The Darkest Nights

[Sycorax]

Mood Music​

In the Temple of the Fanged God, a dark ritual was about to take place. The Cult of the Night Mother, an offshoot of the Witches of Dathomir, were gathered and knelt around the altar of their temple. At the head of them was their priestess, the only one standing, her arms spread wide before the altar. Green energy sizzled between them. It seemed to lift from the six sisters around her and focus itself around her two outstretched hands. And when she spoke, it was in the black speech of Dathomir: her voice darkened and boomed unnaturally in the altar-room.

"Mother, cast your light upon us," she said in a voice that was not entirely her own. Her sisters replied, but their chants were unknowable, spoken in a language older than the Holy City itself. "Show us the truth. Return from the Spirit World in all your splendor and guide us through the darkness that has fallen over the galaxy."

The energy in her hands was warm and crackled like emerald lightning. The Force was beginning to shift around them, darkening just over the altar. Slowly, the entire chamber was beginning to become deathly cold, as if all of its warmth was being sucked towards the altar. When the energy in her hands reached the peak of its heat, the priestess raised her hands towards the altar.

Then, she repeated the words she had only just spoken and, as she did, green lightning lanced out from her finger tips to the coldest spot on the altar. The resulting explosion bathed the chamber in unholy light and, from the vortex the explosion created, a Nightsister Mother emerged. But her reappearance was not without cost. The cultists gathered beneath her soon began to wither like mummies, the priestess who led them last of all, until they were little more than dried corpses on the ground.

Reborn Sycorax wiped the corners of her ancient lips as though she had just finished a meal. "Thank you, sisters," she said in her horrible way. "Rejoice that you have added your light to my own." @Deviant

 

[Leah Reach]

Nightsisters. Of course. Leah should have expected as much. To believe a band of cultists dabbling in the Dark Side could be the source of so much power and malevolence was wrong of the Jedi Master. Then again, she believed the Nightsisters were extinct. At least, scattered into the wind when the Sith ransacked Dathomir, or when the Mandalorians mowed through their home once more. It seemed the reemergence of the Jedi Order was not the only surprise to be found. No matter. Leah clung to hope and trusted they could overcome the threat of the Fanged Disciples and whatever infernal magick they possessed. It channeled the Dark Side regardless, so the Light was destined to meet it.

After clearing out the entrance and the cultists, albeit decoy distractions, Leah charged into the main antechamber of the Temple. Her eyes latched onto the ritual but before she could intercede and prevent the worst, the worst already happened. The ritual was complete, and as blinding light filled the chamber and the Jedi staggered back, a silhouette emerged. Bathed in green, rising as a spirit and a very tangible figure, Leah recognized the face of a Nighsister Mother. It had to be. Wasting no time, she held both hands to her lightsaber and ignited it. Blue light clashed with emerald. Master Reach was prepared to face down whatever the darkness had decided to throw her way.

Still, she was weak. Not simply physically, but mentally. While fighting the cultists outside had taken only a shred of her strength, Leah was conflicted. The grief she carried, from her child, her husband and the men lost on Al’doleem. The regrets she carried, from the exile of Aurora to Vu’thari’s disappearance. The doubts she held, for Master Luy and the Alliance Commander, over the future of the Rebellion and the Order. She couldn’t take the witch on her own. Fortunately, she was not alone. Behind her stood the finest of the Jedi and the Rebellion, men and women willing to lay their lives down to liberate Jedha from under the thumb of the Dark Side.

Side by side, they would fight. Together, they would prevail. Emboldened, Leah called out to the Nightsister, lightsaber positioned defensively over her chest. “Go back to the abyss, witch! Fall back into the nothingness that awaits you and your sisters.” Strong and determined, the Jedi Master was prepared for almost anything. She trusted the others behind her were too.

Spoiler: Tags

@TheMorrigan @Zay @Plebometer @Kayenta Moenkopi @Nommie @Nefieslab

 

[Crix Dolan (TL8)]

Crix followed close behind Leah, both blasters still in his hands from the battle in the foyer. His lightsaber was clipped at to his gunbelt and he was garbed in his Scout armor. They passed into the Temple and came upon a wicked scene. Sickly green power permeated throughout the ritual site, the raw energy making the hair on his arms stand on end. A grim tenacity settled into his bones as he stepped toward the nexus of the disgusting power. He stopped just behind Leah's left flank, preparing to follow her lead.

The weight of his weapons carried new purpose as he stared at the final obstacle. A Nightsister Mother, the enemy radiated dark side power. The pressure of her very presence standing as a testament to the raw power at her control. A wry excited grin settled on his scruffy face. He always wanted to smile in the face of death.

As Leah made her challenge, Crix stepped up to her side. She may have been his master, but she was also one of his closest friends and he'd be sure she knew he had her back in this. He was a member of the rebellion and the Jedi because of their fated meeting. If this were the last thing he did, it would be a fitting end.

"Let's finish this. For Jedha." He said standing at her shoulder as he prepared for the inevitable. The Rebel steadied himself letting go of his growing anxiety. This is what he'd been training for. His expression was personified determination as he prepared for the battle to come. With Leah and the others, he knew they'd be able to win. There wasn't a choice.

@Deviant

 

[Tycho Draykon]

Like Crix, Tycho followed Leah. He will follow very closely on her right side, his Westar Rifle in his hands. He is wearing his Alvladur-class Armor this time, what he chose not to wear while carrying out another mission on Jedha. On his left hip is his Westar pistol and on the same hip his echani vibroblade. The rebel felt that he is well armed and ready for this fight that is to come. All of his gear had served him well on previous battles. So there is no reason to doubt his choice of gear with him today.

The scene they came upon made the officer's hair on his arms and back of his neck stand up on end. It felt as though a bitter cold washed around him, leading the man to feel a little anxious. He had never faced a force sensitive opponent until now. The criminal has no idea what to expect, though he can imagine what the witch is capable of. Steeling himself, the rebel swallowed down the anxiety amd cleared his mind. All the emotions will do is cloud his judgement and get in his way. The man had prepared himself for the inevitable for today could be the day he meets his end. If that happens, he will accept it.

Besides it is far too late to back out now, nor will he abandon his comrades by backing out now. If they can clear this final obstacle then Jedha will be free. So as Leah made her challenge, Lieutenant Draykon stepped forward. His rifle aimed at the witch, ready to empty his clip into the evil being.

Alone Leah will have a hard time facing this witch, but with her allies here to help her. They will be victorious here today. Together they will take the witch down. He will do his part to help bring her down.

@Deviant

 

[Castor Chumeda Volante]

Castor was in pain.

He had taken a wound to his right shoulder during the initial attack on this location and he had managed to apply some kolto and a bandage to it but it was by no means healed. Indeed, his right arm could move but he wasn't going to be banking on using it during this confrontation at all. This meant that Castor had made a rather important decision and he hoped that he wasn't going to come to regret it.

His lightsaber was not going to be used.

Indeed, he had his lightsaber hidden by his robes on his left side. It was still within reach should he require it during an emergency but he was far less proficient with his left hand than he was his right. So instead of focusing on bladed combat in this fight, Castor was instead turning to the ally of both Sith and Jedi alike; he was going to use the Force.

Settling into a ready stance as he stepped into the chamber, Castor called upon the Force, strengthening his body and focusing it in his left hand as he held it at the ready.

The Nightsister in front of them right now was a beast of the Dark Side, a creature of such power and corruption that it was hard to imagine how the Galaxy continued to allow her to exist. Surely it was only by her perverse magics that she continued to draw some manner of breath?

Standing alongside Leah and the other Jedi and Rebels, Castor drew upon the Light of the Force and felt content. He was already injured and he wasn't sure how well he would fare in the coming battle but he knew one thing; if today was to be the end of him then he would ensure that it was an ending surrounded in Light and spoken about in days to come as a worthy sacrifice to save the Galaxy from the blight that currently occupied the same space as them.

Spoiler: Tags

@Malon @Deviant @Nommie @Zay @TheMorrigan @Kayenta Moenkopi @Plebometer

 

[Ner Giza]

Wading their way through the acolytes of this dark sect had been difficult enough, but it was to be nothing in light of what confronted Nera’s senses when she made it to the inner chamber. Were it not for the company of her companions it was doubtful she would have stuck around to see the nightmare that had just been birthed chance to notice her presence. Since coming to Jehda she and Tycho had rescued members from the order from a similar ritual but its purpose had been punitive more than what this obscenity turned out to be.

Her eyes couldn’t help but gaze in horror at the figures this abomination had consumed in order to step into their world. The Twi’lek thought she had seen the face of evil before. So many atrocities throughout the galaxy were committed by one species against another that one could only put evil to the blame, but this? This was of another calibre entirely and she could nearly taste the vileness bleeding out over the sanctum. It felt like suicide for any of them to be there, the fear was near paralyzing, and she wasn’t sure that death would be the worst that might befall them all. What twisted nightmare might await those who had been dispatched from this life by the hands of that monstrosity?

Oh she was geared for battle, her rifle and DH-7, the quick draw pistol, the frag grenades for balance and yet she didn’t know what use any of it would be against a being such as this. Her Lyaer'tsa sheathed between her shoulder blades, its shaft collapsed to but a hand hold, offered her no better solution. The force would be the only thing she could imagine being able to touch this woman, a dark mother stepped from the nightmare tales told round a fire. Only this time it was a fire like any other she had witnessed and it brought her no warmth. In fact the chill was washing over her from the resurrected witch as if she brought a bit of the grave with her for each of them. Watching her wipe her lips as though she had just dined, she wondered if such few numbers could ever sate this creature's hunger. Surely they were about to become the second course.

Perhaps she would be at her weakest now, the thought gave her courage not to fail, to think of a future where this thing was unleashed on the world growing stronger every day? They couldn’t fail here and she could think of no better battle to wage. Resolved to do what she could, it was in her mind that at all costs the Jedi must be protected or they would all fall to the darkness. Wielding her pistols, Nera fell in line to the right of Tycho, but slightly to his rear so she could cover those who would use the force. She wouldn’t put it past this witch’s ability to conjure up something to take them from behind.

Spoiler

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[Sycorax]

The witch smirked devilishly. These were not the Sith she had come to get revenge upon. The name of the Sith Lord who had sent her to the Spirit World still brought fire to her belly. She would hunt down and then burn down all that was his legacy. But first, there were these lesser beings to deal with. The Jedi, it would seem, had come to welcome her back into the mortal plane. She would oblige them.

Her voice boomed demonically, "So many Jedi come to die. But you..." Her gaze fell upon Leah. "I shall begin with you."

Suddenly, Sycorax burst into a fine green mist that swept over the gathered rebels like a dark gale. And then, for a moment, she was gone. But, the others would see, so was Leah. Leah reappeared at the apex of the steps in front of the altar, but she was different than before. A ghostly green aura enveloped her body, and, when she opened her eyes, they burned with green flames. A wicked grin was quick to spread across Leah's face, but it was Sycorax's voice that spoke when she opened her mouth.

"Ah, yes, I see," the witch said within her new vessel. "She has memories of each of you. You are all precious to her." The witch cackled darkly. "I will enjoy gorging on her pain as she watches me kill you all with her own body. That is," She now bore her teeth and a green mist began to escape Leah's mouth, "unless you are willing to kill your friend to stop me." The witch's dark mirth filled the chamber.

She took up Leah's lightsaber... and then smashed it with her raw physical strength, made unnatural by her Nightsister magicks. The saber burst into green flames, from which the witch drew a blazing sword of dark energy. She brandished the sword at them, but, at the same time, was focusing the Force elsewhere. At her level, she didn't need gestures to call upon the Force. Her telekinetic power cracked the ceiling above the Jedi, then split it, sending large chunks of duracrete showering down upon them.

OOC - @Deviant has given me the go for this. Sycorax is, just like last TL, a Level 4 opponent. Let's have fun, children. @Zay @Nommie @Nefieslab @Kayenta Moenkopi

 

[Castor Chumeda Volante]

Of all the things that could have happened next, the undead witch taking up residence within the body of his Master. He didn't need the green light to tell him that his Master had been overtaken by the disgusting witch of the Dark Side. The stink of the Dark Side permeated his Master in a way that it had never done before and it sickened him to think that she had been defiled in such a way, violated in such a way.

Anger was an instinctive response and one that came quickly to him.

And one that he squashed deep down within himself, removing the emotion from the equation as he took stock of the situation for a second before his instincts kicked in.

"Crix! Light!" he commanded his fellow learner, "Ner! Ty! Flank!"

They needed to have some form of co-ordination - especially seeing as Crix himself was not going to be moving. It required an awful lot of concentration for someone of his level to pull this off and he knew he would likely have to let the attack go if he was moving. So he trusted Crix to attack for him in the Force as he thrust out his left hand with a grunt of exertion as he caught the debris that had been falling atop of himself and Crix. With the rubble halted around them, he would fling it towards the possessed Master.

The nature of Crix's attack should harm the Nightsister controlling Leah but not Leah herself, while making the possession harder. Along with the more mundane advantages of shining bright light in someone's eyes; to obscure their vision. Hopefully enough to aid both flanking attacks. Castor's attack he was honestly hoping would be deflected, so as to avoid harming their Master. Even as he flung the rocks he was mainly just planning to distract the Nightsister from Crix's attack.

Spoiler: Tags

@Malon @Deviant @Nommie @Zay @TheMorrigan @Kayenta Moenkopi @Plebometer

 

[Crix Dolan (TL8)]

The Scoundrel, scowled as the dark side entity burst into a fine green miasma. He covered his face, holding his breath just in case the green mist washing over them was some sort of trick. With the gale past, Crix lowered his guard and suddenly began to panic, "Where's Leah?!" He called out.

Crix scanned the area frantically, he spotted movement out of his periphery, Leah reappeared at the top of the steps leading to the altar. Relief washed over him, but it was short-lived. His heart sank as his gaze fell on her eyes. The voice that rumbled forth was a gross perversion of Leah's. Crix stopped his mind.

There was only the Force.

"Crix! Light!"

Without question, Crix picked up on Castor's tip. He rushed to the other man's side and began to gather the force to him.

"I'm counting on you Castor!" He said over the rumble of the weakening roof. Crix ignored the fact that the amount of raw power needed to accomplish the feat was astonishing, and instead sank into the light side of the force. He could feel his palms begin to heat up as he prepared his attack.

Just as the ceiling gave way Castor went into action redirecting the falling debris around them directly at their enemy. Following Castor's lead Crix lifted his hands and unleashed a burst of Force Light aimed for their opponent's torso and face. His intent to weaken the Nightsister's control over Leah without hurting her as well.

Spoiler: tags

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[Tycho Draykon]

Tycho held his breath as the green mist enveloped the group, having no idea on how the witch planned to take the group out. His thought being that the mist is being used to possibly suffocate the group. But it will turn out that his judgement was all wrong. The witch was not moving to suffocate the group but to take over one of their bodies like a sick puppet. This was starting to get freaky rather quickly. Just what else is the witch capable of doing? All he was able to do was watch as the witch took over Master Leah's body. Defiling the jedi master as the witch turned her into a puppet to do her bidding.

Okay so the Lieutenant was not expecting for the Dark Witch to take up residence in Master Leah. He had no idea that there is such an ability. And for a moment it was unsettling to the rebel. If it can take possession of a body that easily then it may just be able to switch bodies as it pleases. Making defeating the thing, mist or whatever freakish thing it is much harder to defeat. Then came the thought that to defeat it may mean having to kill one of their own. The criminal may be willing to hit a low point to defeat an enemy, but he is not willing to kill a possessed comrade to do so. So as the witch spoke, the rebel officer shouldered his rifle and unholstered his westar pistol. But it is not a clip of lethal rounds that he will ram into place at the bottom of the handle, but a clip full of stun bolts. Granted the clip does not have as many rounds as his rifle clips, only having fifteen compared to the twenty five that his rifle has, but it should do the trick. Well Tycho hoped that it will work. He didn't want to resort to killing the Jedi Master. Then the speck of dust that dripped onto his shoulder telling him what the evil being was planning to do next answered it. And it made the man freeze in place. His head becoming filled with panic, fear and anxiety. One of his biggest fears is being buried alive and here is the witch trying to do just that. Even though he and the others may be losing their thoughts over what has taken place, Castor had kept his head in the game. The Lieutenant shook his new found anxiety and panic from his mind, telling himself that he should be doing the same to keep his head focused on the task at hand.

Then Castor gave him and Ner the order to flank Leah. Swallowing down his fear Tycho looked up at the ceiling as large chunks of duracrete came down at them. Taking a deep breath he dodged around the first boulder with some ease. The next he had to move a long ways around to get out of the way of. His movement will bring the criminal up on Leah's right side. As the man moved, he aimed his pistol at Leah's right shoulder. But as the man was about to pull the trigger to release three stun bolts, a falling boulder forced the man to move back and to his right some more. So instead of the bolts being aimed at the Jedi Master's right shoulder, the three stun bolts are now aimed at Leah's right breast.

Spoiler: Tags

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[Ner Giza]

The first thing Nera did when she saw the green mist was to flick down the face shield on her helmet and recoil from its touch. The force of that gale washing over her forced her to bend into it as it blew against the rebels. Whatever that gas was hopefully her armour would protect her from its effects. Just like that the witch was gone leaving her turning about trying to see where she might reappear.”Damn it!”, she blurted out when she spied Leah was gone. Her heart was thumping in her chest as alarm over Leah alone and in the clutches of that fiend took hold. Then just as suddenly the Jedi Master was back, but any elation that Nera might have felt was quickly exterminated by the obvious alterations in the woman. The mist had taken her and made her its own!

Resolve filled her as the Twi’lek pushed aside her fear. Not the easiest thing to accomplish with that witch's voice coming out of the Jedi’s mouth, but anger was a suitable substitute. The drivel spilling out, the taunts did not even touch her; using the Jedi as emotional blackmail. What Jedi would not die to see this evil sent back to the abyss? The woman’s war cry, challenging the witch still resonated in her chest emboldening her heart to action.

The significance of the destruction of Leah’s light saber did not escape Nera. The vile replacement weapon the witch summons only seemed to desecrate the Jedi more, its sight in her hands caused Nera to seeth. She wanted to strike out at the witch, and yet she would hide and use one of their own against them. It would not deter the Twi’lek. If push came to shove she would kill the woman herself. That evil could not be permitted to escape this chamber.

Even so, killing Leah was not her go to plan and she flicked the DH-7 to medium stun setting. Being a bit to the rear of Tycho his suddenly looking up at the ceiling made her paranoid and she too would dart a glance upward, alarm filling her even as the cracks opened up in the duracrete. Nera would cut left across the chamber even as the first stone of the ceiling fell to the floor. With her DH-7 in her right and the Quick draw in her left, she darted under the protective shield Castor had created with the force to catch the stones. Even as he hurled them forward she ran behind him past his left flank until she had an opening through which to fire. Pulling the trigger twice, Nera sent her bolts hurtling toward Leah’s left thigh.

Spoiler

@Malon @Deviant @Nommie @Zay @TheMorrigan @Nefieslab @Plebometer

 

[Sycorax]

These Jedi were gnats. Individually, they were nothing. Together, they were a severe annoyance. Sycorax was surprised by how quickly they turned to attack their own friend, but she was unconcerned with the severity of their countermeasures. They had failed to comprehend her power and now she would show them the error of their ways. The moment Castor summoned the Force to catch the falling debris, she knew what he intended to do and stabbed her blazing sword into the ground at her feet.

The green flames that composed it rose up into a fiercely strong protection bubble. The conjured shield of magick would be more than enough for the Padawan Crix's pitiful attempt at Force Light; his light was not near strong enough to penetrate her dark shield. The shield would also catch the stun bolts from both Ner'Giza and Tycho, which would dissipate against its green membrane.

At the same time, and with her free hand, she would send a simple but invisible wave of dark energy, which, even in its simplicity, would be strong enough to counter Castor's attempt to hurl debris at her. The wave would impact the thrown to debris and reflecting it back at Castor and anyone else who still stood in front of her. "Fools," she taunted them. "Do you think this a game?"

"Do you know the pain she feels? The regret?" The witch's laughter was high and cold, an echo behind Leah's own voice. "Regret for leading her son to the Darkness, and for leading you all to your deaths? Oh yes, there is much fear in her. I can feel it. It feeds me. Makes me stronger!"
@Malon @Deviant @Nommie @Zay @TheMorrigan @Kayenta Moenkopi @Nefieslab

 

[Horus Tempest]

-Music-​

He was a bit late, but it seemed that he had missed much. Horus strode into the Temple, assuming he would arrive to see Master Reach and the others engaging whoever controlled this cult in battle. But instead, he found Master Reach's body attacking his allies with a ferocity that clearly marked the beginnings of a battle. He looked around, to his allies, ones he had fought alongside before, then ahead to the green magicks that held Leah entrapped in their snare. MAGICK. How he disliked the practice of using Ichor in place of the Force, though some theorized they were one and the same. His left hand still scarred and bleeding, his right aloft with his sword, and his armor still poised for battle, he continued his descent into the main room itself. Once he flanked his allies, he quickly examined the situation. This Nightsister, whoever she was, was beyond any of them individually. It was clear by how easily she smote aside Castor's attacks. How the blaster bolts had done nothing.

But of course, there was always something to be done in a situation like this. If Castor intended to use the Force offensively, they would need to be careful when separated. But together, they perhaps could even match this horror.

"Well. Mopped up the rest of them, but it seems I missed one. Castor! Pool your energy with mine, you too Crix, together we are stronger than apart!"

He would immediately begin to focus the force around him, and through its veil, it was as though a mighty wave began to sift through the Light. If the others pooled together their attacks with his, they could potentially break the shield the Nightsister had concocted to protect herself. It was perhaps a long shot, as he had never performed something like this before, but without Eldrin Reach they needed to act on instinct and trust in their own judgment. The air around him began to grow thick, and it would become obvious to his allies what he was attempting to do. A controlled blast of Force energy centered on the dome, it would require time to concentrate and get it right, but when they released it the woman before them would have but two options. Tank the attack, and hope her orb was strong enough to defend against it, or what was more likely in his mind; drop the orb and attempt to interrupt their attack before it launched. He had a failsafe for that eventuality and was prepared to use the Force projection as a defensive shield should the situation call for it.

"Focus for the orb. I trust you know what to do."

@Malon @Deviant @Kayenta Moenkopi @Nefieslab @Nommie @Zay

 

[Castor Chumeda Volante]

Castor gritted his teeth and grabbed one of the larger chunks of ceiling with the Force. Using this larger chunk almost like an umbrella, Castor would be safe from the other debris as he used it as his shield.
Cutting the distance between himself and the target was a worthy goal as far as Castor was concerned.

Only one thing to do now though and that was to be the distraction for Horus and Crix to take advantage of. He would throw the debris downward at the shield as he charged down the stairs towards the target. So long as he wasn't interrupted he would take his lightsaber in his left hand and ignite it to take the fight directly to the witch with a slash of his saber to cut into the shield and force his way forward.

 

[Crix Dolan (TL8)]

His attack was rendered useless with bearly any effort. There is only peace. Crix released his control on the attack and shifted gears, the nightsister was on the attack and talking a whole lot of shab. As she returned the fragmented piece of ceiling back at them, The Smuggler went into motion just bearly ducking a piece of flying detritus. His gaze was transfixed on the glowing orb as he hit the top of the stairs. Crix unclipped his lightsaber and ignited his pale blade.

The Jedi plunged down the stairs channeling the force into his free hand as he descended. Castor's attack wasn't lost on Crix and as the debris flew overhead he lent his strength to the attack, catapulting the large chunks toward the witch's shield.

If uninterrupted, he would charge down the rest of the stairs. Castor appeared from behind and attacked head-on, Crix took the moment to spin to his left. His lightsaber would arc downward vertically into the shield his intent to weaken or destroy.

Spoiler: tags

@Malon @Deviant @Nommie @TheMorrigan @Kayenta Moenkopi @Nefieslab

 

[Ner Giza]

Blasted witch, of course nothing they did worked against such foul magics! The stones being slung back toward them was nearly as frustrating as the blaster fire just fizzling on the shield bubble in which Sycorax had imprisoned Leah.

Nera would run forward angling further to the left of the chamber in order to clear herself from the duracrete Castor and the Witch were batting back and forth even as the Jedi used the force to save them once again. Her spirits were lifted, however, through the arrival of Horus hoping that with the aid of his abilities the three Jedi could manage to combat this unnatural evil. The Twi’lek didn’t know about how things worked but as she drew closer to the stairs that led down into the altar area, Crix leading her by several yards, she figured that was as good a target as any. Opening up with both blasters she fired off two shots from each at the left of the altar, being careful not to hit her teammates, which meant her quick draw launched four bolts, being double barreled as it was.

Hopefully the altar wasn’t blaster proof, having no idea what foul magics those that had summoned the witch had placed upon those stones. Was it more than ornamental? Would its destruction affect the witch’s power in any way? It was a better notion to Nera than just wasting shots on a shield that basically ate each bolt like it was nothing.

Spoiler

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[Tycho Draykon]

Kriff! Just as for everyone else's attacks were rendered useless against the Witch's shield. Tycho's had no affect as well. It frustrated the rebel officer. Surely they should have been able to land a hit with all of them attacking. He had no idea that such a thing as a being being that powerful. But even the powerful have weaknesses, the group will just have to find it. Tycho had no idea what was more frustrating, the Witch's shield or the fact she is tossing boulders Castor was throwing right back at them. Both of them are equally frustrating.

As Castor and the Witch played a game of catch with the boulders they are tossing back and forth at each other, Tycho will keep going to the right of the enemy as he moved forward. He hoped that with the arrival of Horus that the odds of defeating the evil being will be in their favor. The man hoped that the three jedi can keep the Witch distracted long enough for he and Ner to get closer to that alter. He has no idea how that alter thing worked, or if it is blaster proof. Shoot he has no idea if destroying the alter will change anything. All they can do is try.

As he dodged around boulders that happened to cross his path, he will swap his clip of stun bolts for his lethal rounds. Slamming them home as he ran, aiming for the right side of the alter. The man will carefully aim to ensure he didn't accidentally hit any of his comrades as he fired off four shots at the alter. As the bolts were fired, he prayed that they will not go to waste.

Spoiler: Tags

@Malon @Deviant @Nefieslab @Zay @Plebometer @Plebometer @Kayenta Moenkopi

 

[Sycorax]

Foolish Jedi! Feel my wrath!

The shield was a trap. One she knew the Jedi couldn't resist springing. They were so much like cats in that way—jumping at the shiniest object in their path and failing to see the poison it concealed. In this case, that poison was raw, green lightning that poured off of the shield in arcing fashion as Castor and Crix closed in for lightsaber strikes. At such close range, and with the both of them committed to their slashes, she wondered if they would be able to move in time, or block lightning of such power.

The others — the newcomer, the Twi'lek, and the human solider — would have lightning arc out in their direction as well, but they had more space to work with to dodge if they abandoned their present actions to do so. The lightning blasts aimed in their directions were more meant to skewer their aim by forcing them to move at a moment's notice, and therefore, their shots would not hit their marks, instead striking other portions of the altar or the raised stone in which it stood upon. If they chose not to dodge, however, the blasts had the power to knock them clean out of the fight.

All the while, the witch cackled from within her barrier. "I recognize you. I recognize all of you. You," she said of Castor, "are Castor, the former Sith — the poor Jedi who has failed your sister time and time again. This woman's memories of you reek of stupendous disappointment!" Her cackles, shrill, high, and cold, next reached Crix. "And you, Crix, who loved her so, never knowing that she could never love you in return! How supremely tragic!"

@Nommie @Deviant @Nefieslab @Zay @Plebometer @Plebometer @Kayenta Moenkopi @TheMorrigan

 

[Leah Reach]

Leah stumbled. One step toward the altar led her nowhere. One swing of her lightsaber found nothing. One long stare into the mist gave no answer. Her eyes wandered from one corner to another, wondering where the Nightsister went or what she planned. Dark thoughts lingered and a dark force loomed. Behind her, the spirit of Mother Sycorax reformed. The Jedi Master spun around to see a heavy cloud with scorched eyes and a wicked smile. Without hesitation, she thrusted her blade into the thick of the mist. Her blow found no purchase. Harmlessly, it slid through, and effortlessly, the witch melded into the woman. Laughter resounded. Leah cried out but nothing left her lips. Her voice was lost, and soon, so was she.

She was too weak. Physical exhaustion was one excuse, but the Jedi understood the real reason: she was imbalanced. Conflicted since the days of the evacuation, teetering on the edge of the void. All it took was one push from the witch and now Leah was plummeting down the rabbit hole. Into oblivion, through a maze of thoughts, in some sunken place. Thrash and scream as she might, it amounted to nothing. She couldn’t break the witch’s hold. Her Light hadn’t merely faded, it was smothered out. All Leah could do was watch as the Nightsister possessed her body, and her mind, and confronted the young men and women she hoped to protect. It was one of her worst nightmares come to life, and she couldn’t do anything about it but watch.

Her memories and feelings became that of the witch’s. The knowledge of Castor’s former allegiance with the Sith, the rocky relationship with his sister. Then, Crix. Leah was often distracted, occasionally oblivious, but never stupid. She saw the glint of affection in his eyes the last time they spoke. But Leah sooner ignored it. Believed it was her own delusion despite the truth. Why? Because she could never love him in return. Not simply because he was her student and she was his Master, but her heart belonged to another. While she had fallen for Valentine, she would always belong to her husband. She didn’t always believe in true love, but he had been her other half. There was no man that could fill the void her husband left.

Still, it pained her to see the witch twist her words and thoughts to torment her students. Even if they managed to overcome the dark spirit, Leah knew there would be no going back on what was said.

Spoiler: Tags

@Zay @Nefieslab @Kayenta Moenkopi @Nommie @TheMorrigan

 

[Castor Chumeda Volante]

The rock that he had thrown smashed into the shield heavily, weakening it significantly from the sheer force generated by the weight of the rock. Of course it wasn't enough to breach the shield on it's own but it was more than enough to weaken the shield, especially when energy from the shield was being diverted.

Diverted into lightning.

Lightning coming straight for him.

Because of course it was.

His horizontal slash at the shield itself managed to cut into the shield but the lightning was fast. He pulled his saber back as quickly as possible but he was still only able to cover half of his body from the lightning - the rest moved past his feeble saber block to shock his damaged right side. Seizing up in pain, Castor choked back a scream as he fell to one knee, touching the ground with his right hand to ground himself to help the lightning travel straight through him to the ground.

It still hurt and he could feel it singing his skin on the right hand side until he was able to pull his saber fully in the path of the lightning, relieving the pain from himself and leaving himself shaking slightly from the aftereffects of the pain. Having been a Sith however, this was not the first time he had felt the effects of Force Lightning.

"Your lightning hits like you're a multi-centuries old bag-lady who was irrelevant even when she was alive. Oh wait...!" he grinned viciously, "You're gonna need to find another barb to use as well, witch. I am Castor Chume'da-Volante - and I've been the perennial disappointing son since I was born so I'm well used to comments about my worth."

They still hurt but they were still slightly less cutting than his mother's own Hapan-brand of such vitriol. He began to build the Force in his right hand, his arm in a tremendous amount of pain but still capable of the kind of movement that would mean he could use the Force.

Spoiler: Tags

@Malon @Deviant @Nommie @Zay @TheMorrigan @Kayenta Moenkopi @Plebometer