Perfect Judgment

[Seto Du Couteau]

Seto Du Couteau
Location: Tython, Silent Desert, Underground Temple
Objective: 2. Unleashed
Interacting with: [member="Marriskcal Lati"]
Armour

Seto continued to climb the steps towards the Temple, but even so with Marr’s warning he continued to climb as his hands wrapped around his helmet to place it back and re-complete his armor once again. His Force sense flared outwards, his presence grew and knew his sister’s words were true that they were not alone among the deserted Temples and caverns of the ancient order of the Jed’aii. Strange to Seto as before he went off with his sister to find this place, he was assured the Jedi Prison was well guarded and monitored.

Was this perhaps a hidden cell we had yet rooted out from Tython? Seto frowned at the thought, but given this Temple’s most peculiar location and perhaps the desert above most eerie ability to remove all sound, Seto sighed with frustration. Seto was never one to be against the application of force, but even his sister would had been confused about his avoidance of danger and strange pattern to remove himself from conflict with the enemy.

Even when he participated in the mission on Tython, he had only accepted it as a small scale military operation and was given the assurance of heavy support by the special military forces sent to assist them. So here I am, with no other support than Marr and soon to be surrounded with what I can presume be angry Jedi. Seto kept his lightsabers at the ready but never went to grab them, for the moment he felt confident with his own Force abilities for the moment.

Not how I wanted to spend the day, cleaning out the rest of the Jedi insurgents off the planet. . . or at least here in this Temple.

“It seems we have a group of people attempting to stop us from grabbing our gifts meant for our dear students,” Seto spoke, his voice sounded none concern of such a fact, as if describing a small delay to their plans, “-further more I believe they mean to steal away our chance to even acquire our gifts to our students.” He added with a slight bitter tone at the mere thought of not getting what he demanded.

Seto stopped climbing when he approached the main entrance to the Temple and turned his attention back to Marr, his helmet nodded once to her as he asked her “-Perhaps we shall teach them manners about stealing away a child’s smile.” Seto offered the idea to his sister.

Let them attempt to test their ability against our own.

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Marriskcal Lati,
House Du Couteau
Objective: #2; Unleashed
Location: Ancient Jedi Temple, Silent Desert, Tython
Interacting with: [member="Seto Du Couteau"]

Ever true to her nurture, there was only the fervour of anticipation in her aura.

How these sensitives happened to chance upon the sanctum buried by time and sand, or where they originated from were irrelevant to the creature that went by Marriskcal Lati.

Only the Hunt.

With the hunger of a bloodhound that had scented its prey, the young woman focused her presence toward the direction where she sensed the careless wisp of aura. Not one, but several. A faint frown found its way on her lips as she inclined her head in silent contemplation. Her index finger tapped once against the thigh of her armour as she mused on their position.

Two of us against several trained Jedi.

Her eyes flickered once more in the direction where their quarry were.

Low, nearly negligible in the Force.

Weakened.

We have a good chance.

And it seemed that Seto thought along a similar vein.

“We could not have that, could we now?” the blonde agreed serenely, the smile that lay hidden beneath the faceplate growing fierce and predatory as paused by her brother’s shoulder. The small negligible detail that these crystals they were seeking belonged to the Jedi of the past and inherited by the Jedi of the present was not something that ever touched her mind, for what rights did these filth have?

“Let us hope they are quick studies, unlike those from before.”

Well now, since they have the advantage of reaching their destination before the insurgents, it meant that they had time to familiarise themselves with the sanctum and decide on the area where they will intercept them.

“They are progressing slowly, so we still have some time before they will reach us,” she informed Seto, stepping past him to push open the dense doors. And even while they were ancient and long unused, they still opened with nary a sound, revealing an austere hall lit by more of those mysterious lights from the abandoned temple on Chandrila.

“Hm… Perhaps… Would it be easier if we allow them to lead us to where the crystals repository are? Or do you think it would be too much of a risk to allow them a chance to arm themselves?”

 

[Seto Du Couteau]

Seto Du Couteau
Location: Tython, Silent Desert, Underground Temple
Objective: 2. Unleashed
Interacting with: [member="Marriskcal Lati"]
Armour

"It would be sporting of us to allow them time to arm and ready themselves against us. . ." Seto mused on the idea, after all the two siblings were mere guests and the most likely knows the layout of the Temple far greater than them, "-but since when either of us ever play fair?"

Well, the last time you played fair. Seto left the unspoken remark in his head as he continued to move towards the Temple.

Seto knew that both parties were aware of one another, the Jedi had to be or what other reason would they be in this specific Temple when Seto and Marr had just arrived. But that does not mean we’ve lost the element of surprise. Seto understood the Force allows one’s field of vision to increase dramatically, but it came with its own drawbacks and Marr had made it clear that those who rely heavily on one strength alone turn such into a crutch.

And my ruined cape paid for the lesson she taught me.

The Du Couteau heir waited a step behind his sister, as she began to open the Temple doors. As for a Jedi Temple, it remained with its eerie and staple serene nature that has become standard with nearly all Jedi Temples. With the stone floors gently lit by natural growing fluorescent crystals, a question slowly materialized Why does the Silent Desert not continue below ground? Was it because of the Temple or something else?

The presence of the Jedi snapped his focus back to the present, Seto felt the staccato and sudden shift change of the Force as no doubt the Jedi insurgents were formulating their own plan of attack to drive out their unwanted guests. The grand entrance presented a staircase that led upwards to a large balcony and with three large hallways leading away and deeper into the Temple on the bottom floor Seto realized that perhaps he should have brought Spot.

“Maybe we should ask them for a Guide for the Temple, not an unreasonable request of a guest to a host I believe,” Seto spoke, his helmeted head turned to face Marr and nodded once as they should practice their manners in all occasions.

Seto walked towards one of the hallways, his eyes scanned around and noted that the Temple was indeed well built, the stone and durasteel certainly passed the test of time. But to get overwhelmed by Jedi is not the optimal strategy. . .

He grasped one of his lightsabers, his left hand slowly wrapped around the hilt and spoke back to his sister, “-Perhaps this hallway, no doubt the Jedi have the numerical advantage so they will lean on their strength.” Seto mused, And it will be up to us to kick their crutch out from underneath them and watch them fall flat on their face.

“The question that is left is whether we should split up and quicken this game of ‘Hide-And-Seek’ with the Jedi here.”

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Marriskcal Lati,
House Du Couteau
Objective: #2; Unleashed
Location: Ancient Jedi Temple, Silent Desert, Tython
Interacting with: [member="Seto Du Couteau"]

Never~

Playing fair was for beings who courted death.

As the filth were already aware of their presence within their forsaken sanctum, Marriskcal made no effort to shroud her aura from their senses. Her eyes flickered over the austere hall, her mind taking the stairway leading away to another floor. “We should, though I have a feeling that we will need to convince them that it is in their best interest to do so,” she quipped, a thread of amusement weaving across the tapestry of her sentiments even as she trailed after Seto.

The young woman peered further down into the hallway that they were both standing in, giving a careless shrug when she saw that there were nothing that would provide those stray Jedi any further advantage. “So they would have difficulty separating and surrounding us...” she spoke the thoughts that crossed her brother’s mind when he made the decision to make a stand here.

Letting out a soft hum as she mused over her brother’s query, Marriskcal shook her head lightly, “No, I think it is best that we stay together. We have no way of telling if they would also split up into two groups, or if they would decide to aim for one of us as a collective.”

Even as her words faded to a silence, the discordant patter of their preys’ footfall began to echo through the ancient temple. With a fluid flick of her wrist, the blonde retrieved her own hilt, raising her dominant arm above her head in a Djem So stance.

It was a silent challenge to the beings that were slowly gathering at the mouth of the hallway.

And seeing the pair of armoured forms standing before them with lightsaber hilts in hand, the fugitives stayed quiet and exchanged glances as they measured their chances. But they were in a untenable position where their bodies were weakened from their prolonged stay in the prison and they needed the crystals from the repository of their sanctum if they were to continue and survive their journey through the treacherous sands of the Silent Desert.

Caught in an situation where they had no other choice but to fight, the proud Jedi of Tython began to advance, their spirits burning with their desperation and wrath.

They broke into several small teams of threes and fours, each leaping in to the fray to test the skills and abilities of both siblings barehanded or with whatever tools they managed to bring with them when they escaped the prison before they retreated, allowing the next team to step past them before they are overwhelmed to do the same as they observed.

If there was one thing they excelled in after living so many years of their lives together, it was in anticipating each other.

 

[Seto Du Couteau]

Seto Du Couteau
Location: Tython, Silent Desert, Underground Temple
Objective: 2. Unleashed
Interacting with: [member="Marriskcal Lati"]
Armour

The hallway loomed over his head as Seto approached, he took only a couple steps forward before stopping and calmly ignited one of his sabers. The brilliant hue of the emerald blade gently washed over his armor with its color, Seto held it firmly with his left hand and raised his right hand into a more standard defensive form.

He had no intention of moving into an offensive forms, instead he would make use of his barriers and either split or funnel the avenging Jedi into Marr’s waiting blades. It was not the most favorable of positions that Seto envisioned, but far from the worst situations that could have manifested for the two siblings.

Seto raised his right hand, the Force swelled within for the briefest moment before he launched an invisible hand that cascaded down the hall. The torrential pour of the Force slammed into the lead Jedi fugitive, but much to Seto’s surprise the Jedi stood his ground, but with the help of another Jedi aiding in pushing back Seto’s Force attack.

Occupied with holding the first two back, the next pair of Jedi charged forward, with their movements enhanced by the Force they made great time to cross the large hallway to reach Seto.

The flash of steel in their hands made Seto raised an eyebrow but the daggers that the Jedi wielded permutated something far further sinister than he was willing to bet against. Seto turned his ignited saber and caught one of the daggers from reaching his chest, but much to his surprise and confirmation the dagger and his lightsaber glanced off one another, as if the dagger was anything more than sharpened steel.

Force Imbued Seto quickly answered his own question before he released his Force attack on the two Jedi further back and focused slowly the two Jedi attempting to find an opening for their imbued daggers to penetrate. Seto would not offer such an easy target, but before he could retaliate with his own attack, Seto found himself forced to create a Force barrier as the first Jedi that had been assaulted had returned the favor. The Jedi launched a large Force blasted that cascaded through the hallway and upturned several tile pieces from the floor, before finally slamming into the Barrier and made Seto flinch and radiated a sense of real pain and anger.

Unbeknownst to Seto, this fierce first assault by these Jedi fugitives was their only chance to overcome to him lest their bodies begin to fatigue further and they could no longer keep up with their attacks. Though Seto had to contend with the first four, two more teams moved through a different hallway in attempts to circle around the two siblings and completely surround them.

The Jedi figured the first four could hold up against the armored enemy for long enough to complete the encirclement and another team of three could handle the other armored figure of Marr.

A large cracking sound reverberated throughout the hallway and one of the Jedi that attempted to stab Seto with his Force imbued dagger had been slammed into the ground, and the floor shattered beneath the limp body from the sheer impact and power Seto put into his attack on the offending Jedi.

 

[Arek Talonspyre]

Arek Talonspyre
Sovereign Protector
Objective: #2; Unleashed
Location: Silent Desert; Tython
Gear: Imperial Sovereign Armor, Double Vibroblade, G190 Officer's Sidearm

The Silent Desert of Tython somewhat unnerved Arek Talonspyre. He was used to fighting in silence, of course, but this silence was an unnatural one, nearly choking in its noise-consuming void. The Sovereign Protector rode a swoop bike across the sands, headed for the location of the Du Couteau siblings. Even for someone of his position, this mission would surely be a test of his skills.

Arek's double vibroblade was strapped to the side of the bike, while his sidearm sat in a black synth-leather holster at his hip. His black armorweave cloak flapped in the wind behind him, and with all the sand particles flying against his helmet he was thankful it had a visor. He reached out with the Force, scanning the horizon for signs of the Temple. Feeling the presence of the twins and...sithspit.

Arek gunned the throttle on his swoop, speeding towards the location he sensed the siblings.

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Marriskcal Lati,
House Du Couteau
Objective: #2; Unleashed
Location: Ancient Jedi Temple, Silent Desert, Tython
Interacting with: [member="Seto Du Couteau"] | [member="Arek Talonspyre"]

As with many things in life, what was deemed an advantage could swiftly turn and become a disadvantage. And no matter that the pair were the first in time immemorial to wander into the ancient sanctum, they were still its guests. Even abandoned, the Jedi of Tython would its plans archived within their temple high on the mountains. Or perhaps, the temple of their origins was based on this one. Not that it was likely that their opponents would care to divulge their knowledge to either of the siblings.

Even as Seto fended off the first group, with the second group impeding her view of the remaining Jedi that were arrayed behind them, the third and fourth set forth on their plans. They shrouded their presence even as they moved quietly through the dusty corridors, taking a turn at every intersection until they found themselves at the other end. Silently, the leader of the third group lunged forward, the makeshift weaponry in his hand raised to strike down at the armoured form of the young woman.

But Marriskcal was not chosen by the Supreme Leader to be part of his Praetorian Guard by mere coincidence. She was a creature forged by years upon years of careful tutelage by a coterie of instructors, unyielding and intrepid when it came to a conflict. With the experience of a lifetime of conflict and unending assignments behind her, the blonde pivoted on a heel even as the crude blade came down, the cyan of her sabre deflecting its arc.

“You need to try a little harder, Jedi,” she hissed, even as a second of the Jedi leapt into the fray. With her gaze discerning a third and fourth… and even fifth to eighth being waiting for their chance to lunge, Marriskcal smiled, striking out with an enhanced strike at the second even as she held the first Jedi in a lock to throw him back against his awaiting friends. If they thought she would be so easily outclassed by sheer number, then they were arrogant and mistaken in their presumptions.

With a flicker of a thought, three silver streaks flashed through the air, embedding itself in the second Jedi’s heart, throat and eye. Even as the others began to shout in panic, the first Jedi made the mistake of allowing his focus to falter. Without any mercy, Marriskcal pressed forward, embedding a knee into his stomach and further unbalancing the young male that sought to challenge her. Even as a garbled choke left him and he leaned forward in an instinctive reaction, the edge of her sabre flashed across his neck.