Never Simple

[Pom Stych Tivé]

Nightsister Mistress Pom Stych Tivé just discovered her paternal roots among the living. She possessed no prior anticipations that such a welcomed discovery would ever surface. In just an instant, her life changed dramatically. Pom met her Grandfather, her only surviving link to her Late, and very much beloved, father.

She spent a great deal of time in his presence upon their first meeting, and also in isolation meditating during these past few weeks within the Temple of the Dragon Sith on Mygeeto. He happens to be a Sith Lord, a warrior, very virile indeed, and Pom absolutely cherishes him! She only recently began spending more time among the Sith, to get to know Acolyte [member=Vereshin] whom she immediately adored the moment they met. Her Grandfather, esteemed among the Sith as well, gave Pom cause to anticipate that she would spend more time away from Dathomir than usual. When the time came that her Grandfather needed to depart, Pom and he exchanged blessings and promises that either would travel the galaxy for the other when in need, or on a mere whim alike.

It was upon the moment she bid her Grandfather farewell, that she perceived a sudden notion out of nowhere to visit Vjun. Her spirits were quite in tune with pleasing her, as she loves artifact hunting, and imagined she could present [member=Lord Depravious] with a token of her esteem. A rare artifact, or relic would be a perfect gift. She fantasized about what she might uncover there, as the planet had always held a great deal of interest to many treasure hunters among the galaxy. It had belonged to a notorious Sith, Lord Vader. Her entire time traveling alone in her vessel, her expectation to acquire something remarkable on Vjun only magnified within her imagination.

Its no surprise that when she dropped into the atmosphere of Vjun, she felt a stab at her heart to discover that Bast Castle is being coveted and occupied by someone. Were she Sith born, such privatization might feel like a sacrilege! But for the Nightsister, only that the artifact hunt is ruined is the sacrilege. She learned this fact rather unexpectedly, when immediately upon her descent, the once rusty and inoperable turrets were found fully functioning once again. She saw the activation lights blink as the weapon rounded and turned toward her ship’s direction, however she only saw one turret, where there happen to be more. Her display console flashed a request in galactic basic for her to reply with an entry permission code, which there is no way she could answer.

Coming in fast, she had only a few seconds to reroute her trajectory as she quickly closed in upon her destination. Pom cringed as she scrambled to recover her predicament. She slammed down the airbrake to slow her vessel’s approach, and jolted her helm to climb, setting her new path head on with another turret. Her original descent interpreted as hostile by the unexpectedly activated automated defense system, reacted as quickly to her detriment. Pom’s ship took a hit and began to plummet.

The vessel jolted hard and began to vibrate and roar, the exhaust emitted a plume of smoke which trailed straight down over the castle. The sorceress gripped the metal walls inside in a death grip fighting with all her might to dash for the hatch. She held the valve tightly as the ship spun around in the air, her feet lost hold. Rather than a curse, an enchantment was upon her lips, augmenting her muscles to achieve her goal. By the power of her craft, she managed to open the hatch, and found herself free of the vessel, falling towards the ground as her ship was completely destroyed by the turrets. The sorceress immediately Apparated into thin air.

She did not avoid the castle, but rather felt it owes her a monetary token now for her loss. Pom Stych Tivé traversed through the air herself, appearing as a streaming trail of smoke, likened in visual to black ink dripped into a glass of water. She remembered how she entered the locked towers before, and headed towards them now. She found a small crack in the window glass which would allow her access once again, just like her last visit. She would hide up in the tower if she must, and try to locate a transmitter, at least until she learns what type of people possess Bast Castle.




[member=Ra'a'mah]

 

[Riamah]

Ra was actually cooking herself dinner when Vincent came running into the kitchen. Now to see such an old man move so fast rather comical, his expression clearly wasn't. Looking up at him as he entered, she allowed him the time it took to catch his breath.

"Miss Ra, the turrets just activated and a ship has been shot down on the grounds. However, it is unlikely the pilot survived."

Listening to what he said, Ra turned off the stove and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you Vincent. Help yourself to the food, I'll make more later and after I've investigated what happened. There's something more at play here."

She left the kitchen and went to her room. Taking a couple minutes to change her clothes and gather up her weapons, she went upstairs to check the video feed from the turrets. There was something odd about one of the views. Smoke normally rose, but a clear stream had headed directly into the castle. Taking a note of the location within the building, Ra shut the feed off and went to the upper floor.
​
Reaching out with the Force to find where her company was hiding, Ra cloaked herself. Both visually and within the Force, at least for now. It was obvious the person was at least sensitive and may well have already felt her. Following to where the source of power was, Ra now stood outside of the closed door that was in tower.

Making herself visible now, she opened the door, but didn't enter the room. She didn't even stand where she could be shot or attacked if that was the intention of the person that had just crashed into her castle.

"Come out of the shadows."

It was all she said and ​now waited for the response from the person in hiding.

[member="Pom Stych Tivé"]

 

[Pom Stych Tivé]

The room the Nightsister Apparated into from the outside had been one of the rooms long locked. It required a great deal of magick to unlock the last time she had been at the castle. Learning that it was no longer locked caused her heart to sink a bit more. There had been so many locked doors for so many centuries. She wanted to acquire something fit for her Grandfather, not access into a room already pillaged and obviously redecorated.

When she heard a woman demand she show herself, Pomst merely sneered and ignored the invitation. No, ‘are you ok?’ was asked of her. Pom stood in the room in front of a desk with her back to the door. Wether she would be seen or not from the door, she did not know. If she could be, her hostess would see a small thin woman with long straight black hair, wearing a black wide flat brim hat, dressed in a long black leather dress, which buttoned all up the front, in black tie boots.

Pomst just lost her ship, and will not be forced to let go of fulfilling her mission. She slowly put her fingers into her pocket, and removed a pinch of invisibility powder, and casting it before her feet while whispering an short incantation in Paecean, the sorceress generated herself invisible through her magick. The sorceress always conceals her apothecary in her inner vest pockets. A sinister laugh escaped her. She just escaped death, now its time for a little fun!

Bast Castle has always meant alot to her, since she was first brought here by her mother. She wondered what vain family would covet such a historical residence. Relics are of great value among her people. They sold many to outsiders. Pomst wore such tools of her trade upon her person at all times. She wore silver amulet rings and dangling tinkly bracelets, and a bone necklace comprised of the finger tips of her victims. Each soul she commanded, was linked to her through her magick.

Pomst was arrogant. She walked to another locked door, and Apparated her body through the keyhole. She looked at everything she passed, like she were sauntering through a flea market.

 

[Riamah]

Her years in the castle, Ra knew the area they traversed right now. The relics these rooms had kept, at least those with any power or knowledge had been removed and placed in her library which was in a different area. If her visitor was looking for any of those, they would not be found here any longer. These rooms were now more storage or even empty as Ra had no use for whatever they had contained.

She knew when Pom moved, even though she couldn't physically see her. The presence in the Force wasn't guarded and it became obvious to Ra this had been turned into a game. Letting out a sigh, when she got her hands on the child playing in her castle, that child would learn better.

"Come out, come out wherever you are."

Lightly speaking the sentence, Ra waved a hand and unlocked the door to the room Pom had entered.
​
"It's obvious you're not hurt and you can see me."

Ra held up her hands to show they were empty of any weapons.

"What are you doing here, child?"

[member="Pom Stych Tivé"]

 

[Pom Stych Tivé]

'Child?!' she took offense.

“I am here to learn about the family who is squatting inside a historical monument of the Empire,” she proclaimed with an air of stark arrogance.

Pomsty went from room to room, snickering at the lady who spoke and helplessly followed her. She found everything of historical significance removed! The meditation chamber is now turned into a Grandma’s sewing room! “How quaint.”

Nobody could have enough money to up and just purchase a home of this much historical significance. She wondered if the antiques had been sold to purchase the new hideous wallpaper!

Unamused, she traversed through many of the rooms upstairs. Disappointed with the lack of trinkets and bobbles, she began to aimlessly skip throughout the castle, her fingers touching everything she could as she went. Hanging things swayed on their hooks, tapestry was flung into the air as she passed. She played cat and mouse with her seemingly helpless victim trailing after her, making it apparent that she would not respectfully reveal herself without being forced to. Until…

Pomst raced down the eloquent staircase, laughing at her hostess all the way. She stopped dead in her tracks when she came to the grand foyer. “What insult is this?!” she spat, now physically appearing before all, clad in black suede from head to tow, her bone straight hair flipped over her shoulders and covered her face, due to her halting so suddenly. A tear haplessly ran down her alabaster cheek.

Darth Vader is a significant historical figure, rather favorite of the young sorceress Pom Stych Tivé. She imagined her Late father had lived just as the Force wielding hero whose image stood as the sole representation of him, -until recent development where she actually saw her father's beloved reflection in a statue of his likeness. Pomst gasped as she looked over the area where the statue had been, her hair retreating from her widened eyes. The famed, ginormous statue of Darth Vader no longer here.

“Is that a-n…aquarium where the grand statue of the Dark Lord of the Sith had once been proudly erected??” Never in her life had she expected any such disappointment as witnessing this sacred spot tarnished in this way. The representation of her father in her head, that was always revered and strong, suddenly crumbled. It stabbed at her heart.

 

[Riamah]

Allowing the child to have her games, Ra went back into stealth. If Pom looked close enough, she might see where Ra was as it looked like there may be a slight bending of the light around her. Where the girl went though, Ra followed. At the answer that was provided, Ra jerked her head back slightly.

"What family? It's just me and a handful of servants, girl."

The sound of her voice would reveal her location if Pom decided to follow it. She didn't and instead left the upstairs. Nodding more to herself than Pom, Ra let out a whistling noise. Within moments there was a nexu cat at her side. Letting out a few silent hand signals, the cat followed Pom as well as the sith.

When what happened to be a young woman came out of her cloaking, Vincent appeared the bottom of the stairs. A look of offense was on his face, he raised a hand and lowered it quickly. Ankhaara dashed silently down the stairs to rather carefully pounce on Pom unless she moved out of the way. To prevent the girl from escaping, Ra attempted to place a force hold on her. If it worked, the young woman wasn't going anywhere.

"Just dropping in for a visit? The fish belong to him and the statue was already gone when I acquired the castle."

Walking down the stairs after the girl, Ra revealed herself again. Both within the Force and to the visual spectrum. The young woman hadn't done any harm to anything inside and Ra took the break-in in stride and just looked neutrally at Pom, waiting on an answer.

[member="Pom Stych Tivé"]

 

[Pom Stych Tivé]

Pom Stych Tivé saw a wrinkly old man, then saw the floor…the cold stone floor. ‘I’ve been glomped.’ She could not move. ‘Damnit.’ At least the floor is cleaner than she has ever seen it before.

“Dropping in is something that happens…immediately after your ship gets blasted out of the sky.” The turrets were only rusted rooftop junk for hundreds of years, including the last time Pomst had traveled here.

“This place used to be a grand experience, great for treasure hunting. One would never be the only scavenger present, and you’d have to cover your arse from others. I could not imagine it true that someone would ever covet this place,” and she meant, ever! For a moment she thought it a joke, until she saw that the statue removed.

From her place upon the clean floor, she notice something quite peculiar. The sunlight that streamed in, hit just perfectly to illuminate something, curiosity urged her to investigate. She bet there is something the castle’s new resident doesn't yet know.

Pomst waited patiently for her hostess to release her. She tried to charm the two and kitty best she could, short of just blurting out incantations to force her way.

“Pom Stych Tivé,” the Nightsister announced. "And you are?"


[member=Ra'a'mah]

 

[Riamah]

When Ra appeared, Vincent relaxed and stepped back. He may not be able to use the Force, but the girl had attempted to do something to him. Having been through so much stuff in his life, he did not fall prey to her spell, but he didn't know he had resisted anything. The nexu however had been trained by Ra through more mundane methods and climbed off Pom at her request.

Ra looked between Ankhaara and Pom still on the floor, shaking her head. She released her force hold on the woman and gave her a very stern look. If the younger woman attempted to run or disappear again, Ra would place that hold on her again. However, neither Ra nor Vincent moved to help her up.

"I wasn't expecting any visitors, so my defenses were up and armed. They were already that way when I moved in here though, child."

There may only be about ten years difference in their ages, but Ra knew this bothered the younger woman.

"This place can obviously still draw attention. This time though, the artifacts have been more secured than they were..."

A touch of danger filled her voice, almost daring Pom to try and take them from her. At the introduction, Ra did finally extend her hand to the woman. If she was still on the floor it would be to help her up or if she was standing to shake.

"Ra'a'mah Numare. Call me Ra, everybody else does."

 

[Pom Stych Tivé]

The old dude scowled at her charms, to which Pomst merely stopped attempting to talk her way out of pissing him off and simply accepted the fact that she had, entirely so, and that he would not be swayed to forgive her for her intrusion any time soon. She returned to him the queerest of expressions which would relay to him that she too is not impressed by his lack of humor…nor responsibility. Afterall, they had shot her ship out of the sky without much more than seconds of warning. Only a seasoned flier would have succeeded in avoiding a hit. She avoided absolutely nothing, as her ship was exploded into fragments.

The actions of the older woman to call Pomst child made her scoff. It only made Meemaw seem older than she was. What old lady would truly want that?! Pomst cackled at the thought. “Meemaw!” she said aloud, as she stood.

“Just one more thing, however…just a curiosity…” Pomst figured, how the stones of the flooring appeared in their alignment, and the level of wear and dust between them, maybe her Highness has no inkling of the presence of the trigger in the floor. At least, that is how Pomst perceived it. The Sorceress took a few steps over towards the old dude, and she shrug her arms at him as if mocking a flailing towards him. She wanted him to step back just a tad. She has little respect for the servants who do not respect those who are gifted. Pomst stomped her foot atop the lone stone that triggered a loud set of gears in motion. A large portion of the wall not only fell away, but also tore apart a tapestry.

“Ooo…erm,” she pursed her lips in astonishment. “Sorry about that, Meemaw. It is an accident. You shouldn't leave triggers in your flooring. Stuff happens and secret passageways get triggered. You know?”

Pomst studied the old maid’s face to see if she could learn wether the inhabitants of this grand monument even knew of the passageway. She stood and cocked her head to one side.

From the depths of the passageway, a loud grinding noise echoed throughout the house. It was the original owner's prize guardian, a droid, programmed to come to life upon the opening of the door.

“Rat problem?” Pomst asked, Meemaw. “Perhaps kitty would enjoy venturing in there and evicting them.” The level of decibels which rang through the great room, coming from something she could have no clue regarding what it is, Pomst did not want to go into the secret passageway any longer.

Perhaps its time to be on her way? Wait... How would she do that? No ship!

 

[Riamah]

Ra took a deep breath at the name the young woman called her and waved her hands up slightly. Vincent just stood his ground and watched her. When Pom came waving and flailing her arms at him, he just shook his head and stepped back. It was obvious Ra had the situation under control and would take care of their visitor. He just hoped there wasn't going to be the need to clean up blood when she was done. It hadn't happened yet, but there could always be the first time.

At the odd words and actions of Pom, Ra furrowed her eyebrows. Keeping a close eye on the young woman, she wondered what exactly she was up to.

"Why do you think that are has been left alone? Now look, those rats are going to come out and eat you!."

What was in the passage was unknown to Ra and she had left it alone. Somethings were better left undiscovered. Rolling her eyes, she would attempt to take a firm hold of Pom and turn to her toward the now open portal. The sounds coming from it were quite intimidating even to her.

"You brought this on us, we deal with it together and then MAYBE I'll consider letting you go."

[member="Pom Stych Tivé"]

 

[Pom Stych Tivé]

“I will take the recompense for my ship, in any form.” Pomst referred that the ward of the historical castle would pay her directly for her financial loss, through found treasure or just have to pay out for damages to her estate, period. Either method would make her happy. She does not intend to leave until she feels justice served. Even a token shard from the great statue that had been of Darth Vader would have made her giddy with excitement, but inside all she finds is typical modern day furniture and knickknacks which she is not interested in. Communing with the soul of Vader had been interesting in her past. Her past relic of the statue gathered, long gone, after serving a magickal purpose. It is not fair at all to have her ship exploded and not come away with anything offered for compensation.

The loud clanking inside the passageway intrigued her, immensely. She scoffed when Meemaw made such a big deal about the clamoring resounding inside the hidden hall. Pomst would not let this woman see her afraid of the unknown. She wondered that the whole ordeal could be a hoax by the so-called owner. Even seeing a Deed to the property, she still would not accept that such a prestigious palace would fall into anyone's hands to be occupied as a residence, rather than be preserved, or allow it to be kept as a museum. Pomst once slept here, during the night, right at the foot of the old statue, toppled as it was back then. She could not wrap her head around letting go of many a darksider’s stomping ground, to convert it into a common household.

The hostess seemed surely alerted by the loud noises which emanated from the passageway, that caused Pomst a devilish smirk. Her personality quite the antagonist, coaxed by the demons she currently entertains. She brushed off her palms and eagerly entered the stone archway. Surely a castle holds secrets, not all can be known by its inhabitant…singular; as so far the matron has bragged of solely coveting this majestic architecture.

The screeching sound seemed off in the distance, and the halls were long left dusty and neglected, seemingly unexplored altogether. Pomst was not fooled that what lay herein are sheer mysteries to the mistress of the house she calls Meemaw. Her interest peaked at the thought of possibly obtaining treasure!

She went quickly through the corridors, expecting Meemaw to catch up. A laboratory opened up at the end of this first corridor, others branched off along it.

 

[Riamah]

Her demand was met with a slightly, "humph", sounding grunt, but nothing verbal to clue her in as to how Ra felt about her dropping in for a visit. The fact the girl hadn't expected anybody to be living here was her mistake. Ra wasn't the first person to live here and wouldn't be the last. While the young woman may not have thought it fair, it was what she got for dropping in like she had.

Picking up on the curiosity of Pom for whatever was making that noise, Ra would nudge her in front of her and start heading into the revealed passageway.

Allowing the girl to lead, Ra held in one hand one of her short saber hilts and blaster in the other.

Dust stirred up under their steps and the cobwebs almost seemed to shrink from their approach. Maybe it was the new draft that caused this, but it didn't matter to the sith. What did concern her was that noise. It sounded like metal on metal which would indicate it was of robotic in nature and she had a fear of them. Amusing as it was, the lord still held fear for some things and robots were one of them.

"Have you found the rats yet?"

[member="Pom Stych Tivé"]