Braving the cold of Rhen Var [The Republic]

[Johnny Diamonds]

"Hey Corvus... like, I think I'm about as useful as a sleeping dug in a firefight. That, and well..."

Johnny D opened up his messenger bag, letting Corvus peer inside. He had a small black box, his custom datapad, earbuds, some snackfood, few packs of insta-stimcaf, and a holonet uplink booster. No weapons whatsoever. "I kinda don't really have any weaponry." He looked over to Kana, then to Corvus, and sighed lightly.

"Figures, right? Force have mercy I hope I don't get spaced out here."

Johnny D was giving off about a metric tonne of nervous fear right about now.



[member="VlPER"] | @CC-1693 | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Tugoro Taidarious"] | [member="Meeristali Peradun"] | [member="Jerry Mars"] | [member="J.Reaper"] | [member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus was conflicted. Protecting the trooper was second nature but killing animals wasn't. She was frustrated she didn’t have the necessary ability to influence the creatures – although it was a Knight level skill she reflected.

So she stood beside Johnny Diamonds, unsure what to do. Finally she came to a decision and ran to stand beside the fallen trooper. She wouldn’t attack these animals - and if they chose to retreat that would suit her fine. But if any came too close, she would use the saber VlPER had leant her to defend the others.

[member="VlPER"] | [member="GM-1693"] | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Tugoro Taidarious"] | [member="Meeristali Peradun"] | [member="J.Reaper"] | [member="Johnny Diamonds"]

 

[VlPER]

Unlike the others, Viper had no qualms about killing the animals. Defending oneself and their friends or allies was only natural. Besides, he had liked to hunt before he became a Jedi. Naboo had always offered a large variety of game to choose from. That being said, Viper was still respectful to nature and the animals that existed in it. He wouldn't follow these beasts should they decide to retreat. He wasn't trying to see them all dead. Merely making sure his people stayed alive. Like the others, he would be overjoyed if they simply turned an ran. Especially considering the effort he spent just getting here and saving this troopers life at the last second.

When Corvus joined them and activated her saber, a strange feeling suddenly surged through him. This was in fact the first time in hundreds of years that these sabers had been activated at the same time together. It was almost as if the sabers, who had once been the property of Viper's great grandfather and his wife, had minds of there own. As if they were elated to be back in action side by side after so many years. Was it just the residual force presence of those two long lost Jedi? He wasn't sure, and he wondered if Corvus felt it too.

The affect, seemed to give him more strength. It was an eery feeling. But he felt almost empowered. As if much of his lost energy had been restored. Looking at the animals, he decided he wanted to try something. Almost from the moment he joined the order, he had been working on his force pulls and pushes. They were simple actions. But he found he liked the advantages they gave. As such, he had been practicing a stronger form of the force push attack.

With Corvus by the troopers side, Viper was no longer worried about the man being overtaken. With the other troopers on the hill offering their support fire, he wasn't to concerned about them getting around Kana who had also joined the frey. Still, the reinforcements, blaster fire, and saber strokes did not seem to deter these aggressive predators. Though, he noted their resolve did seem to be waning. Perhaps one more final surprise would send them packing....if he could pull it off that was.

Viper concentrated and tried to pull up and much force energy as he could. Using the force to propel him through a long front flip, he landed right in the middle of a group of these things. As he landed a force pulse flew out in all directions from Viper. Four or five of the animals were sent flying through the air yelping in terror at suddenly being lobbed away. It was positively invigorating to feel the power behind the attack. Viper smiled, as he rose in a stance Corvus would recognize instantly, what with it being her most skilled form. Soresu.

In truth, the pulse was not THAT great. Trained Jedi could do this attack and create a wave of energy going out in all directions for 10-15 meters. Vipers pulse was only 3-4 meters, as he's not nearly that skilled in the attack yet. But still, it was the first time he had been successfully able to pull it off. He hoped, as he stood there now, that their combined might, firepower, and surprises would finally be enough to send these animals running for the hills...

VlPER | GM-1693 | Kana Truden | Tugoro Taidarious | Meeristali Peradun | J.Reaper | Johnny Diamonds

 

[Corvus Raaf]

As one of the creatures decided to flank the group, Corvus activated the saber. She didn’t look at it, but merely held it at her side, blade pointing to the ground a metre or so to her right – where the creature was advancing slowly from.

She felt a strange sensation. They say each blade is attuned to its owner, and she’d handled a few in her time without getting any ‘feedback’ from them. But there was definitely a fluctuation in the Force that she sensed when the blade initially buzzed into life before settling into a gentle hum. It was as if it was in harmony with something. Not her, but something close by.

Pushing that thought from her mind, she fixed the creature with a stare. It was a basic threat in any animal’s language.

The sound of its fellows being attacked clearly unnerved it and it began to back off. Slowly at first and then with pace. Corvus glanced at the source of the noise and saw VlPER in the middle of a pack of them. Before she could register concern, their numbers dwindled as VlPER pushed them back with the Force. He then stood tall in a near-perfect Soresu stance – she’d have to mention lifting his left elbow up a fraction of a centimetre!

His actions proved the tipping point and the remainder turned and fled. ’They’ll be back’ she thought, ’If only to pick over their dead.’

Deactivating the lightsaber, Corvus spoke to the troopers. “The way I see it, you have three choices. You can dig in and see what’s salvageable here, go back and regroup or come along with us. If we don’t get a move on, Tugoro and Jerry will have all of the decent crystals earmarked before we get there.”

“Are we ready to move on?”

[member="VlPER"] | [member="GM-1693"] | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Tugoro Taidarious"] | [member="Meeristali Peradun"] | [member="J.Reaper"] | [member="Johnny Diamonds"]

 

[VlPER]

Viper remained in place, panting heavily as he watched the strange creatures retreat. "Good...be gone with you." He mumbled tiredly to himself. As the stiff breeze flew into his face, only then did Viper feel something warm dripping from his nose. Wiping it away, he was slightly disturbed to see it wasa small amount of blood.

"Well...I guess I found my current limits." He grumbled to himself as he deactivated his lightsaber and wiped off the blood. Withe danger gone, Viper started the long walk back. The boost he had, disappeared with the deactivation of the sabers. So his pace was slow. He didn't even bother with the troopers plan. It wasn't his business anyway. He was just here to get out of the academy, explore, hopefully find some crystals, and make his first saber.

Overhearing Corvus though, he raised a tired hand and yelled, "Ready." And continued to slowly march on.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Kana Truden]

“You’re right we should move in case they come back.” Kana shot a dead serious stare at [member="VlPER"]’s nose. “Or in case we overdo something, again.”

She couldn’t hold it against him though, what he did was very likely the reason they scattered in the first place. Following behind Viper she sighed.

“Just, be careful.” Hopefully Viper wasn’t angered by her remark. “Won't be much of an after-party if you don't have the energy to keep going, V.”

As they trudged along the surface of the snow Kana bitterly cursed her packing as snowflake after snowflake whipped her in the face. Of all the things she had forgotten it was a damn hat or anything to cover her face with and knowing that they weren't even close to shelter just made it worse. But nonetheless she endured it, if anything they could send padawans here for their trials. Trial of the Flesh for everyone!

 

[VlPER]

Viper smirked through his heavy breathing. "No why is she looking at me." He said jokingly to nobody in particular. When she came up behind him and told him to be careful, Viper stopped so she could catch up. "Yes ma'am." He said with a pleasant if tired smile.

"Still, as it was. I was almost to late. He was about to get jumped from behind when I arrived. And besides, I wasn't worried. I knew you and Corvus were following behind me. I knew you guys would watch my back.". He stopped talking as his own words took him by surprise.

He didn't normally rely on anyone. He found he was usually disappointed when he did. But in the last few weeks, he had begun to find there were a very select few people that he had not a second thought about putting his reliance on them. Indeed it seemed Kana had been added to that list now.

Pushing the thoughts from his mind, he tried to focus again on what they were here for in the first place. Giving Kana one last grin. He trudged on through the thickening snow.

[member="Kana Truden"]

 

[J.Reaper]

reaper lowered his rifle and walked to the troopers and the jedi and saluted and said "CC-3368 clone trooper "reaper", thanks for the help. probably would have not survived if you people didnt get here" he lowered his hand and checked how many clips he had left, luckily he had about 2 clips left. he walked to one of the dead animals and looked at it. it was about 1 meter long and tall and had 4 legs, tail and head.

it had sharp teeth and small nose and had some kind of long thorns coming out of its back. the eyes where clear blue and had some scars on the face. he got up and shoot one bullet into the air showing his respect to these animals. he then walked a bit from the animal and satt down since he was still not clear in his head and felt tired.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus took the ‘yes’ from VlPER and the lack of ‘no’ from anyone else as an indication they should press forward.

Glancing to the troopers, she said, “We’re heading out now. Catch us up if you want.”

With that they continued towards the mountain, the weather showing no signs of improving. After a few hours, they reached the foot of the mountain. Whilst VlPER did his thing with Force Signatures, Corvus scanned the nearby area for something that looked like it was once an ice statue. Or two ideally!

[member="VlPER"] | [member="GM-1693"] | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Tugoro Taidarious"] | [member="Meeristali Peradun"] | [member="J.Reaper"] | [member="Johnny Diamonds"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus scanned the immediate area – it was relatively flat and sheltered but so large. Finding a cave by sight along would have been fruitless.

As was her expectation of finding two perfectly crafted ice sculptures that would have stood the ravages of time. Picking up on what VlPER had said, she decided to use the one tool at her disposal. The Force.

She closed her eyes and used Force Sight. Solid objects became translucent and as she allowed the Force to flow through her, the distance she could ‘see’ increased. The few organics showed as brighter lights – and their alignment was also visible. Using this aspect, she spent some time sweeping the area in front of them – looking for any traces of where the lightsabers were used to sculpt. If anything should leave a Force residue, sabers should.

Finally she saw them. Nothing significant in themselves but hundreds of tiny marks that must have represented where the blade cut the ice. Excited now, she opened her eyes.

To the naked eye there was nothing to see. Years of wind and snow had obscured the sculptures but the longer she looked at them, she could see they were broadly shaped like humans – and some twenty feet tall.

“Over here,” she called and headed to see if the entrance to the cave was nearby.

[member="VlPER"] | [member="GM-1693"] | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Tugoro Taidarious"] | [member="Meeristali Peradun"] | [member="J.Reaper"] | [member="Johnny Diamonds"]

 

[VlPER]

Viper was not nearly as skilled as Corvus in force sight as he had been focusing his force training in other areas. Still, he tried his best to reach out and at least feel something, anything, as he searched. The snow had begun to subside greatly, but it still lowered how much they could see clearly. "Well at least we won't be buried alive by snow in a hour." He mumbled to himself as he cracked his neck and kept searching the hillsides. It was also amazing to him how snowfall could really turn someone around. A couple of times he had to look back around and find the camp, just to get his bearings on where he was, and where he'd been.

The search had honestly not gone on for very long when Corvus herself called out to everyone. Had she really found the statues already!? A smile came to his face as he looked over in her direction. "Good. After all the research she has done, it's good to see she was the one that found them." Viper thought to himself as he started making his way over to where the gestured.

Bundled up inside his warm clothes, Viper peaked out of his hood to what she thought to be the statues. They were larger than he expected...but where these them? His face scrunched up as he tried to make out their basic shape. Tilting his head to the side a bit, hoping that would help, he shrugged his shoulders. "I guess they do sort of look like people." Moving a little closer, he looked up and continued. "My friends, I'm sorry....but time has not been kind to you..." Viper joked as he reached out and touched the statues. It was such a funny feeling to touch something that was made by someone else so many many years before.

Now that he had moved closer, he could indeed feel the presence of those powerful beings. Looking to Corvus, he asked,"So...the cave entrance should be right around this area then?

[member="Corvus Raaf"] | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Johnny Diamonds"] | [member="Tugoro Taidarious"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus nodded to [member="VlPER"]. "I suggest we spread out and search. It isn't far - I know that much."

 

[Kana Truden]

A cave entrance wasn’t usually supposed to be this hard to find was it? For something that was nearby and inanimate it sure knew how to hide. The idea of splitting up to search for said cave wasn’t particularly clever. At least not to Kana and especially not after the small scrap they’d had only a short while ago.

“Stay within eyesight of each other.” Kana looked over at Corvus and Viper. “We don’t know if there are more of those creatures around.”

Kana began looking around. There was a big statue right there, but no apparent way to find the cave they’re all looking for. Was there possibly another way of entering? Unaware of the others having already sensed the area she spoke up.

“What’s the possibility that there is a hidden key somewhere? We’re looking for something that is only really useful to a force user, right?” Kana paused and looked at the others. “Could there be a sort of button, a trigger of sorts nearby that we can’t see? What if we need to, I don't know, sense it?”

[member="Johnny Diamonds"] | [member="Corvus Raaf"] | [member="VlPER"] | [member="Tugoro Taidarious"]​

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus hoped that Tugoro and Jerry were close by now - as once they found the cave they'd be out of sight.

Corvus was making a habit of being reminded of the sort of things she was usually the one that pointed out. And now Kana was the one to mention using the Force again.

She closed her eyes momentarily, and allowed the Force to flow through her. She sensed for any ripples in the Force. She sensed the crystals, deep within the mountain but the feeling was distant and didn’t allow her to identify the cave entrance. Not giving up, she continued but with no success.

Switching her focus to Force Sight, she attempted the same thing. This time she kept her eyes closed – it seemed to work better for her this way. After a few minutes she saw it. The mountain was broadly translucent but the thicker the rock, the less she could see ‘through.’ One area, however, remained bright in her eyes, as if it was much thinner than the rest. About three metres squared in size, Corvus focused on its location and then opened her eyes.

The spot in question was covered in snow and ice like the rest of the mountain. But as she looked at it, she could now pick out a small track that meandered its way to the base of the area.

Excited, she called to the rest, “I can see it.” She pointed and started to climb the narrow pathway, taking care to keep her footing.

Up close you could see that this area of ice was indeed covering an opening behind. All they had to do was create a hole big enough to climb through.

[member="VlPER"] | [member="GM-1693"] | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Tugoro Taidarious"] | [member="Meeristali Peradun"] | [member="J.Reaper"] | [member="Johnny Diamonds"]

 

[VlPER]

Viper looked over to Kana and shrugged. "Good idea. But I guess it really was just as simple as using our senses to find a hole in the ground." With a smirk, he walked over to Corvus. "Oh please, allow me." Viper said jovially. He was still a bit tired. But this hunt was paying off rather quickly, and that was getting him quite excited. Especially since if the cave was blocked off like this, it was unlikely to have been found by random looters or explorers. He wondered too, with the entrance being blocked, if that would have cut down on the animals alive in there too since they would have effectively been entombed in the cave.

"Well, only one way to find out." He thought to himself as he drew his sabers and activated them. A moment later, Viper plunged them deep into the ice. Twisting his hands back and forth forming a circle, he continued the motion. Slowly going farther and farther out to widen the hole being made. Steam bellowed off his sabers as they sliced through the ice like a hot knife through butter. At this rate, he'd almost not need his coat. It was starting to feel like a sauna where he was.

A short time later, a breeze pushed the steamed cloud into Viper. He took in a breath and could feel the breeze was warm compared to the outside temperature, but much cooler the the steam. It was the cave. Having finally had it icy cork breached, air was once again flowing through it. Viper worked at it a bit more till the whole was finally wide enough for people to get in and out of. Though granted, they'd have to crawl a bit. "Well Corvus. I hope you're not claustrophobic. As leader of this expedition, it's only fair you get first dibs on entering it." He smiled as he stepped aside, to allow her to pass.

[member="Corvus Raaf"] | [member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus wondered where the Grandmaster was. No doubt watching from sufficient distance not to be noticed but not so far away that she couldn't help if she needed to.

Corvus sniffed at the hole. Warmer musty air was being replaced by fresh and very cold air. The fact that there was a breeze suggested there were other openings, but the mustiness of the air indicated they weren't sufficient to generate an airflow all by themselves.

Corvus slipped through the opening - the wetness of the ice made it easier than she'd expected. Standing up she could hear her breathing and the drip, drip of distant water. Looking forward, she could see nothing but a void - the light that is allowed through the ice barely reaching twenty feet ahead.

[member="VlPER"] | [member="GM-1693"] | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Tugoro Taidarious"] | [member="Meeristali Peradun"] | [member="J.Reaper"] | [member="Johnny Diamonds"]

 

[Kana Truden]

“Well, that’s one way of doing it.” Kana remarked as [member="VlPER"] finished cutting a hole in the ice. As [member="Corvus Raaf"] entered so did Kana. “Well, this certainly was… Dark.”

Retrieving the shoto from her belt Kana flicked it on to reveal what little light there were to be had. Not really thinking about it she let her curiosity get the better of her and she promptly began making her way into the dark cave with nothing but the light from the short blade to illuminate her path.

“It will be a miracle if we don’t get lost,” Kana shouted back to the others and winced as her voice echoed throughout the caverns. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Or worse.”

Judging by the size of the echoes the group must have been in a rather big section of the cave. Kana had to admit it was a lot more eerie than she wanted it to be. If those creatures came back - or worse lived in these caves - then the stakes would certainly have been raised to a level beyond her comfort zone.

“It seems safe, for now.” Kana tried to keep her voice down. “I've got a bad feeling about this.”

It was mostly pointless skepticism but having bad feelings had almost become a habit to Kana at this point.

 

[Johnny Diamonds]

Johnny looked around within the darkness of the cave, not seeing much with his natural eyesight. Corvus, Viper and Kana kept speaking one after the other, but all Johnny wondered was What in the kark is down there? Force knew that when a Jedi said they had a bad feeling about something, it usually turned out to be true. Closing his own eyes, he concentrated upon the Force, upon the filaments that connected him to it, and in turn, from the Force to those with him. He could see that translucent aura so closely associated with Force Sight, his mother was a Miralukan after all. But he began to see beyond it, past it. He began to see versions of his companions that seemed to be like ghostly apparitions taking their leave of the mortal body, and interacting in ways that had yet to happen. He could hear screams within his mind, and just like that, his eyes snapped open, and he called out.

"Kana, don't... There's like, bad, bad mojo down that way. I don't quite know how I know... I just do. We gotta stick together, ok? Trust me on this..."

Johnny was visibly shaken by something, and those with him could most likely feel his unease and confusion.


[member="VlPER"] | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Kana Truden]

“I, uh… Sure, Johnny.” Kana slowly backed to where the others were. “What’s up, did you hear something? You look like you saw a ghost.”

Maybe it was all that fear from before that just had to be unloaded? No, he was still practically radiating a mix of fear and... something else, she wasn't quite sure what it was.

“Look, I can stay close by if it makes you feel better.” Kana patted [member="Johnny Diamonds"] on his shoulder. “In the meantime it'd be a good idea to remain calm, just your old regular calm self. Deep breaths and happy thoughts, bud.”

 

[Meeristali Peradun]

Cold, but not entirely intolerable - that was Rhen Var - and it was something of fortune that he had been given the opportunity in his prior life and occupation to train in extreme conditions. The group moved, and for the most part, he had been silent, eyes and ears on the landscape, up until the point that they arrived to rescue the assailed soldier, and encountered animals that had been none-too-kind or docile.

And where was he now? Rejoining the group after chasing the remainder of those creatures off after the fight - in his feline form, the older padawan was not to be trifled with, and because of it, he hoped the creatures would take their time in coming back around, if they did at all. Returning to the group had been a simple prospect, keen sense of smell and hearing, and a marked ability to see better in the dark easily aiding him in tracking them down... with the particular intellect to shift back to his humanoid form before he was seen or heard slipping back into their company.

A beast is a beast is a beast, after all, and his felinity wasn't like to be taken well after creature ordeal. He'd even been so nice as to clean the blood off himself. Yes, with his tongue. Of course.

"My apologies for slipping off..." he said, smoothing out the warm fabrics of his clothes as he rejoined them, glancing at Johnny and his marked worry, "...but I don't think those creatures will be bothering us again unless they're more stupid than wary."

[member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Johnny Diamonds"] | [member="Corvus Raaf"] | [member="VlPER"] | [member="J.Reaper"] | [member="GM-1693"]​