How much of the darkness can you hold? [Nolan]

[Kassandra Distorith]

There was a time, she mused, when she would have simply razed the Temple to the ground and poured fire upon the stones until they cracked and crumbled. But instead, there she stood on her homeworld of Dantooine and stared at the ruins that surrounded her.

It had been a Jedi Temple, once, some dozen lifetimes ago. When she was younger and more foolish, she had bound herself to her Master's will and brought the Temple down pillar by pillar, and wall by wall. Every stone cracked, every life extinguished, every drop of good overwhelmed by a flood of evil. Fire, flood, and earthquake had ravaged it and the surrounding hillside...so much so that the signs could still be read nearly six hundred years later.

For certain, anyone with the talent and the sensitivity could follow the trail of agony to its source, here in the middle of the ruins where the largest loss of life had occurred. Pure, unadulterated darkness still dwelled here, called up from the depths of her soul and now slithering like so much silk through the air. It rippled and danced around her, caressing her skin and gently rustling against the fabric of her dress.

Raven locks were smooth and straight, cascading down her back, fluttering about her voluptuous frame at the mercy of the breeze and the energies alike. At her feet, two of the eight vornskrs she had raised were lounging, heads lifting to receive the attention of her slender fingers as their names slipped across her tongue. They rose and padded off at her command to guard, resuming their patrol of the perimeter of the ruins along with the others.

If she was going to attempt to rebuild this Temple for her own use then it would be best if she were alerted to anyone approaching who would interrupt her concentration.

Moments later, she had begun, standing on the flat paved area that had once been a fine courtyard, and using the Force to lift and set the columns surrounding it back in place. The darkness lent itself to her use, recognizing her as the one who had birthed the destruction so many years ago.

Spoiler

[member="Nolan Detta"] - feel free to approach in any way you see fit. Try to avoid killing the vornskrs if you can

 

[Nolan Detta]

In the recesses of his mind, feelings of anguish, hatred, passion, and loss directed his attention to his holo-map...Dantooine. He didn't know how, but there was something/one that was like him, but far darker than Nolan. They're pain crossed a galaxy, Nolan was not that far gone yet. He plugged in the coordintates and punched the Hyperdrive.


Once on planet, Nolan followed 'something' to what the locals referred to as an unholy place of death. An old temple lie in ruin and from the perch Nolan had taken to overlook the area, Mandalorian training and all, he witnessed a finely dressed, raven haired goddess standing before the temple...rebuilding it with the Force. Looking further over the scene, he noticed, Ahh cark, Vornskrs... Demon dog type creatures with whip-like tails, large torso with razer claws and a devilish mouth of serrated teeth. Well, this just got interesting, as he narrowed down the source of pain, hatred and so on came from the ruins, AND the smoldering temptress. He decided to stay put for the moment, he had only his sidearm with him, and the Vornskrs were quick, Nolan didn't think he could take them out safely.

As quietly as he could, Nolan racked a round into the cylinder of the slugthrower just in case.

[member="Kassandra Distorith"]

 

[Kassandra Distorith]

It was the sudden silence in her mind that brought her out of the flow of the darkness, blinking at the setting sun as she turned to look around. A deft mental touch assured her that her children were well but on alert - they'd sensed someone coming, though he was currently out of their immediate reach.

As focused as she was, she'd not sensed the person's approach, and that was slightly disconcerting...but also part of the reason why she took her vornskrs with her wherever she went. Some days, her power was still too unstable for her liking, as her mind gave another colorful curse for the centuries lost to cryostasis. To the centuries and those who had committed her to them through betrayal.

But those thoughts were not worth dwelling upon just then...not when she had a visitor.

A soft, warm smile curled her lips as she followed the vornskrs' minds to where two of the males had tracked the unfamiliar scent and energy trail to. Hmm. A Force-sensitive visitor...but...untrained. At least as far as she could tell.

Glancing up, she crossed her arms over her chest and lofted a sculpted brow, dark clouds beginning to mass over head. "It's not polite to stare, you know...the least you could do is come down and introduce yourself." she purred, head tilted enough for the light to glimmer along the length of her fangs.


[member="Nolan Detta"]

 

[Nolan Detta]

Nolan saw flashes from his motion sensor light up his HUD. He turned to see a woman surrounded by vornskrs walking his way and even speaking to him.

Well, truth is, I didn't realize I was staring. Nolan lept down from his perch, crashing his boots into the ground. He stood up, T-Visor ambiguice of who looked out behind it. His Beskar armor painted green for Duty, gold for Vengeance and orange for Lust for Life. He moved little do to the vornskrs and left his gun at his side, as not to spook them.

Call me Nolan, Nolan Detta. And you are..., eyeing the woman from behind the blacked out visor, My kind of woman, whoa.

The metallic ring from his external speakers gave his voice a slight twang as he spoke.

[member="Kassandra Distorith"]

 

[Kassandra Distorith]

"You may call me...Kassandra."

The Lordess purred softly, her brow still lofted as she tilted her head. Crimson eyes brightened, pulsing with energy as the clouds gathering overhead thickened. They grew darker with every passing moment, as the air around them seemed charged with energy. Thunder pealed, eliciting a wicked smile from her features as she turned her face briefly skyward.

She took his reaction to her in stride. One became accustomed to such words when one dressed as she did and savored the sensual things in life. Her smile remained as she inclined her head politely.

"A pleasure to meet you, Nolan...pray tell me...what brings you to Dantooine?"


[member="Nolan Detta"]

 

[Nolan Detta]

Nolan felt a chill crawl up his spine as the air changed around them. He looked at the woman called Kassandra as she turned her attention skyward and snuck a peak as her full physique which seemed too perfect. Almost preserved.

His responses was as light hearted as he could make it. Holstering his pistol, detached his helmet to reveal a mess of dirty blonde hair and deep green eyes.

"Actually. If my instincts haven't led me astray, I would have to say that I'm here because of you. I had been in system on business but felt something pulling my attention here. Then I followed my senses right to your exquisite figure. Must be 'Fate' that we have met no?"

[member="Kassandra Distorith"]

 

[Kassandra Distorith]

A soft peal of laughter escaped her lips as she smiled and gently shook her head. "A lovely sentiment, Nolan...but somehow I think it was the Force that drew you here..."

The Lordess shifted slightly on her feet, glancing down to the vornskr perched protectively at her side. One hand lowered to rest atop its head, gently stroking through the silken fur. To Nolan she gave a slow, lingering look now that his helmet had been removed, eyes cascading over his features and the deep green eyes that spoke volumes.

"...darkness calls to darkness, after all." Her smile was nothing less than wicked, the crimson of her eyes pulsing as the energy in the sky above them coalesced into a proper storm. A crash of thunder heralded the arc of lightning that poured itself out of the sky and danced across the hillside just beyond the ruins.


[member="Nolan Detta"]

 

[Nolan Detta]

Nolan clipped his helmet to his belt and watched the dance of lighting match the flicker in the temptresses eyes.

"Darkness calls darkness, huh? Well I'm certain that I'm not as dark as you think I am. I've only recently begun to 'feel' others like this. I found a young Sith in the middle of space and he taught me a trick. But that's the only darkness I know of."

Nolan lied and left out the maelstrom of hate that raged in his soul.

[member="Kassandra Distorith"]

 

[Kassandra Distorith]

The Lordess laughed softly, the sound somehow melodic and wicked all at once. Fingertips pressed to crimson stained lips as she breathed deeply, the laughter fading as she took a step closer to the proud warrior that stood before her. Her fascination with Mandalorians had spanned nearly all seven hundred years of her existence, and this one was not the first she'd sensed the darkness within in all that time.

The fingers from her lips rose to touch the center of his armored chest, were he to allow it, and tap lightly. "Try that again, Nolan...and this time...don't attempt to lie to someone who already commands the same power you bear within yourself."

Lofting a brow the Lordess tilted her head and fell silent for a moment as she regarded him, carefully and delicately extending her senses. Her mental touch would have been obvious even to his fledgling senses, and she was curious to see his reaction.


[member="Nolan Detta"]

 

[Nolan Detta]

Feeling the wrap, wrap, wrap rhythm of her finger tapping his chest plate, Nolan began to lull into a lack of cognizant thought. Inside, his inner demons came to the surface. To the seductress, his emerald eyes would turn fire yellow. He had no answer but he felt the storm
Above him like it were a part of him. He didn't know what to do, sunken in on himself, he had never felt so lost.


[member="Kassandra Distorith"]

 

[Kassandra Distorith]

"Ahhh....there it is..." she purred softly, her hand splayed flat against the armor covering his chest. In spite of it, the Lordess could feel the power ebb and flow chaotically within him, his emerald gaze dissolving into rage filled pools of acid yellow. Power he had in spades, but he also had a mind and a set of beliefs that she knew well from past experience would not be easily set aside, if at all.

Kassandra would tread carefully.

And enjoy every step.

"...Nolan...listen to me. Concentrate on my voice. Good. You need to control the power...the demons...the darkness rising within you. Otherwise it will consume you..."

Or I will...she mused as she fell silent and pondered tactics for a moment, to distract herself from her sudden...thirst.

The fingers of her free hand rose to grip his chin tightly, the crimson light of her gaze pulsing and growing brighter by the moment. "The darkness within needs to be tamed and trained like a beast being brought to heel. The same as any other ability. Use what you already know. You are disciplined. A warrior. This power is simply another tool. Take control of it...because if you do not, I will do it for you..." she said with a sibilant tone, her fangs glittering in the crash of lightning that illuminated them.


[member="Nolan Detta"]

 

[Nolan Detta]

Darkness...That's what you call this...this...thing inside me. A tool to be used, yes, but that's all. His tone consisted entirely of disbelief. He knew Sith, he'd fought against many. He was not about to become one of them.

I am not some demon. I am Mandalorian. Whatever this is inside me, is nothing more than my ticket to destroying all those who are against me. The wanna be fallen Jedi of the North, The New Order, couldn't stand a chance against the might of the Mandalorians and I was there when they fell. What I know so far is to use this rage and fuel myself in combat to eliminate enemies. If you can teach me more about this, with disgust in his voice, 'darkness' then I will do as you ask.

Nolan took a moment to notice how demonic her beauty actually appeared up close as she touched his chin.

[member="Kassandra Distorith"]

 

[Kassandra Distorith]

The Lordess went perfectly still as her eyes fluttered briefly closed. There was a time, she mused, when she'd have flayed the skin of anyone who spoke to her in such a way. But now? She simply sighed and shook her head, before opening her eyes once more. A subdued shade of crimson gazed at Nolan this time, while fingertips released his chin to trail along his jaw.

Sleek fangs were slowly retracted, leaving her looking far more human than she had a moment prior. Kassandra canted her head to the side and replied in a soft, sibilant tone. "Nolan, you are going to have to learn some respect. You will respect your connection to the Force, no matter what shade of black or grey it comes in..."

A slender brow arched, and while she retained her semblance of humanity, his senses would most certainly pick up on the abyss of darkness she harbored within her soul. The source of everything that had drawn him to Dantooine, but far more pure and far more wicked than he'd likely been able to imagine before his arrival. Fingertips traced the shape of his mouth while her gaze held fast to his.

"...and you will respect me." she purred softly.

The alternative did not need to be spoken aloud.


[member="Nolan Detta"]

 

[Nolan Detta]

Nolan looked emotionlessly at her demands for respect, he didn't care. He would do what was necessary to get what was needed. He looked into her eyes, nodded his head and let out a small breath.

"Fine, where shall we begin?"

He was anxious to get going, the culmination of the electrical storm and the vornskrs weren't calming enough to be standing still. Nolan's heart thundered from the adrenaline trying to course into his bloodstream. Fight or flight was attempting to take over.


[member="Kassandra Distorith"]

 

[Kassandra Distorith]

This one was going to prove difficult to manage. A frown marred her lips as she drew back and turned away from him, gathering her thoughts. Her vornskrs answered her unspoken summons, four of them melting out of the shadows to gather at her side. She sighed softly rested her hands upon their heads as she slowly walked, picking her way across the once-majestic courtyard of the Temple.

"We will begin with the basics. Once you have proven that you can master them to my satisfaction, we will continue. Follow me." Kassandra said quietly, knowing he'd hear her regardless of the lingering storm. It slowly began to disband itself as she drew back the power she'd used to manipulate it, leaving only a clouded night sky above them after a few palpably tense moments.

Returning to the sanctuary she'd begun to rebuild that evening, the Lordess sat herself upon a smooth block of stone, her children at her feet as crimson orbs glanced to the Mandalorian that had followed her.

"Use the tool you have been gifted with. Lift the pillar there back into it's place." A nod of her head indicated the only remaining collapsed pillar, and the base where it belonged. Whether piece by piece or all at once, Nolan would lift it back into place. It remained to be seen how he accomplished his task, and she watched with Force enhanced senses to monitor his effort.

[member="Nolan Detta"]

 

[Nolan Detta]

Nolan walked cautiously behind the Vixen and her devil dogs. Her instruction to lift a pillar seemed unattainable, but he's seen many of Sith and Jedi lift and toss large objects without more than a flick of their wrist.

Nolan looked at the pillar, laying on the ground, and did the stereotypical gesture of the hand out and lifting up, but nothing happened. He then thought of how he used his Force Rage, the pain and anguish that fueled the Rage had to do something for the pillar. So he focused on the pillar but with Anger instead of just Will, he reached out and felt a weight in his hand, he lifted it with all of his strength. What he saw was the pillar move, but in parts. He focused as hard as he could on his hate to move the pillar to the pedestal where it belonged.

Nolan was able to manipulate the pieces enough to set the parts down, but off centered. He felt a dribble of blood run from his nose, he took off his helm to wipe it away, revealing the blonde Mando beneath the standard T-visor.

Nolan looked to the Vixen where she sat with a look of exasperation and wide-eyed adrenaline.


[member="Kassandra Distorith"]

 

[Kassandra Distorith]

Legs crossed and hands rested together atop her knee as she carefully observed Nolan at his task. Her head canted to one side, raven locks sliding over her slender shoulder as her crimson gaze narrowed. Nothing happened at first, but she remained silent. She would teach in the manner that she herself had been taught...it wouldn't be gentle in any way, shape, or form.

It would hurt.

But he would learn.

And if he came to hate her in the end, all the better...she'd have no trouble feasting on his hatred and blood alike.

"Not bad." she said softly, lofting a brow at his exasperation, in spite of how the adrenaline rushing through his system made his features a touch more enticing. But the fact remained that he'd exercised his Anger to move the stone column sections, instead of using it to fuel his Will. Well and good for a beginner under another Master. But not for a student of hers.

"Your will must remain in control at all times, otherwise, you will burn out quickly. Harness your anger and use it to fuel your will...do not rely on it to bail you out. Power is nothing without control." Kassandra added, her voice low and heated. "Your will is what keeps the darkness from consuming you. Your will is what shapes your anger into a tool to be used."

With a flick of her wrist she blasted his off-center column back off of it's base, watching with satisfaction as the stone segments scattered into the grass once more. The Lordess folded her hands together in her lap and offered Nolan a sweet, soft smile that contradicted the fire in her crimson gaze.

She purred, audibly for a moment, before it ceased to be audible and echoed only within his head. //Again.//

| [member="Nolan Detta"] |​

 

[Nolan Detta]

Gritting his teeth, Nolan focused on his anger, his pain and his passion for power. He looked at the rock, felt the anger inside each stone, and pulled it from the ground, sending the pillar pieces swirl in the air, until they reached their original position, this time in a solid line. He felt the strength flow through him, without feeling as winded as the first try.


Anger, I have plenty of, and if it's a tool to be used, I will use it. I will do everything to control it.

He stretched out with the Force, he could finally feel the absolute power of the area around the Sultry vixen. She gave off true terror, but it was also seductive in a way. He wanted to learn and be feared like her.


[member="Kassandra Distorith"]