Ask For Whom the Bell Tols

[Connor Vance]

Tol Amn l Death Enabled​

Connor had been delving deep into Occidius’ lessons. The holocron had many lessons to teach if he proved himself worthy. Despite this, the holocron urged him to utilize what he had been taught in practical and real settings. The holocron displayed a star map that Connor recognized, a map of Hutt space. One system in particular was highlighted as a place of interest, a testing ground for new students.

Tol Amn, the world of the dead.

It was a moniker well earned, Tol Amn was among the hardest hit in Hutt space by AMS. It never received aid. Its people died in masses. Even today, decades old distress calls go unanswered. No one is willing to land on the world. No one is willing to risk themselves to plunder the lost riches of wealthy farm lords.

It was the perfect place for Darth Occidius’ earliest experiments. Now, it was the beginning of the breadcrumbs he left behind. The lure of knowledge and power to those brave or foolish enough to face the undead. Now Connor followed this siren’s call. The Holocron had spoken of a laboratory Occidius had used. Within it, would be the next step in his evolution. Within it, Connor would find the power and knowledge he craved.

The USS FUCK DALON touched down on Tol Amn. Connor was wise enough to not land in any ruined space ports or formerly civilized areas. The dead would likely still rule there. Instead, he landed on a cliffside that overlooked a ruined manor and its intended farmlands below. Plus, the water tower shaped like one of Occidius’ pylons drew his attention. The lab would likely be nearby.

Whatever lurked in those fields would be the first challenge that Connor had to face. After all, there was no way that Occidius would leave his labs unprotected and Connor doubted he’d leash his creations.

 

[Kaldar]

Tol Amn was a craphole, wasn't it? The AMS virus was something that Kaldar - like everyone else - had heard about. It was just part of life that certain planets had been mostly decimated even if Kaldar hadn't been there when it happened.

In the case of this nasty place, it had been more or less overrun. Kaldar had done an extensive flyover, letting scanners sweep the areas only to note that there were almost no ships on the planet. The spaceports seemed to have all been leveled by what Kaldar suspected had once been laser cannon and turbolaser fire. In other words, in order to keep the planet quarantined, most of the routes off world had been destroyed back in the day.

It was brutal, but Kaldar could respect it. Or at least, he probably would have done the same if he were in their shoes. While no one had bothered blockading this place for years, Kaldar was going to be safe rather than sorry.

Sarena brought the Shadow down after Kaldar finally selected his "landing zone" and kitted up in his mercenary gear with a pistol on his hip and lightsaber hidden away, he dropped from the open hatch of the ship to the planet's surface a dozen meters below.

The Force buffered his fall, and he hit the ground as the ship began to pull away, awaiting his call out in close orbit.

Kaldar had spent plenty of time collecting "decimated" planets and the darkness of this place had drawn him here. Now that he was on-world, the overwhelming chill of the place was unmistakable. Something was here.

Kaldar much preferred going to nice places rather than apocalyptic wastelands, but here he was. It seemed like more often this happened... was he doing something wrong? The higher up the Sith he went, the more he was around just... straight up dead things. He wasn't a fan. He needed to go on a beach trip again soon.

He grunted and decided that would wait until after this. For the moment, he pressed on into the darkness, just barely making out the vague light of... a house? Some other building? Well... something was in the distance, which was... weird for a place like this. Weird enough to require investigation at least.

 

[Connor Vance]

Connor adjusted some of his gear, a lot had changed since Utupua. For starters, he was more heavily armed with his carbine, Peacemaker, and vibroblade. This was in addition to his understanding of the Force and Dark Side having deepened. Connor ensured he was completely covered for this job, wearing an environmental suit with a forearm and reinforced legplates. He sincerely doubted that he’d encounter anyone wielding a blaster on this desolate world, so if he got bit in the back, torso, or neck, he likely was dead already.

Connor careful kitty made his way down from the ridge line, he followed a narrow pathway that wound around and in on itself several times. As his journey reached the mouth of the trail, a ways from the farmland the holocron had guided him towards, it began to rain. Connor sighed at this development.

“Of course it’s raining…” He muttered to himself. “Just like the zombie holo-flicks.” He grumbled as he trudged forward. “I bet this is going to be just like that Tenant One movie, a kriffed up lab filled with infected.” He mused.

As Connor followed a muddy path to towards the farmlands, he’d find that several desiccated corpses lay before him. His alternative was a trip through the overgrown fields, which he heard strange wet croaks and groans coming from. Nope, fuck that. Connor chose to slip by the gnawed corpses before dealing with whatever the hell that was.

Connor kept his Carbine trained on the corpses as he passed each one, thankfully none sat up for a late night snack. Connor made his way to the front of the manor and then pulled the holocron from one of his utility pouches. He focused on the Dark Side until the tiny triangle came to life.

“Acolyte Vance.” The disembodied voice drones as a greeting. “I take it we finally arrived at Tol Amn?” It asked, its voice was monotone and sounded unimpressed as always.

“Yeah, what’s next gatekeeper?” Connor asked.

“What’s next is you pay attention to your surroundings and greet our newcomer, you dullard.” The holocron’s gatekeeper replied.

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar's eyes flicked up toward the sky as the rain began to fall, eyes rolling as streaks of water began to run down the visor of his armor. Insulated or not, the fabric would be soaked soon enough.

Kaldar drew closer, catching the site of a small, holographic figure that seemed to flash out as soon as he saw it. In conjunction, the person holding the device began to turn in a way that reminded Kaldar of an animal ready to bolt.

In truth, Kaldar expected there were probably survivors on world somewhere - particularly with the landing bays being torched - but this guy gave him "off-world" vibes. He wasn't totally filthy and was alone. He had outside technology... and the scent of the Force about him. Or maybe it was whatever was in his hand.

Neat toy you've got there, he said, his attention almost immediately focusing in on whatever it was that the other man had. He, of course, offered no information about himself but his eyes swept around the area to look for others. Something unsettling crept over this area, and it wasn't just the infected.

Internally, Kaldar resisted the urge to reach down for his lightsaber, but time and again he had seen that a lightsaber should be the last resort.

@Apollyon

 

[Connor Vance]

No sooner than the veiled, vague image of Occidius had spoken and then flickered out of existence, a voice rang out. That startled Connor. He spun to face whoever had crept up behind him, his hand almost went for his blaster, pure instinct. But he managed to contain himself and quickly settled back into a cautious but not aggressive state.

His eyes flitted up and down this stranger, who was fully armored and nearly his height. The man’s posture was confident yet alert. That was fair, the dead walked this world, they were everywhere and if Utupua was any lesson, they would have mutated and potentially learned.

“Yeah, it’s a toy.” Connor replied suspiciously as he tucked the holocron back into a utility pocket.

The droning voice of Occidius would be muffled by the pocket. Any warning the gatekeeper tried to give Connor drowned out by fabric, rain, and the distant rolls of thunder. Connor’s mind ran through countless lies to weave before settling on one that seemed good enough.

“Name’s Vance.” He offered cautiously. “What’re you doing in this hell hole?” Connor asked before nodding towards the manor and beginning to make his way towards the front door.

@Phoenix

 

[Kaldar]

Well, Vance, like you I'm here to poke my nose where it wasn't welcome, he said. It was a nice, vague statement about his intent. There were a lot of unknowns about this "Vance" character. It had looked like he held a holocron, but who was still in big question. And if he was a Sith, then whose Sith was he?

The Razelings were a small group but from what Kaldar had heard, Occidius had been on the move recently against the Tempestians, and no doubt there were other Sith groups springing up out there. Right?

He didn't know which of these Vance belonged to, but he knew that it made him dangerous.

Were you the source of the light or are we pursuing someone else? he asked curiously, just... probing. The truth was that you could learn a great deal from people just by talking to them. Even Sith - paranoid as they may be - were often willing to speak about things if you just listened. It was one of the most potent tools in a Sith's arsenal.