In the Jungle: Abyssal Horror

[Kalladrrl]

Wookiees enjoyed a certain status in the galaxy; they were known for their bad tempers, their loyalty, and their strength, among other qualities. One of their gifts that set them above what Kalladrrl saw as lesser beings was their longevity. Why, his own great-grandmother had lived into her fifth century, which was rare and venerable among their people. Smallfoots lived such short lives, racing from one objective to the next as if it would defy death itself. The Wookiees had a different outlook on life; hells, he'd spent most of his waking moments in the darkest place in the galaxy being electrocuted and mining vanadium in a thin artificial atmosphere, and it was time he could never reclaim. The galaxy had been changing as he went in and had changed radically on his way out; and yet he still had a natural lifespan remaining that incited jealousy in the hearts of most sapients.

And yet, all of his life would be in the blink of an eye in one of these legendary creatures.

Sarlaac.

The name of the creature was not given to it by his kind, and yet in their tongue it meant “Foreverhunger.” That was appropriate, from what he knew. The stories varied wildly and even the taxonomic and biological information about it must have contained bald-faced lies. But the impact of the creature had touched even the language of Kashyyyk.

“It digests its prey for tens of thousands of years?” His question was directed into the holding cockpit of the Imperial shuttle and wasn't just for Silvertongue, but for the other… An independent contractor of sorts, not unlike himself. The shuttle was descending and the Wookiee was reviewing the dossier on the creature they were to… Persuade? He'd seen some truly bonkers kriff in the service of the Sith, but these orders might have taken the whole nutcake. Kalladrrl had heard some of the Sith leadership had eccentric tendencies, but they were to negotiate with a plant monster?

The shuttle descended for the drop point, several kilometers from the location of the beast…which means they'd have quite the hike to the pit-like nest of the creature… the dimensions of which couldn’t be right.

Or could they?

What sort of entangling chasm of secrets were they getting themselves into? The sheer scope of the creature’s existence and life filled him with unease, like an aura of palpable angst surrounded it, extending in all directions in a radius around it like a star and its magnetic field.

@TheBrokenMadMan @The Matt

 

[Abigail Nimbus]

Abigail had always loved animals and beasts of all shapes and sizes. When she was a child, they were some of the only comfort she could ever find, spending time with them away from her so called family. They taught her a lot, more than they ever could, such as the law of the jungle: Survival of the Fittest. They taught her the value in teamwork, the power of an image, and the ferocity that can be shown by something so small. She showed her brother sisters what they had taught her when she was ready, and her 'Father' some time after that. It brought a smile to her face in the drop craft, thinking of her Leatherwings back on Ord Mantell, and she cultivated those memories for all they were worth. It had been a long time since she had connected with a creature on any level, much less a being as grand as this one, but she was called on by Malthaz- Malos (dammit...), to do a duty.

The thought of Malos drove the more nostalgic musing from her mind as the deft talons of anxiety began to creep in from the recesses of her mind. This woud be the deciding vote on her appeal to join the ranks of the Sith, her initiation, so to speak. She had already proved she could handle herself, but this mission called for a more unique approach, or so it was implied anyways. Abigail couldn't deny that she was nervous about this, but she took comfort in the fact that Malos trusted her enough to give her this kind of mission, and she also appreciated the hired help too. She looked up at the Wookie with a warm smile, laying the Helmet of her Armor on the seat as she stood, offering a hand.
"Abigail, nice to meet you Kalladrrl," She greeted politely. Whether or not he took the hand, she was stroll behind him and unsheather she sword, checking it over to make sure there was no damage or scarring from it's last bout. "You ever been to Felucia before, I haven't, it's supposed to be beautiful to look at."

That assessment was promptly confirmed when the craft touched down on the ground with a rippling throom, and Abigail grabbed her Helmet, Sword and 4c Blaster before hopping out. She landed gently on her two feet and stood tall, taking a small moment to just look around. Her eyes widened with joy, soaking up all the joyous stimuli as she broke out into a childish grin, clapping her hands together. "This place looks absolutely gorgeous!!"

@Rexx @The Matt

 

[Kalladrrl]

Some element of his perception, on a primal level, was perplexed by the young one’s touch. She appeared young, she appeared wholesome, but there was a wrongness about her that reviled him to the touch. Ever the cool customer, he nodded back in politely.

“Been to a couple jungles, but never this one,” he said as fibers of his beings yelled at him that the being before him was some sort of threat to his safety, somehow. He was not one to distrust his intuition, but the Empire was strict in its discipline and he doubt anything would befall him as long as he did the job and kept his wits about him. She was quick to check her blade and exit the ship, cooing about the beauty, and the Wookiee thought that this one might have a strange view of beauty.

But Abigail wasn't wrong. The jungle was gorgeous, and he slung his forest-green pack with jungle operation supplies over his shoulder. He felt himself get hot and he panted lightly, in the way of a predator used to an environment as he stumped down the ramp heavily.

“It has its charms,” he said, trying to keep his voice even but sounding cheery nonetheless. He did not feel fear, per se. Fear was a chemical that could turn into rage or bravery with the right force of will. But she did make him anxious, even as the sun glinted off her ash blonde hair. He swore her almost girlish voice that filled him with unease had a familiar accent but he couldn't place it.

"Ohrpahwroshkuri? Ohnnakrrffan. He remembered the idiom about keeping the dangerous close to oneself as he held up three fingers to Silvertongue who stood at the top of the ramp. His protocol dictated he would stay behind and accompany if ordered. The Wookiee offered his fellow operative a headset with one hand as he spun his finger in the air for the droid, who translated it into Basic afterward, preparing for both eventualities.

@TheBrokenMadMan

 

[Abigail Nimbus]

For a few moments, Abigail just stood there and let herself get lost in the planet. She closed her eyes inhaled deeply, savoring the cold and fresh air as it flowed down her body, cooling her chest and filling her lungs. She could hear squeaks and snarls and snorts from miles away, the entire ecosystem, flora and fauna alike, thrumming with the Force. Hearing her compatriot drop down, she open her eyes and turned back, looking at him with a smile. She hadn't met many Wookies before, and the most recent encounter was at least a year and a half ago, but she had seen enough to pick up on some of their mannerisms. He seemed a little tense, maybe nervous, and even if he wasn't showing any sign, his anxiety about something was radiating off him like a generator. Whatever it was, she hoped that it would ease with a little time, or that she could help him calm down a little.
"Yeah, definitely," She said, nodding in agreement, "Brilliant views, warm sun, massive people eating creatures of horror, what's not to love?"

She froze and broke out into a grin as he began to speak his own tongue. Ever since meeting the Wook, Abigail had been reading up on Shyriiwook ever since she had met the Wook, it was a damn difficult language, but the perks of being a shapeshifter was being able to change your voice. She shifted her vocal chords around a little, just enough to speak it, but not enough to change her voice radically. "Ah waoo raoaaohuraananro, cacraanan ohwo?" She asked, smirking a little at him - this reaction was gonna be funny (hopefully). With their equipment on them, and their ride departing, Abigail started moving, taking point on the mission. It was a pretty long hike there, but it should be nothing the two couldn't handle, and it seemed the most they had to contend with was some plant blocking the way, a problem easily rectified with some swishes and slashes of Abigail's sword. "Acoooh schuoaac waoo rooohu orwhoooh rarhoohuao oohurc acooakwowwhuan raananro? raakrarcao wwrcoosc aoacwo wwraoaao aoacraao cacwo'c ra crarcanraoaoa."

@Rexx

 

[Kalladrrl]

The trees were dense and the air was humid and he felt like he was back playing on the beaches of Hurrthrrakarrna, the cub Lowpa alive once again before he became Lofarra, and before Lofarra was taken far away to be forged into the cast of Kalladrrl the bold. Against all, he bared his teeth in a malicious grin. The water and the trees made for a fantastic view, as did strangely engaging conversation. When Abigail spoke his language, it was like nothing he'd ever heard from a smallfoot. And yet, her accent was laid even more bare to the perceptive Wookiee. He bent over and looked at her throat, the smooth skin appearing unchanged. He chuckle once, like a bubble from the depths of the ocean.

“That's a neat trick,” he mused aloud to her, standing up to tower over her for a moment before a coy smirk exposed just a hint of perfect tooth. “But you need to practice your accent. Your Ord Mantell is showing something fierce!” Kalladrrl met a surprising number of smallfoots that could understand the tree-tongue, which was refreshing. Allard could even speak it, but he sounded like his throat was being destroyed by a hand blender. This Abigail though...she looked human, but she smelled funny. Not unpleasant, but not human either. Her adept ability to speak his language conjugated with that fact and led to one crystalline conclusion.

She was a shapeshifter.

Kalladrrl said nothing on that topic. He extended his cruel woodcutting claws as he swung his arms to generate momentum; a flick of the wrist at the end of the strike sheared branches from trees with an efficiency that only adaptation could bring. He let Abigail focus on the lower half of the brush as he cleared enough for him to only bend his knees a bit and everything above chest level for the comparatively diminutive shapeshifter.

“I know it's an ornery critter that makes a frigate look like a sailboat. I know some of these Felucians live...on top of the creature? Or it lives under them? But I don't know much about the natives other than the Sarlacc.” He paused and hooted down at her, his eyes glinting at as he noticed she carried a sword.

“Maybe I'll need to be ready against any of its appendages with this,” he said as he drew the hilt of his lightsaber, wrapping his thumb and forefinger around it as he rotated it in the air for Abigail. His words did not carry any condescension or heat, instead an appreciation for the tool and weapon he could bring to bear against their enemies. "As a last resort, of course."

Spoiler

@TheBrokenMadMan
OOC: I figure two beings speaking the same language don't need /abbr

 

[Abigail Nimbus]

She had to admit, it wasn't exactly the reaction she was hoping for. Most people tended to view her with a certain sense of mystery and unnerved distance, but he seemed completely unperturbed now, a stark contrast to earlier. Then he just casually dropped the fact that he knew she was from Ord Mantell, and Abigail turned back toward him, now looking at him with surprise. This one was certainly perceptive, wasn't he? Abigail couldn't think of anything to do or say other than to smile approvingly.
"I like you Kalladrrl," She muttered softly, nodding toward him before turning back. He was kind enough to handle all the scary bushes that were a smidge too high for her, and she handled the lows (teamwork). She glanced back at him as he started to recount his somewhat limited knowledge, prompting a contemplative "hmmm" from the woman. To be fair, not many people knew much about them, Sarlaccs were as rare as they were dangerous, no one would go near one willingly without a safe full of incentive...well, except for Abigail. Even then, she did still have incentive, she got to talk to a Sarlacc! That fact alone made it worth the trip, but the idea that they were to tame her? Let's just say that people are lucky that no one else signed up and took Abi's spot. "Well, for one thing, scientists can't figure out if they're plants or animals. The Sarlaccs as a whole are both rare and dangerous, they start out as spores and wait until maturity to find somewhere to burrow into. When they have their spot, they just wait there for the rest of their lives, all 10,000-50,000 standard years of it, ready to pull in any sucker that passes by."

Hearing the clicking, followed by his words, Abigail looked at the lightsaber and shook her head quickly at the Wookie. "No, don't even try. If you piss him off, you can lop off every tentacle you like, he'll still grab you somehow, he's extremely fast for his size. Believe me, you don't want to get eaten by her, it's not pleasant - she injects you with a toxin that causes extreme pain, as well as paralysis, and as soon as that happens? You're stuck, being digested over 1,000 years while she feeds you nutrients and keeps you nice and fat so she can enjoy you." She made sure he could hear the worry and the sternness in her voice. She wasn't a commander or a leader, but she knew her stuff, and she trusted that people would listen to her when they needed to.

It felt like only a few minutes since they had left the ship, but by the time they had chopped through the foliage, an hour had passed and a mile had been traversed. Abigail stopped for a moment, bending over and putting her hands on her knees while she panted lightly, reaching for the water on her pack. She quickly took a small sip, offering it to Kalla before sticking it back in the bag. The Sarlacc was just over this ridge now, only a few...more...wow...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Abigail and Kalladrrl stood on the precipice of the Ancient Abyss, and before them? The Abyssal Horror itself. Her purple arms stretched out across the entirety of the pit, laying, pacified, on the muddied grounds. They all traveled down and down, straight into the very centre of the jagged pit where the Sarlacc's Beak resided. Even though it wasn't a part of ther body, the pit itself was dotted with tusks and teeth that protruded out and came dangerously close to it's beak, more than likely in case someone tries to climb out. Even from this distance, she could hear it's low growl of hunger, always demanding more, always thirsting for meat. Gazing out over this creature's magnificence, Abigail's breath hitched, a small face of awe etching itself into her features. This was no horror to her, this being...well...
"She's beautiful...I really hope we can talk her into joining us." She said, her voice barely above a whisper.

@Rexx

 

[Kalladrrl]

“Ha!” he barked gregariously as they continued on. “Course you do! I’m likeable!” Kalladrrl was a consummate professional and listened as the expert spoke, nodding as the information was filed away, including Abigail’s chidings about the lightsaber, which he stowed. He wouldn’t be the aggressor in any conflict with this cyclopean horror, damned if he wouldn’t lop off a few of its prehensile appendages before he got dragged into some massive alien’s mouth. He’d have to cut and crawl his way out sometime within the thousand years of digestion and that sounded like a lot more work than just befriending it.

If that was even possible.

If it was, Kalladrrl thought they picked the right person to make contact. If anybody could convince a mighty Sarlacc to join them, it would be the blonde who marched with him. The plasticity of her vocal cords while retaining her outward appearance eliminated the possibility of her being a Clawdite. At the same time, Kalladrrl didn’t know of every shapeshifter in the galaxy.

“So, what about the natives who live on it? How do they avoid meeting a terrible fate?”

His question came as he peered down into a space that looked as if something larger than even the Sarlacc itself had scooped out a chunk of Felucia with a hand that defied scope and scale. A stench both sickly sweet and foul wafted up from the beast’s beak, assaulting his sensitive nostrils with its reek. It too smelled like death – but a slow death born of unnecessary torture. He supposed a plant-animal chimera might need the nutrients like a plant did, draining them over time. Was it photosynthetic? This thing raised too many questions for him already.

“Where do we begin, then?” he asked quietly, as he took note of shifting tentacles and spiny barbs that would restrict even his way out.

@TheBrokenMadMan

 

[Abigail Nimbus]

Abigail breathed a sigh of relief when the banter was returned, like shot across port side, a challenge! Kalladrrl definitely seemed the sociable type, and she enjoyed that, it was so much easier to connect with someone when they were capable of not taking everything super seriously. It didn't hurt that he was competent too, she noted how intently he listened to her explanation, and he wasn't a macho kriff bag and try t challenge her when he drew his saber, rather, he simply put it away and acknowledged her. His curiosity reminded Abigail of herself when she was finally freed from her birth family and the asylum, pouring over books detailing languages and histories and cultures, it was a good way to pass the time. When he asked about the Felucian's taming methods, she simply looked up and pointed toward the structure strung up and hanging about 60 metres above the Sarlacc's maw.
"They feed her," She said softly. "The Felucians gain the friendship of the Sarlacc through feeding her, we're going to do the same, though with a little extra prodding with the Force."

At once, Abigail dashed forward and jumped down off the ridge, sliding down the slope and landing inside the pit with a wet thud. Abigail's head darted uptoward the Felucians, whom had probably noticed them by now, and were no doubt wondering what they were doing there. They were inconsequential at this moment, though Abigail kept an eye on them to make sure they didn't try to run. She started to stroll forward, dropping her bag at her feet and kneeling down on all fours. She came as close to the maw as she could without being sucked in and placed her palm flat on the moist surface, reaching out with the force. She looked deep into the earth, looking for a mind to touch, her eyes turning their signature crimson as she wracked the Dark Side to her will, hoping to find the Sarlacc. "Where are you dear?" She whispered softly.

@Rexx

 

[Kalladrrl]

The Wookiee nodded sagely. Made sense. Feed the Foreverhungry to gain her favor so she doesn’t eat you. Easy plan, probably born of generations of practice at keeping the Sarlacc docile, and as Abigail dove into the pit he chuckled. Let her make contact his way. The Wookiee stumped up the slope toward the structure as he examined his paradigm to problem solving in this instance was flawed. If the Felucians fed the Sarlacc, they kept its favor. If Abigail and Kalladrrl fed the Sarlacc…

It was worth a shot, and his choice for the Sarlacc’s next meal was a readily apparent and plentiful source of meat. He shot a glance back at Abigail in the center of the Sarlacc’s pit and she looked precariously close to the damn thing. For her sake, the Wookiee hoped she knew what in the actual scintillating fark she was doing so close to the mouth of a nigh eternal creature known for its appetite. Kalladrrl did one of the things he did best: he marched and covered ground quickly up a slope along the lip of the Sarlacc’s pit, making his way to the structure Abigail had indicated before she went and jumped to make friends with an ageless creature of gluttony and torture.

And somehow, the Wookiee wasn’t really surprised. She dove into everything with vivacity, include a damn Sarlacc’s pit. Full marks for enthusiasm and dedication.

Four of those damn jungle dwellers awaited him. Maybe a fifth? Couldn’t tell. As he got used to the odd reek of the Sarlacc and his proximity to such a creature, he could smell the traces of the amphibious sapients that dwelled in the monster’s psychic shadow. And for once, he joined battle with opponents that almost matched his size. One of them lashed out with an arm that ended in a strange appendage, and the Wookiee dodged it, grasping its arm at the forearm and shoulder-analog, twisting his hips to gain momentum against the creature and pitch it bodily into the pit. However, the creature’s mass and anatomy resisted him. Another swung at him with a heavy mace, but Kalladrrl twisted the Felucian in his grasp, who acted as an ad hoc shield for the Wookiee.

@TheBrokenMadMan

 

[Abigail Nimbus]

Down, down, deeper, down...

Abigail's eyes fluttered shut as she fully embraced the Dark Side, it's energies flowing deep into the earth itself in search of it's target. It had to have reached at least 120 feet before it latched on to a mind beneath the surface, and Abigail felt a warm soft smile come to her as she let the Sarlaac's thoughts fill her mind. Part of her worried that, due to the nature of the Dark Side, this would be unpleasant for the poor dear, most people tended to cause pain when they forced themselves into a mind, but she was confident in her approach and her natural proclivity with the Animal kingdoms of the Galaxy (plus, she wasn't forcing herself into her mind, she was simply lightly probing). The Sarlaac seemed a little, shall we say, hesitant to link with her, but even from the outside, Abigail had her ways of soothing the soul.

Slowly, she began to calm and soothe the dear's mind, her hand starting to massage the ground beneath her to help underscore that.
Don't worry dear, we're not here to hurt you, we just want to be your friend She thought, her telepathic conversation like a warm blanket to the creature's mind. She knew she could answer back, so instead of pressing, she simply waited until a low grumbling filled her thoughts, drowning all else out.
Feed me... She demanded, the Sarlaac's maw seeming to pulse with anticipation as it got ready for food. Don't worry, we'll feed you, I know how they starve you up there. You'll have a full belly tonight.

From down below, Abigail gazed up at the commotion above her, seeing Kalladrrl do what Wookies do. "Kalladrrl! My lady is hungry! She wants meat!" She yelled, hoping he would take the cue, she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep the Sarlaac's mind calm and content in their presence.

@Rexx

 

[Kalladrrl]

The Wookiee did not respond. If there was one thing that annoyed him, it was being told to do what he was engaged in doing while he was busy with it. With a grunt of effort, he hauled the wounded Felucian off the ground with both arms, marching to the edge of the pit before the Wookiee with a spin and a colossal effort from his core muscles, threw the unwitting amphibian upward and outward into the pit. He got a decent whack of distance on him, the arc carrying the Felucian five meters away from the lip and generating enough kinetic energy as it plummeted the rest of the way to the fairly sheer wall of the pit, it kept tumbling end over end, a wet screech audible as its fate was clear to it. If the Sarlacc was hungry, there would be no escape from it.

Kalladrrl did not have much time to revel in his victory as the remaining three advanced on him, but he did not need time. The Wookiee sprang down to the ground, rolling over his head and shoulders past them. As he landed crouch, he swung out his right leg and planted his hands in the rich jungle soil, lashing out at the back of the third Felucians knee, crumpling him into a heap. With a mighty push of his massive arms, he wheeled on the Felucian, one of his arms finding purchase between its legs, lifting it up with his own momentum before tossing it in the pit to follow its fellow, clearing similar distance. The second Felucian spun over its own shoulder in a series of uncontrollable backward rolls to find a millennium of pain and suffering in the Sarlacc’s stomach.

One of the remaining two Felucians in the small party he had disrupted swung at him with their primitive maces, but Kalladrrl was on a streak now, observing their motions and adjusting to their combat style. He drew his left foot back and rotating his body to dodge the blow, grabbing the swinging arm with both of his hands and using his slight advantage in height to fling the Felucian down into the void beside him. It wasn’t quite the bodily throw he’d hoped to achieve, but any enemy casualty would be welcome. The last snarled at him in throaty rage and the Wookiee smiled at him, and it was the smile of the one who would bring that creature’s long, torturous death to it.

@TheBrokenMadMan

 

[Abigail Nimbus]

As the moments ticked by, and the fight above raged on, Abigail began to focus more and more on her new friend, retaining only a rough sense of her surroundings (enough that she could sense danger, at least). Bit by bit, their minds began to meld and coalesce, Abigail's mind being laid bare to the semi-sentient being as it's own mind was read by her, the two entities studying the other in a predatory understanding. She saw it's prey, all it's prey, from the millenia it had languished here, sacrifices from all corners of the galaxy: Twi'lek, Trandoshan, Toydarian, Felucian, Togrutan, even another Sarlacc at one point, dug out of the ground while it was little more than a child. This creature had been here long before the Sith, and it would be here long afterward, most likely, so it was relatively easy to win it's allegiance. All she asked for was food, a little company now and then, and when the situation called for it, protection from those who would seek to do her harm.
I have sat here for eons, I have met many four-limbs, and many two-limbs, and all quashy fleshy thing inbetween. I yearn for a break from the endless void, and I yearn for food, as do I wish protection from those that would do me harm for simply being as I am.

Abigail took a gentle hold of the Ancient's mind and began to calm and caress it's neural pathways, releasing endorphins and stimulating it with conversation, a mental massage, if you will. Normally, she could bend a creature to her will, as only predators understood, but a Sarlacc was no mere beast, she had a mind and a personality of her own, and she had to be won over. Thankfully, Kalla was all too happy to chime in at this point, three Felcuians falling into the pit below. Instantly, they were entangled in the Ancient Abyss' tendrils, being dragged into it's maw with a demonic strength unlike any other. Their screams and fear only seemed to add flavor as the Sarlacc consumed them and imprisoned them inside it's belly, a wave of euphoria flooding it's and Abigail's brain. Abigail almost broke the connection by accident from the sheer enraptured feeling that took hold, her back arching as he threw her head up, grinning wide and groaning softly.
See...we will feed you all you desire, any species, any shape or size, let us fill you, protect you, and keep you company...

"Kalladrrl, ahaaaa, it's working!!" She yelled out, her voice a cross between triuphant joy and sensual moaning.

@Rexx

 

[Kalladrrl]

Damn, but the thing was fast! The Felucian had another of their primitive maxes wielded in two hands and came for a bash to the Wookiee's chest which he did not have the time or reflexes to dodge. His armor absorbed a lot of the blow but that didn't stop a sudden shock of pain running through him. Kalladrrl did not let the creature enjoy its victory before he lurched down and forward with a savage swing of his thick skull, which caught the Felucian squarely in its own brain case and sent it sprawling. The Wookiee bent down, trapping its writing as he dragged it to the lip of the crater from which Abigail bellowed up at him in a mixture of triumph and ecstasy. He hoped, for her sake, that she had the strength of will to not be subsumed by a creature of that cyclopean scale with countless lifetimes of experience.

With a quick twist of his body, Kalladrrl fed the Sarlacc once again, and the Felucian meat that tumbled to its doom squealed pitifully the whole way down to its new life as the eternal hunger’s plaything.

He hoped again that its cruelty did not overwhelm the crafty, courageous Sith he'd seen slide to the center of the pit with no apparent regard for her safety. You couldn’t pay Kalladrrl a billion credits to go sledding in a damn Sarlacc pit.

The Wookiee had a moment to catch his breath, but only just for a moment as a strangled howl came from the top of another rolling hill. Another war party, another four Felucians. These, however, raised their howl together and trilled rhythmically, shifting pitch to project it as far as possible. And Kalladrrl heard similar howls in answer and in a greater number.

“Great,” Kalladrrl said to himself sardonically. “They're bringing the cavalry.”

The Wookiee snarled into the pit, squeezing his wide diaphragm for his voice to carry like the clap of thunder itself.

“Gonna need some backup, from you or the Sarlacc!” Strong Wookiee lungs from deep diving and low atmospheric conditions amplified his baying into the pit. Could he fight a whole village of low-tech savages? Maybe. He might have to spoil some of the Sarlacc's dinner.

The four charged at him in pairs. They did not know what had happened to their fellows and had not seen the Wookiee fight, and it would be their downfall. Kalladrrl grabbed two at once at the junction of their elbows, snapping his momentum back quickly and sending them off their feet and flying headlong to their fate.

@TheBrokenMadMan

 

[Abigail Nimbus]

Another Felucian joined the maw, sending rippling waves through the conjoined beings as satisfaction slowly approached. Abigail was finding it harder and harder to hold on, but she knew she had to make sure that she joined them. They had already proved that they could feed her, but anyone could do that, it proved very little, so she started to do something a little different. Abigail opened her mind even more to the being, and let her into her memories, feeding them into the Sarlacc's mind like food - it wanted stimulation, so she would show her what it was like to walk among people as a two-legged, to experience things as she did. True, she was a sociopath with a warped sense of emotion and life, but she wagered it was still different enough that she would enjoy the experience.

She seemed incredibly receptive to it, drinking up her memories like they were smoothies, eagerly taking in all the experiences and sensations she had felt over 29 years of life. We may live in a smaller timeframe, but we also experience things more vividly and intensely than others, I imagine. Our experiences all shape us, and for many, our experiences can warp and change us as people, now you get to feel how grand those changes can feel. Her little show was somewhat interrupted as, even in her state of diminished awareness, she heard the horn in the distance, signalling more Felucians. More food for you...so, you've seen what I have to offer, and what I can feed you in mind as well as body...do we have an accord my dear? The Sarlacc, in response, started to rumble and shake throughout the pit, a low growl sounding throughout the area as it's tendrils began to move, life returning to them. I will be your beast, if that is what you wish small one.

Abigail looked up toward the raiding party, Kalladrrl asking for help from the two as he, almost effortlessly, tossed another two into her snapping jaws. Abigail nodded and pressed her ear against the ground, her eyes still looking at the Wookie above. Would you be so kind as to assist my friend? She got her answer as two tendrils, smaller than the rest, thrust up and wrapped around the Felucians waists, dragging them down and into the abyssal horror awaiting them.

"Kalladrrl...I think we have an accord," She said softly, the force projecting her voice high above.

@Rexx

 

[Kalladrrl]

There were too many of them, even for him. They’d quickly surrounded him, and he struck hither and yon, moving between strikes of all sorts. His hand, pointed and sword-like, struck down at a Felucian’s shoulder, crumpling it even as he wheeled on the next, zoning it out of his space with a spinning low kick. Another, and then another. He was a whirling storm of limbs, but even his prodigious strength wasn’t enough for the sheer numbers the Felucians pressed upon him. He lashed out with fist and claw, foot and elbow and knee and even as Kalladrrl repelled them, they pressed upon him from all sides. He felt a punishing blow to his knee and another to his back as the creatures finally found some measure of success against him. The din of the battle roared around him and he could hear Abigail speaking, but not what she was saying as he was brought low, pummeling blows from fists, feet and maces raining on him and causing him to low in pain. Was this the end for him?

It seemed like destiny, the cruel mistress of all things, had more in store for him; several enormous appendages shot out from the pit, entangling the Felucians within their writhing lengths, pulling them inexorably into the pit around which they and generations before them had lived. That all ended today. The Sarlacc grabbed enough that he had some breathing room, a moment of respite from the punishing blows rained upon him by angry Felucians. He rose, the Sarlacc’s tentacles framing him and he was a nightmareish archetype of violence and vengeance. How dare they lay him so low?

As he sprang to his feet, he felt the rage percolate to the surface and he viciously lashed out at all around him, ducking blows and sending more Felucians careening into the pit alongside the Sarlacc’s efforts. They worked in tandem to feed it and his rage knew little boundary as he accomplished his fell work. Kalladrrl was a blur of dark fur and thrashing strikes, twisting and throwing to no end. Perhaps he could fight a village after he had the snot knocked out of him and with the aid of a timeless subterranean horror.

@TheBrokenMadMan

 

[Abigail Nimbus]

She had to admit, for a moment there, Abigail was getting a little worried. She looked up to inform Kalladrrl that the Sarlacc had joined with them, only to see the Wookie being overwhelmed by sheer numbers alone. If the Ancient one hadn't joined the fray and worked for her supper, then chances were Abigail would have went up there and fought back herself, with whatever level of success that might've had (probably none, heh). Still, that was neither here nor there, because the Sarlacc seemed to have taken a liking to them now. The two tendrils it whipped up to retrieve it's meat were quickly followed by others, ripping and roaring and consuming all they came across around the wookie. Abigail let out a hearty laugh as Kalla rose from the blood and ashes of defeat, the mighty warrior howling to the sky as he gained his second wind and slaughtered all those who opposed him...Abigail really had to stop watching Game of Porgs.

She had already started to gently slip out of the Ancient Abyss' mind when Kalladrrl resumed his target practise, hurlng more and more into the maw beneath. It was fun, feeling what she felt, but ultimately, Abigail knew she wouldn't be able to take much more of the intensity that the Sarlacc underwent daily. She patted the moist ground beneath her and uttered a silent thank you before leaping up to the structure, joining her companion after he had disposed of their adversaries.
"Ok, I think out work here is done, the Ancient Abyss is now our friend," She crooned happily, practically glowing with chipper spirit as she offer her hand to the Wookie for a shake.

@Rexx

 

[Kalladrrl]

The Wookiee panted as the Felucians were consumed, and as the fight was broken he felt waves of pain from multiple impact points wash over him now that the chemicals that animated his rage had subsided. He hadn't had to spoil too much of the Sarlacc’s feast and he hadn't drawn his lightsaber, but he and an eons old creature burrowed into the soil had defeated an entire primitive village. This was gonna be a story he'd enjoyed telling.

After he healed up from his thrashing, that is. Those maces had done quite the number on him, and as Abigail spoke he felt a welter of blood accumulate in his mouth which he spat out as politely as one could manage in that situation, turning his whole body and doubling over, watching the thick mix of fear saliva and blood ooze into the dirt. Kalladrrl turned back to her and smiled broadly, eagerly shaking her hand.

"You did good down there. Must take a strong will to treat with a Sarlacc’s mind and remain whole.” He chuckled weakly, coughing and feeling new bolts of pain shoot through him.

"We got a decent hike back to the shuttle and as much as it pains me figuratively and,” he paused to cough again, smirking at the timing, "literally to say, I need a little patching up. Let's roll, Abigail.” He moved slowly and stiffly, but proudly as well as he strolled through the thick vegetation, away from the ageless death monster to which he had just fed a village. A whole interrelated family of families had come against them and they emerged with their lives, and every bit of pain was a lesson to the Wookiee as well. He thought of Alask’vrein, and the lessons Kalladrrl had taught him through pain and wondered if they would ever meet again. He mused that making new allies made him maudlin about the past, but there was always a new opportunity waiting in the future for an enterprising problem solver like Kalladrrl.

//end thread

@TheBrokenMadMan @The Matt