Open Event Vengeance of the Sith: Descent

[Connor Vance]

Connor’s green eyes were wide as Nash asked him what he saw. He opened his mouth to answer when the thoughts of the other Builder flowed into him. He vaguely understood what these things did. He somewhat understood how to manipulate them. He felt compelled to build more.

“I-I-I’m not sure Thumps.” He muttered. “There were like pylons and faces and symbols and voices…” His eyes fell and flickered back and forth. “…We gotta find out what’s going on.” He told her with renewed confidence.

He had to find more information on the pylons. This was his path to power. He just knew it. Something told him that much.

“Thanks for checking on me.” He told her with a genuine smile. “It really means a lot.” He gave her a nod before starting to stand shakily to his feet. “What’s next?”

@Altaris @Sreeya @Javier esschoolbus

 

[Arak Ragnos]

Arak was next to Nash as she cradled Connor. He was just looking down at him as he was screaming the words. “All Things Must Bow To Decay. By The Beacons Call, All Shall Obey” He sat there trying to decipher the words. Every thing decays. That is a fact of life. But beacons and all obeying. What is that supposed to mean? He was so lost in thought he didn’t even notice what the alchemist did to the Mandalorian and to be honest he didn’t care. She got chosen to be the sacrificial lamb and that was all.

When Nash (@Sreeya) began to rap he just stood there looking at her. She had drawn him out of his internal spiral of questioning the words and gave him a distraction from everything else. He didn’t know why but small moments like this were the ones he enjoyed the most.

It wasn’t long before Connor had woken up. Arak crouched down as he began telling them about the pylons. He telepathically connected to Connor (@Apollyon), “Did they seem like beacons? Was there anything attracted to them?” He then turned to Nash, “He spoke of everything bow to decay, and all obey some kind of beacon.” He said still in mild contemplation over what it could mean. Especially with the information Connor had provided.

Arak then turned to the alchemist (@Altaris) speaking to it in Ur-Kittat, <“Where is your Master waiting for us? Why did he invite us specifically?”> He questioned curiously. He couldn’t help the allure that meeting the Sith who made this thing provided him. It was possible he could glean some knowledge that would be useful from them.

 

[The Storyteller]

Main Group​

Those within the laboratory would certainly find answers for their questions, each and every time they pried for information. The Alchemist was an honest fellow - prepared to ‘help’ them in whichever way they requested. But there was little from any revelation they received that would serve to settle their already strained nerves - no answers that didn’t spawn a dozen more questions in their wake.

Satisfied with its meal/new plaything, the Alchemist steepled its fingers - glancing between the group of Acolytes that had opted to address it directly. When Nash started abruptly rapping, the abomination fixated its attention on her - its misshapen hips swaying and toes tapping to her impromptu song. It was a strange thing, for such a twisted creature to have such a human fascination with music. A relic of a past life? Or some sick obsession, plucked from the mind of one of its patients?

The Alchemist grooved and danced about the sulfuric water until it was addressed once more - this time during to look at Arak. “Yes yes, Korribani.” It said with a smile - black eyes blinking a few times as it stepped closer to the Pureblood. “Children of Exiles,” It said, gesturing to all of them. “Master know you coming. Want you come. Only the strong.” It smiled. It would be left to the Acolytes to pick apart the meaning behind everything the Alchemist said, it is had any meaning at all.

Its eyes narrowed, ever-so-slightly, when Arak asked for specifics. “Lord’s laze upon seats of frost and obsidian, content upon their ill-earned thrones.” The Alchemist said - his broken speech seemingly precise and clear for the first time in their exchange. As if that phrase was something that had been ingrained perfectly into its mind. Planted to be repeated without fail. “The faithful shall not be swayed, for the shepard eternal beckons.”

It jabbed a finger into Arak’s chest. “Be… Faithful,”

“I take to our Lady?” The Alchemist smiled, pointing a finger down the tunnel behind its laboratory. It was the most obvious way out of the cavern - and it was precisely the direction that the servant of Occidius wanted them to go. Perhaps it was the direction towards the answers that they sought, and whatever it was they were being promised.

Perhaps it was the direction to the very being in charge of it all.

Elsewhere in the laboratory, the Sith might notice subtle shifts in the behavior of the droids around them. Where surgical droids had previously done about their business uninterrupted, they all seemed to just.. Stop in place. Their metallic bodies turned and photoreceptors fixated upon the collective Sith who had stumbled into the laboratory. Watching without saying a word. The protocol droids, once tending to the computer terminals and waddling about, began to make for the tunnel behind the Alchemist’s platform and deeper into the cavern.

Serene - aside from managing to steal trinkets for herself - would find little of value digging through the stomach bile of the Sith abomination. She would certainly note the powerful sedative properties of the creature’s saliva and vomit, though nothing of its true intentions for Feifi. Elsewhere, Timera had started to look for her own way out of the Labratory - her gaze fixating upon a large ventilation shaft that opened all the way up the wall. With careful application of the Force, the Rattataki began to remove bolts keeping the vent sealed - a fact that perhaps only Serene, not involved in anything else, might notice.

Corra, meanwhile, would enjoy a brief continued conversation with the surgical droid - seemingly all-too-happy to answer the questions provided. “This is one of many facilities designated for laboratory function. Daily functions overseen by Builders. Total operational population consists of..” A pause, calculations processing behind the droids eyes. “Six hundred, forty-four non-sentient workers.”

The surgical droid froze when Corra inquired about the Beacons. Its photoreceptors clicked yellow. “Location of Beacons are highly classified. Please provide proper authorization codes and your facility staff identification card.” It extended a hand. Waiting.

Xo, however, would perhaps receive the most ominous response to his attempts to contact Oracle. For several minutes, his efforts to reconnect to the Scout droid were entirely unsuccessful - as if the mechanical companion was deliberately ignoring the summons of its Master. Eventually, however, something would respond.

A face appearing to block the camera that Xo was connected to through the scout droid. Staring back at him without the ability to blink. “Tick.. Tock. Tick.. Tock.”The voice was slurred and muttered - reverberated past lips that didn’t seem entirely human through the commlink that connected Xo to Oracle. To somewhere deep in the laboratory, the Scout droid had been called. Somewhere deep in the laboratory, it had been found.

“We see you,” It whispered, voice echoing. Echoing almost as long as the sound of dozens of footsteps - banging from the ceiling above them, stomping beyond the walls that formed the boundary of the cavern.

Left Behind Group​

Lightning crackled and flashed brought the cavern to life with color - terminating into the ground with enough ferocity to turn sand into glass. Crimson light flickered off walls and stone, reflecting the rage and emotion that pulsed through the rival Sith. Perhaps they once had been allies, at the start of their mission together. But they had succumbed to precisely what their predecessors had demanded of them.

Was it worth it?

There was no immediate interruption to their fighting. No swarm of infected or horrible creature summoned from the depths of oblivion. Quite the opposite, in fact. The rumbling of the cavern came to an abrupt and sudden halt from whence it had begun - and with it too silenced the ever-present moan and growl of infected. The subterranean maze was silent and serene, save for the clash of combat that echoed from Trodai and Ayomi. But it was too quiet. And neither Sith would find any peace in the sudden cessation of noise.

Instead, they would feel a chill that pierced through armor and clothing - turning their blood cold and leaving every hair to stand on end. That profound sense of dread that they’d felt the entire mission shifted. It grew closer. It was getting closer with every second that passed, and left the pair of Sith with only a single path to escape whatever had seemingly been drawn to the fighting.

There were no footsteps. No shadows that danced across the wall to herald its coming. For all intents and purposes, they were completely alone in their fight.

But that feeling just wouldn’t. Go. Away.

 

[Corra]

Corra kept up with her conversation with the surgical droid, finding him all too pleasant and willing to answer questions. In fact, if the other part of the room was anything to go by then everyone was kind and helpful, which felt distinctly... wrong.

Perhaps it was that the droid was programmed for good bedside manner, but Corra doubted it. It was a surgeon, after all. Still, if the information given was even remotely true it was likely useful.

Holy kriff, that's a lot of droids, she thought to herself. A lot of droids that could become hostile.

The droids started to move on from the room and Corra started "searching" through her pockets to wait for as many of them to leave as possible as she "looked" for her identity card.

Disregard my last question, she said, waving her hand dismissively and moving on in a hope of distracting the droid.

It looks like the boss wants us to move on, she said, motioning toward the Alchemist. After all, droids couldn't decline orders from the boss, right?

If she wasn't interrupted, Corra would begin to slowly make her way toward the tunnel along with - presumably - the rest of the group.

Spoiler: DM Notes

Dialogue and starting to head toward the tunnel if the rest of the group does

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Trodai gritted his teeth as the redirected lightning hit the ground, turning it into glass. With rage, anger and wrath the Massassi reacted and as Ayomi attempted to feign submission to his choking technique, Trodai was not convinced. He was not a total fool as some thought, and wouldn't be so foolish as to fall for such a simple trick. He could still feel them in the Force, that they still lived and felt rage. Besides he knew what death was like, he had gotten closer than most, and this was not it.

And so as Ayomi dropped to their knees and loosened their arms, with heavy gasps, Trodai acted using the advantage Ayomi had unknowingly now given him. At least he saw it that way. He stalled his advance a short distance away, instead refocusing his efforts into Telekinesis, his rage and anger directed and attempted to slam Ayomi back into the pedestal, hopefully breaking their back.

He would follow after by trying to twist and break Ayomi arms a unnatural direction. He intended to twist them so much that the pain would become unbearable, that they either tore apart, broke completely if not break off entirely and continue the telekinetic barrage to further damage his opponent.

He would try to slam them into the ceiling and the floor hard and powerful before striking as they lay exposed and broken. He wanted to break them, to give them a glimpse of his suffering. He could feel the chill, something approaching which did not bode well as the ceiling stopped shaking.

He needed to hurry. He needed to end this charade.

Spoiler

Actions:
1.Trodai is not convinced by the faking and stays back lightsaber at the ready.

2.Trodai releases the choke at a distance. Uses Telekinesis on Ayomi while they are dropped to their knees, with heavy gasps and arms hanging limply at their sides to try slamming them back first into the pedestal using the momentary advantage. Attempt to try and break Ayomi back.

3.Continue telekinesis to try bend, twist and break Ayomi arms unnatural directions while they attempt to recover. Lightsaber on standby for a attempted counter.

4.Continues the telekinesis barrage to try and force and slam Ayomi into the ceiling and the floor hard with a powerful hulk like smashing. Finish by trying impale the chest as they lay broken and end the threat before they recover.

 

[Connor Vance]

Connor heard Arak’s words, he went to respond when a third voice punctuated the silence. It was only something Connor could hear. He was connected to them now, he could hear them. Their song buzzed and droned in his mind, they promised power untold. But he had to keep the secret.

Add Nash to the call. He replied. I’m gonna need more info to understand what these pylon things do and how they work. He continued honestly. I’m gonna need both of you to cover me while I’m in these machines…they’re horrifying but they have the answers we need, I know it.

With that, Connor would break his connection with them and turn his gaze back to Nash. He gave her a reassuring smirk, a vain attempt at letting her know he was okay now.

Only then did Connor turn his attention back to the group. Where’d the psychopathic Mandalorian chick go? Why did Serene have her- OHHHH. Connor really was beginning to dislike this place. Then he heard the speech of a fellow builder with more experience than he. Connor’s mind reached out inquisitively, he asked for more information about the pylons. About how he could build them.

The sound of banging suddenly surrounded them. Connor wasn’t sure why but he didn’t feel like he was actually welcomed by anyone. Not this Sith Lady and not her ally. But maybe by the alchemist itself.

When the rest of the group made to leave, Connor would be among them. Right beside the two most important people to him, Arak and Nash.

@Sreeya @Javier esschoolbus @Altaris

Spoiler: tldr

Connor talks telepathically to Nash and Arak.
Connor asks the alchemist about the pylons through a telepathic link
Connor leaves with the rest of the group.

 

[Serene]

Serene’s thoughts were momentarily interrupted by the sudden stillness of the droids. It was unsettling even for her. The words the dark sider had read above returned both in her mind and to her ears as the Alchemst repeated them. “Down…down…..down.” Serene spoke softly to herself.

The viscous substance in the helmet was far from hygienic and unlikely to be anywhere near sterile. She witnessed first hand how the energetic mandalorian was now sedated after only a brief time though it was foolish to think she knew the full limits.

They had stopped their advance deeper into this place. It was time they continued on. From behind the mystery of her helmet, Serene noted the Rattataki’s position and subtly accessed a large ventilation shaft. The sorceress’s posture centered primarily on the guide and made her way to join Timera.

When she began walking she released her hold of the Mandalorian helmet, dropping it on the ground away from herself like it was the easiest thing in the world. She could not be bothered to hold it one second longer. The crown of the helmet clanked and then rolled, spilling its near gallon volume of contents across the floor in a disgusting puddle.

Serene did not care about the mandalorian’s armor and already had one of Feifi’s previous helms as a plant pot. She had only taken the acolyte’s lightsaber to give it to Ayomi as proof of their apprentice’s failure. Serene had no personal need for the weapon herself and wondered if the champion even needed to carry it now considering the blue skinned tiefling was likely dead or at risk of dying in their own situation. It would be a waste to leave it behind. Serene's gaze regarded Timera, wondering if she was trustworthy enough to be given the lightsaber. Then again some of the acolytes lacked weapons but were just as if not more unpredictable than the collared pathfinder.

Spoiler: summary

Serene thinks about the riddle and the alchemist’s words.
She drops Feifi’s helmet on the ground after examining it letting it spill.
Serene follows/joins Timera near the ventilation shaft

 

[Arak Ragnos]

Arak blinked at Connor when he replied he add Nash to the call. His face showing the unmistakable disappointment in his phrasing. Calling what he did a call like if it was a phone was not cool. He sighed as he reached out to Nash linking her to there connection, the only reason he could do this was the closeness he had to both of them. “Alright she’s here you can continue.” He listened as Connor explained the situation.

He didn’t offer a response right now opting to go over the details in his head. So when Connor disconnected he also turned to the group and looked around. He asked his questions to the alchemist getting a riddle in response, be faithful. It was the writing outside. Thrones of obsidian and frost that were ill earned? The faithful won’t sway due to this eternal Shepard beckoning? What did it all mean? He didn’t know.

He followed the finger that the alchemist pointed towards the tunnel. He also spotted Timera looking like she was about to go through a vent. He weighed his options but he decided to stay with Connor and Nash and go through the tunnel. His curiosity getting the better of him.

Spoiler: actions

Linked himself Connor and Nash to a group call
Pondered the riddle given
Left with the group

@Sreeya @Apollyon @Altaris

 

[Ayomi Jakarta]

Ayomi could feel Trodai drawing on the Force once again as they feigned submission to his telekinetic grasp on their throat. It seemed their deception had failed, but that did not mean they were defenseless. It was a deception after all, and like any other deflected strike in a duel the champion knew they had to quickly pivot. Abandoning the charade and shifting onto the balls of their feet, the Tiefling focused Force energy into their legs and pushed off of the ground in time with Trodai's push, using the added momentum to somersault over the pedestal and land on their feet.

Knowing their opponent wouldn't hesitate to keep up the attack, Ayomi resolved to act fast; the unnatural quiet and creeping chill throughout the cavern certainly wasn't helping their confidence. The Sith began to feel a powerful tugging sensation at their arms, pulling them in unnatural directions as Trodai's extended hand indicated he was the cause. They needed to get close, eliminate Trodai's advantage with the Force and replace it with their own advantage in a close-quarters duel. Putting their energy into resisting Trodai's pull as much as possible, the Tiefling strenuously reached out a hand and called on the Force to apply crushing pressure the wrist of the Pureblood's lightsaber hand. They hadn't caught up with him in a minute and knew he'd been through a lot, but Ayomi assumed he still had one. The telekinetic grip would aim to deliver both intense pain, giving Trodai a taste of his own limb-twisting medicine and to disrupt his concentration.

Were they successful, Ayomi wouldn't relent as they reactivated their lightsaber blade and used the Force to fling pieces of the earlier shattered chain, some blunt and some sharp, at Trodai's face while they advanced.

Spoiler: Actions

1. Stopped faking being choked, quickly adjusted from a kneeling postition to crouching on the balls of their feet, and used their own jump timed up with the momentum from Trodai's Force push to flip backwards and over the pedestal, landing on their feet.

2. As Trodai began to contort their arms, reached out with the Force to crush his wrist to cause enough pain to break his concentration and possibly his wrist (on his lightsaber hand) too.

3. If Trodai's concentration was successfully broken, uses the Force to pelt his face with the broken shards of the door chaisn we shattered at the beginning, and advanced with their lightsaber ready.

@Akheron @Altaris

 

[Xohhar K'liir]

Xohhar stared down at his phone after hearing a chime to indicate the connection had been made only to nearly drop it in horror at the face of the abomination staring back through the camera. Whatever the distance, whatever means it had used to take control of the Seeker droid, the Falleen Acolyte couldn't help but feel that it could see him.

And then it spoke.

Cursing, Xo dropped his phone and watched the screen refuse to go black, the face staring up at him, and with his heart thudding painfully fast in his chest he drew his pistol with a nervous breath, scooped up his phone and rushed to follow Corra (@Phoenix toward Connor(@Apollyon), holding the phone out in front for the others to see.

"What the fuck am I looking at?!"

 

[Nash]

Nash only grimaced at what Connor (@Apollyon )said, “Stop fucking around, we have no idea what we’re dealing with!” She hissed at him, but she knew he would do his technobabble thing anyway.

She took a moment to glance over at the creepy Champion lady (@Darasuum ) that casually grabbed the saber off the Mando chick Nash condemned to sacrifice. Nash used the Force to yank the saber back to herself before the woman could take it. She didn’t have a weapon and she wasn’t about to let the creepy lady just add to her collection. Nash simply stared at the woman as if daring her to do something about it.

Fortunately, everyone was keen on moving along. Nash kept the Mando’s saber for herself, feeling slightly better at being armed. She couldn’t lug around the armor, so she simply put on the bracers and called it a day. Nash made a point of wiping the bracers off on the Champion's outfit before winking at her.

Nash then walked towards the tunnel, making sure the Champion went ahead so she could die first if things got hairy.

 

[The Storyteller]

Main Group​

It was… A difficult thing to discern the emotions that passed behind the Alchemist’s blackened eyes. But in that moment - as the Sith collectively agreed to follow deeper into the cavern - the satisfaction was plain for all of them to see. The abomination steepled his fingers together with excitement, his lips quivering with anticipation. Everything was going according to plan. Just as it should have been.

“Yes yes,” It said, pointing its fingers towards the tunnel that ran behind the sulfuric pools of water. “Come come,” It called back, slightly beginning to trudge its way through the river and deeper into the caverns that spanned beneath Utapau’s surface. Much of the natural tunnel had been converted for the purposes of Occidius’ followers, with metal and machinery beginning to cover earth and stone, canals forming to funnel the natural flow of subterranean rivers.

It was a city all its own - dominated entirely by infected, droids and worse.

“The Lady be very happy you come,” The Alchemist looked back at Nash (@Sreeya ) smiling wide. “Very happy.”

As they progressed through the cavern, the Sith would be treated to glimpses of neighboring labs and failed experiments. Dozens of living bodies were aligned on metallic tables, tilted at forty-five-degrees and restrained. Though the numerous tubes and cables clearly kept them sedated, the rise and fall of their chests were clearly indicative of their living state.

Despite the fact that their skull-caps had been removed - revealing the brainmatter that was nestled within. Wires poked and prodded throughout, while rune-covered shards had been surgically implanted into almost all of them. Was that to be the fate of Feifi? Who could say. And after their betrayal, did any of the Sith care?

Dozens of additional hallways splintered off from their pathway - undoubtedly connecting to other laboratories and research facilities contained within. Curiously, Connor (@Apollyon ) alone would feel a distinct compulsion to a handful of pathways against the others - an almost heartbeat-like pulsation ringing through his mind. Something that beckoned to him and him alone.

The group would have mere moments to inspect the neighboring laboratories or patients before they were ushered along by the Alchemist, seemingly eager to reach the large, durasteel doors at the very end of the maze-like hallway. This time was extended as the Alchemist branched off momentarily, hunching over near a cluster of surgical droids. Unhinging its jaw once more, the abomination would proceed to regurgitate Feifi onto the floor - still sedated and now deprived of her armor. The Alchemist looked to the surgical droids, its smile twisting upwards once more. “Prepare it.”

Whether they opted to investigate further or not, the group would progressively begin to feel the presence of.. Something, lingering just beyond the threshold. Something they’d need to steel themselves to face.

Fortunately for Corra (@Phoenix ) the surgical droid did not persist its question after the question was disregarded. Perhaps the Acolyte was merely lucky that the Alchemist had plans of its own, or the droid simply had no reason to question the woman further. Xo (@Rom) - despite his cries of terror at what he was looking at - would receive no answer. The hideous figure on the other line ended the call by smashing Oracle against something solid - damaging the scout droid severely and shattering the camera that connected them. The sound of banging and footsteps wouldn’t cease, however, going more urgent and progressively closer as time went on. While the Alchemist had seemingly welcomed them, it was clear that Xo’s attempts to hack into computer systems within the facility had angered someone else entirely.

Perhaps motivation to continue along with their path.

Meanwhile, Timera and Serene (@Darasuum ) would not join the group that followed the Alchemist. Instead, the Rattataki wasted no time in entering the ventilation shaft that ran above the caverns - just wide enough for the pair of Sith to move side-by-side. It was cramped and uncomfortable, with the only source of light shining from the multitude of vents that they would occasionally pass over. At various points, Serene would catch a glimpse into other laboratories and experimentation chambers.

At one more, she would pass across one chamber in particular containing an obelisk-like structure, surrounded by cloaked acolytes.

As they progressed through the ventilation shaft, the sound of movement below would bring Timera to a halt. Below them, dozens of infected moved quickly down the hallways - lead by the same figure that had greeted Xo via Spoom call. The Rattataki narrowed her eyes, before glancing back to Serene with a jut of her chin.

“You need to distract them, unless you want your friends to be intercepted by that host.”

Left Behind Group​

The Warning Was Plain, Ignored As It Might Have Been
In The End, Only One Could Win

By now, it didn’t matter how long Trodai and Ayomi (@Akheron @René )sought to extend the duel between them unnecessarily. The Darkness that they’d so easily sense approaching - moving through the maze-like tunnels to eclipse every other presence and sound - had not slowed in its approach. It could feel the intensity of their duel, and the emotions that raged between them. It drank deep, and followed the trail that winded and curved through the subterranean tunnels.

And they would feel it.

Like the weight of an entire planet, Ayomi and Trodai would feel the weight that pressed down against their chests - making every breath a struggle. The Force would wither from their fingertips, and the lightsabers they held would become impossibly heavy. Whatever the state of their duel - whoever might’ve had the advantage.. None of it mattered. Neither would have the strength to finish what had begun. Only to turn their heads to face what had stepped through the shadows to halt them in place.

Laughter resounded off the stone walls - echoing into their ears and piercing deep into their minds. It was maniacal and maddened, the likes of which hadn’t been heard since they were silenced on Sullust so many years ago. A voice they wouldn’t recognize, as the figure itself stepped into view. Slender and tall, its body was stitched and woven together with unnatural magick and means - adorned in a gown of its own flesh that trailed ever-so-slightly on the ground behind it. Though its maw was perpetually twisted into a smile, there were no eyes for the creature to see. Instead, the bone-like headdress, growing from its own skull, reached high into the air to nearly scratch the veiling.

It would feel as if Tempest herself had stepped into the chamber - the full strength of a Councilor at the very least bearing down upon them. She carried no lightsaber or weapon. But there was no doubt the strength that she wielded to completely eclipse their own.

“Kneel,” Her voice echoed - scratchy and inhuman, as it passed through her necrotic throat. “Or perish.”

 

[Corra]

Corra looked at the image that Xo (@Rom) held up, tryign to think back if she had ever read anything about something similar in the archives on Umbara or Korriban.

The Alchemist was giving Corra all kinds of heeby-geebies, and the fact that the "Lady" would be very happy they were coming... probably wasn't a good thing.

Of course the things they saw as they made their way through the labs was horrifying, but not so much as one might have expected. These were mostly infected who were as good as dead anyway as far as she and the rest of the galaxy was concerned. Husks of their former selves that she wasn't going to lose any sleep over. This was also the nature of the Dark Side: to push things past the brink of what everyone else accepted.

They were ushered onward with a hurried pace that was - one again - somewhat foreboding, but they ultimately came to a large door before the Mandalorian was... eww, regurgitated. Corra's face scrunched up in revulsion at the sight, and she really didn't want to know what "being prepared" entailed. Nothing good, she was sure.

She kept her eyes and wits about her as they all arrived at the door, her discomfort growing as she looked for whatever threat felt like it was ominously descending on them.

 

[Serene]

Serene would allow Timera to take the lead, giving her some space in the confines of the vent. The trailing champion slowed to examine the obelisk as they passed by and the people around it. She wanted to study any discernible symbols but knew now was not the time to dally. She hoped to commit as much to memory and circle back to it later. The same could be said for the other side rooms they observed. If Serene had wanted a normal tour she would have gone with the rest of the group.

As they progressed onwards the foreboding sound of approaching footsteps was followed by a whispered warning from the Rattataki guide. Serene wondered why Timera did not do something but there was no time to argue. She still did not trust her fully and likely never would. Regardless, it was about time Serene put in some team effort on this mission.

Serene understood the art of sorcery to a greater degree than the average Sith Champion. She knew it was her willpower that was her greatest strength as she called upon the manifestations of primal emotions. It was with this understanding and talent she used the magnified feeling of dread permeating the area. She began to mutter an incantation in ur-Kittât though did so quietly to keep her spells to herself.

Spoiler: Incantation & Music

Song​

<”Freed dreaded dead and destroyed
Gather strength and pass the nine thresholds
Bind to my will seeking salvation from the three crowns
Come forth”>​

The depth of the darkside was as deep as the wells on Utapau if not deeper. Each of the Sith that had come had felt first hand the dangers here and continued to see the horrors revealed. Serene brought spirits from beyond the veil together, concentrating multiple of them into a single form. Her hands were a series of movements despite the cramped space in the air vent. The invisible symbols she traced in the air were ones she had studied for years and now were putting into practice. It would have been much more difficult if not in a location steeped in the dark side but this actually made things easier.

The spirits of primarily pau’an dead were vast and this was their home world afterall. Serene channeled the dread of the dead and those still living alike. Shadowy limbs stretched up from the ground and began grasping at the floor ahead of the lipless watcher. Pitch black fingers of incorporeal mass seemed to dig their tips into the ground and wall as it pulled itself upwards until it was fully risen into the hallway. These ghostly grasping hands connected together on a single amorphus torso to form a four armed shadowgeist under the sorceress's control. But most importantly, the shadowgeist fiercely blocked the path of the lipless creature and their entourage.

Spoiler: TL;DR

Tries to get a look at the obelisk but won’t stick around too long if Timera moves on.
Serene summons a four armed shadow monster using sorcery to distract the lipless horror from continuing on.

This is also my first time writing a sorcerer type character so let me know if I’m doing something I shouldn’t be.

@Altaris

 

[Connor Vance]

Connor kept up with his friends as they made their way through the hallways and into a laboratory. However, the new voices in his mind sang to him, they called out to him. They tugged towards the promise of power, toward his destiny. Without even recognizing it Connor had frozen and allowed his friends to pass him by as they explored the room.

Connor wouldn’t join them.

His feet followed those calls down the side corridors. He was deafened to everything but the songs, the compulsions too strong to ignore. Nothing else mattered to him but that promise, he hungered for it, he desired understanding. The calls led him to a side laboratory, its’ door glided open before him, as if he was expected. A fleshy sphincter from behind the door opened up allowing Connor to enter.

Within Connor found reanimated flesh twisted with technology. Cables made of unliving flesh connected to data terminals that had thrummed to the beats of their grey rotten hearts. The place was a sanctum of the unnatural, a nest where the Dark Side flourished and nourished the creations born from it.

Connor’s hand gently touched the skin covered walls, it quivered before relaxing. There was a flicker of recognition, the room was alive and it knew him. As he ventured further into the room, the floor squelched beneath his feet and rose to support his weight. The voices called him to a corner of the room, they sang for him to reach into the walls and claim his prize.

Connor listened.

His hands sank into pulsating rotting flesh, the wall parted to allow him to reach in deeper and dislodge what he was meant to find. He is fingers clamped around the object and tugged it free with a slick, sickening, wet plop. Connor fell backwards onto the cushioned overripe floor. What he clutched in his hands was tiny black pyramid that pulsed with red and green energy. Power rippled from it, the voices in Connor’s mind fell silent in its presence. A new deeper and masculine voice echoed in their place.

“A destiny unveiled.”

18/20 to find something.
@Altaris

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Trodai gritted his teeth and cursed in ur-kittat as Ayomi jumped over he pedestal and his attempt to slam them into it had minimal affect. Instead ad it appeared that they had used the additional power and momentum to land behind the pedestal much to his chagrin. Yet with each passing moment he could feel the something approaching. Something extremely powerful. A experience and feeling he recalled only upon seeing Tempest and the punishment of Cremek.

Yet despite it, he continued to try and turn the tide at first. As Trodai contorted and contracted Ayomi arms, he applied more pressure with hopefully enough force that would hopefully break their lightsaber arm. His anger and hatred intensifying as they continued to fight and he focused it upon Ayomi. He felt the pull at his own wrist and so redirected his assault to attempt to buffer against it, and resist. Forcing him to momentarily break concentration in time to see broken chain shards flying towards him. Forcing Trodai to dive from the path but receiving several cuts as a result while he tried to avoid the bigger pieces and used the Force to try and powerfully Push the majority back towards Ayomi.

He added to this using the glass upon the floor from where the lightning had blasted it. Hoping it would lascerate, cut and stab anywhere it could. Potentially fatally or so he hoped. He saw them advance and prepared his own lightsaber to meet them only to find himself suddenly drained of energy.

Like the Force had been sapped and his lightsaber grew heavy as he moved.

He tried to resist but found he could not, and so doubted Ayomi could either. It appeared their bout had come to a end. A stalemate between them, a draw. With each having been evenly matched. Which Trodai respected, for Ayomi to have lasted as long as they had until neither had a choice but to stop. They were a worthy opponent. He turned his head and looked upon the strange, eldritch entity before them.

Upon seeing her form it reminded a bit of his own current lich form, yet more advanced and possibly of her own doing. He was cautious even as he couldn't move, not willing to entirely trust who she was. Yet she was clearly some kind of Sith. He felt her power, her strength that he had felt only from the Dark Lord. Knowing this was no ordinary Sith. That she carried no weapon or lightsaber spoke to her abilities as did how she was able to drain them as she had.

He listened as the eldritch Sith spoke, inhuman and unnatural. Offering them little choice but to kneel or die there and then. Trodai was anything if a survivor...and so he knelt, placing his lightsaber away as to not antagonize the strange Sith woman. Hopefully sparing himself to live another day in the face of a power he had no hope of fighting against. For now he would submit, but he would bide his time. Wait for the opportunity to act, to escape whatever fate potentially awaited them in her service, if that was what was to happen. Perhaps Ayomi and he could momentarily put their differences aside to do just that he thought. Perhaps a similar thought was also going through their mind.

There was a temptation of power there also though. One he was trying to ignore.

He could hear the strange woman echo in his head, loud like a great drum. It was disorienting.

Kneelng as best he could, given his injuries he spoke. Hoping to glean some information from whoever this was that might prove useful to any future escape attempt. Perhaps they might even reach a mutual understanding, although he doubted it given her tone. Yet he found even a name would be something.

He asked from his kneeling position "You appear to be Sith, but none like I have known. Who are you? And what is to become of us? You who show such power and strength I have known from only two others." Trodai wondered if she would actually deem to answer his inquiry.

Spoiler

Actions -
1.Trodai continues to contort and contract Ayomi lightsaber arm, applying more pressure with hopefully enough force to hopefully try and break it completely.

2.As Ayomi attempts to return the favour and use the Force to contort Trodai lightsaber wrist, Trodai redirects his assault to instead buffer and use the Force to resist.

3.Trodai breaks concentration as the chain shards come at him, acquiring several cuts in the process. He dives to try and avoid the bigger pieces and uses the Force to try and redirect the shards back along with the addition of the glass that the lightning made on the floor. Prepares his own lightsaber to meet Ayomi only to feel the draining affect and is forced to stop.

4. Put his lightsaber away and kneels, trying not to antagonize the strange Sith woman.

5.Trodai while kneeling tries to talk to the strange Sith woman and try get her name. Attempt to gather further information about her and his fate.

@René @Altaris

 

[Ayomi Jakarta]

As the battle of stamina and flexibility waged on between Ayomi and Trodai's telekinetic attacks, the Tiefling could feel their left arm strain a little too far from it's normal position. They heard a slight snap, feeling something crack at just the right angle in one of their forearm bones; probably a fracture of their radius, they guessed. Irritating and painful, but not debilitating. They drew on the pain emanating from the arm, swapping lightsaber hands as their thrown metal shards assailed Trodai and broke his concentration. They began their advance, ready to strike―being ambidextrous had its benefits―but the approach stopped short as the heavy feeling of dread they'd felt approaching finally settled onto the room.

Ayomi's steps became slow, their arms heavy with exhaustion, the pain in their arm amplified as the adrenaline seemed to drain from their system. The redirected assault from Trodai faltered, metal and glass clattering harmlessly to the ground as the champion suddenly found it hard to breath; a quick glance indicated the Pureblood appeared to be feeling the same. It was near as powerful a presence as the Dark Lord Tempest herself, but at least when Ayomi had first encountered her at Cremek's execution they'd been relatively far away, overlooking the whole thing. This was different, closer, heavier. The Tiefling watched as a tall, grotesque figure entered the room, demanding the champions kneel.

Ayomi made no direct effort, simply dropping to their knees in exhaustion while their lightsaber deactivated, feeling heavier by the second in one of the hands hanging limply at their side. Unlike earlier with Trodai, this was no trick; they simply lacked the strength, the energy, the power to stand. A reminder that even though they'd fought Trodai to a standstill, they were still weak. The effort was nothing to be impressed by. While Trodai engaged in his usual talkative antics, Ayomi simply stared down the tall, domineering figure with hateful yellow eyes.

@Akheron @Altaris

 

[Nash]

It took Nash a moment to realize that the shady Champion lady disappeared along with the slave guide. It was just the acolytes following the creepy abomination. She was suddenly far more nervous than before and she grimaced at the alchemist’s words, “Sooo you wanna tell me about this Lady? Is she nice? Think she’s gonna help us outta here?” Nash chuckled nervously.

She didn’t even realize she gripped Arak’s (@Javier esschoolbus ) wrist out of fear, genuinely uncomfortable in this environment. Nash had been sent on multiple scary missions, but everything about this place was unsettling. They kept walking for a bit and she suddenly paused, glancing around, “Where is Connor?” (@Apollyon )She whispered, suddenly concerned, “He was just here!” Nash gasped, whirling around to look for him.

It was then that Nash began to panic, having no idea what was going on, “Something is off! Something is splitting us up one by one,” Nash whispered rapidly, “Man why the aliens all gotta be split up in the same group?!” She sighed, looking between herself, Arak and Xo (@Rom ). She was going to pretend Corra (@Phoenix ) was also alien, “This is like a horror Holomovie, y’all, we about to DIE. Let’s jump this fucker.”

With that, Nash ignited Feifi’s saber and attempted to stab the weirdo through the back with it.

Spoiler: Actions

Nash tries to surprise stab the alchemist in the back with a lightsaber while its looking the other way

@Altaris

 

[Arak Ragnos]

Arak was on edge due to following the gaping mouth creature. So as they began to go through the hallway he realized that both of the higher Sith had left them. Were they just bait? This made him even more on edge. He watched the abomination closely as Nash began asking it questions. His grip on his saber was still firm though now the blade was no longer ignited.

As they continued down the hall he felt something grab his wrist when he looked down it was Nash. His heart began to race slightly but he quickly focused back on the path ahead and its various potential ambush spots along the way. Arak began looking around when Nash (@Sreeya) asked about Connor, “He was just with us.” He whispered back while trying to see any indication of him. He didn’t hear Connor leave them and if he did he didn’t say anything.

Arak noticed Nash started to be put on edge. He needed to try and calm her down, “If something got Connor I doubt we wouldn’t have noticed.” He tried to reassure her not fully believing it himself anymore. He looked around at her comment about the aliens noticing that they were all alien, wait, Corra was with them. She seemed pretty human to..never mind, he’ll just agree it’s all the aliens.

His eyes widened as Nash charged the creature with saber in hand. He remembered that when it spit out Feifi she was asleep or something so he reached out with the force using it to keep the creature’s mouth closed. He would pour as much into it as he needed to prevent it eating Nash.

Spoiler: actions

Arak uses the force to prevent the alchemist from opening its mouth and eating Nash

 

[Xohhar K'liir]

When Xoh realized that their group had winnowed - Serene and the slave guide disappearing, Connor vanishing down some corridor, the Mandalorian who's name he didn't care to learn or remember being - leaving him with Connor's two friends (@Sreeya & @Javier esschoolbus) and the quiet rune reader (@Phoenix) the Falleen cursed under his breath and shoved his now useless phone away into his coat pocket. The sound of pounding feet grew louder from the distance behind them and in his sinking heart the Falleen knew that whatever had taken Oracle was approaching.

Drawing his vibrosabre with his right hand and still holding his pistol in his left, Xoh turned to advise the others that they had company coming when Nash moved to attack the Alchemist. Gritting his teeth the Falleen acolyte raised his Westar-55 and pulled the trigger twice, aiming to stitch two shots in a vertical line between the shoulders and the base of the neck/head well over Nash's height as she buried her lightsaber into the things back.

Spoiler: DM Actions

1. Taking advantage of the serious height difference (Alchemist is said to be easily four feet taller than the group) to shoot the Alchemist between the shoulders and the base of its weird neck/head hump while Nash stabs it in the back and Arak holds it still.