Faction [NJO] Ashes of Belkadan

[Valery Noble]

Belkadan

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

The jungle world of Belkadan had once been vibrant — a paradise of dense forests, rich ecosystems, and untouched beauty. That was before the Yuuzhan Vong came. Now, the planet was a festering scar in the Force. Twisted, corrupted, and hostile. Vong biotoxins still choked the soil in some areas, and the once-green canopy was filled with decay and unnatural overgrowths that refused to die. The land itself remembered what had been done to it — and it whispered, angry and wounded despite the many years it was given to recover.

Valery stood at the edge of the drop zone, her boots half-sunken into damp soil. She scanned the horizon slowly, her senses stretched outward through the Force. Beneath the surface rot and decay, something stirred. Something old and dark.

Rumors had pointed her here — whispers of a dangerous Force-sensitive delving into the ruins. Malic. His name was brought to her by Mak Manto as a warning, and ever since, she has tried to help him locate him.

Valery reached for her comm to update her report on the planet. "I've reached the target zone," she said calmly, her voice carrying over the static. "There's something here, I can feel it — and if I'm right, it's what he's after." She paused, eyes flicking to a distant ridge where broken ruins rested. "I've sent out a call for backup. Jedi support is en route, so we'll head in soon."

Lowering the comm, Valery let her fingers brush the hilt of her lightsaber. She hadn't seen Makyet, but part of her hoped he'd answer the call too. He had been the one to warn her, so his help would certainly be welcomed.

Mak Manto Kahlil Noble ​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Not often you call for help."

Kahlil stepped practically out of Valery's shadow. Their bond, their connection in the Force, it bridged impossible distances for them to be together. They always were, even apart. He glanced about briefly, rubbing his chin in thought. "Is it dangerous, whatever is here? It feels.. Dark. More than the average, anyway." The ruins had his attention now. He smiled faintly.

"Time for another adventure, then?"

Valery Noble

 

[Connel Vanagor]

Rumble in the Jungle-less Jungle
Belkadan
Enroute/Dropzone

What the?

He wasn’t that far away from the planet when a call for aid came in from none other than Master Noble. It’s not often that she would call out openly for help like this, and while he was in the middle of an assignment, it was a call that Connel could answer. So with that, he banked his “Jedi Defender” Corvette and made way for the irradiated planet.

Ryana Mina was on an assignment of her own that required she be undercover, so he had her Racyon “Pip” as well as his little buddy “Buster”. They kept each other entertained, so that was good, he didn’t have to worry about that. What he did have to concern himself over was what would be so serious that the Grandmaster herself would make such a blanket call for backup.

Making way through the disheartening atmosphere, he felt that way because of the history of the planet having fallen to the Vong so long ago and being put into this state. Sure, the sentients of today knew no other, but his father knew it to be different.

Once the ship was settled onto the ground, not far from other ships of either basic, or NJO markings, Connel went to check on the two “Hellions” as he affectionately called them. Alright you two… you have plenty of food in your stores and the treat machine is on a timer even you can’t manipulate… Pip, The Racyon just chittered and stuck his tongue out, Connel stuck his out right back.

Love you guys, be safe. Walking into the common area, he looked to the steward droid, and his astromech “BRAD”. At the first sign of trouble, get in the air. Keep them safe, okay.

Enthusiastic Whistle

“Of course, sir. Though I cannot fly…”

That’s “BRAD”’s job.

Walking down the loading ramp and out to the clearing, he found the two Council Members. Making way over to them, Connel looked over the landscape. I feel like a “third wheel” here.

Mak Manto • Valery Noble • Kahlil Noble •TAGS​

 

[Valery Noble]

Belkadan

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery didn't flinch when Kahlil appeared beside her — she felt him coming through their bond long before he stepped from her shadow. Still, her eyes lit up the second she saw him. She reached out instinctively, her hand brushing gently against his arm, fingers curling lightly around the fabric of his sleeve before slipping down to find his hand.

"I like when you answer," she said, her voice quiet but warm, laced with that familiar affection. She gave his hand a soft squeeze and smirked, casting a glance sideways at him. "Maybe I just wanted an excuse to drag you here to spend some more time together."

The tease faded slightly as she turned her gaze back toward the distant ridge — the crumbled ruins that in the landscape. The air pulsed strangely here, like something old was stirring beneath the surface. Something that hadn't wanted to be disturbed.

"But… no. This place really is dangerous." Her fingers tightened subtly around his. "Master Manto has been worried for a while now. He told me Malic is chasing power. Not just Sith relics — but anything that gives him an edge. That hunger's led him here." She exhaled slowly, the rot in the air sharp in her lungs. "And now this planet itself feels like it's watching us."

Her expression hardened, resolve sharpening behind her eyes as she finally let go of his hand, right as Connel Vanagor approached them. She had felt his presence as well, and appreciated it.

"Please don't feel that way," Valery said with a warm tone, as he mentioned feeling like a third wheel, "I really appreciate you coming here on such short notice."

Kahlil Noble Mak Manto ​

 

[Ariana du Couteau]

Ariana du Couteau, Jedi Padawan
Location: Belkadan
Objective Two: Assist the Jedi Masters
Outfit

Ariana sighed happily as she stepped off the ramp, her hands held up as she stretched her body. Her cybernetic arm was quite useful in this regard as it kept her other upwards for a full and complete stretch. With a suitable amount of time she lowered both arms and walked ahead but with her eyes focused on the ground. The ground felt soft, wet and entirely too difficult to keep herself from keeping her outfit mud free.

With careful consideration she spotted several rocks that were pointed out of the soft muddy soil. All the while her smile never faltered as she gracefully jumped between each rockhead to catch up to the Masters. Even as she felt tendrils of something far older, darker and perhaps even tired. Aren’t we all a little bit tired of it all?

A gentle tap near the edges of the last rock gave Ariana a slight pause on where to step forward, not that she needed to be that close to the Masters. She figured when the call for assistance was made that Ariana would find herself in a support role. She enjoyed it strangely enough, especially after her long recovery from the last mission at the Crystal Valley. But now she grew restless to escape the recovery chambers at the Jedi Temple.

Simply being outside with different air is enough.

With that thought she looked around to gather herself, with slight pivots on the rockhead she stood on like a bird perched. Ariana felt for the direction of the wind, the clouds above and most importantly the more muddier areas of the ground below.

“So keep our eyes wide and our mind attentive.” Her words that barely above a whisper as she took in Master Noble’s words. Ariana’s smile stayed all the same; a bit too large and forced. The mission might be rather dangerous but all in all with Masters like them here, she felt assured.

Ariana greeted the three Masters with a low bow and curtsey with her cape. A standard greeting that had been bored into her head since childhood.

“Ready to assist Masters.”
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|| Valery Noble | Kahlil Noble | Connel Vanagor | Mak Manto ||​

 

[Malic]

Malic stood in the dimly lit ruins of Serndipal, his robes swirling around him like shadows that danced with the echoes of an ancient past. The air was thick with the remnants of forgotten battles, and the whispers of long-dead Sith lingered in the corners of his mind. His visage was obscured beneath a hood of absolute darkness, a black robe that hinted at both power and terror.

The dark side surged within him, and he could feel its pulse thrumming in the air. Yet, despite the energy that surrounded him, he was met with nothing but silence — an absence that gnawed at the edges of his patience. Rows of shattered technology and relics of the past lay scattered throughout the ruins; remnants of battles fought and lost, trophies of a forgotten age. But for all his searching, he found only dust and decay.

Anger bubbled beneath the surface, threatening to spill over. He had come here, believing that this forlorn world would yield invaluable Sith artifacts, perhaps relics of ancient Yuuzhan Vong technology that could turn the tides of power in his favor. Instead, he was met with disappointment after disappointment.

"Where are you hiding it?" he muttered, his voice a harsh hiss that echoed against the air. He clenched his fists, feeling the dark energy ready to lash out, to consume everything around him. With a sharp wave of his hand, he summoned a barrage of debris from the ground, hurling it across the open landscape in a fit of rage, sending dust and rubble cascading like a miniature avalanche.

As the echoes of his anger faded, the world seemed to respond, whispering back to him in soft murmurs. They spoke of deception and loss, of shadows that cloaked the truth. Malic's breathing steadied, focusing on the Force. If the artifacts were here, hidden within the ground, then he would find them.

That was when he felt it.

A subtle nudge in the Force that was clearly other people on a dead world that no one would normally come to. Looking around him, he didn't see anyone, but as the presence became stronger, he could feel that they weren't just random civilians.

It was Jedi...

He could sense their bond, their resolve, yet he also felt caution and tension in them. The odds that Jedi somehow managed to come here while he was looking for artifacts and technology had to be astronomically high.

Though, he would bide his time. It had taken longer than he had expected to get to the planet, and he wasn't going to stop his searching just to deal with a nuisance.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Like you need an excuse to spend more time with me."

He chuckled lightly, but as the others approached he found himself returning to his more quiet smile state. He nodded once to Connel, doing his best not to chuckle again at his words. A third wheel, was it? He certainly had no intention of making others feel that way. "Knight Vanagor. Padawan du Couteau." The Padawan got a similar nod.

"If this Malic has found any of the relics he seeks, be ready for what you expect to happen to be wrong. Most twist reality to their own rules. Trust the Force, not what you might see or hear."

In some cases even reading was dangerous, and that was just among the Sith relics Kahlil knew of. If they were beyond the Sith, the thin amount of rules on what to expect were already tarnished. He turned his gaze towards where he could feel the dark. It was in passing. Intention crossing in a brief moment. Not enough to point him in any direction, but,

"They know we're here. We should hurry. Did Master Manto give a heading?"

Valery Noble | Connel Vanagor | Ariana du Couteau | Malic

 

[Connel Vanagor]

Rumble in the Jungle-less Jungle
Belkadan
Enroute/Dropzone

Heh! Really?!

Pulling his mask up to his forehead and looking at them both with a wink and a smirk, Connel simply responded. Even Vanagors can joke, Boss… Master... sorry… too much time spent around Omega Squad. He made no bones about the bond he and the Special Forces Squad share, they train and work together when and where they can. However there were different mannerisms and protocols that the Jedi and the military do not share. The RNR have their “Vanguard” and he knew he was wanted there, but something kept him from doing so. That was a conversation for another time though.

When the Padawan approached, he pulled his mask back down and nodded. “Malic”? He knew that name from somewhere, couldn’t pin it down but if “he” was the reason they were there, then there was trouble ahead.

Shall I do some recon?

Mak Manto • Valery Noble • Kahlil Noble • Ariana du Couteau
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[Valery Noble]

Belkadan

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery's gaze flicked sideways when Kahlil spoke, her smirk returning just enough to betray the warmth still lingering behind her otherwise serious expression. "I know I don't need an excuse," she said, her voice low enough that only he might catch it. "But where's the fun in that?"

She bumped his arm with her shoulder gently — playful and familiar. As others joined them, Valery could sense him slipping into that quieter version of himself, though. Still, it made her smile. He was always like this when others were around. More reserved, composed… thoughtful. A part of her adored that about him. That little shift in his demeanor that only she noticed — the weight of who he was beneath it all.

The moment Malic's rage surged through the Force, her entire posture shifted again. Her body stilled, her expression hardened, and her stance became centered. She turned toward the jungle, the direction now unmistakable. He wasn't hiding anymore, if he had even tried to.

Valery closed her eyes for just a second and breathed. The Force rippled through the corrupted air like a whisper of wind through brittle leaves, and in that whisper, Malic's presence was a howl. When she looked back at the others, her voice was steady. "He knows we're here. His presence is sharp — angry, volatile. That's going to make it easy to follow him." Her eyes briefly found Kahlil again, a silent confirmation exchanged between them.

"No heading was given by Master Manto, but Malic has already given away his location. We'll move toward the source of that energy and close the gap." Then, she turned to Connel, nodding once in approval. "If you want to scout ahead, do it. Get a feel for the terrain. If you spot him or anything else — defensive positions, traps, signs of activity — report back. I want to know exactly what we're walking into before we reach him."

Her hand hovered near the hilt of her saber, but she didn't draw it just yet.

"The three of us will head there," Valery continued, as she steadily began to move.

Kahlil Noble Malic Connel Vanagor Ariana du Couteau ​

 

[Ariana du Couteau]

Ariana du Couteau, Jedi Padawan
Location: Belkadan
Objective Two: Assist the Jedi Masters
Outfit

Ariana was not one yet capable to attune herself to the greater rhythmic flows of the living Force, but she felt that darkness almost immediately. It was like when she was little and attempted to sneak out of her noble lady lessons and the tutor found her half out of her window. She knew when it was an appropriate time to keep her guard up and this was well beyond appropriate.

The other Masters had begun to plan out their next steps, the one that Ariana recognized as a Shadow offered to scout ahead. Both Master Noble intended to head a more direct path towards the large source of energy. It was a sort of comfort to know their flanks were to be at least watched over, Ariana though stepped off of her rock perch and felt the soft soil sink slowly.

She quickly brought up the rear of both Master Nobles, the two seemed indomitable as ever in both their focus and calming presence. Her smile remained wide as her lips tightened as she ventured further deeper into the growing darkness. Ariana kept her hands by her side, ready as she watched and centered her focus so she could keep up to the best of her ability.
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|| Valery Noble | Kahlil Noble | Connel Vanagor | Malic ||​