Private Trees of death

[Astrid pentoghast]

Tag Caltin Vanagor

Standing there among the corpses of the village now filled with dead and undead wookies as Astrid walked among them. Chanting as she did so this was the second village like this that she hit an undead wookie army would be demoralizing to their enemies undead with the strength to rip their enemies limb from limb plus the sound of a horde of zombie wookies charging at their target would send chills down the spine of any target.

As she walked chanting as she went green smoke flowed off her into the corpses as then the zombies began moving men women children it didn't matter they where all being made into zombies for her army. They where little better than animals in her eyes anyway unable to speak the common trade language she could sense the lightside on the planet she would find it's source in time but for now she had fed on the fear of the wookie people 5 or 7 dozen wookies stood around the village maybe more as zombies.

Under her control sitting there she could sense something coming as she finished her chanting and the last wookies rose their eyes glowing green with energy Astrid picked up what looked like food as she began to eat what haven't been touched yet. Eating it the woman made no attempt to hide her darkside aura she was sure whatever was on this planet she could handle it the food she ate was bland but tasted like meat as she awaited her first true hurdle of this endeavor of hers.

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

LOCATION: Shadow Temple | OBJECTIVE: Nothing yet | POST #: 1
TAG (ALLIES) : @
TAG (FOES) : Astrid pentoghast

It was a slow day, the number of Jedi in classes today was low, and those here to teach almost met them in number, so it was a day he could easily slip in a workout. It was a good day.

Caltin always worked out, it was something that never slowed down in his life, but since he started work on the Shadow Temple, he had to make time for it. Today was not the case, and so there was actually the potential for a smile on his face, in public.

Perish the thought…

It was when one of the ground transports came in “hot” that thoughts of this went out the window. A Guardian to whom he was teaching weapons was on an assignment and was normally stoic, even more than Caltin, which made the look on his face worrisome.

The big man did not see him come driving in, but when he was called out of his office, Caltin could see what was going on. Healers were running to help as the Knight was carrying a Wookiee youngling, and helping two others out of the back.

What happened? Is everything okay?

“Not at all, Master Vanagor.” Knight Andrus retorted.

Vanagor recognized the three Wookiees. The male was the grandson of his old friend Llabruf, the recently deceased elder of the “Shyyyo’s Heart” Tribe.

[Thank the makers…] Llaffup was badly beaten and scarred, his mate Ybabruf was barely breathing and his son Llabriah was unconscious. [Your friends saved us…]

It’s okay… we’re going to get you help… take it easy…

[No… cough you don’t understand… someone… she… she killed a pride walking and celebrating… slaughtered them… but somehow… they arose…cough we barely made it out alive… she’s… she’s still here…]

Caltin began the day in a good mood.

That was long gone…

… now? Now he was visibly furious.

“Master Vanagor… be mindful of your thoughts…” One of the healers spoke up looking at him worried.

Thank you, I will… see to their injuries… make sure they want for nothing.

“What will you do?”

Go to work.

​

 

[Astrid pentoghast]

Caltin Vanagor

Astrid had let the ship and the wookies go if there where jedi here those that survived would bring whatever middling force that may have been available to her for some actual challenge. As the nightsister finished her rather bland meal that was left over from one of the dead wookies she got up rather unsatisfied but full and full of energy. Looking at the large number of undead wookies that surrounded her Astrid smirked was this short sided of her most definitely would this come back to bite her probably but she would accept the repercussions as they came.

But she stood up in jedi robes her hair in a tight bun behind her head as she began walking along the pathways tracking the ship through the force as the undead wookies followed. Some where climbing the trees others where using the same pathways as she was. As she walked tracking the hex she put on the survivors through their wounds she whistled as she walked as she made no attempt to hide her darkside aura she could sense a nearby village that on the path towards her final destination which was the survivors and whatever sanctuary they found. She was scanning for threats but her stance hid that fact she wondered how the planet could sustain such trees but that was neither here nor there it was a matter of would she get to the next tribe/village before reinforcements arrived or would it be a slaughter like the two villages before that would be up to those that offered aid the survivors.

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

LOCATION: Shadow Temple | OBJECTIVE: Nothing yet | POST #: 1
TAG (ALLIES) : @
TAG (FOES) : Astrid pentoghast​

The Shadow Temple was protected by not only technology, but several Force spells conducted by various witches that were able to cloak it from the Force. He was not a shadow but was adept in cloaking his own aura as well. Which is why he was riding in the very transport that brought those poor Wookiees to the Shadow Temple. Normally this would be a fun ride with the terrain and natural topography, but he was searching. It was when he saw Wookiees fighting in one of the trees that his attention was piqued.

This would not normally cause a double-take as they could simply be sparring, but there was something else.

Stop the truck…

The Knight driving did so as was asked, and the massive Jedi Master jumped out. Get back to the Temple. Inform the flightline, the entrance, everyone that we are under lockdown until I say different. No flights in or out unless an emergency.

“What about you, Master Vanagor?”

I’ll make my own way back. Now go.

He was not a Wookiee himself, but this was the region of the “Shyyyo’s Heart” Tribe and he was a member (albeit honorary), so there was something “off” about this. Caltin could not put his finger on it, but he trusted his gut when it twisted, and it was twisting. Caltin was determined to find out what was wrong, so he continued on his way. As he moved closer, he could see a large figure in the distance, looming over the ancient ruins.

What bothered him, when he got close enough to those fighting was that two of them… looked to be deceased, undead. Caltin stopped in his tracks and his heart began to race. He knew that he had no choice but to face whatever was waiting for him. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward. Only now, he was not even bothering to hide his aura. Whoever was behind this brutality was of the Dark Side. Caltin was still not quite convinced about what he was seeing.

The Wookiees who recognized him(Tarfum, and Lizanten) took steps back, they had their backup now. Standing side by side with his Wookiee friends, he looked upon the undead warriors and spoke up. If there is anything left of the real you inside. Fight this. I don’t want to fight you, but I will defend myself and my brothers.

​

 

[Astrid pentoghast]

Caltin Vanagor

Watching the two undead wookies fight perplexed the nightsister normally undead followed her every command fighting. Amongst each other was not an order she ever gave as she was about to walk up she felt caltins aura and then heard him speak. Smiling as she flung the two undead wookies off the path to fall to the ground bellow to die she walked up within clear view of caltin. "Your too late jedi there's nothing left in their heads but me and what I command them to do you kill me or force me to leave the planet they all drop dead" she said coldly standing there her arms behind her back watching caltin.

The rest of her horde of undead awaiting her command to either charge or wait that would depend on caltin as she stood there "of course if I stay planet side more wookies die and become my thralls" she offered not moving if caltin wanted a fight he'd be the aggressor.

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

LOCATION: Shadow Temple | OBJECTIVE: Nothing yet | POST #: 4
TAG (ALLIES) : @
TAG (FOES) : Astrid pentoghast​

The last thing that he wanted to do was exactly what Caltin had to do, and had done. He cut the Wookiees down as they would not stop until their own “brothers” were dead, or he was. It was disheartening, but he could read nothing from their emotions, or look in their eyes.

… and then he heard the voice of the… Jedi? No… she reeked of the Dark Side, she may be wearing the robes and tunic, but she was not of the light.

What madness is this…

The question was rhetorical. He knew what this was. She was looking for some kind of army. He did not want to give her what she wanted. He knew that if he wasn't careful, she would be able to take his friends and use them for her nefarious purposes. He may not be able to do anything for these poor souls, but Caltin was determined to protect the rest, no matter the cost.

I am not going to ask you who you are. I do not care. I am not going to ask you what you want. I do not care. I will not bow down to your threats or demands. You told me yourself that there is nothing that I can do for these poor souls at your side. So they are already dead.

Cracking his neck, a clear sign to anyone who knew him, albeit personally or by reputation that he was more than ready to fight, Caltin eyed her. He eyed this sorceress like a hunter targeting prey. He needed to act fast. He needed to find a way to stop her before she could cause any further harm. He had to do something, anything.

You’re done here. Leave now while you still can.

“Jedi like”? Ask him if he cared.

​

 

[Astrid pentoghast]

Caltin Vanagor

Standing there listening to caltin speak the nightsister understood his position but that didn't mean she was going to relent at all as her horde of undead stood behind her. "That sounds very final im gonna have to say no" he said as she pulled out a rather unimpressive lightsaber handle and took a standard makashi opening stance. "If you win my wookies will drop dead and pose no further harm" she said she knew she left it open for what happened if she won but figured it would be rather obvious.


She knew she was facing a stronger opponent physically and she had heard of caltin before he was a well accomplished melee fighter. She would have to rely on her nightsister and sith powers if she wanted an edge plus the benefits of form 2&3 for defense if she wanted to stay in the fight that was soon to come. But she was confident in her abilities enough to face a jedi master with home field advantage.

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

LOCATION: Shadow Temple | OBJECTIVE: Nothing yet | POST #: 5
TAG (ALLIES) : @
TAG (FOES) : Astrid pentoghast​

Standing there, listening to her, as well as looking at the poor soulless husks around her, it was rare nowadays that Caltin would lose his temper… but this was one of those times. Oh, he was not raging, or ranting… the clue was his eyes. Though cybernetic, electrical energy was surging out of them.

No, I did not assume you would accept my terms…

She looked to be readying herself for a saber battle, so he would pull his own weapon and engage it. However, his free hand reached to the sky…

Closing his hand into a fist before gripping Conservator and pulling it up to his side, he waited as the clouds rolled in. A thunderstorm was churning rather quickly.

I do not care who you are, or how powerful you are. This has been made by you, your creation, your responsibility. I gave you the chance to leave peacefully, now you are going to have to escape.

​

 

[Astrid pentoghast]

Caltin Vanagor

Astrid could feel the weather changing through the force ontop of seeing it through her ability to manipulate the weather through both sith and nightsister techniques she stood her ground. Lightsaber in hand as she sped up the process as rain began to pour down on them Astrid could be heard offering a slight chant as steam arose from the ground right in front of her as it quickly turned to smoke and formed a smoke demon that charged caltin as the rain picked up. Astrid would be right behind the demon obviously within sight of caltin as the smoke demon swung with the strength of a wookie at caltins right side Astrid thrusted her lightsaber at caltins left shoulder in a form similar to makashi or form 2.

Astrid would follow that up with quick jabs at other joints caltin had as the smoke demon would try and deliver powerful blows to caltins torso Astrid would keep her head and senses on a swivel for unseen attacks or attacks from caltin.

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

LOCATION: Shadow Temple | OBJECTIVE: Nothing yet | POST #: 6
TAG (ALLIES) : @
TAG (FOES) : Astrid pentoghast

The rain started to pour as the woman in front of him began to move. However she was not going to be in this part of the fight at all as the rain turned to steam and then smoke. There was enough smoke to completely block her from eyesight which meant nothing, she was no doubt preparing a… no wait… what was coming out of the wall of smoke?

You’ve got to be kidding me?

Caltin was looking at… himself or at least a visage of him if he had fallen to the Dark Side. Conservator was in “his” hands, glowing a blade of blood red. That was really the only way of telling who was who at this point.

You know this is inevitable…

Shut up and fight…

The look shocked him to his core, no way in hiding it, but he could fight it. He did not charge, he walked, but it was going to be one of them… and Caltin would not be vaproized.

​

 

[Astrid pentoghast]

Caltin Vanagor

Astrid watched the jedi square up to the smoke demon who took the form of the jedi who had come to the rescue with a crimson blade. She recognized what the jedis fear was almost immediately he was afraid of falling to the darkside she had found a potential gap in his armor she could exploit but how much was the question.

Astrid teleported behind caltin as the shadow demon charged the large jedi delivering strong quick strikes at caltin with the strength of a wookie. "Give in jedi you know it would feel satisfying to only worry about your desires and your own power" she said loud enough for caltin to hear as she stood there looking at him watching him fight the shadow demon.

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

LOCATION: Shadow Temple | OBJECTIVE: Nothing yet | POST #: 6
TAG (ALLIES) : @
TAG (FOES) : Astrid pentoghast

The woman, no doubt some kind of witch, suddenly disappeared as this (no doubt) smoke demon attacked him. Yes, he did fear falling to the Dark Side, not because of the effects, but of how easy it would be for him. How easy it has been for him to have experienced all of this time. This demon attacked quickly, but that was the failing of Smoke Demons, they were “all show and no go”. The doppelganger was attacking in ways similar to the big guy, he had no issue absorbing, deflecting, and redirecting.

When he heard her voice behind him it was clear what she was doing.

You have no idea what concerns me about this.

Caltin fought this demon back and cut “him” down in a manner of a handful of strikes. The big guy was not in the mood to play games and while he expected her to attack from behind, it would be no surprise if she did not.

​

 

[Astrid pentoghast]

Caltin Vanagor

Astrid wasn't surprised when caltin cut down the smoke demon she had heard of him and his skill he didn't disappoint as caltin was landing the final blow on astrids shadow demon. The nightsister came in quickly with the acquired lightsaber she wielded it's blue blade pierced the air as she thrusted it aiming at caltins back. Aiming for vital organs or to pierce his spine the sith lord didn't care although she aimed for the jedis spine.

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

LOCATION: Shadow Temple | OBJECTIVE: Nothing yet | POST #: 7
TAG (ALLIES) : @
TAG (FOES) : Astrid pentoghast

There it is.

He didn’t sense her thoughts, he didn’t sense her aggression. He heard her steps. When the woman attacked, he sidestepped left and slammed his own golden blade onto her (no doubt stolen) blue one pushing it downward. He was not sure of her full capabilities, but if this was any case, such a direct move was proof positive that the art of the saber was not something she was appreciative of.

Backstepping twice and looking her over, she looked to be sizing him up. Caltin could be wrong, but he has been around long enough to know when someone was sizing him up. He was sure she had something on her mind. He waited for her to make the next move. He knew that he had to be ready for whatever she decided to do. He watched as her eyes narrowed and her lips curled up into a thin smile. He knew he had to stay alert. He had to be ready to defend himself if necessary. Whatever you are wanting to do to me, just go ahead and try to do it. You are out of your league with that stolen lightsaber.

He half expected her to try and get under his skin with some story about how she tortured and slaughtered a Jedi to get it.

 

[Astrid pentoghast]

Caltin Vanagor

Astrid was glad caltin dodged as much as she wanted to end this fight but if all it took was a stab to the back that would be boring. As he dodged left and slammed his own golden Saber into her stolen blade she teleported expecting him to counter attack in a sudden burst of green smoke before reappearing 4 feet away. Still holding the her stolen blade she had totally guessed his expertise with a Saber wrong before she manipulated the weather without physically moving as a barrage of lightning strikes where aimed at caltin.

Astrid would teleport in and make quick strikes in tandem with the lightning strikes then teleport out so when caltin would have to dodge with unwavering accuracy to dodge both unharmed. As the last lightning strike struck Astrid would teleport but instead of striking Astrid would do a force scream capable of shattering wood and cracking stone at point blank range of caltin.

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

LOCATION: Shadow Temple | OBJECTIVE: Nothing yet | POST #: 7
TAG (ALLIES) : @
TAG (FOES) : Astrid pentoghast

The intensifying storm, the power, the electrical charge, it meant one thing.

Lightning, huh?

The teleportation was an interesting move, something he would definitely have to find someone to teach this. She was actually pretty quick with the lightsaber, all things considered, but nothing he could not block. Caltin did not really know what she was expecting to see with the lightning strikes hitting all around him, but he didn’t move, no sense in that. He was able to block her strikes, and when she teleported out, Caltin threw a hand up again and made another fist.

This time though, he brought it down towards her and a large lightning strike hit between three of her “undead guards” sending them flying. I can control lightning too..

He looked down to his saber arm to see the forearm was singed pretty deeply. He blocked the strike, he remembered it, but Caltin must have been more concerned with looking for something else.

 

[Astrid pentoghast]

Caltin Vanagor

Astrid took several steps away after the barrage of attacks failed to harm caltin in the ways she hoped evaluating her situation she figured this was probably a losing fight for her as she commanded the undead wookies to charge. As she teleported to her ship and quickly prepared to take off hopefully the wookies would give her the time needed to actually achieve space flight.

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

LOCATION: Shadow Temple | OBJECTIVE: Nothing yet | POST #: 8
TAG (ALLIES) : @
TAG (FOES) : Astrid pentoghast

The charging Wookiees was expected, but still not something he was prepared for. Somehow, she made these soulless husks of former “friends” and “family” (a story for another day) emotional and able to feel the pain of each of his strikes. It made him sick to his stomach but also he knew that they were indeed dead, and it was either him, or them.

If there is any hint of “you” inside, fight this! I don’t want to do this.

Caltin knew that it was too late, they were nothing but bodies, but still, he had to try something.

At first, the sheer number of them was overwhelming, but he fought his way out of the attack only to see the Sith had gone, there was no trace of her. He searched the area but found no sign of her. He was still puzzled as to how she had escaped and why he was being targeted. He decided to continue his search, determined to find answers. One thing was certain…

… that “teleportation” was something he needed to learn, if only to teach other Jedi.