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Location: Canyons Objective: Whatever he was doing before he was so rudely interrupted.
Jardo made his way through the Canyon, [member=Vitani Amani] in tow. Finally, after what had just gone down he could make his way towards his original target. Slowly he drew the plan in his head to march in, have his men insure order before carrying on through, taking the final few settlements on his checklist.
Well, he hoped it would be that easy anyway. It wouldn't be though, never was. Anyway, the town came into view, and he slowly walked in, lightsaber in hand. He hoped Vitani was still following them, although he really couldn't be bothered to check. Instead, he held up two fingers, signalling the men in tow to go house to house, telling the zabracks the One Sith were moving in.
Shaidin Kamari had heard word of the attempted take over of Iridonia. Its strategic position in the galaxy pleased him. And more than anything else, it was ripe for the taking. Lord Depravious - the Lord of Betrayal was on his way to the system after hearing of the news. "The Hand of the Dark Lord of the Sith is there Captain; that is where we shall embark to." He remembered the words that could possibly have decided his fate. He knew that the Jedi would not give up Iridonia easily, they would fight with all they had to keep the world from falling into the hands of the Sith. If he was a Jedi, he would have done the same; he could not blame them. But then again, the dead tell no tales - their deaths will not be remembered as a heroic sacrifice protecting what they loved, merely as a slaughtering of lambs as darkness swallowed the galaxy whole.
The Sith Lord knew that more than likely the Hand of the Dark Lord did not need any help in taking the planet, but any tactition could have agree'd that more power is always better. His forces, coupled with the forces of the Dark Lords hand would wash over the republic like a tidal wave. As he descended down to the plans he notified his captain to relay this message to the troops upon Iridonia.
"Troops and commanders of the Darkness alike, rest easy in knowing your supplies will be supplemented by the Lord of Betrayal Shaidin Kamari - Lord Depravious. With his troops - and tactical mind we shall destroy any trace of the Jedi or Republic upon this planet!"
Let's go turn the Sith into the Empire they always deserved to be.
Location: Iridonia Objective: Duel Theme: But they’re not going any…where
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6-_UKLSln4
‘I don’t know what we’re doing this for Say we’re getting better while we’re passed out on the floor And then we find a way to forget through the years We wish the bad parts would just disappear But they’re not going anywhere We’re not going any– Where.
I wish I could tell you why I have this need to get the hell out before I die I’m not kidding myself that it’s different somewhere else Guess I just want to try and find new faces who don’t want to just forget.
It’s time We stop saying why And make it ******* happen And make something happen.’
Corvus knew time was running out. Her thumb hovered over the beckon call for a split second but she owed it to the galaxy to rid it of one more Sith if she could. But she held out no great hope that today would be the day of reckoning for her opponent – too many things had conspired against her.
But on the plus side she was still alive – and discussing flowers with a Sith. There’s something that doesn’t happen every day. Not that the amphistaff could be said to be participating in the conversation.
Corvus grabbed the shoto from her belt. If that infernal Vong abomination were to target her saber, at least she’d have a secondary weapon to use.
In truth, Corvus was only familiar with one plant – white lilies – traditional in her family when someone died. She’d be sure to send some to Vrag’s funeral when the time came. Such a budding botanist would no doubt appreciate the gesture. Or at least she would if she wasn’t dead of course.
Corvus followed the Sith as she circled her, slowly but inexorably drawing closer.
"Devil's tongue, perhaps?"
Now that was one Corvus hadn’t heard of. Perhaps it was native to the Sith’s home planet? Was the double-meaning lost on the Jedi? You betcha it was. But all this talk of floriculture was getting them nowhere – and Corvus knew that the longer this went on, the less her chances were of victory.
So she unleashed the energy bottled up inside her in a tremendous rush of power. Using Force Valor, see channelled it through her muscles and limbs, moving so fast it seemed as if time had stopped for the rest of the world. In the blink of an eye she had aimed a blow designed to knock the saber from the Sith's hand and followed it up with a slice downwards to shatter her opponent’s forearm – assuming the armour would give – the blur of action occurring so much quicker than the eyes could see.
Their dance was one that knew no age nor time, always present since the first being had come to life. The very nature of existence demanded it, and so the dance persisted through aeons of evolution without ever really changing pace. The melody grew and developed, of course, as did the people dancing to its tune, but at the core the steps remained the same.
Her partner today was a willing one, even if she would deny it, and that was all Vrag needed.
Oh, the Jedi liked to preach their peace and harmony — and really, a few of them actually did live by that Code — but most forgot about those sacred words the second they encountered a Sith. Like many others, [member="Corvus Raaf"] had been offered a way out long before the firrerreo had ignited the red blade, and refused to avoid the bloodshed; Vrag's hands were clean in that regard, or at least as clean as they would ever get with her track record.
No, a duel required two participants to happen, and despite the wisdom she liked to spew, the brunette was no different.
How deliciously ironic.
And so they danced, feet moving across unsure terrain as the pair waited with baited breath; it wasn't clear who was going to strike first, but it was becoming more and more obvious that this was a battle that the Grandmaster couldn't see to a favorable end. The Hand of the Dark Lord was a resilient fighter, due in no small part to her brutal training regimen, and the armor she was wearing made up for the difference that remained.
The only way that Corvus could hope to beat her was with a sudden, debilitating hit, and considering the nature of her opponent, it wasn't very likely she would score. Then again, perhaps there were hidden depths to the brunette that the Sith hadn't even conceived of. In all of her interaction with the Jedi, the Order had given no indication of possessing anything worth of note, and as such the firrerreo had learned not to expect much. They were too uptight in combat, just as they were in all aspects of life, and stifled their own potential for the sake of honoring the Code.
So be it.
The Jedi was now wielding two sabers, which made them level in terms of reach, but not skill. No other Form was as tailored to the one-handed use of a blade as Makashi, and unfortunately for her enemy, that was what Vrag excelled at the most.
Before the Sith Lord could capitalize on the wide measure, the brunette moved, barely more than a blur as she closed the distance between the two. What her opponent had seemingly forgotten in her urge to end the fight, however, was the other specialty of Form II, which was protecting the saber hand while avoiding being disarmed. It didn't mean that she couldn't lose her weapon; it just meant that it would be a damn sight harder to do so.
Her defense wavered, the Jedi's slash batting her blade to the side with sheer force; force that she hadn't been expecting from a fighter such as Corvus. With her guard open, the brunette had free reign to go in for the kill, but instead the woman — in typical Jedi fashion — foolishly opted for something less lethal. Her foe's orange blade came down hard on her exposed forearm, but the Sith was already on the move, stepping out of the attack line and into her opponent's space. The Vonduun would reel, the armorweave would hiss, and her flesh would bruise, but the firrerreo would not be deterred as she sought to grab a handful of that brown hair and pull, intent on disturbing her balance enough to yank her back and break the Jedi over her knee.
Location: Iridonia Objective: Duel Theme: He who would valiant be…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txiKYvpuG9M
‘He who would valiant be ’gainst all disaster, Let him in constancy follow the Master. There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.
Who so beset him round with dismal stories Do but themselves confound—his strength the more is. No foes shall stay his might; though he with giants fight, He will make good his right to be a pilgrim.’
Sometimes people mistook the role of a peacekeeper from the philosophy of a pacifist. A Jedi should take a life as a last resort, but she was sworn to uphold peace and defeat the menace of the Sith. If the last resort was the only resort, it was to be taken. She’d take no pleasure in the death of any Sith, in fact each death was a step to the Dark-side for each and every Jedi. Only completely justified deaths could leave a neutral footprint.
The next few seconds were a blur. Corvus went on the attack and almost caught her opponent by surprise - but there is a difference between almost and an actual strike. Corvus came close and with every passing second realised her chances of ending this duel decisively in her favour were slipping away and a draw was looking less and less likely.
Her thumb hovered over that button again, but she held off.
And suddenly what might have been became a challenge to stop it happening to her. The armoured Sith Lord was suddenly in her space and behind her. Her hair was yanked back and she was destined to have her spine impact off a combination of bone and…bone.
Using Force Valor, she twisted - losing a clump of hair was a small price to pay to keep your spine in one piece. So her stomach hit the armour and another rib cracked as she rolled off the Sith who was now holding a handful of her hair. She pulled hard on the Force and leaped a small distance away - no more than three metres. Facing her opponent she tried a smile - revealing her chipped teeth.
“If you’d wanted a memento, you only had to athk,” she offered lamely, her breathing now ragged. “And thince when did I have a lithp?” And still she refused to press that button.
It is quite annoying when one goes in expecting to hear that satisfying crack of bone and is instead met with the soft give of flesh. Her knee dug into the taut muscles of her opponent as her quarry forcibly extracted herself from her grasp, leaving her with naught but a chunk of the Jedi's brown mane in her fist.
Motherkarker.
She resumed a neutral stance, grimacing slightly behind her skull mask as a sting ran through her forearm. It was irritating, but not debilitating, and by the looks of their duel, it wouldn't be an issue for much longer.
Her armored fingers unclenched, the curls settling amid the rubble lying on the street already, already forgotten. That powerful, unforgiving muscle in her chest beat slightly faster now, and her blue eyes flickered behind the Grandmaster's back while the brunette talked.
The Aro river was still flowing peacefully by, as rivers were wont to do, undisturbed by the bout of two mortals on its bank. The current didn't look to be too fast, but Vrag didn't allow her gaze to linger, already moving forward with quick strides.
Her strategy was a simple one, really, because Occam once said that those worked best. No theatrics, no fancy or elaborate techniques; just footwork, pure and simple. The fact of the matter was that in that moment, the Hand of the Dark Lord had to make a decision; an appraisal, if you will. She could very well be affected by prejudice — and most likely was — but as far as objective judgement goes, the firrerreo was the aggressor, and [member="Corvus Raaf"] the defender.
Even though the other woman had pulled a few aces out of her figurative sleeve that day, the Grandmaster was, ultimately, a warden. A guardian. Her preference for Soresu said it all, in the end, and it was this habit that Vrag would seek to exploit.
Advancing on the Jedi, the armored Sith had one goal in mind; drive the Jedi to the edge. Not of sanity — though that would be an interesting experiment to consider in the future — but a literal edge. The bank of Aro had once been a reinforced structure, perhaps, but war and time had eaten away at that integrity mercilessly, leaving only a shadow of what it once was.
The Skerr Kyrric reeled, all bloodlust and spikes as the towering woman pressed her attack, seeking to use pure reactive instinct against the Jedi. And once the brunette was close enough to the brink, the Sith would send her for a swim with the help of a final Force Push.
Location: Rain forests of Iridonia
Objective: Objective 4, Destroy a Jedi Temple and teach apprentices Mind Control in the process
The One Sith could not have hoped for a more glorious victory over Iridonia, the home of the Zabrak people, but even as control of the planet seemed to be imminent, there were still vestiges of resistance to squash. Inquisitor and Sith Knight Sage Bane, his Vong-formed arm safely masqued behind a human facade, awaited two apprentices who were shortly arriving on a Sith dropship to a small spot in a thick rain forest a few miles away from an ancient four-room Jedi Temple. His own apprentice [member="Xiarr Raeth"] as well as Darth Vornskr's new apprentice, [member="Tanek Santii"] were both due to arrive shortly. Sage hoped that neither apprentices would be late as he did not want to have to punish the two for something as insignificant as tardiness.
With Bane were three Iridonian prisoners, all Zabrak, two male and one female, who were chained to each other by the waist and tethered between two trees. The prisoners were props in the lesson that Sage was preparing to teach the apprentices. The secrets of Sith mind control were ripe for revelation in his pale thin hands. Not only was the domination of a weaker mind a powerful tool for the apprentices to supplement their lightsaber and combat training, but Sage hoped that both men would find it rather fun as well. He himself found it a source of endless amusement.
His gaze turned to the expanse of stars overhead where he watched the drop ship make its descent. It floated down in a nearby clearing scattering a flock of multi-colored birds with extravagant tropical plumage. Sage opened up a large duffel bag and began to empty its contents onto the ground with care. One could never be too careful around explosives.
Location: Rainforests of Iridonia
Objective: 4, learn new Force abilities
The first time the Rattataki and [member="Sage Bane"] had crossed paths, things had been...interesting. Not necessarily in the best of ways, but interesting nonetheless. Nothing per se had been learned, and the entire meeting had been nothing more than a posturing match. However much the entire idea of it had irritated him at first, Xiarr had been quietly impressed by the power the man was able to wield seemingly effortlessly and with nothing more than a flick of the wrist. The necessary displays had been made, the relative hierarchy sorting itself out rather quickly and with little issue. Or rather, little issue other than the illusion that had been cast in order to attain the desired results by the Chiss hybrid.
Now, standing silently in the dropship and awaiting his next meeting with the same man, he silently processed the recent events that had taken place on this very planet. It wasn't as if the death and destruction fazed him. At a young age among the Sith he had learned to quickly become adjusted to such scenarios. But he needed time to understand what had transpired in order to gauge exactly what his Master had planned for this particular lesson. It wasn't likely anything would make things easier, but it gave him something to focus on, other than what he was able to feel through the Force itself. Most times the wealth of information was appreciated, but with his still growing into his abilities, there was a such thing as sensory overload.
Not much time was allotted to completely absorb all of the happenings, as shortly after the ship touched down, his signal to depart lest he suffer the consequences. No time was wasted in acknowledging the presence of the other Acolyte, and he merely took his leave without another word, opened up to another milieu of sensations through the ethereal plane. Taking a moment to push them away he began walking, already having located the presence of Sage the moment the vessel reached the space above Iridonia. Despite the enmity between them a bond of sorts had formed, connecting the two in a tremulous, uncertain manner across the stars.
The first thing to catch his eye once the man was within his line of sight were the three prisoners tethered to each other and then two trees. His nearly colorless gaze passed over them with disinterest, regarding them with little concern and even less empathy. Eventually those same pale blue eyes found Sage himself, the usual disregard punctuated with just a slight glint of something that could be called respect. Inclining his head slightly, the corners of his mouth tightened near imperceptibly. There really wasn't anything to say, but he knew repercussions would be severe if he didn't show some kind of recognition at the man's presence. So he settled for a single word. "Master."
Location: Rain-forests of Iridonia Objective: 4, learn new Force ability, and possibly break stuff
Tanek Santii hadn't spent much time with the Sith yet, and this was his first time being dropped into a Sith combat zone. It would not be the last, of that he felt certain. Their Order seemed to open the galaxy to him, as well as a whole range of other opportunities. Accustomed to life on Shili, a visit to Iridonia was a welcome change of scenery. He was curious to find out what judgment he would pass on its inhabitants before he left their world. Their world. Our world. Before long it would belong to the Sith, much like Tanek himself now did.
The four-lekkued Togruta paid the other Acolyte no mind. He was not bothered that Xiarr didn't acknowledge him, in fact he hardly seemed to notice. This was not a social call. Tanek's mind was occupied elsewhere, looking back on previous lessons, his previous encounter with Sage Bane, and forwards, to the expectations he held for this campaign. He knew he was to meet up with Sage Bane, but what the Sith had in mind for him, he was not aware. Alls he knew was that he was up for the challenge, no matter what it was.
As the dropship landed, Tanek strode out. He would look different than when Sage had last seen him. His skin was still red with white patterns, his horns still standing, curved as ever before, but instead of being dressed in the simple robes of a Togruta hunter he now wore the dark robes of the Sith. All he lacked to blend in completely was a lightsaber at his hip. Instead, he had a vibrosword, the same he had brought with him from Shili. The energy pike was gone, however.
He wasn't fully aware on how to locate Sage. He felt things, many things, but could not single out Bane, much less pinpoint his exact location. No matter, he had rough coordinates and they had not landed far away. The other Acolyte was headed the same way, it was a simple matter of falling in step with him.
Finally Sage Bane came within view. He wasn't Tanek's master, but his approach was still respectful, bowing his head "Bane" Tanek acknowledged him. This was the man that had introduced him to the Sith, who had laid before him a path that would eventually lead Tanek to being the master of his own destiny (and others). In contrast to Bane's own apprentice, Tanek seemed pleased to see him again. He didn't waste time on small talk, however. He was here on a mission, instructed to act on the orders of Sage Bane. Now was not the time. With Bane there were three prisoners. Chained to each other by the waist, he was reminded of the dream Sage had shown him. Tanek had broken free that day. These three had not. They had already surrendered their destines to the hands of the Sith. The Togruta Acolyte awaited further instructions.
Location: Rain forests of Iridonia
Objective: Objective 4, Destroy a Jedi Temple and teach apprentices Mind Control in the process
Allies: [member="Xiarr Raeth"] [member="Tanek Santii"]
Once the apprentices had arrived, on time, Sage addressed them both with a wide smile, “Acolyte Raeth and Acolyte Santii. I hope the Force served you well on your journey.” Destroying Jedi temples put Knight Sage in a good mood. Xiarr would notice that his Master had a new prosthetic arm, and with its pale and hyper-realistic synthflesh, it that was indistinguishable from the other.
“I hope you got to know one another well during the trip to Iridonia,” he said, glaring at the insolent Rattataki. Force knew that one needed to be taken down a few pegs sometimes.
“Dominating a weak mind is one of the most powerful abilities that you will have the opportunity to learn here in the ranks of the One Sith. You will be using the dark side of the Force to open the door to someone else’s mind so that you can enter. Once affected by the power, the victim’s intentions and desires will be as malleable as clay, once you’ve mastered the ability, that is. Mind control is similar to, but different from the technique known as Qâzoi Kyantuska. Qâzoi Kyantuska uses Sith magic in tandem with the dark side of the Force. It is a more advanced form of what you will be learning today.”
Sage walked over to the captives and the seized the Zabrak male who struggled for a few seconds and then went still. The prisoner’s eyes became glassy, arms dropping to his sides. Releasing the man from his restraints, Sage ushered the Zabrak away from the two female prisoners who cowered in fright. Surprisingly, the male Zabrak did not try to fight or run. He stood right next to Sage out of his own volition. His demeanor was as docile as a cow as the Sith Knight clothed him in a vest laden with powerful explosives.
With a gentle hand on the man’s shoulder, he turned his gaze to Xiarr. “Acolyte Xiarr, I am going to relinquish control of his mind in sixty seconds. You are to reach into his mind and grab control of him.”
He gave the Acolyte a disdainful smirk that Xiarr was becoming all too familiar with.
@Vrag @Corvus Raaf, I guess asking to join you two in your fight is too much to ask? I wouldn't want to interrupt.
[4/20]
Location: He was that cold he didn't even know Objective: Try not to freeze to death What he wished: He had warmth like the rest of the One Sith.
It was cold up in the north. Like, seriously. Forget a winter coat mate, it was that cold Jardo regretted not bringing a space heater. He had pushed through two more towns on his way back down towards the capital. He had heard stories, of how The One Sith were claiming the capital slowly, and Jardo figured he'd go help. Attack from the back, that was the best theory he had. Actually, scrap that. He hadn't actually thought it through.
He slowly dove back Canyons. After studying a map, he figured going back through was the quickest way. Also, to be fair, it wasn't as cold, at that was always a good thing. Jardo chuckled, making a mental note to add internal heaters to his suit. You'd assume someone had thought of that, right?
Anyway, he walked back, past the place he had bested Vitani only hours before. His fire was still running, which meant one of his men failed to put it out. Normally Jardo would of been annoyed, but right now he couldn't really care. He stood, letting the fire warm him for a while, before he continued on his merry way.
Location: Rainforests of Iridonia
Objective: 4, learn new Force abilities
Allies: [member="Sage Bane"], [member="Tanek Santii"]
That was a task easier said than done, but what Xiarr lacked in relative skill he made up for in determination. It was that determination that would be put to use when it came to this new ability. There were retorts that could have been made to the comments so obviously directed at him by Sage, but that would have only made things last longer than necessary, and he wasn't a fan of dragging things out. The wisest decision would be to simply do as he was asked without complaint and hopefully with marginal success, dealing with whatever words his Master wanted to speak with him in a more private venue at a later date. As if it wasn't already obvious to the other Acolyte, the two had a rather tense bond.
With only silence surrounding him he reached out through the Force to touch on that entirely foreign mind, pushing past whatever shreds of mental defenses were left and letting himself step over the edge and descend into the void. For a moment he was lost, uncertain of what exactly had to be done in order to right himself. But there was another occupying the same space, Sage himself, and whether it was intentional of the man or not, his own mental foothold gave the Rattataki and idea of how things had to be done. Slowly he pushed passed his own weaknesses, forcing himself to push past the limits put in place by his own mind, exerting what he hoped was that final control over another.
It was a strange sensation, being torn between two places and at the very least semi-aware in both. He was seeing himself from the point of view of the Zabrak while still looking through his own eyes at the man whose head he inhabited. To say things were disorienting would be an understatement, but he managed. There wasn't any other option, and he knew it just as well as Sage and the other Acolyte did. Carefully he gained more of a control and understanding, able to live in both bodies with slightly less difficulty, though he still found himself unbalanced by the entirety of it. This would take getting used to.
After having managed to keep a semblance of his consciousness within the Zabrak's head he gained more of a solid control over his own actions once more, looking to his Master. It was a uniquely exhilarating thing, holding the will and mind of another in the palm of his hand, free to do with it what he wished. While he was aware enough to know that his skills wouldn't allow for much more than the most miniscule of manipulations, he still enjoyed the feeling. "What do you wish?"
Already he had a feeling that the intention would be malicious, and if he had to guess the man would be sent to a nearby Jedi temple where he would have his hand forced to detonate the explosives, killing not only himself but all those in the surrounding blast radius. A consequence he couldn't force himself to feel bad about in the least. When it came down to it, he couldn't care less.
Location: Iridonia Objective: Serenity Theme: Will you call my name, when you walk away?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5hJsLb9Xb4
‘Slow change may pull us apart When the light gets into your heart, baby
Don't You Forget About Me Don't Don't Don't Don't Don't You Forget About Me
Will you stand above me? Look my way, never love me Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling Down, down, down
Don't you try to pretend It's my feeling we'll win in the end I won't harm you or touch your defences Vanity and security
Don't you forget about me I'll be alone, dancing you know it baby Going to take you apart I'll put us back together at heart, baby
Don't You Forget About Me Don't Don't Don't Don't Don't You Forget About Me
As you walk on by Will you call my name? As you walk on by Will you call my name? When you walk away.
Or will you walk away? Will you walk on by? Come on - call my name Will you call my name?’
That thumb had been poised and finally she pushed the button…but we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
Corvus was used to disappointing people – well, Sith in particular. She didn’t die for a start. And despite the broken ribs and ankles and collarbone and the numerous scars that decorated her body, she came back for more. A glutton for punishment? Perhaps? Maybe, just maybe this would be her last fight. There had to be a purpose to this madness and simply being target-practice for the One Sith was at best pointless.
So she stood firm as the Sith advanced once more, an inevitability about the affair nagging at her mind. She was weary and death would almost have been better than this – or rather the inevitable duplication that had started back on Ossus as a Padawan when facing a Sith Lord and had continued unabated.
So when the Sith performed the most simple of attacks against her, she didn’t fight back. In truth there was little she could do anyway, but the concept of trying was not one that passed though her mind. Not even a joke at the reference to do or do not. Nothing. Zip. Niks. Nichts. Nada. Rien. Well…you get the idea.
So this is when she pressed the button, when she fell backwards over the now eroded banks of the river’s edge, a fall some fifty metres to the swirling river below. And she departed, leaving a lock of her hair behind. In fairness it was a handful but fairy-tales suit strands and wisps, not great clumps.
So she closed her eyes and clutched the hilts of her sabers to her chest. And as she plunged toward the deadly rocks jutting up from the waves fifty meters below; Corvus felt nothing but a serene inner peace.
She seemed to fall forever, the world moving in slow motion as she surrendered herself fully to the power of the Force. It flowed through her, stronger than she had ever felt it before. The instant before she hit the water she had never felt more at peace than she did in that moment.
Dropping from fifty meters into a raging river was nothing like diving into a pool; the surface tension of the water struck her with the impact of a sledgehammer. During the fall she had turned slightly, so the impact took Corvus on the right side. She felt more ribs and some bones in her arm crack, and then a cold shock as the freezing waters enveloped her.
[12/20]
Objective: Kick up dirt and maybe take a city or something Allies: [member="Sage Bane"]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwgjM-teND8
One second she was there, and then she was gone. Just like that, with a snap of fingers — almost literally — the Grandmaster was sent plummeting into the waters below, her form disappearing in the blink of an eye.
The Sith staggered to an awkward stop a few paces before the edge a small avalanche of pebbles and rubble sliding forth and over the brink. She followed the rain of dust and debris with her eyes until she found the body of the Jedi, perhaps a fraction of a second before the brunette hit the river with a loud splash.
She winced in unbidden sympathy as she tried to imagine what that would do to her already broken body, wondering for a moment if the Jedi wasn't already dead. The fall was a high one, and it wasn't like she was in top condition to start with.
What an ignoble end, to drown in some forgotten stream on this Force-forsaken planet. Vrag almost felt pity for [member="Corvus Raaf"]. Almost.
With one last glance at the turbid water, the firrerreo stepped away from the bank and clipped her lightsaber back to her belt, its red hunger sated for the moment. She cocked her head to the side ever so slightly as she looked over the now quiet and empty street, her tongue peeking out to soothe a broken lip. When had that happened?
A soft sigh escaped her chest as she rubbed her tingling forearm, feeling a pleasant sort of exhaustion seep into her muscles. The fight had drained her more than she'd initially thought, it seemed. How… unexpected.
Her lips peeled back into a sneer — or maybe a frown — and the woman kicked a stray rock in her path to the side. There was more work to do, and the brunette was taken care of for the moment. Alive or not, she wasn't a problem anymore for the Hand of the Dark Lord.
"Tell me you're being at least remotely useful, Bane," Vrag demanded with a tired edge to her voice as she spoke into her oggzil, absently running her fingers along the coiled body of the amphistaff. The creature curled into her touch as the woman scratched it under its chin, letting out a tinny hiss as it wrapped around her forearm.
There would be no respite today; not when she still had a world to bring to heel.
The firrerreo sucked on the last drop of blood still trickling from her split lip, tuning on her heel as she called for a shuttle. Boy, a nice, long soak in a hot tub would sure feel good right now. Where was [member="Reverance"] when you needed him?
Sector II had been reformed and new orders given. Sierra found little other enjoyment since her voice chose to spend her time avoiding things. She'd rather gather specimens and make monsters, which gave those who cared to serve within a chance to go out and gather things. In this case... help out her former apprentices goals while she had soldiers working on something special. That was what the Vanr wanted to do while she was holding the weapon and brought her wings in close to wrap around her shoulders like a cloak. The hand cannon and saber obscured as she sent a message. "I was sent here to help."
[2/20] Location: Rain-forests of Iridonia Objective: 4, learn new Force ability, and possibly blow stuff up
[SIZE=10pt]I hope the Force served you well on your journey. [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Tanek nodded in reply. Yes, he thought,it is just starting to."And you, Bane" he offered, returning the welcome. At the remark about getting to know the other Acolyte during their trip, he almost made a joke, saying we're practically in love, but he refrained from doing so. Sage wouldn't have seen the humorous side of Tanek yet, he might've thought it uncharacteristic, but as Tanek's insight into the Sith Order grew, as did his confidence. It wasn't arrogance, as much as it was him taking great pleasure in the journey he was undertaking, and the growth it provided him with. Everything paled and grew pathetic in comparison. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Dominating a weak mind[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt], Tanek reflected for a moment. He believed Sage had briefly demonstrated this power when they met on Coruscant. It had been one of those powers that had really fascinated him, and that he now was going to learn it was exhilarating. The power was also something he had come across briefly in his studies of Sith history, source material provided by Darth Vornskr. On a theoretical level, he was somewhat familiar with it, but he had never attempted it himself. He listened careful to every detail laid out by Sage. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Once the demonstration started, Tanek watched with a fascination similar to the one he had on Coruscant. Only this time, he was driven more by curiosity, seeing it as a puzzle to be understood, rather than being awestruck by some strange power. When the vest with explosives was put on the prisoner, he couldn't help but smirk. I see.The Togruta closed his eyes, opening himself to the waves of the Force, attempting to see through the Force. He wasn't going to hijack the victim from Xiarr, but he wanted to see if observing the process through the Force would be more informative. The sense of sight, as he had learned, could be deceiving after all. He tried to familiarize himself with his own presence, then that of the Zabrak, preparing strategies for the impending siege on his mind. He understood he wouldn't necessarily be experimenting on the same Zabrak, but it was good practice, even if he was still operating on a somewhat theoretical level. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Tanek opened his eyes. "Can it be done without the victim being aware of it?" he asked Sage, after Xiarr started his attempts of commanding control over the prisoner. "Or even this one, would he have remembered it after?" if he wasn't about to blow himself up, that is. Was it possible, with simple nudges through the Force, making the victim think whatever idea they came up with was one of their own creation, when in reality it was a premade plan fitting into the Sith's design? Even after he opened his eyes, he was trying to monitor the situation as best he could. He was distracting himself intentionally, attempting to start up conversation while focusing on what Xiarr was doing. He figured the Force would have to become second nature to him. He didn't stop to smell just because he was listening, likewise, he couldn't shut down his other senses as he used the Force. He needed his senses to be able to work together, simultaneously. Xiarr seemed to steadily gain a greater understanding of the process, and more and more the will of the Zabrak had to give way to Xiarr. In the end, the prisoner was like before, docile, and Xiarr spoke. Well done. He had succeeded, and the trio had not been blown up. It was still a good day to be Sith. [/SIZE]
Location: Rain forests of Iridonia
Objective: Objective 4, Destroy a Jedi Temple and teach apprentices Mind Control in the process
Allies: [member="Xiarr Raeth"] [member="Tanek Santii"] [member="Vrag"]
"Very good Xiarr," Sage said, encouraging his apprentice as he picked up the mental cord that had been dropped for him. A pleasant shiver traveled down his spine at the sheer pleasure that Xiarr must have been feeling dominating someone else's mind for the very first time. A little enthusiasm from his Acolyte would be nice, but apparently that was too much to ask his apprentice for at the moment. No matter. He was showing exemplary skill so far, and that's what counted.
He placed the detonator's switch in the Zabrak's hand. "I think you know what's next," he said to the young Rattataki. With a quick nod, Sage gestured to the Jedi temple in the distance. He pushed a few extra nudges into his apprentice's mind. Make him feel like it is his very own desire. Make it his obsession. Take care not to let your concentration waver.
"Now make him do the bidding of the Sith."
Sage turned his gaze to Tanek, answering his questions with a patient smile. "Most of the time the weak-minded are not aware that their strings are being pulled. Sometimes, however, the stronger-minded ones will fight back. Then it becomes a battle of wits. You must have the utmost confidence in your power. After all, confidence is mental."
Sage dressed the second prisoner in his suicide vest and released him. He walked the glazed-eyed man over to Tanek just as he had done with Xiarr.
"Your turn, Acolyte Santii. Use the Force to help you enter his mind and take control. Then you are going to send him to the temple as well."
Location: Rain-forests of Iridonia Objective: 4, learn new Force ability, and befriend Jedi (jk, we gonna blow them up)
Tanek watched with a smirk as the scene unfolded before him. It would be glorious. He was right, they were going to use the prisoners as suicide bombers to cause devastation. The Togruta wondered how that would feel, if he could sense the combined terror before multiple lights were blown out at the same time. Though now his mind needed to be elsewhere.
Tanek found Sage's answers satisfactory, as expected. It made sense, and Tanek nodded in thoughtful understanding. Confidence was key. While his confidence in his ability to perform this tasks perhaps weren't at the greatest - he was still new to this game - his determination to succeed was enormous, and he had absolutely no doubt that in the end he would succeed. He suspected that the first assault would be the most challenging, after that, as he grew accustomed to the role of dominator of minds, he would claim victory with greater ease.
Your turn, Acolyte Santii. The words made him smirk, an intimidating display of teeth to the no doubt already terrified Zabrak. He enjoyed these field trips with Sage. He closed his eyes, like before, and opened himself to the Force, announcing his presence to it as he attempted to pass through the barriers of his own mind and latch on to the other. This one hadn't had her mind invaded by Sage previously, her defences not yet broken down. However, he could sense the fear of the woman; she was weak. Tanek was strong. He launched his mental assault, invading her mind as he sought to install himself as sole ruler. The Force seemed to tease him, goad him, as the assault lasted longer than he had anticipated, longer than what Xiarr had required. He was making progress, however, and he felt as if he shared a bond with the Zabrak. They shared thoughts and vision. Tanek was present in her mind, yet merely as a co-regent. That would not do. Why was she not suppressed? Why did they share control? His frustration built up as he struggled to comprehend what needed to be done for him to accomplish his goal. What am I doing wrong?!"Aaargh!!" Tanek exclaimed loudly, as his frustration manifested into a sudden outburst of anger. Inside the Zabraks' mind, they shared thoughts, shared emotions, and she felt his fury at close range; like a bomb unleashed inside of her own mind. She cried out as well, though her tone was that of desperate fear, as she fell to her knees, hands on her head, her entire body language signalling terror.
It was shortly after that he had his breakthrough. All defences broke down as panic swept across the woman. There wasn't much of a defence up in the first place, but for some reason the path seemed clearer to him now, as if she tried to flee her own mind, perhaps even coming close to slipping out of consciousness. It became clear now what needed to be done, as his anger transformed from a blind fury to a focused rage. Shortly after their outburst, one of fury another of terror, it grew very silent. The Zabrak slowly rose to her feet, like a lifeless puppet after its strings had been pulled. The head turned to Sage and said in a dead voice "At last, I am victorious." Tanek hadn't forgotten Sage's orders, immediately after, unless Sage said otherwise, the Zabrak would start her move on the Jedi Temple. Meanwhile a sweat-drop trailed its path down the side of Tanek's face as his eyes watched the Zabrak. The trickiest part had been to gain entrance, but he still required concentration.
Location: Rain forests of Iridonia
Objective: Objective 4, Destroy a Jedi Temple and teach apprentices Mind Control in the process
Allies: [member="Xiarr Raeth"] [member="Tanek Santii"] [member="Vrag"]
Sage watched Tanek, holding his judgement for moment. The Togruta boy struggled with sinking his mental hooks into the female Zabrak's mind, which was entirely expected. Not every apprentice got it on the first try. Like most Force powers, mastering a skill took countless hours of experimenting and trial and error. Sometimes mistakes were made. Lethal ones. His thoughts flitted to Manji, his very first apprentice. The young Twi'lek boy twitching on the ground, shrieking while his bones became visible through his skin. Thousands of watts of electricity flowing through him. The body lying still as a stone. Sage had killed his apprentice during his first lesson teaching Force lighting, a power he had learned in a Force nexus, thereby giving him accelerated mastery of it. He miscalculated the dark side energy that flowed through his hands that day. He would not make that mistake again. Luckily the incident was swept under the rug before it reached one of the higher-ranking Sith members or Force forbid, a Voice of the Dark Lord.
Speaking of Voices, or rather Hands, Sage felt his commlink pinging and fielded a call from Vrag, the firrerreo warrior who held the position as the Hand of the Dark Lord. Ever since they slayed rogue Vong together on Zenith Prime, Sage had been unofficially dubbed the hand's pinky.
"Tell me you're being at least remotely useful, Bane," came the woman's muffled growl through his commlink.
"Why don't you join me and find out, Mistress Vrag? I think you'll find yourself having a blast." Sage chuckled as he sent her the coordinates. After all, there was a good chance that even if they did manage to stomp on the hive, there would still be many angry wasps to swat, and who better to do the swatting than Vrag?
Both Acolytes were proving to be impressive in their talents. Xiarr stood as still as a statue with unwavering concentration on his victim, as the explosive-laden Zabrak man wandered closer to the Jedi temple. Finally Tanek gained hold over his prisoner's mind, even going one step further to turn the woman and use her mouth like a puppet. Sage beamed at the Togrurta apprentice. The boy was wickedly talented and ambitious, and Sage couldn't wait to see what the future held for him. He offered a few words of positive reinforcement as the Zabrak woman began the slow walk to the Jedi Temple
"Very good, Acolyte Santii. As you hold the connection, feel the power of the dark side. It will help strengthen the bond that ties her to you."
elete I accidentally double posted.]
