A Dark Journey Begins

[Tarhani Nomar]

Dxun, the Demon Moon. It was Tarhani's home, but now she was to leave it. At her master's bidding, she had taken his lightsaber, her lightsaber now, and left the village that had been her home. Travelling many days to avoid implicating her village in what was to come, she waited for the inevitable Naddist inspection raid. She didn't have to wait long. They had come as they always did, the engines of their great starships roaring above the jungle canopy. They would terrorize the village, tearing apart the villagers homes in search of contraband. But not today.

Today terror would be visited upon them. Terror waited, meditating on her hatred of the Naddists who had oppressed her people. Rage simmered beneath her calm exterior as she waited for her ride to Onderon to make its landing. She was soon rewarded for her patience by the roar of sub-light engines as the Naddist gunship descended into the village square, sending the villagers running for safety. It was time. Standing, lightsaber in hand, Tarhani slipped out of the hut she had been meditating in, into the daylight.

The village was simple, buildings of cut wood and woven fronds. Contrast to the Naddist gunship, boxy painted metal and technology. The landing ramp lowered, armored soldiers armed with blasters and stun batons disembarked. It was time. With a deep breath, Tarhani focused on her rage, the darkside bubbling to the surface within her. With a great leap, she flew through the air to land amidst the Naddist soldiers.

Snap-hiss. Lightsaber igniting as she landed, the Naddists didn's stand a chance. Cleaving through the clumped squad of confused soldiers, she left nothing but corpses, smoldering wounds and melted armor. Quickly ascending into the bowels of the Naddist gunship, Tarhani breathed in the greasy smell of machines, nostrils flaring in disgust. "Take me to Onderon," a demand she expected to be obeyed, the blue blade of her lightsaber hovering next to the pilots neck. Soon she would arrive at the dark forest that her master had told her to seek out.

@Jinan B

 

[Leviticus]

Onderon seemed to have a mind of its own. A thousand voices screamed and howled from its depths, and the suffocating undergrowth of its endless jungles. Chittering termites lurking beneath and within the roots of massive trees, or the howling of winged beasts curled under the canopy of the forest. The constant percussion of the rain, beating against leaves twice as long as a human being. The mix of thunder and lightning roaring across the dark sky. But of all the voices and of all the sounds, one, in particular, cried out among the dissonance: the dark side. Its stench was unmistakable, and its aura sat heavy on the jungle. It was why Leviticus had traveled so far to come here— to fan the flames, and let it consume the undergrowth whole.

But that wasn't the only reason. Rumors had reached him of a Jedi team that wished to purge the darkness from Onderon— something the Exiles could not afford. Ever since the disastrous war with the Order, as well as the catastrophe on Ilum, the Exiles teetered on the brink of destruction. But with the festering darkness and a hold on Onderon, there was a chance they could once again come back to power. Through the dark side, the Exiles could crush the similarly ravaged Jedi once and for all. They could finish what they started all those years ago, and Leviticus could be one step closer to achieving his singular goal: revenge.

Although, first, he would have to regroup with his fellow Exiles. A thought he had once considered unimaginable. But with the threat of the Jedi, perhaps he and the others could put aside their differences and unite against them. Together, they might just overcome the Jedi that now skulked beneath the forest canopy. So begins their dark journey...

@Jinan B

 

[Tarhani Nomar]

Tarhani could sense the fear radiating off the pilot as he slowly reached for the control console. With a flick of a few levers and a couple button presses, the gunship rose into the air. "Please don't kill me Jedi," pleading to her as he brought the ship around to point towards Onderon, the large planet which had dominated the skies of her childhood. Tarhani wondered if she would return home after she completed her quest. Was there really anything there for her? A master who had taught her everything his crippled body could. Fellow students that constantly sought to bring her low, to steal her spot as the strongest.

Shaking her head as the ship rocked around her, eyes widening as they took in the darkness of the void around them. So vast compared to any previous perception had. Yet the speed within which the gunship traversed it marveled her even more. The Nomar could not stand against such power, that Tarhani knew for certain. The days of the beastriders were over, until they could level the playing field.

Contemplations tugged at Tarhani's mind, pulling her attentions away from the task at hand. She was eager to get off the flying deathtrap, turning off her saber as the pilot began to come in for a landing. She could feel the darkness nearby, calling to her. Before the pilot could initiate the landing sequence, Tarhani ignited the lightsaber through the back of his seat. His death echoed through the force for a fleeting moment, a curious sensation to the young Apprentice.

Sprinting to the back of the gunship, she slapped the button that lowered the landing ramp. Stepping out on the metal ramp as the ship entered a shallow dive, she watched the jungle canopy grow closer. Closing her eyes, she listened to the force, feeling for its signal as the treetops began to crunch under the ships weight.

Now.

She felt the word echo through her body. Her eyes snapped open. A step forward. Leap. Flying forwards, passing narrowly between two splintered tree tops. Plunging towards the forest floor, the breath of branches nearly grazing her skin as she passed by. Reaching into the power that dwelled within her, she slowed her descent. Feet grazing the ground as she tucked into a roll, coming up with a slight hop forward to stand on the edge of a large, mossy, flat boulder.

The jungle was much like the one of her home. But it was different as well. While many plants were the same, there were many that she had never seen. She didn't have to reach out to feel the beckoning darkness, its presence calling directly from in front of her. Hopping down off the boulder, the first objective of her quest was nearing.

@Jinan B

 

[Leviticus]

Among the many voices of the jungle, Leviticus could hear the distant whir of a neighboring ship. A hulking vessel that hovered not far from the sodden canopy. Then, through the force, he felt a flicker of death. An infinitesimal, insignificant soul vanishing within a passing moment. Leviticus reared his neck upward and recognized the ship start to spiral out of control. What really caught his attention, however, was the silhouette that shot out from its open hull, sailing fast into the jungle floor. He would have never noticed the stranger, if not for the dark aura that accompanied it. Was it another Exile, also driven forth by the rumors of encroaching Jedi, or attracted by the festering darkness over Onderon? Well, for whatever reason, he was bound to find out.

The force gathered around his feet, and burned along his fingertips, before Leviticus leaped from his lofty position in the canopy. Similarly slowing down his descent, he slammed into the thick verdure. Neighboring animals and winged critters scurried by with surprise, though some also eyed him with hungry anticipation. The darkness here was starting to drive them insane. Almost dangerous. While Onderon was no sanctuary beforehand, especially with all the poisonous shit lurking around the undergrowth, the growing dark side didn’t exactly make it any safer. Still, Leviticus knew his way around such dangers. Nothing like the wave of his hand or the jab of his lightsaber to do the trick.

Stalking not far behind the unfamiliar Exile, he let his hands hover close above his blade. He wasn’t hiding anything, nor was he planning to stab the stranger in the back— there was no reason to —but that didn’t mean he was any less trustworthy of the newcomer. Since Ilum, Exiles were dropping like flies. With internal power struggles and a poaching Jedi Order, the threat of death was always just around the corner. It was why he remained careful and discreet after all these years. It was why he now kept to the shadows, observing the stranger first and foremost before jumping into action. But, his curiosity always got the better of him.

As the young woman snaked through the forest and reached a small clearing, Leviticus made his debut. Driving his phrik-encased saber-pike into the ground and flaunting his primary lightsaber, he grinned beneath his mask. “What’s a young woman like yourself doing in a place like this? It’s not often Onderon gets visitors— or at least the kind that likes to drop out of the sky.”

@Arclight

 

[Tarhani Nomar]

Traversing the jungle floor of Onderon was strangely comforting, yet unsettling at the same time. The smooth bark and thick undergrowth of the jungle seemed so much like home. But the colors, shapes and smell weren't quite right. She lacked a sense of belonging with the forest, only the strange otherness of the darkside taint giving her a sense of familiarity. And another familiar sense, the feeling of being followed. It started as a slight tingle on the back of her head, slowly growing to feel like eyes piercing the back of her skull. Continuing to move confidently, seemingly unaware of the stalking presence, she forged through the jungle, eyes open for favorable ground.

It did not take long for her to find one, a small clearing that would give her enough room to maneuver. She didn't need it, having grown used to fighting in the thick underbrush and foliage. Stepping into the clearing, she almost reached the other side before the sound of a stake piercing dirt echoed behind her. Spinning around, lightsaber grasped in hand, brought up into a two hand grip to rest with the hilt parallel to her ear, she ignited the vibrant blue blade, angling it downwards slightly so that the tip sat at shoulder height. Her eyes blazed with focus, the Darkside heeding her beckoning call. The energy gathered in a twisting around her limbs, begging to be unleashed on the stranger.

"You look more a stranger to this planet than i do." Her eyes glancing him up and down. Her eyes narrowed at the lightsaber he held in his hand, and what appeared to be a lightsaber with a spear shaft thrust into the ground. "Too pale," a smirk adorning her lips, "Jedi?" eyes looking at the saber in his hand, head nodding in an acknowledging way. Direct and to the point, Tarhani had never seen a point in beating around the bush. Either she had a fight on her hand, or she was one step closer to fulfilling her master's bidding.

@Deviant @Jinan B

 

[Leviticus]

She wasn’t wrong— he was a stranger to Onderon. In fact, he was a stranger to just about every speck and rock in the galaxy. Since abandoning the Jedi Order, especially after Ilum, Leviticus had jumped from one planet to the next. He never stopped to breathe easy, never paused to relax. Because as an Exile, there was no time nor reason to rest. Peace had become a thing of the past, abandoned by both sides since the century-old schism. No Exile could just as easily settle down and start their own family, not when the remnants of the Jedi continued to stalk the galaxy in search for blood. Although, in truth, Levi didn’t want to melt away on some backwater world. He wanted revenge, and the only way he could find it was by seeking it out himself. Why else would he have come to this sodden rock?

Perhaps the young woman before him felt the same. Her wrath was marked, and her strength in the dark side was unmistakable. Leviticus didn’t even need to see through the force to know. He could tell by her the pressure in her stare, the hazy twirl of her fingers, and the backbone of her tone. For a moment, even he felt intimidated by her presence. He had encountered more than enough Exiles in his time as one, but none came off as threatening as she. But this didn’t alarm him, not to the point of backing down or jumping into action. Rather, he admired it. Most would have made some superfluous greeting (as he had), or a random quip, or just straight up attack him. Instead, she showed control, but at the same time, aggression. Just who was this woman?

Tucking his thoughts far into the back of his head, his eyes narrowed onto the stranger. “Too pale? A Jedi? Well, I’m offended.” Chuckling, he flourished his blade and anchored it back to his side. He raised both hands and bowed his head— subtle. “But fortunately for the both of us, no. I’m no Jedi— just a harmless Exile. Here to bloody my hands and blacken my soul. You know, the usual.” He ripped his saber-pike out from the ground and mirrored her smirk. “I’m not much for teaming up, and by the looks of it, I doubt you are too. But if you hate Jedi as much as I do, why not tarry a little?” Although the offer implied he cared little for her answer, deep down, he knew he would need her help. There was no way he could take on a whole team of Jedi on his own.

At least, not realistically. While his pride and ego screamed for him to ignore the girl and continue on his own, his head kept him in place. He had tried fighting multiple Knights at the same time before, and if his memory served him well, it didn’t end up exactly as he had originally planned— and Leviticus wasn’t planning to make the same mistake anytime soon.

@Arclight @Jinan B

 

[Tarhani Nomar]

In truth, Tarhani had never seen a Jedi before. All she had to go off was the stories of her master. Not that she would readily admit such a thing to the man before. He seemed offended, and amused at the accusation, swiftly revealing his allegianced to the Dxuni woman. She wasn't certain whether to feel relieved, or even more paranoid.

At least with a Jedi she knew she would have a fight on her hands. With a fellow darksider, he could be an ally. Or he could be a treacherous viper awaiting the perfect opportunity to strike while her back was turned. But there were safety in numbers as well, if an alliance could be forged.

"And why should i trust you stranger?" her saber hovering steadily before the blade dissapeared with a hiss. She did not however let her guard down, the hilt remaining in place next to her face, posture only relaxing slightly. "What is your purpose on this world?" a question that Tarhani suspected she knew the answer to.

@Deviant @Jinan B

 

[Leviticus]

Leaning against his glorified staff, he waltzed toward the young woman. He approached slowly, however, recognizing that even the slightest wrong move would mean a fight— and his potential death. As trained and as proficient with a blade as he was, Leviticus didn’t want to risk testing his skill against the strange woman. Her corrupt gaze and tempered voice alone had unnerved him, so who was to say she was not as experienced as he— if not better? If he wanted to find out how well she fought, then he would just have to wait for their encounter with the Jedi trespassers. For now, he would need to first earn her trust.

“I have a name, you know. Leviticus, or Levi, for short.” He said, before pausing to answer her question. “Trust goes both ways. I mean, I could say the same for you. I don’t know who you are, where you’re from, or even exactly why you decided to crash your own ship.” He raised a brow and nudged his staff toward her. “But I do know you’re not with the Jedi, and neither am I. And if anything, that’s more than enough for me.” Strolling right past her, he gazed out into the dark foliage of the jungle. The dark side was calling for him, and he could feel the light approaching, though faint— it was coming. “But, if you can’t accept that, then allow me to walk ahead. Then you won’t have to worry about the end of my blade springing out of your chest. Hm?”

Not waiting for an answer, or even expecting one, Leviticus continued to carve a path through the undergrowth. Meanwhile, he explained carefully: “Also, I think you already have an idea as to why I’m here. If you’re no Jedi, but rather an Exile, then you must have felt the calling as well— am I right? The dark side, it festers on this world… threatening to consume it. You could say I’m just here to help fan the flames.” He arched his head low as he passed a sunken branch, as well as a winged critter that sat upon it, watching the pair with unfamiliar hunger. “Although I’m really here to intercept the Jedi that I believe have been sent to put out said flames.”

He glanced back to the woman. “I won’t get into much detail, but let’s just say I hate the Order and leave it at that.” A pause. “And what about you? What brings you to the shite that is Onderon?”

 

[Tarhani Nomar]

Tarhani eyed the man, Leviticus, warily as he approached. She could sense the darkness inside him. But it was almost completely overwhelmed by the grasping darkness that called to her from the forest. Pulling at her mind. Insistent. Demanding. Leviticus approached, and shoved past her, intent on following the Darksides beckoning call. He spoke of trust. Tarhani didn't know of trust. There was only the hunter and the prey, and they were both hunters. She would follow him for the time being, watching his every move. It was likely that he was attempting to lure her into a false sense of security with his presence, to later spring a deadly trap. Absolving herself to stay one step ahead of the man, she let her arms fall to her side, lightsaber held with a firm grip in her right hand.

"Tarhani," Hesitantly sharing her name with the fellow "Exile", if his word was to be trusted. "And it wasn't my ship, i was just hitching a ride." Following behind the man, eyes switching between watching the surrounding jungle and burning a hole in his back. The man was clearly trusting to the point of foolishness. Or, he was a skilled enough warrior that baring his back to a potential foe didn't phase him. He certainly was well aware of the possibility of a blade suddenly sprouting through his chest, having stepped into the lead position to put her mind at ease. It worked, to an extent, as Tarhani fell into step behind him. If it seemed like he was leading her into a trap, she would simply spear him through the back and be done with it. Though she hoped that wouldn't be necessary, things were falling into line so quickly, as if the Darkside was working to bring its minions together.

"I am no Jedi." Spitting on the ground in disgust at the name, though she had never encountered one, her master had told her everything she needed to know. Tyrants who forbade any knowledge that they did not approve of. Religious fanatics who burned planets in their crusader zeal against those who wished to study their "forbidden arts" in peace. "My master sent me to seek out the darkness here in the forest. Now that i am here... It calls to me, and i am drawn to it," Tarhani had never felt anything like it before, the slowly nearing locus of the Darkside making her skin crawl yet at the same time igniting a fire within her. If the corruption spread, consuming the forest and spreading beyond, it would likely hurt the Naddist regime's reign. "Yes. I would see this fire grow into an inferno. How do you plan to feed the flames?"

As far as Tarhani's knowledge went, there was no way to do such a thing. But she knew her teaching was limited, only having had one teacher who himself was limited by a crippled body. If this Leviticus had any insight into such techniques, Tarhani would eagerly absorb as much knowledge as she could from him. For a time. She knew of course that all things must pass, and all apprentices outgrew their masters. In fact, the more she thought about it, the more she suspected that her master hadn't sent her away out of acknowledgement of her powers, but out of fear. Surely he could sense that she would soon surpass him, and once he was of no further use to her he would simply be an obstacle in her way. So he had removed her from the equation, so he could continue to lord over the other apprentices.

"You believe there are Jedi here on Onderon?" A surprise, but not an unwelcome one. She hadn't expected to be tested so soon, but at the same time was eager to prove the power she thought she possessed to herself. For she was the only judge that truly mattered. "What brings me to Onderon? The darkness ahead. Curiosity. Revenge. What more could there be?" Worrying that she might begin to reveal too much about herself, she left it at that. Trust did not come easily to the Dxun native, having grown up with her closest peers as her most adamant enemies. Setting foot on another world wouldn't change that for her.

@Deviant @Jinan B

 

[Leviticus]

Leviticus could feel her stare burrowing into the back of his head. He could still feel the dark side boiling at her fingertips, and out from the corner of his eye, see the metallic gleam of her lightsaber. As little as he trusted the woman, she trusted him far less. He didn’t blame the Exile, though. Months or years of journeying across a galaxy hellbent on your extermination can change a person. Who could say that she had not endured horrors similar to his own, if not worse? Regardless of her apparent suspicion, though, she was slowly opening up. Eventually, he would have her wrapped around his fingers. Or should the tables turn, him around hers. And for some reason, he didn’t mind either way.

Careless enough to steal a ship and crash it in the middle of the forest. Experienced enough under the tutelage of an Exile master, unlike the lack of discipline that Leviticus embodied. Powerful enough that even he could see it seeping out from her body, mixing with the darkness that enveloped the jungle. She had the true makings of not just an Exile, but a potential Warlord. Ultimately, the thought intrigued him. Levi himself was not out for power, but instead for revenge. What he needed was not a position of power, but a powerful position from which to attack. The more allies he gathered, and the stronger they were, meant he was that closer to building a sect that could rival the Jedi— and thus closer to vengeance.

“How else do you feed a fire?” Leviticus answered as he continued to weave past the jungle undergrowth. “You give it scraps, and the remains of what you’ve gathered. Feed it enough, and it will grow into a wildfire, and nothing will stand in its way.” He looked up to the canopy, feeling the dark side grow around him. “It’s the same principle. Feed the darkness here with death— the remains of its enemies —and destruction, then it will grow, eventually to the point that it can eat on its own. That way, I get to kill the Jedi, and simultaneously feed the dark side.” Through the force, he raised a small stone into the air. “Two birds, one stone.” Suddenly, he sent it flying through the air, smashing into a pair of winged creatures. The same that had been stalking them before.

“And, yes. I believe Jedi have come.” He said bluntly, adding, “After Tython and Ilum, there’s no way the Order, even a fractured one, would allow this kind of darkness to fester.” And he wasn’t wrong there. The Jedi may have scattered across the galaxy, but they were slowly piecing themselves back together, fueled by a desire to end the threat of the dark side. In time, they would unite once again and destroy the Exiles. It was why Leviticus was desperate to pull any wayward Exiles together, and kill whatever Jedi he could get his hands on before vice versa. “Ah, of course. Nothing sweeter than revenge.”

He turned to smile at Tarhuni until he felt the weight of a thousand pounds slam into his side. Tossed into the air, he slammed into the side of a tree. With the breath knocked out of him, he struggled to rise back up, likewise stunned by the unexpected blow. He raised his eyes to catch a massive silhouette, a behemoth driven insane by the dark side. His fingers tightened around his saber staff, now also covered in mud. "You have to be shitting me," he heaved, reeling back to his full height. "I just got these robes cleaned."

 

[Tarhani Nomar]

Tarhani listened to the man talk as they walked. In some ways he reminded Tarhani of her master, he loved to listen to his own voice. Still his words were informative, and more importantly, to her liking. One thing that her training was lacking in was the killing of Jedi, or other Exiles for that matter. Her master had forbade it, the force sensitive blood of Dxun was too valuable to spill needlessly, so she had to content herself with merely destroying any who tried to take her down to curry favor with the master. She was not however a stranger to death, having killed many during her tutelage. Her master pulling the strings of tribal politics, with her as his assassin to cut down any who stood against his growing influence. But they had never been a challenge, something she craved.

Her muscles tensed, the darkside flowing through Leviticus as he levitated a small stone. But she felt no ill intent directed towards her. The stone flew, to strike down a pair of reptilian fliers that had been stalking them, emphasizing his point. The display pulled a smirk from Tarhani's stern visage, who despite her seriousness didn't miss the humor of it. He continued to assert his certainty that the Jedi would come, speaking of events that took place far from her home. Tython, her master had told tales of the battle there. How the Exiles siege was rebuffed time and time again. Tales of how the Jedi slaughtering the loyal soldiers of the Exiles, who laid down their lives to bring down the oppressive Jedi Order. Ilum however, was a strange name to her.

He turned to smile at her, flashing white teeth. For only a moment. Slam. An ululating Tee-muss came charging out of the underbrush, smashing into the Exile and sending him flying into the mud. It turned to Tarhani with a snort, its bloodshot eyes rolling in madness. With a raised hand, Tarhani reached towards its mind, the dark tendrils of her will seeking to grasp the beasts thoughts. But it's mind was slick with the Darkside, madness taking any chance of her influencing the beast easily, her commands sliding off the creatures psyche like water off a rock. All that came from the beast was rage.

Rolling smoothly to the side as the beast charged, Tarhani almost, almost avoided it. Pain roared through her body as the beast kicked after passing her by, hoof clipping her back and sending her sprawling in the mud. Gasping, she crawled to her feet, slick with mud but saber still in hand. Snap-hiss. The brilliant blue blade sprung to life. Pain and anger filled her vision. While before she had intended to calm the beast, tame it, and ease her travel through the jungle, now she only wished for its death.

@Deviant @Jinan B

 

[Leviticus]

Leviticus had fought beasts of this ilk before. The rabid fauna and venomous flora of Onderon was nothing new to him, like any ordinary Exile. Traveling from one end of the galaxy to the other had its perks, giving him a necessary, grounded experience of the many worlds around him. At least, “perks” is just one way to put it. On more than one occasion, he had nearly fall victim to a wide variety of beasts, either native or imported off world. Acklay from Felucia, some wayward Dianoga in some godforsaken swamp, or even a rancor inside the belly of a dungeon on Nal Hutta. And while he hadn’t exactly killed every which one, he survived, and that was all he needed to know.

This beast, however, was different. It was neither stuffed with bladed teeth, covered in eyes or fangs. The creature was not even half the size of the creatures he once fought. Still, it sure packed a punch, leaving a deep bruise on his side. Nothing he couldn’t handle, or ultimately ignore, but it stung as he recollected himself. The dark side was a wealthy source of power, but with staggering corruption. Onderon wildlife was no exception. The unfamiliar creature had been driven beyond insane, and the darkness that tainted it had fueled it with instinctual strength, and raw power. This would not make an easy kill, that was for sure.

Levi ignited his blade, coating his surroundings with its crimson glow. In contrast, though, he recognized Tarhani reveal her own lightsaber, this time with its blue radiance. She was no Jedi— he could tell from every disgusted scowl on her face at their every mention, but was she really a full-fledged Exile? She had yet to corrupt the crystal encased within her blade. And here, Leviticus thought he had stumbled upon an accomplished warrior. Then again, he knew little of her background and little of her actual skill. There was no telling of her own experience. Not until now.

He narrowed his eyes toward the animal as it snarled at Tarhani, hungry for a kill— but so was he. Allowing the dark side to similarly coat his mind and gather at his fingertips, he taunted the beast to attack. “Come on!” He crowed, flourishing his red blade like a cape. The Tee-muss growled, and charged rapidly forward. Leviticus smirked, directed his saber pike, and rushed ahead in response. Then, he leaned back and slid through the mud at his feet. The end of his staff aimed high, he pierced clean into the center mass of the deranged beast, killing it for good. The Exile stepped out from the mud and smirked. “See? Not so hard.”

Of course, as luck would have it, another creature surfaced to the pair. Although it didn’t come out from the trees, nor the undergrowth. Rather, a massive Ruping shot out from the canopy, its teeth gnashing together. As if it had been chasing the Tee-muss, this newfound beast screamed as it recognized the pair and its stolen kill. Leviticus, on the other hand, rolled his eyes and groaned. “Oh you have got to be kidding me.”

 

[Suiren]

Suiren paused at the edge of the dark forest. Looking through the trees, hearing the faint cries of the many creatures within the canopy; the Kyuzo was almost reminded of his time under the wroshyr tree's on Kashyyyk. Not just any part of Kashyyyk though, but the surface of the planet. The shadowlands where the cries became rawer; more... Primal. That was what Suiren was reminded of at the edge of this dark power.

Even then, the forest of Onderon held something beyond that of anything Suiren had seen before. The dark presence that permeated the land would have been clear even to someone completely deaf to the Force itself. It was more than just the darkness between the trees, or the danger behind the howls; it was an aura in and of itself, almost visible to the naked eye. At least, that was what Suiren saw as he began to make his way within. Should he have been afraid? Yes, but the Kyuzo would not let himself be controlled by his fears.

He made his way slowly towards where he had spotted the slim figure depart the crashing ship, an unknown determination guiding him. What he expected to find he couldn't say, yet something drew him in towards the heart of the woods. He had heard something, a whisper.

Now

Now, what? It didn't matter. Now was the time for events to unfold, and Suiren was sure that was exactly what they would do.

It didn't take long, for only a few minutes in Suiren heard the distant call of a beast's rage. That alone was nothing special, but what answered it was: a man's voice.

Come on!

Suiren upped his pace, breaking into a run as he moved towards the source of the sound. Suddenly he spotted what was happening through the undergrowth. Two humans; no, more than humans. Two Force users were under attack from the beasts of the forest. The Kyuzo had no time to process if these people would be friend or foe; he saw a threat and he attacked.

Drawing himself up to his full height, the Kyuzo's left hand slipped to his blaster and aimed it at the ruping. "Down!" He yelled in his native tongue. One; two; three shots flung themselves at the beast, connecting with its back and clearly drawing its attention. Suiren took a step forward. Four; five. And another. Six.

The beast, full of anger and strength mere moments before, flagged beneath the assault before finally giving way. Finally it lunged forward with a final burst of strength; seeking the Kyuzo yet meeting only the blue glow of his lightsaber before finally falling to the ground, dead.

Suiren looked up from his kill, taking in the two before him. One was clearly an exile like himself, yet the female's allegiance was harder to discern. The man assumed the best and returned his blaster to its holster. He would then move his hand towards his mask, activating the translator that had before had no business being used. Finally, he spoke.

"Are you wounded?"

@Arclight @Deviant

 

[Tarhani Nomar]

Before Tarhani could inflict her vengeance upon the beast, Levicticus had drawn its attention, taunting the Tee-muss and waving his mud splattered cape at the thing. Snarling as he felled the beast, she deactivated her lightsaber, the threat gone but her rage going unsatisfied. Before she could act on her unsated aggression however, a Ruping burst through the canopy, screeching at the pair. Snap-hiss. Once more her lightsaber activated, ready to strike down the threat.

Until a sextuplet of blaster bolts rang out, slamming into the flying beast one after the other. It dove at the offender, who cut its throat open with a blue bladed lightsaber. Once more stepping into a defensive pose, legs shoulder length apart, with the left foot slightly forward. Saber hilt held at waist height, with the blade tilted forward about twenty degrees. Ignoring the... Alien's words, Tarhani looked to Leviticus.

"Friend of yours?"

@Deviant @Jinan B

 

[Leviticus]

Before the words left his mouth, Leviticus watched as another silhouette emerged out from the jungle. Not a human, but neither another creature of Onderon. Instead, it was some wayward stranger, bellowing in his foreign tongue and flailing about with a blaster. For a brief moment, Levi would have thought the man to be some crazed traveler, driven crazy by the dark side or desperate to smash something across the head. Then again, he wasn’t wrong. The man was enveloped with the force, but they were no Jedi: a Knight would have pounced onto the pair of Exiles without hesitation, but this man instead seemed to be brawling with the winged beast. Still, Leviticus upheld his defense, activated saber pike close at hand as the stranger finished the job.

The creature, pierced with the man’s blade, slumped into the ground. And as they removed their mask from their face, Leviticus simply scoffed. “I’m fine.” Deactivating his staff, he mopped off a wedge of mud from his chest. With a single grunt of disgust, he glanced toward Tarhani. “No, he’s not with me. If he was, I’d have kept him at my side. At least then my robes wouldn’t be so bloodydamn filthy.” His eyes waltzed back to the stranger, and narrowed at the sight of his unique features. Flat nose, wrinkled skin, and eyes both wide and bathed in yellow. Now, Leviticus was certain they weren’t from the Order, but who was to say he could be trusted?

The man circled around the other, continuing to wipe away the mud off his body with his left hand. “Who are you, and why are here, lurking about?” He questioned the other Exile, lightsaber at the ready. Although the chances of a battle were slim, it never hurt to be sure. He wasn’t going to let his guard slip just because some weirdo helped kill an attacking ruping.

@Jinan B

 

[Suiren]

As the two humans began to figure out just what Suiren's place was in all this, the man paid close attention to how they were reacting to him. The woman was still undoubtedly on guard, keeping her lightsaber at the ready, and the man wasn't much different. While he had deactivated his own weapon, it was clear that he was ready to use it at a moment's notice.

Then, the man asked his series of questions. "Hmm... I suppose I can't fault you for being on edge. Very well." He would respond to the pair, deactivating his own blade and placing it back on his hip as a token of good faith (though still keeping his hand ready to grab it again at a moment’s notice). It was grating to notice the lack of courtesy shown toward him, but the Kyuzo wasn't about to let it ruin their meeting. If humans weren't taught to introduce themselves before presuming to ask such annoying questions, he wouldn't be bothered to teach them.

"I am Suiren, and I am here for... Well, for the forest. Is that not what brought you as well?" He would continue, hoping that his explaining himself might lead to his fellow strangers doing the same on their side. As he began to speak he would continue making his way deeper into the woods, keeping his eyes on the humans. "I am curious, however. Which one of you came from the ship?"

@Arclight @Deviant

 

[Tarhani Nomar]

Once more deactivating her lightsaber, Tarhani scoffed at Leviticus. "A little mud never hurt anyone." Swiping some of the mud from her own robes and rubbing two streaks under her eyes, cutting the glaring sunlight from reflecting up off her cheeks into her eyes. Turning her attention back to the thing that came from the forest, she responded to his strange question, "That would be me." She saw no reason to hide the fact that she had been the one who crashed the Naddist gunship. She wasn't sure why everyone was so curious about it. What was curious was the alien that stood before her. She looked him up and down, not sure what he was.

It had the shape of a man, but was clearly not. Only four fingers were on each hand, with no evidence of any being lost. Its eyes glowed yellow, but not in the same way as her master's, who had been strong in the Darkside. It scrunched and wrinkly face was beyond ugly. If this was what his entire species looked like, she imagined it was a struggle for them to survive as a race, so appallingly ugly that none of them would wish to mate with each other. Her face slowly scrunched up in disgust as she spoke in a disgusted tone. "What are you?"

@Deviant @Jinan B

 

[Leviticus]

“So, it seems we were all summoned here by this manifestation of the dark side.” He chuckled. “Although I don’t remember getting a memo about switching our sabers back to blue.” While it was merely a joke, the implication was there. While the other two Exiles might be inflamed with the force, neither had gone to the point of corrupting the crystals within each lightsaber. Whether it was out of choice or the two were simply newcomers to the dark side, Leviticus didn’t know, and neither did he want to. The three were here at the calling of the jungle and to stop an advance from the Jedi Order, and that was all he needed to know. So long as neither didn’t try to stab him in the back or turn out to be just cannon fodder, then Leviticus was content.

Then again, the presence of the alien Exile wasn’t exactly welcome. Neither he nor Tarhani seemed overly thrilled at his appearance— literally. Still, they were all in this together now. With the impending arrival of the Jedi strike team, each would need the other’s help if they wanted to leave Onderon unscathed, and with a semblance of satisfaction. And as much as Leviticus liked to think he could take on the world (and the galaxy) himself, he understood that some battles couldn’t be fought on his own. The more, after all, the merrier— even if one was an edgy, mud-covered woman and the other was some creased, wide-eyed alien. “Er,” he added following Tarhani’s final remark, “I think she means to say where are you from?”

Again, Levi cared little for the origins of this newcomer, but he didn’t want to risk heating up tensions between the three. The pair might not be fans of anything that wasn’t remotely human, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t be potential allies.

 

[Suiren]

The humans were ignorant, clearly. Ignorant of proper culture, ignorant of the species that shared the galaxy with them, ignorant of the very notion of cordiality. He could ignore the fact that they had so blatantly ignored his attempt to allow a mutual introduction as would have been the norm; he could ignore the fact that they had never before seen a member of his species, but seeing the way the two looked down at him, as if he were inferior? If Suiren hadn't already accepted the mutual aid needed, he might have struck them down where they stood. Since when were the exiles made up of such pathetic stock...

"I... Am a Kyuzo." He would reply, almost visibly struggling to keep his composure despite being disguised by the neutral tone of his translator. Seeing that the others had put their own weapons away he would turn his head to face frontwards. "From Phatrong." Frankly, he had little desire to explain his origins to these two, and it showed. Yet they still had to work together. All Suiren could do was bare it all until it was over.

As it was, the man would turn his attention back to the matter at hand. "As things stand, we are clearly here for a reason" He would say. "We should find out what our purpose is, sooner rather than later."

So he would make his way, deeper into the dark forest.

/end