Public Vine & Stone

[Valek Zuraxin]

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Valek Zuraxin gently walked along the steps that lead up to the top of the Temple. The Shadowy Sith appeared no more than a crippled wanderer, his breathing echoed from the help of the apparatus around his face. A cane was wrapped firmly around his fingers, the black design resembled that of the stone steps he walked upon. Beside him was that of his protocol droid B3-ZX who kept close in case his master would require his assistance. The air was hot, humid. The hobbled Sith could feel the cloth of his robes moist from the hot air, while the calls of Woolmanders climbing the jungle canopy called out, and the carnivorous piranha beetles would skitter across the floor.

Each slow step caused his breathing to echo throughout the Temple ruins. Nature had crept back in to take what was there’s, yet like most of Yavin IV did the dark side leave a stain across the ruined stone. Slowly did Zuraxin finally reach the summit of the ruins, beyond the trap opening did he witness the vastness of the jungle. Through the red optic did he read various lifeforms, temperatures , biometric data that showed how the moon was teeming with life. The ancient Massasie Temples had darted the landscape to which the Sith stood there in awe.

“I detect that the Isle of Kun is downhill.” Chimed B3 who relied upon the information given to him. He knew the history of the moon, the unique flora and fauna, and most important was the Sith Legacy of the jungle moon. From Naga Sadow to Exar Kun and to Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Academy, this world had a mixed legacy of shadow and light. What had drawn Zuraxin in particular was the dark science utilized by both Kun and Sadow to use it in improving his crippled form.

“Good, the sooner we make it to the Tmple Ruins, we can see if any of Kun’s work remains.” Zuraxin would say, his pensive silence finally broken as he looked down. “Come, first we have to find a boat. Then we sail on Kun’s Isle.” Zuraxin would say determinedly, his cane tapped harshly against the stone, as the figure shrouded in black with a droid by his side would slowly move towards the stone stairs. He could hear the sounds of the jungle echoed, while B3 would follow close behind.

“Of course, Master as you wish.” Did B3 say as they started to move slowly. Step by step did they walk with Zuraxin moved cautiously, his body was weakened, but the Sith used it to his advantage appearing no more than a simple traveler. He felt the dark side’s call the closer he moved towards the jungle canopy, following along a path the Ancient Sith walked millennia ago. After some time did the pair see the rushing waters of the Isle of Kun, yet another step on the expedition towards Dark Temple ruins that still held secrets.

 

[Zandra Ruus]

The planet of Yavin IV had changed hands many times in the history, and soon it would again. The raids of the Neo Crusaders had spread across the stars, and many were trying to make a name for themselves. Zandra of clan Dryggo was one such young Mandalorian. She had plans to become a Rally Master within the Mandalorian hierarchy, and leading the conquest of new worlds might secure her that place. Today was the start of the conquest of Yavin's most famous moon, and Zandra was leading the scouting parties. So far there was little to see, aside from the ruins of some long dead temple.

"Sword team, I'm splitting off to investigate these ruins. Link up with Trident team and head for the rally point. I'll join you once we're sure these ruins are really deserted." Zandra had the creeping suspicion that this mission was going a bit too smoothly. They had only met meager resistance along the way, nothing that could challenge a Mandalorian raiding party.

Using her jetpack, the future Rally Master flew down into the former temple. She was standing in the middle of some room that used to sit at the top of an overgrown staircase of stone. Scanning the room, she found carvings and intricate stonework that must have been millenia old. This was far too refined to be an ancient jungle culture, there were fairly modern pieces of electronics and even some signs of engineering in the walls. "This place is ancient, but there's signs that it was pretty advanced... Blast me to bits, this treasure could make good additions to our war chest."

She had no idea that there were other parties trying to get to these very ruins. Nor did she know the significance of the tech she was picking the bones of...

Valek Zuraxin

 

[Valek Zuraxin]

The pair walked from the ruined stone steps down to the jungle floor. Yavin IV was known to many, only a few knew about Sith connections to the world, while many could point out how the New Jedi Order’s origins began on the jungle moon. As both the man and his droid walked towards the edges of the river, passing through vines, the chirping of the Whisper Birds would call out through the jungle. They approached carefully towards the waters of the isle that would take them to the Temple ruins. Zuraxin had hoped to use Sith Dark Science to improve his own mechanical constraints that had fed into his body.

“I believe I’ve found a suitable transport, Master.” B3 would say in a cheerful word, the obsidian droid pulled out what looked to be a crudely made boat. The boat was large, made of old wood from one of the trees. “We can use this to reach the Dark Temple ruins.” B3 would continue to point out, his red photoreceptors would glow. Zuraxin watched as he stood there with his cane in hand. The droid carefully landed the boat flat on the water, while slowly climbing inside. “Off we go, Master.” B3 would say as he kept his hands out to help Zuraxin into the boat. “Closer we get to the ruins, the better.” Zuraxin would grumble followed by a wheeze from his breathing apparatus.

Zuraxin would rest, covered in his dark robes, his cane was kept close to his side. “There has to be something there.” Another grumble came from the crippled wanderer, his droid would take a long branch and the boat would start to row along the current. In the distance he could see the ruined spires of the Temple, even going towards it he could feel the dark side cling to the air. All the while the obsidian plated droid would continue to row the boat, the boat moved through the water on what was a silent but anxious ferry towards the ruins.

In his immediate vicinity was a thick fog. Zuraxin was tempted to use the Force to remove any obstacles, but quickly thought better against it. For sometime did the boat continue on one path forward. After sometime did the crude boat emerge through the mist, the ruins were directly ahead. What was once Exar Kun’s Temple was before his very eyes.

The boat slowly reached towards the shore, causing the droid to stand and lead Zuraxin off towards the vine ridden ground. “At last,” Zuraxin would say with some relief, however his relief came crashing down. Within the first few steps towards the Temple he could spot several beings. “Master, I’m afraid we weren’t the only ones.” B3 pointed out the figures that were walking along the edge of the ruins, some were already inside. “Mandalorians…” Came Zuraxins response. Anger fueled his blackened veins, with an urge to release the dark side in all its fury. “Come, they won’t harm a feeble wanderer such as me.” Zuraxin said as he pushed through the jungle brush. The mysterious shrouded figure, and his droid assistant would emerge in plain sight right in front of the Mando raiding group unafraid of what might occur.

Zandra Ruus

 

[Zandra Ruus]

"Commander Zandra, we have a contact. Looks like an old man and his droid..." The squad leader was quick to report in, the voice ringing through the halls of the temple. Her squad was probably smart not to engage the old man directly. Lone wanderers were often trouble in a galaxy full of old force wielders.

"Copy your last, let the old man come. No reason to start any fights, yet." The commander responded, already considering why a lone, decrepit man might be this far into the jungle. No coincidences in a place like this...
Zandra hadn't delved too deep into the temple, but it was already starting to creep her out. The carvings on the walls fairly well screamed the builder had issues. Maybe they were Sith, maybe just a seriously messed up taste in decor. Regardless, she was worried about what she might find deeper in the temple. Booby traps were common in old ruins like these, and the last thing she wanted was to get blown apart by some ancient traps.

"Frackin' old buncha rocks... What could be so important about all of that?" Her instinct were telling Zandra to turn back and just let the old man have whatever he was looking for. But her curiosity spurred her to find out whatever might be valuable in these hostile looking ruins. Currently she was in the outer chambers, still shallow waters comparatively.

Her heart raced as she could hear mechanical noises coming from the entrance, she had to make a choice. Should he hide, or perhaps meet this new potential threat head on? That was an easy enough question to answer, she was never going to reach her goals being a shrinking violet. Better to make herself known!

Zandra strode back to the entrance hall, where she would rest against a far wall, always watching the entrance. Two figures were coming up, and neither one looked the most friendly... "Can't assume you're the centuries old welcoming crew. If so, you're a little late..."

Valek Zuraxin