Private Trials within Trials.

[Serina Calis]

Trials within Trials.
Location: Dorvalla
Objective: Test Leliana
Allies: ???
Opposing Force: ???
Tags: Leliana

The Tsis'Kaar believe they are the architects of secrecy, the masters of deception. But even the cleverest spiders forget that webs can be burned. Let them think they are shaping you, my little shadow. Let them think you are theirs. And when the time comes… we will remind them that shadows do not serve. They consume.​

The room was bathed in shadow, save for the cold glow of a single red hololight flickering in the center of the chamber. The Tsis'Kaar never wasted time on unnecessary theatrics; their entire existence was theater—an endless play of deception, where only those who understood the game survived long enough to enjoy it. And yet, Serina found herself indulging in the moment, standing just beyond the edge of the light, cloaked in the darkness that always welcomed her home.

She did not announce herself. She did not need to.

From her vantage point, she watched as the final preparations for the briefing took place. The handler, a woman known only as Veyna, moved with the practiced efficiency of a spider tending its web. The flickering holodisplay cast its sickly red glow over her sharp, angular features, highlighting the deep-set lines of someone who had spent far too many years in the shadows. A voice clipped and precise, she dictated final security protocols to the unseen operatives monitoring the room, ensuring that nothing—not a whisper, not a flicker of sound—would leave these walls.

Serina found it quaint, how the Tsis'Kaar clung so desperately to their veils of secrecy. As if their hollow little games could ever truly escape the reach of someone willing to tear them apart from the inside.

Her gaze drifted to the holodisplay, where the mission details were now being finalized. Kyren Vale. A man whose name had been spoken in hushed tones, only to be promptly buried beneath the weight of an execution order. A Tsis'Kaar agent turned traitor, so they claimed. Caught in a web of his own making, they said. But Serina already knew the truth. Kyren Vale was a loose end, and in the Tsis'Kaar, loose ends were meant to be severed.

But not today.

Her lips curled at the thought. This was Leliana's trial, the first test of who she would become under the Tsis'Kaar's watchful gaze. Would she be a blade—sharp, obedient, and disposable? Or would she prove herself something else entirely?

Serina had a vested interest in the answer.

She shifted slightly, unseen in the darkness, her body a mere specter against the far wall. Every detail of this moment had been meticulously arranged—every whisper, every directive, every step leading Leliana here, to this room, where her future would begin to take shape.

And just as the final lines of data solidified on the holodisplay, just as Veyna straightened, her mask of detached professionalism settling into place, the chamber doors hissed open.

Leliana had arrived.

Serina did not move, did not breathe a word. She merely watched, her amusement curling like smoke in her chest, waiting to see what her little shadow would do.

 

[Leliana]

"But I need to know if you will flinch when the moment arrives. When it is not some nameless, faceless target beneath your blade, but one of our own—one of the very people who will believe they own you, who will assume you are nothing more than a tool at their disposal."

“I spent fifteen years with those I ate, slept and trained beside. And when the day came, and the pale serpent gave the command, I made sure each and every one of them died. Either by my direct hand, or otherwise.”​

Since her eventful meeting and introduction with Serina, Leliana had been provided with some initial accommodation. And while she might’ve preferred to slip into her shadowy domain instead, Leliana refrained from doing so. She’d play the role of the dutiful new recruit, knowing all too well she was likely being watched.

Leliana hadn’t been provided too much information, just that she should expect a call before long. It felt as though Serina already had a target in mind, it was just a matter of getting all the correct pieces in place.

And sure enough, she got a notification from one called ‘Veyna’. She was pointed to a specific meeting place, and Leliana did not hesitate to make her way there.

Dressed in her usual garb, facemask hanging around her neck, the dark-haired assassin stepped into the chamber.

Leliana didn’t cast her gaze anywhere but ahead. She strode over, stopping just short of the holodisplay. Her eyes met Veyna’s, as she straightened her posture and crossed her arms behind her back.

“Handler Veyna, you have a mission for me?”

Serina Calis​

 

[Serina Calis]

Trials within Trials.
Location: Dorvalla
Objective: Test Leliana
Allies: ???
Opposing Force: ???
Tags: Leliana

The Tsis'Kaar believe they are the architects of secrecy, the masters of deception. But even the cleverest spiders forget that webs can be burned. Let them think they are shaping you, my little shadow. Let them think you are theirs. And when the time comes… we will remind them that shadows do not serve. They consume.​

The holodisplay flickered, bathing the chamber in crimson light. Veyna stood motionless, a silent figure carved from shadow, her piercing gaze unreadable. She did not waste words, nor did she offer the pleasantries of lesser Sith. The Tsis'Kaar had no need for such things.

Serina remained where she was, just beyond the light, hidden in the room's periphery. Watching. Waiting. Measuring. She had no intention of interfering—not yet. This was Leliana's moment, her first step into the abyss. The Tsis'Kaar would seek to shape her, but Serina would ensure that, in the end, it was Leliana who shaped them.

Veyna's voice, when it finally came, was precise, clipped with the sharpness of someone accustomed to control.

"Your target is Kyren Vale. Former field operative. Rank: Infiltrator. Twelve years of service. Disappeared after his last operation. We tracked his movements for months before he surfaced. As of now, he is residing in the lower sectors of Nar Shaddaa, protected by a rotating network of criminals and informants. Your objective is simple—find him, eliminate him, and bring back proof."

The holodisplay shifted, cycling through data files, Kyren's face materializing in the flickering red glow.

His features were gaunt, his expression tense—not the look of a man basking in his escape, but one cornered and exhausted. A fugitive running from something larger than himself.

"The official story is that Vale leaked sensitive data to the Galactic Alliance. Classified dossiers, encrypted transmissions—our sources indicate that these leaks compromised several Tsis'Kaar operations across multiple sectors."

A pause.

Serina smirked in the darkness.

Lies.

Oh, some of it might be true—but not the part that mattered. There was always a deeper game, always a reason why someone like Vale was chosen to die. Leliana would see it soon enough.

Veyna continued.

"You will be alone. The Tsis'Kaar has no need for hand-holding. Succeed, and you will be recognized as one of us. Fail, and you will not return."

The implication hung in the air like a blade waiting to drop.

The holodisplay shifted again, showing Vale's last known location—a rundown sector in Nar Shaddaa's industrial slums, deep in the undercity where light rarely reached.

"Your access to Tsis'Kaar resources will be limited. We have arranged a single weapons cache in the district. You will find encrypted codes on your datapad. Use them to retrieve what you need."

Another flicker. A final image appeared—a map of the sector, with specific points marked.

"Vale's known associates: low-tier criminals, information brokers, and former mercenaries. We have no names, but there is one confirmed contact—a Rodian arms dealer known as Keelo Vex. He operates out of a gambling den called The Sable Mask. If Vale is still in the district, Vex will know."

Serina shifted slightly, drinking in Leliana's expression, watching how she processed the information.

"You are to confirm the kill. No collateral damage. No loose ends."

Another pause.

"Do you understand your orders?"

Silence filled the room.

Serina almost laughed.

She already knew Leliana's answer. But the question was never about whether she understood.

It was about what she would do with the truth.

 

[Leliana]

Leliana didn’t budge a single muscle the moment Veyna began to talk. She focused on what was being said, but was already internally digesting the information as it was being provided. All the while her expression remained neutral.

Twelve years? Bit of a veteran of the Tsis’Kaar then. Means he’s familiar with how they operate, and will have been anticipating an assassin coming after him. Probably a recluse, careful though, likely has protec-

Her line of thought was interrupted by Veyna answering the very question that was on her mind. Kyren had his own little posse to cover his hide, to keep a watchful eye out for any potential assassins.

Once the target’s face materialized onto the screen, Leliana memorized it immediately. Taking note of specific details, anything that might be fairly unique to the man.

Interesting choice of words handler, ‘official story’. Makes me wonder what the real truth is behind the Tsis’Kaar wanting him gone?

Leliana showed no reaction to Veyna clarifying that she’d be working alone, that there would be no assistance throughout. None of which was a surprise to the dark-haired assassin. She noted down the map; it’s specific points of interest.

Arms dealers are always ‘fun’ to deal with, rarely is there one that actually has some morals. We’ll see if I can squeeze Vale’s location out of him.

“I understand my orders, I’ll depart immediately.” Leliana replied, waiting until Veyna dismissed her, before turning on her heels and walking out of the room.

Serina Calis​

 

[Serina Calis]

Trials within Trials.
Location: Dorvalla
Objective: Test Leliana
Allies: ???
Opposing Force: ???
Tags: Leliana

The Tsis'Kaar believe they are the architects of secrecy, the masters of deception. But even the cleverest spiders forget that webs can be burned. Let them think they are shaping you, my little shadow. Let them think you are theirs. And when the time comes… we will remind them that shadows do not serve. They consume.​

Serina did not move as Leliana spoke. She did not breathe a word, nor shift from the shadows that embraced her. Instead, she watched. Measured. Drank in every detail.

Leliana's face was impassive, but her mind was alive—Serina could see it in the way her gaze flicked just slightly over the holodisplay, in the subtle way her shoulders didn't tense, but remained loose, ready. Leliana was playing the part, absorbing the pieces, slotting them into place within her mental web.

She's already asking the right questions.

Serina almost smiled.

The slight flicker in Leliana's gaze when the words "official story" were spoken—it was so small, so minute that Veyna wouldn't have caught it. But Serina did.

Leliana was already suspecting the truth.

The real test wasn't whether she would kill Vale—it was whether she would see the game for what it was.

Serina let the silence stretch as Leliana confirmed her understanding, her voice steady, her composure unshaken. And then she turned on her heels, walking from the chamber without hesitation.

Only when the doors slid shut behind her did Serina allow herself a slow, satisfied exhale.

Veyna lingered a moment longer, fingers dancing over the console, inputting security protocols that would wipe the briefing logs from record. Efficient. Precise. Predictable.

Serina stepped deeper into the darkness.

A careful shift, a breathless movement that even a trained observer wouldn't notice. Her body became one with the shadows, melting into the folds of the chamber's cold recesses.

Veyna would never find her here.

But that had never been the point.

Serina didn't need to remain—she had already seen what she wanted.

Leliana had taken her first step.

And Serina would be waiting at the bottom.

---

The neon glow of Nar Shaddaa loomed ahead, its skyline a chaotic sprawl of flashing advertisements, towering skyscrapers, and the ever-present hum of corruption that settled like a sickness in the air. The industrial underbelly of the Smuggler's Moon was no place for the weak, a tangled web of criminals, syndicates, and those who lived in the margins—exactly the kind of place where a fugitive like Kyren Vale would disappear.

Leliana's transport cut through the polluted air, slipping past decrepit walkways and rusted pipelines, finally descending into Sector 77—a lower district riddled with abandoned factories, mechanic shops, and the remnants of a time when this place might have once had a purpose. Now? It was lawless territory, where the only rule that mattered was who could put a blaster bolt through whose skull first.

The moment she stepped off, the air changed.

The streets here were damp with oil and filth, the glow of flickering streetlights casting elongated shadows that seemed to move just out of sight. Hulking figures leaned in alleyways, their gazes following her movement, sizing her up—but none dared approach. Not yet, instead, they waited for her to make the first move.

She did not move like prey.

Her datapad beeped, flashing the encrypted coordinates given to her during the briefing. The Sable Mask—an underground gambling den buried beneath the skeletal remains of an old speeder factory.

Keelo Vex would be inside.

And if Vale was still in this sector, the Rodian would know where.

The sound of distant blaster fire rattled somewhere above, followed by the telltale whine of speeders weaving through the skyline. Nar Shaddaa never slept. It only shifted, endless and hungry.

Leliana's mission had begun.

 

[Leliana]

As she journeyed towards Nar Shaddaa, a number of different ideas spun in Leliana’s mind. The first of those, the most prominent, was to not be Leliana.

Given the nature of her target; Kyren Vale, it would be foolish to walk the streets dressed the way she usually preferred. As an assassin. A rather ostentatious one sure, but an assassin all the same. He’d have eyes out watching for any potential threats, meaning Leliana needed a change of clothing, and a makeover.

She could’ve perhaps blended into the crowds on Nar Shaddaa, but with how dense and varied the people could be, there was no doubt in her mind that Vale would be particularly careful.

Thus, when the transport finally landed, it wasn’t Leliana who stepped off, but rather ‘Sarah McKenna.’ An aspiring smuggler who had just got lucky with a big haul, and was now looking to test her luck further.

Before she had expanded her abilities with shadows, Leliana used the more old school methods to disguise herself. Wigs, contacts, makeup, you name it, she became a master of it. But as Leliana learned, grew more powerful, she had developed a few techniques that allowed her a ‘shortcut’ to creating similar disguises.

She called it a ‘Shadow Veil’

A subtle usage of the Force that allowed her to conceal her head beneath a conjured facade. It required focus to maintain it, but if there was one thing an assassin was, it was patient.

Very, very patient.

Gone were Leliana’s usual features, instead replaced by a bob of short blonde hair, and a pair of piercing hazel eyes. Adorned in an outfit that was very typical of a smuggler.

As she set foot off the transport, Sarah wrinkled her nose in disgust. It certainly wasn’t her first visit to the Smuggler’s Moon, but she never enjoyed the miasma of different smells that infected its streets. Using the coordinates provided via datapad, Sarah made her way towards and into ‘The Sable mask. She mingled and disappeared into crowds as she walked, easily losing any ‘tails’ that might’ve tried to follow her.

Once inside, her immediate move was to head over to the bar, sliding into a spot and waiting until the bartender made their way over to her.

“I hear this place is the go-to for someone wanting to acquire more than credits, would you happen to have info on the right tables I should be looking for?”

Serina Calis​

 

[Serina Calis]

Trials within Trials.
Location: Dorvalla
Objective: Test Leliana
Allies: ???
Opposing Force: ???
Tags: Leliana

The Tsis'Kaar believe they are the architects of secrecy, the masters of deception. But even the cleverest spiders forget that webs can be burned. Let them think they are shaping you, my little shadow. Let them think you are theirs. And when the time comes… we will remind them that shadows do not serve. They consume.​

The Sable Mask was buried beneath the ruins of an old speeder factory, hidden behind the crumbling walls of a once-legitimate business. No signs marked its entrance—just a pair of reinforced blast doors guarded by two Weequay thugs, their scarred faces locked in permanent scowls. They barely spared Sarah McKenna a glance before stepping aside, letting her pass into Nar Shaddaa's underworld.

The air inside was thick with smoke, the scent of burning spice and cheap liquor intermingling into a heady haze that clung to the walls. The room was dim, lit only by a collection of flickering red lanterns that cast shifting shadows across the circular tables where fortunes were won and lost in seconds. Sabacc games ran in hushed tones, low murmurs of players exchanging credits, secrets, and threats over the click of shuffled cards.

At the far end of the room, a raised platform overlooked the main floor, where a private game was in progress. The VIP section, reserved only for those who had credits—or power—to burn.

The bar was a long, curved piece of polished durasteel, its surface scratched and dented from years of service. A Nautolan bartender stood behind it, his slick, blue-green skin illuminated by the neon glow of the overhead sign. His large, black eyes flicked toward Sarah as she took her seat, but he said nothing at first, busy topping off the drink of a burly Aqualish seated nearby.

When he finally approached, he leaned against the bar with the practiced ease of someone who had seen everything before.

"Looking for a little more than credits, are we?" he echoed, his voice a deep, wet rumble.

He took his time wiping down an already-clean glass before setting it aside, his gaze assessing her in the way all bartenders did—reading the weight of her presence, deciding if she was just another fool looking for trouble.

"Depends on what you're after, love." His fingers drummed lazily on the counter. Testing. Weighing. "Some tables will clean you out faster than a Hutt's accountant, and others… well, let's just say they deal in things far more interesting than credits."

His gaze didn't leave her as he gestured toward the gambling floor with an idle tilt of his head.

"Now, if you're looking for something specific—a favor, a debt to collect, something off the books—there's one table in particular that might interest you."

The Nautolan's voice lowered, just slightly.

"The Rodian. Green skin, red eyes, sitting at the table with the Gamorrean and the Nikto in the far left corner. Name's Keelo Vex. He's the kind of man who trades in more than credits. Secrets, information, weapons… names."

His fingers tapped against the counter in a slow, rhythmic pattern, a subtle tell buried beneath his otherwise casual demeanor.

"But he doesn't talk to just anyone, sweetheart." He flashed a grin full of sharp teeth. "You want information from Vex? You'd better be worth his time. That means buying in, playing the game, and proving you have something he wants."

His hand slid under the bar, and a single credit chip appeared between his fingers. He flipped it onto the counter with a lazy flick of his wrist.

"Of course, if you don't fancy wasting credits on a game, there are other ways to impress him."

Another flick of his gaze toward the VIP platform.

"Vex doesn't just deal with credits—he likes entertainment. Fighters, dancers, performers of all kinds. If you can put on a show worth watching, he might just let you skip the pleasantries."

The meaning was clear. The Sable Mask wasn't just a gambling den—it was an underworld arena. People fought for money here, just as often as they played for it.

 

[Leliana]

As the bartender spoke, Sarah kept her expression neutral as they made eye contact. The one behind the bar was a constant point of contact for anyone that walked into the establishment. Had eyes on everyone, and it wouldn’t surprise her if a number of influential individuals paid a tidy sum to be alerted of suspicious behaviour.

She was here to play a game, to gamble her chances in finding her target.

But she had already started playing a different kind of game the moment she had stepped into The Sable Mask.

Sarah played the part of an interested party, the mention of Keelo Vex’s table had the blonde raise an eyebrow. Her gaze shifted for a moment, over the bartender’s shoulder, looking towards the far left corner where the table was located.

“A tempting offer for sure, but I think I’ll try my luck at the table itself.” She placed a finger down onto the credit chip, before sliding it back over to the bartender. “Won’t be needing that.” Sarah replied, a coy smile on her face as she stepped away from the bar.

The smuggler walked around, towards her intended target. Eyes taking in any other persons of interest as she passed by. But once she reached Vex’s table, all attention was on her.

“Got room for one more, hm?” She asked, reaching into her jacket to flash some credit chips briefly. A gesture to show she had the money, followed by her almost nonchalant care as the blonde smuggler took the last remaining seat.

“What’s the current wager?”

Serina Calis​

 

[Serina Calis]

Trials within Trials.
Location: Dorvalla
Objective: Test Leliana
Allies: ???
Opposing Force: ???
Tags: Leliana

The Tsis'Kaar believe they are the architects of secrecy, the masters of deception. But even the cleverest spiders forget that webs can be burned. Let them think they are shaping you, my little shadow. Let them think you are theirs. And when the time comes… we will remind them that shadows do not serve. They consume.​

The table fell momentarily quiet as Sarah approached.

Three pairs of eyes turned toward her—varying in species, but unified in suspicion.

The first to shift was the Nikto, a brutish male with faded cybernetic plating along one side of his skull, his sharp, yellowed teeth bared slightly in what might've been a sneer or simply his resting face. He didn't say a word, but his body tensed visibly, one thick hand resting casually near the holdout blaster on his belt. A subtle warning.

The Gamorrean, bulky even by his species' standards, let out a short grunt of amusement. One beady eye trailed toward Sarah's credit chips, while the other seemed lost somewhere in the haze of drink and barely understood rules of the game. A half-empty mug of some viscous brown liquid sat in front of him, its contents slowly bubbling.

And then there was Keelo Vex.

He was exactly as described—a green-skinned Rodian in a dark brown jacket tailored too sharply for the grimy setting, his crimson eyes glowing faintly under the table's red lighting. He didn't speak immediately, just studied her from behind the stylized rebreather mask fastened to his face, the filters clicking softly every few seconds.

His fingers, long and twitchy, tapped rhythmically against the edge of the sabacc deck as Sarah made her offer.

Then—a series of garbled chirps in Huttese, his voice filtered through a translator clipped to his lapel.

"Only if you're willing to bleed."

The Rodian's eyes dipped toward the chips she revealed, then flicked back up to meet hers. He waved a finger, and the Gamorrean grunted, shifting to make room—barely.

The Nikto said nothing, but his gaze never left Sarah.

Keelo gestured to the dealer—an old Twi'lek with one faded lekku wrapped around his shoulder and the other dragging lazily across the table—and the cards were reshuffled, the motion quick, mechanical, practiced.

"Wager's a thousand credits to sit. Three thousand for the buy-in. You win, you stay. You lose, you leave. Or…"

A pause. The Rodian's fingers tapped faster.

"You pay with something else."

The way he said it was vague enough to be harmless, but the implication lingered like a blade beneath the table.

As the cards were dealt, Keelo leaned slightly forward, folding his hands beneath his snout.

"Tell me, smuggler…" he added, using the word with careful inflection, "what haul was so good you came crawling to my table with a grin on your face? Must've been quite a prize to make you reckless enough to buy in with strangers."

The game was starting—but the real game had already begun.

The cards were secondary.

Keelo was probing, testing. Wanting to know if Sarah McKenna was just another con with a lucky streak, or something far more interesting.

From the far edge of the room, the bartender casually glanced in her direction—watching, but not interfering.

And from the upper platform above, half-obscured by shadow, another pair of eyes had begun watching as well.

Not the Tsis'Kaar.
Not yet.

But someone had taken notice.