It's not what you think! It's much worse! [D2, ME]

[Xyll Vanth]

It was heading toward the later hours of the day; but honestly, who cared? Not Xyll. Zash might, but she'd been informed of the intended visit at an earlier time, one would hope, and hadn't objected. In any case, it was not on Xyll's mind at all as she flew over the city toward the People's Tower.

During the trip from her apartment to the place of power in New Adasta, Xyll took the liberty of going over her notes and research one more time. One found time where one could, after all. This time, she should've had a little more luck... or did she?

D2: Knowledge: Lore, Upgraded: 2eP+1eA+2eD+1eC 1 success, 1 Despair


Time would tell. In any case, she cracked that nut just before the shuttle had landed, after which she headed for Zash's apartment.

[Dapper Dog]

The apartment door slides open with a droid greeting her and bringing her to the kitchen where Zash was seated on the counter drinking a bottle of wine. Not from a glass just directly from a bottle and a second bottle was sitting empty next to her.

She said, “Wait don’t tell me… Lady Jessica? No… you look like a Vizi? Booji? Just tell me.”

OOC: Remind me of the research again?

[Xyll Vanth]

The bottles were of course the first thing to be noticed. This was going to turn out just great, Xyll could tell.

"Lord Nyx," she said, amused glint in her eyes as she looked at Zash, "the Emperor's Witness. What are we celebrating?"


(research was to find a site (ie; tomb, temple, and so on) that could be accessed, didn't appear to have been accessed much, and which ideally is of interest in terms of her own background, but she'll take whatever she can find)

[Dapper Dog]

Zash replied, "I am not drunk... just... so very tired of being sober."

"What can I do for you Witness."

OOC: She knows a place that is totally safe and filled with great secrets and is not totally a deathtrap.

[Xyll Vanth]

She picked up the empty bottle and looked at the label.

"Not the best vintage I believe," she placed it back down, "But there's times I'd quite agree with the sentiment. As for what you can do for me. Well. That might depend on exactly how not sober you are."

She pulled out a chair and took a seat. "The truth is I really just wanted to meet the famous Darth Zash. The rumors about you at the academy were *very* interesting. A vast knowledge of the dark side, history, and even the ability to enhance one's own power in the force? *Very* impressive. I couldn't help but want to pick your brain."

[Dapper Dog]

“You come with flattery,” she said lightly.

“So how can the great Darth Zash help you Lord Nyx? What parts of my keen intellect do you wish to dissect?”

[Xyll Vanth]

"A little bit of this, a little bit of that."

Zash seemed much less not-sober now. Perhaps she had been faking it. Pity, if so. She'd have liked to see a drunk Darth.

"There are a few things I've come across in my studies that I found... interesting. With you being such a historian yourself, and practicioner of dark sorcery, I thought you would be the person to ask before any others. For instance... are you familiar with a ritual that the Jedi refer to as... the Wall of Light?"

[Dapper Dog]

She furrowed her brow and said, “In passing, refresh my memory, Lord Nyx.”

[Xyll Vanth]

"It is a rare ritual requiring a number of Jedi of potent ability with the Light to enact it. It creates a temporary prison of energy, completely containing any presence of the Dark Side, before burning it away. It can also strip away one's connection to the force entirely. It is thankfully unheard in these days as far as I'm aware, I believe the last recorded instance of its use was a number of centuries ago?"

She looked around the kitchen for a moment, as if hoping she might learn more about Zash from whatever brand of cereal she has on her shelves, before continuing. "Anyway, it struck me as something of a parallel to whatever ritual you must've employed to enhance your own power in the force, and wondered if you knew more."

A pause.

"Assuming those rumors were accurate, of course. I do apologize if they were not."

[Dapper Dog]

"It sounds similar to something I am familiar with, but you would need a place steeped in the dark side and a focus," she responded.

[Xyll Vanth]

"What manner of focus?"

[Dapper Dog]

“An object or totem ritually prepared to channel dark side energies, it can take weeks if not months to properly attune such an object. You can try to find one but that is dangerous,” she said with a grim look.

“Best to do the work for yourself.”

[Xyll Vanth]

"Hmm, indeed? I don't suppose you'd share the details with me, of course. In any case, this little ritual would *strengthen* one's connection, yes? Out of curiosity, would there be a way to... undo... the effects of such rituals?"

[Dapper Dog]

“Anything gained can be taken away… so academically I would say yes and has been done in the past though that seems more Jedi foolishness than Sith,” she responded.

[Xyll Vanth]

"But what about when something has been taken?"

[Dapper Dog]

"But what about when something has been taken?"

“And regained… I am not sure there is an easy path, there was an Exile… close to Revan who was stripped of the Force but somehow he regained their connection… it sounds like myth to me but only Darth Traya would know and that witch is long dead,” she responded.

[Xyll Vanth]

"Being dead is not always an impediment," she answered. "Tell me of this Darth Traya. It is the first time I have heard that name."

If there is a way... beside that prophecy...

[Dapper Dog]

“She was Sith centuries ago and was part of a triumvirate of Sith… her philosophy was complex and arcane, I don’t have the time to really explain it here. She was powerful though and understood the flows of the Force and wounds in the Force better than anyone and yet she did not seek absolute power,” she said with a quick summary.

[Xyll Vanth]

"I will have to study up on her then," she said, nodding. "It is a shame that there is so little time to pursue all avenues of interest. I'd been hoping to do some exploring of the ruins here on Ziost too. And then there's my new duties, along with my older ones. All vying for attention. I don't suppose it gets any easier, when one rises to the position of Darth, does it?"

[Dapper Dog]

“You woud think so but you are constantly inundated with guests vying for your time wanting your knowledge for their own, she responded.