In the Marshes [Training Mission] [Republic]

[Rasu Gan]

Extending her Force awareness out in the direction Vexander was pointing, Rasu found nothing that caught her attention, just more swamp. However the Padawan couldn't shake the feeling that something was calling to them. Rasu assumed that it was this calling that had attracted Vex's attention as well, which only made her more determined to head in that direction. Their attacker may have slowed down their progress and allowed other teams to get ahead, but this only strengthened the Shi'ido's resolve. They would be the first to get to this holocron and they would have done it with all the odds against them.

Looking up at Vexander, she said, "You're right Vex. Something seems to be calling to me in the Force from that direction. Looks like as good a place as any to resume the search." Flashing a grin at her human partner, determination flooded through her Force aura as she leaped into the swamp again. Propelling herself forward with Force enhanced kicks, she began to make her way through the cold, sludgy water, towards the growing rock formation that jutted out of the swamp. "Come on Vex we've got some catching up to do." she called to him, hoping he was following her.


@[member="Vexander Graves"]

 

[Vexander Graves]

The girl seemed to be quite eager to catch up, she went ahead and tried to take the lead. Vexander didn't feel bad about that at all... in fact, he would be able to check the rear from any suprise attack from the guy that attempted to get them. Still, he just continued.

In his mind, the young man had a lot of questions, there was little he knew about @[member="Rasu Gan"] or her changeling abilities... and the blue tint that came to his face now and then... he was not sure if he could ask now... as usual, the idea was to remain focused in the task at hand, but he was curious.

"Perhaps in another time..." whispered the man as he went ahead towards the stone formation. His pace steady and quite strong... afterall, everyone walking at a swamp had to be sure where the feet were positioned or you could end up in wrong spots.

Slowly, he walked all the way to the site looking at Rasu's back and extending his sensitivity towards his surroundings with the help of the Force. Ready at anything that could come at them.

@[member="Iella E`ron"]

 

[Tallia Farn]

Tallia slid down the rocky face of the hill and landed lightly on the marshy ground. It was time to finally make an appearance. She began to move at a force enhanced pace, closing the space between her and the padawans in a matter of minutes. A hundred meters away, she drew her vibroblade, gripping it tightly with both hands. Forward through the swamp she moved, drawing right up to where they were. Tallia stood waiting, while sending an unsettling chill through the force.

@[member="Akodya Mune"] @[member="Valx Raizod"]

 

[Cale Gunderson]

@Meta @Sochi Ru @[member="Nala Tu"]

Nala made a mistake, she thought the now hiding Cale Gunderson, who was masquerading as Darth Vader, was dealing with the problems, but funny thing was, that Cale WAS the problem. As the padawans relaxed themselves, he dropped down from his hiding place, blasting them back with the force as he landed before them. A small smirk formed under his hood as he activate his saber. It was a training saber of course, but they didn't know that. "I warned you...now you fall." He said menacingly, assuming starting stance for Djem So. They weren't getting to the holocron any other way than through him.

 

[Rasu Gan]

As the pair got closer to the stone formation, the strange sensation in the Force got stronger. Even without extending her Force awareness, Rasu could feel the object calling to her and she assumed it was the same for her partner Vex. She had realised earlier on that swimming through the marshes probably wasn't the best idea and had decided to follow Vex's actions and walk on the solid, earthy patches that were strewn throughout the swamp. With the Shi'ido still in the lead, the pair began to slow their movements, senses on high alert, as the formation became more visible and different forms could be made out standing atop the rock.

Turning to face her partner, she asked, "What should we do here Vex? There seems to be some beings on that formation but I can't tell if they're natives or another Padawan team." Rasu hoped that Vex would take the lead from here on, as she knew that when it came to strategic thinking her partner was the best of the best. She had learned to trust his decisions in the past and having watched him on many a mission she had complete faith in his judgments.


@[member="Vexander Graves"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen growled as the pain racked his body from the death of one of his pets. Through his training he had been able to lessen the link between them, but it was still there, and it still hurt when one of them died. Still, it would do no good if he were to take the pain inside of himself and fall from his perch. Leaping from tree to tree, Vulpesen closed the distance between himself and the padawans, landing between them and his pets before unleashing a large force push to shove them away. Of course he would hold off from a blade assault due to his inability to kill them, but that didn't mean he couldn't have any fun at all.

Under his silver mask, Vulpesen's eyes glared at the padawans, turned red by the contacts he was wearing, though he doubted they would know that. "This is my home!" His voice was a growl, holding only a faint trace if anything of his old sound. Talking might have been a bit risky, but he was fairly certain that their current state would lead them away from knowing who he was based on a voice they had never heard before. @[member="Tavjurn Phil"] @[member="Miri Shorn"] @[member="Aronis Vilgar"]

 

[Tavjurn Phil]

Team 4
@Miri Shorn @Aronis Vilgar vs: @Vulpesen (2)

The shockwave sent Phil to his knees but he was thankful for the opportunity. The creatures did not advance as their master appeared between them. The Apprentice noticed something else too, their opponent spoke Basic, and was not a Darksider. His Force Signature held no hint of passion or pain. Only skillful weaves. That meant they might be able to talk their way out of this.

Phil stood up with a frown, disengaging his lightsaber, and holding it up for all to see.

"My apologizes Good Master of the Forest. I mean you no harm. Will you accept my surrender? ...Haha. I fear my friends and I have wandering into your home by accident. Will you not speak with us? We will withhold our violence in good company. You have my word."

Phil squinted hard at the masked man. It was the Jedi way to seek a peaceful resolution at every opportunity. Sadly, some men just want to watch the world burn. What would this Wolf Master do now? Would Aronis be willing to play along?

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

@[member="Rasu Gan"]@[member="Vexander Graves"]


Iella stopped eating for the moment, she could sense the arrival of two of the Padawans. She took out the necklace and placed it over her head, this necklace made of shards from the body of the Taozin beast will remove her force signature, make her invisible through the force, however, it does not remove her from physical sight. However, Iella is well hidden up in the tree tops, the view affording her total coverage of the main area of the swamp and the holocron.

The holocron remained in the air on the small islet in the middle of the small lake. Lining the lake are tall trees, shrouded with foliage hanging down around them, a parasite that lives off the main tree. There is a mist snaking up from the waters giving off the dank organic smell, the toxic fumes that will render them to sleep seeping out and around them. If they do not heed this they will be asleep in no time. Iella's attention on them now, she would see no harm come to them but would do as required by her orders. In the water there is a creature stirring, it to can sense them, and is hungry. However, Iella is talented in Animal Friendship and is calming the beast of it hunger, but that is all. If they get to close the beast will rise up to them.

 

[Cortana Jade]

She looked up at her fellow Padawan, his joke had alluded her. She didn't understand, nor did she catch on. Not noticing she had her attention was focused on @[member="Nala Tu"]. she would be done handling the Proxy droid at this moment. As they regroup all together she had gotten a strange feeling. She couldn't quite place her hand on it, but it was maybe her...danger sense. When she turned to face @[member="Meta "]and Nala, the same figure they had all assumed was a ghost had actually been a real adversary. While their guards were down, and before they had time to react they were greeted by the Vader looking adversary. He sent a wave of force energy at them that knocked them all back. While she was already tired from the days problems, she nevertheless forced herself to get back up and face their newest opponent. She activated her lightsaber, and assumed a Soresu opening stance.

@[member="Cale Gunderson"]

 

[Nala Tu]

Nala felt the force push her away as she found the not-so ghost had been revealed. She recovered only to look more annoyed and said "You weren't a ghost?" she growled and said "One thing I hate more than ghost is people picking on me by making pranks about ghosts!" She activated her saber before tucking the holocron in her robes. She stood next to @[member="Sochi Ru"] in the same stance as her. Glancing over and giving a nod she attacked first, jumping over him before trying to attack from behind to give Sochi, and maybe @[member="Meta "], the chance to get him from the other side.

@[member="Cale Gunderson"]

 

[Tathra Khaeus]

Meta was hit in the back by a blast of energy that sent him hard onto the ground, he twisted and fell on his elbow. Preventing damage from being done on a large scale. He was dazed but in control, he turned his head to see Vader, and this time it may have possibly been something other than a proxy droid. However, that would have to wait as Mets slouched as he got up, his Lightsaber heavy in his hands. He groaned from the pain, and ignited the blade. Readying it in the traditional Djem So pose. However he found Sochi was already at her feet. Her determination impressed Meta. He smiled gently under his helm before turning back to his foe. But once again he was beaten to the chase by Nala, who charged the foe. Meta awaited an opening before moving.

@[member="Sochi Ru"]

 

[Vexander Graves]

The young girl, asked for Vex to take the lead in a subtle way, she was expecting him to survey the place since there seemed to be something around the place... but it was hard to tell what was around the formation. Taking the lead and standing close to the place just a meter away from @[member="Rasu Gan"] , the padawan noticed that there was something out there... but nothing that could be seen other than... "A hovering holocron!" said the young man as he looked at the particular figure noticible due to it's hue and poliform shape... and the fact that it was levitating.

Vex took a step closer, but suddenly, he realized something odd... there was a gas, an unusual gas coming out of the waters in the nearby swamp, gas that Vex didn't notice in the place where the swam or in any other part during their travel, it was different. Raising an eyebrow, he pointed at the place "Look there Rasu... that is not normal..." Vex attempted to look for a place away from that water, but it seemed that the best place would be going above the trees "...we better look for another way..." looking back at her with a small smirk, he proceeded "...how good are you at climbing trees?"

@[member="Iella E`ron"]

 

[Aronis Vilgar]

Aronis deactivated his saber, casting a worried and tiresome look towards the man. He would go along with Phil's plan, it was their responsibility after all. However, he would not let his guard down so easily, despite his looks, he was ready to fight for a few more hours. He stood, waiting for the man to respond, saber in hand.

@[member="Tavjurn Phil"] @[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen smiled under his mask. This was truly a jedi who would be honored in the future. A rash person would have engaged him and attempted to cut him down, but this padawan had instead chosen to take the diplomatic route. This was the firsts of his planned tests, and it seemed as though they had passed. "Very well. We shall see where your path takes you, jedi." With those final words, Vulpesen turned back and leaped into the marsh, calling upon the force to draw attention away from himself, allowing the black form to dissapear into the darkness. Vulpesen wasn't done with them yet, but he would wait a while before unleashing his next challenge. Until then, he would direct their course where he desired and he would set his traps carefully.

@[member="Tavjurn Phil"] @[member="Aronis Vilgar"] @[member="Miri Shorn"]

 

[Cale Gunderson]

@[member="Nala Tu"] leapt up and exposed herself to an easy counter strike. Reaching out with the force, he simply tossed her to the side and shot forward towards @Meta. A flurry of cobalt blue slashes were unleashed upon the padawan before him, but in order not to stay in one place, he sidestepped, unleashing another barrage on @[member="Sochi Ru"]. Each blow was Djem So, powerful and aggressive, it was Vader's form, as well as Cale's so he preformed it rather convincingly.

 

[Tavjurn Phil]

Team 4
@Miri Shorn @Aronis Vilgar

Behind his helm, Phil's eyes grew wide in sudden and baffling surprise. The theatrical Wolf Master had just disappeared. Just like that. Wow. Phil lowered his lightsaber slowly and tilted his head toward's Aronis,

"Well. That was something else? ...Huh, I guess. I'll be darned."

He looked back towards the forest and just shook his head with amazement,

"Um. I guess we'll just try to go around? ...Or something?"

He wasn't sure where their opponent's home territory ended or began. If they were trespassing, Phil sure didn't know how. Best to just be thankful for being alive at this point. Yeah. They could take the long way around. Beat's being eaten alive by wolves anyway. Huh.

 

[Cortana Jade]

Her eyes opened wide when their opponent so easily manipulated the force to toss @[member="Nala Tu"] aside. How could even it be possible that they were facing the real Darth Vader. If he did so happen to cheat death, how were the three of them suppose to defeat him. She squinted her eyes, and tightened her grip around her lightsaber when he dashed for them, striking @[member="Meta "]first. He was using a form of lightsaber combat she wasn't yet familiar with. Ferocity, and strength behind all of his attacks. Once their adversary was done with his onslaught of her comrade, he came for her. His first attack she spun around to dodge. She quickly recovered, and engaged him. He blade parrying his own, but his attacks were over powering, and causing her form to become sloppy. He was obviously more powerful than them, nevertheless she trusted her training, and defended herself, speeding up her movements aided by the force, and her montrals, she maneuvered herself behind him. She brought her free hand up for an force attack aimed at his back, due to her already fatigued body she wasn't able to send powerful surges as she usually would. The best this could do was through him off balance, and open him up for an attack by one of her fellow Jedi.

@[member="Cale Gunderson"]

 

[Rasu Gan]

Following Vex's arm, Rasu scanned the general area where the human was pointing, extending her Force awareness in that direction also. The Shi'ido soon spotted what had caught @[member="Vexander Graves"] attention. A holocron, hovering only a meter above the ground, could be seen on a raised area of earth nestled among the marshes, it's soft blue exterior seemed to glow, luring the two Padawan's to it. Using the Force, she began to search the area around the holocron and the small patch of solid ground, to look for any predators or any other unwanted surprises. The sight of the holocron filled her with renewed hope and energy as it showed that the other teams still hadn't found their prize.

Vexander called to Rasu again, this time pointing at the dark water surrounding the marshes and the holocron. The Shi'ido realised that it was some odd looking gas rising from the murky waters that had caught the human's attention. Thinking back, Rasu remembered reading something about some form of noxious gas that the planet's flora gave off, which caused any who inhale the fumes to be forced into a deep slumber, leaving them vulnerable to the worlds predators. The almost transparent mist seemed to only hang around the holocron and the surrounding area, making it difficult to get close to the object.

Turning back to Vex, she took in his suggestion, watching a small smirk appear on his face at the cheeky question. "Oh climbing trees won't be the problem Vex. Avoiding that gas is going to be the main issue." she replied, allowing a small smile to appear on her face. The time for jokes was over, not that she didn't appreciate the man's attempts to calm her. They were so close to their goal now that Rasu didn't want the pair to fail only because they let their guard down due to their little witty remarks.

Looking through the items in her belt pouches, she eventually came across her rebreather. This would at least stop them from inhaling the fumes and let them cross the overhanging trees to the holocron without any risk. Looking back at Vex she said, "We should put on our rebreathers so we don't inhale the gas." Using the Force, she then leaped up onto one of the overhanging branches, placing the small crescent shaped device over her mouth and nose before switching it on, breathing in the artificial, stale air that passed through. Turning to look down at the human, "I'll scout ahead while you put yours on. Watch my back." she said, before beginning to leap from branch to branch, slowly making her way towards the holocron.

Rasu landed only a few metres away from the hovering object. Looking around both with her eyes and her Force awareness, the Shi'ido couldn't detect any hostile beings so slowly approached the holocron, telepathically giving the all clear to Vex. Deciding to not journey any further without her partner, Rasu waited for her human team mate to join her so they may finally take the holocron as their own.


@[member="Iella E`ron"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

@[member="Rasu Gan"] @[member="Vexander Graves"]


Iella was pleased to see they had their re-breathers with them, she did not fancy carrying them out of the swamp and she smiled at the thought. Padawan Gan had got to close to her position and Iella had to take evasion action so she would not be seen by her so she moved quietly behind the main trunk of the tree and out of sight. However, once she had passed and made it to the small islet she seemed to hesitate. Now Iella is on alert as she could sense the creature wanting it's prey. Her mind still focused on the beast, she used the force to calm it's need to kill, but still it would come.

Under the water the creature circled the islet, it's body breaking the surface of the water as it swam around it, the sound of the water splashing over it's body echoed in the misty place only glimpses of it would they see with the naked eye. Then it rose up out of the water, a serpentine, large and black, extending into the air several meters above Rasu, it let out a loud ear piercing scream, blood curdling, even to Iella and she shivered at it. The Serpent was in no mood to be disturbed regardless of is 'lack' of hunger. And it did not care for the strange object issuing light from the middle of the islet. As this creature lives mainly in the darkness of the mirky waters of the swamp, it eye sight is very poor and sensitive to light. And now there is more of it, in the form of lightsabers. It's head turned between Rasu and Vexander standing on the bank deciding which one to strike first.

The light hurt the Serpent but it also give it vision to it's targets. Her pulled back it's body in strike position and lunged toward the main and strongest point of light. The Holocron and in so doing, Rasu.

 

[Aronis Vilgar]

((OOC: Sorry for the late reply.))

The man had just left them alone, just like that. Aronis looked around the area, making sure there were no other threats.

"I guess." He replied, "You can lead, unless you want me to."

@[member="Tavjurn Phil"] @[member="Vulpesen"]