Bringing the Pain with Bane

[Krux Mullarus]

Fresia, One Sith Space

​

A chill crept up Krux Mullarus' spine as the Temple of Pain drew near. Exiting hyperspace at the helm of his own starship, Patriot, the Sith world of Fresia and it's seven moons seemed to stare back at the ex-sith with a glare that beckoned him to return to the glorious empire he once praised. As he input the coordinates and maneuvered his light assault freighter through space, slaloming through the seven moons, careful not to get caught in any of their atmospheres, the tentacles of the Dark Side slithered across his view, making it a little bit hard to concentrate. Fresia felt similar to Korriban, though not quite as malevolent. It was still a bit physically painful to be in sith space again, and if it was a challenge to the Jedi Knight, Krux couldn't imagine what his partner was going through.

At least it isn't Glee Anselm, he thought.

As Patriot soared through the stormy atmosphere, Krux couldn't help but feel a familiar presence on the surface. The feeling disturbed him. I knew I should have gone without her. Setzi's in so much danger now. I won't lose her again! he mused to himself, trying to keep his mind off of how vile the location Setzi had told him to go felt from here. They hadn't even landed yet, and Krux felt queasy. He knew Setzi would certainly be having problems with it as well, but they had a clear objective here, and Setzi wouldn't leave him alone until it was fulfilled.

Finally, the Temple of Pain drew itself into view.

​

The castle-like structure lay situated in a crater, the sithspawn gargoyles' diabolical grins seeming to gleam up at Patriot as it passed overhead, sending more chills across Krux's body. That familiar presence he felt only grew as the castle grew larger in his field of view. Grudgingly, Krux picked a spot near the crater to land his starship, exhaling as he did so. For the first time since Korriban, Krux would be directly battling the Dark Side again, and this time with the title of Jedi Knight. He was less concerned about himself, he had tested himself through the Jedi Trials. He would rather perish than return to the beaten path of the Dark Side. It was his beloved he was worried about. No matter how many times he insisted they wait until she was fully trained and tested to become a Jedi Knight like himself, she begged him to go sooner, as they would have to go find the Xilsaga that could lead them to Chastity Lunelle's hiding place before someone like Darth Pyrrhus sought it first and slew it out of spite for the woman who abandoned him and turned to the Jedi.

Krux wore his white armor beneath his silver-furred cloak, as well as his mask, which he wore often as a Padawan to conceal the Dark Side corruption that resided on his face. Today, he wore it as protection, as the last helmet/mask he wore as a part of his old suit of armor that was destroyed in the battle against his grandfather on Rakata Prime was torn to pieces by his foe's lightsaber. Now, this one would hopefully prevent his face from being shredded by anything else. On his hip was his old, battered-looking lightsaber. It was in good condition, the battered look was a result of the pieces used in it's construction mostly being very old - centuries old, in fact, as a test to Krux's patience as a Padawan to seek out parts for a lightsaber rather than using the provided ones on Voss. His lightsaber was his only weapon, for he was more-or-less a master of the single-saber. A juggernaut in heavy armor with only a single-bladed weapon to do battle with. This was always Mullarus' preferred style of combat, though each day, he considers learning to wield staff weapons to further his competence with melee combat. A Jedi Guardian with a saberstaff or a saberpike would be a force to be reckoned with.

He trudged down the corridor of his vessel, leaving his mask hanging on his belt for the time being as he found his quarters, where Setzi was probably resting. He knocked on the closed door, "Setzi? We're here. Please tell me you're ready." he said, his voice deeper than usual with anxiety. He was nervous. Who knew what lay beyond the black gates of the Temple? Perhaps it was an entire council of Sith Lords waiting to annihilate the traitors they saw coming for the Xilsaga. One way or another, they were walking right into it.

I promised her i'd do anything for her. I haven't gone back on my word. We'll find the Xilsaga, and then, Chastity. All for Setzi...


[member="Setzi Lunelle"] / [member="Sage Bane"]

 

[Sage Bane]

Shush shush shush shush shush. The sound could be heard throughout the Temple halls. Perplexed apprentices squinted and turned their heads. What the frell was that strange sound, and where was it coming from? Shush shush shush shush shush.

If you looked up, you might spot a thin, pale figure crawling on the ceiling. Too-long fingernails scratched across the black stone as the bone-thin ectomorph, dressed in a torn brocade suit, scrabbled along. In defiance of gravity itself, the ruin of a man slithered upside-down, dragging something on his back

There was no mistaking the desecrated corpse that clung to him, a rotting grey thing with its eyes missing.

When he reached the temple reliquary on the second floor, the pale figure wriggled down the walls like a joopa, the limp body still on his back. Once upright, the man lovingly carried the corpse, like a bride, and positioned it next to a mate, posing them like mannequins. Now they were embracing, reunited lovers about to kiss. The room was full of similar tableaus, multiple decayed corpses in various states of rapture.

The stench was unbearable to most of the temple’s visitors. It ensured that the Sith Lord could do his “work” in utter privacy.

A wide grin cracked the Sith Lord’s face as he admired his spectacle. With a creak of his spine, his head whipped to the side. There was a strange energy coming from the Temple grounds. Something here that did not belong. What were those things called again? Oh yes.

Jedi.

Moving with impossible quickness, he scuttled vertically up the walls and planted himself on the ceiling. He crept along towards the Hall of Sorrows, his arms and legs bent at odd angles, not unlike an insect. Shush shush shush shush shush.

Today was a banner day for Sage Bane. He’d finally stopped drooling. The temple janitors would be celebrating.

[member="Krux Mullarus"] [member="Setzi Lunelle"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

This time Padawan Lunelle and Knight Mullarus were aboard the Patriot, heading to Sith space, sooner than both of them would have predicated. Fresia was their destination, specifically the Temple of Pain.

Setzi knew that Krux was not a big fan of her accompanying him on the trip to Fresia, but he would never stop her from doing what she wanted to do. Knight Mullarus was perceptive and the brunette lightsider was headstrong, a combination of which assured her that Krux gave her a wide berth and the the freedom to do what she wanted to do.

After he knocked on the door of her quarters, she rose quickly and greeted him. Setzi was in padawan robes, her hair in loose brown waves around her shoulders. “I was meditating,” she said, smiling despite the heavy feeling in the air, which only increased as they grew closer to Fresia.

“Thank you for agreeing to this trip,” she said, smiling despite the heavy feeling in the air. “You always allow me follow my heart, no matter the circumstance, and for that I’m grateful. You don’t try to keep me tied down.”

Krux would be able to tell there was lightness in her heart. Her innocence had returned. Neither of them knew what they were about to face, Setzi most of all. Some of her memories of her time as a Sith Lord were starting to fade, her torture and pain was shrouded in a strange fog when she tried to recall the details around her training by Sage Bane.

“I’m glad you aren’t wearing the mask yet.” For some reason, the mask reminded her of the darkside and frightened her a little, but she wouldn’t disallow her companion to wear it. “And speaking of the mask, are we going to pretend to be Sith? What is the best way to get inside the Temple?”

[member="Krux Mullarus"] [member="Sage Bane"]

 

[Krux Mullarus]

Meditating? Without him having to help her stay focused? Krux smiled like a proud father, "I didn't know you'd become so comfortable with meditation. It really shows how far you've come. This is the perfect time for it, after all." he said, now getting the feeling she was more relaxed than he was. She'd been properly meditating this whole time he was flying on the bridge.

When she mentioned his mask, he looked down at it hanging from him belt. It seemed to glare back up at him, as if begging to latch onto his face so he could hide his anxiety. With a sigh, he said to her, "Well...it's armor, too. Wouldn't want my face getting sliced off, so an extra layer of metal over it will only give me deep scars instead of...well, a clean shave."

His dark blue eyes wandered across her own form. The robes she wore looked fitting, and her wavy chesnut hair made her look so much more pure, for some reason, he couldn't help but reach out and run his fingers through it. Maybe she'd protest, but he felt she probably wouldn't. "If I didn't know any better, i'd think you were dressing for another ball instead of breaking into a Dark Side Temple...

"On that note, though, I don't see how we can 'sneak' in as Sith. For one, our old master has probably made sure to let the rest of the Sith know that Knight Mullarus and Darth Azurea have defected, not to mention there is no Dark Side left within us to conceal our intentions. The Light Side is not a mask to be worn to hide ourselves. I'm not even very skilled at stealth. To be honest, I figured you'd have a better idea how to get in...I doubt they'll let us through the front door.

"Actually, speaking of which, where's your new lightsaber? Didn't you build it with the pieces we gathered from Dromund Kaas?" he asked, gesturing to her belt. Maybe the curved-hilted Form II specialized lightsaber he'd helped her design was hidden in her robes, rather than hanging loosely from her belt like all of Krux's gear. That was one thing she had over him most of the time. She was a lot more organized than he.

Regardless of her responses, he'd take her by the arm and begin to descend the loading ramp of Patriot. The moment the Jedi's boots would make contact with Fresia's surface, the Dark Siders in the Temple would likely be able to feel it. Krux would continue to glance down at his mask and wonder if he should wear it, but pushed those thoughts away as he started to trek down the crater toward the Castle of Darkness.

"Please, Setzi, if you know any other ways in, tell me. Otherwise...the front door will do, I guess...?"

[member="Setzi Lunelle"] / [member="Sage Bane"]