Public &nbsp; Dark and Dormant

Sars Sarad

A soft twinkle lit up the sky, even in the daylight. It was the streak of light, a plume of detritus burning off the head of an object passing through the world's atmosphere. The burn trailed off across the horizon as whatever the object in question was crashed into the cliffs and clefts of the rocky world with a flash, well away from anyone else. Blackened dust dispersed around the impact site, a comparatively small crater, before the dust cleared, revealing the small wisp of darkness that soon floated up from the surface of the rocky cleft.

Searching over the landscape, it focused for a moment, seeing the ruined spires of the structure in the distance. There was power here. As a being of the Anti-Force, it was strongest when the power of the Force was near - and so it was that the wisp became a soft, translucent plume of mist, a stroke that nearly touched the ground as it sought to travel towards the untold place. There were things here of the past, things perhaps once left forgotten - maybe the world had been expelled from the dimensional womb of Otherspace once upon a time. The minds of the Fellowship of Kooroo's deities yet revealed little.

As the being traveled towards the site, it felt other presences beginning to bubble up, curious sensations, some familiar, some not - and the one that was familiar, she was very familiar with. It wasn't as though she had interfered in past affairs or been offered the opportunity of escape in the past, after all. And a substantial bounty had been put on her head as well. Yet there was perhaps much more that could in fact be accomplished rather than merely attempting to turn such a being over to the Emperor in question.

Those, of course, were things to be determined when their paths yet crossed.

Jack Sandrow · Jun 3, 2024

Location: Unknown, Wild Space

God he hated the cold.

God he kriffing hated the cold.

Jack wasn't even down there yet and already he felt like his extremities were going numb. Why didn't anyone ever spend time on warmer planets anymore? The halcyon days of the battles of Endor and Yavin were at least temperate, if not very jungle-y. He let out another huff and stalked along the corridor of his treeship, pacing back and forth over the organoform display. He didn't want to go down there... he really didn't want to.

But there was too much at stake. His feelers on the bounty boards had struck oil. The Grand Master of the Jedi Council was marked, and he couldn't believe it at first. And then things started happening. Greased palms had rumored that the galaxy at large had shifted towards her, with only the most desperate, the most greedy, and the most experienced seeking her for the bounty. His motivations were a bit more nuanced, however.

The Empire had swarmed Taris, had surrounded Ithor. Their methods had pushed the Galactic Alliance back more than ever before, and with rumors of war on the distant horizon it would be folly not to take sides. The side of life and balance, or the side of chaos and destruction? The Alliance losing their Grand Master certainly would not hamper the war effort in any literal capacity - wars were not won by people, but by nations - but it would be an immediate blow to morale for an Alliance that was already suffering.

So he was here - not to hunt Valery Noble, but to see how best he could assist the war effort. It was time for him to be useful.

With that in mind, he grabbed an expedition loadout (emphasis on the cold resistance), a pack of nutrients, and clambered into a Pod to head planetside. Time to make a positive impact.

Valery Noble · Jun 4, 2024

???

Outfit: Factory Link
Weapons: Double-Bladed Lightsaber

The Temple was still a decent distance away.

Landing close to it was impossible with the difficult terrain, but even if her piloting skills had allowed her to pull it off, she wouldn't have tried. The Dark Side swirled around the ancient structure in unpredictable ways. One wrong step, one slight miscalculation, and one could find themselves corrupted or driven mad by such an evil power. Valery was a former Shadow, so she understood those risks and shielded herself against it.

The animals that lived in these mountains could not, and with every step she took, she felt as if those corrupted predators were watching her.

Soon enough, Valery spotted the first sign of civilization — between heavy boulders, she noticed an old staircase. Many steps were damaged, but enough of it was intact for her to make her way up. But as she moved, she felt a sudden tremor in the Force. A warning that made the hairs in her neck stand upright.

She wasn't alone here.

But who else was on this planet, and why? She gave the question some thought, but decided against waiting for anything or anybody to find her. For now, she continued her path forward.

Onrai

Sars Sarad · Jun 4, 2024

???

Equipment: Takoraas Duster, Armor, Lightsaber, Old Sin
Objective: The Hunt
Tags:

Onrai

The Trek was difficult, the terrain inhospitable. As he came closer to the foot of the mountain Sarad would note the lack of vegetation. Only the barest trace of grasses could be seen, most of it withered and dead. Any predators that lived in this place, carving out a territory for themselves would have been carnivores in all likelihood and like most predators they would note an intrusion inside of their borders.

Moving ahead, over rocky outcroppings and uneven terrain Sarad only followed the intuitive directions of the force. Aside from the natural trail he was provided with the overwhelming presence of the darkside was evident to him; it permeated this place and the sensation crawled over him like a swarm of insects. Pausing momentarily he would have let a slight frown crease the corners of his mouth before something else caught his attention.

A Pod would breach the atmosphere, Sarad would tip his head backwards to observe it musing to himself that...

"The Game is afoot then."

...before he began forwards momentum again. Now he knew he was not the only one that had come here, to this unknown world behind the 'Sword of the Jedi'. Whether or not others descending on this world were her allies or enemies he couldn't say, it may have been that the occupant of the pod was even here but complete happenstance.

Journeying ahead it was the ebb and flow of the force that caused him to discover that same staircase between the cover of heavy boulders. A spark in his mind told him this was the way, that he was closing in but he too felt as though eyes were on him. He scanned the tops of the boulders and any ledges above them momentarily.

Again, he moved forward taking the staircase one step at a time. He was behind her but every footstep brought him closer.

Onrai · Jun 4, 2024

Unknown World
Objective: ???
Tags:

Jack Sandrow

Through the clefts, over the shattered spires, towards the ruins. The shade's pursuit was quick towards the prize. Though it did not find the staircase leading further upwards towards the structure, it did find an adit, an entryway into a cavern further down the mountain. Many millennia ago, water had trickled down from somewhere else further up the rock, slowly but surely gnawing and wearing away at the rock until these tunnels had yet been formed.

She moved quickly. There were many branching paths that divided her attention, each a constant web of ever-expanding tunnels and pathways. Where a dead end was met, the shadow dissipated, strengthening other branches that navigated through the complex, seeking its initial point of entry. Soon enough, the trickle of light betrayed a means of leaving, the spiritual essence of the being finding an exit from the ever tightening tunnels as it headed further upwards towards the ruins.

Hopefully it would soon meet some company.

Jack Sandrow · Jun 4, 2024

Location: Unknown, Wild Space
Objective: Meet up with the Grand Master

No one was listening to him complain on the way down, but complain he did (albeit quietly, to himself). The cold, the lack of preparation, the cold again. He grabbed a few extra nutrition packs for his suit - in the cold, the heat generation would be working overtime. But he was here; coasting over the frostbitten stone to find an ideal spot to touch down.

There wasn't really an ideal spot, so he made the executive decision to settle in the least worst place possible. He winced as the ship groaned on touchdown, and winced again as the back portion smacked to the dirt with a rather unbecoming thud. "It's okay," he murmured, patting the helm. "You just rest up and refill, I know the air tastes bad out there."

Time to go. Stepping into his armor, grabbing a few weapons, and prepping for a run up a mountain, he hopped down from the Pod and began a half-run, half-jog up the mountainside. He could feel them. He didn't know how many he was feeling (three? five?), but the fact that there were significant Force presences here was no accident. He would have to be mindful...

Valery Noble · Jun 6, 2024

???

Outfit: Factory Link
Weapons: Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Looking up, Valery saw the pod coming down and she felt

Jack Sandrow 's presence in the Force. Unlike this whole place, it wasn't dark and corrupt, but it wasn't familiar either. A friend or foe? She didn't know, and she wasn't about to risk it. She turned back around and began to pick up the pace. She knew that she wasn't alone, and something or someone was trying to gain distance on her.

It likely meant trouble.

Soon enough, the path along the rocks brought her to another edge, near the top of the mountain. She looked down into an open stretch of land and spotted several ruined buildings. Not the Temple she was here for, but they were made of the same material and just as old. Perhaps part of a greater complex that was once built atop this peak?

Hopping down into the center of it all, Valery finally decided to wait. She could keep moving and likely outrun whoever was following her until she reached the Temple. But she wasn't going to guide anybody to what was waiting inside.

She'd confront them all here, amidst the ruins of something long-forgotten.

Onrai

Sars Sarad · Jun 6, 2024

????

Equipment: Takoraas Duster, Armor, Lightsaber, Old Sin
Objective: The Hunt
Tags:

Onrai

The Path was clear, the staircase carved of stone with steps damaged and rough pointed the way forward. Footsteps had come quickly, he maneuvered around the broken and damaged stairs with a degree of agility as he continued his pursuit. The Presence he'd sensed grew stronger, indicating he was coming closer with every passing moment. Either she had slowed her pace or she was waiting for him; Sarad would assume that it was the latter rather than the former knowing that if he could use the force to sense her and others she could do likewise.

When he came to the edge near the top of the mountain he took a deep breath, filling his lungs with air while his gaze swept down over the ruinous buildings that were further indications of an old, ancient civilization. There was a moment where Sarad may have wondered exactly what lived here amidst ages past but then his gaze set upon a silhouette. At a distance he couldn't make out her features but her figure identified her as female, his eyes narrowed and the forces brushed against his psyche and set a prickling sensation across the back of his neck. He knew she was the one.

Leaping down from the edge his feet would shift over the rocky terrain when he landed before he began moving forward towards her. Each footstep would draw him closer, the closer he came the clearer her features became until he said clearly…

"I am Sars Sarad."

…introductions, they seemed a habit of his and Sarad had grown accustomed to them. After he spoke his right arm brushed the duster he wore back over his hip revealing the lightsaber clipped to his belt and opening his hand he'd have summoned it. The Lightsaber would fly into his grasp, his fingers curling easily around the hilt as he raised his arm however he hadn't ignited it yet…

"Sword of the Jedi."

…his words indicated some familiarity with her,

Valery Noble yet they had never might. She might surmise this was strictly due to the bounty that had been placed on her. Her presence within the force was powerful, he could feel it via his own connection. Like water the force flowed between them, around the two of them and connected them together via strands and threads constituting its own metaphysical influence.

Sidestepping Sarad would begin a slow circle to the left of Valery, the lightsaber still deactivated would raise to height with his shoulders and he would rotate his wrist inwards so that it was horizontal…

Onrai · Jun 6, 2024

Unknown World
Objective: ???
Tags:

Jack Sandrow

The shadowy essence continued further up the mountain before a sense came to it - a sense of a gathering of the light. Or of the Force, perhaps. While there was no reason for Onrai to necessarily engage in acts that would yet result in harm, she considered why the group had decided to begin an impromptu conclave of sorts. Was it perhaps to determine a plan to engage the otherworldly presence on the planet? Were they merely attempting a meet and greet given the circumstances? Did it ultimately matter when there was a greater prize to perhaps be gained?

Perhaps a distraction was in order.

The essence of Onrai splintered into two parts, an easy enough division. One continued at a rather slowed pace up the mountain, heading onwards towards the structure, while another deviated from its intended course, choosing instead to practically slither towards the crumbled ruins of the structures in question. Within her fragmented mind, Onrai pondered over the multi-spectrum bounty placed on the head of the Jedi Grandmaster, a thought that deliberately imprinted itself upon her mind. Then she continued her way towards the encampment - towards the two Jedi who were currently gathered there and the third wayward soul who would inevitably join them.

Soon enough it entered the ruins before rearing up like a cobra, manifesting as a more humanoid form in question. Onrai's eyes moved from left to right, locking first with Sars before firmly securing themselves at Valery.

"I don't suppose I need to give a whole spiel about this, do I?" She said, arms open in a "this feels repetitive" sort of way. "Would you rather we do this the easy way, or the hard way? I'm sure the Jedi will inevitably rescue you from custody before anything happens, so you might as well submit now." The Anti-Force entity clasped her fingers, and with a noise that sounded like a slugthrower going off, popped - at least it seemed like it - her fingers, constantly aware of the situation around her.

All the while, the other fragment of Onrai continued to proceed onwards.

Jack Sandrow · Jun 6, 2024

Location: Unknown, Wild Space
Specifically: A really, really long flight of stairs in the snow, on a mountain, in the middle of nowhere
Objective: Meet up with the Grand Master

Snow and stairs, snow and stairs, stairs and snow. He needed a breather.

He could feel the presences up there, could feel the Force roiling as the confrontation would inevitably come to a head one way or another. Maybe.... no, it was too early to tell. The Force was awakened here, but that didn't mean the confrontation would come to blows. Best to take it slow, take it diplomatic, see how things would progress.

Out of the palm of his hand, two walnut-sized lumps split the 'skin' and hovered half an inch in the air. The little seeds split open, each exposing a Kyber crystal, and he thought to himself it odd that the Force flowed so strongly through objects that weren't even alive. From what he had experienced, it was the living and the dead that bound the Force together, helped its ebb and flow, not the never-living inorganic rocks. And yet... here he was, possibly putting his life in the trust of his blades.

Enough ruminating. He was stalling, and the climate wasn't going to get any warmer by sitting still. Rising back up to his feet (and breaking off the small roots that had already formed to attach him to the dirt), he took in a deep breath of cold crisp air before letting the helmet slither back around his face. His neck cracked, his jaw twitched, and he let out a soft groan of exhilaration as the armor became one and the same as his body. Up. We. Go.

Arla Rodarch · Jun 7, 2024

Equipment : Beskad, Claw and Fang, Shotguns, Phazor. Schmetterling (Starfighter)
Objective : Protect Valery

Though there were a thousand demands on her time, a personal request from Valery Noble wasn't something Arla Rodarch felt able to deprioritize. She'd followed the Jedi Grandmaster to this out of the way planet, having been asked to watch her back. Valery suspected that she was being hunted, and when Arla had seen the size of the bounty, she understood that suspicion well. Schmetterling roared over the rough terrain.

The orange and black starfighter cruised easily at low altitude over the unpleasant terrain below. The pilot was still getting used to the sheer power of the craft, and flew slow and steady.

There were lifesigns down there, one of which was her friend. The others might well be hostiles. Arla kept the scanners at maximum to ensure that she wasn't surprised. If there were others here after the bounty on the Sword of the Jedi, they were in for some Mandalorian competition. She didn't plan on playing fair, either. Her starfighter roared over the surface towards potential trouble, engines echoing across the landscape.

She commed Valery directly. "Master Noble, this is Marshal Rodarch." The fighter's controls were an extension of her mind, so smooth and personal. She was well able to talk and fly effectively at the same time. "You've got some followers down there with you. Want me to chase them off?" With a flick of one hand, she armed her craft's weapons systems, ready to rain death from the skies at a moment's notice.

Letting the Jedi Grandmaster know that the starfighter was a friend might give her the edge if she were already in a dangerous situation, and if not, well, it wouldn't do to be yeeted out of the sky by the damn Force. And it was nice to know there were friends around who had your back.

Sars Sarad

Valery Noble · Jun 7, 2024

???

Outfit: Factory Link
Weapons: Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Valery's patience was soon rewarded. From the very path she had taken to reach the ruins, a man approached. There was nothing inherently evil to his presence in the Force. He wasn't here because he hated her, or because his sole purpose was to kill, destroy or corrupt whatever he came into contact with. Sars Sarad, as he introduced himself, was here with a purpose but one far simpler in nature than the other she felt slowly slithering towards her.

He was here to collect a bounty.

"You've chosen a terrible time and place for this," Valery warned him while he drew his unignited weapon and started to circle around her. "The cold makes me rather cranky." She grinned, flashing her white teeth, and lowered her hand closer towards the lightsaber on her belt. She joked about it all, but he had indeed chosen an unfortunate moment to clash. This planet was hostile to both of them, and its darkness was growing stronger.

From the corners of her eyes, Valery watched a shadow approaching. She had felt its presence before, but as it shifted into being, she understood who it was.

Onrai was a strange phenomena to her, but one that added to the trouble of being here.

"I understand you both care very little for the future of this Galaxy, but I do not have time for games. You can feel it, right? This planet and the Temple up ahead. Waste your energy on me, and you might never make it off this forsaken world." It was a fair warning, but she doubted they would care.

Then came another voice and with it, another presence — one she hadn't felt thus far.

<The troublesome ones are already with me. The other is no threat,> she said over comms, referring to

Jack Sandrow . He was perhaps an ally she could rely on today.

Sars Sarad · Jun 7, 2024

????

Equipment: Takoraas Duster, Armor, Lightsaber, Old Sin
Objective: The Hunt
Tags:

Arla Rodarch

Onrai

There wasn't a lot of time. He may have arrived first but shorty thereafter it became clear to Sarad that he hadn't arrived last. There were other presenses he could feel now that his focus began to expand beyond the Sword the Jedi herself, one arriving not lnog after he did and the other on the way to their locale via the same route he'd taken.

Despite what he sensed Valery's words to him, the first in particular struck him with a small amount of surprise as though he expected something more...

"I didn't choose."

...he stated quite clearly, continuing to circle around to the side of the Jedi Master...

"The Force did."

...to him it seemed so simple, the choices made and the path laid out before them was also an extension of the force. Nothing they did was a surprise, it had all been written out by that unknown force that bound them altogether, tethering one to another and on and on it went. Yet that wasn't the only reason he'd come here.

As his eyes veered towards the humanoid silhouette that was

Onrai , who appeared more an entity than an individual he'd have remarked...

"I've come for the fight. The Bounty is inconsequential."

...strange, no? To Sarad the truest extension of self, as he had been taught by his particular understanding of the force was only ever found in combat against another. Battle was the only place you could ever truly know yourself or know another.

The Lightsaber ignited, its phosphorescent blade stretching from his right to left at height with his shoulder before radiating with an unnatural amount of heat created by the Barab Ingot that it was imbued with. Sarad looked beyond the blade that radiated, pulsing with energy and creative heatwaves that distorted the atmosphere directly around it then he advanced. Pressing off his his left foot which he'd slid back he'd come at Valery.

The Lightsaber would flourish, swinging in what appeared to be a random pattern of blows that resembled a figure-eight as he attacked the Jedi Master however they would be easy to avoid or counter. It shouldn't be hard to realize that Sarad wasn't actually trying to hit her. He wanted her to react before he'd commit to anything.

In the background he could hear the sounds of an engines in the air, another arrival.

Onrai · Jun 7, 2024

Unknown World
Objective: ???
Tags:

Arla Rodarch

Further up the mountain, the portion of Onrai's essence that had continued onwards had nearly reached the temple, only to hear the sound of Arla's starfighter buzzing by. The inky blackness flushed itself to the rock of the cliff, oozing like an amoeba as it continued to slowly slither further towards its goal. That Valery was preoccupied merely meant that whatever secrets it yet contained could perhaps be hers - and the others on the planet would be of less consequence, barring the Grandmaster herself. The Anti-Force entity more than intended to have her cake and eat it too - the hidden knowledge of the temple, and Valery herself, on a one-way trip to the Imperial capitol.

-

"Valery, I care more the future of this galaxy than even you do. Whatever happens on this planet when the secrets are yet uncovered here has little bearing to me, barring that I will be taking you off-world to the Imperial capitol to redeem the ridiculous multi-staged bounty on your head. Then, as I mentioned, you'll presumably either escape like

Romi Jade did, or alternatively other Jedi will come to rescue you, since they wouldn't dare let their Grandmaster stay in the clutches of any hostile power for long." She observed the enigmatic Force user, eyebrow raised as he engaged in a curiously confrontative move. The aberrancy of her existence was more than enough to put people at a sense of unease, and for now, she believed it was best not to go out of her way to forcibly inveigle herself in a fight when such did not behoove her.

After all, patience would reward her in time.

Jack Sandrow · Jun 7, 2024

Location: Unknown, Wild Space
Specifically: Finally at the top of that really, really long flight of stairs
Objective: Meet up with the Grand Master...and others?

He reached the top of the steps, taking half a moment to scan the surroundings. He had heard that fighter pass overhead just a moment before, and silently commanded the Pod to button up for now. Stepping forward cautiously, he eyed the confrontation before him, eyes tracking

Sars Sarad and

Valery Noble as they began their sparring. It was odd, he had thought he had sensed something... more?

His eyes trailed to the side, landing on something - or someone - that looked odd. Wrong. Incorrect. He shook his head, trying to see with the Force what was clearly not of the Force as he understood it. And he was coming up very, very short. Curiouser and curiouser.

Best to keep his distance for the time. He popped a squat, one hand resting on the ground to softly connect with the blackened, charred ground. The death and decay of the Dark Side was overwhelming, an acrid, salty, oily film on his tongue. If his mask could display his expression, it would be scrunched up and wincing.

Arla Rodarch

Arla Rodarch · Jun 8, 2024

Equipment : Beskad, Claw and Fang, Shotguns, Phazor. Schmetterling (Starfighter)
Objective : Protect Valery

Valery's voice came back to Arla's ears clear and sounding confident. She'd also told Arla all she needed to know about the situation. "Incoming." the Mandalorian said curtly, flicking switches to throw her craft's prodigious power towards engines and weapons. She'd been looking forward to letting the ship off the leash, and now she had a chance. Arla kicked Schmetterling to full thrusters and came in low. She could see the lifesigns, and was able to identify Valery.

She saw a lightsaber. Not Valery. Arla squeezed her trigger, and fired. Four bursts of quadlaser fire stitched down towards the one with the saber. And then Arla was past, flying low and fast enough to produce a significant pressure differential.

Shock and Awe was the technical term, but for Arla she was just getting started. Assuming that she wasn't torn or blown out of the sky, she'd finish what she had started. As soon as she had made her single strafing run, she'd make a high velocity bank, come back towards Valery's location, and either land or eject.

Onrai

Valery Noble · Jun 8, 2024

???

Outfit: Factory Link
Weapons: Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Valery spared

Onrai only a brief glance, snickered and shook her head, "I don't think I've quite met someone as delusional as you before." She scoffed, then turned her gaze to Sars Sarad. Despite her warning, he seemed absolutely certain about fighting her here and now. More surprising, though, was that he wasn't here to claim a bounty. He was here for the fight? Valery narrowed her gaze as she gave it some thought.

She saw an opportunity.

"If what you seek is a fight, then why now? With so much interference?" She asked her question but was forced to ignite her double-bladed weapon when he did. He charged at her, closing the distance rapidly, but rather than attack with real purpose, his strikes felt almost telegraphed. Valery blocked or deflected the series of attacks thrown her away, but she didn't counter-attack. She waited, and jumped away to create distance, right as

Arla Rodarch made her attack run.

A moment that hopefully proved what she was trying to tell him.

"If you want a fight, seek me out another time. I have to head into that Temple, or none of this will matter." She wasn't sure if he'd be reasonable, but she wasn't going to make it a fair fight if he decided to continue. Not now, when something far more pressing was calling her away.

Her gaze then extended to

Jack Sandrow , whose presence she finally felt close enough to reach out to. She emptied her mind, extended it to form a bridge, and hoped to convey a single message, <The Temple. Don't allow them to go inside.>

Sars Sarad · Jun 8, 2024

????

Equipment: Takoraas Duster, Armor, Lightsaber, Old Sin
Objective: The Hunt
Tags:

Arla Rodarch