Private The Butcher Pilgrimage

[Velok Brokentusk]

VALRAR
HUNTING LODGE
NORTH HEMISPHERE​

Truth be told, Velok the Youngest almost forgot to bring human-scale weapons. He was that excited.

His invitation to his guests read something like this: Valrar is a death world populated by the Sithspawn of the finest biological alchemist alive. I mean to hunt and I would welcome your companionship. My grandfather has a ritual that will give you some unique power or aspect derived from your chosen prey out of Valrar's wide variety. Bring back the heart and the head. And the kill must be at close range - no shooting things from the air - a true and serious test of your skills.

He had, however, not forgotten the booze. Several kegs stood ready beside a gigantic firepit and roasting spit. His grandfather, Velok the Younger, sat there stirring a cauldron and humming to himself. "Be glorious out there, Youngest," the old Whiphid mumbled.

The Youngest - nine feet tall and change, known as Brokentusk - left off honing his huge shrieking sword with a Svolten rhyolite whetstone. His stomach growled hungrily in great anticipation. He sheathed the sword and got up from the fire, clapping his grandfather on the shoulder gently. "I'll be back safe, never fear." The guests' ships were already landing, and some had already joined them by the fire. Now was the time to congregate and then split up, alone or in groups.

***​

"These are the deadliest modern SIthspawn, full stop," Brokentusk rumbled, looking around the assembled Sithlings and Lords. "The work of Darth Arcanix herself. Do not take this lightly, or it may be your meat I roast tonight. Heh."

A long table held all manner of weapons, from spears to scatterblasters, mostly human-scale. A banquet, you might say.

He gestured back at the firepit where the older Whiphid hunched by the cauldron. "Bring back a head and a heart from your greatest kill, and my grandfather will conduct a ritual to give you some strength or talent from the kill, something unique to whatever prey you choose. Go alone or in groups; your safety and success are your business. Any questions?"


OOC THREAD AND SIGNUPS
Alina Tremiru Darth Faef Blackthorne Vora Kaar Romund Sro Arcturus Dinn Grundark Alina Tremiru

 

[Romund Sro]

Valar, Hunting Sith Spawn
​

Romund considered himself fashionably late. Arriving on his rather outdated but reliable GX1 diplomatic hauler. The boarding ramp lowered and Romund walked down, wearing a bit of his iconic bronze armor and his long morellian oil coat. Wearing his metal breast plate and helmet, simple clothing made the rest of his get up.

He looked out over the site and walked into it with. Hi two lightsabers dangled across from each other on his waist. He saw the big guy, Velok he believed, the one that send to invite to this little hunting expedition. Personally found the idea of this little darkside get together quite nice.

Crossing his arms some he listened to "the youngest" speak. By The Force, if they were the youngest he'd hate to see how the oldest looked. Than simply checked out some of the weapons and gear on the table. Looking over some of it he really didn't know what to expect. However, one thing caught his eye, what looked like a little wrist mounted vambrace. Picking it up he decided to take that with him. It was a ZX Miniature Flame Projector. When in doubt why not just burn the wilderness down, would that count as a successful hunt on his part? The thought about it some to himself and shrugged before turning his attention back to "the youngest."

Listening to them talk about what was to be expected of them he wondered what kind of Sith spawn would be out there. But he did know that he'd be going alone. He'd spent plenty of time in survival situations on his own he can probably handle a day among some Sith Abominations.

Velok Brokentusk

 

[Alina Tremiru]

This turned out to be quite the venture, and a way to kill two birds. For Alina, this hunt was a chance to hunt beasts that her own master created. To test herself against these monsters. The added bonus of this ritual and the power it could impart was certainly worth it. She landed away from this gathering. Not so far that she was in the wilds, but far enough that she could keep her ship hidden. Any time Sith gathered was a dangerous scenario. The young Knight had no idea who she might run into, so having an out would be important.

She stepped off her Lumiya Interceptor, letting it's cloak once more take over once she was off. Alina was in full armor, though she left her Lightspear aboard the ship itself. The armor and the lack of her signature weapon might make it easier for her to stay an unknown. She approached just as Velok Brokentusk started to explain the scenario. A full on hunt. Well, good. Though.

"Is there any reason why you have so many weapons laid out? Should we use them?"

Romund Sro

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

Alina Tremiru got a grunt and a nod. "If you like," Velok the Youngest said in a basso profundo that registered on the Richter scale. "Call it hospitality."

 

[Darth Faef]

Faef watched the conversation between Alina Tremiru and Velok Brokentusk , making a mental note as he said they could use the weapons. "Is there any prey in particular you suggest?" She wanted to know his personal opinion. She had done research on the various sithspawn on the planet, and for the moment her preferred prey was the Rayijadni Nexu.

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

Faef watched the conversation between Alina Tremiru and Velok Brokentusk , making a mental note as he said they could use the weapons. "Is there any prey in particular you suggest?" She wanted to know his personal opinion. She had done research on the various sithspawn on the planet, and for the moment her preferred prey was the Rayijadni Nexu.

Velok shook his head.

"You all have the same reference material I do. The choice of prey is between you and yourself."

 

[Blackthorne]

Another set of hands, obscured by trappings of light armor, skated over the various tools of the hunt presented on the table. They picked nothing up.

Blackthorne had arrived only a short while ago, leaving the Harrowbane and her team in orbit. As a daughter of Onderon's Beastia, born and raised in the wilds of beast territory, an invitation to hunt sithspawn was terribly difficult to turn down. Once you had the hunt for terentatek or the riding of a drexl down to an art, moving on to bigger, uglier, nastier things seemed only natural.

She was maybe underdressed for the venture, but like Velok she had been honed by a life of survival in an untamed and uncivilized corner of the galaxy. Her weapons were minimal but selected with care.

"Heart and a head ..." she mused aloud, "I'll do my best."

Whether or not a Horde Matriarch had an actual heart to carve out and a discernible head to claim would be an issue she could deal with later. Giving the others gathered a brief glance, she wasted no time in setting out. Her intent was to hunt alone, but she'd not stop anyone who elected to join.

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

"Alright, then. Happy hunting."

Alina Tremiru Blackthorne Darth Faef Romund Sro Vora Kaar Arcturus Dinn Grundark

***​

Velok set out alone by design, without explanation or justification. His focus rested on his prey.

Valrar offered a wide variety thereof. Ravagers were not the largest nor the strongest, but at five meters long, the spiked and armored creatures posed significant challenge. And he had his eye on one of their capabilities. Without samples - the head, the heart - his grandfather couldn't say whether that capability would transfer, but there was no serious reason not to try.

On foot, he found a large specimen easily enough, or rather it found him. Purple muscle under scarred brown armor; a magnificent head-crest: a female. Admirable. He found himself wishing these beings were sapient. This one lurked coyly in a stand of huge trees, no doubt pondering the best way to eviscerate him.

When she lunged out of the woods, she crossed the clearing in a heartbeat. The spines she fired came on faster still. Velok grunted as the spines thunked through his leather armor. The poison, he knew, would cause hallucinations and lack of emotional control in a humanoid - but humanoids had a fraction of his mass. Uncharted territory.

He tossed away the Gardener's Shears - the huge cursed sword he'd bartered for - and met her face to face, claw to claw. The impact drove his heels into the earth, tearing up grass in a furrow. Her long body wrapped around him with crushing force. When she hissed in his face, he roared right back.

 

[Romund Sro]

Romund listened in a little to the other folks at the sight. Hearing some of what they had to say or any questions they had. Turning some to look down at the dark tagrutan after she asked if there were any suggestions. After Velok said their reply Romund followed. "Yeah I just kind of planned to wing it to be honest. Don't worry if I do well I might have a extra head and heart to spare if you have trouble, hehe." He voice echoed under his helmet. His tone condescending as he bragged. Taking Veloks lead he headed out too on his own. He didn't really wanna hunt with others. But he couldn't really stop fate if he ran into any on his own hunt.

***
​

Romund moved along some. Trudging through the wilds for prey to find. He wondered what he could run into. He didn't really do his homework like he probably should've. But it was just hunting mindless beasts right. Sure they might of had an alchemical enhanced upbringing but still. He wasn't too concerned with someone's nerdy biology experiment run amok.

Stepping into what seemed like a clearing Romund pondered. It didn't really seem like any clearing he'd ever seen. There were still many twigs, branches, and even some trees. But they all looked stripped of vegetation. The clearly was also pretty asymmetrical too. It was pretty thin, but long as well. Like something had come through and ate all the leafy greens.

Than he heard something, a buzzing noise that was pretty annoying. It sounded like a lone bug flying around. Before Romund could see it he felt a little tap on the side of his helmet, and tiny steps on it's metallic surface. Quickly his gloved palm came down and smacked where it was. A slight zip of a buzz came but nothing else. Pulling his hand back he looked down and saw the tiny remains of a wasp creature. "Hmm, pesky little bug. Hope there aren't more of you around..." He wondered to himself out loud.

Darth Faef | Velok Brokentusk | Blackthorne | Alina Tremiru

 

[Darth Faef]

Faef grabbed a knife and walked out, heading towards where she figured a Rayijadni Nexu might be. She soon found one, and ignited her lightsaber. Would she accept help? Perhaps. Did she need it? Maybe.

 

[Alina Tremiru]

"Huh."

That alone was enough of an answer from Velok Brokentusk . If the weapons were there as a sign of hospitality, then she didn't have to use them. That suited her just fine, given she wanted to use her own saber.

***​

Of course she had to go for one of the more dangerous creatures. Alina cursed under her breath as she rushed through the underbrush, her saber occasionally coming to life to cut the wayward branch out of her path. Behind her, the inhuman screeching of an Irza Zarwa. And the shattering of trees as it tore after her. It should be easy enough to take down, she thought. It was alone. It didn't realize she was there. Everything was just as it needed to be.

And yet, she didn't expect it's hide to be as tough as it was. What should have been a killing blow glanced off the creatures resistant scales. And carved through it's horn. Which she had snatched up and hooked to her belt. In hindsight she shouldn't of even bothered picking it up, but she thought the damn thing was dead!

She dropped into a skid as one of it's powerful claws ripped into a nearby tree. "Definitely not dead holy chit!" She cussed aloud this time. Not like the creature would care. Another of it's roars sounded off as it ripped it's claw from the bark. So it was lightsaber resistant. Just meant she needed another way to kill it.

Maybe she should have taken one of those weapons.

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

It took A LOT to get Velok's hands shaking. Each fist was the size of the average human's torso. But as he knelt bleeding beside the dead Ravager, his claws clicked arrythmically on her carapace beyond his control. He recalled the big sword to his hand, felt its shriek hit his mind, and used it to procure the head and the heart. He did it respectfully. He even wept, and maybe that was part of the venom's emotional-disregulation effect, and maybe it wasn't.

Velok looked up as a third being approached, a familiar one. Her name was unpronounceable: she was a Surgeon, a sapient Sithspawn, hard-shelled and multi-limbed and elegant. In Basic she went by the name Suture. "Yourr tearrsz dissgusszt me," she snarled. "Thisz hunt isz no victory."

He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and succeeded only in smearing the Ravager's blood across his vision. Venom-heightened rage reared up, and so did he. "I never asked for your respect, Suture."

"Didn't you?" Her legs and membrane-skirts rustled in the long grass as she drew near. She knelt to prod at the Ravager's gaping chest with one of her surgical limbs. "You szeemed to apprreciate it laszt night. Well, perrhapsz you'll feel differrently now that it'sz gone."

 

[Grundark]

With a grumble the Cragmoloid awoke suddenly as his hand reached up to wipe up some spittle that he'd drooled out during the night. Blinking his eyes he shook his head as the after effects of the keg they'd decided to start on early hit him. He'd drank a ton of it, but he'd drunk a ton of a lot of things. Whipid ale was something else entirely. As his blurry eyes began to clear he pulled himself up scratching his ribs as he realized things were already getting started.

As he stood he found a note taped to his trunk, he was really just hoping it wasn't a bill. Of course as he looked it over he changed his mind. Evidently last night he'd made a sizable bet with Velok Brokentusk and with a glance around the Whipid looked like he was already gone. Cracking his fingers he stood up and yawned massively into the room before walking towards the exit pulling an enormous Whipid sword with him from the table as he went. Passing the other hunters her waved as he bounced off the door on his way out.

This was going to be fun, damn Shorty did it purposely he was sure of it. Well maybe not purposely, but he was sure he was laughing at him.

Velok Brokentusk Alina Tremiru Darth Faef Romund Sro Blackthorne

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

Thesh had not come here alone, though he could hardly claim that the one who accompanied him was up to the task.​

​

They had traversed the Netherrealm together some moons ago, in search of the one named Spencer. They had fought off shadowy ilk, amidst chaos and corruption and an ever creeping death, and somehow made it out the other side. But it was different there than here. Sizably more dangerous, one might argue, but different to be sure. What great beasts lurked here he did not rightly know for sure. He had done some research, of course, but that which they would hunt this day might not even be one he had heard of. After all if they happened upon another, why would they not take its power for themselves? It only made sense.​

​

He had been selecting a weapon from the table, a lengthy spear to be exact, which could compliment his small arsenal - his saber, with curved hilt, and his Sith dagger of recall - when the great cragmoloid awoke. He turned his eyes toward the Lord he had come to know through various ventures and sessions with the Lords of the Sith, and then glanced toward Noelle Varanin with a raised and curious brow.​

​

"Oh Mighty Lord Grundark," he said, before the man had exited the area in search of his prey, "I wonder if you might mind that we join you for this hunt? With your great strengths, and the tricks I've learned through the Force, we might make for quite the team. This here's Miss Noelle," He tipped his head ever so slightly her way.​

​

Either way the choice was his. For he could hardly force one so great as Grundark to do as he bid. Nor would he. No doubt he'd end up an idiot pancake on the ground should he try!​

​

Grundark ​

 

[Grundark]

Oh might lord Grundark? Kid been reading too many of those grand books again, maybe a good hunt like this would be good for him. That and he was just talking far too loud for the splitting headache caused by far too much Whipid Ale. Poison he was sure of it. Not that he'd turn it down again either. Life was strange no? Bringing his attention back to the boy and his guest the great elephantine head nodded almost annoyed as he waved them to follow.

The air outside was what he needed as he fitted his weapons trying to decide which head he wanted to mount on his wall. Taking a great breath through his trunk he turned back around to the pair now that they were outside away from the bulk of the noise. "I swear the sun is two shades brighter today then it was yesterday on this damned planet. Alright, if you want to join forces to hunt I think it's a fine idea as long you drop all the grand talk and just take a breath." Looking over at the young woman he nodded friendly enough despite his grumpy exterior. "And you, Noelle, was it? Well I assume you both know we're not going after easy prey today. Alright little ones, you can be part of the herd today. Yes, just no more blah blah blah talk. Forget the books today Arcturus Dinn just bring your brains."

Noelle Varanin

 

[Noelle Varanin]

Noelle had accepted Arcturus Dinn 's offer for no other reason than it sounded like a challenge. Good. The harder the better. She still hadn't forgiven herself for slowing others down during her mother's resurrection. She had been out of shape. A year of secluded mourning had turned her soft.

That would all change before her coronation.

She wrapped her finger's around her mother's borrowed half-sword, painfully aware that she had yet to settle on a weapon the would be her own. This settled into the thin press of her lips, Arcturus receiving a distracted nod as he looked her way.

Grundark's words broke up her churning thoughts. She nodded at his concern. "I am aware. Thank you. We won't hold you back." Doubt crept in the back of her thoughts. She snuffed it away, tilting her chin subtle gratitude.

"Explain to me again the type of beasts we are hunting," she uttered softly, tilting her shoulder towards his as she considered the weapons with Arcturus.

She suddenly felt underwhelmly armed. Perhaps a dagger. Or a matching spear? Her fingers skimmed the selection, meticulous as she turned them over one by one.

Arcturus Dinn Grundark

 

[Grundark]

With a deep sigh Grundark stretched one more time before downing enough water to drown a smaller mammal. Giving his head a great shake as his ears splayed out he felt a bit more alive. Checking over his equipment he knew what they were hunting, Velok had already beat him out on time no doubt, so that meant he needed a big prize. The behemoth.

"We, little lady, are hunting the behemoth a monster among monsters, and a hunt worthy of tales. It will be a good hunt for three, I'll keep it focused and you two work the sides. Almost not fair really, ah well no ranged weaponry I supposed keeps it a bit fairer."

Humming a little tune as he started walking into a planet of darkness the excitement was starting to build as a little pep was added to his step. "Come on, little herd, let us have a song for the road. It's going to be a long week of fun in the jungle."

Arcturus Dinn Noelle Varanin

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

Not long after Grundark , Arcturus Dinn , and Noelle Varanin got started, a bloody Velok trudged up to his grandfather's cauldron. The alchemical slop boiled over, hissed down the cauldron's sides, turned to smoke in the coals.

The older Whiphid's shaggy eyebrows came together in mountainous concern. "Are you alright?"

"Sick at heart." Brokentusk unslung his pack and laid out two heads and two hearts: a Ravager and a Surgeon. He didn't meet the second head's gaze any more than he met his grandfather's.

The Younger, the elder, picked up the Surgeon's head delicately. "Suture," he said. "Youngest, what have you done?"

"Things escalated."

"Enough to take her head? You think I can give you any measure of what made her special? You've done some unwise things, Youngest, and I've questioned or censured you too rarely, and this is the consequence." The Younger turned his back on his grandson. "This is evil, Youngest."

"We're Sith."

"And being Sith should never be an excuse. If you use it as one, then you're not." The Younger whirled and slapped his grandson. Despite the difference in height and mass, it rocked Brokentusk back on his heels. The old man could still hit. "Answer me. Did you think I would conduct this ritual with her head and her heart?"

Brokentusk repressed his rage, and wasn't sure whether the guilt helped or hindered. Guilt lent itself to fury well enough, after all. "I don't know. It seemed fitting."

The Younger snapped his fingers concussively, and head and heart burst into flame. "There, a little pyre to mourn the woman you loved yesterday. You've brought a curse on us, and not for the first time. Put our whole species in jeopardy more than once. One point seven billion credits went to your head."

Brokentusk grunted. "The Ravager, then. It wakes ready to fight, even startled-"

"And you'll need it," the Younger hissed. The dark side swelled around him. He leveled one of his ritual knives at his grandson. "The Curse of Ultaht on you until you learn, or forever if you don't. Enough of this, Youngest. Enough."

Brokentusk's huge hands knotted into fists. His knuckles cracked like massdrivers against durasteel. "Exile? EXILE?"

The Younger cut a slice apiece from the Ravager's head and heart, and cast them into a huge ladle full of the alchemical slop. He shoved it into Brokentusk's hands and turned away. "You should leave. The curse will take hold soon."

The ladle deformed in Brokentusk's grip. He drank the bubbling slop in a gulp and felt it burn its way down. He waited for his grandfather to keep talking.

He waited a long time before he left.

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

Grand talk.​

​

That made Thesh chuckle some, with a light shake of his head that tousled his mane, though he didn't argue the case presented before him. He supposed he was being silly, eccentric, not his usual demeanor to be sure but certainly not completely out of character either. No matter, the mighty Lord had spoken and it was all he could really do to bow his head in acceptance. Even that still held a little flourish.​

​

He was right of course, it was a lovely day. Perhaps that was why there was a particular perk in his step. How long had he been stuck on Korriban with its cool air and haunting winds? This world was lush and verdant and warm... Very warm. It made sense then why there were so many great beasties to be found, which could thrive in a place such as this. Heat begets growth, after all.​

​

Though that which they hunted were certainly far from natural constructs.​

​

Grundark explained their target, and Thesh dug through the fleeting annuls of his mind to try and recall if it was one he had looked into. Behemoth... Behemoth...​

​

Ah yes, the raging, towering, rancor-cousin.​

​

"How... Intriguing," the boy said of their choice in sithspawn. It would be no easy feat but then again was that not the point of this? He itched at his chin in thought, before stepping to the table and picking up a grenade or two. Just in case. Then he hurried after the other two, away from their meeting point and out into the unknown.​

​

"Know many songs, do you, Lord Grundark?" he inquired. Thesh... Well, Thesh did not. Beyond the haunting melody ever present in his mind there was little time for such, though he often wished there was. Perhaps he'd make time... Were there not those who studied exclusively with sound around them? Was music not a vessel for memories?​

​

Well that remained to be seen.​

​

He smiled at Noelle Varanin and dipped his head slightly toward her. "How are you feeling, now that we're here?" he inquired. Most Sith believed that physical strength was of great importance, above all things, that weakness could not be afforded... But Noelle was not a Sith. That didn't make her more weak or fragile to be sure, but similarly he felt a great need to protect her from that same darkness he'd found himself sinking into over the years.​

 

[Darth Faef]

Faef leapt at the nexu, twisting away from its claws and slashing at them, causing the creature to roar in pain. Faef smiled, relishing its suffering, and proceeded to slice off its paws and tail, rendering it virtually harmless. She took out the knife and proceeded to stab and slash at the nexu. When it was weakened from blood loss, but still conscious, the Acolyte rolled it over with the Force and began cutting out its heart, reaching in and ripping it out once she had access. She didn't cut off the head until she was sure it was dead, and wouldn't notice the three claw marks from the nexu on her midriff that made her identical to her twin for some time.

The Togruta arrived shortly after Velok Brokentusk left, pulling out the head and heart of the beast and presenting them to the Younger.