Faction The Red War: To Corrupt A Contagion | CIS

[Tenebra Erys]

THE RED WAR: HEALERS OF THE NEW ORDER
ACT I, SOLANACEAE SCENE II
TO CORRUPT A CONTAGION
XAGOBAH
​

"Mmm." Tenebra slowly strode about the room with a datapad in one hand. "What a curious little find you've discovered on that delightfully uninhabitable little world." An unbidden, low chuckle bubbled between her lips. "I should need to move quickly if I am to explore such a find. You say this report has already been forwarded to command?" Her golden eyes lifted from the readout to the masculine figure suspended in cables above the floor.

A muffled, desperate noise followed her inquiry. One she took as an affirmative. So eager to please, they were. Surely it had nothing to do with the withered husk over to the side of the far, far less interesting creature that had occupied this room.

"I doubt they'll send the fleet over such a... curiosity. Fortunate for me. Not so much for the beaurcrats that overlook such marvelous discoveries." Tenebra hooked the datapad to her belt, stopped, and turned to face her captive audience. She didn't even notice how they winced when she'd done so. Nor how they squirmed anxious to escape her delightful presence. No, in so far as she was aware they... knelt in the air with rapturous attention to someone as resplendent as herself. "You will come with me, won't you, Lover? I could use the company."

When the authorities arrived, perhaps after a cleaning crew arrived for regularly scheduled tending of the dwelling, they would find a pair of desiccated corpses. One beautifully gift wrapped from the ceiling in cables. Yes, Tenebra was nothing if not efficient; and the most efficient way for a soul to travel with her was as part of herself. Why book travel and food for two when one would do? And she didn't even need food.

A private charted ship flared into being in orbit over Xagobah. The pale woman on board smiled even as the shadows fell over her eyes; golden rings that burned with hunger at the lovely little planet below and its... unique forms of life.

"Use the landing authorization I provided earlier to arrive at the coordinates below," she instructed the pilot. "I have much work to do." Before anyone discovered Tenebra had stolen someone else's codes -- a dead someone in particular. Surely this wouldn't take that long, however. Once they landed at the outpost the Confederacy cleared and had taken ownership of, she would set off immediately and learn the planet's secrets in a day at most. Yes, she was quite talented you know.

Even if the duration of that day exceeded the length of a galactic standard day. 'A day' was subjective. Why, the length of a day on Noroftu V was three months in galactic standard time. Tenebra didn't see any difference in how one counted the passage of time -- a day was a day, and she would succeed in this task in that time.

The ship swept down toward the planet and to the landing pad erected by the old outpost cleansed by fire, and later brought back into operational condition. The Confederacy had needed a place to expand from, and the living fungus was aggressive. Fire was often used to hold the world from consuming that little camp. An endless ordeal; one in which Tenebra could empathize.

Once it touched down, the black-garbed woman slowly descended with a smile on her lips. She offered the attending gentleman the datapad for inspection upon his request. "Yes," she replied, "the dear sent me in their place -- as you can see with their personal code right there. It's a very large world and he had some fabulous ideas that needed followed up on straight away. I happened to be available and came as quickly as I could. Have you completed the work on the speeders? I hear this world is quite hazardous even if you wear a biosuit." Perhaps she should look around camp first, however. See if there was anyone of use. Then set off into the wilds to find these... indiginous and sentient lifeforms. Presumably.

Tag: Shamira Karuto | Oleander Webb | Open to CIS, KO, Solanaceae​

 

[Oleander Webb]

​

One week previously...

The night cast a shadow over the quiet cityscape, with many of the residents having already turned in for the evening. A few stragglers here and there stumbled from one bar to another. One being, however, neither stumbled nor took to a bar or tavern. An enforcer of the Confederacy, the pair of eyes that kept a watchful gaze over the area were that of an executioner moreso than protector. A predator with a very specific prey in mind.

There...​

The individual in mind cast a look over their shoulder, as if they could sense that they were being followed. They would see noone, however, the shadow that had been on their tail having already moved from their previous position. And now the shadow drew ever closer, closing in on the figure as they turned back the way they were initially going.

"Now what do we have here?"​

A hand closed around the individual's throat, cutting off any form of resistance. An all too pleased smirk was plastered on the Anzat's face as he took in the evening's prey. He squinted, eyes not quite suited for taking in details up close. His brow furrowed as he looked at the individual, catching movement of their hand just in the perephrial. His free hand closed in on the wrist, eyes narrowing as he caught sight of the handful of fungi within their grasp.

"What is this?" He asked, piercing gaze zeroing in on the individual in his grasp. He waited a moment, two, before it became all too clear that he wasn't going to be getting an answer, not by choice anyway. "Not going to answer? That's fine." Probisces, usually hidden, poked out of their hiding place, slithering about in search of their next meal. "The truth with reveal itself."

. . . ​

Done with his meal, Oleander let the body slump in an alley, something for someone else to find later. The fungi, however, would not be left behind. Now on Oleander's person, the male having grabbed their original pouch off of the individual that had carried them. He'd heard things about fungi as of late. Disturbing things. Enough that even the reclusive of a knight was feeling the tugs of duty calling him to tend to the problem.

Xagobah...

He'd joined the camp about a day ago, taking the day to supply himself and get acquainted with the locals before really settling into the mission mindset. He kept mostly to himself, pouring over a datapad while also probing the world with his own senses, trying to get a gauge for where the search might begin, and what tribulations would be along the way. And when another entered the world, he looked up from the datapad, curiosity encouraging him to venture out and get a glimpse of any newcomers, catching bits of conversation here and there and open to joining them himself.

Tag: Tenebra Erys | Shamira Karuto | Others​

 

[Shamira Karuto]

​

E X P L O R E ​

Location: Xagobah
Objective: Explore, discover.
Equipment: Vine whip (spikes on whip tipped with Iscebore oil), Nesmite Tree Seed Pods (6), Pack of Thralda Leaves, Water of Life Potions (2), knapsack full of other goodies, study journal ( given by Cara Dorniarn ), Risen Mynocks (2)
Tags: | Tenebra Erys | Oleander Webb |

It was true that the Confederacy would never sanction a large fleet to study what they deemed to be nothing more than a fungal outbreak, despite the cries from many within that the outbreak was much, more dangerous than they were underplaying it to be. Thankfully, there were some more level headed within the Confederacy that would give a ordeal such as this one the time that was needed. One of them, being the Nightmother, immediately pegged Shamira as a perfect witch to take on the task of finding out just what had caused the outbreak and why it was expanding so rapidly.

Plus..it was good for the redhead to get out into the galaxy a bit more. Outside of spending time with Cara here and there, learning more about scientific endeavors of the galaxy, Shamira had been spending quite a bit of time with nothing more than her plants and herself. Having grown up on a planet still firmly in the dark ages, it was always good for her to get out into the galaxy, see what it had to offer, and the good that could come from it. At least, that’s what the Nightmother thought.

Shamira felt a little differently. While coming to Xagobah had been enjoyable for the past three days, she had felt..lonelier than anything else. Perhaps that was partly why Vytal had sent her out here, to show her that even if she wasn’t spending much time around the other witches, she truly was feeling lonelier than ever, and an isolated assignment like this one was only the confirmation of such a thing. Thankfully, the assignment was still…interesting.

The fungus was unlike anything she had ever taken the time to study. It grew, expanded, and took over practically everything it touched. She had learned to be proactive on the last bit, having had almost an entire robe being consumed by the nasty stuff. Now, she wasn’t a fungus specialist by any means, and very little of the botanical study she had done had prepared her for this sort of expedition, but there were a couple of things she had figured out.

One, the fungus hated heat and fire. The locals had leaned that quickly as well, but this was something she was able to replicate on even smaller scale. Two, if left unchecked, the fungus would grow expeditiously, seemingly feeding upon itself continuously. There was little ways to really slow it down outside of fire, but at least the growth was seemingly slow enough. And finally, the fungus was..imbued with the nether somehow. It was aiding it’s growth, and protecting it at times as well. Why, how, were questions that still lingered on the witch’s mind, and what she was pondering as she emerged from her tent early on the fourth day.

There was supposedly a large find that the villagers had made near to their campsite, and that had alerted more than a few others to come and see for themselves. The redhead watched as a new shuttle touched down on the landing pad, and what emerged was someone she…certainly didn’t recognize. Nor did she recognize the other man that had strode from his tent to see the shuttle as well. Shamira flashed him a small smile, followed by a wave, before her gaze returned to landing pad to see what the new arrival might bring.

 

[Tenebra Erys]

Oh, seemed her arrival had garnered a bit of attention. Not just the idle fancy of dock workers either.

Humanoid, male, Caucasian, five-seven, healthy, late twenties early thirties by appearance. Force sensitive. Able to handle himself.

Humanoid, female, Caucasian, five-six, healthy, late teens early twenties by appearance. Force sensitive. Academic, but not incapable.
​

In a word: useful.

"Hello there," Tenebra's lips spread into a broad smile as she opened her arms out to both of them. "Doctor Lars sends his regards. Business off-world keeps him away, but he sent me to investigate word of indiginous people able to control this unique gem of a world. Too important to ignore. That's why you're both here, yes?"

Her hands fell back down and clasped over her belly without trying to actually hug either of them. Merely a polite invitation for them to stay a while in her presence. "I'm Doctor Erys. Studying curiosities like this entire planet is one of my greatest joys. I'm excited just at the chance to meet these people. What brings both of you here, if you don't mind me asking?"

Understanding the motivations of those with her could prove instrumental. They might all get what they wanted. If nothing else, she'd discern which of them were liars and prone to an attempt at double crossing her.

Tag: Shamira Karuto | Oleander Webb | Open to CIS, KO, Solanaceae

 

[Oleander Webb]

​

A wandering gaze had him catching sight of another approaching the landing pad, a woman who'd also seemed to notice him, though Oleander didn't go so far as to wave back for fear she was actually waving to someone behind him. Instead, he settled for a nod of acknowledgment and a quick half-smile. Something friendly, yet not entirely damning in the event that he was played for an imperceptive fool.

As another turned the silent greeting into vocal, his attention shifted. A quick glance over of this newcomer did little in terms of answering questions but also didn't necessarily ought her as an incoming threat. Not yet at least. A brow raised ever so slightly at the mention of a Doctor Lars, neither the name nor significance of such particularly resonating with the male. A doctor was a doctor and that was about as far as Oleander was willing to think on it.

"Oleander," he responded as Doctor Erys provided her own name before casting another quick glance at the other woman, both curious in a formal introduction but also curious as to if she found the doctor strange as well. Asking questions was one thing, an encouragable thing at that, too. Yet cutting to such a specific question so quickly had Oleander apprehensive to share too much information. "Checking out the people I s'pose," he offered with a lazy shrug, one hand in a pocket and the other one resting on his belt. "Heard about some wacky fungal chit, got curious. Anything you've dealt with before fit such description, Doctor?"

Tenebra Erys | Shamira Karuto | Others?​

 

[Shamira Karuto]

​

E X P L O R E ​

Location: Xagobah
Objective: Explore, discover.
Equipment: Vine whip (spikes on whip tipped with Iscebore oil), Nesmite Tree Seed Pods (6), Pack of Thralda Leaves, Water of Life Potions (2), knapsack full of other goodies, study journal ( given by Cara Dorniarn ), Risen Mynocks (2)
Tags: | Tenebra Erys | Oleander Webb |

It seemed as though the two others were gathering, so she didn’t want to be rude or an outsider, and proceeded over to where the newest member to camp had walked over.

Now, Shamira was a sheltered witch. Not by choice, a planet stuck in the dark ages was going to do that to someone when they were suddenly introduced to a wide galaxy. Vytal and Cara had done a wonderful job introducing her to practically everything the galaxy had to offer, but there was certainly more for her to learn, as evidenced by her wide eyed gaze at the pale skinned alien that made her way down the ramp. Did she have horns growing from her head? She wasn’t exactly dressed like a scientist…or for a place like this.

Truthfully, she unnevered Shamira to her very core. Everything about her was just…off from how she knew the galaxy at this point, and her sing songy voice sent a shiver down her spine. The meaning and words were there, but again, the witch just…didn’t like it. However, she stood straighter as the man to her right began to speak, introducing himself, and she figured that it would be perhaps good to say also why she had found herself on this planet.

“My…my name is Shamira. I guess you could say..I’m a necrobotanist. My coven heard about the fungus, and about it’s possible connection to the Nether.” The witch paused, her eyes darting back and forth between the two as her mind quickly began to catch up that the other two might just not know of the nether and how it could be effecting fungus. In truth, she didn’t fully understand it either, but it would probably be good to give some sort of introduction. “the nether being…an opposite dimension, space, however you want to call it. It can infuse things with power..and somehow the fungus here is feeding off it directly, which allows it to grow expeditiously.”

She shrugged, unsure of how to continue to explain something that even the witches were still exploring and trying to understand. Hopefully time working together with the other two would give them, and her, a better knowledge of all that they faced. “I..planned on making a journey to the temple today, if they could clear a path to it. Would you two..be interested in joining me?” There was a hopeful tinge to the end of the redhead’s tone, followed by a small smile in the pair’s direction. Company would be nice, if not just to combat the fungus, but the loneliness as well.

 

[Tenebra Erys]

Tenebra was as still as stone at the man's casual response. Her bright eyes slid down and back up the length of his body as he quickly summarized his purported intent there. "Nothing 'wacky,' Oleander, Love. And while I've dealt with fungus this planet is on a whole other level." She knew Oleander was being guarded in his reply, but wasn't going to push it. No reason. Yet. There'd been a thought to playfully string him along except the woman spoke up and what she had to say drew out a glimpse of the real Doctor.

The word 'necrobotanist' caused the woman to blink and the stillness to return again. At this point the Witch had Tenebra's rapt attention.

All it took was the invitation and the pale woman practically transported through space and time, her hands clasping those of the bashful Witch. What was merely a slightly 'off' smile and almost unnatural stillness was broken by an open-mouth grin and the light of twin suns beaming out through her eyes. "Shamira, I would love to join you. I have so many questions about 'Necrobotany' and the 'Nether.' Imbuing fungus with power from this other dimension sounds absolutely delightful. The applications are endless. We must learn the secret to how they cultivated here. Wouldn't you agree?"

There were few things in the galaxy that could excite the monster standing before them. Learning about how magick and reality could be seemlessly blended together was one of them. Imagine such an infusion of fungus into living subjects. And why stop with fungus? There would surely be applications involving multiple species. Perhaps even plants and living tissue -- Shamira would undoubtedly love to discuss such matters. Why the first two or three thousand subjects would end up perfect specimens for Shamira's current area of study.

Tag: Shamira Karuto | Oleander Webb | Open to CIS, KO, Solanaceae

 

[Oleander Webb]

​

The ghost of a smirk tugged at the corners of Oleander's mouth at the doctor's response. Her apparent familiarity mere moments after introductions was off-putting, like someone with full confidence in their ability and control. A predator, judging from her mannerisms. The Force help her if this interaction become a contest of hunting.

The other, Shamira, as she called herself, added some interesting information into the mix. "I've been there," he said at mention of the Nether. "Once, like a dream." It felt like a dream, at least. It was a brief enough moment, one Ander never quite remembered both how he got in or out. Nevertheless, the small journey had made it evident that the Nether was not a place he, or anyone else for that matter, had been meant to visit. The fungi feeding off the Nether was, well, even more disturbing.

At Shamira's question, he gave a nod. "Happy to come along, too. If this fungal fusion's as problematic as suggested, I'd rather get a grasp over it now rather than later." Hopefully, there'd be no later. But Oleander was far more a realist than optimist. Better to prepare for the worst than be surprised later, anyway.

Tenebra Erys | Shamira Karuto ​

 

[Shamira Karuto]

​

E X P L O R E ​

Location: Xagobah
Objective: Explore, discover.
Equipment: Vine whip (spikes on whip tipped with Iscebore oil), Nesmite Tree Seed Pods (6), Pack of Thralda Leaves, Water of Life Potions (2), knapsack full of other goodies, study journal ( given by Cara Dorniarn ), Risen Mynocks (2)
Tags: | Tenebra Erys | Oleander Webb |

Tenebra scared her. That was…probably the point of her entire unnerving demeanor, but it truly unnerved the less than knowledgeable about the galaxy witch. She had truly never met a species or person like the vampire, so when she started to take the redhead off to the side, to say that her shoulders were anything less than tighter than a ship’s durosteel seal would be far from the truth. It didn’t help that she was also flooded with questions about her field of study or what she had learned from the fungus so far. It overwhelming, to say the very least.

“Well I-,” She was cut up from stammering through an explanation, as she was more than likely about to stumble through when the man began to speak. Her eyes darted over to where he stood, offering him a nervous smile and nod. “If you would please come with….us, that’d be appreciated.” Sha flashed a smile in Tenebra’s direction soon after. Of course she was nervous about traveling with a stranger, especially one as off as the vampire, but she didn’t need to know it right off the bat…at least that’s what the smile tried to convey.

The journey to head to where the temple had been uncovered was not a short one, so actually attempting such a thing would require a small bit of travel by speeder. Thankfully for the group, the camp had been provided a single, four seat speeder that looked somewhere between junkyard and flying piece of cardboard. Unlike most, Shamira immediately moved to sit in the back, turning to quickly pass a shy smile to her traveling companions. “If..one of you would drive, I cannot, unfortunately.”

In the back of her mind, she swore she could hear Cara Dorniarn laughing at her misfortune. By the time she got back to the ineditorium, she’d force her to to teach her how to drive. No more being chauffeured. Cara would teach her…or she’d get nightmares for a week that were totally not Shamira's fault.

 

[Tenebra Erys]

Tenebra's countenance did not change one iota with Shamira's tense posture. The broad smile and bright eyes were fixed features now that something truly remarkable had her attention. Witches, magick, and the Nether... Yes what strange concepts for someone like herself. What endless possibilities and untapped potential. Surely Shamira would understand a humble woman such as Tenebra desiring to understand something so truly breathtaking.

Oleander's remark drew Shamira's attention and interrupted the giddy list of inquiry. Only then did the enthusiasm dip ever so noticeably. Only a little. Interruptions were not welcome, but it wouldn't be one that severed the exchange of knowledge. Unless he asked inane questions himself, of course. Tenebra wouldn't be responsible for her actions if he wasted Shamira's time.

Golden eyes peered back at Shamira as the woman turned back with a smile. "Of course, Shamira, Dear. He's welcome to come along." Tenebra already found him a healthy, capable candidate. His presence wouldn't be a waste of air or space better taken by another.

"That's quite alright." A bit of bubbly laughter followed Shamira expressing a lack of driving skill. "That allows us to talk uninterrupted. Oleander, could you take the wheel? I'm sure the destination is already in the computer." Well Tenebra couldn't drive either, could she? Who needed the distraction while holding a conversation?

"Have you heard anything of interest about the temple or the creatures in it? The Doctor's information was a tad sparse, sadly. Probably why the Confederacy didn't commit the appropriate number of resources to investigate this further," the woman sighed. "Their loss and our gain. I'm certain there is something absolutely marvelous awaiting us."

Tag; Shamira Karuto | Oleander Webb

 

[Oleander Webb]

​

Between a quick nod and a "Can do," when asked to take the wheel, Oleander was content to listen to the other two converse while he tried to navigate the intricacies of the modern speeder. Not to say it was particularly difficult or that he was too entirely displaced from the waking world, but there were always moments, here and there, where if Oleander owned a lawn, he'd make like an old man and tell people (and newer tech) to get off of it.

Crotchety old man mode aside, he found himself more listening to the conversation behind him than being an active participant. The sciences and other such areas of study were fascinating, no doubt. Just a little beyond his current realm of comprehension. All the better to silently observe than risk turning himself into a fool.

"Is there a particular plan from here?" he inquired when at last they pulled up to the destination. He cast a curious glance around their surroundings, posture indicating a mixed bag of alert and casual. Forever ready to spring into action at a moment's notice, yet very seldom actually looking the part. His limbs were not silent as he hopped out of the speeder, joints popping and cracking after a long drive.

Tenebra Erys | Shamira Karuto ​