Public Catalyst: Resonance

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: Aboard the Gluttoneria
OBJECTIVE: Safeguard Liin Terallo
IMPORTANT LINKS: Sword #1 | Sword #2 | Armor | Jewel | Ring | Necklace | Gauntlet | DIII Gluttoneria | The guards | The Enforcer
TAG: Liin Terallo | Imperius Indomitus | OPEN

The massive Dictator-III class Gluttoneria, the Lord of Hunger was orbiting a planet far away from his home turf, not because it held much interesting in terms of flora or fauna, but because after all this time, he had finally managed to track her down. Liin Terallo , she had been instrumental in the N&Z's foothold on New Cov, her brilliance had already been put on display in the past, but she had left the company, dropped from the powerful and lucrative position of director to pursue new things it seemed. yet as word of these new things, these new approaches began to reach the Lord of Hunger, so too did the growing fear that other people might object to her research, her findings and her continued efforts with or without any additional ulterior motives.

Still, suspended within the battlecruiser's bridge from his personal Ommin Harness, even the monstrous abomination within the force could not deny the strange sensations the planet was bringing to bear. Awkward resonances, faint whispers and a taste that simply disgusted the lord of Hunger had drawn his attention to a singular location shown on a large holographical display at the center of the bridge.

//: WARNING
//: LOCATION OF THE ANOMALY UNSTABLE
//: USE OF FORCE-BASED TRANSPORTATION IS ILL-ADVISED

Raising a withered hand, the Lord of Hunger motioned towards the holographic display, his eyes burning like embers of gold and crimson as they stared upon the diplay's ever increasing frequency of changing images, as KRONOS started to attempt to triangulate the location of a certain person through the use of active data and footage on the surface combined with the ship's high grade sensory array, a monumentous task considering the strange instabilities.

"I require sustenance if I were to undertake this little mission...bring me a few of the prisoners stored in Deck C14..."​

 

[Liin Terallo]

The air is a knife,
the sound - a living thing.
Even the stars recoil,
from what the living bring.


The world came apart in vibration. Every breath splintered into static, bones thrummed, lungs clenched, my vision reduced to a field of trembling light. The sound cannons struck with enough force to make thought itself unravel.

Eli was beside me one moment and down the next, his knees hitting the ground as if gravity itself had tripled. I followed a heartbeat later, the world pitching sideways. We were two silhouettes collapsing under a storm made of sound, hands over our ears, mouths open in silent gasps.

I could see Xitli ahead of us, his wings spread wide against the barrage, feathers bending and quivering as if each one carried a universe of strain. His voice brushed faintly through my thoughts - steady, familiar - Once he lands, I'll engage him proper. The only calm in the chaos.

Then, through the blur, the Sith appeared. Not the flowing-robed mystic of old stories - this one was armored, masked, and impossibly still. The blast seemed to ripple around him rather than through him, as though the air itself refused to touch him. He was saying something, I saw the motion of his helm tilt, the subtle rise of a gauntleted hand, but the words were swallowed whole by the cacophony. Even so, I knew that armor.

My head throbbed. Eli reached out beside me, his fingers brushing my sleeve; a silent pull to stay low, stay conscious, stay alive.

Through the ringing haze, I met the masked gaze of the Sith. I could not hear him, could not read his face; but I did not need to. I already understood; he had not come to save me. He had come because the universe was listening, and it was listening too closely.

Tags: Edward Ashcard Braze Xitli Sacul Imperius Indomitus The Lord of Hunger

​

​

​

 

[Braze]

Tags: Liin Terallo Imperius Indomitus Xitli Sacul Edward Ashcard The Lord of Hunger DM Player-Slayer Aether of the Iron Order


​

Braze caught sight of the funny-looking red guy, the one who'd just stepped through reality itself like it was a curtain. The sonic barrage rattled the plating of his star-fighter as he pulled out of the strafing run, rolling hard before cutting into a sharp turn to peel off.

He flipped open the coms channel, voice cutting through the static.

"Phoenix Command, this is Azure Phoenix. You seeing that? Someone just just... people pop-corned in to existence, and stepped right in front of the Acquisition."

The fighter banked low, engines flaring blue as Braze angled back toward the storm and the impossible all converging around the Acquisition.

 

[DM Player-Slayer]

Liin Terallo Braze The Lord of Hunger Imperius Indomitus Edward Ashcard Xitli Sacul Aether of the Iron Order
[Phoenix Wing In Stealth]

Spoiler

Apex Predator: Baby Shark Flagship x1
Mud Duck x1
B-Zero x4
Tuitio Support Boat x2
SS-Phantomray Stealth Assault Interceptor x2
SS-Ebonray Assault Interceptor x4
HS - Omni Tug x 25

[Phoenix Wing Comms]

"Phoenix Command, this is Azure Phoenix. You seeing that? Someone just just... people pop-corned in to existence, and stepped right in front of the Acquisition."

[Overwatch | Mud Duck – Grax Tolwin]
"Copy that, Azure. Sensors are losing their minds. That thing's giving off something bigger than a carrier. Definitely not local."

[Phoenix Command | Baby Shark – Captain Vesperis]
"Maintain distance. Do not re-engage unless fired upon. Overwatch, get me a spectral map of that storm and flag any new gravitic spikes."

[Overwatch | Mud Duck – Zane Harlock]
"Yeah, about that, Cap… we've got a monster reading in high orbit. Big ship. No transponder. "

[Azure Phoenix | Ashwing – Braze]
"Copy. Logging that as 'worry about later.' For now, we've got Force users and a 'force god' having tea on my target zone."

[Phoenix Command | Vesperis]
"Acknowledged, Azure. You want ground support? We can deploy Arclight and get him planetside inside three minutes."

[Overwatch | Mud Duck – Grax Tolwin]
"Already got his ship warming up, boss. Just say the word and I'll paint him a landing zone."

[Azure Phoenix | Ashwing – Braze]
"Affirmative. Have Aether hold in low atmo and keep an eye on that 'Big Boy Ship' shadow up there. If it so much as blinks, I want to know before it sneezes."

[Phoenix Command | Vesperis]
"Understood. Overwatch, confirm Arclight holding low-atmo pattern and maintain dual lock on both beacons. If that ship so much as shifts course, I want firing solutions prepped and standing by."

[Overwatch | Zane Harlock]
"Copy, Command. Tracking both Azure and Arclight; big shadow's still parked up there, no ID, no chatter."

[Azure Phoenix | Ashwing – Braze]
"Copy all. "

 

[Imperius Indomitus]

LORD INDOMITUS
Through war, we bring order.
Through strength, we bring unity.

PALADIN OF NIHILUS
He that follows in our wake is death.

​

Makeb | The Anomaly | Rocky Ridge

He blinked slowly, once as He turned to watch the fighter flyby to repeat the strafe. The black-plated arm with its fine golden trim lowered, the Force returning to its master. It was a strain, the place, the anomaly, it was making it a challenge to dominate the Force here as He was used to. So many matters were ripping it in one direction or the other. No surprise this caught His attention.

Imperius returned His focus to Liin, then to her companions. A wild group, as usual, composed of various different individuals and no coherent force. What greatness she could achieve if she were to settle with one or the other, what her mind and research could accomplish if she were not drifting like a leaf in a hurricane, thrown, violently against all odds.

The birdperson was of a species He did not know, bird-like but unlike the Rishi, not physically imposing, even with wings outstretched. Yet there was some purpose, some strength of will in that individual which He could acknowledge. The sense of self-sacrifice was either dedication or waste, time would tell. Right now it was appreciated that He was not the only one interested in the survival of the reason of all of this.

He recognised the Blackwatch officer on the spot. Not knowing him by name, but as former Overlord of the Eternal Empire, a companion of the first Emperor and still firmly holding onto His vow as a Warden of the Shroud, there was little secret about the dress and man to Imperius. The Pureblood merely offered a faint nod to the agent once their eyes would meet.

"Lead us to the entrance." And into cover. Imperius voice sounded like humanoid thunder, His gaze falling onto Liin as He understood that she would know where to go. "Now."

Liin Terallo | Edward Ashcard | Xitli Sacul | Braze | The Lord of Hunger

 

[Xitli Sacul]

Location: Makeb
Objective: Identify and secure the anomaly
Tags: Liin Terallo Edward Ashcard Imperius Indomitus The Lord of Hunger

Notable Equipment:
Tlapixqui

---

The Chico observed in synchoronous orbit, at least that was the theory. Acalan stood beside the command console, corrupted data streams confused many of their subsystems. The Hyperwave Generator had to be taken offline because the gravational anomolies caused the navigation computer to hallucinate, making it believe they were flying into a star or some other dangerous celestial anamoly. Subsequently, it took control of the helm and attempted to avoid the seventeen blackholes, six stars and a neutron.

That last one was new, created by the burst of tachyons that tore through hyperspace as a new gravity well arrived on their starboard. A visual confirmation was necessary to ascertain it's authenticity. A Star Destroyer, as if his day couldn't get any worse. "Raise..." He had to stop himself, they couldn't raise full shields they lacked the necessary headroom. "Raise the conversion field." He barked, prompting a brief flash of light to sweep across the hull as the projectors sparked to life. He seen enough of these ships to know their armament was primarily energy based, any missiles they'd have to hope the point defence could shoot down and kinetics... at least they had thick plating but if they were lucky, it wouldn't come to that.

"Sir-"

"One moment. Open a full band communications channel and please ensure the codex is working, I do not want to accidently insult their mother." He continued, growling to himself. "Hopefully they are listening." It wasn't that he didn't know Galatic Basic, only he didn't necessarily trust himself with it. The syntax was awkward and the words had too many meanings.

"Channel open, sir."

"Welcome to this little slice of paradise. My name is Acalan, Seneshal of the Chico. We are a research vessel investigating the anomolies on the surface below. If you deem it necessary, we can share what little intelligence we have garnered from the atmospheric anomlies. I'd appreciate it if you would identify yourself."

"Now, what was it?" He continued turning back to the comms officer, she was quick to take up his offer yipping, "Xitli is under attack. He is commanding us into low orbit to disable a hostile vessel."

"And we never detected this ship?" He snapped angerily, his day just got a whole lot worse apparently. If they descended into low orbit they could provide cover, certainly but that'd trap them between the planets surface and a warship and for all the Chico's defensive systems she wasn't made for engage anything quite so large.

"It was probably on the surface before we arrived, or the anomoly shielded them from our sensors." replied another stationed by one of the science stations. "If we had a Teocalli, perhaps, we could penetrate deeper into the minefield. Alternatively, we could have surveyed the area with Couatl's but you know the Great One."

"Yes, I do. Very well, prepare to bring us into position and bring our forward Tlamin online." If Xitli was under attack, the choice was clear.

A decade ago, he might have seen this as an opportunity, his master would reward him greatly for leaving Xitli to fight this battle alone. At best, he would be severely wounded making him an easy target, at worst killed and then he would bid for his masters protection or die happy knowing he served them well. However, that was before this entire voyage began. It started with Xihuitl's betrayal, sabotaging the Chico during a pirate raid in an attempt to kill him. He had every right to punish the crew for her treachery, at the very least purge it of any who didn't swear complete fealty to him and the Citalee. He didn't. Then a month ago he put himself in-danger to save Yoloti when they tracked a power signature to that bunker, some sort of battle droid attacked the away team and contrary to doctrine he led a relief force. He never understood why Xitli cared, his own master would have left him to die. Many Avali would.

So if he had ever met any agent of change for his people, Xitli was a step forward. More than that he was Inheritor. The next in line to become Khan of the Citalee fleet. The fact his tactical officer didn't voice complaints suggested to him they thought the same and he knew they had once been plotting a mutiny against him.

​

---

​

Xitli lowered his guard and turned to check on Yoloti and his guards. Yoloti was crouched besides the wounded, checking their vitals and nodding in at him. "Ayohui (stunned)" He said, which brought a little relief to the tense situation. Xitli didn't very much like losing his crew, they were Satorians sure but they had shown him more loyalty than the conniving Avali who set him up for failure and besides, his best friend, Quauhtli Sacul was a Satorian. He missed Quauhatli, hopefully he found purpose in the wider galaxy. In fact, the only reason he looked forward to this task was the small chance of running into one another again.

"Xitlakuepa nik acalli" (Return to the ship) He said, prompting the group to nod, with a little help the pair of Satorians grabbed the stunned Satorian and scurried off towards the transporter. Hopefully, their attacker wasn't interested in them. Arching his neck he watched the fighter banking and hissed at it's howling engines, if only he could still fly but he had long outgrown his wings. He could throw his weapon, but he wasn't willing to lose the only gift his father had given him.

"You are attracting many friends today Khan Terallo, is there something I should be aware of?" He said retreating back and glancing at the stranger. They didn't seem the least bit phased by what was happening, speaking in a calm and commanding voice. He looked at the figure and nodded in agreement, "Anything is better than this infernal noise."

"And who might you be, a friend of that solider?" Xitli asked, there was a faint pulse in the force as he spoke. A mental payload attempting to persuade the figure to answer. He was beginning to wonder, if she had gotten caught up in some imperial nonsense or made some bad deals, it had been many cycles since their meeting in Ilic City. He had gone there to secure their biomedical technologies, taking advantage of the chaos on New Cov only to become involved in saving it. He didn't regret it though, no, instead it taught him the value of cooperation. He got much more from that deal than he ever would have from securing the technologies.

"I am Xitli Sacul." He said with some retraint, he didn't have time for a proper introduction. Titles and all that weren't important when a fighter was flying overhead.

< > - Telepathy

Designed by Lossa Darcuhl​

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: Aboard the Gluttoneria
OBJECTIVE: Safeguard Liin Terallo
IMPORTANT LINKS: Sword #1 | Sword #2 | Armor | Jewel | Ring | Necklace | Gauntlet | DIII Gluttoneria | The guards | The Enforcer
TAG: Liin Terallo | Imperius Indomitus | OPEN

Several people, young of body and mind, restrained with songsteel shackles imbued with sith sorcery and runecraft were lead into a room, their eyes covered with a black bandage inscribed with runes, their breathing silent and their steps steady and monotonous as if they were forced to do so beyond their own will and capacity. behind them, half a dozen terrifying droids walked towards the sides of the room, each taking a spot with an equal distance of the others, pulling their massive black swords out of their scabbards, placing them in front of themselves as from the ceiling of the room, the Ommin Harness earlier located within the bridge of the massive battlecruiser Gluttoneria lowered itself and revealed the man from earlier, draped in burgendy robes with electrum piping and detailing, a detailed humanoid mask giving the idea of some twisted form of humanity, behind which a pair of vibrantly inhuman golden and crimson eyes looked down upon the sustenance brought to the fore by his servants.

"Perhaps...when this little lost child who has managed to distill the very essence of the force in a new way is within my grasp... such sacrifices would no longer be a necessity, but a mere act of indulgence," A thin, withered hand rose from within the robes, a simple wave revealing a dozen or so bowls at the center of the chamber, each made from a different material, each letting out a smoke in a different color. "The Chaos brought forth by the Galactic Empire, the wars in and around the core... it makes for a convenient cover to all I hope to achieve... The Sith Empress refuses to evolve, the false sith'ari attempted to claim godhood...all but fools who do not see the truth...To grow stronger, one must be patient, one must evolve and transcend beyond their very limits, beyond the limits of not just the force, but that of life itself, of existence and reality."

From the ravaged hand lightning of a foul green color sprang forth, crackling into the bowls, mixing with each of the contents, until from each combined bowl, a black arc of lightning jolted, striking the bandages of each of the men and women in the room, bouncing off of the black blades and being redirected to the figure hovering at the center of the room. The men and women screamed, a screech of agony and pain to the very bone, flesh and soul began to be stripped of meaning, skin turned to decayed and dried leather, muscle withered and degraded, bones crumbled to dust, until naught but a dozen of dried out and completely unrecognisable lifeless ragdolls remained on the floor. in the meantime though, the being at the center of the room was surrounded by smoke and energy, their fingers seemingly regrowing, skin restitching itself as something wriggled and writhed underneath their skin.

"I am...the Lord of Hunger!" As the feeble body started to shudder and regain a semblance of a body that it should have had, the being took in a deep breath, as wires snapped off, syringes pushed their contents through tubes into the body, metal arms and clamps appeared from the walls, metallic clicking and the sound of snapping and regrowing bone resonating through the room, until finally a heavy 'thud' could be heard. For now the smoke and the lightning which had been surrounding the being, seemingly attacking it and touching it with unprecedented violence, now seemed to have bent to the whim and will of this armored monstrosity, this utter abomination within the very force, not a cut, not a wound, but a lethal and mortal blow to the living force made manifest. "Dread will come for those who would deny me my satisfaction and appetite."

If there was any who was sensitive in the force, any who could imagine the darkness of the nether and the endless hunger of the past, they would feel it, they would feel this monster's presence even through the anomalies presented and caused by Liin Terallo 's experiments. Something no one would like to have in its presence had arrived...and it had awoken once more to its hunger.​

TAGS: Braze | Liin Terallo | Imperius Indomitus | Edward Ashcard | Xitli Sacul

 

[Liin Terallo]

The earth remembers what the stars forget;
buried light, breathing in the dark.
Each step, a whisper - a promise - a debt,
paid in the pulse of a dying spark.

The air still carried the tremor of the sound cannon, fading now to a distant hum that made the sky seem alive. Above, the bounty hunter’s ship circled - motionless but waiting, it's formation like a vulture stalking it's prey. The world felt heavy with expectation.

When Xitli had asked earlier why there was so much attention drawn to me; I decided to tell him the brief truth. “People heard whispers of my research,” I explained. “Now they want to own it… or end it.” The words had felt small compared to the weight that they carried.

Now, on the canyon’s edge, Imperious' armored figure stood silent beside me. He had come alone, as he always did. His voice broke the wind’s murmur, level and cold. “Lead us to the entrance. Now.”

I did not argue. Once and for a short time, we had worked side by side; bound by curiosity more than trust. But when I saw what he had begun to make with my formulas, I left. His version of the Synthetic Force was nothing more than converting it into a weapon. While mine had always been about equality.

Eli lingered a few steps back, saying nothing. There was a weight to his silence, though - a quiet intensity that made the air between us hum. I could not read it, could not name it, but I knew he was watching the Sith as closely as he was watching me.

My ring pulsed once; faint and steady and I felt the pull beneath the ground. I knelt, brushed aside the grit, and uncovered a panel of alloy that hummed faintly under my touch. The biometric reader came to life, a sliver of light tracing my palm. With my DNA confirmed; the mechanism released with a deep, resonant thoom that trembled through my bones.

The passage opened. A rush of cool, stale air rose to meet me; both old and patient, like something that had been waiting far too long. I flicked on my flashlight that I had brought forth from my pouch, the beam cutting through dust and darkness.

I did not look back. I never do. One step forward and I jumped. The fall was long and smooth, the planet’s low gravity turning it into a slow-motion drift through silence. My light found glimmers below - something shimmering, liquid - and my chest tightened.

Water?

That shouldn’t have been there. Not here. Not in a mineshaft that once ran dry.

I hit the surface before I could think, plunging through in an explosion of cold. The world blurred into ripples of light, bubbles rising around me like stars. Then - breath - air - the hard clang of metal under my boots as I landed on a corroded platform. My flashlight sputtered and then steadied again, painting the chamber in pale light.

Water cascaded from the ceiling above, vanishing into cracks around the platform. Pipes lined the walls, throbbing faintly with Isotope-5 residue that shimmered like veins under skin. The planet felt alive, changing itself in order to protect something.

The air was thick with vapor and the sharp tang of metal. Droplets traced cold lines down my hair, hissing faintly when they touched the Isotope-laced pipes along the walls. The hum beneath my feet was not mechanical. It was alive, resonant, as though the planet itself had drawn breath.

Eli surfaced a heartbeat after me, water cascading from his coat. His eyes caught the flashlight’s beam; sharp, steady, and utterly unreadable. “You didn’t even hesitate,” he said quietly. “You just jumped.”

I tilted the beam downward, watching the water run off the grated floor. “I knew where it led,” I replied. That was only half true.

His gaze swept over the chamber, studying the faint glow along the walls. “It's stronger here. The isotope. It doesn't feel dormant anymore.”

I nodded faintly, following the pattern of light that pulsed through the conduits; like veins threading deeper into the tunnel ahead. My ring responded with a faint shimmer, the gemstone pulsing once in recognition.
“Makeb is changing,” I murmured. “It should not be possible.”

A low rumble echoed through the shaft above - distant, hollow, followed by the sound of water splashing from somewhere near the opening. I turned my light upward, it's beam catching movement high above. They were coming. Good. Whatever was happening here, none of us would survive it alone.

Eli moved closer, his voice low. “We’ll wait, then.”

I nodded, though part of me wanted to keep moving, to chase the pulse that was calling from below. But reason won out. The last thing I needed was to face the unknown without backup - not with the reactor this close. And certainly not with a bounty hunter on my tail. So I steadied my light, standing at the edge of the platform as the echoes of descent drew nearer; the crash of water, the breath of the planet itself whispering through the dark.

I waited, listening to the rhythm beneath us - air and water, surface and depth; all bound in the same pulse. It almost sounded like a heartbeat. But I could not tell if it was mine or Makeb’s.

Tags: Edward Ashcard Braze Imperius Indomitus Xitli Sacul The Lord of Hunger DM Player-Slayer

 

[Braze]

​

Tags: Liin Terallo Xitli Sacul The Lord of Hunger @Imperius Indomitus

​

Despite what was said, Braze knew he'd either have to let them go, since it seemed his amped-up non-lethal attempts were doing very little, or push things harder and risk doing something he'd regret. The Ashwing's stabilizers hummed under his boots, the weapon systems flashing ready in quiet defiance of his hesitation.

He clicked his tongue, annoyed. "Figures," he muttered, half to himself, half to the ship. "I crank everything short of lethal and they still walk through it like it's a spring breeze."

The targeting reticle flew over the canyon, flickering with every burst of static from the anomaly below. He could feel it now, like pressure behind the eyes, a dull hum crawling through the hull and up his spine. Whatever was down there wasn't just dangerous; it was hungry.

"Alright," Braze breathed, rolling his shoulders. "We play it the long way, then."

He eased off the throttle, letting the Ashwing drift higher into cloud cover, sensors locked on the coordinates. He wasn't about to waste his fire on something that refused to stay down, especially not when the Force itself was starting to feel like it wanted a bite.

Rushing in headlong toward the fray alone was a foolish, impulsive choice, one Braze wouldn't be making today. He throttled back, the Ashwing's engines settling into a low hum as he leveled out above the canyon.

He needed to reconvene with Aether. He tapped the comm line, jaw tightening as he glanced at the pulsing distortion spreading across his sensors.

"Azure Phoenix to Arclight," he said, voice steady despite the static crackle. "We're regrouping. Mark my vector and hold formation. This storm's got teeth. And I'm not flying straight into its mouth."

 

[Imperius Indomitus]

LORD INDOMITUS
Through Fire and Blood.
Through Justice and Strength.

Liin Terallo | Xitli Sacul | The Lord of Hunger | Braze | Edward Ashcard

​

Makeb | The Anomaly | Entrance

The Pureblood followed Liin, His sabatons leaving deep imprints in the surface where it was earth or mud. Whatever happened here, it was her doing, it was the result of her research, whether it was useful or not - time would tell. But Imperius had no doubt at her hand in this. She was bold, courageous even as her aims were not merely pure self-interest but idealistic and she had little to back her up. It was admirable for this bareskinned human, neither of martial nor political standing to follow her aspirations.

A remarkable individual.

His figure towered over the rest of the fellowship, the eyes lowering at the bird-person who introduced itself as Xitli. He felt the Force, the pull, the attempted invasion - for He saw it as nothing less. The empty eyes narrowed with cold calmness. Imperius responded but did not add a rebuttal or comment to the attempted persuasion. Xitli's outreach would feel mental defences that were scarred, outlandish and outright repulsive, deep Darkness harbored within.

"Imperius."

His intention did not linger on the bird-person as He followed the descent of their de-facto leader into the entrance, the massive figure descending like a meteor of black, red and gold. A large splash of water, followed by a wave and He stood among His new companions. The metal platform shivered and shuddered under His weight, but aching for relief.

"I can feel your presence. You have risen to grasp the Force." His tone factual as He looked at Liin. "What did you do here?"

 

[Xitli Sacul]

Location: Makeb
Objective: Identify and secure the anomaly
Tags: Liin Terallo Edward Ashcard Imperius Indomitus The Lord of Hunger

Notable Equipment:
Tlapixqui

---

Xitli froze suddenly and adruptly, the wave of negative energies washing over his mind invoking imagery he thought forgotten. "Brothers..." He murmurred to himself as he was dragged back to the site of his hatching. Ayauh Cozamalotl. It's life breeding waters were turned crimson when a cast net unleashed a great serpent into their path. Killing all but one. Him. Murder.

He shook his head, dismissing the memory and looked at Imperius with a mixture of concern and confusion. What was that, did this creature share the Avali's power over glamour? That was impossible. They alone commanded that power.

"You are... unique." He replied in recognition, his mind still trying to process how and what just happened.

Research?

What manner of research had caused the entire galaxy to collapse around them. A spark of hope and doubt filled his chest, what had he missed out on and what might have changed if he involved himself sooner. If so many desired her research it had to be valuable, she herself had become the prize and if the entire galaxy had it's sights set on her. She might just become his ticket home, she would want for naught and have access to their greatest minds but ultimately, he knew it would be a gilded cage. No self respecting Avali would risk losing something that valuable. No self respecting Avali would allow this opportunity to slip their talons or so he thought.

Xitli had aspirations to uplift his people to the galactic stage, it was how he planned to save his species; for all their posturing and grandeur he knew the truth. They were a dying species, their return to the Galaxy was born of desperation not benevolence. He could not deny, the galaxy had hurt them but after spending so long away from home. He couldn't help but wonder, if it was the Avali's self importance, pride and avarice had been killing them all along and yet the key was right there, descending into the pit.

He was only glad to have sent the Satorian's back, if they made the same connection, it could have drawn many more predators into the fray.

He permitted himself to sigh, watching the ship that had harried them bank away, he had a feeling their hunt and problems were far from over but he welcomed the momentary peace before following her below. As the water hit him, Xitli dived deeper until he broke through the... surface? under-surface? He had no idea at this point and talons collided with deck plate.

"Whatever research you were conducting here, it has had a remarkable effect upon this world." Xitli said, growing more envious of her achievement. Perhaps, whatever he found here might at least revolutionise their understanding of terraforming. He could satisfy himself with that, couldn't he?

Taking a few tentive steps forward he looked at Liin, the energies of this place appeared to weigh on her more than most. Perhaps suggesting a connection of some sort? Carefully he moved past to scan the darkness and offered, "I witnessed the ship bank away before we came down here, if you need a little time, I think we can spare it. It might give you time to recover for the journey ahead?"

I think? When did he become so uncertain...

< > - Telepathy

Designed by Lossa Darcuhl​

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: planet surface
OBJECTIVE: Safeguard Liin Terallo
IMPORTANT LINKS: Sword #1 | Sword #2 | Armor | Jewel | Ring | Necklace | Gauntlet | DIII Gluttoneria | The guards | The Enforcer
TAG: Liin Terallo | Imperius Indomitus | OPEN

The massive vessel dropped its cloaking, it's enormous lumbering frame now visible for all to see, as dozens of pods suddenly burst forth from the belly of the beast, swerving into the planet's orbit before adjusting their course and barelling through and into the atmosphere of the anomalous planet. From the planet's very surface, this would've looked like a meteor shower gone awry, as each and every pod crashed and burrowed deeply into the surface no matter if there would be buildings or just plain ground to land on. If the planet was a sentient being, this would've been akin to a wave of bacteria moving in for their attempt at infection.

With a loud hiss, each and every of the pods opened its bay doors, opening like beautiful, deadly metal flowers to reveal its contents in the form of droids; their frames protected by electromagnetic shielding, their metal hands and fingers clutching heavy weaponry. Yet from one of the pods, a monster emerged, armored to the teeth, yet with enough presence to weather the storm raging on the planet with minimal effort, accompanied by a handful of tall, skeletal droids with a menacing presence of their own.

"This planet...it is eating itself," The Lord of Hunger had seen this only once before, when a planet crumbled under its own forces, though in that case it was a rare opportunity to view a natural phenomenon up close, in this case there seemed something unnatural going on. It felt like the living force, yet at the same time it did not. It was at the very least and in the simplest of terms: odd. "If this is Liin Terallo 's work ... she has truly changed from her time in the N&Z. Have the Enforcement cohorts scout out the place, I want a detailed lay out of the area. And those...buzzing flies up above... try to see if we can send a message back to the Gluttoneria..."

Behind his mask, the abomination that was the Lord of Hunger closed his eyes, allowing his mind and his senses to scour a much larger area, trying to expand his presence, his awareness in order to find Miss Terallo, who was showing the tell tale signs of becoming mad through science, the telltale signs of someone Section C and the Lord of Hunger himself would love to have close by. After all, even if she had turned her back on his grandnephew and the very company which had tried to safeguard her future on New Cov, she had once more shown value, only this time to the very shadow of the aforementioned company she'd been tied to prior. "Where are you...child of science?"​

TAGS: Braze | Edward Ashcard | Xitli Sacul | Imperius Indomitus

 

[Liin Terallo]

The world hums low beneath the stone
A buried heart that beats alone.
Its pulse within, its rhythm mine -
Two souls entangled, out of time.

The tremors had not stopped since we had descended. Even here - still more than a kilometer above the chamber where the reactor slept - the ground quivered faintly; as though the planet itself was restless.

I could feel his gaze on me. Imperius' words lingered in the dark air: "You have risen to grasp the Force." He said it like a diagnosis, not an accusation.

“I did not grasp it,” I murmured, my voice quieter than I meant it to be. “It reached for me first.”

Dust shifted from the ceiling as another low rumble passed. Somewhere far below, the isotope cores thrummed; steady, deliberate, calling. The sound was not just heard; it was felt, threading into bone and blood.

“This is not what I intended,” I said at last, turning slightly toward Xitli. His feathers caught the faint light, their glow tracing light ripples along the stone. “The reactor’s buried deeper - sealed. But it is leaking energy into the crust. If I can reach it to shut it down, and take the core with me… maybe the planet can begin to correct itself.”

I glanced toward the shaft that led even further down. The air that rose from it was warm, metallic, almost alive. “I cannot leave it here. The isotope will keep feeding off the fault lines until there is nothing stable left. I just need a little more time to get to it.”

My hand brushed against the ring on my finger; it pulsed faintly, the gemstone catching a ghost of light. And then I felt him.

Eli stood just behind the others, silent. His expression was unreadable, but I caught the faintest flicker - recognition, maybe even pain- as if he heard the same rhythm that echoed through me. The faint vibration in the air seemed to draw him closer, his breath uneven in the hush. For a heartbeat, our eyes met. The pulse from below matched perfectly between us; steady and synchronized. It was not comforting. It was a reminder of what tied us together, and what neither of us could undo.

Then something else. A pressure was felt against my thoughts; distant yet deliberate.
It was not Eli, nor the Sith before me. This presence came from above; vast, searching, like fingers trailing through the unseen currents of the Force. It brushed against the edges of my mind, curious… possessive… and then it withdrew, leaving only a chill behind.

My breath caught, though I forced my expression to remain unchanged. Whatever that was, I could not let the others sense my concern. Not now. So I steadied my hand against the stone, exhaled slowly, and turned my gaze toward the depths below where the reactor waited, and the truth I had buried with it.

Tags: Edward Ashcard Imperius Indomitus Xitli Sacul The Lord of Hunger

 

[Imperius Indomitus]

LORD INDOMITUS
Through Fire and Blood.
Through Justice and Strength.

Liin Terallo | Xitli Sacul | The Lord of Hunger | Edward Ashcard

​

Makeb | The Anomaly | Underground

It reached for me first.

"As someone who seeks equality, do not imply an elevation or choice made by this malevolent entity."

His voice resonated in the closed space like a distant thunder, in a tone of warning and coldness in equal measure. Almost uncharacteristically caring for His persona, offering emotional accented advice to the stranger woman who was the reason for their presence here.

"Guard yourself against the foolishly predominant philosophies of its interpretation that have persisted and plagued the Galaxy for millennia. It is and remains the scourge of civilisation, the anathema to stability."

Imperius' eyes suddenly narrowed ever so slightly. He felt the presence, the familiar Force signature that had approached and was approaching with known purpose and determination. It was some time since they were in each others presence. He had followed the Lord of Hungers achievements with the Confederation, with the other allies He had chosen to abandon for their shallow focus and determination. Now several of them were gone, the Empress incarcerated and the Confederation becoming a true oligarchy as its name had implied from the beginning.

Simple fact was, He was looking forward to meeting the fellow beyond-Sith.

As they continued onwards, He could not deny His wonder about the impact this little woman was making and what she could do if she would be willing to abandon her conscience to achieve her goals. The Isotope project brought her into an arena that demanded more than mere intentions and words, more than ingenuity to persist - to survive.

 

[Edward Ashcard]

Location: Makeb — Rocky Ridge
Equipment:

• 1x Dragon 1R SMG
• 1x Lucius-pattern Bayonet
• 4x C-22 fragmentation grenade
• 2x Class-A thermal detonator
• 1x Imperial "Hellhound" Combat Armour Mk. I
• 1x Comlink

Ship: Dragon LF1 TR 'Wyvern' Technical Research Freighter
Tags: Liin Terallo Xitli Sacul Imperius Indomitus

​

The repairs had taken Edward longer than expected, but they were needed. The situation was more complex than what it had seemed, and he could not afford to have his ship continue to malfunction. Edward set to work changing the output of the ship's reactor and deactivating non-critical systems to reduce the impact of the anomaly's radiation. The pain from the hard-sound gun had left Edward sluggish and clumsy and greatly extended the time required for the repairs.

After taking some time to repair his ship and catch his breath, Edward left his ship behind, and he started his own descent underground to reunite with the others.

​

 

[Xitli Sacul]

Location: Makeb
Objective: Secure the Anomaly
Tags: Liin Terallo Edward Ashcard Imperius Indomitus The Lord of Hunger

Notable Equipment:
Tlapixqui

---

He looked between the figures at her side, they spoke of cosmic powers unobtainable to his kind. The Force wasn't a foreign concept, Avali scientist had studied the phenomenon long ago, determined it was unobtainable long ago. However, that didn't prevent them from comprehension and the more 'Imperius' spoke, the more he sounded like the Imperials of old. Given the name they assigned themselves, you would think that obvious but he wasn't armed for a battle and his retinue was gone.

"Imperius, I do not believe this is the time or place for theological debates." Xitli replied, stepping into uncomfortable territory. He watched Imperius more cautiously, breaking his gaze just long enough to speak to Khan Terallo.

"Khan Terallo. Whatever comes I promised you time, and I am not in the business of betraying my contracts." He said, casting a glance back at the armoured figure. The deeper they went, the less important this reactor became, this felt more akin to a journey or maybe a baptism by fire and she was at the centre of it. He hoped to help her come out better for it.

"Once we reach the reactor, what then; can you scram it without risking the planet?" Xitli asked, hoping to shift the conversation to something more grounded.

< > - Telepathy

Designed by Lossa Darcuhl​

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

LOCATION: Makeb, surface??
OBJECTIVE: get to Liin Terallo
IMPORTANT LINKS: Sword #1 | Sword #2 | Armor | Jewel | Ring | Necklace | Gauntlet | DIII Gluttoneria | The guards | KRONOS
TAG: Liin Terallo | Imperius Indomitus | Edward Ashcard | Xitli Sacul

As his senses expanded exponentially, he could feel them, some more faint than others, but there was one whose very presence was unmistakable. It had been quite some time since they had lost faced one another, some time since their last conversation and their last meeting... Imperius, the undaunted lord of Zakuul, a being who made even the Lord of Hunger cautious in his actions. After all, as long as this particular monster wasn't at his best, those like Imperius were more than capable of posing a significant threat to not just his physical, but also his future wellbeing.

Yet, it was not Imperius who truly caught his mind's eye, but someone close in location to that very man, a child whose trajectory had been strange from the start, whose alignments to the N&Z had been a blessing, but whose departure came with little more than a note. Yet, since then, she had clearly changed and her path had seemingly muddled and become murkier than even the Lord of Hunger had expected. Her presence within the force was hazy, blurry at best, something about it simply didn't sit well and didn't fit the very idea of the force itself, yet curious enough her presence was sort of...similar to the very air around them. This clearly made the monstrous Lord of Hunger wonder whether or not the current state of the world and the strange presence of Liin Terallo weren't inequivocally linked somehow.

"Sceleratii, with me...Arbalesk, secure the perimeter," if utilizing the teleportation magics as KRONOS had mentioned were out of question, he'd have to reach this group the old fashioned way...by taking a plunge into the planet's depths just like they had done...​

 

[Liin Terallo]

Down where the planet keeps its breath,
past stone and steel, past silent death,
the pulse below begins to climb -
a heart unbound, outside of time.

The Sith Lord’s words lingered like smoke in the air; heavy and shaping the silence after them. I watched him a moment longer before answering.

“The Force you speak of is not what I mean,” I said, my voice low but steady. “What calls to me is it's reflection; the absence that answers it's weight. Some see corruption. I see correction. The anti-Force or synthetic Force does not choose; it reacts. It is what remains when everything else folds in on itself.”

My hand brushed the tunnel wall as I walked, feeling the faint vibration running through it. The air was growing warmer and thicker. “We will keep moving,” I said to my avian companion. “The reactor lies far deeper than the maps claimed. I need to see it's configuration before I can say if I can disable it safely.”

The sound of metal on metal echoed above -armor meeting rungs - and then the soldier dropped down to join us. His presence steadied the air somehow, though his silence said more than words could. I gave a faint nod in greeting. “Another risk-taker,” I murmured under my breath.

I pressed onward. The light from my flashlight cut through pockets of dust that hung motionless; like thought suspended. Pipes ran overhead now, sweating condensation that fell in quiet rhythm. The temperature was climbing with every meter. “Keep your weapons ready, but not drawn,” I said softly. “Whatever is below us seems to react to interference. Let us not announce ourselves.”

The tunnel narrowed leaving the air thick with minerals and heat. A faint glow bled ahead where the walls widened into a junction; metal plating grafted into stone. I slowed, my pulse steadying as recognition settled in. “We’re close to the first checkpoint.”

The junction was framed by a lattice of conduits and rusted frames; one of my early failsafes, meant to keep scavengers from pressing deeper. It's surface shimmered faintly with residual charge, still alive after all this time. I exhaled, almost impressed by its persistence. “I built this one,” I said under my breath. “It does not like company.”

Kneeling, I pulled a small transmitter from my pouch. The casing was scratched, it's notations half-faded, but my fingers still remembered every circuit I had shaped. The hum of the shaft pressed closer around me, merging with the pulse of the device as I tuned its signal to the trap’s original rhythm. One wrong modulation and the tunnel would fold in on itself. “Do not move,” I whispered. “This trap is proximity-based.”

A spark jumped - bright amongst the darkness and then it was gone. The shimmer rippled and faded. The air where the barrier had been grew still again, clear. I held there for a breath, waiting to be sure, before rising. “It is disarmed. For now.”

Crossing over, I felt the faintest vibration beneath my boots - softer than machinery, deeper than motion. It was not the reactor. It was the planet itself. A slow, rhythmic pulse; like a slumbering giant rolling in its sleep.

The gemstone on my ring came alive with faint light; threads of energy crawled through it's heart. The same resonance thrummed through my chest, answering in kind. I paused, fingers brushing the stone wall beside me. The vibration deepened, and for a heartbeat I could almost sense intent; pressure without voice, awareness without form. The world was waking, wgether by us here or something else entirely. And somewhere below, the reactor hummed back in reply.

Tags: Edward Ashcard Xitli Sacul Imperius Indomitus The Lord of Hunger

 

[Imperius Indomitus]

LORD INDOMITUS
Through Fire and Blood.
Through Justice and Strength.

Liin Terallo | Xitli Sacul | The Lord of Hunger | Edward Ashcard

​

Makeb | The Anomaly | Underground

"It is a glorified, naive outlook you believe in."

Imperius' gaze moved to the bird person who saw their discussion as a meaningless exchange of beliefs. Theological even, religion, belief. It was very common to mistake facts that were beyond the understanding of many as faith and not as truths and their feathered companion certainly was not aware of the higher studies around the Force.

"There is no belief, no religion involved here. Only facts. Miss Terallo did not create this with the power of make belief, but through science and most likely through the currents of the Force itself. Synthetic Force, if you claim it or not, is part of the same realm, part of the same nature. It all is touched by the Force. To argue it is against, corrupted or corrected, just lays bare the fundamental flaw of Jedi dogma that something can be against the Will of the Force."

The voice of the Pureblood did not raise or varied in volume. It was calm, cold and made the impression that it could even be easily heard if it was whispered across a battlefield. But towards the final words of His elaboration, it had an underlying tone of disgust.

His eyes turned towards Liin again as they approached one of her own security measures. Finally she had begun to acknowledge the gravity of her work. Security was necessary and she did make sure to have some now. In their cooperation would have been security, funds and safety, but she was not able to see beyond the application He envisioned, she could not see the goal.

The heavy figure moved together with the others, His hand resting on the pommel of His sword. Whatever was a ahead, it did not frighten Him in the slightest. Fear was not part of His persona anymore, burnt out a long time ago. Only wrath remained. Wrath and guilt.

 

[Edward Ashcard]

Location: Makeb — Rocky Ridge
Equipment:

• 1x Dragon 1R SMG
• 1x Lucius-pattern Bayonet
• 4x C-22 fragmentation grenade
• 2x Class-A thermal detonator
• 1x Imperial "Hellhound" Combat Armour Mk. I
• 1x Comlink

Ship: Dragon LF1 TR 'Wyvern' Technical Research Freighter
Tags: Liin Terallo Xitli Sacul Imperius Indomitus

​

Edward followed the tunnels towards the reactor. He was no expert at navigating subterranean spaces, but the others had left subtle clues that were possible to follow. Doors left open, footprints in the dust and the subtle warming of metal ladder rungs and door handles where the others had been. Perhaps the real reason why it was easy for Edward to navigate the unknown tunnels was that he was headed for the reactor, which if not central to the layout was clearly central to events.

As he walked, he felt a strange sense of certainty as he kept going. He knew it was likely just the anomaly pulses putting his mind into a strange state, but as Edward's own light cut through the dust in the air, he had no thoughts of leaving. He had to at least see the reactor and gain some understanding of what was going on. If not, then he had risked his life for very little.

After some time, Edward saw a still light ahead of him and what looked like a junction. As he slowly moved forward, he made out the others. They were clearly examining something. An impasse? A trap? It was hard to guess. Edward took his light and pointed it towards his own helmet to make it clear who he was as he slowly walked towards the group.

Edward held his hand up in greeting and spoke in a softer voice than his usual tone. "I am here to lend my skills to our common cause, although the more I see, the less I understand."

​