Slime. Muck. Swamp. [CIS Dominion of Dagobah]

[Darth Metus]

THE DARK CAVE - DAGOBAH SWAMP ​

Though the young Master derived no pleasure from it, he found himself once again claiming lives at the edge of his lightsaber. One by one, the enemies fell to the might of his blade; but just as the unit of Templars had begun to take the upper hand, more enemies arrived from the literal woodwork to take their place. However, before the Templar could begin to assault the enemy once more, a mental warning sounded off in Josiah's head, compliments of Daxton Bane. It warned of the nature of the cavern they fought within...regretfully, Josiah lacked the traits that the former Sith Lord had mentioned being necessary to repel the illusions of the Cave, but at this point in time he had to focus.

Calm. Focus. Precision.

With his offhand outstretched, the young Master targeted the oncoming enemies which fell upon he and his comrades, and from his fingertips leapt a torrent of emerald lightning. The Electric Judgment surged into the skull of an unfortunate attacker, frying his cranium to the point of death, and moved onto the next target with a simple movement of his hand. Josiah focused immensely, claiming a total of three lives with his tactic before he ended the torrent. Regretfully, he was still new to the usage of this ability; but he was getting better to say the least. However, he could not dwell on these facts, he had to fight on...and they had to find the artifacts!

"Looks like they're coming in from the rear...Maybe that which we seek is deeper within the cave?"

| @[member="Circe Savan"] | @[member="Daxton Bane"] | @[member="Suhr"] | @[member="Juthan'Athar"] |

 

[Daxton Bane]

Dark Side Cave
@Pandeima, @[member="Josiah Denko"], @[member="Juthan'Athar"], @[member="Suhr"], @[member="Seth Lockheart"].


The rush of combat, the feel of blades cutting through armor, flesh and bone, the screams of the injured, the death rattle of the dying, it all echoed in symphony to Daxton's ears. This is where he excelled the most, blood for blood, let the bodies fall where they may.

He was on the urge of blood frenzy when he remembered where he was and why he was here. Time enough to kill the stragglers later on, he needed to find those fragments and secure them first.

With a visible reluctance, he sheathed his blades and reached out with the Force to sense the items he sought.

 

[Aithne Charr]

"Looks like they're coming in from the rear...Maybe that which we seek is deeper within the cave?" Juthan looked at Josiah as he said this, raising a brow behind his mask. "Not to be a bother, but if their coming from the entrance and possibly trying to push us further into the cave, dont you think there could be a trap?" He fired off a shot in the approaching slavers' position the followed it up by two in quick succession.

@[member='Daxton Bane'], @[member='Josiah Denko'],

 

[Darth Metus]

RESOLUTE-CLASS STAR DESTROYER​

HANGER BAY​

A chuckle characterized by a metallic edge as it passed through the Mandalorian's visor echoed about the Infirmary. Dar'jetii found it beyond humorous that the Archon borderline complained about the damp...when the Mandalorian would have to deal with the damp, the moist, the humidity, and the cloying heat inside his armor. Fun times to be had for all! Smiling, he lead the way down from the Infirmary and to the hanger bay, where a dropship awaited their entrance. Along the way, he took a moment to regard his old friend, and favorite smuggler, with a pat on the back and a motion for him to follow along to the hanger. Dar'jetii was the first to file in, seat himself in the dropship, and get strapped in.

"Now for the 'fun' part." he said, looking to his dear friend. He knew she loathed flying and hoped that the journey down would be swift.

@[member="Feena Mason"], @[member="Praxis"].

 

[Feena]

Feena took a quick moment to change into something less... white. In the infirmary, white was a must. It read as clean, sterile. But a swamp was decidedly none of those things.
She approached the ship wearing a dark grey tunic, black leggings and long black leather boots. She had her hair pulled back away from her face, tied up in a tight black braid. She was not going to get muck in her hair if she could help it.

"Alright... do we have everything? I have my medkit, satchel and... err... 'travel bucket'. I think that is the essentials for me."
She could never travel without something to get sick into.

 

[Malok]

THE BATTLE OF MOUNT YODA​

DAGOBAH​

Once the initial offensive by the Confederacy's aerial forces had been launched, the Slaver's Guild opted to launch an aggressive return in earnest. From the bowels of the mountain came a tremor, then a great shifting of stone as its rearmost foundations, away from the advancing forces, gave way to a well-concealed hanger of sorts. Within this tight space was just enough room to store dozens of starfighters without fear of them colliding with one another upon launch. In the blink of an eye, this swarm of enemy vessels roared into the heavens and began to engage the Confederate forces. Caution and Skill would be the necessary components for survival...and victory.

Below, the Grand Marshal's portion of the operation began with Nocturno's initiation of artillery strikes against the enemy forces. However, before the clone ordered his own troops forward, he received a transmission from a member of the Curtain Call mercenaries, requesting an adjustment to the trajectory of the aforementioned artillery for a dramatic entrance. The antics of the mercenaries never ceased to amazed Genesis, and with a slight grin characterizing his features, he issued the order that would allow the Curtain Call mercenaries to do that which they did best. Kick arse and take names with style.

"You're all clear Curtain Call, let's see those fireworks."

With that said, he turned his attention to the Master who had voiced a rather sound idea. An assault up the middle would greatly assist the existing plan, and as such the clone would gladly allow this to take place. "Very well, take two companies and head up the middle. I'll meet you at the top, May the Force be with you." Finally, it was time for the Grand Marshal to personally enter the fray. With his issues ordered and his troops at the ready, he and the Black Watch began to ascend the right flank of Mount Yoda; firing their blasters relentlessly at the opponents holding the high ground.

@[member="Aedan Miles"], @[member="Myra Subach"], @[member="Sophia Walsh"], @Nocturno, @[member="Darren Shaw"], @[member="Olidiv Kenu"], @[member="Vascious Relens"], @[member="Desmond Voralis."]

 

[Darth Metus]

THE DARK SIDE CAVE - DAGOBAH​

The warrior whom Josiah did not particularly know well had a point, the direction they were being pushed could very well be a trap. Now the question was the nature of the trap. The Slavers had to have estimated that the Templar Order would be the ones dispatched to deal with the potential threat, and as such the trap could very well be...Force-related. There was a high degree of risk in this line of thinking, but the young Master was slowly becoming convinced that the fragments they sought were also the instrument of the trap.

"The trap could revolve around that which we seek; they could be using it as a weapon...Only one way to find out!" replied the Templar. At that moment, a stray bolt of blaster fire rocketed forth from the concealed hold-out pistol gripped by a dying cultist, and it was aimed square at the back of Circe Savan. Thinking quickly, the Templar reached out with his hand and relied upon the novice principles that he had applied weeks prior when casting his hand into the depths of flame.

The blaster bolt halted at his touch, it's energy then was deflected from his flesh and subsequently absorbed into his system...then was immediately utilized to empower another volley of Electric Judgment. One thing was certain about this engagement, the young Master of the Templar Order was coming into his power quite beautifully.


@[member="Circe Savan"], @[member="Juthan'Athar"], @[member="Daxton Bane"].

 

[Garza]

I nodded at the clone at the idea that I had. If I were to take up the middle straight to the lines of forces, I would be taking some heat off of the other groups as well as making it easier for the Clone and the Droid to lead their armies inside. I would act as a slight diversion as well as get some action of mine own. Smiling I walked up to the groups of soldiers that were going to make their assault on the mountain. I pointed out two captains and motioned them over to me. We stood there for a second when I spoke to them. "I need you and your men to come with me. Take every assault weapon you can, for we are heading straight up the middle." One of them looked at me like I was crazy but I waved a hand at him to not speak. "Trust me, If you don't then I'll stand in the front for ya." He just shook his head and gathered his troops.

I smiled as we lined up at the mountain Leading up to the front gates. Pulling my scope down I counted a good four companies up there. They knew that we were coming as we had fired shells on them. Now would begin the real fight. Pulling out two sabers I held them in my hands. My complete suit of armor was on. Runes glowing in the slight dim of the day. Without a word I walked forwards. Troops followed me up while the opposition stared down at me. We were out maned by numbers, but in strength, A Jedi -no A Templar Master- was worth two companies. I could hear the crunch of the ground beneath the troops feet and the clank of armor and weapons. Then all at once bolts of red and blue plasma rained down on us. before the rain reached us my sabers were activated casting an eerie white glow.

The bolts never hit me as each one was deflected or smacked away. Each one burring their selves in the ground or a soldier that was back up the mountain. Each one of my troops yelled to fire back as some of their comrades fell. Lifting both of my hands I grabbed two large boulders that were stuck in the ground and launched them at the opposition. Screams could be heard as they were crushed or dived out of the way. I smiled faintly as we neared them. Only to see a good 20 men pulling out grenades, rocket launchers, and high powered rifles.
@[member="Genesis Rostu"]

 

[Suhr]

@[member="Josiah Denko"]

THE DARK SIDE CAVE
DAGOBAH SWAMP​

​

Suhr had landed on world with the other Templars. It seemed to her that she was fast becoming one of them, regardless of her own choices. Perhaps it is fate. Or perhaps not. She had followed Josiah loyally ever since their escapade on Nar Shaddaa - Indeed, he had even taken the liberty of training her slightly en route. Yet now they were here, on Dagobah.

​

Swampy.​

​

The thought came unbidden. Perhaps it was just her subconscious stating the blatantly obvious about the planet. More than likely. She watched as Josiah moved into the cave with the others, and listened to the muffled sounds of lightsaber combat cutting their way out of the fog. Yet there was something else. It wasn't the fog... Nor the smell of the swamps... Was it? Perhaps it was death lingering inside the cave. Or more likely, it was the Force... She had heard of places like this, yet she had never set foot in one. Not until now, anyway. As Josiah and the others pressed on, Suhr found herself slowly entering the cave's entrance. Her right hand snaked across the dirt covered wall, and she left trails where her fingers had created their own markings... But what was it she could sense? It was in there, the cave. She could see it... No... Feel it. Taste it. Like it was slowly wrapping itself around her in an attempt to get a measure of the being that had stepped into the cave. Did the others feel this too? Or were they too pre-occupied with hunting whatever it is they had come here for... More sounds cut through - Lightsabers once more, apparently making flesh peel back like butter from a hot knife. The sounds sounded... Appealing? That wasn't right... Why would the sound of inevitable death sound appealing? Perhaps it was the cave...
Suhr had to know, and thus slowly crept forwards. She stretched out with her feelings in an effort to home in on the source of this... This... Thing that had taken an interest in her being. As she advanced, the fog seemed to cling to her form. While it did not obscure her view entirely, it certainly made things difficult for Suhr. It also made things silent...

​

Silence.​

​

A strange thing. Especially when it shouldn't be there. Yet there it was. Silence. Nothing but the sound of her own heartbeat. Perhaps she had taken a wrong turn? It was possible... Yet now the visibility dropped further. Suhr found her hand drifting down to the mottled grip of her lightsaber hilt, and her fingers wrapped around it like a well made glove. There was something there. Just past the fog. Perhaps what she had been looking for... Or perhaps what has been looking for me... The thought was a chilling one. And then she heard it. A solitary footstep that did not belong to her.

​

Suhr's grip tightened.​

 

[Aithne Charr]

Juthan backed towards further into the cave as Josiah answered him, turning and scanning over the walls and floor for any kind of hint towards a trap. He also made sure Ally, the Qom Jha that traveled with him, was at his side acting as a second pair of eyes. He'd glance back behind him every so often, waiting for the Slaver's too catch up or for the cave to well cave in. He noticed the change though, stopping and turning towards the direction of the now far off entrance, his blaster raised as he headed back that way. Though he tried to peer through the now oddly increasing fog he could see little. Forced to rely on his ears he heard light footprints and raised the blaster, firing into the fog, and subsequently at @[member="Suhr"], now. Of course he would not realize he was firing at her per-say, nor would the shots be aimed directly at her. More so off to the side so as to scare of a Slaver had she been one.
@[member='Josiah Denko'], @[member='Daxton Bane'],

 

[Daxton Bane]

Dark Side Cave
@Pandeima, @[member="Josiah Denko"], @[member="Juthan'Athar"], @[member="Suhr"], @[member="Seth Lockheart"].

Reaching out along the currents of the Force, Daxton's consciousness floated through a riot of hues. Black, white, orange, red and purple flares as bright as supernovas in the deep abyss of space, these were the manifestations of energy as seen through the Force. Then he sensed the aura he was seeking as his eye flashed open and he pointed deeper into the cave.

At that exact moment, a trio of blaster bolts hit the Sith Master. One in the leg, and a couple in the torso. With a solid ohmmp, Daxton crumpled to the ground. Although his armor deflected most of the energy away, the physical impact aggrevated his recent injury. Shooting pains lanced through his ribcage as he struggled to get back to his feet.

 

[Suhr]

@[member="Juthan'Athar"]

It had not been long since Suhr had found her silence. Perhaps it was what she needed after all... Yet she was not drawn in by it. Not fully. She had embraced her silence, but not followed it. A silence that had only been changed by the incoming footstep. It was strange. For Suhr to be so alone, on this planet she had never visited... Many would feel fear. Yet Suhr had known fear. True fear. The sort of fear that grips the soul and departs with a small part of your being. The sort of fear that diminishes all others. And unlike then, it was not fear that gripped Suhr, only restlessness. A heightened sense of things. The fog from the swamps coolly clinging to her soft skin. The steady rhythm of her lungs working to keep her alive. In. Out. In. Out. The sound of a blaster's trigger being squeezed.

Feth.​

A blaster. Her hand dragged the mottled lightsaber from her beltline, and her thumb moved into the groove of the ignition switch without need for thought. Her restlessness proved her saving grace, for not a moment too soon - nor one too late had a blaster bolt punched through the fog. Her dragging movement continued into an outer crescent and the blade of her lightsaber intercepted the bolt, deflecting it harmlessly into the wall at her right hand side.

Her training kicked in.​

Suhr brought the blade around into the classic ready stance of the Jedi Order, and then began to advance towards the point of origin for the blaster bolt. The blood red blade seemed to melt away the fog while she advanced, and with the fog her restlessness turned into focus. She became aware of the humming of her lightsaber, the beating of her heart... And the lack of her silence. It had been broken, and replaced by anger. Whomever had shattered her peace would pay, and pay dearly at that.

 

[Aithne Charr]

Juthan drew his own blade now, the black-centered blue blade expanding from its housing. Though, only one end of the double bladed saber activated, allowing for him to use it exactly like a single bladed saber. He moved slowly towards the direction of Suhr, though the fact that it was her still was unknown to him, his own features hidden behind his armor, hood, and mask. He called out once, but was ready for what ever was coming to strike out with a blade or blaster at the sound of his voice. "Turn back now, and i wont have to kill you. Now of course you wont be able to leave this planet with your life, but im sure another hour or two will help you regret what you have done."
@[member="Suhr"] @[member="Josiah Denko"] @@[member='Daxton Bane'],

 

[Suhr]

@[member="Juthan'Athar"]
Show no remorse.
The thought came easily. Too easily. It slipped into Suhr's mind, and filled her with purpose. She moved quickly - her body seemed to be at one with her minds intentions. A lightsaber was a threat, and the principles of Shii-Cho demanded that it be removed from her opponent in order to disperse the threat. The target was clear now. A masked, and armored figure. Perhaps one of the beings Josiah was fighting against? It was more than likely. The idea galvanized Suhr's intention. Her body slipped forwards towards the being holding the lightsaber. She would cut him down, and present the saber to Josiah, as proof that she wasn't as useless as he might have thought.

Anger.​

A good idea. A strong idea. Suhr was in striking distance - And strike she did. Suhr's blade arced straight for her opponent's lightsaber blade in a textbook attempt at the Disarming Slash technique of Shii-Cho. She intended to end this, and end it quickly. To Suhr, it was almost like the cave they were in was willing her to do this, to cut her opponent down. It was a dark feeling, yet... One that came all too easily to her.

​

 

[Aithne Charr]

Juthan moved accordingly, very much ready for the strike and due to the current situation ready for her to try and disarm him. He turned the saber in his hand to block her strike and subsequently the disarming attempt, then as his eyes drifted to her face and his tone changed suddenly. "You... your a... well good thing i dodged a bullet there. Having someone like you fighting with me would have ending only in betrayal apparently." He pushed off of her saber and jumped back, holding the saber at a ready stance with the blade positioned so that it pointed away from him and behind him. "One last chance, surrender now and i wont outright kill you." Kill... the word sounded more easily said, the action more easily done in this place. He wasn't a murderer, but the cave pushed him to assume she was his enemy, even if they were on the same side and didnt realize it. @[member='Suhr'], @[member='Josiah Denko'],

 

[Suhr]

@[member="Juthan'Athar"]
And there it was. A threat of death. Master Kytra had told her about this. That a lightsaber duel would have no other resolution unless the foe was disarmed. How right he was. Suhr's blade span in her hand - a simple flourish, one that she had used many times. It helped her to remember the weight of her blade, how it was weighted towards the pommel, making it easier for her to suddenly shift the angle of her attack if she needed to.
"And what exactly is someone like me meant to mean, hrm?" Suhr's voice was harsh. She did not intend to remain on pleasant terms with this masked being, but she found herself curious. Yet, conversation was conversation. Action. Action is what was needed. And so Suhr's body shifted from the classic Ready stance, to a more aggressive posture. Her weight shifted over to her front foot, and her hilt lifted up into a parallel with her solar plexus. The blood red blade of her saber hummed with lethal intent, with the point of the blade aimed directly at Juthan's head. Finally she came to rest with her torso tilted slightly to the side, in order to present Juthan a smaller target. And then, without warning, she once again lunged in. This time her blade flashed towards Juthan's left shoulder - yet this was not her target. Her blade dipped down late into her lunge, and instead of the initial feint to Juthan's shoulder, she attempted to pierce the gap in his armor at the hip. With a little luck the unorthodox stance combined with a feinted Shiak and the suddenness of her strike would confuse Juthan enough to land her strike...

 

[Aithne Charr]

Juthan lifted his blade to block the first strike, to which he pushed off and stepped back. Her second strike, the feint shot inwards at him and as he moved to block it he saw her dip the blade down. Knowing a full turn of his blade to block the change in direction would be impossible, but luckly this was not a single bladed weapon. He switched on the other side and the blade shot out, in just enough time for him to shift the saber in hsi hands to block it. He hadn't realized he been holding hsi breath, nor that he actually didn't block her blade fast enough to leave him unscathed as there was a gash in his armor. Luckly though he wasn't harmed other than a burn that had resulted from the gash in the armor. "It means, that your a black hearted, murderous slaver that has not feelings for anything but money and greed, and that is something i will not let exist in this galaxy." He reached out with one hand and sent a, relatively, strong wave of force energy at her, letting his anger and rage fuel the strength. Once he returned his hand he spun the blade so that it would come down with one blade at her right shoulder. But before it would connect with her, or her blade should she block, he would shut off the blade aimed at her and spin the saber handle so that the other end was sent at her left leg. @[member="Suhr"] @[member="Josiah Denko"] @@[member='Daxton Bane'],

 

[Suhr]

@[member="Juthan'Athar"]
A saberstaff?! This was not good. Before Suhr could react the wave of the Force threw her backwards - She watched as his lightsabers primary blade spiraled down to her right shoulder, however she was moving too quickly from the offensive use of the force. Suhr landed hard on her back from it and watched in shock as the blade shut off, only to see the secondary blade flash round towards her body. Yet two could play at the Force game, and in the moment that Juthan's lightsaber should have collided with her leg, it was instead deflected by way of the Force - In a last ditch attempt to save her leg's existence Suhr had utilized a Force Push directed at his Lightsaber staff, thus shunting it back enough to narrowly miss her leg and score a wound along the floor. The stone glowed from the heat of his blade, but she payed it no heed. Get up, Suhr. Get. Up.
Suhr got up, her body sweeping around to the right in order to avoid a potential counter attack from her opponent. He had called her a Slaver. She was not going to take that laying down... Suhr's blade flew in towards him once she had found her footing again, her blade arcing over her head in a two handed strike. With all her might she swung in through a diagonal across Juthan's chest, with the sole intention of forcing him onto the defensive...

 

[Aithne Charr]

Juthan, now back to fighting with one blade ignited on the staff did just as she hoped and took the defensive. "Just give up, you can hear the fighting, your fellow slavers have no chance. Surrender and you wont be tortured you moron." He brought up his blade and blocked the slash, holding his blade against hers as he stood there and stared at her from behind his mask, his crimson eyes visible in the cascading light of their two sabers. She was infuriating him, why would she not just surrender. Sooner or later his allies or someone would come across the two fighting and aid him. That or he would have to beat her on his own and possibly have to kill her. Kill her, the words echoing seemingly in the air, pushing him to do so. And why shouldn't he, she was a slaver in his eyes, she deserved to be wiped from this planet. Yet something seemed wrong, something had set her off after his last comment, what was it though. @[member="Suhr"], @[member="Josiah Denko"]

 

[Suhr]

@[member="Juthan'Athar"]

Killhim.​

There it was again. The claims that she was a slaver. It further enraged her, yet, this gave her more focus. Suhr's mind sharpened. In the saber lock, Suhr knew that her opponent would easily out strength her - She was not physically well built. Instead, her agility would be her savior here. Suhr threw her body off to the side, intending to slip out of the saber lock by tilting the lightsaber from the pommel so that her lightsaber blade would shift over her shoulder. Due to her movement around the Chiss warrior, should he have stumbled from the sudden break of the saber lock she would have been somewhat safe from any potentially flailing lightsabers - Something that Suhr decided to take advantage of.

Do it.​

As the Twi'lek shifted around her opponent, she placed her feet in such a way that she was positioned at his back, completely out of his view. However she did not stay still, and following through with the momentum of her movement, struck down at his back with the intention that her blade would do some damage to any potentially weak sections of the armor upon his back. Yet she knew that even if she did score a blow, she would have to step out of his range in order to face him without exposing any gaps in her guard - So that is what Suhr did. While the blade flashed out towards Juthan's back, Suhr stepped past him, so that once her attack had finished, she would be able to turn and face him and survey just what she had achieved...