Training of the Witch-Assassin

[Lord Ajihad]

Lord Ajihad was many things. He was an assassin. He was a necromancer. He was a cultist. But he was also a witch, though very much untrained. His body was that of a Gurlanin enhanced by Dathomiri magicks. He even had a traditional energy bow, priding himself on being a nightbrother. Sadly, he had little to no training in witch magicks at all.​

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That's why he was on Dathomir now. He had traveled to the territory of the Spider Clan, following rumors on one that might be willing and able to train him in the ways of the witch. He had landed his ship several miles away, journeying on foot for quite some time now. He had just passed a black-bark tree with the emblem of a spider crudely carved into its face, obviously the symbol of the clan he was searching for.​

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He walked for another couple hundred yards before coming across a spring of fresh water. It was the color of crystal, gurgling out from an aquifer many feet beneath the surface. His canteen had run dry some time ago, so he kneeled down to refill it from the spring. Where exactly would he find this witch? He was unfamiliar with the terrain, and only had a rough idea of where the clan resided.​

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[member="Lavania"]​

 

[Lavania]

[member="Lord Ajihad"]

The new home of the spider clan was something that several had helped construct. The cave system covered by a small outpost with houses and walls. The large stables for rancors and other creatures they had for the clan. Throughout many of the places there were the dragon rancors she had worked on with Petra and Anastasia to get. They were a sight to behold with the blind seer while her staff held the spider queen talisman on it. Her robes sleek with the headdress obscuring most of her tattoo's while the remains of the complex Petra and Kuyala had confronted eadch other over a long time ago.

 

[Lord Ajihad]

After fully refilling his canteen, Ajihad would set out once again. He used a map given to him by the Nightbrothers to guide him through the land, using large boulders, marked trees, and other such natural landmarks as reference points. He travelled through streams, hills, and forests for several more hours.​

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Just as night was falling, he came across a cave that resembled the one marked on the map. If the nightbrothers were correctly informed, this should be the Spider Clan home. He stuffed the map back into his marauder's bag and zipped it shut, all while setting his cybernetic eye into lifeform scanner mode. He also turned on the night vision function, ensuring he could see in the dark cave system. He would step into the pitch-black tunnel, searching for some form of life.​

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[member="Lavania"]​

 

[Lavania]

[member="Lord Ajihad"]

Something was here, the witch remained careful and ready for some of the things before her attention went to some of the houses working with the different ones there. from the children they had to the other workers who had been fixing up some of the more defensible places. The large spiders working on webbed net for them tops of the wall to catch and keep out the bugs and things that could fly over it. Like mist nets to keep away or catch bats as the sound of her staff tapping on the ground resonated around giving her a view of the complex and caves below.

 

[Lord Ajihad]

The assassin continued to venture into the cave system not encountering any trouble. Even so, he was always on his heels, expecting a witch or thrall to jump out of the shadows at any given moment.​

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Several minutes later, his HUD detected a lifeform up ahead. Ensuring his force signature was shrunk using Art of the Small, he ventured forward with caution. He eventually entered a large cavern with small homes built into its walls. Enormous spiders crawled across the ceiling above above him weaving just as mighty webs, causing him to draw his energy bow in alarm.​

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After a moment of observing his surroundings, the assassin calmed down. He stopped drawing the weapon, though still keeping it on hand. He shouted into the cavern to the arachnid audience: "I seek the one known as Lavania!"​

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[member="Lavania"]​

 

[Lavania]

[member="Lord Ajihad"]

There was something from down in the cavess, some of the spiders were making chittering sounds while they communicated with the others and she could hear some of the initiate sisters moving with their footing secured. Coming out of the caves was not always easy and they had spent a lot of time working to plug up all of the other entrances but still things found their way through to bug them. She moved from her spot just under her shack that had been built overlooking all of the others above the entrance to the caves. With all of the spiders down there she quickly ascended scenting the air while some of the other nightsisters dressed more in line with what some expected them. Primmitive and covered in bodypaint. She herself covered in black tattoo's under the clothing when she spoke in one of the alcoves. "Who is asking for me?"

 

[Lord Ajihad]

A woman emerged from the cave's highest abode, a veil covering her eyes and tattoos covering her body. She stopped at the point where she overlooked the main cavern, addressing the one that asked for her.​

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Ajihad stepped forward, his head tilted upwards towards the balcony. "I am Ajihad, Lord of the Sith. I seek an audience with the one called Lavania, I presume that is you?" His bow was again strapped across his back, and arms crossed almost defiantly. This was an uncomfortable environment for him, and for whatever reason he felt a touch of hostility in the air.​

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[member="Lavania"]​

 

[Lavania]

[member="Lord Ajihad"]

Chewing on her lower lip a little but mostly to keep from grinning like some of the others. They were the spider clan... in times past the nightsisters who well they weren't friendly to nightsisters let alone witches or others. It was fun to keep that reputation at times but that could also be counter productive to what they wanted to do. As she crouched a little lower down to look at him letting her senses flare out. "I am Lavania but few come to the spider clan willingly. Our reputation at times for imprisoning males for breeding stock is well known and we aren't really the new witchmasters who have been running around. So what do you wish to see me for." She was looking at a lot of it while the others were working on their stuff, the nightsisters talismans could be worked on so that slowly and surely all of them would be able to have one of the web talisman.

 

[Lord Ajihad]

[member="Lavania"]

As the witch mentioned enslaving males, Ajihad raised a skeptical eyebrow. Many had tried and failed to apprehend him over the years, and there was very little chance that these spiders would be the ones to succeed. Nevertheless, he took the somewhat idle threat seriously enough. Only Sargon knew what spells and tricks some of these witches could conjure.​

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Ajihad raised his voice, the deep baritone of the Sith's voice reverberating off the thick stone walls ll around them. It almost sounded like he was speaking from everywhere at once. "I come before you as a nightbrother seeking training in the ways of the witch. Will you teach me?" He would now await the much-anticipated answer. Would she agree to mentor him? Or would he have to carve his way through a host of spiders to escape the labyrinth of caves alive?​

 

[Lavania]

[member="Lord Ajihad"]

She was looking at him more now and not totally impressed. After you have been with Petra who used spells and power to do a lot worse things then talk around a cave... everyone lost their glamor. She could feel some of the husks that were there with the energies they were infusing to make more of their talisman's. Slowly moving to stand there in front of him with the staff. "If you want to learn then we can teach you but what do you offer us for this exchange. All magics come with a price."

 

[Lord Ajihad]

Ajihad raised an eyebrow at what [member="Lavania"] said, surprised to a degree. Sure, it was reasonable to ask for something in exchange for training. However, Ajihad never really pictured the somewhat primitive witches ever holding many things in value. It seemed he stood corrected.​

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In truth, he had no idea what the witch might want. He had money, power, assets, but he didn't think any of that would really be useful to the witch. He would shrug, speaking once again, "I can offer you a great many things, but I confess a lack of understanding as to what you might want of me. Money? Slaves? Constructing of defenses or technology for your clan? What is it a witch such as yourself may want?"​

 

[Lavania]

[member="Lord Ajihad"]

"It is less what we want and more what is important or worth it. An exchange of knowledge and power for..." She held her hand out while looking at some of the things. "We have had ones come to train with us and bring slaves, exotic ones that can provide genetic variation to the genepool here, there were ones who brought with them exotic creatures we could raise and either eat or use for new pets, bringing in trinkets and magic artifacts that might hold some value to the nightsisters. The price varies with the ones asking. You might have credits, power but that is easy, if you give it up you can get more of it. What is there that can't just be replaced."

 

[Lord Ajihad]

Ajihad frowned. He still didn't know what the witch wanted. It seemed she wanted him to sacrifice something nice in exchange for training. But what would he choose? Perhaps something to help the Spider Clan against their rivals.​

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After a moment, he had thought of something that they might find useful. "In exchange for full training, I will provide your clan with a Fire Breather." He didn't have many of these, as they were very difficult to breed. He could also guarantee that it would be very useful in fights against other clans.​

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Plus, he knew how much the witches loved their pets.​

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[member="Lavania"]​

 

[Lavania]

[member="Lord Ajihad"]

Hearing him her attention perked up a little going near one of the witches working to clean the carapace of the spiders so another could string it and enchant it. "A fire breather... How interesting." She had heard of these creatures and they were dangerous... more so then rancors as there were not many that could control them... but unleashing it on the enemies of the witches she could do with that. "And you can control these fire breathers?" She said it as a question but also to prod at him, most she had met of the males if you questioned them openly they puffed up their chest and revealed oh so much more. She had done it with the fox when he came to the clan for a deal.

 

[Lord Ajihad]

[member="Lavania"]

Ajihad would nod to the witch's question. "Indeed, I can speak to fire breathers or any Vong creations in general. I assume this will be enough to allow you to teach me?" The grizzled assassin had indeed fallen for her trick. He could have responded with a simple "yes," but instead revealed he could actually communicate with Vong. Perhaps such a statement could even lead the witch to suspect the Tizowyrm buried in his ear...​

 

[Lavania]

[member="Lord Ajihad"]

She moved quickly towards him speaking. "How interesting." The voice coming out like a sultry whisper while the other clan members had gone silent. Staying quiet in their positions while working on some of the things. They had all of the work going as she stepped back leaning on her staff a little with a smile on her face. "It is assuming you are telling the truth, when it arrives find me by the alter. We'll work on the spells you want to learn." She knew some of the things there but without such a thing on the world and with them promises were just that. She backed away a little working with the ones there going over some of the things they had. "We have patience and time, return to us and we shall show you what you want."

 

[Lord Ajihad]

[member="Lavania"]

Ajihad would nod. It would take a couple days to arrive on Dathomir, but it wasn't going to bd enough for him to leave and come back. No, he'd have to set up camp somewhere in the wilds for a couple nights. He had come semi-prepared for a stay that long, but he could make do with what he had. "Very well. I will be seeing you again shortly, I imagine." With that, he would go try to find his way out of the cave again.

 

[Lavania]

[member="Lord Ajihad"]

There was a shrug from her while she let him go and spoke. "Ensure the proper fortifiactions are done to reseal the caves. The only entrances should be the one in the fort and those pop holes we have developed with the spiders." There was a nod from the others while they went off with the spiders and some of the larger one were deeper in the caves. A dangerous place to go for even them as they rarely saw the queen living.. the dead one they used for the talismans sure but she could wait like the others. Continuing to work on their things while building up the fort.