Ask Korriban The Way of the Desert

[Nevizkas]

With the swing of a sword, Cyutadakyr had solidified control over her tribe. Home again at last, the sands of Korriban beneath her feet and it's blazing sun above, the time had come to see a shift in power among the tribes. Invisible to the powers at be, the vast and scattered territory of the various groups were spread thin by constant conflict, feuds and vulgar displays of power.

Her own tribe was neither the largest nor the strongest but with her assistance they had thus far survived the plague of death that spread across the desert plains since the Empires withdrawal. Roaming bands of warriors, each seeking to increase their prestige and influence among their peers, battled in the dunes, the water wells and up to the tribes themselves.

Thus an opportunity presented itself for the first time in generations. Divided, the sand tribes and their backward savage ways could be ignored by those with the trappings of power. But combined as one? The sand dunes could bury all.

Cyutadakyr stood quietly scanning across the vast plains for signs of trouble, spotting nothing of note for the moment. Looking back, she spotted an eager young Acolyte that she had brought along for task.

@Tulos

 

[Silas Ryun]

Silas hated this place. It was hot. It was bright. It was quiet. If he had the choice, he'd turn around and march right back to the ship that had brought him here but he needed to prove himself if he aspired to be anything within the ranks of the Sith. There was no choice. It was either do or die and he wasn't keen on dying quite yet. His training was progressing but he still had a long way to go to be of any significance, thus leading to his presence here. Serving under a Master would prove beneficial... So long as he didn't muck it up.

Finding the tribe was easy enough. Master Cyutadakyr had seemed to know exactly where they would be, which he supposed made sense given her origins. It didn't take long for him to surmise that these were her own people. Perhaps in a different life, she'd have never left them and been an miniscule part of the small community. Instead, it seemed she was destined to return and lead them. To what, only she knew.

“So uh.... What exactly is it that we're looking for, Master?” Silas asked as he brushed his sweaty hair from his eyes, putting an exuberant amount of effort into sounding not only confident but comfortable. In truth, he wanted to tear off every inch of fabric he was wearing and dive into the water trough for the tribe cattle.

He reached out with the Force to attempt to detect anything that he could not see but had come up short, though he was entirely aware that any effort he put forth would pale next to the Pureblood's own. “There's nothing out here but sand, rocks and wind,” he added, feebly stifling his disdain as best he could. “Exciting place to grow up...”

@Xorism​

 

[Nevizkas]

The Acolyte she had chosen to join her was by design, not by choice. Years past she had once been in his shoes serving under another, powerful Sith lost before her time. Some believed the woman dead, burdened by the weight of rank and entombed to be forgotten to nature. But was that really the case? Perhaps time would tell otherwise.

Cyutadakyr's watchful gaze met Silas', the glint of her weapon against her back shining under the merciless bright heat. "Patience, Acolyte, they're looking for us." Since taking command, the pureblood had been busy rounding up the able fighters among the tribe, and some that were only somewhat able in times of emergency. This group would be meeting the pair at coordinates she had set for the ambush, and it was there she planned to make the first strike.

"There is a history here that far exceeds comprehension, a connection to the Dark Side so deep, it can never be extinguished." In fact, most living creatures on the planet were corrupted by its presence in some way, to the point that it was almost impossible for a pureblood Sith to exist in the light side of the force.

"Follow me. You will not see the enemy, before they see you. So you must trust in the force." She instructed him, taking off along the underside of a sand dune ridge. The lower profile providing excellent cover against the watchful gaze of a would be scout in the distance. "What do you think is the most precious resource in the desert?" She offered a relatively simple quiz, curious as to his answer and whether it would be a straight forward or in-depth answer.

@Tulos

 

[Silas Ryun]

Silas' brow furrowed as Cyu made mention of being watched, once more looking out across the desert and seeing nothing. Was this what being Sith was? Constant paranoia? Or was this just Cyutadakyr's own consternation spilling outward? “If you say so,” the boy grumbled, his sword hand resting on the hilt of the vibroblade he had been given, just in case.

His eyes shifted from the scenery to the weapon strapped across the Pureblood's back, eyeing it over with curiosity. His own paled in comparison. The blood red blade and intricacy of the hilt was a sight to behold but even more compelling was what he felt when he was near it. It was no ordinary weapon, this much he knew, even with his woefully limited experience with such things. It seemed almost... unnatural.

Silas followed Cyu closely, silent as she hinted at the histories of Korriban. He could feel the connection she referenced, surely, but he wondered if it was amplified in her case more so than his. She had a connection with this world that he could never hope to achieve, assisted by leagues of training beyond his own. Trusting in the Force was difficult, given that his eyes had never failed him before now. Sighing, he decided to resign to simply accepting her words. In time, he would learn just how correct she was in her statements but for now, he couldn't help but feel they were empty, echoed platitudes he'd heard endlessly over the past weeks.

Her next question, however, was not something he could simply ignore or glaze over. It had been direct and required response. As he followed her down to the bottom of the ridge, sand and rocks filling his boots to cause even more discomfort, he contemplated his answer. Plucking the canteen from his belt, spinning the cap off and taking a long draw of the ever warming water within, the answer seemed simple enough. “Water?” he replied. “I haven't seen a pump house, reservoir, river. Hell, I haven't even seen a lagoon. People need water to survive,” he finished confidently as he stood tall. “What I would give to stumble across a a river right now,” he added quietly, cursing the heat silently.

@Xorism​

 

[Nevizkas]

"Correct." The pureblood replied flatly. As simple as the question was, its answer was both the lifeblood and spiller of blood, as access to this vital resource had played at the centre of conflict for centuries. Another two long dunes they crossed before they'd notice the sand giving way to more stones, dirt and sporadic fauna. "A lesson for you, Acolyte."

She motioned for him to join her just under the ridge of a rocky hill overlooking what appeared to be an oasis in the distance. It appeared to have two open entrances from either side along flat terrain with steep, harsh rocky hills surrounding it. Staying in the hills would give them some kind of advantage in a ranged battle, and coming in along one corridor would force the enemy to fight hand to hand.

"All creatures drink from the spring, therefore it has value. The tribe that controls the water, controls the surrounding territory." Such a lesson was rather straight forward, but the harshness of the terrain and its people emphasised this to the ninth degree. "If this was your war band, where would you ambush the enemy?"

Her eyes continued to scan the horizon, curtly spotting her warriors beginning to trickle in from their journey a short distance away. Soon they would be in position and their neighbours would be joining them not long after that.

@Tulos

 

[Silas Ryun]

Silas’ eyes grew wide with excitement, his mood lifting drastically as the small pond and foliage came into view. He nearly succumbed to the urge to tear off his tunic and sprint forth and dive in but fear of retribution for such lack of restraint kept him in check. For now, at least.

This place was sheltered by canyon walls to each side, shaded from the suns violent rays with the exception of only the highest branches of the trees that grew around the body of water. While the area was still sufficiently illuminated, there were shadowed nooks in the canyon walls where people could hide and wait. The elevation the canyon provided would give superiority to people armed with ranged weapons, rocks and the like. Perhaps the water was deep enough to conceal warriors with reeds to breath from below its surface. It was a suitable place for an ambush, to be sure, but Silas did not yet have a strategist’ eye.

“Would it not make more sense to attack someone before they got here?” he asked sincerely. “If this is where they’re coming, would they expect an attack on the road?”

@Xorism​

 

[Nevizkas]

Looking back to the Acolyte, her thoughts churning like gears of a clock. Once, when she was an acolyte herself, they had returned to Korriban and ambushed a warband in the way Silas suggested. Although it was successful then, it had largely come down to luck and a completely overwhelming attack.

"That is an option, yes." Her eyes glanced around before returning to his. "It does carry greater risk, though. Our forces are smaller and thus if we lose the element of surprise, it could spell doom to the campaign before it even begins." A desert ambush would rely on them staying hidden in between sand dunes, the wrong person in the wrong spot, or a strong blow from above could shift the sand enough to startle someone. All it would take was one sound, or glint of metal under the bright light, to give away their position.

The oasis provided a focal point, somewhere where the enemy had to come to before they moved on. This meant they knew where, but the question of when was still unspoken of. Fortunately for them, Cyu had already received word that the larger, neighbouring tribe was gathering its forces to attack hers, and thus this move was both a defensive and pre-emptive strike.

The Sith Master motioned for him to follow her as they made the short journey to one of the entrances from above. The harsh sun had done a number on the terrain, the damage quite visible as her eyes trailed along a sizable crack formed along a massive rock face. "Help me with this." She said, motioning toward the huge rock across the channel from them and drawing upon the force. Of course most of the effort would be her own, but that didn't mean that she wouldn't expect his assistance.

The force pressed against the earthen object, the pressure continued to build along its fault line. Her face stern and taut, refusing to budge as the boulder did the same. Suddenly and without warning, the giant rock gave way under the assault, cracking before tumbling down the hillside below, taking a significant portion of the hill with it.

Content with their effort, she looked to Silas. "They will find safety in this blockade, but it will be their doom." It was time to reveal her plan to the Acolyte. "Tonight, once the sun is down, you will lead the vanguard along the narrow entrance that remains open with the majority of our warriors. I will lead the few sorcerers we have to the hills, and rain fire down from above into their camp."

The idea, in theory at least, was that assuming Cyu would be able to handle whatever guards they posted above, the majority of their forces would be stuck in the middle with nowhere to go. Attacking during the night meant more of the warband would be asleep or drunk, with only the posted guards to deal with initially. Sowing panic and the feelings of being trapped, while fire burnt around them, would do the rest.

@Tulos

 

[Silas Ryun]

Silas was nothing if not attentive as the Sith Master explained the shortcomings of his suggestion, silent with a single nod as he contemplated what she had said. The ways of war, battle and bloodshed are a foreign concept to the boy but it was clear this would all change soon. The thought of what was to come turned his stomach but he would obey. What choice was there in the matter?

As Cyu demanded his assistance, he stepped in at her side and looked upon the boulder that she wished moved. It was massive and had been positioned as is for centuries, if not millennia, nestled comfortably in its perch. He stared at it quizzically, unsure if such a thing could be done but as she reached out in the Force, he did as well.

Eyes closed, teeth clenched, Silas focused on the boulder. It’s image pictured in his mind, playing the scenario of it rolling to the bottom of the channel over and over again. His heart beat heavy in his ears, what was only seconds felt like minutes before a loud crack and rumbling sound echoed through the chasm.

“Holy shit!” Silas exclaimed exuberantly, laughing as the rubble settled into its new home for the next thousand years. “That. Was. Awesome!”


The next few hours were nail biting as they awaited the rival tribe. Silas had never even seen a battle before, let alone be left in charge of an entire vanguard. He feared the members would turn and scoff at such a young, green member but being brought here by the Pureblood Master had offered him a slight edge. While he was inexperienced, as well as an offworlder to boot, the tribesmen that had joined the expedition were far more accepting than he could have ever hoped.

While they waited for their moment to strike, some of the men had taken it upon themselves to demonstrate a new technique to wielding a blade. While the language was barrier was difficult to overcome, Silas was able to pick up on the basics as time passed them by. His anxieties were still strong but knowing the tribesmen he would fight beside helped alleviate it to a degree.

The sun beginning to drop across the sky told Silas it was time. The men prepared to move out as word of the rival warband approaching the small oasis was received. If they left now, they’d be able to hide themselves amongst the dunes and allow their enemy to slip by them while remaining undetected. Before they departed however, Silas sought out the Pureblood Master.

“We’re preparing to head out, Master,” Silas began after offering the woman a short bow. Even as the desert began to cool with the winds of night time air, he felt hot with anticipation. “Any… last minute advice?” he asked her, hints of nervousness in his tone.

@Xorism​