Faction Snowball Jedha [GA]

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Field Attire | Earring | Bangle
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike | Slugthrower Rifle

"It's difficult, stressful. But important to accept both, right?"

"You are absolutely correct. We can't control what we feel, but we can control how we choose to engage with our emotions." Aadihr recalled. Not the words of his master, but of his mother.

He stretched his knees, stood, and raised his arms to stretch his back. He would be sore tomorrow, but for right now there were replenishing witchspawn to cull. "As soon as we get that door openable again, we should draw the horde away and whittle them back down." As before, Aadihr gave his rifle to the mother of the first family, owner of the home the survivors sheltered in. "I can scavenge for supplies on the way back. Food, blankets, that sort."

Aadihr sought the advice of his Padawan, Aris to be more "Do you suppose one of us should remain with the survivors, or ought we both head back into the cold?"
Aris's limitations were unknown to Aadihr, and the Knight had come to accept that among the things Aris was knowledgeable of, the Padawan's expertise frequently outmatched Aadihr's.

Aris Noble​

 

[Aris Noble]

"If we pull the attention of the hoard, we should stay together. I believe they're attracted to heat. If I really heat myself up, they'll be pulled in my direction." He'd started to notice it as he continued working on the glass. The more he did, the longer he did it, the more movement he could hear shuffling their way curiously towards them. "I can be the bait easily enough. I don't think they can actually hurt me."

Aadihr Lidos

 

[Everest Vale]

Location: Holy City, Jedha
Outfit: Padawan Robes, Winter Tunic
Equipment: Valery Noble's Lightsaber (1)

Master Noble was amazing. There really was no other way to say it. As she channeled the powers of the Force about her and against the wretched beasts, Eve was in awe at such might and resolve. The breeze felt strangely rejuvenating as it passed through her, and she took a deep breath as her thumping heart started to slow again. Suddenly, she could start feel the heat of her body as awareness returned to the rest of her, no longer riding the high of intense focus.

As the remaining beasts scattered into the twilight, disappearing behind the curtains of mist and snow, Eve looked to the harpooner, whose own skills with the Force had blown her away. She was speechless, feeling suddenly a little inadequate next to the control of ice and water, and an atomic-level blast of outward power. But she sought to push the feelings aside as she endeavoured to remember the moments prior.

Truly, she had fought Sithspawn. Sithspawn. Little Everest Vale, fighter of Sithspawn. Mother wouldn't believe this, she thought as she stepped closer to the obviously exhausted girl. Finally, words came from her.
"Are you okay?" Her voice was hoarse and dry, and it came out sounding like she'd smoked a pack a day for the last week. An irritable cough forced its way out of her almost immediately. She gestured to herself. "Eve," she told her, thinking herself incapable of speaking much more.

She looked to Master Noble, communicating silently to her that she was both thankful, and was okay. An eerie silence hung on the air, uncomfortably long. Eve didn't like it. Her eyes flitted about to watch for any more shadows in the icy fog, but there were seemingly none. Never before had her heartbeat and breath seemed so loud before. She tightened her grip on the lightsaber regardless.

Valery Noble Reina Daival​

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Jedha
Objective: 2
Tags: Valery Noble Everest Vale

Adrenaline was a blessing from the Sea itself. It was the only reason Reina was able to fight through her exhaustion and pain. It helped that she was enjoying herself. This was nothing like she had been doing recently. The sensation of some kind of gentle breeze passing by her and wiping through the monsters reminded her of the breeze she felt when she was working with the Spirit...If she didn't have any evidence that the Force was the same thing as the Spirit, well that was her confirmation at the very least. It brought a bit more energy to her body, a growing grin spreading across her face as she kept her eyes on the few stragglers of creatures still around. Reina trusted Valery Noble and Everest Vale to have her flanks covered in case one of the creatures tried to make a last ditch attempt...Though she did blink at the question from Everest, not taking a moment to look at the girl. She wasn't going to make any more blindspots by looking away.

"Fine. Don't let your guard down. No point surviving the storm only to die from an accident."

It was a very...blunt way for Reina to tell Everest to keep her eyes open. The battle wasn't over yet. There were still monsters around and Reina didn't have enough energy to both talk and keep an eye on her surroundings. So she went with the more important option. Protection and awareness. Of course...that didn't mean she was completely without her manners. Sticking her hand that she could feel was growing numb and blue into one of the jackets she was wearing before pulling out a flask of water, chucking it the rough direction of the coughing Reina.

"...Reina. Drink that before it freezes."

 

[Rayia Si]

Azurine Varek Corazona von Ascania Jonyna Si Thea Nyko
Objective One: Slay the Witch

---

Rayia retreated a half step, allowing the body impaled on her saber to slough to the snow covered ground. Steam hissed forth from the still glowing edges of the wound where Rayia’s lightsaber had bisected the corpse, filling Rayia’s nose with the scent of burnt, rotten meat. The two corpses scrabbling towards her on broken limbs paid their fallen comrade no mind.

Quick as a cat, Rayia leaped onto the first corpse’s back. Her blade was already swinging as her weight caused its elbows to bow out the wrong way, flattening it into the packed snow and ice that lay beneath. A swipe behind to remove its arms as Rayia’s tail bristled, sensing the ichor drenched talons reaching for her shin. A swipe in front neatly severed its neck. Light Fang hissed as blood and snow mixed together, permeating the air with that same bubble of heat that pricked Rayia’s brow with sweat. She had just finished similarly filleting the second corpse when Azzie pressed her hands to the ground and beckoned gouts of flame to erupt from beneath them.

A gout sprung up not three feet from where Rayia was standing and Rayia felt the searing talons of a memory suppressed rake her mind. Transfixed, Rayia’s feline eyes, illuminated by the orange light of the flames, burned wildly like burnished gold as those slit-like pupils sharpened into slivers. ‘No, you don’t have time to be frightened. Fire is your friend, remember?’ Rayia shook herself, thinking back to Jonyna’s teachings.

When her mother had decided to pass on the skill of pyrokinesis to another successor, Rayia had been similarly nervous. But she had asked, and been answered. Now was no different. “We cannot leave yet. What if these things follow us?” Rayia said before using the Force to push the bodies into a pile. Having managed that, it was a simple matter to light the grotesque pyre by maneuvering it over one of the fire spitting fissures.

Rayia would continue to dispose of the corpses they came across as they clambered up to the fortification that served as the witches’ abode. That is, any corpse that stank sufficiently of the Dark as to indicate an undead. It would be truly ill fated timing for the group of Jedi to be caught between the witch and these corpses. ‘There is no guarantee after all that this loss of control is temporary,’ Rayia thought. She tried to lay these bodies to rest as respectfully as she could. Ultimately however, it was a culling of their opponent’s leverage and no prayer offered could obscure that simple fact. Her ears perked as she heard Cora say that the witch was watching them. “Well, in that case, shall we kindly ask her to surrender?”

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's gaze softened slightly as she observed Everest and Reina's reactions to the brief calm following the chaos. Everest's silent gratitude and determination spoke volumes, while Reina's grit and practicality reminded Valery of her own younger days. But even in this fleeting moment of respite, her senses remained heightened, scanning for danger and reaching out through the Force to ensure the battlefield was truly secure.

Her instincts, however, told her otherwise.

The eerie silence that followed the fight was unsettling, and as she extended her awareness further, Valery's breath hitched. A familiar presence flickered within the Force, close but faint. Her fiery eyes widened as recognition dawned — it was her son, and he was nearby.

She straightened, her expression growing sharper as she turned to the others. "Good work, both of you," she said, her voice steady but carrying an undertone of urgency. "But we're not done yet. There are still others out here, and we need to regroup with them. It's safer if we stick together from this point on."

Her gaze flicked between the two young warriors, and she offered them a reassuring nod. "Reina, keep your senses sharp. Everest, stay close and alert. Something tells me we're about to face another wave." Her hand tightened briefly on the hilt of her lightsaber, its comforting weight anchoring her resolve.

Then, her fiery eyes turned toward the direction where she felt her son's presence. The connection was faint, but it was unmistakable, and it fueled her determination. Valery's heart swelled with both worry and pride, knowing that he was out here, likely facing dangers of his own.

"Let's move," she said firmly, taking the lead. "And keep an eye out for others — there's someone close by I need to find." She didn't explain further, but the strength in her voice left no room for doubt. She would protect those around her, and she would find her son.

Everest Vale Reina Daival
Nearby: Aris Noble Aadihr Lidos ​

 

[Thea Nyko]

Thea's boots crunched softly against the frost-coated floor as she entered. Her gaze lingered on the frozen figures, encased in ice like grotesque works of art. Her sharp features twisted in a rare moment of discomfort. She exhaled, her breath misting in the cold.

"Well, that's not unsettling at all," she quipped, her voice light but carrying an edge of tension. "Witches love their theatrics. Nothing like being on display for a lunatic with a grudge."

Her eyes followed Cora's line of sight to the ceiling, narrowing as she tightened her grip on the hilt of her lightsaber. "Let her watch. She's going to get an up-close and personal look soon enough."

Azurine Varek Corazona von Ascania Rayia Si

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Field Attire | Earring | Bangle
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike | Slugthrower Rifle

"I can be the bait easily enough. I don't think they can actually hurt me."

"That'll work, but let's avoid testing that hypothesis."

A bright pinpoint of light in the force drew Aadihr's attention as they set out - a quick moment was all it took for Aadihr to cast his gaze away from himself, over the streets of the holy city to the beacon - bright and unforgettable - the force signature of Grandmaster Noble guided two younger women. One was vaguely familiar, but he lacked time to analyze.

"Your mother isn't terribly far - to the east. You lure the crowd and I'll clear the path ahead. We'll find an advantageous spot to wipe them out." Aadihr lit his pike and stepped through the thawed door. "keep yourself safe - nobody is indestructible." Aadihr noticed he had held his breath saying that. Sithspit, he wasn't lying! The boy wasn't indestructible, Aadihr just didn't know what could harm him - and didn't want to risk finding about any time soon!

With that, Aadihr entrusted the lure to Aris as he began to slice with his pike, blue streaks of light maiming and disabling more of the ice-abominations while using a long grip to keep himself out of their reach.

The light in the distance grew closer, it seemed they too were noticed by the grandmaster. Aadihr was eager to show off the work of her son, the sanctuary of warmth being barricaded behind them. Perhaps those she traveled with could use a spot to rest as well.

Aadihr smashed the skull of a spawn with the butt of his staff as he checked on Aris behind him.

It was only half a city worth of monsters between them and the grandmaster, what could go wrong?

Aris Noble | Valery Noble | Reina Daival | Everest Vale​

 

[Everest Vale]

Location: Holy City, Jedha
Outfit: Padawan Robes, Winter Tunic
Equipment: Valery Noble's Lightsaber (1)

Eve caught the flask with two cold, shaky hands and took several generous gulps. The icy water was intensely refreshing against her coarse throat, so much so she had to force herself to stop from emptying the whole thing. She sheepishly wiped her mouth and tossed the flask back to Reina with a careful underhand throw.

She looked ahead along the silhouetted skyline draped in a heavy, unnatural mist. Against the eerie blue twilight, the two splashes of purple light against the two Jedi's faces stood out fiercely, as ash-like flakes of snow fizzled against the lightsabers' blades. Master Noble's voice rung out with an authority and determination that could not ignored, and Eve immediately fell in line to obey her. Her focus honed in immediately as her feet lead her forward close to the Master.

An unholy screech reverberated through the fog, like the ripping of steel against slate. It made Eve wince as the flashing memory of combat mere moments earlier came back to her in waves of horrific imagery. Blood and tar and teeth. She shook her head violently to bring herself back, pushing the thoughts to the recesses of her mind, and as she looked ahead there came the familiar, unwelcome shapes of melted black come into focus before them.

Keep it together, Eve. You've got this. Keep it together.

Her own breath scraped loud against the inside of her ears as she once again raised the lightsaber and prepared to strike, and in an instant she was leaping once more into the fray, a flurry fierce strikes hurtled towards the frozen darkness.

Valery Noble Reina Daival Aadihr Lidos Aris Noble​

 

[Djikra Elnev]

Objective 3: Fighting the Storm
Sub objective: Bring food
Tags: Kaga Wah-Shmah | Open
Equipment: Lightbow, lightsaber, magickally imbued sickles, hunting knife, and six vials of water of life.

---

Djikra walked through the streets for a few minutes before here magick detector flared at the moment she felt a presence... well multiple. All with the tinge of Night sister magick. Whilring around with her glowing sickles she sliced two witch spawn into pieces.

The feeling of a ritual node thrummed not too far away as Djikra could have sworn she heard a voice on the wind mock her. That can't be, this much spell work must have been decades in the making... maybe even longer.

Farther away within the howl of the storm sounds occasionally ebb and flow of ships, fighting, or other things. She focuses on the task at hand casting another spell to reinforce herself against the unnatural cold. It was as if the enemy witches spell ebbed and flowed... learned from what it interacted with.... or perhaps was being changed by the other witch on the fly.

Finally she neared a lower area mostly closed off from the storm by cliffs.... But they look odd. As the green magick orb lead her down the steps they came into view out of the snow. A burial area carved into the cliffs Criff! That might not be good.

Upon hitting the bottom the meter below her orb shows lines of a spell weaved in cold blue magick... She carefully studies part of it before a sound draws her attention.

A few dead are crawling down the walls from their resting spots glowing faintly of blue with extra frost. This is going to get tedious... as Mother Djikra pulled her two sickles and filling them with green magick once more.

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Jedha
Objective: 2
Valery Noble Everest Vale Aadihr Lidos Aris Noble

She flicked her hand out to catch the flask without looking. A small frown spreading across her face. They were about to be on the move apparently. Damn. She was just starting to like standing here. In all seriousness, it was taking all the energy she had to keep herself moving forward with the pair of Valery and Everest. A few short stumbles every now and then. It was hard for her to walk in a straight line when she wasn't focusing. An unfortunate habit from spending most of her life on a rocking ship.

It's just like working on the boat. Except colder. Keep moving forward. You can rest when there's someone to take over for you...

Reina grumbled in her head. Exhaustion was easy enough to fight off, as long as she kept moving. Lashing out with her harpoon whenever a creature tried to get close to her, or get past her. There was no room for her to hesitate or stop. Jab, move. Spear, move. Fight, move. Those were the main things going through her head. The fact they were trying to find someone wasn't that important in her mind...Of course she was still keeping an eye out on what exactly she was stabbing. If there was help somewhere around them, she didn't want to accidentally shove a harpoon at them. Bad first impressions and all.

Hands are getting numb...That's not good. Not good at all. Have to keep them moving. Keep blood flowing.

With that, every time there was a moment for her to take her hand off the harpoon, she'd work on flexing out her hand. Switching whichever one was holding onto the harpoon so she could keep them warm. Urgh. What she'd do to just have a warm dip in an ocean or something...

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery moved with purpose through the swirling mist, her fiery eyes scanning the eerie horizon while her senses remained locked onto her son's faint but unmistakable presence. Each step brought them closer, but the journey was grueling. The bitter cold gnawed at their resolve, the frost biting deeper into their limbs with every passing moment.

She spared a glance toward Everest and Reina as they fought their way forward. Everest's movements were sharp and deliberate, her determination burning brighter than the flickering light of her blade. Reina, on the other hand, showed signs of exhaustion, but her resilience and grit kept her standing. Valery could see it in her every step — the strain, the fight to keep moving, to keep her harpoon ready to strike. They were both holding on, but the toll was clear.

The next wave of Sithspawn came quickly, their unnatural screeches piercing the frozen air. Valery's violet blade ignited once more with a snap-hiss, illuminating the mist around her as she moved to intercept. Each strike was precise, the hum of her lightsaber accompanied by the thuds of their twisted bodies hitting the frozen ground. Everest and Reina fought beside her, their combined efforts cutting through the darkness like a beacon of hope.

When the last of the creatures fell, their corrupted forms vanishing into the snow, Valery raised a hand to signal a halt. "Enough," she said firmly, her voice cutting through the icy silence. She glanced back at her companions, noting the fatigue etched into their faces. They needed rest, even if only for a brief moment.

Her fiery gaze softened as she stepped forward and turned to face them. "We'll wait here," she said, her tone steady but with a gentleness meant to reassure them. "Aris and his Master will find us. I trust them."

Valery extended a hand, and with a flick of her wrist, a flame sparked to life in her palm, its warm glow pushing back the cold. The light danced in her eyes as she crouched down, shielding the flame from the wind with her other hand. "Stay close," she urged, her voice quiet but commanding. "We need to stay warm and keep our strength up."

The flame grew slightly, its comforting warmth spreading through the bitter air. Valery glanced at Reina, watching her flex her hands to keep the blood flowing, and then at Everest, whose determination was starting to show cracks under the weight of fatigue.

"We'll move again soon," Valery promised, her gaze flicking toward the distance where her son's presence pulsed faintly through the Force. "But for now, let the fire take some of the cold away." She knew they couldn't linger for long, but a moment of rest could mean the difference between survival and collapse.

Everest Vale Reina Daival
Nearby: Aadihr Lidos Aris Noble ​

 

[Azurine Varek]

The Eye of the Storm

Outfit: Clothing/Armor | Glove | Right Arm | Talisman
Weapons: Lightsaber 1 | Lightsaber 2 | Hook Swords

Azzie couldn’t tell if the scream came from below or the witch herself, but it was palpable nonetheless. So, Kaga feared fire. She hated it. No, not just hated—it was something more primal. You’ve seen that fear before, she thought, the memory prickling at the edges of her mind. It was the same way animals reacted to flame: instinctive, desperate, uncontrollable. For all her coldness and her power, the witch had faltered, her command slipping in the face of heat. That realization lit a spark of hope and confidence in her mind.

Cora’s hand on her shoulder startled her out of her thoughts, and Azzie glanced up sharply, the tension in her jaw easing when she met the Jedi’s calm, determined expression. The warmth of the touch grounded her for a moment, though she quickly shrugged it off, her usual smirk tugging at her lips. "Well, we learned one thing at least—this bag of sithspit has a weakness."

The journey into the fortress was unnervingly quiet. Azzie’s breath misted in the air, her fingers tightening around her sabers as she stepped past frozen forms that seemed to watch them with dead, unblinking eyes. The eerie stillness was worse than the fight. At least with the undead, she’d known where to aim her blades. Here, the witch’s presence was everywhere and nowhere, threading through the walls like a silent, taunting song.

Rayia’s suggestion to 'kindly ask her to surrender' pulled a snort from her. “Yeah, I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to roll over and give up after I just turned part of her little playground into a bonfire.” Despite her sarcasm, her lips twitched upward in playful approval.

Azzie's gaze lingered on a figure trapped in the ice—a Mon Calamari, its face twisted in frozen anguish. Her jaw clenched, a flicker of anger surging through her exhaustion. “We can't let this stand." She said quickly, stepping forward, the warm golden and orange glow of her blades reflected like a hearth in her determined purple eyes as she turned to face the others. "If she hates fire, I guess we should let her choke on it. Make her wish she'd stayed buried with the rest of this frozen hell."

Corazona von Ascania | Thea Nyko | Rayia Si | Kaga Wah-Shmah​

 

[Everest Vale]

Location: Holy City, Jedha
Outfit: Padawan Robes, Winter Tunic
Equipment: Valery Noble's Lightsaber (1)

The invitation to brief warm and respite was more welcome than Eve had the energy to realise, and as the strange stillness enveloped them, the thoughts of moments passed began to haunt her again.

Aris. Eve knew the name, having met with the young Noble once already, in a somewhat embarrassing manner. If Master Noble was on the search for her son, Eve would make absolute sure she no longer held her back to make that happen.

The sudden fire was a shock to the system, but a welcome one, as she started to regain feeling she hadn't realised she's lost about her body. She was shaking uncontrollably, violently, but not from the cold. The brutal and high stakes action from the last hours had caused something in Eve to change that she was keenly, undeniably aware of. No, it was more like they had caused something to be lost, in a way that could never be reclaimed again.

The energy of the conflict had raised every urge and sense and nerve to its highest degree, and she was unsure if they would ever return to the way they had been again. It had all been such a blur to her, and now that it had suddenly stopped, everything in her struggled desperately to cling to any sense of meaning and identity. Her tired silver eyes glazed emptily against the soft orange light of the fire, as she felt herself slip uncontrollably into an uncomfortable daydream painted and stamped with violence. The screams of the beasts, it was unlike anything she had ever heard, the antithesis of nature. The swelling tension reached a climax within and against her and suddenly snapped under its own weight, and a little girl of six let loose a breathy, practically silent whimper that was lost immediately to the wind.

"Daddy."

It was enough to break her out of the spell that had enchanted her so, and she blinked repeatedly, wiping her numb face with the back of her glove, and breathing heavily. She remembered where she was, what she was doing and who she was with, all of it coming back in an instant as if nothing had happened. But she knew, deep down inside, a new scar had formed, and it would be with her forever.

Valery Noble Reina Daival
Aadihr Lidos Aris Noble​

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Jedha
Objective: 2
Valery Noble Everest Vale Aadihr Lidos Aris Noble

With the offer of fire, Reina didn't need to be asked twice. Whilst she was exhausted, that didn't stop the girl from practically sprinting for the warmth. Her hands held out towards the fire to try and bring some more warmth back into her little fingers. Blowing onto them at the same time. She was not going to stay no to a chance to get warm again.

She had no clue who Aris was. Nor did she really quite understand what a Master was. Sure, she knew they were like some kind of teacher...but that was about it. There hadn't been any masters on the crew...No. That wasn't something she should be focusing on. Rest and recovery was. Letting her mind head down random rabbit holes of thoughts wouldn't help her.

Her eyes went to the shaking Eve for a moment. Narrowing as she saw how the girl was reacting. Terror? Panic? She clearly wasn't shaking from the cold anymore because of the warmth that Valery Noble had started to produce. If she was panicking, maybe Reina should slap her out of it! So the girl raised her hand up in the air, getting ready to slap Everest Vale out of whatever funk she was in...

"Daddy."

Hesitation. Her hand held in the air as Reina blinked to herself. Daddy. It was...a word that was unfamiliar to her. Once again, like the world Master, she knew what it meant. It was another word for Father. It was just unfortunate for Reina that she saw the word in the literal sense. That a Father was the man responsible for your birth. The idea of a father also being someone who cares for you was lost on her. The same with the word Mother. To Reina, a Mother was just the woman responsible for your birth...So why was Everest asking for her father?

"...He's not here. Why would you need him? You have people here, now, who can help you."

The girl glanced over towards Valery, as if expecting Valery to say the same thing as Reina just did. Reina didn't understand how much of a support a father could be in a person's life and she probably wouldn't know. Not that she'd have cared. She was capable. She didn't need a father, or a mother. She just carried on warming up her hands, rubbing them together whilst she held the harpoon between one of her arms.

"Plus you have that laser thing. That can deal with more problems than a father can."

She waggled her finger in the direction of the lightsaber for a moment, before looking at her harpoon...No. Her harpoon was part of her. She'd never just replace it for a laser weapon...even if it did look awesome.

Aadihr Lidos Aris Noble

 

[Kaga Wah-Shmah]

Tag: Azurine Varek Thea Nyko Corazona von Ascania Rayia Si​

One thing was clear as they climbed that tower.

It was getting colder with every step. Colder and colder, till they felt their hair begin to frost over. Their skin. Their clothes begin to turn rigid and fragile.

"She's watching us."

Corazona von Ascania could hear the sound of a ragged, evil voice, worn by time and filled with hate, echo across the solid ice that made up the hallways of the fortress.

"Yes, I am. Come to me Je'daii, face me with your blades of flame, and your powers of life. I shall show you mine of nature, return you as I have those around you to the natural order of things."

The hallway finally gave way, to the top of the fortress. A maze of spires, all surrounding a flat plane of ice, a beautiful sheen in any other circumstances, one might mistake it for an ice rink if they hadn't been in such a dangerous situation.

And finally they got a look of her. A woman only a few inches taller than Azurine, and yet her presence in the force looked like a skyscraper on Coruscant. A frozen star of hate, a woman only interested in revenge.

The moment they stepped out, they were met with an attack, targetted straight at Azurine Varek , a spike of ice jutting out of the floor aimed right at the padawan's chest.

 

[Aris Noble]

"Mom?"

Aris blinked as he glanced to Aadihr, then smiled. If Valery Noble was close, then they were fine. More than fine. He stood up from the thickened glass he made. It should keep the heat in for the others, keep the heat from leaking out. He looked to the others huddled by the fire. The old man from before, the one who gave him a blanket and hot chocolate. He looked worried.

So Aris smiled warmer and gave a thumbs up. He had this, after all.

Stepping away he joined his master outside, rushed off into the snow before letting his body finally heat up. Really heat up. He walked through the falling snow that would never reach him, his body visually shifting with the sheer heat he gave off as his skin glowed red and white. His body flickered further, parts seeming to become fire itself. Sure enough, the witchspawn turned their attention towards him. Towards heat.

The staff in his hand shifted to a blade, the metal contorting to a proper sword as it too burned.

They just needed to hold here until Valery arrived. It wouldn't be too long at all.

Valery Noble | Aadihr Lidos | Everest Vale | Reina Daival

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Field Attire | Earring | Bangle
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike | Slugthrower Rifle

Just a few blocks further...

The street behind Aadihr and Aris was a horde of witchspawn, ice and corpse packed shoulder to shoulder, clambering over each other to try to reach the Padawan on the rearguard.

At the front, closing the gap between the pair of Jedi and the Grandmaster, Aadihr continued his constant movement, a zigzag from creature to creature, sweeping with the polearm in a more aggressive form than he was used to. His muscles ached and his lungs were cold, breaths ragged from the exertion - but none had passed him to distract his Padawan.

As he bisected another spawn before one that he hadn't seen before - it looked like a pincushion of icicles, with a bloated figure underneath. The flesh inflated and squeezed, and with a popping sound, the icicles that surrounded its exterior shooting out in every direction.

Aadihr spun his pike to intercept, managing to shatter one with the butt of the pike even as the blade cut another projectile, instantly evaporating a portion of it to steam . . .

But the remaining chunk of ice sunk itself into his chest, just under the collarbone - the ice was unnaturally cold, and Aadihr felt only numbness.

Aadihr hurled his pike like a javelin, piercing and slashing halfway through the spawn to disable it. He followed after to retrieve the polearm, unaware of the warm crimson patch spreading through the thick-fur lined white robes. Other than fatigue, Aadihr only felt numbness.

Had he eyes to see colors he might be alarmed, but he continued pushing himself to clear the path ahead - the grandmaster should be regular eyesight soon if not already.

Behind the Miraluka was an increasing trail of warm blood, steaming and freezing, that accompanied Aris and the horde lured away from the shelter.

"Grandmaster! We have set up shelter for the civilians, fire, food and security can be found there - " Aadihr stopped to catch his breath, bemoaning his lax exercise during his exile, only just noticing the warm liquid when he touched a hand to his chest. He considered what it was he felt in his hand, unable to smell the copper scent of his life's blood through his scarf.

He tilted his face up and noticed two other presences with Valery - padawans most likely - though one felt familiar... The fisher girl from Keshi?

Aadihr opened his mouth to speak, and his legs collapsed from underneath him, falling limp to the steaming red snow and ferrocrete.

Aris Noble | Valery Noble | Reina Daival | Everest Vale​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"If she hates fire, I guess we should let her choke on it. Make her wish she'd stayed buried with the rest of this frozen hell."

Cora was often cautious in applying force; she much preferred diplomacy over drawing her blade. However, there were some tasks that only the blade could accomplish.

"I am inclined to agree. Rayia," she turned to the feline Padawan. "You can use pyrokinesis too, yes? Perhaps you and Azurine should focus on attacking the witch while Thea and I distract-"

"Yes, I am. Come to me Je'daii, face me with your blades of flame, and your powers of life. I shall show you mine of nature, return you as I have those around you to the natural order of things."

The hallway spilled into a wide arena of flat, gleaming ice. Twisted columns of frost towered around them, giving the impression that they were trapped.

The Force was strong here, thrumming with an unstable energy - in the center of it all stood a woman of average height, her presence all-encompassing. The moment they'd stepped onto the ice, Cora's eyes flared in alarm. She drew her saber, pivoting on one foot as she sliced the jagged spike of ice as it burst from the floor and toward Azurine's chest.

Her blade hissed as the pointed top of the ice clattered to the cold ground with a rattling thunk. The blue glow of her saber was caught neatly between the icy protrusion and Azurine's chest.

Cora deactivated her blade and turned to the witch, her upper lip curling in a discerning snarl.

"I dare say, I do not care for this woman."

She stepped forward, raising her voice so that it carried across the arena:

"I too would be upset if my skin was as dry and crusty as yours! Didn't anyone tell you that the pale waif look hasn't been popular since the Battle of Hoth?"

Her taunt came with a hefty dose of effortlessly snobbish judgement. Invisible fingers wrapped around the chunk of ice that nearly speared Azzie, then hurled it back at the witch, pointy side up.

Azurine Varek Rayia Si Thea Nyko Kaga Wah-Shmah

 

[Thea Nyko]

Thea stepped forward. She arched an eyebrow at Cora, the corner of her lips curling into a sly grin, knowing distracting this witch is going to be partially fun and entertaining.

"Careful, Cora, she might take that as a compliment. After all, she's clearly going for the whole 'frozen corpse.' aesthetic."

Thea's voice was light but carried an undercurrent of teasing malice, designed to needle the witch as much as distract her. She twirled her blade lazily in one hand, her stance casual, as if she didn't have a care in the galaxy.

Corazona von Ascania Rayia Si Azurine Varek Kaga Wah-Shmah