Private A Murky Concord

[Del]

A Murky Concord​

Tags: Darth Malum of House Marr

Kashyyyk

This time, it was just her and the protocol droid. The protection and staff that usually followed were still wrapping things up on Kintan and Gamorr. Two of the more successful operations that she had the pleasure of conducting, earning her master a few more allies around the galaxy. While she had not explicitly avoided violence, it was clear that the young apprentice's preferred methods used a softer touch using information, knowledge and what could rightfully be described as some sort of friendship. This time, her eyes were set on a tribe of Wookies who lived in the warm equatorial regions of the planet, far removed from the main Jedi presence centred around the Silver Rest.

One was never completely free from Insatious' presence but it always lifted a weight off of her shoulders upon departing his flagship. Upon stepping off of the ship's landing ramp on the remote beachside landing pad, Delphine's chest rose as she took a deep breath. The planet had been the home of Jedi for generations and it could be felt. It was as if she could, for the first time in years, take a real and full breath of air. A smile formed on her lips. She knew she wasn't supposed to like this but it felt great.

Looking around, she knew that she had two objectives. The long term one was to find the Wookie named Avvush who was supposedly prowling the shadowlands but the more immediate objective was to meet with Darth Malum of House Marr - a rising member of the Sith Order. There were a few factors that made her believe that she could be a good ally for Darth Insatious and as fortune would have it, the Lord was willing to meet her on Kashyyyk. It was a good location, as it was currently located outside of either party's sphere of influence.

What sullied the promise that the venture had thus far shown were the two figures who approached from the edge of the forest. An old and, perhaps, somewhat chubby Iakaru and a tall Mirialan. Upon sensing that they likely weren't affiliated with any Sith, her eyes darted to the sabres that hung by their belt. This likely meant trouble.

"Greetings! Welcome to Kashyyyk. What brings you here?" the Iakaru spoke with a friendly voice - but with sharp old eyes and his companion's hand already grasping the hilt of his weapon, Delphine knew that trouble was brewing.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

"My, my, now that is far from a friendly way to introduce oneself to a stranger," The dark voice of Malum spoke out across the clearing before a flash of light erupted, and the telltale hiss of plasma igniting, extending out to twin lightsabers extending out from the rear to the necks of the Iakaru and Miralan, and immediately after, the holder of the blades was revealed, his cloak abandoned revealing the black-robed figure with no emotion present on his face. He gazed forward at the attractive figure, that had invited him out to this jungle of a world, "Tell me, acolyte, what would you have me do with these two, who would threaten a Sith?"

It was a pin drop, silence over the clearing as both digested the words he spoke. Sith? Here? How?

For Malum, he kept his visage upon the acolyte before him, the one whom, he was here to recruit, though technically the greater prize would be her master, for Malum, giving her a subtle and unobtrusive up and down, he would admit, it was not as if she would not be a prize unto herself. Thus, why the question was asked, he was curious how the apprentice would answer, would it be with the sword, or the sheathe? Would she show mercy, or call for blood?

Very important qualities to know in an ally, especially an ally he intended to ask to fight the entire Sith Order. After all, to a degree, apprentices were reflections of their masters, their teachings and worldview moulding them to being accurate or inaccurate caricatures of themselves, thus, from her, he might begin to know his master.

And frankly, he needed the distraction from the constant itches and clawing from the sweat that seemed to pour out of his body on this world. He had not truly minded Kashyyyk, he had been to more inhospital worlds before, but man, did the world seem to want to take every bit of moisture it could from him. In such a way, it was similar to the deserts of Korriban, though at least there he did not need to worry about jungle creatures that wished to suck the blood out of him.

He blinked, realising he had grown lost in thought, turning his full attention back to the acolyte in front of him.

(OOC: Really sorry for the wait, been incredibly busy the last few months).

Del

 

[Del]

A Murky Concord​

Tags: Darth Malum of House Marr

Quicker than most would notice, the young apprentice's brows furrowed in surprise before rising in a pleasant warmness. Her eyes scanned the newly appeared figure hastily before returning to the Jedi, watching the grim determination which clad the weathered features of the elderly Iakaru and the contrasting bitterness and fear which seemed to manifest in the Mirialan. Just like her, the two of them were quick to hide their true reactions: The Mirialan straightened his back, turned to the Lord and raised his chin before finally drawing his own blade igniting in a blue beam. As the youngster took to arms, the elder's friendliness resurfaced as he uttered a slow "Now what's this? Another guest"

Delphine watched the interaction with ample curiosity before being addressed herself. Her eyes wandered between the Lord and the Jedi before offering a sharp and formal semi-bow to greet him "My lord." She then placed her hands behind her back and nodded to the elder "Perhaps there has been a misunderstanding, for I do not think that these people have threatened me. I believe my master would like to meet these Jedi. He is a big proponent of uniting force users"

Naturally, the girl was omitting the important fact of her Master's hunger for force users. Instead, she simply offered a welcoming gesture, pointing her arm towards her shuttle, welcoming them to board it. It was a futile attempt.

Without skipping a beat, the old Iakaru reached out through the force and produced a powerful blast to push the acolyte back into her ship, sending her into the wall with a thud before turning toward the Lord. Meanwhile, the Mirialan had already pounced and was sending a slow and controlled flurry of heavy slashes at the Lord. It wouldn't be long before the Master's green blade ignited behind him "Pyle-Var, you've got to call for the others, I'll hold them off"

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Tch.

Matters evolved too quickly.

Such was always his way, such was always his weakness.

A Sith Lord would have taken the opportunity of such superb positioning to simply eliminate the two Jedi where they stood, without mercy, without restraint.

Yet, he was not yet a Sith Lord.

Oh true, he was a Darth, even as those considered it odd that he had taken his own name for the title, but becoming a Darth was surprisingly simpler than ascending to Lordship, ascending to Mastery.

Even as he supposed to some he was already a lord, even as his father yet lived.

He was far greater he supposed.

To a planet of ruled subjects, he was king.

To a planet of ruled subjects in reality to them at least... he was emperor.

He banished the musing thoughts, even as time slowed down, as his breath caught up to him, there was little time to lose himself to the consternation of his mind, when there was battle in front of him. He noted the attractive apprentice's words, so her master was... Malum could not so easily assume that he thought like him.

But at the very least it seemed that the one he had come for was a pragmatist.

Very good.

They just had to survive the present circumstances.

He had been too slow to save the apprentice from the will of the Force, but as the pair of the red lightsabres swung through the air, they parried away the heavy strikes of the Mirilian, redirecting the force behind the attacks away into the air, as Malum registered the command of the of the Iakaruan.

Tch.

Enemy reinforcements were the last thing he needed.

But they had already unveiled their weakness.

"Yes, Pyle-Var, flee like the coward you are and leave your master to his fate," Malum taunted, pushing forward his advance against the Mirlian, both blades swinging rather than in unison, as heavy hammers at seperate targets, every attack resembling the concept of the other shoe dropping, again and again.

Aiming to put the Jedi into the dirt.

Yet caution remained, as the ignition of the green lightsabre alerted, he would need to battle two.

An uphill battle, even as his blood pumped easily through his body.

Hopefully the apprentice would recover to join him.

Del

 

[Del]

A Murky Concord​

Tags: Darth Malum of House Marr

For a time, the tide seemed to turn. Where the Padawan's initial offence had been potent, the Lord had managed to nullify the threat with a series of parries before launching his own brutal assault. It was clear as day that the Mirialan was struggling as his sabre budged each time he used it to block a strike. If the onslaught was allowed to continue, it was all but certain that either his own, or his foe's sabre would find purchase - and at that point, the fight would most certainly be over.

The Iakaru was not going to let that happen. With a precise thrust, he attempted to find his way to the centre mass of the Sith's body. He would come from the right, just as the red sabre had struck against the blade of his Padawan. Regardless of whether his attack landed or not, the elderly Jedi continued by making a force imbued diagonal flip to put more power behind the slashing attack.

Meanwhile, the Padawan took half a step back and allowed himself to recover his breath whilst the Master kept their attacker busy. He yelled something in Mirialan, determination clear in his voice. It would not take long before he once more proved to be ready to fight. Rushing in with a defensive stance, he took a more careful approach. Instead of leveling consistent and powerful attacks against the Sith, he instead focused on supporting his master by helping him block attacks while threatening to strike of their foe left himself exposed.

Naturally, the fourth participant of the fight also tried to do her part. From the frown on her face, it was clear that she was in deep pain, if it wasn't already clear enough from the loud thud that could be heard as she impacted against the ship's interior. A pained gasp escaped her as she opened her eyes. Rage was tempered by discipline and focus as she stood up inside the vessel with legs spread wide and reached out with an open hand before making an upwards motion.

Violently, a large piece of a plank from the wooden floor boards broke off and hit the Jedi Master in the middle of an aerial spin, knocking him off balance momentarily. A weakness presented itself in the united front of the light sided force users. Perhaps recklessly, the Mirialan chose to go on the offence and made wide sweeps as he attacked the Lord in an effort to protect his master.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Success. Even as he was caught in a duel that was hardly fair when it came to numbers, he had avoided a situation far worse, with an idea that even more were to arrive, certainly putting him in an unfortunate, perhaps even impossible situation. Compared to that, a Jedi padawan and a Jedi knight were hardly trouble.

Even, as that was certainly being put to the test as the Iakuru launched himself back into the battle. Malum grunted in annoyance, one of his blades caught in the Iakuru's as it was about to unleash another flurry upon the Mirilian, withdrawing back, even as he swung, trying to keep both in imbalance, as he kept himself in balance, lightsabres of opposite colours burst out in light as they struck each other.

The Mirilian was of course in the weaker position, padawan and recovering, a great help, as the Iakuru certainly was not letting up with powerful thrust afte thrust. No doubt, if such a state of affairs continued, as the padawan returned to the fight in earnest...

Malum had always been taught, to never allow himself to be put in the defensive.

The Force swirled around him, Malum's breath growing icey, as he commanded its will, and demanded its allegiance, even as he was forced to withdraw, further, and further back. From the periphery of his sight, he saw the fourth of this encounter stand. He felt the Force shift about her, he knew the battle was over.

As the plank flew through the air, snapping as it broke against the skull of the Iakuru, lightning as blue as the darkest of oceans burst out of his lightsabre, sailing in webbed cacophony towards the Jedi Knight, striking him, as his screams echoed the jungle vastness, and his padawan, exposing himself.

Became lamb for the slaughter.

Malum hissed out, as he blocked with one blade, the Mirilian having gotten far too close.

Only for the low gasp to release from him.

As he fell onto the ground, the second blade extinguished, as it protruded out from him.

A pity, another lost to its machinations, as red eyes turned towards the Acolyte, gesturing towards the panting, and broken Iakuru.

"I will leave him for you then?" He questioned.

Del