Ask Onderon The Temple That Should Not Be

[Maxims Tionson]

Pushing through the undergrowth was hard going, not only because of their varying degrees of fatigue but because of the nature of the threat ahead of them. Even through some distance of dense forest and jungle it was clear that the Dark Side was in play. It sat like a weight on their chests, keeping them from truly connecting to the Force as easily as they usually would. Sure, they could still connect to the Force but it was like needing to push through something to connect.

As he cut through the thick vegetation he spoke up to those who were following him.

"If anyone wants to turn back now; I would think no less of them." he announced without a single glance back as he continued to spearhead their advance, "Some of us took a beating in the journey and now we are going to be facing further foes."

He could just tell that the worst was yet to come.

It wasn't so much a sign from the Force as it was just a feeling, the kind of feeling you got from experience. Through living through some of the worst situations that could be expected. He frowned as he tried to probe the Force for some kind of answers to the feeling but there wasn't any kind of answer he could use.

Just a general sense of dread.

He reached the edge of the treeline, immediately taking in the sight of the tomb or temple ahead of them. More than that, he could already see cultists coming out to greet them. They weren't of the same caliber as those who had come before them but they had numbers that the advance guard had lacked. Even as he twisted his saber staff to break it apart into the two sabers, Max got the feeling that they were a delaying tactic.

"With me?"

By the Force he hoped he hadn't just given the group permission to head home and left himself with a mob to deal with.

@Reyn @Isen @Corbeau @Frannykins87 @Mr. Teatime @Topher Ridge

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel never would have admitted it, but at this point about the only thing holding her together was sheer determination. That and a burning desire to get back at these cultists for that humiliating disaster of a skirmish they had subjected her to earlier. Her wounds had been healed, but she was still aching with every movement. Her fighting abilities would be far beneath her regular skill level, but she still had her considerable mastery of the Force at her command. That had to count for something. She'd just have to let her more physically minded comrades take the front row. She could provide assistance from the rear.

Max's words only served to rub salt in her wounds. She knew he only meant well, and cared for her and the other injured parties' safety, but it still made her feel like she was weighing the group down. All the more reason to prove she still had some fight in her. She glanced over her shoulder. Her apprentice hadn't fared much better than her. She should probably be thinking more about his safety as well. But she couldn't force herself to turn back now, even if it might have been the better option. And besides, these cultists needed to be stopped. A Jedi's life was sacrifice right?

"Are you kidding? I can do this all day." Izel replied to Max as she looked back towards the Jedi Master. She sounded a bit more winded then she meant to, but a little humor in these kinds of situations went a long way. "Just let me at them..."

Her timing was perfect. Just as they reached the treeline and another group of cultists appeared before them, this contingent even larger than the last. The Vratix took a deep breath and ignited her pike, spinning it around to show she still had some strength in her before taking up her Soresu stance. "We're with you!" She answered Max's call to arms courageously, and prepared for the incoming tide.

@Nefieslab @Isen @Corbeau @Frannykins87 @Mr. Teatime @Topher Ridge

 

[Isen Ramm]

The young Kiffar padawan stayed shoulder to shoulder with his master, Izel Thral as they marched toward the temple. The one-eyed Master seemed to be leading the troops to what was certain to be another hard-fought battle. Isen was glad to have helped- it was a poor decision, using Force Echo, or psychometry, on a weapon, but he was able to provide the location of the temple. He had taken a bit of a beating in the process, but he had provided a valuable piece of information and hadn't made a complete fool of himself in his first significant battle.

Still, it wasn't all rainbows for young Isen Ramm. Izel Thral had spent a copious amount of energy healing him through the Force, but still, Isen was recovering from broken ribs and a punctured lung. Izel had patched him up good, but she couldn't take all the pain away. And now that things had settled, Isen had time to reflect on the entire battle. He had taken a life. For the first time, Isen had extinguished the life force from a sentient being. It was a strange emotion. He wasn't sorry for doing it. If he hadn't, Weiss could have been the one whose life ended. Isen was strangely...indifferent to it. It brought him neither joy nor sadness. He felt an unease at this. He believed he should feel....something.

The Master leading the group had offered those who were still him an opportunity to tuck tail and avoid the fight, leaving the others to fight on their own. Isen lifted a brow and gave a sideways glance to Master Thral wondering if Max was serious.

"Are you kidding? I can do this all day. Just let me at them," Izel said. Isen smirked and looked forward again.

Cultists came pouring out of the temple and Isen saw Max arm himself, so the young Padawan followed suit. He held both lightsabers in his hands, ready to ignite the cobalt blades.

"With me?" Max asked the group? It was almost like he was checking to make sure he wasn't alone. He hadn't looked back since he gave everyone permission to bail.

"We're with you!" Isen's master said enthusiastically.

Isen ignited his two blue blades and rolled his neck. "Ready for Round 2," Isen said to let Max know that he was ready to roll.

@Nefieslab @Reyn @Corbeau @Frannykins87 @Mr. Teatime @Topher Ridge

 

[Fiach Dubh]

There were many challenges to face. The humidity of a jungle was never pleasant, but she’d spent enough time at the Jedi Order temples to have gotten used to the oppressive dampness. Second was the terrain – there was no wide duracrete path heading to their destination. Not even a path. So, travelling through dense foliage presented its own problem.

There was of course, the spectre of what lay ahead. One look at the walking wounded told Fiach that whoever they were to face should not be taken lightly. Next time there could be fatalities, not casualties.

But – for Fiach at least – for she could not speak for the others, the greatest trial was the fact this place seemed to be a Dark-side nexus. She could feel that familiar cloying, oily presence that (to her) tainted the Force. It was still possible to access it, but she felt like she was wading through some noxious, glutinous substance to get to it – and the contest was permanent. If she lost the connection for even one moment, it was as if the Light side was swallowed whole and she had to press through the oppressive Dark side to find and reach it once more.

She essentially ignored Max’s words on turning back. Sure, they may be others who were so badly injured that they had no choice, but she was here not as much through election – but out of duty. She was a Jedi and so many choices had been made for her. Unlike Max, she secretly realised she would think less of anyone that turned back now.

When he asked if they were with him, she heard – one by one – voices of accord.

She chose not to reply, for her it was a rhetorical question and so she simply pressed on, ensuring she was near the apex of the group. As someone who escaped the earlier encounters unscathed, it was her responsibility to be in the front line now.

@Nefieslab @Reyn @Isen

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Honestly, half of the group of Jedi were acting like they had something to prove... and he was going to very much use that energy to get them through the fighting ahead. If he had to stoke those fires to keep them motivated then so bloody be it. He might make them resent him in some way but he would be damned if they weren't Alive to actually resent him for it in the first place. He eyed Izel in particular as a Jedi Knight on the verge of becoming a Jedi Master... if she was able to overcome her own doubts and fears.

He looked over his shoulder at the Jedi who still stood with him and smirked ever so slightly.

"All day huh?" he gave Izel a wink, "Promises, promises Izel..."

Teasing done and the troops already rallied by themselves, Max turned back to the advancing enemy. By his count, there were thirty of the cultists but they seemed... much less combat-focused than those from before. They were armed with vibroblades, yes, but their presence in the Force wasn't much more than a rather unskilled padawan who had only just joined the Order.

They were bunching up too.

"Advance on my mark."

Reaching into the Force, Max dropped his split sabers to the ground and focused on the Force. Building it up within both of his hands, he lashed out with a powerful Force Push from each hand, breaking the formation of the enemy and blunting their charge. Several of them were blown this way and that to land further away from the main group and even those who had fared well were staggering and disorientated.

His split sabers returned to his hands.

"Go!"

Spoiler: Dice

Enemy Numbers
Formation broken

@Isen @Reyn @Corbeau @Frannykins87 @Topher Ridge

 

[Jago Haaldin]

Jago kept pace with the Jedi, now allies in this endeavor to cleanse the forest of whatever dark power this blood cult worshiped. All gathered walked through the difficult underbrush without a word, just pure determination on each member of the parties face. The Matukai warrior was with them in that regard, especially after his own lackluster performance in the earlier ambush. He needed to show the Jedi what the Matukai could do, at least he felt he needed to. Some part of him equated proving himself to these force users as a way to further his own desire to see the Matukai flourish in the galaxy.

The man Jago talked with after the ambush, Max, spoke up as they approached a clearing in the forest. The dark shape of a larger building could be seen past the tree line and Max offered that if anybody wished to turn back, they could with no shame. Jago just smiled and kept his stride. His leg still ached where it had been sliced by a cultist's axe earlier and the many minor scraps and cuts on his arms burned, but he was here to protect his new allies and the people who had reason to fear this cult. Nothing would stop him from seeing them scattered to winds at that point.

As the others drew weapons and readied themselves to face the numerous dark forces that poured out the temple, Jago simply stretched his neck with a soft pop. His fists slammed together and took up a more open stance of Teras Kasi, better suited to engage multiple opponents. He smiled wider in the face of the cultists and at Max question and bit of levity. "I think they need a few more to make this an even fight yeah? Nobody fall asleep from boredom now."

The cultist came charging in and Max stepped forward to meet them with a command to wait for his mark to engage. Jago would follow that order as even with his limited sense he could feel the force swell around the Jedi master, and a moment later Jago would truly see why the man was called a master. The sheer force of the energy that erupted from Max's hands was enough to blow back Jago's head tendrils. Needless to say the effect on the cultists was devastating. Those who weren't blown back were left confused and disorientated by the blast of force energy. That was when Jago heard 'go' and his feet moved without thought, the Matukai dashed forward ready to begin the battle.

He didn't waste a moment and was on the cultists in a blur of movement, Jago jumped just before he met the front line and lashed out with his right knee. He felt the face of the first cultist in the loose formation crunch against his knee, the dark sider's body fell away limp. The Matukai let his momentum carry him forward and he brought his left elbow down onto the head of another cultist as he landed, the force of the blow put the next cultist face down in the dirt.

After this quick assault Jago would ready himself to move, dodge, or attack where necessary, but more then welling to give his all to this fight.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Figure with Max's force push there we'd just get a round of free attacks, with rolls coming after.

@Reyn @Isen @Corbeau @Frannykins87 @Mr. Teatime @Nefieslab

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel clicked softly at Max's remark. Nothing ever seemed to get to him, even with an army charging at them. As the Jedi Master prepared to launch his own attack the Vratix decided to take another page out of his book. Replicating the technique Max had shown her on Mygeeto and using Force Valor. It wasn't quite as strong an ability as Battle Meditation, but it would still have the effect of inspiring her and her allies, allaying their fears and strengthening their bodies.

Max's opening attack succeeded in breaking the enemy formation, and the Matukai Jago wasted no time in charging into the fray. Izel hung back at first, spinning her pike and deflecting a few incoming bolts from their energy bows. Even though the cultists here were clearly not as skilled as the first wave, they no doubt served a different purpose. They were here to slow them down. And even if their talents couldn't compare to their allies' their sheer numbers might do the trick. They needed to cut through these people quickly.

Izel looked to her Padawan, who seemed eager to get involved. "Advance up the center, straight towards the temple, I'll cover your flanks." With that she turned and unleashed her own Force push. With the cultists still reeling from Max's opening attack as well as dealing with the Nautolan bludgeoning his way through their ranks, they weren't expecting her attack. Her assault was not as strong, serving to redirect rather than completely bowl her opponents over. Acting more like a strong gust of wind many of the cultists stumbled to either side, leaving only a small number of men in the center of their disorganized mob. Easy enough for Isen to cut his way through the remainder.

Dice
@Nefieslab @Isen @Corbeau @Frannykins87 @Mr. Teatime @Topher Ridge

 

[Isen Ramm]

When things happen, they happen fast. Max had blasted the cultists and it looked like they were standing behind the exhaust ports of a heavy freighter about to lift off. Master Max said it was go time, and the action really doubled down. Izel added a touch of her own to misdirect those that didn't knocked on their rumpus and the Nautolan took off in a flurry of action and started making short work of the cultists as well.

"Advance up the center, straight towards the temple, I'll cover your flanks," Master Thral told Isen. The Padawan nodded and sprinted to the front, deflecting what incoming attacks may come. Four cultists remained in his path and while the Padawan may struggle with many of the more...mental and spiritual aspects of using the Force, his ability to wield a lightsaber had never been in doubt. Naturally athletic and coordinated, a natural tendency toward action and fearlessness, Isen was as skilled as many Jedi Knights with his blades. He lept and summersaulted and took off two heads simultaneously as he landed, dropping two of the four. The two remaining cultists raised their weapons to attack but Isen spun, extending his sabers in both directions like he was one large propellor blade, one going high and one going low. One blade took the head of another cultist, while the lower blade took the other cultists off his knees and he fell to the ground with only half of his legs with a thud. Oblivious to the pain, the legless cultist tried taking a swipe at Isen's legs with his vibroblade. Isen lept over the sweeping attack and came down with both blades plunging deep into the cultist's chest. He watched the cultist's eyes widen for a moment as the electricity of the blade spread through his body only to close quickly as his life was extinguished.

Isen quickly surveyed the battlefield and noticed that two more of the cultists that Izel had veered to the left were in the process of gathering their thoughts and standing up to get ready for another attack. Isen looked above them, and a large, dying branch of massive tree sat some forty feet in the air above their heads. It wouldn't take much to bring down. Isen concentrated on the branch, lifted his hand in the direction of it and then motioned down with his hand. The branch came down in a massive heap, landing on the two cultists, taking them out of the game permanently as well. Isen looked back at his teacher and gave her the thumbs up across the battlefield. He could see the temple clearly now, but gave one more look across the battlefield to see if anyone else needed a hand.

Spoiler: Isen's dice roll

The Temple That Should Not Be Dice

100: Critical success. 81-99: Rousing success. Everything goes better than expected 51-80: Success. Everything goes as planned 26-50: Barely a success. You succeed in your end goal but take some sort of negative in doing so 11-25: Mild fail, fail with some minor consequence 2-10: Major fail...

thestarwarsrp.com

@Reyn @Nefieslab @Corbeau @Frannykins87 @Mr. Teatime @Topher Ridge

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach made a conscious effort to learn from every Jedi she met. In truth, she learned from everyone she encountered – mostly positive things, but occasionally she understood how not to behave or act.

In terms of the Jedi Master she was alongside now, she’d learned plenty – but one lesson stood out from all the others as she stood facing the cultists. She reached to her belt and pulled out a blaster pistol. It was the one she’d confiscated when they’d rounded up a group of slavers – and it was also the one she’d learned to shoot with – under Max’s tutelage.

As a rule, she eschewed the use of firearms, but for occasions like this, it seemed ideal. A flick of the thumb and the weapon was turned to its stun setting. As she surveyed the wide-eyed adepts they faced, she realised the same look every Padawan had when facing their first saber duel with an experienced practitioner. But this was to be no lesson. No helping them back to their feet, dusting them down and giving a pointer or two. It was not that she was squeamish, or that she refused to take a life, but she always saw it as a last resort. And that, to Fiach, meant there were no other options.

So, for the moment, she held her blaster in her right hand and if anyone strayed close to her as she made progress to the entrance, she took aim and stunned them.

@Reyn @Nefieslab @Frannykins87 @Mr. Teatime @Topher Ridge @Isen

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Onward.

Max pushed the advance, as suggested, through the centre but not too quickly so as to keep within working distance of his allies. Letting them get too fractured would be a failing on his part considering he had forced the enemy to do so specifically because of how much it reduced the effectiveness of the whole group.

Most of the enemy were downed and disorientated to begin with but he still wasn't keen on charging in, sabers whirling. He didn't want to kill any of the cultists and the chaos of battle always made it less likely that would happen. Despite his vow to never take a sentient life, Max wasn't going to say he would choose to sacrifice himself rather than an enemy should the worst come to pass.

So he wanted to try diplomacy once at least.

"Disperse!" he roared loudly and clearly across the courtyard, "Throw down your arms and leave - you shall not be harmed!"

He was a Jedi.

Combat was, often, required but he didn't ever want it to be something he sought out. Unfortunately for him, the oppressive weight of the Dark Side was weighing heavily on the minds of their enemies and anger was primary amongst those emotions. A duo of the cultists charged him with their vibroswords held high and he knew that he was going to need to engage.

With clinical precision he parried a strike with one blade before severing both legs at the knees of the first fighter, sending them tumbling to the ground in pain but alive and out of the fight. The second was more cautious but that just meant they didn't see it when Max used the Force to Pull the rock into the back of their head, taking them out and sending them down for a sleep as well.

Spoiler: Dice

The enemy chooses defeat before dishonor

@Reyn @Frannykins87 @Corbeau @Mr. Teatime @Topher Ridge @Isen

 

[Jago Haaldin]

Jago heard master Max bellow over the sounds of the skirmish in an attempt to stop the fighting. The swing of a vibro sword from the right told Jago that the Jedi had unfortunately failed. These men and women were clearing crazed by whatever power laid within the temple, true zealots to there cause. Jago hoped that putting an end to whatever laid inside would free these people, but the idea that they may be too far gone gnawed at his mind.

He parried the haphazard swing and struck back out with his right fist to get the attacker off him. The cultists that still stood began to get there bearings back and were clearly not thrilled about max's attack. Izel's follow up attack while successful only provided a brief moment of respite before the crazed cultists closed in again.

The Matukai then realized there were at least 5 of the damned cultists on him, more than likely focused on him as he'd been the first to breach their line. Their swings where no where near as fast or skilled as the scouts they had faced before, and Jago easily dealt with the amateurish attacks. A parry to his right, a quick step to his left, a sweep to put on of the attackers on the ground for a moment, but on the blood crazed cultists came. While he wasn't taking any hits, the onslaught of attacks forced him to give ground to the attackers. Also while not that skilled, they had at least some semblance of sense and managed to put themselves between Jago and his allies. Jago just continued to smile in the face of it, even 5 against 1 he knew he could take the attackers, he just needed to wait for his moment to counterattack.

Spoiler: Dice

Dice. Failed at advancing with the consequence of being pushed back and cut off from help.

@Reyn @Frannykins87 @Corbeau @Mr. Teatime @Nefieslab @Isen

 

[Izel Thral]

Bringing up the rear of the party Izel was able to get a clear sense of the battle. And while Max's attempts at a swift and diplomatic solution had sadly failed, they still seemed to be doing a good enough job at carving their way through to the temple. Perhaps too good, Izel thought somberly, as she witnessed her Padawan slicing up cultists with obviously little to no hesitation. He even turned back to her to give her a thumbs up, although the Vratix only twitched her antennae as she stared back at him. It was clear he didn't need her assistance. And while she understood the needs of survival in battle, it brought her no joy to see such actions. She made a mental note that some things would need to be addressed the next time they had an opportunity for a lesson. It was becoming abundantly clear she had dropped him in the deep end of things before she could properly show him how his talents ought to be applied. If his current course wasn't corrected, it could end very badly for him.

But for the moment she had to focus on completing their mission. Seeing that Jago was the only one of their number actually having any difficulty with the enemy, she decided to make her way to his side. While her allies continued to advance up the center she made her way after the isolated Nautolan. With the five cultists focused squarely on him, she was able to slip in behind them without being noticed. If her apprentice was watching, she wanted to give him an example of how to fight non-lethally, as any Jedi should strive for. Extinguishing her blade she swung one end of her pike at the first unsuspecting cultist, knocking him across the back of the head without him ever knowing what was happening. He went to the floor out cold.

As the second was turning around he got the other end of her pike in his face, hitting him square in the forehead and leaving him motionless on the ground as well. The next two saw her coming, but had little opportunity to defend themselves. Izel reached out with one hand and used Force pull, yanking both men towards her only to be clotheslined by her pike simultaneously. The final cultist was the only one actually afforded the opportunity to put up a fight, crying out wrathfully as he took a swing at her with his vibroblade. He was amateurish though. Izel used one end of her pike to easily deflect the swing before driving the other end into the side of his head, leaving him unconscious with the rest.

Looking up at Jago the Vratix chittered softly. "Sorry for stealing your thunder there," She said lightheartedly before reigniting her pike and turning back to face the still oncoming enemy. "Let's stick together shall we?" They still had to regroup with the others and push on to the temple. Time was wasting.

Dice
@Nefieslab @Isen @Corbeau @Topher Ridge

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach was in many ways an optimist, but this did not make her naïve. So, as she advanced and made good progress, she realised that her tactic worked well from a distance – but the closer she got to the entrance, the more congested the battlefield was.

Soon it was clear she would be overwhelmed and the blaster useless. So, she holstered it and withdrew her saber and shoto hilt. But, rather than activating them, she simply wielded them like short batons.

As the Dark-siders came, she used a combination of Jar’Kai and martial arts training to keep them at bay. Yes, some sustained broken bones and a few had concussion – but nothing that could not be fixed in time.

Then, once she found her rhythm, she moved steadily forward – advancing on the temple.

Spoiler

Dice roll: Success. Everything goes as planned

@Reyn @Isen @Nefieslab @Topher Ridge

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Sometimes the best thing to do in a fight was to conserve your energy and keep yourself fresh for the fight you know is coming next. It was a wise but cautious approach that many older Jedi learned through experience and started to apply properly to pace themselves and their use of the Force. Not so much because they were older and needed to conserve energy but because of that caution, of the belief that things could take a twist and get worse at any moment.

Equally, what separated the older Jedi Knights from the older Jedi Masters was something else almost as simple; knowing when conservation would just delay the inevitable.

Knowing when it was time to unleash as much as they could as quickly as they could.

Reaching deep into the Force, Max plunged clean through the fog of the Dark Side as he drew upon more of the power than he had used throughout the mission. For one, massive, effort he would be expending more energy than he had spent in over a day of fighting and trekking through harsh jungle.

Because now was one of those times he knew, deep down in the pit of his stomach, that to delay would be to suffer and he refused to allow those he had led here to suffer. Breathing deeply, he locked his attention on a group of the acolytes making a move to attack Izel and Jago. Moving as though exercising tai chi or something similar, Max dropped his sabers to the ground and pulled back his hand before thrusting them out separately.

Two large Force Pushes barreled outward from him, catching the group of acolytes entirely by surprise and picking them up with it's strength. They were carried by the blasts across most of the courtyard to slam into a side wall with bone-shaking concussive force that scuppered any plans for them to rise again. Using the Force to put his sabers away at his sides, he started walking toward the main entrance again.

A lone acolyte made to charge him and Max frowned slightly.

"Sorry about this."

He then reached out with the Force, locking the man's upper body in a stasis effect that stopped him moving - before breaking the man's right knee with a Force Push that impacted with sickening strength. Releasing the acolyte, he shook his head.

"We shall return to administer first aid after your Masters have been accounted for." he assured the injured man, fatigue starting to drag on him now he wasn't actively channeling the Force, "Jedi! Form up on Fiach and I!"

They would take a moment to breathe at the main entrance.

Spoiler: Dice

Max clears the way to the Entrance

 

[Isen Ramm]

The Padawan lifted a brow at the Vratix's reaction. Isen had gotten to know his master's twitches and mannerisms. She was surprising displeased with something of his actions. Confused as he was, he watched for a moment as the others non-lethal tactics against the cultists they were fighting. "Ooooooh," Isen said to himself. "That's not good." He had instantly gone back into life or death mode from the battle earlier that day. He worried about that to be honest. Isen was more...pragmatic...than the overwhelming majority of the Jedi. In his mind, there is a mission. If the Jedi have a mission, it's an important one that needs to be completed, and the greater good is served by completing as efficiently as possible. It appeared that some things trump efficiency and perhaps even victory. A lesson to be learned, he supposed.

He didn't say anything as filed in behind Master Max and take a moment to regather themselves. Under the circumstances, Isen didn't feel like looking at his Master at the moment, worried he might see the disappointment of how he had been the one Jedi to use, what he had to assume now, was excessive force. He simply stood there looking at a piece of ground some ways in front of him.

@Reyn @Corbeau @Nefieslab @Topher Ridge

 

[Jago Haaldin]

Jago gave the Vratix a wide simile as he kept the cultist busy, and she easily dispatched the cultist that had come against him. He chuckled a bit despite himself at her mention of "stealing his thunder". "Ah no need to worry master Jedi, it's always a pleasure to watch such a great display of staff fighting yeah?" He gave her a gentle pat on the arm to show his appreciation before he turned back tot he fight at hand, well less of a fight and more of a stomping at that point. The combined might of the gathered Jedi proved too much for these less experienced cultist. Only made worse when Max unleashed another devastating attack with the force. It wouldn't take an expert to figure out his reasoning, the faster they were done, the less chance of loss of life.


Even if any of the cultists managed to stay on their feet, they quickly lost the will to fight after they witnessed Max's skills. Jago had no issue with falling in beside the other Jedi, ready to begin the assault on the temple proper. He stretched his arms one more time and readied himself for what was ahead.

@Reyn @Isen @Corbeau @Frannykins87 @Mr. Teatime @Nefieslab

 

[Izel Thral]

With Max's latest display of the Force it was clear this battle was over, offering Izel a chance to relax a bit during the lull. She immediately hunched over a bit and hissed quietly as she suppressed the aching pain throughout her body, leaning on her pike for support. The exertion wasn't doing much for her freshly healed injuries. But at Jago's compliment she forced herself to perk up a bit. "I suppose I should be honored with that praise coming from a Matukai." She replied to the Nautolan in a friendly tone as they made their way towards the others. "I've been trying to practice with the saber more. It's something of an area I struggle with, if that previous display in the jungle didn't make that clear."

She had been practicing a lot actually. Sparring with Fiach, Bri, whoever she could really. She liked to think it was starting to show results, but that disaster in the jungle had shook her confidence somewhat. Perhaps in the future she could spar with Jago. No doubt a match with a martial arts master like the Matukai would be educational. But these were things to be considered later.

As they caught up with their allies Izel promptly took her place beside her apprentice. She could sense his feelings, and felt his shame over his actions as he averted his eyes. "It's alright." She assured him, putting a hand on his shoulder. Now was not the time to let negative emotions linger. "You fought well." She glanced in the direction of those slain by the Padawan. "The fault is mine." She looked back at him and nodded reassuringly. There was no contempt in her voice. If there was any hint of disappointment, it was only in herself. "We'll talk about it later." She patted him on the shoulder and moved forward to the entrance, stopping before the Jedi Master.

"Well they're obviously expecting us," She observed as she looked at Max. "Their defenses could be quite strong. How would you like to proceed Master?" She had a bad feeling the front door might be the answer, but who knew? Perhaps Max had a clever trick up his sleeve. Whatever the decision, Izel was prepared to act accordingly.

@Nefieslab @Isen @Corbeau @Topher Ridge

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach took stock of the situation. As she had developed from her first days on Ajan Kloss, her abilities with the Force had grown significantly - but her growth as a person had not. She knew that, to take the next step, she needed to focus on her leadership skills. But it still felt to natural - too comfortable - to defer to Max. After all, lives were at stake and although she would risk her own in a heartbeat, she did not wish to commit others to any act that might endanger them.

But she was, at least, self-aware and recognising this, didn't just defer to Max but focused on his actions intently, seeking to learn from his leadership and guidance, so that one day she might assume the role he was currently performing.

@Nefieslab @Isen @Topher Ridge @Reyn

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Max took a breath and let himself relax a little bit, even though the oppressive nature of the Dark Side still surrounded them all. Still, he could feel the way the others flocked to his side. Offering them a small smile, he nodded to each of them as they came up to meet him at the entrance. The battle was over and they could move on.

They just needed the will to do so.

He could tell, through a combination of his gut instinct and his connection to the Force, that the door wasn't actually locked. They could proceed directly into the base of the enemy without any further issue, no further roadblocks as it were, aside from those within the walls.

"Their defenses are irrelevant." he declared with a small smile, "They know they are as well - that's why the stronger enemies lie in wait for us within. They didn't ever expect us to be stopped, just slowed down, worn down."

He pushed the door open and stepped inside.

"So let's not disappoint them - let's spring their trap."

/End Thread

@Isen @Topher Ridge @Reyn @Corbeau