Ask Just Another Team Building Exercise

[Nevizkas]

Climbing was definitely not in the top ten list of things that Cyutadakyr ever wanted to do on a good day. And on the freezing edge of a damn mountain, practically alone and chilled beyond measure the pureblood angrily pouted upside down. Despite her best efforts to regain composure and resume her ascent, it had continued to end the same wrong way. It was only by pure stubbornness had she clung onto the tiny nodules of ice protruding from the wall, a lame attempt at copying Azar's feat.

With a dramatic crack, the ice gave way sending the pureblood tumbling down unceremoniously causing her to land painfully on her back. If not for her attempts to dampen the fall with the force, the journey could have ended right there and then for the aspiring Sith.

Angrily spitting a mouth full of snow out, she looked up at the mess she had made. It wasn't enough that she'd embarrass herself in front of the metoze zeirja, but to do so in front of Sah'ra? Perhaps it was a crueler fate to have survived.

"I'm not doing it." Crossing her arms Cyutadakyr simply refused to follow in the literal footsteps of those who had gone ahead. Looking up she couldn't even see the others anymore after they disappeared onto the plateau above. To give in and use the easy path was an exercise in frustration, a bludging of her pride and wounding it after how confidently she had strode forward. There was absolutely no way ...

Cyu shivered as a blanket of snow started to settle on her knees. Brushing it away, the realization that a singeing pain was searing its way through her heavy clothing followed her lower half chilling away. Jumping up out of the cold she angrily groaned before staring at Azar's trail for what seemed like an eternity. "Fuck I'm doing it", she had no plans to freeze to death down here and besides, as she started to ascend, he'd never know.

@Tulos @Sreeya

 

[Trael Osso-Drast]

Realizing that everyone except him and one other have made it up the cliff. With the embarrassment of falling the first time and pain from the bruises he can’t contain himself anymore. He launches himself up the cliff coming past the others as they talk. He flips landing in the middle of the bunch looking up “Hello there. Oh did you guys have fun with out me?” He says looking to the dead beast.


rolled a 19

 

[Darth Arcanos]

In a galaxy of trillions of races and species where the overwhelming majority spoke Basic as a second language or not at all, it was curious that the Sith Master (@Tulos) and the Zabrak (@Scoobert )were puzzled by Azar’s slightly different speech pattern. Either they grew up uncultured and sheltered, or they were outright bigoted against anyone that couldn’t speak perfect Basic. Both would register them as imbeciles in Azar’s book.

He was pleasantly surprised when O’bog didn’t throw him under the proverbial speeder. Azar gave the little creature a nod of his head, finding a rare moment of mutual understanding with him. He said nothing in response to the Sith Master subtly chiding him for thinking like a Sith normally would. He had to remind himself that these Sith operated different than how he was raised, so he decided he would simply find other ways to get what he sought.

Azar stared back as the Sith Master honed her focus on him, eyeing him suspiciously as if he was the sole self-serving individual in the group. He remained silent this time, doing his act of giving a respectful bow before gesturing towards the cave to allow her to proceed first. He knew other beasts ventured in there and she was more than welcome to meet them first. While the others started to move towards the cave, he paused to use his blade to carve off a part of the beast's horn. He would grind it up for one of his experiments after this.

In a welcome reprieve from the tension, the other Pureblood (@Xorism)finally crested the hill, looking miserable and injured. Azar eyed her with amusement glinting in his eyes. He knew he didn’t have to say anything – his knowing, shit-eating grin would likely provoke her.

@Phoenix @Aberforth @Javier esschoolbus

 

[Zorya]

While the others engaged in their squabbles and ego measuring, Zorya remained still, her steady gaze scrutinizing the scene. O'Bog, on the other hand, was a ball of irreverent energy, his tiny wings fluttering as he zipped and spun in erratic patterns, heckling at the group's banter with characteristic abandon.

"'Tis a mighty fine gathering of prattling ne'er-do-wells we got 'ere!" O'Bog cackled, his sharp eyes gleaming with mischief. "Try not to strain yerselves with all the senseless blabberin', lads an' lasses!"

Unmoved by the cacophony, Zorya's thoughts were undeterred, focusing on the potentially deadly cavern before them. It was her silent world against their audible one, each starkly distinct, yet undeniably intertwined. Her nostrils filled with the sharp tang of iron and the stench of burnt flesh, and the cold mountain air, tinged with hints of sulphur, clung to her palate. The cave’s mouth yawned ominously before her, a welcoming abyss, dark and uncharted.

Finally succumbing to the pull of the unknown, Zorya wordlessly ventured towards the cave, the chatter behind her receding into a dull buzz. The darkness was an all-encompassing shroud, its cold tendrils licking at her skin as she entered. O’Bog's chirping laughter echoed eerily in the darkness. "Watch yer step, darlin'. Wouldn't want ya to stumble on yer dignity now, would we?" he taunted with a grin.

As her eyes adjusted, her gaze fell upon an abandoned mineshaft nestled in the shadows. A mischievous smirk tugged at the corners of her lips, and in the hushed silence, she exchanged a knowing glance with O’Bog. Working together, the duo began their mischief-filled task, tampering with the minecart’s mechanisms, the shrill sound of metal on metal punctuating their operation.

“Now ain’t this a beautiful sight,” O’Bog cackled, his hands smeared with a mix of old grease and dirt. “Leavin' the rum lot behind while we go hunt the beastie ourselves!”

The incessant chitter-chatter of the group seemed closer now, their doubts and squabbles irrelevant echoes against her determined resolve. Let them bicker. She would claim victory.

As she tinkered with the mineshaft, Zorya couldn’t help but feel a surge of exhilaration. It was high time they purged the excess weight from their ranks. If Azar and Kal got there first, maybe she'd let them join her.

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar listened as the rest of the group said their piece. He wasn't too eager to climb the mountain with half the group if there was a storm coming in and it seemed that the Sith Master was adamant about not doing that.

His continued looking around revealed no sign of a dragon flying overhead (because that was about how obvious it was going to have to be for him to pick it up), so instead, he focused his attention on the people. Tensions were evidently high, and he didn't miss the sight of Zorya and O'bog - the only people here he actually knew - slipping away toward the cave. Well, Zorya slipped and O'bog kind of announced it the way he often did, but his statements about too much talking rung true to Kaldar. Plus it would get them into cover and out of this infernal wind.

He followed off after her, and down the mineshaft, hearing the creaking metal just before he saw the two messing with... something. He half expected her to attack him again at this point, but then, he was almost always expecting other Sith to attack him.

Better hurry up, they're not far behind, he warned quietly, stopping where he was and squinting against the darkness ahead. Further inside, dim became pitch black, and his hand reached for his lightsaber hilt purely because he was going to need it as a light source very soon, but didn't activate it yet.

He moved over to an ancient-looking console and ran his hands over it, looking for a button that would activate the lights and lifts down here. He didn't know about the others, but he didn't have dark vision, and while this facility was old, he could still see the remnants of lights hanging on the walls. Now whether they worked was another story.

 

[Drexus Brogroo]

Drexus stood by to hear out what the master had to say, and well it turned out that she didn't view the strategy the same way as them. It was unfortunate, Drexus doesn't like sharing but it was what the Master wanted so what she wants, she gets. The Zabrak would roll his eyes under his helmet, luckily for him his facial expressions can't be see by others so no one knows what he's thinking.

Once the group made the decision, Drexus made his way to the cave they spoke of. It was time to see what was inside. Riches, weapons, remains, even maps would make it worth it. Though at first he hadn't noticed much from where he was. He also didn't go first, for the sake of the first person in is a meatshield. So he stayed back a couple people then came back in.

The Zabrak kept his cool and took a look around the area as he continued with everyone.

@Tulos @others

 

[Nevizkas]

After an ardent climb, Cyutadakyr re-joined the group bruised, frustrated and judging by the look that Azar was sporting, vexed. Swiping the layer of rock and snow off her thick overcoat and with an ego to nurse, Cyu wasn't entirely surprised to see the others already moving on ahead.

Of course, he noticed and, worse, enjoyed it. Walking past him, she muttered "Nenx zo redis, manase sunus" while looking across her shoulder, checking if he'd join her. Naturally, she'd missed any and all the conversation that had occurred while she was re-climbing the cliff. Surmising that the fickle group raced off to hide from the cold elements, it likewise didn't surprise her that Azar weathered the temperature, even at great discomfort.

She'd be lying if she didn't have some measure of appreciation for the other purebloods efforts, considering her own had failed miserably. Despite the frosty climate, she'd offer him this one thing for now before they continued to join up with the others. "Tau visita nun Cyutadakyr, j'us?"

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar was surprised to see Zorya charge ahead into the cave. She knew there were tracks that led inside - meaning she was likely to run into whatever beasts were hidden first. Then again, she was solid with her combat prowess while he had other talents. He focused on the other Pureblood that finally graced them with her presence. The grin reappeared on his face as she warned against saying anything. He fell into step next to her, lowering his hood now that he was going inside the cave.

The cave was still a bit of a climb up, and he did the same trick as before. This time, however, he turned to regard the woman, "Rasiz tu'd zinot jri sulono amzi lauke anas cek, zila," He said with a grin as he extended a hand to help her up if she chose. Azar’s brow rose, "Tau visita tu anas? Zakari aras div su teres kiava," He mused, "Nu sua Azar Kressh," He said as they stepped into the cave. She would recognize the family name right away - Kressh was a powerful name in pureblood Sith history - one that endured despite the many attempts at erasing it.

He could tell the others had been tinkering and he saw O’bog around some of the mechanisms which didn’t bode well. This was when he noticed the Sith Master had just outright vanished. Azar looked around, brows furrowing. That was not a good sign, and he was even more compelled to let the others venture in first.

In the distance, down the shaft, movement could be heard.

@Xorism @Phoenix @Aberforth @Scoobert @Javier esschoolbus

 

[Zorya]

O'bog, perched atop Zorya's shoulder, watched as the others began to filter into the cave one by one, eyes glinting in the dim light. He ceased his fiddling with the mineshaft's mechanism, adopting an innocent look that wouldn't fool a blind rancor. His gaze lingered on each newcomer in turn; Drexus in his helmet, impassive as always; Cyutadakyr, roughened from her climb and exchanging heated words in Sith with Azar, and finally Azar himself, casting his eyes about with unmasked suspicion.

"Ah, the whole merry band's 'ere," O'bog muttered, his voice a gravelly whisper in Zorya's ear. "Best put on our dancin' shoes, love."

As the last of their group joined them, Zorya's focus shifted to the mineshaft. Kaldar had managed to activate the archaic controls, and with a low, grumbling hum, the interior of the shaft flickered to life, the dim, eerie glow hardly a comfort in the looming darkness.

"Darker'n a black hole in there, lass," O'bog grumbled, but Zorya's resolve remained unshaken.

With O'bog firmly rooted on her shoulder, she leapt into the mineshaft ignoring the low growl coming from below. The leap was a leap into the unknown, a plunge into a palpable darkness that swallowed her whole, snuffing out the last remnants of the cave's ambient light. Her senses were flooded with the smell of musty earth, the chill of the underground, and the sudden, deafening silence that drowned out even her own breathing.

O'bog’s grip tightened on her shoulder as they descended, the pixie's usual bravado absent in the face of the abyss. "Well, ain't this a proper pickle?" he whispered, his voice quivering in the void.

Meanwhile, back at the entrance, the creaking and grinding of the sabotaged mechanism echoed ominously. Whether the others would be able to follow was uncertain. But Zorya did not look back. Instead, she embraced the darkness, the unknown, her steadfast determination piercing the black abyss. She was Sith, a predator in the night, and darkness was her oldest friend.

@Sreeya @Scoobert @Phoenix @Xorism @Javier esschoolbus

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar continued to look at the console for several moments before finally settling on his course of action. He flipped several switches in sequence, pausing, and throwing a final one before hitting a final button.

There was a distant, noisy whirring sound and for a moment, Kaldar wasn't sure the generator was going to have any juice left in it, but it seemed the Force was with him.

Neat, he said as the darkness receded and the lights flashed back on. Although they weren't "bright" they did wonders compared to the otherwise-complete darkness, and gave Kaldar a better look at whatever had been done to sabotage the area.

Zorya yeeted herself down the mineshaft, but with the growling down below, Kaldar wasn't that excited about throwing himself in. He was a believer in finding out and planning for what he was up against rather than just throwing himself to his doom.

So, while Zorya and possibly the others threw themselves down into a possibly-sabotaged shaft and to a monster, Kaldar looked around the area a bit more for signs of anything useful.

17/20 for getting the lights/generator back on! @Sreeya @Scoobert @Aberforth @Xorism @Javier esschoolbus

 

[Drexus Brogroo]

Drexus, making his way through the cave with the others didn't bother much with the flirting or the getting to know anyone thing. In his eyes there was a set goal and if it didn't pertain to the mission he honestly didn't care. Then again, he did like socialization. Only problem was, no one here peaked his interest too much. A group of strangers to him, and the only thing they had in common was the Dark Side of the force.

When the generators cut back on and the lights illuminated the area, Drexus sighed. A fight in the dark would have one hell of a story to tell Ateyim, but nevertheless he pushed forward with the group. Should he be talked to he would talk with them, until then he was here for the head of a Dragon and their egg.

@errbody sorry for short post

 

[Trael Osso-Drast]

Trael followed behind the group as they moved into the cave. Reaching for his saber to illuminate the room. Before he could ignite it the lights had cut on, hearing the screeching of the mechanism he couldn't help but sigh.

Walking over taking note of those still here he only noticed two missing. The one who called them here and the woman with the shoulder assistant. Noting the low growling he would rather find another path down. He begins looking around the cave for one. Not wanting to fall into the creature lap.

@Scoobert @Sreeya @Phoenix @Xorism