New Wounds & Old Friends

[The Confessor]

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ILUM: THE SACELLUM OF THE SITH
0900 Hours

@EmilyHuene ; @Herrith [/fancybox2]

Ilum's icy temperament makes travelling to the Sacellum difficult on foot. Ships can land nearby though not directly near the temple itself which has been carved into the foot of one of its many glacial landscapes. Those familiar with its location have been granted access to its Secret Hangar which is also carefully constructed in the mountain side. Built with the finest Imperial design available, this temple is a glorious tribute to the Empire and all those under her command.

There are two parts to the Sacellum's inner halls: the temple itself and the inner sanctum. At the front of the temple's main hall stands its holy altar where the Head Priestess would bless and give communion to her followers. The long narrow halls of the temple work as tunnels in the cavern's of Ilum. There are many corridors that lead all the up into to the peak of the mountain where it is coldest. There are many private inner chambers in which one can pray, whereas one might simply wish to sit in the halls and stare at the beauty of the inner caverns.

One of these inner chambers is where The Confessor and head matron of the Sacellum, had come to pray. Unlike her usual attire of Sith robes and armor, she was wearing not much under her white Imperial cloak, electing to putting on only a few undergarments: a black tank top and pleather leggings. It was odd for someone in this climate, though the Sacellum had been doing its best to combat the chill. She was always cold though. No amount of clothes, hot baths, or sunlight could warm her up. Something had changed in the woman who once addressed herself as Lady Eriana Fox. Something Dark had been growing inside her.

The only thing missing from The Confessor were her two curved lightsaber hilts that never left her side no matter what. The fact that she'd even parted with them in the first place was a strange nonoccurence. The reason being for it that her hands were currently bandaged up all the way down to her fingertips. She could barely close them at all, much less grab a weapon and use it. It was her own fault, a new Force power that took a cruel toll on her. In her grief and anger, she'd summoned an ice blizzard out of the Darkness and came down with several burns of frostbite in her arms. She was still in the process of healing.

But there was one other change in the woman's appearance. One she had only shown to her arch priest. With the Dark side growing more and more powerful inside her, the girl's body began to change. Her skin was whiter than ever. Someone might even think she was dead by looking at her. Even her eyes though had changed, taking a gross yellow color to their normally beautiful grays. But the most striking of which, was that her hair was slowly falling out -hence the hood she kept up at all times, and the helmet she wore constantly when leaving the safety of the church.

Thanks to the pain in her system, The Confessor was having a hard time sleeping. It was no surprise she was up this early; something she'd done on more than one occasion in the past. But her recovery demanded she get more rest and that just wasn't coming to her. So, she'd gotten herself a no-longer steaming cup of caff into the meditation chamber, hoping that some time spent praying again would do her some good. The cup still had a little juice left in it but she wasn't about to drink it cold so by now was left behind and forgotten. She'd spent this time while the drink cooled seated in the middle of the stone room, kneeling gently on a pillow.

There was a time when The Confessor came to one of these rooms on a daily basis. At home, she'd usually just pray in her bed, after waking up as well as before going to bed for the night. But with the creation of the church she found it more peaceful in these stone rooms because she could feel the Force closer and closer to her the further into the church she went. And here, in this place on Ilum, the Dark side could not be avoided. It tainted the very air they breathed and was like a miasma for it was so thick. Here, her initiates would really feel the Force as they'd never felt before.

While the Sacellum was open to any and all Sith, there were still guards posted around and inside at all times. The Sacellum guards had no reason not to trust someone looking for sanctuary within the walls, but that didn't mean they wouldn't be skeptical of any newcomers, especially if they came with weapons.

 

[Astridia Kazaczecho]

Astridia was on Ilum...why exactly? She was here because she wanted to be, first of all. The Empire hadn't told her to come here. She made the decision. There were rumors from her old friends of a church here...and she wanted to know just what it was. Not an assignment. A mission of curiosity. It was a Sith outpost, sure, and it was tense enough to make her way inside sans her weapons. But she was here now, in her usual street clothing. Wherever...here was. Some of the regular soldiers she'd been around had nightmare stories of this place. Astrid couldn't exactly blame them. Frankly, it was creepy.

Whether by sixth sense, luck, or something else, the woman had stumbled upon the door to a meditation chamber. She stared at it for a long moment, a part of her longing for something inside, at the same time feeling pushed away by some kind of sense that made her sick. The Force was an odd thing-especially to those not inclined in its teachings. And Astridia was having difficulty adjusting to the new...happenings with Force users in the Empire. But she figured she'd explored most of the church that she was permitted to. Why not add this last chamber? An open door later, Astridia was staring into the room to see a figure...praying? She cursed mentally. Bad time to enter. Perhaps better to just leave.

The woman went to back away, whether or not the doors magically shut behind her. She hated to interrupt private moments. Especially in this place.

At least it was warmer than outside.

 

[The Confessor]

"I do not get many non-Force sensitives here," the voice would come from the woman. It was cold, demanding. "But I do get them from time to time."

Standing up, the cloaked figure would rise to her knees and turn around. She adjusted her hood as she turned so the woman would only see the chin of her face which was pale and ghostly. Astridia would be able to see the bandages on the girl and the majority of her outfit before she lowered her hands and the cloak fell back inside place to hide the rest of her identity.

"Tell me, child. Have you come looking for something? Sanctuary perhaps? Or have you come to celebrate the Sith? As I said, not everyone in my temple is as gifted as the Force as they would like to be. Doesn't make them any less faithful. Just because you might not connect with the living Force as we do, does not mean it is not there guiding your path."

As she spoke, Astridia would feel something tugging at her mind. It was clearly this Sith's doing, but the non-trained woman would not be able to stop her. The Confessor was a master interrogator and mental manipulator. Astridia would very much want to share her thoughts with the robed priestess. One might even argue she would feel compelled to do so.

 

[Astridia Kazaczecho]

Why is that voice familiar...

Astridia froze as the woman rose and turned. Pale. Bandaged. The frame was familiar as well. Mannerisms, movements. Where had she met this person before...? She took a half step back and readjusted her jacket, staring at the Sith. Perhaps it made sense now. There was more to this visit than just...chance. The sensation in her mind was...somewhat recognizable. The woman wished for the truth. Not like you would have to push very far...I come in peace...

"I wanted to learn. About this place. Had only heard stories."

Her confidence grew slightly and she took a step forward, pointing slightly at the woman.
"But you...I know you. You're...familiar. Somehow."

It was plenty obvious who Astrid was. She was very recognizable.

 

[The Confessor]

It seemed this woman recognized her, The Confessor picked up on that in the woman's mind. Had they met before? She herself could not recall. It must have been a very long time ago. Perhaps at some event or gala? It mattered not. Astridia would say to The Confessor that she wished to learn about this place. She then backed up and said the woman seemed familiar, as what was plaguing her mind. The blind Sith would cross her hands in front of her and hold them gently at her waist. She didn't like showing off her bandages, but it was better to give the girl something to focus on rather than trying to see through the shadow of her cloak.

"Yes, child. I am The Confessor. I was once known as Lady Fox, but it has been some time since I heard anyone call me by that name. It was, almost like it was another life ago." Her hands would flex some, before moving into the cloak and out of sight. "But that is not important now. You wish to learn about my church? There is both so much to say, and also nothing at all. Here, we celebrate the Force. Whether one had a connection to it or not, all are welcome for the Force binds us all."

 

[Astridia Kazaczecho]

Astridia could feel something was off with her head, but she couldn't quite place it. Like an artificial face that just quite didn't look correct. She shoved it away for now. Best to concentrate on what was going on here. The woman, the Confessor, was covered in bandages. Not only that, but she was losing what many would have considered the human element. She'd always heard stories of Sith becoming horridly deformed one way or another...but the voice, the mannerisms...it all made sense once she introduced her name. Her real name, that is.

She shifted. Eriana Fox. Her eyes hovered on the bandages for just a little too long. What had happened to her? Astrid recalled she was blind...most definitely, yes, blind. Her mind clicked the pieces back together. She eyed the hood and slowly lowered her hand, glancing around the room briefly.

"Eriana Fox. Correct? You've...grown." She paused, letting the questions sink in. "Er, yes, I figure coming all the way out here warrants figuring out exactly what you've...created here."

Chance made it that they crossed paths once more. A friend of hers had long since told her that it wasn't just coincidence. Not always. Eriana...the Confessor...whatever she may be or have been...they'd met again. Though before, Astridia was a soldier. Now...she didn't quite know.

Another awkward pause. "Well, uh, I'm Astridia. Kazaczecho. Unsure if you'd remember me, been quite some time."

 

[The Confessor]

The Confessor had not given her name to this girl, but she was infamous enough that someone could put the pieces together that Lady Fox meant Eriana Fox. It wasn't too much of a stretch. Yet, this girl seemed to plug that knowledge from a memory. It was the second time The Confessor felt that maybe this girl knew her from somewhere else. The woman claimed Eriana had grown (but The Confessor doubted she meant that literally; she'd stopped growing when she was fourteen). She then continued to say she'd come to see the temple and learn what it was exactly that they did here.

The woman then introduced herself as Astridia Kazaczecho, and asked if she remembered her. While The Confessor was familiar with the family's name, the name of Astridia was less explanatory. Closing her white eyes, she focused on the images hitting her mind. She could feel Astridia thinking of something; something the Force was telling them both. Colors and lights would form a picture in her head, a memory, but from Astrdia's point of view. The Confessor say flashes of herself from the girl's perspective. They were in a training facility, and the blind Sith looked as beautiful as she had been before everything changed.

"I remember now," she said aloud. "You were the team leader of that squadron I helped train. Yes. How many years ago was that? Four? Five? Seems like eons ago. I was young then. So much has changed."

Reaching up, The Confessor would now lower the cloak from her head exposing the bald features and her white eyes that always seemed to stare into one's soul. Her long black hair was completely gone, not even remnants of the follicles were left. She had some minor scars on her cheeks from frostburn, but they weren't too obvious unless Astridia tried to focus directly on them. But underneath that ghostly face she had now, there were still the remains of Eriana Fox.

"You asked if I remembered you, but now I ask, do you recognize me?"

 

[Astridia Kazaczecho]

Five years, huh? That passed quickly. Very quickly. Astridia's last few years had been...a blur. Just empty space, really. Like she hadn't even been around. She blinked as a feeling in her head came and went. Shaking her head slightly as she looked back toward the Confessor--Eriana--whatever...whoever she was now. Her full face was revealed now...a bit more aged, quite a lot more pale...and her hair was all gone. Astrid scanned her face, eyes subtly flicking back and forth for a few long moments. And were those...burn scars?

Another pause and Astridia nodded. "Well, yes. You're very recognizable." Smiling very slightly as she looked back toward the ground.

So this is what happened to people she knew...everyone changed so much. At least the ones she'd seen in recent memory. Bad things happened to people she knew. In-family or out. Though she couldn't possibly have anything to do with...this, her mind wandered to other people before suddenly cutting off. No, best not to get into all that. She had priorities. Well, this time her priority was learning what happened to Eriana, and learning about this Church. No mission. Just her. Her eyes flicked back up to Eriana and then around the room.