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[Lassiter]

The breeze drifted around the abandoned temple chamber that morning carrying the dust from the outside. A thin fog-like layer hugged the ground as the dust tried its best to sneak inside the long forgotten temple. Sena remained inside by her lonesome, while the backup squadron of fifteen men stood outside on guard. They had to be present for this mission. Sena usually one alone for these things but there were exceptions to what she was willing to risk when it came to her continued service with the Ember.

Besides, she had complete faith that Ameli would be doing her readin-... No, Sena really didn’t but she knew better than to restrain that girl. Instead here Sena was with both knees touching ground in an unnamed tomb on a planet she had never been to before. Her focus was on the surroundings. The quietness of the tomb, the ability to think on things without having someone urging her to find the nearest beach or who would comment that this was like one big beach that never ended nor saw the touch of water.

It was quiet. It was peaceful and just this once she was allowed to slip back into the person she had set herself up as before her ‘friend’ had shifted the equation. In here Sena could be the merciless and murderous young woman that she had at one point seen herself as. Which, granted, was what [member="Betiliena Sudrenus"] -- one of the high priestesses handmaidens -- would still think to be just about who the Sword of Vahl was.

Remaining in her kneeling position she awaited the arrival of the handmaiden patiently. They had big scary monsters to hunt... Eventually.

 

[Asantas]

A young woman whose skin was as pale as the snow it self Whose body was covered in tattoos much like the chosen her self has, It was obvious to some that she modeled the tattoos after the chosen her self ...for what ever reason was something only she knew personally that she held the chosen as her personal idol so she modeled her self after her. Her dark side aura flowed strongly due to her natural heritage, She had 2 katanas sheathed at her sides while she was walking with her force pike in her right hand. She entered the room seeing [member="Lassiter"] meditating in the room. This was the sword of the Vahl there for she will treat her with kindness. She waited paitiently for her to finish her meditation

 

[Lassiter]

She took another deep breath before slowly rising from the ground. Her eyes opened to the darkness that delved deeper into the unnamed tomb. The winds still howled and the dust still danced around the floors but something was different. The handmaiden’s footsteps echoed around the entrance and traversed down the long narrow corridor that lie ahead. An open hand was raised to hush any or all questions that the handmaiden had. Second for second one of the five fingers would curl into the palm of the Sword’s hand.

Her pinky was lowered as the handmaiden’s echo quieted down in the distance.

Then the sword lowered her ring finger in silence.

Sena lowered her middle finger with continued silence.

Her index finger touched the base of her palm yet the silence still lingered.

Finally her thumb covered her index finger and Sena thrust her elbow down ever so gently. It was if the beast roared on command. The horrendous thunder of a beat designed to murder them. The first step in battling your enemy was to know your enemy. Sena hadn’t just been meditating for the sake of expanding her own presence within the force. No, this was a battle against the dangers of noise.

‘It knows we are here.’ Sena said in an unspoken message directly implanted onto the handmaiden’s mind while she turned around to face the young woman. ‘Don’t speak and try to move as silently as you can. This thing was bred to kill us.’

There really was no point in sugar-coating it. This thing wanted the both of them dead just as much as they wanted it dead.

‘Follow me, watch where you step and I mean it, don’t speak a single word.’ Sena gave the woman a look over. ‘Do you know how to use telepathy at all? We will be relying heavily on it from here on out.’

[member="Betiliena Sudrenus"]

 

[Asantas]

She waited for [member="Lassiter"] to finish talking as she made her foot steps silent as ever to a point where it was hard to tell if she was even there. She knew the beast they where hunting and had her pike ready. When she was asked through telepathy if she knew telepathy she merely nodded she'd only speak if she needed too but she will listen to the sword's commands in fighting this beast...shed have to other wise this would be a short mission.

 

[Lassiter]

Sena nodded at the other woman. She knew telepathy. That was one obstacle out of the way that Sena really had no urge to get over. Teaching someone to communicate between minds wasn’t one of those things that she had wanted to do and luckily she didn’t have to. Giving the handmaiden a quick lookover. For a second she could swear the tattoos on the girl looked were almost like -- if not identical to -- the High Priestess. The urge to perk her brow, though hard to resist, was quieted as the duo silently crept further into the tomb.

Each step was a struggle as the Sword of Vahl abused every single lesson she had learned about keeping quiet. Each footstep was like a muted whisper that echoed along the narrow path that was their corridor into certain danger. The beast hadn’t roared yet, whether this was a good thing or not remained to be seen. It left a knot inside the young knight’s stomach. A terentatek ambush, now that was a truly terrifying aspect of this entire venture.

The soldiers lagged behind. Their ungraceful movements were amusing to watch but dangerous as well. One bad move on their end could mean death for both of the Vahla present.

‘I have been here for three days. The beast tends to rest around these hours. Something must be keeping it up.’

It was most unusual but nothing that they couldn’t handle. They were both amongst the best the Ember had to offer after all.

[member="Betiliena Sudrenus"]

 

[Asantas]

She listened and absorbed everything [member="Lassiter"] was saying to her.... Perhaps the beast sensed our presence and is awake because of it....or perhaps the clumsy footing of the soldiers behind them woke it up and now it wont rest knowing there near .......either way she knew this would be a painfully hard battle.....but the rewards where worth it....perhaps she can harvest its venom for her personal use.....if such a thing was possible after its death......she hoped it was ...terentatek venom was quite deadly in comparison to most venoms....that and it was tainted with the dark side it self was a even better benefit...it corrupts while it destroys....ironic...

 

[Lassiter]

It wasn’t the troopers. It wasn’t something quite as obvious to them yet, but the beast had usually entered a state of slumber at this hour had it not been for that one thing that called to him like nothing else. The heat from the outside mixed with the torches from within the temple to create a warm atmosphere to hide the underlying terror being felt by at least one of the two women sneaking in territory that was far beyond their depth.

The echoing footsteps still had the Sword on edge as the roars grew closer and closer. Heavier footsteps seemed to approach them. Sena forced [member="Betiliena Sudrenus"] to stop. It wasn’t stationary anymore. The beast was on the move. The ground shook and the fear within slowly settled and in its wake came the preparation for the inevitable skirmish and subsequent hide gathering.

Tremor for tremor the two women knew they were getting closer.

‘Remember: be cautious. I am not bringing you back with me if you die.’

That should be motivation enough for some. Would it work on a handmaiden? Sena wasn’t sure.

 

[Asantas]

She said nothing merely quietly coated the bladed part of her force pike with the same poison she coats her swords with...it wasn't as potent as the terentatek venom ...but it was meant to spread and deaden the nerves responsible for motor function ...which means where ever she struck the poison would slowly work its way through the body ...depending on the creature the time to full effect varied...for this beast she would have to guestimate that it would take about 15 full minutes for the full effect to kill the creature....however it will start to get slow in half that time. So she would have to make every strike count too...the beast was awake and no doubt aware of there presence as she continued to stay near [member="Lassiter"]