Ask A New Foothold

[Barz]

Sith always had a penchant for hanging out on planets where no one would even send their prisoners. This was exactly why Barz found himself on Malachor. It was reputed to be a planet seeped in the Dark Side of the Force and rumored to hold an ancient Sith temple. The likes of Darth Maul and even Darth Vader had come through here.

To Barz, this was yet another job. The goal was to establish a new base for the Dark Lord. Since the social event, he didn’t mind having her at the helm. She wasn’t as awful as he expected, though he didn’t know if the same could be said for his companion for this mission. Rumors had it that it was a Sith Champion, but she was exceptionally powerful. As an acolyte, he was already on the backfoot, but now he was stuck with someone that could snap his neck in a moment.

He didn’t bother with shirts, so he dressed however he pleased for the job. His saber was on his hip and he walked down the ramp of his ship. He was supposed to meet his companion here. For now, he shifted side to side on his feet, humming to himself while taking in sight of the depressing planet.

@LadyRen

 

[Ciri]

While the Sith Order still lay in shatters, Ciri usually didn't bother helping those who counted themselves as part of this so called Order. The truth was, there was no Order left, yet as Sith actually thrived in chaos, their position wasn't even that bad and she couldn't understand those who were crying.

It was there time to rebuild - in the shadows for now, where they'll almost drift into oblivion before they'd make their reappearance...oh what a poetical sap. Ciri actually only rolled their eyes at those who believed in this weird assumed unity. They served the dark side, that was all they had in common. They were not meant to be an Order in her opinion though.

Malachor was of personal interest to her as she assumed the ancient, long abandoned Sith temple would still bear secrets that just waited to be exploited, so hence she found herself on this quest officially issued by the Dark Lord. The planet was completely barren and everything but spectacular, yet so unimportant that she wouldn't expect any troubles here, which was why it was just the right place.

When her ship entered the atmosphere, the scanners already picked up the other ship, so that she knew the acolyte that was supposed to accompany her was already there. She brought the ship down so that debris was hurled into the air all around but she chose a fair distance from the massive Orc who was seemingly already waiting for her.

Her lightsabers were clipped to her belt as she ascended the ramp of her ship, her dark cloak drifted behind her as she carried herself with all the poise and grace she naturally commanded. He'd notice her dark aura as out here, there was no need to conceal it and so the sinister forces effortlessly swirled around her. "Acolyte", she adressed him with not a single emotion in her voice, "Follow me". She simply passed him, motioning for him to follow. They had work to do and if he wanted a chat, they wouldn't waste time while at it.

@Sreeya

 

[Barz]

He was getting bored of waiting, so he started playing some catchy tunes. He usually liked classic rock, or swung in the polar opposite to pop. Now he was in the mood for pop. The orcolan was tapping his foot to the beat, staring off into space as the music blasted in his EZPods. His hand was patting against his thigh and he was enjoying a private concert.

Which is why he was initially oblivious to the Champion appearing like some sort of reaper over the horizon. He felt a little uncomfortable but chalked it up to indigestion. After a few seconds, he happened to look ahead and spot his spooky companion. He grimaced, quickly shutting off his music and putting his EZPods away.

He said nothing as he plodded along and followed her. Barz knew the drill. These types of Sith had little personality and it’d be a waste of time trying to engage in conversation. For now, he stayed silent as he walked behind her, quietly surveying the surface of the planet.

Over the years, the temple had been buried. They would have to find underground tunnels and paths to make their way over to find it.

@LadyRen

 

[Ciri]

She paid his mundane distractions little attention. If he chose to hum something while walking, he'd however soon learn that Chirikyât was not particularly fond of music and would not have it.

Good for him though, he did immediately turn it off and followed without questions and what even pleaser her further was how he didn't pushed his luck by asking any trivial questions. She kept her senses open and moved forward, constantly scanning not only the barren terrain ahead but also the one below.

She did realize that every now and then they passed a hollow tunnel, however even they followed them, there was no entrance anywhere in sight. As they crossed a larger, apperently open chamber, she stopped for a moment and reached in completely, checking whether there were any living underground creatures around, but as she couldn't pick up any movements, she came to a halt.

She had little patience for keeping on an elongated hike, so she preferred the direct way in. "Step back" she motioned for him to move to the left, but didn't wait longer than a few seconds before she squatted down and touched the dry, rocky surface.

Calling onto the darkness, the ground started to rumble before the ceiling of the natural cave would shake. She could feel how the first stalactites came crushing down before more of the ceiling broke apart. It was a sheer, violent force that ripped the rock formations apart, but as the layer wasn't too thick, it didn't take long until the first ray of light shone down from above.

Ciri slowly stepped back as her violent interference with the cave's static caused more rock formation to crumble. The opening started of with two feet, however soon an amorphous, approximately ten feet wide hole gaped in front of them, opening up a new, however not particular secure direct route downwards.

She simply jutted her chin forwards, thereby signaling the acolyte to jump in as her yellow eyes pierced right through him. "Do you have any experience with caves?", she then asked, wondering whether he was any good with navigating through them or whether he'd keep tagging along like a massive, greenish puppy.

@Sreeya

 

[Barz]

Barz stood around as the mystery Champion opened up an entrance. Since they hadn’t introduced one another, he only knew her as ‘Champion’. Awkward. The orcolan was perfectly fine being a green puppy because he cared more about self preservation than some arbitrary cause that changed with the whims of the wind. He looked at her and blinked as she suggested that he go in first.

“You want me to just jump into some shady hole you created?” He grumbled. It was a rhetorical question. Of course she expected him to do that. She needed a canary for the mines and he was the poor subject. With a grumble, he began to step forward, “My size and caves historically don’t get along,” He answered as he walked in. Orcolan were too huge to be useful in small, cramped spaces, and he had his doubts about this one.

He slipped and fell on his ass, abruptly sliding away into the darkness. His voice echoed into the distance as he disappeared. For a moment she would be left wondering if he already met his demise.

“It’s kinda smelly down here,” His voice echoed after a long minute, signaling that he was alive. However, this did mean that she would also have to slide her way down the entrance or find another way in.

@LadyRen

 

[Ciri]

"You've got any objections?", her cold voice was laced with a hint of vitriol while the yellow eyes lightened up ever so slightly. Was he already turning into a annoying liable? His frame was massive, but she knew his neck would snap like the frailest baby branch in the wind, resulting in this pleasant crack of a snapping spine.

He moved forward, yet commented on how his frame wasn't built for such caves and she slightly tilted her head to the side before a hint of actual annoyance crossed her features. As if she didn't see that. She was about to just shove him in as he finally stepped in, however he slipped and slid into darkness.

His voice followed him until everything went silent. She couldn't feel his death and so she just mildly quirked a brow, waiting for a signal until his voice quietly echoed up. Good. Without hesitation, she approached the ledge and moved forward as well, however balanced herself with a force for a more graceful and dignified descent.

Once down, she landed on her feet, her eyes narrowed while they adjusted to the darkness, but she had a sign that could conjure a reddish source of light. She however took a moment to take in their surroundings and and to agree that it didn't smell very pleasant and rather rotten, but she wasn't a stranger to such odors.

"Go ahead", she plainly urged him as she focused to cast the sign of the glowing sphere that would slightly hover in front of him. "Tell me. How long have you called yourself a Sith?", she would ask him with her voice much lighter again. She didn't know much about this acolyte, yet the lightsaber that dangled from his hip did pique her interest.

@Sreeya