Invasion Beasts of Babylon: BotM Invasion of SE held Felucia

[Dis]

Dis the Shadow(cat)
Shadowcat, explorer and wanderer; Owner of the Cat’s Paw; Member of the Greystone Mercantile​

Objective II.: Make friends | Barn Razing
Location: Plantation Outskirts, Felucia
Equipment: N/A
Writing with: Desmundor Alcademon | The Mongrel | Tegan Starfall

[ Theme ] ​

It soon became apparent to Dis that their presence had been noticed. Not many were able to see them, but they had already met such persons, so it was not surprising to them. Hovering closer they chose a point where all three people could see them and revealed their presence. The Shadowcat was a roughly bobcat / lynx-sized cat from shadows, an immaterial, ghostly creature with two snow-white, iris-free eyes, and the shadows even moved around them as they moved.

~ They have a right to life, life is not a punishment. Their time has not yet come. The best option is for you to leave. ~ they replied to everyone, while also conveying a sense of determination to them.

From the answer, it might have been clear that Dis could hear the words spoken aloud as well. Their mouth were not visible on it, so this may have been one of the reasons they used telepathy instead of loud speech. The strange man did not respond to their words, just went forward; unfortunately, Dis had no power or ability without a host to stop him, just as they could not stop the other man either.

~ I would like to resolve this situation peacefully, if possible. I know it’s not a Sith method, but most Sith I know are willing to bargain and hear common sense arguments. I’m Dis, the Shadowcat… ~ they introduced themselves to the three of them.

 

[Tu'teggacha]

Objective III: Seek Artifact, Tame Beasts​

Location: Felucia, Rancor Graveyard
Allies: Kyrel Ren , Khaostra Devoid , Ana Malixar (?)
Foes: Open

The Taskmaster was vaguely surprised that Ana didn't take the opportunity to flee; the full attention of all of his marauders was focused on the hulking creature tearing into their ranks, and none of them could have done much to stop her. She did take the opportunity to arm herself, and Tu'teggacha internally nodded in approval... even as he kept a close eye on her. Grabbing the Force Pike had been a calculated move, one that it would make no sense for him to question while in the middle of battle but changed the balance of power between them. The Sithling might be alone and outnumbered, but she was clearly far from helpless.

There was no time to waste wondering at her plans, however. The rancor grabbed another marauder in its clawed fist and threw him across the valley, where he slammed into the rocky wall with bone-shattering force. Then it lunged forward, shouldering aside a pair of beastmasters who tried to force it back with shock whips, and snapped its jaws right at Tu'teggacha. The Ebruchi did not flinch. He raised a hand in front of him, focusing his dark power, and delved into the beast's thoughts. What he found was simple: hunger that had overwhelmed caution, alongside rage at this intrusion into its territory. It was determined to crush them all.

He could hold it back for a moment, but little more than that.

"It is an ancient beast," Tu'teggacha said, beads of sweat running down his rubbery skin, "scarred beyond the ability to feel pain. Our weapons will not subdue it." The Taskmaster raised a second hand, exerting yet more of his power to confuse the rancor and slow its thoughts. But the delay in being eaten was still only that: a delay. This rancor had already absorbed tremendous Dark Side energy in its days hunting through this cursed place; a little more would barely hold it back. "It is too swift to outrun, and too powerful for me to subdue alone. Use the Force, young Maxilar. Join your strength to mine, or it will devour us both!"

Perhaps together they could drive the creature off, or even lull it into nightmare-filled sleep... but there was no guarantee that Ana would help. She might take her chances and slip away, leaving the Brotherhood warriors to be torn apart. It was what Tu'teggacha himself would have done in her position... if he'd believed he could get away with it. He wasn't lying that the rancor was incredibly fast, and the canyon was narrow; there was precious little room to dodge. If they didn't face down this king of the graveyard now, it would hunt them down, and the chances that any of them left the bone-strewn gorge alive would be slim indeed...

 

[Ana Malixar]

Location: Rancor Graveyard
Allies: Tu'teggacha (?)
Enemies: Kyrel Ren Khaostra Devoid

For a moment, Ana just stood there. She watched in shock as the creature easily discarded even more of the soldiers. She felt no sympathy for them, some of them had attacked her. Let them suffer. As long as the creature didn't kill her, their deaths only evened the playing field. Then it went for the rider and miraculously he held it back. She quickly realized this man wasn't as helpless as she had initially thought. He certainly wasn't a lightsaber-wielding maniac that could carve an entire army to shreds, but he was still very strong in his own way. She had underestimated him, it was an important note for later.

After he spoke, Ana hesitated for a split second. A million thoughts continued to race through her head. A part of her knew she should run. No, all of her knew she should run. Escaping now would be easy...yet she didn't. She was curious. This man had shown more temperance and mercy in these few moments than some Sith showed in a lifetime. Her knack for knowledge meant she couldn't resist seeing how this would end. She was incredibly curious to know what his endgame was and the only way to find that out was to stick around until she caught a glimpse of it. She was willing to take that risk to understand, even if it put her in danger. Similar to how she was willing to risk danger for the artifact hidden somewhere within this graveyard. And if this didn't work it wasn't her who was going to get eaten, at least not yet.

The force pike she'd picked up moments earlier fell right back into the dirt as she dropped it. It wasn't useful in her hands anyway. Instead, she concentrated on the beast in front of them. She tried to focus on the dark energy around and let immerse her to establish her connection with the Force. She let it to sweep her up in its current. Then she channeled that energy towards the creature. Truth be told, she had little idea what she was doing. She had developed a knack for reading others feelings, but controlling them was different. Nonetheless, she simply concentrated and focused on the pain. It's pain, the starvation and torment; hers, the lingering electrocution; and that from the environment around them, the hundreds of beasts and people who had died here before. She magnified it to the best of her ability. She was determined to torment it and let the pain wash over it, similarly to how the Force had washed over her. The one danger of her focus was that it left her open to attack, but at least the Rancor was there to extract vengeance for her if the few soldiers left decided this was the optimal time to strike.

 

[Darth Syphus]

Engaging: Ishani Dinn

Syphus cut down foe after foe, when a new prey caught his eye. Ishani Dinn was making her own way across the battle, pushing forward through the Graug. Unfortunately for her, she had pushed a bit too hard, finding herself surrounded by their forces. Perhaps she stood a chance against them. Perhaps, she didn't. He could have just watched them rip her to shreds...

But where's the sport in that?

He continued to hack his way through, eventually reaching his prey. His first blow was blocked, though his second managed to knock her own weapon to the ground. She began to scramble back through the chaos, seeming to seek a way out of the fight. Syphus let out a little chuckle as she tried to get away from the fight.

"[color]A Sith running from a fight? My my my... that wasn't what I expected here. I was promised fights, and blood, and death. You can't leave, we're only getting started![/color]"

He rushed in, perhaps a little too quick. His lightsaber rose again, looking to take a leg from her...

That's when the Graug jumped on him.

Some large mess of a creature had tackled him to the ground. Syphus had been so focused on his prey that his vision had tunneled, allowing the monster to take advantage of the distraction. He fought the beast on the ground, attempting to push him off. The anger and rage began to well up inside him once again, and the voices began to scream from within. In a fit of rage, Syphus shot Force lightning at the Graug point blank. The creature lurched back in pain, allowing Syphus to regain his footing. He continued to blast the creature with an endless hail of lightning, laughing all the while.

"Filthy creature."

He kept it up until the Graug was a nothing but a smoldering corpse.

Turning his attention back to his previous prey, Syphus reignited his lightsaber.

"Now, where were we?"

Syphus kicked her blade to her side, just within reach.

"You're going to need that."

​

 

[Ishani Dinn]

Objective: I
Tags: Darth Syphus

Ishani’s doom was cut off by the emergence of another Graug, which attacked the masked Sith before he could strike. She took advantage of the distraction, moving further out of the way, her blade teleporting back to her raised hand.

But there was nowhere to run. The masked man finished off the Graug, then set his sights back upon her, catching up with her easily. He wanted a fight.

Well, she supposed she would just have to give him one.

Reaching into a small leather pouch hanging from her belt, she grabbed a handful of sand and flung it into his face, guiding the particles with the Force toward his eyes. If she succeeded, it would temporarily blind him.

She raised her blade and began a flurry of attacks aimed at the masked man’s torso.

 

[Other Space Kaiden]

The Usurper

Shredding heat and tearing flames engulfed the ground where Grundark stood, the pyromantic blast obscuring the beast from view. Whether the attack had landed or not was lost to the eyes as the searing light of the flames blinded all from viewing the aftermath directly. The Black Flame turned a fanged smile under his helm, a wave of malevolent joy surging forth from his bones and filling the arena with an intense aura of hunger, bloodlust and cruel amusement. Even the cyclone of fire seemed to crackle with laughter, the wall of flames surging higher and fading into a shade of ghostly green.

The amusement was short lived.

In a blurr of dark energy, Maliphant vanished from where he stood. Vulcanus caught wind of the change only as his opponented manifested in full. Before the beast had a chance to do more than turn his head, agony overtook his right leg as it fell forward with wet peel of flesh and tendon. Maliphant's staff swung upward from the strike, leaving behind a smoking trail of burning flesh and bone as Vulcanus' agonized howl filled the air. The beast's eyes quickly tracked the trail of floating gore to its source - the ultrachrome of his boot had been melted away like butter and his heel had been peeled away from the rest of his foot. Like the sole of a tattered shoe, the Dark Lord's foot hung from singed meat that struggled to snap back into place as the regeneration began.

Malice surged through The Black Flame, reptillian eyes becoming pits of boiling magma as Maliphant brought the staff back down for a follow through. Much as had been done with Grundark , Vulcanus swatted an ill aimed hand toward the staff - but this time his claws struck like the jaws of a warbeast. All at once a dark power tore through the landscape, the staff pulsing with a violet ring of energy that swept up the air like a gale. Vulcanus' echoed the howl of the staff, claws wrenching tight around its grip as the weapon roared to life in defense of itself and its master.

With his good leg Vulcanus spun himself to face maliphant, whom he still met eye to eye with even on knee. Blood poured from beneath the Black Flame's helm as his fangs grit in pain - the staff's energy growing more fierce as it began to tear at the Saint's hand with tendrils of wicked energy. The pain was excruciating as the ultrachrome gauntlets peeled away like skins of vegetables - the course hide beneath slowly turning to fine powder as bone and flesh were rendered away. But even as blood vaporized and bone cracked, the great beast focused his pain back into himself - circulating the agony and using it to fuel his regeneration. With each passing moment his hand was turned to frail bones, only to be restored and destroyed again in an endless cycle.

"You will not take this victory from me!" The Black Flame screamed, firery eyes piercing into Maliphants own as the world began shifting around him. Something else was happening...the world seemed to fade and out, becoming warped by a power he could not understand. "I will be Emperor! And you will bow!"

With a scream of fury, Vulcanus heaved on the staff until the grip snapped from Maliphant's grasp. That was all it took. The staff surged with tearing energy that rended flesh and metal and for a moment...Vulcanus saw nothing.

The firery beast over Ossus had returned. The primal thing brought out by the Staff's aura of madness.

"DIE" it screamed as the staff was brought against Maliphant...not as it was intended but merely as an object to strike him with. Again and again the staff would be brought down as many times as could be done, the crazed monster chanting for the Sith's death as the staff came down again and again.

But the beast lose grip eventually and when it did, Vulcanus would be pulled from the madness harshly...with a new scent catching his attention.

Darth Solipsis

 

[Zachariel Steelblood]

Objective: Wage War
Weapons: Sword | Axe
Tags: Alars Keto​

The Bloodsworn had been sneaking about for some time now, being led by Kryll from location to location. It wasn't something they usually did, much preferring the open and bloody chaos of battle. But needs must, and this was the time for stealth. Despite that, the time for quiet would soon end, and battle would happen. A message from Krylls squad confirmed that, making its way to Zachariels own group who were sneaking about as well. One would think a massive warrior such as Zachariel would have trouble with that, but he made it work with some stealth techniques.

However, as the message from Kryll's group made its way to Zachariel, they made their way to unite with them. Such an operation as taking the hill would take more than just the one group, or at least would work far better with two. It only took a few minutes of work, but soon enough Zachariel's group was merging with Kryll's. Zachariel himself stalked forward, camo cloak covering him well and truly. He brushed past the various veteran marauders, ignoring their signs of respect for now. Crouching next to Kryll, Zachariel's helmet zoomed in on the hill and the targets there. For a moment he was silent, taking in the information, and then he turned his skull helm to Kryll.

"What's your plan, lieutenant?"
Zachariel draws his sword at the same time, clearly prepared for the bloodshed, but interested to see what the man had drawn up.

 

[Grundark]

Fire and pain, they were the tools of the Graug and in part the very essence of the Graug it seemed. The sudden surge of Graug power inside of the Eternal had caused a pair of rather ironic changes. He'd never been more repelled by the Eternal and the his separation both physical and politically from the barely held together nation was obvious. On the other hand the Graug had caused an intense hatred in Grundark he'd never thought possible, an absolute need to erase the very presence of an entire race from the galaxy completely. For the first time the Cragmoloid tasted true hate, and the power of the dark side it could bring. His very hatred of the tainted madness only seemed to strengthen it further as it polluted his thoughts more and more.

So as the explosive hand of Darth Vulcanus came down he did little to block it but rather just prepared for it by calling all of his hate and rage into his hide to simply survive. As the storm of fire erupted around him he gripped the force and radiated the heat in every direction he could away from himself but still it burned and flesh burst from the side of his face where it landed like ash into the wind. The hatred kept him standing though, and while he missed a moment to the intense burning he watched the God of the Graug turn and leave his back exposed. As the radiated heat and air killed the flames around him the burnt Cragmoloid smiled with pure malice.

As the staff rose and struck at Maliphant so did Grundark strike with his fists. Hatred ran through his blood as he swung repeatedly almost blindly into the back of the Graug with only the thought of pulverizing every single internal organ until there was simply nothing left to regenerate. He struck with blind hate on a level he was only starting to understand, an uncontrolled rage as black as night and what he'd return to consciousness to see was completely unknown to him. He couldn't remember if he landed a single blow or just struck out at shadows all he felt was rage and hate and he bathed in the need to destroy these people.

Darth Empyrean Other Space Kaiden Darth Solipsis Kuric Taumin

 

[Alars Keto]

The mighty Zachariel Steelblood , Warlord of the 'Bloodsworn', had arrived shortly after his brief lesson of humility with the arrogant yoke. Regrouping was a necessity for such an ambitious move, a strategic smash and grab on the fortified hilltop emplacements would likely result in heavy losses but major gains if they could pull it off. To do so, they needed manpower and a plan, thankfully with the arrival of his superior they now had both.

The hulking warlord brushed past the crouched marauders as they bowed their heads in respect or attempted to lick his boots to no avail as he came directly to the lieutenant with a question of tactics as he himself set his eyes upon the lofty target crouched beside Kryll.

"What's your plan, lieutenant?"

The Warlord drew his sword, preparing himself for battle immediately.

Kryll scanned over the horizon once more with one final pass over before setting his binocs aside, lifting his right hand the marauder immediately laid out his strategy for reviewal by his lord. "We need to cross the inferno and slip past the Graug, I wager we have at least a solid ten to fifteen before those big blokes start hurling 'emselves our way." Guiding his hand along the hillside gorge covered in scorched flora and mushroom growth, he brushed over the gun emplacements at it's apex. "That path will led us into their blind spot, with how steep it'd be I'd say we'dl be covered enough to advance to the top without getting sprayed. The only issue is getting to the path up without being split open by those canisters and their heavy gunners. Once we get on that small pathway we can climb up and let loose on em'"

The crazed marauder turned to his master and tilted his head, "We take the hill, spray and pray. Take down 'dem Sith Eternals and then mow down those Graug before they get too close. Those buggers are mean and real nasty, a rough fight that one will be."

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Objective: Observe
Allies: Sith Eternal Ana Malixar
Enemies?: Tu'teggacha Kyrel Ren Khaostra Devoid
Equipment: In signature, Talisman of the Raven

She had spent quite some time studying the wildlife of the jungle of Felucia. Back when the planet had been under the purview of the Sith Empire, she had established Hojo Base in the remains of the Ancient Abyss to conduct experiments and studies of the various wildlife. Several of the experiments had been released into the wild such as the Devouring Slimes and the Consuming Spores, while others had been transported away to other facilities of the Lady of Secrets to be altered. Such as several bull rancors from the Rancor Graveyard, so when her Adepts had reported Maw forces encroaching on the world and into the jungle, it had piqued her curiosity. They were already engaged with the Graug on the world, her Slimes having been released in greater numbers, to counter the horde, so a Maw incursion so far from their space was interesting.

Using her Talisman, she had taken flight from the base and reverted to her normal form once she had alighted back on the edge of the canyon that hosted the graveyard. She was in time to watch as a sizable specimen of jungle rancor attacked a group of Maw marauders and whoever their leader was, and with amusement, she merely observed the slaughter of the group. The creature had paused in its rampage so whatever being was leading the Maw forces had some skill in Beast Control, and she spotted another young Sith in the remaining group.

The chieftain of the Jungle Felucians that served her emerged from the gloom, along with several of its hunters and shamans, but she held up a hand to forestall from interfering.

"Lets see if they have the skill and subtly needed to control the beast first," she muttered, taking a seat to watch the show, but she would allow her presence to slowly start spreading out and into the mix of dark side energies of the graveyard. Force users of sufficient skill would be able to sense her and know Darth Arcanix had taken an interest in what was in the sacred site.

 

[Kyrel Ren]

​

Location: Felucia, Rancor Graveyard.
Allies: Tu'teggacha Khaostra Devoid
Enemies: Taeli Raaf Ana Malixar
Equipment: Kyrel's Necrochasis, Kyrel's Armor, Vader's Bane Lightsaber

With his unholy precession Kyrel had led the influenced carnivores of Felucia with him. Even a large gathering of felucians to be used as nothing more than canon fodder. And while he sensed the likes of the alien priest, a hand of Solipsis, and the likes of another dark signature. Something he wasn't sure of, friend or foe. He could not simply tell so easily. But sensed something that was a threat, a danger. It seemed that while the artifact would be most useful, he would have to perhaps regroup with what Maw forces had survived the deadly jungle. Perhaps the safety as a group would fair as a whole, rather than him going off on his own.

Letting out a feral growl of sorts. He led the packs of Nexu, and Acklays towards the Force Signature he could feel come closest, and what he heard was loud roars, even the likes of soldiers screaming and dying. Wondering how many they had lost already, it was hard to tell. Too much was happening already. Conflict had only seemed to be everywhere, and spill out wherever one was. Now Kyrel rather than go alone, would see if he would find what he sought by the help of others.

What had arrived next, was that of a loud beast expressing the most primal form of rage by letting it echo through the air. Blood was all over the tree's the fog dense. Yet he could feel the presence of the being he knew of. The alien that he could not tell as friend or foe, but a follower of the Maw, and the next signature while it had seemed to be more clear. Before he could even act, he stopped frozen in tracks, overcome by the sudden presence of a powerful Lord of the Sith. Someone of whom he had heard of, seen, and yet did not know of personally. The one that had infiltrated the old Alliance, and one of whom was on his list to kill. The one known as Darth Arcanix. She was clearly showing herself, and soon Kyrel found himself gritting his teeth. Speaking with such vitriol in his tone. "Sith Witch.... I'll make you show yourself..." For now he had to stop this big rancor, before he could begin looking for her, and hopefully have the chance to kill her in person.

The beast seemed ready to strike, but was not aware of Kyrel, and so didn't notice a surprise strike, Kyrel leaping through the air, with his saber activated, cutting down the back of the beast. Given it's height. It would have been difficult to bisect the creature. But when the creature only began to scream in rage. He was shocked, surely, he must have thought that perhaps his saber would do the trick. Instead it had only seemed to not pay Kyrel any notice outside of irritation. Now it just seemed more focused on the prey before it.

He growled in frustration, closing his eyes. Reaching out with the Force and touching the minds of three Acklay, to march forth, with both hunger and anger. Approaching at the legs, and using it's teeth and claws to cause some damage. Kyrel's saber may not have worked, but when the Acklays moved forth, they quickly had gained the attention of the rancor. The rancor now roaring in annoyance, and this time forced to bash in against the Acklays. Kyrel's own beasts screaming in pain, as he stepped back, with his brainwashed Felucians, striking from the back, and he himself using the Force to jump above the Rancor, giving slices to his head. Not enough to destroy his brain, but jumping in front of the priest being, and what looked to be a girl... Sith perhaps? He did not know.

 

[Tegan Starfall]

Post: 3
Objective: You Best Run
Equipment: Mind Crown | Black MidNight Duster with Hood | Echani shield suit | Grav Boots | Eltro Life Gloves | x4 red lightsabers | Defender | Forearm Lanvorak | Wrist Laser | x2 FWG-5 Flechette Smart Pistol | Boomer | X4 Daggers | Pack of Death sticks | Various Explosives on person and in backpack | Holopad
Allies: The Mongrel | Desmundor Alcademon | Andromach Hemstagon
Enemies: Sith of the Eternal Variety
Special Tags: Dis

---

Tegan looked at dis from upon her rancor, she looked upon the cat shaped shadow. Again, it tried to compel them to leave or leave these so-called innocents alone yet offered nothing in return. Tegan fiddled in on of her bags upon the Rancors back as Shadow Cat continued to speak. She pulled a device from the bag that resemble a hand switch yet attached to it was a thermal detonator. “By what authority are they given the right to live?” Tegan asked though her eyes had pulled away from Dis and was looking down at the civilians on the ground. Her eyes searching until she found a small Felucian child about the age five or six.


With the force she telekinetically pulled the child who was crying rivers of tears especially as it across the snarling twisted face of the tyrant rancor. The childs parents screamed out and even attempted to reach for their child but the telekinetic grasp was too strong for them. Tegan brought the child to where she sat on the rancor and sat the child in front of her like one would ride with a child on a horse. Tegan gently stroked the crying child’s bald turtle like head. “Now, now it will be alright dear child.” She spoke softly trying to calm the child who was having none of they were frightened and taken from there parents.


Stoking the childs head she looked back to Dis. “No one chooses to live; life is something that is forced upon us by our parents. By that no one has the right to live it is a choice and only those with the will to survive can live.” Tegan stroking the childs head took the trigger device and placed it in the childs hand. “You are going to want to hold that tightly.” She said to the child as she forced their hand around the device. “Don’t let go no matter what or something very bad will happen.” Tegan smirk though she hadn’t actually activated the device just yet.


“I am willing to make a deal, so again what tribute do you offer Dis…” That name Tegan didn’t like that name it didn’t seem fitting to her. “But do note Kitty boom boom I am not a sith and neither are most of the forces here, we do not appreciate such insults. The sith aren’t even remotely capable of doing what needs to be done like we are." Tegan smeared as she initiated the device in the childs hand leaning into their ear once more whispering to them. “If you let go you and your parents will die.” With that she let the child back down to the ground with the device in their hand. Tegan could stop the device her mind crown was connected to the device with a simple though she could turn it off but it all depended on what Dis would offer for the lives of the civilians. “So make your offer Kitty Boom Boom.” She smiled towards the cat a mischievous and evil smile one that gave away her true wickedness.

 

[Khaostra Devoid]

Post: 2
Objective: Indestructible Beasts
Equipment: Red Midnight Duster | Red Sith Armor | Sith Mask | Grav Boots | CrushGaunts | x2 White lightsabers | Forearm Lanvorak | Wrist Laser | Variety of Explosives | RSKF-44 heavy blaster | X-21 shock glove (Stored in her coat pocket)
Allies: Tu'teggacha | Kyrel Ren
Enemies: Taeli Raaf | Ana Malixar
Special Tags: Open

---

Khaos had been tracking something unaware of what it was hoping it would lead her to the mad shaman or the artifact. Though she should have been more aware of the scent she was actually following but perhaps it was because she had been away from Dathomir far to long or perhaps it was just Felucia itself she failed to realize the scent she had been track was that of a rancor. She picked up her pace from a casual walk to a light jog as she felt the presences every closer. Then she heard the roars and thunder of its footsteps. She reached out with force and she could feel the darkness flowing off the beast and her pace picked up to a run.



She was choosing to run straight into danger as she could her the sounds of the battle with the beast and others. She could feel the others in the force just like the Rancor, it was a mixed bag of darkness. She could be running right into a sith and rancor trap though she did know other Maw forces where in the Graveyard. She rounded a corner she could just make out the fighting going on through a large skeleton in the graveyard that was covered in foliage. She could just make out the Rancor but she couldn’t distinguish the forces it was fighting with.


She looked around for a way she could spy on what was going and avoid a trap incase it was sith embroiled in a battle with Rancor. It wasn’t long and she found herself climb one of the skeletons and nimbly moving across it. Jumping from corpse to corpse as she moved towards higher ground, as she got closer, she crouched and peered down from her high perch she now found herself in. She had managed to get even above the rancor’s enormous height, looking down at all the carnage below. It was Maw forces getting decimated by the magnificent beast.


Khaos had read about these Bull Rancor’s of Felucia they were incredibly hard to tame even for masters of beast like the Witches of Dathomir. She watched as two people below seemingly tried to combine their power and focus what ever force ability they were using on the Rancor. Then she saw one of the Ren knights try to take on the beast in saber combat which almost caused Khaos to laugh but she managed to hold her composure. She assessed the fight a bit longer before she rose from her crouched position high above the battlefield.


Her orange eys began to flare up as red energy of her magick began to swirl around her. Khaos called out to the spirt world that was thick as fog in this graveyard. She called to the desiccated plant life that had long been trampled into the ground by both soldiers and beasts. Called to it to feed on the blood that no stained it’s grounds and to surge back to life. The ground shook as large vines erupted from and began to wrap around the feet and arms of the Rancor. Spikes protruded from the vines and dug into the Rancors body as it tried to fight them and break free only strengthening their hold. Red energy swirled all around Khaos and her eyes burned a furious Orange as she focused on the vines and trying to hold the rancor in place.

 

[The Mongrel]

Objective II - Steal Nysillin, Burn Farms​

Location: Felucia, Nysillin Plantation
Allies: Tegan Starfall | Desmundor Alcademon | Andromach Hemstagon
Foes: Dis

As the Athysians inspected their plunder and consolidated their raiders, The Mongrel oversaw the a consolidation of his own. So far as he could tell, all of the plantation guards were now dead, slaughtered where they stood. He was pleased with his Gore Wasp's ability to contribute to that body count; it was a worthy mount, and well worth the tremendous effort he had undergone to claim it. He remembered the thrill of fear he had felt standing before the drone in the stick, vile hive on Lao-mon, uncertain if his illustrious career would end when it pierced him with its bony stinger and liquefied his organs.

But his will had been strong enough to make it bow.

The civilians, at Tegan's order, had met with a different fate. Many had been killed in the initial charge, but many more had been rounded up alive, either captured as they fled across the fields or marched out of their dormitories at gunpoint. A crowd of them, line after line of kneeling, terrified workers, was now assembled in the center of the plantation, awaiting their fate. Meanwhile, the assault shuttles had arrived, and a line of light freighters behind them. They were ready to start loading up the crops... and to evacuate the raiders, hopefully ahead of the inevitable Sith Eternal response. Time remained limited.

The Mongrel could not contain a gasp of surprise as Dis appeared, seemingly out of thin air. The ghostly cat was not what he'd been expecting... but then again, what had he thought the voice in his mind would look like? The cat threw philosophy at them, words about the worth of life and how the situation could be resolved peacefully. The Mongrel bit back a laugh; the creature clearly did not understand that the Brotherhood followed a different philosophy. There was no inherent value to life; if you wanted to be worth something, you had to make it so through your actions. No one was born worthy.

Fortunately, the Maw was coming to end the cycle, to release all these fools from suffering. In the new galaxy built from the ashes, their reborn souls would have a chance to make better, worthier lives.

Still, The Mongrel held his tongue. He had little experience with negotiation, and no experience at all with magical beings like this, so he left the talking to Tegan. She was cold and cruel, but she was effective... and cruelty did not bother the warleader in any case. It was a cruel galaxy, and they were the ones doing the most to change it. While the witch took her hostages and spoke with the cat, The Mongrel directed his troops to the nysillin barns, ordering them to break open the locks. Tegan might be able to delay Dis with the negotiations, but there was no guarantee that the creature wouldn't still warn the Sith.

They needed to seize their prize quickly.

 

[Tu'teggacha]

Objective III: Seek Artifact, Tame Beasts​

Location: Felucia, Rancor Graveyard
Allies: Kyrel Ren , Khaostra Devoid , Ana Malixar (?)
Foes: Taeli Raaf

Ana hesitated. Sweat poured down the rubbery flesh of the Taskmaster's head, running into his obsidian eyes and blurring his vision. His facial tentacles wriggled frantically, thrashing in bizarre patterns as if they were arms struggling to grab at something. The huge, ancient bull rancor strained against his mental constraints, slowly fighting him off, slowly growing closer. Tu'teggacha could feel the creature's breath, hot and fetid on his face. Its huge nostrils were less than a meter away, and he could count the huge teeth in its mouth, glistening with saliva. Beneath him, his Gore Wasp shied back... but he knew it was too late to run.

It was the Ebruchi's greatest gift to manipulate minds, whether through pain and promises or more directly through the Force. But this was no ordinary mind; it was raw, primal power, suffused by the Dark Side for countless years. If Tu'teggacha was a scalpel, a precise instrument for the shaping of thoughts, what he faced was like a vast, gnarled tree. Stabbing his sharp but tiny mind into the vastness of its being was almost useless; he could hold it back only by finding the veins buried deep beneath the bark, and even then he could only draw its attention. Breaking it was a task far beyond him alone, like bailing out the sea with a thimble.

But with the aid of another, one with a different skillset, perhaps...

And Ana didn't run. Tu'teggacha felt her strength joining his, a second mind to focus the power of the Dark Side on their shared foe. She drew upon the creature's pain and the force of generation upon generation of death that suffused the very earth here, and to his surprise, the Taskmaster felt a ripple in the nexus of darkness that lay thick over this place. For an instant, he could almost sense her presence through the interference. The Sithling might be young now, with much to learn before she claimed her place in the galaxy, but she had a raw strength that he could not help but respect. Her story, he knew, was just beginning.

Perhaps that meant he should order his marauders to strike, to end her threat while she was distracted and prevent her from interfering in the Brotherhood's plans for the future... but no. He still needed her, for the rancor was not subdued yet. The two of them - enemies, competitors, but united for the moment in purpose - pushed the creature's mind with the Force, and bit by bit it responded. Slowly, so slowly, the power bled out of its movements. It was tiring itself out as it thrashed against their combined control. Tu'teggacha was so focused on holding the creature back that he did not notice Darth Arcanix or her servants arriving.

But it was not only Sith who had discovered them, and the Taskmaster could not help but notice the arrival of Kyrel Ren. The powerful warlord had evidently found his way to their location, and made a dramatic entrance with his lightsaber, lashing out across the rancor's back and head. His dominated beasts scurried forward as well, the acklays striking at the rancor's legs. None of it was enough to stop the ancient beast, already covered in scars beyond counting... but it did create pain, pain that Ana and Tu'teggacha could use to fuel their dark assault on its mind. And then another new ally suddenly entered the fray.

Tu'teggacha had not encountered Khaostra before directly, though he knew of the role she had played in looting the Expeditionary Library on Csilla. Still, he knew her to be on the side of the Maw, and he welcomed her aid. The thorny vines she controlled, wrapping around the rancor, slowed its movements and inflicted further pain and frustration upon it. The Dark Side energy that Ana and the Ebruchi wielded grew and grew, finally reaching a crescendo in the rancor's mind... and the beast dropped, sliding into unconsciousness, its mind finally subdued. The fall of its titanic body shook the canyon, sending rocks sliding down its sides.

Though it fought no more, its huge chest still rose and fell. The rancor lived. "We have subdued it," Tu'teggacha gasped out. "Your power in the Dark Side is impressive, Malixar, for someone so young." He inclined his bulbous head toward Khaostra and Kyrel as well, grateful for their part in rescuing his little expedition.

Witch, Taskmaster, Sith, and Ren; between the four of them, they had proven enough to conquer even the greatest guardian of the ancient graveyard. But now, tensions were returning. Tu'teggacha glanced at Ana, calculating. He had given much of his strength to hold the rancor back, but now he had allies, other servants of the Hidden Maw whom he knew he could trust. Though he and the young Sithling had worked well together, he no longer needed her... and if they both sought the artifact, he should make sure she had no chance to get it. As the beastmasters moved in behind him, securing the rancor, he pondered his options...

But then, even amid the ambient darkness, he felt a flicker of a terrifyingly powerful presence: a Dark Lord of the Sith. "I sense... another," Tu'teggacha said, panting out the words. "A Sith." He made a leap of logic, the only assumption he could think of that made sense under the circumstances. "It seems you have outplayed me, young Malixar. How did you contact your master? Did you reach out to the Sith Eternal through the Force?" The rest of his men fanned out around him, instantly suspicious, ready for their temporary comrade to go back to being their enemy. "A clever betrayal," he mused.

He had no idea that Taeli Raaf 's arrival was not Ana's doing...

 

[Ana Malixar]

Location: Rancor Graveyard
Allies: Taeli Raaf | Tu'teggacha (?)
Enemies: Kyrel Ren | Khaostra Devoid

Ana hardly noticed the others intervening to also attack the rancor. Her undivided focus was on the creature, trying to overwhelm it and bring its rampage to a halt. When it finally fell, she breathed a sigh of relief. Subduing the creature had come at a cost. It had furthered drained her energy. Overwhelming a creature like that was exhausting, even with the help of powerful frenemy. Her focus on the pain had also come at a cost. The wounds inflicted by the men earlier now reverberated through her much more strongly than it had moments ago. She attempted to hide it--a visible sign of weakness would have only invited another attack against her. Truth be told, she didn't feel like fighting anymore, but she may not have a choice. If they attacked her, she would have no choice but to block it out and persevere to the best of her ability. The threat was especially concerning now that she noticed the wasp-rider had received allies.

She didn't recognize either of them, but based on their actions they were clearly more skilled than the average soldier the quarren-looking alien had brought with him. One carried a lightsaber and was clearly quite fearless. He didn't look like the type to shy away from a fight. The other was farther away and harder to see, but still clearly powerful. They apparently had the ability to terraform the ground to an extent. The new arrivals weren't all bad though, the unmistakable signature of a powerful Sith washed over the valley. It clearly made the rider uncomfortable based on what he said to her and that was a positive. She knew she couldn't trust him forever, and so somebody that could level the playing field was very welcome. While she was glad the new person had arrived, she found the insinuation that she had betrayed their agreement insulting. While it was possible the Sith was responding to the distress signal she sent before it was cancelled, she hadn't telepathically communicated with anyone. She had kept her word.

"I didn't lie," she shot back. "Surely you're not so foolish that you expected your intrusion here to go unnoticed forever?"

The pike shot into her hand again as she spoke, but she didn't make a move to attack. Instead, she stood waiting as the rest of his men moved to surround the area yet again. It appeared he had received reinforcements and she was not eager to fight them all. While it appeared their temporary truce was likely over, she was still curious to see what he would do. While the threat from other Sith Eternal forces probably made him feel threatened, she had given him no reason to distrust her. One could even suggest she had saved him, although that was probably a liberal interpretation of the situation. She would wait to make a move. Whether that be until she was attacked or if Darth Arcanix intervened.

 

[Kascalion Giedfield]

Objective 1: Vulcanus Unleashed
Target: Arcturus Thesh

The forces of this world either attacking or defending, fighting invaders or each other, were...troublesome.

For each Graug or Eternalist killed, two more or three more or four more would come to replace them, charging forth in slaughterous barbarism or attempting blistering ambushes. Thankfully, the Devil was more than equipped to fend off each one, suffering only minor scratches or cuts here and there across his unarmored parts - namely his arms and legs. The Helgardi guard, however, fared worse than their leader, although not to the point of being entirely wiped out or useless for the battles still to rage this day.

They could still prove their worth, which was proven when they blasted through the bushes and trees with plasma and carved through thick vines and creeping insects of indeterminate length to form a bulwark around their leader. Before long, the blood of foes coated the Devil and his cohorts like a sheen of hair gel.

That is, at least, until one particularly massive thing - uncertain as belonging to Graug or native life - emerged from the flora surrounding the Devil and his cohorts and gnashed through what remained of the latter. The Devil roared in his nearly incomprehensible language of the harshest consonants and swung his Necrosis Blade for the neck of the beast. Fortunately, the Force enhanced metal sliced through the flesh and bone with the utmost ease, decapitating the great creature in one stroke.

Unfortunately, the beast's death throes were just as forceful as the beast itself, the headless corpse writhing and tossing itself about in a futile effort to find that which killed it. The Devil, taken aback by the monstrous thing's dying rage, was knocked far through the foliage by its mass - his blade slipping free from his grasp as his body crashed and dug into the mossy dirt...

...Right next to a hopeful young Sith fighting for his very life against the Graug.

 

[Maestus]

She nodded one time to her master's words and squared her shoulders. Truth be told, the Graug were something she'd never seen before. She had not had the pleasure of making their acquaintance previously. But she had heard rumor and tale. Crazed. Fanatics. Concepts she understood. Concepts she demanded from her own subordinates.

As Darth Solipsis sped towards the eye of the storm, Maestus took the briefest of seconds to augment herself. She drew the Dark Side of the Force into her body deeper. She felt the pace of her heart quicken and grow stronger. Blood ran through her veins, creating an almost super charged sensation. Her muscles hardened and thickened. Her speed was greatly enhanced. With barely a turn of her head, she took off after her master.

She could easily see why the Graug were such a terrible threat. They were legion, and they had not an ounce of compassion or remorse within them. Also concepts Maestus understood. Even revered. To feel and display compassion or remorse was the antithesis of strength. The time for second guessing and what if is before the action is carried out. Once the bll has been set in motion, you must have a resolve of steel. Be unyielding and prepared to face the consequences, whatever they may be.

No, now was the time for action. Glorious, brutal action.

 

[Tarok Vassket]

Location: short distance from the main group

T A R O K​

Tu'teggacha had taken a batch of Marauders after some sith interloper. Tarok wasn't ordered to follow and he had no vested interest in joining the fray. He was here to hunt rancor. He didn't lead the group of marauders from the front. It was simple practicality in the hunt. They wanted to catch the beasts by surprise where they could.

If one of the scouts came across a rancor - and it was not hungry - it might ignore a five foot tall human as no threat. However, Tarok at over twelve feet in height would be seen as a territorial threat and quickly torn to pieces.

Tarok enjoyed testing his strength, but one did not test themselves by trying to carry a star destroyer on their back.

As all the excitement came to a head with the great jungle rancor, his team sited a much smaller example of the species. Still valuable. The marauders swarmed around it as it woke from its slumber.

Electronets were thrown over the rancor. Spearguns with barbs that could pierce its thick hide struck it in several places. They missed one arm. It struggled free, reaching out to rip several durasteel cables that were being tied down. It squeezed a marauder with one claw until she stopped screaming.

Tarok dropped one end of his chain.

​

He flung the chain. It wrapped around the rancor's wrist and sharp barbs anchored it.

"Put it down!" Tarok bellowed as he braced with both feet and pulled back, securing the rancor's free arm.

He remained blissfully unaware of the standoff just a few hundred meters away, every fibre of his being focused on the battle of strength that he was gradually losing.

 

[Darth Empyrean]

Objective I
Tag: Grundark │ Other Space Kaiden │ Darth Solipsis │ Kuric Taumin

Often those who had grabbed the staff would become to overwhelmed by its strength and defensive measures they would simply let go - or dissolve at the raw potency of the artifact. It had happened multiple times, and Maliphant had even had to save students from it before - but rarely had Maliphant had the staff grabbed by a being so primal, that breaking their mind only stole away the essence of their control. At first, as Vulcanus gripped it - cried out loud and grandoise threats and promises, Maliphant gripped it at yelled back - but his words were forgotten and lost only a second after.

The staff wrenched from his grip, and he could feel bones shatter in his fingers as it was - yet just as his mind moved to dissolve it, to make it reappear in his grasp, the strength of Vulcanus brought it down fully upon his temple; dropping the Maliphant to a knee as his world spun. Then another, blow after blow struck at Maliphant - and the most he could do was bring his arms up over his head and hold out against the onslaught - but he could feel the blunt trauma force its way through, even as he reinforced himself with an aura of pressure that held it off.

Blood trailing down his back - wherever the phrik plates were not, and his normally alabaster hair was stained crimson from the cuts in his scalp. Despite it all, he had percevered - and never brought from his kneel. The only respite was Grundark, and the distraction that dragged Vulcanus's attention away from Maliphant's nigh crumpled form. He grit his teeth as he stood - and he could feel the joint in his left shoulder seem to slide from its socket.

There were more than a few broken bones, he could tell - grinding as he ignored them, marrow leaking into his muscle as his grip reformed around the reconstituted staff. He looked proud then, standing tall despite the beating - but in only a moment he realized he could no longer see out of his left eye. Vulcanus had brought down his own weapon against him with such force he had likely broken the nerves connecting them - no doubt something he would have to fight to fix later on.

His tongue prodded his teeth - and despite the coppery essence of blood to be found, he had all of them still. Luck, if nothing else. So he offered the Dark Saint a blood grin - trailing past his lips and down his chin, mixing with sweat and glowing from the pillar of flames that surrounded them.

"I only bowed for a second, Saint.", he mocked - his voice more confident than he felt.

The staff clicked on the ground as Maliphant split - three copies of the same Lord reappearing in his place. Each were still injured, and there was nothing to tell them apart - as each held the staff, the armor, and the look of disdain in their expression. The pain felt by one would be felt by three - and each's power would be magnified despite the fatigue, injury, and length of their battle thus far.

His own senses, however, were dulled at this point. He could not feel the distant presence of foreign actors, only the black ichor like hatred he had for the Graug before him. His bloody smile turned to a frown, and the three clicked their staffs in unison - bringing down such a monumental pressure upon the great Warlord that he would feel chains bind him to the ground. Even the Inferno began to flex under the weight of gravity manipulated by the Darth - hoping to force Vulcanus into pacification, if only temporarily.

Long enough for them to strike back, to get a plan of action.