A History Lesson

[Vaylin]

Korriban​

Valley of the Dark Lords​

​

In the wake of her adventure on Athiss, Vaylin had made it a priority to visit the ancient Sith homeworld next. Her research into it had gleamed a number of facts. Namely that several Sith Orders had arisen there, citing it as their home - along with being the birth planet of the Pureblood's themselves. The planet had a history that stretched back eons, with an ever constant change of hands, whether it be Sith or Jedi. But it would always be a home for the dark side, tombs of the fallen dark lords stretching throughout the valley named after them. Though [member="Aria Vale"] had informed her not to get her hopes up, at least in terms of finding anything significant. By this day and age you'd be hard pressed to find a tomb or temple that wasn't ransacked on Korriban.

But it wasn't entirely the reason for Vaylin's journey there. In fact, it had been the result of a lesson she had taken in after leaving Athiss. That even if you can't find anything from the past, it was written all around you. In the walls, the floors; the actions the previous inhabitants took that were preserved through the ages. History had a way of providing an insight into what happened to those that came before, how they rose and how they fell. What their strengths and weaknesses had been. Discover what the Orders of today have adopted from those times, and find a way to circumvent them. Her fight against [member="Teresa Shan"] on Sarnus had made it apparent she wouldn't just be fighting Jedi or Lightsiders in general. So to Vaylin it seemed rather prudent to learn about the past.

She had settled her ship down in the Valley of the Dark Lords, and even before she set foot on its grounds she could feel the dark side looming across the valley. Vaylin inhaled deeply, as if that would actually take it in. But it was a planet she was not familiar with, as such she took the moment to take in the energy that flowed through and around her. The dark side on Korriban felt like it was more deeply rooted than freely moving. It's history felt rich just from its touch, and if Vaylin were honest it felt odd to be excited about something that didn't potentially involve killing.

With her lightsaber as ever at her side, Vaylin pulled the hood of her cloak over her head and began her trek. Her sights set in a temple in the distance.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Stephanie was used to the warmth. The sun, the sand. The nothingness.

At least, from her time on Jakku with young [member="Kyra Sol"] at least. Before that, her travels had taken her to barren worlds, but none such as this. A step into a place that was laced with history; Sith history.

Dark history.

And here she was at the foot of such history, a tomb of a Sith Lord. The girl stood, peering up at the architecture with her shawl draped over her head to keep some of the sun off.

She turned around. Her dark eyes scanned left to right. Was it a noise, or a feeling. She stopped breathing - probably the demons and spirits of centuries gone by playing tricks on the girl. That was all. She told herself that, anyway, and turned back, unsure or not whether to take a step forward or backward.

Sand crunched under her sandal as she turned again.

Someone was here. She could...feel them. Somewhere. Slinking back to the crumbly orange wall, she pushed her back to it, wincing as she sheild behind her clanged gently. She bit her lip, holding her satchel, and her breath, as she watched and waited for whomever - whatever - it was to pass.

[member="Vaylin"]

 

[Vaylin]

The first thing that crossed Vaylin's mind as she walked the sandy stretch, was she missed trees. Dxun had them, Athiss had them. Korriban, not so much. There was a lack of decent shade to combat the sun above and the overbearing heat. She could even feel it through her hood, against the small bits of exposed skin where the small crown of horns were intermixed with her hair. She already disliked this planet for its weather alone, but her time here was suppose to be important, so she persevered and pushed onwards.

To try and block out the annoyance of the heat as she walked, Vaylin focused on the planet itself. The energy she could feel beneath the ground, specifically towards the darkness that rested there. It didn't matter what the planet was, the dark was all the same and Vaylin would revel in it. But as she tried to go deeper, she felt a cold chill down her back, whispers in her ear. Vaylin quickly broke the connection, feeling as though many hands were trying to grasp ahold of her.

It was then though, that she heard a distinctive clang coming from her right. The sound almost went over her head, but she was quick to realize the sound of metal did not belong, especially amongst the stone that seemed to be a familiar sight around this area. Her body grew tense, her back still mostly to Stephanie. Vaylin's hand slowly creeping down towards her lightsaber, ready to pounce at a moments notice.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Her face slowly edged forward past the lip of the tomb entrance she hid inside, looking out for any sign. There was definatley someone here and they felt dark. Dangerous. She knew this was not good. She had to go.

With her eyes still out to the valley, the large sculptures overshadowing her, Stephanie slowly slipped her satchel off and brought the sheild around to her left arm and slid it on, gripping it with her hand. Then, she patted down for her satchel and threw it over her head and shoulder.

She took a few small, slow steps out, crunching softly over the ground, her eyes alert and face set in determination. The shield was raised across her body - she wasn't going to take any chances. Where was Kyra when she needed her! Why did she think coming her alone was a good idea?

The girl made her way to a large rock pillar and hugged it, leaning out. There were a few pillars along the way down the valley, each one a useful cover. It was just getting through the open space that was going to be hard.

[member="Vaylin"]

 

[Vaylin]

Vaylin remained stationary for several moments, but after not hearing anything further she turned to the right. There was nothing, and Vaylin frowned.

Is this place messing with my mind?

Her thoughts turned to her experience not minutes ago, the cold presences she felt when trying to connect with energy around. But even her instincts; ones honed from years of trying to evade carnivorous predators was still telling her she had heard something not far away.

So she tried again, crouching down and physically placing her palm against ground.

Show me what it is...what is the disturbance amongst the dark?

Vaylin pushed out with her Force sense, utilizing the dark side that flowed around the area to stretch it out further. However this wasn't Dxun, she wasn't as attuned to this planet so it took more of an effort as she thought it would be. After a few minutes - as Stephanie had made her way from one cover to another, Vaylin felt it.

Like a speck of light trying to crawl through the darkness. The prey to her predator.

She was immediately on her feet and ran forwards. Vaylin called her lightsaber to her right hand, but did not activate it yet. Vaylin moved towards the pillars, her eyes looking all over the place, her ears open for the slighest of sounds. With no direct connection now, the Zabrak had to use her own senses to continue tracking, using the person's last known position to narrow the search.

"You might as well come out little light." Her voice was quiet, yet it carried across and around the pillars. "I can practically smell your...fear!" It was a lie, she couldn't. But it was a scare tactic, trying to push the person from their hiding place.

In a quick motion her red blade was ignited and she plunged it into the pillar she was standing by. Again, pointless beyond trying to intimidate as she was stood across the way from where Stephanie actually was.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Stephanie closed her eyes in a wince as the woman called out. She was a Dark Sider. It was more than obvious. She rested her head on the stone pillar hoping by some miracle this would pass. All of a sudden the noise of a lightsaber blade ignited, there was some sharp hissing and impact on rock, then nothing but a hum.

Her eyes shot open, wondering what was going on. She gingerly peered around the corner to see that blood-red weapon in the hands of a darkly robed Sith. It had to be.

Swallowing in fear, she steeled herself behind her shield and started to back away carefully down the line of sight of the pillar towards the other. Her eyes never left the figure of the Sith as her feet carefully stepped back one over the other, navigating the rocky ground without even looking.
Carefully does it. Nice and steady. Take your –

The figure span and looked directly at Stephanie in a heartbeat.

The young girl’s blood turned to ice and time seemed to stop. Her skin crawled as she looked right at the Dark Sider.

And as if possessed by something ethereal force, Stephanie turned and bolted down the Valley with all her enhanced speed and stamina, unwilling to let this beast take her alive.

[member="Vaylin"]

 

[Vaylin]

Vaylin frowned a bit as she listened, the only sounds around her being the hum of her lightsaber and the soft wind that was moving through the area.

Whoever she was tracking knew how to hide themselves, to remain quiet and not be jumped by anything sudden. To some that may have been an annoyance, but to Vaylin is just increased the challenge.

She reached out with the Force again, to try pin down the presence's location. But each time she got too far the darkness of the surrounding tombs forced her to recoil. Darksider she may be, but even she felt overwhelmed.

So Vaylin pulled back, and as she did she picked up a sound to her left - like the sound of feet scuffing along the ground.

Her head immediately snapped in that direction, her amber eyes falling upon the woman. Both paused, one out of fear and the other from anticipation. Vaylin could practically sense the woman was about to run seconds before she did.

A chuckle escaped her lips, before she turned around fully and ran after her.

The chase was on.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

If she survived this, she was upgrading from sandals for places like this. She felt every curve in the ground, ever little dip and incline, all the bits of gravel and sand and stone. But she pushed on, weaving around the pillars as the Valley opened up before her. The sound of the breeze skimming over the streamline shield was a faint whistle, and her hair was blowing wildly behind her in the run.

She had to get to cover. Use her surroundings. That was obvious.

Stephanie cut right towards another tomb and bounded up and over a pile of rubble that formed a makeshift pyramid.

Landing on the other side, she hugged the wall and looked up – now, either the predator would go another way, or they would follow and over-shoot…she didn’t know. She panted slightly, chest rising and falling sharply, beads of sweat on her brow.

Fingers gripped the hold of the shield, and her arm rested on the rock as she looked up, the overhang of rock framed by the calm skies above. All was quiet, bar the sound of her beating heart in her ears.

[member="Vaylin"]

 

[Vaylin]

Vaylin quickly realized that she couldn't solely rely on her typical tracking as she chased after her prey. It rained most of the time on Dxun, the dirt and mud making it easier for tracks to be left behind. But there was no such benefit on Korriban, the only closest substitute being the occasion patch of sand deep enough to leave a trace. But it was a poor one, as they were too far and few inbetween the larger stretches of sandstone and dry riverbed.

Eventually she stopped running when she reached an open area, but kept walking as she looked around.

As fast as she is, she couldn't have ran further from here...She had to have hidden somewhere.

Her eyes went past the pile of rubble a few times, even walked by it. But after aimlessly looking, she returned to it.

The temptation to call out grew, but Vaylin held her tongue. Instead she opted to get some higher ground to get a better sight of the surroundings.

So she pulled the Force beneath her feet and propelled herself up in a single leap, landing atop the wall Stephanie was hiding behind.

Vaylin began looking around, not seeing her target underneath her initially. But as she scoped out the surrounding area she heard something, and her head snapped downwards directly to where the woman was.

"Well, hello down there." A malicious grin spread across her face, before she activated her lightsaber again and jumped down at her prey.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Swallowing gently, Stephanie bit her bottom lip. It was too quiet. Was it? Maybe she had...

There was a prickle across her neck, like something gently pulled at her, and she stopped breathing, eyes wide. A figure loomed ahead, and the fear ran up her spine. She was trapped, but maybe - no - the dark eyes of the hooded figure locked down with hers, and she was a target once more.

A small gasp was all she could let out, and she pushed away from the rocks and ran. She stumbled, face a picture of panic - this was already over, and she knew it.

Trust in the Force....trust in the Force.

She span around and launched the shield at the direction of the hooded foe; a single launch of her arm and cry of resolve in one last attempt at resistance.

[member="Vaylin"]

 

[Vaylin]

Vaylin hadn't expected the shield, nor anticipated it.

She should've, but her attention had solely been on the person and not what they were holding. While the Zabrak had made a ways into not allowing her bloodlust to blindly push her, it still reared its head every now and then. Of course, it didn't help that her latest target was a Lightsider, the one type of person Vaylin absolutely despised.

So when Stephanie's shield was thrown, it was able to firmly strike Vaylin in the stomach, stopping her in her tracks and winding her. She winced, as it pushed her back, letting out a growl as she then knocked the metal away and onto the ground.

Her eyes immediately saw the symbol on it, that of the Jedi. It infuriated Vaylin, her anger brewing into a storm as the Dark Side began to swirl around her.

Recalling back to her last night on Dxun, Vaylin repeated an action she had done then.

She screamed, letting out a bestial cry that echoed across the valley. The silence after only lasted for a few seconds before several distinct roars and screeches followed.

Vaylin looked down at the shield again, the temptation to destroy it out of principle alone, but the Zabrak had a better idea.

She'd use it against the foolish little 'Light' that had parted with it. Vaylin picked it up with her free hand, and ran after her prey.

In the meantime, as Stephanie continued onwards a small pack of Tuk'ata made their presence known ahead of her. Leaving her with only a couple options, either turn around to face Vaylin or run into one of the nearby tombs.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Stephanie was half ready to run, but had to see the effect of her attack. She couldn’t help a mini fist-pump and grin as the shield struck and stopped the woman in her tracks.

But the grin faded, as she righted herself and let out a bloodcurdling war cry which was in-humane.

As the cry seemed to echo around her, Stephanie saw the girl take her shield and ran. She did the same as fast as she could through the Valley floor, down a small incline, fearing that death was on her heels.

Leaping over a fallen pillar embedded in the sand with grace, Stephanie continued forward, but skidded to a stop as a pack of hounds seemed to emerge from nowhere. Snarling, claws ready and sharp teeth.

Turning, Stephanie saw the girl closing in – it was either submit, or run into the jaws of death. She glanced right, and an open tomb was only feet away. It was the best option, and so she ran focussed and determined straight up the small stone steps into the dark opening of the tomb entrance carved out of rock and sand, and hopped down into the darkness.

She span around on her back and hugged the cold wall, not braving to venture too far down alone. But she didn’t know what to

[member="Vaylin"]

 

[Vaylin]

Vaylin smirked as she saw the pack of Tuk'ata cutting of Stephanie's path. The beasts were ones she didn't recognize, but then she was only familiar with a small amount these past years. Either way it mattered not, their intent to kill Stephanie was all the same, exactly what Vaylin desired. Or at least, enough to stop her so she could kill her.

But as much as Vaylin hoped the woman was dumb enough, she wasn't. And rather than taking her chances against the Zabrak, she had dashed towards and into one of the nearby tombs instead.

She was still weary of such places even after her experience on Athiss, but she wasn't about to let her target get away from her. So, Vaylin followed, only to be stopped as the Tuk'ata suddenly charged at her.

Oh you're got to be kidding me...

She had zero sway over the beasts, and to make things worse she could hear more. Vaylin turned took look behind, a pair of Wraid's were stomping their way towards her. Not to mention the screeching from the flock of Shyrack's that were descending upon the valley.

Vaylin cursed, before picking up her speed and making a beeline for where Stephanie had gone. Hopping over the fallen pillar, barely dodging the hounds before darting into the tomb. However, in order to halt the beasts from following after her, Vaylin blasted the entrance with the Force. Caving it in behind her.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

She could hear roars and unnatural noises from outside, and hoped the beasts had found their prey in the woman. While death was never a good thing, it was kill or be killed….or be eaten and clawed apart.

But in a flash, the figure flooded into the tomb and forced Stephanie to close her eyes and hug the wall tight, for there would be no way out now bar going further into the tomb or out the – no!

The walls shook for a moment and her eyes opened in shock, seeing the entrance cave in on itself and the light slowly ebb out blocked by rocks and debris that echoed down the stairwell tunnel as quietness, and darkness, fell.

Stephanie held her breath, and dared not move.

Her heart was thudding against her ribs, and she vowed not to let the fear take-over.

A silent tear fell from closed eyes as she tried to calm herself and find the Light to empower her in the dark.

[member="Vaylin"]

 

[Vaylin]

Vaylin let out a series of coughs as a cloud of dust sweeped past her, kicked up from the collapsed entrance. She could just about hear the growls and moans of the evaded beasts on the other side. The howls of the Tuk'ata, and the sound of the Wraid's stomping approach, followed by the sounds of the two groups fighting it out between them.

The Zabrak sighed, part in relief and the other towards the situation she was now in. Her eyes lingering on the potentially only way back out of the tomb, now sealed by her hand.

Probably not my greatest of ideas.

Turning on her heels, Vaylin walked further into the tomb. It was dimly lit with only a few sconces lining the walls, each bearing a torch. Figuring that it wasn't going to get any lighter the further she went, she clipped her lightsaber to her belt; leaving her other hand holding the shield, and grabbed one of the torches as she passed by. As she walked, Vaylin tried to reach out with the Force, but the sheer dark presence of the tomb immediately loomed over her. It was like a miasma; easy enough to pass through, but it was a lingering feeling that invaded the Dark Jedi's senses.

Any chance of trying to track down Stephanie was near to impossible now, somehow the little lightsider had managed to hide herself amongst the dark of this tomb, and Vaylin was blind to it. She would have to rely on her basic senses now, the Force would not help her here.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

The woman’s footsteps could be heard close by. The low flicker of orange flame illuminated the little passageways leading into the tomb.

Stephanie was on the very edge of the entrance itself, fearing of going any further. There was little hope for her to escape, unless this attacker missed her and continued into the tomb itself where she could help herself to the fate that awaited her. Then, she could creep out and try and dig out of the cave-in…? But, no….the beasts….

Tapping her head gently on the wall she was backed up to, Stephanie peered sideways into the dimly lit opening , not wanting to think what was in the passageway she had rounded and hid in.

And then she felt it.

A twitch under her eye, and then her nose.

She opened her mouth and crinkled her nose.

A sneeze was brewing from the dust particles now fanning out and settling.

She probably looked laughable, but rather that than…no…it wasn’t working….she slowly brought her hand up and rubbed her nose quickly, eyes watering. Her dainty held stayed over her mouth…and her eyes narrowed and she sneezed there and then into her hand.

It didn’t sound loud, but it would be loud enough.

Her eyes went wide, and she froze.

Slowly, she slinked back.

[member="Vaylin"]

 

[Vaylin]

It was like a drop of the hat, the moment Vaylin heard the sneeze she had spun around and was running towards it.

The torch in her hand was bobbing back and forth in beat with the Zabrak's pace. Threatening to suddenly go out with how quick she was going. But the stretch of distance wasn't that far, not enough for it to be extinguished.

As she zoned in on where Stephanie was, Vaylin remembered the shield that was still held in her left hand. An idea came to her, and a malicious grin appeared. Vaylin lifted the shield up, bracing it close against her own body as she charged. There was a brief silence, nothing but the sound of running, getting closer and closer to Stephanie until...

Bam!

Vaylin slammed into her, pushing her back against the nearby wall and pinning her against it with her own shield. She reached fowards with her right hand, a moment of forgetfulness hitting the Zabrak. Where she thought she still held her lightsaber, and was going in for a death blow. But instead, all Stephanie got was the flame of a torch in close proximity to her face.

If this had been Vaylin from before, back on Dxun or even perhaps Athiss, she might've immediately gone for her lightsaber and followed through with that intent. But she had learned, listened to the lessons that had been taught to her. There were times to let the inner beast out, and others when it wasn't suitable, that rational thought should take precedent.

This was one such moment, with the pair of them now seemingly trapped in a tomb together, with no way out and god knows what might be lurking in this place. So she made a decision, and begrudgingly stepped back, freeing Stephanie.

"We're both trapped in here. And I highly doubt either or us would be successful in clawing our way out from where we entered. So, how about we find another way out hmm?"

To add, she stepped back giving the woman some room. And held out her shield for her to take back, but then quickly pulled back.

"But I'll make one thing clear, don't double cross me and I won't do the same. Keep to that and maybe we'll get out of here with our sanity."

After that, Vaylin finally allowed her to take the shield.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Things seemed to go quiet....and then the torch light blurred the tomb and the figure came out of nowhere and launched her back into the next wall with a crunch.

Her breath was smashed out of her and she had nowhere to fall; propped up by her own shield looking into the face of a girl who didn't seem to be very old. Her face was corrupt, her eyes more so.

Stephanie winced as the girl set out a rather clear truce that made sense, but not without the pain and ache running through her body to make her desperate to agree.

"Yes...yes..." she nodded through gritted teeth, "...just let me...go..."

When the girl stepped back, Stephanie slouched and held her chest, each inward breath hard. Reaching out for her shield, she had to deal with one more threat.

"Don't worry," Stephanie said, snatching her property back and leaning on it. "Truce."

She couldn't help look at her; those eerie features and the Dark aura reeking from her.

"Who...who are you?"

[member="Vaylin"]

 

[Vaylin]

Vaylin watched her with eagle eyes, not trusting that the woman wasn't going to do something the moment she turned her back. A truce might have been struck, but the Zabrak rarely trusted anyone, especially strangers. That and the fact she reeked of the Light didn't help either. Vaylin had to actively fight against the urge to strike at her, to extinguish it. She focused on outweighing it, the desire to find a way out of here rising above those bestial urges.

She took the moment to look at the woman, her face now visible to her in the light of the torch. It was easy to identify her as human, and for a while she wondered if it was one of the near-human species she knew of. But Stephanie lacked anything of the sort, resulting in Vaylin just thinking she looked bland. A lack of any markings or tattoos, even scars. A contrast to herself in fact.

"Vaylin." She said, short and sharp with every indication that she wasn't going to say more. Though it wasn't like she had a famly name anymore, that had gone when the Jedi took her initially. Then it was further cemented when they then abandoned her.

"Let's get a move on." It was a cold down, leaving no room for anything else. And while she had stepped back, Vaylin didn't make a move to lead the way, instead she motioned for Stephanie to do so. She just stared at her unnervingly, her corrupted amber eyes just fixed Stephanie's blue untill she eventually budged.

They walked, gradually leaving the tomb's foyer-like area and into it proper, down the main hallway. Vaylin strode just behind Stephanie, but close enough that she was able to still light the way ahead with her torch.

"Why did you come to this planet?" The question sprung up out of the blue, shattering the quiet mood that had settled over the past several minutes. To Vaylin, she preferred the silence, reveled in it even. But this entire place just made her uneasy, and the silence made it even worse.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

The girl was a mirror to Stephanie, and it haunted her – it was almost like seeing what she would be like…as a Dark Side follower. It was everything she wasn’t – brave and fearless, marked with scars and tattoos, and burning amber corruption in once white eyes.

She didn’t care to be spoken to as if SHE was the captive, or a servant. However, she played the game and walked away first as little was given to her in light of this Vaylin. Holding her shield tight across her torso, she was ready.

Ready for anything in the halls of the tomb or the company behind her.

"This is Korriban. There is history here. I like to learn what I can."

Two could play the blunt game.

A cold wind blew past them, as if a ghost of the past had passed through the stone hall. It was eerie.

"I am not here to cause trouble or to harm anyone."

I won’t ask you YOUR reason.

She turned her head a little as the torch glowed behind.

"Are you Sith?"

[member="Vaylin"]