Ask Darkness Awaits

[Kalique Baize]

As the distress call had reached them, a few elements had reminded Kalique of prior missions. Stenos was a relatively barren planet, however amongst the rocky deserts and pinnacles, there were a few greener areas in the Valleys that usually received the little rain the planet had to offer.

Why had this exact biome be chosen to abduct children into? There were a few questions on Kalique's mind, yet she was convinced they'd soon find their answers. If Sith were really involved, she already knew that it wouldn't be a good sign if they chose the few living parts there were, but hopefully they'd be able to put an end to this quickly while unveiling the truth.

The Stenax were fierce, ill-tempered sentients, however while most missing children were human, accounts had it that two Stenax kids had been abducted as well. Kalique had studied the records intently and memorized every single detail that might aid them in their quest, yet it still sounded like they had to conduct some investigations first.

She was accompanied by a Squire - however neither Laila nor Rhiannon this time. She didn't know much about Cassir, yet was optimistic he'd learn a lot while offering good support at the same time. They were dropping out of hyperspace and soon entering the orbit as she closed the reports and started to gather her equipment. "Prepare for landing. We're about to arrive" she briefly informed the Squire, her mind not on full focus mode just yet and thus offering him a relatively warm smile.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Cassir Caerleon]

It's always the children, Cassir thought. This takes the Squire back to where he was with Varyn to liberate children from Sith on Korriban. Who ever controls the youth controls the future, right? It's time to save children yet again. He was with Knight-Captain Demici for this mission. Cassir understands that they have to do a bit of figuring first to find the kidnapped and/or the kidnappers. He also understands this may be dangerous, not that the Squire is afraid of danger of course! Cassir is quite eager for some action actually.

Cassir had his usual equipment, lightsaber attached to his belt for easy reach and other stuff "Yes ma'am" he said to the Knight-Captain. "I'm ready" he said shortly afterwards, he would make sure he's fully prepared. Cassir's training is almost complete and he's almost at the age. If everything goes well, he'll finally become a full fledged Imperial Knight.

Now the transport would then arrive into the planet's atmosphere, it would then take them to their destined point of arrival.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Who knew what awaited them her? They had to be prepared for whatever, yet so far, the squire seemed ready. He was older than the girls she was training and depending on how today went, maybe she could recommend him for the official promotion to become a fully fledged Knight.

He seemed eager and so was she, definitely eager to end this and whoever was behind it, yet the uncertainty about where to start was a little annoying. She was dearly hoping they'd find actual traces or else they'd be combing through the forest for days.

She clipped her lightsabers to her belt and took a seat until the vessel finally touched the surface. Kalique then thanked the pilot droid and instructed it to go charge while she approached the ramp. "Okay then let's head out".

The Knight-Captain had various ideas in mind or where to start, however another thought suddenly crossed her mind. "I assume you'll be knighted soon, correct? Do you want to lead the investigations for now?" she'd obviously still offer guidance from the background, however she wanted to offer this chance for him to prove himself.

She didn't really know him yet, however knew that placing her trust in him wouldn't just boost his confidence but obviously offer the chance to prepare him even better than just having him trail along. Maybe he was ready, maybe he wasn't, but she'd let him decide whether or not to try.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Cassir Caerleon]

Cassirs's attention shifted to the Knight-Captain as she asked if he would soon be knighted, and eyes widened if he wanted to lead the investigations, for now anyways. Although looking at the environment as they lande, he was uncertain at the moment of what he could do or lead them to, if Peacekeeprs just vanished. What they just 'vanish' too? Plus Sith are involved. Yet, it doesn't seem right what Cassir sees as a challenge. "Y-yeah. I'll do that" he said, stuttering at first and smiling trying to project confidence.

Now that they are in the spooky woods "Lets see here..." he would think of what his first course of action would be, thinking, and ideas are not coming to his head. He would start to move forward, and try closing his eyes, reaching out with his sentences, and see if he can find anything out of the ordinary, or at least something they can go off of. He'd be coming up short as eeriness fill the air.

However, he would think "I assume Imperial agents already spoke to citizens here?" probably so, but he asked anyways, he reckons they would have been acting on any intel if they had anything useful, and that would be the first thing they do rather than try searches into here.

As he would walk forward, he thinks he spotted something in the trees a bit far off from where the ship landed, and off any trails, and he would see a large gathering of branches on the ground by some trees. Stooping down, he would examile and pick up one of the many branches that have been clearly been cut off. "This was cut off by a lightsaber" he looked at the Knight-Captain, letting her know.

So, looks like they have a lead, they have something they can follow up on. It doesn't give the whole picture of where the Sith or kidnapped persons went. There is still more uncovering to done.

@LadyRen

Roll: 13/20

 

[Kalique Baize]

Kalique could sense the nervousity flaring up in the Squire and a subtle smirk tugged at her lips. She remembered well how it felt like to take responsibility into her own hands for the first time as a Lieutenant in the IAF where she had once been, and she didn't blame him for feeling like this now at all.

She was happy he still accepted the challenge and thus let him take the lead. As a Knight, he'd be responsible to lead missions all by himself and so it was good to get started in a safe environment, hence under her watchful gaze. They wandered through the woods and she stayed overly alerted, as he asked about the citizen she nodded subtly.

"Yes. Reports indicate that they've been abducted during the night, mostly. No sounds, no one saw them come or leave" it was uncanny, but it reminded her of Entralla...or Ord Biniir. She was dearly hoping this wouldn't get any close to the horrors that had resided there, but maybe evidence was beginning to point in this direction...

They carried on and he soon stumbled over the trees that indicated the use of lightabers indeed, which made her let out a sigh. "Well observed...I wouldn't say it's certain we're following Sith, but with the ritualistic character of this all, someone is either purposely framing it or we might soon encounter such fanatics".

She held little love and patience for any religious cultists, regardless of whether they officially called themselves Sith or not, but it seemed like they were getting closer. They'd soon pass a fallen tree stump with runes on it and Kalique immediately felt sick. She had studied their language which was usually a good trick she had up her sleeve, but the realization was simply sickening. It was drawn by relatively fresh blood, but the rest of the tree bark had traces of old, dry blood on it.

Qo Saarai..."The path to the truth...that's what it's approximately saying". It sounded enigmatic, but given everything they had gathered so far, it was clearly nothing good, especially that after a another hundred meters they'd suddenly perceive a violent, dark ripple in the Force, steming from their right. Great...They'd have no choice but to follow it, but whatever was suddenly calling them was heavily tormented.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Cassir Caerleon]

It is true, it could be something other than Sith. They surely aren't the only one spooky group with bad intentions and wielding lightsabers. Cassir nodded, she has good advice. Then they would come across the runes, marked with red paint... No that's blood, some fresh, and some others long dried. They must be on the right track then.

So this the 'path to the truth', "Well, we have our lead. Heh" A shady, unreliable, and most likely dangerous lead to follow, but they have nothing else. "I wonder if our missing agents went on this path too". A real possibility.

He would then walk the path, he would then bring a lightsaber to his hand, being cautious an unnerved by the atmosphere. "You feel that?" he would stop and turned too look at his superior, now feeling the dark ripple. The Dark Side is strong here, Cassir remembers being on the surface of Korriban going into the Academy. Similar, he could feel the Dark Side coursing though, he can't even sense anything else under the should.

Cassir would keep his eyes peeled, eyes on the path, eyes on his surroundings, this feels very treacherous to traverse

@LadyRen .

 

[Kalique Baize]

Kalique was frowning as she withdrew from the runic language and the tree stump, glancing back at Cassir. "They might have...although I'm pretty sure they couldn't decipher the runes and the blood seems way to fresh. Perhaps there was a different sign like this though" she mused, however obviously in disdain about how this was getting worse.

She still nodded and followed close by, her right hand already at the hilt of one lightsaber and the Force coiled around the other hand. They did follow the path with the darkness just growing even more oppressive with every step they took until it would even start whispering to them. He was trained to resist its allure, yet Kalique could feel that this would be a hard test.

The dark side would start pulsating until they'd have to climb over another fallen tree. Right behind, they'd find an entrance to a pitch-black cavern, somehow built into the environment. Inside, they'd both sense something that was surely alive and drenched in darkness. Kalique immediately let her lightsaber hiss into existence as she stared inside, however it was impossible to see anything.

"You've done well so far. I'd advise you to stay behind me now though" it was no command, but definitely a pressing recommendation. Whatever was inside, it seemed relatively hostile andnshe wasn't going to let him engage first and thusn endangering himself just like that. He'd get to gather experience, but she was definitely watching out for him.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Cassir Caerleon]

The plot thickens, even fresher blood. And as they move forward, the darkness grows more and more palpatable. Even as someone trained and can use the Dark Side, he can fill the allure. Imperial Knights merely use it, they don't surrender themselves or becomes slaves sto the Dark Side however.

Cassir would nod with her suggestion to stay behind "Aye" he answered. now are now treading in dark places, literally, to switch the squire is unprepared and he felt the same. Cassir would activate his yellow blade in concert with the Knight-Captains, both as a light source and if/when actual threats appear. But even as light, it's still dark. "Must be a deep tunnel." he said "Who knows what's in there." Still though. "I'm ready to go in when you are. I'll watch our rear" he tightened the grip on his lightsaber, and would be on guard and alert

With his other hand, he would reach on his person, through his utility belt to find a flashlight. But he doesn't seem to have it on his person....

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Whatever waited in the cage felt hungry...and its hostility grew as it picked up their voices. Cassir moved behind her without any complaints and Kalique nodded. "Keep eyes, ears and senses on full alert". She then started moving in, her hand instinctively moving to activate her orange bladed lightsaber as she entered the sinister cave.

The oppressive darkness intensified, yet the creature that lured inside suddenly scurried away. Kalique jumped ever so slightly as she even saw something reflect in the dark before she tilted her head. Teeth. Hadn't than been a row of sharp teeth that have reflected the last parts of natural light?

In perfect sync, they let their lightsabers snap into life, his yellow and her orange mingling into a symphony of warm, energetic light, but the tension kept rising with each and every step they carefully took. The malicious presence was gone - seemingly for now - but suddenly they'd both hear a terrible, rumbling growl erupt from their left.

The light of their lightsabers wasn't enough to illuminate the terrible monster that lurked in the darkest most part of the cave, but it did suddenly charge right at them. "MOVE!", she loudly bellowed, hoping that Cassir was actually moving out of the way as the massive pile of flesh moved to rush them.

As it approached within a split second, they'd be able to take in the terrible, eye-less visage of the monster. It's razor sharp claws slashed at them, but as Kalique brought her saber down to sever up one of its clawed hands, it retreated lightning-quick with an ear-piercing screech.

Kalique spun around, but the thing was gone. So that was abducting the kids...at least they had answers now, but Kalique's eyes were maximally widened as she briefly turned to her Squire. "Are you alright?". It would be back, she was certain of it and they had to kill it quickly.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Cassir Caerleon]

Cassir was sure to keep his guard up, both hands gripped tightly on the blade, the force running through him. But as he was following, watching their back in the dark cave, the presence more and more palatable with every inch they go in. His attention would then turn in the direction of the of where heard the beastial growl.

He could only see a faint amount of the creature even with the lightsabers illuminating as much as they can. Evena glimpse of the creature showed Cassir enough. It is a thing that should not be. But unfortunately it is.

When the Knight-Captain said move, the squire did so, diving to the side making sure he's out of harms way, kicking up dirt around and on his armor.

He would get back up and dust himself off and pick up the lightsaber he dropped and igniting again while in the darkness. "Yeah. I'm alright." he would then sigh. "What was that thing?" he would ask. He saw the claws and teeth, it's dangerous. Very dangerous. And it disappeared as quickly as it came.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

The beast disappeared as quickly as it had charged at them, its presence vanished into oblivion. It was weird and hard to grasp, yet Kalique had made her experience with such things before. She looked Cassir up and down, the orange-yellowish glow still the only source of light, but he looked unscathed.

She was relieved on the one hand, but concerned on the other as this abomination wouldn't just leave. "A Sith spawn..." she stated, disclosing the truth as tiptoeing around the issue wouldn't help either of them. Kalique spun again, her eyes narrowed and the Force tightly coiled around her free, left arm.

"We need to kill it...and it must have a master, but perhaps they are gone already". One way or another, this thing was terrorizing the civilians. With her left hand, she immediately conjured a fire as she started moving again, making sure she was ready to roast that thing whenever.

"Don't let it get to you". As if she had a feeling, she carefully voiced those words as she carefully continued, however not a moment later would they suddenly feel a piercing pain in the back of their minds. It was a mental assault, aimed at destroying their mental barriers, but the Knight-Captain violently pushed back. "Don't...let it in".

@The Good Doctor

 

[Cassir Caerleon]

So a Sithspawn. Typical of the Sith to create such horrors. The Empire was right to cast them, and the Empire has to clean up their mess.

Cassir would nod at the Knight-Captain's suggestions. It may have a master. Maybe they are gone. Either way, it says alot about the creature that something like that could make people, even Imperial Agents go missing without revealing itself to where others know about it. Either way the beast ends to be ended. It's a thing that should not be. A threat that needs to be ended.

"Right" he said, he would not let the beast get to him. It's horrifying, very dangerous, and potentially very lethal, but Cassir would resolve not to let it get in the way of service to the Empire or determination to end the Sith spawn.

Without having seen the creature, Cassir dropped to his knees and started struggling as he was feeling the mental attack. He would then be grunting, in pain, exhausting all efforts not to have his mind overtaken. Perhaps that's how the creature has been subduing people. As only a mere squire, Cassir does not have the mental fortitude to do anything other than try to resist by putting all effort and focus, and even that's in danger of failing.

"Must not..." Cassir would try calming himself after encouragement from the Knight Captain, and slowly, after about a minute he would rise to his two feet, and open his eyes as he wards off the monster's mental attack. It's feels like his brain is being cut through with a piercing loud noise. He's still exhausing all efforts, but he's now up again, he'd look for the creature.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Sith were slaves of the dark side, having given up themselves and opened them to the corruption and this monster was no different. It tried to stir up every tiniest part of the unconscious, wanting to wreck havoc and unleash sheer terror from within. Defying it always came with a price as well, but they were here to pay it for the Empire.

Through gritted teeth, Kalique let out a little growl from the strain, her emerald gaze scanning the dark surroundings as she noticed Cassir dropped down. She was with him at once within the Force, lending him some additional strength to push back and not let the best feed on him as she suddenly noticed some movement in the corner of her eye.

As the squire was pushing himself back up, Kalique withdrew her presence from him and deflected the focus into heat she conjured with her free hand and threw a ball of sizzling hot flames into the direction of the moving shadow. The fire didn't only Illumina the cave, but at once did the mental attack stop as the best screeched loudly.

A hit then. Without thinking twice, Kalique intended to use the abomination's broken focus to press on. The spawn was partly engulfed in flames at its side, but it didn't keep it from charging at them again. It would be at Cassir first, and he'd have to move quickly enough to not let it attempt to claw him, but he'd even get the chance to slash at it of he reacted quickly enough.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Cassir Caerleon]

Cassir was struggling, not knowing how long his mental fortitude could hold against the Sith spawn. Any elapse in concentration could potentially knock him out, or worse. "Mustn't..." he said again, but he suddenly found a burst of power, not knowing it was the Knight Captain lending her power. But then after seeing force conjured flame, the mental attack ceased, and suddenly his mind was his own again and he was able to see what was in front of him.

Even with poor night vision, Cassir could see the beast that's partially on fire. The Sith spawn is charging at him and with speed. Cassir with the Force flowing through him again, he would take a wide step in a swift motion to the right and follow through with the other foot, and doing so he would bring his lightsaber to his left side and make a wide swing with his yellow blade. Cassir couldn't see, but he heard the burning plasma blade.

The squire couldn't see if his strike connected or not. He'd turn around, ready to continuing the fight. He'd hear pained beastial screeching, and upon looking he'd see a big horizontal cut across it's chest, although not enough for a bisection. It's left arm would be cut in half as well, severing it at the elbow.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

What happened within the next few seconds seemed like a chaotic blur, however the beast's loud screeching only intensified after she heard the Squire's yellow blade sizzle the monster's skin just a split second later, the blade also indicating that Cassir had indeed made it out of its way quickly enough.

The initial shock passed and Kalique's mind sprung back into full focus mode, all senses on full alert and her muscles tensed and battle-ready. The flames were threatened to get extinguished, but she didn't let them. Instead, she fueled the fire further, her left hand directed at the lightning quick abomination and letting the heat consume its rotten flesh further as she followed it with its gaze.

One arm landed on the ground with a thud, which however also let a dark pulse erupt through the Force. It was enough to shatter her concentration, but the beast was already about to pounce again, this time at her. Her flaming orange blade was still readied, so as the thing came at her, the lightsaber made immediately contact with the abomination.

As it slammed into her with full force though, utilizing whichever power the master had granted it, it did shove the Knight-Captain backwards after she had at least managed to bring her blade across its weirdly shaped torso. "Kill it!" she screamed loudly, the beas already moving to rush away, but with the amount of focus she could muster on the spot, she placed everything into a stasis that would take hold of the creature within seconds and hopefully allow the squire the slaughter it.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Cassir Caerleon]

One of many things that Cassir has learned today, the Knight-Captain really likes fire. Cassir would make a note that he needs to learn how to do that.

Once the arm dropped on the ground there was another spike in the Dark Side, and Cassir was taken back and skid back. Somehow, the Sithspawn kept getting back up, even after more flames and a saber strike from Demici. But now here was Cassir's chance, the creature is now being held in place by the Force. Gritting his teeth and concerned about the Knight-Captain now,

Not hesitating, he would move in, now behind the creature, with both gloved hands gripping his yellow-bladed lightsaber, and then raise his lightsaber high, blade up, and he would swing downwards while grunting, cleaving through the creature in half vertically, unlike last time the creature would be cut in half wholesale and he'd bring the blade all the way down. Where there was once a whole creature, now there are two halves.

At least, it's finished. The threat is ended, and there would be another dark pulse, as if the dark side energy's used in the beast's creation were expunged and expelled. Cassir would turn around and check on the Knight-Captain. "You alright ma'am? Anything I can do for you?" the squire would raise his hand for her.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Even if it hadn't been her first time fighting such a terrible abomination, the dark sided pulse washed over her, forcing her to put all of her remaining energy into fortifying her mental barriers and thus depleting her further. The monster's dark spirit was banished and it vanished, yet for now Kalique blinked repeatedly fighting against not backing out.

Cassir's voice traveled through the air, but it took a moment for her to process it through the initial numbness. Her blurry gaze slowly focused and closed in on Cassir who was - to her great relief - unharmed. "It's fine...you've done...great" she did gratefully accept his hand and steadied herself, before her gaze traveled back to the maimed beast.

"Are you really alright?" she was not referring to physical damage, but rather the mental assault, from what she sensed through the Force, everything seemed okay for now. She rubbed her temples for a brief moment before she fully regained her composure.

"I'm afraid we have to comb through this place. I don't sense anything anymore right now...but we need to make sure there's nothing else dwelling here". Also, they hadn't found any bodies and she wasn't sure whether that was a good sign or not.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Cassir Caerleon]

He's done great, she said. That's good. He would nod and keep a straight, serious expression. Right now he was more worrried about the Knight-Captain and then finishing this mission. "I think I'll be hearing this ringing for weeks, but I think I'll be fine" he said, panting and he would shake his head.. It was an exhausting affair fighting that Sithspawn creature.

"Of course" he replied back. Although they slayed the beast, they still have to investigate the matter of the kidnapped agents and citizens. And now that the beast appeared, they should make sure none of those exist any more. For all Cassir knows, there may be more deep inside the cave, in which case they still have no indication of how far it goes.

Now going on wards, lightsaber igniting, as to provide light, held in a readied defensive stance. No more creatures, some bats lurking about, sometimes flying, and sometimes being annoying. But then they would find a large room up ahead.

There would be all sorts of dark benches, motors, and a large cauldron. And then there would be a man shrouded in dark robes and hood waving his hands around two mutated Stenax that were standing but were 'dormant'. The presence of the Dark Side was at it's zenith here.

But the hooded robed figure would then be alerted. The hooded figure would speech in a tongue that Cassir didn't understand and then point in the direction of the Knights. The hooded figure would stay back as the mutated Stenax came to life and made their way towards the Knights with beastial fervor.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Calling onto the Force, Kalique quickly began recharging. They had no idea what else lingered in those caves, but it surely wasn't anything good, as as soon as they continued, the oppressive darkness was growing again. "It will...but we'll overcome it together" she said to him, obviously promising her support. She'd meditate with him as soon as they were done, but for now they couldn't wait.

She took the lead again, her own body a meter in front of Cassir's, her senses on full alert and the lightsabers still offering the only light. They had to watch their steps as the ground was even and full of roots, but it wouldn't take much longer until they'd find themselves entering a new chamber that was slightly illuminated by an eerie glow.

The shadowy figures were recognizable as soon as her eyes adapted to the light and as she realized what they had just walked into, her eyes widened. The hooded figure spun and sent the mutated Stenax in their direction, leaving not much time to argue. With gritted teeth, Kalique moved her lightsaber into a defensive position as she reached out with the Force and targeted the two altered Stenax.

Before the master could stop her, she wiped them out by intruding their heads and dulling their senses. Targeting the two simultaneously was straining, but it meant that the master was all that was left for them to deal with. As the Master had been formerly preoccupied with the beasts, he wasn't ready to attack them right away, which would give Cassir the chance to strike first if he was quick. Kalique meanwhile watched the Stenax drop to the ground before she leapt forwards, definitely choosing to engage him with her lightsaber this time, hoping Cassir and she would keep him busy.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Cassir Caerleon]

"Indeed" he said, they will overcome it together.

The dark figure didn't waste any time sicing those mutated Stenax after the Knights. He supposes that's why they been kidnapped for, to twist them for experiments. It all ends today. While the darked figure is surprised, Cassir would use the force to grip the figure, and then flex his arm upwards and the cultist would be pulled over towards him just a few meters in front of him. Cassir would then bring his blade to cleave the figure into two, but upon landing the cultist would unleash a stream of force lightning. The squire was taught how to defend himself against force powers the Sith liked using, lightning was one of them.

Cassir would quickly bring up his blade to block the lightning, his lightsaber is safeguarding him against the lightsaber. The cultist would not relent with it's lightning but Cassir would push forward, slowly, one step at a time, and not without struggle. He could feel the power behind the lightning even if it's not striking him directly.

The cultist tried to stop Cassir, but now it was trapped, unable to stop the lightning so incensed into it and seemingly unable to stop, such is the way of depraved Sith.

Now finally up close, the cultist ran out of his force reserves, the cultist doesn't seem to have a lightsaber or any way to duel, he would turn around and try to run, only to have a yellow lightsaber pierce through his chest.

Once the body dropped to the ground with a thud. "Hopefully this is the end of these experiments here" he remarked.

---

And with that, the cultist is dead. Cassir would be panting as he is tired. Now that the cultist - the one apparently responsible for all this - is dead and the mutated Stenax are KO'ed, the rest of the cave is theirs to look around, there would be more work stations for the twisted experiments, and there would be cages that contain captive Stenax as well as dead ones. And then they would find dead imperial agents in another set of cages.

@LadyRen