Muddy Waters - Trial of Courage - Hawk Solo

[Coci Heavenshield]

Fest Otur Island​

Voss​

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[member="Hawk Solo"]​

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Some time had past since the first trial. Iella, after doing some research, had organised a trip for Hawk and herself to go into the unknown region of Fest Otur Island located in the Pelath-Ri Marshes. This is the site of the old Gormak mines and fishing area and one the Silver Jedi had yet to investigate. After the attack on the Silver Temple by the Gormak, Iella needed to go and see this place and also saw this as an opportunity for Hawk to complete the next trial.

She had sent a message to him to meet her on the edge of Voss-Ka. Iella had prepared a ground vehicle packed with essential items and a good supply of food and water, as there was no telling how long this investigation would take. She had dressed in clothes suited for the terrain, thick trousers and heavy boots, shirt and jacket with all her usual weapons ready on her side or hip.

The time for departure is neigh and she awaited Hawk.

 

[Hawk Solo]

[member="Iella E'ron"]

Hawk received Iella message to meet her. He pack a few things that would help him with terrin and the weather. He wonder if this was his next trial. He kissed Maddie goodbye. "Be a good girl. Love you." He left her with a Padawan who loved taking care of children. It felt weird leaving her alone. He would have rather left Maddie with Cynna, her mother, but Hawk didn't know how to contact her. Cynna was on a mercy mission to help a planet with a health crisis.

Grabbing his bag, he hurries off to met Iella at Voss-Ka. He spots her waiting at the edge of the water. "Hi, sorry I'm late. Babysitter crisis." He says to explain being few minutes late.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Hawk Solo"]

She kept her eyes forward for the moment, sensing the arrival of her Padawan. The vehicle standing ready near by for them to enter the marshes, hummed with warm engines. "No problem Hawk", she finally said but her face remain neutral of expression. There is many levels to this venture into the marshes, but most importantly to begin Hawk's next trial.

"Hawk I have summon you here to explore the mashes with me, there is much here uncharted by the Silver Jedi and it will be dangerous .. moreover this will form part of your trials, I will explain more as we enter the area .. come let us get going". she said as she moved to the vehicle and sat in the passenger seat, Hawk can take the controls.

"The co-ordinates are set already, lets head out".

 

[Hawk Solo]

[member="Iella E'ron"]

Hawk followed Iella into the vehicle. Hawk sat down in the Captain chair. "Ok." He smiles as he throttles the engine. "This baby was built for speed." They set off toward their destination.

"What do you think we will find out here?" He asks as the wind whips through his hair.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Hawk Solo"]

"Nothing much I hope", she said with a smirk as Hawk sped off to the location of Fest Otur Island , "... however, after the attack on the Temple by the Gormak we will have to be alert, I am hoping to locate the old abandoned mines and see if there is anything there that we might be able to use".

In part this was true, she had not told him the entire plan however, but soon he would be facing more then a few darken mine shafts. As the trials moved forward Iella realised this was just as much a trial for her as him. Her mind drifted to the next trial and knew that would be hard on them both.

The speeder soon came to the edge of the marshes .. before them was the open waste land of dank waters and uncharted paths for the Silver Jedi, even though things are planed out, there is always room for unexpected events and they both had to be on guard. Iella asked Hawk to stop the speeder, as they now would have to travel on foot.

 

[Hawk Solo]

[member="Iella E'ron"]

"I hope so too. Maybe we will find a silver mine. For us silver Jedi." He says making a pun. "Of course if we find gold..we will have to change our names." Yeah he was making dumb jokes. It was a way to past time.

He slows down and stops the speeder at the edge of marshes. He gather his belongs and gets out of the speeder. The ground was muddy. "Glad I didn't wear my good boots." He moves slowly. The mud sticking to his boots.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Hawk Solo"]

A smile crossed her face as Hawk joking in his usual way. She is much used to it now .. "We are already the Golden Children of the Galaxy Hawk", she jested back at the thought of all the wonderful people now gathered on Voss. They had arrived and would soon set off on foot and the journey would begin now, the Marshes would hold their own dangers let along the coming mines and what they might find there.

Although they still have some daylight, the skies had now suddenly darkened, as if to signal their arrival and make their progress that much harder as if preventing them on purpose. Dark clouds building up in the atmosphere swirled above them and with occasional flash of lightning. The threat of rain now very real. Iella's eyes lift to the skies and her brow knitted with the sight of it.

"Lets get going. And stick to solid ground where possible". She said with all humour gone and her eyes ahead.

Moving forward, walking of the sodden ground which was solid enough to hold their weight, she moved cautiously .. the waters of the Master brown with festering vegetation and smelled rank with the rot of organic matter. In some places the gases of the Marshes alight with a flame unnatural in a sense, but still provide vision for them. Iella pulled up her cowl and over her head, as the rain began slowly at first.

 

[Hawk Solo]

[member="Iella E'ron"]

The rain was soft at first but soon it was pouring down right. The weight of his cloak was dragging him down. He was tempted to take it off. He decided against that. The cloak was protecting him from the elements.

Lightning lite up the night sky. A clash of thunder made him jump a little. "We need to find shelter Master. The storm is getting worse." A flash of light show a creature 100 yards away from them.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Hawk Solo"]

Indeed there is something up ahead, and Iella reached out through the force find it. A lumbering creature that seem to graze on the soggy marsh vegetation, she could not sense any malice for it, but that mattered not, as Iella is a Master with animal friendship she would soon have it subdued if required. However, she walked onward only looking back from time to time to see if Hawk was close behind.

Her boots quickly mudded and the dank water began to seep through the leather making her feet cold. The rain did not help, soaking her cloak and weight heavy on her back. She shuddered with the chill and began to use Tepas to warm her body, which sent small threads of steam rising from her body.

"Let move on quickly through these Marshes, we need to find the Island that is said to be the location of the mines". Her face turned once more to the skies, as the rain hit it hard there was not sign of it letting up any time soon.

They came to the end of a path, if one could call it that, they would have to double back to find a different way. This would happen a fair amount over the journey, and so Iella not liking the idea .. but saw the need suggested, "I think we might have to split up and see if we can find a clearer path to the mines". She pointed to Hawk to move to the right side and go that way, while she would take the left. "Meet back here in say one hour if you find nothing, I will do the same. Remember we can use the force to communication". With that she left for her path.

[member="Relic"]

 

[Hawk Solo]

[member="Iella E'ron"]

He followed along with Iella until they reached the end of their path. Hawk pulled the cloak around him tighter. "Yes, Master." Iella idea made sense. "See you in one hour." He turns and heads toward the right.

Walking through the brush until he found a rocky path. The rocks were a little slippery but it was better than going through the mud.

 

[Judah Lesan]

Aura masked from the others, Relic had remained in the shadows, tracking their progress. An odd request had come to the shadow from the council member he now had in sight. It seemed a trial was in order, and a darker figure was needed for a test. The knight had agreed to take up his persona, known only as Relic by the order, in order to test the quality of the one he was to encounter.

At the arranged place, the pair split up. That had not been part of the plan. These marshes were overgrown, and while the paths were clear, they had become a mess, near difficult for anyone to navigate. Scanning the area ahead it seemed another path needed to be found. Still while it was unexpected, it provided the perfect opportunity to isolate the man, and begin Relic's part of this journey.

Slow steps tracked through the mud as Relic followed close, close enough that the dark haired man should realize he was being followed. The Shadow remained quiet as he stalked the man, waiting for him to make the first move. The trial of courage had begun, and the man was none the wiser to it. This was a perfect moment.

 

[Hawk Solo]

@Relic@Iella E'ron

A tingling went up his spine. He was being followed. Casually, he turns around. He couldn't see Relic but he could sense something out there. His hand strays to his saber. "Hello." He calls into the dark night.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Hawk Solo"] [member="Relic"]

Iella progressed along her path, the ground giving way in parts and she trod carefully. Her way lead her to the lumbering creature Hawk had seen and as she approached, it's head lifted to look directly at her. It's eyes startled for a moment, only to be calmed by her raised hand as she used to force, animal friendship, to quell it's concerns. This is a natural talent of her's one she has had from an early age.

She approached the beast and laid her hand on it's back stroking it to give no ill will toward it. Soon the beast returned to it's graising and paid her little attention. Iella looked around sensing nothing out of the ordinary, she could sense Hawk in the distance, but no other. However, she knew he is not alone, as arranged. An inward sigh developed as she did not like the trials, much a trial for her as he. As if life in the galaxy is not hard enough then to set the Padawans through this. But still it is necessary.

Her foot step back away from the beast as it shifted it's weight, Iella could not sense the water creature directly behind her, it's presence unable to be perceived through the force. A crawled hand reached up out of the water and wrapped around her ankle and pulled her down into the murky waters. The only evidence that something had happened was her high scream at the surprise. Iella disappeared into the dank waters of the Marshes.

Fighting for breath and against whatever held her she fought in vain. Lower and lower the creature pulled her and she could feel herself drifting away with the lack of oxygen. She remained calm trying to work a solution but none came. She turned to see nothing, no light penetrated the waters and the force blind to her. She lost consciousness.

 

[Hawk Solo]

[member="Iella E'ron"]

He was going to investigate further when he heard Iella high pitch scream. Something was wrong. "Iella." He say to her through the force. There was no answer. His sense of Iella was dark. He had a bad feeling.

Moving as quickly as he can over the rocky path he heads in her direction. His mind totally focus on Iella. He wasn't aware of Relic or anyone else following him.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Hawk Solo"] [member="Relic"]

Iella's body had been dragged unceremoniously up onto the rocky shore line in a cave deep below the surface of the marshes. Dumped there by the unknown creature, a foul smelling nose nuzzled at her body, taking in her scent and roared at the prospect of the meal. But not yet, there are others to hunt and bring down to the depths and the creature let her to return to the surface to hunt the others.

She now lay unaware of anything, although still alive, barely.

If one was to look they might find another entrance to the cave, beyond in the marshes however it would be concealed by very growing mashes and debris.

 

[Judah Lesan]

The scream, that complicated things, but Relic was certain to test Hawk. This was the best time as unfortunate as it was. Coming into the open, Relic positioned himself between the sound of [member="Iella E'ron"] and [member="Hawk Solo"]. His blue lightsaber drawn and pointed directly at the Padawan.

"And where might you be off to in such a hurry, hmmm?

 

[Hawk Solo]

@Relic@Iella E'ron

Hawk frowns. He didn't have time for fight right now. He had to get to Iella. "I don't have time for this nonsense." He force shoves Relic into the marshes. Hawk moves quickly to get past Relic.

 

[Judah Lesan]

Relic threw up a force shield, dissipating the force energy meant to shove him. The Knight wasnt going anywhere. Now the lightsaber's blade pointed to @Hawk Hinata's throat.

"You didn't answer my question."

[member="Iella E'ron"]

 

[Hawk Solo]

@Relic@Iella E'ron

Hawk was stopped short by the man's saber pointed at his neck. "A friend of mine is in trouble. Allow me to pass." Hawk says trying to be reasonable. He didn't want to waste time fighting this man. Iellla needed him. Hawk reaches out into the force to sense Relic.

His senses of Relic were mixed. He wasn't dark enough to be a Sith. What was he?

 

[Judah Lesan]

[member="Hawk Solo"] [member="Iella E'ron"]

"So a friend is in trouble and you want me to just step aside because you in a hurry?"

Relic continued to mask his aura. There was no way with this ability for anyone to detect his alignment. The man would not know he was in fact a Jedi. Which was why he was inclined to let him pass.

"Something unplanned has happened. This is what you will do. You shall allow me to help, but this is your mission. You call the shots."