Hound Amongst the Sands (Daxton and Val'Ryss)

[Darth Hauntruss]

In the shadows of the ancient tombs and temples of the original Sith, Val'Ryss paused to spin her figure about to catch a panoramic view of the environment. A strange power emanated from the planet and especially from the tombs. But, it did not give Val'Ryss a sense of "stranger-in-a-strange-land", the feeling was quite familiar and strangely comforting. She recognized that the aura of the place was not too different from her ancestral home at Dathomir, dark, brooding and in general a waste. Soon the wind began to pick up and the red sands swirled into a small tempest. Val'Ryss whipped a part of her cloak to cover her mouth and then made her way towards one of the temples.

There she would meet the purpose of her visit- Daxton Bane. Her master had mentioned to her that Bane would prove a useful mentor for furthering her powers. But, he had also insisted that she silence her link to him in his presence. Val'Ryss couldn't help but believe that this was more a test of her loyalties than a recommendation of methods of improvement. Upon reaching the entrance to the temple, she removed the bits of the cloak covering her face, revealing to those inside her dark-red skin and black scars that made up the tattoos on her face. With her cloak floating and waving around her she moved towards the group like a dark ghost lingering the halls of the temples. The darkness suited her, she had always enjoyed it embrace. Hopefully this Daxton Bane would prove every bit the mentor.

 

[Daxton Bane]

Daxton sensed a presence as he sat meditating on the pool of pure darkness. The Sith Knight was had been floating in the void, concentrating on nothingness, clearing his mind of all thoughts when he heard the thoughts of someone, someone who was thinking about him.

Rising to his feet, he cloaked himself with the force, rendering himself virtually invisible, he sent illusionary voices screaming, howling like banshees to torment this person. The spirit voices would demand to know why she was here, asking what does she want?

 

[Darth Hauntruss]

Suddenly a dark growl surrounded the temple. The voice was dark and howled like a creature. Spirits of the deep perhaps? Or voices of the occupied? Val'Ryss was not a stranger to dark voices from the force. Living on Dathomir she had developed a gift for hearing the voices of the dark-side. But the voice was different from the regular dark whispers that occupied her mind. The voice continued to yell and hiss. Val'Ryss merely walked closer and closer to the epicentre of the voice.

She raised her hands removing her hood and rested one of her hands onto her chest. Bowing she spoke to the voice. "The Voice growls? The Voice wishes to learn of its intruder's purposes?...MMmm. Yes. Yes it does." Val'Ryss removed the hand from her chest and stretch it out forward pointing it into the darkness. "This one has the humble privilege of being Val'Ryss Zankarr. She has arrived in order to meet a Knight Bane. She does not wish to disturb nor pry." Val'Ryss' serpentine voice lingered as it slithered down the corridors. Upon it fading, she continued her advance. As she did so she made sure her aura was calm and the darkness in her merged with the darkness the temple emitted. To pacify the environment and be one with its atmosphere.

 

[Daxton Bane]

"Challenge? Foolish one! He would crush your heart with a glance and despoil your corpse before it as it cooled." The voices hissed and chided, their numbers swelling from dozens to hundreds as Daxton drew closer. "Do you really wish to die?"

This was test as Daxton poured negative emotions on the apprentice, feeding on her fears and doubts to manifest themselves before her eyes. A light probe to see what drove her to him.

 

[Darth Hauntruss]

The amount of dark force and energy that poured from these words were overwhelming. Such an immediate and raw out-pouring was unnerving to a person like Val'Ryss, who generally kept herself hidden and calm. But perhaps this time around some "confidence" in the matter must be shown. This spirit would find out that the dark-side of the force was not the only essence that consumed her being. No, a far darker voice occupied her being, one that was ancient and had possessed her being back in Dathomir. This other voice awoke and howled through the force, darkness bleed from Val'Ryss.

"The spirit knows much about Bane....ah...the spirit could be Bane?" Val'Ryss hissed in a calm exhale, "The only challenge here is the challenge of training this one, but if the spirit is so determined, then this one shall take her leave. It seems only angry spirits occupy this temple." Val'Ryss bowed to respect the dark voice and turned to make her way back to the entrance of the temple.

 

[Daxton Bane]

As she made her way back she suddenly found the way blocked by an enigmatic robed hooded figure. "Tell me childe, are you that weak willed that a few spirits are enough to break you?" Although he made to hostile movement or gestures, it was clear she had found the man she was seeking.

 

[Darth Hauntruss]

"Weak willed?" Val'Ryss questioned, "No Dark one. This one is merely discriminatory with how she spends her time." Val'Ryss, then stretched her hand across her heart and bowed to the figure. With her head bowed down she hissed again, "This one has lived with spirits all of her life, they are family to her. Spirits cannot break her." Finishing her little retort she rose her head and approached the figure.

"What is your bidding Knight Bane?" Val'Ryss whispered softly.