Ask Event Vengeance of the Sith: Whispers of Prakith

[J’aver Shi’eth]

J’aver felt the sudden build up of potent rage before it was unleashed into a destructive torrent of power. They watched as the Sith Master who had come with them was drained of all vitality by this creatures spiked tongue. As such, when it made to slam that tongue into them, J’av made the only decision they could, they lashed out at the fleshy appendage.

Their course altered slightly, they would step into an upwards slash with their crimson blade attempting to sever the hound’s tongue as it soared towards them. J’av wasn’t sure if their blade would carve through the tongue as it would most things in the galaxy, but they didn’t have many other decisions they could make without halting their attack. This slight course change would also ensure they weren’t in Cremek’s line of fire.

J’av felt their excitement grow suddenly, this thing had felled a Sith Master. Perhaps they had misjudged it’s worth, maybe it was worthy prey after all. However, J’av would do nothing to protect any of their allies. No support would be offered to them in the same manner no quarter would be given to their enemy. The weak would perish, only the strong would survive, this was the way of the Dark Side.

 

[Anai Skhess]

The lightning proved effective, leaving the creature stunned and distracted for a moment while it recoiled in pain, a chance she hoped the other sith would take advantage of. However, she would notice the creature looking at her, the Kaleesh preemptively dropping the lightning as the hound started its mental assault, and so the Kaleesh herself started fortifying her mental walls as soon as the attack hit. Thankfully, out of everyone in the room, the Kaleesh was the most likely one to withstand attacks of such a nature.

Her inquisition training would pay off, a mind conditioned by the inquisition and the techniques taught by them gave her both a quick, swift answer to the attack and enough strength of mind to pull it off. Of course, the abomination's mental assault was not something she could simply shrug off, as the creature attacked she felt as if her mind was being drilled, grunts of pain coming from her mouth as she buckled, but she would not break. The creature wouldn't be able to keep on forever, and she hoped she had enough strength to hold on until the monster needed to change targets once more.

Once the attack stops, the Kaleesh will quickly survey the situation, realizing that the Rattataki that was not part of their team was trying to escape, something she could not allow. The others could have their fight with the beast, the Kaleesh would make sure the runaway didn't get anywhere, there was much questioning to do. Anai

would call upon the force to give herself a big boost of speed, catching up with the coward as she ran away. Hoping to incapacitate the Rattataki now that she had turned away from them tu escape, the Kaleesh would go for a quick slash aimed at the legs, trying to cut them off around the thighs. Should it be successful, the Kaleesh would start worrying about the hound once more, but for now, the other two seemed to have it under control.

 

[Cremek "Krayt" Candorus]

cremek on the other hand, had recollected himself, though he strongly held onto this... power, that his perceived rage had granted him, but cremek was the ever calculating one, he ignites his orange saber with the signature krayt howl, joining his allies in combat, he would adopt III in hopes the creature would direct its attention to him, as he pushed onwards.

"OYA, bring it!"

he would go for the beasts appendage as well, as the master fell, he quite literally stepped over him, not even bothering, nothing to be done, no point in even bothering, he ran several simulations of the event in his head, judging every single path he could take, opting for the more direct approach as a tactical choice, he would make the aggressive play so his ally behind could assault the beast unhindered.

 

[Trael Osso]

Trael had been watching the affair going down. Seeing the master get murdered instantly and the others get caught off guard. Before he could react though he was grabbed with the force and was attempting to be thrown.

Deciding to use this to his advantage he would allow himself to be throw angling his sabers to either pierce the beast like a spear or slice at it should it attempt to attack him.

 

[The Storyteller]

Even as she bolted, the Rattataki didn’t take her attention off the newcomers. She knew that retaliation was probable after her attempt to use Tael as living cannon fodder, but self preservation was amongst the most pure motivations for any Sith. She didn’t feel a hint of sympathy, and would’ve done the same to any of the Acolytes she arrived with.

Turning to face her attacker, the Rattataki rotated her lightsaber downward - moving to intercept the attempted cut through her legs. Her jaw set together in a firm line, eyes tinged with the yellow of Dark Side corruption.

“I am not who you should be fighting in this place,” She said through gritted teeth.

On its own, the hound abomination was more than capable of dispatching individual Sith, or multiple of the fledgling acolytes it had stalked down the corridor. But multiple of them - working in unison? It struggled to keep pace with each attacker, rage and anguish manifesting through the Force and with the guttural, infuriated screeching that rolled up its throat.

Fortunately for J’avier, the razor-tipped tongue of the abomination proved not to be lightsaber resistant. It was a construct - albeit horrific - of flesh, blood and bone, and none of those components could withstand the blade of plasma that sliced through the appendage like a knife through butter. Screeching and wailing filled the room, and it was only silenced by the multitude of additional attacks that rained down upon it.

The flurry of bladework from both Cremek and Tael was enough to finally bring the beast down - though not before attempting to take a swipe at the latter. A final, furious attack in its deathroes.

As the beast growled out its last breath, the group would be left to address the group of Acolytes still gathered nearby - each of them watching the newcomers with a mixture of concern and interest.

Most notable of all, however, was the pulse in the Force that radiated through the Force - washing over each of them like a tidal wave of Dark energy. It would fill them with an intense sense of dread, and was enough to make any Acolyte hunch over and vomit abruptly.

Something had changed. Something kept contained within the caverns had finally been set free - its power and influence unbound. Perhaps only now, the group might behind to consider where Zorya had wandered.

Spoiler: Zorya POV

Silence was the only answer that Zorya provided - and it was that moment of blank, lack of attention that It needed. The entity had already wormed its way into the mind of the Sith Master, isolating and taking on her own face as part of the illusion it wove. The seeds of influence had already been planted without the woman even realizing what was happening, but only not did the entity have the opportunity to direct her actions without resistance
Zorya would feel her limbs moving - she would feel herself deciding and wanting to follow the directions that it whispered into her mind - though she wouldn’t quite understand why she was doing it.

The blade was quickly accepted - its hilt grasped tightly within the Sith Master’s left hand. Only a moment ticked by before the Sith Master wordlessly sliced the tip across the palm of her right hand, opening a gash that bled freely onto the rune-carved stones below. Steady, purposeful steps drew her into the light - towards the beacon that had beckoned her forward. Towards the sealed door, with only sapphire runes to illuminate the space around her.

As her palm was pressed against the door, the Dark Side around her began to swell with intensity. Lifeblood hissed and sizzled upon contact, spreading its crimson hue across each and every one of the blue runes that kept the door closed. Until every last vestige of the protective wards had been disabled.

Until the door abruptly shifted, dust falling from the ceiling as a single crack split across the very front of the door.

Just as quickly as she’d been drawn into the illusion, Zorya was left in nothing but darkness - with only the broken remnants of the door left before her, and the powerful presence that had spread through the rest of the caverns. The Sith Master could choose to backtrack and rejoin her allies if she so chose, but the ramifications of her actions could be felt by each of the Sith traversing elsewhere.

@Apollyon @Javier esschoolbus @Versok @theaveragejedishadow @Aberforth

 

[Anai Skhess]

Although the other sith would, indeed, be able to block her attack, she had to hastily stop on her tracks, spin and turn around in order to do so. It was a difficult maneuver that would have not saved her had she tried to go for a more lethal, quick approach such as a stab. Not only that, but it would leave her horribly unbalanced as a result. The Kaleesh's lightsaber would be stopped, but it would be followed by a quick force push that, given her lack of balance, would make her fall on her back quite easily.

Should the Rattataki try to get up or anything similar, she would go for another strike towards her legs which would now be much more vulnerable. But otherwise she would simply point her lightsaber at her, the Kaleesh towering about as she quickly took command of the situation, her eyes merciless and stoic even as she felt the same thing everyone else had "If you want to live, the next words that come out of your mouth will be who you are, what are you doing here...And what has just escaped imprisonment." She would coldly say, her face indicating that she was more than ready to follow through should she not comply...And what hope did she have, when Anai's team was the one that managed to kill the beast that felled them all?

Regardless of what the woman said, the Kaleesh would pause for a moment, not moving a single muscle before speaking once more "Kill the acolytes unless they have anything of substance to add." She would tell the other members of the group, who had more than enough strength to follow suit seeing how the acolytes were already weakened and vomiting. This was standard inquisitor procedure when dealing with sith, pitting them against each other. There was a very high chance that whatever the woman had told her was a lie, so, should the acolytes know anything of substance that the Rattataki had hidden, they would most likely sell her out in a hearbeat. But if they only begged and fumbled their words, coming up with unlikely information? Then she probably spilled out everything. Regardless, someone would need to die for the cause, and a few sith that couldn't stand up to a dog together were hardly a big sacrifice.

Regardless, she would stay alert, she knew that there was a chance whatever had been freed came to them...Be it alone or with the sith master that had decided to slip away unnoticed.

 

[Cremek "Krayt" Candorus]

Cremek disignited upon the beast falling, now turning his attention to the newcomer, Cremek was pulling his classic menacing look.

"How did that thing beat you, hut'uun."

He felt the darkness wash over him, something not too unfamiliar, given his uncanny talent in sorcerery and it's connections, but it was still enough to make him feel odd, but for someone who was raised in the darkness that was the sith, it barely felt foreign, it felt more like a heavy blanket on a warm night, uncomfortable, but nothing too serious for him, he looks to the acaloytes, ah, these poor men, vomiting, new bloods, no doubt..

"I say we simply interrogate them and remove them, do the order a favor."

The illusion that cremek had of civility and morality was slipping, revealing the bloodthirsty, ever calculating monster of a man that he truly was for the slightest moment.

"I also say we maim them, when we're done, cut their legs, arms, let them crawl to the entrance."

 

[J’aver Shi’eth]

Like a hot vibroknife through Tatooine Rat Cheese, J’aver’s crimson blade carved through the Hound’s eldritch tongue. Black blood pumped in a messy arterial display but only for a heart beat. Because in those scant few moments, J’aver’s allies had done something useful, they had slaughtered the beast while its attentions were on him.

In the second after the creatures death, a wave of corruption pulsed through the cave. J’aver heard the acolytes retch, their bodies still unaccustomed to the power of the dark side in its rawest form. J’aver on the other hand, they embraced the wave of nausea as it washed through their guts. Understanding that this was the power they sought to break and bend to their will, they couldn’t shy away from even it’s more grueling aspects.

The communications line in J’aver’s helmet chimed to life as Anai spoke. A single confirming grunt was all they gave in reply to her demand. J’aver shook the black blood from one of his gauntlets and began to approach the huddled Acolytes. They would shove past the clearly psychotic Cremek, draw their blaster pistol. J’aver would wordlessly blast the oldest Acolyte directly between their eyes as they recovered from vomiting.

“Why are you here?” Came the harsh mechanical bark from J’aver’s helmet. “Speak or die.” As they said this, J’aver would take aim at the closest acolyte, fully prepared to pull the trigger regardless of their age.

 

[Trael Osso]

The beast did a final attack towards Trael. He quickly slices it away as the beast dies. Disigniting his saber he turns to the acolytes. As he does the darkside washes over him. Like a blanket muffling his senses. By time he regains control and sense of himself his companions have already begun their "interrogation" of the acolytes. The eldest was killed while the rest were still lurching from the dark wave.

Though the other sith seemed to just want to kill the acolytes Trael saw potential. After all he still lacked a student of his own. While the others prodded and threatened the acolytes he decided to test them. Squatting on the ground he sets down one of his sabers then stands up and steps back still holding his other one. If an acolyte was willing to fight to live he may attempt to train it.

 

[The Storyteller]

Hatred burned behind the yellow-tinged eyes of the Rattataki - forced into submission by the clearly more experienced Kaleesh. The urge to lash out was tempered only by the saber held mere inches from her face, promising a swift end to any futile resistance. There was no real choice to be made. Only momentary compliance to ensure her own survival.

“Nothing that you will be able to stand against on your own. Least of all without an understanding of where you are.” She said coldly, staring back at Anai. The Rattataki likely knew she was dancing on the knifes edge, but could Anai truly doubt what was said? It was almost a certainty that the mysterious woman knew more about the cavern layout than they did, in addition to whatever had escaped imprisonment at the hands of Zorya. The Rattataki was perhaps the only one present that had any information at all.

“I am Timera. Marauder of the Sith Order,” She hissed the words back at Anai, her gaze briefly flicking towards the commotion occurring with the Acolytes. There wasn’t a hint of remorse or sympathy to be found within the Rattataki, and she quickly turned her attention back to the Kaleesh.

“We are here at the command of the Dark Lord. Our scouts unearthed this ruin months ago, and under the guidance of our High Overseer we’ve been tasked with bringing it back to functionality.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “The beast that you killed is only one of dozens that have infested this place. Myself and the others have been used as cannon-fodder by the High Overseer to kill the abominations, while he remains safe and secure within the cleared quadrant of the temple."

“I haven’t the slightest idea what you idiots set free.”

As for the Acolytes? The Sith would quickly find the multitude of young trainees unresponsive to the cruel and brutal methods of extracting information. The words of Cremek were enough to inspire terror in the vast majority of them, and the swift execution of a peer by J’aiver reduced even more of them to sobs and tears. Most of their words were incoherent rambling and stuttered words, without a hint of valuable information to be discerned.

Only one of them managed to address J’aiver. “Y-you heard her!” He pointed across to Timera. “We were o-only following orders! Killing those.. Things w-wherever we have found them!” The tears fell freely from his eyes, snot bubbling from his nose as the terror etched itself into his face. “Please.. I don’t want to die here..”

As Tael placed his saber down at the feet of one of the Acolytes, the boy quickly snatched the blade - activating the weapon and proceeding to swing it directly at J’aiver’s outstretched arm. Attempting to test and arm the terrified Acolyte was certainly an unorthodox decision, and would quickly prove detrimental unless the Champion managed to defend himself.

@Aberforth @Apollyon @Javier esschoolbus @Hastur

 

[Cremek "Krayt" Candorus]

It was like lightning, cremek turned around, outstretching his hand and force freezing the man, Kylo ren style, the fool, fools, all around, to give up your weapon to a foe, was he and the woman the only damn ones with common sense? Was that a force power in on itself? Bah! If he didn't need either the foolish champion, and the acaloytes, he would kill them both himself for the sheer incompetence he just witnessed!

"You.. dare?..no.. I see a wolf.. I like you.. kill him and I will show you how to take his place in our ranks as champion.
"
It was addressed to both of them, the sith had a history of trial by combat, but to give your enemy your saber without a means to defend yourself was just arrogant, arrogance should be rewarded with death, painful death.

He then let go of the acaloyte, gently, lowering his hand.

"Do any of you have anything worth adding?"

He stood, the air freezing around his hand, waiting to hear their cries, only to silence them with an agonizing, cold, death.

He looked about, looking for wolves amongst these sheep, anyone who would challenge him, now that was someone worth looking into.

 

[J’aver Shi’eth]

To J'aver's annoyance, the brute force of their tactic only seemed to further distress the acolytes. They broke down into bumbling messes over a single death, it was a pathetic display. However, when another Sith placed a blade at the feet of the acolytes, one took it and in a very desperate but telegraphed display, tried to strike out at them. J'aver moved their arm out of the Acolyte's way before the crimson blade came close to claiming their arm but the young student had caught their interest.

Out of all of them, this one Acolyte trusted their instincts and simply acted, it was a creed that they followed. Before J'aver could react, Cremek had the Acolyte locked in place and began to ramble about killing either the Acolyte our their ally. J'aver had heard enough, the man was a fool to not recognize raw potential when it presented itself.

"No." J'aver snapped at Cremek. "This one has potential." They growled. "It acted on instinct and sought to destroy a threat." They hissed as they stepped towards the Acolyte.

Then J'aver would use the Dark Side to rip the hilt from the Acolyte's grasp and sent it spiraling into the darkness behind them.

"The lack of hesitation deserves to be recognized and rewarded." They continued as they took another step towards the Acolyte, bringing their helmeted face close to it's own. "It will walk with me, the rest will walk ahead of the group." J'aver explained in the hollow and mechanical tone their helmet produced. "If there are traps, the weak will find them." They decreed, their helmet turning to look downward at the useless wretches.

It would only be then that J'aver would turn to face Cremek.

"And if anyone harms this Acolyte, I will kill them." J'aver stated with venom in their voice. It was a blatant challenge to their peers and even their superior.

This acolyte, whoever they were had earned J'aver's interest, now it was time to see if it could earn their respect. As for J'aver's peers, it would be time to see if they would fall in line or if they had any teeth to them.

@Altaris

 

[Trael Osso]

Trael lit up when an acolyte took up the blade and charged the sith with a blaster. Though they were cowards they weren't completely hopeless it seemed. He was then filled with disappointment, the other champion intervened stopping the natural order of the world. Seeing his compatriot take and toss his lightsaber away he simply reached out and called it back to him.

He wasn't bothered by the others trying to claim leadership. His main worry now was the missing sith and the fact that the sorcerer tasked with leading this mission was gone. This would almost be guaranteed to lead to squabbles within their ranks. The other two were rambling on about the sith way and their interpretation of it. Unnecessary distractions surviving this cave system and whatever that darkness came from should be the concern now. Not this indirect power struggle over the acolytes.

Though the sith seemed to challenge everyone here with his statement he ignored it simply clipping his sabers onto his belt. The woman seemed to be handling her part so he left her to it. Walking over to the former master who is now no more than a mere husk. Kneeling down he searches to see what the master carried with him. Taking his saber if he had one and adding it onto his belt.

 

[Anai Skhess]

The Kaleesh sith stared in silence after the woman told her about their orders "I am assuming you don't mean Darth Tempest, for we were sent by her personally" The Kaleesh spoke again, the blade getting a bit closer to the other sith, but not enough to harm her, yet "Right now, you stand as potential traitors to the sith order, suspects to the attack on Mustafar, if you want to live, you will bring us to this high overseer so I can question him and take his life" Anai would then smile, it would be the first time she would have smiled since they had arrived there, and it was a malicious one "But given the tone of your voice when you speak about him, I suppose trading your own life for his is not much of a problem, no?" The Kaleesh would say, stepping back and finally giving the Rattataki enough space to get up.

"Gather your acolytes and lead the way." Anai told the Rattataki, leading her to the rest of the group just in time to witness...Whatever was happening between the rest of them. She would sharply exhale through her nose before addressing them "Enough." She would say as she stepped forward, looking at the other sith and the acolytes they were fighting over, she did not care for them. They could live, they could die, they could be recruited for all she cared, but they shouldn't be a cause of infighting and time wasting. "We have a lead, focus on the mission" The Kaleesh would then look at the Rattataki woman, gesturing her to take the lead and find them their target.

 

[The Storyteller]

There was a moment of prolonged silence, as Timera merely stared back at Anai with narrowed eyes. It was clear that the Kaleesh - and entire Order by extension - hadn’t deciphered who was truly responsible for the attacks on Mustafar. A fact that she keenly made “No,” She finally said. “She is not.” The Rattataki made no voluntary efforts to elaborate, leaving the group to guess at the identity of her master.

“I will do more than that,” She said plainly. “There are others here - Acolytes and Marauders dissatisfied with the High Overseer. Give me the opportunity and I will rally them to fight against the loyalists and whatever else lingers here.”

“In exchange for my complete amnesty.”

It was clear that Timera was concerned with her well-being alone - and was willing to sell out her own Order and former Master to ensure that survival. Of course, it would force the group to put their trust in Timera to split off and rally enough of the temple to their cause. Could they possibly trust the woman to do is, without betraying them? Could they hope to face the High Overseer without the additional aid?

The decision was left entirely to Anai and her allies to make.

Regardless of answer, Timera rose to her feet - briefly surveying the state of her Acolytes. The bulk of them were completely in shambles - hysteria claiming men and women alike. Even if they’d survived the trio of Sith, the notion that they were being used as meat shields did little to settle their nerves. The Acolyte that J’avier so boldly claimed merely stood silent at his ‘Master’s’ side, walking in lockstep with the Sith who offered him momentary protection.

Passing the dead abomination, Timera led the group further into the Cathedral - through the narrow hallway that she’d previously run from, into a spacious, open chamber. It dwarved the size of anything they’d encountered prior to that point, solid architecture and man-made structures taking shape all around them. Statues of forgotten figures lined the walls, eyes of stone staring down at them in judgment. The cavern had completely given way to the temple, leaving little mystery to the true nature of the place.

On either side of the room, grand staircases led upwards - leading deeper into the temple and out of sight. “The High Overseer has hoarded himself and his followers within the Altar Chamber. We’ll need to cross through adjacent wings of the temple to reach them.”

She jutted her chin in one direction. “The Library wing has suffered the least damage or attack by the creatures - and is the quickest route to reaching the Overseer.” She pointed in the other. “The Living Quarters.. Have seen the worst of the fighting. It is where the bulk of my peers had cloistered themselves, and where we will find the bulk of potential aid.”

“Choose quickly.”

@Aberforth @Apollyon @Javier esschoolbus @Hastur

 

[Cremek "Krayt" Candorus]

Cremek looked, nodding to the woman, another wolf amongst these sheep, perhaps there was hope for this group after all, he looked back to the one who had challenged him, as amusement radiates from him.

"My my, we have one who wishes to be a wolf, I'm sad to say, but you are but a pup, a newcomer, your feets are unknown and you are unproven in my eyes, I will look forward to seeing what carnage you leave in your wake to prove yourself worth being taken seriously."

He gave quite the chuckle, a similar one that he gave on Verona, that place was a powder keg now thanks to his efforts, well, that and a few minor actions from the acaloyte, such as accidentally killing the friar there, oh well, he did well, he hopes to see him become a champion.. if he survived.. would be interesting. But back to the task at hand, if this champion wished to prove his mettle, let him impale himself on his own sword, Cremek on the other hand, preferred to walk softly and Carry a big stick, a very sharp.. blood stained.. stick.. ever the clever beast of a man, where there was bloodlust and a desire to fight, there was insecurities, where there were insecurities, there were weaknesses, and where there was weakness.. there was opportunity, and if cremek had not demonstrated on Verona, he was able to turn even the smallest miscalculation into a opportunity.


He turns back.

"I say, we let her earn her right to live, if she dies, she dies, if she lives, she can flee on foot as we hunt her down, much like how my people hunt mear beasts."

That's cruel, mandalorian.

But fun..

 

[J’aver Shi’eth]

Behind their helmet, J’aver’s eyes squinted at Cremek’s reply. Contempt oozed from them as their head tilted to one side, they listened to what the blabbering fool rambled on. Within their helmet, J’aver blink-clicked a few stills of the man’s Mandalorian mask. It would be a soundless action, no sound of a shutter or way to discern what had just occurred to anyone other than J’aver themself.

The reason for this was that J’aver wanted to be able to look back on this moment and savor the man’s last moment before doom or embarrassment. Cremek touted himself an expert in all things Sith, he carried himself as the superior to his peers, this would be tested. A single mechanized word echoed from J’aver before Cremek could turn away from them.

“Kaggath.”

Any Sith would immediately know the weight of the word and the challenge that had been demanded. Kaggath had once been a ritualized private war of mutual annihilation, the way a Sith would challenge a superior or equal that they had believed was weak, unworthy, or merely disliked. While still uncommon, even now, Sith utilized these challenges to settle grave disputes between one another. This challenge had changed since then and could be merely ritual combat between two Sith, a duel before the entire Order, and a fight to the death.

Perhaps Cremek had never been made to pay for his haughty tongue, his air of arrogance, or his willingness to betray over petty slights. That time had ended for him. While Cremek could still deny the challenge, to do so was a sign of submission and weakness. It would forever stain him in the eyes of everyone in the Order, he would be alone in a den filled to the brim with predatory gazes.

“I will wait for you at the next gathering of the Order.” J’av stated again after a long silence.

Only after that final statement would their gaze part from Cremek. It didn’t matter if Cremek accepted or denied the challenge to J’av, the damage was done either way. They would either kill the man in ritual combat or have free license to murder him at their earliest convenience. With that knowledge, a cool air of satisfaction washed over J’aver as their attention returned to the mission at hand.

“Going into the way uncleared of these abominations poses a risk to us all.” J’av started. “But we have fodder to clear the way or buy us time to make our way.” They continued. “I don’t think trusting this one’s peers is smart, we should avoid the Living Quarters and cut through the Library Wing. Finish this mission before an alarm could be raised.” They concluded.

After this, their attention turned to their favored Acolyte.

“You will follow me. You will obey my commands. You will not hesitate, or you will die.” They ordered. “Do you understand?” They questioned.

@Hastur @Altaris

 

[Anai Skhess]

The Kaleesh was expecting many things to occur after Cremek's taunting: Among them was, of course, the other man challenging him to Kaggath. This would earn a nod of approval from the Kaleesh champion, for it was one of the better things that could've occured. Of course, conflict was inevitable among those two sith at the moment and the duel was the best choice when the alternative was the two sith murdering each other in the middle of a mission. Not only that, it would avoid infighting pretty much during the rest of it, because, should one of them try to backstab the other, they would meet a swift end by Trael's blade and hers, such was the way of the sith when dealing with cowards.

Anai listened carefully as the Rattaki spoke her piece then both siths that were part of the conflict spoke, weighing her options for a moment before looking at her "I agree with him, that choice is not something we can trust." She said, pointing at J'aver. Should the other sith not be on board or, worse, should they all try to fight the group, chances are they would be too exhausted to fight the overseer and his lackeys "You want your amnesty? Prove yourself worthy when its time to face him" Anai stated, looking back to the group before they walked again "But remember, we need answers, so don't kill him, not until we are done with him." She would also remind the other sith before gesturing the acolytes to move forward, they would be the meat shield, the Rattataki would be allowed to be at the front of the group, if only so she could keep providing information, but all they had left to do was confront the overseer.

 

[Trael Osso]

Listening to the others he waited. First the armored sith simply taunted the other sith present. Secondly a challenge was offered up though Trael would prefer avoidance of this it was inevitable in an order with the nature of the Sith.

Looking over as if to regard the kaleeeh with them. “I agree although I would like some information on this overseer before disregarding potential assistance.” Looking at the Rattaki captive.

 

[The Storyteller]

Timera couldn’t help the bemused expression that manifested across her face - golden eyes flicking between the group of Sith. They could barely fight cohesively enough to kill a single abomination, and weren’t able to do so without two of their members threatening go kill each other. The decision to forgo the benefit of allies was beyond the Rattataki. But she wasn’t inclined - nor in a position - to argue. Survival was her sole motivation.

“The High Overseer - Lord Velkoz - is responsible for the instruction of academy students and trainees. He sits the Council of our Lord.” Her eyes narrowed. “Facing him will not be simple.” But a decision had been made. Whether Tael wanted more information or not, he was summarily outvoted by his peers. Without anything left to add, Timera turned - beginning to guide the group towards the stairwell that ascended towards the library wing.

True to her words, the group would face minimal resistance as they crossed through the grand hallways - every wall lined with manuscripts, tomes and artifacts of Sith design. It was abundantly clear that the temple was ancient, and the group that Timera served was hard at work to fully restore its halls. Stray soldiers and abominations were appeared every now and again - easy enough to dispatch by their roaming groups.

Rather, it wasn’t until they reached the entrance to the altar that the Sith faced any true resistance - halted in place by two, brutish guards. Perhaps they had once been no different from the troopers that patrolled the halls of the temple. But sorcery and alchemy had turned them into something more. It has reduced their intelligence and enhanced their strength, and the arrival of the Sith was met only with lumbering steps filled with aggression.

With a roar, one of the brutes swing his large arm at J’aiver - attempting to bash the Sith Champion’s face in with a single swing. The other, meanwhile, attempted to grab Tael by the leg - intending upon using the Sith Champion as a cudgel to smash Cremek.

Down the narrow hallway beyond, the rest of the group could feel the Force gathering and twisting - the Dark Side singing with vitality. Whatever was occurring inside was almost certainly the source of the presence they felt, and perhaps would attract whatever entity had been released by Zorya.

The rest of their group - of course - could abandon the engaged Champions. They could choose to investigate the source of why they’d come to Prakith on the first place, even if it meant leaving their friends to fight amongst themselves. Such was to be expected, among the Sith.

@Aberforth @Apollyon @Javier esschoolbus @Hastur