Landing (Open)

[Mr. Teatime]

Arcturus turned back to the doors after their responses with little expression. With a mental push, he unlocked the gate and pushed it open. It swung on oiled hinges with little noise. He stepped inside, leading the other two. The Old Ones refers not to the Sith, but to my own kind. They are more commonly known as the Anzat. Before there were ever Sith, or Jedi, or even a Republic or concept of the Force, the Anzat were there, and still are. We are immortal predators, hunting the younger, more prolific races. They are our prey. I am Youngest of the Anzat. The hall they entered was grand, but humbly so. Stone and steel, but little else. Truly different from the Jedi and their showy temples.

 

[Corrupt Justice]

Jedi? Force? These concepts were foreign to Iluvatar. Most of the Anzat's words passed without much effect. All that the Diathem gleamed was that this Changeling believed himself to be above other wons of its kind. Yet, he stated that he was below those of his own visage. Interesting. How could he believe himself to be superior if he did not think he was to his own? The thought confused the angel slightly. She believed that she was either equal to her sisters and brothers, or better. Isn't that what all thought? Except for the Changelings of course. They were so... Strange. At least Naberius would enjoy having a hunting prtner, or a potential game animal. These thoughts fluttered through Iluvatar's head without much thought or emotion.

As they made their way into the temple, once again her cold gaze was pressed on the architecture, and whomever might be inside. She glided easily a few inches off the ground.

 

[Vince of America]

Naberius looked around as they entered the Temple. It was so...monotonous. Everything was so same compared to the changelings' structures in The Scatter. It reminded the Maelibus slightly of his own spacious tunnels and caves under the surface, elegant in its simplicity, though not matching their own timeless craftsmanship. Arcturus' description of himself intrigued him. He seemed like some sort of bizarre cross between a Greater and lesser being: ancient but changing, predatory but vulnerable, still but living, ageless but young.

"I may come to enjoy your company. You seem above those who stand so far below us. Though we certainly differ in many important degrees, we share enough for you to introduce me to these Sith."

 

[Mr. Teatime]

"Take not for granted superior age, if it comes without superior wisdom. Be cautious. From what I See, you are older than most. But if what you say of your journey is true, you would know little. There are those of us with the ability to crack the earth and burn the sky with our power. However... And here he smiled again. Your predatory nature may very well aid you, here, so long as it is used well. After a bit more walking, they reached another cross hallway. Arcturus turned right down it, passing a single student who averted his gaze. There are many beings outside your world who are of different species. Different on both small and large levels of scale. Those you know as Changelings are actually many, many groups of different beings. The most common are Humans. They grow old and die, for the most part. Some, like my own species, do not. The Anzat have existed likely as long as your own kind. There are individual Anzat who are old enough to remember the beginning of the Human race. He went on like that, explaining basic things about the galaxy that they hadn't seen. What some of the factions were (Sith, their Jedi enemies, and the Republic that aided the Sith) Various species, like the Duros, Humans, etc. He even explained the nature of the Force, the Dark Side being the 'darkness' they felt emanating from this place.

He soon stopped in front of a door, which he opened with a touch. Dark and elegant, it was a comfortable, if someone dark and humble, abode. There was no visible source of lighting. Humans and many other beings require light to see. I can see in the ultraviolet spectrum, whereas humans cannot, as well as through the Force. I prefer darkness over excessive light. There were a few, low blue lights, but these were ultraviolet lights. There were also blinky lights on several electronics. There was a lounge couch in the corner. This is where I make my home here on Ziost. I can enter you in the order, but many Sith are occupied by war. I will alert those who lead us to your presence. And so he did, via a console on the wall.

 

[Corrupt Justice]

Iluvatar was starting to get slightly... Impatient with this Changeling. Whether they appeared different or had set species, they were all the same. Perhaps some were more mature than others, but they all were nothing compared to her splendor. Simply because she was slightly sheltered did not mean she knew nothing. It was why they were here, her and Naberius, to lean about the changing world outside of their own. She was starting to think that maybe this arrogant Changeling thought himself to be on par with the two Gods in front of him.

Through reasoning, Iluvatar knew she could not be rid of this one. She needed him to teach her about the Force, about the Dark Side. She needed slaves to help her do things she wouldn't know how to do otherwise. That was really all she thought of Arcturus, a slave or pet that was capable of speech. Her fellow Maelibus might be entertained by him, but she had no care about him. She rarely did unless it involved the immediate material she was learning.

She was attentive and held a thoughtful expression (sort of, her face was unchanging and showed no emotion, it was too alien and stiff to be able to, like an insect's) as Arcturus explained a few basic things. She was really intrigued with the power of the Dark Side. It would certainty help her in the long run. She could connect with the theory of it and seemed to reawaken lost knowledge in the back of her head and flow through her.

However, she gave no comment about what was being said. She was a listener mostly.

 

[Kazuya]

Bright colors induced by a death stick flowed around Vaihaal’s vision as she wandered the Zoist temple almost aimlessly receiving strange looks from the students there as she had not been to the temple for a good many years. The Keshiri had, had a tendency to remain on Yavin IV when she needed to train someone, as she was a sorcerer herself though she hadn’t been present around the training planets for a good ten years. Zoist she had never really been interested in, it dealing with the more ruthless aspects of fighting with the force while she preferred silence and stealth. So, being on Zoist was extremely strange for the woman.

The acolytes were more rowdy than typical ones that she had met before, and two were actually standing before her now, looking at her with fighting looks. Possibly wanting to kill the weak looking Crusader who was wandering around the temple with an unfocused look. They were talking, and she certainly wasn’t actually listening to them. The hallucinations were more interesting to her. But then their attacks started and she side stepped, laughing at them.

“Back down acolytes if you know what is good for you.” Her tittering laughter continued as she focused more on the acolytes, looking at them as if they were the biggest imbeciles in space. However, her warning didn’t seem to understand her warning, and the second one attacked again with a look to his partner. She rolled her eyes and the boy received a knee to the stomach and a lightsaber in front of his face when he hit the ground. “Do you really want to do this, young acolytes?” she asked tilting her head slightly.

It was a pity, but again the acolytes did not heed her words, and she again sent them to the ground though she didn’t have complete control over the force because of the influence of the death stick. And soon, she was chasing the acolytes through the hallway, scolding them loudly until one of them stumbled in front of the Arcturus and the two visiting creatures the likes of which she hadn’t seen before. The lights around the two of them were strange, and she grinned looking at them, mind no longer focused on scolding the two acolytes who quickly ran off fearing for their lives. The woman and male were interesting in themselves, but the lights shining off of them because of the hallucinations were added even more to her interest in them. “Interesstting…” she glanced at the sith next to them, judging his rank… Crusader? Yes. She could feel it.

Vaihaal glanced at the bulletin, then she turned to look at the two again. “Hello, there. Welcome to Zoist. I am Crusader Vaihaal Sohaan."

 

[Vince of America]

"We lack not wisdom, of that you needn't worry. We lack only knowledge, and that can be quickly rectified, as it is the purpose of our journey." Naberius listens to Arcturus' explanations. Yes, he had heard most of this, though more vaguely, in passing, from frightened or uninformed outsiders. Now, given a more comprehensive explanation of the current galaxy, he began to tie in what he knew of its past, though still not in a perfectly ordered manner. He planned to work out the minutia later, though. Now, he was being approached by another being. As she spoke, he stares off at the fleeing acolytes, hungering after their terror. Oh, how delicious it was; he could perhaps find this place rather pleasant. After musing for several moments, he turns his eyes to the smoking one. "Greetings, young Crusader. I am Naberius, and this is my...sister, Iluvatar. Forgive her, for I am a great degree more prone to conversation than she." His voice matches the golden glow around him in her mind, ringing and flowing like a chorus of bells sounding through the deep.

 

[Mr. Teatime]

Arcturus could See the pride in the angel's aura, Hear it's echoes. But he paid it no mind. She would learn in time, He welcomed the other Crusader that showed up with a small bow, as he did everyone. He waved her in, offering her a seat on the lounge couch in his chambers, the doors to which were still open.

Of that I have no doubt. There are much you could learn from many of us, though some see only themselves and are useless as teachers. Many fall to mistakes made in arrogance. His look turned serious. Be warned, those here judge not by age or appearance, but by skill. Here... If you are without skill, your worth is insignificant. But if you have the will and the potential, I can teach you many things.

He sat down upon the lounge chair, graceful in all movement. No excessive gestures or nervous twitching. He was fairly introverted, but he was also confident in his strength. He turned to Naberius. What sets you apart from others of your kind? And... What are you in particular good at, besides?

 

[Corrupt Justice]

Iluvatar's head turned like a well-oiled joint to look at the new-comer, Vaihaal. She gazed at him for a moment, slowly rising and falling a matter of milometers from her current spot about a foot off the ground. Her wings fell about her in a current, coming to wrap around herself like a shimmering pearl cloak, drifting on a non-existant wind. If one could see the force flowing, they could see that it was moved by the very golden aura that surrounded her, brushing against her wings and making them move. It was small touches like this that showed the great vanity of Iluvatar. She had no wind to blow her shining wings? She supplied it herself.

"We will learn what you provide us and more."

Her voice was an echoing whisper. Even though she answered Arcturus, her gaze remained fixed on Vaihaal. Because her body was still facing Arcturus, the large sections of her neck, like the petals of a flower that had not yet bloomed, were stretched around so she could see the other Crusader.

 

[Kazuya]

A grin passed over her face as she watched Naberius watch lustfully after the two she had been chasing around the temple. “Like what you see and feel from them, huh?” she giggled lightly. Under the influence of the drug she was a little bit more cheerful than she normally was with people who were not her rank and above. “Trust me, the amount of fright you feel from them, is nothing compared to what you can get when you truly mean it. I was just beating humility into them. It is a pleasure to meet you both, and do not worry about Illuvitar being quiet... silence can be a virtue.” A dark meaning was hidden within her words as she spoke.

Vaihaal blinked when she was called young. Young? She was thirty, and she thought her appearance showed it, at least for the moment though she was able to lie and say she was a few years younger when she needed to. It was something she had thought was a great advantage in her line of work. She had done much as a Sith in the galaxy, and was still doing so much. But to say she was young? Was her age really young to the being? Or, maybe, the man was just being polite or something.

A bow? He was stiff. That was what the Crusader who was with the interesting people was, yes… stiff. Her eyes flicked to him and then focused back onto the two as she walked towards the lounge chair and sat, leaning back in the chair and crossing her legs, perfectly relaxed; lights swimming before her eyes. Of course, the man did have military like look to him… what had she read? She had looked into the files the moment she had arrived back on the planet. She hummed a little, thinking, judging, wondering. “This fellow Crusader is right about the skill part. Without it, you are nothing but a bug to most.”

The Keshiri found her eyes focusing on the quiet one, drawn over by the gaze Iluvatar was casting on her. People less prone to conversation were often excellent with the type of training she gave. Being quiet was always something good in aspects of stealth. She didn’t take her eyes off of her as she falteringly, because of the death stick, reached out with the force to feel the others force signature. She could feel strength from both of them. Either of them would be interesting to train… she wanted to, but would she have the time to before she returned to Kesh? And would either want to be trained by her in the first place? “I would like to know that as well… what are your… affinities for fighting?”

 

[Vince of America]

"Curiosity." *Naberius said the one word as if it were the answer to all of their questions. And perhaps it was, but he elaborates nonetheless.* "I, more than any other of my kind, am curious about those who dwell throughout the worlds. I wish to see more, learn more, than I can back in our timeless home. Yes, my strength is notable, perhaps even unique, my power in what some call the Force is greater than most of my kind, and my exceptional beauty...well, that you can obviously behold. But truly, the greatest difference between me and all my brothers, is that I am not satisfied by eternity alone. I wish to experience change, novelty, growth.

"As for fear," *His grin widened for another moment, eyes shining and deepening,* "Thou hastn't experienced fear in any being comparable to one who is in the process of being eaten alive. Truly breathtaking. It was once said to me that in order to truly meet a man, you must see him at his most desperate. I have met a great many little beings."

*Despite the obvious evil and malice behind what he is saying, his remained smooth and lyrical throughout, almost as if he were reciting a poem or singing a song that he'd known all his infinite life.*

 

[Mr. Teatime]

Arcturus drew on other's fear only as sustenance. Although his Anzat-based physiology preferred the 'soup' of other sentient beings, he could also sustain himself on the pain and fear of others. He did not draw on it for strength, however, no more than a lion did. It was merely a tool. Instead, he drew on his own deeper emotions, as well as a will to fight. He was truly cold in his ways, though he may not seem it. A predator, like any Anzat.

Will to learn is good. It is my belief that the best warrior is also a philosopher. Knowledge must go hand in hand with skill, or it is wasted. I am not successful merely because of strength of body, but also strength of mind. I'll turn you into into a warrior afore long, Naebrius. You companion, however, may not do as well on the open battlefield. What are your strengths, winged one?

As he spoke, he began polishing a metal vambrace he removed from a chest next to the lounge with a microfiber cloth.

 

[Corrupt Justice]

Iluvatar finally turned to look back at Arcturus, her eyes, as usual, unblinking. She floated there for a time, not speaking as she formulated words, taking her time, for she had plenty of it. Time management was not a skill of hers, not when there was no such thing as time on Iego. She raised a hand conversationally, her voice rolling out of her, though she had no obvious mouth.

"I an willing to learn anything. Give me information and I will use it to my advantage. I wish to learn more about this... Force. I feel its power and I yearn for it in a way that I have never wanted anything else, like a pain in my soul that I cannot satiate. I feel it and I can use it, just tell me how. Violence without using the mind is not what I desire. I have no need for petty weapons."

She actually did not mean any offence to Naberious. It was something that they agreed to disagree on.

"I wish to prove my superiority without the need of touching anything with my hands."

 

[Kazuya]

“Ohh… you’ve seen such carnage?” Vaihaal looked eagerly upon the man again, not hiding her interest in such things, though she preferred not to get her hands dirty in battle. One of the reasons why she used a force whip more often than a lightsaber in battle; she preferred to distance herself from unclean things. She smiled. This one’s interest in harming others was… good, but the female. She listened to her words too. Too soft…

It was good that they craved knowledge over most, but just knowledge would not help them in the long run. Vaihaal's eyes flicked from the both of them, studying them. It appeared that while the male lusted for pain and bloodshed, the female had very little interest in such things though a want for a fighting style that would keep her from touching her opponents. Such a mindset in the field of battle as sith would be difficult to make into a ferousious warrior on the battle field. Though the hands off style, was very similar to her style, Vaihaal found herself wondering if she would have enough time to teach the curious creature about illusions, stealth, and things that had earned her, her name as a sorceress crusader and produce something of her for the Sith Empire. The female was more like a Jedi.

The Keshiri crossed her arms, red eyes narrowing and skin turning a slightly darker shade as she looked upon the woman, as much as she enjoyed the lights forming around her, she could not hide her distaste for such things. “Perhaps I can teach you. Physical violence is not something that I teach well, nor do I ever want to teach. However, your mindset is very like the way I fight. BUT, your mindset is very like the enemies we squash with every move we make. If you wish to be one of us, and be taught by one of us, you may have to change that.”

 

[Vince of America]

*Naberius took a mixture of snide pleasure and scorn at the lesser beings criticizing Iluvatar. He showed neither, however, allowing her to react instead. It should prove entertaining. He acted instead on Vaihaal's mention of enemies.* "Enemies, you say? What can you tell us about them? They may be inferior, but I have seen that there is much to learn even from lesser beings." *He couldn't keep the very slight condescension out of his speech, considering these mortals inferior, after all.*

 

[Mr. Teatime]

Arcturus frowned. Not at the Maelibus. He was mostly ignoring his arrogance. That would be fixed eventually when he said the wrong thing to the wrong person. He frowned at his fellow Crusader. Underestimate not thine enemies. Lest they hide in your shadow and strike where you are blind. He did not agree with Jedi philosophy or their aiding of the corrupt Republic, but he had engaged both Jedi and Imperial Knights in combat. He had found skilled members of both. He then turned to the Maelibus, looking him in the eyes. Our primary enemy is the Republic, whome we are at war with. Their government is broken and corrupt, yet the Jedi, the Sith opposite, support them regardless of their idiocy. As such, we fight them as well. They always lose, because their Republic will forever fail as a nation. They have not the backing nor the raw combat prowess of the Sith. He frowned again. They prefer talking over battle. They do too much talking and not enough fighting. There is a time and place for negotiation, and they know not when it is.

 

[Corrupt Justice]

The air around Iluvatar grew hot as she turned to look at Vaihaal again. Instinctively she floated back within arm’s reach of Naberius as her wrath started to pour from her body. The aura around her was not simply something pretty to look at. The glow was actually visible. It was the glow of the sun- HER. This insect had the gall to address her in a way that she had never experienced.

Her head turned so she could look at Arcturus, her chest rising as she took in air and held it. She listened to him, to these… enemies that she was being compared to. She was not that weak. She cared not for petty squabbles between mortals, they were below her.

”Perhaps you misunderstood me, simplem puellam, but I never said that I do not yearn for the deaths of you disgusting life forms, if what you call your pointless meandering in this world life.” She slowly turned her head to look down upon Vaihaal, raising a few more inches above the floor so she could better look down the bridge of her long face. ”In fact, I would like nothing more than to burn everything to the ground, including your pathetic enemies, but I will not drop and crawl in the mud with YOU. I will never change myself to that of a mindless worm like YOU.” The more she talked, the brighter she became, the hotter the air around her grew. Her hands glowed from temperatures beyond that of what a human could withstand. Her fingers curled to the exact shape of the size of Vaihaal’s neck. ”Do not compare me to you. Do not compare me to this Alliance. I am beyond you. “

 

[Kazuya]

“Dear, dear, you misunderstood me, my fellow crusader. I do not underestimate the Jedi in any way shape or form. I’ve more dealings with them than I would care to…” Vaihaal paused a moment, her cheery façade vanishing, a dangerous note in her next words warning the Anzat to tread carefully, “Do not assume things.” Vaihaal narrowed her eyes slightly and then chuckled, looking at Arcturus with a wry grin as if nothing in her manner had changed. Oh how defensive he was getting, it made her all the more critical of him as she listened to his explanation of the empire. It was a satisfactory explanation but her attention turned to the words of Iluvatar, rage building at the words of the ‘high and mighty being’.

“O-ho.” Vaihaal arched an eyebrow at the reaction of Iluvatar, her demeanor changing back to the dangerous one, smile vanishing in all but a few seconds. “You call our lives pointless meanderings, yet you are here before us. You said you would like nothing more to burn us to the ground, and yet you are here before us, saying that you did not yearn for the deaths of our ‘disgusting life forms’. You contradict yourself! You call us mindless worms! And yet, here you ARE. Beyond us, please.” Vaihaal paused for a brief moment and stood, “You are acting like no more than an insolent little spoiled child. You are the ones who came here to learn from us! DO NOT ASSUME TO BE MORE THAN WE. YOU ARE NOT OF THE SKYBORN! You. Are. Not. Gods. You may live longer lives, but you are as petty of creatures as we are." Vaihaal's hand moved to hover over her lightsaber while she pooled what she could of her force powers. If Iluatar had interest in showing her power so be it, the Sith Crusader would not sit through such an insult, and she waited for the female's reaction." Lets see how long you last here, child.”

 

[Vince of America]

*Naberius chuckled at both of them, Iluvatar's temper and Vaihaal's insolent reaction. Not to mention the increasingly vicious heat of the room, which didn't bother the subterranean being of course.* "Peace, both of you." *His voice was soothing, and he stepped between them.* "I apologize if my sister offended you, but you must understand. In many ways, we are superior to you. I know nothing of "gods" or "skyborn", but we certainly stand apart from the changelings that inhabit most of the galaxy. If we are to interact and learn from each other, it is something you must acknowledge without anger or jealousy."

*He spoke as if this were all obvious fact, and as if Vaihaal only needed to be reminded of something self-evident.*

 

[Mr. Teatime]

Arcturus listened to the three people speak, all quite rudely, without comment. Silent and still as death, save for the constant polishing. Once it was over, he slowly and carefully replaced the armor back into the lockbox, closing it. He then stood to his full height, looking at each of them in turn, his gaze settling on Iluvatar. He rose a single hand, a gesture of quiet and peace. Although his face was calm, any who could see him through the force would find his aura seething. Ordinarily, it resembled dark rainclouds, hiding his thoughts and holding back the freezing torrent. Now, these 'clouds' seethed with lightning, their spreading darkness stifling the light coming off the two golden beings. Seen through the force, it was clear Arcturus was less than pleased.

Three seconds passed before he spoke. His voice, normally calm, was cold as ice.Perhaps, you would be so very kind as to show us lesser beings what gives you such confidence... As to insult me in my own domain! His words rang with chilly authority and just a hint of malice. His hands strayed towards no weapon, because he needed none. And, if the other Crusader saw fit to punish the insolent 'angel', he would do nothing to stop her, save from inflicting anything too serious. He said nothing to Naberius before sitting back down, his challenge open. While they were the predators of their world, here they were prey. As such, Arcturus expected them to either back down, acknowledging their status as mere students of the sith, or rise to the challenge and have it shown to them. A simple beginners lesson that all must learn, one way or the other. Many who came to the Sith had unearned arrogance, after all. It was the nature of things.