The Dark Academy on Korriban

Sylvain arose that morning promptly at the sound of his alarm. He quickly prepared himself, leaving his roommates behind and headed to the mess hall for a proper start to the day. Even in space efficiency was paramount, and ensuring that he had sufficient fueling for the day was imperative.

After receiving the meal from the droids at the counter, Sylvain found a seat near the corner of the room, giving him access to look out and see any other early comers to the mess hall. He spun his utensil in his hand slowly as he worked at the collection of pastes, meat, and a bread-like substance on his plate. He sat in a welcoming posture to anyone that may come pass.


(OOC: This is open to anyone)

Among the small throng that flocked to the concession for the morning meal, a shrouded woman stuck out. Not that elaborate robes were not a common garb in the Empire, particularly among the Sith whose population had grown with the collection of students. It was the ornateness and antiquated style of them. She bore the traditional veil of a temple prioress, a vestal who served the whims of the presiding Sith Lords. But even then it was a particularly concealing cut.

She passed through the queue and once she bore her meal, she cast about the room to spy an open table with a single occupant. Her draping obsidian robes rustled softly as she walked, and she offered a bow of her head.

"Ser, may I yoen [join] you?" she said in a muddled basic that gave it an unusual accent.

"Certainly." Sylvain replied with a charming smile. His robes revealed him to be a noble despite them being quite simple in appearance. The smoothness of quality and darkness of the shade of the black in his robes would suggest they were quite expensive.

"My name is Sylvain Torsin." He said with a smile. "May I ask your name?"

She offered no smile in return merely an air of thanks as she gracefully took her seat. As she did so, a hand fell to her trailing veil so as not to sit on it. A well practiced motion that seemed natural when done.

"I y'am Jun-Tsu Farro," the sound of her name rolling rather than falling off her tongue. She took a small bite from her meal, but gave no indication whether she found it palatable or not. Her eyes raised to meet his, their silver quality more than apparent. "You are a noble, no? You caarry yourself too confidently to be otherwise."

He smiled again and nodded, "Quite perceptive. Though I wouldn't expect any less from one who is on their way to the Academy."

He took a small sip from his blue-clear beverage, "I hail originally from Dromund Kaas. The Torsin line has had a presence in the capital since its colonization."

Then before taking another bite of his meal asked, "And where is it you come from Miss Farro?"

Jun-Tsu allowed the lapse in title to be ignored, greeting her as a common citizen. It was an insult she had endured before when outside, "Korriz. My family h'as been de ru'lars there for....a wery [very] long time."

Rulers was perhaps an overstatement in modern terms. The planet, while still one of those in the Stygian Caldera, was little more than an abandoned ruin. Few people spoke of it, and nobody truly lived there, at least, not in numbers that would be important to the capital.

"But a noble from de capital, your family must be influential, yes?"

Hearing her response Sylvain tipped his head slightly in apology, "I see, milady. Excuse me, I didn't know of your family's position. I've heard of Korriz, though I've never had opportunity to visit."

Sylvain smiled warmly as he internally reviewed what he knew of the 'backwater' planet in his mind. Far away. Logistically unimportant, and difficult to supply. Significant past, closely tied with the Sith.

He then replied to her question, "Currently we do occupy some measure of influence. My father is the Minister of War, Grand Moff and Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army. Though what is influential and powerful in one sphere is quite different in another. I am the first of my family to have potential of joining the Sith."

He took another sip of his drink, "Korriz has a strong connection with the Sith, you must be one of many in your family with the gift of force-sensitivity."

"All in my family are close with the Dark Side. Those foo [few] who are not are keelled [killed] in child-hood," she did not elaborate on the why, where, when, or how. Instead she took another bite of her morning meal.

"I und all my bruders und sisters have the gift. We train in the ancient artz. Sith majick und sorcery. It iz our legacy." Another bite.

"How fortunate, however, for you to have the gift. Nought [Not] that your service to the war is not respectable. But it pales before the powers of the Dark Side. You are now chosen by the Dark Side."

Slyvain smiles slightly as the woman speaks.

Such waste to kill what could be used in so many different ways.

"Indeed. It is the combination of the Imperial Army and the Sith that gives the Empire its strength. I hope to one day bridge that gap in a very real sense."

He takes a bite of his bread-like substance and asks, "Why is it that those without force sensitivity are killed in their youth? Is there a shortage of resources on your planet?"

"Nought at all," she replied blandly. "They are merely sacrifices to the Dark Side to keep our family pure, and blessed. All power comes from sacrifice. De greater the sacrifice, de greater de power."

She smirked ever so lightly at a thought that floated through her mind as she took another bite of her meal. "You fancy yourself de next Lord Baras, perhaps?"

He chuckled slightly at the suggestion, "Lord Baras' successes are certainly something anyone in this line of work would like to aspire to."

He then smiled, "My aspirations are to see that the Empire remains strong and will continue to crush the Republic throughout the Galaxy. If it be as a Baras-like personality, so be it. But if destiny has a different course for me, I am not so entrenched in self-gratification to the point that I become affixed on what is of no use to the Empire."

His smile turned a bit more mischievous, "Or at least that is the official line I'm willing to provide to a stranger I just met."

He then turned the question on her, watching with his handsome eyes, "And what is it you aspire to?"

"As all in my family," she quipped mysteriously, savoring her food for a moment.

"We live by de glories of de Empire's successes, but ours 'as never been the vays ways] of var [war]. Ve seek higher attainments. Oneness vith the Dark Side, understanding of itz power. If such study iz of use against the pathetic je'daii, so much the better."

She retained her sardonic half-smile, "Or at least, that is what I would say to a stranger like you."

He laughed warmly at her response; an almost melodious laugh. "I suppose it is good to have an official response for such things."

"I'm sure your research and devotion is of great use to the Empire." He said with a smile.

" I know as well as many that the instruction one receives as a child can be quite... directed, but do you happen to have any other interests other than Sith Lore?" He smiled, "Surely there are times that a graceful and intelligent individual such as yourself relaxes?"

"I y'am Sith, und a member of a noble family. Ve travel often vhen my bruters und sisters are not deep in our shtudies. Ve travel to the holdings of uther families, ve vatch gladiatorial matches at de slave pits of the nearby planets. There iz much to occupy de mind of a young voman even on Korriz. But my devotion iz ever to the Dark Side und itz mysteries. No bloodsport or noble distraction can compare to such thrill."

She allowed her half-smile to linger as she thought of the many galas held in the outer rim of the Stygian Caldera. Hardly anything like the affairs in the capital, though not for the reasons that the Imperials might think.

He smiled, "Interesting. I've had a couple of occasions to go out to the outer systems and watch a Colosseum match or two. Mother sponsored a Nexu trainer from the outer rim who has moved in to be quite successful in the capital. Interesting displays, those are."

After taking another bite of his food he asked, "Have you ever made it to Dromund Kaas?"

"'As [Has] not everyone of power? It iz ze heart of ze Empire, und even ve must pay homage to ze Emperor. Some of our...lesser cousinz keep estatez in und around Kaas City to maintain family interests in the Empire. Lao-Go and Min-Fan Farro both maintain estatez zere. I und a few of my siblingz have stayed vith zem on a few occasions to show us vhat ze inner planets are like."

The way she spoke revealed mixed feelings about the experience. A combination of interest in the capital, but an overall unimpressed quality to the visit in general.

"Ze temples vere enjoyable," she added, as though to cover up her own apathetic thoughts.

Sylvain smiled, sensing her relative dislike for the capital.

"The temples are nice, yes. You'll have to have someone take you to the truly interesting parts of the city one day though. There's much of the dark side that you can learn from watching people. And in testing your wills against theirs."

"Ah, yes," Jun-Tsu finished her meal and turned her attention a touch more to her table-mate. "It vould follow zat such ways are those zat a noble would find most fascinating. Und no doubt you find ze veak-villed often throughout ze capital. Sycophants und yesmen, no?

He chuckled, "Quite a few of those, yes. Though there are many who are merely playing that role until the day comes when they can do more. Not all are a cancer, and not all are without disease."

He smiled, "Adequately assessing one's utility can be quite vexing. That without use, must not burden those who have it."

"Utility, a relative term. Tell me, who did you study under?" Jun-Tsu took a more relaxed stance in her seat, slipping her hands into her robes.

He chuckled, "Relative solutions are often best for ever-changing problems."

He then answered her question, "I have been tutored for the past several years by a former apprentice of Darth Marr. Then here at the academy for nearly the past two."

A graceful eyebrow arched at the revelation, "At ze Academy. You are quite influential indeed. Zis must all seem old hat to you, then. I have heard the Academy iz a severe place to study. I imagine zat iz not idle rumor. The Headmistress iz known to be particularly varlike."

He nodded, "It can be quite treacherous. It requires you to constantly test yourself against... well everything and everyone. To lack the ability to adapt and thrive, is the simplest way for you to be crushed. It is liberating, and restrictive at the same time."

Then he smiled, "And having an ally or two in any given situation is often quite helpful. There is great strength in combining the talents of different people."

"An irony of ze Sith philosophy, one of many, in truth. To follow a creed zat espouses personal ambition und self-serving plots, when, like ze lone Lothal wolf, iz easy prey. A cabal vill always be able to tackle a superior foe. It iz a belief my family 'as passed along to us for centuries."

Sylvain nodded, "Life is nothing if not an interesting convergence of paradoxes. It is undoubtedly your family's traditions that have led to your survival all of these years as the Empire has grown in exile. You have my respect and admiration for your dedication to your duties."