Ask Korriban Power Is Power

[Ayomi Jakarta]

This was the last place Ayomi wanted to be.

The last time the Tiefling had visited the palace of the Pureblood king, they had thought they were in love. They had been living in hubris, using the Dark Side but not truly knowing it. The champion had believed themself to be inspired, ready to set out on a happy path to the top of the world; only to be reminded that there was no love, no power without suffering, as Ayomi was literally cast down with two fewer limbs than they had entered with. Left to die, broken and bloodied, saved from the void only because others had recognized an opportunity for themselves.

For better or worse, the palace was now the site of the Tiefling's rebirth.

Not coincidentally, the palace was home to the man who'd brought about their rebirth. Ayomi had called ahead to schedule a meeting with the king of Korriban, the one who'd nearly killed them, Darth Arcanos himself; to their surprise, the request had actually been accepted. What was going through the future Dark Lord's mind was anyone's guess, but Ayomi intended to make the most of the opportunity at hand. Assuming Acranos didn't see fit to finish the job he'd already started, at least.

The champion was committed to a new path than the aimless one they'd walked before, but there was much to be done in order to achieve that goal. Nobody alive knew the intricacies of the Dark Side quite like Arcanos did, nor had any Sith so effectively built themselves a burgeoning empire in so short a span of time. Nobody else truly understood the suffering Ayomi had experienced that night like the man who'd inflicted it; intentionally ripping the tail from the Tiefling's body had been gruesome, intimate, and so much more painful than simply losing a limb.

So as much as it stabbed at Ayomi's pride like a thousand heated daggers, they had pushed the feeling away knowing it was a luxury they could not afford and made the trip to Korriban. They sat on a bench outside what they could only assume was an office, wearing an all-black outfit that had become their standard substitute for Sith robes. The phantom pain at the base of their spine, where their tail once was, felt stronger today; likely because their thoughts lingered on the missing limb more than usual, but the pain was nothing more than fuel for their connection to the Dark Side. The Tiefling waited for their meeting with the king patiently, letting all the pain, rage, and hatred burn in their subconscious thoughts so as to remain strong, but rational.

This was the place Ayomi needed to be.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar was both surprised and impressed that Ayomi reached out. It initially took him a moment to recall who they were. He was a Sith Lord and a King, he had a lot more on his mind than random Champions. One of his palace aides reminded him of Ayomi’s identity after Azar suggested brushing off the invitation. The Pureblood fondly recalled how the petrified tail served him well in the bedroom and decided the visit was worth entertaining.

The King recalled the tiefling had a temper problem, but he had little patience for melodrama today. If the Champion pitched a fit, he would finish what he started at the party. Azar was already managing enough drama in his personal life juggling two wives that didn’t think highly of one another.

The Sith Lord appeared before Ayomi, dressed elegantly and light for the heat. His countless tattoos were displayed through the thin fabric and on his arms. His golden eyes studied Ayomi for a moment before he spoke, “I always did admire your choice of fashion,” He said breezily, “Black suits you.”

Azar used the Force to float over wine, pouring them both a glass, “I have no intentions of poisoning you, so do not fret,” He said with a smirk, a casual wave of his hand floating over a glass.

“It takes quite a bit of humility to return to a place that shattered you,” Azar explained, “And it takes cunning to recognize when it is a place that also rebuilt you,” He took a sip from his wine, “What do you wish to discuss, Champion?”

@René

 

[Ayomi Jakarta]

To Ayomi's surprise, the first thing Arcanos said to them once he appeared was a compliment; on their outfit, of all things. Was it genuine, a test, kingly politeness? It occurred to the Tiefling that they hadn't actually talked to the man that much before; ever, even. All the men seemed to fall head over heels for him, so maybe it really was just genuine charm. The champion did their best to hide their reaction, yet they doubted Arcanos would miss the subtler details they'd been too slow to stop from showing the comment had caught them off guard.

"Thank you, my lord." Ayomi replied in a calm tone and a bowed head. "You look stunning as always, naturally." He really did though, didn't he? Seeing the Sith Lord's silky fabrics up close, his smooth red skin and the tattoos that ran across his body, they could almost see why everyone else was head-over-heels for the man. Almost.

Ayomi accepted the floating wine glass Arcanos offered, taking a sip safe in the knowledge that he could likely kill them far faster without resorting to poison. It didn't take too long to get down to the real question at hand though; why the Tiefling had come to Korriban and requested this meeting in the first place.

Rage burned deep within Ayomi as they finally had to verbalize what they needed to Arcanos of all people, but now was not the time to express it. Their expression and tone remained even and detached, focused not on ego but only on their goal: power. "As you said my lord, I find myself in a rare moment of transformation." the Tiefling began. "You killed whatever was left of the fool who entered your party the last time I was here, and I am just now deciphering what I have been reborn into. I thought it best to return to the source and seek your guidance as I dedicate myself to the Dark Side completely."

Ayomi took a long sip of their wine, finding themself surprisingly not anxious in the wake of basically crawling back to beg Arcanos for advice. His judgement didn't matter, only what he might offer them for the path forward. Even if he dismissed them as not worth his time, that would be motivation enough.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar swirled the wine in his cup as Ayomi declared they dedicated themselves to the Dark Side fully, “Hmm, well that’s unfortunate,” He said breezily as he took a sip from his cup. He eased back in his seat, crossing one leg over the other, “You see, I was born Sith. It is my race. It is not a principle for me, but as natural to me as you being born a tiefling,” Azar explained, “There is no Light or Dark Side of the Force for my people. There is simply the Force. We wield it in ways that advance our desires and Outsiders have deemed variations of that as the Dark Side.”

He took another sip, “Therein lies the fallacy because the outsider version of the Dark Side is submitting yourself to it entirely till you become little more than a slave to its whims,” Azar explained, “Tempest and perhaps even Raze are examples of submitting to the Force’s whims while believing in the illusion that they commanded it instead,” The Pureblood smirked, “Ultimate power is being true to yourself and not letting silly emotional outbursts drive your entire trajectory.”

Azar eyed Ayomi for a moment, “Consider the incident you no doubt heard about involved Master Trael and I. I was wounded, he paid his price, and now I have moved on. I do not seek to harm him and respect his role as a Sith Master. If I were…what did you call it? 'Dedicated completely to the Dark Side’ I would not cease until I killed him,” Azar sipped his wine, “And where does that leave us? Down an otherwise perfectly capable Sith Master.”

He smiled at Ayomi, “No, Champion, I think it’s far more useful for you to stop submitting to your impulsive emotions and instead consider your ambitions. Dedicate yourself to you and you will find that you are giving back to the Sith Order in more ways than you ever imagined. So what is it that you desire for yourself?"

@René

 

[Ayomi Jakarta]

Ayomi took long sips of their wine as Arcanos talked, letting his words wash over them along with the sweet taste of the drink. The Sith Lord's explanation rang true with much of what the Tiefling had been thinking about since they'd awoken. In the past they'd focused on their skill with a blade and not much else, then become blinded by short-sighted jealousy in a vain quest to play catch-up with those who'd surpassed them. Even when Caerllion had helped the champion embrace their passion, Ayomi had ended up overly dependent on that connection.

Even now, they were pursuing a partnership with Serene to learn about Raze's abominations partially to strike back at Caerllion. But what was there to prove to anyone, who was there to impress if not themself first? Arcanos' question echoed in the Tiefling's mind, forcing them to finally answer the same question they'd been asking themself for some time now.

What did they truly want?

"You're right, of course." Ayomi began, finishing their wine. "I was blind to how much I was holding myself back until that night I was last here. Even now I'm still deciphering exactly what I am, who I am. I must thank you again for indulging me in this." they explained, a sharp pain running up their spine from the base of their severed tail.

"What do I desire?" they mused, "I crave power. The power to make my enemies fall before me, to impose my vision upon the galaxy, to tear limbs from bodies yet still have my victims crawl back to me asking for help. I desire to wake up in the morning having proved to myself that I can do anything, but still seeking more." Ayomi's gaze met Arcanos', as confident as one could be in his presence. "Of course, I have much to learn and conquer before I find myself in that position, in your position; without equal."

A thought formed in their mind. "Perhaps I'll start with my homeworld, and show them what my parent's money bought them when they sold me away; a new ruler."

@Sreeya