Echoes in the Dark

[Zef Halo]

​

Z i o s t​

Einarr Warscream or as he was known now after reaching Knighthood - Darth Ragnarok, stood infront of the closed doors of the abandoned Sith temple infront of him. The dark side of the Force was strong throughout the whole planet and it was not surprising considering to what Ziost was home to millenia ago. It was the perfect place for him and his recently acquired acolytes to venture forth and seek power.

His Vhaanir leather kept him warm although he had been used to the great cold weather of Midvinter. Ziost was a summer camp, in terms of weather, for the Valkyr. Yet, the leather also provided a certain degree of protection on top of his Sith armor. He also had gotten used to wearing them.

On his belt his Sith axe was clipped, while on his back his Sith sword was attached. Within the inside of his belt was his concealed lightsaber hilt. A weapon used only when he utilized his telekinetic lightsaber combat skills to suprise his enemies. Besides him were his two acolytes - [member="Gorteko Graye"] and [member="Skaarj"]. Behind Darth Ragnarok was the notorious assassin droid HK-55 who was fluent in numerous languages including High Sith which would prove useful when communicating with the Massassi. During their long trip, Einarr was able to learn a few phrases in High Sith, as well.

"We are here." He stated as he pushed the large doors that creaked due to their ages of not being used. Dust rained upon them and a dark large corridor spread infront of them. Large windows was what made the corridor not fully dark but it would not be enough. All quests for power were hard. Not relying much on your sight would be a good training not only for the acolytes but for Ragnarok as well.


Somewhere inside a source of power called...

 

[Grrwunhoooll Agaburry]

Skaarj did not like his chosen instructor [member="Darth Ragnarok"] nor his partnered acolyte [member="Gorteko Graye"]. The Massassai continued to glare at them both as they moved and stood about. They had yet to yearn the Pure Bloods respect. Judging a book by its cover was exactly what he was doing. Was it wise? No but Skaarj was not the brightest when it came to complex thoughts outside of combat. A hard thing to comprehend but if you ever watched the Massassai enter combat you would understand better.

" Ahhh! Nu zas j'us dazina its winwi ri aura sis tsakwia resonates. Nu zinoti dzis hatsi sis dujikri doroti dazina. Ros ais sis poodoosûra iw tirwas tuti chas irsir an tsosûtijomi ki ridis. Kam zo zûtauhi Tsakwuminmona dzis Wo Tsis." Skaarj spat out his words harshly and then inhaled deeply in the temple. Filling his lungs with cold air and feeding of the darkside energy as if it was sustenance as all Massassai could. His attire was light involving mostly Leather hide armor that covered his legs and feet but not his chest. His upper body was rather exposed. It was his style after all he was a warrior and would always be one.

Squinting at the dark interior Skaarj smirked as he crossed his arms against his chest.

" Sis tuti muti. Diyis nindz shasona anas doroti wir isini diâ shiyi oi tuti hansidona dosika. Ardasa. Sni muri armijio Nu waria nindz asarsi wodsasyuha ao wo iw j'us an irdoshia tizn dzis ri iasi wim wos. Ai takers?" He spat again speaking in High Sith.

 

[Gorteko Graye]

The journey to Ziost took longer than Gorteko anticipated, though it did not bother him as it would provide him the opportunity to expand his power. The cold air of this planet was enough to chill him even after closing up his jacket, which he rarely did. And although he was never much one for sensory, he could feel the dark side power all around him, the way it almost seemed to ooze from the planet itself. What could have caused this planet to be host to such a sensation? The acolyte would not think long on this, after all, that's not why they were here.

Approaching the temple with his new master gave a certain level of excitement to the acolyte, by now Gorteko had already trained under many different masters all of which taught things differently. He was intrigued to see how [member="Darth Ragnarok"] would instruct them, and what they would gain from this. As the temple doors open, the sith was nearly awestruck, at least enough to remain unflinching as the dust settled upon the group. To be granted such an opportunity, one very few would experience; that was what made him feel such ways. Though the moment passed just before the other acolyte would speak.

While he could not understand anything [member="Skaarj"] had to say, he did wish to have a better understanding of his new comrade. "This is going to be most troublesome if we cannot understand one another, don't you think my lord?" Gorteko asked Einarr in hopes that it would lead to some form of translation. As he awaited a response, Gorteko would attempt to look around the dark corridor though he couldn't see much.

 

[Zef Halo]

"Translation from High Sith: Ahhh ! I bet you cant the feel the aura this temple resonates . I know for sure this damn droid cant . Only reason this -untranslateable- of junk be here is to translate my word . What a sad Era for One Sith." The droid translated what the Pureblood had just spoken.

In return, Ragnarok simply raised an eyebrow at the hostile acolyte but remained silent and venture forth within the temple. The echoes of his steps could be heard. The Knight contemplated on eventually dealing with the acolyte if it came to subduing his passion. He knew well that with the Sith it all worked with power and had the need arrived, the Valkyr would use his.

" Translation: This be bore . Why not make that droid more useful and have it be target use . Hell . Better yet I will not mind cutting or one of you to bit just for the rush . Any takers ? " The droid spoke after the acolyte's finished his words and Ragnarok chuckled.

"Perhaps if you were as strong as you are trying to show, you would've felt the source of power within this temple." Ragnarok smirked and the droid translated that to High Sith in return. As he continued onward slowly through the large and dark corridor. Despite his calm demeanor, he was not in the mood for childish games and useless talk. They were in a territory that emanated hostility to a level beyond all three's imagination.

His senses twitched and the Knight unclipped his Sith axe, taking it in his hands. It would be foolish to remain unarmed at this place.

"This is going to be most troublesome if we cannot understand one another, don't you think my lord?"

"Talk wouldn't help us here." Ragnarok replied and held the haft of his axe harder as his senses began burning. "And the weak will die here."

His last sentence came as if a prophecy when from the shadows besides them more than half a dozen of mutated creatures with melee weapons dropped from the nothingness above.

A screeching scream came from one of them, imbued with the Force, all three of the Sith could feel the shockwaves it created through the matter.

They engaged.


[member="Skaarj"] [member="Gorteko Graye"]

 

[Grrwunhoooll Agaburry]

As creatures fell from the darkness Skaarj smirked. His breathing fluttered and his hands gripped both of his lightsabers. He was a Jar'kai user after all and would always be. Igniting the twin crimson blades the Massassai took up his battle stance. " Talk cheap. Action.. better" he muttered in broken basic. Glaring at [member="Gorteko Graye"] he smirked looking his apointed partner up and down. " You.. Weak." he chuckled some.

Stepping forward arrogantly Skaarj roared and spat at the creatures in front of him watching them react with a hostile shriek. " Haha.." he chuckled again tilting his head as his ears bled lightly from the vile sounds. Suddenly the Massassai dashed forward into a charge. Flourishing his lightsabers. He refused to wait for the fight to come to him. The more he fought the better. He arrogantly harrassed the creatures with his lightsabers taunting them and herding them about the temple. His movements were gridy and rough no where near graceful. At times he would be knocked over scrambling to get up. But he never let the creatures pin him down.

How long could the Pureblood keep this up?

[member="Darth Ragnarok"]

 

[Gorteko Graye]

Listening to his new masters words, however few they might be, excited the acolyte. 'The weak will die here? [member="Darth Ragnarok"] either believes us strong enough to survive, or wishes to use us as sacrifices to obtain more power for himself, not that it matters; this is not where I die.' As this thought concluded, the creatures descended upon them. Though he didn't have time to react to their arrival as the scream brought him to his knees, his hand covering his ears. 'The weak will die here? What if I'm not strong enough? I've never seen such monsters. But I can't die here, I can't.' The fear was setting in, the fear of failure, and ultimately, death.

As he raised his head and dropped his arms, he could see his fellow acolyte keeping the attention of the creatures. He had such confidence in himself, although it could be arrogance; either way, he was enough to distract them. Not enough however, for all of them, as at least one lost interest in [member="Skaarj"] and split from the group. The one that concerned Gorteko was the one heading directly towards him. The fear amplified within him, the creature charged; and in that moment, Gorteko was consumed. By his fear that is. His power amplified, and he lost control of his action, all that remained was his will to survive.

His failure to recover from the initial shock of this particular fight in a timely manner meant that he did not have ample enough time to draw either of his sabers. So whilst in in fit of primal instinct, when the creature attempted to smash his with it's weapon, he would draw himself closer to it in order to dodge the attack. Simultaneously he would be pulling back his arm so that he could deliver a punch aimed toward the center of the creature. As the punch connected Gorteko would discharge a force blast, which would be strong enough to push back his target by a couple of feet. This was due to the fact that in his current state, he couldn't hold back, he would be throwing everything he had into every attack. This also of course meant that the fight could not last long. The blast provided enough time for him to draw and activate his lightsaber in an upward slice. To follow that up his blasters would begin to fire randomly and rapidly, lighting his jacket on fire in the process. Though the blaster bolts hitting the beast, specifically the bolts that would hit the newly opened wound on the creature's chest would be enough to make it fall. While it might have died by this point, Gorteko would ensure it's death by putting his blade through it's head. His jacket would fall off his back, exposing the minor burns from the fire he created, and his blasters would float in front of him as he scanned for a new target, though by that time they could have all been takem care of by his comrades.

 

[Zef Halo]

The shockwaves from the Force Screaming sithspawn were even able to tear some of his leather that he wore until Ragnarok was finally able to maintain a force shield. The enemies utilized his defensive maneuvers against him as three of the vile creatures lunged forward at him. Rage engulfed the Sith knight as he felt surrounded, further strengthening his link with the dark side of the Force. A small 'dose' of Force wave was let loose from Darth Ragnarok. Yet, the wave was strong enough to stop the charging sithspawn for a moment and the Knight took it upon himself to use it as an opening. His axe came through the skull of the deformed creature splattering obnoxious dark liquid around.

The axe went too deep that even the large Valkyr had problems taking it out, he had no time to use the Force to aid him as a slash from one of the sithspawn's own makeshift weapon was coming straight to decapitate him. The Knight crouched and using the Force he unclipped the hidden lightsaber hilt from within his belt, the red saber activated mid air from the hilt as it dissected the attacker. Ragnarok, finally able to pull the axe, swung it to clash with another of the creature's melee weapons. The natural great physical strength of the large Valkyr along with enhancing his strength with the Force gave him enough power to knock the enemy's weapon and deliver a devastating strike at its chest.

Freeing himself from the sudden situation of no escape, Ragnarok saw the acolytes fighting for their lives. The Sith relishing the fight although also having a hard time with the mindless creatures, Gorteko seemed to improvise in his battle. The fear he emanated could be felt through the Force as it amplified his link with the dark side. The assassin droid on the other hand seemed to be doing surprisingly good utilizing its arsenal to a full extent. Ragnarok was about to hurl telekinetically his saber to help Skaarj's battle and then go to support Gorteko with his axe but it did not seem things would go their way.

More and more sithspawn flooded the halls and the Valkyr knew that this endless arrival of new enemies would eventually drain them but they would fight. All of the three seemed to be warriors and they'd give a good fight. Gorteko's movements accidentally made him step on a shifting tile on the corridor resulting an explosion somewhere down the hall. The explosion followed with a sound of rolling objects. Ragnarok focused his senses to see through the dark via the Force and what was coming here were a couple of large boulders rolling down the corridor and increasing their speed substantially. The sithspawn that seemed to be numbering twenty would be smashed but that would be the same result for the Sith Knight and the Sith Acolytes.

"Force Jump!" Ragnarok's voice boomed as the boulders were coming dangerously close. They were big enough to fill the whole corridor so their only chance was to jump high enough and reach their top or otherwise die from a boulder. Hopefully, the acolytes were strong enough to do this feat.


[member="Skaarj"] [member="Gorteko Graye"]