Judgment Day

[Andraste]

OOC: Death Disabled unless someone does something stupid to piss Andraste off. Message me OOCly if you think something will :P
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To say that Andraste was livid was an understatement. She had been busy dealing with recent reports of suspicious Hutt activity on her borders when she was called away to more….petty matters. From the sounds of it, a fight broke out amidst some of her Sith Masters, and they were each women Andraste highly valued and respected. When news came of the ladies breaking out into an all out brawl within Essia Contaris’ kitchen, Andraste simply sat in stunned silence for a moment.

Then came the kicker that Cregan was somehow involved too. Any shock she had prior gave way to pure rage, especially considering the chat she had with him recently. Why was he involved in suspicious activities with a Sith Master? Why did the ladies feel the need to cause enough of a scene to drag her into it and why did none of the councilors present do anything to stop it? Finding a babysitter for Elix, she immediately made her way over to the academy on Korriban, calling an immediate meeting and summoning the culprits in question, along with Kravos and the newest member on the council.

The chambers were large with guards poised at the entrances. Andraste took a seat at a chair at the end of the room, drumming her fingers on the armrests. Judging by her face, it was already easy to tell she wasn’t happy. Her yellow eyes were narrowed and her very aura was swirling with rage. The dark side of the Force fed into it, and it spiraled through her now. She patiently waited for the others to arrive, debating silently on how to get to the bottom of all this.

@Phoenix @Rexx @Dread @anzat17 @Cazar @Nefieslab

 

[Darth Evandrus]

Well.

That had happened.

Seemed that things had gone rather poorly for the plan but at least no one had actually died. In fact, the only person who had died so far was the original target. The Warmaster who had been targetted had died to a challenge that had happened at the same time as the plot had gotten to the poisoning stage.

Convenient.

But here he was before the Empress with everyone else for their part in the affair. He stepped into the chambers, still in his armour but with his helmet under one arm. Reaching the place where he knew he would have to kneel, Evandrus did so, falling to one knee with the helmet in front of him as he met the eyes of his Empress and wife for a moment before bowing his head.

He bowed before her to discuss what had occurred within the kitchens, what he had allowed to occur and what parts he had helped by facilitating.

This was not going to be a fun occasion but Evandrus had never run from his mistakes in the past and he wouldn't start now.

 

[The Eternal (Vex)]

While she should be scared, she was more... prepared than anything. Vex was rash; when she thought she was doing something right she went for it headlong. A fault that Siris punished her enough times for that it should have been beaten out of her by now.

But it wasn't. She liked to think it was because taking a beating was worth protecting the Empire's standards or the people she cared about, but she knew she was stubborn and impulsive and that that was probably an excuse she told herself.

Now she walked into the large chamber, having left behind all of her weapons, her cloak and her helmet. Unarmed and completely vulnerable, only wearing the bare bones of her Away Armor, to show respect to the Empress.

She bowed deeply as she came to a stop in the chamber, holding the position for slightly longer than she usually did. Standing straight up, she was careful not to speak until she was spoken to.

 

[Nayeli Aeron]

Being summoned by the Empress was supposed to come soon, but Nayeli was not thinking it would be for the incident. She had wanted to be summoned for praise, to join the council, and to be a peer. There was little to enjoy about being summoned for this stupid incident. The Togruta Sith Master walked into the large chamber mindful of those who would be present. Darth Evandrus was present as well, summoned alongside the women themselves. Nayeli almost wanted to spit on him but held it back for now. She also looked to those near the Empress herself and was pleased with who she saw so far. She bowed respectfully as she was supposed to do and said nothing. The Sith Master simply waited to see what would come next. She had come without weapons and just her simple duelist armor.

 

[Darth Kravos]

Darth Kravos was none too happy with the reports he had heard about what was quickly becoming known as "the kitchen incident." Honestly, he expected some forms of bickering amongst the Sith, but infighting - true infighting - was what had nearly raised the Exiles to the ground. He was bordering on livid that some of the most well-known names in the Order were acting more like teenage girls than Sith Masters.

Kravos knew why he was here, and among those reasons was to make sure that no one stepped out of line. To that end, he'd come in his full armor with his saber hidden under his robes. He was ready for this to go sideways or for someone to make a move, and it would be their last. One sideways glance was all it would take.

The Dark Lord stood at the side of his Empress, watching as the others filed in. Each one of them he knew either personally or by reputation, and that was what was most disappointing: they were the face of the Order. Even up to members of the Council involved in this... debacle.

His eyes swept slowly over those who knelt, watching for even the slightest hint of defiance in them, but they showed none... at least outwardly. None were foolish enough to defy the Empress like that. If they were, it would mean their heads.

 

[Serie Fond]

Serie had been summoned like all the others, and she had expected it. The empress hated infighting, had brought the exiles together from a ragtag band of warlords into the Sith Empire. She knew she was going to have to show why she was more or less innocent in this whole debacle as it were.

She wasted no time literally starring down both Vex and Nayeli, the contempt she held for the two self righteous holier than thou Sith whom dared to stand against her and her ploy for war master. She would have killed them both on the spot, had fate seemed not to intervene for them. They got lucky to escape her, but she would make sure they would pay one day for their personal attack against her with no justification or reason, if they weren't dealt with here and now that was, she thought to herself.

Boeing respectfully as she took her stand next to Evandus she cast another side eye at the two fellow Sith as they stood before the Empress. She like the others waited for her to speak and begin the trial and tribulation that would be this hearing.

 

[Kalladrrl]

To the left and slightly behind the Empress stood a figure that radiated imposition upon the entire assembly, cutting a sharp contrast in size with his sovereign, towering above all assembled and arrayed from head to toe in Sith battle armor. It gleamed from its recent repair after his battle with the Devaronian. Kalladrrl's stance was held wide, massive fists planted on his hips just above his belt, from which hung his lightsabers. His cloak reflected his new status, lined on all edges by understated yet fine gold trim that stood out from the midnight-black of the garment.

He had heard in brief about what had transpired to summon these four before the Empress, including the High Judge himself, kneeling before the Empress. The other three were Sith Masters, one Serie Fond, who he had never met, the second was the tattooed Nayeli Aeron, a contemptible slave master, and the third…was Vex. He remembered what had happened between the Togruta and Vex at the penthouse in Lothal and he felt himself begin to seethe in anger, eager to know why Vex and the Togruta had been together in the support suites of the previous War Master, and he knew Vex would be able to sense his disgruntlement and the feeling of disquiet that twisted its way through him. Standing behind the Empress, the Dark Lord of the Sith and the War Master was a protocol droid with a gunmetal gray chassis, brought for the good of Kalladrrl and the other Sith. It would be best for the assembly to hear his words from as close to his mouth as he could muster, because he knew many of these smallfooted ones could not understand the tree-tongue as Vex could.

 

[Andraste]

Andraste looked at each and every one of them, resting her chin on her palm for a moment as they arrived and bowed. Her yellow eyes took in every little subtlety, the slight anger brewing beneath the surface as they all looked at one another before they turned to her. She was perceptive enough to pick up on the slightest little details, though she kept her thoughts on these things to herself. It would be foolish to think they didn’t all harbor some sort of ill will towards one another.

For a moment, there was nothing but uncomfortable silence. She let them stew under the weight of their faults for a while as she vacantly stared at them. At long last, she finally sighed and broke the silence, “When I was first ousted from the Jedi and came to find the people known as the Exiles, they were nothing but a scattered group of war mongering animals. They had caused decades upon decades of damage and their bickering and fighting amongst themselves led them to become cornered like little rats. I made it my mission to bring this group of people out from the shadows to become something more than that,” She slowly rose from her seat, now taking steps towards those assembled before her. They all towered above her, and yet she still held her commanding presence, “For the past decade I have tirelessly worked to bring the people under one banner and today we are the greatest Empire in the galaxy. The Republic fears us, the Hutts fear us, and they are right to do so. Why? Because we are more powerful than ever because we are united.”

Her jaw tightened as she looked at each of them, “What you all have done has threatened the very principles of everything I have worked to achieve. You have fallen back to the childish ways that caused us to recede to almost being non-existent. Your failures are my failures, as I see you as the face of this Empire. You lead all the efforts to grow it, you lay down the brick and mortar, you are my eyes and ears when I cannot be there. If I can’t rely on you, then who can I count on? You have all disappointed me today, and I’m ashamed to see this is what my work has amounted to.”

Andraste paused there and it was difficult to tell what she would do next. There was clear disappointment in her eyes, and she slowly turned to face Evandrus, “Darth Evandrus,” Her tone was cold. This was not his wife, but his Empress, “You will explain what you were doing at the beginning of this and what transpired. As a member of my council, I expect better from you.”

@Rexx @Phoenix @Dread @anzat17 @Cazar @Nefieslab

 

[Darth Evandrus]

Well they were all here, all assembled and waiting for Andraste to address them. It seemed the rumours had been true as well! Kalladrrl had taken the mantle of War Master from Essia Contaris while the plot had exploded in the kitchen.

Seemed like only yesterday that Kalladrrl had been just another grunt - talented to be sure - but a grunt none the less. But the Wookie had a drive to succeed it would seem.

Ah...

The sting of his wife's disappointment was sharper than the heat of her anger ever could be and his armour was no defence. And, as expected, it was the Empress who addressed him and not his wife.

He didn't expect anything less.

"My Empress." he acknowledged, bowing his head lower for a moment before meeting her gaze, "The events here are the result of an attempt to kill Essia Contaris. Master Fond wished to challenge Essia as she was an unfit War Master. As Essia is a renown duellist however, Master Fond's plan was to poison her enough to effect her skills in battle, challenge and defeat her. I was there to assist in this endeavour as it is my opinion that Essia wasn't suited for the position and needed to be replaced. I saw merit in a War Master being able to use subtly to achieve their goal rather than just rely on being able to win in a straight fight every time - as was my issue with Essia. I would clarify that this was not a plot against the now newly appointed War Master Kalladrrl as, at this point, his challenge had either yet to start or was ongoing."

Pausing for a moment, he continued,

"Masters Vex and Aeron arrived, accompanied by Lord Siris and Master Sk'ar, and asked for an explanation as to why we were present. Lord Siris asked me to leave with him and I began to do so. Masters Vex and Aeron did not wait to receive a verbal answer from Master Fond and her Knight before they attacked with lightning. Master Fond retaliated and the fight ended in rather confusing circumstances. Lord Siris and I had left the room after the first attack however, so I cannot speculate on the nature of the retaliation or the ending of the conflict."

With his account reported, he looked his Empress in the eyes from across the room for a moment longer before bowing his head,

"That is what happened within the Kitchens of the War Master as I experienced them, My Empress." he bowed his head again and willed his mental shields, including his strongest defence (capstone) to lower to Andraste alone, "I freely open my mind to you so you may enter to verify the truth of my words, should you so wish."

He had nothing to hide. He had told nothing but the truth and done so while looking her right in the eyes... he doubted she needed to look into his mind to know he had told nothing but the truth, nothing but what he had experienced, but he was willing to let her see it for herself through his eyes if it would help.

 

[The Eternal (Vex)]

Kalladrrl's anger struck her like a ton of bricks. And it wasn't just that. She could sense—almost taste—his jealousy. She didn't know who he was jealous over, but anger boiled deep within the pit of her stomach; the idea that he thought she'd cheat on him made her see nothing but pure, unadulterated rage. If she could scream at him right now she would, but she had no choice but to stay silent and seethe. He'd feel it too; feel her rage at him. That was the only thing that gave her comfort.

Though her attention was somewhat redirected at Darth Evandrus as he told his fable. Vex found herself dumbstruck at the end. Serie and the High Judge were trying to suborn the kaggath? That was what Vex had foiled? What would Serie do after she got the seat on the council? How would she fight off challengers that weren't poisoned and weakened? Why wouldn't she simply challenge the war master straight out to prove she was worthy of the seat? All these thoughts shot through Vex's mind at a million miles a minute.

On top of it all, Vex was reminded that Serie had failed twice. No, three times now with this plot. She also couldn't recall many times that Serie had personally helped the Empire grow. Was Serie secretly part of the Black Hand and thats why there weren't many tails of her victories? Or had she actually not done much to prove her worth? There were so many thoughts, so many emotions.

Of course Vex did not think out loud. Part of her kept being pulled back to Kalladrrl and his anger. Pulled back to the fact she couldn't confront him right now. And so she looked him in the eyes. Boring her yellow gaze into his dark one..but she needed to remain focused at the task at hand.

She had only been attracted to the kitchen after sensing something was wrong, and then attacked after both Serie and Vincent had went for their weapons. Though why she did it probably didn't matter to the Empress. The Empress had made it clear that she did not support Sith versus Sith, and so Vex remained silent because she did not want to anger her queen.

 

[Andraste]

As Cregan spoke, Andraste only grew angrier. Where there was disappointment, she slowly felt rage begin to seep in. She was unconcerned with the feelings shared between Kall and Vex, as they were beneath her realm of focus. However, this revelation from Evandrus caused a distaste that was palpable, and it would be felt by all present. As he continued to speak, near the end of his speech, his words began to be strained. He would feel the Force gripping tightly around his neck, and it would be enough to make his eyes bulge and leave him gasping for breath and bring him further down to the ground. Andraste did not move a muscle through this, and she calmly gazed at him and stood before them all.

“And instead of bringing your concerns about a member of the council to myself, you saw fit to help execute a cowardly plot instead,” Andraste took steps closer towards him, her anger now tangible in the Force to where he would feel it in his bones, “If this Sith Master is so weak that she cannot execute such a plot on her own, then what does that say about her?” Andraste didn’t bother looking at Serie as she spoke. She may have rescued the woman recently, but this was a very different situation, “Are you some trivial little member of the Empire that anyone can tap you to help them execute their nefarious plots to subvert traditions we have in place for a reason?” As she uttered the last word, she would physically fling Evandrus across the room with enough force to send him crashing against the opposite wall of the room.

Andraste turned to face Serie at last, glaring at the woman, “Who would you seek to poison next? Me?” She raised her voice now, the Force constricting around Serie’s entire body to start becoming uncomfortable, “Did you think you would be commended for your actions? Did you think you were going to get away with this? You are in the presence of what I want to see on my council,” She pointed a thumb back towards Kalladrrl, “I don’t need cowards on it. I need people that are brave enough to uphold traditions and be someone I can trust. If I wanted snakes, I would have asked Wyck to be on my council.”

She finally released Serie before turning to look at Vex and Nayeli, “Why did you two feel the need to jump into fighting instead of raising what you saw as an issue?”

@Dread @Phoenix @Nefieslab @Rexx @Cazar @anzat17

 

[Darth Kravos]

Kravos's hands clasped behind his back as he continued to watch, looking down at each of those suffering judgment. His eyes ran over each and every one of them in turn and he envied none of them. The tension in the room was palpable between the Sith Masters and even their newest addition to the Council. What precisely had gone on there might be something worth discovering at a later time, but now was not that time.

Evandrus offered his explanation for his actions and even with every word spoken, he could feel the subtle - and then not so subtle - changes in Andraste. He knew her well enough to know what he sensed in her. There was no one in the galaxy that Kravos truly feared except for the woman he was married to. He had always known there was something about her, but even he hadn't seen her rage truly flare in years. Now that he saw it, he remembered why there was a sliver of fear mixed with his love for her.

The Dark Lord certainly didn't envy the High Judge his position now. As he kneeled before her, he could feel the anger surging from the Empress. She was furious and enraged like he hadn't seen in years and he could feel the anger begin to lash out at Evandrus as he spoke. If Kravos knew the High Judge, he wouldn't lash out at his wife, but there was always that question in the back of his mind. That part of him that wondered if the day would come where the two would come to blows over her again. He hoped that wouldn't be today, but he didn't wince or step back.

In fact, with every action, he became all the more alert. If there was an obvious time for these to lash out it would be now. He stood in silence, attentive to the most subtle of changes in the room in case anyone was foolish enough to try something.

 

[Kalladrrl]

It wasn't that he didn't trust Vex.

Far from it.

It was her choice of companion that irked him, because of how Nayeli had acted towards Vex. And as Kalladrrl felt his rage reciprocated through their bond, his own anger towards Vex was washed away by sadness. He wished he could change how he reacted, but he also awaited Vex’s answer to the Empress questions, the Empress’ praise of his performance in the challenge buoying him but only just. Even his sovereign throwing the High Judge who would attempt to subvert the law and her attack upon the treacherous Serie Fond did not bring him any joy next to Vex’s anger at him.

As Vex’s eyes met his, the sulfurous yellow betraying her power, he wished they could be light-years away from all this, just the two of them, without Executioners and Judges and Empresses and War Masters to contend with at every turn. He would give up all of the power of the Force and the responsibilities of his office to be with her unopposed.

But that wasn't the life they had chosen. And it didn't stop Kalladrrl from loving her. But damn did it make it hard to just live.

He continued his vigil over the Empress and the assembly, awaiting permission to speak should it be granted to him.

 

[Darth Evandrus]

There was the anger.

The disappointment still hurt him more than the physical or the anger though. The invisible hand that held his throat was hardly light however. If he wanted to, he could fight it. He could have fought it but he didn't.

Instead he just held his head slightly higher so that when he began to fall lower he didn't hit his face at all. He resisted the urge to clutch at his neck through great willpower even against the force at his neck.

And then he was flying through the air... to be stopped abruptly and violently by a wall.

Didn't that bring back memories.

The landing hadn't been soft at all but thankfully he was still wearing his armour so it wasn't his spine or ribs that had cracked, though they were bruised, but instead his armour. He fell forwards but caught himself before he could fall.

Taking a deep breath now that he could, he coughed once due to the pain in his throat. He looked up and looked at both Kravos and Andraste for a moment before walking forwards again.

He had taken the pain and he would take it's after effects as well... But to the "Lord" part of him there was an issue.

He wasn't kneeling before his Empress.

Stopping in exactly the same place as before, Evandrus knelt before her once more. The back of his head was bleeding but Evandrus paid it no mind as he knelt before his Empress, ready to weather whatever she demanded of him, with love and loyalty still firmly in his chest even in the face of her anger and disappointment.

He didn't offer excuses because she would accept none.

He didn't argue his earlier argument as she would not hear it.

He just presented himself to his Empress.

 

[The Eternal (Vex)]

Vex watched the Empresses display of rage, and readied herself to receive the same punishment because she thought she deserved it. More than anything this display rang home that she had disappointed her Empress, which upset her and made her feel as if she had disappointed Siris as well. Vex would never admit that it upset her when her master was mad—but it did.

But she was also in part happy that Andraste did not approve of the High Judge and Serie's plot. She should't have doubted or even thought for a second that the Empress would approve of someone suborning the kaggath.

The Empress was an Empress for a reason; she was worthy of her throne. She had fought hard to get where she was and she was right. The Exiles—now Sith—had torn each other apart over petty squabbles in the past. It was not worth it. Vex cared only for her job, the Empire's health, her master and Kalladrrl. She'd fight tooth and nail for all of them...

"I did not think, Empress," Vex admitted, lowering her gaze. "When I sensed something off in the kitchen, and Serie and Vincent went for their weapons I simply reacted." Vex went to her knee, bowing her head even deeper. "I did not think it though. I did not think of the past. I did not consider that the exile's destroyed themselves and I...I will never make the same mistake again."

 

[Nayeli Aeron]

Nayeli had been content to avoid attention up to this point. It seemed the Empress was more upset at the others and the Togruta would not call attention to herself. To be honest, she had not really been expecting a fight to break out. There was just something suspicious going on and now she could see what that was. After listening to the High Judge give the account of the story she no longer felt any tinge of guilt inside for these actions. No one would convince the Sith Master that she had made a mistake. This was her right to act and it seemed someone above her had failed. Nayeli fought back the smile as she came to this realization and instead opted for a neutral face. She listened to Vex finish speaking before she would give her own account of the situation.

"I too felt something was off so I took a peek inside and began to speak to them. When Vex, a Master I trust and support, went into battle I did not hesitate to support her." She said, her gaze remaining neutral and aimed roughly to the floor at Andraste's feet. "I will never hesitate to fight alongside those in the Empire. Fighting against fellow Sith is not something I wanted or expected to do, and I will be more careful in the future as well. Despite knowing what I know now about this... scheme.."

She was in very close proximity to Vex already as they had been summoned together. A hand slowly and casually drifted to touch Vex on the shoulder as she spoke about her. Her affection for the woman was obvious. In truth, Nayeli would fight alongside anyone in the Empire who deserved it. Nothing she said was a lie as far as she was concerned.

@Sreeya

 

[Andraste]

Andraste’s face was difficult to read as Vex spoke, followed by Nayeli. She wasn’t exactly pleased by either of them, but at least they were smart enough not to back talk. Andraste considered their words for a moment before turning on Nayeli, “And if Vex, a Master you trust and support, does something stupid, you blindly follow? Or do you, as a respectable Sith Master yourself, seek to counsel her on making smarter choices? I need people who can think for themselves, not lemmings” She scowled at her for a moment, but didn’t exactly give her a chance to answer. Truthfully, she was done hearing about this incident and it was beginning to waste her time.

She strode back towards her seat, rubbing her temples for a moment after she sat down. Andraste looked over at all of them and scowled, “I trust you will all know better than to act like children from here on out,” Her gaze then fell back on Serie, “As for you, I recommend doing more for the Empire instead of concerning yourself with being on the council after this embarrassing debacle,” She regarded them all again, “All of you are dismissed. Next time you waste my time like this, it will be your corpses leaving these chambers,” Venom dripped from her voice, but she was already over it. She wasn’t going to seek bloodshed this time around, not when she had just finished lecturing them on the importance of avoiding in-fighting.

As the Sith left the chambers, they would catch that the chef (@Raydo )from the kitchen had been eavesdropping the entire time. He quickly jumped back to scowl at them, crossing his arms, “Next time, all of you should jump into my oven instead so I can serve the Empress a kriffing Failure Cake. At least she’ll enjoy that a bit more than the taste of raw ineptitude,” He huffed before storming off, no doubt leaving the Sith Masters and Evandrus with a sense of confusion and awe at once.

@Phoenix @Rexx @Dread @Nefieslab @anzat17 @Cazar