Private Wroth on Groth

[Darth Strosius]

​

:"Ladies and gentlemen,":

Groth was a world of spectacle and sport, a Hutt entertainment planet mainly comprised of resorts and arenas with plenty of gambling opportunities at both. It was of course no Nar Shaddaa in terms of infamy and glory but it was no less a place of import for those in the criminal underworld. Especially those that had interests and investments in the slave trade, as many would use it to show off their newly acquired gladiators and warriors in an attempt to find higher bidders during auctions.

:"Spectators and honored guests,":

It hadn't been blind nor spared from the events of the wider galaxy, having fallen on slightly harder times as more established powers had cropped up in and around the Outer Rim to both compete with and sometimes outright dismantle some of the more exotic slaving operations. As such the crowds had diminished over time without new blood or exceptional talent being available, with many arenas across the world having closed down due to lack of attention and audience.

:"Faculty and staff,":

Plirva the Engorged, Hutt-Lord of the largest arena still active on Groth, however had managed to pool his resources and call upon all the favors in his arsenal in order to arrange for an opulent and grand showing. A tournament of prowess and bloodshed alike in great measure that would no doubt restart the crumbling markets on Groth and reignite the gladiatorial fervor that the planet once relied upon so heavily.

:"Scum and sinners of all kind, allow me to apologize for the sudden shift in announcers and in your promised show.":

Unfortunately for Plirva it seemed his Grand Games caught the wrong kind of attention. A fact signified most prominently by his rotund and expansive corpse currently laying on the ground of his ransacked VIP balcony in several pieces, his throne similarly carved in half much like most of his entourage. Darth Strosius leaned against the railing as he surveyed the audience stands full of confused and concerned pirates, crimelords, and many other such disreputable and morally bankrupt individuals. He idly drummed his fingers on the head of the announcer droid in his hand, still working just enough to broadcast his voice across the arena.

:"But tonight's entertainment schedule has been altered. Many of you came here to see captive warriors and starving slaves lash out at one another in desperate attempts to avoid the next lashing or culling of your stock, but I'm afraid that won't be what you'll be experiencing tonight. Instead we have decided to make your show more...interactive. To give you wretched, disgusting, beings the experience that you deserve.": The venom in the masked man's words was amplified alongside his voice by the speakers lining the arena, the surprise and shock of the audience members soon giving way to panic and frantic attempts to locate the nearest exit.

:"So please by all means, sit back, relax, and for once in your miserable lives...": The existing panic ramped up to whole new levels as all exits quickly became occupied by Legionnaires that had no qualms gunning down any and all that attempted to flee, the sounds of blaster fire being accompanied by a dozen or so red blades and dark swords being drawn and bared by cloaked figures on every level of the stands. And of course the previously docile servants alongside their masters suddenly acting out with hidden knives and blasters of their own, soon joined by the very same gladiators that would normally be entering the arena but now spilled forth from the servant tunnels and passages with reckless abandon and bloodlust.

:"Naudot Wonosa ir buti fasonija valyti.":

Revna / Kasir Dorran

 

[Revna]

Tags: Darth Strosius // Kasir Dorran
Weapon: lightsaber
Gear: Squire's Armor​

Revna’s hand gripped the cool beskar hilt of her lightsaber as the tingle of anticipation raced across her skin. Her entire body, small and lithe but well honed for combat, practically trembled with her barely contained excitement. She could hear the call of the announcer to those beyond, and she could feel the familiar excitement from her Brothers and Sisters and the other forces of her Master as they prepared to do what they did best: rid the Outer Rim of scum and villains and slavers.

No one who sat beyond in the comfort of their chairs and lounge rooms knew what awaited them. They were so blinded by their greed, their lust for credits and gambling and other debaucheries, that they did not see the danger that surrounded them.

The Disciple of Faith’s eyes looked in the direction where she knew her High Priest was, though she could not physically see him. Not yet, at least. But the time was coming, and quickly.

And that time arrived when she felt the surge through the Force, the death of the Hutt-Lord, and the voice of the Sith Lord who had her devotion. A stillness filled Revna of House Marr, a calm before the unleashing of the storm that yearned to be free of its restraints. Everyone else around her was the same; quiet as their Lord and High Priest addressed the vile beings beyond. Through the Force, the Sith Apprentice could feel the confusion…then the pricklings of unease and tension. A small smile curled on her face, as she siphoned these emotional offerings to bolster her own power.

The venom in her Master’s voice stirred the crowd into a frenzied state of panic, and fear poured in from all sides. She drank it in, and as she heard the spoken words of the Sith Lord above the others, everyone moved as one, filling corridors and exits and other doors to block the escape of those within. Blaster fire erupted immediately, and a few crimson blades from lightsabers within Darth Strosius’s forces ignited to cut through anyone who dared come too close. Most had their dark bladed Sith swords, their edges eager to spill tainted blood.

But Revna waited, trembling in place, her gaze locked on the figure of the robed and masked Sith above them all. And as he uttered a phrase in holy ur-Kittât, she knew the time had finally come upon her.

The little woman ignited the fiery orange saber in her hand, and with a flash of her black Zayd-cloth robes and a war cry echoing from deep in her chest - she launched herself into the panicked crowd, her blade carving a fiery path of death and agony in a lethal, beautiful display of grace and savagery.

 

[Kasir Dorran]

Darth Strosius | Revna

Groth was new territory for the Sith assassin; however, he steeled himself with unwavering resolve, as he would on any foreign planet. As he stood hidden from the bustling crowds, a brief moment of tranquility enveloped him like an embrace. In the midst of the cluster of voices and noise echoing through the air, he found solace in the recesses of the shadows that were spread across the various levels of the arena. Radiating in a sense of calm, he entered a state of meditative stillness, delving into the complexities of his inner self.

Kasir seized control of his racing mind along with the aggressive and vicious feelings, weaving them together into a fusion of anticipation and strength. A storm was simmering just beneath the facade of it all, and he was prepared to unleash it upon the environment around him. Feeling the presence of those surrounding him as he tapped in with the Force, he failed to pick up on any potential danger; it could have been his overconfidence, as he assumed the upcoming event wouldn’t prove to be any more challenging than the typical combat training routine. It seemed doubtful that a large portion of them would show any resistance.

Reaching out further he could detect what he assumed to be a gruesome scene within one of the VIP lounges; despite not having a visual confirmation, a sense of knowing settled deep within, leaving zero doubt to the identity of the individual responsible for the slaughter. As the High Priest's voice echoed through the speakers, it carried the weight of doom. The atmosphere grew heavy, as if the air itself had become cold. He knew it was a prelude to a grim chapter that none would be able to avoid.

Every sentence heard felt like a countdown, each word ticking away the moments. He remained composed, his posture straight, his expression unreadable. The Sith had made a strategic choice to position himself near an exit, a formidable obstacle for anyone trying to flee. Soon Kasir inhaled one last deep breath.

With Legionaries at his back, he was forced to be careful with calculating his distance, ensuring he would be out of their line of fire. When pandemonium erupted and the scene unfolded, his eyes opened burning with a yellow glare. His hand moved instinctively, drawing the saberstaff from his belt and activating its dual blades, casting a red glow across the dimly lit hall. The weapon spun around in his grip as a group quickly approached with both fear and urgency. His gaze fixated on a single target, already determining which of them would be his fir
st victim.

 

[Darth Strosius]

​

With the slaughter now in full swing Darth Strosius let the head of the announcer droid fall from his grasp, not bothering to watch it crash into the arena ground far below as he reached back and flicked the switch on the detonator before hauling himself over the side of the railing. He allowed himself to fall down to the level below, digging his clawed gauntlets into the side of the wall as he stopped his momentum and flung himself right into what had been a booth full of spice traders just a moment before.

As the VIP rooms were engulfed by a set of explosions and fire he crossed his arms behind his back and stepped over the bodies of the booth's previous occupants, spotting their newly freed servants firing down at another booth from the railing nearby. All in all things seemed to be going fairly according to plan thus far. For the most part the ambush had gone off without a hitch, the inebriated patrons and guests of the arena being easy prey even if they did manage to fight back.

There were some small pockets of resistance starting to form however. Mainly from more sober bodyguards and mercenaries that were able to use the bars and counters of the lower levels of the audience stands as cover, as well as those that had managed to be seated in one of the many walled alcove booths that line the corners of each level. Between the Sith and the Legionnaires the pockets wouldn't last long of course but if nothing else they got to take down a good few of the minimally armed and armored servants and slaves that had put an end to their employers.

The masked man made his way down the walkway that ran between the booths on this level, idly glancing as one of the more infamous slavers was hefted up over the side of the railing and thrown off by his former servant and exotic dancer. He gave the pair a short nod of approval but continued on past the scenes of carnage that had erupted all across the audience stands. The Legionnaires and their new brothers and sisters in arms could take care of the scum and villainy still littering the various levels after all, he had a much bigger prize to claim.

He tapped on his mask's commlink as he stepped over another, very recently slain, body in his path towards the arena's command center. :"Sith of the Order, make short work of your existing targets and regroup with me on the main command level. The second highest one, right below the one on fire. Do take your time and enjoy the scenery along the way if you wish though.":

Revna / Kasir Dorran

 

[Revna]

Tags: Darth Strosius // Kasir Dorran​

For the most part, the opposition the Disciple faced wasn’t anything too concerning for her. There were a few individuals that put up more of a fight, and there was one group of multiple individuals who tried to surround her and overwhelm her - but they fell all the same in the end. The scent of burned flesh and organs and plasma was strong, and once upon a time it might have made her stomach queasy, but Revna had long since grown used to such scents of death and carnage.

For a moment after the explosion that ripped through one of the VIP lounges, the small woman found herself with a moment to breathe, as all existing combatants near or around her were slain or in the process of being dispatched by others nearby. She watched an individual with a dual saber whom she hadn’t seen before, expertly weave through the crowds with lethal grace and efficiency, killing all in their path. She cast her amber gaze around the scene further, and found a man struggling with what appeared to be a blue skinned, scantily clad Togruta female. It was apparent to Revna that the girl, whom she guessed to be a slave, had tried to overpower her master but was losing the fight and was on the verge of being beaten - probably to death for her defiance. The Sith woman moved like a silent black shadow through the slaughter, reaching the woman and the brute of a man in mere moments, and grabbed the man’s wrist with her own hand, freezing him in place.

His eyes widened when he saw just who had dared grab him - before he was sent to the ground with an expert shift of Revna’s feet and use of momentum with a more martial throw with a heavy thud.

Just as she felt her energy charge within her and begin to flow, her Master’s voice came through her communication piece, calling his Sith to finish up what they were doing and come to his side. She let the discharge of lightning loose to cook the man for a moment, much to the shocked and horrified awe of the blue skinned Togruta girl that was on her haunches just a few feet away, before she cut the current short and stood over the man’s heaving and slightly smoking form.

To Revna’s left, she spied a fallen short sword and she summoned it to her hand, before turning her head towards the Togruta and extending the weapon to her.

“Kill your master. Take your vengeance and claim wonosa - freedom - for yourself, and be chained no more.” The Sith woman said softly to the terrified girl, who stared at her for a moment longer before nodding and taking the offered weapon. Revna stepped away to give her space, and lingered only a moment longer to watch the girl’s expression twist in a snarl of hate and anger as she began to plunge the blade into the body of the man over and over again with a savagery that mildly surprised even the Disciple.

Pleased, she turned and began to make her way through the sea of bodies to find her Master on the main command level, coming to a halt nearby as others converged in the area as well, and waited to hear what the Sith Lord had for them next.

 

[Kasir Dorran]

Tags: Darth Strosius | Revna

Stepping forward, Kasir saw the Davorian’s face; it was a mask of terror with eyes pleading. With a flick of his wrist, Kasir spun his saberstaff. In one fluid motion, he unleashed it with a downward strike. One of the blades sliced through the air with a hiss, severing the arm. As it staggered back, the Sith’s focus sharpened; his hunting impulse was in full effect now. He pivoted, bringing the saberstaff back up in a swift cut that left a deep, searing burn across the chest. The smell of charred flesh filled the air as the defeated figure crumbled.

The second, a Weequay, would meet a more merciful fate. Kasir, his jaw clenched with determination, thrust his lightsaber forward, impaling the chest with force. As life drained from its eyes, the legs soon buckled, slowly falling to its knees. Further demonstrating his disdain, he unleashed a powerful kick, sending the creature rolling onto its back—now a lifeless form sprawled against the cold ground. Just as he prepared to dispatch the third and final foe from the group, it would be caught in the crossfire from the Legionnaire; the body shook violently as bolts ripped through his flesh.

Advancing forward, as far as he could see, the ground was littered with bodies, some unmoving and others in agony, barely holding on. The once seemingly prosperous arena was quickly turning into nothing more than a wasteland. Immediately after, an explosion erupted from nearby, causing the walls to tremble. The Sith’s instincts kicked in; his eyes darted in the direction of the source, searching for any lingering signs of danger. The voice of the High Priest then came to life through the comlink within the helmet and instantly realized what had just happened.

He would then begin to head in that direction as ordered. Amidst the whirlwind of chaos that surrounded him with the sounds of the dying and shouting voices, Kasir was consumed with the feeling of power and control. On several occasions en route, his eyes witnessed the vengeful nature of slaves as they turned against their masters. The sight was a welcomed one, a sign of liberation. Not far off, another Sith was unleashing violent powers of force lightning upon one in a clear display of dominance.

The command center stood out amongst the carnage, its location made clear by the flames engulfing the area above it. As he made his way towards the destination, he couldn't help but notice an arm twirling out from one of the piles of bodies, as if desperate for a helping hand. Without hesitation, Kasir extended his offhand towards the unfortunate victim, channeling raw power within him. With a mere flick of his wrist, he had a deadly grip around the victim's throat, cutting off what remained of their oxygen supply. Within seconds, the body went limp in his grasp, as if it were a mere puppet controlled by him. As he released his hold, Kasir couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction at his control over such a powerful force. Behind the exterior of his helmet, a small flicker at the corner of his mouth would hint at the desire to smile.

 

[Darth Strosius]

​

Darth Strosius was exceptionally serene despite the chaos and violence raging all around them, and that was without mentioning the tongues of flame that lashed out on the level just above where he stood with his back to the control center's doors. He surveyed the scenes and sights with a hidden expression of both content and pride. Content that justice and liberation was finally being done and pride that he and his followers were the ones to bring it about.

As such he said nothing as his Sith began to arrive, some bowing or saluting their High Priest while others simply walked up and waited, and instead simply watched until all of them were standing around the entrance to the control center alongside him. "Brothers and sisters, is it not a beautiful sight?" He nodded to the audience stands before turning around and regarding each Sith with a masked glance. "While this is a great victory to bask in, I'm afraid that I must cut your reveries short for the moment. There is still much work to be done."

With a gesture he bid them to follow as he threw open the doors to the control center and stepped inside, revealing a scene of death not unlike those taking place outside. The main difference being that the Legionnaires here were actually starting to cleanup the bodies of the security staff, piling them up and prying them away from their workstations so that they could replace them. "Our siblings in binds are not the only prizes we can claim from Groth this day, but time does run short until the wider planet and criminal underworld hears of our intervention. We must be swift."

Darth Strosius moved into the control center as Legionnaires began to slice into computers and begin the task of getting proper control over everything within. Locking down the arena and disabling cameras was one thing but keeping it secured for a short time was another, thankfully this particular task force was mainly comprised of slicers and engineers which made short work of the protections and codes that blocked their way. On the main screen the security footage of the arena was replaced by three other images of buildings that one could spot from the audience stands if they were to peer out over the nearby city.

One was the private spaceport that was dedicated entirely to the arena and the attached cantinas, another showed what appeared to be a fortified barracks or armory still being patrolled by Hutt security forces, and the last was the city's main spaceport which had been closed down in order to ship in the new slaves for the arena. "These are your targets. Closest is the VIP spaceport, where the remaining scum and villainy lie waiting for the return of their compatriots. Their vessels are the main objectives however, for they will have access to their accounts and private networks."

He then nodded to the fortified building. "That is the local barracks where all the mercenaries are outfitted and where shipments of weaponry and equipment are stored until they are auctioned off. Slay all inside and use the droids and machinery within to move the armaments and gear to the landing pad on the roof for extraction." Finally he pointed to the main spaceport image. "The freighters and transports that brought our chained comrades here will serve as our salvation today."

The masked man looked back at the assembled Sith, turning to face them as he continued. "The freighters will be commandeered and will go to both the barracks and here at the arena for extraction, the shuttles we arrived on are simply too few and too small to bring all of our new siblings and equipment offworld in one trip. The Legionnaires have already been dispatched to these objectives as well but they will need support. Pick your targets and move swiftly, this world is not ours to linger on. May the Force bless you all."

Revna / Kasir Dorran

 

[Revna]

Tags: Darth Strosius // Kasir Dorran​

Revna could feel the sense of contentment and pride from the Sith Lord, and it brought a sense of satisfaction to her. Though she would never say such a thing aloud, she was happy when her Master was pleased with the work of his followers.

But the time for celebration of their victory would be short lived, as once the other Sith who served under the High Priest had arrived, he moved on to explain what their next objectives were. There were three locations that were their main targets, and Revna studied each on the security feed as the Sith Lord went over each one: the VIP spaceport that contained the awaiting vessels of their now slain owners in the arena; the barracks that contained equipment and armaments that would prove vital for her Master’s forces, and the main spaceport which was locked down and held ships large enough to carry the new freight and newly freed slaves off world.

Their work was cut out for them, it seemed but Darth Strosius’s Legionnaires were already tackling the objectives. It was the Sith’s job now to lend their support - and their righteous fury - and finish what had been started. This would deal a blow to the Hutt cartels - but Revna was wise enough to know that this wouldn’t hurt them too much in the long run.

Hopefully their operations wouldn’t be hindered by another Sith Lord who chose to get nosy in their business. The sooner they finished this, the better in Revna’s opinion. The last thing she wanted was another Tund situation.

Upon receiving their orders, the gathered Sith picked their locations and began to slip away. Revna chose to head to the VIP spaceport, moving like a black shadow from the arena and towards the direction of the private spaceport. She bent the Force around her, demanding it conceal her from the naked eye, and was confident that none of those around or beyond her could sense her presence.

Entrance into the VIP port was easy, and she spied a couple other Sith who had tailed after her split off to various vessels, while she chose a luxury yacht befitting of some criminal slime who lived off the backs of others. The ship’s entryway was sealed off, so a simple ruse was enough to bring whatever security was onboard outside to see what had attracted their attention, and it was the last thing the two individuals ever did before their necks were snapped. The small Sith woman moved aboard then, methodically stalking through its interior and murdering any she came across without a shred of care. When her vessel had been cleared, she moved on to the next and repeated her process as silently and swiftly as possible, before moving on to any outlying buildings that would hold extra security or arena staff - the other Sith doing the same, until the entire spaceport was fully within Sith control.

When their work had been completed, the Disciple spoke into her comms device and reached out to Darth Strosius.

-“The VIP spaceport is cleared, my Lord, and the ships here are cleared for slicing for their private information. Do you have any further orders for me?”-

 

[Kasir Dorran]

Tags: Darth Strosius | Revna

Kasir stood still; his eyes were fixed on the High Priest as the last of the Sith trickled in. His body was like a statue, unflinching while he waited. The flickering images changing on the main screen caught his attention, drawing his focus away from the gathering crowd. His eyes scanned over the three locations, taking in every detail, analyzing and processing all of the information presented before them. Out of them all, he couldn't help but feel drawn to one in particular - the barracks. He knew that inside, they would come face to face with others who were most likely armed. As his saberstaff was deactivated and clipped back to his belt, he made a swift exit from the command room and out of the arena, where he rendezvoused with a small group of fellow assassins. Each of them bore the same purpose.

He blended effortlessly into the shadows, his movements fluid as he trailed behind another Darkseeker. Each step was but a whisper against the cool ground. He looked into the distance and caught sight of the towering walls that protected their destination. With a subtle nod, the lead figure launched himself forward, his large frame scaling the barrier with unnatural agility. Kasir followed close behind, his senses heightened as they reached the top. Peering over the edge, he now surveyed the building below. A few men could be seen moving about, unaware of the danger that lurked. Among them, a few droids could also be spotted, carrying out different tasks.

They moved along the edges of the wall, their bodies merging into the darkness like ghosts. Finally, they reached a small corner and descended to the ground below, not making a single sound. His own back was pressed against cold durasteel as he approached the entrance of the building. He could hear voices nearby, and quickly took note of two figures near the door. The one leading his group leapt forward with a swift strike, and the first guard fell to the ground. In the timespan of a single heartbeat, the second guard was also quickly dispatched, his body crumpling. Kasir couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy, wishing he had been the one to defeat them.

Without any hesitation, they slipped inside the building, making their way towards their next targets; the lightsabers then came back to life. Chaos erupted as the countless mercenaries found themselves under attack. Blaster fire and shouting filled the air as the Darkseekers struck down their victims with ease. The once quiet barracks had turned into a battlefield, with bodies lying across the floor. They showed no mercy as they fulfilled their part of the mission, leaving no survivors as ordered.

The arrangement of all armaments and gear would then become the responsibility of the droids, who seemed to carry them effortlessly. Their movements almost appeared synchronized as they made way for the roof. Kasir's eyes darted towards the leader of the group from across the room, his gaze fixed on him as he spoke into the commlink, informing the High Priest of their completed task. His lips remained pursed under his helm, the same jealousy and envy blooming within him.

 

[Darth Strosius]

​

As the Sith were sent about their tasks, the High Priest began issuing orders for the forces within the arena to organize and take stock of the situation. Given that they had full control of the systems there was no risk of any direct retaliation, not any that would be swift enough if all had gone according to plan anyway, so guarding the entrances wasn't a concern at the moment. Instead there were wounded to be tended to and preparations to be made for their extraction.

While most of the arena fighters had nothing but the clothes on their backs to worry about, those that had been personal servants and the like did have some meager possessions that they would dare not part with. So as the medics got to work and the belongings of the slave masters were pilfered for whatever they had on their persons, gradually the Legionnaires and their new comrades would be gathered at the arena's central hubs in order to start arranging groups and dividing up responsibilities for when the evacuation ships arrived.

As expected it wasn't long before reports from two of the objectives were coming in, one from his Disciple and the other from one of the higher ranking Darkseekers. With the barracks and the private starport both secured their two greatest threats were effectively nullified and accounted for. A fact which put a smile on the masked man's face as he moved to the communications console to issue out orders to begin gathering the new resources to prepare for extraction.

However a distant explosion stopped him before he tapped the button.

Darth Strosius quickly spun around and marched back to the railing outside, joined by a handful of curious and alerted Legionnaires, before muttering a curse under his breath. One of the great freighters, as well as what appeared to be a significant portion of the spaceport, was currently on fire. His hands left dents in the railing where he gripped it before he quickly marched back into the command room and issued out an order across all frequencies to his cult.

:"All forces not currently occupied, reroute to the spaceport at once. Leave behind the bare minimum to gather the equipment or whatever else. Those of you at the VIP landing pads use whatever ships are there to expedite your journey. We can't afford to lose any more of those freighters!": If need be he could summon some air support but there was no need to overcomplicate matters just yet, first he needed to figure out exactly what was going on over there.

Revna / Kasir Dorran

 

[Revna]

Darth Strosius // Kasir Dorran​

The feeling of accomplishment at completing one of the missions for her Master was short lived for Revna, as the distant sound of an explosion alerted her to trouble, just as a fiery orange glow began to reflect on the low hanging clouds in the night sky. There was some confusion within her, and the same could be felt in the other Sith who were around her - but clarity as to what had happened came when the urgent and none too pleased voice of Darth Strosius barked through her communications piece and into her ears.

It appeared that there was trouble in the spaceport, and the explosion had occurred there.

The other Sith around her moved quickly, jumping into various starcrafts in order to reach the spaceport faster, and Revna joined one of her brethren who had already commandeered a ship. Neither of them spoke to each other at first, but she knew they were both asking themselves the same question: what was going on? What was the source of the explosion? Was it an accident - or was someone aware of what they were doing and trying to sabotage their holy mission?

And through the front viewport of the starship - they could see a large fire was already raging out of control. If the fire reached any of the fuel reserves that were no doubt in the spaceport - then the whole thing could be lost in an explosion, along with the much needed transports as well as any Wonosan forces on the ground.

“Chit.” Revna muttered. “That doesn’t look good at all.”

Within moments, the ship she and her fellow Sith were on touched down within the spaceport itself, along with others that had arrived from the VIP port. Upon exiting, Revna took in her immediate surroundings, her eyes searching for anything that could clue her in as to what had happened. So far only one freighter had been destroyed - by the looks of it, but it needed to be the last one.

Her first thought was to head to the nearest freighter and see if she could discern if the first explosion had been caused by outside circumstances - or if someone was indeed trying to hamper their efforts and was targeting the other ships.

“Search the area around the other freighters and scan the ships themselves! And do it fast!” She barked out to those near her. “If someone is working against us we need to eliminate them now and get these ships out of the port before that fire reaches any fuel systems or reserves!”

“Why not just get the ships out of here now?!” someone else called back to her, seeing a quicker solution to the problem at hand.

“Because we don’t know if these ships are rigged with explosives or not! Last thing we need is to get these ships loaded with our new cargo and have them blow up on us!” Revna snapped back as she summoned her lightsaber to her hand before turning away to approach the first freighter nearest to her, her senses on alert and ready for anything that may happen.

 

[Kasir Dorran]

Tags: Darth Strosius | Revna

The air on Groth felt as though it pulsed with a tangible energy; it was just another place for the Darkseeker where assignments were to be completed without a second thought. Whether in the best interest of Wonosa, or the ambition of the Sith Order, each task was simply an obligation to be fulfilled. The droids continued performing their duties while he watched, feeling detached and fully immersed in the present for a moment–but it was quickly interrupted as the voice of the High Priest cut through his frequency.

He instantly removed his gaze, turning to the other figure who had led their group to the barracks. He began analyzing his body language, as if that alone were enough to tell him their next move. As much as he hated the idea of it, he knew he would have to follow the lead of someone else once again, for the time being at least. It was another subtle reminder of the power dynamics of their group. Suppressing his pride to follow another’s direction never seemed to get any easier.

Kasir wasted no time keeping up with the movements of his comrades, darting forward and climbing into the back of a light speeder truck that was typically used for hauling goods and supplies. Before he could even nod to the one that chose to be the driver, the machine roared to life and began its journey towards the spaceport. He found himself settling into the cargo bed as it hurtled through the streets. The barracks they claimed only minutes ago was becoming a blur. As he shifted his gaze back to their intended path, the view of flames could already be seen in the distance-- clearly a sign of the destruction by what presumed to be an unknown aggressor on one of their freighter ships.

Just as expected, a majority of the Order had gathered at the spaceport upon their arrival. With a leap, and a few others quickly exited the vehicle. His own senses were immediately on high alert. He was swift to take in every detail of their surroundings, creating a mental map of the area within the spaceport. Next, he extended his consciousness, attempting to see out any potential threats that could still be in this area. Unfortunately, with the chaos and hectic activity surrounding him, Kasir found it challenging to maintain his concentration and decided to keep moving.

Several of the Darkseekers took it upon themselves to begin inspecting nearby ships. However, Kasir's instincts drew him to the edge of the perimeter, moving urgently as he scouted the area for any signs of what could be a threat. Deep down, a small part of him couldn’t help but feel relieved that he wasn’t standing next to one of the freighter’s where another explosion could suddenly occur. If he had the choice, he would much rather meet his end in battle than just being a sitting target.

 

[Darth Strosius]

​

While the initial chaos and hectic movements around the freighters, both the now ruined one and the rest, would be solely that of the Legionnaires and Sith that wouldn't last long. One Legionnaire had moved towards the rear of the flaming freighter in a search for the cause of the detonation, barely having time to pull their blaster rifle into their hands before a single shot rang out and pierced straight through their helmet. As their body collapsed limply the sound of heavy whirring machinery echoed, the loading droids moving out from the darkness of the spaceport and from behind their hiding places amidst the cargo scattered about.

The droids themselves wielded no weaponry of course, aside from their physical force, but instead used their bodies as moving shields for the mercenary and pirate forces that advanced behind them. They opened up a barrage of fire that the Legionnaires were quick to scurry for cover from, fearless as the heavy loading droids held their wide armored arms in front of the criminal forces protectively all while marching forward with undeniable heavy strides.

Along the outskirts a flurry of speeders ranging from solitary bikes to smaller craft would begin to arrive and offload more of the heavily armed mercenaries and pirate rabble, these ones seeking to flank and surround the Legionnaires and Sith so that they were forced to fight. A simple but evidently effective maneuver all things considered.

The Legionnaires were quick to start forming a weak but steadily reinforcing perimeter, having to split their attention between the flanking forces and those advancing from the spaceport as the Sith among their ranks simply leapt at the nearest foe. A few squads of engineers ran to one of the freighters, barely making it up the boarding ramp amidst the barrage of blaster fire heading their way, but were able to commandeer a few of the turrets on the rear end of the freighter. They swung around and opened up on the loading droids, only able to focus fire on one at a time.

Revna / Kasir Dorran

 

[Revna]

Darth Strosius // Kasir Dorran
​

As soon as she finished speaking, a single shot rang out, and a Legionnaire dropped to the ground dead. The scene around them - both within and outside the main spaceport - erupted into chaos as a seeming trap was sprung.

It appeared that her Master’s forces had been expected, and the explosion of the freighter had been used to bring the majority of his forces to the spaceport - which was exactly what had happened. And the moment they were within, pirates and mercenaries opened fire on them all, using the loading droids as shields to protect them from returning fire.

The Legionnaire soldiers were quick to pull together a defense, albeit a weakened one, as their attention and fire was split between enemies on speeder bikes and those who used the droids as bodyguards. The Sith around Revna were quick to leap into the fray themselves, fearless in their attack. The young Disciple herself reacted quickly, slipping behind cover as soon as the first shots were fired as she demanded the Force to conceal her presence, relying on the stealth training she had received from her cousin Malum.

Practically invisible, she moved swiftly to flank the nearest enemy combatants, igniting her fiery orange saber briefly to surprise her first victims and cut them down, before disengaging her saber and disappearing once more, moving on to others. After slaying a couple more who were using the heavy droids as shields, a ripple of concern and fear began to spread out amongst the pirates and mercenaries. They had seen her saber ignite, cut down those around them, then vanish.

Having an invisible enemy in their midst made them very nervous and jumpy, and a few abandoned their droids to fire blindly into the shadows - which began a domino effect to those around them. Revna used the fear that was sown to her advantage, siphoning in such powerful emotions to further feed into her own strength, and when she revealed herself next it was with a savage flurry of blows that drew immediate fire from others that were nearby. She batted away incoming bolts, though a few slipped past her guard and slammed into her armor or ricocheted off of her black cloak - though bolts from heavier weapons burned a couple holes through the cape. Despite this, she was fury incarnate, leaping amongst a small group as her saber cut searing swathes through armor and flesh, and the couple she couldn’t reach were cooked by a stream of Sith lightning that erupted from her hand.

Then, she vanished once more from their sight with naught but a whisper of cloth and the scent of ozone and smoking bodies to indicate she’d been there at all.

Taking a very brief moment, Revna opened the comm to Darth Strosius and spoke quickly and quietly: -“We’ve been ambushed; seems we were expected. Forces are holding their own but we are under heavy fire and taking losses.”-

As soon as her message was out, she returned to the task at hand, this time turning her sights on the heavier armed scum who were trying to flank and cut her Master’s loyal warriors. And just like before, she used her stealth and agility to her advantage, killing quickly before disappearing once more and letting the fear of an invisible threat spread further amongst her enemies. She would use this for as long as she could, until she was forced to change tactics.

 

[Kasir Dorran]

Tags: Darth Strosius | Revna

His senses were attuned to the slightest disturbance in the air as the first Legionnaire fell to their demise. He didn’t have to see it, he felt it. Kasir already secured himself at one of the safer vantage points once the attack began. The scene erupted into madness instantly-- droids and mercenaries being unleashed, along with turrets spitting from the back of freighters. The shadows offered sanctuary.

Kasir knew that his position would be exposed the moment he made the next move; yet still he waited, one second longer, studying the scene with intent. The Legionaire began to scatter in all directions. While several from his group of Darkseekers had taken it upon themselves to inspect the ships, there were still a few others besides himself who preferred to remain unseen; their presence always a lurking threat, never far from his own thoughts. He searched for any visible signs of them.

It came as no surprise to see the vermin using droids as makeshift shields while their attempts at attacks continued. The galaxy had cowards in every corner. But it was when he caught a glimpse of the speeders and other small craft, boosting the enemies' numbers, that one of his own brethren became determined to ensure it would be their final trip, or at the very least, a statement to any others who shared similar ideas.

A blur of darkness streaked forward, another Darkseeker fueled by unnatural strength towards one of the vehicles. Instincts then kicked in. muscles already began launching him into a sprint, his feet digging into the ground as he chased towards a speeder that was just beginning to turn and head back to wherever it came from.

His anger amplified as he closed the distance with ease, fixed on the lone rider. Bending his knees, he leapt into the air, his body soaring through the sky and landing with the grace of a seasoned acrobat at the tip of the vehicle. Guided by his own twisted moral compass, Kasir decided to do away with his saberstaff and instead rely on his own physical prowess since his target was currently unarmed. With a swift movement, his gloved hands would grab ahold of the rider’s helmet before he ever had a chance to think about retrieving a weapon. His fingers dug into the metal as though he desired to crush it. With a sickening crack, he snapped the alien’s neck, the lifeless body falling forward. The sound was drowned out by death emanating from the other transport ships. Others of his own rank cleaved through everything in their path, showing no mercy.

Had he not worn a helmet himself, one might see a glint of satisfaction in his eyes in that moment.

 

[Darth Strosius]

​

The mercenaries ambush seemed rather effective and deadly, at first. For while the Legionnaires were able to be pinned down and forced to divert their attention between targets, the Sith among them were quite another story entirely. And one that their attackers weren't prepared for. The sheer ferocity and reckless nature of the Sith that leapt into the fray against them was more than enough to startle and confound the hired guns that hid behind the loading droids. All without mentioning the very surprised speeder crews which were all but easy prey for the Darkseekers along the outskirts of the spaceport, their attempted reinforcement quickly becoming a desperate defense of their own.

Between the efforts of the Disciple and the Sith that followed her lead, the droids and their mercenary accompaniments fell one after the other. While many panicked and broke rank, the more disciplined among them were quick to pull back and put the shipping containers against their backs with the remaining droids forming a tight defensive circle that allowed them a decent range of fire. It was far from perfect but it did dissuade the infiltration into their line that the Sith had been relying on thus far to take them down.

The containers themselves provided another boon to the hired guns in addition to simple cover though.

One squad split from the main group, tossing down their blasters and instead drawing shock whips as they frantically pulled open one of the containers. A Nexu leapt from the container and nearly took off the heads of one of the mercs, only stopped by a series of lashes that turned its attention away from its captors and instead towards the Sith and Legionnaires that had pursued them. More containers and Nexu would be opened, half a dozen bounding out to pounce on the foes of the mercenaries.

Legionnaires, bolstered by their Sith allies, rushed to the front on both sides of the combat to varying degrees of success. Those within the spaceport were forced to retreat almost as quickly as they had moved forward, beset by beasts and blaster bolts alike. Those that moved to assist in knocking out the speeders found far more success. The reinforcements they brought with them had been all but decimated before they even had time to properly disembark. But they wouldn't be the only speeders to arrive.

Slightly armored and most definitely armed skiffs loaded with mercenaries soon began to arrive on the scene of the conflict, their mounted blaster cannons laying into the Sith and Legionnaires alike to try and establish some sort of landing zone with which to try and reclaim the spaceport. One skiff in particular flew in low and dropped off what appeared to be a large cargo crate, only for said crate to crack open the moment it hit the ground. Within was an unremarkable yet no less armed force of security droids, far from intimidating but with little cover for the Legionnaires they were just as deadly as any normal combatant.

Revna / Kasir Dorran

 

[Revna]

Darth Strosius // Kasir Dorran​

At first, it seemed that the Sith of Wonosa and the Legionnaires would make an example of the mercenaries and hired guns that had arrived on the scene in the initial wave of their assault. Crimson sabers and blaster bolts cut through the enemy ranks, forcing some pockets into defensive positions, both sides fighting for their lives.

For her part, Revna was a lethal weapon, trying to cut down as many enemies as she possibly could to help aid her fellows, but before long her progress was halted as she was forced to become more defensive, swatting away blaster bolts that rained down on her from her enemies which were now hidden behind crates as the droids formed a defensive barrier around them. Seeing that her opportunity to slip further into their ranks was gone, she disengaged and vanished from sight - pulling back to refocus herself and study the field of battle for points that she could exploit.

While in the process of doing this, the situation the Sith and Legionnaires found themselves in became even more aggravating, as some of the crates were opened by the mercenaries beyond and creatures were unleashed into the Wonosan ranks.

“Well chit. You’ve got to be kidding me!” the little woman growled as she watched half a dozen or so Nexu be released into the spaceport. These creatures would make quick work of anyone that fell prey to them, and it seemed that others caught on to the threat quickly enough as blaster fire was re-directed into the charging swarm of Nexu, and a lightsaber even managed to carve through the chest of one that leapt towards one of the Sith.

The fight intensified, the entire area flickering with the fires that still burned out of control and the increasing sounds of blaster fire and the cries of the injured or dying, but even with the determination of the Wonosan forces, they were pushed back by the onslaught that was unleashed against them. Even Revna found herself pulling back, choosing to be a sort of shield for any Legionnaires near to her that came under attack, facing a Nexu or two fearlessly as she used both blade and Force to cut them down.

But the situation for them only grew more dire, as skiffs loaded with more mercenaries appeared on scene and began to fire into the Sith ranks, while one in particular dropped a larger crate into the spaceport which broke open to reveal a small amount of security droids that soon began to fire into the Wonosan ranks as well.

The little Sith was torn on what to do; on one hand, they needed these ships to help get the newly liberated slaves and other items her Master needed out of Groth, but on the other hand they were taking losses they couldn’t afford to take. The mercenaries were determined to take the spaceport back, and she and her fellow Sith were not one to give up so easily.

An idea bloomed in her mind as she studied the skiffs and the mercenaries beyond; one skiff was somewhat separated from the others and a couple of its crew had already been killed. She had only moments really to make her decision, and she turned to a small group of Legionnaires that was near to her and ordered one to go with her and the others to act as a distraction, before she and the single warrior she had chosen moved forward. She had to act quickly and decisively before the other mercenaries nearby figured out what was up, but thankfully she could use the Force and the shadows around her to conceal her presence until it was too late for those inside the skiff.

Moving as one, both her and the selected Legionnaire dashed to the skiff as the young Sith leapt within, cutting down those within as she caught them by surprise. Within a moment she was on the skiff’s controls, and she directed the Legionnaire to get on the cannons and start firing into the enemy ranks.

Hopefully others would catch on to what she was doing and try to commandeer a skiff or two as well, but for now all she could do was adapt to the situation and hope that her bold attempt would cut down any remaining Nexu, at least a portion of the droids, and maybe disable a skiff or two as well - giving the Wonosan forces a chance to regroup and push back.

 

[Kasir Dorran]

Tags: Darth Strosius | Revna

In a matter of seconds, the mercenaries who had been zooming across the spaceport on speeders were now reduced to a pile of bodies distorted in grotesque positions that seemed to defy all logic. But it was not due to the work of lightsabers that had brought about their demise; no, it was the Darkseeker's raw physical prowess that left them helpless and broken, a testament to their brutal and ruthless nature.

Kasir's eyes darted across the unfolding scene, a mix of chaos and violence that excited him. He was oddly surprised at the sight of these lowly mercenaries, still capable of such discipline and strategy, as they began to reposition into a defensive circle. Hidden in the shadows once more, they moved with precision, communicating through silent signals that ensured that those within their own rank were always aware of the constantly shifting dangers surrounding them.

As the Nexu were unleashed upon them, they acted quickly. In the distance one was already cut down by a Sith’s saber, and then two of the assassin’s broke off to fight another. They attempted to keep the creature at bay with hit and run tactics, their strikes always on point. By twist of fate, one of their brothers was caught by the sharp claws of a Nexu. Blood stained both the ground and their armor as the beast's teeth ripped into their throat, but the Sith refused to go down without a fight. Even in the face of death, they remained fierce until their final breath, never giving in to cowardice

But now that the beasts were engaged by part of their unit, the rest would now focus to break the defensive circle. He could almost taste the fear radiating from a few of the mercenaries, and it fueled his excitement as he now readied himself. A flicker of acknowledgment and nothing more danced in the dark recesses of his mind upon witnessing one of the Sith, her movements deadly, eventually taking one of the Skiffs in her grasp.

Despite the lack of coordination in the absence of the High Priest, he was confident they would overcome their opposition through sheer strength.

Using the shadows as their ally, along with the ability of Force Speed, they finally infiltrated the inner circle of their enemies, utilizing the lives of their foes as shields against the onslaught from the Legionnaire. But just as their objective would seem clear, the arrival of more security droids from a cargo crate would also demand action.

Igniting his twin blades, Kasir lunged forward. Without mercy, he struck the nearest target, driving one saber deep into the back of a Trandoshan. The blade punctured through armor and flesh alike, emerging from the chest like a spear. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he withdrew the blade. From there, he pivoted on a foot, swinging his saberstaff in a murderous arc. It cleaved through the air, meeting the next target with force, nearly splitting them in half. He reveled in the carnage, his black heart racing with the thrill of the hunt.

With the defensive circle now scattering and breaking apart, his gaze fell upon the next obstacle: the security droids.