Private To Tame One's Beast

[Revna Marr]

​

Just as she had told her Disciple she would, Revna reached out to the Dread Wolf, Lord Lechner himself, while Varin recovered further from what remained of his injuries from the Battle of Brosi. The correspondence had been brief; she requested an audience with the Dark Councilor, indicating that she would be bringing a secondary individual with her to discuss a matter of importance, something she indicated that only Gerwald could help her with.

Or at least, she hoped he would help her with.

She made it clear, too, that should Gerwald demand something as payment in return for his help, then she was more than willing to do so. She was well aware that nothing came free in the world of the Sith, and she knew that Lord Lechner was aware of that as well.

So the appointment was made, a time and location given, and Revna informed her Apprentice once he was recovered enough that they would be leaving Korriban and travelling to Jutrand - the very heart of the Eleventh Sith Empire. She didn’t need to tell Varin to be on his best behavior, for she knew he would show due respect and give it where it was due. It was just how he was raised - something she was thankful for. His parents, especially his Sith Lord father, had taught him much - though not everything. Now she just had to guide him on the things he still struggled with, push him where he needed to be pushed, and let him figure out the rest for himself.

But this particular struggle - taming the beast that lurked within, or at least learning how to bring it under his control - required the guidance or wisdom of another, and that was why she sought out Gerwald. She wasn’t even sure he would agree to aid her and Varin in this, but it was worth a shot. She would do anything and everything she could to ensure her Apprentice had the best training and guidance possible - even if that meant she had to step aside and allow someone else more experienced than her to take the lead for a bit.

And so, Revna and Varin travelled to the Obsidian Spire in Jutrand. The little Sith woman led the way once inside the tower, the taller young man just behind her. She was quiet but alert, her pace as quick as her limp would allow her to be; though she hid it well enough, those who knew her or had a keen eye would notice it. Once inside, some of those within the Spire that she passed by didn’t bother to glance her way, while others watched her and her Apprentice pass by with narrowed eyes of curiosity or outright suspicion.

Finally, they both came upon the agreed meeting location, and Revna was the first to enter the room - offering a polite and respectful bow of her head towards the Dark Councilor as she stepped through the doorway, coming to a halt just beyond the threshold. This was Gerwald’s territory, his domain; she would wait to be invited in further.

“Lord Lechner.” She said in greeting, her voice neutral in tone, though edged with respect. “I appreciate you responding to my message and allowing myself and my Apprentice to meet with you. May we come in?”

Varin Mortifer // Gerwald Lechner ​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: This
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
SHIP: Úlfs Reiði (Wolf's Fury)
TAG: Revna Marr | Varin Mortifer

Gerwald’s desk was a mess. Leadership had brought him many things, but he had never grown used to the endless letters, reports, and demands that required his attention. Decisions often came quickly, far faster than it took him to read every petition that crossed his desk. Those who had known him when he left Stewjon would not have believed it possible that the warrior would ever sit and read such things. Had he remained there, he would have died as another soldier in someone else’s war.

Now he planned his own. He executed them with precision, and his effectiveness drew attention he neither wanted nor needed.

He stood from the desk, parchment and datapads scattered across its surface. The protocol droid under his employ moved in silence, sorting through the clutter and handling whatever matters did not require his hand.

“There is a request here from the Lady Revna Marr,” the droid said. “She would like to visit.”

Gerwald turned, the sound of his boots sharp against the stone floor.

“Give it here.”

He read the letter quickly, eyes scanning the neat lines of text before tossing it back onto the desk.

“Tell her to come.”

For several days, the request slipped to the back of his mind. The rhythm of leadership was a steady current, one that left little room for reflection. The Second Legion had returned from the Rim only a week earlier, their ships still in dock for repairs. Reports from the front trickled in through encrypted channels, each one carrying its own weight of consequence. Commanders sought approval for deployments, quartermasters requested resources, and the Imperial overseers demanded updates. Gerwald gave each what was required of him and nothing more.
The Spire itself was alive with activity. Apprentices trained in the lower halls under the guidance of their masters, while the forge in the east wing burned day and night to supply the Legion. The air smelled faintly of oil and fire. From his private balcony, he could see the endless cityscape of Jutrand stretching beyond the storm clouds. It was a place that reflected the Order itself.

In the evenings, he walked the observation decks that lined the upper spires with his mate. The nights there were quiet. Lightning forked across the clouds in the distance, casting silver light through the glass. It reminded him of storms on Stewjon, of rain that fell on open fields and forests which surrounded his home. The memories came rarely, and when they did, he let them fade as quickly as they came.

When the droid reminded him of the appointment near the end of the week, Gerwald had already pushed aside a dozen other matters to make time. There was something curious about the woman’s message. It had not carried the tone of ambition that most Sith brought when requesting an audience. There was caution in it, almost restraint. Whatever her purpose, it was not political. That alone was enough to stir his interest.

The storm that rolled across Jutrand on the day of her arrival was heavier than usual. The sky above the capital had turned the color of burnt ash, thunder shaking the high glass towers of the city. Within the Spire, the hum of generators and the low murmur of voices filled the halls. Guards stood at their posts, their armor catching the dim light of the corridor lamps.

Gerwald waited in silence. The air in his chamber was still, touched faintly by the scent of ozone. Shadows stretched across the polished floor, broken by the pale glow of the city below. He stood before the wide panes of glass, hands clasped behind his back as he watched the horizon. His reflection moved only when the door opened behind him.

“Revna.”

The name left his lips as acknowledgment. He did not turn until she greeted him. Only then did he face her fully. His gaze settled on her first, then on the figure that followed.

“Come.”

He watched them cross the threshold. Revna carried herself with the composure of one who understood where she stood. The faint limp did not escape him, nor did the presence of the young man at her side. Power rested beneath the surface of that one. It stirred the air in a way that made the Force itself seem to take notice.

“You asked for an audience,” Gerwald said. “You said it concerned a matter of importance.”

He stepped toward the circular table at the center of the room and rested a hand on its smooth surface.

“Few come to the Spire for anything less.”

He let the silence linger, giving her the space to choose her words.

“I read your message. It was careful with its tone. Now that you are here, tell me plainly, what is it you seek, Lady Revna?”

His eyes shifted to her companion. There was energy there, something unrefined, and Gerwald regarded him with quiet calculation before turning back to her.

“And why bring him?”

 

[Varin Mortifer]

Revna Marr | Gerwald Lechner​

The healing process was finally over with. Though the mental scars of his mistake still burned him. Lady Revna told him to be ready for travel once the healing process had finished. Naturally, Varin was eager to meet this next trainer, he didn't give himself any time to rest, he had rested enough in the tank.

The trip to the ship was uneventful as he climbed in and took his seat. As they traveled he looked at the bandages that wrapped his fully healed arm. Beneath the bandages it was like nothing had happened to him, but Varin could only see the burned tissue. It was so real to him that even on the way there he changed the “filthy” bandages with new clean ones.

The way he lashed out in the heat of battle and bloodlust almost cost him dearly, if not for the quick reflexes Ignati briefly gifted him.

As he wrapped the new bandages he flexed his hand, slowly curling the fingers, testing that the tension of the bandages were right. He felt the ship slow as it landed on the planet known as Jutrand. The only familiarity to him of the strange planet was the mention of its academy and its students.

Thunder rumbled across its skies, as lightning cracked its clouds and split the air. Varin stepped out of the ship and took but just a small moment to watch the spectacle in awe. It had been a long time since he'd seen a storm in the sky since landing on Korriban. He had almost forgotten his love of watching storms.

After a quick moment he composed himself, making sure his mace was well fastened in its holster on his back, in case any curious hands decided to get a bit grabby, and followed his Master. Lady Revna walked with a slight limp as they traveled through the streets where Varin saw The Obsidian Spire. It drew attention to it almost forcefully, as if reminding the people here in the streets that they are always beneath this planet's masters.

Varin's eyes traveled upwards toward the building's apex where he would assume that was where they were heading. As they traveled through the building Varin remained silent, watching as the blurred faces of those he would soon just forget as the day went by.

They reached the threshold of a door where Lady Revna requested entrance. Varin noticed the man in the room. He felt he had seen him before but only briefly.

He allowed them entrance and as they entered Varin followed his Master, even dipping his head in a manner of respect, but still keeping his eyes on the stranger. Something Varin learned to do the hard way from his father, never take your eyes off anyone.

He remained silent as the man spoke, his words echoing off the walls. Even remained silent when asked why Varin was here. For his words were not directly pointed at Varin. He would only speak when spoken to. His eyes would quickly drift around the room, taking note of any entrances or exits. An old habit, but one he would never break.

 

[Revna Marr]

Revna stepped further into the chamber when Gerwald bid her and Varin to come forward, turning to face her directly as he did so. “Thank you, my Lord.” she said, her dark robes rustled softly as she moved further inward, her steps measured and quiet. A flicker of lightning beyond the glass panes caught her attention briefly, watching how it flashed and illuminated the capital city. The storm raged outside, gloomy weather that was rather fitting for a megatropolis Sith world. She could smell the ozone and rain, and feel the electrical energy in the air.

“You asked for an audience. You said it concerned a matter of importance.” Lord Lechner said as he stepped towards a table near the center of the room and diving straight to the point - something that Revna appreciated immensely. She could be cordial and dive into pleasantries all day long if necessary, as sometimes it was…but with Gerwald there was no need for fluff or pretty words. He was a warrior and a busy man, and she had no intention of wasting his time. “Few come to the Spire for anything less.”

Revna came to a halt just opposite of the table, her red-orange eyes glancing over its smooth and reflective surface briefly before lifting once more to regard the Dark Councilor. “Indeed I did.” She replied, glancing briefly at Varin when the mention of the meeting being of importance was mentioned. “And it is a matter of importance…at least it is to me.”

“I read your message. It was careful with its tone. Now that you are here, tell me plainly, what is it you seek, Lady Revna?” Lord Lechner said, his eyes shifting to her Disciple briefly as if to take measure of the boy. “And why bring him?”

A faint smile curled at the edges of Revna’s lips; oh how she appreciated the straight forward nature of Gerwald. It was a breath of fresh air when she spent much of her time amongst Sith and non-Sith within the royal court that were flowery with their words.

“I am actually here because of him.” Revna stated softly, casting a glance towards Varin for a moment, noticing how his eyes drifted over the room, checking for exits and entrances. “This is my Apprentice, Varin Mortifer. He has been my student for some time now.” She began, “He had already received a good amount of training and education prior to him coming under my tutelage. He is an eager student, and I am rather pleased with how he is progressing.” She paused briefly to glance over the young man, idly musing on how much he’d grown since she had first laid eyes upon him - not just in his power, but physically too. “However… there is a part of him, a part of his nature, that has come to my attention over time - something that I cannot guide him on as I just frankly don’t have the experience nor the personal resources to do so, not yet anyway.”

Revna glanced from Varin back to Gerwald, and there was a glimmer of uncertainty within her eyes, of concern. “After the Battle of Brosi, he mentioned that there was some sort of…starving creature within him that wanted to utterly destroy everything around him, ally or enemy alike and he told me of his struggle, unveiled his…concerns…and the only individual I could think of that could possibly offer guidance or wisdom on this, was you.”

For a moment, Revna's attention drifted past the Sith Lord to stare at something unseen, as if she was deep in thought for several moments, before she looked at the young man standing beside her. It was rather humbling, to find herself in this position: seeking out another to help guide her own student when she should have been able to do so. But she wasn’t so prideful or arrogant to believe that she could teach Varin everything. No Master could - despite what they might claim or believe.

“But…I believe it would be better for you to hear from Varin directly about this, my Lord. Hear from his own mouth about his… beast he wrestles with…and why I asked for this meeting in the first place.”

Gerwald Lechner // Varin Mortifer
​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: This
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
SHIP: Úlfs Reiði (Wolf's Fury)
TAG: Revna Marr | Varin Mortifer

Gerwald listened. The storm outside filled the silence between Revna’s words, thunder rolling through the Spire and echoing faintly across the polished stone floor. He stood still, the sound becoming a rhythm that marked each pause in her voice. She spoke clearly and without arrogance, careful to give shape to the matter that had brought her here.

When she finished, the chamber was quiet again. Gerwald let the silence linger.

His gaze settled first on Revna. There was sincerity in her tone, a rare thing among their kind. She did not come to flatter, nor to offer excuses. She came because she understood that her reach ended here. That truth alone drew a measure of respect. Most Sith would rather die than admit such a thing.

His attention shifted to her apprentice. Varin Mortifer. The boy stood behind her like a shadow, his posture disciplined but his eyes restless. Gerwald could feel the Force moving through him, strong but uneven. It pressed against the air, spilling from him without focus.

The wolf within stirred at the scent of something raw and familiar. He had seen this kind of turmoil before. He had lived it.

Gerwald took a single step forward. The motion was quiet, but it carried weight. The air in the room seemed to bend with it, subtle yet unmistakable. He let his gaze move from Revna to Varin and back again before speaking.

“You brought him because something inside him troubles you." His voice was calm, the words simple. “And you were right to bring him.”

He turned his eyes to the apprentice.

“It troubles you as well.”

Varin’s silence was expected. The boy was disciplined, cautious, perhaps even wise enough to understand that words meant little without truth behind them.

Gerwald began to move, slow and deliberate, the faint echo of his boots the only sound besides the thunder beyond the glass. He circled once around the table that stood between them, watching the boy as he would a blade being tested for the first time.

“Power often takes a shape before it is understood. Sometimes it feels separate, as if it were another life living inside you. You call it a beast because you have not yet decided if it belongs to you.”

He stopped beside the wide window. Lightning flared across the city below, its reflection glancing off the armor that covered his shoulders.

“What is it that wakes in you when battle begins? What do you see? What do you hear?”

He looked back over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. “You will answer me plainly.”

The words carried no threat, yet they filled the chamber as if they were law. He watched the boy’s eyes shift slightly, his posture tightening, and in that small movement Gerwald saw something deeper than fear. He saw recognition.

For a moment, he looked again to Revna. Her composure held, though he could sense the undercurrent of unease in her presence. It was not fear of him, but of what she had brought here — the understanding that this moment would shape her apprentice more than anything she could teach.

Gerwald returned his focus to Varin.

“The creature within you is not separate. Tt is the part of you that refuses to be contained. Whether it devours you or serves you will depend on what you are willing to face.”

He stepped closer, the distance between them shrinking until only a few feet remained. The weight of his presence pressed against the younger man like the stillness before a storm.

“Speak,” Gerwald said quietly.

Outside, the lightning flashed again, its brief light catching the crimson of his eyes.

 

[Varin Mortifer]

Varin listened in silence as his master spoke to Lord Lechner. His eyes followed his every move, not in challenge but an observation. His movements were methodical, deliberate. A feeling that he knew the room better than the back of his own hand.

“You brought him because something inside him troubles you. And you were right to bring him.”

He looked directly at Varin, knowing as if what warred directly inside him. It caused a very slight stir deep inside. Ignati seemed almost restless inside, but Varin was able to keep him down.

“It troubles you as well.”

Varin’s brow furrowed slightly at his words as for the first time since landing his eyes wandered off course, stuck in a feeling of conviction. That feeling lingered for a moment longer as Lord Lechner spoke. Spoke of power uncontained, as if it were a separate entity. But the last part of the sentence brought Varin into thought.

Remember boy, You belong to Me. I gave you life. Do not forget that.

Ignati's soft words clashed into Varin’s head.

“What is it that wakes in you when battle begins? What do you see? What do you hear?”

Varin remembered every fight before it started. He remembered every strike his body uttered, but he also remembered the very restraint he felt when He took control. The pain in his body, the voice that escaped his throat that was not from him. He remembered it all.

“The creature within you is not separate. It is the part of you that refuses to be contained. Whether it devours you or serves you will depend on what you are willing to face.”

Varin’s gaze shifted back upwards to LordLechner, now standing mere feet from Varin. Though he moved slow, he could sense the power that resonated through his entire being. He moved as a fleet of ships tearing through space, He knew that the raw power he could present would be equal to that as well.

“Speak,”

Lightning flashed as if signaling for Varin’s turn to speak. For a small time he gathered his words, trying to find the right ones to describe what he feels. He tried to be as plain as he could.

“My mother called it the drums of war. It was present in her and my father, as well has his military. Noises around us cease to exist. All that we hear is the drum beating within our chests. The rhythm will build quicker, louder. Our blood becomes like rushing rapids in a river. Our breath like the wind, and finally our vision would run as red as the ground would be slick with the blood of their enemies.”

His gloved hand tightened into a fist at his side, creaking the leather that surrounded his digits.

“Before it happens, I yearn for battle. I yearn to conquer. But more than yearning, I need to fight. Like a person needs air, or food.”

He paused for a moment as his hand relaxed.

“As far back as I could remember, I always had a craving for battle. Just for the love of battle. Not to prove myself to anyone like most would mistake.”

He took a breath, exhaling slowly as the thunder rumbled. Lightning cracked the sky once again filling the room with the light of a force of nature.

“The only difference is, I can never tell friend from foe when I tip over the edge. A blade that swings wildly is still dangerous in a clumsy foolish way, but one that is trained and honed will always be far more dangerous.”

He placed his hands behind his back, one hand clasped over the other as he finished speaking. Hoping that he was as straight forward as he could be, but informative as well.

Revna Marr | Gerwald Lechner​

 

[Revna Marr]

Gerwald was silent after Revna had finished sharing what she needed to with him; his gaze drifted from her to Varin and back again, weighing - assessing. She remained quiet and still to give the Sith Lord time to digest all that she had said, and she hoped that he would be agreeable in helping Varin. She also hoped that Varin understood that she was not passing him off to another Sith or another master because she didn’t want to deal with him or train him anymore. She rather welcomed the challenge of training him, personally. And, though she may not say it directly to his face, Varin was one of a handful of individuals she truly cared about. He was family to her, in a way.

But she needed to acknowledge where her limits were - and Gerwald seemed to pick up on this rather quickly. He voiced his thoughts aloud, calmly informing her that she had been right to bring Varin to him - especially if whatever was going on with the Epicanthix youth troubled her. Revna dipped her chin in agreement and she felt a bit of relief to know that her instincts to bring him to Lord Lechner had been right.

Gerwald then turned his attention to Varin and addressed the boy, who remained quiet as the other Lord spoke. The discussion was now to be carried out between Gerwald and Varin, and so Revna folded her hands in the sleeves of her robe and stood aside, listening and watching. She would respond if the Dark Councilor directed any questions or statements towards her, but for the moment she was content to simply let the two men interact.

Lord Lechner approached and then stopped within a few feet of Varin and told him to speak, and Revna turned her gaze upon her Apprentice - a silent look that expected him to obey that command. She may have been his Master - but here, Gerwald could command both of them where and how he saw fit and he was well within his rights to expect compliance. He was a Dark Councilor, afterall - the only other individuals greater than he were the Imperial rulers themselves.

Varin was quiet for a few moments, even after the order was given, before he finally offered up his side of the struggle he’d been dealing with. Revna listened intently and quietly to all he had to share with Gerwald, her observant gaze catching every small detail - the tension in his body, the tightening of his fist at his side - the way he relaxed too after a moment. Thunder rolled across Jutrand and rattled the windows as bright flashes of lightning flickered over the city, adding to the heavy atmosphere that was building within the chamber. The weight of the significance of this moment. If Gerwald agreed to aid Varin - then this would be a huge step for the youth, and for Revna too.

Despite her possessive nature, she would stand aside to ensure her Disciple had the best chance to become who he was meant to be. And if Gerwald was the one to take him there…then so be it.

Varin soon came to the most concerning part of his struggle - he laid it out plain for both of them to hear. Of course, Revna was already aware of this problem…the boy’s total berserk nature that stole reason from him and made him dangerous not just to his enemies but to his allies as well, and that wasn't even taking into account the fact that Ignati was more than likely goading the young Sith youth as well. She didn’t want to be put in a position where she was forced to cripple or even kill her own Apprentice - but she absolutely would if her hand was forced on the matter, even if it destroyed a part of her to do so.

Gerwald could very well be saving Varin’s life, if he agreed to aid the boy in this.

And if not…then Revna would find another way. Even if that meant taking him to her very worst enemies - the Kainate Dark Lords themselves.

Gerwald Lechner // Varin Mortifer ​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: This
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
SHIP: Úlfs Reiði (Wolf's Fury)
TAG: Revna Marr | Varin Mortifer

Gerwald said nothing at first. The storm spoke for him, its rumble carrying through the black stone of the Spire until the chamber itself seemed to breathe with it. He watched Varin in silence, studying the way the boy held himself after speaking. The air between them felt charged. The Force whispered at the edge of his senses, alive and restless, drawn to the tension that hung in the room.

When Gerwald finally moved, it was with deliberate ease. One low step forward, the sound of his boots sharp against the polished floor. He stopped close enough that the reflection of lightning across the window cut through both of them.

“The drums of war,” he said. His voice was low, more recognition than reply. “I know that sound.”

He looked at Varin again, not at his face but into the presence that surrounded him. Beneath the boy’s control there was the weight of something older, something that remembered blood. The wolf within Gerwald stirred. He did not release it, but he did not silence it either. The storm outside and the storm before him felt too alike to ignore.

“You crave battle. That much is clear, but you have not yet decided whether you fight for victory or for the noise itself.”

He began to move, slow and even, circling the table that separated them.

“A blade does not choose what it cuts. The hand must decide.”

He came to a stop at Varin’s flank, his gaze steady.

“Tell me, when you lose yourself in that rhythm, do you ever wish it would stop? Or do you wish it would never end?”

He did not wait for an answer. The question was not meant to be spoken into. It was meant to linger. Gold eyes shifted toward Revna, measuring her stillness. She stood ready and respectful, her restraint born not of fear but of understanding. Gerwald inclined his head once, a gesture of acknowledgment.

Then, back to Varin.

“The hunger is not your enemy. Feed it the right purpose, and it will serve you. Feed it nothing, and it will consume you.”

Lightning flashed across the window. Its reflection washed over the three of them, casting the room in white for the briefest heartbeat before plunging it back into shadow.

“You will learn which it will be.”

Silence settled again, heavier now. Gerwald held Varin’s stare for a long moment before turning away to face the storm. The clouds above Jutrand boiled and split, light flickering across the glass.

“Stay on Jutrand,” he said. “I will send for you when it is time.”

He did not look back when he spoke again.

“I will have rooms planned for you here.”

The command was simple, final.

Thunder rolled through the chamber as they withdrew, their footsteps fading down the corridor until only the hum of the storm remained. Gerwald stood alone before the glass, eyes following the veins of lightning that tore through the dark. The reflection that looked back at him was calm, but behind the surface, the old rhythm stirred. It was faint but familiar.

He closed his eyes for a moment and let it pass.

The storm outside went on.

 

[Varin Mortifer]

Gerwald Lechner | Revna Marr​

Varin noticed the sense of familiarity in Lord Lechner’s eyes as he spoke. His words carried the heavy weight of experience, and with that experience he carried a sense of something that he had mastered. He could see the buffet of battles that he had feasted on, and that the feeling he spoke of was something that he commanded. Not the other way around.

He watched Lord Lechner approach his flank. He asked him yet another very deep question. A question that radiated through his very core. Rattling something inside. For the first time ever in Varin’s life, even after facing death so many times, he felt like he needed to conceal. To hide, not from fear, from shame. Shameful of the fact that he could never be his true self unless the conditions were right. The question brought to him revealed much about Varin more than he even knew of himself.

The honest answer to his question, Varin already knew deep within himself, but he could not admit it outright. He loved the sense of power he was granted when he lost control, he loved feeling like his true self in the heat of battle. He loved being the predator that slaughtered his prey. But most concerning, he always felt hollow when the feeling left him. Creating some sort of dependence in losing control that was stronger than any drug or vice.

Purpose, it all stemmed back to purpose. Something that also recently Varin found he was missing. He found himself questioning if taking back his home and his father’s throne was something the boy truly wanted or was it something his father wanted. He always disguised the answer as an illusory third option. That it’s what his family and his people needed.

“Stay on Jutrand, I will send for you when it is time.”

His heart froze for a quick second that felt like an eternity. This was what they came for, but for some reason Varin did not feel worthy of those words. Though worthiness was besides the point in this situation. Worthiness had nothing to do with it. At this point, to Varin, this was meant and bound to happen at some point.

Varin offered a bow of his head towards Lord Lechner, still keeping his eyes on him. Only this time it was more in haunting awe. Had he finally found someone to understand the nature that Varin had been afflicted or in some point of view blessed with? It was too early to say. But already in this short time something had been readjusted within him, curtains drawn to shine light on an ugly truth that he hid even from himself. Yet he could tell the true test had yet to come. Just as quietly as he had entered the room, he left with his master Lady Revna. Eyes staying towards the floor, in deep thought.

 

[Revna Marr]

Revna listened and watched the moment unfold between her Apprentice and the Dark Councilor. This was a moment that she would not intervene in, not interrupt, and she would not save Varin should he misstep here. She remained still as a statue, composed and ever watchful. Once the boy had given Gerwald his response, the Dread Wolf closed the distance and responded in kind, passing along insight and wisdom as he weighed the boy’s words.

Just as she felt he would, the Sith Lord understood what Varin was speaking about. He understood the pulse of war that thrummed through her Disciple’s veins - the call of battle that consumed him. Revna traced Gerwald’s slow and deliberate movements with her eyes only, watching as he came to stand at Varin’s flank. The weight of the Sith Lord’s presence and power was undeniable; it even pressed upon Revna’s shoulders. Varin stood still and tall as he always did, and Revna felt a stirring of pride for him within her heart. It glimmered faintly in her eyes, though her face remained neutral in its expression.

Gerwald posed a question to Varin - one to make the youth think instead of answer, not immediately anyway. Golden eyes shifted and locked onto Revna’s own, and a subtle sign of understanding passed between them. He inclined his head towards her, an acknowledgement, before he returned his sole focus upon her Disciple.

What he said next, however, made her grow even more still…if that was possible. It was some wisdom on the topic of hunger, meant for Varin - but it was something that pierced through to her soul too. It was an insight that she latched onto and stored away for later reflection.

Lightning flashed and illuminated the chamber they all stood within, casting light and shadow before flickering away in the blink of an eye. Outside, thunder roared and rattled the landscape - its sound resonating within her as well. For a long moment, Gerwald simply held Varin’s gaze - measuring him. It was a moment weighted with tension. Would he agree to work with her and Varin on this? Or would he send them away?

Finally, Lord Lechner turned away from them both to face the storm beyond the glass. He told them both to stay on Jutrand, and he would call for them when the time came. It was an order that neither she nor her Apprentice could reject nor refuse…and she wouldn’t have anyway. Relief flooded through her as she was told that rooms would be prepared for them within the Obsidian Spire.

Only then did Revna finally move. She turned to face the Dark Councilor and bowed her head, a bit deeper than she normally would. “Thank you, Lord Lechner.” was all she said, before she turned on her heel and strode forth from his chamber. She didn’t even bother to tell Varin to follow her, for she could already feel him fall in step behind her.

Whatever was to happen next, whatever was to come - Revna felt no fear, only a rare sense of satisfaction. Varin would be in safe hands, and she knew that through Gerwald’s guidance, the young Sith would truly step into what he was meant to be.

Perhaps…this was another Chain that would be broken, another step taken to truly free him from the shackles that bound him.

Gerwald Lechner // Varin Mortifer
​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: This
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
SHIP: Úlfs Reiði (Wolf's Fury)
TAG: Revna Marr | Varin Mortifer

The storm had finally broken. For three days it had raged without pause, rolling across Jutrand’s skies like a living thing, scattering ash and rain through the lower city. When it passed, the air felt heavier, as if the world itself had drawn a long breath and was waiting to see what came next.

Gerwald stood on the upper landing of the Obsidian Spire and looked out over the capital. The city steamed where the rain had met the heat of its furnaces. Black clouds still clung to the edges of the horizon, but light filtered through them in pale columns that fell across the towers like fading banners.

He had spent the quiet after the storm in thought. The boy’s words had stayed with him longer than he expected. Varin Mortifer . The name carried little weight in the greater Empire, but it had taken root in his mind all the same. There had been truth in the young man’s confession, raw and unguarded truth, the kind that could not be taught, only survived.

Gerwald had already made his decision.

When the morning came, a shuttle waited on one of the Spire’s smaller platforms. It was a lean craft of black alloy with red markings etched along its wings, the insignia of the Second Legion painted across its hull. The engines hummed softly, ready.

He turned as Revna and her apprentice approached. The air was calm now, washed clean by the storm.

“We will take the shuttle,” Gerwald said. “The city is no place for what must be done.”

They boarded in silence. The pilot, a soldier of the Legion, gave a brief nod before guiding the craft through the upper airways and out beyond the city’s reach. From the windows, the skyline of Jutrand spread beneath them, towers like spines rising from the surface, the glow of traffic weaving between them like veins of light. Soon even that was gone, replaced by the open wasteland that stretched beyond the capital’s limits.

The arena came into view as a shadow rising from the plain. It was circular, built of black stone and deep red alloy, its walls carved with runes that pulsed faintly in the sunlight. The structure was ancient, restored for training and judgment, a place where duels were once held before the eyes of Emperors.

They landed on the upper terrace. The air was dry and carried the faint scent of iron. Below them, the arena floor was open to the sky, ringed by towering arches that reached high above the stands. At the center, a circle of scorched sand marked where energy weapons had burned through in past battles.

Gerwald stepped from the shuttle and let the wind move through his cloak. The quiet here was different, not the silence of peace but of expectation. He had chosen this place for that reason. It remembered violence.

It demanded it.

He walked ahead without explanation. When they reached the center of the arena, Gerwald stopped. The sound of their footsteps faded, leaving only the low hum of the power conduits that ran beneath the stone.

“This place will serve,” he said. His voice carried easily through the open space. “Here there are no distractions. No illusions of control.”

He turned to face Varin fully.

“What happens next is not training. It is truth. If you are to understand the thing within you, then you must stand before it without name or armor.”

He looked to Revna once. “You will not interfere.”

Then his gaze shifted back to Varin. The air between them seemed to tighten.

“You spoke of the drums. Let us see if you can still hear them.”

Gerwald stepped back as he removed his tunic, giving the young man the space of the arena floor. His presence did not fade. It expanded, slow and cold, filling the air like the coming of a storm. The wolf within him stirred, but he did not call it forth.

Not yet.

“Attack when you are ready,” he said.

The sound of the wind passed through the arches above, faint and hollow, like breath drawn before the first strike.

 

[Varin Mortifer]

Gerwald Lechner | Revna Marr​

For the first time in days the storm had finally broken. Each day Varin stood out in the rain watching the clouds. He watched the lightning claim every shadow bold enough to remain out in the open. The thunder sounded like an undying orchestra. The storms on his home planet were very similar. Even the ash fall. Every storm on his planet was caused by the prime volcano that built the planet. It set its roots deep into the planet, controlling everything. Storms were blessed, seen as the ultimate power of the planet. Even worshipped. Almost as if the planet was demanding its own commandments, etching its doctrine and promises through the fiber of every being's existence.

Finally he was able to see the sun as its rays cast columns of beams throughout the skies. Again etching the power and the force of nature itself. A calmer wind blew through the streets, Varin was using this time for meditation and prayer when he had received the message from his master that Lord Lechner was ready for them. He took one last glance at the streets as they themselves seemed to make clouds of their own from the very change in temperature. He took a deep breath and let out a slow exhale as he finished up his daily ritual, gently picking up his bone rosary and wrapping it around his wrist. Gently thumbing the beads as he whispered prayers to himself in high sith. Finally he grabbed his mace, holstering it to his back. A tool he very rarely left without. It had become like another appendage to him.

Following his master his eyes would trace the very halls and the unfamiliar faces that passed them, occasionally they would meet his master as he walked the halls.

They reached one of the small landing pads where a black ship with red accents waited for them. Varin listened to what Lord Lechner had to say as he once again made sure his bandages were snug as his master first climbed into the shuttle, following just behind her and taking his seat. The whole ride he gazed outside of the windshield, watching the passing building that eventually turned into a vast wasteland.

He saw a shape in the wastes, the only hand crafted area he could see for miles it seemed. A great dark arena. Varin's brow furrowed as they drew nearer and he gently placed his other hand over the bandaged one, running his thumb over the bandages without a second thought. He could see the intricacies of the arena's architecture, it was beautiful. Not just its carving but its proof of being tested through history, and the tests it presented. This place held great significance and Varin could feel the weight of its history. It was crushing, but it beckoned.

The history and its evidence was so rich the proof still laid burned and etched into its sands as the shuttle landed. He waited for Lord Lechner and his master to exit the shuttle first before following them. Stopping more towards the center of the arena. The stonework revealing its ancient secrets as the grains of broken granules of rock grounded beneath their footfalls.

Varin tilted his head slightly as he started to understand what Lord Lechner was saying. Especially after he ordered that his master will not interfere. He meant to test him personally.

“You spoke of the drums. Let us see if you can still hear them.”

Varin watched him as he removed his tunic. His next demand stunned Varin for a moment.

“Attack when you are ready,”

The wind passed between them, waiting in anticipation for what Varin’s first move would be.

The young apprentice reached for the clasp of his holster holding his mace. With a quick click the mace fell with a heavy thud behind him, striking the ground with enough force to hold it in place with its handle up. He then removed his cloak draping it over the weapon and placing his rosary on it, tying it in place. His outfit bore the colors of black and maroon, the colors of his fathers kingdom. The black representing the coals of the rebellion his ancestors led and maroon was the blood of the fallen.

The call of the arena spoke to him. Whispered in his ear of battle, of conquest and domination. The sweet nectar of promises that he drank greedily. His fist clenched as he stared towards Lord Lechner and his entire demeanor began to change. A fire lit into his eyes as he could hear the echo of a crowd watching a brutal fight. He could hear the punishing impacts of their weapons, their cries of pain.

His legs took a bent wide stance as his fists began to shake. His heart began to thrum in his chest.

“Very well.”

With a strong jump he leapt towards Lord Lechner with a yell, fist driving towards his target. His aim was towards his face.

 

[Revna Marr]

Revna and Varin spent three days within the Spire, waiting for their summons. The storm that had besieged Jutrand hadn’t let up at all - pouring its wrath over the city in waves of rain, thunder, and lightning. It was a dismal few days, though Revna spent her time wandering a bit, getting a layout of the Obsidian Spire itself - though she didn’t intrude into any place she wasn’t permitted or allowed. Still, her curious nature compelled her to understand the lay of the place, study its people, and listen to any whispers that she could overhear.

On the third day, the storm finally broke - and the star that provided warmth and light for Jutrand cast its rays over the cityscape where it was able to break through the cloud cover. Humidity hung over the city like a dense fog, and stuck to the skin where exposed. Revna was in the midst of her meditation when a service droid announced its presence and informed her that Lord Lechner had a shuttle prepared for them on one of the private platforms. She wasted no time in gathering herself and what little belongings she had brought with her, and ensured that Varin was prepared too. Within minutes, the two of them were on their way, following a guide that led them to the shuttle.

Standing beside a sleek shuttle embossed with the symbol of the Second Legion, was Gerwald himself. He turned to greet them, indicating that they would take the shuttle out of the city, for what was to come next could not be done there. Revna climbed aboard the shuttle and took her seat, and before long the shuttle was being guided away from the city itself. Through a viewing port, Revna watched the metropolis spread out then thin - eventually giving way to a wasteland. Eventually, a dark object came into appearance and that in turn revealed itself to be an arena - ancient in origin and saturated with dark energy and power. The shuttle was set down upon the upper terraces, and Gerwald was the first to disembark, with Revna behind him and Varin bringing up the rear. A biting wind whipped around the trio, tugging at cloaks or any free flowing locks of hair. The space at the arena was quiet, the kind of silence that preceded anticipation. The energy of the place faintly hummed along Revna’s skin, an almost electrical feeling that made her pulse race a touch faster.

Gerwald didn’t pause once he left the shuttle; he led them both towards the center of the arena, stopping only then to turn and face both her and Varin and indicated that this particular location would work for what needed to be done. Revna was still and silent, standing just a pace or two away from the other two men, watching them both intently as Gerwald addressed Varin first. He told the youth that, in this arena, there would be no training - only the revelation of truth. He then turned his golden gaze to Revna and told her, very clearly, that she was not to interfere with anything that was to occur.

“As you wish.” Revna replied with an accepting bow of her head, though she felt a strange stirring of possessiveness over Varin. She’d never been told to stay out of anything that involved her student - but she was wise enough not to stand against the order of a Dark Councilor. She had sought him out for his aid, and she would do whatever he told her to do for however long he chose to aid her and her student. Revna cast one last look to Varin, before she stepped away to give them both space - and to put her in a position where she would not be able to interfere in time, should she be foolish enough to do so.

Gerwald’s tunic was removed as he ordered the young man to attack him, and Varin released his mace - the weapon hitting the ground with a resounding thud. His cloak came off next, draped over the upright handle of his weapon, before he turned to face the Dread Wolf.

Anticipation that came before a fight was rapidly building, and Revna could feel its energy creeping over her skin. She watched them both with bated breath, noticed the subtle movements and building tensions within her Apprentice - and a moment later the youth was lunging towards the Dark Councilor with a fierce battlecry, his fist headed straight for the Sith Lord’s face.

​

Gerwald Lechner // Varin Mortifer ​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: This
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
SHIP: Úlfs Reiði (Wolf's Fury)
TAG: Revna Marr | Varin Mortifer

Gerwald watched the change take hold. The boy’s body shifted as if some buried rhythm had begun to move through him again. He had seen it in soldiers before, in predators before a charge. Varin’s eyes had sharpened, his breath had changed, his stance no longer belonged to the apprentice who had followed his master through the halls.

The sound that left his throat was the call of one who no longer sought permission.

Gerwald did not move until Varin left the ground.

The Force coiled around him, quiet and effortless, drawn from a well that needed no gesture to summon it. He felt the shift in the air as the apprentice came forward, the intent in the strike as it cut through the space between them. The boy was fast, but not faster than instinct.

Being airborne left him open, a mistake every young fighter made at least once. The thought passed through Gerwald’s mind as quickly as breath. The Force gathered at his command, quiet and certain, waiting only for intent.

Gerwald lifted his hand.

The motion was slight. The effect was not.

The air between them shifted.

He did not need to speak or strain. The power moved because he willed it to.

When his hand lowered, silence filled the arena again. Dust settled. The rhythm returned to stillness.

He stopped his advance halfway across the distance between them. The Force still shimmered faintly in the air around him, a warning and an invitation both.

“Again,” he said.

 

[Varin Mortifer]

It was almost like it was in slow motion for Varin. In hindsight it would seem the first move of pouncing into combat certainly was not the smart option. It left him wide open, this realisation came to light when all Lord Lechner had to do was flex his hand knocking Varin off course with a full body impact and back towards where he started with a heavy thud into the arena floor like he was swatted away like some small insect. The wind was knocked out of him after landing on his side right over his ribs.

He gave a quick wheeze as he stood up. The pain began to dull as the bandages on his arm began to loosen showing part of his arm. Varin let out a low growl as he watched Lord Lechner closely for a moment noting the pressure of force and energy around him. Instinct pulled him like a marionette as he charged towards him. The primal yell once again leaving his chest as his eyes began to glow like coals.

Let me loose boy!

Varin snarled as his heart began to beat faster. His speed had grown a bit on his next attack as he slid downward, pushing a kick forward towards Lord Lechner’s shin.

He pressed Ignati’s demand back to the back of his mind. His breathing became more erratic. As he slid across the ground his back began to smoke as sparks spat a trail behind him. He needed to get close. Just beneath the bandages, runic brandings could be seen as if they were carving themselves around his bicep in the ancient high sith language.

Meanwhile, within Varin’s mind, Ignati watched the fight. His anticipation and his prey drive climbing higher. For now he would just poke and prod the boy. Toy with him until he would allow him control. He looked over from his rest spot at the tree within the mindscape he called this court. The boy's chains rattled and flexed as he watched him struggle.

A dark deep chuckle escaped Ignati’s lips.

Someone’s eager to meet this lord.

Gerwald Lechner | Revna Marr​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: This
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
SHIP: Úlfs Reiði (Wolf's Fury)
TAG: Revna Marr | Varin Mortifer

Gerwald saw the movement coming before the sound reached him. The boy's stance tightened, his focus narrowing to a single reckless point. The charge was faster, but still wild.

When the kick came, Gerwald waited until the last instant, then moved. His legs bent, and he pushed upward, clearing the strike with a single jump. The air shifted beneath him as he passed overhead, landing lightly behind the apprentice.

He turned as his boots met the stone, watching the boy's momentum carry him forward. The arena was silent again.

"Better," he said. "But still chasing."

He could feel the Force building around Varin, fierce and uneven. The energy bled from him in short bursts, strength without rhythm. Gerwald studied it, sensing how it pressed outward, seeking form.

"You fight the motion, not the moment. Until you learn the difference, you will always be behind it."

He took a single step forward, posture steady, ready.

”Find it," he said. "Then move."

The air hung still between them, waiting for what came next.

 

[Varin Mortifer]

Varin's fingers dug into the flooring as he skidded under the Sith Lord. Easily avoided, Varin used the momentum to roll himself over and back to his feet.

"You fight the motion, not the moment. Until you learn the difference, you will always be behind it."

His words carried to his ears. Varin’s mental state was still able to comprehend, he wasn’t too far gone to take in the words of lesson. Varin’s eyes pierced towards Lord Lechner as he watched his body posture, his very stance. It looked relaxed, but he knew that at any moment he could spring into action. He had once again gained some distance from the young apprentice.

Varin let out a deep huff. He flexed his fist as heat began to build in his palm, the waves of the rising temperatures poured out of his body and began to coalesce into his palm. If he couldn’t reach him, then he would draw him closer. A ball of flame concentrated within his grasp built up steadily within his hand, the bandages finally burning away off of his arms. Fire began to lick over his shoulders as he called upon this power.

With a quick motion of his arm he lobbed the ball of flame towards Lord Lechner’s legs, the impact landing just behind him. A loud explosion could be heard behind him followed by immense heat as the flames engulfed the arena floor behind him.

As Lord Lechner would react Varin’s other hand would call the flames from that spot back to him, tracing the shape of a circle around them. The flames would surround them both. A skill he had been slowly working on, building over. The last time he used it, he had lost himself into the flames, called to its chaos of destruction.

Only then did Varin move once again, dashing forward with his shoulder towards Lord Lechner.

Gerwald Lechner | Revna Marr​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: This
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
SHIP: Úlfs Reiði (Wolf's Fury)
TAG: Revna Marr | Varin Mortifer

Gerwald watched the flame build. The air rippled from the heat, bending the light that reached him. He had not expected fire, not from one so young, but the control shown in the shaping of it made him pause. The boy had practiced.

Interesting.

When the fire struck the floor, the sound rolled through the arena like thunder. Heat licked at the stone, climbing into the air in waves. Gerwald felt the shift in the Force, the balance tipping toward chaos, and answered it.

He opened his hand toward the sky.

The clouds above the arena darkened, pulled together by unseen will. The air grew heavy, charged with moisture as the first drops began to fall. A thin rain followed, soft at first, then stronger, hissing as it met the edges of the flames.

Steam rose around them.

Gerwald moved through it, closing the distance between them with the quiet certainty of a hunter. When Varin came forward, shoulder low, Gerwald caught the motion. His arm came up, intercepting the strike, the weight of it meeting his palm and forearm.

In the same instant, he pivoted his stance. His other hand drew back, fist coiled with strength and precision, and he struck toward Varin’s jaw.

He said nothing. The lesson now was in motion, not words.

The rain fell harder, beating against the scorched stone as the air filled with the hiss of water on fire.

 

[Varin Mortifer]

A rumbling of thunder greeted the heat of flame as the clouds darkened under the Sith Lord’s will. Rain began to fall at first it was light bringing no significant change, but quickly became heavier, spreading steam around the battlefield.

The clouds made it harder to see and read movements and body postures. A counter that Varin certainly did not expect.

As his shoulder met with Lord Lechner it was like hitting a solid wall. Not only did he not budge but he sidestepped and with astonishing speed a hard crack impacted Varin's jaw shooting his head backwards. A groan escaped his lips as the pain radiated around his bottom jaw, he could taste the iron of blood in his mouth.

The little bit of control he maintained snapped. Fire erupted from Varin's back as a near inhuman roar escaped his throat ripping into the sky.

Following through with the momentum Varin shot his skull back forward. Using his head like a battering ram to find purchase towards Lord Lechner.

The rainfall that landed on Varin's back sizzled loudly, instantly turning into mist. The sith brandings now glowing a vibrant red. His eyes now took on a more rabid like nature as his vision finally became a crimson red.

The flames that licked up his back burned away his training shirt revealing the spread of runes up his ribs, within them what seemed to be a raging inferno.

Little arcs of lightning arced between his teeth as Varin attempted to take hold of Lord Lechner's arm releasing a guttural growl towards him.

Gerwald Lechner | Revna Marr​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: This
WEAPONS: Ferrum Solus | Blodmåne | Strømafbryder
SHIP: Úlfs Reiði (Wolf's Fury)
TAG: Revna Marr | Varin Mortifer

The boy came faster this time, the rhythm wild and untamed. Gerwald felt it before he saw it. The air around Varin burned, thick with heat and anger, the kind that blurred reason into instinct.

Varin’s head struck true. Bone met bone with a sound that cut through the rain. Pain flared bright behind Gerwald's eyes, sharp and brief. It was not the first time he had taken a hit like that, and it would not be the last.

He drew back a half step, steady, eyes fixed on the apprentice now lost to fire. The glow of the runes along Varin's body painted the steam in red. His power was not simple rage. It was something older, a kind of hunger that seemed to feed on itself.

Curious.

The boy lunged again, reaching for his arm, trying to trap him. Gerwald felt the intent before the fingers closed. He dropped his center of gravity, pushed through the wet stone with his heels, and leapt.

The air split as he rose above Varin once more.
Halfway through the motion, the change came.
It was not a summoning but a release. It came without strain or sound, a flow rather than a break. Flesh gave way to fur, bone to muscle, until the Dread Wolf landed in full form.

When he landed, it was on four legs. The impact cracked the surface of the arena floor. Rain slicked the gray fur across his shoulders as his claws dug into the stone.

Gerwald moved low, circling. His breath came steady, misting the air. The sound of his paws was lost beneath the storm. His eyes caught the fire's reflection as he lunged forward through the rising mist, silent and fast.

He darted forward through the curtain of steam, low and fast, teeth bared as the sound of thunder rolled above them.
The test had changed form and the wolf attacked.