The Dark Academy on Korriban

Council is in First Session

Event Type: Exam
Participants: Aspirants must have Reputation 7 or higher and 4 Graduation points at the start of Day 7.
Timeslots: Late Afternoon

Reputation Affected: NA
Description: It is a long held tradition that the top students are allowed to act as pages for the Dark Council during one of their sessions, this is a prestigious posting to be acknowledged as such and allows these students top rub shoulders with the elite Sith of the Empire. Aspirants can only attend one session.

Reward: For attending a session gain 1 Graduation point and 200 credits.

Sylvain arrived at the first session of the Dark Council in his finest apparel. His lightsaber attached to his belt and his hair set perfectly, he positioned himself to have a decent view of as many council members as he could.

He hoped to serve for his own master's master, Darth Vengean.

The young woman has risen quickly and now stood by the side of Darth Hurn acting as her page.

Jo'ren Rath cut the most imposing figure of the Aspirants assigned to the morning session of the Council meeting. His dark cloak contrasted wonderfully with the deep red of his skin, and his cold expression fit in well with the proceedings. He nodded to Sylvain, having been on good terms with him in their occasional meetings, and was content to be selected by Darth Vengean or assigned to Darth's Marr or Thanaton depending on the needs of his Master and the Council*.

The presence of Veers drew his gaze, and he offered the hint of a smile and a nod to the mysterious woman whose thoughts were filled with the slaughter of ages.


(*OOC: I'll leave it to Dapper to decide if Vengean wants me to attend him right now or one of the other council members.)

Vengean has Jo’ren stand on his other side, having two skilled apprentices in Court was sure to turn heads. Vengean stood and said, “Darth Baras has a report on the Purge and business with the war.”

Darth Baras enters and bows to the Dark Council. He speaks, “The Purge is finished, the remnants of the forces serving Moff Serasai have been eliminated. We cannot rest though this matter has caused chaos in the ranks and now is not the time for our forces to turn on each other.”

Marr interjects, as a hologram, “Yet here we are Baras, your power plays have weakened the Empire. Doubtless the Republic will use this to their advantage and without a Grand Moff the Imperial war machine is without direction.”

Vowrawn adds, “Now, now Marr, I am sure Baras has some circuitous plan to turn this to our advantage. I look forward to hearing this farce in full.”

Baras continues, “Darth Marr, you are correct this infighting must end which is why I put forward Moff Rolm as the prime candidate for Grand Moff, her record speaks for itself and she is the most qualified choice.”

Vengean adds, “She is also Marr’s puppet.”

Baras says, “Puppet or not, she has the focus and will to bring the rest of the Moffs in line. I see no better choice. I ask for a vote.”

Vengean sighs and votes in favor followed by Vowran and then Arya. Thanatos and Xevious choose to vote no while Jadus votes in favor. Hurn shrugs and votes nay with the vote coming down to Marr.

Marr focused his eyes on Baras, giving this position to Rolm would be a boon to the war effort but the fact that Baras wants that was suspect. Was Rolm compromised? Marr leans back and considers his options, perhaps Baras really did want the Empire to succeed. It could not be that simple, yet if he voted nay to spite him, it would not serve the greater good.

Marr says after a moment of thought, “I approve.” Ravage shrugs and agrees with Marr, the motion passes.

Baras nods and says, “I thank you, my Lords.”

Sylvain watched the interaction with special attention. Each Darth's response and behavior was marked as a mental note. Baras' scheme was working, and he had to acknowledge his new master's skill even if he was displeased with his vision.

What really is his vision....? Sylvain thought to himself.

It was an interesting display from all participants. Baras' final play seemed to have caught everyone off guard. It was rather instructive and he reflected on what it all meant. He would have to discuss this with Darth Vengean later. At least this likely meant that the Sith could return to watching their external threats for now.

Perhaps that is indeed the point...

The first session goes into recess after a heated exchange about the Hutt Cartels. The Dark Council members are divided between simply trying to invade and forcing the Hutts and appeasing them or just ignoring them. Xevious prods for dominance and is opposed by Marr who feels it is a waste of resources and time. Thanaton supports Xevious and has tacit support from Vengean while Jadus and Vowrawn prefer Marr’s path. The rest of the Dark Council seems undecided.

For now they take a moment to relax and refresh.

Jo'ren looks to Darth Vengean as the council takes an intermission. "Seeing the council in session like this clarifies many things my Lord. It is an honour to serve you."

He would not call the man Master until he was instructed to do so. His eyes moved around the room, watching the other Dark Lords and their entourages.

Vegean says, “What clarity has it brought you, aspirant?”

"That to sit on the Dark Council is to be enmeshed in plans within plans my Lord. That one's allies can be more surprising than one's enemies." His eyes came back to rest on Vengean.

Vengean nods, “Darth Baras is perhaps one of the best apprentices I have ever molded. Keen mind, he has rarely disappointed me. He knows my power as will you. Yet even he can surprise me.”

“I do not enjoy surprises.”

Jo'ren nodded. "I understand my Lord.". He wondered what Baras was really up to.

"I am told we aspirants will be traveling to Yavin soon. Is there anything you would like me to look into while I am there?"

Vengean nods and says to Jo’ren quietly, “Observe his newest pets, this mongrel named Layne and the Torsin boy. I would know more about them.”

He sat back and adds, “No apprentice is above betrayal, it is the way of the Sith.”

He nodded. "As you wish."

It was indeed the way of the Sith. His gut told him that Baras had plans for his Master that would not be good for his health.

Something else occurred to Jo'ren that his master might find of use. He leaned closer. "My Lord. Speaking of surprises... I do not know the full implications, but the Aspirant standing with Darth Hurn is much more than she appears. I attempted to sense her emotions, and saw the forested Korriban of old. It was a vision of mass slaughter, wielding an axe and riding a tuk'ata."

Vengean looks at Veers and then says, “That is unexpected, what do you know of her?”

"Her name is Veers. I saw her in the bar one night when I was testing my use of sense." He thought back to that night. "I do not believe she is aware that I know. A few days later she was imprisoned, supposedly for keeping force talent a secret. Now she is an Aspirant and managed to get an invitation to this meeting.". It was a rather meteoric rise.

“Too smooth by half,” the dark lord counters.

“She is strong in the force, I can feel it from here. Haughty, she believes she belongs here,” Vengean says drumming his fingers on his chair.

“Make her ours, Apprentice.”

"I will do so my Lord. This trip to Yavin should provide plenty of opportunities."

He knew it wouldn't be that easy, but perhaps if the thing he had seen was truly some sort of ancient sith she might at least be interested in working with a more modern one.