Private Survey Mission

[Ala Quin]

Kintan
Northern Hemisphere
Near the Canyon of Despair​

The hum of the slimlined Jedi starfighter's engine was all that accompanied Ala's thoughts for an hour or so until the assigned Astromech droid twee'd and twooo'd a brief expression of intimidation at the sensor readouts. The planet was desolate. And it did not seem to be entirely natural. Oh, Kintan was clearly not the most hospitable planet in the galaxy. That honour would have to be given to a world like Naboo, or Kashyyyk - at least back in her day. She hadn't visited them since her awakening. A cold shudder ran through her as she imagined those worlds suffering the same fate as Kintan.

"Don't worry R9. I know what I am doing. And yes, Caltin knows where I am," she said, assuring the herself as much as the droid. Also, Caltin didn't know where she was, so much as how to find her.

The life sign readings were sporadic at best. There was something alive on the planet, but they were unlikely to be anything more than a small rodent, or a roach like creature that had survived the scouring of the world. Swinging the small craft about, Ala traced the edge of the lava lake below with the banked starboard edge of her fighter. Glancing at the lore readout on her console, she mouthed the name of the site, Basin of Torturous Flame. "What a delightful holiday retreat this place must have been before the Bryn..."

She had heard so much about these creatures since returning from the her long sleep. Both Jedi and Sith spoke of them in trembling, wavering tones. Millenia old enemies had considered alliance, such was the desperation. Still, the Bryn marched on. Ala wanted, no she needed, to understand these beings. Her first step was to see what they wrought. Then she would take that knowledge, meditate, seek the wisdom of the living Force, and then attempt to make contact with a being of the Bryn'adul. In spite of her time spent training with the DSCRD back at the academy, she knew that it was not the best time for her to be having a meet and greet, not yet.

With her course having followed the Canyon of Despair up its current stream, Ala found a place to bring the vessel lower to the ground. She began to unstrap herself from her seat, and opened the cockpit. For just a few moments, she needed to touch the ground. Sense the surroundings, and the echoes of beings who had been there before her. More twee's and twooo's came from her droid companion.

"You know the drill R9. I will be ready to go in 3 minutes. No matter what. Meet me back here, but do not land. I will come to you," she said with determination eminating from each word, "wait for my signal if I need you sooner. And keep moving...stay to the clouds...these transparasteel sandstorms can whip up in a matter of moments."

When within twenty or so metres from the ground, Ala jumped, slowed her dissent through the Force and landed with a crunch on the brutally sharp sand of the region.

Glancing upwards, she saw her ship disappear into the clouds above. She then turned her eyes to the ground and stooped down to move some of the sand aside with the hilt of one of her sabers. Not far beneath the shards of transparasteel was the hardened ground of the canyons ridge. If there was ever a place to exemplify everything she had heard about the Bryn'adul...this was it.

Eyes closing, hair tossled in the increasing breeze, Ala reached out in the Force. Show me. Show me what they are.

| Argaloth |​

 

[Argaloth(Dead)]

It neither took long or her need of the force to actually find the Bryn. Almost as soon as her ship flew away, she would see a boulder getting heaved throw the air, heading right for her ship and droid. Luckily the boulder didn't hit her ship, however, she wasn't as lucky though. Tremors in the ground would immediately warn her of something big coming at her. Blocking out the sun for a brief second, a massive can down on her with both hands aim to crush her as the lesser and insignificant being she was.

If she didn't move, she would feel Argaloth's 6 ton crushing her and ending her life in an instant. However, if she managed to dodge, the ground she had been standing, changed into a small crater.

Right before her a colossal of a Bryn rose up on his hind legs, standing 18 feet tall. With an ashen grey skin accented by luminescent aqua that ran along his skin and concentrated around the Bryn's head. With iron skin and club-like hands, Argaloth released a guttural deep primal bellow pounding his chest, which made the luminescent aqua intensify, before slamming down his hands yet again at Ala.

Ala Quin

 

[Ala Quin]

Well. The droid training system had not been lying when it unleashed itself on it unwitting participants. Even with the preparation, Ala found the unbridled, unhindered aggression to be something that took her breath away a little. Wide eyed, and slightly in shock, she slid out of the way of the first driving smash into the ground with a quick boost from the force. It was not enough to get her away from the shockwave that resonated through the ground, flipping head over tail. Composure was barely maintained as she landed in a three point stance, glancing up to the see the brief rage induced pounding of the chest.

"What...no villain monologue?" She said with an attempted wry smile. The was no doubting that a Draelvasier was the single most dangerous being she had ever faced.

Standing, and turning, Ala engaged with the Force to set in a full on sprint for the Canyon of Despair. Her Force empowered jump over the gapping maw of the canyon saw her barely miss the second attempted pummel. There was no time to ignite sabers an attempt a counter attack. Self-preservation was all there was.

Self-preservation would have been easier if she had the ability to jump across an entire canyon. She did not. As the arc of her jump began to descend a little less than half way across the thankfully narrower portion of the canyon, Ala opened her hands behind her, and focusing just a little more was able to create a burst of wind that propelled her. The maneauver was not enough to complete the jump, but she at least reached the canyon wall, hitting it firmly as her hands slipped on rocks, before finding a grip on a small ledge.

It doesn't have to be this way.

Even in her thoughts her words sounded winded.

| Argaloth |​

 

[Argaloth(Dead)]

After the first two attacks, followed by Ala leaping over the Canyon of Despair, the Ravager started to slam his club-like hands on the ground as a short of short victory over getting the enemy to flee. Refocusing on Ala, the Bryn walked with heavy steps on all four until he got to the edge of the canyon. Looking down at the vertical drop into the deep Argaloth released a short grunt, before looking over at his prey getting away on the other side.

Clearly, the Bryn was figuring out what to do and the fast and easiest way to cross was. Looking over at Ala again, seeing whether the girl was climbing up or down, the Bryn looked around it and then surprisingly started to walk away, disappearing for Ala's feel of view. Silent fell over the area again with just the wind hollowing through the expansive canyon Ala hang on.

Then some loud rumbles could be heard at the Bryn's side, yet unknown to what exactly made that sound. Unless Ala hadn't moved on her spot she landed when jumped, the girl would see a boulder half the size of her starfighter getting heaved towards her from somewhere, where Argaloth was. Luckily the boulder missed her with a couple of feet below her, crushing half of the boulder and some of the rocky canyon wall.

Another boulder was heaved towards her, which was another miss to the right of her. Argaloth appeared again, to see if his boulders had hit the girl and crushed her under his might. Standing all the way by the edge, and released a deep guttural growl when he saw Ala was unharmed after his attacks. What followed was unexpected and placed Ala in a lot of danger. Walking back, Argaloth went into a raging charge and simply did a leap of faith, releasing a deep bellow. While he didn't get to reach Ala in his leap towards her, he did get all the way to the other side, just further down, using his claws to dig into the canyon's side.

Knowing he is able to hold on to the side of the rocky wall, Ala would now find herself being chased in a race of death. Argaloth used his superior strength to climb his way up, sometimes leaping to get even closer to Ala further up the wall.

Ala Quin

 

[Ala Quin]

There was barely enough time for her to gather her thoughts, let alone her breath, before there was a large projectile - a rock - hurled in her general direction. Willing herself on, just before impact, Ala pulled upwards leaping ten metres or so up to a small outcropping big enough for only one hand to find a hold. The rock smashed beneath her, as she glared down to see her former safe haven demolished beneath the impact of the boulder. Her feet danced around the cliff for a moment, and thankfully found some purchase on the wall.

Another one is coming. Jump Ala. Jump.

She was ruing not taking Caltin up on his offer to go climbing. It would have definitely helped in this situation.

With the other boulder half way across, she jumped pushing off with her foot towards the left. Her hand again found purchase on a jagged outcropping. Her fingers caught against the edge cutting them slightly. In the pit of her stomach, Ala knew she would not be able to hold on with that hand much longer.

The scream of the Draelvasier grabbed her attention. Looking out across the canyon she cast her thoughts towards him.

You need not fight. I mean no harm. We can live in peace.

Given that the creature was about to jump across to her, she figured her words were not going to create a moment of happy reconciliation and hugs. Maybe that was only a Tuangsday thing for him?

Ala could feel her grip slipping, but gave her all to cling to the outcropping while she counted down. With the creature committed to the air, and realizing its arc would see it falling below her some way...she took a deep breath...

3...2...1...NOW

The Jedi Knight dropped from her ledge and both hands stretched forth from wall towards the creature. Through the Force she reached out to any and all piece of stone, rock or rubble and flung it in a cloud at the creatures face. Just enough of a distraction to end up below the creatures landing spot on the wall.

There wasn't long to slow her descent, with a strained focus she pushed against the approaching floor of the canyon. Her impact and roll still tore through clothing and the flesh of her shoulder, leaving her wincing silently in pain. She glanced up through sweat and grime ridden hair to see the monster climbing up towards where she had been. It would not be fooled for long.

And so, she ran with everything she had along the banks of the river of lava at the bottom of the canyon. Her wrist commlink blinked. Her ship was on its way back. Tapping in a few directions, she set its destination for the Basin of Torturous Flame. If only she could make it there first.

| Argaloth |​

 

[Argaloth(Dead)]

Like the wild beast, mad with rage Argaloth pounded his fist into the cliffside and would soo be able to gain in on the puny being above him. Despite his quick climbing, the bloody girl managed to distract him, just as he was about to get to her with a cloud of rocks. With one hand Argaloth tried to swipe the cloud away, only for Ala to slip past him, which only infuriated the Bryn.

Shaking his head, Argaloth locked on to the girl, running by the lava and in a great show of strength he started to follow the girl, but on the cliffside almost as fast as Ala. Then he did not one, not two, but three long leaps ahead on the cliffside and then leapt into the air towards Ala's position.

In mid-air, the Bryn snapped a potion from his side and swallowed its content in one go. Landing twenty to thirty feet from Ala, the Bryn started to mutate violently, slowing down considerably enough for Ala to be almost fifty feet or more from the Bryn. If Ala stopped to look, she would see the Bryn start to mutate to very extreme menacing appearance. His skin also mutates heavily reinforced natural rock-like shells covering his entire body, while a pair of tusks jutting from his lower jaw. If all that wasn't enough, he also grew twice the size of what he already was and finally stood on his hind legs again, releasing such a loud bellow. It was so loud and powerful that the soundwave made it shake ever so slightly around him.

In one great leap, launching himself like a torpedo, after Ala, the girl would realize that the Bryn would now be able to keep up and even get to her down if she didn't think of something because Argaloth did not slow down.

Ala Quin

 

[Ala Quin]

She did not stop. But could feel his presence slip behind her a little further, while growing in its rage - which she had thought impossible. the creatures footprint in the Force now dwarfed that of its previous form. It was bigger. More brutal. More savage. She only had one shot at survival.

Her body was tiring, and her back slowly beginning to become sticky with blood coming from her injured shoulder. But she pushed on. Only a little further. Only a little more. She just had to run.

Trust. In. The. Force.

Her eyes closed, and she gave herself over the the Force. It led to a momentary stumble, losing a few feet on the distance between her and the Bryn, but she recovered. Her breathing slowed. Her legs moved. Her heart rate slowed. Fear began to subside. The distant bellowing, roaring and the earthquake of its footsteps passed into the back of her mind.

Her movements became as though they were preprogrammed. Like years of training running this same path along the river of lava and given her a degree of muscle memory. Even when the path narrowed, and her feet fell close to the edge of the lava, they did so with a confidence that belied they peril behind her and to her left.

The Basin of Torturous Flame approached quickly, as did Ala's best chance to live through this encounter. Her path took her directly towards. Her eyes opened. Her hands fell to both of her lightsaber hilts. She pulled them and ignited the short yellow blades.

Here. We. Go.

Her foot fell a metre or so from the edge of the massive lake of molten rock, and she jumped into the air and out towards the middle of the lake. Her trajectory was never going to be enough to make it across. No matter what she did.

With catlike agility, she spun about facing the Draelvasier and threw both of her lightsabers end of end towards the hulking beast.

Just a few metres above the pool of lava, when she was just starting to feel its heat on her skin. Her starfighter caming racing into view at top speed, skimming the surface of the lava pool. The canopy flew open. Ala hit the seat with such force, that her head snapped back and hit the frame around the window knocking her unconscious.

As the canopy still closing, the ship veered sharply up and away from the Draelvasier.

| Argaloth |​

 

[Argaloth(Dead)]

Like a gorilla, Argaloth hammered the ground with his powerful hands, using his step to increase his speed, running at an insane speed. Ala could thank herself luck that the force indeed was with her as she kept herself just out of reach from the raging Bryn just feet away from tearing her to pieces.

The moment she jumped by the pool of lava Argaloth just followed suit, even tanking both her sabre throws, letting it slice through his body like it was nothing. Both sabres continued through Argaloth bellowing rage and hit the ground by the lava, however, Argaloth did a large swipe with a deep thundering roar, only for his claws to tear through some of Ala's starfighter's lower hull. While it wasn't enough to destroy or make the ship crash, it was enough to leave deep claw marks, giving Ala something to remember the Ravager by.

As Ala, though unconscious, flew away to safety, Argaloth plummeted into the lava pool with a large splash, roaring in pain from how the lava just tore through his natural armour, flesh and skin.

It didn't take long for Argaloth to sink into the lava and disappear from view.

/End thread

Ala Quin