Ad perpetuam memoriam of Kae (Open to Jedi or Lightsiders only)

[Raien Keth]

Kashyyyk Shadowlands lower levels, deep darkness and predatory fauna.
Vector East, site of old ruined temples with unreadable language.
Purpose - Hunting every Stray Lamb.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_wjYV5Qj2U​

Those times in stone when unbreakable truths form the walls you stand within, there is always the first and foundation which you dig into for purchase.

The rubble around the Sith was as ever crumbling, foundations undone. The armor this time weathered the storms with more dignity than the once withering body it had bonded with, more than iron, living memories of a greater time. Burning bright upon Krayt's reborn armor was the runic fire of the language that was crumbling beneath his boot, as the last of the walls fell.

Kashyyyk temples were a passing phase he had once entertained with lesser beings before assuming the dying mantle, removing all trace of where he had been in time was more in tune with Krayt’s last memories, than any sacrifice of the flesh would ever be to the Sith Spawn. The burning wreck of ancient history and forgotten races stood beneath his thick twisted boots, the start of the fire to come.

Stronger than he ever had been, the biodroids hunted through the forest devouring the predatory inhabitants, but they were scattered on their own missions and led by the lumbering red giant Massassi tomb guardians. Howls from the predators came from within shadow, predators that were used to fighting for survival in here the most hostile of places, but not used to the banquet of bloody hostility that greeted them this day.

What was he looking for? What were the shadowlands being set ablaze to find? Memoriam.

OOC:

Spoiler

Preferring a Master and apprentice but I can work with whoever, pm for any info you need if you like or just roll with it.

 

[Jsc]

Shiskavala Village
Mercenary Chapterhouse

A giant wookiee sat in the hearth chair with a paw to his cheek. His garb marked him a warrior and his braids decorated him as a veteran. His thoughts sat upon three worlds. Boz Pity, Togoria, and Shiskavala Ahala. Or Kashyyyk, as it was know to most foreigners. The old warlord mused the three planets together with their respective factions. Sith, Republic, Sanctum. All of them marking this side of space as the newest front of a very very old war. That thought chided him. Even as the forest burned deep, deep beneath him. Thinking. Musing. Pondering. Taking his great and patient time.

A group of humans stood idle nearer the wide doors of Grand Chapterhouse. Watching the old warlord ponder and twaddle his thumbs about granting them an audience. Wookiees were notorious for being a very private, primitive people. As quick to laughter and cheer as they were to war and violence. So it was the small party of humans let the War Chief ponder their secret mission in his own good time. They were Shadows after all. Silver Sanctum Special Forces. The type of cloak and dagger every government kept hidden from their press and people. Not even the Galactic Republic, in who's borders they wandered quietly, knew they were here.

"What's his name again?" The blonde male leaned over and whispered.

"Krik. The big one's name is Kirk. Mm... It's his mercenary name. The one he gives to strangers." The blue-haired woman nodded.

"Oh. And his real name?"

"Pfft. Who knows? Wookiees are a private people. Always have been. Perhaps his name is private too."

Commander Trask gave another nod and returned to attention. Passing a nervous hand through his perfectly situated blonde hair. Straightening his black equipment vest and shrugging again to feel the rifle against his shoulder blades. Everybody always said Wookiees were large creatures but... Up close and personal? Man. They were huge.

Karen Roberts gave him a soft smile and lifted her chin with patience. They weren't going to get a real audience with the War Chief if all they did was whisper and sweat bullets. Ha. Only a clean and calm demeanor could speak with the loud and confident volume they needed right now. If only to gain the old chief's ear. Too bad too. Trask was practically panicking right about now. Force be with the new Commander. This expedition was turning out crazier than she'd ever thought.

...

"grrr."

The massive Wookiee extended two fingers and beckoned the small party of humans to approach. Indeed. Perhaps he had considered their strange offer already. Or, perhaps these small humans were merely walking into another tribal execution. He made a guttural bark and the silver protocol droid did the rest,

"Oh. Hello there. I am C4-DDK. Human cyborg relations. His Majestic Name would like to welcome you to the village. He knows you have traveled far and is anxious to see you depart just as quickly. However. Before he can grant you leave from his village he must pass judgement over why you have come."

Commander Trask stepped forward and decided to chime in,

"We only require his leave to make use of the Yaso Shadowport for a quick excursion into Sith space. After that we will leave his territory in peace."

The Warlord seemed to scoff. Leaning on his massive paw without smiling. The droid looked quickly between the two warriors before continuing,

"His Majestic Name is already aware of your mission to his homeworld. And any excursion into Sith territory is always welcomed for the violence and destruction it might bring upon his enemies. However. The Sanctum is a foreign body to our trees. Untrusted and unknown. And while your stories and legends might be known to us? His Magestic Name wishes to see your merits proved in fire and combat first. He... Has a mission for you."

Karen raised an eyebrow and uncrossed her arms. So? That's how it's going to be. A favor for a favor, eh? ...Very well. If that got them the resources they needed? So be it. She was anxious now to see just what wild questline the old Warlord would put them to. She waited patiently for his strange demands to be made.

The Commander seemed baffled at these remarks and the Cheiftain's protocol droid simply shook it's silver head in apprehension of what came next. The old Wookiee,

Well. He just smiled.

___

[member="Raien Keth"]

 

[Aston Jacobs]

Shiskavala Village

"The signal is getting weaker." Aston muttered under his breath, as beads of sweat could be seen on his brown. The small device that rested in his hand showed a hologram image that seemed to flutter in out and of visibility. The Jedi Padawan stared intently taking in what he could see and just attempting to fill in the blanks, as dangerous as that could be. The Jedi had a great sense of direction however he didn't want to bet his life on it though. All directions and internal compass seemed to point towards the shadow lands, onward and downward it seemed. But first, the Jedi took the top of off his canteen and took a small drink of water. He was almost out, he would return to the village and stock up once more before making a descent into the shadowlands.

Aston neared the large compartment sized makeshift elevator they used as he rose up high within the trees and finally making his stop and entry into the village. As Aston stopped next to a nearby vendor, regaining what he had lost. The Jedi heard some mumbling, well as mumbled as Wookiee tongue can go.

"He's one of them." One of the nearby guards was conversing with another. Aston glanced to his left and then his right as he quickly gathered what he had purchased which was just a refill of water and he started to moved away. Just as he did so, a Wookiee next to him held up his hand and stopped Aston dead in his track as he placed it across his chest. "Hello there." Aston said with a smirk as he tried to move past him but was met by another Wookiee. Listening to their language and dialogue Aston chuckled lightly. "I'm not hear with anyone. Warchief?! I'm not going to see the war chief! I've got business I must tend too." But his words were lost on them as they escorted him across the way and before he knew it he was next to another group of individuals. "Thanks." Aston said as he nodded to the departing Wookiees who didn't actually leave at all, but stayed in the back a bit. Aston figured they were thinking he was going to try and escape. The Jedi knew he hadn't done anything wrong....

Today....

Aston closed his eyes and took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as he then opened his eyes and looked around and his eyes happened to catch those of [member="Karen Roberts"] .

"Hi..." Aston said with a small smirk. "Did they accuse you of something too?" The Jedi whispered as he awaited a response, if he was going to get one.

[member="Raien Keth"]

 

[Raien Keth]

Shiskavala Village.

“Outsider.” The mood indeed was about to change, but only for one wookiee. He roared and pointed accusingly at [member="Aston Jacobs"] , “they desecrate the lands, like the other, take, take take,” wildly gesturing. “Send them away!” at this point the breath on the wookeie’s maw found itself face to face with the jedi padawan and he was pulled back by the guards. Sakaccai, an especially dark furred hunter showing the wookiee’s temper, you never could predict it but it seemed like he had reason. A Sith cutting through the eldars because they wouldn’t tell him what he wanted to know could do that to anyone, the only reason Raien had left is because the wookiees had sent a decoy away to draw him from them into the shadows below, but the decoys time was almost over.

Great sadness was the undertone, the wookies being private enough were choosing not to share it. The echani girl poking [member="Karen Roberts"] knee with her wooden doll, a practical toy, she seemed especially sad, alone almost, till a female wookie cradled her up in her arms protectively and fussed over her well being, turning her especially large, hairy back to the event.

Deep Shadowlands, closing.

Crossing another temple off as no good, the rummaging force departed for another, creating mayhem in the dark heart of these wild lands and sending animals scattering in its wake. Through the dim shadow, a holo recording crackled in Raien’s hand, several cloaked figures around a small circular room, 6 in total. A red head with light tanned skin was the first to step into view and the recording focused in on her.

[member="Sera Inkari"] and the seers words of warning, guiding him to possible futures occurring in the nearest settlement, her replacement of his broken farseering closing him in on the child’s location, yet her words favoured one more stop before he found it, he could see the map was taking him back to Shiskavala but pride did not allow him to consider a location he’d already searched.

“Your life purpose is the child, the essence of creation.” The armored suit culled the silence in the force, force searing the mind, demanding the nearest Massassi ahead answer what they perceived as their dead Master’s last wish, the wake in the force sent outward, piercing, harming the living force like wounds upon the breath it drew from. Krayt had a vision before his death, conquer death by going through it, the suit of armor consuming Darth Surtr was the pinnacle of both men’s life’s work, and it had to be shared with the one who had started that life’s work to bring it full circle. Hana.

The last known descendent of the house of Kae seemed was the force's choice to bare the burden with him. Innocence, unlike his other experiments, the life had to be taken before it knew of what was awaiting it, to experience it without the barriers of reason, ideology or judgement placed upon its path. Purity in the force's expression of Krayt's will was the goal.

NPCs:

Spoiler

Are yours to do with as you like.

 

[Jsc]

The assembly grew slumbering silent as Sakaccai retreated from his wrath. Karen dismissed the outburst and turned to answer the newcomer, [member="Aston Jacobs"] , to her right. But as her gaze feel upon the young Jedi, her eyes saw far far past him. Something in the shadows was stirring. Deep deep below. Like a red eye, filled with two voices, it gazed back towards Shiskavala with a sudden interest. Then disappeared, once again.

Her mouth opened but she had nothing to say. Or, perhaps she had forgotten how to reply altogether. Indeed, it wasn't until a white-haired girl was pulled away from her that Karen seemed to gardener any recollection.

"I'm... sorry."

Was all she could manage as she pulled away from Jacobs. Her thoughts depressed onto other matters. Drums, drums. Fires in the deep. Trask was staring at Karen now. The Commander was even more bewildered then before. Passing his gave from Aston to Roberts and back again. Just what the hell was going on here, anyway?

"grrr."

The old Warchief stood and waved a paw. Dismissing the assembling and all it's aggressive tendencies. He wanted a word without distractions. To partner a quest without the council of his peers. Damn their pride. Anger and modern bowcasters would not slay Raien nor his monstrous steel form. For that, he needed something far closer indeed. And something far stronger.

When the room emptied all everyone except two far guards, the chief sat back down and gave a wave to his interpreter,

"His Majestic Name will now grant you access to the Shadowport, as you see fit to use it against the Sith. However, he now requests that you rid the village of it's most recent plague. A Sith Master. Who most recently was seen leaving for the dark underbelly of this very territory."

"The Shadowlands."

Trask muttered with discontent. Karen could only raise her chin as the droid continued.

"Destroy this apparition of darkness and His Majestic Name shall call you friend and visitor. Indeed. Do this and many opportunities may make themselves known to you. But be warned. Fail to serve his Majestic Name and you two shall be called enemy amongst these trees. So let it be written. So let it be done."

"grrr."

The chief seemed to echo those final phrases and reached for his long rifle. Grabbing the massive weapon and banging it hard against the ground. Boom. Boom. Boom. It's echo reverberated throughout the Chapterhouse and quickly the doors opened once again.

"You are all now charged and dismissed by his Majestic Name. May the Goddess grant you victory under her branches."

Trask and the other Shadows turned to take their leave. Befuddled and annoyed by the vague and childish task that lay before them. Karen was not so dismissive. She turned again to [member="Aston Jacobs"] and pointed out to the doors, and beyond.

"Let's talk outside. Shall we?"

The quest now given. She was going to need all the help she could get.

...

Meanwhile, outside the Chapterhouse. Dark Hunter Sakaccai and his near Lieutenant couldn't help but notice that both the Silver Sanctum and the blonde Jacobs had eluded another swift foreigner's execution. And though they both bubbled with fury and rage at the outcome of the meeting. It was not their haunting darkness that Karen was worried about. Oh no. There was something far worse out in that forest than angry bears and lying tigers. Mmm. Can you sense it? The fire amongst the trees?

Something wicked this way comes.

 

[Aston Jacobs]

Shiskavala Village

Aston glanced towards Karen as she moved away and then he was greeted by an extremely angry and aggressive Wookiee, while Aston did not show fear or did not back away. He stood firm this accusation as he just shook his head and simply responded. "I am not your enemy here, I've always held respect for your kind." Aston said narrowing his eyes at the Wookiee as he was pulled away.

Thus as he was Aston sensed something here, something elusive that seemed to be like a snake in the river. The Jedi Padawan glanced back towards Karen and that was when the Chief spoke through the interpreter and mentioned a dark presence that had graced the darkness of the shadowlands. The Sith like darkness, it seems fitting to venture down into the shadowlands. Aston remained on edge though considering what he was searching for seemed to also point towards the shadowlands, he wondered if they were after the same thing. And if they were, he was already a step ahead of him.

The Jedi Padawan however couldn't afford to go rushing into this one though, there seemed to be an invisible blanket of darkness that swept over this land and seemed to have everyone on edge. And if this darkness was this strong, perhaps there was more than one Sith here, or this Sith Master was extremely powerful. Aston would need help if he was to accomplish what he came here for.

Victory eh, we should all be so grateful. Aston thought as they were dismissed and the woman,[member="Karen Roberts"] mentioned that they would speak outside. The Jedi Padawan simply nodded as he followed her outside taking one last look at the chief and as they passed those that were waiting outside. Once they got within a good distance Aston muttered under his breath to where she could hear him. "There is a strong presence of darkness here, I feel it."

 

[Jsc]

Karen was not surprised [member="Aston Jacobs"] could sense the darkness. From the moment he entered the Chapterhouse the Force had made his talents known to her as well. Perhaps he was a Jedi Knight of the Republic? The 102nd had a Fleet presence here ever since the fall of Togaria. Though, she did not expect to meet another Adept under such strange, and perhaps secretive, circumstances.

Roborts approached the wooden railing of the village's great streets and turned to speak with him further. At least... That was until Shadow Commander Trask came muttering through,

"Damn it Roberts. We don't have time for this. Sigh."

"At ease Commander. You have your mission and now, I have mine. ...Take your men to the Shadowport at once and continue the expedition. I will catch up to you once the Sith Lord as been dealt with."

He seemed even more surprised at her answer. Cocking his head to look at Jacobs as if he had suddenly realized he had missed something.

"What? Surly you don't mean to engage this massive creature alone? Or... What? With a mere boy at your back?"

"What I do from here on out is none of your concern Commander. You command the Shadows. Not I. My job was simply to see you peacefully past the Kronos Guard. And I did so easily and long ago. So please. Proceed with the mission. This is for the best. I assure you."

"Bah. And what? Go back to the Heavenshield's without our Force Master in tow? Maybe I'll mention we just lost you outside of Tenab or Phrikar? Ugh. Nonsense. The clanners would have my head and my badge."

"You have a responsibility to your mission Commander. And that mission lies on Togaria. Not here. ...Fear not. This boy, is a Jedi Knight. And with his help not even a Sith Lord will deter us. You have my assurances. I will see you back on Boz Pity shortly."

The other Shadows seemed to agree with Karen. Leave her and Jacobs to deal with the Wookiees silly quest. They had a whole Sith War to attend to. Trask noted their murmerings and finally relented. But not before giving Aston a look of utter contempt. Bah.

"Very well Roberts. Have it your way. The Shadows will continue this mission without you. Hmph. Force be with you then. Oh. ...And good luck kid. You're gonna need it."

The blonde veteran took his leave and the other soldiers quickly followed suit. Finally giving Karen and Aston a five minutes peace.

...

"Right. Sorry about that. Politics always seems to rule the day in this galaxy. ...Oh? And where are my manners? Forgive me. I am Karen Roberts. Force Master of the Silver Sanctum of Voss. At your service."

She was garbed in her exotic Gem's Coat, with her helm tucked snugly under her arm, and surprisingly equipped with no weapons whatsoever. Eager to make Aston's acquaintance.

 

[Raien Keth]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da4d2lDURj0​

Had the red witch delayed him? Why, what did she see he didn’t? Answers to extract from her skull. The nearest stones to him shook to dust and the makeshift temple crumbled to nothing, back to the past. It wasn’t rash rage that flew forth from the betrayer, it was that slow grinding that always gnawed at the Sith Spawn, he saw her, a flash of her face, her scent, what she was to him, Hana. Roots to be plundered and even though the shadows below may seem dark, above the foundations they were built on bred life for the animals, then the wookies and our visitors that stood upon him. What lived above based on the conflicts underneath. That was what this child was to him, and he was to the force.

Fitting to see Surtr, Krayt’s armor, the shell of broken wounds, now cleansed, even the memories taken to be something worse, taking, sapping the nourishment from the larger trees that the settlement stood on. The armor had healed these wounds, but there was a crack, a crack of the past still there, like the bark splitting ahead of him. Alchemy was being seeded at the base of Shiskavala Village, Keth was methodical now he knew, those above were sitting on a place that would wither and die, day by day, until there was nothing left. The biodroids poured more of the liquid containers down to the very core of the trees, though they were tough, the whirring axes of the giant massassi ripped the stems open and the poison travelled upward.

Shiskavala Village

So the child was carried backward toward a small hutt, and the curtains shut, the wooden doll left scattered across the nearby walkway. All seemed calm, our groups well separated, it might be weeks before anyone knew what was really going on. Winds stirred but nothing more for a time, and the shadows below remained, but…. what was the but?

But that wookiee runner, that one they’d sent as a decoy had just returned, and sadly for him he had a sword through his back, he didn’t say much, just one word. “Sorry.”

The crawling of insect, robot, biological creatures was soon to be heard. Faceless black humanoids in appearance, droid in mentality and insectoids in how they moved, scaling the trees and toward the base of the village like a creeping menace. One on one they were nothing for a Jedi, the Massassi tomb guards herding them upward, were once tasked by Krayts followers to guard his tomb twisted by the darkside and although by nature would have been at the front, Raien would not allow their leash to be removed to risk their life so easily.

[member="Karen Roberts"] | [member="Aston Jacobs"]
OOC:

Spoiler

Excuse the delay, writing through writers block quite literally, but I’ll get there, next one will be quicker.

 

[Aston Jacobs]

Shiskavala Village

Aston eyes widened slightly at the mention of him being a Jedi Knight. perhaps she had felt something in him through the force that could have suggested something. Aston Jacobs however was just a padawan. He had to keep the smile to himself at that mention towards her companion he did feel a bit proud in that moment, but he wasn't going to let it go to his head.


"Very well Roberts. Have it your way. The Shadows will continue this mission without you. Hmph. Force be with you then. Oh. ...And good luck kid. You're gonna need it."

"Thanks, and good luck to you as well." Aston said with a small nod of his head, The Jedi could understand their concerns a great deal, he wasn't one to run from a challenge, however he wasn't foolhardy either. He would do the best with what he could do, and usually the force would take the rest. Aston smiled softly as he faced [member="Karen Roberts"] and he bowed his politely.

"Master Roberts, Karen...its a pleasure to meet you. The Silver Sanctum is an honorable order. I've had the privilege of fighting at their side a time ago." The Jedi said sticking his hand out to her. "I must admit it's very flattering for you to say, but I'm still a Padawan." Aston took a deep breath and chuckled lightly before he pressed on. "My name is Aston Jacobs, Padawan of the Galactic Alliance."

Aston's smiled faded just a bit as he narrowed his eyes and glanced to the left, looking at nothing in particular, but everything in general. The force sending a distress signal if that's what you could call it. "What is that...?"


[member="Raien Keth"]

 

[Jsc]

"That..."

Karen spook with a terrible frown and a gaze that pierced far beyond the village's tender flames,

"Is a coming storm."

...

Kapow. The doors to the Chapterhouse blew open again with a terrible thrust. This time echoing with the howls of rage and a Lieutenant's violent new report. For on the steps of the village lay a dead Wookiee with a sword in his back. A signal. Nay, a trumpet to the Chieftains and warriors of the village. What they feared most was already on it's way.

Karen turned her head back to [member="Aston Jacobs"] with a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. But her gaze was already smiling far far and beyond him,

"Ha. Padawan it is then. Grand. ...So Mr. Alliance?" She shook his open hand, "Care to join me for a little recon mission in this humid night's air? ...My treat."

She pointed over his shoulder to a Wookiee Firefly resting easily on the flight pad behind him. A primitive, yet stylish flying machine. Even had an auto-blaster mounted on the rear. How quaint. The Jedi woman smirked again at her suggestion with another twinkle to her fancy,

"I mean. You can shoot, can't you? Hehe."

Roberts gave [member="Aston Jacobs"] as wave to follow. She would gleefully 'borrow' this Wookiee military vessel. After all? On planet full of tree branches and silent steep falls? There really is no better way to travel. Then to fly.

...

Thermal sensors which marked the barrier to the lower village had yet to trip. Though the climbing forces beneath were not dissuaded by the lance's hidden presence. And through the roar of the warrior's arguments, few stopped to hear the onslaughts approach. Only a small Wookiee woman bothered to knell down and peer through the wooden beams. Hark? What creature could make such a tussle in the dark?

The Chapterhouse was all a'roar with fright and flurry. Yet this tiny furry creature leaned down lower from her midnight walk to pierce her gaze out further into the darkness. Grasping silently with a wrinkle of her noise for any kind of explanation to the noise.

"wrrr?..!"

Then her eyes went wild with fright.

___

[member="Raien Keth"]

 

[Raien Keth]

Trip those sensors did. Chattering, tapping footsteps up the bark. So the black tide spilled upwards, like ants, insects eating to hollow out the tree and collect food the biodroids came, some two hundred of them. Wookies would smash them down, cut them in two but they didn’t care, had no feeling, or sense of self preservation, swarming each wookiee like large locust and dragging them off down its bark. The mercenary hut soon had these black leech like humanoids all over it ripping into its sides. Their faces or faceless gel-like soup they had to look upon, would resemble the Galactic Alliance troopers DNA that they had been spawned from, fed into these machines from the prisoners Raien had taken when they invaded Coruscant. These creatures had something [member="Aston Jacobs"] may or may not recognize in these horrors, his own missing comrades.

You never want to let Raien take you prisoner, its not just a cliché that you’ll live in interesting times or worse be those interests.

Could the shadowlands of spawned such creatures? No these were long engineered creations and part of the latest surge of the Betrayer focus, an equal third insect, man and machine. The Jedi were in their worst nightmare, and it was about to get worse, but nothing here mattered, they could just as easily of been spared or ignored. Raien felt nothing for those dragged away to become the new DNA for the droids, not even anger. What the armor had taken it had given his crumbling body back, with a leap like that out of his youth the betrayer landed full force atop one of the walkways.

He said nothing, told the Massassi nothing, their minds had been branded with the girls image, it was almost seared into their bodies among their many black tattoos. Singlemindedly focused on acquiring the girl, behind him the two red giant Sith Spawn stood, hulking great creatures carrying large force axes and seemingly herding the biodroids forward and upward like cattle. For a brief moment he caught sense in the force of Karen and Aston but no sight of them yet, they had that advantage in that he was so arrogant to not even regard them as there, let alone a threat to him, Sith pride twisted to an intolerable extreme.

[member="Karen Roberts"] | [member="Aston Jacobs"]

 

[Aston Jacobs]

"A coming storm you say." Aston glanced around a bit just before she mentioned the wookiee contraption. "Quite correct, and yes, I can shoot anything." Aston said with a small chuckle. "Well, almost anything." The Jedi said with a smile. Aston glanced around to his right as a trio of wookiee's ran past and seemed to be in a hurry just then the Jedi felt a disturbance in the force as the wind picked up in large gust around them. Aston cleared his throat as he took a deep, deep breath and exhaled looking back to Karen.

"On point with that storm." Aston said as he heard the commotion of breaking boards and screams from Wookiee's, panicked and seemingly immobilized as the Jedi took a step forward.

"The recon mission might have to wait, Milady." The Jedi Padawan looking back to her then to what laid before them, whatever monstrosities had been sent their way.

[member="Raien Keth"] [member="Karen Roberts"]

 

[Jsc]

Karen was rather bewildered by the sudden onslaught. Now there was chaos everywhere.

"Oh my..."

She noted the arrival of one [member="Raien Keth"] , some type of Sithspawn creature encased in what sensed to be more alchemical shenanigans. Ah. And he had an escort of red-skins. Great. Just the perfect time to remember she was unarmed and without her escort of soldiers. Wonderful.

"Okay. New plan..."

She frowned and returned her gaze to the Chapterhouse,

"I'll get the Wookiee Flyer ready to rumble while you get us some weapons. Here. Back in the Chapterhouse there is an armory. Full of all sorts of fun firearms to play with. Grab as much as you can carry and I'll meet you out back near the Grand Balcony with our ride. ...Hurry now. It won't take those red-skinned creatures long to notice that you and I are a greater threat to them than those 10-foot tall warlords."

She pointed to the Chapterhouse and gave a nod to [member="Aston Jacobs"] ,

"Remember. Follow your instincts. They will lead you back to me. Now go. ...Go!"

And with that she gave a nod and dashed off to grab a vehicle. Escape was their only choice now. Contacting the Republic 102nd and requesting reinforcement was going to have to be their next best option. Sith Lords be damned.

...

___

ooc: don't grab the guns. grab the girl. *wink*

 

[Raien Keth]

[member="Aston Jacobs"]
Focused on the guarding huts, thankfully the droids hadn’t reached the population center yet, and while our Jedi plotted how to best distract the bulk of this herd before they did even more damage, the poisoning of worlds continued underfoot, little by little seeding the next generation of alchemized Sith creation at the hearts of Kashyyyk’s less deserving but suitably warrior-like creatures, how many madclaws would be born here today? Enraged wookiees were no pushover, stacking droid bodies up with bowcaster and melee attacks, but they were being pushed back all the same.

Keth was calmly at home in his grand works, upon closer inspection he could be seen to have only one hand now, the other a large clump like maul of a thing, vong shaped pieces of the armor forming a weapon where a hand should be, adorned with spikes. While in his other he held the edge of truth, a crimson clawed lightsaber, filled with bloody histories all its own. Recently having had his left hand melted by one [member="Elpsis Kallikora"], his devouring armor had taken the limb.

[member="Karen Roberts"]
Time to separate from his roving horde. Like Vader had once found Galen Marek on Kashyyyk, Raien was a predictable slave to history repeating. Our invaders came to three separate paths, the Betrayer said not a word and the Hulking Massassi spread around the settlement, taking their roving bands of droids with them. Keth sensed where he needed to be, all around him was dim and dark except for signatures, auras, and a descendent of [member="Hana Kae"] was perhaps the brightest he ever did see, drawn to her rough location.

~Fear not your path child.~ The Sith Spawn sent through the force, loudly and widely, voice phasing along currents of their force, as he knew not where she was exactly, all with force sense could hear.

The same wookiee female that had protected the child previously came from her wooden hut, to confirm Raien was close, wielding the biggest, meanest looking scythe weapon you ever did see. The Jedi were running out of time save the wookiees, or the girl, or somehow both? A typical Keth made dilemma [member="Karen Roberts"] | [member="Aston Jacobs"], thankfully there were two of them!

NPCs

Spoiler

Yours to kill as you like, Krayt's tomb guardians should probably be a couple of hits.

 

[Raien Keth]

Through the fighting, the Jedi tied up defending the settlement true enough, and wookiees that were holding their own against the lesser MKI Biodroids, but inch by inch being pushed further back, even as droid corpse was piled high. None of that mattered to Keth, he had reached the hut he’d came here for.

Face to Face with the proud wookiee defender, shielding the last daughter of Kae, Raien looked through her as if her he couldn’t see her, or didn’t care to, truth was he could barely see her, so weak in the force as she was. She swung the scythe in her hands proudly, probably a weapon she’d used to cut many a troublesome plant or creature from disturbing their happy home.

His vong mace met the blade, shattering it in two, there was no ceremony or honourable death for the woman, her neck was gripped in the force, pulling her too him as she howled, and while she turned to look upon her echani charge helplessly. The little girl in the middle of all of this, the wookiee could but try to reach for her as she was tossed from the walkway with Raien's metal hand, plummeting to the deep forest floor below.

Steps took him closer to the child, extending a hand, but obviously she was scared stiff and froze. ~Burn it~, Raien said through their force, echoing into the minds of the Sith Spawn who began to light the wooden platforms around their settlement ablaze.

~Come with me,~ Raien’s voice echoed into the child’s mind, ~I will protect you,~ heat around the surrounding platforms building, there was a strange honesty in his voice, but then his sense of protect was markedly different to most.

[member="Karen Roberts"] | [member="Aston Jacobs"]​

 

[Jsc]

Over the blaze of the village a Wookiee flyer buzzed the carnage.

"Well. I'd never..."

Karen gasped with distaste. What sort of monster torches an entire village right in the middle of a Republic Fleet holding. Craziness.

"Bah. Well. At least I won't have to call for reinforcements."

Her com buzzed with voice of a very familiar Silver Shadow. So she decided to voice him in,

"Ah. Hello Commander..."

~ "Roberts! Word on the ground is that Shiskavala is up in flames!? What's your situation?" ~

"Indeed. I'm flying over a wreckage of a village right now in a Wookiee flyer. Quite a mess indeed."

~ "Our Sith Lord?" ~

"Oh quite. It seems he's returned to deliver the fatal blow to our warlord friend. As a matter of fact..."

~ "Can it Roberts! This is no time for musing. Cut the cord and let the Republic clean up the mess. We've got a mission to run and we could still use your help." ~

She scoffed at his manner but couldn't help his reasons. The village was lost, the enemy had an army, and she was without help or her swords. Damn.

"Very well Commander. I'll meet you at the Shadowport with all due haste. Roberts out."

She killed the com and slung a bowcaster over her lap. Pulling her flyer around the smoke and diving down towards to the Chapter House balcony. Musing to herself and towards [member="Aston Jacobs"] strange delay,

"Come on kid. Let's make this fast..."

...

The Wookiee flyer swooped down to the burning balcony and leveled off. The canopy being open to the night air, she fired her bowcaster straight at the local red skins and escort. Kapow! Knocking them clean away from the railings and right through the walls of the Chapter House. Smash. Whoa! Whoa! This gun packs a real punch! Yeehaa. Now that's what I'm talking about! It was less plasma caster and more rocket launcher, I'd say. Wooo.

Karen cried out into the smoldering night air for Jacobs to make his getaway. Hopefully with a little something-something recovered from inside,

"Come on kid! Let's go!"

It was getting about that time. Time to leave this party.

 

[Raien Keth]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC6PKJd431E​

Taresa Kae was born, in the fire's and silence she'd know so well.​

Our wookiee village burning as the sacrificial lamb upon which fate made its choice. Fire engulfed those the girl knew or appreciated, those who had raised her, she watched as wookiee and indeed human fell to the power of the sith in front of her. Her eyes wide in terror for a time, even as the ground beneath them started to peel away.

The Jedi with agility made their getaway, leaving the biodroids to harvest the wookiees, though many had fled to the forests, taking their young. Raien dedicating one more shrine that no doubt his once brothers would have scorned him for, the surface of this planet often littered with his great works, if only they'd shared the grander vision.

|

Two faces, Two Fates, One decision made [member="Hana Kae"]​

Yet the fate of this place, this one blip on Kashyyyk was inconsequential as to the fate of the last daughter of Kae. Raien left his hands there, and as she felt the heat rising, she showed courage, she resisted taking anything from him.

Resigned to burn there? No. Proud like her family line, she followed him out on her own, like Raien had to his fate on Ruusan all those years ago, to begin her teaching and service to the Sith, a better fate than a foolish Echani boy joining a weak cult, but a similar outcome nonetheless. Still somewhere, some distant memory might have shed a tear, long lost to times and histories past.

Fin for Raien
@Thanks to both of you!

[member="Karen Roberts"] | [member="Aston Jacobs"]​