Where the devil plays host... (Sianna)

[Anthymis]

3108


Dathomir. How long had it been since he last walked the surface of this world? He still did not know. He stared with great satisfaction, through shattered windows and over raging ocean, at the horizon. He could still see the glow of L'Maelthra, whom had been consuming her surroundings with fire and smothering the world with ash. Acid rain hammered downward into the already swelling seas, earthquakes shook the planet and tsunami's battered what was left of the island upon which he stood.

The island itself, which had no name as far as he knew, had been much larger once, nearly two hundred hectares in size. Now it stood at less than a quarter of that, having been eroded by time and waves alike. The great house, which stood upon the highest point of land, was still relatively in tact, so he had picked it out as a suitable place to continue his research. He and Auswyn had arrived here two weeks earlier, bringing a large shipment of some two hundred slaves with them from the mainland. These slaves now worked ceaselessly both renovating the house and tunnelling deep down into the bedrock below, carving out great galleries and chambers to suit his needs.

He stood in silence upon the balcony which ringed the musty old library, thinking deeply. From Auswyn and the networks of information he now had access to, he had learned a great deal about the unfamiliar Galaxy he found himself in. So much had changed and yet, somehow, he found himself feeling like he had never slumbered at all. The nature of things had remained the same; the strong still preyed upon the weak, factions rose and fell and the Force still permeated everything as it once had.

He had sent word with a Nightsister, who had joined his cause earlier that week, to Adrasteia and Nemeseia. He knew where they would be and doubted that they were unaware of his new-found freedom. It came as no surprise, therefore, when a new presence, dark and powerful, drew closer. This was not one of the beings that the Wardens had imprisoned so long ago, but something else entirely. A new ally, perhaps? Only time would tell.

[Sianna]

On the holomap the island just registered as another unexplored speck of land which the vast world of Dathomir had plenty. With all the history that this world claimed, it seemed interesting that the Nightsisters only inhabited a small sliver of it and as the Sith Master made her way up the stair of deep grey, soaked stone, wind buffeting her matted, white hair, she excitedly pushed toward another of interesting heritage. His aura had arisen during one of her recent moments of meditation, calling to her as one from the past and though her own beginnings had been with a cult of believers following the trail of Naga Sadow's spirit, she knew this one wasn't nearly as famous. However, he no doubt had seen a great deal and there was no telling what secrets lay within his memory. Pounding surf exploded with white plumes as the continued symphony erupted across the world now that the fire queen had also awakened. Another feather in the priestess's cap, she mused with a faint smile.

Workers glanced her way, their soaked bodies and clothing product of their labor in getting this estate back in order. Paying them little attention, the Echani in black robes, leather vambraces and knee-high, lightly armored boots, continued toward the main entrance. Through the constant downpour and wind she heard one of the taskmasters yelling at the laborers to get back to work, prompting renewed movement as metal on stone resumed. Silver orbs rose to a large figure in greys and browns. "I'm here to see your lord."

Nodding to her, he stepped aside and motioned within, "He's waiting for you in the parlor, madam." Not announcing the name of this reclaimed estate, she understood that perhaps it was too soon for such titles on this remote island.

Heading inside, Sianna brushed her long, white mane back and shook out her robe a bit, dripping on the already soggy floor in the foyer. Relaxing a bit more, Sianna strolled into the modest mansion, still under renovation. Architecture speaking more of an offworlder rather than the older and simpler homes and shops of the Nightsisters, this estate had been built by someone that hadn't stayed here long, apparently. Being able to find no record of the original owner, she only guessed at it's builder as she entered a crossing hallway. Glancing either direction, the home lit by luma lamps hung at various points to denote doors, she opened herself to the Force and soon found the new owner, then followed that signature burning hotly in the flow of universal energy. Casually, the Sith priestess soon entered the large study, tall windows allowed what little light was available outside, beyond the occasional flash of lightning. Tall shelves stood rather empty, the room having not yet been cleaned by the army of slaves yet. Boots beat upon the wooden flooring as she approached.

"Nice place you've claimed," her voice muted in the storm and dripping through the broken panes. "I'm assuming it's far removed from what you were used to."

[Anthymis]

"You would think so, wouldn't you?" Anthymis replied, gloved fingers gently brushing away the dust and grime that had accumulated on the banister of the spiral staircase he currently descended.

"The truth is, even when one spends countless lifetimes locked away, a prison is still a prison. So, rather than subject myself to the humiliation of abiding my imprisonment in the fashion my jailers had intended, I simply created new realities within the walls of my own mind."

To emphasise his point, the masked Sith waved a hand lazily through the air, causing it to shimmer. For a moment, nothing seemed to be happening but then, one by one, shards of broken glass in the window frames warped and stretched back into place. Books began to materialise on the shelves and tables as the dust and dirt faded away into nothing. The long-burnt-out bulbs in the great chandalier above them burst into dazzling light once more, illuminating papered walls that were no longer mouldy and damp. Even the sounds of dripping from leaky ceilings and the smells of decay seemed to disappear as Anthymis crafted his newest masterpiece.

A final wave of the hand and two grand armchairs in front of the now roaring fireplace were restored to their former glory, crimson leather shining like blood in the firelight.

"Please, sit with me a while; tell me... tell me what part you play in the great game..."

[Sianna]

Following the motion of his hand, she was slightly impressed at his ability with illusion and knew from her own studies that ability had come in handy more than once. Once the emergence of the pair of chairs invited her toward one, she removed her cloak and hung it on a wide, wooden rack to her left, then continued on toward the wing backed chair, focusing on her right hand which soon erupted in a small ball of flame which she then tossed into the large hearth, igniting the wood. Taking a seat, Sianna relaxed a bit more and mentally recounted some of her own adventures over the past fourteen years since leaving the dirty, crime ridden streets of Aargau's underbelly.

Crossing her left knee over right, she laid her hands atop the right arm rest, facing her host. "I've been studying the purer side of the Force since I was very young. Those that forged the foundations of what we believe continue to make an indelible mark on what I've been teaching and seeking out. Most of my journeys have taken me to the ancient Sith empire, but also other worlds and their museums or lost corners," she stated, eyeing the helmet which appeared more like an ancient death mask. "I've founded a new religion with the help of a mentor and teacher, based on the code and the journal of Sorzus Syn herself." Canting her head slightly to the left as one of his servants approached with a tray of drinks, taking one and sipping, keeping her silver gaze upon the mansion's new owner. "Tell me, how'd you get imprisoned?"

[Anthymis]

Anthymis listened carefully, silently, his features obscured by the skull-like mask he wore so that no hint of reaction to her tale could be seen. Behind the mask, however, and undoubtedly echoing through the Force, his fascination would be clear. It filled some parts of the rapidly decreasing void in his knowledge, reinforcing others. He could help note the similarities between this Echani woman and his Auswyn, their goals for greater knowledge of the dark and the subtle hints of danger that hid between a beautiful surface.

"While I have been told of this Sith Empire and the Code, I am unfamiliar with Sorzus Syn. I have much to learn about this Galaxy I find myself returned to. Perhaps you would be willing to share her story with me. I need not use the Force to see that there is much that we could learn from eachother."

His voice held no hint of deceit but, then again, it never did. That was one of the more dangerous things about the ancient Darksider that sat opposite her; he could as easily craft an illusion with words as he could with the Force. In ages past, he had acted on the behalf of Adrasteia and Nemeseia as a spymaster of sorts. Ironically, his greatest gift had failed them when they needed it most. He knew it was not his fault they had all been imprisoned, but some level of guilt remained, forever casting 'what if' type thoughts at his conscious mind.

"It was during the aftermath of a ritual, one so powerful it left us vulnerable. The Wardens of the Light, a faction of what you would call Jedi, had opposed us for so long that I barely recall just how long it was; time has become such a fluid concept to me that I struggle somewhat. Somehow, they had become aware of our plans and had co-ordinated the perfect assault," Anthymis explained, his voice not attempting to hide the fact that he couldn't help but admire the feat the Wardens had performed, "To this day, after all these countless years, I don't know how they managed it but they did."

He gazed into the flames, yet the darkness that lay in the eye-sockets of the mask remained infallible, as if it swallowed the very light that assaulted it.

"We were stolen away, scattered across the known Galaxy and beyond. I know very little about what happened to the others, save that they have begun to awaken as I have. I was locked away deep beneath the surface of Yavin IV, but they had apparently rushed the creation of my prison. Understandable, considering I was a later addition to the circle. There were flaws that allowed my consciousness to bleed out through its walls, which in turn led me to influence the natives above. In time, the one who had been foreseen came, just as my Mistress had told me she would. The key, that would shatter the very walls that bound me. I'm sure you will meet her soon enough."

[Sianna]

Listening with rapt attention, the Sith Master and priestess realized that he spoke of the Fire Queen that she had recently helped escape her tomb hidden on this very world. Her steps had guided Sianna to the second of three it seemed. Her silver orbs sparkled with delight, tinted by the flame now building in the hearth which painted both Sith in a golden glow.

"Sorzus Syn was a dark sider that helped establish the first Sith Empire on Korriban, millennia ago. She wrote the Sith Code, used most of her talents in Sith Alchemy to help strengthen their armies which had already been part of the Rakatan downfall not that long before." She took a sip of her wine as her gaze drifted to the left and into the darkness beyond the wide cone of light emanating from the fireplace. "It's on their foundation that so many smaller empires have come and gone across the galaxy since." Emboldened, the priestess of the Sith'aria returned her attention to her host. "An empire that I look forward to helping re-establish very soon."

[Anthymis]

"Perhaps it would be better if you do not..." He said, amusement evident in his voice, "After all, there is only one certainty when Empires are involved and that, my dear, is that they all end. The sands of time erode everything they touch and very few have escaped their grasp..."

The irony was not lost on him that he and his companions had attempted to do just that. Even the situation itself was ironic. While their methods at achieving immortality had technically failed, his captors had ensured that the goal had ultimately been achieved.

"I wonder..." He began, breaking from his reverie, "If something is missing from the equation... My interests, even before my imprisonment, were of a scientific and scholarly nature. Exploring new paths, ones never before tread."

He stood, walking slowing around the room, his fingertips passing through the illusions of the books that lined the shelves.

"I intend to continue my research, which is why I chose this island to base myself upon. As we speak, nearly two hundred souls toil beneath our feet, excavating the galleries that will form my laboratories and other necessary chambers. The advantage of having slept for so long is that others, inadvertently, continued my work for me. Perhaps, with the right knowledge, creativity and focus, one could find a cure for the inevitable death of empires..."

[Sianna]

Following his movements around the room, she began sensing the opportunity for a new ally in this cause. One that had the benefits of foreknowledge, even though all the tomes that she had studied from denoted failures of various types that had brought ends to a host of empires and small kingdoms. The galaxy had thousands of those tales to tell, it seemed. His suggestion prompted a grin on her smooth, pale features.

"I've been searching for that very thing, myself. What we do have that they didn't is their examples of how not to fail. Employing lessons already learned has been one way that's kept me alive this long," she stated proudly and took another sip of her wine. "Did you have anyone in mind already?"