Weekend Treasure Hunt 16: Against the Fall of Night (open to Jedi and Jedi-like persons)

[Gherron Dragovalor]

Nodding at Xander to show he understood, Gherron followed him around so that they skirted the side of the tunnel. He'd never before seen a beast quite like it, but something told him it would give up quite a fight if provoked... or awakened. As the two Jedi tried their best at being silent, it was not to be. Snorting loudly and moving a few inches before stopping, it looked at first like they were in the clear. That was until it opened its eyes and rose to its full height. Gherron then immediately stopped dead in his tracks and motioned for Xander to do the same. It first began to sniff around, but when it laid its eyes on Gherron and his companion, it announced its findings with a deep throaty growling. Seconds later, an ear-shattering howl of rage. Gherron's lightsaber was in his hand in an instant, though he didn't ignite it yet. "I think we may have a problem."

[member="Xander Carrick"]

 

[Venris Helion]

Venris shattered the wall of ice with a good hit from the hilt of his vibro blade and stepped through, expecting to find his prize within reach....and let out a groan of irritation as he noted not one, but three new obstacles set before him.

Firstly, the blue light emanated from the far side of a chasm about fifty feet across.

Secondly, it was buried into a wall that had very little room for any hand holds of any size.

And thirdly...it appeared to be encased in ice.

In hindsight Venris really shouldn't have been surprised, this place did seem to like to present him with some final twist just to mess with him. He had passed through the mental and emotional challenges that the caverns had presented, and now it seemed that it was focusing on a more physically focused task.

Drawing two of his knives from their sheathes, Venris began to step back along the passage to get himself a good enough distance for a running start. He took a few deep breaths, tightened his grip on his knives, and dashed towards the ledge. Picking up speed, Venris launched himself through the air and passed over the seemingly bottomless gorge. He positioned his knives and tried to make sure that he didn't end up breaking his nose against the opposite wall as it closed in...

THUD!

Venris' knives dug into the stone and nice, trying to find a weak spot. One knife sank into a crack in the rocks, the other one bounced off and Venris lost his grip on it, letting the blade tumble into the shadows below.

....well kriff, and that was one of his favourites.

Venris sought a hand hold with his free hand, struggling for a few moments while trying to hold himself up. Finally he found a place to hold on and tried to pull his other knife out only to find it stuck fast in the crack.

....well sithspit, that's two knives down the drain.

Abandoning it, Venris began to climb up towards the source of the sapphire beams of light, each finger as firm as a hook as his hands carefully sought out new places to grab on until he was almost face to face with the ice that stood between him and the crystal he sought. Bracing himself, Venris carefully drew another of his smaller knives and carefully chipped away at the ice, taking his time and simply praying that neither he nor the crystal fell when he actually dug it out.

 

[Tyranus]

Suddenly the wall of crystals cracked and Tyranus walked through the remnants of the wall. He looked around and saw three different crystals, all a different color. The sapphire one on the far right was over a large gap and it had a hint of fear across the gap and around the crystal. The green one was down the middle buried into the wall and frozen over by ice. While the one on the far left was a purple crystal across a gap and buried in ice deep in the wall. Tyranus studied each one, each had a difficult challenge but he had a strong connection to the one of the far left so he walked over to the gap and stared hard and long at the purple crystal. Tyranus grabbed a rock and threw it across the pit, trying to see if something was not visible to his eyes, the rock dropped and dropped until their was a loud bam signifying it hitting the ground and probably shattering. Tyranus walked over to the wall on the far left and saw a few footholds and handholds. He began to climb along the wall to try and reach the crystal when his foot slipped. He dangled by only his hand and then tried to get a grip but his hand slipped. Luckily, his mechanical arm still had a grip and he was able to climb back up and continue along the wall. He got near the crystal and drew out a knife from a holster on his chest and he began to chip away at the ice, trying to be careful to not drop the knife, the crystal and most importantly himself.

 

[OriginsoftheJedi]

Suddenly, a dark figure pounced out of the shadows. Mark instinctively activated his lightsaber, managing to stab the creature through its chest, and it dissolved into what looked like dust before reforming on the other side of the room Mark had walked into. It took another charge and Mark swung again. It again reappeared unscathed on the other side of the cave. Mark tried holding it back using the force, but was unsuccessful. It continued its charge toward him.
Then, Mark realized.
"This must be one of those trials. "
Mark decided to stand still and accept that the illusion was simply that, an illusion. It leapt into the air and, as it began to bat at his face with its huge claws, it dissolved into nothingness. And this time, it didn't reappear. The first test was over.

 

[RC 212]

As she went further as par for the course anther chamber emerged. This one was similar to the first and the air grew warm. Suddenly she felt herself dissolve into another vision. The force this time showed her nothing however. She was in the black void of space, and small starts twinkled. And then all at once the vision from the first trial came back.

Sith Vassara walked up and slayed the kid over and over and over. Then suddenly she could feel the vision multiply, layering itself on her. She was surrounded by Sith, each killing with wanton disregard. Crimson blades flew to and fro and for a second she felt the weight of her hand change. Her wary eyes drifted down, beholding a lightsaber and she almost jumped.

"What is this?"

This is a simple test. Just watch, and we will watch, and then we will judge.

The scenes continued. There was so much death so much anguish. She felt their cries as they fell into the force violently, snuffed out for good. The viscous killings turned to one scene now. Silas was right in from of her laughing and joking. A red blade ignited and struck him down, sticking clear through his head.

"NOO!" She roared.

The Saber sprung to life, its emerald blade buzzing in the empty vision. The Sith cast Silas aside like a rag doll and took up his blade, in a guard position.

Come at me Jedi

For a second, she was tempted to strike. To fly into a venomous rage and unleash hell upon the Sith. To slowly carve his flesh in intricate patterns and destroy him...

There is no passion, there is only serenity.

Serenity was to be damned this moment. Vassara raised the blade high,a wild blood-lust in her eyes.

Your so certain he deserves death?

"Yes very!" She roared, face on fire with anger.

Then kill him.

This threw her off suddenly. Kill him? No Jedi killed out of passion. She looked at the blade, looked to the Sith and then back to blade.

She was about to break the code.

And then the blade switched off, and her slim arm cast it down into the snow.

"No, I will not act out of passion. This is a trick a test, you're trying to goad me into it."

The scene repeated suddenly, reversing and replaying a hundred times. Vassara tried to close her eyes but could not escape the vision. She centered herself knowing what she must do. Tap into the serene waters of the force, and denounce the vision. As the current roared in her veins like ice water, cooling her vengeance the vision dispelled again

You are wise when you think and reason Raxis. But when you act on impulse you are driven by passion. You would do well to temper this lesson as you are sorely in need of it.

The fog of the room lifted, and another dorway was revealed in the ice.

Vassara moved forwards....

 

[Ardeo Sophos]

My vision comes back in front of a new platform. This one is moving, and shifting. there are many obstacles. Blades, trap doors, swinging logs.

"This test is pretty straight forward. Make it to the other side, and try not to die."

"that is so helpful" I say as I take off. Just like speed my agility is really good, so this shouldn't be too hard. I weave through the swinging logs, and reach the end with ease, but just as I am coming out, a final log coming straight for me appears out of the blue. I quickly dive roll under it, but that is when I notice the small holes in the ground, and the glint of metal inside.

"Oh great!" The The log passes over me, and the silver spike begin to slide up. Every thing seems to happen slowly. With all four limbs I push off the ground, and the spikes begin to come up to meet me, I mange to flip myself in air with enough force to just barely clear the spikes and land on the other side. "It's like this place was built to counter what my normal reactions would be. Wait maybe that's because it is. What would be harder than an agility test built against your personal strengths."

I reach the blade section. They are moving horizontally, and vertically. I would normally attempt to weave through them, but they seem to be built so they all cover eachothers openings. So maybe. I jump and land on one of the blades moving vertically, and as another blade comes that would intersect with me, I jump and push off the wall to land on another. That is the secret. It was built on the grounds that I would run directly though, and try to weave through, but if I approach it in a way I would normally never do, then I can get past. I jump down onto the ground, clearing the last blade.
The last obstacle is a large open section of floor that opens right into the darkness. in the middle is a rope. Where my normal straight forwardness would be to use the force and make the jump would probably fail, I devise a different plan. I run at the right wall, and build enough force to run on the side for just a second, getting me some distance, then I push off at the rope. grabbing it, and swinging towards the other side of the wall. I keep pushing off each side until I am close tot the other side of the pit, and I let go with as much momentum as I can get, and head for the other side, but just as i am about to make it, a trap door opens, dropping a portion of the ledge I am heading for away. I begin to fall.

 

[Garza]

Location: Inside the Caves
Gear: Armorweave suit with Duasteel bracers and Calves, Double bladed lightsaber, Dawnstar, and Battle Helm
People Near me: [member="Gherron Vael"],

There was no way we would make it out of this alone. We had to do something without a fight. I shook my head as it still heard us talking. Considering that it had superb hearing anyways, it started to wake up. Growling at us for a moment, I grabbed a hair tie and put my hair up somewhat. It might look stupid, but I put it up for a reason. Once it yelled, I activated the switch in my helm, the leaves of the helmet activating with a series of chings and rings to come to a full battle helm. Indicating the hud was on, the yellow-gold eyes came on. Lighting up somewhat in the darkened cave.

I decided to put my hammer up. Thick skin and bones will only piss it off. I grabbed my lightsaber and activated one of the blades with a snap. The Gold-bronze light being now the brightest light in the room. The hum of the saber echoing within the room as I smiled and answered him.

"Not if I have anything to do with it."

Running forward in a flash with force speed, I came to swipe at the beast side and cut deeply into its left side. Coming behind it, the beast roared in pain. I then cut off it's rear left leg with a sweep of the golden-bronze saber. Yelling to my new comrade.

"Attack it's head!"

If we wanted to survive, we needed to attack it back and forth from the sides, and back. However, we needed one person to take care of the head. And I was sure that the Jedi Knight could handle himself. If he was a real one, I am positive he would be beneficial if he were to fight this beast.

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

Gherron was always one quick to act. Not long after the collapsing helmet closed around Xander's head, Gherron was off, ignited lightsaber in hand. Following his friend's attack, he also brought himself forward with a hint of force speed, then leaped into the air, slicing at the monstrosity's face. Though he was able to give it a small scar on its neck, he didn't do much else before he was swatted away like a bug. Immediately afterward, he lay on the ground, but was quick to get up, even with the setting bruise on his right side. "That thing did not just backhand me. Come here you little motherkarking piece of klunk." Going at it again, he reached out with the force and shoved it against the wall behind it, which sent tremors throughout their portion of the cave. He'd have to be careful there. Still, he continued to hold onto the beast until he was a couple yards away from it. Dropping it then, he gripped his weapon in both hands and prepared to attack again.

[member="Xander Carrick"]

 

[Garza]

Location: Inside the Caves
Gear: Armorweave suit with Duasteel bracers and Calves, Double bladed lightsaber, Dawnstar, and Battle Helm
People Near me: [member="Gherron Vael"],

As we both were headed towards the beast in the fight, It started to turn towards me, however, once it had a nice burn on it's neck from the lightsaber that Gherron had, it decided that the closest one was him. And an easier target. Seeing as how it was now going after me I wouldn't just stand there right? I used my saber and cut at it's rear. Making sure to hit the spine. Causing it's rear to fall to the ground, and suddenly, it stunk to high heavens. Probably because the muscles relaxed and well.

I was Thiiiiiiiisssss close to getting crap on me *Indicates by close proximity between his index finger and thumb*

Anyways, Suddenly the beast was lifted and forced up against the cave wall with the use of Telekinesis. I whistled sharply as he was about to attack again. I walked up as his saber was raised and took his lightsaber from his hands.

"HEY!"

I would wait till his attention was on me.

"Anger is good in a fight, but not over something like this. Control yourself vod."

Realizing that I called him vod, meaning Brother/Sister in the mando language, I shook my head at myself. Though he may think it was him.

"Just because it got a hit on you doesn't mean you need to be angry at it. Remember, we are the ones who are trespassing here."

Handing him his saber that was now off, I pointed at him to stay there like I would a dog. Took a few steps backwards towards the beast that was close to death, and would die anyways. I killed it only out of sparing the beast of misery. Using my saber, I plunged it into it's heart ending it's life swiftly. Turning off my saber, I then put it on my belt, and my helm deactivated to reveal my face now. The pony tail still there as I had it.

"Learn from this Gherron. Control your anger even in battle. Lose it, and it will mean your death. We don't want berserker Jedi. Because that's a dead one. We want cool and level headed ones. Ones that can keep cool and adapt to the situation at hand. Not meet it with brute force. Understand?"

 

[Delyna Karthoys Haymire]

OOC: Thanks to [member="Shule Windspeaker"] for letting me post here !

"Over there, we have to take that turn. It will lead us further down." The small ship carrying the oracle of reflections and a few primeval escorts had landed not far away, behind a few hills not so long ago. The caves on Ilum were known to house many force crystals as well as deep, forgotten tunnels and thus; Many possible secrets were entombed beneath the surface of this icy planet. Reports had suggested that the normal Jedi visits would cease soon, so their presence on Ilum was not as heavy as it once was. This was most likely a result of its close proximity to the One Sith faction, and a likely target for its expansion. Delyna had chosen to take a chance and took flight for the cold planet after the events at Chiloon. Once they reached the seemingly desolate planet, they made their way for the caves with haste. Now they had ventured far into the bowels of the system, and they intended to head further down. Each time they passed a corridor, it seemed like they got into more and more untread locations. Still not satisfied, they continued down.

With a calm smile on her lips, Delyna slowly led the party around the dark tunnels. As their false light reflected off some of the walls, the path was coated in a beautiful light. The air seemed clean and fresher than most other places she had visited, and the force had a very gentle, but strong and pure connection to this place. The vibe of the area was certainly something she could appreciate. As they walked along a ledge, she suddenly felt a slight breeze from below them, and she looked down. "Halt, please fire a flare down this chasm." And as her voice rang out, a bright red flare was tossed down the dark abyss, revealing a large hole a bit further down where they now stood. "We will descent this cliff, let the gear stay here so we can ascent once we return." A few eyes met, a few heads shook. One considered protesting, and then they began to head vertically down.

The ice was stable and strong, able to hold their weight. Sweat ran down most of their cheeks as they carried out their dangerous duty on the whim of their weird pathfinder. A foot slipped and a man screamed. Following the flare, a blaster crashed down the deep crevice but fortunately the climbing gear proved its worth as his fall was stopped, and his body hit the hard ice with a loud "Donk!". He was helped up and another agent told him to focus up, or he could risk losing more than his pistol.

The tunnel was small but widened quickly, opening up into a wide cave room with multiple routes. The ground here seemed a virgin to human feet, and the oracle's eyes shone with interest. Suddenly, though, she looked up. The patterns in the force, could it be? "Others have entered the cave above us. Force users, people. Jedi. Let us try to stay out of their way."

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

Gherron watched in mute shock as the other Jedi sliced the beast's rear end off, then followed up with a finishing blow to take its life. When Xander came over to take his weapon and shut it off, Gherron's anger faded almost instantly. Taking his lightsaber back, he clipped it back to his belt, and his mind went to the scar on his chest, which he now realized was burning his flesh. Wincing a little, he reached up to cover it with his hand, as the top had begun to show under his shirt. "I'm sorry... I don't know what came over me." Was the scar from the Sith affecting him? It was from his poisoned arm, so maybe in a way, it had poisoned Gherron in turn. The thought horrified him. He couldn't let word get out that he was poisoned like this. Then again, what if he snapped on a friend? It made him more susceptible to anger apparently, so that was very possible. Continuing through the caves, he took his hand away from his chest. "Come on Xander. It stinks here." A rather blunt statement, but Gherron would do anything to get his predicament off his mind.

[member="Xander Carrick"]

 

[Garza]

Location: Inside the Caves
Gear: Armorweave suit with Duasteel bracers and Calves, Double bladed lightsaber, Dawnstar, and Battle Helm
People Near me: [member="Gherron Vael"],

The Jedi realized where he was wrong. He knew he was as well. He clutched his chest as though something important was there to him. Be it good or bad. I didn't press on. He had his own reasons for fighting as well as myself. I shook my head as Gherron began to leave. with my saber still active, I walked over and cut a tusk from the beast. Only taking a portion, I then shut off my lightsabers. Taking the piece of tusk, I used a simple pocket knife to clean it out of the marrow.

Walking after the Jedi Knight, I allowed him to continue on when I widdle the bone down to be smaller and smaller. Hopefully getting it to a pendant size.

"Gherron, We all have our reasons to fight. I am not giving you commands, but I ask you as a friend, as well as a comrade in arms to look for what pushes you. Be it hope, faith, prayer, hell even love if you have anything like that. Use it to fuel you. Use it to aid you, but don't let it consume you."

We continued to walk on. Just simply because we could. I continued to carve into the bone-tusk. Making designs over it.

"Be not the protector of all. It will consume you to no end. Instead, be the guardian to the thing you cherish most. The Sith will take what ever it is and warp it. Change it into something else."

I finally got done with it. Using the knife to pit a hole in the tusk piece so it could be worn as a Necklace. or put on a bracelet or something. I tapped Gherron's shoulder and handed it to him. Wanting him to have it.

"Knight Vael, whatever ails you, don't worry. Everything happens for a reason. Take this as a reminder. Not a reminder of your mistakes, but a reminder of what you stand for. Stand up for something, Or you will fall for anything."

I let him have the pendant tusk. Carved with intricate designs on one side, yet on the other, was the symbol of the Jedi. As old and as true as the sky. Those that shall keep the law, shall prosper, but those that shall break it must die.

I didn't want this young man to die. He was a good one. He was still learning as much as I was. I wanted him to understand something. And that was that no matter what happens, Find something to fight for and survive for that very reason. Never give up on it. To doubt your doubts before doubting yourself and the thing that you cherish most.

 

[Gherron Dragovalor]

Gherron nodded, listening absently to the man as they walked. All of this, he knew. It was what he lived by. In fact, he'd been proud of himself as he went along in his life as a Jedi. He was better at controlling his emotions, and they almost never got out of hand. However, since his last battle with his nemesis, he knew something had been wrong. Racking pain throughout his body often put him down for a time, completely covering his chest in a searing pain. And now, it was affecting his head. He knew for a fact now that he had to find some way to get rid of his ailment. He needed a way to defeat it. And though he knew the consequences of fighting alone, this was one battle he needed to face himself. He'd told much the same to his girlfriend.

When the older Jedi handed him the pendant, Gherron took it and examined it closely. During their walk, Xander had carved into it the Jedi symbol, surrounded by other intricate designs. Nodding to him, Gherron reached in his pocket and rummaged around the mess of scaps he always kept around. Producing a thin leather cord, he slipped it through the hole and tied it around his neck. "Thank you, Xander. It means a lot that you would take the time to console me and show me the way. I may be an experienced knight, but one never stops learning. Hell, I'd wager I could teach you a few things." He cracked a smile at the last comment, though he still felt like crap. No matter how he tried, he couldn't get his wound off of the top of his thoughts.

[member="Xander Carrick"]

 

[Garza]

Location: Inside the Caves
Gear: Armorweave suit with Duasteel bracers and Calves, Double bladed lightsaber, Dawnstar, and Battle Helm
People Near me: [member="Gherron Vael"],

Good. My words made some kind of difference. While it may mean little now, I knew that later on it would mean a lot. With the love of my life leaving me, falling to the dark side, I didn't know what to do. And I failed her. Now I made up for it. I protect her with everything I have. I fight for her with every ounce of my body. My will and heart were the strongest parts of me because they didn't belong to me. They belonged to my love. My family, and friends.

I considered a little brother that I never had already. I could see much of myself in him when I was his age. Now all I wanted to do was to help him in his own journey across the galaxy.

"Maybe, I'll tell you when you do."

 

[Venris Helion]

Venris could feel his hands growing numb as he continued to chip away at the ice. When he dug the blade in too hard some shards shot out and made him drop the blade, cursing as his third knife fell away into the darkness below. However the glow of the crystal was now so clear and strong...he could see it now.

Venris slowly reached in, his fingers wrapping around a blue crystal that stuck out of the ice. He tugged it free and felt the cold seem to fade from his body,mas though the chilling temperature was now just a minor annoyance. He blew some snow off of the crystal and gazed upon it, realizing that he finally had what he had been searching for.

He wrapped his hand around the crystal and smiled before depositing it in a small container that he hid within his coat for safe keeping. Overhead, he could see a new light source: an opening into the upper caverns, a path back to the surface.

Finding a secure hand hold again, Venris began to climb up the shaft towards the entrance, no longer slowed or afflicted by the frigid air or the ice coating the walls. Before he knew it he was pulling himself up onto his feet and was stepping out of an alcove into the central cavern where he had entered with Vassara earlier. He took a moment to admire the crystal he had earned from his hardships and began his trek back towards Vassara's freighter, now content to wait for his brothers and sisters from the Fleet to return.

And once they were home...he would need to look into finding a few components.

ACQUIRED: 1x Glare Ice Pontite Crystal (Blue)

 

[RC 212]

She entered the next chamber now. Something felt different about this one. The air was ice cold and she began to shiver. As the lights of the crystals blinked a steady patter the voice came back, penetrating her mind and moving into and through her as if it were an icy breeze. This test was not like the others. The room dissolved again, this time setting her in the center of several different battles.

Chaos has long been your tool of choice Raxis. But ell me, can you truly center yourself in the eye of a storm?

Vassara felt he room sweep her off her feet and she landed on her back, breath leaving her chest. She wheezed and suddenly the same Sith Vassara was standing over her. The blade ignited again. This time she had no saber, as the voice had not given her one. Terror was her immediate reaction, pumping adrenaline into her veins.

She rolled and tried to run, but then fell. She was falling off the edge of a platform into space. she felt the cold of the void engulfing her, killing her slowly. She screamed a throaty desperate roar, trying uselessly to swim as if space were water. Then she felt gravity pull her down again. This time she was in the Netherworld, back in the Barren Bloodwatses. Pools of blood boiled, the stench of death and rotting meat thrust into her nostrils.

Insanity began to close in.

You are failing Raxis, Remember what you have sought within the code. What is the opposite of chaos

"Harmony." She whimpered. The scenes continued, each one more terrifying than the next. Vassara managed to pull herself together and sit crosslegged. Was it on the floor? No there was no floor. This room held nothing but swirling terrifying moments.

Now they played on repeat and once again closing her eyes could not drown them out. Vassara went back to day one, recalling Karen Roberts take on the force. It was an ally, not a tool, not a servant.

With trembling limbs she focused, calling on the force to aid her. The cool waters brushed her slightly, calming her nerves. But it was not enough, the harder she tried the quicker the images flashed the more intense they became. They threatened to break her.

"Focus, there is no chaos only harmony."

It was the words of the code. They could roll off ones tongue, but could they be truly applied. As she pulled the force into herself she imagined the images as a swirling vortex. There she sat in the center. The center was the main focal point and she could began to see each thread that connected each image to her.

There was only one way to do this. Each thread must be cut.

With dogged determination she let go, pushing fear aside, letting the force flow truly through her, no barriers, no restraint. The very air buzzed and a faint blue glow began to illuminate her frame. As the light travelled from her she imagined the beach once more. Flooded the center with her most cherished and happy memories. Everything the light touched began to fade.

The images tried to counter and push harder but they could not penetrate the matrix. The center of the storm remained calm and without their host, the fear fell away, dissolving into nothing more than empty air.

Vassara opened her eyes. The room was empty and the crystals were glowing multicolours now, flashing across the ceiling. Then she realized the nature of the tests. They were truly trying to see how deep her grasp on the code was. How much she could commit to the teachings of the ancient Je'daii.

You are a fearful woman Raxis. But your ability to find the center of chaos and madness is uncanny. No other of our disciples has made it past this particular test. Most went mad and perished, returning to the force.

Slowly the bones of wayward adventurers were uncovered, rising from the ice as it thawed. It was horrifying and beautiful at the same time. The ice still thawed more and more until at last she was in a barren rocky chamber with nothing else.

"Whats the next test? What is it you want of me?"

The last and final test. A Jedi does not believe in death, as there is no such thing. These fallen adventurers rejoined us in the force. They placed their faith in it fully. Can you do the same?

 

[Delyna Karthoys Haymire]

It was clear that at least one of the newly revealed tunnels led further up, and several of them would see the group climbing further down. As all of the tunnels seemed natural and all could hold potential secrets or simply nothing, they went down the first one they expected to lead down. A few minutes passed, and the tunnel was still the same. Then a minute more passed. Still the same. Five minutes later they made it back to the same room they had left not long ago. Delyna sighed. "I guess we've got the time to spare." And they moved onwards. The same happened. And again. The tunnels all seemed boringly the same, and the oracle felt a light sensation as the force pushed out from all the tunnels and whirled around the room, invisible soaking the members of the expedition. None of them noticed but her. Was this something anthropogenic?

One of the men asked; "Shall we send out the scout drones?" And she pondered for a moment. Would the non-living machines stand a chance in this situation or would they be torn apart by the defenses? It could be worth a shot, but then again, there weren't that many tunnels left. They could always head back, too. "No, stay alert while I meditate, we will find the correct path out of here soon." And with those words she sat down and closed her eyes. What was out there? A powerful energy, surely. But did it have consciousness? It was not as far away from them as they had first expected, and it was stationary. It's force allignment was... Neutral. It's patterns were interesting, for sure. Pulsing out from its center in an eclipse... She could do it, she could figure it out. The first pulse moved out from the southeast.. It moved perfectly the same both vertically and horizontally.. Its lengths... She could do it in standard meters, that would make the most sense. An eclipse had a solution of one... She held out her hand. "A dagger, please." One was quickly handed to her. She wrote on the icy ground.

The radius of the current point was.. a was... 3, and b was 2. That meant that... She had to move 3 meters to the Southeast and 2 meters Northeast.. If she did the same for a vertical grid.. She had it. She looked in the direction and removed the obscuring fog from her vision, passing through the thick blue ice and there it was. A beautiful crystal. A combination of white, teal and pure black. It was almost as if it was a sentient being, or the immune system of the caves. Were they by definition walking through a living organism, made alive by prolonged force presence? She was not sure anymore.

"It is up there, let us collect it for further study. It's a crystal. Be careful not to damage it when you extract it, it's a beautiful speciment." The other looked confusedly at her and then shrugged in tact. It was probably a better shot than just waiting. They moved up to the thick layer of ice and pulled forth the advanced ice drill, which two of the men operated. "Only go in one meter and ninety centimeters with the drill, we will utilize precision tools from that point or we will risk losing it." She smiled to herself. This would certainly prove interesting.

 

[Jaxton Ravos]

Jaxton continued along his path, alone and one-handed as he went. The stump of his left arm felt strange, for he hadn't traveled without his prosthetic in years, but he could feel the Force guiding him as he traveled. Not that he really needed it right now, the only place he could go was forward. So forward he went, the frost ever biting at his shivering frame. His steps were slow and heavy, accounting for the snow that rode nearly up to his knees. His dreadlocks waved, on account for the tunnel's wind. His nose ran, leaving a frigid snotty mixture freezing above his mouth. Periodically he'd wipe it with his sleeve, trying to stop it from meandering into his mouth, but his nose continued to run indefinitely. I can't stay here too long Jaxton thought to himself as he continued, till he reached a large open cavern. The walls were a conglomeration of stone and ice frozen atop it, jutting up to the stalactites above. About seven, maybe eight meters above the ground the walls stopped to show what might have been a second level, with the stalactites forming four meters above there. Didn't seem to be anything up there-

No, there was an echo. Footprints, heavy. Running. Two sets maybe? A chase then? Jaxton's thoughts were soon answered as he saw a small creature, white furred with four eyes and a long protruding mouth. Maybe a meter high, holding a few spears on his back. He chucked one as he backpedeled, though Jaxton couldn't see what he was aiming it at just yet. He continued to back pedal until he skirted the edge of the cliff, and Jaxton could see what the boy was hunting. Or perhaps what was hunting the boy. A giant ape with blue fur and a face that was surprisingly reptilian. It roared and began to charge at the boy.

"Jump! I've got you." Jaxton yelled, and the young Talz looked back, then at the beast, then decided to make the plummet. It was after he jumped that Jaxton remembered he had one hand and half a forearm to catch him with. Deciding to use the Force to soften his blow he decelerated the Talz as it fell, and caught it with a thump.

"Boh bo ba da doo." It spoke, though the language was lost on Jaxton. Another blood-curdling roar and powerful thump. Jaxton looked back to find the Gorgodon across him. The Talz began to ready a spear but Jaxton extended a hand to block him.

"I've got him." Jaxton said, and began to charge the beast as it snarled and tried to pounce. It was time for some good ole fashion wrasslin.

 

[Tyranus]

Tyranus kept on chipping at the ice with the knife until the purple crystal became visible. It was a beautiful sight unlike any other he had seen before but now the hard part, getting it out without dropping it. Tyranus reached into the ice, getting a few wads of blood to appear on his skin because of the sharp ice. He kept on feeling around until his gloved hand caught hold of the purple crystal, he took his hand out slowly and then placed the crystal into a small durasteel container and then he put the container in his shoulder bag. Tyranus sighed a sigh of relief as this journey was finally over. Flashes of light appeared overhead and Tyranus looked upwards and he saw a opening in which he could climb out . He climbed slowly towards the opening being as careful as possible to not drop his shoulder bag and to nor fall down the pit. He threw his arms over the edge and then climbed out and stood up and let out a sigh of relief.

Will Now wasn't this fun?

He muttered to himself as he made his way to Vassara's Freighter. Along the way he saw Venris and smiled deeply. He would begin to make his lightsaber once he got home but for now, to admire his work and to think up a design.

Acquired: Glare Ice Pontite Crystal ( Purple )

 

[RC 212]

The last test came right away and with no time to think. All at once the room dissolved again and Vassara was facing herself. This time she had a saber in hand. The effigy of her as a Sith moved in and immediately it's saber sprang to life. This was about death? Would she really die if the other saber struck her?

She didn't know, but she had a feeling that the bones beneath her feet were very real. Whatever this voice was, it was powerful enough to kill the unworthy.

Vassara stepped back activating her own saber. The Sapphire blade sprang to life and it swept up into a Form I guard, diagonally across her body. It was then the spectre dropped upon her, flashing blades met in a chaotic swirl as it struck from all angles. Never one that was well trained Vassar struggled even with the force to match it's speed.

She parried one from above, sweeping her blade out and wide to force the wraith back.

But it was not to be trifled with, the blow was swept aside and it stepped in, hooking her blade. Vassara felt a powerful push impact her chest and the air left her lungs. She fell backwards as the wraiths saber wrenched on her, tearing it from her grasp. It flew across the air into Sith Vassaras hands.

"Frak."

She knew now what the test really entailed. She was never meant to win. She was meant to submit to death. To rejoin the force.

Both blades angled upon her neck and she rose, kneeling. Her head was bowed in deep meditation. She felt the searing heat of each blade as they closed in an x and locked her in.

"There is no death, only the force."

The wraith laughed, she felt the biting sting of the sabers as they cut her flesh, beheading her.

And suddenly felt her soul leave her body. She was looking down on her body. No she was looking from all angles, detached from reality. She had become the force, retreated into it's warm grasp.

And just as suddenly she awoke, sprawled on the floor and gasping for air.

You have passed the last of our trials Vassara.

"Who are you, what are you?"

I am the sprit of the crystal. Your crystal and I have selected you as my owner. You have passed the trials I set for you, and have shown yourself to be worthy of my power. Abuse my power, and I will reject you, rendering myself inert.

She could see it now, the strangest thing. The crystal was in the wall, slowly glowing in intensity. It's bright purple hue was so bright she almost couldn't look at it. With trembling hands she reached up from her knee's and retrieved it. The crystal broke from the wall with little effort and she felt a surge of consciousness as it connected with her flesh.

The force vibrated it in a slight thrum as she held it.

Congratulations

She nodded. Simply stowing it in her belt and then made her way speedily back to the Gypsy Caravan

Accquired: 1x Glare Ice Lightsaber Crystal

------------------------------

Later: [member="Tyranus Collik"] [member="Venris Helion"]

Vassara approached the ramp to see Venris and Tyranus. She looked a mess, her gear was not even put on. She was carrying everything in her arms and simply dropped it on the ramp as she neared.

"Well that was an experience. What happened with you guys?"