Ziost - Crown of the Sith Empire

Dread was from the psycho-mystical vocabulary Moyr understood, but she also didn't know all the exigencies of this particular sect worshipping it. One of her rivals was closely aligned with it, but it might have mattered less than the nature of their teachings. Lord Bellious wanted to know more.

She chose not be incognito, wearing her recognisable armour.

"Lord Bellious, welcome to our Cathedral," Hofu offered as he excused himself from a conversation.

"Salutations, Darth Hofu. So this is the place." She looked around. "I suppose I'd like a tour and elaboration. I hope we can put the rivalry issue aside for this. Fear is a fascinating subject after all."

“Rivalry would imply that we are equals, “ he said calmly.

“If you wish a tour, then please follow me,” he gestured.

"There's no equality in this world, only fluid hierarchies." She quipped, but followed, paying attention both to the men and to the surroundings.

“Fluid hierarchies, well we shall see. What is that you need elaborating, Lord Bellious?” he asked.

"What is the purpose of this cult?"

“This is not a cult; it is simply an understanding that the Dread Masters are the apex of Sith evolution. They are the penultimate asters of the greatest teachings of the Immortal Emperor… we do not skulk and hide and pray to maligned invisible fantasy gods, we become one with dark universe,” he replied dismissively.

"Interesting. Do you claim to have gone all the way up through the steps envisioned in the Code? Is dread your chain-breaking victory?" She could argue that what he had described was a cult just fine but there was no sense in quarrelling over semantics.

“You may be shocked to realize that this fascination with breaking chains is folly to me. Chains are broken, surely but new ones are gained. You are never free from obligations or demands… the breaking of chains is an ideal, it is not an end state,” he responded.

"I can see how this level of insight makes the Dread Masters the Emperor's favourite. And how does fear figure into your philosophies? It seems central, but a bit of detail would be appreciated."

“Fear is the central emotion, the driver of all other thoughts and emotions stem from fear. Fear drives survival, reproduction, and even emotions of love. For all sentient organic life it is the single most powerful motivator we have,” he responded.

“Surely it guided your hand earlier today.”

"It has ever guided me since I understood its true meaning." She nodded in assent to this interpretation. "Do you have a role in spreading fear? If so, among whom?"

"Spreading fear? There is no need to spread that which already exists. Why water a field on a rainy day?" he said with a shake of his head.

"We harness fear, we do not spread it."

"How do you do that?"

Lord Bellious wrote:"How do you do that?"

“We tap into the Force to enhance the fear that exists in the heart and mind, similar to battle meditation but focusing on the amplification of Dead,” he responded.

"Is it a technique your popularise among the willing and able, or limited to the selected few?"

“Only a select few, worthy of becoming a Disciple of Dread are trained in the rudimentary art, mastery can take many years,” he said honestly.

"This is understandable. I too am interested in mastering Fear, though cannot fathom yet if your approach is a one well-suited for me. However, for now I can offer my respect for what you, the Dread Masters and your related teachings represent. Regardless of my own success or lack thereof, if you secure a Seat on the Council, I will welcome it. Particularly so because I cannot imagine you or the Dread Masters supporting the rotten, abhorrent peace."

Hofu chuckled and said, "There can be no peace if the Republic is not in ashes."