A Ronto With No Name

[Ax'no]

While Briga could have her visions anywhere, she enjoyed spending time in her scrying room, using a large Nova crystal to aid her. Although once containing volatile properties, the polished, jade-like mineral had been buffed to an incredible shine, and the Caprine mystic used it often to see the future.

That windy day on Iktotch as she caressed its surface and sought answers about how to increase her power through sorcery, she foresaw a great beast. Her perception of this beast was not that clear. It had a long neck… thick hide… a loud snort… and a honking bellow?

This was no majestic creature – it was a ronto. A smelly, thirsty, frightened-within-an-inch-of-its-life ronto.

Spoiler

Irritated, Briga scraped her claw-like nails against the Nova crystal causing the most sublime scratching sound like sharp metal skidding on a durasteel surface. This sudden noise caused her Iktotchi assistant, Baraz, to poke his head into the room and ask what was wrong.

She sighed. A Caprine never questioned her visions. Especially one that was the closest living representation of the goddess, Ax’no. But still – couldn’t her vision have been a little more poetic?

A little less underwhelming?

“Does a planet in the Expansion Region have rontos?” she asked Baraz.

“Tatooine of course!”

Squinting her amber eyes, Briga shook her head. “No, this was a verdant planet. Lush and… well, dry yes.” She placed her palm back on the crystal to see more. “But not a desert planet. Under the surface, water is plentiful… very plentiful.”

Baraz snapped his fingers and said, “Nubia has a racetrack where ronto racing takes place.”

Briga smiled. “Yes, thank you, Pateesa.”

The very next day, she landed on Nubia with her three Asti handmaidens, and waited outside of Tallera Downs for her sorcery training to begin. The Downs was not a very Sith-like place – bright, sunny, and with the distinct odor of rontos – but she would be meeting a powerful Sith here in no time at all.

[member="Darth Rapax"]

 

[Rapax]

Rapax has only heard of the Caprine he wanted to meet one for quite sometime a race with incredible precognitive abilities would be a interesting species to meet. He was anxious to meet this specific caprine the fact she wanted to learn from him was even better ...he enjoyed showing the young what he knew ...who knows perhaps he can take her as an apprentice it would be beneficial to have such a entity on his side. But first he has to first see her and see how she would react and how willing she was to learn. He traveled to Nubia with three of his vornskr hounds that he keeps with him to alert him of Possible Jedi or sith brethren he wondered the streets and when he approached the Tallera Downs he saw a young woman with 3 other females....perhaps this was her.? He looked to his vornskrs for a moment as they growled towards the small group, He yanked on their leash to calm them down as they obeyed and walked towards them them they could feel a presence from him.

[member="Briga Tiin"]

 

[Ax'no]

At the sight of the growling vornskrs, the Ronto pen erupted in noise. Frightened rontos snorted and kicked up dust as they scrambled to the far edge of the pen to get away from the predators. Briga coughed, putting a scarf to her nose to ward off the debris and smell, but under the fabric, she smiled. The Caprine mystic had very little experience with the Sith, but since Iktotch was close to Sith space, it made sense to form an alliance – one Lord at a time, for the witch initiate wasn’t a powerful political player. In fact, she was probably kept under watch by the Iktotchi government. But all of this was for another time.

Now she had a guest to charm.

“Lord Rapax,” she said, bowing deeply. “Thank you for meeting me here at Nubia to show me some of your skills. I plan to pay you back in credits… favors… anything you need. I am in your debt.”

Briga was laying it on thick, but she needed allies now. She was at the bottom rung of the galaxy ladder and at times, it was difficult to contain her enthusiasm for all she longed to do and be in the universe. One day you will be the true goddess visionary that the galaxy craves, but again… for another time.

“I wish to learn some spells,” she said, directly. A skittish ronto eyed her, and she unexpectedly hissed at it back, causing it to whinny and rear up.

“Maybe we can practice on these beasts.”

[member="Darth Rapax"]

 

[Rapax]

Rapax chuckeled a little when he saw how the rontos reacted to the vornskrs presence, they always did strike fear in the beasts around them next to the tuk'atas. He observed [member="Briga Tiin"] as she spoke he could tell she was saying what she could to try and impress him enough to learn but the sheer effort she put in trying to get his attention much less anything else earned some points with him already, He looked through her mind for a moment...to see what kind of person she was...Ah there's the reason she wanted to learn ...a noble reason indeed for any sith or user of the force.

He looked to the ronto that backed away from her hiss and again chuckeled a little she had a fire in her that he found intriguing when he spoke his voice was deep but intellgible. "sith spells are no small feat to achieve, it requires patience and you wont master it on your first try...heed what i teach you ..Be a annoyance and i will simply leave you here starving for knowledge until another finds you...understood?

 

[Ax'no]

"Do you underestimate my determination?" she asked, bemused. "I have a limitless amount of patience and will work extremely hard to perfect my skills." The horned mystic glanced at her Asti maenad as though seeking approval, which she received by the young girl's adoring smile back at her.

"I don't feel that I'm often an annoyance, but I have been known to get under the skin of some individuals." With that, using the Force, she sent a light Force touch towards Darth Rapax, but nothing intimidating or painful. The air crackled as her caress tingled his outer epidermis, a small electric shock of nascent Force powers. If she was overstepping her boundaries, she would feel his retribution in no time.

"That is about all I can do," she admitted. "Obviously I want to become stronger. Lord Rapax, what do you think we should start with?"

[member="Darth Rapax"]

 

[Rapax]

He observed her test technique...While some students who brazenly do even the smallest trick to their master would result in immediate retribution he found it amusing even admirable that the young would be so bold to do such a thing. She had potential within her and again a seer such as her self will prove very very useful especially if properly trained and fine tuned. He chuckled a little he was indeed intrigued by her species and her length and willingness to learn and grow. He spoke again to her with a tone of curiosity to his words. "I do not doubt your determination but i have encounter young pupils who wish to learn yet lack the patience to learn and end up being nothing but a waste of time....however i do not see that from you....I can show you some spells of my own as well as other techniques however i do not teach simple students my arsenal i teach those who will be my apprentices...those who take this role carry my legacy to the next generation and so on.....Your answere to this question does not affect todays lesson but future lessons.....if you wish to become an apprentice of mine ....i can help you reach the power of a true goddess of your kind ...isn't that why youv asked me here?" He asked inquisitively awaiting her answere.

[member="Briga Tiin"]

 

[Ax'no]

Briga’s amber eyes watched Knight Rapax with curiosity. She didn’t want to become a goddess… she was a goddess, but it would do no good to chastise him. The Caprine was practically courting the entire Sith organization for help with her celestial endeavor. She knew when to bite her tongue. But there was one Sith in particular that had caught the Priestess’s undivided attention, and through a bond forged in sweat and blood, she’d pledged all but her soul to him.

“I am afraid I already have a Master,” Briga said. “Darth Prazutis, Dark Councilor and Lord of Tyranny. But I’m willing to be your personal seer. I recently helped Darth Plinror and his army locate traitors on Thracior. I can do the same for you on the battlefield, provided I’m not with my flock or with training with Lord Prazutis.”

She didn’t know how much the Knight knew of her Master. In fact, she longed to ask him if he had some kind of relationship or secrets he could share, mostly because Briga wanted to please her new tutor. Their nascent master-student relationship was something she hadn’t quite figured out. The Caprine was used to manipulating, but she’d more than met her match in the Director of Intelligence.

“Can you teach me Odojinya?” the horned mystic asked.

[member="Darth Rapax"]

 

[Rapax]

Rapax was a little annoyed that such a prodigy was already claimed however a personal seer would be beneficial sadly he knew little anythign about Darth Prazutis but if hes one of the dark council then he should tread carefully with this one....the last thing he would want was to make an enemy of any member of the council. He thought on her offer for a moment and spoke again,"I accept your offer on being a seer for me and i will understand if you are un available due to other matters ...such is life" He heard what power she wanted to learn....odojinya eh? it is quite the interesting power that he doesnt share lightly...however he will make an exception for this one. " Odojinya is not a easy spell to learn ...however i will make an exception...First you must focus on your target and vision in your mind a literall web and make that image a reality around your victim" He looked to the ronto before them. "Try what i said on this beast"

[member="Briga Tiin"]

 

[Ax'no]

The horned mystic assessed Darth Rapax with mischievous, amber eyes, which glittered like a precious stone. He was different from her Master. Very no-nonsense and very down to business, but he also seemed kinder, perhaps. He readily accepted her offer to be a seer, although it would serve Briga well to remember he was a Sith Knight. At some point Rapax had been honed into a killing machine in some way, shape or form, despite his calm demeanor. While he didn’t outright intimidate Briga, she decided to be prudent and play the role of the “good student.”

Briga turned towards the ronto who were already flighty and skittish. She could almost smell their fear, the foul creatures. Focusing inward, she began weaving the web in her mind, the dark strands of energy knitting together. The mystic then unleashed the web onto the nearest ronto, who immediately startled, reared up and easily dodged the web, which faded as soon as Briga lost her concentration.

“Is there an incantation?” she asked. “Or do I just keep having to practice until I get it right?”

[member="Darth Rapax"]

 

[Rapax]

He noted how quickly she grasped the concept of the spell but indeed she needed the incantation or else full completion will not be possible so he reached into her mind and made sure the incantation flowed into her mind slowly enough for her to comprehend and grasp it properly and use it "Age kizs amzius, ri tutsi shiyi tsosûtidisi sas ri siajuâ wos ri skysosûtas; ri doti diâ ra kata shiyi ensnared diâ wohmniyizi ri riyiyazi diâ warmoné, diâ rariu, ir wisa ri shirsijia iw shukita, shiyi ai nia succored ri wodwtaki." Each word flowed into her mind slowly as to not overwhelm the young girls mind with an entire incantation in one setting. "Once the words settled into your mind try it again..remember what i told you before about how to create this web." He waited to see the results ...she was a good learner indeed and perhaps another experiment can be done with her help but that can wait for another time.


[member="Briga Tiin"]

 

[Ax'no]

Abruptly Briga heard the Gurlanin’s low-pitched growl of a voice inside her head reciting an incantation. She grasped onto it like a length of rope to commit it to memory. Watching the onyx-skinned beast, currently in his human form, the Caprine then tried out the ritual chant for herself:

"Age kizs amzius, ri tutsi shiyi tsosûtidisi sas ri siajuâ wos ri skysosûtas; ri doti diâ ra kata shiyi ensnared diâ wohmniyizi ri riyiyazi diâ warmoné, diâ rariu, ir wisa ri shirsijia iw shukita, shiyi ai nia succored ri wodwtaki."

But nothing happened.

Scowling, Briga slowly approached the fence where the Rontos were now grazing. They were less afraid no and went back to their business. What a sad, meager existence, thought the mystic, to be a beast of burden. She closed her eyes and concentrated on this disdainful thought, letting anger and hatred flow through her towards the creatures. In a guttural voice she chanted the ancient Sith invocation.

Tentacles of dark energy shot out of her hands and body and clasped onto the nearest Ronto, trapping it in Force Web. It appeared wispy and fragile, but the energy net was anything but. The animal could barely move but to honk for its companions who had immediately fled.

“Cowardly beasts,” said Briga. She turned back to the Sith Knight with a sly smile with a look that asked, “how did I do?”

[member="Darth Rapax"]

 

[Rapax]

He observed how she grasped to the words and tried it with just the incantation to no avail...however that wasn't the part that caught his attention it was that after she realized that it required more then just a mere chant of the old sith tongue to use this spell that she quickly caught on how to use this power with swift precision. He watched the spindly webs go forth from her and trap the Ronto before her and heard its honks for help that would never come. He couldn't help but simply show how merciless he is and extended his right arm in front of her in a closed fist form except for his pink and index finger which pointed towards her. He muttered something in the same language as the incantation for the web and a light greenish orb slowly appeared between the fingers and a bolt of powerful darkside energy shot forth. At first glance it would look like it was heading towards [member="Briga Tiin"] however it zoomed past her right ear and pierced through the head of the trapped ronto. He lowered his arm and chuckled a little before speaking again. "You are indeed a quick and powerful learner.....there is more i can show as well as possibly create a guardian for you ...one that will fight for you...and serve only you ...if you wish to have it..." He awaited her response she wanted to learn spells and he was more then willing to show her what hes been taught so far.

 

[Ax'no]

The Caprine was pleased with herself. She’d trapped the Ronto in the dark web, chuckling as it struggled to break free. Suddenly she saw a green orb of light swim past her eyes, and she stepped backwards instinctively. Darth Rapax summarily executed the trapped Ronto with another spell, a bolt that pierced the beast of burden’s skull.

“A guardian sounds quite perfect to be honest, and though my apprenticeship has just started, I will likely find myself at risk of harm, more so than usual.”

She titled her head at the dark-skinned alien. “But my Master, Darth Prazutis has me on a strict training regimen.” Strict was an understatement – Briga had been whipped, had been deprived of sleep and was learning every type of weapon, and even martial arts. While she had a feral glow, her body was actually quite sore and exhausted.

“But once you need me as a seer, call upon me and I will be there,” she said. The Caprine had to leave Nubia, but now she had the basics of the incantation and could practice on her own.

[member="Darth Rapax"]