Ask Visiting the Ancients

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

”I’ll do that, without any doubt.” Caerllion said, before smiling at her. The idea of finally ending the greatest opposition to his position in his homeworld was pleasant and he would seek the Apex’s services immediately. However, the fact that he would be able to maintain contact with the half-Sephi made him happy.

Perhaps more than he should be.

Arla’s negative answer about the meaning of the carvings didn’t surprise him. Like her, Caerllion had no clue about the culture of the Rakata. It could be a simple piece of art or some warning about an impending doom. As far as he knows, it could even be a simple act of vandalism.

“The only thing that remains is the Force, be it the light or the darkness.” Caerllion finished Arla’s line of thinking with his own conclusion, while his eyes didn’t leave the two figures in the stone. Forever sealed in an eternal conflict. As a Sith, he would continue working for the Order to reach all corners of the Galaxy. However, when he died, this mission would pass to someone else.

In an eternal circle.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

She considered what he said to add to her statement, and it wasn't really wrong. The Force itself was what they all came from and returned to. Outside of that, there was nothing else, and perhaps nothing else they did mattered. She wondered how the memories and consciousness of what happened in life carried into the Force. She had felt her mother's spirit even in the atmosphere of Dathomir after her passing, and she had seen the spirits of the dead traveling through the atmosphere of Dathomir on their way to the other side of the Veil. How did those energies flow into the Force itself? Perhaps it was a question she would ponder in the future. Perhaps it was time for her to return home.

Maybe, she said thoughtfully as she pushed herself back to her feet and turned to look at the looming void that seemed to yawn in front of them. Her face hardened into a scowl as fear threatened to creep up on her, but she took that first step forward, and each step after that was easier.

Her saber lit up in her hand, a twisted green and black hue that was forged out of her Nightsister magick and that somehow felt very different from a Jedi's green blade. It pushed back the darkness as she began to descend, but even as it did, the darkness seemed to push back as if it hated the presence of the light source.

Steps led downward into the bowels of the ruins and slowly the underground began to open into what almost seemed like an underground city of its own. Empty and devoid of beings, but alive in its own way. Alive with darkness or souls of the undead perhaps.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Caerllion followed Arla inside the cave. The Darkness that flowed from inside it nearly brought up fear. However, he wasn’t going to react because of it. Not in front of the half-Sephi. It would be shameful if she saw him tremble like a simple Acolyte. He was very capable of shielding himself from it.

He watched the half-Sephi activate his lightsaber, staring with surprise at the uncommon colors that it had. Caerllion wanted to ask how she had made it, but refrained from asking. It seemed to be related to her Nightsister heritage, at least he could feel how the blade vibrated similar to her magick.

Since Arla was so protective of her culture’s secrets, Caerllion decided to remain in silence. He decided to use his lightsaber to help illuminate their path. The light that their blades cast revealed that the walls were covered by carvings. All of them were some type of runic letters that the Annfyn had no idea how to translate.

At the end of the tunnel, they found what seemed to be an ancient city. The Annfyn could see the remains of buildings, with one in the center being the most intact. The Darkness seemed to be coming from here, but now that they were closer to it, Caerllion could feel that there was something more hiding under the cover of the Dark.

A small bit of Light.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla looked out at the city-like ruins beneath them, the scope of it causing her to pause. The darkness seeping from this place had stained the land for many years, probably centuries, and she wondered who it was that had left such a mark on this place, and why.

She pressed onward down a steep, winding path that led to a small, half-crumbled bridge. She looked at it carefully, trying to find if there was any sign that it might give way beneath them, but she saw nothing.

Tread carefully, she warned, contemplating just teleporting across but opting to walk for now. She didn't want to waste any of her strength before they confronted whatever it was that was down here.

She walked carefully across the bridge but caught the sight of movement from the corner of her eye and froze. It was like a shadow walking across the corner of her vision and it sent a chill down her spine.

Who enters my domain. a voice seemed to echo out from all around them.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

After walking for some time, they arrived in front of a decrepit bridge. Caerllion was nearly sure that any step on it could cause the entire structure to collapse. Below it was an abysm, a pit of darkness. Very suited to the atmosphere that surrounded them. The dark presence that emanated from this place was ancient.

"Understood." Caerllion said, while carefully stepping on the bridge. There was some small fissures that could be easily enlarged if someone too heavy passed over them. For the first time the Annfyn was happy that he was lithe. If he was huge, it would be too dangerous for him to continue.

He followed Arla, being careful to step on the areas where the half-Sephi had previously stepped. If she had safely did it, then Caerllion would be capable of doing the same. Due to that, the Champion was behind her when the voice spoke to them

It seemed to come from the darkness that surrounded them, but the Annfyn couldn’t feel any living presence. He wondered if it was using an ability to hide from them. "Who are you?" the Annfyn asked, while signing with his hands that Arla should continue crossing the bridge. Even if they were attacked in the other side, it would be better than being attacked in a bridge where the lightest seeze would make it collapse.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla felt stiff but she didn't stop crossing the bridge. Whatever this thing was, she could sense that it was not of this world. Her mind started churning through her lessons of what kind of creature this might be, but whatever it was, it considered this place its home, and generally people didn't take kindly to trespassers. The Nightsisters certainly didn't.

You may go no further!! the voice screeched as Arla finished crossing the bridge. Evidently, it didn't seem like answering questions when its own were ignored.

Torches all around the large area sprung to life all at once, and a tumble of stones from far above fell, slamming down all around the two of them and sending the bridge itself crumbling to pieces from the impact. Caerllion would have mere moments to both dodge the stones and clear his way off the bridge.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

No reply came back to his question and the Annfyn wasn’t surprised by it. He doubted that whatever was talking to them would be interested in talking about what they were or doing a small conversation. Caerllion wondered why he had even made the question to begin with.

He didn’t stay thinking about it much longer, because torches came to life and stones started to fall over the bridge. Using the Force to enhance his speed, the Annfyn rushed out of the structure, jumping the last part of it. Once in safety near Arla, he stared as the remains of the bridge fell in the darkness of the abyss.

“I think that the voice isn’t going to be very happy. We need to be careful.” Caerllion said to Arla, before turning to look at the path in front of them. It was a corridor that went toward the ruins of the city. He wondered what the voice would do now that they obviously went further than before.

The sound of approaching steps seemed to answer his question.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

How astute, Arla quipped as he finished being nearly crushed under a ton of rock and sent plunging into a chasm of the abyss. No, she could assume the voice wouldn't be happy with them. Whatever specter or poltergeist was haunting this cave, she had no doubt that more dangers would await them ahead.

As it turned out, they didn't have to wait long for that, either. The sounds of approaching footsteps weren't those of a ghost, but a darkness came with... whatever it was.

Even Arla for all her years hunting and fighting dangerous creatures wasn't prepared for what came out of the darkness ahead. The lumbering, powerful footfalls of a terentatek emerged from the darkness, charging at the pair of Force-users and absolutely bent on drinking their blood. As if its nature wasn't enough to drive it to that, Arla could sense the "hand" of the specter guiding it.

Distract it! she said. Oh yeah, just casually "distract it" but with the proper time and space, she hoped to break the ghosts hold on the creature... although whether that would actually help was also in question.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

”A terentatek.” Caerllion whispered in amazement, watching the creature walk out of the shadows. It was so rare to see a Sithspawn in so perfect condition, while living in the wild. The Annfyn had started studying about the alchemical and scientific process of making such creatures.

If he could catch this one alive, or at least pick a piece of it for analysis…

“Yes, but I want to take a sample from him. Can you help?” the Annfyn said, while creating balls of energy in both his hands. The terentatek was running toward Arla, so when Caerllion threw his magick at it, the creature turned the attention to the Champion. It immediately rushed toward him.

Using the Force to increase his agility, Caerllion rushed out from the terentatek’s path. The Annfyn would continue attacking and evading, until the creature became tired. Or Arla was able to break the connection.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Staying alive first! she shouted back. Now wasn't really the time to be picky about how they dealt with the creature, and Arla's first priority was staying alive. So was her second and third for that matter. These creatures were specifically designed once upon a time to hunt Force-users, and they were arguably even more dangerous than rancors.

Arla let herself dive into the shadow, being carried up its currents to a higher ledge above appearing in a puff of green fire and reappearing in one much the same.

She closed her eyes and upon opening them again, they blazed with green flame, letting her see the world of spirits. She could vaguely make out the shape of the being that guided this creature through the darkness.

She focused in on it and began to chant in Dathomiri, her voice echoing through the cave as it carried through the Shadow itself.

Tvoya vlast' nad plot'yu zakonchilas', vernis' tuda, otkuda prishel. Tvoya vlast' nad plot'yu zakonchilas', vernis' tuda, otkuda prishel. Tvoya vlast' nad plot'yu zakonchilas', vernis' tuda, otkuda prishel! she said, her voice growing louder with each word that she spoke.

But the being's hold on the creature was not broken so quickly, and it lunged at Caer again, swiping with its claws in an attempt to grab him once again. It was quicker than it looked, and large enough that simply jumping over it - while possible - had risks of its own. Its arms were wide and had the deadly potential to catch him should he opted to leave the ground.

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Caerllion didn’t reply to Arla's comment. She was right, they needed to focus on surviving the creature's attack first. His strategy of attacking and evading had become useless, because the terentatek soon understood what he was doing. It wasn’t a surprise for the Annfyn. A Sithspawn wasn’t going to be so easily deceived.

Besides the fact that it was bred to hunt Force users.

With its arms prepared to slash Caerllion, the creature approached the Annfyn. Arla was still busy doing her ritual and wouldn’t be able to help him. To defend himself, the Annfyn used a spell of his own. First he released a powerful blast of energy that collided against the terentatek's face.

The creature stumbled, giving an opening for the Annfyn to whisper a spell in ur-kittât. The Dark Side gathered below the creature's feet and tendrils of red energy emerged from here. It would wrap on its legs and arms, holding the terentatek in its place. However, the Sithspawn was powerful and Caerllion’s hold would not last forever.

Arla needed to finish her spell immediately.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla continued her focus on her spell, confident that Caerllion would manage to stay alive against the creature until she did. She drank in the darkness of the cave, regurgitating it down the lines of energy that were binding her to the specter of this place.

With the power of the spell and the energy from the cave, she forced its grip free of the monstrosity as it screeched in resistance, enraged that it had been foiled yet again.

She dug her own mental claws into the creature even as it began to break free of Caer's trap.

Bring the roof down on it! Crush it, I can't hold it for long! she shouted down to Caerllion below her, and he would be able to see a large, rocky ledge above the creature that - with the right application of the Force - he could bring down and crush the creature to death.

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Caerllion’s face was getting red due to the effort of restricting the terentatek. The creature was fighting against his power and the energy chains that he conjured were slowly giving away. The Annfyn wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to restrain it for long.

Even when Arla freed it from the control of the voice, the terentatek remained relentless. This action seemed to have only made the Sithspawn even more furious. Caerllion forgot completely his previous ideas of capturing it, with his mind settling on the idea of surviving this battle.

Due to that, he simply nodded when Arla said that he should bring the roof down. With the half-Sephi holding it back, Caerllion made the energy chains disappear and pointed his hands at the rocky ledge. He immediately released a blast that exploded against the rock, causing the whole thing to fall over the terentatek, which screamed in pain before falling down.

“Well, I still can collect the DNA.” Caerllion quipped, while looking at the terentatek below the rubble. At least they didn’t burn it.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla took a deep breath as she saw the stones crush the creature, mushing even its hard outer skin into nothing but pulverized bone. It wiggled several times and then lay still, a familiar motion that Arla had seen countless times as beings gave up their life energies to the wellspring of the Force: death.

She let the breath out as she called the Shadow around her again and dropped down, landing on the ground near the dying creature as Caer declared his intention to collect DNA from it. Arla felt almost a pang of sadness as she watched the creature breathe its last. It wasn't so different from the rancors of Dathomir, and she thought back to the way so many of her Sisters had given up their lives to defend their home and her mother.

But they, too, were dead.

Yes, she said quietly, an almost somber tone to her voice. It would be only prudent for her to do so as well, and yet something about it felt wrong to her. It was foolish, of course, and the sentiment of a little girl rather than a military contractor and assassin, but she couldn't shake the feeling.

I hope this is worth it, she muttered quietly. The prize at the end of this may well be a big fat "nothing" but she hoped that wasn't the case.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

”I hoped that it would be alive, though.” Caerllion said, while walking close to the dead terentatek. It was painful to feel the life leaving the creature. It was so rare and amazing, with its death being a great shame. “It was too incredible to die in such a way.” he crouched near the body, while picking a small kit from his pocket. From there, he removed sharp forceps and a tiny flask. Since he had started to be involved with science, the Annfyn started to walk around with this type of equipment.

“If it wasn’t being controlled, I’m sure that the two of us would have bonded with it, like the Sith of old.” before he started the extraction, Caerllion placed his right hand over the creature’s head and muttered a prayer that was used by his his people to honor dead animals. “I’m sorry.” after finishing, he started to work. “Then my samples would be simple pieces of skin that naturally fall from it and occasional blood.”

The thought of skin and the fact that Arla was from Dathomir gave him an idea and Caerllion immediately turned to look at Arla. To his surprise, the half-Sephi looked distressed. “Are you fine?” he asked, while walking next to her. He was visibly concerned with her. “Even if we find something like a relic or whatever, nothing would replace it. This was a unique animal, perhaps even the last one still alive.” he gestured at it, before sighing. “I really wanted it to live. It was an amazing creature.”

He probably sounded like a young boy that lost his pet. However, he couldn’t lose focus. “Do you know how I can obtain a young rancor, or at least the skin and teeth that they shed naturally? Since they are growing up, they change their skin and teeth constantly." Caerllion explained this scientific tidbit, not wanting Arla to think that he was some type of bloodlusted hunter. "I wanted to have samples, but I don’t want to kill or pay for a dead one only because of it. This would be wrong and shameful. I also only want one if it is an orphan.” he was a Sith, but his Annfyn heritage still screamed to be respected. “Besides, I would scream like a fangirl if I could ride on it.” he laughed, because it would be totally true.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla glanced over in surprise and saw Caer produce some random tools and devices. It seemed he had gotten interested in alchemy after all. She knew a thing or two on the topic, though she was, admittedly out of practice. She knew she had the resources at her disposal to be quite potent if she ever took it back up.

And her mind had considered turning back to the Sith before. Not to the Order proper, most likely, but she came from a lineage of Sith Lords who weren't afraid to carve out their own piece of the galaxy. But ultimately, Arla saw no point in it. She enjoyed her life as it currently was, and saw no reason to begin burning the galaxy down simply because she might be able to.

She shook herself from her musings as Caer asked if she was okay.

Yeah. Just thinking, she said, pulling her own hunting knife out and taking a piece of flesh for herself. Dead was dead, and there was no point in wasting what was already gone.

No, not the last. They still breed in the lowest reaches of Kashyyyk, she said. They were too resilient to die out and to dangerous for most people to hunt to extinction. They would live on in rarity as they should. The galaxy wouldn't do well with hordes of them descending on the galaxy.

Arla was caught off guard by his next question about rancors, and at first she was displeased but as he continued to speak, she understood more.

Felucia had many rancors and locals who also lived in harmony with them, she said. She wasn't sure if he was trying to get an invite to Dathomir, but Dathomir wasn't the only place that rancors could be found.

We should press on, she said, flicking her head onward down into the halls that led to the final room. It was large and expansive. In recent days it had clearly been the home of the creature they had just killed, and before that it looked like it had been something of a research chamber. Perhaps for the spirit that still haunted this place.

He's here, she said, her eyes looking out to the room despite talking to Caer. She could sense the spectral presence here even though she couldn't see him.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

”Really? Perhaps I should make a visit to Kashyyyk.” if the terentateks still lived in the Wookiee’s homeworld, this was a great opportunity for the Annfyn to proceed with his experiments. The genetic material that he had collected would help, but collecting individuals from a breeding population would be even better. An army of these creatures under Sith control would be a calamity for their enemies.

“Here, use this vial to store the pieces.” he said, while offering to her a small metal canister. “It’ll make the meat take a longer time to start to rot.” it would be better than transporting the pieces without any protection.

Caerllion nodded when she mentioned Felucia. “I’ll make contact with the locals. Maybe they can help me find one.” the Annfyn was a bit disappointed that Arla didn’t show much interest in helping him find a rancor. He thought that she would have influence in Dathomir that could help him obtain one of these creatures.

The Annfyn followed Arla through the halls of the ruins. There wasn’t anything interesting on them, besides only some old pieces of broken stone and remains of food, probably what once was the meals of the terentatek. However, the situation changed when they reached a room. Caerllion recognized the equipment as part of a genetic laboratory. A very old one. He wondered if there was anything here that he could salvage.

Like Arla, the Annfyn felt the presence. It was lurking around the room. "Yes, we need to be prepared. It's approaching."

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Thanks, she said, looking to the vial he offered her and placing the sample inside. Odds were it would never come to anything, but sometimes just having the foresight to plan for the possibility was important.

Even as Arla looked to the room they were now in, she couldn't help but feel curiosity about the potential things that could be obtained here. She wondered whose research this had been and what they knew.

Of course, they may find that out soon enough, and she glanced over at Caer.

How much have you practiced arcanistry? she asked. She knew she had seen him participate in at least some dabbling, but she also knew he spent a great deal of his time was spent in the political circle, vying for the crown.

I want to bind this spirit to one of the items here. Trap it in something I can take, she said, although the ritual would be dangerous. Anything to do with dealing with creatures like this one was dangerous, and it would require his help if he was willing to give it.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

”I had practicing it since my Master taught me for the first time.” Caerllion didn’t stop learning about the arcane only because Vex vanished. The Annfyn had continued with his studies by using what she left for him and other things that he collected during the years. “Why?” he asked, curious to know why the half-Sephi wanted his help.

His eyes widened when Arla said that she wanted to bind the spirit. Caerllion had read about this ritual and how Sith Lords used it to fill their tombs with dark spirits that would protect their secrets. If they were able to do it, perhaps he could talk with the entity and force them reveal their secrets.

“I’ll help you.” he was excited about doing something new with sorcery. “Do you think that, after the binding, we can force it to tell us about the experiments being made in this place?” he had heard that some rituals were capable of turning the spirits subservient to who did it. If it was the case, they could have many answers.

Caerllion approached Arla, staying in front of her. “What do I need to do?” he expected for her instructions, while feeling the spirit still lurking among the shadows.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

That's the hope, she replied in answer to his question. There were no guarantees, but something like that should theoretically be possible.

She set to work immediately, her green-tinted lightsaber carving symbols into the floor to invoke various ur-Spirits to lend strength for the ritual that was to come.

You will sit in the center of the circle and... open yourself to the spirit, she said. He would, understandably, be not thrilled about this idea. It was something that - if he didn't trust Arla completely - would be nigh akin to suicide. It was an incredible risk that she was asking of him, but that was why she had asked. Effectively it would be a direct showdown between Arla and the spirit.

When it tries to possess you, I'll prevent it, she said.

Hahahaha, you are a bold one. I like this game, the spirit's voice rang out all around them.