The Dark Academy on Korriban

There was a battle ahead, but time yet. Jo'ren sat atop a flat stone outcrop close to a large pool. It had a view out across the forest which was why he had chosen the spot. For now though, his eyes were closed.

His position was much the same as the vision of Koro. Focusing his mind. Bringing his rage to a point of clarity, rather than a mess of raw aggression.

Yesterday's experience in the Temple had been a revelation and he finally felt that his path was true. The Sith Empire was flawed, but that did not make it without use. They had lost their way, but perhaps it could be found again. Slaves to their desire. It was perhaps inevitable...

Reaching his senses outwards he became aware of the presence of the light side of the force calling to him. But that was not a path he felt he needed to explore just yet. Still, there was something out there. He opened his eyes.

Day 10. LA. Sense.: 1eF 1 Light Side


(OOC: Destiny spent for scene as discussed)

The jungle is loud, it is rarely quiet. The air is filled with conflict and there is an edge of anticipation.

Then it feels as if someone is nearby.

The anticipation of coming battle was delicious. And then a feeling. Was it a sound, or was someone watching him? Rising out of his seated position slowly, Jo'ren looked around for the source.

After yesterday's experience he half expected to see Thy Yulani, but with the Force willing she was well clear by now. Then again, perhaps the spirit of Exar Kun had returned?

It was a spirit all right but not one he was looking for. He feels them now, three massassi and their leader who carries a painted white faced massassi head. She tosses the head on the ground and then orders her scouts to fan out.

She looks at Jo’ren and says, “You should be more careful Sith, the Yubashi are not known for their hospitality.”

Jo'ren walked over towards the Queen. "Perhaps, but I choose my own path." As he got closer he gave her a proper warrior's assessment, and was impressed. "You are the Queen of the Gunda tribe, I saw you this morning. And yet there is something very familiar about you."

He reached out with the force towards her but again the light side seemed to suffuse the area.


Day 10. Sense Jug'tih: 1eF 2 Light Side

“I assure you, there is nothing quite like me, Sith,” she says giving him an assessment as well.

He studied her face and her confidence. "Yes. I believe you." As she watched him with that assessing gaze he continued. "The sith and the massassi have much in common. I think we'd make fine allies." He looked to where her warriors had gone off to. "Were you just on patrol or searching for something?"

(OOC: Is she carrying a big axe by any chance?)

“I never ask others to do what I will not also do. I lead from the front,” she says hefty black steel axe over her should with a lightsaber on her hip, a bit small for her large hands.

“Scouts from the Yubashi are about, I wanted to give our enemy as little forewarning as possible.”

"I respect that attitude. You're leading by example." He squinted a little at her and put the pieces together. Big black axe, itty bitty lightsaber, speaks perfect basic. With a long slow breath he just went with it.

"Okay, this is going to sound like a strange thing to say in the middle of a jungle on Yavin IV, but you used to hang out the sixes didn't you." He didn't make any threatening moves, he just stood there looking curious. "Veers is dead isn't she? That's got to be her lightsaber. And I saw you using an axe like that when I tried to sense your mood one night at the bar."

“Veers is dead,” she confirms.

"Makes sense." He looked around at the jungle, the planet above and then back at her. "Is this what Korriban was like?"

“Parts of it,” she says looking around.

“It rains more often here than it ever did on Korriban. But there were places like this in my time, they were in decline though. Maybe it was the natural direction of Korriban or something else. It mattered not,” Jug’tih says calmly.

"Well, it's not a bad choice for a new home in any case." The sounds of life and the abundance of plants were certainly vast improvements over Korriban's vast desert of the present.

"What will you do now? Unite the tribes?"

“I will unite those tribes that will submit, break those that resist and eliminate those that refuse to be brought to heel. The Massassi are strong, fearsome, and honorable. They value strength above all things. It will take time but with Imperial support I would have air and space superiority. The question then becomes what will your Empire do,” she says in response.

"I believe you will Jug'tih. There was a time when I thought you were a threat, but now..." He looked up at the sky imagining the fleet arriving. "The Empire will do what the council commands them to do. Which means that the members who care will attempt to manipulate the situation to their own benefit." He lowered his gaze to meet hers. "They will attempt to bring you their side with one promise or another. It will mostly amount to falling under their 'protection'. Darth Thanaton cares for the purity of the Sith, but the massassi and sith are linked, he may be persuadable. Of all those who try to win you to their side the one you can trust the least is Darth Baras. I'm sure you remember him from the Dark Council meeting we attended. Torsin is his."

He breathed out long and low. "My soon-to-be master, Darth Vengean, knows you are powerful. He'd be pleased to have you on his side. You'd probably have more freedom working with him than with most of the others. It would gain me a lot of favour with him."

A smile crept onto his lips and he looked back out towards the temples that dotted the landscape. "Then again, I learned an important lesson here. A Sith chooses their own path. Too many of my people make slaves of themselves."

“Torsin was the first to approach me, he was quick on the mark. Clever boy,” she says casually.

“Tell me of Vengean, I know less than I would like about him.”

"I suppose that letting yourself be possessed by someone makes it easier to spot them in a crowd?" He shrugged and moved on to speaking of his future master.

"Darth Vengean is the High Commander of the Outer Rim forces. Human, cyborg, a powerful warrior and a masterful tactician. He has a total commitment to winning the war against the Republic, respects excellence, and does not suffer fools. I believe he will respect your strength. If you want to see your people take to the stars as warriors for the Sith Empire, rather than end up as slaves of it, then he would be a fine choice."

Another thought occurred to him and he removed his communicator from his belt.

"You can speak to him yourself if you wish."

“I would appreciate that, make it so, Sith,” she says with great interest.

Jo'ren nodded, moved out from under the canopy into the spot he had been meditating from, and dialled in the code that Darth Vengean had used to communicate with him previously.

Vengean speaks, “Apprentice, speak.”

"My Master." Jo'ren bowed his head a moment before continuing. "I bring important news regarding the matter we discussed at the Dark Council meeting. The force spirit has taken a powerful new host and leads a tribe here on Yavin. She is now Jug'tih, Queen of the Massassi. Torsin has already tried to persuade her to join with Darth Baras." He smiled thinly.

"However, I have discussed the matter of her future alliances with her, and suggested she speak with you directly. I have her here, my Lord."

“I will speak with her,” Vengean states. Once he is addressing her he nods his head and says, “My Queen, I will be brief. We have much to gain by working together. I give you my word to aid your people in return you direct the savagery of the massassi towards our enemies. My terms are clear and simple.”

“As I said to Darth Baras' apprentice I will need time to consider this. Your offer is clear and as long as my people are free and we retain our sovereignty then we will fight for your empire and kill your enemies,” the Queen replies.

“We would allow your people to establish an outpost on the surface to better coordinate this venture. If this can be done then I see a long and fruitful partnership, my lord.”

“I am the greatest power of the Empire outside of our Emperor. My word breaks worlds and shatters fleets. It will be done but in return we expect your service to be above reproach. I must go, the war demands my attentions but my apprentice will see to any details and relay them to me,” Vengean ends the call.

Jo'ren turned off the device and replaced it in his belt. He looked at Jug'tih, wondering what she thought of it all. "Darth Vengean. He is straightforward, respects strength, and dislikes surprises. How do you wish to proceed?"