An Unwelcome Party

[Bruce Guleya]

Elloran Village, Outskirts
Theme

The trio streaked through the skies atop their new friends and recent means of transportation. The decision had been made, they had decided to follow the faint whispers of the Force to the east with the Jedi Master Bruce Guleya at the point of their formation. The beasts knew their mission and were happy to oblige. The pack of the fliers had remained near their natural habitats and kept to the grasslands allow the Jedis to proceed unmolested. As the three fliers advanced a black speck could be seen in the distance, it could only be one thing - and so the creatures began to advance to their intended destination, gently descending from the skies.

...And then there was a bang...

@Plebometer @Deviant @Zigara
​

Bruce's flier let out a bloodcurdling roar in concert with the bang heard a moment ago. The cry of pain shook up the badottan as the pain seemed to be his own pain; it happened so fast with no time to react. The flier began a rapid decent the ground below becoming closer and closer, threatening the Jedi Master; for his flier's left wing had been torn asunder, complimented with the blood within... the Jedi needed to do something fast.The Jedi wrapped himself in the protective nature of the Force and reign his beast the best he could, to pull them both from a certain death, and to a lesser extent sacrifice his new companion for his own safety. A heavy choice for the Jedi.

He plummeted with his mount, a heaviness weighing on his heart as the flier hit the ground with a loud thud accompanied by the sound of bones shattering due to the sudden impact. The death of the creature he had bounded with for only a few moments struck an nerve with the Jedi, a sudden wave of sadness. The loss of any creature - sentient or not - was unwarranted, especially one of innocence.

The Jedi Master through himself away from the now still saurian, his barrier absorbing the trauma of the hard ground as he rolled across it, striking rocks and finally impacting hard into a tree truck; preventing any serious injuries or broken bones. Though he was protected, he was stunned and could not recollect himself immediately. He lifted his body up but immediately collapsed from effort as one would give out from excessive exercise - though his heart beat steadily, his breathing shallow.

A voice whispered in his mind, a voice of benevolence. Hold on, it said. Become anew. Bruce subconsciously brought himself to a trance, a trance that would collect the events as they had happened, a trance that would gather the energies surrounding him, the energies that bound everything together.

Soon... He was up.

Bruce's eyes shot open, feeling rejuvenated and determined. He scrambled to his feet and turn to face the carcass of his former mount. He had instinctively called his lightsaber to his hand, but he hadn't ignited it. He could see several figures advancing quickly toward him and the beast, but they seemed more drawn to to beast - this gave him the edge he needed and he took cover the best he could.

He needed to know, he looked around to see if he could see his Jedi companions. He pinged each of their bodies to get a sense of direction in which they were in, he needed to ensure that they were safe.

Damned the locals.

 

[Imani Sage]

They were getting close. Imani could tell. The mysterious storm seemed to lighten and the Force was growing stronger around them throughout their approach. She held close to her newfound companion, the saurian flier she now rode upon, “Stinger.” The beast was one of the many that had attempted to kill her when she first crashed on Ellora, but things had changed. Perspectives shifted. What she saw as an enemy turned into an opportunity and a friend. Already, as she descended from the skies, the Jedi could feel the creature’s heartbeat against the palm of her hand. She could connect with its own inner emotions, deep under its skin. The two almost became one in their strange bond together.

Then she felt the heartbeat drop, along with the saurian flier. Through her bond, she even felt the spear as it pierced Stinger’s lower abdomen. She could feel, understand, and relate with the ensuing, excruciating pain. Horrified, it took her several moments to recuperate and shake off the sunken feeling that now took hold. She was going to die, Stinger was going to die. Yet before she reached the ground, her winged pet used a final stretch of its energy to twist up, opening its wings like a parachute, and crashed to the ground. Although Imani was saved, Stinger took a nasty hit. He was alive, but with the crash and the spear, he wouldn’t be for long.

Disembarking, she quickly looked to examine the wound, but it was too late and she had too little time. Knowing whatever monsters who did this were approaching, Imani looked to the animal one more time. She pressed her hand against its head, tears welling up. “I’m sorry. Please, find peace.” As life trickled out from the saurian flier, she immediately retreated back to the surrounding grass. Tall enough for her to hide in, she watched several strange hunters move in. While she observed from afar, disgusted, her hand instinctively reached down to her saber. Except, it wasn’t there. Shocked, she noticed the glint of the hilt at the feet of Stinger. But it was too late. The hunters had descended onto their prey. One, in particular, was quick to pick her blade up.

When Imani reached out in the Force, she could see and feel its dark intentions. In the natives, she saw only bloodlust and hate and hostility. They could not be trusted. Especially when she recognized one of the hunters look around for something more— no doubt they saw the riders too before they fired. An indication, again, that these were not friends, but foes. “You goddamn monsters.” She murmured as she watched the other hunters prance around Stinger’s body, kicking it, ripping its teeth from its maw, carving it up for sport. How could they?

So, when the four-armed hunter who took her lightsaber inspected it carefully, like it knew what it was, the Jedi Master did what she thought was best: ignite it. Unfortunately, the blow would fail to kill the hunter or allow her to get the drop on these hunters, but it would at least act as a fine distraction for her to act.

@Plebometer

 

[Jinlo Halan]

Following at the rear of the proverbial pack of flying Jedi, the Raven haired Jedi watched in horror as flashes of light glinting off of metal objects being cast towards the two saurian flyers ahead of her, blood running cold as she watched the winged reptilian beasts and their riders plummet to the ground. Breathing deeply as she tried to keep focused from the shock of the events that were transpiring before her, Ice blue eyes narrowing into slits as she tried to assess the situation from above, she could barely make out various silouettes on the ground, but there was more than just four. The Jedi and their felled mounts were not alone.

Tightening her hold around the neck of her mount, she could feel the fear and panic that was running through the mind of her flyer. "Calm down boy" Jinlo spoke softly to the winged repile as she gently ran a hand along the black scales of her neck "We'll get through this, we just need to work together" she continued has the raven haired Jedi placed her hand against the top of her steeds head, allowing her mind to commune with that of the Saurian, if either of the two were to remain unharmed they would have to work together, as one mind.

Channeling the Force through her body and into her psychic energies she released the self imposed mental restraints, allowing countless silken tendrils of empathetic energies reach out into their surroundings, snaking their way effortlessly into the unprepared and weak minds of the hunters below whilst the threads of her psychic abilities found resistance against those of the Jedi. The young Jedi's mind had connected with the beast she was riding, sharing her memories with his, and vice versa, giving her an insight into the plight of the creatures, its mind allowing her to see how the brood was continually hunted by these primitives, no wonder why they attacked the Jedi on their arrival.

But it was there within the saurian's memories, a stricking image of the brood's matriarch, a towering beast possibly three times the size of the ones they had encountered. The Brood mother, its scales where as black as the night, sharp talons the lenght of her own arms, a thought crossed the Jedi's mind as the images filled her minds eye "This might work!" Jinlo muttered as she pulled her hand away from her mount's forehead, and idea was forming now, and deep down she hoped that she could pull it off, having only just started experimenting with psychic illusions.

A loud guttural roar echoed over the immediate area, preceding the sound of heavy wing beats, each one as if were a clap of thunder bounding against the ambient noise of the storm above. The noise drawing the attention of those on the ground, as the sudden appearance of a looming and terrifying presence circled around over head, the sight of the source was evading those on the ground whilst Jinlo waited for the opportune moment.

Then it came a sudden lighting flash, illuminated the night sky revealing the psychic image of the brood mother flying over head, easily dwarfing a small freighter, large crimson eyes gazing down towards those on the floor. With another near deafening guttural roar the beast swooped down towards the hunters below, large gnarled fangs baring from its maw, ready to scoop up and bring death to those that had the misfortune to be in its path. Another flash of lightning revealed the rest of the swarm following their matriarch. The psychic image was enough to strike fear into the those on the ground, as the hunters started to scatter below, their screams of panic and terror ringing out.

The more hardened of the hunters however, remained casting their spears up towards the beast that was being projected into their minds. In reality they were throwing the spears needlessly into the air and away. Taking advantage of the opportunity , Jinlo motioned for her mount to descend close by the two other Jedi, readying herself to leap off of her mount onto the ground below. As her beast swooped low enough the raven haired Jedi sprang from his back, changing her concentration in the force from her mental abilities back to her body to soften the ten foot fall, turning her gaze back to her former mount "Go Boy, Quickly" she called, before watching the beast roll mid air and return back towards the forests behind them.

Lowering herself into the long grass to obscure her visual presence, she closed her eyes to trace the positions of those around her, using her earlier psychic links to identify who was who among the sporadically paced signatures of life. As she opened her eyes she could see the flash of a light saber igniting towards her right. Narrowing her eyes she could hear a scream of pain in the distance, before lunging forward towards the source of violet light ahead of her. The sharing of thoughts and memories with the Saurian, having an undesired effect, as the ferocity of her advance was perhaps a little bit feral, keeping low and swift as she cut through the long grass. Springing out into view as both ice blue arcs of light erupted from her saber staff, Jinlo landed to the side of Imani.

"Master Sage, I hope you are unharmed?" the raven haired Jedi spoke as she readied herself for any attack being directed towards the two Jedi. "It turns out these Fracks are the reason why the Saurians attacked us in the First place" Jinlo spoke as her saber staff spun round into position.

 

[Bruce Guleya]

And then the great beast flew overhead, belting a most deafening roar followed by the most imposing of features dominating the sky. But no sooner did it happen did it fade from the Bardottan. He knew it was a ruse, he knew a powerful power had just dominated the skies, but it wasn't meant for him; by process of elimination, it was Jinlo - it could only be. Bruce could hear the natives crying in fear and hooting at the invisible image as they attempted to slay the beast.

As he looked around, he then saw the very real saurian take off without a rider - who's it was he could not be certain but in the distance the lifless body of one more flier had been discarded. One of his companions was down as he was, it could only have been Imani - for Jinlo would have cast the image of the beast not long ago. Imani was injured, Bruce thought as he scoured his sense of sight to find the fallen master - she was alive, she was just over there but he couldn't see her from this distance away; fear then gripped his throat as a lightsaber ignited in the distance - that was her; a fight no doubt! This was an alarming case.

Bruce needed to close the distance, he had landed a distance away, he was in no immediate danger as the images cast by the Jedi Knight had driven some of his foes off while others tossed their weapons to the sky. He began to move with stealth, keeping as hidden as possible by blending into the long grass not far away. He moved as a snake while he crawled forward his hilt still ready to be deployed at a moments notice, but he kept his mind on the hilt itself to prevent an accidental ignition as he crawled. He crawled right into his new 'friends' as he realized at a moments notice that he had managed to come upon an ambush lying in wait; but they hadn't realized he was at their feet.

There was no denying it and there was no retaining cover. Bruce popped up igniting his golden plasma blade cleaving upwards, splitting the hunter lying in wait - savage results, something he wouldn't normally had done but they got the jump on him... figuratively. He followed it through with a toss of the saber to the nearest of hunters who had only now became aware of the shrill cry of the deceased hunter. As he tossed his blade to impale one hunter with the Force he quickly gave a blast of Force energies toward the other hunter who had brought their blaster upward but before they had a chance to fire, they met a collision with a rock as the hilt returned to Bruce's hand.

"Forgive me." The Master whispered.

His attention now toward the violet saber flash ahead. Bruce's blade continued to burn it's signature colour as he lowered it to his side and back. He started to run toward his companions, summoning the Force to give him a slight boost in speed to close the gap sooner than later. His advance was no hampered as he had dispatched the surviving hunters that had closed in on him. It wouldn't take him long to get a better picture of what had lied ahead, he wasn't one for showboating or fancy intros, but he knew the fastest way to close the remaining distance was one giant leap of Force.

The time before his own encounter and his companion's own encounter was unknown, but as the master landed the he placed the blade upright to his side, the glow soft on his features.

"Hello there." He said to the two woman. The two woman had just concluded their own encounter and Bruce was 'late to the party' so to speak, but he didn't care. He was just happy to see the two of them, alive, and hopefully well.

@Deviant

 

[Imani Sage]

Imani had noticed the four-armed natives flee in horror or throw their spears furiously at the sky, as if a swarm of the same saurian fliers the Jedi encountered had arrived out of nowhere. Of course, it wasn’t until she reached out with the Force again that she realized it was the work of none other than Jinlo Halan. Through her psychic illusions, the hunters were sent into a craze. Her attempt to distract them with her lightsaber turned out to be nothing in comparison. In fact, none of the hunters other than the one on the blade’s receiving end had realized what had just happened, to focused on the supposed threat above along with the flashes of lightning that ensued. It gave Imani the perfect opportunity to seize the wounded native with the Force and throw them to the ground at her feet.

With her other hand, she coiled her fingers over the hunter’s head and immediately probed its mind for any confirmation. It was there she found their true intentions, their feelings, desires. These hunters had indeed driven the winged creatures insane, not the storm. The swarm had been acting defensively, not out of some inexplicable bloodlust. Imani could also sense their strong hatred for the Jedi, one that had endured for decades, back when the Jedi first inhabited Ellora. All the dots were connecting, every piece of the puzzle fixed into place. These hunters could not be trusted or reasoned with. They meant not only to harm the wildlife, but also any intruders, Jedi included. The real threat had never been the storm or the animals that lurked the surface. It was the natives themselves.

“I’m alright.” Imani finally answered to Jinlo, still reeling from the loss of Stinger as well as her awareness of the growing situation at hand. She glanced down to the unconscious Elloran she had just mind probed. “I think these fracks are also the reason the last Jedi were forced off the planet. Their hate for the Order runs deep. They will not hesitate to attack us the moment they—“ Having jinxed herself once more, Imani was interrupted when a spear suddenly sailed down and landed inches from her face. She rolled back, shocked. It seemed the braver Ellorans had shaken off Jinlo’s clever illusion and picked up on the glint of their lightsabers amid the grass. Already, they began their attack without warning. These hunters were less open to reason than the damn wildlife. Of course.

But now that they attacked, so was Imani. Reacting fast, she used both hands and ripped the spear from the ground. With a single hand, she threw the pike straight back to where it come from. A moment later, she heard a grunt and gasp, and watched one of the approaching silhouettes collapse to the ground. One down, many more to go. She hoped the other Jedi were just as willing, because these Ellorans could not be trusted.

@Plebometer

 

[Jinlo Halan]

Nodding in agreement to Imani's words, it seemed as if all the various pieces that led to the whole sordid story of the planet being lost to the Jedi started to fall into place, clearing up the various mysteries that had surrounded why the Jedi had left the planet in the first place, since the records kept in the archives were somewhat vague over the particular details on the events that lead up to the loss of the temple.

Her gaze turned towards a familiar approaching force signature that was approaching, the Bardottan master was still a safe distance away from where the two female Jedi were, and fortunately out of harms reach of the group of Elloran hunters that had started to encompass the two women. Slowly letting out a resigned sigh, the raven haired Jedi begrudgingly came to agree with the Jedi master beside her, as much as she hated having to resort to violence and inflicting physical harm, she also had come to accept that not every situation can be resolved peacefully. After all she had tried the peaceful means to placate the natives by conjuring an image that would strike fear into them to force them to retreat, yet so strong was the resistant hunter's desire to kill that many chose to remain, any further attempt to reason with them will be met with futility.

"Guess there is no other option then" Jinlo spoke as she cast her gaze back towards Imani before looking towards the source of the pike that had narrowly missed the two Jedi. Taking a deep breath, Jinlo disengaged her saber staff cutting out the light that was giving away her position before ducking down and running into the tall grass, using the height of the flora to conceal her movements as she used the Force to guide her towards the approaching Elloran hunters.

The movements of the young Jedi knight had all but disappeared bar from the light ripple of the tall grass as if a breeze had fluttered through them, the only visual indicators being given of the Jedi's position was the sudden bright blue flashes of the Jedi's saber staff springing into life and quickly disappearing, leaving only the visage of a shadowy figure screaming out in pain and falling into the grass disappearing from view, whilst the young Jedi stealthily incapacitated the hunters with sudden and quick strikes to their lower legs, cutting off their ability to hunt or harm any one any further whilst leaving them alive for the time being to stand before the Jedi master's to determine their ultimate fate.

 

[Bruce Guleya]

Bruce looked upon the scene before him; "Well, that's a bit of a grisly sight, yeah? But I suppose if it works..."

Bruce was always a sucker for ensuring the preservation of life, to minimize the damage that the Force could feel with each and every death, but sometimes he just needed to accept it. The Hunters, the natives they had no desire to fix and aid the Jedi, no these hunters were tainted by something dark, these hunters worshiped a darkness yet unseen. These were the ones that had twisted and tormented the natural order of the planet and they needed to be dispatched, they needed to clear things up or else the world would burn - or so Bruce considered.

He pushed a bit into their minds to see what the problem was, but he was unsuccessful; they were just poisoned. As he pulled on their emotions and their minds, he could sense they were from a village a few leagues away a village in everlasting torment. The Jedi knew there was a battle to be waged and they were the only ones who could do it or else the Jedis would find their task all that much problematic.

Bruce looked at his companions and shook his head, "I do not know what to do. Do as you two please, the one thing I know though... I sense these have a bit of a madness within them; in incurable, I believe madness. I recall seeing an encampment from high above, I bet they are from there - but I cannot be certain. But I feel there is a torrent within that encampment. The ebb and flow of the Force has been disrupted. We must be cautious."

@Deviant

 

[Imani Sage]

“Welcome to the Order.” She answered Master Guleya’s disturbed response. He was right to remark on the unfolding scene, given they were the Jedi, death should be avoided at all costs. But Imani had lost her newfound companion, the Order had lost Ellora, and these natives had lost their sanity. They could not be so easily forgiven, or kept around. The Jedi had done far worse before, so putting these Ellorans out of their misery and madness did little to her conscience.

But Imani knew bloodshed was not the only path to take. If she believed that, she would have butchered much of the saurian swarm when she had the chance. Yet she didn’t. She saw good in them, and maybe, as seemingly impossible as it looked, these Ellorans could find similar peace. Though for now, they had to fight.

Following close behind Jinlo, her lightsaber and her fists finished off the other hunters. Despite having deep burns in their legs from Knight Halan’s onslaught, they were still desperate to kill them. A frenzy had taken hold of them, a madness much comparable to what Bruce had described. These Ellorans were driven insane by something. The dark side? She couldn’t say. All Imani could do was place them out of their misery and ensure they did not call for reinforcements. But sooner or later, the Jedi would have to confront them. The village ahead. The remaining Elloran tribe. Their ringleader.

With the present hunters dead or incapacitated, Imani turned her focus to the encampment ahead. The flow of the Force there was indeed corrupt. A darkness lurked there. And it was the Jedi’s responsibility to see that darkness uprooted. Glancing over to Jinlo and Bruce, she only nodded. It was time to continue on their journey, to finish what they started, and to reclaim Ellora for the Jedi Order.

———​

The approach to the village had not taken long. Under the cover of the storm and night, the Ellorans failed to catch onto their advances. Most of the villagers were asleep, either way. But they were not the focus of this operation. When Imani probed the mind of the hunter from before, in addition to several others she left alive, she had discovered the village chief was a seer. Something of a sorcerer. As they worshipped the storm, the tribe had devolved into a cult. And if what she was sensing was true, the chief had summoned a darkness in his many rituals. In doing so, the tribe of Ellorans were plagued with that darkness, that madness.

Imani had relayed the plan to the others: subdue the chief and purge the darkness. Perhaps then Ellora could return back to its bright days under the Jedi Order, as well as the tribe. Call her naive, but Imani had her faith and her hope. Well, and two extraordinary Jedi at her side. It wouldn’t be long before their plan was set in motion. All they had to do was break through the doors of the village hall, where the chief supposedly resided, and deliver the tribe from the nightmarish hell they had been living in for too long.

@Plebometer

 

[Jinlo Halan]

Keeping low and her gaze down so that the raven haired Jedi could not give the Jedi's position away on account of the vibrant glow of her ice blue irises that stood out against the darkness around them like a sore thumb. Her mind contemplating the intricacies of Master Sage's plan, the motions were simple, take and capture of the village Hall where the tribe's chief resided within. Closing her eyes she held her and out against the outer surface of the wall what the the three Jedi were concealed against, channeling the Force through her as she probed the universal Force energies that radiated through the structure, sensing and committing to memory the layout of the hall, feeling the life signs within and their movements.

Turning her attention towards the two masters beside her "There's three guards in there, two standing behind the doors to the main entrance and one walking the hallways, the chief is asleep in the a chamber off of the main assembly hall" Jinlo spoke to the others in a hushed tone to so be sure that she didn't expose or give away their position. "I Will try and use one of the sedation techniques that the Healers use for the more severe injuries, should be able to allow us to move undetected within the hall" Jinlo added before closing her eyes and allowing the Force to flow through her, slowly releasing the mental restraints of her psychic abilities, sending forth three tendrils of Force imbued psychic energy into the building, snaking their way like a creeping vine towards each of the three Ellorians who were standing guard over their Tribal Chief.

Guiding the tendrils into the depths of the three sentient minds, easily penetrating their unsuspecting minds, her Force enhanced psychic traits working through their conscious and subconscious minds with relative ease, until she found what she was looking for. Within the space of a heart beat the three guards were rendered unconscious for perhaps a few hours. The well practiced means of allowing a patient to fall under into a temporary coma to allow the more surgically minded consulars to be able to do more invasive treatments on serious injuries. Slowly and gently the raven haired Jedi's Force tendrils dissipated, before she eventually turned her attention towards the other Jedi, her eyes slowly reopening as they faded from white back to their regular ice blue hue. "Well that should be us clear to move about undetected within the building" she spoke, confirming that her attempts were successful. "Ready when you are" she added with a light smile across her features.

 

[Bruce Guleya]

The plan was sound and they didn't take long to enact it. They sprung into action, shifting their position and prepared themselves, leaning up against the walls Bruce exhaled, he was about to suggest they simply just cut through the walls and go forward - that was a favorite of the two former Jedis Cregan and Kal, but that was not Bruce and he wasn't about to change the way he did things. It was when Jinlo mentioned sedation, a very specific form of sedation rather. Bruce was well aware of this possibility and this technique she spoke of, it seemed like a well decided option and the girl continued to impress the Bardottan.

He felt her power resonate from her and enter the building, he watched casually and quietly as she continued to work, her power swelling up and then subsiding within an instant. Bruce had made note of her constant eye change, a very unique aspect he thought to himself. He was curious as to how that happened, but he knew it wasn't something completely unrealistic - the Force works in mysterious ways after all.

The Jedi Master Guleya was rather impressed that they managed to slip within the village and up to the hall so easily. It was a testament to patience, one of the virtues Bruce constantly pushed on to people. In his time he had come to discover or rather he thought he seemed to have a very strong control of that very aspect and he was glad it had proven useful time and time again and people started to acknowledge it.

Bruce looked around and noticed a possible entry, something that would have likely acted as an emergency exit or a back door - perhaps a shipping or receiving entrance? Bruce pointed it out to his companions; he notified them that he would be attempting to gain entry through that means and that the group wanted to they could join him. One thing was obvious, at this hour at this time the tribe clearly wasn't expecting anything out of the ordinary. Bruce slipped through the grass along the walls, keeping his eyes peeled. As he got to the door, he tapped the door - oddly was unlocked. The master took advantage of this and disappeared from view.

Inside, it was as he expected. The kitchen. He looked around, there was no attendants or anything to stand within their way, as Jinlo had indicated, they had no opposition. Bruce slipped through the kitchen, poking his head into the hallway, he could see one body lying still - a victim of the sedation; one that wasn't intended of the targeted attack - but there was no harm to them, they couldn't honestly have suspected that the hall would only have 3 guards and a leader.

Bruce continued on and soon had stumbled upon the main chamber with the three fallen guards. All that remained was the one door what would lead to the chief no doubt. Jedi Master Guleya pushed the door quietly open; and true to her word, there lies a single individual.

But no sooner did Bruce and whoever might have joined him in the main all did they hear doors slamming shut and locking in place. A laugh echoed as if it were on a loudspeaker, "So the Heretics have returned to request some form of penitence of their indiscretions and to join what was lost? We the Storm are more than happy to oblige your request."

Bruce looked around the room, he couldn't tell where it was coming from - but he knew one thing was certain. They were not going to be alone for much longer and he suspected that the village tribe leader before them may not have actually been the leader and instead a decoy.

"Our lookouts saw you coming, saw that those vile beasts had passengers and we knew this day would come and we shall bring that everlasting storm down upon you to cleanse your minds and souls."

 

[Imani Sage]

Imani was silent. The whole endeavor into the halls of the main building left her with an unfamiliar feeling of dread and some bittersweet impatience. The Jedi Master had endured an unscheduled crash landing and brushed off a concussion and numerous bruises during her descent to Ellora in the tight confines of an escape pod. She had wandered through the rain, ruined her robes and was nearly chewed up by a swarm of winged carnivores. Then those same creatures that she eventually befriended had been shot from the sky, leaving her with just another scar from another crash landing. The natives wanted her dead, having speared and attacked her at every opportunity. She was starting to hate Ellora. She started to hate it a lot.

“Been ready.” She answered Jinlo, hiding her frustrated sentiment under a respectful nod and a reassuring smile. Although she was tired of everything that had happened since they entered the planet’s atmosphere, she didn’t want the others to believe she was off-balance. She didn’t want them to think she couldn’t handle what was to come. Because she could. For the most part. Imani signed up on this operation knowing the risks, and while she encountered many, she was a Jedi Master and she would be damned if she didn’t see this through to the end. Unfortunately, the deeper they went, the less of an ending she saw. And as all the doors slammed close and locked in place, Imani couldn’t take it any longer. She was done with these games, voices and impossible odds.

“Shut up and let’s fight already!” Her lightsaber ignited with a sinister hiss. Hand outreached and fingers unfurled, she sensed a collective presence behind the door closest to her. Not wanting to wait for them to dramatically emerge all at once, Imani pulled three of the armed hunters straight through the door. The other entrances, no doubt stuffed with other fighters, she would leave for Jinlo and Bruce. For now, she had work to do. With her blade raised, she delivered a savage slash to the hunter closest to her. Rather than aim to split his chest open, however, Imani shredded their weapon into a scorched dud. The Elloran, surprised at how quick she disarmed him, inspected the former blade. A second later, they were knocked to the ground with a swoop of her fist.

The remaining two charging straight at her didn’t last very long either. Driven by this newfound energy, Imani was deadset on clearing the chambers along with the rest of Ellora from this dark presence. Forget the Storm. The Jedi would ensure it lifted and the world, and its victims, once again found peace. Clinging to that singular thought, Imani reeled her lightsaber around and disarmed the two Ellorans. Then from the snap of her hand she sent both of them flying into the wall. They wouldn’t be bothering the Jedi anytime soon. As for the others, she couldn’t say. If they were in trouble, the young woman would be quick to come to their aid. But after seeing the psychic superiority of Jinlo and the careful cunning of Bruce, she didn’t have a doubt they would emerge victorious.

They were among the finest of the Jedi Order. Indeed, all of them would see the dawn of Ellora through.

@Plebometer

 

[Jinlo Halan]

Narrowing her gaze at the frustrated outburst from Imani as she pulled her mind away from reading the immediate area following the pitfall the three Jedi had just wondered into. The raven haired Jedi didn't need the use of her empathetic abilities to share the growing frustration over the whole situation, the mission so far just seemed to be one long series of missteps, first the ship crashes, they are attacked by Saurian flyers, then they are attacked by the local Ellorians to top it all off they were now locked in a room with passageways to further chambers around them, with no clear means of escape.

Taking her cue from the older Jedi master as she ignited her a solitary blade of her saber staff, knowing that the room they resided in would soon be too cramped to ignite both of her blades, without running the risk of catching her fellow Jedi by the wide sweeping arcs of her double bladed weapon. Furrowing her brow as she watched Imani pull the hidden guards from within one of the chambers, Jinlo found it curious how the guards who were clearly around them concealed within the outlaying rooms, had been shielded from her minds eye, the only reasoning she could muster was that of the Dark side being in use some how.

Figuring that her psychic abilities would not be fully effective against the Ellorian Guards whilst they remained concealed from the light empathetic probing of the immediate area, the young Raven haired knight opted to take a leaf out of Imani's book and force out their hidden assailants. Her mind opening itself up to the Force as she concentrated the rippling energies into an outstretched hand directed towards the unopened door closet to her, assuming that Bruce would do like wise in his own fashion and means of choosing.

Once satisfied she had concentrated enough energy behind her forth coming attach she released the restraints on her psychic abilities and through her minds eye directed the tendrils around the entrance of the door. Her glowing eyes phasing back into their shear white hued state, as she took one last deep breath and thrusted her hand forwards unleashing a powerful force blast into the door shattering it in on itself, sending fragments towards the unsuspecting guards hidden within.

As soon as she made visual contact with the now exposed guards, she struck with the tendrils of her psychic talents, this time not affording the earlier subtle delicacies shown whilst sedating the earlier guards. Now she was striking with telepathic brute force, hammering her way into their minds and ensnaring deep into their own minds eye. All the Ellorians could see was a shadowy figure bathed in pure brilliant white, baring a pair of pure brilliant white eyes that bored deep down into their very souls. But that lasted for no longer than the space of two heart beats as the three guards were rendered unconscious as their bodies slumped to the floor forced into a temporary coma like the others.

Turning her attention around to the rest of the room she kept her psychic abilities primed and ready to strike into any other guards that might be able to break through the Jedi's various attacks. Likely it was to prove unnecessary but it given how things were panning out it was better safe than sorry.

 

[Bruce Guleya]

The Bardottan Jedi Master had his own problems to deal with. While Jinlo and Imani dealt with their own respective doorways and guards, Bruce looked to the final doorway; he wouldn't have to wait long for his opponents to show themselves. Bruce said nothing, three guards came into view, primitive weapons by today's standards. A spear came hurdling toward him and Bruce did nothing but simply stand off to the side, it slipped past his gaze and in the far corner, the only intervention the Jedi Master provided was to ensure that his companions were not harmed by the spear.

Bruce narrowed his eyes as he two of the guards now came at him with weapons, Vibroblades. Bruce did not consider or dwell on the delays and missteps of the mission - that came with the missions. As Bruce came under attack by the security force, he pushed his own mind into his opponents minds, his Force energies slithered through the room, touching all that entered to the room as Bruce called upon his talents to heal the soul and the minds of those under his care back at the temple healing wings. He had to do something, his mind was not a mind of combat and as such he needed to go back to his Jedi roots - roots he hadn't been able to experience in what seemed like so long. This was something that brought him down as of late and he needed that own personal comfort, and this was an opportunity he could touch back on his own life.

As he exerted her control of the Force, some could potentially view his technique as an inappropriate for the Jedi Order, but he suspected they would be wrong. As he pushed his control, he tapped into their minds, minds that they were just doing what they were told, minds that would be classified as poisoned. Bruce only said one word, it wasn't a shout it was of normal volume but that simple word would prove to be heavy, "No!" was all he said, his eyes were locked in to his opponents.

The security team stopped, frozen, he did not control them and had no will over them but they seemed to become lost and confused. He had pushed into them a calming affect, an affect that might have been felt by his friends. The guards, laid down their weapons, and moved to the side. It seemed like a simple solution to a complicated scenario. And it was over; peace lay over the town hall - but it was a ruse.

Bruce shouted it that would no doubt get the attention of his comrades. The result of having a dagger lodged into the Bardottan's thigh. The decoy was no fake, he had taken advantage of the chaos and plunged a blade into the Jedi's leg. Bruce spun on his heels and shout his hand out grabbing the Elloran's neck, gripping it firmly and once again the Jedi locked his guys onto the decoy peering into the Elloran's mind, feeling the taint of the darkside and fanaticism of the storm cult, without a second thought the Bardottan spoke up, "This is not you! You've been tainted - Be FREE!" as he spoke he pressed his aura and mental capacities into the elloran planting his message and will upon the mind of his target. The Elloran's eyes shifted in colour, the body gone limp - although struggling the decoy did nod and Bruce released him. The decoy bowed to the Master and stepped aside as the final curtain opened.

Now before him was a hulking beast of an 4 armed elloran dressed in a lavish style that matched the culture and clothing of the people. The man was without the doubt the tribe leader. The man stood before them his two of his arms crossed, a third arm welding a blade of sorts that glistened with gold and luxury; the final arm holding a fetish that Bruce suspected the leader used to control the people and command the storms. Although a blade lodged in the Jedi's leg, he knew what needed to be done. This ends now.

Bruce called on the Force for inspiration and sanctuary. Bruce gripped the blade and tore it free, causing but a flinch but he knew he'd have to fight through it. With a renewed determination Bruce began to approach the chief, but the chief was blinded by rage and hatred - revenge and began to close the gap instantly. The Jedi Master knew they had no chance of purification and sedation so Bruce had no other choice but to summon forth his lightsaber as soon as it met his hand the blade hissed alive; the golden shimmering blade of plasma.

The Leader charged at the Bardottan slashing wildly and forcefully at the Jedi master. The Bardottan dodged and weaved the immediately blade slashes, he deflected a blow but was met quickly with a fist to the face, Bruce shot back with Force push slamming the leader to the wall but without hesitation the leader climbed up and charged at the Jedi. The bardottan bobbed out of way, but the leader anticipated this and twisted around slashing impacted the Master's shoulder however due to the padding underneath it was glancing. They clashed blades the two of them, exchanging blows and Bruce would not be spared, this was the worst beatings he had received in some time - mostly because he wasn't a front-line warrior; but hopefully nothing permanent or serious.

After some final footwork, Bruce twirled and plunged his saber deep within the leader's torso as Bruce maintained a low stance with the hulking brute towering over him. The two locked into a final stare just inches from each others face, Bruce held his gaze without blinking even once, he watched as the life slowly drained from his quarries eyes, a sorrow clinging to the air and clinging to the bardottan master. "May you find the peace you have sought for so long, your worship. You've served well, and main the poison be cleansed."

And with those final words, the leader of the storm worshipers fell limp; though limp, the air felt different as the death erupted in the area; an enteral calm fell onto the village and the storm hammering against the rooftops began to lessen and soon the pitter-patter ceased to exist; birds to given be heard chirping lightly; although they didn't free the planet or the temple, they had done the people a great service and would be able to access the temple unimpeded now but the storms would never end until the final task was done - the securing of the temple.

Bruce withdrew and extinguished his saber and the leader's corpse hit the ground where the guards tended to the body; they'd prepare it for proper respect and disposal going forward. There was no hostility found anywhere. The Jedi Master approached his comrades, although he was beaten and bloodied from the hand to hand melee that just took place, his reduction in power from the Force applications and the physical confrontation. Bruce looked to his comrades and offered them a smile without saying a word.

They were done and the village freed. A heavy blow had been dealt to the turmoils that gripped this planet.

// End Thread

@Deviant @Plebometer