First Reply Tomb Raider - Fallen Dynasty

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Adventure outfit
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery watched Mak closely as he studied the tiles, his expression shifting into that thoughtful focus she had come to recognize over the years. He wasn't reckless, not like her —where she might have run headfirst into the fire, he took a moment to analyze the situation. And in this case? She was willing to follow his lead.

She exhaled, rolling out her shoulders. "Alright, we do it your way." Her smirk softened, but her stance remained poised — ready.

Her fiery gaze flickered downward, scanning the tiles with a more critical eye. The worn stone, dulled with age, carried faint traces of something… color. Faded, barely visible at first glance, but as she crouched down, fingers hovering just above the surface, she could just make out the remnants of paint: deep crimson, muted gold, dull blue.

Her brows furrowed.

"Mak," she murmured, her voice laced with something thoughtful. "These tiles — look here." She gestured lightly, tracing her fingers over the dust-covered surface, revealing just a bit more of the color underneath. "They're faded, but I think they were once painted. Different colors, different patterns."

She rose to her full height, her amber eyes flicking to the walls.

And there — etched into the stone murals that lined the corridor — were those same colors.

Depictions of ancient figures, robed in gold and blue, walking a distinct path, while others— painted in dark crimson — fell into unseen peril. Some of the figures had vanished over time, their paint long eroded, but the general sequence remained intact.

A pattern.

"Look at the walls." Valery nodded toward the murals. "I think they tell us which tiles are safe to step on."

Mak Manto ​

 

[Mak Manto]

Mak followed Valery's gaze, his own eyes narrowing as he studied the murals. He immediately noticed the patterns of color she had indicated, and how they were arranged to appear on the stone tiles.

"Fascinating," he murmured. "The figures in the gold and blue are ascending a path, and the figures painted crimson are depicted as falling down."

He considered this for a moment, then turned his attention back to the pressure plates. "So, if your theory is correct," he said, "we should follow the sequence that the figures in gold and blue appear to be walking, while avoiding the crimson. This might be some form of ancient trial. Well, Valery, it's a good thing you're here - you've been the one keeping this mission going the entire time."

He slithered to the very edge of the tiles, his eyes never leaving her.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Adventure outfit
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery smirked, stretching her arms out slightly before taking a step back. "Alright, let's test this theory," she murmured, her fiery gaze locking onto the nearest golden tile.

Then, in one fluid motion, she leaped.

Her body twisted mid-air, an elegant flip carrying her across the trapped floor. She landed with effortless grace, her boots touching down lightly onto the gold-painted stone. A brief pause — waiting, listening. No click. No shifting mechanisms. No ancient death trap springing to life.

She exhaled through her nose, a pleased little smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "Well, that's a good sign."

Her gaze flicked back to Mak, amusement glinting in her amber eyes. "But you might have a slightly bigger problem than me." She tilted her head, studying his long, serpentine form. "Some of these tiles are spaced pretty far apart. Perhaps I can help you across?" She proposed. With some assistance from the Force, he wouldn't even be touching any tiles.

Mak Manto ​

 

[Mak Manto]

Valery's confident demeanor set off a conflict within Mak. He appreciated her offer to help, but accepting it felt like a weakness he couldn't afford. "No, Valery," he said, his tone resolute. "I can handle this."

He took a breath, focusing on the next tile—a golden square. Drawing on the Force, he propelled himself forward, landing with calculated precision. The tile held firm, and he moved onto the next, a blue one.

He cast a glance back at Valery, his expression more serious than triumphant. "It's fine," he stated, pushing past any lingering doubt.

He reached the last blue tile, leading to the door. Turning to her, he forced a calm exterior. "Your turn." He flicked his tail, suppressing the unease gnawing at him. The shadow of uncertainty loomed over them, and he knew they still had challenges ahead.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Adventure outfit
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery grinned, her fiery gaze glinting with amusement as she watched Mak propel himself forward with practiced precision. He could handle it. Good. She had a feeling he wouldn't have accepted her help anyway, and honestly? She liked that. She liked seeing that confidence, that drive — because when it came down to it, they were both stubborn as hell.

As he landed on the final blue tile, she smirked. "Not bad." The words carried an unmistakable challenge, her wild spirit flashing in the way she crouched, preparing to follow.

Then, she moved.

With a sharp inhale, she sprang forward, her body twisting in the air, flipping, rolling, dancing between the tiles with the same effortless grace she always carried in battle. Her landings were precise, the Force humming beneath her feet, guiding her as she reached the final stretch. With a final push, she leaped the last distance, landing lightly beside Mak with a smirk that was equal parts playful and victorious.

"See? Told you this would be fun."

But the moment was short-lived.

Ahead of them, the massive stone door loomed, its surface worn with age, but still intact. No visible handles. No obvious mechanisms. Just cold, unyielding stone barring their way forward. Valery stepped closer, running her fingers lightly over its rough surface. "I could just blast it open," she mused, her fingers flexing as if considering the sheer fun of that option, "but something tells me there's a trick to this."

She stepped back, amber eyes narrowing as she scanned the area. "These ruins are ancient. If there's a way through, it's either hidden in the carvings, or…" Her gaze flicked to the floor again. "Something in the tiles."

With a slow breath, she stretched out her senses, reaching through the Force to feel for whatever puzzle was waiting for them.

Mak Manto ​

 

[Mak Manto]

Mak closed his eyes for a moment, centering himself as he reached out through the Force. He focused his energy on the massive stone door before them, feeling the weight of the ancient mechanisms buried within. Just as Valery had suggested, there was a subtle complexity to the door that hinted at an unseen puzzle waiting to be solved.

A deep breath steadied him, and he allowed the Force to flow through him, forming a connection with the stone. He could feel the vibrations of the door, the echoes of the past woven into its grain. Beneath the surface, something thrummed with potential.

As he concentrated, he let his awareness extend to the hidden gears, the levers, and the binding energies that sometimes made ancient doors like this work. There was a distinct pattern—the remnants of a mechanism meant to respond to a specific sequence. He nudged the Force gently, testing the boundaries of its power, coaxing the door to respond.

The moment he found the correct path, a ripple surged through the door. It shuddered, dust cascading from the edges as the sound of ancient stone grinding against stone echoed through the cavern. Valery remained close, her presence bolstering him, offering a quiet encouragement as he unlocked the puzzle hidden beneath layers of dust and time.

Finally, with a final push, the last mechanism clicked into place. The door groaned, pulling inward slightly before it began to shift open, revealing a dark passage beyond, a vast expanse of nothingness.

Mak opened his eyes, glancing back at Valery, a weary smile tugging at his lips. "It seems our persistence has paid off."

As the door creaked fully open, a rush of stale, cool air swept over them, laden with the scent of age and decay.

"Shall we?" he asked, motioning with a hand into the depths of the newly revealed corridor.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Adventure outfit
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery's smirk deepened as the ancient door groaned open, the grinding of stone against stone reverberating through the cavernous space. Dust spilled from the edges, swirling in the stagnant air like ghostly echoes of the past. She stepped forward, hands resting on her hips, and cast Mak an approving glance.

"Impressive," she mused, fiery eyes shimmering with excitement. Then, her gaze flicked to the widening passage, dark and stretching out before them. "And by the looks and smell of it, nobody has set foot in here for a very, very long time." Her lips curled into something almost feral. That was exciting.

The stone beyond the threshold was rough, weathered, but still standing strong against the centuries. Whoever built this place, they had made it to last. Valery stepped forward without hesitation, her boots echoing softly as she crossed the threshold into the tomb.

The deeper they moved, the more the passage revealed itself. The walls were lined with intricate carvings, faded with time but still legible enough to tell a story. Figures of regal beings, crowned and draped in ceremonial robes, were etched into the stone, their eyes hollow and empty. A long-forgotten dynasty, rulers of an era long buried beneath dust and silence.

The air was thick with something unspoken.

"Do you think Malic's story is somehow tied to what this tomb is describing? Or did his presence disturb it?"

Mak Manto ​

 

[Mak Manto]

"It's difficult to know which of the two is correct..."

As they moved deeper into the cool, dimly lit corridor, Mak's thoughts began to weave a tapestry of Malic's motivations and methods, each step echoing through the ever-thickening layers of the tomb's history. He glanced over at Valery, her fiery gaze scanning the carvings with a mix of awe and apprehension.

"Malic is a being consumed by ambition and obsession," Mak began, his voice low and steady, the shadows flickering around them as his thoughts coalesced into words. "Many years ago, in the Galaxy that we came from, he sought ancient knowledge — the kind that was never meant to be unearthed. His version of power is not about domination; it's about reverence for the darkness itself."

He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle in the cold air around them. The haunting depictions of ancient rulers seemed to watch them as they passed, bearing witness—perhaps even warning—against the dangers of pursuing knowledge at any cost.

"To Malic," he continued, "everything is a tool for his grand plan, an endless cycle of seeking more — more power, more understanding, more control. He believes that through the mysteries of the past, he can unlock secrets that will allow him to complete his goal, a task that he says no other Force user has been capable of, that no Force user has ever dreamt of."

As he slowed down, Mak gripped the cane even harder.

"One of the greatest failures in my life as a Jedi was allowing Malic to succeed at one of his goals... Since then, I've been trying to keep up with him for decades to stop his next move..."

Turning to face Valery, the shadows of the cave fell upon his face, one half covered up in darkness with the other half looking down at her: a tired old eye and a sad frown.

"I've tried to piece his history together... The closest I've come to figuring that out is that he's over 5,000 years old. He appeared roughly after the Great Hyperspace War of our dimension and he soon became a threat to the Galaxy. He murdered several Jedi and the High Council of the Old Jedi Order tried to stop him by sending six of their wisest and strongest councilors. He killed three of them before they managed to seal him up in a Force artifact..."

"After he was freed millennia later, that was when his bloodshed began again with his focus on this unknown plan. A plan I've been trying to decipher and put a stop to with killing him..."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Adventure outfit
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery walked beside Mak in silence, her fiery gaze fixed on the ancient carvings as his words painted a picture of Malic's long and terrible existence. A being over 5,000 years old. A darkness that had survived ages of Jedi, slipping through history like a shadow that refused to be erased. Her expression hardened.

She had seen ambition. She had faced monsters who sought power beyond their reach. But Malic wasn't like the Sith Lords of her time, nor the zealots who clung to the Dark Side like a weapon of conquest. He was something else — something older, deeper. And that made him far more dangerous.

When Mak finally finished, she stopped.

The air in the tomb was thick, pressing against her like unseen hands, whispering of the past in the language of dust and stone. Her gaze lifted to the walls again, tracing the faded figures of rulers long since reduced to memory. This tomb was ancient, but not as ancient as Malic. So what was his connection to it?

Did he build it?

Did he visit?

Or was his presence here nothing more than another step in his pursuit of the impossible? Valery exhaled softly and turned her gaze back to Mak. "I don't this place isn't old enough to be from Malic's time," she murmured. "So if he was here… then why?" Her amber eyes flickered, searching his tired expression. "Did he seek it out for something? Did he leave something behind? Or—" She hesitated, her voice dipping slightly. "Or is this place calling to him?"

Her own senses stretched outward, brushing against the tomb's presence in the Force, seeking echoes of its history. But she wasn't the one who had spent centuries chasing Malic, fighting to understand him. Mak was.

So she lifted her gaze to him, her voice steady.

"What does your heart tell you, Mak? About this place?"

Mak Manto ​

 

[Mak Manto]

As Valery's question hung in the air, a heavy silence swept over them like a shroud.

Mak's gaze shifted to the intricate carvings that adorned the walls, his expression darkening. The ancient figures, once regal and majestic, now appeared tragic in their fate — once rulers filled with dreams of power and glory, now reduced to dust and stone, their stories etched in agony and ambition.

"My heart…" he began, his voice low and hollow, almost a whisper. He hesitated, the words tugging at the edges of his mind, but he pressed onward, compelled by the weight of the truth. "This place is a tomb, Valery. Not just for those who were laid to rest in it, but for the hopes and dreams that once flourished here. They all echo in the walls — tangible remnants of what was lost to greed, pride, and an insatiable thirst for power."

His brow furrowed, pain flickering in his amber eyes. "Malic isn't just a seeker of knowledge. He's a harbinger of despair. He thrives in the shadows of ambition and fear; he feeds off the darkness planted in the hearts of those who wish to wield power for their gain. This tomb may not have originated with him, but it is a reflection of what he represents — the corruption of deep-seated desires and long-buried secrets."

Mak slithered closer to the wall, tracing a finger over one of the faded figures, the depth of his emotions manifesting through the trembling of his hand.

"The darkness here isn't merely ancient; it's alive and watching. This place is a beacon for him."

He inhaled sharply, the weight of the past anchoring him further into that somber reality. "If he has come here, then it is likely he is searching for something buried deep within this tomb — something of unimaginable power. And just as this tomb holds the echoes of past rulers, it also holds the potential for Malic to ascend even higher in his quest for domination."

His gaze held Valery's, the gravity of his words sinking deep between them. "We are not just faced with the threat of a dark presence. We are confronting the very remnants of what drew him here to begin with."

Stopping himself, Mak looked ahead, but his voice became slightly lower, almost as if he were weighing his words carefully before he spoke.

"Is it true what I heard several weeks ago? I was going to the archives to do research when a group of older padawans were speaking about you, that you have a title that you were given for an extraordinary feat?"

"The Star of Exegol?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Adventure outfit
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery stood still as Mak spoke, letting the weight of his words settle deep into her bones. His insight — his understanding of Malic — painted a picture darker than even she had imagined. This tomb was not just old stone and forgotten history; it was something alive. A wound in the Force, festering with the echoes of those who had sought too much and paid the price. And now Malic had come here.

For what? That was still unclear. But the fact that this place called to him — that it resonated with the same darkness he had cultivated over millennia — made their presence here all the more important. If they could stop whatever he sought, if they could sever whatever connection had drawn him here, then perhaps they could finally put an end to it all.

Her gaze lifted, meeting Mak's as he finished speaking, his voice lowering with something more careful, as he asked her about the Star of Exegol. For a moment, Valery just blinked. Then, a chuckle escaped her, quiet but warm, and she shook her head slightly. "It's not really a title I carry alone," she admitted, shifting slightly where she stood. "Exegol was where the Second Great Hyperspace War came to an end, but I wasn't the only one who made that happen."

Her gaze drifted briefly, as if looking back at something distant. "I created the Wall of Light that purged the planet of the Dark Side. That's where Star of Exegol comes from." She paused for a moment, then turned to him again, "But it was a collective effort. Other Jedi contributed, adding their strength to the Wall, making it strong enough to sweep across an entire world. I may have ignited the spark, but I didn't cleanse Exegol alone."

Her arms folded loosely, her voice softer but firm. "The war ended that day because of all of us." She exhaled through her nose and let her fiery gaze sweep back across the ancient walls of the tomb. The darkness here, the echoes of Malic — it all felt so much like Exegol.

Mak Manto ​

 

[Mak Manto]

As Valery spoke of the Wall of Light and the collective strength that had purged Exegol, Mak couldn't help but admire her conviction. The way she carried herself, the confidence in her words — it was a testament to the power of unity, the strength of purpose shared among the Jedi when they stood together against the darkness. And yet, amidst that admiration, a thread of concern began to weave its way through his thoughts.

Once again, he turned his gaze toward the intricate carvings of the tomb, the echoes of the past swirling in the air like an unshakeable fog. Malic was not merely an opponent of darkness; he was an entity that had thrived in it for centuries, shaping and warping the very essence of those who sought power without understanding the price.

His thoughts drifted momentarily to Bethany Kismet, the Jedi Master who had become a force to be reckoned with during his own dimension's turbulent times. She had been a fierce ally, unyielding in her faith and strength, and her teachings had inspired many. He had once told her that she was the heart of the Jedi, and it had been her actions that had brought Caamas back to life with a group effort similar to Valery's.

"If we get back, you must ask Katarine Ryiah about a Jedi Master named Bethany Kismet who preformed a similar feat. That might just bring a smile to her face if she hears that name..."

With a slow breath, he started to slither forward, trying to keep his senses attuned to the rising tension in the atmosphere, probing for any further signs of the entity lurking within.

The corridor opened up into a massive chamber, its size unparalleled by anything they had encountered thus far. The walls towered above them, stretching into a darkness that swallowed the glow of Valery's light almost entirely. The vast expanse felt both intimidating and mesmerizing, a sanctuary that had both witnessed grandeur and hidden horrors. Ancient inscriptions flanked the walls, spiraling upward, telling tales of prominence, death, and, ultimately, power lost to time.

In the center of the chamber sat a large raised platform, its surface adorned with strange geometric designs that pulsed faintly — not unlike the pressure plates they had navigated. The designs cast eerie shadows across the floor, while a faint green glow emerged from underneath the platform, hinting at something hidden beneath.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Adventure outfit
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery followed alongside Mak, her mind lingering briefly on his words. Bethany Kismet. A Jedi who had accomplished something similar, restoring life to Caamas with the strength of many. The idea of telling Katarine about it — well, that would certainly make her smile.

"I will," she murmured, offering a small smirk. "Kat's a close friend of mine. If she knows this Bethany Kismet, I have a feeling she'll appreciate the memory." But whatever warmth she felt from the thought was quickly swallowed by the weight pressing in around them.

As they stepped into the chamber, Valery slowed, her gaze sweeping the vast space, taking in every detail. The towering walls, the inscriptions spiraling toward unseen heights, the eerie green glow seeping from beneath the platform at the center. Her instincts bristled, sharpened by years of navigating places just like this — places that had swallowed the reckless and the unprepared whole.

She exhaled softly through her nose, then flicked her gaze toward Mak, a smirk curling at the edges of her lips.

"Well," she drawled, tilting her head toward the ominous platform. "I'm going to take a wild guess and say that stepping on that is a terrible idea." A pause, before she sighed dramatically. "Which means, of course, that we're absolutely going to have to do it."

Her amber eyes flickered with amusement, but beneath it, her body was already tensing, waiting for whatever was inevitably going to happen next.

Mak Manto ​

 

[Mak Manto]

Mak remained silent, his focus sharpening. Without breaking eye contact with the pulsing design on the platform, he slithered forward. Each movement was deliberate, driven by the unseen pull of the Force resonating from beneath the surface.

He could feel it — a strange energy humming in the air, the kind that left a metallic taste in his mouth and sent ripples of caution through his mind. He was aware of Valery's presence behind him, her fiery gaze likely tracking his every move, but he pressed onward, drawn by the silence that billowed around the chamber like a thick fog. With each inch closer to the platform, the darkness felt heavier, pressing against his senses like a shroud.

The geometric designs seemed to writhe under his attention, and as he approached, Mak reached out with the Force, probing the essence of the platform. It was ancient, no doubt — imbued with power that sparked in his veins, enticing him to uncover its secrets. But at the same time, something about it felt dangerously unstable, as if it held the potential for both enlightenment and disaster.

Mak finally halted at the edge of the platform, his gaze lingering on the faint green glow pulsating from beneath. It swirled like the heart of a storm, alive with energy yet teetering on the precipice of chaos. For a moment, he hesitated.

Turning slightly, he cast a troubled glance back towards Valery. "This feels… more than just a resting place," he said finally, his voice steady yet edged with unease. "Whatever lies beneath seems to be waiting for something — or someone — to set it free."

He clenched his fists, inhaling deeply to steady the racing of his heart.

"Do you know how to use Force resistance, Valery?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Adventure outfit
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery followed Mak's slow, deliberate movements, her fiery gaze flicking between him and the ominous glow emanating from the platform. She could feel it too — that strange pull, thick and cloying, wrapping around them like invisible tendrils. It pressed against her skin, settled deep into her bones, a whisper of something waiting, watching.

And it was not patient.

Her smirk had faded now, replaced with something far more serious. When Mak turned to glance back at her, his words hanging in the charged air between them. Valery nodded, stepping up beside him, her boots silent against the ancient stone. "I feel it," she murmured. The air was too thick, too charged. This wasn't just a tomb —it was a prison.

And something inside wanted out.

Then came the question. A smirk ghosted across her lips, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I was a Shadow once," she murmured, flexing her fingers at her sides. "Shielding myself was a requirement, not an option."

A flicker of energy pulsed around her, unseen but unmistakable, like a barrier woven from sheer willpower and discipline. She had honed it in the depths of enemy territory, where even the slightest slip of presence could mean the difference between survival and death. Here, in this chamber where the very air hummed with volatile power, she wasn't about to take any chances.

Because whatever they were about to wake up… it wouldn't show mercy.

Mak Manto ​

 

[Mak Manto]

Taking a breath, Mak stepped onto the platform, feeling the pulse of energy thrumming beneath him like a living heartbeat. The moment his weight settled onto the ancient stone, a jolt surged through the air, an electric thrill that sent shivers down his spine. He could sense the shift, the awakening — something within the depths responding to his presence, stirring from a long slumber.

And then it happened. The green glow beneath the platform flared to life, illuminating the chamber with an otherworldly light. Shadows danced along the stone walls, contorting into grotesque shapes that writhed like tendrils of smoke. In the center, the glow intensified, and from the depths of the darkness, something began to rise.

A figure emerged — a wraith clad in shadow, its form twisting and swirling like a forgotten nightmare. It hovered above the ground, flickering in and out of focus, a ghastly mockery of life. Its face was an indistinct mask, void of detail but somehow eerily familiar, and upon seeing them, it let out a low, sinister chuckle that echoed throughout the chamber.

"Finally," the wraith rasped, its voice a whispering hiss laced with amusement. "Finally, I am free."

The air grew colder, the darkness deepening. In that moment, the chamber transformed, becoming not just a battleground of stone but a clash of wills.

The wraith's gaze shifted between Mak and Valery, its expression shifting into something resembling satisfaction. "So, the two of you are who he spoke about..." it spoke, a dark chuckle laced in his words. "Two brave souls, stumbling into the den of shadows."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Adventure outfit
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery didn't flinch.

As the wraith rose, its voice curling through the chamber like a serpent winding through the dark, she stood firm. The sickly green glow was disturbing, but she didn't move. She had seen horrors before. She had faced down Sith Lords, monsters, and the darkest recesses of the Force itself. This was just another nightmare given form.

Her fingers flexed at her sides, her stance shifting slightly, her weight steady and controlled. The air had grown colder, the atmosphere thick with an unnatural pressure, but her fiery gaze didn't waver as she met the wraith's hollow, shifting visage.

"Two brave souls, stumbling into the den of shadows."

Valery's smirk was razor-sharp. "We don't stumble," she said, her voice low, edged with unwavering confidence. "We walk in knowing exactly what we're up against."

She took a single step forward, her presence pressing against the unnatural void the wraith exuded. "And since you seem to know who we are," she continued, her tone quieter now but no less firm, "You should know exactly who I'm looking for."

Her gaze burned like embers beneath a controlled flame.

"Where is Malic?"

Mak Manto ​

 

[Mak Manto]

The wraith hovered in the air, its shapeless form pulsating with ethereal energy, darkness spilling from its very essence like ink in water. It swayed in the stagnant air, its twisted visage shifting as it contemplated her words.

"Malic," it echoed, the name rolling off its spectral tongue like a foreign concept unfamiliar to its existence. "I do not know this name."

A sinister chuckle escaped the void that passed for a mouth, twisting the atmosphere around them into something thicker, more oppressive. "But I know of a shadowed figure," it hissed, the tone dripping with malice. "He spoke of a grand vision… of a plan coming to fruition. Of an awakening planned in the shadows."

The glow from beneath the platform flickered, as if responding to the wraith's words. "He promised," it continued, its voice dripping with mockery, "pain and suffering to all who oppose him. He released the trappings of my prison and said that those who would free me would arrive. He wore darkness like a shroud."

Mak closed his eyes and jerked his head for a quick second, as if he were trying to remove something that landed on his head, before he opened them again, looking at the wraith. It sounded exactly like Malic. The description of his appearance, the details of a mysterious plan.

Was Malic the one responsible? He likes to tell anyone who meets him who he is... Why wouldn't he tell the wraith his name?

"I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THIS PLAN IS!"

The wraith chuckled again, pointing at Mak.

"He didn't tell me anything specific of his vision, but he did say that I could have a hand in it, so long as I kill Jedi just like I had once in my life. I consider that a fair trade..."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Adventure outfit
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery held firm as the wraith's laughter echoed through the chamber, its voice thick with malice and deception. The way it spoke of Malic — never naming him, only circling around the truth — set her teeth on edge. It was playing his games, leaving trails of half-truths, pulling the strings of those desperate for power.

But she wasn't here to play along.

Her fiery gaze remained locked onto the shifting, formless entity, "Is that so?" she mused, voice calm, but edged with something sharp. "Malic freed you, promised you blood, made you a part of whatever twisted vision he's bringing to life…" She took a slow, deliberate step forward, her presence pressing against the thick, unnatural air that swirled around them. "And yet, he told you nothing?"

She let the silence stretch just long enough to let the insult sink in. To let the wraith feel the weight of how little it actually mattered to Malic.

Then, her smirk returned, but this time, it was cold. Calculated. "You're bound to him in nothing but vague promises. You're a tool, discarded before you've even served your purpose. But I'm offering you something else." Her stance didn't shift, but the air around her did, thick with the quiet, unwavering certainty of someone who wasn't bluffing. "Tell us everything. Tell us where Malic might be, what he said, where his plan begins. And in return? We leave you intact."

A pause. Then, a smirk, edged with fire. "Or you can keep playing your role in a story where you don't even know the ending — and we burn you out of it before it ever begins."

Her saber was still at her side, unignited, but the threat of it lingered between them. "Your choice."

Mak Manto ​

 

[Mak Manto]

The wraith's laughter echoed through the chamber, a sinister sound that twisted through the heaviness of the air. It looked at Valery, its form flickering in and out of focus, and the mockery in its hollow eyes was unmistakable.

"And what makes you think I would believe your promises, Jedi?" it rasped, the words dripping with disdain. "You think you can intimidate me into relinquishing my freedom I have just regained after millennia? You're amusing." It paused, allowing the shadowy tendrils of its form to swirl ominously. "Do you truly believe I would trust a creature of light to hold up their end of the bargain? Will you allow me to leave this tomb with freedom intact?"

After a beat, the wraith answered its own question with a mocking laugh. "No, you won't. You cannot allow me to leave. I am far too dangerous, so you'll trap me back in this tomb."

There was no hesitation as Mak pulled a lightsaber out and activated it, shouting at Valery.

"Valery, get back! He's going to attack!"

Rushing forward, the wraith lifted it's arms and stretched its hands outward as it flew at Valery, his laugh echoing through the chamber.