Ask The Trees have Ears

[Darth Caelestis]

It took a few moments to recognise the stones Darth Andruil was indicating, he had looked over them at first just believing they were natural occurrences not something specifically put their for defence. "How many do you think we need to take down? All of them or just one side?" He asked as he tried to plan a route of attack for himself, would a saber strike be enough to do what they needed. Or would the stone have to be completely for it to work he wondered.

This side of the village appeared to be further from the fire and the gathering population of the village, that would be the better side of attack for the Acoylte. "The ones closest seem to be better hidden from the centre of the village. I will head for the first one mi 'lord." Artorigas finished before jumping down from the tree they were on. He channelled The Force into his legs to soften the landing on his body as well as the sound for anything around him. He could hear the creatures cries in the forest behind him. They were close but he had time to hopefully bring down this 'barrier' before they caught up with the pair and the village.

Crouching Artorigas began moving forward towards the village, there was little light and he had to use the light from the great fire in the centre of the village as a backlight. He could only make the outlines of the larger objects in the distance he had no idea if there was something closer. Only The Force could help him now, he reached out with the power hoping that he would sense anything before they spotted him. As he moved free from the trees he was met by what appeared to be agriculture fields, tall plants with large fruits at their tip covered the field in front of him.

He moved as quickly as he dared, his saber was out in his right hand ready to act if need be. Reaching the other side of the field, there was a small gap of about three meters between the field and the of the village, his stone target was mid way between. Clear in the open that wasn't good, Artorigas was about to move when a twinge in the force caught his attention. A Swokes Swokes appeared from a path between two huts to his right, making its way to the field next to Artorigas it stared out into the darkness and the forest beyond. He was going to have to deal with that first before he took down the stone.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

She looked down at the stones and thought about what it would take to bring their power to a close.

The runes channel energy. Disrupt the carving at several points and they won't be able to draw power any longer. I suspect they act like a fence. The more we bring down, the larger the opening inside, she said. Half would likely do, but destroying a single stone wouldn't likely be sufficient.

Go, she agreed with a nod as she sought out the next stone. These cultists had played with fire, and now they would be burned. It was something to keep in mind if she ever delved into these types of secrets.

She watched him disappear into the darkness moments later and then did the same, dropping to the ground with the power of the Shadow. She moved along past the bushes as quietly as she could, searching for another of the stones. She had a guess where the next would be based on the size of the village, but that wasn't a certainty and finding it in the dark was difficult even for her.

The Swokes Swokes paused from where it stood and sniffed the air, turning abruptly in the direction of Artorigas. Not only were they capable of seeing in the dark far better than either of the two Sith, they could also track by scent, and this one seemed to have caught a whiff of something unusual and headed in the Acolyte's direction with a brutal, butcher-like knife in hand.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

'Cock' That wasn't good, he watched as the Swokes Swokes turned its head, its nose up in the air, a gleeful smile appeared on its face before it began charging in his direction. This needed to be quick and hopefully as silent as was possible, for if this creature screamed the pair of them even with the Darth's extreme power would be toast. Swokes Swokes at the front and Barabel's to the rear.

The Swokes Swokes, didn't shout out in alarm, which Artorgias was thankful for, it seemed the creature saw this more as sport than danger. Artorigas was about to ignite his saber and engage but then he remembered that he was supposed to be trying to hide his presence not announce it to the whole village with a bright purple light. So he retreated backwards into the thick crops behind him.

He kept the Swokes Swokes in sight at all times, giving the creature enough rope to keep charging whilst just keeping out of reach. One swipe of his butchers blade caught his tunic, cutting through some of the outer cloth. The weapon looked ancient, rusted, green and slimy, if that cut it him he would probably die from the infection quicker than the cut itself.

He had moved about fifty meters back from the edge of the village, the Swokes Swokes was now only visible by his hulking silhouette before the flames in the distance. Artorigas gaged that they were far enough back that his blade shouldn't be seen by someone walking by. Skidding to a stop he flicked the activation switch, a beam of purple light shot out to the side slicing through a piece of the harvest. With a quick motion he brought the blade up slicing clean through the creatures arm, the knife flying just past his helmet. He had to move quickly unless the beast shouted out in pain, reversing his cut he aimed for the head, the purple plasma slicing into the side of the mouth.

The blade cut into the thick hide with some resistance before it finally gave way ripping through the open maw and out the other side, cleaving the top three quarters of his head from the rest of the body. The beast slumped to the ground, Artorigas deactivated his saber as soon as he was able to try and reduce the amount of time the light was around. It took a moment for his eyes to readjust to the darkness as he listened to see if either the Swokes Swokes or the Barabel's were coming for him.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Andruil was - at the moment - blissfully unaware of the struggles that her partner was having. The Nightsister did her best to move without being seen, sticking to the cover of the huts and fences. Thankfully, the runes didn't seem to prevent the Sith pair from crossing in, only the Force-altered Barabel.

She found one of the rune stones several minutes later and came to a crouch in front of it. Reaching out with the Shadow, she Sith focused on the stone, placing both hands against it. It radiated power she could tell immediately, and she poured her own energy into it. Cracks began to form along its surface and suddenly it ruptured.

Unfortunately, where a normal stone would have simply cracked and shattered, this did that and more. It released an energy like a small concussive blast, knocking her back, and probably drawing the attention of... hostiles.

She cursed in her mind as she scrambled back toward the forest. She had managed to make a gap in the fence, but at high cost and a small gap. It was not what she was hoping for, but few things ever went fully according to plan.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

Artorigas left the body in the mud as he headed back towards the rune stone, he moved faster this time knowing that if Andruil would already be at work at her own runestone. He reached the edge of the field and quickly checked both directions, all was clear so he stepped out of the cover and into the open space between the village and the outside world. He was completely exposed if someone had a blaster or a bow like Andruil's he was in for a world of hurt.

He placed a hand upon the stone, he could feel power within it but he had no idea how to tap into it. Andruil had something about disrupting the pattern that would break the spell. Artorigas was thinking over the best course of action when a blast erupted from his left. That must have been Andruil, without a second thought he ignited his lightsaber and plunged the blade into the rock.

It took a moment before, bang, an explosive force sent him tumbling backwards into the field. Shaking his head as he landed he grabbed his saber from its spot on the floor beside him and began to run. There was minimal chance that both the Swokes Swokes and the Barabel hadn't heard the first explosion and there was no chance they hadn't heard the second.

Running as fast as he could through the field, The Force channelling into his legs to increase his speed, the fruits leaves whipping into his helmet, he heard shouting from behind him but worse he heard screaming from in front. He didn't know if he could make the trees in time, he just had to push himself as hard as possible and hope...

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Andruil managed to make it to the trees but the the cultists had evidently heard what she had done. And they weren’t happy. Their runes had been disrupted and they wanted blood.

Based on the other explosion and the screeching of the Barabels it sounded like they had heard the sounds as well. That could be both good and bad. On the one hand, it meant they were now coming down on the village. On the other it meant the Sith were stuck between a hammer and anvil.

Andruil scrambled to make it to one of the upper tree branches again as the forces looking to catch her on either side came toward her. It didn’t appear her partner had such good fortune. She contemplated for just a moment leaving him behind but opted not to. Instead, she looked for a way to draw attention away from him and toward the two conflicting parties.

She reached out to the Shadow and her hands were surrounded by wisps of green. Several dozen yards away near the opening between the two runestones a green energy began to swell below the ground. It erupted outward in a explosion that left Andruil feeling a bit more taxed than she had hoped.

However, the flash of light would hopefully blind the cultists and draw the Barabels forward toward the village in the process and allow the Acolyte to escape.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

This was looking bad, Artorigas could see the fruit stalks edge of the field in front of him begin to shake from what he could only believe was the feral Barabel's. He was trapped between a rock and very angry rock it seemed, turning he started heading parallel to the two opposing forces trying to buy himself some time to think of a way out of this.

Then a third explosion ripped through the darkness of the forest, this time a hint of green was seen in the flames. "Andruil." he said to himself as he ran. It seemed that the parallel move paid off as both forces now seemed drawn back towards the opening and the source of the explosion giving him a little breathing room. The field abruptly ended on what looked like the main road into the village, a space of flattened earth about seven feet across.

Skidding to a stop Artorigas looked right back towards the village and his face dropped, a Swokes Swokes stood their, a massive cleaver held over his shoulder, that sickening ever present grin plastered over his face. The green fire explosion from the Darth had caused a few of the nearby houses to catch alight, their wood and thatch roofs becoming torches in the night giving him a clear view of his adversary. Arotrigas tensed and began to turn towards the Swokes Swokes igniting his saber, he would have to deal with it before he headed for the tree line. He took a step towards it when he had a guttural cry coming from his left, turning his head slowly he saw an equally as large Barabel with a pair of knives, saliva drawling from his mouth.

He was now stuck between a rock with one knife and a rock with two. Not a great place to start, the two creatures let out screams of anger before charging towards each other and him. "Well this will be fun." He said sarcastically to himself before bringing his saber up ready to fight. The Barabel reached him first, driving the two knives up and into Artorigas's stomach, flicking his blade to the right he deflected the two blows off to one side, brining his left hand up to punch the alien in the side of the head. The Barabel stumbled to Arotirgas' right and he was about to try and make a run from it when a tingle in his spine told him to turn.

The Force guiding him he brought up his blade to guard just in time as the Swokes Swokes cleaver tried to sever his head in two. The weight of the blow forced him back a step before solidifying his footing on the path, he could see the Barabel begin to turn towards the pair, it was now all on who it attacked him or the Swokes Swokes.

Luck was on his side however and the feral animal plunged its daggers into the side of the Swokes Swokes, it immediately withdrew its cleaver from Artorigas' saber and began swinging at the Barabel. Now was his time, pivoting as quickly as he could he began sprinting away from the duel and the ensuing chaos behind him. As he reached the tree line he searched the canopy's for signs of the Darth.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Andruil had trouble making out her partner in the chaos, but the violent explosion provided her eyes an extra bit of light to see.

The Barabel began swarming down on the village and Andruil didn’t wait for her partner who she did not see. They were here for the shaman, and she wanted as much information out of it before it died as possible. She supposed its records may have to do.

Scanning the darkness she dropped once again, bow in hand again. She raised her bow and sent an energy arrow tearing through the air. It struck one of the villagers in the side and knocked the creature down, but wasn’t lethal. It began to push itself back up as another came around the corner.

She swore aloud as they both began to move toward her, though the one that had been shot was at least moving more slowly. That was an advantage to have as she leapt up to one of the village roofs.

Unfortunately, the roof didn’t seem strong enough to support her weight and she went plunging through a moment later, her ankle twisting painfully under her as she landed cried out a bit in pain. Stopping was death, and the locals were coming.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

"Seriously." He had just reached the treeline when he spotted the Darth heading back towards the village. Turning back around he made his way back up the path towards the village. The Swokes Swokes and Barabel he had left were still in combat, though both looked worse for wear as he ran towards them.

Pulling The Force within him he grabbed the body of the Barabel and pulled it to his right, covering his approach from the Swokes Swokes. The later with a clean shot on the his defenceless foe drove the cleaver downwards deep into the body of the Barabel killing the creature almost instantly. It didn't have time to savour its victory as Artorigas charged up behind the dead Barabel igniting his saber and ramming it through the dead creature and into the living one behind. It let out a scream of pain which Artorigas quickly silenced with another stab through the open maw and out the back of its head.

Deactivating the saber he continued up the path as the combined bodies fell to the ground behind him. The sound of fighting was off to his right were the large hole in the villages defences was blown. Andruil would not be there, she would have gone ahead, it was the head of the snake they were after anyway, the riff raff was not important.

He stormed into the village, it appeared mostly empty a few straggling Swokes Swokes running to the battle. From the corner of his eye he spotted two of the creatures walking in the wrong direction. Then a glint in the darkness before it disappeared in a puff of dust. Was that Andruil? If so that fall did not look pretty and two of the creatures were coming up quickly towards her.

Moving around behind the pair he spotted a stump outside one of the other mud huts, probably a stool or chopping block. Gripping it with The Force he threw the piece of wood into the back of the slower moving Swokes Swokes, knocking it prone. Igniting his saber as the other turned to face him, he smiled behind the mask. "This is getting interesting." "Yes, yes it is."

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Andruil pushed herself back to her feet, the limp now slowing her pace slightly as she tried to keep weight off of her right ankle. Her mind was already turning to her lightsaber as she knew the enemy would be closing in on her, but... they didn't. No one came through the doors and she edged closer more carefully.

Outside she saw the reason why. The Acolyte had caught up and engaged the pair that had been coming her way. A check in the box in his favor. She lifted her bow and sent another arrow and then another into the cultists, knocking one of them to the ground and finishing him off.

She pressed onward, making sure that the Acolyte finished off his target as well.

This way, she said, moving forward with a bit of a limp that she was simply forcing herself to push through. Every step sent shooting pain up her leg, but with the adrenaline pumping it was manageable. Bacta or Water of Life would come later.

A glance back and the sounds of battle told her that their diversion had worked quite well and the cultists may well be destroyed by their own creation. Ironic. There was probably a lesson to be learned there.

The Shaman's hut will likely be closer to the center of the village, she said, slowing her pace as they drew closer to the fire at the village center.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

The first one began to pull itself from the ground when Darth Andruil appeared through a door behind him, two shots from her ethereal bow took the creature down, leaving the other to Artorigas. It has already began its charge towards him, a heavy two handed blade hoisted over its shoulder. It clearly had the strength advantage here so speed and The Force were the key to his victory, pulling the power inside of him he concentrated on the charging creatures feet and waited.

It was five feet away when he moved, the creature already raising the sword up ready to strike. With a pull of The Force he grabbed the creatures right leg and hooked it behind his left forcing it to trip over itself. The blade was mid swing, trying to cut him in two but the strength in the blow had gone, a quick parry forced the blade out of the way. Unknowingly at the time Artorigas parried the blade into the falling creature, forcing it to skewer itself on its own weapon. It let out a scream which he quickly cut short with a blow to the back of the neck with his saber removing the head from the shoulders.

"It feels good doesn't it." He chose to ignore the voice inside of him, Artorigas was not killing for fun only for his goal. He did not seek enjoyment in it only the pleasure of the success it would bring him in the end, when he returned to civilized space. Andruil passed him a visible limp, he would normally offer her help but he knew that she would refuse it and perhaps even look down on him for asking.

Artorigas followed a few steps behind, his head swivelling side to side, watching every little side alley, door and rooftop for any more surprises. They were on one of the main pathways leading into the centre of the village, there was little cover but keeping close to the houses gave them a little cover from the enemy. The square slowly came into view as they rounded a corner the massive fire still blazed in its centre, the sound of someone talking, no singing, chanting floated through the wind. He could see the fire clearly now and even some shapes around it, then happened, the chanting, singing, voices stopped. "Move Artorigas. Now!" Lord Andros cried out inside his head.

The ancient Sith gave him just enough warning to spot, feel something, though what it was he couldn't tell. Fly forward towards the pair. Although stupid his instincts kicked in, he had to protect Andruil. Pulling The Force to him he grabbed the Darth and pushed her through the door into the hut she stood next to, protecting her from the blast.

Then it struck him, it felt like a Landspeeder smashed him in the chest and he flew backwards crashing through the wall of another hut and it all went to black...

 

[Renfry]

Andruil pressed on, her second sight in the Shadow layered over her natural view as it always did in a stressful situation. Glimpses of what was to come and what were threats played through her mind.

She saw an attack from the rear and started to move to get out of the way. A flash of something else glanced through her mind. The Acolyte was going to betray her? Had she missed it? So focused on the more threatening attack, she missed the shove that sent her tumbling forward through the door of the hut.

She would have liked to be able to tell the story of how she had tumbled into a graceful roll and came up ready to fight, however, what actually happened was that she hit the ground with almost a flop and rolled frantically to gain a line of sight for one of her concussion bolts on the Acolyte. He didn't attack again, though.

She pushed back to her feet, hands glowing green with orbs of energy intending to smear him across the landscape, but then she spotted him on the ground. He looked to be in bad shape after the detonation that Shadow had warned her of. Had he been trying to protect her from it?

For a moment she paused, seriously considering leaving him behind on the ground to try to accomplish their mission. She swore and pulled him into the hut she had been in, wincing with the added weight on her ankle as she pulled him across the ground.

She only had moments, and the mission still came first, but she took a look at his injuries. He was unconscious but alive, and this would provide him with the best cover available for the moment while she went to finish their mission.

Doesn't look in too bad of shape. Unconscious but skin's mostly intact. Maybe a concussion, she thought to herself.

Hope you wake up soon, she grumbled, throwing a blanket over him to cover him up while she headed for the exit to the hut.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

Artorigas woke up a few seconds later, but it wasn't the inside of the ruined hut, nor the village or even Makem Te itself. He woke up back on Serenno, in the great hall of Castle Wessex. The walls were adorned with the portraits of the past generations his family, gilded weapons and precious artefacts these trinkets the only real power and wealth the family had left. Artorigas turned to the dais expecting to see his father with that wretched look upon his face, a face full of smugness and condemnation for his second born son. At that moment he realised that this was not real, but a dream as instead sitting upon the dais was Lord Andros.

The Sith Lord smiled at him, a sickening smile that only reminded him of his father. "So this is your home? I like it, though some of the angles are a little off. Channelling would be difficult from here." He said pointing at his fathers seat, he was dressed in his fathers finery, noble robes golden rings and a large encrusted chain around his neck. "I can see why you want it, lots of shiny things to own. But compared to what we can give you is it nothing." As he finished another being appeared, at first it looked like his brother Malendor but it quickly evolved into a vision of himself, eyes yellow, skin pale, face gaunt and shallow. "You could have so much more if you wanted." The doppelganger added. "You can leave." Artorigas replied pointing at his dark shadow. "And you can remove yourself from that seat, it is mine and mine alone."

"But what if I want it, I mean you are currently unconscious, I am sure it would only take a moment or two and I will have your body and then with your plan this seat." Lord Andros replied his fingers running up and down the arm of the chair. "Because if that was the case you already would have." Artorigas thought for a moment what would stop him from taking his body from him, before it dawned on him Darth Andruil. "You would if you were not so afraid of Darth Andruil." At the comment the ancient Sith rose from his seat a face full of thunder. "I am not afraid of her, I will show you a Lord of the Sith has no fear. Come." He finished looking at Artorigas' dark self before they both charged.

With a thought Artorigas' lightsaber appeared in his hand, the blade lit casting a purple glow across the room. The two dark entities came at him, their hands raised like the vicious Barabel back on Makem Te looking to tear him limb from limb and without a thought or hesitation Artorigas cut them down. With a puff the two figures faded into smoke and then slowly the room faded away into blackness as well.

Artorigas woke coughing, but damn coughing hurt, his hand reached up touching his ribs. A quick prod produced more pain, a deep breath some but not as much, they were bruised not broken. Moving his head to the side sent shockwaves running through his body, now something there was bad. Reaching up he pulled off his mask, the back of his head was wet with blood. That wasn't good, the sounds of fighting outside had quietened in the time he was unconscious, how long had he been out and what had happened to Darth Andruil.

Arotrigas pulled himself to his feet pain radiating from his head sending him dizzily stumbling into the half broken wall holding himself upright he looked through the hole, he needed to find the Darth and finish the mission, that seat depended on it.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Andruil slung her bow back over her shoulder as she headed out of the hut. She could feel the Shaman in the village by the way the Shadow bended under his will. She wished now that she had brought her Nightsisters along with her. Together they would have made short work of this village, but now it was just her.

But she was a Sith Lord. Queen of the Nightsisters. She would not be defeated so easily. She half-crept, half-limped around toward the other side of the village. Hopefully with the clash between the Barabel and Swokes Swokes at the front of the village, she could pass mostly unnoticed.

That was when she spotted him. Atop one of the huts whose roof was apparently made to support his weight, the Shaman held a staff weapon in hand. Swirls of dark clouds twirled around the tip of the weapon as he swung it over his head as if to create a miniature whirlwind that he cast out at a pair of the lizard men.

They were caught up in the swirl and one was flung through the air and against a tree on the far side while the other landed in the spreading fire with a shriek.

Andruil moved in closer, keeping an eye out for any signs of additional guards he may have kept nearby.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

The pain rushing through his head made Artorigas slightly delirious, it took nearlly all of his concentration to keep from falling down as he walked. The only thing that would keep him alive now was The Force, he let the energy flow out around him, guiding his movements as he followed behind Darth Andruil. He could feel her prescience within The Force, the mind numbing pain seemed to amplify his sensitivity to his surroundings.

His mind spotted her up ahead nearby another source of dark energy stood, he assumed that was the shaman in control of this village, their target. Artorigas tried to speed up but the pain almost made him throw up, so he slowed his pace keeping the tendrils of The Force out around him. It was with these tendrils he felt the two cultist moving up behind Darth Andruil, he was unsure if she had noticed them so he done what had gotten him into trouble already today and went into protector mode.

Using The Force to propel his damaged body forward he caught glimpse of the two cultists about twenty feet behind the Darth. Reaching out he gripped the first one around the waist with The Force and hurled her into the blazing fire at the centre of the clearing. Its screams almost drowned out Artorigas challenge to the second cultist. It turned a vicious curved looking blade in its hand, it gave a quick glance over to the shaman before charging at Artorigas. His head still swimming, his body surrounded by water and his feet felt like rocks, this was going to be harder than it should.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Andruil sensed the danger behind her and her lightsaber leapt into her hand for the first time since they had set down on this world. Her thumb came down on the activator and it lit up in a blood red glow.

Before they reached her, however, they were assaulted by Artorigas. The Acolyte had evidently awakened from his concussion, but there was something about him that felt almost different. Primal and enraged.

She could dwell on it any more, however. He was engaging the cultists, and she took her opportunity. She leapt up and landed on the roof, sweeping down with her saber in a lethal stroke. The Shaman was quick, however, and her ankle slowed her. It managed to evade the strike, though the blade cleaved through the lower portion of the staff he was holding.

The cloud above began to dissipate and she pursued the Swokes Swokes forward, sending a bolt of concussive energy out of her left hand that slammed into the Shaman and sent him flailing back, scorching his chest as it did.

But it was still alive and kicking.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

His blurry vision made it difficult to judge the Swokes Swokes speed as it charged in, only years of training allowed him to swing his saber across to block the attack at the last moment. The weight of the blow pushed him to his left, his legs nearly dropped out beneath him causing him to scramble on the floor to get out of the way of the second blow.

The cultist could tell he was injured the sickening smile on its face growing larger the thought of being able to toy with its pray beforehand. Artorigas wildly swung his blade out to his left to block another strike, only the power of The Force within him was keeping him alive and moving at this point. The back of his head and neck were thick with blood his hair becoming a matted mess as he rolled through the dirt to dodge another strike.

Gritting his teeth through the pain he drew The Force into himself before letting out a massive push, it knocked the Swokes Swokes back, but his fading strength reduced its power. "I can help. Let me in." Artorigas knew what the voice wanted and he was sorely tempted, it would be easy to give in use that power to win. But he refused if he would ever give in it would be of his own free will not under duress and desperation, he was being stubborn perhaps stupid but only he would make that decision.

The cultist was recovering, as it staggered forward Artorigas let out another blast, this time aimed at its left leg, though weaker than the first the directed attacked pushed the leg out from underneath him causing the creature to fall flat on his front. Artorigas tried to stand up but his body gave way, the pain in his head causing his body to refuse to move. He slipped and fell to one knee, it was now a race, who could get up first him or the cultist.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Andruil pressed the attack. Vicious bloodlust was beginning to tug at her mind. The need to kill and finish this was overwhelming. She didn't even look back at her partner behind her. He would survive or he wouldn't. The darkness would aid him or it would not.

Instead, she leapt down and landed with the Shadow as a cushion. The blade from her saber swept down at the shaman's legs, hoping to remove them. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful, but did manage to take the tail off. The cultist let out a shrieking cry as it scrambled back and Andruil moved froward again.

Her hand reached down, grabbing a hold on the alien's throat with both the Shadow and her hand, she moved her hand up to plunge her saber into its belly only to have the blade blocked by the shaman's staff, now apparently reinforced with the Shadow.

The grip turned into a hurl as she flung him over the open space and through the hut wall. Its body was almost mushy, though, and the impact didn't do as much damage as she hoped. Another concussion bolt, another hit, still the creature was up.

It was time to finish this. As it laid there, she reached out to the Shadow. It glowed and danced over her fingers as the ground began to soften and open. The Swokes Swokes began to sink down, the ground hardening once again over its lower body. Only its head and part of its torso remained above the surface. At her mercy.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

The nausea was overwhelming, but the Swokes Swokes would kill him if he didn't do something quick. Standing was out of the question for the moment, so whatever he done would have to be from where he was now. Flinging his arm out he sent his saber spinning end over end, The Force arching the blade to his right before slamming the blade into the side of the cultist. As the lightsaber pierced its thick hide the cultist let out a shrill that threatened to burst his eardrums.

But the creature was still alive, the Swokes Swokes stubborn nature allowing it to continue moving even with the saber deep in its gut. Grunting with the effort, Artorigas gripped hold of the saber with The Force and yanked the blade up through the creature disembowelling it before cutting clean through its face and skull.

The lightsaber flung up into the air Artorigas' will giving out causing it to land a few feet away from him, the young Acolyte then turned and emptied his stomach to one side, the nausea finally taking complete control. Once the last of his stomach was empty he slumped down onto the ground, he let the small tendrils of The Force reach out around him for any danger, though he expected that any which did come would find him easy pickings.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Andruil closed on the shaman, struggling for breath as the ground crushed his chest. She didn't even pause as her lightsaber cleaved cleanly through what would have been the neck, removing the head off the bloated creature. The head rolled along the ground for a few moments before she stopped to pick it up.

Seizing a hook from the hut she jammed it through the head and secured it to her belt. Blood oozed like sludge from the head but she seemed unbothered as she made her way out of the hut and into the night air.

She emerged just in time to see the Acolyte - dead bodies of his victims nearby - wretch the contents of his belly onto the ground. She smiled wickedly as she saw it. He looked to be in bad shape, and she was fatigued as well. A more drawn out fight was not something either of them would benefit from, but there was one more thing that bothered her. Actually, two things.

The first was that they had yet to see any of the truly undead abominations that they had been briefed about and the other was that she still wanted the contents of the shaman's studies. Grimoires, notes, or whatever else they could find.

You're alive. Good, she said as she approached Artorigas. I'm going to find the shaman's hut. Soldiers and bombers will finish off the remnant of the village with the shaman dead, she said. The battle would continue, but the job of the Sith was technically finished.

Can you walk? she asked, seemingly unperturbed by the fighting still going on in the background. The Shadow warned her of no current threat and the area nearby was all but still.

@Braden Drake