Private &nbsp; One Final Challenge (Open to CIS Members)

Prennis Keeoli

Voph was out of time. As he lay dying in the streets of Atrisia, he knew he should have prepared. But it was too late to worry after what could have been. So he did the only thing he could. Returned the memories stolen from the one person that could help him, and gave her a message. Find Vytal. There's a second chance. All he could hope for now was that she would understand his meaning. A second chance. He did not know how, but if it had worked for Sovryn, it would work for them. It had to. Voph had no other choice. This time, he would not be able to return to the Rest. Instead, he was cast into the depths of the Netherworld. From which he may never return, unless Prennis came for him. Someone else might figure it out. Eventually.

As the darkness surrounded him, Voph looked down to find himself clad in his black robes still. Holding the image he had held in the mortal realm. His arms dropped by his sides as he looked around, exasperated. Something wasn't right here. He'd been dead before. And he didn't remember it being so black. "The last one had that look on his face too."

Voph froze. That voice. He slowly turned to look behind him to see the figure that addressed him. Smiling from the edge of the darkness was a Pureblooded Sith. A warrior, scarred and armor bearing. Just like Voph. The being smiled at him. "Hello Kyyrk. It's been a long time."

VYLMIRA, ONE WEEK AFTER VOPH'S DEATH

Daejin stood in the Hall of Tranquility, deep within the ancient stone structure known as The Refuge. Before her, the body of Lord Voph. The board had been set, and the pieces were ready to move. A small gathering had assembled for what the rest of the galaxy had been told was the final burial of Voph. Only those closest friends and allies invited. Or so they had been told. Daejin looked around at those gathered. "Honorable Confederates. Your bravery and dedication speak volumes. Thanks to the information provided to us by both Nurse Keeoli, and Nightmother Noctura, we now believe there is a chance to bring Voph back. But a soul lost in the Netherworld is hardly easy to find."

A slender hand held up Voph's pyramid-shaped Holocron for all to see. "This, shall be your guide. For a soul longs to be with its own. With this, you may find him. Make him whole again. And show him the way back to his life. It will be dangerous. If you've any doubts, now is the time to voice them. For soon, the path of action will be the only one left to you. But understand this: You who gather here in the depths of the mountain do so out of a duty to your friend. And for that, I thank you. If you should succeed, you shall be hailed as heroes. Your names forever written in the history of Vylmira. Of those who risked their own lives to save one of ours. May the Force be with you.

Bring him home."

Daejin held out the Holocron for one of the assembled to take it, then turning to the intricate framework behind her. An incantation was muttered, and a portal sprang to life, offering passage into the next life. A foul sensation crept over those assembled, as if Death itself sought to escape from the void beyond. The time for action was upon them. Any final words or preparations should be undertaken. Then, the threshold awaits...

The Monster · Mar 25, 2020

Sergei hadn't wasted any time when he got the call. He'd been in the middle of volcanic field training with his first batch of new recruits. They were doing well so far. These men had taken to Sergei's instructions well, but for him were still quite untested. He'd come halfway across the galaxy to try to make it in time. He did owe the man a favor after all.

Sergei pondered what new hell scape that he was walking his men into. He'd told them up front what the score was, told them there was a very small chance of surviving, that he would only take volunteers. Out of the twenty he was training, six of his men stepped up to the challenge. All of them former special operations soldiers, a couple even augmented and having left their nations not for a lack of capability on their part, but the lack of motivation and support from their compatriots. Sergei had noted these men to be much harder from the start than his original crew. They were taking to his training much faster, showing much more diligence and competency with learning their needed skills. These would become the foundation of his new Wolves.

Sergei and his men had suited up prior to landing, they were told they were going into literally the afterlife so they didn't waste space and weight with extra longevity gear. They instead filled their packs with ammo, and Sergei decided to bring with him a new toy, the MAAWS. Eighty Four millimeters of pure unadulterated fire power and destruction, that under his drills he'd gotten the two man team that would be bringing it to be able to fire one round every five seconds. His marksman brought in a Jackal sniper rifle from Locke and Key, a gift from Sergei's new friend, and now very much indebted to for his gratitude,

John Locke . Add this into his addition of an automatic rifleman, wielding Roble Manufacturing's BAW series blaster rifle with an attached bipod, high rate of fire and massive magazines and his men were ready for war. Sergei himself brought out the Big Iron, his Jackal ACR, and a couple spare blades in case things got dicey. He never underestimated the usefulness of a low tech sword in a brawl. Thankfully he'd managed to secure a few that would be good in case all hell broke loose and they fought some saber wielding maniacs.

He marched his men through the halls of the mountain, and his face was a steel gaze with many scars, a few of them fresh from his travels at gathering his new soldiers. His new armor was still scratched and scuffed up but the black paint scheme was still mostly intact, to include the snarling wolf's head emblazoned now on his shoulder. It had been barely a week since he'd told John of his plans, and he'd come so far already. He had a training platoon together, a ship that was under construction and a captain going out and looking for a crew. These men had five days of non-stop training and combat in the same manner Sergei had been taught. They either survived and learned the lessons as Sergei's own instructors had beaten into him his information, or they died. At one week in Sergei had already lost four of the new recruits, three of which died from mistakes of trying to make shortcuts that would cost them their lives, the fourth having slipped and fell two hundred meters off a cliff they'd been free climbing in full combat gear under an extended survival load. If anything Sergei pausing the training so the men could recover and come to their senses and attempt to catch up on their lack of sleep and nutrition was welcome. But Sergei didn't have a choice. He'd been called, and so answered the only way he knew how.

Sergei stepped into the room right before the briefing began, and he kept to the back wall as his men stood back and waited for the go ahead. Sergei was sitting in his combat armor with barely bated breath. Now was their chance to get someone back, to undo the twisted hands of fate and spit in the face of death itself. Sergei was the armored Titan that would smash whatever got into their way and with pure overwhelming firepower and ferocity of maneuver destroy the enemy. He was carrying almost two thousand rounds of ammunition for himself, same as his other riflemen. His automatic rifleman had almost ten thousand. They were carrying enough munitions to take on an entire battalion of infantry. If there was one thing the men noted about their teacher today, it was certainly clear.

Sergei had a bone to pick with Death, and he was pissed off enough that he just might win.

Allya Vi'Dreya · Mar 25, 2020

Location: Almost to the underworld
Objective: Drag Voph's Scrawny blind behind back through that portal and to life, because no one said he could rest yet.
Equipment: Lightsaber, blasters, armor

Rage roiled deep inside of Allya. It was a brightly burning flame, it warmed her, gave her focus, and determination. However, as she had learned, that bright emotion was tempered through focus. It was shaped into a usable weapon that wouldn’t overwhelm. You see, the rage was because

Kyyrk was being incredibly lazy here. No one had told him it was time for him to rest or sleep. So, it was up to her, to go diving into the Netherworld and bring him back, and get his lazy ass whipped back into shape.

True, Voph had never been an official master for her. Few ever had and they never lasted long. Her personality drove them away when they realized it was hard to control, or utilize her for their own goals. Voph had never really tried though. He didn’t teach her much about the force, but gave her something vastly more important: A code of her own to follow. He helped her to force the pieces of herself into place. Her Mandalorian heritage, her dark side affinity, and yet her fascination with the light, he showed her how to have it all. And if he thought he was going to get to stay dead, he was vastly mistaken. It would take so much more to pull him out of her reach.

Her boots knocked against the stone floor, as she entered fully armed and armored. When entering a place like the Netherworld, a good concept of what you are and what you could do were very much needed, lest the tides sweep you away. The teens eyes narrowed, and she moved towards the group, and listened to the speech. Written into history huh? Wasn’t her name already there? Either way.

As her eyes gazed upon the portal, her stomach rolled into a knot of fear. She took a deep breath, and slowly let it out. Her hands rested on her lightsaber, and the butt of one of her blasters. It was okay. The Force rolled around her, and she knew it. She kept herself just below bursting, and made sure the fear didn’t overwhelm her and knock out her resolve. Once properly steeled, she moved to the holocron’s side, ready to take it and walk through the portal even if no one else followed. However, she waited for the Night Mother,

Vytal Noctura , her boss

John Locke , and others to make up their mind. But once it was decided, either way, along with the holocron she would step through the portal, at the side of

The Monster ,never having said a word.

Vytal Noctura · Mar 25, 2020

Location: The Refuge, Vylmira
Tag:

Kyyrk |

Allya Vi'Dreya

The Nightmother set black and white candles along the perimeter of where Voph's body lay. Her green eyes lifted and gestured for Taiia to set the chalice containing the Water of Life on a nearby stand. As the young woman set to work, the wicks of the candles snapped to life with snap of the pale Witch's fingers. Despite the pinch of exhaustion about her eyes, Vytal's eyes shone with energy as they slid over the length of Voph's body. Slowly Vytal then passed a glass rod over the melting wax. Small sigils were soon written between the candles in wax with a few, barely audible words chanted over them.

With the preparations completed, the green fire within Vytal's eyes was drawn up to Daejin as she spoke of doubts. If any present had any doubts they would serve themselves, and Voph, better if they did not pursue this course of action. There was no shame in remaining behind. What they were about to do could very easily claim their souls and leave them without the one they sought to return. Fear was healthy. But doubt? Hesitation would have them dead soon as they crossed over.

Her attention was then drawn aside to the armored man and woman that had come prepared for battle. Normally Vytal would find such a sight in the presence of the spiritual realm far from ideal. In this case, however, they would not be so ineffectual. "Taiia," the Nightmother looked back at the one so determined she'd retrieved Voph's body on the battlefield. Now was when those present should be presented a talisman to wear. "Take this," she declared, "it will anchor you to the path. Your very soul will be in peril, but the twisting ways of the Nether will not plague you."

Each present had resolve engraved in their features, which was a relief to the Nightsister to see. They would need such steel for what would follow. Should she warn them? There was no reason to insult those present. There was nothing Vytal could say that would prepare them any more for what would follow than what they already knew. Plunging into the Nether to retrieve a Soul was no easy matter. The Dead were not brought back to Life so easily, else such would not be considered miraculous.

As Vytal lined up with the portal, she turned to look over at Daejin once more. "Voph will return." There was no room for doubt, and this was not so foreign a thing as some might think. Dangerous, and perilous, but not foreign.

Vytal spared a moment to make sure all those intending to pass had assembled and were ready. However, like Allya, the Nightmother would soon step through the portal. With the holocron in hand unless one of the other women were consumed with the need to take it. Either way, the woman of Dathomir knew it would direct them to its missing self.

Prennis Keeoli · Mar 26, 2020

{ Equipment: Medic armor, amulet, holo matrix,
diagnostic gauntlet / headset, medkit, blaster pistol }
{ Tag:

The Monster }
{ Post: 01 }

~ † ~

Of those who risked their own lives to save one of ours.

Daejin's words cut into Prennis whether she meant for them to or not. The nurse felt like an angel of death: A type of would-be killer that placed their victims in one grave danger or another just to, at the last possible moment, save them from certain demise. Or, in her case, from eternal, netherworldly torment - or, else, however Death deigned to treat one such as Voph.

There was no point in wallowing in self-pity, nor in trying to convince herself she had done anything but, because her own assessment could not have been more accurate. It was what she had done to him, and now was doing. Still, it was doubtful this particular situation was legally prosecutable. Short of official arrest, Prenn fully intended to punish herself with solitary, if indeed she lived through this ideal.

Before arriving at the Refuge, she came to understand just what a second chance may entail, but refused to shy away. Like the Vicelord's daughter - another of them, this time Allya rather than Damsy - Prenn had come prepared: Armored, armed, and otherwise stocked with stims, bacta, the medical like. What she did refuse though was to hold the holocron. Now, she watched the proceedings in silence. These was no part for her to say. If - when - Voph was again in their presence, he could explain her part in this.

That she had as much as thrust him There, directly or not depending upon one's perceptive.

Hanging one of the presented talismans on her neck and carefully tucking it under the turtleneck of her blast vest, Prennis stepped through the portal after her companions. With a few short steps, she was surrounded with what she feared she was.

Death.

Aselia Verd · Mar 26, 2020

(grr wrong character)

Taiia Locke · Mar 26, 2020

.

FIND VOPH

Location: Somewhere not fun
Armament: Lightsaber
Objective: Locate Voph
Tags: Kyyrk | Vytal Noctura | John Locke | Prennis Keeoli | The Monster | Allya Vi'Dreya

Taiia stood near the Nightmother as the preparations were made and as she was directed, she did, it was perhaps an odd pairing one who was a Jedi and one who is Witch, her mind was far from such matters these days. Ever since Atrisia her mind had been a cloud of anger but right now she was calm, if anything she was focused and determined to bring back Voph that would be the overriding feeling that drove her forward. She hadn't truly known such things were even possible, and if she had never met the Nightmother she would have laughed at the idea of bringing somebody back from death.

That however was another time and another person, by this time Taiia had seen enough of what the Mandragora do to know doubting their power would be exceedingly foolish and that in some ways they know more about the force than any Jedi or Sith could hope to, she herself still had much to learn. When the Nightmother had told her there was a way to bring Voph back, did she doubt? Oh yes at first until she remembered who she was talking to, then she quickly volunteered. She snapped herself out of her own thoughts when Vytal's words took a more serious tone and turned to give her attention, she spoke of the dangers and Taiia listened, doubt was one thing she did not have, she was quite the opposite confident they would bring Voph back.

She took the talisman and put it around her neck as she nodded and quietly followed the group into the portal, the world around her warped and changed and this place was dark, she felt and oppressive pull of the darkside in this place instinctively her hand dropped to her lightstaff, she didn’t draw it but her senses were immediately on edge, her emerald eyes scanned all around her not fear but caution she knew Vytal was her she could keep much at bay but the rest of their group was equally capable. No matter what they faced they would find Voph and help bring him back. She paused a moment and recalled what Vytal had taught her of such places and stilled her mind, calming herself she raised her left hand and it burned in a green flame much like the Nightmother had done earlier she traced a couple of sigils in the air, arcane elements only known to the Mandragora, and she summoned her familiars, the two convors would materialize from nothing and come to circle around the young redhead. "Friends we are in your realm, watch over us, don't stray too far" she said quietly to her two companions each gave a quiet chirp in response and flew higher above the group of travelers far outside their element.

John Locke · Mar 27, 2020

Location: The Refuge | Vylmira
Tagging:

Kyyrk |

Allya Vi'Dreya |

Taiia Locke

The force.

Things always came back to the force, that quasi-mystical energy field that was spread all across the galaxy. That field of energy that defied all logic and sense, the energy field that everyone around him seemed to be able to reach out and touch, to manipulate. That they could use to manipulate the very fabric of the galaxy in ways that he couldn’t understand.

If this had been anyone else, any other man in the galaxy John wouldn’t be here. The force had rarely been his friend, and recently it had hurt him a lot more than it had helped. The scars ran deep, the cyborg only had to close his eyes to see it all again. The memory of the false life he’d lived for months still fresh in his head. Through it all though, Voph had stood by him, unwavering in his friendship as John had slowly withdrawn from the world. The man had never given up on him, and John hadn’t repaid that friendship well.

On the fields of Atrisia, while the cyborg’s attention had been stretched, been split between all the droids, all the civilians begging for help he’d missed the moment his friend needed him. When Voph fell John hadn’t been able to help, to stand by him. That’s what brought him here. He’d failed the man once, but not a second time, not again. He wouldn’t allow that. If there was a chance, any chance that he could help the man, that he could help bring him back, where else would he be.

Kyyrk · Mar 29, 2020

C A L L I N G

Voph stood amid the darkness, staring in disbelief at the face of one whom he had called friend. Voph instinctively reached for his blade, the purple length igniting low towards his ankle, yet held away from his body, ready to spring into action if needed. The Pureblood smiled, arms by his side. "You do not trust your senses, brother. It is I." Voph did not move. The other world enjoyed the torture of its victims. That much he did remember. "How do I know it's you?" The being's smile widened as it shook its head. A soft chuckle issued forth. "Oh Kyyrk. You haven't changed a bit. Your blade. You never use one designed by another person. Yours always has a mark on the pommel. A rune, meaning Warrior." Voph was still for a moment, before deactivating his blade. This was no trick. Voph truly stood before his friend. Nay, more than a friend.

His Brother.

"By what fortune did our paths cross, Arvalker?"

Arvalker smiled. "Balance must be brought to the Force, brother. And it has chosen you as its instrument. There is one who would seek the destruction of the galaxy, if not stopped. You have been chosen."

Voph's brow furrowed. He was chosen? He had his suspicions that something was amiss in the galaxy. But the Force had chosen HIM. "And it expects me to fight whatever this is? How can I do that when I am dead?" Arvalker shook his head, stepping forward to lay a hand on the man's shoulder. "That is not of your concern. Trust in the Force, and it shall make its ways known, in time. It will allow you passage back from whence you came. But only if you prove that you are worthy..."

As the group stepped into the realm of the dead, the landscape shifted and warped. A voice called out to them, ethereal and formless. "Stand fast, interlopers. The one you seek is near. But he cannot be released to you."

The group found themselves standing in a small chamber, with formless walls all about them. The fog shifted and twisted, until an image revealed itself to them. A hulking Sith Pureblood stepped forth, wearing a cloak not unlike that which Voph typically wore. But this was pristine. Untarnished by the trials of war. Some may have realized its true identity. The cloak was not similar to Voph's. It was Voph's. Or rather, it was the cloak Voph had taken. "You seek the man I called brother. This, the Force has shown me. But it has need of him. If you proceed further, know that you commit to aiding him in righting the wrongs the forces of evil have sown on the galaxy."

The spectre vanished, and a door in the far wall parted. To those that entered, a vision was granted. An understanding of what had transpired, and what was to come. A small scouting party on the edge of known space. A massive, unending fleet. A Jedi hero striking down the Eternal Emperor. A vengeful son declaring war. This was the catalyst. And soon, the endless fleet came upon the civilized planets of the galaxy. Like an endless tide, it crashed upon defenses, until the galaxy lay asunder. Surrender was not negotiable. It was survival. Yet, in the midst of it all, some still fought.

The gathered saw as a dark figure, bathed in armor, battled hordes of the fearsome mechanical warriors the Eternal Empire had sent against them. Knights and soldiers of the flesh alike stood against the figure, already wading through the dead. Though his armor had been torn and shattered, the man fought on. A fierce, animalistic drive taking hold of him. This was no fight for glory or honor. This was a fight for survival. But the story did not end here.

Battle after battle took its toll on the man. Reports of a woman missing from the jungles of Yavin IV. Requests to find her, and verify her safety. Dread of an upcoming battle. Commenor. The final stand. A massive space battle, and a crippled dreadnought fleeing to preserve what life still drew breath aboard it. A Republic cruiser decimating its already defeated opponent. A rending of metal as sheer force of will tore the mighty vessel in two, saving the crew of the Sith Warship. Then silence.

His brother, gone. His son, fighting for his life among the sick and injured. His nation torn asunder, and forsaking him to fight this enemy alone. A cowl drawn over the face. The man he once was had died. Nothing left. Nowhere to go. No home. No people. No nation. And yet he fought. For years, he fought. No hope. No promise of respite. Just unending war. A war he was losing. But in the end, the seeds of hope were sown.

The Outlander had returned. Asylum was the first victory. Many rallied to his cause. But not the masked warrior. He had his own path to follow. Word was spreading that the Empire had crushed rebellion. The world was on the brink of destruction. And no one, not even the Outlander, sought retribution.

But just as quickly, the visions faded away. The group was assembled in a small civilian craft. Outside, the vast black of space. The ship lay idle, an entire galaxy ahead of them. They knew they were not safe. How, they did not know. But they knew. But safe haven awaited them. It had given them the key...

Allya Vi'Dreya · Mar 30, 2020

Location: Underworld - Unknown Craft
Objective: Drag Voph's Scrawny blind behind back through that portal and to life, because no one said he could rest yet.
Equipment: Lightsaber, blasters, armor
Tags:

Kyyrk |

The Monster

Allya took in all the knowledge from this figure. She saw the past once more. It was a common theme where Voph was concerned. He was always stuck in the past, in some form or another. Every adventure she had with him had this theme somehow. As the voice spoke about the force choosing him to stop some evil or another, all Allya could think about, was the fact that most of the evil she had seen in the galaxy had been caused by the Force. Perhaps that's why she had such a strange relationship with it. She rarely heeded it, it was a purely working relationship, without meditating on it, seeking guidance or the like. Or perhaps it was the taoizin amulets she had taken to wearing in almost every iteration of clothing and armor. Either way, she always felt…distant.

Now, the visions of the past, that ancient history, ended. Now, for some reason, there in the netherworld, after she had entered a portal, she stood on the metal deck of a ship. Outside the view port, she could see the endless black of space. As she looked around, she didn’t see the various trappings of a military craft. At least not one she knew anything about. Gloved fingers traced over a console, as she checked out everything she could. The sense of being in danger permeated her very being. But of course it did. Regardless of what she saw and experienced, she was in the afterlife right now. A place with things waited to test, challenge and devour them.

Well, there was nothing but to do this thing. They had little choice but to follow the rules of whatever caused this. Fingers pressed down on a few buttons. She tried to check logs, or nav charts, comm messages and the like. Anything to give them a hint of where and when they were supposed to be.

Vytal Noctura · Apr 2, 2020

Location: The Refuge, Vylmira -> Unknown Vessel
Tag:

Kyyrk |

Allya Vi'Dreya

Vytal nodded slightly as Taiia prepared to set forth. Voph had many friends of iron will for what was sure to be a troubled and lengthy history. It was good to find so many allies ready to do what was necessary. Few ever had the luxury of witnessing such a gathering; when they were done, perhaps the man would behold them all with his own eyes and know the truth.

Once they crossed over, the NIghtmother's attention was with their surroundings, however. The Nether was a place where every step could spell certain death. There was good reason why so many had once been swallowed by it never to return. She herself, being young and foolish in desperation for power to survive offworld to acquire the galaxy's secrets, had once braved its depths unprepared. To call it a land of nightmares only did the word and the realm injustice.

A voice reached out to them then; its words seemed intent to dissuade them from their path. At last the one that commanded the voice appeared red as the day they'd been born. Though Vytal could only imagine he grew to such height much later.

"An unnecessary warning," The pale woman glanced back and to the side at those with her. "The trial has already taken shape, and it will be up to us to aid Voph in weathering it."

They'd come this far knowing the journey would be fraught with danger. The specter should have known this. They were not spacers that'd stumbled through a portal seeking loot. One way or another, Vytal was hauling Voph's soul back to the realm of the living. Was that hypocrisy? To stand for the balance only to fight against it? If the world were so black and white, perhaps.

Vytal strode forth through the next door not dissuaded by the warning, or the task asked of them. If the action was necessary to see Voph through so be it; she suspected they would bear witness to events long since committed to a historian's quil and whether their actions altered the narrative would not pose issue.

After the vivid history lesson -- which Vytal assumed would be of import as more than just 'Aftermath of the Eternal Emperor' -- the Nightmother found herself standing aboard a civilian craft. At least one that seemed to lack hallmarks of a military vessel. No guards. No weapons. No utilitarian design scrubbed clean to keep idle hands and idle minds occupied. It would see the journey had just begun.

Allya set to work immediately as they were freed of the prologue. Vytal stepped forward and visually scanned the interior as well. "Is the vessel already on course?" Her dark lips turned down at the corners. "I am no scholar of history," she admitted, "but I got the impression Asylum might be open to us here." Aptly named. Whether it was a inviting as its namesake, however, was another matter. That the Masked Man had taken another path did not sit well with Vytal, but they had to pull on a thread to begin following Voph through the maze.

The Monster · Apr 2, 2020

Sergei's first steps through the portal absolutely terrified the soldier of fortune. He was literally going into a place that he didn't believe existed, and up until twenty minutes ago didn't know was real. But it didn't show at all through his armor as his weapon was raised, providing security for the group of individuals present. To say the grey mist was both underwhelming and terrifying in the lack of visibility, was something else. But it didn't change Sergei's mind for a second, and so he casually swept his weapon back and forth across the front, watching for the slightest indication of trouble. And then their new environment materialized around them. It was like they were back in regular space, but something wasn't right. They were in a room utterly devoid of any markings or source of light for that matter, and when a figure cloaked in what Sergei assumed was supposed to be nobility garments stepped forth with a clearly confident stride, Sergei raised his weapon at him. He signaled for his team to surround the man with a simple left handed gesture of waving once left to right. He could almost feel the confidence bleeding off this smug son of a kath hound. When he spoke Sergei took his weapon off safe as a very pronounced promise of what was to come should he decide to become aggressive, and when no such move was made, Sergei relaxed a hair. He looked about the room as he finished speaking and when he disappeared Sergei cursed under his breath lowly as he scanned the room for new threats. And then the door opened.

Sergei would level his rifle at the door, and then with a simple nod to one of his men, the two would press forward and with military precision do a simple step and clear. They got about three steps in when they and everyone else in Sergei's team was hit with the vision. And Sergei got a lot of similar feelings about this from some of his very own memories as his mind drew some distinctions to make it more relatable and easier to process. Sergei was sucking air through his helmet when he finally came to and with a very angry tone of voice cursed into a thankfully sound proofed helmet. Seeing that they were in a civilian craft, and now Sergei had no plan of action as they were in the middle of space. He listened to the Night Mother and threw in his two credits into the discussion.

"I get the feeling when we are is also important here. I would be on your guard as I've been here only five minutes and I already hate this blasted place. I do much better when shooting at something," He mused through his helmet mounted speaker.

The other members of Sergei's team exchanged quick glances as they looked at each other, not used to seeing their teacher in such an aggressive, or nervous state. Normally Sergei was the kind of person to remain calm and cool headed, regardless of the situation. What had he seen through his mind's eye that caused his demeanor to change? He was death gripping the ACR he was holding, and had for the very first time since they'd met spoken in an actually angry tone of voice. Sergei was looking out the window into space though, not having noticed the glance between his team mates, and it was clear he was looking for something. Namely his senses were on high alert now looking for what was the threat, and the fact that he couldn't see it only made them more and more acutely aware of how far outside his element he was. He would turn around and face the room in the corner, scanning though his polarized visor from one end of the room to the other. Something wasn't right. He kept himself on high alert as he waited for whatever plan was to be come up with to happen. Sergei was a soldier, and right now, he wasn't of any use without an enemy to fight.

Tag:

Prennis Keeoli · Apr 5, 2020

{ Equipment: Medic armor, amulet, holo matrix,
diagnostic gauntlet / headset, medkit, blaster pistol }
{ Tag:

The Monster }
{ Post: 02 }

~ † ~

Life had never been sure for Prennis Keeoli.

Understand that she understood life and work as two separate facets of a lopsided gem, as she spent much more of her many waking hours on the latter side. Ever since the fateful moment she declared her major pre-med on New Habat, her medical career had been graced with great understanding. That case of blastonecrosis? The Knowt's Disease diagnosis? She could order tests, relive the decade of lectures she had studiously sat through, page through the medical archives, to find the answer to those. Every once in a while, there was uncertainty, yes, but more often than not, Prennis could find the metaphorical puzzle piece that actually fit - rather than simply resign to confusion and make her best guess fit.

She hated that - the last choice - because she couldn't exert the same control over her non-medical life as she could over saving them. Her apartments had always been a prison, on the Malice or Kashyyyk or Coruscant, no matter how homely decorated or not. Even her so-called family home in Prosperia, Dosuun had felt like a trap, though maybe now she felt more strongly about that much after discovering her kidnapped past.

Learning, remembering maladies, surgical procedures, medicinal treatment plan, and the like was fully in her control. Outside of a hospital or medbay, suddenly little was. Or, it felt as if it was. So when she met Voph, and then continued to meet him, and was left without a clear title with which to label their relationship romantic or exceedingly friendly, helplessness set in. Still, she did nothing to coax out an answer; It felt too invasive to treat the man-who-may-or-may-not-love-her-but-she-certainly-did as a patient she was scheduled to biopsy. And so she never guided their conversions, but let them flow freely. They never once lingered on his past, the war. As much had been fine by Prenn, but now faced with such a preluding vision, she saddened such a revelation hadn't come to her directly from Voph's lips.

"Huh," Prennis mused aloud when the deserted ship suddenly embraced the party. She wandered a few steps then, first forward, then sweeping left, and finally turning back. "I'll take a gander at medbay." Now seemed prime time to explore, if not for the loneliness of the craft then the uncertainty of what lay ahead.

She left directly observing the surrounding space, as well as piloting if it turned out the ship was not on auto and someone did have to pick up the yoke after all, to Sergei and the others. Walking down the winding cylindrical hallway was strangely suffocating. The further she got from her team, the muted echos of their speech merged with the ambiance of hull-settling and ion drive-whirring. The unsettled feeling only slightly abated as the nurse stepped into the pristine medical bay. She crinkled her nose at the swinging side table near the exam table, a range of surgical tools silhouetted under a sterilized cloth. It wasn't typical to prepare a medical work space unless its practitioner expected to make use of it soon, even thus protected from a majority of contaminates.

Who had been here?

Prenn glanced over her shoulder to nothing.

The ship had to have belonged to some crew or another at some point.

Taiia Locke · Apr 11, 2020

FIND VOPH

Location: The Nether - Ancient Past
Armament: Lightsaber
Objective: Locate Voph
Tags:

Kyyrk |

Allya Vi'Dreya

The nether had warped around them, in a way she had not seen before even with her time traveling with the Nightmother and the other Mandragora this was something very different than she had seen at this point. The sudden pronouncement from a disembodied voice drew her attention immediately, emerald eyes snapping to the direction of the voice as a figure materialized before the group, a pureblood Sith something she had only seen in holorecords, not in person she turned to face him and listened as he spoke his warning to them perhaps the one time her will and the will of the force had ever clashed, force be damned she would be bringing Voph back with them.

Then the vision came like a flood to her mind, she shut her eyes and focused upon it images of a past, she barely knew from her studies of history, she knew some of the names the places but not the detail she was seeing she tried to commit as much as she could to memory before the vision ended. She blinked a few times after opening her eyes allowing her mind to readjust to the hear and now. She then directed her attention to watch Allya as she moved to the controls, she would move over next to her taking a look outside the window, her green eyes scanning the black sea ahead of her.

Hearing the Nightmothers questions she looked over to her and gave a gentle smile "Good thing somebody here likes to spend far too much time reading history then." she looked over at Allya again “A good question, but also what is our current position? How close are we to the main battle lines?” Her eyes moved back up to the windows she was looking for distant celestial objects anything to help get their bearing before looking down at the ships panel Allya was currently working at. She was not rushing her, just simply inquiring she turned her gaze momentarily to the Nightmother quickly regarding her own concerns over where they were headed, they were in a dangerous situation but they would see it through.

Kyyrk · Apr 16, 2020

I N V E S T I G A T E

Tags:

The ship the group found themselves within was small, but those familiar with the design of such things would recognize a certain reliability from it. It had certainly been military at one point, but likely since decommissioned, and converted to a personal vessel. As

Allya Vi'Dreya began pressing buttons, the ship responded immediately. Navigation charts were...old. Many planets the girl was likely familiar with, if only by reputation, were not present. Filtering by allegiance returned only three results. The first, a swatch of planets in the core, labeled "The Republic." Coruscant was designated as the capital. The second, beginning in the region of the modern day Sith Empire was still a Sith Empire. But their territory was much smaller.

The last was simply labeled "Zakuul." Their territory encompassed the whole of known space. Their seat of power: A planet bearing the same name. Communications logs had been scrubbed clean, but Navigation showed three entries.

Course Start: Tatooine - Course Conclusion: Nar Shadda
Course Start: Nar Shadda - Course Conclusion: Korriban
Course Start: Korriban - Course Conclusion: ERROR

Course cannot be completed. Location does not exist. Please supply additional data.

Navigation systems did, however, mark the ship as being near the mid rim, in what appeared to be neutral territory, save for the ever present Zakuulan cloud. Should the party investigate it, the Navigation system would return Asylum as being reachable, travel time three hours. As for the main battle lines...frankly, there were none. The War had ended. At this point, mere pockets of resistance surfaced, and were quickly snuffed out. The only battles marked within the ships logs were that of Asylum. The ship, for all intents and purposes, was in neutral territory, well away from the fighting.

Elsewhere in the ship, Prennis was well and truly alone. The only other life forms on the ship being the party she had left on the bridge. The Medbay did seem rather...prepared...for an otherwise uninhabited ship. But among the supplies, there was a folded piece of flimsiplast. Opening it would reveal a hand written note. The handwriting was scratchy and rushed, clearly not someone who spent much time on his penmanship.

Lennoxis,

I am sorry to be writing to you under such circumstances. I know we have never met, and for that I am deeply sorry. It has come to my attention that you may be in danger. I can help you, but my current situation does not allow me to intervene personally. The bearer of this message is like a brother to me. He will keep you safe, until such a time as you can join me in person. I dread to think what relationship you had with your mother, but if it is any consolation, I was but an acquaintance of hers, and nothing more.

I know that such an admission would be best saved for a meeting in person, but time is not our ally. Lord Semik is not your father. I am. I am sure this will summon a good many questions, all of which I am prepared to answer to the best of my ability. In your journey to meet me, your escort has been tasked with collecting another young Sith. A boy by the name of Cortrin. He is your half-brother, and can be trusted.

Zakuul is hunting you. They are abducting any they find with the gift of the Force, but you are precious to them. Take the ship I have provided. It will not be able to take you where you need to go alone. But your escort has been given the key to where I have hidden. He will know how to use it.

I am sorry I could not do more for you. And I hope in time you will come to forgive me.

Your Father,

Verros

The note had been carefully folded and placed. Underneath it was a simple black band, meant to be worn around a slender finger. Around the middle of it, a streak of blue crystal that seemed to glow in the light. Perhaps it belonged to the recipient of the note. Aside from this, no identifying features could be found within the medbay...

Prennis Keeoli · Apr 30, 2020

{ Equipment: Medic armor, amulet, holo matrix,
diagnostic gauntlet / headset, medkit, blaster pistol }
{ Tag:

The Monster }
{ Post: 03 }

~ † ~

After reading it, Prennis shuffled the flimsi, taking a peek at the back in case more yet was written, but all she saw was something black in her peripherals. Her gaze flitted down to the table. The reaction was instantaneous: a little, but sharp, gasp escaping her lips as a carrier butterfly took off from the pit of her stomach. She returned the note to it's home, just as carefully folded and placed as she had found it. As if Lennoxis was still about to read his father's words was the assumption the nurse acted under, though there was no reason to believe the Confederates were anything but alone.

Well, not much at least. There was always the lingering ambiance of a ghost ship, silent in the mebay but not without, that the mind was all too eager to fill with dangerous fantasies.

At the same time, she plucked up the band with her subdominant hand, and soon enough transferred it into her right palm. She had recognized the black-rimmed-blue design of Voph's Ring of Blades on the tabletop. That wasn't the reason her brows knit. Now in hand, that much was irrefutable, but also was the issue of ownership. The ring was identical to Prenn's memory of Voph's in all aspects but size - further proof it wasn't his, even though that both the letter's author and recipient's names insinuated the same...

That left the unnamed escort. What if that was, or had been, Voph, this the key? Then this imitation of his ring - or vice versa, the originator of his ring - would lead them to Verros and, if Voph had already delivered Lennoxis, so to the miralukan. It was worth a try, certainly better than drifting in space for much longer unpurposed, but the would have to figure how to use it first.

She retraced her steps quickly back to the others. "Major Vi'dreya, Nightmother, Minister?" she asked, generally approaching the two and speaking the only ranks she was truly aware of. "I've found something." She held out her hand and uncurled her fingers to reveal the ring, still situated in her palm. "It's alike to Voph's, see?" She didn't know if they would, as choice in jewelry had not been one of Voph's points of conversation, or at least not one he had with her. Nevertheless, she knew though, and should they not, they had to take her word she supposed. "It was with a note, penned by Verros to his son, speaking of a danger presented by something called Zakuul, and an escort hired to bring the son to the father through the use of a provided key. I do believe it's this."

Taiia Locke · May 1, 2020

FIND VOPH

Location: The Nether - Ancient Past
Armament: Lightsaber
Objective: Locate Voph
Tags:

Kyyrk |

Allya Vi'Dreya

Taiia stood staring at the log the ship was displaying, her eyes scanning every line with great care in at once her eyes say Zakuul and widened. the images from the vision coming back to her like a river and she nodded. "Zakuul.." she spoke quietly then glanced at both the Nightmother and the other companions, she had seen the nether do many things but to bring them to such a distant past she simply shook her head. "We are in the period of the Great Galactic War" incredulously she shook her head why had they been brought here she wondered to herself, though these questions would be for later. "These logs are incomplete, they only tell us where the ship has been not where it was headed, we are missing something."

Prennis had returned to the cockpit and Taiia turned at her words, looking at the item in her hand from afar she walked over and reached out a hand cautiously "May I?" she simply waited for confirmation before she picked it up and studied it closely it was beautiful and well made with a strong connection to the force. She placed it back into the woman's hand with a smile and nodded "Thank you" she paused turning back toward Allya thinking back through everything thus far, then she simply paused and closed her eyes as she listened to the force. The Nightmother, of course, had seen her do this many times to the rest it may seem odd, her emerald eyes snapped open and she walked toward Vytal. "Nightmother, the holocron if you please? Remember what Daejin said. This shall be your guide"

Vytal Noctura · May 17, 2020

Location: Unknown Vessel
Tag:

Kyyrk |

Allya Vi'Dreya

Vytal turned to look back at Sergei. "Under the circumstances, you may have that opportunity. This..." Her green eyes scanned the cabin for a moment. "This is a recreation. One as deadly as the real thing, and that will respond to our actions accordingly. A trial. Voph's trial." And they'd walked into the middle of it. Not that she felt foolish for doing so; they'd come to free him of the Nether's clutches one way or the other. If that required playing along then that is what it required. Surprisingly, blasters actually would work here.

Prennis then announced her intent to explore the medical facilities on board. Prudent seeing how they could very well come to need them.

A short time passed as they looked over the navigation system. "Then Asylum was not the destination," Vytal commented aloud. "Are there any records that still contain the original coordinates? Or any indication of who this craft belonged to?"

Fortunately, Prennis would return and indicate she had found something below. Vytal straightened up and looked back at the woman. The medical bay was the last place she would have expected a clue, but she would take it. After she'd spoken, Taiia made comment of their circumstance as well. A slight nod followed what was shared with the group.

The holocron was held aloft for examination. "So it shall. We have fragments of a cause with an unknown destination and an empty courier ship." The Nightmother looked to Prennis. "Zakuul is a galactic Empire that lost its Emperor. Voph continues to fight it with whatever resources can be found. One man against an army."

If the ship was meant to convey the son to the father... Vytal frowned for a moment before her attention turned back to the holocron. Perhaps it would shed light on the matter. She only hoped these events would not place them before the great darkness that haunted Voph's every step. They were not prepared for that confrontation.

Kyyrk · May 17, 2020

A R R I V A L

The holocron was indeed the key. As if the holocron knew, a single holoimage was displayed to the interior of the ship. A simple set of coordinates. Coordinates that did not exist within the ship's nav computer. But Coordinates identified as the "Unity Nebula" all the same. As the ship shifted into hyperspace, the team felt a change in the world around them. The feeling of danger had left them. Almost as if the very Force around them knew that they journeyed towards safety. But as the ship arrived, there was no sign of Voph. Nothing but an asteroid field between them and the nebula.

For a time, it seemed as though the coordinates had been wrong. Perhaps the Holocron would not lead them to Voph. But then a chime sounded within the cabin. Scanners had picked up a target. Unidentified. Then another. And another.

"Unidentified Vessel, you are in a restricted area. Do not attempt to flee, or you will be fired upon."

A swarm of Sith Interceptors flew past the vessel, and the internal computer systems identified incoming scans. Whoever had decided to greet them wanted to know who they were. That's when it became apparent to the naked eye. Something was moving within the asteroids. Something big.

"Unidentified Vessel, proceed on the docking path granted to you. High Command wishes to speak with you immediately."

Immediately, the ship lurched into motion, being dragged towards the asteroids by a tractor beam. At the same time, the twin prongs that constituted the nose of a ship broke the line. Further and further they stretched, until the team saw the ship for what it was. A massive Harrower Dreadnought emerged from the field, drawing the ship into one of its main hangers. As the ship settled down, a squadron of Sith Imperial soldiers formed up at the entryway. A voice called out, "We mean you no harm, travelers. Our master wished for us to take you to him upon your arrival. If you would please follow us."

Taiia Locke · Aug 15, 2020

Finding Voph

Location: Somewhere In the Nether

Equipment: Lightsaber

Tag: