What Secrets Do You Hide?

[Darth Veles]

Dromund Vatsu.

A curious Dromund Kaas wannabe, never quite meeting the original’s fame or glory. The same thing could be said about its government, the Jen’ari ‘Empire’, clearly created with the ancient Sith Empire in mind. Its megalomaniac of a ruler, [member="Darth Vyrassu"], pompous and vain, saw himself within Darth Vitiate, pursuing the ages old goal of conquering the galaxy and draining it of all life. And, just like the planet, the dream did not get past the first stages of living up to Vitiate’s name, remaining only a dream. Vyrassu’s alliance with the Black Rose had sealed the planet’s fate, making the Jen’ari an enemy of the One Sith and cutting the Jen’ari from the rest of the galaxy once more.

The backwater planet’s location used to be a ‘secret’ – right until its ruler made the fatal mistake of revealing its location to all interested parties, making the planet a popular target of mercenaries, prospectors and pirates. Quite a few of the looters were Sith, obviously interested in whatever secrets and artifacts this Dark Side-infested planet held. Combined with the god-emperor’s disappearance, Dromund Vatsu has since fallen into bit of a disarray thanks to the squabbles of the currently ruling Dark Council.

It really resembled the ancient Dromund Kaas in every aspect.

That also made the planet an excellent destination for scholars and history buffs, allowing them to study the Sith of old. As long as they managed to survive, that is. Most hints of order could still be found within the capital city, the imperial army still capable of keeping the illusion of control most of the time, but anything outside of the city reeked of chaos, the only law being the survival of the fittest. Little order, no ruler, infighting, no allies, strong Dark Side presence, blatant copy of Dromund Kaas, Dark Side cults, hidden outposts, secrets, ever-present danger.

Truly, a perfect destination for Veles’ expedition, too.

Raging storms enveloped the planet, bombarding its surface in never-ending rain. Like a black dagger, Veles’ Phasma-class Infiltrator delivered a stabbing injury to the permanent dark clouds’ reign over the sky, cutting through undetected thanks to the ship’s stealth systems that also played a pivotal role in keeping the ship hidden on Dromund Vatsu’s surface. While the authorities stayed unaware of their presence, the Dark Side itself called upon the newcomers, luring them in with promises of power. It tingled their skin, whispered into their ears even before any of them set foot on the ground. Immediately after leaving the Sith Lord’s vessel, the entire group came to a small, tidy clearing surrounded by thick jungle seemingly forming a nasty greyish wall of vegetation. A miserable planet to behold; anything except the capital consisted of deep jungles and swamps, trees towering high above the travellers’ heads and occasionally allowing a passing glance through their leaves to let sentient eyes feast on menacing mountains looming on the horizon.

While the capital’s been raided a few times, robbed of its artifacts treasures, the wilderness did not give its secrets so easily.

Along with the Sith Lord trudged several members of the fresh Order of Ren, their thirst for knowledge and power about to be quenched. Excitement and anticipation could be felt radiating from their forms, images of untold power flashing through their minds. With little doubt, this introduction to Sith history and exposure to the Dark Side would do them good, providing the group with useful experience and knowledge.

Darth Veles stood in the middle of the grassy clearing chosen as their landing platform. Lacking his trusty companion as of late, a black walking stick, the Sith Lord's hobble became more pronounced, the defect present in the man's movement quite apparent. Unfortunately, the drenched and rough terrain was hardly suited for the glossy cane. Or his expensive boots, for that matter. Draped in a heavy cloak, its hood pulled over his large head and casting shadows over his eyes that cautiously scanned their surroundings for a minute, the Sith Lord clasped his webbed hands behind his back. The heavy rain did not bother him in the slightest, partially due to his race.

“My… friends,” the Sith Lord turned on his heel and flashed the group a disarming smile after finally finding the right word to address them with, “Welcome to Dromund Vatsu.”

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla had spent most of the voyage to Dromund Vatsu tucked neatly in her seat, pretending to be asleep. Occasionally a hand rose to scratch her nose, or to rub the side of her forehead, but for the most part her hands had been clasped tightly underneath her cloak. Though she still found flying heavy unsettling, she was beginning to get used to it. Well, not really, but she was getting better at hiding her nerves and unease. At least with her eyes closed, she could pretend to be anywhere but on a cramped ship, and folk tended to leave her alone. Despite the fact that she may have appeared to be deep in a dream, she had been listening carefully to the other voices aboard their vessel. She had heard many say that this world was similar to Dromund Kaas, but Isla had never heard of that planet, so their comparisons held little meaning – but she was still very interested to see Dromund Vatsu for herself.

As she felt the ship setting down on the surface, she finally stirred and stretched her arms. Pale hands rose to rub her green eyes, and she cast a glance towards the exit, trying not to look too eager to escape. Her hood fell back to reveal strands of fiery red, her hair was often a tangled mess, but she made little effort to try and tame it. Isla’s tall frame pushed up from her seat, and she moved to follow the others. Her boot stepped off the ramp and was met by ground that was slippery and wet. The sky above was dark, clouded, and raining down upon them. She felt the heavy drops of rain sliding down her forehead and off the tip of her nose, and pelting down upon her shoulders. Isla was not bothered by the storm, for she had worked long days in all kinds of weather – blazing sun, hail, thunder, wind... it made no difference.

She followed the dark figure of [member="Darth Veles"] into a clearing, and finally lifted her hood over her face, for the rain in her eyes was making for a difficult time seeing. Even though they had not gone far, her boots were already caked with mud, but their worn soles had seen worse days than this. She came to a halt when the Sith Lord turned suddenly to face them; she returned his smile with only the slightest tug at the corner of her lips. Isla’s ear turned in his direction as he spoke, but his words almost sounded far away. For there were whispers in the air, they seemed to gather around her... calling. There was darkness here; she could feel it falling upon her like an eerie, invisible mantle. It was not frightening either, it was almost comforting.

Though their jungle surroundings did not look particularly inviting, Isla was just content to be outdoors. Had she not been surrounded by her peers and the presence of their Sith Lord companion, she would likely have already gone running off into the wild.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

The moment her boots hit the soft ground of Dromund Vatsu, Decima's stomach sank. She was raised among the snow-capped continents of Galidraan; the prospect of trudging through some tropical swamp made her very uncomfortable. She hated to sweat, hated it even more when there were bugs and dirt and Force knows what to stick to her. She was not afraid of getting her hands dirty, but this combination -- heat and humidity -- was so far out of her element as to be a foe in its own right. At least there was rain to keep things moving. What could they possibly find here that was valuable? She suspected that this would end with another the treasure was always in you moments, like some sort of tragic after-school special from two decades ago.

She found herself a half-step behind [member="Isla Ashen"], and a pace to the right, who seemed entirely unconcerned with the environment or rain. Decima cast a sidelong gaze at her, dark eyes taking in a once-over before turning her attention back to the trail in front of them, and the Master, [member="Darth Veles"]. For the moment, there was nothing to do but stand and wait for further instruction as to just what they were doing here, and what her part in it would be. Whatever the case, Decima was determined to play the part impressively. This was where her ascent to the top would begin.

It couldn't happen soon enough for Decima.

 

[Kriel Firin]

Kriel had had a good schooling. As well as a good knowledge of the Knights of Ren, he'd also learned about Jedi Lore and all about the One Sith. Yet his knowledge of other groups that used the Force was lacking and he'd been instructed to widen his understanding of all Orders.

So here he was, keen to learn about the Jen'ari. His understanding was virtually zero before the mission was called. He'd started to research, so had a passing knowledge now - but expected to learn so much more before the visit was concluded.

[member="Decima Fortan"] [member="Isla Ashen"] [member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Darth Veles]

Before speaking up again, the amphibious Sith’s large eyes went over each and every one of them in a silent study, every detail processed and judged. While his sight did provide him with several important details, it paled in comparison to what he discovered through the Force by simply feeling them. The revelation of weakness has been expected, yet the Sith Lord found it hard to mask his disappointment behind the façade of politeness, a concerned frown painted over his expression. All of his companions were weak, barely trained and tried. Only one of them had any value, purely due to her family ties.

This journey would change the trio though – provided all of them lived long enough to return home. Hopefully the Knights of Ren understood the importance of survival. A very simple concept taken to extreme by Sith, forcing them to adapt and grow stronger or die. While the party in front of him had nothing to do with Sith, it was that very prospect of combining their own principles with those of the Sith that intrigued Darth Veles greatly. At the very same time, he’d see their ways at work, allowing the amphibian to learn the strengths and weaknesses of this particular sect. It was a win-win, really. Finding a suitable student would be a nice bonus.

“We are currently roughly sixty kilometres southeast of the capital, where the majority of Dromund Vatsu's citizens is located. The Jen’ari Empire’s officials have no idea of our presence here, so we’ll keep it that way. As insignificant as the Jen’ari are, starting a war with them is not in our interests now.” There was a strong hint of disdain when he hissed the word “Jen’ari” through his teeth, but the Sith’s voice quickly returned to its smooth, honeyed consistency.

“The planet’s not the most orderly place in the galaxy, which works in our favour. A small, remote outpost’s been caught broadcasting requests to the capital, mostly for more ammunition and supplies due to their predator problem. Their position in the middle of nowhere and the strong current of the Dark Side around the area – try to feel it for yourself – suggest it guards a place of power. We will infiltrate it, take whatever they hide and disappear.”

When brushing over the basic premise, he raised his datapad and summoned a rough map of the place with a few taps of his webbed claws. The ghostly blue image offered very little given the vast majority of the area was covered in swampy jungle, but it did give them an idea where to go. It would not be a pleasure cruise, no; Veles wanted this to be a test for his new acquaintances, a fight to push them over the edge. Soon enough, they all understood. A ferocious growl ripping through the calming drumming of rain came from the forest, immediately putting everyone on high alert. The ever-present feeling of danger reminded Veles of Korriban, further supporting the notion this planet would be perfect for the Ren to grow in strength. Overwhelmed by nostalgia that came with those memories, he smiled.

Without any further ado, Veles turned around and slowly paced through the treacherous territory, feeling and hearing the slimy mud slurp wetly beneath his webbed feet as the dark jungle embraced him and his companions. The marshy ground and uneven terrain did not bother him, yet despite his calm and seemingly relaxed manner with which he walked, the Sith remained careful, purposely slow, taking in their surroundings. Even without the excellent sight his cybernetic eye offered, the Mon Cal knew of the many hungry pairs of eyes spying on them. The predatory nature of wild beasts – it could be sensed all around, though the Force. Like a heavy burden clouding their minds, the Dark Side penetrated everything, inside the very nature of this planet; it only made Veles more powerful, for he had mastered the command over the Force, holding it on tight leash. It was high time the Knights of Ren embraced the darkness as well, basked in its infinite potential.

[member="Kriel Firin"] [member="Decima Fortan"] [member="Isla Ashen"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Darth Veles"], [member="Decima Fortan"], [member="Isla Ashen"], [member="Kriel Firin"]


Thus far Enyo had not set foot upon Dromund Kaas in her admittedly rather short life. However, she'd soon holovids that showed how the planet looked like from both before and after the Mandalorians rained down asteroids upon it's surface. Hence she could not escape the conclusion that the unoriginally named Dromund Vatsu was its spitting image. Dark clouds in the sky, raging storms, a jungle filled with predators and wild beasts that would be intent on devouring anyone who trespassed, Dark Side cults, ruins and the all-encompassing aura of the Dark Side that seemed to have swallowed the planet like a maw.


In other words, one could not escape the conclusion that the Cosmos had a sense of humour. Especially since it had seen fit to deliver this planet into the hands of the somewhat ridiculously named Jen'ari Empire. Jen'ari was Sithese and meant Dark Lord, or at least that's what her dictionary said. The ancient Sith had used the title to refer to the Dark Jedi Exiles who subjugated them many millennia ago.


Ergo the translation of Jen'ari Empire was Dark Lord Empire. An empire comprised of Dark Lords was obviously silly. Unless you translated it as 'Dark Lord's Empire', which said nothing more than that the deluded Sith claimed total dominion over this realm and considered it a monument to his own ego. Once upon a time the One Sith had been ruled by a supposedly all-powerful Dark Lord. Until he was slain, which disproved his claim of being omnipotent. The delusions of godhood reminded her of Siobhan Kerrigan.


Regardless, now she was here, along with various other Knights of Ren. For the first time, her every step would not be monitored by Archangel, for one of her mechanical caretakers had come along. In a way it was a liberating, even thrilling experience. Darth Veles outlined the mission and some of the dangers they would encounter. Adapt and grow stronger through adversity, or fail and perish. A simple concept that was played out again and again in evolution. It was one Archangel had raised her on. Failure was not an acceptable option for her. She was still weak now, but would grow stronger. She had to not only for her own sake, but that of her sister and in order to one day tear down Kerrigan.


Having checked her equipment one last time, she stepped out into the jungle, following the amphibian. The slimy mud, uneven terrain and trees were such a change from the hellish world of Gehenna, where she had first been trained, yet both had omnipresent danger and predatory beasts in common. Thus she remained wary. Soon her boots were covered in mud. Fortunately she was wearing practical footwear. Rain poured down from the heavens, making it difficult to see much, so she pulled her hood over her face.


The Dark Side permeated everything, even the air around her. However, she did not fear the darkness. Talsir had taught to look beyond the simplistic, binary concepts of Light and Dark and to harness her Sciia, as the Eldorai called it. A couple skeletons lying around in the mud served as a reminder of what happened to those who failed to pass the test.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla’s eyes shifted slowly to her right, she could see Decima's lady like form by her side. She took in her appearance quietly, trying not to be too obvious about it. The brunette was perhaps a year or two her junior, a couple of inches shorter, and far prettier than she would ever be. Perhaps the title of ‘Knight’ was not quite fitting for her, Isla mused that she was more like a Princess of Ren. A hint of envy found her; the other woman’s hands were prim and tidy, not rough and calloused. And her features were small and delicate, where Isla felt her own were too prominent to be considered classically beautiful.

Then her eyes turned next to the dark figure of Kriel Firin, his was a presence that she had felt within the Citadel. However, she had not approached him before. She could tell that his power was much stronger than her own, and perhaps more disciplined. Isla did know that he had been with the Knights of Ren longer than she had.

As she followed behind Darth Veles, she listened to his words, interest growing at the thought of finding this place of power that he spoke of. Isla’s green eyes narrowed just slightly, focused far into the distance, feeling for a hint of darkness. It was almost like a whisper lost on the wind, but she felt it, looming within the heart of the jungle. Her boots continued to sink down into the mud as she walked, and she noted the sounds of the wildlife here – a growl in the brush was most notable. They were being hunted, and Isla was not fond of being prey. She would remain alert.

Isla’s head turned once more, and she spied another woman walking along with them. A mysterious woman that was not familiar, but she knew instantly that she was gifted like the rest of them. Clearly this woman had power, it was strong, and it certainly made her spot in their group well deserved.

“What is your name?” She asked, looking at Decima, as she was closest. “I am called Ashen Ren now, but you may call me Isla.”

Perhaps this little foray into the jungle would yield something more than dark treasures, something that had eluded Isla for most of her life – friendship.

[member="Darth Veles"], [member="Decima Fortan"], [member="Kriel Firin"], [member="Enyo Typhos"]

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Decima listened to [member="Darth Veles"], her dark eyes thoughtful as she watched him. He was a non-human, which was unfortunate (socially speaking) in the First Order, but there was no mistaking his power, and in Decima's experience, power and skill always managed to wash clean any social shortcomings in the long term. He could be useful, she reflected internally, if she could find a way to cultivate him properly. When he spoke of the Dark Side, of power, she could sense that he was speaking from experience -- this was appealing more than she would ever know. She tried to open herself to the Force, and was almost overwhelmed by the amount of life in the jungle surrounding her. Once she cracked the door, they battered it down, and she found herself driven to distraction by the sheer amount of it -- not just her colleagues but the flora and fauna pouring their presence into the Force. It was as seductive as it was overpowering. Every time Decima opened herself to the Force, let it wash over her, it refreshed her like a brisk shower.

She could work on her control, though... with training and time, she would learn to master it.

The flame-haired woman spoke to her, and she turned her head reluctantly away from Veles. "My name is L--" she broke off, the word Lady almost bursting from her mouth unbidden. But she didn't want to be Lady here. Among the Ren she planned to earn her place by talent and skill rather than connection. She wouldn't hesitate to exploit her connection to Moff Fortan in other arenas, but she didn't feel that this type of coin was to be traded among the Ren. If it was, she reflected grimly, it was not quite the group she was after. "Decima," she responded after a moment. "Decima Ren, soon enough," she added with a self-deprecating smirk. She was not yet baptised into the tribe, so to speak, but the spirit was willing. "But most people know me as Decima Strallan. How do you do, Isla?"

Decima seized a handful of her hair, which she had foolishly left down, and leaned over, wringing the moisture out of it before tying it back efficiently with itself. "What a disgusting little backwater," Decima murmured to [member="Isla Ashen"]. "I know before the end of it I'll be up to my ankles in some kind of shit or another."

[member="Enyo Typhos"] | [member="Kriel Firin"]

 

[Darth Veles]

Crooked trees continued to proudly resist the permanent storm, leaves rustled under the gallons of rain, air smelled of centuries old decay. Every now and then, a deafening boom of thunder ripped the sky apart, prompting the party to look up and witness the spectacle played high above their heads. It was hard not to notice everything from mud to vegetation appeared to be infected by this sickly, glossy grey hue, most likely suffused with the Dark Side through and through. Veles found it beautiful and fascinating to see the Dark Side twist and eternally change the very core of nature, one could only guess what sort of blasphemous rituals have transpired here to make the corrupting presence become so strong. Apocalyptic images weaved by imagination and personal experience flooded the Darth’s mind while his keen eyes intently scanned the rustling grass. Only once his amber orbs caught a mirror image of himself staring up at him from a shallow pool of stagnant water that reflected the world above in its dark glory, shattered the moment he walked through, sending ripples in all directions of the murky surface.

Truth to be told, he found the environment quite appealing, the wetness felt refreshing and the planet offered a challenge similar to Korriban, albeit watered down - pun intended. The omipresent red sand and aridity have been washed away by sticky sludge of a ground, and the jungle, similarly to Korriban's desert, had a the tendency of reclaiming its lost territory, offering entirely new challenges and dangers. Such a shame he no longer saw any use in building Sith academies after adopting the Rule of Two! Maybe the Ren would erect a mighty center dedicated to training Force users one day, provided they recogized this miserable dump's value as an excellent training ground.

Despite its bleak appearance, the uncivilized parts of Dromund Vatsu bustled with activity, various lifeforms battling for survival. So far the wild beasts did not dare to attack, waiting for a more suitable opportunity of ambushing their prey. To their credit, it did become impossible to track them by the sound they made, completely lost in the rain and splashes the visitors made. Perhaps the predators waited for their meal to enter the jungle’s innards. Animals tended to be much more aggressive when close to places with particularly strong presence of the Dark Side. Unfortunately for them, the amphibious Sith had plenty of experience with their native environment, more than ready to become the hunter in this game, eager to see how well his companions fared when faced with ferocity.

“Tell me something about the Knights of Ren.” Veles starts a chat, not sparing the group a single glance as he never takes eyes off of the non-existent way and its hidden dangers.

“What is your philosophy? Your views?”


[member="Decima Fortan"] [member="Isla Ashen"] [member="Enyo Typhos"] [member="Kriel Firin"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Darth Veles"], [member="Decima Fortan"], [member="Isla Ashen"], [member="Kriel Firin"]


Off they went into the jungle. Ancient, dark power loomed within its heart. She could hear its siren call, but at this distance it was more of a faint whisper. Yet it brushed against her mind, enticing her with promises of power, glory and revenge. Doubtless the whispers would grow stronger the deeper they ventured. The entire forest was teeming with life, though it was tainted.


It was if the jungle itself had a presence and it was almost overwhelmning. The darkness and the presence of wild beasts reminded her of Gehenna, yet it was so different at the same time. From mud to vegation, everything seemed to be blighted. The sickly, gross, green hue seemed to be omnipresent. Lightning slashed through the heavens and pierced the dark clouds, accompanied by the roar of thunder.


She glanced over to the woman who'd introduced herself as Decima and was conversing with a flame-haired acolyte called Isla, or rather Ashen Ren. The Decima lady had patrician features and looked refined, even whilst making her way through mud. Her complaints about the place being a disgusting backwater supported this theory. Enyo rolled her eyes slightly.


Of course, they were all supposed to be Ren here. The goal of training soldiers and acolytes in any organisation was to tear down barriers, break them in and then build them up again, so that they could transcend their limits and function as effective cogs in a well-oiled machinery. At least that was the ideal. The clone with the face of Siobhan Kerrigan had her own agenda as well.


"It's better than Gehenna. There's life here, however corrupted and beast-infested, and you can walk upon this planet without wearing high capacity breathing equipment and fully sealed suits due to a toxins in the air and the infernal temperature," Enyo remarked dryly. Yep, that was the planet she'd been raised on. "Name's Enyo Typhos." She hadn't been asked, but she might as well mention it.


Her eyes turned to the amphibian Sith Lord. He'd aided her and Archangel on Thakwaash, but most of what she knew about it came from Archangel's files. "The Ren are Force-users meant to defend the First Order, but also aggressively fight for it. They're elite troops, assassins and inquisitors who use the Force as a weapon in service of their nation, instead of deifying it or using it for selfish self-exaltation."


How much Enyo believed any of this was another question, but she was still quite idealistic. "You only need to look at the news or visit worlds like Metalorn and Contruum to see how much damage Jedi and Sith alike have caused with their crusades and bloodlust. The Force is a powerful weapon, so those who wield it must be taught control and discipline. Or be destroyed if they become a threat."

 

[Kriel Firin]

Kriel listened to the Sith's instructions. His training was sufficient to understand how to sort the wheat from the chaff. The Mon-Cal was powerful, and should never be underestimated. Nor should he be trusted.

Kriel followed the First Order without question. And he followed the Knight's of Ren dutifully too. In theory the two would never request conflicting devotion, and if they did, he was unsure what he would do. But being loyal to the First Order was not the same as liking all of its followers. Dark Jedi, Witches and Sith joined the Order and were readily accepted. But they were not Knights and Kriel simply viewed them no more favourably than he would a hired mercenary. Useful but no more.

So he kept his wits about him, alliances were broken far more easily than they were made. And for the moment he listened and observed, keeping his proverbial powder dry until the time was right to speak. For now, he was a silent partner in the expedition.

Spoiler

Short posts at the moment but I don't want to slow the story down

[member="Enyo Typhos"] [member="Darth Veles"] [member="Decima Fortan"] [member="Isla Ashen"]

 

[Isla Ashen]

“Well enough, even with the rain and the mud.” Isla said, and a smile touched the corners of her lips as she looked to Decima. She let her gaze move forward again, peering through the jungle brush, but she watched out of the corner of her eyes as Decima began to wring out her hair. While her hood protected the crown of her head quite well, the ends of her red strands were heavy with rain. However, she made no effort to remove the moisture as her companion had. Isla doubted that she would ever be so fussy. Her smile pulled into a wide grin when Decima said the word ‘poodoo’, it just did not seem like the type of word she would ever imagine coming from the Princess of Ren, but it was amusing nonetheless.

As they made their way deeper into the jungle, following in the wake of Darth Veles, it seemed that the moisture in the air was even more than it had been when they arrived. The flora here was stranger than it was lovely, but she could feel the darkness in everything, even the leaves that brushed against her arms and legs as she walked. Though they had yet to meet any sort of wild beasts, Isla could still feel that they were near, lurking somewhere in the thick jungle vegetation. She wondered exactly what sort of game there was here, she had enjoyed hunting quite a lot in the woods of Skye. But she had a feeling that the animals here were far more dangerous.

Isla returned the present as Veles spoke, and posed a question to the group. She instantly felt like she was back in her old schoolhouse, being called on by the teacher, and she lost any ability she had to form an intelligent response. Her head canted to the side slightly, and her gaze shifted as Enyo spoke up first.

“Yes, we fight for the power and the glory of the First Order.” It was a phrase she had heard many times since she had arrived at the citadel. But she knew that their missions and operations often varied greatly from that of the First Order’s military and government. For the Ren were the might of the Supreme Leader himself, but Isla still had a long way to go before she could make any claims about her own contributions.

[member="Kriel Firin"], [member="Enyo Typhos"], [member="Darth Veles"], [member="Decima Fortan"]

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"What is Gehenna?" she asked [member="Enyo Typhos"] as she wiped her hands on her slacks. She hadn't heard of it, that she could recall, or she had forgotten.

Decima felt as if she were being studied by [member="Isla Ashen"], because she was studying her in the same way -- out of the corner of her eye, trying not to be noticed and probably failing. She listened to the woman's answer and took a thoughtful breath, then inclined her head and tried to formulate one of her own. "The Ren are the guardians of the Supreme Leader's vision," she told [member="Darth Veles"] carefully. "We carry his will forward, much like the stormtroopers and the pilots and the Moffs -- " at this she tried to suppress a derisive snort " -- but we are also the enforcers of ideological purity within the Supreme Leader's realm."

She paused for a moment, listening to the rain pattering on the canopy of tree leaves above, feeling the splashes of the ones that got through or rolled off. "But to what end? Order, of course. Our nation creates peace and plenty through order. It subjugates the unruly and transforms their frenetic, chaotic energy into production, to power the First Order machine." She glanced at Veles to see whether this was the answer he was looking for, but for the moment he seemed rather inscrutable.

[member="Kriel Firin"]

 

[Darth Veles]

“So, a little bit of Sith and Imperial Knights?” the amphibious man mused out loud, trying to piece together what little information they provided.

The Knights of Ren bore some resemblance to both groups he had mentioned, but perhaps the closest thing in similarity were the infamous inquisitors employed by Darth Vader to hunt down surviving Jedi. This bold assumption mainly originated from the fact none of them seemed particularly powerful, rank and file cannon fodder, which he contributed to their lack of experience. Avreet said nothing though; categorizing the small group right now would be too easy, and so the Sith turned his attention to their chatter. Lady Fortan’s squeamish protests over the swampy jungle hardly came as a surprise, given her upbringing. A true Imperial that one, which made her closer to the Mon Calamari than she realized. Enyo he already knew to some degree, leaving only two unknowns yet to reveal more about themselves. The redhead already worked on socializing with others, while the only male Ren in the entire group chose to remain silent.

The closer they got, the sicker and more silent their surroundings grew. It was as if the jungle decided to defend itself, becoming more dangerous, hostile, harder to pass with every step. Sunlight now rarely passed through the rich, dark crowns of the trees, and only small isles that were few and far between allowed the expedition to continue without sinking into knee deep mud. Anxiety and paranoia started to sneak into everyone's mind, planted there by the Dark Side's increasing influence.

Pushing away stray branches and leaves revealed a rock wall covered in moss. Walking alongside it would bring the group to their destination, but before approaching, Veles stopped beside a thick tree trunk and raised his hand to motion stoppage to his group. His eyes had spotted a suspiciously dark place within the rock mass several metres in front of them, possibly a cavity. The dark cave lacked any sort of cover, indicating it served as a den for one of the numerous wild beasts. Expanding his senses through the Force and reaching out towards the possibly danger, he found it to be empty.

Finally, having its meal delivered right to its home, a swamp wampa walked out of the jungle’s dark cover, having stalked the expedition for a time, its well-camouflaged coat of fur much easier to distinguish from the jungle around when the beast moved. The carnivorous predator rose to its back legs and towered above the group, letting out a primal roar. Blood and saliva dripped from its fanged maw; Veles remained unimpressed, paying more attention to how his companions reacted to this sudden change of pace.

“It seems your first test of strength could not bear the waiting any longer,” he commented casually as if he talked about a domesticated bantha, “Try to kill it as cleanly as possible, please.”

Of course, while the Knights of Ren wielded blades of pure plasma and commanded unnatural powers, the beast hunted in its natural habitat. Indeed, the environment itself would prove to be an enemy as they were about to discover.

[member="Decima Fortan"] [member="Isla Ashen"] [member="Kriel Firin"] [member="Enyo Typhos"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Decima Fortan"], [member="Darth Veles"], [member="Isla Ashen"], [member="Kriel Firin"]


Enyo briefly glanced towards Decima when she heard her query. "A hellish world. Literally. It's to the south of First Order space. Inhabited by nothing except abominations, Reavers and mad spirits. It used to be the Bando Gora homeworld. Insane, cannibalistic fanatics."


In other words, truly a lovely place to grow up on. Her 'sister' had conquered it twice. Enyo had seen the spirits of those who'd died for her vision of glory and remained trapped on this godforsaken, infernal place.


However, conversation drifted towards various ideas of what constituted the Knights of Ren. Diversity of opinion was to be expected. Personally, Enyo felt no connection to the Supreme Leader who held dominion over the First Order. He was a distant, aloof figure she had never met and his cult of personality reminded her too much of her sister. However, she was smart enough not to say any of this.


However, the time for debate and chit-chat had passed. Their surroundings became more and more tainted. Little sunlight passed through the trees, the plants looked sickly and the whispers grew louder. Enyo steeled herself when she felt invisible tentacles grip her, seeking to drag her down into a pit of terror and anxiety.

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.


Beasts and evil voices would not take her down. She had a higher purpose to fulfil. As she repeated the mantra in her head and sought to channel her focus, the group suddenly found itself confronted by its first opponent! In this particular case it was a swamp wampa that seemed interested in making them its next meal. It must have stalked them for a while, but Enyo had only noticed it now.


The carnivorous predator arose and roared loudly. Discipline and training took over. Her hand gripped a grenade on her belt, and she pulled the pin. "Tossing flash," she said to warn her companions, and lobbed the flashbang towards the beast. The swamp creature would be used to the dark, so bright light and heat would be its enemies. She drew upon the Force to help propel the grenade, enhancing her precision.


The blast produced a loud bang and a blinding flash of light. Having turned her head briefly to avoid the light, Enyo brought up her bolt pistol and squeezed the trigger, aiming for the beast's centre of mass. The gun's bullets could easily penetrate all but the heaviest forms of personal armour and tear a target apart. It might not kill the beast right away, but should hurt it a lot and give another Ren the chance to end it. Unless something nasty and unexpected happened. The Force enhanced the precision of her shots and aim, as if steering her.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Their surroundings seemed to grow thicker and nastier the further they went, and Isla squinted slightly as the light was strangled into darkness by the jungle canopy above. It was as if a dark cloud had settled over them, in more ways than one. Beneath the shelter of her hood, Isla’s green eyes darted to and fro, as if wary of something. She did not fear beasts, but the invisible touch of the strange and unknown was unsettling. It was the darkness swirling about her, growing stronger and its influence cracking into her mind. Her fingers twitched at her side, they were anxious.

She bit her lower lip slightly, an attempt to bring herself back to the present and away from the pull of the dark side. But then there was a distraction, it was enough to give her time to steady herself, and her eyes fell on Veles when he motioned for them to stop. They were now outside a cave; it was obviously home to something. Before she could even try to think of what sort of creature entertained there, it became glaringly apparent. The massive form of a swamp wampa appeared before them, very similar to their counterparts on Hoth, save for a slight difference in the fur... but it was just as ugly.

Isla turned her head away as Enyo’s voice warned of her next action. She let her eyes open again once the danger of the flash grenade had passed. It had thrown the beast off its guard, both the sound and the sudden brightness. Just as the creature’s eyes began to refocus, Isla’s hand found and ignited her red saber. Enyo’s shots from her bolt pistol found their mark too, and the beast’s middle was already beginning to run red.

It was time to strike. She pushed off her right foot, using the force to put extra power behind her movements. Her eyes were on the wampa’s belly, it was a tender and vulnerable spot for most creatures, and this one was already injured. She struck out, hearing and feeling her blade cut into the skin. But she underestimated the creature’s reach, an amateur mistake. The clawed limbs of the wampa were wild, and she felt the impact of its arm pelting into her side. She was thrown back, and landed hard on the ground. Isla gasped for breath as the air was knocked out of her, but she was lucky, for it could have been far worse.

[member="Darth Veles"], [member="Enyo Typhos"], [member="Decima Fortan"], [member="Kriel Firin"]

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Decima threw her arm up to shield her eyes when the flash grenade went, blocking much of the impact but leaving some spots around her peripheral. She blinked herself clear and reached into the Force, sensing the movement of [member="Isla Ashen"] before her vision could. When the redheaded Ren's intentions were made apparent, Decima pulled the Force in around her, centering herself while calmly unclipping the lightsaber at her belt. It was not one of her own creation, and felt somewhat foreign in her hand, but it would do for now. She activated it, bathing herself in the warm red light of its glow before leaping into action. While Isla was busy attacking its underbelly, Decima raced around its other side -- but in the short time it had taken her to dart around the creature, the table had turned, and it had thrown its clawed paw out at Isla. "Look--" she began, but it was too late -- Isla went sailing back to the ground.

Decima felt a pang of concern, but it was short-lived; in shouting out at Isla, she had drawn the attention of the beast to herself. Acting on impulse, she swung the lightsaber as hard as she could at the joint where the clawed arm reached its torso -- not enough to sever it, and truly not enough to stop it swiping again, but enough to stun it for a moment, giving her time to dance back out of its range before it did. Mud spattered her clothes and skin as she moved, but at this point she didn't care -- there were bigger fish to fry.

"I'll try to keep it -- facing me," she shouted at the others, but that was all she could offer, for the next blow was too fast for her to leap back from, and she instead dropped onto her front in the mud. Good Gods, she thought, struggling to crawl between its legs before it could swipe at her again.

[member="Darth Veles"] | [member="Enyo Typhos"] | [member="Kriel Firin"]

 

[Kriel Firin]

Kriel's apprenticeship had been harsh - and his test for acceptance into the Knights brutal. He was not so foolish as to underestimate the current situation, but he was in no way awed by it either.

Due to a significant crash, his body was badly scarred almost two years ago. As a result he wore armour and a helmet to protect him from the more basic of elements - like air and dust. The pain he regulated himself - in fact it aided his ability to connect with the Force at times. But the suit served a second purpose. His face and therefore his emotions were largely hidden. Where he was looking was similarly disguised. And with his choice to remain silent unless directly spoken to, he became something of an afterthought for the group. He was visible, but not interacting with them the way the others were. This was entirely deliberate.

Know your enemies but know your friends and allies too. He wanted to know as much about them as he could, so he watched, listened and made many mental notes. When the subject of the Knights was raised, he chose not to add his own thoughts and neither correct nor confirm what others said. His counsel remained his own.

Was he winning friends and influencing people? He didn't care particularly, he was here to fulfil a mission and fraternising wasn't part of the brief. Unless it served a purpose and right now, he could see none. So even when the creature attacked, Kriel remained impassive, seeing who stepped up, what tactics they used. All useful information for the future.

His saber remained clipped to his belt, he was ready to act - he was always ready to act - but he remained still.

[member="Decima Fortan"] [member="Isla Ashen"] [member="Enyo Typhos"] [member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Darth Veles]

Enyo’s warning went unheeded by the Sith’s right orb, completely ignoring the bright flash that had zero effect on the cybernetic replacement. One thunderous boom produced by the flashbang got followed by another, this time the brunette’s personal weapon, earning the swamp wampa a nice bloody hole in its torso. And again. And one more. The red-headed Knight of Ren did not hesitate to use this opportunity and add leave her own mark on the creature, opting for its weak spot, while lady Fortan had decided for a simultaneous strike. One crimson whizz later, the red-head helplessly glided past the small group before the jungle’s more or less solid ground put an end to her flight. Fortunately, her signature in the Force continued to beat strongly, prompting Veles to keep his focus on the fight for survival happening right in front of him. Any injuries would be dealt with soon, given the combat appeared to be nearing its end.

The passivity of the last Ren had not escaped Veles. Observing and learning from his allies and opponents alike unless forced to act was an insidious quality, marking him as a dangerous foe. Making a mental note to stay on guard around the man, the Sith Lord continued to observe the main event.

During a short moment, lady Fortan had rolled through the muck after nearly separating the wampa’s arm from its gargantuan body, narrowly avoiding the semi-sentient predator’s wrath when the beast’s sharp claws viciously cut through the air where Decima’s head used to be. Fear and pain had replaced hunger and anger, the fur coated opponent realized it was high time to retreat, suffering too many injuries to continue the struggle. Releasing one more roar that turned into a wet gurgle, it dropped on all four, splashing muck and swamp water all around, and dashed away in a daring escape, a chaotic rampage through foliage and bushes. To Veles, it felt very raw and unrefined, but he had to admit the Ren did not do badly at all; plus it was difficult to judge them without learning more of the ideology they followed. They have managed to mortally wound a deadly predator in its own element though, not something to be taken lightly.

One glance spared to confirm the red-head lived and breathed and Veles sloshed forward. Power hidden within this place lured the Darth like a siren’s song of death, commanding his legs to continue the relentless pace towards whatever awaited them. Promises of power called him and the Sith listened, playing along. Claws of the Dark Side dug deep into his sanity, lusting for control. So far he had managed to deflect it all, remaining unchanged. Definitely fuelled by hunger for knowledge and power to some degree, but his mind has avoided corruption for all these years and he intended it to stay that way.

“Come. It isn’t far now.”

Cold logic dictated the crew stationed at the outpost must have heard the commotion, adding more challenge to infiltrating the outpost. With knowledge of the population’s weakness, Veles fully intended to abuse it and spit into the God-emperor’s red skinned face.

[member="Kriel Firin"] [member="Decima Fortan"] [member="Isla Ashen"] [member="Enyo Typhos"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Darth Veles"], [member="Decima Fortan"], [member="Isla Ashen"], [member="Kriel Firin"]


Thusly the beast was driven away after suffering injuries from the two Rens' lightsabres. The three acolytes' assault on the creature had been raw and unrefined. There was quite a bit of room for improvement, but they hadn't been eaten!


The bleeding, injured wampa dashed away, causing quite a stir whilst it made its escape. Isla seemed to have been injured during the melee after valiantly attacking the wild animal with her lightsabre. Lowering her pistol, Enyo quickly headed over to her. The clone might be sort of darkside and all that, but she felt concern for her fellow acolyte. Fellow acolyte. Two simple words, but very unfamiliar for her.


It probably said a lot about how...isolated she'd been. The only human for her to bond with had been little Phaedra. Everyone else was a droid. There was Talsir, but the taciturn, stern Eldorai teacher had not been someone to bond with. So she stretched out her hand and took Isla's, helping her up. "You ok? Got a medpac if you need it," she spoke softly. Fortunately it looked like the wampa had not hurt her badly. She gave Decima a nod and spared the remaining Ren, who'd apparently stayed passive and insidiously watched the others fight, a cold look. Perhaps he considered them all beneath him.


"Thank you for your amazing contribution. I thought passivity was a Jedi virtue," she said with an air of sarcasm. However, the Sith Master had already moved further into the jungle and so she followed. Coherent thought became difficult when the she heard the Dark Side's siren call. Invisible talons tried to claw their way through mind, promising power and trying to slice their way through her still weak mental barriers. The experience was similar to trying to stay afloat and not sink to the bottom of an ocean.


Embrace your true calling and break your chains, girl.
You can destroy Kerrigan.
Stop being Archangel's pathetic, brainwashed slave.
Do you always want to be a dog on a leash?


Traitorous thoughts sunk into her mind. They were like parasites trying to burrow their into her brain. Some of the whispers and promises were more tempting than others. She could not deny the strength of her cravings for power. For the time being she pushed on, keeping up the pace with the rest of the group. Doubtless they'd soon face something more challenging than a swamp wampa. It was likely that the ruckus would not escape the natives' attention.