[D4 LA, Zeno's Room] To the Hilt

[Zeno Deathwright]

Zeno stood there with the new hilt in his hand. It was heavier than he expected, and was quite difficult to handle compared to the smaller hilts without the guards, but he couldn't be more pleased. He had transferred his main crystal to it, and put the secondary crystal into the former main hand hilt. He felt it... he was prepared to kill with his new weapon. He smiled gleefully as he performed a few acrobatic maneuvers with it, nearly shaving his hair a few times as he got used to the wait and movements. But his pleasure could not be contained at the join of finally finishing crafting this new hilt.

[Nekoinu]

"Looks like somebody's excited." The Zabrak kept her distance for the time being and smiled. "Lord Ralnorrei, by the way. You're the one with the holovids. Death Shadow's Squadron too and all that." A pause. "Lord Zeno Deathwright."

[Zeno Deathwright]

Zeno looks to the new arrival, turning the saber off. "Indeed. Just finished my new hilt. Took a bit of time to get done," he says, as he twirls it with a flourish and attaches it to his utility belt.

"And if I'm not mistaken, Lord Ralnorrei." He offers a nod of greeting. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

[Nekoinu]

"Nothing, really. After a bloody battle like the one yesterday, it's kind of a boring day, don't you think?" The woman paced about, hands interlaced behind her back. "Just thought I'd get to know more of the Sith here."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"My day has been pretty slow, focused on my work in her," he agrees

"You want a drink?" he asks, gesturing to offer a seat. He moves to grab something from the small kitchen area.

[Nekoinu]

"Eh, why not?" she said in response to the drink. She looked at the newly constructed hilt and then back up to the man. "Seeing as there's a big moon filled with things to do, yeah, I'd say that that lightsaber must have felt like it took ages."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"I'm just glad it's finished. I'll likely wait a while before I revisit tinkering with it," he says with a nod. He pours a drink for each from a bottle of a Dromund Kaas produced liquor made from a native fruit from the jungles there.

"Now I'll be able to focus more on things to be accomplished here during the talks," he says. "And other pursuits."

[Nekoinu]

"Lots of stuff to be done with so many people around, I'd say." She took the glass but did not drink quite yet. "The Force works in mysterious ways, doesn't it? I spoke to one of your former peers at the Academy. Still amazes me how many of you are here at the same spot."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"Will of the force, and all that," he says with a chuckle. "But then, among us, we're all still quite young and thus easier to place blame on if things turn out poorly and easy to take credit from if things turn out well."

" 'Oh, he's barely out out of his training... I'll whip him, then whip him into shape.' or 'Well of course she did so well, with my guidance and training.' " He seems to find that entertaining. "But it is a prime opportunity to learn and expand without exposing the more experienced Lords and Darths to potential scandal of dealing with Jedi."

[Nekoinu]

"Are you saying we're not experienced?" The zabrak then laughed and shrugged. "True on my part, at least. It's hard to build upon a weak Lord's powerbase after usurping it. People just don't seem to trust me for some reason."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"The benefit and drawback of a weak lord," he says with a nod. "We've all gotten some experience, certainly. But we haven't had the time that Sith like Darth Xevious has had to grow our personal and political power. But if we play to our strengths and can find a way to work together somehow, we can accomplish something for the empire at the expense of the Republic. It's good to grow power, it's better to do it at the expense of an enemy."

"And I'm sure they don't trust you simply because your cunning and brutally efficient. You just need allies that don't have overlapping interests."

[Nekoinu]

Ralnorrei let out a sigh. "Can't say I'm known for being very helpful. A fault on my part, I suppose. Probably why I don't have many allies." She looked down to the drink and then back at Zeno. "Do you have a plan to make the Republic pay at these peace talks or is that just theory?"

[Zeno Deathwright]

"I'm not a political mind, but I've been involved with some efforts led by others. Working to predispose the Mandalorian clans here towards the Empire and against the Republic. I think that some are seeking an end to fighting temporarily so that the Empire can consolidate and do some rebuilding while harrying the Republic with external forces. Can't say I'm in favor of that personally. I'd prefer to crush the Empire myself. But it seems a tactically sound idea," he explains.

"I've also been personally working towards connecting with the pirate queen of Seven Devils. Seeing if I might be able to make a tenuous ally there. But that remains to be seen if it will work out. But if we could direct her at Republic trade lanes then it might further hamper rebuilding and recovery."

[Nekoinu]

"Mandalorians and pirates. Seems like a good way to keep the Republic reeling while we finally settle any disputes within the Empire." She shrugged. "Hopefully. Can't say I'm not guilty myself, not that my ascension ruined any plans in the long run."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"If your master was so easily dispatched then you've made the empire stronger," he offers with a nod. He takes a swig from his own drink.

[Nekoinu]

"Yeah, yeah. But now I've found myself in a rut. Can't say people know of the glorious prowess of Lord Ralnorrei when all I did was laze about during my time at the Academy."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"So what you need is to accomplish something that ensures you receive the credit for it. You need to create a position of strength that isn't founded on taking out a Sith for gain. You'll just end up being known as the Sith that can't do anything for herself if that's the case. To build up your power you'll need to display some sort of personal capability of your own, or too few will want to ally with you, and too many will see you as a threat and try to tear you down."

He moves to sit right next to her, apparently completely unconcerned with any threat she might pose.

"If your superiors sent a capable Sith duelist after you to silence what they might consider a threat, would you hold up well against them? If you make a name for yourself as the Sith that plunders the accomplishments of others you potentially invite such a thing. And if you wish allies, what benefit is there to ally with you if that may happen in the future? Association may put allies in the cross hairs further discouraging."

He takes a sip before looking over at her.

"How can you make yourself into a respected and feared Sith based on your power, rather than your willingness to cut down fellow Sith to advance? That is how you find the chance to gain allies. That or finding people crazy or unstable enough to risk it."

[Nekoinu]

Lord Ralnorrei let out a long exhale. "Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Accomplishments, accomplishments. Nothing's come my way that outstrips slaying my master. I suppose truth be told, I'm just rather lazy."

The Zabrak traced a finger around the rim of her glass. "I'm pretty sure I could kill any duelist coming my way. Never had any doubts about my prowess. Heck, maybe I could even take on a Darth. Haven't tried it, obviously."

She leaned back and sighed. "Allies, allies, allies. Guess that's how this galaxy goes, huh?"

[Zeno Deathwright]

"If there is a lull in the fighting, that won't help too much either. Killing a few knights might have been just what you needed, but that'd be harder with a peace in place," he says. "However, connecting with someone under Darth Ravage and participating in some black ops, which will probably slow down but not stop, could help. But I have to admit, I'm likely to end up having a lull in accomplishments if peace comes to pass. It's an unfortunate position that we'd both find ourselves in."

[Nekoinu]

"I've killed knights before. Doesn't change a thing in my case." She shrugged and looked to the ceiling. "Darth Ravage wouldn't trust me at all. He's not the sort to like anyone, especially someone with a modicum of ambition to take his position."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"Well, I'm always willing to give you a go, if you have something specific in mind. There is also the option of stepping outside the Sith power structure in search of allies from those that would be less concerned about a powerplay, like a Mando or Hutt clan. Which could potentially require eliminating a Sith rival already close with them," he says with a shrug, sipping once more.

[Nekoinu]

"I don't really have any plans at the moment. Guess that's part of the reason why I'm a Lord of little influence." She shrugged and continued looking at the ceiling. "The Overseer back on Korriban said I was spineless and a worthless Sith."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"Well, it sounds like you're getting mixed messages. Some saying you're spineless, others too afraid of working with you. Talk to a Hutt, see if you can't create a working relationship. Think of something you'd like to develop as part of strengthening the powerbase you've inherited. Offer to build a more business-like relationship. If you'd like we can go talk to Nem'ro together and see if there's any way you could help each other."

[Nekoinu]

"Are you allies with Nem'ro the Hutt? My, my, you are resourceful aren't you?" She let out a small laugh. "Looks like your ascension was based on merit rather than murder."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"Not so much allies, but by extension of his relationship with my master I've been introduced and started towards a positive working relationship. And my ascension had plenty of killing. I was fortunate enough to gain a powerful master, and I've served her well enough that as a result of my actions she was able to force a promotion, which earned me one alongside her. We have our differences, but the key is that we know how to work with each other. I benefit from her connections and lessons, she benefits from my service and general love for putting myself in dangerous situations and ability to come out the other side successful. I'd say we actually don't trust each other a whole lot... but we make it work because it helps both of us to do so."