Open Serenno The Culling

[Darth Raze]

“Then why do you fail to take over her mind?” He said almost dismissively to the spirit. He knew what he was, and he knew the ways he could bend people and things to his will. A spirit like her, while curious, was still incapable of fully consuming her host. Why? Sybella was no Jedi Master, no Councilor, why could she best an ancient entity such as the one that resided in her mind? Sybella did not create her, so there was no inherent weakness or symbiotic need to co-exist like was the case with Raze and Emryc.

Nevertheless, externally he remained quiet, Sybella putting herself on the defense on his behalf. The gesture was what humans would call ‘touching’ and he stood in silence for a few moments. The fact that Sybella managed to resist the spirit still drew his curiosity. He regarded her for a moment, his hand reaching towards her. So easy it would be to snap her neck, to choke her and discard her. His fingers itched for it, to wrap around that beautiful, delicate neck and watch life fade from her eyes. Because it meant the extinction of Demici’s direct heir and the extermination of yet another petulant Jedi. The fact that she would be delicious was just cherry on top.

In the end, his thumb brushed away the blood, his digit cool against her warm skin, “I believe you, Sybella,” He said with a nod, his expression genuine, “But no one else will. You can run or you can tap into the powers you know. Remember, they are a part of you. They are your birthright. You did not ask to have them, they came to you, they chose you. You can use them to clear your name.”

He could teleport out easily enough, but he wanted to observe her in action. He drew back from her, gazing ahead right as the Rangers would arrive on the scene.

@HoneyMagpie @Raydo @GABA

 

[Nick Shaw]

Nick and his fellow rangers made their way into the group of people as they set up securing the area and isolating potential witnesses.

He found the clearing with a familiar face, a Jedi he had once run into on a case a few months back. His hand went to his blaster as he leaned over. "She's a Jedi.." he whispered in the ranger's ear next to him. She had saved his ass back then but was now the suspect in a murder. He had previously dealt with wayward force users; this was just another reminder that they couldn't be trusted.

"Sy...Lady Demici..." he said, approaching her as she sat alone, his hand on his blaster. "I am going to need you to slowly put your lightsaber on the ground." he said, his voice calm but his tone clear. He doubted she would be caught without the weapon, Jedi rarely left their lightsabers behind. "Don't do anything we'll both regret..." he warned, his blaster sliding out of its holster.

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[Sybella Demici]

Lujayn visibly bristled at the Anzat's mental remarks. Wisely, however, she said nothing in reply. He was right, after all. The spectre had failed to circumvent her Jedi descendant. Though she would never admit it aloud, the entire process was turning into a bit of a fiasco; Sybella, it seemed, was more stubborn than most gave credit for. There had been times, brief moments of possession, yet somehow the knight continued to defy her; whether through the intervention of others or through pure obstinance, Sybella had always managed to wrestle back control. Had the Demici ancestor underestimated her kin? She had belittled the young woman so often, all in an attempt to chip away at that steadfast fortitude of hers- had she negated to acknowledge her host's true potential? Something to ponder later. For now, the phantom faded from view, much to the relief of Sybella.

Alistair's words were also a comfort, though the implications behind them weighed heavy. His cold touch felt almost sharp against her feverish skin; instinctively, her own hands reached to envelop his grip - till she noticed the stray bloodlets of blood. From the slaying of the first wolf? Force, she hoped so.

Not wanting to stain the Anzat with her own sullied grip, Sybella stepped away; she looked at the approaching rangers almost ruefully. The sight of @Nick Shaw should be a comfort - yet it wasn't, especially if the Jedi managed to steel her intent.

Closing her eyes, the knight exhaled a shaky breath. With her hands extended out, she made it clear she would comply with the first set of instructions. Ever so slowly, from the belt about her waist, she retrieved the hilts of her sabers and placed them out of reach upon the ground.

"Lieutenant, I fear it's already too late..." Looking behind her, Sybella's ombre eyes winced once more. Her lips also thinned as she tried to keep herself composed. "I... had to do it. Those men tried to attack me and planned on using this hunt as a cover for my untimely demise. Of that, I am most certain." Bile sat at the back of Sybella's throat. Not at the disgust of her own deceit, but at the fact how convincing her voice seemed to sound. She did, after all, believe foul play was afoot.

Fresh tears threatened to spill, and looking at Nick, she lamented aloud, "My mother. I believe they have already slain my poor mother. Do you have news? Where is she?"

Though it had not been Sybella's intent, she allowed her bitter symphony of emotions to bleed forth. Sorrowful tendrils extended forth, as did her impassioned conviction. "It's a plot, Nick." Stepping closer, her voice became hushed, as though she feared perpetrators were still within distance. "My family's rivals have tried today to unseat us. Our position is weak-" thanks to her own dalliance of duties "- so they've tried to extinguish the House of Demici - for good!"

Flickers of wrath tried to surface, but mournful guilt instead became evident. "This is all my fault." She finally admitted, "If I hadn't been so selfish. Becoming a Jedi has driven my family to near enough ruins. I wanted to be a hero and instead, I've become nothing more than a pariah. My hope of trying to help others has instead doomed the ones I love most..."

Shaking her head, Sybella couldn't help but smile cynically at the irony of it all. It wasn't fair. After everything she had done, after all the sacrifice - this was how she was repaid? In trying to do good, she enacted the most harm on those she cared for and loved. With a pained exhale, she looked once more at Nick, almost willing him to believe in that which spoke. "These other nobles. They are the culprits in all this; they want me to disappear because they know it means the end for my family. I have no husband, no children to whom can inherit..."

The was a measure of weight within Sybella's words; the Force itself seem to come to aid, bringing forth both a feeling of influence and validity. It achieved a compulsion of the mind even she did not mean to muster. "Don't let them do this to me, Nick. Don't let them hurt me and my family."

@GABA @Sreeya @Raydo

 

[Nick Shaw]

He watched her slowly comply, putting the lightsabers out of reach on the ground. He nodded to the other Ranger that had accompanied him; she stepped forward and picked up the sabers with gloved hands stowing them away as evidence.

She began speaking almost immediately, an act Nick made no effort to stop her. He instead listened as she told him she had been the victim of an attack, her and her mother both. He would look into the fate of Sybella's mother after this interview, but for now, his focus was on her. She looked on the edge of breaking, tears touching the corner of her eyes. Was that guilt? Sorrow? Regret?

She took a step forward, and his blaster's hand twitched as he gave her a warning look. He knew enough about Jedi to know that even disarmed, they were far from harmless.

Nick noticed the slight smile on Sybella's face, her mood running the entire gambit in their brief exchange. Was it all fake? He had seen people break in these situations, exhibiting all manner of odd emotions. Still, he stood quietly, letting her continue. When she finally finished, Nick finally replied simply.

"Do you have proof of these claims?" he asked quietly. Without evidence or at least someone to back up her story, it didn't look good for the Jedi.

Meanwhile, other Rangers would be gathering statements from the other witnesses and participants.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Darth Tiamat]

"Please, I just want to leave this place," Tiamat told the medic helping her.

"You will ma'am, but don't worry, you're safe now." he said, taking another reading of her vitals. The woman sat quietly, concern bristled throughout her body, ready to react in a moments notice of any danger. She saw the Rangers had arrived and she tried to take a deep breath, but allowed unease crawl through her gut as she waited to see what the Jedi woman would do. Would she be just as reactive as she was earlier? Would this be the icing to complete her day of massacre, one could only wish.

Another ranger approached the redhaired woman, he was an older man, his experience showed with the lines in his forehead and the bags under his eyes. He looked entirely unamused by the situation, "Hi Ma'am, I am Ranger Briscoe, I would like to get a statement from you. Can you tell me what happened."

Tiamat took a deep breath, her brow furrowed in concern, "We were meeting up with the others, someone signaled with the horn that the wolves were found. However, when we got there, there was something wrong, something with that woman," Tiamat pointed to Syb who was talking to Ranger Shaw; the detective looked over and took some notes on his holopad, "she was covered in blood, her eyes didn't seem real, like demon eyes, it was...like something from a holo-horror, and the other hunters seemed angry with her, they were yelling that she endangered the hunt. I didn't know what to do, there were wolves, but..." Tiamat paused, took a deep breath before rubbing her face with her palm, "But its hard,"

"What's hard ma'am? Try to describe what you remembered happening."

"It got suddenly so dark, I couldn't see, she must of used magic! She has light swords like those Force things and we couldn't see, I can't see, I didn't know where to go, where to turn, but I saw the light swords and heard the screaming. Everyone was screaming, and the smell, I can't forget that smell, like metal..." Tiamat shook her head in disbelief. "I fell to the ground, someone had pulled me over, and I just prayed and prayed for it to stop, to be over. It felt like hours, and when I could finally see, I saw so many people dead, everyone just laid there, some were missing limbs, parts were cut open..." Tiamat paused, seeming engulfed in the trauma, "And then she was standing there! The Demici woman! She killed them, all of them! I thought she was going to kill me and him next and I begged for my life..." Tia gasped, "Please do something, I don't want to be here when she is still out there. She needs to be arrested! She is dangerous, a killer, she has to be locked away to protect everyone!" Tiamat pleaded with the ranger. He wrote a few more things, his face unmoving, stoic, showing the years in his profession before he tucked away his notes.

"Understandable ma'am, we'll get you to the hospital when we have the clear from my Lieutenant." he said walking away from Tiamat and head over to Nick with the witness statement.

@HoneyMagpie @Raydo @Sreeya

 

[Darth Raze]

The Anzat was silent as he observed the exchange, feeling the brush of the Force as Sybella attempted to sway the Ranger’s mind. He had to keep from grinning. Even such a subtle gesture, with the intent - it was enough to push her into the dark side. Blaming everyone but herself, trying to save her own skin, all of these actions ensured her progress up the Jedi ladder effectively evaporated. Not that Darth Raze cared. He was concerned only with Demici going up in flames and that was happening before his eyes.

When one of the rangers questioned him, he gave his account, “Lady Demici was distraught on the barge,” He recalled, “She was distressed over the prospect no future for her house and the loss in standing and…threw herself from the barge,” It was all true and would be corroborated by other witnesses. However, it also lined up with Sybella’s own paranoia about her family name coming to shame.

It remained to be seen whether her efforts with the Force would work on the Ranger. In any case, the Anzat had little interest in associating with Demici much further. The name was tarnished and it was yet another hurdle out of his way.

@GABA @Raydo @HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

Nick question was a frustrating one. How could Sybella prove any of this? It was all made up from her own suspicion and paranoia. “Go talk to the other nobles, and just listen to what they have to say about myself and my family…”

The betrayal was so bitter. After everything her family had done for this planet…

Biting her inner cheek, Sybella kept her anger from surfacing. It would do her no good now - she needed to focus, to try and think through this mess. With that thought in mind, she closed her eyes and tried to recall the events leading up the massacre. She had blurted out her misgivings without actually walking the ranger through her perspective.

“This hunt is part of Serenno’s traditions. It was expected of me to attend.” In hindsight, she should have just refused. “I was the first to spot the wolves, so I sounded the horn. That’s when I sensed it, something wrong.”

It was such an awful feeling. Like a piece of her had been ripped apart. Even now, Sybella’s eyes drifted off to the side, in the direction of the barges. Still no word on the whereabouts of her mother; the very lack of information seemed to confirm the worst. Why was she wasting her time here when she should be brought immediately to her mother? Within her field of vision came Alistair, giving his account, and off further was a woman Sybella had still yet to recognise. Paramedics were tending to her, as was a ranger.

Unease sat in her stomach like a heavy stone, yet the Jedi continued to recollect what happened next. “A wolf charged at me and I fought back. Then…everyone was shouting at me.” Pinching her nose, she grimaced, still hearing their taunts. “Why were they shouting?”

The pieces were there, Sybella just couldn’t quite fit them in order. Steeling herself, she cast her eyes back over the scene. Wolves had been cut in twain, and with them, the hunters as well. Weapons were also within sight, some drawn and held at the ready (even if the grip that held them was now limp and lifeless). “More wolves came me. The other hunters had gotten them so riled with their shouting. Then it went dark, like…a smokescreen. Everything - everyone coming at me. They were closing in.”

She remembered now, once the proverbial fog had cleared, that some of the hunters had used and fired their weapons. At first, she thought it was at the wolves, but with the adrenaline now fading, Sybella became aware of a new pain now coming into blossom. She had been a target. In fact, during the massacre, she had wounded.

With her robes so thick (and already stained), it was hard to tell at first. Pressing one hand on her side and another on her leg, she padding the area until fresh agony surfaced. She hissed, almost collapsing but stubbornly remained standing, at least long enough to shed her robes. Littered across her body were a scattered array of wounds. One or two clearly belong to the beasts, but there was indeed some blatant attempts at slashes and stabs. A blaster bolt had been the worst however, singeing her side. The puncture of a pitchfork was a close second, however. Sybella must have acted unconsciously, using the Force to numb her pain - a bad habit she had developed over many missions.

Still bleeding, the Jedi looked once more at Nick, bearing her injured form. “Does this count as proof? Those men, the hunters…they tried to kill me.”

‘He doesn’t believe you. No one does…’

Visibly flinching, Sybella took a step back from Nick, her eyes darting about in an attempt to locate Lujayn. Why couldn’t she just stay quiet?

‘There is nothing left for you here. Run. While you still can…’

“Quiet…” Sybella muttered, “Just…be quiet.”

‘And leave the both of us to rot? Is that how you want to spend the rest of your life - in cage? The Jedi won’t save you but you knew that already, didn’t you? I said as much, not that you listened. You never listen.’

Heart thumping once again, Sybella tried to breathe through her rising anxiety. If she ran, she was as good as guilty. Yet, if she stayed, she risked the same judgement. “I don’t…want…I can’t…”

‘The choice is yours, child. It is for you to decide. Be selfish, for once in your life. Live for the sake of yourself, not for the good of others…’

When all went quiet yet again, Sybella found herself staring at Ranger Nick, wide eyed and drawn. “I…have to do this. For my own sake…Sorry. I’m so sorry…”

An explosive force of energy rippled forth, strong enough to send any in close proximity flying back, including the rangers that converged within the confines of the forest. They would be sent sprawling, including the one holding on her sabers. Calling them back into her grasp, Sybella looked at them before looking back at the rangers. They would give chase, pursue her if left as they are.

‘So, cripple them. Break them…’

Gnashing her teeth, Sybella stepped back. “Stop…telling me what to do!”

Activating her sabers, she slashed at nearby trees causing them to fall in tandem one after the other. The other blade, held at the ready, would batter away any blaster fire to follow. If the rangers were fast enough, they would avoid being completely crushed. For added measure, Sybella reached out to the earth itself, causing cracks to form; ground became uneven, making the prospects of pursuit more difficult. Not impossible though. As a final measure, Sybella cloaked herself in the Force, rendering herself near invisible from the naked eye. Waves of light warped in tandem with every movements, making her retreat concealed from basic view.

She needed to get away from Serenno. Away from everything. Away from the nobles and their treachery, as well as the Jedi and their constraints. Sybella ran, as fast as she could, ready to find the first transport she could that would lead off world.

 

[Nick Shaw]

Nick continued to listen as Sybella explained her story. A quiet voice spoke in his earpiece, letting him know that they had witness accounts enough to at least detain Sybella for the moment.

"We will get you checked..." he was cut off by her muttering. He clicked his blaster into its stun setting. "Lady Demici..." he asked as she continued to mutter; he took a step towards her, now pointing his blaster at her. "I am detaining you." he announced. "Get on the ground and keep your hands where I can see them." he threatened. She took a step back, and Nick step towards her again, keeping himself just outside of arm's reach. "Don't do this. I will shoot you." he said, face scanning for signs of movement of aggression, his finger on the trigger.

She looked at him and threatened him. He had been in the game long enough to know you didn't wait to be killed by these Force-fueled fanatics. Mid-threat, he lunged forward, hitting her in the side on her blaster wound with his free hand. At this same time, he put a point-blank stun bolt into her with his blaster. Either attack would surely be enough to break her concentration on the Force.

@HoneyMagpie @Sreeya @GABA

 

[Sybella Demici]

Sybella should have known better than to underestimate a ranger like Nick Shaw. She wouldn’t, however, do it a second time. Steeling her nerve, she decided to take the hit to her side; her cry of pain rang out sharply but she focused instead on gripping Nick’s other wrist, halting the direction the stun would fire in. Instead, the bolt went elsewhere and hit another ranger attempting to aid in Sybella’s detainment.

‘The pain. Use it.’

Not wishing to engage much in a battle of strength, the woman chose instead to rear her head back sharply. The (now disgraced) knight then brought it crashing forward; the hardest part of her forehead, still lined with the coins of her headdress, came smashing onto the bridge of the ranger’s nose. It wouldn’t be enough to knock the ranger out but it would certainly make his eyes water. With her remaining free hand, Sybella grabbed the ranger’s collar and hauled him over her shoulder down into one of the forest’s shallow embankments. Jedi might be trained in the Force and lightsabers, but hand to hand combat was also part of the fundamentals.

The other ranger, previously stunned, had her sabers. Staggering away from the edge of the ditch, Sybella dashed over and collected them from what would have been the evidence bag. Another volley of blasters came at her, forcing her jump back in order to avoid the direct hit. The movement agitated her around aggravated wound. Thanks to Nick’s hit, the injury had worsened, leading to a steady stream of blood.

‘Use. Your. PAIN’.

A bellow erupted from Sybella’s mouth. It was an anguished sound that rattled the trees and shook the knees of those nearby. It likened itself the sound of beast, refusing to be cornered. She didn’t want things to be like this; she didn’t want to hurt anyone else.

‘But they want to hurt you. Do you want that? They are insignificant when compared to us…’

With a haggard exhale of breath, Sybella did something she had never done before. Using the Force, she reached out at one of the remaining rangers, one who’s blaster was trained on her. Something choked at his neck, an invisible force that threatened to snap at any moment. Instead, she used her power throw the man into two of the remaining rangers, causing them to tumble and crash off to the side.

No doubt by now Ranger Shaw was gaining ground. Grimacing at the thought, Sybella saw little choice. She activated her saber and faced the man she once considered an ally.

“Walk away, Shaw…walk away before I kill you.”

 

[Darth Raze]

A member of the Dark Lord’s Sith Order would have coaxed this along, would have stoked the flames, would have encouraged Sybella to give in to Lujayn’s will and to that of the Dark Side. But Raze operated by his own rules. He had a high bar of entry for those he considered worthy of teaching. This one was more a hindrance than a potential apprentice. As the Rangers were tossed aside, Raze knew the situation grew critical and he had enough witnesses. He also had been the savior of a Serenno gathering before. An opportunity presented itself to benefit his ascension within the Serenno circles.

Without warning, the Force would coil around Sybella’s neck and suffocate her in an instant, dropping her unconscious. It didn’t matter if Lujayn was present, it didn’t matter if she was attempting to harness the Force, she wouldn’t even realize what happened because her sole focus was on the Rangers and in conversing with Lujayn. He didn’t kill and he didn't break anything - because that would make him no better. No, he had to play this to paint himself as the hero of the day yet again. He put her down easy.

Once she was incapacitated, Raze turned to regard the Ranger who Sybella had referred to as Shaw, “What are you waiting for?! Take her in!” He called out urgently. The Ranger would have witnessed that the Anzat had interjected to stop Sybella in her tracks to prevent further bloodshed. After all, he didn’t hide his abilities at the Serenno ball either.

Demici would be erased from the history books and he would rule.

@HoneyMagpie @Raydo @GABA

 

[Nick Shaw]

His fist slammed into her side as she pushed his blaster away. The quick headbutt caught him off guard as the metal slammed into his nose.

Blood sprayed from the broken nose as lights filled his vision. This wasn't the first time he had taken a shot to the nose; he was still good to fight. He hadn't expected to be hauled off his feet by the Jedi.

He slammed into the ground behind her, pushing himself up as he tried to force air back into his lungs. Blaster fire erupted as she moved for her lightsabers.

Nick sprinted at the Jedi; her back turned to him. She fell unconscious before he arrived, but he didn't take any time wondering what had happened, throwing himself on her. "Sybella Demici. You are under arrest." he said, his broken noise giving his voice a nasal pitch as he cuffed her hands. He would see that she was sedated until moved to a proper holding facility.

@HoneyMagpie @Sreeya @GABA