Ask Dathomir Everything the Light Touches

[Renfry]

Andruil had invited Stolas to return to Dathomir if he so chose. Contrary to what most Sith experienced on the world, he was allowed to pass throughout the planet without being disturbed by the Nightsisters.

The Forgotten Temple was where Renfry had set up her throne and her own living space. The space had undergone some renovations since she had taken over - the literal worm hole was filled in, some of the lower tunnels were closed off, and the space was made a bit more livable - it was largely the same temple built into the cliffs that it had originally been. Just now it had running water, better living conditions, and some basic technologies and generators to facilitate the Darth's role as a Sith Lord. In addition, automated ships and defensive positions were in the works - though still being finished - to keep out unwanted guests. Not everyone had been thrilled, and yet it was the Queen's decision.

Stolas would be able to park his ship on the open space in front of the temple and come and go as he pleased. He would also be provided with a room that had a comfortable bed and basic amenities, though it unfortunately fell a bit short of being genuinely luxurious. The temple was slowly becoming a bit more modernized without entirely throwing away the principles of Dathomir. Another contentious decision by the Queen.

Of course, her reason for inviting Stolas here weren't entirely altruistic. It was true that she liked the other Sith Lord - usually - and didn't mind building up their alliance, but she also hoped to make both a request and an offer that involved him.

Whether he had opted to spend the previous night on his own ship or in the provided room was up to him, but with the red sun now rising in the distance, Andruil had arisen and stood on the proverbial front porch of her "palace" enjoying the warm morning breeze.

 

[Darth Stolas]

Voyager dropped down from orbit uncontested by the native forces, an unfamiliar ship that had nonetheless been invited by the new monarch of Dathomir. It landed in the offered courtyard quite comfortably. The young Sith's presence naturally made many of the Nightsisters uncomfortable and some confused, his looks drawing both attention and confusion. One or two may have even given into curiosity to speak to him in his wanderings of the temple and its surroundings.

Unlike another male outsider Morgan tended to come off as friendly and polite, a base level of courtesy and respect given to those who crossed his path. Even so, after growing in strength and skill the dark energy that smoldered beneath the surface could be picked up by those sensitive to such things and made them wary. The Firrerreo explored freely but declined the usage of a room and instead had turned to his ship for the night while droids warded off any of the overly curious during his rest.

Not terribly long after the light of day crept its way over the landscape Darth Stolas stepped out of his ship, dressed in the unarmoured variant of his distinctive attire. His hair was somewhat shorter than it had been previously but it was still meticulously styled without a strand out of place. Golden eyes briefly looked toward the sunrise in quiet contemplation before he turned to walk toward where Renfry was.

"You have made improvements," he commented with a tone of approval, having noted the tidbits of modernity added to the aging structure and the beginnings of an automated defense force. Morgan was of the opinion that such changes were likely for the best and Nightsister culture would once again falter and potentially become extinct unless they caught up to everyone else, one he had briefly expressed in his own way before to Renfry.

"A shame Rook never returned to see them."

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Renfry had a faint smile as she looked back to see the other Sith Lord emerge into the morning sun. It was a beautiful morning with clearing of any mists so that one could see for miles from the perch above the cliff.

Yes, she said with a nod.

It wasn't popular with everyone, but if the Nightsisters are going to have involvement with the rest of the galaxy, we need to protect ourselves, she said. It was their mandate to protect Dathomir, and that included defending it from threats that couldn't be fought on the ground.

I heard he met his end. Quite convenient for me, she said. She had heard that it happened above above Ajan Kloss - those people really liked going to that planet - but hadn't heard that it had been Stolas who had executed the act.

I should get a fruit basket for whoever did that, she said with a snicker.

Still, his appearance showed that Dathomir needed some... hmm, precautions, she said. And that would only continue to expand in the future. A ground war on the planet would be brutal for anyone, and that meant that the skies was what she needed to worry about now.

By the way, Morgan or Stolas? she asked. It wasn't the first time she'd had to ask what another Sith preferred. They all seemed to find themselves in an interesting position these days as many of the Sith she knew transitioned from one persona to another. Perhaps it was better to say that they transitioned between the two. To those she knew before they change, she decided it never hurt to find out what they preferred.

 

[Darth Stolas]

Morgan looked around a little at the surroundings coloured in the strange light of Dathomir's rising red sun, noting also the various Nightsisters wandering about and casting occasional glances his way. Golden eyes eventually settled back on Renfry herself, a lightly amused and smirking expression settling on his face.

"I will await the basket's arrival," he said breezily. Morgan seemed to have no further comment on the defensive and technological improvements that had gone into the temple and the rest of Dathomir. The Firrerreo felt he'd already made his opinions on the subjects clear enough so far. His own people were to a degree traditionalist as well but their defense force was modern and based on history, rather effective at keeping their planet under their own control.

Infantry, no matter how skilled they fought or wielded the Force, could only do so much after all. Renfry's question as to his name was met with a bemused look that quickly vanished as he determined the reason as to why.

"Morgan." To the young Lord, based on his own Sith traditions and beliefs, 'Darth Stolas' was more a title than a proper name. Others may handle the Darth naming differently as a symbol of personal rebuilding, or even an alternative persona, and all of that was just fine. But Morgan was always Morgan. This was his way.

"Which shall I call you?"

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Renfry turned to look at him as he said he would be awaiting the basket, eyebrows raised and a smile on her face. The fact that her face upon being given a gift and upon being told that someone had killed a pest in her life were so similar probably spoke a great deal about her.

I probably shouldn't be surprised after your performance on Kloss last time, she said with a smile, thinking of how he'd gone to work in the fighter against the Jedi that had returned to their former home.

Though, I have to warn you that I'm not as good a gift giver as you are, she said. Even as she said it, he would be able to see the hairpin he had given her in her hair on the right side.

Although, you still have yet to tell me what I'm supposed to make of that lovely... hmm... "night gown" you gave me, she said with a smirk. Perhaps becoming Queen had managed to temper her wilder side slightly, but she was certainly less vigorous than she'd been when she'd seen him here last time.

Morgan it is, then, she said with a nod. And Renfry is fine unless we're being covert, she said with a shrug. She still did her best to keep Dathomir out of the spotlight and preferred her real name not be known among those who may become enemies.

Are you hungry? I thought we could talk over breakfast, she said, heading back toward the inside of the temple where she knew food was already being prepared.

She headed down a hall and into a room where a table was laid out at one end with food for the pair. Strips of meat that were somewhere between bacon and jerky, eggs of native creatures, fruits - though primarily sour more than sweet - and even a few off world sweets were all arrayed for the pair to sit and eat.

 

[Darth Stolas]

Morgan just raised an eyebrow in a politely bemused expression when Renfry mentioned gift-giving. The young Lord didn't really expect to receive one for getting rid of a pest. Ajan Kloss was surely by now well established as Sith territory after the plethora of ships had been downed in its orbit and even a Ranger craft taken. He had plans for that last one.

"Not difficult. They hardly fought back." While Roland Rook had at least engaged in a dogfight the various Jedi ships before then had been either grounded or stubbornly insisted on ignoring his ship. Or both. They obviously paid for that mistake.

"I assume you would sleep in it," he replied to her night gown comment, although a small smirk did appear on his face. It wasn't clear whether or not he was making a joke.

"Renfry it is." Morgan nodded and followed behind her into the temple and down the halls, idly looking around at the architecture, gaze casually passing over the others who were out and about at this early hour. Golden eyes turned back to what they were doing when they arrived at the room the meal was laid out in. Morgan would find a seat and sink into it about when Renfry did, observing with open curiosity the array of different local dishes.

"Your hospitality is appreciated. What shall we speak of?"

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Renfry filled her plate with a variety of foods, beginning to eat a strip of bacon. It was vasty superior in quality of food to what they had eaten last time he was here: dead insectoid.

I actually was hoping to ask you for something, she admitted honestly. Though if she'd understood correctly from their last meeting, it might be something that he was interested in anyway.

As I understand it, you're a skilled swordsman. I intend to kill Vyrassu, but in the event that my plans fail, I don't want to be eviscerated in a duel. So I want you to teach me more than the basics that I already know, she said. The words were dangerous, but she didn't feel like dancing around the issue. If he declined then perhaps things would become more complicated, but she wouldn't have asked him if she thought he would decline.

She knew that her magick would always be her greatest strength, but even gaining a better understanding of the defensive techniques in order to keep herself alive in order to cast would be valuable.

All the while she continued munching on as if she hadn't just admitted to wanting to kill one of the highest ranked members of their Order. There were numerous reasons for this intent, but those could wait for now. @Mr. Teatime

 

[Darth Stolas]

Morgan initially ate in silence, working first of course on whatever meats were available and balancing it out with something pickled. It was good and while he generally wouldn't complain about food unless it was truly terrible, he had few nice things to say about the unseasoned insect from before beyond that it was protein. This was a marked improvement to be sure.

Renfry spoke and Stolas' head turned slightly in her direction, the sign that was he listening and watching even if he wasn't directly looking at it, eating and drinking away peaceably. It was when she mentioned Vyrassu that he actually stopped eating and turned to look at her directly with that intense gaze of his, sharp and hawk-like as if Morgan was looking straight through her.

"Sound logic." Morgan placed down his utensils neatly atop his plate. Vyrassu had something of a reputation as a madwoman. Her existence did the Sith no favours in pacifying civilian populations on top of the negligent void that was the Eternal itself and doubtless she would prove an obstinate impediment to the young Lord's plans one way or another.

His expression showed clear interest as well as curiosity, brows raising and a small smirk forming that curled his lips at the edges.

"Define 'basics'."

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

She had caught his attention with what she had said, which was to be expected, but the fact that he seemed quite willing to help was what had been in question. He seemed to agree with what she said.

This was a good sign. All of this was a good sign, and she hoped it meant that thing would work out here. There was still a great deal of work to be done, but she wasn't in a rush per se. She had yet to figure out what assassinating the Councilor meant anyway. Did it mean that Andruil would take the dead woman's place on the council? She wasn't sure she wanted it, but she also wasn't sure she wanted to turn it down either. The dilemma.

There's a Dathomirian martial art system passed down by our hunters for generations, she started explaining.

Although it's not my specialty like it would be if I were a hunter, I was trained in it. It uses swords, but from looking at the Sith archives, I would guess that it's based on a functional version of your first form of saber combat, she said. It made sense and was almost certainly true. Form I was born out of a time when there was a transition from swords to sabers. Allya - having been a Jedi - was both trained in it and was said to have taught her daughters to use it in their own swordsmanship. Granted over the millennia it had undergone some alterations, but the broad strokes appeared similar.

Based heavily on zones of defense and offense, but a bit blocky and, hmm, not very fluid, she said.

 

[Darth Stolas]

Morgan tilted his head slightly as he looked at Renfry as if trying to find some new angle at which to view her from. His expression was politely thoughtful and there was clearly something going on behind those sharp golden eyes but for a few seconds he said nothing, only bothering to move to eat a piece of sour fruit. He seemed to enjoy it.

"Very basic, then." It was not said with overt judgement but rather as a simple fact. Form one was formed from existing ways to use a solid blade and they worked well enough in practice, but lacked in Morgan's opinion the means to properly handle a Lightsaber's strengths and weaknesses. But at least it helped to know what she already knew so what could be easily tacked on wasn't a mystery. Breaking old habits was more difficult than adapting them to something new.

"This I can do," he said amiably, "But I would like your help with something I am looking into in the near future. Is this agreeable?"

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

He had that look in his eye as he watched her. Appraising something, though he never did say what. Renfry had learned not to be bothered by it so much any longer. Nor was she upset by his evaluation of her saber skills. If she were well trained in the use of a saber, she wouldn't be asking for lessons.

She was relieved when he agreed to help her and she smiled as she took a sip of her juice. It had a tart flavor to it and sent a prickling sensation through the back of her mouth.

Most likely. What are you looking into? she asked. He wouldn't likely be surprised by the question. While she was amenable to offering help, she wasn't quite foolish or desperate enough to agree to something blindly. The odds, however, were that whatever he intended to request would not conflict with her own interests.

 

[Darth Stolas]

A glass of some local drink was passed briefly beneath Morgan's nose before he drank a modest amount of what amounted to sweetened juice from one of the sour fruits. He paired it with a bite of some of the bacon-like meat and another sip to wash it down, humming quietly in approval.

"A station near Sith space in the galactic south." Morgan frowned slightly. "May be connected to an enemy of mine."

Which was true. He'd learned the potential origin of a brand on the man he loved and he knew the station was where he was trained and raised. It was a simple enough connection to make. But first he would need to make preparations. It was a Sith installation and not within his direct realm of influence but that sort of thing wasn't likely to keep him from pursuing a personal vendetta.

"There may be violence. Depending on what is found."

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Renfry's interest was piqued in what he mentioned a station. She frowned curiously.

What kind of station? Or maybe I should say whose? she asked. Either way, she saw it as something that she could help him with and she continued a moment later.

Some of my hunters can look into it if you'd like, she said. There were members of her people who had trained specifically to go off world, and she had used them to great effect many times.

She finished her food and waited for him to do the same before continuing. I don't want to waste your time so unless you'd rather not, shall we begin? she asked. She knew the time of another Sith Lord wasn't to be wasted, even if they were a friend. Were they friends? She liked to think so. Or at least as friendly as Sith were, right? It was a weird Order.

She would head down the hall and deeper into the mountain where there was a large room, open and that gave them sufficient space for whatever they might decide to do.

 

[Darth Stolas]

Morgan grimaced slightly as Renfry asked after what station and who owned it. He waved his hand through the air as if to move aside her suggestion about the hunters, shaking his head slightly left and right.

"A Sith branch station. Do not draw attention to yourself." Even if it was unlikely to cause true trouble he'd rather not have the station believe it was being watched by anyone. It was a relatively secret installation that kept a tight guard and such scouts would doubtless be noticed and investigated further. Such a string of events could be potentially linked back to Raze who had begun the invasion of Dathomir in the first place, or Renfry who currently ran in. Neither would be ideal for a myriad of reasons.

Morgan also simply preferred the element of surprise. Besides, he could enter the station more or less at will as a result of his prior work with them. Scouting was not an issue.

He finished his food as well in short order, favouring the protein heavy dishes over the others, and meticulously cleaned his hands and lips after it was done. A nod of affirmation was his only reply to Renfry's suggestion they begin and he followed her through the mountain. Golden eyes looked around the chamber curiously.

"What is a saberist's primary weapon?"

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

She shrugged. Okay. She also didn't press him further on the station, sensing that he didn't wish to speak of it and also leaving aside her suggestion to have her hunters look into it.

She turned the saber over in her hands as she stood in the large room, but she didn't activate it. The fact that she didn't have a training mode was perhaps a bit concerning, but hopefully she wouldn't lose a hand or worse.

Her mind turned to his question as she returned the hilt to her hip. A saber was the obvious answer, but too obvious. She thought for a moment about making a joke on the matter, but decided to take things more seriously than that.

Positioning was critical in a duel. Reflexes were useful for staying alive. The saber was, of course, indispensable, but her ultimate answer was not unlike the greatest weapon available to a Nightsister or a Sith. Knowledge. Intelligence.

The mind, she said after a moment. Not being reckless. Making sure you have proper position. Disengaging and reengaging appropriately, she said. There wasn't always time to think in a duel, and so she also considered that instinct, reflex, and training were also powerful tools. But the mind drove everything.

 

[Darth Stolas]

Renfry's answer mostly got her a raised eyebrow. It wasn't exactly an incorrect response but to some degree the Nightsister was overthinking it, especially for someone who wasn't focused on swordsmanship. A saberist's mind was certainly important but it wasn't really what Morgan was looking for here.

"Adjacent. A saberist's weapon is their body."

With a sharp snap-hiss his weapon came off in one smooth weapon, sinking immediately into guard. "Everything you said is important. None of it is possible without conditioning, practice, and function."

Morgan twisted his hips into a close back, stepped forward into a close thrust, rotated his wrist and elbow into a flick toward air where an enemy's elbow may me, whipped it down into a knee and then rotated back into guard.

"Exception for the Force, a lightsaber is not swung without the rest of the body with it. Body moves, blade follows."

He pointed toward her weapon with his other hand, eyeing it briefly before goldens flicked back up to her face.

"For you, a close guard." Morgan's guard closed in toward himself, more horizontal and near his waist, structurally solid. "Swing. I will demonstrate."

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Renfry listened in silence, thinking about what he said. Yes, she supposed that made sense. Perhaps she had been overthinking it. She nodded her acknowledgment. Her own saber came free of her belt and lit, casting a red glow of its own over the ground. She'd grown accustomed to its feel in her hand, and it was slowly becoming like a welcome friend, but she still had a ways to go for it to be what she wanted it to be.

She watched his movements as she held her blade in her hand, not yet in guard. She watched the way not just his hands and blade moved but his whole body. Everything was smooth and fluid as he went from high strikes to low and back to center.

She watched as he fell back into guard again and instructed her to strike. She nodded again, absorbing everything with fascination.

Her own saber came up in two hands in a midguard. Rather than a direct vertical strike, instead she let her blow fall from her own top left toward her own bottom right, a strike that would remove his right arm if not defended against. As she did, she stepped inward, ensuring a retreat was impossible. It was very typical of a functional Form I strike, and although basic, could still easily eliminate an opponent.

If his display moments ago was any indicator, she anticipated something along the lines of a block and a wrist twist to send a blow to her sixth zone, a maneuver the likes of which was often difficult for a Shii-cho wielder to overcome.

 

[Darth Stolas]

Morgan matched the Nightsister and his other hand around to grip the bottom of his weapon in his tight and traditional guard. Renfry stepped in and swung toward his right and he took a half step back with both feet, waist twisting and coiling to his right as his blade came up to intercept the blow diagonally, stopping it cold with his solid and grounded stance.

His right foot took a step back so his left side faced forward, blade pushed the end of Renfry's weapon out from him and then scooped it left away from him through the new empty space to send it off line, contact arranged to prevent a swing through the bound guard. The tip of his weapon flicked down as if to cut toward her hands but didn't, simply back in a guard to deal with return cuts.

"In your case," he began, "The first step is enough to start, as you rely on magick."

Morgan's style was old and esoteric and aggressive and was not what he was demonstrating here, different from what he'd briefly shown on Dathomir. Best not to try and completely change how she fights unless she really wants to.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

She felt the strike block her saber and watched as his saber moved quickly and smoothly. His movements were tight and didn't require a great deal of power behind them to do damage. That was where her mistake was, wasn't it?

She also noticed how he held his defense and turned that into an attack. As a caster, she probably shouldn't have been attacking at all, though having no offensive capacity was likely not for the best either.

She nodded at his words.

I understand. Again? she asked. The best way to learn was to practice. Time and again until she got the hang of it. Both with him and with her sisters later. There was hours of work to be done.

---​

It had been many weeks since Renfry had invited Morgan to Dathomir for training, and much had happened since then. He'd declared his intent to execute havoc on the galaxy, and Renfry had continued her training.

Now, however, things were beginning to come together. After visiting Emryc, she had become determined to reclaim Ship for him, and that meant finding the station where he grew up. She recalled Morgan's mention of his intent to travel to a Sith station, and the pieces clicked in her mind.

Not just for the purpose of training, but also for the purpose of finding the station, she had invited him to return to Dathomir.

 

[Darth Stolas]

Morgan nodded his assent to continue. The Firrerreon's own combat doctrine would doubtless leak into his teaching somewhat but the lesson would primarily involve defensive technique and footwork. Most offensive tactics would involve binds or checks to open up for Force-based attacks which was similar to what he practiced.

Eventually their practice came to an end and the rest of the day passed on in relative calm. Morgan stayed for lunch and had a brief but interesting cultural discussion with Sile. She obviously recognized him and was wary of his presence like the others, but he was just as polite and friendly as the last time he'd visited so it worked well enough.

His departure was without incident or grand ceremony. Morgan still had work to do and information to track down and Renfry had things to practice.

-------​

The mood upon Morgan's follow up return to Dathomir was very different. He still wore the same attire, wielded the same lightsaber, and landed in the exact same ship. But now his skin's silver undertones were far more pronounced and his expression was sharper than ever, steely and thunderous in its fury. It existed just beneath the surface, the stormclouds of his presence in the Force turbulent and flashing.

He was here about the station he'd mentioned before, not merely for training. The datapad Emryc had given him before he vanished detailed everything. They had taken his ship from him, declared him unfit for duty and revoked his command, how the Eternal itself considered him a 'problem'. Treating him as just some soldier, a weapon to be used and cast aside.

Emryc was so much more than just a soldier boy. Morgan Drast would not let these and myriad other abuses go unpunished.

Nightsisters actively avoided him this time, some he had spoken to during the prior visit surprised by what seemed to be a sudden shift.

Morgan walked into the throne room to find Renfry, a guard announcing the arrival of Stolas.

"It is time."

@Phoenix