Darkness of the Shadowlands

[Scultr]

Saryn Karoth fell in line behind his companion, making note of the fact that the Feeorin was the only one weak enough to become wounded by the creatures they had just encountered. To be fair, Saryn reasoned with himself, he was only one without a lightsaber, and this put him at a disadvantage. Still though, the Zabrak would keep an eye out for an opportunityto take advantage of this disadvantage.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

Vayan wasn't motivated by compassion, it was simply the fact that they were here to retrieve a stash of valuable artifacts, and losing one of the team would make the task harder to complete. Exploiting weakness took second place to completing the mission, at least in the dark-haired Acolyte's opinion. They needed to find the downed shuttle and retrieve the holocrons and other valuable items. Everything else could wait.

They reached the small, narrow trail and Vayna looked round. "This way, but I think we'll need to find a campsite sooner rather than later." The light was failing, the shadows lengthening, and eyes regarded them from the treetops.

 

[TheAccidentof1994]

"Aye" Said Walter "The Lady speaks true"

He moved ahead of the group for a brief second and eyed a small clearing not too far from their path, they would be able to resume their trek in the morning quite easily.

The clearing was quite cosy, although large in standards of the Shadowlands. It formed the shape of a semi circle, and aside from the small space in the very middle of the clearing there were many roots hidden in the mist along the ground next to the many trees than encircled them.

He looked around to the other two whom he had hoped had followed him, making a slightly inquisitive expression, questioning their approval.

 

[Scultr]

Saryn Karoth followed his two companions into the clearing, and watched as they set up camp. The Zabrak hadn't brought a tent or anything really, which in hindsight was kind of stupid, but there was nothing he could do about it now. Instead, he decided he would forage for some nearby fruit. He jumped into the low branches of the trees, finding some Muja fruit hanging from a branch.

Landing safely back on the forest floor, he sat cross-legged in the center of the clearing, munching on the fruit. The Zabrak cast his Force senses wide, feeling the life of the three's surroundings. He watched as the other Sith finish with their camps. "I think we should post watch for the the night. I'll take the first shift. he closed his eyes, still sitting, meditating and keeping his senses wide open.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

Vayna watched as the other Sith settled himself into the trees and shrugged; if that was how he wanted to sleep, that was his choice. She had a small shelter which she set up in the crook of a tree trunk's buttress, the grey and green mottled camouflage causing the hide to blend in with the surroundings. It was open on one side to allow Vayna room to get out quickly if they were attacked, but would keep most of the morning mist and rain off her.

She set up her groundsheet and bedroll and slid into it, lightsaber lying next to her within easy reach, and quickly went to sleep - it was always a good idea to catch up with sleep whenever you could, as you never knew when you would get the chance again.

 

[TheAccidentof1994]

A sleeping bag... I went through everything I could think of, and I forgot a sleeping bag.

There was always something he had to forget, the ground was damp and it was growing quite chilly. Though he was used to cold climates and dealt with moist environment for quite awhile, one grew used to the desert world of Korriban.

He lay down, partly under the trees that shrouded the clearing, they would hold no warmth or comfort, but Walter preferred to mark out his proximity.

He lay on his back, he doubted sleep would come easily, though if he couldn't rest his mind, he would still rest his body and keep an ear out in case anything else decided to have a go at them today.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

The light down at the surface of the forest had only lightened a little, but that was all that would happen; the massive Wroshyr trees prevented most of the sunlight from penetrating so far down. There had been alarms during the night but no actual attacks; they had been lucky, or perhaps the fighting Minstyngar had scared away the other creatures of the forest floor. Now it was time to break camp and head of towards their destination.

Vayna finished rolling up her tent and sleeping bag and packed them tightly away. She looked round at the others. The Acolyte, Walter, who'd been wounded seemed to have recovered.

"Let's go," she called softly, not wanting to call attention to herself from the beasts of the Shadowlands.



((OOC: I moved the timeline forward so we can keep things moving.))

 

[Scultr]

At the female's words, Saryn Karoth's eyes flew open. He rose, stretching his arms, turning his neck from side to side. Keeping watch all night had been less restful than actually sleeping, but he was ready to go and get this mission over with. The Zabrak took his lightsaber in his hand, waiting to proceed.

 

[TheAccidentof1994]

Walter had managed to doze for a few hours, the previous night had been quite cool and without any comforts dozing was the best he could hope for. Though a lack of sleep would not diminish him in anyway.

"Okay" He grunted as he moved off the forest floor, stretching his large body "Lead the way, Vayna, one night is enough for me in this place"

 

[Vayna Akhara]

The dark-haired Acolyte looked around, sensing with both her eyes and the Force to see if there were any dangerous creatures nearby. The Minstyngar had left the area, and there were no more large contacts close by.

"This way."

She led the way onto the track. The trail led towards where the shuttle had apparently gone down many years before, and with luck, they could reach the target and get the holocrons and other items. She held her lightsaber in one hand, ready to use at a moment's notice.

 

[Scultr]

Saryn followed the dark-haired Acolyte, lightsaber in hand. We must be close by now, Saryn thought to himself. That's usually about the time everything goes South. Just as he had nearly the whole time they had wandered the Shadowlands he kept his senses open, his muscles tense and ready for combat at any second. Being taken by suprize usually meant death in the Shadowlands, and Saryn would be damned if he would let that happen to him.

 

[TheAccidentof1994]

They had been following the trail for roughly half an hour, and as of yet, there was still no predators or enemies to face. Today was lucky, yesterday was not. Perhaps the battle had scared them off? But Walter doubted it, there were far more dangerous things in the forest of Kashyyyk then a couple of Sith Acolytes, the creatures must have been elsewhere bothered by other business.

The trail grew rocky, and hard to follow at some points, but other times it would re-appear in all clearness and guide the three through Kashyyyk with a luxury they had surely earned. Walter kept his eyes peeled for any sign of a shuttle wreck, or metallic substance that didn't look like it belonged, but he found nothing yet, though he was not discouraged; orders were to follow the trail, and they were doing just that, they would come to it eventually.

As if the forest had read his mind, the path took a sharp turn and led downwards into a vast crater, as if the earth had sunk. He could see nothing, but the cogitation was jumbled and entwined in a great mess and on closer inspection, under the vines and plants there was something hard, very unlike and rock or earth he had seen on Kashyyyk. He pushed his hand through the leaves and knocked twice, the hollow sound rung through the forest, though not far.

He turned to Vayna and gave her a look that said "I think we found the shuttle"

 

[Vayna Akhara]

Vayna caught the glance and stepped to one side and crouched down in cover, extending her Force sense outwards as she listened to the wind and scanned the area trying to make out any movement that might reveal a hostile presence, lightsaber held in her hand ready for trouble. The Force called to her, whispering of secrets long concealed from the direction of the crashed shuttle. The artifacts concealed within could be felt, even from here.

"We should check all around before moving in, just in case."

The last thing she wanted was for them to be ambushed by someone or something when they were so close to their objective. That would be failure, and such failure would not be acceptable to higher-ranking Sith such as her Master, Count Vandergruff.

 

[Scultr]

Finally, the small band had arrived at their destination.he wanted nothing more than to race forward and collect their prize but he caught himself. He stopped and cast his senses wide, trying to ascertain whether or not they would walk into an ambush or trap when they stepped toward the small shuttle. He stood at the edge of the clearing the crash had made, scanning the area. "It's quiet," the Zabrak noted aloud. The normal chitter of the thousands of animals that had faded into the background as they had grown used to as the hours stretched on had ceased. Saryn held left hand out in front of him, drawing the hilt of his lightsaber into his hand using the Force and lit it. He would not be caught by suprise.

 

[TheAccidentof1994]

Walter investigated the proximity, the vegetation that was closest to him and around the area of the shuttle. Keeping his hand close to his Vibrosword, he understood what may transpire in the forest of Kashyyyk, he had experienced it first hand already and he would not have their hard work spoiled by carelessness.

He moved towards the higher and outer distance of the crater where the shuttle had crashed, gaining a wider view of the area. Walter was satisfied, but the other two were exercising caution, which he could not mock.

"When you're ready, Vayna"

He said, though not unkindly or impatiently.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

Vayna checked one last time, then called upon the Force and channelled it through her limbs in preparation for any combat that might erupt. Rising from her crouch, she slowly walked forwards towards the shuttle that was their target, lightsaber ready in her hand.

She couldn't sense any danger, but that didn't mean there wasn't anything concealed nearby; after all, hiding in the Force was not impossible. Someone could be invisible nearby and she might not detect them until they struck.

She reached the downed shuttle, ignited her lightsaber, and stepped up to the shuttle door, raising her saber over her head ready to strike, red blade shedding its light over the bare metal. Then she drove her blade into the door lock. The circuitry was dead, but now the door was open, and she hung her lightsaber on her belt, grasped the door and slid it open.

 

[TheAccidentof1994]

Quickly, Walter raised his sword, he did not understand why in actual fact. There was probably naught to fear from the old shuttle, nothing could have survived that long; but it was his reflex that drove him to prepare. And perhaps the grinding of the aged and weathered metal startled him a bit; he remained vigilant despite his realization, but curiosity took the better of him, he approached the shuttle and looked into it along side Vayna.

 

[Scultr]

Saryn stood impassive as the two entered the crashed spacecraft. Saryn couldn't wait to see what they came out with, but there was no way he would enter himself unless it was absolutely necessary. If anyone or anything was going to attack, he wouldn't make it easy by giving themselves over in one convienient metal box. The Zabrak snorted and rolled his shoulders. No, he would stay right where he was.

 

[Vayna Akhara]

The hull had been breached in the shuttle's crash so many years before, and vegetation had managed to find its way into the interior of the small vessel. Creepers hung from the ceiling, and the heady scent of flowers hung heavy in the air. Vayna paused, trying to identify the flowers in the shuttle, in case they were dangerous, poisonous or parasitic or something equally hazardous. Her Force senses scanned the wreck, but found nothing that was threatening. She stepped cautiously inside, looking right and left.

Some small creatures scuttled away underfoot, and she brought her lightsaber up in reflex. Then she grinned wryly at Walter. "Better safe than sorry."

She walked further into the shattered wreckage and something caught at her senses, and she turned to face whatever had called out to her. "This way."

 

[TheAccidentof1994]

The shuttle had been opened and inside was safe, though there were a few small creatures, it was clear there was no immediate danger. He followed Vayna into the shuttle, and observed the dark space, there was not too much room and all over insects and arachnids alike infested the place.

"God damn... This ship is humid!"

Something had clearly caught the eye of Vayna, and his eyes followed hers across the shuttle settling upon what she had found...