Clever Packs

[Darth Valravus]

Mustafar, 2000 (36 hour day) local time

❅ THEME ❅​

The Malfeasance class corvette, The Skidblade, made its way down through the dark atmosphere of Mustafar. The trip from Korriban and in turn Serenno had taken over two days but on the larger ship it was not an issue. After the battle of Mandalore, Darth Valravus had begun taking a liking to the corvette. It was smaller than its counterpart, the audacious but faster and better at dealing with smaller craft.

Today there would not be any fighting with ships though. This was a visit to one of the Imperial facilities on the surface of the volcanic world. Darth Valravus was seeing to inspecting the facility and was gladly doing the work. Ther manufacturing was led by a Sith alchemist known as the Alche-smith. He was apparently known for his extensive skill and experience in the dark art but before now she had probably heard mention of the man only a handful of time.

The Deucalian Sith was reminded of the realms in Deucalian folk stories when she looked out of the viewport at the volcanic surface of the planet. Technically she had been to the planet once before when the bases had first been setup but that felt like a lifetime ago.

Along for the ride was an acquaintance she had recently met. Eithni Stark, was a dathomirian witch who had been adopted into the Deucalian clan led by Skuld Stark. There was a lot of intertwining history there. But Darth Valravus had to admit that she could appreciate the light haired young woman. She had potential, and if Darth Valravus was going to learn something knew today it may as well be in some decent company that could also benefit from the lesson. Perhaps she should take on an apprentice at some point. Up until now the Deucalian had mostly worked solo. She had become used to isolation.

@Raven_41 dice thread

 

[Eithni Vala Stark]

When Darth Valravus suggested or asked if Eithni wanted to come along with Valravus to a planet called Mustafar to learn Sith Alchemy, didn't the witch hesitate to accept. Actually her entire face lit up with excitement when asked and just the fact that she got to go on a journey with Zandrali and do cool stuff made the girl jump on board instantly. For most of the journey to Mustafar, did Eithni explore the corvette, often getting completely lost in the large ship. She did, however, freak a lot of the crew out with the way she moved around as she would often float around the ship. Mostly it was the green glowing eyes and the weird magick that freaked a lot of them out. Eithni herself, when she wasn't scaring the crew indirectly with her magick and flying around to explore. Though what probably freaked the crew out the most, was the witch's ability to completely switch from scary to innocently sweet within seconds of each other.

But mostly, did Eithni spend time with Darth Valravus, enjoying the large powerful Sith Lord not showing an ounce of fear for the woman. On the contrary, she actually looked up to the woman and saw her as one of the coolest and awesome people in the universe. Well, apart from her mom, no one could beat her mom in awesomeness.

Nearing their destination, used Eithni much of the remaining time where she could perform some harmless Nightsister rituals in peace. When a voice came over the comm in on the corvette, went Eithni to Valravus, skipping along the corridors to where the woman was and joined her by the viewport. Her eyes went wide, "That's Mustafar?!" Asked Eithni surprised and went closer to the viewport to get a better look at the planet.

@Darasuum

 

[Darth Valravus]

___________________

"Indeed" She replied to the obvious question with a stoic tone. Her crossed arms dropped to her side as she turned to head towards the hangar bay. A communication came to her commlink as she approached the shuttle. The Frigaerock Five that were standing by there gave her acknowledgement before joining Eithni and her onboard. "Darth Valravus, a distress signal from the base is saying they are under attack from a large group of local fauna."

"Understood. My shuttle will be arrriving soon. We will deal with them. " A simple confirmation to signal their understanding. The corvette would continue its landing proceedures since it was fairly small and able to land much more easily than larger capital craft. However even its weapons would be too close for comfort. To use them on simple beasts, even the dangerous wildlife of Mustafar would be overkill and likely result in some collateral damage of the base.

"Get ready little witch." She warned Eithni. When she said the word 'witch' it was not meant as an insult. It was almost like a term of endearment and a mild sign of her rarely displayed affection. "Patch me to the defense forces. I want to know what's going on down there before our boots hit the ground." A moment later reports of zandanks attacking the outer walls. They had lowered numbers but many of the workers and troops were separated now that the beasts were already inside the wall.

@Raven_41

 

[Eithni Vala Stark]

Eithni looked back at Darth Valravus, "it looks very hot" stated Eithni as the bright orange-red colour literally lit up everything around them. The Nightsister had never been to a lava planet before, actually, she didn't even know it was a thing, but the thought of exploring the planet excited her. She looked down at her bare feet with only cloth wrapped around, though she might want to have some footwear on if she wanted to actually explore this planet and maybe some better clothing. In truth, she wasn't very geared to what she was about to venture out on. Then again, how bad could it be... right?

As she looked back at the location, some kind of base it seemed, Valravus got a distress signal, asking for some assistance killing some kind of beasts. Following Valravus through the large ship, she walked with her hands behind her back, skipping along with the large woman, very excited to fight new kind of beast.

"Okay!" replied the young witch with a grin and came off a bit too excited over getting to fight some very dangerous and lethal beast. At least she had her weapons on her, so she wouldn't be completely helpless... Then again, Eithni was never really helpless, even without weapons as she knew perfectly well how to fight without any weapons. Listening in on the reports that Valravus received from the base, started to wonder what they looked like, bunching a bit up and down. "Uhhh, Zandanks, wonder how many there are, do you think they're tasty? Uh, how big do you think they are?!" Asked Eithni as she only hyped herself more and more up.

Eithni really couldn't wait, as she waited in the shuttle with one of the coolest person in the galaxy and what she expected to be some kind of warriors that Valravus owned. The moment that the shuttle touched down and the ramp opened, felt Eithni the warmth hit her, even with the shield in place. Yea, exploration of Mustafar might have to wait for another time when she has much better equipment with her.

@Darasuum

 

[Darth Valravus]

___________________

"Not big enough to be too dangerous" She replied simply as the ship descended. "Open the doors. I'm dropping now." She called to the pilot. The door to the shuttle opened and had hot burnt air wafting into the compartment of the shuttle. Darth Valravus got up and walked towards it before stepping off the lip and plummeting towards the planet. "There she goes again." Grisn said as if this was a predicable and common occurrence.

Below her several of the Zandanks were moving on the staff of the facility. Three civilian engineers and two imperial troops who were firing their blasters at the agile quadrepeds. A few meters up the Deualian utilized the ability to levitate and dropped to the ground safely. By the time her feet touched the ground her sword handle over her shoulder was in his grasp. Pulling the blade from its sheath the woman charged the closest beast and promptly cleaved into its torso. A war cry on her lips as she exterted herself by driving the blade into the second one. The third, distracted by the new arrival was brought down under the combined fire of the two imperial troopers who were still guarding the civilian workers.

"Group all the survivors up. We'll be better at driving these things out if working together. You five..." She first spoke to the Frigaerock Five that were just coming in for a landing now before turning to the surviving staff of the base. "Head to the main facility. Stay inside and lock the doors until it's clear. Understood?" At first they hesitated. The image of a Deucalian coming to their rescue was a bit unsettling especially when she killed two beasts they had struggled to deal with. "Shall I repeat myself?" A hint of warning in her question. "No ma'am!" the two troops said simultaniously realizing who she was or at least knowing that she was not the type of person who liked to reiterate her orders.

@Raven_41

 

[Eithni Vala Stark]

Eithni followed Valravus with her eyes as the woman jumped out of the ship and then levitate safely down. The eyes on the little witch lit up with excitement and took a few steps back, much to Frigaerock Five's surprise and then dashed for the edge and jumped off. Turning around in the air, she waved to the Valravus' men still in the shuffle, before rotating back to face the ever closing ground.

Just as Zandrali, ignited Eithni her levitating powers and landed where the Deualian had been, before charging the attacking creatures with her sword. As Valravus send out orders to the different men at the location, charged Eithni up beside her and blasted one of the newly arrived beasts that were in the middle of jumping Valravus with a shockwave of kinetic force at it. The beast was blown back, crashing into another. Glowing mist green lightning crackled around her hands, her eyes devoured by the same exact mist as she actually snarled a bit like a wild beast.

Her persona had very much changed, showing another side, much wilder and dark side of her. The two beasts untangled again and released a high pitched shriek running at Valravus and Eithni. The Nightsister charged at the two beasts while pulling her bow into her hand and fired an arrow, paralyzing it in an instant. Dropping the bow she levitated over the other one and landed on its back. As the Xandank now furiously tried everything it could to shake the girl off of its back.

With a warcry of her own, she just started to furiously stab through the head plates, but with the daggers not long enough to get all the way she plunged both vibroblade daggers into each side of its throat, killing the second beast. Eithni jumped off just as the beast stumbled to the ground motionless and walked over to paralyzed beast and plunged one of her daggers into the eye of the beast pulled.

When Eithni returned to Darth Valravus, the green mist was gone from her hands and eyes and blood from the beast ran down her face. Eithni gave Zandrali a bubbly smile, "this is fun" stated the Dathomirian witch and turned when what looked like next group of Xandank charging their position to get to the base behind them.

Reignite the spirit ichor within again, showing the green glowing mist surrounded the girl standing in a ready position.

@Darasuum

 

[Darth Valravus]

___________________

After the dispatching of several beasts the group of Imperial reinforcements seemed to have culled enough of the animals for the local defenses to start pushing back. They fought off the zandanks that had cornered them. Their numbers thinned and a few managed to scamper back towards the breach in the walls where they had originally flooded the base.

Darth Valravus cut down and attacked several of the creatures. She chased them beyond the walls a few meters but they had the advantage in a flat out run. They would be long gone and not worth the effort of pursuit. Looking over at Eithni the Deucalian would see the nightsister and smile at how bloody and warn she looked from immersing herself completely in the combat. "ᚹᛖᛚᛚ ᛞᛟᚾᛖ. ᛚᛖᛏ ᚢᛋ ᚠᛟᚱᛗ ᚢᛈ ᚨᚾᛞ ᛗᛖᛖᛏ ᚹᛁᛏᚺ ᛏᚺᛁᛋ ᚨᛚᚲᚺᛖᛗᛁᛋᛏ, ᛁᚠ ᚺᛖ ᛁᛋ ᛋᛏᛁᛚᛚ ᚨᛚᛁᚡᛖ ᚨᛏ ᛚᛖᚨᛋᛏ" She knew that Eithni was adopted into Clan Stark and hoped she had been learning Deucalic. The members of the her personal guard all knew it and responded with a simple confirmation.

Turning from the breach she shouted for guards to be placed on wall. Remote charges were to be set a few dozen meters ahead of the breach on the outside in case they came back. With that in mind she began walking into the controlled and relatively cool environment of the buildings. Already some soot had collected on her face. Her hair was dry and a little frizzy but everything kept its order all the same. "What do you know of Alchemy, little sister?"


@Raven_41

 

[Eithni Vala Stark]

"ᛟᚴᚨᚤ!" commented Eithni back in Deucalic, although a slight accent in her voice when spoken. Following with light skipping beside the large Deucalican woman, "ᛞᛟ ᚤᛟᚢ ᛏᚺᛁᚾᚴ ᚺᛖ ᛁᛋ ᚨᚾ ᛟᛚᛞ ᛗᚨᚾ?" Asked Eithni curiously, speaking with her deucalic accent.

"ᛁ ᛏᚺᛁᚾᚴ ᛁᛏ'ᛋ ᚨᚾ ᛟᛚᛞ ᛗᚨᚾ, ᛋᛖᚨᛋᛟᚾᛖᛞ ᚾᛁᚷᚺᛏᛋᛁᛋᛏᛖᚱᛋ ᛏᛖᚨᚲᚺᛁᚾᚷ ᚤᛟᚢᚾᚷᛖᚱ ᚷᛖᚾᛖᚱᚨᛏᛁᛟᚾᛋ ᚨᚱᛖ ᚨᛚᚹᚨᚤᛋ ᛖᛚᛞᛖᚱᛋ" explained the young witch as she and Valravus along with her guards. The further in they got, the more comfortable it got for her and relaxed a bit more in her body. She did however look very savagely when the blood splattered on her face, much like something warpaint, just out of blood.

She had to think a bit about the question. What did she actually know about Alchemy? "hm~ That it like Nightsister magick?" Replied with a more question than a reply really. But she thought a bit more on it and then just gave Valravus a grin, "I guess I don't know much about it, other than it sounded cool!" Told the Dathomirian girl, which really was an honest reply, as she did thought it sounded cool. Alchemy, had a cool sound to it when she said it, "uh! I know it can bring back the dead just like ichor magick and send them to fight your enemy with it!" added Eithni quickly to her final answer in what she knew excited. It most likely would freak out any normal being hearing a young girl talk about finding raising the dead and then use them against other people in fighting or war.

Much of the reasons for a lot of the things she wanted to learn was mostly because it sounded cool, fun and awesome. Which was why she jumped on the little field trip with one of her favourite people

@Darasuum

 

[Kalanda Tishire]

Looking around the landscape of Mustafar, Kalanda had to question what sane person had thought this planet was anything close to habitable. Between the lava pools, the monsters, and the weather, it was definitely in the top ten worst places to visit in Kalanda's book. When Eithni had asked her to come along to learn Sith Alchemy, she didn't think to believe it would be found here, yet here she was. What was the appeal anyways? Aside from the knowledge held here, she couldn't find it.

Of course the girl had gone ahead and went on without her, which meant the acolyte had to follow the dead bodies and familiar presence to the bubbly little night sister; if it was anyone else though they'd be on their own, well except maybe Mid. "Eithni, if you keep running off like this I'm going to get a leash for you." Kalanda gave her empty threat, knowing that'd just result in herself being dragged around behind the young woman. Despite their differences in personality, Kalanda only held admiration for the younger woman; Eithni never gave up, that was one thing she had to say. "It's not safe here, nor is it like Drathomir. You can't cuddle the lava beasts or have them chase you through the woods." Though that didn't really mean much, given that Eithni had quite literally done that with Rancors, she knew the warning would fall on deaf ears.

@Raven_41

 

[Eithni Vala Stark]

Apperantly Darth Valravus had something else to do and left, but told Eithni to continue on. Eithni pouted a bit to be left alone but decided to call on her bestie and waited for her to arrive, sitting further in the station. Hearing Kalanda's voice brought a big grin on Eithni's lips and jump hugged the girl to the ground. "I've missed you!" squealed the witch overjoyed. Eithni looked down at Kalanda with a smirk, "not if I get you a leash first!" Replied the Dathomirian girl. She pouted a bit, like a puppy could, "party pooper" commented Eithni and gave her a light punch, before getting Kalanda up with her.

Now that they both were here, they might as well go to that Alche-smith guy and learn that Sith Alchemy power, since Darth Valravus wasn't here, they could inspect the station. It was quite impressive that the station held, surrounded by constant moving lava, not to mention the overwhelming heat from the planet. Both girls got a few glanced from guards and the workers stationed on the station, but no one bothered them, knowing fully well that Kalanda was a Sith and the fact that both girls were with Darth Valravus.

Very soon they entered the room, where that Alche-smith person was supposed to be. When they entered it was clearly a room for someone who studied the darker arts of the force and also used it for alchemy. A foul stench filled Kalanda and Eithni's nose, making the Nightsister wrinkle her nose as her eyes fell on the dead creature on a table, with blood everywhere. On the other side, another table was placed, but this had all manners of symbols and a dagger placed on it, most likely for ritual. In the far end from where Kalanda and Eithni stood, was the Alchemist, standing with his back turned, bowed over a third table, reading something.

@Algarus.

 

[Kalanda Tishire]

Being overpowered by the young night sister, Kalanda went to the ground, as there was no stopping Eithni when she wanted to give hugs. The hug was initially going to be ignored, but Kalanda couldn't bring herself to be so cold to the girl; she was a friend after all. "I suppose I missed you as well dear." Kalanda replied, smirking at the girls retorts, as she stepped away. She did rather miss the girls energetic outlook on life, though she wouldn't dare let Eithni know; then there would be no stopping the girl once that occurred. Though she couldn't halt the small chuckle she let slip at being called a 'party pooper'. Oh this girl, she almost made her feel guilty, as she took the punch in stride as she rose to follow the girl.

"Who even told you about this place dearest?" Kalanda asked, curious how Eithni even knew about this place when she didn't. The station was unusual, as typically the ore refineries where what was built on Mustafar, not a research facility; though that didn't stop Vectress from building a freaking palace here. She could only assume this place had shield generators keeping the fire from boiling the metal structure to pieces, though it still left a question as to how they got it off the ground to begin with. The staff here seemed to not give them crap thankfully, as they moved past them with little no issues; other than the odd looks they gave to Eithni for her lack of Sith robes.

Finally, reaching the laboratory that they were to be meeting this researcher, the door opened only to assault the two women with a god awful smell. There was an odd display aligned before the pair, as the smell of foul blood, waste, and definitely something dead reigned within these quarters. Kalanda had the most irritated expression as her senses were run afoul by this man's lack of cleaning skills. "What in the hell is that stench, is that you?" She asked, already disliking the man, who seemed far more occupied with his reading than the state of his lab.

@Raven_41

 

[Eithni Vala Stark]

Eithni looked at Kalanda, "originally Darth Valravus! But she had to leave" explained Eithni as she entered the laboratory. Eithni kind of waiting for the man to respond, but a response never came, "rude" commented Eithni and looked over to the man who still hasn't moved from the table. "Hello? Are you that Alchemy man?" Asked Eithni and yet again, no response. What the heck? Was he deaf? Valravus didn't tell Eithni that. Okay, one more time, "Are you that alchemist known as the Alche-smith? We are here to learn from you about Alchemy" explained Eithni much louder, just to make sure that the man heard her. "I swear by the Fanged God, I'm gonna poke him if he's not gonna respond" whispered Eithni right after to Kalanda with a pout and crossed arms.

"I heard you both the first time" responded the alchemist nonchalant as if Eithni and Kalanda weren't really important. "I don't see Darth Valravus, I was told that she would come with a young woman, but I only hear the young woman and a non-important stranger" stated the man and didn't even turn around to look at Eithni and Kalanda. "I-Hey! Valravus had to go, so my best friend join me instead!" Replied Eithni, now rather offended by how he just called her friend non-important. Kalanda was her best friend and extremely important! Funnily enough, hearing Eithni stand up to Kalanda, made the Alchemist turn around.

Alche-Smith looked old, maybe close to his 60s or something like that. He had a long purple ritualistic robe on, something that looked a lot like what a priest would wear. With his hand behind his back, he eyed both girls, "I guess I could teach you, by orders from Darth Valravus" commented the alchemist and walked away from the third table to the first one where the best was laying. "Tell me, girls, what do you know of the darker arts of the dark side?" Asked the Alchemist still rather nonchalant about the whole situation of having both girls talking to him. It in a way, felt like he had other more important thoughts than paying too much attention to Eithni and Kalanda

@Algarus

 

[Kalanda Tishire]

Kalanda glared at the unmoving form of the man, then slowly turned to Eithni, as if to say 'get a look at this guy.' She smirked as the girl went off on a tirade, as Kalanda put her hand on the shorter girl's shoulder, patting her as if to comfort her while she grew frustrated at being ignored. Now Kalanda found her weapon of choice against the girl, though that would almost certainly lead to Eithni tickling her; perhaps ignoring the girl wasn't a viable strategy after all. "If you poke him dearest, he might bite you. Might catch Tython Fever." Kalanda jested, not caring if the man could hear them or not, if wanted to pretend they weren't here, they could do the same. She wasn't sure what this man's deal was honestly, other than his room smelled more foul than the swamps of Dathomir; which was quite a feat mind you, though she didn't dear tell Eithni she thought that.

As if on command, the old man perked up, seemed he wasn't dead after all, though his remark was less than flattering. Darth Valravus had apparently made the arrangements with this man, and now he was being an ass. Kalanda wasn't sure who the man was calling unimportant, though given Valravus didn't know who she was, she assumed it was her. That made Kalanda's face twist back into a scowl, though Eithni's remark about being the girl's best friend threatened to disrupt the scowl in the making. Kalanda was in the midst of telling the fellow off, but he seemed to come to his senses by then. He asked them what they knew of the arts of the dark side, and Kalanda wasn't sure if she should go into acts, or about the actual practice; both of which she knew a great deal about.

Kalanda took a step forward, shielding Eithni in case this man tried any sort of Sith nonsense; ready to counter any crap he thought might work on the pair. "I know that it requires focus and dedication to mastering the art, and to be willing to think not of the why, but to think only of the how when performing alchemy." She herself did not know the practice, but she recalled what Mid had told her about such things. "Sometimes it takes the will to do the unthinkable to reach the pinnacle of advancement, and cross into new discoveries." Kalanda's brow twitched, as memories of what she and Mid had to do the last time to gain the knowledge they were looking at before them. She secretly hoped no more families would need to die for this power to be hers. She wasn't sure if she could handle that again.

@Raven_41

 

[Eithni Vala Stark]

The man nodded at Kalanda's answer, like a teacher in a class. He then looked at Eithni, "what about you little one? What do you know about the darker arts of the dark side?" He asked walking closer to get a closer look at the young witch. However, he stopped getting too close, when the Sith girl protected the younger girl, though he ignored Kalanda for now. Eithni thought for a second, "nothing about what you call the dark side" explained EIthni honest and held her eyes on the older man, not getting scared away by his bright yellow corrupted eyes.

"Oh? Then why did you come here to pester me, little girl?" Asked the alchemist direct and a bit more uninterested. "Because I want to learn it!" Huffed Eithni and gave the man a death stare, which had no effect on him. He turned around and started to walk back to the third table, most likely to continue to read. "But I do know the spirit ichor is and know how to use it," told EIthni to Alche-smith, which stopped him in his track. Turning around he suddenly had a very curious look to his eyes, "really?" Asked the alchemist curiously. A smile formed on his lips as he thought about things.

Eithni looked very serious and didn't radiate any cheery area from her as she followed the man with her eyes until he stood and turned back to facing Eithni and Kalanda. "Here's the deal, I'll teach you two small girl the secret art of Sith Alchemy, if you, little Nightsister, teach me invisibility" stated the alchemist straight to the point with a rather sickly looking smile.

Nightsisters was extremely protective of their magick and rituals and to give in to the deal Alche-smith gave Eithni, would break everything that stood for. So when Eithni did exactly that, agreed to teach the alchemist the power of becoming invisible, she broke what she stood for and believed in. What kalanda would notice though, was that Eithni didn't mention anything about Water of Life and the fact that it was the thing that made it possible for go invisible.

Alche-smith clapped his hands together, seemingly smiling cheerfully, but rather came off as creepy and scheming all manner of evil ideas. "Well get in girls, so we can begin," Said the alchemist and lead Eithni and Kalanda to the second table, opposite of the dead animal, so they could begin to learn Sith Alchemy.

@Algarus

 

[Kalanda Tishire]

Listening to Eithni speak of her knowledge of the Dark Side, Kalanda realized that the girl had never truly been exposed to the Dark Side, not in the way the Sith embraced it. The spirit ichor, as Eithni's people called it, was similar yet vastly different to what Kalanda and the rest of the Sith were used to; yet they were still somewhat in agreement with it's usage, only a select few were worthy of wielding it's power. Kalanda didn't like the idea of Eithni giving this man the secrets of the Nightsisters, Kalanda herself knew just how closely that secret was guarded, and same was true of how much Eithni valued that knowledge. Though, there had to be a reason for Eithni to agree to this, and not look the faintest bit upset at the fact of that matter. Soon it clicked with the Sith what the girl had done, as a sly smile crossed Kalanda's features. This old man was being played. Though Kalanda kept her lips sealed, she'd have to congratulate her little friend on her cleverness; maybe there was a little bit of Sith in her any how, not that Eithni needed it anyways.

This old fool was going to die before he even came close to learning that knowledge, while Eithni had quite a long time to enjoy her knowledge of Alchemy. "Excellent, I'm sure once we grow accustomed to the stench, maybe we can get around to learning something." Kalanda remarked, as she moved towards the table, looking over what she could only describe as a science lab being laid on before her. The dead animal was laid out, it's innards exposed by surgical tools, as the man pulled out several green and black vials from a drawer. "Now, first things first, you need to know your compounds and your reactants before we get into real Sith Alchemy." Almost immediately, Kalanda felt her brain trying to crawl its way out of her ear, as she understood almost nothing this man said. She glanced down to Eithni, perhaps trying to signal a 'someone save me' to the girl, as Kalanda had a feeling she was going to dread whatever 'lessons' this man was going to offer the pair. At least Eithni was here to share in her suffering. That thought made the coming hours all the more bearable.

/end thread
@Raven_41