Open Dromund Kaas SOLEMN RAINFALL

[Krinn Nelthar]

Imagine Krinn's surprise when his Sith companion is suddenly unlocking the shielded door on the sorcerer's cell. The Nautolan turns, blinking dark eyes with discomfort, staring intently at the woman that he hadn't the slightest idea was actually the Empress. Worse, still, he's visibly frowning.

"We came here to talk to that Acolyte, not release prisoners." Krinn is quick to point out with what could have been disbelief, but the ice of his tone frosts over the words until they are nearly as chilled as Andruil's. He's not intimidated by the darkness that suddenly seeps into her tone as she threatens the newly sprung prisoner, but it's clear enough within the Champion's expression that he's unhappy. Oh, if this Malenia double crossed them, she wasn't the only one that would have something to fear. Krinn would certainly be reporting this, if it went wrong.

Perhaps he was a fool, really, because his fellow Sith was the one that had gotten them into the facility in the first place, had strolled through the halls as if she had owned the place, had accessed the data logs without any problem whatsoever, so of course, Krinn doesn't try to outright stop her, because he is suspicious that she may be of higher rank than him. But who could guess the reality? Who would ever think that this was Darth Andruil?

Krinn says nothing more, merely following the two out of the prison, taking up the rear because he still doesn't trust the sorceress. She was ominous, and the air around her crackled with something that made the Nautolan uncomfortable.

"Krinn." The Sith responds simply as Malenia requests his name, because at the very least, he could be civil. It's clear enough that he isn't too fond of the situation, though. Perhaps in time, the sorcerer would grow on him, but Krinn could be quite paranoid of strangers on a normal day, and this was just weird. He says nothing more as they enter the parking lot, watching the strange woman perform her crimson magics before jolting into a new direction.

It would seem she had found them a path to follow. Well, Krinn was neck deep in this weird shit already, wasn't he? Why not follow through with it.

@Phoenix @Wit

 

[Renfry]

She turned on the Champion as he spoke up and didn't back down for even a moment. We came here to get answers, she corrected, her tone matching his.

She followed the woman out as she started casting her spells, and took in the sensation of the magick. It was similar to her own, but had a different hint of energy in the Force. Maybe something... younger?

They headed out and climbed aboard a vehicle to follow the flash of red. A droid drove and carried them from the lot and deeper into the bogs and swamps. It wasn't so different from areas she was comfortable with, but she'd never actually traveled out into the swamps of Dromuund Kaas before.

Did you hear any of the conversation between this woman and the acolyte? For that matter, how did you know that she visited him? she asked.

She started turning over in her mind why this woman would be out here. There's no way a Jedi could be living in this swamp, she muttered more to herself than the others, but they'd hear as well.

I suppose we'll find out what's out here, she said as the other humans began to fade away and leaving nothing behind but swamp and animals. And the trio of strange companions.

@Nevermourn @Wit

 

[Malenia]

Malenia, glad as she had been on being out of her cell, was not most pleased at having to step into a speeder. But given how far her spell seemed to be drawing them, it was the best way to cover the distance.

"She," Malenia tried to remember exactly what she had seen and heard that night, as she carefully replied to Renfry's question, "she wanted something from him, something she couldn't get herself and hired him to get for her. He wanted her to get him out, but the guards had already confiscated everything he had so he didn't really have any bargaining power. She did something to his head though, that drew my attention. I.." She paused, a slight frown appearing on her face, "I didn't like her, so I put the spell on her."

It would be apparent to the others that there was more there, something more behind her reasoning that she did not she, but there wouldn't be much time to press her on it as she suddenly called out for the droid to stop. "STOP!! Stop! Right here!" As the speeder came to a stop she jumped out, and ran a little ways through the bog, bare feet sinking into the mud as her already filthy clothes got more so. She stopped about half a dozen feet from the speeder, and raised her hand, and a thin bead of crimson energy floated above her hand to point straight ahead. Turning back she pointed straight ahead.

"We're here, behind those trees."

@Phoenix @Nevermourn

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

Surprise investigations weren't exactly part of the plan for the day. What he had intended to be a simple outing to satisfy his curiosity was turning into something else entirely, something unexpected, and he didn't know if their sprung prisoner was actually intending to help them, or lead them into the foul smelling bog for an ambush. He's bitter as he follows them into the speeder. Krinn had always been stubborn, but at the very least, he'd see this through, if only because he was already involved in it. He just hoped it didn't end in getting backstabbed by Malenia, or executed by higher command for staging what essentially amounted to an unauthorized prison break.

He listens to the conversation as it progresses, thoughtfully drawing the words of the former prisoner into his dark thoughts. So, their mysterious swamp woman had hired the acolyte, and then proceeded to scramble the kid's head, or whatever the hell Malenia was implying. If that wasn't vague, he didn't know what was. But like his Sith companion from the bar, he doubts a Jedi is responsible. On Dromund Kaas, of all places? That would be entirely stupid.

With all the magic being thrown around here, Krinn was more inclined to believe they were going after a witch of some kind. What fun. It was a dry thought. But they're pretty deep in the bog now, the sound of critters in the humid shadows filling aquatic ears as the speeder is finally called to a halt. The mud sucks at his boots as he exits the vehicle, none too pleased that Malenia has darted off ahead of him. She doesn't go far though, and Krinn is quick to catch up, the weight of his lightsaber at his hip providing the only comfort to be found in such a dreary place. Dark eyes shift toward the former prisoner, glistening with a cold and calculating light.

"Anything else you want to tell us about before we confront whomever this is?" Because Krinn doesn't like surprises, and if he found out Malenia had chose to leave out important details that could get them killed, he might be inclined to stab her himself.

@Phoenix @Wit

 

[Renfry]

Renfry listened to the woman's explanation, sensing that something was off about it all, but knowing she wasn't going to get answers just by asking. She reached down and let her hand gently brush against the lightsaber under her clothing.

They came to an abrupt stop as the red woman started shouting at the droid. They all disembarked from the speeder, and Renfry was just glad that she was setting foot on solid ground rather than straight into boggy ground.

I guess it's time to find out what's going on out here, she said. Her head tilted to the side as she let her senses creep over the area. She could feel an old power here. Like something that predated whoever was here. Perhaps an artifact or perhaps simply part of the planet itself.

Whoever's out here, she's got something with some real, old power here, she said.

She pressed onward, looking around the tree in question. She could see a large knot in the trees with a hole opening up as if it led to something underground.

You can go first, red, she said, motioning toward the "hole" that led downward into the ground. There was a faint glow from below as if lights were down there from someone.

@Wit @Nevermourn