Ziost - Crown of the Sith Empire

The city is festive with banners of the Empire and House Farro displayed on the buildings as a military procession along with a lavish speeder carrying a holo image of the Empress followed by the Imperial family and the Empress-Regent with banners and festivities.

The streets are lined with people cheering on, like good and proper citizens. Street vendors are selling food, festive items, and other knick knacks in honor of the Imperial Parade.

Security is high.

Char is along the side of the path, banner of the Empire in hand. "Come on people, when else will it be our patriotic duty to drink ourselves silly?" He tries to make a point to slap every back he can, flirt with every woman and keep of good cheer.

New Regime, just like the last regime. Well, with less immediate Galactic destruction on the cards.

Lord Rath watched the parade with little fanfare of his own. It was mostly for appearance's sake that he had shown up. Of course of something was going to go wrong it would probably be today. Looking around he noted that Imperial Burger was out in force.

GR8-1 celebrated with others along the parade route. Xal watched. He wasn't particularly interested in the parade, but wished to observe the mood of the crowd.

Lord Tenebrous of course would be present for the momentous occassion, regal and impressive in her impressive regalia.

How she wished Lyria was here to see all the festivities. She was certain the girl would've loved all the colorful lights, the festive games, the sweets being offered at various vendors.

She sighed... she really, really missed her daughter on a day like today.

Xyll was there, even if like some others she had little emotional connection to the whole thing. At least some of these people seemed to be genuinely cheering the new regime, which was something of a departure from what she was used to when it came to regime changes.

Remmington came out with Skuld to watch the new Imperial procession from the sidelines. He checks out some of the food vendors and looks questionably at some of the skewers that are only advertised as meat-on-a-stick. Eh, they were cheap so he gets a few.

Lord Tenebrous wrote:Lord Tenebrous of course would be present for the momentous occassion, regal and impressive in her impressive regalia.

How she wished Lyria was here to see all the festivities. She was certain the girl would've loved all the colorful lights, the festive games, the sweets being offered at various vendors.

She sighed... she really, really missed her daughter on a day like today.

"Another procession, another," Dayana said, trailing off vocally. She mouthed the word 'Emperor' and then gave Shaisha a wry smile.

Shaisha gave the lady a smile, though a curious one. "You seem troubled, Dayana."

Lord Tenebrous wrote:Shaisha gave the lady a smile, though a curious one. "You seem troubled, Dayana."

"This reminds me so much of the other one for our most beloved Emperor. Do the similarities strike you too?"

She crossed her arms, carefully considering what she really saw and thought, so that she could provide a sensible answer.

"There are similarities, yes, but I see a better path. The former wanted to devour all existence in the galaxy... this does not. My will is free, and the restructuring will be for the better. In a way, it is more than what I could've hoped to achieve as a member of the Dark Council."

Lord Tenebrous wrote:She crossed her arms, carefully considering what she really saw and thought, so that she could provide a sensible answer.

"There are similarities, yes, but I see a better path. The former wanted to devour all existence in the galaxy... this does not. My will is free, and the restructuring will be for the better. In a way, it is more than what I could've hoped to achieve as a member of the Dark Council."

"So much of the Dark Side is to be discovered, rediscovered. Perhaps greater mysteries will require sacrifices... Starting with a few lives, then more."

Dayana hid her lips as she chuckled. "Our most beloved Emperor had conspirators against him despite such public praise. Will our Empress have better security?"

"Why, my lady, it almost sounds like you got a taste for such deeds now," she teased with some dark humor.

Lord Tenebrous wrote:"Why, my lady, it almost sounds like you got a taste for such deeds now," she teased with some dark humor.

"That is the curse of a deed once performed, isn't it? Once one knows she is capable of such a thing, a repeat is not so unquestionable."

Dayana sighed. "I never had any intention of involving myself to such an extent here on Ziost. Nor do I intend on pursing anything similar." She gave a warm smile. "Hopefully that alleviates any concerns for one of your position."

Her demeanor shifted back to one more grim. She held up her hands in front of herself. "I carry scars from that day, darling. They're immaterial, only visible through the Force. I don't imagine they'll ever heal." Her 'gaze' turned to Shaisha. "My abilities are apparently limited, because I do not see any visible taint on you. Or perhaps you're more fortunate, more resilient."

Alister milled about the crowd along with Vair'ea. He wasn't too keen on gatherings of this sort, but it did pay to be seen. If you were going to betray your empress at some point, best to look like you supported them on the surface.

Dayana Valthren wrote:"That is the curse of a deed once performed, isn't it? Once one knows she is capable of such a thing, a repeat is not so unquestionable."

Dayana sighed. "I never had any intention of involving myself to such an extent here on Ziost. Nor do I intend on pursing anything similar." She gave a warm smile. "Hopefully that alleviates any concerns for one of your position."

Her demeanor shifted back to one more grim. She held up her hands in front of herself. "I carry scars from that day, darling. They're immaterial, only visible through the Force. I don't imagine they'll ever heal." Her 'gaze' turned to Shaisha. "My abilities are apparently limited, because I do not see any visible taint on you. Or perhaps you're more fortunate, more resilient."

"True. It does dispel some of the magic and awe around such figures..." she mused thoughtfully, for now entertaining Dayana's train of thought.

"Don't worry... that you did it at all to begin with surprised me, though a pleasant surprise it was. You have a gentle soul, my lady, and I mean no disrespect when I say it - perhaps it is your strength, that gentleness. It's certainly a rarity in this place."

As Dayana's expression became more grim, so too did Shaisha become more serious, and she considered the ambassador's words. "Perhaps because my scars have been there for a long time. They're a part of me and have been so since before you and I met. It's hard to see old scars sometimes, as they sometimes fade in appearances... but the memories are there."

Lord Tenebrous wrote:"True. It does dispel some of the magic and awe around such figures..." she mused thoughtfully, for now entertaining Dayana's train of thought.

"Don't worry... that you did it at all to begin with surprised me, though a pleasant surprise it was. You have a gentle soul, my lady, and I mean no disrespect when I say it - perhaps it is your strength, that gentleness. It's certainly a rarity in this place."

As Dayana's expression became more grim, so too did Shaisha become more serious, and she considered the ambassador's words. "Perhaps because my scars have been there for a long time. They're a part of me and have been so since before you and I met. It's hard to see old scars sometimes, as they sometimes fade in appearances... but the memories are there."

"It certainly reminds me of my own mortality," Dayana remarked with a weary smirk.

"Gentle?" The word was not one that she would have used to describe herself. There had times where she had been merciful, but her rationale had always been to garner trust. Manipulation of the heart. That had been how she had gathered power, how she hoped others would too. Perhaps there was a nurturing side to it, some honesty and compassion in her mercy. "I did it to save myself though."

She nodded. "I see. Well, I did not see the marks on any of the others. Indeed, I only really saw the Dark SIde's aura emanating strongly from someone on that day. Otherwise," she said, gesturing to a stream of corrupted energy, "I simply see ripples in the living Force, tears, what we have wrought by succumbing to our sins."

"Gentle compared to most Sith," she corrected herself with a wry smirk.

"Don't know what these sins you speak of are... or do you mean those who have turned their backs on the Dark Side?" Shaisha asked, one brow raised with interest at Dayana.

Lord Tenebrous wrote:"Gentle compared to most Sith," she corrected herself with a wry smirk.

"Don't know what these sins you speak of are... or do you mean those who have turned their backs on the Dark Side?" Shaisha asked, one brow raised with interest at Dayana.

"Hm," Dayana mused, her tone affirmative.

"No, I mean our darker temptations. Those ones that seek to destroy for its own sake, not out of necessity. Or consume, as we had seen before."

Ilar leaned against a lamp post as the procession passed by. He hoped this regime would be less xenophobic, and the speech in the court room yesterday hinted at such.

But the aliens of the galaxy had been decieved by nobles and politicians before. He'd believe in change if he actually saw it.