Flame On? I Picked the Wrong Planet...

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Eol Sha, totally not destroyed, don't know what you're talking about.​

This was too far from home and too close to Primeval territory for comfort, and she likely ought to have brought someone with her. Or a fleet of someones. But she just wanted this done quickly. Land, get what she wanted, leave. No one the wiser. No fuss, no muss, no unprofitable conflicts. Well, considering the Primeval had fronted 25 million of her 70 million bounty they might have seen a profit in it, but she did not.

As her shuttle popped out of hyperspace and made it's approach, the Twi'lek scanned for somewhere likely to have what she wanted. Somewhere with open lava, but preferably not about to explode. Stability on Eol Sha was apparently in short supply, but she found somewhere that ought to do for a first attempt. Gearing up, Shotcaller armour, Outlaw shot gun etc, the Twi'lek lowered the ramp, to be met with a wave of heat.

"Kam tol sih bo ercae! Nope. Can't do it."

To hell with it, it was only her. Back into the ship, strip off the armour. As much as the heat had her wanting to wear as little as possible she supposed some protection was in order. Fine. She eyes the shotgun. It likely wouldn't help much anyway. With a shrug, she took her lightsaber, and the small container that was going to make sure she accomplished what she wanted, hung them off her belt and headed towards the lava pools.

Time to go Fireworm hunting. Well. Watching. Whatever.

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

His eyes were closed and his breath steady towards the rhythm of his heartbeat, Vheissu Ireles felt right at home here on the planet of Eol Sha.

He hadn’t come here for the hunt, though that would be a venture worthy of pursuit, no it was the sheer heat and energy the planet excreted through its lava and magma streams that had attracted Vheis for a visit. Part of him wondered if they could spread the Crusade towards this planet, and then make himself the War Lord of this region.

It would fit me, no?

The heat rose up through the air, making it shimmer and vibrate, the only thing Ireles could do was laugh out loud at the brilliance of the moment. Part of him knew that if he decided to stay here forever he would be content for a life time.

But that is not the way of the warrior.

Instead he raised himself from his position and started stalking, just running and jumping across the pools, before he heard something. A ship. Vheis looked on as a barely-clothed twi’lek skipped out of the shuttle and this… intrigued him.

The Gods have given me a new blessing, it seems.

He would wait, until the opportune moment would arrive to accept the boon though.

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

It wasn't long before the Twi'lek was covered in a sheen of sweat. While it was true that Eol Sha was only of temperate climate, the heat rising off of the lava pools made this particular area hot even for the desert dweller. This was only exaserbated as she navigated her way past the smaller pools towards the larger ones. After all, that was where the fireworms were more likely to be.

"Cea y ohsid vorkino raboo go."

She grumbled largely to herself. Pulling the light but not light enough shirt over her head and using it to wipe the thin layer of sweat off herself, she tucked it into the back of her pants. Her bottom half was still protected, that was pretty good, and likely all that would be required. The Twi'lek was not a particularly modest creature, and out here with no one to offend or whom the promise of revelation later could entice, saw no reason to wear any more clothes than the environmental situation called for.

When she reached the first large lava pool, keeping a few feet back in case it did in fact contain her quarry, she squatted down onto her heels, casting her attention and focus towards it and what it contained. While her use of force sense was much stronger than it had been, she still didn't keep it passively active, and now was bending her will only towards the lava pool. This would have been much easier if she'd ever encountered a Fireworm before and knew what they felt like, but she had not and did not. It was hard to sort and interpret things she'd never run into before. She identified several small reptiles that were not what she was looking for before deciding this particular pool was a no go. She sighed, rising back to her full height, unimpressive as that was.

"Would have been too easy of course."

She moved on to the next pool, and repeated her prior actions. There. There was something. Whether it was a firworm of not she couldn't say, but it was there. Alive and moving and indolent in a way only predators managed. Now how to call it up? Preferably without it spewing lava at her..

[member="Vheissu Ireles"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

Fighting the beast on its natural hunting grounds was never a smart thing to do, this was a fact that existed for the Fireworm as well as for the Keeper of the Flame, leaning over the hillside he pondered just a bit on what to do with this gift from the Gods.

Part of Vheis wished to claim her right here and now, it was only fair and doing otherwise would surely insult the Lords Almighty and yet… yet, he wished to know how she would deal with the Firewyrm that lived in the bowels of the lavascapes.

So instead of making himself known, announce himself and his right to her, Ireles simply sat back and watched as the woman would summon one of his kin to fight it. This would be his test for her, if she managed to emerge victorious? Defeat the fierce beast? She would be a worthy companion for him, and if she perished?

Well, then the Lords above had made a mistake and this test would show them the errors in their ways, respect could only be given to those that deserved it- was Vheis’ opinion. Until now the Gods had never failed to impress him with their keen judgement, but he would never seize to test it.

Breathing out he let himself smolder in the heat of the place, enjoying the aura wash over his skin, today would be a glorious day whichever way it went.

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

There was one possibility.. It was dangerous, but then most things were. Well. It would be entirely undangerous were she properly trained, but since she largely muddled through things on her own, she was not. She learned through trial and error, through deciding she could do something and then doing it. This she knew could be done, but if she got it wrong, or even if she did not get it right enough, it could still mean death. Wouldn't this be a rather ignoble end? No one would even know where she'd gone, she'd just be gone. The Unkindness would think she'd abandoned them like all those who came before. Unacceptable. This brought a quick fierce grin that was more bared fang than smile to her face as she looked out over the lava pools. Well then, she would just have to succeed.

She settled from her crouch down onto her knees, chin dropping to her chest, yellow eyes closing to cut out any unnecessary input that might distract her and brought her attention fully to bear on the mind beneath the lava. As was her way this was not intrusive at first, she merely enveloped, listened to the ebb and flow, the ways and patterns in which what passed for it's thoughts moved. She'd never done anything like this with a non-sentient, it was very different. Not entirely unrelatable however. At least it was a predator. The minds of prey animals might have been easier to influence, to dominate, but they would have been harder for the Twi'lek to relate to.

The minutes stretched out, five, ten, fifteen, longer as the sweat dripped down her skin, her stillness absolute as she and the fireworm moved in lazy indolence below the lava, her own mind and thought adjusting to match its rhythms. Slowly, slowly she sank a little deeper, triggering it's awareness of her.

competitor/threat

surged up from within the beast, and unseen it thrashed it's serpentine body and began to move for the surface.

No. Companion. Peace. Contentment. Full belly and heat.

she returned, enforcing the patterns she'd learned from it early, pushing them upon it.

The fireworm burst forth from the lava pool, rising and rising, swaying back and forth like a cobra as it eyed the Twi'lek before it. For her part she did not flinch or move, did not even open her eyes. To falter now was to fail. With all the force of her personality, all her strength of will the Twi'lek continued her efforts. They were aided by the time she had spent earning the beast. She did not try to enfore upon it that which was unnatural, to make a Fireworm feel or act like a Twi'lek.

The beast moved forward through the pool, lowering it's head it slid out onto the scorched earth, looping around the Twi'lek, though not touching her. This was no less dangerous. It could easily sweep her into the pool and her death or simply devour her.

Contentment. Be still. Peace.

She continued to press upon it. The feeling of a smug satisfied predator, somnolent. No need for aggression. Basking in the heat. As it curled closer around her, she could feel the heat still radiating off it's scales. Slowly, not letting up her mental barrage, the Twi'leks hands moved to the canister at her waist, unscrewing the lid. Several small insectoid forms flew out. ASU-V1's, with very specific programming. Get genetic material from a fireworm, return to her ship. They were small enough the best would not even feel them, though several were crushed unintentionally by it's movements. All she needed was one to make it back to the ship however.

The movement of her hands caught it's attention, for all that her mental insistence was having the desired effect. Its head, larger than her entire torso came in closer to her. Knowing full well the repercussions for what she was going to do, the Twi'lek reached out, orange hands caressing it's scaled head. Physical touch making her that much more effective. It was hot though, burning. Likely second degree, but she was no stranger to pain. Besides, she was often required to burn it seemed. This was to be expected. After all, to rise from the ashes one was first required to burn. It's yellow eyes closed, and hers opened. The connection was complete. Not permanent, but it was more than enough for now.

"Ceo, nerra. Koa si'lewata yie kirha ersae dan vil Do. Vyirnih Do cahsinark llu'an, eti cahsinark go ohk fokei."

She crooned to it ignoring the throbbing in her palms. This, it occurred to her, was very nearly a metaphor for everything she had ever done. Lie to something, make it think you had what it needed, make it submit to you. It might hurt you in the process but you could not show this, you had to be untouchable. And suddenly the beast was yours, but if you were not careful, if you were not wary, it could yet turn on you.

[member="Vheissu Ireles"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

And turn it did.

Vheissu Ireles was a shaman, the holder of the Flame, he consorted with spirits of nature and the unnatural. The Flame… few people truly understood the strength and power of fire, even fewer knew that fire? It was everywhere and nowhere, there were no separate entities. No, fire was one inseparable entity that was connected throughout the great skies and it was through these connections that Vheis whispered.

The whisper would bring forward the destructive and passionate emotions of the Wyrm, the tinders and embers Chiasa had just made slumber? They would rise up in its intensity, she would get forewarning, of course.

But her control shattered and the Firespawn would lash out, attacking her who had tried to lay claim on his freedom.

Fire cannot be controlled, it can only be guided, sweetling.

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

The Twi'lek felt the rising flames of aggression, and at first did not understand that it was the result of another outside force. As the beast stirred she tried to regain her tenuous understanding with it, but it was not to be. By the time she realized this was so, and also knew that it was being influenced by one stronger than she, it was nearly too late. The coils tightened at the same instant that the great head beneath her hands opened its mouth, large enough to take half of her in a bite and wickedly toothed, and snapped forward.

But the Twi'lek was fast. She had spent months keeping up the effects of Force induced speed. Though she was not as quick as she had been, for while some strength grew others atrophied, she was still fast enough for this. Perhaps it was the lingering resonance with the beast, or perhaps it was merely her own internal predator, but in that one split second it did not occur to her to reach for her lightsaber. When she settled it was always to her knees, never in lotus, this way she could be up quicker, and up she was now. Rising and up, feeling the heat of the coils brushing past her, just missing a grapple hold that would end in her death as one abused hand found the tip of the creatures snout, using both her own muscle and it's movement as its jaws opened to send her up, in a graceful controlled tumble onto it's head.

Before it could react to this new set of circumstances, her right arms came back, hand flat like a knife before descending with quick and brutal finality through an eye and into the brain. A vicious rotational movement ensured death. As it fell, she jumped clear, moving a few more steps away from the beast and the pools. Flicking the gore off her hand, ignoring the new pain of the nigh boiling blood that had covered her near up to the elbow. This was going to need to be dealt with soon. She was no Sith, she did not draw strength from pain, it just bloody well hurt, but one did not worry about the splinter when the sword was falling.

She was not pleased about killing the beast. For a moment it had been hers, and she did not like losing what was hers. If she had bound it a little more closely, or if it had not been so thoroughly taken from her beforehand she might not have.

Yellow eyes scanned the landscape while mind preformed a much more thorough search. It did not much matter what was found however, because a decision was reached. As vexed as she was, she did not want to get into a fight here with so few assets, so few advantages. The intruder had felt strong, and she.. Oh she was getting strong, in her own way. This could not be denied, but she had chosen to focus on a strength that would win wars and battles, would keep her Unkindness safe and see to it that they flourished and profited. Not the kind that won one on one conflicts. Besides, where before she had been comfortable now her bare torso and simply clothed bottom half felt terribly exposed.

This was where she was expected to call out a challenge. To stand and fight. No, to hell with this. Whirling the Twi'lek took off for the ship, and let whoever was on her trail be damned.

[member="Vheissu Ireles"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

And it would be just then that the Shaman would raise himself from his perched position, bare chest covered with transpiration and yet… Vheissu did not seem perturbed by the magma and lava that was scattered all around them. The warrior seemed perfectly familiar and comfortable with the environment, at home one could even say.

His hands raised themselves and Ireles whispered words of thanks to the Gods Above, from the depths of the pools a rumbling appeared- a Vanguard of what was to come. Because at the end of the day Vheis was a Fireshaper first and foremost, it was his jam, his game, the one thing that he had mastered beyond any other.

And those hands would raise the magma and lava hidden away in those pools, from their slumber they would awaken and an inferno would appear before the fleeing gift.

She would not find peace today.

Quietly without saying a word, the Warrior blessed by the Gods moved down from the hills and started to approach Chiasa. His steps marked him as a predator, kohl spread around his eyes and marks of battle marring his body.

She would find servitude.

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

A startled yelp was bit back in her throat as the magma rose to block her path. Lucky she'd not been looking back, even so the Twi'lek was forced to angle her body and drop, one leg skidding across the ground and the other heel dug in just to stop her own momentum from taking her into the wall that arose before her. Damn and double damn! She could do some slight fire manipulation, but this sort of thing? This was definitely beyond her. Unless it was absolutely do or die she was not going to try and pit her control against this and force her way through. The scalding she had received was one thing, she did not feel the need to court being burned to the bone here alone with no backup.

Forward was not an option, and the magma curved slightly, ensuring she'd not been able to just dodge around it, which meant the only way was..

Back to her feet and turning, to be met immediately with the sight of her foe. A frame that might have sparked interest in other circumstances was now assessed largely to see how much of a threat he was, and the answer was very much. He moved with the self-assured grace of a predator, was large, muscled and bore the marks to prove he'd been in a number of serious fights and come out the other side. Which meant he was stronger than her on two fronts.

Flames behind, man ahead, this was much worse than a rock and a hard place. The Twi'lek was not entirely certain what to do. Though it would not show except in a slight indecisiveness, a shifting of weight as she tried to figure out what action to take, where to go, how to survive, the faintest hint of fear was starting to surface deep down. She wasn't beaten yet, but somewhere a part of her was circling around the fact that she might be.

She wanted to back away from him, but this was not an option. She could try going forward and then dodging, but he had moved the magma quickly, so quickly, and perhaps this time it would not just stop her. Which left only one direction and one option. The hills were behind him, if she could get far enough away from the lava pools so he had less to work with.. Well and good. Let him think she intended to fight then, and he would be more surprised when she slipped past him.

Not that it was hard to fake aggression, it was her usual response to fear after all. It was a much more comfortable emotion. Yellow eyes narrowed slightly, lips drew back from fangs in warning, a tenseness she didn't fight often enough to know how to hide flashed through her and she was moving. Away from the fire and the threat she could not trick because it had no mind to trick, and towards the man, who might yet be misdirected.

[member="Vheissu Ireles"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]

One could find fire in his blood.

But it was not only fire that the shaper shaped, because in those eyes was the untold experience and knowledge of a man far beyond that which was considered normal. A man of thirty two years had no business of knowing the things he did, but that was Vheissu Ireles.

Prodigy since the day he had been born.

Vheissu’s foot slammed into the ground, shockwaves rippled through the medium at Chiasa and her immediate vicinity. Rocks and earth were ripped apart by the sheer force of the blast, lava spilling onto the ground.

She would have to think fast if she wanted to survive.

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

Plan was immediately discarded as more pressing matters took her attention. To whit the destruction of the very ground beneath her feet as lava welled up in the cracks and crevices he created. Every ounce of her mind was set on watching the ground, on moving and acting to avoid the danger when it was difficult enough just to stay upright, fighting the tremors, twisting away when the super-heated molten rock spat, feet finding what was left of the small rocks and being forced to immediately move on and never stop as they began crumbling or sinking into the lava. There was no time to worry about him. No time to think about what would be or could be, only absolute concentration on what was.

Occasionally, when she was absolutely pressed and stuck telekinesis was called on to move a rock under her feet, to hold it steady or up just that half second beyond what it would do otherwise, but it was hard. Telekinesis was difficult, and while her control was excellent, this continued, multiple time use under pressure was wearying, and all it would take was one mistake, one slip up.

It was likely only seconds, but in her adrenaline fueled near panic it felt like hours before she made it out of the main danger zone and onto stabler ground, that this was much closer to where he stood did not register immediately as she fought to catch her breath and slow her heart.

[member="Vheissu Ireles"]