The Bastion of Ren (KoR)

[Progflaw99]

Location: Virgillia, Near the Equator. Path of Jagged Stones. En route to The Bastion of Ren.​

The Path of Jagged Stones, the group of Knights and Disciples of Ren had taken a brief respite here on one of the short landings. They had been travelling for near an hour, the long and winding steps leading the cadre to where the Bastion of Ren had been carved into the very mountain they were ascending. It was said the Path of Jagged Stones had been built in ancient times, paved with large stones, filed to fit into a long and winding road through the steppes and mountains of Virgillia. The planet itself consisted of several major biomes ranging from arctic near the poles to a warm and humid jungle towards the equator. At its base, the Path of Jagged Stones began amidst a flourishing jungle. In all honesty it was quite the beautiful landscape. Beautiful, but deadly.

Poison was but one danger in the jungles surrounding the high peaks of Virgillia. A host of other creatures made their home beneath the thick canopy of the trees. Vornskr for one, the beasts being introduced almost a century ago to the jungles of Virgillia along with Ysalamiri. High atop the mountains above, Drexyl had set their nests, resting on perilous ledges along the cliff face. These were but a few of the foreign species that had been transported to the planet over the last few centuries, their populations now thriving.

The group had made it through the jungle so far unmolested, climbing high into the mountains and now, looking above they would be able to see the massive fortress carved into the rock. Above, Drexyl floated through the sky, sailing on invisible waves of heat, their screeching audible even at this distance. Phenex raised his hand to his eyes, brow slick with exertion. They were almost there. Almost to the Bastion of Ren. The fortress had been established long ago, but only recently had it been truly brought to light. Much of the construction but there were several key tasks that needed to be completed before the Bastion would be officially complete.

Some of the wandering Vornskr, wild in nature had begun to roam too closely to the fortress, sometimes even wandering up to the entrance. The nearby nest and alpha would have to be eliminated to prevent any disciples from being attacked as they made their trek to the Bastion of Ren. In addition to the Vornskr, high above the entrance a particularly savage group of Drexyl had begun expanding, some of the toughest were among their cadre and it would benefit the Order of Ren greatly to capture several eggs to bring back to the lab located deep within the mountain. If these creatures could be tamed through science or dark force techniques, the Ren would have a formidable advantage both physically and psychologically over their enemies in combat.

As well, the group had been selected to tour the new facilities and establish themselves. It was likely they would spend much of their time training and learning at this facility. Each had been assigned a small, modest quarters, minimalistic in nature. Wherever they decided to go, they would have to complete the final leg of their trek up the Path of Jagged Stones and ascend the final staircase into the Bastion.
Phenex ruffled his wings slightly as he sipped from a small leather waterskin. He stood in silence, gazing up at the creatures above him. He felt trapped here on the ground with the others, but he was Disciple of Ren, and this was simply part of the journey, despite the fatigue in his legs. The trip would have been arduous for all, the brief respite calming and refreshing. He hoped they would trek on soon, the Knights among them would likely lead the way when it was decided they’d rested long enough.

[member="Anor Ren"] | [member="Isla Ashen"] | [member="Iroatas"] | [member="Darth Veles"] | [member="Samka Derith"]​

OOC:

Spoiler

This is for any and all Ren, if you fall outside of those bounds, PM me and perhaps we can work you in! Also, the story isn't limited to the tasks I mentioned, feel free to explore the base and bring your own objectives for this dev thread! Other locations in the Bastion of Ren can be found here: OOC Thread

 

[Graf's Archive Account]

The trek had been a pleasant one so far for Anor Ren. After several months of exploring the Unknown Regions of the Galaxy for ancient artifacts at the request of the Order of Ren, Anor wanted at least a few days to stretch his legs in contrast to being cooped up in a starship for weeks at a time. The first thing that the Ren had heard when he came back is that they had discovered a temple on the planet of Virgillia and wanted a group of Ren to investigate it and bring it back to optimum condition for use, Anor had volunteered along with some other Knights and a couple of Disciples. The landing on the planet was the easiest part overall with minimum interference from the terrain or the wildlife.

Anor, while one to always wear black robes and a large black cloak, had to discard the cloak due to the extreme humidity and heat, as well as the physical activity they were about to endure during the trip. The group had stopped to rest on the mountains, the wind causing Anor's robe to flap around him and sending a cool breeze through his horned hair-less head. He turned around to face the rest of his comrades and took a large swig from a metal canteen "We may be powerful force users, but even that won't stop dehydration from killing all of you. It has been a long journey so far but the most arduous part has not been reached yet. " He orated in his usual sinister voice, casting his eyes over the Disciples in particular.

The Ren turned back to face the mountain stronghold in the distance, and noticed the rundown look it had developed over the years. Vegetation had grown all over the place and the Knight was certain he could feel a large presence of animals within it, perhaps having nested in it after whoever had built it vacated. He instinctively placed his cybernetic hand on his new lightsaber, it was a double-bladed that Anor had been using to outweigh the disability of having a machine for an arm. "Make ready soon, this temple will not rediscover itself." He said to the group.

[member="Phenex Ren"] [member="Isla Ashen"] [member="Iroatas"] [member="Darth Veles"] [member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Iroatas]

A ten foot tall Knight of Ren.

Tvarka Ren's arms were clasped in front of him.

Vonduun Crab Armour covered his body, a gift from the once Yuuzhan Vong allies from the Hrosha-Gul in his time as a member of the One Sith. Coiled around his right arm, hidden by his long, overbearing ebony cloak was his Hydrastaff, hidden from view as well. No one knew it was there, no one would know it was there. The once Sith Knight rolled powerful shoulders as they trekked through the jungle.

He was a powerful being.

His species made for digging through the earth itself. He could run for hours if need be. He had done so in the past, and he would continue to do so until the day he was slain.

The Masters of Ren had deployed the small group to this rediscovered temple.

Iroatas would do as he was told.

Black cloak concealing his demonic features, his entire person was cast into shadow as he heard [member="Anor Ren"] speak. He spoke wise words. Hydration. The humidity was evident in the first moments he had touched onto the planet. The Force was used subconsciously to cool him, as if the Force was his personal air conditioner, one that was created from his own body, and only helped himself. A simple ability. Sith tattoos criss crossed his facial features, but those were concealed too.

The Maelibus didn't stop walking.

As silent as a ten foot behemoth could, he continued walking.

Their orders did not consist of pauses.

Rest would come when the mission is complete.

His silver lightclub hung on his waist, much too big for any human to hold with one hand, let alone too.

His strides are long. If they waited too long he would eventually be alone, but they were all heading to the same place. Tvarka Ren did not speak to anyone. And it was rare that any spoke to him.

He may as well have been a moving statue.

[member="Phenex Ren"]

 

[Darth Veles]

A challenging, borderline impossible trek to walk; one of many tests the Ren would have to face in order to prove their worth as the First Order’s finest. Darth Veles, a Sith Lord hardened by uncountable challenges and years of hardship, barely found the journey difficult to beat – he had survived much worse in the past, daring the endless crimson dunes adorning Korriban’s lifeless surface and treading Mustafar’s burning face. This place did not possess such apocalyptic landscape. Emerald green jungle sprawled across the distance, life flourished according to the uncaring laws of nature, all crowned by the ancient temple built within the hard stone of the mountain itself. Formerly a sanctuary for the weary, now turned into a bunker-like outpost watching over the region. A fitting place for the Ren, although it reminded the Sith assassin of his former alligeance a bit too much.

For someone of amphibious nature and walking with a stick to overcome his hobble, the Sith Lord certainly appeared unnaturally fit and refreshed, enough to fill his companions’ hearts with envy. Free of the heavy cloak usually found enveloping his features, the man’s body offered a rare sight upon two silver lightsaber hilts patiently awaiting their master’s summon by his hip. Only Veles’ canteen dangling on his belt indicated the Sith Lord needed to keep himself hydrated just like the others, robbing him of the mythical-like veil often surrounding powerful figures. As his large bulbous eyes darted from one Ren to another, set to completely ignore the predatory creatures in the sky and studying how the Ren dealt with the trial set before them instead. Each and every face was known to him by now, some more than others, a strange little family they have made.

Filled with purpose and unyielding nature, Veles’s powerful strides started to ascend the stone steps once more, rhythmically eliciting the gentle click each time his cane impacted the hard surface. Soft and barely audible taps of his booted feet stood little chance to overpower the stick’s sounds, and yet the Mon Cal carried himself almost as a healthy man, the crippled hobble’s trace almost gone from his determined march up. Perhaps it was a silent challenge to the knights; could they beat a cripple? Whatever the case, his pace swiftly gained in speed that would be more appropriate for someone walking down. Veles was always a strange one, displaying both strengths and weaknesses that should have negated each other by all means, yet here he wielded a cane, walked with a limp, definitely the weakest part - nothing could deny the man's unnatural vitality. If this power stemmed from the Force or something entirely different, he did not say, a silent observer to spy on the Ren and learn from them just as they should do their best to glimpse into the Sith Lord's ways.


[member="Iroatas"] [member="Anor Ren"] [member="Phenex Ren"] [member="Samka Derith"] [member="Isla Ashen"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

The climb was daunting, but nothing Jaron had not been accustomed to. Before Corellia had been torn in two by the events of a few years ago, Jaron had been an avid climber of Coronet peak. His legs were not decidedly in the same condition they had been in when he was 18, but they still managed to get him where the group was now. There had been pockets of the trek where the force had seemed to be lost to him, no doubt the ugly lizards had something to do with that. The higher they climbed the more the force flooded back to him. The connection had never been lost, just muted. The lizards, and how their biology worked, was a science beyond Jaron. He was fighter, a killer, a scout, and if he wanted to be cheesy he could add lover to that list. He was not as Corellian as his upbringing had been, no he was Telosian and Mando'ad. His mother having instilled in him her culture.

Jaron was feeling sticky. The climate was muggy, and the heat which emanated form the equator was not the temperate climate he was used to on Dosuun. This facility would prove to be what the Ren needed however. Dosuun was becoming more a political and military bastion of the First Order. The Ren needed a place where they could practice, train, and hone their arts without the wary eye of others around them. This was to be their home, their temple, this was to be theirs. Jaron personally welcomed the idea. Though this would not be the first time he had lived inside a rock. His personal getaway of Sanctuary Rock on Arbra was a place to hide when solitude was wanted. He had been living there the past many months only to return the Knights of Ren as of late.

"Drink up, and ration your water," Jaron agreed. Now that we have passed the pockets of those disgusting lizards call on the dark side to help strengthen you for the rest of this journey." This was not about demonstrating brute strength, but wisdom. The group needed each other to be at their best in order to work together. It was on odd group which had formed. Jaron was well aware he was the newcomer to the group despite all he had done to help establish the First Order on Dosuun. He was the scout and would be content to push ahead if needed or wanted.

@Iroatas @Anor Ren [member="Phenex Ren"] [member="Samka Derith"] [member="Isla Ashen"] [member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Susanoo Tsukuyomi]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

She had been asked to come to help out. There wasn't much that the girl was sure she would be able to do when she was sitting there in the chair while she moved to join the others. Helping out with development of something big could come in handy as it were and she wasn't opposed to being around more people. Helped with the rehab as it were when she sat there with the long white hair framing her cracked and pale skin. Her chest was heaving while she tapped the seat. her tattoo's looked more prominent against the white skin. Her breathing a little ragged but worth it when she took a drink from the carack styled canteen for many of the things. There had been a couple of them on the market when she was following with more of them and feelign the darkside course through her veins.

 

[Samka Derith]

Samka had been transfixed by the sight in the sky during the group's resting break. Drexl were fascinating creatures. Their appearance could only be described as hideous, a cross between arachnids, lizards and avians with an unhealthy number of spikes, yet they drifted through the air with surprising grace. She smiled at the circling beasts from her spot on one of the path's large overturned stones, her legs absentmindedly rocking above the floor like a child's. They were no doubt dangerous and she couldn't wait to test just how much, to see if the creatures were even more impressive up close with their backs against the wall.

The voice of [member="Anor Ren"] broke Sam from her thoughts and she returned her attention to her companions. The Zabrak's eyes bore into her as he spoke of hydration. Typical, she thought, another one to judge me on my youth. Nonetheless she reached into the rucksack she had been carrying and took a drink from her water flask. She didn't feel thirsty as such but she had been sweating heavily in the heat even beneath the handheld parasol she had brought with her. The others may scoff but she burned easily in the sun so it was always best to take precautions. Besides, she liked the style it gave her. The rest of her outfit was similar in style to her usual black one-piece, military like in appearance but now with a sleeveless top and looser pants to help with the humidity.

Putting the flask away with her other supplies, Sam saw the monster [member="Iroatas"] continuing to walk onwards without consideration for the rest the rest of the group may require. He was followed not long after by [member="Darth Veles"], the crippled mon cal proving bizarrely endurant. Iroatas may have been continuing to press onward out of a narrow minded desire to reach his destination but Veles always had some greater reasoning behind his actions, she hadn't known him long but it was long enough to know he was a schemer, a thinker two steps ahead. Sam sighed and flung her bag back over her shoulder. She gracefully hopped down from her perch, twirling her parasol as she did so, and began to follow the two up the steps. She was young and fit enough to continue the journey without too much difficulty, longer rest time would have been appreciated but was not a necessity. She couldn't allow the group to be separated if something bad happened and, beyond that, she'd be damned if the first people to reach the new home of the Order of Ren be Sith, former or current, without a pure Knight of Ren such as herself. So she set off, climbing the Path of Jagged Stones a few meters behind the Sith Lord.

[member="Phenex Ren"] [member="Jaron Lesan"] [member="Misha Ren"] [member="Isla Ashen"]

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla’s boots steadily climbed the Path of Jagged Stones, slowing as the group of Ren reached a landing. Though the flame-haired woman was fairly athletic, her legs were beginning to feel sore and heavy with fatigue. She took the moment to catch her breath, and used the back of her sleeve to wipe away the beads of sweat that had formed on her brow. Her normally pale face was touched by red, but started to fade as she recovered. Emerald eyes ventured over the lush jungle landscape all around them, it truly was quite a sight to behold. Isla pushed her sleeves up and her hand fell to rest on her hip, her gaze now turning to view the staircase that cut up the side of the mountain.

The Bastion of Ren waited for them at the top, almost like it was nestled in the sky itself – a perfect location for their new home.

She was here today among many familiar faces, some that she even considered to be friends by now. First, there was [member="Anor Ren"], the very Knight that had come to fetch her from the woods of Skye. Isla still remembered that night very fondly. Next, there was the ever-present Sith Lord, [member="Darth Veles"]; Isla was very familiar with him, having traveled at his side a few times now. And the voice of [member="Jaron Lesan"] was speaking some useful advice for all of them - a helpful tone that she recognized well.

But for the moment, Isla’s attention fell upon a relatively new face. She had seen [member="Phenex Ren"] once before, but only had the chance to truly take in his appearance now. His was a race that she knew, the two hailing from the very same home-world. However, Isla had grown up in a very small farm community in the mountains, where the S’kytri were respected and regarded like mysterious, legendary figures. She couldn’t help but notice the mild irritation in the way his wings moved – metaphorically clipped.

Isla drank from a canteen that she kept on her hip, her eyes shifting from the winged-man to the slight form of a young woman. It was true that [member="Misha Ren"] was very different from most members of the Ren that she had met thus far, but she was looking forward to getting to know her. The woman’s appearance may have been peculiar to some, especially the way she traveled in a hover-chair, but Isla did not mind in the slightest.

“How are you fairing, Misha Ren?” She asked, “Are you ready to continue?”

[member="Samka Derith"], [member="Iroatas"]

 

[Susanoo Tsukuyomi]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

Misha was taking in the others ones that were there with her and she continued to move a little here and there in the chair. the hover seat concealing her legs and designed to work for her. She looked up when one of them was talking to her and she had more interest in the woman as the Sarkhai nodded her head. Black glassy eyes looking out over things. "I am fine yes." She was moving forward while her hair moved to cover her hands that were working the controls with a small look over at some of he other ones who they had in the group and she was finally taking in their different looks... Kind of. Most seemed simple and normal, they were not special like one of the rare force sensitive sarkhai. Something that would have her be remembered by her people no matter what. "These others are different then the ones who had come to my world."

 

[Graf's Archive Account]

Anor noticed that some of the others were moving ahead without a rest and put his canteen back onto his utility belt, he stepped back up onto the path and began walking with the others/ They had the right mindset, they'd all be able to rest once they were in the temple, or at least when they cleared it out. Every single step that the Ren took towards the Bastion, he felt a small fraction of the force leave him.

"Now that we have passed the pockets of those disgusting lizards call on the dark side to help strengthen you for the rest of this journey." Anor heard another one of the knights, Jaron Lesan, notion. "Agreed, we must use the Force to strengthen us. I fear that more of the Ysalamiri have taken residence in the Bastion as well as other dangerous creatures, and without the Force we only have our weapons to defend us." The Ren warned, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, letting the dark force radiate from him and strengthen his reflexes for a good few hours.

He opened them again and quickened his pace up the stairs, hoping to get this over with so that they may repair the temple ahead of schedule and allow themselves to explore around a bit afterwards. After all, the Force was all around them, and one could only experience it by actively seeking it out.

[member="Phenex Ren"] [member="Isla Ashen"] [member="Iroatas"] [member="Darth Veles"] [member="Samka Derith"] [member="Misha Ren"] [member="Jaron Lesan"]

 

[Iroatas]

Just the mission.

That was why he existed.

To live and serve.

Iroatas followed the orders he was given as efficient as he could. If he could do so without help, he would do it without help. If it required him to work with others, he would work with others. He was simple that way. What he wanted for the Galaxy? Unity. Just unity. A simple, innocent want. But many thought the demon had ulterior motives. Shame. Soon they'd realize they were wrong about him. Sure, he was a former member of the One Sith. Of course he had the Sith tattoos, never would they leave his face. Just like the many scars and light chips in his scales.

Never would they be repaired, or removed.

Every single blemish on his being was apart of. Every one told a story. Yet, must thought him a demon.

A monster.

They would see.

He continued to walk upwards.

And then he stopped suddenly.

Something was approaching.

Black orbs swept the surrounding tree line.

He reached out with the Force.

Something brushed against his senses. And then something heavy blindsided him. Unexpected, unseen underneath the dark shadows the trees caused. He must've known it was stalking him after he broke off from the group, but he had paid it no heed. He had figured it was one of the other Force users, perhaps [member="Darth Veles"], since he had appeared to be one who wanted to push on. Four legs, that much he knew, and there were teeth over his crab covered arm.

He didn't cry out in pain. With his free hand he pushed off of the ground. He swung his arm out to the side. Since the vornskr's teeth didn't penetrate the armour, it had no further leverage on him. Its teeth scraped across the forearm armour and then flew into a tree. A deep cut thanks to the spikes that covered the Vonduun Skerr Kyrric. Blood dripped from its body as it scurried off.

Iroatas did not stop his progress -- but he did not continue to the Bastion of Ren, no.

He followed the vornskr, back to its... Vornskr Lair.

"Vornskr are active."

Three words, said over a comm channel. The canine species was normally a nocturnal species, why he had been attacked during the day was an anomaly to him. He'd find it soon enough he figured.

"The lair is close."

[member="Anor Ren"], [member="Isla Ashen"], [member="Jaron Lesan"], [member="Misha Ren"], [member="Samka Derith"], [member="Phenex Ren"].

 

[Nabrina Vao]

(OOC/Have talked to [member="Phenex Ren"] before typing this up!)

[About an hour behind the Rennites]

The lush, tropical jungleworld was alien and harsh to the Twi'lek, who'd known only the barren deserts of tomb worlds and sand-blasted backwaters like Korriban, Tattooine, Jakku and Ryloth. The sands were very much her home as much as they reminded her of the inevitable erosion that even the hardest rock came to in due time - humbling, and interestingly, none of that here. The humid air made her blood-red skin glisten with sweat as she struggled to traverse the jagged stones of what seemed to pass for a path - true to its name. The rock itself was hot to the touch, hostile to the senses, but only naturally conducting the heat from the star that lit up Virgillia. It was a long, arduous hike, nearly a pilgrimage onto itself, as the maverick desperately tried to catch up with the party: something seemed to drive them forward - a dark energy that she was all too familiar with, and yet was only beginning to understand. She was young, and still had much to learn, regardless of her enthusiasm or her presumptuous reliance on the lore of Holobooks and trite holocrons from the old ruined academies she would make her little pilgrimages too.

The hike itself was a learning experience - she had severely underestimated the flora and fauna of this world, so abundant in its aesthetic, yet death seemed to lurk around every corner. Having come here with next to nothing, she contented herself internally by whispering to her own mind that she was sustained by the Force - cute and charming religious piety, but ultimately in vain if it weakened her to the point of vulnerability. About a quarter of an hour ago was the closest she had gotten to the group - the only glimpse of them being a towering monster of a biped; by her estimations almost double her height. These Knights of Ren, as they referred to themselves, had a remarkable speed for a party so large, and in condition this hostile; on terrain so demanding.

She hated to admit it, but she was beginning to grow vexed.

She knew the risks - this was a gamble for her. She was a Darksider with scant formal training to her name, no reputable name to hide behind, nor any friends to guide her. She was a straggler in the purest sense of the term, left to fend for herself after her pathetic little Sith instructor, who thought he could one-up her by buying her out as a slave while also presumptuously instructing her, was killed by her own hand in a moment of weakness. She knew the taste of bittersweet victory then: today would be no different. Her trite understanding of the Knights of Ren also did not leverage her in any way - were they Sith? Or more Dark Jedi? None of the ancient annals that date back to before the Battle of Yevon make mention of them, at least not the ones in the temples. They were young, fresh, and novel, characteristics she found to be strengths in a galaxy so jaded by the wars of the old order. And yet, in the end, even she knew that they could probably just as easily deal with her and nullify her existence, sentencing her to the dooming void of oblivion without so much as a burial mound for her to be remember.

"There is no peace, there is only passion. There is no peace, there is only passion", she softly mumbled to herself under her breath as she kept going, slowly traversing the Path of Jagged Stones as she kept climbing. The way seemed to go on forever, but, she kept in mind, so did the shrouding veil of the Force. A dogged determination compelled her to keep advancing - to either destiny or death, to find either a new place, her place, in the Will of the Force, and the galaxy, or to the grave, a mutt snuffed out too soon.

The little blue patches of electromesh on her flex-armor suit stood out like pylons as the Twi'lek continued on; her cloak masking most of her face so that only her jaw and her lips could be seen, and the primal ferocity of the Sith pincerbug tattoos that cruelly decorated her, like evil wraiths, reminders of a dark, morbid past, dancing across her features. Her lightsaber remained hidden as well, sheathed under her steelcloth cloak as Nabrina huffed, puffed, but just would not stop.

@Iroatas @Anor Ren [member="Misha Ren"] [member="Isla Ashen"] [member="Samka Derith"] [member="Jaron Lesan"] [member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Jaron paused long enough to take his own advice. The sweat which had beaded along his brow was wiped from his forehead with a cloth Jaron had carried in his back pocket. There was no reason for the large one to push on and yet he did. Perhaps he was showing off, or perhaps he was much more like a creature than Jaron had been giving him credit for. Either way his make up must have different enough from the humans, or near humans, that he did not need the respite the others required. His canteen was replaced as soon as the drink was finished, and his steps moved him forward once more.

He regarded [member="Isla Ashen"] with a smile and noted [member="Misha Ren"] was with her. The companion Isla had chosen to travel with was unknown to Jaron, and had they the time perhaps he would have conversed with her in a social manner. However his energy would be needed when they reached the Bastion. Something made Jaron pause however. His head turned back to the point just before he could look over his shoulder. A quizzical look happened upon the features of his face as his eyes closed. His mind searched for whatever it was that he sensed, but it seemed as though it had dissipated as soon as it had brushed against him. Jaron knew one thing, whatever he sensed it was behind them, raw, and had no shape within the force.

His pause was not more than a few seconds, and perhaps Isla would be the only one who had worked with him enough to know something had troubled him. She would only know if the pause had caught her attention however, and that was not something he was counting on. His thoughts were interrupted by the comm from @Iroatas. The Vornskr were active, and he was moving into their layer? Either he was courageous or a fool, it would be determined soon. Jaron felt to answer.

<<< "Tell us what you discover before you engage... It would be a shame if we lost one of our numbers to an active and fully awake pack." >>>

Jaron turned to Anor.

"If you wish I will scout ahead to confirm your suspicions?"

[member="Nabrina Vao"] [member="Anor Ren"] [member="Samka Derith"] [member="Darth Veles"] [member="Phenex Ren"]

 

[Progflaw99]

The short pause before continuing had been enough for the tall S'kytri and he began moving once more. The Disciple of Ren ruffled his wings once more as his feet methodically pushed him up the stone steps. He'd seen a few of the others begin and he preferred to catch up, his long stride would help him to do so. Phenex was clad not in robes as was typical of the Ren, instead a dark cloth tunic and cummerbund. The trek for any normal being would be incredibly difficult and even with the aid of the force it was not an effortless matter. Despite his fatigue he pressed onward, thankful for his light weight which allowed him to travel somewhat more at ease than some of the group. As he progressed forward the repetitive tap of his feet upon the dry stones matching the solid tick as the long force-pike in his hand did the same. It was a strange weapon, not indicative of a standard Sith but it did the job well. Due to his tall height, Phenex had yet to design a lightsaber for himself, preferring the long reach of the spear-like pike. It was familiar to him.

Before his addition to the Ren as a Disciple, he had served as the Patriarch's Royal Guard on Skye. It was one of their preferred weapon of choice, more elegant than a blaster and more useful than a simple spear, the ability to shock offenders or even kill them with the touch of a lance portrayed the perfect image of elegance and practicality. He would eventually build his own blade but until then he was content to wield the pike. His awareness spiked as he closed his eyes, letting the Force guide his footsteps as his mind focused on other things, chiefly, the other Ren around him. Many of them were knights, true members of the Order of Ren. He'd met several of them in passing before but he had been consumed with self study, slowly but surely purging himself and absorbing what knowledge he could from the Knights he has shadowed. Something familiar about one of their accents drew his attention.

His eyes opened, tracking towards where the voice had come from. The woman was one of the knights, her fiery hair glinting in the sunlight. Could she too have been from Skye? If so, she must have lived outside of the city. Phenex made a mental note to approach her later. As the sun continued to beat down on his blue flesh, he began to slow his ascent. Ahead, he had seen the crab-like armored Ren ahead stop, the Mon Cal only shortly behind. Though his senses were not as acute as a full fledged Knight of Ren, he still felt the disturbance and then saw it. A creature shrouded in shadow had attacked the titan ahead of him, being thrown ruthlessly back into the small shock of trees aside the mountain path. The majority of the forest lay below but there was enough forest to conceal a pack at best of the Vornskr. He'd read books about them but never seen one this close and even now he only had for a moment. Their poison bearing tails were certainly a weapon one would not want to face alone if it could be avoided. The venom was not particularly deadly but could cause a paralyzing effect which would hinder their prey... just long enough to tear into it with their jagged teeth. Depending on the size of the pack... it could get messy.

The Disciple found it strange that there was one roaming at this time of day. It could have been a stray, or it could mean that there were more in the area. He hoped for the former but planned for the latter. Tightening his grip on the force-pike he scanned the small forest area, not seeing anything with his eyes but rather sensing a deep foreboding. He didn't like the feeling. He would wait for the rest before they continued, he would not be the first, but he certainly would not be the last. Nervously he twitched his large wings, unfolding them slightly. They were leathery but strong, a prime example of his species; the wings were powerful enough to propel him high into the air if necessary. S'kytri were quite unique in that manner, their bones similar to a bird in structure allowing them to weigh less. In addition, their strict believe that excess weight was a liability aiding in his natural ability to fly unhindered. As he stopped, Phenex cast his eyes once more upward, the face of the Bastion looming above them. They were close... and there were many dangers surrounding them. They would have to either decide on a task soon or break off to deal with them, perhaps one of the knights would make the decision for them, he was only just a disciple... for now. One day he would become a Knight of Ren, he vowed it.

It was a strange group theirs, but they would become family if they all survived and worked together. He relished the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to train with them. All of them.

[member="Jaron Lesan"] | [member="Nabrina Vao"] | [member="Iroatas"] | [member="Anor Ren"] | [member="Misha Ren"] | [member="Isla Ashen"] | [member="Samka Derith"] | [member="Darth Veles"]​

 

[Darth Veles]

It did not take long and all the fishes swimming in the infinite sea of the Force started to move again, unwilling to be beaten by the amphibious Sith and the gargantuan monstrosity claiming the first position. The Darth’s expression remained stoic, though hints of a smile played with his lips when the purple-haired girl pursued their quick pace and hunted after both non-humans with renewed vigour, like a runner maddened by desire to score a better place. Definitely a good breed of Ren, that one – vicious like a wild predator, yet knowing the value of diplomacy. Her utter devotion to the First Order and ability to focus on her mission made her a particularly useful asset to whoever wielded the power to command the Ren. Plus there was her obvious craving to grow in strength. Very Sith-like.

Samka received a cold stare that sparkled with a hint of approval before the amber orb swivelled back to watch the broken, old road up made out of stone slabs. Others followed her example soon enough, unwilling to get separated. Good - hardships made the Ren stronger as long as they pushed past their limits. Veles understood it all too well in his never-ending race towards perfection that would naturally never come, constantly growing stronger. To ever stop meant death – his competition was equally tireless in the hungry pursuit of power.

This strange train made of people lost its engine when the massive Maelibus rushed no longer and his monstrous voice boomed through the comms. Even the Force subtly nudged its children in a discreet warning, like a cold shiver running down one’s spine. Finally allowing himself to smile, the Sith Lord turned on his heel, glancing down the crumbling steps upon the remaining Ren. A suitable test awaited them – and who was he, a Sith, to interfere with that? When a refreshing current of wind licked their bodies, the amphibian simply ceased to be, vanishing from existence as if his presence was just the heat playing tricks on their heads. Not a single trace to track him down remained – his body and the presence in the Force both gone.

This did not make him stop his ascend. Automated steps more similar to rhythmical workings shown by machines than sentient beings continued to carry him up still, although no longer audibly revealing his position when his cane met the stone ground.

He needed to catch up with the Maelibus and passively watch his fight.


[member="Phenex Ren"] [member="Jaron Lesan"] [member="Nabrina Vao"] [member="Iroatas"] [member="Anor Ren"] [member="Misha Ren"] [member="Isla Ashen"] [member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla watched as the others resumed their journey up the Path of Jagged Stones, and figured that it was also time for her and [member="Misha Ren"] to move on as well. She watched as the younger woman moved along in her chair, delicate hands on the controls, and a curtain of white hair to cover them. Isla turned slightly to the side, listening as Misha spoke about the others. Indeed, the Ren seemed to be a diverse group – especially evident by the variety of species that were trekking up to the Bastion.

“Tell me, what world do you come from?” She asked, eyeing Misha curiously.

The two women appeared to be bringing up the rear, but they pushed on. Isla did call upon the force to aid her climb, but only just, to keep from completely exhausting herself so soon. Emerald eyes squinted up into the distance; the large form of an unfamiliar Ren seemed to have broken from the group. Isla felt a tiny ripple through the force. A moment later, his voice came over their comm channel, warning of the Vornskr. It was a species that she had not encountered before, but she had heard that they were primarily nocturnal. Curious.

She could see Jaron up ahead, it looked like he might have been conversing with Anor – but she was too far to know for sure. Something was certainly happening up there. The leathery wings of the S’kytri were restless. It was an uncomfortable feeling that echoed in Isla, too. Isla’s eyes searched for Darth Veles, but his dark form was suddenly absent. As she and Misha began to catch up to the others, she gazed around.

The Ren had reached their first obstacle; it seemed that this would also be an interesting test of their group dynamic.

[member="Phenex Ren"] [member="Jaron Lesan"] [member="Nabrina Vao"] [member="Iroatas"] [member="Anor Ren"] [member="Misha Ren"] [member="Samka Derith"] [member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Nabrina Vao]

Someone looks this way.

The Force was, at best, a sensually abstract thing to those chosen few who could feel it. One could never really pin down the sensation of moving your person through a sea of such nothingness, and yet knowing there was something there. For a moment, Nabrina averted her gaze from the jagged stones before her, the endless flow of broken rock and sharp, tempered earth to look upward, up the road where she, and the Knights of Ren she tracked were heading. For a moment she could feel as if that something directly felt her there, as if this entity had reached out to her and cried to kindred. Being around other people, not to mention other Force Users, felt strange - especially for one who grew up a solitary slave. A conflux of emotions swirled around inside her: curiosity, guilty elation, humiliation, insecurity, rage, anger, and maybe, just maybe, even fear.

Sensing that attempting to hide herself would be a futile exercise from this point onward, she picked up the pace and started making small leaps from rock to rock - at once jumping onto and kicking off larger formations from off-angles so she wouldn't slip and make a complete nerfherder of herself; using her hands to prop, grab, pull and push off. It wasn't fast or fluid by any means - she looked like a child at play in a rock garden, but it was faster nonetheless. In the distance she could already see what they were after, a temple of sorts, or a similar construct, seemingly etched into the side of the mountain. A fine work of engineering to be sure, and worthy even of the Creators millennia ago. The formation piqued her curiosity, she had to admit. After all, there were only a handful of things in the galaxy that seemed that aged, and in most cases they had their fair share of secrets locked away. The prospect thrilled her, but not so much that she forgot that a party of explorers also seemed to stand in her way. There was them too - the Knights of Ren: what to make of them? Or more importantly, what would they make of her?

It took another good fifteen minutes of struggling to navigate the Path of Jagged Stones before she could finally see the small dots up ahead - life, bipedal, and from the way they moved, social. It must be them, the Twi'lek thoughed as she let out a sigh of both relief and controlled tension. Fear was illogical, fear was the enemy, she repeated to herself again and again like a mantra as she slowly drew closer. She could sense dark clouds up ahead - not the meteorological type, but the ethereal type, as slowly she began to feel the ripples she herself made through the Force start to collide with theirs. The jig was up - they'd know she was here. No turning back now.

She was about to peek over one of the taller jagged fragments of rock, and just as she held onto its obsidian-black edges, she heard something.

A faint growl, from behind her - a considerable distance away by her estimates, but close enough to be a problem. Were others following? She slowly turned around, careful to keep her facial features cloaked under her hood, and there, just a few dozen paces back, one Vornskr stood proud and tall in between two sizable rock formations along the road. It must have been following them - or me, she thought as she quickly tried to tap into her telekinetic abilities and slam its skull into the rock beside it, but to no success.

What? She made a small gasp, and then looked at her hand initially. What was going on? The beast started to move closer, keeping its body low as it made another low-pitched snarl at her.

"The others will have noticed it by now", she mumbled to herself as her eyes moved back and forth between the little bipedal figures ahead of her, and the canine stalking her from her rear. If I don't defend myself, this hound will kill me. If I do, they'll know I'm here, and then they'll kill me. Frotz. (Twi'lek profanity)

"Well", she began mumbling to herself again as she slowly turned back to the Vornskr which was now within a long leap's distance of her and looking ready to pounce, "we don't know that yet, beast. But one thing's for sure.."

In that instant, the (energy) field around her seemed to ripple and radiate, the product of her own rage beginning to boil as she channeled her hate to buff herself up with Force Hate and Force Rage, now completely giving herself away to any other nearby Force Users.

"If you won't submit to me or the Force, beast", she hissed as she stood up straight, her cloaked figure now standing like a black wraith along the path, and then immediately followed by the all-too familiar sound of a lightsaber being drawn.

"Then.. you will die."

[member="Isla Ashen"] [member="Darth Veles"] [member="Phenex Ren"] [member="Jaron Lesan"] @Iroatas @Anor Ren [member="Misha Ren"] [member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Iroatas]

Tvarka Ren's footsteps were heavy as he followed the vornskr that had attacked him.

His long legs forced him to move fast, he could never understand walking slow. Why walk slow when you could walk fast? Didn't people always have things to do? If not, why leave your home? Only orders mattered. Following the orders of the Supreme Leader were all that mattered.

His orders now? Secure the Temple, Citadel, whatever it was.

The vornskr were a threat.

They needed to be destroyed if the Bastion was to be secured.

Every single step he took, he could see that the dark blood of the vornskr was darkening. The longer it fled from him, the more blood it lost. The weaker it got. The slower it got. Now, he could see its dark shape passing a tree. He followed. After he had passed that tree, his rumbling steps stopped at the top of an incline. It was a small dip in the earth that started inclining upwards on the other side. It led up to the Bastion of Ren.

Ten feet of armour, scales, and flesh lowered to the ground.

Armoured hand travelling over the ground, he determined it was primarily soft earth next to the tree.

The black cloak he bore was shrugged off.

He couldn't sense, [member="Darth Veles"] sensing him, but he could feel creatures nearby. Not through the Force, not completely, but rather through the vibrations in the earth. Black orbs scanned the area around him. He forgot something.

"The vornskr have claimed the area outside of the Citadel as their own." There was a low sound at the end of the message that erupted from his mouth. Was it a growl? A grunt? Both? "I have found their lair. Continue onwards. Their home will be dealt with." He clicked off the comm. He wouldn't hear an immediate response over the comm line. Down he went. Right into the earth, powerful arms burrowing into the earth. In the spot where the ten foot Maelibus had been was nothing but a hole, covered by his ridiculously large cloak and he dug, fast, angling himself to go past the dip.

Chances were it was a cave system, but the vornskr would remain towards the mouth of the cave, he imagined. Most would be sleeping. Easy to eliminate.

One of the spikes on his armour got caught on a root that came out of nowhere. He pushed harder. All he could feel was the movement of the wounded vornskr. He was deadset on it, throwing himself beyond his limits.

[member="Nabrina Vao"], [member="Isla Ashen"], [member="Phenex Ren"], [member="Jaron Lesan"], [member="Anor Ren"], [member="Misha Ren"], [member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Graf's Archive Account]

"If you wish I will scout ahead to confirm your suspicions?" The other Knight, Jaron had offered. Anor contemplated denying but changed his mind once Darth Veles had disappeared into the air "That would indeed be most helpful at the moment, since some of the others are moving ahead to clear out the vornskr, it would be wise to divide the group up evenly, I will stay here with the other two." The Ren said as he cast a glance to the rest of the group that were behind him, Isla and...Misha he believed her name to be.

Once that had been settled the Force suddenly surged within him as his enhanced hearing heard the most peculiar sound, it was a lightsaber igniting but it had come from behind them,. Anor's eyes widened in his realization that they were not the only sentient beings around and he skidded down the path to where the Knight and Disciple were "Isla, I need you to regroup with the others and protect the disciples. I've felt a disturbance in the Force, I think someone is trailing us and I need to confirm my suspicions before we reach the temple." He said with a curt nod and began making his way down the path cautiously but quickly.

Not even five minutes of jogging down the path when he saw the source of his troubles. A force user, a sith no doubt, was in a heated confrontation with a vornskr, one of the dangerous creatures that had evolved to prey on the Force and its children. Apparently Anor was right, someone was trailing them to the Bastion, and he was going to make sure that the threat, no matter how minuscule, was stomped out before it began much more of a problem than could be handled without destroying a thousand year old temple in a heated duel.

He then proceeded to cloak himself within the Force, not unlike what Darth Veles had done but at a more novice and louder level that had complimented his current power, and moved closer cautiously. The force-user would perhaps sense him clinging onto the Force as well as the vornskr, but they were both battling one enough perhaps enough to not even notice him creeping up like a..well...like a vornskr.

The Ren would try to come around for a backstab, as usual for someone so cliched into the sith assassin role.

[member="Phenex Ren"] [member="Isla Ashen"] [member="Iroatas"] [member="Darth Veles"] [member="Samka Derith"] [member="Misha Ren"] [member="Jaron Lesan"] [member="Nabrina Vao"]

 

[Susanoo Tsukuyomi]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

THe pathway up that she was seeing was easier compared to the others... one advantage of a hover chair was you used less energy going over the terrain but she was also one of the ones who likely wouldn't be outracing them in a retreat or in a fight. Just how it went so she had learned to compensate as she spoke. "I come from Sarkhai." She said it while they were heading up and she could feel the others, hear them and was watching them before there seemed to be more things happening. Letting the force energies in her mind come to her while she was ready for anything to help the others as support. "The people on my world were visited by different groups but the rare instances where a force sensitive child is born means everyone remembers and knows who they are."