Ask Hunt For Knowledge

[Sah'ra Ryun]

A grunt escaped the human woman as she felt the pain the wyrm suffered through the connection she had established between them. Such a thing was often a drawback when one intertwined themselves with another and was something to be handled with delicate care. Fortunately, such a creature was likely incapable of utilizing the connection against her though Cyu’s efforts certainly caused a fracture in her focus.

She needed to time this right if she was to circle around the creature and join in the attack. It would require all of her attention, meaning she would need to sever her mental grapple of its mind. One wrong move, one slip in the dust, and the creature could find the window it needed to eliminate them both. Suffice to say, neither she nor Cyu were likely eager to become part of its menu, so with a long drawn in breath, Sah’ra cut her hold and leapt through the air, over the recovering wyrm, landing about six meters to the Pureblood’s left.

Korriban. Ziost. Dromund Kaas. These worlds waxed over with dark influence, as did Krayiss. Sah’ra drew one the Force energies imprinted like invisible scars, lightning soon erupting from the fingertips of both hands, combining themselves with the Acolyte’s own, electricity surging through the soft organs and muscles beneath the armor-like hide. ”C’mon, girl… Go to sleep!” Sah’ra whispered, pouring everything she had into her actions.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

The monolith of the Dark Side made physical, the Wyrm fought but faltered under their combined effort. Cyu watched as the cascading ripples of the force lightning penetrated its skin and sizzled, causing lasting pain and misery. Of course, they were not aiming to slay the beast, only to contain and dominate it.

The pair would watch as their attacks landed true, forcing it to the ground where it attempted to start digging to escape the torment inflicted upon it. Unfortunately, they would not release their hold so soon, as they attempted to knock it unconscious. The moment of truth came as the monstrous being slipped under the weight of the attack and its towering body came tumbling down before them.

Cyu lept to the side to avoid being squished herself before looking back at Sah'ra. The immense drain suddenly hit her like a brick wall causing the pureblood to quickly pant for air as if she had been punched. They'd barely get a moment to celebrate their victory before a familiar building appeared to re-materialize in the near distance as if they had earned the right, at last, to see it in all its proper glory.

The pureblood forced herself up and wiped the sweat off her brow before nodding to her companion. In her experience, her species had become quite adept at making it difficult for their knowledge to be found. A wyrm was one hell of a guardian, but that didn't mean that the library was now unprotected and easily accessed, any step they could become their last.

"Pay attention and don't get complacent. They wouldn't have built all this just to give away the knowledge to the first person to get past the Wyrm." Her warning wasn't out of love for the woman, but a freebie, given the help that she had just offered in their fight. Cyu would remain on guard both for devious devices from the building, and potent plots from the woman herself as they readied to advance to the gate.

@Tulos

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

Ambience

​

”Believe me, I have not come here expecting the library to be a gift so easily given,” Sah’ra replied between strained breaths, pale fingers moving to push a strand of fallen black hair behind her ear. Even as the wyrm laid dormant, the sides of it’s serpentine form moving slowly in and out indicating it was not dead, only stunned for a brief moment, Sah’ra eyed the beast cautiously. There was no denying it’s origins were not of nature as the pulse of residual darkness would be impossible for even the most inept Force practitioner to misinterpret. ”A shame… I’d love the opportunity to dissect and study this creature,”

Her attention then turned back towards their original goal, the black obelisk now towering above them. Her heart fluttered, her skin rippled from waves of goosebumps. After everything, she was finally here. Engraved runes decorated the base of the monument and as her pale hand hovered over the stygian material, she could hear whispers similar to those she had experienced in other ancient locations. ”I’ve… I’ve finally found it…” Sah’ra whispered, her gaze narrowing with ominous intent before turning her attention to Cyutadakyr. ”We found it. Would you like the honors? Do you remember the words?” she asked, stepping back and waving the pureblood onward with a sly grin. ”Kneel at its base and recite the incantation. We’ve come this far. Take the final step,”

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

The library was a wonder unto itself and was worth the struggle to get there even just to view the outside. The endless possibilities of knowledge and power seemingly just waiting to be gleaned and used was only a short journey away. It was one thing to be told about this building and its contents, but another entirely to witness it firsthand.

The building was more than just a depository of knowledge, or a tomb of tomes. It was a monument to her heritage, a deliberate act of strength and power. It was only right and proper that a true-born Sith be the first to cross its threshold in so many years, rather than a usurper.

"Of course." She said cooly, looking back towards the base. In determined step, Cyu walked up to and knelt at the required spot. Empowered by the malevolent power that was all around them, she drew upon the Dark Side and began chanting.

"Taka zeech ma toka duuwaj"

@Tulos

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

Cyutadakyr may well have believed it was her birthright to enter the library, and perhaps it was, but as she knelt at the base of the obelisk and prepared to begin reciting the phrase, Sah’ra’s smile only grew from her partner's misplaced trust. Her painted black lips parted to reveal her stark white teeth as her pupils narrowed. Darkness washed over her entirely as a cool breeze began to build up around them whilst Cyu knelt. If one were to look upon her, they would see the blue of her eyes begin to fade away into a deep yellow. For so long she had searched for the knowledge that lay within; the concept of sharing it with another seemed ridiculous. Briefly she considered drawing her weapon to ignite the blade between Cyu’s shoulder blades. She knew she would relish in the pureblood’s death, a necessary sacrifice to gain the power she had sought out for months. After all, what was the life of a single Acolyte when it could be traded for so much more.

It was as though she was no longer guiding her own actions. She felt the cool steel of her weapon in the palm of her hand as she observed Cyu begin to recite the words. The Force fueled both women but the pureblood’s focus was on the ritual whereas Sah’ra remained concentrated on the other. The ground began to quake as the obelisk pulled away, sand pouring into an opening that was created at Cyu’s knees. Wider and wider it grew, revealing a staircase of the same material as the construct above ground that descended deep within Krayiss’ surface. At the bottom, a pair of matching black and silver doors. The Ancient Library of Krayiss II… Sah’ra was practically drooling at the prospect of stepping foot within.

Then, as the Acolyte concluded the incantation, Sah’ra pointed her hilt and ignited the blade.

”I couldn’t have done it without you, you know,” Sah’ra whispered, the humming of her saber directly beside Cyu’s right ear, the length of her fully extended arm partnered with the blade of her weapon keeping her a safe distance back. If the Pureblood so much as turned to face Sah’ra, she would undoubtedly lose her jaw in the process. Moving to stand and draw her sword or utilising the Force against Sah’ra could only end in much the same. ”Tell me; are you loyal to your new Sith Master? Or to yourself? Answer carefully, your life may well depend on it,” she asked calmly, watching her both physically and through the Force. As she did, Sah’ra could feel the eyes of another, watching what transpired here with callous curiosity.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Turning your back upon a Sith was often the last thing one might do, such was the nature of their order. It was either supreme confidence or foolishness that might lead one to leave their lives in the hands of others, a measure of one or another, perhaps the answer lay betwixt.

As the final words left her lips and the chant was complete, the rumbling sounds of the library answering her call broke the eerie mystique that held their attention. But this was not the only sound she heard, nor did the wonderous hiss of a lightsaber igniting in her peripheral go unnoticed.

For her entire existence, Cyutadakyr had fought life itself. From surviving a difficult birth to slaughtering her own kin, she had been no stranger to pain and if anything, relished it. A secret known unto herself, however, was the ultimate pleasure. The forbidden pleasure. What was a pain but an avenue to pleasure? An itch for pain that could never quite be scratched, no matter how close one came to reaching it.

What higher pleasure was there than to feel the very life drain from your limbs, as you succumbed to your mortal wounds?

Though it seemed, the answer may continue to elude her for the time being as her fellow Sith paused to make her inquiries. Cyu could feel the heat emanating from her blade, as it started to slowly sear her face, until at last the pureblood would speak again.

"Loyalty is for the weak-willed and the pathetic, but one can respect strength and title if it is earnt." Sah'ra wouldn't see her dry expression, but Cyu gingerly sat still looking down the stairs. Judging from their earlier conversation, her companion was quite open about how she felt about the Dark Lord. "But was it?" she coyly said, in remembrance of their exile.

Regardless of how she thought about what the pureblood had said, at the forefront of Sah'ra's mind would exist the same question that plagued her previously. Did she still need Cyu? Was this the last obstacle that she needed her for? would she risk being wrong and taste failure so very close to reaching her long-held ambition?

A twitch in her leg started to annoy the pureblood, but still she remained until the other woman would hopefully grow tired of these games. But that wouldn't stop Cyu from speaking what was on her mind. "It seems I was wrong about you, however. I thought we'd at least fuck before you threatened to kill me."

@Tulos

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

Sah’ra offered an entertained huff at Cyu’s commentary, the tip of her saber still thrumming beside her crimson skin. By now, the flesh would begin to fester from the heat emanating from the blade so close to her neck. For a brief moment, she considered simply passing it through the Acolyte, severing her head from her shoulders and continuing on with her own story. Yet perhaps there still was a role for Cyutadakyr to play in the tales yet to be spun. Perhaps not.

”Is that so?” Sah’ra replied, a twitch of the fingers of her left hand proceeding an invisible grasp around the top of Cyu’s scalp, pulling it back slowly until she could see the white’s of the Acolyte’s eyes as pressure began to build on her head and throat. She, in turn, would see Sah’ra looming above her with her sinister smirk whilst her weapon continued to burn the flesh on her neck. Sah’ra respected power; not unchecked and wanton violence but those who knew what they were capable of, as did those around them. Staring into the eyes of such a person should be enough to make her knees weak, both from fear and lust. The Pureblood was, as of now, not such a person. Given the abrasive nature of their journey, this was all likely a desperate play at one’s base desires anyway. ”Perhaps you will sleep with the dead instead,”

Sah’ra moved the blade closer to her neck, the smell of searing flesh filling the air around them. She wanted to eclipse the life of this Acolyte yet something held her back. A nagging feeling at the back of her mind that Cyutadakyr may yet prove to be a useful asset. ”The knowledge below is not something to be shared with the Sith as a whole but rather utilized by those who discovered it. The question is if I can trust you. If I can let you live without informing others of what exists on this world. You say loyalty is for the weak willed and pathetic. I say trust is just as damning, if not more. Can you prove me wrong, I wonder?” As she spoke, the grasp on her weapon tightened as she prepared to push herself to do what may well need to be done.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Even for as much bliss did the sinews of pain bring forth waves of pleasure, the physical stimuli would eventually overcome her wants and desires. Involuntarily, Cyutadakyr felt her body try to pull away from the vibrant heat, its powerful emissions caustically inflicting damage over time.

She felt her scalp tear ever so slightly as her head was yanked back, eyes rolling back and lips parted. A short "mhm" escaped quickly, with nothing else to undress her thoughts.

Cyutadakyr had wondered what secrets and mysteries lay hidden beneath these sands; this curiosity only grew with how zealously Sah'ra seemed to guard them. This wouldn't be the first pureblood facility she had encountered, and this valuable knowledge that she possessed, and the very lifeblood that ran through her veins.

Opening her eyes to the witch that held her life in balance, demanding answers to questions posed as a riddle. Was there an answer to such questions or had she already decided the fate of the Sith before her? Cyutadakyr had always toyed with her mortality, and this time was no different. But she also knew that knowledge was a power that went beyond strength and the fewer that held it, the stronger it was.

With a twinkle in her eye, she mused. "Not from down here." but sadly Cyu suspected that Sah'ra wouldn't be satisfied with such an answer. As playful as she was feeling, she twisted her head a little sideways to crack her neck away from the blade before continuing, a metaphorical hand on her heart. "I swear on my twin's grave, I shall die with the secret."

Down below as the stairs fully revealed themselves, the large door at the bottom began to creak open in a slow methodical way.

@Tulos

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

The fact that Cyu found her predicament as delightful as she was making it out to be was odd to Sah’ra, though as it continued on she found her reactions somewhat entertaining. Still, that did not translate into trust but rather simple amusement. ”You certainly are a peculiar one, aren’t you?” Sah’ra mused as she pulled the blade of her weapon back ever so slightly so as to not incapacitate the Pureblood. Her eyes wandered down Cyu’s back, settling on what she could see was the sheath of a dagger strapped to her thigh and came to her final decision.

”If you think swearing by the dead means anything to me, you’re sorely mistaken,” Sah’ra quipped. After all, they were already dead. They cared little if vows were broken. As she spoke, she coiled an invisible hand around the hilt of the dagger and pulled it free, allowing it to hover directly before her captive’s eyes. ”If you wish to survive, to see what we have discovered, it comes with a different price. One more… tangible, to people such as us,”

With the tip of her blade still humming beside Cyu’s neck, the smell of burnt flesh and hair dissipating, Sah’ra turned the floating dagger so that the point was aimed directly between her eyes. ”I am not so foolish as to believe that you would not simply betray me as soon as I lower my guard, so I propose tying ourselves to one another,” she explained coldly. ”Here, before this monument, we can either bind ourselves through a blood ritual or I can cut you down. One way or another, your blood will spill. If you choose the former, we will be tied to one another. Should anything happen to you, I too shall suffer and vice versa,”

At face value, the offer seemed equitable. To Sah’ra, it mattered little what choice Cyu made. To Cyu, it could mean far more than life or death. There was only one way to find out.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

The pureblood was enjoying her predicament and she was glad that Sah'ra finally caught on to it. The beady eyes of the Sith wormed their way down Cyu's back and best features before spying on her trusty little dagger. Still sitting on the edge of the staircase, it didn't take long for the other Sith's plan to reveal itself.

Cyu felt an energetic power pulsing through her veins and it wasn't just the thrill of being tortured. It wasn't just the darkness that ebbed and weaved its way around them as they stood so very close to a source of pain and misery. It wasn't just that they had overcome a mighty Sith construct.

The acolyte sensed the tiniest, most minuscule ounce of fear lingering on Sah'ra, hidden in the deepest darkest pit of despair. The other woman was standing in a position of strength, holding the pureblood at her most vulnerable, and yet there it was. Perhaps it was a fear of coming so very far and failing at the last step, perhaps it was a fear that she had found someone who wasn't possibly intimidated by her. Or perhaps it was something else entirely, but Cyu believed it to be so.

Either way, the pureblood paused for a few moments to clear her mind and savor the delectable taste. "If that is your wish, but I must warn you that this will hurt you more than it will hurt me." With that Cyu lifted herself up from the ground, turning sideways slowly so as to not spook the other into doing something stupid. She took hold of the dagger by its metallic hilt and brought its edge toward her shoulder.

Assuming Sah'ra hadn't backed down for fear of what they were creating, Cyutadakr started to chant something in her native tongue as the knife began to slice and draw blood. Once its edge was sated, the blade floated out of her hand and towards Sah'ra for her to do the same.

Tave azinimas mes iezkon, tave uzdar mes kaer, mes merji kaj is kraujas

@Tulos

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

Theme​

There was no denying that what they were about to attempt would come at a risk, but a working relationship with no trust had little to stand on. Instead, they would choose to weaponize their lack of it against one another. To take disdain and alter it into something that worked to the benefit of each other. It was dangerous, borderline foolish, and far from a permanent fix. Yet it would serve their purposes for the moment and this was enough.

Once Cyu had completed her part, Sah’ra pulled the blade toward her. Her eyes never faltered, locked on the Pureblood’s own, her iris’ now a bright and vivid yellow. Rituals such as this demanded the practitioners bathe themselves in dark energies utilized to enact them and Krayiss left little in the way of wanting for such vibrancy. The Sith would take the blade in her left hand, her right still wielding her saber that remained pointed at Cyu’s chest, and place its sharp edge on the right side of her face, just next to her eye.

”Umuwichi uwi uluwi, xunj’tis uy sitso,” Sah’ra began reciting as she slowly drew the blade down along her cheek to her jawbone. Her hold on the Force strengthened as she imbued the essence of both Cyutadakyr and herself, drawing the blood from their respective wounds. The liquid collected in floating pools shaped as spheres, the surface slowly rippling like the sea on a calm night. ”Jâmr yun wi suks sudzuy ᠎tuti wo,”

With each spoken syllable, the two floating orbs of blood slowly merged upon one another as they began to throw off a dark shadow. The surfaces began to grow more wild, more unpredictable, as they approached one another until finally they merged. They amalgamated for a short time before a massive wave of concussive energy was thrown off that would slam into both Sah’ra and Cyutadakyr, taking them from their feet. Sah’ra laid motionless on the ground but soon after, the orb of blood separated and raced back to each woman. She felt it ooze it’s way back through the self inflicted wound until not a drop could be found removed from her body.

Standing, a pale hand touching the incision, Sah’ra found the mark dry and scarred as though it had been made weeks ago rather than moments. Her senses felt strengthened ten fold as she listened for Cyu’s signature in the Force but as she reached out, she felt so much more. Sensing her life force was simple enough before but now she was acutely aware of it in a way that exceeded the limitation of words. She could feel her heartbeat just as she could her own. She could feel the pain from Cyu’s wounds on her neck and shoulder. She could feel the exhilaration that they too caused. Softly she chuckled. She had come for a library; she would be leaving with the blood of a Pureblood. This had gone far better than she had ever hoped.

Bringing herself to her feet and approaching the other woman, Sah’ra stood over her and smiled as she called her saber back to her hand. ”Shall we continue?” Sah’ra asked, confident now that neither could betray one another. With her weapon back in her left hand, Sah’ra extended her right towards Cyu. A relationship built on suspicion that could not be capitalized on; unorthodox but effective.

@Xorism

Spoiler

I tried a different translator this time. Might not work on yours. DMed you the translation

 

[Nevizkas]

The two-person component to the ritual was a fascinating way to watch the other as its effect became apparent for the other. The dark flowing energy lapped up the enigmatic and mistrustful feelings between the pair, their bond being formed from these feelings and desires of something far greater than just their own muses.

The powerful blast of energy that struck both women to the ground produced a satisfying thud as it impacted them. Cyutadakyr stared straight ahead into the sky above her and watched as the clouds slowly drifted by, as her wound started to close up. The intensity of feeling that arced across her body following their connection was something that she could barely put into words.

The pureblood sensed how they had been drawn much closer and the thought of testing the other woman's limits to see if they matched her own brought a smile her to face. Oh, they would have so much fun together, and Sah'ra wouldn't necessarily have to be there for it either.

Nodding she left the other woman to proceed ahead of her for several reasons. First and foremost to return the earlier favor and get a good glimpse of her goods in the same way she had done so when she found Cyu's knife..clearly that was what she was looking for. Secondly, and more to test their little bond as they descended the stairs, the pureblood held her arm out and made a small incision into her shoulder again.

She'd considered attempting to wrap the woman up in a painful spike of force lightning in order to draw out the worst pain imaginable, but given the earlier reaction, decided she was probably not yet ready for such fun and opted to see if Sah'ra would react in any way, or if it would be missed.

Drawing near to the first door they would be able to slip in and find themselves in a long stone hallway with several exits. The walls were adorned with torches that burned in a particular way as if they weren't actually burning but still gave off heat and light. It would be up to them where they headed to first, and how carefully they wishes to explore.

@Tulos

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

Despite the newly fabricated bond that was intended to protect them both from each other, Sah’ra walked ahead with caution as Cyu fell in behind her. It was an odd yet entirely fascinating sensation as she not only felt the eyes of the Pureblood on her back but to also feel her emotions as she did so… Of course, these feelings were more simplistic and built on her base desires. Oddly enough, she didn’t mind. Rather, she found it entertaining.

Of course, as Cyu began testing the limits of this bond, she was entirely aware as the pain radiated from her shoulder. She had heard it in her mind as she prepared to do it. Wincing, Sah’ra struggled to stop herself from turning and striking the other woman. While there would be a time to test both the limits and potential to what they had just done, she didn’t intend to do so so soon. Yet if she continued to press on the subject, perhaps it would be inevitable. After all, she could hear her thoughts as she contemplated and ultimately decided against electrifying her.

”Adolescent behavior… Why am I not surprised,” Sah’ra muttered as she slipped through the doorway and into the library. She had expected a grand room filled with knowledge but was instead greeted by a dimly lit corridor. Slowly, cautiously, she progressed down the corridor, checking each room as she passed. ”I’ll take the rooms on the left. And please, don’t die. I’m not eager to see the result,”

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Cyutadakyr of course didn't mean any harm to the other Sith, after all, they were now bonded in a way that few others would ever know. But curiosity was forever on her mind, and Sah'ra would see that was where it derived.

The pureblood nodded and departed towards the right-hand side of the corridor, the barren aspect fading as she got closer to the edges where they'd start to see rows of bookshelves lining the walls filled with scrolls, tablets, and other instruments that had been written on. At first glance, none of them looked particularly interesting, but she figured that she could always come back later for a better look another time.

Entering a larger hallway, Cyu first looked left before returning her gaze to the right. From there she spotted what looked like a large circular room with scores of desks neatly spaced apart and a large crystal as the centre piece. Drawing nearer, the curious crystal appeared to be perched upon a hefty metal cup, without any other supports in place to hold it steady. A strange vibration was emanating from it which only seemed to increase with every step she moved closer towards it.

Passing the first line of desks, she spotted what looked like illustrations of the very same crystal and indecipherable text which she could only assume was written in some kind of code to cloud the secrets that they had uncovered. Without a key it would take considerable time to determine what was said and therefore, again, the pureblood turned back towards the crystal and approached it.

Then, without warning, a large lightning surge burst from the crystal as Cyutadakyr crossed past the inner line of desks, striking her in the chest and knocking her back several feet into the ground. Dazed and prone, the pureblood may have survived but in the process had taken a proper beating from her unpreparedness.

@Tulos

Spoiler

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

As Cyu explored her portion of the ancient library, Sah’ra too delved deeper into the ruins. Her first chamber seemed… ceremonial. Perhaps this place served as more than a simple collection of knowledge? An odd and intricate pattern decorated the ground, a thick layer of dust masking the finer details. Crouching down, a pale hand swept away what could be swept to reveal the stark white marble that adorned the chamber floor.

”Curious,” she whispered as she analyzed what she could see. Closer inspection towards the chamber’s center would reveal dark brown stains, likely blood she would surmise. Perhaps long ago, sacrifices to the ancient gods had taken place here though she could only hypothesize its true nature. Glancing to the right, seeing the stone tables with skeletal remains further supported her theory.

As she stood, she could feel the curiosity that existed in the mind of her partner whilst she examined her section of the ruins. With little to be gained from her own surroundings, Sah’ra turned and was about to begin to rejoin Cyu when a sudden bout of strong pain permeated through her chest, bringing her back to her knees as she gasped for air.

”What have you done?!” Sah’ra croaked, wincing in pain as one hand clutched at her chest while the other supported her body from collapse. Whether the Pureblood had stumbled upon a concealed trap or broke the cardinal rule of ‘look but don’t touch’, Sah’ra would undoubtedly ensure she was made aware of her mistake.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

The terrible pain arced through the pureblood's body without remorse, its power was unlike anything she had ever experienced and so unexpected that she barely registered that it happened before being thrown back. The only saving grace appeared to have been that it stopped just as suddenly, once she had been thrown far enough back to avoid its deadly touch.

Slumped up against a desk, Cyu winced while poking herself where she had just been hit. There just wasn't the same kind of pleasure in being hit with an unquestionably powerful burst, discharging in an instant and without the slow deliberate teasing that came with the other ways.

By the time Sah'ra had caught up with her, they'd both be confronted by a large crystalline feature, lodged in a metallic tomb. Faintly, the pureblood remarked, "Maybe we should come back for this one later." Whatever mystery it held would have to be solved another day, as it was clearly quite more powerful than either of them combined.


But that wouldn't stop them from spending a considerable amount of time carefully going through the rest of the library once Cyu had somewhat recovered from the ordeal. Time would tell how they would apply the knowledge they learned down there and what monsters and atrocities would be traced back to that fateful day.

@Tulos