For those who have asked, this Fic will be taking place canonically just prior to the events of the Knights of the Fallen Empire, so the Inquisitor is the current head of the Sphere of Ancient Knowledge, the war with the republic is in full swing and Valkorian has yet to reveal his new empire to the galaxy. With that out of the way, let's get right into the Fic.
Just as the last words of his speech left his mouth, and the slaves began to absorb it, he could hear the sounds of hooves beating against the sand and dirt outside the Manor. As if on instinct, the slaves begin to run for one of the barracks, and within a minute he is standing almost alone, with only Sirona still outside the manor as he turns his eyes upon the gate, watching as riders enter.
To say he was unimpressed with the sight would be an understatement, mounted upon a series of creatures he had never seen before, these riders seemed even more primitive than the ones within the Manor. They had steel swords upon their hips, some had small bows and they wore almost nothing, riding leathers and pants, while their chests were all exposed under some leather vests and straps, it was honestly a pathetic sight.
Sirona seemed to not share his opinion, he could feel the spike in her fear as the riders entered the manor without a show of concern, watching him with a mix of suspicion and something else…finality? No, pride in some form of success, interesting., each seemed to wield a different weapon. One Man, with a full beard painted blue wielded a fine bow, it seemed to be constructed of bone, and even something about the material felt off. Another man had a clean-shaven face, and at his side a silver handled whip, wrapped in a loose circle at his waist, easily able to be drawn if needed. The Last man had a drooping black mustache and seemed to favor a blade resting at his hip, he could feel the blood spilled upon the weapon far greater than anything else he had in his possession.
"Sirona, you seem to know who these men are, do you mind enlightening me" He kept his eyes trained on the riders even as he spoke to Sirona, hesitant in case they attempted to strike if he turned his head but for a moment.
"They are Dothraki, the Horse Lords, they rape and pillage wherever they go" Her voice was shaky, but he could sense some part of herself felt safe, without doubt she felt he could take them easily after his demonstrations of his power.
"I see, and do you speak the tongue of these Dothraki?" His voice remained calm, betraying none of his emotion as he kept focus on the riders as they stared down upon him, while others began to spread out, forming a semi-circle around him.
"I do" Her voice was still shaky, but some steel focus seemed to overtake her, it seemed she was realizing what he needed before he could even say what it was.
"Then translate for me" The Manned finally locked eyes with the man wielding the bloodied blade, and finally spoke to them directly.
"Dothraki, state your business here" Once Sirona spoke the final word he could see the effect, the men seemed to take some offense to his question, and he could feel a form of anger slowly begin to build among them, anger and boredom, a bad combination, likely they have not fought for several days or perhaps even weeks, and he was going around offending them. Oh well, it would not be the first time.
The One with the Blade barked something at Sirona, whatever he said seemed to stun her, and it took him repeating his statement before she turned to translate "He says he is Rakharo, Bloodrider to the Khaleesi Daenerys Targaryen and he seeks answers for the falling fire. He claims to have followed tracks from where metal and fire fell from the sky, and they have led them here." Interestingly, they were following him. It seems his crash landing has already drawn much attention from the locals, but something in her statement had drawn his attention.
"You said he served this…what was it, Khaleesi? Who exactly is that" The title was unlike anything he heard, and only reinforced the fact he was truly lost in some unknown world, some backwater.
"I know only rumors, but it is said she has sacked the great city of Astapor, killing the Good Masters and striking the chains off all the slaves in the city. Now it is said she marches at the head of a host of 8000 unsullied upon Yunkai and has 3 dragons." Dragons? Hmm, he knew the term at least, and if they were even remotely similar to what he was imagining, then she is either strong in the force to tame such creatures or has well trained beast masters. But this thought passed quickly, and his focus was upon what else was said. This Daenerys is sacking cities, freeing slaves, and now some of her soldiers were before him. 8000 was not truly much to him, but to a society like this, 8000 must be a large host, or at least large enough to strike fear into the slavers here.
"Sirona, tell them I have answers about the falling fire, and am willing to share them to their Khaleesi, but I have but one term for this information" As Sirona translated, Imperious felt through the force the emotions of the riders, they were annoyed, confused, angry, but as Sirona spoke, he could feel their curiosity peak, and the satisfaction they may soon achieve their task, likely given to them by their Khaleesi. Rakharo spoke again, and Sirona translated.
"He asks to know what your term is?"
"Tell him I require the safety of the people here, should they be kept safe under their Khaleesi, I will come with them willingly" As Sirona translated, He mind drifted to what he could do, if this place was truly so backwards technologically, then he had no way of contacting the Empire, or getting off this Rock. He was well and truly stranded, but where the galaxy was closed to him, this world was open, and perhaps he could make the best of this problem.
"They have agreed, they will, when their Khaleesi nears, bring the people here to her, but they demand you be taken to her as soon as possible, and if she is satisfied with your answers, well she will decide you fate." Sirona still held concern in her voice, but he could feel it was mostly for him and not herself or the people here.
"Good, then I shall go with them, though I have need of you Sirona, I do not know the tongue and would wish to be able to actually speak with their Khaleesi."
"Of Course."
It had taken several hours of riding upon these creatures, Sirona had told him they were known as horses, before they finally arrived at what he was told was the camp of this Khaleesi Daenerys Targaryen, and it was a sight that was if nothing else showed that this military force was well disciplined, at least the ones that weren't these Dothraki, what was the word Sirona used…Unsullied?
But before he could turn to ask her about that name again, he was taken aback by a tremor in the force, and as he looked to the sky, he saw what it was, the dragons. Three of them, the largest Black scales and blood red accents he can barely see from such a distance, the next was the color of cream with gold highlighting parts of its body, the last dragon seemed to be Green and Bronze. Something about these Dragons were different, he felt the force bending around them, but not as it would around a strong force sensitive, but ass light would around a black hole, it was if these things were not powerful in the force, but's power caused the force to fluctuate and act without reason or balance.
This was something in need of further study, but for now his attention was turned upon the camp he was lead through, the tents closer to the center were in neat rows, while those further out were more ramshackle and disorganized, if he were to hazard a guess, the outer tents belonged to the many slaves freed from this Astapor, while the inner tents belong to the Unsullied soldiers of this Khaleesi Daenerys.
Soon, as he marched through the tent lines, he arrived at a central tent within the Camp, it was a fine enough tent, and as he and the Dothraki approached, the three dragons above flew straight into the tent, followed quickly by the rest of the group.
Sitting atop a makeshift throne within the tent, across a large open fire pit which a fire currently burned, he was not impressed with the sight. When he had heard of this Khaleesi, he had imagined a warrior woman, perhaps one further on in their years or at least an adult, but this girl before him did not even look to have become an adult yet. With Violet eyes, long silver blond-gold hair, she was thin but tall, she could perhaps pass for a very young woman grown to the untrained eye, but it was obvious this child was just that, a child.
There were several figures standing beside the child that he focused on, the first was an older man, perhaps middle age, swarthy, the had a face and head of coarse black hair, though he was balding by the looks of his hairline. The most notable feature was the man's coat, across his torso was a field of Green, upon which sat a Black Bear, a symbol of some sort unique to this man. The Next was another girl, younger still than the Child upon the throne, she had a flat and round face, dusky skin and her eyes looked like molten gold, she stood with her head held high next to the Girl upon the Throne. Next was one of these Unsullied, unlike the rest he stood at the side of the other man, perhaps an officer or leader of some sort? He could make nothing of the man under his armor, if one could call it that. Finally, the three Dothraki who had led him to the tent took places before the girl, bowing before turning to face him, then the girl besides the throne spoke.
"You Stand before Daenerys Stormborn, the Unburnt, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Khaleesi of Great Grass Sea, and Mother of Dragons" Titles, many such titles, and their meanings were lost on Him. Of Course, some made sense, Mother of Dragons among them, but others would require explanation. Of Course, he had his own titles and had made sure Sirona knew them in case he needed to make an entrance.
"Standing before her is Darth Imperius, Head of the Pyramid of Ancient Knowledge, one of the 12 Dark Councilors of the Sith Empire, Heir to Tulak Hord and Kallig" The use of his titles had the desired effect, he knew none of them would understand anything, but it put them in the same place as him, facing a total unknown with titles that commanded respect and fear, and the clear confusion within them, so easily readable through the force meant he had succeeded. Except her, this Daenerys, something about her was wrong, he could not read her, something worth investigating.
"Welcome to my Camp Darth Imperius, though i must express my confusion, I have never heard of such an Empire and your title is equally unknown to us." The Child spoke the Basic, this was good, he could converse without translators, but for now he needs to keep them off balance, so he leans towards Sirona, who repeats what Dany says in hushed whispers, then Imperius gives his response in the same whisper.
"Darth Imperius would expect as much, the Sith Empire is far from here, and you will not find it upon any maps, he himself only arrived here by accident when he was shipwrecked." As Sirona finished saying what he asked of her, he found his eyes upon the black-haired man, he was clearly suspicious and not trusting of him, a good belief, what with the fact he is actively concealing his ability to understand or speak Basic.
"You have my sympathy Darth Imperius, but I am told you have information of the fire that fell from the sky, and I would love to hear what you know" He could hear in her voice, the girl seemed to believe him, but his claim to know of his own crash had piqued her interest.
"Darth Imperius says the fire was caused by him, or more exact an unsuccessful attempt to use his magic to return home."
"Magic? We are supposed to believe that Darth Imperius wields the power to rain fire from above?"
"Rest Assured, I would be more than willing to demonstrate my power to you, and once demonstrated I can make an offer" Without waiting for a response, or reaction, Imperius reached out with the Force, taking hold of a goblet of water that sat at the side of Daenerys, instead of simply lifting the goblet, he kept it firmly in place while the water itself rose from the goblet, several other goblets did the same, and the water gathered in the air in the middle of the room, before in but a moment, he dropped it all on the fire in the middle of the tent, extinguishing it.
When the masked man first entered Daenerys' tent, she did not know what to make of him. His robes were unlike anything she had seen, and his helmet seemed otherworldly in its design and the way it sat upon the man's face.
Then the man claimed to be magic, and Dany had half a mind to throw him out. Already anyone who claimed to be magic to her has either betrayed her or left her with more questions than answers. But before she could say more, he had used his magic and clearly demonstrated he wasn't in for cheap tricks.
"What you bore witness to is but a fraction of my power within the force, which brings me to my offer. I am told you seek to strike the chains off every slave you see, already I'm told of how you sacked the city known as Astapor, freed every slave there and now March your army on the city of Yunkai, I offer my aid in that goal." This was certainly surprising, but Dany had suffered enough games to be wise to a man simply using her for their own agenda.
"And why should we trust you stranger, what purpose do you have to serve us in my goal to free the slaves of Slaver's Bay." He did not speak, not initially, he seemed to examine her for a moment, measuring her up before he raised his hands to his hood, flipping it back, his hands took to the base of his helmet, with an audible click and sound of something she could not place, the helmet was raised from his face and was revealed to her.
What struck Dany first was how young the man was, the way he spoke, and his titles implied someone far older, but he looked no older than twenty, his hair as black as shadows, eyes the color of sapphires staring at her. However, the most notable feature was what rested right below his left eye, some kind of markings branded upon his skin, clearly old but visible as day. It was only she had a moment to take it all in did the man speak again, his voice no longer marred by the mask and revealing an accent she had never heard.
"I was born into slavery, I served 5 masters before I freed myself: The First enjoyed to work the younger slaves in harsh conditions where the older ones could not work, the Second was sadistic and favored the whip to punish the smallest infarction, the Third was the one who gave me this brand after I became his property, he had no intention of giving me up, that was until I killed him with my powers, my Fourth master seemed different at first, but I was nothing but a pawn in her pursuit for power, the Fifth was a blithering fool who I beat to near death, before someone else killed him, to claim my place in the Empire. I know what it is to be enslaved, to be collared, enchained, whipped, to have all hopes and dreams beaten out of you, to become nothing but a machine in service to your master." He took a pause, he scanned the room, looking all in the eyes, lingering upon the Unsullied and Missandei "Yet it was these experience that gave me power, I turned my anger and hate into passion for freedom, to never be enchained again, through that passion I gained strength, through strength I gained power, through that power I gained victory, and through that victory my chains were broken. This is the Code of my people, of the Empire, I am the embodiment of it, a living example of the Sith Code in its purest form. I seek to aid you, to give all the same chance as me, to seize their own destiny and through their passions attain victory against the scum of the entire world." The Speech was an impressive one, the passion within it clear in every word, and Dany could see within the eyes of this man a clear honesty in the way he spoke, the contempt and hate for slavers bordered on fanatical, or perhaps it was fanatical, he was a former slave.
For a long moment Daenerys simply watched the man, measuring her options, but she knew the answer before she even made the decision, and she spoke her answer. "Then Darth Imperius, I welcome you into my service, may you prove useful against my foes."
"Trust me, when I'm done, they will beg for death" The way he said it, Dany could feel the chill within her, and some part of her believed him when she looked into his eyes, and swore the sapphire blue was for but a moment gone and, in its place, a sick yellow, then the blue was back. Dany could only hope she made the right decision.
The earliest rumors related to the Lord of Freed Slaves begins in a small, out of the way manor in the lands ruled by the City of Yunkai, it is said that the man was taken to the manor by unsullied employed by a local master, exact firsthand accounts are limited to a group of slaves from the manor. Based on shared details, and guess work, the Lord of the Freed Slaves, remembered as Darth Imperius, freed himself and butchered the Unsullied and Sellswords in the manor, killing them with his weapon of fire and sorcery. Before being discovered by the Dothraki in service to Daenerys Targaryen, who brought him before their Khaleesi.
The Exact location of where Daenerys Targaryen met this Darth Imperius is not recorded in the history books, and what was said is only spoken of in passing by those within her tent, but it is known that by the end this Darth Imperius swore himself to the cause of Daenerys Targaryen and proclaimed he would aid her in destroying the slave masters of Yunkai and Meereen, a task he would take to like a moth to a flame, with ruthless efficiency and an enthusiasm that bordered on fanaticism. However, before we continue, one must discuss the limited knowledge around the proclaimed homeland of this Darth Imperius, all from the teachings and speeches of Imperius himself.
-Maester Mortin, Chapter 1 of The Rise of the Lord of Freed Slaves