The Foundation of Power

[Xornoth Sk'ar]

2100 Galatic Standard Time
Xornoth's Appartment
Lothal

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Xornoth returned to Lothal after losing everything. He lost the duel that would have given him a clear set of purpose and a powerful master to teach him the dark arts of the force. He lost his Kaleesh bone mask that he had crafted all those years ago on Kalee, the one tie in he had held onto from his homeworld. He had utterly and entirely failed his family, his honour lay in ruin and pride with it strewn across the course sands of Korriban. The planet would forever be stained into his mind as a place of failure and would likely torture him until his dying day, which was surely arriving soon. Failure and weakness were to be his swan song and nobody would remember him, although that in of itself could be a good thing he thought as his achievements so far were limited and not worth being remembered.

He sat silently on the balcony ledge peering over and down onto the crowds below, the hustle and bustle of the beachgoers completely oblivious to his pains and emotions, dangling on a knife's edge so close to slipping. The apartment door slightly ajar without a way to lock.

He had sent his goodbyes and thanks to the Sith Lord who had given him an opportunity here on Lothal but elected to send back his rewards that morning, expecting that after Evandrus learned of his failings on Korriban, that he would prefer to be rid of the little weird alien.

He had been broken down and made raw, He would need guidance and direction to set him on a path in the future for great things but most importantly now, he needed a reason to live.

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Evandrus]

Darth Evandrus had been alerted to the presence of Xornoth Sk'ar by the Lothal authorities but he hardly needed them to tell him that - the Sith Lord was the single most powerful Force User on Lothal at any given moment when his wife wasn't on the planet. While she was right now, she was back at the lake-house relaxing and he had been in the tower of the representative of Lothal.

Which was already coming to be known as The Prince's Tower.

Dismissing his Imperial guards, Evandrus made the his way up to the apartment that he had gifted the Sith warrior with upon his ascension to Prince of Lothal. He pushed the door open easily and closed it behind him, stepping into the apartment and glancing around. He had received the messages and the keys from Xornoth but he didn't much care for them. Clad in his armour still, Evandrus stepped out onto the balcony and glanced at Xornoth.

Looking at the warrior, Evandrus reached up and removed his helmet, setting it aside as he sat down on the edge of the balcony ledge a little bit further down from Xornoth. For a moment, he didn't say anything. He just let the silence stretch as he too looked down at the crowds below and the sights of the planet just going about it's business. Glancing at the other warrior after a long moment, Evandrus spoke at last.

"I heard what happened on Korriban."

There was no need to expand on that bit.

"And I'm here to tell you that your rewards are still yours and that I don't accept you returning them to me." he told the other warrior bluntly, "Tell me Xornoth Sk'ar - are you a Sith Warrior or are you a Kaleesh Warrior?"

Because there was a difference and Xornoth needed to see it - he needed to accept that he was one or the other.

@Xorism

 

[Xornoth Sk'ar]

The force was a magic thing to experience and for that, it was a blessing and a curse. Unbridled curiosity and matching passion could take one anywhere they so desired, or take anyone.

Even for the relatively less trained Xornoth, one could feel the bright aura of another force sensitive approach if the other wanted it so. The presence appeared to him from afar and touched out to him to instill calmness and compassion. He could feel the Prince coming, as the latter ensured that he would. Sitting together in silence they both were forced mute by the predicament for a long moment until the words he most feared were uttered.

Unbearable shame flooded within him and he lowered his head away, not making eye contact. His question stung like taking a blade to the heart as he was being torn asunder between both fibers of himself, all that he knew laid bare and exposed. To choose alone would be the surrender of the other and that was something he had hoped to avoid when he joined the exiles so long ago.

"I am neither, I have failed my kind and have thrown away what honour I held, most dear of my people. I have failed to prove myself worthy of being called Sith and must forfeit my life. Surely only Death shall be my master now, I can only wish that you forgive me for bringing such shame upon you, for surely you rue the trust placed in me."

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Evandrus]

The shame was palpable...

It filled the air between the two men like a fog and, to be honest, it kind of annoyed him. The Xornoth Sk'ar he had brought with him to fight slavers and abominations was not this same Sith in front of him. This Sith was full of pity and self-loathing and resentment of others - all of which could be useful if the damned man weren't quite so intent on never using any of it. Hells, the man looked like he was about ready to throw himself off the balcony at this stage.

Sighing, Evandrus thought about it for a moment before shaking his head,

"You're trying too hard." he joked with a roll of his eyes, "Being a Sith? It's easy. There is no honour, there is no code, there is nothing you need to 'live up to' save the Will of two people! The Empress and your Master."

Reaching out in the Force, Evandrus grabbed Xornoth around the throat and squeezed. Using the grip he had on the other warrior's throat, he moved him, leaving him suspended in mid-air over the street by his grip on the warrior's throat alone. He tilted his head to the side slightly,

"Your Empress isn't done with you yet." he declared bluntly, "And who is your Master? Who has TOLD you that you get to have something as easy as Death? No... no."

Pulling Xornoth back onto the balcony, Evandrus would deposit the Kaleesh warrior onto the floor before standing and walking over to the warrior. He stared down at the other Sith,

"Death isn't your Master." he narrowed his eyes as he looked down at Xornoth, "I saw something in your when I led you against those slavers and against those abominations... I saw potential. I saw ambition. Was I wrong? Are you happy being where you are right now Xornoth? Are you happy knowing that those who defeated you will go on while you will languish where you are? If that makes you happy then by all means - be a pawn. But if it doesn't... if it drives to fill your with furious anger? STAND UP."

He wasn't smiling. He was staring down heatedly at the warrior.

"Stand up and prove it to yourself... and to me."

@Xorism

 

[Xornoth Sk'ar]

The balance between life and death is sometimes the only thing one can ever truly be their own master over. Other times one will find themselves where their commitments and service revoke the very mastery over their own choices but for this loss, they seldom go unrewarded.

At that moment had Evandrus released his grip and allowed him to fall, he would have been at peace forever without ever realizing his full potential. This man held him exerting the full strength that he might prior to causing harm before returning him to the balcony for the inevitable lecture.

It was true, he was not the same as the Lord had seen serving him earlier. Xornoth had lost control of his inner demons since then and that was definitely unlike him. Pouting gave way to silence once more Evandrus scraped him bare, removing his choices left, right and center.

"No.." he muttered in response, he most certainly was not happy. Vivid images flashed back to the stone arena of Korriban and flickered in ways that he could not have seen himself as if enjoying a bird's eye view of the event that hurt him so. Treachery and dishonorable actions were the themes as he saw his defeat untold at the hands of lesser beings, taking advantage of his honorable attempt to fight. His honor was important to him as a Kaleesh warrior but it seemed to hold him back as a Sith, something he could feel now even if he didn't want to admit that or change. Evandrus beckoned.

Replaying the last memory, again and again, he recalled Nicely done, Raith. You have done well. Silence and self-loathing was replaced with anger swelling within him. You two can report to the temple and start your lessons with someone else. I'm not going to further waste time on losers.

losers

Could a loser defeat a Sith warrior in melee combat? Could a loser stand toe to toe with heavily armored slavers and make them flee in fear at the mere sight of him? Could a loser stand side by side with a Sith Lord and destroy the strongest Jedi abominations? he began to shake and effect the objects in his surrounding likewise.

"No." he startled himself as he uttered the word out loud ending the movement. "I am not a loser." now standing before him eyes locked and focus cleared. "I will kill..them."

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Evandrus]

Good.

It seemed that Xornoth was not yet out of spark. The warrior was not yet dead and this man before him was yet still something of a warrior. Cregan would have helped and supported the other warrior back to his best with love and respect and patience and tolerance... but Evandrus was not Cregan Drast anymore. So while there would still be respect and some patience - he expected to have his investment of such things repaid.

The Kaleesh warrior stood in front of him and despite their height difference, it was clear that Evandrus was the 'bigger' man as it were. His presence in the Force was far too strong for it to be otherwise. He looked the Kaleesh warrior in the eyes as he nodded once,

"You stood up." he noted bluntly, "Your courage is not yet spent - your will is not yet crumbled. Good."

He growled in annoyance,

"Not THEM." he declared loudly, his Force presence flashing again, oppressive to someone who could feel it like Xornoth could, "Name them! This is not the place or the time for cowardice Xornoth Sk'ar! So name them! Name your enemies and name those you will defeat! Name them."

Evandrus stepped away from Xornoth, looking out at the city below them for a long moment before glancing back at Xornoth. This warrior was on the edge, but he could be useful.

"Xornoth Sk'ar. Right now you are a warrior without a direction and without a teacher to direct you in the ways of the Force. Would this be an accurate statement?" he demanded of the other warrior before shaking his head, "I could mould you. I could turn you into the scalpel or the hammer that 'They' wanted you to be... but if I wanted people dead there's a million different people on this planet alone who could do the deed. No - I need something more than just a killing instrument. Can you be more than just deadly, Xornoth?"

@Xorism

 

[Xornoth Sk'ar]

Was it for courage that he stood or some other emotional response. The ever-pressing hold erupted from the Sith Lord and compressed him where he stood while demanding he declare out loud who he sought to gain vengeance upon. In a better state of mind, it may have been risky to make such statements that would certainly reach the ears of who you now marked for death.

"I will kill the apprentice Raith for he takes my place and defeated me with treachery. I will kill the Zabrak who yet I do not know his name but I will never forget his face for he destroyed who I was." The words rung, lingering in the air as if the Sith Lord knew he was weighing up the risk of continuing. "I will kill Master Serie for she refused me, abandoned me after I pledged to her. I will prove her wrong and grow more powerful than she could ever dream," he said with relentless conviction.

"I am." he felt his connection to the force weave as the Lord spoke with him. His connection far stronger than Xornoth's but the feeling was of warmth, not fear.

"I have never had the opportunity, my Lord. All my life I have killed and even serving the Empress this has not changed. There is always someone whose death is required."

This man pulled him from the abyss of despair and asked him a question which answers he had not yet considered. One of the most powerful men in the galaxy certainly didn't need a chauffeur or a personal servant. The man could at the snap of his fingers have anyone do anything he so desired and if they refused, he could fix that too. Evandrus offered him a second chance at life and for the first time since arriving back from Korriban, his pain began to diminish.

"If you mold this broken piece of clay, Lord. I shall become whatever it is you desire."

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Evandrus]

Yes.

That was what he wanted from Xornoth - he wanted the Fire, the drive, that he had seen in the young warrior from before. He wanted the fury and the rage! He wanted this warrior from when he was a warrior, not some pathetic, whimpering, mess of a Kaleesh blubbering on about his honour.

Even Cregan had known that honour was useless - Evandrus knew that honour was nothing but a sword to be used against you by those who didn't care.

"Mark those names. Mark them deep into your mind." he commanded the warrior, staring deep into his eyes, "And hold them close - remember your anger, remember your pain. Don't wallow in them - use them! Use them and grow strong enough to strike them down."

He nodded once,

"Only then will you be Sith, not Kaleesh."

Evandrus looked at Xornoth for a long time before nodding,

"I will accept this." he declared bluntly, "I will accept this pledge and you will prove yourself worthy of this pledge being something I uphold and give myself to as well. You see Xornoth... I need men and women of cunning, of intelligence and drive. I am the High Judge of the Sith Empire and the Sith Warriors call me their Master - I don't need another killer. If I wanted that, I'd just develop a plague or something similar."

He pointed at Xornoth,

"You... from you I want something more. Don't show me something that will benefit only you or something that will benefit only men - but show me how you would prove yourself worthy to me... and to the Empire." he smirked faintly, "I require you to show that you are dedicated to this Empire as a whole after all - I'm not like Miss Fond. I'm something of a 'team player'."

@Xorism

 

[Xornoth Sk'ar]

Xornoth turned to look out toward the beach, the horizon before finally settling on the stars above. One warrior on a battlefield was limited to those he could strike, even the strongest Sith could only do so much themselves. True power existed above, in the skies and space itself where one could command legions. The most powerful army in the galaxy lead even by the Warmaster himself would be at the mercy of a powerful fleet in orbit.

Well, the Sith didn't exactly have a powerful fleet yet but that could change.

The word pledge was not one that he wished to hear so soon again but in a manner of speaking he had, hadn't he just then? Perhaps the fear of failure would haunt him forever in ways that he did not yet understand. It didn't matter what he wanted if he continued to serve the Empire. He would be molded as desired by those above him and he would be forced to love it.

Still, Xornoth couldn't leave the Empire, not after all that he had done. He had made his choice to serve yes, his choice alone had put this path before him. He could have chosen to leave or refused orders but he didn't.

He had pledged his honor and life to serve the Empress and her empire, despite what Evandrus thought of the former. She had not dishonored him nor did she force him to serve her against his wishes. Like clockwork, he unraveled a path forward which was one that he could choose to take himself. A path of willing service and mutual benefit where he would help the Empire grow in exchange for the molding provided by Evandrus. Xornoth looked back towards the patient Sith Lord and replied.

"You are but one man, my Lord. You can only be in one place at a time which limits the reach of your power to where you may stand." He stood a matter of factly, hoping to say the right thing and pointed to the starlit sky above.

"Your foundation of power exists up there, but you must nurture it until it blossoms. A judge does not sit among the judged nor does he condemn the innocent but his final Judgement must be obeyed, lest his Judgment cascade from the heavens to sate his wrath."

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Evandrus]

Evandrus waited.

He was a patient man in many ways and one of the ways he was going to be patient today was that he wasn't going to rush Xornoth, even though it probably could have done the other warrior some good to have someone take the control from him. But it would only be good in the short term to be honest. It was the old saying from... somewhere, he didn't quite remember but he remembered the saying and it applied here he thought.

Give a man a fish and he would eat for a day.

Teach a man to fish and he would eat for a lifetime.

By that logic, there was no use in taking full control over the direction Xornoth took in his life - that would just not work out well at all. He would be useful but he would be like a lightsaber, he would constantly need to be wielded, to be actively used by Evandrus and that was something he found himself just not having time for. Besides, Xornoth would be so much more effective as a disciple if he followed him of his own will and added both his strength and his cunning to his own.

He raised an eyebrow but listened as Xornoth spoke, laying out a 'problem' and then explaining a way for him to assist with fixing said problem. Evandrus rather liked that - a man who could point out an issue but didn't do so until he knew that he had to do to fix the situation as he saw it.

"You would have me form my own fleet to safeguard my interests on Lothal?" he asked with a raised eyebrow before nodding a little bit, "I could see a section of the Imperial Navy being assigned as a permanent protection detail for Lothal should it's prominence rise enough."

He smiled a little bit at the other Sith,

"See? This I like." he admitted with an open chuckle, "This is what a Sith is, Xornoth. A Sith can be a warrior, can be an assassin or a spy... but what a Sith never is, is simple. Don't let you be defined by only your ability to take life by your blade or your Force - be defined by everything that you can bring to the Empire. Your wit, your cunning, your brutality, your skill... ALL will be needed and all will be appreciated. Now!"

Evandrus gestured above,

"I have a corvette here. What else would you suggest?"

@Xorism

 

[Xornoth Sk'ar]

Xornoth nodded at Evandrus' rhetorical question firmly. Listening intently to what the Sith Lord had to say in response before he would continue.

"A Corvette is leagues above what other worlds possess and a symbol of your might yet it is not quite enough. Against a determined foe who could bring more than one, you would be overwhelmed by more numerous opponents who may bring their own starfighters or other larger ships."

"An Imperial Navy? yes. One that spans the galaxy with its reach and strength unmatched. Lothal is your crown and her fleet the crown jewel. If your interests only lie with defending the mines of Lothal then a smaller less costly fleet is what you would require but if you dream of the stars like I do, you will need so much more."

Xornoth by now had taken his seat with the Sith Lord and beckoned him to do the same, a rush of excitement had filled his face at the prospect of wanting to be more useful outside of using a blade as the Lord had said. Where this would take him he did not know, but if this man would trust in him enough to see where his full potential lay, then why shouldn't he himself?

"Tell me, my Lord, if your Corvette came under attack by starfighters would it be able to destroy them? If your fleet came under attack over Lothal then, by all means. You could build endless wings of your own to defend the planet but they cannot travel on their own with the fleet. If you wish to be able to project your will against other worlds, you will need a ship large enough to hold squadrons of your own fighters to bring into battle. Do you know if such a ship yet exists?"

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Evandrus]

A corvette was a massive asset to a planet but he understood what Xornoth was saying - it wasn't going to be enough to protect his interests here against a well supplied, well equipped, foe and that was rather irritating it had to be said. Thankfully there weren't exactly too many foes who would come after him with that level of firepower... there were those who had it, naturally, but they would need to have a very good reason to attack Lothal itself and right now the little planet hadn't given them much in the way of a reason to strike at it.

But the future was often dark and full of terrors - better prepared than left defenceless.

"Indeed - the Navy shall be an impressive beast once it has enough resources to be declared as such." he admitted with a small frown, "Currently we have a mighty armada but it is not yet a Navy... but that will change, in time. Until it does, we can create defences for my world here that will discourage attacks."

He raised an eyebrow at the idea that Xornoth thought he could beckon and he would follow... but he would allow it on this occasion as the warrior clearly meant nothing by it and it was, instead, a sign of the man's enthusiasm. He raised an eyebrow before shrugging slightly,

"I know of a ship similar to what you are proposing - it is a carrier primarily used for civilian operations but was often used during the War as a light carrier." he admitted, "You believe we need to diversify the fleet assets? I would be inclined to agree - the Sith Empire could dominate the skies of worlds we are attacking had we just the fighters and the bombers that we could take with us... I can see the value of your idea, Xornoth."

Evandrus fixed the Sith warrior with an unflinching gaze,

"How do you propose we proceed, Xornoth?" he asked the other man bluntly, "You have presented me with a goal - I agree with the goal. Now we must decide on the steps to reach said goal. Impress me, Xornoth Sk'ar."

@Xorism

 

[Xornoth Sk'ar]

Affirmation of his question and the answer was a soothing lotion for his woes and he continued to listen. A ship they did not possess nor could they currently build would be needed. If it was in a reasonable condition then perhaps they could engineer some kind of conversion to a more practical military use.

"Well..first you would need to search for an appropriate system that may have one in use say somewhere that has current or past heavy mining operations. Then you would want to recon it and steal this ship you speak of and preferably get away without any witnesses. Then the matter simply becomes finding the right talent to complete the engineering work to re-fit the ship for your purposes."

"Imagine commanding one of the only vessels that can deploy swarms of starfighters and have an unlimited reach to do so."

Taking a pause between statements, he continued.

"Assuming it goes well, you would have one of the few if not the only ship in the galaxy that could accomplish such a feat. This would bring both admiration and envy, however. This weapon would greatly increase your standing amongst the other Sith Lords, I suspect. Does this meet your requirements, my Master?."

"Sorry, my Lord."

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Evandrus]

Yes, he could definitely see the benefits to having a carrier at his command. Even if he ended up having it working for Kravos a lot of the time, it would still be a boon to the Empire and it would be something that he would be responsible for. Something that he would very much like to be using when they eventually went to war with an enemy worth their salt it had to be said - Evandrus would be commanding ground forces after all so he would very much prefer it if they had some bomber and fighter support while they were on the ground.

Some of the ships the armada had were capable of fielding fighters but other than one very specific ship their numbers were very limited in terms of what they could put out.

"One of the few." he acknowledged simply, implying the existence of ships that could field fighters but not outright stating it since some of them were best left unspoken about currently, "It will be very useful when we go on campaign and, make no mistake Xornoth, we will have a war soon. Not these planet-hopping takeovers... war is coming and it will be colossal and it will truly separate those ready to be Sith and those who are not."

Staring at Xornoth for a moment, Evandrus spoke again,

"You were wise to adjust your address." he declared bluntly, "Very wise."

Looking the other Sith Warrior up and down for a moment, he nodded once,

"Do this in my name? Succeed in my name?" he stared the other warrior in the eyes, "And you will be welcome as my disciple. And I will be your Master."

@Xorism