Private The Otherside

[Darth Strosius]

While Lady Ovmar was gaining a slight lead on them it was nothing too significant, not this far outside of the Forest at least. Perhaps once within it would be a different story entirely. Thankfully given the smile on His daughter's face it seemed as though Darth Strosius would have His answer summarily, then they could join their guide as expected. Were it so easy. His eye twitched at her response, finding some strange mixture of both satisfaction and confusion at the fact that His understanding of the remark in question had in fact been accurate.

Before He could formulate some dismissive response of His own however, the linking of arms implied some further words that Revna wished to share. And share she most certainly did. It didn't take long for Darth Strosius to be stunned into a silence similar to how He had been earlier, albeit this time He was being pulled forwards alongside Revna so He wasn't quite as stiff and still. His first reaction was to simply assume that her assertions must have been part of the odd fog which had clearly clouded all of their minds however something in the back of His mind kept Him listening. Intently at that.

Naturally He had no idea what could be going through Lady Ovmar's head at any time but there was some truth to her remarks on His own conduct in that moment. His hesitation, His allowance, His weakness. Why hadn't He caused any such fuss or disruption? Freezing in place wasn't typically His style. Darth Strosius always had something to say, some reaction, some act to upkeep. Yet for that brief moment earlier He hadn't done any such thing, not even a single sly word.

As requested, He was indeed thinking on what Revna had said. To the point that He was still silent even as she slipped away and moved to close the distance between herself and Lady Ovmar, although He did keep following along all the same. It was certainly an...interesting reality that she had proposed. One that He would have disregarded if He was in His right mind, without a second thought in fact. Was He in His right mind? Darth Strosius wasn't sure if He could tell at the moment, as concerning as it was.

The Forest loomed large and already He could feel the prying fingers and half-heard exhales of elusive notions. Each step alongside the rope only seemed to draw the three of them towards what one would assume to be the source of the tugging whispers yet they seemed to be in every direction at the same time. Disorienting indeed, although His own musings did keep Him somewhat insulated from such whispers until He realized that He was starting to fall behind somewhat. Darth Strosius quickly moved to rejoin the group, His wings pulled tight against His back as His golden gaze swept over the passing trees and His clawed hands dug into the dark rope in His grasp.

He couldn't wait to get out of this realm and they hadn't even crossed paths with the beast of the hour yet.

Lina Ovmar / Revna Marr

 

[Lina Ovmar]

At first, the whispers were incoherent, like the rustling of leaves carried on a non existent wind, lulling them into a false sense of security. Lina knew better, she had made that mistake the last time she attempted to pass through, her hubris had gotten the better of her. Revna's voice slipped across her mind, a welcome voice in the growing noise. Yet it did not ease her apprehension.

Lina glanced back, managing a tight smile to the Vahla before her eyes drifted back to settle on the glowing form of Strosius, his golden eyes scanning the forest, clawed hands digging deep into the rope and she wondered for a moment what demons would plague him. Who would whisper to the Sith Lord. So much of him was a mystery. As his eyes began to sweep back she looked forward again focusing on the way ahead, the path lit by grey light that reminded her of a rainy day on Jutrand.

The buzz of unintelligible noise increased peaking to a point it made Lina wince until suddenly it stopped, deadly silence following in its wake that absorbed everything including the soft sigh of their footfalls.

Caliiiinaaaa
​

Her name was sung, in a breath right behind her ear. Lina sucked in a sharp breath, her steps faltering for a moment before she shook her head. Her mother would not hold sway over her here. She hadn't held sway over her for three decades. Her voice was just that, a voice, a disembodied illusion meant to steer her off course. the lightsabres at her hip hummed with malicious delight.

"Fuck off." she whispered.

A soft chuckle resonated in the base of her skull, making her hairs stand on end.

Revna Marr Darth Strosius

 

[Revna Marr]

Lina Ovmar // Darth Strosius ​

The whispers Revna heard came and went like the ebb and flow of a tide and, at first, she was able to push them off or outright ignore them. But then she began to see flickers of images out of the corner of her eye, but every time she would look - nothing would be there except for one of the bone white trees. The tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she turned her focus back on the rope, and the woman, in front of her.

Somewhat concerningly, she hadn’t heard a single peep out of her Father - even after she had laid out everything for Him to hear and digest, and so she glanced back at Him to ensure He was still following along behind. It seemed as if He had fallen behind somewhat as He was just catching up to her and Lina. She noticed how He gripped the shadowy rope in His clawed hands, noticed the shifting of His golden eyes behind the mask. He was wary…as they all ought to be.

Wariness could save not only their lives, but their souls too.

Revnaaaa....

She gasped suddenly as a voice spoke directly into her ear - a feminine voice that sounded familiar and yet not at the same time. She looked around herself but saw no one, but as soon as she brushed it off, she heard the voice calling her name again…but this time, it wasn’t her chosen name…it was her birth name.

Daraaa…

There was only one woman that had been in Revna’s life, who had known her by her birth name.

“M…mother?” Revna asked softly, a frown on her face as she glanced around herself once more.

I’m hereee… the voice whispered again, calling to her from beyond the pathway, amongst the trees. When Revna looked, she could have sworn she saw a figure standing out there, a familiar figure. Daraa…I miss youuu…

Revna’s frown deepened; she knew this was a trick, and yet…something familiar tugged at her heart. A pain she’d fought so hard to bury deep within her soul. Silently, she continued forward, her grip on the rope tightening even further. She did not like this one bit…but she had to press forward. She glanced around the Forest, then turned her face forward once more, only to hear the voice of her dead mother call out to her yet again...this time it was all around her, and oh so enticing.

Daraa…come to meeee. Leave them behinddd. Join mee...

“No…No you’re dead.” Revna muttered - though she wasn't sure if she said it aloud or just in her mind...this place was playing tricks on her.

....And whose fault is that? ....yourss...REMEMBER?

Suddenly, memories of that terrible day flooded through Revna’s mind - the pleading, the begging, the screams of anguish. For a moment, Revna didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t anymore. “No…go away! Leave me alone..."

Laughter was the only thing she received in response...mocking, cruel and hateful. Revna inhaled a deep breath, shaking her head as if to clear the memories and the voice of her dead mother from her mind. She blinked and looked around herself, trying to find something familiar to remind herself that she wasn't suddenly losing her mind.

She had a sick feeling that this wouldn't be the last time someone from her past came to haunt her. And she had a truly grim feeling that the Forest would try harder next time as it pried at the cracks within her soul and preyed upon her fears and sorrows.

 

[Darth Strosius]

His stride quickened when He saw Lady Ovmar's steps falter, He broke almost into a sprint when Revna's gasp reached His ears. Yet before Darth Strosius could reach either of them there was another noise which forced Him to halt in His tracks. The telltale crack of a blaster bolt. His head whipped around to find the source of the shot but the ivory trees provided no such origins for the sound. It was soon joined by a steadily rising cacophony of blaster bolts and ringing explosions.

Those weren't what really kept Him still however, the sounds of battle were a familiarity and one that He had grown accustomed to long ago. What made the Prophet freeze in place fully were the calls that accompanied them. Cries, shouts, pleas. Cries of pain and anguish as bolts found their targets, shouts of incoming enemies on the flanks or over the barricades, pleas for help as wounded tried to drag themselves away from their foes with broken fingers and unusable legs.

A hundred battles flickered through His mind at once as the voices clawing at His mind became ever more familiar, faces of wounded soldiers which had moments before been resolute and determined but which then were slaked with blood and pain. Dozens of lifeless eyes peering at Him from corpses which were meant to be His peers and allies in the combat at hand. Darth Strosius shook as final breaths and yells cut short echoed in His head, sinking to His knees as they turned from pain to accusations.

Who was He to stand there now? Who was He to persevere while they suffered? Who was he to live while they died around him? "No..." And what had He done to bring their murderers to justice? Why had He not brought low Jedi and foul tyrant alike which had damned them to this fate and scorned Him to live with the memory of it? Night after night of repetitions of war had haunted Him for years and what had He done to avenge them? Even now He was out and about with His daughter and a woman with inklings of interest, even now He neglected His duties.

They cried out for blood, for vengeance, in pain and in agony not only at their own deaths and mutilation but at Alisteri for not doing his part to save them or at least avenge them in death. "I-I'm trying damnit!" He hissed through clenched teeth, although that did little to sate the calls that reverberated in His head. Countless faces flashed through His mind as their jeers and insults and screams filled His ears, dominating His senses with a cloak of dread and anguish.

"I'm-" He choked and shivered with another great boom from some distant impact, one which resulted in more cries and sickening cracks as bodies were sent scattered from it. "I'm trying!" Darth Strosius rose from His knees and flexed His wings, the gilded tips of His wingspan nearly touching the trees around Him as He caught His breath. "You have no fething idea what I've done for you." The cries and battles receded as His memories of His own sacrifices strengthened His resolve.

Of days spent regenerating lost limbs and chunks of flesh, of nights spent sleeplessly pouring over archives and plans of action, of moments spent in agonizing pain as He remade His form to be stronger. Again and again and again. Tireless and thankless work for the dead that He would never forget. Could never forget. For the dead that He saw each time He was cursed to set His eyes upon those such as Carnifex or Prazutis or Raaf.

He had yet to avenge them properly, but He had taken each and every step to do so without hesitation each time. No matter how much it hurt. His clawed hand found its way back to the rope in a vice grip once more as He steadied His breathing. The dead could wait for the moment, the living still needed Him now.

Lina Ovmar / Revna Marr