The Exchange of Flame

[Sir Dakar]

okay, so....

When I said I want the ship back that is what I mean, I want it back. And when I said its indisposed of, what it meant was that you couldnt just get into it and fly away, as wherever it is atm I want to keep it there. At least until I can send some people into it and... eradicate the infestation.

Sorry for the confusion Bolidelish, I meant none of it.

 

[Green Ranger]

Alright, that's better.

I think we can call this thread closed, unless the doc wants to kill demonous.

 

[Ser Yorick]

*Kills all and takes the mantle of Dark Lord.*

 

[Solus]

((Not yet. My horses aren't the kind to take this lying down.))

He could feel it. He could feel a sudden weakness, a sudden weariness, a sudden sting, a sudden jolt of cold breath as his flesh touched the floor as he... fell? Had he fallen... why...?

Confusion. Heavy breathing, a bray of pain that seemed to come from nowhere and yet shot through his own throat...

Stinging. Heat. A pain that crept from his shoulder to below his neck. It was deep. What... what happened?

He feebly pawed, for what reason he knew not, what he trying to run? But no, he was on his side, he could not dash across the floor to kill the Opposer.

Something warm on his tongue, a cacophany of noises, a darkness that crept upon his 'vision,' a red that filled his version of sight... and incredible weariness.

"Es...?" He heard a ghost of an echo as Alavalosag stood over him, unsure of what to do. The Lovas gently nudged him with his muzzle, his friend whose hurt he could actually feel, whose pain he wished to subside. But none of them knew, none of his brothers knew, had any idea of how to heal anything, and the simple creature, in an effort to help, lay down and rested his heavy, red head upon the deep, red wound. He tried to sap some will, something at all from anyone about him, but there was no one new whom he could drain, they were all dead except the Opposer, and he seemed immune. Es... my friend. What have they done to my friend? Alavalosag neighed softly before something coursed through him, like lightning. Red lightning. Rage. He stood to his feet, and left his hurt and dying brother, and ran, ran after the coward that had dare done this. His throat let forth a great cry, something almost fearful, a vengeful, terrible thing. The Lord of Anger was going to war.

Meanwhile, seconds or minutes before, time was not real, Salak saw the fall of his brother, saw the coward run, saw the wound, saw the damage... saw red.

Something fearful began to glow in those poison-colored eyes - death. Before he fully knew what he was doing, he took off, running after the creature. Es's plan seemed to be working, the thing seemed to have started running when they had started implementing it, so Salak now focused everything he had, all anger, all lust to kill, all determination, all want for revenge, into yanking that pathetic armor from the animal's soft flesh. Alavalosag drew up by his side, and together they quickly charged after him, knowing that his pathetic bipedal stature could never outrun them.

Salak saw that the Opposer was weakening, he could feel it - the thing had do unlimited well, and Salak was still strong and willing to do what he could as he forcefully pulled, unlashed, and worked to try to strip the worm bare. Ah, but these would not be so easy to fell, they had vision, both kinds, unlike their fallen brother. Salak was fast, he knew, he knew that the armor thing creature wore was his only protection outside of his weakening power.

The Opposer was going to die.

-------

Master... Es cried out through the Force, weakly, as his breath slowed and shallowed and the darkness had nearly enveloped him. My Lord... He implored once more to his Lord Xiantos as the numbness, the blackness, the pain, the cold hand of death grew to almost swallow him, until he was drowning within it, until he could feel it stilling his heart. My Master... save me...

 

[Green Ranger]

Down amongst the maze of halls, passages and crosswalks, Khavaal raced towards a destination only he knew of. Yet, all too quickly, he was being followed. Immediately the Opposer surmised that one of the Lovas followed him, and that lead him to another conclusion - one of the horse's kin was dying, and he was being blamed for it. How curious it is that the creatures do not understand the death could have been prevented. Such is the price for treachery.

Khavaal stopped suddenly, whipping around to face the steed - his eyes recognized both Salak and Alavalosog working together against him, which meant that they had left Es behind.

Khavaal clenched his fists as a shimmering blue wall rose up between the two, translucent but resistant, like the wall of a bubble. Even that minor feat had caused the Opposer much pain, and he dropped to one knee. He had exhausted himself with his Art, and his body was slower now, weaker. Had all three of the Lovas been here, Khavaal would have been vulnerable. But one lay dying, and the other two were furious - sloppy.

'So, fell steeds, first you betray me, and then you betray your own kind. Tell me, what is it you wish to achieve by abandoning the one known as Es? Even if you kill me here, today, it will be nothing. By letting the third one die, you will be weaker, vulnberable - disposable. And yet you hunt me? This one suggests you get your priorities right.'

 

[Solus]

Their hooves slid across the floor a they broke to a stop before the blue wall, whinnying in surprise. For a moment they stood there, pawing the ground as they watched through it to the Opposer behind it. He was weakening, this last move had hurt him. Yes. Salak began to calm himself down, there was a few seconds time in which to think. However, Alavalosag was still enraged, nostrils flared, breathing heavy as he stalked back and forth at the blue gate.

As the Opposer spoke, Alavalosag seemed to calm, but Salak was unperturbed, only reacting by flattening his ears back in contempt. "Do not listen to him, brother. The reason we do this is to avenge him, we can do nothing of ourselves but this. Calm yourself, buy me time to think." He said, staring into the unearthly eyes of the creature. Alavalosag shook his head, and brayed softly as he focused his powers into trying to drain the weakened creature, putting all he had into it, he could do nothing else to help Salak at the moment.

Meanwhile, Salak's mind spun furiously as he tried to make the most use of every drop of those few seconds. The wall, it could block physical attacks, not those through The Power... the Force. Well, that was just fine, that was their only power anyway. "Keep it up, my brother. We will avenge Es this night." He brayed as he filled himself with what dark power he could sap from the walls around him, the power that Xiantos, the Master, denied the Opposer use. Ah, it was sweet. But he could not horde it, he was not a leader, but a servant, he could not hold power, only use it for others, that was is purpose. And so he unleashed it, once more using his power to rip the armor off of the creature, harder, faster, as he held the worm back with his telepathy, trying to weaken him, trying to get him to play his game as he steadily pulled him towards his own blue wall, fed by the power Alavalosag had just tapped into: the power of the palace itself. Constantly few by this, Salak' focus grew as he worked not to harm the Opposer beyond ripping the armor off plate by plate, but merely to weaken him.

 

[Green Ranger]

Khavaal had been so weakened by his ordeal that he was unable to retain both the shield and protective measures on his own body. Keeping the Lovas at bay was priority at the moment - were Khavaal to escape alive, the insane beasts could still be of use to him, though the rational mind knows not how.

And so the Lovas achieved a slight success - a moment of distraction, tuning himself in to the Lovas' beast tongue, and there was the opening. A pauldron went flying off, ripped right off of the armor, exposing the flesh beneath - pale, unmarred by any mark that had reputedly destroyed the previous users of the Hidden Art.

'And so the charade is undone.'

With that, the armor exploded off of the Sith's body, smashing into the nearby walls, Khavaal's own defence field, rattling with a great clamour as the thick plates fell away. However, by some strange devilry, whenever the beasts attempted to focus on the figure, their eyes blurred and their heads span. Closer observation of the surrounding area would reveal that of the armored plates that had so suddenly scattered, few still remained on the ground, including one that had been damaged from the previous skirmish.

'The one you call Es still breathes. You can help your kin yet,' Khavaal murmured in their minds, like the dark temptation it was. 'Es may be saved, if you will it.'

With that, the blue field dropped, and Khavaal held out his palms, allowing them to be focused on - open, unthreatening. Khavaal may be a dreaded Sith with a power beyond comprehension to most, but in this instance, he was being honest, unthreatening. It was...startling, to see this side of him.

 

[Sir Dakar]

Master... The words entered Xiantos' mind, and he began to act. Pushing aside some of the people starting to gather around the fallen Lovas, He kneeled beside Es. Placing his hands upon the wound that was threatening his life, Provin began to start knitting together the viens, pinching the off so the blood would stop to flow out of the gaping wound. His force powers were already strained from the battle that he just fought in, however he would do his best to save this Sith. Somethings are never free, as his aid, comes at a price.

::Es, I Want you to swear allegiance to me.:: He sent to Es' mind, diverting a small flow of the force to communicate. ::Or I will stop.:: His hands were now read from the blood that had seeped over them, as still somewhere blood was still flowing freely. The wound was not exactly the deepest Provin had seem in his life, however it had hit several vital arteries. This wouldn't be the easiest heal he had ever done.

 

[Solus]

"Master..." He softly brayed, forgetting that the Master could not understand. It was little more than a breath, but the way it was 'said,' as it were, was almost loving. Es was not an easy one to take in, to follow anyone, but despite being betrayed by him and drained from the fight, the most powerful being in the universe was leaning down over him, a simple fallen animal, healing him. That was something that cut through all barriers. He could feel the tingling sensation and it slowly began to mend him.

"Master... master... master..." He kept repeating, so quietly, so adoringly. When his master's cherished voice came to him, touched his mind, he weakly yet determinedly sent back, Master... anything you wish. I... I pledge my life... my allegiance to you, I will die at your command, live at your behest. My life is yours, my Master... my master... He said as he fell into unconsciousness in relaxation. His Master was here, there was no need to worry. But confidence in him was not what had snapped his consciousness, he was funneling whatever Force energy he could muster into his precious Master. It was the least he could do.

-------

Salak paused, unsure of what to do now. He held Alavalosag back as the shield broke down, opening up a way for them to reach the snail now ripped from its shell. However, for some reason, it hurt to look upon him, confusion and a pressuring headache came upon one, as if looking into some incredibly bright light. He shook his head as he stood there, wondering what to do.

Despite not being around creatures with hands for many years, he knew instinctively the gesture the creature was giving him - what he could see of it, at least - was non-threatening. It was confusing. Was this powerful beast bargaining for his life? Or was he attempting to stall them while he again gathered power? Either way, they could not leave him unguarded, or leave him alone for long at all, he was dangerous, conniving.

Yet, for a few seconds at the most, he was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he was going to make sure he could not get away. Salak was somewhat drained from the assault, which mad him even more cautious. They were both weakened, and he was physically more capable than they. They could not take him alone, not when he now chose the battleground, when he chose the timing. which he was in some control of the situation. But they would not let him out of their sight, and were willing to die if he ever tried anything. Oh, yes, the two were willing to trade their lives to kill him, for what he had done. After all, the wound he ha given Es was deep, he could not surely live.

Why? Why do you care? He projected to him as the two slowly drew nearer, Alavalosag separating and going around the creature in the opposite direction to split the Opposer's concentration.

Meanwhile, at the same time, Alavalosag sent back, Master Xiantos, we hold him. It was not the best worded message or the most informative, but it got the point across.

 

[Green Ranger]

'I have my reasons. Primarily, if one of you dies, the remaining pair will be utterly usless. Your teamwork is both your greatest asset and your greatest flaw - should one of you fall, those who remain will be discardd, weakened by their comrade's death.

'And maybe...maybe you remind me of myself, once...strange as that sounds that I can relate to a beast, when I am seemingly so different, but it is so.'

The strange shrouded form of the Opposer shimmered slightly as he stood there, stopping, not heeding his surroundings, as he listened elsewhere. He laughed.

'But that is all pointless. Es lives by Provin's hand, and is blinded moreso by this act of kindness. Even were I to persuade you what your Lord does to the Sith is wrong, it would only result in strife between you and your own, and I would not wish that.

'But at the same time, know that I cannot allow you to capture me, just as I cannot allow you to harm me. It would...interfere with my plans. I call upon your betrayal of me, and ask that you let me go in reparation. Es lives and will recover, so you have no need for vengeance. I never saught to harm one of the Lovas, even after your betrayal, but one must defend themselves.'

 

[Solus]

He paused, causing his fellow to stop as well. Salak's ears pressed back against his skull as he thought, getting confused. If only Es was here... he would be able to discern the truth from a lie, or point out a trick. His mind began to race over what he knew, what had transpired during those chaotic past five minutes, causing them to recall their temporary friendship with the Opposer, their deal, their betrayal. How he had saved Alavalosag's life. He brayed softly, shaking his head as his mind clashed within him. His eyes looked back up at him, and though he could not focus on him, he could tell, his animilian senses could smell that he spoke the truth. Es lived.

He lowered his head as he spoke, quietly, Leave. Go quickly. We will not forget you; go in peace, and I pray we never meet again.

 

[Green Ranger]

Khavaal had come out winning again. He had lost an ally, though the relationship was brief, but it had made them question the Opposer's motives - calling upon honour, of all things, to gain his freedom. And the Lovas remained as strong as ever, despite being his enemy. It as good that this had happened, Khavaal realized...the Sith now had a motive. No more stagnating in their halls, gluttoning on the spoils of Coruscant. No more inactivity. Now, the Sith would unite once more, first, to hunt him, and then, to hunt the Jedi.

 

[Sir Dakar]

Good, he thought to himself as the Lova weakly connected and made his pledge. The pledge was bound in the force now, as binding as any pledge could ever be. The feeling quickly faded however as Es fell from consciousness, leaving Provin to finish his work. This was actually beneficial for him, as the heart would work less, sending less blood into the gaping wound.

Closing up the remaining few and bridging one particular vein that had only been sliced, not completely severed, he finished what he could do to aid Es. He would survive in this condition however for the next month or so he would not be to full capacity and even after that have some trouble doing extreme movements until he was fully healed.

Standing up and letting his blood covered hands fall to the side, he connected with Salak; ::I do not sense Khaaval near you anymore, report.::

 

[Solus]

When Salak felt his mind touched by Xiantos, he kept calm. He had learned long ago from Es never to lie, but to only tell half-truths and make them sound like something they weren't... but he couldn't lie to the Lord Xiantos, he couldn't even 'halfer' him. Not after what he'd done; saving Es despite what the three had done to him.

However, he made sure that there was no pause between the question and his answer, he knew better than that. He got away my Lord. He distracted us with news of Es's revival. We were unsure of whether to return, and we knew we could not face him alone; but we manage to strip him of his armor. We didn't have the power on our own, and we couldn't hold him. We let him get away. I apologize, my lord. There was nothing we could do alone.