Ask Ossus Spooky

[Alexandria Voran]

Jedi Temples were not prisons. They were ill suited to long term unwanted residency. The Jedi themselves had never been capable jailers. It was a task they rarely performed and that often showed in their performance. Still, there was a particular type of guest for which the Order was responsible. Sith Lords. The most dangerous Dark Siders came into the care of the Order. They were prepared for these longer stays.

The Ossus Temple did not have a jail, but the Temple was ancient, dating back to the founding of the Order. Throughout the centuries various wielders of the Dark called the Temple home. Deep in the mountains a handful of cells awaited those who required a more careful touch. After the escape of Manat and Asminys, the Order would not let the Rangers take Caelestis. No…the Temple was his home…for now. The would-be conqueror eventually would be transferred to a mobile holding facility, but for now he remained at the site of his defeat.

Alex ensured the regular precautions were taken. Just enough sedation to suppress his Force powers, stun cuffs, shields, and vigilant Temple Guards. She was confident she was more than capable of handling him should something go awry. Her conversation with Ben had been delightful, which meant she had to turn her attention to a less savory target. The rough-hewn walls of the Temple extended until she eventually stood outside the Sith’s cell. She could feel the mountains pressing down on them.

The Grandmaster cocked her head to the side before reaching behind her back. The black blade slid easily into her right hand to tip against the stone floor. Her mind was locked tight, the Light flowing through her. The stench of the blade hammered against her senses. It was as if it sought to crawl up her skin. “Where’d you get the sword…it does not seem happy you lost.” Yes, that certainly was the right word.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

Though anger and frustration flowed through his body, his mind was not so sharp, a small memory passed into his mind, of the needle stuck into his arm, the cool flow of liquid into his veins. 'Sedation' it seemed was the aim of the game today, he was a threat to the Jedi that surrounded him and that thought brought a small smile to his face as he hung from the ceiling, his arms outstretched behind him.

Long had his shoulders ceased to burn, the blood pumping to his arms but a fraction of what should be there. Artorigas kept his eyes closed as the Jedi entered the cell before him, he was not playing possum or trying to sulk he was just conserving what little brain power his sedated mind would give him for the conversation to come. The women stood like a bright light within The Force even one not as deeply veiled in its secrets as he could at least see that, but then from her back came darkness. His sword, it was anything but pure and light.

Finally looking up at the women as she spoke he cracked a smile his hair falling past his eyes blocking some of his vision. "He is rarely happy, much more a grouch than the last sword I wielded. I am assuming your blade is ecstatic with this outcome?" He replied sarcastically. "Also I believe integrations usually start with an introduction. You obviously know my name, Darth Caelestis, King of Avillion, and who might you be?"

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

“Alex.” She answered quickly. Tiamat had been quirky and delightful, Xeno the ordinary brooding Sith, and Asminys the very manifestation of Darkness. Each she could understand. The Royal who played at being a Sith was a mystery to her. She supposed such positions bred a need for power, but she struggled to understand how the gentry fit into Andruil’s mystical Empire. “My blade would prefer to not be needed.” There was no sense of victory. No celebration for the Grandmaster. They had won but the cost was always too great. She would prefer to never pay it at all.

“But that doesn’t really answer where it’s from.” Alex smiled and it was genuine. “Perhaps an easier question would suit you better? Like what I can call you other than your made up name?” She stepped a little closer, spinning the Dark sword in her hand. It was oddly light. “You can answer one, the other, or both.” She shrugged. “We have nothing but time, unless you’d like some privacy to contemplate your failed invasion?” Each questioning was unique. She had a feeling the young Sith Lord would not enjoy her congenial tone. The Nobles never did like the riff raff rising above their station. Alex was the picture perfect street rat gone too far.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

Artorigas had no need to actively lie or be difficult with simple questions, he was not uptight or bent out of shape like many of his brethren. He would not scream bloody murder at the Jedi until he became blue in the face, no he would be civil. "It is an ancient Sith Sword, It found me on Korriban. Though much of its history is lost to me, perhaps in time I can figure it out and get back to you." He replied with a cheeky smile, he tried to roll his shoulders to get some blood running back into them.

"You will need to wine and dine me first Master Jedi before you can get my first name." He replied looking at the blaster burn upon his exposed left ribs, a sniper shot which had gotten past his defences a few short moments before he was captured. "I have no need to ponder over failure, to do so is just a waist of everyone's time. You must always look forward and never back on your past. That is a little bit of advice I will give to the Jedi for free."

The rolling of the shoulder done nothing but cause him more pain and discomfort. "Could we perhaps talk in a more comfortable environment? I am also quiet parched."

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

She tapped the hilt of the sword. Fascinating but a mystery for another day. Force artifacts were rare things and even one born of the Dark side could shed light on the past. Alex motioned for a Temple Guard to join them. She handed off the sword and her sabers. She was confident. Not stupid. The Guard whisked away her weapons and the ray shield lowered. With a flick of her fingers the stun cuffs flew off. The Morellian remained where she stood. The Force continued to roar through her soul. She walked to the side of the opening to take a waiting pitcher with accompanying glasses. She poured the water easily and stepped into the cell.

Alex offered the glass to the Darth. “They’ll bring food shortly. Although, it may not suit your tastes.” Assuming he would take the glass, she’d step a few paces back. “There will be no consequences for coming here and failing? The Empress cares not at all for the losses?” The fleet Caelestis had brought was either capture, destroyed or ran. It had been a route. She knew the Empress could care.

“I thought the days of fiefdoms were over when Andruil declared a unified Empire.” They knew too little of the Sith. Most of what they learned was from the public dealings. That was no longer good enough.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

"Thank you." He said sincerely as she released the cuffs allowing his arms to drop from above his head, though they instantly filled with pain as the blood rushed back through the strained muscles. The glass of water was also most welcome though his arms shook as he held the cup to his lips. He took a few short sips to help soothe his dry throat before handing back the empty cup. "Yes I lost, but I have done much to help the Empire in this time, I doubt the loss will do much to my position. Lossing is a part of war."

"To an extent yes, we are no longer as divided as before, but each Lord has a powerbase. And the Galaxy is to large for a centralised government to truly succeed in defending its borders. Is this not the reason the Free World Alliance is separate for the Republic? Because there is to much land for one person to protect?" He took measures to stretch his arms somewhat, but kept them low and unthreatening, the last thing he needed was to have the Jedi believe he was trying to attack her.

"How are the people of Ossus? My forces were told to ignore populated locations. Our war is with the Jedi no one else."

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

She felt the truth of his words. At least, he believed them to be true. Stolas, Raze, and Asminys did not strike her as the type to forget failure. Her opinions on Andruil remained undecided. The Dark Empress played her role exceptionally well. Alex understood the threat that posed. “One of many reasons.” She raised an eyebrow. “But nothing you do not already know.” Then came the lie. Her brow furrowed. Why say anything so obviously false.

“And I thought we’d be honest with one another.” A certain respect shown to your enemies. Caelestis wasn’t the feral beast of Asminys. She had expected better…his soul not the black tar she’d seen before. “Your troops headed directly for the Capital and the Sith who came here…” She gestured around the inner Temple. “Had no idea this Temple was occupied. The people of Ossus are reeling from the assault on their world. Brief as it was.” Drow had turned back the invaders at the Capital while Alex handed business at the Temple.

“Andruil may sell those lies to the galaxy but there are no holonews cameras here. You didn’t come to Ossus for us. You came to expand the Empire.” She was tired of the lies. The excuses. Sith wanted a war and they had gotten their war. Alex was becoming painfully frustrated with constantly being on the defensive.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

He smiled at the women as she seemingly became frustrated in her words. "We did not know the temple was occupied no. But we knew that this was a Jedi Temple, one that a slowly rebuilding order would look to populate. To have an enemy position so close to our borders would be folly. I am sure that any old Sith strongholds within Republic Space have already been cleared?" He asked in reply to the women's fiery statement. "The capital was secured quickly to prevent any long running resistance which could cause undue violence and death to not only my own men but also the inhabitants of Ossus."

He paused for a moment as he continued to rub the aching muscles upon his arms. "Insurgency's hurt everyone, they do nothing but seed fear and anger in all sides. I wished to avoid that, a quick and decisive takeover is what was needed. Once the temple had been cleared and a perimeter set around the system to protect from a counter attack, the planet would be allowed to govern itself within the protection and laws of the Sith Empire." He knew that some doubt would come across, it was in the Jedi's nature to doubt anything which did not immediately align with their religious beliefs.

"I ask that you look to my own holdings to the West, every world there has welcomes us with open arms and each not only governs itself but has a say in how the entire Kingdom is governed. I have no need for pointless bloodshed over colours on the map. I only seek to protect my Empire from its enemies." Looking back up at the women he motioned for another cup of water, not risking moving to much for fear she may remove his head in this temper. "If we are the warmongers you claim us to be, then what was your justification in attacking Felucia? It was a world peacefully incorporated into the Sith Empire years ago, yet the Jedi headed up an invading Force costing countless lives. Was that to expand the Jedi's land? And what of your 'friend' the Supreme Chancellor, what is your opinion on him bombing a planet which once again for years has been a peaceful member of the Sith Empire?" He gave a moments pause before continuing. "Or is like your Senator Hedarial implied, the citizens of worlds flying the Sith banner do not matter, only those of the Republic? I thought you stood for Peace and Justice, I see no Justice in bombarding a planet, or any Peace in a Republic Chancellor attacking another sovereign nation without a declaration of war made? Like everything from the Jedi it is a one sided argument, where you are right and everyone else is wrong. I will admit that the Sith have faults, we are not perfect. But I do not hide our actions behind a paper this philosophy that deems that any who do not agree with us must be executed."

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex listened in silence. This was getting her nowhere. The Grandmaster was not interested in a philosophical debate. They would never change the other’s mind. She was well aware of the difficult balance the Jedi walked in preserving peace while waging war. Her choices were not all black and white. She was not blinded enough by her own ideology to dismiss all Caelestis said. But a single truth remained. The Darkside corrupted without equal. No matter the strength of your convictions or will to resist, it would have you. The Darkside was the antithesis of Light. Alex was not suddenly going to convert the Sith.

“So do I get a name or more speeches?” She titled her head. “War makes hypocrites of us all, but I do all I can to follow the Light. I’d admit our faults just as easily.” Her gaze met his. “You as well as anyone should know the Force does not provide all the answers. We are mortal like anyone else.” Alex crossed her arms, thinking how best to proceed. Her strength rivaled his…she could take what she wanted but that felt wrong. “The Darkside corrupts absolutely. That honor you hold will slowly be eaten away. There must be a part of you the feels what each dip into the Darkness does.” She shrugged.

“But I won’t change your mind. I will help you if you’d take it.” Alex knew he wouldn’t. She had promised herself after Asminys she could not force her way into a prisoner’s mind. That had been a tremendous failing. It was wrong then and wrong now.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

"I thought the Jedi liked speeches?" He replied back to the Jedi before sighing, realising he was not getting that extra cup of water until he was a little more open with the women. "Artorigas Wessex and you are right, if anything The Force gives us no answers only more questions, painful ones at that." The smile from Artorigas' face fell away, not into a frown, or anger but just to a neutral look, void of any outward emotion. It was the look he had been told to perfect for years as a young man, the look every Noble needs to hide his emotions from the outside world.

Her words sounded like she had been within his mind, had she? The conflicts within his inner soul and the Wretchedness Inside that he struggled to keep quiet and away from his conscious mind. "I pride myself on staying as far away from the Dark Side as I can." He said a hint of false pride in his voice, his face still empty and void of emotion as he spoke. His mind swimming with the comment the women made, what help can a Jedi truly give him?

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

She heard the footfalls as food arrived. Good. She needed a moment. The Temple Guard set the simple meal of soup and bread outside the cell. Alex worked the Force deftly to set a bowel and spoon before Artorigas. She slowly lowered herself to the floor, slurping the soup as she watched him. “See, that wasn’t so hard.” The soup was warm and the bread fresh. It was simple but filling.

Her eyes stared into him. Was he lying? No…it felt true. He couldn’t deceive her in his current state. So, what was it? A Sith who rebuffed the Dark Side? “Why?” The question was simple, her voice soft. “If that’s true, you must know you fight a losing battle.” Alex was not accusatory. She was genuinely curious. “Your title conveys a certain mastery of the Force, and I could feel your strength when the fleet arrived. You’re not blind.” She cocked her head to the side as she kept eating.

“You can feel it eating away at you…little by little…each time losing more of yourself.” The masses the Sith Lords commanded could never understand. They felt only power but the Lords of the Sith, they made their deal with the Darkness. They knew the price they paid. There was no denying that truth.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

Soup, it was not is preference he found it usually not very filling and unrewarding in its flavour. But today, he was famished so even this meagre offering and plain bread felt like a feast fit for a King as he took the first spoonful into his mouth. He forced himself to eat it slowly, not showing the weakness of hunger to the Jedi. After a few spoonful's he placed the bowl to one side before answering. "Why do I not delve myself into the Dark Side, well for the very reason you just said. I have seen many of my brethren dive deep into its dark abyss to become nothing but mindless servants to their bestial urges. I intend not to become that."

He tore off a piece of bread dipping it lightly into the soup, tapping away the excess on the bowl before eating it. "I will take that as a compliment." He replied with a smirk. "I do have a rather strong grasp over The Force, but I tend to stick away from aspects which pull you further along. Lightning has never really been my thing." He chose not to answer her final comment, they both knew the Jedi was right, the Darkness slowly was seeping its way inside no matter how hard he tried, with every advancing day as he grew stronger in The Force it came both equally easier and harder to resist the urges.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Slowly, Alex worked. Caelestis was the latest in a long line of Sith who visited her home. Each one was different, but they all helped her along the path of understanding. The Order had made terrible mistakes in the past. They given in to the baser urgers to pry what they wished from the Sith. She had fallen into that same trap with Asminys. That day, she vowed never to lose such control again. Alex saw the unspoken answer in his mind. She pressed. “Is it power then? Because there is strength in the Light you do not understand.” Her eyes never left Caelestis.

“But the power to do what? Ruling your Kingdom does not require the Sith or the Darkside. If you’re intentions are true, why not join the ISC? Why not abandon the Darkside entirely?” She wanted the truth. That Caelestis was just like all the others. He wanted power and prestige…and he was willing to do anything to have it. “What have the Jedi done to you that we deserve such hate.” Alex wanted to know if the Sith Lord was just like all the others or was he truly a misjudged soul.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

"I have no doubt that there is strength and power in the light that I can never understand as there is strength in the dark that you will not be able to comprehend." The women was quick witted and had a sharp mind, she was growing on the Sith Noble that was for sure. "It was the freedom do what I wanted without the trappings and weight of my old position." He replied matter of factly, that was what had brought him to the Sith, that and the fact he was born on Serenno a world controlled by the burgeoning Empire. "And before you jump to conclusions, what I wanted was the control of my family house. To remove my bumbling and idiotic father from its seat and once again bring prestige and honour to our name." He replied with a calm smile.

He took another piece of bread dipped it in the slowly cooling soup and placed it in his mouth, it was well made, fluffy and easily chewable. Swallowing the piece he sighed. "The Sith gave me all that I have, they gave me the strength to take back my house, the resources to build my Kingdom, the opportunity to become a player in this great galactic game. I was nothing more than a second son of a lowly noble when I walked into their ranks. Now I sit upon the throne of a multisector Kingdom. It would be both honourless and foolish to turn my back on them now." He paused for a moment looking the Jedi in the eye. "I have others to think about now as well, not just myself. I do not have the luxury of the ISC on the other end of the galaxy. Half my lands lay within the borders of the Sith Empire. If I turn my back on the Sith, millions of innocent citizens will be opened up to war and destruction from angry and jealous Sith. If I do this just for personal absolution, I am no better than the monsters you make us out to be." It was the truth at this moment in time, he was tied to the Sith Empire for eternity, the only way he could leave would be either in death or disgrace, renouncing every part of the man he thought he was.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

“Oh dear.” Alex paused for a moment. “Jedi do not bounce from the womb perfectly formed beings of Light. The first decades of my life were spent in the back alleys of the richest cities scrapping to survive.” She made no effort to hide her mind. The truth would be evident. “I know the strength and allure of the Darkness, but I’ve chosen the Light.”

Alex’s formative years were a nightmare. They hardly felt real all these decades later. She’d nearly fallen a dozen times by pure happenstance. It terrified her to wonder what would have happened if the Jedi never found her. A young Alex Voran was little better than an animal back then.

“Why conquer then?” She took another sip of soup. “Andruil says she wants peace. Why not focus on those millions of innocents within your own borders?” The Jedi and Sith fought a holy war across the ages. It would never end. The Dark Side was evil…the truth was that black and white, but the galaxy could not endure endless war. “There is a path where you all can govern as you see fit without interference.” The galaxy needed a break perhaps she could find it for them.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

Her confession that her soul was not completely pure was a shock to him. Jedi always seemed to be both now and the history books as pure paragons of virtue from birth, the fact that she was not born to this gave him a small window into what his life would have been if Serenno landed on the other side of The Force line. "The worlds I have personally folded into the Empire have been at the mercy of pirates, political turmoil or other factors that joining with me has only improved there outlook." He said confidently. "I cannot speak for the others I am afraid, I am not the Empress, I can only tell you my reasoning."

Her comment about interference peaked his interest more than anything she had spoken to him since she walked into his cell. "How would we walk down this path?"

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

She was searching for a way out…always searching. There were no easy answers. The Order’s failures had allowed an Empire to rise again. Constant refusal to accept the truth around them created these monsters. Alex had no choice but to accept the reality of the Sith. They would not magically disappear because she wished it. “Peace, Artorigas.” Her meaning was clear. “If your worlds are happy and healthy, as you say, why would we disrupt that peace?” Alex met his eyes again.

“If the conquering continues, we have no choice but to fight back. If the Sith were content within their borders, we would remain within ours. Should a planet of its own volition choose to join the Empire, well than that would be their choice.” The soup was nearly gone. Their conservation slowing. “Are you not tired of the fighting? The constant struggle to survive? It need not be that way.” Her word rang with truth. She hid nothing in the Force.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

It seems that perhaps the Jedi way would have fit his personality more than the aggressiveness of the Sith, but it was far too late now to change his allegiance. "Peace would be nice." He replied softly as he finished the last of his simple meal, placing the bowl down on the side next to him. "I have been tired of this since it began, I am not a fighter at heart, I would prefer to rule in peace." He continued.

"Again I cannot speak for the entire Empire, only my own lands. I would be happy to agree to a ceasefire between the Kingdom of Avillion and Republic and Jedi. But how can you guarantee your side would uphold this?"

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex’s face finally twisted as she thought. That was the hard part. Corralling the various factions, it would take try and broker peace. Artorigas must have known that. “I am first among equals. There is no iron fist with which I rule. Our Order governs much differently than yours…however I do speak for the Jedi.” Lena and Tedimor deferred to Alex.

“The Free Worlds do not want the war to continue.” She hummed. Thinking. “The Republic is a more difficult matter.” Emil wanted war. Of that she was certain. For a time, the Grandmaster agreed. Her perspective was changing. What good was a war if you could not win? What good did all this death and destruction bring.

“I believe I could secure an appropriate agreement with the Republic.” She met the Sith Lord’s eyes again. Her gaze unwavering. “What of Andruil? She would not interfere with your choice?” Alex doubted the Empress would acquiesce easily. Flowery words meant very little. The actions of Sith rulers meant far more.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

Her rather quaint comment about her rank meant that she was not just a simple Jedi but one of the heads of the order, perhaps the Grandmaster of the Order. Interesting. "Mr Ro does seem to have it out for us, I saw what happened at Denon." He replied with regards to the women's comment on the New Republic.

"That I cannot be sure, in the past I have had the freedom to act I best see fit and I know she is not a warmonger like The Eternal. So she may agree to the ceasefire as a whole, allow Avillion to agree solely or remove my head." He replied with a chuckle. "But I can only bring this to her and see what she says." He continued.

Taking a deep breath he gave it a moment for his words to register before continuing. "How about it then, you release me as an emissary to bring this to Andruil, you go speak to Mr Ro. And hopefully when we next see eachother we are signing a nice bit of white paper?"

@Valen Pelora