Private Raider of the Lost Epicanthix

[Mi'la Undari]

Location: Panatha, Unknown Jungle Site


When Mi'la took the offer to come to this world and investigate what was buried here, she was hoping for something more....well...understood? She didn't know Panatha that well. It had a dark history, one filled with violence and rampage. They had a slave based empire at one point, lead by warrior kings who sought domination over the world. Even after they achieved hyperspace travel, the people were still violent and malicious. It wasn't until the reign of the Empire that they were brought under heel, though most people agreed that their only maintained their supremacy due to being isolated within the Unknown Regions. This, of course, was just one of many useless bits of trivia Mi'la held within her mind. These were the thoughts she mused on as she set the Jabberwocky down into a clearing, then doubled checked that she was in the right vicinity. Her coordinates seemed correct, and there wasn't really another jungle she could get lost in.

Climbing out of the cockpit, she took a gander, before reaching out with the force to get a better feel for the world. It was certainly a lively world, but the bloodshed that it held was buried deep within the ground here. Something dark, something foul, something...she hadn't faced yet called this jungle home. Her curiosity was immediately sparked. It wasn't long until she secured her sabers and her exploration pack, then took her time to lock down the cockpit. She was positively ecstatic about what she might find here, and what new discoveries awaited her here; after all, how many people got to call dibs on an ancient lost tomb?

Sakri

 

[Sakri]

The pull had been undeniable. The current's path was resolutely flowing toward the Unknown Regions, leading her forward, guiding her. One of the small bends and curves that path followed had led her here, to this isolated world. Sakri could feel a calling from within the jungles below, and she had never been one to ignore the tide's direction.

The ride down to the planet was smooth, and the clearing she found was decently sized: both facts for which she was grateful. When the struts of her ship settled into the dirt, she nodded to herself, then stood and retrieved her traveling pouches. Once they were secured to her belt opposite her lightsaber, and her knives nestled in her boots, she donned her traveling cloak and exited the craft. The air was as humid as she expected; she was no stranger to trekking through jungles, and she knew the routine by now. As she reached out and extended her senses, however, she was struck for a moment. The tide here.. it flowed in shadow. The calling was further on, closer to where the tide deepened into the dark.

Her eyes narrowed. If it was calling her, it was worth investigating.. but she would know to keep her guard up. Finally, Sakri released the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, and the air around her moved, carrying away its humidity and leaving her comfortable. She nodded again, then issued a single gesture behind herself to depress the boarding ramp controls. With that taken care of, the Firrerreo woman stepped forward, moving into the foliage, following the tide's call..

Mi'la Undari

 

[Mi'la Undari]

The route to the city was covered in lush vines and overgrowth; as well as bugs that legitimately made the Twi'lek uncomfortable. Still, she would manage to trudge on forward, but it wasn't the jungle that was disturbing; it was the presence she felt growing nearer. It was....dark, living and not at all friendly. A dark jedi? A lost soul that had given into the darkness here? There were many possibilities. None of which Mi'la was in favor of. Her hand found her lightsaber, though she continued to scout out ahead to try and find the sense of the disturbance. One thing was certain though in the mind of the padawan, this planets dark history could be felt in the soil here.

The ground here felt wrong, she could practically feel the bloodshed that had soaked into the soil, the rage that had burned within those who had died to claim it. It was then that Mi'la head a 'crack', and her skin turned cold. She looked down, and to her horror found she had planted her foot right through the head of a human skull. Mi'la let out a scream, leaping into the air and sending the skull flying and smashing into pieces against a tree. So much for subtlety, whatever was out there certainly heard her.

Sakri

 

[Sakri]

Her path through the foliage went mostly unfettered; stray vines entangled themselves across the trees and forced her to change her route more than once, but it was a minor inconvenience at worst. As she moved, though, her awareness spread out and focused in: another eddy was present in the tide, swirling and exerting a small pull of its own. As she was reaching out, so too was the other.. it seemed both parties might be aware of the other's existence.

Of course.

Green eyes narrowed as she turned her head in that direction, slowing her stride in a moment of evaluation. As much as she tried to stay away from others, she managed to find herself on intersecting paths time and again.. Still, though, there was a chance this presence would be agreeable to her path, and to her silence-..

The scream that rent the air put an immediate end to that hope. Narrowed eyes turned wide, and a sudden reflexive snarl peeled from her throat. Were they in danger? Was she in danger? There was a sound of a clatter, but after that, Sakri heard nothing. Was the threat gone? Or was it never there? It took only a few moments of deliberation before she growled again, this time at her own course of action, and crouched down to move closer to the source of the sound.

She didn't sense any other eddies in the immediate area, but the darkness of this world's tide lingered in the back of her mind, at the border of her senses. She would not take this place for granted; she knew what happened to those who underestimated the wilds. As if to emphasize her point, it was at that moment that her boot found a discarded bone nestled near the roots of one of the many trees here. Sakri narrowed her eyes again, then moved as quietly as she could around the trunk, peering at what lay beyond.

Some dozen meters in front of her was a purple-skinned Twi'lek; the fright on her face and in her sense made it fairly apparent that she was the source of the scream. Thankfully, the Twi'lek wasn't looking in this direction, affording Sakri a profile view, but the saber hilt on the other woman's belt confirmed what she had already suspected: this being was a Jedi, though a seemingly undisciplined one.. which meant her presence definitely would not go unnoticed.

Of course..

Still, there was nothing to be gained from announcing herself - when was there, ever? - and she would take these moments to further observe, retreating back behind the tree until absolutely necessary..


Mi'la Undari

 

[Mi'la Undari]

Recovering from her failed attempted at stealth, Mi'la looked about, hand grasping her hilt. It was a rookie error on her part, then again no one expected to step on a skull. The presence vanished, a sign that the ruse was up. Giving a look about, the Twi'lek sighed, finding that she had screwed up badly this time. "If anyone is out there, I'm not looking to fight!" She announced, though she knew it would do little good. If it was a dark jedi, they'd wait for her to drop her guard.

With a sigh, Mi'la would move forward following the darkness that guided her onwards. She ignored the creeping cold that raked at her back, the chill that swept down her spine, and the voice in her head that advised her to return to the ship. But pushing past those fears was where a true adventurer was born.

Pushing through the vines and overgrowth, Mi'la could see the path up ahead, and the hints of a ruined mess in the midst of the plant growth. A stone structure, long since abandoned jutted out from the growths, covered with vines and plant life from untold decades of being untouched. The darkness was strongest here, as the echoes of pain and death from years past still whispered amoung to the ground here. Mi'la hesitated for a moment, taking in the site before she would enter inside. Though she had one last announcement for her potential stalker before she moved in. "If you're still following me, this is your last chance to come out as a friend!" Again, it was a futile gesture, but she had to try. With that done, Mi'la would set foot inside the structure, using her blue Saber as a torch against the darkness.

Sakri

 

[Sakri]

"If anyone is out there, I'm not looking to fight!" She announced, though she knew it would do little good.

That makes two of us.

Of course, Sakri did not immediately volunteer this information. As she followed, her attention was taken more and more from the Twi'lek before her and onto the darkness lurking beneath this world's current. It whispered of ages passed, lives lost and power shifting.. the feeling of it was enough to bring a sneer to her lips.

Mi'la hesitated for a moment, taking in the site before she would enter inside. Though she had one last announcement for her potential stalker before she moved in. "If you're still following me, this is your last chance to come out as a friend!" Again, it was a futile gesture, but she had to try. With that done, Mi'la would set foot inside the structure, using her blue Saber as a torch against the darkness.

Fine.

She had no interest in making new friends here - where did she ever? - but it seemed this woman was going to treat her as an enemy if they continued further in silence. Sakri took a deep breath and stepped foward, past the corner of an overgrown wall and out into open view. When the Firrerreo spoke, she did so at a volume the Twi'lek was sure to hear, but her voice was level and her tone direct; it was bad enough to have to trade words with another, but to resort to yelling back would just feel.. degrading.

"I've no desire for bloodshed."

Green eyes regarded the woman opposite her for a few moments longer before dropping, looking at the ground beneath the Twi'lek's feet as if staring through it to the source of the darkness itself. When next she spoke, Sakri's voice was not as amplified; she wasn't speaking these words for the individual before her, and whether or not she heard mattered much less.

"This place has already seen too much."

The darkness and echoes of death waiting below brought a sneer to her face once more..


Mi'la Undari

 

[Mi'la Undari]

Mi'la felt a degree of relief as her stalker made themselves known. It was a woman, a dark jedi perhaps, though she spoke softly and walked walked with a degree of humility. As the Twi'lek studied the woman, she couldn't tell if the woman was talking to her, or to the site they stood upon. There was no signs that this woman wished her harm, and yet the darkness staining this world seemed to be lashing out at both of them with curosity. "Nor do I. I'm Mi'la, thank you for showing yourself." She said, smiling and trying to provide comfort in the face of this looming darkness.

It didn't work obviously, but it was the thought that counts. "I don't disagree. I'm going to trust you to not stab me in the back, and we can work out whatever is in this place together. Alright?" The padawan asked, before moving on to the confines of the temple. Using her saber as a torch, the stone here was covered in plant life. Large spiders had set up their homes in the corners of this place, and the darkness seemed to flow forth much like steam from a cauldron. Within the force, Mi'la could feel something dark and sinister that pulsated at the core of this tomb. "There is something fowl here. More than the bloodshed, there is a stain here in the force." Moving closer to one of the walls of the tomb, stone etchings depicted hundreds of slaves being executed under the eyes of a wrathful warlord. The stones the pair walked over seemed to be stained red, perhaps still holding remnants of long dead slaves and the cruelties of their masters. "Jeez, hate to see how these guys did parties." Mi'la muttered, hoping to battle the darkness with a touch of humor.


Up ahead, the pair would find a large stone door seemingly blocking their path. Ancient words were scrawled upon it, and several dozen symbols were laden across its surface. Mi'la studied the surface, curious in how the door opened. She felt a strong darkness within the stone, something that made the blood soaked ground outside pail when compared to it. Perhaps her new friend had some idea in how it opened. "Notice anything here?" She asked, turning to look to the woman that was hopefully still following her.

Sakri

 

[Sakri]

There was no signs that this woman wished her harm, and yet the darkness staining this world seemed to be lashing out at both of them with curosity. "Nor do I. I'm Mi'la, thank you for showing yourself." She said, smiling and trying to provide comfort in the face of this looming darkness.

It didn't work obviously, but it was the thought that counts. "I don't disagree. I'm going to trust you to not stab me in the back, and we can work out whatever is in this place together. Alright?" The padawan asked, before moving on to the confines of the temple.

The gold-skinned Firrerreo's only response to the woman's introduction was a single nod. Then she made a statement of trust, a mutual alliance. Truthfully, Sakri had no intention of stabbing this woman in the back; there would likely be no reason for it, and she was not one to disrupt the balance of another life without cause. She doubted, however, that anything she said would convey that believably: others historically seemed disinclined to take her at her word.

"Agreed."

Actions always spoke louder, after all, and her actions would speak for her.

"There is something fowl here. More than the bloodshed, there is a stain here in the force." Moving closer to one of the walls of the tomb, stone etchings depicted hundreds of slaves being executed under the eyes of a wrathful warlord. The stones the pair walked over seemed to be stained red, perhaps still holding remnants of long dead slaves and the cruelties of their masters.

As they walked further, the area illuminated with the blue of the thrumming lightsaber, Sakri's attention was pulled toward the etchings in the wall. She stopped in front of it and stood regarding it for a few moments, before lowering herself into a squat to observe the darkened ground they walked on. Her eyes narrowed; despite its age, she recognized the stain of ancient blood when she saw it. Sakri reached out a hand out toward the stone, her palm facing but never touching the etching, reaching into the tide as she did so. She could still feel traces of their pain, their despair, their suffering; perhaps worst of all, however, was the solemn silence of the broken. The emptiness of those who had abandoned hope in life long before death had claimed them, slaving away for nothing, slaving for someone else.. she felt that stillness in the darkness below, and that chilled her more than anything else.

"Jeez, hate to see how these guys did parties." Mi'la muttered, hoping to battle the darkness with a touch of humor.

Sakri doubted that the Twi'lek would notice her sidelong glare as the comment snapped her out of her reverie. She would say nothing on the point, though, instead affording the barren rock one more glance.

May your souls have found rest.

She stood then, and continued on..

Up ahead, the pair would find a large stone door seemingly blocking their path. Ancient words were scrawled upon it, and several dozen symbols were laden across its surface. Mi'la studied the surface, curious in how the door opened. She felt a strong darkness within the stone, something that made the blood soaked ground outside pail when compared to it. Perhaps her new friend had some idea in how it opened. "Notice anything here?" She asked, turning to look to the woman that was hopefully still following her.

..until the two of them reached the first barricade between them and what lay below. The stone itself was inscribed with runes and symbols she had never seen, but what was more was the darkness that emanated from it. Sakri strode toward it, her hand raising as she did so, again with her palm facing the stone. The backlash from reaching into the current here echoed that of the blood-stained walkway leading up to it, but more intensely; a slight tremor ran through her as she connected, but she did not withdraw from it. This stone reeked of pain and suffering, but also of selfish desire; as she stared across its surface, she noted darkened splotches on the face of it. After a few long moments, she nodded and flicked her free hand, calling one of the knives from her belt up to her.

"Blood."

It was a plain statement, and one she hoped would convey what she was to do. Without waiting for confirmation, she brought the blade to her open palm, curled her fingers around it, and pulled. Her teeth bared as the blade in came away reflecting a crimson sheen, but she uttered no noise as she stretched her palm out again, this time making contact with the stone itself. That same crimson sheen seeped out from under her fingers as Sakri focused on the current within and pushed it forward, into and through the rock. A low rumbling began, and in the light of the saber, what could be classified as a small smile could be seen on her face..


Mi'la Undari

 

[Mi'la Undari]

Her new friend didn't talk much, and Mi'la could respect that. It was going to be awkward for sure, but she knew how it was. She liked her quiet moments too. Standing in the ruins of the temple, Mi'la wasn't a fan of the decor, but that was to be expected. After all, look at this place. It clearly hadn't been taken care of in the last...however long someone had owned it. On the bright side, her new friend agreed to not kill her, so that was something she could focus on. Being friends with a possible dark sider was certainly something.

Coming to the stop at the door, when Mi'la had asked the woman if she noticed anything, she didn't expect the answer she got. 'Blood?' She thought, touching the stone and not getting anything close to what this woman was apparently sensing. Then again, they were on two different sides of the force. The stranger could probably sense something she was missing, and this being a dark side site...well it made sense to the Twi'lek. She totally hadn't expected the woman to grab a knife and cut herself, which prompted a gasp from the jedi, and a near lecture until she realized what the woman was doing. Did...she just make a key with her own blood? Watching as the blood flowed into the opening within the rock, she was reminded of a similar display on Tython with Sakadi not all that long ago.

Stepping back as the door rumbled, Mi'la had expected something grand, perhaps a treasure room, or something like a library of lost knowledge. Instead, she found a vast abyss. The floor of this room had given away, much of it had fallen into an inky abyss, and a scant few sections of stone formed the galaxies most dangerous game of hopscotch as the way to progress. The ruined bridge stretched into the darkness beyond the light of her saber, and Mi'la wasn't entirely sure what to make of it. From what she could see, there appeared to be various icons on the walls of this room, but she was too far away to make them out. "I'm guessing you are pretty good at jumping right?" She asked as a part joke, before looking for another way across. Nearing the rift in the floor, she held her saber down and noticed the gleam of something down there, several things in fact. With a bit more prodding, it turned out that the shimmering wasn't in fact treasure, but rather a rather lethal spike trap pit. "Oh, wonderful. As if this place couldn't get more crazy." She muttered, mapping out the path the pair would need to jump across to make it to the far side.

Taking her saber in hand, Mi'la focused on the blade before throwing it, watching where it's light was cast, before pulling it back. She noticed about half way through the pit, it seemed there was yet another stone door on the far side, this one seemingly smaller than the one the pair had gotten through. Pulling the saber back into her hand, Mi'la sighed, looking to her partner before going through with the madness. "Alright, looks like we got to time this just right." Calling upon the force, the padawan felt her leg muscles stiffen, her mind sharpen, and time felt to move a tiny bit slower. She hadn't really gotten to try this power out to this extent. Well, first time for everything right?

Sakri

 

[Sakri]

When the door had begun sliding open, Sakri had known a moment of satisfaction. One secret was already being laid bare, one less obstacle in the way.. though she reminded herself to make the moment exactly that: just one moment. It wouldn't do to let one's guard down here; this was proven almost immediately as the room beyond them appeared to be floorless. The Firrerreo woman nodded to herself and clenched her injured hand, once more baring her teeth as she wiped her knife on her robe and sheathed it. She wasn't concerned about the wound -- it would be gone in a matter of minutes -- but it wouldn't do to have both hands unavailable for this venture.

As the pair of them surveyed the expanse beyond, her compatriot tried her hand at humor again. Sakri let out a small exhale; if she wasn't good at jumping before now, this would certainly be the place to step up and improve. Thankfully, she had faith in her own abilities; it was the hazardous conditions ahead of them that she didn't trust. After illuminating the area around them for a few moments longer, the Twi'lek Jedi shed light across the room with a well-timed saber throw. It gave Sakri a decent enough visual of the treacherous path they had to cross, and it appeared that the two of them were both working out their own mental route to take to reach the other side. Truth be told, she didn't think there would be much deviation between their two paths..

Then the Jedi let out a remark about timing, and Sakri felt her eddy in the tide start swirling, drawing itself tighter in gathering preparation. She nodded once more in silent agreement and took a breath, reaching out with her own senses to gather the same power around herself.. She would let Mi'la take the lead here, but she stood ready to follow.. and assist, if need be.


Mi'la Undari

 

[Mi'la Undari]

Shutting her saber off, Mi'la motioned to her dark jedi accomplice. "Right, just mimic my movements and we'll get through this yet." Feeling a winding sensation in her legs, Mi'la gave a small stretch to her legs and felt ready for what she was about to do. Closing her eyes, she began to run, leaping, her feet ran across the wall, carried by her momentum, she kept her hand to the wall, running up the side as the force carried her, before flinging herself towards a wooden support in the center of the pit. Landing on the support, Mi'la leapt again, reaching the far side of the wall, and leaping off to reach the far side. Rolling with the flow, Mi'la reached the other side and rose to her feet. Letting the power in her legs dissipate as she took in a breath and stretched her back, before leaning forward to catch her breath. "That last jump is a dozy, so watch out." She called into the darkness for her nameless companion, hoping the woman would be able to keep up with the padawan. Looking to the door that had been searching for, Mi'la found it to be different from the last. It seemed to be a family tree that had been worked onto it's surface, given the names and lines connecting to the design it seemed to bare.

Sakri

 

[Sakri]

Another nod came at Mi'la's words, then the Twi'lek took off running, toward and along the wall, into the darkness. Green eyes squinted and peered into the abyss, tracking the Jedi as she ran; this was going to take some doing, but if this woman was able to make such a journey, there was no reason Sakri couldn't as well. The power gathered around her swirled as she strode forward, but first she had one variable to account for: it wouldn't do to have any unnecessary drag on her momentum here, and as such she shrugged her traveling cloak off her shoulders as she moved. It flowed off easily, settling to the ground in a collapsed heap and sending a cloud of dust into the air. Sakri crouched for a brief moment, then released her breath and her power to spring forward, knocking more dust loose to join the cloud where she once stood.

In truth, it was easier to track her companion's path through the tide, following the wake of her passage, than it was to mimic her physical steps. Sakri's combined perception of both led her through the same jump across the support -- though she did hear a small piece of wood clatter behind her as she left it -- and to the far wall. The Jedi's warning rang in her ears, and she put the extra effort into the last spring off the wall; the floor on the opposite side made itself known to her quickly thereafter, and she tucked and rolled with the impact. As she rolled, she reached into the current and once more called power to herself, both to anchor herself and to retrieve what she had left. She planted her boots on her next tumble and pushed against herself, slowing her slide to a halt far more quickly than standard physics would allow. Sakri allowed herself a single moment to catch her breath again before standing, one hand outstretched toward the darkness behind them. A soft flutter accompanied her cloak as it appeared out of the darkness toward her arm; it, like all she carried on her, was an essential part of her gear, something she was attuned to, and the ease with which it resumed its rightful place stood testament to that fact.

With all that settled, Sakri moved forward to join the Twi'lek scout, before another door. This one did not call to her as immediately as the last did, and -- though she was loath to admit it -- she hoped that the other adventurer might have some idea what they were looking for here..


Mi'la Undari

 

[Mi'la Undari]

Seeing her companion had made the voyage across the pit without getting herself killed, which needless to say she was rather happy about. Once Sakri had stuck her landing, Mi'la would chuckle and flash the girl a thumbs up. "Hey, that was pretty slick! You get style points for that." She remarked, waving Sakri over to inspect the door with her. "I'm thinking this is a family tree, maybe the lineage of whoever this tomb was made for. Maybe like...the ruling class of their leader. That would seem most likely given the history here." Mi'la reached out, feeling the stonework, as she tried to find a secret behind the door. "Let...me see here. There's gotta be something going on." She muttered, tracing over the names, trying to see what the answer to this riddle might possibly be. Reaching out with the force, Mi'la was hit with a series of nightmarish visions. The slaves who built this place were sacrificed, their bodies entombed beyond this door, forced to stand in allegiance with their dead masters, never to be free with their kin on the outside. The bloodshed played out, as if Mi'la was witness to it first hand. She reeled back, gasping out in horror at the glimpse she had seen from the past, pulling her hand away from the slab. Looking a tad haunted, Mi'la looked to her companion and shook her head sadly. "This next room might not be good, seems the masters of this tomb had their servants enshrined as well." Taking a step back, Mi'la took her saber and turned it on. "I'm going to open this door. Watch my back?" She asked, being a bit annoyed that she didn't have the girls name yet; but all in good time.

Reaching out with the force, Mi'la took hold of the stone, commanding it to move, as she gestured upwards with her spare hand. The stone budged, groaning and scrapping against the walls as it moved, revealing the next room to be littered with mummified bodies. Just beyond the piles of bodies, another door could be seen, this one glimmering and shining like gold in the darkness, though that wasn't all that lingered in the room. A presence would be awakened by the two force users reaching it's resting place. Mi'la would only catch a trace of it, feeling it shift about the room like a fog, before disappearing. Unknown to her, the mummified corpses would begin to twitch, ready to rise and protect their master from the intruders.

Sakri

 

[Sakri]

Though the Twi'lek's initial comment yielded a small smile -- one Sakri hoped the lighting would conceal -- it seemed like the Firrerreo's reluctant hope was seeing reality, as Mi'la began expanding on what they were finding here. A family tree of the tomb's inhabitants? The ruling class? It would seem there was something more here, but that too was being sorted out by her talkative companion; Sakri felt rather than saw the bolt of emotions that ran through the woman's presence, and her eyes narrowed at the implications of the next words.

The servants are still here?

She nodded to the Jedi and withdrew her own saber hilt, though she kept hers inactive for the time being. As the door moved and revealed the room's contents, there was a sharp, audible intake of breath from the Firrerreo: what lay beyond the threshold was a horrifying sight to behold.

Piles of bodies lay haphazardly around the room, the unceremonious and uncaring nature of which sickened her. These beings, these servants -- at least a dozen off a quick glance -- they had had horrible things done to them, and then to be sealed here to rest at their captor's whims? The thoughts of such cruelty occupied her mind and made for a distraction, one which almost kept her from noticing the shift in the tide.

Despite her mental preoccupation, she recognized the whispers of warning in these moments of silence and froze. "Something is wrong," she hissed, thumbing the ignition stud on her saber and bringing its crimson blade to life..

Mi'la Undari

 

[Mi'la Undari]

Taking a moment to collect herself, Mi'la was notified by Sakri that things were not well. From first glance, Mi'la found nothing wrong, as she glanced to Sakri for confirmation. The crimson blade of the woman flickered on, indicating that one of them clearly didn't like the feel of the room, though Mi'la wasn't certain if it was a trick of the mind, or a genuine threat. "Hold on, hold on, what did you see?" Mi'la questioned, taking a step back as she aimed her saber towards the door. It was then that she caught movement, a sea of hands reaching towards the pair, as shambling bodies began to rise up, rages and worn limbs hanging off their forms, mouths agape, eyes hollowed out by centuries of decay; there was a literal army of the dead moving towards them. "OH FETH!" Mi'la exclaimed, stepping back and drawing her second saber, as this by far was possibly the most terrifying sight she had ever seen in her adventuring days.

It soon became apparent to the pair that they would have to fight, and seeing the horde that was shambling towards them, their odds didn't seem favorable. It was in times like this that a sane person might succumb to fear, or terror, or perhaps give up on their desire to go on; not so for Mi'la however. "So...bet you five credits I can take more than you." She remarked, giving a flourish with her blades, as she prepared to defend against the ensuing waves of undead. Thankfully with the way the door was, only a pair of the zombies could stagger forth at a time, but given the number, the pair would need to work together to ensure they weren't driven into the pit behind them. Mi'la looked to Sakri, flashing a nervous smile before she would wade into the horde, one saber swiping upwards, the second swiping downward, as she would begin to slash into the mindless hordes with as much grace as she could muster; hopefully her new friend wouldn't leave her to die.

Sakri

 

[Sakri]

It was a blessed relief that her companion had listened to her when she spoke. As Mi'la drew her second blade at the warning and the pair identified their threat, Sakri surveyed the room again, illuminated by the combination of the colours of their blades. The Firrerreo saw the horde moving, and despite their current situation, she felt a bottomless dread and a sickening twist in her gut at the motion of the shambling bodies. Sakri did not succumb to fear, or terror; if anything, she was succumbing to pity and horror. The unwilling dead had not only been imprisoned, but were now being forced to serve masters long perished, masters who cared not for them, had never cared for them...

The Twi'lek's words brought a moment of piercing sobriety, though, the continued attempt at humour and levity ringing sour in her ears.. but it did remind her that their current situation was more pressing than any disrespect Mi'la had intended towards the rising fallen. As the purple-skinned humanoid pushed forward into the horde, her golden-hued comrade would complement her on the opposite side of the doorway; one hapless undead met their end to the jab and slice of her crimson blade after they drew too near the pair, then another.. then another. Sakri took no pleasure in holding this defense; her victims' lives were not their own to command, nor had they been for quite some time. She doubted anyone had spoken for them at their first demise.

She would see that they were taken care of for their final one, in due time..


Mi'la Undari

 

[Mi'la Undari]

Unfortunately, her new friend was still doing the quiet and cool routine, which was totally fine. Given the situation looming before them, Mi'la couldn't blame her. This whole ordeal just sorta sucked. Wading into the mess of undead, Mi'la's saber work was adequate, as she sliced through the waking dead with little remorse. It was as easy and as uncomfortable as one could imagine. Limbs provided little resistance to a saber, and with three of them working in tandem, the servants of undeath were quickly reduced to a pile of decaying rot. If not for the efforts of her mysterious friend, Mi'la knew well enough that she would have been overwhelmed, and as is, she was feeling a tad winded from her efforts. She could only imagine what the result might have been if she entered alone; assuming she even got past the blood door. Stepping back from the mound of bodies that blocked the path ahead, the Twi'lek was in need of a break, as she felt a bit queasy at the site looming before her. It brought back memories of the torture rooms she saw during her time as a slave, and the smell that accompanied it. Yea, she was going to be sick. The two sabers shut off, falling to the floor as she placed her hand upon the stone wall and tried to get her head on straight. "Don't mind me, just...getting flash backs." She said, trying to dismiss her current condition for the time being.

The room that had housed the poor slaves was bare, the only noticeable detail being the indents made along the floor and wall for where the bodies had been laid within. The lone door at the end of the room seemed to stand in contrast to this, seemingly made out of some sort of shiny metal. Upon investigation, and stepping over the bodies, it seemed the door was made of gold. Strange characters were carved into the soft metal, though what it meant Mi'la could only guess at. This was clearly the entrance for a king of some sort, though if the state of his subjects was any indication of what this man was like, he most likely wasn't a pleasant ruler. Sakri would feel that presence on the other side, a dark entity that was now fully aware of the pair; though the Twi'lek seemed to be oblivious to such a thing. After having a moment to collect herself, Mi'la stood read to open the door, but looked to Sakri for confirmation before doing so. "So, how do you feel about this door? No bad feelings right?" She inquired, standing a good arms reach away from the door, awaiting Sakri to give the 'O.K.'.

Sakri

 

[Sakri]

The work wasn't pretty, but it was done. After the last body had fallen, Sakri had opted to keep her saber lit; it never hurt to be safe, and the illumination provided would make her next steps easier. During the slaughter -- she winced briefly at the thought, though that's what it had been -- she had done her best to aim for clean kills, decapitating her foes whenever possible, trying not to slice directly through the head. Now, she found herself with one such kill before her, its head laying motionless at her feet. She squatted down, holding her blade horizontal above the head, looking it over. The smell of burnt flesh stung her nostrils, but she paid it no mind; instead, Sakri reached forward and drew her fingers across the head's hollowed eye sockets. "Rest well, and be at peace. You are free." She rose then, stepping forward only to pause in her stride as her companion's sabers fell. It seemed that the Twi'lek was having her own ceremony, though hers seemed far less pleasant. Flashbacks? Sakri narrowed her eyes as she pondered that, before finally issuing a decisive nod and speaking to the woman. "Recover at your own pace."

With that said, Sakri walked forward, stepping to the next body and repeating her ritual from before. "Rest well," she said again, drawing her fingers once more as if to close the eyelids of the fallen. It was an empty gesture -- quite literally, as their eyes had long since been lost to time -- but that wasn't going to stop her. For each body she could do so, she did; there were many, but she was patient. When at last she reached the end, it seemed that her Jedi companion had recovered as well and had moved to the opposite end of the room, asking...

Sakri's eyes fell on the metal door Mi'la was gesturing towards, and the Twi'lek's question faded into background noise. The Firrerreo's blood ran cold and her breath caught in her throat as she felt the ominous swirl beyond the door, dark and hungry and aware. Her grip on her lightsaber tightened, and she spoke again, in hushed but urgent tones.

"There is a darkness beyond.. It knows we are here."



Mi'la Undari

 

[Mi'la Undari]

Sakri was seemingly giving blessings to the departed, which was both kind and also rather disturbing; but mostly kind. After all, who grieved for the lives that were so senselessly taken against their wishes. As her mind returned to her, Mi'la was able to retrieve her weapons, though she waited until Sakri was done with her ritual before continuing onwards. There was a level of dedication to the act that she found endearing, to show so much care for those who had gone before, it was nice to see. Especially since the act had brought more words from the woman than their entire encounter thus far. Sakri hadn't given comment on the Twi'lek's pause after the fight, something she was thankful for, given she didn't like talking about her time as a slave.

Stepping towards the door, she paused as Sakri warned of an entity that loomed up ahead. Wonderful. "I'm glad you can feel it, because I'm getting nothing." Mi'la admitted, before reaching to open the door. "Watch my back, I'll watch yours." With that, the door was cast open, and as it was, the pair would see a glittering horde of treasures. Weapons, coffers, and strange artifacts from eons past laid about the large vault like room. Mi'la's jaw dropped as she looked upon all that laid here, though what truly caught her attention was the set of stone tablets that sat upwards across from the entrance. A fool might rush in all brazzen like, negligent in what may lay ahead. Mi'la however, was not so foolish, as she stepped into the room cautiously, saber ignited as to cast more light on the room within. Gazing about, she tried to find the darkness that Sakri spoke of, and yet she could not find it. Waiting until her companion had joined her, Mi'la would continue ahead, senses trained and straining to find this darkness.

Well, she would find it, unfortunately it was too late to react. There was movement off to the corner of her eye, and the jedi brought her saber to bare. Only to find the shadow melt away, leaving the jedi to think it was only her imagination; except she was terribly wrong. Instead of coming from the side like the entity intentionally planned. Sakri would have a front row seat to the horror show, as the shadow latched onto Mi'la forcing itself through her back, as the Twi'lek gasped in horror as she felt her body be stolen away from her. The sabers fell away from her hands, clattering to the floor as Mi'la began to battle for control of her mind and body, though the shadow was strong, and angry. As she fought, Mi'la could feel the darkness it tried to spread within her, filling her with hate, fear, and an icy chill that flowed in her veins. She looked to Sakri, trying to call for help, but the entity wouldn't allow it. The green eyes of the padawan flashed between emerald and yellow, as the battle raged on. She reached for her companion, trying to call upon her for help, as she had no clue on how to combat this new foe. She could feel her grip slipping, as the shadow gained more and more control. It seemed that the archeologist had found her final discovery.

Sakri

 

[Sakri]

The treasures that lay beyond were plentiful and shining, but they did not distract Sakri from the malevolent darkness she felt in the room. There was something here, she was sure of it, and she knew that they were still in danger. All the foresight and vigilance she possessed, however, amounted to only a scant second when she felt the presence lash out like a whip. In that second, something had changed around Mi'la, within her...

The clatter of the Twi'lek's fallen sabers punctuated the Firrerreo's sudden horror.

No..

Sakri held up her free hand toward her contested compatriot, reaching out into the swirling maelstrom that threatened Mi'la's light. The darkness pushed violently against her, but her fingers curled as she focused herself and latched onto the flickering presence at the center of this invisible, infernal struggle.

"Release her."

She would not stand to see another being subjugated like this..


Mi'la Undari