I Hurt Myself Today

[Kalanda Tishire]

Location: Mustafar, Sith Temple.

Kalanda had only heard stories of the Temple that was erected on Mustafar, but to actually be here was...something else. She was frankly confused as to why she was summoned here, but when an escort arrives demanding that one submit themselves to the temple in person, you weren't really in a position to decline. Kalanda had come in her robes and tunic, as she stood within the chambers of some meeting room, as to her side she had a view of the lava fields that stretched into the horizon. All about her, she could sense the guards and security forces that made up the temples protectors. Clearly this was a secure facility, and given the fact she hadn't been disarmed...well she wasn't sure what to make of that. Her escorts were rather tight lipped about bringing her here, and their training was sufficient enough in that she gained very little from their surface thoughts. Still, if they wanted her dead she was fairly certain she would have been by now. So given this circumstances, she turned towards the lava fields and watched them with a sense of wonder, at the power of nature unfolding before her. She wondered if she would ever have a power to equal that, to lay bare ones foes and rend them apart with nothing but sheer cunning and power. It was a fantasy she might never live to enact, but...it was nearly impossible to tell what the coming years would hold. Her hands tightened into fists as she let that idea linger in her mind, thinking what she could have done with such power to the Mandalorians that took her family away from her all those years ago. She'd rend the meat off their bones, boil them in their own armor, drown them in agony, and once they were chared husks of their former selves...she'd think about ending them. Yes, that was just one of the many fantasies she entertained herself with over what she wanted to do with her power.

@Faded Truth

 

[Darth Victress]

.

Darth Victress had established her base of operations out of Mustafar after the Mindbreakers had invaded Korriban. While Prakith remained a stronghold world, the Dark Councilor preferred the serendipity of lava heat and the reminder of natural carnage that the fiery land around her could inflict. It was almost as if she drew her own strength from Mustafar, relishing in the locus of dark sided energies that fueled and solidified her conviction. The ambitious Darth was out to make her mark on this galaxy, but while her current apprentices had been busy with duties, she had learned of another, one more suitable for vile tactics.

Security detail was light on purpose, hardly necessary in this fortress nonetheless. As Kalanda made her way into the Temple grounds, she would slowly feel and eerie chill creep over her flesh. It was an unwelcoming taint to most, though somehow, the aspiring acolyte would likely find the sensation almost soothing. Doors slid open for her, permitting her entrance into the deeper lairs of the temple until she would ascend into the Throme room itself. There were no guards or soldiers present, only the sinister figure of the one who had summoned her. Darth Victress sat on the throne herself, golden eyes hidden behind the armored visage as she turned her attention upon the acolyte.

Force palpated around her fingertips, swelling and cold as it drew the lifeforce from those around them, almost comforting the two sorceresses in a vacuum of death. Tilting her head into an arrogant angle, she glared upon Kalanda before speaking. "Do you know who I am? " She asked.

@Algarus

 

[Kalanda Tishire]

As the doors before her began to open, Kalanda got the message she was to continue forward, though she shivered as she proceeded deeper into the building, feeling the sense of wrongness wash over her. Despite the heat flourishing outside these halls, it was blistering cold here. This place was strong with the dark side, and she could drink it in. This all paled in comparison to what she felt upon arriving in the throne room, and found Darth Victress sitting before her.

The Acolyte froze, before dropping her head and kneeling, though she felt the icy glare of Victress upon her. Why had she been summoned her? Why was Victress here before her? So many things didn't make sense. Victress' voice echoed across the throne room, sending a chill down Kalanda's spine. She was a mere child standing before a master. As Victress finished her short question, Kalanda leveled her gaze to meet the Darth, not wanting to disrespect the woman by speaking into the ground. "Yes, my lady. You are Darth Victress, one of the Dark Councilors." Kalanda spoke, but stopped there, not feeling as if she had a place to speak in her presence. Kalanda now wondered what was to happen now. Surely she hadn't been brought all this way just to be killed, that just didn't make sense, but why else was she here?
@Faded Truth

 

[Darth Victress]

.

Darth Victress stared coldly at the acolyte for a moment, dark energies swirling around the pair as it laced into the atmosphere and continued its progressive plunge into a cold and unwelcoming environment. Slowly standing to her full height, the councilor descended from the steps of the throne and approached the knelt Acolyte. Left hand curled into a claw like formation, channeling enough force energies to snap Kalanda's neck upwards in a singular motion. The powerful Sith Lord smirked with a devilish taint, armored fingers gently rubbing over the young girl's chin.

"I hear that Lord Kados has taken you on as a disciple..tell me, what has he taught you so far?" She asked, the force grip suddenly releasing its hold on the acolyte as Darth Victress took a few paces away from her. The armored visage of the councilor glared through the windows of the Temple, eyeing the natural calamity of lava as it flowed endlessly over the terrain of Mustafar. A serenity moment, Darth Victress turning her head ever so slightly as she awaited a response.

@Algarus

 

[Kalanda Tishire]

The cold seemed to be unending, as the acolyte felt a chill sweep up her leg, causing her to shiver as she remained kneeling on the floor. Sure enough, Kalanda's expression went from uncertain to terrified, as she found herself having her throat crushed by the Darth. Her legs hovered off the floor, as she grasped her throat, trying with what little power she could muster to break free, but it was no use, Victress had a grip like a rancor, it didn't budge despite her best attempts. Kalanda could feel the bones in her neck straining, as if her neck was going to be popped like one would with a rodent. Her vision was starting to grow dark, she was losing consciousness or dying, one of the two, her panicked mind bounded around in her skull, screaming at her to save herself. Then, she was free, her knees smacked into the stone floor, as she fell onto all fours, gasping and coughing as the pressure around her neck was removed.

Kalanda glanced up to Victress, her eyes wide with fear, but...also a bit of admiration. Did the Darth even care that she nearly killed her? Probably not. It was hard not to respect that sort of display, especially with it being so casual. Kalanda had forgotten the Darth initlally asked her a question, as she only stared at the women with a sense of astonishment, before realizing she had been spoke to. It took her a moment to find her voice, but she did finally answer the woman. "Nothing as of yet my lady, he has been waiting for my ascension to Crusader before sharing his secrets with me." Kalanda confessed, unsure what that meant for Mid by revealing such a thing, though she didn't believe Mid and Victress were enemies, least the pureblood never brought it up.

@Faded Truth

 

[Mid Samekh]

The Salvation landed on the temple's platform and the Pureblood Sith Lord disembarked, taking long marching strides towards the doors. This was the second time Victress pulled something like this. And while he could ignore the first time as Eriana's own weak personality, this one he can't ignore. Not only was Kalanda important to him, she was his apprentice. If Darth Victress was going to keep doing this, she will be having some words and probably crossed blades with him.

As he entered the temple he quickly walked through the hallways towards the main chamber. Her presence was quite easy to find for him. After all, him and Markov did share a rather curious relationship with their mistress. It's been a while since they met, though. Perhaps this might be an interesting meeting.

When he reached the chambers he leaned against the wall with a sigh and metallic thud. His arms crossed over his chest as he watched as Victress choked Kalanda and finally released her. "Really, Lady Victress? Can't you find someone else's apprentice to terrorize?" he asked her casually. He knew Kalanda was alright. Victress was simply messing with her.

@Algarus @Faded Truth

 

[Darth Victress]

.

Darth Victress awaited a response from the acolyte, a dark smirk circling around her lips as she spoke of the pureblood and his apparently stagnant teaching practices. It didn't surprise her, the gesture that was, afterall, Mid had served as her own apprentice prior to his ascension to Sith Lord and she knew that his own faith had hindered his growth to a certain extent. Regardless, the dark councilor always had her motives for actions, and this was not simply just an exchange of pleasantries. As she was about to speak, Darth Victress was abruptly interrupted with the arrival of Darth Kados himself.

Golden eyes flickered to the side, glancing upon the pureblood before she tilted her head into an arrogant angle. He had grown in reputation, but there was no mistake, the Dark Councilor was still considerably more powerful than the new Sith Lord, a testament she was well aware that he himself should know. "I have an entire galaxy to terrorize, this was simply for pleasure.." She said, a devilish undertone behind the statement as she glanced momentarily towards Kalanda before shifting her gaze back upon Kados. "Seems I have forgotten to congratulate you on your promotion. Now that you're a Sith Lord, I am sure I can trust you with far greater responsibilities. Such tasks that perhaps your apprentice will learn greatly from..." She said, her voice cold and robotic as she paced away from the two Sith. "I've summoned the two of you for a reason...come.." She gestured, her armored figure moving into the adjacent room and a silent command for the other two to follow.

@KinkyPrawn @Algarus

 

[Kalanda Tishire]

Kalanda turned her head as the familiar voice spoke behind her, she turned her head, eyes widening as she realized Mid had come as well. "Master..." She muttered bowing her head. She was in the presence of two Darths now, for an acolyte she certainly kept finding herself in strange company. For a long moment, Kalanda didn't know what to do, as she merely stayed on the ground, kneeling. She had to wonder how many had been in this position, caught between two powerful Sith, being completely helpless and unable to stop them if they so wished to esponge her. Though she was curious as to why Mid was here....unless this had to do with her promotion.

As Victress' gaze fell upon her, Kalanda felt her skin turn to ice. Was this what it meant to be powerful? What little she had learned of the woman from Markov clearly wasn't enough to describe the woman.The acolyte could only wonder, as the woman's gaze turned away from her. Victress strode away from the pair, asking that they come closer. Whatever the reason they were here, the Darth was to make it known soon. Kalanda looked to the darth, then back to her master, before rising, though she would wait for Mid to approach first before following behind; a small part of her was scared of Victress.

@Faded Truth @KinkyPrawn

 

[Mid Samekh]

Mid looked at Kalanda with a neutral expression before looking back to Victress. Her comment made him smirk. "Isn't that what Ryloth is for?" he quipped as he walked into the room. When she congratulated him on his promotion he shrugged with a chuckle. "No need to pretend like you care, Victress. We both know you don't mean that." he joked, standing in front of her and looking down at the short Sith Lord. "A lesson or two could work." he commented. He glanced at Kalanda with a smile and looked back to Victress. "It's about high time I started teaching her, I'll admit."

She gestured for them to follow and he waited for Kalanda to stand up before following after Victress. "I think your summons was lost in the mail." he quipped as he followed. "So what is it you summoned us for, Lady Victress?" he asked her as he walked.

@Faded Truth @Algarus

 

[Darth Victress]

.

Darth Victress smirked at the pureblood's snide comments, no doubt that he was able to pick up her deception, after all, it was only a bittersweet regard between the Dark Councilor and her former apprentice. News of Darth Valvarus' death had circulated quickly and while she had only met the young sith lord once, it was a loss to the faction nonetheless. The age of crusades were upon them, this much she had realized, and if they were to mobilize their fleets in strength, they would need to re-group and tackle their once fleeting enemy in a multitude of different ways. Her armored figure guided them down a series of hallways and narrow corridors, Darth Victress finally arriving in what appeared as a war room.

Conference table out in middle with several holoprojectors lightening up to show various locations on the galaxy, some were dimmed while others highlighted in bolded red. Her demeanor was cold and calculating, a bastion of Sith strength and power; Darth Victress activated several projection screens, moving around coordinates until only a small planetary system would be revealed, first one showing the slave world of Zygerria. "Now that you are ascended to title of Sith Lord, it is time we begin eradicating the Empire's enemies. Before we can begin however, there is an artifact I would like to acquire. Claim it, and bring it back with you. It shall aid us in our conquest across the galaxy.." She said, her voice robotic and indifferent. Darth Victress slowly shifted her gaze, laying it upon the other Darth for a moment before turning it towards the acolyte.

@Algarus @KinkyPrawn

 

[Kalanda Tishire]

Kalanda walked by her masters side, a tad cautious of what exactly they were getting into. Never the less, she would follow her master and the other woman, being lead down corridors into what Kalanda could only assume was a meeting room, perhaps one of those strategy halls or what not.

She watched as Victress put in several commands, as a image of a world showed up. She didn't recognize it however, though the name display aliviated that issue. Victress asked them to bring back an artifact, and after they had it in hand they would embark on some Galatic crusade against the enemies of the Empire. Seemed reasonable. Kalanda glanced to Kados, but soon felt the gaze of Victress fall upon her now. The acolyte shifted, feeling a chill work its' way up her spine. The acolyte decided to stand firm this time, feeling Mid would intervene if it was needed. "What artifact are we retrieving my lady? And why is it so vital we have it before striking?" Kalanda wasn't exactly a fan of being choked out, but she'd put up with it if this is where her questions landed her. If anything just meant Victress was having to actually focus her attention on her, so maybe it wasn't that bad after all.

@Faded Truth @KinkyPrawn

 

[Mid Samekh]

Mid entered the room and took a look around. He recognized the areas mapped out. All strategic or relevant in some other way. Darth Victress took her position and brought up Zygerria for them to see. Mid folded his arms over his broad chest as he looked at the map then back to the Sith Lord.

She explained the situation to him. It certainly caught his interest. First question he had was why Zygerria was so significant. Second was what this artifact was. He wanted to ask, but Kalanda beat him to it. He glanced down at her and raised an eyebrow before looking back to Darth Victress. "And why Zygerria? Aside from getting some slaves to do things for us and a really nice cut of their profits, there isn't much significance in that system." he commented, following up with Kalanda's question. He narrowed his eyes and a slight smirk formed on his face. "What are you planning?" he asked her, clearly intrigued. He knew Darth Victress for years now. She had some wild ideas at times. This certainly sounded like one of those.

He took a step closer and glanced at Zygerria, then back at her as he waited for an explanation over what she had planned this time.

@Faded Truth @Algarus