Ask Korriban Another Return

[The Storyteller]

And like that, both Sith had now drawn blood. They were close enough to share a cup of juice. Korjak lapped at his, though it was not his blood. He tasted a spatter of red just as something touched his leg. A flattering gesture, sure, but not very welcome.

Raze, in his own way, had lashed out from the blow, but that blow had surely hurt his focus as much as his flesh. Still, his sweep was successful, leg connecting with leg, and as Korjak sucked on his lower lip to stifle a cackle, he fell. It was not entirely without purpose. Instead of collapsing to his face as most undignified for a king, Korjak followed his fall into a roll, right side striking the ground to further himself away from his foe.

He made sure to minimize as much contact with his left arm as possible, and mostly succeeded. Rising as soon as he could, the fingers of Korjak’s right hand coiled around hilt like a snake had escaped his soul. His left hand, though, well he found that it was no longer clutching anything but its own fist. The sword had escaped him like the wind, strewn upon the arena, while his arm was on fire.

“KORJAAAAAAAAAK!”

The King thundered toward the crowd. It was a brief respite, afforded only for as long enough as his enemy did not charge, but the moment would suffice. Korjak sniffed the air, smelled a storm coming. Maybe Raze was charging now. Maybe he had already been charging as his king was calling to his people. Oh well.

Suddenly, Korjak's right hand released his remaining sword to stab into the bloody floor. He had no use of his left arm for the moment. He had every use of his right hand. It shot forward, and bursting from its palm, latticed between its fingers, was an energy that forked from the fingertips, for the hand had summoned a storm—and that storm had called upon the wrath of a king.

With a cry of thunder, Korjak unleashed some fierce lightning upon his contender. It bolted across the plain to plunge into its prey; unrelenting and unforgiving. It was fast, obviously, and all the quicker if the fool had been coming at his king all the while. No matter. Difficult to dodge lightning. But, if Dazed Raze rivaled Korjak’s rage, if he gave into all that pain and hate, then, well...one more drink before the war, perhaps?



@Sreeya @Dread

 

[Darth Malicia]

Little girl seemed to be the go-to when someone wanted to mock her. Apparently the insult spanned across multiple cultures.

The problem with the insult was that she couldn't get too annoyed. She'd used her stature to her advantage time and time again. This was the cost; it wasn't always an advantage. Everything she had and did seemed to be double-edged. Raze lashed out almost instantly, cutting off the mad King's speech and stirring up the crowds attention. Malicia manged to remain the same. While her jaw was still clenched, her gaze stayed transfixed on the King as he took his next blow. If there was even a chance he could see her stoic, unphased look as he suffered, it was worth it.

The crowd roared at the sound of a loud crack. It took a handful of seconds for her to realize what had happened, and that she could part of Raze's face. His jaw was as strong as she imagined it, though the shock passed when multiple thoughts settled in. She looked away, towards the king, trying to avoid staring at the helmet.

She so badly wanted to see what was under that helmet, but he was fighting in place of her. Under the care of her masters she had nothing private. It was all stolen from her. She'd steal whatever she wanted from the weak, but from Raze, for the moment, she didn't want to give herself that indulgence.

@Sreeya @Die Shize

 

[Emryc Thorne]

The king dropped and rolled even as Raze slashed down with his blade. Raze didn’t give immediate chase, taking a moment to catch his breath. His chest rose and fell painfully, blood flowing profusely from the part of his lips that were visible. The blood traced down to his chin and he took a moment to spit out another glob of it before looking back at the king.

The king was addressing a crowd that was lost in bloodlust. The Massassi cheered and thumped, the entire arena coming to life with their thunderous pounding in unison. From where Malicia was sitting, the seats and everything around her would quake from the sheer amount of energy from the crowds. The numbers rose as more and more tribes had arrived to watch the decisive battle. There was bloodlust in the eyes of those gathered. But there was also hope. Hope that they would see a new reign away from the one that saw them divided. Tribes that had been pitted against one another came together to watch this battle.

Raze gave the king but a moment to himself before he charged again. Blade in left hand came in for a horizontal sweep through the legs. However, he couldn’t have predicted what came next.

Without warning, the king dropped his blade and unleashed a blast of lightning. Until now, the king had relied almost entirely on physical attacks. The abrupt tactic shift was a tricky thing that Raze couldn’t have seen coming.

The lightning blasted out and hit Raze in all its agonizing intensity. The Sith Lord growled from the pain, thrown back as his torso took the initial hit. He quickly intercepted it with the sith blade in his hand, but his attire and body smoked from the impact. It would leave a mark on him, and it caused unbearable pain. Pain that he focused and channeled as much as he could. He had no strength for a charge and his energy went towards a tactic he had trained with many, many times.

The Force coiled around the blade buried in the ground to yank it up and send it shooting towards the king. The weapon sailed through the air towards the man’s torso, powered by all the rage and strength Raze could muster. The Sith Lord was trembling where he stood, arm outstretched to attempt the maneuver as his body protested against all the damage it had taken. Smoke continued to rise from his form.

@Die Shize @Dread

 

[The Storyteller]

Spoiler: Music OOC [Recurring]

Power. Unlimited. It spewed forth like a stream of blood caught in a hurricane. It invigorated with renewed feeling, injected with a healing that would shatter a bacta tank with a whisper. It cracked forth from fingers as though breaking bone, buzzing and hissing. The caster could feel all of that power surging through his one good arm as though his left no longer had any feeling of its own. Ripped veins gripped the hand as veins of lightning cackled, blue and brilliant, twisted and terrible, caught in a wild dance with just one man.

It all happened so fast but Korjak’s maddened eyes witnessed it like the universe had just shown him how it was born. Fitting, then, for he himself had become so impossibly pregnant with malice. Die… The King cracked his lips as the bolts pelted his enemy. Die! Raze felt a dose of that power, a gift of his king, but just as soon as he was chastised for his faithless ways the Sith Lord’s sword rose to defend him—and he stayed standing. No! No no no no no no no NO.

“YOU. WILL.”

Korjak’s boot skidded across the ground, grinding into it as the muscles in his arm bulged and twitched. The lightning burst even brighter, as beautiful as a blue butterfly with her wings still attached, and streaked forward as a loving kiss from the dark side gone insane.

“DIIIIIEEEEEE!!”

The lightning flashed, flickered, forked, splitting up and down in as many chains as tendrils hanging on a Feeorin’s head. Yet, in that very instant, the lightning ended as quickly as it had begun. Korjak had recognized what soared his way. He had abandoned it to discipline his enemy. Now his enemy was using it against him. With his right leg extended, he moved to evade, turning counterclockwise so that the sword could sail for the sea of applause behind him. He did not move quickly enough.

A length of steel both cold and hot tore across his torso, slashing a wicked line from one side to the other, slicing across the King’s stomach. Had he not been wearing armor then it would have been worse. Had his enemy not been so irate then the armor might have been enough. Yet there Korjak was, placing a fist on that armor just to feel the juice that began leaking out to soak his fingers.

He grunted, he growled, from damage and pain, the power and energy and force of his rage taking its toll now more than ever. He was tired. Tired… Need...need to nap…from all this dancing… Need… "Need..."

“To…” He blinked, suddenly discovering why a fist had been clutching his armor instead of splayed fingers. There was a hilt within it. How about that? Somehow, in with one more drop of speed from his wake of wrath, he had either caught the sword or pulled it to him through the air. “...Dance…”

Korjak laughed, looked up toward the hound’s harlot, her pretty pale face as still as a statue. Be dealing with you next, dear. Then he looked toward her boyfriend, sword pointing at his ugly mug. “Come! Come dance with your king one more time, you little kriffing BUG!!”




@Sreeya @Dread

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Raze watched the king yank out the blade, blood pouring from his wound. The crimson tinted blade was pointed his way but he didn’t move. The Sith Lord watched in silence, his heart pounding against his chest. He was thankful for the shattered bits of his helmet that allowed for the rare breeze to brush against his exposed skin. The heat of the burning sun bore down on him along with the crippling pain and exhaustion from battle.

He did not charge even as the king taunted him with strained words, the feeorin looking over briefly at Malicia with a sickening gaze. Raze’s hand still trembled and he honed all his pain and rage into a fine, focused point. He had known pain his entire life, and he knew how to manipulate it for his advantage. His back was a tapestry of self inflicted wounds from his faith, and it also served to allow him to focus the agony into his strength.

Raze focused the arid heat around them and on the king's wound, calling upon the Force in the way wielded by the man whose armor he wore today. Heat began to focus on the king’s body, but it was specifically concentrated on the open wound on his torso. The king would feel as if a hot knife had been plunged into that wound. Raze’s assault would show no mercy as smoke would begin to rise from that open wound and the effects of inferno would snake its way through flesh. The king would smell himself cooking actively from a trick he would never have seen before.

The Sith Lord was unrelenting, teeth gritted behind tight lips and a fixed jaw as his trembling fingers continued their assault.

“Kneel,” He commanded simply with a growl that was only half modulated.

@Dread @Die Shize

 

[The Storyteller]

Spoiler: Music OOC

Korjak stood there baring his teeth at today’s toy. He really was ready to dance with Raze one last time. He was sweating in the sun; beads tickled down his face, tangoing with blood, glistening on green skin. The air tasted warm and dry, like coagulated blood on a platter. Those virgins of yesterday, they had grown exhausted in his chamber to the point that they were no longer capable of feeding themselves, but they had gifts for their king before they expired. This time would be no different. Or would it? The King was himself exhausted. And hot. One more dance… One more…

He couldn’t finish the thought. He licked his lips, thirsting for juice, when the nerves on his body began to tingle and then his body began to burn, and his stomach began to blaze. “What…” The word choked out, voice strangled by a fire from within. My fire! My fire! It’s MY fire! It’s burning me! “What is...what have you done...to me!?”

He clawed for his wound with the wrong hand, roaring from the broken bone. The last sword fell from his grip once more as his only able hand fought to pluck the hot knife from his body. “It burns! It burns!” Korjak’s face crumpled into anguish and desperation, the strain on muscle causing more blood to pump from the side of his head. His hand worked its way into his armor as he writhed, only for his fingers to cut themselves on the damaged edges. “IT BURNS!”

His limbs grew weak, so that by the time his enemy dared to tell him what to do the King dropped to his knees against his will—against his dignity. It was all he could do to spite his foe, this pathetic upstart who sought to supplant the greatest ruler, strongest Feeorin and purest Sith to ever grace the galaxy. Won’t give it to you, boy. You won’t have it! Not from me! Not from Korjak! As Korjak grit his teeth, fighting every urge to howl, his eyes grew as wide as the golden sun, and he forced himself to gaze upon his foe and speak from one side of his mouth.

“I did...I did say...there will be blood…" He winced, swallowing back the screams. "There will be violence…” At that, he lowered his hand from the wound, letting the juice spill upon the arena. He saw the ghost watching him, that little girl after his throne; he saw the spectators surrounding him, unsure if they still chanted his name; he saw darkness behind his eyes, brightness before them. Then he saw the face of his executioner standing before him, and King Korjak spread his lips and smiled. “There will be..." He chuckled. "...DEATH!"



@Sreeya @Dread

 

[Darth Malicia]

Malicia could barely hold her expression, an odd display among a crowd of purebloods who's hunger and excitement radiated through the Force. The problem was her gaze still picked up on Raze. His laboured breathing. The way he moved. He was in terrible pain, feeding off of it to empower him. She understood, so why did her heart still pound so painfully against her chest?

Her fingernails dug deeply into her palm to force herself not to look weak. The Kings gaze shifted to her finally, for a brief moment, and she locked gazes and felt a spike of anger. He would not see it on her face, but at that moment she made a promise. If the King won, she would succumb to the emotions she fought against. They would carve the path to rage and she would not skip a single beat to destroy him. Weakened. He'd feel every limb from his body torn. She would wretch his ribs apart while he screamed and rip out his guts as his heart still beat.

And then she would devour his soul just before it left his body.

His gaze finally left her and she focused back on the fight. Raze called on the Force again, in an odd way she saw back at the camp. Then she heard Raze speak. "Kneel" and her nails dug in more, watching as the King's life began to slip away.

@Sreeya @Die Shize

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Raze watched the king reach and grasp to stop the burning. He knew the feeorin wanted to desperately pull out the hot weapon that repeatedly jabbed and twisted his insides. The fire wove into his viscera, charring and cooking everything in its path. The stench of his own flesh roasting would assail the king’s nose. Smoke rose from both combatants as the final act of this battle played out for the masses.

The Sith Lord finally began to walk again after the king dropped to the ground, obeying his command. He strode forth with renewed purpose as every single pair of eyes followed his path from around him. The crowd stopped cheering and a chilled silence fell throughout the arena and its surroundings. The king was the only one that spoke, babbling in his madness and disillusioned state.

The king’s own blade rose through the air to fly into Raze’s free hand. Raze said nothing as he closed the distance, standing tall before the man that had been a behemoth. The broken visor gazed down at the feeorin as the Sith Lord towered over him.

“Your chains are broken.”

Both of his hands sliced the blades inwardly in a horizontal x to cross bisect through the king’s neck. It was a precise and swift motion that would send the head tumbling off. The body sat kneeling for but a moment, the crowd still sitting there in stunned silence.

Raze slowly reached up a foot to kick the body over. It leaned back and landed with a soft thud, kicking up a cloud of sand.

And the crowd roared.

It was a deafening noise. It was raw. It was bloody. It was chaotic. The purebloods pounded their chests, they raised and slammed their weapons. It was a barbaric display, but it was so very liberating. Raze stalked the arena before he faced the crowds. He pulled the head of the king to his grasp by the tentacles, holding it up high for others to see.

“SO ENDS THE REIGN OF THE MAD KING!”

The crowd went ballistic as Raze slammed the king’s blade against his own plated chest to the same rhythm as the others.

“Remember this day as a warning to all those that would turn on one another. Remember today as the last when brother turns on brother. Remember today as the swift retribution that will meet any that disobey the creed upon which the Sith have built their foundations,” He strode the arena as the pounding and cheering got louder. Raze felt that bloodlust as he reached up to unclasp his armor, letting it drop to the ground. He didn’t need to live in the shadow of Kravos. He was his own man. He would forge his own path. He was beyond what Kravos could ever be. Emryc wasn't capable of such thoughts, but Raze was.

“You will follow a new ruler as is the way of the Sith,” Raze shouted as the crowd screamed and roared in support. He turned to look at Malicia as he tossed the king’s head so it rolled over to her feet.

“Long live the queen,” He said quietly at first. But then he said it a bit louder, “LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!”

The crowds began to echo the chanting. The chant began to grow and expand till hundreds of purebloods shouted it unison. Raze chanted it as he pounded his fist against his chest along with everyone in the crowd, “LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!”

"LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!"

"LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!"

"LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!"

The purebloods all collectively turned to regard her with strict obedience as their new, revered ruler. The entire focus was on her and it was only then that Raze’s step faltered a bit.

He tilted his head back to look up at the sky for a moment before the blades dropped from his hands. He turned and slowly limped off to the side, making his way through the crowd to find a place to collapse. He left Malicia behind to bask in her newfound spotlight.

@Dread @Die Shize

 

[Darth Malicia]

Malicia remained still at first, watching until Raze cut off the kings head in a way that both grotesquely and artfully rolled it. Her nails relented. Some tension in her body released, but the show went on after that. A wave of excitement crashed through the roaring crowd, prompted by Raze's speech.

Raze moved forward and released the kings head from his hand, rolling it to her feet. Malicia's eyes lowered and she stared at the head for a handful of seconds, almost with a confused look on her face. She knew what they were doing, it was simply settling in now. What Raze had done for her. She looked up at the tall figure as the crowd screamed long live the queen. The same, almost confused, look on her face as she thought everything through and stared at him.

But the cheering drew her gaze away until some of Raze's movements caught her attention. She saw him leave the arena. The way he walked concerned her, and it only took a second more to realize what he was doing. She had to make sure she distracted the crowd long enough for him to get far away enough to collapse in dignity.

The petite Sith Lord walked to the centre of the arena. Her movements and positioning was enough to prompt the crowd to quiet down as they stared at her and only her. Finally, the new Queen of Korriban spoke, "Today you have all witnessed the beginning of the Old Empire's rebirth!" she raised her voice, yellow eyes moving along the crowd to command their attention.

Her speech went on for a short time. It was not as grand as Raze's but the crowd cheered until she left the arena. She walked through the crowd that parted for her, waving off a pureblood that tried to speak to her. She continued past him and looked for as long as it took to find Raze.

If he had collapsed by then, she'd ask, "May I get close?" and if he agreed she would. Her small frame would dip down to her knees and then she'd try to help prop up Raze in a way that made him comfortable. Even if he only allowed her to put his head on her lap, she'd help him prop it up. Her lap was much softer than the ground.

If she was close or not, she'd speak again, "Are you okay?" she asked. She knew he wasn't really, but she wasn't sure exactly how badly he was hurt and the question allowed him to expand or not expand on his state. "Can I help you somewhere with medical supplies?" Everything else could wait until or if the questions were answered.

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Raze had stumbled over towards a tent before collapsing on the ground, not reaching his destination. He laid there in the sands for a moment, blinking up into the sun. He exhaled quietly, even that subtle gesture bringing waves of pain. Despite having sensitive ears, he was oblivious to the thunderous cheering and chanting in the distance. He could only focus on the pain and the sun that unapologetically glared down at him.

After a while when his vision started to blur, someone approached him. His immediate instinct was to shoot upright and get on the defense. However, his body failed him and he continued to lay on the ground. Each labored breath sent shooting pains through his chest.

He felt his head placed somewhere soft and a face lean over him to block out the sun and grant him that sweet reprieve. His helmet was cracked and gone along the lower left hemisphere of his face, his lips and chin still bloody. Without the armor, he was a blend of Emryc and Raze then. The mission, for his part, was over and that made it even more difficult to stay alert.

“Well...this is a far better view,” He muttered with his partially modulated voice, a half grin visible as blood dribbled from his mouth when he spoke. He was fading in and out, his breathing raspy and weak. He only half heard her questions.

A trembling, gloved hand reached up, fingers gently curling into the silvery wisps of hair that hung over him. He watched the way the sun reflected off strands of her hair, all of the light blending into an abstract.

@Dread

 

[Darth Malicia]

His answer wasn't what she was expecting. Some of his fingers curled in her hair after. They surprised her somewhat, but she didn't want to pull away and stayed in place for a second longer.

"I understand," she said simply. His answer worried her. Malicia raised both her hands, gently coiling the Force under the Lord. She knew the movement would likely hurt him more, but she had to get him somewhere because something could be gravely wrong. With him lifted in the air, Malicia continued into the tent and placed him on the bed.

The tent was large and so was the bed. It sported furs, multiple pillows, bedside tables on each side, likely propped up by one of the higher-up purebloods. Once Raze was on the bed, she walked over to one of the cabinets and looked through it, finding and grabbing as many medkits as she could. One fell out of her grasp and she grunted at it but left it for the moment.

When she sat by his side, she broke open medkit after medkit, addressing what she could on his chest and arms first. After the area was addressed she sat in a chair near the bed and pulled out her comm, "Send more men down to the planet. Bring medical equipment to my location. I want a portable bacta tank."

Putting away her comm, Malicia finally looked down at Raze's broken helmet and thought again. She stood and rummaged around again until she found a clean cloth. Her pale fingers curled around the cloth and she walked back to the bed, sitting on it near Raze. She closed her eyes and reached for Raze's helmet. She wasn't sure if he was conscious enough to stop her, and if he wasn't she'd slide off his helmet. With the Force to guide her, the small Sith Lord placed the cloth over part of Raze's face, leaving his nose and mouth viable but the upper part of his face not.

After she opened her eyes and grabbed another medpack, opening it to get out a cloth to start cleaning his lip and the wounds around it. All she had to do was keep him stable enough until the rest of the supplies arrived. She was able to leave the mode she was in somewhat and her thoughts drifted. "You handed me the planet when you could've easily taken it," she said idly, thinking aloud while she worked. "Why?"

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

He faded away by the time she moved him, and he came to again when she went to move his helmet. A hand suddenly came up to grasp her wrist to prevent her from doing so. However, it took a moment for him to realize there was a hood set up to keep his face concealed. He looked away and removed the helmet himself with a series of clicks and snaps. He turned back with the top hemisphere of his face still hidden. The pronounced jaw, the stubble along the chin and the blood all over it was visible.

He closed his eyes, mind flashing to golden eyes and branded skin while his mind flirted with lapsing in and out of consciousness. Raze drifted back as he felt the touch against his lips to clean the blood. He vaguely heard Malicia’s question, lingering on it for a moment.

“This...is your campaign, not mine,” He said simply. His torso was still in excruciating pain from the lightning. His hand reached up to loosen some of the clothing, revealing the top of his chest. The intricate patterns of a lightning scar could be seen on his chest like a permanent brand on his skin. He couldn’t see it yet, but his fingers traced along the painful remnants.

“You can stop being so suspicious, Malicia,” He grumbled through raspy breaths, “You’ve managed to avoid the typical teachings and history of Sith and yet you can’t escape the paranoia,” He scoffed a bit, more blood spilling from his lips, “This region is yours to command.”

@Dread

 

[Darth Malicia]

Malicia looked up when she heard Raze speak. She listened to him quietly, gripping her bacta cloth a little tighter until he was done. She knew the words were spoken harshly, but she believed the intent behind them wasn't. It revealed something about Raze to her.

He wouldn't hear anything in reply for a few moments, not until she uttered a, "Thank you" another un-Sith like quality of hers that she was well aware of. While she accepted that she was Sith now, she still didn't quite care enough to need to change herself to suit the role better. "As I rise, I keep discovering things I need to work on," Malicia added, unusually frankly. Maybe she was too comfortable around the Lord. More than she should be.

The small Sith moved again, wiping the cloth across Raz'e lower lip and chin to clean up the newly spit blood, tossing it after and grabbing a new one. With it she moved to where he was running his fingers. She placed it down on the still reddened-scars, brushing it up against his fingers. If it wasn't the spot he wanted or if he wanted to move the cloth more, it was there for him.

Pushing up from her chair, she walked over to a table, looking over what was left there. "You know why I do all of this, right?" she asked. She was fairly certain he knew, and he may not even be awake, though she needed to say it. Her voice lowered, "The Empire, the Sith, everything is a means to an end for me. It is all so I can continue to feed. All of it." It wasn't for some noble reason, or because she cared deeply about some belief.

"Are you thirsty?" she asked, shifting the subject abruptly. Her corpse-like fingers brushed along the side of a water pitcher. There were still some ice cubes in it, enough for Raze to chew on if he didn't or couldn't sit up and drink.

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

His jaw tightened when she brushed against the fresh lightning scars. It was clear the wounds caused tremendous amounts of pain. Even for someone that was accustomed to pain, the combination of injuries was draining. Raze knew he would have been significantly more disadvantaged if not for Malicia.

She stepped away briefly and he took that opportunity to lean over and put his helmet back on. He removed the hood in order to be able to see again, though it was back to the visor staring back at her. Parts of his lips and jaw were still visible. She would see the faintest tug of what threatened to be a grin as she spoke.

“I am thirsty,” He said simply, wincing as he moved to sit up slightly. Every movement hurt, but he felt strength beginning to return. His back leaned into the wall behind him and he accepted the water when she brought it over.

“You don’t need to justify your reasons to anyone but yourself,” Raze said after a moment, “The galaxy is yours to feast upon however you please.”

He drank the water in one swift motion, betraying just how parched he had been from the battle, “And what is your reason for being here right now with me instead of out there?” The visor stared in her direction for a moment, “Pity? Guilt?”

@Dread

 

[Darth Malicia]

Malicia grabbed the glass and the pitcher then looked back, catching a glimpse of his expression. It made her pause until her mind went to his broken helmet. She'd need to get another or something else suitable for him.

Before she was able to deliver the glass of water she heard him speak again. His answer...made her smile. It felt so odd for someone to be so unphased by her hunger. So accepting of what she was. She lingered for a moment, moving back to the bed and sitting down beside him. The bed sank a small bit with her weight, though her feet barely touched the ground.

"It is...isn't it?" she said happily, referring to his comment about her feasting.

She watched him drink the glass down within seconds. That was her focus until he asked why she was here. "I.." Malicia looked away, feeling herself withdraw a moment when she realized what the answer was. A small ray from his empty glass brightened a spot on her pale skin, and after a moment it brought her gaze back up.

Leaning forward, she tipped the pitcher to fill his glass again. He was probably still thirsty. It gave her a moment to think. Maybe she could keep being honest for right now. While she felt comfortable enough. "My reason? I just... want to make sure you heal." Malicia turned and placed the pitcher on the side table near her. "I'll allow no one to see you, or near you, until you wish it," she said with a tiny hint of a growl.

"Mother," a voice buzzed from her comm. "We are nearing your location with the medical supplies." Malicia looked around the tent for a moment, raising her hand when she spotted something. The Force wrapped around a small but highly decorative screen partition. She dragged the screen in front of the bed so her cultists could not see Raze while they brought in the bacta tank and other supplies.

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Raze took the other glass of water and threw that back as well. He finally felt life beginning to return to his body, though the agonizing pain was still there. He was quiet as she spoke, hearing the faint hint of surprised elation at his response. He picked up on the subtlety, finding it odd. He was in the habit of always accepting anyone as they were. It was usually others that had trouble accepting him.

The Sith Lord couldn’t hide the faint grin tugging from her response to his question. It was a perfectly diplomatic answer, and he decided to keep from prying further. It was rare for him to ask questions to begin with.

If he had any reactions to the cultists, he gave no indication of it externally. Malicia would notice that the nature of the cultists was very different now. They avoided making eye contact, always kept their heads bowed and were far more obedient and submissive. It was clear that word of the camp massacre had spread like wildfire. They quietly arrived and dutifully set up whatever Malicia asked.

Raze was unbothered by this as he leaned his head back against the wall and gazed up at the ceiling. After the cultists left, he finally spoke, “I’ll need just a few hours to heal enough and I’ll leave the planet,” His job here was done, "Enjoy your new throne, Queen Malicia."

@Dread

 

[Darth Malicia]

Malicia made her way to the front of the decorative screen partition and stood there while her cultists brought in and set everything up. She did not need the Force to see their new level of submission, or to know it was the result of Raze's work. Deep down she was still uncomfortable with his assertion over her cult, but it was obviously an effective method.

Once everything was set up, Malicia barked a simple, "Leave" and watched her cultists exist as commanded. Before she made it back around the screen partition however she heard the Lord speak again. His words made her pause at the side of the partition, pale fingers gripping it. She smiled meekly, avoiding his gaze for a moment. She had mixed feelings about his departure being so quick.

But the planet was conquered and his job was done, so she addressed his healing at first, "My men set up a bacta tank. It should expedite your schedule." The Lord was more awake and aware now, so instead of a potential life saver perhaps he'd appreciate the tank for its efficiency instead.

"I plan to explore the palace after this," she admitted, referring to his comment about her enjoying the throne. "I'm hoping to find a library." It was a purely selfish thought but if the building had one Malicia could make Renfry aware of it. She'd get see the woman again, for a short while at least. Though the line of thought made her consider something, "Are you interested in taking anything from the palace, or a title here?"

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Raze was quiet for a few moments after she spoke and asked her question. Even with part of his mouth visible, it was always impossible to tell what he was thinking. The expression was as blank as the helmet that covered it. He had expected them to part ways at this point, though he found her interests curious.

“The library, if it still stands, will have been buried under the sands or disguised as a tomb,” Raze sat up straight, wincing slightly as he did so, “Many pureblood rulers rejected knowledge of offworlders and attempted to destroy records. Knowledge was cleverly protected and guarded.”

He turned to look towards her, pausing for a few seconds, “You have no real interest in the libraries considering how little you cared about the history of the Sith or this planet,” He said flatly. The words weren't intentionally rude, they merely spoke truths. She had made it abundantly clear she was drawn here by her calling in the hunger and nothing more. She hadn’t shown any desire to have her nose buried in books or tomes and Raze didn't mind that. Everyone had their methods of operating.

“I will take any title you wish to grant me,” Raze said after a while, “And I will locate the library if you wish to join me."

@Dread

 

[Darth Malicia]

Malicia frowned a little as Raze told her about the library, if there was still one, and that it was likely hidden. After as he continued to speak, Malicia found herself slowly vanishing behind the screen partition. He blatantly pointed out that she wasn't the type to actually care about the libraries contents which meant he suspected something.

"The libraries location and access to its contents will be a gift for another Sith I know," Malicia admitted freely. Though, it was worded vague enough to protect Renfry. Protect her from what? Malicia wasn't sure, but it was something she naturally did.

Her yellows landed back on the table, which she walked to. Seemed her cultists had brought fruit, vegetables and more soup. All of it still sparkled in the light from being freshly cut, and even Malicia considered having some.

Grabbing a plate, she carefully placed an even amount of cuts of a fruit on it, including ones that she wasn't aware were extremely sour. She couldn't help but smile just a little when Raze made his offer while she finished organizing the plate. "I'll join you, of course," Malicia said, her tone had a small bit of excitement.

She brought the tray of fruits back to the bed, sitting on the side of it. Not too close to the Lord, but close enough that when she held out her arms the tray of fruit was right in front of him. She didn't say anything about it, simply offering it as she kept talking, "Can you tell me...." pausing a moment she suppressed an awkward smile. "...what titles I can grant you?"

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Raze said nothing as Malicia admitted that it was a gift. He could appreciate her honesty instead of bullshitting. It was one of the qualities that usually set her apart from most Sith. She seldom put up a front and always embraced what she valued and what she didn’t.

When the tray of fruits and vegetables was brought over, he visibly perked up. Primarily a vegetarian, Raze enjoyed most greens. He took one of the fruits and tilted his head away slightly to pop it into his mouth. His jaw tightened slightly and his lips curled in a bit from the horrific sour taste. However, he kept a straight face for the most part, continuing to chew the fruit before he swallowed. He glanced over towards Malicia again.

“Try the fruit,” He said casually, “It’s quite refreshing,” The visor was as blank as the face beneath it as he spoke.

Raze shook his head to her question, “Titles are earned, Queen Malicia,” He explained, “You earned Queen because all of this has been a campaign you began a while ago. This was just one chapter in a book you are writing. Only you can decide who earns what title. This is the way.”

@Dread