Open Adumar Know Thyself

[Leon Baudelaire]

Leon stumbled through the crowded streets of Cartan City, Adumar’s capital. He felt sick, his guts churned like it was full of live snakes. He was pale and diaphoretic, his features were gaunt and his teeth were barred. Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong. He couldn’t remember why he’d come here. He could fathom what he’d wanted to do here. The place of his inaugural failure. The place where he’d been too weak to save his friends and family.

A deep seated cold began to form in the pit of his stomach, but he fought against it. He couldn’t let the hatred win. He couldn’t give in. Something in his shoulder cracked.

“Gah!” he hissed, dropping to his knees as his shoulder moved on it’s own accord. Leon screamed. The pedestrians around him parted. No one stopped. No one offered to help. No one ever did. The cold began to spread. He could feel it seeping up from his gut into his shoulders.

“No,” he pleaded, “No!” he demanded, “NO!” he screamed in agony as his body began to break and reform. Whispers from nowhere drifted into his mind.

“You should have stayed in your temple little boy…”

The civilians around him screamed in terror. “Run… get away from me…” he tried, but he didn’t want them to run.

A woman carrying her child fell. The kid’s arm was cut open in the fall and the smell of their blood filled Baudealire with a hunger like he’d never felt before. He could feel himself rising. A squad of AduSec formed up and took aim. The pin-prick laser’s dotting his ruined tunic and ripped doublet. The veins in Leon’s arms were black as tar and when he looked up at them. His eyes glowed golden, like a forest set ablaze.

The next thing he knew, he heard an inhuman scream, and the AduSec officers opened fire.

 

[Serene]

Spoiler: Music

Baylan Skoll Theme

Serene's eyes were closed and her palms were open and facing towards one another at a shoulder's spacing apart. A relatively plain vial floated through the air in the meditation chamber of the Sith's personal Black Vulture star yacht. Inside this particular vial was preserved crimson liquid belonging to a Jedi. It had been taken from a Jedi on Kashyyyk and was now serving a practical purpose for the dark side champion.

There were techniques, honed and perfected by beings like the Nightsisters of Dathomir. But Serene did not have the privilege of studying their methods, yet. For the past few years the woman was forced to self-teach, reverse engineer or discover any powers that were not taught by her master. Serene had focused on the blood for hours, days even, waiting for its connection to @Leon Baudelaire potentially reveal his secrets. The same was done to the sample gathered from @Ferrin Sipal for Serene do with as she pleased.

The Sith Champion's eyes flicked open and a smile crept to the corners of her mouth as she felt some feedback through the blood-trinket. An eyebrow raised in curiosity while her heart skipped a beat in excitement. The sensation was growing, something not very Jedi in her opinion. But it was something the Sith could focus on ever better since the fall of Coruscant. Now, her ship's class one hyperdrive was bringing her swiftly to Adumar. It was not precise, but the Sith felt she would be able to narrow down Leon's location once she drew closer. But for now, she continued to meditate and hone in on her target's location.

@Zay

 

[O'bog]

.
K N O W _ T H Y S E L F
Lost in Thoughts

O ' B O G

O'bog fluttered haphazardly around the bustling market stalls of Cartan City, his wings shimmering like those of a drunken butterfly. His pocket-filled jacket jingled with every move, revealing his current venture: procuring rare and often pilfered trinkets from Adumar's less reputable merchants. The nimble Ximpi knew the ins and outs of the underground, always able to turn a shiny profit.

"Oi, Rallo! Got any of them Nebula Crystals? The rare kind, not that watered-down shite ye pawned off on me last time," he jested to a hooded vendor, his voice dripping with mischief. The vendor just grunted, and O'bog let out a cackle. "That's what I thought!"

After successfully bartering, swindling, and just outright stealing from unsuspecting sellers, the weary goblin-pixie retreated to a shadowy cantina. As the door slid behind him, a fragrant aroma of exotic liquors and sizzling grilled meats greeted his senses. He settled onto a stool, one that barely supported his diminutive form, and signaled the bartender for another round of his now customary libation.

"Aye, lass, pour me one of them fiery whiskeys, the kind that burns a hole through the soul," he mused, slapping some credits on the counter. As he sipped, his mind wandered to darker places, and he felt a pang of sorrow deep in his chest. Ever since Zorya vanished into the abyss, the sting of her loss fermented in him. His consumption of alcohol had become something of a remedy, albeit a temporary one. Every drink was an attempt to drown the pain, to forget the face of his once-beloved Sith master.

"Blasted Sith Order! They're to blame, they are," he muttered under his breath, eyes watery. "If only I'd been there for Zorya, she'd be here, sippin' and laughin' beside me."

His self-pity was interrupted by a sudden scream, piercing through the ambient noise of the cantina. His ears perked up, heart racing. "What the blazes was that?" he exclaimed, launching himself off his stool.

As he emerged, he saw the AduSec officers, their weapons trained on something he couldn’t quite see. "Ah, feckin' hell! Can't a wee sprite enjoy his sorrows in peace anymore? What's next, a bloody parade?" He quipped, attempting to mask his unease with humor. Still, against his better judgment, he inched closer, curiosity piqued.

@Zay @Darasuum
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[Garo Dalle]

Garo was beyond tired; he had spent most of the night and morning trying to sell a story on fruit smugglers and how they affected the GDP or all the larger governments. The story itself was garbage, while there was truth was some truth to it, not one cared about fruit when the galaxy was holding on by a thread. What Garo needed was to get back to what he did best, and that was being in the thick of horrible situations. While there had been multiple attacks recently, they all came without warning and most had no large troop movements to tip him off. Garo needed to break a story soon, or his camera droid would be taking baths in vegetable oil. Garo was on Adumar for a connection into core space, things were heating up and he wanted to be close to the action as possible. His plan was to get coruscant and find his net gig from there, but he stopped at a food cart for a quick bite and a bath for his droid.

Garo was loving every second of whatever unrecognizable thing that was put in front of him, but he paused his lunch as someone stumbling out into the street. Her was dressed shabbily like a hobo, Garo stared at him thinking where he had seen this man before. The reporter paused for a moment and really tried to place him, after a few moments as the man began to stumble forward it clicked with the reporter that this was someone he knew. Garo had seen this man among the company of known Jedi. Garo rushed to action, this was the perfect time to get an interview piece he could sell to the Herald, “Come on if you are going be here, you are going to work.” As he grabbed his small camera droid out of its oil bath like a dumpling out of a plate. Garo prepared himself to start pushing through the crowds, but they seemed to part in apathy as the Jedi screamed out in visible pain.

Garo would rush into action, seeing the women fall, the blood from the child, and even a wounded Jedi. This was going to be an amazing interview, Garo slid into the mix, and his camera droid gained altitude to get a full view of the scene. “Here we have one of the intrepid Jedi heroes now, Sir The Jedi say they will keep it promises but Darth Raze says that is a bunch of smoke how does that make you feel?”

“Sir?” Garo was not heartless, once he was close to the Jedi could see the man was in pain, Perhaps he had just escaped a Sith ambush, or the repeated failures of a stagnant religious organization had affected him physically. The people deserved to know, and Garo needed to eat. “Has The recent uptick empire attacks caused a decline in recruitment...Sir?” Something was not right with this one, Garo began to backpedal and had his droid take his place, putting himself within the crowd gave him the advantage of getting action shots with the benefits of a meat buffer.

@Zay @Darasuum @Aberforth

 

[Trael Osso]

Trael had been scanning the shops unknown why to him he had begun taking in interest in weapon collecting. His reasoning for being on Adumar was simple he had heard rumor's of a particular type of blastsword or something the weaponsmiths made here. Suddenly a commotion not far drew his attention.

People were weaving their way through the crowd running from something. Followed by yelling from a group it sounded. "The bastards changing open fire." Changing now this peaked his interest. Continuing down the street he still couldn't see the heart of the confusion though he could feel the dark side welling up. Instinctively he would unclip his sabers while continuing to the source of the screams.

@Zay @Darasuum @Aberforth

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

”Steady men, keep a lock on him, but let’s not make a martyr of filthy force user, copy?” barked Captain Zerrick Kast. There was something off about his guy. The Force users they were used to had their menace about them, but this poor sap looked down right depraved. He couldn’t help it, he had to try. If he could get the guy to just calm down they could book him for a public— Who the fuck was that crazy karker charging toward the literal FUCKING screaming guy?

Zerrick started forward, “Excuse me, hey!” he called moving to intercept the reporter from stepping into the line of fire.

—​

Mara’s ankle burned like crazy… panic grabbed hold of her as lil Ren’s cry crashed through her confusion. Her parental instinct kicked in and her head whipped around to see her toddler crying behind her. Her eyes widened when she saw the wound on Ren’s arm, “Oh baby, I’m so sorry, c’mere!”

The Adumari woman’s eyes landed on the vagrant behind her daughter.

“This is your fault!” she screamed. Her heart was pounding and her blood was rushing. She stooped down to scoop up her child when she heard the homeless asshole’s voice, “Run… get away from me…” he said.

Mara froze. His voice was laced with urgency and pain, but his eyes… His eyes looked like they were on fire… and… and he was smiling.

—​

Leon’s breath came in ragged gasps. His body was beginning to convulse as searing pain in the pit of his stomach spread throughout his body. His other shoulder shifted down hard enough to dislocate. Leon screamed. He felt his femurs snap then extend. “GET AWAY!” he screamed, but... no one listened.

The pain was so immense he couldn’t register The Reporter barking question’s at him. Baudelaire doubled over gripping his rib cage as he felt the cartilage wiggle and come free. Suddenly, he couldn’t breathe. His eyes squeezed shut. A growl started to bubble up from his writhing guts. His lips pulled back from his teeth in a pained snarl—

@Aberforth @Darasuum @Darius @Javier esschoolbus

 

[The Beast Of Adumar]

Where the Jedi had been a massive fleshy abomination now stood. Two massive horns adorned it's head like a sinner's crown, and it's thick brute of a tail swished behind it. Dark side power radiated from the beast in the form of purple crackling electricity. The power of the dark side swirled like a tornado reaching for land. The beast inhaled a deep breath and the unleashed a scream that immediately blew out windows and burst ear drums.

The beast was darkness incarnate and it's hangar was insatiable.

It's burning golden eyes fell to Mara and Ren. It stepped forward when a flurry of blaster fire struck it's side. The beast snorted, then sniffed the air. His head whipped around to the AduSec squad. What was left of their formation was already crumbling. The fear leaking from them carried a sweet scent, but it wasn't the weaklings he was interested in. There was another.

Saliva pooled in it's fanged maw, running down it's mottled lips. The beast shot forward. It moved so fast that the blink of an eye would have missed it's charge.

A blood curdling scream punctuated the abomination's arrival. It's left hand was punched through the gut of an officer, entrails gripped in bloody clawed fist, while the other lifted and fired a stream of purple lightening into the beings scrambling away. The actions were simultaneous and the whole time the beast's eyes were locked on the Sith (@Javier esschoolbus).

It was time for The Beast to feed.

 

[Serene]

“Run… "

"get away from me…”​

"GET AWAY!"

The man's voice echoed distantly but became clearer with each passing moment. The intensity of the Knight's feelings, his power along with the blood totem would be the focus of the Champion's attention. Serene face tightened as she was transfixed by the turmoil in Leon's spirit. His weakened will allowed her to almost see him, bent over somewhere and pleading for someone to flee.

In the mind's eye of Serene, she saw the violent change though she was uncertain of how much of it was a hallucinated exaggeration. But despite any feelings of surprise, the Sith maintained her focus and connection to the thing that once was Leon Baudelaire. The Beast of Adumar felt different and she felt her heart skip a beat as its scream echoed through the Dark Side of the Force.

Rage and instinct were all that remained on the surface of this creature's mind. It was almost like an entirely different being and even with the totem, Serene had to maintain her concentration. She did not want to interfere, or even let this thing know she was watching it, yet. But with enough time she would be able to approximate his location, one way or another.

The droid brain piloting her ship knew not to disturb her in her meditation chamber, not that Serene would hear it inside her isolated room. The star yacht exited the blue tunnel of hyperspace and entered the system of Adumar. One of Adumar's moons cast a shadow in the path of the starship. The dark moon sat blotting out a vast expanse of the void and opposite was the planet's secondary moon, lit partially by the system's sun. The star yacht headed towards Adumar with haste and tuning its scanners to monitor the local interstellar traffic.

@Zay

 

[O'bog]

.
K N O W _ T H Y S E L F
Lost in Thoughts

O ' B O G

"Holy goblin' maelstrom! What've we got 'ere?" O'bog buzzed above the scene, his wings shimmering like a drunk firefly on a pub crawl. The cacophonous scream of the beast had just about knocked the spirit out of him, not that he had much to begin with. The electric scent of fear wafted through the air, mingling with the acrid aroma of scorched pavement and fried innards.

"Ye daft nitwits! Movin' about like headless gulls, y'are," he cackled, taking in the flustered AduSec squad, the quaking civilians, and the pitiable reporters who thought their chronicles were more pressing than their very lives. His eyes, luminescent and impish, skittered from the gruesome beast to the Sith that had locked eyes with it. "Ah, a lovers' tiff, is it? Should I fetch ye lovebirds some wine?"

But even O'bog's snark couldn't mask the quaking of his own insides. He felt the tugging, harrowing crawl of the dark side gnawing at the edges of his senses. His laugh was more a gurgle now, and he knew deep down he was but a moth drawn to a flame, an insignificant smudge in the grand symphony of chaos and despair that was unfolding below him.

His mind was a whirling maelstrom of conflicting impulses—his mischievous streak bidding him stay and soak up the drama, his craven core urging him to flee. "Ah, damn me lucky stars. I didn't sign up for no Sith versus Sith drama! That's darker than me Aunt Gerty's humor, it is!"

At the speed only a self-preserving Ximpi could muster, he zigzagged skyward, his voice echoing down as he did, "So long, suckers! Enjoy yer last supper with ol' Beasty! But remember, if ye find yerselves passin' to the other side, tell 'em O'bog sent ya!"

His laughter trailed off into the ether, dissolving into the cacophony below. His wings carried him further away, their rhythmic fluttering more frenetic than ever. Despite his bravado, O'bog couldn't shake off the terror that clung to him, like barnacles to a sinking ship. It was one adventure, one escapade, he'd be glad to be quit of. A tale perhaps too sordid even for a mischief-loving, tongue-wagging Ximpi like himself.

If he had hackles, they’d be up; if he had a tail, it’d be between his legs. But what he did have was a whole lot of airspace between him and whatever hell was breaking loose down there, and for once, that seemed enough.

@Zay @Darasuum @Javier esschoolbus @Darius
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[Trael Osso]

Trael had almost made his way through when an abomination towered over the crowd. Aloud scream caused any to buckle over ears bleeding. Barely able to follow its movements it attacked the group of security guards. Fist going through an officer while the second hand arced lightning out to the front of the crowd. Placing Trael at the front of the crowd now. Just as the beasts stare never left him neither did his leave the beast.

A flick of his wrist moved the mother and child away from the beast hopefully a safe distance away. Igniting both his blades covering him in a red glow he lowers his stance his right hand blade held back pointing at the creature while his left hand was held ahead of him diagonally upwards. Feeling the force around him tainted with the dark side. This beast may be of the dark side but Trael wielded the dark side plus he had his lightsabers.

@Zay

 

[The Beast Of Adumar]

As the Sith’s blades ignited, so too, did the beast’s unbridled fury. The AduSec officer The Beast wore like a bracelet was still alive. His hands tried to free himself from The Beast’s arm. The monster lifted the being up, fixing a single molten lava iris on his dead man’s gaze. The fear was succulent, but The Beast wanted more.

There was chaos everywhere. People ran, screamed, and cried. Speeder’s collided, a lamp post was knocked down by a speeder sending up a spray of sparks—

Suddenly, The Beast drew back and hurled the body of the officer at the impudent ant of a Sith. Then, using the body as a distraction, the beast shot forward. The force drew into it’s palm as it closed in. As the Sith dealt with the body, The Beast would fire a force push aimed at the Sith’s center mass with all the power of a child of Raze.

His intent was to incapacitate and devour.

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[Trael Osso]

The beast seemed to be initiating a challenge. It flung the body of the officer at Trael, causing him to leap over it and land behind where the beast had originally been. To his surprise it was now where he used to be. Putting up a barrier due to welling up of the force. Although to his surprise it broke through the barrier causing him to fly backwards a few feet.

Barely able to orient himself he just corrected himself landing on his feet but immediately dropping to a knee. Getting up he crossed his blades in front of him. Prepared for the creature to make another quick attack. All he could hope is that it was vulnerable to lightsabers.

@Zay

 

[Serene]

The dark side champion continued to reach out and immerse herself in the chaos on the surface of Adumar. The blood totem allowed her to see a red hued path that was like a faint contrail leading somewhere on the planet. Serene projected her perception ahead of the ship, rapidly traveling along the blood-trail. Her point of view flew through the clouds of Adumar dropping below the sky's upper reaches and looked upon wherever the Jedi had first made planet fall. If the Jedi had taken his own personal ship, she would see where it was parked.

The woman did not linger on the transport and her focus was instead on finding her subject. As she grew closer the sounds of screams and combat reached the meditating Sith. In the meditation chamber her brow was sweating from concentration and excitement. The malicious source of the Dark Side was immersed in the ground around the Beast of Adumar and it helped Serene project her presence there until her ship was able to draw closer. The woman's presence came into focus just in time to witness the hazy form of Trael get thrown by a powerful push. Serene had not expected to see the fellow Champion on Admuar but it hardly changed anything.

Serene had witnessed the broadcasts of Darth Raze's conquests and new a bit more than the average galactic citizen thanks to the resources at her disposal. But that was enough for the woman to be more intrigued about the beasts that were the spawn of the Sith Lord. The faint moments when Serene had felt Raze's presence through the Dark Side she could only describe it as a force of nature and this thing that Leon had turned into was akin to that.

The droid brain piloting the ship would already be heading towards the major space port with increased security. If it were not for the Adumari civil war going on there would have probably already been a planetary defense response by now. But even then it would not have done much against something like this. Coruscant was a spitting example. A holonet broadcast also provided the black vulture star yacht with another means to stay updated. The vehicle would begin to make its way through the upper atmosphere. The vessel did not wish to appear like a hostile aircraft during this time.

@Zay @Javier esschoolbus @Aberforth @Darius

 

[The Beast Of Adumar]

The Beast’s eyes remained transfixed on the Sith. It’s gaze leered down on the Champion as it took a step forward. It would feed. It would consume. It would devour. Hatred incarnate permeated the massive creatures' steps. It stooped down, ripping a downed light post from the ground and hurled it at the Sith.

The dark side of the force began to swell within the churning inferno of The Beast’s anger. It took it’s time closing in on the Sith. It was in it’s nature to play with it’s food. The monstrosities molten gold eyes never leaving The Champion as it closed the distance one step at a time.

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[Trael Osso]

Trael had recognized that he wouldn't win a straight up brawl. He watched as the creature took slow steps towards him. It then launched a light post at him. He didn't move instead using the force to redirect it. His focus never leaving the abomination.

It continued making its way towards him. The force was swelling up around and in the creature. Though normally Trael would be willing to close the distance and let his sabers do the talking, but his foe was of unknown power or abilities. The force began to swell around him as his sabers began to cackle with electricity. He enhanced the weapons with force lightning. Giving him a slight edge as he would be able to launch any lightning attacks from them now.

@Zay

 

[The Beast Of Adumar]

Like a volcano erupting for the first time in centuries the dark side exploded within the beast. The crackling electricity across the burning blade gave the monster no pause. His lumbering steps continued to close in on the little morsel. A meaty clawed hand lifted, fingers open. The Sith would feel the force suddenly wrapping around his body. The fingers on the monster hand began to close and that pressure would begin to grow.

The Beast shot forward. One hand extended out as if to grab the tiny being, that hand was shrouded in the dark side, and would be prepared to counter should the Sith attempt a feeble rebuke.

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[Trael Osso]

Trael watched as the beast continued making its way towards him suddenly he felt the force beginning to wrap around him. His sabers immediately stopped cackling as he moved the focus and effort to preventing being crushed. The force pushing back from his body against the coiling force of the beast.

Then he felt another tremor in the force as the beast launched towards him. The hold on him weakened slightly as the beast divided it focus into shrouding its hand. This gave Trael the slight opening he needed. He dashed to the side allowing the grip to tighten slightly. His aim wasn't fully avoidance though, his dash put him to the side of whichever arm was attempting to crush him. The crimson blade hummed as it made its way for the elbow of the beast, seeking to remove the arm.

@Zay

 

[The Beast Of Adumar]

As The Beast closed in, The Sith made their move. They fought back against the constriction of the force, but their focus shifted just before they fully escaped the invisible strings.

The Beast’s extended fist suddenly clenched and the tendrils of the force locked down across the Sith’s shoulders and upper torso , cinching tight like a noose as the Sith attempted their strike. The sudden restriction would alter the trajectory of Sith’s attack, bringing it up short. The tip of the lightsaber burned an angry line across the back of the beast's tricep, all the while, the monster’s molten gaze never waivered.

The smell of burned fetid flesh filled the air as the pain fueled a force scream aimed at the force bound Sith’s center mass. Its intent to kill and consume. If the Sith managed to slip his bonds, the monster’s hunger would demand it chase and hunt them down.

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[Trael Osso]

Trael's strike was aimed true when suddenly the grip tightened. It caused his strike to glance the beast instead of maim. The smell of its burning flesh filled the air. The sith immediately pushed against the bindings finally getting free. This left him open to the scream of the beast.

Dropping to his knees as he couldn't defend in time, he reached to cover his ears as he began to try and use the force to dampen it. Though it worked the scream did leave the sith stunned momentarily. As the scream ended and he gained composure. He let out a force push at the creature trying to distract it and buy himself some time.

@Zay

 

[The Beast Of Adumar]

The Beast’s baleful scream stunned The Sith. As the Champion’s hands lifted to their head, The Monster attacked. With supernatural speed it whipped around thrashing out with it’s thick tail at the kneeling Sith.

The attack was aimed at their exposed and unguarded torso. The impact would be strong enough to knock out a Rancor. Anything smaller would be sent flying with a trajectory aimed at windowless buildings surrounding the combatants.

The sound of sirens could be heard in the distance. The chaotic murmur of panic and fear had fallen away only to be replaced by the howl of incoming armed forces. Soon, The Beast’s feast was finally gathering.

Soon he would gorge.

Soon he would sate his hunger.

@Javier esschoolbus