Dominion Tale of the Shadow | SO Dominion of Abraxas

[Adeline Noctua]

Equipment | In Bio

Location | Obj II

Tag | Darth Strosius Revna QK-2510 Avel Som

"All those hours? Thinking about me? Charming, really. Careful not to froth at the mouth too much, don't want anyone thinking even less of you."

Ah, some skybound backup as well. Adeline gives QK-2510 a gentle wave before paying attention to Alisteri again.

"I do believe we have a job to do, perhaps later we can worry about wanting to kill me."

He seemed to have a new student, one who rushed in to destroy any target they found... She already liked this person, perhaps she should meet them later?

"Do you happen to know-"

She stops, instead taking a look at whoever this was who came out from the mines. Looked like either a merc or a scav.. Adeline waves them down.

"And who might you be, little one?"

Adeline asks Avel Som while gazing at his bird and him.




​

 

[Revna]

​

Objective: Continue the Hunt!
Equipment: lightsaber, armor
Tags: Darth Strosius // Kasir Dorran // Adeline Noctua // Alyra Morran // QK-2510

​

The small Sith woman paid little mind to the bodies that littered the ground around the one complex they had disembarked at; even as she moved deeper into the more urban battle zone, she caught notice of a jet trooper somewhat close by - though Revna paid her little mind. If she was there to kill pirates, then the Apprentice would leave her alone to do her work. She knew that everyone else who were there on behalf of the Sith would go about their duties and they weren't her concern; all she wanted to do was secure this area and cleanse it for Sith control. As she moved forward, a few daring pirates and ruffians attempted to charge her or cut her down, providing moments of exhilaration and challenge but ultimately they ended up like the rest of their kind.

Not too far into the zone of surface structures, Revna paused and glanced over her shoulder. She could see various members of her Master's troops splitting off, headed towards the watchtowers and she could see one of their more newer members, the Assassin Kasir, in amongst their group - before her smoldering gaze shifted to that of another figure she wasn’t familiar with who seemed to be facing off with her High Priest. For a brief moment, Revna was tempted to return to the side of her Master, but she shrugged off the notion. He was a Sith Lord; he could handle his own battles and he certainly didn’t need her protection, and now that she knew about his more…secretive nature, she wasn’t so anxious about him getting injured or even killed. The sense of relief that came from that knowledge alone allowed her to press onward, and Revna knew that if he wanted her aid he could recall her back at any time. Though she did hope that the two could set their grievances aside until after the battle was said and done. There was too much going on to be distracted from the mission at hand.

Taking a deep breath, the Disciple of Faith turned her attention back to what was before her and around her. She knew the complex wasn’t devoid of life; the smarter pirates and others who fell in with their ilk were probably hunkering down in more strategic places to try and hold off the advance of the Sith, hoping to hide and ambush the unwary. But the little Apprentice was a huntress, and she found great joy in the hunt when her prey decided to hide.

Focusing, she let her senses drift, stretching out around her and immediately began to feel pulses of life within various buildings scattered around. A small smile crossed her face briefly as she set off towards a two story building not too far from her location, her saber at her side and disengaged for the moment - but ready nonetheless. And just in case there were any Force sensitives within the ranks of the pirates themselves, she pulled her Force presence back in towards herself as she slipped into the shadows.

They wouldn't see her coming, until it was far too late.

 

[Kasir Dorran]

Objective: Secure the watchtower
Tags: Darth Strosius | Revna | Adeline Noctua | Avel Som | Alyra Morran | QK-2510


The command bestowed upon him echoed in his mind, shaping the Darkseeker's thoughts. Although the idea of leading a unit of stormtroopers was unfamiliar terrain for him, it did not daunt him in the slightest. It could’ve even been a test, a means to prove his worth, especially considering the reputation of the Sith. He was confident in his abilities and had no intention of letting anyone down, especially those now under his command. This was no longer a mere mission; it was a chance to assert his own authority and prove his mettle in a new role. With the wind whipping around him, he took a deep breath, ready to embrace the storm ahead. His heart raced, not out of fear, but of pride.

His once effortless grace with which he glided through the shadows was now hindered by the presence of the troops. It would also expose his every movement to the prying eyes of those around them. As his senses attuned to his surroundings, he unclipped the saberstaff from his side. A single blade sprung to life.

Kasir’s piercing eyes roamed from one soldier to another, assessing the situation at hand. But an interruption in his thoughts occurred when he caught sight of The High Priest conversing with a mysterious figure in the background. His attention was then briefly caught by a man with a hawk, a rather unfamiliar sight. However, he seemed to pose no threat to them. Lastly, he sensed another presence still aboard the ship, as well as the deep-seated darkness that resided within her. Before long he quickly regained his composure and shifted his gaze back to the soldiers stationed before him, ready to issue his orders. His lack of words was enough to capture their attention, as he subtly gestured for them to follow.

In a single motion, the Sith shifted into a defensive position, his entire being exuding a sense of calmness as they prepared to confront the pirates and other lawless individuals. Standing at the heart of the armed forces, they began pressing forward. Kasir's instincts were sharp, allowing him to detect The Disciple of Faith's presence from afar. Being in close pursuit, it was likely that their presence could potentially expose some of the hidden targets, leaving them vulnerable to what was now lurking in the shadows ahead.

Time passed as the distance lessened and the towers grew larger, but he stood resolute. It was only a matter of moments before the first blasts of energy erupted from concealed positions near the base of the structures. Without hesitation, the stormtroopers sought refuge behind any available cover, using rocks and debris as their shields while quickly returning fire. His own movements were fluid as he redirected a couple of blaster bolts back toward their origin, though they narrowly missed their targets.

 

[Kaz Zorbas]

Tags: Zarava Dekki I Quinn Varanin I Firrerreo I Jarek Voss I Veradun Sharr I Nerralyn Raaf I Kaivaan I Open
Objective: Kill all the karking pirates
Equipment: a slugthrower



“Wait. This is that other guy. Kaz Zorbas. Boss said the bounty on him will set the whole crew up for five years. Whatever we do, don't make him unrecognizable. We need a positive ID to claim the bounty.”

Kaz grunted. Well, that confirmed it. His Benefactor wanted him dead. No fuss no muss. His right hand raised and placed the bore of the revolver against his head. The exit wound would blow his face off.

“Now before you gents get an itchy trigger finger, it’ll be hard as hell to identify me with all of you wearing the pieces of my face. So how about you drop your weapons? Then I’ll drop mine. Then we can settle this like gentlemen. Hand to hand. Sound good?”

The pirates looked between themselves and the one who spoke stepped forward and dropped his rifle and pistol to the floor.

“There’s eight of us. He can’t take us all. And I’m not willing to say bye to that payday. Drop them, boys.”

The other pirates begrudgingly released their holds on their weapons. At least their ranged weapons. Each one pulled a variation of a vibroblade and stood waiting. Kaz smirked and looked at the woman still holding his arm.

“For luck, love.”

He leaned down and kissed her and his left arm encircled her waist before he broke his lips from hers and pushed her out the door to follow the other Sith to safety. With her gone, he sighed and looked back to the pirates.

“It would be a shame for me to die after only a single kiss. So if you gents don’t mind, I’m going to have to kill you all. You never know. She might be the future Mrs. Korbas.”

He laughed. There were several reasons he laughed. The first was to disarm and confuse his enemy. Nothing like a wounded, single opponent who laughs in the face of death to put you off your game. The second reason he laughed was it shook his torso. He was shot, yes, but it seemed to have been a graze. His ribs weren’t even hit. Which meant it hurt like Hades but he had near full function still. The third reason he laughed was to distract them.

His right arm straightened and the revolver aimed straight at the ringleader’s head. The hammer fell and so did the pirate. His arm traversed right and he sighted down the barrel and squeezed the trigger again. A second fell before the rest of the pirates reacted. One ran, leaving through the door he entered through. Three charged with blades in hand and shouts on their lips. The other two bent, hands scrabbling for their guns.

Adjusting his aim, Kaz shot the third man twice in the chest, then the fourth man through the top of his bent head. That body fell, the rifle clutched in his lifeless hands. And then the final three reached him.

Kaz leaped back, the swinging vibroblade sliced through his jacket and shirt horizontally across his chest to the flesh beneath. Blood immediately wet the front of his shirt but he barely noticed. The muzzle of the pistol came down hard across the pirate’s temple who dropped to the ground, the blade skittered away as it vibrated. The final shot hit the next pirate, who was a woman, lunging forward with her dagger. The impact knocked her off course and she fell from sight.

The last pirate crashed into Kaz and they fell to the ground in a heap. Under the heavier man, Kaz caught his opponent’s wrist while the tip of the blade lowered toward his neck. The two wrestled but the larger, unwounded pirate slowly closed the distance between the tip of the blade and Kaz’s exposed flesh. He could feel the hum from the knife’s generator as the tip almost touched his throat. Using his right hand against the pirate’s two just wasn’t working.

“That’s enough!”

When he kissed the young sith woman his left hand curled about her waist and lifted the cylinder from her belt. Kaz now activated it from where he held the emitter against the pirate’s stomach. He pressed the button and the crimson blade erupted from his opponent’s back. A quick jerk of his hand left and he nearly severed the man in half. Kaz rose to his feet, the pain in his butt aching, the hole in his left hand still bleeding, left side hurting, and now his chest wound felt like a thousand needles were puncturing him simultaneously.

But he was alive. And pissed off.

Quickly he shrugged out of the ruined jacket and shirt to stand bare-chested. The smart thing would be to leave the cursed party and find his way off the stinking rock. But that would be rude. To leave a party early without returning the favor. He limped across the room and paused as he retrieved the ax from before. If they wanted a fight then Kaz was going to oblige them.

He laughed loudly as he moved deeper into where he still heard heavy fighting. Ax in his right hand and lightsaber in his left. Kaz was now having fun.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Objective 1: Den of Deceptions

He was gripping the railing with such a firm tightness he was surprised that he had not snapped the piece of metal straight off. His breath was grave, and he would not be surprised if the veins on his forehead had popped and became visible, as more and more blood flowed across his form.

The Force crackled around him, the darkness whirling around him with such intensity that those around him wearing the helms of the old Empire, the old Empire, normally always entirely of discipline and stillness that might have made them confused for droids, were certainly of an unease, a feeling in the air of impending dread.

As from the darkness of space, down through the blue skies of Abraxas, through white clouds and black smog.

The Guard were descending to war.

The red alarms were blaring, a countdown to their descent and warning to hold on tight given, as Malum could only feel a ravenous hunger.

Feel...

Proper justice is to be served.

"Imperator, Tsis'Kaar continue to battle against the pirates at the entrance of the objective, however, they confirm that they have successfully destroyed the anti-aircraft batteries in the area." One of those near him, one who had braved not only their impending descent, but too, the current prickly nature of their lord, informed.

Said the masked lord turned to offer him a gaze.

A beat passed between them.

Before a nod confirmed the words, a breath left.

There was little time to enjoy it, as the greens and greys of the lands below awaited.

Another beat passed.

A great cacophony of a crash heralded their wake, with the speed ensured to fly past anti-aircraft fire, and a strengthened hull to survive impact, from the heavens above, dozens after dozens of drop pods crashed into the earth as if they were asteroids breaking apart the planet's surface, those pirates given a moment's reprieve from the retreat of masked assailants, had a new horror dawn upon them.

As metal doors snapped open.

And the avenging angels billowed forth.

Blasterbolts sang as great armoured hulks poured out of their drop pods, securing the makeshift landing zone as more drop pods crashed down, those unfortunate pirates would be quickly gunned down, and those truly unfortunate would be none the wiser as they were crushed underneath the descending craft.

They were afforded a mercy few of them would be given, however.

Their demise was quick.

If any hope could somehow be had, at least the option to retreat was still had.

Only for that to also so quickly be taken away, emerging out of the darkness the masked faces of Tsis'Kaar that had only moments ago retreated, lightsabres unveiled, Shikkar blades thrown, hunting down all that thought they could escape, as the screams of those barely trained and ill-disciplined rained across the fields, as both forces secured what was known very well to them.

Victory.

And amongst both groups there was a man, who had held within all which he had felt, and now down upon the ground, the simmering, the boiling pot finally overflowed. The Blade of Storm and Flame held neither quality this moment, as wraithlike, the armoured Sith Lord burst across the field, seconds, nay moments passed between each swing, as each combatant fell executed by his hunger.

With each swing, he seemed even more brutal, growing faster, growing angrier, blood flowed easily, as arms, as legs, as heads were ripped off bodies, the only mercy to those crying out in abject agony, as adrenaline desperately pumped through their forms, was the blasters that followed soon behind by silent warriors.

Who had never seen their Imperator so...

So...

Possessed.

There was still one avenue of escape afforded to the pirates, though some would risk out in the fields where the Tsis'Kaar prowled, most almost instinctively would flee into the tunnel entrance, friendly faces awaited, reinforcements, simply... relief.

The old precept went, after all, to offer your enemy at least one avenue of escape, or they would fight to the death.

And despite the corpses laid out around him, Malum knew, he had not even caught a fraction of them, most having broken and fled into the tunnels.

Many more awaited within.

And he would break that old precept.

Marching to the entrance of the tunnel, watching as these pirates scurried within like rats. He remembered an old torture technique he had read of, some long time ago. Place a rat between a man and a scorching fire, and he would burrow into the man to escape.

There would be no escape.

He raised his hand, as he felt the Force bend, and constrict, commanding it to obey, demanding its submission.

Orange flames flickered, licking along his fingertips, taking to his skin as if it were candle wax and wick.

It transformed quickly into a blinding white.

And then a pale blue.

A moment passed, and for the first time, he considered why exactly he was so angry, he remembered the faces of the acolytes that he had seen succeed at the end of that day at the Academy, their names flickered across his mind, those that would be the next generation, not all of them were down there, thank Bogan, but if even one was...

...What if Vita, or his other cousins had been down there...

...And of the one that was down there, the one which he had failed in not being down there himself already...

Malum did not know what Quinn Varanin was to him as of yet, but disregarding that she was the Empress' goddaughter, disregarding that she had without a moment's notice come with him to rescue Elsie, disregarding that he owed her...

...Oh he did not what they were.

Friends.

When had that happened?

His eyes flashed gold, as she stirred at the back of his mind, and a great explosion of pale blue flames, tore through his hands, engulfing the entire entrance with his power, as it flowed along the cavernous walls. Those who gazed back, would see their last approaching them, their vision gone moments later. Those that did not running ever desperately forward, would feel a temperature so intense they could not feel it at all.

And in a moment, they felt nothing at all.

Malum stepped forward.

Crushing an ashen skull underfoot.

His Guard and his Tsis'Kaar assembled behind him, as he gazed into the dark cave, to whatever dangers and enemies awaited.

But at the end, victory.

"Advance."

Kaz Zorbas Zarava Dekki Firrerreo Jarek Voss Veradun Sharr Nerralyn Raaf Kaivaan

 

[Kal-El]

ABRAXAS - OBJECTIVE ONE - DEN OF DECEPTIONS
Quinn Varanin | Iuuna Talon | Zarava Dekki | Jarek Voss | Nerralyn Raaf | Firrerreo | Veradun Sharr | Kaivaan | Kaz Zorbas

Kal-El was dancing. Unlike the rest of his acolyte acquaintances, Kal did not look a gift horse in the mouth. His arms flailing above him as he whirled around. Several whoops and hollers echoed from him as well as from several other pirates drunk on merriment and rum. Two steps forward, one step back. Reaching out for a hand, Kal swung whoever grabbed a hold of him. A singular movement through a crowd became a pair before switching partners again and again.

The festivities eventually got the better of Kal as he gave himself a break. Two other pirates followed him from behind, taking a break themselves. Patting each other on the back, a few laughs were shared as Kal sat down first. Then, the music went silent.

Kal never looked a gift horse in the mouth. But the hooves? The hooves were what you needed to watch out for. In this case, it was the pirate's hands. Watching where everyone's hands were sitting often told you what they planned to do next. Like running a hand over where the holster of your blaster is supposed to be.

Or slipping those same blasters away into Kal's own hands.

"Looking for something?" Kal-El remarked before turning around and aiming down the sights of both blasters.

The pirate duo stopped feeling and fumbling around for their weapons. Then, everything broke loose. Kal fired. First, the shoulder blades, and then the joints on the legs. Rapid, precise, quick. With those two felled and unable to use any of their limbs, the next part of Kal's survival was quite elementary: cover. The hail of blaster bolts from the surrounding pirates followed.

Kal-El rolled over the table--letting drink, condiments, and foodstuff get either knocked to the side or stuck onto his garments. Tossing one of the blasters towards the direction of blasterfire, Kal waited in the moments in-between for a stray bolt to strike before shielding his eyes. A chemical explosion of light and heat followed. In the next moment, the pirates found themselves without a target.

The lone Sith acolyte was gone.

———————————​

Their chaperone and instructor Quinn Varanin 's command to draw all student's to her fell upon Kal's deaf ears. His entire focus went into ducking from cover to cover, examining the contents of various large decanters and bottles. He needed high alcohol content for what he was about to do. One of these pirates should have a bottle of the hard-hitting stuff. It was matter of finding it before he or anyone else died.

Where's the rum?

Quick hands clasped around a glass bottle. Kal popped off the top before taking a whiff. Rum. Finally, he could do something to break the enemy's firing line and surrounding positions. That or ruin the rest of his face.

"Here goes nothing."

Gulping down a swing off the stuff, Kal swished the booze in his mouth before leaping out from cover, using one arm to propel himself out and into the line of fire while the other hand held the now sealed decanter. Kal took a deep breath through his nose.

This little party trick better work.

Before opening his mouth.

Sizzling heat began to broil up from inside him before a roar of flame emerged, explosive in power and might as it surged forth suddenly. The alcohol spewing from his mouth acted only to help give direction and fuel for the flame Kal-El otherwise would lack to give such firepower. As quickly as the jet of flame manifested, it disappeared almost as quickly, but not without sending multiple pirates flying through the air from the impact.

Many either struck the walls violently and fell limp, unconscious, or slid across the ground and nursing bruise ribs and muscles as each dropped or lost hold of their weapon. Kal's eyes darted back and forth between the different groups of pirates.

He grinned.

"That's right! You pirates want a target? Take a shot at me!"

Downing another swig, Kal fired off another volley of flame and kinetic might towards the pirates as cover for his getaway. A stray bolt clipped his shoulder, shredding his clothing and the skin of his shoulder. His payment for his hubris, Kal supposed, as he sucked air through his teeth at the wound. Not his first and definitely not his last. This was nothing. That and he did ask for it.

Breathe and keep going.

At least physicality and quick reflexes were among Kal's chief talents. Leaping over tables and flipping them over to give him time and protection while he downed another swig and let loose more infernos the pirates' way, short and quick yet powerful and combustive. Anyone within range would find themselves up and over their feet if he was not aiming particularly at the pirates.

Kal-El was dancing. He had to. Between dodging blasterfire and downing a swig every so often, Kal kept up the attack before moving to another spot to hunker down and keep safe, and he would not stop until he was down to his last drop. Always keeping enough distance to draw attention away from his allies but not too far away that the pirates could ignore him or try splitting their forces to handle him separately.

His goal was simple. Distrupt enemy focus and create an opening in their ranks for his mentor and fellow acolytes to escape, perhaps allowing his allies to establish more advantageous positioning to attack the enemy.

This was what he was good at. Taking his own initiative while helping the group. He could do this. He had to. Whatever it took to create the right opening his allies needed to push back against the pirate horde.

 

[Alyra Morran]

Objective II: Unsinkable.

The Sith-Imperial Dropship, where Alyra Morran was seated, was accompanied by a Squadron of Stormtroopers, all clad in black and bearing the crest of the Sith Order upon their right shoulder pauldron. Alyra herself had no connection to these soldiers but had looked to catch a ride down to the surface in the hope of proving herself useful to the Sith Order, perhaps gaining some notoriety and being noticed. She lacked any training in the Force save for what she had learned naturally over the years living among her Clan. She was armed with a standard-issue lightsaber, a synthetic kyber crystal, as she had not yet found one of her own, let alone corrupting it.

As the drop ship descended towards the battlefield, she could already make out the sounds of warfare. Abraxas seemingly had no intention of serving the Sith Order, yet there was no greater Force told to her back home on Mar'Zambul, than that of the Sith. Alyra did not sympathize for the Overlords, whom she imagined were likely soiling themselves knowing that they were being hunted down and eliminated for their defiance.

"LZ in five. Prepare for exfil".

The word came from over the intercom speakers, the pilot or co-pilot giving the squad of troopers their notice to prepare for the imminent fight awaiting them on the surface. Alyra inhaled deeply, closing her eyes and raising her head as she sought to prepare herself mentally. She had fought and killed before. Survival in Mar'Zambul was an everyday challenge, and this would be no different. Only it wasn't rival clans or the Gundanbard that she had to concern herself with...-Abraxas remained a threat. Still, her objective was less about the opposition and more about proving herself a prospective candidate for apprenticeship.

"30 seconds out, cabin doors opening! As soon as your greenlit, get the hell off my ship and kick some arse out there".

Whoever this person was, they were speaking with enthusiasm. It's safe to say they had the relative safety of the dropship to stay tucked away. The plan was they'd bug out and await the call for EVAC, but the attempt at boosting morale didn't quite have the desired effect with Alyra. She frowned, opened her eyes, and reached for her lightsaber with her right hand and her vibro-knife with her left.

The cabin lighting changed from red to green, signalling their approval to exfil. Alyra moved to her side of the deck and wasted no time leaping. It was a short drop, a quick stop that forced her to roll forward to avoid feeling the pain of her landing through the soles of her feet. Her Lightsaber ignited as soon as she was on her way back up to her feet, and with the smaller blade in her left hand, she moved first for cover to get a good eye on the battle around her. Allies. Enemies. Any points of interest or signs of an officer among the ranks on both sides. Seconds flew by as chaotic as the blaster bolts zipping past. She couldn't stay in one place, so she kicked herself forward into a sprint alongside the squadron of soldiers as they began to push against the Abraxas army.

 

[Avel Som]

​

---

Darkwing chirped softly and cocked his head as Avel Som approached the group at the landing zone. "Really?" Avel Som replied to the hawk. "So they're like you?" Darkwing pecked his head in annoyance. "Like us? So you keep saying, but I don't think I can do the things you can."

As he walked up to the group, a small woman noticed him and stopped her conversation, addressing him.

"And who might you be, little one?"

Little one? "Oh, this is Darkwing. He's an unusually intelligent ebonhawk and my closest friend. Only friend, really. I go by Avel Som. Not really sure if that's my actual name or not, though." He walked up and looked around at the littered corpses. "I see you took care of these pirates. Thought I'd have to handle them all myself. Might I ask who you people are? I swear I recognize those ships. Perhaps your group were the ones who helped take out those Mandalorian thugs in the Feriae system? You have my thanks for that." Anyone who helped rid the Galaxy of the Mando menace couldn't be that bad. "Need any assistance here? I already took out a few of the pirates in that mine there. I didn't know they were pirates when they hired me to find new ore veins. Can you believe they refused to pay me?" He patted the satchel at his waste, which held what he'd looted. "But I took what was mine and then some. They don't need it anymore." He even kept the silenced verpine revolver the foreman had shot him with.

---

TAGS: OPEN
Adeline Noctua Darth Strosius Revna QK-2510 Alyra Morran​

 

[Iuuna Talon]

​

Iuuna was in her own world, moving through the area with music blasting through her earphones. "If you think you're gettin' away, I will prove you wrong," she sang, twirling as she shot lightning at a nearby pirate. Dancing, singing, and slaying, Iuuna was far enough away to avoid any concern about someone using fire-based powers in the tunnel system.

She wasn't just far enough to escape the blast radius—she had plenty of room to maneuver and stay out of harm's way. "I'll take you all the way, girl, just come along. Hear me when I say, hey." She continued to vibe and dance, flicking her wrist playfully to shoot icicles that stabbed pirates in the neck and sometimes pierced through their chests.

"It's murder on the dance floor," she sang, manipulating shadows and creating netherworld rifts to send pirates straight into the abyss. "But you better not kill the groove, hey-hey-hey-hey." Iuuna bobbed her head, breaking off half an icicle and shoving it into another pirate's throat. The spike pierced through the other side, and she danced away from his falling body, carefree and unstoppable.

Quinn Varanin [Iuuna's being super helpful]​

 

[Quinn Varanin]

Tagged the Acolytes that showed interested but everything is open to anyone and all acolytes

Stress weighed on her as she tried to shield the students when she could. This was a perfect test, a very Sith test for the acolytes. They would prove it here if they were worth their salt to the Empire. Despite what they were, Quinn hated this. She hated throwing children into war and danger while in her care. Was she their executioner or their caretaker? The Echani woman couldn't question too much; this was how it always was. Sith valued strength within oneself. You had to survive because while someone could be considered a friend, they could one day become your greatest enemy.

Luckily for her, she hadn't experienced that and prayed the students here never had to. Unfortunately, they were Sith, and this was their first real test.

Quinn watched as her lightsaber was now in the hands of one of the students who had impressed her during the entrance exams. She had been outbid by her own Master for the girl's future. Seeing her move the blade and slowly learn how to use it to protect herself, Quinn couldn't help but smile. "Bend your knees, Zarava Dekki , and loosen your grip." Another rapid sequence of lasers showered the students, and Quinn quickly provided another shield. "Slide your dominant foot forward and move your weight from back to front as you swing to help you balance the weight of the saber." Instruction was quick, but she knew the girl would pick it up quickly. Eyes trailed away from the first student to the others.

Her eyes fell on Jarek Voss as the boy spun and drove the end of the saber through the stomach of the unsuspecting pirate. She watched as the boy realized what he had done, and Quinn concluded that this was his first kill. Every piece of her heart broke for him as his face showed the change he couldn't escape. "Jerek, keep going," she shouted to him, and as she did, another pirate who seemed to know the boy that was just murdered. The large pirate yelled with rage as he towered over Jarek.

"No," she quickly sprinted and slid between them. Making eye contact with the pirate, she quickly dove into his mind, grasping each tendril of its influence and bleeding herself into him. The large pirate on the surface looked dumbfounded as the small woman held his gaze. She tilted her head slightly, and suddenly, the large pirate's eyes began to bleed. Quinn snapped her fingers, and when she did, the pirate yelled in deep pain as his limbs bent unnaturally. His screams drowned out the snapping and cracking of bones, and he fell limp with his face twisted in agony. Quinn looked back to Jarek and nodded, "Keep moving, stay alive." The Master wanted to smile at the boy, hoping to keep him calm, but they were Sith.

She worried that none of these kids had ever been put in the position they were in. Seeing life leave someone's eyes for the first time is an experience Quinn would never forget. Now, Quinn could put away her morality, protecting it from the horrors of the wars they fought in. It was something Jarek would have to learn, and hopefully, he could understand it sooner than later.

Firrerreo 's voice chimed in. The boy seemed almost at home in the chaos that was around them. She blinked and waved her hand to encourage him, "Of course, have at it and have fun?" Quinn wanted to watch and see what his experiment was, but she needed more time; they were becoming increasingly surrounded. Quinn whipped her head around as she watched another Acolyte gain a kill. He seemed to function better than Jarek when compartmentalizing what had just happened. There was nothing Quinn could do to help the boy, but she would remember his face. So many others were there, but with the pirates closing in on them, Quinn needed to ensure none showed their backs.

The chaos continued, and students continued to combat the pirates. There was a never-ending flow of them, and Quinn, for a split second, wondered if they would all die down here. Then, Quinn caught a glimpse of another Echani, one that she would have thought would have rushed down to rescue her. Her Cousin, Iuuna Talon , seemed to be in her own world. Dancing and violently murdering anything that crossed her path. The sight made Quinn drop her guard as she stared at the woman with a raised brow. To be so relaxed in a situation that could potentially kill them baffled her.

With the distraction came a consequence. A pirate, seeing what seemed like the highest ranking of the Sith distracted, took his blaster and fired three quick shots toward the woman's temple. If he took her down, the others would fall quickly.

Quinn suddenly felt the heat burning into the side of her face. Their eyes widened, and she suddenly snapped her head toward the pirate. His face was pale as he watched each bolt suddenly dissipate against her skin [Tutaminis]. The snap of her cloak echoed for those nearby, and she marched through the flurry of blaster bolts, each absorbing into her small frame, until she stood in front of the man who had threatened her life.

"Do you seriously think a pathetic tool like a blaster could take out a Sith Lord?" She questioned him, her head tilting with a look of astonishment. "How dare you think so low of me, I am your better." Without moving, Quinn narrowed her eyes, and the man sprang up from the ground with a flick of her wrist. His body was no longer his own, and under her spell, Quinn squeezed her fist, and the man began to convulse. With a pop, his body fell limp to the ground.

"Pathetic, now, Ms. Raaf ( Nerralyn Raaf ) is supposed to be here too." Quinn looked around and tried to eye the woman. "Don't tell me she's also abandoned me…" The Echani woman sighed and rubbed where the blaster bolts touched her skin. "Owie," she groaned and then looked to her Cousin, shouting she hoped the woman would decide to pick up the pace. "Iuuna?, IUUNA! CAN YOU PLEASE HURRY UP?" Looking to add direction for the students to begin their retreat, Quinn called out to them. "Acolytes, head towards the tunnel there." She pointed, and those too busy would get a quick image flashing in their minds. Everyone would know where to go and where to escape; they just had to survive.

Tags:

Spoiler

Kal-El Kaz Zorbas Kaivaan Veradun Sharr

 

[Veradun Sharr]

Veradun had little time to gather his wits about him after he claimed the fallen pirate’s vibrosword for himself. The sounds of combat - of screams and yells and shouts from both the living and the dying - created an atmosphere of chaos that pulled at the boy’s nerves. He knew the blade in his hand would be defenseless against blaster bolts, and he needed to find cover or somehow find a way to get out before he got himself killed.

But all the tunnels were funneling in their enemies, effectively boxing the remaining Sith in the chamber that had turned from a place of celebration to a den of slaughter. They would have to fight their way out, fight for every inch.

Another pirate, one with horns spiking out from his head, appeared near Veradun from one of the tunnels and immediately fired off his blaster pistol at the young boy. He scrambled to get to safety, slipping on the gore slickened stone and dirt beneath his boots, enough to lose his traction and fall, thankfully not on the sword in his hand. Adrenaline and the sudden fear of dying surged through Veradun and all he could think to do in that moment was unleash a Force shove towards his attacker - the energy driven by the power of his fear was enough to send the Zabrak flying back to slam into the earthen wall behind him with a loud thud. It gave the boy enough time to get to his feet and lunge at the pirate, driving the sword straight through his chest.

The rather indignant voice of Master Varanin drew the gaunt Nagai’s attention briefly, and he witnessed with awe as she choked the life out of a pirate who seemed to try and cut her down with a blaster as well. Her words however, sank into the young boy’s mind, and his awe echoed in his thoughts: how truly powerful the Sith Lords are.

He wanted that - that power.

Veradun blinked when the Sith Lady yelled for someone to hurry up and his eyes briefly caught sight of a pale haired woman who seemed to be enjoying killing everything in her path - before he saw Master Varanin point towards a tunnel as she directed all the Acolytes that were with her to head in that direction. He didn’t need to be told twice.

Dodging bodies and blaster bolts, the boy snaked his way towards the tunnel, crossing blades once with another pirate briefly in a duel - where he turned out to be the better fighter than his adversary, due to what training he’d received thus far and his lightning fast reflexes and movements. The boy’s uniform and exposed skin was splattered with blood, none of it his own thankfully, but he paid little mind to it for the moment.

The boy cast a pale glance back of his shoulder to make sure the others were nearby, and to make sure he could see Master Varanin. He didn’t want to lose sight of her in the chaos of fighting. She was his lifeline right now, her and the other remaining Sith who were fighting to get out while they could.

His distraction cost him, however. Rough hands sized hold of the boy and flung him into the tunnel wall as a hulking figure pinned him against the stone, knocking the sword from his grasp. The ruffian leered at the boy and uttered something in a language Veradun couldn’t understand, before a heavy fist collided into the side of his face, while the other hand wrapped around his throat tightly. He squirmed and tried to wriggle himself free but he was held fast. He tried kicking his attacker, but they deftly avoided his blows and snarled at him before striking him again.

The boy was beginning to see stars now, and he could hear his pulse rushing in his ears. He needed to get himself free quickly, or he was going to die.

Tags: Quinn Varanin // Jarek Voss // Zarava Dekki // Iuuna Talon // Firrerreo
​

 

[Firrerreo]

Oh it was absolute chaos now, wasn't it?

Firrerreo kept from the core of the battle. He had to learn the skills to fight and kill early on, but, he also learned the importance of just not fighting when he didn't have to. Master Varanin was keeping things together for the group. They were all using lightsaber and Force magics. It made the boy with a knife very easy to overlook as a threat.

He used that, slipping through the encircling pirates so he could just.. Watch. Observe. There was a lot of the Force being used by the stronger Lords. To think one was even killing while singing and dancing, though? Was that the sort of power he had to look forward to? He hummed as he reached up to scritch his familiar's chin. This was a good show.

The show couldn't last forever, though. on Master Varanin's orders it was time to run to the tunnel, start to make their way from this slaughter and likely to somewhere safe. As safe as Sith could be, anyway. He slipped around, idly meandering his way from the pirates. He was used to having to evade crowds. Thugs, pirates. Slavers. How to blend, even in high tense situations like this.

At least, that was the intent. To blend and not get his hands involved any further. He only had the one orb for his experiments this time, there was no further point in his involvement. Except he saw it first. One of his peers, manhandled and beaten thus far by one of the pirates. He let out a sigh before he slipped into the confrontation. A quick blade to the small of the alien's back, buried right to the hilt, would've been enough. Normally.

Firrerreo had turned his gaze to Veradun Sharr so he could start to gloat about saving the boy, only to feel a heavy blow to his cheek that sent him spinning and reeling. His familiar fluttered off in a flurry of shadowy tendrils, leaving him as he hit the ground in a half stunned state. He couldn't remain there long, as he felt the danger coming down. A boot for the side of his head. He rolled, desperate to not get hit even in his stunned state.

Aliens weren't like humans. He knew that. But he hadn't expected this man to still be up with a knife sticking out of his back.

"Crap."

He muttered as he got to his feet and brought his arms up to block another heavy punch. He could feel it in his arms, bruising right to the bones. It'd heal quick, they always did, but it didn't help the absolute numbness in his hands now.

"Get up and kill him already damnit!"

 

[Nerralyn Raaf]

Kaivaan Quinn Varanin Firrerreo Veradun Sharr Iuuna Talon Zarava Dekki Jarek Voss Darth Malum of House Marr
​

She would love to find out who exactly had negotiated with these pirates and give them a piece of her mind, but she did know it had not been her mother. The pirates probably wouldn't have turned on them otherwise, so she had to wonder what the terms had been and if the pirates had been insulted by them instead but kept it hidden. Not that it mattered in the moment.

"Not something found in a book, developed the technique myself," she remarked calmly even as the fight raged around them. The shadowy doubles that had appeared around her were swiftly moving among the crowd, and her eyes would take on a silvery glow as she started to switch places with them, her blade dancing across the chamber they were in as she and her echoes switched places for each of her attacks. The theory of following an individual's timeline and choosing to switch between decisions that would create tiny and short-term ripples in the flow of time had helped her develop the echoes, but they could only help for a minute or two before timelines diverged too much.

She did notice that Kaivaan was having difficulty with one pirate with vibrosword. A bolt of Force Lighting would leave her hand for the pirate, just enough to shock him and give Kai an opening to finish them himself. It was an important part of any Sith's education that they could kill someone. Her actions had, at least temporarily, cleared their immediate surroundings as she came to a halt on the other side of the room, her echoes fading away.

She could feel Master Varanin and the others in an adjacent chamber, and the approach of others from the surface... including a flash of heat in the air as something seemed to shift in the atmosphere of the caves. Someone had just unleashed a fire attack? Of all the... she would bite her tongue as she looked at her nephew, "Come on, they're up ahead. Keep close."

They would have to navigate the tunnels and be on guard, but she would reach out to Quinn to let her know they were coming and were a little further away. They had not abandoned her. The glow of her eyes shifted back to the amethyst of their family and a compact orb of spinning black energy appeared in front of her about thirty meters.

"Do not, I repeat, do not touch the orb," she said and she started it forward and up the tunnel before following along behind it at a distance. There would be a scream further along in the dim light as some unlucky pirates found out what a sphere of compressed gravity, like a micro black hole, could do to someone. It needed a catchier name though.

 

[Jarek Voss]

TAGS: Quinn Varanin , Firrerreo , Zarava Dekki , Iuuna Talon , Veradun Sharr , Darth Malum of House Marr , Kal-El , Kaz Zorbas , Nerralyn Raaf
(Sorry If I missed anyone)​

---

"Jerek, keep going," she shouted to him

"Yes, Master."

That was all Jarek could muster in response. He felt an echo through the Force, a cry out in fear reverberating like a stone creating waves in a pond. One wave colliding into another with the chaos around them. Fear, anger, hate, and pain seemed to be flooding the Force, and it made Jarek feel alive. The young acolyte looked up at the battle before him, his senses at their peak, and everything moving in slow motion. Lightsabers swinging, Force lightning crackling through the air, blaster bolts everywhere. Jareks breathing echoing in his ears. He turned around to see a pirate coming for him, only to see Master Varanin twisting him into a broken mess. Jarek felt the darkness of Darth Malum, even a Dark Council member was here, something only recently Jarek learned about in his private studies.

The power he saw, the power he felt, was tremendous, and he wanted it.

Jarek tightend his grip around his training saber's hlit, a wicked grin creeping up his face.

"I want it all!"

An unnatural, evil cackle erupted from Jarek, and he jumped into the chaos of battle.

He raised his lightsaber high, swinging and severing the arms of the first pirate came across, and force pushing him away. Jarek gave himself fully to the Dark Side, relishing in the pain and fear of others. He heard Master Varanin's call to head to the tunnel, laughing and swinging his blade as he made his way there.

 

[Kaivaan]

Quinn Varanin | Nerralyn Raaf | Veradun Sharr | Jarek Voss | Zarava Dekki | Firrerreo | Kal-El | Darth Malum of House Marr​

The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and metal, and the dim lighting cast eerie shadows along the rough-hewn walls. The distant sounds of dripping water and the occasional scuttle of vermin added to the oppressive atmosphere, punctuated only by the clash of weapons and the cries of battle.

Kai felt a mixture of shame and gratitude as he fought alongside his aunt Nerralyn and the other acolytes. He was ashamed that he needed her help, but appreciative of her presence and guidance. His heart pounded in his chest as he faced off against the pirates, their ruthless aggression a stark reminder of the dangers they faced. The young boy managed to finish one pirate off with a flick of his wrist, a high surge of electricity hitting the man without mercy. He stood there for a moment, unsure of how to feel as he watched the body collapse, smoke rising from the charred flesh.

His aunt's voice snapped him back to reality.

"Yes, Auntie," he responded, racing to catch up with her. His movements were a blend of elegance and power, the result of his training in both Makashi and Djem So techniques. His training saber was a blur of motion as he parried and blocked incoming attacks. Each swing was precise, echoing the fluidity and grace of Makashi, while his counters and strikes carried the brute strength of Djem So.

Kai stopped short when he saw Nerralyn begin to manipulate gravity, creating an orb that held several pirates suspended in the air. "Right, not the orb," he muttered to himself, stepping around the floating enemies as best he could. He continued to use his training saber to block off vibroblade after vibroblade, his movements becoming more confident with each successful parry.

Despite the chaos around him, Kai found a strange sense of focus in the heat of battle. His shame was replaced by determination, and his fear by a growing sense of purpose. The dim tunnels, the flickering lights, and the sounds of combat all seemed to fade into the background as he concentrated on each move, each strike, and each block.

He could feel the weight of his aunt's expectations. This was his chance to prove himself, to show that he could stand on his own and contribute to the fight. With each pirate he faced, he felt a little more sure of himself, his training coming to life in the most intense and dangerous way possible. Kai's swings and movements became more fluid, a testament to his training. He combined the precision and control of Makashi with the raw power and aggression of Djem So, creating a style uniquely his own.

 

[Veradun Sharr]

For a wild, desperate moment Veradun feared that he was about to die and he would never get to tell his family he loved them, never get to rough house with his little siblings again, or ever see the pride in his sister’s eyes for something he accomplished. Fear built up within his very heart, constricting and cold, as his vision started to dance with white specks and he could hardly hear his pulse through his ears anymore…

And then in the blink of an eye - he was released, crumpling to the hard ground as he gasped for air. He was dazed, his head throbbed as a massive headache filled his skull, but after a moment or two his senses returned to him, as did the ever present threat of death and danger all around.

Why had the brute released him?

It was then that Veradun recognized one of the other Acolytes, Firrerreo, who seemed to have arrived on scene. The Nagai boy was tempted to believe the other had come to his rescue, but he found it hard to accept that as truth or fact. But, the actions of the other Acolyte had indeed saved his life - and now the other appeared to be in danger as well. Veradun would return the favor, for it was an honorable thing to do.

Calling upon the Force, he recalled the fallen vibro-blade to his hand and lunged forward while the alien brute was preoccupied with Firrerreo and the blade sank deep into the pirate’s flank, angled upward through the ribs. Blood poured from the wound and spilled over Veradun’s hand, and he gave it a twist before quickly yanking the blade free as he dodged the swinging fist of the pirate who had returned his attention to Veradun, intent on grabbing him again, but the Nagai boy was already swinging the blade once more - this time for the brute’s midsection. The pirate could not block the swing, nor did he have enough time to move away. All he could do was watch as the blade split him open and blink as his internal parts spilled to the dirty floor - before he collapsed as well.

Veradun glanced at Firrerreo and gave him a nod of appreciation, before turning his attention back to getting through the tunnel alive.

Tags: Firrerreo // Quinn Varanin // Kaivaan // Iuuna Talon // Nerralyn Raaf // Jarek Voss // Zarava Dekki // Kal-El
I think that was everyone. Sorry if I missed you. ​

 

[Darth Strosius]

Objective: Punish the Guilty
Equipment: Lightsaber, Sword, Dagger, Robes
Tags: Revna / Adeline Noctua / QK-2510 / Kasir Dorran / Alyra Morran / Avel Som

A scoff served as his immediate response, his shoulders setting back slightly as though it caught him off-guard. He had been expecting her to strike first of course, with a force of arms rather than one of barbs. "You and they can think whatever you'd like, I care little for the opinions of such bold enemies of the Sith." Ever prideful and stalwart it seemed.

Darth Strosius felt his eye twitch at her dismissal, leveling one his blades towards her in frustration. That she would attempt to so casually cast aside their rematch was nothing short of a grave insult, and one that she would pay for severely by the time that he was done. "Lest you forget killing swine such as yourself is my job. You're hardly any better than these criminal scum, and yet you are far more dangerous than they could ever hope to be." The corpses around them served as more than enough proof of that. This world and it's current occupants were but a slightly delay in schedule, but Adeline represented an altogether greater problem entirely.

And yet her focus shifted, much to his ever increasing annoyance, to another. Someone bold enough to approach the pair of Sith despite the rather gruesome scene and the forces still nearby. "We are of the Sith Order." His tone was cold and his words clipped, betraying his impatience at the interruption. That the man had supposedly been misled and swindled out of a deal as their ambassadorial party had was of little surprise but equally little import now. Soon there would hardly be any pirates left after all. "If you aren't one of these wretched pirates then I'd suggest you stay back, else you might find yourself caught in the crossfire as we put them down."

 

[Adeline Noctua]

Equipment | In Bio

Location | Stuck in Alisteri's head it seems

Tag | Darth Strosius Avel Som

"Avel.. A pleasure. The Order always welcomes willing hands, pays them well too."

She smiled gently a bit, still ignoring Alisteri for now as to help the both of them keep a professional appearance.

"I would recommend you take some form of easily seen identification, we wouldn't want some trooper or hyper acolyte to think you were one of these pirates.."

She then would finally turn back to Alisteri.

"My dear, I never said what I thought personally... Just sharing my observations. Perhaps later you could enlighten me as to what issues you spoke of, privately of course."

A sly smile is given.

"Do we happen to have any flags or other markings the mercenary could wear? Just something simple will do.. Perhaps one of your men has something?"








​

 

[Avel Som]

---

Avel Som laughed aloud at the masked man's response. "Sith Order, huh? A little order might be good. From what I've seen, this Galaxy is pretty scummy and savage. But you've no need to worry about me. I'd rather help, unless I'm interrupting something between you two?" It wouldn't do to get between a potential lover's quarrel.

He turned to the woman. "And it's Avel Som. One name. At least, I think it is. I don't exactly have a family name, considering I have no family." And if there were other surviving experiments, he didn't really care to consider them family. He definitely didn't consider that crazy bastard who created him to be family. No, Darkwing was the closest thing he had to friend or family. But these Sith Order people seemed decent enough. Perhaps they could at least be acquaintances.

He stopped down and ripped off a blood-soaked shirt from one of the fallen pirates. He tied it around his head like a bandana. "Just watch out for the man with the blood red bandana and the hawk. But even if I'm hit with a little friendly fire, I won't hold it against you. Shall we get to it?"

---

Darth Strosius Adeline Noctua
TAGS: OPEN​