A Social Call

[Gaiaverse]

Dromund Kaas, four miles north of Kaas City.

The estate was certainly large, covering a small in-land island. It was pleasing to look at, Gothic in architecture yet still with a tinge of modernity that kept it from sliding into pretentiousness. Whoever designed this estate clearly knew what they were doing and had plenty of artistic freedom. Leading to the estate, was a series of bridges. Large enough to handle a speeder or supply truck. The bridges were easy to drive on and provided plenty of room to admire the surrounding jungle or the estate itself.

These bridges finally lead to the entrance. It was a tall, thick door guarded by two men adorn in red armor and armed with blaster rifles. They carefully observed anyone who dared approach, Dromund Kaas's violent wildlife kept at bay by a large electric fence and turrets, some of which were hidden underground, sensors alerting them to anyone or anything foolish enough to attack.

Of course, the guards and turrets were expecting someone. A man named Cassus. Apparently the man had questions. And when his transport arrived, be it a speeder or one foot. The guards and security cameras did their work, checking Cassus and any friends he brought along for anything unpermitted. All he needed was his lightsaber and personal effects. The Goth's did not come this far through bad security.

"Follow me" One of the guards stated after completing the standard security procedures. He turned and lifted up his helmet, a retina scanner scanning his eyes with a red light. He then typed in a code, his body blocking Cassus from seeing the keypad. The door opened with a loud shudder.

Inside the estate, it was even more beautiful. Slaves, who seemed to be well-treated. Compared to other Sith slaves anyway, maintained it's halls. Cleaning them, maintain the estates plants and animals and ensuring there was no unpleasant surprises. Two children, both boys and around ten or twelve, occasionally zoomed into Cassus's view, through were careful not to intrude on his personal space.

The boys were mock fighting each other with training blades, also using the occasional force push. They seemed to in a mixture of training and playing. Either way, it was clear they were honing their dueling skills. Playing or not.

As the group came closer to were Degoth was to meet them, paintings began to adorn each side of wall. They seemed to paintings of former dynasty members. Each had a name emboldened in golden letters under them and on all of them, the subject stood tall and authoritative. They all seemed to be in same room, back facing a large fireplace.

All expect one.

The largest one, having it's own all, showed a proud man facing the stars, starships flying towards them in the background. The man stood on a mountain, arm raised with a red banner in hand, behind was a legion of men and women, seemingly to awaiting his words.

Emboldened under it was Illgoth, our founder.

Finally, the group came to the lobby. It was a fine lobby, pleasing to lock at. Slaves mingled about, holding either brooms or plates of food. Degoth, along with a stern, tall Sith Warrior that carefully observed Cassus, not letting a eye off him for a moment, stood with a smile on his face.

"Welcome, Cassus I presume?" He said, his left hand motioning to a table, which had various bottles of ale and other drinks positioned on it, along with various foods.

"You happened to visit close to a holiday, so I had plenty of food and drinks lying about. If you wish to refresh yourself after what I imagined was a long ride, be my guest." He said, a smile. The man was blonde and stood like a heir to a royal throne. It was clear he was groomed at a young age to be a position of power.

"But, I imagine you have other reasons to be here, and by the tone of your message and the look on your face. It is about the former owner of his house and her child"

 

[Ral]

To say that Cassus Lammerai wasn't impressed by what he saw when he came to the estate would have been an obvious lie. His eyes were wide and his face quite clearly in awe of a lot of what he saw. To say that he didn't think the ostentatious display was a bit over the top would also be a lie. Cassus could appreciate style and money, he could even understand the need some people might feel to display their power and wealth, but he had always been a little off put by the need to flaunt and brag about it in such an over-the-top manner. So while he appreciated the grandiose view he was treated to on his walk through the grounds under guard, Cassus found himself trying to hide the roll of the eyes whenever he came across something particularly pretentious or unnecessary.

Finally, the man would be brought into the lobby. It was a nice place, comfortable. The slaves ready to do their masters bidding gave both a nice touch, and made Cassus sick, but he made no comment nor did he even react to the pleasant of slaves. The former Jedi realized how hypocritical it was of him to hate slaves, and yet he killed younglings without a second thought. Observing the man he presumed to be Degoth by his posture and cut of his clothing, and the hulking brute of a guard behind him. "Yes, Cassus is my name. Lovely place you've got here. I'm assuming it's an old residence? Just guessing by some of the statues and pictures I've seen, of course."

Moving towards the table when it was motioned to, Cassus listened to what the man had to say for the moment, considering taking some of the offered food. Cassus knew that refusing could be seen as rude and a much more gracious insult to some. But then again, he didn't know if he trusted this Degoth with his food yet. The man kept speaking and Cassus smirked politely when the mention of refreshments. At least he was a courteous host. The fallen Jedi nodded and looked over the food and drinks available while listening to what else the man had to say. When he finally got to the point of why Cassus was there, the fallen Jedi nodded. "It is indeed. And before I start I'd like to thank you for welcoming to your home and being so gracious and courteous to me. As for the child, yes... I believe I may have met her on Tython. She tried to save her master whom I had just defeated. I didn't realize it at first until some of my compatriots arrived and we had her surrounded. We let her live so she could be a witness to what we did there that day. But I recognized something about her accent. I managed to follow up what few leads I had to bring me here. What can you tell me about your cousin?"

 

[Gaiaverse]

Degoth listened to his guest, not all peeved by his refusing to take his offer of food and drink. It left more for him and his family to enjoy....his brother included. His suspicions were confirmed, the man was here for information on Emilgotha, his first cousin. She was....a sour subject. Not for the family, they just pretended she didn't exist. But it was....something people liked to bring up. Rivals, friends and admirers.

"Ah. Emilgotha. She....she is a subject my family would rather pretend didn't exist" He said, placing a hand on his chin, deep in thought. "It's a long story, the short version is" He puts his hands on his hips, debating on how to tell this.

"The short version is she is....was the daughter of my aunt. Vadgotha. Dear Vad fell in love with a Mandalorian bounty hunter turned slave and sired a child with him. They hid the truth for ten years, until assassins murdered her, at the gazebo over there" He says, pointing to a white gazebo outside of the lobby. Two guards stood at attention as a black haired women was teaching a girl how to use force lighting. If one wanted to assassinate someone from here, it was almost perfect.

"They blamed Sasko, Emil's father, for the murder and Harvilus took her to Korriban to be...trained properly. Of course, do to her father she was....it was less training and more torture. On a ten-year old. " He paused, recounting the rest of the tale in his head.

"Of course, Mandalorians are....protective of their own. Harvilus learned that the hard way"

 

[Ral]

Listening to the man as he recounted the story of his cousin Emilgotha and her parentage, Cassus wondered if such things were rather common in Sith society. The man also wondered why she was assassinated. No doubt it was political, or perhaps some rite of passage for a young Sith assassin, but it was a mystery he yearned the answer for nonetheless. When the man was done the fallen Jedi nodded contemplativelyrics. "I see... Yes, the Mandalorians are rather protective of their own. I taught a Mandalorian student myself; she joined me in the fight against the Jedi at their temple on Tython, I know she was protective of her siblings and felt a great weight on her shoulders when they were taken from her."

Clearing his throat, Cassus looked around, almost amused that someone was trying to teach a child the intricacies of Lightning. They sure did start training early here on Dromund Kaas, though the former Jedi had to wonder if perhaps they weren't being a little too ambitious with their training, attempting to teach more demanding powers at such a young age. Perhaps this was part of the deficiency in the Sith the Jedi had faced so far? They were too ambitious, and chose not to train in the basics and fundamentals of the Force and Saber before moving on to the advanced skills and techniques. It was an interesting hypothesis, one he would have to test when given the chance. "So, now that I have an idea where your cousin is and who she is with, what would you like done with her? Killed? Captured and returned here for you to deal with? Or perhaps you would desire for her to be turned? I would be willing to do any one of those myself if you wish. Though it may take some convincing for her to return to the fold. Is there anything you can tell me about her personality or skills from her time here?"

 

[Gaiaverse]

The man took a minute to think, his hands moving as if moving Dejarik pieces. It was like he was laying a intricate plan in his mind, a sign of a aptitude for long term planning and backstabbing. He took a few moments, before going 'ah' loudly. Apparently he had an idea. "My father has....told me that he is interested in bringing Emil back. For political reasons that no effect on you but are very important for my family. If she comes back as a newly initiated Sith acolyte, you would make him a very happy man. He may even let you train her if he's in a really good mood. But" His pointer finger raised violently, showing the importance of his future words.

"That would be like to move a mountain with a horse-drawn cart. Emil....loathing is probably an understatement it have to do, loathes the Sith. Not hate, if she stills follows what her mother taught her, she's perfectly fine with the Sith existing, but....we haven't exactly 'won her over. '. So to speak. It's what happens when you let egoistical fools do the work of cunning planners. Just capturing her would be...easier and less of a delaying hassle." He smiled.

"But, her father taught her well. She knows, and has, how to keep hidden from guards, Sith or otherwise, unarmed combat, how to make and lay traps, dress a wound with a medpac or...it's less than stellar alternatives, survive on low food rations. If Mandalorians are reputably good at one thing, it's fighting and training someone to fight. She is also stubborn a trait of both her father and mother. Arguments will probably go nowhere Especially with your...effects on her." He finished, looking to the ceiling as if trying to recall anything.

"Through, she probably has a lot of...pent up anger and regret."

 

[Ral]

There was a quiet scoff that came from Cassus's throat as he smiled at the man's reply. The fallen Jedi didn't expect getting her to come in would be easy. If anything he expected, perhaps even desired the challenge of capturing her, or corrupting her to the darkness. Either option was equally palpable for him. Cassus simply wanted to weaken the Order, to show those who followed the dogmatic ways of the Jedi that they were wrong, and that they could do so much more if they simply opened their eyes like he had.

As Cassus stood there, he wondered if it might be easier to provoke young Emilgotha into anger rather than whispering into her ears. If she was truly so stubborn and set in her ways then maybe Cassus would need a club to break down her defenses and cause her to tap into those dark emotions, corrupting her slowly that way. It had nearly worked on the young Leira Rys, if only he had more time to corrupt her before their duel was interrupted. In any case it was an interesting thought exercise for the fallen Jedi. His mind wandered for a moment wondering what his friends were doing, the beautiful Shae and young Kyrene, two of the traitors that had joined him on Tython. He wondered for a moment if they might help him, or if not help directly, what they would do to capture her or corrupt her. He hummed thoughtfully before looking back at the man across from him.

With an amused smile still on his face, he spoke, "I see, I see. Well, should I meet her again I will do my best to bring her back with me. I know better than most just how dangerous a Mandalorian can be. How... persistent and tenacious they are. But I also know how to lure her out. So, we will see if she takes my bait or not. I certainly hope she does if she considers herself to be like those pampered Jedi at all. Now, you mentioned having pent up anger and regret... can you explain more of that. If I can understand why she feels that way, I might be able to use it against her."

 

[Gaiaverse]

Clasping his hands together and putting them under his chin, the man thought for a moment again. When he spoke, his hands move as if directing a play. It was clear he was trained and experienced in the art of public speaking. "Imagine if you saw your mother die in front of you, the life slowly draining from her face, her skin goes cold and her once loving eyes staring blankly into the sky. Now, imagine what it would feel like to a ten year old. Furthermore, Emil's time in Korriban was....torture. While yes Sith training is deliberately brutal and hard on the student. The student is still suppose to learn something. Harvilus, her 'master' instead chose to use her as a venting tool. Frankly, I suspect she was happy when Sasko killed Harvilus in front of her. The rest of her life was spent hiding and being suspicious of everyone that wasn't her father. That along with her father hating everything that wasn't Vad, Emil or Corellia did not help in the empathy department. She killed her first man at thirteen and continued on from there. When her father died, thanks to treachery, I could feel the anger, sadness and regret in her."