Find a bantha, and move it. (Sith/Imp/Indie welcome)

[The Gloaming]

Gienn peered at the expanse of desert before him. He was two miles out of Anchorhead, and he hadn't seen a bantha yet. He needed one for the upcoming hunt, and the owner of the hunting lodge said they would likely he found near the Tusken Raiders.

Find Tusken Raiders then. Easy. The assassin looked at the blowgun at his side. He had darts with poison powerful enough to put a bantha to sleep, without killing it. The Sand People, if they interfered, would not be so fortunate.

Gienn kept walking forward across the sand, trying to sense the presence of life somewhere out there in the vast desolation.

 

[Insanity]

Six piloted the Turbulent down towards Tatooine's surface. Specifically, a ridge that was made of red clay-rock. He had heard, remotely, that someone in the Order had come here to start up a hunt. It wasn't the hunt he was interested in, but the fact that the preparations might stir up the indigenous Tusken Raiders. He had needed to branch out in his studies, and very few individuals had ever gotten a chance to study a Tusken. So he decided to see what services he could offer in exchange for one living, breathing Tusken to be given over to him. It also meant he'd be away from the other acolytes and their garnering for attention.

He would be content just to have subjects to study, which, again, was why he was here. Landing the Turbulent with precision stemming form long practice, he donned the protective gear he had garnered from a few Imperial soldiers on Korriban. The first thing was a cloak that matched nicely with the desert sand, the second a mask and breather for his face so as to make the arid surface bearable, and the third was joint-padding for protection. Under that, it was a loose tunic that was nearly white with a brown tint. He wanted surprise to work for him in order to capture a live specimen, not get ambushed and be forced to kill them all. He would kill some, yes, but he needed a specimen or two as his priority.

According to his charts, a settlement known as Anchorhead, probably the fiftieth time it had been resettled, was nearby. The person after the bantha for the hunt was supposedly docked there, so chances were he'd find that individual soon enough. Strapping on a pack full of water, food, and blankets, he deemed himself ready for prolonged exposure and disembarked. As an afterthought, he activated his comm unit and made sure he had it connected to his ship's frequency. If he needed to leave quickly, the auto-pilot could be remotely engaged and called to him. Fully satisfied, he began his trek in the general direction east of Anchorhead. Time to find out how a Tusken looked unwrapped.

 

[DeathToll]

Phili'p stepped up behind the Iridonian Zabrak, his footsteps audibly crunching into the sand sluggishly. His left hand hung at his side, the adhesive wearing off of the wrappings about his palm over the self-inflicted wounds; flapping with the dry-heated breeze, only adding to the dull heat. He spoke with a soft unfamiliarity, a scratchy voice -remembering how it felt to be in use after some time of silence- from behind his new Master; Phili'p's last Master having dissapeared strangely...

"...we haven't been followed."

The Acolyte's shredded garments flapped down past his wrists as he answered to Gienn, a simple longsleeved shirt with open wounds of age and mistreatment. The seams had unraveled at many points, dangling down with a savagery; unlike his black pants, tightly bound by multiple buckles and straps. His lightsaber dangled loosely from his sagging belt strap at the right of his hip. His short, almost curly, black hair was dampened by the heavy heat; his eyes like slits, a usual feature as he had a tendency to squint -or at least it always looked like he was squinting.

 

[Phil]

It had seemed someone was upsetting a farming community near Anchorhead, enough for them to put out a price on the troublemaker. Naturally it was just another beast that needed to be put down, and LFN-452 just happened to be in the area when he received the bounty. It was hot out today, and wearing his armor made it non the better save for the few shreds of clothing attached to the armor that helped him blend into the sand better should he be spotted.

The beast he was looking for was one of the Tuskin Raiders, for it and what few tribals followed it had been raiding the farmland for awhile now. All he cared was finding the target and putting an end to it, for he needed the exercises and work to keep in shape. Hopping off his speeder bike near some large rocks that was like half a canyon of sort, LFN heard that they had a camp nearby where they also had their own Banthas as well.

He knew that harming one of those animals in anyway would send them all into a frenzy, and should be avoided if can. Both of his sub-machine guns were on his hips as he gripped his sniper rifle in his arms, sneaking about the rock wall toward where he could get a fine view of the camp. He needed not only to take the beast out, but also bring back some source of proof that it was indeed dead.

 

[The Gloaming]

((If you guys don't mind, I'd like to implement a new posting order. Me, DeathToll, Insanity, Phil. That way Gienn and Philli'p can get some face time))

Gienn turned around to see his new apprentice, one he'd hardly said two words to. They hadn't known each other long, but he felt that a hunt was a perfect way to begin teaching the young man. "Good. I sense someone near, maybe the Tusken Raiders. I've heard they've been making trouble again. What do you see we collect some gaffi while we're at it?"

There was no joy in his voice, contrary to the nature of his comment. He relished nothing more than to sink his blade into some sand people. "It will be dark within the next two hours. We'll strike then. For now, we find them and wait."

 

[DeathToll]

Phili'p hesitated at the notion, sinking into a deep loss of breath into his chest. Frustrated with the concept of cutting down sand people, despite their savage nature. He felt empathetic, comparing his own savagry to what he knew of them.

Phili'p clenched his fists, with a light film of sand into the bandage of his left palm and winced at the pain. It was a reminder of the unmistakable darkness within himself. He was conflicted. Swallowing the gulp down his throat, the young human Acolyte licked his dry lips and shifted to begin his shadowing of his Master.

"Yes."

In this, it was as if he were accepting the darkside once more; having to say it a thousand times before he would naturally accept it. Both agreeing to terms and notifying his ability to also sense those nearby, Phili'p was somewhat agreeable in this state. He spoke with a tone of defeat. There was no denying the dark side. There was no denying his Master.

"...Master."

 

[Insanity]

It was interesting how little life existed on Tatooine. The desert hid its secrets well, after all. Reaching out to his full senses, Anima considered it as he walked. Occasionally, something would register here or there before vanishing, just on the edge of his limits. The Force was conflicted, strangely. He sensed the darkness of ancient times reaching out from under the sands, as well as the lighter equivalent warring against it. The planet was full of contradictory waves, each more confusing than the one before. Yet, he didn't withdraw his senses, instead opening them further as he walked.

Distantly, he began to sense life, not the flickering kind of before. A multitude of smaller lifeforms and a myriad of larger ones. Tuskens and their banthas. Getting to them proved a bit more difficult, as he flattened himself into the sand. Movement ahead showed where Tuskens patrolled the edges of their camp, keeping away rival clans and interlopers. So, he would wait and use the darkness of night to his advantage. No one would question if some of the clan members vanished in the night.

 

[Phil]

With the suns slowly starting to set, LFN knew he would have to find a place to lay low for him to plan a way in. Creeping along the line of the canyon, he kept low and made his way across, up a small ridge. Once there, he came across one of the tuskins there with his back turned towards the bounty hunter. LFN took no chances and cloaked himself, quickly stepping forward towards the beast right as it turned around. It took only a few seconds to position his blade right so it went through it's throat, preventing it from screaming as another blade went through it's heart.

With the silent take down done with, he gently took the body and laid it down in the shadows the rocks made, making sure there was as little blood as possible should another come this way. After he hid the body he went towards the edge, still trying to remain hidden as he looked down to the camp with his rifle in his grip. The scope covered, he looked about down below and saw no signs of his target, for he was a bit bigger then the normal males below.

 

[The Gloaming]

With the first sun set, and the other following suit, Gienn approached the camp. He didn't need the Force to know there were beasts nearby. He could smell them. He could smell the banthas too, and momentarily considered the trip back to Korriban.

I'll have to have Philli'p clean the cargo hold when we get back.

The camp was nestled into a rockface that formed a ridge. Something caught Gienn's attention momentarily on the horizon, but he dismissed it.

"Philli'p, we need to remain quiet if we're to infiltrate the camp. I believe those wretched beasts will stop at nothing to protect their livestock. We need to neutralize that threat. Where should we start?"

 

[DeathToll]

Phili'p crouched behind Gienn, facing away from the camp. He was not interested in killing, or stealing. As he sit there, heel digging into his left cheek with a slouch, his hands found a bare twig. He picked it up. Switching it off to his other hand, he then reached to his left boot and yanked free hs stiletto and began carving off the twig's short branches.

"...Cut off the limbs and all the head can do is watch..."

His remark was sinister, cold even to himself as he said it; despising every bit of its logic like poison trailing off his lips. He hated the picture now playing through his head, of him and his 'Master' silently cutting down every last Tusken Raider in the camp. He was conflicted, thinking it might be possible to get in and out without any bloodshed ...Naive. Even he knew that was not possible. He could only dream. He silently fiddle through the twigs limbs, with a certain malice and a hatred of the very act in preparation for murder, until there was nothing left but a straight line of a stick. He let the weightless thing fall those few inches back to the ground where he found it, having not made more sound than his own whispering voice.

As he suggested, they would have but to sneak their way in - silently emptying the camp of threats one by one until they reach their goal. That is, unless Gienn had a different take on things.

 

[Insanity]

It was nearing dark and Anima was sure that he saw a pattern to the patrols. In the dying sunlight, he rose and embraced the Force, using what skill he had to move faster across the sands. The first Tusken to notice him raised its gaffi to strike, not getting the chance as Anima tackled him down and wrested the gaffi stick away. The Tusken struggled harder, somewhat desperate and enraged before the gaffi came down and knocked it into oblivion. It was alive, which was what he wanted. Dragging the unconcious Tusken with him, he moved to the ridge overlooking the camp below, settling down to wait. They'd noticed a missing patrol soon, when they started to return to the camp itself and new ones would be sent out to the edge.

The coolness of night arrived.

 

[Phil]

......

"Yes, it is time."

......

"Not a one will live."

Once Darkness had casted itself over the wasteland, LFN knew it was time to lure out the prize. The women and children would be moved inside soon, and that would rile them up should the be slaughtered. Instead, he decided for some target practice as he focused on one patrolling tuskin, aiming at his head through the scope before pulling the trigger. A loud shot was heard emitting from the rifle, alerting everyone in the surrounding area who was not deaf as LFN watched the Tuskin corpse drop to the ground.

Roars and cries from inside the camp were now apparent as LFN rolled into another position on the ridge so he would not be in the same area. Once he had another Tuskin in his sight, he took aim for the head once more and fired one more loud shot from his sniper rifle. It like the other dropped lifelessly to the ground, and now the camp was in a rage.

 

[The Gloaming]

BANG...

...BANG

Two shots rang out, and Gienn immediately saw where they came from. Up on the ridge, a figure who clung to the rock would have been almost invisible to anyone untrained, but Gienn knew better.

"Well, we have a contributor. Let's get to the camp and make our intentions clear. Follow, and for Bogan's sake, stay down and keep quite."

The assassin lead his apprentice into the camp where tuskens collected their gaffi sticks and rifles and gave cries of anguish and alert. No one had seen Gienn yet, and instead of making himself invisible, he cast a shadow over him and Philli'p. He stopped between two huts closest to the perimeter of the camp, and as a Tusken passed by, unaware of the real threat, Gienn launched a dart from his wrist. The Tusken screamed and covered his eyes before dropping to his knees.

Then the tusken raider rose, angry and blind, and ran into the commotion. Before the others understood what was happening, energy began to well up around the Tusken, an energy that only Force users could see. As the enraged Tusken continued to wail, his limbs puffed up, and his stomach and chest inflated. A moment later, the Tusken popped open, spreading his innards across the campfire and his comrades.

The village went dark as the cries carried on.

 

[DeathToll]

Phili'p's head snapped down to the camp below. He had felt another.

"Ma- ..I-I"

He could not bring himself to say that word again, 'Master'. And as he stammer, those two shots rang out and demanded Phili'p's attention. He turn back up to the ridge where Gienn was already looking, but Phili'p could see nothing. While he could feel a vague something there, his mind still lingered on the other presence down below and amongst the sand people; though he had yet to say anything about it.

Phili'p tightened his jaw as his eyes searched for the strength to keep his anger at bay to Gienn's command. Phili'p lifted up into a stand and followed close behind. As Gienn made ready into position, Phili'p tucked down and twist his body into the fold of a tent and watch as the Tusken Raider take the dart that shot from Gienn's wrist. Phili'p hadn't even noticed it yet, but began to realize he was under the shadow of Gienn's power. Phili'p could feel it now. After falling to its knees in a scream, the Tusken rose again only to burst with a splash. Phili'p had winced as he close his eyes, not at the sight of blood - but in denial of who he was to become. But before he had a chance to fully consider it in the moment, he felt another Tusken step close around the tent to see what had happened. Phili'p shot up with instinct after it pass him, without touching it, and raise his stiletto to the side of its throat ...but he hesitated. Holding it there, the tip aimed for the side of its neck, Phili'p trembled with an inability to murder in this moment.

 

[Insanity]

Six watched as everything broke apart.... Two shots and two vague lifeforms extinguished, both within moments. Interloper, non-Sith, for a Sith would go in with a blade and use shadows. He had one specimen, and one alone. He needed another. Moving to a crouch, he pushed himself off the edge and felt himself fall, using the Force at the last moment and pushing down, hovering just enough to reduce momentum and land softly. He couldn't levitate himself as masters and marauders could. But he could make do in other ways. Lowering himself back down to a crouch, he eyed the camp. And then the fires went out as a Tusken seemed to explode. His eyes surveyed the numbers, movements, and then he picked up on it - a Force-presence, and a second one that was partially masked. The Sith who was after banthas, and someone he had brought along.

The fact that they were seemingly ignored and motionless was a question for after, not the now. The now was important. He gathered the Force again and sprinted shortly towards two Tuskens, one male and the other a child. His lightsaber was in hand, pulled from within the blankets on his back when he had idled. And now it was on, the viridian blade glowing in the night. The Tuskens saw, one calling out in its tongue even as he met his target. The adult, he cut down and the child he Force-pushed behind him. The child would be a subject for study, just as the guard he had rendered unconcious. While the other Tuskens remained shocked and panicked, he deactivated his lightsaber and veered away from the camp. Let him be a distraction for a few moments, make them think he was fleeing. Not all would be on his trail for long, with more threats to them about.

((OOC Note: He's on the edge of the camp, and he drew the attention of some guards and camp-dwellers, as well as another alert opposite the shots.))

 

[Phil]

Before LFN's eyes, he had seen he was not alone out here at all as another had come and flashed his lightsaber about. He barely caught sight of it, for even if he had a good view of the camp, he was just on the edge nearly out of his sight. They were not a concern unless he turned his attention towards himself, and he was already going to have to make this quick. Holstering his rifle on his back and unaware of the two others down below in the camp, LFN ran off the ledge as he plummeted down wards into the middle of the camp, using his jets to soften his fall and guide him so he landed on another Tuskin. Wrist blades out, his fall was softened as he took down the beast with his blades.

Now revealed to all in the camp, he took out his SMGs from his waist and fired them at another before he disappeared in his cloaking field. Several seconds later, he appeared about ten feet away from where he once was as he gunned down yet another, a female fleeing the scene.

"Come on out! Your people are being slaughtered like the cattle they are. Defend them, and face me!"

LFN yelled out, and he never had to wait long before a rather large and dangerous Tuskin emerged from a camp, a large gaffi stick in his hand that contained a very sharp barb with dried blood at the end, and a sharp blade at the bottom of the stick. It let out a loud growl as it attempted to rally the others to fight the intruders.

"There you are!"

......

"This will be easy money."

 

[The Gloaming]

Gienn stared as Philli'p held his blade to the enemys neck. "Do not hesitate. Kill, or be killed. Now is no time to question this." He stifled a scoff and turned towards the commotion, where an armor clad warrior was eliminating the obstacles.

"Now is the time to act, apprentice. Kill it, and follow me!" Without waiting, Gienn strode into battle as his crimson Shoto snap-hissed to life. He leapt in the air about seven meters, and at the height of his jump, for a brief moment, he could see a multitude of potential targets below him. He plummeted downward, dragging himself with the Force into a group of four who were strategizing. Gienn spun as he dropped, and his blade sliced through all four like butter.

The assassin spun around and looked toward the unexpected company, who was engages in a duel of sorts with a particularly large Tusken. I should wait to kill him until I know why he's here.

 

[DeathToll]

Phili'p's head began to lower, almost tearing at the call of the Darkside and unable to complete his ...'Master's' order. Though, as the Tusken turned at the slight touch of the blade to its wrappings, it realized there was a threat at its back and attacked. Before it could fully turn, Phili'p had already stabbed the pick of a blade into its throat; and it collapsed, soon after realizing that it was dead.

Phili'p flushed the air from his nostrils in a hateful regret. He felt Gienn's movements, stuffed the stiletto back into his boot, and turned into a sprint after Gienn.

There was much havoc in the commotion, and before Phili'p could catch up to Gienn there were two Tusken Raiders who burst out of their own run for the center of the camp before skidding to a halt at the sight of this Acolyte. They cut him off; one lifting his gaffy with an echoing battle cry, the other swinging his gaffy forth with a round-about attack towards Phili'p. He hadn't wanted this. He didn't wish to hurt ...anyone.

The jittery lightsaber, dangling loosely from his belt along a single chain link, flew from its holding and slapped into his right palm as it ignited and cut the gaffy from the Tusken's hands. As some severed fingers drop to the ground along with the peice of its weapon, the Tusken began to realize just how many invaders there were here tonight. And with an outstretched swirling free left hand in wailing anger, Phili'p's blade came round again for an ending right-handed slice through the Raider's clothing into chest. Phili'p screamed out the anger, in pain of what he was doing, as he cut down his second regret this evening; no doubt only the beginning of things to come.

 

[Insanity]

He didn't have to run far before the Tuskens became distracted. The two remaining pursuers stopped just as he did, both carrying gaffi sticks. They weren't armed for range, which was fortunate. Six turned and lowered into a crouch, watching them as they paced closer. They were skilled combatants in melee, if little more. The one on the left, however, was rash. It rushed, letting out a guttural war-cry, cut off as Six moved, lightsaber flashing on and off in moments, a Tusken head falling away from the body. The second Tusken let out its own war-cry as its comrade was felled. And that ended it, the blade flashing again as the gaffi stick was severed in half with its arm. It collapsed, clutching at the cauterized stump.

He would return later for it, even if it was somewhat ruined. Releasing the Force to a degree, he moved normally back amidst the Tusken encampment. He checked each tent, cutting a slit to pass through and survey those who hadn't fled and were unarmed. He killed most, knocking others unconcious with the Force or physical means. He finally stopped, staring at one of the other Sith, a human such as himself. He was only a few feet from him. "Greetings."

 

[Phil]

The Large Tuskin Warrior marched towards LFN with it's large gaffi in hand, but had suddenly became distracted by the lightsabers that were ignited and butchered his people. Roaring at the Zabrak, it went to raise it's weapon up to strike at him. LFN took that chance as he put one SMG away and ran straight into the six something foot tall warrior, leaping up as he slammed his wrist blade into the back of his neck and tackling it to the ground where he yanked the blade out and went to stab it down into the center of the spine.

"Never turn your back on an enemy!"

LFN said to the Tuskin, aiming his SMG down to the Tuskin and firing into it's back a volley of blaster shots before it's roars suddenly died out. When his target was down, LFN turned up to look at the one who had distracted his target and the lightsaber he had. He and his friends were not Jedi, that much was clear. But there were still a few more stragglers around.

"Impressive work with your blade. We can dispense pleasantries once other threats are dealt with."

He said, turning around before The Voice went to chime in...

......

"Of course I know, you think I'm stupid?"

......

"Just shut up and help me focus in on the others."

After scolding The Voice and with a flicker of his heads up display in his helmet, LFN leaped backwards with the help of his jets as he saw the otherside of the camp that was not touched yet as several of the Tuskins were near their prized Banthas.