Irridonia Jaina and the Tombs of Tash Taral (Order of Fire)

[Karrigan'Xalda]

[member="Tempest"], [member="Nima Tann"], [member="Maiev"], [member="Shamira Karuto"], [member="HK-36"]


Hsiss everywhere! Xalda had never faced the cloaked dragons before, having never left Tygara until now. However, though inexperienced, she was not wholly ignorant. Xioquo alchemy had spawned similar monstrosities. When Tempest sent a cloud of sand and dust billowing forward, she revealed the silhouettes of the fiends. Even without this, the Xioquo's pointed ears could hear their hisses and footsteps. Survival instinct took over for Xalda. Preternatural storms and spaceflight were beyond her, battle was not.


Focusing on one of the beasts, she muttered an incantation in her native tongue, beseeching the spirits to heed her call. Her power was concentrated on grasping a reasonably large rock. It took concentration, but she managed to raise and toss it.


A an angry hiss pain emanated from one of the giant lizards when it was struck and bloodied. But though injured, the beast charged her like an ox or battering ram. Xalda lifted her bolter and fired, but the beast was too fast and she missed, though it was scoured by hot shards of shrapnel that cut into its skin. It was too close for her to use the gun safely and she drew her sword, trying to keep it at bay with a series of slashes and stabs, while it clawed at her.


But then the enraged beast rammed her. As she was brought down, she felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. She tried to cartwheel away, but the beast gave her no pause. Its vicious claws sliced at her while it tried to bite her. Her armour was solid duraplast, which protected her to a degree, but she felt a stab of pain when a claw brutally cut into her hip joint.


Unable to escape from being pinned down, she managed to activate the concealed, retractable blade in her right forearm when the beast tried to reach her throat. The small blade was jabbed into the creature's eye, already affected by the sand. The beast cried in pain and briefly relented. Swiftly she rolled aside using her Xioquo agility, grabbed her bolt pistol and when the beast punced at her again she fired into its mouth. The explosive round penetrated its brain, turning it into jellie.

 

[Nima Tann]

It seemed misfortune followed them one after another. First the storm, then the cave started collapsing. Nima followed the others as HK and his group stayed behind, trying to hold the cave together. However, it wasn't the end of their problems. Suddenly, she felt the presence of a foreign creature, and it was nothing good. Growling, yet invisible, she could only understand their movement by the sounds. It was like that until Tempest splattered sand on them. Still, with speed like that, it was quite difficult to determine where they were. First, she attempted to get in their heads and spare them the fight, but she couldn't detect their presence any longer. The battle seemed to be inevitable.

Unfortunately for the creatures, Nima was a good duelist, and a good duelist wouldn't need to see their enemies to know their actions.

So, she activated her lightsaber, closed her eyes and concentrated on the sounds around them, taking her position. The time seemed to slow down, and everything was clear. Footsteps, coming closer. Growling, lots and lots of growling. However, one was closer. And suddenly, she heard a "woosh" like voice, and felt a light breeze touching her skin. One of the creatures jumped, and from the sound and the wind she knew that the target was her. So, she prepared herself, once the creature was about to reach her, she quickly moved out of the way and swung her lightsaber, aiming to slice it as quickly as possible. The creature cried in pain, however it wasn't dead. Not yet. It was raging, to be exact. Now the footsteps were faster.

After a couple of seconds, it jumped again, yet things were in favor of the Twi'lek, now she had more options to determine where the creature was. Blood was seeping from its wounds, which was like a clear trail of where it was. So, Nima pushed it back, using the Force. It was her turn to attack now. She took a breath and launched towards the creature, lightsaber ready to slash. At the same time, the creature started to run towards her as well, now raging with pain, and jumped.

Nima swung her lightsaber once again towards the creature, and with a last cry of pain it fell to the ground.

[member="Karrigan'Xalda"] [member="Tempest"] [member="Maiev"] [member="Shamira Karuto"] [member="HK-36"]

 

[Maiev]

Maiev dived to the ground as a hefty piece of the cave's ceiling came crashing down where she had been standing. The witch groaned as she quickly picked herself up and tried to assess what was going on.

It seemed as though the group wasn't going to catch a break at any point, first the storm now the cave collapsing in over their heads. Whether this was another manipulation of the elements from this mysterious 'Sumiko' person or not, danger was following them no matter what.

Their only option now was to charge right into it, face down the source of it before anything more could be done. And the witch had no idea how true part of that statement was.

As the group ran towards the exit, Maiev spared a glance back to see HK staying with his droids to try and keep their camp from being crushed. Though her focus was immediately brought back to the front with the sound of Tempest being knocked down. Maiev looked everywhere for the attacker, seeing nothing, but picking up the faint presence of five creatures seemingly hidden from plain sight.

<They're Hssiss!> Kalax spoke in unison with Tempest as she took declared the creature's name. But Maiev had little opportunity to assess her advantages before one of the Hssiss jumped towards her. Fortunately Tempest had kicked up the sand in time for the witch to see its roughly outline and manage to jump out of the way. The Hssiss hissed as it turned on its heel and attempted another lunge.

This time Maiev fell to her knees, bending back unnaturally; demonstrating her Vahla flexibility, pushing herself flat against the ground allowing the attacker to soar over harmlessly. Though it was during that moment she noticed the creature's unprotected underbelly. The Hssiss reared up as it tried to swipe at her, Maiev quickly hopped to her feet and dodged its claws. She lacked the heavy duty armour some of the others were wearing, one blow would no doubt do a lot of damage.

Maiev grabbed one of her daggers, twirling to the side as the Hssiss reared up and slammed down, trying to pin her. However the creature seemed to wise up and made use of its tail, swiping it low managingto trip Maiev, sending her face first into the sand. Maiev could feel as the Hssiss leaped to descending upon her, but the witch quickly rolled onto her back; moving just to the side enough so that she plunged one of her daggers into its side. The large gash in the creature's side debilitated it, attempting to try and attack further but was now left to the fate of bleeding out.

[member="Tempest"] | [member="Karrigan'Xalda"] | [member="Nima Tann"] | [member="Shamira Karuto"] | [member="HK-36"]​

 

[Shamira Karuto]

You would think that finally getting to the cave would mean the group was finally safe from this horrible storm. Yet, apparently this Sumiko woman, for whatever reason, really, really wanted their group dead. Cracks appeared in the ceiling of the cave as pieces began to fall near the opening. Once again, for what seemed like the tenth time since they had gotten onto this force forsaken dust ball of a planet, the group of force users were placed in immediate danger.
Boots digging into the sand covered, rock flooring, the Togruta sprinted out of the cave and into the awaiting desert outside. Instantly, something felt wrong. More presence than the group of force users could put off by themselves. Her gloved hand slowly reached down to her belt, pulling the blade from its metallic sheath.
It took her mistress’s warning before she realized what the presence was, and it came just a moment too late. A creature, what she assumed to be large, lunged at her, and without Tempest’s warning, probably would’ve resulted in her head becoming detached from her body due to the padawan diving to the side. Instead, a large maw swiped across her upper arm, cutting along the armor. One of the nails was unlucky enough to catch the fibroweave in between the cracks of her arms, leaving a long, red, bleeding cut on the Togruta’s upper arm.
Shamira came up standing, blade ignited, staring directly forward. Nothing was there. Whatever the thing was, it was cloaked and obviously very hungry. And a direct strike from one of those sweeping paws would do a lot more than leave a deep scratch on her arm.
If she couldn’t see where the thing was directly, there was the possibility she could see what how it affected the area around it. The padawan closed her eyes momentarily, tapping into the force, and opened her eyes to reveal the grey blue hues now how a glossy gaze over them. Her sight had changed, and now she could see how the wind flowed around the group.
While she could still not see the beast directly, the harsh wind blowing from the storm was visibly disturbed around a large mass a few meters in front of her. Smirking lightly to herself, she allowed the monster start forward towards her, then make a long, powerful swipe to her right side, leaving it painfully open. Sidestepping to her left, and with a spin of the blue blade, Shamira plunged the blade into the back of the hssiss’s neck, killing it instantly.
She kicked the thing with the toe of her boot, and with her vision still tapped into the force to allow her to see the flow of the wind, the Togruta turned back to the rest of the party, waiting to see the results of their individual battles and if they required assistance.

​| [member="Tempest"] | [member="Maiev"] | [member="Nima Tann"] | [member="Karrigan'Xalda"] | [member="HK-36"] |

 

[Tempest]

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"] [member="Maiev"] [member="Shamira Karuto"] [member="Nima Tann"] [member="HK-36"]

Sumiko was correct, the real Tempest would be quite scathing towards the Sith. Indeed, to stay in character, more meta comments might be needed. That would be amusing on many levels.

As Sumiko pushed the last glyph the door opened slowly. The weight of years slowly, methodically pushed away by the ancient mechanism.

Wisdom looked around. “We should probably seal it again. We don’t want to go in there right now, do we?” she asked, peering into the darkness.
Darkness? Yes, but there was also a faint light emanating from far into the passageway. A light at the end of the tunnel?

XXX

Tempest looked around at the party. They had acquitted themselves well against the beasts. Minor injuries had been sustained, but nothing major. Not yet.
“Bind up the wounds, use kolto or bacta on them. We need to get going immediately.”

A sentiment underscored when blaster bolts started to fly. In the lowering gloom she could see the Firemane camp ahead, and from there came a hail of blaster bolts. Shadowy figures, hooded and cloaked, aimed and fired from behind speeders or crates.

“Shamira, with me! We’ll draw their fire. Maiev, Xalda, Nima, flank them and break them up.”

It was not a time for sophisticated strategies. Time was running out, she could sense it, and they needed to move.
And so, lightsabre blazing beside her apprentice, she reflected bolts back, firing and advancing between sand dunes, always keeping their attention so their allies could strike. When that happened, her and Shamira would move up and hit them head on.

She shared a mad grin with Shamira. "It'll be just like Kashyyyk," she said. That wasn't exactly a good thing....

 

[Karrigan'Xalda]

[member="Tempest"], [member="Nima Tann"], [member="Shamira Karuto"], [member="Maiev"]


Unfortunately, things would be a bit more difficult than anticipated. Not only did the Sith minions rain down laserfire from blasters and repeaters on the Firemane gang, they also deployed bolters. These weapons did not fire blaster bolts, which could be easily reflected by lightsabres. Instead, they were loaded with high calibre explosive rounds. Armed at launch, the warheads detonated on impact - any impact.


Block them with a lightsabre, and the bolt would blow up in your face, producing a cloud of shrapnel and a powerful shockwave. The air was filled with a staccato of blaster fire as scarlet laser bolts cut through the air, accompanied by the roar of bolters. The distraction team would have to deal with a number of bolter salvoes coming their way. There were other opponents as well, but these fiends were still obscured.


Xalda ran as she advanced between sand dunes, trying to present a less easy target to hit by moving in a zig-zag pattern. To provide a measure of obfuscation, she muttered an incantation to raise some sand. A nearby detonation occured too far away for the shockwave to impact her directly, but the noise was so loud that it temporarily disorientated and deafened her.


With her ears ringing, she hit the dirt, letting out a grunt of pain, even as two blaster bolts skipped over her battle suit. Her energy shield shimmered, then gave up the ghost and she felt a searing burn spread across her chest. No direct penetration, but pain all the same. There would be bruises.


Nonetheless, she would live. Undaunted, she raised her own boltgun and took aim. At this distance, she could see her opponents a lot better. She felt a strong stab of anger when she realised that they were fellow Xioquo, her blood kin.


"Traitors," she hissed, feeling a stab of anger against those who refused to bend the knee to the Karishzar and the Queen. She squeezed the trigger, and her bolter roared. The warhead slammed into a repeater nest, causing a brilliant explosion and cries of agony.


Xalda tried to line up another shot, but then had to keep her head down when enemy counterfire came her way and the Sith minions began to lob grenades. Taking a breath, she got to her feet and advanced, firing as she went.


Her shots could not be precise, but given the wide radius of a bolter's explosive round they could hopefully keep an enemy suppressed and allow her to move towards a better position. It was as she weaved across the dunes that she saw her.


An officer amongst the Xioquo warriors, wearing a stylised suit of armour engraved with dark runes. Her face was masked, but she remembered that presence. She remembered the pain and the whip, she remembered friends being torn apart by warg before her eyes. You've been a most disobedient slave. You're not a person, you're a thing.You forget your place. So it is time to brand it into your mind, the memory washed over her, igniting a fire inside her.


She raised her boltgun to fire, but a blast of air slammed into her helmet and the shot went wide. Gritting her teeth, she spat up gobs of blood, and dropped the gun, drawing her sword instead. Heedless of what else might be going on, she crossed the distance and lunged at her opponent, thrusting the tip of her blade towards the rogue Xioquo's stomach. Her strike was met by an enchanted sword that radiated dark power and both blades clashed in a collision of pure, unrelenting hatred.

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Tempest"], [member="Shamira Karuto"], [member="Nima Tann"], [member="Maiev"]


"Wisdom, we can't delay. I sense the Sith gaining ground," the faux Tempest urged the doctor. Wisdom was kind of cute. Perhaps after their task was done, Sumiko would keep her around. She would probably require breaking, but then the Atrisian Sith Lady did not expect her slaves to be willing.


"We must get to the artefact before the queen catches up with us. Come on. Seal the entrance behind us," putting a little bit of Force into her words, she stepped into the passageway. It was as dark as the night, but light emanated from the far end. Whispers echoed inside her mind and she felt a cold chill that caused a shiver to run down her spine...

 

[Maiev]

While Tempest and Shamira drew the enemy's fire, the remaining three darted into action taking different angles as they moved in towards the Firemane camp. There wasn't much thought to the fact that this was meant to be a friendly camp, all that mattered was the fact they were being fired at, the line between who was their enemy was made clear.

Maiev darted across the dunes, feet light on the sand as she zigzagged back and forth.

Volleys of blaster fire were dodged, some of their foes having caught on to their plan and splitting their attention over towards the flankers. As the fire rate increased, Maiev stopped; sand being kicked up in the process, and threw up a Force Barrier.

Just after a bolt went whistling past her head. She registered the fact it exploded behind her, but it was Kalax's words that alerted her.

<Don't block those!>

The warning came just in time as another bolter was fired, the explosive round soaring straight towards the witch. Maiev was prepared however, and focusing on the Force she dropped the barrier and ducked. But as the bolt went by, she carefully reached out with the Force wrapping it around the bolt. Using the remaining momentum to turn it around and send it returning back to its owner. Although it's trajectory sent it exploding into the ground in front of the speeder he was hiding behind.

It was enough though. Maiev sprinted across the remaining distance. She lunged across the wreckage drawing out both her daggers. The witch slammed into the man, blades stabbing into his chest as both of them crashed into the ground.

Although there was no pause for breath, as Maiev quickly cartwheeled away to avoid another volley of blaster fire. She heard the clink-clank of a bolt about to fire. Instinctively, the witch spun around and threw the Force in that direction. A loud boom echoed across the camp as the explosive bolt was blown up as it left the barrel.

And Maiev was sent flying backwards into a pile of crates.

[member="Tempest"] | [member="Karrigan'Xalda"] | [member="Nima Tann"] | [member="Shamira Karuto"]​

 

[Nima Tann]

It seemed like Sumiko was prepared enough to delay their progress, as once they handled the Hssiss, now they faced cloaked figures who suddenly opened fire at the already battle-weary team. Fortunately Nima didn't even have the time to deactivate her lightsaber, so she deflected the blaster bolts coming towards her way quickly and prepared herself for a counter-attack. Creating a Force Barrier in front of her to shield her from the bolts, she started running towards their ambushers. It didn't take that much of concentration so it was a weak defense, but it would be enough to protect her until she managed to get close enough to launch an attack. However, there was something she didn't think of. She understood it clearly when the explosive bolt hit her shield and well, exploded, throwing her way back from the impact. Fortunately, the shield prevented her from a serious damage, yet didn't stop the small wounds that opened because of her fall.

She felt like her vision glitched for a second there, she could hear a high pitched sound, yet it passed as quickly as it appeared.

Nima stood up immediately, and concentrated on the one who shot her with the explosive bolt, a bubble formed around him and once he hit the trigger, the bolt touched the bubble and exploded inside. Second try, this time Nima, using telekinesis, collected the Force energy around her on top of some of the cloaked figures, and suddenly pushed it towards them. It worked like a fist and hit them, it wasn't enough to neutralise them yet managed to affect their balance. Taking the opportunity, Nima enhanced her speed with the Force and rushed towards them as the blaster bolts flew right above her head, then jumped and landed on one of the cultists, they both fell down and Nima punched the girl hard enough to knock her out.

Once she was in close range, the other cultists also took their blades out and attacked her. She was outnumbered, and attacks came from left and right as she took a few hits, each opening a new wound that hurt the same, however she was trained for this and soon she became victorious. Taking a breath, she moved back from the enemies to support her allies.

It was an endless cycle. Meanwhile they were here dealing with the pawns, Sumiko was going for the checkmate. Nima had an idea to push forward, which was a bit rash for her, but an idea nonetheless.

She created a Force Bubble, enough to get a few people inside. It required a lot of energy, which she was running out of.

"Let's push on! Sumiko's getting away each second we waste here." She shouted with a weakened voice to the group. What she had in mind was to tank the shots all the way towards the tomb, possibly with the help of other group members. Also, someone needed to block the path so that they wouldn't get ambushed again afterwards.

[member="Maiev"] [member="Karrigan'Xalda"] [member="Tempest"] [member="Shamira Karuto"]

 

[Karrigan'Xalda]

[member="Maiev"], [member="Nima Tann"], [member="Shamira Karuto"], [member="Tempest"]


On the bright side, the party would now be able to see the entrance to the tomb in the distance. The structure was a predictably grand and massive monument. No doubt it had been built in such a manner to satisfy the ego of the Sith for whom it served as a final resting place. They just needed to get there. That might be a bit more difficult, but where there is a will, there is a way. Just ask Toyota.


Anyhow, Xalda was a bit preoccupied with satisfying her desire to spill the blood of a former tormentor. Duels between Force-users are oftentimes compared to an elegant dance. This was not the case here. Of course, neither of the combatants were masters. Moreover, Xalda was focused on beating the crap out of her opponent and killing her. So she did not have time for fancy sabre twirling.

​

A great rage powered her as their blades clashed. She alternated between sharp, stabbing thrusts and heavy blows, seeking to pierce her opponent's defences and make her bleed. She wanted to see the Xioquo on her knees, begging for mercy that Xalda would never give her.


She came at her opponent, attacking her furiously. Attacks were landed on both sides, blood was drawn. Xalda dodged a slash and rammed her boot into her opponent's masked face, causing her to spit up blood. Then her blade caught her in the rib. She could feel her enemy was in pain and a feeling of exaltation filled her. But the pain of her injuries only seemed to stoke her enemies' strength, and Xalda was soon back on the defensive. Her enemy's attacks were more surgical and precise.


Xalda parried a great many of her attacks, but felt her enery diminishing. Her tormentor sensed her weakness, drawing upon it to fuel her own strength. Her dodges and parries became more clumsy, and she was drive to her knees when the blade snaked down to stab into her leg.


As Xalda tried to rally herself and parried away strikes, she was struck by a furious blow of the Force when forking arcs of electricity shrieked from her enemy's hand. The force of it sent the Xioquo warrior sprawling backwards, gasping for breath. To make things even worse, she could no longer see anything, for the blast of electricity had made mincemeat of her helmet's HUD, blinding her.


There was only one rather unpleasant option left. With an angry howl she pulled off her helmet, exposing her face to the merciless, cruel sun. White-hot pain surged through her as its rays scorched and blistered her dark skin, for it was unused to the light.


Her opponent raised her sword over her head and brought the end of it down. It was just good luck that Xalda bent her body just the right way, so that it cut into her shoulder instead of removing her head from her torso. The pain of being burnt by the sun was beyond anything Xalda could imagine. As heat burned through her flesh, it dawned on her that she might die here. Slain by one of the oppressors she had escaped from. This gave her strength.


Calling upon the spirits, she kicked at the weapon in her enemy's hands, forcing it upward and pulling the blade out of herself. She was compelled to reach out to her wounded shoulder, but she resisted the urge and focused the strength of the spirits on her enemy, calling on her rage. Concussive force hit her hated tormentor when she hurled the helmet into her chest, driving her backwards, though it did not topple her.


More scarlet lightning blazed her way when Xalda counterattacked, but she pressed on. Avoiding a stabbing attack, she struck low, cutting her enemy down at the knee. She heard her scream and she felt a rush of exhilaration. A cut to the elbow followed. But she was not done yet. Wrapping her willpower around her opponent's helmet, she crumpled it around her head. Her opponent had made her face burn, now she would suffocate her. Eventually, she relented, as her enemy's life force ebbed away. Tearing her helmet off, she cut the slaver's ears off.


More hostile figures were approaching the party. They were wearing Firemane colours, but not of the living anymore. Primal hunger emanated from their auras, for they lusted for their former comrades' flesh. Probably because Sumiko Tanaka had not fed them.

 

[Tempest]

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"] [member="Maiev"] [member="Shamira Karuto"] [member="Nima Tann"] [member="HK-36"]

Wisdom nodded. This would be a fantastic discovery after all. And if they were locked in here then they could uncover the secrets of the maze before the Sith could arrive.
It all made sense. So why did she have a nagging suspicion everything was wrong?
Regardless, closing the door from the inside was easy, simply pulling a lever would close it.

Inside the tomb they proceeded down a passageway until they came to a long, apparently open corridor. It was…bland, no carvings, no reliefs, nothing.
Wisdom held up her hand for ‘Tempest’ to stop. There was nothing to fear here…which is what concerned her.

Then she saw it. In the roof every so often were small projectors of dark metal.
“Stasis trap,” she said, pointing them out. “We need to destroy them. If we step in here we’ll be frozen by the time we’re halfway through.” There were about 12 of them, six per wall.

XXX

Tempest, sensing the enemy had bolters, devised a new strategy. That strategy was called ‘Apocalyptic Onslaught’. She was tired of these motherkarking Sith on this motherkarking planet. Enough was enough.
She couldn’t tank fire against bolters as effectively, so attack became the best form of defence.

Using her jetpack she soared into the air, leaving Shamira to follow behind. As she came down she unleashed arcs of lightning, culminating with an onslaught with her orange blade. Moving in whilst Nima tanked the shots, she came from the flank. Combined with the attacks from the others in the party, they would soon drive off the Sith’s allies enough to enter the tomb.

What saddened her most though was the zombies, the dead who had once been Firemane employees. It made her angry. She would punish this Sith, and if she had hurt Wisdom….

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Maiev"], [member="Shamira Karuto"], [member="Tempest"], [member="Nima Tann"]


Sumiko received a ping in her earpierce, alerting her to the fact that the Firemane goons were breaking through the ambush. By now the tomb ought to be in sight for them. This was mildly annoying, especially since those minions had not come cheap. But she could always get new ones. Especially since she had a cult of brainwashed evangelicals.


Clearly Firemane was a coven of deviant witches and dark cultists that served Azrael, promoting his evil machinations. However, she had more pressing matters to focus on. It was becoming more taxing to maintain the illusion, though it remained for the time being.


"Frozen, huh? That's not the usual M.O. in creepy Sith tombs. Where are the spikes, lava pits and monsters?" the faux Tempest snarked, parodying every Sith tomb in history. Or perhaps just Lady Tanaka's adventure with Vaylin. She kind of missed her feral Zabrak pet. Pulling out her heavy blaster, she began to fire at the projectors.