“To see your face brings warmth to my heart, my lady,” he smiled. “May we never again endure losing one another. And you, Shayla, I hope we may come together in close friendship once again, with the pain of the past behind us. As you know, I wish to call a meeting of the Triad, arriving here with Lord Aelvedaar. He was called away to attend to an emergency, helping those who seek Erik. To my knowledge, he has not yet returned. I am compelled to go to Dagobah myself to investigate, and ask for any assistance you could provide.”

Phalomir folded his arms, then continued.

“I had planned to take my old ship, the vessel we rode from the Temple of Armorers when we moved the entire system into the Elseness. That was a grand adventure, was it not? Truly a team effort, and a perfect example of what our working together can accomplish. With the possible urgency of this matter, my lady, do you think it possible for you to open a portal to Dagobah?”

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"Passing strange I find this, that he comes here only to ask a means by which to depart from us so quickly." she said offhandedly, turning openly to Shayla now as she spoke.

"What think you of this, my dear?"

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...and in the same breath also speak of dire circumstances on Degobah. How interesting."

[ 03-01-2007 10:35 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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“I came here to ask for you help, my lady,” he said. “And I was hoping you would wish to go with me, both of you. You hold obvious interests in the safety of those on Dagobah, for we are speaking of Galen, Erik, Shawn, JhinDarra, and others near and dear. Unless somehow your feelings towards friends and family have somehow… changed...”

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She leaned slightly forward, fisted her hand and rested her chin upon it, elbow propped on the arm of the throne.

"And what proof have we of all that you speak?" she asked sweetly, every nuance about her being fairly dripping honey.

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“Proof of all that I speak?” he mused. His expression then darkened somewhat.

Proof indeed of my latter statement, perhaps.

“Why should there be proof required of any of it, my lady? But if so, you need only ask your adept of the peril Erik is in, and the efforts of those who rushed to help him. Indeed, she may be able to shed some light on mysteries that plague me of this whole ordeal. I was with the group as they set forth to find Erik, and as this was many hours ago, you can imagine my surprise at first the need for Aelvedaar to intervene, and then not return promptly.”

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"Perhaps things aren't as... dire as you proclaim them to be," she offered, the tone of her voice still sweet, the look plastered upon her face anything but. For a moment her lips pursed into a tight little knot as she chewed upon them; then, exhaling loudly she straightened upon the throne.

"But, we can sit here and speculate about such things until the dewbacks come home. Apparently there is enough mystery circulating about your companions to warrant haste on your part; unfortunately, the old warship is--"

She paused fractionally, blinked.

"Being refitted."

Another quick flick of her eyes to Shayla, then she rose gracefully to her feet. Noting her adept following suit, she moved halfway down the dias, where she stopped.

"Anything I can do for you, my Lord, of course you have only to ask."

So saying she closed her eyes a moment, held herself very still, seeming to reach out to wriggle a pathway through the very interstices of spacetime itself. One pale and slender hand rose gracefully upward, first and fourth fingers extended like horns, the others curled to meet the thumb. A quick movement of the wrist and those horns became oriented perpendicular to the floor, while now pointing off somewhere behind Lord Phalomir's back.

A scent of plants and trees and chlorophyll wafted suddenly from the shadows, buoyed gently upon a burst of somewhat humid air. And in those shadows there now writhed a darker one:

A Portal. To... someplace green.

But entirely unbeknownst to Lord Phalomir, it did not open onto the swampy soil of Dagobah... but rather into the deep and moist forests extending along the Koris'ian equatorial region...

"Please, go about your business; I am happy to have provided you with this small assistance." The words were honeyed, simple, seemingly innocent. But from somewhere deep within them they carried the barest hint of outraged fear and denial.

A mere snippet... immediately squelched.

--------------------

“My thanks,” he said. “But I had intended to take the visitors with me, they were keen on helping and being reunited with their friends. If I may impose upon you to wait while I fetch them, and the equipment I wish to bring…”

He arched a eyebrow at Graysith.

“And since her husband’s life could be in jeopardy, would Shayla care to join us as well?”

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"Please, do not trouble yourself. I can fetch your companions directly."

With that she glided down the steps remaining, purposely approaching and passing Lord Phalomir well within the area of his personal space, and continued toward a large pillar beside which there hung a tasseled bell-pull. She gave this a quick yank; nanoseconds later, it seemed, a Sith servant hastened forth from the shadows, who came to a respectful halt before her, head bowed.

"Bring the remainder of our guests to the Receiving Hall, immediately," she commanded, turning round to go back to the throne without bothering to see whether the servant had responded, knowing that he simply had done so. A soft whisper of feet, a murmur of a door opening and closing; by the time she had passed Lord Phalomir and regained her place beside Shayla the servant was gone about his mission.

--------------------

Instead, the somber Sith who stood there was dressed in robes of gold and scarlet and black, robes nearly as elaborate as those of a lord, robes clearly denoting his position within the wild tangle of Sith heirarchy the Temple held.

He bowed quickly and straightened, opened his mouth to speak, was truncated in mid-greeting as two more Sith came up behind him. They paused, glanced at one another; the one in blue spoke up in High Sith.

"We have come for the guests at the behest of the Dark Lord Phalomir, to take the injured one to the Healing Chambers, the others to break their fast--"

The regal Sith interrupted them with a simple raising of one hand.

"This is at the behest of the Dark Lady of the Warriors," he stated flatly, turning deep, gold-flecked burgandy eyes upon the pair. He stated nothing further; indeed, he didn't need to. The other two merely bowed, turned, and returned to their business, leaving him to focus once more upon the little group.

"You are to come with me," he said and fell silent, turning sideways to usher them all from the room they had been given and out into the hall. There he hurried them along, barking orders upon occasion so as to clear the corridors of any other Sith who might impede their progress.

"There is nothing further to impede your search," she smiled, now indicating the patient rip in spacetime with a smooth gesture, even while her other hand reached forth to rend from the very air the molecules she needed to create a wealth of equipment necessary for a rescue expedition: ropes, knives, a means to light fires, a portable tent, some dried foods, several canteens, some blankets, a med-kit and a bio-scanner.

She swayed a bit, her eyes closing briefly at the expense this gesture cost her. But when they opened they were steady and firm... and now directed into Shayla's own.

"I'm sure you wish to accompany them, my dear?" She smiled softly, even while her eyes shot a quite different meaning at her.

"Fear not, my Sister; there is no place in the Universe or beyond where our Link will sever... unless I choose to sever it. This is now an opportunity for you to truly come into your own..."

With that she nodded meaningfully, then turned her gaze back to the waiting Lord Phalomir and the others, cocking her head a bit expectantly to one side as she did.

[ 03-03-2007 01:41 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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“The Dark Lady has arranged for a portal directly to Dagobah,” he explained. “It will be much faster, and we shall be able to return the same way. She is being very generous.”

Phalomir turned back towards Graysith.

“I thank you, my lady,” he smiled. “I shall return to you, and then we may discuss the future. My heart cries out against leaving you again, and I long for the time when we may by together.”

Phalomir then sighed and looked to Shayla.

“After you?”

--------------------

Pausing for a moment then, Shayla looked at each individual in the room, her eyes finally resting in those of Graysith's, meaningfully. Then she began to descend from the thrones in a smooth, graceful manner, pausing once more at the bottom to then regard her gown almost casually.

"I fear am not dressed in the best manner to assist in this quest," she observed, something roiling deeply within in sudden anticipation. "This must addressed before we depart..."

[ 03-03-2007 02:02 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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"If this is a thing that concerns you so, then be quick about it," she snapped before turning once more to Lord Phalomir.

"The effort of keeping this...unused portal open is beginning to wear a bit on me," she apologized politely.

"If you would be so kind as to bear with me further, I shall close it until my...Second has changed her attire into something more suitable for the occasion.

"She shall then lead you through the new one I open, and onto the soil of Dagobah."

With that the hand being held in the semblance of horns flipped back parallel to the floor, as with a little schlippt the Portal through space and time snapped to a close.

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...for I only desire to be in the best position to assist in getting the others out of their current predicament..."

And to be in my best position to serve our true purpose, came her final thought through that Link she and Graysith shared. Quickly then, she departed, changed a form fitting black practice doba and a deep purple cloak, fitting her feet with boots. Then she returned to step in front of the anxiously waiting group. Her greeny-blue eyes yet unreadable to the others, she then nodded in brief apology to Graysith.

"Let us depart quickly, so that our lost companions need not tarry much longer," Shayla spoke up evenly, waiting then...

...something deep within stirring silently.

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"Fare thee well," she said, nodding now to the others that they be on their way...

Supposedly to the swamp-world of Dagobah.

She smiled, holding the gesture, prepared to close the portal the moment the last of the intrepid little party had stepped through.

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...but she didn't bat an eye regarding it. Instead she turned back towards the others standing on the other side of the portal, waiting for them to step through as well.

(((OCC: Follow Shayla into Middlespace, Thirdspace within this same forum, thank you.)))

[ 03-03-2007 08:07 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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“With luck we shall return soon with all in tow,” he said. “Should Aelvedaar not be able to open a portal back, and no ship available, I shall try to contact you via the link we made so long ago. Or perhaps you have such a link with Shayla now? Either way, my lady, we shall return.”

Phalomir bent his head low and touched his lips gently to her forehead.

“I would brave Hell again for you, Jharmen,” he whispered. “Have strength.”

He felt Graysith tense ever so slightly, and took his hand from her shoulder. He looked deeply into her eyes, searching for the spark he hoped was still there, somewhere. She blinked and smiled, looking to the others as they stepped through the portal.

Phalomir lingered a moment longer, looking at the woman he loved with a sadness expressible only in silence. Hoping his words were not lost in the darkness within her, he turned and moved to the portal. He paused again, and turned his head.

“Take care, Jharmeen,” he said, and stepped through.

(((OCC: Follow Phalomir, Yaoksi, Aaron, K'khil, Cel, and Thea into Middlespace, Thirdspace within this same forum, thank you.)))

[ 03-04-2007 12:40 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Phalomir ]

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"Fetch the Lady ShaRhylla," she commanded as she then proceeded to the foot of the dias, there to stand and stare up at the pair of silent, empty thrones.

[ 03-04-2007 12:43 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Graysith ]

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They have made the first move, and have made an attempt on my life, in vain, Shayla thought through theLink she shared with Graysith. They will surely try to kill us both if they are allowed to be free...

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"This is not unexpected, my Sister; a hazard of the task I have put before you. I must know what the Temple of Armorers holds, for if a device can be made once, it can once more. This cannot be allowed, for in the Grand Scheme of Things we have no time to waste on such distractions.

"One in particular being this self-proclaimed Dark Lord; be wary of him, Sister. He is powerful indeed; you have not yet mastered what you need to hold your own in an outright confrontation with him. Therefore, you must use that gift natural to you and all of the feminine ilk:

"Guile."

She let a pregnant moment pass between them before sending off one last, assuring thought.

"Fear not, however; should he persist in seeking your death, I shall have you from that place in an instant.

"Take care..."

Her smile broadened, deepened, and she opened her eyes, settling more comfortably upon the Throne to continue waiting for ShaRhylla.

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Shayla stretched out to her Link with Graysith. The Master and Rykounagin are here, but for what reason I do not know. A tuk’ata has taken Phalomir into the jungle, leaving all others alone. This may be my chance to poke about the Temple...

...but then, there were certain things in the Temple that perhaps the Master and his pet were looking for. If this place truly finds Phalomir its Dark Lord...

...should I venture to its Temple and poke about without him, leaving him to possibly return and come after me? He is yet alive...”

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"Have no trepidation regarding the Dark Lord Phalomir, my dear," she purred along their link. "For he has one failing which may be so easily utilized: deep within himself, he cares not only for me but for you as well.

"Continue your course; should he suddenly choose to interrupt you, well... my dear, I know you have been practicing your use of guile with him, and hopefully with the others as well.

"I foresee you having no difficulties with Phalomir... but beware his father. He cannot be trusted, as neither can the assassin Rykounagin."

The reply sent, Graysith opened her eyes. Then with a sigh she mounted the dias, soon reaching the thrones atop it where she took a seat.

ShaRhylla had lost the opportunity to be treated as blood by her tardiness. Now she was to be treated exactly as would anybody else the Dark Lady wished to toy with.

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Thus she discovered -- in glorious detail -- not only how the halfling had fared at the not-so-gentle hands of the white-haired assassin, but of greater interest how she had fared during her time in the Darker Realms. Truth be known, Graysith knew in general what had occurred there, and that within her sensed a deeply roiling blotch yet staining the soul of ShaRhylla.

But now, over an unexpected offering of Sith brandy brought by a summoned handmaiden, Graysith's daughter's tongue had loosened enough to bring forth in glorious detail all she had experienced and endured. The more she had spoken of it, the quieter she had at first become...

...only to somehow strengthen, her attention turning inward, focusing on images of times past. So preoccupied had she been with her own details that she hadn't noticed the blackness roiling up in her mother's eyes, quickly masked as Graysith had at last sent her off to her quarters.

For a long time after she hunkered in the throne of the Dark Lady, the door to the Receiving Hall closed and locked by her talents, all Sith ordered on pain of death to disturb her for nothing. She did not know how great a period had passed; time segued into one lingering now, for the place her thoughts had occupied indeed experienced no time as reality would have it.

Finally she rose from the throne, her eyes the color of night. She quickly sent a sly tendril forth, seeking knowledge of Shayla's business, smiling to herself as she touched the mind of her Adept and felt what was lurking so strongly there. Quietly letting the tendril withdraw, she stepped down the dias until she gained the intricately designed stonework at its feet. There she had paused, staring out at nothing...

Then, a quickly raised hand ripped a Portal into something beyond the fabric of space and time. Within that rip an oily darkness roiled and swirled, and a distant, gibbering laugh rang obscenely against the shadowed walls of the Receiving Hall.

Smiling, she stepped through, let the Portal snap closed in her wake.

((OOC: Follow Graysith into the Darker Realms in Siege of a Soul in these forums, thank you.))

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Freedon Naad sat in a squat house in the center of the small village that had been both his home and the capitol the Unified Sith, as his little movement had come to be known, for the past two years. To be fair the relatively small village, the borders of which comprised the totality of the Unified Sith’s domain, was thriving. Indeed, even after the initial flood of Sith into the village, there had been a small but steady stream of immigrants. The town had twice been forced to expand its borders to accommodate the new population and even now was a little more crowded than it should be. Freedon had been busy the last two years. Organizing new arrivals and determining the best way to employ their talents (which were often limited to farming and/or manual labor) had occupied a lot more time than he had expected. He had gathered the handful of warrior’s who had defected to the Unified Sith and had, utilized them to train the bedraggled and downtrodden peasants and outcaste Sith that made up the majority of the village’s population into a moderately effective militia. Indeed, with the exception of those rare and precious members of the socerer’s clan who had defected to the Unified Sith the entire partook in military drills on a regular basis and, would serve in the military should the need arise. The need never really had arisen. Sure, they would occasionally be drawn into skirmishes with the other Sith (usually more as a result of their occasional raids than of any concerted effort to put down the fledgling rebellion.) While it had been Naad’s intention to keep his operation small scale to avoid the prying eyes of the Sith Triumvirate (and the Dark Lord of the Sorcerer Clan in particular) he was, as much as he hated to admit, depressed by how little effort the endeavor required. At the end of the day, when he peered out of his window at the poorly cobbled town square or leaned over the ramparts of the ill constructed stone wall that surrounded the village and surveyed the fruits of his labor he felt discouraged more than anything else. He had wanted to wield power, to be a charismatic revolutionary leader, but thus far he had been performing the duties of a small-time politician, local bureaucrat, or mayor of some petty and unremarkable borough. Yes, the citizenry saw him as their intrepid leader and as a great bringer of change (even going so far as to refer to him as General Naad), but Freedon, who was by and large far worldlier than any of his constituents, knew that his whole regime was of little real significance, and of no real threat. Or at least it hadn’t been. Things were finally reaching critical mass. The flow of new recruits was slowing and the militia had been trained as effectively as could be expected. There would be excitement on the horizon. Part of Freedon cringed at this prospect. He was, at heart, many millennia old, and despite the fact that he had restored himself to his youthful body fully two years ago, he had never been able to fully shake off the ennui of old age. He was, when it came down to it, still a crotchety old sorcerer, mired in centuries of tradition and habit. Which was inconvenient, because soon he would be forced to lead his followers against the firmly entrenched Sith government. It would be a difficult struggle, but the reward was the one Freedon had, in all his years, never lost his taste for: power. Not long ago he had witnessed the destruction of the Imperial Fleet that orbited the system, though he did not know its exact cause, he had a few fairly strong notions. Still, before he could take any action it was necessary to get the lay of the proverbial land. After all he had been cut off from the world (more or less) for two years and had doubtlessly missed a great deal. Freedon resolved to travel to the true K’eel Doban capital and asses the situation. After having appointed a trusted (and utterly spineless) member of his inner circle to rule in his stead for the time being, Freedon traveled to an old silo outside of town where he had concealed a rickety old spacecraft. All the vehicles in the city were constantly on the edge of total breakdown because of the almost complete lack of people who were able to repair them. This craft was in slightly better condition than the others and, perhaps more importantly, looked to be in good repair (even though it wasn’t). He wasn’t sure he trusted the ship to take him into space but it should be enough to get him to the Temple of the Warrior Clan. He wondered absentmindedly who the current Dark Lord of Warriors was. His warriors implored him to take a bodyguard with him but he refused. He wanted to keep the very existence of this movement as secret as possible for now. The sun had just set when the ship lurched skywards and shot off across the skyline of K’eel Doba.

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