Weekend Treasure Hunt 15: The Cursed Holocrons (Vitae Order vs Lords of the Fringe)

[Jorus Merrill]

OOC/ Unlike all previous Weekend Treasure Hunts, this one is open only to members of the Vitae Order and the Lords of the Fringe.

Violence is, of course, permitted, but the point of the thread is to get the objectives by whatever IC means seem most effective. OOC, please prioritize consideration and fair play. Stay classy. No armies or capital ships. I have no intention of DM'ing this thread unless absolutely necessary; be sure to TAG YOUR LOCATIONS (eg, west wall, halfway down) and take a reasonable number of posts to get places. One character per writer, please. In the event of classlessness on either side, I reserve the right to say you found a different holocron, broken beyond repair.



IC/

Legend tells of five holocrons wrought by an ancient claimant to the title of Dark Lord as a means of testing and confounding his disciples. Each holocron contained immense knowledge, but whoever used them needed to be willing to pay the price.

Because each of the five, in its own unique way, had a curse on it. Nothing lethal; on that, the legends were clear. But these holocrons might well have been made for brash students who declared that they would give up anything for the knowledge they sought.

Now word has reached the Lords of the Fringe and the Vitae Order that these five very different, very powerful, very dangerous holocrons are located in a technobeast stronghold on the high-gravity planet Nemexia, in the Unknown Regions. The technobeasts, known as the Children of Darzu, are parts of a powerful, unknowable, malevolent hive mind. Their Dark Side-tainted nanotechnology will happily assimilate anyone it infects, starting with the consumption of the brain from the inside out. Resistant to Force countermeasures, the technobeast infection has left few survivors, mainly those wise enough to cut off the nanobot-infected limb.

Tread lightly.

***​

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Darzite Hive Pit​

Barren Plain, Nemexia​

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The hive pit is half a kilometre deep and three hundred metres wide. Narrow pathways spiderweb across and around its walls, and tunnels branch from them into the bedrock.​

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The first holocron, called breath in the legends, is located in a complex network of very cramped tunnels, accessible from the north wall of the pit, half way down.​

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The second holocron, called touch, is located in a shrine in the middle of the pit floor.​

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The third holocron, called scream, is located at a place where a narrow path reaches the pit floor, against the south wall.​

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The fourth holocron, called tongue, is located near the top of the pit, on a long narrow spike of rock that juts out over the pit from the east side.​

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The fifth holocron, called void, is located half-way down the east side, in the shadow of the rocky spire that holds the tongue holocron.​

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All of the above locations are swarming with technobeasts. These ones aren't stupid.​

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Special prize for the writer of the character who experiences the best death or permanent maiming.​

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***​

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Vitae Order: [member="Amee"], [member="Asher"], [member="David Ulmer"], [member="Dux Kotass"], [member="Dux Pontus"], [member="Hakora Rhapsodos"], [member="Hatake Mutashi"], [member="Javik Quar-Kai"], [member="Malachite Avachei"], [member="Matsu Ike"], [member="Minna"], [member="Oka Osaa"], [member="OOC Account David Tharkosa"], [member="Ophelia"], [member="sabrina"], [member="Tricia"], [member="Tugoro Taidarious"], [member="Zander Greyson"], [member="Spectre"], [member="Cain Laatl"], [member="William Trager"] [member="Taras Crozo"]​

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Lords of the Fringe: [member="Lucianus Adair"], [member="Darth Vornskr"], @Lady Exedo, [member="Spencer Jacobs"], [member="Jared Ovmar"], [member="Valik"], [member="Hannibal Oryen"], [member="Alen Na'Varro"], [member="Lucien Cordel"], [member="Carré Inirial"], [member="Elias Truden"], [member="Marek Starchaser"], [member="Matsu Xiangu"], [member="Gavin Ovmar"]​

 

[Darth Vaildra]

[member="Jorus Merrill"]
(Are these holocron a made or are they free to be made by us?)

The sound of an X-Wing filled the silence of the night as it ripped through the skyline. The pilot sent the starship upside down where the pilot left the seat for a free fall. The ship was preprogrammed to land an power down a few clicks west of the compound. The free falling pilot rotated their body and used the force to land safely on the ground. The pilot named Hakra was wearing light armor and a sword and shield on his back with a double bladed lightsaber on his back hip. He had been sent to retrieve some holocron a and return them to the Vitae Order and he would do so with the hope they would give him one to increase his own knowledge of he was willing to pay the price. Hakora began walking towards the compound.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien was not an adept pilot and he hated free fall , ergo he opted for an old fashioned drop ship and pilot. A nice calm decent into hell. Lucien had pulled [member="Elias Truden"] along for the ride, he was certain the threat of curses was an empty one , sith lords made empty threats all the time, however he was not going to test that theory first hand ... Elias could do that for him.

The drop ship was getting closer , Lucien turned to his assistant "I trust you read the data on this place , I want the touch holocron first then tongues then we will hunt out the others" a large knife (A Derrifan's eye) and a heavy blaster pistol lay next to Lucien "Your going to need these ,if you don't know how to use them now you will by the time we're out of this hell hole" he paused for a moment "oh and don't cut yourself on that blade its poisonous"

"Any questions before we begin?"

 

[Asher]

I found myself aboard the dropship with my new chief, or well, ‘lord’ as he preferred to be called. In a sense I felt a bit out of place going for these ‘holocrons’ he kept referring to. Truth be told I had no idea what to expect of them. In the end I figured if he wanted me to do anything but touch the ‘Touch Holocron’ then he would have said something.

In any case I nodded as he asked me if I had read the data. These technobeasts seemed to warrant caution and I eyed the man with the respect he deserved. I reached out to grab the dagger and blaster but paused for a second. Did he just say poisoned? I stop half-way.

“No questions, Lord Cordel.” It was most likely rhetorical anyway. “I’m sure I’ll figure out how to work the blaster as we go, no worries.”

[member="Lucien Cordel"]

 

[Kyla Foy]

Location: Near the east side of the entrance of the hive

When there was light within the darkness, it was sure Ophelia would've been the brightest type of light alignment that had been existing on the planet. It was about to be a heck of a run within this strange treasure hunt, she would be doing with her master together [member="Vulpesen"] . This was a way of Ophelia to get her experience in the battle situations and to see how she was growing through her force training. She had been growing a whole lot within the force, and gained slight experience with the saber. They were near the entrance and she noticed something, it did take a while but she sensed it, adorable as ever she looked back to her master, "Master, I feel its like that strange planet number five..." The planet Circe tried to train her in the Sith arts but, she had failed.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen growled as he waked across the surface of the tainted planet, having [member="Ophelia"] at his side. "You're right, this is not a good place. Stay close, I don't want you getting yourself into trouble without me to help you keep safe." He hated it, but if his apprentice was to be a tenevi, she would need to face darkness. The younger she was, the more prepared she'd be. He just prayed it wouldn't be too much for her.

Focusing himself through the force, Vulpesen sensed its nuances and searched for his path. He'd found that recently, he could commune with it, let it guide him in more than simple movements. Of course, all he could gleam from such was a direction. No purpose, no warnings. Just a direction. THe direction he was given, east of their drop point. "Alright, lets go." he placed a hand on Ophelia's shoulder and started eastward into the hive.

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[rain21199]

LOCATION: Top of pit, slightly east of south wall​

Cain thought hard on the stories that surrounded his objective. Was knowledge really that important that these people were wiling to risk their lives for it? Unless the others had more information about these holocrons than Cain did nobody really even knew what was on the holocrons. He went back to the question. Was it worth it? If the knowledge obtained was something that was extremely important or some type of ancient teaching, then yes it was.

Cain approached something that looked almost like a giant hole in the ground. He peered into the dark abyss only to be able to make out thousands of pathways and tunnels. He decided that he was just going to start his immaculate journey by taking a right down into a tunnel near him. There was a buzz that hung in the air. One that was as faint as a whisper, and could only be made out if everything was quite.

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

[member="Hakora Rhapsodos"] [member="Cain Laatl"] [member="Vulpesen"] [member="Ophelia"]

Alexandra made sure she had each of the people's comlinks on quick command as she came up beside Vulpesen and Ophelia, looking at the former of the pair and speaking as she stood there. "Hey Fox brain, where is everyone or are we the only three that are investigating this legend. We need to get this done as soon as possible, if the legend is true then i dont want a single one of those devices remaining here for a Sith to come and retrieve. If they do... its quite possible that we will have a much much worse problems on our hands." She secured her armor and her breath mask, sealing it up tight and leaving the main part of her helmet off for now.

 

[Bolt]

[member="Alexandra Lianne Feanor"] [member="Vulpesen"] [member="Ophelia"]

Walking forward, from his ever present hiding spot among the shadows, Zander Greyson nodded his greeting to the woman that had become a could be master for himself, alongside Vulepesen an ally he had recently found himself encountering, "What exactly is this 'legend' we are gong to search for about? As far as my connections can ascertain, it has something to do with ancient Holocrons, or something similar..." Clad in a simple Glistaweb suit, with an armorweave body suit underneath, Golden Claw - the saber gifted to him by Ashin Varanin - against his right hip and a young Amphistaff curled against the opposite, while against his back rested a small bag of assorted explosives, he was as ready as he could be.

Then again, he did not know what would await him.

 

[Kyla Foy]

Ophelia happily seemed to be acting as ever. She was not scared the smallest bits. She was unable to see the dangers in things. She was unable to see the truth of the darkness. She was the light, the most bright light source actually within the area. Her training had not yet come to a phase to alter herself in order to not be sensed throughout the force. She was the easiest to be found, now the thing that could bring the other faction somehow into a state of confusion could be that they thought of the Republic. They would never know it would be a faction, which was rising that could be around.

She didn't know about the legends, but she could feel the shiver of the darkness, the place was like Malachor five. The words to describe it was hard for her to explain, they were unable to currently touch and taint her. She nodded after hearing her master telling her to stick close, "Of course!~ Uhm..." She thought for herself for a moment, her eyes scanned forward and she wondered what it could've been that she was feeling. Her connection within the force had been greatly increasing.

[member="Vulpesen"]
[member="Alexandra Lianne Feanor"]
[member="Zander Greyson"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen turned his head to face [member="Alexandra Lianne Feanor"] and couldn't help but smile. So she had decided to join them. "I can feel others spread throughout the planet in their search as well. Of course, with that, I can also tell that we are not alone. If we want the bounty of this valley, we must hurry." After he was done speaking with his loved one, he turned to face [member="Zander Greyson"].

"This valley is said to hold several holocrons. And if you were higher trained, I say go and look for another, as it is, it looks like you're with me. Stay on your toes and try not to get killed. If all goes well, we might just come out of this with more than our lives." His words could be taken with slight undertones of derisiveness, though he wouldn't meant them. besides, for him, the more the merrier. And if there was a person he should logically send away, it was Alexandra, not that the thought ever crossed his mind.

"Now then, lets be off. [member="Ophelia"], just jump, I'll catch you." With that, he jumped into the pit, letting the force slow his body. Once he would hit the bottom, he looked up and waited, prepared to catch those who didn't possess the skills to slow their own descent as he had. After all, it wasn't many who where trained by being tossed out of trees.

 

[Bolt]

Zander nodded. Once, while being Master, or even in his Knight days, he would have objected and being referred to as he was, but in this time he had come to realize that not everything was about him. "Yessir. But please dont just shrug me off as a no one. My power may be less than what you want, but I still have the memories of my past lives. I can be of use." He doubted he was as good with his saber as Vulpesen, but as he had said, he had the knowledge of a Master in a few ways of combat - even if his body was not as accustomed as his previous had been.

Then Zander sighed, "Scratch that. Its not my place to question you. I apologize, I am still getting used to a new life and outlook upon it. Just point and I will follow." Leaping down into the pit after the man, Zander ignited his saber, gripped his amphistaff while stroking its neck twice - signalling he needed it to be in its sword fashion - then swung them both into the rock face to slow his decent until he was resting on the ground.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Kyla Foy]

Ophelia listened as she wondered what an actual Holocron would look like. She never heard of such a thing and slowly nodded, "Mhm! I understand, master Vulpesen." The joy of her life showing off. The innocence sparkling off her, "I will be right behind you~" She slowly leaned forward after he had left. She still felt strange, "Hmm, I know this..." She thought for herself as she could hear throughout the area an echo, "I...will...protect...you" The voice sounded unfamiliar, but this echo caused her not to get corrupted to the Dark-Side.

She giggled as she jumped down going towards her master within the darkness her light was maybe the easiest able source to be sensed as it came closer and closer

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[rain21199]

Location: 20 meters north of the south wall. 60 meters down.​

Cain had been walking for a good couple of minutes before he saw something that was alive. He couldn't make out what it was at all. He could only see that something moved away from him very quickly. Intrigued by this new discovery, he moved in the direction it ran. He could smell rusting metal. It was so strong that he felt very sick. Once he turned the corner he saw a human shaped creature in the distance. It's eyes glowed red. It's arms were razor sharp. Cain put his hand on his lightsaber and took a step forward. He decided to tell Vulpesen about what he was seeing. "Hey, I just encountered something over here, and it doesn't look good" Cain said in a whisper. "It looks like an extremely advanced droid with a sword replacing one arm. It looks like it might be hostile. I'm going to approach it."

Cain unsheathed his lightsaber, and slowly moved towards the droid. It stood in silence watching him without moving. Cain turned on his lightsaber, and instantly the droid's head flickered. A second later it was charging Cain. Another second passed and it was swinging it's large blade at him. Cain quickly moved out of the way of the sharp blade. The droid was very fast. Cain dodge another quick jab before cutting of it's arm kicking it away. The droid then grabbed Cain's arm with it's remaining hand. It twisted his arm, causing him to drop the lightsaber. Cain yelped in pain. His arm was closing in on it's breaking point. With all of his might, Cain pushed the droid away using the force. The droid instantly started his way back towards Cain. Cain quickly swept it's legs out from underneath it, and pulled his lightsaber back to himself with the force. While pinning the droid down with the force, Cain walked up to it, stepped on it's chest, and stabbed his lightsaber through the droids head. He heard screams fly out of the droid as it deactivated.

Cain put his communicator up to his mouth. "Watch out" He stopped to catch his breath. "The droids are dangerous." Cain's heart was beating in his chest, and he decided that he would keep his lightsaber out, but off at all times. Cain then began to walk the path again. He looked around every corner before turning into them just to make sure that it was empty. He silently prayed that he wouldn't be met with those red eyes again.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Top of the north wall overlooking the pit of the Touch shrine

Lucien chuckled handing the weapons Over "point the gun at the baddies and pull the trigger , all you need to worry about is not getting blown back by the recoil ... And as for the knife just stick them with the pointy end. "

Their landing was not a smooth one , technobeasts Were causing Lucien's pilot no end of issue, it was incredibly inconvenient. No the less they landed atop the North wall mostly intact and untainted. Despite all of this lucien still exited with the grace of a debutante, he couldn't understand how such skill was lost on most. He walked to the edge of the wall looking down into the pit. The lower levels swarmed with the beasts. He and [member="Elias Truden"] Would have their work cut out for them.

He drew his own gun. whilst his transforming rapier elegance sat at his hip. A few Technobeasts were straying higher up. "Come now Mr. Truden we aught to head down , there are others arriving and bloodshed will only cause us trouble"

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen reached for [member="Ophelia"] through the force and caught her with an invisible grasp, slowing her down to let her feet land softly on the ground, as opposed to her body splatting against the stone. Just as he was lowering his arms, he flicked his ears at the sounds of Cain's transmission. "Everyone stay on your feet." He had decided not to bring up [member="Zander Greyson"]'s apology. It wasn't out of any cold manner, but simply that if he was to speak on it, he would prefer more time. Time in which they weren't racing against creatures that wanted them dead, as well as other unwanted company.

[member="Cain Laatl"]
[member="Alexandra Lianne Feanor"]

 

[Asher]

The instructions seemed simple enough. Point, shoot and pray you hit something on first try. Okay, maybe I added the last part myself but it seemed accurate enough. My skills at being ‘accurate’ came down to pen and papers. I could write really well, perhaps that would at least help me when it came to the slashy-stabby parts of this little ‘expedition’.

I attached the knife and holster to my belt and grabbed hold of one a nearby locker as the landing proved to be a rough one. As the ship touched down I followed my lord as he ever so eloquently left the ship. Not that I could say I was as great at it as he was, but a stumbling mess is still an exit… More or less.

I got myself balance back without tripping over. A look of wary shot out to make sure nobody saw or heard us. Things seemed quiet enough and I silently let out a sigh of relief before following my employer.

“You got it. I’m right behind you.”

[member="Lucien Cordel"]​

 

[Kyla Foy]

When she was coming down, she saw her master getting rapidly closer and suddenly as if a soft hand reached out for her and allowed her to softly get onto the ground, but it was that the dark-side was only feeling stronger around the place, "Thank you~", She smiled as echo's were reaching out from far distances it was unclear for her to tell, what the voices were saying She thought that they might be very close to the so called 'holocron' they wanted to find. "Okay." she said adorable making large steps sticking especially next to [member="Vulpesen"]

[member="Cain Laatl"]
[member="Zander Greyson"]
[member="Alexandra Lianne Feanor"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

[member="Vulpesen"] [member="Zander Greyson"] [member="Cain Laatl"] [member="Ophelia"]

Alexandra's feet lightly touched the groud and her eyes ran over the corners as she brought both sabers to her hand. She had fought technobeasts before and this armor as sealed as it is should allow her a bit more protection against invasion of the creatures... problem was she didn't know how potent or even if these things could infect people. But she was not willing to find out so she made sure her armor was sealed up tight one last time before smiling and turning her sabers in her hands, ready to activate them if need be.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen nodded to Alexandra and turned back to walk though the area. At first, the way seemed clear, but as he stepped forward, he eventually felt another presence itching and pawing at his mind. It wasn't sentient, but it sure as hell wasn't friendly. Figuring his warning earlier would be sufficient, the only communication he gave them was the activation of his saber staff, causing the two golden blades to rise from the fox mouth emitters.

Had he not been fortunate to take the action, its likely that Vulpesen would have had his life ended. As it was, he managed to save his own life, raising the blade at the reaction to a small metallic sound. Unnoticeable to most human ears, but a a zorren, his hearing made it as clear as day. "[member="Ophelia"], BEHIND ME NOW!" His weapon lifted up to cleave the first technobeast in half as it tried to descend on him, its group of five brothers coming out as well to attack the back of force users. "Watch yourselves!"

[member="Alexandra Lianne Feanor"]
[member="Zander Greyson"]