Darker Shadows (Xavius)

[Colton Hunter]

The temple had been completed years ago, but he still marveled at the aesthetic of the place. He stood in the midst of the Shadow Temple, staring up at the meager artwork that graced the walls. His greatest ally, one whom he considered a friend, had been gone for sometime... but then, Colt had felt the ripples in the Force, he knew how many had died out there. All while Colt had been struggling to find Adara... he didn't blame Xavius for not returning here... though he still felt as if Adara's capture could have been avoided, had Xavius been by his side, Xavius owed him nothing.

He had been doing his best with the training of those few students that remained, supplying his own security captain to help with the combat training... this was a man who hadn't a drop of the Force in him, but had defeated two Sith with only his beksad blade, against their lightsabers. Jen had trained him well, and his fierceness in battle was a thing to be feared. Something Colt respected of Krelig, the man was currently beating the tar out of three teenagers, they were armed, but Krelig was not. It amused Colt... He stopped, pausing momentarily, then moved on from the training pits.

He found himself looking out the great window on one of the higher decks, staring out into the green valley the temple laid in, the dark cave casting it's shadows, hiding the entire valley in the Force, the Dark Side that exuded from the vast hole in the valley wall poured out and covered every inch... it was why Colt had picked its location for Xavius. It was a place he could train and hide... where his people could hide.

Xavius... what have you been up to? he wondered.

[Xavius Bain]

The planet grew larger and larger around The Grey, Xavius’s ship as it made its quick decent to the surface. It had been long since his return, and much had changed in the Shadow Lord and his immediate goals. He had lost many of his promising students, but next to the Shadow Lord sat Kole, one of the more promising of the young Shadows. Though Kole left an eager, young student, the cost of what he had seen had stripped him of innocence, and he was becoming what became of many of Xavius Bain’s promising students.

A weapon.

It was often told of people that spend some time with Xavius Bain that his presence seemed to pull the air out of the room. Most described him as unsettling, with his emotionless, neutral face and the black, onyx eyes that were impossible to read. Add that to the rumors of what he was capable of, and it was obvious why the Shadow Lord had very few whom considered him friend.

Kole wanted to bring up the Sith holocrons that Xavius was searching for, but he opted to silently obey his master. Xavius had rescued him after his own failure in the mission, so in fairness Kole knew that he owed Xavius Bain his life. It was just difficult to see if Xavius had rescued him because he was his apprentice, or if it were because he was Xavius’s investment.

The landing gear hissed as it deployed, and the stealthy grey ship landed with only slight hums and one more brief hiss. Without a word, Xavius Bain’s hood was raised and he swiftly left his ship, his pace, though brisk, completely silent. Kole and the Assassin Droid that Xavius kept with him at almost all times followed suit.

[Colton Hunter]

The Force worked in mysterious ways. Colt felt his presence well before he saw the ship crest valley walls. His head shifted to one side, just a bit, before he made his way down to the landing area, he'd be the first thing Xavius would see upon emerging, along with those being trained in the background. His helmet was clipped to his belt, but he wore the golden armor of Mando Cabure now, marked with his station and position as Chief of Clan Sorell, and Commander of the Protectors. The legend had grown, perhaps, but so too did he seem wearied by his burden. And Adara was no where to be seen, or even felt.

"Welcome home, Xavius," he greeted simply. He left it at that, there was no words needed, not fully. Sure, he'd like to know his plans now, but in that single statement, he revealed much. All which he wanted to. He had indeed felt the deaths of his students, many of which, kinsmen to Sorell. Mandalorian warriors of varying ages, all possessing Force abilities. And in that same breath, Colt continued to extend his hand in friendship.

He stepped aside to let him walk past, and would fall into step with him for the moment, but didn't say a word, their conversations had always been... different, to say the least. Colt might not have always understood Xavius, but he didn't question his methods, nor try to put restraints upon him as Death had.

Death. Now calling herself Lady Kota... Colt would always refer to her as Lady Death. She was an ally, but she was unstable at best, and for Colt... she'd bear further watching. Until then, the Shadows on Jakelia, were Xavius's, and Xavius's alone. Colt would see to it.

[Xavius Bain]

The Shadow Lord answered the welcome with a nod, but did not discontinue his movement.

“Kole, gather the students. I will meet everyone in the dueling hall once I am ready.”

His apprentice didn’t need to answer, he simply obeyed. Kole gave a slight bow to Colt, and then continued to gather the students that resided at the Academy.

“Colton, follow me.”

The Shadow Lord was silent until he arrived at his chambers. Him, Colton, and the Assassin entered. The room was functional, but there were no relics of comfort or individuality. There were a few drawers, and a closet mostly filled with weapons. His ‘bed’ was a small platform that could only be assumed to be one, but there were no pillows or blankets. The room had multiple windows, and while they provided full views of the outside of the Academy, they provided little in terms of lighting or roominess. The rest of the larger than necessary room was filled with blank space, and despite the size, it still had the ability to make a man feel claustrophobic.

The Shadow lord was not one for small talk, and his next question was no exception.

“How have things been?”

Though the question could seem light to someone that didn't know the Shadow lord, he was asking genuinely. Xavius Bain had not returned to the Academy in quite some time, and he knew that Colton would likely have more of an idea of the state of Jakelia, Sorell, and Xavius’s own Shadows that still resided on the planet. He was asking for an update on everything. How he proceeded, depended on all of the information he would receive.

[Colton Hunter]

Colt fell into step with Xavius easy enough, walking with him, he returned the bow to Kole. His mind moving over the proper way to answer the Shadow Lord's question. He blew a thin sigh out as they walked.

"I've been doing what I can for the students here, in the Force, Krellig has been giving them more intensive combat training," he said, "Been keeping them here, for the most part, for whenever you needed them," he shook his head, glancing out into the courtyard, and out, toward the rest of Jakelia...

"We've been preparing for war the best we can, Adara is somewhere in Sith space, and while I lack the numbers here, I've been looking into gathering more and more allies," he shrugged softly, "I've taken on three new apprentices myself... Two are much too young, but, I'm gathering my forces... it'll be their choice in the end, but I'm training more and more to deal with Sith specifically, teaching them as well..." he shrugged, then moved away from Xavius for a moment, hands rested on the stone ledge, staring out the window.

"I had felt what had happened with you and yours, I was healing from my wounds after my fight with Tormentous... the same day she was taken," he nodded out the window. "Not sure of your plans, but the Sith have already come here, a Lord Blood came here to try to extend a proverbial peace offering, the ashes of one of my lost apprentices, I think he'll be the next one I cross blades with," he mused, he lapsed into silence for a moment, his mind had been in turmoil for quite some time, this was just the icing, he turned toward Xavius once more.

"What of you? How have things been going on your end?" he asked him.

[Xavius Bain]

The Shadow Lord’s cloak was removed, exposing the mimetic armor that sat tightly across Xavius’s muscular frame. The black cloak was covered in dirt and blood, but the armor underneath seemed pristine to the eye. Though the Shadow Lord continued what he was doing, he listened intently to Colt’s words.

It was then revealed that Colton has also run into Tormentous, as well as Blood. Xavius had defeated Tormentous, but his run in was Blood was under entirely different circumstances. In fact, the two had mutual interests, and it was Blood who released Kole in exchange for knowledge, and the two had gone on the hunt for the holocrons together. It was probably best for now that Xavius kept the details of his run-in with Blood to himself, especially with the potential emotional response aided by ashes of a lost apprentice…

“My plans are on a … grand scale.” Best to keep things vague for now. “The balance is shifting, and rapidly. I am soaking in all of the power and knowledge that I can, and ensuring that I am at the top at the end. Tell me about the Sith who came here. Are they planning on a return?”

[Colton Hunter]

Colt cast a sidelong glance upon Xavius, one brow going up in a questioning look. He didn't hide his curiosity in his supposed grander plans, but he looked away afterwards, not pushing the subject. He just continued to walk, contemplating what he meant by that, what his plans were. Colt didn't fully trust the Shadow Lord, but then, he knew that worked both ways. He considered him his friend, but they both had their secrets, and he'd respect his.

"He came here with... with the ashes of Siya, a young golden Twi'lek I taught, he claimed to have known her before he became a Sith Lord, called himself Slade Xantir, he witnessed her death, and a part of that broke him, left him susceptible for torment at the hand of the Nightmare's Child," he gave Xavius another look, he knew her connection to him. "He cracked further, and emerged with another personality, calling himself Lord Blood, but he had been plagued by Slade's memories of Siya, and came hoping to be rid of Slade forever," he explained. "I am not partial to the light or the dark, Adara gave herself, fully to the light in the midst of her battle against Krynn on Korriban, surrounded by darkness, she became the light... and if she turned to the Dark Side, I'd still train her, but the Sith-" he shook his head.

"I attempted to appeal to Slade, and then introduced Blood to Mandalorian diplomacy," he tapped one of his tonfas. "He left, but I'm sure he'll return, our defenses are ready," he promised, "It has also given me a test of what they are capable of, with Tormentous missing, none of the Sith can stand up to us," he sighed, then threw a hand into the air, it was something he had given much thought on. "I'm going after Adara, I just need to gather as many allies as I can," he added, "I know you keep your emotions distant, but my power is in my emotions, I follow them, and they always end with Adara for me, she's my legacy, but she's become my daughter, I'll destroy every last Sith, end their entire civilization in order to do that," he told him.