Vanity Hello? [Zambranos | OS]

[Emryc]

Panatha - Approaching Vain Hollow

"No, no, it's Vain Hollow."

Though her mother's words escaped through pursed lips in the gentlest strain of tone, it was still perfectly clear over the rumble of speeder engine.

"Oh, right. Vaaaain-" baby blues watched the progression of spires on the horizon, rising like a spiked monster awakened from slumber, "Hol-low."

"Nn," Tricia Graves Zambrano reached to her daughter, plucking a stray lock of golden curls from her face with the distaste of someone touching something infectious, "you haven't been here in many years. Not since you were little and ... ebony. Do you remember it Veronica? The great feast in the Grand Hall and the God King telling the family story...uh!"

"I remember Quibble," came an answer her mother wasn't expecting. Veronica smiled brightly.

"That old Womprat? Veronica, your priorities are a little off."

"...I lost his tail..." suddenly a frown.

"His tail, dear?"

"It was lucky. I couldn't find it when I packed."

"Oh ... well I'm sure you'll find something to replace it. Or make something, hm? Think of all the things you'll learn from your Uncle. He can teach you Sorcery."

"That magick stuff?"

"That's right dear, the magick stuff," Tricia patted her daughter on the thigh and leaned to look out her window, "almost there now." It was unclear who was more enthusiastic to this news. Tricia wondered briefly who would receive her daughter. Veronica wondered if her Uncle would like his gift.

Unspoken Rule #7: Always bring a gift for the God-King when visiting Vain Hollow.

[member="Darth Prazutis"] [member="Darth Vornskr"] @Zambranos

 

[Darth Carnifex]

​

​

Vain Hollow Keep, Panatha

The towering spires of Vain Hollow cast a foul shadow across the arid landscape surrounding the monumental mountain citadel who's peak scraped the roof of the world, noticeably higher than most of the mountain peaks of the Iron Mountains in which they were located. The massive structure was converted from the ancient lair of the Sorcerer-King Solomon, its catacombs expanded and more and more of the mountain face sculpted to better resemble the architecture on Korriban, Ziost, and Dromund Kaas. A cloud of black clouds hung over the region with perpetual thunder rumbling infrequently alongside flashes of iridescent lightning while the stench of the Dark Side of the Force permeated everything. Yet the guards that patrolled the battlements were unperturbed by the darkness that clung to their souls like soot, their expressions blank and their eyes devoid of light, yet all broke away from their sickening rhythm as a cloud of dust billowed up from the procession that doggedly crossed the empty plains below.

Yet at the distant apex of the citadel, in a room shrouded in shadows and illuminated only by braziers whose fire burned with an unnatural glow, the Lord of this foul domain stirred from his lapse in consciousness as his mind receded from the surrounding lands. His eyes, sulfuric and piercing, gazed down at his eunuch guards that flanked his throne of blackened iron, and the single individual who knelt patiently at the foot of the dais upon which his throne was raised several steps.

"Braxus." His voice was as cold and deep as the void, and seemed to reverberate in one's soul rather than in one's ears. "They have come. Descend the spire and bring them to me."

[member="Darth Gilda"] | [member="Darth Prazutis"]​

 

[Darth Prazutis]

Throne Room, Vain Hollow...

The dark citadel rose defiantly into the skies alongside many other peaks of the Iron Mountains. This was Vain Hollow or Rarsaza it ri Siqsa, meaning Den of the Demon. Years ago Prazutis remembered when Blacktalon Peak was just a haunted place of legend. But one day changed it all forever when he prayed for his master sending the man sacrifices as gifts, and his dark spirit descended like a cloud. The Siths infamous great nephew stood on a massive peak overlooking the Iron Mountains and turned to him: Build me a citadel truly worthy of a god.

The present day Vain Hollow stood as a testament to the might of Clan Zambrano, and their dark legacy. Countless legions of slaves, graug, and droids worked to carve out this massive mountains many halls, and properly forge a citadel worthy of the God-King of all Epicanthix. The ancient art of statue crafting was dug up from the zuguruk sith of old and statues depicting Kaine, Solomon, and other dark figures of Zambrano history were built. They dug into the mountain, under the mountain, they even crafted on the exterior of the mountain and built atop its peek an ornate castle where the Zambrano Family would stay.

The Black-Iron Palace was outfitted with midnight black metals on the exterior, coupled with a private hangar it was the perfect place for the Royal Family to live hidden away from the common folk. Prazutis spent much of the morning with Kaine discussing affairs of the Pacanth Reach, and they had just begun discussing the annual Cassivdeam when alerts came in from the space station, and War Fleets Black Iron and Leviathan hovering over the surface of Panatha. A long ship was entering the system and requesting clearance to enter royal airspace. Rederick Zambrano was the son of Braxus's late brother Ragnar, and he was his nephew. Kaine had received advanced notice of his and his wife's desire to drop off Veronica, Braxus's great niece in hopes that the God-King would straighten her out.

After a few hours Prazutis was finally called up to the throne room, finally the shuttle of relatives was approaching the hangar. Someone would need to be there to greet them, and it would be improper for anyone but a family member to greet a Zambrano. "Certainly. I shall make sure she abides by all formal court procedure for this then?" Prazutis asked just to confirm, before standing up and leaving the throne room. He descended down the spire that held the Throne Room, and down into the keep, winding through the halls until he reached the hangar. There he stood waiting for his niece.

[member="Darth Gilda"] | [member="Darth Vornskr"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Natasa dipped her finger into the scalding hot soup and brought it to her scarlet lips to taste.

“Needs more spices,” she complained, wrinkling her nose. The young Zambrano sat on a metal stool in one of the many kitchens in Vain Hollow pestering the spiritless cook to make something especially for her. The Acolyte had been staying in the citadel for a few days, roaming the black marbled halls, reading ancient tomes in the massive library and sneaking into areas of the complex in which she was not allowed if only to explore and stave off the boredom she felt.

Her current Master, Darth Plinror, a Nelvaanian Sith Lord from Thracior, was on assignment, so Slava Gerhild, her doting courtesan mother, had sent her to Vain Hollow for a few weeks.

“It’s not summer camp, Csen'ai,” sniffed Natasa. “Why can’t I go to the Black Pyramid instead?”

“Because you will learn more at Vain Hollow and bask in the glory of the God-Kings.”

The Acolyte was slightly doubtful. Though faithful to the Zambrano Dynasty, she'd just exited those surly teenage years and a trace of it remained at times, mostly to plague Slava. But once she lay her clear, verdant eyes upon the towering, dark citadel, she fell in love with it. And perhaps finally she’d meet the fabled relatives that her mother had lauded throughout her entire life – these deities as Slava called them: Patriarch Kaine Zambrano and the God-King, Prince of Panatha, Braxus Zambrano.

Natasa peered into the large, walk-in freezer where large slabs of meat were being stored. Deer, beef, lamb, rabbit… “Do you have anything more exotic?” Sighing heavily, the chef merely ignored her. Her investigation of the kitchen contents was halted when she heard servants murmuring in a nearby corridor about a new arrival to the citadel. Veronica Zambrano.

Finally something exciting, thought Natasa, abandoning her search for the culinary delicacy she really craved – there would be time for that later – and making her way to the hangar. She’d never met [member="Darth Prazutis"] or her father, [member="Darth Vornskr"], but serving as an impromptu greeting party for this curious new visitor seemed as good a time as any to get to know her relatives.

Her long dark hair cascading down her short black dress, Natasa Zambrano stood in plain sight awaiting the ship's landing.

[member="Darth Gilda"]

 

[Emryc]

Vain Hollow towered above the surrounding landscape, its great spires spearing far beyond the limits of the viewport. Veronica craned her neck to see it all, wide eyes taking it in for what felt like the first time.

"You really don't remember it do you, Poppet?" Tricia said, dismayed, "How could you, you were such a tiny thing then. I lament our extended absence, but," a pouty smile, "duty calls. Your father would have loved to come with us and see his Uncle."

"He told me to hug him," Veronica pulled back into her seat, looking momentarily confused, "is that allowed?"

"Well, it's not quite so simple now is it? There are the Rites, of course, you remember those-"

Veronica's face went blank and a monotonous tone suddenly began dribbling from her lips, "Kneel immediately and arise only when commanded. The God-King is without equal, do not look him in the eyes. Never address the God-King-"

"That's good," Tricia piped, pulling her daughter out of this reverie that smacked mildly of indoctrination. The woman frowned. She could recite the Rites by heart but could she consciously implement them? Only time would tell. "Ah!" the ship rumbled beneath their feet, "we've arrived and look who's here to receive us: the Prime Designate himself. How exciting..."

"Do I get to hug him?!" Veronica blurted.


~~~

Moments later two ladies adorned by sleek dresses disembarked from their luxury transport. The first to appear was the heart-shaped face of Tricia Graves Zambrano - long black hair extended by the lengths of a long black gown trailing tapers from the sleeves. The second was that of the young woman in question: Veronica Zambrano - her gilded hair gleaming in the doom and gloom of the citadel hangar bay, accented by a deep purple wardrobe.

Their immediate attention was, naturally, driven to the dashing figure standing in wait, exuding a sense of confidence and an aura of power. It wasn't hard to be an ant in the presence of the great and mighty Zambrano Lords, as such [member="Natasa Zambrano"] was initially ignored completely, but not on purpose.

"Your Majesty," Tricia breathed, demuring before the man into a bow with a graceful hand gesture that bid her daughter to do the same.
"Your Majesty," Veronica echoed dutifully, bowing to stare at the man's polished shoes.

They held the bow until the man spoke, as was only proper, Tricia's eyes closed while Veronica's eyes curiously darted about, spying Natasa off to the right and giving the other woman a prim smile, a tiny wave of her fingers, before pressing one to her lip and then pointing to Braxus behind the curtain of blond hair.

[member="Darth Prazutis"] [member="Darth Vornskr"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

Prazutis was a massive, imposing man standing nearly as tall as the God-King himself with dark hair and rippling muscles. He wore a set of black and gold robes the symbol of House Zambrano on a signet ring on his hand. A purple gem sat inset into a gold amulet that hung around the Sith Knights neck. Prazutis stared down at the two bowing women his eyes a piercing sulfuric yellow. The dark side rolled off of this individual like a dark fog. Prazutis tried to hide his surprise at the golden blond hair of his great niece, standing in stark contrast to what was a family known for their dark hair.

"Rise." Prazutis said as his eyes briefly darted to Natasa Zambrano, a bastard daughter of Kaine. Vornskr and he had been popping in and out so frequently they missed they weren't here to greet Kaines daughter, but all that would change now. All of them would come and see the God-King in all his splendor, atop a throne of black-iron. However Prazutis wasn't aware that Rederick was not going to be here, that certainly would be a disappointment to his master. "My nephew didn't come with you? How dissapointing, regardless I'll be taking all of you to see his majesty, follow me." Prazutis said, shooting a glance over at Natasa to clearly show he was roping her into all of this too.

Prazutis spun on his heels and began to walk towards the exit of the private hangar. Almost immediately as he neared the exit, the doors shifted open and two members of the Crownguard beat their chests with a fisted salute to the Prime Designate. Inside this portion of Vain Hollow was made of solid black marble with elegant gold and ivory furnishings. Already just a brief view of the halls told the newcomers of the true elegance of this place, as no expense was spared in its creation. There were busts of Zambrano men, crystalline and gold chandeliers hanging high and paintings lining the walls. Inside these halls were the infamous Crownguard, a force of pureblooded epicanthix eunuch men, every one wore polished armor and carried their pikes, standing silent.

"You all know the rites I trust? His Excellency has given the order they will be in use here." Prazutis said as he took them through the expansive, winding halls and eventually up the tall spire. He didn't stop until they reached the massive double doors to the Throne Room, where he turned around. "You will show all rites given to the God-King until he declares the formalities done with. Is that understood?" He asked, before continuing "Any questions?" Prazutis would stay to answer questions, before facing the doors and with a brief toss of his hand, signaling the Crownguard to open them.

"I present to you His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty, Kaine Zambrano I, by the grace of his own will, King of Panatha, King of Bunduki, King of Fornow, King of Ravaath, King of Sorimow, Ecclesiarch of the Sith, and God-King of the Epicanthix." Prazutis announced, walking inside the throne room.

[member="Darth Gilda"] | [member="Darth Vornskr"] | [member="Natasa Zambrano"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Natasa’s eyes moved slowly from the mother and daughter, then to the giant Prince of Panatha and back again. Pulling her black cape tighter around her shoulders, she felt a kinship with Veronica Zambrano in the chilly hangar, especially after the blonde relative gave her a smile and a dainty wave. Then after the customary introductions and bows, when Darth Prazutis’s gaze landed on Natasa, she also gave a deep curtsy as she’d been taught to do in finishing school.

Prazutis walked off with the caravan of female Zambranos behind him. While the Acolyte had been studying Vain Hollow since she’d arrived, all of the features of the citadel were suddenly imbued with a dark opulence then moment the tall Sith Lord walked past them as though he transformed mere objects into holy relics by his presence alone.

The rites… Natasa remembered them, but it had been awhile and she was sure to be rusty at the impromptu performance of them. Hopefully Veronica could go first so she’d get to see how it was done again. When Prazutis whirled around and gave his final instructions before they entered the throne room, the Acolyte’s heart thumped in her chest, a mix of fear and awe at finally meeting her father for the first time. She was raised with no pretenses that he would be a normal and loving parental figure – quite the opposite in fact. But she still felt a mix of emotions as though standing on the precipice of a life changing event.

“Yes, Your Worship,” said Natasa, although not even sure that she was meant to speak.

She heard a whoosh and felt an icy air as the doors were flung open by the Crownguard, glimpsing the iron throne where the man who sired her sat, the darkness swirling in a palpable fog around them.

[member="Darth Gilda"] [member="Darth Vornskr"] [member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The ascent through the citadel by lift and stairwell allowed the procession to stand witness to the true extent of the God-King's vanity. Macabre pieces of art adorned every wall, edifices sculpted in reverence to the Dark Side of the Force jutted from the walls or were precariously perched atop stands carved from the finest marble alongside busts of the most infamous and ancient of Sith Lords ever to befoul the galaxy with their existence. Andeddu, Tulak Hord, Marka Ragnos, Naga Sadow, Freedon Nadd, and Exar Kun were but a few recognizable, their faces forever etched in dark stone to commemorate their legacy; the power they wielded and the impact they left on the Sith philosophy as a whole. Yet it was the mirroring effigies of Darth Krayt lining both sides of the entryway into the God-King's throne room that were the most striking, expertly chiseled to a near-perfect resemblance of the One Sith's progenitor. Standing in the shadow of the statues were a pair of eunuch Crownsguard, their bodies covered by spiked crimson armor, wielding a pair of vibro-axes.

At the command of Braxus they turned and opened the pair of great iron doors that barred their passage into the throne chamber, and as the doors began to open the smell of sour incense rushed out to assault the newcomer's nostrils. Yet the pungent odor didn't seem to visibly affect any of the guards nor the monolithic individual who's form filled out the equally large throne upon which he sat. The man wore no armor save for a purely ornate onyx cuirass trimmed with pure gold while the rest of his body was covered by linen vestments with an elongated open-chested robe pulled over it all. His black hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail that trailed down the middle of his back, and a steel circlet set by square-cut rubies encircled the top of his head. The edges of his mouth curled into an amused smirk as they all began to file into the chamber, yet his sulfuric eyes held none of the mirth that began to creep across his lips, his pupils burning so brightly one might mistake the hate that seethed within them to be actual hellfire.

He waited until they were all assembled, his eyes descended on Tricia's form as his mouth slowly opened to shatter the silence that had descended upon them after Braxus' declaration. "It's been a long time, cousin. You don't call, you don't write... One might garner the impression that you've been avoiding me."

[member="Darth Prazutis"] | [member="Natasa Zambrano"] | [member="Darth Gilda"]​

 

[Hailey Sosis]

[member="Darth Vornskr"] [member="Darth Prazutis"] [member="Darth Gilda"] [member="Natasa Zambrano"]

Harley was in the courtyard awaiting the arrival of there estimated guests, yes you got it more Zambrano. She was not one of them, but because she was a Pure blood Epicanthix and a force user. She was made a servant of the family, she was also a rare natural blond. Though she was not as bright as the rest of them, she did have her uses. Though she had done many things worth being executed for, though no one has ever noticed, like when she cleaning the iron throne, she accidentally sat on it, then again so have many servants. She did have one thing she hated about this place, it was permanently cold, very nippy indeed. She was dressed in her red and back tunic, with lightsabers on belt behind her.

As the Zambarnos greeted each other, she ceremonial knelt down to pay homage to them all. She could only rise again, when permitted, or when they left her alone. She did think to herself, and it was lucky her mind was not readable, Wonder if she dyed her hair, or if it's natural. As her species was generally of brown hair, she only one she had known with blond hair, though she did have bad habit of dyed red and blue. She waited for the command to rise, or for them to leave her.

 

[Soeht]

A familiar cold approached the Vain Hollow of Panatha.

In whatever means was appropriate, if [member="Darth Vornskr"] even cared, he or a designated official would have been notified.

"Soeht has arrived. He seeks entrance to the Keep."

 

[Emryc]

"Avoiding?" Tricia said delicately from her kneeling position before the God-King, gaze averted, "That was not our intention..." a short glance was given to her daughter who, thankfully, was mostly self-contained for the time being and kneeling dutifully beside her.

"Though it has been some time since last we visited. Since," she frowned, "the funerary services of Rederick's father." Three years, to be mostly exact, "My husband took the loss of his father very badly. They were very close. Things have been ... difficult since-"

"Ooooaaahhh-" Veronica wheezed, "father is ill."

"Shh, darling, you remember the Rites," Tricia gently patted her daughter's arm.

Veronica gave a dry sob and wilted, "Do not speak unless spoken tooooo..."

Her mother gave a brief glance towards the throne, brow knit in concern, "His condition has degraded significantly in the last year. Veronica is ...distraught. I am holding us together in the only way I know how," the woman dipped her head again, "with the strength instilled in our namesake, Your Eminence."

[member="Darth Vornskr"] [member="Darth Prazutis"] [member="Natasa Zambrano"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

Prazutis led the group in he stood at their front leading them into the throne room. However as everyone dropped to their knees and bowed before the God-King he did something different. Prazutis bowed before his master, showing him the respect the man deserved. He then walked forward towards Kaine, standing a few feet away and offset to the left side. While he was bound to show respect and fealty to his master, Kaine made it clear he didn't have to drone on with the rites and formalities like most others did. After all Prazutis served faithfully alongside him for countless years, and more than once earned his place at Kaines side rather than on his knees.

As Tricia spoke about Rederick being ill and taking the death of his father hard Prazutis sighed. Three years since his younger brother Ragnar passed. Prazutis was relatively good friends with his brother but they were often strained. They had the same father but different mothers, Ragnar was the legitimate Zambrano born into wedlock. At the time their father Magnus II broke the vows prohibiting conception and marriage to anyone except a Zambrano male. Ragnar didn't leave the home system much, while Prazutis was frequently on the move.

When she mentioned how his nephew was depressed he shook his head in disappointment. Rederick certainly wasn't as strong as Prazutis hoped he would be. "It sounds as if his heart couldn't take the loss...I expected more from him" He said. The Citadel Guard notified him that Soeht had arrived, and was requesting entry. Prazutis could feel the dark side presence, the powerful life essence of Soeht deep down in the citadel, he was here. Prazutis telepathically sent a message to Kaine: "My master Soeht is here down at the base of the citadel, and is requesting entry, should I give him clearance?"

[member="Darth Vornskr"] | [member="Soeht"] | [member="Natasa Zambrano"] | [member="Darth Gilda"]

 

[Armand Temi]

All of this fanfare over Rederick caused Natasa feel a bit grateful to be a bastard. Her father was right there in the same room now, and her mother would give her anything in the Pancanth Reach to make her happy. There was nothing to worry about now but climbing the Zambrano ladder, appeasing the God-King by doing his bidding, killing his enemies, protecting his allies and interests. Preferably with as much bloodshed as possible – how else would the infidels know who to fear?

Still, she wouldn’t be a real Zambrano unless legitimized.

Her eyes studied Veronica as she attempted to not make eye contact with the God-King. Don’t look over there, whatever you do, she thought. Although she desperately did want a glimpse of her own flesh-and-blood relative. What was Veronica to her, thought Natasa? Half-sister? Cousin? She would have to consult the genealogy data files later.

She gazed at the other Zambranos, and then downward as she knelt, the marble cold on her stockinging knees. There was nothing else to do but be still and quiet now, yet her stomach gave an impossibly loud growl in the middle of a silent pause.

[member="Darth Vornskr"] [member="Darth Gilda"] [member="Darth Prazutis"] [member="Soeht"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"Ahhh." breathed the Sith Lord, the syllables long and drawn out. "So the illness of Rederick is why you have been so... distant. You alone now possess the power to hold your side of the family together through his absence, as is expected and demanded of you." Unbeknownst to them all he had known of Rederick's downward spiral after the death of Ragnar, for the lives of all of his family were indescribably tied to him through the Force. He had thought that Rederick would've persevered and risen above the grief and anguish delivered onto him by his father's demise, but all he had seen was weakness and depression.

He was glad that miserable gnat hadn't come along with the rest of his ilk, otherwise Kaine might've had half-a-mind to strike him down for his foolishness. Still, where he had faltered his wife, Tricia, had taken up the reins of control. There was something commemorable about that, but before Kaine could speak again he was telepathically alerted to the arrival of Soeht by Braxus.

How interesting. Allow him entrance, we'll see what he wants.

His mind expanded to survey the newcomer, and in his mind's eye he could see the billowing darkness that surrounded the man who once called himself Apparatus. It was unusual for him to be here, but he wondered if this minor family gathering had anything to do with it, and if it did how did he become aware of it? Those would be inquiries for a later time, and his mind refocused on the current situation at hand. "I don't believe I've ever truly met your daughter. Come closer, child, closer. Let me see your face."

[member="Darth Prazutis"] | [member="Darth Gilda"] | [member="Natasa Zambrano"] | [member="Harley"] | [member="Soeht"]​

 

[Joycelyn Zambrano]

A family meeting of sorts - The place would be crawling with bastards seeking to catch the eye of the God King, or really anyone who had any semblance of power in the keep. Was this why Joycelyn had decided to go? No, she did not think so. She did not need their recognition for she had the eyes of Vahl on her. Even so, she had decided to attend. Or rather, they had decided to attend. Joyce threw a glance over at her twin sister and felt her mouth twitch with a smile. They had been apart too much of late. Joyce's training with the Sword took her to seclusion, and Evaelyn had business of her own. They both needed to grow stronger, she knew this. This galaxy et the weak and they would both arise to be the predators, not the prey.

Flying in an S90 MAAT, Joyce had her feet on the dashboard and fiddled with a pendant as she tried to remember all the rites. It was not easy to recall such details, but it was preferable to being executed in new and exciting ways only a Sith Lord and self-proclaimed god could make up. Whether or not the Patriarch of the Zambrano was truly divine, she was not sure. Stories entailed that even Vahl was once mortal before she became the personification of the dark side of the Force's destructiveness. Perhaps he had transcended a similar boundary. Or perhaps he, as many before him, simply wielded false divinity as a weapon against the minds of the masses. To settle this internal discussion was one of the purposes of her visit.

"Do you think he will recognise us?"

Joyce's voice cut through the background-noise of the ship, and her fingers tightened around the pendant at her neck. Her eyes fixed on Evaelyn, the purple flecks visibly apparent in the otherwise brown irises. The two Vahlacanthix were illegitimate, after all. They were natural daughters of The God King and a priestess of Vahl. Both knew they would have to fight for his favour if they wished it. Only the excellent shone in his darkness.

They had not yet accomplished much, either of them. However, perhaps whispers of their first steps had reached ears within the palace, and who were to say how the reception would be? Joycelyn imagined it to be very cold.

[member="Evaelyn Zambrano"], [member="Darth Vornskr"], [member="Darth Gilda"], [member="Darth Prazutis"], [member="Harley"] [member="Natasa Zambrano"]

 

[Emryc]

"Of course, Your Eminence, I will do what must be done for the family." Tricia would not voice her dismay to the reception given her absent husband. In truth she had expected it. Rederick was an odd man within the Zambrano lines - his adoration for his father only on par to perhaps the very same he held for his now God-King. But where his father had been present and accounted for, supporting Rederick in all his endeavors through his youth, into his adulthood, and further into his marriage, the God-King would forever remain that untouchable, unattached spectre in all of their lives.

Always present but never there, for the God-King had no equal.

With a delicate sigh the woman passed her gaze back to her daughter who looked as though she'd been struck by an unseen force.

"Veronica? Go on..." just don't look at him, she didn't say.

The blond blinked and slowly stumbled to her feet, glancing around at those in attendance before shuffling her way forward. Knok, knok, knok, knok went her heels as she approached the throne with shadows clinging to the lengths of her purple dress. Her gilded hair shown brightly despite the darkness of the chamber, gleaming like the golden Zambrano sigils so often seen upon backdrops of black.

He wanted to see her face. Veronica's blue eyes settled upon the man's booted feet where she was fairly certain it was ok to look. She was still several yards away and for some reason the closer she drew the further away the throne seemed to grow.

"Am I close enough?" she asked to no one in particular, her gaze switching from one side of the room to the other to follow the echo of her voice. It was like a cavern in here. Hm!

[member="Darth Vornskr"] [member="Darth Prazutis"] [member="Natasa Zambrano"] [member="Joycelyn Zambrano"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

He stretched out his hand and suddenly the distance between Veronica and the throne was practically nonexistent, and he cupped her chin with his gloved fingers and raised her head up. Veronica would find her eyes inexplicably pulled towards the cold visage of the God-King with his sharp patrician features, broad jawline, and his piercing sulfuric eyes that burned with hate unfathomable. They seemed to look past everything physical, as if they were peering into Veronica's soul and everything was laid bare before his gaze.

When he actually fixated on her features he found them not unlike his own, for the Zambranos had a very noble face throughout the entire family save for those of mixed blood. Yet her hair, her hair was the most glaring feature she possessed. It wasn't the ebony locks of his forefathers or her mothers, but instead a vivid blonde that reminded him all too much of the Dorns who's family tree he eradicated. A modicum of directed anger bubbled up into his throat, and he tasted its bile. His hand slowly crept up the side of her face to gently wind one of her stray locks around his index finger, a deep frown settling over his otherwise impassive features.

"Why does she have blonde hair?" The question was directed at the mother rather than the daughter.

[member="Darth Prazutis"] | [member="Darth Gilda"] | [member="Natasa Zambrano"] | [member="Joycelyn Zambrano"] | [member="Harley"] | [member="Soeht"]​

 

[Darth Prazutis]

Mere moments later Prazutis felt the dark reply of his master ease its way into his mind, the man didn't skip a beat in his verbal words to the host of relatives gathered in front of them. Despite their cunning minds and foresight through the force, neither of them knew what Darth Apparatus wanted in coming to Vain Hollow. Did he know the Zambrano family would be gathered here and that was his purpose, or was it a number of any other reasons that brought the man to their doorstep. Soeht was dedicated to the One Sith, but he was in essence an extremely mysterious and reclusive figure. Memories flooded his mind with the day he brought his master back to the world of the living, Darth Apparatus arrived and defended the ritual, even empowering Kaine and Braxus.

Prazutis nodded in affirmation of his masters response, and briefly turned away. He opened up the secure channel to the Palace Security Control, and spoke quietly "Palace Control, let him in." A deep voiced man on the other end curtly replied "Yes my lord." He ended the connection then. Darth Apparatus was a Sith Lord and powerful ally, and because of such there were different protocols to follow. Someone like him didn't receive the same welcome as the members of the Zambrano family in front of him did, it required an extra touch. Prazutis and Vornskr were both expert members of the cunning game that went on in the Sith, and a show of power and prestige was always in order when it came to these meetings.

However something happening in the room grabbed his attention, anger. Prazutis knew his master better than anyone and the familiar feeling of the mans anger boiling to the surface, while carefully masked by a calm expression was evident. "Why does she have blond hair?" The temperature in the throne room seemed as if it dropped twenty degrees from the cold serious words the God-King spoke, and the silence was so great if a pin dropped everyone would hear it. He didn't so much as take his eyes off Veronica while directing the question at Tricia. The words she spoke next better be chosen very carefully, Kaine was infamous for his ruthless, cold personality and the hair clearly reminded him and Prazutis, of the Dorn Family that was wiped from existence.

It was going to take Soeht some time to scale the massive palace from its gates. Vain Hollow was carved out of a massive mountain, and the Zambrano Keep they were in was added onto it. Naturally the protocol was that he would be spared from the security checkpoints that dotted the many levels of the citadel, and on the Prime Designates authority sped right up to the keep. Prazutis opened up a channel this time to the secure one the Crownguard used to communicate and spoke once more "A dignitary is on his way up, you may begin preparing the Throne Room." He ordered whispering softly into the sensitive comlink so as to not interrupt proceedings. What happened next Kaine would immediately recognize to be a very routine process.

The double doors of the throne room opened wide and a group of eight crownguard in perfect formation filed into the room. Four of them split off on each side and spaced themselves equally on the sides of the chamber. After them came another group of individuals. These beings dressed in robes of viridian that hung loosely off of their skeletal frames were immune to the calls of the ether, their minds guarded and their wills surprisingly resilient against such primordial madness, yet such strengths came at the cost of their physical shells which rotted away beneath their cloaks. Still that was the price they were willing to pay in service to their lord, their God, for it was he who showed them the truth of the universe and how to harness the darkness hiding behind the stars of reality.

Some carried in their hands candelabras while others carried torches and bowls, instruments wafting a sickening sweet incense into the room, all too reminiscent of death. Even though they had no mouths, there were whispers wafting through the air. These rotting sorcerers uttered prayers and incantations, as leaders with bright gold markings on their robes carried ebony colored holy symbols crafted out of some black stone. None of them addressed the individuals in the room or paid them no mind, they moved briefly through the entire chamber, spreading about their incense before disappearing outside side doors hidden in the darkness.

Silence permeated through the chamber for but a fleeting moment, before series of metallic thumping noises broke it. Entering through the large doors were two individuals of gargantuan size, their size so large they couldn't possibly have been human. They wore heavy battle armor under long, reddish-purple cloaks emblazoned with intricate gold patterns at the chest, back, and shoulders. Their heads were wrapped in heavy linen and covered by a large helmet resembling a golden Aquila with spread wings, and only their crimson eyes were visible behind the narrow slits punched through the armored face-plate. In their large hands they gripped massive vibro-axes decorated with bleached skulls and blasphemous trinkets depicting ancient Sith symbols.

These armored giants maneuvered around the group in the center of the room, not even acknowledging their existence as they stomped forward. They stopped on either side of the Black-Iron Throne and turned to face the room axes in hand, if one didn't know better they could be mistaken for statues in this stance.

[member="Darth Vornskr"] | [member="Darth Gilda"] | [member="Natasa Zambrano"] | [member="Soeht"] | [member="Joycelyn Zambrano"] | [member="Harley"]

 

[Emryc]

Tricia watched the figure of her daughter zoom through the air and into the waiting hand of the God-King, flinching just slightly as Veronica struggled to get her feet beneath her again. Oh dear.

Then came the question she'd been expecting and the older woman sighed gently.

"Veronica had a little accident while attempting witchcraft beyond her level. She was trying to turn coal into gold and it...backfired," she said delicately, brow knit, Tricia's head tilted to one side as she watched the back of her daughter's head and the mane of gilded curls hanging from it, "we tried to fix it but alas."

"Father says I'm like the gold of the Zambrano sigil-" Veronica said quietly, eagerly, smiling despite her close proximity to the man who reeked of death and corruption.

"It's grown in golden ever since," Tricia added dispassionately, frowning down at her own beautiful ebony locks, "no amount of dye or spells has been able to turn it back."

[member="Darth Vornskr"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

His face was a grimace, his mouth curled down in disgust as he ran his fingers through the golden locks of his niece. He had heard many stories of individuals dabbling in power and magic that they had no right to even dream of wielding, and in their foolish and vain attempts to harness such wonders they inadvertently wrought their own doom. Veronica's case was a minor one, but in the eyes of the God-King these golden strands of hair that tumbled down from her scalp was something worse. It was a blessing, however; that she did not possess the thin, scrawny (read: rattish) face of the Dorns, the family that he had all but eradicated save for a few members that consisted of delusional schemers or spice junkies.

He slowly pulled his hand away from the girl's head, "A pity, but the magic is imbued within her now." He waved a gesture, allowing Veronica to return to her mother's protective shroud should she so wish, but soon enough all attention would be pulled away from the young girl with the golden hair to the eight guardsmen that now flooded into the chamber. Yet even despite the formal procedure that was now occuring throughout the throne room, the God-King's eyes did not waver from Tricia or Veronica. "And because of that, she'll never be a true Zambrano." Biting words, cruel words, but more importantly in his eyes they were true words.

Thick plumes of incense wafted up from the thuribles that swung back and forth like pendulums from the gnarled hands of the witches and warlocks garbed in viridian robes, and soon enough the throne room was a polluted pit of smog and bitter odors. Then came the two Sentinels garbed in maroon and gold, wielding vibro-axes that were taller than they were by several inches. The rumbled across the mosaic tile flooring to flank either side of the throne's dais, and then stood at attention as still as statues.

The God-King explained this intrusion to an otherwise private gathering of family with four quick words: "We have a visitor."

[member="Darth Gilda"] | [member="Darth Prazutis"] | [member="Joycelyn Zambrano"] | [member="Natasa Zambrano"] | [member="Soeht"] | [member="Harley"]​