Ask Spooky Scary Skeletons

[Vanya]

Per my OP template, thread is death enabled​

Vanya seemed to always get called out for "hey we've got a spooky problem that needs a Jedi to look into it" jobs. That was what this one was. Everything about this forest was wrong. It had a general darkness creeping over it, and Vanya had no idea what would be at the heart of it.

Rather than anything remotely Jedi-like, Vanya was dressed up in wilderness furs, an energy bow on her back and her magick-infused polearm in hand as a "walking stick." She was hilariously not the Jedi-looking person and would have drawn more than a few looks from people if there were people here anymore.

She was being accompanied by another Jedi she had never met before, but that wasn't all that uncommon. Vanya didn't really have a lot of friends in the Order, and she was always willing and ready to meet new people.

She plopped down on the ground with her back against a tree as she awaited his arrival, plopping her head back against the tree. She probably should have been keeping close watch, but come on, nothing was going to attack her here. That would inevitably come later.

 

[Shaw Amaris]

Nature was the definition of foreign to a boy that, up until a year ago, knew nothing of life outside of what could be crafted from durasteel and duracrete. Shaw was that city boy. Coruscant born and raised and more at home amongst skyscrapers than trees. He could recall the first time he had ever stepped foot in a forest like it was yesterday. It had scared him then, and that forest had been filled with the most adorable little Ewoks. This forest? Shaw had a feeling it was filled with something alright, but it sure wasn't fluffy little teddy bears.

Replaying the conversation the pilots aboard the Jedi transport had exchanged when they thought he was sleeping didn't help either. Shaw had only caught bits and pieces, but the general sentiment was better Shaw than them. They had dropped him off at the rendezvous point before peeling out.

Warden Vanya—Shaw didn't know much about her, but he had heard the name. He knew that she had been the spark that lit the fire for the Jedi Crusaders, aaaaand yeah. That was about all he knew. Oh, and apparently she liked to dress like she had just walked off the set of a sword and sorcery holomovie.

Unable to think of a better opening line, he said, "I dig the fit." An introduction. A simple introduction would have been a better opening line. Then, looking around, "This isn't some kind of haze is it?" Some kind of weird initiation that the Jedi had but no one had ever told him about? Because this place was downright weird. @Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya saw him approaching and actually didn't stand up right away, just sitting there against the tree until he had actually arrived.

The... what? she asked, his lingo about her outfit having been completely lost on her. She was hardly part of the "hip" group and she was late to the majority of the galaxy anyway. She spoke accented basic fluently, but that didn't mean she knew all the euphemisms even to this day.

She finally pushed herself up, planting the spiked butt-end of the polearm into the ground.

Umm... no. I wish it were, she said in response to his question. She had received some information about him prior to their deployment together and it seemed like everyone knew who she was these days, but she decided it was better to not be pretentious and actually introduce herself.

We haven't met before. I'm Vanya, she said, extending a hand to him to shake.

You are Master Sevrin's Padawan, yes? she asked. Although she had never actually met the Sephi before, everyone knew about him. He was a celebrity in his own right and a well respected - if somewhat elusive - member of the Jedi Order.

 

[Shaw Amaris]

"The fit!" he replied like it was obvious, gesturing vaguely at her outfit. "Where did you get all the furs?" He was more interested in the story behind the polearm and the energy bow, but he didn't want to bombard her with a bunch of questions all at once. Shaw might not have known a lot about Warden Vanya, but he did know that she was a very important figure within the Jedi Order and carried a lot of influence. Often on the front lines in more ways than one.

The Warden had the right idea, introducing herself before they got halfway into a mission. "I'm Shaw," he said right back, taking the hand that she extended and shaking it. "It's an honor to meet you—" He left it at that. What was he supposed to call her? Vanya? Warden?

"Yeah!" He perked up a little at mention of the sephi, standing a little taller without realizing it. Shaw was really proud of being Master Valtiere's apprentice, especially since Prani had told him that the sephi wasn't known to take on apprentices. The teenager hadn't allowed it all to go to his head yet, still figuring that some part of Master Valtiere had taken pity on the lost, floundering padawan. At least Shaw wasn't lost anymore, but he sure did have a lot of floundering left to do.

Warden Vanya said that this wasn't a haze. Shaw had been afraid of that, looking around. He felt like everything was watching him, from the lone squirrel sitting up in a tree branch to the trees themselves. Though Shaw happened to be a little frightened of squirrels ever since a scurry of the mutated variety had swarmed him shortly after coming to the order, so it might have just been his imagination at work. He stared into the squirrel's eyes a little longer than he ought to have, shaking his head and asking, "So what are we doing out here?" @Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya glanced down at the clothes she was wearing as she realized what he was talking about.

They seemed practical, she said. The forest gets cold, she said with a shrug. But thanks, she said with a smile. More and more she had felt support from others within the Jedi and with it came the courage to just do things rather than be caught up in what people might think of what she was doing.

Shaw gave her disappointingly little about Sevrin as she asked about his master. The Sephi had been fighting Sith since before Vanya had even really understood anything about the galactic stage. He had just... done things. He had fought for the Jedi and driven back the Sith when there seemed to be no hope. He was an inspiration to many, Vanya included.

It seemed like a moment later, Shaw was drifting off to make intimate eye contact with a squirrel.

Uh... are you okay? she asked, gaze flicking back and forth between the padawan and the squirrel. Having an intimate moment? she asked with the faintest smirk.

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

"Have you met Master Valtiere?" Shaw asked. He had just assumed that they had since they were both pretty important people within the order. He was hoping she had some stories to tell.

Shaw blinked when she asked if he was okay. "I'm fine." Then, with a silly grin, "That's between me and the squirrel." He jerked a thumb toward the small woodland creature that he really felt was still watching them from its perch before laughing and waving a hand. "Naaah. I'm just joking. I'm a little frightened of squirrels."

Realizing how stupid that must sound to anyone but especially someone like Warden Vanya, he quickly added as explanation, "See I got swarmed by these mutated squirrels one time. Saw my life flash before my eyes. It was really harrowing." He glanced over at her to gauge her reaction. She probably had harrowing stories too, of Sith Lords and abominations and monsters and all sorts of stuff like that. So Shaw was starting out small... he'd get there eventually so long as he lived that long.

He cleared his throat. "So you were on Corellia, right?" he asked. He had never seen her, but he had heard that she was the one that had led the charge. Hopefully she had never seen him either or heard about his performance on the planet because it had been abominable. @Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

No, not apart from a couple of briefings we were in together on Corellia, she said. She had never actually spoken to the man directly and didn't really consider "being in the same room" as meeting.

Squirrels?! she blurted out before realizing it was probably rude for her to say that. But how could anyone be afraid of squirrels?. She didn't understand.

He began to elaborate almost immediately and she started to feel a little bad.

Oh... right, that makes more sense, uh... sorry, she said. That sounds horrible, she admitted. Savage squirrels probably would change your outlook on the small puffy-tailed creatures.

Yes, she said, not elaborating for a moment but realizing that she probably should start being more open with people if she was ever going to have any... friends. Granted there was probably some comment there about being friends with a Padawan, but he wouldn't be a Padawan forever.

It was a grueling fight, and I thought it would never end, she said. There's still a lot of work to be done there, but at least the initial conflict is over, she said.

You were there too? she guessed.

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

"Oh." That surprised Shaw. He had just assumed that all the higher ups within the order would have met Master Valtiere, but he supposed that the sephi was gone a lot. Always off on some top secret mission behind enemy lines. At least that's what Shaw told himself. He didn't want to accept that the sephi left him on read all the time just because, even if he knew somewhere in the back of his mind that there was some truth to it. "You would like him." Shaw always just assumed that everyone would like Master Valtiere. "He's the MVP." But it probably wasn't the Jedi way to give out awards.

As for the squirrels, "Yeah..." The padawan's thoughts would drift momentarily, to glowing eyes and little claws and sharp teeth. "Sometimes I get nightmares about them." Then he froze and dipped his chin. Why had he just told her that? Way to ruin your street cred with one of the most important people in the entire Jedi Order, he thought to himself, but she seemed cool about it. As if it might save his image a little bit, he threw out a helpful little fact. "Just in case you ever need to know—squirrels really dig beef jerky. They go crazy over the stuff." When would she ever need to know that?

"I was, yeah..." He stared at her, trying to size up just what she knew about his limited involvement in the battle. Probably nothing since he hadn't actually done anything and she had been occupied leading the charge. Even if she did know, there was nothing he could do about it now. All he could do was try and do better. She had allowed him to come on this assignment with her, so that was a good sign. "What happens next with Corellia?" he asked, curious about the aftermath. What happened after the dust settled. He and Master Valtiere hadn't stuck around long enough to find out. @Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya smiled and nodded as he mentioned that Sevrin was the MVP. Yes, he probably was. How many notable Jedi had there been in the last decade? How many of those notable Jedi had survived the rise and reign of Andruil and Raze? Few. Very few.

Not a lot of people can say they've been through what he has and come out the other side. I'm sure you're learning a lot from him, she said. She wondered if he had a huge amount of pressure on him to perform given whose apprentice he was. I also imagine it's a lot of pressure, she said.

His mention of the nightmares was sobering. She knew about that all too well. I wish I could say the nightmares would get better, she said. They only got worse. The more you saw of it, the more varied the dreams became, but never better.

Is that only the psycho squirrels that go after jerky? she asked. She didn't know much about squirrels, but she'd never heard of them being... carnivorous. But he seemed much more an expert than she was on... squirrels. In fact, she got the impression that he spent a lot of time thinking about squirrels...

We'll continue rooting out the remaining resistance and the abominations that fled underground and into the far corners of the planet. It'll be messy, but in time things will be rebuilt. The Hapes will probably need to be invaded and overthrown at some point, but... she sighed and shook her head. One more thing to add to the list. So much to do and it - yet again - threatened to overwhelm her.

Well, that's not a today problem. We've got a... creature to hunt out here, she said.

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

"I am," Shaw agreed right away. His entire life had been turned upside down, given a good shake, and then set right side up for the first time ever in the last six months. All thanks to Master Valtiere's patience and instruction. Shaw wasn't the same sixteen year old that spent his days drifting from one pass time to the next without direction and without purpose. Master Valtiere had brought him a long way, and he had a long way left to go.

"There is..." The teenager studied the warden's face. She was pretty intuitive, wasn't she? Shaw wondered what that must be like. He was way too oblivious for his own good. There was pressure, but he wasn't sure how much of it came from outside forces and how much of it he put on himself. "I don't wanna let him down."

He considered Vanya's question. Truth be told Shaw didn't know the first thing about squirrels. He had grown up on Coruscant and had never even seen a squirrel until a few months ago. "Uhhh just the mutated variety I believe," he nodded solemnly like he had a clue. That sounded right.

It sounded like there was a lot of work left do be done on Corellia. A battle beyond the battlefield. Shaw wanted to ask some more questions, specifically about The Hapes Consoritum this time because he wasn't very up to date with current politics, but Warden Vanya ushered in a new topic of conversation. The reason they were out here in this creepy forest to begin with.

A creature? "Is that of the Sith variety orrrr the normal variety?" he asked, already imagining abominations and exalted. @Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

She nodded as he said that he didn't want to let Sevrin down. She knew that feeling all too well. Not because of her own master but because she felt like the whole Order was looking to her and a single misstep could undo everything they'd worked for... it was like trying to balance on a single toe on top of a pyramid. Granted a Jedi could probably do that, but kriff if it wasn't precarious.

I'm sure you won't. Just keep at it and... trust the process, she said. That was perhaps the best piece of advice she could give. He would make mistakes and stumble, but if he persevered, he would overcome.

Despite what people would try to have you believe, the Sith don't have a monopoly on evil or the Dark Side, she said as he dichotomized things into "Sith" and "normal."

Whatever it is is born of darkness, but I'm not convinced that it is Sith, she explained, looking back to him to see if he was understanding what she meant. Unknown to her, the most likely answer she would receive was probably a sagely nod of understanding without actually understanding.

Something has been making people... disappear. The local village has lost four people over the last three months with reports of something large and spectral stalking the forest. The animals have been acting strange as well, she said.

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

I'm sure you won't. For some reason that meant more coming from Warden Vanya than he would have thought. They barely knew each other, and yet the encouragement from an older, far more experienced Jedi who also happened to be one of the most prominent faces within the order was just that—encouraging. "Thanks," Shaw smiled, eyes twinkling a little bit as he tucked her advice away for safekeeping. Keep at it and trust the process. They had only just met, and she was already dropping little nuggets of wisdom. Just like Master Valtiere did. Those two really would get along.

She started walking then, and Shaw fell into step behind her, listening attentively. "Okay," was all he would say, considering what she had said. He wasn't sore that she had corrected him. Master Valtiere had to do it all the time. He was just mulling it over. Had that witch back on Shili been such a being? Something born of darkness but not Sith? Maybe so. He would probably never know, but it was still interesting to think about.

Whatever it was, Warden Vanya said that it was making the animals behave unnaturally. Not to mention that people were going missing. That was the big thing. This really was a spooky mission, wasn't it? "That would explain that eavesdropping squirrel," he tried to make a lame joke but instantly regretted it. SHUT UP ABOUT THE SQUIRREL!!!

"So it's in these woods? This creature?" @Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

He commented about the eavesdropping squirrel, making a joke before Vanya glanced over to look at him, frowning and her violet eyes taking on a hint of concern. He had meant it as a joke, but what if...

You... might not be wrong, she said hesitantly, casting her eyes around the clearing. There were birds above and the hum of bugs. There were the trees themselves, and Vanya could sense them all connected through the Essence. But she could also sense the Shadow pervading everything here. It drenched the whole forest like a sick poison, and she wondered.

The Essence connects us to everything, but the same can be said for the Shadow, she said. We may not be the only ones tapping into it, she said, not sure she was actually making any sense.

It's supposed to be. This is where the disappearances have been, she said, mind starting to churn over how they might be able to track it down.

Maybe we can use the wildlife. If it has tapped into them. Follow... the squirrels, she said. It really wasn't funny to tease someone about their trauma but he had opened the door to jokes. A little light ribbing might not be the worst thing in the world? She hoped.

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

"Huh?" Shaw did a double take. Did she just say he might not be wrong? About the squirrel? It was always the worst feeling. Telling a joke that was so lame that you had to explain it afterwards. "Oh, I was just joking," he started to say but fell silent as the warden began to expounded upon what she meant. The teenager just stood there, not sure whether she was joking or not. He didn't know her well enough to be able to tell, so... he was gonna play it safe and assume she was serious. If she was joking and he looked like an idiot—well it wouldn't be the first time.

"What is the essence?" he asked. Maybe it was a dumb question, but Shaw was never afraid to ask dumb questions. "Is that another word for the force?"

Warden Vanya had come to a decision. Follow the squirrels. Shaw was right back where it had all started that first day he had opened himself up to the force, following squirrels. To think only moments earlier he had been patting himself on the back for how far he had come. As someone that was full of off the cuff ideas, he was always open to off the cuff ideas. So he didn't hesitate to get down to it.

Turning, Shaw's gaze would slowly pan over to the squirrel. They had left it behind, a good twenty to thirty feet in the opposite direction, but there it was. The teenager wasn't sure how he instinctively knew that it had followed them, and he didn't even know how he knew exactly where it would be. Sitting on a branch directly above their heads staring at them. It didn't even have the decency to try and pretend that it was chomping down on a nut or something.

Since it didn't appear to want to budge from its perch, Shaw would step forward and say, "Scat! Scat!" Then he would jump up and down and wave his arms trying to scare it off, but that didn't work either. The squirrel just sat there judging him. Annoyed, he considered pulling his lightsaber out and waving it in the little furry thing's face, but his superior probably wouldn't have approved. "One sec."

For a city boy Shaw had discovered that he was actually pretty good at climbing trees. Once he found the correct branch he reached out and swatted in the woodland creature's general direction, trying to get it to move. It didn't just move. It lit out of there, bounding to another tree and then another. "There it goes!" he called down to the warden.

It cut to the north. This sure was a squirrely assignment. @Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya definitely wasn't joking. Or at least she mostly wasn't joking.

It is what the Jedi call the Light. The domain of the Winged Spirit, she said, and it would become quite clear that although her beliefs weren't clear, Vanya had very different views on the Force than most of her comrades in arms.

Vanya was still observing the environment when she watched the drama unfold between Shaw and the squirrel. It was kind of like watching a speeder accident. She couldn't bring herself to look away as Shaw and Squirrel had a stare down followed by the near-assault of the padawan on the rodent. Ironically, Vanya was probably one of the few Jedi who wouldn't have cared if he waved a lightsaber at the squirrel. In fact, Vanya probably would have nearly done exactly that herself.

She found herself practically glued into place as he started to lunge forward at the squirrel, leaping up the tree in an attempt to... scare off the rodent? Kill the rodent in a fit of rage? One might even call it... rodent rage.

Well, as it turned out his rodent rage fueled squirley assignment.

Come on! she shouted, tearing off into the forest and almost outright leaving Shaw behind before remembering that really wasn't very good-teacher of her.

Good work, by the way, she said, trying to continue pursuing the squirrel through the forest. Despite having actually lost the rodent already, they at least had a heading deeper into the forest.

Perhaps we can name you the squirrel slayer, she said, flicking a glance over at him to see his reaction. She only narrowly managed to avoid smiling.

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

The Winged Spirit? Shaw had never heard of that. Warden Vanya's response left the padawan with more questions than it did answers, but they would have to wait. They had a squirrel to chase. He still couldn't believe he was saying that.

The teenager started to scramble back down the tree, realized he was gonna lose the squirrel and the warden at this rate, and just jumped down instead. He hit the ground and rolled, coming up with leaves and twigs stuck to his clothing. He didn't notice as they gave chase.

"Really?" Shaw asked as the pair of Jedi sprinted and swerved around trees and over felled logs. He had thought it was rather uninspired. A greater Jedi probably would have used the force to scare it off or even to bond with it. Shaw had just... waved his arms at it. Dazed by the compliment from one of the highest ranking Jedi within the order, Shaw ran face first into a large low hanging branch but tried to play it off like nothing had happened, spitting out pine needles.

The squirrel slayer comment elicited an immediate grin. Warden Vanya wasn't anything like had had imagined her to be, serious and hardnosed and no nonsense. He wasn't sure why he had assumed that she would be that way, because Master Valtiere had said something about her taking a more aggressive stance or simply because of all the responsibility that lay on her shoulders, but whatever it was she had taken him by surprise. She actually seemed like fun.

"I think squirrel slayer has a nice ring to it," he played along. Once they had lost sight of the squirrel they came to a stop, catching their breaths. That little sucker was fast!

Shaw closed his eyes and delved into the realm of the force to connect with the nature around him just like Master Valtiere had taught him to do through meditation back on Cularin. His connection wasn't as strong without meditation, but it was getting there. One small step at a time. "I don't sense anything," he finally said. No squirrel. No deer. No winged insects. Nothing. it was weird. He opened his eyes and stared at the warden. "Do you?" @Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya glanced back at the sound of spitting and her face twisted up a bit as she watched him choking on twigs and leaves. How... pleasant for him.

Squirrel slayer it was. It had been decided on.

It was only moments later that Shaw pointed out something very astute. Vanya... didn't sense anything either. She was very in tune with nature and its rhythm, but this place lacked it. It was as if the natural pulse of the forest was intentionally robbed within this place.

The rhythm of this place is all wrong. As if everything has been quashed under someone's boot. Commanded not to move or to be, she said. She had never experienced anything quite like it before.

It means we're going in the right direction, she said. She could feel herself being pulled deeper into the forest. At its core was a cave, its mouth opening in a dark hole as if an open maw waiting to swallow them up.

This doesn't bode well, she muttered quietly.

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

Was now a good time to mention that Shaw had a bad history with dark, creepy caves in the middle of the forest too? Probably not. The squirrel story was embarrassing enough. The last time he had run into a cave without a plan hadn't ended so well for him. There had been a creepy witch pondering her orb or something spooky like that, and Shaw still wasn't sure how he had gotten out of that mess. Macote had rescued him no doubt.

Come to think of it the second time he had run into a cave without a plan hadn't gone so hot either. He had accidentally gotten high on magic mushrooms and nearly gotten eaten by a mutated bear. Apparently Shaw and caves didn't mix, but he wasn't going to tell Warden Vanya that. He just stood there and stared, wondering what life threatening kind of creature awaited him this time. He looked over at the Warden. "Do... do you have a plan?"

If her plan was to just run in without a plan, then that was fine by Shaw. That was usually how he rolled. He just didn't want it to be his idea this time. Not again. "You don't have to have a plan," he added quickly, "Do you not have a plan? Because I'm totally cool with no plan. So cool." Now he was overselling it, wasn't he?

Maybe there was a backway into the cave or maybe... maybe Vanya could use force cloak or something. Shaw certainly didn't know the first thing about how to use that ability, but he had heard about it. Or read about it in the library. Shaw could even be the distraction, while Warden Vayna snuck in to get a lay of the cave. Shaw was just about to bounce the idea off the experienced Jedi when something caught his attention.

The sort of thing that always caught his attention—the smell of food. And not just any food. Some of his favorites! Roasted meats and potatoes. Warden Vayna would smell it too, but she would probably smell something different. She would smell some of her own favorite foods, whatever they might be, drifting from the cave. "Do you smell that?" he whispered. @Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Shaw asked Vanya if she had a plan, and she should have said she did and seemed the confident, omniscient authority that everyone saw Jedi Masters as. But Vanya wasn't a Jedi Master, she was a Warden, and she was hardly your traditional Jedi leadership.

Not really, she said with a shrug and shake of her head. Go in to have a look around and adapt to whatever we find, she said. This laissez-faire approach had always seemed to work well enough for her in the past.

He seemed... unexpectedly excited about her not having a plan. Excellent, so they were on the same page!

Excellent, then we agree! she said. Shaw was hilarious if he thought Vanya was going to throw cloaks and start sneaking. She was far more likely to just march down inside and see what attacked them.

She started marching straight toward the cave when he pointed out an unusual smell. She sniffed the air in a quick series of sniffs as if sampling it over the course of about eight consecutive sniffs.

She frowned and glanced at Shaw.

I don't trust that at all, she said. Some sort of illusion magic, and probably not the only one, she said. She may have been headstrong and a touch compulsive, but she still wasn't dumb. She knew a trap when she sensed it.

Don't trust your eyes down there. Trust in the Force, she said to Shaw, heading down inside to the scent of roasted meat, chocolate chip cookies, and coffee. At least it was a pleasant illusion.

Next came the sound of distant singing deep within the cave. A beautiful woman's voice singing an almost enchanting lullaby summoning them deeper inside.

@throwitintothefire