The Art of the Uncanny

[RC 212]

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]

Location: Bastion​

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Vassara had travelled the void far and wide. Taking stations from pirates, studying obscure variations of the Jedi Code. She;d stood toe to toe with pirate hordes and visions in caves and come out alive to tell the tale. But for the life of her she knew nothing of the Witches of Dathomir or their arts.

So she set out on a journey away from the fleet in an effort to change that. Her inquiries had met some suspicion but she had discerned a powerful Witch lived among the Primevil, on a planet called Bastion. And to Bastion she went.

She was in the central streets, making her way to the largest building on the block. What she assumed to be the Temple of their Deities. Hopefully her quarry would be there. A blazing thirst for knowledge of the force in all its aspects fired her soul.

Her steps were light and she was clad in her black jacket and trousers with red trim. Silas was not with her this time either. On her back a shotgun in leather sheath. On her sides a Saber given by Karen Roberts, and tow peculiar pistols.

As she reached the steps of the towering building she lifted her gaze to the sky, black hair flowing in the late evenings winds. She reached out with the force, allowing the current to sweep her away, whispering it's findings in her soul...

 

[Zavzen Sae'ryx]

Walking slightly behind Vassara was Zavzen, hand resting on the hilt of his sword Saviour. He to was curious about the Magic that these Witches were said to cast and had joined the Fleet leader on her journey to Bastion. He was in full combat mode though, despite the fact he was here for knowledge. He could sense a familiar Force Presence and couldn't pinpoint who it was and it was setting his nerves on edge. Despite this though he trusted in the Force and it was telling him that there was no current threat, although he kept ready just in case. Looking up at the building they were heading for, the pale zabrak's deteriorating mind could easily appreciate the splendour of the sight.

Zazven was curently wearing his black tunic and trousers with his usual brown cloak over the top while he had nothing on his feet. For once he had gone without his sash and had instead tied his sword's sheaths to his belt.

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"] [member="Vassara Raxis"]

 

[Boethiah]

At the central end of the city was the Imperial Palace, a large structure that housed Anja Aj'Rou. This building was once home to the Emperors of the Fel Dynasty and Bastion itself was recalled for being the most defensible world in the galaxy, on every equal terms as fortified--if not more so--than Coruscant. The two who were walking were quickly followed, a force-sensitive could probably sense this but if none-the-wiser one might be a fool to these subtle and hidden actions.

[member="Zavzen Sae'ryx"]

[member="Vassara Raxis"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Zavzen Sae'ryx"] [member="Anja Aj'Rou"]

Though she slowly became aware of prying eyes Vassara paid them no kind. She was nor ordinary woman, and though she pledged herself to the Jedi code, she held no compunctions against aggressive self defence. She nodded to Zavzen, sending him a reassuring burst in the force and placed her black gloved hands on the doors of the mighty building.

"Ready yourself Zavzen, I have no idea how they will receive us."

Vassara pressed hard, pushing back the immense doors of the old Imperial palace. Within the halls braziers burned with incense and she felt an immediate shift of power in the force spectrum. The Blood trail mark of the Rogue Witch from Tortuga burned on her shoulder and she felt a chill run down her spine....

 

[Zavzen Sae'ryx]

[member="Vassara Raxis"] [member="Vassara Raxis"]

Zavzen nodded at Vassara's words as he followed her into the building. He scratched at his scars as he cast around for anyone hidden that had feelings of malice directed towards him or is captain, ignoring those who were obviously meant to observe them, using a combination of Force Sense and Force Empathy.

The room he entered went a long way to hype up the mysterious atmosphere with the use of shadowy corners, fires and incense. At the end of the hall, sitting on a rather over the top thrown, was a striking woman, her most striking aspect being how strong she felt through the Force. He knew that if she chose to attack them with as much power as she could that his Force Barrier would have no effect. As soon as he realised this he slowly drew the sword he was holding by the hilt until a small bit of the blade was visible and cut a couple of his finger tips before letting the sword fall back into the sheathe.

 

[Boethiah]

The most striking feature of the Imperial Palace was perhaps not its regal adornments but the fact it was in every way as much of a fortress as Bastion itself. The Imperial Remnant under the Fel Dynasty constructed the building to be home to their Emperor and a symbol of power to the very few non-imperials that were ever allowed entry. Once guarded by the Imperial Knights this great masterpiece was now little more than the residence of someone who lacked appreciation for its design.

The Host Lord's eyes gazed down at the two with fierce determination, no guards nor servants catered to her. Did she know they were coming? Perhaps it was her gift of visions that saw this event foretold... Whatever the answer was, it eluded them and in many ways it didn't matter. The present was all that existed before them. "Few people are able to get on this world unnoticed, and even fewer are able to live.", she announced. It was truly impossible for an invader to succeed here. Brute force alone was barely enough for the Vong but a single individual or two could slip by unnoticed for a moment, but before they even showed up they were followed. There are no guests on Bastion. Someone who was not welcome would be easily spotted and followed. Several shadowy figures emerged from behind the two -- numbering in the dozens from all corners of the room similarly dressed figures approached. They wore dark armour adorned with crimson cloth and bore the mark of the Bleeding Sun.

Bodyguards? Enforcers? They were armed only with vibroblades.

[member="Zavzen Sae'ryx"] [member="Vassara Raxis"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]

Vassara ignored the group following them. Instead she focused on Anja. She after all was the woman she had travelled so far to see. She had an inkling that Anja knew exactly what was with the Witches mark on her shoulder. As her piercing blue gaze locked onto Anjas she felt the spiral flesh scar pulse and burn.

So you have accepted your true calling after all?

Vassara ignored the spirit, as it whispered to her soul. Ignored everything, simply approaching the woman.

"I would speak with one Anja Aj'rou. Witch elder and Host lord. We are no invaders. I seek knowledge and your time and nothing else."

 

[Zavzen Sae'ryx]

[member="Vassara Raxis"] [member="Anja Aj'Rou"]

Zavzen stayed back and silent as Vassara approached Anja. While he did not physically look at the figures who had sensed following them, he did carefully scrutinize them through the Force, observing them so as not to be caught unaware. However the process was becoming taxing on him as his scars, marked by the same Witch who had marked Vassara, began to burn.

As soon as Vassara had finished her small speech to their host Zavzen stepped forwards to draw equal with the Warden if the Fleet. While he too wished to learn from Anja, his loyalty drove him to make protection his friend the highest priority.

The whole time this way happening the Zabrak's hand never left the hilt of his sword, he also kept pooling the blood from the cuts on his fingers.

 

[Boethiah]

The woman looked to the one whom stood beside the woman, a Zabrak. "You should relax... There's no need to be tense.", her voice radiated with both power and the natural ability of her species to subtly influence the will of others. Two eyes glanced back to the one whom spoke.

Anja leaned back in the Imperial throne, "Many seek power but you have the audacity to see me out?", she remarked. "Curiosity is understandable... Although, I'm not a teacher; I don't know what rumors spread of me.", she added on.

Leaning forward again, "Tell me. How did you come to know my name?"

[member="Vassara Raxis"] [member="Zavzen Sae'ryx"]