Faction Old Stomping Grounds (SJC Liberation of Voss)

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Voss-Ka, Tower of Prophecy

The Sith were beaten, but not broken. Losing Voss, Ossus, and a handful more worlds at the hands of the ambitious move of their most hated foe would not be enough to oust them from the region entirely. It would take years, decades, of hard work to undo the effects of Sith rule on just these few worlds they'd wrested from their dark grasp. To liberate an entire corner of known space seemed insurmountable a task, yet it was the way of the Jedi to ever face and fight the evils of the galaxy. The Silver Jedi Order had been doing just that for far longer than any other such group. They were the shield upon which darkness would one day break.

It had long been the aspiration of the order's second grandmaster, during whose tenure they grew into the powerful force for good the Silvers were known as today. But he wasn't the first grandmaster. The one who started it all. By reclaiming the old capital, he hoped it would grant her spirit continued peace in the Force.

Thurion now stood before the gates of the Tower of Prophecy once more, as he had in his younger days, this time with an army at his back. While pockets of Sith resistance still remained throughout the city of Voss-Ka, Rangers were already dispatched to clear the last remnants out. The Jedi Master-turned-High King of Midvinter, meanwhile, had a score to settle with the mystics barricaded inside their tower.

He could sense the foul stench of the Sith like pollution in the air as he gazed up its once-splendid spires.

"Mystics of Voss! This is Jedi Master Thurion Heavenshield speaking! Your defilement of this sacred place shall no longer be tolerated! Your Sith allies are either among the dead, or fleeing the field as we speak! Give yourselves up now or we shall be forced to breach these gates!"

There was an eerie silence following his demand for peaceful surrender. Not a soul presented themselves.

"Show yourselves, cowards..."

He'd hoped to avoid having to use brute force upon such sacred grounds. Still, there was nowhere for them to run as Jedi forces by now had completely encircled the building. Those inside were only prolonging the inevitable. Or perhaps, if Sith cunning was to be taken into account, they were simply waiting to spring a trap.

Thurion would only wait a few more minutes. If they received no word until then, he would be the first to enter.

​

This faction thread is intended as an epilogue to the recent SJC Invasion of Voss. There are several objectives/scenes to partake in:

• The Tower of Prophecy remains locked down, and there are rumours of corrupted darkside-wielding imposters having been installed as the new mystics, imposing the Sith Empire's will on the people of Voss. This sacred place must be restored and its corruption driven out.
• There still remain pockets of Sith resistance on the planet and in the capital, desperately clinging to their last strongholds as their masters abandoned them. Root them out once and for all and restore peace to this world.
• There are always casualties in times of war. Set up field hospitals and aid the wounded as best you can.

or​

• Bring Your Own Objective!

 

[Caden Evesa]

He licked his teeth.

Everything had happened quickly, from the retaking of Mandalore alongside the Mandalorian Union to the battle of Anzat to the fight of Nar Kreeta. It had been a long, stressful few weeks and it wasn't quite over yet. There was still one more task that needed to be completed.

Caden wanted a hot bath, a nap and a hug. He'd survived the crash of a battle cruiser, fought alongside someone who was once and enemy and somewhere in the middle fought the Sith Empire twice and reclaimed the planet of Mandalore with his family.

Honestly, he was pretty certain he'd upset some sort of higher power and ancient being and this was all just punishment for something or other. He was honestly sure the last few weeks was just the force laughing at him as punishment for heading off to be a soldier.

Now he had to serve the Concord once again, this time to drive the Sith influence from Voss.

The speech of the man was hardly to be ignored. It was a man Caden had read about, he'd heard the stories and legends of Thurion Heavenshield and honestly, he was living up to Caden's expectations. He was truly inspirational and Caden was certain he would hold his own in what happened next.

The young Mandalorian adjusted his technology. He made sure his Silver Robes were presentable, ignoring the damage from the last few weeks of war that he would need to patch up. He double checked that both lightsaber and blaster sat on his waist and he ensured his Spymaster and Chronometer sat on his wrists.

Caden fell in besides Thurion.

"This is absolutely a trap. I say we spring the trap"

 

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

Location: The Mind Healer's grove.​

Equipment: Lightsabers, Cosaint Bracers, Covert Jedi Robes, standard equipment (Bio)​

Objective: Root the Imperials out and cleanse this place.
Tags: Cadere Yenna Mi'la Undari

Several harsh voices echoed through the caverns as the officers barked their orders. Flashes of red began to illuminate the previously dark cave when the soldiers heeded their orders and opened fire on the intruders. The scents of sweat, blood and burnt flesh lingered in the Mind healer's grove; and with good reason. The grove was a bulwark of the remaining Imperial forces, one that was about to be cleared.

The volleys of blasterfire ricocheted off the impassible barriers of white, green, yellow and blue as the Jedi advanced. This was their third attempt to reach the deeper levels of the grove, and the third time their efforts would be thwarted by a thermal detonator.

While the blast never reached them thanks to a well-timed shield erected by the Sephi Jedi Master, the passageway to the deeper levels collapsed due to the explosion.

"They sure are adamant about being left alone." The Sephi remarked telepathically as she lowered her blade, knowing that there was no use in trying to force their way through. "We should try another pathway." She continued. The cave was of spiritual importance to the Voss and the sooner they could recover the place, the better.

"How's everyone holding up? Did no one get hurt in the last skirmish?" She really was remarkably chatty today.

​

 

[Mi'la Undari]

Location: The Mind Healer's grove.
Equipment: Lightsabers, rest in (Bio).
Objective: Root the Imperials out and cleanse this place.
Tags: Cadere Yenna Sakadi Marathi Sinvala

Yet another close call for the resilient Twi'lek. As Mi'la had braced for the incoming fight to blow her away with the rest of her companions, she found Sakadi had stopped the assault with a well timed shield. Taking in a sigh of relief, the padawan collected herself, steadying her breathing as the fight had taken much out of her. Without the force, she was little more than a skilled grunt, but fighting alongside the others she...almost felt capable, as if she never needed the force to begin with. Sakadi's words reached her mind, as she looked to the rest of their group, the glow of their sabers piercing the dust and shadows that had been kicked up around them.

It was nice to fight alongside friends. "I'm okay master, just a bit shaken up." She awnsered, flexing her arm to ensure that no debris had damaged her arm, her mechanical Lekku flinched, indicating that all was well; which was welcome after that disaster of a fight on Onderon. Shutting off her sabers, her Lekku flipped over her shoulder, the metal casing rolled back as a small medical kit tumbled into her hands. "I got first aid on me, Cas, Yen, you guys alright?" She inquired, looking to the rest of the pair with a bit of concern. it wasn't easy feeling like dead weight in the group, but they never made her feel that way.

 

[Cadere]

Location: The Mind Healer's grove.​

Equipment: x1 Lightsaber, x2 Stimpacks, Communicator, Standard Attire​

Objective: Root the Imperials out and cleanse this place.
Tags: Sakadi Marathi Sinvala | Yenna | Mi'la Undari

Cas hadn't left Voss since the battle had ended, his injuries sustained by Insatious and his soldiers were still fresh and although they had been treated by the medics - he still felt sore and not 100% as of yet. Unfortunately, the Knight wasn't at his best for this particular mission. Still, he wouldn't let that effect his mood, for he was pleased that it was all worth something in the end and that he was able to see his friends again.

Although his good mood couldn't be swayed, he was growing annoyed at the stubbornness of these karkin' Imperials - they lost. Go home. Besides, after seeing them at ever turn on Voss-Ka during the initial battle he was sick of the sight of them at this point.

Sakadi's suggestion made him frown, he would have much preferred to plough his way through the enemy but he wasn't at full strength to even try at the moment. Cas hissed as he stretched, muscles sore and tight as his arms extended "I'm good - back's flaring up but I'm good. Ugh." he said, referring to Sakadi and Mi'la's question. Extinguishing his lightsaber, Cas glanced at his friends with a smile "Good to see you guys, feels like I haven't seen any of you in a while. How've y'all been?" he asked.

 

[Yenna]

Location: The Mind Healer's grove.
Equipment: In bio
Objective: Gremlin see, gremlin do
Tags: Sakadi Marathi Sinvala | Cadere | Mi'la Undari

When Yenna received word that she had to help out her Master and a few other people on Voss, she wasn't expecting this at all. She thought the fighting was over. She expected some medical assistance, maybe a bit of moving things around to find missing soldiers. She wasn't expecting to be in the front lines of an attack on a Sith holdout in a cave system.

Her twin green lightsabers were a flurry of movements as she hopped and ducked around, relying on her newly studied Soresu form. She had taken Cas' lesson to heart and had worked hard on learning the other forms as well. After all, a Jedi had to be knowledgeable in all six forms. She still preferred Master Yoda's variant of Ataru, but for situations like this, a more defensive and efficient form was a lot better. As she deflected back another bolt hurled her way, she stole a glance at her friends. She was always happy to meet Master Sakadi again and she hadn't seen Cas since the fighting started... but the twi'lek was a new face to her. Aside from dropping her nickname upon arrival, she hadn't been able to exchange words with the woman, but she was definitely going to learn a bit more about her after this whole mess.

She was yanked back to the situation at hand when another bolt flew past her. She focused on the Sith's attack once more, sending the bolts flying back one after the other. Though she really didn't want to do this. She didn't want to hurt anyone, even if they were enemies. Her deflected shots would likely not even hit their marks as it were. It made her uncomfortable to see how calm the others were in this situation. How could they be used to this?

A thermal detonator was thrown their way but Master Sakadi's shield stopped the explosion from having any effect on them. Yenna merely covered her eyes as the explosion went off, thankful that the explosion seemed to have forced everyone to catch a breather. Her lightsabers were extinguished and clipped to her belt as she turned to look at the rest of the group. A big grin adorned her dust-covered face as she leapt through the air and wrapped her arms and legs around Cas' torso in a tight and affectionate hug. Dropping down, she looked up to him with her unwavering smile. "Better, could be. Missed you quite a bit, I have." she admitted. She turned and looked at the other two. "Master Sakadi, to see you again, I'm happy... though, with you, not familiar I am." she admitted as she turned to approach the twi'lek. She held a tiny hand out for her to shake as she smiled up at her. "Yenna, my name is. Who might you be?" she introduced herself politely and properly.

With formal introductions out of the way, she pulled her flask out and took a tender sip, savouring the taste before swallowing. The fighting did a good job of taking her mind off her current issue... but now that things calmed down, her urges were returning.

 

[Andromeda Malvern]

L O C A T I O N | Voss, The Spire​

O B J E C T I V E | The Tower of Prophecy​

W E A R I N G | [X]​

T A G S | Varn Barakis ​

​

Andromeda had not been a part of the Silver Concord when Voss was attacked, but she had heard her fair share of stories across the mess hall table. Never directly aimed at her, of course, but they spoke loud enough for her to form a general picture of the incident.

Truth be told, she was not quite sure what she was doing here. She had no official training. If she were to be attacked that would likely be the end of her. Yet, for some reason, she found herself strangely obligated to offer her services, even if her services were almost useless to the masters and knights that surrounded her. She would have been more useful in the makeshift hospitals, or perhaps simply trying to aid in cleaning up the mess the fight had left behind, but no. She was here.

“Mystics of Voss!” Someone shouted in the distance, though Andromeda could not tie the voice to hazy outline of a face. She was far more preoccupied with the ever-encroaching feeling of dread that seemed to be creeping across the plain, hunting down whatever it could take hold of with tendrils of ebony darkness. Andromeda knew evil, she had been raised by it, but she had never experienced an evil like this. This dominating and malicious feeling that encapsulated the atmosphere and swallowed what slim rays of sun managed to break through the cloud overhead.

The centre of her palms pricked with sweat, she could feel the opalescent water beading over her skin. “…cowards.” The gruff voice spoke further, and Andromeda could not help but wince. Was it wise to anger a darkness like this? Was it wise to aggravate it to the point where it posed an even greater threat? Andromeda did not know. She could hear her heart beating wildly in her ears, hear the rush of blood as it drained from her face.

Perhaps she did not belong here, perhaps she had been foolish to assume she could be useful. Right now Andromeda could only envision herself as more of a hinderance then a help.​

 

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

Location: The Mind Healer's grove.​

Equipment: Lightsabers, Cosaint Bracers, Covert Jedi Robes, standard equipment (Bio)​

Objective: Root the Imperials out and cleanse this place.
Tags: Cadere Yenna Mi'la Undari

Despite having been the one to start the conversation, the Sephi remained absent from it for its entire duration. Her eyes were glassy, her breathing superficial and her expression almost seemed frozen. The only hints of life coming from the Sephi were the occasional twitching of her ears, and her blazing presence in the Force.

It was at moments like these, where she could fully exercise her power over the Force. While layers of rock separated them from the Imperial troopers, the Jedi Master saw and heard everything on the other side. The minds of the weak-willed were open doors to her. Doors she preferred to keep closed out of respect, but did not mind opening if their owners pointed blasters at her.

"There's another way down to our east." She finally remarked as she awakened from her trance. "What remains of their platoon will be meeting us there." The Jedi Master was completely unaware of the ongoing conversation, and did not even bother to read the room. As usual. "Apparently they're ready for us this time. I wish I knew more, but there's a handful of corrupted mystics blocking me out." The Sephi could handle them one on one, but the combined strength of the mystics was too much to deal with. Although it was only fair. They protected their side from mental assaults, and she would guard the minds of her peers. That way, victory would have to be obtained through prowess. And that was where they had an advantage.​

 

[Varn Barakis]

Location: Voss-Ka, The Tower of Prophecy
Tags: Andromeda Malvern Thurion Heavenshield Caden Evesa
​

Stood before the Tower of Prophecy, Varn couldn't help but wonder as to what was taking so long. One among many, the Jedi Knight waited and watched as Grandmaster Thurion called for the enemy's surrender, his voice a distant rumbling bass. A waste of words, Varn thought, though, he could not fault the man for trying. The mystics' surrender would speed up the process of liberating Voss, and, in doing so, spare countless lives. Lives, Varn knew, that might be spent in the assault to come.​

And surely it was coming.​

Varn saw no other way for this to end but in blood and death. The mystics would surely see to that.​

Stretching out his injured leg, the Knight let out a slow, shallow breath. Around him, the army stirred, his brothers and sisters somewhat hopeful that the day would not end in violence. A wan hope, Varn did his best to share it. Yet, the gates did not open. The Grandmaster's offer of mercy remained, as of yet, unanswered. A shame, the Zabrak thought, glancing to his right-- to the Padawan stood there. This was shaping up to be the youngster's first real experience of combat.​

The Jedi knew she was ill-prepared.​

Reaching out, Varn placed a reassuring hand on Andromeda Malvern's shoulder, his eyes seeking her own. Though she could not see him, he saw her clearly. He sensed the presence of fear and doubt in her mind; he saw in the set of her jaw the repulsion she felt. Indeed, the Tower itself seemed to be exuding a certain... corruption, as if the stonework itself was somehow tainted. The Sith's doing, he realized. "Do not be afraid," he said, turning his attention to his padawan. "We are with you, and you are with us. There is nothing you need fear." After a moment, he retracted his hand, returning it to the folds of his roughspun cloak.​

Sometimes words were necessary. Sometimes not. He wandered whether they were necessary now; he hoped Andromeda would be able to draw strength from them, prayed he would be able to see her through what was to come unscathed.​

Only time would tell.​

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Tower of Prophecy

While waiting for a reply from the mystics or their servants, a young man appeared by his side.

"This is absolutely a trap. I say we spring the trap."

The veteran Jedi turned to him, fingers idly drumming the pommel of his sword. "Patience, young padawan," he urged sagely, smirking at the youthful energy. "There are few users of the Force more powerful than a Voss Mystic. Their understanding of it differs from that of the Jedi or the Sith. They devote themselves entirely to interpreting its meanings, and are even able to summon visions of what the future holds."

His fingers now gripped tightly around the pommel of his sheathed sword. "What's more, I can sense the corruption of the Sith from here. These are not true mystics, but merely puppet rulers of the Emperor. It's time we end their reign."

All throughout speaking to Caden, the Force had been building up inside Thurion. With a gentle hand on his shoulder he urged the young man aside and took a wide stance, feet planted firmly on the ground. His hands moved about in a deliberate manner, until finally his arms thrust forward with palms facing the massive gates, and from his being came an immensely powerful Force Push to send the large doors crashing through the entrance hall.

Once the dust had settled, he turned to the padawan once more.

"What say we go spring that trap now," he calmly gestured towards the breached entrance.

Before they did just that, Thurion addressed the commanders of his army.

"Only myself and the other Jedi will venture inside. This particular victory cannot be achieved by strength of arms alone. Maintain the lockdown, do not let anyone past." The Valkyri commanders inside their power suits saluted their King, obeying his command.

Looking out across the crowd gathered, many of whom were hopeful Voss citizens coming out of hiding, wishing to see their world restored and the Sith puppets held accountable for their crimes. He drew his sword and pointed to the entrance.

"Silvers, with me!"

Leading the way into the Tower of Prophecy, the Jedi entered the most sacred grounds of Voss culture. Any followers of the mystics would defend them to the last man. For now, though, it would seem they would need to find them first.

"Everyone, be on your guard," he addressed the Jedi accompanying him. "They will most likely attempt to use mind tricks on us. If you encounter hostiles, disarm and take them into custody if possible."

Caden Evesa | Varn Barakis | Andromeda Malvern ​

 

[Andromeda Malvern]

L O C A T I O N | Voss, The Spire​

O B J E C T I V E | The Tower of Prophecy​

W E A R I N G | [X]​

T A G S | Varn Barakis - Thurion Heavenshield - Caden Evesa ​

​

“…puppet rulers of the Emperor.” The voice came again, responding to the suggestion that they set the trap off. Andromeda found the picture very amusing, despite the tension that was rising across the field.

Puppets.

She pictured long, thin, nigh invisible strings stretching from every crack in the tower up toward the sky. Where some unknown entity pulled and tugged them, making the darkness inside dance and sway to an erratic rhythm. Who controlled them, she wondered? What kind of man was this puppeteer? Andromeda did not need confirmation to know that it was likely someone the Jedi wished long gone from Voss, and that is why they were here. To rid the planet of the evil that was attempting to spread across the world like a plague, taking everything and everyone in its path.

In some strange way, it seemed to Andromeda as though the Jedi were a cure to this plague. The one thing that could stop it dead in its tracks. The one thing that could prevent millions of lives from sinking into shadow. A shudder ran down the length of Andromeda’s spine. It was cold here, despite the sun's attempts to warm the earth underfoot. She shifted from one foot to the other, to coax her blood down to her extremities where it would hopefully bring warmth.

The more the Master spoke to the mystics, the more the feeling of terror and dread seemed to grow, as though it was reacting to the threats he made. The young Diathim was just about to make the decision to turn around, to go back to the Silver Rest where she would be safe, and where the Masters could safely deal with the problem without having to worry about a barely trained padawan. She was just about to coerce her feet into moving when a hand was placed on her shoulder.

It was like a blazing light in the darkness. It was like the sun finally peeking over the horizon after a long and terrible night. It was like a rock in the center of a stormy sea.

Andromeda turned her head to find the owner of the hand and was faced with the shadowy outline of a Zabrak. Not too long ago, Andromeda would not have been able to recognize him as anything at all, but her time in the Silvers had taught her of many races. Now the bone-like structures protruding from his head were familiar, even if she did not necessarily know the man himself. Andromeda smiled as best she could, though it did not quite match her obvious hesitation at the situation.

The Zabrak’s words were calming. He was right. She did not need to be afraid. “I..” She began, although the words seemed to stick in her throat. Andromeda took a deep breath and tried again. “I’m not quite sure what I’m doing here.” She admitted sheepishly. Despite his soothing statement, Andromeda could not help but wonder if he would be upset with her for coming on the mission in the first place if she had known she would be of little use. Yet, before the words could sink in and take hold, the master up ahead called for attention.

“Silvers, with me!” His voice rumbled through Andromeda’s ears, and she did her best to swallow the lump in her throat. Without realizing it, and without any real thought to it, she stepped closer to the Zabrak’s side. Whether he had intended to or not, he had given Andromeda courage enough to tag along. She did not expect him to defend her or protect her should they be attacked, but in some way, he was the root of her bravery.

She thought it best to stay close.​

 

[Mathieu Brion]

Location: Tower of Prophecy, Voss-Ka, Voss
Tags: Caden Evesa | Andromeda Malvern | Varn Barakis | Thurion Heavenshield

The transport was growing smaller in the distance. Mathieu was running towards the Tower which he had fought so hard to capture when the battle still raged on at full. They were going to complete what Captain Beltran Rarr and his rangers as well as Mathieu had set out to do earlier. As he neared the structure, the structural damages that the enormous explosion had left were clear - it was not even centred at the Tower nor the courtyard leading up to its entrance, but it was still so clear to see.

Just as he arrived by the gates to the courtyard, still carrying the marks of having being melted down by his lightsabre to create an opening, the Padawan saw how the Jedi Master in charge blew down the main entrance to the towers with tremendous force. Things had changed dramatically since he was there last - for the plan had initially been for the company of Rangers to take the tower - but now, only Jedi were to enter. And while Beltran and his team had been reluctant to use explosives to breach doors, they were now blowing them down. Perhaps the battle had caused more damage than it had first appeared - perhaps wounds of the flesh were not the only damages which had been inflicted upon them. It was disheartening to see.

Continuing his sprint, Mathieu closed the distance to the other Jedi. He had felt a familiar presence throughout and while he did not recognise his friend immediately, he soon found himself in a position where he simply had to ask "Caden?"

The timing could not have been worse, for the order to accompany the Master had been given and most were already on the move. But to Mathieu, it did not matter - his friend was back and they had not been in touch ever since Caden disappeared so long ago "You're alive?" The large Morellian let out a laugh as he felt safe in knowing that it was his old friend. He would have give the guy a hug - but even with how happy he was, he still had to respect the situation they were in. Instead he put an arm on his friend's shoulder "It's good to see you again"

He was happy - for he had now reunited with someone whom he feared was lost to him forever. And from the looks of it, they would be working together again - and that was good news for the future. Captain Beltran had taken them so far - leading the Concord charge to retake the Tower and he had brought them right up to its gates. Mathieu had been with him then, doing the work that would lead them to where they now stood. And he would continue the efforts by aiding as the Jedi now stepped in to do the last part.

 

[Varn Barakis]

Location: Tower of Prophecy
Tags: Andromeda Malvern Thurion Heavenshield Caden Evesa Mathieu Brion

The almighty crash as the gates caved in echoed out across the gathered Jedi like a roiling thunderclap. For a time, all the Zabrak could hear was the aftermath of those mighty doors being felled. As the din settled, however, his hearing began to return to him, just in time to hear the Grandmaster's bellowed order. ​

"Silvers, with me!" ​

Regaining his senses, Varn did just as he was told, pushing through the milling crowd to join his fellow knights and masters as they piled in through the collapsed gates a half-dozen steps behind their leader. He did not check to see if his padawan was following.​

He knew full well she was.​

The Tower's entrance hall proved to be a wide, cavernous room, with high windows and banner-crested pillars. Through a veil of settling dust, Varn could just about make out the far corners of the room, noting how the shadows there seemed to move and shift of their own accord. In the center of the room rose a grand staircase, one that branched off midway to left and right, ending when they reached the upper level. On the ground floor, numerous hallways and darkened doorways led to side rooms and other wings of the tower; entrances to a maze Varn had no idea how to navigate.​

Danger waited for them there, he knew. Ever-present yet always lurking just out of sight, a faceless predator in a strange place.​

Varn cast a glance at Andromeda as his fellows spread out around him, her last words already fading away to recent history. Unsure what you're doing here? That makes two of us. "Understanding will come, in time. For now, be our ears." He told his young apprentice, scanning the room once more. "I will be your eyes, and the blade at your side, should it come to that."​

 

[Caden Evesa]

He looked at Thurion slowly.

The older Jedi Master spoke of patience, spoke of the power that the Voss Mystics held. Caden couldn't say he wasn't happy to have the rundown, he didn't know much of the Voss Mystics with the exception of their existence. He hadn't studied them unlike some of the Jedi he had come across.

Corruption was obvious, Caden could sense it even before the Jedi Master confirmed it. The Sith had corrupted the force sect and replaced them with puppets, puppets that were devoted to serve the Sith Emperor, the one he had seen in the visions all those years ago.

When Thurion let forth the force push that would grant the Jedi access to the tower, Caden couldn't help but step back slightly. He had assumed they would be attempting to take the tower and capture of Mystics without too much violence or damage.

Thurion confirmed his intention to spring the trap, and the young man couldn't help but smile. He couldn't help but let out the grin of excitement, excitement at the task at hard. He had trained since he was a child in the ways of the force, and he couldn't help but wonder what mysteries the tower held.

"This is where the fun begins"

Caden looked towards Thurion who had turned to deliver orders to the commanders who served under him. The elderly Jedi Master was proving to be more and more impressive the more time that the younger man spent in his presence. He was truly living up to his status of legend.

Then he heard his name.

It was a voice he hadn't heard in years, a voice he hadn't wanted to hear in years. It was a voice of someone who had no right to forgive him, especially after he had almost gotten the Morellian killed. Yet there was no malice in the name spoken.

Tensing, he felt the hand of the big man come down on his shoulder. He hadn't expected to see Mathieu, especially not involved in the reclaiming of the Tower of Prophecy. He had hoped to save the make up and reunion until after the fighting and the chaos.

"It's been a while Mathieu, and while I'd love to chat we have a job to complete. Shall we?"

There was no emotion in his voice, for he hadn't forgiven himself for the pain he had caused the man. He hadn't forgiven himself for the fact he had nearly gotten the bigger man killed. Maybe eventually they'd talk through their differences, but this wasn't the time.

Thurion Heavenshield gave the order, and Caden moved.

Varn Barakis | Andromeda Malvern | Thurion Heavenshield | Mathieu Brion

 

[Mi'la Undari]

Location: The Mind Healer's grove.
Equipment: Lightsabers, rest in (Bio).
Objective: Root the Imperials out and cleanse this place.
Tags: Cadere Yenna Sakadi Marathi Sinvala

It seemed everyone was alright and intact, which for the Twi'lek was good to hear. Stowing the medkit back inside her cybernetic Lekku, she looked to Sakadi as the master began to advise on the the situation. They still had an enemy out there looking for them, and it was up to the four of them to drive the Sith remnants out of their position. Mi'la looked to the caved in wall, scowling at the fact they were now blocked in. Thankfully, Sakadi's abilities in mind reading came into play, as her master was able to share information on what their enemies were planning. The talkiness of her master was a bit unusual, but if Mi'la had to guess, Sakadi had felt a bit of responsibility for Mi'la's current state. No doubt the Selphi bore the guilt of her padawans failing.

Unfortunately, Mi'la was without the foresight of her peers, something that seemed to keep coming up. With the information presented, Mi'la turned to address Cas and Yenna, though she wasn't exactly honest about how her journey had been as of late. "Well, could be worse, but it's gotten a tad easier to be...normal." She said, retrieving her sabers as she was fairly certain Sakadi was going to order them onward. Yenna's response struck Mi'la with a bout of confusion, until she realized that the two had never actually met. "Oh, I'm Mi'la. Sorry, I though Cas had mentioned me to you earlier." She responded, though she had to stop herselr from claiming to be Sakadi's padawan. The Twi'lek wasn't exactly a jedi anymore, so why should Yenna be aware of her? Truthfully, Mi'la was little more than a privateer with a pair of lightsabers now, and she just had to get used to that. Her smile faded, as she motioned the trio towards the tunnel behind her, and would fall to the back once they were underway.

 

[Cadere]

Location: The Mind Healer's grove.
Equipment: x1 Lightsaber, x2 Stimpacks, Communicator, Standard Attire
Objective: Root the Imperials out and cleanse this place.

Tags: Sakadi Marathi Sinvala | Yenna | Mi'la Undari

Noticing the grin on his Padawan's face, he knew what was coming but welcomed it with a smile. As she pounced on him, squeezing him in a hug which sent a numb pain across his body, Cas let out a pained hiss before subsequently returning the hug "Owowowowow! Okay, maybe this was a bad idea in hindsight." he said with a weak chuckle before letting her down. Yenna admitted she missed him too and the injured Jedi smiled at her again "Well, we're together now." he reassured her. Moving on to Mi'la "You'll get there, I know you will." Cas promised, following it up with a nod - the Twi'lek had been through a lot these passed months, more than anyone should and he wasn't without sympathy for her. But she was strong, she trained under Sakadi after all. He was certain she'd bounce back.

As Yenna and Mi'la got acquainted, Cas turned over to his former Master and watched her curiously as she seemed unusually talkative a few moments ago only to go silent again - relatively speaking. The Kiffar prepared to establish a mental link between them but she quickly conveyed her own thoughts to everyone before he could do so, revealing there was another way passed the collapsed rubble in front of them as well as the fact that the platoon would be waiting for them. It was obvious the Sephi was completely unaware of the conversation that had transpired, it made him snicker, it was classic her. Noticing Yenna's flask, he shook his head at her "I thought you were quitting." he said sternly with a frown.

Once the group made their way around to the east side of the cave, Cas used his lightsaber as a light source to see his way through this blasted cave. As they trekked through, Cas would project his thoughts to Sakadi for only her to hear "You alright, Master? I know your social skills have always been lacking, but... is something bothering you?" the Kiffar asked, worried for her wellbeing.

 

[Yenna]

Location: The Mind Healer's grove.
Equipment: In bio
Objective: Gremlin see, gremlin do
Tags: Sakadi Marathi Sinvala | Cadere | Mi'la Undari

Yenna grinned warmly at Mi'la, giving a light shake of her head. "No he didn't. But worry, do not. For you, get him back, I will." she quipped before falling in beside Cas. Though as she took a sip of her flask, she glanced at Cas as he made his comment. She glanced at the flask then back to him, giving him a guilty look. "Part of my last bottle, this is... and, for the day, my only ration as well." she admitted softly, avoiding eye contact. "To stretch it out, I am trying. What is coming, I know. Get used to not having any, I am trying to." she continued as she walked beside him. He was definitely right. She said she would quit and the right thing to do would probably be to empty her last bottle down the drain. But she wasn't looking forward to when it runs out. To make matters worse, she knew that he still had that last bottle of her Tihaar. She hoped he hid it deep because she knew herself well enough to predict that she was going to look for it down the line...

As they ventured deeper, her pace quickly let her drop to the back of the group. She glanced up at Mi'la and jumped up, gracefully and gently landing on her shoulders. "Hitch a ride, mind if I?" she asked with a smile as she stood on her shoulders. Luckily her weight was pretty much nonexistent, even for people with smaller stature.

Despite her relaxed appearance, she was keeping on high alert. She was curious, though, as to why Cas seemed to be rather wound tight over Sakadi. Was something bothering them? A smile crept onto her lips as she tapped Mi'la's head to get her attention. "Watch this." she quipped as she focused the force on Cas. Or more accurately, his dreadlocks. She gave a light push against his hair to droop a few strands over his eyes. A mischievous snicker escaped her as she crouched down to hide behind Mi'la. Though, glancing down, an idea came to her. Once again with a fine use of the Force she drew a pistol from her holster and brought it into her hand... a rather big mistake. The hefty pistol nearly caused her to tumble off her shoulder but luckily she managed to recover quickly. "Um... wasn't me." she muttered with a guilty smile as she held the pistol out to her with both hands.

Coming along with this was probably a big mistake...

 

[Prisoner 132]

Tower of Prophecy
Cell 21b
Thurion Heavenshield ​

Darkness. That was all the cell was. Darkness and the sound of dripping water. The undergrounds of the tower were damp and stale. A single window at the top of the wall imparted the only bit of light for the girl inside.

Chaos reigned beyond the window, the distant sounds of bodies and life louder today than yesterday. Louder yesterday than the day before. Time passed unmarked, the meals no longer coming. She sensed it. The Change. She sat unphased, her back pressed into the corner. She listened. She waited. Whatever came for her next, she would be ready.

She would always be ready.

They broke her into being ready.

She tucked her head into her knees and waited some more.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Tower of Prophecy
Entrance Hall -> Dungeons

Once the team of Jedi was assembled, the small party ventured inside with the former Grandmaster leading the way. There were no bodies, living or dead, as far the naked eye could tell. No, those brave enough to speak against the puppet mystics had likely been discarded a long time ago, leaving only the most devout followers to protect their masters from harm.

Turning to the group, Thurion sheathed his sword as there were no discernable threats that required its use for the time being.

"We'll search the entire tower floor by floor, room by room if we have to--"

His head turned to look over his shoulder, peering into the seemingly empty space behind him. He sensed a presence, someplace deep and dark. Someone in desperate need.

"Find a partner, and stick by them at all times as you begin your search. We'll meet up by the stairway and proceed to the second floor as a group. I am needed in the dungeons. Knight Bakarn, you hold senior rank. I trust you to look after these padawans until my return."

In the case some of them chose to follow him, he would not stop them.

"May the Force be with you."

As the party fanned out to search the ground floor, Thurion proceeded to follow the path shown to him by the Force. That presence he'd sensed only grew stronger with each step he took, ripping open a locked door with his superior physical strength to find a staircase leading down.

This time he pulled out his lightsaber, letting its azure hue banish the suffocating darkness otherwise prevalent as he descended into what he could only presume to be the dungeons. These would not have existed before the Sith took over; it was likely where their puppet rulers threw loyal supporters of the true mystics.

Slowly he turned a corner as cell numbers went from 11-20 to 21-30. It was then that he came upon the lone presence that the Force had summoned him to. Adamant that he had reached the right cell, he wasted no time in brandishing his lightsaber and with one large slice he cut the heavy steel door from its hinges, sending it falling to the ground with a deafening crash.

Stepping inside the cell marked "21b", the light from his Jedi weapon revealed the form of a small girl. Whether she was actually small or merely malnourished was impossible to tell so soon. A medical examination was in order once they'd cleared the Tower of its occupants.

Keeping his lightsaber away from her, he knelt down and extended his left hand.

"Take my hand, child. I won't hurt you. No-one will hurt you ever again."

Prisoner 132 | Caden Evesa | Varn Barakis | Mathieu Brion | Andromeda Malvern ​

 

[Caden Evesa]

Caden kept his eyes off of Mathieu Brion .

He couldn't even look at the big man, he felt too guilty after everything that he had done. He was glad that the man didn't try and continue the conversation once he turned his attention back to Thurion. Whatever they needed to talk about, it wasn't the time and Caden was too awkward to even think about having that conversation.

Thurion made it extremely clear that if they had to, they would go room by room and floor by floor. It almost made Caden realize how big the task at hand was. He had expected an easy in and out mission, he was starting to realize that it wouldn't be the case.

Without even thinking about it, he chose his partner as Thurion. He wasn't sure if Thurion was aware, he honestly just sort of hitched along with the older Jedi Master. He didn't even intend to follow Thurion, it just kind of happened. He just sort of went where he felt comfortable.

Following along, Thurion guided him into the dungeons. There was a presence in the force, though it was unclear at the moment if Thurion was sensing it as well. Caden assumed he was, he assumed the older man's senses were much more attuned than his own.

Both men drew their lightsabers, using them purely for light. The yellow plasma of Caden's lightsaber lit the area around him, clashing with the blue of Thurion's own blade. It was actually a fairly nice matching of colors that surprisingly worked pretty well together.

The older Jedi ventured deeper into the dungeons while Caden stood at the door. He didn't trust the Sith Mystics not to have trapped the place, or be preparing an attack of some description. It seemed a good plan to guard the door while Thurion moved deeper.

"Thurion! There anything down there?!"

Thurion Heavenshield | Prisoner 132 ( Varn Barakis | Mathieu Brion | Andromeda Malvern)