A Witches Cutlass

[RC 212]

Location: The Emerald Dragon

The lights burned low in the Captains quarters. Braziers with exotic sweet incense flanked the doors to her quarters. The walls were normal grey and dull like most straships. Her bed was in the corner and at the foot of the bed a golden plated chest encrusted with jewels. A single long oak table along the wall held dirty scrolls, yellowing books and an assortment of her failed projects.

Althea stood with her hands resting on that table. The Book of shadows was opened flat on its spine and from it she read the arcane words of the text. Today she was on a new project. Alchemizing her blade, since she had no particular want or use for a lightsaber. A saber compromised ones identity, betraying their use of the force.

Beside her hand on the table gleamed the cutlass, unassuming and cool to the touch. She had gathered her implements and now the work was to begin.

One hand raised her commlink to her lips and her light short tone poured out of the other end into the first mates ears.

"Jasper."

"Yezzz captain?"

"See to it I'm not disturbed."

"Yezzz captain."

Althea tossed the commlink on the bed and stretched. It was time to begin.

 

[RC 212]

A Witches power came from her will. The will to wield the powers of the twin sisters side by side. Some called them Ashla and Bogan. Nighsisters normally referred to their particular deity as the Winged Angel of the Fanged God. Mostly operating from the Dark current, utilizing the Fanged god as their source of power. Having been raised in the untamed wilds under the protections of the Nighsister clans Althea herself was certainly not a stranger to the Dark current, or the Fanged god.

With sleeves rolled up she closed her eyes, letting in the force, and beginning the ritual chant of power. The energies of the void reacted slowly. Inside her minds eye she could view them flowing in, weaving a sort of weblike matrix. As they gathered she slipped deeper and deeper into the dark current, abandoning the light. The very skin on her body began to darken under the evil energies.

It would only take a few more moments to shape them to her desires, to compress them in her core. slowly but surely the matrix solidified. She opened her eyes. The room took on a different hue, the lights had gone out and all that remained was her glowing eyes. A sickly green purple aura pulsated from her and she laid her hands upon the blade, letting the cool metal touch her worn skin....

 

[RC 212]

The Second part of any ritual Alchemy involved the materials itself. The blade was cool and rough under her hands. Centuries of use marked its blade with pits and dull scores. The blade itself had been a gift from a Pirate captain whom she had served under. Garret Locket, now long dead, killed by his crew.

As her hands connected with the steel her essence began to transfer. In her minds eye she pushed herself into the blade, becoming one with materials. The very microscopic matter itself began to break down and become visible, another web in her minds eye.The goal was to charge the blade with the energy and rearrange those molecules so that the metal was dense, so dense it could stop a saber, or a blaster bolt.

"Fanged god give me the strength of the void."

Slowly she began to attach to each one a thread tracing back to herself. Each molecule was tagged, as if with its own small blood trail of black energy. The resulting matrix began to look like its own sick spider web. Lines criss-crossing here and there. It would take several pushes to rearrange them just so, but soon they would be just right.

The first step was almost complete. Althea focused harder now, immersing herself in the work. Each thread came back under her control and with a mighty roar she slammed them in closer, smashing the molecules together, compressing them with her pure will. Her veins began to bulge at the onslaught of pure energies rushing through her. Her skin felt raw as heat began to generate from the intensity of the work, a burning sensation spreading through her skin.....

 

[RC 212]

"What was that?"

"Twas nothing you fool. The Captain left specific instructions not to be disturbed."

"Alright then, I'm gone."

The guards in the hallway had dissapeared at the sound of her scream. It was shrill, piercing to the soul. The very ship itself groaned under the weight of it, bulkeheads creaking as if they were haunted. And who knew, maybe they were?

Althea still was immersed in the dark current, coursing the raw energies of the void into herself.the first push had brought the molecules slightly closer, but she could see she was at risk of breaking the entire composition. She needed more energy, more strength to hold each piece. It was different realm to call for more from the Fanged God. The Diety of the Dark current was harsh and demanding. everything came with a price.

A single dagger appeared in her palm and the woman stepped back, eyes still alight with the cosmic glow of the darkness.

The dagger slid straight and true against her palm. Blood oozed forth, warm and crimson. The palm quickly filled as it gushed from the wound, dripping down onto the gray steel itself. Each spot where it dripped it seemed to disappear, but the metal became darker, warped. A black sheen began to manifest upon the Cutlass.

Blood magic was a powerful aid it seemed. Something she would record much later.

For now the hand came down, smearing the rest of the hot liquid upon the cold steel. The darkness began to spread rapidly and she could feel a renewed sense of power. In itself the blood reacted with the blade and the dark current began to surge faster, pulling the blade back into itself, twisting the molecules tighter and tighter...

 

[RC 212]

Yes the blade came long nicely. As the parts moved closer together her hand reconnected with the blade, both now firmly holding it. Those listless orbs snapped shut and she projected her self again,monitoring the progress of the process. Again she poured herself into each thread, attaching to the web and strengthening each connection. The blood magic was working of its own volition and she sped the process up, grabbing each thread herself again and pushing them hard.

"GRAHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

The entire blade began to shake in her hands, buzzing rhythmically with the obscene energies of the current. The metal began to heat red hot. The smell of scalding flesh, sizzling like steaks thrusts its way into her nostrils. As the blade burned her hands with its raw power she kept pushing, never relenting.

"For every spell a Sacrifice."

The molecules were closing now, becoming closer and closer together. It was almost impossible to make out the gaps between them as the Blood Magic and the
Dark current twisted them into its final form. Soon the work would be complete. and she would have to consecrate the thing. Both in the spirit of the White and Dark Currents...

 

[RC 212]

Finally the work was done. As the blade finally came together in its final form the energies in the web began to recoil and then surged into the metal, binding themselves to it. She had done it! A rush of pride surged into her veins, making the blood hot to the surface of her skin. The last few attempts had produced nothing more than broken daggers and a few of them had even exploded.

Without any time to waste she withdrew herself from the Dark Current, carefully exiting the Fanged Gods realm and stepping back through the door of perception into reality. The glow faded from her eyes and the skin became cool again. Her hands were now painfully burned and one was sporting a large gash from the dagger. Those were the first things she must attend too.

Placing her beloved Cutlass carefully upon the table she strode across the room to where her own medical pack lay, and began to shuffle the contents. A bandage for the wound, and Kolto for the burns. Soaking each bandage was a fast process, as was tying off the rags around her hands.

She had learned something very valuable today. A trick, using blood magic. In fact a trick that might one day come in handy, very very handy. With trembling hands the Captain opened the drawer of he table pulling out an old weather book. Yes she preferred books to datapad. Information was much more safe that way. With a quick hand she snatched a quill from nearby and began to scribble with old ink, made from toad blood...

 

[RC 212]

The Quill met the parchment in the book.

"Captains Log, Entry forty three,

I have finally made a definite break through in the Alchemy Solutions for the blade. The Metal itself was Alchemized just now with the increased aid of Blood Magic. It would seem with each action comes a reaction. Ones own blood can make an object stronger, but what of the blood of another? Well that's a mystery for another time.

A standard chant of power from the book of shadows can bring you into the Dark current, and let you wield the power. Once inside I was able to break down the molecules of the metal and tag each one with a sort of thread or blood trail leading back to me. The only difference is I can manipulate these threads and the objects at the far side of them. Which leads me to believe that the tagging itself does not give the Alchemist full control but rather half control."

She paused, taking a sip from a nearby canteen, then returning to her scribbles.

"So it has come to my attention that every great power requires sacrifice. The basis of Blood magic is a sacrifice of blood, life substance for a grant of power from the Dark current. This ties into the sword how? Well by infusing my own blood into the sword I was granted absolute power over the small specific real of spae and time, and was able to compress and rearrange the molecules. Afterwards it would be prudent to consecrate your item in the white current as well. If for no other purpose than to make it appear harmless to the average force user...."

 

[RC 212]

And now it was time to consecrate her weapon in the White Current. Althea closed the book and grasped the sword again. This time she fell into the white current. It was much easier to draw from this side of the force, a side filled with life energies. Life was all around her, present in every cabin on the ship. As the calming energies engulfed her she focused them on the blade, letting them run along the metal and dull the dark obsidian sheen it had taken. The metals themselves became a little lighter, less dense with dark energy.'

She moved across her quarters, bringing the blade through the wafting incense of the braziers.

The element of air made the blade light in her hand. She could feel the difference as the current changed it. That was enough for now, any further modification were truly unnecessary. she could care less if the blade gave off evil, only that it stopped lightsabers. Speaking of which it was now time to test her new blade, and her own fighting ability with it....

 

[RC 212]

The commlink buzzed. Perfect. Jasper was on the other end and she answered in a calm and collected tone.

"Yes?"

"Cap'n the men are getting restless."

"Excellent. Gather them in the main hangar deck and bring me the prisoner."

"The Sith Cap'n?"

"Yes the very one."

It had been long coming. Few raids and so much time in seclusion had made the crew mad. They were rabid for blood and she had a blade to test. No doubt they would certainly appreciate the Captains display and remember their places aboard her ship. Grabbing her blade and hat she stepped out of the door, letting the lock cycle with a hiss behind her.

Firm boot steps echoed menacingly off the bulkheads as she strode to the hangar bays.

Inside the crew had been assembled along the walls, milling about. Althea strode in showing no fear, her very presence was a stabilizer in the room. No one dared now to speak that the Captain had arrived. She was tall, armed with her DL-44s and single blade and hungry for battle.

"Gather round you fools. You dare whisper half truths on my ship? Come witness what happens to those who cross me."

The crew gathered, semi circle around her and she simply nodded to Jasper.

"Give him his Saber and release him."

"Cap'n?"

"Do as I say first mate."

"Yezzzz."

A silver cylinder was pressed into the Siths hand and he was pushed forwards, chains around his wrists and and ankles. Althea reached out with a simple palm gesture and muttered an arcane phrase. A flash of green light lit the chains and broke them, letting the prisoner free. It was a young wayward Sith she had captured on Tatooine. For what purpose she was not sure at the time, but now it was perfectly clear.

Her black cutlass left the sheath with the ring of steel and she planted both feet firm. Determined brown eyes stared from beneath the brim of her signature tri cornered hat and she called to the prisoner in a firm voice.

"Want your revenge Sith? Come get it!"

A nasty smile spilt the muscular Siths face. The saber ignited, crimson blade buzzing through the air and he lunged, a savage roar escaping his throat like a tusken raider.

 

[RC 212]

The crimson lightsaber of her oppnant weaved down in a massive strike. This was the first test of her blade. Althea stepped sideways, more slidng then anything and swung upwards. The moent of truth, black obsidian steel met crimson energy.

And it held....

The crew gasped as their captains seemingly unassuming cutlass deflected the strike casting the lightsaber blade upwards. Althea closed in, using the white current now to propel her, drawing in the energy from the mass of lifeforms in such close proximity. Her fighting style was unorthodox, a mix of Teras Kasi and sword fighting. No fancy tricks, but all speed and finesse.

Two open palm strikes hammered the Siths chest right where his heart would be. One blow fell with the sound of a meaty slap and crackling sound echoed about the room. He gasped for air as the second strike landed, almost stopping his heart with the force of the blow. Now disoriented the Sith stepped back and growled, coming again, this time with a flurry of blows, alternating left right left.

Althea met him in step, stepping forwards and arching her body backwards. Her braid flew in the air and her sword weaved a crisscross patter. Each blow met metal and sparks flew. Each time the Light saber flew farther and farther afield until she spied her opening.

It was a quick move, a killing move. She stepped in, locked her foot behind his and pulled. The Siths balance was lot and he stumbled forward for a second. Right onto the waiting blade the erupted from her gauntlet. As he fell onto her blade she held him up on one arm and lifted his whole body into the air, now impaled through the throat.

"Behold, the Standard Sith men."

He wriggled and squirmed, as crimson ichor sprayed and splashed, painting her red and making the deck slippery with its grime.

"If he could not best your captain, then how can you?"

She let him down quickly retracting her fist and spinning full circle with her body. On one foot she pivoted with all her might drawing back the Cutlass and then releasing it in a mighty swing as she came around.

"YAAARGHHH!"

Shink!

Bone and flesh was clove in two, the alchemical blade sailed clean through his neck. More blood more ichor, filled the air and ran thick from the wound.

Althea put her boot to his chest in a mighty kick and sent the corpse to the deck plates. It fell with a mighty thud and the head rolled away, trailing blood behind it.

"Now get back to your stations! Run my ship!"