A dark force presence has been felt growing at a temple ruins here on Aeotheran, the clan has sent out word for volunteers that are free to investigate the disturbance. A transport will be waiting at Kel Rasha space port that will take the team to the temple, it lifts off at 07:00 sharp.
A blacked out CR25 Troop Carrier that has a magician dressed in purple painted on the side with name Magic Man written below it, the ship sits before you waiting on the platform its ramp down waiting on its passengers arrival, sounds of the starport can be heard all around you and various ships coming and going leaving a burned fuel smell that fills your nostrils.
Locke’s schedule wasn’t exactly free, but he figured any disturbance worth investigating could be worth being present for. Maybe he could use it to his advantage in clan politics, or at least keep someone else from gaining an advantage from it.
If it was that kind of thing.
He didn’t make any move to hide himself or who he was as he approached the indicated troop carrier and examined the painting on the side while waiting for others to arrive.
Sitting on a nearby handrail one could see Arshus glaring at his datapad. Pressing his thumb firmly against the screen, the fate of which was in limbo for if he pressed just a bit harder, he would surely damage it. The orders sent by his academy instructor to join this investigation, the source of his irritation.
Looking about at those gathered he noted he was most likely the least senior member here. Evidencing that this investigation might prove more rewarding than previously thought. He spared his datapad afterall.
It had been a painful number of months since Lav'anre had found herself in the Orian system. Her former master had ensured that she would endure great inconvenience. Sadly, one did not endure the wrath of a sitting or formal Consul easily.
However, he had vanished, and she had felt called back to the old stomping grounds.
She glanced about, wondering if anybody would even remember her.
It doesn’t matter. She lightly chewed her bottom lip as the thought sunk in. The Clan had called to her, and something in her had responded. Was it curiosity or loyalty? She looked over the blonde haired Elder as she approached the designated rendezvous point. A moment of panic gripped her as wrestled with her feelings.
Kriff, kriff, kriff. Her eyes widened. He was a…Consul….right? What the kriff was his name again?
The Temple at Aeotheran. Muz glanced at the communique, rocking as he leaned back in his seat. He had visited a thousand temples to dead gods, and more tombs to fallen Lords than he could count, but somehow he hadn’t been to the one held safely at Sadow’s chest, at Aeotheran. It amused him for a moment, going over the report again. A ‘dark force presence.’ ‘Volunteers’. He tapped the side of his head, black eyes closing in thought. There was much yet to do, and he was needed …elsewhere… for now. He tapped the comm array, the holo opening to show the violet skinned Twi'lek tilting her head in question.
“I have need of you.”
— Kel Rasha Spaceport, Later —
She walked down the concourse, BT-R3 whirring along happily by her side. She paused, sliding open her datapad to confirm the location, eyes sliding across the CR25 with a purple wizard on it. She sighed, and Beater chirped. “No, it’s just a stereotype. Probably a poor choice for undercover ops, but still.” Or was it? She chuckled to herself. Gentle mockery was sometimes a great obfuscation. Beater whistled again, the binary clicks and tones translating the droid’s question in her mind as if she was born speaking it. “No, I’m fairly sure that they don’t know me.” She shrugged her bag from one shouder to another, her ‘work gear’ hidden. “…Which suits me just fine.”
She turned the final corner, seeing the ramp to the ship. One lekku twitched, the other one tried to, the scar flexing white in exertion before giving up. She wasn’t keen on involving herself in brotherhood business, but the Lion had said it was integral to his plans. “Hello?” She moved closer, but slowly.
“And you are?” She couldn’t tell which of them asked, the roar of a ship lifting off making it so she was barely able to hear the question in the first place.
“Leena'shylow.” She bowed her head a degree, the glint of her goggles catching the light. “I’m here to assist, on Keibatsu orders.”
The elder waited calmly as the Deathshead made its final approach into the docking bay, the ever quiet Sidrat at the controls in front of him. As the pilot droid landed the patrol craft, Malisane gave a nod of satisfaction. “Very good. You will take the ship back to Mt Dakhan and await further orders.” “Understood Master,” the droid replied. Malisane left the cockpit and turned from the corridor towards the ramp which was lowering. He stopped as a small back shape wheeled in front of him. “You are not accompanying me Zero. You will remain here.” Red lights flashed across the panels on the astromech, and there was a deep, loud tone of protest. “You will obey,” Malisane ordered. There was a pause, and then with a whirring sound panels opened across the droid’s body, sliding open as weapons emerged, a blaster cannon raising from the back and coming round to point at the Sith while an anti armour rifle emerged from the centre and a small flame lit on its base. The droid gave off a second deep tone. Malisane faced the astromech calmly. “Very impressive. What will you do now?” There was a pause. And then the droid rolled back slightly. Malisane shook his head and walked down the ramp, which closed after him.
As the Deathshead took off, he set off down the concourse, remembering the directions he had been given. He kept his cloak tight around him and his black hood pulled down low. He had not been in the populated areas of Aeotheran since the unpleasant events towards the end of his latest term of office and the aftermath, and he had no wish to be recognised. He was briefly relieved when he recognised the garish CR25 and quickly made his way towards it.
The sounds of the engines raise, lifting the ship gently off the ground pushing it high into the atmosphere. The far wall begins to glow blue as a hologram springs to life in the image of Archpriest Quentinshadows forms, his voice can be heard through the ship’s intercom system “Thank You for responding with such short notice, 24 hours ago a dark presence has been felt at a temple here on Aeotheran and a team was sent to investigate the disturbance but all contact with the team has been lost, you are to investigate the disturbance and locate any of the initial team that was sent. Good luck and may the force be with you!” Shar Dakhan’s Quaestor says before the hologram disappeared just as fast as it initially started. It was a short flight to the southern jungles, out your viewport you can see the top of a temple poking through the thick canopy of the jungle below. The transport touches down in a clearing barely able to fit a ship of its size. “This is as close as i can get to the temple, you got about a half hour walk try to stick together the jungles here on Aeotheran is beyond dangerous, Contact me when you need a lift home.” the pilot says over the intercom as the hatch slowly drops revealing the vibrant jungle outside. After all the passengers have disembarked the transport it quickly rises heading back to Kel Rasha, as the ship leaves the sound of the jungle surrounds you with the faint sounds of thunder in the distance, dark clouds can be seen on the horizon above the canopy and the smell of rain hangs in the air.
“Right,” Locke said, looking at the assembled group. He recognized Malisane and Roxas, but the others were mostly new to him. “Does anyone want to take point? Maybe someone with experience tromping through the jungle?” He raised an eyebrow questioningly.
“Don’t be afraid to step up.”
“Don’t look at me, I hate the jungle” Jinx says laughingly, knowing full well the dangers her master told her about here in the Aeotheran jungles. “We should move soon that storm is is getting closer and not sure about the rest of you didn’t anticipate rainy weather.” She says discouragingly as she wondered why her master couldn’t send her somewhere nice like a beach or resort!
“I can take point.” Roxas said after clearing his throat. I was reborn as The Horseman of War not far from here he thought to himself. Surely He hasn’t returned he pondered as he began to lead the team speaking aloud once more “The jungle is home, reminds me of Dxun.” He tapped on his gauntlet to bring the map to his heads up display. Thirty minutes to the temple isn’t a bad walk and with the people gathered it would be suicide to attack this party.
Arshus was pleased to see someone else step up to lead the way. As he took in the dense jungle environment, he mused, This is about as different from the arid dune wastelands of Tatooine as it gets. With his equipment double-checked, he turned to the group and asked, “Do we have any information about the initial team they sent? Were they students?”
As the team progresses to the temple the storm on the horizon has caught them, the path ahead grows dark, and the light drizzle from moments ago is a full down pour as the winds howl around them shifting the canopy about violently!
Locke grimaced as the rain picked up. He put the hood of his cloak up over his head and let the rain cascade down the outside of it. At least that would keep him and his equipment mostly dry.
“We weren’t told anything,” Locke said in answer to Arshus’ question, raising his voice to be heard over the storm. “I’m assuming they’d send someone Force Sensitive, since otherwise they probably wouldn’t be able to detect anything. Hopefully it was somebody with a little bit of experience with such matters.”
He left off that this wasn’t his jurisdiction; he spent most of his time managing Tarthos. If it had been him, he would’ve sent someone he trusted to check on any ‘dark presence’, because he wouldn’t want any source of power falling into the wrong hands.
“By the way, I don’t recognize you. I’m Locke,” he said to introduce himself, offering a genuine smile uncharacteristic of a Dark Jedi.
Malisane had taken up the rear of the party, mainly for the solitude as much as any strategic reasons. He could make out the Ragnos Quaestor talking to the Neophyte, and the Mandolorian from Ragnos ahead of them. In between the two Twilek females made their way along, both seemingly strangers amongst the group and each other. Neither seemed overly conversational which suited the Sith. He maintained the a reasonable gap between himself and them and listened to the sounds around him.
Despite the apparent seriousness of the mission he was enjoying being out in the jungle again, he had spent most of his adult life on Aeotheran or his home planet. He made a mental note to plan a camping trip and increased his pace slightly to keep up with the others.
It was hot.
She knew she was hot-blooded to begin with, so long as she could remember, but this was bordering on unbearable for her. Leena fanned herself with an open hand as they moved through the jungle, idly wondering how the Mandalorian could even operate in their full armor. There had to be some sort of climate control system in that kit. She reached over with a hand, the BT droid navigating with some difficulty, mud spraying from the aggressively treaded mobility legs. It was hot to the touch, and she considered the cooling systems she had fiddled with last week. “You’re running hot too, huh buddy?” It chirped, a downcast tone flavoring the binary. It would be okay, just sub-optimal for the moment.
She glanced ahead, then back, seeing the others as they trudged down something that could only barely be called a path. She pulled her shirt away from her middle, squeezing sweat out and then tying it up under her ribcage as she sighed. It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity, the saying went. Leena hated both.
“Ryloth or off-world?” She asked the sandy orange Twi'lek ahead of her, half smiling in a friendly way.
<@297496904282144769>
Lav'anre glanced back, returned the half-smile as she met eyes with Lena. “I guess you could call it off-world. I think Mum was from Ryloth but Dad never talked much about his upbringing.” She shook her head. “Spent years aboard a freighter.” She fell back a bit in step, shaking her head. She adjusted her belt a bit as she spoke, making a mental note of where everything was. She always felt mildly uneasy making small talk. “Traveled a bit before I finally settled down in system. How about you?”
Leena nodded. “My family was from there, I think.” She stepped over a thick root, stalling for a moment to help BT over it. “Never been until last year.” She glanced up to make eye contact, her lekku jamming hard into her own back, then swishing left to right. One of the leks moved wrong, languid and slow, but the meaning was unmistakable, especially with the look in her eyes. Slavers. It was all too common a story for their people.
She reached down, pulling BT over yet another branch. “After was pretty busy though. Kyataru, Antei, Kyataru again.” She chuckled, adjusting her holsters, the strain having jostled them out of position. It was unusual for her to be out, working with the Sadowans directly, but she figured that she may as well make the best out of it. And at least, they had one thing in common. “Tarthos or Sepros?”
“Springtime in either is actually quite nice.” the familiar voice floated in from behind the group.
“I hope I did not miss out on too much fun.” DarkHawk said, coming into sight.
After a long hard trek through the jungle in the storm, some of them being covered in muck and mud as the rain still falls heavily the group approaches the ancient temple
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“We should get to cover.” Jinx suggests looking over to Locke before continueing her gaze to the group to look for any signs of aggreement from the other who was with he, silently hoping they agree so she can get out of the cold for a bit. “Scope the place out and see what we can find” she said trying once more when no one says anything, she once again looks to Locke awaiting a response from someone.
Locke nods at the younger human. “I agree, lets get out of the rain.” Suiting actions to words, he steps inside the outer foyer of the temple. That way if anything bad were going to happen, hopefully he would trigger it before the Journeyman.
He could feel a slight wrongness to this place, but it was difficult to tell if that was special or just another ancient temple on Aeotheran. “I think I’ll let someone else take the lead to explore deeper” he said, shaking off his cloak. It felt better already.
Entering the temple the only light could be seen was between the flashes of the storm that went on outside. From what could be seen there was a row of hooded statues on each side of the main chamber, what appears to be a large alter in the center of the room the far wall cant be seen and vines and webs are everywhere.
Roxas looked around the room and remarking to himself how this temple is so close to the one he was thinking of earlier and that there must be a bunch of them scattered throughout the jungle. He pulled his scanner from his belt and started sweeping the chamber they were all in while using the flashlight on his armor to help guide him through the dark. The hooded statues weren’t overly ornate, but reached quite high in the chamber. As he approached the alter he saw old stains on the floor that got larger as they got closer to the alter. His scanner beeped causing him to glance at the screen. “Blood” he said aloud, but unnerved “clearly they did sacrifices here.”
With the flashlight on you see three doors at the far wall in the rear, after the last person enters the temple the main entrance, a stone door falls down sealing it shut a eerie runes glow across it and a loud evil laugh can be heard from somewhere deep in the temple.
“Of course,” Locke said, diplomatically keeping a straight face and a level voice. “The door would close behind us.”
“I think I preferred the rain.” Jinx says with nervous tone, maintaining eye contact with Locke.
“I prefer being dry.”
Lav'anre chuckled at her fellow Twi'lek’s question. “I spent quite a while on Sepros, when I have been planetside. Other times have seen me traveling out and about or patrolling with the Warhost.” Her face fell a bit as she thought back. “It has actually been kind of nice.”
As the voice of the Clan’s Overlord drew her attention from Lena, she felt her body tense up. Despite her familiarity with the man, she had to suppress a feeling of panic. Old memories and pains flooded back.
Drawing her strength, she nodded at the man. As the group trudged through the jungle, she engaged in small talk about security operations with the Warhost and a desire to visit the tourist sector of Tarthos when the opportunity presented itself.
As the party arrived at the temple, she felt an odd chill in the air. A ripple in the Force put her ill at ease. The word of blood sacrifices at the temple brought to mind ghost stories of old, serving only to enhance her unease.
As the door closed behind her, Lav'anre dropped a hand to rest on her lightsaber. The laughter ignited a panic within her, and before she knew what she was doing, her weapon was already in hand. She did not ignite it.
At the brief exchange, she gave a nervous titter. “He has a point. It isnt like i packed extra clothes.” An awkard grin faded as her eyes flitted back at the closed door. “Let’s just hope we have another way out of here. I am not sure how long it would take to cut through,” she gestured with her lightsaber, “that.”
A intermittent whispering can be heard about the chamber!
“Kriff.” Her eyes flitted about, her voice quivering slightly. “Please tell me I am not the only one who hears that.”
“I wish you were” Jinx states as she grabs her lightsaber just incase she needs it
Leena crouched beside Beater, satchel sliding from her arm. Opening a zippered compartment on the side, she retrieved two items. First, a nerf-wool towel and second, the magnetic glowrod. She slung the towel over her shoulder as she fiddled with the glowrod. Activating it with one hand, she drew her red-hued blaster with the other, attaching the two together. Standing back up, she shrugged the bag back into place, looking at Locke to catch his eye. Tossing him the towel, she nodded and turned back to Beater.
“Ready for more spooky Sith spit?” She chuckled at her droid and drew her other blaster, the icy blue details a sharp contrast to her other weapon. “Temples, tombs, whispers of the dead, secret five-spice blends… buy one get one free.” She mumbled to herself, walking toward the entrance, eyes looking for the catch, a pressure plate,something that would betray whatever mechanism that closed the door behind them.
A unseen force grabs a party member knocking them prone dragging them by the feet toward to doors at the rear of the chamber, green clolor flames ignite on both sides of the alter creating a barrier between one being drug and the rest of the party!
As soon as the Ragnos Quaestor disappeared, Malisane leapt forward, hand going to his waist as he sensed the Overlord moving alongside him. As they swept their weapons and began to fire, there was a rattle as the Mandolorian also drew his rifle and joined his strength to the barage, blaster bolts exploding against the altar and surrounding wall or bursting in flashes as it hit the mysterious green flames. Taking her their lead from the older members, Jinx joined the fray, and then the assault intentisfied as first Lav'anre and then Lena added their own firepower.
The room shook with the sounds and feedback from the intense volley of trained blaster shot after blaster shot until finally the Overlord raised an arm and it ceased. The air of the room stank of ozone, and smoke covered half the room, distorting the still burning green flames and the darkness beyond. Malisane glanced at DarkHawk, then in a clear voice called, “Quaestor can you hear me? Are you alright?”
The smoke clears the flames subsided, the unlocky Quaestor was dropped just short of the doors! With a bellowing laugh once again echoing through the temple!
“ARE YOU ALL TRIYNG TO KRIFFING KILL ME?!” Locke yells, using the Force to amplify his voice so it BOOMS off the walls of the temple, as he stands up behind the altar and waves his hands wildly like a madman. Then, slightly quieter “always ‘try shooting it first’ or ‘lets blow it up’ with this clan…”
“Honestly I’m way more worried about having my head blown off by one of you guys than I am by whatever is haunting this place.”
From the moment they entered the Temple, the Neophyte was not himself. Unbeknownst to Arshus or the others, he had been in a sort of Trance. Snapped back to reality only with the volley of fire that erupted from his compatriots and the tantrum of the Quaestor down the way that followed shortly after. Puzzled for but a moment he gripped his saber leaving it still in its harness and looked around in an attempt to update himself on their situation. Silently reprimanding himself How could you been so unprepared, caught off guard in such a way
He quickly retrieved and looked at his Datapad, ensuring the events were still being recorded. I’ll review what I missed later he thought
“Anyone get a good look at it?” he called hoping they would describe something he could query the collegiate datapad on, preferably anything that could hijack his mind though, There’s so many things in the DJB Archives that are more than capable of that. his mind rebuked and more importantly, it countered with the thought Have you done anything while you were under? the thought unnerved him greatly.
DarkHawk focused in on the surroundings, looking for possible clues to their current locale.
“I concur with the keeping our fire to a minimum. Especially in these confined spaces.”
DarkHawk continued to scan the area. Nothing stood out. Although a slight tingle at the nape of his neck put him on high alert.
“Who is hunting who…?”
“I’ll refrain from fire. However, this place is freaking me out a bit we should try and avoid further incidents as much as possible.” Jinx said glancing at the group of people as she puts her lightsaber at her side but keeping her hand rested there incase she needs it her other hand resting on the blaster on the side opposite of the lightsaber.
For no apparent reason as Jinx talks you can see her breath and she is cold as if she standing on hoth.
Roxas slung his rifle before speaking “whatever that was looked to be dragging Locke to the center doorway there.” He then ignited the orange blade on his lightsaber and stabbed the center of the alter to both desecrate it and sort of add the coup de grace after the hail of blaster fire. He then clip his lightsaber back to his belt behind his slugthrower.
“Guys we have to eventually move past the entrance.” Jinx says with a slight break to her voice unnerved by being able to see her breath. “We need to find a way out of here since we clearly cant turn around.” She says as she heads towards Locke and the alter at the opposite end of the room.
Malisane listened to what Jinx said, and then focused on the door. He had no idea whether the earlier assault against whatever was doing this had any effect, but it was clear no one else had a plan to get them out of here. The Sith had little personal regard for his fellow members, they were largely interchangeable. However they were loyal followers or servants of Sadow and he had taken an unbreakable oath to protect any such persons against any threat, regardless of the risk.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, and began to concentrate. He felt the power of the Dark Side rise within him, surging through his heart and muscles, overiding his senses. He suddenly felt powerful, as if nothing could face or stop him and an urge to lash out against anything around him. Had he had any remaining body hair it would be standing up now. He let the Rage reach its zenith, and then before anyone could say anything he suddenly lowered his shoulder and charged the centre door.
Arshus watched as the Elder charged away from the group. Perhaps it was because of his inaction from earlier but without thought he raced after them toward the center door.
Malisane ran in a rage at the center doorway only to find the shadow in front of it wasn’t a door running straight through to finding himself in a small hall way
a cold breeze blows through the tunnel making the webs on the ceiling dance about. Small ghost orbs float about in the distance before disappearing from view.
With a sigh the Mandalorian followed Malisane through the doorway. It felt like a trap, but his wife was cooking dinner and he wanted to get this over with. He tapped Malisane on the shoulder politely to let him by and then hollered down the corridor “You aren’t scary! Just come out and face us you coward!”
No one answered the mandalorian only the sound of the breeze blowing through the hallway eerily and the sounds of dripping water could be heard.
“Right as if that would make them come out."Seydal remarked as she tried not to make everyone jump. She had followed them cloaked from behind and only now spoke up.
Jinx follows them down the hallway looking up at the roof seeing the web “Spiders! Why does there always have to be spiders.” Jinx said hoping to see none as she pulled out her lightsaber and ignited it using its glow for extra light
The red glow of Jinx’s lightsaber bounces off the stone walls, you can see two doors down the hallway on the right and one on the left, the hall goes down to a T intersection. The glow of her lightsaber also caused spiders to flee dropping on her and a few others in the hall way!
Having followed the Elder in. Arshus turned as the others began to join them. Upon noticing the small creatures drop, Arshus was thankful his Armour had seals good enough to withstand atmospheric reentry.
Knowing now from the display before of how his group handles surprises, he readied himself for enemy or friendly fire by activating his own lightsaber. It’s crimson red blade extended following the crack and hiss as it powered on, adding further light to the area.
Foot steps can be heard echoing from down the hall.
Jinx starts slapping the spiders off of her as quickly as she can hating the feel of them crawling on her. She freezes and looks around when she hears footsteps, only to realize her team isn’t walking meaning someone was there somewhere.
She takes a ready stance but makes no effort to move past resting her hand on her blaster and holding her lightsaber defensively.
“This should be fun.” Jinx says sarcastically with a roll of her eyes
The temple feels as tho it has a faint pulse, dim runes start to become more visible as the time passes, those who are force sensitive can feel the darkside growing by the minute.
Roxas had gone back to scanning trying to find some kind of explanation and also to make sure that they don’t trigger any traps before they finally stopped with Jinx. “This should be fun” she said and then Roxas was able to make out footsteps coming toward them, but Roxas was on the other side of the group than Jinx. Suddenly he was hoisted straight up into the air by his left ankle and disappeared into the darkness before the others could react. They were able to get an idea of where he was though as he began firing his blaster rifle in the direction he was being dragged. The team watched as blaster bolts lit up small portions of the darkness all over the next room, from high upon the walls to even along the ceiling and floor. Finally the blaster bolts stopped as Roxas was flung away. He fired a couple bursts from his jetpack, but he was spinning, so it did little to help as he slammed into a wall and slid along it to the floor. “Summa bitch!” He shouted after catching his breath and slowly climbing to his feet. He then stretched to ease the little bit of pain of being thrown and dropped
In a state of ready action from before, Arshus was first to react to Roxas’s plight though it was only after he was well away from the group already. Using his senses he could tell the path that the kidnapper was taking and sprinted after, the blaster fire confirming he was heading in the right direction.
Reaching out with the Force using his extremely unrefined and low power telekinesis he tried to grab hold of Roxas but couldn’t tell if it worked. After watching an almost comedic scene of a spiraling Mandalorian bouncing off the walls and across the way. He finally reached Roxas “i give that dismount a three,” he said jokingly while using his lightsaber to illuminate the area, “are you injured?” he asked Roxas.
“I don’t recommend riding that bull, but I believe that was a full 8 seconds” the Mandalorian replied as he took a breath and centered the force on healing himself for a moment. It wasn’t serious, but he wanted full strength when they catch this thing, so he can throttle it. He then ignited his orange blade to add to the light. He couldn’t help, but to think of the irony of a bunch of dark jedi stumbling in the dark and needing some light.
Roxas and Arshus turn to find the tunnel they came down is no longer there a wall blocks the way, the rest of party advance following the tunnel unknowing the temple had changed layout.
Finding that they are down on mote member, Jinx is no longer in the group.
While Jinx finds herself sliding down a trapdoor leading to a lower level.
“Well this is annoying,” Locke says, “people are dropping like mynocks. Everyone be CAREFUL, I’m going to try some TK.” Standing in front of the remaining group, Locke begins to prod at the walls with the Force using his Telekinesis, especially on spots that seem to have glowing runes or w/e
The wall slides open making a grinding sound revealing stairs leading down into the dark.
“Oh awesome, stairs! Any volunteers to go first?” Locke says, making sure not to touch ANYTHING else while he waits
Jinx let a scream pass her lips as the floor disappeared from below her. She could feel the stone rip across her back as she slid downwards before landing with a thud. Grumbling to herself as her lightsaber landed on the ground beside her “great of course this would happen.”
She grabbed her lightsaber as she stood up in the darkened room flicking it in too look around.
A small voice spoke out to Jinx in the darkness, “please don’t be afraid, I have been trapped here for so long”
“The one who come here before you, he was promised immortality but he was lied too, the ritual he is doing lets the one who trapped us here take over his body to free himself” the small voice said nerviously before continuing “You have to stop him before or its to late. Oh No he knows, he knows i am talking to you……Nooooooo” you hear as the small voice sounds like it is getting further away as if they was being dragged until Jinx once again sits in the darkness on the cold damp stone floor.
Malisane had gotten to his feet and joined them after his incident earlier. “We have dealt with these malignant entities before. We must make its destruction a priority. If possible we should attempt to escape, but our priority is the safety of the Orian system and the integrity of the Clan.” Without another word he drew his saber, igniting it’s azure blade and set off down the stairs.
Malisane made it about half way down the stairs before DarkHawk called out for his brethren. “Malisane, hold up for a moment. There are to many unknowns going on within this place. Don’t need you disappearing to the depths of whatever this is. Seems our host has a flair for theatrics and is seperating us. Stay close and keep our heads on a swivel.”
Leena maneuvered toward the others, blasters held at the ready, her back in contact with the wall. She had been snuck up upon entirely too many times, and she was not in the mood for more surprises. Beater rolled along with her, slightly ahead, so she could duck down behind his armor plating at a moment’s notice. In the light from the glowstick, she saw dark armor, the wearer speaking to someone down some steps from him. She wracked her brain for a moment, finally recognizing his helmet…or was it a cowl as she approached. It was the Consul of the clan. She cursed mentally. The machinations of the brotherhood, of the clans were something she had wanted to avoid for years, and now here she was, standing ten feet from a clan leader. She blinked slowly and took a deep breath to calm herself, stepping even closer.
In another part of the temple seperate from the main group. Arshus allowed his companion some time to collect themselves, and then offered his hand to the Mandalorian.
Afterward his senses noticed something or rather the absence of it, it’s too quiet he thought, “Why can’t we haar the others anymore?” he asked Roxas while not yet realising the temple had changed.
“My scanners are showing that the room changed, but I’d assume more than that. These old temples have hidden pathways everywhere I’d bet.” The Mandalorian then turned the flashlight on his chest plate back on. He then dug in his belt and found the small one that mounts to his helmet and attached it before flicking it on. The pair still couldn’t see too far in the darkness, but this did help. In the distance runes reflected small amounts of light as the two looked around. “We definitely need to stick together, but it also seems like we are going to be wondering around aimlessly until we sense something with the force.” Roxas continued. The two started walking around without any real direction, but reaching out with their senses to not only try to find the rest of the group, but to also make themselves easier to find
As Roxas and Arshus walk the runes grow slightly brighter the sound of stone sliding can be heard, a passage way has opened ahead, the other group whom found the stairs also hears stone sliding except for them it is the roof of the hall way connected to the stairs the celling is coming down. As for Jinx she still sits on a cold stone floor.
Goil awakes to find himself bound by vines on the wall his lightsaber laying on the floor below him, unsure how many days has past since his team arrived at the temple. The cold stone chills him as he gains consciousness.
When Locke notices the roof sliding down, he quickly slides down the staircase, stumbling to his fet beside Malisane and Darkhawk. “This place just keeps getting better and better,” he says wryly. “Now then…” using the Force, he did what he did before, using his telekinesis to reach out and prod at the runes on the walls well ahead of them.
with the push of the runes the stairs fold flat and all who are on the stairs begin sliding down them toward the bottom like a stone slide
The two walked in the dark for a moment and then Roxas said “I’m getting frustrated with this darkness. Clothes your eyes for a moment I’m gonna try something and I don’t want to blind you.” Arshus followed direction and said “ok go for it” Roxas focused the force in his hand until it started to flow bright and then closed his eyes and outstretched his arm releasing a blindingly bright light. The room lit up with a white flash and all the runes began to glow and reflect the light down the adjoining corridors and chambers. They both opened their eyes and could finally see without any aid as the runes began to sustain the glow continue to reflect off each other.
The path lay lite before Roxas and Arshus, path way ahead of them leads down and makes a left turn
Goil wakes the back of his head hurts, he can barely see his surroundings so he reaches out with the force and senses his lightsaber lower on the floor below him, reaching out he calls it to his hand with a quick flip of its switch the purple blade snaps to life gently moving it close the the vines that holds his hand so close he can feel the heat of the blade and his hand is free. After his hand is free it doesn’t take long to free himself from the vines that hold him to the wall. Standing using his lightsaber for light he looks about the room that has no exit. His head hurts not knowing how long he has been here since he and his team arrived, he grows in anger and drives his lightsaber into a nearby wall to cut his way out!
Goil’s purple blade cuts a door big enough for him to fit through when the rocks hit the floor his room is flooded with light revealing a rather large door in front of him, to his right Roxas and Arshus rounds the coner, to his left a bunch of people tumble down the stone slide they was on to a well lite area. Jinx’s room changes and before her is a rather large chamber with a figure on a alter up ahead chanting.
Goil continues straight and kicked in the door open that was ahead of him, before yelled to the others on each side of him whom he assumed was Brotherhood members by their lightsabers “ what took you guys so long?” As he charged straight into the room ahead.
Jinx stands igniting her lightsaber once more and putting her hand on her blaster taking up a defensive stance ready to defend her self should the figure try anything.
“Who are you? What do you want?” She asks with anger in her voice. She has had enough of this temple she is ready to find the rest of the brotherhood members and get out of here already.
Upon Goil opening the door chanting fills the room before him a man on a alter, he raises what looks like a sith'o'lantern and puts it over his head the vines wrap around him and connect it to body. The sith'o'lantern eyes and mouth glow with blue green flames as he lets out a billowing low tone laugh “ finally i am reborn” the monstrosity screams
Roxas drew is slug thrower and shot every round in it. Then drew his blaster rifle and continued his onslaught everyone else with a blaster or long range weapon followed suit. “DIE!” the group screamed in unison. They were at their limit of dealing with the temple.
The creature falls to the ground the sith'o'lantern rolls across the floor as a ghostly scream yells “Nooooooo” as the runes of the temple fade. A small scroll sets on the alter. Darkhawk grabs it, “the headmistress will want this” as Roxas calls for transport to return home. -the end