The Rewind

[Tobias Dib]

THE FUTURE
[YouTube]https://youtu.be/iQiEmzKjE3g[/YouTube]​

The young man stood upon the crags within the mountain. the region had once been a lush valley tended by a monor clan of tghe Dathomiri, but as every thing that had a beginning, it had an end. It was the same here on this planet. It was the same for the people throughout known and unknown space. It was true for the galaxy. Death and life and death. It was a never ending cycle. But what was happening was neither natural nor was it right. The galaxy was falling into chaos. More so then it was used to.

People were disappearing from time, erased as if they never existed. Governments ceased to exist. Threats suddenly appearing that had never been known, but were now firmly entrenched in history., His father was gone, his mother was gone. Once they had been right here, tangible, a cuff on his chin from his dad, a gentle yet stern word from his mother. He could still hear their laughter echoing in his ears.

A shaky sigh shook his lean frame as he allowed a moment of remembrance to touch his mind. It was not the traditional daily ritual of the mandalorians but rather a whimsical kind of moment. They had not died but had been taken. And not by death but by something unforeseen. Time was collapsing and converging and they were just two of billions of casualties. The end was nigh. The present was tearing apart as reality was overwritten by events in the past. Soon they would all cease to exist.

Looking across the the valley now devoid of life he remembered the rancors that had roamed across the land, vibrant and free. In this reality they had been extinct for a decade. The catalyst as the varg had escaped wiped out life on planets across the galaxy. Varg who had not existed before. Looking at the burial mound next to him, the young man knelt and remembered another.

The great mystic, the Shaman of Jart known as [member="Rapax"] . But to him he was Uncle Rap. The gurlanain was a force to be reckoned with, wise and cunning, yet caring once you got past the exterior. Uncle Rap and dad fought all the time. Stories about fighting some kids on Mandalore. Dad would say it was Rapax who had master minded the plan, then Uncle Rap would go on his tirade against dad. More then once they had come to blows. Usually with dad laughing and claiming he was innocent.

Uncle Rap had sensed the end before the others. Had felt the change as a ripple in a pond. Had seen the tidal wave of destruction that was to come. He had come to dad about it. Runes of protection were devised by Ole Unc, but mom and dad decided the kids should be marked before them. It was just as they finished that both parents ceased to exist as we had known them. As Uncle Rap began his crusade to spread the rune that would stop people from fading into oblivion the young man knew something had to be done, and not just here in the present, but in the past.

So Tobias and Hannibal Dib, twin sons of Muad Dib and Arabella Dib-Darkhold, journeyed to visit their grandfather. The Ancient Guardian of Breath was waiting on them. To the galaxy he was known by many names, including Garith [member="Darkhold"], yet to the twins he was their gramps Adria. He had felt the waves that was eroding the future, the change that was happening, the end that neared. He knew it as he had felt it in his soul. The soul of the Kashi who were so entwined in the force it was nigh impossible to see where their soul stopped and the force began. So he taught them his last lesson for them. The Great Walk.

When it was time to leave gramps on Artisia it was difficult. But gramps always had a way with words, even if for most people he was a man of action. "From sorrow comes joy, from loss comes gain, from a journey that begins at the end comes a destination that renews beginnings. Nothing is ever truly lost." With their ba'buir final words the brothers began their journey to Dathomir. There they would meet their other ba'buir, who had been a presence in their lives since they were small. A vod to their buir since before they were even considered, a friendship that existed before even their sister Jia.

As their ship landed Tobias left the controls and tapped his brother lightly on the shoulder. Moving from the side of his twin he entered the hold and grabbed the rucksack to toss over his shoulder. The forces that remained upon Dathomir guarded the NetherWorld gate with their lives. Roaming Varg had repeatedly tried to swarm the gate, but the mando'ade refused to give. Yet it was through the gate that the twins would have to go.

Blinking away the memories he let his hand drift from above where Uncle Rap had given his life. And also where he was buried. Thrusting his hand deep into the dirt he felt his hand grip the scepter and he pulled it free. Runes covered every inch of the four foot long scepter with a glowing orb on either end filled with spirit ichor. Rising he looked to Hannibal.

"We almost have everything now broski. Now to meet up with ba'buir Kad."

Tossing his brother the scepter with a smirk he began the trek to the mouth of the valley where they were to meet their father's old friend, [member="Kad Tor"]. Nearing, Tobias saw a figure and raised a hand in greeting, a grin crossing his face as they neared the solitary figure.

 

[Hannibal Dib]

He had been thinking about a lot of things on this journey. The people they had met had grown to love and count on. His ba'buir was a strong man Garith [member="Darkhold"] who had never thought to have a family or children was slowly becoming the Grandfather to a nation. Han looked up at Tobias and nodded, "yep"

Few words did he have right now. He thought of his grandparents. His parents. His cousins. All of them that had started upon a path that had them he and his brother Tobias here to Dathomir. The doorway to forever.

He pulled his pack from a shelf shrugging into it.

He followed Tobias and looked across Dathomir. It had been here that much had changed the galaxy here where history made itself and was reborn. Life, death, and life from death. Balance. The teachings were dathomiri but Han had a kashi spirit walking with him. His path had not yet been chosen like his mother his gift of seeing the future told him everything was in flux and only time would reveal the future.

His attention drawn back he saw the figure waiting for them, and moved along to meet the old friend of their father the madman Muad Dib, course his mother had other names for him but in these parts seemed that name was known more. He would have to remember to ask his buir about it. Han liked the stories his parents told. It was an adventure and he hoped that this would be just like one of theirs.

[member="Tobias Dib"]

 

[Kad Tor]

​

​

He hunted today. The valley was always full of beasts to kill for a roast beast feast. The Hammer of Enceri walked slower these days as he had suffered a demolitions accident fighting for Mand'alor. [member="Artemis Lux"] had wanted to kill him at first for being so reckless with his measuring, but Kad had lived, and had made it up to his lover. Years had passed since then and the sandy blonde had become silver and white. Wrinkles littered his face, and made the scars more pronounced. A single eye patch was worn over his eye that had died as a result of the explosion. Kad had truly been fortunate that day, and caution was the lesson he learned the hard way.

The skilled goran spent more of his days crafting or fixing armor than fighting. He was still as deadly as ever however. There was not one person who had yet to get the better of him. As his mentor and friend used to say, fear the old man in a profession where men die young, or something like that. Kad's memory was not what it had once been. The explosion had caused minor damage which become even more noticeable the older the grizzled man became.

There were two figures approaching him. Kad trained his rifle on them.

"Identify yourselves... otherwise you'll be dead by your next step."

[member="Hannibal Dib"] [member="Tobias Dib"]

 

[Tobias Dib]

He paused as the solitary figure shouldered his rifle, training the weapon on the two brothers. He raised his arms slowly, a small smile twisting the lips on his young face. He knew the form, his eyes still sharp with youth. The other man was rugged, the worn valleys and crags of life represented on a war torn face. [member="Kad Tor"] was not a trusting man, but far be it to be said that he wasn't hospitable. But he wasn't at his own hearth, but rather the war torn landscape of Dathomir near the Hell Gate of the Netherworld.

"My ba'vodu used to say, 'Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens his friend'. He also would never trust a gun to the alternative of a dependable hammer."

Turning slightly to reveal his profile, the sword over his shoulder and two blades at his belt would easily be seen. Great care and skill had went into the forging of the weapons, goran training his apprentice. The remembrance of the hammer's weight in his hand, the ring of metal upon metal, the sparks from each measured blow we're cherished memories to the young man.

Next to him stood his brother, [member="Hannibal Dib"] , also waiting for the elder mando'ad to place their visage in his mind. Time had changed, the past had become a fluctuating river where every new alteration in the past changed their present. The present time was folding in on itself and time was no longer on their side. The only way to save the present was to fix the past. And that was what had brought them.

 

[Hannibal Dib]

[member="Tobias Dib"] | [member="Kad Tor"]

Han looked toward the older man time was etched upon his face and years of training made him mistrust anyone who he did not know. Time had many names and many duties it brought forth all things new and let the old pass and fade away. This time for now stood still giving them moments to speak.

"Su'cuy Kad Tor" the mandalorian rolled easier off his tongue than he thought it would, "My buir sends you something" He reached within the pack he carried to pull out the hastily wrapped gift. It would be something that only he would think to send to Kad. He smiled all while trying to keep his hands where Kad could see them, didn't want to get shot right his parents would kill him for getting killed.

The old man's eyes watched them carefully Han just smiled hoping by being cooperative and friendly it would help to have him lower the weapon. Last thing they needed to do was...disrupt time.

 

[Tobias Dib]

As the old mando'ad lowered his weapon, Tobias turned his head, a scent wafting upon the breeze. The decaying aroma of death. His hands flashed to the katana hanging from his kama, a weapon forged upon Atrisia under his ba'buir who watched with careful eye. The blue tint to the blade ran the length of the sword as he turned to look up the slope. Silence gave way to a tremor that shook the earth. Opposite of the twins, [member="Kad Tor"] turned to face the slope as well. Two great Warhammers came to either hand as they waited mere moments.

Then the bargain erupted over the edge and poured down in an angry horde. The varg were spawned from the Nether, insectoids that ran on four sharpened limbs, had two interviews appendages on their back, and a razor sharp, whiplike tail. Their jaws could crush armor and slice through durasteel. One, alone, was a nightmare. The horde was an eternal end that could not be turned.

Kad turned his head to lock eyes with Tobias. He was asked to help, and while he may not know the full reason, he had chosen to acquiesce to the request. Hauling back his left arm he threw the Warhammer in his left hand before roaring a war cry and rushing at the horde who swarmed toward him. The Warhammer swung as he gave the brothers the opportunity to change the fate that had embraced their present.

His hand lanced out and gripped his brother's shoulder and pulled as he began jogging through the valley. Hannibal had a choice: to stay and fight with Kad or to move with Tobias to their goal and the very reason they had come to Dathomir. Behind he heard the swing and crunchof the Warhammer, the warcry echoing as Kad refused to be overwhelmed by the horde. Tobias refused to turn, but whispered a name under his breath that would be remembered every morning.

"Kad Tor."

Moving across the valley the mouth opened to look upon the Warlock Gate. It rippled as swarm after swarm of varg ran through the portal. The minefield was littered with the dead creatures as the tower that stood opposite came under attack. The mando'ade and Witches fought side by side for once in an attempt to repel the assault from the Nether.

The Warhammer was gripped in his left as Tobias sheathed the katana. Watching the battle he closed his eyes as the sound of combat behind them ceased, a life snuffed from existence and sent to the manda. Opening his eyes he waited for the current wave of varg to cease streaming through the portal. When it happened that would be their opportunity to make the mad dash for the gate, and the Netherworld on the other side.

[member="Hannibal Dib"]

 

[Hannibal Dib]

[member="Tobias Dib"]

It didn't seem right to leave Kad but Tobias had him by the shoulder he could fight him or follow. He'd follow their parents would not be happy if they well...got killed before they were born right. Make sense of that if you can.

He didn't look back either but the sounds would stay with him forever. In his dreams in the visions that he got he'd forever see it happening and stand by helpless to change it.

But now they were near the valley and nothing changed, death, war, and destruction a brotherhood and sisterhood that battled to keep what bit of land they had and what lives they could. Witches. Mando'ade. He saw them together, apart, and dead upon a ground that wept as it soaked up their blood.

"Tobias" he stood there, "is there nothing we can do ?" He knew why they were they, their one change to move into the Netherworld. But still...he felt their passions rise and fall.

 

[Tobias Dib]

He felt his brother's confliction, and he shared [member="Hannibal Dib"]'s anguish. His twin was torn. Battle rang out, both in front and behind. Vide fell to their deaths, witches died by the dozens. The varg were an unrelenting tide that consumed all in their path, an unnatural blight from the Nether realm. And though he ached to thrust himself upon the enemy, he could not. He would not.

Han's words stirred his heart. It was not their way to turn from a fight. But today was the day that everything hinged upon. Either they succeeded or they would die, and possibly be swept from the timeline due to the fluctuations cause by the ripple effect of the past. Gripping the Warhammer in his hands he grimaced.

"Nothing can be done. Not today. But we can do something in the past. We have to have faith that we can succeed. Come on bro."

He started off at a walk that became a jog. Passing the engagement line he fought his instincts that cried out for him to go to war, to fall upon their enemy. But he couldn't. They couldn't. His stride lengthened until he was sprinting for the gate. The seconds ticked by, every beat of his rapid heart prophesying the arrival of the next wave of varg.

Mere meters away the portal shimmered to life as two varg came through. Letting out a roar he dove, in between the two bugs, and through the portal. A flash of light accompanied by a searing pain that swept through his body, then nothing. An emptiness that spanned mere moments and an eternity. And then he fell to the sand, rolling several times before springing to his feet. The landscape was the muted color of grey, like an old holofilm. Spirits flickered nearby, souls cast into chaos, their hunger for life turning their spectral heads in his direction.

Gripping the Warhammer, Tobias waited for his brother as the spirits began to travel closer.

 

[Hannibal Dib]

[member="Tobias Dib"]

Nothing today, it tugged something wicked on his spirit to keep moving.

"Ok.." Han followed at a steady pace he tried to drown out the cries and ignore the smell of blood. He looked up and saw the shimmering portal a beacon to anyone who knew what it could do, what it meant to them.

Now a new threat moved about them, the dead. Han had learned to talk to the dead from his mother but nothing like this. He pulled the blade forged by his father from it's resting place. "They are a bit hungry."

He had little experience with spirits, souls that wanted to drain his life.

He gave them a warning look, there were spells that they could use to keep them back. Those he remembered.

"Tobias might be a good idea to step through, together." If they entered separately they could be thrown in different directions, and who knew how long it would take for them to find each other. They couldn't afford to lose that kind of time.

 

[Tobias Dib]

Looking once more to his brother, Tobias turned to the dead who had paused in their staggering advance. A shadow stretched over them and even as the twins watched, the spirits fled. Turning he found that a large keep of muted black rose to the empty heavens. A stronghold built in the Netherworld. It was ominous. The power to raise and keep the castle in Chaos was difficult to imagine. But that was neither here nor there. Even now he felt the burn of the runes upon his skin.

Time was running out.

Such a simple yet complex phrase indeed. To imply that time had any say in this place was ridiculous. It existed in a plane that was connected to the galaxy, yet separate. And perhaps more then just one reality. The force made many things possible, and here there were even less rules then in the living galaxy.

Frowning at the distracting thoughts he looked to where an altar lay nearby. Stones, swords, crystals, and skulls decorated the surface. Like an odd collection. But here in the Nether they were sure to have a far different reason then to be aesthetically pleasing. Wincing slightly he looked to Han knowing he felt it too. Souls were tied to these objects.

"We can't be distracted. Whatever this is, whatever it belongs to ... I'd wager it won't be gone long. Bring the scepter. I'll make the bowl in the sand, you speak the words powering the ichor. We have one shot at this or we may end up anywhere in time. The hammer will focus the time, the ichor will power the strand that connects the hammer from our time to then."

Dropping to his knees Tobias began to dig a pit, smoothing the sides till it resembled a bowl to catch the ichor. The hammer rested beside him as once he finished he began etching runes around the rim. Sith, Dathomiri, Mando'a, Kashi .... Words of power and focus. Finishing he stood and stepped back to allow his twin to break the scepter and unleash the ichor, to speak the words of the spell and activate the runes etched upon the staff. It would power a portal, one that once come to life would have the hammer thrust in. Minutes afterwards the hammer would be infused with the focus and they would take the handle simultaneously to be pulled through space, time, and the Nether to exit the Warlock Gate at the exact time the piece of metal was spat from the gate so many years ago, the time that they were trying to journey to.

Yet he felt his eyes drawn to the altar.

Moving forward he looked at the assortment of items collected. A specific piece drew his attention, a small stone blade carved in the likeness of a kal. Reaching out slowly his fingers lightly plucked the child's rendition from the altar. Even as he raised it for closure inspection multiple things happened. Everything shook as if a quake had seized the reality they stood upon, the tremors nearly sending him from his feet. A presence, ancient and powerful, was felt on the keening wind that sprang to life. And even as Tobias watched the form of someone began to materialize as if summoned by the stone held in his hand.

"Han .... We should probably hurry .... I think I messed up ...."

[member="Hannibal Dib"] I [member="Yasha Mantis"]

 

[Hannibal Dib]

[member="Tobias Dib"] | [member="Yasha Mantis"]

Hannibal moved quickly bringing the scepter focus. He had to focus everything depended on the timing and the spell that would propel them to the spot they needed. Thank the force that their parents had spent so much time teaching them to tune out the world and only work on the the task at hand.

"Messed up" The words brought his attention to where his brother stood, "now is not the time for messing up" Han began to utter the words with precision the accent on the each sound, each sound summoning the all encompassing force that flowed forward and back. He tried to drown out his brothers' words about messing up. If they messed up they could be lost for a long time..

Time even though they had this spell to work with time was still fluid and they could end up anywhere. They were looking for a specific place in time. A time when most of their family was alive, a time when their sister Jia, the mother and father lived on Atrisia under First Order rules. A time when their Aunt was still Queen, and their Grandfather fought wars.

He would normally close his eyes for this but that sounded like a bad idea....he didn't want to break the chant, he looked to Tobias...was he ready?

 

[Yasha Cadera]

The echo of tiny feet upon stone.​

​

A set of young lungs breathing. ​

​

A little girl’s hand wrapped around the knife of stone. ​

The moment [member="Tobias Dib"] clutched the knife, a soul awoke and moved. ​

​

The Netherworld howled, pushes of rage and constantly growing threats peaked and peaked and peaked. ​

A crack of shadow. ​

A crouched figure, clothed in the rags of a mother’s torn armour weave loomed over the altar, her olive skin coated from nose to collarbone with the crimson of dried blood. Piercing amber eyes glared at @Tobias and [member="Hannibal Dib"], cocking a girlish head to the side.

Materializing in front of the two brothers, a girl-child no older than six rose from her crouch and readied the twin broken spearheads wrapped in leather in her hands.

“Wua oli i'ay, vui' oli i'ay uaskemb pi' kal? Hozi i'ay vapi da rdios pi, al rozi pi?" The voice of Yasha Mantis’ soul resounded as echoes through the area, emanating from the altar. She spoke in Epicant, thickly accented of the nobles of Panatha.

“Wua oli i’ay?! Wua?”

 

[Tobias Dib]

As the stones upon the ground rattled across the terrain by the violence of the bone jarring tremors, Tobias watched as a child materialized in front of him and [member="Hannibal Dib"]. A string of unintelligible words rattled out at them. The blood dried mask cracked as the spirit made flesh spoke to them. Keeping a wary eye on the girl, Tobias spoke to Han.

"You catch any of that?"

Watching the spear ends within the girl's hands he grimaced. The Netherworld was dangerous without what he felt was coming. And now they had a restless spirit antagonizing them in a language he didn't know and shaking weapons at them. Han began speaking the spell behind him. Once completed the Warhammer would be thrust in. As the focus it would be completing the final aspect, yet it would take several minutes before the portal would open.

"What could go wrong, right ner vod."

He smiled at his own amusement. Raising empty hands at the child he slowly dropped to a knee trying to placate the child apparition. The stone blade slipped into a pouch on his kama. Trying to show that the brothers were not a threat to the spirit Tobias breathed slowly.

"Not enemy ner ad'ika. Vode. We come in peace .... I saw that on a holovid and always wanted to say that. Remember Han?"

The smile slipped from his face as darkness and shadows seemed to slip across the landscape and begin to fold in upon itself the darkness rising from the ground on the other side of the alter and taking form of a giant figure.

"Oh .... Fierfek ...."

 

[Hannibal Dib]

"NO it was too fast and" Han looked over at the girl again, "she's a kid" Han knew not to linger too long on the child, "I think it epicant but I know just enough of it to get myself a drink."

Han murmured the spell again but heard his brother speak, "Yeah Mom and Dad said it when they wanted us calm. Do you remember how well that went, did you burn down the tree house that year?"

There were somethings that they would never forget coming into their own unique powers now that had been a wild time at Hiyogo.

Han shook his head and kept talking then the shadow crossed over. Han had to stop turn and look, "fierfek yeah that's one word Tobias." Now what to do next, run, or work on shoving it back to where it came from, "got any ideas?"

[member="Tobias Dib"] | [member="Yasha Mantis"]

 

[Yasha Cadera]

“Ad…ika?” The apparition twitched her small head to the side, strafing in a diagonal closer to [member="Tobias Dib"], weapons still raised. “Ner… ner ad’ika? Vod… ba’vodu… buir… BUIR! Du aeui dmuv kae Buir?!”

The shadows shivered, Yasha’s child-soul watching them with flickering eyes, skittering across the floor and stabbing at the massing collection of black. It shrank back, shrieking as the child stabbed, then bit, tearing a piece of the shadow into her mouth and shaking it.

Red poured down her throat.

“Kae Buir! Kae Buir!! Aditya Mantis!” The girl struck her chest, “Yasha Mantis! Ma Yasha!”

“I’ay Momdorureomk! I’ay… Momda-lo-rians! M-man-manda! Manda! Oooh, aeui'ra edeusk, suu. Yui kcorad es…. Fesrs es! Fesrs! Akaanir! Akaan!” As if to demonstrate the Mandalorian word for ‘fight’, the small child sprinted straight at the shadowy creature, roaring through gritted teeth as she jumped up onto the altar, then dove at the shadow-creature.

Both spearheads stabbed wildly at the shadow, a snarling set of yellow teeth chomping down on whatever she could. The shadow roared, slapping the child skidding to the floor.

“Akaanir!” The child rolled onto her haunches and one hand, roared and charged again. The ground shook, as the child charged, her roar causing the altar to vibrate and wobble.

[member="Hannibal Dib"]

 

[Tobias Dib]

Han always got a smile from Tobias, even in the midst of danger and literal hell. Especially then. Then the child hollered more words, Tobias only half listening as the shadow figure approached. Yet even though the words were between a growl and a shriek the mando'a was apparent. The child threw herself at the shadow and attacked causing Tobias to shake his head at the tenacity of spirit in the youth. Then she was tossed away to the ground, blood running from her face at where teeth had tore. Tobias looked to his brother at the question of any ideas. A grin crossed the elder twin's face.

"Ideas? Do what dad would do."

With that he charged, his right hand reaching to his left hip to pull the imbued katana to attack the dark figure. Leaping forward his right hit the altar and he stared through the air at the form, only to pass through it. Hitting the ground on the other side he turned just in time to see tendril lash out connecting with his face in a powerful swipe that sent him rolling across the ground. Grunting he rose to his knee and watched as the dark apparition finally took form. A tall being in black robes, face skull like and grinning before turning back to Han and Yasha.

Spoiler

Reaching up Tobias wiped the red and black blood from his face, a slice across his temples from where the hit had split his skin. Growling he reached to his kama and grabbed the buy'ce hanging in the netting there. Slipping it on he rose the skull upon the face plate eerily matching the dark one. His hand gripped the katana as his left pulled the wakizashi from it's sheath.

The figure looked upon the brothers. "The Galaxy will once more know the name of Mordecai. The gift of your souls will free me from my prison, where I have feasted on souls for millennia to wait. And you have brought me a way to travel from this realm. Your deaths will be swift for that. From beneath his robes he pulled a serrated, great sword.

Shaking his head as he spun the daishō in his hands, Tobias watched as several drops of black blood dripped to the stone ground. If it could bleed it could die, even here in this realm of death. Anything mom taught you might be helpful right about now ner vod. When the runes flash red shove that hammer in, then when they flash white, it's time to grab the hammer together and ride out.

With that spoken through their bond he charged, Mordecai raising the great sword and slamming it down into the upraised blades held in an X. The force of the blow drove him to his knees, the strength of the dark figure immense. However Tobias had seen the child charging and drew their opponent's attention, even as the power of the figure threatened to flatten him.

[member="Yasha Mantis"] I [member="Hannibal Dib"]

 

[Hannibal Dib]

[SIZE=14pt]His brother could be the most insane person he knew. He hoped that he didn’t inherit that gene, though; his mother at times wasn’t wrapped to tight either.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Okay the kid was now yelling in mand’oa which really took Han by surprise, holy feth. That made it impossible to do nothing they would have to do whatever they could to help.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]He just hoped that didn’t include a possession or some other weird thing like that. Yeah. No. …not even for a vode.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]He thought he heard what would Dad do…run into it never look back. The Madman.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Of course what did Tobias do…what Dad would do.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Han wanted to concentrate but at the moment it seemed they would have to deal with that. What was it?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Could he even use any of his training here? He held up his hand and summoned the earth around them, least he hoped he would. There was a groan from below, and then the sound of cracking as before the steps appeared to give Tob any help he could to get the advantage of higher ground. "How about this?" [/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Then Han with the other began the chant again. Everything was about multi-tasking.[/SIZE]

​

[member="Tobias Dib"] | [member="Yasha Mantis"]​

 

[Yasha Cadera]

The one named ‘Tobias’ seemed to understand, their mutual recognition of Yasha’s ‘pidgin Mando’a’ enough to gain her some vague sense of better footing.

Spilled over by the villain Mordecai, little Yash’ika switched the grip on her blades to point down, and seeing [member="Tobias Dib"]’s distraction, charged. Small feet made nary a sound upon the cold and aching ground, nothing but the breath from her lungs to guide any sense that the child-spirit was there. Spearheads pointed down, they gave leverage for Yash’ika to leap upon Mordecai’s back, stabbing downward like an ice climber up a frozen chute. Clamping her knees on his shoulder, the child began to stab one spearhead then the other in sequence, slicing into Mordecai’s neck.

Muscle and sinew, tendon and bone. A ravaged cry of war burst from the vicious Hell-Child, as she stabbed…

And stabbed…

And stabbed… until throat and body parted, and the figure’s head tumbled down to the sodden ground. Whether that would be the creature’s undoing or not was no focus of the young thing, who flipped off his body and landed in front of Tobias. Many in the Nether could survive even that… was this one of those?

“Di’kut.” Yasha sniffled, rubbing her forearm across her red-stained nose. She teetered plunking down to sit legs akimbo on the ground. Was that body moving?

“Yaim.” Yasha said, ‘home’. “Yaim be Buir. Yaim, n-ner vode? Yaim.”

Home. Home, if only she could go home. [member="Hannibal Dib"]

 

[Tobias Dib]

As the serrated blade wielded by Mordecai inched closer to Tobias' buy'ce, Han chose that time to act. The stone beneath yhe feet of Tobias shuddered momentarily until it rose skyward, raising him just above Mordecai who now used both hands to continue the onslaught against the vod. The strength of the skull faced being was nearly insurmountable as all his attention turned to Tobias with his blades slowly falling before the might of Mordecai.

Of course that was the plan.

The little spitball that was the shattered soul of [member="Yasha Mantis"] climbed the Dark One like a rabid strill frothing the black blood with her exertion at climbing and attacking mercilessly. The blades in the tiny ad'ika's hands bit deep into Mordecai who released a bellow of rage. Rotating his wrists he turned his body and let the serrated sword crash to the dais created and raised by [member="Hannibal Dib"] before slamming his katana over the top of his opponent's weapon and driving the wakizashi into the abdomen of Mordecai, twisting the blade as it bit deep.

The Dark One opened his mouth however no sound escaped as the neck was severed, the body and head rolling in opposite directions. Turning, Tobias looked at the youth. Her words were soft, the first thing about the soul that was so. He motioned to Han then to himself.

"Hannibal, Tobias. Err, Han, Toby. Ner vod."

He turned to Han and frowned.

"This is a fragment. A shard. Mantis. Somehow it's anchored here, and I think it's tied to this."

He raised the stone kad. Yet his eyes were drawn to the movement as the flesh of Mordecai began to writhe, the other items from the altar becoming glowing nimbuses as tendrils fed the Dark One and knitting flesh. Yet the stone did not glow, it's tethered essence not aiding in the reconstruction of Mordecai. Before Han the runes flashed red.

"Ad'ika, yaim."

He slipped the stone into his kama.

 

[Hannibal Dib]

[member="Tobias Dib"] | [member="Yasha Mantis"]

"Seems nothing truly dies around her Tob, and a shard ya say. Interesting. I seem to remember a story about grandfather though and death, soul splitting and something about clones...and how difficult restoration could be." Yeah it was something but in truth he was ready to get out.

He began to chant a bit faster, "I think we should be looking for the door. You do realize putting the stone in your pocket means she's coming with us, right?" He needed to make sure his brother understood consequences." Something was pulling on him pulling the darkness, "we've got some shifting going on..if we don't get out of here. We will be stuck here."

Even the old creepy Mordecai was starting to pull himself together.

Han chanted with greater focus he waved his hand for effect technically the spell didn't need it. Soon the tear began to show itself, bright lights split through it, and the smell of nitrogen filled the void.

"Tobias" He needed him to look and ensure it was their destination.