Ask Missing, Presumed...?

[Ariadne Blain]

They called Dubrava the armpit hole of the Galaxy. Ariadne often wondered what an armpit hole was, before deciding that she didn't need to think about it much more. What Dubrava actually was ended up being more important: a sparsely populated planet covered in humid, sticky swamps. Ariadne knew the place from her cargo-hauling days, conveniently located on a trade route whilst being way the heck out from anywhere anyone cared about. Perfect for smugglers, fugitives and mercenaries.

What better place to start stealing people away?

Nobody cared what happened out here, so it was a prime target for slavers and general scumbags. Dangerously close to Syndicate space too, which could explain the missing people. Mind you, in her experience, criminal groups usually left a trace. And they didn't pick off people one by one. Ariadne inspected the reports in the backroom of a cantina. An old smuggling friend had settled down on Dubrava a few years back and knew just who to call when people started disappearing.

"... no discernable pattern. Khoan and Naxes on this day, Hela the next, then nothing for three days until Verexa." The green skinned Dubravan stood opposite Ariadne, pointing at various maps. Crosses were drawn were they were last seen. Dots marked last known locations. Various scribbles and lines around, vague attempts at connection.

"No patterns at all? No meetings beforehand? No mysterious ships? No slimy scumbags hanging around the spaceport?" Ariadne asked, poring over the documents.

"Nothing. Well, no more than usual on the slimy guys... but if they were slavers, they'd have hit a farmstead, or a whole little swamp hamlet, right? Not just one or two here and there." The Dubravan sighed, before looking back up at Ariadne. "You will find them, won't you?"

"Cut with the sad crap, Harlow, it won't solve anything," Ariadne told him, before nodding. "I'll damn well try. I have a few ideas, but I'm waiting on help."

"Help? You need help?"

"A Jedi never acts alone, Harlow."

The Dubravan snorted. "I still cannot believe you, of all people, went off with those freaky Force people."

"Better than staring at your face all day." Ariadne smiled and looked back at her datapad. "She should be here any moment. Then we'll head out, see what we can dig up. I'm hoping Knight Demici has some bright ideas."

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

Dubrava was an...interesting planet. Not exactly one of Sybella's usual haunts but now she could certainly add it to her ever-growing list of locations. In reality, the kohl-eyed knight had become quite familiar with the Outer Rim; recent missions had exposed her to some of its more 'colourful' aspects. Crooks and criminals, pirates and picaroons. The irony wasn't lost on her though, as now she looked and acted more like a nomad than a noble. It was a fair observation, given her prolonged travels. Come to think of it, when was the last time Sybella visited the temple of Yavin IV? Weeks, if not months? Perhaps she ought to check in at some point... after the investigation.

Finding @Ariadne Blain wasn't too difficult; one simply had to seek out her signature and follow the Force. Finding her way into the cantina's back room, she gave a brief yet well-meaning nod as a greeting. From the looks of it, the Tiefling had been busy putting her ear to the ground, gathering intel from a green-skinned Dubravan; Sybella had tried to do the same, though with less success. Despite her shrouded, unassuming attire, she was still an outsider and people were wary of strangers.

"Blain, right? I hope I didn't keep you waiting. I was, uh, taking in the sights." Truthfully, there wasn't much to see on Dubrava. It was the galaxy's armpit, after all.

Whilst the younger knight hadn't had the pleasure of working with Ariadne, she had certainly heard some tales. Many spoke of steadfast confidence, whilst others made comments on her more cynical nature. Worse could be said for Sybella though, so who was she to judge?

Deciding to focus on the task at hand, the silver-studded Jedi retrieved a small datapad of her own. The recent report, the one made by Ariadne's contact, made the entire situation seem quite baffling. "I don't know about you, but these disappearances don't strike me as the work of slavers. Quiet, selective catches aren't their usual style. Same for raiders and scavengers. They take the loot, not the people."

So, who exactly was it stealing the people of Dubrava? Only one way to find out...

@Charndley

 

[Ariadne Blain]

Ariadne noticed the new addition as she slipped into the back room. She returned the nod, presuming it was Knight Demici. She knew little of other Jedi and she'd certainly never met her before. What she'd heard was always complimentary, as well as talk about her more noble demeanour. What she'd make of the Tiefling Knight, Ariadne didn't know.

Her contact, Harlow, raised his arm and pointed to Sybella. "See, she agrees. Maybe all you Jedi aren't so useless."

Ariadne rolled her eyes some more. "Knight Demici? Nice to meet you. So we're not thinking slavers. Not raiders or scavs or anything like that," she said, ticking each option off on her fingers. "So... could be anything else. Looks like we're going hunting."

Harlow looked between them both, suddenly more nervous. "You don't mean..."

She nodded at her friend. "Yup, we're probably going into the swamps." Ariadne turned towards Sybella, eyebrow raised. "If there's a bunch of people hidden out there, I'm pretty sure we can find some evidence. Maybe something in the Force that can take us there," she suggested with a shrug. Wasn't like she had any better ideas. "Harlow, if we're not back in a few days, be a doll and inform the Order we're more than likely dead."

The Dubravan stared at Ariadne open-mouthed for a couple of seconds in disbelief. "I can... try and do that."

"Lucky I brought my thick boots," Ariadne boasted, tapping her heel on the floor. "Anything else you wanna grill Harlow about, or should we make tracks? I've got some local guide maps to the immediate swampland here but... we may be relying on our own navigational skills."

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

"The swamps? How exciting..."

Bidding Harrow a subtle farewell, Sybella would make her departure alongside @Ariadne Blain. The marshlands seemed like a sensible place to start; the area was rather remote and well removed from immediate townships. Comings and goings would not be as easily witnessed and, if indeed the missing were unwilling in their disappearance, no one would be around to hear their pleas for help. Serenno, Sybella's home planet, didn't have such boggy terrain; it made the kohl-eyed knight somewhat wary. Anything could be hidden amongst the swamp and its murky depths, including (but not limited to) dangerous flora and fauna.

But it mattered not. There were people in need and a Jedi's duty was to help those in trouble, regardless of the place or person. During Sybella's travels, she had learnt that even the smallest of victories could make a difference. One good deed could grow and blossom into something truly astonishing, with enough faith and patience. It was missions like this that appealed to Sybella the most; she could see for herself the impact she was making as a Jedi. It might not be grand, or lore worthy, but it was genuine. It was right.

Before embarking a step further, the heiress decided to be honest with Ariadne. Rather sheepishly, she admitted, "I must warn you, my skills in navigation leave much to be desired."

Another factor to consider was the accuracy of these so-called guide maps. Were they detailed in design or crude in their contents? Only time would tell. They could very well be flying into the situation blind and the irony certainly wasn't lost on Sybella. She tried not to dwell on it too much though; after all, the two of them were Jedi. What was the worst that could happen?

"Do the maps show any structures or landmarks? If I was lost out here in the swamps, I'd try to find some sort of shelter...preferably before dark."

Spoiler

Sybella's sense of direction: 2/20

 

[Ariadne Blain]

As they left the cantina and turned towards the marshlands, Ariadne shrugged in reply. "My navigational aptitude is based entirely in space. I've been here plenty of times," she shared, "but one bit of boggy, murky marshland looks much the same as another in my experience." She neglected to mention that her time on Dubrava was mostly spent smuggling various illegal assets.

Reaching into her pack as they walked, Ariadne unfurled the map. The fact that it was a crinkled, physical object was pretty telling. Pausing for a moment to properly open it out, she showed her fellow Knight the map she'd been given. The area of the marshlands they were bordering was large, and there was little in the way of helpful details. Plenty of different places to go if you fancied some rare flowers, or a sample of fungus.

"I feel like I've been cheated a little," Ariadne mumbled, making a mental note to track her guide down and smack him round the head. Fortunately, there were a few indications of interesting landmarks. "Seems like we've got a couple of old villages a little ways in here," she said, pointing out a dotted line path towards two locations. "Then deeper in, we've got a couple of potential freighter wrecks and... what looks like a ship? An actual swamp ship." She frowned again, peering at the unclear symbols.

"I think the villages first. Camp there, see what we can find?" Ariadne suggested. It was better than nothing. Besides, it was the only real place that their map suggested a path for. Everything else seemed to be a murky, mixed up route through bogs and creepy, giant lizards.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

Trying hard to hide her fading faith, Sybella hoped the Force would do a better job at guiding them than this poor excuse of a chart. The map was indeed rather limited and was only able to give a few rough references. Still, she had to give @Ariadne Blain credit; something was better than nothing.

"A village? Well, I suppose any plan is better than no plan."

Taking possession of a large, slender stick, the Serennian used it in a manner similar to a probing rod. Whenever uncertain of the path ahead, Sybella would jab at the ground, testing its integrity. Navigating took quite a bit of time, especially as they were crossing a sea of endless sinkholes; green grass might look solid to the unwary eye and next minute easily turn to water the moment a foot makes its tread. If you were lucky, you'd drown quickly, the murk of swamp swallowing you whole. Those who proved to be unlucky would get to meet what lurked in the water instead. Aquatic monsters with teeth like daggers and never enough to eat; their poisonous maws worked just as well as any weapon.

As the light began to wane, Sybella couldn't help but stop. In distance, there was a pair of eyes, glowing in their luminescence. Soon enough, another set appeared, followed by another. Apparently, they were being watched by every living thing. The swamp was apparently curious as to their presence, and all manner of creatures had come to observe.

Stopping mid-step, the kohl-eyed knight absently muttered something under the shallowness of her breath. "Eyes. Eyes everywhere and no blind spots are left..."

Realising she had spoken aloud, she looked apologetically at Ariadne. She hadn't meant to sour the mood with such words. "Sorry. It's...from a poem. Seemed rather fitting."

Looking at them once more, a faint light in the distance could be seen; shrouded in the swamp's hazy fog was the aforementioned village. It seemed like a better place as any to begin their search.

 

[Ariadne Blain]

Ariadne felt the uncertain ground beneath her feet. The mud sucked at her boots, clinging desperately and hoping to drag her deeper with every step. She'd known a few people who'd lost things to the endless swamps and strangling muck of Dubrava and she didn't intend to join them. Instead, she kept close to Sybella, just in case either of them needed a hand.

When the eyes lit up around them, surrounding the Jedi with creepy glowing pin-pricks, Ariadne shuddered. "I should've gone to Niamos when they asked me," she muttered, largely to herself. "They told me that the wildlife was okay, so long as we didn't get too close. Or look too much like food," she shared with the other Jedi, before looking down at herself. She'd never looked particularly appetising, but hey.

The gentle glow of the village came as a relief. They were old, small communities with people that knew the swamps inside and out. Ariadne felt her spirit lift somewhat. They'd be able to ask someone about the rest of the swamp; the people here knew it like it was part of their family. They lived it, breathed it, loved it.

"We'll find someone to help us out with the maps, maybe give us an up to date version," Ariadne suggested as they approached the centre, encircled by small, wooden buildings on platforms above the stinking, muddy water. "Might be that they've seen something... unusual..."

Her words came to an end as they stood in the middle of the village, looking around. The lights were on. The doors were wide open. There seemed to be nobody there at all. No noise but the humming of lights, the buzz of insects around them and the gentle creak of a window shutter, swaying in the swamp breeze. Nervously, Ariadne approached one of them. A small home, it seemed like. She peeked inside, seeing nothing unusual. Some old chairs, worn with age. A few books and petty possessions. A plate, topped with half-eaten food.

"This is recent..." Ariadne said, looking at the relative freshness of the food. Her eyes flicked to Sybella, confusion apparent.

"Just what is going on?"

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

Like @Ariadne Blain, Sybella's optimism quickly vanished. It appeared as if the entire village had been abandoned; hearths and homes were left vacated, with chores it seemed forsaken too. With slow, measured steps, the Jedi ventured further, inspecting every inch of the place for even a shred of explanation. Ari was right. This was a recent anomaly.

Glancing about, the kohl-eyed knight also made an interesting observation."I don't see signs of a struggle Perhaps they went willingly?"

But where? The swamp. It was the only answer. Something had compelled the village folk to venture out, to enter into the murky bog without much prompting. Sybella didn't know much about the locals but even she could see this was indeed strange and unusual behaviour.

"Let's keep looking. Maybe we'll find-"

Something had fallen from behind the rustic home, sending some piled refuse to scatter. Someone hiding, perhaps? Nodding to Ari, Sybella made a cautious approach, peering around the corner just in case she was met with hostility. From the shadows, a shape charged. Drawing her saber, the Serennian prepared to strike, only to stall her hand at the last very moment. Confronting them was nothing more than an adolescent kath hound; a rather irate one at that. It was most likely someone's pet judging from the collar around its neck. Poor thing had been left behind, tethered amongst the scattered rubbish.

Sheathing her blade once more, Sybella regarded the mutt with a degree of nostalgia. It reminded her of someone; Faen, a fellow Jedi, had a canine companion as well though if you wanted to split hairs, Boy was a massiff - still, the two were nearly inseparable and that animal was undyingly loyal to his master.

It made the knight wonder, perhaps the kath hound had the same sense of fidelity. They could use it to track its owners.

"Easy, my furry friend. Easy." Calmly, Sybella knelt down, offering her hand to the beast in order to sooth it. The Force sure enough gentled the canine's wrath, reverting it back to a much more amenable nature. Untying its tether also helped to improve its mood. "Let's find your family."

Seeming to understand her intent, the hound yipped, already pressing its nose to the sodden ground. There was some snorting, and a puff of air before a direction was set. Indeed, they needed to go deeper into the swarm...

"Think of it like this, Ariande. We found ourselves a guide, and he's a local..."

 

[Nick Shaw]

He had been tracking the group for weeks; Night's Embrace is what they called themselves. They had been snatching people all over the place, it seemed. They were random, but they left tracks if you knew how to look for them. The trail had led him to a backwater world, Dubrava. Was this just another stop on the group's kidnapping spree, or was this something different? This time, his intel had been recent; he hoped he would still catch them.

He had been poking around the village for a short amount of time. It was a ghost town, all of the signs of life were there, but there was no one to be seen. He had crept from house to house, looking for any clues, when he heard the barking. The sudden noise caused him to jump. It had been a while since he had been given a good scare, but this place creeped the hell out of him.

Nick peeked around the corner, and a lone woman knelt before a dog. She was talking to herself. He stepped out quietly, not making a sound. He had a blaster in a cybernetic hand. "Keep your hands where I can see them," he said, taking another step forward. His Secter Ranger badge was clearly hanging from his chest. "What is your name, and who were you talking to?" he asked the woman as he scanned for an accomplice.

 

[Sybella Demici]

Growling, the kath hound betrayed Shaw's presence at the very last moment; Sybella, however, chose not to acknowledge it. Answers were needed, and in order to get those answers, she needed to ask the right questions. Admittedly though, she would have preferred a conversation without the weapons. The blaster, drawn and trained on her, was not greatly appreciated. Just the very sight of it made the Jedi's fingers twitch; for a moment, she wondered if she should just ignore the stranger and make a grab for her saber. A glance over the shoulder did, however, make her think twice.

Standing up slowly, the veiled lady couldn't help but flash her hands in a playful show of surrender. "Well, well. Isn't this a pleasant surprise? A sector ranger; a lieutenant, no less."

Having never met one in person, Sybella felt rather charmed at the new encounter. From what she understood, sector rangers were a coalition of enforcers and few could escape their long-reaching arm of the law. Hopefully, they weren't in the habit of arresting Force users.

"I am Sybella Demici. Knight of the Jedi Order. As I'm sure you're no doubt aware, there have been a number of disappearances, here in the area. My companion and I were sent to investigate. I suspect you're here for similar reasons?" Believing she had garnered some leniency, Sybella finally lowered her hands.

Things had to be serious if sector rangers were getting involved. Perhaps if they pooled together, they could share vital information. "Ariadne, it appears we have some company."

An awkward silence passed and Sybella felt compelled to call out again. "Ariadne?"

Searching the Force, the young knight was dismayed to find there was simply nothing. The Tiefling's presence had simply vanished. How was that even possible? Was she hiding from the ranger? Doubtful, given Ariadne's nature; she'd just rather confront the ranger, not shrink from view. Darting inside, Sybella found the dwelling was exactly how she had left it - except for the backdoor. It was open. Had her fellow knight seen something in the swamp?

Everything appeared as expected. Murky waters and lofting thickets. There was, rather strangely, a retreating mist and moving within its confines were several shadows. Was Ariadne among them?

"Well, that's not good..."

@Raydo

 

[Nick Shaw]

He studied the woman for a moment as she said she was a Jedi. He had met some fine Jedi in the past but had heard plenty of stories of bad ones in the Galaxy. He honestly didn't know what to make of the group. He lowered his blaster as she lowered her hands but left it unholstered.

He raised an eyebrow as she called out to someone who wasn't there. "Oh boy, this droid is short a few bolts." he thought. This place creeped him out enough without dealing with a crazy woman. He seriously considered taking the woman into custody and waiting for backup when she bolted.

He leveled his blaster reflexively in case she had been running at him, but she dashed inside. "Hey! Stop!" he cried out, splashing through a puddle after her. He almost ran into her as he entered the house. There was nothing of note in the room except the open back door. "Why did you ru..." he stopped mid-question, seeing the fog beyond the door threshold. Shadows moved, one larger was moving away from them, but three darted back and forth. "Oh, what the hell..." he said as some shambling creature stepped out of the mist towards them. Two others joined it as they made it to the door.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

Drawing one of her lightsabers, Sybella fell into a practised stance. "I'm sorry to say this, Lieutenant, but it looks like we have a fight on our hands..."

The warning couldn't come soon enough, as a second later, a large paw (leathery in texture) reached in to take a swipe; on the tip of each webbed digit was a long, protruding claw. Whatever the creature was, it slashed and sliced at them. Its movements, however, were clumsy, as if encumbered by its own sheer size. Forced to take cover, Sybella dived out of reach; a nearby table was not so lucky and in one mighty swing, it was reduced to nothing but pieces. One thing was clear - the beast, too large to actually enter through the threshold, was fighting blind. It knew they were in the dwelling, it just couldn't figure out how to reach them... yet.

Luckily, for the creature, it wasn't alone; two more were on the move, just outside. Thudding steps were heard along the roof of the shelter as the support beams groaned under the straining weight.

Cursing under her breath, Sybella motioned for Nick to give her some ground; she could only hope the ranger could hold his own, even if only for a couple of seconds. "They're two more on the roof. They're routing us. Cover the front door!"

The largest of the creatures was still by far the biggest threat; if it kept on thrashing about, the whole structure would collapse right on top of them. With one decisive strike, the arm of the animal came clean off. The limb, now lost, tumbled to the ground and came to rest right at Sybella's feet. It looked like something that belonged to a large mammal - oddly enough, one that was not a predator. The first thing that came to mind was something similar to the beasts on Yavin IV. A type of swamp sloth . They weren't known for being overly aggressive, so why were these three variants acting so hostile?

Better yet...why were the creatures so silent? Wild beasts made all sorts of noises. Shouldn't the sloths be grunting, at least? Despite losing its arm, there was no howl of pain. Simply nothing but mindless movement. Sybella, reaching out through the Force, was startled to find there was simply nothing out there. Not even the faintest of signatures. Impossible. Everything living thing emitted some sort of presence...

Unless, of course, they were already dead.

Looking down at the amputated arm, the Jedi gave a bewildered cry. The flesh of the beast was practical putrid; ugly, yellowish skin barely disguised the workings of muscles underneath. Even the bone was partially visible at the different joints. It appeared the beast was in a state of decay, especially when Sybella saw its face peak in from the mouth of the house; from the depths of the swamp's dark heart came a pair of milky eyes; it confirmed the Jedi's suspicion. They were utterly absent of life.

"Zombies.....They're...zombies?"

 

[Nick Shaw]

He jumped back, stumbling backward until his back was pressed against the far wall. His eyes grew wide as a supernatural fear crept into his mind. The creature swung blindly inside but he was out of its reach for now. Two large crashes sounded on the roof. His blood turned cold at her following words.

Zombies? His mind immediately flashed back to Onderon. He had lost his hand to AMS Zombies there. His breathing quickened, and his skin grew clammy as a flashback of his past gripped him.

POUND. POUND. POUND.

The walls shook as the creatures pounded against the house. This was a poor village, and this house wouldn't stand long against the creature's assault. Even as the front door was blown open by one of the other creatures, Nick looked in horror, frozen.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

When the severed arm continued to spasm, Sybella (without hesitating) punted the offending limb right across the ruined room. Still, it continued to twitch. The necrotic discovery was certainly a disturbing one. Even now, the Jedi could hardly believe it. Undead creatures? How was it even possible? Archives mentioned such monstrosities, but nothing like this. There was something sinister at play...

"Ranger! Snap out of it! Some cover fire would be very much appreciated right now!" Why was he just standing there? Had he been scared stiff?

Wait...fire...?

Given the circumstances, it just might be crazy enough to work.

Pushing aside her fear and fright, Sybella focused on her empty hand; she pictured a glowing light and then imagined its warmth. As she breathed, with purposeful pace, the mirage would swell; imagined heat soon became a scorching sensation until, finally, the molecules within the air itself combusted, bursting into explosive flame. A column of fire erupted and it took all of Sybella's fortitude to keep it tethered. It was a powerful element, with equally destructive capabilities; a mere lapse in focus would prove catastrophic.

With determined grit, the knight directed the blazing vortex outwards, towards the face of the exanimate beast. Flames engulfed the head and, though delayed, there was a reaction. Lurching back, the enormous sloth reared up, its one remaining arm swiping hazardously at its own melting flesh. It was as if the creature was trying to put out the flame. Yet it burned. It burned until all that remained was its charred cranial skull. Soon, rather sluggishly, all struggling ceased, even as the fire licked at the remaining fur and flesh.

The jaw bone, however, suddenly unlatched and from the gullet came a feeble cry. The sound belonged to no natural animal; instead, it morphed into something entirely different, something more...sentient. Though the sound was somewhat distorted, Sybella could have sworn she heard the screams of a woman. It didn't last long however as soon the blaze claimed the entire beast.

All fell silent. Even the two remaining creatures had halted in their frontal assault.

Wasting no time, Sybella rounded on them; the door might have been breached, but the smaller lemures were hesitant to enter. The knight said nothing, and instead, chose to brandish her still-smouldering hand. It was a warning, one the remaining beasts seem to understand. They retreated, one lumbering step after another until finally, they sank back into the depths of the swamps.

Sheathing her blade, the Jedi released a shaky exhale. "Well, that was unpleasant...Are you alright, Lieutenant?"

Spoiler

Dice:
Pyrokinesis: 19/20
Intimidating the other beasts: 18/20

 

[Nick Shaw]

Fear gripped the Sector Ranger as strange creatures assaulted their shelter. Luckily, the Jedi had been a bit more prepared for the horrors that awaited them and reacted, fire bursting from her hands.

She finally broke through to him, and he snapped out of it and raised his blaster. He fired several shots, chasing one of the ones trying to get inside away. They fought for a few seconds, but the Jedi had turned the tide of battle, and the creatures retreated into the swap.

"No! What the hell was that!" he asked, his hand still shaking slightly. He had past experiences with undead creatures, stirring up old traumas.

"What the hell is going on here?" he rephrased his question, forcefully slowing his breathing.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

Blinking at the rather distraught ranger, Sybella didn't quite know how to react. For the most part, she was sympathetic; they had, after all, encountered something truly horrific. A complete and utter anomaly within nature - the reanimating of mammalian courses. The stuff of nightmares. Now that she thought about it, there had been an archive entry about something similar. If Sybella remembered correctly, the Jedi had fought zombies on Geonosis; hundreds of undead bugs, brought back to a state of 'life' by the use of brain worms. Ghastly business. Could something similar also be in effect?

The knight had several thoughts, but there was only one way to prove it.

"Ranger, I know this is difficult but please, calm yourself." Laying a hand on his shoulder, the Jedi offered comfort through the Force. Just enough to soothe his shaking. "This might be hard to hear, but I believe someone made zombies and was somehow controlling them. More than likely, they are also the one who is responsible for all this. The missing people, Jedi Ariadne's disappearance..."

Looking back towards the swamp once more, Sybella knew there was one course of action. "We must follow those creatures."

With that, the Jedi left the hovel, moving quickly so as to not lose sight of the shambling shadows. Luckily, the inhabitants of the home had a rickety swamp speeder tied at their mooring dock. It wasn't exactly in the best of conditions, but it would do. Glancing back over her shoulder, Sybella gave Nick one last assessing look. "I know this is a little out of your area of expertise, Ranger, but there are lives at stake. I'd very much appreciate it if you helped me in this endeavour."

She said all this whilst holding out her hand. If Nick accepted, Sybella would help him climb it. Of course, he could refuse and she wouldn't blame him if he did. This was a rather unorthodox situation - though she hid it well, even the Jedi was feeling a little perturbed.

"I think we'd make a great team, you and I..."

 

[Nick Shaw]

Nick let out a long breath as the Jedi laid a hand on his shoulder, feeling the soothing touch of the Force on his mind. His eyes focused a bit more, looking at the Jedi Knight before him.

Was this tied to his case? It had to be; it all seemed a bit too coincidental. "Do you know who they are?" he asked, sliding his blaster back into its holster.

He nodded. "Agreed." he said. As much as every muscle told him to run from this place, he knew he had to press forward. That, at least, was a familiar feeling all law enforcement officers face on a daily basis. "I'm sorry about my freezing up. I have had... experiences with these sorts of things," he said, his metal hand twitching slightly. Had it been a decade since he lost his hand in the AMS Outbreak? The feels felt so raw now, pulled back to the surface.

He took her hand, climbing on the speeder boat. "Let's get this over with," he said. He actually let out a chuckle when she mentioned them being a good team. "I'm with you; no need to oversell it," he said with a wink before taking a seat. So far, he hadn't contributed much, but that was going to change as they made their way into the swamp.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

Relieved at the ranger for finding his nerve once more, Sybella wasted not another moment.

The swamp was understandably rather eerie. Within its confines, darkness reigned supreme. The fog (ever-present) settled thickly over the murky waters, concealing the treacherous depths below. An otherworldly humidity filled the air, giving rise to a haunting mist that swirled and danced around each and every twisted tree. In this forsaken realm, strange and alien creatures lurked within the shadows, their glowing eyes reflecting malevolent intent. Sinister hisses and gurgles echoed through the silence as unseen entities slithered and crawled through the mire, their slimy bodies leaving nothing by glistening trails in their wake. As the pair ventured deeper,
only the unnerving calls of nocturnal creatures pierced the stillness, like gruesome symphonies performed by beings unseen.

Bioluminescent flora intermittently punctuated the gloom, casting an unsettling glow upon the scene ahead. These luminescent plants (with their ghostly hues of green and blue) seemed to whisper secrets, their wicked words carried by the wind. Gnarled roots emerged from the sodden ground, their skeletal forms grasping at the speeder like some misbegotten ghouls. The water itself was a foreboding presence, concealing untold dangers beneath its inky surface. Vicious predators could be laying in wait, their hideous forms adapted to the swamp's evergrowing sinister environment. Fetid waters occasionally rippled with unknown disturbances, causing Sybella to alter their course, lest they a lurking horror.

Nick might not be able to sense it, but Sybella was all too aware of the growing peril that currently surrounded them; the very fabric of the Force felt tainted; it was an oppressive sensation, like a weight set heavy upon the souls. Malevolence itself emanated from every nook and cranny. It was enough to make the Jedi shudder. In this desolate and menacing realm, the line between reality and nightmare was becoming blurred. It wasn't natural. Something foul was afoot.

Spotting a structure, that was entirely too suspicious, Sybella immediately cut the speeder's engine. How they were (quite literally) dead in the water, gliding ahead only on momentum alone. "Ahead. Look..."

It looked like a tomb, a crude one, made of mud, sticks and rocks. From its confines glowed a green light that was utterly otherworldly; chanting could be heard as else, if one was quiet enough. Looking over at the Ranger, Sybella's expression said it all. The missing people? They were likely all here. Why, exactly? They'd have to get closer, for a better look. Breaching the bank, the Jedi took notice of fresh tracks in the mud. The beasts from before had apparently returned from whence they came. This was their lair. With one last glance at the ranger, Sybella drew one of her sabers. She didn't activate it yet, however, believing they could still utilise at least some semblance of surprise. Undaunted, the Knight could breach the mouth of the structure, stepping cautiously down itself steps until the source of the light came fully into view. It was a great pyre in the centre of the room; dozens of people (the missing villagers, perhaps?) were on their knees, bowing in reverence. Nearby, chained to the wall, Sybella could see her fellow Jedi companion - unconscious, yes, but thankfully still unharmed.

Their greatest challenge, however, was not the half-rotted beasts. It was the master who controlled them. Standing upon a makeshift alter was a woman, garbed in robes of red. Adorning her were also beads of bones. If Sybella had to guess, the crone was (without a doubt) a Nightsister.

 

[Nick Shaw]

The swamp was undoubtedly an eerie place in its own right, but the horrors of before made it feel tamer than it perhaps was. Regardless, Nick was glad for the boat.

As they neared their destination, an apparent tomb, sickly green light spilled from the stairs downward. Nick jumped off the boat as they hit the sand, blaster already in hand.

They crept down the stairs, finding the group of kneeling worshipers and their captured prey. At the center, an intimidating figure presided over them.

Nick shot Sybella a glance which conveyed "How are we going to handle this?" as he readied himself.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

Surveying the scene before them, Sybella did her best to assess every possible outcome. Many of her thoughts, however, came to the same conclusion. The Nightsister was their greatest threat. Taking her out of commission should be their told priority.

"I doubt she'll surrender peacefully..." Admitedly, this was the Jedi's first encounter with a Dathormirian. Archives and datapads had mentioned them in passing, but this was real life. Judging from their situation, this Nightsister indeed possessed 'Force magic'. She had used it on the slothes, turning them into undead beasts. Was she also using it to influence the villagers? One way to find out...

"I'll push on ahead, as the vanguard. If you get a shot at her, take it - oh, and try to keep locals off my back."

Taking his shoulder in good faith, Sybella made her descent, walking into the heart of the witch's lair. With all eyes on her, Nick could remain hidden for longer. In a shadowed chamber, the air heavy with dark energy. Standing posed, in full view, Sybella ignited her lightsaber, its blue blade casting an ethereal glow across the room. Across from her, the dark side attempted to influence her Jedi opponent.

"Kneel to me, young blood. Submit."

The sensation was a awful one; like waves of ink were trying to stain her very being. However, it was nothing compared to other ordeals Sybella had suffered.

"I'd rather not..." Fortifying her mind, she remained resolute, much to the chagrin of the witch. "This is your one and only chance. Surrender now, and this can all end peacefully."

The dark sider gave a grusome cackle, as if she found the offer utterly hilarious. As far as the witch was concerned, she was a master of necromancy, able to harness the power of death and manipulate the forces of decay to serve her twisted desires. One mere Jedi wouldn't stand against her for long.

And so, the confrontation unfolded. The room itself crackled with tension.