Ask [Bal'demnic] Witch Hour

[Darth Tempest]

It was only after several hours of traveling that a series of high-pitched beeps and chirps echoed through the cockpit, snapping Vahliri out of her reading and alerting the half-Annfyn that they were finally dropping out of hyperspace. The journey to Bal’demnic had been a relatively uneventful one - far more smooth and routine than her recent expeditions into the Unknown Regions - corners of space that required her to be far more hands-on with the controls throughout.

And while the half-Annfyn had kept herself busy with official business and missions on behalf of the Empire, this most recent expedition was a bit of a knowledge-searching venture. Over the course of her studies, Vahliri had become more-and-more acquainted with the writing of Darth Caldoth - the ancient Sith Lord garnering a reputation for a laundry list of written works. And it was for precisely that reason that the half-Annfyn had made the trip to Bal’demnic - hunting a specific collection of tomes that had supposedly turned on in a rural settlement on the planet.

“Dropping out of hyperspace in just a moment,” Vahliri said over the intercom, warning Asher of what was coming. While she didn’t know the fellow Champion very well, she was happy enough to have an extra set of eyes and hands for the task at hand. The half-Annfyn was dressed in civilian clothes for this expedition - wearing a pair of grey pants, knee-high boats and fur-lined coat over the top. Her black hair was pulled back into a long braid that draped her shoulder, while the air around her was scented with her signature perfume.

And for the first time, Vahliri was pleased at having made the journey in something a bit more comfortable. Rather than the standard Imperial shuttles or rented freighters, Vahliri was seated within the cockpit of The Radiance - guiding the yacht through the last leg of hyperspace. The Starblossom-class was a new addition to the half-Annfyn’s inventory, and something she had claimed for herself in the aftermath of New Alderaan - taking it fresh off the factory lot.

The very same ship she had left New Alderaan aboard, while the Jedi Temple still smoldered in the distance.

Within only a few moments, the ship finally lurked out of hyperspace - the blur of stars coming to a still and returning to singular points in the distance. At once, the horizon was dominated by the by the blueish-grey surface of Bal’demnic just ahead - inching closer and closer as Vahliri manually seized the controls once more.

@Taz

 

[Asher]

Asher had been in the "garden area" of the....ship, since they left Sith controlled space. One the one hand he was puzzled that a ship would have such a room dedicated to such a thing. However, he found himself grateful that it did so moments into their flight. As the half-Sephi seemed to have developed an agitation with space fight, Or rather the sealed enclosed space. He felt as though he was being locked away again. It was a feeling he needed to purge.

The fallen Jedi had been volun-told to join his fellow Champion on her little excursion by his Master, Vex. Something about making friends, or socializing with more than the detention guards and her Acolytes. So here he was in a lavishly build coffin, jetting out to the far reaches.

Hearing the annoying sounds of the warning, Asher opened his eyes from his attempted meditation to see the white spears of hyper-space once more return to normal stars. Then the planet's surface soon after. "At last." He whispered to himself. Then stood to join his new companion his the cockpit area of the ship.

Like the half-Annfyn, Asher chose civilian attire for the trip. A black down jacket, snow pants, rugged boots and insulated gloves. His own black hair was hiding under a bennie, and his full beard was groomed short. Hiding the scar that frim his left temple and down past his ear.

As he took the co-pilot's seat, her scent tickled her nose. "Nice." he quietly blurted. "Is there something I can do?" He asked a little louder. He was no fighter pilot, but he knew his way around a shuttle.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Truth be told, Vahliri was undeniably giddy upon hearing those familiar alarms - her fingers wrapping tightly around the controls of her ship. There was something brain-meltingly dull about long Hyperspace voyages, and the half-Annfyn was all-too-eager to finally regain manual control of the vessel. Unfortunately for Asher, however, the fellow Champion would promptly be subjected to her notoriously erratic style of flying as they approached the planet’s atmosphere.

“Thanks,” She replied back to Asher, her sensitive hearing easily picking up on his little comment about her perfume. The half-Annfyn glanced back over her shoulder just then, flashing the fellow Champion a grin when he questioned what he could do. “Buckle up and get comfortable.” She said simply. “The drop down to the surface is likely going to be.. Bumpy. Bal’demnic is known for some pretty awful weather.” The frequent electrical storms and tumultuous weather patterns of the planet had made it known throughout the Galaxy - and the half-Annfyn couldn’t help but wonder if its inherent connection to the Force had something to do with it.

If worst came to worst, Asher was within reach of the yacht’s weapons controls.. But she doubted that would be necessary for this leg of the journey.

With that, Vahliri pressed the ship's controls forward and began their descent towards the surface of Bal’demnic - punching through the atmosphere and into the plume of black storm clouds out large chunks of the sky. Painfully accurate to her words, Asher would definitely find himself relying on that seatbelt as they carved through the clouds - the force of the storms pressing against the Starblossom-class and causing it to rock violently as it careened downward. Lightning streamed across the sky and flashed dangerously close to the viewport window, and it resulted in the half-Annfyn’s normally daredevil-esque flying to take on a new level of stomach-turning as she attempted to dodge the stray bolts that arced in front of her.

It all was an uncomfortable reminder of that ordeal on Tund, and Vahliri was committed to ensuring that things went significantly better than during that expedition.

Grueling minutes would pass, but the Radiance finally punched through the dark clouds - soaring downward and towards the surface of Bal’demnic. Mountainous and untamed, the landscape beneath them was verdant and green for as far as they eye could see - crisp rivers carving their way through its multitude of valleys and crags. It was in this region of the planet that their village could be found - remote and separated from the central authority of the Bal’demnic Monarchy.

“Still hangin’ in there?” She glanced back at Asher. Within only a few more minutes, Vahliri guided the yacht down to a land - finding an empty clearing to settle and extend the landing gear to meet the ground. The ramp followed shortly ever-after, opening the way for the pair to finally disembark.

@Taz

 

[Asher]

A sudden foolish sense of entrancement washed over the half-sephi as he realized that the other Champion managed to hear him whisper from the other part of the ship. The feeling quickly went away though, as the woman gave him a warm slime. Careless to the fact they were plunging to the surface at literally an alarming rate of speed.

Giving the half-annfyn a half smile, he did as suggested. Sliding into the co-pilot's chair and strapping in. Suddenly wishing there were more straps to buckle. He had been locked away since being a Padawan, what was known to the galaxy was a lot of firsts and surprises for the fallen Jedi.

If he hand control of anything, Asher wasn't aware of it. Suddenly his stomach was in his throat. As rain started to slam the reinforced glass and thunder rocked the ship. The half-sephi was starting to wish he new how to teleport like his Mistress could sometimes do. As it was, he used the force to anchor himself in the chair and keep himself from shifting with ship's hard maneuvers.

As the moments past and they made their way through the storm Asher's continued to oddly focus on the rain. Like the lava flows back on Belsavis, he seemed to embrace the rage and chaos of the natural world. As they broke through and found the mountains and rivers, the half-sephi looked almost disappointed.

"Barely." He replied. His tone trying to joke but possibly coming off as rude. When they finally landed, Asher practically ran to get off the ship. Not because of Vahl's flying, which was itself a roller coaster ride, but to get out of the metal coffin. "Perhaps next time I will pack a sleep aid."

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Despite the turbulence and lightning that streaked in front of them, for her part, Vahliri appeared remarkably calm throughout the tumultuous landing. That entire ordeal on Tund had brought her dangerously close to death, and the half-Annfyn was entirely focused on averting disaster this time around - her fingers wrapped tightly around the controls and eyes locked straight through the cockpit viewport. It wasn’t until they broke through the clouds that the half-Annfyn finally loosened her grip - only then noticing the way that her knuckles had started to turn white.

“Don’t get too excited - we’re only just getting started out here,” Vahliri smirked back at Asher - not seeming to find his comment rude in the slightest. The half-Annfyn was entirely too accustomed to people going off about her piloting skills to be bothered by it, and she didn't miss the joking nature of his voice.

Rising up from the pilot’s chair, Vahliri swiped a backpack and her lightsaber from a nearby locker - clipping the latter to her belt before following after Asher. While the fellow Champion dove for solid ground, Vahliri took a moment to admire the landscape around her - taking in a deep breath as she stepped down the ramp of her yacht. The air was crisp and free of pollution, while the sound of roaring rapids - frigid water that cut through the valley around them - could be heard faintly in the distance. “Damn,” She muttered under her breath, feeling the cool breeze against the olive skin. “For once, a place doesn’t give me the creeps.”

“It totally could’ve been worse,” She looked back to Asher, shaking her head with a sideways grin. “We’re both in one piece. Ship doesn’t have a scratch on it. Annnddd we landed pretty close to where I think we’re tryin’ to go. If that isn’t a successful landing, I don’t know what is.”

“Besides, sleep aid sounds awful. You probably snore like a bantha.” She quipped playfully, allowing her eyes to linger on him for a moment before looking back ahead. The half-Annfyn promptly whipped out her datapad, opening up a holographic map of the surrounding area. Vahliri couldn’t help but narrow her eyes at the low signal bar - knowing full well it was likely to drop off entirely once they left the ship’s proximity. Annoying, but not entirely unexpected given the remote location. “According to what I’ve read, this village is known for attracting pilgrims from across the Galaxy. People coming to start a new life and drawn to.. Something about this place. I suggest we keep that coverstory while we look for what we’re after.”

“Village should be.. East..? Yup, east of here by a couple miles. Nothin’ too crazy.” With that, Vahliri began to walk ahead in that direction - finding a pace that both her and Asher could maintain. After a minute or two of walking, she finally looked back at him, “Travel much?”

@Taz

 

[Asher]

Spending the past several years in the confines of a Sith prison had done very little for his personality. However the half-annfyn realized the humor and gave him a little smirk. He found himself warmed by that little smile,

When they had finally landed, Asher could not get off the ship fast enough. Partly due to the other Champion's piloting ability, and party because almost every ship reminded him of the confined space that was his personal hell for so long. He did not bother with a bag, as Vahl had. Due in large to his Jedi training, he was a minimalist. All he felt he required and his choice of layered clothing, and his well quipped utility belt with his lightsaber attached. What he did not have, the force would provide.

Vahl's stunned sound would bring Asher out of his head, as he also took in a deep breath through the nose. The half-sephi was so used to the sounds of roaring nature (lava), that he had not taking the moment until now to really take it all in. Then, he cocked his head in question. "Spending a lot of time around tombs or something ?" He asked.

"About that, where is it we're going again ?" Suddenly realizing he didn't really ask before getting on the ship. He could care less about the ship, so long as it could get them back to Sith space when the time came.

"Why would that be awful, and I sleep like a youngling." He quip back. It sounded better in his head he had to admit to himself. He lingering eyes not escaping his notice. He looked around him a moment, "What ?" He asked, completely missing what it was she was looking at. Shrugging his shoulders when she looked away then.

Asher would then step a little closer as Vahl pulled out her smartpad, projecting the map. He eyed the details of the small remote village as the other Champion gave him the briefing of their cover. Sounding to him more and more like a Jedi mission from his days as a Padawan. "Escaping the war perhaps ? Or, maybe even a religions pilgrimage?" He chimed in, really just spit balling aloud. "So tomb raider, what ARE we looking for ?"

With that they set off, and he was happy to be moved. He enjoyed mission like this, hopefully this one would not half giant spiders. As they hiked he continued to take in the sight of the mountains and small falls doted around. "If you count being marched from my cell to the yard for an hour of exorcise." He quip. "This is the furthest I've been from Belsavis.....well, in a while."

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

“Too much time,” She muttered in response to his question. “Tombs, ruins.. Otherwise creepy-ass places.” Despite her complaints, it was typically the half-Annfyn’s own curiosity and knowledge-seeking that brought her to such locations. It wasn’t particularly a trend that she enjoyed, but the payoff was more than often worth it. At least in this scenario, the journey didn’t look like it would be nearly as unpleasant.

She rolled her eyes. “I’m very convinced.” The half-Annfyn said in response to his quip, glancing back at the fellow Champion before she projected the holographic map - her amber eyes squinting a bit as she observed their location. “Both are likely. Bal’demnic has history with both the Jedi and Sith..” There had been multiple conflicts over the planet in the past, and the presence of an existing Sith temple on the planet was clear evidence of its past importance. “Wouldn't surprise me if people still saw it as a place of pilgrimage.” She shrugged a bit. “Or.. It’s just remote enough that the war doesn’t exist out here.” Both were likely, in her mind. The half-Annfyn guessed they’d learn more once they reached the village.

As they began to cross the chilly landscape, Vahliri took a moment to answer the fellow Champion’s question. “Are you familiar with Darth Caldoth?” She glanced back before elaborating further. “He was a Duros SIth Lord who lived several hundred years ago during the Rule of Two. Among other things, he is known for a having a rather extensive collection of written works. There is a series of scrolls from his time that I’ve traced back to this village, and which I’d like to get my hands on.”

As they continued along the hike, Vahliri paused for just a moment - taking her time to marvel at the landscapes around them. Her eyes were drawn to one of the natural geysers that erupted up from a pool - sending a pillar of boiling water meters into the air. The half-Annfyn couldn’t help but scrunch her nose a bit when the fellow Champion answered her question, revealing that he hadn’t left Belsavis in a while. She didn’t know his history in its entirety, but the half-Annfyn knew bits and pieces of the fact that he had been a prisoner there.

“How long were you there?” She couldn’t help but ask, allowing her eyes to linger on him for a long while. Whatever his answer was, the half-Annfyn offered a faint smile in return - giving a nod of her head. “Sounds like you’ve got some travels to make up for.”

@Taz

 

[Asher]

"Hmm" He mused with a small smile that hardly curved his lips as the Champion answered his question of tomb raiding. He could sense both the playful nature and the exhaustion in her words. These little adventures were her "ambition." Or so Caer would likely say if he were here. The young nobles weakness back on Belsavis still plagued the Champion.

Asher could only shrug at at his lack of conviction to his sleeping habits. He listened carefully then as Vahl gave a little history on the planet. It had skipped his memory before she mentioned the long history between both factions, but he quickly remembered that the Jedi had suspected of a Sith Temple still existing here. Back before the rise of the Empire, or even the Sith Order for that matter.

The half-sephi simply nodded in agreement with her statement. Again, his thoughts on the matter were little more then guesses. But he was enlightened more by the half-annfyn. She had a quizzical mind. Something long dormant in him since being locked away.

As they walked, Vahl would continued. Asher shaking his head no as the question of the Darth. He knew names like Bane, Revan, Sidious, and of course, Vader. But never a Duro Sith of any kind. He did like the idea of Sith scrolls though. Holocrons were great source of knowledge for the modern warrior, but there was something tangible about the written word. Even if they were often written in blood.

Asher stood still then, as he noticed the half-annfyn pause to admire the chaos of the natural world around them. He pulled the smartpad from his pocket, quickly snapping a couple of pics of the other Champion. Her amber eyes, filled with the tiny flashes of light as the mist from the geyser reflected the sun's rays toward her. He even got a shot of her twitching her nose at him. That one he was turning into his screen saver, at least for the trip.

The smile still on his face as he checked his work, "ahh.." He red/yellow hazel eyes looked off into nowhere as he tried to remember. "Five years, give or take. I think." Again he caught her eyes. For some reason it made him smile every time. "I have a lot to make up for." He replied a bit more sternly. "If you know of a good agent, I'm looking." He tired to kid.

As they continued, The half-sephi also took notice of the world around them. A local bird of prey he didn't know the name of. Swooping down from a rocky perch to snatch a fish from just below the water's surface. Not as breathtaking as a geyser, but something to be admired all the same.

"What about you, how did you come to join the Sith?" He questioned as they continued to walk toward the village, still a long hike away.

@Altaris