Living Relics

[Vilaz Munin]

​

FELUCIA​

JUNGLES​

​

Felucia was a...mysterious planet. Known to the wide Galaxy, but it was untamed almost like Wayland. One couldn't simply just conquer the planet and expect it to bend its knee. No, it was one of those few planets where one had to live in cohesion with the environment and make a connection with it; otherwise, one would have a nightmare when fighting against its nature. Ranging from deadly predators as the Rancors and Acklays, to its diverse fungi and botanical, and finally its inhabitants that were able to wield the Force.

A triple threat that united against a common enemy that dared to attack the planet's ecosystem and peace.

And Felucia no doubt was going against the flow of things with the Sith Empire occupying it and colonizing it. Some of the local natives agreed to cooperate with the Empire in return for them to be left alone and not harrassed. Other tribes and villages were opposed of this and made conflict with their new foreign arrivals.

From what Vilaz read anyways from reports of the Sith Empire.

Why was the Warlord here? He was contacted by his favorite employer, the Dark Lord of the Sith, to investigate and hunt down a nuisance that was affecting the expansion of Sith-Imperial outposts and establishments. The casualties and other damages was something no longer to be ignored, thus requiring the hand of a professional.

The Munin was accompanied by a unit of trained, Sith-Imperial commandos by courtesy of the Sith Emperor. There was a command center with an already secured perimeter that held a reserve of commanods and regular infantry from the Legion. The Concordian and his troops were a few kilometers from the command center, trekking through the jungles they were in that was also close to an attack of a Sith-Imperial outpost.

Those responsible for those attacks had to be around here somewhere. There was little information on the attackers, but there was theories on who it could be. Some thought it to be Felucians adept in the mystics of the Force, whether light or dark.

Little did they know that what they thought it to be would not be that outcome.

"Anything," the Mandalorian asked to his men, all which replied back with negative answers. Troubled him a bit, this wasn't any ordinary hunt. He could tell that what they were dealing were experts and not fooling around. A challenge that would be interesting and eagering.

[member="Teroch Munin"]​

 

[Teroch Munin]

Deep Jungle, Felucia
Interacting With: [member="Vilaz Munin"]

---

---

---

Awaken, warrior of old.

Long ago, the Taung had been a prominent weaver of Galactic events, bringing death and destruction in the name of Crusade after Crusade. War was at the heart of their people, no purpose greater than the call to arms, no greater sacrifice than falling upon the field of battle. Legends were cast from the ashes of those that fell, tales of great warriors and their deeds of legendary status. They were Mandalorians, their status recast from their bitter defeat at the hands of the Zhell, leading to Coruscant being torn from their hands and the conquering of the planet that would be aptly named Mandalore. During this annal of history, Teroch was once such warrior among the ranks, leading the charge against their foes with a burning hatred that rivaled the volcano that saw to filling the skies of his home planet with ash and fire as Mother Nature herself joined the conflict between human legions and Taung. Teroch fought with his brothers and sisters, bringing glory to the name of not only himself but to those who he called family, their legend carved through the trails of dead left in the wake of their battles and their fallacy unrecognized until it was far too late-- The Taung people pushed to the tip of extinction.

Yet, he remembered nothing. Memories scattered and ripped apart-- He remembered his name and few traces of information but-- The gaps were evident the moment he awoke and took his first glimpse of sight.

He did not remember why he was surrounded in a chamber of ice with nothing but the scant lighting that hung off the walls. Awake at last, it took very little for the Taung to start to resist the incapacitating constriction of the ice that surrounded him. The weakening structure due to the external heat beyond the chamber eating away at the frozen fluid that acted as his cell was the very thing that Teroch required to stage his own release, causing friction within the ice itself, the cracks began to deeper and splinter until-- Salvation. The shackles of ice were broken and the Taung, unknowing of the events leading to this point and disorientated after being kept frozen and preserved for as long as he had, took his first steps into the modern world. Every door that lay before him remained opened and decrepit; giving physical evidence that whatever this prison once was had all since been lost and forgotten. The recovery of his equipment had been rather straightforward, as if fate itself willed it to be found by the lonesome warrior, the reequipping of such took very little time also; within a matter of moments, Teroch was prepared to ascend up the ramps, towards the light.

Freedom.

The warrior basked in the jungle heat and the glistening sun that shone through the flora that surrounded him. He knew not of where to go or what to do but little was to be done by remaining idle. Perhaps the first motivator for action was the sudden grumble of his stomach, the rather aggressive hint that the procurement of food was a necessity and that the rest, hopefully, would fall into place. The living relic took to the jungles with caution, taking to the high ground and maintaining a low profile as he dashed among the plants and more solid flora; his masked vision seeking any sort of life that could be used as a source of survival. Although he remembered not of his past or the events that had led him to this planet of which he knew not of its name, instincts had begun to reboot within his mind, muscle memory starting to reinstall themselves akin to a warming up piston. All it took was identifying, laying in wait and attacking.

A prize would be his, soon enough.

And so it came, not in the form of an animal but rather an outpost, something equal to an extension of civilization out within the jungle. Teroch knew not of the men that were stationed there nor their affiliation but, desperation strikes even at the strongest of hearts. He fell upon them, his strikes well coordinated and done with precision; there was no fight to be had, rather a slaughter. His first contact with what was to be civilization and this was the result but, as the reasoning rushed through his blank mind, nobody was to know or come looking for them. The Taung paid no respect or mind to the attack that he had just committed, instead taking what food and trophies he could before slipping off into the jungle. No direction, no sense of loyalty-- Just an instinct to survive and thrive by becoming the shadow of the jungle.

He had to become equal to a native Predator.

 

[Vilaz Munin]

Not even his scanners installed on his helmet could pick up anything. Interesting and dangerous. Hiding their tracks and other elements that could be used to give them a clue upon closer investigation. The only thing that Vilaz and his crew inspected was the site of the fallen outpost. It was a slaughter, to be honest. Not one single personnel survived as they were all killed in a clean and precise manner.

Something Vilaz admired, viewing it as art.

But something else intrigued him. It was almost like the Imperials didn't put up a fight at all. The ammunition left in their weapons was unused, with a few firing a couple shots before dying and dropping their weapons. The assault was smart and well calculated, no arguing against that. Another thing that caught his attention was the fact the killers responsible for this only killed those operating it, and didn't bother with destroying the entire outpost complex. Taking only food, munitions, and trophies. Some were scalped or received other scorns on their dead bodies.

Strange that the complex was still intact and didn't sustain any significant damage. It could still be recycled; just needed to complement it with other living personnel.

This was no attack from freedom fighters.

No, this was the doings of an intelligent killer that only sought for blood for prideful reasons. That was one plausible theory he could make, but there were still other mysteries to be uncovered.

The Munin and his troops continued their venture in the fauna jungles, closing in on a natural, clean pond. Take a few minutes of rest and discuss what strategy they should perform next.

[member="Teroch Munin"]​

 

[Teroch Munin]

Deep Jungle, Felucia
Interacting With: [member="Vilaz Munin"]

---

---

---

This world is prime for the hunt.

It hadn't been long since the Taung had left the Imperial outpost, leaving a bloody mess in his wake. Teroch now had enough to sustain itself for the time being and, if rationed, over the days and weeks that followed. Yet this wasn't enough, even as the trophies collected swayed as the wind of his movements traveled from tree to tree. Time had not been kind to this warrior, past memories and events had been long since forgotten yet recollection came with each leap and climb through the flora that covered the surface of the planet-- Skills that had once been second nature resurfaced and made themselves known, Teroch's hands and feet began to feel comfortable in certain positions once again, the heavy burden of his equipment easing into familiarity as the hours passed-- It was not everything, much was still blank and the questions were seemingly endless within the Taung's mind but, solid footing and a decent start was preferable to nothing at all; Teroch presumed that it was all to be a case of stepping stones from that point forward.

Yet even with the kills accumulated during his attack on the Imperials, it was not enough. He still craved more, required more to put himself back upon the list of things that this world would come to fear. Primal instincts had since taken over from logical thought and trying to find questions-- Priorities were realigned and twisted; the allegiances he once held were abolished in favor of his own self-image. For all he knew, the cause that he once fought for and the patchy memories that accompanied it was all but abolished. He had been abandoned, left to his own devices upon a planet filled with strange creatures and warriors carrying the flags and insignia of factions that he knew nothing of. Perhaps that was his first bout of misguided clarity, a sense of belonging that was his own cause, a desire to rise to prominence once again, to sit as the king of this planet's food chain-- And an opportunity had just presented itself.

A pack of warriors had been seen trekking through the jungle, wearing armor that seemed... Familiar yet the more Teroch attempted to remember, the fog of amnesia prevented any sense of recollection; not that it particularly mattered at the time. To the invisible hunter in the trees, those beneath him were prey yet more than those Imperials that had been butchered by the Taung's hands. No, these warriors seemed battle-hardened and worthy, each man a capable opponent-- A true test of skill. Teroch moved, with only the rustling and swaying of the trees to notify that something was there, observing them and waiting for the right moment to strike. Perhaps one or another could physically feel themselves being watched.

Patience, warrior of old. Wait for your moment to strike.

 

[Vilaz Munin]

Rustling was heard from the trees and Vilaz turned his attention on them, with his weapon raised. The others did the same, all eyes and ears focusing on the area they stared at. Those sensors installed within his helmet picked up the most delicate noises that was hard to hear with regular, normal human ears. If a pinned dropped within these jungles in a particular range, the Munin's helmet would alert him immediately. The Mandalorian's HUD and other scanners began to scope out the area, picking up a tag on his HUD.

What was it? He didn't know, but it was alone. There weren't other tags around the area, giving Vilaz the conclusion that it was probably just a wild animal.

"Wild animal it seems. Keep it moving, don't waste your time on it," the Warrior ordered to his men, all acknowledging the command and continued their advance.

Was that the right call? The Concordian thought it was based on what was scanned. They were out here to subjugate freedom fighters and other rebellions that didn't bow to the Sith Empire, not hunt game and other creatures. Though if the unknown creature continued to follow them and become a nuisance, then Vilaz wouldn't have a problem in putting it down.

"Are there any villages around here that the Emperor suspects treasonous?" He asked in general to the commandos, didn't mind who answered his question.

"Most of the villages that are neutral or aligned with the Empire are near major establishments that make up our colony here. There have been some reports that hostile natives reside out here, but are just nomads."

Smart of them to do so. They knew the terrain, and were outnumbered and outgunned. Best strategy was to move around every hour on the clock and conduct guerrilla warfare tactics. At least Vilaz would have done that if in such position.

"There should be something to trace them. Can't always make your tracks disappear, but you can make it difficult for others to sniff them out."

He was a former Bounty Hunter and am active hunter, and was very accomplished at both professions.

At the pace they were going and their general direction they would soon encounter a deserted village that was once alive, but were invaded by violence; killing most and leaving the rest to flee wherever to survive.

[member="Teroch Munin"]​

 

[Teroch Munin]

Deep Jungle, Felucia
Interacting With: [member="Vilaz Munin"]

---

---

---

Listen to their words, warrior of old-- The leader of the pack speaks of wisdom.

Stalking his prey and waiting for the right moment, their journey took them to a village that lay in ruins. This one the Taung remembered, a blockage in his path that had to be removed and yet more trophies to add to his collection. Teroch felt no empathy for such lowly creatures that put up resistance but ultimately found themselves slaughtered and their weapons scattered, the remnants of their struggle littering the path of those that the hidden hunter now had his sights upon. It was here that his first strike would come, amidst the settled chaos of a previous skirmish. The armor of those beneath him seemed all too familiar but alas, his clouded vision and tribal thought process still held its grip over the lone hunter-- There was a severe lack of empathy or sense of reluctance when it came to the Taung's approach to confronting this new world and new 'present day'-- Perhaps if he had simply approached and conversed like any amnesiac would, things would make a whole lot more sense but fighting was his lifeblood, something that even when all sense of perception and collection of knowledge was absent, the skill set of a warrior and a hunter took prevalence.

Watching the armor-clad warriors move about the deserted village, the Taung picked his victim and solely focused on him, waiting until he had isolated himself from the rest of his comrades before the cloaked figure descended from the flora and plunged the blade deep into his victim and dragging him back into the forest for his comrades to hear. The bait had been thrown out and pulled back out of sight, hoping to prey upon his targets and their desire to follow the trail to find either their comrade or the entity that had taken him. His target wasn't dead by any means, his screams acting as a sense of audio hint as to where he was being dragged to-- Far into the jungle where eventually, all hints of his status and his location stopped. They had a general direction to be sure and, upon the ground, a physical indication to follow; the trail of blood that led into the foreboding leaves and occasional chirps and cackles of the local wildlife.

Lure them in, warrior of old, then spring your trap.

 

[Vilaz Munin]

They caught sight of the village ahead and proceeded with caution. Scanners and sensors were alive as they tried to pick up any tags or sentient life inhabiting the village. But nothing showed up. They weren't meant with any opposition or warriors tasked with protecting the village. Was this a trap? Perhaps the enemy were adept Force Users and were hiding under a veil with their power?

All plausible answers.

But wait.

They were wrong.​

​

Vilaz and his commandos were all shocked of what they encountered when entering the village, passing by tents and homes showing they were a nomadic people. Blood was splattered across everywhere, organs littered from their belonged bodies. There were noticeable evidence of people fleeing from multiple directions by examining the earth imprinted by their footprints. It all seemed recent too when looking at the footprints and blood that was in the process of drying.

Another massacre it seemed. They put up a fight, but it was amateur in style. Spears laid in shattered splinters, knives broken in two.

But what was more disturbing was that the warriors and other victims were scalped, or degraded by some form as the crusader that conquered them took bits of them as trophies. Just like to the deceased Imperials on the attacked outpost. The Mandalorian thought over this and assumed that there was another player amongst them. Independent on its own, and killed anyone indiscriminately.

"Let's take a few minutes of rest and investigate further here. Try to find anyth-"

SCREAMS​

​

They all heard it and pointed their attention to where it came. One of their own was attacked and was being kidnapped.

"You five with me! The rest stay here and secure a perimeter, contact HQ and report what has happened!"

They rushed to perform their orders. The majority of the squad stayed in put while five Imperial soldiers accompanied the Concordian to track down the the hunter and prey. They ran through the jungle, following the trail of blood leaving by the commando and his agonizing cries. They were delving deeper into the jungle, and a good amount of meters away from the rest. They wouldn't stop until the trail did or finding what they were looking for. Luckily their HUDs were linked, not completely, but enough to track one squad member if lost.

While that was nice and all, the Warlord wished he could get a scan on this hunter and be able to track it from wherever it went.

[member="Teroch Munin"]​

 

[Teroch Munin]

Deep Jungle, Felucia
Interacting With: [member="Vilaz Munin"]

---

---

---

They follow, warrior of old, soon they will fall into your web.

The Taung did not seek a direct confrontation with his prey but unlike those that had fallen before him, Teroch sought to push himself towards the direction of conflict. The memories of stalking and hunting prey had been fully uncovered from the dirt that was the mental blanks of his psyche but combat? That was a matter that he had much to recover. The warrior within his grasp continued to scream and it was clear that it would draw his comrades to his location-- Whilst some would simply silence the screamer by any means necessary, the Taung found creativity within this captive. He, unwillingly, would become the siren's call to his comrades, luring them to the opening that Teroch had selected so that they too would become trophies for the hunter of old to collect. The captive was restrained and hung high into the air by his feet, ensuring that he was incapable of releasing himself and was simply left to dangle and scream-- His agony and terror becoming the bait that would lure his kin into the Taung's trap.

Was this sadism? Perhaps. There was a certain thrill that Teroch feel race throughout his body as he set the trap for those that he had stalked through the jungle. These ones seemed more capable than those that the Taung had stalked prior. The Red and Black armored figures and those that occupied the village alike put up little resistance-- It was a shame, considering that Teroch had found himself outmatched in terms of numbers; perhaps the unknown inhabitants that colonized this world were sloppy? Perhaps the Galaxy as a whole had become sloppy in his absence? It mattered very little, save for the countless questions that the warrior of old had yet questions were not upon the itinerary of this day-- His day of awakening was to be one of a long awaited hunt, to re-establish himself as the apex predator upon this world. Yes, these warriors were the first true test that he faced-- Resilient armor, lethal weaponry, sharp wits... This was to be a fight to be remembered. However, there was a test, a gauntlet that the Taung sought to put the tracking warriors through. All that he waited for is if they would take the bait.

Rescuing their comrade would have implications unknown to them brought to light. Then the real fight would begin.

 

[Vilaz Munin]

They still pursued, not slowing down in their tracks. The kidnapped soldier might be lost, but it was a sacrifice needed to tag this unknown hunter and make it prey. Though there might be a chance of rescuing the fallen commando and hunt down this marauder; however, Vilaz found this all strange to him. Normally one would silence the screams of agony and pain by killing them in whatever fashion they wished to do. In this case the commando still screamed, pleading for help and mercy. This was probably the only time where the Munin came across something like this, and it puzzled his mind.

More puzzled with the fact after following the trail of blood and screams, they came across the attacked soldier hung upside down. A couple of feet in the air, but they had the tools to get him down.

Vilaz, however, stood in his tracks with his arm held out to to signal those behind him to wait. Why capture the soldier and not kill him? See him suffer more, and use that suffering as a source of pleasure? Even the Warlord wasn't that cruel.

"You two, watch your step and get him down. The rest, watch your surroundings. Your sensor and scanners are your friends," the Mandalorian ordered and positioned himself, ready for whatever was to happen next as did the other three commandos. The other two, as ordered, proceeded to rescue the dangling Imperial from the trees taking caution in their steps. A trap? Maybe, but sometimes one had to take risks in order to obtain some form of progress.

[member="Teroch Munin"]​