Dominion The Bryn'adûl | Asteroid Ambush | Dominion of Empty Hex

[Primarch Drek'ma]

Objective: B
Post: Four
Tags: Tathra Khaeus |

Drek’ma went lucid, beginning to choke as the last of his air left his lungs, eyes slowly rolling back. He couldn’t fight it anymore, his senses dulling as if he was underwater - drowning in nothing. Darkness nearly took him, but as quickly as it came light shun through the cracks as the massive boulder pinning him down was cast aside like a feather.

Drek’ma gasped, shifting as his lungs filled with air - coughing and spewing as the light shone round the massive silhouette. Of course, a silhouette some part of him recognised but all the same he could not speak. He just.. Needed to breathe.

He looked up, acknowledging Tathra with a nod that he was alright; for the most part. His arm was still trapped underneath the metal. As air reached his body, his senses came back and so did the pain. He gritted his teeth, groaning as he felt the torn skin and bruises across his body.

“Grrrraaah….. Thank you, Sire.” He managed, primarily focusing on breathing. He must’ve broken a rib or two.

“My arm… it's.. Is trapped.” Drek’ma explained through painful breaths.

 

[Tathra Khaeus]

Post: Four
Tags: Primarch Drek'ma
Objective: B

He reluctantly sighed, relieved that he’d been able to find him in time. He didn’t need another preventable death on his conscience, there were already so many. Tathra looked him over, checking for any obvious signs of serious damage. Thankfully, there were none - but he was beaten, bruised. His mind wondered as he cleared more debris, he thought of all the Drael that might’ve called for his help like Drek’ma did and were dying or dead. His gut sunk low, unease making his features weak.

It was only when the Primarch thanked him that his attention was brought back to the matter at hand, he might not be able to save them all but he could save his friend.

“You don’t need to thank me." Tathra spoke, his voice was solemn but he was focused on making sure the Primarch survived.

Drek’ma didn’t even respond to it, but rather pointed out the more important matter. Of course his arm, his little outburst or confession made him feel like a fool. He was sitting over his half-dead friend and whining when he could be helping.

“You aren’t losing this one.” Tathra chided, prying away the debris with both hands.

 

[Osam]

Post 6
Objective A

The reason for the tunnel's supposed sudden stop became evident. As the hybrid neared the far wall - the furthest point that they'd been able to see from outside - he became acutely aware of a rather steep drop. A flash of the light revealed that a secondary tunnel seemed to intersect this one, and that it could only be reached through this small two-foot dropoff point. At least, he didn't know of any other passages that would allow him access to it. That being said, the idea that there might be multiple tunnels all pumping out the vile air was a repulsive and frightening one. Could it be that other members of the expedition would be facing similar challenges to the trapped Sraelvun?

He fell and immediately felt himself become nauseous at the sudden weightlessness. It hadn't been a great fall by any means, and yet he felt as though his senses had become far more sensitive. Was the gas already beginning to affect him to a significantly higher degree now that he was marginally closer to its source? He continued onwards, suckling in breaths through the cloth mask that he'd procured, attempting to prevent more of the noxious fumes from leaking into his body.

As he crawled, he became acutely aware of wetness in the corner of his mouth, and the iron-taste of blood as a portion of his body continued to be negatively affected by the diseased air. The taste was repulsive, and he gagged, dry-heaving as he paused in the tunnel to regain control of his senses. To stop here in this place would mean certain death for him. No one would come after him to save his life, especially given their sudden fear. Besides, if he was able to turn off whatever was causing this wretched disease, then he might be able to return in time to receive aid.

Another heave as he continued, though this time vomit expelled itself from his stomach, filling his mouth with the rancid and acidic liquid. He forced it back down, wincing as it burned the back of his throat. There was nowhere to leave it here in the tunnel, and he much preferred to re-swallow it than have to crawl upon it and have to deal with the disgusting liquid soaking his body and assaulting his nose. Forward into greater darkness he continued, all the while questioning how much further he needed to go... and how much longer he could.

 

[Keldothera]

Post: Two
Objective: C
Tags: Sylok'Vanari | Galak

She looked over the corpse, sighing as he took her head into her hand. As she sat there half-defeated, Grata coughed, instinctively she jumped. She didn’t expect him to be alive. Quickly she crawled to his side, lifting his head off of the hard ground into her palm.

Half of his face was badly bruised, he must’ve been knocked out by something when the collapse happened. She checked across his armour, no visible wounds bar the head injury. That was a good start, but all the same she wished she had an Ashaka acolyte at her side for some expertise.

"Grata, don't move." She looked over him, legs shifting slightly as he regained consciousness.

"General, what happened? I can't feel my leg." He groaned.

"Which one, you drone?!" A concussion didn't excuse stupidity, not with her.

"Left." He spat, frustrated.

Kelda checked his leg, the bone was broken but... she could carry him. She threw his arm over her back, the joint at the nape of her neck would help prop him up.

"Alright, come on. On your feet"

 

[Primarch Drek'ma]

Objective: B
Post: Five
Tags: Tathra Khaeus

“Excellent.” He groaned, weak. But all the same it felt good as the metal and rock was torn away; his arm sliding down to his side as he slumped. How did they get into this mess, what had attacked them - he had no idea. They had been getting close to the tomb, it was a possibility that something didn’t want them getting in.

The Primarch called his staff to him, using what little energy he could spare. His long boney finger clamped around the smooth metal surface, feeling a surge of rejuvenation as the powers of his equipment began their work. Drek’ma slowly began to heal himself, the force was like a well and now with his mind clear he could easily dip his toes into the pond at will. But annoying injuries like these take time, but he sensed something. Something all too familiar.

“It’s like I can smell it, my senses are still dull. I can’t quite put my finger on it.” He would attempt to explain the best he could, Tathra was not force sensitive - he didn’t understand what it was like to have a sixth sense like an extra part of your body that worked of its own accord if you could not control it.

It smelt like metal.

 

[Kelmor]

Objective: B
Post: 1
Tags: Open

Kelmor had been cut off. The unit he'd been assigned to had shattered after a wave of cursed automatons had attacked them, and in the fray, Kelmor had been separated. Around him lay the remains of machines, torn to pieces by hand or be weapon, it mattered not. An ominous silence had fell upon his position, a lonely and foreboding silence.

Kelmor knew that he needed to get to the extraction point, that the rest of his brethren were already heading that way. A primal growl left his mouth as he stood, making his way in the direction he thought was most likely to lead to the way out. He did not move with soft steps, his feet pounding against the ancient stone.

No machine would stop him, not if he wanted to live.

 

[Sylok'Vanari]

Post #2
Objective : C
Allies: Galak | Keldothera
Location: Southwest Tunnel, Enclosure #4

Everything around him fell silent, his cracked and dry hands pressing down onto smaller portions of the trapped leg.

"Your name warrior?" Sylok asked, carefully assessing the damages.
"Ce...Cemati." The Baedurin struggled through the pain to form words, the Draelvasier language rippling across the walls.

They would need to be incredibly careful. The few remaining shards of stalagmite shaped spires taunted them, even now. Sylok's finger pressed hard, this time watching the large warrior jerk, not only was it pinned, bruising and other fractures to the core bone were beginning to cause infection. Sylok knew of the dirty sediments that lingered in cave-like environments, the stone blade must have had rundown. A water source could have been the cause, but in space on a asteroid? Sylok ignored the impossible and focused on the present. He shuffled through his armor vest, only to find a vial and a bright green source of liquid.

The sheer change in Sylok's mood almost frightened Cemati. Like a mad scientist, Sylok observed the vial carefully, the inner gears of his mind throwing away useless calculations for the right sequence of possibilities. By luck, he had forgotten to place the new mutagen into the cooling facility back at one of his labs. More surprisingly, the temperature change, didn't infect the substance...this was good. Looking down he observed Cemati closer, the bruising began to form tiny rings, the infection was rapid and the glistening sweat that poured from his pores made Sylok impulsive. Just before he prepped the antidote a voice crept into the thin air.

"We've got to be careful..."

In a blindingly fast motion, Sylok tucked away the mutagen, it was probably for the best, but if everything that churned deep inside of him were true. The substance might have improved the Drael ten fold, but if not, Sylok and the others would have to answer for his greedy and indulgent ways to progress his people with a horror that reminded them of Yselia. That was not something they could afford and despite that very thought, Sylok questioned his decision for a mere second, until a wash of relief hit him and he stared at the Brute Captain Galak. Sylok remembered him from past battles, he was a fierce Baedurin.

"Galak, from the looks of them, if we press against the enclosure, not only will the shards budge they may tear outward, it could rupture Cemati's nerves." Sylok groaned, contemplating the best way to utilize the Baedurins strength. Lifting the two shards straight up, would still be problematic, loss of blood and the infection were a huge issue. Sylok didn't think of it before, but strength was their greatest gift. Maybe, "careful" was a lie. "Can you break them down Galak?" Sylok asked, realizing the size of the shards were the main issue. Granted, if Galak broke them down enough, it would minimize risk to the victim, but the enclosure could still break free from the thundering effort of a Baedurin. Sylok's teeth lightly moved upward, before clamping down in a agitated manner. Cemati was geting worse by the second.

Osam | Tathra Khaeus | Krarolk T'manu | Sethrak​

 

[Galak]

Post: Three
Tags: Sylok'Vanari
Objective: C

He looked over the Baedurin lying on the ground, wounded and pinned to the ground. Then again to their surroundings, he didn't like these closed in spaces; made him feel nauseous. Galak leaned down, looking over the armour. He recognised him, rubbing his chin as he thought of how best to move him. They had to get out of these caves, they were unstable. Whoever had given the all clear would have his boot on their throat as soon as they were out of here. But for now, he had to focus on saving his fellow warrior. Whilst the Ashaka saw to the Juggernaut, Galak activated him communication stone embedded in his gauntlet; even if communications were distorted from the outside, he could still relay commands to everyone in the tunnels.

"Pack up. We're leaving, everyone see to the wounded in whatever way you can. Get them out, then get yourselves out. No more explosives." He'd thought he heard some kind of explosion before the collapse of the caves. But, he didn't remember himself or Tathra authorising the use of any for excavation.

Strange.

He then turned his attention back to the Ashaka and his patient. His question, the spikes. Galak thought it over, the Baedurin would have to remain still.

"Hold down his leg Ashaka, and well." They'd have to keep him calm.

 

[Keldothera]

Post: Three
Objective: C
Tags: Sylok'Vanari | Galak |

He was struggling to walk, but she was no welp. She came to a stop, breathing heavily. They'd been moving for a while, seemingly no end to the tunnel ahead. Only more corpses, a few on the way she had to shoot. There was no saving them, half-alive, chests crushed into mulch. There was nothing she could do for them, nobody could help them. Or so she kept telling herself.

"You're heavy, you know that Grata?" She spat, leaning against the wall slightly.

"Leave me behind, General... I'm losing my legs." Grata spoke, weakly. His wound had been made apparent halfway through their journey, some internal bleeding and a broken leg. The second one was bruised and sprained, he wasn't walking too well.

Kelda looked him over, flexing her shoulders as she strained to stand upright. She wasn't leaving him behind. That was when they heard it, Galak over the comms. If they could get his signal, they could reach the rest of them.

 

[Tathra Khaeus]

Post: Five
Tags: Primarch Drek'ma
Objective: B

He looked around, searching for whatever the Primarch ahd been talking about. Nothing, nothing but dust and echoes around them. He turned on his heel, shooting a quizzical look in the direction the Primarch. It seemed as though he was only being clued in to half of the conversation. If the Draelvasier Shaman was trying to tell him something, he was going about it in an incredibly odd manner.

"What?" He barked, looking over his shoulder at the Primarch as he turned around - looking for his Axe. It could've have got far, and even then the blade could cut through any rock he could think of. It was only a matter of time.

As he looked around, rock and dirt began seeping from the roof, falling all around them. Tathra coughed, hacking up some and rubbing it from his eyes as he looked up, hearing a strange drilling sound. An all too familiar construction crawling from within the rock. He also sighed, lamenting having to fight unseen and endless droids once again.

He growled, taking his sword from his back - ready to destroy more technological terrors.

"Droids, Drek'ma. That's what you sense, the oscillations of energy. The metal men..." He spat those words with such hate, perhaps destroying more cybernetic creatures was the stress relief he needed.

 

[Primarch Drek'ma]

Objective: B
Post: Six
Tags: Tathra Khaeus |

Of course it was androids of some kind. Drek’ma looked up as Tathra drew attention to the multitudes of androids drilling through the rock above. He knew he had trained with the force to disrupt technology for a reason. Immediately his mind was brought back to the AI lead fleet, he wondered if perhaps this was the remnants of that. Rogue automatons with no programming left but to kill Draelvasier.

“Reminding you of something?” Drek’ma asked, knowing full well what it would be reminding the Titan of.

He quickly walked out from under where the androids were drilling. He began to prepare, the white pearl orb in the centre of his staff glowing with a vibrant white before striking out with a powerful blast.

White tendrils of powerful destructive energy zapped at the chassis of the drilling automatons, sparks and jittery joints were followed by their heads and torso exploding, their robotic limbs and parts falling to the ground below. Of course, he didn’t get them all; more were dropping down all around Tathra.

 

[Tathra Khaeus]

Post: Six
Tags: Primarch Drek'ma |
Objective: B

“Yes. Unfortunately.” He barked, sternly gazing up toward the automaton force clawing their way toward them. Outnumbered again, this was no unusual prospect but the unpredictability of being able to come from so many angles made them more dangerous. He’d had to stay on the move.

Tathra held his Sword in a low guard as dozens of the Automaton androids descended from the rock. With a guttural roar, Tathra charged forward - darting from side to side on the balls of his feet. In this wider open space, he had the advantage. Two closed the distance, quickly trying to distract him so that the others could close the distance with their drills and vibroblade prosthetic limbs.

Their tactics were easily fooled.

Darting to the left, Tathra released the Sword into his dominant hand with a high guard, raising the Sword into the air into a spiralling arch as the first android lunged at him. Even at this angle, the Titans monstrous strength was enough to cleave through the Android and knock its airborne form into the rocky wall.

 

[Primarch Drek'ma]

Objective: B
Post: Seven
Tags: Tathra Khaeus |

The wall very neary to his right cracked as an android tore through the rock, landing upright and looking right at him. The creature had no soul, nothing. There was nothing but programming and rock inside that thing. It was lifeless, but that did not mean he could not kill it.

More droid destroying energy lurched from his staff as he quickly turned on his heel, swinging the staff outward as the tentacles of energy struck the android, knocking it back into the wall. More came from all around, the walls were closing in as more and more androids appeared.

“Sire, we must be close!” The Primarch called out, perhaps if they killed enough of them the doorway would reveal itself. They were coming from all directions, it was hard to determine a source of energy with so many other energy signatures surrounding them. The more they killed, the easier it would become for Drek’ma to locate the tomb.

“Perhaps the tomb is the source of their energy. We need to clear this area so I may find it!” Drek’ma explained, shouting over the sound of battle as Tathra fought through the enemy force. The Primarch reinforced him, blasting apart a group of four coming from behind him with a powerful blast of lightning.

 

[Tathra Khaeus]

Post: Seven
Tags: Primarch Drek'ma
Objective: B

As more approached, dozens crawling from the walls Tathra activated his Composite shield. The metal shield exploded into life from its positioning on his right gauntlet, using the momentum of his run to thrust himself into a leaping charge. Crashing into the second android that had approached him, Tathra slammed it to the ground, crushing its upper torso into smithereens with his shield.

Their metal shells were weak, their creators were weak. No different from the androids he had destroyed aboard those wretched ships nearly three years ago. No different than the countless tens of thousands of frail weaklings he had slaughtered in his campaign. But perhaps the Primarch was right, perhaps these were some form of sentinel for the supposed tomb.

But that wouldn't matter if they died, the automatons were coming from every direction. They had to kill them quickly, otherwise they would be swarmed by them. A handful at a time, they could handle. But if they got surrounded they would be killed. Death by a thousand cuts.

“Destroy them!” Tathra barked back, knocking one to the ground and stomping it to pieces. They could worry about locating the tomb after the fact.

 

[Primarch Drek'ma]

Objective: B
Post: Eight
Tags: Tathra Khaeus |

No doubt the Titan was right, it wouldn’t matter what he thought if this continued; if they died here it nothing mattered. No point in being so fatalistic though, or so he thought. They would survive for certain. They had survived worse, demons and jedi, sith and monsters.

Drek’ma delved into the force, raising his Staff into the air as dozens of beams of destructive energy reached out. The white spines of energy curled around their metal forms, burrowing into their chassis’ and purging the electronic components of nearly two dozen automatons, causing their bodies to fall, dropping to the ground.

“Their numbers are dwindling Sire!”

Drek’ma turned, blasting another with an empowered strike of pure energy, destructive energy obliterating a handful more. They were beginning to make a dent in their forces. Turning on his heel, he reached out with both arms outstretched; eyes glowing a faint yellow as he released a powerful torrent of yellow lightning into their ranks, shaking and exploding into dozens of pieces of shrapnel.

The explosion knocked him back, crashing onto his back.

 

[Tathra Khaeus]

Post: Eight
Tags: Primarch Drek'ma
Objective: B

Tathra spun round, turning on another android with a powerful outward swing at the droids, cutting down another that came at his back, then swinging from right to left in an open arch to keep them at bay. As he rose to his feet, turning on the ball of his left foot, and into a spin as the androids pushed him from all sides.

Dashing to the right, Tathra swung wide with his Sword in both hands - carving through a trio and catching another few with the sheer kinetic power of his swing bulldozing through them. A larger automaton fired a blast from the centre of its chest, knocking him down. When it fired again, he dodged out of the way - scampering to his feet as the blast revealed the scorched frame of his Axe.

He could feel it calling to him, shifting the sword into his right hand; Tathra reached out with his left. The Axe tore from the rock, flying into his grasp and burning with a molten red vapour. One could even theorise he was grinning as he lunged into a spinning strike in the midst of the automatons.

 

[Sethrak]

Spoiler

Tathra Khaeus Galak Primarch Drek'ma Keldothera Ostak Cl'mana Osam Krarolk T'manu

Post: 3
Objective: B

Another trap, the walls around Sethrak collapsed and revealed the trap's main feature. This one was different. The "trap" moved, and stood tall. Sethrak, by reflex, jumped back only to ram into another machine. His arms were puled back behind him, as the first machine punched him in the gut. He collapsed forward, only to be pulled back upright by his arms from behind.

He looked to his troops desperately. They were engaged in their own fight. He pulled with his full strength, forcing the machine that held him down to move forwards, then he shoved both elbows back. He felt the blow dent deep into the metal being. The grip loosened as the Warlock delivered a mighty kick to the opponent in front of him. It fell back a few steps as Sethrak sidestepped toward the other Bryn.

They were losing.

The machines seemed to tank through any damage they took. Surely they had a weak point of some kind. All droids did. Maybe it'd be a chip or wire of some kind. He tried hitting several points only to fail. Without his spear, which he had dropped when the machine grabbed him moments ago, the machines were impenetrable.

"Bryn! Retreat, back the way we came. Beware the exposed traps."

He then sprinted away from the lost battle. He was unsure of whether they should return after the retreat, or leave completely. With no signal, he couldn't ask Tathra, or any other squads. They were still alone in this tunnel, with only two ways to go.

 

[Sylok'Vanari]

Post #3
Objective : C
Allies: Galak | Keldothera
Location: Southwest Tunnel, Enclosure #4

Sylok gripped tightly around the ankle of Cemati. The sweat continued to pour down his craggy morphed face. Sylok saw a wounded warrior, where others outside the Draelvasier race would have seen a monster. They, like the rest of the false believers were wrong. Those outside their walls didn't understand them, so fear lead their choices. It was this very fear that made them weak. Sylok didn't see that in Cemati, even as he lied on the cold dark floor pinned, waiting for the final outcome he remained vigilant through the pain. The infection would travel further up his leg if Galak didn't go through with it. Sylok held the leg firmly as the words escaped the Captain.

"Hold down his leg Ashaka, and well."

Sylok clenched tighter and looked Cemati in his eyes. He lowered his head and waited. The sudden silence that hung over them was all that was necessary for the pinned warrior to understand what was coming. Sylok could feel the slick and slimy substance slithering down the shard stuck in the leg, it seemed the stone held properties of infectious water. It was clear a freezing process was the cause, but Sylok cared little for that unusual fact. What really mattered was the aftermath of the removal for Cemati. Sylok needed to stop the infection. Sylok nodded to Galak in agreement, his grip almost cutting off circulation from Cemati's leg. The sharp jagged teeth shifted from the Aeravalin's maw and the words finally slipped out. Sylok's eyes squinted, the rough pockets of tendons stretching to his check as his eyes shifted to Galak.

"Do it."

Osam | Tathra Khaeus | Krarolk T'manu | Sethrak​

 

[Keldothera]

Post: Four
Objective: C
Tags: Galak | Sylok'Vanari |

"Not happening." She responded firmly, throwing the Baedurin over her back. Through gritted teeth she rose to her feet, staggering with each step. She started moving again, all she could think about was putting one foot in front of another for now.

She was glad to be Baedurin, honoured to have the strength to carry her kin. But that didn't change that her collar-bone had nearly been crushed when the cave collapsed. But she had to keep going, if she could just save one. That would be enough.

She kept going, kept going until she could start to hear something, starting to hear the conversation of what sounded like medical application. Her feet felt heavy, slugging along.

"You still with me Juggernaut?" Kelda asked over her shoulder to the silent Grata slung over her shoulder.

As she turned the corner, she immediately recognised Galak and the armour of an Ashaka.

"I... Grata, this Juggernaut needs help." Kelda struggled to stay on her feet.

 

[Primarch Drek'ma]

Objective: B
Post: Nine
Tags: Tathra Khaeus |


The fighting continued, around him at least. Drek’ma struggled to his feet, using his staff to push himself to his feet. Tathra continued to fight, having found his Axe. Loud and proud, drawing the attention of the automatons. The way these creatures of metal worked, it made him very much miss his own creatures, his beasts. The flesh was superior to the technological, of that there was no doubt.

But, they still proved to be obstacles. But as he had theorised before, clear enough obstacles and the path becomes clear. He felt it, like a beacon calling out to him. The energy source, he traced his arm from side to side across the open area until the power felt strongest.

"There, that wall!" Drek'ma called out to Tathra, then turning and firing off a blast of energy at the remainder surrounding the Titan.