Episode V: Akala Strikes Back

[Nei Laa]

Location: Behelian Canyon

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

As the man stepped back from what she assumed was his water canteen, Nei dove forward and swiped it up. Scrabbling back out of arm's reach, she slid her visor up and used her teeth to open the container, dropping the lid on the ground. She peeked inside at the contents. It certainly looked like water, albeit very little, but that was alright -- just a sip or two would do for her vocal chords.

At least, she hoped.

Raising the container to her mouth she took one, two, three drinks, and no more. Then, she looked at the container in dilemma. With her other blaster still in hand, Nei would be hard-pressed to put the lid back on. And she didn't want to spill any more water than what she'd already drank -- Nei may be rude and distrustful, but she wasn't a monster. Kark it! she thought menacingly.

Holstering her second weapon, the Nautolan quickly dropped down, picked up the lid, and screwed it back in. Then, her eyes once again fixated on the human, she reached for her blaster and pulled it out again. "Who be you?" she growled. Her voice was still raspy, but it sounded a heck of a lot better than before.

 

[Tobias Gaeson]

Tobias blinked himself awake, he was wet. He opened his eyes and saw red water... no blood... everywhere. The taste was in the air, the smell invaded his nose. He tried to figure out what was going on, there was pools of blood everywhere, denizens wandering and shirking at nothing. The entire place was disturbing. His mind flashed back to his time as a captive, the torture and pain, the memories flooding back to the forefront of his mind.

He stumbled, his mind unsure if it was from the memories or the uneven ground. In the distance he saw something that looked like another being. He had no idea what to expect, but he needed to leave this place before his memories overwhelmed him.

 

[Slot 16]

Keturah didn't like this at all. This woman in the boat that [member="Razer Sin"] had brought her to seemed too secretive. And creepy. But if she could really take the girl home.... But what about Uncle Razer? She didn't want to just leave knowing that he was still here! What if he never came back?? She remembered what it had been like for her father and herself when Razer had actually been dead for a time. It was absolutely horrible. She didn't want to live through the days of depressing silence that would've been filled with her Uncle's sarcastic humor and cheery conversations.​

​

"I'm not going anywhere without you, Uncle Razer. If you're gong to stay, then so will I."​

​

Her amber-gold eyes stared up at him bravely and stubbornly. She wouldn't be convinced otherwise.​

 

[Brooke Waters]

Location: Serenity's Redoubt
Posse: [member="Besk"], [member="Falcon Gyndar"], [member="Marrik Aloxum"], [member="Seamus Valik"]
Gear: Gun, Saber, not naked.

She kept looking about. It was hard for her to focus. What if she found a door and this was where she was supposed to be? But... it didn't feel right. She felt that if she was supposed to go somewhere else, the blonde would feel... ready? But she wasn't. There was so much to do in life! With Sindy, with the Force, with her friends.

Sure, maybe a lot of that was nights she wouldn't remember, but... things were good! She wasn't at rest, not at all. But the others were running about. And she nodded to Falcon. “Yeah, lets go!” She wanted to catch up, no need to be left behind.

But where were they going? She picked up the pace to keep up.

And without the Force, it was a bit trickier than she expected. Silly Matukai training.

 

[Darth Veles]

Location: Ruined city​

There were other being around. Dead like him. Some tried to fight for reasons that were pointless here. Some died, only to be reanimated elsewhere. Did they even know they have died? Frowning, the Mon Calamari scoured the masses with his large amber orbs, hoping to see, or rather not, a familiar face among the crowd. Luckily, he recognized nobody, just as none of the faces recognized him, their expressions usually showing a mixture of fear, confusion, anger. Those who realized they had died in the world of the living reacted differently as well; a young woman in a Republic uniform silently cried while and old man simply stared into the river, probably thinking of what could have been. While Avreet belonged among them, he did not want to be there; he had to find a way out. A rift between two worlds, just like the last one. He knew it existed. Perhaps he’d be able to resist the effect… or perhaps the dead would be denied entry from the world of spirits. Whatever the case, he had to get out, so the Mon Cal started pushing through the souls. He had to see what lied behind them!

After he finally swam through what seemed like a sea of souls, he spotted it. A city… yet ruined, obviously dead. The damaged buildings let him know this wasn’t a nice place. As Avreet started pacing forwards the outskirts of this once-proud and mighty civilization, leaving the river and its shore dotted with hundreds of souls behind, he noted more dead – or were those the living? – moving towards the city just as him. Should he stop them in their tracks, ask them for directions? Somehow, the recently deceased Mon Calamari knew all those people were lost just as much as him, whether they were alive or dead. His pace sped up, long and powerful strides carrying him towards the ruins. It wasn’t long until he noticed the plants. He paid no attention to those at first; after all, who would pay any attention to random plants on the way when he was in purgatory. Only after a weird combination of a plant and a being rose up from the ground, swiftly moving towards him, the amphibian ignited his crimson blade and raised the weapon to point at the incoming zombie-like creature. It impaled itself on the burning hot plasma beam. One simple upwards flick of his wrist and the creature got vertically cut, almost in two.

Watching it fall, the Sith Lord extinguished his blade, clipped the hilt back to the belt and moved deeper into the city, noting everything was covered in those weird plants. He would have studied those if not for the more pressing matter of finding another rift, or… something! Someone? As he passed more ruins, he heard the sound of battle. Blasters, lightsabers. Perhaps he’d be lucky and find one of his Phoenix allies? Although he hoped to not see the pregnant Lady Kotass in here, she’d certainly be a welcomed sight for his sore eyes. Unfortunately, those people were not known to him as he looked into their faces when another zombie-plant fell by their weapons. Before he could give them a proper greeting though, the woman grabbed her companion's hand and they flew up, over the zombies. What Avreet wouldn't give for a pair of rocket boots or a jetpack right now!

If he had the Force on his side, he would have cleaved his way through the beasts. Without it though, he'd remain on the defence, more than capable of slaying any zombie that came close. He wasn't a master of Makashi for nothing! The overwhelming numbers meant little to him; he was already dead. What truly mattered was following the two. Given the flying man had a nice view, they might just know the exit from this hellhole. Instead of running through the horde, the amphibious assassin broke into a sprint as he ran around the block of buildings, occasionally taking a glance up to see the duo pass over in the sky. He followed them as best as he could, passing through dead alleyways and streets, leaving the zombies behind and cutting those in his way. Given his perfect body, he found sprinting over long distances quite trivial. Could a spirit even get tired?

[member="Ciara Jevnaker"] [member="Miles Varden"] [member="Corrin Tal'verda"]

 

[Bubák]

Blood wastes, moving towards the Oasis​

Guiding a blind person definitely slowed the progress of the entire group. Elizie was worried the Sith’d leave one of his kind behind at first, but once this nameless soldier [member="Apoc"] went to guard her and the Acolyte’s backs, she nodded a silent thanks to the blaster-wielding man. Whatever side he fought for, she was grateful for the bravery he displayed by staying as the last, only to protect a Jedi and a blind Sith. Her head swiftly turned in the direction of the Miraluka next to her; the blind Acolyte that needed her help. When the young woman asked the question, Elizie first tossed a glance towards the others before her gaze returned to the young Sith. It was a tale similar to Elizie’s; being in a completely different place before this happened, everyone appeared here for some reason. Since the Miraluka could not see anything, the Padawan chose to answer the question for her. While not providing the girl with an answer, the Arkanian at least told her of the world around.

“We are in a place with lots of blood, Acolyte. Red vapours. Green light. It is unlike anything I have ever seen before,” she stated, looking around, then focusing on the way again, still holding the Sith’s hand firmly, “But we are making our way towards another place. It might be safer in there.” Or so she hoped. The Arkanian'smilky white eyes scanned their surroundings again. Without the Force guiding her and telling her of all danger, she found herself on edge.


[member="Ailyn Cyar'ika"] [member="Darth Metus"] [member="Shuduc Macar"] [member="Silas Mantis"] [member="Solan Charr"] [member="Aeizori-Mei Kaeirosae"] [member="The Onyx"] [member="Vassara Raxis"] [member="Uri Aureleos"]

 

[Faye Terrik]

Locale: The Blood Wastes
Associates: [member="Equa Dominator"]
Gear: Not Equa's stuff.

---

Whether or not she liked it, she'd have to put faith into this man's constitution. He was holding up well enough, and if he was supposedly unarmed, she'd be able to eliminate him with ease. "You know," Faye said, turning to look at the horizon, where there was no immediate end in sight of the bubbling blood, "There are cults in the Outer Rim that spoke of their Gods returning and bringing forth this sort of apocalypse." The teenager had a few opportunities to speak with members of the Primeval, and learn vaguely of their beliefs. She never took them for truth, though. "Certainly, I wouldn't succumb to such an assumption, but it draws some similarities."

The girl turned and looked back to the man, who she was still uncertain of his Allegiances or even his name. Her thumb tucked under her belt, and she idly rested her fingers on the hilt of her lightsaber. She had no intent to use it, but wished for the man to make it known she was in possession, if he lost his cool.

"You have quite the control over your mind," she gestured to two freshly deceased persons on the ground, outliers compared to the bones and skeletons that were scattered about. "I woke up here, wherever here is. I don't know if I came through that portal...rift thing, you did. But others have." Faye moved some of the hair out of her face and made eye contact with the man once more, "Their Psyches were altered by the trip. They concerned themselves with killing more than surviving. I'm sure you have similar feelings."

Faye shrugged, she didn't have a lot more to say. "What's your story then? Where's that portal lead?"

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Location: Garden of Thorns
[member="Mrrew"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Shane Williams"] | [member="Gareth Yalthik"]

This would take some time. With each placement of her foot slow and deliberate she met with obstacles of large razor sharp thorns. She twisted her body to move around them, yet she still experience cuts no matter how careful she had been. As if the thickets moved and neared to her, trying to prevent her progress.

She is tiring as she cannot use the force to strength her limbs but fortitude will win and she will not give up until they have exhausted all avenues to find a way out. Coci can their voice down below, but her eyes look upward for the next hold to climb. Her hands nicked on the briers bleed and her grip becomes hard to secure. She wipes the blood on her clothes to remove the wetness, before reaching up and taking hold a thick piece of vine and she winches with new pain.

Eventually, she nears the top, a stream of light she can see coming down through the canopy tops which gives her heart as she push on. Again the thickets surround her, and she finds her in a natural gibbet. If her eyes are playing tricks or the illusion of this place has set attention on her, the thorns are slowly coming in to pierce her. Coci ignites her saber, and slashes out against the sharp thorns, cutting away until free of the threat. She plunges the blue blade upward and creates an opening to what appears to be the night sky.

Standing on a thick vine she pushes out and up and immediately like a breath of fresh air her lungs fill and her mind clears as if a misty veil has been removed. Looking around she see that garden of thorns is not never ending, it is not that large a place and beyond the edge there appears to be darkening plains, what lays in those she cannot tell. Her blacks strain to see, but can only receive shadows of movement, nothing firm or fixed but shifting.

“I can see the edge of this forest!”, she yelled down to them. “We have a chance this place is not big”, but still they needed to negotiate the thorns and they needed something to give them a constant direction, a straight direction. As she look around, she looked up and into the face of the moon. Its light beaming down white and clear.

“Can you see the Moon?, can you see the light of the moon?”, yelling once more. If they could, the group would be able to use is trajectory, it path across the night sky to move forward and straight.

 

[Neyana]

Location: Whisperstorm
Objective: Where is she.


The screams and wails were getting to her and she couldn't get them out of her head. Something was truly off in this world. Nicole continued to run off in a random direction, trying to find any place where these voices would disappear and such. One thing is for sure, she'll probably go Deaf if she remains here. Eventually, she tires herself out and falls down onto the ground.

She would not see anyone near where she currently fell at.

 

[Zenva Vrotoa]

Location: Behelian Canyon
With: [member="Sage Bane"] [member="Sayl Bane"] [member="The Cartographer"]

How bazaar, a Sith hugging someone. Zenva kept moving forward, watching the pair ahead of her carefully. The female was given a brief, almost dismissive, examination. A few inches shorter than herself before factoring in the two inch heels of Zenva's boots. Human or near enough, and seemingly unarmed. Not someone she recognized, unimportant.

The acolyte, and Zenva knew the he was for she had warn robes much the same when she was young, was a man of middle build. Young, almost athletic with a mop of brown hair. Wait, "Baby Bane?"

A dozen thoughts raced through Zenva's mind in that moment of realisation. He looked great in black. He looked strong, more confident. He still had the nervous, darting gaze of a drug addict but he looked in control of himself. Then she remembered something important. That no good glit-biter stood me up! Anger rushed in to fill Zenva's thoughts, but she didn't let it show in her expression. Her voice dripped with sweetness as she moved up to the young man, "Baby Bane! How are you, oh what was it, pateesa?"

She stepped up to the man, her arms out as though to embrace him. Her fingers locked down on his shoulders like hydraulic clamps, "Bane you..." Zenva's forehead snapped forward, intended to smash his nose like an over ripe fruit. She didn't wait for him to recover or react, following her headbutt with a right cross to the jaw. She shoved the poor man away, roaring in anger, "worthless chit-sucking worm! Where the kark were you! Do you know how foolish I looked because of you! All dressed up for you, outside that damned restaurant waiting on you! I should kill you, you little chit!"

Zenva spun on the young woman with Sage, hatred and rage clear on the Zabrak's face, "Do yourself a favor. Develope a better taste in men."

She turned back on Sage, spitting at his feet. "Got anything you feel like saying for yourself, pateesa." The term of endearment was ripe with sarcasm.

 

[Tefka]

EVENT

The Rift of Lies Opens

Netherworld Location: Valley of Lies
Galaxy Location: Nar Shaddaa

Akala stood within the Valley of Lies, facing the southern side. She stared silently at the wall of rock before her, opening the palms of her hands as her white silky dress waved in the wind elegantly behind her.

She rubbed her hands together, her purple and blue hue eyes staring at the wall.

"Maybe..."

She spoke.

"This time?"

She rose her hands to the wall and a great gust of energy flowed forth, pouring from the wall in an explosive blast.

A face began to form from the jagged rocks, demonic in appearance. It's huge maw opened wide as if to swallow Akala whole. Through the mouth, one could see the streets of Nar Shaddaa.

Akala would look around her to see if anyone saw her at work, then back to the gaping demon's head in the granite.

"Interesting..." She seemed intrigued, but overall disappointed.

In a blink of electrical energy, Akala disappeared.

A new rift had opened.

OOC

This is a rift in the Valley of Lies.

If you walk through the mouth of the Demon's Head in the rocks, you will enter the streets of Nar Shaddaa.



FORCED CONDITIONAL UPON EXITING THE RIFT
(Your character experiences this as a side-effect)

Once you pass through the Rift, you are no longer capable of telling the truth.

 

[The End Narrator]

The Field of Blades​

Traversing across territory that was unknown and that seemed endless - was exhausting enough - dragging along individuals who were three times your size, even more so. Alyesa pulled the rope carrying [member="Kezeroth the Malevolent"] along with @Serraphina Shel'tah. She had hoped that both [member="Rael sul B'an"] and [member="Nefertari Sovint"] had kept up - it was sort've hard to miss the massive divit they left in the ground from the shield that they carried the Gen'dai on. Alyesa would drop the rope as they came to the field itself - her eyes went wide as she stared at the obstacles between them and wherever they were heading.

Everything ached, everything was sore - what she wouldn't do for some stimcaf or even water right about now? She dropped to her knees and sighed heavily - she missed her daughter - desperately. Calyth's father died shortly after they were engaged, sometime after the fall of Kashyyyk - she couldn't remember exactly. Her memory seemed to be fuzzy with everything going on. She was to introduce him to her family, the Organa family was excited to meet him as it were but then things changed and everything fell apart. His death struck the King on Thustra hard and in turn the noble house seemed to crumble without a successor - being ruled under a Regant Lord. However, it did have a successor - her daughter, Calyth. A child who was heir apparent to two worlds. Amazing wasn't it? But that child hadn't been able to experience the life of nobility, no, she lived under constant threat and fear.

Stashed away on the facilities on Corellia - where she'd be safe. Now, who really knew if the Princess of Thustra - Daughter of Alderaan, House of Organa was even alive.

 

[The Cartographer]

As Bael continued around the corner, he stopped short. Alright, now he knew he was hallucinating. Might be from loss of blood. Or over-exposure to sunlight. Or from being alone for such a long period of time.​

​

Why was he reacting this way? Because in the distance, he was certain he could see his boyfriend [member="Sage Bane"]. He knew that man, even from this far away. Illusion or no Bael began advancing toward the figures ahead. Someone was better than no one, after all...​

​

[member="Sayl Bane"]​

[member="Mistress Malkite"]​

[member="Zenva Vrotoa"]​

 

[Shuduc Macar]

Blood Wastes
Allies: [member="Ailyn Cyar'ika"] [member="Vassara Raxis"] [member="Darth Metus"] [member="Elizie Adasca"] [member="Silas Mantis"] [member="Solan Charr"] @Raven Hiyashi [member="Aeizori-Mei Kaeirosae"] [member="The Onyx"] [member="Apoc"]

As she followed the women she kept mostly silent her mind listening and following the conversation but mostly having little to add. Partly her own anger and frustration making it hard to decide how best to respond. So they were in a hell alright but one she could not see. Her ears slowly began to sharpen up as she had to deal with the lack of two senses. Her body now responded by listening to every sound from the crush of feet on gravel like materials to the bubbling of the blood pits. She slowly became much more easier to guide as she learned to listen for queues in her own foot steps and others. This wasint perfect but it was better than it was minutes ago. “Safe is not what we need what we need is a way back.” She finally spoke.

 

[Miles Varden]

Location: Ruined City of Hr'Tal
[member="Ciara Jevnaker"] [member="Corrin Tal'verda"] [member="Darth Veles"]

Moving through the air with Ciara latched onto his arm, he fired shots at the trailing creatures. Then, his HUD picked up more movement to the West. He looked and saw a Sith racing down an alley in Miles' direction. How quaint, to have another FU to deal with. This one though, seemed less like Ciara or himself, it appeared as though he was actually dead. Sure they were in a spectral state but he was straight Patrick Swayze.

"We've got a visitor. I'll land on the second floor of the building, there's a broken window."

Miles set Ciara down before landing himself. Bring his rifle up, he fired upon those beasts in front of the Sith to clear a path. Maybe a Sith was a good thing to have when in hell. Who knew this junk better than they?

"Get ready for anything. There may be more in here too. Check the door there for any of them. We'll need to move." He said pointing to the opposite wall.

 

[Shane Williams]

Location: Garden of Thorns
[member="Mrrew"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Gareth Yalthik"] | [member="Coci Sinopi"]

“Yeah barely but I can see the moonlight. If we intend to use that as a compass we better hurry then. I still say hacking through works better but fine get down from there! I don’t want to stay any longer than we must. “ He kept his eyes open for trouble. This place looked like trouble all over and it had not yet proven him wrong. As he hafts his blaster rifle he looked to the others. “Alright when everyone’s ready lets move out.” As he watched the thorns branch out and change position he tried to think of how to maybe evade them or keep them from making those damn dead ends.

 

[Nyos Val]

Location: Serenity's Redoubt
[member="Besk"], [member="Falcon Gyndar"], [member="Seamus Valik"] [member="Token Waters"]


Marrik reached the top, pulling himself to the ledge where the Pyre stood. The brilliant blue flame didn't put off any heat. It was strange, and cleansing in a way.

"I don't know what this is." He called to the others. "It's weird, there's no heat. I can almost put my hand right into." Marrik's hand was inches away from the fire. He longed to touch it, it had a certain draw to it.


There was a calling to it, like it wanted to burn, but it had nothing to do so. The stand it was on didn't offer a chance to burn, yet it did.

 

[Nyos Val]

Field of Blades


Nyos rose from his seizure to find the field of endless combat, just the same, endless. He wandered the place in search of those he saw before, or thought he saw. In the pale green light, the cyborg parried any who attacked him, he wasn't here to fight. He was here because some unholy thing had snatched him from his life and dropped him in the forsaken place. He felt the urge to fight but it wasn't strong, just as subtle as the lighting.

"What in the hell is this place?" He said to no one. Hoping there'd be an answer from some ungodly being or something. "How the hell am I supposed to get back home?"

[member="Akala"]

 

[Keter]

-Oasis-
[member="Feena Mason"]

"Of course my love," the blond said. "Let us be off!" Keter said, walking off with his wife in hand. Sooner or later they would find their way out of this place. He knew.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Location: On the River Bank, on the side of the Field Of Blades

Nothing but illusions – no signal in the Force and no reply to his shout. The movement was too far ahead to warrant it being confirmed what they were. Shaking his head, Connor scoffed and turned back to the river bank. It was time to cross the river, and where the river was now narrow as it gently flowed past the large canyon deep in the ground, Connor stepped back.

He closed his eyes and breathed gently. It would take a Force enhanced jump to clear the river without falling in. Easy.

Connor glanced over his shoulder at the eerie glowing red swap in the distance; it looked like the surface of Mustafar had erupted from the surface, which couldn’t be a good thing.

Counting down, he hit his stride and ran, right boot on the edge of the bank and he jumped, emitting a Force blast to catapult him higher – nothing happened. As soon as he hit his natural peak, he came down the edge of the bank, and towards the water.

His waist slammed into the rocky bank and his lower half sank into the misty water, and Connor cried out in pain – it burned, and it hurt like a thousand needles piercing the skin. Feeling a numbness crawl up his body, he started to panic and claw at the rock bank to pull himself up.

”AGHHHHHCOMEON!”

Staggering his breathing, Connor felt nothing from the Force; no healing, no resistance, nothing – he had lost his ability.

Throwing his body up onto the bank, his legs barley made it out of the river as he collapsed on his back, his lower half simply wet and slightly steaming from the heat. His body rocked gently, his face contorted with pain and his hands digging into the rock.

There was no visible damage, but the sensation that his muscles were simply dead wasn’t good. It hurt, and it reduced him to an exhausted wreck, arching his back to fight the pain and finding it difficult to pinpoint a purpose to keep on living.

Above him, the wind carried the countless wails and moans that were lost in his own that came from his soul.