Derring-Di and the Cavern of the Void

[Dissero]

"Derring-Di, off on another adventure. Where are you going this time, brother?"

En-route to the planet of Annaj, Dissero sat at the communication panel of The Klepto, facing the holographic bust of his sister Amorella. He smiled at her enthusiasm to the news and moved to recline in his chair, "Back to Kayri to collect a bit more research on the Charon. I still haven't succeeded in recreating the Otherdrive, but I think there's more clues. And underground cavern near the nothern pole. I came across some mention of it in one of the tomes in my vault."

The image of his sister smirked, "In your hidden treasure trove. Isn't there a dragon amongst the ranks of the Confederacy? You should team up with him. What a guard he would make."

Dissero chuckled, "I hadn't thought of that, I'll have to make an effort to seek him out. Come to think of it, dragonfire would come in handy for my forge. Mmmm," the man's attention withdrew, finger tapping at the scruff on his chin.

"You said you were taking someone with you? Who's the lucky lady this time?"

"The Lady Jared Ovmar," he grinned, blinking at her reaction, "do you know him?"

"We are allied with the Fringe, brother. Of course I do," though Aesir Inari had yet to make introductions with the Lord Ovmar, Amorella knew the man from another venue entirely.

"The idea of you knowing him concerns me."

"Your concern is duly noted. I must go now, Merovign. Safe travels, be well, it was good to speak to you again, I miss you more," her smile was warm and he appreciated the sentiment even though it didn't translate well over the comm link. He would have liked to hug her.

"Miss you most," The comm link deactivated and with a frown he turned to Mahet, his Noghri assosiate, "how much longer?"

"A few minutes. Lord @[member="Jared Ovmar"] sent a message, he will be waiting for us at the port."


~~~~~~~~~


Some time later The Klepto pulled into the port bay, the strange bio-organic Charon ship slipped in quietly, a gateway opening to invite the waiting Fringe Lord in.

"Ovmar," Dissero greeted the man from the hallway where he stood waiting, "welcome aboard The Klepto, please wipe your feet." Smirk.

 

[Arage Bao]

Part of him wished to inquire about the origins of the ship name, then again. Maybe it was better not to know, certain things could never be unknown and maybe this was one of them. Or maybe he was just overreacting, he sometimes did that. Like an overgrown man-child.

As he started to exchange pleasantries, a memory suddenly popped up. About a pink unicorn... and getting a beating. By.. Di? What the... that can't be right. Di wasn't even involved with the Fringe back then.

Strange.

Regardless, Jared just nodded and ignored the thoughts in the back of his head. Pink unicorns... he was losing his mind, that was for sure.

“Pleasure, Dissero. So fill me in about the mission, while I clean my muddy shoes.”

His shoes were in fact not muddy and his attempt at jokes were badly executed. Might have something to do with the fact that he was trying to figure out why he was associating this lad with a flying unicorn.


@[member="Lord Dissero"]

 

[Dissero]

The Archivist emitted a gravelly chuckle as he made way back towards the command deck. The ship smoothly lurched away from the port and made way back out into open space. Once they cleared the traffic lanes Mahet engaged the Otherdrive and without so much as a slight jostling, they entered Otherspace.

To the untrained eye, or at least the eye of one who didn't often travel through space, it might at first be difficult to tell the different between Otherspace and Hyperspace. The truth of the matter was, however, that Otherspace was unlike anything else.

"We're going back to Kayri," Dissero began once he saw that Jared had followed and motioned towards the open bench seat to the left, "on an expedition into a cavern system near the northern pole. I'm looking for some clues about the Charon and anything relating to their tech. Namely, this ship. Not quite sure what to expect and you seemed like you had a taste for adventure."

He thought to ask Jared if the man came armed and ready, but he opted for a lopsided grin.

The brilliant colors of nebulae and distant ephemeral stars slipped past the viewport, obscured by a strange black veil of sorts. They were traveling through wormholes in space - a quite faster way to travel, Dissero found, but incomprehensibly more complicated to navigate. Luckily they had Mahet, and luckily Mahet had spent countless hours learning from the Scientists on the project just how to do these things. There was also a Scientist on board, but he was back catching some Z's.

@[member="Jared Ovmar"]

 

[Arage Bao]

If Di had asked him about the weapons, the answer might not have made him happy. It was a simple fact that Jared Ovmar, Lord of the Fringe, never wore a lot of fancy weaponry. A lightsabre or two, and that was really it. This stemmed from the fact that Jared could not shoot even if his life depended on it, shotguns, pistols, assault rifles; all that stuff was beyond him.

Of course he had a Sith Sword at home, but even that he did not bring with him. Why? Hard to say, it might have been an oversight. Or maybe Jared just felt that he could do without. Really, even the lightsabres were things he would sooner leave at home. But for some reason he felt naked without the silver-beamed lightsabre his master had giving him all that time ago.

It was the Force that protected him, and which he utilized as his weapon. Nothing else could stand in the bright Glory of what he could do with that power.

While Di was talking, Jared became a bit sidetracked. He had never been in Otherspace before this, it did not really look much different from Hyperspace. Listening to the stories though.. it seemed to be something entirely else. Maybe that was the reason Jared had signed up in the end, adventure indeed..

“I needed a break from all the postering, and political games that go hand in hand when being a High Councilor. Di.. this might sound like a strange question, but have we met before all of this? I have the feeling like.. we have met.. before we have met.”​

​

Pink unicorns? He would find out the truth of this.​

​

@[member="Lord Dissero"]​

 

[Dissero]

A narrow-eyed gaze met Jared's question and for a moment the Archivist looked pensive. He rubbed at the stubble on his chin.

It was possible that, at some point, Jared had met or seen him under his facade as the Kuati Prince Amadeus Darke. But that face was far more youthful and always clean shaven. He wore custom tailored suits of the highest quality and kept a harem of lady suitors at his beck and call. He was a spoilt, opinionated, and an oft'times pugnacious, self-aggrandized brat. It had all been done and staged with purpose; Dissero never wanted for the throne, and he spared every effort to place a shadow over his claim. Despite being the older sibling, it was his sister who was the Gem of Kuat.

It was also possible that Jared had a faint remembrance of Lujo. This grew a curious grin within his expression, "You know I get that a lot. I must have one of those faces...bet it's the beard." Best not to go touting his time-travel adventures he'd discovered through Otherspace. This it totally non-canon. Let's forget it was even mentioned.

He digressed with a sigh, "I was at the election night party. Witness to the Kaggath. I may have shook your hand there, but either one or both of us was too obliterated to recall. Fresh start is probably in order, so-" the man extended his hand towards Jared, "hi I'm Dissero. Resident Archivist and aspiring Alchemist of the Fringe. Nice to meet ya." His grin returned.

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

 

[Arage Bao]

There was still some doubt on Jared’s face, Di seemed awfully quick to come up-- oh well, what did it really matter. The man was right on one account at least, a fresh introduction might be the best way to go around this.

Disregarding Lujo, which was already fuzzy for Jared, they had never actually properly met. So he accepted the hand offered, and shook it. There was no enforced power behind the grip, he had never understood the way some people thought it was a -good- idea to crush someone’s hand at a first meeting.

“Well met, Dissero. Jared Ovmar. Mind if I call you Di?”

[member="Lord Dissero"]

 

[Dissero]

"Only if I can return the favor, Jae." Dissero replied.

And because Dissro's writer feels it best not to drag this out any longer, the Klepto quite suddenly pulled out of Otherspace, the great gleaming jewel of Kayri filling the forward viewport.

"We have arrived," Mahet said from the pilot's seat.

"Excellent, follow it in to the coordinates I gave you," clapping the Noghri on the shoulder, Dissero stood and walked past Ovmar towards the back where he pulled a leather satchel from a storage compartment as well as a brown traveling cloak, its fine hand-embroidered details obscured by years of wear. Shrugging into the cloak, the man pulled the strap of the bag over his head and let the weight of it settle at his side.

"I suppose I could have briefed you more on this adventure, but truth be told - I haven't a clue what to expect. It could be nothing, and if that's the case, I'll buy you a beer."

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

 

[Arage Bao]

It was a good thing Di’s writer decided it was time to land, because Jae was running out of things to comment on and really would have embarrassed himself in the next post otherwise. Maybe something about singing Bohemian Rhapsody aloud, while waiting or dancing the jig. Pretty.. embarrassing. Some would say his writer is just sadistic.

“Seems only fair, Di. Besides, it’s better than JarJar. I hate that nickname.”

When Di stood up from his chair, it only seemed prudent to do the same. Not that he had anything to do, anything he needed was already on his person. Lightsabre or two, cloak, hood, pants, nuclear bomb. Yeah. Everything.

“I’d prefer an ‘Effin Mother-in-Law, if it’s all the same to you. Well, let’s go, I can’t wait to get shot, or worse.”

[member="Lord Dissero"]

 

[Dissero]

"A what?" Dissero threw the man an incredulous glance, "that's got to be the worst drink I've ever had. Spit it all over myself and everything."

He shook his head, eyeing Jared. Dissero had only ever seen that drink one place and knew of only one other person that actually enjoyed it. There was a hint of leering suspicion in his eyes as he stared at the man, but he eventually shook the thought from his head. Couldn't be.

Better not be.

The Klepto shuddered through Kayri's atmosphere and in short order glided down to the surface where it settled down on the arid landscape of the northern pole. It landed with a jolt. The side entrance peeled open, permitting a gust of cold, dry air. Dissero departed without another word, steps clipped with enthusiasm.

"Right then, the cavern entrance is just up in those mountains."

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Lord Dissero"]

I wasn’t aware of Di’s discomfort when I told him about that drink, I mean come one let’s be honest here. What are the chances this is the same guy, Amore told me about back then? It must be like… one in a billion, I am probably ballparking that number but you know what I mean.

Ain’t no way it’s the same guy, so I kept it out of my head and followed him outside of the ship.

Our stalwart leader slash heister non grata lead me and him towards the cavern system, and once we arrived that I finally decided to say something. Usually I am pretty genre-savvy, but I couldn’t help myself now.

“So, we aren’t dead yet. Who is gonna try and kill us here?”

 

[Dissero]

The way to the cavern was a bleak journey. Kayri's north pole didn't offer much in the way of flora, and certainly the fauna was lacking too. The landscape, stark against a blank sea of pale blue sky, was a bit humbling in it's simple grandeur. Peaks rose up around them, pointed like a Sith Sword, raising protest against intruders who might make attempts for secrets lurking within. Dissero wasn't afraid of Sith Swords, that much was certain.

Then there was the cavern entrance: smallish, at least in terms of a cavern entrance went, and so utterly plain one could hardly mistaken it for anything but a cave bear dwelling. It might've been, too, judging by the scent of death that hung on the air near it - though what sorts of bears Kayri had skulking about Dissero wasn't sure. With the cave down within a ravine or sorts, he began to carefully climb his way down through a steep incline of loose gravel and stones.

"Hard to say," he grunted as he landed finally on flat ground before the opening, peering into the darkness, "couldn't be the Charon. Their kind have been dust for a millenia. Though they're the ones that purportedly built the place."

With a deep breath he pressed through the brink of the cavern opening, taking a moment to allow his inhuman eyes to adjust. He could see well enough in the dark, a plus for someone who was so regularly making these sorts of endeavors his routine.

"That's why we're here, to see if they've left anything behind that might be helpful ... " in the end, however, the man pulled a lightsaber hilt from his side and ignited the blade, the molten white light illuminating the natural formations of the cavern. He pressed on, further down another rocky slope as the cavern narrowed to a tunnel just large enough for two men to pass through shoulder-to-shoulder. As they reached the end of the incline the tunnel opened up into a great, wide cavern and their path took a sharp turn along the cavern's wall. They were quite high up. Higher up than was comfortable for most.

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

 

[Arage Bao]

It was a pretty ominous cavern system, scared the batpoodoo out of me but I wasn’t about to admit that to Di here. So I pressed on, trying to ignore the feeling of dread which started to rise in my stomach. Wasn’t too pleasant honestly, but hey. Lord of the Fringe, gotta keep up appearances and all that.

Around the same time I was keeping up appearances I… stepped on something I shouldn’t have stepped on. Wasn’t anything gross, I don’t think there has been anything living in these caverns for a long time for something like that to happen.

It was… a damn trap. Which I should have expected, but for some reason hadn’t. I was able to push Di out of the way, just before the floor beneath my feet gave out and I tumbled into a dark pit of… well darkness mostly.

Which in turn would probably mean our stealthy entry was just ruined.

[member="Lord Dissero"]

 

[Dissero]

"Hwah-woaaah!" stumbling forward, Dissero caught himself wavering over a sudden plunge of his pathway into the cavern system above. Arms spread and waving his balance back, he stepped away from the ledge just in time to turn and see that his partner in crime was ...gone?

"Jae?" blinking, palely glowing blue eyes searched the darkness, "Jae?!"

He took a tentative step forward and felt the ground begin to shake. That couldn't be good.

An instinctive jump cleared him of a section of wall lurching outwards, aimed to push the unwary passerby off their path and into the abyss. He didn't stop there, but kept moving. Inhuman enhance agility carrying him along the gradually narrowing cliff ledge. Down it turned along a steep sloping stair that ended rather abruptly above the void. He caught himself on a shadow in the wall - a tall, narrow opening - just before the end.

Heart hammering in his chest, Dissero took a moment to catch his breath before looking around, reigniting his lightsaber to illuminate a long, tall, narrow hallway.

"Jae? Can you hear me?" he called, voice echoing into the fathomless depths of the caverns. Following the hall, the man took in a sharp breath as it opened into a grand chamber with walls covered with ancient Charon glyphs. Three doorways, massive in size, stood at the opposite end.

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"] (our Charon beastie)
[member="Jared Ovmar"]

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

From the blackness came a noise.

It wasn't speech, it wasn't words or anything of the sort. Instead it was a long drawn out hiss. It seemed to come from everywhere within the darkness, not enhanced by the force or any such trick, but instead reverberating naturally. The sound of skittering legs could be heard as well, thumping and clicking slightly as it moved across heavy stone.

It was impossible to tell which one of the three doorways the voice carried from, just that it came from one of the three.

The Hiss sounded again, follow by guttural clicks of a language unknown. It sounded closer this time, more all consuming, as though whatever was near, was coming closer. The Charon moved within the darkness, it skittered across its finely woven webs, hanging upside down on the ceiling. It waited for its prey, eager to kill.

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"] [member="Brom Burnside"]

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah’ My voice rang straight through the caverns as I told Di I was feeling peachy, nothing like crashing through a cave’s floor into the lower levels on a Friday night. ‘I am just peachy, peachy, peachy.’ though I gotta admit that the echoing was starting to annoy me just a tinsy, tiny bit.

I looked around, trying to get my bearings and failing miserably at that, ‘twas dark everywhere and I ain’t got any dark vision or whatever. Then… the screeching began, it was soft at first; you could almost pretend that it ain’t there and walk around all dandy… but it was getting louder by the second and at some point you ain’t ignoring that anymore.

My mind reached out to Di and talked straightly through telepathy.

‘We ain’t alone here, Di. Watch your back out there and let’s try and see if we can meet up.’

I unclipped my lightsaber and ignited it…. what would I see?

 

[Dissero]

Dissero glanced around at the sound of Jared's voice echoing through the halls. With a light snort, he sighed and pressed on towards the three doors. It would be impossible to tell just exactly where the man was located, there was far too much interference in the caves to ping his signature. What caught him as curious, however, was the interference itself.

Drawing closer to the doors, the Archivist reached out through the Force, testing the sensations of ancient and arcane with short bursts of Force energies. Like sonar, they responded only to that which emitted similar signatures - it was a skill he'd used to track down artifacts for years and had yet to lead him astray. His senses were drawn inexplicably to the leftmost stone slabs that seemed peculiarly devoid of reaction to his testing. Each pulse was absorbed ... dissipated, rather than rebounded.

That was not normal.

He moved forward and gripped the massive doors with his mind, stretching out to locking mechanisms and weighted chains, working the intricate labyrinth that would have otherwise required the use of a key. Within moments a knock signaled the slip of the lock and an great groaning of ancient cogs sent the walls into a tremor. The doors slowly opened like a great yawning beast and permitted him entrance to a long hall. Following it, the man disapeared into a nigh tangible darkness and the further on he moved the greater this void in the Force grew in strength.

The hall ended in an open, round chamber, and there sitting upon a raised dais was a lone carved stone slab.

Dissero eyed it, moving the white blade of his lightsaber forward to cast a better light. His attempt to contact Jared's mind was strangely muddled and numb.

Around him, the Force waned as a sun dipping below the horizon.

"Jae," the man called, "I think I found something."

[member="Jared Ovmar"]
[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Jared Ovmar"] [member="Brom Burnside"]

As soon as the light snapped into existence the creature, whatever it was snapped into action.

Previously it had been hanging from the ceiling, spun in webs of fine material that seemed to glitter in the light of the lightsaber. It had watched, and carefully positioned itself behind Jared, placing itself just above and behind him to strike perfectly in the correct moment. As soon as the lightsabers glow enveloped the hallway, the massive Charon spun itself free of its web and began to swipe at Jareds throat.

It was an immediate killing blow, one that would fall all the harder due to the Charons position above Jared, and the way that it had launched itself.

Clearly it was either not worried about the lightsaber, or about Jareds reaction time to it. The thing wanted to ensnare and bind Jared before he could react. Even if its claw failed to strike, it moved its other limbs around in a strange embrace, seeking to press Jared against the ground and hold him there.

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"] [member="Brom Burnside"]

Moment the lightsaber ignited I felt the chilling sensation if my spidey-sense tingling, I attempted to roll away - dashing to the right and escape the clutches of the--- wooooooooooooooooooah that’s one ugly sonofagun. Wasn’t quick enough though, claws digged into my skin and ripped a few gashes in, crucitorn set in and cut my agonizing scream out.

While rolling I threw two kinetite balls right at the face of the whatever the hell it was, that should keep him wary for a while.

Immediately after rolling out and jumping up, I started to channel lightning at it. This thing had to die and had to die fast.

'LITT-- LITTLE BUSY HERE, DI.' I screamed at the top of my lungs at my companion who was God knows where.

 

[Dissero]

"That's nice," Dissero called distractedly, eyes fixated on the slab at the center of the room.

The Archivist moved forward, senses aflame with the strangely growing sensation of Force numbness. It wasn't quite like walking into the sphere of an Ysalamir, not yet so complete and utter drop of connection, but he could feel it ebbing substantially. It was almost as if he had suddenly reverted back to his infantile stages of the Force - curiously, the man tested this notion. A short glance found him a small rock aginst the dais base, to which he motioned with his hand in an attempt to lift it from the floor.

The rock resisted, barely rolling an inch.

"...mm," the man grunted, and issued a stronger attempt. Again, hardly a reaction.

Fascinating.

Somewhere in the distance screams sounded down the long tunnel. A roar. The floor rumbled.

Dissero itched at the stubble on his chin, put his hand out again and this time attempted Force Lightning. Barely a spark.

"Ha!" was this the fabled Void Stone? The very same that so many researchers and treasure hunters had given up all hope of a true existence? Stepping forward, Dissero kneeled on the dais and moved to place his free hand on the stone, feeling all connection to the Force fade away. He gasped, and gave a shallow, astonished chuckle.

More roaring. More rumbles. Was that the distant crackle of lightning?

"Velok, what would you give to be standing right here - ...hey Jae! You gatta come see this!"

[member="Jared Ovmar"]
[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Brom Burnside"]

All around me were dead carcasses of those whatchamacallits, another diagonal slice and finally the last of ‘em was cut to pieces. I breathed heavily, blood seeping from multiple wounds, but at least they were dead.

Whatever the hell they were.

In the distance I could hear Di screaming something, I sighed and disabled my lightsaber - finally moving in the general direction of his voice. During that trip I could noticeably feel my connection to the Force grow weaker and weaker, I wasn’t a big fan of this… but I ain’t got a lot of options here. Di was there and I wasn’t about to leave him hanging.

Eventually though I reached him, he was standing by some kind of platform cradling a stone as if it was his damn newborn.

‘With the amount of adoration you are showing that stone… I presume it’s what we have come looking for?’

I stretched my neck, felt something crack.

This was going to leave me with some bruises.