Cinniúint Séalaithe

[Via Dolorosa]

The time in exile allowed for the Swamp Witch to work nearly uninterrupted on numerous projects. Before her exile the galaxy and the events of life kept impeding scientific progress, preventing her and her then cohorts from unleashing several deadly entities upon the unsuspecting galaxy. Most of her projects had been set to flame with others simply destroyed to prevent her hard work for being exploited by lesser thinkers when the Black Rose fell, propelling her into exile.​

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With the passing of time came a renewed focus, along with almost infinite resources. Salvaging what she could from the Black Rose, she managed to stalk the galaxy collecting the required resources to keep her dreams afloat. She held little to no contact with those she once plotted with, and only recently she begun to realign and associate with this new Sith Empire. ​

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In possession of several deadly plants already, along with varying toxic metals and elements the time to begin her work was close at hand. There were minor set backs, this was afterall science. ​

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It was these set backs that forced her to go hunting to replace what had been lost to careless handlers. She would have eliminated the fools for their carelessness, though replacing them would prove harder than one would imagine. For now anyway. ​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Aboard: The Maleficum
Site: Wonderland
Sector: Sojourn

"How many seedlings and adult plants do we require to replace what was lost?"​

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"[/COLOR]http://starwarsrp.net/topic/92054-dr-podal-pyan/"]Dr. P'yan scanned through her notes again, double checking the numbers before responding to the Sith Lady.​

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"Two-thirds of our specimens had been compromised. We need as much of the coma-bloom as possible to begin creating the V.67 formula. Then reserves of the plant in the event of failed experiments. Then further reserves to keep the plant growing here in Wonderland."​

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Biting back her disgust at the mention of failed experiments, she left the confines of the botany lab heading in the direction of the ship's bay area. In the bay area, a team of well trained scientists, geared up securely, awaited the arrival of the Sith Lady. Standing next to the shuttle was one of her daughters, Andarta, who had been chosen to accompany the science team and the Swamp Witch.​

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"Everything is in order, Mother. We can leave as soon as you are ready."​

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There was no need to further announce the importance of this mission to the science team. Each member of the team had been chosen because they were the ones responsible for the ruin of the coma-bloom plants. Their lives were at stake, each one given the opportunity to redeem themselves. Ignoring their fear flowing into her from the Force, Darth Venefica entered the shuttle followed by her daughter and the team.​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

The moon was still desolate after all these passing years. Though very few settlements had cropped up, gaining nothing in the way of preservation, was the least thought on the mind of the Sith Lady. It was the barely functional artificial forests that cradle her thoughts, where the prized plant was once found by her team. Unlike the last visit, she didn't participate in the gathering for her own reasons, however this time she led the science team not only to the forest, but if time permitted (which it would) to the ancient ruins of the late Darth Plagueis' fortress home.​

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"Collect every sample you can find...the stability of this structure is barely functional."​

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Majority of these artificial forests were opened ended, while some like the one they were entering had been encased in a glass-like bubble. During the planet's bombardment, most of these glassed rooms had been destroyed, killing the life supported inside from the moon's atmosphere when it came flooding in. Luckily for the group, this glass structure stayed intact with few cracks in the glass. Time was the enemy they were battling, cause it was unsure how the coma-bloom would react to the introduction of the moon's true temperament. Plus, the sounds of cracking glass echoed throughout the area, and if it went shards of deadly jagged glass would come raining down on them.​

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"Andarta...take half the team and supervise their work. I want every plant collected...leave nothing behind."​

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"Yes, Mother."​

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Andarta led her team deeper into the forest, where the plants where first discovered and the Swamp Witch led her team to another area where the elements where ripe enough for the coma-bloom to thrive.​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

The science teams worked hard and diligently collecting nearly every available coma-bloom plant and seeds. With enough plants in possession to begin working on the V.67 formula, and enough seeds to raise more plants to continuously working on the project, Darth Venefica sent the science teams back to the orbiting ship requesting another shuttle to pick both her and her daughter up. ​

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The two rode in complete silence, as the shuttle hurled toward the ancient ruins of the former Dark Lord. The outing could prove bountiful or it could prove to be a waste of time, but the mantra of 'nothing ventured, nothing gained' was always a fore thought of the Sith Lady.​

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"When we arrive....we stick together. The structure is unstable....and undoubtedly rigged with traps yet sprung."​

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"Is there anything particular we are searching for, Mother?"​

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There were a couple of items that belonged to the dead Sith, ancient relics, that had not surfaced in the galaxy; and she hoped that at least one of them would be buried under all that rubble, locked safely away in some vault.​

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"Yes....but let's not get our hopes up, Daughter. Sith ruins are notoriously attractive to salvagers, scavengers, and adventurers...and like most, has probably already been emptied."​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

As presumed, the structure was in disarray with withering vines creeping up the facade of the front entrance. Several holes in the fortress lent numerous entrances into the dead Sith Lord's former home, with the entirety of the real entrance completely closed off due structural damage. With her hands embraced behind her back, Darth Venefica examined the entrances, discarding the least welcoming ones in the process.​

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"That one."​

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After narrowing down the openings, she opted to take the ground level hole as their means of entering the fortress. Ducking her head as she entered the building's makeshift entrance, the familiar and welcoming sense of the Darkside reached out to greet her and her daughter. It was rumoured that the former owner had conducted several horrific experiments within the confines of his fortress, lending a small, fleeting glimpse of suffering floating through the stale air.​

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"This place was once a magnificent site to behold...before it fell into degradation. Now it's nothing more than a shell of memories and former glory. Come....this way."​

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Leading the twisted form of her daughter Andarta, The Sith Lady brazenly walked through the rubble filled hallway silently mocking the state of what she was witnessing. ​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

With sharp rocks and bone fragments stabbing at her bare feet as she traversed through the darkened hallway, Darth Venefica felt something stirring within the Force. A quick assessment notified her that it was not sentient, lending a possibility that it was a lost, and unclaimed, artifact of the Darkside. The dead Sith Lord was known for his experiments, but was he also a procurer of ancient artifacts as well? Only time and patience would tell.​

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"You sense that, Daughter?"​

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The form of Andarta, walking slowly and leaving her infamous hoove prints in the dirt that now laid claim to the once polished floor, turned her head toward her Mother.​

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"'Tis overwhelming my senses. What is it dear Mother?"​

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Darth Venefica had no real answer to give, so she simply shrugged her shoulders allowing this mystery to draw her to it's source. ​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

"Mother, do you hear that whirring noise?"​

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"Unfortunately...I do."​

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How was it possible that droids, of any kind, where still roaming about? Retrieving her hilt, she kept her finger hovering over the activation stud, noticing her daughter had drawn her own lightsaber as well.​

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"Battle droids?"​

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"Maybe...maybe not. The possibility of droids surviving in this run-downed place for so long is hard to fathom. Chances lean toward either the were left over from a scavenger party....or perhaps we have haphazardly triggered some sort of activation mechanism. Either way...we are about to be greeted soon enough."​

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A light began to emerge from the far down corridor, as the whirring sound grew louder. Andarta ignited her weapon, while Darth Venefica sighed at her daughter's quick-to-react-before-seeing-the-big picture; again. With her free hand, the Swamp Witch gestured her daughter to be patient. Whether or not is was a battle droid, the chances of it dealing crippling damage to a Sith Lady and her monstrous Sithspawn daughter was practically laughable.​

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The light grew larger, yet receding in brightness as it came within several feet of the duo. A series of beeps, happy in nature, echoed in the ruin hallway. Kneeling down as she re-clipped her hilt to her side, Darth Venefica reached out to touch the droid's mechanical dome of a head.​

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"Well....hello there."​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

The battered, and blaster tattooed, dome of the droid swayed from left to right; whistling it's approval of the Sith's touch.​

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"Power down your weapon, Andarta. This is no battle droid...but a lost droid seeking companionship."​

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Andarta followed her Mother's words faithfully, sending the blade back to it's holding stage.​

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"Can this droid aid us, Mother?"​

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"Everything...including a droid serves a purpose. But let's see what it can tell us."​

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Most sentients can't speak 'droid language' but can pick up the highs and lows of it's beeping, and Darth Venefica was befriended by a droid she dubbed Little Fella whom she began to understand the nature of droids. Asking the right questions and reading the mechanical responses, she clapped her hands together while she stood up.​

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"He can help us, Daughter."​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

With the droid's 'headlight' lending illumination to the hallway, both Dart Venefica and Andarta followed the droid as it rolled happily down the causeway. The trio passed several rooms, some open for inspection and others closed off to those without proper scavenging tools, until they reached a turbolift. Extending an arm from it's chassis, the droid plugged into the port, twisted it around until the turbolift not only became active, but opened it's forbidden doors.​

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Andarta adjusted her frame, tugging at her Mother's cloak.​

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"I have no doubt this droid harbours no ill intentions against us. But are we completely sure we can trust it?"​

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"Trust is a lopsided word....but he...or she is our best chance at finding something worthwhile. If you do not feel comfortable with this arrangement....you can remain here."​

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Looking at the droid as well as the blackened entrance of the turbolift, Andarta shook her head.​

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"No. I'm with you till the end, Mother."​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

The droid entered first, activating the sensor lights to illuminate the turbolift, followed by Darth Venefica and a skeptical Andarta. Plugging another of it's appendages into the turbolift's port, the droid 'ordered' the lift to begin its descension to the lower region of the fortress. Rumbling and shaking all the way, the lift completed it's function; opening the doors when they reached the very bottom.​

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Darth Venefica emerged first, noticing there was indeed a scavenger party, however what remained of it was in tatters. Equipment was destroyed and half-eaten, rotting bodies decorated the floors around the camp. Dried blood painted both nearby walls and the majority of the floor. The scene was disturbing.​

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"This is a slaughterhouse!"​

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The droid began to beep and whirl madly, seeing something the others could not. Emerging from the four corners of the room where the legendary Korriban Hssiss; six in all. Darth Venefica smiled, activating her blade just as three tendrils from her robe shot out to grip the closest reptiles, killing them then reanimating their corpses. Andarta, with blade in hand, engaged a Hssiss to her left.​

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Commanding the undead beasts to attack, Darth Venefica sent the trio after the other two living Hssiss; watching with glee as both the dead and living tore into each other. With Andarta killing her target and the undead and living Hssiss killing each other, the threat had been subdued.​

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"Stay alert, Andarta. Who knows what other surprises the dead Lord has to keep his secrets safe."​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

The pull of the Darkside had grown stronger. A lone corridor, dark, led from the chamber where both the dead Hssiss and bodies of the salvagers lied. Darth Venefica felt the journey had now became her's alone.​

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"Remain here with the droid, Andarta."​

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Without waiting for a response of disapproval from her daughter, the Swamp Witch moved through the corridor. The walls where flanked by built-in bulbous light fixtures, now dysfunctional turning the corridor, like the fortress itself, into a conquered mass of darkness. The walk seemed longer than it was, possibly aided by the growing anticipation she was feeling. The end of the hall met up with a single door, barley hinged and swaying back and forth despite no wave of wind to stir it. And still, the Darkside grew to elevated amounts.​

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With a wave of her hand, she pushed aside the door stepping into what could only be described as a collector's chamber of dreams; or nightmares. The chamber was dark too, with only one sign of light visible. Encased in a long glass tube and lit up by internal lights was a staff. Cautiously walking toward the source of the pulling to avoid triggering any security measures, Darth Venefica found her eyes drawn to the staff.​

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Wiping the collected dust on a plaque attached to the base of the glass cover, she read 'Staff of Dathka Graush.' She knew the name and the legend, but was unaware that such an artifact existed. Like herself, Dathka Graush was a practitioner of necromancy and if this staff was his, then the staff was not only a product of the Darkside but necromancy as well. Balling her fist, she smashed through the glass, catching the staff with her other hand as it fell forward.​