Katsumi Ren
The First Order
Posts: 97 
Affiliation: The Knights of Ren
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Post by Katsumi Ren on Aug 3, 2018 3:04:07 GMT -8
Sensing the change in the prevailing currents of the Force when Panno, as he approaches her, summons the Light to him and directs it towards her, Katsumi cants her head to the side as she resists the impulse to respond in kind and bid the Dark to come to her heel and heed her command to repel the Imperial Knight's efforts; only the realization that Panno is most likely acting to instinctively protect himself from the alluring call of the Dark Side causing her to, instead, draw her presence within the turbulent currents of the Force as their auras clash closer and closer to her until it is made so small as to be nearly concealed. The courtesy inherent in Katsumi's gesture is tactical rather than mannered; for she reasons that the more at ease the Dresselian feels, the more likely it is that their encounter will ease the suspicions of the Imperial Knights and, in turn, perhaps even lessen their scrutiny.
Making no mention of the brief, unintentional clash incited by their auras once the currents of the Force around them are becalmed, Katsumi returns Panno's smile with one of her own, the expression clearly not one she uses often enough to come without some degree of effort, and her yellowed teeth revealing that dental hygiene is as of little import to her as her tattered clothes and unkempt hair suggest such concerns would be, and says, "If that is what you wish, Master Grai'Tal, I have no objections."
Allowing Panno to lead the way, having spent little time in the city herself and, in any event, viewing eating as a necessity to be tended to rather than an indulgence to be enjoyed, not certain what venue best suites a unique meeting such as theirs, Katsumi follows the Dresselian in silence for a moment before asking him, "What, then, shall we speak of, Master Grai'Tal? Seeds and soil? It seems to me that you are alone in your Order with a desire to sow the seeds, as I am alone in mine in being possessed of receptive soil in which they might be sown. A shrug of her shoulders accompanies her calculatedly musing tone as she says as though thinking aloud, Of course, there are those rare, beautiful flowers that bloom in harsh conditions, are there not?"
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 601
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Jul 20, 2019 13:38:17 GMT -8
A couple days had passed since Harnan had returned to Muunilinst and forced to remain under medical watch. But he had finally regained enough strength to take his leave, promising to get some rest so the doctors would leave him alone. But as he entered the ground floor lobby of the Tower, he was not entirely sure he would be able to keep his promise. He entered the turbolift and rose through the floors, until he at last arrived to where Soku Ren's quarters were.
Stepping clear of the lift, he held his helmet beneath his arm and gave a knock on his brother's door, waiting to be admitted in
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Soku Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 160
Affiliation: The Knights of Ren
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Soku Ren on Jul 22, 2019 19:51:43 GMT -8
*Soku sat at his desk, several holos active upon it. Laws of recently-subjugated systems, coupled with his own notes on similar laws and those which would need to be... addressed. When he heard the knock at the door, he barely turned his head before recognizing the presence outside. Returning his gaze to his work, he lifted a single hand and gestured the doors open.*
"Enter, brother," *he said, continuing to work for a moment longer on a particular note of interest to him. Once that was finished, he pushed his chair out and stood, folding his arms behind his back as he turned to face Harnan and assess him.* "How goes your healing?"
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 601
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Jul 22, 2019 21:35:56 GMT -8
Harnan entered the room as Soku bid him to do so. Coming to a stop in front of his brother's desk, he said nothing as the man continued to examine a note. Not out of fear for the conversation to come. But out of respect for Soku's interest in such knowledge. He remained stone faced as Soku promptly finished reading the note and asked after his health. A situation that despite his own best efforts to be kept concealed, had made their way to Soku's office
You know me... The doctor seemed pretty adamant I remain for observation, but... well... you know I am not one to sit idly by without company... I'll admit, if you've heard about my recovery, I'm surprised you still call me brother...
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Soku Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 160
Affiliation: The Knights of Ren
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Soku Ren on Jul 23, 2019 17:16:34 GMT -8
*An amused smirk slowly morphed into a scowl as a dark look overtook Soku's countenance.* "What have you done?"
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 601
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Jul 23, 2019 19:16:01 GMT -8
There was that look Harnan had been expecting to see. He held his brother's gaze, knowing better than to back down or give the man an opening
Is that a rhetorical question? Or do you really not know?
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Soku Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 160
Affiliation: The Knights of Ren
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Soku Ren on Jul 23, 2019 19:19:42 GMT -8
*Similarly, Soku held his gaze, hands unfolding and arms slowly, almost dramatically falling to his sides.* "I was never informed why you were in healing. I had assumed you were injured carrying out a directive. You have been quite... prolific as of late." *A trait he had admired about the man, but a trait he now feared may have gone too far.*
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 601
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Jul 23, 2019 19:32:18 GMT -8
Harnan gently placed his helmet down on the desk as he let out a bit of a sigh. He took a moment, before meeting Soku's gaze again as he rose to his full height. Where others might have tried to skirt the subject as much as possible, Harnan was far more direct
Well, you're not wrong that I was injured carrying out a directive... It just happened to be my own...
Harnan unstrapped the plates that covered his chest. He moved the front piece to the side with one hand, while pulling the undershirt up enough to reveal the scar from where he had been stabbed
And one I paid quite dearly for... But... it's finally over Soku. My promise to Illaria is finally fulfilled... He's dead and he's not coming back, not this time...
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Soku Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 160
Affiliation: The Knights of Ren
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Soku Ren on Jul 24, 2019 22:17:50 GMT -8
*The scar, a mark borne of this "directive," was only half the story. Soku was more than familiar with Harnan's prowess as a warrior; only nigh-insurmountable odds or a highly skilled opponent would be able to leave such a mark. As such, the pieces already began to fall into place before Harnan finished speaking, and the scowl became a glare.*
"The Master rescued us," *he audibly-whispered, but the fury behind it still palpable.* "Made us something more." *His volume gradually rose and his hands clenched into fists.* "And you would betray him this way?!" *His right hand unfolded and thrust forward, enclosing around an invisible object as he lifted Harnan off the ground by his throat.* "Why?! He made us what we are, neither Jedi nor Sith, free from the confines of their dogmatic, self-destructive ways! He is key to true order in the galaxy!"
*He bared his teeth as his mind raced, images of his time just after being shamed by the Jedi, to when he was found and his training into something more... All of that...
... was still present. The Master was "key"? If that were true... then why was his death not felt? Why did Soku not sense a great quake in the Force itself if its keystone was destroyed?
Slowly his mouth closed as he loosened his grip, lowering Harnan back to his feet as his gaze briefly went to the floor, only to immediately return to whom may be a potential threat. He locked eyes with him, studying him with eyes and with feeling.* "... what was your motivation for this? And where do you stand now?"
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 601
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Jul 25, 2019 17:45:34 GMT -8
Harnan watched as the realization dawned on Soku about what had happened. The man's fury quickly manifesting a few moments later as Harnan felt his throat constrict and his feet leave the ground. He did not reach for his throat as most people were want to do. He knew that his struggle would achieve nothing. So he hung there, starting to feel his life slip away.
But then, just as quickly as it had appeared, Soku's fury passed. Harnan slipped down to one knee as he touched upon the ground, his hand gently rubbing at his neck.He took a moment to catch his breath, before lifting his gaze back up to Soku. His fellow Knight of Ren demanding answers of him, that Harnan knew would not go over well. But the time for such concerns had long passed, as he rose back up to his feet
BETRAY HIM?! He was more than willingly betrayed us, for his own goals! Illaria rescued me, he merely offered me a home because it was convenient! He was no more pivotal to Order, than you or I! He was more than willing to cast us all aside, to sit upon the throne that Nicademus currently occupies. Not for Order, but for his own vanity! He view Illaria's children as little more than vessels for his own use!
He undid the second strap of his armour then, letting the chest piece fall to the ground. His chest exposed for Soku to strike him without resistance
Tell me Soku, did you feel his death? Did the galaxy quake, as this supposed behemoth fell? No... He taught us to believe that he was greater than he was... But it was just a story, to keep us inline...
Harnan shook his head, taking a moment to gather himself, knowing he had yet to answer the last two questions Soku had asked
You know damn well what my motivation was... You were there, the day Illaria found me. I promised to protect her, to be her shield against the darkness that would corrupt her. But I failed her! BECAUSE OF HIM! I was not about to let the same happen to her children... So I stopped him. And whether Illaria lives or not, she can now be at peace and free of his shadow. Just as we all can be...
He took a few steps forward, before reaching out and resting his hand upon Soku's shoulder
You were always the best of us Soku... To you, Order truly meant something... When I embarked upon my quest, I did not intend to survive. And even if I did, I planned to start a new life away from here... But we are the last of the Ren, and until Octavian and Fiora are grown enough to protect themselves, I still have a duty here... I will follow you brother. I may have bested him, but you are the true Ren... My life is yours to decide...
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Soku Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 160
Affiliation: The Knights of Ren
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Soku Ren on Aug 8, 2019 22:49:24 GMT -8
*Soku stood in observant silence, which he once thought would have been uncharacteristic of him in regards to the news he had just heard. Harnan was certainly passionate, but Soku's own mind was racing with his own realizations. His very beliefs were being challenged... or were they indeed? Harnan even voiced a truth Soku himself had just faced; the very reason he had chosen to spare Harnan's life. A life Harnan seemed eager to give up should Soku change his mind, judging by the sudden removal of his breastplate.
As Harnan spoke of his convictions, Soku thought of his own. He very well may have been manipulated into this position... but it did not mean he no longer believed in what it stood for.
His eyes found Harnan once more as the latter's hand fell on his shoulder, the man deeming his life in Soku's. Slowly Soku's hand reached up towards Harnan's before falling atop it firmly.* "The Force brought us here, brother. The Master was merely its tool. He gathered us, not realizing he too was a pawn... Pawn of a higher power.
"Your talents... cover for those I lack. I favor logistics, you cut straight to the heart of the issue. I would not dare remove you from our midst, as dedicated as you seem to remain to our cause. Your removal of the Master only served to strengthen us." *He released Harnan's hand and shrugged it off, folding both of his hands behind his back and nodding towards the door.* "Rest, brother. We may discuss this further at a later time, if you wish."
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 601
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Aug 12, 2019 19:06:07 GMT -8
Harnan had waited, preparing himself to join the Force at any moment until Soku's hand come to rest atop his own. His brother passing judgement that he was still needed amongst the Ren. He let his hand fall away as Soku shrugged free, advising him to get some much needed rest
Do not undersell yourself Brother, you are more than capable warrior when the need arises... For now I will leave you be...
He took a few steps back then, collecting the armor plates that he had let fall to the ground. After quickly placing them back on, he collected his helmet and left the room. He journeyed through the tower to his own quarters, where he got the rest he needed, at least for today...
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