Beyond the Backyard

[Isola Rin]

Andara

Loa woke, eyes wide, her heart beating swiftly, pounding against her chest, she didn't feel as though she were in danger, but she could feel it in other places. Pale faces with masks of despair and skeleton like bodies kept running through her head until she took in a deep breath to clear her thoughts This wasn't the first time she had seen this, it had been reoccurring and the girl had be reluctant to tell anyone. Silas was so busy lately with the orphanage, with Nan gone, more responsibilities fell on him and she could rationalize that one less mouth to feed would help him out if she followed this feeling. It was what felt as though was right, and if she were to follow her code:

A Jedi does what is right, I shall do what is right.​

Silas would disapprove so much of what she was thinking right now, but all she would need to do was ask for forgiveness later, its worked before, why wouldn't it work this time. Loa slid her feet over the ledge of her bed, her movements were silent, careful not to wake the others who shared a room with her. Gathering a few of her belongings, she left just as quietly, pausing at Silas' study, she scribbled quickly the places she had seen in her dreams and slid it under his door knowing he would find it in the morning.

This endeavor, though uncertain of why, would test everything she had come to known.

Chalacta
Almost a week later...

It was desolate, even the spaceport she had arrived at was just a dirt plain, marked off by portable illuminators to give the illusion it was a landing pad. There were a few buildings, one looked like a shop for supplies, one for ship parts and the other was serving food from literally a fire pit of charcoaled animals that some of the locals seemed to enjoy greatly. The reality of what she was doing finally had set in and she could almost feel a panic start to bubble in her chest. Though she was smart enough to know not to let it take over her thoughts and instead, she looked for the light inside herself and trusted it.

She was one of only three people who had gotten off the shuttle, the pilot also looked like he was finished transporting as he exited with her and the others, immediately going over to where there was food. Regardless, she really didn't have a plan, only to follow where the Force wanted to take her and then what? Loa didn't know and begun walking away from the shuttle and into the vast open plains of Chalacta. The girl closed her eyes and focused, trying to find what she needed to look for, there wasn't a definite answer, just all she knew the feeling was right.

It was almost nightfall by the time she found a village, circular tents were illuminated by the lights inside and the center held a fire where many were sitting, men, women, and there were children running around, playing before they were made to go to bed. A woman caught sight of the girl and the people became quiet, Loa was uncertain of what to say, she didn't know their language and she was unsure if any of them knew basic.

"Hello, do any of you know basic?" she asked uncertain, her lack of confidence showing as she pulled her arms inward to fold them across her chest, but paused and scratched her head, "I'm looking for something, the Force has sent me..." Loa grimaced at her own words, it sounded unbelievably stupid, however, someone understood. A man stood up and a group of children followed him as he approached Loa.

"Follow me, ok?" he beckoned and Loa did. She was quiet as she followed, but questions begun to form.

"Where are we going?" she asked, but the man didn't answer and the few children who followed smiled at Loa, "I'm trying to find some place I have seen, have you seen it also?" she asked him, but they just continued to walk, which wasn't a long walk overall. The orange and purples of the sunset danced across the grassy fields until they reached an elaborate stone temple. The man stopped and bowed to Loa gesturing her to continue before he turned around to go back to camp. She watched him for a moment before continuing.

The temple was silent as she entered, but there was a smell she had never experienced before, she wanted to vomit, but didn't and she began to get a bad feeling about it all. She entered a large hall and stopped, seeing a couple individuals leaning over the skeleton-like bodies. Loa stepped inside, seeing their faces more clearly and her stomach sank, she recognized them from her dreams. One of the monks tending to the victims approached Loa and took her hand, clasping it in his own, "Welcome, we knew you would arrive soon."

OoC: All are welcome to join!

 

[Jace Varro]

Jace had no clue how he had ended up on this dustball, he was guessing one to many drinks, gladly he couldn't remember the dumb idea that ended up with him here. No shuttle he could see to take him off this rock, he wandered into the shop, picking up a couple extra energy packs for his blasters when he heard the tell tale sound of a landing transport, paying for his purchase he leans in the shadow of the doorway watching as the shuttle empties, noticing the pilot making his was for a hot meal.
"Great he's not going anywhere.."
Giving a disgruntled sigh. His eyes land on a girl, around his age he'd guess, as she made her way out of the spaceport and onto the plains.
Was the girl slow? She had to be to just walk out onto the dry plains without getting any provisions, looking to the pilot he sees him drinking a large ale, cursing at his bad luck he decides to see what the girl's up to, maybe she'd lead him to something he could fence.
Following at a safe distance as to not be noticed he follows here as she walks with a purpose he can't understand, like she knows where she's going, as she enters the villiage he creeps into the shadows nearby, listening to her try to cominicate and then follow a creepy old man.
'Yeah, go with the creepy old guy who hangs out with kids, seems smart...' he mumbles under his breath as she allows herself to be lead to who knows where, she must be touched in the head he muses almost laughing but stopping himself as they enter a temple.
Sneaking in after them he hides behind a shadowed pillar, crouching he waits wondering why he's even doing this, peeking around the corner he's shocked by what he sees and he's criminal scum, what kind of temple is this?
"We knew you would arrive soon" echoed around the temple, Jace's blood ran cold having thought for a moment he was caught, then realizing it was the girl he was addressing breathed a quiet sigh of relief, slowly removing his blasters and setting one to stun he waits for the scene to unfold, maybe this was all a practical joke he thought... Here's hoping. All Jace knew for sure was this was and idiotic idea, he should have just waited for the pilot.

 

[Isola Rin]

"You did?" she asked, tilting her head slightly as her brow furrowed trying to figure out what exactly was going on. She reached out with the Force, trying to better read the man, she didn't feel anything of threat, but there was something else there, on the horizon still out of her reach. The monk released her hand, and bowed his head respectfully, Loa noted the peircings on his brow on forehead, his presence in the Force was soothing. He gestured her to walk with him away from the healing hall.

"Yes, one of our seers saw your arrival, amazing how the Force can influence destiny, though," he paused, "We weren't expecting a friend of yours to come also." Loa gave the monk an odd look, her senses now looking for a peculiar presence, she could feel an intensity of emotions, uncertainty, perhaps some regret, but the monk was right, someone else was present, but certainly was not a friend of hers.

"I didn't bring any friends." Loa simply stated as she followed the monk into the hall where the other was waiting with his blaster. The monk didn't seemed alarmed and raised his hands in peace, "Come, now, no weapons, we are here for knowledge, wisdom, and healing." Loa studied Jace, her eyes left his face to his blaster in his hand before turning to look back at the monk. "Not fighting or war." he added.

"So you're Jedi?" Loa asked as the monk continued, Jace would be allowed to follow if he wished as the girl and the old man continued; she glanced over her shoulder at the young man with the blaster until the monk chuckled.

"No, I am not, I am Chalactan and this temple is where we come to meditate and heal those who need it." the monk glanced at Loa who was going to explode with questions, figuring what she was going to ask, he continued, "Its just not the Jedi who follow the will and the guidance of the Force, there are others like us, adepts who seek it for other reasons, similar though to the Jedi Knights, but we don't see our need to spread to other parts of the galaxy. We serve the people of chalacta and that is all we need."

"So why am I here, why did I see those people inside and why are your seers seeing me?" she asked feeling her uncertainty creeping, but the monk only had a cryptic response, it reminded Loa of Silas' responses at times.

"The Force clearly has a path for you, now that you're here, it'll be up to you to decide where to go on this path." The monk paused, having lead them to a row of huts; Loa glanced inside to the straw mats that lined the floor and she frowned, she was already missing her bed back on Andara. "We can talk more at first light, I need to rest and I will answer more questions tomorrow." he explained and bowed his head, leaving the Loa and Jace as he disappeared into the shadow of the temple. Loa snapped a look to Jace, frowning as she studied the unexpected guest.

"And who are you? Did you follow me here?" she asked, her tone was sharp, suspicious of who he was; she no longer had the safety of Andara, she seemed more on edge the further she went away from home.

@TheRevanchist

 

[Jace Varro]

Jace listened from his hiding spot hearing the man speaking the force and seers, when his presence was mentioned he froze. Dammit, should have stayed put the youth thinks once again, he was starting to sound like a busted holovid, gripping his Blaster tightly as the footsteps approached, to chastise Jace? He wasn't expecting that, what did those magic users do shoot fire out of their hands? Something like that, definitely not chastising words.
"..for healing."
Not wanting to, but also not wanting to look like even more of an idiot, he holsters his blasters and slowly trails behind the two as the man speaks to the younger female.
After he takes his leave the girl locking her gaze on Jace and demanding to know why he was here and who he was, he figured it was probably best to answer her, he had followed her after all.
"I'm Jace." He pauses trying to decide how to-go about telling her why he followed her, should've say he thought she was touched in the head seemingly walking towards nowhere, or that he was hoping if she knew where she was going, there would be something to steal. He could go the lovestruck fool act, but that usually just makes people angrier, and if she was one of those magic users that would be a bad idea. "and yeah, I followed you." He replies a smirk on his face, arms crossing his chest. He'd answered her questions, the answers were simple and less elaborate, than she obviously expected, he'd already made a fool out of himself, why not have enjoy himself by just barely answering it made him laugh, inside anyway.

 

[Arhena Espaa]

Mom, what did you get me into this time?

This was another one of those situations were Arhena was just out of his element. The third time this week alone he'd been called to run around the Galaxy for some reason or another, although this time was a much stranger situation. His mother, Marion, had asked him to help with an abduction following an attempt to protect some of their clansmen from Slavers. Slavers he'd tracked to this system, in a nearby cavern. The fighting hadn't been the hard part, the hard part was trying to justify to his mother's warrioress why he'd let them go with only a single limb lost between the five of them. They'd traveled in taciturn silence ever since, and he even considered just leaving, but that was probably not the best idea. The warrioress could go to the Rustbucket if she wanted to, he wanted to look around. A feeling of strange wanderlust had washed over him, and he expected there was probably a reason.

Maiden Warrioress, meet Jedi disappointment.

He truly meant the thought, and that's exactly how he felt. She'd been disapproving of him joining the Order from the start, withheld the information about who his father was until it was revealed at his funeral, and now that girl would go spreading even more stories about how weak he was. It was enough to drive him crazy, and insulting in the extreme. Of course, he was already a little wired because of his encounter with his half-sister, who'd taken his lightsaber as a trophy. He knew it was meant to taunt, he knew it, but he couldn't help but feel wounded by how easily he'd lost. It might not have been his fault Thrash had been hit by those stun bolts... but he'd been the one to shoot them, and the Sith played that angle hard trying to break him. The walk was just as much about clearing his head, but a nearby village caught his eye, something he hadn't noticed beforehand.

"Huh. Weird."

And look at that, even more drama. Somebody was putting away blasters and talking to a girl, who had been standing next to a priest? The small village was pretty open, it was easy for him to see what was going on, but he frowned anyways. Why would you ever need to draw a blaster on an old man and a little girl? That seemed to be some severe overkill. Unless the old guy was acting shifty, he certainly looked a little shifty, but that was no reason to jump to conclusions. As soon as Arhena heard the part about following her, he started walking a little faster, until he reached just outside the man's peripheral vision, but in such a place the girl could see him clearly. He raised his index finger to his lips as he silently snuck up behind the hunter, ready to scare the daylights out of him. It was a joke, of course, but he was being slightly serious. His second lightsaber still felt weird in his hands, he'd have to get used to it, hopefully this guy wouldn't notice how he fidgeted with the hilt.

If you're threatening somebody, that'll need to be mind-tricked. I mean mended.

"Everything alright over here? We're not bothering the little lady, are we?"

@GABA @TheRevanchist

 

[Isola Rin]

Oh, he was a cheeky one...

She thought to herself as he was just as cryptic as the monk, but he seemed to be enjoying himself. Loa though remained suspicious of the guy, why would anyone follow her? Perhaps she looked out of place, but the galaxy was a big place, or it could have been part of this path she was following and these people would test her in ways she would find out later. Loa frowned and snapped out her hand for them to shake in greeting, "I'm Loa and you're pretty weird for following me." she informed, but didn't seem too upset about it. What was done, was done, he was here and if he chose to stay, it would be his choice.

Loa never saw the next newcomer, her focus was on Jace and when he spoke, she nearly jumped out of her skin as her staff snapped horizontally, pointing at the staff at the dark haired guy who joined them inquiring if Jace was bothering her. Loa quirked an eyebrow, her senses spread out feeling for any threats from him and though she didn't feel any urgency to protect herself, she felt something else from him, a warmth, a light like she had felt in Silas and some of the others on Andara. Her brow furrowed as she studied him for a moment longer before relaxing.

"No...no one's a bother." she looked at Jace and then to the Jedi and then she smiled, it was perhaps more than coincidence that they were all there now. Her body shivered as a cold night breeze blew through the plains, whistling as it passed through the open structures on the stone temple. Loa turned to look at the building and then to the Jedi, "Did you guys also get the dreams?" she asked them, her face scrunched in thought as she didn't want to see the images again, but they came, the faces, the moans and Loa winced at her own fleeting thoughts. "I've been seeing them for a long time now." she explained, leaning on her staff, resting her cheek against the cold pole. She balanced herself and extended her hand to the newcomer, "I'm Loa, this is Jace, he's a stalker in training apparently, how about yourself?" she nodded to the other as she joked sarcastically.

@TheRevanchist @Aurius Pheonix

 

[Jace Varro]

Jace felt a little let down as Loa introduced herself and let his following slide, unaware of the newcomers stealth approach, when the man spoke he tensed right arm shooting to his blaster as he spun to face the unknown voice, eyes wild like a cornered animal for a brief moment before hardening.
Jace decided that he didn't like this place, something about it made him sloppy, and sloppy got you dead, relaxing a little as Loa introduced herself to the sneaky bastard, hand still resting on his blaster, only now looking him over closely, eyes resting on the lightsaber, he didn't have a chance against one of these magic users, not without getting the drop on them anyway, grinding his teeth while composing himself, better to calm down a bit before angering a jedi while out numbered.
"Like she said no one's bothering anyone, so no need to go cutting anyone up with that, and I don't have to put any holes in anyone, okay?" he says as his head nods to the lightsaber. With that he leans, back against the wall, no one's gonna sneak up behind him again tonight he muses as Loa begins to speak about dreams and introduces them, Jace giving a lazy two-fingered salute, to the man, a bored expression upon his face when his name is mentioned.
Turning his head slightly to respond to Loa, keeping the newcomer in his peripherals.
"Can't say that I have, to be honest the only reason I'm here is because.. Something was off about you, you just got off the shuttle and started walking like you knew where you were going." he pauses to stroke his chin before continuing. "Honestly I thought you were touched in the head, but now that I know what you are I probably shouldn't have bothered. He trails off remembering what he saw when he had first entered the temple, the vision of torture going on he couldn't explain it, it wasn't there but he had thought it was and the young criminal couldn't do what they could so he decided to ignore it, maybe they put it in my mind he thinks to himself, could they do that? He sure as hell didn't know, and since it was dark he wasn't going to try and wander back to the spaceport.
"So see anything valuable in here?" he finishes witha grin,half joking. it would be nice to find something to make his decision worthwhile.
@GABA @Aurius Pheonix

 

[Arhena Espaa]

Why is everyone staring at me? Oh - lightsaber...

His hand dropped the instant the girl said she was okay, clipping the weapon to his belt. She had said her name... Loa. That sounded familiar for some reason, he'd heard it mentioned before but he couldn't remember when. So much had happened over the last little bit life had become more of a blur than a sequence of events. This guy had his hand on his blaster in the matter of seconds, startled out of his wits, and Cecil just chuckled, waving him down. Even if he did draw that lightsaber, it would only be to disarm the guy. He wouldn't even have taken it out if he knew how to deflect laser blasts with his hands, but that was way beyond his skills right now. The staff being thrown in his face hadn't even made him flinch, he'd quite literally stared the personification of death in the face no so long ago. This was nothing compared to that fiasco.

"You're saying that like you could put holes in me. Remember, we're magic."

He gently grinned and pushed on the very end of the staff with his index finger, moving it away from his chin as he nodded to this Jace guy. Now that it looked like nobody was getting doubled tapped by the business end of a blaster, he had a few questions to ask. And a chance to look around at this little place, it didn't seem to ring any bells. He'd only paid any attention to the parts on Galactic History that he'd liked, and this place had never come up. Maybe he could ask the old guy when he got back. This guy was acting like a smuggler of sorts, it was funny. He'd never met a spacer quite like this treasure hunter guy, did he go around to various planets collecting artifacts, defeating bad guys and high jacking starships? Probably not the most legal things, but he wasn't an officer of the law, he was a Jedi. And he was here for a completely different reason, because he felt like he needed to be. The Force reverberated around this place, and looking through it's veil it was like standing in the eye of a storm. A clear and obvious calling.

"Treasure Hunter by day, stalker by night. So you're a superhero, then, Jace? Nice to meet you Loa. I'm Arhena, Arhena Espaa. Knight of the Jedi Order. I'm also the Librarian."

Why did I just say that?

"Anyways... those dreams aren't dreams, unfortunately. Their visions, of something that could happen, might be happening right now, or has already happened. Or, at least that's what Master Wyck says."

He paused and stopped short, tapping the metallic part of his belt in thought. Why would a vergence of any sort be forming way out here? He had never experienced anything like it before coming here, but he'd assumed the dreams were manifestations of his fear. Arhena began to reach out through the Force again, this time searching for anything that would lead to why. The instant his senses crossed beyond the boundaries of the town, to a darkening nook barely visible from here... he was overwhelmed with despair. Voices crying out in agony and pain as their lives were cut short slowly and mercilessly. The Varite roared, forcing his aura away and breaking the connection that had almost held him in place. As his vision cleared and returned to normal, he realized he'd been driven to his knees. Whatever that was... it was extremely strong dark energy. But not the kind a Sith gave off, this was somehow even more lecherous. He rose to his feet again, looking pale as a sheet, and gently smacked himself across the face.

Get a grip. This is serious.

"I think we need to start asking some questions. About that rock formation over there, and whatever is beyond it."

@GABA @TheRevanchist

 

[Isola Rin]

Having assumed it was a blaster, upon closer inspection it was a lightsaber as Jace warned not to cut anyone up with that weapon. A small smirk crossed her lips and her eyes light up as Arhena introduced himself as a Jedi Knight, one of knowledge who takes care of the Order's libraries. "A real Jedi?" she asked feeling the excitement bubble inside, "I'm going to-" she paused as Jace explained his purpose of stalking her through the fields and her smile left, replaced by a scowl.

"You know what I am?" she found it slightly insulting how he presented that, even more so he thought she was a bit touched. She glanced at Arhena who explained she may have not had dreams at all, but they were visions and she had wondered as much when she felt the need to be here. She quirked an eyebrow to Jace, "Valuable? I think these people are not going to bring you anything of material value." she told him in a rather matter-of-fact manner. They only seemed to wear robes of no comfortable material and their own temple of stone was something that did not look to carry treasures. She glanced to the long shadows caste by the rock formation that Arhena pointed out. Loa reached out with her own senses, but couldn't pick up on anything malicious about it.

"Looks like regular ol' rocks to me." she frowned, "but, the monk said he will tell us more in the morning, first light of dawn, probably should listen to what he has to say first. I don't know anything about this place and if you all are following me, you probably don't know anything either." she said feeling a slight eagerness from the Jedi Knight. "We probably shouldn't be poking our noses in things that we don't know what to poke our noses in." she said turning slightly to slide between them and enter the hut, "See you two in the morning then?"

Loa frowned at the mat on the floor and dropped her bag next to it before lying down, rubbing her face and never even remembering when she had fallen asleep. If the others decided to investigate on their own, no others would be available to answer questions, the entire temple seemed to have settled for the evening, including those who were grossly sick inside.

___​

Miles and miles away...

The darkening of the new moon brought another sacrifice, to continue the rite, a man painted in white clay, feathers braided into his black hair, and before him sat an adolescent child, blackened with soot. Others stood in a circle, humming, two cuts clearly marked on their center brow and forehead as they called softly upon their dark gods. The white clayed man held up a bird native to Chalacta and with a knife stabbed it swiftly into its chest, letting the blood pour and then drip on the youngling who begun to speak in a tongue of his own. He plucked the feathers, sticking them to the boy as he recited his spell, the dark tendrils of the corrupted Forced embraced the child. More prayers and chants would follow until it was completed...

___​

The sun's first light peaked through the cracks of the hut, clearly not a place that was very well insulated, but adequate when it came to shelter. Loa took a longer moment than usual to wake up, forgetting for a moment why she was on this world and not at home, but when she remembered, she was quickly to her feet and ready to go, except her stomach growled in protest and she frowned as she exited from the hut waiting for the others to join her if they weren't already present. The older monk from the previous night could be seen climbing down a set of stairs on the temple as he came to meet the group.

"Come, we shall eat first." he said leading the way.

Loa threw her head back, mentally cheering yesssss as she followed with the others. There seemed to be more people out and about performing their chores for the morning. They were all human, darker skinned, black hair, similar robes, their brows all carried a piercing, and some even had a second one on their forehead. The makeshift kitchen was a tent with a giant pot of porridge, dishing it out evenly to those who were hungry; once getting their food, the monk lead them to a spot away from the others where they could ask questions.

@TheRevanchist @Aurius Pheonix

 

[Jace Varro]

Jace bid Loa and 'book boy' goodnight before he spent the first part of his evening looking about for anything worth money, not wanting to admit that Loa was probably right about them being exactly as they looked, poor. Still you never wanted to judge by appearance alone, he'd heard tell that some temples housed ancient holy relics hidden from prying eyes, and worth a pretty penny.
His search was in vain, just like she had said. Finding nothing not even a loose cred, he sat down upon his mat, back to the wall and slept fitfully, his usually peaceful sleep plagued with painful images of his past, and sounds of suffering in darkness, the non force sensitive teen wasn't going to get the sleep he wanted.

- - -​

Waking upon hearing Loa and the priest speaking quietly, he stretches his legs, groaning as he did, pushed himself to his feet and followed not really paying attention to anyone around him, his stomach protesting for not eating yesterday, when they were led to the food tent, the unappealing food looked like a three course meal to his hungry eyes.
As they were led away from the group, sitting on one of the rickety chairs the youth give a simple, "Morning" before attacking his porridge, he didn't have any questions, wasn't even sure if he was going to stick around, but the other two might and he could learn something about the motives of both Loa and Arehna, not to mention a chance to figure out the deal of this priest, and why he was so glad they were there. Well Loa at least, he seemed real interested in the girl, he couldn't blame them there was something about her, otherwise he obviously wouldn't have been here now.

 

[Arhena Espaa]

...Oooookayyyyyy. You're going to?

He wasn't used to people treating him with any sort of respect. Nor was he used to people treating the Jedi with any degree of respect, knowing well most people saw them as dangerous. The little quips that passed between the two of them were lost on him, it was around that time he'd started sensing the surrounding area. The entrapment of his senses didn't last very long, and he was snapped back to reality even as Loa tossed her quip. She seemed to be reaching out in that direction too, telling him that they seemed like a rock formation to her. She finished by saying the monks wanted to talk at first light, and they'd have the answers he was looking for. He hadn't exactly been following the girl, but she seemed to be his ticket in. Whatever was going on here, he had the wherewithal to know it wasn't good, and he intended to put a stop to it.

"Poking my nose into things is I don't understand is pretty much a daily thing for me. Have a good night you two, I'll see you in the morning."

He didn't sleep. He didn't have a place to sleep either, unless he wanted to trek back to the Rustbucket and deal with the fiery temper that sat inside. Not his idea of a nice and calm evening. He instead sat down near the center of the town, robes over his head, peering towards the rock formation with unflinching eyes. Arhena found himself wavering deep into a meditative trance, so he could rest his mind but remain alert in case anything would happen. The wind rippled and tore at him for a time, but the chill passed the deeper he went. Whatever he'd felt, there was something more to it. Perhaps it was in passing, or perhaps something more... but vigilance was always a good choice.

*****​

"...Master Jedi?"

Hmmmh? What?

His eyes slowly opened, and he found himself in the same position he'd been a couple hours ago, still cross-legged and surprisingly calm. The mediation worked, helped him clear his mind of the thoughts that were troubling him, and now he could think as clearly as the sun was shining. He was in a really good mood, for whatever reason, and seemed to radiate it. Turning to the monk who'd cautiously approached him. The poor man looked startled out of his wits, and he understood why; he'd probably looked dead to them, when in fact he'd just taken a walk through his connection to the Living Force. Rising to his feet and dusting off his robes, he smiled gently.

"Alive and well. I sense it's breakfast. Lead the way, friend."

The smell gives it away, but I might as well play up the mystic while I'm here. Could be useful.

He found a small ram shack hut to be their destination, led forwards by the odd yet extremely respectful man who'd woken him. This was obviously a religious group or clan of some sort, possibly even nomadic. They had wounded and sick with them too, and he could tell though they were trying to heal, it might not be working as well as they'd expect. He had some experience with that, but Austin or Master Halan would be the real expert to call in on a situation like this. He didn't have time to contact either, not with what they'd be preparing for, he'd felt it best not to return to the temple immediately anyways. He respectfully declined the porridge - a full belly slowed his reaction time - as there was enough mouths to feed as is. He did go sit with the two he'd met the night before, Jace and Loa. If not to keep an eye on treasure hunter over there.

"Good Morning. Did we sleep well?"

He turned calmly to whoever was there with Loa, the one that had offered to answer such questions. He doubted his would be like the girl's, he'd take a slightly more straightforward approach. He wanted to know what was going on, not because of eagerness, but because lives were most definitely at stake. If not being threatened, then something else was afoot, but it didn't matter how dangerous the situation was. The fact that anyone or anything was possibly victimizing people who couldn't defend themselves was enough reason for him to stay. Turning to whoever approached and offered to answer their questions, probably the same monk who was talking to Loa the night before, he'd offer a calm remark. His hood was still covering him, and the flowing sleeves of his robes came together as he clasped his arms together.

"You're the one I'd be asking questions to, then? Why is it that I sense such a vergence around this place?"

His mind extended through the will of the Force, probing the area. He would be able to tell if the monk lied, unless he was an adequate Force-wielder as well. And even then, he'd know if something was being clouded from his sight, and that probably wouldn't help. He didn't suspect the man or his tribe of anything, but he had no doubt they knew something. And guilt can be a strong and strange motivator to lie, even if they didn't have anything personal to hide.

@GABA @TheRevanchist

 

[Isola Rin]

Loa didn't realize how hungry she was until the bowl was sitting in front of her and luckily the Jedi asked the first question, letting the dark haired girl continue eating while the monk spoke.

"There are people who are getting sick and they're coming to us for help." he informed, his voice was solemn, "It's happened before, this time just seems worse. We help those who we can, but the illness is something else, it just drains the life out of those afflicted." explained the Chalactan monk, "And it seems like the Force has called for aid from those a long ways from home." he looked at each of the guests.

Loa wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand, slightly regretting the stomach that was going to come from emptying her bowl so quickly, "It seems like it..." she agreed with the monk, "How come I am the only one who had gotten these visions?" she asked him recalling to herself that neither Arhena or Jace had gotten them before they arrived. The monk shrugged his shoulders and chuckled.

"Would you have come otherwise?" he questioned and Loa frowned, her cheeks slightly reddening from the simple answer, he sounded just like Master Silas.

"Ok, so people are sick," she quickly moved on, "Who or what is making them sick? You said this has happened before."

"Yes, well, there are those who have lost themselves to darker intentions, former adepts, corrupted by promises of an alien god who came nearly a century ago." he continued, accepting Loa's push to move forward, "We worship the Force, as you call it, we rely on its guidance to heal and then guide the others here on a more purposeful life into death, but some fell into greed and left. We think it's them." the monk confessed, feeling despair in knowing they were once good individuals.

"So why not find them and stop them?" Loa asked as she glanced to Arhena and Jace.

"We do not engage in any sort of violence or hurt others, we are healers, and we will not deviate from that path." He explained, his tone firm. However, Loa did not feel that was right and her face reflected her feelings. She looked at Jace and Arhena again before speaking.

"Then we will go and stop them." she blurted out before anyone could stop her, "It isn't right that they keep doing this, they know you won't do anything to stop them and they will just keep walking all over you." Loa stood up, but then sat back down, "Though, where do you think they're hiding?" she asked, realizing not knowing where to go. However, her gaze left the monk and followed beyond the stone pile that Arhena pointed out last night.

"Northbound, near the snow-peaked mountains was their last known location. We can get you some supplies, but that is as much as we can help you." he explained.

Once the group were done eating, they were given some food and water before leaving. Loa was excited, but felt uncertainty to what they were going to walk into when they found these dark siders. She had the habit of jumping into action before coming up with a plan and dealing with the consequences as they came. In fact, she expected some sort of backlash, and would admit to herself she would disappointed if there wasn't any.

"Maybe we'll find you some treasure, Jace." she said to the smuggler with a half smile and a hint of optimism.

@TheRevanchist @Aurius Pheonix

 

[Jace Varro]

Jace listened intently as Loa and he priest began their Q&A he snorted at the thought of the force calling him here, maybe these two but not him, he had his own bad judgment to blame for his current place in the middle of whatever con the priest had.
The questions continued until the the mention of the people in the area coming down with sickness, and the priests pacifist nature's didn't allow them to take action.
There it is the youth thought, the bait cast out by the fisherman hoping to catch dinner and like a fish, Loa was hooked, and Jace and Book-boy with her.
"We'll stop them!" Loa blurted out and Jace couldn't believe her, she thought she was going to stop them, by her... Wait we?
Jace was caught off guard, getting volunteered for good deeds was something the criminal never would have guessed happening, soon he was swept up in a flurry of motion as they were given supplies and escorted to the edge of town, Loa turning to him flashed a half smile and telling him maybe he might find something worth all his troubles still.
Finally having caught up with his thoughts, he was still a little unsure about it all, hell if things got too rough he could always leave them to their fate and get to saftey.
"Well, let's hope so... I've never been fond of altruism, and while we're on the subject, perhaps next time you could ask before volunteering someone for a potentially deadly task? not that I don't mind helping a nice girl like you, but options are always nice." he replies to Loa, flashing a grin and winking, hoping to show that he more amused than angry at her actions.
Turning to the Jedi Librarian Jace muses on the strange group they make before speaking.
"Sure hope you know how to use that thing Book-boy, something tells me we're gonna need it before this is all said and done.
He was sure Loa didn't have a plan, based on how she jumped at this, however Jace was confident that he'd make it out of this, with or without his new companions.
@GABA @Aurius Pheonix

 

[Arhena Espaa]

...When a shadow drifted northward, just a shadow, nothing more. No one noticed that the shadows grew all darker than before...

Though nobody was noticing it at the time, as the priest spoke the Jedi's face grew paler and paler from within the cloak. These sort of Dark Side sects, largely prone to unorganized rituals and mass killings, were far worse than most organized Dark Siders. The mention of an alien God only made him even more nervous. His own sister had raved to him in recent times about one known as the Goddess Vahl, who's followers Aliyah was bound to stop. This sounded all too familiar, he had never seen the Embers or anything close to the zealots, but he'd heard the stories. He'd heard the tales, the songs, the legends. Vahl was one of many different beings worshipped as a physical embodiment of the Dark Side. For their sake, he hoped it was the twisted delusions of lunatics and nothing more. If this "God" had any basis in reality, then everyone in this village and beyond was in grave danger.

"Drains... perhaps a siphoning spell. When this is over, I would see one of the afflicted. If it is anything similar to Dathomiri Magicks, I might be able to find out a way to combat-"

He was interrupted by Loa's proclamation that they would go and stop them. While he approved of stopping them, every fiber of his being was screaming at him to go and deal with this alone. What he saw was a group of pacifists, a girl just barely younger than he was, and a merc who had no experience dealing with this sort of supernatural cat and mouse game. He was barely out of training himself, but he'd been in his fair share of fights, and had come face to face with the possibility of death several times in this week alone. Arhena knew how easily a mission could go south, how quickly the reaper came, whether you were ready for it or not. He didn't want that for them, but if they were willing to fight... who was he to command them to stay? Centering himself, he thummed his saber gently and nodded.

"Very well."

...And the shadows stole the sunlight from the brightest summer day, as they sang a song of bleakness that touched every heart that heard...

The lullaby repeated in his head, over and over again. The Singer of the Shadows. A horror story that his mother had sang to him when he was a child, about a man who traveled to the North and found a band of warriors trapped under a spell. He freed them, but at a terrible cost. He couldn't help but feel the similarities as they played out in front of him, maybe the Force was trying to warn him that something was not as it seemed. Regardless, the monks had offered all they could and provided him with a location to search. If it was up to him, they would have formed a plan before even considering to leave, but time was short and he wanted to reach the northward mountains. They did not need to tell him the path, or guide him to it, he had felt a darkening presence from that area the day before, he'd be able to find that thread of power again if he searched hard enough. Besides, there was enough people in danger as it was.

"Very funny, flyboy. You just worry about keeping those barrels away from me, if I'm gonna die it won't be from a double tap to the back. We should leave soon, we have a decent walk ahead of us. And I think it's pretty obvious, but we should be careful."

...But he saw their secret evil, and he swore ere he was done, he would stalk and slay these Shadows, and destroy them one by one...

@GABA @TheRevanchist

 

[Isola Rin]

Jace had quipped back about her asking first before volunteering everyone and her grin grew bigger. She naturally wouldn't have even thought of asking, probably something to keep in mind in the future, in case someone decided to be more objectifiable to her help. Loa glanced at Arhena as Jace addressed him, she could sense a distrust from the Jedi in the merc and the girl frowned, her naivety told her people were naturally inclined to be kind, she was uncertain why the Jedi was so distrustful of him. She gave Arhena a warning look that said to cool it. The last thing she wanted was them to start fighting out here, though, then again, they could do whatever they wanted, her own determination was focused on stopping the people who were causing harm.

Loa didn't say anything more as she begun to walk, she placed her trust in her instincts, letting her senses guide her and the others North where the monk had informed that was where they could start looking. Not too far ahead in their journey did the valley begin to dip, leading them downhill to several shallow converging rivers. They could hear trickling water, birds fluttered away as the trio neared and Loa stopped at the water's edge, looking up and down trying to figure out a way across without soaking their feet. She frowned and looked at the Jedi and the Basadi, "Not too many options other than our feet will probably get wet." she sighed.

Loa walked along the edge until she found what would be a fairly shallow path and stepped into the cool water; she admit it felt good as she turned to look at her partners before continuing across. The girl was about half way across before she paused, noticing an odd discoloration and it soon would become apparent as the waters continue to run down stream. Looking up the river, it was now stained bright red under the bright afternoon sun; Loa felt her face twist in shock and disgust, but she didn't move. Instead she felt with the Force, stretching her senses until her entire body shivered.

"We should see who is hurt..." she quietly spoke.

@TheRevanchist @Aurius Pheonix

 

[Jace Varro]

Jace chuckles at Arhena's comment, placing his hand on his chest he responds before turning to follow after Loa "You say the sweetest things, so relax a little, I'll let you know if we have a problem.. You know before he whole.. finishing his statement by miming blaster fire with his hand, accompanied by "Pew-Pew" Turning from the Jedi and catching Loa's frown, he shrugs and misses the look she shot to the Jedi Librarian as he looked in the direction of a noise to his right.. just a rodent off some kind...

As they walk his eyes constantly scanning for any threats, he wasn't going to get snuck up on again, as they reached the river he took in the are, even he could appreciate something like this, even if he never would set out to see nature on his own, give him a city any day.. Out here was unsettling, so empty.

"..get our feet wet" Pulled from his thoughts by Loa he sighs as he watches her begin to wade through the water. As he is about to step in a speaks aloud. "Say can't you Jedi types move stuff with your minds, why don't you just, float? us across..." he trails of the light smirk fading from his face as he notices shortly after the girl in the water does, speaking of helping someone he couldn't see. 'A little bit of blood makes a big cloud..' he heard that somewhere and he sure hoped it was the case, but the teen knew it wasn't, something like that took work, a lot of it.
Turning to Loa his eyes lock onto hers and he tries to show sympathy as he says how they were all probably slaughter horribly, but in nicer words
. "From the looks of it, we're too late to help.. That's... Something like that is not a good sign for finding, living people.. Turning from her and to Arhena he speaks his tone serious. "Look if you guys want to go help, I'll come along but we need a gameplan, we can't just rush in, that would be stupid, and stupid gets you dead.. And I don't know about you two, but I really like not being dead. he finishes and attempt a smirk but fails miserably the bloodied water having unnerved the usually calm criminal.

 

[Arhena Espaa]

A gentle grin cracked his features as the Basadi replied to his little quip. Again, he was half-joking and half-serious, knowing full well some of his fellow spacers wouldn't hesitate to put a few bolts in the back of his head given the chance. Arhena would love nothing more than to trust them both without any hesitation, but he was Jedi, he'd learned quickly enough that the title was a giant red target on his back. Too many Jedi had fallen due to carelessness, or trusting the wrong people, and though Jace seemed like a decent guy... Arhena would trust, but verify. If they both proved trustworthy, that would be awesome and all would be well, but if not he wasn't going to be caught by surprise. A joking wink was shot back in response.

"What can I say? I'm a sweet talker, it's my one flaw."

He cocked his head sideways as Loa gave him a look, and raised one eyebrow. He didn't really get what the look was for, though girls giving him scolding looks was a pretty common thing these days. He winked at her too, very sarcastically, before the trio began to walk relative silence. The journey was long, and it took a decent toll on their energy, with each step the slopes seemed to grow steeper, the path ever longer. It was as though the planet itself was giving them time to contemplate on what was to come, before they arrived at their destination. He allowed Loa to take a leading position up front, keeping his lightsaber in hand and the force wreathing around his left palm in preparation for a surprise attack. When they arrived, they were greeted by a number of tributes from a main river. Loa wanted to get across by foot, Jace asked whether they could simply lift each other across.

Simple answer? Yea. But we might need that energy for what is to come, so no.

"I don't think using telekinesis just yet is a good..."

His voice cut short as they traversed through the shallow waters, and came upon a scene of mire and blood. He was wading through a river of crimson. Even as his hair stood on end, his knuckles growing white from the intensity of the hold on his saber, a stone pillar nearby seemed to crack for no apparent reason. To the pair, it would be a coincidence, but he knew that part of his power had seized the stone and crushed it beneath the hue of his frustration. He was too late to save whoever this was, and he had known there were innocents in danger. He should never have waited, even if coming alone was the only option. This time, he moved in front of the group and activated the emerald blade of his lightsaber, placing himself in between his two allies and whatever was in front of them. No chances this time.

"We've come this far. No point turning around now. He's right, Loa... something tells me we aren't going to find anything pretty ahead.

The plan is simple. Keep our guard up, approach, let me take the lead. If I get attacked, and they refuse to listen to reason, stun them. Don't kill unless we have no other choice - We need to know what they're using to affect the villagers, and what is actually going on here. Otherwise we may never find an antidote. If, however, this turns out to be a horde of psychopaths hiding in caves..."

Well I guess we'll have to see.

@GABA @TheRevanchist

 

[Isola Rin]

Loa's light eyes fell beyond what she saw as she looked up the river, her senses returned feelings of pain and anguish, whoever perished, suffered. She heard Jace and Arhena speak, pulling her back to present as she turned to face them, she knew Jace was right, they needed a plan, they couldn't rush into things like as she had done this morning. She pursed her lips together and nodded, agreeing as she quick stirred up ideas in her head as what she could possibly see when they arrived at the source.

Arhena offered his idea, offering to lead them ahead; Loa didn't like it, but knew the Jedi would have more experience than her and even Jace would too. She felt her confidence dwindle for a moment and recited her own code to herself, the words subtly being mouthed as she looked back up the shallow river.

Jedi does not fear, I shall not fear. A Jedi does what is right, I shall do what is right. I am strong and even stronger with the Force. The Force is my ally and it cannot be broken. She repeated internally to herself, she had her lessons from Silas and knew she was clever enough to cause enough trouble for her enemies, though she never really had enemies before and typically got along with everyone. The closest thing she could call an enemy was the cat who lived on Old Bruaner's farm near the Sanctuary, the animal would love on everyone except her.

"Ok, Arhena, we'll follow." Loa said giving a small nod respectfully as she reached into the washes of the Force, each step she took, she let herself fall into the will of the Force. Loa knew she didn't need a blaster or a lightsaber, the Force alone could be a powerful tool in pushing back the enemy.

As the trio approached the source, the wind had started to pick up, pulling dirt into the air and creating a haze in the river valley. They would eventually be able to see outlines of wooden huts and soon lifeless dark lumps laying still in the water. They were the bodies of men, women and children, all killed without discrimination. Loa and Arhena would still feel the cold chill of the dark side that hung heavy in the area; Jace, though unable to feel the Force, would still feel that guy instinct that told him something was not right in the village.

@TheRevanchist @Aurius Pheonix

 

[Jace Varro]

Jace followed behind Arhena and Loa, his face was grim as they strode towards the source of the of the blood, he wondered if Jedi types did this stuff all the time and if so, they must be made of sterner stuff. This was nerve wracking, walking with strangers on a strange planet, heading into who knows what, feeling the wind pick up a haze begins to form around them obscuring his view, and hopefully anyone watching.
As they approached the village while unaware of the forces touch he knew something was wrong as soon as the huts appeared from the haze, no sounds one would associate with a small community issuing from inside.

Entering the village behind the two force users Jace surveys the beginnings of the carnage, he looks over the men and women without any thought, men and women were killed all the time so it was nothing to the youth, Sure gruesome as all hell, but it happens what he wasn't expecting was kids..
He could pick out the smaller forms now amongst the adults, butchered just as brutally and it angered him, he couldn't understand this. The Hutts dealt in some horrible trades like slavery and whoever did this wasn't interested in growing their numbers, a child's mind could be formed to your way of thinking, even the Hutts don't like hurting kids, and Jace's past made that more so for him.
There was one more thing Jace needed to check, and when he did the others would probably get the wrong idea, thinking him searching for valuables, and they'd be right, and wrong. Moving to a small group of bodies of what looked like a small family, a mother, father, and a child. Lives all stolen from obviously insane individuals, kneeling down he begins searching for any sign of theft, instead finds simple jewelry and small amounts of currency..
Feeling the others eyes on his back as he stares at the lifeless eyes of the child. He'd help put an end to this, there was no profit in slaughter like this as his findings had proved, touching his eyes to the boys eyes he gently closes them before rising to his feet, turning his head to the others and seeing their looks of disapproval at his actions he explains himself as he holds out his findings, voice a harsh whisper.
"Nothing is missing from them, they have jewelry and some money, so whoever did this didn't do it for money and the kids..." his voice catches as he says kids, emotion leaking past his usual calm and carefree demeanor , jaw pulsing with restrained anger he regains control of his voice "They killed the kids too, so they're not interested in growing their numbers I've seen some questionable things but this.. This is wrong...." Looking back to the boy at his feet he shakes his head, mind abuzz with thoughts as to who would have done this. "Why..?" he whispers mostly to himself what could be the point of all this.
While Jace wasn't one to help anyone for free, his mind was set in this instance. This would be stopped.
@GABA @Aurius Pheonix

Spoiler: OOC

Sorry for the delay, impromptu camping trip this weekend

 

[Isola Rin]

OoC: Writing out Aurius due to personal decisions to no longer post.

Loa walked beside Jace, the Force flowed through her body, her sense were on edge, she had never really needed to use her powers defensively; generally she was passive in their usage, but she never been in a dangerous situation as like the one they were going to walk in now. She turned her head when she first saw the bodies, but they were every where, they had ran in a panic and were only slaughtered. Jace was taking it hard, emotion bled into his speech and she glanced to him, feeling his pain and shock. He questioned the actions and the deeper they went, the more Loa could feel the chill of the dark side.

"This is what darkness brings." she said whether or not Jace cared about the galactic blunders of the Force sensitives, "Some claim to use the Force to gain power, but it has a cost and this is what the price is." the girl explained turning away from Jace as she reached the center of the ruined village. She knelt down, feeling the cold blackened ash in the center of the village; she had seen this before, the lack of life, the ash and the chill and wondered if it was from the cultists.

There was a disturbance in the Force and Loa quickly stood up straight, looking around, her senses stretched outward as she could feel as though someone were watching them. She flipped her staff around and slowly turned in a circle, "Come out, show yourself!" she called out waiting; at the bottom of her heart, she hoped it was a survivor, but the feeling she got, it was not the case and so the living being showed himself; he was covered in while clay and ash, blood caked his arms like gloves and his legs and feet like boots, he was clearly not part of the village. "Who are you?" Loa asked sternly, but the kid, who was no older than her or Jace didn't answer, instead he held up his hands and begun to mutter something.

Loa snapped out her palm, the force jutted from her finger tips, knocking the boy backwards, "I asked you a question." she snapped at him, her eyes narrowed but then widened, he was not alone, others started to appear also.

"Ohhh...Jace, I hope you like a good fight..." she sounded nervous even through her flash of a coy smile.

@TheRevanchist