The First Sith Council Meeting

[Andraste]

Andraste was more than thrilled to no longer be pregnant. It had been merely a few months since she had given birth, and she finally felt comfortable enough to not be around Elix at all times. She knew at once the little boy had become a weakness for her and had won over her heart instantly. It was surprising to her just how such a small creature could bend her to its will so readily. Andraste found her thoughts drifting to him frequently, shifting uncomfortably in her seat and fidgeting.

It had been some time since she had last called the higher ups for a meeting, and they had still been branded as Exiles. This was the very first council meeting of the Sith, and it would be recorded as a momentous occasion. Tremendous changes had taken place since they had last met and only one of the old Exile warlords remained still.

The Empress silently waited for the council to file in, thinking over what she wanted to discuss. The Sith Lords had been busy and spread across all parts of the galaxy and the Empire was growing daily. Andraste looked around the tall statues around her that made her feel so small, and she thought back to where she and the other original Exile leaders had started.

Blood, sweat and tears went into building the Empire from nothing, and for the first time ever she began to truly see her visions becoming reality. Andraste took it all in, thinking about the fleet they had amassed, the bases they built, the sects they added, the battles they won. It all began from being nothing but scattered men and women that were booted out of the Jedi ordered. Today a Sith could hang his or her head up high and know they belonged to an Empire that truly was a force to be reckoned with in the galaxy.

@Nefieslab @Phoenix @The Matt @Deviant @Orbit

 

[Darth Evandrus]

He was attending his first meeting of the Sith Council and he was doing so, fittingly, as Darth Evandrus.

This meeting had no place for Cregan Drast so he would not be brought with him - the only person who would be in this chamber would be Darth Evandrus, Prince of Lothal and High Judge of the Sith Empire. Felt... a little strange to have so many titles he would admit but that was just something he would need to get used to. Entering the chambers in full Sith Armour, Evandrus noted his wife immediately.

It was hard not to - she was a beacon in the Force and he loved her so it made perfect sense for his eyes to immediately track to her when he entered the room. Smirking a little bit underneath his helmet, he knew that she could probably tell that he was smiling as he looked to her even as he walked through the doors and took in the sight of the Council Chambers, noting the statues and the throne-like chairs.

Removing his helmet, he held it under the crook of his arm as he faced his wife, his Empress, and bowed at the waist to her. He would have gone to one knee to bow before her usually but this wasn't an official bow or show of allegiance as much as it was an acknowledgement of her presence as his liege... while he may very well be her husband, the fact remained that she was the Empress of the Sith and she deserved to be treated as such even by him.

"My Empress."

Straightening, he smiled her Smile right at her for a moment before schooling his features and moving for the seat that was his. He had had the foresight to enquire as to which of the seats his predecessor had occupied and made a direct line for it, ascending the short flight of steps to sit carefully upon the throne. Setting his helmet down by his feet, Evandrus sat and waited for the others to arrive.

 

[Siris Drast]

The Empress had called a meeting between all of the council members, this being the first meeting as the actual Sith instead of the Exiles. It was a big occasion, everything they had built was meant to lead up to this, the council of the Sith Lords. It would no doubt be remembered as the start of something great. With the birth of the new baby, his time was now split between his child, The Black Hand, and his other personality as Siris. It was a lot to juggle but The Eternal now blocked all of that from his head, not needing to be plagued by anything else. These were the highest Lord's of the Sith Order and he couldn't be distracted by those type of things, not when the biggest players decided to meet.

The Eternal could already see Alais and Evandrus there, the High Jude making his way to his personal seat before sitting down. It was only a few moments after that before a light chill spread through the room, it lasting there for a few seconds as suddenly crimson eyes appeared through the shadows and The Eternal stepped out from them. His signature was still suppressed like always but even if they tried to feel it, it felt darker and colder now, the more time having passed wearing the mask and it was starting to change them. The Eternal had the tattered cloak enveloped around him, hiding the rest of his armor and only leaving his mask visible to the rest.

First The Eternal swung his gaze over to the Empress, coolly observing her for a moment before giving her a curt nod, "Empress." His voice was modified from the mask again, sounding multilayered with different tones throughout it. Then the Eternal's gaze went to Evandrus, staring at him for a few moments as well, "Evandrus." He didn't offer any warmer greeting to them both before taking his designated seat in the room. Unlike Evandrus, The Eternal didn't remove his mask and reveal his face, that was intending to stay on the entire time. Now it was just them waiting for the others to show up and The Eternal sat there patiently for the rest.

 

[Darth Kravos]

Darth Kravos was not one to be late to anything, and actually had to make a concerted effort to be on time rather than ridiculously early. He'd filled in his time ensuring that the handpicked ISB officers had done their jobs well and scanned the entire room for any explosives, toxins, or the like before he ever set foot inside or allowed the Empress to do the same.

Once he was thoroughly satisfied, and had decided he wouldn't be absurdly early, he made his way in. He was dressed in his full armor, helmet and all, and looked every bit the menacing part he played to most of the Empire. The irony that two of the people already in the room knew him best of all wasn't lost on him, but the same couldn't be said for everyone. There were appearances to keep up, after all.

Empress. High Judge. High Executioner, he said with a nod to each before moving to the seat directly to Andraste's right. It was a subtle maneuver, but the position of greatest honor apart from the seat of the Empress. It was the hint of what each of them already knew was coming. He'd approached each of them for their support - apart from Contaris - and had asked Andraste's thoughts before he made a move. It was best not to catch your wife off-guard, he had decided.

No doubt the others would be arriving soon, as the meeting was set to begin shortly. After all - Sith Lord or not - this was not the type of group to be kept waiting. They represented the busiest men and women in the galaxy and it struck the War Master just how much power was wielded in this room. It was staggering and almost humbling. They had come from nothing and had risen to something far, far more powerful. He looked over at Andraste and gave another nod. This one not the curt, professional maneuver of a Sith Lord to his Empress but something that felt more assuring and personal. They had both been there from the beginning and had come so, so far already.

 

[Darth Malos]

.

Malos was rather excited to attend the first official Sith Council meeting since he had become a Lord. This would be his second time seeing the Council together, the first having been when the Exiles merged with the Sith, but he had not spoken to anyone then. Today would be all about discussing, and fortunately he had something to bring to the table as well.

Darth Malos entered the room shorty after Kravos had sat down. He wasn't late, but it seemed as though the other Lords had chosen to arrive early. He'd have to remember that for next time. Hopefully they weren't waiting on him.

He bowed to Andraste when he passed by the throne and nodded to each Sith Lord in greeting, after which he sat down in his chair. Malos was wearing armor as well, but he'd left his helmet in his chamber, not seeing any reason to bring it.

The Sith Lord waited for the meeting to begin, ready to explain what he'd been up to.

 

[Leviticus]

An awkward silence soon fell upon the room. Eyes wandered from corner to corner, face to face, as the Council waited for the last among them: Leviticus. It wasn’t long before the doors to the Council chambers creaked open, as loud as possible, to reveal the man waltz in from the hall. Cluttered hair, unshaven face, frayed robes— and a stellar smile. Although the High Arcanist was a minute late to the meeting, it had been for good reason. Returning from a reconnaissance mission on the verge of the Unknown Regions, his journey back was longer than expected. He only hoped Andraste was forgiving enough to overlook his arrival and immediately commence the meeting.

“Empress.” He gave a solemn bow, deeper than the others. More elaborate and suave. His gaze flickered up to her, though he dared not look her in the eye. “Forgive me for the delay.” He made no excuse, knowing she wouldn’t care nor bother to answer. The meeting was at hand. There was no reason to postpone it any longer. Depending on her response, if one was even given, Leviticus quickly and effortlessly returned back to his seat. Rather than take the time to climb the stairwell to his seat, which had been a terrible design in his opinion, the Sith Lord hovered straight into the chair. Which, again, was remarkably uncomfortable. Whoever thought stone made good cushioned seats was either an idiot or a total goth.

No matter, Leviticus made no complaints. Hands sliding over each arm of his chair, he maintained his focus on Andraste. He hadn’t bothered to greet the others. Less because he was in a rush and more because he simply didn’t care. Although he respected Kravos, the others— not so much. He and Cregan had fought on one occasion when he was still with the Order, and that left a rather bitter taste in his mouth. The same went for Malos, and while he was an Exile too, the man could not compare in terms of strength or willpower. Then there was the Eternal. The pair knew one another since the start, yet had neither spoken much, if at all, since his duel with Andraste. All in all, Levi was not on the best of terms with everyone else in the room.

Regardless, he hoped what they would discuss today might smooth over those rocky relationships.

@Sreeya

 

[Andraste]

Andraste observed everyone filing in one by one, and her expression remained unchanged. Her thoughts were elsewhere, and she thought about the recent events with the Republic and the moves Nem’ro had begun to make to rise up through the Hutt ranks. Loyalties and alliances were getting more questionable, and she had to make decisions at one point or another on who her true allies were.

She stared blankly at the Sith Lords as they filed in and greeted her and one another. There was a point in time where she would have found the concept of others bowing before her absurd. She was a young Jedi girl back then, someone that was entirely lost and confused. That girl was very far removed now, replaced by a woman that was confident in herself and those she allowed to walk these halls.

After everyone settled in, she allowed a brief moment of silence before she began, “I’m not going to waste time with pleasantries and cut right to the chase,” She gazed over at each one of them, feeling their signatures and emotions through the Force. Levi generated curiosity as he appeared to be more conflicted than she had ever felt in him before. However, now was not the time to address it, “There’s no denying that we have been growing substantially since we conquered Sith space. Each of you have been absolutely integral in helping expand the Empire, and I know I can continue to count on you.”

“One of you has gone above and beyond the call of duty,” She paused for a moment, “You have worked tirelessly not only to manage our fleet but to also help keep a pulse on every other activity being done by this Council,” She slowly turned her head to face Kravos, “Darth Kravos, please step forth.”

Once he did, she rose from her seat and took a few steps forward, “Your efforts have not gone unnoticed. You have been here from the very beginning and you have helped lay down the very seeds that helped this Empire blossom into what it is today. You have put the Empire above your personal desires and interests time and time again, and we have seen the results of it. The fruits of your labor are critical to sustaining everything we are today, and I want to recognize that. From this day forth, I deem you Darth Kravos, Dark Lord of the Sith. You will be second only to me in commanding the Empire and you will oversee the efforts of others on this Council and those they manage. This role comes not with simply more responsibility, but an expectation that you will continue to perform as excellently as you have thus far,” She addressed him as his Empress, not his wife, and there was no mistaking that she was very skilled at keeping the two roles she played worlds apart.

@Phoenix

 

[Darth Kravos]

He rose from his seat as she beckoned him, moving over and kneeling truly before her. It was something he'd not fully done before, but it was representation that no matter where or what he was, she was the Empress and he would never dare usurp her. He had nothing but respect for her and what she had built. She had been his Empress since long before there was an Empire.

As he listened to her, he felt feelings of pride wash over him. Not just for himself and having finally accomplished what he had been setting out for since leaving the Jedi, but also for her. The two of them had stood side by side for years and he had watched her train from an uncoordinated and confused young girl into a woman who now commanded the galaxy. It was a momentous occasion and even brooding Darth Kravos was smiling behind that mask.

He didn't yet rise from his position as she finished her address and spoke. I have worked tirelessly to better the Empire, and you can expect nothing less from me as Dark Lord, my Empress. I will work to expand your rule and ensure that this Empire lives for a thousand generations. I thank you for the honor of this position, and I will not fall short of it, he swore to her.

Your enemies are my enemies and I will not rest until your vision has been accomplished. Long live the Empire and long live the Empress. He'd long ago committed to expanding her rule and even bound his soul to hers in private, but now he publicly proclaimed his undying loyalty and devotion to her rule, and he would not fall short of his promise. He never had, and he was determined that he never would.

 

[Andraste]

Andraste wasn’t tall by any definition of the word. However, as he knelt before her fully, the power dynamic suddenly became clear. She gazed down at him, his words allowing the faintest grace of a smile on her lips. There was no denying it – he had been there since he had been Kal and she had been Alais. He stood by her side and helped her visions become a reality, and he had been there to see her go through every up and down through her development from a directionless girl to an Empress.

She allowed him to return to his seat before she stepped back into her throne. Andraste gazed up at each of the Sith Lords that remained. She pondered over her words before speaking out loud, “The more we grow, the tougher it will become to distinguish our allies from our enemies. I grow wary of the movements the Hutts are making, and I intend to keep a sharp eye on them. With the Chancellor having stepped down, we don’t know what her replacement will do. It very well may catapult us into a two front war, though I would be surprised if the Republic is stupid enough to breach the NAP just yet.”

Andraste drummed her fingers on the armrest of the throne, “Keep that in the back of your minds as we continue our expansion efforts,” Her gaze scanned over them all again, “Now I’d like a debrief of what you have been working on and what you’ve achieved. If there are any pressing matters, now is the time to bring it up,” With that, she yielded the floor to her Sith Lords to present their reports.

@Nefieslab @Phoenix @Orbit @The Matt @Deviant

 

[Darth Evandrus]

Evandrus listened attentively to the Empress as she called out who she was going to grant this high title to. He had heard of the role and he had heard he might have been considered for it had he wanted it... But if he had taken the role he would have robbed a truly deserving man of the role.

A friend who deserved it for all that he had done.

Kravos took the position of Dark Lord with typical severity and seriousness and Evandrus couldn't think of anyone who deserved it more. He nodded once, tapping the side of his chair with his fingers in agreement.

An appointment well deserved in his opinion.

Rather than vocalise his approval of the appointment, Evandrus would instead catch his friend's eye and smile. Without his helmet it was very obvious that he was genuinely pleased by the decision.

A tireless servant of the Empire received his reward.

And his friend achieved a goal he had set for himself - and Evandrus was proud of him for it.

But the Empire ground onward.

"I have ascended to the throne of Lothal as Prince - in so doing I have strengthened the planets agriculture to such a degree as to become the breadbasket of the Empire." He reported to the Empress simply, "Steps are being taken to add fighter and bomber production to it's output."

Pausing for a moment he added,

"We are now allied to the Zygerrian Empire." He reported with a small frown, "They will move their ships with our own, take in our prisoners and POWs... and in return we will have command of their navy and we shall receive fighting men from their... slavery."

He hated the fact that he had done that... But the Empire was above personal feelings. It had to be.

 

[Darth Malos]

.

Malos' eyes tracked Leviticus as he entered the room (late), his appearance disheveled. He looked like a bum had somehow found his way off the streets of Korriban and into the Sith Council chamber, but the Lords all knew better. Levi was undoubtedly among the strongest people in the galaxy. Still, Malos could not help but feel his respect for the Arcanist diminish a bit. Mission or not, it wouldn't have been hard to groom himself on the ship while on the way back to Sith space.

They catapulted right into the meeting, which the Inquisitor appreciated. The Sith were very no-nonsense and tended to get straight to business, something he was thankful for - the Jedi and the Republic's gatherings were ridiculously theatric, and usually ended up being derailed as a result.

The meeting began with Kravos' crowning as Dark Lord of the Sith, which Malos had expected. The War Master himself had approached him asking for his support, and the Inquisitor had been more than happy to offer his loyalty. He was glad someone capable had assumed that role, and the ghost of a smile (pride for a comrade, if not friend) graced his lips.

Evandrus cut in right after Andraste finished, before the Inquisitor could. Cregan had been hard at work, it seemed, and Malos' achievements did seem a bit subpar compared to his - then again, the High Judge had had way more time. It would be ridiculous to expect planetary conquest of a man who had only been a Sith Lord for a few weeks. Kriff, he'd done a decent amount as it is.

As soon as Evandrus finished, Malos spoke. "I have been focusing on the Felucian system," he began. "Firstly, a mission to dispatch a bull rancor - one of Felucia's most brutal species - has been deemed a success, which will certainly boost the natives' opinion of us. Secondly, I have been able to secure the planet's Nsyllin farms, which will prove to be very beneficial for the war effort. Presently, I have 4 Sith knights dispatched: 2 to corrupt the planet's shamans, and 2 to assume control of its Sarlacc pit, reported to be the largest in the known galaxy. Once those missions are finished, I will be heading there once more to discuss the planet's terms of surrender with its Warchief, or, if need be, forcefully take over. I estimate this will all be over in two weeks, at most."

He sat back in his seat, somewhat proud of what he'd managed to do in only a few weeks.

 

[Darth Kravos]

Kravos rose and returned to his seat as the rest of the meeting began. He saw Cregan smiling at him, and knew his friend was genuinely happy for him. He felt good and a sense of relief washed over him. They had much yet to discuss as the Council and he listened to what Evandrus had to say first. A productive report to say the least. Lothal and Zygerria under their control. He could sense Cregan's discomfort with the slaves and he didn't love the prospect either, but sometimes business was dirty and building an Empire was certainly no exception.

He waited for the High Judge to finish before speaking up himself and then listened to the High Inquisitor. It seemed he had been busy as well, but none of them had reached their positions by being idle. They represented the elite of the galaxy and were capable of the most extraordinary feats. That was only through hard work and sheer willpower.

As Malos finished, Kravos spoke up. If we have to fight a two-way war, we'll need to make sure the Republic and the Cartel are at war with each other. Perhaps the Black Hand could stir up trouble with the Cartel and the Republic. Get them more focused on each other than on us, he commented, looking to the Eternal before returning to his own report.

I've visited our shipyards and arms manufacturers and worked with them to produce new ship designs, weapons, and armor as well as ensuring they are running on schedule, he said. With the advent of a new Empire, the designs of their old era were mostly outdated. There were a few hold overs still but the majority were fresh and new.

In addition, several of our operatives executed a raid on Deucalian space and we acquired a trio of their frigates and a corvette, he said. Ah, yes, they "acquired" them. Though the fact that he defined the acquisition as a raid should have told everyone everything they needed to know about the operation. It had been a smash and grab that had nearly crippled the Deucalians outright, but that was how raids and combat went. What they lacked now was territory, and that would likely bring them to the Jedi worlds at the center of what was quickly becoming Imperial space, but that could wait for the moment.

 

[Leviticus]

“If rumor has it, the Republic and the Cartel are already at war. A cold one, at least. But the Dark Lord is right. Nothing like a spark to set the whole galaxy aflame.” He smirked. Leviticus had nothing much to say about Kravos’ new promotion. Nothing but respect. They had already discussed this before, and he assumed the man did the same with everyone else in the room. Darth Kravos would serve Andraste and the Empire well. Better than Cregan, better than Malos, better than the Eternal. All the while, Levi would stand beside the man every step of the way. No matter their differences, this was the Empire. The real enemy was out there, not within these halls. Victory required unity, unity required loyalty. And if he ever wanted to fulfill his revenge, he needed all three.

But the Council had not convened for another pep talk or a lecture about the importance of friendship. They were here to make their reports and discuss a plan of action for the forces outside the Empire. He trusted Andraste would take great pleasure in the reports, however. Everyone here had been very busy, Leviticus especially. “I have been focusing on all corners of the galaxy.” He answered, a veiled jab at Malos and how little he had done, despite making it seem like he was a lot. “I have brought Mandalore and their finest warriors into the fold. Even now, I understand there is an operation underway to turn the planet into an industrial powerhouse. I will see to it personally that it succeeds, and that Mandalore contributes well to the war effort.”

“I have also seen to bringing the Black Hand— and no, not the assassins— under our direct control. They will serve as consultants and mentors in the dark side as we explore it to the fullest extent. And should war break out, I am sure they will act as pivotal support.” He stopped himself from adding abominations into the mix. “I am also looking to conferring with the Nightsisters of Dathomir. The magick they retain is powerful and could prove useful for the Sith.” He crossed his arms, obviously pride, but not yet done with his spiel. “I have also just returned from a reconnaissance mission on Ilum. Thanks to your work, Empress, Syresh Lapar is no longer a threat there. The world is ripe for the taking. All I require is the fleet to occupy it.”

Leviticus did not need the great Imperial fleet to the seize planet. With the sorcerers of the Black Hand under his guidance, he already had the necessary forces to take the world by storm. The fleet was merely safe measure if the Jedi attempted to interfere, which he had no doubt of.

@Orbit @Sreeya

 

[Siris Drast]

The Eternal turned his gaze to Kravos as he entered before slowly turning his heads at the new arrivals. Malos first before Leviticus arrived after that, each giving their greeting to the empress before taking their designated seats. It was time to skip the greetings and finally get down to what they were all assembled here for. The Empress had the same idea and he returned his attention back to her as she spoke of granting the title to the Dark Lord too. The Eternal was sure everybody here knew who it already was and it was no surprised when it was gifted to Kravos. Even though his face was masked and remained still in his seat, The Eternal knew it was appropriate for Kravos to have received the title and no one was more fitting for it.

The Eternal waited for the small ceremony to conclude and Darth Kravos now headed back to his seat and the meeting fully went into effect. The Empress was right, the more they expanded the more chance at attacks and enemies they would have. She pointed out that the Hutt's movements had her wary and so did the Eternal, keeping tabs on it himself. He would have plans for them later to stir some trouble and the addition of the replacement chancellor added a surprising twist as well. Many pieces were moving and The Eternal had his pieces in place to keep him informed of any more.

The High Executioner appreciated the fact that it went straight to reports, hearing Jedi debates fall into the theatrics and politics and render them completely useless. Everyone here knew what job they had to do and were effective, there wasn't time to sit down and have a grandeur explanation for everything. The Eternal let each other member speak first, listening intently to each one as they reported their situations and what the had accomplished. They all have been busy and it was relieving to hear the progress that was being made. When Leviticus concluded his report, The Eternal waited a second before speaking for himself, "The Black Hand, the assassins, is growing. New initiates are joining every day and they will be effective very soon. In a few days, our base of operations will be functional to launch directives from and coordinate efforts. We will also be in a possession of a refinery to provide a fuel line to our recent influx of ships." The Eternal paused for a moment before speaking again, "Our intelligence network is also expanding and our influence is spreading and they are providing useful information for the time being. Suffice to say that is all I will share at the moment as their identity is best to remain hidden. As for the Hutts and the Republic, there are plans starting to form to inspire some difficulty for the both of them. It should keep them occupied in the meantime.

That was the end of The Eterna's report and that was the details he would spare for it, keeping the Black Hand movements in secrecy. He turned his attention to the Empress, waiting for her assessment of all that they reported.

@Sreeya