Majesty

[Darth Inheris]

Theme​

With the Drast Mausoleum in the territory of the Old Empire, Empress Lyanna's death had to be commemorated on the Republica capital of Coruscant. No body was had, no ashes to be spread, the Imperial leadership had thought it appropriate to allow for a grand tomb. Public, ready for mourning, they would not let such a moment pass unremembered for the populace.

Elix had not been commemorated in such a way. Though there were those who knew he had perished, many still thought he was still alive, and the leadership let that possibility stay, meaning no such tomb was built for him.

It was here that Saorise had managed to find a chance to speak to the Grand Moff. With the tomb only recently completed he was present to pay his respects, as was expected, even when more pressing matters knocked eternally at his door. Like the one that presented itself now.

Saorise's steps echoed as she passed into the tomb, each tap of her shoes reverberating off the stone,

"Grand Moff" she began, her voice soft in the silene "I wish there could have been a better time to do this" she feigned regret, sounding sincere. She was an old hand at such.

It was time for a frank conversation.

@Nefieslab

 

[The Storyteller]

The Grand Moff.

Such a title was awarded to someone of rank, someone of talent and someone of ambition. It was a title that many assumed could be bought and paid for and many people were incredibly mistaken in this belief. Becoming Grand Moff required someone to be beyond the regular rank and file. Becoming Grand Moff required strength in all areas and weakness in none.

If you had weakness, it would be the end of you before you could ever hope to become Grand Moff.

The current Grand Moff, the man most looked to continue the war effort... and the day-to-day running of the Empire... and the relief efforts... and the economy... was a man suited to his role. What he was not suited for, was running the whole Empire. He was supposed to be someone who worked under the leader of the Empire and right now there was no leader on the throne of Coruscant - there was a dead woman half the Galaxy away and an old man enamored with his ability to cause others harm and convinced that somehow made him a better option.

The Grand Moff Otenaz Mazim was not a man given to sentiment and the death of the Empress meant nothing to him save added work. The man who sat in the sands of Korriban and called himself Emperor meant nothing to him either, save he was yet another person who seemed to delight in taking pot shots at the Empire.

Staring around the tomb, the Grand Moff turned to face Saorise and cut her off with a swipe of his hand.

"Silence yourself."

It was not a request.

"Let me make something abundantly clear, Crusader, you do not summon me." he reminded her bluntly, never taking his eyes off of her's, "If you do not give me a very good reason not to within the next ten seconds? I will have you detained and executed. Your time starts now."

The man was not amused and he was armed with a vibrosword at his hip. He would not hesitate to kill Saorise right here and now if her answer doesn't stay his blade.

@Nightfall

 

[Darth Inheris]

This was never going to have been an easy conversation.

But, despite the threat she kept her voice steady, taking a short breath in before beginning to speak,

"Grand Moff, I come as a messenger. Varyn Rask, the Crusader who broadcasted on the holonet, now sits at the right hand of the False Emperor. He wishes to meet" as simple as could be, and straight to the point. The point itself was admittedly an unexpected one she imagined for the Moff to hear, but perhaps that would buy her a moment to continue,

"He offers the possibility of terms, of avoiding the war before it begins in earnest" she continued, trying to sweeten the deal, moving slowly to try and ease him into the possibility,

"It's a chance to avoid a great many deaths, he hopes. As I imagine you do as well, spare the Empire some destruction, and yourself" her final point for now. Short, sharp sentences, clear, slow, and emotive, to try and ensure the conversation could continue, be expanded upon, if necessary.

She was this close to treason, she was sure of it. But in such desperate times, perhaps Mazim would see reason, consider a route beyond war. And if any location on the planet should remind him of the dreadful cost of it all, it was here. In the tomb of their last Empress.

With her piece finished, the silence fell again over the tomb, only light wind from the entrance, the slight shifting of their feet on the stone splitting the quiet.

@Nefieslab

 

[The Storyteller]

Ah.

There it was.

There was the reason that Saorise was actually here - she was doing the bidding of someone else. Who, in turn, was doing the bidding of someone else as well. It was the way of the Galaxy though he supposed. Everyone, eventually, did the bidding of someone or something else. Even the Emperors and Empresses of the Galaxy did the bidding of the Force and they were fools if they thought otherwise, even he, a non-Force Sensitive, knew that.

"So you have come to deliver a message from a man most consider to be the vilest form of scum in the Galaxy - a traitor." he mused aloud, eyes not moving from Saorise, "There is already a war going on, Kallig. It is between the Republica, the Mandalorians and a Jedi Rebellion - the 'Old Empire' has done nothing but sit back and watch. Some may consider this cunning. I confider it to be a mixture of cunning and foolishness in almost equal measure."

He tutted.

"And Varyn Rask claims to have the sway with the Dark Lord to ensure this?" he asked with a raised eyebrow, "By all accounts the man's defection has been recent. Yet you claim that he would have the authority to stop the 'Old Empire' from attacking? Interesting."

The Grand Moff stared hard at Saorise for a long moment before asking another hard question.

"Tell me Kallig - what assurances do I have that this won't merely be a trap?" he asked with a raised eyebrow, "That I won't be blown to smithereens within the first five minutes while Rask 'conveniently' doesn't show?"

@Nightfall

 

[Darth Inheris]

The Moff was unimpressed but she had to expect that. One infamous name playing messenger for another, and one true traitor at that, it hardly could have gone better really. Still, the man was burning, with so many things on his mind such a proposition was almost offensive. It would be an uphill battle to get him to agree, and she did not mean to interrupt his thoughts as they were thrown against her. Still, it was his final note that left the greatest mark, and the only one she truly had to respond to.

He was more powerful than her, more notable, commanded more troops, weapons, and spies than her. Her property would be useless as a bargaining chip to such a man, who, even if he was not already wealthier than her, seemed passionate about the Empire alone. While she was strong in the force, there were a great many who were stronger than her within the galaxy. Her political skills had carried her thus far, but wit courtiers and diplomats at his call, an offer of such skills was not anything desperate for the man, she was certain. Only one thing then remained on the table,

"I offer my life as assurance. I can stand with you at the meeting, before you, between you and harm. If Rask does not show on time, strike me down in his stead" what more important thing could a Sith offer? Though there was no guarantee it would be enough to sway the man,

"The Old Empire knows that if it claims our lands then it will have claimed our enemies as well. A war would be as costly for them in the long run as it would for us. They've a vested interest in seeing this through as well, Grand Moff. It is better it occurred, for the benefit of both parties" Saorise bowed her head slightly as she finished, trying to show her deferment to the man,

"And someone of your skill is more valuable to them alive anyway, when the greater fight comes"

@Nefieslab

 

[The Storyteller]

The Grand Moff stared down at Saorise for a long moment in silence, allowing her to speak first before he responded. When he did it was with ponderous tones and weight to his words.

"I don't care about your life."

He stared her right in the eyes.

"But I know you do. You with all of your ambitions and dreams and desires beyond what you are now. I know of you, Kallig." he told her quietly, "I know all about you in ways you probably don't even know. Ways you don't want to know. I know how to make your soul bleed out and leave you alive as a living husk of a human being. And you can be certain that if you have attempted to trap me? I will ruin you and have you continue to serve me as an unthinking and unfeeling automaton for the rest of your days. Do you understand me?"

That was enough of that for now however. He sniffed once as he turned away, adjusting his uniform as he prepared to depart from the area.

"If you or Varyn have any sway with your new Masters at all then perhaps remind them that if they wish to own the entire Empire?" He scowled, "Perhaps they should stop trying to burn what remains? I am not blind to their continued attacks and preparations against us while they continue to do nothing of note towards the Mandalorians or the Jedi. Perhaps they should show good faith and exercise some proper judgement for once?"

@Nightfall

 

[Darth Inheris]

“Understood, sir” there was little more she could add there. The Grand Moff’s response has spoken for itself, and she’d understood it completely. While she had grown accustomed to being the one holding all the cards, this meeting was one where she couldn’t even dare say she held a hand in it at all. It could have been humbling as an experience. If anything it was merely frustrating. Whatever she knew, no doubt he did as well. All except for some. I’m her mind she stewed, seeing her own way up the ladder, to where she would wield a full house in comparison. Whatever this Grand Moff did, what impact had he made on the Empire? She couldn’t even say. Her path, the one she walked now with Varyn and their allies, that would be one that not be so dismissed as he did now.

Still, it did not appear to have been a total waste,

“As we speak Grand Moff, Varyn leads a company of troops to seize the holdings of this rebellion and their mandalorian allies that has appeared against us both” she added. True, the Old Empire has not bore the scars of such attacks as the Republica had, but she knew Varyn understood the threat it posed of both, just as she did. Just, she was sure, as the Grand Moff did,

“I think you’ll find yourselves more similar than you had expected. You both want what is best for the Empire. Between yourselves, you’ll know what that is” she finished as she was beginning to move away. The Grand Moff was clearly tired of her, but it seemed it had worked. Details could be worked out as they went. What mattered was that he would meet at all.

@Nefieslab