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Realms: These Shattered Stars Logs

Chapter Seven, Part One

It's about a week out of Fergohsen when Freyja lets her friends know she's ready to try farseeing Lord Ghang Si'yul with them. "We should probably link up in the triat, and we'll do our best to get Fhazil very strongly connected with me, so it looks like he's the farseer, in case there are wards and watchers out for Lightsiders."

She adds, "Also, I'm thinking it'd be wise to take your words to heart, Fhazil, and put up all our defenses before we try reaching your Sith Lord? And remember we need to ask him where he'll be in, um..." she does a few mental calculations, then adds, "-where he'll be between 3 and 5 weeks from now, all right?" She grins a little mischievously, adding, "And then I want to ask him a question, if I may!"

Freyja wonders suddenly if that's both why the Mandalorians are being hired as a strike force -- and why the military strategists aren't warning about a spear-thrust attack towards Balmorra instead of Coruscant. Perhaps the 'powers that be' are hoping to break the Sith advance with Mandalorians, in the Balmorran Sector? Which... would suggest Balmorra will be simply crawling with aggressive Jedi. Hm... the news hasn't contained anything like that, though. She hopes that's not going to be the case.

Fhazil and Zero agree with Freyja's reasoning, and the group forms the Triat while Vakkal minds the progress of the ship through hyperspace. They take their time forming the zeitgeist, and then project their minds forward and outward, seeking, searching along the hyperlanes to a place Rimward of Tanaab, where all the reports said the Sith forces were gathering....

Soon they see it: a fleet of Sith battleships and gunships drifting serenely in deep space. Twin-engined star fighters scream about in patrol flights -- and there is more besides. The group feels icy touches from wardens whose guardianship extends through the battle group and though the Force. The sense of Fhazil Taas is enough to have them part obsequiously as the group nears the battleship at the forefront of the formation. Though Zero cannot read the ancient hieroglyphs on the side, they are familiar to them all, and this is clearly Ghang Si'yul's flagship, Malice.

Freyja grins quietly to herself -- she had neh idea Fhazil was so important! She'll have to tease him gently about it later... if he doesn't seem to mind.

Their consciousness flashes through the hull, then down corridors and halls, through bulkheads and hatches. They see armored Massassi and Arkanian soldiers training, practicing, drilling, sleeping, eating. They see officers of several species, including a few purebloods, poring over holotables showing dizzying battle plans in obscure military glyphs. The ranks seem to rise as they approach the flag bridge, and for a brief moment an Arkanian and a pureblood are obscuring their view, uniformed in some half-barbaric, half-exotic uniform of the Sith military. They are bowing, and when they straighten and move away the three see again the tall, brooding figure of Ghang Si'yul as he leans thoughtfully over a holographic chart of Balmorra Sector.

Freyja studies the Sith Lord with interest, then whispers through the Force to Fhazil, Can you 'touch' him, or will you need me to 'speak' for you?

Fhazil is about to reply when he mentally gives a start. No... no need to. He knows we're here... A moment later the pureblood's eyes look up at them directly, and widen a bit in surprise.

Freyja gives the Force equivalent of a polite nod. She whispers within the Force to Fhazil, Is 'merry meet' proper greeting, or should it be something else, or should I just hush and let you talk?

Up until now everything has been in a sort of half-dream state; the images are fleeting and distant, faintly blurred and barely perceptible. Lord Ghang murmurs something, which clears the room of anyone else. The triat can sense him sitting upon the floor, cross-legged, his own presence in the Force seeming to coalesce. He makes a low, deep sound -- a mantra not unlike that used in some early Alderaanian sects -- a deep, rumbling sound that seems to encompass the world, and shake it to its very core...

And suddenly the entire ship surrounding them all seems to completely fall away, plate by plate, bolt by bolt, component by component, and it is no longer a dream but seeming as real as if he were sitting right before them. He opens his eyes. Surrounding him is a whirl of his own force of presence and personality, as if by will alone he was holding open a breach through the very fabric of the Force that links him with this group, facilitating their own farseeing attempt on him.

In this state Freyja can see his Sithstain clearly -- but where Fhazil's was a snake in a tree of life, Ghang's is a veritable dragon, curled around him as if some self-conscious wizard's familiar, eyeing them with smoldering jade-green eyes. She can also see on his right shoulder a curl of black blight where a sword-wound once struck him, doubtless from a blighted blade of some sort.

Ghang's smile is not entirely warm, but neither is it unwelcoming. "So it is my old apprentice, Fhazil Taas," he rumbles, his voice seeming rich and sonorous in this nether-dimension. "And he is with the Jedi of Marnaas. Freyja Rigg of Balmorra and Zero Satau of Sedrak. Yes, the Shadowguard informed me of your names. By your information, Freyja Rigg of Balmorra, we were able to purge most of the Oath of Fire from the heart of the Empire, and for that I thank you."

Freyja is a bit surprised herself, initially, but then sighs in relief. Farseeing is not a breeze, after all, and Ghang's actions make it far easier to do now! She brightens -- literally, as a mostly-humanoid-shaped woman of smoldering fire -- and remembers how Vakkal and Fhazil first greeted Master Roakkana. She'll try that as a proper greeting to a Sith Lord.

Freyja brings up one fiery hand, to rest it on where her heart would be were she in her body, and bows slightly, Thank you, Sith Lord Ghang Si'yul, both for making this linkage easier, and... for your stopping the Oathers. She falls silent then, both so Fhazil can talk to his lord -- and so she can avidly study this fascinating and weirdly beautiful Sith dragon! Especially that nasty, crawling blight... the more she understands it, the better she can heal it, perhaps?

Fhazil is brief and to the point; he would like the chance to meet with Lord Ghang as he promised, in three to five weeks' time. Ghang is silent for a moment. "I would be pleased to accept you, Fhazil, even if I can tell it is only for a short time. But there is much that is happening which may make it difficult. As you no doubt know, we are preparing for the invasion of Balmorra Sector. It would not please your friends to appear while the attack on Tanaab is taking place."

Freyja remains discreetly silent. Fhazil replies, I realize that, my Lord, but-

"But you wish to anyway. Well. I cannot stop you, and I can give orders that whichever ship you are aboard will not be attacked. However... I would hear from your friends what you intend to do while this goes on."

Freyja carefully keeps her thoughts to herself, so as to not distract Fhazil -- but a number of extremely curious things occur to her. First -- how interesting there's neh mention whatsoever of their triat linkage! Had the Sith Lord Ghang been listening so well to any strange 'footstep' in the Force that he'd already discerned it completely? And if he can -- then so must the Calefactors be able to do so also!

Second -- how equally interesting there's neh attempt whatsoever to hide the intended target of this attack! Is it only the citizenry of the still-free parts of the Republic who're yet being fooled by tales of attacks on Coruscant? Then she blinks mentally, realizing she's being addressed. She thinks a moment, then says, I will gladly answer your question, Sith Lord Ghang, although I admit I have one or two myself also which I'd dearly love to ask. Would that be meet?

That may be a smile on his lips; though the faint air of interested amusement is hard to miss in his voice. "Yes, Padawan Freyja. If my position as a Lord of War permits me to answer your questions, I shall."

Freyja glows with pleasure again, Thank you, honored Sith lord. Um... she pauses, and the others can 'feel' her carefully crafting a polite reply. Then she says, calmly and quite sincerely, In regards to your question, Sith Lord Ghang, if I understand correctly you ask what we would do were we to arrive in Tanaab space in the middle of your attack. If that were to occur, then -- just as I am sure you would do were I the one set on invading and conquering Khar Velos, your home -- I would do my best to stop you. She does not sound either apologetic or as if she's dodging. She figures the Sith lord could tell if she tried that, and honesty has always served her best, anyway. She waits quietly for his reaction or reply.

Ghang nods. "It is as I expected," he says. "You and your Republic have for the most part been honorable and worthy adversaries. You have spirit, which makes the Great Hyperspace War both tragic and honorable at the same time. Very well. If you can inform me more specifically of when you will be arriving, I will attempt to either hasten or delay our operations so you and my former apprentice are not put in an awkward situation. Lord Shen Ravos may well not understand, but I will accept it."

Freyja looks a bit curious, Really? Hmm... he seemed quite understanding of honor on Marnaas...? Well, neh matter, you know him far better than I, of course. She thinks a moment, calculating again, then adds, I fear the best estimation we can make, however, is arrival in Tanaab space in one month. If that is not sufficient information, we will understand completely that we will most likely be considered targets as well, on arrival.

"On Marnaas, he was not faced with the possibility of... a delay in our stratagems. Very well, though you misunderstand me. You will not be considered targets unless you start to fire upon our ships. That being said, I will do what I can to ensure that does not happen. There are a few strategies I may yet employ."

Freyja nods, not understanding but not wanting to waste the Sith Lord's time asking for explanations which might be awkward or not his to give. Ghang seems to study Freyja for several long moments, though she does not feel his touch upon her presence. "You have other questions, though? The Shadowguard noted you were insatiably curious."

Freyja grins, Er... hai. She doesn't ask which Shadowguard -- does it really matter? Anyone spending any time around her at all could tell that! Instead, she simply organizes her thoughts again, pleased to be given a chance to ask her questions.

I have three questions, honored Sith Lord. First, the Hyperspace War was, at least as far as I could tell, something pushed by the Oath of Fire, in order to exterminate the Jedi Order. That being the case, why does the Empire continue to do the will of the Oath of Fire? Second, what is it the Empire so desires there, that it wishes to conquer Balmorra before Coruscant? And third, um... her expression gets both more interested, and a bit self-consciously shy, -may I take a closer look at your shoulder? I notice it has blight on it, and I'm learning how to fix that... if you don't mind?

Lord Ghang is quiet for a moment, then a peculiar sound comes from him. After a moment, Freyja realizes it is a soft laugh, a laugh that grows until it's a gale-force bout of hilarity. "Ah!" he says, his mirth fading enough for him to regain his speech.

"Ah, yes. Blunt and direct as well. Excellent qualities. You would have made a fine journeyman of War if you could pass the Marauder Trials. You are correct, though I have learned it was pursued by both the Oath of Fire and a faction within the Jedi Order. I have little proof but I believe the seeds of the war were planted not more than a hundred years ago, which is startling considering official contact between Empire and Republic has been only six years. The answer to your first and second questions are one and the same: we are seeking an end to this war in the one way we know how. We have cut out the cancer in our own body politic; now it must be removed from the Republic's."

Freyja blinks, a bit startled at the laugh -- but a quick 'glance' at Fhazil reassures her it's apparently not a bad thing to... engage the humor of a Sith Lord. Hopefully. She's still smiling, although her tone is cautious, Ah... thank you, Sith Lord, you are too kind...?

"You are welcome. I mean it as a compliment. The Shadowguards have told me much of the Jedi of Marnaas, and I almost wish the war had started ten or twenty years earlier, that I might have been honored with training you in our tradition. But what is done is done."

Freyja thinks a long moment, politely not mentioning her personal belief she'd have made a lousy Darksider... especially considering her childhood training regarding always facing her fears! Finally she says cautiously again, Does this mean, then, once the Watchers have, um... cleaned out the Order, you and your people will withdraw from the worlds you have conquered?

She is a bit confused still, as she considers. Surely conquering Coruscant immediately would best force the Order to clean its own house, so to speak? And if that's the case... again -- why Balmorra?

"I think you misunderstood me. We as a nation cannot afford to let the Bright Oath -- as we have taken to call them -- to continue. We are willing to coexist with the Order and Republic, but the threat of a disruption of this detente will always exist should the Bright Oathers remain. And there are many who feel the Order is not ruthless enough to fully purge itself of the Bright Oathers.

"Thus the threat remains, and thus it must be removed. And so as a start we are seeking the heart of that threat, and that threat is twofold: the one who sold himself to the Oath of Fire, and the one who leads the Bright Oathers. Between them, the bonds of treachery between our nations can be severed and we can negotiate borders without fear of a new war of Light and Dark consuming us all."

Freyja's light brightens, her eyes widening with sudden interest and her form getting more fiery and less humanoid, as she focuses on the Sith Lord, You know who leads the Calefactors?! You know who sold the illegal droids to the Empire?! She takes a mental breath, not wanting to burst into excited Light all over everyone, then adds more calmly, Please, please tell me -- we want to help the Order too, believe me! -so we may tell the Watchers that information also? A moment later she worriedly realizes the Sith lord has not answered her question regarding withdrawal.

"And if it worries you," he continues as if reading her mind, "it is the intention of the Dark Lord and the Moot to return previously Republic worlds to the Republic once we eliminate the threat to the Empire. We are in need of resources and expansion room -- but there are better and more efficient ways of acquiring such than attempting to pacify captured worlds. That is a task few soldiers truly enjoy."

Freyja is internally relieved, if surprised. She smiles, Thank you for clarifying that.

A moment later he continues, answering her other question, "I believe you already know -- deep in your heart. You merely do not have the proof the Republic demands. We in the Empire trust in the Force enough that Hierarchy and Empire are one and the same, such that what we have seen is proof enough for us. But in the Republic it is not so simple, for there are many who fear the power the Jedi wield, and so bind their hands with cords of law and regulation rather than self-imposed ones of discipline and loyalty.

"It is for that reason that we could tell the Jedi Watchers, but they will be bogged down by procedure and protocol -- already are, if reports are correct. No, it has been decided; the threat must be removed. Permanently. And since we do not have faith the Watchers are as ruthless as the Shadowguard in matters such as this, it falls to us to ensure the future safety of our nation. You would do much the same, I wager, if our positions were reversed, and your nation's future relied on the extermination of a society entrenched deep within your opponent's borders."

Freyja considers that, then shakes her head slowly, Neh, Sith Lord, I cannot agree. That is not the way of the Jedi. She's silent for a moment, struggling with how to tell this powerful and determined man that what works for his people will never work for the Order -- will, in fact, lend strength to the very group he wishes to exterminate!

Finally she says slowly, Tell me, please... you say you trust in the Force. Are we not both of the Force, you and I? If this is so... then you trust in me as much as I do for you also. Hai?

"You are perhaps correct. The Jedi and Sith arise from similar beginnings but are very different -- we are not as polar opposites as some would make us out to be, but we are different enough."

He pauses, and with an intellectually interested tone throws himself into the debate. "This is true. All living beings are of the Force. But we also have free agency within the Force. While we are a part of it, as a whole, and trust it, as a whole, there are some who are not trustworthy. Because of free agency, there are some whom we can only trust to not be worthy of trust. Trust does not come easily to practitioners of the Sith tradition because of the way we manipulate and work through the Force."

"In that vein, if I were to trust you completely, by your reasoning I would have to trust, say, Qatto Verg. Though I readily acknowledge that, being who you are and what I know of you, you are infinitely more trustworthy than that accursed Oather."

Freyja nods, confidence beginning to return. She may not be able to convince the Sith Lord of her position -- but she'll give it her very best. Formality starts to creep into her speech as she carefully addresses what is to her, in effect, a higher ranking aristoi, Very well then, know this -- Verg lied, and thus he was not trustworthy. I swear here before the deities, if they exist, and these of my Family of the Heart, and thyself -- I speak now only truth, for it is a matter of honor on which we debate. She doesn't know how to show this in the Force, but hopes her honesty is demonstrable both in her open demeanor, and in the trusting presence of Fhazil.

First, I owe great thanks to you, honored Sith Lord, for it is your former apprentices who have taught me there is honor among Sith, and who but their Master could have taught them so truly and well? She bows politely -- a graceful sway in her flaming form.

Secondly, you may verify this with both thy former apprentices, and I believe they will agree with my assessment. This technique currently espoused by the Sith to assure their continued existence within the Force, and with all Force sects? It will not work with the Jedi Order. It will instead cause the very groups you wish to eliminate to gain accordingly in power and prestige; it will hamper the efforts of the Watchers to clean the Haus of the Order.

Thirdly, though it may seem too slow to those who manipulate the Force as directly as thee -- we are cleaning our Haus. It is a matter of honor that we do so. She falls silent, watching to see what reaction she garners.

"Ah, but words can be broken. Again, I know such is anathema to you, but Verg swore many oaths and duties, all of which he tacitly broke in his pursuit of the aims of the Oath of Fire. And so I take your words as spoken in truth, without need to resort to the assurances of truth oft required in the most serious cases within the Hierarchy. And I am flattered by your words. In truth, Fhazil and Vakkal both taught me much as I taught them, in many things."

Freyja smiles at the compliments to her friends. She's both pleased and proud to hear them spoken so well of.

"It is not a matter of how quickly the Watchers and their allies can exterminate the... Calefactors, you called them? Yes. Though perhaps it is. The longer the Watchers take, the deeper the Calefactors may dig themselves into the heart of the Order, the harder it will be to remove them. The purge of the Oathers took two standard months, and we know they still exist on the fringes of our culture, harrying the Lords of State as few enemies have ever stymied a Lord of War. And this is by way of a purge that even I must admit was bloody and devastating. Do the Watchers have the same sense of ruthlessness which it would take to eliminate the Calefactors from within the Order?"

Freyja smiles quietly, Honored Sith Lord... is it not easier and less painful, in the long run, to make a friend of mine enemies, than to slay them and earn the enmity of their family and friends? She gestures mentally, Observe -- we debate here with quiet and thoughtful interest, and two of my Family of the Heart are Sith! Even as little as two years ago I would have laughed incredulously at any who swore I'd do such someday.

Freyja's grin gets a little shy as she adds, I even have hopes now of someday going in mutual peace to Ziost. Who would believe that -- a Lightsider to visit the Darkside stronghold in peace? And yet still I dream of it, and believe it may become reality. She observes the Sith Lord keenly, Is there neh way to persuade thee of the way of peace? I do believe the way of the Order will take longer, but do the job more efficiently in the long run -- than the Sith-preferred straightforward attempts at genocidal obliteration.

Freyja adds softly, We did not attempt to clean thy Haus -- we simply gave thee requisite tools to do so. Will the Sith not extend the same courtesy to the Order?

"In this we disagree then, Jedi Freyja. The longer we wait, the deeper the Calefactors will dig themselves into the roots of your Order. The time to cut off the serpent's head is now. Would the Jedi willingly hand up one of their most vaunted Masters, and one of their esteemed Senators? What you speak is true -- you did not clean our House, and that was a courtesy. But will the Jedi be as thorough and ruthless and complete as we were?

"Even with the measures we took, still the Oath remains at the fringes, remaining a challenge to us, though at least much of their power is broken. If we were to demand of the Senate these two be punished, your bureaucracy and democracy will churn and stutter and eventually refuse, all the while hoping we'll simply go away.

"Every tenday that they are free to do as they wish means more recruits for the Calefactors' poisonous dogma, and more chance the traitor will squirrel his way out of Republic jurisdiction. As long as the Calefactors exist, they will do everything they can to ensure that war exists between the Empire and the Republic until the Sith are less than a myth."

Freyja smiles, speaking bluntly, since the Sith lord seems to prefer that, This may be the logical outcome were it to occur in the Sith Empire. How do you know it will be so for the Republic? We are a different people; we follow a different philosophy -- Jedi are servants of the people, not the other way around.

Freyja's private thought is quietly wondering... are the Sith so terrified of the Jedi, that they truly believe not obliterating the anti-Sith faction of the Order will result in the complete obliteration of the Sith? She's almost shamed at the logical conclusion that leads to... do the Sith warlords have greater faith in her Order than she herself has?

She considers, then adds, You ask us to believe you will withdraw once your goals are accomplished. Very well, I ask you to believe we are not entirely feckless here in the Republic -- we want war neh more than thee. Hast proof of thy claims? Demonstrate them publicly! Will this not potentially speed the accomplishment of thy goals? Is this not thy stated intent?

"Or will it simply be taken as a ruse by the evil, dishonest Sith to remove from power two of the strongest hopes for the Republic to win the Great Hyperspace War? Consider if, four years ago and before you met my apprentice, the Sith had called for the trial of a well-regarded Jedi Master. Can you truly tell me you would not be suspicious, no matter what was offered up as proof of that one's malfeasance?"

Freyja tchs in frustration, Honored Sith lord, there will always be those who will not trust -- who fear the vulnerability trust brings. We are not speaking of them. We are speaking of the Watchers, and the Order... and, in a way, what our triat represents. Hai, there are those who will not believe thy accusations... and there will also be those who will take the time to check and see if your accusations are truth.

It cannot harm thy cause to be openly truthful. There is, instead, great potential for it to aid thy cause immeasurably. She falls silent then, at the sudden, personally disturbing thought -- is the triat the real, true 'best hope' of the Republic? She hopes, if so, that it never need be demonstrated.

Ghang is quiet for a moment. "It is often said the Sith Hierarchy and the Sith Empire are one and the same, while the Jedi Order and the Republic are separate. The two are more bound together than is commonly believed. Very well, then. You suggest making our accusations and proof known to the Republic?"

Freyja nods firmly, Hai! And if I can somehow help thee in doing so, please but ask. She draws a silent breath at a sudden thought, then says carefully, Dost think choice of time and locale important for this? Wouldst be interested in a suggestion?

"I would be lying if I said it wouldn't suit our goals to sow confusion in the Republic, and that nothing can cause more confusion than the truth. But we shall see. I do not have high hopes, but I will convince Shen Ravos we should release the information we have regarding the Calefactors and the traitor to the Republic as a whole. We shall see if it bears fruit or if it justifies our arrogance. What is your suggestion?"

Freyja's mental grin across the link to the triat alone is wickedly mischievous, but she's perfectly correct as she mentally murmurs to the Sith lord, It would seem to me helpful to announce such at a propitious time... as in some non-war-related occurrence which has drawn more than usual attention in the Republic. Wouldst be interested in one such?

Freyja politely says nothing at all regarding arrogance, of course -- even if she agrees. It's not like the Republic doesn't have its fair share of arrogant know-it-alls too, after all... Khoud and Kalatis both among them, she thinks wryly.

Ghang's mental voice is also wryly humorous, "You have something very appropriate in mind, I imagine. And quite unorthodox. Very well, let us hear of it. I daresay it sounds like it would be shocking and startling enough to do as it is."

Freyja grins without remorse, Hai, there is that... and it brings me personal satisfaction as well, since I am duty-bound to the ritual, but not entirely thrilled with it. She sways arms of flame out in an inclusive gesture, as formality dictates on her home world, Honored Sith Lord Ghang Si'yul, I invite thee to the public union of the Hausa Rigg and Jotunsen, and my wedding, as the Unknown Stranger, which is traditionally a sacred and protected role in my homelands. Wilt thou attend?

She adds dryly, and far less formally, The union of two major Hausa will certainly attract more Republic attention than I've ever wanted or needed. I'd be delighted to have someone such as yourself to draw attention as well... and it would be quite the political coup for my family.

Ghang pauses, then asks, almost teasing, "Are you certain you would wish us to make such an announcement during your marriage? It's certain to overshadow it as far as sector politics go, and I wouldn't want to take so much attention away from your wedding to the Arving Lord Fafnir Leif-Krieg Jotunsen."

Freyja laughs, then grins and raises an eyebrow, Thy teasing is enough on target that I worry for my privacy! Should I be quizzing Fhazil regarding our intimacy?

She smiles, adding more seriously, Sith lord, I would cheerfully and totally overwhelm the entire ritual were I able to bring peace to my home through so doing. Too, I would be quite startled to hear the Arving Lord, my betrothed, has suddenly and dramatically increased his enthusiasm for the ritual. We do what we are honor-bound to do for our families -- as always. Foremost in importance, though, is our duty to our people. I truly believe this will help in the peace process; believing this, I can do neh less.

"It's not as if such wasn't in Balmorra's society news for the past two years." He makes no comment on the mention of Fhazil, though Freyja senses the younger Sith blushing. "Very well. We will make the necessary arrangements for a cease fire for a short period of time, to allow this announcement to be made on Balmorra."

Freyja murmurs dryly, There is that. Thank goddess none attempted to follow me around as they do my sister. She smiles, and Fhazil can feel her gentle, affectionate reassurance to the triat alone, Just teasing, love.

"You could have likely lost them. You did well enough in losing the Shadowguards who were following you."

Freyja turns her interested attention to the Sith lord once more, Thank you. She doesn't mention that of the triat she, at least, had no idea who those individuals might have been. Instead she turns to another question which has been confusing her for some time now, Ah... wouldst be willing to explain something to me, please? It has deeply puzzled us how the Jedi Master Balin Khoud could be unaware of the actions of his friend, Senator Kalatis. With no sense of irony, she asks, Couldst shed any light on this conundrum for us?

She does wonder, however, if the Shadowguard thought the same of her and Vakkal, but in reverse, as the Watchers had... namely, that one was converting the other. That leads, naturally enough, to another worrying thought -- will Fhazil be (in effect) excommunicated from his new homeland due to her association with him? She hopes not, but she doesn't know how to clearly demonstrate to the Sith his loyalty to them. It doesn't occur to her the same fate might lie in store for her with the Order.

"I see. Know this, then. The traitor I spoke of is the same Senator Kalatis. And the leader of the Calefactors is Master Balin Khoud. It was while investigating a droid smuggling operation to the Oath of Fire that was operating under tacit approval by Kalatis that Balin Khoud discovered the existence of the Sith Empire.

"We are not certain what happened next, but he would later become a Master and the leader of the Calefactors. As such he pushed for war against the Sith Empire when contact was officially established between our two nations. To Balin Khoud, Kalatis was a fortuitous means to an end: the extermination of the Dark Jedi which had escaped the Red General millennia ago."

Freyja blinks... then physically sighs out a slow gust of breath. I... see... She sighs again, less heavily this time, as her manners return, I thank thee for thy honesty, Warlord. Though I did not wish to believe it... better to know the truth and face one's fears. She considers a moment, then murmurs a touch grimly, Well... at least this time the Red General will be absent. Perhaps we can still find a peaceful path through this maze.

"You may perhaps understand that I am relieved to hear that."

Freyja gently squeezes the hands of her lovers, where they're sitting together in the link. She's not happy to have her worst fears about Kalatis and Khoud realized, nor to realize how deeply Khoud must want her and her companions eliminated for what they represent to him. It's reassuring to feel her lovers close -- to reiterate their mutual determination to be, to exist as corporeal examples of what greatness Darksider, Graysider, and Lightsider together can aspire to... if that's not too arrogant of me...

Freyja draws a slow, deep breath, then turns her attention back to Ghang, I am gratified, Sith lord, although I know not which part relieves thee?

"The part about the Red General not being present. We had been concerned when some of the Oathers we took prisoner ranted and raved about the return of the Red General."

Ah, that. She smiles, Mythological icons of past greatness are always depicted as returning in the hour of one's greatest need. Still, I doubt not -- er, wait... Oathers? Not Calefactors?

"We have only captured one or two Calefactors, and they were... rather terminal in their desire to remain silent. The Oathers, on the other hand, were more than willing to warn us that not letting them go would surely ruin their best chances of killing or suborning the Red General before that one destroyed us, finishing the job started during the Heresy Wars."

Freyja raises an interested eyebrow, Well now... interesting. She considers a moment, then adds thoughtfully, Must be due to the Paladins... the Force had already started calling them to walk the battle lines and suborn some from the Sith view, long before we even knew there were Calefactors.

Freyja smiles, adding, "I doubt not the Calefactors would be greatly displeased were a Red General to indeed appear in the fullness of her power. At the end of the Heresy Wars, she cleaved fiercely to the path of peace -- not of war.

"Sadly, one is always remembered for the deeds they did which affected the greatest number of people, or the largest area. Records we have studied within the Republic speak little of what the Red General did following the Heresy Wars. In that vein, I confess curiosity as to how history will remember us both."

Freyja curiously asks, Clarify 'us both' please? Do you mean yourself and the Red General?

"No, actually, I mean you and I. Or more appropriately, your triat and I. I sometimes fear history will not judge us well. But that is focusing on what we cannot change. For now, we will make arrangements with Republic Forces for a ceasefire at the time of your wedding on Balmorra, and I and a small escort will be there."

Ah! I understand. Freyja considers for a moment, then smiles, Well, if we are fortunate, we three will soon be considered but one triat of many. I'm equally sure history will, at the very least, judge us inaccurately. Is it not the duty of history to teach? And are not the most effective teaching tools iconic in nature, rather than full of the true complexity of life? A little curiously she adds, since this is the first the Sith lord has mentioned the threesome, What does the Sith Empire think of our triat? What do we currently represent to them?

"The Sith Empire currently has no thoughts about the triat because it as yet does not know of the triat. After we cease this communication I will be conferring with Shen Ravos and others on a great many things, including not only the ceasefire, but also later the implications of the triat."

Freyja is silent, thinking. Strange that he's asked nothing about the triat. Are they so transparent, then? Again, do the Calefactors also see them clearly? She hopes not, for the continued safety of the threesome, but she doesn't know, really. She's on the inside, so to speak.

Instead she simply politely says, Very well then. I thank thee for thy acceptance of the invitation; I ask only that you observe Guest Oath, as my Haus shall correspondingly observe Guest Right. Hast any other questions for us? She wishes idly she could watch that conversation between Sith warlords, like the proverbial fly on the wall. It's her guess it will be quite fascinating!

"I would like the opportunity to ask more about the triat on Balmorra. Or rather, one of my advisors. Theosophy has never been my strongest suit. For now, we will be consumed with plans for the arrangement of the ceasefire."

Freyja glows quietly, pleased at his interest in what she and Zero and his journeyman have accomplished together, That would be fine. I may not be able to give the answers personally, but I imagine Zero and Fhazil would be happy to chat with one of your advisors as well.

She grins, adding, I fear theosophy is not my strong suit either -- merely a great perplexity for me! She pauses a moment, then adds with a smile, It is healing, mostly, which is my strong suit. May I now examine thy blighted shoulder, Warlord?

Ghang -- reluctantly yet curiously -- acquiesces. There is vanishingly little Freyja can tell through a farseeing -- the basic rotes of farseeing as taught by the Order barely support communication to this degree, let alone anything else. However, she can tell the blight is not unlike the blight she has seen before.

The Darkside energies that encompass the blight rend and tear at the natural biological healing process -- in this, it is entirely unlike a cancer. With a cancer, the cells are suborned by the malformed DNA and promulgate rapidly. The blight simply prevents any sort of permanent healing whatsoever. It is something which would completely and utterly baffle a practitioner of medicine whose training was based solely in technology and science.

Freyja's fiery Force visualization emanates pleasure as she flicks over next to the seated Sith lord and his Sithstain dragon. She's careful not to touch him, although it's mostly due to a desire not to worry his dragon than any realization of the true geographic distance between them. She thinks there might be something she can do, but she would need time to study it... and it would need to be a careful study, since while Ghang is calm and composed, his Sithstain watches her like a seething, jealous dragon of black jade.

Carefully she looks at the throbbing, parasitic lines of blight, studying them as closely as she can, and absently murmurs, I would guess societally Sith with blight wounds are considered somewhat of a danger... the wounds do not heal, and thus normal functioning would be impaired, hai? Are those with more than, say, one or two of these wounds regarded with some suspicion, at least as far as their ability to carry out complex tasks, due to the constant dragging pain?

"We are capable of functioning despite multiple wounds. And in some cases they may be healed. By exerting my will I can force the wound to close -- but it takes time, and the blight always reopens it shortly. As for the pain... that is easy enough to block. Sometimes, those wounded use that pain to fuel their emotions in the thick of battle. Those who do it too often are frequently looked upon with suspicion, but most control it well enough."

He adds wryly, "By the time anyone is subject to the threat of wounding by a blighted weapon which does damage such as this, they are generally capable of much more than the average apprentice. That is not to say that it is a mere inconvenience. I would not, for example, dare to engage in a swordfight as I am now -- not without time enough to close the wound for a while."

Freyja blinks at that news, startled. Previously she'd been given to understand healing blight was beyond even most Jedi -- to hear the Sith can do such healings is a shock to her. She continues her examination, though, and a moment later it occurs to her the Warlord could possibly be... glossing the truth a little, so it doesn't seem as bad as it actually is. She fervently hopes so... otherwise she doesn't see what benefit any alliance between Jedi and Sith would be to the Sith.

A moment later she withdraws slightly, politely bowing and thanking the Warlord for his patience. We look forward to meeting you again face-to-face in peace on Balmorra, honored Sith lord.

Ghang smiles, though his Sithstain is wary -- and maybe it's Freyja's imagination that the blight seemed to hiss and snap at her in its own tiny way -- as he says, "I look forward to it, Padawan Freyja Rigg of Balmorra."

Moments later, the triat has returned to their bodies and released the tight mutual linkage -- and Freyja finds she's exhausted! The others can feel her weary, half-rambling thought, reminding herself to keep an eye on the others within the triat, to prevent this overtiredness when any one of them is deeply involved in something. Following that thought is a faint sense of wonder... she talked extensively to a Sith lord -- and yet she's not dead!

She wonders a bit wearily if it was anything like this for her Sith friends, upon meeting Master Roakkana for the first time. True, one intellectually knows it's unlikely the Master or Lord will blast them to teensy smithereens -- but there's still that small internal worry, due to societal propaganda! She grins tiredly at her friends, "So... was it like that for you?"

Then, without warning, her fatigue overwhelmingly catches up with her. She misses any answer -- she just sighs softly, her blue eyes closing as she literally drops asleep on them, in a tired sprawl of scarlet and gold.

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