Dathomir Patrol

[Kassa]

Grethallion had returned to Dathomir to take part in a major Nightsister festival. An enormous pentagon had been drawn out with blood of Jedi and Light-aligned Dathomiri that had been collected by all members of the Clan. All that was left before the festivities began was for Grethallion and the other great elder Nightsisters to take their places on the pentagon. However, before that could begin, the other Nightsister elders had to arrive from where ever they were in the galaxy.

In the meantime, Grethallion supposed she'd watch the younger generation as they did their thing; the youngest practicing basic spells and usage of the force, while the elderly reminisced and performed advanced rituals for their heritage.

However, ever since the there was a Nightsister incident where they betrayed the Sith, Nightsister festivities were watched indefinitely. Guards flocked from all over to make sure they wouldn't try anything, which only irked the Grand Moff. Grethallion had already made her speech about how she didn't want any disloyalty and how it would be met with harsh penalties.

Grethallion disappeared into one of the huts for a moment to grab some wishbones and other herbs to throw into the fire about to be set to the specially prepared blood. With any luck, the festivities would begin shortly.

 

[Sreeya]

OoC: Takes place before duel with Kath.

A cold chill had set into the forests on Dathomir. The moons hung low, illuminating the forest with rays piercing through the trees. Thaed paid no heed to this, branches and flowers unceremoniously crushed under his boots. His hood concealed the upper regions of his countenance, revealing a dark jawline with remnants of black tattoos running down his neck. His piercing yellow eyes shined through the shadow of his hood. As usual, two lightsaber hilts were clipped onto his belt, but both concealed from view.

He walked with quick, purposeful strides, a small entourage of soldiers trailing behind him, told to disperse as they reached their destination. Secretly, he found this job to be extremely tedious. Sith had been sent on various patrol missions to ensure there was no possibility of rebellions within the Nightsisters. In his mind, it sounded more like a task for a lowly Marauder to be dealing with naggy women. Regardless, he didn't mind the opportunity to leave the temple.

The dark energy clung to him as soon as he stepped into the village where the festival was to take place. The smell of smoke and herbs hit his fine tuned senses, and he glanced down to spot the pentagon. Thaed did not lower his hood, though he knew the women around him felt his presence. He towered over them, and his aura projecting enough of his identity to confirm to them why he was here. Thaed ignored the various glances cast his way and silently observed the chanting and odd rituals that were practiced before the real ceremony began.

 

[Kassa]

The truth was, there was anxiety with all of the young adults and teenagers at the appearance of the Zabrak and the other Sith. The elders had became accustomed to being oppressed and watched like children. Their magic was undoubtedly power, especially the one's taking their place at the pentagon.

Grethallion was practically the ruler over these people. The four others taking their places were advisers and perhaps someone who helped co-found this shindig with the Sith. As Grand Moff, Grethallion had little time for patience. However, tonight would test the limits of it.

Having passed the herbs to be distributed by each of the other elder's children and their own children, Grethallion set to placing hers around the pentagon in neatly, ritualistically organized stacks to be used.

Grethallion had sensed the group enter camp. There was no way she couldn't. Men were among them. In her territory, to watch her ritual! The Grand Moff felt her anger flair for several moments before she returned to the calmly calculated nature she normally shows.

Having picked herself lightly off the ground, she slipped the cane in her robes and quickly glided over to the nearest, which happened to be a Zabrak.

"So, the Sith doesn't seem to think I can handle my own tribe?" she asked. Her face seemed expressionless, though that might be thanks to her pupil-less eyes.

"If you do intend to watch this culture, I advise you to keep your guard up. Most of my Clan doesn't take kindly to Sith, ever since... several of our sisters were extinguished. Should you try and intrude on the ritual... Well, I suggest you don't. This ritual is a big deal, as it starts the annual Selection process. Our strongest will need this passage to pick a good mate," Offering the Zabrak a crooked, sadistic smile, the old woman didn't seem to move, as if sizing up his strength and proficiency in the Force for who knows what.

 

[Sreeya]

"Careful, boss, I hear they don't like men here."

Thaed grinned at the words. The soldier did not look amused as he gave the warning. When he realized that the Zabrak would make no response, he simply shrugged and walked away. Thaed kept his eyes on the ritual taking place before him. Every movement was subtle and perfected, the way they waved their hands or called upon the Force to flow through them like water. It was almost sensual in a way, hypnotizing. He did not look away for a moment, fully aware that he was making others uncomfortable.

A woman's voice pulled him from his thoughts, though he did not turn to face her. The Zabrak stood like a statue, his face devoid of emotion and the hood's shadow hiding the rest of his face. The ritual reflected in his glowing eyes, though even they did not betray his thoughts. Thaed patiently waited till the woman was done speaking. However, for a moment it appeared as if he hadn't heard her. He remained silent, almost rudely and blatantly ignoring her. He finally spoke after a long moment, his voice smooth and drawling. Thaed had yet to even face the woman.

"If flames began to burn you, you would extinguish them as well."

He finally glanced down at her, his animalistic eyes piercing from within the shadows of his hood.

"You are integrated within the Empire enough to know of my purpose here. I have no desire to involve myself with affairs not of my concern. One would hope your..people would know better than to lash out and force me to step in."

Thaed's aura remained suppressed, only betraying his signature in the Force and nothing more. He would appear almost mysterious, as if an odd disturbance within the Force.

 

[Kassa]

Grethallion grinned a wicked smile. Her proficiency in the Force wasn't hidden and where ever she went, a seemingly dark cloud followed. By this point in time, the other four elders finally found themselves back on their home planet. The old witch signaled for everyone to begin by casting a few bolts of Force lightning into the sky.

Having taken their place on the pentagram, the rest of the Nightsisters sat several yards away from the star. The elders levitated about ten feet into the air so they could look down at their clan. All at once, the one's floating above the pentagram chimed, "So be it! Let us begin the ritual!"

Elaborate upper body movements sprouted from the old witches. Rotating their hands, they brought their arms from left to right. They then made a slicing movement to their lower diagonal left before making something along the lines of a "muscle man" pose and bending to their left at the hip to the upper center. The cascaded upwards (to the left vertex) once more, making something along the lines of releasing an injured animal. All the while, they were chanting along with the entire Nightsister clan.

"Ooom bab waoooo ooooom bab waoooo....."

As they made the hand motions, they drew a pentagonal star. The star they were standing on ignited into purple flames. As they finished, each of the elders shouted what they stood for in the Clan.

"Strength!"
"Precision!"
"Longevity!"
"Dexterity!"

Herbs raised high into the sky, forming along the lines of a pentagram. They were dropped in all at once, which caused the pentagon's fire to flare up high and turn to a green color. The Nightsister elders began to meditate from their standpoint, as if resting for a few moments. This gave the others time to add in their sacraments, which ranged from meat to jewelry and charms.

 

[Sreeya]

Thaed silently watched as the ritual began. It was a sight to behold, as it was a style of applying the Force he did not understand. As a connoisseur of knowledge, he was enthralled by this strange manipulation of the Force. The movements were getting more and more difficult to follow, as those within the pentagram appeared to blend into the flames around them. Thaed looked around and suddenly found himself surrounded with members of the clan, all of them eyeing him warily. He glanced over at Grethallion, scowling while sending her a telepathic message.

"Your people better not be trying anything."

It wasn't a hostile tone, but one of finality. It was no secret that Thaed did not enjoy this job. Moreover, the herbs and spices were making him feel slightly light headed, and he had to bite back the urge to leave the area. He called upon the Force to clear his mind, knowing that his presence was more and more obvious to all the women around him. Though the Grand Moff was accepting of his presence, it did not mean the rest of the clan was.

 

[Kassa]

"Does thou not enjoy the display of power? Believe me, this is simply a right of passage for our young to become Nightsister trainees,"

An amused tone of voice was used before the five elders continued the ritual.

"Bring out the sacraments! May our strength be bolstered by the ones whom give us strength!" The old women shouted in unison.

A row of scantily clad men were marched in. Five in total, each seemed to be a high ranking member of Nightbrother society. Grethallion went first.

"May the gods enjoy the display of power. Through blood and night, we prosper!"

The Nightbrother was lifted into the center of the pentagon. The elderly woman's hand lifted up and shot forth a burst of intense Force lightning. His body moved spasmodically as it attempt to fight. The the end, in carcass was dropped into the flames, causing them to rise again.

"Through precision, the Nightsisters become deadly assassins. Through my teachings, death is quick and efficient and allows us to examine the corpse without too much damage,"

This elder seemed to draw a staff as the other sisters levitated the next in the air. The staff was most definitely Force imbued. It was immediately launched, in a straight line, and went straight through the Nightbrother's heart. It swiveled around, the male falling dead into the fire.

"Through longevity, we prosper and live long! Ancient accounts mean nothing if you were there to witness it. I pass on my knowledge to you. Your life is precious to the Clan. During your time here, aim to help us as a whole,"

The third Nightbrother was lifted into the air. The elder raised a hand, Drain life launching from it. It began absorbing his life Force and was eventually dropped into the fire, completely drained.

"Dexterity is something a Nightsister must master. It allows fluid movements, mentally and physically. You must flow like a river and move like a snake if you wish to truly be one of us. Kill with elegance. If you enjoy dismembered bodies, you must ritualistically cut them to praise the clan's health!"

The final Nightbrother was raised. He knew he was going to die, but this was definitely the most gruesome. Held in place, the dexterous elder propelled herself to him, using the Force. She drew a saberstaff and sliced his head off with ease. Then his arm, which was cut at the joints as they fell. Then the other arm. Then the legs. Finally, the torso remained. Plunging the saberstaff into his chest, she drew a pentagram. It pulsated with plasma energy before the body was dropped and the elderly woman took her place back.

The fire turned a blood red color. Shortly afterwards, a group of girls no older than ten were brought forth to be the new initiates. Their initiation would begin shortly.

 

[Sreeya]

Thaed was disturbed, to say the least. As a Sith Lord, there were few things that ever bothered him anymore. However, such a display was enough to make anyone uncomfortable, primarily because Thaed did not belong there. As the Nightbrothers were brutally murdered, he couldn't help but notice the glares being cast his way. It was as if it were a crime for him to not be a part of the herd of sheep to the slaughter. Thaed ignored the glares, turning to Grethallion. He had seen glimpses of the woman before, as she was part of the Imperial hierarchy. There she had always been official, and here it was much more..primal. The entire setting, the smells, the display, the violence, all of it was animalistic.

Thaed watched as the small group of girls were brought forward, his eyes roaming over the body parts that remained of the last Nightbrother. They had been so defeated, all those men. The lights in their eyes had left them long before they were sacrificed. Thaed wondered where these women called their powers from, as it felt like a deviation from the Force. Perhaps it was a warped perversion of it, a thought that irritated Thaed. In a sense, he wanted to learn it for himself. He looked at Grethallion, realizing that she would be able to pick up on the curiosity cropping up inside his mind. He grinned, deciding to send a telepathic message. It was one of his trademark sarcastic remarks during a time where it was very inappropriate.

"You know... if you teach them to hate men, they'll end up becoming lonely old cat ladies."

 

[Kassa]

Lady Grethallion held back a chuckle at the man's comment. He had no idea...

Two of her Sithspawn came forward, courtesy of Sanayana herself. The woman had traded her the wonderfully destructive Reavers for several dozen slaves. Nothing she couldn't replenish. The slaves she gave were generally not wanted due to their special abilities needing to be contained. She didn't even want a pedigree Twi'lek. The woman found it odd, however the Alchemist was well... an alchemist.

"Your comment is utmost amusing, my dear Zabrak. If you take a look behind you, you'll find that I'm much more of a lonely, Sithspawn lady,"

The Reavers behind him looked at him and chuckled. They were like buffed versions of Tartereks that worked for Grethallion. The elderly woman kept an eye out for his facial expression when he saw them.

And with that, the initiation commenced. The young girl were brought forth in a line, depending on their grades in the classes. The strongest went first, the weakest went last. This would put them into warrior classes. The weakest would be paired with the strongest who was then paired with a tutor to match their combined strengths and to help them overcome their weaknesses. It was like a fail-proof system. If one died, the other had teachings to pass on. And it helped even out special missions.

Each of the elders had buckets of blood in front of them. They began to draw pentagrams and other eloquent designs on the girls with them to show how well they did. The more elaborate and the more designs you had, the better. That would be how they could tell at a glance who was paired with whom.