Testing the Limits of Sanity

[Lirreka]

~Screams, a trio of them cascaded echoingly from the metal walls of the stronghouse. The private Landing pad and hangar were far from the capital city of Esseles, only woods surrounded the once grand though now abandoned estate. Once the movers and shakers of the Republic were wined and dined here to manipulate everything from Senatorial votes to governer nominations. Now like it like the family that once claimed to be the most powerful in the Republic lay fallow and tarnished, time had a way of laying low even the kingmakers. Hanging from rafters were four figures, three were untouched but shivered as if on the edge of their endurance, they were the ones that screamed. The fourth spasmed but that was all, no scream was she allowed, the fifth individual in the room would not permit it. N'veris ruled with absolute power here. The three that screamed were all force sensitive, one even a Padawan of the mighty Jedi but even his training availed him naught when it came to facing the likes of N'veris. The woman she tortured was nude, unless one counted blood as a clothing. Much of her torso lay skinned, the layers of muscles visible to all. The skin hung like an over-loose shirt as with knives keen and sharp she know worked on the woman's left arm, the right dangling like an empty sleeve in the wind.. Each slice of the knife sent pain unimaginable through the woman's system and by N'veris' will through the very Force itself to wrack the three around her with not just the pain but the inability to escape it. At first the Padawan shut it out as he was trained but eventually even he broke... N'veris was nothing if not patient. Hours passed as the very last of the woman's fingers were parred free of her skin. She turned to smile at her three guests.~

"There, that dicy piece of work is completed successfully. I trust you found it envigorating as the other?" All that answered her were whimpers of the breaking and broken. Her chuckle. "I wonder if any of the vaunted Jedi are feeling this... I do hope so, sharing afterall is a virtue." Her maddening laughter echoed as did the screams before.

 

[Enishi]

*He could feel it. The pain etched across his body. A mere padawan journeymen could reach out into the force and feel the terrible pain of the padawan. The poor young women was being skinned alive, and for Kaed to react, was suicidal. He lay their, on his bed. He could feel the force cutting through him, piercing his soul. His body curled up on the bed, crying out to stop the pain. Closing the oval eyes that were his, he grit his teeth, blowing heavy air in and out through his gritted teeth. His arms crossed and his hands squeezed hard on his skinny arms. Veins started to appear on his head and, just like that, the pain ended. His connection with the padawan was severed by somthing everyone had feared. Death. Releasing himself, Kaed layed sprawled on the bed, sweating and panting. His arms were numb from the squeezing and his eyes were dazed, although not appeared. He had to do somthing, but he couldn't. He lay there, on the bed, praying to be set free from this chamber of pain.*

 

[Lirreka]

~Death was the one thing with which N'veris was intimate. She knew it like a lover knew her beloved. She courted it as ardently as one could and still remain amongst the living. The death of one of her three guests did not surprise her, the fact it was the Padawan did cause her eyebrow to raise. It didn't matter in the end which died first, now it was time to truly act. With the skill of a master she reached out to 'grasp' the departing lifeforce of the Padawan. She could catch smoke if she was of a mind. Like a lit match to gas-soaked rags she consumed the lifeforce and fed it through her inhuman will forcing the primordial energies to bend and 'become'. She turned and using the two remaining force-sensitives like amplifiers she forced the death knell of the Padawan into the webwork that is the Force. The very act would likely kill the two but it didn't matter, those trained in the force would feel the death even in the far reaches of space they would feel the chill of it. She would touch them all.~

"Look and behold a pale horse: her name that sits on him is Death, and Hell follows with her. And power is given unto her over the fourth part of the galaxy, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the wilds... Fear the Fading Light."

She stepped back and let the spectre of deeds carry her words to the corners of the Republic, regardless if they hear them not the words have been cast. To her that was all that mattered.

 

[Enishi]

*He sat up. If he reached out in the force again, he would be in the same pain. Standing up, a bit shakey from the immense power that shocked his body, he slowly made his way to the concil chambers, where hopefully, a master resided.*

 

[Astra de Aurora]

Snake had been training fiercely with a fellow Padawan. Suddenly, she dropped the training lightsaber she had been using and grasped her head as she felt pain pulsing through her body. She staggered to the floor and pushed herself up so that she could be on all fours. She gasped in pain as she breathed deeply to calm herself. Snake shakingly glanced over to the Padawan she had been training with and saw him collasped on the floor. She got up and walked slowly over to him. Then she kneeled beside him and discovered that his eyes were parayzed with fear.

"Stay here," Snake said comfortingly.

The Padawan shook his head and stood up.

"I'm going to see if anyone else... Felt that..."

"I'll make my way to the Council Room then," Snake added.

She stood again and began running to the Council Room. She needed to go and see if they had felt the pain... Or if they saw the message.

 

[Lirreka]

~She went back to the woman she had so lovely skinned, well almost skinned, there was her head and neck left to do. N'veris could not leave it undone. It was not in her nature to do that. With pristine care she peeled the skin from the woman's neck and head, her screams though the force went mostly unheaded, no more force sensitives left to feel the agony. Finally when the skin came free she smiled at the woman.~

"See? that didn't take too long... I'm certain you want to die right now but... Alas I have to ask more of you. Yes I know, how can I after taking your face? Well It's because I know you're a giver..." She giggled briefly before sobering. She laid the skin on the ground beneath the dangling woman, albeit she dangled in mid air unsupported by any cord or device. She picked up a different knife and began to chant, the words were unbelievably ancient, primordial in their inflection, the ears of men were not fit to hear such words just as the throats of man were unfit to speak them. The skinned woman, amazingly still alive began to scream but audibly this time, as N'veris carved into her exposed muscles, the script was of no known language but even these crude designs seemed to crawl and creep over the woman's muscles. As she screamed blood welled up from the wounds, trailing rivulets down her marred flesh to drip upon the skin beneath, nary a drop escaped the skin, it drinking it in like some macabre sponge and in this horrific feast the skin seemed to change and in a way grow. When N'veris fell silent once more the woman hung in the invisible grip, a withered desicated husk of a corpse and the skin beneath seemed living and vibrant. She picked it up and smiled.

"Yes, perfect, just what I need for my purposes." She carefully folded the skin up and left the stronghouse, heading for the freighter.

 

[Enishi]

*He strode into the council chambers, not awaiting any greeting. Nobody was there. Sighing, the sylph-like figure of Kaed slowly turned around and started to walk untill he saw the figure of a female running twords the chamber. Stopping in his tracks, Kaed interwined his fingers and stood, waiting for the female to arive.

 

[Astra de Aurora]

Snake bolted into the Council Room. She stopped and looked for the Masters. She only saw someone else there.

"Do you know where any of the Masters are? This is urgent!"

 

[Enishi]

*His voice was spoken in a relaxed tone, but his mind was surprized.*

"I'm afraid the Masters are not here. I too am searching for them, as to a preminition I felt not too long ago. Is there any way I may be of service?"

*His towering body was an opposite to his gentle voice.*

 

[Astra de Aurora]

"Not really. The only people that I believe would be helpful are the Masters. We need to find them."

 

[Magnus Carthaginian]

Esseles.

Oyo Svenen had arrived not long ago to the mountain ranged planet. Why he had come here, he didn't quite know. He knew that he would indeed find work on the planets of all planets. Esseles' was at the top of the food chain. Oyo figured that there would be some kind of work for him. Esseles, he thought, had to be more corrupt than the rest of them. There were always politicians looking to knock off each other or even members of certain politicians most private and trusted inner circle. They would pay a lot too. Oyo would make them pay a lot. Knocking off a Senator or their advisors was not an easy task. They would always be protected by the blue guards of the sentae. Even a couple of them was a difficult fight for even the most skilled.

It was storming in the captial city of Esseles as Oyo stepped off his ship, Merciless One. His T-21 Blaster Rifle concealed by the length of his black jacket. Most importantly slung over his back was his most precious vibro-blade. He also sported his DL-44 blaster pistol on his side, with a nap sack of different tools that he would find useful for his stay on Esseles. It was too bad he didn't bring a hood but he could deal with it. The rain was hitting down hard as he strode off his ramp, pressing a button on his belt which locked up his ship.

He soon reached the docking authorty who walked up to greet Oyo. Svenen didn't say a word or change the frown he wore upon his face as he the man walked up waving and smiling. He just took his hand out of his pocket and flipped the man the approiate amount of credits and kept on walking. He hated working with the docking authorities. They always asked too many questions and wanted to take a look aboard your ship. They would tell you it was to see if they could help you out with any sort of repairs you needed for your stay on whichever planet you visited. But Oyo knew most of the times it was to see if you had any illegeal cargo with you or just to steal some of your valuables. He would never fall for it. He knew what went on.

He moved past secruity calmly trying not to draw any attention to him. The Esseles' capital spaceport was large but helpful maps had pointed the way towards the front. He wanted to find himself a nice little spot to take a seat, watch some women of the galaxy dance and to have a drink. He would need to find one of the more higher class spots where the rich men of Esseles' would be. Not only would he enjoy the women while he was there, it was a chance for him to find some work. If there was any one this planet. Or even just get lucky for the night. Women always loved to try to get by his hard exterior, knowing that there was a very different person underneath but he never showed it. He would do his business and leave.

Finally he made it to the front of the spaceport and walked up to the tourist booth that was set up. There was no one in line as it was late in the night on Esseles and he approached the older lady working the booth.

"Where can I find the best gentlemen's club in the capital city?" Oyo said, flashing a fake smile.

The older women typed for a moment on her computer, brining up a list of the best clubs on Esseles. She finished quickly and looked back up at him with another fake smile.

"There is the Kooda Club not to far from him." She told him.

"Directions?" He got to the point.

"Oh yes, it is not far from here. After exiting out the front doors here, just head to your left and you should see it in big yellow and orange lights. Kooda Club." She said.

"Thanks." Oyo said giving the older lady a nod. He then moved towards the exit doors of the spaceport. Leaving out into the rain filled night of Esseles.

 

[Enishi]

"Yes, then. I'm afraid I too have an urgent message to deliver to the council. It is beyond normal engagements. I bid you my farewells and hope that we both finng what we are seeking."

*Bowing slowly, Kaed walked past the young woman and walked down the halls, searching for the masters.*