We meet for the first time for the last time [MA, Pre-game]

[Xyll Vanth]

"The building staff ensure we are well taken care of in all our needs," she said in response to the first question. "I am told it is an excellent vintage."

She leaned in then, a little closer.

"What makes you think I have not already paid the price?"

And back out again.

"But one ought to say that the price one is willing to pay depends on the manner of power one is to receive in return. Of course, it is a rare occurance that one should know the price before it is exacted from you."

[Sinea Okatesh]

"You haven't mentioned it." She flashed a smile in response to Xyll's closeness. "Yes....such is the sad truth of this universe. You don't always know what you'll pay for what you get." Her smile turned brittle, as her thoughts swirled, and started toying with a grey locke of hair.

"So you're just here to gawk and enjoy the entertainment? Or something more?"

[Xyll Vanth]

She smirked at the gesture of playing with that gray hair. The irony ought not be lost.

"Repeating questions is terribly gauche, you know. One should at least learn to rephrase them. Since you insist, however, I will say that I of course have... ambitions. Of a general variety; though their pursuit may turn specific in the days ahead. We shall see how specific, after I return from Korriban."

[Sinea Okatesh]

Sinea let out a low laugh. "Please...you know you piqued my curiosity. A sith can be gauche on occasion." She stretched. "I'll just have to plunge into the Force then, to find out more about your ambitions, if you are unwilling to disclose. Unless, of course, you are in need of support in your goals."

She took another sip and put the glass down. "How has been your service with Darth Arya?"

[Xyll Vanth]

"Such obsessessive need for answers. If you could turn that obsession toward more constructive ends, I might yet have use for you. Tell me," she left the question hanging in the air, "how well versed are you in your lore of by-gone eras?"

[Sinea Okatesh]

Sinea laughed. "Unlike some Sith, I can multitask my dear Xyll." She cocked her head, though she was still playing with the locke. "I have some understanding of Sith lore. Define bygone eras... there have been some."

[Xyll Vanth]

"There have been many, yes. Let's say, the eras of such figures as Naga Sadow, or Exar Kun."

[Sinea Okatesh]

Sinea moved her hand to her knee, and started tapping. "Yes, I know a few things. That is the era you are interested in, specifically?"

[Xyll Vanth]

"All Sith history is of interest. All history that has been touched by the Dark Side. But yes, that is the period I am most interested in. So much of it remains occluded. So much of it remains to be reclaimed."

[Sinea Okatesh]

"Your goal of reclamation...what is your focus then?" She played with the wineglass, one finger tracing circles around its tip.

[Xyll Vanth]

"Anything of note, of course. Knowledge. Rituals. Artifacts. The sith of those days were far greater than those today, wielding power and knowledge well beyond what most dare even dream of now. Think of how much has been lost, forgotten."

[Sinea Okatesh]

"Anything? Hrm...did you find anything on Korriban, during your short stay there?" Another round was drawn on the wine glass. "Perhaps the Temple on Dromund Kraas?"

[Xyll Vanth]

She smiled, memories of her first time on Korriban playing through her mind. "Such obvious places to look. And so easily observed by others."

[Sinea Okatesh]

Sinea tsk-ed. "Obvious places have utility. Nevertheless. Dromund perhaps then?"

[Xyll Vanth]

Xyll looked away again, contemplating. She would have to consult more knowledgeable voices if she actually wanted to get somewhere with these matters; though she had an appreciation for the real game being played here. One had to admire such single-minded dedication.

She *does* know how to direct a conversation to her benefit, at least.

"I may have found a trinket here or there. Nothing I'd care enough to brag about. Many of the true treasures of those eras will of course be found outside of Sith territory; places that have not been picked clean. Every half-witted student will have broken their way into a tomb or temples on those worlds. Your own class even looted the temples on Yavin, if rumors are to be believed?"

[Sinea Okatesh]

"Of course we have. Yet you think mere students can find everything there?" She tsk-ed once again. "Don't you think our forefathers were better prepared than that? Such silly nonsense." She drank slowly from the glass, allowing Xyll to contemplate what she has heard.

"Or you think the teachers are on Korriban because they enjoy teaching?" She let out another snort at the thought.

"Yet you say you found trinkets...pretty baubles without any real powers. Is that what you spent doing these last few months since your graduation?"

[Xyll Vanth]

Now, a different tack. Anger.

"Ah yes, because every sith that's ever died was so meticulous as to plan that far ahead, even as they failed to step out of the way of the obvious deaths barelling toward them."

The sarcasm dripped from her voice.

"Tell me then, if mere students can not stumble upon the full extent of greatness, what have *you*, an acolyte teacher, uncovered in their stead?"

[Sinea Okatesh]

"Oh please. I'd say sarcasm is beneath you, but your class never matched your skills." She seemed to smile once again. "Well, if you are seeking the artifacts and legacy of weaklings, I am sure you can ask around for the students and what have they found." She chuckled. "Remember the dark vassal of malevolance that Zane Zonder found back in your class? It was a cup left out by one of the students partying out there."

Dark Force, teenagers were so stupid sometime.

"Stepping into the wastes of Korriban, it took me fifteen minutes to find my lightsaber crystal. I feel I have a decent chance at finding something useful. Unless I am missing something of great power in your current collection?"

[Xyll Vanth]

"A crystal that takes but fifteen minutes of searching can hardly be worth boasting of," her voice sound a little tired, "Most crystals are but toys. One might find such things on Korriban, and one might find them on nameless moons orbiting nameless planets."

She started to let her gaze drift toward the window again.

"Suppose you and I, together, found something far greater? And suppose it were a thing that could be owned by but one person. What would you do?"

[Sinea Okatesh]

"A crystal that takes but fifteen minutes of searching can hardly be worth boasting of," her voice sound a little tired, "Most crystals are but toys. One might find such things on Korriban, and one might find them on nameless moons orbiting nameless planets."

She started to let her gaze drift toward the window again.

"Suppose you and I, together, found something far greater? And suppose it were a thing that could be owned by but one person. What would you do?"

"Really dear." She smiled ruefully. "In that case I assume you do away with our lightsaber as an unworthy trinket?" She leaned in closer to Xyll. "What is it that you seek in the question? The answer? Its veracity? How would you judge such? Are you blinded by your own bias so far as to have determined my response?" Disapproval snuck into her voice. "You seek a simple answer to a complex question. Like most other sith. Silly. Foolish. Power is not an answer, it is a puzzle."