Ask Assisted Harakiri

[Xiomara Drast]

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It would likely come to the surprise of many that a bloodthirsty assassin trained by the Sith would have anything that even resembled morals, but Xiomara Drast would be just that surprise. It was because of those morals - that did exist, however... loose they sometimes were - that Xio found herself on the world of Chalacta, a planet that sat just outside the grip of the Free Worlds Alliance.

A woman named Jysta that Xio had met years ago hailed from the world, and it was upon her request that Xio had dropped most of her current dealings and agreed to do her friend a favor. Despite not knowing the full set of details, Jysta told Xio that a small cell of terrorists had started making a habit of attacking and destroying the many spiritual refuges that dotted Chalacta.

It was a world known for its serenity, a place of spiritual growth sought by many lost souls looking for answers and enlightenment. Xio thought the attacks were a disgusting display, and as such had promised her friend to get to the bottom of what was happening here.

To that end, the young assassin found herself walking the streets of a small village about a kilometer away from one of the most recent raids. The locals seemed wary of her, though she didn't blame them. A stranger like Xiomara stood out like a sore thumb in a place where everyone knew everybody, and where faceless monsters torched and pillaged holy sites.

Eventually she happened upon a small group of people sitting standing around a large pyre in the center of the village. From their haggard look and forlorn faces, Xio could tell they were survivors from the most recent attack.. and it seemed they were burning one of their own that had not been so lucky.

Reaching into her jacket, Xio took out a small silver flask and went to hand it to one of the pyre watches who gave her a curious look before readily accepting her empathetic token.

Were you there? Can you tell me what you saw? She asked the man, her voice quiet. The man sighed heavily before taking another long drink from the flask, but he did not answer her question. It's alright, Xio said, her eyes turning to the pyre, its red and orange flames reflecting off her eyes. Speak when you are ready.

Patience was one of the most important parts of her training as a Seyugi Dervish, not to mention she had no other leads to follow. She could wait, for now.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

The galaxy was a strange place filled with odd planets and out of place towns. Little atypical pockets that might never be touched by the galaxy at large. Jedi Councilor Alexandria Voran now found herself in one of those corners. The Free World Alliance was massive, and, despite her age, Alex had not visited every world. Chalacta was a mystery to her until a cry for help had reached the Order.

A small village was being terrorized without explanation. Pilgrims who treated the village as home now lived in fear. Ordinarily, the Council would have sent a team of Knights or a Master and student…but the galaxy was changing. These were dark times. Growing darker. Knights left the Temple and never returned. The Sith appeared at every juncture. Alex still bore the aches of her brawl on Taris. The Council could not afford to dismiss attacks described as needlessly brutal, tinged with true evil. So…Alex came…and she came alone.

She had spent a few hours in the village. She tried to blend in. She failed. She was clearly an outsider who wore the trapping of the Order. Traditional brown robes over concealed armor. Still, the people needed help and they welcomed anyone seeming to take their concerns to heart. As darkness descended on the village, Alex prepared herself for what was to come. The attacks had mostly come at night. The terrors striking out of nowhere. They would find the village a much different target tonight. She sat beside a pyre, gossiping with the locals. They were afraid and she did not blame them. They had cause to be afraid.

Alex’s senses rang in the Force. Her eyes tipped away from the pyre. A lithe woman was making her way around the flames. Alex tilted her head. Her mind was closed, walls high. The Force bubbled beneath the surface but was carefully concealed. Darkness tinged the edges of the woman. What was that? The Councilor did not move but rather waited. She knew the new arrival would make her way over eventually. This was no one of the monsters, at least not the kind that was plaguing the village.

@Logan

 

[Xiomara Drast]

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Time ticked by slowly as Xiomara stood next to the stranger. With each raise and subsequent lowering of the flask to his lips she hoped he would have something to tell her, something that could help Xio figure out what was going on instead of chasing shadows. But the revelation never came.

Sorry, he said, finally. But it's too fresh too... just too much. The man on the pyre is my brother.

Xio could see the agony even through the man's grizzled features. The pain of loss emanated from him and flowed over her, and she knew that there was no point in pressing him. Grief was powerful and when its talons were firmly embedded into someone's heart, it was better to leave them room to cope in whatever manner they chose.

I understand, Xio replied, before shaking her head as the man tried to return her flask. Keep it.

Xiomara flashed the man a sympathetic smile before turning away, her eyes floating to the others gathered around the pyre. It was then that she noticed a woman who, like her, also seemed like she was out of place on Chalacta. As Xio walked closer, it became evident why. She recognized the robes and the sharpness in the force. She had fought people like that before, even killed some. An interesting development to run into a Jedi here.

Approaching Alexandria, Xio stopped and stood beside the Jedi, her eyes lingering on the fire.

What do you make of it? There was no pretext to Xio's question, she didn't see the need. The Jedi could play dumb if she wished to, but Xio didn't think she would. Time, after all, was a factor here. There is nothing to be gained from slaughtering pilgrims. She paused for a moment, her eyes turning from the flames to look into Alexandria's. There must be something more sinister at work here.

The dark of night that surrounded them almost seemed to grow deeper, as if it were pressing on the light of the fire; like it was furious something dared impede on its ability to swallow it up.

Xiomara couldn't help but get the feeling that she were being watched.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Finally. Alex did not take risks. She was careful in nearly everything she did. Her steps were slow contemplations of the Force. She was cautious and wise. At least, that is what they said. Her increasingly Temple bound existence was pushing the edges of that caution. Alex was meant to be free in the galaxy. Meant to be outside the Temple walls. Her duties as Councilor often pushed against that desire. So, the cautious and wise Jedi found herself floating beyond caution. Her excitement as the mysterious woman made her way over was troubling. Alex should have been safer. The tinges of Darkness were unmistakable, but the woman did not stink of the Sith. This was intriguing. She could have done the self-righteous Jedi act…it did not feel right.

Instead, she simply nodded slowly and kept her eyes on the fire. “I’m not sure. These people have little more than the clothes are the back. What is there to be gained from pulling them into the night?” The answer was easy. Nothing. “I have seen something like this only once and I will never forget.”

Alex turned to face her fellow Force user. “You can feel it in the Force, can’t you? The tension building…the waves cresting. These monsters in the Dark are building towards something but I just can’t put my finger on what.” All manner of horrors required lives in the Force. Alex suspected this was another such terror, but the exact manner escaped her. Her headed tilted to the side as she waited for a response. This was truly fascinating. The tension in the Force was building. She could feel it with every second that ticked by. They would not be alone much longer. Her hands clenched in response. She did not want a fight. She always found one though.

@Logan

 

[Xiomara Drast]

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Yes, I can feel it. Xio replied, her tone flat and a little somber. She knew what darkness looked like and what people were capable of when they sought nothing but their own desires. Something is here.

Just as the words had left her mouth, several screams pierced the otherwise still night air. Xio's head whipped in the direction of the sound but before she could really do anything, everyone around the pyre started to run.

Creatures had seemingly appeared out of thin air around those near the fire. Faceless humanoid forms that seemed more like living shadows than real creatures had somehow surrounded them all. It didn't take much longer after that for people to start dying.

Unsure of exactly what they were now fighting, Xio drew her vibroknife and channeled force energies into it. The blade of the weapon began to glow slightly, a giveaway that it was now much stronger than it would seem.

Darting off, Xio intercepted one of the creatures that was looming over a child, its arms outstretched and ready to strike. With a swift slash, Xio sliced straight through its arm which seemed to explode in a flash of smoke and shadow. With another quick movement, the young assassin plunged her knife into the things chest. To her surprise, it gave her resistance, like it was solid underneath.

Looking to the ground, Xio's eyes widened when she saw the severed arm of a human laying there in a pool of blood.

Someone is casting an illusion, She managed to shout to Alexandria. Nothing but flesh and cowardice lies beneath these shadows.

Xio had not seen dark side magic like this before, but it did make sense how the pilgrimage sites were able to be overrun so quickly and without warning. The plot was thickening.

Before she could link back up with Alex, Xio was confronted by two more of the attackers. Though if a few more of their compatriots were slain, she was sure the cowards would be in full retreat soon enough.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Screams ripped through the silence. Yes, that was it. The tension in the Force snapped in an instant, flooding her senses. The crescendo was all around them as the people screamed. Darkness become horrible monsters from nightmares. Alex moved quickly. Decades of training drilled into her mind. Her odd new friend reacted equally swiftly. The Morellian Jedi nodded approvingly. A woman of action. Good. She reached for the Force as Xiomara worked her own skills. The Light filled Alex’s heart with each breath. Her mind sunk into the Force. Falsehood rang against her senses.

Her eyes shot to one of the creatures, her hand reaching out. The Force struck out, tendril of power whipping against the creature. The illusion melted away as she attacked the very fabric of the lie. A very surprised human suddenly blinked at her. Alex’s mind struck instantly. Sleep. The human male slummed to the ground. She quickly turned her attention elsewhere. Powerful Darkness would be required to create such an illusion. Darkness she had only faced a handful of times before. Alex worked the Light banishing the illusion from two other creatures. A painful ethereal scream shuddered through the village. Her vision blurred and her mind shook. Alex blinked once…twice…the creatures disappearing into the night.

She quickly scanned the village, laying eyes on Xiomara and the severed arm. Well, at least she had not outright killed anyone. That was a small mercy. Another deep breath as she walked closer to the girl. “A powerful illusion.” She shook her head. “One requiring a level of strength and sophistication in the Force that cannot be reached alone.” Everywhere she turned, the Darkness followed. “Strong magic.” Her eyes whipped around the village. “But why these pilgrimage sights? Why the illusions?” She could feel the Darkness retreating but it was possible to track. The direction the Force pulled was just to the west, running out into the night.

@Logan