Private Transfer of Power

[Saryn Zambrano]

Location: The Golden Palace, Eliad

Eliad. For a long while, the planet had fallen firmly under Darth Xyrah's control, the now current leader of the Sith Imperial Banking Clan having reigned successfully as the planet's ruling monarch during his time on the throne. Yet his duties in the SIBC had taken up much of his time, and Saryn's plans had expanded beyond rulership over Eliad. He wished to appoint a successor to take over ruling the planet, and he had one candidate in mind, his fellow Sith Lord, Darth Malum, of House Marr.

While they had fought against one another in the civil war, Xyrah respected Malum's might and political savvy, and so reached out with an offer of a meeting within his palace on Eliad. He sat patiently on the throne, flanked by six of his Magnaguard protectors, while awaiting the arrival of his guest, whom would be escorted into the vast throne chamber by one of his servants. "Ahh. Darth Malum. I am gladdened to see you accepted my invitation. I wished to discuss important business with you...."

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He had raised an eyebrow at the invitation that had arrived for him. He had not been to Eliad... well since the new year, so truly not too long, but before that, it had been quite some time indeed. He admittedly had never quite forgiven the slight of Eliad falling under Saryn Zambrano 's rule, rather than his, and while back then, when the warlordism and triumvirate may have had allowed him to act, to press her... him...? To abandon the world, yet in those days, he had been a simple apprentice.

One still terrified of Darth Carnifex, and all the influence, and power, and butchery, that he held at his command.

He supposed, only one of those things had changed since then.

And well the only other time he had spoken with Darth Xyrah had been aboard the Malsheem.

And well.

There was enough said of that foolhardy battle, where both he and Darth Strosius had been defeated by the might, by the strength, and the will of Kaine...

To now be invited into the metaphorical belly of the beast, well... to say he was suspicious would have been an understatement. Still, he at the same time did not dare refuse, the only Kainite world in the Sith core, ruled by the head of the Sith Imperial Banking Clan, whose loans were doing a great deal in the rebuilding of Alvaria.

And well, they did have one other bond.

His hand went underneath his robes, pawing the hilt of the golden lightsabre that marked them as members of a Gilded Council. The Golden Covenant's rise had been as dramatic as had been the quiet of its fall.

Yet, when she... he...? Had given him the lightsabre, he could do not deny that he had been appreciative, and more importantly, that this would be an avenue to her... him... them?

And through them, Kaine.

Or at the very least that was the hope, he did hope it was no trap, that would make things rather problematic.

Thus, following behind some servant he had not found the name of, he entered the throne room, a room as gold as the palace, indeed, it was no wonder that Darth Xyrah would join a group known as the Golden Covenant, greed, wealth, gold, well it seems rather well attuned to everything that the Sith Lord... or Lady, was.

He nodded his head at the greeting, "Darth Xyrah, a pleasure too, I will admit, I was rather surprised at the invitiation, and certainly curious of its intentions."

It was time to play the game.

 

[Saryn Zambrano]

Darth Xyrah smiled warmly at Malum. "Worry not, my intentions are quite peaceful. And beneficial to you, infact. Our prior conflicts were purely due to the political situation at the time. I had no personal hatred towards you or your allies. Sith politicking is frankly rather annoying to me, yet examples had to be made at that moment in time."

One of Darth Xyrah's Human Replica Droid servants approached, carrying a tray with a bottle of expensive wine and a pair of glasses, pouring one for Malum before offering it to him. Darth Xyrah arose from his throne, stepping down to speak with Malum more personally while he poured himself his own glass of wine. "As you are likely aware, I have recently come to control the Sith Imperial Banking Clan. The matters of the Sith economy and expanding our riches and wealth have become my priority, which has left me rather....occupied. Too occupied to continue my duties as Eliad's current monarch. Just as well, Eliad was only a stepping stone towards me eventually claiming the throne of my actual homeworld, Naboo. As such, I need a replacement. And I know you've had an interest in claiming the throne of Eliad, which is why I have invited you here today..."

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

As much as he might have desired that smile to be false... for the most part, he did not detect deceit, and after a lifetime of learning how to detect it, and many years actively looking through the eyes, smiles and faces of liars and betrayers, he did imagine he had gotten rather good at it.

"It was war, I can blame no one for fighting for their survival," Malum offered with the ghost of a smile, after all, that was what it had been to him at the time, rooting the Kainites out of their worlds, and by the end, the Kainites were exiled to the Sith old worlds, something that felt much more reward than anything else.

However, it got them out of the core of Sith space.

All apart from lovely Eliad.

He always imagined that eventually, the arms of the Tsis'Kaar and the Eternalists would turn for Eliad, crush the final Kainite outpost in Sith Space.

Alas, after his injuries after the Malsheem.

He was in no position to push for such a thing, even if he could as simply an apprentice.

He noted the droids approaching him, quite attractive things, the Kainites were if anything... excessive.

Not only in their butchery but too their lusts.

He had little fear of poison, though he did ponder it as the wine was poured into his glass, and given to him, shortly followed by Saryn Zambrano standing from their throne, and coming to take a glass themselves.

If it was poison, his amulet would protect him, not that he imagined they would poison him here and now.

As he took a sip, allowing their words to waft over him.

...Only to almost spit it out as the last of their words flowed out their pink lips.

Thankfully, he had been raised to expect the unexpected at such formal events, and he was able to choke down the last of the wine, as so caught off-guard still, his eyes widened.

"...Well, first of all, regarding the Sith Imperial Banking Clan, I believe I have you to thank or at least your subordinate, Lord Blepharon, for allowing me to secure the loan," He had resisted it for far too long, wishing to not be in debt in any sense to a Kainite.

Alas, Alvaria could not be rebuilt with his funds alone, nor that of his House.

Not that his father would so easily grant him that much wealth at simply an ask.

"...As for this... I imagine there are conditions?" He was not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, however, such things like this, simply did not happen, especially not to one that was a known enemy. He did not trust the Kainites for many a reason.

There had to be a catch of some kind here.