Public Protectors and Destructors

[Taeli Raaf]

Kesh
Ruins of Gyn, Keshtah

It had taken a great deal of effort to establish their presence on Kesh, a world that the Lady of Secrets had once had a sizable investment in with her company and her alliance with its ruler. While the Bryn'adul's empire had fragmented, it had left a myriad of individual warlords to carve their territory and continue their mission to terraform their occupied worlds to their desired climates. Kesh must have truly annoyed the extragalactic aliens, and knowing Solan as she had, he would have made the battle to take his planet a hellish experience. And yet, the planet had fallen, the native Keshiri were on the verge of extinction and the survivors forced into a diaspora, and the Bryn'adul had entrenched themselves heavily on world with one of their super constructs at the Sessile Spire.

Now, Taeli had returned to the Scar World of Kesh for several opportunities it presented for both herself and the Sith. She had dispatched her personal forces to the world under the command of General Ivran Avixis, ostensibly as a mercenary army hired to cleanse the world of the Bryn'adul, to create a beachhead in the ruins of Gyn. They had discovered a much larger force than anticipated, no doubt because of the superconstruct, and that the terraforming process on the world was slowly accelerating. Her scientists had determined that the climate would be too hot for most species in another year unless they dealt with whatever force was terraforming the world, and reports from other assault regions were suggesting increased volcanic activity.

That had intrigued her, and she had sent out a call to others to come to the world to reclaim it. She had also invited one other to meet with her personally, as she stood on the erected defenses her legionaries had built.

Velok Brokentusk

OOC: Open to anyone that wants to try and reclaim/claim portions of the world of Kesh away from Bryn'adul remnants on world. Consider this a free roam PvE environment to take back cities and towns on the two main continents of the world. Maps for the two main continents are in the spoilers for anyone to peruse for ease of locations.

Spoiler

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

Ruins of Gyn, Keshtah
Taeli Raaf 's beachhead

On a Drael-terraformed world, when your entire body was covered with fur, clothing had no place in a sensible being's plans. Velok wore a short kilt made from the hide of a certain Jedi his grandfather had barbecued. He'd also loaded up with CryoBan grenades and a launcher thereof.

The four hundred hungry Whiphid raiders deploying in the ruins had equipped themselves likewise, sometimes wearing significantly less. The only responsible way to deal with the heat, frankly. And soon enough would be the grand cookout, the sizzle of Draelvasier on the grill.

"Lady Arcanix," Velok said with a bow of sorts. "Thank you for the invitation."

 

[Taeli Raaf]

She inclined her head to Velok as he joined her and bowed, and with a small smile, she said, "You're welcome. I was happy to extend it."

Taking in the Whiphid's appearance and armaments, the Whiphid had planned ahead. She had not expected him to bring others with him after how he appeared on Tash-Taral, but it would make the task before them easier.

"You look better than you did last week," she remarked. "And it does gladden me that it appears even in your exile that others still heed your call." She brought out a small holo-projector and placed it on the rampart. An image of the ruined city, marked by their perimeter and reclaimed territory in green and the Bryn'adul remnant positions in red, appeared but she would shift it over to show the situation around the Sessile Spire and the superconstruct that now dominated that volcano and the surrounding peninsula.

"This is the work I mentioned on Tash-Taral," she said, gesturing at the map. "Any gains on Kesh will be for naught if we can't break their defenses there and destroy whatever is continuing the terraforming process. Whatever it is, our IBIS drones have detected a massive heat signature on the lowest level of the base."

She turned fully to Velok. "I want you and raiders to join me and my forces in making a push to capture the construct and stop the terraforming process. In exchange, I'll remove your curse and provide compensation to you and your men that you feel would be appropriate, whether that be credits, ships, weapons, etc."

She did remember his promise to serve her if she removed the curse, but that could be something that could be discussed once their mission was complete and they survived.

Velok Brokentusk

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

Taeli Raaf

"The same night we met on Tash-Taral, I gave a gift that turned out to be perfect for a client who turned out to be rich. Twenty-four thousand credits. Enough to cover transportation and expenses for my brothers down there.

"They've been promised plunder and feast. When the battle ends, we'll eat our fill of fresh Draelvasier and remember our fallen. All I ask for them is all the good drink they want, and your goodwill going forward. I made a promise to serve you indefinitely; they haven't."

 

[Scar Worlds Commscan Relay]

-

ALERT: INCURSION ON KESH

UNKNOWN OFFWORLD FORCES ESTABLISHING FORTIFIED POSITION IN RUINS OF GYN,
PREPARING TO ENGAGE BRYN'ADÛL HOLDOUT FORTRESS

BRYNFORMED CLIMATE CHANGE ACCELERATING, TEMPERATURE HIGH

Credit to Kaska Arden for the wonderful datapad.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Velok Brokentusk

"A generous patron then," she remarked as he explained how he had arranged for the travel of his raiders and himself to the wartorn and half-twisted world. She turned her gaze out from the battlements towards the distant volcano that was to be their target. It was a lot of territory they would need to fight over, but it was certainly doable.

"They'll have it," she replied simply to his request for his men. Plunder, drink, and her goodwill would certainly be in supply if they were successful. The meat of the Draelvasier would be all for them too, well minus some samples for her and her alchemists to study. The various species of the Bryn'adul had potential for... alchemical enhancement and evolution, and she couldn't wait to really dig into their DNA structures. But that was for long after the coming battle was complete, and the world was free to be restored.

Provided they survived. She turned back to Velok, appraising him and his curse through the Force. She could feel its insidious tendrils still there, still reaching out to all the beings around him. Wishing them harm and ill fortune, for blame to fall on its bearer's head. That would be inopportune for the coming battle.

"Irdziyi sis zutadasi. Irdziyi ri ar cikhasu duhhiu iw ardnoi dia satyi arsia ri rirmi is tsizia oir iuncuti," she murmured, dark blue and purple sparks following her fingers. Velok would feel a pull on his chest for a moment, a faint glow of the same color that would form into a faint Sith rune, and then it would subside.

"A down payment," she added as her spell finished. "Your curse is contained for the next twenty-four hours. Now, let us to battle."

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

Though Velok had only a partial grasp of the Sith and Toglannoq arts, he knew the weight of the curse. He drew his first free breath in years and offered Taeli Raaf a deep bow.

---

Twenty minutes later, violence escalated irrevocably. The humans and Keshiri had left a ruined city at their scale, puny for Whiphid boars, let alone Draelvasier.

Let us review the particulars.

Drael: three metres tall, heavily armored, reliant on biotechnology, no electronics. Biotech energy and kinetic weapons alike. Unmatched conquering spirit. Uncompromising commitment to genocidal superiority. Fond of hot environments and iffy on cold ones, the big warbreeds anyway.

Whiphids: two or two-point-five metres, unmatched eagerness for a good barbecue, extraordinarily fond of the cold.

Automatic launchers chucked CryoBan grenades through the ruined streets of Gyn. The ambient temperature fell fifty degrees across a significant chunk of the city: comfortably subzero. Draelvasier extremities froze solid and shattered into bite-sized pieces.

Outmatched one-to-one, Whiphids started to die. And yet, the Whiphids were having a grand ol' time.

 

[Grundark]

With a soft shudder Grundark's ship exited hyperspace and headed towards the planet of Kesh. He'd have loved to say it was for a higher goal or anything remotely sane, but really right now he just needed a good fight. With one friend dragged along for the ride and another on the ground it seemed like the best place to find one. Whipids always seemed to know how to have a good time.

"This is Grundark for, Velok Brokentusk come in you lanky buzzard. If you've already picked this planet clean I'll have your hide instead. I've brought the boy Arcturus Dinn along for the fight as well. Let me know where to drop, and I'll be there, old friend."

There was a long list in truth of people who'd earned Grundark's respect, but Velok was more then that. He was a kindred spirit a monster of his very own nature. Coiling a fist around the handle to his greatsaber the Cragmoloid had to admit he felt alive for the first time in quite some time. The whispers and doubts were still there, but they did not blind his eyes. The rage would test him greatly today, but battle was a thing of joy for Cragmoloid not rage. He remembered that from somewhere deep inside. Joy was his strength, and battle was his joy.

"Best be ready lad, wherever we land I can promise you it's where the fighting will be hottest."

Taeli Raaf

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

"This is Grundark for, Velok Brokentusk Velok Brokentusk come in you lanky buzzard. If you've already picked this planet clean I'll have your hide instead. I've brought the boy Arcturus Dinn Arcturus Dinn along for the fight as well. Let me know where to drop, and I'll be there, old friend."

Velok was busy freeze-drying a live Draelvasier three times his size. Grundark reached Velok's answering machine droid, which grunted something in the Whiphid language and then, reluctantly, offered a set of coordinates.

It could just have said 'Gyn, on Kesh,' but the droid in question was grumpy about not being able to join the fight despite its lack of arms, legs, and weapons hardpoints. Truth be told, Velok's answering machine had an authentic Hegemonic Automaton J2 Droid Brain, salvaged the hard way from an old Techno Union watchman drone.

The answering machine, suffice it to say, remembered better days.

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

Grundark's ship came unto the world just a moment before Arcturus' droid-piloted one joined it in the void between planets.​

​

Reaching for his comlink the boy stepped away from the Cragmoloid for a moment, enough that he could tell the pilot to remain put. He would not risk the integrity of Leviathan so soon after reclaiming it from the depths of space. Besides, what use would it be down there against creatures more ferocious than any man?​

​

While they waited for confirmation, Arcturus checked his person for his usual belongings. Had any been left behind on the Leviathan then that would be a damn shame. A damn shame indeed. But above all else he'd have his dagger, and that was of great comfort to him. Grundark was hefting his greatsaber, and the boy wondered if maybe he shouldn't rely upon his own lightsaber this time.​

​

Would a rusty duelists arm prove more potent than one primed for throwing knives?​

​

Either way it mattered little. If he was to be overwhelmed down there he doubted the difference would come from alchemy or plasma. He nodded once to Grundark, and waited for their descent. Already deep inside he felt his gutbeast stirring... Maybe now was as good a time as any to see what it might do unleashed.​

​

Grundark Taeli Raaf Velok Brokentusk ​

 

[Grundark]

Grundark's own pilot droid was only too happy to head towards the location of the fighting. Most likely hoping it's overly emotional owner might not make it back to the ship for one reason or another. Still as they closed on it the sensor readings made the Cragmoloid grumble. "Blood and guts, Velok you would freeze an entire battlefield on me."

Turning to Arcturus Dinn he sized the little one up. "It's going to be cold down there, like your manhood freezing off cold. Wear something warm you might want kids some day."

As the ship neared the surface he stared out the cockpit at a trio of quick frozen enemies. Good size too, this could be exciting. "Land on top of them, and we'll move out from there." As the pilot went to move faster then the normal droid efficiency Grundark gave him an chuckle. He couldn't blame the metal man. He wouldn't have wanted to deal with himself any longer then he had to either.

As the vibrations hit the ship of shattering, well whatever they were it occurred to Grundark he really didn't know. Not that it matter much the name enemy worked well here. Taking a long stride onto the freezing battlefield he grabbed at the force as he surveyed the chaos. This, this he knew. Running headlong he simply smashed through another creature before trumpeting out into the air. It was good to be alive again.

"Velok there better be some left who can fight!"

Velok Brokentusk Taeli Raaf

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

"Grundark! Betelgeuse Thresher!" Velok waved with a Drael arm. "Welcome to Kesh!"

The only bad thing about today was the price of CryoBan. Note to self, Velok said to himself: invest in a larger-scale cooling solution. Maybe one of those Omega Frost superweapon derivatives, the kind with the two towers. A serious cold weapon could save all kinds of time and take a significant chunk out of the CryoBan bill.

He explained these concepts to Grundark and Arcturus Dinn with a Drael drumstick in one hand and an overflowing mug in the other. The violence was still as violent as ever; Velok was taking a break.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Velok Brokentusk

She inclined to her head to Velok, a small smile gracing her lips as he seemed to savor his temporary relief from the curse. A stirring from the lines beyond the battlements caught her attention, and then the sound of a warband. It would seem the Drael were determined to push them out of their beachhead. She wouldn't say anything to the Whiphid, it wouldn't be needed. He and his kind were spoiling for the fight.

---

She had left Velok to deal with the enemy forces that had attacked from the direction of what was left of Tahv, leaving him with one legions worth of troopers to support his Whiphid raiders and to make sure the beachhead remained operational for others to land in. Already, she had received messages from their flight control that some others had arrived, Arcturus Dinn and Lord Grundark , and it was a promising sign. Velok would be free to either advance to Tahv once he dealt with the attack on the Gyn ruins or he could follow her assault down the peninsula.

She was a little busy to worry about his decision at the moment.

She had taken her two other legions and made an amphibious landing a little further down the peninsula, and immediately it was a hard pitched battle. Her soldiers were much smaller than their Draelvasier enemies and their client species, and their biotechnology was formidable. But she was not without her own advantages.

Her forces were equipped with the advanced equipment from her company, and she had many of her Adepts from the Order of Arcane Syn intermixed in her troopers. The fighting had been brutal to secure the landing, and it still wasn't done.

A flash of dark energy left her hand, blinking through the chest of a hulking creature as he moved to cleave her in two with a sword of chitin or some bone or something nearly as long as she was tall. Hot blood exploded out as his chest simply stopped existing and he collapsed, but another monster rushed into the spot her opponent had been. Another dark flash of energy and he joined his fellow.

Armor covered in blood, her forces hard pressed but slowly pushing up in the increasing heat, she was vividly reminded of the invasion of Kashyyyk long ago. At least there wouldn't be 100,000 Wookies this time.

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

Cold. ​

​

Got it.​

​

Once upon a time it had been suggested that the boy learn Tapas. He'd never seen fit to do so, for one reason or another always putting it off. In that moment he sorely regretted his decision, yet all the same he rummaged through the ship in search of something which would work in defense against the blisteringly cold temperatures.​

​

He did not much appreciate how bundled up he ended up being. How was he supposed to be a force to be reckoned with while weighted down by so much fur?​

​

All the same when the ship lowered onto a group of the Bryn beasts, Arcturus vacated the vessel alongside the Cragmoloid. They found themselves flung headlong into battle, which had of course been Grundark's intention; he was not prepared for how toweringly large the creatures would be.​

​

Though Grundark led their initial charge, Arcturus made sure to try and keep the pace. His dagger was loosed this way and that, always returning back into his palm whenever it got too far from him, rending through flesh. Crystalized flesh, in some places, they were literally frozen by whatever device had been loosed.​

​

Soon enough there was enough of a gap in their ranks for Brokentusk himself to make an introduction. Using the wrong name again, not that it bothered Arcturus much; what was a name, anyway? He knew not his real one.​

​

An explanation was made of the cryothings the Whiphid had deployed upon the city, and Arcturus had to admit he was impressed by their efficiency. Frighteningly cold, of course, he was not free from their effects, but impressed none the less.​

​

"Lovely as always to see you, Velok," the boy retorted, between loosed knives that span into the fray around them. The Whipid had seemingly earned himself a break, but such could not be afforded of the newcomers. The Draelvasier were many in number, after all, and persistent 'til the end.​

​

Even as he stood there, with bodies by their feet, the boy felt a stirring within his gut. There were many among these Drael who were positively steeped in the Force, borne of it one might argue. Though they were ugly to look upon, frightful even, he could not keep from salivating at the prospect of sinking more than just his blade into them.​

​

It was said that Whiphids enjoyed a great feast once the battle was won... Could he hold out long enough to satiate himself there? Would they permit him leave to join when all was said and done?​

​

The little gutbeast did not seem satisfied with such a notion; it wanted its fill, and it wanted it now.​

​

Grundark Velok Brokentusk Taeli Raaf ​

 

[Alessandra Io]

Location: Gyn Ruins, Keshtah Minor - Kesh
Objective: Kill the Crabs!
Unit Support: Nuetralizer Model 2 (25) │ Medical Nuetralizer Model 1 (5)
Tags: Taeli Raaf Velok Brokentusk Grundark Arcturus Dinn

If ever there were Bryn'adûl to kill, House Io was almost certain to be present.

The small-statured Chaplain Nuetralizer took to the field with a small formation of her mechanical brothers, floating on microscopic repulsors from the ramp of a G-Type shuttle as the Model 2 units moved around her to secure the landing site, followed by the Medical Nuetralizers. Built specifically to counter the Bryn'adûl, the Model 2s were larger and stronger than their Model 1 brothers, more capable of wrestling with the massive, monstrous Draelvasier in melee and close-quarters. As such, for an operation like this, which entailed an assault on Super-Construct, they were in their element. However, for Alessandra, this was a novel experience. Created after the fall of the Bryn'adûl Empire, up until now, the HRD had never engaged the Bryn'adûl in combat. In addition, she was not specifically designed to kill such creatures like her brothers, instead being built to kill Force Adepts, the likes of Jedi and Sith. Nevertheless, after Akemi Io fitted her organic chassis with an additional weapon system, Alessandra felt that she could be just as lethal, if not more so, than her brothers.

“Leave none alive, brothers and sisters!” The Chaplain hissed. “Their empire was strong once! Now, it is weak and decaying.” She continued. “We shall do to them as they did to the Keshiri!”

"GENOCIDE FOR GENOCIDE!” The Nuetralizers answered in unison.

Not ten minutes later, they were engaged in the thick of the fighting, arriving in modest quantities to reinforce the hairy Whiphids and the shadowy legions of Darth Arcanix in the ruins of Gyn, with strangely musical overtures accompanying their gruesome work.

“We’re moving on, keeping strong, don’t you let them steer you wrong, it’s a groove thang!” One of the Nuetralizers sang out in the process of tearing apart a Juggernaut Minor with the concussion rifle in his right arm.

“Now how about I be the last voice you hear tonight?” Another one belted out, before unceremoniously ending one of the skirmishing Vaydralen with his shoulder-integrated charric cannons.

All the while, Alessandra soared overhead, cryogenic beams lancing forth from her photoreceptors as they cut down and shattered a pair of Juggernaut Heavies. Then, catching sight of the biggest and rowdiest of the Whiphids ( Velok Brokentusk ), Alessandra cautiously descended in front of him, before her feet touched the ground.

“Your boars are brave for coming here, Whiphid.” The Chaplain began. “My name is Alessandra Io. My house has answered the call to cleanse this world of the Bryn'adûl infestation with reinforcements and medical support. If your boars need us today, we are prepared to assist any and all who have arrived to fight these monsters without question.” She finished.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Eversor Bodysuit
  
  • Gauntlets
    
    • FAE/M-02 Energized Gauntlet Vibroblade - L/R
  • Energy Shield
    
    • Phase III “Force Avenger” Energy Shield
  • Droid
    
    • IBIS Drone
• Eversor Rings
• House Io Citizen Energy Sword
• CryoBan Grenade (4)

 

[Grundark]

Smashing a half dozen solidly frozen near statuesque Draels while he listened to the theories of cyro super weapons brought a splitting laugh from the Cragmoloid. He was excited these things were big enough for a decent fight. They were ugly, but solid. Still most were so cold they provided about as much resistance as a snowman.

So he continued forward towards the front of the fighting where the cold air wasn't quite to make Drael popsicles. Putting the hammer to one's chest the crack finally stopped giving away, and it even snarled at him. Excellent this was the right direction. "You're going to love this, Arc, the Whipids have some of the best barbeques. I don't suggest you drink much though. It's not an age thing I just don't think your body will survive it."

Velok Brokentusk Taeli Raaf Arcturus Dinn Alessandra Io

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

Alessandra cautiously descended in front of him, before her feet touched the ground.

“Your boars are brave for coming here, Whiphid.” The Chaplain began. “My name is Alessandra Io. My house has answered the call to cleanse this world of the Bryn'adûl infestation with reinforcements and medical support. If your boars need us today, we are prepared to assist any and all who have arrived to fight these monsters without question.” She finished.

"You're going to love this, Arc, the Whipids have some of the best barbeques. I don't suggest you drink much though. It's not an age thing I just don't think your body will survive it."

"We do, in fact, have the best barbecuesh." Velok chewed and swallowed. "Just wait until we break out the smoker. Drael meat needs a nice slow cook to reach its true potential. But fresh off the bone works too."

He focused on the armored super-soldier who'd just landed in front of him. You couldn't fight Drael without encountering House Io or their handwork.

"House Io is welcome at the barbecue if that's of interest. I have no doubt you'll make a dent today. Maybe as much as we do."

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

"Oh," the boy uncharacteristically crowed, "I do hope you'll save me a seat..."​

​

Mm... Smoked and slow-cooked Force steeped meat. Grundark had suggested a diet of Vornskr for him, but this would blow that idea out of the water! It would almost be a shame to have to switch to another source when all was said and done. Better that than keep trying his luck with chomping down on Force Users though, he reckoned.​

​

He was naught for two where the powerful kind were concerned. He'd only really gorged himself on those who weren't even all that aware of the power they held. Pitiful in comparison.​

​

Arcturus forced himself to focus back in on his surroundings; the blade had been thrown this way and that as though on autopilot. As Grundark made his way further through the battlefield though, to less frigid parts wherein the beasties were no longer icicles, he realized that he would no longer be able to keep up with just his alchemized blade. It was returned to its sheath, and instead he released his curved hilt and ignited it with a snap-hiss.​

​

The waves of enemies were somewhat thicker here, certainly they seemed taller in their ability to stand to full height. Arcturus was diminutive in comparison, like an ant beneath their feet, but what he lacked in size and strength he'd always made up for in agility. Away from the fiercest part of the cold, he threw off the furs and set about rending their legs out from beneath them, a swipe of his lightsaber here, the scent of charred flesh there, he was soon salivating once more.​

​

Who needed a smoker, he argued, when one could so readily enjoy the meat for what it was... As he passed another of the creatures he lashed out with the dagger, swiftly snatching it from where it lay in order to clear an open wound within the beasts thigh. Lightsabers did such a good job of cauterizing wounds... Arcturus couldn't handle that, not for long, and he felt the sudden spray of blood when his Sith blade struck true. It was warm and sweet, and for a moment, just a moment, he allowed the gutbeast reign over his being.​

​

It was, in many ways, a far more savage puppeteer than his body's usually mindful state. In the wake of its eruption he hacked and slashed and danced his way between them, narrowly missing a hit here, feeling the strike of a lumbering hand there, somehow remaining in his element. And somewhere deep inside, even Arcturus himself seemed drawn in by it all, seemed more than pleased with his actions; therein, the two fractured parts truly became one. After all, if the Cragmoloid had accepted him for who he had become, why shouldn't he accept himself?​

​

Grundark Velok Brokentusk Taeli Raaf Alessandra Io​

 

[The Battalion]

Wearing: Warrior's Skin

Consort's Ring


Armed with: Elaine Tear's Lightsaber (Corrupted)

Nightsister Energy Bow Pistol


With:

Laertia Io

Laertia's equipment:

Chitin of Darth Xiphos

Sword of Cinndurr



House Io Mercenaries (300)

Nuetralizer Model 2 (300)

Earlier...


Darth Xiphos had come across The Battalion in the middle of some profane ritual. The witch was nude, covered in both her victim's blood and ritual scars, the gore of the victim ritualistically smeared in elaborate pattern of runes on the floors and the Wall to help better channel the Magic...

Xiphos didn't bother to ask who the victim was. The Battalion liked dangerous prey to hunt. Amy would have killed whoever.

"Darling!" The Battalion called out in the dark chamber aboard the Leviathan of Sev Tok having finished corrupting the kybers at the center of it. The whole area was very polluted with the Dark Side.

"I brought Take-Out." Xiphos said, hoisting up a captured Ashlan Jedi."

"Ooooo...and I just got through processing that one Mandalorian's soul..." The Battalion said with an intrigued grin. "Dump him in the ritual circle over there, please."

Xiphos did as requested. The Battalion immediately went over to the bound and gagged victim, took a razor sharp knife she had used for the previous ritual, and immediately began cutting into him, blood gushing everywhere as he screamed under the gag. She opened a large gash across his belly, shoved her hands into his intestines and immediately began siphoning out his life force both to her own body and the collection of kybers, The Battalion's flesh warping and shuddering sickeningly all over her body as she did.

"So, dear, I heard the first graduates of your Black Knight program are finally ready..." The Witch said to Xiphos who calmly took out a rag to wipe off the blood of the Jedi The Battalion was sloshing about from her own face.

"First batch passed with flying colors..." Xiphos answered, unblinking at the horrific sight.

"That's good to hear. Can't wait to meet them." The Battalion replied through her victims gagged shrieks, burning his insides with pure hatred leaping in green arcs from her flesh to increase his suffering as she stole his energy.

"So, what's the ritual for?"

"I'm applying an enchantment which should last the next few weeks. It's designed to highlight any unauthorized people aboard the vessel. If it works we might want to think about applying it on a larger scale..."

"Impressive..." Xiphos admitted.

"Would you like to try some?" The bubbling, shuddering Witch asked through constantly melting and reforming lips.

"Nah, Fam. I'm good. I had cereal." Xiphos replied in an absolutely deadpan tone.

"You really don't know what you're missing. Or are you just the the sort that likes to watch?" The Battalion teased merrily even in her hidious state as though they were talking in a Kitchen, one of them simply eating a quick sandwich. Which, to be fair, is what this was the equivalent of in The Cult of The Brain Demon.

"More like I'm just used to it from you at this point."

"Oh, please, like you don't derive pleasure from suffering. Or am I hallucinating when I see your face light from killing a Bryn'adul?"

"You're not hallucinating."

The Battalion finished ripping out the Jedi's life force and consuming it. Her flesh reset to normal.

"Thank you for your honesty." The Witch admitted.

Xiphos noticed the red and gold glimmer of The Battalion's engagement ring through blood and gore her fingers were slick with.

Xiphos felt the surge of increased strength in The Witch, fierce. Beckoning...

"Elaine...do you believe in what we do? Anything we do? Beyond how it serves the Dark Side?" Xiphos asked.

The Battalion thought about it a moment, dripping with blood and gore, the flesh on her face rippling occasionally as it metabolized her victim's soul.

"There is a certain...charm to your beliefs. You would have made a good Ashlan in another life." The Battalion answered. "But as to whether I believe in any of it...I have to say, the thing I believe in most is creating people to be strong and ruthless. And powerful. Willing and able and even gleeful at the thought of killing their enemies. That's fertile soil for any place to plant the roots of darkness. But aside from darkness..."

The Battalion's next words were the absolute truth.

"I believe in its message of making one seize their own fortunes and doing what has to be done, even if it's not moral or popular. That is something I definitely believe in."

Xiphos shrugged.

"Nice to know."

"Is this a question of my loyalties?"

"No."

"Then what?"

"One can be loyal to a cause without belief in it. I am no fool, Elaine. I am well aware not everyone close to me shares my idealism. I simply ask because..."

"What?" The Battalion asked.

"I want to understand you better. All of you. To be...closer."

The blood and gore covered Witch smiled.

"In order to do that...you have to indulge your emotions, your power...and take...I have a dare I'd like you to consider. Since we're going to be killing Bryn'adul soon...I want you to try and go out of your way to make one suffer. More than you usually do. Than you'll hopefully see why I enjoy causing it so much."

"Hmmm..." Xiphos muttered. "I'll...do it..."

The Battalion smiled, stroking Xiphos's cheek with a bloody hand.

"Umm, Elaine, you hand is still bloody." Xiphos said, squicked the hell out.

"Oh! Sorry!" The Battalion chuckled nervously. "I totally forgot!"

"How do you forget being completely covered in blood?" Xiphos asked.

"Do you know how often I get covered in blood?" The Battalion asked. "Six days out of the week you and I end up covered in blood. We even made out one time covered in blood--"

"That was the New Year's celebration. It was an awkward moment."

"It was magical, butchering all those Mandalorian Bounty Hunters under the moonlight..." The Battalion replied, smirking.

Xiphos smiled hesitantly.

"You might want to clean up." she suggested.

"Is it a Flannel Catsuit occasion?" The Battalion asked.

"No." Xiphos answered.

"I'm going to be covered in blood again, aren't I?"

"At least you'll be clean when it starts to happen..." Xiphos joked, walking out of the chamber.

Present.

The Battalion's TIE Reaper, Ession's Shadow, landed on the beach head amid countless others,

The Model 2's were out in full force, armed with heavy weapons like Stouker Rifles and T-7 Ion Disruptors. The Black and Dark Blue House Io Mercenary Droids were armed with both shatter rifles and Rocket Launchers, setting up E-Web positions as they shot at the waves of Drael defenders.

House Io had started to make its presence known. Sworn to destroy the Draelvasir, House Io continued to be a plague to all that dared fight under their banner. The Model 2's relished the chance to test their power, wading into combat against hoards of Draelvasir, while the Mercenary Droids reinforced Whiphid lines with Sniper Fire on attacking Drael.

The Battalion and Xiphos moved at immense speeds through the battle, her figure, shrouded in a catsuit so skintight it looked painted on a strong contrast to Xiphos's inhuman looking dark blue Bio Armor.

Their blades moved and fought in unison, their tandem assault (and tandem viciousness) allowing them to sheer through a wave of rampaging drones getting up close to Juggernauts who attacked them from all sides, both countering with a mix of blades and the Force, The Battalion in particular taking sadistic glee in slashing apart the various Baeduran variants with powerful, crushing attacks from her red blade. Xiphos's blade cutting through an all too familiar armor and flesh, setting both ablaze.

It was in the midst of this slaughter that there was a momentary lull and both came across Alessandra Io and Velok Brokentusk

"Alessandra! I see you started the party ahead of us!" Xiphos called out.

The Battalion smelled something.

"That smell is amazing! You're cooking them aren't you?" The Battalion asked Velok. "What's the meat like?"

"You're eating them?!" Xiphos asked in a mix of awe and horror. It was kind of hard to decide which she felt more of.

"If we're bent on killing them all, why not eat them?!" The Battalion asked her lover with a trollish grin.

"It's cannibalism!" Xiphos replied.

"It's only cannibalism if they're the same species as you. If they're just sapient it amounts to little more than run of the mill depravity. And everyone loves run of the mill depravity." The Battalion argued.

"I concur!" came a familiar voice from behind.

The Battalion and Xiphos turned, spotted Darth Phyre, currently controlling the body of The Amalgam , munching on a barbecue burger of Juggernaut Meat.

"You should try this, Xiphos, it's tasty! These Whiphids are masters of honey mesquite!" Phyre praised.

"What's the meat? The Battalion asked.

"I think it's Juggernaut. Don't eat Drone meat. It's too crunchy. Wanna bite?" Phyre asked.

"I'll...I'll pass..." Xiphos said.

"Ooooo! Gimme!" The Battalion said, floating over with the Force.

"Promise me you'll floss!" Xiphos requested.

"By the Dark Side, that is a burger..." The Battalion admitted after taking a bite off Phyre's. "We really must secure the flesh of a Drael youngling for a taste comparison..."

"I just tried some! Fantastic ribs!" Phyre added. "Their Marrow is a delicacy..."

"I didn't know heaven came in Burger form. Tell me the Whiphid brought cheese..." The Battalion mused.

Xiphos was facepalming out of embarrassment as Phyre called out to other Whiphid cooking Drael of all variety on a spit.

"Hey, DID YOU BRING CHEESE?!" Phyre called out.

One of the Whiphid nodded, holding up a packet.

"They actually brought cheese for this..." Xiphos muttered to herself, shaking her head.

"Are you sure you don't want to try literal baby back ribs?" Phyre asked Xiphos.

"I'll avoid the Space Kuru, thanks." Xiphos replied.

Phyre shrugged, floated back to get another burger.

"I'm telling you, they cooked them perfect." The Battalion claimed, trolling Xiphos.

"I'm sure..." Xiphos replied before turning back to Alessandra.

"I suddenly feel a lot different about all those seafood comparisons I made to the Drael..."

Arcturus Dinn

Grundark

Taeli Raaf

 

[Grundark]

Grundark stalled a moment as he watched Arcturus Dinn move like the wind in blooded glory. Not exactly what the Cragmoloid had meant, but every monster had to discover their own way he supposed. His attention was forced back to the front though as the Whipids here were caught in a true battle against mostly unfrozen enemies. Of course there was a good chance many of the Drael here were still slightly effected they could move and fight now.

With a trumpet blast the Cragmoloid hit one with violent sonic waves through the force. Now that he was in the thick of it the saber would make more sense now he considered as he struck out twice against a bone like chest armor cracking it inwards with the first and killing the Drael with the second. Their reaction times were still suffering he imagined, they were big but he knew that didn't mean they should be this slow. Hooking his hammer back to his hip, Grundark brought his greatsaber into play. If nothing else it would warm the Drael up.,

Moving into form he began to push his way into Drael ranks. It was good to be fighting with Whipids again.