What Do You Have For Us, Korriban?

[Darth Timoris]

Location: In the tomb of Marka Ragnos
Group: B
Allies: [member="Amaethon"] | [member="Yvette Dusong"] | [member="Vi'kas Mirtis"] | [member="Darth Arcanix"] | [member="Sena Lassiter"]

Melori watched her Master chanting and could feel the Dark-sided energy she had channelled and awaited an outcome. Her eyes darted once more to the corridor she’d walked along and wondered if any of the other Acolytes would join them. But all she could see was darkness and so her eyes snapped back to what her Master was doing.

As the liquid was poured down into the gap she’d opened, she could see the concentration amulet started to shake, its energies seeping down into the sarcophagus. Her Master chanted – the words meaningless to Melori yet her arms were suddenly covered in goose-bumps as a chill wind began to fill the chamber before a low moaning sound could be heard – its source impossible to detect due to the echoing nature of the room they were in.

"Who summons me. . ."

She heard the voice and was dutifully impressed at her Master’s ability to summon what she could only presume was the spirit of Mark Ragnos.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Location: Tomb of Marka Ragnos
Group B
Allies: [member="Melori Raaf"] [member="Yvette Dusong"] [member="Vi'kas Mirtis"] [member="Amaethon"] [member="Sena Lassiter"]

Taeli bent her head as the dust and darkness spiraled upwards. This was only a temporary summoning, it only would last a few minutes before the ritual ended and the spirit would return to whence he had come.

​

"Who has summoned me from the Netherworld of the Force?" the spirit of Marka Ragnos demanded, his specter hovering above his sarcophagus.

"I am Darth Arcanix, a Sith Lady, and this is my apprentice, Melori Raaf," Taeli immediately answered, keeping her head bowed in reverence to the ancient Sith Lord. There were many stories of how Ragnos had claimed and held his power for over a hundred years, how he was a powerful warrior and alchemist.

"You are of that order of the Sith that preaches equality," the spirit said, a sneer across his hybrid face. "I can sense the influence of that fool Krayt and his teachings of unity and equality for the Sith."

"We are of a new generation of the One Sith," Taeli said. "We might preach equality, but it is an illusion for the more powerful masters to maintain our power. Only the strong can truly be called Sith, my Lord, the weak must serve."

"Well said, Darth Arcanix," the spirit rumbled, looking as though he was laughing. "You understand an important tenet of the Sith, the strong rule, the weak serve. I sense . . . you also understand that manipulating your opponents retains your power, a tactic I employed against my enemies for my reign of the Sith Empire."

The spirit turned its attention to Melori and asked, "What say you, apprentice to Darth Arcanix?"

 

[Darth Timoris]

Location: In the tomb of Marka Ragnos
Group: B
Allies: [member="Amaethon"] | [member="Yvette Dusong"] | [member="Vi'kas Mirtis"] | [member="Darth Arcanix"] | [member="Sena Lassiter"]


What say you, apprentice to Darth Arcanix?"

Melori stared at the apparition, the question definitely caught her by surprise. But she was confident enough in the truth as she saw it to answer honestly and openly.

"The Code tells me all I need to know. I currently seek Strength that I may gain Power. If I am worthy than I shall live and I shall rule. If not I expect to die for I shall not serve. But I accept there are those that are not worthy - but whose death benefits no-one, so these shall serve."

"I value secrecy, patience and ingenuity," she glanced at her Master, fully expecting her to recognise these words and those that followed. She'd been reading wider than just Maul and Tyranus, clearly. "And I believe equality is a lie. As was said, a myth to appeal to the masses. There are those with power and those who can amount to no more than servitude."

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Location: In the tomb of Marka Ragnos
Group B
Allies: [member="Melori Raaf"] [member="Sena Lassiter"] [member="Yvette Dusong"]

The spirit of the ancient boomed with laughter at her sister's answer.

"You will go far, I sense," the shade of Marka Ragnos said, "you will prove to be a worthy Sith, more so than many of the fools who seek an audience with those of us who preceded you. My time is short now, the ritual almost spent . . . but I give you both advice and a treasure that has long been dormant. Hidden deeper in my tomb resides a tome of power that I wrote and my gauntlets, you may take them if you can deal with the guardians of my inner sanctum. My advice is . . . never trust those around you, use them to your own ends, then discard them or kill them. That is the way to truly hold power within the Sith."

With that, the spirit began to fade as Taeli's concentration amulet ran out of power to fuel the spell. With a gesture of his hand, a small passage opened in the wall and then Marka Ragnos was gone. Taeli walked over and picked up the spent amulet, resolving to re-energize it on the trip back from Korriban.

"Well, I think it would be rude if we pass up this opportunity," Taeli said, smiling ever so slightly at her sister. "The others seem to not be here, so I say we claim those things within for ourselves."

 

[Darth Timoris]

Location: In the tomb of Marka Ragnos
Group: B
Allies: [member="Amaethon"] | [member="Yvette Dusong"] | [member="Vi'kas Mirtis"] | [member="Darth Arcanix"] | [member="Sena Lassiter"]

There was no pride in the apparition’s response to her answer. She didn’t seek approval – but deep down she was pleased her views were vindicated. Many aspire to be Sith Lords. They make a lot of noise but how many last the course? Relatively few.

She listened to his advice. It was sage and she both understood and agreed with it. And his offer of a reward was both surprising and pleasing. As the apparition evaporated before their eyes, she exchanged a glance with her Master. And, as ever, she did the calculations. Her sister would no doubt go for the tome, which would leave her to take the gauntlets. And if the Sith’s teachings were valuable, her Master would share them. So this felt like an undoubted win-win.

Of course there was the small matter of the guardians to deal with, but their opposition was futile surely? The prizes were theirs to take. But of course, she would let her Master lead the way now. “After you Master,” she offered with a wide smile.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Location: Tomb of Marka Ragnos (and about to go all Lara Croft)
Group B
[member="Melori Raaf"] [member="Amaethon"] [member="Vi'kas Mirtis"] [member="Sena Lassiter"] [member="Yvette Dusong"]

Stepping into the passage, she immediately smelt decay. That was always lovely to smell, but she wondered why the spirit would talk about guardians if whatever existed within was already dead. Oh Force no, she really didn't want to deal with Sith zombies, she really really really didn't but it smelled like that was what the guardians would be.

She wasn't talking any chances anymore, igniting her lightsaber in front of her as she led her sister down the narrow passage towards a bluish lit room. On a pedestal in the middle sat the book Marka Ragnos had spoken about, and the gauntlets were set on either side of them. That was when she heard the shuffling of heavy feet, too heavy for just a normal humanoid Sith zombie.

From two small chambers branching off of this main one, two shambling corpses that could only be called monstrosities appeared.

"Undead . . . terentateks," she said, shock racing through her. That was the only answer she had. Kark it. "You know, this is why I say, never underestimate something and be prepared for anything while in tombs."

 

[Darth Timoris]

Location: In the tomb of Marka Ragnos
Group: B
Allies: [member="Amaethon"] | [member="Yvette Dusong"] | [member="Vi'kas Mirtis"] | [member="Darth Arcanix"] | [member="Sena Lassiter"]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN4rdOvvfV4

The smell was…rank. She lacked the practical experience of her sister and Master and perhaps this was how all old tombs smelled – but she seriously doubted it. She followed her Master and appreciated the light her saber was generating – before seeing a room ahead – lit in a bluish hue. Like her Master she saw a pedestal and in the middle sat the book and the gauntlets.

Her excitement was cut short by the sound. Shuffling feet – but heavier than a human’s. And so, from two small chambers she saw two shambling corpses appear. Her master confirmed their identities – terentateks.

In truth what she really saw were claws, and tusks and spines. It was difficult to look past these. Standing at over 3 metres high, they looked like the sort of thing Melori would choose if she wanted to protect something.

“I guess they’re not tame,” she offered, by way of a weak joke, before igniting her own saber with a snap-hiss. “They may have me on reach, but I have my footwork, eh?” She glanced at her Master. “Sabers will work on them, right?”

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Melori Raaf"]

"Yes, but don't expect this to be an easy fight," Taeli replied, igniting the second blade of her lightsaber. "Melori, do NOT let them bite or scratch you. I really don't want to watch an apprentice of mine turn into a zombie too." When she said apprentice, it was quite clear she did not want to watch her sister become infested and turned by the Sith Magic that animated the corpses of the terentateks.

She was taking no chances with this, and if necessary, she would deal with both of them and Melori could secure the artifacts. In fact, that sounded like a sound idea because of how she planned to fight this. Twisting the handle of her saber, the blades began spinning as the ring hand guard slid into place the mag-locks disengaged. Unleashing her full and complete power of the dark side, her eyes blazing yellow and the Marks of Darkness emerging around her eyes, she channeled a massive amount of Force Lightning into her lightsaber.

Her sister had never seen Taeli like this before, but she had a task to do . . . and that was to protect her sister and annihilate these abominations.

"Retrieve the artifacts, I'll handle these things," she said, her voice commanding as she rushed forward in a flash, her spinning blade at her side with crackling electricity flowing around it.

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori deactivated her blade. Her task was relatively straightforward - to hold her nerve. So she waited for her Master to draw the attention of both undead creatures, she knew the timing was crucial. If she ran for the items too soon, she risked being ripped apart. Too slow and her Master may have to fight for longer than was necessary.

Sensing the moment was perfect, Melori darted forward. She almost lost her footing on the dusty floor before her practiced footwork took over. Running lightly across the room she grabbed the items and turned and ran back to her sister without stopping. She felt the power in them and the desire to stop and examine them was palpable and took all of her focus to ignore. Perhaps this was part of the test? Or maybe it was just their power combined with her insatiable appetite? Either way, she tucked the book and gauntlets into her jacket and reactivated her blade. "OK, Master, I have them."

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Melori Raaf"]

While Melori ran off to grab the treasures, Taeli charged in towards the first undead terentatek, her blades spinning and electrified. The creature moaned and swiped at her its claw, but all it got for its trouble was a severed limb before she twirled the blade up and beheaded it, the Force Lightning surging down its body and burning out anything that was keeping the creature alive.

A tingle ran down her spine and she Force Jumped away as the creature tried to take a chunk out of her, flipping over it. Landing gracefully, she saw her sister grab the things and she decided to end this little fight. Her eyes blazing a deep yellow and her Marks of Darkness radiating dark energy, she unleashed a heavy torrent of Force Lightning from her free hand, blasting the creature back into the wall and burning it beyond recognition. She didn't let up her torrent until the creature stopped trying to get up, and just to be safe, she threw her lightsaber and beheaded the corpse.

Catching her lightsaber and allowing her power to disengage, her eyes returned to their normal purple and she deactivated her lightsaber.

"Excellent job, Melori," she said, smiling and not paying any heed to the smell of burnt flesh and ozone."Also excellent job in recognizing the slight compulsion spell that lingered on them. The guardians would have slaughtered anyone who touched them because they became enthralled by looking at them."

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori stared at the carnage around her and deactivated her saber with an almost apologetic hiss-snap. It was not needed; her Master had dealt with the threat most expertly. Melori momentarily closed her eyes. She’d been distracted by having to retrieve the items but she looked to lock away into her memory as much as she had seen, so she could review it later – to identify how her Master had approached the two creatures and what tactics she had used.

At her Master’s words, Melori nodded. “I found it easier to concentrate once I tucked them away. To be honest, self-preservation overrode whatever spell was left on them. You um…defeated them more easily than I expected. That saber of yours is impressive. What sort of crystal is in it?”

Maja clipped her own hilt to her belt as she spoke and then retrieved the gauntlets and the book, offering them to her Master – carefully placing the book closer to her sister in her outstretched hands. “For you Master.”

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Melori Raaf"]

"Just a standard red synthetic, but I've been thinking of switching them out soon," she answered, looking at the items they had recovered. It was tempting to take all of it, but Taeli would never say greed ever really drove her . . . except when she was really trying to finish a book series and just had to have the next in the series. She was a bookworm after all.

"There's no need for posturing, my apprentice," she said, a small smile playing across her lips. "You can have the gauntlets, I already have a set of rather . . . unique gauntlets, even though I never wear them. I'll take the book and we can either return and see if any of the others are actually still here or we can go check out another tomb. Naga Sadow's is the next one on this side of the Valley after all."

She wondered what her sister would want to do . . . pondered it for a moment and she knew the answer already. Raaf girls seemed to have an insatiable hunger for knowledge, plus her sister didn't necessarily play nicely with the others. It was probably going to be an easy choice for the young blond woman.

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori smiled. She really was that transparent. She tried the gauntlets on for size and found them strangely making her feel more powerful. How it would manifest itself when she looked to use the Force was anyone's guess right now. So she tucked them in her belt rather than risk anything.

"Ludo Kressh," Melori said, her loud voice echoing rather more loudly than she expected. "I mean, Naga Sadow is impressive I know, but from what I've read, I'd like to see what's in Ludo Kressh's tomb. Plus it's higher up and less well known so no doubt less well visited?" She offered all the logic she had for the decision. "Plus he was known for Battlemind and Force Rage. But I shall honour your decision Master."

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Melori Raaf"]

"If I remember correctly, Ludo Kressh's tomb is back in the cave the other group was exploring," Taeli said, tapping her chin in thought. "Although picking up anything on those techniques would be useful . . . hmm we could go back because I haven't heard anything from the others recently so perhaps they won't mind if we slip into the tomb while they're busy."

Making a decision, she gestured for her sister to follow her out of the tomb. On the way, she did grab her depleted concentration amulet and placed it back in her satchel next to the tome from Marka Ragnos. There would be no summoning of spirits in any other tombs today, unless she wanted to give up some of her life energy to do the ritual. Not something she particularly wanted to do. Emerging from the tomb and into the dusty red desert and canyon that was the Valley of the Dark Lords, Taeli looked back towards where they had came from.

"It will be that way," she said, smiling a bit. "Come along then, apprentice."

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori smiled and fell into step. Even if she learned nothing directly from the visit, anything her Master could glean would trickle down to her eventually. She was aware she was just an Acolyte and her ambitions for learning outstripped her current level of ability, but to know the learning was possible was almost as good as having the knowledge.

But her impatience was straining at the leash and she had to keep her pace to match her Master's - as she tended to speed up before realising what she doing and moderating her stride.

"Was there something in particular you'd like to see Master?"

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Melori Raaf"]

"Oh, I'm sure we will get around to seeing plenty of sights," she replied, smiling at her sister's rather obvious impatience. Still no sign of the others, well if they had just upped and vanished to other parts of the Valley, that was fine. More for her and Melori to explore then. Heading back up into the craggy canyons that rose from one side of the Valley that led to the ancient Sith academy, she took a sharp right as she felt the entrance to the cave and the dark side energies circling within it.

"I wonder if they were killed by the terentatek they awoke inside there," she mused aloud, activating a glowrod and moving into the cave system. "Be mindful of shyracks, apprentice, they love these dark and gloomy caves and tombs. Force Lightning works rather well against them though, just a piece of free advice."

The cave was rippling with the dark side, which told her that other things were probably lurking in here, such as tuk'ata or even more terentateks. Would be interesting if there were more lurking though, she could do with anew pair of leather boots.

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori heard the gentle rebuke. She kept perfectly in step and wondered where everyone else had gone. That many Sith in a relatively short space shouldn’t be hard to detect. She considered the possibility that they were indeed all dead but dismissed the thought.

Her running and dancing were coming to the fore now in terms of her fitness. She was able to move without any shortness of breath and her previous dystrophy seemed to be behind her now. “Are all creatures affected by Lightning, I mean are there any you know of that it would be wrong to use it against?”

“And…” she felt a little foolish at then question, but considering the alternative was being dead, she decided an honest approach was the best. “What does a shyrack look like?” She sensed the Darkness in the cave as she entered it and wondered what they would encounter…

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Melori Raaf"]

"Well. . ." Taeli started to explain as her sister asked about what a shyrack was before she heard the beating of wings heading their way. "Hold that thought for just a moment."

Several large bat-like creatures flew out of the gloom, teeth bared in a snarl. Taeli reacted by just unleashing several streams of Force lightning against the blind creatures, frying them immediately from the power of her lightning.

"Shyracks are more annoyances than anything else, but they can be dangerous when a full swarm descends on you," Taeli explained. "No eyes either, so they hunt through their hearing. Very territorial though, and will attack intruders in a frenzy with their wings, legs, and teeth. Natural rivals to the tuk'ata, but tuk'ata are much more dangerous in my opinion."

"Anywho, for Force Lightning, the answer is mainly yes," she said, nodding her head as they moved deeper into the cave. "Force Lightning can even affect the Yuuzhan Vong, for some reason we haven't fully understood yet."

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori saw it – small enough but in numbers – and with those teeth, it would prove a real challenge. Once more her Master took care of the challenge and she was pleased to see how effective the Force Lightning was.

Now tuk'ata she’d heard of, the guardian hounds that prowled the crypts of their former Masters. From what she remembered in her brief studies, the key was to go after the alpha male first. Take him out and the remainder might scurry away.

So she kept her eyes and ears open and using the Force, listened to it, waiting to see if it warned her of any potential threat. Clearly her Master was better attuned, but this was a safe place to practice if nothing else.

“Are there likely to be any creatures in here we can’t overcome?” When she said ‘we’ she really meant her Master, but for once there was no arrogance in the question, merely a slip of the tongue.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Melori Raaf"]

"If you see a horde of Sith zombies or something like a Sith war behemoth, we run," Taeli laughed, recognizing what her sister meant. "I can handle a lot that will be found in here, tuk'ata, pelko bugs, terentatek, and shyracks are generally what live within these caves. Oh, and I suppose some hssiss live in here too, but we need not be worried."

Walking through the cave, they came to a large chasm, the bottom of which could be not be seen. A small stone bridge led across it and the body of terentatek lay nearby, so some of their fellow explorers had been through this way. A chill hung in the air, no doubt emanating from the tomb of Ludo Kressh.

"So Melori, what do you know about the Sith Lord known as Ludo Kressh?" Taeli asked, stepping carefully across the bridge. A howl echoed through the cave, the howl of a pack of tuk'ata and a weird hissing answered. A hssiss was nearby as well, lovely.