Private Dark Matter

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina wrestled silently with the emotion that had roiled up so unexpectedly, forcing it back into its box. Only when the lid was shut, when she was certain that it was secure did she allow herself to reapproach the bench, careful, this time, to keep a little distance between her and Strosius. She was grateful, that he chose not to comment, she had seen the way his head had tilted, whether through concern or curiosity, that he chose to let it be made it easier to regain control.

There was nothing worse than someone asking if you were okay when you were doing your utmost to be just that.

"That would work wonderfully." she replied finally "No we have the what, we just have to figure out the how." she stole a sideways glance at him before reaching for the nearest datapad she began to draw. "We mentioned binding, or anchoring but it is also a wound and having an open wound is not something I can afford, so it should heal, but without locking the soul back in place."

She paused in her sketching, looking up, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "What do you think?"

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

"The 'how' is my second favorite part." Darth Strosius admitted with more than a hint of levity to His words, just barely catching the glance that she gave before idly watching her drawing on the datapad from the corner of His visor. "An interesting conundrum isn't it? To repair but also install some manner of shifting all at once." There was an unusual note of excitement in His tone, evidently this was a matter that He had been pondering on for some time. Yet also evidently from His previous searches on the same datapad that Lady Ovmar now held, He had been unsuccessful thus far.

As she worked He idly glanced up to see how much He could gauge her mood from her features. Given her earlier...moment He was just concerned and watchful. That's what He told Himself at least, although His lingering gaze and lack of response after watching her brush the stray hair away said something a bit different. But as always Darth Strosius was quick to recompose Himself and tear His gaze back down to the datapad.

The sigils were familiar yet far more refined than His own sketches and scrawlings, although their combination was what really drew His attention. He had attempted a handful of formulas Himself of course but none seemed right. This one however was startlingly competent in comparison. To the point that He idly wished He had erased His previous attempts at sketching earlier. Hopefully she hadn't noticed them. "It...might work." He sniffed then nodded. "I suppose there's only one way to know for sure, but it looks fairly solid in theory."

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Whatever he was searching for in her face was locked tightly back behind an iron portcullis. That Lina had allowed such a simple thing to trigger a tidal wave of emotion was infuriating and she refused to let it happen again. There was only focus that creased her brow.

He was quiet for a beat too long, and she wondered what he'd seen that held him in his tracks, she was about to question him when he drew his gaze back down to the datapad to inspect her work. "We should test it, I wouldn't want you to waste your skill and material on something that doesn't work." Her eyes flicked to the workstation, scanning it briefly before looking back at him.

Impulse and curiosity tested her restraint, as she found herself wishing she could see behind the mask. To be able to read his expression in the moment instead of trying to decipher the subtle tensions of his shoulders or flicker of his ethereal wings. Her emerald gaze was piercing, and yet again they had allowed the quiet to stretch too long between them.

"Runes can be traced onto anything, perhaps a scrap of fabric. Temporary enough, and will hold the magic for long enough for us to test it." She didn't take her eyes from him as she spoke, he knew his work space better than she.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

"Of course. A test is the only way to be certain after all." Darth Strosius did His best not to perk up at the mention of His 'skill' and instead set to work glancing over the workstation to see what could fit their needs. There were a few others bits of material that He had intended to make use of as alternate amulets but those were already carved into. Mixing runes improperly was never a good idea, naturally. Especially not when they were already experimenting as it was.

Something else would be needed but thankfully there was no real shortage of options, simply a slew of choices which didn't would need some slight modification to fit. Less than ideal but certainly possible. It wasn't until Lady Ovmar spoke again that He realized He had been silent for awhile, glancing back to see her gaze set on Him expectantly.

After another moment of silent thought, He finally nodded. "Now that you mention it, I might just have something." He left the workstation in a rush of swift steps and flowing robes, crossing to the other side of the room to rifle through a set of shelves. Most of which were occupied with what appeared to be half-finished bits of armor or ingots gathering dust. "Ah, there it is." The masked man pulled a folded cloth from within a drawer and returned to the workstation with another few quick steps.

He brushed aside some space and laid out the fabric, revealing it to be a stole of sorts made from Zeyd-Cloth yet woven with some dark metallic threads along the edges of it. Enough that it glinted in the dim light. "Alchemized Durasteel threads woven into a Zeyd-Cloth base that had been soaked in the leftover compounds of the alchemization process. A blank slate, waiting to be given direction and purpose." Darth Strosius glanced around and plucked what appeared to be an airbrush of some sort from another table, albeit one carved and laden with Ur-Kittat lettering, before offering it to her.

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

There was a change in his energy, it was subtle but it was there. Excitement for the project at hand seemed to chase away the lingering awkwardness that followed his exposure in the oubliette. Lina watched him as he shifted around the room, rifling through in search of something to use. She couldn't help but smile as he returned, clearing space and smoothing the cloth down onto the workstations surface.

She ran her fingers over the cloth, noting the way the durasteel weave caught the light. A simple thing, yet still beautiful. She looked up, accepting the airbrush, giving an approving hum at the runes that decorated it. "You seem to have talent for creating beautiful things." She said softly as she tested the airbrush on a corner. "Perhaps one day you can show me more of your creations."

Lina offered him a small smile before shifting her focus back to the cloth and the airbrush in her hand as she set the data pad alongside it for reference. As she began to airbrush the lines, she opened her self to the dark side, shadows curled like wisps of smoke around her, there for a moment and gone the next, flickering as she worked. Her handy was steady, the brushstrokes smooth and confident, like it was something she had done a dozen times already.

When she straightened again, she titled her head to assess her handiwork. "That should do it."

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius couldn't help but perk up a bit at her soft words, His "wings" flaring slightly from their recessed state as He let out a satisfied hum. "Well of course I can." It was perhaps the most naturally spoken remark that He'd said to her thus far. More of a reaction, an impulse, not tinged with any moments of thought or careful word choice as was usual for Him.

He even seemed somewhat surprised by it Himself, yet He made no move to retract the statement all the same. Instead the masked man simply watched Lady Ovmar work, painting the experimental runes across the stole. The brief flickers of shadows around her were distracting to see yet she clearly didn't seem to mind given her focus on the task at hand in spite of them. Darth Strosius chose not to comment on them for fear of breaking her concentration, and simply because He didn't want her to know that He had been staring at her for awhile.

When she was finished He nodded in agreement after giving the whole piece a proper look over. "Mhm. Very good work Lady Ovmar." Every symbol was arranged and copied down as they had been sketched on the datapad, fully recreated. Theory had been manifested into prototype, now came the testing. "Don the stole at your leisure, I'm eager to see the results." Mostly due to the task at hand, but partially because He was slightly curious how Lady Ovmar would look in such attire.

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

The easy agreement to show her more of his creations made Lina's mouth curl into a warm smile. Was it for the prospect of viewing his creations or the chance to spend more time with him, to dig furtehr beneath the facade presented to the rest of the Order?

Anticipation mingled with a hint of nerves as she ran her eyes over the stole once more, idly tracing the runes with her fingers before lifting the piece from the work station. The durasteel threads made it marginally heavier though it was barely as she brought it about herself, letting it settle over her shoulders. She looked down herself, adjusting it so each end was level before looking back up at Strosius.

"What was the intended purpose for this?" She asked as she moved away from him towards the door, seeking to gain a little distance for the test before setting her gaze back on him her gaze as ever seeking to pierce beneath the mask.

Simple movement had been enough to trigger the separation before, but if this was to work she wanted to test it at her fastest. The force coiled in her muscles tightening like a compressed spring. Lina turned back to face him, a mischievous glint in her eyes, she took a step and the force shifted around her propelling her forward in the blink of an eye, bringing her to a hard stop inches from him a gust of wind following the movement.

Behind her there was no echo, just a rapidly fading blur of shadow. She kept her gaze locked on him. "Did it work?"

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius sat back as she gave the stole one last glance before lifting it and settling it over herself, sitting against the workstation and resting a hand on its edge. "Oh the stole?" Truthfully it had been little more than a side project, something to busy Himself with as well as an excuse to get more equipment for His workshop aboard the Harbinger. It was still nowhere near the dedicated place He had on Formos but it served well enough for His tinkering whims.

But of course He couldn't admit to such things, far too childish. "It was a...prototype you might say. Something protective for when the priests of Wonosa venture into more unsavory and unsafe places to preach." The masked man doubted that Lady Ovmar knew enough of His followers' operations to see the clear hole in the lie. His priests never went into areas, they drew willing ears back to themselves. It was simply much safer that way.

Darth Strosius found His gaze narrowing slightly when He saw that look in her eyes, sitting up slightly to question what she had in mind before she suddenly shot forward to stand before Him once more. His robes fluttered in the wind that gusted in her wake, throwing His hood off entirely and leaving His helmet bare as He reflexively recoiled back. A keen ear might have heard the whine of metal beneath where His hand had gripped the table but it was mostly drowned out by His own muttered curse at the surprise.

The question made Him blink, His head shifting to one side then cocking to the other as though to examine Lady Ovmar herself for a moment before nodding. "It may need some minor tweaking to be perfect, but it works." He maintained her steady gaze as He idly fixed His hood and robes back into their proper places, making no effort to move away from her. Mostly due to the fact that she did have Him sort of pinned as it were, He wouldn't be able to move aside without brushing against her in the process. "Do you feel more...whole as well?"

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina chuckled at his reaction, clearly unable to resist poking at him where she could. To his credit, he didn't move after the initial shock, simply readjusting his hood and robes. For a moment, she wished she had hidden the mask when she'd had the chance, if only to make this moment all the more enjoyable. Her head tilted at is question and she took half a step back, giving him a little room as she closed her eyes, turning her senses inwards, feeling along the cracks between soul and body.

"Yes...and no." she answered her eyes still closed. It was like her soul didn't quite fit, like it had been misshapen and would no longer fit easily back into its packaging. She let out a small sigh, shrugging the stole off and laying it back on the workstation, examining the runes. "It could be that it simply requires attuning, or perhaps the runes aren't quite right?"

She ran her fingers over them again, trying to find the missing link, as if touching them would help her see whatever part of the sorcery she was missing. "How long do you think we have before we reach Corva Yag?"

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius allowed Himself a silent sigh of relief when she stepped back, disguising it as smoothing out another part of His robe. There wasn't much surprise at her response, given the slight trail that she had left in her wake, but it was still somewhat disappointing nonetheless. He clicked His tongue and glanced over the runes adorning the stole, His hidden gaze piercing as His focus switched back from His own nerves to the task at hand. "Both are possible. Likely, even."

It could very well be that whatever severance had been inflicted upon Lady Ovmar wasn't so easily mended with one simple ritual or imbued artifact. Extended time underneath the influence of the runes may well be the key, albeit given that this was meant to be a sort of toggleable method it wasn't ideal. Jarring changes and mystical practices simply didn't mix well. But the masked man did have a few ideas to solve such a conundrum, tweaking the runes regardless would be a necessity it seemed.

"Hm?" The question pulled Him from His musings and after a short pause He remembered their destination and moved away from the workstation to a console on one of the walls. "Last I checked we were a few hours out..." Darth Strosius typed into the console and paused again before letting out a hum. "...we will arrive within the next few minutes." He must have been within the Oubliette longer than He'd thought. "Perhaps there is something within your laboratory that could help shed light on our current predicament? Other such runes or items that may aid in your condition?"

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina straightened, eyes still on the runes searching for the missing link, a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she looked towards Lord Strosius at his suggestion that her laboratory may hold the answer.

"Without a doubt." She said lifting the stole once more. "However, this will have to do until we get in there. There are safeguards to ensure if anything escapes the portal it is contained. Blister traps, mostly." Her gaze shifted from his masked to his wings as she donned the stole once more. Pursing her lips in thought.

"Your wings...they are extensions of your soul, no?"

If they were, he would need to keep them tucked in close on the descent to her lab, she had no idea how the blister traps mights react if it managed to snag one.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

"Right...blister traps. Very secure." Darth Strosius nodded thoughtfully, idly trying to wrack His mind to determine if He'd ever heard of blister traps before. Any point of reference He might have had wasn't coming to mind at the moment however. At least He had been right in His assumption that her laboratory would help their current conundrum, that was some consolation.

At the question and His notice of Lady Ovmar's gaze, His wings twitched and shriveled somewhat into their translucent wisps as though in embarrassment. "...In a manner of speaking yes. It's a bit more complicated but for most regards yes that's accurate, annoying little extensions of my essence and soul." The full tale of their origin wasn't quite relevant at the moment and He had no intentions of giving out such intimate information to her anyway. Bogan only knew what she might think of Him.

"I assume that some of your security measures and instruments in your lab might be rather...interested in them if they were to stray too far?" If creatures slipping loose from the realm of the dead could get caught up in such things then it was natural to assume that He might be as well. Darth Strosius didn't care much for that thought at all, but unfortunately the stole was only suitable for one person at a time and it would simply be rude to ask for it back now. "I'll endeavor to be careful, have no fear."

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

There was something in his idle response regarding blister traps that made Lina suspect he had no idea what a blister trap was. Fortunately for him she was momentarily distracted by the response his wings gave when under scrutiny, shrinking away as much as they could. Judging by the way he had been upon getting out of the oubliette, she realised he was embarrassed, maybe even ashamed.

"Annoying, but very beautiful." The compliment was out of her mouth before she could stop it. She cleared her throat, snapping her gaze back to his mask. "Yes the blister traps, specifically." Pink dusted her cheeks, but she was desperate to shift attention away from it and her compliment.

"You would normally find them on leviathan Sith spawn, they drain anything that gets too close. Essence and sentience alike. I found a way to grow the pods without the need to give life to an entirely new beast. More cost effective, but they are tailored specifically to target souls outside a body. It keeps any escapees in and any astral travellers out."

She felt the ship shudder beneath their feet as it reverted to real space, tension she'd held in her shoulders seemed to ease away. Whatever waited for them at her home they would deal with. The most important thing, was that she was home.

"Shall we?"

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

There was a decidedly unsubtle twitch, more akin to a shudder given how it wracked His whole form for a moment, at the compliment followed by a clearing of His throat in kind alongside Lady Ovmar's own. "Blister traps, yes." Darth Strosius was all too happy to reassert the focus of conversation on anything aside from that little comment. Mostly because it would give Him the opportunity to rein in His "wings" once again given their brief flare at her words. He didn't at all like the effect Lady Ovmar had on them.

"Quite inventive." And horrifying. "And due to our current...conditions they will more than likely prove quite the obstacle should we drift too near them." He wasn't sure whether to hope that there had been some interlopers which had emerged into her laboratory and thus theoretically were currently occupying the traps or not. For such terrifying traps to be necessary He could only imagine what might slip from her experiments though. On second thought He was starting to reconsidering visiting Corva Yag after all.

Unfortunately at that moment the vessel emerged from hyperspace. Darth Strosius sucked in a breath and nodded at the question, idly rolling His shoulders and making one final check of His robes. "Yes we shall." He stepped around Lady Ovmar and led the way out of the room and down the hall, eventually arriving at the hangar where a shuttle had been prepared for their use. Although rather notably, the pilot was a droid rather than a member of the crew and it seemed as though it would just be the pair of them heading towards the planet. Evidently He had taken her warnings to heart.

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina cast one final look around the room, taking in everything, her gaze lingering on the oubliette. She committed it all to memory. You could learn a lot about a person from their workspace, and to have worked with him meant she had already learned a great deal. Now...now it was her turn to share. With a small sigh, she turned and followed him out of the room and through the ship to the Hanger Bay. she was p[leased the shuttle was empty, bar the droid, but she hesitated staring at it for a moment, her hands opening and closing at her sides.

Lina had been careful beyond measure about her home. The only person who had ever set foot inside it had only been able to do so because he was her father. His ability to track her went beyond the measures of technology and people. Even when flying her own ships she did so with the navicomp off. There was no trace, no record anywhere of her home. To allow the droid to fly would undo that. She let out a breath and shook her head, moving to the cockpit. "Out." she said firmly to the droid.

Her gaze slid to Strosius. "I will fly us. No one know this places exists, its imperative I keep it that way. No droids, no navicomp. Once we get close the communications will be jammed. This isn't because I don't trust you, the very fact that I am taking you here, is proof that that is not the case. I simply cannot afford for their to be a chance that the information could somehow fall into the wrong hands."

She managed a small smile, "And, well, you have a tendency to piss off the wrong hands." she added, a little softer. She took a step towards him. "Yesterday," had it really only been such a short time? "I asked you if you trust me, and you said no. Is that answer still the same?"

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

The droid's head swiveled around to regard Lady Ovmar at the request, looking between her and an equally surprised Darth Strosius as she continued. That she had taken great lengths to conceal her abode was understandable all things considered. The very first meeting that He'd ever had with Lady Ovmar had been one of secrecy and influence, any who traded in such things needed some sanctum that could never be found. He knew well enough what happened if it was, He had been the one to draw His own master out of her hiding hole after all.

Her remark on His tendency was met by an amused hum, one cut short by the step she took towards Him. The shuttle was suddenly feeling far too small at the moment. Her question brought Him more pause than it should have. Of course Darth Strosius didn't trust Lady Ovmar, who could He trust outside of His followers? He had learned that lesson well enough.

There were no peers to be found in a life such as His. Ophidia had proven herself incapable of doing what had to be done, Malum had chosen to cement his own place with His blood. Lady Ovmar had always been a mystery, and a deadly one at that, that He couldn't afford to keep His eye off of for too long. And now she was luring Him into her hidden laboratory where she evidently specialized in trapping wayward souls in the most literal sense.

Of course the answer was still the same. One of His hands flexed as He thought back on their conversation yesterday and then the one today, fresh from His Oubliette and vulnerable. More vulnerable than He'd allowed Himself to be with anyone in years. Finally the masked man turned His gaze to the droid. "You heard the lady." He gestured towards the door with a nod of His head. "Return to your post, we can handle the journey ourselves."

The droid beeped in compliance and made its way out of the ship without any further fuss, leaving Darth Strosius to sit in what would normally be a copilot's seat yet He made no move to reach for the controls aside from closing the doors and retracting the ramp before sitting back. "For the record," He intoned, giving Lady Ovmar a sidelong glance. "If you try to make me into some sort of experiment or living furniture, I will have the whole world glassed just to destroy your laboratory."

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

He didn't answer her, not directly, but when he commanded the droid to leave she felt the tension in her shoulders ease just a little. Even if he didn't trust her yet, he still did a little more than yesterday. Lina wondered if the same would have been said, had she not found him in the oubliette earlier. She slid into the now vacant pilot seat reaching for the controls as Strosius closed the door and the landing ramp.

A bark of laughter escaped her at his comment as the ship hummed to life in her hands, lifting off the hangar bay floor and gliding through the doors into the cold vacuum of space. A hum of servos told her the landing ramps were retracted as she angled the ship towards the grey green orb that was Corva Yag. "Some things are better studied in their natural habitat, Lord Strosius. Experiments don't have to be conducted in a laboratory." She flashed him a mischievous smile, before shifting her focus to the flight as they slid through the atmosphere.

Lina flew them over rolling forests and hills, crossing a small ocean before she slowed them down as they approached a coastline of sheer grey cliffs rising high above an ocean that crashed against its side. She reached out in the force, as they drew close lowering the ship about half way down, sea spray peppering its underside. "Nu tuti shahkû". As the whispered words left her, she extended a hand towards the cliff, a ripple of shadow ran down her arm, passing through viewscreen to hit the cliffs before them.

Where the shadow struck, the rock rippled and began to shift until it became clear it was not just rock but two enormous stone statues that had come to reast in such a way that their bodies concealed the fortress carved into the cliff face. A landing ramp rose from the water, the sea cascading from it in sheets as it came to rest before the fortresses entrance, a bridge extending to meet it. Lina set her hands back upon the controls bringing them in to land before turning to Lord Strosius.

"Welcome to Sanctum Umbrix. Access to this place comes with only one warning. If you tell anyone it exists, I will not only kill you, I will trap your soul in a corner of the nether that you will never escape." The warning was given in a warm and pleasant tone, even the smile was warm, but there was something malicious glittering her gaze.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

The masked man scoffed at her remark and eyed her grin warily from the corner of His visor. "If you wished to see me in my 'natural habitat' Lady Ovmar, then we should have gone to Nar Shaddaa instead. No shortage of prey there." While the first remark was somewhat in jest, the latter most definitely wasn't. Although it did make Him idly wonder if He were about to enter her preferred habitat or not. It was her preferred workspace if nothing else which definitely meant a level of engineered comfort and consideration that He'd make some note of.

Darth Strosius crossed His arms as He watched the landscape of Corva Yag pass by them as they soared over the world, raising an eyebrow when she began to slow over what appeared to be an ocean of sorts. Perhaps their destination was below the waves? Or within the confines of the cliffs before them? The latter proved to be the more correct assumption when He noticed the bolt of shade that she sent towards it. He leaned forward in His seat and narrowed His gaze slightly in order to better examine the changing rock.

"Huh. I...didn't expect that." He spared a glance back to Lady Ovmar as He sat up slightly while they made their landing. An eyebrow quirked up beneath His mask at the warning, inclining His head slightly before tilting it to the side. Part of Him was somewhat amused that she thought that she would be able to keep Him dead the second time when it hadn't worked the first, but He wisely chose not to voice such a notion. He had a feeling that it would sour the mood somewhat.

"What sort of people do you think I speak with on a regular basis?" No one that would be a threat to her to be sure. Even still He nodded as He rose from His seat. "Have no fear, I don't intend to divulge anything that we've spoken of over these past two days. Certainly not the whereabouts of this place at the very least." He didn't wish to ponder on the implications of blister traps in particular ever again after today, let alone mention them to anyone else. "Now, don't we have potential escapees from the realm of the dead to contend with? No time to waste."

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina wrinkled her nose in distaste at the mention of Nar Shaddaa. One visit to open up a new site there was more than enough for her, if she could avoid setting foot on that cesspit again she absolutely would, even if it would have been fun to watch Strosius carve his way through the criminal capital.

She gave a smile at his lack of reaction to her threat, clearly he thought she was incapable of doing what she had threatened, but she would allow him that sense of security. After all, being underestimated was her greatest weapon. She believed him though, when he said he would not speak of it, he wasn't exactly drowning in friends or allies.

The ship shuddered as its landing gears connected with the pad and Lina powered it down before lowering the landing ramp. "Come along then, as you said, we have no time to waste." She led the way down the ramp, the spray of sea mist coating them like dew as they crossed the bridge to the large doors that slowly slid open as they drew near.

The stone shifted above them, the eyes of the golems glowing a soft yellow as they fixed their gaze on Strosius, watching him until he disappeared through the doors. Inside was a grand entryway, with stairs that dominated the centre reaching up to a landing above. Lights slowly began to turn on illuminating the space and rooms beyond it. To their left was a sitting room, its entry a large arch. Lina took them past it and the grand staircase to a door a little ways down.

The decor around them spoke of wealth, but lacked the gaudiness many castles or palaces might have. This wasn't just a research base or a place to make a statement about her richness. This was very clearly a home built for comfort and practicality.

The door hissed open revealing a large study, its far wall a built in bookcase, packed with tomes collected over decades. The large desk to their left was set with a backdrop of screens, all of them dark. Opposite it a large fireplace which sprung to life the moment they stepped inside, two wingback chairs sat in front of it, a small table set between them.

Lina paid not mind to any of it, clearly set on achieving their goal. She was apprehensive to see the state of her lab. She crossed the room to the bookcase, pulling a series of books out partway, each one clicking as she did before there was a soft beep.

"Watch your step." she said, turning to face Strosius as the floor between them sunk slightly and began to open revealing a spiralling staircase. No sooner had the floor opened did she feel the crackle of chaotic energy bleeding up from beneath them. She moved to the top of the staircase, peering down. "Don't touch the walls, the soft glowing set in recesses are not lights, they are the blister traps. Keep your wings tucked in. If you get caught in one, it will take me weeks to get you out."

She offered him what she hoped was a reassuring smile before she began her descent.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius didn't hesitate to follow after Lady Ovmar as she exited the ship, pulling His hood more firmly over His head as they crossed the bridge. Otherwise the sea spray would get on His visor and He simply didn't wish to have to wipe it clean while trying to watch out for whatever defenses might be in place. Mainly those blister traps but He could only imagine what else she might have guarding her laboratory, given what little He did know of the nature of her experiments and research.

He had a feeling that the leering golems just beyond the great doors could very well be one such defensive measure that He didn't wish to see in action. Thankfully Lady Ovmar's hideaway proved to be rather homey in spite of its spectacular yet covert entrance, a simplicity and practicality which He could certainly appreciate. He kept His head on a swivel even as He followed in her footsteps, both to watch for any signs of threats but also to simply take note of what seemed to be a genuine home.

It definitely made sense that she was so insistent on the secrecy of this facility, clearly it was far more than the laboratory that He'd been anticipating. Darth Strosius glanced around the study before looking back to see Lady Ovmar performing some pattern using the bookcase, a code it seemed given the hidden staircase that the floor revealed once she was done. "How...quant." He preferred a classic keypad code or even an alchemical lock Himself but the books were charming in their own right He supposed.

Her warnings of what was to come made Him bristle and His "wings" shriveled at their mention even before the warning had concluded. Getting trapped somewhere in this staircase or even in the laboratory itself for any extended period of time was far from ideal, He'd rather not see how intent she was on her earlier threats regarding binding His soul to some inescapable torment. "Right. You know, I think I'd prefer touring the rest of your abode first if that's all the same to you?"

Her smile drew a resigned sigh from Him before He rolled His shoulders and steeled His nerves, moving to follow her down the stairs with no small amount of hesitation and caution in spite of the heavy robes and armor adorning His form. In fact He was disturbingly light on His feet all things considered. "Out of curiosity," He spoke in a hushed tone as He eyed the recesses they passed warily. ", does anything seem to be amiss as of yet? Anything out place that shouldn't be? Or in a place where it shouldn't be?"

Lina Ovmar