Invasion War in the Rim Chapter III — GA Invasion of SO held Sluis Van and Echnos

[Xeykard]

Aymeric Prendergast
​

He was a remarkable talent.

The care of each step -- the rough dirt often had pebbles and rocks that would skitter at the lightest provocation, and yet he moved soundlessly, not disturbing even a single worm. He suppressed his presence so perfectly that Xeykard would not have felt him at all were it not for his other senses. More often than not, it was the smell of a Jedi that gave them away. An assuredness; an untainted scent. Strangely he felt it almost tragic to take the life of one like that.

Slowly, silently, Xeykard drew a trio of thin darts. The Jedi crept a dozen meters away; a difficult shot, but if Xeykard moved now he'd be picked up almost instantly. His hanging position on the ceiling of a slightly declining mine path would have been excellent if the Jedi came down here, but it looked like he would be passing without resistance. He had to strike.

In a single fluid motion he threw the poison-laced darts at the Jedi, just the barest sound coming from them as they cut through the air.

 

[Melissa Bloodscrawl]

Wearing: Venture Armor (Custom Appearance)

Armed With: Bloodscrawl Lightsaber

Nightsister Energy Bow Pistol

Kytrand Clone Army Force Composition:

Clone Defense Troopers

Armament: DC-15S, Obsolete Grenade Launcher (40 MM Incendiary Buckshot Ammo), Cold Grenade, Droidekas

Clone Offense Troopers

Seeker Rail Detonator, Glop Grenade, Automated Drone

Clone Siege Troopers

CR-1 Blaster Cannon, Outdated Plasma Grenade, Impeding Assault Tank (See Siege Trooper Link for details)

Clone Pyros

Heavy Republic Flame Thrower. Plasma Grenades, Therm Ax

Clone Rangers

DC-17M (PEP Laser Modification)

Automated Sentry Turret

Delivery of squads via: Impeding Assault Tank



Squad Layout per tank:


Offense Troopers (2)

Defense Troopers (4)

Siege Troopers (2)

Ranger: 2

Pyro (1)


Number of squads: 35

The attack force had been carefully rationed for the excursion into the Lommite Mines, risky drops being conducted from anonymous Cruisers under the guise of a company of armed mercenaries in order to obscure their allegiance.

They had deployed in tanks. Conditions in the mines meant the Clones had to come in more piece meal, be even more careful than normal. The Lommite Mines, Nathan had decided, were a perfect chance to test the mixed unit tactics capabilities of the Clones, see how well they did combining their skills. The ratios had been carefully worked out for the squads, of which the recently created Android, made to be Nathan's artificial Sister, was a leader in one such squad, whose tank was currently, carefully burrowing through the rock so as to not compromise the structural integration of the mines as a whole.

However, when it came to the Sith positions...

Nathan, for one, was baffled that no one else had considered using the deadly centipede tanks everyone was on as they erupted behind enemy lines, either using blunt kinetic force from the speeding tank itself or the legs bristling with blaster cannons to viciously kill the Sith at key choke points before the squads filed out. The nightmarish thing about the Kytrand Clone Army was just how opportunistic it was. Melissa had to admit her adopted organic brother had a knack for sensing with the Galactic Alliance military would have its hands full with so much it wouldn't have much opportunity to ask how or why there was a freaking military force composed of Fett Clones coming out of nowhere in the mines into certain shafts, sending out death squads whose sole purpose was to patiently, ruthlessly kill enemy opposition in the tunnels by any means necessary.

Melissa emerged from a tank at ingress point 007 by their planning calculations. The golden skinned, tall and slender blond with shoulder length, curly hair was clad in a lightweight armored skintight body glove with a bright crimson color that marked her as a warrior of House Bloodscrawl AND House Li-Ves (She was considered a princess in the latter house!) and the all red down to the very core lightsaber blade that spun from a weathered hilt in her hand was a more definite mark.

The Defense Troopers, members of the stubborn strain of clones that had fought a Droid Army to a total standstill in Dagobah's swamps to keep the Jedi temple within from being overrun as long as possible, were the first one out. Bacta-Works profits has started being invested into and filtering into the equipment of the Clone units, particularly in terms of ammunition and special weapons availability. For this mission, the Defense Troopers had been provided 40 mm buckshot ammo instead of the usual oversized grenade bullets for their single shot launchers, turning the ridiculously outdated but useful weapons into giant shotguns, as an experiment to see how they would do in the cramped, enclosed spaces of the mines, while the Offense Troops had been provided with an abundance of Rail Detonator Ammo and adhesive grenades. The Rangers were being let off the leash and tested, provided rare PEP Laser Attachments and expensive auto sentry turrets to set up. The Pyros hadn't needed anything except their urge to kill everything with fire so they had been provided a relatively standard load out. The Siege Troopers, humorless, no nonsense Death Dealers, had been given CR-1 Blaster Cannons, perfect for killing in the cramped tunnels whatever the defense troopers missed.

Melissa spotted a lone Sith Soldier who had survived the eruption under his feet, and promptly decapitated him when he tried to reach for his rifle.

"Another glorious day in the Fireplace!" The Pyro Clone in her squad, PC-101 boasted as his brothers nervously undid his straitjacket. "ANOINT THEM IN GASOLINE AND COMMENCE THE PURGE. PURRRRGE...PURRRRRGE...."

"Wow, you didn't even make it five seconds before the obsession took over, did it?" Melissa remarked.

"THE GLORY OF THE FLAME SHALL NOT BE STIFLED. TO PLAY WITH MATCHES IS A HOLY RITE."

"This is a bad fething idea to let the Pyro's loose down here..." one of the defense troopers in her squad muttered. "Like lettin' the Rancor into the Bantha Herd."

"I SHALL SOLILOQUY THE ENEMY WITH THE LITANY OF THE THIRD DEGREE BURNS..." The Pyro proclaimed psychotically. "ALL. OXYGEN. IS. BELONG. TO ME."

"I respectfully disagree, Trooper," Melissa said to the Defense Trooper who had spoken. "He is exactly what we need."

"BEHOLD!" The Pyro exclaimed for reasons that made sense only to them.

The Squad proceeded down the tunnels, the Pyro next to Melissa as he sent a stream of flames into a shaft to their right when a few Sith soldiers opened fire.

"THE ABILITY TO SHOOT DOES NOT MAKE YOU A MARKSMAN..." The Pyro shouted maniacally as he watched them scream from being burned alive.

"What a novel concept..." one of the Rangers muttered sullenly as he checked the still burning corpses.

"THE ABILITY TO BE SARCASTIC DOES NOT MAKE YOU ASTUTE." the murderous, pyromaniac Fett Clone with no indoor voice replied.

"Gah!" One of the Defense Troopers shouted firing his buckshot equipped grenade launcher at two Sith Soldiers who had come rushing in from a separate tunnel shaft with heavy cannons.

He watched as the chest of the two, so packed together in the tunnels, exploded and caught fire. He went blank for a second, remembered it was incendiary buckshot he had been given.

Melissa immediately went over to check.

"I don't wanna sound negative, but I think you hurt the both of them," she muttered in sarcasm, confirming they were dead before standing up.

"We're doing great five minutes in, all things considered. Continue." she remarked, striding confidently down the passage, her combat targeting databases allowing her to deftly manipulate the lightsaber carve through three Sith Soldiers in the next tunnel, deftly, dodging and twisting out of the way of their attacks before eviscerating them...

It was going to be a long, interesting day, Melissa thought as her clones joined her aggressive push deeper into the mines, beginning to encounter stiff resistance...

 

[Vince]

Mines of Dorvalla
Eira Dyn ​

Before they knew better, a knife shot to the soldier at an immense speed. The beginnings of a word started to form before she was silenced. For the knife found its way just north of her chest plate. A pained gurgling noise followed. In responce, Vince rushed forth, only to find the Sith's cloak thrown in his direction. Almost immediately, he started to open fire.

The shots, however, were wholly inaccurate. For the hand which would normally stabilise the barrel was raised to prevent the cloth from falling onto his rifle, forcing him to hold the powerful weapon in place with just one hand. Still, with an impressive display of pure strength, he managed to fire somewhat controlled shots in the direction he believed her to be in whilst simultaneously showing his skill handling capes. With what looked like a mere flick of the wrist, the cloth started to twirl into a more controllable wrap which would ultimately be held up high by his off-hand.

But by the time he could see what was going on more clearly, the assailant was already in melee range, slashing and stabbing at his limbs with a dagger. As if by reflex, he blocked one attack with the barrel of his rifle whilst letting go of her cloak. A pained color=#be33ff]"Ahhh"[/color] then escaped him as a blade managed to slip by the wrist padding to tear up the flesh it was supposed to protect. The blade from the opposing side was once more blocked by the rifle. For the attack going for his already injured arm, Vince raised it to meet the attack in order to allow the armour padding to take the blow. Hoping to exploit the potential opening, he produced a forceful kick against her core, both to injure her and to create a bit of distance between them. One last shot was fired from the rifle.

Seemingly well aware of her aggressive tendencies, he dropped the rifle to let it hang by its strap before producing his Officer's saber and taking a lighter stance whilst approaching her position.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Darth Varynx

A small, pale-skinned boy had navigated his way through the mines, deftly tripping death traps and marking others as he moved. So far, he hadn't encountered any real opposition, but as he reached the mouth of the cave, he paused. Up ahead, a figure loomed in the dim light, their presence unsettling. Braze narrowed his jade green eyes, taking a moment to assess the stranger from a safe distance.

With a hint of a smirk, he broke the silence. "You know, the whole 'brooding in the shadows' thing is a little cliché, even for a Sith."

Braze flashed a smug grin, his confidence clear. With a swift motion, he drew his off-hand saber, igniting it with a sharp hum. He gave it a casual flourish, tossing it into the air and twirling it effortlessly. In one fluid motion, he caught it and brought the blade down in a controlled, graceful slash.

 

[Quinn Varanin]

Corazona von Ascania

The Alliance setting their sights upon the Empire was something she didn't have on her current year's bingo card. From her understanding, the Alliance only liked to pick fights and wait until their target was irritated enough and attacked. Jedi always feign to be the good guys. Her skin burned at a memory, remembering their rampant attack on Kaas City - she nearly lost everything, including her life. They were just as bad as the Sith - hunting in the name of their religion. Quinn rolled her eyes. These Jedi were radicals, but that didn't make them righteous. They killed instead of trying to understand.

Still, she knew that as a Sith, she was deemed evil by anyone in the galaxy. Quinn tried her hardest to ensure that she remained far from the depravity of the others. Despite that depravity, it was the necessary evil that allowed her freedom.

Instead of following the rest of the Sith in defending the areas, she didn't want to attach herself too closely to the Empire. She was happy sitting on the fence; her freedom meant more to her.

Quinn found herself wandering the mines; the last thing she wanted to happen was for the war to break out among those who managed the droids. The civilians were innocent, and as citizens of the Empire, she was charged with protecting them. Moving through the mines, she caught wind of another. The young woman's gaze pierced through the droids towards the blonde. Quinn raised a brow; curiously, the blonde looked familiar, but the Echani Princess couldn't quite place her.

The pommel of the lightsaber rested in the palm of the Echani's hand as she made her presence known, "You're trespassing." She started, her voice amplified by the use of the Force. "Go home, Jedi; you don't belong here; no one wants you here."

 

[Kriang Krai Ferrer]

|| LOST IN THE FIRE ||

~by the mandate of the Director~

OUTFIT & EQUIPMENTS:

Spoiler

Light stealth armour (Phrik-infused plastoid chest-piece, reflec-coated armorweave coat, undershirt & pants)
Bryar blaster pistol x2
Sawed-off double-barrel Trandoshan shotgun
Rocket boots
Gauntlet grenade-launcher (Thermal, smoke, flashbang, cryo)

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the listening posts
TAG: Leven Jeyd

Spoiler

​

MINES OF DORVALLA

Just like that, boulders and rusted metal rained down on the Yggdrasil, crushing the bodies of half of the squad and sending others crashing on the ground. Stupid chits. Rook managed to land near-perfect with his rocket boots, but the same case couldn’t be said for his surviving crew-mates.

Still think you're the one who does the killing? You are no predator here. This is not a negotiation to avoid a fight. I simply want to see if you're more than a blunt instrument—if you can think beyond the orders you've been given.

He heard the smooth yet sharp feminine voice clearly in his head. Mind-reader, as he already suspect. What is it he face, he tried to think as he moved from the exposed position closer towards the tunnels’ mouth. Mind-reader, moving within the shadow, almost guaranteed shape-shifter, talks too damn much for someone in a blaster pistol distance.

You have information, knowledge that could be useful to me. Consider your options carefully. I can offer you something your current masters cannot—an opportunity to serve a greater purpose. Your purpose. Or, I can let the mines take you one by one.

Thinks that she’s better and smarter than everyone else. Some kind of Vampirica, or Sangnir, most likely. Rook just wishes that it’s not a wraith; that would be such a hassle to deal with.

Think carefully. Your men are already falling apart. I have no qualms about killing you, but you have a choice. Serve your own ends, your own survival—or die here in the dark, forgotten.

The light in the cavern flickers before it shuts down completely. It’s completely dark here, it’s apparent through Rook’s all-green vision. There’s undoubtedly more traps here, that’s the only reason the creature would try to lull him, and possibly the rest of his crew, with questions and sweet promises.

Try to guess what my end is and maybe I’ll keep talking to you, Sith, Rook spoke in his head for the Sith to read. He knows that she’s somewhere on the upper half of this cavern, there’s no reason for her to stay at the ground when she can have an eagle-eye view of the whole cavern from the top.

So he follows the same train of thought. Using his rocket boots, he quickly flies up to reach a rock formation on the upper edge of the cavern. He might not be able to see her at the moment, but soon, a bristle or wind would uncover her position for him, and when the moment came he’ll be ready with his bags of tricks.

 

[Mahsa]

Location: Inside an old and abandoned shaft within the Dorvalla mines...

---

Even down here the aftereffects of combat could be felt, the occasional tremors caused by whatever was happening in other parts of the mine releasing small particles of dust and stone from the ceiling and support beams. The Kazelrrian let out a quick sneeze when some of it fell atop her head and left shoulder, before her hands rose to shake off most of it as she nodded towards Vera in agreement.

So far it seemed like their forgotten passage was still stable enough to withstand the unexpected action happening underground, but they would still do well to be mindful… the last thing either of them wanted was to create more problems for the Jedi or themselves, instead of actually aiding the efforts to liberate the Dorvalla Mines from the Sith.

She didn’t miss the way Vera’s footsteps slowed down after the first nauseating wave of dark energy reached them, a hand reaching up to grasp the one placed by the brunette on her shoulder as Vera reassured her fellow padawan.

"I k-know… " They Jedi would need all the help they could get to drive the Sith out of here, and both girls felt confident that they wouldn’t be thinking about a pair of girls going through abandoned tunnels as they focused on defending from the onslaught the Knights and Masters were raining down on the Sith. "We’ll get it done, t-together—?"

The sound had been so low she had almost missed it at first, barely a whisper that carried on through the stale air, but it was the dissonant chord that suddenly gritted against her ears what had truly gathered her attention. A discordant note that only few could hear as something heinous disrupted the proper flow of the Force and nature itself.

"Vera, do you hear that…?" Golden eyes glinted in the darkness as they zeroed on the path ahead, down where the tunnel curved and restricted their eyesight from seeing what lay beyond. The sound was clearer now, uneven and lacking a proper rhythm to itself, but one thing was undeniable—something else was in this tunnel.

”W    h    e  r  e  .  . . W  h e re am I…?”​

It took everything in her to not hurl as the next wave hit, and a small part of Mahsa was certain she’d been spared a repeat of the Temple only because the padawan had refused to eat anything before their mission. A look towards Vera confirmed the brunette was experiencing a similarly bad time™ of her own, before the scratching sound of something against stone stopped Mahsa from offering her friend a comforting touch.

"W-What… What is that?!" She barely managed to contain her words to a whisper as her eyes caught sight of the grotesque creature, noticing the pointed end of its spider-like limbs as they continued to scrape against the walls of their tunnel in an effort to keep it steady as it shuffled around the corner.

One hand reached for the pommel of her dagger, seeking the clarity it could offer through the Force, as the other reached out to grasp Vera’s own lightly. It didn’t seem like the monstrosity had noticed them yet, an opportunity the Kazelrrian sought to capitalize as she tried to extend the calming effect of the kasha medallion towards her friend.

"Should we… do we kill it...?"

---

Apparel

Devices

Weapons

【✶】⋆【✶】⋆【✶】

【✶】⋆【✶】⋆【✶】

【✶】⋆【✶】⋆【✶】

Allies

Hostiles

Vera Noble

Firrerreo

​

 

[Darth Varynx]

Tags: Braze
Location: Mines of Dorvalla
Outfit: His appearance
Weapon: Standard lightsaber

"Ha, funny. The young Padawan being overly confident in themselves is a bit cliche for you, is it not?"

Varynx eyed the boy, watching him throw his blade in the air before catching and swinging it towards him. His face was unimpressed.

He stood up and drew his own lightsaber, the blade lighting up his face in it's red glow. He brought it to his side and used the force to lift a multitude of large rock behind him.

"If you believe yourself to be the stronger one here, then demonstrate it to me. Catch."

He threw the rocks towards the Padawan, intending for him to be overwhelmed.

"If there's one thing I despise more than Jedi, it's an overconfident one."

 

[Aymeric Prendergast]

|| DARK BUT JUST A GAME ||

~you've got one shot... one shot.~

OUTFIT: Aymeric's Shadow Gear
COLOR CODE: Aymeric Prendergast - 778ba5
OBJECTIVE: clear the mines
TAG: Xeykard

Spoiler

​

MINES OF DORVALLA

Nothing was waiting for the Jedi Shadow if he was to take the next steps, at least not in his peripheral vision. He’s unsure if he can trust his own eyes; this area is most likely Tsis-Kaar infested, even a gifted Shadow like him is prone to be deceived by the masters of trickery.

That worries was enough for Aymeric to approach the slightly declining mine path leading deeper into the dark. With extra care. He scaled the mine’s wall with his Force-senses, making sure that the tunnel is clear of any stationary trap.

Yet as he is right at the start of the descending path, he caught the sound of objects darting through the air right at his current position. With instant reflex, Aymeric ignited his cyan lightsaber to stop the launched objects mid-air in the last second, which in turn brought him out of his Force-conceal and exposed himself in the wide tunnel.

Yet what he also caught was a glimpse of shadow at the ceiling of the tunnel; can be a highly-veiled device or a sentient assailant. Without fully knowing what, who, and the whereabouts of who he’s facing, Aymeric drawn from the Force for a blind Force-push at the ceiling in front of him.

​

 

[Braze]

​

Spoiler

TAGS: Darth Varynx

Gear

Sabers: Training lightsaber [Normal] | Gauntlet Shield [Katar + Shield] | Corsage [Dueling Foil +Gun] | Calypso [Hand an a half + Board Saber] | Sentry [Parrying Dagger] | Requiem [Light Foil] | Echo [Two handed with Crossguard] | Resurgence [Two handed with Crossguard] | Whirlwind [Chin Kama] | Twilight [Polearm] | Nightshade [Throwing Knives]

Crystals:Amplification | Serenity | Phantom Ghostfire | Frostheart | Entropite | Tiger's Fang | Mindshatter | Echos | Mestare
Melee: Knife

Ranged:
Guns & Bows: Fang |G.O.O. Gun | Phantom |
Thowing : GA- E.G.G.S.


Equipped Gear: Lightveil Circlet | Charms x3 | Ring | Amulate | Brace -Left Arm | FFS- Utility Belt | Light Armor [Integrated in to armor | Boots | Gauntlets | Mask | ]

Other Items: | Survival Kit |

Ships: Ashwing - Starfighter

Unfortunately for Darth Varynx , he would soon discover that Braze had spent far more time than his peers obsessively honing his combat skills. Even with his connection to the Force tenuous at best, he was far from easy prey.

Quick on his feet, Braze surged forward, igniting a small lightsaber blade—Nightshade—and launching it ahead at Varynx. At the same time, he drew his rapier-styled blade—Requiem—as he closed the distance, undeterred by the barrage of rocks. Braze wasn't afraid of close-quarters combat, and if Varynx thought keeping him at a distance would be easy, he was about to be proven wrong. With fluid grace, Braze sidestepped the larger rocks, closing the gap effortlessly. His smaller parrying dagger lightsaber—Sentry—flashed to life, intercepting any smaller debris with precision.

As the rocks crashed harmlessly around him, Braze smirked. "Overconfidence? It's only that if you lack the skill. We either rise to the occasion or fall to the level of our training. Combat's a harsh mistress, but I'm not one to disappoint."

The half-Echani Padawan lived and breathed the art of combat, as if his very identity was woven into its principles. What the Sith sensed radiating from him wasn't overconfidence—it was the pure thrill and excitement of battle.

He dodged another incoming boulder, his grin widening. "But if we're playing catch, you might want to work on your aim."

Braze then sprang into action, darting towards Varynx with an attack feint, only to bounce off the cave wall and come back with a downward slash. He kicked off another wall, charging forward aggressively. His style was an unpredictable blend of Ataru's acrobatics, Makashi's precision, and even a hint of Soresu's defensive grace. Every movement was fluid, like second nature, as he flowed from one attack to the next with relentless speed.

 

[Darth Varynx]

Tags: Braze
Location: Mines of Dorvalla
Outfit: His appearance
Weapon: Standard lightsaber

Varynx's amber eyes followed the Padawan bouncing off of the walls. He noted the style being used by the Jedi is a blend of different lightsaber forms being used in a surprisingly fluid manner. He began to mutter to himself as he began to analyse the Padawan.

"Hmm, using elements of Form II, Form III, and Form IV. Hmm... an Echani perhaps? He seems to have combat sense in his blood... Oh, well, doesn't matter."

"You were correct that overconfidence is present when one doesn't have the skill to back it up, and that's exactly why it applies to you. You may be more skilled than the average Padawan I've met, but that doesn't mean you have the skill to defeat me. What you have in talent, I have in experience. Not just that, you feel less... connected in the force. Is that why you make it up by improving your duelling ability?"

He looked to the Padawan's current movements and rushed towards him, seeing his opening. He threw another large rock towards the Jedi, intending for it to double as both an attack, and to develop a blind spot. He noted both the intriguing rapier-like lightsaber, and the dagger-like shoto lightsaber and knew to keep his guard up so he wouldn't be caught off guard.

 

[Braze]

​

Spoiler

TAGS: Darth Varynx

Gear

Sabers: Training lightsaber [Normal] | Gauntlet Shield [Katar + Shield] | Corsage [Dueling Foil +Gun] | Calypso [Hand an a half + Board Saber] | Sentry [Parrying Dagger] | Requiem [Light Foil] | Echo [Two handed with Crossguard] | Resurgence [Two handed with Crossguard] | Whirlwind [Chin Kama] | Twilight [Polearm] | Nightshade [Throwing Knives]

Crystals:Amplification | Serenity | Phantom Ghostfire | Frostheart | Entropite | Tiger's Fang | Mindshatter | Echos | Mestare
Melee: Knife

Ranged:
Guns & Bows: Fang |G.O.O. Gun | Phantom |
Thowing : GA- E.G.G.S.


Equipped Gear: Lightveil Circlet | Charms x3 | Ring | Amulate | Brace -Left Arm | FFS- Utility Belt | Light Armor [Integrated in to armor | Boots | Gauntlets | Mask | ]

Other Items: | Survival Kit |

Ships: Ashwing - Starfighter

Braze smirked at Varynx's analysis, his movements never faltering as he deflected the incoming rock with a swift motion of Sentry.

"You talk too much for someone who's 'experienced'; You talk more like some one trying to prove their experience," Braze quipped, his tone dripping with playful defiance.

It was as if the little brat had an acute awareness of his surroundings without even needing his eyes. Yet, his gaze remained sharp, reading every subtle shift in the man's posture. He studied the smallest twitches, the faintest telegraphed motions, readying his form to respond with precision.

This version emphasizes Braze's heightened awareness and keen observation while smoothing the flow for clarity.

"There's more to Combat more than just power – it's about instincts, timing, and knowing how to adapt."

As he began to close the distance with measured precision, Braze feinted with his rapier-like blade to bait Varynx into committing to an attack. His true intent lay with Sentry, the parrying dagger poised for the perfect moment. He angled his body slightly, inviting Varynx to strike.

"You use the Force as a crutch. Relying on it too much just exposes your insecurities." He said attempting a barrage of quick attacks.
With a coy grin, Braze added, "You know, if this keeps up, I might have to start calling you 'Padawan.' And maybe you should start calling me 'Master.'"

He kept his focus sharp, waiting for Varynx to take the bait, ready to intercept and disarm him with a well-timed block.

 

[Darth Varynx]

Tags: Braze
Location: Mines of Dorvalla
Outfit: His appearance
Weapon: Standard lightsaber

"You really are quite the brat, aren't you? I thought Jedi were supposed to be honourable, but trash talking an opponent doesn't seem very sportsmanlike. Besides, you make it out as if I'm meant to be some recent Apprentice, fresh out the academy. One doesn't become a SIth Lord without being well versed in the force and a blade. You may call the force a crutch, but that can also apply to your lightsaber. If I were to remove them from your hands, would you feel confident in using the force to defend yourself?"

Varynx charged forward and aimed a slice towards the Padawan's chest. It was a basic strike, too basic. It would be easy to block, parry even, yet Varynx followed through with it anyway. As it was blocked by the Padawan's primary blade, a small rock flew from the ground and knocked the smaller blade out the Padawan's hand.

"Never get it mistaken, Padawan, you are simply no match for me."

He knew there was something about this Jedi Padawan he recognised: obsession. It was something he'd sensed all over the place when he was still in the academy. An obsession with strength, skill, combat. Well, he was going to make sure this Padawan knew not to think himself greater than he is.

 

[Braze]

​

Spoiler

TAGS: Darth Varynx

Gear

Sabers: Training lightsaber [Normal] | Gauntlet Shield [Katar + Shield] | Corsage [Dueling Foil +Gun] | Calypso [Hand an a half + Board Saber] | Sentry [Parrying Dagger] | Requiem [Light Foil] | Echo [Two handed with Crossguard] | Resurgence [Two handed with Crossguard] | Whirlwind [Chin Kama] | Twilight [Polearm] | Nightshade [Throwing Knives]

Crystals:Amplification | Serenity | Phantom Ghostfire | Frostheart | Entropite | Tiger's Fang | Mindshatter | Echos | Mestare
Melee: Knife

Ranged:
Guns & Bows: Fang |G.O.O. Gun | Phantom |
Thowing : GA- E.G.G.S.


Equipped Gear: Lightveil Circlet | Charms x3 | Ring | Amulate | Brace -Left Arm | FFS- Utility Belt | Light Armor [Integrated in to armor | Boots | Gauntlets | Mask | ]

Other Items: | Survival Kit |

Ships: Ashwing - Starfighter

Braze's smirk wavered only slightly as the rock struck his left hand—his original dominant hand, still in recovery after Jalen Kai'el 's intervention. Sentry, his Sai-sword style shoto, clattered to the ground, its blade flickering out. Though he'd been training it back to strength, his left hand was still weaker than his now-dominant right.

Unarmed of Sentry, Braze took a step back, but Requiem remained firmly in his right hand, igniting with a sharp hum. He rolled his shoulders, exaggeratedly casual, as if the setback was of little consequence.

He was 14, but for a half-Echani like him, he was already on the cusp of adulthood. His people held martial prowess in high regard, and he carried that cultural heritage with pride, wearing it openly. To the Echani, he was already of age for military training, and by Mandalorian standards, he was practically a young adult. Sith often underestimated him, seeing only a bite-sized Padawan, but that kind of thinking usually became their downfall. Even the great Darth Malum of House Marr had been burned by him before.

There was no one in his small peer group of Padawans who had studied the art of combat as obsessively as he had. If this Sith wanted to teach him a lesson, he had better be ready to step up his game.

Braze rolled his shoulders with exaggerated ease, acting as if the setback was of little consequence. He had trained to extreme levels with his Teräs Käsi master, Cyran, for situations where he would have no weapons or the Force at his disposal. This wasn't new to him.

"Blah, blah, blah," Braze muttered, rolling his eyes. "I'm starting to see why Jasper Kai'el just decks you chakaars in the face to shut you up. You mistake focus for obsession. That's a you problem, not mine."

He likely would have picked up that mandolorian term from spending time around Ruus Kote and his men.

He raised his free hand slowly. "And if you're so convinced that taking my blade makes me powerless, maybe you should start worrying about your own crutches."

Sentry, still lying discarded on the ground, twitched. With a flick of his fingers, Braze called the shoto back to his hand. But instead of reigniting the blade, he tossed it lazily into the air, catching it effortlessly without even looking.

Meanwhile, Nightshade, the shoto he had originally thrown and lodged in the wall behind Varynx, began to tremble. As Braze advanced, the blade dislodged itself, flying silently toward the back of Varynx's head.

"See, the thing is," Braze continued, spinning Sentry absentmindedly, "I don't rely on any one thing—Force, blade, or your need to feel superior."

Braze suddenly tossed Sentry high into the air, seemingly without care, before lunging forward in a burst of speed. His footwork was sharp and swift, designed to pull Varynx's attention upward to the falling weapon while Nightshade closed in from behind. He wasn't aiming to overpower with brute strength; he wanted Varynx to fall into his trap, relying on misdirection more than force.

"And if you're so sure of yourself," Braze called out mid-lunge, "Why don't you try and take both?"

​

 

[Darth Varynx]

Tags: Braze
Location: Mines of Dorvalla
Outfit: His appearance
Weapon: Standard lightsaber

"Nice trick."

The padawan was good, especially for one of his rank, but what he did was too obvious. He'd seen something similar happen before and he was paranoid enough to prepare himself for something like it.

"Charging towards me while you toss your weapon so it will hit me while I focus on you, or vice versa. At the same time, bringing that other weapon of yours in from behind while my back is turned."

Varynx lept up, catching the falling weapon while flipping over the Padawan. He knew that meant the Jedi would have to stop his own weapon which would now be heading for him.

"Also, for your information, I do not mistake focus for obsession. If you were simply focused, you'd be good, but you wouldn't still be standing. If you were talented, you wouldn't be relying on tricks like you're currently doing because you'd have pure skill. For a padawan to be how you are, you must have spent more time than others learning the fundamentals of combat. A lot more time."

Varynx looked to the shoto blade he had caught before hooking it to his belt.

"If you insist that I take both your crutches away, then very well. I don't need to feel superior, when I simply know the limits of my abilities. You, however, seem to be brash and overconfident. That is something I enjoy making people rethink."

 

[Braze]

​

Spoiler

TAGS: Darth Varynx

Gear

Sabers: Training lightsaber [Normal] | Gauntlet Shield [Katar + Shield] | Corsage [Dueling Foil +Gun] | Calypso [Hand an a half + Board Saber] | Sentry [Parrying Dagger] | Requiem [Light Foil] | Echo [Two handed with Crossguard] | Resurgence [Two handed with Crossguard] | Whirlwind [Chin Kama] | Twilight [Polearm] | Nightshade [Throwing Knives]

Crystals:Amplification | Serenity | Phantom Ghostfire | Frostheart | Entropite | Tiger's Fang | Mindshatter | Echos | Mestare
Melee: Knife

Ranged:
Guns & Bows: Fang |G.O.O. Gun | Phantom |
Thowing : GA- E.G.G.S.


Equipped Gear: Lightveil Circlet | Charms x3 | Ring | Amulate | Brace -Left Arm | FFS- Utility Belt | Light Armor [Integrated in to armor | Boots | Gauntlets | Mask | ]

Other Items: | Survival Kit |

Ships: Ashwing - Starfighter

​

Braze caught Nightshade by its ring on his index finger, spinning it effortlessly as he rolled and popped back onto his feet. The time for talking was over. This wasn't the first time his weapon had been taken from him.

Not again.

With a subtle gesture, he focused, igniting the shoto that now hung from Varynx's belt. The three-pronged blade flickered to life with a faint hum, a result of Braze's honed telekinetic control. It took more focus than usual, but the blue-violet light flared as he returned Nightshade to its locked pouch with his otherthrowing blades.

He had spent considerable time working toward becoming a weapons master. Each of his weapons was built with precision and care, each crystal connected to him, with safeguards designed to ensure no one else could wield them safely. The Sith might have taken Sentry, but Braze wasn't going to let it fall into his hands—ever.

A flicker of anger sparked in his chest, feeding the dying ember inside him until it roared back to life. In more ways than one. The air around them grew frigid, the once-still tunnels suddenly filling with wind. Braze's pearly locks whipped wildly around his face, and his robes billowed in the gale.

Varynx would not be keeping Sentry.

Like he had done before—with a touch of vindictive spite—Braze manipulated the air around the Sith, making it harder to breathe. The tunnels echoed with the rising wind as Braze focused, his connection to the Force deepening. This wasn't just a trick. The air itself was being pulled from Varynx's lungs.

Then came the flames.

A heated spark ignited around Braze, feeding off the oxygen in the swirling winds. The vibrant azure flames roared to life, encircling the Sith in a tightening ring. The blowtorch-blue fire surged with searing intensity, closing in, fueled by Braze's power and the wind that now obeyed his command. The heat became overwhelming, the blue wall of fire inching closer, suffocating the air likely trapping the Sith within.

Braze's expression remained cold, unyielding. This was no measured strike. It was a visceral, violent surge of power, a display of the raw, untamed anger that had been struck deep within him.

The Sith had struck a nerve, and this—this was the result. What had been a tentative connection to the Force was now a roaring storm, the full intensity of his power unleashed, no longer held back.

The temper tantrum of a boy, with the fury of a Force that now howled like a maelstrom.

​

 

[Eira Dyn]

Location: Mines of Dorvalla
Weapons: Vibrosword, vibro-daggers, blaster pistol
Outfit: Masked Assasin
Tag: Vince

She smirked. Eira was able to land some strikes with her daggers and she was keen to exploit the injuries. To cause death by a thousand slices. While it was a time consuming method and she didn't want to waste too long on this fight, she also knew it was important to find any angle to gain victory and for now she could only see it being achieved through these slices. Her body moving fast and noting that she was only scratching at the rifle and not damaging it which was unfortunate but demonstrating her needs for a Lightsaber. That she still needed to corrupt the crystal and control the Jedi's weapon as her own.

A pointed effort to show that the Jedi ways were corruptible and could be broken. Destroy the ideals and dreams, she could then destroy the Jedi.

For now, she noticed the kick coming in just too late, only able to minimise the pain and effects as he booted her backwards. Eira slid against the ground and when the soldier fired his rifle again, Eira felt the Force flow through her and she moved with unnatural speed and precision, her body contorting to the side and the bolt hitting the wall behind her. Eira giggled as she sheathed her daggers and pulled out the vibrosword. Holding it with both hands, Eira was ready to duel.

As she went for a step to move in for a slash with her blade, her right hand released the bottom of the sword and shifted swiftly to shoot a bolt of Force Lightning. Eira wasn't going to play fair. That was boring and no good.

She was here to win and kill.

 

[Melissa Bloodscrawl]

Melissa and the gang found themselves under fire in a tight space in the mines, one of the Clone Defense Troopers she brought with her absolutely destroying a grouping of three soldiers manning a turret with an incendiary 40mm shotgun shell fired from their grenade launcher.

The damage this shotgun blast did was leaps and bounds over ordinary shotgun blasts, shredding the three soldiers AND setting them on fire. It was like firing a directional landmine blast at someone. Melissa was actually fascinated by the sheer breadth of its destructive power in such a confined space before her red to the core lightsaber activated, Dovin Basal heart thumping as it affected the personal gravity of a fired missile, slowing it down to an insanely slow speed as it left the tube it was fired from, with one of the humorless Siege Troopers fired his stocky, CR-1 Blaster Cannon, the cluster of shots it fired hitting one of the soldiers as well as the Missile. The explosion caused a partial cave in and the Clones had to spend a minute or two clearing away debris, fighting throwing smoke and dust. Their helmet filtration systems barely kept it out as they dug, only for Melissa to halt them momentarily, her Psychic Augmenter cybernetic letting her distantly feel the brain patterns of the opponents on the other side, Sith ideals danced in their skulls.

Her Dovin Basal heart fluttered, and the personal gravity of the rocks was reduced to the point they all floated slightly. She summoned the Ranger Clone in her squad quietly.

"Your PEP Laser, soldier." she whispered. "Right in the center..."

The Clone Ranger, his camo pattern Scout Trooper type armor matching the mines he was in, whipped the rifle which had a strange, satellite dish like attachment in the place of the normal barrel, crouched in front of the slightly floating rubble and fired the conical blast wave towards the rubble. It raced out like the shrapnel from some gigantic land mine, instantly smashing and killing the Sith Unit that had set up a blaster cannon turret on the other side.

Melissa strode through first. Four choke points smashed through so far. Booby-Traps starting to slow them down the deeper they got. The Pyro was starting to have to get creative to disarm them, because they were the sort of traps HE would have made. He was busily repurposing the contents of the ones he had disarmed into something terrifying.

"What the hell are you making?" one of the Offense Troopers asked the Pyro, who only made a big wide explosion gesture with his arms, flapping his hands slightly as if to emphasize. Believe me, in this context, it was totally horrifying.

"Oh, man, oh man, we're gonna die..." The Offense Trooper said under his breath in a panic. "He'll bring the whole fethin' mine down around us..."

"Fett Clone Within, Fett Clone Without, " The Siege Trooper next to him said without pity.

The next passage was much more narrow and it required a single file approach, following tracks that led to larger shafts. The Ranger Clone went first, PEP Laser at the ready. These parts of the mines were particularly vulnerable to explosions. That was why they had brought the Siege Troopers into the Squad Composition: Those troopers were constantly assessing things from an engineering standpoint: More than once they had been forced to divert rather than risk a fire fight, or if they had to press through, then doing so with one of the Defense Troopers taking point with his ad-hoc oversized shotgun. They finally got some breathing room, and found a total fire fight taking place between Sith Soldiers and Alliance troops in a natural valley in the massive mine system. The Ranger immediately took surveillance with his rangefinder.

"The Sith have set up a pillbox in the mines with a repeater Rifle firing on everything that moves in front of it." The Ranger said. "One Jedi dead by the looks of it, one injured but pinned under cover. Return fire from the Alliance troops is slow, suggesting they are low on ammo."

"Ready!" The Pyro said after finishing his work on the repurposed booby traps. He had somehow crafted a wrist mounted rocket launcher out of the traps and slight modifications to his heavy flamer weapon.

"BEHOLD!" the Pyro shouted for no reason in particular beyond his default frothing insanity as he fires the rocket he has made at the bunker aperture, a fire ball that created a noticeable torrent of black smoke from within.

"Warn us next time." Melissa chided the Pyro as she went ahead to examine the injured Alliance Troopers, who ALL leveled their rifles at her as she approached with her hands up.

"It's alright! I'm friendly!" Melissa said to them. "I'm Melissa. A Soldier of Fortune employed by Gun-Works of Epica. We were hired by some dissident locals to help evict the Sith."

It was a nice convenient story. One desperate, injured Soldiers who had been under fire and facing certain death wouldn't look too deep into, especially with getting rescued. She still caught glances of suspicion, the silent realization it was Clone Soldiers who had just bailed them out, the questioning gazes as to the implications...none of which anyone had time to answer.

The Soldiers eventually allowed themselves to be treated, the uncomfortable silence brought about by the Clones very existence louder than a cacophony of blaster fire. But Melissa was already planning ahead massively...

 

[Leven Jeyd]

EQUIPMENT: The Fleshrenders - The Gravewire - Slugthrower Pistols (x12 rounds) - Glitz Series (x2)
TAG: Kriang Krai Ferrer

Leven stayed perched in the shadows, her insectoid form clinging to the cavern wall like a speck of dust. She was barely there—a ghost in the mind and in the Force, watching them carefully. She could sense the subtle tension rippling through their movements, their steps marked with the hesitation of prey caught in a hunter’s gaze.

Rook's response had amused her. Dangling a puzzle for her to solve. But he was mistaken if he thought that would distract her. His end? It was irrelevant. The only end that mattered right now was who was getting out of here alive.

With deliberate calculation, she allowed her body to shift once more in the blink of an eye. The subtle, creeping transformation began at her core, rippling outward until her limbs reformed into something larger, more dangerous. Her senses sharpened, and the cavern came into sharper focus—the jagged edges of rocks, the faint echo of movement, the gleam of metallic crates. She was ready.

With a whisper of motion, she dropped from her hiding spot, barely more than a flicker in the darkness. Her form blurred as she aimed to strike quickly, silently, at one of the remaining soldiers trailing behind Rook. The poor fool didn’t even see her coming.

In an instant, her hand shot out, but it wasn’t her arm she used to strike. She had formed something else—an rusted pole, strengthened by the very Force of her will. It lashed out from her palm, aiming to pierce through the soldier’s armor and cleave his body, intending to pin him to the wall like a ragdoll. The motion was smooth, precise, and she didn’t wait to see if her attack would land. There was no need.

Her form shimmered again, seeking to meld back into the shadows before the others could react, vanishing as quickly as she had appeared. The lights flickered once more, casting eerie, stuttering shadows across the cavern walls.

Was that clever enough for him? Or did she need to make it more… personal?

She let the silence stretch for a beat, her presence lingering just outside their grasp. She wanted to see them squirm, to feel the weight of their mortality settle in. The darkness was her ally, and she would use it to chip away at their resolve, one by one.

<<“I know you’re waiting for your moment,”>> she continued, directing her words to Rook. <<“But you won’t get it. Tthis is not a game of wits or strength. It’s survival. And you are terribly outmatched.”>>

She paused, feeling the energy in the cavern shift. Every small sound, every breath they took—it was all hers to manipulate.

<<“I know what you were sent here to do, I was sent here to avoid it.”>> She was talking now about the listening posts, the very same who had alerted the Sith Order of the Alliance's advance. <<"Us Sith got a bad rep for teamwork don't we? And yet, I can promise you I'm far from the last you will encounter here.">> As truth as her words were, they were also meant to be terrifying.

<<"Now, my patience is running thin and my blades thirsty. Do you want a place among the living come the next dawn, or am I just wasting my breath?">>

​

 

[Firrerreo]

Jedi?

A smile, unhinged completely, spread across his features as he caught sight of the pair of Jedi ahead. In the path of his recent creation no less. The aberration shambled forward, seeming on unsteady legs as what looked like blind, hollow eyes looked for something, anything. The shambling came to a stop though as it's neck cracked as it suddenly looked right towards the sound of voices.

"Help.. Me.. I'm- lost."

Then, in an instant, it was there with them. Or at least close. It couldn't see, but it could hear, and it's speed was anything but human. It's five clawed arms felt around, the hooked blade like talons scratching over metal and stone as it searched for warmth, for the pair of voices that had just spoken.

"Where.. Are you..?"

Vera Noble | Mahsa