Ask The Black Cavern

[Nima Deleste]

.

Endor
Mount Krana
Local Time: 4:17 PM

After a long time in hyperspace, Nima finally arrived on Endor. The trip from Coruscant to Endor was around 192 base hours. Nima wasn't sure exactly where the Jedi would be leaving from, so she sent a transmission regarding the time and location a few days prior to her leave. She already knew where to land, as she had was given information about the planet by her employer. The base of Mount Krana had an opening wide enough for a ship or two to land. Nima would leave her ship's homing beacon on for the Jedi to track, and the mountain was easy to locate from the atmosphere anyways. The mountain was also not very far from their target destination, which Nima had already scoped out; Nima's interest definitely peaked when confirming a rumor about the destination.

The planet was quite peaceful, and definitely a new scenery for Nima. So far, she has been to desert wastelands, giant metal cities, and large stretches of grassy plains. The quietness of the large forest felt eerie when focused on. Around 11:00 AM local time is when Nima stepped out of her ship to take a look around. Many large trees were surrounding her, with the noise of strange creatures in the distance. Scouting the area beforehand, Nima did not see anything considered much of a threat, but there was still the possibility of one existing. Returning to her ship with time to spare, Nima pulled out her lightsaber to start some training. She would work on the Heima Lachna techniques taught to her by her father. It was always a breeze to go through the motions, but utilizing the more advanced forms was difficult to pull off in actual combat. Unfortunately, Nima has never faced an opponent skilled enough to even attempt the advanced forms.

Three more days would pass with Nima waiting on Endor. Calculating in her head, Nima assumed that the Jedi base was somewhere close to Mandalore - which was on the opposite side of the galaxy from Endor. However, there was also the possibility of their ship having a poor hyperdrive system. Nima would simply wait, spending her time training and scouting. She didn't mind it; the trip was almost like a vacation for her despite still being job-related. She would definitely need some more help getting past a certain individual, although she did have a backup plan.

@Catbert

 

[Lani Tallis]

The delta-wing Jedi shuttle flew over the canopy towards the mountain. Hovering above the clearing for a moment, it touched down. The engines still hummed, blowing the wind that kicked the grass to the ground. They would shut down soon, but not before the passenger would step down the ramp.

The Zeltron who showed up looked almost the same as on Coruscant. The most notable difference was the lack of a fancy leather jacket. Instead, Lani had gone with a more practical light-brown poncho. Cortosis gauntlets were the only armor she'd chosen. As for the weapons, Galania came prepared: a half of Kori's split-saber clipped to the utility belt; and an M3 Stun Pistol in the holster on the right hip.

"Hello there," Galania would greet the fellow Zeltron after the engines stopped roaring. There was a certain degree of hesitation on Lani's part. She still didn't know what to make of that Zeltron. Lani's friends might've been reluctant too. But the young Zeltron was feeling a hunch. It was one of those hunches that had made Galania travel to the Jedi Order in the first place... Or to trust Drastus and Xiann with the Coruscant escapade so quickly. All of that was working out, and the stranger's remarks on Coruscant also helped.

Besides, if the woman didn't go back on her word, Lani could get some outside help in tracking down Kori. Galania could only disappear so often while training to become a Jedi.

Spoiler: OOC

@sayso
Also tagging @Rhogar and @Xian, who could occupy the remaining 2 seats on the shuttle.

 

[Xiann]

Xiann placed her blasters in their holsters on each of her thighs, before standing up from the crate she was sat on and making her way to the main door. She pulled on her jacket and gloves, tugging them into the proper place just as the ramp descended to the ground and Lani led the way down. The vibroblade rattling slightly in the holster designed for her wrench on the back of her belt. Her hand glided around her trousers as a last check she had her security spikes with her. She would rather have them and not need them than need them and not have them.

The Twi’lek looked around and saw trees. “Are we always going to be in forests? Was the Cityscape of Coruscant just a one off? A girl likes variety in dating locations, you know.” Her now trademark smirk on her lips as she noticed another person. Presumably the person they were here to meet, and another zeltron no less.

She walked up to and around the new Zeltron and looked her up and down, “Are all zeltrons this cute, or are you two just a happy coincidence?” Xiann came to a stop in front of Nima and looked her in the eyes. She squinted slightly before her sultry grin twisted into something far more sinister, “Perhaps I should have borrowed Rusty’s Rifle for this Op, hmm?” The grin returned back to it’s sultry form before the Twi’lek turned and walked back to her friend’s side.

@sayso @Catbert @Rhogar

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Everything hurt. Sitting, walking, kark, even standing. It hadn't been long after he returned from Onderon, personally causing the longer delay in the time it took for Lani to meet up with this other Zeltron. He had asked her to wait for him and she did. He was still in recovery, but the idleness was driving him crazy, as well as the doting from his Master. But it would be a lie if knowing she cared that much didn't humble him.

Sliding from the pilots seat, he'd pull on the finishing touches of his combat armor, before descending the ramp. Though he had a saber, he still needed to purify the crystal, and therefore, had left it back on Yavin. With him, were his beskad and his blaster. When he spoke, his voice was modulated by the speakers in the helm. "Don't worry, Xiann, after this I'll make sure we go to a city and cut loose. That is, if you promise to hold your drink better." he said teasingly with an audible grin.

Before them now lie the woman associated with the Pyke's. And to make things worse, she was likely preying upon Lani's naivety and desperation to further her own goals. The girl wanted to expand on her lightsaber and use them as additional aid for retrieving the crystal, all for the promise of 'information'. He found anything she knew or the lady on Onderon to be very unhelpful in their search for Kori. Truthfully, their best bet was Corran in his mind, but if Lani wanted to be foolish, he wouldn't let her get burned on her own. He made sure to note everything about the exchange, they were enhancing an agent of the Pykes, the very gang that had crippled whole systems through the drugs they peddled, the thought made him sick to his stomach, something he was sure Lani could feel given their connection to each other. He knew what he had to do, he just had to bide his time for the when.

@Catbert @sayso @Xian

 

[Nima Deleste]

.

While the giant shuttle was landing, Nima stood up to greet the Zeltron, but she had a feeling she didn't come alone. Nima was fine with it, considering the Jedi seemed to be a novice. As the ramp fell, she nodded toward the fellow Zeltron, and then rested her eyes upon the Twi-lek. "So this is the other force user..." She didn't appear to be much, Nima started to question if the two would even be helpful anymore. Nima stared straight into the Twi-lek's eyes as she got closer, "This one is less serious than other Jedi tend to be" she thought again.

As the Twi-lek turned around, another figure came down from the ramp. They dawned what appeared to be Mandalorian armor. Nima thought it was strange that a Mandalorian would be traveling with two Jedis, but she understood what was happening once the armored man turned towards her. This one was the other Jedi. His emotions were leaking out with disgust for Nima; she was used to it from the Jedi. Nima could tell both from the force and her instincts as a Zeltron. The Jedi despised everyone who didn't believe in their order and were quick to cut them down; Nima would have to continue with caution, although she felt confident she could take the three on by her own. Turning her head toward the other Zeltron, Nima spoke out with her soft voice "Does your friend not know I am a force user? It isn't very Jedi-like to be hateful."

Turning towards her own ship, Nima used both hands to grip a large crate with the force, and pulled it out. Setting it next to her, Nima turned towards the others "Explosives. It is our back up plan for a problem we are going to face." She then would point towards the other Zeltron and then the armored man "You two will be carrying the crate to our destination." Nima then pulled a bag out of her ship with the force; she reached in to pull out 4 glowrods and tossed one to the three strangers. Nima turned on her glow rod, and ignited her lightsaber, displaying the two towards the three strangers. "The sun crystals react to light very harshly, causing their own bright light which can blind you if you look at it long enough. The glow from a lightsaber is strong enough to cause that to happen." The glowrod in her left hand was already brighter than her lightsaber, but with a flick of a switch the glowrod immediately dimmed down to the point it seemed to be off. "Each glowrod is custom made to dim down a lot, that way the sun crystal won't blind us." Nima turned off both her lightsaber and her glowrod, placing the rod in her side pouch and concealing her lightsaber. "Any questions?"

@Rhogar @Catbert @Xian

 

[Lani Tallis]

Of course Lani wasn't alone. Drast and Xi were eager to go with the Padawan aboard the Long Shot. The mission did match the shuttle's name: the Zeltron merc who had invited them there definitely had her own agenda. Drast tried to hide his thoughts on the whole arrangement, but Galania could sense the doubts literally radiating from him as the trio traveled to Endor.

As soon as they left the ship, Xi became her usual playful self; even going as far as to flirt with their... was employer the right word? "I'll hold you to that," Galania smirked to Drast's promise of going to a city planet again: "Or maybe a desert... Or a beach. I think I might like the sand. Warm, soft, soothing..." As the Twi'lek made her way back—her flirtation met with complete disregard by the other Zeltron—Lani simply shrugged. Their contact was all business, and the Padawan could work with that.

There was definitely something going on between Drast and that other Zeltron though. If Lani could sense her fellow Padawan's doubts about the whole setup, then the other Zeltron probably could too. The stranger even dropped a remark about it. But all it evoked was a quick glance from Lani at her friend. There was no reproach, no question, nothing at all. Galania simply noted the mutual mistrust between Drast and the stranger. Silence was a valid option here. If it was all business, it could work both ways.

Lani let the stranger prep the equipment and talk the trio through the plan. The only thing she did was catch the glowrod meant for her and adjust it as Nima did. Then she'd clip it to the utility belt and head towards the crate they were meant to carry. Drast was the best candidate; but he'd need help, and it was Lani's job. "What's that 'problem' we're going to face?" Galania asked rather matter-of-factly, her hand on the crate already.

@Rhogar @Xian @sayso

 

[Xiann]

Xiann beamed her smile at Lani as she made suggestions, “The beach sounds lovely. Let’s go there next time. And I can hold my drink just fine when it doesn’t taste like colling plasma.” She chuckled lightly at the voice coming from Drast’s helmet, still not entirely used to it.

The trio’s employer spoke up, mentioning explosive being a solution to a problem. Along with some sort of crystals blinding you if you shone light on them. The Twi’leks smile and flirtatious tone vanished and became more serious, perhaps a little exasperated, “Not Jedi like? What exactly were you expecting when you hired a trio of Force users for a clearly criminal op? If you’d have mentioned we’d be stomping through a dark cave, we could have brought dark vision gear. And what kind of problem requires explosives in a cave? There seems to be a few details you seem to have left out from telling us, that lead me to think you have no idea what you’re doing.”

Xiann’s voice lost all emotion and came out very matter-of-factly, “If either of my friends get hurt because of your inadequacy not even the almighty Force will be able to protect you.” She glanced down as she clipped the glowrod to her belt and when she raised her head her trademark smile had returned as she looked towards Drast and gestured to the crate, “Ready to go Shiny?”

@Rhogar @Catbert @sayso

 

[Drastus Drahr]

"Beach it is." Drast would agree. Yeah, the jury's still out on your drinking, Xi." he teased. He would begin to laugh as Nima thought she was calling him out, something that he would reign in until she finished her 'plan', his gaze drifting to his companions some before focusing back on her.

"Okay, Hunter. So let's aire this out since it's either a reflection of your inexperience or immaturity. I don't need to like you, nor respect you to be here for her. I was willing to play nice, but you need to have some big truth moments." he'd nod to Lana. "That said, my hate for you stems from who you work for. Many work for the Pykes out of fear of their life, you do it for greed. That makes you worse then them. I could care less if you were bound to the Order, and I belonged to the streets far longer than I rocked with the Jedi. Not to mention, you played all your cards on Coruscant. We don't need you as you have nothing to offer, you however, need us to help you do this op. Why else would you ask us to help instead of paying you for information? Not to mention, you need -us- for the lightsaber hilt. So that's two needs right there. All you're bringing to the table right now is the chance to talk to some woman who won't even likely know osik about Kori. We can leave right now and we have more trustworthy leads we can follow, that leaves you with nothing but a crate of explosives. And like my friend here has said, if anything happens to them, you won't leave this rock. So, now that we have the understanding of how this op goes relies on the three of us, share everything you know about this or we walk. Simple as that." his gaze shifted to Xiann. "Now I'm ready, Perky."

@Catbert @Xian @sayso

 

[Nima Deleste]

.

The outbursts from both the Twi'lek and the Armored man was somewhat expected, but their words were exactly that which they despised. They fitted the entire stereotype and perception she had of the Jedi, they were no different. Nima's blank emotionless expression that she always kept was gone and turned to a twisted smile as she left out a cynical laugh; it was like her personality had completely switched. She would speak out, her voice having emotion in it for the first time: "Both of you are complete fools, the very people that swear to protect the galaxy!" she'd continue to laugh before continuing "How stupid are you two? Criminal op? This job is literally to find a stupid rock in a cave for a rich person because they think it would look nice." She would turn her head towards the armored man "and you, everything you just said shows just how much of a failure the Jedi are." She would laugh again, this time louder and more wicked "You think I need a group of idiots to collect a rock?" She'd point to her own head while continuing to mock the armored man "How does your brain even function?"

Pointing to the other Zeltron, Nima would continue speaking; "Wanna know why I'm letting useless hypocrites like you come? Because I was interested in helping this girl find her sister; I could have charged credits, but I know she wouldn't be able to afford my price. Do you think I need the lightsaber hilt? I want it to add to my trophy collection since it looks cool." Nima's voice would suddenly shift to a harsher more angrier tone as she continued with her rant: "This is why you guys are the scum of the galaxy. You have no understanding of life; someone offers help, but because they don't believe in your views you view them hatefully. I thought hate was the emotions for a sith." Nima's voice continued to get louder, being amplified by her emotions and the force to the point it boomed through the whole forest "MY FATHER WAS ASTROCIZED BECAUSE OF YOU PEOPLE. THE SMARTEST, BEST, AND MOST CARING PERSON IN THE GALAXY WAS BETRAYED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE FOR REALIZING AND POINTING OUT THEIR FLAWS!" Nima took a deep inhale before letting out another scream, one loud enough to shake the ground below them "YOU BASTARDS!"

As the echoes of her booming voice became quieter and quieter, Nima took the moment to catch her composure. She looked down at the ground for a moment, breathing heavily, before looking back up the three with her usual blank expression. "If I wanted that Zeltron's saber or money, her head would have been removed from her body at the club. I waste my own time to try and help, and this is how I'm treated." She looked towards the Twi'lek and the armored man "I have gone toe-to-toe against a Jedi master. You think if I wanted to kill you three I would need to set a trap?" She turned towards the Zeltron "I don't know what it is like to have a sister, but if my parents were missing I would have the same determination as you. I am willing to share information, and even fight alongside if need be." She pointed to the Twi'lek and armored man "However, I want those two to shut their mouths."

@Catbert @Rhogar @Xian

 

[Lani Tallis]

Emotions were like a string. A string in the fresh air of the forest moon. It was being stretched long before Lani set foot on Endor. But now, when Lani's two friends met her latest acquaintance, the string was stretched harder than ever. The emotions boiling coldly between Drast, Xi, and that other Zeltron made that imaginary string screech with metallic undertones. The pitch got higher and higher as Xi and Drast made their points... Their concern for Lani and each other was the only relief, but it was a moment of uneasy calm before the storm.

And then it happened. Suddenly, the emotional string whined again, engulfing everything in Lani's head. She could sense everything: Xi's exasperation, Drast's hate, the mistrust they shared. The other Zeltron responded in kind on the emotional level. As ever, Galania sensed both angles, amplified. Words were exchange, but they didn't help to blow off steam. It kept building up, until the high-pitched hum of that stretched string was nigh-unbearable.

As Nima snapped, so did the blasted string. Lani fell on her knees: teeth clenched, eyes shut, and palms clenching around her temples. Emotions were coiling inside the young Zeltron just as strong as they were expressed outside. Feeling them through her own empathy and the Force for the first time was nigh-unbearable. Experiencing something as raw as Nima's feelingss added to the prejudice of her friends made it all go over the top. For a few moments, Galania's face remained frozen in a silent scream.

When the other Zeltron was done with her outburst, Lani was on her fours, trying to catch her breath and get up. "I'd appreciate..." she mumbled as stood up shakily, waving her hands a little to find a semblance of balance. "... if we could just get on with it and avoid finger-pointing." With a few more moment, Galania would stand somewhat firmly. "Sorry, got a little dizzy there for a moment. Should be fine now."

@Rhogar @Xian @sayso

 

[Xiann]

Xiann’s smile rapidly vanished from her face when their employer decided to have a tantrum. She stood watching this child whine about her father being ostracized. Was that all? He was shunned? Not killed, tortured, missing or even actually punished in anyway? Before the Twi’lek had chance to point out the girls hypocrisy, her own Zeltron keeled over.

She quickly stepped over to help Lani back to her feet. Did that tantrum do this to her? Maybe. Xiann felt a burning rage start to well up inside her, but she was on the job and couldn’t afford an outburst. She suppressed the rage and locked it away to be dealt with later, turning to her stone cold professional self.

She straightened up and looked back to Nima, “What a lovely story, Princess.” Her voice was cold, monotone and completely lacking any emotion. The Twi’lek had locked it all behind her professionalism, “But I don’t care about your backstory.” She gestured to her friends, “They don’t care about your backstory. This isn’t some monthly holonovel, it’s a job. So nobody cares about you or your backstory. How about you pack all that inexperience, unprofessionalism, emotion and sheer unadulterated arrogance and put it back on your ship. We don’t need all that extra baggage slowing us down. Especially after you just announced us to everyone from here to Corruscant.”

Xiann turned and tapped the box of explosives with her foot lightly, “Drastus, when she’s finished throwing her toys out of the cot, grab the box and we can get going. We have a job to do.” She figured the man could do the same as her with his thoughts and feelings thanks to his Mandalorian background. A job was a job, regardless of the employer.

@Rhogar @Catbert @sayso

 

[Drastus Drahr]

The outburst from Nima would pull another laugh from him, which he quickly pulled back. "See? I rest my case. You brought something out, I responded to it, which you wanted. And then ya threw a tantrum, the most embarrassing of tantrums, Princess." he was going to say something when his Zeltron doubled over and like Xi, he moved to her side to grab ahold of her and haul her to her feet.

"You okay, Lani?" he asked, allowing his emotions to shift from disgust and disdain for Nima to near worry and care for Lani. He hoped the shift would help her recover on a deeper level then just rising to her feet.

His visor would shift back Nima. "What she said, I'm not in the business of life stories. If you can't handle responses to questions, I suggest ya keep anymore to yourself. Helping is something selfless, which you aren't doing. This is a business transaction, nothing more. An exchange of goods. If you truly wanted to help her find her sister you would have either passed on information or set up a meet. Instead, you're preying on her desperation, it's what scum do." there was no emotion tied to his voice, only fact. "We're helping her, we expect nothing in return. But now that you've alerted the planet to our presence with your hissy fit, we may as well get a move on. I'd hate for you to get killed by a bear mid foot stomp."

@sayso @Catbert @Xian

 

[Nima Deleste]

.

Jedi dogs were all the same again, angry when others oppose their view. Nima looked towards both the Twi'lek and armored man "How hypocritical, of two people full of bad emotions before I ever said a word, can label someone else as scum and unprofessional. Not only that, two people at the bottom of the order." She turned toward the Zeltron "Hey," she called out to the girl "sorry for a moment. However, do you think it's strange how the Jedi Order was never once able to help you find your sister; not a master, Jedi Knight, or anything almost as if the order didn't want you to find your sister, just a thought for now, but if you are ok I will continue."

Nima was back in the composed state she was used to, and if the other two wanted to continue letting their emotions swell up inside for her friend to suffer on then so be it. The twi'lek didn't seem to be force sensitive, so she would have no idea anyways. The man didn't carry a lightsaber and seemed more of a random thug than a Jedi, so he was obviously new to the order. It didn't matter though, their random hatred wouldn't allow them to even attempt to understand the others. A lot of Jedi were like that, and it's why their order fell hundreds of years ago. Nima pointed out in the distance behind the group, "If I explained what the problem was, none of you would believe me, especially the two who are still swelling with anger and hatred right now. In that direction, there is a deep cavern that contains Sun Crystals, although we have to travel deep into the cavern."

Moving her arm towards her side, Nima then lifted up the crate with the force and hurled it towards the armored man, testing to see if he will catch it; The crate weighed around 50-60 pounds. "The Zeltron needs to rest a bit more, for now, so you will carry it by yourself." There was a path that led towards the Cavern entrance, and Nima, if uninterrupted, would walk past the whole group and start heading for the cavern.

@Catbert @Rhogar @Xian

 

[Lani Tallis]

There was a silver lining to Lani's meltdown: the others stopped yelling at each other and gathered by her size. Xi, Drast, and even the other Zeltron stopped their bickering and threats of murder for a moment. Of course, they still traded insults and prejudice, but it was nowhere near the outburst that had caused Lani so much headache.

"Thanks... I'll be fine, I think," Galania was now standing again, with the help of her friends. The other Zeltron's words about the Jedi were troubling, even if they didn't quite hit home. After all, Lani hadn't really asked anyone in the Order for help, having just arrived there... Apart from Drastus and Xiann, who were asked for help not because of their history with the Order, but rather because of their history with Lani. Still, one couldn't fully escape the doubts.

Arguing with that Zeltron for the explanation of the problem didn't seem productive. So Galania just shrugged and prepared to follow. But then she sensed the Force coil around the stranger and caught a glimpse of the box moving towards Drastus. Instinctively, the Zeltron's right hand sprang up, her will focusing on the box. The box flying towards Drastus would hover in the air, rather than hitting him at full speed or making him catch it.

"Yeah, let's just keep going. I'll be fine in a few." Lani hoped there would be no more quarrels, yearning for a few minutes of peace... Was 5 minutes too much to ask?

@Rhogar @Xian @sayso

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Full of bad emotions? Not likely, any disdain he had for the Zeltron immediately turned into pity after her outburst. She was a child trying to play in a criminal's world. He actually couldn't believe she had lasted this long. "Technically the whole scum and unprofessional came after you spoke. So, maybe try to have accurate points when you're trying to argue? Food for thought. And as a bottom feeder, I must be doing something right, if I haven't gotten kicked out like your dad, yet." he'd say nonchalantly, with a shrug. There was no malice in his voice, nor in his emotions. She wasn't worth any of it.

"We might actually believe you, because it would be the only worthwhile thing you've said so far. As of now, you've just been wasting our time. " once again that emotionless and matter of fact tone. "Also, as someone who is prejudiced against something they never lived in, and are only going off the words of someone kicked out from it, maybe the issue with you is that you kill for a Syndicate that pumps spice into communities to get kids addicted.. Which, makes you evil. I can speak on what you do, because I lived that life and got out. And if your dad was a Master and he's the one you're talking about, sparring isn't a real fight. So pump the brakes there, Princess."

He would glance at Lani, relieved that she was a little more peppy. Then he saw the crate. "More tantrum." he mused, his hand lifting as Lani's did as he called on the Force to stop the crate. "There we go, let's finally start moving."

He would then catch Lani's attention and he would allow his emotions of hope to flow from him and into Lani. "I can carry this without the Force, no need to waste your energy now, yeah? And, ignore her. The Temple will likely organize something to find her."

@Catbert @Xian @sayso

 

[Xiann]

Xiann let out a sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose as the explosive crate started flying around. She looked back over at their employer, “Once you’re quite done trying to get us all killed and generally making this job as hard as possible, you are the only one who knows where we are going. So would you get off your high bantha and get a move on. Or if not, we can get back on our ship and you can go do it yourself without ‘a group of idiots’ tagging along.” She turned and gestured to try and get the Zeltron to start walking.

 

[Nima Deleste]

.

Nima ignored the armored man and the Twi'lek as she walked by them. They wouldn't understand, nor bother to give Nima the time of day anyways. "Their time will come anyways.." Nima thought to herself, remembering how anti-Jedi propaganda has been on the rise. For now, the other Zeltron was fine so the mission should go smoothly, as long as the other two did not try to pull anything slick. Nima had a small bit of trust in the Zeltron, although minor, compared to the other two. Due to Nima attempting to help her, the Zeltron's attitude overall, and their connection via species. The armored was especially a troublesome one. An idiot, and definitely a hard-headed one at that. Nima could tell how heavily indoctrinated he was in the order, if anything he should be commended on his ability to speak like a Jedi Master; as in, poorly.

It would take roughly 10 minutes to arrive at their destination. The three strangers would be able to speak to each other in that time frame, but Nima would ignore any questions or remarks. She knew they would have infinite questions, and would only accept answers they wanted to hear. It was best for them to just see everything lay out before them.

Eventually, Nima would stop about 30 meters away from a massive cliffside. It would appear to be a completely normal cliffside for the others, but Nima already knew what to do. She lifted a small rock, around 5 inches in diameter, with the force and hurled it straight into the cliffside. Nothing happened at first, and pretty soon a large opening, which revealed a very long dark cavern, would be made with two holes above; it would appear to be a face. The eyes of this 'cliffside-face' would blink a few times, before speaking in a deep but soft tone "The pink one is back again, this time with three new friends. As said before my domain is blocked, but with 3 correct answers, it shall be unlocked. Three riddles which I will ask but beware very few have passed."

Nima turned her heard towards the other three "This is the problem that I was tal-" she would be cutoff as the face started with its first riddle "You saw me where I could not be. Yet often you see me. What am I?" Nima turned around to face the strangers "Whatever this being is will close his mouth shut to us forever until we get his riddles correct. The explosives were to force him open, but since you are Jedi I realize you would not be fond of the idea. You three can try the riddles if you wish, but once you fail I'm using the explosives" Nima paused for the moment, thinking about the last sentence she said; "Did I just start rhyming because of this stupid mountain??" she turned around to face the being again a little frustrated. However, she would let the other three attempt his riddles before doing anything. "Also you can't use the force to open up his mouth, he seems to be invulnerable to it. When he closes his mouth the cavern is still there, it is his throat." Nima wondered how such a being existed, was it a creation of the force? Were there more talking rock faces like this in the galaxy? Nima wondered if they all house a special artifact or mineral.

@Catbert @Rhogar @Xian

 

[Lani Tallis]

Instead of 5 minutes of silence, Galania got 10. A walk through the forest, in silence, without lugging anything heavy? Compared to what had just transpired, it was a breeze. The only detractor was the tension between Lani's friends and their new acquaintance. But with the blissful silence (or at least the lack of heated yelling). Before Endor, the Zeltron hadn't appreciated such a simple thing.

It was at the cliff-side where Lani had forgotten all about the outburst. Seeing a rock talk to her like a face?! For a moment, Lani tried to think back to what she ate or drank in the morning, and whether or not Drast or Xi had spiked it. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing? And hearing too?" But shaking her head and blinking didn't help. The giant rock was still talking to them, and even gave them a riddle?! Lani's reaction was one thought: "Kark me if I know!"

As the Zeltron explained the predicament and the role of the explosives, Lani had to agree. Blowing up someone's "face" wasn't the most Jedi thing to do. Suddenly, it made more sense why their "employer" wanted the Jedi involved. Perhaps, for all her merc facade and the threats, there was more to the woman. But the riddle itself was a challenge.

"Seeing something where something can't be. And often enough." Possible answers rushed through Lani's mind. Few were worth mentioning. Time? Clock could show it, people saw it often, but the time wasn't technically there in the clock... Or was it? Somehow, Lani felt that it was too convoluted. A shadow? No, a shadow could and should be where it is... But... "Mirror..." she mumbled. "What you see in the mirror isn't there. And yet you see a mirror and what's in it often enough."

Lani found herself sitting on the crate that Drast would've brought, as she raised her voice: "It's a reflection!"

@Rhogar @Xian @sayso

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drast had seen some weird osik in his time with the Jedi. Master Zurast was a nerd and now his new Master was a nerd. Maybe that was just the resting state for Jedi? Kriff, would he become a nerd? He hoped not. Anyways, when the cavern 'face' started speaking he just sighed immensely internally. Force Osik. He'd think to himself.

Drastus, language. he would smile beneath his helm as he hurt the chiding of Master Zurast.

Then it posed a riddle. More nerd osik. They would have to answer the riddles because using explosives in a -cavern- was never a good idea. As he started to set the crate down, he'd suddenly find it much heavier as Lani jumped up to sit on it before it ever touched the ground. There was a slight curse, internally of course, though he managed to lift her and the crate long enough to set it down. He half expected Xiann to be riding on his shoulders or clinging to his back. "Next time Lani just sit on the crate the whole time or my shoulders, yeah?" he said with an audible grin or a teasing tone.

Rolling his shoulders, he'd give the cavern a real looksie. He would mentally mark the place on a map and maybe return with Master Sati. She would definitely enjoy this place.

@Catbert @Xian @sayso

 

[Xiann]

Xiann recoiled slightly as the cliff became a giant face. Of all the things she had expected to see in her travels, a cliff-face was not one of them. She was even more mortified when it started speaking, it was uncanny and extraordinarily creepy. The fact it seemed to speak in rhyme only added extra shudders down her spine.

She took a deep breath and let out a sigh as she sat on the crate next to Lani, “No no. This is your mission Princess. We’ll do it you way before we resort to our way.” She gestured clearly placing Nima and Lani in the first group and herself and Drast in the latter. “But To be honest riddles never really were my strong suit. So it’s all on you Galania.” She nudged Lani slightly.

Xiann was actually surprised when Lani did come up with an answer. “What?” The Twi’lek pondered and even though she knew the answer she still couldn’t see the link. “You sure? Or do you just want to see fireworks?”

@sayso @Catbert @Rhogar