Ask Water as thick as Blood

[Malerion]

It was a simple conundrum Malerion had fallen upon, as he slowly crafted his grand plan. It was one that continuously repeated itself no matter how he changed other aspects within his own plan and seemingly from history the plans of every other Sith who rose to power over millennia. He had sat and chewed upon it for days with little progress so he had ventured out into the wider history of the Dark Side to see if he could find a solution to his problem. Perhaps he had found it.

But for him to solve it he would need someone with knowledge and power he did not have nor had the time, energy or desire to fully master the hundreds of variations of it until he got to his desired results. Malerion wanted the quick and simple answer to his question, so he had gone looking through the records of the Order before its near collapse from the Imperial Uprising and had found a few candidates. One was too powerful for him to truly approach, another had vanished back to her homeworld and he doubted he would ever get her to divulge her nature. So he came to a third, an Annfyn by the name of Caerllion.

So Malerion had reached out to the man, a seemingly growing master in the Arcane arts and had called him to meet at a house Malerion had liberated from a Sith Traitor. It was the same building he had met Trace in a few days earlier. An older style compared to the super modern buildings built around but it didn’t stick out like a sore thumb in the neighbourhood. The Sith was sitting in what was the living room, a pair of tablets resisting on the sofa next to him, another in his hand. Details of the traitor Sith’s bank accounts flowing passed his fingers. “Oh Miss Storm, you truly did sell your soul to the devil.” He said with a smirk.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Caerllion was surprised with the invitation. He had never met that Malerion before and had no idea of what he should expect from him. The message was also cryptic, not giving many details about what the other Champion wanted to talk with the Annfyn.

Given the situation of the Sith Order, Caerllion should be careful with these mysterious invitations. Who knows if it wasn’t some ruse of the Empire to catch him. Although he doubted that the Imperials would have any interest in him. Even with his arrogance, the Annfyn was very aware that he didn’t have much importance.

However, he was curious to know what Malerion wanted. His curiosity was enough to make him decide to accept it. Still, he wasn’t stupid to go here without any backup. Caerllion had brought Teekl, his loth cat. His very venomous and lethal loth cat. The fact that she could also be an extra pair of eyes was a bonus. Who would suspect of a poor kitten?

Once he arrived at the meeting place, Caerllion stopped to watch the mansion in front of him. It wasn’t a palace in Annwfyn, but it wasn't terrible either. “Well, let’s see what he wants with us.” he said to Teekl, who was perched on his shoulders. After the Annfyn hit the door, the loth cat jumped down to his arms.

“I hope that it’s something interesting.” he said to Teekl, while petting her head. Caerllion had the impression that this meeting could end being good.

@Braden

 

[Malerion]

Malerion heard the knock at the door although didn’t have any intention of answering the knock himself. That is what the droids were for, once the property of Miss Storm, they had all been programmed to answer to the Sith. A serving droid would answer the door for Caerllion, confirming his identity before offering him the chance to come in. Once inside the droid would show the Annfyn down the hall to the right where the living room was located.

As Caerllion entered, Malerion tapped the power button on the tablet in hand and placed it next to the other two machines. “Carellion of Cyfnos, please make yourself comfortable.” He said with an overly kind smile, pointing towards a chair opposite and to the right of himself. Once seated Malerion would place his hands on his lap, interlocking his fingers. “I hope you found the house ok. It's a little outside the city centre but not too far, I like it.” That sickly sweet smile was still on his face as he spoke. “Refreshments?”

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Caerllion didn’t need to wait at the door for much time, a servant droid soon opened it. The mansion was also nice from inside, but the Annfyn had seen better things in his homeworld. However, the only thing that he had to complain about was the decoration. It was a bit corny.

As he walked inside, Caerllion saw the other Champion seated at a table. “Thank you.” the Annfyn said, after the human had offered him a seat. He sat in a chair in front of Malerion and crossed his legs. Teekl remained comfortable in his lap, with him occasionally moving his hand to pet the feline’s head.

“The house wasn’t terrible, but I would change the decoration. It seems more like something that an old lady would have.” the Annfyn pointed to some curtains with floral patterns that reminded him of the ones that his grandmother used to put in her house. “I don’t mind some refreshments. Could you also bring some food for her?” he gestured to Teekl, who meowed when food was mentioned.

While they waited for the refreshments, Caerllion decided to go directly to the point. “I’m curious. Why did you invite me here?”

@Braden

 

[Malerion]

Malerion eyed the rodent on the Annfyn’s lap, a small sneer at the thing tugged at the corner of his mouth before he smoothed it down and returned his lips to the sickly sweet smile he had on it before. “I am not surprised you said that. I only just inherited this house from its previous owner.” He replied.

Although he would rather not feed the rat, Malerion agreed only for the sake that such niceties would help smooth over the negotiation to follow. The droid which had answered the door, came over asking what the creature would normally eat before disappearing from the room. As the first droid left another serving droid entered with a tray of drinks, a trio of fresh fruit juices sat in large jugs with two chilled glasses. Malerion let Caerllion have his pick before moving to the tray himself.

“Information has it that you are one of the more accomplished Sorcerers within our order. I have need of someone of your expertise.” Leaning back on the sofa his right arm slid up onto its back, the Sith falling into a more relaxed position as he spoke. “I hope this wasn’t a wasted trip.”

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Malerion’s sneer didn’t pass unnoticed by Caerllion, even less by Teekl. As if feeling the disgust of the other Champion, the loth cat opened her eyes and growled at the man. If he was careful enough, the human would have noticed that the feline’s eyes flashed red briefly.

Caerllion remained in silence, only watching the scene. Sometimes he thought that Teekl had a better understanding of her surroundings than a simple loth cat. Perhaps it was an effect of Sol’s alchemy and his sorcery. “Excuse me, she seems to be a bit feisty today.” he petted her head, lulling the feline back to her sleep.

When Malerion started to talk about the Annfyn being a sorcerer, Caerllion had some suspicions of what the human wanted. He felt a bit daring in the man’s last sentence, as if he would only believe if the other Champion was good with the occult if he saw it. A dark smile appeared on the Annfyn’s lips.

If Malerion wanted a demonstration, he was going to have one. Caerllion snapped his fingers.

In seconds, darkness would cover the entire room. Malerion would see himself alone in the dark, until a small ball of red flame appeared in the place where Caerllion should have been seated. Suddenly, it would explode in a column of fire that would take the form of a giant snake. The creature would roar and lounge against the human, exploding in light before closing its burning fangs on the Sith.

Once the light disappeared, Malerion would see himself back to the room. Caerllion would be smiling at him while Teekl slept on his lap. It had been a simple illusion spell that had been augmented with Korriban Magick. He could do more than that, but he wasn't going to that for now. Not before knowing what the other wanted. “After that small demonstration, I believe that I’m the one that should be saying that. Tell me, why did you want me to come here?”

@Braden

 

[Malerion]

The creature growled at him and Malerion had to strongly resist the urge not to grab its throat and crush it through The Force. HIs anger subsided as Caerllion apologised for his pet. “Maybe you should leave it at home when you come to first meetings. Wouldn't want anyone to misread its action for violence, the galaxy is full of trigger happy individuals.” He replied.

As the room went dark, Malerion’s senses went mad, anger rushed through his body, was this a trick. The Dark Side poured from the surrounding area into his body, supercharging him with power, reaching out he felt for the lightsaber which had been on the bookshelf behind him. In a moment it snapped into his hand and ignited within the blackness of the room. As the snake appeared, more power pulled into the Sith and a bolt of lightning erupted from his hand in the direction of the snake as it lunged at him. The lightning went through it but he didn’t have to comprehend as he brought his sabre up to block the attack.

Then it was gone and the darkness disappeared, his eyes widened to see what had happened with his bolt of lightning which had been aimed at just where the Annfyn had been sitting.

@LouJoVi