Darth X'aviera
His retort back to her wasn’t at all surprising, not to Revna at least, and she mildly rolled her eyes at the comment about her snark. He did raise genuine questions, however, thoughtful ones that made her mind shift through thoughts and possible answers.
Why hadn’t the threats been tended to? Especially the undead one? What was the point in the civilizing if the most ‘precious’ places were left to rot and ruin in the sun and sands. Revna shifted her gaze to the City of Vardin that spread out around them, and did not see any rot or ruin. She saw a city that was thriving as any other city would - albeit under Sith control and dominion. Because this was the Royal City, it fared a little better than others across the planet - something that was still being tended to and adjusted. Strosius Himself should know that you don’t fix a city or a large town or village overnight. Even with unlimited resources, such things took time.
“The ancient Sith that ruled this world did not curb the threats that lurk in the sands. They used such threats as crucibles to test themselves, and their young ones.” Revna replied after a moment of thoughtful reflection. “Much wrong has been done to Korriban over the millenia, and it takes a long time to repair that. And some of it cannot be repaired at all. One thing that was repaired was that the wilds of Korriban were returned to their rightful rulers - the Red Sith. Clans and tribes have sprung up across the face of Korriban since Korriban was taken back from the Ashland Jedi. If you want to know why the dangers haven’t been ‘tended to’ - then go demand an answer from them. That falls under their domain of control now and we respect that.” Her gaze shifted back to her Father and her expression was serious. Giving control back to the Red Sith of the Holy Worlds was something that was close and dear to Revna’s heart. Korriban, historically, belonged to them. Not to her, or Caedes, or the Kainate, or even Strosius for that matter. But not everyone agreed nor saw eye to eye with that.
“As for the undead that roam - that is nothing new to Korriban’s history. This place is full of undeath, ancient and angry or vengeful spirits that haunt tombs and burial grounds, or sacred chambers that still hold secrets hidden for centuries. It is what makes Korriban…well, herself. You may disagree, and I won’t stop You from doing so. And for the ruin you mentioned…” Revna cast her gaze once more around them, even to the parts of the city that were under construction. “I see a place that is rising out of the ashes of the ruin and rot that swallowed it for generations, a place pushing back against the taint of Jedi influence. You may not see it, or want to see it, and I suppose that is what it is. I can’t change Your mind, no matter how much I would like to.”
She returned her gaze back to her Father for a moment and studied the glinting mask on His face, the very pale yellow that she saw behind the visor from time to time, as the conversation drifted into other topics. He viewed himself as competition for the Hssiss, and not that He was afraid of them, and that brought a huff of amusement to the little Marr. She didn’t entirely believe Him on that particular topic; she felt that, perhaps, her Father was trying to tell Himself or convince Himself that He wasn’t afraid - but she did not press that topic. He was a prideful man, that much she had seen and figured out in her time under His wing; best not to provoke Him too much - and she had already provoked Him enough as it was.
Her attempt to steer the conversation towards something that would be more engrossing and reflective for them both at first seemed to pay off, but then she spoke her mind and her heart and she watched the subtle changes that came over Alisteri. As she continued, she realized that she had treaded into a topic that was rather…sensitive for Him.
When she had finished speaking, His shoulders were slouched and His face was turned away, glued to the transparasteel window that gave a breathtaking view of the city and the wild spaces that surrounded it. For a moment, Revna felt a deep flicker of shame that something she had said, had shared, had brought this shift in Him out. She felt as if she had lost Him, and it drew her into a sort of silence that she found…uncomfortable.
Her Father hummed a response, barely audible enough for her to hear it - then asked how much longer it was to the kennels.
“Not much farther. We are very nearly there.” Revna replied after a moment, her voice subdued, though she wished it wasn’t. She too turned her gaze out the window for a spell, weighing what she should do next.
“I …apologize if what I said hurt You. It was not my intention. I suppose I am just so eager to finally share my experiences with You, that I do forget that some things are still…raw for You. I will endeavor to be more aware of what I say moving forward…because I don’t like seeing You like this.” she blurted after a moment of tense silence, the apology coming out and surprising her. She cast her gaze back towards Him, uncertain of how He might respond to what she said.
Only a few moments later, or so it felt, the shuttle they rode slowed and came to a smooth halt, and the driver announced their arrival at the Gate to Kennels. The doors slid open with a soft hiss, and the chilly air of Korriban drifted over Revna’s face and disturbed her silvery black strands of hair that fell about her face. She stepped out onto Korriban’s surface and faced the Gate nearby that was overseen by two guards that bore the black and gold colors of Korriban. She felt their eyes on her, felt the subtle tension when her Father stepped out with her.
Revna inhaled a deep and steadying breath, trying to push what had just transpired in the shuttle to the back of her mind for the time being. She made her approach to the Gate and its guardians, and was greeted with respectful dips of their chins.
“Lady Revna - it has been some time.” The elder Guard rumbled, his voice deep and respectful as he briefly looked her over before casting his gaze towards the other figure with her and then returning his focus back to her. “I - was not informed that anyone would be visiting the Kennels at this time.”
“The visit was more spur of the moment.” Revna admitted as she came to a halt before the man.
His eyes shifted from her to her Father. “And who is your guest?”
“This is Darth Strosius.” she said, casting a glance towards her Father before turning her burning gaze back upon the Guard, her expression turning firm. “Will you allow us entry or deny us?”
“You are authorized to enter the Kennels, my Lady. Your guest, however, is not.”
“I am authorizing his entry into the Kennels. He is with me, and under my purview and direction.” Revna replied back, her voice terse and firm - a tone that brooked no argument and expected compliance. The Guard, and indeed the second one, exchanged glances for a moment, before the one she had been speaking with bowed his head in assent.
“As you command, my Lady.” He said before he turned and allowed the bio-scanner to read his biometrics, and the Gate opened before her and Alisteri. Revna stepped past the guards and the gate, guiding the way inside the sprawling Royal Kennels of Korriban. Idly, she wondered if it perhaps would have been easier, and indeed perhaps better, if she had acquired a ship or a shuttle to take her and her Father into the Valley - but riding together through the sands had sounded more exciting at the time, something to bond over.
Alas, they were here now, and she wasn’t about to change her mind.
As she and her Father stepped further into the Kennels - which more accurately resembled an open and impeccably cared for zoo or sanctuary - Revna turned towards the Sith Lord with a questioning expression on her face.
“...Do you want your own mount to ride into the Valley, or would riding with me on my own mount be more agreeable to you? Your answer will depend on if I order the Keepers to saddle one mount, or two.” she asked, leaving the ultimate decision up to Him.
Why hadn’t the threats been tended to? Especially the undead one? What was the point in the civilizing if the most ‘precious’ places were left to rot and ruin in the sun and sands. Revna shifted her gaze to the City of Vardin that spread out around them, and did not see any rot or ruin. She saw a city that was thriving as any other city would - albeit under Sith control and dominion. Because this was the Royal City, it fared a little better than others across the planet - something that was still being tended to and adjusted. Strosius Himself should know that you don’t fix a city or a large town or village overnight. Even with unlimited resources, such things took time.
“The ancient Sith that ruled this world did not curb the threats that lurk in the sands. They used such threats as crucibles to test themselves, and their young ones.” Revna replied after a moment of thoughtful reflection. “Much wrong has been done to Korriban over the millenia, and it takes a long time to repair that. And some of it cannot be repaired at all. One thing that was repaired was that the wilds of Korriban were returned to their rightful rulers - the Red Sith. Clans and tribes have sprung up across the face of Korriban since Korriban was taken back from the Ashland Jedi. If you want to know why the dangers haven’t been ‘tended to’ - then go demand an answer from them. That falls under their domain of control now and we respect that.” Her gaze shifted back to her Father and her expression was serious. Giving control back to the Red Sith of the Holy Worlds was something that was close and dear to Revna’s heart. Korriban, historically, belonged to them. Not to her, or Caedes, or the Kainate, or even Strosius for that matter. But not everyone agreed nor saw eye to eye with that.
“As for the undead that roam - that is nothing new to Korriban’s history. This place is full of undeath, ancient and angry or vengeful spirits that haunt tombs and burial grounds, or sacred chambers that still hold secrets hidden for centuries. It is what makes Korriban…well, herself. You may disagree, and I won’t stop You from doing so. And for the ruin you mentioned…” Revna cast her gaze once more around them, even to the parts of the city that were under construction. “I see a place that is rising out of the ashes of the ruin and rot that swallowed it for generations, a place pushing back against the taint of Jedi influence. You may not see it, or want to see it, and I suppose that is what it is. I can’t change Your mind, no matter how much I would like to.”
She returned her gaze back to her Father for a moment and studied the glinting mask on His face, the very pale yellow that she saw behind the visor from time to time, as the conversation drifted into other topics. He viewed himself as competition for the Hssiss, and not that He was afraid of them, and that brought a huff of amusement to the little Marr. She didn’t entirely believe Him on that particular topic; she felt that, perhaps, her Father was trying to tell Himself or convince Himself that He wasn’t afraid - but she did not press that topic. He was a prideful man, that much she had seen and figured out in her time under His wing; best not to provoke Him too much - and she had already provoked Him enough as it was.
Her attempt to steer the conversation towards something that would be more engrossing and reflective for them both at first seemed to pay off, but then she spoke her mind and her heart and she watched the subtle changes that came over Alisteri. As she continued, she realized that she had treaded into a topic that was rather…sensitive for Him.
When she had finished speaking, His shoulders were slouched and His face was turned away, glued to the transparasteel window that gave a breathtaking view of the city and the wild spaces that surrounded it. For a moment, Revna felt a deep flicker of shame that something she had said, had shared, had brought this shift in Him out. She felt as if she had lost Him, and it drew her into a sort of silence that she found…uncomfortable.
Her Father hummed a response, barely audible enough for her to hear it - then asked how much longer it was to the kennels.
“Not much farther. We are very nearly there.” Revna replied after a moment, her voice subdued, though she wished it wasn’t. She too turned her gaze out the window for a spell, weighing what she should do next.
“I …apologize if what I said hurt You. It was not my intention. I suppose I am just so eager to finally share my experiences with You, that I do forget that some things are still…raw for You. I will endeavor to be more aware of what I say moving forward…because I don’t like seeing You like this.” she blurted after a moment of tense silence, the apology coming out and surprising her. She cast her gaze back towards Him, uncertain of how He might respond to what she said.
Only a few moments later, or so it felt, the shuttle they rode slowed and came to a smooth halt, and the driver announced their arrival at the Gate to Kennels. The doors slid open with a soft hiss, and the chilly air of Korriban drifted over Revna’s face and disturbed her silvery black strands of hair that fell about her face. She stepped out onto Korriban’s surface and faced the Gate nearby that was overseen by two guards that bore the black and gold colors of Korriban. She felt their eyes on her, felt the subtle tension when her Father stepped out with her.
Revna inhaled a deep and steadying breath, trying to push what had just transpired in the shuttle to the back of her mind for the time being. She made her approach to the Gate and its guardians, and was greeted with respectful dips of their chins.
“Lady Revna - it has been some time.” The elder Guard rumbled, his voice deep and respectful as he briefly looked her over before casting his gaze towards the other figure with her and then returning his focus back to her. “I - was not informed that anyone would be visiting the Kennels at this time.”
“The visit was more spur of the moment.” Revna admitted as she came to a halt before the man.
His eyes shifted from her to her Father. “And who is your guest?”
“This is Darth Strosius.” she said, casting a glance towards her Father before turning her burning gaze back upon the Guard, her expression turning firm. “Will you allow us entry or deny us?”
“You are authorized to enter the Kennels, my Lady. Your guest, however, is not.”
“I am authorizing his entry into the Kennels. He is with me, and under my purview and direction.” Revna replied back, her voice terse and firm - a tone that brooked no argument and expected compliance. The Guard, and indeed the second one, exchanged glances for a moment, before the one she had been speaking with bowed his head in assent.
“As you command, my Lady.” He said before he turned and allowed the bio-scanner to read his biometrics, and the Gate opened before her and Alisteri. Revna stepped past the guards and the gate, guiding the way inside the sprawling Royal Kennels of Korriban. Idly, she wondered if it perhaps would have been easier, and indeed perhaps better, if she had acquired a ship or a shuttle to take her and her Father into the Valley - but riding together through the sands had sounded more exciting at the time, something to bond over.
Alas, they were here now, and she wasn’t about to change her mind.
As she and her Father stepped further into the Kennels - which more accurately resembled an open and impeccably cared for zoo or sanctuary - Revna turned towards the Sith Lord with a questioning expression on her face.
“...Do you want your own mount to ride into the Valley, or would riding with me on my own mount be more agreeable to you? Your answer will depend on if I order the Keepers to saddle one mount, or two.” she asked, leaving the ultimate decision up to Him.