Ring of Fear (Illyria)

[Qual'Zyanya]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"], [member="Illyria"]


Months had passed since those horrible three days in the Underealm, yet the events were still vivid in Zyanya's mind. The image of Qual'Ixtar breathing for the last time when she was brutally cut down by Myrou's deluded minions was deeply imprinted upon her. Her dead sister's memory was what gave her fuel. It animated and drove her. As did the knowledge of how the Xioquo had been defeated by their own folly and the Outsiders' superior technology. Doubtless Firemane and the Eldorai delighted in having subdued those who were weaker than them.


Since then events had been a blur. She'd left Tygara and was now travelling the stars, though she intended this to be only temporary. Just long enough to learn their secrets. For they were not gods or demons, though the naive and superstitious might think so, but creatures of flesh and blood. She sighed slightly as she sought to concentrate.


She'd been given a room upon Tanaka's ship and now sat upon the bed in a lotus position. The ship was still something she needed to get used to. Wherever she looked, she saw only metal. It was so...soulless. Zyanya had felt sick the first time the craft lifted off and she looked down upon Tygara, which suddenly looked so small to her. It had been like standing over a map the size of the world. Now the vessel traversed the black void of the Great Beyond, or what the aliens called hyperspace. The Revenant had plotted a course for a planet called Taris. Far as she knew, the entire world was covered by one massive city. It all sounded so strange and alien to her. The fact that the megacity was apparently segregated based on power and wealth sounded very familiar though. The Outsiders could build great fortresses that lasted for aeons, travel across the stars and invent weapons that could devastate entire worlds, but in the end they were not so different.


Trying to focus, she sunk into her meditation. Dark energies flowed through her as she meditated on the power of the spirits, centring herself. She channelled her anger and hatred, letting the memories of Underealm's fall give her fuel. Anger rose inside her like bile in her stomach as the memories flooded her. Drawing upon them, she stoked the fires of passion and fury inside her soul until it felt like she glowed white-hot. Her tattoos blazed with light and her eyes turned gold when she pulled at the strands of the Force. Shadows seemed to dance across the room, ethereal voices whispered into her mind. Where once there was a proud people, now there are only serfs. A phoenix shall rise from the ashes. My hands shall be hate, my eyes revenge, the words echoed inside her mind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hLtxsc6FKg​

 

[Illyria]

[member="Qual'Zyanya"]

The Revenant was certainly not a ship for shiny, happy, sisterly love. In another room of the elegant ship Illyria was also meditating, drawing on her Sciia to make her stronger.

She was now under the direction of Sumiko, a human, but a powerful one nonetheless. She was content with this as both women knew this was an alliance of convenience and that one day their paths might well diverge…possibly violently.
She was less content with the addition of the new Xioquo primitive…as she saw her anyway. The savage had some useful skills, true, but so did a pet Gorathi hound, yet one did not make that part of the group. If she had a level of introspection capable of understanding it, she’d realise the irony of her racism considering her own issues and problems in life.

Still, having completed her morning rituals she walked out into the main area, looking for Sumiko. She was not looking for the savage. What was her name again? Something with too many rough syllables. She would simply call her Q if she had to name her at all.

 

[Qual'Zyanya]

[member="Illyria"]


This was not the Order of Fire. It was not the 'dark is not evil' sisterhood of sapphic lovebirds. If anything, this little rag-tag band of misfits had more in common with the ancient Sith. Alliances were made out of convenience in order to attain power and revenge. Of course, to be united by hatred was a fragile alliance at best.


Having ended her meditation and feeling once again connected to the darkness, Zyanya stepped out of her room. On the way, she came across Illyria. The Xioquo stiffened a bit. There was no love lost between the two women. Ironically, both were probably too alike for that. It was a small microcosm of relations between Eldorai and Xioquo. Racism was strong on the side of the former, hatred on the latter.


I know you think me a savage, a pet, Eldorai, she thought disdainfully. The irony of their situation did not escape her. Your people's greatest champion is a human. She struck the mortal blow against Myrou. Your general was a human. Your people only escaped cataclysm because of humans. Yet you think yourself superior. And were you not a slave once?


Zyanya hated the humans who now lorded it over her people, but she recognised that the Xioquo doomed themselves. The Eldorai were another matter though. She did not deign to address the pale elf and simply walked past her. She could sense Sumiko's presence in the conference room.

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Illyria"]


"Tell me what you regard as your greatest strength, so I will know how best to undermine you; tell me your greatest fear, so I will know which I must force you to face; tell me what you cherish most, so I will know what to take from you; and tell me what you crave, so that I might deny you." Supposedly Plagueis had once spoken these words to Sidious.


Of course, in the end, Plagueis' hubris had been his own undoing. He was so confident in his belief that he could control his apprentice and live forever. Then his acolyte killed him in his sleep. He might have been able to save others from death...but not himself. It was a lesson every Dark Master needed to heed.


"You're nurturing a lovely pair of vipers, Mistress. I wonder which of them will murder the other first," Souldrinker spoke.


"Or me, that is?" Sumiko responded with a strong tone of sarcasm.


"Yes, though I suppose they're too...puerile to make common cause...for now. I must say, I'm happy that you finally decided to go back on your quest to gain some power instead of playing house with your lady love. It was sickening."


"What makes you think that isn't about attaining power as well?" Sumiko asked rhetorically. Zyanya and Illyria entered what passed for the conference room. It was small, compact and more utilitarian than luxurious. Kerrigan's Revenant might as well be a downscaled luxury ship, but though she liked her pretty things, Sumiko was more practical than that.


"Illyria, Zyanya, good. We shall begin," she said without preamble. No 'did you sleep well?' or 'Illyria, I love what you did with your hair' or 'Zyanya, look less glum, you and Illy would have great hate sex.' Through the Force, she activated a projector, bringing forth a holographic project of their destination. "Behold, Taris. An ecumenopolis infested with xenophobia, greed, segregation and Rakghouls. It will prove useful for your education."


An ornate ring rested upon her finger. It radiated beautiful dark power. More importantly, the artefact simply felt evil. "Our target is an abandoned Imperial research facility located on the planet's heavily polluted surface. It has data I wish to recover for a project. We have a contact in the city who will provide us with information. Aside from that, I wish to study the ring's effect on the Sithspawn population." What exactly was the data going to help them with? Well, that would be revealed in time.

 

[Illyria]

[member="Qual'Zyanya"] [member="Sumiko Tanaka"]

"What makes you think that isn't about attaining power as well?"

“It may well be, but it seems like you were attaining much more earthly rewards more often,” the sword commented slyly. It seemed it never missed an opportunity to have a dig at its wielder.

Illyria looked down on Taris and felt nothing but disgust. The place was a disgusting blight. There was no artistry, no form or elegance. It reminded her with hatred of her time on other worlds in the galaxy dominated by humans.

She was distracted though by the ring, she looked to it. “The one we recovered from the box? Is that what it does?” she asked.
She glared at Qual. The interloper had no place here and would only be a hindrance to them, of that she was sure.

 

[Qual'Zyanya]

[member="Illyria"],


Ironically, Zyanya's thoughts on Taris mimicked Illyria's. Perhaps this was proof that Xioquo and Dark Eldorai were not different at all. Naturally, both of the dark elves would adamantly deny this. She looked upon the blighted city-planet with disdain. "This place is disgusting...so artificial. There's no soul, no beauty, only crude metal. I am not surprised that Plague holds so much sway in it. It is...unclean," she spoke. The Xioquo were derided as barbarians, but they actually had a highly developed form of art and architecture.


Her eyes turned to Illyria. Zyanya did not trust the woman in the slightest. In fact, she suspected the Eldorai would not be above arranging an accident for her. Why did she think this? Well, she'd been raised in Xioquo high society.


"This artefact of yours, it feels alive. Sentient." She could feel the whispers calling to her and it took her some effort to disentangle herself from the siren's tendrils. "What is the nature of the data you wish to recover? And what threats may we face, other than these rabid creatures?"

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Illyria"]


Sumiko watched the two with a degree of amusement. There were plenty of things the two elves had in common: Pride, arrogance, racism, a desire for revenge. But these things kept them apart. Together, they would be a formidable combination. Perhaps able to threaten her one day. The trick was to keep her two acolytes in a state of competition for the position of true apprentice...but not enough that it hindered their duties. This meant walking a tightrope.


"I tested the device on Kessel against humans driven mad by alchemised rabies. It was able to compel them not to eat me," she said dryly. That had been a fun adventure. She'd caught up again with [member="Nima Tann"], mocked the Silver Jedi and may have recovered a sample of a virus. Her eyes fell upon the drow.


"As for the data, all in good time. Suffice to say it is sensitive military data and will be an asset to propel us towards greater influence and wealth...and the eventual achievement of our goals. Taris is nominally controlled by the Mandalorians. My intel doesn't indicate they know about the base, but be prepared if beskar-clad neanderthals try to impede our quest. You'll be wearing fully sealed armour when we venture down to the surface. A simple Rakghoul bite will cause infection."


There was no cure handy, unless you did a random side quest for a doctor in Taris city, who was somehow able to synthesise a small sample of the serum in sufficient quantities to cure all the infected, despite only having a small clinic with one duplicitous employee.


"Oh, and one more thing: Both of you are here because I consider your skills useful. I expect you to keep your personal feelings to yourself and work together adequately. I don't want to hear about unfortunate 'accidents', friendly fire incidents and so on," she said sternly. Her tone was icy, cold enough to freeze galaxies. It was a bit like being a headmistress. "I'd hate to have to find replacements."

 

[Illyria]

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]
Illyria stared equally coldly at Sumiko. “I will do nothing to harm the Xioquo, but I cannot be expected to be responsible for her. If she is incapable of defending herself I will not be held accountable for it,” she stated haughtily. Like this won’t come back to be dramatically ironic somewhere down the line.

“The mission sounds simple enough,” she said, looking at all the data. “This base looks quite old, so it probably hasn’t been noticed by the Mandalorians. When you say Imperial, are you talking the original Galactic Empire?” she asked.

She was rather hoping that Qual would have to ask because she didn’t know what they were talking about, and then she could give her a smug look. Petty, but many Eldorai were fine with petty.

 

[Qual'Zyanya]

[member="Illyria"]


The irony was that for all their haughtiness, the Eldorai had little to show for themselves. They'd been stuck on a single planet because building a hyperdrive was beyond them. Their goddess was a fraud, which only a select few knew and they kept it secret from the people to preserve their power. They'd only survived the Lost Kar'zun invasion and the destruction of Kaeshana because humans helped them. A human was their strongest warrior and greatest champion.


Zyanya gave Illyria a frosty look. "I can more than defend myself, Eldorai. The Underealm is not a kind place for the faint-of-heart or the pampered," she said coldly. Perhaps to Illyria's surprise, she replied to her in Eldarai. Her command of the language was very accented, but she managed express herself without stumbling over words or mucking up the grammar.


"Enough with your bickering. Both of you pull your load, and I shall reward you. Fail, and my punishment will make your people's worst tyrants look kind," Sumiko said frostily. A more rage-filled Dark Master would have driven the point home by choking both, but Sumiko had more self-control than that. They'd learn some humility by being exposed to the dangers of Taris.


Zyanya looked as if she'd rather chew on an onion, but nodded. For the time being, the human held the power. It would be futile to struggle and make foolish claims of bravado. Perhaps her strict upbringing in a Xioquo household helped here.


"As you wish. The base was built during Palpatine's reign?" she asked, picking up the thought Illyria had mentioned and incidentally denying the Eldorai the smug satisfaction of seeing her ignorant. Little did the Dark Eldorai know that the drow was a voracious reader.


"Yes. The one all the would-be empires that have risen and fallen since then want to return to. It contains one of his many special projects," her hand went to her ear when she received a message from the droid piloting the craft. "Get ready, we're landing."

 

[Illyria]

[member="Qual'Zyanya"]

Illyria scowled at the reprimand, and then at Qual’s unexpected show of knowledge. It wasn’t as fun if she couldn’t lord it over the other woman!

The ship came in to land and settled on an area of jungle and swamp away from any settlements. One assumes that with almost 5000 years to repair, Taris had been rebuilt somewhat. Amazingly, it still seemed to be a bit of a dump, proving that some things really did last forever.

Before them lay an expanse of jungle leading to the outskirts of the vast city. They’d landed here so as not to attract attention, but would go the rest of the way by speeder.

Illyria’s delicate ears picked up rustlings and growls in the undergrowth. Perhaps nothing dangerous…but perhaps.

 

[Qual'Zyanya]

[member="Illyria"]


Somehow, certain things never change. Korriban and Malachor would always be hellholes, Naboo would always be a world of peaceniks, and Taris would always be a segregated dump. Moreover, stormtroopers would always suck at aiming and hitting anything with their rifles!


Before them lay a terribly uninviting jungle. The moment of serenity did not last. Much like Illyria, Zyanya's sensitive ears heard the rustlings and growls deep in the undergrowth. "It seems your first test has begun," Sumiko said dryly, idly stroking her evil ring.


Then suddenly...Rakghouls! A pack of snarling humanoids with pale, mottled skin, charged them. They reminded Zyanya of the beasts one of her sisters had created in an alchemical laboratory. That had not gone well for poor sis. Clearing her lab of monstrosities had been quite a chore.


Drawing upon the power of the spirits, she raised several small rocks and sent them flying towards the beasts like hypervelocity projectiles. Even a small pebble could be deadly if it was accelerated to achieve the speed and velocity of a sniper bullet. Rakghouls howled in pain when they were stabbed through the neck, limbs or torso, but more came charging and Zyanya drew her blade. Lunging forward, she thrust the tip of her blade into a Rakghoul's chest and pierced its vile heart.

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Illyria"]


She could hear the ring calling to her like a siren when the Rakghouls suddenly attacked them. The Atrisian was entertaining the theory that Sithspawn creatures might be attracted by the ring's power, which gave her cause for the hypothesis that this might be deliberate.


She could feel her finger itching as when the ring whispered into her mind, trying to goad into forcing compulsion upon the creatures. However, for the time being she resisted and quieted the whispers. Overuse would serve no one. Moreover, she wanted to see how her acolytes performed. She would only deign to intervene if they were in mortal peril since she'd invested quite a bit of time in them, but there was no place at her side for the weak. Thus she waited to see how Illyria and Zyanya handled the creatures.

 

[Illyria]

[member="Qual'Zyanya"]
Illyria’s lightsabre sprung into burning violet light and she waited for the creatures to attack, settling into a defensive Soresu stance.

The monsters came on, and as one snapped for her outstretched hand she darted back and the lightsabre stabbed neatly through the creature’s head. Stepping back, yielding space for time she kept each Rakghoul back with precise sweeps of her blade until she was ready to strike.

One coming from behind her she sensed, and then stepped aside rapidly so it actually leapt through where she had been and smacked into another beast to her front. Both perished with twin slashes of her blade.

There seemed no end to the creatures though, so she called upon her power to liquefy the ground beneath the creatures, bogging them and holding onto them long enough for a blast of Sith lightning to fry one. A swift advance and the last two fell headless.

It seemed that this band had numbered only ten and the two of the space elves had dealt with them. Scanning carefully she deactivated her blade and looked to Sumiko.

“I trust I at least passed this test?” she asked confidently.

 

[Qual'Zyanya]

[member="Illyria"]

Thus there was slaughter. Two elves were pitted against a small group of rabid, mutated monstrosities that looked liked they'd been spawned in the laboratory of a mad scientist...which was kind of the case here!


An aggressive looking Rakghoul pounced at Zyanya, but the spirits warned her. Moving with what seemed like lightning speed, she rolled under its leap and skewered the abomination's legs with her blade, amputating them. She sensed opponents coming as the mutilated Rakghoul tried to slash at her with claws.


Using her power, she tossed the wounded beast towards an enemy and jumped, connecting her foot to a tree in a Force assisted leap. Her sword split through the charging creature's body from the head down in a furious sweep and her boots touched down upon the ground.


The creatures had been decimated, though in all fairness they'd been few in number. Naturally she had to make a barb in response to Illyria. "Is the superior Eldorai eager for praise?" she asked a bit haughtily, though Sumiko's withering glance was chilling.


"You both performed satisfactory," Sumiko responded. An even response that didn't give either of them what they wanted. "You faced the most primitive specimen. There are more intelligent Rakghouls on the planet. Creatures who can use the Force."


Zyanya looked equal parts disgusted and intrigued. "These animals are sentient and can hear the spirits' call? Did the Sith create them as well or are they a natural evolution?"


Sumiko shrugged. "A mutation, or so it is thought. Perhaps the result of a Force-user being infected. They're incapable of passing on their...condition," she smirked slightly. "Now come on." They still had a contact to meet.

 

[Illyria]

[member="Qual'Zyanya"]
If the sword had eyes, it’d be rolling them right about now.
“Oh for Ragnos’ sake, what can’t they stop bickering and either kill or sleep with each other. Amusingly better if one followed the other. Who knows, your Imperial Majesty, maybe you’d like to join them? You like your lovers to be vain, arrogant and dark,” it commented satirically.

Fortunately this mental commentary was not heard by the two apprentices. So after glaring at Qual, Illyria put her nose in the air and marched off.
“Lead the way, Mistress. I am sure the two of us will uncover some interesting things,” she added, deliberately snubbing Qual. It was all so…petty.

As they entered the old ruins they found that time had turned the former city into decayed, twisted mounds and slopes covered in trees and animals. Here and there were vast pits where sections had fallen in, and still other areas where the shattered city rose high above them.

“Are we going high or low?” Illyria asked. She hoped it was high so Qual would have to walk in the hot sun.

 

[Qual'Zyanya]

[member="Illyria"]


The rivalry between the two elves was a source of amusement for Sumiko. Like two dogs eager for a treat, though neither would appreciate that disparaging comparison. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes to the heavens when Illyria played sycophant. The Atrisian remembered that when the Eldorai had become her apprentice, she'd been adamant about not calling her Mistress. Clearly having competition had changed that. "And I'm sure you'll be most eager to serve me. We're going high, but not for long," she spoke emotionessly.


There was a scowl on Zyanya's face when she heard this. Xioquo were born and bred in the shadows. The hot rays of the sunlight burnt and blistered their skin. She pulled her hood over her face and put on a pair of sunglasses before covering her hands with gloves. "I shall manage. I do not fear the sun," she spoke sourly.


It would take them a while to traverse the decayed, ruined city that had by now been reclaimed by Mother Nature, but eventually they would happen upon a lift that would take them up to the top. Zyanya felt more than a little anxious when the skylift took off and dared not to look down. Heights were rather unnerving for her.


Finally they'd reached the top. There was a disgusted look on her hooded face when she looked around. Zyanya gazed at the tall spires and skyline of the city. Clouds hung in the air with a gentle breeze, the sun bathed the massive towers of duracrete and transparisteel in bright light. However, the city did not seem majestic to her. Unlike on the surface, the air was clean here and she could breathe freely, but the sun's presence unnerved her and made anger rise in her stomach like bile. She was covered from head to toe, but still felt like she could feel the warm rays sear her skin.


The city was so artificial. Even up here, signs of decay were evident. She averted her eyes from the furious sun that sought to burn her. Wherever she looked, there were shops, buildings and residential areas, making the entire area look crowded. Thousands upon thousands of people were crammed into such a small space. The sky was packed with air speeders that flew in long, thin lines between the spires at mind-boggling, chaotic speed. Bright neon lights advertised a variety of products, luring people into the temples of materialism and consumerism.


There was no art, no elegance to this place. Her attention was soon directed to a large crowd of humans, who seemed to be congregating around a little man standing on a podium and gesticulating like a lunatic. "What kind of primitive rabble is this? They're like a pack of rabid dogs." she wondered aloud, voice dripping with disdain. An answer was soon forthcoming when the ringleader started his speech.


"Brothers, comrades, countrymen! My name is Udo Stark and I'm here to tell you the truth," the man declared. He had a silly moustache and was wearing a brown uniform. "We are at war! Our beloved world is under attack! Look around you and see the filth in our once beautiful city. We must act before the vermin overwhelmn us. Tell me, friends who are our enemies?"


This was the cue for the crowd to chant. "The aliens! The disgusting foreigners!" Many of them carried banners with inspiring slogans such as 'Make Taris Great Again' or 'We Need A Space Wall'. Much to the Xioquo's annoyance, the rabble was in the way.


"Yes! They come here to steal our jobs, live off the state, rape our women and corrupt our children! They already control our entire economy. Our government is the slave of Muun bankers! Gamorrean, Bith and Rodian rabble is putting honest human workers on the streets! But these disgusting parasites aren't our only enemy. They work hand in hand with the socialists, perverts and the feminists. Rather than finding fulfillment in taking care of home and children, our womenfolk are being led astray. Beware the tentacled, blue whores and vile knife-ears! They are waging biological warfare against our race by turning our sons and daughters into their sex slaves."


Zyanya looked thoroughly disgusted. "Nothing but sheep with delusions of adequacy. Among my people, this pathetic monkeigh would have been forced to swallow his own genitals and given to the warg as food," she spoke haughtily. "No wonder this planet is in such a state if power was given to human manlings and lesser beings. They should be put under the heel and enslaved for their own betterment. This revolting cesspit is a breeding ground for inferiors." It seemingly did not occur to her that she was just as bigoted as Udo.


"What we need is a government of the people by the people for the people. Tell me, my friends, what must we do?"


"Make Taris great again by taking back what is ours!"


Sumiko looked rather amused. "It's amusing, isn't it? That the powerless, the pathetic and the imbeciles need to inflate themselves by claiming they're superior in order to compensate for their weakness. The strong don't need to loudly declare their supposed superiority at every turn." It probably did not occur to either elf that she was mocking them, too.

 

[Illyria]

[member="Qual'Zyanya"]
Illyria nodded vehemently to Sumiko’s words, not realising that it was her and her beliefs being lampshaded.
“Of course, we are not as needlessly cruel as the Xioquo, but such a manling would be severely punished in my court as well,” she added.
“When was Taris great? Thousands of years ago when they exiled their own people down into the shadows for no reason other than greed and arrogance?”
Oh irony.

However, at that moment there was a commotion and another crowd came into view. Many of them were non-humans but there were a lot of humans present as well. They too held banners.
“#alienlivesmatter” “#stoptheslaughter” “Imperials Out!” “Free Order not First Order” and so on.

Illyria looked dismissively at this band. “Useless liberalist complainers,” she said scathingly.

Souldrinker was getting bored. It had gone some time without slaughter and ruin being caused, and so decided to give its wielder a prod.
“What a lovely gathering. Let’s see which band of self-righteous fools is stronger. If you don’t make them fight, I will,” the sword declared, vibrating in its sheath.

 

[Qual'Zyanya]

[member="Illyria"]


"Verily. Did the great and superior Eldorai not make a practice of exiling those they found inconvenient...like yourself?" Zyanya asked rhetorically. She was not helping at all. Of course, she did not seem conscious of the fact that the Xioquo's self-destructive society had been their doom.


At this moment liberal and alien protesters appeared on the scene. They held banners with inspiring slogans. Zyanya looked just as disdainful. "I hope that delusional rot like that does not take root amongst my people. I hear that fools amongst the Eldorai want manling rights now."


"You two, cut it," Sumiko snapped coldly, getting tired of their exchange and seeing where this was going. However, Souldrinker was hungry. The Atrisian did not care about the lives of the protesters and space nazis, but didn't want to draw attention.


"I have better things to do than to watch a mob of idiots brawl. Let's move." However, the sword had a mind of its own. Moreover, the ring on Sumiko's finger began to glow. A dark rush of energy spread through her. The passions of both crowds were suddenly amplified, strengthening their violent tendencies. Collision was inevitable.

 

[Illyria]

[member="Qual'Zyanya"]
Illyria growled. “At least we don’t torture and kill our own sisters because it might get us a higher noble’s boot to lick. Your people are a disgusting and primitive selection of worms barely better than beasts. Verily, let’s see how you like the light of day!” she said and seized Qual’s robe, aiming to yank the hood down and expose the Xioquo to the blazing sun.

Now, the two were doubtless influenced by the sword, but this blowup was always going to happen, and now seemed the snapping point.

“Oh no, no. I insist we watch the fun!” Souldrinker declared smugly.

Insidious thoughts started to crawl through the many weakminded people in both mobs. Little tricks of the eyes. Bulges looked a lot like concealed blasters, the looks in the eyes of the other side looked very predatory.

They’re going to attack you.

Beware, they’re armed!

Show those useless hippies how you do things.

Topple the Imperialist swine.

It was hard to tell who fired the first shot. It didn’t matter. Soon there were screams, blaster shots, explosions.

Souldrinker shot from its scabbard, arcing like a silver boomerang, taking off heads, slicing through flesh and bone, piercing alien and human alike before sailing back into its sheath.

“Yes…this is more like it. Slay them all!” it projected the last to those around.

The Memorial Day Massacre they’d call it later.

 

[Qual'Zyanya]

[member="Illyria"]


"You pompous, self-righteous queen. You call us animals...but how many civil wars has your race had? How much of your own blood have you spilt? Didn't your rulers abandon your people to die when the rock people sent an asteroid? You disgust and deserve to be under the Karishzar's boot!"


The Sword and the Ring might be influencing their minds, but this blow-up was bound to happen sooner or later. Illyria seized Zyanya's robe and tried to yank her hood down. The Xioquo struggled to throw her off, screaming in pain when her hood partly slipped and the blazing sunlight seared her skin.


Falling into a rage, she lunged forward and tried to ram her fist into the Eldorai's face and break her nose with strength enhanced by the Force and the darkness she called upon. Xioquo were less agile than Eldorai, but stronger. Her rage gave her strength and her skin hardened, turning her hand as hard as stone.


Meanwhile, the Memorial Day Massacre was in full swing. Souldrinker had warped minds, the Ring heightened their passions until they exploded into violence. Base, animalistic urges would rise inside them, strengthening their violent impulses, as if they were under the compulsion to become little more than beasts. Kill them, kill them all. Show them how strong you are! Sumiko's finger itched and heat spread across it.


Someone nicer than Sumiko would have tried to stop this massacre. That's probably what anyone with a moral compass would have tried. But she didn't care really, beyond being rather annoyed about being disobeyed.


Instead she focused her wroth upon her two misbehaving apprentices. It was time to teach them a lesson. Her mental assault began as a sharp pain in the skulls of both, like a hot knife stabbing directly into their brains before slicing down to carve the two hemispheres in twain. Then the knife exploded, sending a thousand burning shards into every direction. From the ancient texts, she had learned to paralyse her enemies, twist and torment their thoughts.