Broken Core (Rebuilding Mandalore)

[Jakkor Kess]

Objective 1
Post 4
Alllies: [member="Valae Kitra"], OSL

Jakkor nodded thinking it would be best to aid the civilians and give them a hand. He would try to calm the man through the force, as he helped Valae get him to a nearby transport. He found the task a lot more refreshing than being an instrument of war, and found that helping these poor people did a lot more good in the process. He slowly helped the man on board the transport, and sought to helping the rest. Slowly he would help those on board a transport trying to evacuate many as possible especially the sick or injured.

He than heard a message from [member="Bethany Kismet"] informing them urgently to evacuate the remaining civilians. He looked to Valae and said with the utmost seriousness. "We should see about returning to base camp."

 

[Bethany Kismet]

Outskirts of Keldabe
Objective: No.
In Scene: [member="Michael Sardun"] [member="Reverance"] [member="Ijaat Mereel"]
Near By: [member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Vilaz Munin"]

She knew she couldn't reach the building in time. But she started to move without even thinking about it. One foot pivoted, the other starting to push off- it wasn't a choice. It wasn't something she could choose to ignore. It never had been when people were in need. In danger. The doubt, the darkness, the miasma of decay moving out from Reverance didn't slow her at all. None of those things could stop her-

But Michael's hand on her shoulder, pulling her in, did.

"Michael NO!"

She tried, just once, to escape his hold, wrenching halfway around in his arms before he shielded her and the wave bit into his back. His foot moved, one step only against the onslaught, before standing firm, his body protecting hers. She felt him, physically and within the Force, a lone oak in a hurricane. Strong, unyielding- but if the winds rose too high, that unyielding could lead to-

Her hands went up to his hands. Palms wrapped around the back of his wrists gently. She didn't flinch away from the claws.

In truth, Bethany had known from the moment he'd set foot on Sekot, just what he was. She had kept her silence because he had- because it was his to tell. In this moment, all she could do was place her hands on his. But it spoke volumes.

She felt the building crumble as much as heard it. Indeed, that one was not the only one laid low by the lashings of the Sith behind them. The very surface of Mandalore heaved, as if in response to Reverance, a low tremor racing through the ground.

Reaching out with the Force, Bethany sought, brushing the minds of [member="Jakkor Kess"] and [member="Valae Kitra"] .

Look to the planet- look to the Core. I am sorry- to ask so much. I will join you when I can. But if we are to stop this, we need to quiet that unrest. Please. Try.

It only took a heartbeat and then she was back. And she knew what to do.

The doorway between she and Reverance swung both ways. She knew it now, even if she didn't fully understand it's genesis or the sheer why of it.

So she chose. And offered.

Zonama Sekot. It meant 'World of Body and Mind.' But those weren't the images that came flooding through the door. What came instead was the sensation of cool wind through the tree tops. The sound of the leaves as they rustled, whispering and laughing. How keyed attention could be to both the fall of a single leaf.... but also the sensation of awareness of the Forest as a whole organism. How each tiny moment could happen in crystal clarity, and yet still be lost in the over arching life that pervaded every breath. The changing of the seasons no less important than the single step of an ant. The feeling of the rains, of the sun, of the natural decay of leaves as the planet turned. This wasn't a moment sent- it was an epoch. Not seen from the outside. It was the condensed experience from within the embrace of Sekot.

The last two times, Reverance had chosen the memory, and she had not picked what went in return. She did not know what to expect this time, and she braced herself against Michael, sheltered in his arms.

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

Objective: 1
Allies: [member="Jakkor Kess"]

With the injured man now aboard the transport and headed to the base camp to receive treatment, Valae turned back to her Tusken companion. She gave a small nod, perhaps it would be best for them to return to the camp as well. A couple pairs of extra hands would certainly not go amiss.
However, their true reason for being here was swiftly made apparent.

The ground beneath their feet began to rumble. Valae felt her legs shaking along with the tremors and steadied herself the best she could to avoid falling over. Her chestnut eyes went wide. No longer than a second or two after, did she feel the presence of [member="Bethany Kismet"] reaching out to her and Jakkor. The words were imprinted on her mind, bringing with them a new sense of determination and courage. The two Knights knew what to do. Well, they knew what needed to be done.

But how would they accomplish this task?

She turned to Jakkor and pointed towards the mountains, where she felt a slight pull – the force was her guide. Valae had little idea what to do, but they needed to try something.

“Come on,” She said with a steady nod, “This way…”

Once the two were away from the injured and the transports carrying them away, there was a small slice of quiet and calm. Down below, even Valae could feel the stirring… She let her eyes close and began to reach out with the force, letting her presence grow and expand. Valae sent her concentration down below the dusty ground, down as far as she could manage. There was no telling what their combined efforts would do, but there was only one way to find out…

 

[Vilaz Munin]

Did he had an urge to find out if Beth was truly a Jedi? He did, however, knew that she was a Force User part of the Sacred Lotus but she didn't really specified if she was a rogue, kind hearted Force User or if she was a Jedi. What would the Munin had done if he found out if she was the latter? Unfortunately, he would have done nothing. He gave his word that she and her colleagues would have Mandalorians protecting them from whatever dangers were out in the wastelands of Mandalore.
And if she was a Jedi, then it would hurt him to know that he would give something back in return for their help.

That was definitely going to hurt him and his pride if it turned out to be true.

Unlike the Silver Jedi Order, the Mand'alor knew beforehand that they were all Jedi; however, he didn't had any information on the Order of the Sacred Lotus other than that they were to try an stabilize the planet.

"Well, in another time I will deal with them personally, but now is not the time," he simply said to the Sith Lord. "That's the one thing that Mandalorians are good at. Rebuilding themselves and being stronger than their predecessors. Something that I and my followers will see to come true as well as weeding out the parasites that will delay us and be a threat when we return back to out former glory."

"Your help will be appreciated, Kaine; however, I will not depend on you that much. I don't like using a crutch," the Sole Ruler said to the Darth, agreeing to accept the Sith's help which could potentially lead to a Mandalorian-Sith alliance. Something that the warrior wouldn't mind having.

Their meeting would involuntarily conclude when a Munin clansmen alerted Vilaz about some fighting going on somewhat near the vicinity. "Sir, there is some conflict going on. A Mandalorian and a Force User. Potentially darksider."

"I'll be seeing to that," he briefly responded back, quickly gearing himself up. "There's some fighting going on, Carnifex. Guesses are that it's darksider which I hope it isn't Prazutis." He doubt that the Arch-Prince of Panatha would commence a brawl in this situation since both he and Kaine strove for the same, if not similar goals. Without further hesitation, Vilaz walked out of the tent to see if he could settle down this problem. Of course, the Zambrano would be more than welcome to join him.

[member="Bethany Kismet"] [member="Ijaat Mereel] [member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Reverance"] [member="Michael Sardun"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"Dependency was not my aim, Mand'alor, only cooperation."

The onset of confrontation did not surprise him in the slightest, the mere glimpse of [member="Reverance"], the Jedi and the Mandalorians occupying the same space was indicative of conflict. He waited patiently while the Mand'alor acquired his belongings and made his exit with Carnifex following him shortly after. He stayed several paces behind the Sole Ruler, his presence looming and authoritative. "Prazutis has enough sense to not stir up any trouble among our potential allies, but I fear that the destruction of your world has heralded the arrival of the Wrath."

Carnifex did not elaborate further on what the Wrath specifically was, he simply let the Mand'alor come to his own conclusion by the heated battle they were now witnessing. Whomever the Wrath was fighting seemed familiar to the Dark Lord, although he could not pinpoint from where.

"It seems as if one of your men has done something to earn the Wrath's ire, Mand'alor. Or perhaps the presence of the Jedi has set him off."

[member="Vilaz Munin"]​

 

[Bonde We]

[member="Vixley CM-01"]

"Negative Alexis, send it over." Bonde spotted on child in the rubble and grabbed. It was another Twi'lek, a boy about twelve. He sobbed on Bonde's arm. "My parents are gone, all gone." "It's okay don't cry. I'm glad I still managed to find you. We need to get to Vixley, he can help you." The Kaminoan charged off towards Vixley, tween in his arms. A large cut was on his arm but nothing more. Though hard to describe for the young boy, his parents had been smashed by fallen debris. A terrible situation for someone so young. They returned to Vixley. "All I could find Vix. He's got a cut on his arm and that's all. Alexis told me something about a message, did you get it?"

 

[Julius Sedaire]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66QcIlblI1U​

What did one do when faced with the overwhelming power of one who had been a Master of the Force when he was just becoming an adult? Experience wasn't an option he could out-do his opponent on, not unless they competed in forging. Power? Not with that thing in his hand, and the other abominations he had swathed himself in. There were options aplenty, but Ijaat was rocketing through the air towards a wall of pure Force and force, literally. So he did the only thing he could really think of to do in that moment, he drew deep within himself. Drew on the teachings of Jacen Solo, or more accurately Darth Caedus as he was known then. Power beyond what he could safely take and handle. Past the point of exhaustion and fatigue, to agonizing pain. A light built at his fist as he threw it forward, and launched a sort of counter to the wave of telekinetic repulse.

Rather than overwhelm it, or overpower it, he sought to use that same instinct and eye he was famed for, that same care, to find the precise moment and point. A focused burst flew from him, straight into the oncoming wave, straight into the core of it. The light became blinding and intense, beyond reason. A concussive burst boomed out from the meeting of the two, likely amplifying the blast but redirecting and delaying the progress. How it would end, that was for the later moments. If it went as hoped it would halt the wave before the building, even if the building was destroyed in the explosion of their meeting... Even then it would be a symbol of defiance against the Wrath and his power.

What would become of Ijaat would be determined later.

[member="Darth Carnifex"] | [member="Bethany Kismet"] | [member="Michael Sardun"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"] | [member="Reverance"]

 

[Reverance]

Outskirts of Keldabe
Objective: Yes
In Scene: [member="Michael Sardun"] [member="Bethany Kismet"] [member="Darth Prazutis"] [member="Ijaat Mereel"]
Near By: [member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Vilaz Munin"]

A collision of power, of might and anger. What more could the former Wrath want? In a universe so often filled with half measures, he could only stand in awe at such youthful vigor and resolve. In anticipation, he might have even dropped his guard, opened his palm in preparation to receive the warrior. Or perhaps this was everything he had.

The impact was something that disrupted sight and sound and the very feeling of ones bones. A light with monstrous heat emanated out from the epicenter of the impact, shockwaves not disrupted but instead enhanced. What energy would have once leveled a building instead would have obliterated it from within. The surface of the planet moaned in response, grave and coarse, as rocks and plates sought upheaval through crushing persuasion. The smoke and fire of friction, molecules forced into such dense packets, let loose a barrage of energy that dispersed in chorus to the repulse.

Ash rose with the smoke, fuming upward from the point of contact. Two trails, a shoulder length apart and parallel, showed a path in the rocks more than ten feet long. And what stood at the end was a man leaning over, chitin charred and steam rising from the surface of his armor. Bits of debris slowly dropped from him as the world came to rest, the smoke wafting and waving around his presence. Against such buffeting curtains, he was nothing more than a shadow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2EhFEs2hj4​

Never, more than now, had he mimicked a zombie brought to life. Bent over, arms left limp, his back straightened as the violent vermilion sight looked upwards into the smoke filled sky. It was then that a hunger struck him, unlike any other. While he and the voxyn arm might have been different species altogether, their anatomy was tied and intertwined. He felt an alien coercion spread through him as the blackened fingers released the lightsaber. Native hand pressed forward, catching the object, as he spun the violent blade around.

The muffled expression was no longer apparent. Instead, animosity emanated from the saber entirely renewed, now expressly tied to his indigenous flesh. A corrupting mechanism that spread through him, through the very veins that gave him breath. He felt the heat, the disruption, as it boiled to the surface. Like pockets of heat beneath the surface of a mountain, the flesh between his clavicles raised and broiled. Just when it seemed ready to pop, the black fingers moved upward and pinched the bubbling flesh.

Blood oozed out slowly as the voxyn fingers pulled the flesh back, like old and wasted paint. Beneath was muscle and flesh. Rough and torn, the skin ripped free and found it's way into the mouth of the voxyn hand. Like a crumpled piece of paper, turned from sight amidst a magic trick. He had stretched out his neck to allow the consumption but with the satiation settled, he turned his sight back to the defender and the woman who stood behind him.

"How noble..."

He looked through the figure, to the woman who stood behind him. He tilted his view as his voxyn arm shifted behind the carapace armor, withdrawing the living saber. He watched, in repeat, the memory of Sekot. He had known that being, known the affinity of their people, and the misery of their cult before he had freed them. For the rustling of the leaves, he returned the burning of Selvaris trees. For the feeling of being part of that mechanism, he returned view of nang hul catching flames amid flight. For all the connections she showed, he returned the feeling of isolation and being scattered to the many winds.

After years of serving the Dark Lord of the Sith, Reverance turned against his leader. And against the One Sith, igniting the Gramutek to consume the world from which they grew. Burrowing deep into the core, oceans of molten lava spilled out from deep chasms. Those who didn't die fled on the notions of being ostracized and cast out by the faction that used them. And Reverance stood atop their ashes, pleased to see it finally end.

"You hide those claws well..." He squinted as the orange chom-huun blade ignited. Without another moment for rest, he charged the figure that guarded the woman. Sabers would slash from abstract angles, guided by mania and an insurmountable well of power.

 

[Soeht]

He Watches Mandalore

A chilling breeze began to pick up at the tranquil spot [member="Valae Kitra"] and [member="Jakkor Kess"] found. A young Miralukan redheaded [acronym="Are you listening? Cough if you are."]Jedi Padawan[/acronym] approached the pair. Her name - Elara Hulis. Someone with the Order of the Sacred Lotus.

Possibly.

“Everyone has received treatment,” Elara told Valae and Jakkor.

The air was cold as she spoke those words.

“I-is there anything I can help with?” asked Elara.

 

[Hira Mitsae]

Above Mandalore
Objective 1, Rebalance
In Scene: [member="Bethany Kismet"] | [member="Reverance"] | [member="Ijaat Mereel"]

In that last fraction of a moment as the oak's roots were almost uprooted and swept away into the storm she acted.

Soft hands touching his and reminding him of why Sardun did what he did. To protect, to shield, to stand as a bulwark against that which threatened to destroy everything in its path. Today it was this beast and tomorrow it would be another, but there was always the constant of him and her.

Together.

"We cannot protect, if we die ourselves." Sardun whispered coarsely in her ear, before releasing her and pushing her farther back as the storm came into a rest.

This was just in time for Reverance waited for no man.

Already his sabers were sweeping in parallel, but disjoint fashion. Mesmerizing hues and the proximity to the sickening saber made it all the more difficult to keep track of their movement... but Sardun was no little boy playing saber-whack in the courtyard of the Jedi Temple on Ossus.

The claws stayed and they crunched against the sickening clash of plasma and debris.

"Glad you like them." As momentum shifted and the sabers were dashed away legs settled themselves down against the clean-scorched ground. From there Sardun punched at Reverance's chest. Internal focus molded itself into external reaction as the Force bolstered and coiled around his breath and multiplied inherent strength towards the breaking point.

"They like you too."

 

[Bethany Kismet]

Outskirts of Keldabe
Objective: No.
In Scene:[member="Michael Sardun"] [member="Reverance"] [member="Ijaat Mereel"]
Near By: [member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Vilaz Munin"] [member="Soeht"] (sort of)

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcBosWg1UfA[/media]

As the two clashed, the stench of decay curling through the ashen air, Bethany stepped back. The earth shuddered beneath her feet, echoing the restlessness in the planet's core, as well as the struggle right before her.

Part of her wanted to stay- to help Michael. But she knew that wasn't why she was here. The last blast of memory from Reverance had reminded her, as nothing else could have, that her presence here had nothing to do with this moment- this scene unfolding. If she stayed here, focused on this tiny moment, then everything would be in vain. While the images he had sent had perhaps been meant to dismay her, all they did in truth was snap her out of the trap of this battle and remind her that she was here to serve a greater purpose.

There was a strange bond that spread out from her to both of them. Entirely different. She didn't understand either of them, where they had come from, or what they would mean in the future. She had been so focused on the interplay of memories passing between her and the behemoth, but now she reached out to Michael. Just a moment, just a touch.

Be careful.

And she was gone again. Never fully, but as a conscious and physical presence in that moment. Emerald eyes swept the scene and then she turned.

And ran.

Not out of fear. Not out of a need to flee. She wasn't running away. She ran instead toward something. Not Reverance and Michael. But toward the real reason she was here.

Reaching out, she brushed the minds of [member="Jakkor Kess"] and [member="Valae Kitra"] before pulling on the Force. The technique she called on, and opened up to the two Jedi Knights, in truth required little of the Force that flowed within them. It drew on the connection to Mandalore itself. Historically, it had been used to cause natural disasters- floods, storms, even earthquakes. But when drawn by the hands of someone who wished to calm and steady the environment around her, she suspected it could be used to offer the opposite.

The innate power of Mandalore was shattered, twisted. Sinking into the sensation of the world in flux, Bethany didn't register in full how far away from the battle behind her she had gotten. Her feet slowly stilled, coming to rest on a crest of jagged stone just beyond the ship they had come in. Reaching down into the planet, she could feel the wrenching distress of the core far beneath them.

It wasn't possible to simply dip that far, however. Between them and it were upheaval and wracking tremors. Breathing in deeply, Bethany reached out- and slowly, the ground beneath her own feet stilled and quieted. It moved as the polar opposite of a stone thrown into a pond, rippling into stillness out from her. She threw herself wide open, drawing that energy through herself and out. Showing Jakkor and Valae the way.

Unable to hide what, in truth, she was working to accomplish. The beacon in the Force would be all too easy to see- and to follow.