Ask Umbara Sith will Sith

[Kaldar]

Per my OP template, thread is death enabled​

It had been a hot minute since Kaldar had been to the Umbara academy, but he still knew the place well. Primarily because it was difficult to change the physical layout of a building. Of course, the rumors that Kaldar had heard were that Zorya was out - exiled outright - and it was now Azar who was running things. And good for him. Kaldar wasn't at all surprised to hear that the Pureblood had already gone from Acolyte to headmaster because of all the Sith he had worked with in the Order "proper" Azar was probably the most impressive.

To call the two of them "friends" was probably too much of a stretch since neither of them seemed the type to have a lot of true friends (or maybe that was just Kaldar) but he had a mutual respect with the other Sith.

Apparently Kaldar's Dark Side presence combined with a lightsaber hilt and extremely Sith-looking helmet managed to get him reasonable access, though he had no idea how difficult it would be to get in to see the man himself. Did he hold office hours?

Regardless, Kaldar would press on until he found the Pureblood somewhere. He knew he was taking a risk in coming here, but if he'd read the other man right - and he was really hoping he had - then he was making the right call.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar was in an empty classroom, writing several formulas on the board. He cursed a few times when he got stuck, erasing and starting over. He sensed someone standing nearby, an uneasy feeling washing over him. He didn’t know it yet, but anyone associated with Raze had a particular chill to them. Azar turned around and spotted a masked figure. His eyes narrowed as he studied the man.

“Who are you?” He asked icily, the Force beginning to coil within him. Azar’s fight or flight instincts began to kick in, and he wasn’t entirely sure why. Who was this? They felt chilling and yet also oddly familiar.

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar found Azar pouring over formulas that, although he understood bits and pieces of them, largely went right over his head. He could tell enough to know that they were ingredients for some sorts of ritual, and that was enough confirmation to Kaldar that he had come to the right place. He was glad that Azar didn't seem to have lost his taste for this stuff.

He could feel the Force begin to coil within the other man, and it took no small amount of restraint to overcome the reflex to do the same himself. Instead, he put his hands up, open palmed in front of himself in a placating gesture and gave an easy smile that he realized was invisible behind his helmet.

Now, now, is that any way to greet an old friend? he asked. Fine, it might have been too strong of a word, but the two of them had worked exceptionally well together on Anoth.

He reached up and popped his helmet off now that he was content they were in relative isolation. His normally neat hair was looking a little more flat than normal after wearing a helmet all day, but by and large his face wasn't so much different than it had been.

I guess congratulations are in order, Headmaster Kressh, he said with that same easy smile. He had no idea if Azar went by that title, but it seemed appropriate.

May I? he asked, motioning to a nearby chair.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

“Prettyboy?” Azar blurted out before he could stop himself, the surprise clear on his face. Of course, Kaldar hadn’t known that was Azar’s private nickname for him from all those years ago. Not that it mattered either way - Azar could respect which team a man played for. He blinked a few times, processing several things rapidly. He only gave a vague nod for Kaldar to take a seat, crossing his arms over his chest.

After a moment, a smirk appeared on his face, “Not Headmaster yet, but perhaps soon,” He said as he studied the other man. There was something different about him - something chilling. He didn’t quite know where Kaldar had gone. Kaldar would notice that Azar's Basic improved drastically since the last time they communicated. Azar had a refined and regal air to him, accentuated by a sense of purpose that was missing back then.

“I thought you were long dead,” Azar said flatly, a common assumption whenever Sith went missing for periods of time, “To what do I owe this pleasure?” He asked as he opened a cabinet and drew out some wine to pour them both. He made a point of sipping from his own glass first to show Kaldar there were no shenanigans involved.

 

[Kaldar]

Of all the things that Kaldar expected to be called, that wasn't the one. His eyebrows rose slightly and a smirk tugged at his lips before he tilted his head to the side as if to say "okay."

I could be called worse, he added with a shrug and slid into the seat he had motioned to earlier, leaning back slightly and letting the front feet hover off the ground as if he were one of the Acolytes in study hall trying to see if they could balance without falling.

Not a headmaster. What a shame, but Kaldar had no doubt it would becoming soon. Azar was too ambitious to linger for long, and from everything the Razeling had seen, he more than deserved it. But in Sith fashion, he would get it when he took it, and he may well be biding his time yet. Either way, though, Azar, too, seemed to have grown up. He carried himself with confidence now.

Soon, then, I'm sure, he agreed sincerely.

Naw, can't keep a bad man down, he said in response to the assumption that he was dead. He supposed he shouldn't have been shocked. It wasn't like he exactly announced where he had gone, and truthfully, most people probably never even noticed he was gone. That was fine with him.

Kaldar took the offered wine with a nod and thanks and took a sip, seemingly unperturbed by the possibility that there was poison in it. Sure, there could have already been poison in the glass - a tactic he knew of at least one old hag of a Sith Lord who favored - but it was somewhat... well, pointless. He took his chances and bet his life on it.

Actually, I was hoping for your expertise on something, he said, his face turning more serious and changing in almost an instant from the lighthearted show to something far more grave.

Lots of Sith pursue immortality and some even become ghosts, but I'm wondering if you know anything about how they brought Sidious back? he asked. Preventing death seems off the table, but clearly people from our side can bring people back from that side, he said. He had heard rumors that the Ajan Kloss raid had even involved dragging souls from the afterlife, though whether that was just overhyped rumor or not was up for debate.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar gave a calculating look to Kaldar when he asked his questions. The other man would see the gears turning in the Pureblood’s mind. For a moment he said nothing, considering his words. Whatever he said next could alter the course of the galaxy. The topic was unsettling, and it was something that he almost genuinely feared.

“He transferred his essence into another vessel,” Azar explained, “My people felt that pulse in the Force back then and charted it. They felt it and saw it in the stars,” He took another sip, “What you ask is far trickier because the vessel was destroyed,” Azar gave him a hard look. He wasn't ignorant of the rumors surrounding Kaldar's disappearance.

“Why do you not wish to return to this Sith Order?” He asked calmly, “It is not the same it was before.”

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar knew that he had taken a risk in being relatively upfront with what he wanted, but it was a calculated risk in his mind. He could see the understanding working behind Azar's eyes, and it didn't take long for him to put things together.

Kaldar wasn't thrilled about what he heard, but if it was about transferring vessels, maybe that was the answer. Though if he'd already slipped into the Force then maybe it was too late for that.

Tricky indeed. That's why I came to the man who specializes in it, he said with a smirk. He wasn't above a little flattery, and it wasn't wrong.

Azar asked him why he didn't return, and he paused a moment. He was often slick with the words, but this was a question that went far deeper than a pithy statement.

Maybe it's not, he agreed. He wasn't here anymore so there was no true way for him to know. Hopefully Azar's assessment was correct instead of him being pulled down by the rest of the Order.

Raze represents the peak of power we've seen in at least a century. No one in the Order, not even Tempest, has a history or power as extensive as what he did. Think about it. What other single Sith Lord could have taken over entire planets and challenged any and every galactic government? he asked, finally suppressing his fanboy after a few moments more.

I'm sure Raze would have use for someone with your skills, he said, imagining the Pureblood acting as one of Raze's forgemasters. Though he wouldn't admit, there was a part of him that wondered what would happen next if he couldn't figure out how to bring Raze back. He would be on his own, and he lacked Raze's singular power.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar chuckled to himself, “You have an awful lot of faith in me, Prettyboy,” He said as he poured himself another glass. He listened as Kaldar spoke fanatically of Raze, admiration lacing his tone. Azar was silent, almost surprised at the display. Kaldar was unforgiving, methodical, and disciplined on many fronts. What kind of entity could get him to have such deep devotion?

“Raze died in the end just like any mortal, no?” He asked, reflecting on the news reports all over the galaxy and the subsequent celebrations, “What would be different even if he were to come back?” There was a lure to it, one he couldn’t deny. Raze manifested in a mortal vessel, but if Kaldar was making these inquiries, it meant that the ripples in the Force and the alignment in the stars spoke to the entity. Somewhere, deep in the vacuum of space, a certain mask still floating aimlessly from decades prior began to shift in trajectory.

“What is his end game?” Azar asked. If he was going to partake in this, he needed all the facts. Unfortunately, despite being exceptionally skilled, he would not be able to pinpoint if Kaldar was lying - not after he was trained by Raze himself on that topic.
“I have a home here,” Azar mused as he looked around the classroom, “One that welcomed me when my own planet cast me out,” He said faintly, having little desire to leave, “What’s to stop you and Raze from destroying it?”

 

[Kaldar]

Did he? Kaldar asked in response to the statement that Raze had died, and the tone very much indicated there was more to that story than a simple death. Raze was surrounded in mystery even to Kaldar, and much more so to the rest of the galaxy.

He considered the answer to Azar's question for a moment. What was Raze's end goal? That wasn't an easy question to answer and even Kaldar didn't really have an answer to it because it wasn't so singular.

Whatever he wants, he said. It was as simple as that, and it was at the core of what so many Sith were missing. It was what Kaldar wanted. More than just power or rulership, he wanted whatever he wanted.

Good favor, he answered, not even missing a beat in answer to Azar's final question.

Raze'll come back one way or another, and I think you know it. So would you have rather helped and earn some good will or not? he asked. It was what Raze had taught him: align the interests of the person with what you wanted. And in this case, it wasn't even built on a lie. Of course, Kaldar couldn't guarantee things, but it was better odds than not.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar had to laugh at Kaldar’s answers. They were vague at best, and he would have laughed it off entirely it was anyone but Kaldar. He knew the man, he knew he was brutal, efficient and exceptionally good at ensuring his own survival. He wouldn’t put stock into Raze even after death unless there was a strong reason to do so.

“As comforting as it is to know the benefit of helping you is not having a ghost coming back to life killing me…” Azar said with a grin, “I will need something more tangible,” He said, “I have some ambitions of my own, you see. Ambitions of rule and conquest in the ancient Sith worlds,” He wasn’t afraid to let Kaldar know his intentions, “Aid me in this endeavor.. whether it is with an army or otherwise. You do that, I will craft you something that can speak between worlds,” He had confidence in his abilities, especially now that his trip on Malachor had nudged the Son in the Mortis plane. It would take time and tremendous effort, but that was also why the price was so high.

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar found himself surprisingly annoyed at Azar's dismissiveness of Raze's return, but he checked the thought. He didn't know what Kaldar knew, and he probably wouldn't have put stock in it in Azar's position either. Didn't stop him from being annoyed, though he didn't let it pass his face.

No, he knew that it was going to come down to an exchange, which didn't particularly bother Kaldar. That was how it was always going to turn out, and his assistance was what he had always planned to offer because he had little that he thought would truly interest Azar when it came to things. Things weren't Kaldar's strength, his strength was fixing things. He found ways to accomplish jobs that seemed impossible. It was part of the reason he had faith he would bring Raze back, and it was why he figured this "exchange" would work out in the end.

I figured as much, he said with a nod. Whatever brief annoyance he had felt now practically gone as his mind turned to the next, new puzzle he needed to deal with. This was the next step to bringing his master back, and that meant it was something he would find a way to accomplish. Of course, there was always the risk that what Azar was offering was fake and a fabrication - he had even said that Kaldar had a lot of faith in him - but it was a risk Kaldar would take for now.

Deal, he said, his mind already churning over the possibilities. He was putting a lot of faith in the other man, which made him viscerally uncomfortable, but he simply... dealt with it.

What do you need? Specifics, please, he asked. He had resources of his own that he could call on, but that was sometimes easier said than done. He also had enough influence within Raze's following to potentially bring some of those to bear - particularly if it was in the interest of helping bring about the Dark Lord's return - if need be.

I assume you already have a plan? he asked. After all, credit where it was due: Azar had come up with the plan to poison the waterhole so to speak. He had proven himself quite adept at creativity.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar saw the gears turning. Kaldar was exceptionally good at keeping a poker face for a human. Azar wondered if it was a trick learned from Raze, who was reportedly accomplished with mental uses of the Force. The Pureblood didn’t need to see a break in expression to discern that Kaldar was having second thoughts. And why wouldn’t he? Azar’s nature was to be deceptive. Perhaps to friend and foe alike.

When he asked his questions, Azar poured himself a second glass of wine, doing the same for Kaldar if he pleased, “I wish to conquer several cities across the planet Korriban to claim the throne as King,” He stated bluntly, “Once I have Korriban I intend to do the same to Ziost and Dromund Kaas,” Azar knew these sounded like lofty goals, but Kaldar would know the look in his eye. It was the same as when he very methodically articulated how he would poison an entire military base or how he would make a Sith Master experience the worst pain of her life before succumbing to death.

It was the look of a promise.

“I will let you decide how you can assist me in this endeavor..whether it is to bring in beasts, an army, to sabotage the enemy,” Azar was not going to bind Kaldar to any fixed role, not when he knew the man was capable of being crafty.

“I too need specifics,” Azar gazed at Kaldar for a long moment, “Raze,” He said, “Was he a man?” Azar asked, a hint of fear bleeding into his tone. There had been rumors he was something else, but they had to be rumors, right? Kaldar wouldn’t lie to him about this.

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar knew ambition when he saw it, and he had every confidence that Azar would either do what he set out to do or die trying. While odds were always against them, he knew how to recognize those with skill and cunning, and he certainly wouldn't have put money against Azar, that was for sure.

Kaldar's fingers drummed lightly on the table in front of him as he thought, his gaze taking a thousand yard look to it as he thought about all the logistics behind what Azar was saying.

I don't have an army that I can bring you, but I do have some skilled assassins and infiltrators. In addition to my own skills, he said. Swinging the entire Nagai army to pull this off would be nearly impossible, but bringing in a few dozen special forces units could do a huge amount, and Kaldar had his own set of skills.

Guess we're going killing, then, he said with a snicker at his own pop culture reference. Except in their case, they really were going killing.

As for what Raze was... well, that was the million crown question. Kaldar took a deep breath in as if bracing himself for his answer.

I don't really know, he said with surprising honesty. Maybe he was a demon given flesh, he said. Azar would know from his studies of sorcery and alchemy that there were spirits beyond the planes - Primal Spirits as the scholars would call them - that embodied certain emotions and concepts. Those of evil emotion were often termed as demons, though the term wasn't technically correct.

He certainly looked like a man, but... he shrugged ...well, you're a student of history. The man I met certainly wasn't nearly 7 feet tall, but there was no denying that presence was Raze, he said. So what did that mean? Was he a shapeshifter? Kaldar doubted it. Was he something more nefarious and sinister... it seemed possible.

A wandering demon banished from its world and home latching onto a new body, he said, though he didn't know just how close to the truth he was. Perhaps closer than anyone truly realized.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar wanted to point out that there were several shapeshifting races or potions that could change appearances. However, he said none of that, considering the options, “It is dark magick, the kind that requires giving a bit of yourself,” He looked at Kaldar, “Are you prepared to do that for your Master?” Azar challenged him. He knew ways, the Nightsisters knew ways, but they both had the same principle - cost. There was a price to doing something so heinous, something that would disbalance the Force yet again.

“I believe Nixor is where there was a massive Force nexus corrupted by Raze,” Azar mused aloud, “Meet me there to begin this ritual. As for your aid.. I will require you on Korriban after the first part of the ritual is complete,” Azar was not expecting Kaldar to give free help - he would see progress before he had to commit to the Pureblood’s efforts.

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar considered what Azar was saying, and the statement rang in his head. It was no small decision he was talking about, but he would do anything to advance his power. He would sacrifice anyone and nothing was too sacred to be put on the block. Except parts of himself. He valued himself higher than anything else, and yet this was what his goals demanded.

Yes, he said unequivocally. Whatever doubts he had, he wouldn't allow them to block his path forward. There was no time for hesitation. His teeth gritted together in the first show of what might have been genuine apprehension from the Sith apprentice where he had otherwise been cool and unswerving. Even now, though, he was resolved.

I'll meet you on Nixor and start gathering up my troops, he said, with a nod, pushing himself to his feet and extending a hand.

Always a pleasure, Azar, he said, and although it was always difficult to tell with Kaldar, it seemed genuine. The Sith apprentice really did like Azar, and he respected him for what he had done. Of course, this was a Sith friendship and mutual respect also meant he saw the man as a massive threat, but... poh-tae-toe poh-tah-toe.

He slid his comm code across to the other man to keep in touch in the coming days. He had no doubt there was still much coordination to be done.