Dominion Fortunate Son | Sith Order Dominion of Mijos & Kirtarkin

[Eira Dyn]

Location: Mijos
Attire: Casual
Equipment: Vibrosword, daggers, blaster pistol
Tag: Aerik Lechner

While Eira realised that there was miscommunication from them on either end, she had not found Aerik's plan initially informative enough so she had misunderstood several elements, there was unfortunately no time for them to clarify and go over that specific issue. The dynamic of their exam was changing greatly. There was a new focus for them both to work on and Eira was right behind Aerik as he moved forward, towards the Jedi. This was something that Eira was all for, killing Jedi was something she took great pleasure in when idly thinking about it.

Climbing the tree, Eira was not as athletic as Aerik in climbing, she was a bit slower in the climb but made it near to where he was. Thankfully, she had been able to use the Force to help with her jumping and balance when climbing. Pulling out two daggers that she always kept on her body, hidden in some fashion, Eira peered through the darkness and found the two Jedi that Aerik had also located. She looked over to the other acolyte, and raised an eyebrow when he mentioned that he could shift.

A secret transformation. Explained a lot about the secretive nature of his plan, he had been hoping to keep some secrets while securing their victory. Understandable from Eira's viewpoint, she would have done the same. "Well, your early plan makes more sense now. Might need to work on finding a way to keep your abilities secret while revealing a plan that utilises them." Eira mentioned.

"Well, do you think your wolf demon self can handle a Jedi with a Lightsaber?" Eira asked, they were likely unable to fight together unless they took down one Jedi from the jump. Eira figured the wolf demon would be strong and vicious, but she feared a single skilled strike from a Jedi with a Lightsaber could take Aerik out of the fight. At least, with no understanding of what the transformation entailed, Eira assumed he would struggle to combat a Lightsaber.

 

[Irina Jesart]

Irina's mouth had gone dry, her heart hammering in her chest as Rivan hurriedly talked her through a very bad plan. Neither of them were armed with something powerful enough to resist a lightsaber, and while they each had their strengths in the force, she did not fancy their chances. If they'd had a sword between them then maybe the circumstances would be different.

She swallowed and nodded his last words, snapping her gaze from the forest and the approaching Jedi to his face a look of confusion and maybe even the hint of hurt. Abandon him? It would have been the smart thing to do…but it was also the cowardly thing to do. She had said it from the beginning, they were a team and a good team didn't fall apart at the first sign of danger.

"I won't." she whispered as he hopped down to the jungle floor. She had seconds, not minutes to think of a plan. There were no rocks up here, but there were plenty of branches. Snapping branches was noisy. her gaze snapped back to the ground at the hiss of a lightsaber. She was going to need more than a branch.

Her hand reached for the base of an adjacent tree, and she closed her eyes, opening herself to all her grief, everything she had kept bottled up in the last week, every ounce of rage that had filled her. The wood groaned and cracked, the tree snapped away from its base, and began to fall towards the lurching Jedi. Irina leapt for the falling trunk, using the force to push it faster and harder onto the Jedi.

She would either be crushed, or forced to change her trajectory away from Rivan. She just hoped he was aware enough to clear himself of any wayward branches.

 

[Soldane Talon]

The tree cracked and broke in a blink, and the Jedi's charge forward was intercepted at the last second by a great log. Whether they were simply too focused on Soldane, or they thought themselves faster, the tree slammed into them at an angle and sent them reeling. Unfortunately, Soldane had put far too much weight into the log strike he had hoped might save him - and before it could connect, the log hit him as well, throwing him off the base of the tree he had found sanctuary on.​

​

He wasn't sure, but he was convinced he was knocked out for a few seconds as he flew down the levels of roots, banging against this wood and that outcropping. Small bases of broken branches stabbed into him and tore his skin, only made worse as he fell into the muck of the ground below. For a second, he almost inhaled the mud - but coughed it out as he desperately moved to stand. His arms were weak, and he could tell his collar bone was broken - but he remembered clearly the Jedi had taken that hit as much as he did.​

​

As he did during the raid, he allowed the pain to course through him like energy, letting it fuel his Dark Side powers to stand once more. It was a temporary solution, they would need to be saved if he were to come out of this alright, but for now it was just be another tally on the book of scars he had been collecting. When he stood, one arm fell from its socket and hung loose next to him, and in spite of his powerful pleas - it moved sluggishly and with great effort.​

​

It would not serve him in the battle to come.​

​

As he tried to catch his breath, he ripped a dry vine from next to him, and with skill bound his arm to his chest with a few tosses around himself. It was not a good sling, but it would stop it from getting worse. A knot later, and he was crawling back up the roots to look for the Jedi, and Irina Jesart . He was sure that even just a log falling would not have killed the Knight, so they had to figure something else out. Quickly.​

​

It took a moment for him to realize his vision was staining with blood. It seemed that a wound had opened on his head, and his thoughts were swimming more than he hoped. Another thing that would make this all the harder, but he would persist regardless. He had to, for his sister Lunaria Talon , his mother Srina Talon , and his haru Darth Carnifex .​

​

When he got to a good spot to look out, he couldn't see the Jedi, but he did see the soft glint of metal shining in the muck near them. He quickly called out, pointing towards it -​

​

"Irina, there!", he yelled, forcing both their attention to the saber hilt. As both of their eyes fell on it, the sudden sound of mud sucking told them it was being pulled by the Force towards the Jedi who now crested a far root. They were just as battered as Soldane, but their anger was clear and unbridled. They used the Force to rip that lightsaber towards them, ready to make it the tool that would end both of the children's lives.​

​

By instinct, Soldane used the Force to stop the pull - holding it for a brief moment in complete stillness in the air, as it shook between the two metaphysical forces. He held it there for a long second, before the Jedi began to make ground on him. In spite of the pain that fueled him, he was too young, too untrained, too hurt to hold his own in a battle of Telekinesis.​

​

But he did his best.​

​

He groaned and ripped at it, and once more the hilt froze in the air, shaking more and more as the two forces tried to claim it. The Jedi spat some venom at them, but between the broken teeth, the bitten tongue, and the blood coming from their mouth - the words were unintelligble. Soldane didn't know what they were trying to say to him, he wasn't even sure if he cared - all he knew, is if this went on any longer, he'd lose.​

​

"Irina!", he called out. He wasn't sure what he wanted her to do, but he wanted her to tip the scales. He couldn't even think right now, as every portion of his focus fell on holding that lightsaber hilt out of the Jedi's grasp.​

 

[Aerik Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Soldane Talon | Eira Dyn

Aerik should have been more up front and trusting of his partner, but he did not know them. He supposed everyone would know what he was sooner than later, and there was no reason to keep it a secret. The priests that tested his blood knew he was not human. Justrand’s Head Master knew, the proctors, all of them knew. It was not getting him any favors. In fact, the pup was certain he was being placed lower because of it. His relation to the Dark Council was ensuring he would have to earn his place in a way unlike the others.

“You aren’t the first to tell me I need to keep it a secret. Though that is going to be a hard secret to keep for too long.”

He shrugged. It was one thing when his skills were just that. He had changed now, and not changing every few days would make him go insane. At least that was his understanding. It meant he snuck off to the maze more often than what he used to. Aerik could not risk changing in a room full of other students. They would be at as much risk as he would be, save his brother and sister at least.

His partner wanted to know what he could do against a Jedi with a lightsaber, and in their case, it seemed there were two of them.

“I uh… need to change, and umm… you’ll need to collect my clothes.”

Aerik climbed back down the tree. The change would not be as quick as what his father would be able to do. There was more practice before the pup would be able to transform with some sense of urgency and ease. Finding some dense foliage, Aerik began his transformation.

Muscles twitch beneath his skin, as a deep, unsettling ache spreads across his bones. Aerik’s spine elongated with a violent crack as his joints began to bulge and stretch as if breaking and reforming. A sharp pain lances through his body as their vision sharpens. The once familiar, human features of his face contort and twist; skin shifts and fur erupts across their body, smoke rising as though it were on fire.

A howl echoes in the forest as the pup leaves his clothing behind in the dense forest. The scent of the Jedi fills his nostrils as the hunted acolytes become the hunters. His mind reaches out to the girl.

<< “Flank them.” >>

Stalking his prey, Aerik moved close to them. He leaped, taking one of the Jedi by surprise. Had the force user not been able to react quicker the light sider would have been dead in one movement. Instead, both Jedi had their sabers active and trained on the beast. Aerik had to be careful, and hope his partner could hide their aura enough to sneak up on one of them at least. Her movement had the potential to give Aerik the opening he needed to make the kill.

 

[Eira Dyn]

Location: Mijos
Attire: Casual
Equipment: Vibrosword, daggers, blaster pistol
Tag: Aerik Lechner | Soldane Talon

Eira initially didn't like the idea of being ordered around and made to pick up the kid's clothes. She was better than some sidekick being bossed around and made to collect after someone else. Before the words of indignation could leave her mouth, realisation hit her. This was a kid who could not remain in his clothing and needed her to carry them in case they went chasing more Jedi. Better for her to keep them on her person than dumping some place and having to backtrack to where they were dumped.

Understanding this, she nodded her head, holding her tongue. She was not thrilled with the idea but she found some logic with it. When he disappeared to transform, the noises that came from where he was were loud and painful. It seemed that the transformation was not a process that was easy nor was it one that was stealthy realistically.

Hearing the telepathic messaging from Aerik, Eira moved in the trees, using her training she stealthily shifted forward and leaped towards another tree that flanked the Jedi before. She was using the woods to her advantage and maintaining a higher grounding over her enemies. Spotting the targets, she pulled out her daggers, holding one in each hand. Eira knew that her sword would be more useful for a instant killing blow but she doubted that she would get one on these Jedi. Instead it was better for her to get two deadly but liveable hits in.

When she saw Aerik make his move, Eira smirked and leaped down. Daggers stabbed into the back of one Jedi as she landed on top of them. Pulling her daggers out, she sheathed them as she jumped backwards. Using the Force, she pulled her sword out and held it in her dominate left hand. Twirling it as she breathed in deeply. Time to see if she could kill a Jedi.

 

[Irina Jesart]

The noise of the small explosion of splintering wood would no doubt be heard by others nearby, assuming the Jedi had not gotten to them already. Irina covered her face as slithers embedded themselves wherever they could, the impact of the tree in the mud threatening to dislodge her as her hand snapped around one of the branches to steady herself.

There was an eerie silence that followed the chaos, like a calm before a storm that left her feeling uneasy. “Rivan?” she called quietly, as she rose slowly to stand upright on the freshly felled tree, wondering for a moment if she had accidentally killed him in the process of trying to save him. Would be just her luck after all. She hopped neatly to the roots he’d been standing on, a spasm of pain running through her leg. Eyes dropped looked down to find a large splinter of wood embedded deep in her thigh, the fabric around it slowly darkening with blood.

For a moment she simply stared at it as her mind ran through a dozen possibilities of how her day was going to end. None of them were good. Movement beneath her drew her eyes, and she sighed with relief at the sight of Rivan climbing back up, though he looked a little worse for wear, at least her chances of survival were a little higher. The sight of him seemed to jolt some action within her as she tore the sleeve of her shirt free, tying it above the splinter to try and stem the flow of blood, blinking against the lightheadedness.

His shout seemed distant, her body and mind slow to react as she simply watched the telekinetic battle that unfolded before her, leaning against the trunk the sound of her heartbeat loud in her ears.

Move, Irina. She thought to herself, pushing off the trunk as Rivan called her name again she reached out in force once more, snatching every splintered branch she could find in the force allowing her pain to fill her once more, clearing the fog from her mind as she staggered up beside him, the maelstrom of branches swirling around them before she launched all of them at the Jedi with a scream.

Soldane Talon

 

[Soldane Talon]

His grip was slipping, but pain kept his strength sharp. The lightsaber was struggling, but it was moving towards the Jedi - and in a few seconds, they would have more than a metaphysical grip on it. Then, there would be no more of Soldane to be left to experience things. The thought of death once again passed through his mind, filling it with fear - but the fear fell into an emotional rythmn with everything else he felt, and it kept him fighting for the graceful second he required.​

​

Irina Jesart let the branches explode outwards towards the Jedi. She growled and let go of the lightsaber as a few of the sharper pieces of wood shredded her robes. It was hard to tell if any hit her as she dove into the foliage - suddenly making no noise, but their senses both telling them she was still around. The lightsaber Soldane had held on to for dear life ripped through the air into his hand with a painful thwack. It was like catching a baseball thrown far to fast with your bare hand.​

​

He seethed at the pain, but let the lightsaber ignite with a flick of his thumb. It bathed them both in a blue glow that seemed to shutter in Soldan'es hand - like it knew it wasn't supposed to be with him. The hum of it as he turned to watch the canopy and their surroundings gave him some confidence, but that Jedi was still a knight - and they were two injured kids.​

​

"Its your turn for a plan...", he said with a frown, holding the blade infront of him ready for someone to leap out.​

 

[Irina Jesart]

For a moment, with the pair bathed under the soft blue glow of the lightsaber, Irina forgot everything about the danger they were in. Students at Jutrand did not get lightsabers and all of her training before the academy had been with a sword. She couldn't help but marvel at it, watching the rain hiss into steam before touching the blade. It was as beautiful as it was deadly, and it was theirs to use.

Her dark gaze slid from the blade to Rivan's face as the weight of their situation came back to lay on her shoulders. A sweep over him taking in his injuries and then her own. They couldn't run, and they certainly couldn't hide anymore. She scanned the foliage that the Jedi had disappeared into, extending a hand to pull a more robust branch into her hand, testing its weight before she looked at Rivan again.

"Every minute she has without us pursuing her is a minute she can gather strength against us. So we do what we set out to do. We hunt. Only now we're hunting a Jedi. We track her, get in close, and don't stop until she's down or dead." She nodded to the lightsaber. "We have the upper hand, so let's use it." Once again, small splinters of wood began to collect in the air around them at Irina's telepathic command. She might not have been able to hide her presence nor be a master strategist or have ever spent so long in the rain before, let alone climbed a tree, but this? This she could do. This was second nature.

With a wave of her hand they shot forward into the foliage in an attempt to flush the Jedi out.

Soldane Talon

 

[Soldane Talon]

Somewhere deep, a primal urge to find a different plan drove itself deep into Soldane's thoughts. The injuries, the fear, the knowledge that they were outmatched all kept repeating in his mind - but when he went to protest, something deeper tried to urge him onwards. A dark whisper he had heard first in his training with Darth Carnifex - The Beast. It was a personification of the Dark Side, it's underlying urges to act out at your every impulse. It was what Sith had become known for - hedonism, lunacy, violence. It was every dark aspect of their religion and philosophy, but it was one that hurt them as much as helped.​

​

It was a deeply rooted sensation that guided the Spirit more than the body, but it was through that corruption of Spirit one found themselves lost to the more subtle dangers of the Dark Side. His training with his Haru held both views, that he should both use the Beast - but never rely on it, and never let it control him. The Beast was an insidious thing, prone to changing one's ambitions, values, and beliefs - but its power was instrumental to a Sith Lord. Soldane had come to understand that it was his dark advisor, a grey eminence forever trying to twist the politics of his mind in its favor.​

​

He would just need to outsmart it, out will it. Be stronger than what gave him strength.​

​

But for now, when every part of his body wanted to collapse and let him rest - he would let it find purchase in his muscles, his fury, and his soon to be violence. He grunted as he let the Dark Side empower him, driving him to follow Irina Jesart where he would normally have demanded they slowed or stopped. He understood well enough that while he hoped for a better plan, he wasn't exactly aware of any possible alternatives. Sometimes wishing for something didn't make it happen - and now was one of those times.​

​

So he lurched and lept, bounded from tree to tree as they moved to follow the Jedi. It was subtle, but Soldane could smell blood in the air through the amplified senses the Beast had given him. He offered this to Irina, unsure just how refined her ability to amplify herself in totality was;​

​

"We're close. If she's already met up with another Jedi, we're going to be in trouble.", he said with notable concern, but it fell away as they pushed onwards. The Jedi was nearing, that was true, but between the smell of blood and their own auras - Soldane couldn't tell if there were more than one they were closing in on.​

​

It was their breach through a final vine wall that gave them an understanding of their position. In the opening before them were infact, two Jedi. The one they had hunted was visibly wounded, dripping blood from her arm and leg, but the other was a man much taller and who's features were yet unmaimed by violence. Soldane wasn't sure if that was because he had already killed his targets with little issue, or he was always meant to serve as reinforcements.​

​

The Man looked to them both as they entered, and what could only be described as a sickening grin of compassion overcame his features. There was this falsity to his expression, that somehow in his overt efforts to be welcoming, there was something deeper inside that told them the truth. It was an instinctual thing, to know in one's very body that what they faced was not what it seemed.​

​

"Children.", he intoned with a placid apathy.​

​

"It is good you came to me - I would not have enjoyed chasing you down. There are far too many children we need to hunt today, and you must be dealt with quickly."​

​

He seemed to pause on Irina, then looked towards Soldane with a sweeping glance.​

​

"Wood and saber - fine choices in weapons. They will do you no good, however.", he uttered as his own lightsaber came to life - first with one blade, then another. It was a double bladed weapon that hummed, burning even from this distance with its aura, while it bathed both of the Jedi in a blue hum. The blood pooling at their original target's feet burned purple.​

​

Before the man could launch himself towards them, another breach on the opposite side of the opening announced new arrivals. Soldane's heart dropped at the subtle recognition more were coming, but it fell into a small semblance of hope when he realized who it was that had arrived. First of the Firsts, Tarsius Kur, and Second of the Firsts, Alani Crake. It was Tarsius who had entered the arena first, fingers twitching subtly as he appraised the situation. Alani trailed lightly behind, both of their expressions were of stone.​

​

"More?", the Jedi intoned.​

​

"More.", Tarsius said. At least his intentions were clear then.​

​

"The Jedi have besmirched a sacred tradition of competition for the Sith. For this, and many other crimes, I will kill and consume you.", he said, the contrast of his lips and the crimson paint of his chin giving Soldane the impression that the student was not lying. If he won, Soldane truly believed he would eat this Jedi before them all.​

​

Alani said nothing, glancing towards Irina Jesart and Soldane with a passing interest.​

​

"You three.", he said to both Alani, and Soldane and Irina. "Kill the wounded one. Leave him to me."​

​

With a flash, Tarsius in full form lept towards the Jedi. With nothing but phrik claws, he lept great and far - meeting the blade of the Jedi in a flurry that was hard to trace. It was clear the first moves were testing of one another, but as they both fell into form - Soldane last track of who was making what strikes. It only grew harder to follow as their fight began to drive them into the canopy.​

​

The wounded one was left, and she was all the angrier. The Dark Side had found her now, and the sharp but subtle glint of sulphur began to form in her eyes. Like an animal cornered, she too began to rely on The Beast to give her power, to allow her to survive. She intended more than that, however, she intended to kill all three of them.​

​

Alani did not move but to take her blade out of its scabbard, and gently point it towards her opponent. Soldane lifted his blade and did the same, without looking towards Irina. The wounded Jedi took a few steps backwards, then lept into the trees to be pursued once more. Soldane was only happy to oblige, and it seemed Alani agreed when she took the lead. They had to kill the Jedi before they found more.​

​

​

 

[Aerik Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Soldane Talon | Eira Dyn

The swamp was oppressively silent, the kind of silence that wrapped around the Jedi like a shroud. Mist clung to the gnarled roots of ancient trees, obscuring sight and muffling sound. Each step the Jedi took seemed swallowed by the mire, the soft squelch of his boots barely audible against the oppressive stillness. He could feel the tension in the air, the Force murmuring warnings of danger, but its message was faint and fragmented, as though the swamp itself sought to obscure his clarity. He tightened his grip on the unlit hilt of his lightsaber, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.

The attack came without warning, a sudden eruption of chaos from the fog. The Nox Lupo, a monstrous amalgamation of shadow and flame, struck with terrifying speed and ferocity. Its glowing eyes flared like dying embers, and its massive form seemed to ripple and dissolve into tendrils of black smoke as it moved. Before the Jedi could react, claws like jagged obsidian slashed across his back, tearing through his robes and into his flesh. He staggered forward, the searing pain momentarily stealing his breath, and instinctively ignited his lightsaber. The blue blade cast a feeble glow in the consuming darkness, but it was too late.

The smoke wolf gave no respite. It was upon him in an instant, its claws striking with brutal precision. The Jedi swung his lightsaber wildly, each strike passing harmlessly through the demon’s smoky form. The creature’s snarls were guttural and unnatural, resonating with an otherworldly echo that chilled the air. Another vicious swipe caught the Jedi across the chest, knocking him to the ground. He gasped, blood staining the swamp water around him as his grip on his weapon faltered. The Force screamed warnings now, but they came too late to save him. His vision blurred, the world reduced to the oppressive fog and the fiery glow of the creature’s eyes.

With one final, feral lunge, the smoke wolf demon pounced. Its jaws, lined with serrated black fangs, closed around the Jedi’s neck, silencing him with a sickening crunch. The blue glow of his lightsaber sputtered out, leaving the swamp in total darkness once more. The creature stood over its lifeless prey, a sinister growl rumbling in its chest as it raised its head to the sky. Then, like a wisp of smoke carried by the wind, the demon faded into the shadows, leaving behind only the lifeless body of the Jedi and the faint ripples of its dark presence lingering in the Force. The swamp reclaimed its stillness, its twisted beauty now a tomb for one who dared to walk its treacherous depths.

 

[Eira Dyn]

Location: Mijos
Attire: Casual
Equipment: Vibrosword, daggers, blaster pistol
Tag: Aerik Lechner | Soldane Talon

The other Jedi was swiftly decimated by Aerik in his wolf form. It seemed that the Jedi had no defence against the creature and could not react fast enough to ensure their survival as the wolf ripped and tore into them. Eira was curious why he had been placed lower than her in ranking if this was the base power he had. He had been quick in killing the Jedi while Eira had only been able to land a couple dangerous blows on her target. When the green Lightsaber ignited, Eira breathed in deeply.

She knew he was wounded and that this Jedi would not be in his prime to fight her but Eira refused to believe that she was granted an easy win with this.

When the Jedi charged at her, she kept a defensive stance, blocking the first strike from him. The weight of the Lightsaber against her sword was powerful and she knew this man was a strong fighter. Then he used the Force to blast her legs from under her. It forced Eira to faceplant into the muck of the swamp but she was reactive and spun away to the side, avoiding the incoming stab from the Lightsaber. Panting hard, Eira growled darkly, her right hand thrusted forward and purple lightning shot from her fingertips towards the Jedi. Whose Lightsaber blocked her initial strike, but Eira was cunning and used the blocking to stab her sword clean through his calf.

The pained cry was delicious song to her ears as she pulled the sword out and began to Force Choke the Jedi. Her red eyes glowing darker as her hate grew. The anger and the pain she felt intensified as she used the Force to choke the Jedi, crushing his windpipe. In a few short seconds his body went limp and the green Lightsaber switched off and fell to the ground. Her opponent following shortly after as he slumped dead on the ground. She then pulled the Lightsaber into her hand and held it in her right hand.

It felt heavy and odd but she felt more powerful.

"Can you smell more nearby?" Eira asked, clearly not satisfied with them just killing two Jedi.

 

[Aerik Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Soldane Talon | Eira Dyn

Eira made quick work of the Jedi which she had initially attacked. Aerik continued to tear into the Jedi which he had taken down. The body was lifeless, motionless, and yet the young beast continued to rip the mangled flesh of the deceased warrior. He was young, too young to know when to stop. Had the older girl not said something to him, he would have continued.

Orange eyes looked to the weapon which Eira now held in her hand. There was one near the corpse which the Nox Lupo had brought down. He opened his maw and took the weapon into his mouth. It was his now. A sharp look was given to the woman, as though it were a bone he would not give up. The question in his mind echoed for a moment. Could he smell other Jedi?

His nose went to the ground. There were others near. Most of what he could smell were indistinguishable. However, there were two people he recognized. The first was Soldane Talon . The Echani did not like Aerik, he knew it, but the other he had been partnered with was a friend to the young wolf. Irina Jesart was in danger. They all were, but Aerik needed to help his friend. Maybe that would help him get in better standing with the Echani twins.

<< “Yes. Get on my back.” >>

He waited for Eria to comply then took off running through the woods. A trail of fire and smoke seemed to blur behind the beast as he ran. It was just the visual effect of what rose from his own body. It was not real fire, nor was it real smoke, yet it appeared to be in every way. Large paws splashed about the soggy ground, mud splattering against the dark fur and robes of the rider. Aerik moved quickly, this time he was not stalking his prey, but rather going to war.

Aerik could only hope they would make it in time.

 

[Irina Jesart]

Irina was driven by the simple knowledge that to stop, was to die. Every passing moment the Jedi lived they were in danger, if they gave in to their wounds and rested she would come back for them and they would be no better off. She drew on the pain, using it to keep her as they pursued the jedi through the undergrowth, offering a heavy sigh out of her nose at Rivan’s observation, pausing to adjust the check the tourniquet that was keeping her from bleeding out.

“I think we’re beyond being in trouble at this point,” She countered before pushing on again, trusting the force to guide her. If she was going to die on a disgusting swamp planet, she was going to do so in a fight. She wasn’t going to just give up, not like her father had. Yet as they broke through the final vine wall, she felt her heart sink, certain she’d signed their death warrants out of pride. Irina swallowed her fear, tightening her grip on the branch as the male Jedi sneered at them.

Anger pulsed through her as she took half a step forward, wanting to swipe the look from his face with the makeshift club stopping at the double ended saber came to life. Force, what she would do if she had a damn sword. she cast a sidelong glance to her companion, one arm in a sling, the lightsaber in his free hand, still sputtering slightly like it didn’t belong. He needed to bleed it. Noise on the other side of the clearing drew her gaze away as the Leaders of the First Cohort came into view. Irina had never been happy to see them, but today?

Today, she could have laughed with joy at the sight of them. The scale visibly tipping back in their favour once more. She didn’t even argue when the instruction was given to kill the wounded Jedi, a dark smile spreading from her lips as she the fight erupted and lifted the danger away from them, leaving them in the clearing with the wounded Jedi…only she was not ajedi anymore. She was a cornered animal that would use anything to survive. The club twirled in Irina’s hand as all softness and doubt that had held fast within her faded away and she gave in to malicious intent, letting her anger and pain flow through her as she leapt after the others reaching out in the force to grab their prey’s leg, yanking it hard enough to trip her up, to give Rivan and Alani the advantage.

After all, they were the ones with the blades.

Soldane Talon Aerik Lechner Eira Dyn

 

[Soldane Talon]

Soldane let the strength of fear drive him onwards, but he was almost dismayed by the calmness Alani offered their enemy - it was a disheartening calm that partially made him angry, partially made him jealous. The fact she could keep herself under such tight restraints even now was a mark of her control - but that she held it while he could barely hold on disgusted him. He needed to be stronger if he wanted to be in the First Cohort. He needed to be so much more than he was.​

​

Despite that control, it was not Alani who had caught the Jedi - but Irina. Her metaphysical grip ripped the ankle of the Jedi as she landed on a far branch, forcing her to slip on the moss and almost tumble dozens of feet. Her hand caught her at the last moment, and it was Alani's Cohort Blade that lashed out like lightning. It missed by a hair as the Jedi let go just a moment before the blade would have severed it at the wrist. She fell, using the Force to slow her descend at the last moment -​

​

But Soldane was far enough behind to plan around it, and he was already flying at her like a rakghoul. The sputtering blade came down with all his strength - all of that which could be mustered by a single arm and the Force. He didn't even realize he had broken out into an audible yell that echoed through the Forest. At the spot his blade met the Jedi, the sheer force caused dark swamp water to fly many meters in every direction, hiding them in a shroud of mud before the rest of them could see what had happened.​

​

The Jedi had caught Soldane's blade, using an advanced form of Tutaminis to absorb all the energy of the blade. It was though the touch drove the blade into spasms, but Soldane twisted it within the patterns of the sputters to strike at her elbow. To even understand Trakata at his age was a feat, but to apply it like this spoke about something he had been trying to hide;​

​

His training.​

​

It was clear that the power he exercised and the skill of its application spoke of origins far removed from the orphanage he claimed. That, or he was simply a prodigy - but chances were if something was blue and smelled like red paint, it was probably blue paint.​

​

His strike, meanwhile, had found its mark - the Jedi's arm flew away into the water as she dove backwards to remove herself from the follow up strike Soldane had tried to use on her legs. She cried out in pain, and the once timid sulphur eyes turned bright yellow, and from her hands came lightning tingling between her fingers for a fraction of a second only to then explode into a tree of blue electrical arcs that burnt even the nearby trees.​

​

Soldane lifted the blade, but the soft ground threw him back. He couldn't stand against it, not how he was, not on the ground he was on - and so it drove him to his limits before all he could do was simply protect himself with the Force and let what was going to happen happen. The lightning shot past his lightsaber and struck against his shield - but in the process, it launched him dozens of feet backwards into the foliage, out of the sight of anyone present.​

​

It was Alani who fell on the Jedi then, but not in a duel but a finality. Her blade struck through the Jedi's collar bone in a falling stab, pinning her to the root she was leaning against. Before her hand could turn towards Alani, she had gripped it tight with a clean and effecient grapple. A twist, and the arm was broken - leading to only more screams. Alani stood, allowing the blade to wiggle from the force in which it was buried into the wood.​

​

She seemed to study the defeated Jedi for a moment, then looked up to Irina Jesart ;​

​

"She poses no threat. Rivan should use her to bleed the blade - or you should claim her life, if you have not yet had your first kill.", she said in a cold and calculated way. She was almost robotic, were it not for the obvious facial scars that carved themselves deep into her eyes and cheek.​

​

"The First Kill is an important thing.", as though that explained her rationale.​

 

[Irina Jesart]

The flurried movements of the fight ahead of her were little more than a blur, a flash of a silver blade cleaving through air, the sputtering sparks of blue shortly, drowned briefly between the spray of mud, though the cry from the Jedi was enough for her to know that the stolen lightsaber had found its mark. Irina caught up with it all as Rivan was thrown backwards by an explosion of lightning, disappearing into the trees out of her sight. This wasn't a Jedi anymore, this was a cornered animal fighting to survive, desperately lashing out.

Alani made swift work bringing the animal to its proverbial end, pinning her helplessly to the branches, the sickening sound of bones snapping leaving the not-Jedi utterly defenseless. Irina met the one eyed gaze of the Second of First's briefly as she spoke only to have her own dark eyes fall back to the not-jedi.

Killing her would be easy, a dozen options presented themselves as her fingers adjusted on the branch she held, as she imagined each option. But none of them offered Irina any semblance of satisfaction or victory. All of them felt…worthless. Sensing her hesitation, the Jedi began to sneer, opening her mouth no doubt to mock her. The branch swung, connecting with the woman's lower jaw with a crunch, eliciting another scream of pain but silencing whatever word had been dancing on the edge of her tongue.

Irina tossed the branch aside. "She's more valuable alive than she is dead. The proctors will want a prisoner to question, to find out how they were able to infiltrate the ceremony." she drew herself up, her chin high as she met Alani's eyes again. "My first kill will be mine alone."

She turned and limped away, heading in the direction Rivan had been thrown, pushing through the vines. "Rivan?" she called. "Are you still alive?"

Soldane Talon

 

[Eira Dyn]

Location: Mijos
Attire: Casual
Equipment: Vibrosword, daggers, blaster pistol
Tag: Aerik Lechner | Soldane Talon | Irina Jesart

Eira watched fascinated with the ways that Aerik was continuing to attack the Jedi corpse. It was unnecessary but it was a primal instinct that was clearly yet to be trained to demonstrate restraint to some degree. It was curious and provided some insight on the transformation. It was not a transformation where a person maintained their full sentient self, there was an increase in primal inhibitions. Or a lowered ability to maintain control of oneself when transformed. However, she was able to hear his thoughts as he sent them to Eira. Demonstrating that some sentience still remained.

Eira made no move to take the Lightsaber from the jaws of Aerik. He had earned the Lightsaber and she would not take that glory from him. She also knew that he was going to win any confrontation between them currently. Eira doubted her abilities in the Force would save her currently. Another sign that she needed to work on growing stronger.

She jumped onto the back of the wolf, it felt odd to be on the back of a person but she knew that even with the Force aiding her ability to run. She would be cleared massively with this large wolf running ahead. Instead, Eira focused on letting the wolf version take charge in the moment to hunt down the next Jedi for them to deal with.

This time around, she decided to play a little game. She had the dead Jedi's Lightsaber and activated. Holding it aloft to perhaps make the Jedi they were going to kill assume it was a fellow member of their Order coming to their rescue.