Public A light in the ruins (Ashlan Crusade)

[Harli (018-A)]

Location: Batuu

A light rain fell from a dreary sky. Bringing with it a heavy cold mist that shrouded the land. Small beads of water congregated on everything before dripping to the muddy waterlogged ground. Even beneath the shelter of the shuttle there was no escaping the fine mist the dampened everything it touched.

From beneath the hood of a mist covered cloak, hazel eyes watched the fog covered valley below. A valley shrouded in thick fog, but every once in a while an ancient tower revealed some of itself. Triangular in shape with darkened stone and steel worn by time and weather. An imposing structure lost to time and hidden for centuries by this never ending fog and mist.

Harli turned from the tower to the group of Ashlan Crusaders gathered beneath the shuttle. They were here with purpose. This mist covered tower was in fact an old Sith temple. Recently discovered by one of the many smuggling groups that called this planet home. An unfortunate group of smugglers, to be honest, that tried to turn this place into a base of operations. A plan that didn't go well, since no one has seen or heard from them in some time.

Fallon Draellix-Kobitana

 

[Fallon Draellix-Kobitana]

Location: Batuu
Objective: Enter the smuggler hideout
Loadout: here
Objective: Harli (018-A)

"I don't like the weather here, everything is damp." a voice came from behind Harli (018-A) as another hooded figure approached, a slight girl, a few years younger than Harli but one that was making herself known in the Ashlan Remnant. "My Mum says its always like this here, guess it makes it a good hideout?" she grinned and went a little cross eyed as she blew a drop of water off of the end of her small nose.

There was a buzzing noise and a small black probe droid buzzed out past the girls and into the distance. "That should have it all mapped out before we get there, and hopefully warn us if there is anything bad going on." Fallon looked back at the shuttle, she couldnt be certain, but it looked like it was beginning to sink on one of its landing struts, the pilot would keep it safe for them though, he was a good pilot and a droid that had been in service to the crusade for two decades now.

"Come on then Harls, last one there is a rotten bantha" she started to walk across the marshland, picking her way across the marshland to the awaiting speeder bikes. She hopped on hers and gestured to Harli to get on, she would not race there, arriving first might gi e bragging rights, but if there was an ambush waiting, it the bragging might end quickly.

 

[Harli (018-A)]

Harli had to agree about the weather. The constant rain and fog made everything damp and uncomfortable. "I wonder if it ever stops raining." She turned to the smaller teen. "It does make a good place to hide. Probably because no one wants to deal with how wet it is."

She watched the little droid buzz past before disappearing into the mist. A map of the facility would be helpful indeed, as well as a warning towards any danger the place may hold. She gave the distant tower one last glance before marching across the soggy ground to the waiting speeder bikes. The rain would definitely be an annoyance, but the fog could be dangerous as it hid large rocks and other surprises. She pulled a pair of goggles out of her pocket and put them on before giving Fallon Draellix-Kobitana a thumbs up.

 

[Fallon Draellix-Kobitana]

Location: Batuu
Objective: Enter the smuggler hideout
Loadout: here
Objective: Harli (018-A)

There was a little spray behind the two teens as the buzzed low above the march towards their target. Fallon grinned, whipping the bike left and right between divots in the ground. "What do you think we'll find?" she asked through the comm to the older girl. She suspected that something bad had befallen the smugglers, but it would be impossible to know until they arrived. Her implant was updating with the scans of the base, so far, no hostile activity.

It didn't take then long to cross the required ground and Fallon pulled up at the bottom of a large ramp that led up towards the entry way. She glanced at a crate at the bottom of the ramp that had burn marks on it as if there had been a firefight. "Not a good sign" she said with a worried look.

 

[Harli (018-A)]

Harli kept close to Fallon as they rocketed over the marsh. Wind and rain pelted against her as her speeder cut through the mist. The other teens question came across the comm, one Harli had been thinking about herself. "It's hard to say. This place could have been abandoned for hundreds of years. There could be just about anything in there, including whatever the smugglers left behind. Either way, we should be careful."

The speeder slowed to a stop at the bottom of the ramp before powering off. Her attention turned to the crate the Fallon spoke of. "No, no it doesn't." Dismounting the speeder, she stood at the bottom of the ramp, observing the structure in front of her. The building itself felt...cold, as if it was trying to push away any and all warmth. Even this damp rain felt better than the uneasy feeling she was getting from this place. "Well, best not stand out in rain."

The teen strode up the ramp towards the entrance of the old temple. A large blast door greeted her at the top of the ramp. A partially open blast door. Something had slammed into the door and wedged it open just enough for someone to squeeze through. Harli pulled out her lightsaber before entering the temple. Brilliant white light filled the dark entryway as her blade sparing to life. This place was old, the weathering on the walls told her that no one had been here for a long long time. She glanced down at the worn floor to see several sets of muddy footprints heading deeper into the structure. "Whoever is here was in a hurry."

Fallon Draellix-Kobitana

 

[Fallon Draellix-Kobitana]

Location: Batuu
Objective: Enter the smuggler hideout
Loadout: here
Objective: Harli (018-A)

"Hmm yeah, I wonder what they were running from, this place would make a good redoubt if you were prepared. We better watch for traps."

Fallon activated her own lightsaber and its shimmering gold blade lit up, combing with Harli's to bathes the area in a light yellow glow. She felt less nervous with her blade in her hand and she felt the warmth from its Heart and Soul of Ashla. They walked in a little further and Fallon tried to see if there was any other evidence of a fight in here. There were no bodies, yet, of attacker or defender.

As she was about to place her foot down, she got a flash in the force to stop. "Don't move" she said to Harli. She took a step back and with the force, lifted the floor tile gently from the ground. Attached underneath was a crude pressure sensor attached to what looked like a home made thermal detonator. "Oh..." she said, looking at her friend. She had no idea if this was live or how old it was. As the jedi held it aloft she twisted her hand gently and the device separated into it component parts in the way one might telekinetically dismantle a lightsaber.

"Watch your step" she said as she they continued walking in to the darkened halls.

 

[Harli (018-A)]

Harli froze when the younger girl told her to. Hazel eyes watched as Fallon found and disarmed the makeshift trap. "That's definitely not part of the original design of this place. I'm not sure the smugglers put it here judging by how old it looks."

She lifted her lightsaber up a little higher to give better light. Her steps were cautious as they made their way down the tunnel. There were some traps scattered here and there, all crude or quickly made. Somebody was trying to keep them out, or something in.

The teens eventually exited the tunnel into a large circular room with a tiered floor that lead to stage in the center. While a domed ceiling rose high above them. It was an ornate room, with a very...Sith aesthetic to it. Pillars lined the walls with serpentine designs carved into them. The ceiling above was cast in shadow but a glimpses of a mural could be seen. Even the smooth polished floors had ancient Sith writing carved into them. "This is...not what I was expecting." The air around her had a deep cold to it despite the heat radiating from her lightsaber.

Fallon Draellix-Kobitana