Ask Two Sith And A Politician

[Drane T'keen]

Spoiler: Music IC

A simple man, he sat alone, if not lonely, with an empty stool on either side. Music drifted from overhead; strum and twang of guitar and drums on par. Viewscreen above. Some ball game, and he didn’t care about the teams, wasn’t invested as he sipped his drink. Red wine, as fine of Merlot as this spaceport cantina could boast on the planet of Alland.

He checked the time. Should be meeting me any minute. Drane T’keen, a Sith Champion, waited for the arrival of his companion. That man, while less in tune with his lightsaber, had been tuned to the movements of a politician wherein politics was more the Force-user’s side of business. The blade was Drane's.

And what treasure have you uncovered, Mr. Atelwick? Their target’s name, that politician, who was not present in this establishment, neither at port, but the pair of Sith would find him once they rendezvoused and moved forth.

“How is it?” The bartender asked the Thyrsian, glancing at his black leather jacket, golden lining, then into his eyes, pupils black as night, irises gold as sunlight. If dying. Bittersweet, easy-drinking tannin, fruity, with hints of blackberry and raspberry. “Delicious.”

He swiveled the red liquid in its glass as she grinned back, walking away to deal with another patron. That moment, a player in the game just had some rival crash into his face. “Down and out for the count,” Drane raised his glass to the viewscreen, as if to celebrate defeat as much as victory.

His ship, Darkstar, was in a hangar not far, and unless needed would remain there for the duration of this mission: Find the politician, get him to spill his secrets, and kill him if it was the name of the game. For now, Drane would wait, winding down time with his wine.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Caerllion stopped in front of the cantina that his partner for this mission had chosen as their meeting place. It was different from the establishments that he was used to seeing in the Outer Rim, being more clean and visited by respectful people. Without any doubt what someone would expect from a Core World like Alland.

Much of its clients were tourists or travelers that arrived at the spaceport where it was located. The Annfyn’s ship was in a hangar of this same spaceport, waiting for him to finish his business on this planet. He hoped that everything would happen without problems, but was prepared to deal with possible complications.

After all, he never worked with Champion Drane T’keen and couldn’t vow for his competence.

Inside the cantina, Caerllion found the Thyrsian waiting for him near the bar. He walked toward him and sat in an empty stool next to him. “Good evening.” he said, before asking a drink from the barman. “I hope that I didn’t make you wait for so long. I ended up stopping to read the documents that you sent to me.” he wanted to be prepared to deal with that politician. “How are you going?”

@Die Shize

 

[Drane T'keen]

Spoiler: Music IC (Recurring)

Wait. Drane knew this song. Had almost forgotten it. Then the lyrics slipped into his head. 'Mama told me when I was young: "Come sit beside me, my only son.” ' His mother had done no less before her son had become a warrior of the red sun. He remembered as much as he took another sip.

Sensed a presence, not familiar, had never met him until this moment. There they were: a Thyrsian and an Annfyn. The latter gave a greeting and, indeed, Drane T’keen and Caerllion would both be having a good evening when it came to what opportunity would bring.

“Not long at all,” Drane assured. “I am quite sublime.” He didn’t lie but he did exaggerate a bit. “Ah, yes, the documents.” He looked into the inside of his wine as though the nectar was treasure. 'Forget your lust for the rich man's gold. All that you need is in your soul.'

“The gist of which is our Human politician, Vare Atelwick, is here on Alland to gather support for an expedition in search of an artifact.” He sipped. “Or so rumor has it.”

Exploration could be anybody’s business. Apparently Vare had a penchant for relics. “An amulet, a bracelet, whatever trinket, and it just might be imbued in the Force.” The documents were, unfortunately, limited in this supposed discovery. “Jedi. Sith. This order or that one. We will find it and we will take it one way or the other.”

'And be a simple kind of man. Oh, be something you love and understand. Baby, be a simple kind of man. Oh, won't you do this for me son, if you can?' Drane T’keen can, as much as can’t. Politics were too complex for him. An object that might enhance his strength? That remained to be seen.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

”Good.” Caerllion said, while wondering how someone could be going sublime. Even him being a prince, the Annfyn wouldn’t describe his days this way. Perhaps good or excellent, but never sublime. He wanted to know how Drane’s life was, so he could replicate it.

Who didn’t want to have a sublime day?

“Yes. It would be good to have a new artifact added to the Sith Order. However, didn’t you think that would be interesting if we turned this politician in our ally?” at this moment, the bartender returned with his drink. Once the man went away, the Annfyn continued with his explanation.

“Vare Atelwick is running for governor of Alland in the next elections. Perhaps he could use some of our help to secure his election.” Caerllion had made his own search about the politician and he was an ambitious type. A perfect ally for the Sith Order.

“This world has shipyards that can be useful for us and we would have an ally in the Core. Don’t you think that this is a good opportunity?” he smiled at the Thyrsian, before sipping some of the liquid in his glass. It was the same wine that Drane had been drinking. The Champion couldn’t avoid thinking that it was pretty good.

His companion had a good taste.

@Die Shize

 

[Drane T'keen]

Spoiler: Music IC

Drane could not help but smile back at his companion’s language. “See, that is indeed why your expertise is needed.”

The Sith had options. They could ultimately assassinate Atlewick if it came to it, if he proved to be an enemy, but a friend sounded no less excellent. Drane had his blade and Caerllion had a different weapon perhaps more effective for that politician.

“From what I have personally learned of Mr. Atlewick, he is a bit indifferent in the game of politics, potentially unfazed by the names of Jedi or Sith and what is or isn't scrupulous. Maybe we can use that to our advantage.”

Evidently the two men were already something of one mind, including their shared taste for red wine.

“I doubt that Vare is going to be surrounded by supporters trained in the ways of the Force. He just might leap at the opportunity to bring along two Sith to find this artifact, especially if we can procure him that election in turn.”

Of which, playing the role of violence or conversation, they were both of the dark side, with separate skill sets to be combined into one weapon. That would soon prove to be both men's true strength for this mission.

"Hmm." A tad distracted, Drane's gaze rediscovered the bartender's pretty face. She stared back but was too distant to listen to the conversation.

"Perhaps our best bet is to catch Mr. Atelwick alone for a private chat. In his office? Or somewhere less obvious?" At a shopping mall for all Drane could say but he would listen to Caerllion's opinion for this.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Caerllion sipped more of his wine while Drane talked. The Thyrsian was more subtle with his plans than he had expected. He had thought that the other Sith would immediately propose for them to kill Atelwick and steal the artifact. The Annfyn was satisfied with it.

Better work with someone that has a brain rather than a pile of muscles that couldn’t see when a target could be more useful alive.

“I agree. However, we shouldn’t show ourselves as…” he looked at the bartender, not wanting to declare that they were Sith in front of a stranger. The Annfyn wasn’t as bolder as Drane. “you know. If we decide to do it, using masks or fake identities would be better.” his armor was inside his ship. He could easily put it for this mission.

“Catching him elsewhere will be better. It’ll attract less attention.” there could be witnesses at his office that could see the two Sith talking with the man. “We still need to conceal our identities. During these times we need to be extra careful.” he drank what remained from the wine inside his glass, before placing it over the table.

“I heard that Atelwick is going to have a rally today. It would be a perfect opportunity to approach him. I have my ways of dealing with any security that he has.” his magick would be useful for that. “I believe that we already have a plan.”

@Die Shize

 

[Drane T'keen]

Drane considered his partner’s words. Infiltrating a building was one way to gain an audience with their target, certainly something that came as a standard for the Thyrsian, but why bother with that when they could walk up to this man in public without being pegged for Sith?

On his end, however, nobody really knew Drane. His companion, well, wasn’t he a prince? It did make sense for him to want to cover up with more than a black hood in that case. “Agreed. I don’t always dress in black leather pants, at least.”

He had armor inside his ship if the occasion called for it. “A rally sounds pretty public, and therefore perfect, I daresay.” He lifted his glass at that with a grin. “To the plan and to the dance!” Or the game, one could say, and Drane did realize his companion’s glass was already empty.

With that, the Thyrsian finished his drink, the two concluded business, Drane paid the tab, exchanged a flirtatious gaze with the bartender and then the two men made to leave, eventually heading into the city.

Vare Atelwick’s rally took place in an open square outside a grand museum, close to roads and definitely outfitted with plenty of foot traffic.

There were already others in armor, Atlewick’s personal security amid local police, but the Sith had a plan, four good hands, and one of them had more than magic tricks up his sleeves.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Caerllion raised an eyebrow, a playful grin forming on his lips. “While I like leather pants, I don’t believe that it'd be the place for them.” they needed something that would hide their appearances more than such clothes. Armors and masks would be perfect for that.

“I think that you are a bit late for that.” he smirked, while looking at Drane's raised glass. The Annfyn had finished his wine some time ago, but the Thyrsian only noticed it now. It made Caerllion conclude that his fellow Champion had a bit of a distracted mind, easily getting lost with his surroundings.

He hoped that it wasn’t going to be a problem during the rest of the mission.

With their plan settled, the two Sith left the cantina. Caerllion was willing to pay for the wine that he drank, but Drane was faster than him. He wasn’t going to complain about it, free drinks were always welcome.

They walked toward Atelwick’s rally. It was going to happen in a nearby square, which was very wooded. It gave them the opportunity of finding places to hide. The Sith could even put their armors here without being disturbed. Now they only needed to approach Vare without being seen.

While they watched the Politician from a safe distance, the two would be able to see him entering a tent, probably where he was preparing to make the speech. The entrance was guarded by two guards. “I think that this is our best chance. Should we go now?”

@Die Shize

 

[Drane T'keen]

More of a figure of speech that Drane didn’t wear the same outfit all the time, there was absolutely nothing unusual about donning leather pants with armor and he did just that with a helmet for a mask.

Approaching the square outside the museum in the city streets with its garden-woodland-area-place, the pair of disguised Sith would appear to be anyone but Sith from a distance.

As much as Drane had purposely raised a toast of wine for himself while knowing his drinking companion’s glass was empty, he was just as much aware of this rally’s surroundings. He had the Force to help with that but also his own experience.

He liked to fight but he was also accustomed to a different kind of 'cloak' beyond Sith robes. Ready to carefully approach, there were two guards at the tent and a few on patrol further away.

“Unless you want to wait for one of them to relieve his bladder.” He wasn’t actually prompting an answer from his partner but whatever.

“You said you have your ways of dealing with the security,” Drane recalled for their approach. “By all means, lead the way. Otherwise Force persuasion on Tweedle Dum and Dee should see us through the gate.”

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

The Annfyn looked at Drane out of the corner of his eyes, but due to his helmet the other Sith weren't going to notice it. He wasn’t amused with his comment, but said nothing. Caerllion preferred to focus on the mission that they had ahead of them, rather than arguing about a childish comment.

He rolled his eyes with the Thyrsian’s apparent disinterest for the mission. At first he thought that the other man had the attention span of a puppy, but now Caerllion was thinking that the other was doing it on purpose. This was making the Annfyn become annoyed. If Drane was an Acolyte, he would have taught him a lesson.

“Already on it.” Caerllion stretched his arms and opened his hands toward the bodyguards. He closed his eyes and focused the Force in his targets’ minds. Since they were non-Force users, it wasn’t difficult for him to subdue their thoughts and confuse their senses. The Annfyn murmured a spell, before finally opening his eyes.

“We can go now. They’ll not see us coming.” the Annfyn said, while leaving their hiding place. He passed by the bodyguards, who didn’t address his presence. Inside the tent, Atelwick would be alone.

@Die Shize

 

[Drane T'keen]

Spoiler: Music OOC

Drane patiently waited while his counterpart stretched his arms and worked his art on the bodyguards. Moments later, Caerllion expressed that his performance was at an end and assured his partner they would not be seen.

Guess I’ll have to take his word for it. Drane blinked. It wasn’t a caustic thought by any means. He was an overall cordial person even for a Sith. Unfortunately, words could be misinterpreted, spoken or narrated, but that was another story not for this mission at present.

Following beside his companion, both men approached those guards who didn’t so much as tilt their heads in their direction. “Hmm. Impressive.” Drane meant it. A moment later and they headed into the tent.

The tent itself was of some off white fabric on the outside that made it stand out against the brown and green of its wood environment. Inside things were a little more colorful. Burgundy settee. Mahogany table. Gray marble vase. A statue of a Besalisk?

The Sith looked away and at a man standing with his back to the tent’s entrance, at the other end of it, facing the cloth wall as though it was his audience.

“Firstly, I would like to compliment you fine citizens of this city, this planet, for your taste in architecture— and in your women.” He snickered to himself. “Oh if only I could say that. Ahem. It is in turn with great delight— or should I say superb—”

“How about sublime?” Drane offered.

“Hm, yes, I suppose that would work— OH MY!”

More of a raised voice than a shout to alert with loud noise as the man turned around to face a pair of helmets. “Who-Who are you!? How did you get in here!?”

“I am Chaos. This is Mayhem.” This was the part that his counterpart would accuse him of not taking this mission seriously but this was just Drane’s nature. He was no stick in the mud by any means and had to have a bit of fun at least to begin with. “And we came through the tent’s entrance.”

Vare Atelwick looked between one figure and the other. “What do you want!?” To Drane. “Where are my guards!?” Caerllion in turn.

You may take over.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

"Thank you." Caerllion said, taking the Thyrsian's comment as a compliment. However, it was true. His abilities with the Force were really impressive and he was polishing them even more in the past months. It was becoming easy for him to manipulate and confuse weak minded individuals.

Inside the tent, the Politician was distracted reciting his speech. While they weren’t noticed, the Annfyn was able to see their surroundings. The interior was full of fancy furniture and pieces of art. There was even the statue of a Hutt that was so bizarre in the Champion's opinion that he was starting to doubt Atelwick's sanity.

"You really love this word, don’t you?" Caerllion said, while he watched the Politician start to panic. If he didn’t use the Force to confuse the bodyguards' mind enough to make even them completely ignore sounds, the Annfyn was sure that Atelwick's screams would have attracted their attention.

Mayhem. The name wasn’t bad, although he would have preferred to be called Chaos. Anyway, it would be good as a pseudonym for this mission at least. "Calm down, Mr. Atelwick. We aren’t going to harm you." it was still open if they would dispose of the politician, depending totally on him.

"Your guards are fine but they aren’t going to answer you any time soon. We are here to offer our help in both your campaign and in your search for the artifact." Caerllion maintained the fact that the two where Sith in secret, wanting see how tAtelwick would react to this offer first.

@Die Shize

 

[Drane T'keen]

Spoiler: Music OOC

With Mayhem’s speech, Chaos kept quiet, standing nonchalant, no matter his armor. A hand on hip, leaning on it, casually waiting for a moment to speak his piece.

“Phew!” Vare exclaimed (but yet again he didn't raise his voice too loud at least so as to shout or scream and be heard). There was relief on his face that these men had not come to harm him. Yet. “Given your getup, I wondered— wait... My guards aren’t going to answer as in you knocked them unconscious?”

“They’re not sleeping,” Chaos promised. “They’re just…thinking…deeply.”

“Okay.” That made Vare blink. He looked nervous, concerned, naturally, but now more curious than afraid. “You claim you will help me in my campaign and my quest for this artifact. In return for..?”

So the game of thrones begins. “You win this election, you help us in return.” Drane also neglected to mention the Sith Order at first. "When the occasion calls for it."

“A favor for a friend, is it?” Trailing off, Vare poured white wine into a goblet. "Let me guess..." He took a sip, gathered his thoughts. “You’re with some syndicate and this is extortion?”

“Oh, we’re in no criminal organization.” Right?

“Then how can you possibly help me in my campaign for either politics or relics?”

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Vare's short lived relief and subsequent panic was amusing in Caerllion's opinion. The Politician looked like a lost child, one that didn’t understand what was happening around them. The Champion would even say that he looked a bit innocent this way, but the files about the man left it pretty clear that it wasn’t the case.

Caerllion let Drane do most of the conversation, only occasionally giving a bit more input to what his fellow Champion was saying. "We are part of an organization, yes. However, it isn’t criminal." even if the Galaxy thought otherwise, the perception of what the Sith did as being crimes was relative, at least for him. Their actions were made toward a goal: strenght their position so they could bring everything under their command. This way, the Galaxy would have peace.

"Our organization has resources that can be used to support you. We can also help with your rivals. Tell me, isn’t Delayn Truell leading in the election? We could help turn him into a non factor." Caerllion would not offer to kill Vare's rival, it would be too suspicious. Leaking facts that could tarnish the other man's carrier would be far better.

@Die Shize

 

[Drane T'keen]

Spoiler: Music OOC (Recurring)

The question that came Chaos’ and Mayhem’s way was one of an opportunist. However, whether his partner sensed it or not, Drane recognized the face of someone trying to stay clever.

Here was a man, Vare Atelwick, who knew he was cornered, trapped. He tried to keep composed, knowing his guards outside might be dead or alive, by playing the politician, true to his role, and if his ‘guests’ were genuine then all the better for him.

If they weren’t? Then Vare might end up dead. He did what anyone would do in his position, bereft of weapon, using his words and wits to his advantage. Except he didn’t know his guests were Sith.

“Ah, Delayn,” Vare spat. “That man is a damned pain.” He sipped his wine, sucked through his teeth as though it should be delicious but was suddenly stained with a bad name.

“If you could sway the public’s opinion of him so that they favor me, well, you would make my day.” He sounded confident enough, but Drane knew he was putting up a front. A curious creature, if spirited, and gifted in politics.

“We do have our ways. We aren’t politicians but we know enough about these dynamics, this election, and will leave no trace of ensuring success in your campaign.”

Yet Drane sensed some blockade on Vare’s person. He might have been eccentric in his manner and collections, but there was clearly a deeper reason he favored going after a potentially Force-related artifact.

“So you say,” Vare lifted his goblet. “However, words are wind, and so far that is all you have given me.”

He sounded like someone who was ready to capitalize on an opportunity, if only he had more information. Otherwise he might try to raise an alarm for more guards, Drane thought. A fatal move and mistake.

“Now, tell me,” Vare sipped, gulping the fear within. “Who are you?”

Spoiler: Dice Roll Result

Convincing Vare: 12/20

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Caerllion smirked behind his helmet when he saw Vare’s reaction to him mentioning Truell’s name. It was obvious that the Politician despised the man, perhaps even more than the Annfyn thought previously. He was certain that this was going to be useful information for them to exploit.

Talk for yourself, I’m a politician. the Annfyn thought, while his partner talked with Vare. Since he could remember, Caerllion had received training to represent his family in the parliament of his homeworld. Even if nowadays he wasn’t so much interested in that anymore, he still has the knowledge to use in these missions.

This is why he always preferred doing diplomacy.

When Vare once again asked who they were, the Annfyn turned to look at his fellow Champion. He would wait for him to have the initiative, but if he didn’t say anything Caerllion would do it by himself. “You only need to know that we are Chaos and Mayhem and that we are going to be your closest allies for time to come.”

@Die Shize

 

[Drane T'keen]

Spoiler: Music OOC (Recurring)

Without a doubt, Drane had entered this mission knowing of his own expertise as much as his companion’s, to an extent at least. Caerllion, a prince, a politician, had already proven his abilities.

Yet, Drane had moreover meant that Vare was not dealing with just two politicians of some organization, even though one of them was, for both were Sith.

That, therein, was the difference, for they were greater than any of their other professions. This was their combined strength...but what was Vare's weakness?

He needs more than words. He needs a demonstration. Yet we cannot make an ally out of a broken mind. He must be willing to help us. Failing that, Vare Atelwick would be convinced by way of the blade over a politician.

“That’s like telling me you are both wearing helmets,” Atelwick shifted, looking unimpressed. “I get it, gentlemen, but if you cannot clue me in on your support or resources short of a statement that you are Chaos and Mayhem then—”

“Your artifact you seek to find, to explore one world after the other if it calls for it…” Drane spoke plainly, waving a hand in place of shrugging. “Tell me why.”

“I heard it might be connected to the Force, of course, dark or light, and either way I want to find it with little delay.”

Drane shifted his weight to his other hip. “What would you say if two Jedi, or two Sith, might assist you with this mission?”

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Vare’s answer made Caerllion conclude that the politician was smarter than he had anticipated. If they wanted to continue the conversation, they were going to need to reveal that the two were Sith. Depending on the Politician’s reaction to this revelation, it could become a problem.

Drane’s clever question allowed him to introduce the possibility of them being Force users. Now they could see Vare’s reaction without needing to reveal that they were Sith yet. The Thyrsian wasn’t a bad diplomat after all. The Annfyn still hoped that the Politician would give a positive answer for them.

@Die Shize

 

[Drane T'keen]

A bit of an eccentric man, perhaps, what with his silly little speech in the beginning, and given his statues of a Besalisk and a Hutt.

Then again, Vare Atelwick was just as much taken to artifacts associated with the Force, so one might expect some peculiarity about his person. Yet, the man had proven to be no idiot. Granted, he had not gotten so far in politics by being foolish.

Drane might himself be considered a quirky person on occasion, of tongue and demeanor, but he had once levitated his lightsaber through the necks of rebels as they knelt, one through the other, so there was that.

“I would say…” Vare looked between both helmets, trying to decide which side the faces behind gave themselves to, whether either answer might matter. “Having two Jedi or Sith on my mission to find this artifact would make it easier, more informative, and much more interesting.” He smiled, sipping his wine.

“Now, to have a pair of Force-sensitives help me win my election? Well, that is another story entirely.” It didn’t take a Force-sensitive to sense Vare’s excitement. “An opportunity I would be foolish to pass up…and it would just as much explain why both of you are here today, hunting this relic, offering to help my campaign, in exchange for my support.”

And more, of course. Ultimately, however, whatever artifact they discover, only one party could claim it. “So which is it?” The answer seemed obvious, as if he just wanted to hear it.

His dirty secrets, his underhanded business, the skeletons in his closet, only a fraction of it was known, but he figured his present company knew enough about his personality as to who they might be to begin with. “Jedi or Sith?”

Spoiler: Dice Roll Result

Convincing Vare: 16/20

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

What Vare said was exactly what Caerllion would have expected from a politician. He was answering their question without compromise himself, this way he couldn’t be accused of supporting the Jedi or the Sith. Even if it was a bit annoying, the Annfyn would applaud him.

Caerllion would do something similar if it was necessary.

When Vare’s finished, Caerllion decided to answer the man’s question at once. “We are the Sith, and we are offering our services to help you find the artifact and to win the elections. We have resources that will make these two tasks easier for you.”

@Die Shize