Private Opening the door

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Mine 13-Alpha
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Knight Saberstaff
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Adron Malvern | The High Court of Illyria |

Crunch, Crunch, Crunch, Crunch.
Crunch, Crunch, Crunch, Crunch.
Crunch, Crunch, Crunch, Crunch.

Back and forth the new Knight and Sieur walked, the gravel laying before the abandoned mine crunched underneath her armored boots. Xobos awaited what would be the rest of her force that would be entering into the mines with a heavy anticipation. It wasn’t as though the situation scared her, Adron had put her through situations that were much, much worse. A walk through the fires and hells of mustafar and all that. That didn’t make what was about to occur any less nerve racking though. With a force of only ten, plus herself and the former imperial, they faced odds much steeper than the miners faced when they first went into the mines to try and fight off these Shadow Cats. They did have something that miners would never have, however.

The force. They would never have the force as their ally as Xobos did.

Having a former imperial who more than likely hunted these cats, or something like them, before this helped immensely as well. The men that came with them both, what made up her minuscule security force, were highly trained as well. Still, despite these advantages..it was hard to not play the numbers game in her head. “Do you not trust in us, little master? Is our combined power not enough to take on what these insignificant miners consider a threat?” Ambrus’ words cut deep into her thought, pulling her out of whatever place of self-doubt she may have been experiencing. Silently, she shook her head, acknowledging that the words were not true. The voices had not let her down before, and against an enemy like this, they would surely not in this situation either.

A small sigh pushed it’s way through her mouth and lungs, exasperation of having to always be fighting a battle on two fronts tiring at times. It was hard enough when the voices were kind to her, but when she managed to frustrate, or forbid, anger them, then the smallest task became almost impossible. This was not the time to fight with him, especially not when the voice’s power would be very helpful when staring down some of the more deadly animals that Xobos had ever been forced to deal with.

They would soon be entering into the mine, taking on the enemy that would hopefully open the door to keeping the miners here in Garde Noire. Perhaps this was nothing more than a test from the head miner to see how she would react, or maybe he even hoped she would die in these kark forsaken mines. If that was the case, or if he believed that she couldn’t do this, he had absolutely no idea what this new Sieur was capable of. No..idea..at..all. When the others arrived, they would descend, but for now, Xobos was content to continue her pacing until they got there.

Crunch, Crunch, Crunch, Crunch.
Crunch, Crunch, Crunch, Crunch.
Crunch, Crunch, Crunch, Crunch.

 

[The High Court of Illyria]

THE UNDERDARK​

Tags: Xobos Yakieer ​

The mine's of Illyria are deep and old.

Rumors say that long before the Illyrian people erected their first cities, ancient creatures traveled the planet through deep catacomb tunnels that they dug throughout the planet's inner workings. They have never found such creatures, such behemoths of legend. However in the deepest, darkest part of 13-Alpha they had found something else. Something that channeled the Dark Side of the Force vividly, as if it was birthed from the depths of the shadows. Perhaps they were.

Maalraas were vicious pack hunters. Capable of using the Force to cloak themselves as well as being extremely resistant to blaster fire and the blade of a lightsaber. It would take considerable assault to defeat a Maalraas through conventional means. Luckily the creatures that were prominent on the Western Coast of Illyria did not often travel in the various jungles and plains. No, they preferred the cold, underdark of the Mining systems. When Xobos and her guard approached the mine, she would feel the rush of cool air flowing out from the cave entrance. It was as if the Dark Side of the Force was pushing all semblance of life away from the mine.

They stepped forward. Entering this dark, damp, cold place as if it was a place where living beings belonged. Upon entering the mine they would see the tunnels could fit nearly six people abreast. There was a minor lightning system hooked into the ceiling of the cave, but the lights had long-since blown out and the wiring was all but destroyed.

The ground was hard and uneven, but it was walkable. The deeper the group traveled, the thicker the smog of the Dark Side seemed to get. It would flow over Xobos effortlessly. A dark presence that she could choose to draw from. If she did, she would find herself assaulted by a great, lusting hunger. A hunger that has been dying to be sated. She would have the taste fresh on her lips, as if only moments ago she'd been feasting on a rotten corpse or a dead rat. The taste would be foul, yet so would the low hissing that came into the back of her mind. She would feel the anger, the anxiety, that came from simply being in this tunnel. She would know they were watching them.

Waiting in the shadows. No, they were the shadows. That so unnaturally shifted in the dark and fled from the light the group carried with them.

Xobos would see it just before it happened.

The crimson eyes gazing down at her and her party. The Maalraas were here, they were many, and they were hungry.

A violent hiss let out, before all hell truly broke loose. From the shadows the Maalraas sprang into action, preparing to murder their prey. ​

​

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Mine 13-Alpha
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Knight Saberstaff
Mental state: Connected
Tags: | Adron Malvern | The High Court of Illyria |

When the rest of the group finally arrived, Xobos turned to look her way to the mine. She could feel it’s darkness. Not like could feel the darkness of a household at night, but a darkness that seemingly grew, ebbed, flowed and pushed past it’s typical bonds. It looked to enter ones body, consume it with it’s light snuffing powers. And as she looked toward the mine, she could have swore the darkness of the entrance beckoned her forward, the dark side of the force flowing from it. Within her mind, she spoke to the voices, breathing out a short sigh as she did so. “The darkness we face. It is not just of the mortal realm is it?” The voices, unlike most times, spoke together on this fact, as if they were doubly sure, or if they had no reason to deceive the Miraluka. “It is imbued with the dark of the force, just as we are, master. You can feel it calling to you..but you do not need it.”

Lagos tended to be more…implicit than either of the voices, and his words washed a sense of calmness over the apprentice. With a silent nod, she looked to the former imperial that would help lead the group, giving him a nod as well. The order given, they proceeded into the dark maw of the mine, ready to embrace whatever fate the force had laid out for them Xobos walked at the front of the pack, never one to allow someone to do her work for her. Most certainly not this, not when there was her honor to prove.

Her hands found the hilt of her new blade by her side as they walked, unclipping it while they did so. It was not ignited, not just yet, forcing their only light to be of the lanterns that were brought by the group. Even with these nighttime creatures, there was no reason to give them any extra light to hunt them by. At least not for the moment.

Their trek paused shortly after when they emerged into a large, circularly area, evidently carved out as some sort of staging area. Upturned pieces of mining equipment, cut cables, and…the skeletons of the dead, cleaned by the teeth of those horrifying monsters, all were signs of the tragedy that had occurred within these very stone walls. Her other clue of the carved out place being the staging area was the multitude of cave openings that led into this area. A multitude of caves..all with their own crimson red eyes staring hungrily at them.

Moments after the violent hiss filled and echoed throughout the chamber, all kark broke lose. They came from multiple angles, prompting the apprentice to ignite both sides of her blades and spin it around her body in a swirling, orange and black mass. She knew how tough these monsters were, but even with the toughest of hides, little could be done to deflect a direct stab from a blade. When one of the monsters leaped at her from behind, the apprentice smoothly side stepped, allowing it to go skidding on the floor, and before it could recover, brought the weight of the force down upon it’s back, pinning it in place. A quick stride forward, and the point of her blade was driven deep into the thing’s skull, liquidizing whatever brain it may have.

Turning, she saw the horrifying scene behind her, and with a snarl, she readied herself for the coming onslaught. Lagos’ voice once again rose throughout her thoughts, mirroring exactly what she believed.

“We will not fail this day.”

 

[The High Court of Illyria]

THE SHADOW BOX​

Tags: Xobos Yakieer ​

They continued to move in the darkness. Showing themselves only when poised to attack. The slugthrowers that resounded out when the chaos ensued were a welcome distraction from the hellish screeching the creatures let out. The Maalraas jumped from one place to another, mixing in and out of shadow at will. The moment one felt threatened, they would fall back to the darkness, allowing their brothers and sisters to assault from another direction.

Xobos' guard fought well. Practiced soldiers who kept their eyes on the bit of light that the cavern offered. The lights that hung from their vests allowed for some shallow moments of illumination, so they could see just before one of the creatures struck. Still, the soldiers did their part.

Though they were not elite, they knew these mines. These were the men and women who grew in this town, whose fathers and brothers blood had been spilled in these very mines. As they fought with impeccable courage they worked to form a semi-circle to guard their liege's back. Their slugthrowers rang out in a unified burst, almost as if rehearsed. The firing line launched into the dark, causing several of the shadows to fall, still, never to shift again.

The Maalraas watched their siblings fall dead on the ground and let out a unified roar. A cry for help from the rest of their pack. The tunnels echoed this cry and as the warriors fought on, the shadows began to grow in number once again. These twisting shadows continued to plague the group, leaping and howling as they assaulted them with the intent to kill.​

​

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Mine 13-Alpha
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Knight Saberstaff
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Adron Malvern | The High Court of Illyria |

As she pulled the blade of her saber from the bubbling skull of the dead creature at her feet, she looked up to realize just how her men had done so far. And, to her surprise and enjoyment, they had done well to this point. Of the ten men she had entered into the mine with, she could see none of their bodies on the cave floor. They moved with a flow that was envious, turning and firing in synchronization to end the lives of multiple of the monsters. The very sight had Xobos smirking lightly with anticipation, now knowing just how well her back was being guarded. Using her sight in the force, she could see that the soldiers had ended two of the beasts, giving credence to a low, rumbling laugh that rolled through her mind. “Ohohoh..they’re winning, little Knight..” That smirk only grew with the prodding, until it was a rare wide grin peaking at the edges of her lips.

“Let’s not allow that then, shall we?”

Her eyes focused on one of the Malaaran that seemed intent on circling it’s way around the back of the group and taking some out that way. The gravel underneath her feet kicked up as she sprinted forward, catching the attention of the beast. Had she not, her leaping swipe at the red skinned alien’s head might’ve landed, instead of it swiftly backing away, leaving her to roll and come up to one knee. It’s counterattack was swift, a sharp paw swiping out. The attack actually landed, but only on the hardened silk of her cape, and with it’s neck exposed, Xobos brought the blade up from below, impaling it through it’s neck.

A twist of her hilt left the beast without it’s head as the blade pulled it’s way through the Malaaran’s skull. When another pair of beasts looked as though they would be making their way toward the group of soldiers, the royal knight’s hands twisted, pulling the saber staff apart. Rearing back, she slung the blades forward with the use of the force. The spinning lights coming straight towards them froze the pair, which resulted in their death’s as the blades cut their way’s along their bodies. A grunt emanated from Xobos as she pulled the blades back to her, spinning them into a defensive stance once the hilts hit her gloved hands. The soldiers being as useful as they had been so far, and keeping them alive as long as possible would more than likely be useful to her moving forward. If she had to sacrifice moving forward to do so, then that’s exactly what she would do.

It was still four kills to two, however.

 

[The High Court of Illyria]

LADY SABATORA​

Tags: Xobos Yakieer ​

Again the Maalraas sprang into action, but not once did they break their prey's lines.

The guards who fought against the Maalraas fired their weapons with exacting precision. It was as if they had become men possessed, firing into the darkness and watching the bodies slink to the ground. Again and again the Maalraas charged, using diversionary tactics hoping to make an opening, they were never able to pierce their slugthrower wall or the Knight who stood before them.

When a resounding bang echoed throughout the cavern and more of the Maalraas fell dead, the rest of the creatures let out a unified hiss, the smell of their kind's blood filled the air and the creatures all began to turn. They fled from the large cavern opening, steering clear of those who riddled the ground with their brothers and sister's bodies. As the Maalraas fled, the guard let out another powerful volley, the slugs slamming into the soft rumps of the shadow cats and leaving another group dead, dying against the ground.

The Maalraas spread out, darting into the shadows until finally...silence.

While the darkness seemed to remain still, the cold was still there. The Dark Side was still there. The caverns before them were all similar and had the same feel, except one. For Xobos, a Sith attuned to the Dark Side of the Force, the single tunnel in the center was vibrant, inviting even.

When the party followed it, they would soon find themselves delving deeper and deeper into the darkness, until finally they would see just what this hell was.

Forty, fifty, sixty?

They all rested against the cool ground in a massive atrium, filled with water flowing over a massive deposit of Phrikite ore. The waters had a metallic shine to them, as if some kind of unnatural light was below. These metallic waters seemed to shift and flow from an unnatural force. A force that would catch Xobos's eyes.

The Great Maalraas was massive. Nearly twice the size of the others. She had thick, rugged scales which seemed to shift from crimson to azure in an eerie wave. The eyes, like gold, pierced the entire group that stood before her.

Those golden eyes pierced Xobos at her very soul. It was an odd feeling that flowed over the Knight. A feeling as if she was in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing, being the wrong person. Xobos was not a Miralukan...she was a Maalraas! A member of the great Sabatora's pack! And now, she needed to be bent to the will of her Alpha.

As the Great Maalraas rose, exuding the Dark Side of the Force, she tapped into her abilities, attempting to destroy Xobos' mind and rebuild it as something else, something feral.​

​

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Mine 13-Alpha
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Knight Saberstaff
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Adron Malvern | The High Court of Illyria |

Focusing her efforts on protecting the group of soldiers proved to be the best course of action by far. While she was busy bisecting another of the shadow cats that had the unfortunate luck of getting too close to the group, the were firing another volley over her head. She could hear the bodies of the dead hit the ground in wet thuds, barely having a moment to echo throughout the staging chamber area before another volley was let loose on what she could only assume was the retreating forms of the shadow cats. And once the final shots rang clean, the echos ran soft, the chamber fell into an uneasy silence.

Once realizing they were no longer in danger, she stood to her full height, deactivating her saber as she did so. All around their feet, the mangled, shot, and sliced bodies of the Malaaran now joined the prey they had so deadly sought. It was a refreshing sight, a small victory before they started their journey farther into the caves. The Knight made her way back over to the soldiers, giving them a nod of approval for their work so far.

The next step, now that they had secured their initial staging point, was to proceed further into the caves. But where to go, that was the question. She scanned the various cave entrances that emptied into this cavern, eyes eventually settling on the cave system directly in front of them. “It calls to us, does it not?” Xobos nodded, agreeing with Lagos’ intuition. There was something about the area of the cavern that called to her through the dark side, and while that would typically give her pause, now was not the time to hold back.

With her hilt off her belt, Xobos strode forth into new cave system, the soldiers following closely behind her. Sounds of scampering, claws against stone came from every crack, every side system around them as they walked, yet no attacks came from the flanks. “We are being cornered in.” Another grunt in response, acknowledging that the way back was more than likely no longer an option. Pushing forward was the option available to them now. Forward, forward into the breach.

The sight that awaited them was enough to make any man’s blood run cold. A stream running over an ore of some kind cast light into the cavern, shimmering and dancing off the cold stone walls. The lights glanced over the snarling beasts, tens of them, all glaring at the new meat that had been brought to them. At the center of it all, a great monster, twice the size of any of the Malaaras that stood near it, looked the group over with it’s piercing eyes.

Darkness began to close around the edges of her vision, the force being choked from her mind. A pain blossomed at the front of her skull, forcing her to a knee out of sheer anguish. And as her teeth clenched together, something harrowing occurred. A new voice, one foreign to her mind, foreign and dangerous, slithering in a way that Ambrus, Ora, and Lagos never had, spoke. “You are one of us, now…Malaaras..” The voice clawed it’s way through her mind, scrapping the surface clean of who she was.

But then, she could feel herself begin to fight back. Her voices, her life, fighting back to take back her mind. “No..we are sith. You are beast.” Lagos seemingly cast the darkness from the vision, exploding with a roar from the Knight that echoed off of each and every corner of the cavern. Her blades ignited, and with the rage of the dark side coursing through her very veins, Xobos’ free hand reached out, choking and pulling one of the scaling things toward her. And when it’s neck was in her grasp, she brought her cleanly through it’s skull, tossing it’s body to the side.

“My mind is my own!” She exclaimed, spinning her blades to point at the great Malaaras. “And you will never take that from me.”

 

[The High Court of Illyria]

MENTAL WAR​

Tags: Xobos Yakieer ​

The moment that Xobos resisted the pull of the Great Maalraas, a loud screech echoed throughout the cavern as the Horde of Maalraas glared at the group below in anger. The servants of the Alpha roared out before bolting from their resting places. It seemed as if some of the Maalraas merely faded into wisps of shadow and darkness.

While Xobos fought to defend her mind, the shadow cats pounced. One by one it seemed they jumped into action, yet they did not yet turn their claws towards those who invaded the Lady Sabatora's cave. Instead they moved with whimsical leaps, turning from one man to the next. The guard who accompanied Xobos were utterly mesmerized by this maneuver of dancing shadows. They were incapable of keeping track of even a single of the beasts, so for some time there was the echoing of shots ringing out, finding no home in the thick hide of the maalraas.

The Great Maalraas herself hissed at Xobos, leaping over the cavern stream that was before her. As she landed, she turned her mesmerizing eyes to Xobos and bore down on her with the entire weight of the Force once again.​

​

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Mine 13-Alpha
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Knight Saberstaff
Mental state: Beaten back Malaaras
Tags: | Adron Malvern | The High Court of Illyria |

While her blade itched for the blood of the beast to cut through, the scene before her could only be described as painting of madness. The Malaaras jumped, leaped through the air, appearing in some places while not physically attacking the group of soldiers and herself. Nothing about the scene made sense, which is possibly why the apprentice did not buckle under the initial movements. Her mind was already consumed by the madness of the voices, so nothing that was seen would phase Xobos in these moments.

That was, until the alpha of the pack made it’s leaping movements toward her. A spin of her blade was the reception it would receive, and another cry of anger pulled from her lungs. But before she could make any movement toward the great monster, it’s eyes focused on her yet again, stalling her attack in her tracks. Again, the darkness began to consume her vision, blotting out the edges and threating to spill forth and consume it in it’s entirety.

This time, however, there was no fighting it off. The scratching of her mind could be felt, sending pain throughout her whole body. Her voices fought, but this time, it was only the voice of the great beast that could be heard. “You are Malaaras..your strength and power will be added to the pack..to serve me…” The pain forced Xobos to a knee, clutching the sides of her mask in agony as the waves of pain hit again and again and again.

Her vision blurred, darkening, not all unlike her time training on Bothawaui, and within moments, her vision in the force was snuffed out. Yet unlike her training, she could not tap into the side of the force that allowed her to see before. Here, here she truly in the dark, truly alone.

And it was beginning to break her. She fought it, fought the voice to be expelled from her mind, blade driving into the ground to give her something tangible to hold onto. But she was losing. The voices, too, were being driven back. Xobos was beginning to snap at her very edges of sanity, and her resistance to the beast could only hold serve for so much longer.

 

[The High Court of Illyria]

FIGHT​

Tags: Xobos Yakieer ​

As the group of Maalraas descended upon the guard, they were pushed back by a wave of slugthrower fire. Although the volley did little to the enemy lines, dropping three or four of the beasts. When one of the monsters made a leap for the guardsmen's center, it was the warrior, Zax who strafed forward. A competent warrior, his arms wrapped around the throat of one of the Maalraas, bringing it to the ground in a mighty slam. The creature writhed and twisted violently, but the Guardsmen did not falter, he kept his arms locked around the creature's neck.

The man slammed the beast into the ground, using his legs to keep the creature down. When his eyes looked up at the sight before him, he was at a loss for words. Xobos, a knight of Illyria, had been frozen as the Great Maalraas stood over the woman menacingly. What was she doing!? He could not answer the question himself however, due to the Maalraas wrapping its body in a twist, tearing from the man's grip. The creature aimed his teeth for Zax, but before it could strike, the man brought his rifle up to guard against the terrifying maw.

"Xobos!" He yelled out.

"Xobos, snap out of it!" He screamed over the wretched growling occurring over him. The man fought and fought to push the Maalraas off but it was far too heavy and far too powerful. Again and again he used the blunt side of his weapon to push the creature back, but it meant little. Every time it was beat back, it tried again to sink its teeth into the Guardsmen.

"Xobos if you do not wake up, your people are going to die!" He yelled out. "Your people!"​

​

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Mine 13-Alpha
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Knight Saberstaff
Mental state: Awoken
Tags: | Adron Malvern | The High Court of Illyria |

She could hear him.

Xobos could hear Zax speak. She understood exactly what the man was saying, and yet, she could not move. The beast was fully within her mind at this point, erasing whatever she remembered, whatever memories that had been made after she was pulled off that retched jungle planet.

All of the training missions with Luca Donskoi , Darth Miseria , Shakti Sweet …

The daring rescue of Epistor of Phasekion from the slaver’s vessel, beating her in combat to win the woman her freedom.

Hunting Kyrat Dragons on Tatooine with Jala before taking that young woman on as an apprentice.

The days of relaxation and warmth on Naboo with Cali Ziiva ‘s bright, grinning face. Some of the most happy moments in her life were spent on that planet, and with each raking of her brain by the great beast, more and more of the memories were lost.

Lost forever to the void.

Tears streamed down her face, pooling at the bottom of her mask before silently dripping to the stone floor below her. She was losing who she was again. It was her banishment, lived once again in excruciating detail, and there was absolutely nothing that she could do to stop it anymore. Xobos was once again going to become a shell, a vessel, a cage for whatever dared inhabit her broken mind.

But then..

Then something began to happen.

The raking began to slow, strain, and the pain of something flaring from the back of her mind to fight back the ever encroaching darkness with a stain of it’s own. It had the familiarity of the voices, yet there was something different, something more…complete. It did not sound as though the tone was broken and fractured anymore. As it roared through her mind, blasting away any hold that the beast had on her, the distorted face of some being focused in her vision, giving credence to what spoke within the confines of her mind next.

“I am Darth Amoragos, and you will not take my vessel from me today, foul creature. You dare trifle in business that is beyond your feeble mind..and for that, you..will..die!”

With the final word, the Malaaras’ control was shattered, leaving the beast reeling from the mental counterattack that had just rattled through the pair’s shared consciousness. This would not be a moment that Xobos would waste, regardless of the confusion at what exactly had broken the hold on her mind. A twist of her hand, and blade was pulled from the ground, split into two, and flung in opposite directions. Those spinning blades of light cut through the air, one removing the life from the scaly alien that threatened her imperial teacher, while the other spun until it was buried, hilt deep, into the alpha’s right eye.

A growl escaped the Knight’s mouth, a grunt following as she pulled both blades into their respective hands. “I am not your play thing. I am Xobos..Yakieer. Knight of Illyria, guardian of my own mind, and you..will..die.” A crack of blade against rock echoed throughout the cave, dirt and pebbles kicked high in the air behind the surging Miraluka. She sought to end this façade, right here, right now, and the head of Malaaras’ alpha might just do it.

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Mine 13-Alpha
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Knight Saberstaff
Mental state: Silent.
Tags: | Adron Malvern | The High Court of Illyria |

Lady Sabatora roared with rage and pain from one of her eyes being put out, shaking the stalactites of the cave from their stony holds. Some even came crashing down to the ground, slamming into and impaling the Malaaras unlucky enough to move out of the way in time. Xobos even smoothly had to step out of the way one that fell to her right, yet all of her attention focused on the roaring beast in front of her. She stalked forward, slicing her blades left and right, cutting down any Malaaras that dared stand in the way of her prey, whom was backing away quickly out of pain and fear.

Just as Xobos had made it to the pack alpha, rising her blades to strike it forever, the darkness began to close in just once more. A final, last grasp, if you will, to take over her mind and convince her not to kill Sabatora. Yet the knight’s determination and rage was too far pushed at this point, and the darkness was swiftly pushed back and into the depths of the beast’s mind. She could feel the mental barrier of the alpha shatter under her closed fist, leaving it open for her suggestions, her control. And, seeing how the alpha had tried to treat her, it only seemed fair to return the favor.

Except Xobos wouldn’t allow there to be a second chance.

Her graph on Sabatora’s mind wiped it of any resistance, decimating the pack leader’s memories of it being the top of the food chain, and replaced it, instead, with her. With each passing moment, she could feel the last grips of resistance flow from the beasts mind, leaving it with absolutely nothing left but loyalty and servitude to the opponent that had bested it and broken it’s mind. “You..you are pack..leader…we follow..the pack leader..” Even her voice now seemed shattered, but this was of little concern to the Knight. What had grabbed her attention now, was the scene unfolding around her.

Many of the Malaaras had disappeared as whisps into the shadows, leaving only a few left. Ten, by her count, made their way to circle around where the Miraluka had backed the former pack leader into a corner. Before she could bring up her blades in a defensive stance, satisfaction flowed through her with the sight of seeing each and every one of those beasts lay flat around her. Their body language was clear. Xobos had taken control, had become the alpha of the pack.

She allowed herself only a moment to soak it in, but it was a moment well deserved. A twist was applied to the bottoms of her hilts, pulling them back together, deactivated, and placed back onto her hip. The gravel underneath her feet once again was one of the few sounds that emanated through the massive cave, echoing each time she took a step toward the soldiers. It didn’t take long to meet up with them yet again, her eyes settling on Zax for just long enough to give him an approving nod. The pack had formed up behind her by now, Sabatora taking her stance to Xobos’s right side, blood still flowing freely from her right eye. It form a nasty scar eventually, but for now, it was a good reminder of what had happened today.

Whatever had happened within her mind, she could not speak to. The voices….voice was silent. All that was left was for her to ponder on was a name, Amoragos. A name to work on later. What did know was that today had ended with a victory. The mine was once again theirs, and all that was left was to face the miners and their guild.

And Xobos couldn’t but smirk widely at the thought of walking back into that hall, being presumedly sent on a death mission, only to walk out flanked by her new pack. Her new symbols of power..

Her new symbols of belonging.

 

[The High Court of Illyria]

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED?!​

Tags: Xobos Yakieer ​

At the Guild hall, most of the miners were packing their things, preparing to leave this province behind. They had all come in to negotiate their new wage with the Head Foreman. The foreman had his legs kicked up on his desk, looking over a bit of information on a new datapad he'd received as an incentive to the new contract. The Mining Hall was fairly empty. Some of the workers remained inside, enjoying a final drink in Dark Guard, but most were seeing to the relocation process.

It was not until one of the workers burst through the door that Legget turned his eyes from the bit of work on his desk. The man scowled at the young man, trying to understand why he'd so abruptly entered the Hall. "You karkin' mad? What you bustin' my door down like that for!?" Legget demanded loudly, drawing the attention of a few more of the miners. That was when the young man coughed out a bold explanation. "She did it!" The man called out, causing Legget to arch a brow. "She did what? Who is she?!" He demanded, before the young man walked over to the Head Foreman. "The Sieur, sh-she cleared the mine!" He yelled.

Legget glanced up at the clock on the back of his wall, his eyes going wide at the thought. "It ain't even been a day!" He said, before looking to the man before him. "How the hell did she clear that mine?! There had to be hundreds of those things in there!" He said with wonder. The man he spoke to could not answer the question any better than Legget himself. So the two just sat in a bit of silence whille the Foreman held a dumbfounded expression.​

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[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Mining Guild Headquarters
Equipment: Faceless Armor, Knight Saberstaff
Mental state: Silent.
Tags: | Adron Malvern | The High Court of Illyria |

“Make sure any wounds are taken care of before the soldiers head back to their garrison. I don’t want anyone getting infected because a wound was not properly washed and cleaned. They did good work but..lets not get sloppy now.” Xobos spoke to the lumbering, grizzled imperial with a stoic expression, her helmet in one hand and while the other ran along the back of the scaly beast that once called itself the alpha of the pack. Now, out in the light of the day and out of the darkness of the cave, her coloring could be much easier discerned now. The rest of the pack was colored in mixes of red and black, but Sabatora’s scales glinted deep crimson in the light and the rest of her skin was a light grey color. As..offputting as the creature did look, one could not say that it did not have beauty, in it’s own monstrous way. And now, the once proud alpha, the one that had attempted to scape her clean of who she was, stayed close to her side, tail flicking as it awaited a movement from it’s new leader. The rest of the Maalraas slowly circled the group, sniffing and prodding at the environment they had been so fearful to emerge into before now.

Turning, she started to walk her way toward the mining guild’s household, knowing not that that was the last piece to this puzzle that still needed to be completed. But just after she had taken her first steps, she pivoted back, catching Zax’s attention once more. “And Zax..contact my master. I want him to come down here at his earliest convenience. We have..a matter that needs to be discussing.” Xobos did not let there be any sort of question after her statement. She trusted Zax, more now than ever before..but the voice in her mind, it’s name now revealed, was a matter only Adron needed to hear. He might know the name and could possibly shed some light on exactly what was happening to her.

The walk through the town back to the mining guild’s headquarters was..a gratifying one. Where there had been spits and fake salutes before she entered in to the mine, only looks of fear now showed on the face of those that witnessed the knight waltz through the middle of town, great maalraas on her right side with the rest of the pack following closely behind. They were symbols of what had happened in that dark place, and a symbol of Xobos’s intention to not let this town die out. Not just yet. Garde Noire was here to stay, and the Miraluka was going to do everything in her power to make this place become another jewel in her home’s crown.

Before entering into the old tavern, she stood upon the steps outside and lowered a hand in a flat motion toward the pack. “Remain. Sabatora, with me.” The pack lowered themselves to the ground or patrolled area around the entrance while Xobos and the great Maalraas made their way into the building. Those looks of fear and shock from the miners were..admittedly, quite a sight to see. Those feelings were internalized, kept tightly within her chest, allowing her face to remain as a stoic determination.

Her journey ended with a straight walk, right back to the same seat that she had been told the guild would be leaving her town. Sitting in it, her gaze fixed on the head miner while her helmet was set upon the table. Sabatora sat beside her, the massive creature’s head above hers even in a sat position. Passively, she began to once again stroke it’s back while looking around the room, seeing the evidence of packing and moving in clear sight.

“How long were you going to give me before you abandoned this town?” Her words, spoken in that pointed way, dripped poison that was directly aimed at the lead miners’ heart. Eventually her eyes focused back on him, hand not ceasing it’s passive petting of her new pet, protector, and symbol of power.

 

[The High Court of Illyria]

THE MINING GUILD​

Tags: Xobos Yakieer ​

The town watched in awe. It was a speculation to be sure. They stood, wide eyed as the pack that had troubled their mines for so long was marched into their town...under no duress? These creatures, these shadow cats were elegant and fluid beasts in the light of day. Their thick hides practically let off a shine in the midday sun. Yet, they were but small mice compared to the great feline beast that strode beside Xobos with a content pride. What was this creature? They all wondered in silent unison. As they Shadow Cats were marched to the steps of the Mining Guild, settling down comfortably as if it was their new home the people looked on with a certain disbelief.

What was going on?

That was the only though to cross the Head Foreman's mind as he gazed over the woman who stepped into his hall. She moved in tandem with a large, feline beast, a majestic creature whose eyes were fearsome and awe inspiring. Even for all his awe, the Mining Foreman did not shrink back at the Sieur's approach. When the woman asked how long she'd had the man scoffed in disbelief, his eyes turned to the creature before him. "No offense, milady...but if you didn't return 'fore nightfall...you'd have had to be a dead woman...ain't no use in turnin' a set clock." He said, his eyes never leaving the Great Maalraas.

The Miner stood up from his seat, a squinted gaze past over to the Maalraas that stood beside the young Sieur. "Well. We expectin' ya to die in them caves. Figurin' we'd make a good fortune in a new town." He said, before offering the woman a wry smirk.

"Ain't the first time I been proved wrong, won't be the last." He said, before looking to those men who seemed to be standing in heavy anticipation. "Listen up ya lot! We're stayin' in Dark Guard! We got us a new Sieur with a set on her about twice the size of you lot! I want all the minin' boys up here at five AM sharp! We're gettin' production started back up in two days. Kiss your wives an' sweethearts, we're goin' back to work!"

The men cheered out, before looking to Xobos and chuckling. The man kicked back the chair behind him before bowing his head, deeply in respect. "The Minin' Guild is at your service, Milady. We'll bring some stones out of those caves in no time." He declared.​

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