Faction Upheaval - An Age of Strife Story

[Ignacious Korvan]

AN AGE OF STRIFE STORY
UPHEAVAL


THE HEIR APPARENT IS MISSING

While investigating the fall of an Imperial Knight Chapter Hall on Concordia, LUCIEN DOOKU mysteriously disappeared. His ultimate fate as to whether he still lives or is dead is uncertain despite tireless efforts to locate him. While many within the Order and the greater Empire refuse to give up the search, an emergency session of the Imperial Central Government has been called, with summons being sent to the TRIUMVIRATE, MOFF COUNCIL, and senior members of the IMPERIAL KNIGHTS to decide upon a new WARDEN OF THE EMPIRE. While this new Warden’s status as temporary or permanent remains uncertain, it appears all too clear that the role cannot remain vacant for long in an Empire that is rife with opportunists and political idealists.

Today, all eyes peer to the great Citadel on Bastion, where many may rightly feel as though the fate of the Imperial Knights - and the fate of the Empire itself - will be decided...

​

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Location: Bastion - The Imperial Citadel
Date: 877 ABY

Throughout the streets of Bastion, life appears much as it does on every other day. Imperial citizens cram the busy thoroughfares on their way to their place of employment, or making their way to the market districts. Law enforcement patrols the streets, granting the capital city of the Empire the air of security and stability it is often associated with. Underneath the surface however, the very elements of the Empire’s central authority that creates such stability is in and of itself unstable.

First, Rurik Fel - the first Emperor of the New Order - had died on Tython, sacrificing his life to defend the very nation that now stood as a rival to the Empire that bore his legacy. Now, Lucien Dooku - the heir apparent to the throne of the Empire, went missing while investigating and attempting to quell what amounted to a very dangerous and esoteric force cult on Concordia. None of this would be known by the general public, at least for now. Something this big could only remain secret for so long, even within the stratified circles of power that formed the Iron Titan that was the Empire. That meant the Empire had to move fast to contain the fallout.

A missing heir apparent was something that could cause a civil war. While that issue alone could not be settled in just one meeting, they could at least resolve who the new Warden of the Empire could be. While many in the Empire still revered and lauded the role the Knights played within the state today, there were many others who felt uncertain at best; troubled at worst. But even now, it would be hard to dispute that the Empire needed the Knights even in the harshest of circles.

If civil war was to be avoided, then the Empire would need to come together on this day of days to ensure it could still hold together until something was done to address this tragedy. Today would be the ultimate test of the ideals the Empire was founded upon...

Or, it would be the day the Empire died in the grips of its own hubris.

The great hall within the Citadel - where many matters of import have been discussed and debated, will serve as the stage upon which this great matter will play out. With massive banners hanging from the rafters, large semi-circle desks arrayed in a ring around the chamber, and the Imperial throne sitting at the north wall upon an upraised dais facing all others; the tone of history itself permeates this chamber - especially today, of all days.

 

[Abeodan Tyiskore Charidot]

The soft clicking of military issued boots would rang out within the Imperial Citadel as Moff Abeodan Charidot made his way through the halls. His face was grim as he recalled the information that had been delivered to him personally within Fortress Delzotto on Bal Talmshaa. The Heir Apparent to the Empire was missing in action on the world of Concordia.

It was unknown to them if Lucien Dooku was still alive or had died in service of the empire. But an even greater problem had arisen in the form of a possible civil war that would split the empire in half between loyal servants of the Triumvirate and the Imperial Knight's whose oath to the Warden of the Empire was absolute. In order to prevent this, the Imperial Central Government would need to work with the Senior Membership of the Imperial Knights to vote upon a new Warden. However things would not be so easy due to the Moff Council thinking about their own interests and the possibility of electing someone who could easily be controlled.

Compared to the other members of the Moff Council, Charidot was just recently promoted but had connections to Grand Moff and Grand Admiral Ignacious Korvan due to saving his life. If the Empire was going to fracture, than he would need to maintain alliances to protect not only himself but his fleet from the politics of the council. Taking his seat within the chamber. ​

 

[Julius Haskler]

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He was not usually on Bastion, these days. Having been away from political affairs for a long time now, the Moff preferred to use Yinchorr as a way to look inside the Alliance and see what he craved the most: his home. As time went by and the Empire began to settle away from Coreward projects, Haskler had been working to prepare his own. But the situation as it had been presented to him was grave enough to justify his coming. With the Heir missing, the whole equilibrium of the Empire was in danger; a risk, for sure, but also an opportunity to deal a blow to the Triumvirate system that had elevated some above the Moff Council and installed an extraordinary government system when it had not needed one. Julius had long pondered on this question, and thought it necessary to prevent new battles of ego through the mediation of an advisory and administrative body – the Council existed for a reason, to replace the incessant bickering of the Assembly, and restrict the powers of the Moff to two: administer the worlds of the Empire in the name of the Emperor, and allow him to have contradictory and useful insight when a decision was needed.

If Haskler had been a partisan of the Triumvirate system, he would have suggested the Knights name the one to succeed to Dooku as Warden of the Empire. But this system satisfied the Anaxsi no longer. It was time, he thought, to end the rule of exception and pave the way to a reforged Empire, one free of the interests of the few powerful, and rather having at its head someone wise enough, or weaker enough, to rely on the advices of the Council to rule. In this regard, perhaps it was best to introduce the question of abolishing the Triumvirate as quickly as possible, if Julius had enough attendants ready to support his point of view. But who would support him? The Triumvirs would refuse to abandon their powers, and maneuver so that Haskler never leaves Yinchorr again to threaten their rule; maybe Barran could be persuaded to defend the reform, and drag along Lord Tal?

But who to persuade in the Council then?

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[Marcus Bastion]

Moff Bastion itched at his collar, his blasted collar of his dress uniform as it always seem to do whenever he attended an official event. Truthfully Bastion knew the real reason. It was what skilled sabaac players called a tell, one Marcus was aware of. In a skilled game of sabaac he could even use the potential disadvantage to an advantage loose some minor hands then take the pot when he pushed all in. It was a risky gambit, but an often successful one. The problem was this wasn't sabaac. This was politics. Although the skills tended to translate.

Truthfully Bastion didn't have the best hand at this table. Oh he was secure enough atleast for this round. Bastion hadn't done anything too notable, but like the itch at his collar he preferred to think of that in positive terms.

What that really means was that atleast I'm not over extended and am not currently in anyones debt. Marcus liked to think of the advantages to a situation Of course it also meant I'm not in a position to advance myself too far.

Best case scenario Moff Bastion would be able to back the winning player. Mid case Bastion would remained stagnant, not advancing but not being demoted. To the Machiavellian ladder climber and partial gambler he was Marcus personally felt that was actually worst then the actual worst case scenario.

You can't win the game if you don't play.

Still the analyst had to consider what would it would mean if he lost this round. Absolute worst case was he played his hand, backed the wrong player. If that happened the result could be anywhere from his immediate death to being sidelined to an unimportant part of Empires bureaucracy. Of course if the happened Marcus would try to maneuver himself to being sent to the front lines obstensibly to die a glorious death for the honour of the Empire, but also if he survived he could return a war hero.

There's always an angle. Always a card to play.

All of these possible scenarios were running through Marcus's head as he tried to assess his position as best he could.

As for his actual beliefs on the subject of the meeting. Personally Bastion found the Imperial Knights, haughty, arrogant and wild cards not under the direct command of the proper Empire structure. Bastion had to admit that they were necessary and even effective, he just believed they should answer to the proper Chain of Command. Ideally the discussion today would limit some of their more rougeish elements and keep them in line.

Still if the wind shifted and the council decided glorifying the Imperial Knights as Bastions of Justice. Moff Marcus Bastion would of course abide by their will. Atleast until such a time that he could subvert it.

Marcus itched at his collar one last time, before straightening himself into proper military posture and entering the room.

 

[Ignacious Korvan]

Grand Moff Korvan​

Location: Bastion - The Imperial Citadel
Tags: Abeodan Charidot | Julius Haskler | Marcus Bastion

To say that the happenings of the past few weeks were collectively unprecedented would have been, in Grand Moff Korvan’s opinion, grossly simplistic. ‘Unprecedented’ didn’t even begin to describe the impact the disappearance of the Heir-Apparent to the Imperial Throne would have upon the Empire as a whole. Despite his own personal distaste and mistrust for the scion of House Dooku, Ignacious knew well that Lucien had built up for himself a base of support and power near-unmatched by anyone save the individual members of the Triumvirate itself. Even his own base of power, which had risen exponentially over the past few months, could not stand up by itself to the collective power and influence of the Imperial Knights. In truth, the Heir Apparent was ideally situated to make his ascension a reality whenever the time came, for few institutions within the Empire could long resist the power wielded by their force wielding ‘brethren’.

Now, Lucien was gone - his fate as either living or dead unknown for the time being. As Ignacious’ footfalls echoed through the halls of the Imperial Citadel, his thoughts drifted to what potential outcomes awaited him - and to a larger extent, the Empire as a whole. Yet another civil war appeared far closer to reality than mere thought. Lucien was a figurehead for the unofficial, yet increasingly prevalent Pellaeonist movement that Emperor Rurik Fel had abolished under his tenure. Ironically, it had gained a rather pronounced foothold within the Imperial Knights, drawing their order in closer alignment to the idealistic Jedi as opposed to the true scions of Order they had begun as.

Naturally, the overwhelming-Tarkinist administration in power of the Central Government had been at odds with the increasingly liberal thinking closet-Pellaeonists, with Korvan himself being one of the most dogged opponents of such ones. Despite the looming threat of civil war, Korvan could not deny the unintended - or perhaps even intended side effect of Lucien’s disappearance by whomever was responsible. Lucien’s disappearance presented an opportunity for those who saw things the way he did - that the Imperial Knights were increasingly becoming a rogue entity within the Empire; one that needed to be reigned in with a suitable replacement that could be reasoned with, as opposed to being contained through political gamesmanship.

Or at least one weak enough to prevent the near-inevitable rise of a second Force User-led Empire. Despite his well known distaste for the direction the Imperial Knights were heading, even Korvan had to admit they served a key role within the New Order. Their dissolvement would only set the stage for a far more costly and incendiary conflict between rival warlords who believed themselves worthy to assume the mantle of first among equals. Whether he liked it or not, he had to admit that the very presence of the Imperial Knights would prevent even the most ambitious of warlords from seizing power for himself - at least in the classical manner ones do.

But if they could be manipulated and used in a beneficial way, their value would truly be apparent for men such as he - who sought the preservation of the Imperial State in some fashion akin to Irveric Tavlar’s initial vision. Ignacious would keep his eyes and ears wide open for the right opportunity to guide today’s proceedings to that end, one way or the other. Such was the way in which he entered the central chamber, with a squad of his infamous Death Mask bodyguards trailing behind him. The Grand Moff’s gaze met those of a few familiar figures who had entered first - Abeodan Charidot, Julius Haskler, and Marcus Bastion; men that Ignacious had met and dealt with at varying degrees over the past year.

While he felt reasonably certain that he could guess where their minds set on the subject in question, Ignacious was not so self-assured as to assume he was correct. Despite the significant authority bestowed upon him via his role as a Grand Moff and his growing rapport with the Lord Regent, the Moff Council was not without its own influence and power in and of itself. The Tarkinist administration behind Lord Barran could not afford to alienate those comprising the Council - not if it wished to retain power and hold the Empire together.

“Good day to you all. If only we were gathered here today under better circumstances, but even still - thank you all for making the effort to be here.” Ignacious normally-cool demeanor remained firmly in place during his greeting, although it did carry a hint of joviality despite the circumstances. “It is only a matter of time until some of our colleagues within the Imperial Knights arrive - I would be interested to gain the measure of your thoughts prior to the meeting. I think it is important we try to present as unified a front as possible during the proceedings. It may be more important than we realize even now...”

Korvan’s gaze drifted between the three men, waiting to see who would speak up first.

 

[DT-1159]

Location: Bastion - The Imperial Citadel
Tags: Ignacious Korvan | Abeodan Charidot | Julius Haskler | Marcus Bastion

It had become busier, as of late. Far busier than his previous assignment. The trooper had little complaints, for he knew it was ultimately for a greater purpose.

59 had taken the liberty of updating himself on what events from Concordia he could when the opportunity presented itself. Unfortunately, there was not much to be found. Mostly that Lucien Dooku, leader of the Imperial Knights, had disappeared. While the Death Trooper was ultimately not well-versed in politics, nor was it exactly his charge to try to keep updated on such, he took the liberty in finding what after-action reports he could, and attempted to glean the implications of such a thing.

All he knew for certain was that this meeting could very well determine the course of The Empire from thereon. And with this, it could also determine the direction of his patron, Ignacious Korvan . Even the trooper was not blind to the fact this could present an important political opportunity for one to shore up pillars of influence. With what he knew, he was fully willing to aid in taking advantage of this. The Knights were Force-Sensitive. Weapons, just like himself. And yet, he could not help but feel a tad bit of disdain for them, perhaps out of remembrance of the reasons the Empire had come to form in the first place in lieu of the Sith. The direction they were heading, the Trooper wouldn’t know, but what he did know was that they were an element that was difficult to control, and due to such? They were a perpetual threat, however crass it may be to consider them such.

Marching in-step with the rest of the squadron of black-clad Death Troopers which comprised Death Mask, his visor surveyed the room in a similar manner to the Grand Moff. If anything, it would let others know they were watching. Perhaps give off an air of authority, of power, that his patron held. That was its intended purpose, after all, but it is passed off as merely only protection. Abeodan Charidot was skimmed over, for he did not hold much concern for the man. He knew he had once saved Korvan’s life, and is ultimately part of the reason the trooper had come to stand where he was today through that. The rest? Unknown variables, of which would need to be maneuvered around and against properly. Politics were not his playing field, yet in this Age of Strife, it was one he found himself in more and more as of late. Thus, he would be listening carefully to the rest of the Council’s opinions to note down for later.

 

[Abeodan Tyiskore Charidot]

The silence within the room was broken upon the entry of Julius Haskler and Marcus Bastion . Moff Bastion was unknown to him at this time but Moff Haskler was a different story due to having access to records of his conversation with Moff Kanollic II Vethres on Bal Talmshaa some time ago. He was made out to be quite intelligent in his manner of speech and did not hide his intentions behind a masked vail. Although the main focus of the room now was casted upon Ignacious Korvan followed by his squadron of personal bodyguards including DT-1159 , overall Korvan was a powerful man within the Imperial Government and certainly not one to make an enemy out of. Grand Moff Korvan would speak first to set the tone of the meeting.

Wanting to gain some insight to their thinking regarding the incident that had brought them here from all corners of the empire and their own personal domains. Since no one wanted to speak first in regards to the Grand Moff's inquiry. Interlocking his fingers and resting them gently on the table. The loss of the Heir of the Empire would spell disaster if the government and the Imperial Knights could not come to an agreement on whom to replace Lucien Dooku. On the other hand, the Moff Council could regain some power over the Triumvirate and the Tarkinist Administration.

"An important decision such as this, Grand Moff Korvan. Requires in person commitment." Abeodan said with a grim look on his features. "The disappearance of the Warden is both a blessing and a curse for the Empire. A blessing in the fact that the Imperial Knights are without a strong leader to oppose us bringing them more in line with the government. Perhaps even making them follow the traditional command structure." He said with a simple statement on the matter. If the Imperial Knights lacked a leader, it would be considerably easier to bring them more in line with the government and the Moff Council.

"On the other hand, the Imperial Knights could move to rally support against the government. Something that our enemies could exploit and bring the entire foundation of the empire crumbling down. I am also quite concerned that the Imperial Knights would move to elect a candidate that we would have little control over such as Knight Commander Sahar " Abeodan said with a firm voice to showcase his concerns and viewpoint on the topic. ​

 

[Marcus Bastion]

Marcus glanced around the room with only his eye's as the players at the table started playing their opening hands. Grand Moff Korvan began proceedings covered with the symbolic authority of his personal guard DT-1159 . Brielfy the thought occurred to Marcus that Korvan's personal guard could be used by him at any time to any person. Them being ultimately only loyal to Korvan himself.

He gave Grand Moff Ignacious Korvan due attention and respect appearing to be mildly interested and unobjectionable to what he had to say. So far it was nothing unexpected or radical meerly formal greetings and acknowledgement of the situation. Marcus for the most part agreed with the sentiments, but Moff's presenting a united front might be the status quo publicly, privately you could never get this many ambitious and powerful men in the same room without some self interests being evident. Which is why Moff Bastion had to judge whether a statement of support for the Grand Moff would appear sycophantic. It would also put himself firmly within the Grand Moff's camp from the outset, and he wasn't prepared to commit to any one side this early in the game.

Marcus waited to see who would follow the introductions Julius Haskler Marcus knew to be shrewed and ruthless. Fortunately Marcus didn't have to make a statement too early when Moff Abeodan Charidot gave his own opening statement. Marcus found himself mostly agreeing with the ageing veteran, with a slight addendum.

"The Imperial Knights have enjoyed considerable autonomy for a long time. Restraining that independence could be easier said then done, and may even give them the high ground publicly if we were too aggressive in pursuing it. They could claim we were trying to impose upon their sacred duty. It could trigger the very situation you are fearful of. I agree they are a wild card which is what makes them so effective and dangerous. Even to members of this Council."

"At the moment they don't have the support to make a play for the Empire itself, unless of course we give them reason to. Civil Wars have started from less. If we're not careful one could be triggered and we'd be dealing with the Chiss all over again. Only this time against powerful force users with a considerable faction of the Empire supporting them."

"I think our best course of action is supporting someone to lead the Imperial Knights who is… reasonable to work with. Once that has been established we should be able to bring them in line. Even those within the Imperial Knights who'd object would be publicly fighting their own leader. Which would weaken their position significantly throughout the rest of the Empire. They would be seen as trying to seize power for themselves at best, rebel scum at worst. Either of which could be used to our advantage."

Marcus paused as he let his points sink in before realising he almost made the grave mistake of trying to promote his own interests above that of the Empire.

"By that I meant the Empire's stability of course."

 

[Michael Barran]

1st post

AN AGE OF STRIFE STORY

CAIRN_ONE
IMPERIAL KNIGHT-COMMANDER OF SERENNO
DRUID-GRANDMASTER OF THE HIGHLAND BROTHERHOOD

TAGS
Ignacious Korvan Aoki-Barran Mira Abeodan Charidot Julius Haskler
Marcus Bastion DT-1159 Siyndacha Aerin

BORN OF BRIGHT STARS IV: DAMNED BY CIRCUMSTANCE - PART 1

SUNRISE COURTYARD, EAST WING,
FORTRESS MORTIS, CONCORDIA (LATE 877 ABY)

No way, man.... Not even so much as a trace of his Midichlorian signature either.
It makes no sense-

He's the most powerful Imperial Knight in existence! This should be easy!
​

From the site of his last-known location, all the way across the Galaxy to all the other worlds to where he sojourned whenever he wished for time away from it all, and right back again, the search for Lucien Dooku had led the Druid all the way back to where all the questions first arose from the absence. But the silence of the Fortress, of the world around it, and the very silence of the air itself was telling Lord Michael everything he needed to know, and yet, despite his reasonable demeanour for the better part of four weeks, the true delusion, the true denial would bare it's ugly face by the time Barran returned to Concordia.

​

Many and more had been of little help to his sense of reason, many and more on Serenno who could count themselves among the crowd of those chiding the Wandering Woad into action, all guilty of refusing to admit the truth, flogging a dead horse in the hopes a Druid could come up with magic once more. For if the Grandmaster of the Empire's only Esoteric Chapter could revive the dead Lord-Regent on the snowy ground of Ilum, then surely the same man had it in him to find the last remaining legitimate claimant to the Imperial throne, goading the Goidel into looking and looking and looking in the hopes he would come up with a means to find their king; from the Serennoan Imperial-knights to the Myrmidons, from the Goidels to Carannia's civilian population, none of those in close contact with Lord Michael would give him a break until someone finally accepted the reality of the situation.

King Lucien, Emperor-in-waiting, was gone.

And with no way of knowing where he was, the Druid's only choice now is come to the terms that MIA could just as easily mean KIA by then - but Lord Michael wasn't even answering to them at the time.

'Oh well, best get the fething wolves aff m'back then.... "Wolves", Heh! More like vultures at this stage.'

Authenticate: KC2396-Cairn
Vocal Scan: Initiate one, initiate two, initiate three
KC Log: #026

Commence!

This is Lord Michael Barran, Designation,"Cairn One", logging on for Knight-Commander's log zero-two-six! Here goes nothing I guess.... So here I am, back where I started, back where all this latest madness began - and I am even less hopeful this time around than I was when I last visited this planet.

It would seem that Concordia would conceal exactly what she concealed last time, and she does, more or less though. But please, just let me preface what I mean by that though, humour me if you're willing to listen on beyond this, though I'm guessing the relevant analyst will be as thrilled for the length of this entry as he will be for aaaaaaaaaaall the others you'll be needing to listen through. I was hoping to have an exciting entry for you but all I really have is context and conjecture, though for all our sakes I hope its helpful to the investigation process.

And so I refer to recent history, an' at least for an example on the difficulties I'm faced with here.

From the very moment my ship broke down through Serenno's atmosphere for the first time, I felt a supremely powerful presence emanating from the west end of the planet's capital city, almost pulsating from Carannia's very own Castle District, even from as far up as the stratosphere. Perspective there, such you should hold as I near even closer to the crux of the matter itself.... Now, with all that said, you can imagine my dismay in feeling NOTHING of his presence ANYWHERE!!!!

I've been to Denon, I've been to Atrisia, to Kestri, Corellia, Coruscant and even to the very edges of the Outer Rim itself in search of my liege.... I'm out here doing my part - risking capture every time! An' all for what, exactly?

I'VE SCOURED AN' SCOURED IN SEARCH OF FEL'S SUCCESSOR, AN' I CAN'T EVEN SO MUCH AS FEEL A SLIGHT HINT OF HIS PRESENCE!!!!

HE ISN'T HERE, YOU IDIOTS!!!! IF MY LIEGE WISHES TO BE FOUND - I'M SURE HE'LL LET US KNOW!!!!

End recording!

​

Dismayed, the future of the Imperial Knights looked worse than bleak by the Druid's estimation, and in the moment he sat down leaning against the backrest of the courtyard's northern park-bench, all Lord Michael could do was bury his head in his hands, completely bereft of options on where to turn next. Running fingers through his hair as the winds began to gust colder chills at the back of his neck, colder than those that assailed him at the top of the rampart on his way in, Barran could do nothing but whisper,'Chit.', before giving in to a shuddering, heart-shattering sigh of defeat. The first of it's sort the Wanderer had ever expressed in his life, the sort that easily dwarfed that of the dejectedness he felt in the Obsidian Heart hospital after Lao-Mon, the sort that even made the sting of penance seem like little more than a mosquito-bite.

A sting unlike any other he could have possibly felt in such moments, for the burning sensation of unfulfilled allegiance was making it all the more difficult to overcome.

But then the aimless, white droplets of snowfall soon began to fall, caring little for the fretting man below as it steadily found momentum, and enough that it started a storm without even so much as goading a response from a man who still had his head buried in his hands, caring as much for the snow as the snow did for the man below in turn. However, much like the Galaxy around him, the Woad was also subject to change at a moment's notice, and not just on account of his innate, genetically-permeated volatility, but this time accounting more for the volatility of his choices under pressure - with one in particular hanging dangerously close to falling into the realm of enacted fruition in the following moments.

'Oh, well.... If its worth a shot in the end - then time is of the essence.'

Then after lifting his head with a deep, loud inhalation through the nostrils, Lord Michael found heart enough to raise his head, looking to the skies with the intent of finding the full moon he saw when the NIV: Tigress touched base at the nearest Spaceport, only to find the skies awash in a canopy of grey and white on a bed of starless black. It was enough to instil a shudder of an entirely different sort, sighing with ecstatic affirmation from the fate that guided Barran as the storm continued to intensify around him, concluding,'So be it.', as he closed his eyes again, believing there was a chance it would be for the last time. The Wanderer believed it was high time to act, believing that if ever there was a last moment to try reaching his friend, then that moment was fast approaching, giving the Woad-born Druid the impression he had one good shot to reach the Serennoan King's mind.

~=My liege, I'm using all the power my mind possesses, and all in the hopes my telepathic message stands a chance of reaching you....=~
​

Forced to close his eyes by what felt like a sharp blurring from the very retinal root of his eye and further behind it, Lord Michael inhaled again and bitterly growled,'Come on, Barran! You're in it to the end now, man.... So go the rest o' the fething way!', with jaw clenched to commit all the way to whatever outcome awaited his poor judgement. Rising to his feet with the wind picking up speed around him, the Druid was struggling enough that he almost stumbled on his way up, (shaky-legged but sturdy as soon as his standing position was assured) grimacing with a grin as the distinct sound of rumbling thunder was heard giving a good growl of it's own; it appeared as though the storm and the Druid were both choosing to push onwards, pushing past the threshold of Death's Doorstep together, surging forth brashly, in brazen fervour and seemingly pushing each other to the last gasp.

~=I'm likely damaging myself here, but I need to know where you are, an' to such an obsessed extent that I'm willing to make that damage irreparable in search of answers.=~
​

The storm was a blizzard by then, rolling deep with the thunder adding to the frightening power of the snowfall, inundating the world around him in lightning flashes, snowflakes and scattered dust from the wind-force, a storm of which that was reminding Barran of home in these moments. It hurt his soul in ways he couldn't comprehend yet, for the heartache was yet to befall Lord Michael, but in that hurt lay a painful prophecy in and of itself, such that only served to amplify the pain of his task tenfold. But still, despite the waning strength to continue, despite the damage the Knight-Commander knew he was doing to himself, he continued in spite of it all; through the screaming outbursts, through the nosebleed and the muscle-spasms, and all in the hopes his King was listening.

~=Wherever - you are, Lucien.... Come back - to Serenno. Come back - to your kingd-=~
​

Whether the last of it made it through, or whether any of his message made it through for that matter, would be left in the hands of powers far beyond anyone's comprehension. But as the Wanderer lost consciousness, he would fall to the ground as the storm dissipated, slapping bloody face on the snow-covered ground in the hopes that incomprehensible power was none other than the God he was raised to know - or at least one who was much like Dia in that respect.

​

Fortunately for Barran though, he was made of sterner stuff than that, however, Lord Michael was still on something of a precipice between life and death, yet still one that offered comfort over finality. But whenever things like this happened to Goidels of any sort, it usually meant something else, with that something else often ending up being a sort of limbo, a place between where dead ancestors could freely speak with their living descendants. Though much to his own misfortune, Barran's ancestor would not be impressed in the slightest, and as the grey, hilly realm between realms began to draw deeper into focus, the fury of his clan's ancient progenitor would be seen with more clarity along with it. Changing the very tone of his encounter, from the snowstorms of the waking world to he torrential, rainy downpour of his unconscious mind, the ill-fated Barran progenitor's eyes met those of his descendant and chuckled the most rueful, most bitter guffaw imaginable.

Shaking his head with eyes turning to the foggy backdrop beyond, King Barran,"The Bastard", was beyond disgusted, and in realisation of his own poor judgement, Lord Michael,"The Wanderer", found himself understanding exactly why.

'The first in centuries.... An' this is what I'm met with, after all this time? Give me one good reason not to march you off to the Nether, dissuade your ancestor - if you can.'

​

 

[Ignacious Korvan]

Grand Moff Korvan​

Location: Bastion - The Imperial Citadel
Tags: Abeodan Charidot | Julius Haskler | Marcus Bastion | Michael Barran

It would seem that both Admiral Charidot - now a Moff, apparently following the career path of Ignacious himself - and Moff Bastion were both of a similar mind as Korvan. The Grand Moff nodded slightly in approval.

"An important decision such as this, Grand Moff Korvan. Requires in person commitment."

"The disappearance of the Warden is both a blessing and a curse for the Empire. A blessing in the fact that the Imperial Knights are without a strong leader to oppose us bringing them more in line with the government. Perhaps even making them follow the traditional command structure."

"On the other hand, the Imperial Knights could move to rally support against the government. Something that our enemies could exploit and bring the entire foundation of the empire crumbling down. I am also quite concerned that the Imperial Knights would move to elect a candidate that we would have little control over such as Knight Commander Sahar "

“I agree with your assessment, Moff Charidot.” Ignacious paused, placing a slight emphasis on the man’s newfound status. He continued: “The fact is, the Empire cannot afford for the Imperial Knights to go rogue. The wrong leader at the helm could be disastrous. The heir-apparent was the ideal candidate because he would be the Empire’s presumptive future Emperor. No clear choice for that role exists either...” He let his words hang in the air, the unsaid question ringing loudly to those with enough perception to ‘listen’.

While they were here today to choose the new Warden of the Empire, they had to be mindful of the role of the future heir as well. Ever since the ascension of Rurik Fel, it would seem that the position had become a bit of a symbolic gesture of ascension in all but official mandate.

"The Imperial Knights have enjoyed considerable autonomy for a long time. Restraining that independence could be easier said then done, and may even give them the high ground publicly if we were too aggressive in pursuing it. They could claim we were trying to impose upon their sacred duty. It could trigger the very situation you are fearful of. I agree they are a wild card which is what makes them so effective and dangerous. Even to members of this Council."

"At the moment they don't have the support to make a play for the Empire itself, unless of course we give them reason to. Civil Wars have started from less. If we're not careful one could be triggered and we'd be dealing with the Chiss all over again. Only this time against powerful force users with a considerable faction of the Empire supporting them."

"I think our best course of action is supporting someone to lead the Imperial Knights who is… reasonable to work with. Once that has been established we should be able to bring them in line. Even those within the Imperial Knights who'd object would be publicly fighting their own leader. Which would weaken their position significantly throughout the rest of the Empire. They would be seen as trying to seize power for themselves at best, rebel scum at worst. Either of which could be used to our advantage."

"By that I meant the Empire's stability of course."

Wordlessly, Ignacious nodded along. It would seem that those present from the central government were in agreement, but he did note the silence of Moff Haskler - which was quite deafening. “If we remain in such close agreement as this meeting develops, we may well get out of this yet.” A rare hint of joviality carried through his words, but were soon interrupted by heavy footfalls barrelling down the hall.

 

[Dionus Bharro]

Location: Bastion - The Imperial Citadel
Tags: Abeodan Charidot | Julius Haskler | Marcus Bastion | Michael Barran

---

---

Ignacious’ words would be cut short by the resounding footfalls of the hulking armored form of a man seemingly wrought from the titanic stone statues on Bastion itself. Dionysus Verinius Bharro surged through, flanked on either side by similarly adorned (though lesser in stature) knights walking in step. The imposing figure appraised the Moffs before him, and briefly surveyed the Death Mask bodyguards who subtly tensed at his presence. A twitch flashed in his right eye before it rested upon the form of Grand Moff Korvan.

“You would be scheming in these halls mere days after the disappearance of Lord Dooku, Grand Moff Korvan. And it would appear there is no shortage of conspirators to play your little games.” Pure derision washed over the warrior’s face. For Ignacious’ part, his features were neutral and ice cold as he sized up the knight with an impassive air. No emotion, and no indication of what the men were discussing could be discerned from the Grand Moff’s features.

There was no real way the Knight could have known what they were saying - even with his considerable powers. “Dionus Bharro - I’m surprised you’ve given up the search so easily.” Ignacious’ response was deadpan, and while it carried no obvious emotion - it was startling how accusatory it sounded without bearing the slightest indication of such.

Dionus’ eyes narrowed and he took a step closer to the Grand Moff. Instinctively, the Death Mask troopers clenched their weapons tightly and braced, but otherwise did not break their rigid discipline. Whether the Death Mask’s readiness posed any threat to the Knight Commander or not could not be easily determined, for he kept his eyes locked with those of Grand Moff Korvan. Finally, his craggy features broke in a slight smile. “You always did carry yourself with such confidence and self-assuredness, Korvan. It’s kept you alive this long. Hopefully it still will...” Dionus finally broke his gaze and appraised each other Moff in turn before turning to find a seat at the semi-circle desks around the chamber. His voice rang through the chamber despite unbreaking his gait: “There is more at stake than petty rivalries. Let’s get this moving so we can return to what really matters.”

Surely the Triumvirs would arrive soon, and further members of the Imperial Knights. Otherwise, this would be quite the brief meeting indeed.

Or perhaps, a very decisive meeting.

 

[Siyndacha Aerin]

ERRANT HEIR
THE ORDER OF IMPERIAL KNIGHTS
FORTRESS MORTIS - CONCORDIA
Michael Barran

It was impossible in her mind to not be aware of it.

It wasn’t simply the past few weeks. Too many events of unpredicted, unforeseen origin over the span of half a year between Ravelin and now, as she saw it, made it appear as if there was something rotten and as-yet not-wholly-defined materialising, but connecting such dots - if there was any connection whatsoever between each event - was an exercise in speculation and conjecture. It stank that such realities existed. It stank to consider.

The disappearance of the most powerful of her ilk was but the latest in this seemingly disconnected string of problematic occurrences, and the worst of it all, at least as far as the stability of her Order and the Empire itself were concerned. For the Echani Knight-Errant, however, it wasn’t a personal loss by any stretch of the imagination… but for the Woad she set out to retrieve, the feelings about the erstwhile Warden were likely different.

As they were for many in the Order.

Aerin frowned as the shuttle fruitlessly continued its attempted approach, buffeted by the gale-force winds and ferocious flurry of snow. “Ideal conditions, truly…” came the utterance as she turned away from the forward view, “...let me out over the fortress courtyard.” The co-pilot shot a look over the side of his seat, as if to, perhaps, dissuade her from simply jumping into the storm from… however many meters up this was. But then, she felt it coming. “I’ll get to ground faster than you can touch down,” she cut him off, flicking her silver gaze back toward the cockpit, then added: “please.” She’d survived worse. “Before I start fiddling with your switches, hm?”

But then the storm began to dissipate, just as the shuttle moved into position and the door opened.

“We’ll bring you in, Lady Knight.”

She frowned and glanced down at the courtyard below, spying a figure laid out in the snow. Only one person it could really be. [ Ah, there you are. How… unbecoming, ] and with one further impassive look toward the pilot, ”You just love to waste my time, don’t you? I see him,” she slipped out, dropping rather like a brick, one that was cushioned with a precise application of telekinetic force, sinking into a crouch on impact, and kicking up a cloud of snow in the process. Maybe the accumulation was whiter than the woman in it. Maybe, and the fact that it had even ended up in her hair was at least considerably better than the damp, dirty, potently odorous tunnels she’d had the pleasure of walking on Iridonia - a place dark in more ways than one - but then most things ranked higher than that. She rose and went to the unconscious Knight-Commander’s prone form, dusting herself off as she crossed the courtyard.

It was only as she got close enough that she noted the blood in the snow, and when she got there, once again assuming a crouch, heels dropped, she saw the faint fluttering of tiny flakes of the white stuff with each shallow breath. “Is this a common theme?” Face down in the snow. Like father, like son… so she had heard. She gave her head a light shake, perhaps of amusement, if not mild incredulity. “The things I do to get a man on the comm..."

As if it wasn't the first time. Which it was. Then she extended one pale hand, curling her fingers around the Druid’s shoulder, and gave the man a shake that would surely wake him… and if it didn’t? Well, she’d have to resort to other measures.

 

[Michael Barran]

2nd post

AN AGE OF STRIFE STORY

CAIRN_ONE
IMPERIAL KNIGHT-COMMANDER OF SERENNO
DRUID-GRANDMASTER OF THE HIGHLAND BROTHERHOOD

TAGS
Ignacious Korvan Aoki-Barran Mira Abeodan Charidot Julius Haskler
Marcus Bastion DT-1159 Siyndacha Aerin

BORN OF BRIGHT STARS IV: DAMNED BY CIRCUMSTANCE - PART 2

SUNRISE COURTYARD, EAST WING,
FORTRESS MORTIS, CONCORDIA (LATE 877 ABY)

Is that-?
But why does he look like-? This makes no sense.
​

There had been rumours and slight inklings that certain members of the Barran clan grew up bearing the features and flame-red hair of the clan's progenitor, though it could never be proven on account many thought it just a coincidence of bastardy along the way, and to the extent that it took a DNA test to properly confirm that Lord Michael's brother was in fact a product of union between Lord Erskine and Lady Carla, almost ruining the marriage along with it. But in constant ignorance of the legend itself, the glaring truth of the progenitor's blood remained an unsolved mystery for the sake of fixing a marriage that went on to conceive Lord Michael himself.

There could have been no doubts that Thomas was his brother, but there also could have been no doubt that an inordinate amount of the progenitor in Lord Erskine's blood rested within the firstborn as well, albeit with differing physical build and behavioural mannerisms; but in staring the stern-faced ancestor in the eye, it was clear that much had been lost in the centuries since, losing shreds of the originator in every living embodiment who was born to the Barran line. However, surreal though this experience was between realms of existence, the more time the Wanderer spent in the Bastard King's presence, the more everything began to make sense - and to an extent that it seemed to reawaken something within Lord Michael's soul as a result of this sudden revelation.

That Barran-like urge fight on despite the increasing odds of failure.

'The first in centuries.... An' this is what I'm met with, after all this time? Give me one good reason not to march you off to the Nether, dissuade your ancestor - if you can.'

'He looks exactly like you, my brother I mean, spitting image.... Or rather, my brother Thomas did when he was still alive. Still though, uncanny.', Lord Michael started, trailing off as he choked up a little, stopped in his tracks in sudden grief-struck remembrance for a moment. Recalling more of the progenitors aspects that were fortunately still present in the avatar-like visage that was the Lord Thomas he knew and loved dearly, it all started tumbling out by then as his dumbfounded utterances resumed,'He was brave in life, perhaps even the bravest of us... It, ah feth... He said the secret to being brave was the acknowledgement of-', only to be interrupted in his amble by an increasingly-morose ancestor, but only in keeping with the flow of his descendant's thoughts.

'-Of fear, this is known.... Of course this is known.... An' listen, nae explanations needed. It is clear your resolve was found along the way.'

Choosing instead to comfort the Wanderer in his moment of tribute to a brother he assumed was still gone to the Nether, though the ancestor would remain silent as to the truth he knew of the firstborn's second fate.

'Just- don't make a habit of dicing with Donn after this. I know that too, an' Ferryman though Donn may be, you an' I both know that bonding was not in accordance with our ways; this you carry to the crypt, this you take with you to the afterlife.... Forget not, Michael. An' when you wear ritual paint and mask from this moment henceforth, you now summon your clan's progenitor.... Your service to the dead can wait, honourable though it may be.'

Dumbfounded, the Druid could only respond with,'But- how though? What- what were you in life to have such power now?', but before he could get his answer, Lord Michael's ancestor had merely shaken his head and started walking away. And like the murky mists around them, the very image of the Bastard King was nothing more than a part of the collective, immaterial wisps around him, though only as according to the perception of the mortal descendant, looking out into the distance in following the power of the ancestor's spirit to the last moment. Stepping out across the boggy, moss-covered peat of the Hillside-Between-Realms, the Wanderer had never felt so lost before, but he was prioritizing the words of his beloved ancestors over everything else, caring little for detriment or hardship as rewards for his curiosity.

For all was irrelevant to life-changing wisdom in moments like these, and perhaps doubly so to the fortuitous promise of more of the likes in the future.

'In time, you will learn more.... But for now, you must focus on becoming the man you were always destined to be. An' besides, someone in the waking world is on the verge of shaking you into wakefulness - best not keep them waiting, hm?'

Then before Lord Michael knew it, he was already sluggishly returning to the wintry cold of Concordia, with his bloody-nosed face being pulled up from the snow, then turned to one side for identification before being politely shaken into coherence by the new arrival. It would take him a moment to note exactly who was standing over him and why, and perhaps a few moments longer to recall exactly what had happened on the precipice between life and death along with it, but this was only natural, as it was for anyone who survived the lethal push beyond the threshold of their own limitations. Wiping the blood from the hairs on his moustache and beard, using the other hand to pick and rub the rest of the blood from the outer parts of his philtrum by the cheeks, the bleary-eyed Wanderer then looked up to the snowy skies above with a sigh before starting,'Barran, Knight-Commander. IMPAF rank: Colonel - ah - reporting.', rolling onto his front again to at least attempt to stand.

But as Barran rose with shaky-legged determination, the new arrival stepped to one side and held him close as he was lowered towards the ground again, calmly bringing the Wanderer to a seated position before he asked,'Is it that bad, aye?', briefly looking to the small, half-frozen puddle of blood where his face had previously planted in the snow. Still blurry in his vision, it was still enough to catalyse an Ilum flashback, the sort that did little to keep the horror from setting in; but in the moment his eyes drifted away from the blood on the snow, the sudden sight of silvery-white, wispy hair caught the closeness of his periphery, causing Lord Michael to blink in a curious attempt to see more clearly. If he had been wiser before, then the Druid would have been shocked all the sooner, for no such issues of consciousness would ever have been present to keep him from seeing the face of Imperial Delegation's very own femme fatale.

​

However, despite her razor-sharp Echani looks, Aerin was no doubt an exemplar of the sort who were contractually beholden to the cause first and foremost, clearly there in search of the Goidelic-Human on official business of the sort he should have been well aware; and whenever the old man sent someone they always obeyed, with the same ringing every part as true for the Tarkinist Administration, there were usually duties of an unavoidable nature that followed in their wake. After all, the search for Serenno's King was to continue, at great cost and by any and all means necessary - as the Moff Assembly so adamantly put it.

He was to be primed to report on his findings, but Barran was in possession of nothing useful but confirmations of lacking traces of his presence on Concordia, beyond that lay nought but chidings and condemnations for the senseless continuation of search-policy implementation; Dooku was missing, and with no discernible trace of King Lucien anywhere, the issue of succession within the Order of Imperial Knights would need to be solved before it became a problem. Making it all downward spiral, and to the extent that without the Serennoan legend at the helm of the Order, there was no unifying presence between Force-Wielders of three vastly differing Imperial ideals, giving more than enough precedence to raise the issue with the Imperial Government accordingly.

​

 

[Siyndacha Aerin]

ERRANT HEIR
THE ORDER OF IMPERIAL KNIGHTS
FORTRESS MORTIS - CONCORDIA
Michael Barran

He was without a doubt who she was here for, and he seemed to have been rousing near to the very moment she had laid a single hand on him, perhaps not as disconnected from the waking world as she assessed at first glance. What she couldn’t figure out was whether the bleed had started before, or after his face had connected with the stone and snow, but this was hardly of any importance. Simply a thread her mind pulled on while the Lord-Regent’s son sought to unbloody himself and grasp for greater coherence. However it had happened, the man appeared to have taken a solid knock to the head, but it was as-yet difficult to gauge the extent of the consequences of that event. And she wasn't about to ask him if he was alright; the answer was plainly obvious.

“I know who you are, Knight-Commander Barran," [ save your reporting for Ravelin. ] is what she might have said, until he opted to try and stand at which point it became rather immediately apparent that he wasn’t the nearest thing to stable, giving her more of an answer on his overall state; as such, Aerin followed him up to carefully settle the dark-haired Knight back down before he might have become intimately familiar with the stone of the courtyard a second time. “You appear to have had a rather cozy meeting with the cobblestones, yes,” came her uttered reply, while he seemed to be trying to piece things together, as her shuttle set down nearby. "If I could…"

But then his head turned, and he blearily found his attention pulled to her face, at which point she could see the full measure of his now-less-bloody face and just how that face had connected with the ground in angle and speed, “Ah... that's going to bruise,” her brow furrowed and her mouth became a line. [ Surely the wind wasn’t that bad, snow’s too fresh to be that slippery…? ] but her eyes briefly squeezed shut and she gave her head the smallest and briefest of shakes; there would be time enough later to put those pieces together, as much as her mind was keen to chew on the problem. Always working away, it was.

“Knight-Errant Aerin," the Technomancer gave expediently, "Ravelin’s expecting your report,” she urged on, while she seemed to have the focus of his attention, “if you’re done making friends with the stonework…?” Siyn flicked a glance up at the approaching men she had come with, then back to the seated Wanderer with a firm smile, “Let’s get you straightened out and connected before the Administration decides the future of our Order without us, shall we?”

It was more than just not wanting to keep them waiting.

 

[Ignacious Korvan]

Grand Moff Korvan​

Location: Bastion - The Imperial Citadel
Tags: Abeodan Charidot | Julius Haskler | Marcus Bastion | Michael Barran | Siyndacha Aerin

A short time later...

The Moff Council chamber had filled out a bit more over the past hour, as both Moffs and senior members of the Knighthood made their presence known. It would seem, as time would pass, that no members of the Triumvirate would attend the proceedings in person - leaving the most senior representative of the Moff Council to preside; said most senior member being Ignacious Korvan himself. The Grand Moff opted to leave the Imperial Throne itself vacant, if for no other reason than good taste given the purpose of their meeting. Instead, he sat at one of the chairs to the side. The chair in which he sat in notwithstanding, the Grand Moff carried himself with an air of authority that was sufficient to call the chamber to order.

His voice echoed through the amplification system of the room: “This session of the Moff Council shall be called to order. Those who are not directly members of the Moff Council have been granted provisional standing in this chamber to be recognized in due course.”

“The matter to be considered by the Moff Council, under the authority of the Lord Regent Erskine Barran himself, is that of the disappearance of Lord Lucien Dooku - Warden of the Empire, and Heir-Apparent to the Imperial Throne.”

Ignacious paused as his words hung in the air. For those who may not have considered this a momentous occasion to be recorded in the annals of history, it was likely they were now disabused of such notions here and now, within this chamber. Soon enough, the Grand Moff’s voice would carry on.

“The chair recognizes Knight Commander Michael Barran, who shall regale us with his report of the continued search on Concordia. Lord Commander.” The Grand Moff shifted in his seat slightly, but otherwise remained firm and upright as he directed his attention to the scion of House Barran. His cold, frosty eyes appraised the man with the same air as one might expect from a man of his standing; unreadable, and unyielding.

 

[Marcus Bastion]

Location Bastion - Imperial Citadel
Tag: Abeodan Charidot Julius Haskler Michael Barran Siyndacha Aerin Ignacious Korvan

Moff Bastion waited and listened with polite interest as the members of the Moff Council shuffled in. The chit chat ranged from asking how peoples children were to vague promises of social commitments and veiled threats or bragging. It was typical court intrigue of the Imperial Order. Honestly Bastion would be considerably more worried if someone wasn't passing out veiled threats, it would mean the members of the Council wouldn't bother with threats if they knew an actual threat was in the works.

As far as Marcus knew he didn't have any current major enemies and was in fairly good standing with everyone in the room, or atleast there wasn't any open animosity. That he knew of. Which was the point really if there was a credible threat would he even see it coming?

It was this sort of machievellan paranoia from which the Moff Council spun. Moff Bastion could just as easily be taken out in order to facilitate someone else rise to position and promises on the Council than any personal feelings towards him would suggest.

Marcus believed his position to be secure more or less, but that's exactly the mind set he would want someone else to feel before causing a convenient accident on someones personal starship.

Still right now the Moff Council was more interested in presenting a united front before the Imperial Knights. In fighting would weaken the Council as a whole and therefore individuals within it would be weakened, which was in none of their interests quite the opposite.

Bastion noted with approval the Grand Moffs decision not to claim the throne. It would be to bold of a claim that would cause the very fracture within the Moff Council they were all so anxious to avoid.

Although come to think of it a lightning rod on the throne that the Council could rule through would be advantageous. Perhaps even ideal.

Marcus put those ambitions aside for a moment while the Grand Moff introduced the Lord Commander to speak to the assembled dignitaries.

 

[Michael Barran]

3rd post

AN AGE OF STRIFE STORY

CAIRN_ONE
IMPERIAL KNIGHT-COMMANDER OF SERENNO
DRUID-GRANDMASTER OF THE HIGHLAND BROTHERHOOD

TAGS
Ignacious Korvan Aoki-Barran Mira Abeodan Charidot Julius Haskler
Marcus Bastion DT-1159 Siyndacha Aerin

BORN OF BRIGHT STARS IV: DAMNED BY CIRCUMSTANCE - PART 3

SUNRISE COURTYARD, EAST WING,
FORTRESS MORTIS, CONCORDIA (LATE 877 ABY)

'I know who you are, Knight-Commander Barran,'

And there I thought Yorunarr sent someone to snatch me back to Serenno....
Interesting.
​

Still suffering blurred vision when the new presence spoke up, and almost completely clueless as to how badly bloodshot his eyeballs were at the time, Lord Michael was still quite slow to register everything that was happening at the time; and yet, despite the fact he could still hear his heart pulsing in his ears, Barran was still able to hear with ease that the answering voice was that of a woman, ringing prettily past the pained blood-pressure despite replying with the usual brand of Imperial decorum. However, much to the favourable quickness of the endeavour, the Knight-Commander soon realised that there were other human-like outlines moving hither and yon in the distance, all heard muttering amongst each other and moving objects of varying weight towards the Woad's vicinity from what sounded like a refuelling ship, likely setting up a plinth within for a Holocall with the biggest movers and shakers of the Empire's Tarkinist Administration.

The one who sat the Woad down in his brief moment of shaky-legged, upright movement was being more helpful than her superior-officer realised, bringing him back to the snow beneath in kind consideration for the accident that was just seconds away from befalling him, and only then continuing,'You appear to have had a rather cozy meeting with the cobblestones, yes,', but only after she was sure there was no resistance to the necessary triage-attempt. But just as the feminine presence uttered,'If I could...', Lord Michael's blurry gaze had turned to at least attempt to see the face of the one who responded.

'Ah... that's going to bruise,'

She doesn't know, be careful with what you reveal.
Be sure she's one of the good ones first, but be kind....

After all, one must remember that everyone struggles out here.​

Finally giving a name to her voice, the woman formally identified herself as,'Knight-Errant Aerin', drawing immediate recognition from the sluggish Woad she was helping at the time. Understanding her to be a key member of his father's Imperial Delegation, Lord Michael acquiesced to the Imperial authority that was Lady Siyndacha specifically, recognising the demands of his political superior as opposed to ceding authority to her Knight-Errant status as she informed,'Ravelin's expecting your report,', leaving no further confusions as to why Aerin's unit had been called out to find him that day. But in the moment she tastefully joked,'If you're done making friends with the stonework…?', Barran understood Aerin preferred to be civil in light of the developing situation.

'Let's get you straightened out and connected before the Administration decides the future of our Order without us, shall we?'

Chuckling lightly in response, the Druid politely replied,'Do lets.... Sooner I get this done an' dusted the better.', allowing the Knight-Errant's subordinates to lift him onto a hover-stretcher, giving reassuring (if not, thankful) slaps on on his shoulder as the engines of the Technomancer's ship began to light up with atmosphere-puncturing intent. But before he could offer a proper greeting to the Imperial Delegate, Barran blacked out, and though he snapped into consciousness again within the warmth of the starship some minutes later, it felt as if little more than a few moments had passed, like he'd barely closed his eyes and was suddenly teleported into unfamiliar territory. Then after seeing the active feed to the Imperial Assembly on Bastion, running live as several Grand Moffs and their juniors were still filing into the Hall of Speakers, Lord Michael soon realised that the moment to report the dreaded truth had befallen him once and for all, the sort from which many would not recover.

<"This session of the Moff Council shall be called to order. Those who are not directly members of the Moff Council have been granted provisional standing in this chamber to be recognized in due course.">​

Poised to ruin all of his father's best-laid plans, and not in any way of his own volition - killing the greatest ambitions of the Tarkinists and Pellaeonists alike.

'Aerin, pleased to meet you by the way.... But-'

<"The matter to be considered by the Moff Council, under the authority of the Lord Regent Erskine Barran himself, is that of the disappearance of Lord Lucien Dooku - Warden of the Empire, and Heir-Apparent to the Imperial Throne.">​

'But this could get real ugly, real quick. So - er.... For your own sake I guess? Best look like an executioner, with yer hand at the hip-holster an' such. The news isn't good, not by any means.'

The time had come, though fortunately for both the Woad and his newly-met counterparts, his part of the feed was still cut on a press-to-prime setting, so the advices and warnings were yet to register with the assembly, still filing in and making occasional glances towards the five-forms projected on a plinth near the absent Regent's side of the room at the time. Not that it would matter for long, as the Lord-Regent's highest-ranking official then motioned to begin officiations whilst the last of the arriving Moffs were still getting to their seats, and much like matters were for Barran, Korvan was every part as capable of bringing the chamber to order - and to a swift silence along with it.

"The chair recognizes Knight Commander Michael Barran, who shall regale us with his report of the continued search on Concordia. Lord Commander."​

'Here goes nothing I guess.... Prime the mic please-ah, thank-'

<"-you... Oh, right, my thanks to the chair, and all the attending members of the Assembly today. But it is with great regret and grief that I must be the bearer of bad news today, as my search for King Lucien has ended fruitlessly, even after sneaking my way onto planets no other Imperial could draw near.... Life, limb an' capture were risked in the process, an' still - the risks bore no fruit of discovery. So I press forth the request that we designate Lucien Dooku KIA until proven otherwise.">​

And within the blink of an eye, the Druid's gaze began to sour, deep in the worst phases of his grieving process, inhaling heavily through his nostrils with jaw clenched in a rage he was barely able to stifle down for his own sake, choking down words that would have otherwise seen him thrown into a military jailcell. It was clear he wanted someone to blame, but it was also clear he was still struggling to accept the fact his mentor could very well have been dead by then, yet in his darkening mood, the Druid's decorum remained as strong as ever. Though in his good manners, the bite and sting in his words were almost impossible to ignore, telling of the internal struggle he vehemently desired to keep away from the prying eyes of his superiors, that which kept all his wildest traits in check with every waking second.

<"The Empire is treading towards the darkest of days, perhaps even the darkest in the Empire's recent history, an' though it pains me to no end to make such a request, the reality remains.... Feed me facial matches all ye like, we know they'll amount to nothing in the end, though search I will, if you'd allow me to do so on my own initiative - fruitless though I know such follies to be.">

 

[Abeodan Tyiskore Charidot]

A simple glance over to Marcus Bastion was all that it took to assess the man as either an ally or foe. Charidot certainly did agree with Moff Bastion's assessment on the situation as it served to simply enhance his own point regarding the Imperial Knights, the wildcards of the Empire's Entire Powerbase and it's main line of defense against force users of the other factions. Appointing someone whom the government could negotiate with and then bring them more into the traditional structure of the empire. It was a good strategy but flawed to some extent as someone could merely entertain the idea of supporting the government while gathering support within the order.

Next to break the silence within the room was none other than Grand Moff and Grand Admiral Ignacious Korvan who merely confirmed his concern that the knights could appoint a rogue element as head of their order which would prove disadvantageous to the government and this council moving forward. Charidot could only nod at the Grand Moff's words before the approaching of heavy footfalls.

A simple glance to the entrance would reveal Knight Commander Dionus Bharro whom he hadn't met before and started to chastise korvan for apparently playing the game of state which was nothing but schemes and backstabbing. But Ignacious would not prevent himself from quipping back at the Knight Commander who made his move in an apparent attempt to start confrontation but halted and moved to find his seat within the room after voicing his own opinion very briefly.

The Grand Moff would proceed to start the session and made sure to announce the serious complication regarding the Heir Apparent to the Empire and introducing the first speaker over hologram being none other than Knight Commander Michael Barran whom would inform the Moff Council of the Search on Concordia. Barran was quick to confirm that his efforts of locating the Heir to the Imperial Throne and Warden of the Empire as a fruitful endeavour and was almost quicker to list Lucien Dooku as KIA until evidence emerged otherwise. Barran would proceed forward with a prophecy of doom and wanted to receive authority to search on his own.

It would seem that the Barran Household was playing a dangerous game with the empire. Conspiracy theory or simply paranoia did not prevent him from thinking that the Lord Regent was responsible for the disappearance of the Heir Apparent in a desperate gamble for the Imperial Throne and to install his family into important positions within the empire to control the council and empire.
​

 

[Dionus Bharro]

Location: Bastion - The Imperial Citadel
Tags: Abeodan Charidot | Julius Haskler | Marcus Bastion | Michael Barran | Aoki-Barran Mira | DT-1159 | Siyndacha Aerin

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In the time between Dionus’ entrance and the commencement of the meeting, Dionus had taken a seat near the end of the half-circle the seats within the chamber were arrayed within. His companions drifted off to the edge of the chamber, their eyes ever watchful on the scheming Moffs who talked amongst themselves. Soon enough, the chamber would begin to fill out with all manner of dignitaries from both the Moff Council and the Imperial Knights.

True to form, the self-important Grand Moff took his position next to the Imperial throne - a calculated decision no doubt; to start the meeting. Dionus observed the introduction with an impassive air, a half snarl thinly veiled under his features. It was all but obvious by his appearance that he was accustomed to lead men on the field of battle, and carried as much distaste for such a pompous ceremony as one of his stature would.

But soon enough, his expression would grow more attentive and engaged as the visage of Michael Barran appeared to them all.

<...So I press forth the request that we designate Lucien Dooku KIA until proven otherwise.">

<"The Empire is treading towards the darkest of days, perhaps even the darkest in the Empire's recent history, an' though it pains me to no end to make such a request, the reality remains.... Feed me facial matches all ye like, we know they'll amount to nothing in the end, though search I will, if you'd allow me to do so on my own initiative - fruitless though I know such follies to be.">

Murmurs could be heard throughout the chamber upon Lord Barran’s words, only to be interrupted by the violent screeching of a chair being near-instantly thrown back. Dionus’ imposing frame towered over those surrounding him, with his gaze fixed upon the holographic form of his fellow Knight Commander. “I would have expected such a suggestion from the likes of the Moff Council, but to hear it from your lips... I never thought I would see the day, Barran!”

Dionus words carried a fire within them; a passion that bespoke a mixture of both grief and disbelief. “Why give up so easily on your future Emperor? Or even... your bond-brother?!”

The chamber fell deathly silent; so much so that one could likely hear a pin drop. Many turned to Grand Moff Korvan for some indication of how to even take such an outburst. This was not the Galactic Senate, where such arguing and posturing was commonplace. Politics within the Empire was a lot more nuanced, where decisions were often made behind closed doors only to be revealed on the public stage. For such a blatant show to be performed here, and now... it was unprecedented.

But these were unprecedented times.

Whomever glanced over to Korvan would see the prominent figure fix Lord Bharro with a firm gaze, but otherwise say nothing. Instead, his gaze would shift to the holo-image of Michael Barran, as if tacitly approving of the question the Knight Commander asked - despite the manner in which it was given.

 

[Siyndacha Aerin]

ERRANT HEIR
THE ORDER OF IMPERIAL KNIGHTS
ABOVE CONCORDIA
Michael Barran | Ignacious Korvan | Dionus Bharro | Abeodan Charidot
DT-1159 | Marcus Bastion | Julius Haskler

A MATTER OF TIME​

The Druid’s light chuckle and ensuing response provoked the faintest upturn of her lips in kind, after which her attention turned to orchestrating their departure and once they broke atmosphere, putting her eyes to the work of establishing a connection, and stability of the feed once they had a link. With a measure of her attention keyed to that stability - should she need to aid it with her own abilities - the Echani turned her gaze to the proceedings.

<"This session of the Moff Council shall be called to order. Those who are not directly members of the Moff Council have been granted provisional standing in this chamber to be recognized in due course.">

Already from the outset this appeared to be a more orderly affair than the nigh-farcical event that was Kestri, her eyes flicking over faces that held some recognition, and others that did not. Cataloguing.

'Aerin, pleased to meet you by the way.... But-'

Her gaze tracked from the visual of the Imperial Assembly, to the Son of Erskine when he addressed her directly, with Korvan’s opening remarks carrying on in the background. Her brow furrowed lightly at the multiple pulls on her attention.

<"The matter to be considered by the Moff Council, under the authority of the Lord Regent Erskine Barran himself, is that of the disappearance of Lord Lucien Dooku - Warden of the Empire, and Heir-Apparent to the Imperial Throne.">

And all that meant. Her mouth curved lightly downward at her knowledge around that fact. The potential outcomes. Possible fallouts.

'But this could get real ugly, real quick. So - er.... For your own sake I guess? Best look like an executioner, with yer hand at the hip-holster an' such. The news isn't good, not by any means.'

That told her enough. Enough that she might not need to listen to what he would say next... but she would.

<"The chair recognizes Knight Commander Michael Barran, who shall regale us with his report of the continued search on Concordia. Lord Commander.">

Siyn held an open hand up for another moment’s wait, when the tech monitoring the feed looked to them expectantly, while the Woad put his mind to the report he was about to give, and the preamble that involved, then…

‘Prime the mic please…’

She signalled the go-ahead with that hand, her eyes on the live feed while the Galidraani Knight-Commander divulged his lack of findings, and recommendations.

<So I press forth the request that we designate Lucien Dooku KIA until proven otherwise.">

It was only a sliver of a second that the Lady Knight was taken aback by the request, before what going down that path might do to… or for the Empire started to become included in her considerations around this entire tenuous position the Imperial State found itself in, while the Druid, however, struggled to keep the roil of his emotions tethered at the unfurling of this fresh aspect of his own reality.

<"The Empire is treading towards the darkest of days, perhaps even the darkest in the Empire's recent history, an' though it pains me to no end to make such a request, the reality remains.... Feed me facial matches all ye like, we know they'll amount to nothing in the end, though search I will, if you'd allow me to do so on my own initiative - fruitless though I know such follies to be.">

Expected murmuring filled the background of the feed, then to be only cut short by the violence of one of the chamber’s many seats flying back. Her gaze snapped to the source of the noise, to none other than yet another of the Order’s Knight-Commanders, wound up in his emotions. Her mouth became even less of a line at this fact.

[ Clearly not thinking straight, now are we? ] Her attention was pinned on the imposing figure; while many of those in the chamber shown on the feed glanced at the Grand Moff, ambivalent and unsure, she was taking even the wild words of Bharro into her accounting. How many others of his rank within the Order were so… volatile?

A step, two, saw the Errant emerge from the background, naturally pale as a specter, and silent as one hand softly landed on Barran’s nearest shoulder, fingers gently curled, and she leaned in to direct her voice to the mic:

<”Moffs,”> She began in a voice indicative of one hailing from the Capital, addressing the chamber in general, <”Grand Moff Korvan,”> she spoke with a respectful tip of her head as her gaze passed to the presiding official, <”My fellow Knights,”> as she tracked from Korvan, then squarely returned her attention to the towering Dromund Kaasi, <”Knight. Commander. Bharro.”>

Her silvered gaze was unblinking through those clipped words - a rebuke? Irritation? Reminding him of what he was? It was hard to tell.

<”Lady Siyndacha Aerin,”> she introduced in short, for those who did not know, with her title, rather than her rank, <”Consider that we do not have the luxury of the truth of what happened to Lord Dooku,”> She gave that barely even the shade of a moment to sink in, as she briefly looked back to the general assembly, <”Consider what it would do to the Imperial realm to continue to maintain that he is missing, and to remain in a holding pattern because of it,”> she spoke coolly, flicking her gaze back to Dionus, <”Directionless, wandering in the dark.>

Such a bleak outlook, that the realm might tear itself to pieces. What it might look like, to be seen endlessly searching, in the eyes of the many, on a hope that would eventually degrade into bitterness over wasted time and resources.

<”I do not wish to discount your grief,”> she continued, <”but what has been put forth is the most stable path,"> She could see it so clearly. <"for the good of the Empire. The fate of one man is, at the most, secondary to that concern. And should it happen that Lord Dooku returns to us?”>

The faintest of smiles graced her lips, but did not reach her eyes.

<”It wouldn’t be the first time a man has returned from the dead.”> The Echani turned her gaze to Korvan, <”I yield the floor.”>