In Their Footsteps

[Leandros Solus]

Having survived the harsh deserts, Leandros and pilgrims arrive at the beginning of a cave system. Inside the cave, the pilgrims will face their inner demons as the hardships of the journey begin to take a toll on them. On top of that, there are dangerous things that lurk in the dark depths of this cave that have gone undisturbed for quite some time. Can the pilgrims conquer their own selves and survive the cave beasts to climb to the top?

@Painus @Ecclessey @Gian Greydragon @Mad Dog @Logan @Kraken @Anyone else who wants to join

Theme​

The desert stretched behind them for an eternity, the warm sands beckoning them to return and be consumed and forgotten. They had crossed a significant amount of land in the days since they had left Keldabe, and the toll of their journey was beginning to show among some of the less physically-competent pilgrims. Still, regardless of physical ability, they all leaned on each other for support and nobody was left behind under any circumstances unless they chose to be left behind or quit the journey early. There were a few who had done so, and Leandros could not fault them for that. This trip was not for the faint of heart, but it did sadden him to see those too weak mentally to push their bodies beyond the limits their mind imposed upon them.

Leandros, on the other hand, was thriving in the adversity. After refreshing himself at the oasis, he felt a new resurgence of fervor and zeal which carried him ahead of the others and led them to the cave they now stood before at the base of the mountain they needed to scale. This was the final stretch, and he knew that at the top they would find exactly what they were looking for. The eyes of the gods were upon them now that they had survived the desert trial.

Within the gaping maw of the cave ahead of them was a network of interweaving and tenebrous tunnels that nobody had mapped out before. It was the final obstacle that would lead them to the beginning of the sculpted path to the top of the mountain where the pilgrimage ended. Within this cave, however, the pilgrims would face unknown creatures and their own minds, for this place was known to turn the unwary mad with delusions and insanity. Leandros would need to keep an eye on his flock and a hand on his blasters if he wanted them all to come out alive and undamaged – either physically or mentally.

Leandros turned to the group and beheld them, his helmet now firmly on his head as they reached the colder landscape. ”Mandalorians,” he began, looking over them all, ”We’ve made it to the final trial. Within this cave lies the path to the top, and there lies the path to the favor of the gods. Lean on those to your left and right, for nobody knows what lurks in those shadows. The gods are watching.”

With that, he turned to face the cave. He rotated his head to the side and looked sidelong at the group one more time, patting his blaster pistol, ”And keep your weapons handy. I’ll bet we’re gonna fight something inside.” With that, he took the first steps into the cave, ready to get this journey over with.

 

[Ekbar Kelborn]

(Alright just to clarify, I've made a mistake with my accounts confusing the both of them causing me to post in my OOC account. Now it looks like it's fixed, I'm going to reply to this as proof.)

Ekbar wasn't one for following such boring orders, he was hoping for something more exciting. Of course they couldn't just walk in aimlessly, guns blazing, hoping for someone suicidal or extremely stupid enough to meet more heat than Dantooine itself. The heat was unbearable, yes. However, he didn't take it as much of a drawback. Instead he felt-- Invigorated! The possible sense of danger and urgency around every corner, the thought of his dead weight finally succumbing to their weaknesses and collapsing, forever to be lost within the desert and of all things, the fact that kept him sane through this wasteland the most.

Was the fact that they were entering into the fiery furnace, the big catch, Armageddon itself after his War Marshall, Leandros stopped in his tracks, looked around and spoke:

”Mandalorians," At that point, Ekbar, through that helmet of his concealing his neutral expression, looked up at his so called 'Superior'.

"We’ve made it to the final trial. Within this cave lies the path to the top, and there lies the path to the favor of the gods. Lean on those to your left and right, for nobody knows what lurks in those shadows. The gods are watching.”

"Finally.."

He spoke under his breath, it has been a long time coming, but it is finally here. The moment to test his mettle, to distinguish the Prey from the Apex Predator. He chuckled under his helmet, there was something off about it. As if he knew how it's already about to happen; his foot under his foot-stools.

"So, what are we waiting for? Death from Heat strokes? or from succumbing to the funny images in our heads?"

He stated bold and prideful at his superior.

 

[The Storyteller]

It would be truly foolish to assume that Mandalore was devoid of the presence of the Force. The Mando'ade had spent centuries—no, millenia—suppressing it, pretending it did not exist. They had persecuted their own people when found to be sensitive to the greater power of the universe, but it still lingered. It still lingered in those that hid from it, but above all, it still lingered in pockets scattered throughout the land. The light had been all but stifled on Mandalore, but the war-loving nature of its people had ensured that the dark would not. It was likely that the gods of the Mando'ade were merely manifestations of this—though it was hard to tell.

They would feel the coldness from their first step into the cave. The Mandalorians had chalked the manifestations within as their own minds playing tricks on them, but they were wrong. The dark side waited within, the Force itself coming out to play. They would feel it—but they would only feel coldness. They were not sensitive to it, and that would be their greatest disadvantage. All they could do, really, is resist the torment.

They would step in and feel that coldness and dread, which would only increase as they walked further. It would grow to be stifling, and they would slowly feel the urge to stop—to lay down and accept their fate. The feeling was overpowering, but it would not be the feeling alone that would ruin them. From deep within the cave, a lone screech tore through the silence. And after it, dozens more. Something was hunting them.

@Painus @Ekbar Droorer

 

[Leandros Solus]

Leandros paused before he turned to begin the descent into darkness, looking over the pilgrims one final time. Most were solemn and silent, weary from their journey. Most. One marauder stood out, decrying – at least, it was an implied decry – how long they were taking. The mighty war councilor simply shook his head, not wasting the energy a chuckle would consume, and looked at the impatient man. He was an unknown, a pilgrim he had not interacted with prior to this outburst, though he belonged to clan Kelborn. Leandros had fought aside many Kelborns; hell, he was the emissary to bring the clan under the fold of the then-fledgling House Solus.

His mind drifted back to how long ago that was. Back when Solus was known as the upstart clan, the go-getters, the fearless badgers whom a galaxy-wide death mark had been placed upon. Now they were the ruling clan of the entire Mandalorian people. Now he, alongside Koil and Raz, guided their people on the path to eternal war. Leandros smiled beneath his helmet as he thought about Raz and made a mental note to tell her about the pilgrimage when he was done. She always thought his level of piety was comical and often poked fun at him for it, but she knew how much this meant to him. They had a lot to catch up on. After a few milliseconds, he shook his head and cleared the thoughts, focusing back on the impatient marauder before him.

”You’re right,” he said with a curt nod, ”We ought to hurry along. You seem eager, Kelborn,” he continued, resting a hand idly on his blaster and jerking a thumb behind him towards the cave, ”You will take point in the depths.” If Ekbar had nothing further to say, Leandros would motion for him to take point before entering the cave himself.

The first thing he felt was the crushing darkness of the cave. This was not just merely an absence of light, but an absence of feeling. A void of warmth – not physical, but spiritual – overwhelmed the group of Mandalorians as they took their first steps within. This cave was a place of evil and darkness, an abyss that seemed to reach out and grasp each warrior in kind, urging them to simply give up, to let their weariness take over. Leandros would not succumb to such influences, but the others of his flock were not immune. He drew his pistol and beskad, pointing ahead in the cave for the others to see.

”This is the final trial, brothers and sisters! Do not let the sins of our past overtake your spirits. Gird your souls with faith and we will see this through to the end!”

His voice was powerful and, hopefully, inspiring to those around him. They needed a firm, battle-hardened leader to usher them along on their journey. He was their shepherd.

To cement his point, an otherworldly screech pierced through the silence and darkness followed by dozens more. It was haunting; a shrill, unholy sound that only something bred in pure hatred and darkness could emit. It was foolish to think they were alone. They were being hunted the moment they disturbed this accursed demesne. Others in the group ignited flares and activated flashlights, burning away the darkness with their light. The cave stretched on in many winding directions with no sign of where to go.

”One unbreakable shield against the coming darkness.”

This was their final trial.

@Ekbar Droorer @vamp

 

[Ekbar Kelborn]

Leandros paused before he turned to begin the descent into darkness, looking over the pilgrims one final time. Most were solemn and silent, weary from their journey. Most. One marauder stood out, decrying – at least, it was an implied decry – how long they were taking. The mighty war councilor simply shook his head, not wasting the energy a chuckle would consume, and looked at the impatient man. He was an unknown, a pilgrim he had not interacted with prior to this outburst, though he belonged to clan Kelborn. Leandros had fought aside many Kelborns; hell, he was the emissary to bring the clan under the fold of the then-fledgling House Solus.

His mind drifted back to how long ago that was. Back when Solus was known as the upstart clan, the go-getters, the fearless badgers whom a galaxy-wide death mark had been placed upon. Now they were the ruling clan of the entire Mandalorian people. Now he, alongside Koil and Raz, guided their people on the path to eternal war. Leandros smiled beneath his helmet as he thought about Raz and made a mental note to tell her about the pilgrimage when he was done. She always thought his level of piety was comical and often poked fun at him for it, but she knew how much this meant to him. They had a lot to catch up on. After a few milliseconds, he shook his head and cleared the thoughts, focusing back on the impatient marauder before him.

”You’re right,” he said with a curt nod, ”We ought to hurry along. You seem eager, Kelborn,” he continued, resting a hand idly on his blaster and jerking a thumb behind him towards the cave, ”You will take point in the depths.” If Ekbar had nothing further to say, Leandros would motion for him to take point before entering the cave himself.

The first thing he felt was the crushing darkness of the cave. This was not just merely an absence of light, but an absence of feeling. A void of warmth – not physical, but spiritual – overwhelmed the group of Mandalorians as they took their first steps within. This cave was a place of evil and darkness, an abyss that seemed to reach out and grasp each warrior in kind, urging them to simply give up, to let their weariness take over. Leandros would not succumb to such influences, but the others of his flock were not immune. He drew his pistol and beskad, pointing ahead in the cave for the others to see.

”This is the final trial, brothers and sisters! Do not let the sins of our past overtake your spirits. Gird your souls with faith and we will see this through to the end!”

His voice was powerful and, hopefully, inspiring to those around him. They needed a firm, battle-hardened leader to usher them along on their journey. He was their shepherd.

To cement his point, an otherworldly screech pierced through the silence and darkness followed by dozens more. It was haunting; a shrill, unholy sound that only something bred in pure hatred and darkness could emit. It was foolish to think they were alone. They were being hunted the moment they disturbed this accursed demesne. Others in the group ignited flares and activated flashlights, burning away the darkness with their light. The cave stretched on in many winding directions with no sign of where to go.

”One unbreakable shield against the coming darkness.”

This was their final trial.

@Ekbar Droorer @vamp

Without any second thoughts, Ekbar ran into the cave's depths. As soon as he entered however, he felt a cold and toxic presence. He felt a heavy weight on his back, as if a landslide took place.

He then heard voices, some were from innocents being slaughtered on the streets, others were authorities hastening to catch a criminal who just committed a serioua crime.

It all felt familiar to him, he chuckled, shaking his head in defiance.

"No, not today."

He felt his recklessness take over as more sounds increased their frequency in an almost mesmorizing tone.

The beatings taken, the fights that were caused. It all felt just too good to be true. Ekbar suddenly felt a foreign presence, he felt every pain imaginable.

The pain he took and caused on others, every muscle that tore, bones that snapped, concussions, stabs, disembowellment, vaporization, feelings of being skinned alive and cannibalized.

It all resonated from this single planet.

He panted kneeling down in pain. Pretending to shrug it off as just an obstacle.

"Is that all you..got?"

 

[The Storyteller]

The Mandalorians would see them coming, but they would have no way to stop them. Swarms and swarms of dire badgers, their fur jetblack and their eyes glowing crimson. They charged, teeth bared as they snarled, their sharp claws raking against the rocks as they ran. They moved like a wave of fur and sharp ends, their eyes like Life Day lights among the blackness.

They poured out of every opening in front of the Mandalorians. They ran directly toward them, not showing a hint of fear—because they didn't have to. No weapon harmed them—not a violator, not a vibrosword, not a blaster. The only thing that affected them was the Force, and it was something none of the Mandalorians present could wield. The warriors would find, however, that the badgers were not immune to light, whether it was in the form of flares or flash lights.

The badgers passed through them like ghosts, leaving behind cold pangs of pain where they made contact with one's body. They held little strength physically—just enough for the warriors to feel the pressure where they passed through. But the badgers were not the only trial that they would be facing; this was merely the beginning, the warm up for the spirit within.

@Painus @Ekbar Droorer

 

[Rud Solus]

Behind the field marshal stood Rud, silent and brooding as had become the main traits of his declining character. He met the chill inside the cave with relief and tried to put his mind off the pain that his prospethics were causing to his knees. Perhaps he needed this pilgrimage more than the others, for he was a far cry from the good-natured man he was before he met Raz and donned his father's armor.

With an odd step he thus followed behind Leandros, his former bunkmate and now commander, whose fanatical loyalty to the Gods had always met with Rud's unwavering disapproval. Rud had put his trust in people instead of Gods, which meant he chose to follow Raz and like a badger fiercely protected the members of his clan. That he called Leandros 'Little Badger' now seemed ages ago.. such a friendly name in reference to the Field Marshall hadn't crossed his lips in years.

However melancholy he was, when he heard that screech from below he froze with widened eyes. "The kriff-" the words had barely left his mouth when he saw them.. Force manifested badgers.. coming from everywhere and charging both rapid and rabid.

When the first went through him he gasped, the chill it left behind was almost crippling, but then four more found their way into his chest and out his back, causing Rud to be lost for air. His longs cramped up due to the chill and his stomach turned as if the acid itself froze. Moreso even than when he lost his legs did Rud feel as if death was coming for him. How could this be anything else than death?

@Painus @Ekbar Droorer @vamp

 

[Leandros Solus]

Leandros followed behind the outspoken marauder, weapons at the ready and prepared for whatever lurked within. He did not know fear, nor would he allow the pilgrims to see him know fear. He was their shepherd and he, above all, needed to be strong for them to follow in his footsteps. The dark was full of terrible things, but their faith and fury would guide them through to the end. Whatever otherworldly creatures hunted them they would meet with beskad and blaster, even if they had to chop, cut, shoot, and kill their way up the mountain.

The marauder dropped to his knees in pain and groaned to himself, fighting some battle within. Leandros came up from behind and jerked him up by the back of his armor and patted against his helmet. ”Resist it!” he urged, moving forward to take the lead once again. Out of the darkness came the creatures, and he wasn’t prepared for what they were. Badgers, the very same that all Solus clansmen had to tame, came rushing at them. Innumerable revenants dashed forward, their hatred impelling them to attack the invaders. Leandros shot at them, but to no avail – they could not be harmed physically. His bolts phased through them harmlessly and impacted the rocks.

With a curse, Leandros swung his beskad at one right as it leaped through his body. It felt like an icy spear had pierced through his heart and he gasped for air, surprised at the sudden sensation. These were no mere badgers, but rather manifestations of pure evil. A trial from the gods. Leandros shouted out – whether in pain, fury, or fervor, he didn’t know – and trudged forward into the herd of Dark side badgers. His comrades cried out as they were attacked, and one threw his flare as a desperate measure. It flew forward and fell by Leandros’ feet, illuminating the area around him.

Almost immediately the badgers stopped their assault of him and instead rushed around, keeping to the darkness. He panted hard, out of breath, and looked at the flare. This was it! He reached down and picked up the flare, brandishing it at the badgers to keep them back. ”The light!” he shouted to his comrades, turning around to inspire them, ”They cannot face the light! Flares, flashlights, glowglobes, anything! Push back the darkness, for we are the flame!” He ran back towards the group, flare in hand, and to the breathless Rud and downed Ekbar, using the illumination to shield them for the time being.

”Get up,” he urged once again, ”Get up and press on!”

@Ecclessey @Ekbar Droorer @vamp

 

[The Storyteller]

It seemed the Mandalorians had found a way to overcome their first trial. As the marauders around Leandros began illuminating the cave, the badgers grew sparser and sparser until the cavern was once more quiet, the grumbles and high-pitched roars of the creatures having ceased along with their existence. They were free to press on.

The next chamber they came unto was slightly smaller and most notably had a massive hole in the center. The hole was completely black and it was impossible to see how far down it went. There was a sinister silence in the chamber, and it felt to some as though the hole was calling to them—because it was. It was sneaking its way into the minds of all present, urging them to step inside, to fall to their deaths. For those near it, they could feel a light physical tug attracting them. There were only about 2 5 meter wide platforms of rock that the Mandalorians could step onto to get past the hole, so everyone was bound to approach it at some point.

Come.

@Painus @Ekbar Droorer @Ecclessey

 

[Leandros Solus]

The Mandalorians rallied and pushed past the apparitions with their lights. Flares and flashlights lit up the darkness as each and every warrior fought against the dark with the light. It was as if it were something from the old folktales, and Leandros beamed with pride and fervor as they survived their first trial. After the battle had been won, the cavern returned to silence once more. The only sound that resonated were the labored breathing of those who had sustained the brunt of the attack. Leandros let them catch their breaths, but turned to push on after a few moments. They did not have time to dillydally.

The next chamber was smaller but had a far more noticeable feature in the center in the form of a massive, gaping hole. It was a hungering maw into the abyss, and even Leandros felt its siren call along with the rest of his warriors. It wanted him to jump in, to experience eternity in the pit as a sacrificial lamb, but he would resist. He must resist. The others around him, weakened by the constant assault on their minds and bodies, seemed far more susceptible, and a few even began to take steps towards the pit. Leandros reached out and grabbed one by the arm, yanking her back forcefully. ”No!” he shouted to snap her from her stupor, ”That is not the way. Steel your minds to temptation! Reach out and grab onto your brothers and sisters, we’ll walk in two columns across the pit.”

The others reached out and clasped hands or gripped the backs of armor segments, forming a chain of Mandalorians to guide and resist the influence of the pit with. Leandros led the way of one column, with another close companion leading the second. They approached the hole and he felt the slight tug and desire to jump in and end it all. He bared his teeth and marched onward, focusing his eyes only on the other side of the pit and chamber. Badgers were infamously stubborn, and once Leandros set his mind to a task, he would not back down until its completion. He relied on that fierce obstinance now as the abyss beckoned to him, keeping his gaze fixated on the other side, praying to the gods that the others would do the same.

”Beat your thoughts to the mold of your will,” he called out as they marched, ”It is stronger than this cave, it must be stronger than this cave.”

@Ecclessey @Ekbar Kelborn @vamp

 

[Rud Solus]

Rud wasn't even remotely recovered from the badgers when their next trial happened and his prosthetic feet moved forward as if possessed. The voice penetrated into his very soul, summoning his only good memories and putting itself right smack in the dominating centre before it morphed them into a sadness Rud didn't want to experience. The death of his pet badger, the innocents he had slain and the loss of his legs.. they were all melting together and growing in strength. Rud wanted to step into the hole. He needed to.

Leandros' voice only barely registered and so faint that Rud couldn't quite understand what the religious fanatic was saying, but for the first time in his life he truly felt as if there was something like a God, some higher power that somehow made sense of the intense dread he was experiencing. It wasn't until a marauder grabbed Rud's shoulders to form in a column as per Leandros' orders that Rud snapped back to the present to catch the last of the field marshal's words.

There was nothing else in his mind henceforth than Leandros' bedtime prayer to Ha'rangir from back when they still shared a bunk years ago. It was his words that now gave him the strength to resist the pit and cross it successfully.

@Pai-Mike @vamp

 

[Ekbar Kelborn]

Ekbar felt the dark side etheral badgers phase through his armor into his body and exitted once again. He felt only coldness and more impatience swelling in his frame, he could feel his superior urging him to get back up again. Without hesitation he managed to get back up after the first wave of badgers. Upon hearing Leandros once again, he seemed to have exploited the weakness of these creatures.

They were just like criminals and thieves. They linger and thrive in the dark to carry out any of their cruelest, darkest desires. The darkness would naturally be purged through light, exposing whatever any crimes a criminal was comitting.

One by one he felt each badger wither and disappear into darkness once they have met face first with the true source of light.

The flare, with that Ekbar whipped out a stock flare he carried and ignites it. Holding it like a torch or lamp to wayne off the ghastly and diminutive apparitions.

After a moment of silence, he felt a sharp tugging pain. Something was calling him from the great depths of the caves, he heard seductive and sultry voices promising him an infinite bounty from causing mayhem and destruction unto his foes and different zones of the galaxy. Many species fearing his name as the greatest galactic bounty hunter.

At first he felt like approaching the voices, but then upon seeing something else. It immediately turned him off completely, it was the many memories he had from his childhood, the beatings, scars, alienation was all too much for him to bear back then. Not one memory that shone in his point of view contained any sign of positivity that could draw him back to the voices.

He clenched his hands tightly into a fist, his face hardened into a benevolent glare, he already had what he wanted. Nothing else mattered to him, not the fame, money or his so called 'family and friends'. All he had trusted his entire life was me, myself and I.

"While I can bend and bend even further..I must never break.."

He recited his mantra that kept him sane and alive all till this very day. He quickly grabbed his nearby comrades. Gritting his teeth to keep himself from losing his sentience. He will not become anyone's pawn. The only pawns are the sheep arouns him.

 

[The Storyteller]

The Mandalorians were a strong willed bunch, but for the spirit watching them, they looked like toddlers holding onto one another to keep from falling into the hole. It was cute. It was cuter still when one of the Marauders near the back of the line let go of his comrade in front of him, strode over to the abyss, and simply walked into it. He had fallen out of sight by the time anyone had realized what was happening, and no one ever heard the clank of durasteel hitting the ground. No, he kept falling. Perhaps he would keep falling until he reached the other side of the planet and then freefall into space. Perhaps he would be torn apart by entities far darker than anything the Mandalorians could dream of, living deep within their own mountains.

The schoolchildren would live. For the next trial, at least. They would walk out of the chamber and into another one, which had the exit to the cave carved into the far wall. Sunlight filtered through the rocks, a large spot of light on the ground, illuminating the gray rock. The chamber was empty as the warriors entered, but they would soon hear a huff as the shadows to their right stirred and a creature slowly strode out. Those well-versed with the fauna of the galaxy would recognize it to be a bull rancor, though most would simply take it for what it looked like—one big, mean son of a bitch willing to tear them apart.

Four black tusks sprouted from its face, tipped in the dried blood of the last adventurers to travel into the cave. Its eyes were small and beady, set on the group and trembling with rage at who-knows-what. The dark side itself was infused in this creature, and it was feeding off of it, living for the sake of causing pain. It charged forward without warning, a great roar exploding from its mouth, heading directly for the heart of the group to trample as many Mandalorians as possible.

@Painus @Ekbar Droorer @Ecclessey

 

[Leandros Solus]

Leandros continually uttered prayers as they crossed the chasm, fixing his eyes ahead on the safety of the other side. One-by-one, the Mandalorians crossed the platforms in single file, each keeping contact with the one in front of them. When they had crossed to the other side, he took stock to ensure they were all present and had survived the trial. There was an uneasy silence among the group and Leandros noted they were one short. He panned his gaze around to ensure he was wrong, to see if he had miscounted or something. Each time he looked across the pilgrims, he came up with one missing warrior. They never even heard the drop; the man simply vanished, taken by the maw in the center of the chamber. Leandros whispered a quick prayer for the man’s soul to join the Manda and then silently turned around, pushing forward with grim determination.

The next chamber was brighter, and the way out appeared to be on the other side. Thin rays of light illuminated the stone, and it seemed that they were at the end of their journey. As Leandros pushed farther into the chamber, he became acutely aware that they were not alone. The beast that exited the cave was big; far, far bigger than most fauna these Mandalorians had ever fought before. He immediately recognized it as a rancor, though this one was bred in the darkness, a being of evil tainted by the corruption of this cave and twisted into something sinister. It did not want to kill to survive, it wanted to kill to kill. Chaos and calamity was all it knew, and Leandros just shepherded a fresh feast right to its home.

”Rancor!” he shouted, immediately drawing his pistol and beskad and jumping out of the way, triggering his jetpack’s combat function and sending him several meters in the air and off to the side as the beast charged the group. One of the pilgrims was too slow to avoid the beast, and his hesitation was paid for in blood as the creature gored him on one of the cruel black tusks on its face. With a choking gasp, the man went limp, hands wrapped around the tusk from his desperate attempt to pull himself free from it. Around him, Mandalorians dodged, ducked, dipped, dove, and dodged their way to safety, drawing their weapons as they did so. Bolts flew from around the room towards the rancor, the previously silent chamber swiftly turning into cacophony of combat.

@vamp @Ecclessey @Ekbar Kelborn

 

[Ekbar Kelborn]

Ekbar just shook his head in meer disappointment as one by one, his comrades fell.

"Such a shame. Tsk, tsk, what did we expect bringing them into the lion's den?"

He thought to himself, he just gazed at the bodies of his so called 'comrades' letting some superstitious entity take over their supposedly highly functioning minds. With that he gets up not bothering to look back and walked deeper into the chasm of the caves.

He suddenly felt a different presence enter the chamber, wasnt an indefinable presence really, it felt like loud and quaking thumping. It sounded like bare, grizzly and large footsteps, approaching the clan it seems.

He scoffed at this, probably just another one of those mediocore trials set up by the warmaster. Or just another inbred enemy trying to scare the clan into leaving.

Then again, if there could be etheral badgers phasing through their bodies as if they were as dense as water, this couldnt be a surprise.

Who knows what could be ahead?

Ekbar then shouted..

"If you're trying to frighten us, its a piss-poor attempt."

He said, there was no hints of worry in his voice, waiting on an answer he quickly unholsters his A-10 Blaster and aims it into the depths of the cave, waiting for something to come out.

That was until he heard a loud roar erupt within the darkness. Keeping his index on the trigger he jumps into a cover position as what looked to be the meanest sonuva bitch ever conceived on any planet hes ever been on trot out of the darkness, it looked like it wanted something, food maybe? Probably very territorial or we had just stumbled into it's hibernating chambers..

All Ekbar knew was that thing wanted something to sink it's teeth into.



He had never seen anything like it, meters tall, tusks on its lower and upper jaw. The claws and oh boy, the girth of the beast almost put Ekbar off guard. Shaking his head however he regains enough of his composure to jump out of the way as it charged and gored one of the warchiefs of his clan.

With a mean glare made from his brow and fire within his eyes he shouted at the beast.

"Ey! Tusk face! Ugly! ~Yoohoo!"

Trying to gain as much attention from the beast as possible he aimed at it, hoping for it to turn around. Like any beast or animal it can feel pain. His intent was to strike at the mouth therefore or any exposed weakspots.

 

[Rud Solus]

Rud was pulled out of his absentminded prayer by Leandros' warning and the unmistaken heat and sound of jetpacks activating. He didn't think twice. Activating his own jetpack used his upward momentum to create a free line of sight to the rancor's head and began firing his rifle, but it didn't seem to stop the enormous beast's advance. Blaster fire was illuminating the entire cave as the rancor was met with a shitload of bolts, but then there was a pause followed by a fierce and furious roar from the rancor. After having shot at the phantom badgers most of them party hadn't reloaded and their powerpacks had just clicked empty - kriff!

Rud fired his last shot half a second after the others and when the rancor roared he dropped his rifle and cried "For Kad!" At the same time he directed his jetpack to fly straight to the monster's face, extended the blade that was concealed in his wrist and plunged it into the Rancor's eye before his body smacked against its head, the blade broke off once lodged in the thing's skull and the invalid supercommando fell down as the fine control panel of his jetpack was crushed on impact and utterly stopped its momentum.

Hopefully the Rancor wouldn't fall forwards...

@vamp @Pai-Mike @Ekbar Kelborn

 

[The Storyteller]

The rancor roar as it was met with blasterfire, but mere plasma would not be enough to penetrate its hide. Overwhelmed by its anger, it merely stood there and growled for a second, then charged forward toward one of the Mandalorians (@Ekbar Droorer), its head low and its tusks high. It squealed in pain as a blade suddenly found itself in its eye, sending burning pain screaming from the wound. A tin man had jumped on top of it, then fallen just as quickly as he found his jetpack had been ruined. The rancor, out of pure adrenaline, ran forward, its massive hoof crunching down on the man's right leg just above his knee. It would be painful, but he had gotten lucky that it had not just completely fallen on top of him.

It charged like that for a few more steps, trying to reach the group, which was now shooting at its eyes. Unfortunately for it, the rancor was slowly bleeding to death—and it knew it. Letting loose one more roar, it tripped on its next step and came crashing down, its head slamming into the rock. It huffed and puffed as it died, its chest rising and falling as it still struggled to scramble back up. For once, it wasn't angry. For once, the only emotion in its eyes was fear. It was terrified of the tin men and their guns, terrified of the pain it suddenly felt. Blood poured of the wound and into its other eye, blinding it, and the rancor slowly felt life dripping away as it laid there. It would keep huffing and shuffling its hooves against the ground for a good few more minutes unless someone were to put it out of its misery.

The spirit deep within the cave found itself out of tricks. The Mandalorians had reached the end of their trial, and had succeeded over evil. All that lay between them and their objective now was the distance they had to walk.

@Painus @Ekbar Droorer @Ecclessey

 

[Ekbar Kelborn]

The rancor roar as it was met with blasterfire, but mere plasma would not be enough to penetrate its hide. Overwhelmed by its anger, it merely stood there and growled for a second, then charged forward toward one of the Mandalorians (@Ekbar Droorer), its head low and its tusks high. It squealed in pain as a blade suddenly found itself in its eye, sending burning pain screaming from the wound. A tin man had jumped on top of it, then fallen just as quickly as he found his jetpack had been ruined. The rancor, out of pure adrenaline, ran forward, its massive hoof crunching down on the man's right leg just above his knee. It would be painful, but he had gotten lucky that it had not just completely fallen on top of him.

It charged like that for a few more steps, trying to reach the group, which was now shooting at its eyes. Unfortunately for it, the rancor was slowly bleeding to death—and it knew it. Letting loose one more roar, it tripped on its next step and came crashing down, its head slamming into the rock. It huffed and puffed as it died, its chest rising and falling as it still struggled to scramble back up. For once, it wasn't angry. For once, the only emotion in its eyes was fear. It was terrified of the tin men and their guns, terrified of the pain it suddenly felt. Blood poured of the wound and into its other eye, blinding it, and the rancor slowly felt life dripping away as it laid there. It would keep huffing and shuffling its hooves against the ground for a good few more minutes unless someone were to put it out of its misery.

The spirit deep within the cave found itself out of tricks. The Mandalorians had reached the end of their trial, and had succeeded over evil. All that lay between them and their objective now was the distance they had to walk.

@Painus @Ekbar Droorer @Ecclessey

Ekbar smiled as the beast fell, he hadnt tasted such a satisfying defeat to revel and bask in for a while. He even thought that this trial was a waste of time upon arriving and seeing nothing exciting taking place before entrance to the cave.

"Finally.."

He thought as he exhaled them inhaled the beasts ectoplasm as it unmaterialized into near nothingness. Smelt so sweet, the victory that is. He then looked back at his crew members..perhaps they werent as worthless as he thought.

"Perhaps I misjudged you, my...brethren..ah, yes. "

He said approaching his new found mates. A grin forming ear to ear appeared on his face.

His life seemed to get a whole lot interesting.

"So!"

He walked closer.

"Who wants to take credit for this win?"

He asked rubbing the palm of his hands together as if he was cleaning them vigorously.

 

[Leandros Solus]

Leandros escaped the rampaging rancor’s initial charge, sailing through the air with the temporary flight granted by his jetpack-assisted leap. Even as he flew, he watched his comrade and brother impaled upon the wicked tusk of the creature slide off, slicking the spear that had felled him crimson with gore. The body crashed limp to the ground and was crushed underfoot by the beast as it moved forward. Blaster bolts rained around, crashing into and searing the beast’s hide to no avail. For a moment, the battle seemed hopeless as power packs ran dry; until, that is, Rud took to the skies towards the beast, streaking towards its head like some kind of vengeful wraith. His blade found purchase deep within the rancor’s skull, stabbing through its eye and snapping off. Rud himself crashed to the ground, narrowly avoiding grievous injury as the beast stomped over his leg with a sickening crunch.

Leandros watched as the rancor stomped forward a few more times before crashing to the ground, it’s brain hemorrhaging and slowly shutting down from the sudden piercing trauma. As it shuffled uselessly against the ground, several warriors fired into its weak spots as if executing a wounded prey. It shuddered briefly for a moment, then went still and silent as its last breaths slipped free from its mouth. Leandros approached Rud, reaching down to help the man to his feet and supporting his right side where he was wounded. Another marauder assisted, taking up Rud’s left side as they sought to help him walk. The war councilor looked upon Ekbar as he celebrated, then nodded his head in curt salute. ”It was Rud’s bravery which saw us survive,” he said, inclining his head towards the man he now supported, ”We’d do well to learn from him.”

With that said, the overwhelming silence took hold once more. The only break in it were the sounds of Mandalorian chatter and tending to the wounded, as well as the recovery of their fallen comrade’s corpse. Even if he would never summit this mountain in life, it was the least they could do to allow him that honor in death. Leandros turned towards the exit of the cave and began leading the pilgrims out, taking it as slowly as Rud would allow, even if the stubborn man refused his help. They were so close to the top now he could almost taste it.

The walk was a short one, but meaningful nonetheless. As the group emerged from the caverns, they were met with the blinding light of the harsh sun above coupled with the violent whipping of the wind. They were high up on the mountain now, and only had a short climb to the top. Ahead lay the weathered steps, worn from centuries of pilgrims making this same journey, each stone slab putting them closer to their destination. They had completed their trials, and now needed to simply walk up to the top. It was finally over.

@Ecclessey @Ekbar Droorer

//end thread