Ring of Fear (Illyria)

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Illyria"]


"I see the drow took care of that," Sumiko responded grimly. Zyanya was showing more foresight than she'd expected. That was some progress. The Atrisian did not charge straight into the fray. A Master of the Dark Side she might be, but these were not ordinary thugs. Their armour, discipline and use of weapons designed to combat Force-users marked them as a more significant threat, especially since there were Mandalorians among them. The staccato of blasterfire filled the air, punctuated by loud explosions.


Drawing upon the power of darkness, she unleashed a blast of blue-white Sith Lightning, electrocuting an attacker. Screams, spasms and death ensued. The debris and metal plates from the ruins provided some cover and could also be used as improvised projectiles.


Wielding Souldrinker, she clove into a Mandalorian's skull and ended his life after parrying away his sword. She ducked to avoid the powerful overhead blow of a goon's hammer, then slashed at his leg with Souldrinker and thrusting the tip of her blade into his neck joint when he stumbled. The sword's malevolent aura vibrated with pleasure about the slaughter.


One of the attackers had deployed a grenade launcher, which belched an explosive ball her way. It was blocked by her power on reflex, but premature detonation showered her with shrapnel. A bubble of the Force came into being to shield her from the blast. However, she was knocked around by the shockwave and a hot shard of shrapnel still lodged itself inside her thigh, causing a painful, searing sensation. White hot pain seemed to flood her, then a blaster bolt grazed her side torso.


Enraged, she seized the grenadier's mind and drove in her mental talons. He screamed in pain, feeling like he was being burnt from the inside out, and crumpled to the ground like a sack of potatoes when his brain shut down. It was then that the whispers from the ring began to intensify. Her Force senses prickled as she felt dark presences approaching them. Their screeches and cries were so very familiar to her.


Rakghouls. The large horde of beasts seemed to come from every corner, emerging from the ruins. They had smelt blood and sought nothing more than to gourge themselves on the foolish humans who'd trespassed into their territory. With blood seeping out of her wound, Sumiko took up the malevolent ring. Dark power filled her and she reached out with her mind, forcing her will upon the Sithspawn. Their primal, primitive minds felt like clay in her hands.

 

[Illyria]

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]
‘More!’ the blade demanded as the first enemy fell. But then the second came and its telepathic growl became triumphant. ‘Now you join me forever,’ it said as it cleaved through the hammerer.

Soon though the Rakghouls appeared. Souldrinker took the opportunity of Sumiko playing with the ring to fly through the air and hamstring one of the fleeing criminals. It then hovered over the crawling, crying victim, teasing him with the blade’s edge before finally stabbing down and ending his misery.

As soon as Sumiko put the ring on meanwhile she’d feel an incredible surge of power and strength. Instantly the presence of every Rakghoul within a wide radius was exposed to her. It was so easy to manipulate them, so simple. All she had to do was reach out with the ring and take what was rightfully hers….

Illyria meanwhile groaned in pain as she rolled onto her front, trying to reach for her first-aid. She needed to stem the wounds until they could be treated, and she needed to deal with the pain. Eldorai…were not good at that. Their sensitivity to all senses was heightened which was usually good. In this case it was bad, very bad. It was taking all her willpower not to sob with the agony. She knew Qual was looking down on her, and she’d die before she showed that weakness!

 

[Qual'Zyanya]

[member="Illyria"]


"I could've let you die, Eldorai," Zyanya hissed coldly through gritted teeth. There was no compassion to be found in her eyes, even though Illyria was obviously in pain. This was not that kind of sisterhood. "You're alive because of me. Remember that."


Then, suddenly, Rakghouls! The mutated beasts seemed to be coming from everywhere. Criminals ran in terror or tried to stand and fight. Zyanya had been too preoccupied gloating over Illyria's distress and thus only noticed the beasts when they were already charging.


One of the Rakghouls pounced her and she fell, tumbling to the ground. Before she could react, the beast was upon her and she struggled. Terror and fear gripped her heart like a vice as she tried to fight off its claws before it could infect her. Aggression and instincts took over as she grabbed the mutant's arms and managed to force it off her. The Rakghoul let loose a blood-curdling scream, and Illyria's lightsabre flew into her hand. It produced a burning violet beam of light.


As it pounced, she rolled under it and then jabbed the tip of the blade into its chest, piercing its dark heart. As more monsters came, she settled into a defensive stance, daring them to attack but then they...stopped, as if confused. The Xioquo frowned, but then she felt the wave of dark power emanating from Sumiko. Now she realised it was the ring. An oily feeling of dread, despair and malevolence suffused the air.

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Illyria"]

​

Power! Unlimited power! At once, Sumiko felt an incredible surge of power and strength flow through her. It was as if a dam had been broken, opening the floodgates. It was a feeling of pure joy and ecstasy, almost like a drug trip. She felt an euphoric rush as a feeling of exaltation overcame her. The strong embraced the darkness and wrested its power from its grasp.


Instantly, she could feel the presence of every single Rakghoul in the immediate vicinity. She could feel their hunger, taste flesh when they sunk their teeth into humans. Above all, she could feel their submission to her, for their minds were like clay in their hands. So she moulded their brains and commanded them to kill. Buried within the ring, a malevolent, demonic spirit cackled with gleeful delight. Dark, violet energy crackled across her hands, feeling ice-cold and tremendously hot at the same time.


There were screams, blasterfire and explosions. The thugs, who until a few moments ago had seemingly maintained the advantage, were suddenly cornered by the Sithspawn monstrosities. Some tried to turn tail and run, others resisted and managed to slay some of the beasts, but the Rakghouls kept coming and attacked the goons with an onslaught of claws and teeth.


Beads of sweat dripped down Sumiko's face and back, but she persisted. A feeling of pain struck her palm. Here a Dark Mark was engraved, matching Souldrinker's. It blazed with light as dark power coursed through her, using her body as a conduit. Exultant fury was written across her face as she basked in the dark power, yet it was also a strain to maintain concentration, causing a headache.

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Illyria"]


Marcus Kelborn had only wanted what every good Mandalorian did: Glory, booty and honour in battle. But now as a horde of Rakghouls swarmed him and his comrades, he could not feel like he'd chosen the wrong career. Fear gripped his heart, a feeling most unbecoming of a Mandalorian. "Fight, my brothers. Weak Mandalorians don't deserve to live!" his sergeant bellowed, slashing at beasts with his sword. His words were full of passion, but then he was down, too, and vanished beneath monstrosities.


"On me, my brothers! Retreat. We'll live to fight anothrer day" Marcus yelled loudly. His blaster took down a Rakghoul and he activated his wrist flamer, spewing out burning flames to roast the monsters and cover his buddies. But then Souldrinker came from behind and struck at the back of his leg.


The Mandalorian howled in pain and keeled over. Smelling blood, monsters swarmed him. He fought valiantly, but in the end it was futile. He felt as if an unnatural power was sapping away his willpower and weakening him.


It was something dark, vile and evil. Blood coated his armour, then finally he was bitten. Grey flesh began to cover his torso, his blaster dropped from his grasp and he started shaking. "Shoot me," he shouted at one of his comrades, but it was too late.


A blood-curdling scream emerged from his throat. His body was shaking uncontrollably, his limbs convulsed as if he were experiencing a seizure, his chest heaved and his eyes bulged. His heart was thumping so loudly in his chest that he felt it might burst. The skin around his neck started swelling and turned grey, his hair vanished and his gloves were ripped apart when his fingers turned into claws.


The only thing worse than the physical transformation was the mental one. He could feel his mind being moulded like clay. Independent thoughts vanished from him when he forgot his name, clan and his entire sense of identity. The only thing he felt was an uncontrollable, bestial hunger. Where he had once seen comrades, now he only saw prey. The voice in his head compelled him to obey the Dark Woman.

 

[Illyria]

[member="Qual'Zyanya"]
Through her haze of pain, Illyria’s eyes narrowed. “I shall not forget it, I promise,” she whispered.
It was unclear if this was a good thing or not.

The mercenaries never stood a chance once the horde was directed. Those who could not get away were either infected and pinned down, or torn to pieces.
The Ring’s cold exultation flowed through Sumiko’s body. She had power, control. It whispered to her of dominance, not in words like the sword, but with flashes of a future which might be.
The Rakghouls lined up before her like an army, formed in ranks, completely obedient to her.

All except one which smelt blood on Illyria and started to creep closer. A display of will and power would be needed to prevent her being eaten!

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Illyria"]


And thus the battle was over. The mercenaries had been decimated. Some were fortunate escape to escape the massacre, others were torn apart and devoured. The most unfortunate ones were infected and transformed. The transformation process was so gruesome that even Zyanya, who could not be accused of having a weak stomach, being faint-hearted or even remotely a moral person, was a bit disgusted. Probably not out of moral concern, but simply because it was rather icky.


The cold exultation and joy of the Ring spread through Sumiko. It whispered to her of power and greatness. For the moment, she felt indomitable, though it took all her focus to maintain control. It felt like she was connected to every Rakghoul in the immediate vicinity, their minds were laid bare to her.


One of them turned out to be disobedient. Abruptly, she forced her will upon the beast. It howled when she forced it back and piered its mind. "She is mine. So is the one next to her. You shall not devour her. Anyone else you encounter shall be yours to feast on," she hissed.

 

[Qual'Zyanya]

[member="Illyria"]


Zyanya watched in awe and with more than a little fear when the Rakghouls lined up before Sumiko like an obedient army. They were like leashed dogs who would just as soon serve them as devour them. She could not help feel covetous of such power, but the example of her own people was not far from her mind.


It did not go well for Jaelryn, yes? Qual'Jaelryn had experimented with such beasts, trying to bend them to her will, and met a rather grisly end. It was a fate that might also be the human's one day. Her jaw tightened when Sumiko proclaimed that both she and Illyria were hers. Her tone was possessive, shielding her acolytes from the Rakghouls' hunger, but also reminding them that they were well and truly hers.


She craved her power so strongly, but she was wary as well. The slightest traitorous thought could be her undoing. "Zyanya, you have done well," the human's voice was sweet, like a cat's purr. "You will be rewarded once our mission is over. Now give Illyria her lightsabre back."


"I...yes, Mistress," Zyanya almost spoke out of tune, but managed to catch herself and let the words of protest die on her tongue. Rather reluctantly, she switched off the sabre and tossed it back to the somewhat humbled Eldorai. "Your command over those beasts is impressive."

 

[Illyria]

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]
‘Good…good. Power is its own reward. Feel how they bow to you. One day it will not just be beasts in the muck of this remote swamp,’ the sword whispered.

“You are a Sith in all but name, Sumiko…lady and mistress. Your power grows, but you hold back from claiming the title of Sith. Why? Do you feel you are too special to be part of a greater history? Do you think that these items you use, these apprentices you teach are anything different? Claim your title and you will find all the avenues of knowledge closed to you open.”

The ring did not speak, but clearly approved of this, fairly pulsing with dark power.

Meanwhile Illyria took back her lightsabre and struggled painfully to her feet. The kolto and bacta were working their miracles, but it was still agony…and she was still unsure as to whether the beasts would forever stay quiet and obedient.

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Illyria"]


"Perhaps." Sumiko's telepathic response was bland and noncommittal, but some of sword's words resonated with her. The essence of the Sith Code, as it had been laid down upon by Sorzus Syn, was to break one's chains, overcome limitations and exalt the self above all others. This was a philosophy she embraced wholeheartedly.


In that regard, she was Sith, though she felt no kinship with the One Sith, Black Empire, Rule of Two Sith and the myriad of cults that had mushroomed. However, being a Sith was about forging your own destiny and rising above the masses. Maybe this was the path the Force had set her on.


"Thank you. Illyria, draw upon your pain. Feed on it. It will give you strength. Come, these beasts will clear our path." They still had a lot of ground to cover until they finally reached the secret laboratory, but now they had ghoulish minions. Hopefully they would not turn on their mistresses at an inopportune moment.

 

[Qual'Zyanya]

[member="Illyria"]


Zyanya was more than a little unnerved by the ghouls. They were useful, but she was rather unsure whether they would stay obedient for long, or turn on their mistress. She remembered her own experiences in the Underealm all too well. However, she did not dare voice these concerns to Sumiko.


She'd learned the hard way that the human could be just as cruel as the Xioquo matriarchs she'd once bowed to, plotted with and schemed against. So she keapt her down and saw to her own injuries, applying bacta. She still felt pain, though to a lesser degree than Illyria. She kept a strong grip on her Force imbued blade, just in case they were ambushed once more.


Warily, she followed the two as they made their way through the ruins. The foul smelling, grim swampland called the Tularan Marsh was getting closer. Once the Tularan Skyway had been a major thoroughfare through the industrial zone, but now those days were lost in the rubble.

 

[Illyria]

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]
With their shambling horde proceeding them there was nothing and no one to hinder their progress.
Illyria, though in great pain, struggled on. Several of the Rakghouls loped along behind, and she feared to get too far from Sumiko lest her influence wane and the beast be unleashed.

Soon though they came to an area of dismal swamp even more grim than usual. A muddy pit waited for them to cross with no bridge.
Illyria’s nose wrinkled at the smell and thought. She was not going to step into that.

So instead she called on her Sciia and the mud reformed and rose to form a makeshift passage through which they could move without wading through the muck.

Beyond this moat was a tall blast door riddled with age and grime. It looked imposing.

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Illyria"]


And so the Sith Master, not Sith Master, the Dark Eldorai and the Xioquo Renegade made their way through the ruins and the foul smelling, muddy swamp. Here and there, they encountered thugs and beasts, but their Rakghoul horde took care of them.


Here and there, a Rakghoul had to be disciplined when Sumiko's influence waned or primal hunger overtook it. After all, she was still working out the kinks, but the ring did not abandon her yet. Time would tell how well this went. Thanks to Illyria's initiative, our three ladies did not have to soil themselves by wading through the muck.


Finally they reached a massive durasteel blast door. It was marked by age and grime, but still imposing and thus posed a formidable barrier, but it could not be allowed to impede their progress. Sumiko could not create a passage while she was focused on controlling the small Sithspawn horde. This was a chance for her two acolytes to make themselves useful, even if it meant they'd have to work together.


Terramancy was a useful power that also included electromagnetism, which enabled them to manipulate ferromagnetic substance - ferrous metals. In other words, they were the elf version of Magneto. "Illyria, Zyanya, join your powers and break the door open," she commanded.

 

[Qual'Zyanya]

[member="Illyria"]


And so they reached a door. Zyanya had remained close to Sumiko during their journey through ruins and swamplands, fearful that the Rakghouls might decide to feast upon her should she stray too far away from the Dark Mistress.


Now they faced a door and had to break it down. She glanced towards the slightly humbled Eldorai, then looked back at the door. "Ready when you are, Eldorai," she said. Her voice was devoid of warmth, but a bit less venomous than before. There was no love lost between the elves. The tension between them was still so thick you could cut it with a blade.


She pulled at the tangled web of infinite power, calling upon the spirits to heed her call and give her strength. All ferrous matter could be bent, twisted and manipulated by her gift, and the old durasteel door was no different. Projecting her will outward, she summoned a powerful magnetic field and wrapped it around the door. The grinding and twisting of metal could be heard when she unleashed her power and sought to will the door to be drawn into the magnetic field and pulled from its hinges. She could not accomplish this alone, but together they ought to succeed.

 

[Illyria]

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]
Whilst Qual worked on the hinges, Illyria worked on the joins between the two doors. It was sealed tight, but loosen those bonds and the door would fall.
Reaching into the door she strove to warp or unlock the bolts one by one.

Finally, sinking to her knees with the pain and strain, the door abruptly fell to the earth with a cataclysmic thundering.

The Rakghouls, startled and unnerved by the noise and cloud of dust, began howling and moving hither and thither.

One of them came at Illyria, and she swatted it aside with the Force into the mud. However Illyria would need to exert control again to disperse this horde peacefully.

 

[Qual'Zyanya]

[member="Illyria"]


It took time, effort and a good deal of focus, but finally the door gave way and submitted to their will, as all things should. Much could be accomplished by those who could hear the call of the spirits. Those without power were nothing but common and fodder.


Finally, the door was torn off its hinges and crashed to the ground with a cataclysmic thundering that echoed loudly. Zyanya winced just abit and dropped down to one knee, panting heavily. Her injuries were less severe than Illyria's, but the strain had been significant.


She wiped some sweat from her brow, greedily sucking in air to fill her lungs with oxygen. However, the Rakghouls had become restless. Blood-curdling cries and howls escaped them, their orderly formation broke up. Once again, this showed the risk of trying to control unruly, chaotic creatures. Drawing upon her power, Zyanya liquified the ground to make one of the mutants slip, then swatted it aside, but order would have to be restored soon.

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Illyria"]


Boom. There was a loud noise, like the sound of thunder, when the door gave way and collapsed. The Rakghouls grew restless, howled and Sumiko felt her control over the beasts slipping.


The ring pulsed with power, trying to will her to give in more. With a mental effort, she once again sunk into the Rakghouls' minds and enthralled them in her web. For how long could she maintain her compulsion over them? She could not say for certain. It more effort to direct them since their ranks had swelled along the way. As intoxicating as the device's power was, she had not lost her reason.


Moreover, she recognised that they would not be much use in the cramped corridors. If they encountered serious opposition, the horde was more likely to be bottlenecked and get out of control. "You have served well, my pets. Go now. Return to the slums and feast upon anyone who crosses you." She clearly did not care about whom they ate as long as she and her apprentices were not harmed.

 

[Kaida Taldir]

[member="Illyria"]


Marcus Kelborn no longer remembered his name. All his memories of his life as a Mandalorian had been stripped from him. Nor did he remember his brothers-in-arms. He had torn through their throats with his claws and teeth, gourging himself on their flesh.


Some of the strange, armoured humans had risen again, as his brethren. His body was hunched, his skin a sickly grey, and his hands ended in claws. He bore the features of a beast, but he could no longer imagine being anything else. The only thing he knew was the hunt: Hunt, kill and feast, hunt, kill and feast. Sheer instinct guided him, along with submission to the strongest apex predator.


The mean knife-eared one swatted him aside when he came at her, eager for her flesh. He howled in pain when he suddenly crashed into the mud. He yearned to sink his teeth into her flesh, but the voice in his head compelled him to halt. He could not resist the voice. The Dark Woman promised him sustenance and told him to go out into the ruins and feast. He hissed, baring his sharp teeth, and took off.

 

[Illyria]

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]
And so the Rakghouls went forth to ravage and destroy, leaving the dark trio to investigate the facility alone.

It was Illyria who began the expedition inside. She stepped onto the doors and then down into the facility. It was dark and a foul odour came out, but she peered into the darkness with a light.

“Perhaps Qual should lead?” she suggested. It made sense since the Xioquo had better eyesight. It also meant she was at the forefront if there were hidden dangers. What a coincidence!

 

[Qual'Zyanya]

[member="Illyria"]


Undoubtedly at some point a righteous hero would answer the pleas of the innocents and save them from the ravenous Rakghouls. Or Archangel would appear on the spot to save the damned by processing them into death machines. For the time being, the three ladies could investigate the ostensibly abandoned Imperial base.


Inside, it smelled dark and foul. Moreover, it was quite dark. "Is the 'superior' Eldorai scared of the darkness?" Zyanya asked frostily. Xioquo eyesight was far superior to the Eldorai one, though the drows' adjustment to the dark was also the reason why sunlight hurt them so much.


"Qual'Zyanya, take point," Sumiko ordered. She had noticed that the Xioquo responded better if you used her full name. It seemed to be a thing for her. "Illyria, make sure we're not ambushed." Who knew, maybe someone would sneak up behind them.


"Very well, Mistress," Zyanya said more than a little reluctantly, but obediently. Sword in hand, she stepped into the facility, which by now was fairly run-down. There were cracks in the ceiling, the skeletal, whitened remains of stormtroopers were strewn across the floor and there were dried bloodstains everywhere.


A faded Imperial propaganda poster, depicting Emperor Palpatine and exhorting Imperials to show constant vigilance hung on the wall. Cautiously, the Xioquo stepped over corpses, before one in particular caught her attention. It was that of a blue Twi'lek dressed in Jedi robes.


"Yedai," she hissed contemptuously. "This one is a recent kill. She was eviscerated." Her entrails were strewn across the floor and her chest was a mess. Moreover, half her lekku had been ripped off. On the bright side, this meant Zyanya could liberate her lightsabre since she wouldn't need it anymore.