Private Hunt for the Dark Sphere of Sycalmo

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

"King." Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn wore that title and it's burdens proudly. Despite that, it was something he felt restrained his true nature, the man was a warrior, a killer, a disciple of the Red Brethren. All these meant far more to the man than the petty title of king. -

His languishing was cut short, someone was attempting to intrude on his mind. However he recognized the origins of these sorceries nigh-instantly. Only few could even dream of breaching his barriers, but when these magics called to him he would let them in, and stand before it's mystical might.

"My disciple, the elders have use for you once again." My master, THE master of the Red Brethren had use for me, my hairs stood on end, his last mission to me was to take up the role of King and unite the planet of Cantoi once more. It had been years since his last assignment and so in a moment of weakness, I was excited. "We have received visions of a tool capable of alleviating Cantoi's suffering. Our scrying has shown us that you are the most likely to complete this mission with minimal complications. You are to travel alone to xxxx and recover an artifact. Coordinates will be prepared and you will be sent alone on a stealth vessel. Prepare well my honorable disciple."

His objectives were simple.

1. Travel to xxxx, a moon orbiting a populous planet deep in The Galactic Alliances space.
2. Recover an artifact capable of storing vasts amount of dark side energy.
3. Operate under the utmost secrecy, and eliminate any who would hinder his mission.

His equipment was limited, he could not bring any of the tools, armor, or weapons that could easily be tied back to Cantoi in the case of his capture or death. His arsenal for this mission would only be the lightsabers he so detested. Foolish tools that took the joy of battle from him, and even limited his talents. Regardless of how he felt he wielded the Short Sword and Long Sword of Hycantoi with mastery scarcely seen amongst the Red Brethren.

His travels went on unmolested and he arrived on the moon with little difficulty. The vessel would be stowed underneath a shrouding cloth and his journey began. The moon was truly odd, the pressure was similar to that of a planets and the gravity seemed unnatural in the sense that it reminded him of Cantoi. He needed no solid coordinates, he could sense the powerful darkside energies and so he let his senses guide him. As he neared the source he realized why his master had chosen him, and him alone.

Gabriel was a master of his emotions and mental defenses and so when he felt his emotions escalating, he knew that those with less control could be surprised, their aggression heightened, their sadness amplified.

Finally he stood before the maw of a cave, it's entrance marred by sharp stones that could be mistaken with the fangs of a great predator. Upon entering he was quickly notified that the cave had a breathable atmosphere, and so he removed his helmet, allowing himself to rely on his natural senses. He quickly began to descend, and as he did he encountered many traps, clearing them was of no issue for the blade master. However something happened he could never expect, he found himself lost in the deep caverns.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Ship: Link
Weapons: Lightsabers

The distant hum of an X-Wing's engines cut through the silence of the moon's surface, streaking across the darkened sky like a phantom against the void. Valery sat in the cockpit, her fiery gaze scanning the barren terrain below, fingers steady on the controls as she maneuvered toward her destination.

She had learned about the artifact through whispers — fragments of intelligence pulled from dark places. A relic capable of storing immense dark side energy, powerful enough to be a threat if it fell into the wrong hands. And relics like that always drew the wrong hands.

A Jedi couldn't ignore that kind of danger.

A sharp ping on her console signaled her descent vector. The cave stood out even from above, its jagged mouth a stark contrast against the lifeless landscape surrounding it. There was no doubt in her mind — that was where she needed to go.

Her ship touched down in a clearing not far from the entrance, kicking up dust that hung in the low gravity like ghostly tendrils before settling. As the cockpit hissed open, Valery climbed out, her boots hitting solid ground with purpose.

The air was still. Too still.

The weight of the Force pressed down on her like an unseen tide, thick and heavy, swirling with something wrong. Something that gnawed at the edges of emotion, prodding at anger, feeding on fear. Valery exhaled, her discipline tightening around her like an iron cage. It wouldn't reach her. She had stood against worse.

Adjusting the hilt of her saber at her hip, she started forward.

Her path led her toward the cave's entrance, where sharp, natural formations framed the opening like the gaping maw of some ancient beast. She paused just before stepping inside, her senses flaring outward, searching for—

Something. Someone. She wasn't alone here.

Her grip tightened slightly against the leather of her gloves. The Force shifted, whispering warnings she couldn't yet see, but could feel deep in her bones. Valery pressed on, slipping into the darkness, her mind sharpening as she descended into the depths.

And toward whoever was waiting inside.

Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn ​

 

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

The shadows swayed, they were unnatural things, they extended and retracted, breathing life into the desolate cave. When Gabriel took his eyes away from them they would creep closer to him. Above all the Red Brethren were trained to combat dark sorceries and so he would never miss it's signs. He realized now why his gear had been restricted, not only was this a critical mission in the name of securing Cantoi's future, it was also a test. With no counter-sorcery gear Gabriel could only rely on his own ability and defenses. He would not be found wanting.

His shoulder mounted light soon became shrouded, manmade light sources no longer seemed capable of resisting the dark influences. The light was eaten, it seemed grow the dark shadows and so he changed tactics.

His left glove was removed and his energies realigned, focusing his will into the palm of his hand. Nearly instantly his flesh flared into a glowing red color, it's warm light pierced the veil of darkness. He escalated the output until flames coated his hand, the shadows retreated quickly, hiding in cracks and crevices as the flame lit his surrounding area for yards.

Things once hidden from him were now illuminated. He saw arcane etchings in the walls, stories far older than he could even imagine immortalized in stone. The writings themselves alluded him, he did not study the esoteric like the elders of his tradition. He committed them to memory with great efficiency, surely once he returned to Cantoi their meanings could be deciphered. One thing was clear though.

In old dyes that had stood the test of time there was a quill backed creature with ferocious teeth, and musculature unmatched by any natural born monstrosities. With this he knew that there was a reason none of the traps had proven challenging.

Eventually he found himself entering a chamber illuminated by the purple and red maelstrom of energy originating from the orb at it's center. A bit of regret entered the King's mind as the monster depicted in the caves art was not standing guard as he had expected but his goal was right in front of him. He began to make his way closer to it, his nerves on absolute edge. His senses pushed to their extreme, the dark side always had many surprises and so he would be prepared.

His hand slowly reached out for the orb.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Ship: Link
Weapons: Lightsabers

The shadows pulsed, thick and hungry, stretching along the cavern walls like living things. The deeper Valery went, the more the darkness seemed to breathe, curling at the edges of her vision, pressing against her mind like a whisper she refused to hear.

She had felt places like this before.

She knew what lurked in the depths of forgotten tombs, what tainted relics like the one she was after. It wasn't just the weight of old power — it was the hunger of something waiting to be found. And she wasn't the only one who had come looking. A flicker of movement ahead. A shift in the Force, subtle but deliberate.

Someone else was here.

Valery's pace quickened, her boots barely making a sound as she navigated the uneven stone. The weight of the darkness deepened, drawing her forward, guiding her with unseen hands. She followed the pull, slipping between jagged formations until... There. A chamber, its walls alive with ancient carvings, their meanings worn by time but not forgotten. And at its center, bathed in a swirling maelstrom of crimson and violet energy, was the artifact.

A man stood before it.

Valery caught only flashes of him at first—the way the light flickered against the sharp angles of his frame, the controlled precision in his movements, the tension coiled beneath his skin. His hand was outstretched, reaching.

"Stop!" The word cracked through the chamber, sharp and commanding, her voice ringing against the stone like a blade drawn from its sheath. With that, she stepped forward, announcing her presence with every deliberate movement. Her fiery eyes locked onto him, unwavering.

"You have no idea what you're about to unleash."

Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn ​

 

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

Dark whispers reached out to him, but his mind was resolute, he began to suppress the darkness radiating for the orb with his will alone. His counter-sorcery training truly shined in moments like this. As he reinforced himself, his focus was iron clad, and soon his mission would be over - !!!

His hand stopped for a brief moment as he quickly processed his surroundings, he heard murmuring, for some reason he couldn't understand the words being directed at him, some strange interference in the air made communication difficult to interpret. Regardless, he had a mission to complete and any witnesses or those who would hinder his mission needed to be eliminated.

With the ferocity of a warhound, Gabriel had closed the distance in three..no two bounds. There was no time for him to ignite his lightsaber, he was far more confident in his hand to hand combat in the first place. The veins in his arm began to shine through his skin the flesh began to glow like hot iron steeped in the great flames of Cantoi's Furnace. The fine fabric of his clothes wrapping his arm up to his shoulder quickly burned away as he jetted towards her. The great storm of fire whipped up around his arm would follow the palm he led with he aimed to put his fine tuned control of the force and his explosive martial arts into one point, her sternum.

His confidence in his strike was absolute, his killing intent was focused like a sharp blade, and his focus absolute. However, in the brief moments before their clash he had noted her incredible presence in the force, a shard of doubt had been planted in his mind like a stake. Amplified by the dark forces in the air it could prove troublesome.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Ship: Link
Weapons: Lightsabers

The moment Gabriel moved, Valery knew. He was fast. Brutal. Focused.

And oh my.

Her orange eyes flickered slightly as his sleeves burned away, revealing the muscle, glowing veins and molten heat coursing beneath his skin. She arched a single brow, lips parting just enough to murmur, "Well, that's new." But amusement didn't dull her reflexes. By the time he lunged, fire whipping around his arm like a storm, she was already moving.

The heat roared toward her, wild and untamed — until it wasn't.

In a fluid motion, Valery reached out with the Force, seizing control of the flames. They twisted at her command, coiling around her like obedient serpents, bending with her instead of against her. The heat licked at her skin but did not burn — it could not burn. She had long since mastered fire. It was hers to wield.

And as his attack came crashing in, she met it head-on. With a sharp inhale, she braced herself, focusing her own power into the point of impact. The clash sent a thunderous shockwave through the chamber, dust and embers swirling in the wake of their strength. She didn't stagger. Didn't yield.

She merely held firm, her fiery gaze locked onto his, unwavering.

Then, with the barest tilt of her head, she smirked.

"Are you sure about this?"

There was no mockery in her tone — just a quiet confidence. A knowing. Because if he wanted a fight, he had just chosen the wrong opponent.

Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn ​

 

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

Watching the flames embrace the woman in a display of control the man quickly concluded that his Convection would be useless against the woman, it was truly a poor matchup for the usage of one of his most potent striking abilities, no matter how potent and explosive his technique was, she would have a means by which to redirect it. Gabriel had far more up his sleeves. Cards that he knew better than to throw out all at once against a skilled opponent. He would have to lull her into a false sense of security.

Despite not being able to understand her because of a strange sorcery clouding the area he could read her body with knowledge far beyond his age. There was opportunity in her confidence. He made distance between the two in one step he had covered four. His movements while brutal and to the point had a grace about them.

Steam still shrouded his form as his left arms flame seemed to evaporate the damp air around him. With a light flick to the side the heat died off. His control of the technique meant little now. He took a deep breath and took up a new stance, this time it was one that allowed deft movements instead of full on commitments to large strikes. He hopped into her space and threw a quick jab. If she had the perception she'd note that his left hand and arm which were now exposed, had turned grey and rigid. Even if she could withstand his first strike, these were on a different level of blunt force.

Regardless he expected her to evade this strike and the two that swiftly followed. He would let her get comfortable at the speed he was striking at. Then suddenly where the next step in the combination he had clearly been exaggerating to her didnt come, his shotosaber, the Short Sword of Hynatos ignited and came low, the speed was unlike anything he had presented thus far, a burst of movement with incredible focus and intent aiming to cut into her upper thigh area. An attempt to even the playing field.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Ship: Link
Weapons: Lightsabers

The shift in Gabriel's technique was immediate. His strikes gave way to something sharper, something precise. He was adjusting, adapting — good. But so was she.

Valery moved fluidly, her body reacting instinctively to the change in rhythm. His footwork was fast, closing distance in an instant, and his first jab came quick, aimed with calculated precision. But she was faster. She weaved, side-stepped, let the strike pass through the empty space where she had been moments before. The next two came in rapid succession, but by then, she had already felt the pattern. Slip past. Pivot. Flow like water.

Her fiery gaze flickered as she caught sight of his exposed left arm, now hardened like iron. A dangerous weapon, no doubt—if he could land a hit. But that was the thing, wasn't it?

He wasn't landing anything.

And then — a burst of light.

The snap-hiss of a lightsaber igniting cut through the cavern as his shoto came low, flashing toward her thigh with blistering speed. A killing stroke, or at least an attempt to disable her. But Valery had already anticipated the moment he would change the pace.

And she did something he wouldn't expect. She let the blade pass right through her. Or rather — it should have. For an instant, she was intangible, her form dissolving like a mirage as the shoto carved harmlessly through empty space, potentially throwing him off-balance. And then, as smoothly as she had vanished, she reappeared — just behind him.

She didn't retaliate.

Instead, she created distance, exhaling slowly as she took a step back, her stance poised but unrushed. The violet blade of her own lightsaber roared to life, its glow illuminating the cavern walls in stark contrast to the deep reds and shadows of the chamber. The moment stretched between them — silent, tense, humming with power.

And then, finally, she spoke.

"Are you sure about this?" Her voice was steady, unwavering. She wasn't mocking him. She wasn't taunting him. She was giving him a chance. To reconsider. To step back. Because if he was determined to fight?

He'd realize, soon enough, that she hadn't even started.

Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn ​

 

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

As his strike cut through nothing but damp air Gabriel quickly himself committed to the momentum of his strike and with one hand twisting against the rough surface of the cave he swung his body into a flip before turning about to keep an eye on his opponent. The recovery was textbook and something he was more than prepared for. However her means of evading his strike had left him a bit surprised.

'That's new.' He thought to himself. There was no time to breakdown her odd technique. Objective three would fail and so he had to pivot his focus. His eyes didnt even drift to his target. He squatted ever so slightly, the bundles of muscles honed over decades coiled like a machine before he exploded into motion, his back foot kicking up loose rock beneath him as he covered the space of the cavern in an attempt to reach his second objective.

His hand extended as though to grab the orb but in the moments between the blink of an eye all went silent for the man.

Through out their brief scuffle shadows had moved outside of any mortal perceptions, moving through realms inaccessible. They gathered far above them in darkness that absorbed light. From this darkness a claw appeared. In the next moment all darkness descended, shaping itself into a form most suited to bringing death to the intruders.

The wave of darkness crashed into Gabriel like a great waterfall, shrouding his form for seconds before they eventually settled on the cavern floor surrounding the young warrior king. The figure was a Brute unlike any other. While smaller than a rancor, it's musculature would make a Dashade look like a child in comparison. It's abrasive form was shrouded by the shadows and it's strength was unnatural in every sense.

Beneath this brute, was a struggling Gabriel. The man had survived initial impact and was pinned beneath the massive claws of the creature. His left forearm had been fractures, portions of it protruding from his skin, and his right arm was fighting off the crushing strength as the creature aimed to turn him to paste. His eyes were now glowing a radiant blue as he exerted himself beyond his own limits. Despite his herculean efforts the creatures mass would eventually overwhelm him. Soon he was relying on the elbow of his broken arm in combination with his right, and legs to push back against the beast.

Had he been standing he could have pushed the beast back, but in this position it was only a matter of time before death met him, and despite this Gabriel hadnt released a single grunt of exertion, his focus was absolute and his mind centered in the face of certain death. The creature was focused on nothing but the king, it's glowing orange eyes seeking to invade the inner sanctums of his mind. Despite it's features being shrouded in shadow the creature gave off psychic pulses..it was delighted by this turn of events.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Ship: Link
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery barely had time to register Gabriel's pivot before the cavern itself seemed to shift. A darkness unlike any other twisted into being, a tide of writhing shadows cascading down from above. It moved unnaturally, a force beyond flesh and bone, coiling, devouring, watching. And then, from the abyss, it emerged.

A beast of living shadow. Hulking, monstrous, its form barely held together by the darkness that shaped it. Valery's fiery gaze locked onto the creature's glowing orange eyes, felt the hunger radiating from them like an open wound in the Force.

It struck before she could call out.

Gabriel's form was swallowed in an instant, the brute crashing into him with devastating force. The impact rattled the cavern walls, dust and debris shuddering free from above. The sound of bones breaking met her ears, but the man fought — Maker, did he fight. Pinned beneath the creature, he strained against the weight of its claws, his body coiled in pure defiance, refusing to be crushed.

But he wouldn't last.

The beast leaned in, pressing harder, its claws eager to end him. Valery moved. Power surged through her veins, igniting like wildfire, a raw, unfiltered command over the Force that crackled with light. Her violet blade roared as she raised a hand, and in the next instant — A pulse of radiant energy exploded outward.

Force Light.

The cavern was bathed in a blinding, searing glow, an unstoppable wave of pure, incandescent energy that crashed into the beast like a tidal wave. It screeche d— a horrific, ear-splitting wail — as its form twisted violently, shadow peeling away from its monstrous limbs as if it had been scorched.

Then — BOOM.

The creature was sent hurtling across the chamber, its massive body colliding with the far wall in a chaotic blur of darkness and stone. The ground trembled under the impact, dust rising in thick clouds. For a moment, the cavern was silent, save for the faint crackling of residual energy flickering in the air.

Valery exhaled sharply, lowering her outstretched hand, her fiery gaze snapping to Gabriel.

"Get up!" she barked, her voice sharp, urgent. "Move!"

There wasn't time to hesitate.

Gabriel Creed ​

 

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

His mind zeroed in, this is exactly what Gabriel was conditioned for, the struggle. Clawing one out of situations where death seemed inevitable. He would not fold in the face of death, instead his focus became more honed, looking for any means by which this situation could be flipped on it's head. That opportunity came and his senses went into overdrive.

The cavern was illuminated, pushing back all of the negativity and strange sorceries that floated in the area. In those briefest of moments he noticed the runes that had lined the cave all leading towards the center of the room, where the pedestal housing the orb stood imposing and radiating it's malevolent intentions. His witch-slaying practices made some conclusions easier to realize than others.

Darkness filled the room quickly, all that had been disrupted by the power flooded in to fill the void. Now he understood why he was here.

'Master would never send me to a theater I could not stand proud in.' He thought. He also came to realize that there was another meaning behind his words. The Red Brethren were a stoic order, ones wholly committed to their commands. Where Gabriel differed was clear, while he was a warrior of the tradition he was also king and so he had picked up one skill lacking in the rest of the brotherhood. Compromise.

The womans hand was taken and he rose to stand beside her. "Lower your voice." He grumbled. With the sorcery splitting their communication disrupted he could understand her now. The pain of his injuries were of no concern, his energies focused on blocking the pains out completely.

"The core of the creature is the pedestal, it is being fueled by the dark energies of the orb, we must sepe-" His good arm extended, forcing the woman back with a significant amount of his might. The massive creature was quick to say the least, it aimed to crush the two in it's claws in one motion but Gabriel had been prepared for it's counterstrike.

With his remaining arm he reached for his belt, the Longsword of Hynatos was drawn now, the genuine struggle was upon them. His saber ignited, it's yellow radiance would cut into the darkness, and then it's size doubled in nigh and instant. "It can be harmed by the light. Separate it's power source and it will dissipate." He stated clearly before shrouding his saber in his potent force lightning.

"One of us will have to distract it and the other will have to separate the power source."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Ship: Link
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery barely had time to register Gabriel's words before his arm shoved her back with a force that sent her skidding across the uneven cavern floor. A heartbeat later, the beast's claws slammed into the ground where she had just stood, the impact sending shards of stone flying through the air. If he hadn't moved her, she would have been crushed.

Her fiery gaze flicked back to him as he drew his weapons, golden light cutting through the thick darkness. He was focused, composed — and injured. Even if he refused to acknowledge it, she felt it in the way he carried himself, the way his body strained against his own limits.

Valery exhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders as she turned her gaze back to the shadowed monstrosity.

"I'll be the distraction," she said without hesitation, her voice steady, decisive. "Your injuries are slowing you down, even if you won't admit it. I can keep it busy — you focus on severing its power source."

She didn't wait for an argument.

With a burst of movement, Valery launched herself forward, her violet blade carving a brilliant arc through the air as she closed the distance between herself and the beast. The creature roared, its glowing orange eyes locking onto her as she moved, and in an instant, it lunged, claws tearing through the cavern with deadly precision.

Good. Let it focus on me.

Valery twisted, her body slipping past its strikes with precise, fluid grace. Where its claws scraped the stone, she was already moving, already two steps ahead. Every motion was meant to draw its attention, to keep it engaged, to keep it from realizing what Gabriel was doing.

Through the Force, she sent him a silent pulse — Now.

Because she could hold it off for a time.

But they had to end this fast.

Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn ​

 

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

The moment the woman had leaped he broke off into his own sprint, his previous method of subduing the orb would prove useless now that he knew of it's ties to the arcane runes surrounding the room. Gabriel had also lost access to his best tool in subjugating foul sorceries, the mark of the furnace on his left hand. With his arm in a terrible state he couldnt channel the radiant flames without risking long term damage.

There was only one solution left, the altar had to be destroyed. His lightsaber arced forward in a hasty attempt to put an end to these unfortunate sequences of events. However things could never be so simple when it came to the works of the sith.

To his surprise the blade refused to push through with any meaningful speed, the architects of this dark altar must have prepared for this very situation. He didnt look back at the woman, if she was capable enough to hold him back, she could likely hold the attention of such a ferocious beast. His whole focus went into channeling his lightning. It's loose sparks concentrated onto a singular point at the tip of the light saber, it's form was retracted to normal size so that he can better focus his will.

Dark impulses radiated from the orb, trying to reach out, dissuade the man from his course of action. The trials that had marked his youth in combination with the constant torture inflicted on the force sensitives native to Cantoi via the dark force nexus had steeled him to baser influences. His blade would stab forward in an attempt to pierce through the arcane defenses and reach into the core of the altar.

His blade slowly began to make way, it slowly melted through the alchemized stone, it would take time. While he trusted that the woman could hang on he was unsure if she would manage completely unscathed. The damage inflicted upon the altar would send the beast into a rage. It's roars roused the shadows in the cavern, and rustled loose stones from their hangings. It's form seemed to grow larger and it turned it's attention towards the alter.

Now knowing that it's existence was threatened it ignored the Grandmaster and began to charge Gabriel who was now immobile from the concentration and effort of his task.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Ship: Link
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery didn't need to look back to know Gabriel was working. She could feel it — the slow, deliberate press of his energy against the dark altar, the way the Force itself seemed to writhe in protest. The beast must have felt it too, because its rage was shifting, turning away from her.

Her fiery gaze flicked up just as the monster turned, its massive, shadow-wrapped form twisting toward Gabriel, eyes burning with searing, mindless fury. It knew what he was doing. And it was going to stop him.

Valery reacted instantly.

Her free hand snapped up, her fingers curling as the Force surged outward. The falling debris — the heavy stones torn loose by the creature's roars — suddenly froze in midair, held in place as if time itself had hesitated. Then, with a single sharp movement of her wrist, she sent them hurtling forward.

The first rock slammed into the side of the beast's head with a sickening crack, making the cavern walls tremble from the sheer impact. Another followed, and another, striking with enough force to snap its attention away, to stagger it mid-charge. It let out a guttural, agonized screech, claws skidding against the uneven stone beneath its feet as it toppled, crashing down onto its side in a heap of twisted limbs and blackened mass.

Valery exhaled sharply, already shifting into motion. It was down, but not out — not by a long shot. Even as it lay there, its grotesque form writhed, shadows seeping from its wounds like ink spilling into water. It would get up. It would come back harder, angrier.

She just needed to buy Gabriel enough time.

Her grip tightened on her lightsaber as she slowly lowered into a stance, ready to meet the beast's fury again. "Whatever you're doing, finish it!" she called back to Gabriel, her voice unwavering, steady.

Because if it got back up?

She'd be the one keeping it down.

Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn ​

 

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

The strain was immense now, the dark magics at work were potent, whoever had crafted these intricate works was a Sorceror and architect far beyond Gabriel's comprehension. Despite as much he persevered, his blade drove deeper and deeper into the stone works before eventually he began to twist. Any other man would have let out a cry of exertion but his training was thorough and he maintained his silence as the muscles in his lone arm tore.

Still unaware to the conflict around him he leveraged what felt like an eternity to his benefit, and through all his struggles he would unravel the structure. The dark side energies within the monument exploded outwards with great force, once again shrouding Gabriel from view. A psychic wail filled the cavern as the sphere dislodged now from it's pedestal rolled off to the side. Only for a glowing red hand to reach out and grab it.

This very hand settled the orb into a cloth which would shroud it's presence for the time being, allowing easier handling. He could not turn his attentions to the outside world. "Finish it." He said in a calm tone.

The beast had let out another roar as it's power source was cut off, but still it persisted. No longer could it regenerate, and it's mass ever so slowly shrunk. It was only a matter of time before it was helpless, despite this it would charge at it's aggressor! It sought vengance against Valery Noble for disrupting it's attempts at salvation. It would lash out with it's now shrinking claws, wanting to exact vengeance by any means.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Ship: Link
Weapons: Lightsabers

The beast lunged.

Even as its form withered, even as its power was stripped away, it fought. Claws like jagged obsidian lashed out, slicing through the air with desperate fury. It wanted vengeance. It wanted to tear into her, to take something from her before it was dragged into the abyss. But Valery was already moving. The moment it struck, she let go. Not of the fight, not of her focus — but of the physical.

Her body blurred, shifting like a mirage in the cavern's dim light. The claws passed through her as if she were nothing but a ghost. No impact, no resistance — just empty space where she had stood. The beast's momentum carried it forward, its eyes widening in confused rage as it stumbled through her intangible form.

And then — she was behind it. The shift was seamless. One moment she wasn't there, the next — her violet blade was already in motion. A single, precise arc. A clean, efficient slash, cutting through the twisted, shadowed flesh of its neck. The sound of the strike was drowned out by the final, guttural howl of the dying creature.

Its body jerked, twitched — then fell.

The cavern went still.

Valery landed lightly on her feet, exhaling a slow breath as she flicked her blade to the side, dispersing the dark ichor that clung to its edge. The energy that had pulsed through the walls moments before had faded, leaving only the eerie silence of the ruins and the lingering echoes of what had just transpired.

Finally, she lifted her gaze.

Her fiery eyes met Gabriel's, the violet glow of her saber casting flickering light between them. A silent exchange, a moment to assess — to confirm it was over. Then, with a quiet, tired smirk, she deactivated her weapon and let the tension finally ease from her shoulders.

"It's over."

Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn ​

 

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

As far as Gabriel was concerned, this was far from over. The beast had been an interruption, and their alliance one of need. There were questions, he still had yet to determine her motivation for coming here, was it to retrieve or destroy the artifact? He could smell out the fact that the woman was a Jedi.

'My body is worn, and the caves stability has been compromised, any more conflict could spell doom for my mission, let alone myself.' He thought to himself as he locked eyes with the woman. His resolve had never wavered, but his options were thin. He would turn to the last card up his sleeve, diplomacy.

"I have no way of knowing what your intentions are with this artifact, but it's ability to absorb and store dark side energy would serve to save the lives of billions. I cannot surrender it." His voice was calm, and his intentions pure. He was careful with what information he revealed to the woman.

His involvement here could not be exposed to any, and such a powerful woman would have backers of untold might, he could not let anyone get involved the more mystical elements of his planets plight lest he risk disrupting the hard fought balance found by the Red Brethren.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Ship: Link
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's smirk faded.

Her fiery gaze sharpened as she studied Gabriel, searching for cracks in his resolve, for any sign that he wavered in his own convictions. But no — he was steady. Unshaken. He truly believed in what he was saying. That much, at least, was clear. But that didn't mean she agreed.

Her arms crossed loosely over her chest, her stance relaxed but ready. Not aggressive. Not yet. But she wasn't letting this go unquestioned.

"Absorb and store dark side energy?" she echoed, tilting her head slightly. Her tone was unreadable, but there was a weight behind it, an edge of deep-seated wariness. "You do realize the risk in that, right?" She took a slow step forward, her voice lowering — not in intimidation, but in the kind of measured control that only came from experience. From understanding what these things were truly capable of.

"If it can store that kind of power, then it can also be unleashed. Corrupted. Used." Her lips pressed into a thin line. "You say it could save billions, but what happens if it falls into the wrong hands? If someone figures out how to crack it open and let everything inside loose?"

The memories surfaced before she could push them back. She had seen it before. Artifacts, objects, weapons that claimed to contain or control the dark side. And every time, they had led to destruction. Because the dark side wasn't something you could tame. Not truly. Not forever.

Her fiery eyes met his, unwavering.

"Is this really for good?" she asked, her voice quiet but pointed. "Or can it be harnessed for evil just as easily?"

Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn ​

 

[Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn]

"There are men and women just as stalwart as I, just as driven to this task of securing this artifact. There are defenses so potent that even the largest players in the galaxy would find themselves halted, and should it fall into the wrong hands through those defenses then it will have been as the force wills it to be." There was no question of his patritoism, and commitment, she was more than aware of that, and so he set to ease her mind into his way of thinking.

"Through these trials today, you know that this tool was meant to fall into my hands." His master had sent him here, he had known or had an inkling of the trials Gabriel would face, and Gabriel had full confidence that the man acted in pure service to the planet, and that faith in Gabriel would not be wasted.

The man would place the cloth into a container on his hip and he'd begin walking towards the exit of large space that surrounded the two. He would walk up to her, and eventually past her should she not choose to impede his path.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Ship: Link
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's expression didn't waver. If anything, her fiery gaze burned even hotter as she listened, taking in every word, every conviction that Gabriel spoke with such certainty. His faith in himself, in his cause, was unwavering.

But so was hers.

"You think it's meant to fall into your hands?" she repeated, her tone steady but edged with something firm—unyielding. "That it's all the will of the Force?" Her lips pressed together briefly before she exhaled, shaking her head. "I've heard that before."

She had seen it before.

The Force wasn't a blueprint for destiny. It didn't place artifacts into people's hands and declare them the chosen ones. The Force was vast, unpredictable, balanced only by the actions of those who wielded it. And the moment someone believed they were meant to control something like this, to store darkness within it as though it could be safely contained—

That was when the real danger began.

Her stance shifted subtly as he stepped forward, her shoulders squaring. She didn't move aside. Didn't let him pass. When he came closer, he'd find her still standing in his path, a quiet but undeniable presence between him and the exit.

"The Light can do exactly what you claim this artifact does," she said, her voice low but firm. "It doesn't need to store darkness like some caged animal. It doesn't need to risk being corrupted, stolen, or turned into a weapon." Her gaze locked onto his, unwavering. "There are ways to purge the Dark Side without keeping it on a leash. And that's exactly what you're doing — whether you want to admit it or not."

She lifted a hand, palm up, fingers steady. A silent command.

"Hand it over." No anger. No threat. Just certainty. "Before it becomes something that none of us can control."

Gabriel Hynatos Umberhorn ​