A Shadowlands Safari

[Mrrew]

Kashyyyk, Edge of the Shadowlands​

​

Mrrew stood in a large clearing within the forests of Kashyyyk, where the trees and brush were thinner then in most places, allowing for a significant enough hole in the canopy for small ships to access the clearing. Although the forest quickly got thicker away from the clearing. Everything had been planned out perfectly. The speeder the Guild had rented, large enough for ten people but small enough to navigate through the Shadowlands, sat to one side of the clearing. Two other hunters from the Guild stood nearby, equiped with Chiru rifles, waiting for the Force Users that had been hired for the task. A route had been planned out through the shadowlands, that would take them on a large loop through three different areas where Terentateks had been sighted, and eventually back to the clearing. Now Mrrew stood in the center of the clearing, looking up to the sky for any sign of the ships that would be arriving any minute. Force sensitives had been hired over the holonet, for an easy job. All they had to do was sit in a speeder guarded by multiple armed hunters on a trip through the Shadowlands. They would be perfectly safe, as long as they stayed in the vehicle. And they were being paid much more then one would usually pay for bait. What better way to attract Terentateks then to get multiple force sensitives in one spot, and parade them around their territory? Of course they didn't know why they were being paid so much to fly around the Shadowlands for a few hours. They didn't ask. Not that it was particularly important, they'd be paid plenty, and it would be perfectly safe... Now he just waited for them to show up.

Spoiler

[member="Kana Truden"] [member="Darth Morgoth"] [member="Onix"] [member="viper"] [member="Zarro Verres"] [member="Garith Darkhold JR"]

 

[Darth Morgoth]

Melkor arrived wearin his normal armor and array of weapons. This Included his Mjonir Bow, STHC's, 3 Bolt Blades, and of course his lightsaber. He also had a tools, and tactical implements around him incase things went south. He arrived on a personal speeder, in a cloud of dust. Stepping off he said "When this is over I would like to discuss a proposition with the whoever is in charge of your guild."

 

[Garza]

Oh the temptation was high.

A Jedi Shadow had a task of taking out any and all Sith. And man where there a lot around here. However, I was under the guise of a Dark Jedi. Wearing my crimson robes and carrying only my two lightsabers, I stood with the group of other force users. I was going to be paid for this. But what I wanted was some hide from them. Might as well work for them to get money and use it in their own shop. I needed a few anyways. Just simply because I was a collector of sorts. Always up for a good thing to find and take possession of.

I just waited for what we were supposed to do.

 

[VlPER]

Viper had recently been going through his trials and had just moved on to becoming a Knight. Unlike some of his friends though. He desired to be of use off planet, and away from the academy. The unfortunate thing about this was, if a person wanted to travel around the galaxy, one needed funds to do so. Although the Order would normally take care of these expenses. Sometimes, he wished to do things not particularly required of by them. So when he saw the add for force users in the holonet which paid big credits for seemingly little to no work. He jumped on it. With those kind of funds, he could even look into modernizing his ships armaments, shielding, and other systems.

It didn't take long for him to realize as his newest friend Kana had also seen the same add, and was going too. Viper quickly offered to give her a ride on board his ship, and they were soon off to the wild world of Kashyyk.

Dropping out of hyperspace, Viper admired the worlds natural beauty for a short time, before entering the atmosphere. "Well. At least this place is going to be a bit warmer then Rhen Var, eh Kana." He said with a smirk, as the ship soon started to rumble lightly due to the turbulence. A few minutes later, 'Quasar's Light' made a soft landing on one of the landing pads erected for outsiders, by the Wookies.

Departing his vessel with Kana by his side, he gave a sort of sideways glance toward the first Wookie he saw. They were immense creatures. Certainly not anything he would want to mess with. In truth, he had fought creatures much larger than them in the past. But it was a whole different story when the adversary was sentient. After making sure his ship was secure, Viper moved in to a transport that had been prearranged by their employers.

It didn't take long for them to make it to the surface.

Departing the shuttle, Viper quickly took stock of his surroundings. The trees were beyond large. They were simply enormous. He found he had to close his mouth after gawking at the sheer scale of them. "Now those are some big damn trees." He said more to himself than anyone else. Turning his gaze back to the area around him, he noticed a Sith pureblood. He notibly flinched and reached for his sabers, till he noticed another person wielding sabers. She however did not feel dark sided at all.

What was this madness that had Sith and Jedi able to work together and not have either trying to slit the other's throat? Viper would not unclip his sabers, but he remained wary as he moved forward toward the group.

[member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Kana Truden]

“Sure is!” Kana would respond to Viper’s quip. “Still no snow, that’s a bonus.”

As they got into the transportation she couldn’t help wondering what she was doing. Judging by the people in attendance Kana and VlPER would be the, well, new kids. Masters and knights would be there yet there they were. Padawans in all their glory, though in Kana’s case there more than likely was a lack of it. They truly were the odd ones out on this trip.

The transportation moved onwards toward its destination, where that was seemed like a mystery to Kana though. Perhaps that was her own fault or maybe it was just inexperience, either way she was prepared for the worst.

Stepping out she noticed Viper tensing up. Looking over at the two other arrivals it became a bit clearer. A sith pureblood and a man all talking to some sort of… Animal? A big furry thing except it wasn’t a wookie, how strange. She could understand her friend's mindfulness of the sith but considering the circumstances of this meet-up there was no need to make any hasty decision that would ruin that thing they were about to do. Truthfully Kana had managed to forget, or maybe they just hadn't been told yet? Ah, it didn't matter.

She approached the group. There were no need for words, right?

[member="VlPER"] | [member="Onix"] | [member="Darth Morgoth"] | [member="Mrrew"]​

 

[Garith Organa]

This was exiting!

He knew why he was here. He knew he was going to be used for bait. Garith knew what he was going to use these credits for. There were poor displace children out there from battle not of their choosing. They were the poor huddled masses that needed someone to give them hope in these dark times.

Not to mention this was an adventure. He was so excited. It was not every day you would be able to go on a safari trip like this one!

Coming into view and the clearing Garith could see those assembled for the trip. There was their host the big furry guy [member="Mrrew"]. There was a Sith pure blood [member="Darth Morgoth"]. Another person who seemed rather dark and mysteries wearing crimsons robes. Then there were two Jedi [member="viper"] and [member="Kana Truden"].

Garith knew none of there name with an exception of their host Mrrew. Who could miss the guy who was going to pay them for having fun, right?

Anyways Garith walked in smiling and waving to everyone. Even to those who had a dark presence. Garith clearly believed that even in the darkest soul there is light. Sometimes they just needed a friendly smile and someone to believe in them. A once of kindness can go long way. “Greetings everyone! Is there anyone else that is excited to be here as I am!”

 

[Mrrew]

Mrrew watched as the Force Users he'd hired assembled. What looked like a Sith Pureblood appeared on a speederbike, one simply appearing out of nowhere, two younger ones appearing from the Wookiee village above, and a fifth smiling and waving like he was about to win a prize. That's everyone. Mrrew beckoned over a short protocol droid that stood with the Gulid hunters, before nodding to each of the fore users before him. "Right. Welcome to Kashyyyk." The Togorian spoke as the droid began handing datapads to each of the present people. "We'll be traveling a pre-determined route through the Shadowlands of Kashyyyk, the six of us as well as twoof the Guild's finest hunters." Here he gestured to the two men standing by the hovercraft. "Though we'll be traveling through a fairly dangerous terrain, I assure you it's perfectly safe... Simply stay in the hovercraft, do as your told, and don't try to fling lightsabers at people," Here, he glanced at Viper. "And each of you will be recieving hundreds of thousands of credits in a few hours." The droid passed styluses to each of the participants, to go with their datapads. "Simply sign these waivers, stating that the Gulid is not responsible for injury, scrapes, bruises, or dismemberment, that might occur if you attempt to exit the hovercraft, or start acting like a crazy person." He glanced at the Sith this time. "Just a nice relaxing ride through the Shadowlands," One of the hunters chuckled. "And then you all get your pay." Mrrew looked at each of the people as they presumably signed their waivers, before speaking again. "Any questions?"

[member="Garith Darkhold JR"] [member="Kana Truden"] @vlper @onix [member="Darth Morgoth"]

 

[VlPER]

The young Jedi gave his companion a questioning look and a shrug of his shoulders. "Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling about this?" Bringing up his copy of the waiver, he quickly signed it, and handed it over. "Well...no pain, no gain I suppose." Viper said to nobody in particular, and then waited for everyone else to get up into the hovercraft first. He wanted to be the last on board. It made him feel like he had his back to an exit as apposed to having his back to a wall.

His eyes darted back and forth and this unlikely group of travelers, in an attempt to see what everyone was about. Possible strengths, possible weakness. He also took stock of his hosts. Viper was beginning to feel like the outsider of an inside joke. One that he and his fellow travelers were the butt of.

He leaned in toward Kana and whispered. "We should probably stick close together on this one, yes"

[member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Mrrew"]

 

[Garza]

[member="Kana Truden"], (OOC: Sorry for the confusion, but I am a man. I am using this avatar as a joke for Halloween, an old playby of a friends)

I watched as others joined us. Three Jedi. Or at least Jedi like people, and a Sith. Leaving me as a Dark Jedi. A False Dark Jedi at that. I shook my head slightly as one of the young male Jedi was asking if everybody was excited for this. I rolled my eyes under my hood. concealing my face. But my face, very deep in tone, "Go shove a saberpike up your ass." Telling him straight out that I didn't want to hear anything from him.

With this many force users down here. Myself probably one of the more powerful ones, we would attract a lot of unwanted attention. But that was the goal wasn't it?

As the datapad for the waiver came to me, I signed it. Using the name "James Alexander" written in a rather artistic writing form. Looking up, I moved to the transport, open and wanting to have animals and creatures dropping down on us, I sat down on the floor. Rather than taking a seat. And for good reason. unlike my counterparts, I carried a shotgun. Shadowlands mean bad things, so I brought it with me. Hidden under my cloak, I flipped the safety off, and grabbed my saber out in the open to look as though I was just scratching myself. Truly, it did. And if no one thought better of it, A little illusion to mask myself to look a little darker and not wanting to be messed with.

Oh, and if the Sith pureblood came anywhere near me, his head was coming off. One way, or another.

[member="VlPER"], [member="Mrrew"], [member="Garith Darkhold JR"], [member="Darth Morgoth"],

 

[Vulps]

Zarro stretched as he listened to the conversations of others. His entrance had been silent, several hellos but not much else. Having been contacted as a known force user (more or less), Zarro had happily come along to aid his newest business partner in his endeavors. n fact, this trip was more profitable as that he wouldn't have to worry about his team who had been given a sort of vacation. Sure he liked the bunch, but this just meant he had a few more credits in his pockets.


As the fliers were passed around, Zarro happily signed it and looked up at the request for questions. "So, you do realize that if by some chance, i do get injured, or more morbidly, killed, our friendly business relationship might take a rather sharp turn, right? You'll have to forgive me if my friendliness drops at the moment that my head does."


[member="Mrrew"]
[member="Onix"]
[member="VlPER"]
[member="Garith Darkhold JR"]
[member="Darth Morgoth"]

 

[Garith Organa]

So no one was excited as Garith. That is ok because he was still.

Since this was not Garith first time in the Shadow lands he was quite aware of the danger and yet he signed the document, that [member="Mrrew"] requested everyone to sign. After signing Garith had climbed aboard the transport.

He mood was far from being soured by some that were joining him on the trip. He had just climbed aboard and remind quiet, for now.

 

[Mrrew]

The protocol droid gathered the various datapads and styuluses once the documents were signed, and stiffly walked back to Mrrew's ship. Mrrew adressed Zarro, first, and gestured to the two hunters with Chiru rifles on the transport. "Don't worry, we'll be perfectly safe... Tha'ts why we have rifles." After that, he turned from the Amaran, and lewd the people onto the speedercraft. Mrrew's own astrodroid, which piloted his ship, stood at the controls, it's scomp link plugged in to the dashboard. The speedercraft had a single seat at the front, removed for the astrodroid, and five seats lining each side. One of the two hunters sat at each side, aiming their rifles off into the forest. Once everyone was aboard, Mrrew stepped over and closed the door. "You all know the drill. Hands and feet inside the vehicle. Don't jump up. Don't fling things, or food, at the animals." With a series of triumphant beeps that he'd figured it out, the Astrodroid raised the speeder, and it began slowly hovering into the pre-determined route. Into the Shadowlands.

Almost as soon as the speeder was within the forests, those aboard could hear animals leaping from branch to branch in the many layers of canopy above. Growls, hoots, distant roars, and all manner of sounds came from every direction. The hunters became tense. Meanwhile, Mrrew prepared his own Chiru rifle. The route took them through multiplke known territories of Terentateks. He was hoping to attract a large number. A very large number. So he had to be prepared... Kind of funny how none of the force users knew what was going on. Or so he assumed.

[member="Garith Darkhold JR"] [member="Zarro Verres"] @Onix @VlPER

 

[VlPER]

Viper could feel the tension growing within even the hunters that had hired them for this "safari" of sorts. He still wasn't quite sure why they were here. The only logical thing he could suppose is they needed for users for bait of some kind. But what would want to hunt force users that hunters would be interested in? Something was nagging at the back of his mind. What was it? He shook his head to free himself of distraction.

"Think Viper! Think! Clear your mind, and put together the clues." He thought to himself. "What do we have? A very random group of force users herded onto a small transport. They were being paid ridiculous sums of money to "just sit here and enjoy a cruise through the shadowlands". This place was dangerous at the best of times." So Viper was never deluded to thinking it was going to be totally safe, especially with this many force users and hunters all being at least a bit on edge. "So if we are bait...what is hunting us? High power rifles would seem to indicate something large. Nervous dispositions of the hunters would indicate something dangerous....So. Large, dangerous, attracted to force users...."

His eyes suddenly went wide as he recalled some of his history lessons about the Jedi and certain dark sided creatures. Instinctively, he withdrew his sabers and held them in his lap. His eyes darted around, peering into the dark shadowlands looking for any sign of what he suspected these hunters were after. Using his species telepathic abilities, he sent a message to Kana. "Kana, I think we are bait for terentateks! Better prepare yourself. I hope I'm wrong....but better safe than sorry."

Viper then continued his alert vigil on his side of the transport.

[member="Mrrew"] | [member="Garith Darkhold JR"] | [member="Zarro Verres"] | [member="Onix"] | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Darth Morgoth"]

 

[Garza]

I sat in the corner in the back of the little speeder. Instead of taking a seat. There was no need for me to. And I didn't like to be out in the open for everyone to stare at me. Since most of the time I was in the shadows blending in. It felt weird to be here. Reguardless, I was getting paid for this, and in turn, I would use this money for their services in getting me some Nighthunter bodies. I needed a few for what I wanted.

Sitting there as it started to move, I kept my hood low, and my hands lower. Ready to bring out a shotgun, and a saber should I need it. As much as I liked the company and the danger they put themselves in, I was not one to do that all the time. Sometimes I like breaks between my job.

[member="VlPER"], [member="Mrrew"], [member="Garith Darkhold JR"], [member="Zarro Verres"], [member="Kana Truden"], [member="Darth Morgoth"],

 

[Vulps]

Zarro's tail flicked and he looked over to [member="VlPER"], his ears having picked up his words. "Possible. The facts do add up to that. But I'm sure our current employer wont let us be killed so easily." As long as he was paid, he didn't care. Especially if he could get a terentatek for himself. Two for breeding would be amazing. "Just keep calm and we'll be fine."

[member="Onix"]
[member="Mrrew"]
[member="Garith Darkhold JR"]
[member="Kana Truden"]
[member="Darth Morgoth"]

 

[Kana Truden]

”The man has a point.” Kana looked at the rest of the people in the transport. “If we just do as we’re told and keep calm then we have nothing to fear.”

Probably.

Kana had never seen a terentatek herself. Read of them? Sure, but seen them? Nope. All she knew was that they were big and hated jedi. Or maybe it was force users in general, in the end it didn’t truly matter. Kana was already in for the ride. Though the new information certainly seemed a bit, unnerving, it was still very important to remain calm.

“Look, as long as we don't do anything stupid there is nothing to fear.”

[member="Zarro Verres"] | [member="Onix"] | [member="VlPER"]
[member="Mrrew"] | [member="Garith Darkhold JR"]
[member="Darth Morgoth"]

 

[Darth Morgoth]

Melkor grinned as he got into the speeder. Sitting down he waited looked at all the jedi around him, hearing whispers of tereteks. He grinned he was less worried about them than he was about his jedi companions getting stupid ideas. He was not one to kill jedi for no reason but he knew that if they tried somthing he would end them without a second thought.

 

[Mrrew]

The whiskers above Mrrew's eyes raised as Viper guessed it. However, he didn't say anything to confirm or deny. They were well within the Shadowlands by now. Foglights had flicked on at the front and back of the speeder, illuminating the forest around them somewhat. Creatures moved around them all the time up in the canopy. Twice, the glowing eyes of Tachs could be seen staring down at the speeder. A small squirrel-like creature made an appearance, but was quickly warded away. Otherwiswe, all was quiet, for now... Even in the shadowlands, the appearance of a bright and noisy hovercraft was unnverving to the wildlife.

And then a distant roar was heard. Followed by a second, closer, from the other direction. The force sensitives could sense something wrong, if they focused enough. Something dangerous. It's hardwired into nearly every species; prey instincts. To know when you're being watched, you looka round you. When you're being followed, you move faster. And you always know whenn something if coming for you. For you, and you alone. When something wants to find you, and kill you. Every force user in the hovercraft could probably feel that by now. The hunters became more tense. Mrrew smiled, and raised his own rifle. "Welcome to the Shadowlands."

[member="Darth Morgoth"] [member="Kana Truden"] [member="Zarro Verres"] @VlPER @Onix [member="Garith Darkhold JR"]

 

[Mrrew]

In most situations like this, the driver would speed up the speedercraft. Instead, the speeder slowed. Not enough to be caught by the monsters they were being followed by, not nessisarily. Only enough to be followed. Not to outrun them. They wanted more then two Terentateks. A lot more then two. Two masters and a assortment of other force users were being paraded through the Shadowlands, through the territory Terentateks had been prowling for centuries. The prey of Terentateks were being handed to them on a dinner plate. The beasts had been wandering the Shadowlands for centuries, feeding only off the occasional wandering Jedi and the life force of the planet. Rarely ever getting the treat of their favorite food; the flesh of force sensitives. Now it was here. And they were starving.

Mrrew stood tall in the center of the hovercraft, the other hunter that wasn't driving the hovercraft standing behind the Guildmaster. Every few minutes, roars could be heard in the distance. Some close, some far away. It was extremely rare that a group of force sensitives traveled into the Shadowlands. Now theyy were here. And tehc reatures bred to kill them, the creatures made to hunt them, were coming.

The foglights of the hovercraft, piercing the darkness, revealed the group's first visitor. A massive hulking figure, twin tusks jutting out from it's jaw, ready for the favorite food it hadn't had in generations. It charged. And the hunters open fired.

[member="Darth Morgoth"] [member="Kana Truden"] [member="Zarro Verres"] @Onix @VlPER

 

[Mrrew]

Three Chiru rifles, two from the hunters and one from Mrrew, fired three taozin skin covered darts at the advancing Terentatek. Halfway between the trees and the hovercraft, it swerved to the side, stepping druckenly. One confused roar later, the SmartTranq took the beast down. It worked extremely quickly, mutating to adapt to any bloodstream it entered. One dart could down a Rancor in ten seconds or so. Three, apparently, oculd down a Terentatek in a few seconds. After a few shaken moments where all eyes were on the Terentatek, making sure it wasn't to move, the hovercraft advanced onwards.

Once the tranqulized Terentatek was out of sight, Mrrew glanced to @Vlper. "Good guess."

Teams of droids would come in behind them, and collect any Terentateks they managed to tranqulize before the predators of Kashyyk took advantage of the sleeping monsters. He was sure there would be more. He was hoping for a large amount... Another distant roar, but much closer then before, confirmed that he would get his wish. This was like parading a whiskey truck through the streets of Corellia. They'd come from miles around.

And hopefully no one would get eaten. Hopefully.