Stirrings in the Force

[Dankar Maple]

Ruusan
​

A battle scarred Alabaster Escort Freighter descended into the Ruusan atmosphere above Olmondo, the ruined capital of the rocky planet. As he came closer, the feeling of death grew stronger and he felt more and more uneasy. He didn't know what the feeling was, or why he felt it, but he guessed it had to do with the force. He took the ship down to the edge of the city and landed on the street toward the town's center. "Looks empty enough... But why do I feel so hopeless?" Sarac asked to no one. He powered the ship down and exited to Ruusan's surface. Once outside the feeling of dread got exponentially worse. Something horrible most certainly happened on this planet and it resonated from the epicenter in full force. Each step closer he felt his instincts telling him to run, but he couldn't bring himself to leave and forever wonder what caused this. And so the Mandalorian continued through the town until he reached a large black obelisk marking the center of Olmondo.

It wasn't the epicenter, though it was worth investigating the town at least. The buildings were destroyed and looked as if they had been for decades, most beginning to crumble away already and others looking ready to collapse at any moment. "What in oblivion happened here..." Sarac wondered in absolute surprise.

@Mistress

 

[Mistress]

There is nothing more exciting than a relic hunt, one of the rare few interests which would peel her away from Vereshin's side, and Ruusan is so promising to give up stale human bones; she has three in her possession already! It certainly feels like misery made them! These shall produce spectacular magic!

"I will ask you how this outcome has befallen you, later," the Sorceress spoke to her newly dug treasure.

The Mistress Pom Stych Tivé heard the echoes of someone on approach for some time now. Her appearance often off-putting, and although entirely meant to instill fear, is certainly backed by her knowledge of her craft. Everything she dons is a sinister necessity for her. Only those who are of like trade would welcome the sight of her without first wincing. Not knowing how many members of which army happen to be present, although not sensing anyone else and she received no word of any one among the Sith to be here, she decided to forgo her typical persona for one more socially acceptable. Afterall, she figured that if someone present possesses knowledge of what transpired across this land, then they shall be far easier to convince to relinquish such information if they do not suspect her of sinister intentions. The spell to gather such from the bones of the dead can take days!

Before the footsteps became near, standing close to the central obelisk, she reached into her cloak pocket and withdrew her compaq. Within, she has a choice among different colored chocolates. They are chocolates only by appearance. Inside they are comprised of a most heinous cannibalistic substance. The Sorceress chose the one white with a red stripe. Lifting it between her delicate fingers, tipped with long sharpened nails, she chucked it eloquently into her mouth while tucking her compaq away. Her entire ensemble, including her hair and nails transformed from her usual black to that of white, eyes lite gray, and her lips now a bright cherry red. The necklace she wore for ages, fashioned of the decaying bones of her victims, now shed their repulsiveness to bearing a charm, glimmering in the shadows like strung white diamonds. She now takes on the farce appearance of grace.

The footsteps which she listened for over the rubble, stopped just at the opposite side of the obelisk where she silently stood. Upon hearing the individual speak aloud, whom she surmised to be speaking with himself, she suddenly anticipated wether a man's assistance would benefit her in her quest. At least, he might provide entertainment.

"I too have come in hope to solve this mystery, friend," the white witch announced as she slowly rounded the obelisk in a non-threatening manner, to come into view of the new arrival.

 

[Sarac Bralor]

Through the visor of his helmet, Sarac was able to make out intricate carvings in the obelisk, likely decorative, as well as pictures of different beings. Sarac felt he needed to record this in case someone knew of Ruusan settlements. "Carvings in the obelisk appear to be decorative, likely a marker that this is the town center or some kind of gathering place. Images carved into the obelisk may be dedications or some form of story telling, will need further analysis to confirm. The surrounding buildings seem colonial, possibly human." He spoke into the recording microphone within his helmet. But the sudden voice of another startled him. He quickly turned his head to the voice's origin and grabbed his 4C blaster pistol, aiming at the source. Though taking a look at the person who had seemingly appeared from nothing, he figured this woman was not directly a threat, or was trying to make it seem like that. He holstered his weapon and looked back to the obelisk, then at her again.

"Don't suppose you're a native, are you?" The Mandalorian asked, looking around to see if there were others. There weren't meaning it was only the two of them and it was she who was the second source of dread. A different one than that which he was following, but a power to be feared nonetheless. "Gods...this whole planet is filled with...I dunno? Darkness? I don't really get the whole Force thing, but something bad happened here and you are something awful, I can feel it." Sarac said feeling the shivers running down his spine and his stomach twisting in knots.

 

[Mistress]

"I am a relic hunter. Happened upon this place by accident. This whole place does seem to amply supply them. Every rock conceals its own secret," she said with a smile while eyeing the tall onyx stone, which she herself contrasted terribly. She nodded when he mentioned the sensation of darkness dwelling here, but shook her head abruptly the negative as he blurted out that she too might be in league with it.

"Darkness plays games with the hearts of good people, especially a great heavy burden of it. It makes them turn on one another," she denounced, as she ran her fingers across the writing of the obelisk. She noticed that it stood solid without a single crack or even a scratch on it for that matter. Her brow crinkled in wonder regarding it. "This was put here after the destructive force destroyed this town. I am certain of it."

Stych momentarily looked over the newcomer. The instance she turned her gaze once more upon the inscription covering the obelisk, she received a terrible vision. Now Stych is wicked where it is deserved, but she isn't sadistic enough that she even understands such incredibly dark magic as this. She has heard of such levels, but never fathomed crossing its path. She didn't even really know Vereshin that well yet, or understand how deep he is into similar things!

A loud boom echoed around the site wherein the two individuals stood. Stych instantly jumped at its magnitude. It physically hurt her innards, and her ears suffered a terrible deafening ring.

The sand shifted all around the area and under her feet. The obelisk rumbled as it suddenly descended into the sand. Stych scrambled to gain her footing as to not be drawn down along with it. It soon sunk down entirely out of sight. The earth trembled violently causing Stych to fall upon her backside. Where the obelisk had stood for years undisturbed by excavators, now the surrounding sand was being quickly drawn down into what could very well be a sinkhole.

 

[Sarac Bralor]

Sarac didn't fully believe that she was a relic hunter. She might hunt relics in her free time, but this woman gave him the creeps. And he liked it. She gave an air of danger that he respected. "If you're referring to me as a good person you're wrong. I turned my back on everything and forsake morals. Don't think I can even call myself a Mandalorian anymore." He said with a sigh. He inspected the obelisk closer and figured it was as old as the town, judging by the weathering. "Either that, or it's sacred to the inhabitants and their attackers." Sarac suggested.

He watched the woman as she seemed to space out, her mind wandering or something to that nature. He couldn't tell what was going on inside her mind, but she was clearly in pain because of it. "Hey, you alright there lass? Seem to be a million miles away." He asked, though more concerned if she was going to lash out from the pain.

 

[Mistress]

Stych heard his voice and that was that. He had abruptly ended her delusion. Nothing at all had happened. That wasn't so difficult. It really wasn't so bad. Right?

She withdrew her hand from the surface of the obelisk like it was a hot potato. "What terrible disease is this?!" she cursed through trembling lips. "Terrible!" she accused. "Horrendous!" Stych fell backwards upon her arse. She scurried in the sand, wanting to get far away from whatever masterminded this magic, knowing it to be far greater than most would ever achieve during their lifetime, even should one combine all of their great feats into one grand climactic manifestation! In reality though, not her sweet Vereshin. He can do such things; she just doesn't know the extent of knowledge of his craft. The darkside of the force was alright, but this congestion of it is just wrong!

"The force is broken here! Very, very broken!" She felt she might survive if she could get back to her ship now. If she remains, it will hunt them both, and make them into mere relics left behind for the next victims who come hunting!

The words of the inscription whispered on the wind..

 

[Sarac Bralor]

Sarac was taken aback by her sudden fear and panic. Whatever could make this woman so terrified was not something he really wanted to mess with. But it called to him, at least he thought that's what called to him. It was inside his head, talking to him where he couldn't drown it out. And he felt compelled to touch it. He removed his helmet, showing his face and a dazed look. He removed the glove from his right hand, dropping it on the ground. He reached his hand out and hesitated for a second before finally pressing his hand to the cool stone. Instantly he felt the strongest waves of the Dark Side flowing through him and a shooting pain throughout his body. It felt as if there was a lightning storm raging inside him, causing his muscles to tense and spasm, rhythmically.

With a great force of willpower he managed to pull his hand back, ending the turmoil within his head. "It's not broken, it's concentrated. Incredibly concentrated. This thing, it's a tomb. Thousands of souls trapped inside, all force users. It's...so powerful." Sarac told her. The words began to make sense as he read them further, an ancient dialect of whoever had settled here. He spoke the inscription, which sent a brief surge of Dark Side energy across the planet.

 

[Mistress]

The Sorceress tipped her head up and watched from her place sprawled across the sandy ground as her new friend did everything she had just done. Regardless of witnessing what happened to her, she suspected he just had to try it for himself. While it was amusing, it was also more than creepy.

'What? Tomb? How the hell does he know that?' she wondered as she stood and brushed herself off. "Thousand of force users trapped inside? I hope they stay there!" She is being honest. They don't know who is in there! They don't know which side these spirits are/were on? They don't know what type of can of whoop arse could be unleashed upon their pasty arses!

Then her friend began saying the inscribed words aloud, almost chanting, giving them life. The whole scene seemed to transform surreal. 'Maybe he isn't real either?' she felt confused. The planet pulsed as if with a refreshing breath.

She could feel the effects of the magic which most don't understand, or even believe in. Stych shouted, "NO! Don't say it!" She had heard these words before, read about their ancient origin, just never seen them written in their native script to have recognized them now. Magic long dead, now awakened. 'Joy. -Joking.'

She frowned. She continued her warning, explaining, "This is said to bring dead people back to life...as you know dead guys that come back to life?!" Adding, "Not friggin good idea at all, ya know!" She wants to get away from here, and from him if he should keep speaking!

Shadows moved around them, in the distance. Stych froze in disbelief. She knew that the ancient beings would not respect her for her allegiance to the Sith, nor for her knowledge of the magic of the current day. Spirits can be most arrogant, and everyone whose paths cross them will become their helpless victims. Vereshin would never believe that a Mando of all people, caused all this crap to start, and with just his mouth!

What do you do when you see dead guys walking around town, perhaps intending to obtain closure to their evil lives, maybe complete, or rehash events? You follow them, of course! That's what happens in every horror tale since the dawn of time.

Well maybe they will lead Stych to more valuable relics. That's enough of a good reason for her..

 

[Sarac Bralor]

Sarac could still feel the cold sting of the voices in his head, carving their words into his mind. And as they began to manifest the cold sting turned into a fierce burning. Only a few of the dead, probably no more than 20 spirits had been released, likely some of the last few to be caught by whatever trapped them. They seemed to be mostly adults in their prime, men and women of great strength who had likely been trying to outrun the catastrophe and failed. "They don't seem hostile. I don't think they're even aware of us. It's almost as if they're trapped partway." Sarac observed with eager curiosity. "The writing must be a spell or set of spells used to manipulate the obelisk to the user's end goals. Whoever caused this probably wanted to use it for power later. And whoever it was, they were a strong dark force user."

 

[Mistress]

Stych stopped in her tracks when she heard the Mandalorian speak again. She had been following the ghosts which traveled in the opposite direction from those upon which he seemed intently focused. They vanished before her eyes now as the voices inside her head continued to whisper on. She sighed because she wanted to follow them, regardless of her wiser instincts warning danger. The distant ruins continued to call her to venture toward them. Something rests among them there.

Looking now towards the obelisk again, she wondered, "Who are you Mandalorian?" She wondered because he claims to sense so much through the force! Once she stopped focusing on the other ghosts which had vanished, Stych immediately sensed him correct about his declarations. His statement lead her to determine the obelisk to be the key to her obtaining success in her curiosities.

Whatever is going down here today, this witch is in!! Vereshin can chastise her for her carelessness afterwards, if she ever decides to tell him about today, that is if she does get to leave this planet alive.

 

[Sarac Bralor]

Sarac examined the obelisk further, putting his college education to use. "I can't gather anything else, but I'm sure my old professor would be able to identify when this was made, by whom, and for what purpose. What have you gathered?" Sarac asked, turning back to her to see her ready to follow the ghosts. As he looked at her, he felt that something wasn't right, like his vision was starting to blur, but he couldn't figure why. "Wish I had majored in archaeology instead of starship mechanics."

 

[Mistress]

He completely ignored that she asked him who he is, causing her brow to furrow in scrutiny of him. She decided she would refrain on telling him her experience thus far. If he feels safe, then let him feel safe. It was the surfacing of her inner evil streak for sure. She looked at him intently and pondered, for a mere moment, if he is even truly a living being or an apparition; it was an instant she was most dangerous. Because of her natural wickedness, her farce image of a white angel faded and true dark form revealed. But she quickly concluded him a real being afterall, luckily for them both, she supposed. Were he a spook, then she would need to deal with him accordingly! She immediately recognized her state of mind to be directly effected by this obelisk.

Only a fool would utter the words of magic written upon an obelisk which emits spirits of the dead once recited. It would require a powerful magic spell to extract the power of the obelisk and contain the negative factors. Really though, the sorceress has no idea what she would further awaken that might need containing. But to charge her crystals or her relics with the arcane magic would be quite a beneficial gain!

Now how to do that without hinderance from this nameless one?

"You really don't look so good," is all she said in reply.

 

[Sarac Bralor]

Sarac had hoped to avoid revealing who he was to anyone, not knowing who knew the Bralor line and who didn't, but it was clear she was not happy that he had ignored her. He sighed. "My name is Sarac, I'm not a nice guy, and I'm not welcome back home. That's all you really need to know." He told her, set in keeping some amount of anonymity. At the mention of not looking good, he rolled his eyes and turned around, prepared to make some snarky comment. But his eyes no longer deceived him as the truth was shone and her face revealed. He was certainly stunned, but hardly in a bad way. He found her true face far more appealing than the facade she had before "Well hello there." Sarac said with a grin, taking in every detail of the dark, and surely lethal, beauty before him. "Why hide such an attractive face behind a false one? You might actually have a chance at convincing me to listen to you now." He said without regard for consequence. And why should he care? She was sexy, powerful, and clearly not one to be trifled with. A being he could truly respect.

 

[Mistress]

Stych nods while his name means nothing to her. After a grunt of acknowledgement pondering his statement, she decides to reciprocate an introduction. "I am Pomst." She told the truth, only she would not be identified among the elite of galaxy by her first name. "I am likewise not known as a nice lady," although she commands the respect as one, "...especially considering what may need to be done in order to walk out of here alive." Although she is currently uncertain as to what exactly has been awakened here, she suspects an advanced dark magic in motion. Her new acquaintance may need to abandon his idea of certain stigmas, those accused against the darker magic of Sorcery. Stych's magic often requires one do some things they are morally against. If she requires his involvement, the more he hates himself to begin with the easier it will be for him to commit to the success of the deed. Stych smiled, pondering how guaranteed, Sarac will hate himself even more come tomorrow.

"For some reason people have trouble accepting me for my appearance." She proudly dons the fashions of her affiliation, however did not wish to become the object of an ambush by the enemies of the Sith.

She found his comments about accepting her by her appearance quite peculiar, as no outsider has ever said such a thing to her. It seems as if he is suggesting he might believe to understand the darkside enough to be willing to be introduced to embrace it; a humorous lie most tell themselves. Again he caused her one brow to furrow in perplexity and the other raise high as she thought what to do about him here, when something intriguing is on the brink of discovery in this place. She could try and turn him away, but she sensed he was lead here for a mystical reason to serve a cosmic purpose.

"So you are gifted with the awareness of the Will of the Force, huh, Sarac?" she asked quite slyly. "To what extent?" She is curious of his level of training.

 

[Sarac Bralor]

Sarac nodded, acknowledging her name, but then turning his focus to the spirits that seemed to repeat some moment of significance to them. "Pomst, eh? Interesting name. Regardless, sounds like we might get along long enough to figure out what the hell is going on here." He looked to the obelisk again, reading its words in his mind this time, so as not to further activate the intended proceedings without the knowledge of what said proceedings were. Directing his attention to her again, Sarac found it difficult not to admire her, despite her claims of other people's reactions. "Well, unlike most of my people, I've always felt a pull to evil, a darkness within tugging me closer toward it with each vile act. Granted, I rarely acted on it, but I've found those Sith-y chicks to be more my type. Nearly gotten myself killed twice chasing a Sith for her affection. Once was an acolyte, the other was her master." The Mando admitted without shame. He couldn't tell she was specifically Sith, but knew she was enthralled with the Dark Side considering the uneasy feeling she gave him.

"According to the feeling in my gut that you're one bad schutta, might be. Some time ago a Jedi tried to barter her life by showing me a grand vision of the universe with all the force types glowing different colors, myself included. I dunno for sure, but at the most I can make small stuff float a bit." Sarac explained, levitating three pebbles in front of him.

 

[Mistress]

Stych didn't bat an eye when he mentioned them getting along. She is in charge over her star destroyer crew. The thought never even crossed her mind that she could actually require assistance which will benefit the resolve. She intended to use him if the situation called for it. Such as, if maybe a rock is hurling her way, she would toss him down in front of it, so its trajectory is changed and she is safe. And certainly if a ghost is hurling dark forces their way, she would add her prayer to assure the curse effect him, therefore avoiding herself.

She found it uncommon that he openly voiced his interest in working together; nobody outside of her station has ever offered to work with her to achieve a common goal. Usually such people are not within the Sith ranks, as he is not, and they suck at magic. In her annoyance, she typically entertains her fancy to put them out of their ignorant misery before they do any real irreversible harm to someone. She really did not spend the time to deeply evaluate his offer. She simply suspects at this time, that the result will be typical...he is going to suck at even trying, and will thus inspire her to believe he deserves death. It is merely the common unfolding of her common experience.

The sorceress sighed lightly, as he spoke, levitating a few pebbles. "Its highly likely that you have wasted your potential." She meant her unprovoked declaration quite sincerely. There is nothing more than she detests than wasted talent. It is far different than someone who tries and tries yet simply cannot do better because they don't have the blessing of the force to guide them. She would suspect him possibly a good fighter because of his force sensitivity. Her lips pursed and eyes narrowed in scrutiny of him. Maybe, just maybe, her opinion of him formed just a mere moment before should change? Maybe.

'Only time will tell if he sucks.' A queer smile formed along her lips.

It is obvious, from what he said before, he would like to try and free the sad trapped spirits. Stych on the other hand, would love to anchor them to some item she may easily carry away. Such an object can be utilized to achieve a great spell. The thought made her warm and tingly inside.

Maybe she can trick him? Sure. Why couldn't she?

"Do you know how to do anything else out of the ordinary? Perhaps I can show you how to do something else with the force." The wicked witch figures she can show him force push or how to hurl an object, either skill results in wielding a great thrust of destructive energy, and the end result could be that the pillar shall crack! She can then, right in front of his eyes and yet unbeknownst to him, bind the spirits of the victims to a shard and keep it for herself to use for her personal magic at a later date.