Private The Frigid Crossroads (Draven and Aliris)

[Draven Eterena]

Asked Draven not even a month ago if he'd be pursuing an archeological find of his own accord... He'd of dismissed the notion as delusional ramblings. Said to Draven that of all the places. He'd find himself back on the world of Weik. Well, then Draven would have considered you to be either a seer with a sense of humor, or more likely you just lost your mind. Now Draven was on world roughly eight kilometers to the north-east from the ruins of what was presumably once an ancient temple of one of the world's Force Sects. At least that was the intel which Draven had dug up from some of the Paladins on world. Which luckily for him due to an earlier on world encounter that would have occurred roughly a decade ago he'd first landed and began to build a decent rapport amongst the members. Even if it'd been a rocky start since he'd crash landed a ship into their ocean and had to help fish it out and repair it.

Draven for all intents and purposes was seventeen years of age going onto the age of eighteen. At least on a physical level and in many ways still a mental level. It was more or less his spirit which had aged during that time. As he'd had an odd share of encounters with odd anomalies which had warped the passing of time amidst the galaxy around the young man. Draven as such began to seek a deeper understanding of how the force worked. As well as how the galaxy worked in of itself. Though he also had to keep up physical conditioning and his combat skills. So, trying to find a balance was important.

This world luckily provided the best of both words. As due to its harsh wintry climate you didn't last long if you weren't both equipped and in shape to handle it. Especially, as low and behold. The winter season was on the verge of approaching. Draven oddly didn't seem dressed the part for it though. He'd on a cream-colored robe and tan pants with bare feet. He'd have his survival kit and lightsaber on him. Though otherwise he was relying on the force to shield him against the elements when it was necessary. When it wasn't necessary, he just enjoyed the feeling of the ground beneath his feet. As well as the nipping of the air.

Draven was drawn to this particular temple he'd been informed about in the prospect that there would be some artifacts amidst the ruins. Artifacts meant lore, and potentially useful knowledge. Draven was intending to take it back to The High Plane with the permission of the Paladins on world. As he wouldn't overstep their authority. In fact, he'd actually find he was a bit eager for this project. As it inspired him to pick up his pace from a hastened walk to more of a brisk jog. Though Draven couldn't of predicted the challenges which investigating the ruins would present to him this day. Though that is the way things tended to go.. you roll the dice and see what the results were.

Aliris Tremiru

 

[Aliris Tremiru]

She needed to find them. All of them.

The more Aliris found, the more she realized she needed all the pieces. Not literally every piece, but enough to find it. The vault. The real vault. She heard whispers of it from that damn holocron she'd gotten. Those whispers, those sounds, they weren't anything she could recognize. But when she got the ring, they were clearer. Somewhat clearer. Not enough. She needed more, she'd get more, she'd find them all.

This time she wore the typical white garb of the Ashlans. Not her favorite, but it was now getting more and more apparent that the Sith weren't welcome.. Anywhere. Annoying, to say the least. But it'd help for now. They didn't think twice about some thirteen year old priestess looking kid running around with a smile on her face. Especially with her manners. Manners made it easier to fool the simple minded.

Now she just needed to find herself that damn tomb.

Draven Eterena

 

[Draven Eterena]

Draven had to of killed off a good portion of his jog. This was honestly mild compared to his normal work out routines. Especially, the ones where his master was involved. Draven was expected to be in peak physical condition. To help make it easier to channel the force through his body in well... Any application in which he needed to express it. Though it also required an equal level of mental conditioning.

His guess was further attested when he spotted the first remnants of the ruins ahead. It was a spacious set of buildings. Leading Draven to question how big the structure had to of been. Especially, if these were merely the remnants of what had once been. Additionally, Draven was pretty certain the surface level was only the start. A few buildings caught his eyes the first seemed to be an observatory. It stretched a couple stories up and seemed to have some sort of scope near the top.

The second building which caught his eye was the central building which while not as tall. Seemed to be the the most spacious. Meaning it had the most ground to cover at least on surface level.

The last building was isolated out from the main set of buildings. Draven noticed it looked like the entrance to a crypt. It even radiated an energy which Draven often associated to places where those who passed were set to rest. Draven decided that wouldn't be a bad place to start. Get the eery out of the way first. Before moving onto the funner stuff.

So off to the crypt Draven set off to. To see what secrets he could unearth. That or more realistically what mischief he found himself engaged within. He was somewhat hopeful he could find a Holocron or some tomes. That or he would also settle for a sun blade hilt as the Paladins called their form of a lightsaber, or any other form of weapon or armor. Which might have significance to the order which had once occupied this area.

Aliris Tremiru

 

[Aliris Tremiru]

Aliris let out a breath of relief as she stared up at the ruins. Disfigured statues of some kind, shattered from age or on purpose. Hard to tell with how old it seemed to be. The sands of time wore down all things. So the question was, was it Jedi? Or was it Sith? The Paladins certainly would know. Probably did, given how it seemed to be sealed off from the public. Rumor around town was anyone who went in never came back.

Terrifying, to most. Not to her, though.

So she shouldered her pack, put on a grin, and turned her way towards the entrance. Nothing would stop her from finding it's secrets. Especially if it helped her with what she'd been searching for.

Draven Eterena

 

[Draven Eterena]

Aliris Tremiru

Draven neared the ruins of the catacombs. An eager look upon his features. Draven didn't fear death. Draven knew there was much worse things this galaxy had to offer. Though he did have a curiousity to what dangers these ruins had. Draven had only taken a couple of steps before he felt the tug of another individual nearby.. He'd a natural offset for being empathetic through the force.. Though he was oftly disdainful of that connection. As it rarely ever helped him out.

Draven heaved a sigh as he had been hoping he would of been the only one pursuing artifacts in these ruins.. This individual held determination. Which Draven also felt. If not for the inevitable possibility of running across another individual. Though he wasn't sure now if the tainted energy he was feeling was picked up due to the ruins.. the other person.. or a bit of both. Draven worried about the implications of the latter options as he moved to a slight scowl.

His fingers thrummed against his side. Purposefully along the hilt of his saber. While it was designed to be easily concealable when Draven was running more covert operations. In this instance Draven really had no need to conceal his weapon. As even if he ran across someone who wasn't hostile. A sun blade or a lightsaber wasn't an uncommon sighting. It just would show his standing as a force user, and if lucky dissuade hostilities opposed to encourage them.

 

[Aliris Tremiru]

She wasn't alone. Figured, really. Someone else would go after the artifact. There'd probably be even more deeper inside if she wasn't one of the first. Blue eyes shifted over towards the figure that stepped into view. Hand on his lightsaber. Of course. One of the Paladins? Jedi? Sith? They'd all be a problem in some way shape or form. So she cleared her throat, shifted her pack, and spoke out.

"Hey. Who are you?"

Draven Eterena

 

[Draven Eterena]

Draven used his other hand to adjust his own back. Huh.. a teenager.. Still he knew better than to assume just because this gal appeared a few years younger than he appeared. That she was any less a potential danger to himself or his objective in this area. Draven noted though she seemed to at least be attempting a social engagement.. to resolve the shared unexpected happen stance it seemed they found themselves upon.

Draven wasn't by any means socially gifted. Though in the right circumstances he was able to hold a proper conversation. As well as he wasn't easily manipulated as some folks. "Draven." He stated bluntly in regards to her question. "You are?"

His eyes colored steel locked gaze on the younger gals blue orbs. While he waited the response he received. Assessing whether or not the individual would respond just as straightforward as he was and if they would be honest.

Aliris Tremiru

 

[Aliris Tremiru]

"Aliris."

First name would do. She kept her hands away from her weapon for the time being, narrowing her eyes. Challenging, almost, before she turned back towards the double doors before her and stepped towards them. He wasn't a Paladin. She'd of been told off on being here if he was. Good. Hopefully that meant he wasn't about to try and stop her.

"You gonna get in my way while I'm in there or just passing by?"

Draven Eterena

 

[Draven Eterena]

Aliris Tremiru

"I'm not passing by." Draven responded while he looked to the ruins. "I have my own agenda here. So, it is to be seen if it will put us at odds." Draven spoke the truth. While he kept on guard though moved his hand away from his lightsaber. Not seeking any conflict though prepared to respond if conflict arose.

The double doors appeared quite intricate in his personal opinion. Designed to withstand the trials of time the best that really any structure could be designed to do. Draven noticed some faded markings etched on the archway. Though he couldn't make out the language of the writing.

 

[Aliris Tremiru]

"Great."

At least he was honest. She let her gaze drift over the writing on the walls. Her expression didn't change, much, but she did recognize it. High Sith. Part of her training with the Ashlan's was to recognize Sith writing. Not so much read it. She learned what she could, but they didn't teach so they could learn, just destroy. A warning. Danger. Aliris frowned, just a little, before continuing past and deeper into the tomb.

"Gonna tell me what you're after so we don't end up in each other's ways or..?"

Draven Eterena

 

[Draven Eterena]

Aliris Tremiru

"Knowledge, relics, experiences. Take your pick. I am personally just digging up what I can. What are you here for?" Draven entered into the tomb and began to descend as well. Tracking the movements of the other. While also gazing around the interior. Draven had the sense while he needed to be wary of the individual he was descending along with. That someone or something else had also decided to be here. The amount of twisted energies was growing ever stronger the further in the ventured.

Draven's hand returned placement to the hilt of his lightsaber. While it relaxed some. He had an increasing notion. It'd be necessary. Though he knew not what the catalyst was going to be for him drawing the weapon. "You do this often?"

 

[Aliris Tremiru]

She didn't answer the first question. Some cards were better kept close to the chest, especially knowing that this was indeed a Sith tomb of some kind. Aliris reached up to detach a cylinder from her pack. A flashlight. No lightsaber for this young Sith, not yet. She clicked it on as the light from the doorway dwindled and left them in darkness. Death. It was a faint scent at first, but as they got deeper and deeper within she could smell it clearer. Death and decay.

"All the time. It's so fun."

Draven Eterena

 

[Draven Eterena]

Aliris Tremiru

That said a lot without saying a lot. Draven grew a bit more wary of this youthful gal. While he wouldn't disagree with her philosophy. It was important to hold some cards in your hand. In case things became complicated. Request a card and you should be willing to reveal the same card inquired upon.

Besides knowing what the girl was looking for. Would provide the information Draven needed to determine if she was a potential threat or ally. That or would better yet resolve the need for them to cross one another. As Draven could avoid what she came for and merely worked around it.

Draven mulled upon these thoughts. Until an eery sense of approaching danger caused him to shut off pointless musings. As the hair spiked on his arms a bit. Draven was aware placed of death always had a energy within the force. Though he didn't need to be super experienced to tell when something was tainted in an unnatural manner. "You don't know anyone else who would be here do you?"

 

[Aliris Tremiru]

"Anyone else? You mean like me? Or you? I wouldn't be surprised if there's a dozen other people looking for whatever might be locked away or hidden here. You telling me this is your first time?" That brought a brow up as she cast him a glance. Just a brief one, though. If this was his first time down in a place like this, she could leave it to some trap or monster to deal with him if he became a problem.

Easy solutions to easy problems.

Draven Eterena

 

[Draven Eterena]

Draven cast her a glance that made it seem as if though he thought of her as incompetent for even having to inquire if he had done fieldwork similar to this. "At this particular area no. Though this isn't my first field work. I was asking if any of them were individuals you personally knew."

Draven didn't really thank her incompetent. He could tell this individual was calculating what she had to her advantage. Draven knew the type. Tactical. Preparing for any kind of outcome. Which meant she was trying to assess Draven's weak points. Draven was mostly instinct when it came to combat, though just as capable of playing tactically.

He just also didn't seem to make an enemy he didn't need to make. Draven reconfirmed this when he simply waved a hand to a marked plate in the path the girl was walking along. So, she would be able to side step it. Even if she already noted it herself.

Aliris Tremiru

 

[Aliris Tremiru]

She sidestepped it, but she certainly didn't extend the same courtesy to him. If he could notice those in her path, she certainly didn't need to watch out for him. Aliris instead turned her gaze over towards where the trap would trigger. Darts? Simple enough. Though they already looked like they were triggered once. Her gaze followed the line, and sure enough a corpse rested on the nearby wall.

"Oh fun, danger."

Then, rather casually, she just carried on, uncaring of the dead left to rot. There was something deeper still speaking to her, calling to her. The artifact perhaps? Something else? She wasn't too sure.

"So, what's you're plan here exactly? Follow the kid, steal the artifact because she is, after all, just a kid?"

Draven Eterena

 

[Draven Eterena]

Aliris Tremiru

"Just a kid is a pretty loose statement. No one should be taken of the value of just a kid. You don't seem to many years younger than myself, and I was able to mop the floor with adults at half that age.. so, saying you are Just a kid. Would be like saying those were Just little tiny sticks."

Draven shrugged his shoulders. "Besides. If I wanted what you were after. I would of dealt with you by now. Much easier to just get that battle done and over with. While we were at the entrance. Than it is having to deal with you and whatever else is around to kill us."

Draven glanced around and lifted a rock to deflect some daggers which materialized out of of a void somewhere to the left ahead of them. While he simply moved the material down behind them. Shaking his head some.

 

[Aliris Tremiru]

"Holier than thou, huh? You must be Jedi."

Or Ashlan, but given she was currently in the garb of an Ashlan, that might suggest some awkward things. She continued on, arms crossed now as she hummed in thought. Truly something wicked loomed ahead. It was part of the reason she was so willing to put up with having someone trailing after her. If this threat was a problem she couldn't handle, he seemed all too keen to help. Her gaze shifted to the rock before she continued on.

Far too keen.

Then, she froze. Her eyes narrowed, focused on the darkness of the looming chamber ahead. Movement, barely there, but she saw it.

"Something's ahead. I take it you can fight?"

Draven Eterena

 

[Draven Eterena]

Aliris Tremiru

"Mmm." Draven simply hummed in response to her quippy remark. While he kept walking along side of her. When Draven spotted the movement ahead. It finally marked the straw which was a bit too far. As he unclipped his saber and took hold of it in his hand. Resting his thumb on the activation switch without igniting the blade.

Draven took his turn not responding. His inner voice wanted to throw back a snide remark along the lines of he was confident she could handle it. Though he wasn't the kind of individual to idly stand aside and risk someone getting harmed who didn't need to be harmed. Simply due to his inaction.

Draven was however going to be careful to not fully reveal how capable he was in a fight. Wanting it to look like he needed to be reliant upon his blade in order to keep in the contest. This in his mind was the cards he'd keep close to his chest. In case he needed anything up his sleeve.