Whispers in the Dark [TSE Dominion of Hex AG-18]

[Dante Sotari]

[SIZE=11pt]Not far from the Stygian Caldera, where the Sith were gathering to take back the last of what was rightfully their own, a small science ship plotted along. An anomalous sensor reading had caught attention in a very small subset of the Sith Empire. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Those who studied the Stones of Pho Ph’eah. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]In the months since the Empire had extended their reach to the shadowed planet, those who had studied the stones and learned. And everything they learned was not to their liking.

Spoiler

The stones seemed to exist in a state of flux. Somewhere between a liquid and a solid, somewhere between

Spoiler

real…[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]. And not. Solid when observed normally, but flowing ever so slowly under intense magnification. When one stone got to close to another, they would lose some of their solidity and flow together. The new stone was impossible- larger than either, but not large enough to account for the mass and density of both. Measurement after measurement confirmed and puzzled. Those who touched them with the Force found the impression of bubbling tar, bubbling not with heat expanding air but with something that shivered of the Nether. Those who risked touching the stones with their bare hands…. well (PM me, we’ll chat). As long as they were kept paired with a different type of crystal, the stones could be used as a lightsaber focus. No particular special effects had yet been discovered, but they caused the colour of whatever other stone was used to be muted, pale- the blades with one of the Pho Ph’eah stones shed very little light, compared to the more typical focus crystals.

But the part that drew them here, to this empty slice of space was that something out there was resonating…. At the same frequency as their stones. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]What they found was not merely surprising. It was impossible. A nebula, vast and pale, floating where their star charts said nothing but errant asteroids and icy comets ought to be. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Two days later, the distress call reached Imperial listening posts, passed on and unscrambled as much as possible. Most of it was lost, presumably due to the still unknown nature of the Nebula. But what could be deciphered sent a number of ships and personnel scrambling. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Ship bzzzt zot sublight drives disabled don’t know zzzztcrackle to re*-air but we are under cracklhisssss something is outsi-bzzzzt It’s coming-[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Scene 1: The Science Ship[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Someone has identified the beings that have entered your ship as Starweirds- incorporeal Force apparitions with a particular hatred for Force users. But something is wrong with them. Once they have found a way onto your ship, they seem unwilling- or unable- to leave. They had been drawn to your stones, and you don’t know what will happen if they find them. Opinion is split between those who suspect they should be kept from the stones at all costs…. And those who think that they should be allowed, so that the results can be observed and studied. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Of course, the weirds may have intentions of their own. They whisper something, just a handful of degrees off of intelligible. But those who were on Gravlex Med, on Pho Ph’eah can guess, perhaps, what they might be saying in their own fashion. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]From beneath you, it devours.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Scene 2: The Rescue Ships[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]You have just entered the nebula. Communication is difficult and spotty, not merely ship to ship but within the ships themselves. While the Weirds have not yet attacked those on the science ship, your ships will be attacked. They will attempt to disable them, utilize their telepathic fear on those inside, then enter. Non-Force users will be ignored unless they attack. They will target any Force Users, however without provocation. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Scene 3: BYOO [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]You have an empty hex to play with. Go bananas. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]OOC note: This is not a DMed thread like Pho Ph’eah was. I will however occasionally include dm like additions to the environment as needed. Everything you need to participate in this thread is included in the post above, so feel free to really run with it and explore these creatures, what they want, and the effects that *fear* can have on your character. [/SIZE]

 

[Eye of Solomon]

++ I hate this. ++

The figure stared longingly out of the bridge viewport of the Dauntless, one of the Velox-class Frigates that had been assigned as a rescue vessel to retrieve the lost science ship. This was no place for one of her talents, embarking on some wacky adventure into the unknown to retrieve some scientists who had gotten their asses lost in some remote nebula.

What a joke.

But that wasn't the worst of it, there were people on this ship with her... People who stared. She didn't like it when people stared. People who stared should have their eyes gouged out and placed in a jar of embalming fluid. Her mask did little to alleviate the awkward glances, though it spared them her look of disgust and annoyance. The barely contained rage that bubbled beneath her otherwise calm exterior, the pure malice that lingered behind her otherwise beautiful face.

Truthfully, she could tolerate the people if it wasn't for one thing. One singular glaring error that nearly pushed her over the deep end.

The karking caf machine was broken.

Her initial rage had nearly broken the ship in two, but she had barely managed to reign it back in before that possibility became reality. And so there she was, stalking the halls caf-less and misanthropic, often passing the time by knocking her head against the transparisteel viewport as the miasma of hyperspace swirled beyond.

++ I really hate this. ++

A voice was raised behind her, alerting the bridge that they were coming up on the nebula and would be pulling out of hyperspace soon. Doctor Vain barely heard it, so wrapped up in her own disgust to register anything else that happened around her.

So long as she fulfilled the task given to her by her master with as little hiccups as possible, the better.

 

[Ignatius]

Location: Science Vessel - Inspecting mysterious stones
Objective: Defend Stones/Allow CreepyPasta touch stones
Tags: [member="Dante Sotari"],

Walking down the hall, I moved past others with some ease. I was quite curious about the reports of a series of stones that acted solid, but shifted and changed. They could be felt through the force, but not in the traditional sense. It was strange, and I wanted to find out more. Kinta, stayed behind and was tending to other matters at the moment. Something about my mother sending a message. Who I had with me was a little white floating shell. Taking in the environment, and studding the surroundings even as I walked past troopers.

"These stones are strange. I can feel them, but they don't feel like any person or like a Nexus. I want to learn more."
"I know you do. So do I. Hence why we came."
"No need to tell me fleshling."
"Then quit being captain obvious."

I wasn't that far away from them, but even down the hall, I could feel these stones. . Each drawing a presence as the tighter security was noticed. However, as soon as that happened, an alarm went off. Battle stations? Were we being attacked? Having no clue, I looked over to the little floating shard as it's blue eye glowed brightly as it scanned the ship.

"Reports of Steirwinds? What are those?"
"Think of ghost but mindless and cant be destoryed by anything but the force and electricity."
"That sounds dangrous."
"Captain Obvious strikes again."
"Shut up. At least I can become smarter than you."

Shaking my head, I walked forward towards the room that would have these stones within. Feeling a presence drawing closer and closer. No one was to mess with this at the moment. Only scientists. Looking over to Lucem. I shrugged my shoulders.

"Wanna become a scientist?"
"How so?"
"They observe stuff and record it right?"
"That's part of it."
"I'mma go and see what we can do with this stone."

Walking over to it, I was half way down the hall when I could see a ghostly hand reach out from beneath the ground. Floating and pulling itself up on some invisible ledge. Climbing up and looking directly at me. A hushed tone as I could feel a whisper through the force. Something eating at us from beneath? it made no sense, but whatever this creature was, it was bad, and I didn't want to deal with it at the moment. Using the force, I pushed back on the creature. Sending it down to be devoured by whatever was sending it here. I then began to run. The little shard floating as fast as he could behind me.

"We need to get to the room!"
"No chit sherlock!"

 

[Flora Burn]

Objective: 2
Allies: [member="Eye of Solomon"]

She was in charge of small flotilla of ships, to help rescue mission. There was a science ship was lost somewhere in the nebular, her job find it and tractor it out of this nebular. She was on her on bridge, as it was beginning to enter nebular, she did not like the mission. She was on board a I.M.D. Tarantula, with a couple of Trojans, and a few Cobras, she had eight squadrons of Hawk fighters. Her plan was simple, all her ships would have to remain at safe communication limit, but as far as part as this would allow. So she could search the maximum amount of the nebula, as safely as possible, as she did not want to lose her own ships in this place.

As she entered she sent a message to other fleet commanders, Entering zone four of nebular, may force be with us. She then waited for any replies, if she got one or not was another question, as this thing played havoc with communications.

 

[Vereshin]

Location: Science Ship
Objective: Study the stones
Allies: [member="Ignis Imura"], [member="Jorryn Fordyce"]

The unassuming little object hovered lightly inside of a glass box beneath Vereshin's cautious telekinetic lift. The cube concealed the stone entirely, keeping it within safe distance from his hands and allowing him to peer cautiously over every angle radiating with a strange and malignant energy. A pristine lab coat hung over his grey shirt and made the hue of his skin look slightly darker. Black smoke began to pool above the glossy surface of the stone before rimless, oval glasses as he gently dissipated the mass. Particles peeled away from the shape and filled the glass cube.

Excitement rose gleefully into his chest and his eyelids fluttered before the object slowly dispersing on a quantum level. Along with the team of scientists tasked with studying the stones, Vereshin was one trained heavily in the Dark Side. The energy emitted by the stones remained his primary interest. Beside the glass box, his notebook lay on an open page scrawled with lists and numbers. He occasionally shifted one eye over the notes while the other focused on rotating the stone. The matter peeled away to reveal a glowing core which appeared impervious to Vereshin's attempts.

One eyebrow raised in curiosity as the core of the stone fell with a small clack on the bed of glass. Vereshin cocked his head to one side and looked over the glowing and transparent core in contemplation, resisting the dire urge to pick it up with his bare hands. As the smoke filled the box, a shrill scraping outside of the laboratory diverted Vereshin's attention away and turned to the door with a mild fright. With one hand gripping the table, his eyes widened greatly and his chest rose in movement as he leaned back with his concentration shattered. The scratching became harsh and he stood upright to carefully approach the door.

Footsteps and shrieks cried muted from behind the steel door. The sorcerer scientist extended one trembling hand as the steel became close, fear rising in every cell of him as the ominous and harsh sound grew more fierce with every passing second. Vereshin turned the holding lock with the Force and gripped the handle with his palm, slowly peeling away the door from whatever lay beyond. Harsh cries and clawed hands scraped through the ajar space and caused to to jump backwards on one foot. The door flung open and the Starweird lunged forward. Vereshin splayed a palm hastily and sent forward a pulsation of lightning which encased and froze the creature in a fatal shock.

Scientists and Sith scurried outside as the growing fear the Starweirds emitted turned thick and penetrated the ship. Vereshin knew instantly more were on board and left the laboratory for fear of being trapped inside, not without his notebook and pen, of course which he took precious seconds to slide into the pocket of his coat. A Sith fended off another one of the creatures in the corridor outside and it tried desperately to make it's way to the remnants of the stone inside the laboratory.

"It's after the stone!" Vereshin cried to Ignis as he planted his back firmly against the wall beside the laboratory door. He was not about to sacrifice his research to these creatures and darted back inside, leaving the door wide open in his haste. Spying the gaseous stone within the glass box, he ran directly to the table and slammed both hands on the glass. The substance immediately compacted around the glowing core and formed the solid shape the stone had taken before.

 

[Adriana Fortemps]

Location: Science Ship
Objective: Observe Starweirds
Tag: [member="Ignis Imura"] | [member="Dante Sotari"] | [member="Eye of Solomon"] | [member="Vereshin"]

The rumours of the Black Stones had reached many ears throughout the Sith Empire during the campaigns to search for more information about them, curiosity driving forth Sith and Scientist alike into the galaxy to find what their purpose was. The promise of such an unknown force held great value to the Sith Empire, ideas that it could drive their prosperous civilization even further into the future.

Jorryn hadn't been along for the beginnings of this investigation, but the curiosity of the rumours that had reached her ears drove her to volunteer as security for the team going in search of answers. Though typically not scientifically inclined, the mystery around the Black Stone of Pho Pheah had gained her interest. She wished to see what power could be gained from such atypical material, and whether the force behind it was scientific or fantastical.

As the Nebula came into vision where none should be the Echani felt something was off as they neared the celestial body, a sick twisting in her stomach as the pale glow encompassed the vessel.

It wasn't long after the ship entered the eerie stardust that the machines on board began to fail, comm stations not managing to properly connect with the Empire's vast communications system. The men and women on board attempted to repair what they could, though the unfamiliar properties of the space they had entered disrupted the functionality of the machines.

The Sith had been silently observing the scientists as they worked with the stones, watching as the men and women experimented with the curiosities. Her voyeuristic approach gave her some knowledge into how the stones worked, helpful information for the mission.

Then the alarms sounded.

News quickly broke of beings seemingly appearing out of thin air on the ship, their pale gaunt bodies furthering the fear in the crew. The creatures had been identified as Starweirds, a species that Jorryn was unfamiliar with and now hoped that it could have stayed that way. A foreboding sense of dread was instilled into the crew as the creatures passively wandering the ship, the men and women aboard the scientific vessel were simultaneously afraid and curious about the creatures that wandered the halls.

She stood by the monitoring desk, observing the creatures as they wandered the halls of the ship. A mixture of curiosity and disgust came across Jorryn's face as she gazed upon their disturbing bodies, though her mind stayed wondering if the stones had something to do with their appearance.

 

[Darth Abyss]

Location: Science Vessel
Allies: [member="Vereshin"] [member="Ignis Imura"]
Objective: Look at stones, maybe touch stones somewhere down the line.

Not much time had passed since Darth Abyss had made his return to the galaxy, but he had pushed aside every pressing matter to take up a unique opportunity. Uncovering secrets and unraveling ancient mysteries always had been his forte, so the news of arcane stones attuned to the realm beyond that of the living deserved his undivided attention. The possibilities of such an material where nearly unlimited, at least if the empire would be able to gain enough insight into their nature to make use of them. Even if not there was still something to learn from them, a deeper understanding for the nether, reality and the veil in between.

The husk of a sith lord rested on the ground, his metallic legs crossed, while scientists and followers of the darkside alike scurried through the room, running tests and making notes on the strange stones stored there. Abyss had decided to take another approach. In perfect silence, unmoving like a sculpture, he remained on the ground, trying to wrap the dark tendrils of his mind around the stones to pervade through their very essence in an attempt to gain an ethereal understanding of their composition. So far he hadn't been very successful, it felt almost like they made an active effort to evade his search.

Then came the cries and shrieks. Abyss had heard them countless times, sounds, or rather telepathic screams of madness, oddly similar to the way he spoke to others. The Starweird seemed to have taken an interest into the stones as well, which in hindsight wasn't really that suspiring. Things born of the force that defied most laws of reality seeking things that defied most laws of reality, now that it happened it seemed pretty obvious.

Yet this realization wasn't of much use now that the strange entities had already made their way onto the ship. The Mindeater didn't felt fear in the same sense that a living being would, but he wasn't foolish enough to risk an ambush by a swarm of them only to continue his fruitless research. Rising from his position the second the first scream reached his mind the sith was already meet by the first Starweird, the twisted being stretching broken talons towards the hollow lord.

Without even thinking about it the sith raised his left hand, unleashing his mental might towards the creature in act of retribution for the endless screams. What he found wasn't the feral mind of the Starweird he had encountered so far, but instead a incomprehensible whisper, a wordless threat towards Abyss and anyone else on board, the promise of a all devouring darkness from below that would consume them all. The metal claw trembled as he noticed that his attack didn't had the desired effect, or any effect at all.

If he ever saw a situation that required a tactical retreat, than it was this one.

Moments before the door locked behind him Abyss made it out of the lab, his body language showing the surprise that his unmoving face could not. Without fully taking notice of his former apprentice and the other man standing there as well he staggered a few steps forward, his left still eerily raised while his mind was searching for a reason how some almost feral creature had shrugged of the strength of this mental attack so easily.

 

[Vaylin]

Location: Rescue Ship | The Dauntless
Objective: Reach and Secure the Science Vessel
Allies: [member="Eye of Solomon"] | [member="Flora Burn"]

Gravlex Med.

Pho Ph'eah

Both different planets, and both different situations. One had a race; the Anx, that were usually peacefully only to suddenly turn vicious when the Sith Empire had came knocking. Sure, perhaps it could've been brushed aside as just an act of aggression in the face of presumed oppression. The Anx wouldn't have been the first to make that assumption about them.

Vaylin knew it and even saw it differently.

She had been there on the ground, slaughtering their warriors without pause. They had fought like animals, without much sense once they got into the heat of battle. Not too unusual, but there had been something about their actions that seemed off. During that time though, Vaylin had thought nothing of it and simply enjoyed slaughtering those that dared to oppose the Sith Empire.

But then Pho Ph'eah happened, and the Zabrak was pulled into the mystery that were the stones. Natives made docile unless provoked, bodies hollowed out and being thrown into furnaces.

Hell, she hadn't even seen what the stones were like in person. Never found one or touched one, but she had kept her ears open to the whispers and murmurings about them. They were something of interest. Scientists, alchemists, you name it, they were all fascinated with them. Trying to work out how they worked, what they were composed of.

To Vaylin that side of things bored her to death. She was not fit for that type of work, hunched over a desk with your face pressed against a microscope. What she was interested in, was their effects. They had done something to the Anx to make them vicious, only to make the Pho Ph'eahian's docile - to a point it had been possible to walk amongst them without alerting them.

Now something new had happened, this time a Science Vessel; one that had been carrying a number of the stones, had sent a distress call that was garbled and barely legible. But it was made nonetheless apparent that something had gone wrong, and needed rescuing.

The doors to the bridge opened up with a hiss, allowing the Zabrak to walk in. She was dressed in her Valkyrie armor, with her two lightsabers attached to the belt. Eyes lingering over the crew that were at work, as well as the guards that were stationed on the bridge and elsewhere on the ship. There was also Doctor Vain, who looked even with the mask concealing her face, particularly annoyed.

It seemed to have been a common sight since stepping onto the ship.

And Vaylin hadn't the faintest idea why.

 

[Tathra Khaeus]

Location: Rescue Ship | The Dauntless
Objective: Reach and Secure the Science Vessel
Allies: [member="Eye of Solomon"] | [member="Flora Burn"] | [member="Vaylin"]

​The Matador followed in silence behind Vaylin, once more the Sith Empire had hired him. But instead, as part of some form of rescue mission. He knew they were aware of his fighting capabilities, yet they had sent him here alongside the already competent Valkyrie. He had saw her tactics on Tython, and held her in a higher regard than most of the combatants he'd seen that day. The Matador waited behind, seeing the eyes of the crewmen on the bridge indecisively dart between himself and Vaylin. It bemused him even still, yet now having spent months out in the known galaxy he'd grown used to wandering eyes and cared little for them.

​Based on his observations, the Valkyrie didn't care much either. He was curious regarding the different divisions within the sith, the Inquisitors and Valkyrie. He hadn't seen many of either, perhaps if he had the opportunity he would ask one about the differences between the two. However, he was on a mission right now. Professionalism came first.

​The science ship had been without communication as of late, it was something he was entirely oblivious to. The idea of entire ships, dedicated to science. He supposed in many ways it was important, but the Tol Varen had always put a focus on the physical power and discipline of individual beings. Not so much in a unified effort such as this for a scientific discovery, even so it wasn't his people. He was just here for a job, even if he was curiously inspecting everything he came across.

​The Matador stopped a few feet behind Vaylin, standing like a glorified guard dog with his hands clasped together. He stood silently, awaiting the Valkyrie to prepare a shuttle craft and head to the science vessel. Dealing with the situation on board the ship was all he was here for, to act as an enforcer and deal with any hostilities on board. Otherwise, he'd best keep out of the Sith's business.

 

[Kenth Typho]

Location: Rescue Ships
Objective: Be The Big Damned Heroes
[member="Dante Sotari"] | [member="Eye of Solomon"] | [member="Vaylin"] | [member="The Matador"]

Top bunk.

Dwayne had wanted it.

But one look at Morgan and he quickly delegated himself to the other bunk and started arguing with Rishi about who got bottom or top. Not that Vance knew why- he didn't particularly care if he was top or bottom, both could be okay depending on the time and place. Sotari was different... she always was. Not even asking, she immediately claimed the top bunk and almost leaped on top of it.

Her expression when the bunk almost slumped around its durasteel frame was priceless.

Old gear, but she had still been pouty about it.

Took them about a few days, before they managed to get where they were going from Bastion. You'd think that with an emergency like this they would be speeding in full force. But if the Empire was known for one thing... it was optimistic caution. They didn't allow themselves to be rushed into something. They only moved when victory was assured and success was measured in large dividends.

They were sitting on opposite sides of the room. Thunk and the ball bounced against the floor and into his hands. Thunk and it sped away to Dante on the other side.

"Wondering what's taking Rish and Dee so long." Vance mumbled while sneaking a look at the time. They should have been back with coffee by now. The nebula was going to be breached soon. Would still be a few before they actually got to the last known location of the science ships, so they had a while. "I bet the caf is going to be all cold by the time they get here."

Eyes diverted from the clock just in time to see the ball rush back to him.

Quick reflexes and Morgan caught it just before it would have hit him in the face. "Hey, not fair!" He chuckled.

 

[Atlas Kane]

Location: Science Ship
Objective: Keep the stones safe

[member="Darth Abyss"], [member="Ignis Imura"], [member="Vereshin"].

Within the privacy of his room, located not very far from the storage area for contaminated or hazardous substances and the laboratories, Atlas meditated. A discovery that promised great insight into the origin of the stones had been made and, having seen what they can wreak on a planet, he had adamantly insisted on being one of the few granted the privilege to accompany the science vessel. The thought of peering further through the heavy fog that obscured any semblance of clarity on these stones did not excite the Sith, however, rather he felt a deep sense of cautious dread. He was a Sith, and a fearsome warrior at that, quite capable of handling situations that would be mind-wracking for ordinary soldiers and people, but the stones, something about them seemed not only wrong scientifically, but intrinsically. The feeling he had gotten every time he made his small experiments with the stones under the focused, single source of light within his apartment on Telos IV in the otherwise dark room he'd felt as though there was a presence there with him, that he was never truly alone. This feeling resurfaced whenever he became tired or unfocused. As if, just at the edge of his vision, there was the faintest impression of a shadow. It was simple paranoia, but the mystery of the stones was only driving his already deteriorating mental state further down into the abyss.

His meditations were interrupted, however, when a loud alarm began blaring throughout the ship. An emergency or attack, something that could be dealt with. A simple, yet annoying roadblock on the path towards true revelations on the nature of the enigmatic stones. Before he rose, however, his entire body tensed, as intense discomfort rolled over him. There was surprised screaming in some parts of the halls, reverberating throughout the ship's metal hull, muted, dull, or at least some of them were. Several of the voices, however, seemed to defy the metal walls, they appeared to retain their volume, intensity, and a subtle note of hatred. Curious. There were other manifestations that had come along with the screams, unnatural disturbances within the Force that were almost drowned out by the discomfort caused by the stones. His eyes opened, greeted by the intense darkness within his private quarters, he preferred it this way, the dark obscured, it kept things hidden. However, as he rose he could not shake the feeling that one of the screams he heard was more intense than the others, it felt closer, more immediate-

A sharp pain ran across his chest, just below the throat, before he could even fully react. Three distinct paths of varying depths created an intense agony, an agony that seemed to have its own mind, the impression of a deep hatred seeping through the wounds, through the Force. It took only a fraction of a second for Atlas to respond, judging from the direction of the wounds his assailant was before him, the sensation he felt through the Force indicated somewhere to his left, he used his connection to the all-encompassing energy field to bolster the ferocity of his strike, doing so instinctively at this point. His arm shot outwards, bare fist steeled against heavy resistance, made its arc towards his assailant, an amount of power behind it that could shatter bone. Yet, much to his surprise, his strike didn't impact anything. The nerves on his arm instead reported a curious feeling, a coldness that was paired with a painless sensation of lightning arcing through flesh, devoid of any heat. He felt no pain in the arm, simply an immensely unsettling feeling. He didn't let that compromise his offence, however. As a warrior, he had trained to expect the most outrageous of scenarios. This enemy didn't appear to be harmed by physical force, so instead, he would have to fall back on something less physical, something more insidious.

While the arm he used to make his initial attempt was still recovering from the swing, his other hand moved forwards, fingers spread out, pointing just above the path of his arm. The pitch-black darkness within the room was cast away in the very next moment, as the entire room filled with yellow light, accompanied by crackling thunder. Lightning shot forth from Atlas' hand, towards its target, now illuminated by the light. A torso of a creature in the middle of a decomposition process greeted him at first, a human, stretched almost beyond recognition, its limbs were long and thin, its face, adorned by a crown of wild hair, was wrinkled and scarred, soulless white eyes staring into the horizon, as it stood there, mouth slightly agape on its expressionless visage. That was, until the gold-yellow lightning made contact with its frame, arcing around its initial point of impact, seemingly tormenting the creature greatly as it began screeching with extreme volume. It recoiled, its expression growing pained as its eyes closed. Atlas' other hand joined the first, projecting even more lighting towards the creature, he increased the intensity, lethal doses of Dark Side energy shooting towards its target. The creature did not last long after that, seemingly fading away as it slumped downwards, into the ground. The threat was dealt with, an assailant slain, a moment of victory, but it felt sombre to the warrior, as though it was not how it was meant to be.

He shrugged off the unusual emotion, his adrenaline must've not kicked in yet he figured. His priorities were clear, the creatures had attacked him, doubtless, they'd attack the others on the ship, but he would have to let them succumb to their fates. The stones were in danger, the very reason he had come here, made this voyage with so many others. It was his duty to protect them from harm. Quickly placing the familiar mask on his face he left the room, entering the well-lit corridors of the ship to move towards the storage area close by. The corridors, much to his surprise, were quiet, empty. He saw one shadow move behind the corner of a corridor, but that was about it. On his way towards the laboratory, where most the stones would be held, he encountered a few fleeing scientists. Once he reached the hallway that housed the entrance to the laboratory, he took note of three distinct individuals standing before the door, all in various states of distress.

His approach towards them remained wordless. The Sith appeared quite adamant as he walked, an intense aura of determination within him. The stones would not go to waste. The blood running from his wounds was beginning to stain his white robes a dark crimson, the area slowly expanding, forming a small circle on his chest, yet, below the fabric, around where the actual wound was, there was the most subtle impression of something else, obscured by blood and fabric. The Sith moved past the scientists assembled in front of the door, to follow the one who'd rushed back into the laboratory. He ignored whatever the others were doing, marching directly towards the large containers that held the stones, opening them one by one to check if any were missing. He could hear the screams and screeches of the creatures coming closer, there were many, perhaps too many, but it was no matter, the stones would remain safe.

 

[Arken Lussk]

Location: Science Vessel
Mission: Don't get spooked

Arken regretted coming here.

This wasn't exactly the scientific retreat he was hoping for. [member="Atlas Kane"] had extended the invitation, stemming from his ties in the eldritch and arcane arts. He'd claimed it would be good for the boy to get a taste of the real darkness rather than tinkering and puttering around with all of his mechanical monstrosities. Arken had accepted Kane's offer under the assurance that he would gain something valuable from the experience.

He figured the only thing he'd gain would be a stab wound and a crushed throat. The hindsight was 20/20.

Be that as it may, he'd spent his time around those strange stones. Helping the scientists calibrate their measurements and whatnot was what the slicer had been doing for the past few days. It was dull, excruciatingly boring work that had done very little to teach him anything. All he knew know was that these mere rocks attracted corporeal beings that existed simply to rend and cleave through the ranks of anyone graced by the touch of the Force.

"Observation: Master, I am picking up several anomalies on my scanners. They are not human... or anything."

Arken shifted forward, putting his face in his hands. "Feth. Is there anyone else near us?"

"Negative," Victor replied, "Most of the other personnel are in the cabins, the lab, and the bridge."

Of course nobody useful was around. The break room didn't seem too tantalizing to those workaholic scientists.

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Objective: Rescue Ships
Location: Aboard the Maleficum, the Nebula

Hands entwined behind her back and flanked by her two daughters, Andarta and Agrona, the Swamp Witch stared out into the blackness of space whilst she listened partially to Capt. Jonas Virter speak his mind regarding the rescue mission. The man, whom she had appointed to be the overseer of her ship, didn't understand why she elected to designate the crew to that of rescuers. The crew, and the ship itself, was more or less a nomadic science outfit; not rescuers.​

​

"Captain Virter....your opinion has been heard...and partially noted. You may be it's protector...but it is still my ship. We will do what is required to lend assistance where we can. If you cannot bring yourself to fall in line....perhaps you should find peace in your personal quarters."​

​

The two Sithspawn daughters turned their attention to the man, waiting for any gesture from their Mother to fall upon him; and remove his presence from the galaxy. Darth Venefica was aware there was some underlining animosity brewing between the Captain and her daughters for sometime, though in younger days she would have encouraged the two abominations to act on their feelings. Today, at this moment, all three would know their place in the pecking order.​

​

Turning first toward Andarta, then Agrona, she slowly shook her head; putting the two girls in their place. Sensing the daughter's view of wanting to end him, Captain Virter tugged at his uniform's collar.​

​

"Forgive me Lady, but you have appointed me to be your mind of reason when it came to your ship and your crew. I was only simply doing my job."​

​

"You perform your duties amicably....and serve me faithfully....but the final decision is mine. And we will do what we can to offer rescue efforts."​

 

[NightSister]

LOCATION: Science Vessel
OBJECTIVE: Science, bi-atch
ALLIES: [member="Vereshin"] | [member="Ignis Imura"] | [member="Jorryn Fordyce"] | [member="Atlas Kane"] | [member="Darth Abyss"]

By the time that the alarms sounded through the ship, the Black Stones of Pho Ph'eah had mystified her for days on end. Aria was transfixed by the unexplained, but the unexplainable frustrated - she searched for explanation regardless. She'd watched these stones melt and flow and bind together once, twice, a dozen times- she was never closer to understanding how they worked.

"What are you?"

Through the Force she watched smooth solid black turn to thick tar, bubbling without heat. She didn't recognize the Nether to be able to place it to these stones but she'd seen enough of the otherworldly to have an inkling. An inkling seemed to be all she was afforded.

Her grip on the stone dropped and it clattered back onto the counter surface, solid once again. Gingerly, Aria hovered a hand above the stone and imagined what might change if she held it herself. Would it melt? Turn to tar? Break?

She hadn't dared touch it yet.
Risks were necessary sometimes.
But...

By the time the alarms sounded through the ship, she'd been about to look closer.
Just her luck.

With a groan, Aria sat up, shoving aside glass cases and sheets scrawled with her notes before she moved towards the door, eyes watchful. She could hear...voices, screaming, maddening. Nothing she wasn't used to. Aria exhaled through her teeth and pressed a palm to the scanner beside the doors, watching the entrance slide open-

to a pale skeletal creature floating down the hallway towards the laboratory she stood in. It spotted her gaze and blinked, waited for a heartbeat, two, three-- and it ssssSSSSCREAMED into her mind as it flew forwards.

Run. Run. Aria, you need to leave!

She staggered with a sudden pulse of fear, and reluctant footsteps slowly dragged her backwards. One hand outstretched as though she would conjure an attack, but somehow she couldn't. She had to leave, she had to leave. But where could she go?

The creature launched, wielding claws like knives, and Aria took one more step back before
(don't just stand there)
her oustretched hand called up a blast of telekinesis, and the other gripped the desk to balance her shaky stance, fingers nudging the stones as her attack pushed the creature back. A bolt of lightning followed, and the beast crumpled.

Aria exhaled.
She couldn't let that happen again.
But she was ever so curious about this whole affair.

So she steeled herself and set down the hallway, unsure what she was looking for but certain it was a smarter idea than to stay put.

 

[Yaadri Osi-Yyn]

​

"The Absorbent" | Inside the Nebula​

Scene 2​

​

The Absorbent, drifted through space somewhat elegantly as it wearily entered the nebula that shouldn't be. Aboard the bridge was Venthis Zambrano. A Sith Knight who had answered another call for the men and women of The Sith Empire to come and serve. He came, unknowing of what he would endure.

Trrkkh- kaaa.

Before the power of his ship cut out. All the lights shut off, life support systems switching into critical. Men panicked before Venthis raised his voice. "Calm down." He ordered. "Stay at your stations, until I tell you to do otherwise." With that, he turned and headed out of the bridge.

His boots clamped across the studded metal floor. Then all that could be heard was a spine-crunching screech.

Aaaaaaaaaaah!

Silence followed. Venthis' eyes widened, feeling something scratching at the edge of his mind attempting to get in. Luckily, his race's natural ability to be immune to telepathic attacks. He turned his head, seeing a wraith of sorts, resembling a skeleton wrapped in tattered cloth. It hovered in a ghastly manner towards him, before screeching again. Venthis gasped.

Though one of the younger officers launched himself out in front of the creature, sacrificing himself. The creature tore through him with little effort. Venthis turned, running to the bridge again noticing the men he had ordered to remain there all... dead. He turned to the stars, through the wide viewport. Although he was met by something different than stars. Several of these Starweirds had surrounded his ship and seemed to be seizing pieces of the vessel for themselves. Though as the Sith Knight glanced at them, they seemed to all snap their necks to him piercing him with a dark stare.

He dropped below the window, taking a deep inhale. "Wait-" He glanced back up noticing a floating rock, clearly with something... on it.

 

[Ras'kala'han]

OBJECTIVE: Reach the Science Vessel.
LOCATION: Sith Interceptor; Entering via Hyperspace

---

The plight wracking Pho Phe'ah, the artifacts, the hushed and conflicting and confidential reports - they were immediately fascinating to Vesper. Of course, this was likely a clear and present danger, as apparently these too-pretty baubles had a measure of strange corruption in them, a quality that could mark them as the epicenter of a pandemic of madness that would annihilate the Sith. He scoffed at the thought. No, madness had swallowed him already, and time, and death, and night, and he had always survived. That he had not handled it with his characteristic glory but rather imploded, lost everything, withered physically and mentally to the point of being beyond recognition, and relied on trickery and outside aid to funnel into himself the power necessary to resume normal life? That was incidental. No, he had endured, and would endure. For now, his only concern was whether his curiosity would be satisfied with a sufficient yield of knowledge and power.

It was with idle interest that he sat, fixed in meditation, in the back of his small, personal starship, when he felt a dread and familiar chill in the back of his mind. Familiar, yes, yet also new. He strained at this fluctuation, and wracked his mind, then felt a hint of clarity.

"Burst, then cut thrusters. We can coast on momentum as long as we're in the right direction, and I want all non-essential systems dark."

He pursed his lips, gleaning all he could from the subtle whispers of the Force. It was a delicate, yet gratifying science, as though separating each individual note from a resonant chord, then re-assembling it into song again in the palm of his hand. Omnipresent, insistent? Danger. Hollowness, fear? Whispers? It was almost as if -

Rising, whirling around, a figure was standing in the airlock. Once, perhaps, it might have been a humanoid female. Now, it was desiccated, deprived, and it oozed hunger and hatred. This was one of those void-form creatures, the servant of his old rival. He had hoped, thought with utmost certainty that the creature had perished from the void. It had ended.

"My hand is endless." [member="Darth Abyss"] would have replied, and the thought of that mocking voice set his lips curled in disgust. No, he could not trust death to hold that wretched sorcerer in his proper place - he would have to do so himself. And fortunately for him, this trick was straight out of the old relic's playbook, and he had prepared for such eventualities.

"I've seen you use this primitive magic too many times, ghost - and I've seen through it. Dukra iv vieta, udai nuak zuontai!" He raised his hand, his voice briefly echoing with power rising behind it as he mouthed the same spell his foe had twice wielded against him. "You serve me now. Lead me to the being who summoned you!"

In an instant, a rush of Force hurled him backwards against the wall of his ship with a dull, metallic thud. Whatever mental chain he forged snapped like a cut thread. He raised his eyes towards the Starweird's, and its mouth moved, and a choir of whispers poured out, but there was only one voice.

"From Beneath you it devours."​

No. This was not the prophet. It was something else. Something unknown - something equal? No. Something worse. The eyes of the self-styled Sith Lord widened with fear. As lightning poured out from the fingertips of the witch-creature, he let out a shriek of pain, and his ship continued drifting straight towards its target, silent, without signal, a mote of dust - or a coffin of isolation.

 

[Ignatius]

Location: Science Vessel - Inspecting mysterious stones
Objective: Allow CreepyPasta touch stones
Tags: [member="Dante Sotari"], [member="Darth Vesper"], [member="Aria Vale"], [member="Arken Lussk"], [member="Atlas Kane"], [member="Darth Abyss"], [member="Jorryn Fordyce"], [member="Vereshin"],

Looking up as I ran down the hall, I saw the familiar face of Vereshin. I almost felt relieved to know that there was someone else here. Let alone someone I knew. I raced towards him. The sirens pounding upon my ears like the screams of the damned. Speaking of, I could gently hear the voices growing louder and louder. Trying to fight the sirens and to make it very clear that they wanted to devour us, or something was coming to do just that. Eat us. No clue what form of eating or consuming since there were so many, but I would rather not find out. Looking over to the various others as they came into the room, or otherwise did something to draw themselves closer, I looked over to the Sith Abyss. Confused.

"Why lock the room? You think that will stop ghosts?"

Lucem was tempted to speak up, but I held a hand not to because the shard would get my ass killed with the kind of snark he carried. I will admit this, the shard did learn quickly. Servaying the entire room and holding all of the information. Looking over to Atlas? I think that was his name. Either way, he was opening the containers to see if there were any missing. He was freaking out over here with blood already on him. His own blood as the ghosts do not bleed. However, I did noticed that Vereshin had one of them. Looking over to him, I indicated I wanted to look at it while everyone seemed to be fortifying defenses and fighting off ghosts.

"If they seem to want this, then why?'

Looking to him, I shrugged my shoulder. Breathing in, I had no clue what I was doing, but they wanted to observe right?

​"Alright guys. If the little ghosty bastards want these, we need to find out why, and figure out how to stop them. If one or a few of you can create some form of a telekinetic bubble around the room, it should hold off a few of them for some time. The ghosts can be prevented from entering via the force."

Turning to Vereshin, I nodded to him. Reaching out, I plucked the cube that held the stone inside. Gingerly opening the top, looking at it. The mass of the stone looked solid, however, I could see the very slightest of ripples as though it were a liquid. Kind of like ooblek. The little concoction of glue and other substances.

"Bottom's up."

Placing my hand over the top of the black orb, and flipping the container, so that the rock fell into my hand. As soon as I touched it, I felt an intense cold. I felt my body shudder, and after a second or two, the orb began to grow gently warm. I was confused for a moment. Feeling the presence of the orbs stronger than before. They felt... good.

I could feel every one of them. How they were connected to one another. How many of them all seemed to talk to one another. Not quite like a hive mind, but more so all of them spoke and listened on the same frequency of the force. My mind was feeling numb. My senses felt slightly sluggish as I held onto the orb. It was wanting to slip between my fingers, but retained it's solid form as much as it could. Breathing, I watched as my breath condensed into a fog as soon as it left my lips.

This feeling it was..... amazing. My heart was pounding faster and faster. My slightly orange-yellow glowing eyes faded after I made eye contact with Vereshin. Letting the black orb slide from one hand to the other.

"I can see now. Like a fog lifted from me."

Shaking my head, I then turned back over to those I had once said to defend the room, only to now contradict myself.

"Let the Steirwinds come. Let them possess the orbs. Let their souls connect. I promise. It will be worth it."

Looking down at the black orb again as it was flung from one hand to the other, I could no longer hear the words of others in the room. The sirens of the ship, or the whispers of the ghosts. I was silent. Yet my mouth moved and words and made sound. I knew it was with the vibrations in my throat. The movement of my lips. Yet I could not hear a single thing as I seemed to say the same thing over and over now.

F̛̞̖̠̣̙̭͓̭̩͝r̶͖̼͉̭̱̕ͅo͇̖͔̝̼̟̗͙m̩̩̜̘͓͟ͅ ̘͚͔̦̞̳̟̕͟͠b̨̟̥͖e̻̯͎͉̪͘ņ̤̩e̴̜̫̞̭̺͚ͅa̝̲̹͙̻̠͕͈ṯ͇̲͎̖͘h͡҉͕̞͚̼̜̘ ̶̝͉͙͙̝̠͉ỳ̨̗̯̩̗ọ̥̤̹̣͔̭́̀u̦̙͙̼,̵̣̬̭ͅ ͎̠̹̩i̡̖̯̮͚̳̺̘͍̜t̛͓̲͇̹̝͠ ͕͕̮͇̹̫͡͞d͏͈̻̙͕͙̻̫̥e̟͝͝ṿ̺͠ͅo̴̸͚͈̺̥̱u̷̬̹̟̮̫̠r̗̺̳s̷̡̟̗̻͔̫͍̦̣͓ ​

 

[Tathra Khaeus]

Location: Rescue Ship Hangar Bay | The Dauntless ​| Boarding Shuttle Prep
Objective: Reach and Secure the Science Vessel
Allies: [member="Eye of Solomon"] | [member="Flora Burn"] | [member="Vaylin"] | [member="Morgan Vance"] | [member="Darth Vesper"] | Science Peeps

​The Matador had been sent on ahead, rather than to stand idly awaiting for the Valkyrie to make her move. The corridors of the Dauntless were black and echoed the alignment of their owner. Black lit by red and white hues of light escaping from small ingrained triangular panels as the elevator lowered at a diagonal towards the hangar bay where a number of shuttles were being prepped to board the Science ship. The Matador boarded one of the shuttles, surrounded by a small troop of Imperial soldiers and a few medical operatives, stretchers were being boxed away into containers and medical supply units were stored in some small shelves adjacent to the door that lead to the cockpit.

​The Matador felt strange, standing amongst all these men. He had been on the payroll of the Sith Empire much longer than any previous employer thus far, he'd began to grow used to their ways and the strange almost utopia clean aesthetic of their lives. It was a stark contrast to the way he lived, his armour was dented and a little rusted on the edges in combat, not so pristine as the troopers who shined under the shuttles interior lights. He found himself sitting down within the shuttle, otherwise having to hunch to stand. A trooper turned to him, offering him a pistol.

​"Hey, a friend of mine wanted you to have this."

​"What?"

​"On Yavin, in the sanctuary. A friend of mine got hit in the leg by one of those sentry turrets. He's out, but he wanted me to give you his pistol. He said he owed you for taking out those gunners."

​In truth, this gesture was not so unlike that he would have experienced with his own people. It was, in fact almost an honour in his mind. To be bestowed with another warriors weapon, he offered an open palm, taking the pistol as if it fit snuggly into his fingers. ​"That's Damien." ​The Matador's eyes flickered from the pistol to the trooper. ​"The blaster?" ​The trooper nodded, and turned his head looking at his own. ​"Yeah, some of name our guns after our kids. This here-" ​He spoke, extending his arms to show his blaster to the Matador; ​"This is Lucy, she's my big girl. And this little fella is my Jason." ​He spoke, patting at the pistol attached to his hip, his grin almost audible through this visor of his helmet. The Matador found it strange, soldiers that bore children? It was so unlike his own culture it took him a moment to understand what the trooper was saying.

​As the conversation nearly finished, the Matador stood up as the pilot alerted them that they were close. ​"And what is your name?" ​"Caleb."​ The trooper remarked, turning to face the shuttles exit, ready for combat. "You?" ​The Matador understood that humanoids throughout the Galaxy had strange names, more individualistic in their naming rather than the purposeful meaning of his own. "The Matador." ​"Just, The Matador?" "Yes." ​"Ok, how about an abbreviation? Makes it easier in combat scenarios. Does Matt do?" ​"Yes. That's fine."

​​Silence met them as the shuttle depressurised, white smoke shooting out of the small gaps in the shuttle doors frame as it slid open like high pressure water that halted a few inches ahead of its beginning. ​"Stay close to me, and you'll walk away from this Caleb." ​He promised, taking a step in front of his new found companion. The troopers rushed out, lead by the Matador who ignited his saber at the ready for contact. But there was no foreseeable enemy. Only, shadows of people lingering in the air. Creatures gathered in small groups. One turned its head, looking at the Rescue team with a predatory curiosity in its movement.

 

[Vereshin]

Location: Science Ship
Objective: Do maths
Allies: [member="Ignis Imura"], [member="Jorryn Fordyce"], [member="Darth Abyss"], [member="Aria Vale"], [member="Arken Lussk"], [member="Atlas Kane"]

Slowly, Vereshin retracted his grasp from the glass box as the remainder of the smoke disappeared and contracted into the form of the stone. A figure entered behind him and he turned around in a sudden shock, expecting to find one of the Starweirds when he met the face of Atlas Kane, an associate of his within the group known as the Praetor. The scientist squealed slightly and stood with his back directly concealing the stone, his hands gripping the edge of the table behind him. As Atlas turned his head either way, Vereshin mischievously shifted alongside his movements to hide his prize from view.

"A robot!" He cried in delight at the sight of the droid hovering behind Ignis. Instantly distracted, he moved away from the stone and allowed Ignis to inspect the glass box. "What is his name?" The shard droid floated by, to whom Vereshin reached out a hand to touch, a gleeful smile curving upwards into his cheeks as he presently forgot about the situation to stroke the metallic surface of the object. The fellow Spellweaver spouted orders and he found himself in no disagreement. He turned away from Lucem to retrieve the notebook and pen from his pocket.

"First I must make some calculations." He nodded in the direction of Ignis, suddenly excited at the chance to practice sorcery. Splaying the open pages on the desk, Vereshin estimated the diameter surrounding the room and the necessary force required to safely guard the space from Starweirds. Across the table, two more glass boxes containing stones sat undisturbed. While equations flowed through Vereshin's head, the actions of Ignis suddenly broke his concentration. He watched the fellow sorcerer open the first box and retrieve the stone with his bare hands.

Vereshin grabbed his notebook and stood upright in shock. He held the book to his face and above his nose, hiding behind the leather cover in uncertain anticipation for what might happen next. A change overcame Ignis as he handled the stone and the young Spellweaver displayed a verbal and physical rush of ambition which Vereshin found both unsettling and intriguing. He only appreciated allowing another being to touch the object, so he may observe the effects from a safe distance. As Ignis declared his new and corrupt idea, the scientist backed away in uncertainty and fear.

"The stone has taken control of him!" He cried to the others in the laboratory. "Restrain him while I prepare to cast the barrier!" While another dealt with the possessed Ignis, Vereshin muttered away as he held the notebook before his eyes, one glancing frequently to the open door for any approaching Starweirds. Holding his above the floor, the barrier took the form of a sphere at first, growing wide in diameter to fill the room with invisible force. He uttered the formula in a lyrical incantation and channeled his power, thick energy slowly rising from his outstretched hand.

 

[Darth Abyss]

Location: Science Ship
Objective: Arcane Science
Allies: [member="Vereshin"] [member="Ignis Imura"] [member="Aria Vale"] [member="Arken Lussk"] [member="Atlas Kane"] [member="Jorryn Fordyce"]

Confusion was but a temporary setback. While panic broke lose around him, Abyss simply stood still, his mind searching for the reasons for his failure and the solution that would result from it. He had dealt with Starweird, even commanded them I'm battle on occasions, but the power at work here far exeded the little arcane trickery he had used to do so. It was like someone, or rather something had taken control over the ghostly entities, a true, powerful mind that rested at the back of their feral thoughts.

Paying no attention to the happenings around him the sith lord summoned the book resting on his belt, the cursed pages dancing into the air with a single thought. His spell wouldn't be able to rid the starweird of the presence that kept them subjugated, but it didn't had to. The entity could send them a task to follow, but it's execution was limited by the perception of the strange creatures. With a few slight alterations it could be possible to make them fight each other.

Shielded by the barrier of force energy summoned by his former apprentice, the sith lord began a process similar to Vereshin's preperations. With a few drops of blood from a flask Abyss began to slightly alter the runes. The cluster was already created to serve almost this exact purpose, it only lacked a small detail to make the illusion of the twisted stones convincing enough to deceive the starweird into doing his bidding. Once finished the Mindeater called upon the deranged strength of the hungering void within his hollow armor, and upon his voice to transform force and runes into one coherent spell.

"Dukra iv Vieta, Udai nuyak Xuontai." ("Daughters of Space, Obey my command.")

The otherworldly sound, an ethereal, distorted chorus of noise that had much in common with the shrieks of the starweird echoed through the room, each word tainted with dark, arcane might. The effect would only be useful within a small area, but should it work it would be a more useful layer of defense than a simple barrier, freeing up Vi to take care of the even more grave problems of this problem riddled situation.

Seconds later the first starweird simply drifted through the wall, coming to a sudden stop when meet by the barrier. Not even the blink of an eye passed when a second specter followed in fury of screams and claws, directed not at the sith and researchers, but at the other incoperal being. They were still hunting for the stones, but a mix of mental illusions and false force auras told them now that the others of their kind were those fragile coperal creatures holding them.