Get me the following... [IC | Open | Mission]

[Matt the Radar Tech]

Mission: One of the Alchemy Masters requires a certain uncommon ingredient to complete their work and are simply too busy/important/pompous to get it for themselves. Travel to an exotic location outside of the Empire and track down the desired material...

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The personal chambers of Darth Excidium were glaringly bright, enough to cause most humans to squint. All manner of scrolls, tomes, alchemy equipment and bunches of supplies were neatly on most surfaces. Unlike some whom experimented freely and cared little for organization, Excidium was immaculate to the point of wiping every tabletop and shelf to be free of dust or contamination. The Sith Lord didn't want some potential breakthrough ruined by the inclusion of some dead skin or rodent faeces. There were many unknowns in the dark arts, after all, but that didn't mean a lack of cleanliness had to add to the multitude of outcomes.

"They should arrive soon," The Sith muttered, eyes scanning several open tomes as he considered what he needed next. "Surely the Apprentices and Knights have had their interest piqued with mention of a glorious mission and potential reward? How could the little children with red, laser fly-swats resist such an offer to whack even more things?"

Sneering, Excidium closed the books on his desk carefully and proceeded to place them back into very specific order. Given his memory, the Sith found that the closer his chambers were to how they had been, the easier it was on that detail noticing portion of his mind. Less change allowed for less focus on things out of place, and more time spent contemplating more important matters. Granted, the process was automatic now, very little conscious thought put into remembering specifics - as there was no point worrying over trivial things, when you recalled everything regardless.

Content that his tomes were secure and placed properly, Excidium walked to the center of his chambers. He stopped, taking a breath, before placing his hands at the small of his back and exhaling slowly. He didn't like people, in general, and felt that most of the Sith students were little more than thugs with glowing sticks. Granted some had potential, but for the most part all they cared about was who could lift that higher, or smack a lightsaber against who quicker... very little thought was put into the more intricate and powerful dark arts.

As the first Sith students began to arrive, some likely seeing the chambers for the first time, Excidium wondered which of them would die on the mission he was about to suggest. Certainly some would. But, the results of a successful mission were great reward and the opportunity to own a very unique item... should the experiment work, of course. There was always that small quandry that mattered in these 'you will have a great prize for your effort' type of scenarios.

Were it simply credits I was offering, Excidium scoffed to himself. Such a simple reward. Alas, not this time... this time the reward is far more rare and unique, with boundless potential.

"Yes, yes, come in," The Sith muttered, stepping back to make room for those entering. "We shall begin shortly, when more have arrived... until then, busy your minds with the tomes or trinkets you see. Or questions. Or both."

 

[Rosalina]

Alm was, bluntly put, a brute. At least in the physical sense, the teenager managed to tower over most of the other Acolytes. And this was before she’d completed her ongoing growth spurt. The poor girl was slated to shoot up at least another half a foot before all was said and done.

The Nasvalo’s greatest asset was her physical prowess, or so she’d assumed. Her people were blessed with enhanced strength to help them survive grueling life in the mountains. Out in the galaxy, Alm’s tall stature made her stand out and she hated it. At the very least, she was slowly settling into the Sith Empire.

There were many sorcerers among the Sith, some were kindly like the pale skinned Vereshin and some were wicked. Many tended to keep to themselves which made her blink in curiosity and surprise when an opportunity like this arose. A Lord of the Empire required the help of several peons to procure an odd ingredient. What could it be? What was it for? Alm did not know much about sorcery, her focus in the Force mainly being channeled into enhancing her speed and strength.

The man that answered the door was no surprise. His features were sunken and pallid, with judicious use of the Dark side, not unlike nearly every sorcerer she’d come across. Except for the women, oddly. Many of them tended to retain a beautiful appearance, leading the Acolyte to believe them great illusionists as well.

She passed through the threshold with the others, ducking her head slightly on instinct so as to clear the door frame. The ugly hawk perched on her shoulders let out a rasping caw before gliding away to perch atop a shelf, knocking over a tome or two with his wing as he landed.

Alm gasped. “No, Byamba! Bad!” Her Basic was thickly accent as she glanced over at the Lord. “I am sorry. He is bad.”

[member="Darth Excidium"]

 

[Matt the Radar Tech]

The first of the Acolytes to arrive was difficult to miss. The sheer size of the seemingly youthful female was impressive, with Excidium taking in every detail about her within moments. The patterns on her skin, the intricate adornments, the exotic clothing. Despite the Sith Lord's knowledge, he wasn't able to place the student's species or homeworld. Standing still until she had entered the room, and even then when the intriguing bird of prey on her broad shoulder flew about the chambers dislodging tomes, Excidium maintained a steady, unwavering stare.

"It's not a problem," The ragged man responded, glancing over to the downed thick books. Each one was worth, to some, as much as a starship, while even more to others. "And I'm sure Byamba is. Perhaps a problem with the creature? Or the trainer?"

It didn't matter, Excidium cleared his throat and motioned to the Acolyte.

"We haven't met, as I would remember it," Excidium stated, "But I have seen you towering above the others in the temple on numerous occasions. Your physicality is impressive, I admire traits that are useful in the students attending this temple."

To say the Sith Lord was interested in this new humanoid, and her bird companion, was likely obvious. It wasn't everyday an unknown species was presented to Excidium, and he planned on using the short time before others arrived for the mission to learn what he could. Not only was the potential for such a strong body type high, but also her seeming youthfulness and state of physical development begged the question of how much more she would grow...

"So what is your name, where are you from, and what of your people?" Darth Excidium looked over with bright green eyes to the winged predator that was ruffling about, sticking it's beak into things it didn't appear to comprehend - likely semi-sentient, if that was the case. "I also have an interest in creatures... tell me of your companion, Byamba."

Moving to the dropped tomes, Excidium bent and picked them up. He ensured both were undamaged, as he expected given the sturdy construction, before placing them back on the top shelving. He smiled at the bird, studying it, before turning to face the Acolyte with eyebrows raised and expectation evident on his face. He didn't care if speaking of such things made the girl uncomfortable, as she knew things he didn't and he wanted to know more.

"Well? Don't be shy."

[member="Alm"]​

 

[Rosalina]

Byamba was not the least bit sorry. Though bonded with Alm, a few more years of intensive training would have to pass before he was completely loyal to her. Such was the way of the Shuvu.

Alm was grateful that this Lord at least seemed kindly. Or rather, he wasn’t one of those tense scientists who tore through a room when one tiny thing deviated from the expected outcome. Alm was raised to adapt to adversity, so that sort of behavior seemed out of place to her. Then again, a lot of things in the galaxy that had initially seemed out of place were becoming the norm.

“My name is Alm. I am from Manas, where Nasvalo live.” Far be it from her not to answer a Lord’s inquiry, but he seemed genuinely curious. Most weren’t, given that she was humanoid in appearance and didn’t have tails growing out of her head or something fantastic like that. Even her skin color and texture was considered normal for humans. Only one glaringly obvious feature about her was not considered normal.

Alm stared up at Byamba who was busy sticking his beak into the various tomes and scrolls. She winced at his behavior, but continued. “My people are very tall.” As she spoke, she realized that it sounded a bit dumb. “The mountain people are very strong. The desert people have these, ah…” Alm paused, searching for the word. Though her Basic had gotten much better over the past year or so, her sentences were simple and some words still eluded her. "Eyes." No, that wasn't it. “Lids.” She pointed to her eyelid. “Two eye lids. One normal, one to see in the sandstorms.” She was referring to the nictitating membrane possessed by many of the desert nomads that allowed them to keep their vision in harsh weather.

Byamba knocked over another text and Alm’s face firmed. She spoke harshly in her native tongue, to which the hawk raised his wings and screeched at her.

“Byamba is a Shuvu. He is a hunting bird that lives in the mountains. Very difficult to train, you see.” Perhaps he would notice the little bite marks on her hands and arms, perhaps not.

Patting the along her hip, the tall teenager delved into her pocket and pulled out what appeared to be a dead rodent. She held it up by the tail and Byamba suddenly became much more interested. Wings spread, he let out a cry and swooped down to snatch the rat, downing it in one go as he perched on Alm’s shoulder.

“Shuvu are good hunters, but have bad tempers. They take many years to train.”

She glared at the bird and the bird glared back.

“I am sorry for his behavior. Lucky, he did not eat your books.”

[member="Darth Excidium"]

 

[Matt the Radar Tech]

Excidium listened intently, his eyes holding the young, tall female's gaze. His interest continued to increase as she spoke of her people, the Nasvalo, and their planet, Manas. The separate evolutions of the two communities was certainly intriguing, especially the development of the second pair of eyelids to assist with weathering sandstorms; a most ingenious way for the body to adapt, really, so simple yet so effective. Judging by the physicality of Alm, Excidium presumed she was from the mountain members of the species, and despite her close resemblance to humans, the Sith Lord was willing to guess she had a lot more occurring within her body for strength that humans wouldn't naturally. Perhaps one day Alm would allow Excidium to study her, but from past experience it was better to make such requests after several meetings, and when the potential specimen was more familiar with the alchemist...

"Intriguing."

Excidium remained quiet, observing behavior, speech patterns, reactions. He noted the exasperation at Byamba's actions, and understood that creatures were prone to trying to test the boundaries of acceptable behavior with their masters, similar in most respects to offspring. Or Apprentices. The mention of the harsh conditions of Alm's planet, the impressive evolutionary steps her people had developed to combat it, and the importance of the bird of prey to her - if only due to the reverence and persistence Alm put in to training and keeping the Shuvu alive - was worth keeping for later reference. Perhaps training a Shuvu was a rite of passage with her people? Perhaps some kind of cultural expectation?

"There must be a reason for going through the hassle of training such a creature?" Excidium prompted, eyebrow raised as he glanced over to Byamba, watching as the bird ate the rodent from Alm's hand. "And tell me, do you always reward bad behavior with food? One would think that riffling through another's belongings and tearing at pages would otherwise result in disciplinary action. What do you do to punish the bird? A cage? A blindfold?"

Having some experience with creatures himself, the Sith Lord wanted to see if he could begin assisting Alm in overcoming some of the strains of training the Shuvu. And while it could potentially come across as condescending, Excidium did want to help, even if for his own benefit in the long run. Appreciation often bred trust, and trust led to more thorough examinations of a genetically impressive species of near-human.

"And what of your obvious attractive qualities," Excidium continued, stepping forward to look closer at Alm, eyes and head tilted upward. "Are they genetic, from your parents, or are all your people appealing to most humans and near-humans in such a manner?"

Unlike others, Excidium was largely unaware - or lacked care - if the discussion was uncomfortable. Nothing was gained by speaking in circles and playing coy. True knowledge and understanding came from being able to ask the hard, and often awkward, questions...

​

[member="Alm"]​

 

[Olrunn Darr]

People stared at her as she walked through the corridors of the temple. She had been expecting such a thing for right now she was not displaying her usual form. A large black wolf, with bright orange eyes walking through the Sith Temple was a sight to behold. Some, the ones with a semblance of a brain inside their heads, didn't take too long to snap out of their surprise and realize they were staring at a Gurlanin, the polymorphic hunting species native to Qiilura, in its natural state. Others, the soft-minded ones, brushed it off assuming she must have been a pet of sorts to one of the Knights or Lords. After all, at the moment she was suppressing her presence in the Force and there was nothing besides previous knowledge of her specie that could indicate she was a sentient being and not some canine-like form.

The Gurlanin ignored those who passed her by and avoided the more crowded parts of the Temple, it did not take her long with the lengthy canine strides of her natural from to reach the place where she had been summoned. Half her body had been inside of the chamber before she suddenly disappeared, making herself invisible to the eyes, imperceptible to the ears and the nose, without a presence in the Force to identify her. Seconds later, she reappeared standing next to the other Acolyte. Now a young woman of long black hair and sharp features. The only thing that remained of the wolf where its bright orange eyes. And then a fluid, tranquil and smothering darkness started shyly spreading around her.

As protocol required, and also as she preferred doing, she first greeted the Sith Lord, bowing slightly before looking at him. "Greetings, Master." She showed a certain diligence whenever speaking to the Lord that had taken her on as an apprentice. Only after this did she swiftly shift her attention to the other Acolyte, acknowledging her with a nod and in this silent motion bidding her to continue and answer her Masters' questions. Others would have probably inquired the Sith Lord to pry information regarding the mission ahead of them. Olrunn saw this as unnecessary pestering, the information they needed would be provided to them when the Lord deemed it fit.

[member="Darth Excidium"] [member="Alm"]

 

[Rosalina]

Alm’s hand slid back into the pocket from where she’d retrieved the dead rat and produced a small metallic cylinder. The craftsmanship was primitive and whatever finish that had been applied had long since been worn away. The teenager inserted her thumb into one end, a spike with a finely tapered edge popping out at the other end. “Into the foot.” She had enough sense not to do it now, though. The bad behavior had already been rewarded out of sheer desperation and punishing Byamba now would only confuse him and send the wrong message.

On her shoulder, the hawk preened after his meal. “Shuvu are important, we use them to track game. My family is nomadic, so hunting and gathering is how we survive.” They also traded with the farmers of the plains and, to a lesser extent, those who inhabited the desert cities. They more resource deficient areas of Manas had rapidly begun to modernize, eager to accept help from offworlders. Alm’s people lived in the more fertile mountain region and thus were resistant to change. There was a long history of contention between the mountain and desert people.

If Alm was bothered by the questioning, she didn’t let it show. After all, she was happy to talk about her people given that so few seemed to have a genuine interest in her homeworld. Then again, not everything was as it appeared in the Sith.

A young woman appeared next to Alm, making her way into the room like a shadow. The Nasvalo glanced in her direction, eyes meeting as the newcomer gave her a nod to continue after addressing her Master. Byamba turned to face the dark haired young woman and stared at her as if she were some sort of prey, large avian eyes analyzing her as his trainer continued to speak with the Lord.

Alm fell silent with his subsequent line of questions, face displaying surprise for a few moments before her eyes began to narrow just slightly. “I look normal.” She declared. “Like my grandmother.” A pause. “Only young.” A clarification. Hopefully he didn’t turn out to be some cantina-level creep.

[member="Darth Excidium"] [member="Olrunn Darr"]

 

[Matt the Radar Tech]

The arrival of his Apprentice made Excidium nod. He was pleased so far with Olrunn's willingness to learn and train, and the way the Gurlanin composed herself. Good qualities in a student, one clearly dedicated to mastering the lessons the Sith Lord had to teach. So far, the bond between the pair had started well, with both sides testing the proverbial waters and accepting the arrangement as mutually beneficial; for Olrunn, she would gain in power, and for Excidium, he would have someone to continue his legacy and teachings through - should the worst happen.

"Apprentice," Excidium stated to Olrunn, before returning his stare to Alm. So far she was proving an interesting subject, however the narrow-eyed glances and sense of withdrawing from the questions were giveaways that perhaps it was best to move on. "We shall begin the mission preparation shorty. One moment, as I gather what is needed for you..."

As the ragged Sith walked to his ruffled books and tomes, he began searching. It took him a mere moment to find exactly what he was looking for, despite some papers being out of place due to the bird. Still, it was enjoyable seeing a new species of predator, and in time Excidium hoped to learn more about both the Shuvu and its master. And speaking of Alm, perhaps it was time to end the conversation about her...

"Fortunate for you, then, that you take after your grandmother," Excidium said as he gathered the scroll in stained hands, before turning and walking back. He looked to the tall young female. "But a shame for me, that the pursuit of a genetically superior race continues. I do admit, for a near-human, you are impressive, though it seems some of those qualities are merely luck from the genetic pool. Perhaps we can speak more another time. Presuming my forward questioning hasn't offended you.

"Believe me, my interest in your is purely scientific. I do not have time for pointless romances or courting young Acolytes."

Given how important time and knowledge were, Excidium didn't want to waste time on pointless endeavors. Those that couldn't handle his straight-forward, often rude and confronting, methods were of little use to him. That said, Alm did possess a strength of character Excidium appreciated, though he suspected - as most youth did - that comments about ones appearance or physique were lead-ins to attempting to woo a person. But the truth was that Alm was a good specimen to consider for future plans, should the need arise...

"As there are no other Apprentices readily available or willing to join my request, I will give you the answers to complete the task now," The Sith Lord said, handing each Acolyte several identical notes that had been scrawled quickly from a tome earlier. A number of further notes were still on the desk, prepared should more than two have arrived. Alas. "My newest creation has need for acquisition of a sample of DNA from a particularly dangerous animal... tell me, are either of you familiar with the Akk Dog? Or have either of you been to the deep jungles of Haruun Kal?"

Eyebrows raised, Excidium glanced between the pair.

[member="Olrunn Darr"] [member="Alm"]​

 

[Olrunn Darr]

The Gurlanin had not set its eyes on the bird that watched her, she didn't need to but truth was the acolyte was sizing up the animal and its owner just as much as it was her. The words of the fellow acolyte had interested her for a very simple reason, she was a hunter herself. Her species, though she did not appreciate any form of unjustified egotism, was many times said to be designed to be perfect hunters. Their natural forms were most definitely predator-like and if this had not been enough, they were capable of becoming invisible in any aspect they wished. Back in time, when she still hunted with her kin, the telepathic bond the members of the species share among one another had also made of their hunts an affair with a very low probability of failure. An excellent attribute, given how much Olrunn despised failing.

She could almost smell the uncomfortable surprise of the Nasvalo acolyte, provoked by the questioning of the Sith Lord. For some moments, she did not see how such questions could prove uncomfortable but was quick to arrive to the reasonable conclusion that for most they were. In her particular case, Olrunn had always been far too objective and direct to be easily affected by means of words, a characteristic that had been both useful and immensely deepened by being in the company of the Lord of Dark Arts. So, she waited patiently and silently until the conversation carried on into subjects that concerned her and the mission to be completed.

Soon enough, Excidium confirmed her previous conclusion that his questions harbored a scientific, objective purpose and without any more loss of time, began to explain to them what was exactly that they had been summoned for. It had called to her attention how no other Acolytes heeded the call of Darth Excidium. It was not every day that a Lord offer a reward for doing what was nothing more than their obligation to do, obey their Lords, learn and keep their heads low until they proved themselves in the eyes of their fellow Sith. It was something the Acolytes with bigger egos found very hard to digest but once again, the most boastful were often also the most useless.

"Akk-dogs are non-sentients native to Anoat, Master. A dog-like species, they are known for the incredible resistance of their scales and the strength of their bite, I see how these characteristics could prove beneficial in the creation of a new...species." She measured her words, Excidium had never confirmed that his newest project was the creation of a spliced individual and she did not want to assume too much. "I have had the luck of seeing two before, they were kept as pets by a merchant. Apparently, they are quite docile if raised from a young age."

"As for for Harunn Kal, I have never been there myself and have only the knowledge reading could provide." She concluded.

[member="Alm"] [member="Darth Excidium"]

 

[Rosalina]

The way that the Lord and newly arrived Acolyte interacted made it plain that the two were a part of a Master-Apprentice relationship. Alm had a Master herself in Lord Fa. The avian Sith was good to her, but then again Alm rarely received punishment simply because she was a dutiful Acolyte. No teenage rebellion here.

That being said, she’d never received comments on her looks that were purely clinical in nature. The talk of genetics and inheritance were largely lost on her, coming from a nomadic community where scientific learning was more environmental and necessary to survival rather than to sate curiosity. During her brief time in Sel, the planet’s modern capital, she’d visited a medical center and marveled at the men and women wearing lab coats and fancy clothing. Manas’ first university was being erected right beside it.

When he prompted them both with a question, Alm was lost. She knew nothing of the Akk Dog nor Haruun Kal, but it seemed that her fellow Acolyte was far more versed in the creatures of the galaxy. The Nasvalo tilted her head towards the other apprentice as she spoke, mild curiosity written in her dark eyes. Dogs with scales? This sounded just silly to Alm, but she’d seen quite a few strange things since leaving her sheltered home.

“What she said.” Alm grunted in response.

Another look at the dark haired woman beside her before turning back to the Lord. “We will hunt these creatures, yes?”

[member="Olrunn Darr"] [member="Darth Excidium"]

 

[Matt the Radar Tech]

The Sith Lord listened, nodding as his Apprentice spoke. It was pleasing to know that Olrunn had been studying the notations and tomes Excidium had tasked to her. It was rare to find so willing a student, and so far the Gurlanin hadn't disappointed. From the beginning, Excidium had been very forward in demanding a high level of personal study, while also completing tasks he provided, all with the intent of furthering Olrunn's knowledge and understanding of the Force and the dark side - and even elements of the light side. It was a fool that didn't seek to understand his enemy, after all.

"Good, Apprentice, you have read some of the material I provided previously," Darth Excidium said, his eyes showing his approval for a moment, before he returned to the topic at hand. "As you clearly recall, the Akk Dog is a powerful creature resistant to lightsabers and blaster fire. And you presume correctly, as I seek to utilize some of those strengths and characteristics in a deadly new species of dark creature... but in order to do so, I require some genetic samples from the Akk dog itself."

Turning to face Alm, Excidium pointed to the paper each Sith held.

"In the following notes you will be given all you need to complete this task. If you are able to gather more than DNA, such as a sample of the hardened plating itself, you will earn a degree more of my respect, and I may be inclined to add to the reward," And walking to his desk, Excidium picked up a Sith Holocron from a draw. He had little need to lock this possession away, considering he had memorized the information contained within this particular one. "This is the Holocron of a Sith Knight, who showed promise with telekinesis and energy dissipation... and fortuitously for you, he was able to record some lessons and personal insights prior to his death."

With a quick movement, the Holocron disappeared into the folds of the Sith Lord's robes.

"While mildly helpful for me, the information contained within would be greatly beneficial for you both. It is the reward offered. To share." Excidium glanced between the pair, a slow smirk crossing his unshaven face. "But should you bring me actual plate samples, I shall offer each of you one of the creatures I create from the ingredients you provide...

"Are there any questions?"

[member="Olrunn Darr"] [member="Alm"]​

 

[Olrunn Darr]

Olrunn was pleased now that the nature of their mission was uncovered. She had always been a hunter, it had been instilled in every part of her not only philosophically but also genetically. Gurlanin had been designed for this task and she could still clearly recall her youngling days in Qiilura, when the grass of the plains was still tall enough to hide her and she enjoyed practicing her hunting skills without the aid of her specie's ability to disappear. And luck had apparently smiled on her this day, for the one to be her companion had said to hail too from a land of hunters. At least the eyes of her creature, the Shuvu as it had been called, were sure to come in handy.

Excidium then mentioned the rewards that would await them were they to be successful. A very generous offer indeed. A holocron with information on energy dissipation...also called Tutaminis if she recalled correctly. It had been mentioned in passing in one of the many tomes her Master had provided for her to read and study. She also remembered an idea she had had of combining this ability with a certain Sith Magic spell. However, the days in which she would be able to attempt it were still too far away, the knowledge she possessed might have been growing but still just in a theoretical level. Sith Sorcery and Alchemy were abilities better handled by the more experienced, and she wanted to make sure she understood it before she attempted to practice it.

The second offer, was a specimen of this new creature her Master was devising. This brought her immense intrigue. Sithspawn and spliced individuals had always been points of her curiosity, together with the processes required to create them. This was a subject in which she did not yet have any proper knowledge besides what she could try and deduce, which was very little but she thought of it with hopes of learning in the future. She herself did not feel the need to inquire any further and considered the information she had to be enough, but maybe her fellow acolyte did harbor questions so she made sure to give her space to speak before she responded.

"We shall, to the extent of our ability, try to provide you with what you request, Master."

[member="Darth Excidium"] [member="Alm"]

 

[Rosalina]

Alm took a mental step back to analyze the task set out for her. She was to travel to a new world with another Acolyte and collect a sample from a beast known for their vicious ways and natural defenses. Initially the Nasvalo cared little for what the beast would be used for, she was here to assist a Lord and get the chance to exercise her abilities. But now? As ill versed as she was in the sciences, Alm’s curiosity was piqued. Perhaps she was only interested in the holocron because she only just knew that it was an option.

Back home in the mountains, she never would have dreamed of such a task. However, she was a long way from home at this point.

The tall teenager cocked her head to the side as her fellow Acolyte offered a closing statement. Dark brown eyes fell over the shorter woman with curiosity, noting the predatory air from her that seemed almost natural. This bode well. If her hunch about this apprentice was correct, then they were similar in some aspects.

Alm grunted in approval, indicating that she had no further questions and was ready for their task.

[member="Darth Excidium"] [member="Olrunn Darr"]

 

[Matt the Radar Tech]

So it was.

With a smile, Darth Excidium motioned for the pair to follow him. The Sith Lord began walking down the long, well-lit hallway that led to his chambers. Once out into the temple proper, the ragged Sith walked with purposeful strides past other students and fellow Lords. He ignored them, his eyes focused elsewhere, as he thought about the task ahead of the two lesser Sith. On one hand, they were skilled hunters, but on the other there were only two - two and a half, including the Shuvu. Not promising odds when it came to gathering delicate samples from an aggressive creature - but, then again, if it was one thing Excidium had tried imparting on those he taught, it was that not every situation had to begin with needless fighting.

Who was to say that less dangerous alternatives weren't possible? There was certainly more than one way to skin a Nexu...

"You can use my personal craft, the Ruin, to travel to Anoat," Excidium said, looking back at the two Sith in his wake. "The pilot droid will follow Olrunn's orders. It has been updated to listen to my Apprentice in my absence with my permission."

The corridors and passages through the temple were maze-like, often looking exactly the same but being different. As it was, remembering most of the more common walkways was a task, yet one of the first things Excidium had done was walk the entire structure to remember every square inch. The Sith Lord had even managed to locate several inconsistencies with room sizes, which had led to the discoveries of a number of secret passageways and secure rooms. That information had been kept to himself, at least for the time being.

"Remember that I have resources available, should you need them," Excidium muttered, as he entered the large hangar bay, noting the numerous craft - both faction specific and personal - and saw that several were missing. "The degree of danger you face will fall upon yourselves... and if you end up fighting, you had best perform and return with the samples I need. If not, I will be forced to abandon a very important project to make up for the failure."

The Ruin was ahead, the rampway lowered and the pilot droid in the cockpit and prepared. Excidium stopped, hands clasped at the small of his back, as he glanced toward Alm and then to Olrunn...

"Don't die. It would... vex me."

[member="Olrunn Darr"] [member="Alm"]​

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OOC: I can either RP NPCs in this scenario, or I can leave it to you both to finish the thread. Please discuss and let me know which you prefer.​

 

[Olrunn Darr]

The Gurlanin only glanced at the fellow Acolyte, as though showing silent agreement with her Master's choice of partner before turning to follow Excidium's steps. Olrunn had always been very formal in her ways towards her Master, simply because that was how she behaved with people she respected. Others, who had not yet earned the esteem of the girl, did not necessarily receive a dissimilar treatment yet there was a key difference at its root. The first was born out of diligence and respect, the second for a mere lack of interest. Luckily for her, today she was in the company of a man she respected and of an Acolyte who had managed to intrigue her, at least for the time being.

She had already walked the corridors of the Temple many times, usually in an instinctual way that did not require her attention to be poured into the matter. Yet there was always something new to see, and Olrunn had eyes willing enough to notice it all. So she simply allowed her gaze to wander as she walked, occasionally glancing at the Nasvalo and always keeping a part of her attention docked on her Master.

The walk was not long until the Ruin came into view. The ship was ready to take off as soon as they boarded and this meant Excidium's parting words would follow soon enough. Olrunn listened carefully and was, as always, gripped by a feeling of duty, not out of nervousness but at the incredibly disturbing thought that was, in her opinion, being unable to be at par with her Master's standards.

"I'll do my best not to, Master." she replied, lowering her head slightly before looking at him for a second. Her attention was then shifted towards the Nasvalo. "Are you ready?" she inquired, waiting for a positive reply so that they could get en route. She'd rather have Excidium wait as little as possible for their return.

[member="Darth Excidium"] [member="Alm"]

 

[Rosalina]

Alm gave little more than a grunt to the thought of dying. Or not dying, rather. Images of Thyferra flashed in her mind. It had been her first real run with the Empire, her first actual battle against a Jedi. Her opponent hadn’t been a traditional Jedi, at least not to her—he wore clothing similar to that of a pilot and wielded a pair of blasters instead of a blade. Whatever the case had been, Miir’s experience and skill had won out and incapacitated the teenager. He could have easily killed her, but he did not.

This was something different. This mission, she could handle. The Acolyte had patience and skill when it came to hunting beasts, what was more was the other apprentice here with her. Another designed for hunting if the predatory aura she gave off was to be trusted and with knowledge of the creatures they were tasked to find.

“Yes.” She responded in affirmation to the shorter woman’s question. Alm preferred to let her do the talking as this one seemed to have a better grasp of Basic than she did herself. It was a tricky language and although she was able to speak it to some degree, she often found herself searching for words or messing up syntax.

“You hunt much?” It was a simple question, not unfriendly yet not asked with any measure of warmth. She squinted into the distance, making out the form of Excidium’s ship.

[member="Olrunn Darr"] [member="Darth Excidium"]

OOC: Sorry for the delay!

 

[Olrunn Darr]

Olrunn placed her eyes in Excidium for what would be a final time until their next meeting when they returned from their hunt, ideally with all that had been requested of them. "Master." The statement was followed by the bow of her head, the very same one she accustomed to perform either when greeting him or being dismissed. It was not completely necessary and many believed that a respectful tone, obedient disposition and just not meeting one's Master gaze defiantly sufficed. However she was not like most, and the gestures she displayed were not performed out of mere etiquette and courtesy, she harbored authentic respect for the one in charge of seeing her through to the attaining of knowledge and power, in that exact order. The acolyte had bid herself to taste and feel as deeply as she could every single step of her way to greatness, she simply could not imagine any other way in which to ensure that when that day of ascension came she would be deserving of it. Part of this path happened to involve a lot of bowing and obeying, and she was fine with it. She would cherish it and if any negative feelings ever flourished from it, she'd keep them safe until the day they were needed but not let them intervene with the current state of herself.

Only after she had requested leave from the Sith Lord did she turn back to the Nasvalo acolyte, who had recently stated her readiness by a simple 'yes'. "Move along, then." the reply was short and so was the time it took her to start directing herself towards the ramp of the Ruin, embarking with swift and silent strides. Once aboard the already familiar ship, it did not take long until the figure of a certain droid emerged from the cockpit, its red checkered torso easily identifiable. "Fee-too, hope you are doing well." the greeting made her voice turn a bit less colder for a second though it was still incredibly monotone. With the lack of enthusiasm she had for intonation it was a blessing that her kind were allotted with naturally enthralling voices. Olrunn's disposition towards the droid had changed because of the simple fact she already felt comfortable and was used to being around it. Also, and she did not care to admit it, she had taken a liking to her Master's droid.

"Apprentice Olrunn, so good to see you! The ship looks beautiful today doesn't it? Are we to depart now?" The robotic voice resonated happily in the cold air of the area. Fee-too then noticed the presence of Alm and was quick to greet her in that characteristic cheerful manner, "Oh, you bring company! Pleasure to meet you. I am FIII-2A, servant to his lordship [member="Darth Excidium"]. Welcome aboard the best-kept ship in all of the Empire, the Ruin." The gurlanin couldn't help but slightly sneer, not mocking the droid but out of the amusement at the stark difference between her Master's and its personality. Her face was quick to return to that neutral, detached look. Meanwhile, she had already found the bag were the equipment required for their mission had been stored. She inspected it, soon finding her plasma bow, darts, and knives among the other instruments she often employed during her hunting trips. Only once she was done revising, and the droid had finished his welcome, did she speak again.

"Yes, Fee-too. We depart right away." The droid nodded and headed back to the cockpit to prepare for departure. Alm and her were left alone. "As for your previous question, yes. Hunting. My kind was designed for it." She said, trying to keep the at bay the rush of heat the thought of the hunt instilled in her blood. "Are there any weapons you prefer, [member="Alm"]?" Olrunn inquired.

 

[Rosalina]

Alm was content to follow [member="Olrunn Darr"], recognizing that the other apprentice was more familiar with this sort of thing than she. It made sense, given how she’d interacted with Excidium, that she’d be an Acolyte under his care.

As they made their way onto the ship, Alm made no attempt to hide the way she took in her surroundings. It was instinct perhaps, especially for a girl who’d grown up on a technology barren planet for the most part. Ships were something she’d become more familiar with when it came to the modern galaxy, thankfully. She’d even managed to be not terrible in flying lessons.

However, artificial intelligence was something she still struggled with. So when the droid appeared and greeted Olrunn, it was no surprise that the Nasvalo simply stared, pupils dilated as if she were confronted with a potential threat—or prey. When the droid moved over to her with that chipper, modulated voice she nearly shivered. Instead, Alm took a step back, face stern as she examined the droid. “Hm, robot.” She muttered. “Alm.” She offered by way of greeting, voice returning to its natural volume and clarity. Though she may have seemed displeased, this was simply how Alm kept herself. Reserved and largely silent, she’d come from laboring people who rarely exchanged words during work hours given that it wasted too much energy.

Not everyone in the galaxy was like that, she’d learned. Despite her rigid demeanor and case of chronic sour face, Alm was rather friendly. She just…expressed it differently.

Needless to say, Alm was relieved when the droid receded to the cockpit. She turned her attention back to Olrunn.

“Your kind?” She spoke with an upward inflection, figuring that the other woman was human or some sort of humanoid race at least. She glanced at the bag Olrunn had prepared before clearing her throat. “Throwing knives.” She patted a pouch strapped to her hip, leathered and worn. Inside were barbed knives, designed to penetrate flesh but were difficult to pull out. The large hammer strapped to her back would be of little use for this mission unless she were to get creative.

“Byamba is trained to hunt and track.” She ran a finger from the ventral side of the hawk’s neck down his belly. The beast was perched on her shoulder, claws digging into the padding and behaving for now. “What weapon do you suggest? You know more about the prey than I.”

 

[Olrunn Darr]

Her hands seemed to never be idle as she manipulated the various instruments that had been provided for them. Meanwhile her attention remained locked onto the Nasvalo despite not truly looking at her. She had always had a knack for multitasking and felt more comfortable while at it, it gave her something to occupy her body while her mind sped through thoughts and theories. Because of this, Olrunn noticed that the girl felt somewhat weird out about the presence of the droid, it was to be expected if she came from a place were technology was not a notorious development.

"Yes, my kind. What you see right know is an imitation of a human. My real skin is very, very different. We are what others call shape-shifters, able to disappear from the perception of all senses...The force included." She explained, her voice monotone but not necessarily unfriendly. "Gurlanin. That is what my species is called." Olrunn did not feel prideful about her species nor did she feel superior for it, but recognizing the benefits of her race was something simply logical to do. Even if there were other shape-shifters in the galaxy, capable of morphing into any shape, they were the only ones known to be capable of disappearing, rendering others incapable of perceiving them regardless of force-sensitivity. "Most people, ignorant people, think my kind are just good spies. But that was not the true intent of our abilities. They evolved because they made us good hunters, so that we could survive in our home planet."

Her eyes then followed the gesture of Alm's hands until they reached the throwing knives' pouch. The Nasvalo also carried a hammer, but given the nature of the creatures they were hunting, none of them were very effective. Olrunn's very own weapons weren't necessarily well-suited to hunt down Akk dogs, they would have to rely on ability and...creativeness. "Throwing knives won't do unless you can throw it into one of their eyes. The scales on their bodies are far too tough, my bow won't work either. The weak points are were the plates divide, exposing the softer flesh when they make certain movements. Our main objective is getting a sample, preferably blood, only if we manage to take one down without much damage to its general structure will we be able to bring it too, so that the Master can take a better look at its body."

The gurlanin took a moment of silence to think her answer to Alm's question. "I think we should take traps, try to separate one from their group and kill it close-range so that we can make sure we don't harm anything that might be useful for Darth Excidium's investigation. Byamba will help us find a pack, he can fly and his eyesight is better than ours. Do you agree?" She inquired, bidding Alm to say if she saw any flaws to her plan or if she had a better one now that more information was provided.

Then, the voice of the droid resonated through the lounge, he was speaking to them through the ship's communication system. "Apprentices Olrun and Alm, we'll be arriving at out destination shortly."

[member="Alm"] [member="Darth Excidium"]