Private Vines of Mayhem

[Khaostra Devoid]

War was all Khaos had known for awhile now, ever since the destruction of Csilla. She had found herself fighting the wars of the sith she despised. In her heart she was a witch of Dathomir above all else and she saw how the sith had ruined her peoples legacy tarnishing what they could have been. At first she had been in denial about the Maw, saying to herself the sith were just one of many tribes but in truth the Maw were sith. Not just one aspect of the maw but the whole thing down to its core was built on the faith of the Sith. Knowing she was working for a religion she did not follow and despised tore her apart inside and when her mother Tegan Starfall turned her back on the Maw, Khaos herself walked away.


She did not hate the Maw as a whole nor did she disagree with its premise of wanting to rebuild the reality into a better image. Yet she could not live with what they were at their core sith, everything the sith made or touched ended in total annihilation. It was funny now thinking about her blood feud with Michael Barran both aided and served intuitions that were in principle built by the sith. As much as they despised sith they could never denied that both Maw and the Empire where built on the foundation of the sith rule and law. It was that would lead both governments to ruination like so many empires built on sith they would become ash.


Khaos found herself in the craigs near where her family’s village once was on here on Dathomir. The Empire had come to this world awhile ago now and attempted to eradicate the witches though most had scatter to the wind. Khaos and her family attempted to restore the dark coven with plans to take back Dathomir but like always they were once again torn apart by old wounds they couldn’t let heal. Also the new people they attempted to bring in just stole what they had and tried to make it their own, which seemed to be their fate always build then get reaped of what they made.


All seemed lost for Khaostra everything she had or attempted to build seemed to fall apart. It didn’t matter if was out of revenge for her people or even letting parts of feuds die by letting Thomas Barran live despite vowing to eradicate his entire bloodline. Here she was wandering through the Craigs looking for the cave where some of her families’ belongings were hidden away. She was lost once more like she was when she found the Maw. She had no idea where she was going from here probably back to wandering the Galaxy aimlessly for another thousand or so years. Maybe she would find some new war to fight, maybe a new maw would rise one without sith or one built on the sith ideology.


Her orange glowing eyes landed on the entrance to the cave she was looking for, the front of it had large cover stone in front of it to try and obscure it from view only one with keen eyes would notice it for what it really was. Khaos walked to the cover stone and reached into her red jacket and from it pulled out a black candle. With the snap of her fingers the wick on the candle lit up, first it was orange, then the flame slowly turned blue. Light the black candle when the flame turns blue whisper the name. “Nexus” She whispered into the blue flame and the cover stone began to roll away so she could enter the cave.

---

Lancer "Deadlock" Inek & Sylus (Γ059) receive a strange, encoded message on a secure comm channel. The message temporarily overrides all other comm channels leave it the only message that can be seen for a few moments. It gives the coordinates to the Planet Dathomir and coordinates to the Cave The message states:

"On Dathomir there is a lost witch, one who witness the destruction of Csilla. Her hands stained in the blood of billions of innocents. Her crimes are many, but she is the daughter of God so is what she has done justified? Her judgement is in your hands and unfathomable treasures await."​

The messages ends but it lingers in your minds for a moment like it had a spell attached that etches it into your minds so you can't forget it. The questions looms though what is that it you need and what is the message really offering. The only way to find out would be to seek out this Khaostra Devoid.

 

[Sylus (Γ059)]

ISB Headquarters, Bastion
Personnel Personnal Quarters Wing
Unit H-23​

"On Dathomir there is a lost witch, one who witness the destruction of Csilla. Her hands stained in the blood of billions of innocents. Her crimes are many, but she is the daughter of God so is what she has done justified? Her judgement is in your hands and unfathomable treasures await."

Sylus pondered the message in his quarters, ignoring the technicians finishing up their encryption inspection of his workstation computer.

Csilla.

Sylus remembered the feeling of shock and horror that had washed across the recently-victorious Imperial Order at that time. He also remembered the anger, the frustrated, impotent rage, that had dug into his mind.

The technicians came up to him.

"Security protocols rebooted, agent. Signal packet was self-destroying. Didn't seem to beam anything back to a point of origin, so..."

"No security issues?"

"Well, none from now on, far as I can tell. Unless you want to kick this up the chain of command for a deeper investigation?"

Sylus had considered forwarding the message to his superiors and be done with it, but something in him told him not to. He had to be the one to do this. And alone. Perhaps it was The Force that had for so long been silenced in his mind.

"I think the issue is settled. Thanks for your time."

As the door closed on the exiting technicians, Sylus sat on the bare chair in the middle of his quarters, pondering.

At that time, he had only recently defected to the Imperial Order. As an enhanced assassin for the Sith, suspicion had hung over his head like a cloud, even despite the intelligence he had provided to the New Imperials and the testimonial of Master En-Just of the Knights.

Sylus pulled out his personal datapad. On it he had stored an external recreation of the message. Billions of innocents...

He remembered the anger he had felt at the news even as he underwent intensive physical and, much more arduously, spiritual training under the Knights. Training to clean his soul of the taint of the Sith. He had not properly been one, of course, but the techniques and close proximity to them had undoubtedly stained his soul.

And in the middle of that, hearing of the obliteration of an entire planet. Before, he might not even have reacted to it. Maybe he would have been impressed at the scale. A job well done, perhaps. But at that time, Sylus was in a precarious mental state. He had begun to really internalise the reality that justice was possible with action. And then Csilla happened.

Sylus switched the active module on his datapad, considering his current situation. He was not currently on active assignment, though rumblings of deployment to the Maw front had been making the rounds in his part of the ISB. He checked his RedStream Operational status: <ACTIVE> That meant he could go to his handlers and submit this... bounty? Message? As a means of adding funds (or treasure, as the message put it) into the Black Fund. Justification enough, and besides, the message implied this was a Witch of Dathomir too. With the Empire's policy on Force Users in its borders, it would be an easy sell to his handlers.

By the time he crossed the room to the door and to the hallway, an operational plan had already formed in his mind: which cover identity to use as he journeyed to Dathomir, which ship to requisition, what equipment he might need, how to find information on the target, contingency plans, which on-site facilities to contact.

He was not ready when Csilla happened. But now he would be. To right a wrong he could not stop.

Spoiler: OOC

Just a set-up post before reaching Dathomir so that Lancer "Deadlock" Inek can post too and if Khaostra Devoid wants to also post some set-up

 

[Lancer "Deadlock" Inek]

Lance remembered Khasotra.

A party girl in her element on one of the many dance floors of Nar Shaadda. Lance had to admit, she took him by surprise she approached him. He wasn't the one who was easily raddled considering he was trained to always be on guard. Lance and Khaos danced for what felt like an eternity until she promised him that she would travel with Lance on an adventure. A kids fantasy and Lance wasn't entirely sure what bought this on maybe she was drunk or something but Khaos was insistent. Yet Nar Shaadda was the last time Lance would ever see her again at least until he received a contract listing her involvement in the destruction of Csilla.

Lance wasn't surprised though, he suspected there was something off about Khaos but at the same time he couldn't help but keep her alive. The SJC would definitely have Khaos answer for her crimes and a good old fashion execution would do wonders. Yet Lance was reluctant, personal feelings shouldn't interfere with his mission but at the same time being a clone Lance wanted to indulge himself as a "free" man.

The Bounty Hunter arrived at Dathomir where he was supposed to meetup with a man named Sylus (Γ059) . He looked around wondering where he could be. According to the ship, he landed near this location.

Khaostra Devoid

 

[Sylus (Γ059)]

Dathomir
Landing Station CD-49​

Sylus watched Lancer "Deadlock" Inek 's ship touch down on the landing pad, the only sign of civilisation for miles around. Sylus had landed in the little-used landing pad an hour ago. The droids and technician operating the extremely run-down pad were employees of one of the few repair networks foolish enough to set up shop in such a place as this, and it was hardly difficult to buy the technician's silence with a quick payment courtesy of the ISB.

The ISB agent checked his equipment again. Slug? Sniper rifle, charric pistol vibroknife, and of course, his trusty machete. Tailored against Force Users. The agent packed his equipment up and walked over to the ship.

Sylus watched as Lancer exited his ship, looking around the barren area. ISB had gotten word on the bounty nets that this man had received a similar transmission, and through its many shadowy appendages had linked Lancer to Sylus. The Bounty Hunter largely cleared basic background checks, and Sylus agreed to play the role of another bounty hunter chasing the same score when contacting Deadlock.

If someone was planning this whole thing as bait for Imperial agents, the best way to find out who it was would be to brazenly grab hold of it, at least, according to his handlers. Accordingly, RAIDER-command had instructed Sylus to present himself as-is: no name change, though tweaking his circumstances. If pressed, he would clarify he was a bounty hunter on long-term contract for the Imperial government, acting today in accordance with Kyber Dark Protocol. Not too far from the truth.

When Sylus reached Lancer he held out his hand.

"Pleased to meet you. Sylus. I assume you are the one called Deadlock?"

 

[Khaostra Devoid]

Khaos made her way into the cave it was dark only her glowing orange eyes and the blue flame from the black candle give her light at first. As crossed the threshold the stone began to roll back into its position to hide the cave from being easily spotted. The cave quickly grew even darker as the stone fitted itself back in place. Her orange eyes peered around at the wall's vines and roots from trees along the craigs ran across the cave walls thick making the stone just barely visible. As she wandered down the corridor, she could hear the vines speaking about her as she made her way deeper into the cave.

"Why is she here, no one has been her in many years?"

"Witches fled when the outsiders came."

"Is she a witch?"​

The blabbered on in their gossip circle unaware that Khaos could hear them. When they asked if she was witch though she blew her cover. "Of Course, I am a damn witch." The Vines and roots quickly hushed as they realized she could hear and understand them. Their silence was more deafening than their endless pointless banter. Still, she pushed on deeper into the cave, it had been a long time for her the system of caves a labyrinth, she wasn't sure but thought she was headed the right way.

As she pushed deeper the temperature began to grow colder and colder the vines and roots slowly becoming less and less due to the temperature drop. It was the temperature dropping that told her she was heading the right direction. She knew by the time she reached her destination the temperature in this cave would drop well below freezing a drastic change to Dathomir's and the Howling Craigs normal temperatures. The Temperature had been artificially created by magick of her people.

---

Tag: Lancer "Deadlock" Inek | Sylus (Γ059)

 

[Lancer "Deadlock" Inek]

"That's me," Lance tipped the brim of his hat to his partner. The man looked dead set on following through with this job and he was armed to the teeth. In his years of Bounty Hunting, all Lance needed was his trusty Blaster Pistol and of course his training as an elite Clone soldier. "I had some people on the inside slip me some info before I got here. The target is headed for a cave, we could go for a cave in and hope the woman gets crushed or starves to death."

He shrugged. "Or we can surround her and kill her bring her corpse to our clients. Prefer the latter, we get to see the witch's corpse. With magic folks like her, you need to make sure that she don't bullchit her way out."

All Lance was concerned was getting Khaos out, nothing more nothing less. He just got to lead Sylus to the least violent option. Something he felt he did well enough. "It's a few clicks north from here," Lance gripped his belt. "If we hurry, we can intercept her and get this job over with."

Sylus (Γ059)

 

[Sylus (Γ059)]

Dathomir
Landing Station CD-49​

Sylus considered the options. If the target was in a cave, he was more than happy to set explosives, but as the bounty hunter aptly pointed out, there was no telling the survivability of Force Users, especially a Witch on her own soil.

He wondered if this Deadlock was withholding something. His Force senses were still dulled and suppressed from years of... 'training', but he didn't have to have that to tell Deadlock definitely had an angle. All Bounty Hunters did. Sylus supposed it made sense the other man would want to confirm the kill and get whatever treasure their mysterious patron was offering.

"Makes sense. You never know with a Witch, and it's hard to say what our, hmm, 'contact' might consider sufficient 'judgement'. Lead the way," Sylus motioned to the horizon. As they continued on foot, Sylus asked, "I'm sure you're prepared for close-range combat with a Force User? What capabilities do you wish to bring to bear on this target?"

Lancer "Deadlock" Inek

 

[Khaostra Devoid]

The stone cave walls were now very cold touch and the vines had disappeared replaced by moss that could handle extreme cold. The walkway that had been dug into the cave to guide one wondering them now had an ice sheet forming on them. Hot breath turned into steam as it struck the air, this was a very strange place for normally warm planet and the craigs being so close to the great desert. Still Khaos continued now though she knew she was really close to her destination. Soon the walkways opened into a medium sized cavern.


The Cavern was well rounded in the very center sat an alter that could barely be seen in the darkness Khaos's glowing orange eyes giving her light enough to see it. She began to move around the cave coming to a brass brazier. "Éclairer." She said as she raised her hand towards the brazier and as she did fire sprang forth from her palm and ignited the material in the Braizer. The room lit up revealing the cavern was covered in runes etched into the stone and along the circled walls where various treasures, trinkets, and heirlooms stacked and tossed about.


Sitting on the alter was amulet with a gold chain and red gem in the center. Also on the alter was a onyx ring also with red gem in the center next to it nearly identical ring but a blue gem in it. Next them was a diamond Mask and thin bladed sword. There was also and energy bow leaning against the alter. Also on the alter were to lightsabers that gave off heavy dark side energy. Yet two other stranger objects sat on the alter one was a cube like device with writing on it from so long dead civilization. The second item looked like a simple candle holder with runes etched in it.


Khaos made her way to the alter and sat the black candle with blue flame in it. As she did the runes on the candle holder began to glow and then a blue light began to engulf the room and lighting up all the runes on the wall. As the runes lit up they revealed secret compartments in everyone was a holocron, the hidden archive of the Dark Coven. A smile crossed Khaos's face as she looked around in wonderment.

---

Tag: Lancer "Deadlock" Inek | Sylus (Γ059)

OOC: sorry for the delay bit of a lose of muse and got busy rl and with another character.

 

[Lancer "Deadlock" Inek]

Lance was only here to rescue Khaos but he knew he had to make this convincing somehow. “Ive been trained in Teras Kasi and know how to counter any Sith magic that the witch might pull on us.” He spoke. "I've taken the necessary antidotes and I've trained myself extensively to the point where I can resist any mental attacks that she will pull on us.

It was true though Lance didn't tell Sylus that he learned this in his pod back in Kamino. Though he felt that place was a prison, Lance was thankful that he gained the knowledge necessary so that he didn't feel like a complete fish out of water when he ventured in the Galaxy. "I got some flashbangs," Lance continued. "But I always have my trusty pistol with me."

The Bounty Hunter stared at the cave frowning. "Come on," he said. "Let's go, she's waiting for us."

Sylus (Γ059) , Khaostra Devoid

 

[Sylus (Γ059)]

Sylus nodded. He was more than prepared to meet a Force-User in combat, and Deadlock seemed to know his way around things. It would suffice.

The pair strolled towards the cave. Sylus drew his charric pistol and vibroknife. His enhanced senses and Force attunement allowed him to navigate the cave system in the dark, but he realised his hunting partner might not. Sylus handed a rudimentary set of low-light visors to the other man and led the way in.

The cave system was vast, that much was clear once he entered. Little light, yes, but also little heat. The air here was insulated from the outside. A draft came in from the entrance they entered here and then, but for the most part the air was as dead as the cave.

Subtle tracks in the undisturbed dust along the floor directed the pair down one path in the cave, deeper in. Sylus continued ahead, ready for anything. The path seemed to go down, then up, then wind around before opening into a large cavern. Here the air circulated through holes in its dome, but of more interest was a faint glow in the walls. They pointed the pair towards another pathway.

This close to Khaostra, Sylus could feel her presence, though his suppression would mask him from her.

"We're close. Next cavern up ahead." Sylus considered using the sniper rifle, hoping to bait the Witch out for a clean shot, but in these quarters, only steel and bone would suffice.

Khaostra Devoid Lancer "Deadlock" Inek

 

[Khaostra Devoid]

Two entered the cave system as soon as they did silent alarms signaled the non Dathomiri trespassers. Though Khaos didn't know there were two or for that matter how many there were just that some or a group of someone's had entered that were not marked by the dark coven she was apart off. She quickly reached out with the force and snuffed out the both the brazier and the blue flame of the candle. The Cavern she was in went pitch black and the protective seals once again hid the holocrons. Once again only the orange glow of her eyes lit the very dark cavern, she was in unaware that made her easier to target.

She then reached out with the force trying to see if she could sense the intruders and as she did only a singular soul could be sensed. It seemed familiar but she wasn't sure where she knew it from just yet. That came with long life meeting so many people when you saw or felt someone familiar you couldn't always remember immediately who they were or where you met them. Khaos back herself up to the cave wall and placed a hand along the stone.

She sent vibration throughout the cave and called on the moss, vines, and plants in the cave to act as her eyes and senses. It wasn't long and she could sense and feel the whole cave system but as a downside she also heard the scream voice of all the plant life in her head again cause her to start to have a forming migraine. As she did the Plants relayed to her there were in fact two intruders in the cave. The flora even told her where they were in relation to her, it was interesting though one of them suppressed themselves from her force sight. The Plants themselves couldn't give a description of the trespassers per say, they could tell her both were male.

Keeping her connection to the plants she projected her voice from another cavern in the caves out to the intruders. "Trespassers!" The voice boom from a cavern behind the two gentlemen. "Leave this place now!"

---

Tags: Sylus (Γ059) | Lancer "Deadlock" Inek

 

[Lancer "Deadlock" Inek]

"It's been a while," Lance muttered immediately unholstering his Blaster Pistol holding it to his side. "I remember you Khaos, I remember the promise that you and I made together. That we would ride out into the twilight and travel the Galaxy."

He adjusted his hat chuckling at what he just said. "But you were always a wild gal never letting anyone hold you down." Lance shook his head. "Have to admit though, I did have a good night with you. I found you very pretty but you never allowed yourself to be chained to fate."

Lance smirked. "Unfortunately for you outside forces are finally converging on you. Such a shame too, I liked you Khaos. But everything must come to end."

Sylus (Γ059) , Khaostra Devoid

 

[Sylus (Γ059)]

Keeping her connection to the plants she projected her voice from another cavern in the caves out to the intruders. "Trespassers!" The voice boom from a cavern behind the two gentlemen. "Leave this place now!"

Lance smirked. "Unfortunately for you outside forces are finally converging on you. Such a shame too, I liked you Khaos. But everything must come to end."

Wordlessly, Sylus tossed a grenade into the plants, packed with incendiaries. In the blink of an eye he drew his charric pistol and fired at Khaos, aiming for the head. He was not going to let this Sith evade justice.

Khaostra Devoid Lancer "Deadlock" Inek