"I'm You're #1 Fangirl!"

[Via Dolorosa]

Her days, and lifestyle, of being a Sith Lady were like a haunting shadow; a past she knew she could never truly escape. She was famous, or infamous, in certain circles, where her name was spoken with both respect and contempt. She never put much stock in what other's thought about her, she lived her life her way and no fool could ever tell her otherwise. She couldn't change their opinions of her, and in truth, she had no real desire to.​

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The transformation she was seeking for herself would be a task in it's self, but despite her fashion for change, she still craved certain flavours in life. A few surfaces she had scratched in the past, delving into many different aspects of life. As an alchemist and an enchantress, whatever she craved could be made using what skills she possessed, but it wasn't until she met her beloved that her eyes had been opened to hunting down lost artifacts, trinkets, weapons, or technology.​

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In the past, she aided others in their treasure seeking adventures, playing the role of supporter; never seeing herself as one of them. However, she recently had won an auction and became the owner of a lightsaber belonging to one Emperor Palpatine. That one simple artifact had now become the catalyst for her new adventure. There was another artifact, rumoured to exist in the galaxy, that was practically on it's knees begging for her to claim it.​

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Not wishing to deny such a union between her and the artifact, she set out on her own quest to obtain it. ​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

"....and you're quite sure?"​

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"Trust me. I wouldn't dream of swindling someone of your reputation."​

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"I see."​

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"Now what about my credits?"​

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"The deal was....if I recall....you only get paid if I find it."​

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"But if something happens to you..."​

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"I sense you are not satisfied with our current arrangement....do you wish to alter our deal?"​

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"No. No, not at all."​

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Location: Warship Nebula (Endor)​

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The Dagobah Sith paced back and forth, as her two Sithspawn Andarta and Agrona, stood behind her as she observed a company of Shadows of the Black Rose gathering in formation. The black ops unit had been chosen over any of the traditional front line troops due to the nature of the expedition. She wanted a unit that could work outside the realm of possibilities; which they did. The group had many functions that could be utilized, and if they failed along the way; well she had the Dread Sisters along for the journey.​

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Up until this moment, the reason for the gathering of all parties involved had been held in deep secrecy. Their loyalty was not in question, quite the opposite actually, but she didn't trust loose lips created from a night of excessive drinking. To many shots or to many rounds had a way of letting the darkest of secrets dragged into the light. So to prevent punishments, that would naturally be forthcoming, she elected not to brief them before they left Kesh.​

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"We go forth into the legendary forests of Endor....our goal is to seek out an artifact from a powerful Sith Lady, Darth Traya," she proudly announced.​

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"Each one of you have been given a small data device that includes both a description of the artifact and a map of the section of it's last known whereabouts. You are not to engage any locals unless they engage you first. This quest is not about individuals working separately....but a quest of teamwork."​

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With a barely noticeable nod of her head, the Dread Sisters led the Shadows of the Black Rose into the shuttles. Xhexania, like all great leaders, was the last to exit the shuttle and when they arrived would be the first to step on the surface of Endor.​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Location: Endor​

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The three shuttles landed in the nearest closest thing to a clearing on Endor one could find; which was quite annoying for the pilots of the shuttles. Large trees and the overgrowth of most flora seemed to hide the forest floor from them; causing the pilots to rack their brains. After an hour of wasting fuel, the pilots had discovered a safe area to land and allow their cargo to disembark and set up. The first area chosen was far away from any Ewok villages; the little furballs posed no threat to the expedition team in theory but there was no feasible reason to stir them up. However, the Ewoks might not share the same belief as the expedition team.​

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The area where the artifact was last seen, with no actual spot, covered nearly 160 kilometers. The first order of business was to erect a base camp from which they could plan their searches and keep in contact with one another, when search parties where sent out. While the troops tents where being set up, several Automated Beacons where strategically placed around the camp site creating a perimeter. To add to the security of the camp site, a squadron of Uada Somnias where delivered by transport ship to patrol around the perimeter.​

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Along with the tents for the troops to utilize for sleep, four larger tents where placed in the centre of the camp. The first was the command tent, where plans and objectives would be conducted and debated over. The command tent had basic communication gear and two generators to provide electricity since Endor was practically a back-water planet. The two generators would be alternated in it's usage, and when they began to lose power themselves, they would be exchanged for the reserves on the warship.​

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The second tent would be designated as the medical facility. Four combat medics had been brought along for the quest, and it was their responsible to monitor the health of the troops. They were equipped to handle and treat minor injuries. More severe injuries would require the injured to be transported to the warship; where the doctors in the medical bay can treat them thoroughly.​

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An engineering tent, the third one set-up, would be utilized by the mechanics. Broken weapons, vehicles, or automated beacons that needed to be repaired or inspected fell on the shoulders of the five men and woman assigned to the camp site. Spare parts for all the technological entities that was brought along for the expedition where labeled, categorized, and placed inside the tent. To prevent the humid air on Endor from corrupting the parts, they were placed into vacuumed sealed crates.​

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The fourth, and final tent placed in the middle, was the food storage facility. Due to the lack of electricity on the planet, and to prevent the generators from overworking themselves, a four month supply of MREs along with a six month supply of bottled water and other fluids to prevent dehydration where stored in containers under 'lock and key'. A commissary officer was assigned to the tent and only he had access to the supplies. ​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Night descended on the forest moon of Endor. The animals, both prey and predator, that hunted during the day gave over to their counterparts that hunted the forests at night. In the distance, the sounds of struggles would sometimes echo through the near silent woods; catching the attention of the troops on guard duty around the camp. The wheels of three Uada Somnias on patrol constantly ran over fall limbs; adding a soothing crunching sound to the ears of the two Sithspawn that were still awake; Andarta eating the raw flesh of a captured animal and Agrona snacking on some insects she managed to catch.​

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"This planet is to green. To foresty for my tastes," Andarta comments in between bites.​

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"Says the one eating uncooked flesh," Agrona mocks telepathically while picking wings out of her teeth.​

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Andarta cocks her head toward her fellow Dread Sister and smiles. The flesh is just to tasty to ruin by giving into her sister's comment. Agrona never approved of her eating the uncooked flesh of animals; which she had repeatedly told her that cooking it only spoiled the meat. However, her lovely sister Andarta pretty much ate anything she could catch; hence the little sack of creepy crawlies resting at her sister's feet.​

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"Mother has you on first search duty when morning breaks, huh?"​

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"Indeed she does. I'm to take a small group with me to check a cavern to the east. Yuck."​

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"Yuck? You don't want to check the cavern?"​

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"What? No. The cavern is fine. This squirmy thing tastes like chicken."​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

"Base Command this US-4," came the voice of the vehicle's driver over the com network.​

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Colonel Moran rubbed the sleep from his eye with one hand, while reaching for his hot mug of filled steaming pick me up. Most of the night had been relatively quiet, minus a few minor reports here and there from the patrols. One of of the US vehicles had suffered some kind of malfunction earlier in it's navigation computer, and had been brought in to be checked out by the mechanics. Currently Lt. Hosol, his underling, was over at tent three checking on the status of the vehicle.​

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"Us-4, this is Base Command. Over," he replied.​

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"Base Command, I'm picking up roughly three targets on my HUD approximately 0.8 km from the marked perimeter. Permission to investigate? Over."​

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Colonel Moran yawned, his eyes feeling the familiar wetness that came with such a mighty yawn. He was tired, no doubt about that. He turned on the holomap of the area, marking where the driver mentioned where he said the targets where. The targets where close to the perimeter, but not inside. The beacons would notify the camp if there was a breach. Still, it needed to be checked out.​

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"Negative Us-4. Hold your current position and maintain observation status. I'm dispatching a small unit to your location. Over."​

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"Yes sir. US-4 out."​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

The small unit, comprised of three snipers and two assault troops from the Shadows, moved quietly through the forest toward the outer perimeter. Their orders where to investigate the small targets pinged by the US driver and report back their findings. Per the request of Colonel Moran, they were not to engage any of the targets unless they found themselves under fire. Xhexania had made it clear that this expedition would not, under any circumstances, turn into some fight or skirmish or attempts to harm the locals. They were here for one reason only.​

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"AT 1-2, we have you covered. Proceed with caution," one of the sniper's said into their linked com system.​

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Utilizing the leap frog tactic, the two assault troops moved through the trees, stopping every ten feet to lay cover for the next one to pass. The unit truly lived up to their name, quickly and efficiently making their way to the outer perimeter without drawing attention to them. The two assault troops took up a covering position where they could lay a 360 degree cover. ​

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"ST 1-3, you are clear to proceed to our location," one of the assault troopers announced.​

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"US-4, this is AT-2. We have arrived at your location. Status of the targets?"​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Xhexania, like the entire camp, awoke to the sounds of blaster fire in the distance. Charging toward the exit of her tent, she called the Carrion Comfort to her hands from her utility belt and flew out the tent. The sounds faded in the distance, replaced by the normal sounds of forest nights. She saw Colonel Moran standing outside the command tent with a com device in his hands.​

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"Explain this situation Colonel," she said marching toward him.​

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"One of our US patrols picked up something and I dispatched a small unit to investigate."​

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"And it appears they found it."​

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"And dealt with it, mi'lady."​

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Xhexania looked in the direction from where the sounds originated, stretching out her senses. The Force was far better than any technological devices, including scanners. Feeling nothing out of the ordinary, she picked up the vibrations from the US and those of her troops and smiled. ​

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"Have they reported their findings, Colonel?"​

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"Yes, mi'lady. Bounty hunters. 3 to be exact. Well, to be more exact 3 dead bounty hunters."​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Agrona, along with her small force of five troopers, moved through the forest toward the cave. The outing, in terms of progress, was far more positive compared to the small insects that descended down upon her like bombers; forcing her to swat and bat them away, only to find them returning a few seconds later. To her dissatisfaction, the insects where to tiny to make a meal out of; even if she was able to allow enough to land in her opened palmed hand.​

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She wished now, rather than mocking her sister earlier, that she took the advice more seriously, putting on protective gear. The troops accompanying her were better prepared for the environment, since they wore proper gear needed to walk through the jungle.​

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Even though the troops didn't have to worry about bloodsucking insects, the events and reports that flooded the camp from the previous nights entertainment kept them on edge. The expedition to Endor was kept under a veil of secrecy, and yet the appearances of three bounty hunters did not sit well with their boss. It was rumoured that it was just a coincidence, but nobody in the camp believed it. So cautionary arrangements were put in place. Still, Agrona could sense the troops uneasiness, ready to shoot and kill anything that crossed their paths.​

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"Steady everyone," speaking directly into their minds.​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Agrona stood at the entrance to the cave, with both hands on her hips, feeling the cool breeze wash over her lower half face. The sounds of breaking twigs and ruffling of leaves by the troops had spurned the local wildlife to go into hiding. This saddened her, and with another protest by her stomach it agreed with her. In hindsight, she cursed herself for not bringing enough nourishment with her. In double hindsight, it was best that she didn't, for her sister would have mocked her indefinitely for taking extra supplies of food.​

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"Clear!"​

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The troops returned to the front of the cave after each one called out to notify their section had been swept and was free of hidden dangers, surprises, and mainly those little furry ewoks. Agrona wished there had been a careless ewok about, she was growing desperately hungry; and they haven't even searched the cave yet.​

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"Ma'am, we are ready to venture into the cave."​

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The sithspawn motioned with her hand, sending in the two lead troops into the cave. She entered the cave, taking up the centre while the remaining three walked behind her.​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Something about the arrival of bounty hunters didn't quite settle with her. If they happened to stumble upon her expedition by chance, she could disregard the events from last night; chalking it up to coincidence. However, if they were here either looking for her, or to disrupt this expedition in some way, then that was a problem that needed to be addressed at once. Nobody knew where the expedition was going, for she took great care veiling it in secrecy. So that led to another thought, perhaps they where here looking for the same thing she was.​

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"Colonel Moran," she said entering the command tent.​

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"We may have a situation on our hands, Colonel."​

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"Situation? I was coming to that conclusion myself, Lady Venefica," Colonel Moran said.​

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The Sith Lady and Colonel Moran spend the next ten minutes bouncing ideas and plans off one another. Darth Venefica was proud of her decision to appoint Colonel Moran as the commander of the expedition. He was intelligent, brave, and most of all; quick on his feet. He, like herself, had come to the same conclusions using very little information to work with.​

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"I shall send out a scout team here and here to cover these sections," he said marking the map.​

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"Very good, Colonel. Have Andarta lead this one....and I'll head up the other."​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

The air of the forest moon was growing humid, maybe even dry like the cause of the Jedi that believed in such nonsense. Not all Jedi, according to the necromantic Sith Lady, were wrong or should be chided for their beliefs; just as those that held the unnamed Holy Grail of the Force sacred for misguided reasons. The Jedi, split like a bleeding virgin, only knew one path; and it wasn't the commandments of the tenants they held sacred, but their own self-preservation. Much what a Sith held as fact. The Jedi were not defeated, they were utterly lost.​

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And the Dagobah Sith smiled.​

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Standing tall and proud, one traitorous Sith stared into the wind swept breeze that spun the low foliage of Endor in positions of discarded memories. She was, as the heretic she was born to be, was on the precipice of dropping truth like Cain did Able. She had hoped a Sith, in their hopelessness fantasy, would emerge to chastise the unspoken leader of the Femnazis; bringing the down under Jedi with them. But a girl could dream, right?​

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"Well....it seems that the molestation of the righteous have proven their eagerness to forget me. Good....I'm growing to tired to kill the ignorant anyway."​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

She led her small band of troops to the far eastern quadrant of their mapped out section, where the prize they came to claim was somewhere hiding at. There was something out there, she could feel it through the Force; luring and calling to her. She was wise enough to know it wasn't what she came looking for, but something all together different.​

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"Eyes and ears open," she said to the troops.​

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Whatever was flickering through the Force she could deal with, but the troops where not Force sensitive and against someone that could command the Force they were vulnerable. They were more than adequately trained to hold their ground, but if a Force user and bounty hunters, perhaps even mercs, popped up; they would be forced to deal with whatever threat that came first. And if this potential Force user thought like she did, they would go after the easier prey first.​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Andarta led her troops down a tree infested hillside, dodging low hanging branches and stepping through thorn crested bushes toward the valley below. So far, the only threat they had encountered was the risk of twisting ankles and slips that could cause one to tumble uncontrollably down the hill.​

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"Utter madness," she complained, her voice reverberating through her mask.​

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No sooner did the words trail off than a blaster bolt, followed by several more, shot up from the valley floor. One trooper was killed instantly, and another wounded after catching the shot in her left shoulder. The troops, falling heavily on their training, dropped and ducked behind trees; returning fire to the enemy below.​

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"We have located a brooding nest of fools at my location," she said into her com link whilst igniting her own lightsaber.​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Agrona ducked into the cave, avoiding the tangled silk webs that acted as nets to catch small insects. Reaching up, she plucked one out of the web tossing it into her mouth. The small shell of the insect crunched against her teeth, while the small fluids flowed down her throat. It wasn't enough to curb her ever growing hunger, but it sufficed for now. She was here on assignment and not to walk through a buffet line.​

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The further they walked into the cave, the colder it became. The smell of death fumigated the lone tunnel, while patches of sunlight cascaded down from above through holes in the ceiling. The Force twitched slightly, and at once she felt the presence of something big deeper in the cave. She stopped, causing the both the troops in front and behind her to stop.​

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"We are not alone," her voice brushed against the minds of the troops.​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Darth Venefica led the troops through the forest, remaining on guard the entire time. The presence was growing stronger with every step, but whomever or whatever it was did not mach her in strength. Whatever the cause for the disturbance in the Force posed no real threat to her, but unlike most of those commanders that led troops; she cared about her girls.​

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Two more steps were taken when she heard the voice of Andarta through the universal com links. So her child had discovered a band of fools, and these fools had unleashed an attack against her and her troops. Darth Venefica was just about turn around to go support her Sithspawn daughter when they too came underfire. Whipping around and calling her lightsaber to her hand, she saw a band of mercs moving through the forest laying down continuous fire on their location; whilst her troops bravely returned fire of their own.​

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Through the sounds of blaster exchange, she heard the familiar snap-hiss sound of a lightsaber being activated. So the cause of the disturbance had now chosen to reveal themselves, and for a Sith born from the wombs of war; she ignited her own blade, marching headstrong toward the glowing red blade that danced between the cover of Endor's foliage.​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Andarta's mechanical scream echoed through the forest, piercing the ears of the enemy below. Like a haunting banshee, she charged down the hill leaving cloven hoofprints in the dirt behind her; while she darted left and right avoiding the incoming blaster fire. Follwoing the bravery of their leader, the Sisterhood troops lept from their cover and began charging downhill; firing the entire way. The enemy, now realizing they had stirred a hornet's nest, found themselves partnered into a battle of dancing death.​

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The red blade began wagging back and forth, knocking blaster fire away from her as she closed the gap between herself and the enemy, whom she now recognized as a rag tag band of mercs; led by a rather tall and heavily armoured figure. Pulling a massive vibrosword from behind him, he pointed the weapon toward her and took several steps to his right; a sign he was challenging her to a one on one meeting.​

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From behind her mechanical breathing apparatus, she flashed her opponent a venomous smile. It had been far to long since she killed anyone, and judging by the size of this individual; there would be enough of his flesh to share with her twisted and fellow Dread Sister Argona. The sounds of battle began to filter out as she became fixated on him and him alone.​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Agrona placed one hand each on the shoulder of the troops in front of her, curbing their fear the best she could. She didn't believe in fear, but learned how to manipulate it to serve her. She was the only real monster in this cave, and yet there was another. The owner of scuttle sounds that abruptly began to echo through the cave had decided to challenge her and her troops. ​

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Her tail began to thump the ground behind her as she began to call the Force energy around her, while slipping her hand around her own lightsaber hilt. The troops arrayed around her began to steady their nerves as they moved to raise their weapons. Quickly she glanced around the tunnel, shake her horned head in disgust.​

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"This is not the proper place to fight. To crowed and movement restricted," her voice danced through the troop's minds.​

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Agrona stepped into the lead, moving down the tunnel looking for an opening for them to engage the enemy. To her left she spotted an opening just as a large eight-legged shadow appeared on the wall where the tunnel turned to the right. ​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

The bearer of the red blade stepped out from behind the foliage, allowing Darth Venefica to see him. He twirled his blade once, then unleashed a booming laugh, failing to deliver the desired effect he had hoped for. When the Dagobah Sith made no reply other than moving closer to him, he snarled revealing yellow stained teeth.​

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"Who dares to invade my sanctuary," he asked with a raspy voice.​

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"I go by many names...Dagobah Sith...Swamp Witch...Queen of Madness....Bone Collector. But traditionally....I am Darth Venefica! And I do not recall this being your sanctuary, fool!"​

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"Ah? Darth Venefica? The traitorous Sith."​

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"So you have heard of me....then you know what I intend to do to you for killing my girls."​

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"Meh. Those girls of yours, like yourself, have tainted my hallow ground!"​

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"Then quit your babbling....and come dispense your insignificant justice upon me, fool," she spat.​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Andarta's red blade crashed onto the massive vibrosword, her eyes staring up at the massive man. By her calculations, this abomination stood nearly seven-feet tall, clearly holding the advantage of size between the two combatants. Andarta had been trained more properly by her Mother, Darth Venefica, in the ways of lightsaber combat. Before her transformation, she was already a well versed duelist, but with the knowledge she had learned studying under Darth Venefica; she was a force to be reckoned with.​

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Through her mask, she saw the man's hips shift just enough to allow her to understand he intended to use his size to his advantage. When the armoured monster made to push her back, she quickly broke the weapon's lock and jumped backwards by a few feet; putting some much needed distance between her and him.​

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"Scared to fight me you misshapen hag?"​

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"Nope."​

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The moment the last syllable left her mouth, she lunged forward sweeping her hot blade toward the man's knees. To her surprise, her blade hit the armour and nearly flickered out.​

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"You should be hag!"​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

The giant arachnid reached out with one of it's sharp-pointed limbs plucking up one of the troops, the last one to find sanctuary in the side cavern. The trooper's screams were cut short, alerting the party that their enemy was indeed famished; and one by one they would fill the void inside the arachnid's belly. Unless they found a way to bring it down.​

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Agrona hissed while producing her own weapon, thumbing the activation stud on the side. There were no orders given to her troops, for each one knew and understood what was at stake; their own survival. The troops formed a semi-circle about twenty yards into the side cavern, their blasters trained on the opening. ​

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More scuttle sounds ensued, and the monster emerged into view, and was met with a volley of blaster fire. The shots had no affect on the arachnid's shell, allowing it to enter the cavern with all of it's eyes fixed on it's prey. The creature, however, didn't attack but simply blocked the entrance the best it could; while covering it's more vulnerable parts with it's shell as it lowered itself to the ground.​

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Agrona realized, almost to late, that they had been herded into this cavern by the arachnid, when the cavern began to fill with countless sounds of skittering; from up above. She turned her head upward, seeing the numerous holes begin to fill up with smaller versions of the blockade. ​