Ask MoN: Path Less Travelled

[Zay Kartan]

Kartan's breathing came in ragged gasps as his arms pumped fervently. His footfalls were lost in the cacophony of the ravenous pack of real-life hellhounds nipping at his heels. He let off two blind shots, hoping to scatter the beasts, but he didn't trust himself to look back for fear of tripping over his own feet. He cursed the force as a cramp developed in his lower right side. His already labored breathing was becoming haggard— Riiiip Zay let out a startled yelp of pain as razor-sharp teeth tore at his trousers just above the calf.

Zay put a blaster bolt in the hound's head, but it did little more than piss it off. His most recent assailant slowed a pace dropping back to the rest of the pack and with a shuddering realization, Kartan knew they were just tiring him out. Just ahead he could see the empty hollow of what used to be a town square. It was the location he and Adaya had chosen as their rendezvous before they'd separated to search the area. Now, he prayed she was there. If she wasn't he was dead.

The smuggler cut down a narrow alley, buying himself just enough time to take two more pop-shots at the pack before exploding into the open square. A dried-up fountain took up residence in the center of the square and Kartan made a split decision to scale the damn thing. With a wordless prayer, he lunged up the first tier, clambering up as quickly as he could without looking back. While the base at the bottom had been dry the preceding tiers held scant amounts of rancid smelling stagnant water. He sputtered as some of it found its way into his mouth and he did his best not to think about what microorganism called its murky shallows home.

Finally, reaching the zenith of the fountain's peak, Kartan called out, "Aadya?"

He sincerely hoped he didn't sound as scared as he felt, but at this point, he'd rather sound like a scared little kid than a dead anything.

The pack fanned out, encircling the fountain with malicious glee as they prepared to devour the moron perched up top.

@Logan @Tulos

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

Aadya had never been to Malheion before but even after just a short stint of traversing its blackened forests she had to admit, the place was an absolute vibe. The darkside itself almost seemed to thrum constantly through the air and its melodious song brought a small smile to Aadya's face.

The young acolyte had started to develop a closer relationship to the darkside the more time she spent with the Order. In comparison to many of her compatriots though she had only dipped a toe in as opposed to doing a tsunami inducing cannonball, but progress was progress.

Eventually Aadya had left the wilds and made her way to a place more urban... or at least it was, before it became little more than a ghost town. She had a specific navpoint she was looking to get to, an agreed upon spot where she was going to meet a person she knew named Zay.

Looking down at her chrono, Aadya noted the coordinates it listed in the corner and saw that she was getting close. It was then she heard the faint calling of what sounded like a voice but she had a hard time making out what it was saying. As she got closer Aadya heard it again, and this time more clearly. It sounded like Zay's voice.. calling her name?

Shit, Aadya said to on one but herself as the angry growls of some kind of beast echoed through the barren alleyways just after Zay's call. Guess its my job to save the damsel in distress.

Sprinting off, Aadya came to a skidding halt as she arrived in the town square, a few meters away from the encircling hell hounds and Zay clutching perilously to the top of a fountain. Looking up at him, she couldn't help but laugh at his situation. What are you doing up there you dumbass?

Reaching out with the force, Aadya gripped one of the dogs by its throat and gave it a strong toss directly into the duracrete wall of one of the nearby buildings. It didn't kill the beast, but the high pitched yelping noises it was making were a good indicator that it was definitely hurt.

The rest of the pack turned its attention towards Aadya, snapping and snarling as drool dripped from their maws. Looking back at Zay, Aadya noticed that he only seemed to have a blaster which wasn't really the best weapon in times like these. Igniting her lightsaber, Aadya braced herself to fend off the pack while she reached down to her boot and pulled out a dagger she had swiped from one of the Sith barracks on Korriban.

Using the force, she flung it towards Zay, Aadya's expression turning a bit playful as she shouted Catch!

Zay was slowly starting to become one of Aadya's favorite people for one simple reason: Hanging out with him was never, ever boring.

@Zay @Tulos

 

[Bir Vuul]

”Where is it?! WHERE?!”



Freedom, if that was what it could be called, was not easily earned for the Padawan. A year of imprisonment, starvation, torture… They would take a toll on any sentient being and Bir Vuul was no different. Finally earning his release from the Sith prisons of Korriban, he was no longer the man he had believed himself to be. He had lost everything. His Master, his family, his arm… and now, it seemed, his sanity.

”Show yourself!” he screamed into the empty streets, greeted with nothing but his own echo as the words bounced around him. Journeying to Malheion was not his idea, admittedly he had never even heard of this world. But the Force called to him, pleaded him to come and see what it was this place had to offer him. A crystal for a new lightsaber, that was his foremost desire. A weapon to replace the one he had lost at the battle of Ryloth and one to reflect who he had now become. Bir Vuul the Jedi was gone, dead. Now he was Bir Vuul, student of the Sith. Or at least, he thought so in the moment. His mind shifted far too frequently for him to be sure just who he actually was anymore.

Walking down the twisted and over-turned concrete that led into the heart of the abandoned city, the Kel Dor grumbled under his breathe. The words were nonsense, even to himself, but they represented the disdain he felt quite clearly. How he wanted to get off this decrepit and festering shit hole of a world. To see another living being’s face.

As though the thoughts were heard, a large hound-like creature appeared from behind the crumbling wall of a building with it’s teeth bared. Glowing red eyes locked on to Bir, following his every movement.

”What?!” he exclaimed, holding both his organic and robotic arms ahead of himself in a ready position. ”What do you want?!” But the beast merely leapt from the debris and began to pace the roadway ahead of him, eyes still glued to their target.

”Are you here… to help me?” Bir asked of the beast. Naturally, no response came spare the growling of a ravenous and blood thirsty creature but Bir… he heard… something?

”Yes… Yes, you know what I’m here for, don’t you?” His posture relaxing, the Kel Dor took a step forward. ”Do you know where I could find it?” The words of a crazed and broken young man meant nothing to the hound but still he persisted.

”You do! You do know! Please! Tell me!” he pleaded. ”Tell me now so I can escape this horrid place!” All the hound did was snap it’s jaw, preparing to secure it’s meal for the evening.

”It’s… Where? Yes… Yes, I see it! Will you forfeit it to me or must I claim it for myself?” As he spoke, his tone easing away from that of a lunatic, Bir raised his hands once more. He began allowing his rage and fear to fuel his connection to the Force and as the hound made it’s charge, he was prepared.

”So be it,” Raising both hands ahead of himself, Bir grabbed the beast through the Force which sparked a whimper of confusion. One hand focused around the shoulder blades, lifting the animal into the air. The second, around it’s hips. Tightening his grasp, the Kel Dor began to move his hands away from one another and as he did so, the hound’s legs began to follow in suit. Further whimpers, but now of pain, followed. Popping of the spine, the tearing of flesh, until finally, it was torn in half at it’s belly, it’s innards spilling to the ground below.

”Success!” Bir exclaimed, allowing the two halves of the hound to fall before rushing over to the pile of organs and intestines and dropping to his knees. In a panicked rush, he sifted through the blood and bile but found… ”Nothing?!” Slamming his fists into the remains, blood spattered upward and on to his face. ”WHERE IS IT?!”

Seething in anger, the Kel Dor remained knelt before the dead hound’s remains. Had he wasted all this time? Had this trip been for nothing? As he mulled over these thoughts, the sounds of blaster fire rang out across the abandoned streets. Turning to face behind him, the Acolyte reached down and grabbed the beasts upper half and looked down into it’s eyes.

”Did you hear that?” he queried with fear. ”People… Here?” Pushing himself to his feet, the hound’s head still firmly in his grasp, Bir Vuul began to make his way down the road towards the interruption. ”Let us investigate, you and I…”

@Zay @Logan

 

[Zay Kartan]

"Ya know guys, I think we just got off on the wrong foot," Zay mused as he awaited his impending doom. The feral pack didn't seem interested in a plea bargain, but hell at this point he was down to try anything. The alpha of the pack, a nefarious-looking beast standing head and shoulders above the rest, snorted and two smaller hounds moved forward.

Did that thing just give them an order?

Kartan had noticed these beasts were substantially larger than the average canine, but their intelligence was starting to worry him. The natural instincts of an apex predator were nothing to trifle with, but this fact was heightened by the evident influence of Fanged Spirit. The beasts radiated dark side power, and Kartan was woefully outnumbered while carrying a weapon that just pissed them off.

"What are you doing up there you dumbass?"

Kartan and the two advancing beasts whipped their heads simultaneously toward the voice. Zay breathed a small sigh of relief, before cocking a wry grin and retorting, "Oh just hanging out, what about you?"

Aadya didn't waste any time with pleasantries, which only hurt Zay's feeling s a little. The beast closest to the fountain was lifted from the ground and hurled into the nearby wall.

"Show off," he teased.

The pack had turned it's attention to Aadya, it was clear to them SHE was the real threat. The sith ignited her lightsaber and tossed a knife to Kartan. Normally, Zaylos had fantastic hand-eye coordination, but he was garbage with the force.

The blade drifted high, so naturally, Zay moved to catch it. As he did so, the pack went on the attack. The weapon dropped from the air, it's blade mimicking a wicked grin in the gloomy light when Zay realized he was about to grasp the weapon by the business end. In all his klutz-tastic-ism Zaylos panicked. Three things happened in a sequence that by no means should have ever occurred and to this day, he still thinks Aadya made this happen.

1. He slapped the blade like a sissy girl, sending it spinning like a buzz saw toward his feet.

2. With his supreme survival instincts he decided to catch/kick the very sharp weapon with his foot.

3. The kick landed, the blade floated back upward and as Kartan scrabbled to maintain his precarious perch, he spun away from the knife and lurched over, with crack exposed Kartan struggled to maintain even the semblance of dignity... Then the blade slid between his crack like a well-oiled sword in it's sheath.

Kartan yelped positive his ass crack had just been deepened by an inch when he heard the snarl of a hound closing in. The beast sprung at him, maw wide with feral ferocity. Kartan retrieved the dagger and plunged it into the side of the mongrel's neck as it landed on top of him.

The hound's momentum carried them both over the side of the fountain as each struggled for dominance. In the end, Kartan lucked out. He wriggled over at the last minute putting the hound's body between his and the ground just in time to absorb the majority of the fall. The rough landing jarred the dagger in his hand and finished the cut he'd started opening a gaping wound across the dog's neck that resembled a bloody toothless grin.

Kartan pushed himself up still a little dazed just in time to see the rest of the pack start in on Aadya.

@Logan @Tulos

 

[Bir Vuul]

Standing behind a fallen column a safe distance from the commotion, Bir raised his head above the rubble and watched as the man and woman held the other hounds at bay. When the woman brandished a lightsaber, however, that caught his attention. The red cross guard blade, the Force swirling around the young girl as she threw the hound into the wall of the crumbling building. Clearly, they were here searching for… something. No one came to Malheion on a whim, especially Sith. Looking to the half-corpse in his metallic hand, Bir realized it must have been the runt of the pack.

”Friends of yours?” he asked of the dead creature before pushing himself to his feet in time to watch the young man catch the bladed weapon between his… ”Oh my! How… unpleasantly original!” the Kel Dor laughed as he jumped over the column and began to make his way towards the foray of battle with the torn hound torso. He sensed this was an opportunity and it wasn’t one he was looking to let slip away.

As the pack of hounds began to advance on the woman, Bir was now closing in on the group and was clearly visible. His torso uncovered to reveal his leathery skin, the scars of the insignia that had been carved into the width of his left pectoral fully visible. A sleeveless black tattered robe and trousers all that he wore, hood pulled over his head. Unarmed save for the corpse he carried.

”Perhaps I could be of some… assistance?” he called out, earning the attention of the pack leader. As the massive beast turned it’s attention to him, it snapped his jaw and sent another of it’s minions to deal with newest threat and as the beta hound charged, Bir braced himself.

Leaping into the air, razor sharp teeth barred and drool dripping from it's lips, Bir pulled his metallic hand back and swung the undead hound forward, colliding with the incoming threat and pushing it to the ground. Not one to relent, Bir continued to pummel the hound with the remains of his fallen brethren. Again, again, again. His rage fueling his actions partnered with the near limitless energy of his cybernetic arm, the Kel Dor hammered away until the both the previously slaughtered animal and the beta male were unrecognizable.

@Zay @Logan

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

The sudden arrival of another put Aadya on edge more than the encircling pack of hellhounds bearing down on her. Although she didn't sense any outright malice towards her or Zay, meeting random strangers on a planet like Malheion was something that should always be cause for concern.

Of course, those concerns were lessened every so slightly when the Kel Dor offered his aid in dispatching the ravenous dogs. In fact, the man didn't even hesitate to engage and immediately start beating one of the beta males to death with.. another hellhound. The scene would have been downright hilarious if it wasn't so macabre.

As the pack leader started rushing towards her, Aadya gave a bit of a smirk at the beast. She knew the animal was only following its instincts, but one would think nature might instill a primal fear of giant glowing plasma swords. With a flick of her wrist, Aadya lifted up the pack leader with the force and pulled it towards her as she swung her saber, catching the beast directly in the face with it and cleaving it into two pieces.

The other hellhounds took notice of this and with their leader dead, immediately retreated back to wherever they had come from, yelping cries of defeat echoing off the empty streets of Malheion. Aadya kept her saber activated for now, turning her gaze toward Bir Vuul, eyes narrowed with suspicion.

Who are you? It wasn't that Aadya wasn't appreciative of the help, but you didn't make it far in the galaxy trusting strangers. Aadya glanced towards Zay to make sure that he was alright. She knew that he wasn't as used to fighting bloodthirsty monsters as much as she was. What are you doing here?

@Zay @Tulos

 

[Zay Kartan]

The wind driven out of Zay's lungs was painfully replaced by an influx of the dark side infused oxygen that left him sputtering. This baptism was punctuated by the hound still under him shuddering and then passing with a breathy high pitched whine.

Suddenly, the remaining dogs went on the attack, the remaining beta was ordered after a new come while the alpha focused on Aaadya. The Kel Dor brandished the carcass of a fallen beta like a club, which Zay found almost as concerning as the dwindling pack. The newbie was clearly adept in brutal warfare as he deftly dispatched the beta. Similarly, Aadya obliterated her adversary by dismembering the beast with her crimson blade. The cauterized halves of the vicious beast fell harmlessly to the ground with only a muffled THWUMP in protestation.

"I gotta get me one of them," Kartan muttered as he pushed himself to his feet. Aadya was already coming to bear on the newcomer, and after plucking the knife she'd tossed him, Zaylos decided to join her in welcoming the new guy.

Kartan trotted up beside Aadya, and gave the Kel Dor a quick two-finger salute while he kept watch. He didn't really care if the new guy came along, but he also wasn't trying to get pummeled by the carcass of a beta like the mess at the being's feet. The influence of the fanged spirit was stiffing within the city. To the north, an ominous formation of three obsidian obelisks only illuminated by the flash of purple lightning caught Zay's attention. The presence of the fanged one stirred in his gut seeming to beckon him to the foreboding congregation of monoliths.

Before Kartan could lend voice to his thoughts a dark pulse washed over him. Zay fell back a step and looked to the other two, "Uh, did you guys feel—" another wave cut him off.

Something big, very big, was close. A crack of dark side lightning streaked across the sky just coloring the sky just above the surrounding buildings. Zay's eyes went wide as they landed on the faceless crown of a pale humanoid figure coming to rest upon the roof of a building to he and Aadya's left.

"A-a-a-adya," he stammered.

The being's horned head swung toward them, it's eyeless gaze settled on them like a predator peering from beneath murky water. Kartan's hands shook, he was frozen in place and his mind felt as though it was being run through a meat grinder. In a motion faster than it should have been capable of, the monster lunged right arm drawn back, left arm outstretched. It's trajectory was aimed directly at Aadya. At the last second, Kartan broke from the creature's control just in time to knock them both to the ground, narrowly escaping the monster's attack.

Between the Kel Dor and them stood a hideous creature born of pure dark side energy. Before them stood a Titan.

"We should run, right?"

@Tulos @Logan

 

[Bir Vuul]

Slowly, Bir Vuul stood as he examined the bloody and beaten corpse at his feet. Years ago, the young Padawan would have been entirely unable to bring himself to cause such chaos. But that man was dead, killed by a year of suffering and torture. Now such a scene brought a smile to his face, evident only in the way the muscles around his eyes turned upward to reveal as to what was going on behind his rebreather mask.

He didn’t get long to appreciate his kill. Soon after, the young woman who had brandished the cross guard saber advanced upon him, blade still humming with life at her side. Bir Vuul was not surprised at her approach. He would likely have done the same had a random stranger approached him on a hostile world. It was a wise choice and one he respected. Then, there was the boy… A sense of near child like innocence hung around him as he saluted the Kel Dor. Of course, how innocent could one be if their travels had brought them to Malheion?

”Please, please! Put your weapon away! I am friend, not foe!” Bir declared joyously, his smile still evident in his eyes. Raising both hands in a wide position to indicate he meant them no harm, the corpse of the hell hound still firmly in his metallic fingers, the Kel Dor bowed his head slightly. ”I am Bir Vuul! Merely a lonely traveler lost in the galaxy!” Arms still outstretched, smile still plastered on his face, the man finally looked over and saw the mangled corpse in his hands. ”Oh… Uh…” he muttered before finally dropping the hound and wiping his hands on his trousers. ”Well… I’m sincerely sorry about that… My friend there, he uh… Well,” Bir paused and leaned in towards the two humans as though to whisper. ”Well, he died. A shame, really. I felt he and I were bonding. Until he lied to me, anyway. Can’t trust anyone these days!” Forcing a laugh, it was clear that the young woman still wanted answers.

”I was about to ask you the same question, my friends! What brings you to Malheion? This is not a world that should be travelled lightly!” Lacing his fingers between one another, Bir continued to smile as he awaited a response but soon a shift in the energies around them foretold that answers were not to be forthcoming.

"A-a-a-adya," the young human boy stammered in fear. But fear of what? The dark side constantly ebbed on Malheion, this much he knew. But not like this… Turning to see what it was that Zay had locked his gaze on, Bir finally found himself unable to smile as the pale creature leapt through the air with ferocious intent. It slammed into the ground, shaking everything in the area, but Zay’s quick action saved him and his female friend. Bir Vuul knew when he was out matched and even if they were to join together in fighting this Titan, their deaths would be certain.

”Yes! Yes! We must run! Quickly now!” Bir motioned for the pair to follow him as he began to make his way further into the city, towards a collection of monoliths in the distance. Perhaps they could lose this monster if they made it further into the city ruins…

@Zay @Logan

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

The conversation provided much fewer details than Aadya had hoped, but then again, she hadn't expected the trio to get drop bear'd by some monster that looked straight out of a horror holovid. Zay's stammering gave Aadya pause as she turned to look at what was causing the boy so much fear, her eyes widening and mouth nearly hanging agape as she too saw what was looming over them.

She barely heard Bir saying they should run. As she stared at the beast, all sound seemed to be ripped from her ears and be replaced by the deafening noise of rushing water. Aadya's eyes were glued to it, whatever it was, and its eyeless face. She wanted to touch it, commune with this otherworldly creature even though part of her brain knew it was probably impossible.

All at once, the sound rushed back into Aadya's ears and she realized she was splayed on the ground. Scrambling to her feet, she started running, catching up with Bir and Zay as they escaped further into the city where there were more places to hide among the ruins.

The monster didn't seem to give them much chase, or at least it wasn't obvious about doing so. Eventually, Aadya would slow her sprint to a walk, doing her best to catch her breath without making it obvious that she clearly needed to work on more cardio.

What in the kriff was that? She asked no one in particular, figuring that neither of her friends had any idea what it was either, but hey you never know. Maybe the Kel Dor was more educated than he looked. And where are we now?

Looking around, Aadya didn't really see many identifying markers that would help get her bearings. Hopefully Zay or Bir had kind of paid attention to where they had come from and where they were now, otherwise a giant monster might be the least of their worries. Getting lost on Malheion seemed about as sure of a death sentence as meeting eldritch horrors in dark alleyways.

Perhaps coming here wasn't the brightest idea.

@Zay @Tulos

 

[Zay Kartan]

The appearance of the titan melted any steel Kartan was trying to muster. The faceless monsters bellowed a wordless roar that reverberated through Zay's whole being. Sudden pressure in his mind nearly sent him to his knees as the being exerted it's presence through the force.

Was this the power of the fanged one?

Kartan vehemently agrees with the Kel Dor and followed his lead, which in hindsight was an insane thing to do, but given the current circumstance, the smuggler wasn't sure what else he could do. The three tore off down the ruined street of what was once a brilliant city. The permeance of the dark side coated everything and to Kartan's surprise after an uneventful chase, they seemed to have lost the titan, however, Zay couldn't shake an uneasy feeling of being tracked.

They reached a hollowed-out building and he was relieved when he noticed he wasn't the only one struggling to get air into his lungs.

"If we survive this, I'm joining a gym."

His attention drifted from Adaya to the newcomer. "I don't know who you are, but thank you for the help back there. Uh... you a local?"

Zay would give Bir time to introduce himself. If they were gonna keep the Kel Dor around this seemed as good a time as any for them to get the pleasantries out of the way.

To Aadya he said, "Nice to see you again." A wry grin slipped across his lips, before he added, "Guess I should tell ya why we're here."

Kartan broke down his adventure to Felucia, he'd describe his encounter with the shaman and the mission he'd been sent on.

"Long story long, I'm here to find a Kyber crystal, whatever the hell that is..." he gestured toward the trident of ink-black obelisks "... and I'm pretty sure, it's in there."

Zay's wry grin shifted to an expression of hopeful placation as he awaited Aadya's response.
@Tulos @Logan

 

[Bir Vuul]

Was there a more exhilarating event than running for ones life? The Kel Dor didn’t know for certain but as the adrenaline of being pursued by the towering Titan, laughter erupted from him as Bir sprinted further into the city ruins. He paid no attention to whether or not the others had followed him but instead focused his attentions on simply ensuring he put as much space between him and that dark sided monstrosity as he possibly could. Fear was never a driving force for the Acolyte but one didn’t need to be afraid of death to desire to continue living.

Finally, coming upon a building that remained relatively intact, Bir crossed the doorway inside and bounced on the balls of his feet while he awaited the others to arrive behind him. He, just as his new found allies, was not in the greatest of shape after being imprisoned on Korriban, but not even exhaustion could subvert the curiosity of the insane.

”Terrifying beasts are everywhere on Malheion, my friends! That one,” Spinning on his heel and pointing back in the direction they had just come from with his organic hand, Bir continued to bounce on his feet before finishing his sentence. ”That one is new to me! A monstrosity of utter beauty, was it not?!” Erupting with laughter, Bir began to clap his hands as though he was eager for the Titan to return but he would be left wanting. For now, it seemed, they were safe. Or rather, as safe as one could be on Malheion.

”A local, no! No, no, no! I, Bir Vuul, have arrived here from Korriban! I am searching! Searching for the siren call that beckoned me!” The call of which he had no true indication of what it could be, of course. All it was that brought him was a whisper in his dreams but as Zay explained his purpose on the corrupted planet, Bir believed that the Force had guided them here together.

”A kyber crystal, you say?! Wonderful! I too am in need of such a crystal! Too build a lightsaber, we both shall require one!” It was obvious that Aadya was a Sith acolyte like himself, but Zay? Bir could feel that there was something different about this man but it was not readily apparent that he was only just beginning down this path until now. There were very few uses for a kyber crystal that did not tie themselves with the Force.

Looking to the spires that Zay indicated, a wave of darkness swept over Bir and the others. He knew very little of Malheion but he had uncovered some scripture that was written in huttese, perhaps belonging to a slave of the world’s ancient over lords.

”The Ward Spire! A place of great power! And great dangers! But within, vast knowledge for those brave enough to scour it’s halls!”

@Zay @Logan​

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

Aadya remained quiet as Zay told his story, doing her best to give him the attention he deserved but likely noticeably failing. Her mind was still lingering on the creature they had run from, the way simply gazing upon it had nearly frozen her to where she had stood.

There were secrets in the darkside that had been discovered by no one. Secrets whispered by formless, dark voices and secrets held by the faceless entities born of its power. Aadya couldn't help but think the creature held such secrets, some sort of wisdom or revelation that could give her solace and peace of mind, knowing her choice to embrace the darkness was the right one.

When Bir started talking about the Ward Spire, Aadya's mind was pulled back to the present and, shaking he haze of being lost in thought from her eyes, she looked at Zay and smiled. Hopefully he had not noticed just how far away her mind had been.

Seems like a good enough place to start as any, She said, turning her gaze to the area around them. Looks like the ruins are dense enough heading towards it that we should be able to stay out of the open, and out of the path of that creature from before.

Heading off in the direction of the Ward Spire, Aadya's mind started drifting again, but she would do her best to keep her wits about her. Never know what horrors Malheion might hold. Hopefully it wouldn't take them long to get where they were going.

@Zay @Tulos

 

[Zay Kartan]

Kartan mulled the words Bir spoke over in his mind and muttered, "The Ward Spire...," to himself.

He cast his eyes back to the ink-black obelisks. Knowing their name didn't make him feel any better about it being their final destination. But some knowledge was better than none, right? A chill whipped through the dilapidated building and the sudden absence of terror put him on edge. Why had the titan stopped pursuing them? He pushed the beast from his mind but knew he'd see it in his nightmares.

As Aadya spoke, Zaylos noticed a distance in her voice, as if she was preoccupied with something else altogether. He considered saying something but now wasn't the time. The titan seemed to have expected her more deeply than it had he or Bir and it wouldn't help anything if he went sticking his nose in her business.

Kartan adjusted his jacket and turned to the other two, "Well, if we're in agreement, then we should get moving."

Kartan took point for the first leg of the trip. He opened his senses to the force and allowed it to inform his action. The smuggler stuck to the nooks and crannies of buildings, slinking through the shadows to the best of his ability. The entire time he couldn't help but feel as though they were being watched, but he could never pinpoint the origin of the sensation, so he chalked it up to his nerves keeping his eye on the prize ahead.

@Tulos
@Logan

 

[Bir Vuul]

Bir found himself with no arguments as Zay pushed the trio further into the decayed city. Quite the opposite, in fact. The Ward Spire was a good distance away and while city streets all led towards the metropolis’ center, they were littered with debris and wreckage that would hinder their advance. This also did not take into account any further murderous and starved beasts that may call these ruins their home. As such, the smuggler led them through the darkest shadows and concealed pathways with the natural talent of a terrified mouse. Bir found himself torn between respecting Zay’s talents of keeping them out of harm’s way, a skillset that could turn the man into a talented assassin in the future should he choose to walk that path, and feeling as though they were merely behaving as cowards.

There was no doubt that the Titan was still… somewhere. Bir felt the creature’s attention focused on them, following them. At least, he believed it was the beast. Sensing anything on the darkened world of Malheion was a struggle for the budding Acolyte but they were certainly not alone. This much he knew.

In time, the trio of evil doers soon found themselves confronted by a large wall of near black durasteel as they emerged from under a nearly collapsed ceiling of an old residence. The high barrier spanned as far as the eye could see to either side, large yet narrow passages occurring in a calculated manner along it’s vast length. Beyond the wall, the Ward Spire loomed with the moon known as Hadex cresting the primary pillar’s peak. Had he any knowledge on the construct, Bir may have surmised that the Spire’s construction could have something to do with the lunar cycle of Malheion. The truth, of course, was far more meaningful to it’s Sith creators than that of the position of an insignificant piece of space rock. The closer they got, the stronger the pull of darkness became and it cemented the idea that they were on the right path in the Kel Dor’s broken mind.

”How delightfully sinister it is!” Bir stated as he folded his fingers ahead of himself, the muscles around his eyes reflecting a near child-like sense of wonder as he took in the Spire in the distance. It soon became clear, however, that they were not the only observers as the Titan lept to the ground ahead of them, facing the wall and the Ward Spire. Walking slowly on all fours, the massive beast came to a stop just before one of the passages they would need to access to make progress to their goal.

”It is feeding! It is feeding on the dark side energy! You feel it, yes?! Yes, you must!” Bir whispered, the excitement in his voice hard to disguise. The Kel Dor began to vibrate in anticipation of what was to come. Was it simply feeding before moving on in the ruins in search of more physical sustenance? Or was it some form of a Guardian to the Ward Spire? The only thing he knew for certain, the Titan now stood between them and their goal. To his right, Bir noticed a fallen and rusted length of steel paneling and wrapped his mechanical arms around the end, pulling it free from the rubble with all the strength he could muster. The muscles of his face soon contorted into a menacing grin as he stepped out into the open. There was only one way forward. Only one choice.

”The Force is my servant! The Force is my weapon! And you, you are my prey!” Bir exclaimed before rushing forward towards the Titan with nothing but the length of rusted steel raised to shoulder level and pointed at the lumbering giant.

@Logan @Zay
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[Zay Kartan]

Crap.

Kartan watched mouth agape as Bir rushed the humongous dark side beast. His eyes flicked to Aadya, but she didn't move. He swore, pulled the dagger from his belt, and rushed after the crazy-ass kel dor. Zaylos breathed deep, taking in the dark side infused air, willing it into his body and demanding it empower his steps as he closed in.

When he was ten paces away the mental attack started. Searing wails of agony, fear, grief, and rage intermingled to create a deafening cacophony that threatened to trip him before he could close in on the beast, but Zaylos persevered.

The smuggler was happy to let Bir tank the beast as he angled for it's right flank.. The closer he got the more intense the mental attack was, but he found himself slowly but surely repelling the assault as the fanged one guided his attack. A feral snarl ripped from his lips as he slid between the titan's legs and slashed at the giant's tendons. His first swipe missed, but the second bit deep and the beast bellowed a soundless roar. It's attention turned immediately toward Kartan and he found himself suddenly wishing he'd not thrown himself beneath a pissed-off giant's feet.

Crap...

@Tulos
@Logan

 

[Bir Vuul]

Bir’s illogical and unprovoked charge against the lumbering Titan carried him across the barren courtyard as he kicked up dust behind each of his steps. His focus was sharp, narrowing in on the jugular of the beast as it turned to face the approaching threat. Unknown to Bir, and Zay as it so happened to be, the beast had self defence mechanisms beyond tooth and claw.

The weight of dark side energy bore down on both of the Acolytes and soon, memories of his imprisonment on Korriban began to gnaw away at Bir’s psyche. The torture he endured replayed in his mind as though he was truly reliving it. The pain of Kor’Bishal slicing into his chest with the red hot blade. Kal lighting fires under his bare back and turning his hide into a massive festering wound. Yet these memories only strengthened Bir’s resolve in his assault.

Zay proved to be a stronger athlete than Bir, surpassing him just before they made contact with the Titan and sliding in between it’s legs. The slice he managed to deliver gave Bir the opening he needed as the creature turned it’s focus on the man at it’s feet. The Kel Dor leapt into the air with the piece of rusty steel held ahead of him, the length pointed downwards, and as he crested the peak of his arc, Bir sunk the shrapnel deep into the beast’s shoulder. The momentum of his jump continued on, the Acolyte tumbling into a roll to the right of his foe, of which was now rearing back in pain as a second wound was delivered.

Was it enough to kill the Titan? Of course not. But they most certainly had the beasts full attention.

@Zay @Logan