111 AC
Kings Landing
The Red Keep
Aemon Targaryen
First-person POV
XXX
I exited the red keep through one of its hidden tunnels. It isn't long before I'm passing from street to street slipping between alleys and crowds of people. Soon I reached a seemingly random home near flea bottom. The only conspicuous thing about it is the metal door and the small, closed window. My own design I had it placed here three years ago during the king's nameday tourney.
I knocked three times in a pattern waited and then knocked three more times. The metal window opened, and a set of suspicious brown eyes appeared. Then they widened and slowly they narrowed again.
"Password?" The man's voice was gruff and cold and it was clear that the man was on guard.
"Open sesame," I replied quickly I didn't want to waste anytime tonight. This was the beginning of a plan created years ago. Now I just needed to help set everything in motion.
"Welcome." The man said unclasping a latch behind the door and opening it. I stepped through, the man moving to the side out of the way and following after me. I moved forward swiftly heading down a set of creaking steps.
'Ill have to fix that later." I thought of making my way into a small hallway. Soon we reach another door but this time noise leaks through. I knock again. Another window another password. Then I was through there was a small crowd of men and women all of their attention on several tables around the room. I stalk over turning to the left and running my hand over a railing I watch the people below.
It's not quite the casino that I hope to create in the future, but more of a fun little gambling den, with the main attraction at its center. There was a ring where two men wearing only shorts and shoes were laying into each other with their bare hands. Meanwhile the lesser noblemen of the capital play games and drink with whores trained as hostesses. A few musicians have also been hired to play music and entertain the guests with jokes of all sorts.
Besides that a few use different substances that have become popular in Kings Landing as of late. I've also been testing out other ideas here but none that could truly be traced back to me. All in all this place is actually quite tame for the level of inconvenience it causes me. That's exactly why it was chosen to be the first of many locations involved in tonight's plans.
The place is a simple testing ground for new ideas once now it would serve as the launching point for my grandest plan yet. Mainly the thing I'm here for today is a simple pick up from my apprentice. Thus I carry on, not walking down to the club floor and instead continuing to a nearby door to another room. This time however it's not locked or guarded instead.
I open it to find a small team of mine waiting for me. Their heads turn looking at me as I walk through. I pass by them walking towards a group of chests instead I focus on two of them at the back. They wear a customised pair of masks that I designed for them. They also wear black cloaks as well just like mine.
Several of the men are immediately on their guard reaching for short swords and concealed blades but none of them draws yet. But just in case I activate my personal favorite skill that I've gained over the past few years. A subtle aura emits from me completely unseen by the human eye but it's enough to induce hesitation in them. Instead of attacking or even speaking to me each of them glances back at the two masked men for instructions.
'Good they don't know who I am, just as planned.' None of them know if I'm friend or foe but that's exactly as I planned it to be and most of the men who see me here today will never actually speak to me. But I stop close enough for the rest to surround me. I ignore whatever random comments they make until the bigger of the two masked men quiets them down. Then the two bow and almost everyone lets down their guard.
"So I assume things went well," I say approaching closer and stopping in front of the foremost chest. I lift my arm and gesture for one of them to hand me the key keeping eyes locked on the goal in front of me. In a few moments, I hear a jingle, and the key lands in my hand softly. I take it and crouch down to open the box slightly. A golden shimmer emerges as I observe the insides. I nod confirming what I need is insidede and stand back up.
"Come with me," I say to the younger brother, and turn back around towards the door. I look back at the elder who stands quietly with his arms crossed.
"I'll have the cargo moved soon and then have these men enjoy themselves here," I say to them then I turn back and walk out of the empty storage room. The younger brother follows behind me as I maneuver my way to a hidden office on the other side of the club. Its just behind a hidden wall I had installed as a test for creating more of them in the future. Nothing complex just one pull of a torch attached to the wall and it opens up nicely. I had this place well-ventilated so nobody will be suffocating or anything like that despite it being underground.
We enter swiftly and I take my time walking around the iron wood desk I had installed. I gesture for him to take a seat on the opposite side as I plop down into a plush chair across from him. I cross my legs and fold my hands as I stare at him.
"So you've done quite well for yourself it seems," I say readjusting the mask on my face. I know he's been waiting for this moment more eagerly than I have. But that's fine after allowing him to become the true face of my underground operations here isn't a problem for me. In fact, it's better if no one realizes I'm connected to any of this at all. What's most relevant is that now he will have the opportunity to expand without my say. So far I've only had him handle information networks but now he'll be doing so much more.
"Indeed I have master," he nods humbly towards me. He's good at playing the loyal suplicant and it's understandable why. What I'm not sure of is whether he realizes that I don't truly trust him at all. Sure he's useful and I plan to keep him around for quite some time but in the end, I'm already suspicious of his motives.
"After tonight your new role will be ready for you and with that will come a new identity as well," I say unclasping my hands and reaching down into one of my pockets for a key. I take it and unlock a drawer underneath my desk. Within is a customised black mask marked with scratches designed to look like lightning scars. Lying beside it another mask two masks one painted red molded in the shape of a demon and the other black in the shape of an oni.
"In celebration of your new appointment, I have a gift and a new identity for you. A new face and a new name for a new man. You shall wear this mask during any and all of our more illicit dealings." I say gripping the mask and delicately placing it on the table. I could just hand it over to him to put on but instead, I've decided I'll need a bit more showmanship for this part. I allow him to study it for a moment and I can almost feel the curiosity filling his eyes. I rose but his eyes didn't follow me instead they were still locked on the mask as if in a trance.
'Good that means it's working.' I grabbed the mask lightly and lifted slowly making my way off to the side. His head bolted up as if broken from a spell and returned to me. I turned away from him.
"And the new name master?" He questioned his voice now filled with a newfound wonder. I activated my favorite skill again this time pushing it slightly more than before.
"Come kneel," I said turning slowly back around to face him I hoped the motion added the desired dramatic effect I was looking for. It seemed to work as he rose and walked over to me. Then he knelt before me on the carpet. It was a simple one died red and yellow. It was knit with a large number one on it because this was the first base I ever had made in this city. I considered keeping it after tonight is over but it's best if I burn it instead.
"Remove your mask," I command and he does so slowly. I try not to think of the odd positioning, and instead I focus more on the ceremony of it. He does as I ask lowering it softly to the floor. The mask itself is a plain thing with no identifying marks or anything else of the sort. Instead, it's just enough to hide his identity and that's enough for me.
"You have shown me great dedication and even greater results. Your web has infested this city in my name and will continue to do so loyal. You shall push and pull the waves of unlimited power in my favor. As such from this day forward you shall be known as…. Darth Sidious." I say trying my best to emit an air of ceremony and grandeur aided by active use of a system skill. Slowly as I speak I lift the black mask in my hands and place it upon his face the transformation complete. As for the name well I just couldn't resist referencing the movie scene, Darth Vader doesn't really suit him very well though. So I went with Darth Sidious instead. Plus it acts as just another warning for my future self to never fully trust him.
"Rise now for you are no longer my apprentice but a true member of my new order. You will be its face, its symbol, and its shadow. When people ask who it is that leads it will be your name they whisper with fear and suspicion. From this moment on none shall know of my existence and all orders I give shall be spoken by your voice." I say stepping back and thinking about his role in the plans to come. He is to be the mysterious leader in the shadows. If anyone were to come looking they would find him and stop their search after all they've already found the head. Perhaps the logic behind it is foolish but I think it may prove useful someday.
"Thank you, my prince. I feel… better? But I'm unsure how?" He says confused yet still reverent with his newfound gift and title.
"No!" I say emphasizing just how much we cannot offer to have anyone hear him call me prince. "I too shall take on a new name as well. From this moment forward you shall refer to me only as master or Darth Bane." I say and I feel as though the alias is an apt one. Who better than the creator of the Rule of Two to start the order in this world?
"Yes, master." He said standing slowly.
"Good now, call for your brother after that well have the cloaks moved to the eastern barracks. Do not return here after it is one of the first places we plan to hit tonight. But ensure the smuggling crew who helped you does. They'll probably complain but a little extra coin should solve th problem." I said returning to my desk and pulling out the other two masks. One was for the brother and the other is for me just in case I do need to be seen af some point. Although I'll doubt that will happen better safe than sorry.
"Yes master I believe that if I tell them we have another task here tonight they'll be willing to return." He nodded, eyes still following me as I moved back over to the hidden door's levers. I pulled on it and I heard the sound of gears shifting followed by the scraping of stone as the hidden door opened.
"Very good now I must take my leave. Other matters require my attention."
"Yes, master I wish you good luck." He says before walking back out of the hidden office and back to the storage room. I waited for the brother to arrive and conducted a similar ceremony with him I just changed the words. Giving him the red demon mask I considered what name to give him. At first, I was thinking about naming him Darth Maul but instead, I ended up going with Darth Krayt.
And with that, I left heading through the streets of the capital city once again. To my surprise, they were a lot more vibrant than expected. There were mummers and bards and fire dances and plenty of street urchins as well in Flea Bottom. But after only about twenty to thirty minutes at a casual pace, I reached the barracks as well.
It was guarded of course by a few men in ragged armor. But these men would soon be transformed in appearance. Their new training had already been handled by my father. While most believed that he had left the city a month ago and was only just now returning thanks to Caraxes. In truth, he had been lying low and molding his new troops in his own image. When it was time he went out mounted his dragon and returned with me. All for this one glorious day. Soon enough the cargo would arrive and we would shock this entire city.
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