Ask Chill Down Your Spine

Darth Tempest

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While Vahliri had become rather accustomed to Sith-related excursions, the half-Annfyn really couldn’t deny being.. Super sketched out by their most current assignment. Deep in the Unknown Regions and quite literally in the middle of nowhere, reports had been filtering in pertaining to ‘disturbing and unnatural anomalies’ and ‘a shift in the Dark Side’ all coming from an unnamed, supposedly uninhabited planet. With no explanation for the disturbances, the pair of Sith had been sent to investigate.

The moment they touched down on the surface, Amira and Vahliri would both be able to feel that something was simply.. Off, about the planet. Malfunctions with their shuttle’s Ion Drives had forced the pair to land prematurely and continue their explorations on foot, quickly finding themselves deep into the winter-y forests. An almost eerie quiet and no signs of wildlife stretched on for miles without end, while a chill hung in the air that seemed to penetrate right through whatever thermal layers they wore. Both Sith would be able to feel the ripples through the Force that radiated out from the planet, ripples through the Darkness that would leave them both with a distinct sense of dread that was impossible to shake.

Their objective was simple enough in theory - pinpoint the source of the anomalies and report back their findings. Of course, how they went about doing that was entirely to be determined.

Dressed accordingly for the weather, Vahliri wore a
pair of jeans and long-sleeve blouse, alongside a pair of leather boots and a fur-lined jacket pulled over the top. Her black hair was styled loosely, while the curved hilt of her lightsaber hung at her belt. It was abundantly clear that Vahliri was already not enjoying herself - her Induparan upbringing leaving the half-Annfyn with a distinct dislike for the cold.

After a few minutes of walking, Vahliri glanced down at the commlink on her wrist - her almond-shaped eyes narrowing onto the device. “Still no service..” She muttered loud enough for the other woman to hear. They had lost service seemingly the moment they stepped off their ship, and it meant that they had to navigate entirely on their own.

“How ‘bout you?” She finally glanced back at Amira - taking a moment to regard the Tiefling. While they had only briefly seen one another back at that party on Serenno, her closeness to Altair meant that Vahliri was well-acquainted with who all of his siblings were, and she had seen the family portrait hanging in his dorm room dozens of times before.

Regardless of the woman’s answer, Vahliri turned back to the path ahead and rolled her shoulders a bit - unable to stifle the shiver that ran over her skin. “God, this place gives me the creeps..”


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Amira Din

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Ever since Amira had returned to Sith Space in the north, the Champion had been tied up with low-level assignments— assigned to accompany Acolytes or working alongside planetary peacekeepers as she had back on Eriadu and Clak'dor VII. 'Busy work' as her Ma would've called it, either to ease her back into the swing of things or to measure her commitment to the cause. This was the first mission in conjunction with another Champion, and the Tiefling didn't want to screw it up. It had to be a sign of good things to come, of trust rebuilt between she and the Empire after that lapse of self-isolation and mediocracy.

So far, nothing had gone as planned. The shuttle's ion drives had malfunctioned, and since neither Vahliri nor Amira were mechanically inclined, they were now wandering through the forest like two cliché female protagonists from any given horror movie. You know, the heroines that leave the comfort and safety of their shuttle and say, 'Hey, let's take this shortcut through these creepy murder woods where a famous serial killer disappeared twenty years ago. What's the worst that could happen?' just to end up dead forty-five minutes into the movie.

"Nope," the Tiefling replied, holding her datapad toward the sky on the slim chance that she might catch a signal. No luck. She grinned at her companion, the wind sweeping through her silver hair. "Not even my tamagotchi app will pull up." A small joke, just to lighten the mood a little bit— but she did have a virtual pet. His name was Bandit. Amira pulled her golden and brown jacket tighter, tugging the white fantabu fur closer to imperceptibly rosy cheeks. A gift from another time in her life.

"I'm a little out of touch," she admitted to the Half-Annfyn, referring to the circumstances of this particular assignment. Even under the tutelage of Darth Roth, the Tiefling had been largely out of touch with the rest of the rest of the Empire. "Is this normal? I mean, have you been on a lot of missions like this or this considered a little... unconventional?" @Altaris

 

Darth Tempest

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Vahliri’s lips tugged a bit further downward when Amira replied, confirming that she didn’t have any signal either. The half-Annfyn had guessed as much might’ve been true, but she had a sliver of hope to the contrary. She already wasn’t entirely pleased with the prospect of trudging through the increasingly dark woods like something out of a cheesy HoloMovie Horror, and she certainly wasn’t happy about doing it without any kind of navigational equipment.

“Damn,” She muttered quietly, though opted not to complain too much more about it. At least, not yet.

“This is..” Vahliri blinked a few times when Amira asked her question, genuinely mulling it over in her mind. She couldn’t help but think back to her own expedition with Tiamat and the downright horrifying shit they both ran into back there. “It isn’t as uncommon as you’d think.” She admitted. “This one is especially creepy, though.”

It didn’t matter how far they walked, there didn’t seem to be a single living thing moving amongst them in the forest. From the scurry of the smallest rodent or the footsteps of a bear amongst the trees, all the sounds of nature we absent - only the empty howl of the wind and the rustle of fallen leaves to fill the void. And that distinct sense of dread - as if there was just something terrible wrong about the entire place.

“Why were you so out of touch, by the way?” She asked conversationally as they walked. She knew the Tiefling had been operating somewhere in the Southern Empire and had all but fallen off the face of the Galaxy.. But that was about it.

A few more minutes, and the pair would finally come across a fork in the forest - identical paths diverging in opposite directions. At least from where they were standing at that moment, there was nothing to differentiate between them. Most notably was the stone marker that was sat between the two paths - its hard surface etched with a string of runic markings. Vahliri ran her fingers across the surface, squinting at the runes.

"ur-Kittât," She said after a long moment, squinting at them. "Don't suppose you're fluent, are you?"


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It was nice to know that Master Roth wasn't the only Sith with an ardent partiality for the damp, dark, and mysterious recesses of the galaxy. Apparently nyctophilia was universal to Sith in the mass. The long, dark cape billowing in the breeze and the inexorable, brooding visage wasn't an entirely inaccurate stereotype. Corruption was inevitable—the price every Sith would pay for the abilities that empowered them. Maybe an inclination toward the arcane and the ghoulish was just another side-effect.

"Until a few months ago, I was living down south. On Eriadu, working with the local peacekeepers," Amira elaborated. Reaching up to pluck a loose branch that hung by its torn bark, she shrugged. "Nothing special. Just run-of-the-mill law enforcement stuff. I usually helped out with local investigations." The corners of her lips twisted upwards. "I actually enjoyed it. Detective Din has a nice sound to it, don't you think?" Not that anyone had actually called her that oher than herself.

More than the ripples in the Force or the trepidation in her stomach, the Tiefling was conscious of the silence. The majority of her childhood had been spent outdoors, working alongside her pa in the fields or exploring the plains with her siblings and getting into trouble. Amira was cognizant of nature, and this place? This place was unnatural. Preternatural.

Generally, silence meant only one thing: an apex predator was nearby. She expected a wild, sharp-set creature to tear out of the woods at any moment with mouth drawn back to reveal sharp fangs and saliva, but nothing ever came. There were no sings of life anywhere. No birdsongs, no stirring in the bushes, and no tracks in the mud.

The Tiefling drew closer to the Half-Annfyn, yellow eyes scrutinizing the runes etched into stone. "Afraid not. My master was." Obsessed with it, more like. He and the other Sages routinely conversed in the Old tongue, probably to keep her impervious of the cult's inner workings. Not all dark lords took pleasure in the succession training of their apprentices. "All of his manuscripts are in the Old Tongue, but... he never did get the chance to teach me."


She glanced at Vahliri. "But at least we know we're not the first Sith to step foot on this planet." The Tiefling quieted her mind, her muscles imperceptivity relaxing beneath her bulky fabric and fur. She focused on the pull of the dark side, on the ripples that coursed unseen across the planet. "Let's go this way," she decided, turning toward the path that led left. @Altaris

 

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As they strolled further along the creepy-ass path, Vahliri idly stuffed her hands into the pockets of her fur-lined jacket. Her shoulders rose ever-so-slightly in a shrug - nestling the warmth of her garment higher up on her neck - attempting to stave off the chill as nonchalantly as she could. And for all her efforts, it never seemed to work - the unnatural bite in the air seeming to pierce past whatever they wore and sink right down to the bone. Nothing about this place felt natural. Nothing about this place was natural - and the half-Annfyn suspected that the climate was no different in that regard.

“It does have a nice ring to it, now that you mention it.” The half-Annfyn grinned back at Amira, wiggling her brows playfully at the Tiefling. “And it certainly beats some of the weird-ass missions most Champion’s get sent on.” She gestured broadly to their surroundings. Case-and-damn-point, right there. She frowned a bit when the Tiefling revealed she wasn’t, in fact, fluent in the ancient Sith language. She had hoped that might not be the case, but the half-Annfyn wasn’t particularly surprised either. While the scholars and Lords were known to study the language, it wasn’t exactly common-practice amongst the rank-and-file Sith.

“Damn,” She muttered a bit, sighing. All the same, she didn’t miss the last bit that Amira added about her master’s manuscripts. “Well, I guess it gives you a good reason to learn,” She shrugged. “I guess they’re your manuscripts now.” The half-Annfyn said, not so much as missing a beat as she made that assumption - one that she was fairly confident was correct. Amira’s own words led the half-Annfyn to believe that her Master was dead - and it wasn’t exactly uncommon for the apprentice to be the reason for it.

“I’mmmmmm…” She began, drawing out the words. “Not entirely sure if that makes me feel better or worse, to be honest.” Ancient Sith weren’t exactly known for being the hospitable type. Remnants of their own origin were just as likely to get them killed as any other. She didn’t question it further, though, opting to follow shoulder-to-shoulder with Amira as they turned left and down the forested path.

Unfortunately - or fortunately, depending on how you looked at it - their surroundings didn’t quite change the further they traversed - the dark, dead trees arching together overhead to form an eerie tunnel through the forests. What did change - or rather, grew more intense - were the ripples through the Darkness, echoing as clearly as a second heartbeat in the chests of both of them.

“Do you think—“ Vahliri began, but a sudden presence abruptly caused the half-Annfyn to stop dead in her tracks, whipping around behind them - the saberhilt on her belt snapping into her hands and springing to life. She wasn’t entirely sure what had tipped her off to the presence - whether it was the faintest sound picked up by her sensitive hearing, or merely the feeling of a new presence in the Force - but there it stood.

Merely a few paces behind them, the elderly woman stood with a slight hunch - a ragged cloak covering her body and leaving only her aged, weathered face to be seen clearly. She leaned heavily on a walking stick with her left hand, while the right hoisted a glowing late at roughly waist height.

“Hello, children.”


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"Not exactly." The Tiefling considered herself fortunate to have escaped the labyrinths beneath Dorin with her life, and in her haste, she hadn't even considered the manuscripts. They'd been left behind, along with the rest of her master's belongings and artifacts. Aldetha likely had them now and poured over them every night beside the fire, plotting and wallowing in longanimity. That little witch had always been rapacious, always eager to get her hands on what wasn't hers. Far too eager. "My master's sister probably has them." A derisive smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "She and I aren't exactly on speaking terms." To put it lightly. The Morellian's flinty gaze sprang to life inside Amira's mind, jarring and desperate for retribution. For blood. Amira's blood. A shiver not brought on by the cold ran the length of the Tiefling's spine. She dreaded the day Aldetha eventually caught up to her.
The weather didn't improve, and neither did the Champion's moods. All things considered, they were making the best of their situation, a difficult task when stormbound upon a planet stuck in a seemingly endless state of brumous. "At least we know we're on the right track," Amira said, shoulders shrugging. A Sith presence, confirmed by the stone carved in ur-Kittât, either past or present, was comforting... in a sense. The Champions hadn't been sent here for nothing. Though, if mother nature's walk down creepy lane was any indictor of what lied in wait for them at the end of this mission, 'nothing' might be preferable. "This place could sell tickets. It's a lot scarier than any haunted house I've ever been to." The Tiefling flashed her companion a smile. "And not even a single jump scare."

Amira had spoken too soon, for no sooner had the words left her mouth than a figure draped in a dark, tattered cloak emerged. The elderly woman had appeared out of nowhere, as if she were a pneumatophany. At first, the Tiefling wondered if she was merely a figment of her imagination, but one glance at Vahliri confirmed that she could see her, too.

"Kriff. That scared me," she muttered under her breath, just loud enough so Vahliri could hear. One hand reached for the lightsaber that hung from her belt, the weight of the hilt within her grasp no small comfort. WIthout realizing it, Amira gravitated closer to the Half-Annfyn.
Vahliri had already drawn her blade, the red glow of its blade in stark contrast to their bleak, colorless surroundings, and the heat it radiated the first warmth either of them had felt since stepping off their ship.

The old woman looked like she was already dead, face withered and sagging, fading like the planet around her. She reminded Amira of a character from an old black and white holomovie her dad had been fond of. All that was missing was that iconic rocking chair. "You shouldn't sneak up on people like that, Grandma," Amira warned, an edge to her voice. Was this woman lost like they were? Or was this planet simply her querencia? Yellow eyes scanned their surroundings, the bushes and the tree line, just to see if there was anyone with her or if she was alone. "What are you doing out here?" @Altaris


 

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Vahliri was trying very hard to hide just how freaked out she was. Even as he elderly woman stood there, the half-Annfyn kept her lightsaber pointed horizontally and towards the granny - her lips tugging downward and towards a frown as she stared - overly cautious of any movement or gestures being made. The elderly woman, for her part, seemed entirely unphased. As a matter of fact, there was the faintest smile that traced her lips. “Sorry if I spooked you, deary. Didn’t take you for the jumpy type.” She snickered ever-so-slightly, clearly finding the entire situation far more nonchalant and amusing than either of the Sith did. “Me? Why I am just taking a stroll before it gets too dark. My cottage is only a few minutes away and I wanted some fresh air while I could still get it.”

She glanced between them. "Wha—"

“Who are you?”
Vahliri cut her off, voice a bit more sharp and curt than usual. The half-Annfyn lowered her saber ever-so-slightly, but it was abundantly clear by her posture that her guard was still up. Once again, the elderly woman only smiled. “My name is Ivara - and I merely live in these woods and tend to my livestock.” She said simply, leaning onto her walking stick.

Vahliri’s eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly. “Alone?”

Ivara, as she claimed to be called, frowned. “Since my husband passed, yes. I fear our children do not live close, and I have no desire to leave my home. So here I am.” The woman glanced between the two Sith, squinting a bit. “I am guessing you both aren’t from here,” She nodded at her own comment. “Why don’t you come with me? I can fix you both some dinner, and you can tell me what brought you out here.”

"That's quite alright, we–" Vahliri began, only to be cut off by a raising of the old woman's hand. "Take it from me dear.. You really do not want to be out here after dark. And there is no one else around here for miles."


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Amira Din

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Astonishingly, the beldam did not recoil at the sight of Vahliri's lightsaber, its red blade humming with malicious intent. She did not appear to be frightened or intimidated by the display, which struck the Tiefling as peculiar behavior. It wasn't human nature to stare down a lightsaber—a red one, in particular—and then proceed to invite its wielder into your home for a nice chat over a cup of hot tea. She must have realized that they were Sith, otherwise she was sorely out of touch with the rest of the galaxy and, evidently, the history of her own planet. She might have been old, but there was an uncanny shrewdness in those aged, wrinkled eyes. There was understanding. Awareness. Amira had a hunch that she knew exactly what they were, and she just didn't care. She did not fear them, and that was oddly unnerving.

"Livestock?" the Tiefling perked up, admittedly intrigued. Her cynical side wondered just what kind of livestock you could tend to out here—actual animals or... the human variety? At face value it was an innocent comment made in passing. It was certainly an innocent lifestyle, and, in fact, was exactly what Amira wanted to do one day. Settle down on a quiet, out of the way planet, away from the galaxy and its problems, and live out the rest of her days tending to her own. Livestock, pets, and maybe even a family if she was lucky. But this place? Of all places? This was no planet to raise children on. "Can't say I blame them," she murmured to Vahl, referring to the woman's children. "No chance in Chaos I'd live in a place like this."

Vahliri rejected the woman's offer, but she had other ideas. So did Amira, for that matter. "It's not like we have a lot of options," she turned to the half-Annfyn, chewing on the inside of her cheek. "We've been wandering these woods for hours." Maybe the old hag was the disturbance in the force they had been sent to investigate. Or maybe she knew something about it. Either way, they were freezing their exhaust ports off in the snow and the cold and had yet to find anything useful. "Look," Amira grinned, nudging the half-Annfyn playfully, her voice low, "If she turns out to be the Gingerbread Hag, we'll chop her in half and toss her into the furnace. Deal?"

Amira took a step forward, indicating her willingness to follow the woman. "We'll come with you, but no funny business." She wagged a finger at the woman, as if that would really deter a possible homicidal maniac. The Tiefling's lightsaber hilt remained in her right hand, just in case. "So what kind of animals do you have?" @Altaris

 

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Unsurprisingly, Vahliri had precisely zero desire to go have tea-and-biscuits with the creepy-ass old woman. Sweet as she might’ve seemed, the woman set off practically every red-flag that the half-Annfyn had. The fact that she had managed to sneak up on them, and that she seemed to know exactly what they were, and simply wasn’t bothered by it, were top of the list for Vahliri. To put it bluntly, every fiber of her being screamed that this was a terrible, terrible idea and that they ought to get out of dodge in the opposite direction.

But what choice did they have? Amira was right. They’d been wandering for hours and weren’t getting anywhere.

Vahliri inhaled sharply as she came to terms with the reality of the situation. It was only when Amira nudged her that the half-Annfyn glanced over, cracking a smile at the Tiefling’s words. “Sounds like a plan.” She asked back at Amira, flashing the woman a grin before very begrudgingly starting to follow both her and the old woman.

Ivara, meanwhile, didn’t look the least bit perturbed by the conversation. Instead, the elderly woman happily waddled along - heavily leaning on her walking stick as they delved deeper into the woods and along an old, partially overgrown path. It wasn’t until Amira spoke that she turned back, flashing the Tiefling a wide grin filled with yellowed teeth and multiple gaps inbetween. “Oh, lots of things, dear. A few goats, chickens, Mott..” She hummed. “We used to keep Bantha, but I fear I am no longer able to care for the beasts like I used to. A shame, really.” Ivara sighed, “Hard to beat fresh Bantha milk. Wouldn’t you agree?” The woman stared back at Amira with a knowing smile - as if somehow easily picking up on the Tiefling’s rural upbringing. She didn’t say it aloud, of course, but it was plain enough to see in her demeanor.

“I have to ask..” Vahliri said after a long moment, “What made you stay here? I mean.. You said your husband passed, and your children moved away - so why stay here when you could be closer to them?” The half-Annfyn looked around. “No offense but.. It isn’t really some resort destination out here.”

Ivara merely shrugged. “This is my home.” They continued walking for some time, crossing through the trees and following the winding trail until they finally reached the elderly woman’s cottage. Strangely enough, neither of the Sith would be able to feel anything within the Force until they got a bit closer - stepping past the threshold of her property. Only then would the life around them feel palpable once again - and just as the elderly woman claimed, the pair would clearly see multiple livestock animals corralled into different sections of the property.

The woman waved them inside the cottage, gesturing for the two women to take a seat at her kitchen table. Notably, Ivara took extra care to secure her front door - engaging a number of locks and propping a weight against the foot of it. “Now then! What brings you both all this way? I don’t often get many visitors.” She asked. As the woman spoke, she waddled her way over to the kitchen stove - pulling a still-hot kettle off the burner.

“Tea?” She asked the question, but didn't really give either of them time to deny her - proceeding to pour three cups of the dark liquid for them to sip on. Ivara promptly took a seat after that, sipping from her own cup.
 

Amira Din

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The unlikely trio walked for a while, cutting across the trail that wound its way through the forest. A trail that Amira had not noticed until now, despite keeping her eyes peeled for any signs of life or activity. It was as if it had mysteriously materialized out of nothing, along with Ivara. The Tiefling wanted to reach out and touch the old woman's ragged cloak, to feel the tears for herself and settle once and for all if it was real or if all of this was a mirage. An illusion of the dark side. Or was it much simpler than all that? Had she and Vahliri somehow gotten high and just didn't know it?

Eventually, the woman's home came into view, a white stone cottage with thatch roofing and leaded windows too dark so see through. As bleak and colorless as the rest of the planet. Old, too. A relic out of the past, not unlike their strange companion. Amira stopped to pet one of the goats just on the other side of the wooden fence, dark fingers caressing its black and white head. It was real enough.

Inside the cottage, the Champions were instantly enveloped in warmth. Layers of cold began to melt away, and it would have been a comforting experience were it not for the sound of one bolt after another sliding locked. How many locks did one old lady need? The Champion glanced at Vahliri, a What the kriff? expression on her face. The old woman ushered them toward the kitchen table, but Amira wandered over toward the stone fireplace instead, where wax candles flickered atop the mantlepiece, interspersed between old photographs. It was strange, that neither she nor Vahliri had spotted smoke billowing into the sky. They hadn't walked that far.

"Is this your husband?" she asked, picking up one of the frames for closer inspection. She ignored the woman's offer of tea, for now, despite the manners Ma had tried to drill into her head at a young age.
Everything about this woman screamed abnormal, no matter how much she tried to sell the happy homemaker act. This wasn't an episode of the Donna Rahn Show. It was a scene straight out of the Twilight Sector.

Clearly, she already knew who they were. It was Vahliri and Amira who were at the disadvantage here, and the latter was tired of wandering aimlessly. What was the harm in being honest? If they weren't, they'd be back to square one. Amira sought out the half-Annfyn's gaze, as if asking permission before she spoke. "We're with the Empire," she began, although Ivara already knew that. "Recently, we've received some reports about 'disturbing and unnatural anomalies' out here." Her gaze flicked to the door, to the bolts and locks in place. "You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?" @Altaris


 

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Despite her wishes to the contrary, Vahliri was almost positive that none of this was the result of a mushroom-trip gone wrong. The old woman, her creepy-ass house and everything up to this point was painfully real - and it wasn’t very difficult to tell that the half-Annfyn was rigid and on edge. The whole ‘sweet old lady’ act, for whatever reason, didn’t quite pass the smell test - no matter what the woman said or did.

Vahliri couldn’t quite place her finger on it, but there was just something.. Off, about it all. Like an anomaly she knew shouldn’t have existed, even if she couldn’t deny its existence at that moment.

The sound of locks engaging caused the half-Annfyn’s fluted ears to twitch - flattening against the sides of her skull. She didn’t know why the old woman needed half a dozen locks on her front door, and she really wasn’t trying to fuck around long enough to find out. Vahliri glanced over to Amira, mirroring the expression that was equal parts disturbed and confused. After a split second, she subtly jutted her chin and raised a brow - just about ready to revert to the Gingerbread Hag plan. The half-Annfyn made a point of lifting the cup to her lips and mimicking a swallow, but she deliberately didn’t swallow anything that Ivara offered.

“My son, actually.” She said with a very clear fondness, a smile tugging at her creased, wrinkled features. “Quite the looker, isn’t he?” A snicker followed, playfully wiggling her brows in Amira’s direction. Despite the words, the Tiefling wouldn’t be able to shake just how old the man in the picture appeared - rivaling Ivara herself in aged appearance - despite supposedly being her son. Vahliri merely gave Amira a nod, listening as the Tiefling began to elaborate their position. A part of her screeched at the notion of divulging information to this woman, but at this point, their options were limited.

“Not often that the Empire makes their all the way here..” She muttered with a small hum, shuffling back over to her rocking chair. There wasn’t the least bit of surprise in her tone, confirming any suspicions that the woman was entirely aware who they were. “Unnatural anomalies, hm?” She tapped her hand against the armrest, pondering the question for a long moment.

“Take it from a local, my dear.. There are many things in these woods - on this planet - that you and your order would consider.. Unnatural. Things far older than you or I, and best left undisturbed.” She didn’t elaborate, the cryptic words hanging in the air for a long moment. “I do not exaggerate when I recommend not to wander aimlessly through these parts after dark. You would both, do best to remain here for the night.” She gave a soft nod.

Vahliri narrowed her eyes a bit. "I believe we'll be fine on our own, thank you."

“It is safe here,” Whatever other suspicions the pair might’ve had, neither Amira nor Vahliri would get the impression that was a false statement. That same sense of creeping dread - and the unnatural chill - had completely died out the moment they crossed the threshold of the woman’s property - as if stepping past a barrier unseen.

“If you were to find what you were looking for, what even do you intend to do about it? Hm?” The woman crowed, tapping her fingers. “Claim whatever power here for your own? Or for your Empire? Or simply destroy that which you do not understand?” There was the faintest hints of irritation in her words, that carefully maintained air of grandmotherly care displaying just the faintest, hairline fractures.


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Amira Din

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184

Quite the looker? This guy? He looked like the Senator of Lothal, after the Mandalorians had disfigured his face with blaster fire, and it was all Amira could do to keep from saying something that she might regret out loud. She glanced back and forth between the photograph and Ivara, just to make sure they were looking at the same man. They were. As soon as the old woman turned to shuffle toward her rocking chair in the corner, the Tiefling held the picture up for Vahliri to see, shooting the half-Anfynn a look that said, I wouldn't kiss that face if he were the last man alive.

"Very... striking," Amira would eventually say, the only response she could think of that was neither positive or negative as she returned the picture to its proper place on the mantle. Ivara might have been old and prone to incessant chatter, apt to believe any praise or kind word in regards to her children as mothers often were, but there was an undeniable intelligence in her eyes, and she would probably see right through any lie. Amira didn't want to upset her, and not because they were her guests and she their hostess.

The irritation in Ivara's tone suggested that the Champions were walking on thin ice, that one wrong word would sway the old woman's opinion of them, and possibly their fates. Amber eyes settled on Vahliri momentarily, flames dancing across her pupils. The Tiefling settled on, "We simply want to understand this anomaly. The dark side called us here for a reason." That wasn't a lie, at least not in her mind. They did want to understand whatever phenomenon was occurring on this planet, and then they would decide on the best course of action in response to whatever they discovered.

Vahliri, and understandably so, did not jump for joy at the woman's suggestion that they spend the night in her cottage, sheltered from the cold under her roof and from the darkness and danger within her walls. There was danger, outside in the woods—there was no doubt about that. The excessive number of locks on the door, the sense of dread they'd both experienced earlier.

The only question was—which threat posed more danger? Whatever lurked in the darkness? Or the woman right in front of them, rocking back and forth in the corner of the room?

Amira studied Ivara for a moment or two, allowing the silence to stretch on, clearly weighing their options as she chewed on the inside of her mouth. She couldn't believe she was saying this, but, "Thank you. We'll stay the night." To Vahliri she merely shrugged, mouthing the words, I'm sorry.


A marked smile stretched across the old woman's face, lips pulling back to reveal the same yellow teeth they'd seen earlier in the woods. "Excellent," the old woman said, rocking forward in her chair and onto her feet, as if there had never been any doubt in her mind that they would stay the night. She was always two steps ahead of them, it would seem. "You won't regret it."

The Champion hoped that was true, and that Vahliri would forgive her for agreeing to the suggestion. They still had their lightsabers to defend themselves with. Not to mention the force, the ebb and flow of the dark side strong here. They could both feel it. Once Ivara was asleep, they could search the cottage if they wanted. Or they could hole up until morning and begin their trek anew. Perhaps in the light of day, Ivara would even be willing to lead the way. She led them down a long and narrow hallway, that felt far too large for a cottage of this size. Pictures hung on each side of the wall, the figures and faces nothing more than silhouettes in the darkness. Amira brushed a finger alone the frame of one of them in passing. Not so much as a spec of dust. Unusual, for a woman of Ivara's age. Whatever age that was.

Their hostess opened a door, and light spilled into the hallway, before she ushered them into what must have been a spare room. It was small, with a single window and an old, open-frame bed with small bedside tables on each side. Betty lamps sat on each, flames flickering. Across from the bed sat a wooden bureau with a jute rug in front of it. The fire had already been lit in the hearth, and judging by the log, quite some time ago, as if Ivara had known in advance that she would have company. That the Champions were coming, and they would be staying the night. The room was warm and cozy, but it was not the least bit inviting.

"Here you are, my dears," Ivara said after casting a cursory glance over the room, clasping her hands in front of her hunched over frame. "You'll be safe here. I'm just down the hall, should you need anything." That wasn't particularly comforting. @Altaris


 
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