Infinity's Free for any other boat-"

Pretty soon Jerec was being served enough rounds to melt the stomach of a large gundark from all his new grateful fans.

In short order, a Toydarian on each arm, Jerec became distracted beyond his capacity to navigate.

 

[Mauve du Vain]

"Forgive my saying this but, neither of us look like women who belong here, do we?"

“Oh please, darling,” Mauve said, somewhat perturbed by the enormous weight of the woman - it wasn’t polite to remark on that but my stars, it was like tugging on a starliner expecting it to budge.

“I belong wherever I wish to belong,” she smiled coyly.

She was quite certain this woman was a Sith, the outfit gave a hint but the name, Anathemous, practically screamed it.

Mauve pushed the turbolift button and got inside.

“And have I been? Once or twice. Just don’t jump in if they pull weapons on each other, best to let them sort it out and watch the fun.”

 

[Velzari Tharn]

B L A C K - S U N - S Y N D I C A T E
T H E - W R E T C H E D - H I V E​

​

Velzari's eyes shifted away from Mauve as she scurried from his lair. He thumbed the torch, killing the heat and watching the cherry-red brand cool to a steely grey. He'd have used it on her with no hesitation, as he would have done with any of his underlings, but a small part of him was glad to have avoided banishing such a sharp Vigo from his retinue. Unlike others, she would have been a pain to replace. Luckily, she had a knack for... un-fucking situations such as the one she found herself in now. Velzari cut her loose with a warning, now all he had to do was see how she rectified it. With luck, that would come in the form of an exclusive access point through the Sith Blackwall.

The Underlord chuckled to himself, thrilled by the thought of a plan falling into place.

He stood to face the large viewport behind his desk. Through it, he enjoyed an unobstructed view of Kwenn. Soon, Black Sun would run through veins of the Gem Cities like stimulants through a shockboxer. Making it stronger, more potent. Maximizing potential. Kwenn would become one of dozens of worlds to welcome the syndicate with open arms, eager to taste the sweet fruits of Black Sun's fortuitous presence. All of Kastolar would follow once Kwenn was his. It would open many doors in the Slice to control such a bountiful mining world.

Many doors indeed.

Tags: Mauve du Vain | OPEN
​

 

[Nala]

Location: Lanupa - Objective 2

Tags: OPEN

The smoke from the destroyed comms relay still curled into the blue-white sky as Nala stepped over the ruined threshold of the resort's grand lobby. The once-pristine marble floor, polished to reflect the glow of crystal chandeliers, now lay under a carpet of shattered glass and overturned furniture. Screams, sharp and panicked, echoed down the vaulted corridors, cutting through the mountain air like a distress beacon no one would answer.

The Forsaken fanned out in disciplined lines, their boots pounding in perfect rhythm as they swept through the opulent halls. Nala moved at the center of the storm, her voice low but razor-sharp as she issued commands into her throat mic. "High-value guests first. Secure them. Alive." Her cold, steady eyes swept over the lavish decor, noting the security checkpoints already overrun, the guards stripped of their weapons and their dignity. "We'll sell them back to their gilded cages when the Black Sun says so."

Her crew responded with silent precision. In the dining hall, they herded a cluster of guests against the wall. Diamonds glinted on trembling fingers as their owners tried to clutch them like talismans. One man attempted to bluster, invoking his holdings on Coruscant; Nala shut him down with a single look, the weight of her gaze freezing him mid-sentence.

Down the east wing, two Forsaken operatives dragged a spa director from behind a concierge desk, her expensive robes tangled around her ankles. Another team was already breaking into the guest registry, pulling names and data for ransom calculations. The efficiency of it all was almost surgical.

Nala's attention returned to the mountain peaks beyond the shattered windows. Skull Ridge stood immutable above them, a jagged reminder that luxury was only a veneer, easily stripped away. Somewhere beneath those ridges lay the rumored treasure, and she intended to have it before nightfall.

But for now, the hostages would serve their purpose. They were assets, like cargo or stolen ships, to be traded and leveraged. In the Black Sun's ledger, every life here had a credit value, and under Nala's command, they would all pay their due.

 

[Kaila Irons]

Location: Kwenn Station, being abducted by Mauve du Vain
Wearing: Dress

“I belong wherever I wish to belong,” she smiled coyly.

"Oh~?" she hummed "A kindred spirit perhaps."

Kaila was led into the lift, golden eyes giving the interior a quick once over. No strange panels for turrets or vents for gas, nobody waiting for them inside. The only one that could pose any threat in her was Mauve herself, and well, Kaila didn't imagine her hiding much under those silken robes really.

Her broad shoulders loosened.

“And have I been? Once or twice. Just don’t jump in if they pull weapons on each other, best to let them sort it out and watch the fun.”

"Why watch when you could join the fun?" she smirked.

"I'll have you know I can do more than sit and look pretty."

​

 

[Mauve du Vain]

"Oh I bet you can," Mauve purred as the turbolift doors slid closed.

Stars, but she needed at least four more drinks. Something fancy, top shelf. Really just drain the bottle, maybe.

Danger radiated from the taller woman and a sense of alertness, Mauve could feel her emotions, a halo of burnt orange. Not someone who lowered their guard easily.

"Feel free to join in, but me? I prefer to watch."

The door chimed and the pair strolled out. The starport was absolutely bustling with the worst sorts of vagabonds. Mauve was delighted. They looked absurd in all their bright-feathered capes and big hats and too-baggy trousers. And oh, look at all the weapons. Crews of every sort imaginable on the prowl.

Mauve led the woman through the crowd toward the Tallifax Inn and no sooner did they push through the door than Mauve was at the bar again.

"I'll have the Merenzane Gold," Mauve pointed at the bottle at the very top of the shelf.

The bartender didn't even blink. It was a wonderful day for business, surely. She fished a thousand cred chit out of her robe - yes it had pockets - and handed it over.

Bottle in hand, Mauve turned back toward Kaila Irons , only to spy Quinn Varanin and Mercy and some absurdly huge being. A mix of emotions slammed into Mauve at the sight of the platinum blonde. She drowned them with a sip of the bottle.

"Ohh, friends. We should grab a booth."

The booths were all taken but, with three Sith that probably could be amended.