Dark Lords and Sleeping Kings

[Dara Gola]

Dara saw the man step up to her and she tilted her head as he spoke. She smiled faintly and nodded," I do remember you, yes. I am Dara Gola." She didn't offer her hand to him, but she did smile, which was more than she had offered anyone else. She remembered working with him on that mess of a planet that ended up with both of them joining the Primeval. They had worked with the host lord to destroy a rogue sect of the Primeval. It had been an interesting adventure. One that had allowed her to finally have a home within the group.

She didn't know Venris well, she didn't know him at all really, but she had fought with him and she knew what he could do in a fight. Working with him here would give them an advantage over everyone else. They had prior experience that would allow them to trust each other more than the others did. She glanced at the other teams, sizing them up against her and her partner. The two Dathomiri witches and she immediately discounted them. The blonde seemed to be confused and she got the feeling that the raven haired one was too worried about impressing the host lord to work with her partner. the group containing the host lord and the last trainee didn't bother her either, the host lord herself had discounted her ability to help and the other woman seemed too interested in the host lord to be a danger.

She gauged her chances of performing well to be above average, her only real competition was on her team and she expected that they would perform well together.

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"] | [member="Venris Helion"] | [member="Nimue Stormson"] | [member="Perla Pirjo"] | [member="Token Waters"]

 

[Venris Helion]

[member="Perla Pirjo"] | [member="Nimue Stormson"] | [member="Anja Aj'Rou"] | [member="Token Waters"] | [member="Dara Gola"]

Venris was relieved that he had at least received a positive reception from Dara. Their brief time as comrades had laid the foundation for a mutual trust, at least for the duration of these lessons. If he wished to turn that into a more long term alliance he would need to cement it by showing her what a good ally he could make, and more importantly a trustworthy one. Most might accuse Venris of simply seeking her good will because she was a Twi'lek, but he could sincerely say that there was another woman who already had a claim on his affections and was many light years from here, Force willing. He mainly sought to be on her good side because out of the rest of the group he both trusted her more and knew her abilities.

The dark haired witch had practically made a beeline for the blonde witch, singling her out as easy prey. Typical, and not the sort of person he wanted watching his back. And Venris hadn't even needed to use the Force to figure this one out, he'd seen it happen all too many times in his years as a mercenary. And the blonde witch may not have set off any alarms in his head, but he wasn't familiar with her, nor did he have a good history with Dathomiri witches in general.

The other dark haired woman...well, he wasnt sure what to think of her, and he didn't want to take any chances.

And as for the Host Lord herself, he may have fought alongside her and seen her power but he certainly didn't want to be on the receiving end of it for this.

"Well," Venris said while rolling his shoulders and stood next to Dara, preparing himself mentally for whatever the Host Lord might have them do once the lesson began. "I'm glad to finally officially meet you, Dara."

 

[Armand Temi]

Ah so she wasn't from Dathomir. That suprised Perla because she was convinced the girl was a Daughter of Allya. From Corellia and the Blue Coral Divers, eh? Perla didn't know what that was but assumed it was some kind of sea faring clan.

But either way, the wtich sized her up, inspecting her lithe figure and slight stature. And while some of their trials would certainly be mental, the Dathomir exile felt that she would have the advantage in any physical challenges. After all she had fought soldiers in Sith training matches and hunted just about every type of animal on her homeplanet.

This little girl? Piece of cake.

[member="Token Waters"]
[member="Venris Helion"] [member="Nimue Stormson"] [member="Anja Aj'Rou"] [member="Dara Gola"]

 

[Brooke Waters]

Token was a Witch, or at least an Initiate. The Blue Divers had accepted her as one of their own and she had spent nearly three months there in the past six, where it was feeling more like home, especially with Brokellia being a thing. As for this woman, she was from another clan? Canyons. Token shrugged. As for Anja speaking on the trials ahead, she had no idea what she was even hinting at.

Token could be useful for orienteering, she could befriend animals and she could prevent herself from getting hurt. Aside from that? She had spells for healing and if she really had the desire and need, she could make the Force around her resonate on a frequency of her choosing. Though, for that she’d need to roll for wild talent, which really meant just be ready. And full of the Force and emotion.

At least it wasn’t lightning.

[member="Nimue Stormson"] [member="Anja Aj'Rou"] [member="Perla Pirjo"] [member="Venris Helion"] [member="Dara Gola"]

 

[Boethiah]

Know you better?

Anja hasn't seen her in six years and the last thing she recalled between them was that she had ordered her to sacrifice the integrity of her people by allowing The Primeval to experiment on civilians... Of course there were some negotiations to lessen this factor on them but still, it was a bit surprising that one would gain a certain affection or friendship throughout this. Then again; there were strange people throughout the galaxy and The Primeval may very well be a gathering place for such people.

Looking around, Anja began to notice the diversity amongst them... Not just in their personalities or force signatures either. Each and every one of them radiated a different aura, walked with a different style, and lived for a different purpose. However their purposes aligned to the point where they were willing to join The Primeval was unimportant, really. It was just an interesting way to look at tings.

With her curiosity sated and mind at ease, the Host Lord did not hesitate to carry on. There'd be plenty of time to become acquainted with your partner on the journey.

Speaking up, "follow me; we're about to begin." Her voice radiated over the ongoing conversations. As Anja began to walk she expected the group to follow, the path she'd take went through a rather straight corridor down the center opposite from the main entrance which they came in. The walls were bland save for the structural supports and scattered entrance ways and diverging paths.

Eventually she reached a place where the corridor opened up just enough to accommodate a squadron of soldiers and instead of a wall there was a large blast door which slid open to reveal a utility elevator. The lift could easily hold a dozen people if not a bit more, making it rather clear that this was constructed for excavation purposes rather than a navigation point to another area of the Academy. Before stepping inside, she turned towards the rest that followed closely. "Below the Academy are a series of ruins, tombs, and caverns; likely a relic of the original foundation before this temple was initially restored by the Sith thousands of years ago." She explained.

Their restoration of this restoration did not change much from the original structure. Really the only differences were that some of the rooms had been given new purpose.

[member="Token Waters"] | [member="Nimue Stormson"] | [member="Perla Pirjo"] | [member="Venris Helion"] | [member="Dara Gola"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Despite the odd looks from [member="Anja Aj'Rou"] and the others Nimue didn't care. She was an Empress after all. She could afford to seem odd. And this was not about making friends; at least not at first. This was about becoming stronger in both skills and power. Looking around at the others she especially took note of [member="Token Waters"] who was apparently from Dathomir. Nimue had heard stories of the witch clans there but had never actually traveled there. She would consider it for a future trip but, for now, this was all that mattered; this lesson the Host Lord was to give. Following along with everyone else she kept close with her partner Anja as they went further into the old Sith academy. It reminded her of some of the ruined sites on Effekt, including an entire city that had been desolated by magic; though now believed to have been uncontrollable Force users. Even as Anja explained it Nimue looked about, taking in the sights and overall feel of the long dead temple.​

​

[member="Perla Pirjo"] [member="Venris Helion"] [member="Dara Gola"]​

 

[Dara Gola]

Dara was glad that she had avoided the strange woman and had teamed up with the one person here that she knew. She was hoping that it worked in her favor and that she would learn something useful today. The host lord's voice cut through the chatter as she lead her charges deeper into the temple. She had never been into the temples before and she could feel the dread in the air as they delved deeper into the structure. She saw the pillars of long dead sith lords, most of the details were worn away from the sheer amount of time they had been standing.

She could feel the history in these walls, in the floor as she walked on it, but she couldn't feel the presence of these long dead beings. These were the most powerful of Sith lords and they had influenced generations of Sith after them, but all they left in these halls was dust and rot. She held no connection to them, she had been Sith once, and she had walked the dark path, but she had moved beyond the petty code of the Sith, power was hers regardless of her ability to follow their strict code of conduct.

Her thought came back to the present as they came to a large set of doors that opened into an elevator. Whatever they were going to do was going to be in the catacombs below the section that was still being explored and restored. She was certain that whatever was down there was potentially dangerous. The thought didn't bother her because she knew that training in anything outside of a dangerous scenario was only partially effective. Danger heightened your ability to react. The host lord didn't explain what their objective was going to be, only that they would be going deeper into the temple. Dara could only prepare herself for what was ahead.

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"] | [member="Venris Helion"] | [member="Perla Pirjo"] | [member="Nimue Stormson"] | [member="Token Waters"]

 

[Venris Helion]

[member="Perla Pirjo"] | [member="Nimue Stormson"] | [member="Anja Aj'Rou"] | [member="Token Waters"] | [member="Dara Gola"]



This wouldn't be the first time that Venris had been led to old Sith ruins, but it would be the first time he would be openly walking in through the front door, so to speak, instead of sneaking his way in or blasting his way through. Whatever lay down there could date back to the very founding of the original Sith Order...or perhaps it had been picked clean long ago; either way, the Host Lord clearly had something in mind for teaching them Magick...and if it involved another karking ghost who would spew more vague declarations and warnings at him then he would turn around and wash his hands of this whole idea.

Venris stepped into the elevator with the others, turning his thoughts to the catacombs themselves. The only thing he could make of them from here was the echoes of events that had taken place long ago, the last remnants of the Sith who had originally occupied this world. Withdrawing back to his own body, Venris suppressed a shudder as he wondered just what the Host Lord aimed to lead them into for a single lesson.

He had to hand it to the Primeval, it certainly took training a lot further than the Fleet had.

 

[Brooke Waters]

Token was wondering just what the other witches were thinking of her. Sure, she was here, and maybe she was trying hard to be that girl, the one who looked the part to be a bit innocent and maybe naïve, but the one who was also letting the dark side creep in. She really needed to figure herself out. It wasn’t the crazy Sith dark side, but it was still allowing a bit of anger and the stronger emotions to kick in and let her do what she could do. But fear? She had accidentally killed her family, what more could she fear? Hurting SIndy? She had know idea where her little Technomancer was.

Still, she felt out of place here… But she knew she could keep up. She had a few tricks she learned during her time with the Blue Divers and knew that she had that whole Starchaser wild talent thing going for her. When she needed it, she could use a very strong power, but it’d wipe her for a bit. Even at this level, it was… tricky.

The Corellian was ready for whatever came next, or at least she felt it. Ruins, though. That could be really interesting! For a time the blonde did work with the defunct Templar Order as a Seeker, which were the people who went on adventures. Force Adventures! She loved to learn, and that was why she found herself in the Primeval. She wanted to learn, and they had a very interesting view. Maybe it would work for her? Maybe she could show her skills here.

She slowly eyed the others with a smile on her face. Pleasant smile, not any kind of second image there. Nope. Not from Token.

[member="Venris Helion"] [member="Dara Gola"] [member="Nimue Stormson"] [member="Anja Aj'Rou"] [member="Perla Pirjo"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Perla Pirjo followed the Host Lord and the group of trainees along a corridor. The witch initiate noted how commanding Anja Aj’Rou’s voice was through the echoing hallway and over the low din of mumbling and conversation.

The training group eventually made their way to a lift that took them underground. Perla had visited the Academy before but never went below to the tombs or caverns, and with some reticence, she entered the lift. Perla glanced at her partner, the petite blonde witch. She was a pretty girl and a bit out of place in the dark confines of the Academy. But ultimately the Dathomir exile would show no pity or mercy when she went to square off against Token. She was here to advance her already finely honed huntress skills, not make friends.

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"] [member="Token Waters"] [member="Dara Gola"] [member="Venris Helion"] [member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Boethiah]

Anja stood in the center of the lift and faced the open doorway. If they haven't noticed him before a very short and sickly looking man stood in the corner near a control panel. The lift operator didn't need to hear her words to know that they were ready and with the press of a button the entire floor under their feet began to sink slowly into the ground below. The few light sources around them flickered ominously as power was briefly diverted to work the mechanics of the elevator system. Due to the immense size of the academy, the power generator was nearly over its intended capacity.

After nearly half a minute the shaft wall slowly disappeared as they came into an opening about just as wide as the doorway that allowed them to enter the lift above and only a few more seconds later it touched the ground and stopped. The lift operator quietly secluded himself in the dark corner and the corridor ahead was an ancient tomb of some kind, the foundation of the academy before this one. There were several lights set around where personnel began excavating but aside from them there was no life in sight.

Of course; that is what they could only assume. A fact Anja did not even know was that yet again those slaves and servants of one [member="Zambrano the Hutt"] failed to keep the Warlord contained in a healthy, productive manner. The mad Hutt was loose yet again and down here in the perilous caverns where ancient Sith traps, dormant spirits, and creatures of darkness lurked they already have enough to worry about.

Stepping out of the lift, the Host Lord walked forward before stopping and turning to face the students. "There are several pathways ahead and even I have not ventured far enough to know what actually lies underneath the Academy. You will each take a path with your partner and attempt to find a chamber belonging to a long since deceased Sith Lord. There are several of them down here but the one we're looking for is said to be filled with unspeakable treasures and that the Sith Lord whose buried there still lingers to guard his power." That was the most she'd give them and it was quite a lot more than she even had to. With their task at hand it would be up to each of them to utilize their skills and abilities, to rely on or take advantage of their partner.

Spoiler: OOC info

This is pretty straight-forward organic RP. Feel free to make up obstacles for you and your partner as you venture forth, if you want paths to merge with another group down the road feel free to do that as well. More importantly have fun

[member="Nimue Stormson"] | [member="Token Waters"] | [member="Perla Pirjo"] | [member="Venris Helion"] | [member="Dara Gola"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

The more they explored the more intrigued Nimue became by the Sith temple. The intricacies of everything they passed and everything they saw made the place almost seem alive in a sense. It did, however, bring ideas for little features she would have to add to her castle back on Effekt. It was only after they came to the number of paths now laid before the that she found herself surprised by what [member="Anja Aj'Rou"] said. She'd not explored this far? Interesting. That basically meant that from here on she was about on the same level as them, not knowing what was or wasn't awaiting them once they entered. On Anja's word Nimue immediately stuck close to her, giving a little smirk at the fact that they would be working together while exploring this rest of the temple. ​

​

[member="Perla Pirjo"] [member="Token Waters"] [member="Dara Gola"] [member="Venris Helion"]​

 

[Brooke Waters]

So, a hunting party? Token could do that. She really could… but like… normally it was in the water. With a net, or a spear. On land? That was going to be trickier. She could still do it, the Witch in Training knew a few things, and between that her skills with the Force? She could do a few things that would be useful here. She looked over at her partner, she supposed partner, the other witch and nodded. “Ready?”

She wanted to get in there and prove that she was (sometimes) more than a pretty face. Sure, she did the whole school thing and lead a life of just off luxury and her new ship was finally coming in from her position within Bright Star, but she wasn’t going to be seen as a pushover. Pushovers lost their partners. And their families. And it wasn’t that Token was looking for either right now, but she did need to prove to herself and to everyone here that she might be a fit for the Primeval. Maybe.

Probably.

[member="Nimue Stormson"] [member="Anja Aj'Rou"] [member="Perla Pirjo"] [member="Venris Helion"] [member="Dara Gola"]

 

[Venris Helion]

[member="Dara Gola"] | [member="Token Waters"] | [member="Nimue Stormson"] | [member="Perla Pirjo"] | [member="Anja Aj'Rou"]

This was...quite coincidentally one of the very things that Venris excelled at, and this gave him a surge of confidence. He had explored many ancient temples and ruins, mostly to gather tidbits of knowledge and sell a few artifacts, but many had been wrought with their own unique types of danger. Two particular temples came to mind along with the travelling companion he'd had with him at the time, bringing a sense of nostalgia...

Venris returned his focus to the present, and gave a nod before glancing at Dara. "Well, suddenly this whole class got a lot more interesting." He said. "Would you like to choose a path, or shall I?"

 

[Armand Temi]

Perla nodded when her partner asked if she was ready. While the Dathomir exile had no preternatural sense to see in the dark, she had occasionally hunted in caverns and there were a few simple survival skills needed to move in and out of a dark winding cave so one didn't get lost.

"First of all, we need to stay together," she said. Perla would appear less predatory now to the fellow witch. After all, she had been raised in the Dathomir canyons to hunt with other Daughters of Allya. You always worked together unless the hunt was a contest.

"Second," she continued. "We need to mark our paths." Perla removed a vibrodagger from her belt and carved an "X" into one of the Sith tomb walls. "I will do this periodically so we can find our way back if we get lost."

She continued up the path ahead of them. "We don't need to hold hands but I want you to stay close to me," she instructed Token.

[member="Token Waters"] [member="Venris Helion"] [member="Nimue Stormson"] [member="Anja Aj'Rou"] [member="Dara Gola"]n

 

[Dara Gola]

A treasure hunt, that was different. The idea that there were still unexplored sections of the catacombs was an exciting prospect to Dara. The chance to see something that had been buried thousands of years ago, untouched by anyone since ti was sealed, intrigued her. She could see the dust hanging in the air, the stale smell of mold and mildew a constant presence. She listened intently to the host lord and she gazed around the small group to gauge their reactions, the faces she could see were focused and ready. It seemed that even the blonde witch had gotten serious with the mission decided. Dara always liked to watch the change ni people once they had a task. Even the most playful of people could become deadly once they had something to focus on.

Dara looked at the many different pathways and sighed. they were all the same as far as she could tell and there was no way to know which one was a dead end or cutback. There was enough of a darkside taint of the air to know that the force wouldn't be much help in locating this chamber. she turned to Venris and shrugged, " Your guess will be as good as mine." she said and nodded to him, " You lead the way, I'll watch the back." Even the host lord had no idea exactly what was down here, which meant that anything, from long forgotten about traps to wild animals could be down here.

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"] | [member="Venris Helion"] | [member="Perla Pirjo"] | [member="Token Waters"] | [member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Zambrano the Starweird]

| [member="Anja Aj'Rou"] | [member="Nimue Stormson"] | [member="Token Waters"] | [member="Venris Helion"] | [member="Perla Pirjo"] | [member="Dara Gola"] |​

"Ffffffrieeeendssssss..." A low, gravely, snake like voice hissed in the silent darkness. Crimson eyes of carnal desire delightfully cut through the arachnid darkness to fondle the dripping droplets of fatal fluid, in sweet regard to the nectar of the enduring soul, and falling flesh. It was a homage to his nature to observe the most delectable water of the heart, whilst in the impregnable darkness of the deepest chasm of the most oppressive tomb. Tombs were for the dead, but the despicable slug had long enjoyed the company of his most constant companion, feeling more at home here, atop a throne of rotten carcasses than with any number of arrangements with the living.

New eyes, new hands, the slug held the severed head of his most recent player in this little game of his. Tendrils from his hands held the head aloft in the air by his temples, slowly burning holes through the soft organic skull. Bloody beaten eyes stared upward towards the ceiling, with his mouth agape... removed of its tongue. The face was not yet gaunt, as it had been freshly taken, but his many tendrils stroked the sides of the rigor mortis face with an endearing malintent, cutting deeply with their poison, nestling deeper into the ravines of human anatomy.

A small pain touched the surface of the twisted nest of demonizing thought, to alert it new players to the game had been added. A sickening smile stretched across midnight face, as if the abyss had grown a hungered mouth... accompanied by two blood moons, ever watchful for the subtle movements of the soon-to-be deceased. They were like two crimson lighthouses, beckoning foolishly innocent ships through the fog, deep into the jaws of terror.

New players of course, were against the rules...

... and Zambrano the Hutt was the arbiter of the rules...

... in his own...

... twisted...

"Game..."

 

[Boethiah]

Anja marched forward with nothing short of a confident stride. She did not concern herself with the welfare of her companion, [member="Nimue Stormson"], who would be left to her own devices; should she follow closely or afar, the choice was hers. The moist air was filled with an unpleasant musk, not unlikely the remnant of death and mold that filled the cavernous tombs of sleeping kings. The many paths that lie ahead were filled with mystery, untamed and forgotten. Whatever treasures lie beyond were too an enigma just as the dangers that await them all. Host Lord or not, Anja was no more or no less than the others to a ruin that did not discriminate. Titles meant nothing in the face of death and no authority would command the dead who linger.

Her steps stopped at the metaphorical and physical crossroads under the foundation of the Sith Academy. Carefully they must choose the path for a wrong choice could mean disaster, Anja turned to Nimue and wondered which they should walk. "You choose," she offered with a forward hand, "I'm sure you have your intuitions and thoughts." She spoke. If Nimue did not choose she would but there was no rush, if the path they chose was correct then there was no need for a speedy pace and if it was wrong their steps forward mattered not.

Until they decided, Anja's eyes found themselves attentive to the details of the walls. She then noticed [member="Perla Pirjo"] carving an 'X' to mark her path. It was an intelligent decision to say the least, getting lost was perhaps the greatest danger of exploring the unknown. Her partner was the most unusual of the many unorthodox persons in their small group. The intriguing blonde would either prove to be a forward thinker or a nuisance in her mind, which would it be... Or none?

Oh but she was wrong on one thing -- getting lost may not have been the greatest danger at all. For inside the deep halls was a perilous Hutt of death.

[member="Zambrano the Hutt"] | [member="Dara Gola"] | [member="Token Waters"] | [member="Venris Helion"] |

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Given the look on her face and the expressions she could feel through the Force, Nimue had the sense [member="Anja Aj'Rou"] didn't care to stay with her for long. After all this was HER test more than anything else. Though Nimue saw the positive in it. It meant more relaying on herself and her own powers to survive over anything else. When Anja had told her to chose she nodded before looking at the paths that remained. She held one hand up with a pointed finger and began moving it back and forth, mentally deciding which of the remaining paths to take. It eventually stopped at the one to the farthest left of her. She glanced back to Anja and indicated that would be the one she would go to, starting to walk ahead as she knew Anja would insist anyways.​

​

Entering into the cavern first Nimue looked around, trying to see if there was any sense of something off. There was but nothing she could quite put her finger on. But, thankfully, there was a way for her to probe these situations. Her own shadow began to flux before taking the shape of a wolf familiar. She knelt down and patted it before allowing it to run the path ahead for a few meters. In the distance came the sudden sound of something activating, perhaps a wall of spikes or some other death trap, followed by a wolf whimper. A moment later a black blob of shadow slunk back to Nimue and fused with her own shadow.​

​

Looking back to Anja she said "It's safe now." with a smirk before continuing onward. ​

​

[member="Zambrano the Hutt"] [member="Dara Gola"] [member="Perla Pirjo"] [member="Venris Helion"] [member="Token Waters"]​

 

[Venris Helion]

[member="Dara Gola"] | [member="Token Waters"] | [member="Nimue Stormson"] | [member="Perla Pirjo"] | [member="Anja Aj'Rou"] | [member="Zambrano the Hutt"]

"As you wish," Venris looked towards the passages before them and took a few steps forward before stopping and looking carefully between each option. He narrowed his decisions down between three tunnels...and selected one that tilted down a bit and had the strongest taint in the air about it. "This one seems promising. Plenty of dark side energy topped with the usual amount of dread." Despite his tone Venris was frowning as he began to step down the tunnel, carefully traversing the gentle slope of the floor in case any parts were loose.

Trying to reach out with the Force here would be useless as lighting an open match at the bottom of an ocean. The feeling of danger closed in from all directions, muffling all else beyond range of his normal senses. This was not too different from the temple on Mustafar, but he couldn't deny that Korriban certainly had its own unique scars in the very Force itself. How many Sith were buried down here, haunting the steps of any who dared to intrude? And how many other things lurked in the shadows, waiting for said intruders to wander close enough?

The slope levelled out after about fifty meters, but after only walking for another ten feet Venris stopped and held out an arm to stop Dara if she did not react as quickly as he had to the chasm before them. "...well, that's typical luck for me." He muttered, glancing off of the left and noticing a path lining the cavern wall, just a few feet wide. In some parts of these caves he could see evidence of ancient architecture sticking out of the rock, displaying sigils and figures depicting the ancient Sith...among other things Venris did not care to dwell on.

He would usually keep a knife handy for wandering in the dark like this, but he had chosen to forgo all but his lightsaber, which would give them away to anything they might be wishing to avoid down here. For now Venris would. Have to proceed with nothing but his hands and training to defend himself if anything reared its head...

And down below in the void, he didn't notice one such thing begin to stir.