Faction New Blood // Inaugural Trials

[Kivah]

Returning to the boy, Kivah took her hatchet like ax back and set to work on her own Tuk'ata's mangled head. She had no small amount of experience butchering animals with her father or when hunting alone, but this beast was unlike others before. Scales that robbed the blow of power unless struck from the side, and a thick leathery hide. Still, she was soon through and set the head aside to dismember a foreleg at the shoulder joint, eventually working it free from the socket with a few good hits at the joint and a few cracking snaps followed by a loud pop as she twisted the limb free after cutting the meet clear of the joint. "I think you're right about seeing how it tastes. And even if it's bad, a claw or two would make a fairly neat trophy."

Settling the muscular limb over her right shoulder, Kivah casually let the head dangle from her other hand by its dislocated and mangled mouth, leaving little doubt in anyone who saw her just how she'd killed it. "If you're good, let's head back," she offered to Micah, before starting the trek back to the mouth of the Valley of Dark Lords. Once again, the helmet of her suit folded shut around her head, keeping the sand and grit out of her nose and eyes.

As they walked, Kivah kept a wary eye out for poachers looking to steal their trophies. Her eyes scanning the dark crevices and walls for hidden danger and any extra footprints the winds hadn't scoured away along the valley floor. Idly, she wondered what it'd be like to fly between the steep cliffs and around the sharp corners, and decided to see if she could get permission to fly the Reaper Kai on a lap or two. Probably not, as many times as the place had been bombed, the last thing the teachers probably wanted was a careless student rounding a corner right into a statue of Sith Lord Nargally Doom or whoever. Under her helmet, the Udyr began absorbing the spilled Tuk'ata blood alongside her own along her fingers and the surface of the suit. More nutrients to replace what the biosuit needed to heal itself.
Micah tol Powl

 

[Madrona A’Mia]

The inaugural trail of the mind set before the students of Kor'ethyr was drawing to a close. A ten minute warning had been issued and most had either proven themselves, been too fearful to try, or met with varying degrees of failure. One student however had spent his time in careful consideration, then had watched most of the others attempt their trial with keen, cruel, observant green eyes. He remained silent and methodical, not relying on socialization with any peers before announcing the completion of his own trial.

He was a tall and willowy student with smooth pale skin like scar tissue had lank black hair which draped down to his middle back. The young man appeared somewhat ethereal, as if he'd recently stepped out of a river. He was known to A'Mia though she maintained her same air of clinical detachment when he stepped forward to offer his results, she knew he was top of his class and brought much honor to House Derriphan.

True to form, he stepped into the testing chamber and provided a succinct summary of his thoughts before confidently drinking three of the vials. Because he had chosen to watch and wait, he was the very last student to complete his trial and that gave A'Mia the faintest room to use his success as a teaching moment. It didn't hurt that he was also representing her favored house so well. She ushered him out of the chamber again and spoke to all still gathered.

"Your peer has not only succeeded, but he was clever enough to discover a second more complicated solution to this riddle. He identified the deadly poison but instead of shying away from it- which was also an acceptable solution -he correctly identified the antidote hidden within one of the other vials. So he chose to nullify the poison by first ensuring the antidote was ready to greet it in his system. Those of you who solved this riddle in the more straightforward way, take note of your peer and seek to learn from him."

With that, students were dismissed. A'Mia quietly offered the young man a more personalized compliment while offering to introduce him to the gathered Sith Lords and interested investors who had watched the trial.

Ending of

 

[Chasianna]

Location: Desert of Golg - Korriban
Tag: Marcus Dinn

Chasianna dived back from the thrashing tuk’ata as its tail lashed out towards her, nearly taking off her head in the process. Fortunately, Marcus managed to get on the creature’s neck, plunging his dagger in and out of the flesh as agonized roars escaped from its maw. The tiny Qilin moved to attack again, only to come away with a shallow gash down her side as the beast snapped at her with its claws, ripping open the fabric of her outfit in the process.

A white-hot pain seized Chasianna’s awareness then, drawing a piercing cry from her lips as she reeled back, throwing herself out of the path of another swipe in the process. A hand placed against the wound on her side came away slick with her own blood. Fortunately, her body was already beginning to effect moderate repairs, quickly stemming the bleeding in spite of the wound’s depth.

Nevertheless, Chasianna gave a low growl, before tearing off the ruined robe to reveal the sleeveless undershirt that she wore beneath. And yet, as much as the Qilin wanted to finish off the tuk’ata herself, she sensed the approaching malevolent presence as well.

And doubtlessly, the undead smelled blood.

“I’m okay. Save your pet.” Chasianna answered, gritting her teeth. “I will take care of the undead.” She growled.

And just as she did, the zombies began to charge with eerie, jerky movements, before lunging towards her with explosive alacrity!

Spoiler: Loadout

• Shell Spider Silk Sith Uniform with Synth-Leather Gloves, Boots, and Banded Belt
  
  • Atmosphere Mask
  • Gauntlets
    
    • Gauntlet Comp - R
      
      • Loaded with FAE/S-11 Universal Communication Matrix
  • Utility
    
    • FAE/C-05 Infiltration Suite
    • Fibercord Grappling Hook / Liquid-cable Launcher
    • Aqua Breather
    • Glowrod
    • "PureSucculent" Filtration Straw
    • Energy Capsules
    • Spare Filters
    • Water Canteens
  • Boots
    
    • FAE/A-14 Energized Foot Gear
      
      • Jetboot Thrusters Removed
• Fuchsia Edge (2)

 

[Marcus Dinn]

Chasianna
​

Marcus was barely aware of what he was doing as he charged at the tuk'ata. He stabbed it again and again, his lightsaber piercing deep into the creature's flesh, hacking away at its neck. The creature roared, releasing Mali as it bucked and thrashed violently, finally slamming its head into the acolyte as it collapsed.

Marcus was knocked flat on his ass. He sat up, then gawped as Chasianna ripped off her torn robes, his eyes wide.

“I’m okay. Save your pet. I will take care of the undead.”

In his blind rage, he'd forgotten about the zombies. They descended upon the two acolytes in a horde, drawn to the scent of blood. Marcus reignited his lightsaber and cut through the few that managed to get past Chasianna's defense, determined to protect his beelzebork.

Mali lay in a bloody heap beside the dead tuk'ata, her chest heaving with labored breaths. Marcus knelt down beside her, wrapping her body in his cloak and lifting it in his strong arms. "Forget it!" he shouted to Chasianna. "There's too many of them! We have to get to higher ground!"

Was he just being cowardly, or were the odds truly against them? Better safe than sorry. As the hordes of undead began to surround the Chasianna, intent on overwhelming her, Marcus used the Force to pluck the little Qilin out of the dogpile, slinging her under one arm and Mali under the other as he dashed away from the zombies with long-legged strides.

 

[Chasianna]

Location: Desert of Golg - Korriban
Tag: Marcus Dinn

The first undead to arrive was struck down in short order, a leaping slash separating its head from its body to send the former flying while the latter crashed hard into the sand. After the first one came another, which Chasianna struck through the forehead with a blinding shiak, shredding bone and brain matter in the process. A third Jen’ari came at her from the opposite side, at which point Chasianna unsheathed her second vibroblade and spun around on the balls of her feet, the weapon lashing out in a slash that separated the zombie’s legs from its torso.

Chasianna knew immediately that it was still active and dangerous in spite of the grievous injury that she had inflicted upon its rotting flesh.

Unfortunately, more of the undead arrived, their shambling, yet explosive movements allowing them to quickly surround Chasianna as her vibroblades lashed out. A leaping 360-degree spin allowed her to cut down four undead at once—two sai chas followed by two sai toks delivered with blistering speed. Then, the Qilin aimed a descending kick to one of the crawling, legless zombies as she came down from the apex of her jump, immediately pulping its skull via a powerful shockwave that exploded out from the heel of her boot.

Nevertheless, Chasianna gritted her teeth as more of the undead charged in her direction, compelled by the smell of her blood. Suddenly, the Qilin was a whirl of movement, vibroblades ripping and tearing in brutal fashion as she danced free of the touch of their claws and teeth. In moments, four more of the zombies were left with their heads separated from their bodies, while several others crawled through the sand with one arm, two arms, or even flopped in the manner of pinnipeds.

And that was not the last of them.

Chasianna groaned, suddenly feeling lightheaded as the blood seeping from her wound turned a rich shade of blue. Nearly losing her balance, the tiny Qilin stumbled and dropped onto a knee, only stopped from falling by planting the tip of her vibroblades into the sand. It was just enough for the remaining wounded zombies to nearly swarm her before she found herself suddenly thrown skyward, a scream on her lips before she was deposited a safe distance away.

Mali lay in a bloody heap beside the dead tuk'ata, her chest heaving with labored breaths. Marcus knelt down beside her, wrapping her body in his cloak and lifting it in his strong arms. "Forget it!" he shouted to Chasianna. "There's too many of them! We have to get to higher ground!"

“We...have to get a trophy!” Chasianna gasped, clutching the wound on her side as she drew herself back onto her feet and shook her head. Pushing Marcus away, she ran towards the dead tuk’ata and slashed her vibroblade through its neck, instantly separating the head from the body. “Cover me while I shove this inside my bag!” The Qilin called out.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Shell Spider Silk Sith Uniform with Synth-Leather Gloves, Boots, and Banded Belt
  
  • Atmosphere Mask
  • Gauntlets
    
    • Gauntlet Comp - R
      
      • Loaded with FAE/S-11 Universal Communication Matrix
  • Utility
    
    • FAE/C-05 Infiltration Suite
    • Fibercord Grappling Hook / Liquid-cable Launcher
    • Aqua Breather
    • Glowrod
    • "PureSucculent" Filtration Straw
    • Energy Capsules
    • Spare Filters
    • Water Canteens
  • Boots
    
    • FAE/A-14 Energized Foot Gear
      
      • Jetboot Thrusters Removed
• Fuchsia Edge (2)

 

[Marcus Dinn]

Chasianna wasn't having any of his cowardly rescue. The Qilin tore free of his grasp; his eyes followed her, but his feet kept moving, dashing several feet further away from the encroaching zombie horde.

“We... have to get a trophy!” Chasianna gasped, clutching the wound on her side as she drew herself back onto her feet and shook her head. Pushing Marcus away, she ran towards the dead tuk’ata and slashed her vibroblade through its neck, instantly separating the head from the body. “Cover me while I shove this inside my bag!”

Marcus carefully deposited Mali a safe distance away from the fighting, tossing a small portable kinetic shield beside her for good measure. Then he leaped back into the fray, blue lightsaber blazing.

Though he managed to look cool and confident as he cut swathes of undead down with his blade, the acolyte's true fear was apparent in his voice as he yelped over his shoulder at Chasianna: "Make it fast!"

Chasianna​

 

[Chasianna]

Location: Desert of Golg - Korriban
Tag: Marcus Dinn

“Cover me while I shove this inside my bag!” The Qilin called out.

Even as the words left her lips, Chasianna immediately knew that the head, in fact, would not fit inside her pack. No matter how much pushing, shoving, cramming, or dumping of its contents that she did. All such efforts would be futile. The head was simply far too large, having been attached to a creature that was more than 2 meters high at the shoulder.

But fortunately, she had straps to attach it to the pack, instead.

Without turning around, Chasianna stabbed her vibroblade straight through the skull of a zombie that had been crawling towards her with one arm, before setting the weapon aside. Drawing on every bit of her willpower, Chasianna gritted her teeth as she set to work. The pain from the wound struck across her side pulsed insistently within her awareness. However, in committing her focus to the task, her mind subconsciously grasped the pain, before channeling the sensation into Focus.

Though he managed to look cool and confident as he cut swathes of undead down with his blade, the acolyte's true fear was apparent in his voice as he yelped over his shoulder at Chasianna: "Make it fast!"

Three straps. Chasianna had wanted to do six, but three would have to do until she could make it to safer ground.

“I’m finished!” Chasianna called back only a couple seconds later. Then, the Qilin collected her vibroblade and stood up. The tuk’ata’s head was heavy—more than 23 kilograms weighing her tiny frame down. It would have been nigh-impossible for anyone else her size to lift it, much less run with it. Nevertheless, she managed the feat with only a sharp grunt, hyper-augmented musculature allowing her body to bear the weight as she made her way back towards the redhead with fast, yet deliberate steps in order to avoid displacing the load.

“Let’s move!”

Spoiler: Loadout

• Shell Spider Silk Sith Uniform with Synth-Leather Gloves, Boots, and Banded Belt
  
  • Atmosphere Mask
  • Gauntlets
    
    • Gauntlet Comp - R
      
      • Loaded with FAE/S-11 Universal Communication Matrix
  • Utility
    
    • FAE/C-05 Infiltration Suite
    • Fibercord Grappling Hook / Liquid-cable Launcher
    • Aqua Breather
    • Glowrod
    • "PureSucculent" Filtration Straw
    • Energy Capsules
    • Spare Filters
    • Water Canteens
  • Boots
    
    • FAE/A-14 Energized Foot Gear
      
      • Jetboot Thrusters Removed
• Fuchsia Edge (2)

 

[Aramea Bel]

No idea who is where or what or how at this point lmao
​

Deep down into the earth her root-bones delved. Deep through the sand, the clay, into the very body of Korriban itself, its living husk thrumming with life. Or that was what Aramea had expected at least. But the further they drove their root-bones, the more disturbed the Sithspawn became. Where were the vibrations of the walking creatures? Or the quiet shifting of the insects beneath. Even the cold wind they felt upon their skin was dead and unfelt deep down below the earth. All the way down, until their roots could not pierce the impenetrable bedrock.

Aramea suddenly felt very, very afraid.

All they knew. All they'd been made for. All the things they understood about the galaxy, Korriban rejected them. Was this why Mother had challenged them. Why she had told Aramea to choose a trial that would truly make them struggle?

Were they to learn that this was the dark side? Empty and cold. So cold. Why always cold!?

The sand around Aramea exploded outwards, a wave of cutting grains thrown into the air leaving behind a perfect rippling circle as they screamed for the first time in their short life.