Ask Hoth The Sixth of Swords

[Amun Seti]

Amun stared at the ancient durasteel ger'kaj card lying face up on the table in front of him. The mild turbulence of the Whisper's Deliverance as it descended into Hoth's atmosphere made the card shift slightly where it sat, but did nothing to change what premonition the card brought to the young Sith's mind. In truth it was foolishness, to put any sort of significance on a card drawn. He had won the ancient deck off a Mandalorian gambling, in one of the illicit dens of scum and villainy on Omega station, years ago. It had called to him and when he won it it had nearly cost him his life. The past did nothing to change what lay in front of him.

The six of swords. It's intricately detailed artwork chiseled into the metal card depicted an armored warrior, pushing off on a new journey aboard a small wooden boat... Six swords stood up, their ends driven down into the floor of the boat. Two cloaked figures sat huddled upon the deck of the small boat, and while two of the swords weren't explicitly driven down into the tops of their heads, it could easily be seen that way. Amun glanced over at the pair of shackled humans that were sleeping dreamlessly across the small room of the ship. He shook his head and looked back down on the card. It was the third time he had drawn the same card, the first of which was when he had made the decision to embark on this new and perilous journey.

Amun placed the card back in it's home with the rest of the deck, still pondering it's meaning as he crossed to the small refresher to splash some water on his face. Transition. Change. Passage. These were the things that echoed of the card in his mind as he turned his eyes to the mirror there. His eyes roamed the face that stared back at him, the dark hair framing silver eyes and pale white skin. Sacrifice. The thought echoed in his mind as he glanced back at the pair of captives. He was still staring in the mirror when the ship settled down, trying to recognize the face that stared back. It had haunted him, still haunted him, since that day on Coruscant.

He still felt the eyes on him as he turned from the mirror and approached the pair of shackled and sleeping prisoners. He looked down on them, ripple of revulsion and guilt passing through him for a moment before it was stifled with a clenched fist. His back itched at the weakness he had felt, still felt, still needed to drive out of himself through penitence and pain. He reached out towards them after a moment, closing his eyes and gently prodding them with his mind. They awoke with a start. A pair of force sensitive siblings that he had picked up from the lower levels of the Omega station. They showed little promise, but Amun had little else to give to the lord of the castle that the pair of force sensitives that he had had eyes on these last few years.

"Follow." His voice came out cold and distant as he bade the pair to rise. A slight frown twitched onto his lip as the younger one cowered in fear, the elder putting on a tough face and moving to try to put himself between Amun and his sister. The tough look faded quickly however as Amun clenched his fist once more, a sputtering sound echoing from the offering's constricting throat for a moment before he lay back, gasping as Amun released his hold.

"Follow." He repeated, the hardened look on his face and icy tone of his voice let the pair know that they would be in for much worse if they did not do as he commanded. They did as they were told as Amun proceeded down the boarding ramp and out into the cold of Hoth. He wore a simple black robe and the cold bit fiercely, but he did not quail before the weather, instead breathing deliberately and calling upon the power of the force to raise the temperature of his body as he approached the castle, crossing the long bridge leading to its gate. The siblings behind him did not have such protections and they were quick on his heels to seek protection from the elements within the walls of Castle Raze.

@Sreeya

 

[The Storyteller]

By now, the fortress was accustomed to receiving visitors of all kinds. Many showed up with nothing to offer, and were subsequently eaten. Others showed with nothing but offered unquestionable obedience. The transformation to an exalted was always easier when the subject was willing and that was a rare find.

As the Sith approached, he would be greeted by a beautiful woman clad in armor that appeared royal. She was one of the fortress guards, her icy gaze studying the boy that arrived at the bridge that led to the fortress. She had a Sith blade at her hip fashioned by her Lord.

“You have come a long way to die,” She said harshly, her eyes narrowing, “Why should my master do anything but feast upon your pretty little face?” The woman barked, a cruel grin gracing her face.

@Arcangel

 

[Amun Seti]

The approach to the fortress was not a path treaded lightly. The snow covered bridge of cold stone offered no safety and the wind whipped past Amun's face as he walked that path, black hood clinging to the side of his face. He was in no hurry but strode towards the guarded gate with a wary confidence, one that was only skin deep. The captives behind him huddled together, walking in his wake as they shivered against the cold. He could feel the fear and pain radiating off of them now, warming and sickening him at the same time.

A royally armored woman awaited Amun, offering him harsh words and a cruel look. He surveyed her for a moment as she spoke, noting the dark aura of the blade at her hip. His own eyes narrowed against hers, stinging from the wind. He shuttered the fear he felt and thought quickly.

"I bring an offering for your master." He gestured to the two force sensitives who shivered behind him. "Two beings against my one." He continued as he gestured back to himself. There it was again, the feeling of revulsion at his own words. Amun felt no care for the duo whom he offered and the feeling puzzled him as it welled up from somewhere deep within his psyche. He brushed it off quickly, now was not the time to rationalize his own weakness as he bargained for his own life.

"Why your master should do anything is far beyond my station," He continued diplomatically, swallowing down his apprehension as he gambled with his words, "I have come to offer my service, in whatever way pleases the master." He said, letting the dice roll against the fates. Perhaps it would please Lord Raze to have three meals instead of two... At least then Amun would spend no more time staring into the mirror wondering where his face had gone. He had done much to survive since the ousting of the Sith, and still would. This was just another play of that game. He had seen the tides turning, and it was Raze who was steering the ship.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Raze]

The woman regarded the siblings that stood shivering behind Amun. The male was seething with rage, but he said nothing. The girl was still quietly sniffling and in tears. They could both sense the darkness that existed here and it was almost oppressive. The Hapan guard stared at the trio for a few moments, a smirk appearing on her face, “Very well,” She said as she stepped aside. Her Master always had creative ideas whenever visitors appeared, and she wondered if he would simply eat all of them.

The journey across the bridge was uneventful, the chilling winds powerful and biting to the skin. Several more guards were stationed near the large, ornate doors. The massive doors began to open. All three visitors would feel an unsettling feeling at the pits of their stomach, that sense of trepidation before walking into assured demise. The girl began to sob uncontrollably, clinging to her brother as she was marched towards the doors.

Eventually they would all spot him - the figure with porcelain skin, crimson eyes and a bearing as if carved from marble. He carried himself with deadly grace; the intense power of stillness he possessed, which nevertheless conveyed the impression of a vicious beast in an exquisitely civilized body. He could understand all three of them before they arrived at his door.

Crimson eyes studied Amun first, lingering on the silver eyes for a very long time. He had silver eyes once and gazing into such features briefly felt like gazing into a mirror. This wasn’t the first pretty male to arrive at his gate recently, he mused. His eyes then fixed on the siblings standing behind Amun. Gifts. Amun had brought them here for the Anzat’s feast. And they were Force sensitive.

They were brought here by force, dragged against their will. It was just the type of thing the Dark Lord of the Sith would have commended. Raze silently surveyed the situation. Instead of Amun, his eyes fixed on the male Force sensitive prisoner.

“You are not permitted to leave this place. However, you are now the master and owner of this man,” Raze said smoothly, pointing to Amun, “What will his fate be?” He asked calmly. His lips began to tug towards a grin, “Remember - death is often a kind mercy.”

There were so many things far worse than death. What would the boy choose?

@Arcangel

 

[Amun Seti]

There was a brief moment of tensions as the woman regarded Amun's offerings. The Sith waited, refusing to let the tension eat away at him even as the wind's chill began to bite deeper even against his warmth. With a smirk, the guard let them in. A knot of anxiety formed in Amun's gut before he willed it away with a scowl. He would be foolish to not be afraid, but a greater fool to allow his fear to command him.

There was much further to go before they found safety from the cold within the large ornate doors to the castle. However, as they stepped out of the cold and into the castle walls, there was no sense of safety to be had. Instead, a feeling grew within the pit of Amun's stomach, one that latched on to that still lingering anxiety and stoked it. The feeling of diving head first into the maw of a sarlacc to escape exposure to the elements. The girl behind Amun began to sob uncontrollably and Amun gritted his teeth against the noise, resisting the urge to turn around and berate her.

It wasn't long before they came before the beast himself. There was no turning his eyes from the man, if he could even be called a man. His skin was smooth, complexion carved, an image of exquisitely crafted perfection. His preternatural beauty did nothing to hide the monster that seemed to linger just below the surface, a ravenous beast that only restrained itself from pouncing out of serene amusement as his eyes studied the trio.

Amun flinched as the crimson eyes met his, lingering there for much longer than they should. He did not turn away however as Darth Raze examined his eyes. Fear and revulsion clawed at the pit of his stomach, threatening to rise up into despair, but Amun held those emotions at arms length, detaching himself from them as he knelt before Darth Raze. The overlong attention was overwhelming and Amun had to hold in a sigh of relief as Raze moved his gaze on to the offerings.

There was no hiding the surprise at Darth Raze's next words however, and Amun glanced up at for a sliver of a second in shock before glancing sidelong at the boy who Raze had just decreed his master. He remained kneeling before the Sith Lord. Whatever punishment the boy decided to dole out to him... would be lesser than whatever Raze might do to Amun if he went against the Dark Lord's will.

The boy seemed more shocked than Amun, but he took it in stride after a few brief moments of overcoming the surprise. His heart was clenched with hatred towards the man who had taken him and his sister from the slums that they had called home. He looked at his sobbing sister who was still overcome with fear, tears streaming down her face. He clenched and unclenched his fists in rage as he turned his attention back to Amun, seeing how the man's silver eyes meeting his as he remained kneeling.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Raze]

The boy was completely shocked at the turn of events, but he had no intentions of wasting this opportunity. All his life he and his sister had been nobodies, left with nothing, and now forced into the whims of this bastard that dragged them all the way out here. The Anzat made it clear he couldn’t leave, so he had to make do with the situation.

“I want him to wear a collar and be nothing more than the dog he is,” The boy spat, hatred bleeding into his tone. He didn’t even realize how much he was playing right into darkness right then, “He will eat and drink out of bowls I set on the ground. He will keep up wherever we stay and..” He paused, glaring at the Sith, “He will teach me how to utilize the Force like he does.”

Raze’s face did not betray it, but the last request was a curious and delicious turn of events. He almost admired this fiery boy that still had yet to understand the abilities he had. The wraith nodded and turned to regard the boy, “Consider it done. You will be given quarters here. Amun will tend to your needs and upkeep and he will train you when you wish it.”

The Anzat gazed at the boy for a moment longer, “I will take her,” He stated flatly. Before the girl could even make a sound, she was bodily tugged towards Raze and forced down to her knees like an obedient servant. The boy began to protest but Raze gave him a searing look.

“Nobody wins here but I, insect,” He said icily, a cruel grin slowly appearing on his face. With that, he grabbed the girl by the hair and turned on his heel, dragging her bodily into the fortress. The two men would be escorted away by one of the Hapan guards to a different section of the fortress.

@Arcangel

 

[Amun Seti]

As the boy that Amun had brought to Lord Raze as an offering spoke his sentence, the kneeling Sith gritted his teeth, biting back his words of protest. As you will it Lord Raze. He thought instead as he killed the defiance in it's cradle. He had come to serve the Sith Lord and serve he would, just not in the way he might have thought. Truly the sadism of Darth Raze knew no bounds. But if it was a dog Raze wanted, Amun would show him just how good of a dog he was.

You deserve this you wretch.

There it was again. The echo of a thought that didn't seem to be quite his own, rising up from deep within him. It was of no consequence though, at least not now, as Amun felt the cold weight of a collar snap around his neck. He couldn't help the sliver of a smirk and silent cruel delight that shined in his eyes as Lord Raze declared that he would take the boy's sister, shutting down Amun's new 'master' with a chilling declaration.

"Nobody wins here but I, insect."

The rage and hatred the boy had felt towards Amun cooled into a frozen fear for a moment as he watched Darth Raze drag his sister away and out of sight. There was a delicious irony to it that Amun couldn't help but appreciate. To give hope with one hand, and then snatch it away so viciously in the next moment with the other. If only Amun hadn't been on the receiving end of the man's cruel humor.

"Get up dog." The boy snapped at Amun as they were led away, letting his fear turn once again to anger at the only target which he could take it out on. Amun suppressed a sigh and stood, following silently as the guards led them to another wing of the castle. He stood straight and walked calmly behind the boy as the gears in his mind turned. He would bide his time and play Raze's game. If the boy wished him to debase himself and eat from the floor, he had already once purged himself of pride. If he wished to be trained, then Amun would train him as he had been trained…

The boy would not enjoy it.

Amun would need to request a few things for his new 'master's' training. He had specified to be trained like he was, or at least that was how Amun had interpreted it. If he were to learn as Amun, he too would need to purge himself of the abounding weakness that lay in the boys spirit, through pain and penitence. He would need to forget his sister, left in the clutches of Darth Raze, to focus on his own power. A small smirk on Amun's face as he followed, only to be wiped away in an instant at another thought.

You disgust me.

The words echoed in Amun's head as he passed a reflective surface and his eyes caught movement in his reflection that did not match his own. He snapped his head to look at the reflective surface. He knew that face, saw it for a split second as the words lingered in his mind. And then it was gone and once again the mask that he wore returned, so alike to his own face, so alike to the other. But neither. But it couldn't be, he couldn't have seen that face there. Here, now, in Raze's castle. He couldn't have seen that face, because she was dead. He had killed her himself.

@Sreeya