Ask For The Blade

[Darth Draugr]

First Blade's Chamber, Dromund Kaas, 1600 Hours

Lord Draugr, the First Blade, had just forged what would be his elite squad of warriors among the SIth known under the aliases of the Blades. As of now he had began looking for prime members to join him in his fight against the Resistance and the Jedi. They would be fitted for specialized missions and ultimately chosen for their abilities to finish their opponents in quick combat.

To begin his search he contacted Champion Vahliri. She was a successful Champion and had quite the combat experience, but ultimately he knew about her grit. She had a darkness within her ready to be unleashed and he knew he could help her to release it. She was on the top of his list in this search for that very reason, also in part she was closer to the rest of the Champions and even Masters. She could be the ticket to finding the others to be a part of his elite squad.

Waiting for her to arrive he would be set in his Blade Armor and sat back in his chair. As she would enter she would feel the room's coldness, and the darkness filling the room. His armor new and made to fit his name. The meeting with the First Blade would now commence.

@Altaris​

 

[Darth Tempest]

Even after she’d pondered it for hours, Vahliri couldn’t deny still being somewhat surprised by the summons of Darth Draugr. Though they had worked together in the past, the half-Annfyn had little interaction with the newly-appointed ‘First Blade’. Their last stint together had involved the investigation into the Entity, and yet Vahliri somehow doubted that was to be the purpose of the current meeting.

Mysterious summons by the Dark Council often ended extremely poorly, or proved remarkable positive. Vahliri had no reason to guess it was the former.

Rather than continue theorizing, Vahliri promptly made her way to Dromund Kaas - arriving after a relatively short trip from Korriban. With arms folded against the small of her back, she began to make her way towards the Councilor’s chambers - her expression knitted seriously and devoid of whatever she was thinking in that moment. The half-Annfyn was adorned in his signature crimson-and-black robes, complete with a pair of lightsabers clearly clipped at the belt. Her black was tied back and braided to flow down the middle of her back.

Her arrival was met with some nods and acknowledgement from her peers, owing to Vahliri’s largely successful career as a Sith.

The moment she stepped into Draugr’s chambers, Vahliri briefly knelt before the Councilor. “Lord Draugr,” Vahliri rose to her feet, arms crossing over her chest as she addressed the First Blade. “How can I help you?”

 

[Darth Draugr]

When Vahliri had arrived, Draugr greeted her back as he stood to show respect for their conversation. "Champion Vahliri welcome." He pulled his hood back and removed the mask. Then taking a couple steps forward he would set the Mask on a table next to him and return to Vahliri as he would answer her question.

"I am putting together a squadron of elite warriors. The finest we have to offer. When I thought of candidates for the position you were among the first to come to mind." A servant droid would arrive and hand Lord Draugr a sleek, slick Lightsaber and scramble away. Lord Draugr held it within his hand as he felt it's weight and then ignited it. The blade red, with a black core. He Looked to Vahliri as he held it in front of him.

His eyes on hers as he spoke, "I am giving you the opportunity to become first among them to be recruited." He would watch her expression as it was an honor many others her rank will not receive. He only wanted the best and if she were to be the first of the Blades, then he be sure she was the second in command. "Do you accept Champion Vahliri..?"

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri appreciated that Draugr cut directly to the point of their meeting. While she had nothing against the Councilor, she knew that the nature of this summons was business-related, and had spent the better part of an afternoon attempting to puzzle together what it might entail. All the same, the half-Annfyn couldn’t help but arch a brow in surprise of what Draugr offered.

At once, amber eyes flicked down to the sleek saber hilt that was offered - staring into its crimson and black depths, whilst taking in the gravity and weight of the position. She hadn't expected it upon arrival, and couldn’t deny some level of pride in being selected as amongst the Empire’s finest.

All the same, Vahliri didn’t reach for the blade - not quite yet. Instead, she kept her arms crossed neatly over her chest.

“You honor me, Lord Draugr, with this opportunity. Truly,” She began, genuine respect bleeding into her tone. Her gaze flicked up to meet his own just then. “I know you would not have summoned me to Dromund Kaas lightly.”

“I have to ask,” Her brow arched ever so slightly. “What precisely are you asking of me?” She inquired, “What does this offer entail? This squadron of elite warriors - what is to be their charge?” It was the first that Vahliri had heard of the organization or their mission. Was she to be Draugr’s personal assassin? A weapon at the First Blade’s disposal?

Vahliri had ambitions of her own, and the merits of such of position - it’s benefit to her - were more important to her than the honor.

 

[Darth Draugr]

Draugr figured there would be questions on the position so when she asked he simply smirked and held the new lightsaber in his hand. Vahliri was smart, and wanted to know every benefit of the position and what exactly she would be tasked with in this position. "I figured you would be curious. With good reason." Draugr would walk in a circle around Vahliri as he spoke, not in the ways to intimidate, more so to give him something to do as he spoke.

"The position would name you a Blade. If you accept, you will dawn gear to hide your identity and be tasked with sensitive missions that will be far more dangerous than any others may be. You won't be going it alone. I will gather more members that are among the finest in the Empire to aid you and myself." The Zabrak stopped in front of Vahliri. "You will be gifted your own Kaba-Class Shuttle, a new Lightsaber, new gear, a platoon of elite Soldiers, and a position of Authority over your peers. For now you would be the only one, making you the second in command. All I ask is you go into every mission with ruthless aggression and complete the task at hand without failure."

The Dathomirian crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly as he finished his explanation, "Lastly you will be the right hand of the First Blade. You will not be my apprentice, but you will be an authority the other blades and Sith cannot deny. So," Draugr looked Vahliri in the eyes, "Do you accept?"

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri kept her arms crossed over her chest - unfazed as Draugr began to circle the room. The half-Annfyn carefully listened to the offer that was being made - weighing every detail and promise that the Zabrak laid at her feet. On one hand, she was flattered by the amount of praise and faith the Councilor had in her - entirely warranted through her repeated successes. Indeed, many might have immediately jumped at the opportunity to be the second-in-command to the First Blade. But Vahliri was not without her reservations.

While the honor inferred by the title went without saying.. Vahliri couldn’t help but consider the long-term benefits to herself. The half-Annfyn was exceedingly ambitious, and her primary motivation boiled down to how serving as Second Blade would help her in the long run. What respect did it earn her, or intimidation did it garner from her peers? What did Draugr offer, that Vahliri couldn’t claim for herself?

Her brows knitted together ever-so-slightly when Draugr delved more into what she would be expected to do. Vahliri was no stranger to leading operations on behalf of the Empire, but had little desire to mask her identity when doing so. The half-Annfyn wore her affiliations proudly on her sleeve, and had benefited from the reputation gradually built. There was little benefit in carrying out the whims and wishes of the First Blade, as his faceless assassin.

The half-Annfyn’s mind turned towards her own goals and ambitions. Her plans for Thule and the foundations of the Academy being established there. The slow expansion of her own powerbase and supporters amongst the Sith. The First Blade had piqued her interest in one regard, by offering Vahliri a position of authority over her peers. But that was a position Vahliri was capable of gaining for herself, and would hold far more weight than what the Zabrak offered.

In the end, the smallest exhale flowed through her nostrils. “I do not,” Vahliri finally said, amber eyes fixing back onto the First Blade. Her voice was resounding and without hesitation - regardless of the reaction that Draugr had to it. “I am honored by the faith that you have placed in me, and I thank you for the opportunity.”

"But I do not believe myself best suited to this position.” She tilted her head ever-so-slightly. “Nor do I believe it best utilizes my talents.” Perhaps not the most diplomatic choice of words, but it was genuine honesty - and Vahliri figured Draugr would appreciate that more than mincing words.

“I am at your service, Lord Draugr - however you see fit to command. I offer my assistance in further gathering members of the Blades, or acquiring resources to aid in their missions.” She knew the organization was in its infancy, and Vahliri left the door open to help build it up however possible. “I serve my Empire with ruthless aggression and no room for failure already,”

“But I will not stand amongst their ranks.”