Ask The Desolation Of Dathomir

[Emryc Thorne]

Raze felt whatever threat was approaching recede back once the First willed it so. He heard Renfry’s voice come in and he issued the appropriate orders. His focus shifted back on the villagers as an eerie silence hung for a while. The amount of people that survived was low, and any that ran into the caves were trapped in there.

By now, Renfry would be coming over to join them, carrying the Clan Mother. Raze stepped back from where he was and he began to slowly walk. He would lazily circle around the group assembled before him, not looking in any particular direction, “You have all lost your way,” The mechanized voice said quietly, “You have been without purpose. Without direction. Without answers to your prayers.”

He turned to look at the First, “Tell me, what have your shamans foretold? What have the Spirits told them?” Raze’s voice dripped with malice, “There is no order to your existence. You are led stray by a Clan Mother that would abandon you at the first sign of conflict,” He knew everyone would have noticed her absence, a few gazes shifting over towards Renfry.

“I come with purpose,” Raze said as he continued to circle around them, “I carry out the will of those that had been silent for so long, the will of those that are disgusted by the state of their daughters” He spoke as wisps of green danced between his fingers. The Nightsisters would recognize it as the spirit ichor that they channeled for their magic. He had pored over Renfry’s grimoire, analyzing and learning every last detail. Renfry would begin to see that now, “I am the messenger of the Spirits. I can see a Dathomir united and with purpose. I can see a Dathomir forged by iron more powerful than ever. I can see it for it has been told to me.”

He stopped as he finished his circle, coming to stand before the First, “Because I am the Son of the Fanged God,” He declared, “And his will is absolute. You will abide by it or you will disrupt the balance.”

His entire form hummed with energy. Green hues slowly began to emanate from his body like wisps. The very earth around him heeded his call, and even that tremor from earlier began to rumble gently in the far distance. The energy coursed through the earth to where the villagers would feel it. The sounds of rancors calling out echoed far away, the lives all around reacting to the shifts in energy.

“You will abide by it,” Raze said once more, “Or you will perish. Such is the will of the Fanged God.”

 

[Renfry]

Renfry carried the woman back to the gathering, hearing Raze's voice carry over the crowd of people gathered. She set the unconscious woman down in a not so gentle manner and looked down at the captives. The evoked a mixed feeling within her mind. They'd been rivals to her clan for years, but they were Dathomirian.

She listened to what Raze said in silence. She weighed his words and considered them severely. What he was claiming was quite serious, and yet perhaps there was some merit to his words? Few even among her clan were as devoted to the Fanged Spirit as she was. Beyond even her own people her body was covered head to toe in tattoos in his honor. And yet, she knew that he had been silent since long before she was born. There'd been no word of his speech, and yet she could feel his power all around her. She'd felt it in the nexus on Devaron when it had fallen under his sway. She had felt it among the Sith, following the ways they called "darkness."

And then her mind turned to Emryc. The way he'd heard Dathomir's song when they first met, a feat never seen by her in a foreigner before. She thought of his devotion to the darkness - to his Sith Lords of old - and just how far he would go in that purpose. She watched him now as he summoned the mists of Dathomir to his hands, its energies bending to his will. She knew she had given him her grimoire, but deciphering it on his own and teaching himself was no small feat. Was it a sign of something? Or simply his own will?

He claimed to speak for the Fanged Spirit, and... perhaps in a way he did. She doubted he heard the voice of the Fanged Spirit directly, but perhaps in its own way, the Spirit's power guided him. Perhaps it was destiny that that she had found him. Perhaps it was destiny that he returned here.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the stirring of the Clan Mother. As if accepting an outsider wouldn't be difficult enough, this was a tribe that had long rejected the Fanged Spirit at all.

We do not serve you or his filth! she shouted defiantly. Barring Raze's intervention, Renfry pulled her knife free without hesitation and went to work. It wasn't easy to get to the Mother's tongue and there was a lot of cuts and blood before she managed to get there, but within a few seconds, the woman's tongue would be removed altogether with a sickening gurgling sound as Renfry forced her face down so that she wouldn't drown in her own blood that now pooled below her face.

The First got the message relatively well. Despite their hesitation she seemed to understand the precarious nature of the situation that both she and her people faced.

We... will serve, she finally said after a moment, her eyes going over to the children gathered in the village.

Although the First voiced such words, others seemed less convinced. Some of the more elderly women rose in defiance. While not Mothers themselves, it became clear within moments that they would not yield. They opted for option two, it seemed.

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Raze heard the older women shout out in protest. Some of them began to launch attacks. He watched one of his soldiers fly through the air. He didn’t engage the elders, having already seen the way the First looked at the children. Raze stood there in silence, channeling the Force and the energies from the planet.

Within moments, the children’s minds were pierced with darkness. They would all be thrown into a mental prison where they saw only their worst horrors and fears. Their nightmares played on loop. They collectively screamed at the top of their lungs, dropping to the ground and clutching at their heads. Raze slowly turned to look at the First.

“You will make your clan obey,” He said quietly, the shrieks of the children cutting through the air. The First could command the other Nightsisters to attack the elders or she could watch as Raze continued to mentally torment her kin, “You will carry out the will of the Fanged God.”

The elders would be executed one way or another. If the elders ceased their attacks, they would be marched single file, forced to kneel and killed. Or they would be killed in action by their own brethren. There would be no tolerance for anything other than strict obedience. Their God was not forgiving. They knew this.

 

[Renfry]

Renfry watched what unfolded, her grip on the mother's hair never loosening. She knew the First would have an uphill battle. Despite being groomed to one day take over as Clan Mother, there were many elders who would not yet respect her authority. They remembered the old ways and still thought the First had much to learn. Renfry didn't envy her.

And yet, with resignation, she did what was necessary. The younger generation followed her lead against the elders and a quick, violent battle ensued. As if their clan had not lost enough, more blood was spilled as women of both ages were felled. When it was done, the First with tears running down her face, collapsed onto the ground. Already wounded from the showdown against Raze and now exhausted, it was all she could do to save her clan at all.

Renfry's eyes swept down to the Clan Mother in her grip, still moaning and choking. She wouldn't be coming back to this tribe, and that meant the First had just been violently and abruptly promoted to power. She wondered if she would manage to keep the clan under control. She'd have to because if Raze had to come back or Renfry did after he left, the results would be irrevocable.

As Raze finished dealing with the villagers, Renfry dragged the Clan Mother back towards the speeders to be taken away. She couldn't help her mind but have it travel to her own clan and what needed to be done. The reality that she would have to kill her own Clan Mother settled in and with it a vague sense of dread. The woman had raised her in many ways and taught her the magick she knew. She hadn't exactly been a "warm" woman, but Renfry hadn't hated her.

But this was the way. This was the way to bring unity to the Clans and bring them under the Fanged Spirit. She wouldn't back away from that. This was why she'd been drawn away from Dathomir.

She waited for Raze to return to the speeders, "packing" the Clan Mother into the trunk of a speeder for transport to her clan.

I need to gain my clan's support, she said. I'll challenge our Mother. I used to be her First, she said. It wasn't truly the tradition of the Nightsisters to challenge one another so directly, but it wasn't without any precedent.

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Raze made his way towards the speeder, Renfry following him. After a moment, he abruptly stopped and spun on his heel to face her. The steely mask gazed at her, and she would know the frosty eyes were looking into hers at that very moment. She would know that they were not silver, but golden then, almost to match her own.

“I didn’t order the air strike because I sensed you did not wish it so,” The mechanized voice growl, “I am allowing this Clan Mother to live as per your desires. I will destroy you if any of your suggestions don’t pan out again,” Venom dripped from his words - words that were a promise. Renfry knew he didn’t say words just to say them. When Raze made a promise, he followed through.

He lingered there for a moment longer before he returned to the speeder. The journey was silent, Raze’s focus on the plan ahead. He had presented himself as the Son of the Fanged God. When he was there in his own thoughts, he felt it. He believed it. The Force heeded his call. The spirit ichor danced between his fingers. He had been operating off the cuff, and yet the very earth answered his call. Raze channeled the Force, focusing his mind and thoughts. The vision he had seen of legions of soldiers bowing before him briefly flashed across his mind. This was one step closer to that vision.

It was clear that the deaths that happened with the previous clan were of no concern to him. The children of the next generation would be stronger for it. He focused instead on the next clan. Raze cast a sideways glance at Renfry.

“The next one is yours,” He said simply, “Lead the efforts how you wish. You know what outcome I desire.”

 

[Renfry]

Renfry could feel that piercing gaze without needing to see it. It was a feeling that scared her and made her feel small. It was not the gaze from him that she sought. She wanted to object to what he said, but she decided actions would speak louder than words. She decided her best option was to ensure she didn't fail and prove herself capable.

It will work, she said. And if it didn't, then she would die. She was banking her life on knowing how her Clan would respond to things, but she had two decades of experience to learn it. And yet, still, the threat lingered in her mind. She mulled it over as they drove. Was she worth that little to him that he'd simply kill her? But that wasn't how it worked, was it? She was only valuable to him if she produced results, and if she didn't... well, she'd prefer not to think about that.

They arrived at her old home and the convoy stopped. She heard Raze's words about leaving this to her, and she nodded soberly. Her gaze was harsh and tense, knowing what was at stake for everyone involved including herself. She turned to the commander who had heard Raze's words.

Keep your men on standby and have a detachment head into the valley below. There's an outlet through the caves, she said. While she didn't think this would come down to direct battle, if it did, that would be the route of escape.

Just the two of us, she said to Raze. The soldiers would be ready, but in her own Clan she had rights of her own and wouldn't be attacked so long as she took the proper steps.

She headed toward the village of the Forgotten Valley Clan, a sense of familiarity and nostalgia threatening to wash over her that she forced aside. This was not the time for sentiment, and if she wavered from the path for even a moment it would spell death.

She came to a stop at a drawbridge leading into the village, drawn up against the doorway to the village. It was built to be defensible, and Renfry knew it.

Open the gate! By right of the First I challenge Mother Irithyll! her voice carried loudly over the village, echoing in the Shadow so that it was easily heard by the sentries standing atop the wall of the village. There was a moment's hesitation before the bridge began to come down and Renfry crossed to the inside, meeting face to face with Mother Irithyll for the first time since she had left.

Her eyes fixed on Renfry for a moment before gazing past and toward Raze.

My old apprentice comes to overthrow me, but what is your purpose here outsider? she asked. She could sense the darkness within him, and knew better than to underestimate him.

Ah, but of course. Her fascination with the Fanged Spirit led her to you, creature of darkness, she said calmly.

And what do you know of our ways? she asked, honing in on him before turning her attention to the challenge at hand. By this point, the village had gathered to see what would unfold. Members stood on the upper levels looking down while other stayed to the edges of the courtyard area, knowing a showdown between First and Mother would require space. And yet there was a general sense of unrest among all the people.

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Raze calmly observed as the events played out, letting Renfry have one last chance to prove herself. He was methodical in his approach, and he took in data that he saw and filed it away for analysis. She had shown her loyalty earlier by attacking the Clan Mother, and he was curious to see her challenge this one. While he agreed to walk with just her, Raze knew he was capable of handling things if she turned on him abruptly. He was keenly aware of his surroundings, marking any vantage points he could see.

As they happened upon the Clan Mother, he noticed she turned her attention on him. He stood silent for a moment, helmet turned towards her direction as he analyzed her. He could sense others beginning to gather around, whispers and mutterings erupting softly all around them. He decided he didn't like the lack of concern in her tone. He wanted to feel that uneasiness from her.

“I am the Son of the Fanged God,” He declared again, ignoring the chatters and angry whispers that grew louder, “Your ways have detracted far from the path set for you long ago. I return as the voice of the Spirit to pull you back to that path,” He didn’t step towards the Clan Mother, “And you are challenged here today by the rightful ruler of this planet. You will address your Queen with respect.”

As he said the last sentence, the Force that had been channeling through him coiled around the Clan Mother. She would be forced to bow forward in front of Renfry, the Dark Side maneuvering in ways she couldn’t resist.

 

[Renfry]

Renfry stood still as Raze spoke. She could sense the disgust and anger in Mother Irithyll at what Raze said. She was proud and defiant and would be to the end. Nothing that Renfry did would dissuade her from the path she walked.

When Raze forced the Clan Mother to her knee, a whirl of emotions rushed through Renfry that she'd not been expecting. She felt surprise at the move, she felt a rush, but more than it all she felt a hunger. She'd seen the vision of people bowing to Raze with her at his side, but this was... different. It was intoxicating and she wanted more of it. She knew that with the taste on the tip of her tongue she would never be able to turn away from it. Queen of Dathomir was a title she had never wanted... or perhaps it was better to say she never knew she wanted it. Now that it was in front of her, so easy to take... the desire was overwhelming.

She walked up to the Clan Mother and stood over her, clothes and skin still covered in the blood of her recent victims. She came to a stop, the thrill and rush of the moment taking her as she gazed down at the woman who had trained her. There was a tinge of fear and regret, but it was quickly smothered. This woman had never cared for her. She'd left her Clan in part because of that very issue. And yet, she was indebted to her, wasn't she? Or was she? Renfry had gone into the galaxy and found the Sith for herself. It wasn't through the Clan Mother that that had happened.

You would rule Dathomir simply by the grace of another? the woman spat angrily, eyes looking up to Renfry since that was all she could do.

Renfry's eyes met the older woman's without so much as a glint of pity or mercy. Whatever hesitation she may have felt on some deeper level never made it to the surface. She'd made her decision on Ajan Kloss, and the rest may have been growing pains, but it all led here.

I serve the Fanged Spirit from the day of my birth till death. If he favors you, then call on him, she said, her voice now ice cold in a way that surprised even her.

She stepped back and nodded to Raze, signaling him that she could be released.

Mother Irithyll, I declare you derelict in your duty to Dathomir. Abdicate or defend your title, she said, turning to face the other woman. Her hands began to glow like green flame in a way that Raze had seen from her many times before, and now there was a power to her on this world that surpassed her normal strength. She had a connection to this world, feeling almost as if she were an extension of it.

And then the battle began.

Flashes of green erupted between the two women as bolts of green slammed into one another in midair. Were it not for the cracking exchanges of power, the village would have been deathly silent, many of the sisters not even breathing as they watched the battle unfold. The power rippling through the village was almost tangible as Mother and First drew upon the powers of Dathomir from their very source. The planet was the conjunction for spirit and flesh and all the spells that Emryc had seen Renfry do over the years were exponentially more potent here.

Renfry's feet scraped across the floor of the village as the Mother's power cracked against a shield not unlike the one she had used on Ajan Kloss. And like at Kloss, she let the power redirect around the shield. It cracked into the wall of one of the adobe houses behind her and she spun off to the other side.

She used the flash of light to cover her movements, moving with all the practice she'd learned both in the jungle and in the galaxy during her travels. Her left hand lashed out, sending a concussion bolt flying through the air in the split second she had before the Irithyll could recover.

It was enough.

The crack of bone could be heard by the entire village as the bolt slammed into the woman's chest and her ribs caved in on themselves. She was flung bodily back into the far wall of the village, her breath beginning to become raspy as she clutched at her chest, blood beginning to trickle from the corner of her mouth.

And yet, Renfry knew that a wounded animal could be the most dangerous. Her hand reached back to grasp her hunting knife and she approached, quickly but cautiously, the same look in her eye as when she finished off a wounded animal while hunting.

She knelt next to the woman, clearly feeling now that the woman's connection to the Shadow was fading.

Renfry spoke quietly, so only Irithyll could hear in the fading moments before she passed.

I am Dathomir, and I will defend what is mine. Find peace beyond the Veil, she said, bringing the knife smoothly across her mentor's throat and stepping back. She watched the lifeblood drain freely until it was over, still keenly aware of its warmth against her hand. She took a breath and looked to the sister's gathered.

By right of the First, I take the mantle Clan Mother of the Forgotten Valley Clan, she said, her voice now loud enough for everyone to hear clearly.

But that is not all. The Singing Mountain Clan have been subjugated, she said, motioning to one of the soldiers who had brought the Clan Mother - barely alive - to the edge of the village's drawbridge under the watchful bows of the sisters on guard. Renfry moved over and took the woman by the hair and in a particularly grotesque display, proceeded to remove the woman's head from her shoulders. She knew that the death of the Clan Mother of their long time rivals would lend extensive credibility to her position.

I've purged the temple of the Two Marshes, she said, referring to the man that she and Morgan had hunted down some time ago. It had been no secret to the Clan that an outsider had been there and Irithyll had failed to deal with it.

And I will unify the remaining Clans of Dathomir under one banner as was done two centuries ago! she said.

Her eyes turned to Raze, who had drawn an incredible amount of attention from the women standing nearest to him, though they put noticeable distance between themselves and him.

I have seen the power of the Fanged Spirit firsthand, and you all will come to know it in time, she said.

Dathomir has a new Queen, and its rise will not be stopped! she shouted. The blood that covered Renfry only served to emphasize the wild look in her eyes. And yet there was a certain control to it now that hadn't been there before. In a way, it was almost a step toward the same type of eyes that Emryc had, but only a step.