Ask Starting with a Book

[Renfry]

Renfry still didn't like Sullust. It was far too dead and devoid of life. There were still people here, but no plants, animals, or fresh air. It was everything she didn't want in the planet she settled on, but it was a necessary evil for now.

The hours had ticked by as she scoured through books, datacrons, and holorecordings. From what she could gather, much of the history, teachings, and power of the Sith was still lost, but there was still much here to learn. And there were clues on how to find the other pieces.

She took particular interest in the tombs of the ancient Sith Lords and the titles they took, wondering if those titles were clues to the knowledge they had.

She decided that caf was an amazing thing, and she was drinking it incessantly as she poured over the information. She finally looked up from the old tome she was reading and watched all the different people who had been coming and going. Over the hours she'd been here she'd seen many different people. Some of them were repeats and others were new. She blinked several times, trying to remember that she needed to stay focused if she wanted to get her research done in a timely manner.

 

[Davin Crik]

Constant studying and analysis, the Sith's history by its nature was sporadic and incomplete. Lesson and stories were half-completed, or omitted entirely, making it difficult to discern fact from fiction. Most history was hidden away through oral or physical repetition, contrasting that of the Jedi.

Knowledge was passed down through survival alone, and only the strongest would carry on the powers of old. Many Sith Lords of the past had simply been forgotten by the masses within the Sith, their lives were meaningless to those who sat firmly within the dark side of the force, the only purpose that many of these figures served was the research that could expand one's own power and influence within the force or the Sith as a whole.

Perhaps it was a fatal hubris of the Sith or a byproduct of succumbing to the dark side itself -- the Acolyte did not truly know the answer to this question, and it was not one he dared asked his own Master. No, this was a question that he would have to struggle to find the answers to, if he wished to bring about the change he so desired.

And so the young Sith wandered the halls, piecing together the bits of information that he could find about the ancient past. Clues or hints that would point him in a direction that would send him into the galaxy. There were many that passed through these halls, mostly older scholars and ambitious acolytes with a few masters sprinkled here and there. Though the most rabid of Sith Dogs would never dare to enter such a place, their power came from the brutal destruction of their own might, and for that Davin was grateful.

Though, there was one inhabitant that often caught his attention. A younger woman, similar in age to himself who spent many days and hours reading away at the texts. Perhaps she was another acolyte, or a fully fledged member of the Sith, but what Davin could tell was the ripples of curiosity and desire for more knowledge. It seeped through the force, and lingered within the halls.

The young Sith found the prospects of another like minded individual to be infatuating, , but he would do his best to suppress those emotions. Passion may lead to strength, but it often lead to foolishness -- and Davin did not wish to make a fool of himself on such a day. Instead, the young Sith would approach the woman with the confidence he could muster and a simple smile formed along his pale white face.

"I'm looking for something in particular, perhaps you could help me." His golden Sith eyes were like daggers that focused in on the sitting Renfry.

tag: @Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Renfry looked up from her tome and rubbed both eyes before taking a sip of her caf. The familiar sensation of being stalked tugged at the back of her mind. Decades of living in the jungles combined with the power of the Shadow gave her an unnatural attunement to when the attention of others was on her.

Her eyes opened and settled directly on the young man as he approached. He was probably about the same age as her and looked vaguely familiar for the fact that she had seen him in the library before, but the two had never before spoken to each other.

You spend almost as much time here as I do, she said with a smirk.

But I could use a break. What're you looking for? she asked. Besides, if it was something someone was going out of their way to look at then perhaps she wanted to have a peek at it too.

She sat back in her seat, stretched her stiff muscles, and closed the tome in front of her as she awaited his answer. She wondered what type he was. He didn't seem the brutish type, and she didn't recall seeing him work with a master before, so a scholar perhaps? She couldn't decide. @TWD26

 

[Davin Crik]

The young Sith would raise a brow as a half smirk formed across his pale face. "You might be right," he'd say as he slid into a seat across from the young woman. "It's good to know I have a few admirers among the ranks of this lonely establishment." His voice would echo across the empty halls of the Sith Library.

"Perhaps I was looking for a reason to speak to you," he'd say as he focused his attention back on her. "The name's Davin," he'd say with a respectful nod. He was unsure what exactly her rank was, perhaps he was a bit too informal, but she didn't seem the type to take it the wrong way -- or so he hoped.

"I'm working on a pet project of mine, a historical analysis on the old Sith, I am interested in learning of their codes and their past. I've been trying to peace together different pieces of historical evidence that remained from the days of the Old Empire, but there are large gaps in history. It seems our predecessors had destroyed much of our history or simply chosen to abandon them to space and time."

Davin would run his gloved hand through his curly brown hair as he gave a heavy sigh, "If we are to be what strengthens our Ideals, we must come to learn and accept the failings of the past. I believe there are hidden secrets somewhere within the Esstran Sector. I've found brief mentioning of some fabled homeworld of the Sith within this Sector. But, I have yet to find more. Are you familiar with these rumors?"

tag: @Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Well, this wasn't what she'd expected out of today. He'd wanted an excuse to approach her, eh? And why was that, she wondered.

Renfry, she responded in kind with a warm smile. Neither offered their rank, and Renfry was fine with that. She didn't put a great deal of weight into a title anyway.

She looked up as he described his pet project to her. It was something she was intimately familiar with. Yes, the Sith seemed to have lost a great deal of their history, but given the way they had acquired it seemed to make sense: they had what the Eternal had provided, and where it had acquired it was not clear.

I am. The twin worlds, she said with a nod. She could do him one better than just know the rumors. She had actually been there under the guidance of Kravos's holocron. Despite the relatively barren nature of the two worlds, they held an unbelievable potential of secrets.

Tell me, what is it that you want to find on the worlds? she asked. She was interested to know how much he knew. Perhaps she could lure him along as bait - oh no, she meant a partner, of course - in her hunt for the tombs the High Arcanists. If anyone knew about the alchemies of the old days, she hoped it would be one of them.

 

[Davin Crik]

The young Sith's eyes would narrow with interest, "The twin worlds, so Moraband and Korriban exist...Interesting." Davin would lean back in his seat as he brought his hands together as he began to formulate an idea. "I had good reason to believe that they may not have been a myth. Perhaps it will open secrets to other planets long forgotten."

What intrigued him the most was her question, there could be an endless sea of possibilities buried within decaying planets and ghost worlds. What he planned to find or hoped to find, Davin was not truly sure. "I was born into this cult and was raised in the virtues of the Sith. I know no other life than this one. I wish to find who I truly am, what I am truly made of -- this is why I wish to search."

The young man would shrug his shoulders slightly, "And you...why do you spend your time within these halls?"

 

[Renfry]

Renfry thought about and listened to what he said. He was interested, and his mind was clearly working. She liked people who had curious minds because she understood them better.

Because I'm looking for something, she said. There were many, many things she was looking for, but the one that directly and immediately affected him was what she was about to say.

I want to visit the tombs of the High Arcanists on Moraband, interested? she asked. She could guess at his answer already just based on what he had said. But diving into the tomb of a Sith Lord was dangerous work and not for the weak or faint of heart. @TWD26

 

[Davin Crik]

Davin's brow raised slightly as she spoke. It should have been obvious that she herself had been searching for something within these scattered books and ancient relics. The young Sith pondered on how many puzzles were hidden in this very room, perhaps the two of them would discover them in the future -- only the future knew such fates.

"The High Arcanists," he'd say with a pause, taking in the mental notes he held on such a subject. "I imagine these arcanists dealt in things such as Sith Sorcery and Magic. Some of the most powerful abilities are said to linger in such a subject, but with it comes a great cost."

The young man would bring his gloved hands up towards his chin as he considered the prospects. "Dangerous indeed, but I suppose nothing great can be achieved without effort. Sith are fickle creatures, their greed for knowledge carries over in death. Their tombs will no doubt be a symbol of death. I will provide you my assistance in this endeavor -- for I hope to learn more about my Culture's past."

He'd offer her a playful laugh as he sat back in his seat, "Your ship or mine?"

tag: @Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

It seemed that it was decided. He seemed as interested in this as she was. She had serious goals here, and she was going to see them through. The fact that two brains were better than one was just an added bonus.

I'm sure we can expect a warm welcome, she said, referencing having to deal with them and their hatred for sharing their information even in death. Renfry didn't really understand that. The Spirits had little interest in this world after their passing across the Veil. Why the Sith were different escaped her.

Mine, she said. She supposed they could have taken his, too, she didn't particularly care, but it was always more comfortable to be in your own space, right? Something like that.

It's parked in docking bay 82. When will you be ready to leave? she asked. She didn't have as much packing to do since it was her ship with her things, but she was eager to get under way. @TWD26

 

[Davin Crik]

A proper expedition, things were only looking up from here on out, and Davin was excited to get started and figure out what secrets had been hidden away on the ancient Sith planet. "Docking Bay 82, got it." He'd say as he stood up from the seat and gave a formal bow -- perhaps giving away his position in the Sith.

"I only need to grab a few items, we can leave within the hour." There was a laser like focus that seemed to have overcome the normally relaxed Student. "Together we will uncover these secrets for ourselves." A devlish smile would form across the Sith's pale face.

Though Davin would not wait for a response nor stick around for idle chat, there would plenty of that on the way towards their destination. Instead, he would make for his temporary quarters to prepare for departure. I knew there was a reason to talk to her, seems I found it.

tag: @Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

---​

By the time he arrived at hangar 82, Renfry was already firing up the engines. Okay, fine, so her pilot droid was firing up the engines and she was fiddling with the auxiliary systems. While she could fly, it wasn't her strong suit and she preferred to leave it to people or droids who specialized in the area.

She met him at the entry ramp and waved him aboard, wasting no time before heading to the cockpit and taking up a seat. Though she was in the pilot's seat and the droid was in the copilot's spot - technically not a seat given the droids body type - she let him perform the take off while she punched in the coordinates and coordinated with Sullust control tower.

The very real possibility that he may just be trying to get this information before killing her hadn't escaped her notice, but she found it unlikely at least at this juncture.

So, Davin, tell me about yourself, she said. It was a dreadful question to ask someone because of how open ended it was, but it was one she was quickly developing a habit for asking. @TWD26

 

[Davin Crik]

Davin smiled as Renfry waved him onto her ship, his golden eyes closing a bit as he offered a subtle nod. The ship wasn't anything to write home about, but that wasn't a deal breaker for the young Sith -- practicality was the greatest strength they could have in their profession.

Sliding into his seat, he'd look to the woman as she spoke, a faint pair of dimples formed on his left cheek as he spoke, "I'm no one important, really." He'd say with a gentle bow, "I'm an Acolyte of the Sith, Darth Ceryx is my formal master, but she gives me the flexibility to stretch out and learn on my own."

He watched as the droid began to pull the ship into the air, and the weight of the ship began to shift as they left solid ground. "I was born in the Unknown Regions, on a planet I do not know, to parents I never met. They were one of countless cultists that worshiped the Eternal. Life as a child was a difficult in those days. Slave pits and constant battles to prove one's worth."

The young man would cross his arms as he gave a heavy sigh, "All walks of the darkside could be seen among them, from Knights of Ren to Sorcerers and those who wished to relive the glory days of the Old Empire. It was a cruel fate for everyone involved. I suppose I was lucky to survive and prove my worth. With the coming of the Sith, most of the cultists' barbarian ways are slowly be stamped out, but I do believe our culture is rooted in the foundations of such mindless killing."

His golden eyes narrowed as he focused back on the woman, "Did you choose this life, or were you born into it?"

tag: @Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

She listened as he told his story. Renfry had not been born into the Sith and the more stories she heard about people who had come to the Sith at a young age the more she was surprised. Even in the wild, most predators watched out for their young, but the Sith seemed to pit them against each other. It was odd to her.

Darth Ceryx was a name that Renfry had heard, though she didn't know the woman personally. So he was her apprentice? That was interesting as well.

Do you like being a Sith? she asked point blank. Whether she got the truth out of him or not was another matter entirely, but she wasn't someone who had a great deal of reservation about being direct.

I wasn't born into the Sith, no, she said.

But I was trained from a young age, she said. There were many people who either new of Nightsisters or at least knew that they used to exist, but she didn't enjoy volunteering that information. There were so few of them left that even though she'd left, she didn't want to put them at risk.

I didn't come to the Sith until more recently, she said. Some people may have seen that as a disadvantage, but she didn't. There was information she had missed out on but there was other knowledge she brought with her. It was simply a trade off. @TWD26