Ask What Makes the Madclaw Mad?

[Maxims Tionson]

Kashyyyk was a place of dangers and the Wookiee people had made their homes here as strong as they could in order to survive but they had trained themselves even more in order to be stronger still. But sometimes things went wrong and the civility that Wookies could be known for was stripped away. The worst time was when they broke their highest level of taboo and used their claws.

Using claws for anything other than climbing trees was seen as the most horrifying crime that a Wookiee could commit and would immediately lead to death if captured. Banishment was usually stated as the sentence but that was mainly because Wookiees tended to not want to engage in combat with a "Madclaw" considering it might make them more likely to use their own claws in retaliation.

And a Madclaw was on the run down in the darkest reaches of Kashyyyk.

Rather than dealing with this "in house" as it were, they reached out and Max answered. As a Jedi he wanted to foster good relationships with peoples throughout the Galaxy and the Wooks were high on his list. They were a wonderful people and they were loyal to those who had earned that loyalty. Hopefully he could prove to them that the Jedi Order was worthy of that loyalty and friendship.

He stood on the lift with his ally as they were lowered deeper and deeper into the undergrowth. Some of the creatures down there were foul but he was confident they would be able to track down the Madclaw. The tribe wanted him dead but Max wanted to go one step further; he wanted to know what had caused a regular Wookiee to suddenly decide to turn his back on tradition.

What made the Madclaw mad.

"You ready for this?"

@KillaRee

 

[Indy Sati]

There were rumors that Maxims was the type to attract danger and trouble. And the more experience that went on, the more she could confirm that this was definitely true. With all the reports filtering in, however, she would have to set aside those personal rumors and focus on the task at hand. She loved forests and jungles, the greener the better, but this place held a subdued air that reminded more of a tomb.

She took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. She glanced at Max... and gave a faint half-grin.

"Should be interesting," she replied simply, golden eyes glimmering in the dusky light. "I've never been here before... but can you feel it?"

By 'it', of course, was the darkness that seemed to have a physical oppressive weight. The feeling of darkness beyond the primordial galactic darkness, a seething thing that haunted and hushed even basic jungle sounds and left a keen edge of silent anticipation.

She was ready... but there was a malignancy that soured the air the further they went.

@Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Kashyyyk was many things and interesting was certainly one of them but Max honestly couldn't remember any other good descriptions of the place. It was a horrible mass of plant-life and animal life that seemed determined to be nothing but predators. Even some of the weaker species were still horrifyingly capable of wholesale slaughter and, on any other planet, they would have been apex predators for sure.

But for Kashyyyk it was Tuesday.

"Kashyyyk is a massive battlefield." he told her with a frown, "The plants, the people and the animals are always trying to kill each other. That desperate struggle breeds anger... hatred... pain and suffering."

Which meant that despite being teeming with life it was also a place where one could very easily grab hold of the Dark Side of the Force almost without meaning to. As the lift reached the bottom, Max stepped out and drew his lightsaber in his right hand but didn't go so far as to light it just yet.

Instead he focused on looking around their immediate area. The tribe had told them the Madclaw had escaped down this way not two days ago but now?

"I've got nothing..." he admitted with a frown, "I'm not good at tracking at all."

Spoiler: Dice

Max can't track for shite

@KillaRee

 

[Indy Sati]

She frowned in focus as well. And though the jungle surrounded with them fairly pulsed with life, it was the life of things not with the sentience of a Wookie. The ground beneath their feet seethed with that ancient hunger and anger, yes, but it was more than that. Something prickled to awareness down her spine, but she couldn't focus or pinpoint it. She, too, held out her lightsaber, and began stepping forward slowly, golden eyes tracking the jungle before them.

By the time it hit her, she hadn't been able to sense it until it was too late.

Claws lashed out from the darkness, catching her in the shoulder, raking deep. She let out a cry of pain as a snarling, red-eyed face scowled with fangs in the darkness, and began dragging her in with it, claws gouging deeper into her ribs.

Blood spattered across the ground as she struggled to activate her lightsaber, grip compromised by the sudden aggressive attack. So that's why they couldn't track the Madclaw.

It was tracking them, and now it found its' quarry. "Get back!" she bellowed to Max, before it tried tracking back and dragging her with it. No point in letting it also reach him, she would have to try to fend it off herself. But the pain razing down her side burned with gut-wrenching agony, and she fought hard to keep her mind clear of the haze of shock.

@Nefieslab

Spoiler: Dice

Surprise! He mad.

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Karking hells.

Of course the Madclaw had decided to stake out the force-damned lift. If the lift was the only way into this area of the forest then it was also the only place in the forest that people would come looking for him. Even though he was clearly deranged and his emotions were a chaotic jumble, the Madclaw was not stupid.

It was cunning and it had sprang it's trap.

Reaching into the Force, Max stepped between Indy and the Madclaw and lashed out with the Force. The blast of power slammed into the Madclaw and flung it backwards into the trunk of a tree but even though the impact had dazed it, it didn't seem to care all that much. Instead it growled and flexed it's claws as it began to try and circle them, Max mirroring it as he ignited his lightsaber.

He would do what he must.

Spoiler: Dice

He too determined to be chased off

@KillaRee

 

[Indy Sati]

When the Madclaw released her she sagged to the ground, her free hand pressed into her side. Blood started to ooze from the ragged claw marks down her side, and she was feeling slightly lightheaded as her knees folded to the ground. She stared up dully at the Madclaw as Max and it circled, and took a deep breath.

I am one with the Force.

When it began to crouch, preparing to either flee or attack the other Knight, she reacted.

Flinging her hand out as it prepared to leap, stasis wrapping around its' torso and legs. It roared wordlessly and began to flail, claws swiping the air as spittle frothed from its' mouth and she began to pant herself, cold sweat sliding down her back. More blood began to ooze down, and his eyes locked on his Force assailant, arms windmilling with a hateful snarl towards his attackers.

"Max, hurry, I can't hold him for much longer," she panted, frowning in focus and feeling her head start to swim again. She had to hold it... him... in place however. She couldn't do it for an age, but she could do it long enough to aid Max in capturing him and getting some answers.

@Nefieslab

Spoiler: dice

Gotcha, barely

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Max didn't have to be told twice even though he knew that what he was planning on doing was going to be painful not just for him but for the Wookiee as well. He knew that he couldn't expected Indy to hold an angry Wookiee still so he had to work with what he had and what he had was the Wookiee held in place by legs that were stuck in stasis while the rest of the Wookiee was still actively moving and trying to kill him.

Which was an issue but not one that couldn't be beaten.

Charging forwards, he ignited both blades of his saberstaff as he crossed the distance. Pain was temporary but success here could mean something far more permanent and good for the region and that was what drove him. The Force guided him and he accepted that in order to do it's will he would have to take the punishment.

Stopping in front of the Wook he stabbed down with his saber, stabbing through the knee joint and burning/cutting all the way down to the Madclaw's left Achilles tendon. The punishment for this was the Wook slamming his claws up along his torso - thankfully merely bruising him as the claws and the force tore up the armoured plates of his clothing.

Twisting the staff as he pulled it free of the left leg, he repeated the attack on the Madclaw's right leg, stabbing down through the knee to burn and cut at the same time. The second attack tore through what remained of his armour and tore into his flesh as well. Staggering backwards, bleeding rather heavily, Max back-pedaled to be out of arm's reach and when the Madclaw finally escaped the stasis and made to follow?

It immediately fell flat on it's face, both of it's legs mutilated beyond use without surgery.

He gasped in pain as he held a hand over some of his claw-wounds, as if trying to keep the deeper parts closed.

"I'm sorry."

Spoiler: Dice

Success hurts

@KillaRee

 

[Indy Sati]

She wanted to help, but the wounds burned down her side, having raked down under her own armor. She could hear the Wookie bellow and roar in pain as she released it, clutching at his legs with a growling wail that left chills up and down her arms. She bowed her head, swallowing back burning nausea at the pain of the wounds, and slowly sat back on her heels.

She, too, pressed a hand to her side, attempting to staunch the bleeding. Perhaps getting a medipak out would be a good idea, but she couldn't attempt to get answers from him yet. Her head was still swimming from the surprise assault, and the deep claw gouges as a result.

@Nefieslab

Spoiler: dice

Big Oof

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Well the Madclaw wasn't going to be getting to them so long as they managed to stay out of arm swinging range which was nice so he focused on something else instead. Digging deep into the Force, he placed a hand gently over Indy's wound. Their objective was important but they were Jedi and their own came first.

"Hold still..."

Using the Light, he reached in and encouraged her wound to begin healing. It was draining on him in terms of endurance and energy but... well he'd had a big breakfast and she had held the Madclaw during the struggle so he owed her. Amazingly (considering his lack of results during a lot of his training) this actually worked amazingly well, allowing her wounds to close up and begin the natural healing process at a slightly accelerated rate.

Feeling as though his connection to the Force was about as strong as it was ever going to get at this stage, he decided to keep going on this roll he was on. Turning to the Madclaw he pinned him down with the Force and placed his hand on his head as he reached deep within himself before projecting himself into the mind of the crazed Wook.

The first thing he realized was that the Madclaw had gone truly mad and that there was no way he was going to be able to repair his mind. Even a fully trained mind healer wouldn't be able to save the mess that had been left here. Gaining insight was successful on some level; he could see the slave camp the Wook was taken to and then he saw the cave.

Flashes of spiders - gross but not mind breaking.

Unfortunately what actually broke his mind was too much. The visions were fractured as even under his direction, the Madclaw's mind refused to let him relive it. Instead he merely felt it; the presence of the Dark Side so thick that it might as well have been a bloody jam! He let go of the Wook and it fell to the ground, unconscious from his mind-probing.

He blinked a few times before staggering backwards and sitting on his arse, drained and needing to catch his breath.

"Do you want the bad news or the worse news?"

Spoiler: Dice

Max is a Doctor...
... and something of a mind reader!

@Killa Ree

 

[Indy Sati]

Forcing herself to be still while Max used the Force to heal was... an odd, yet not unpleasant feeling. She forced herself to be still, to allow the light to help, and felt the raw pain from the wounds ease somewhat, freeing her to breathe a little more easier. Still, he was wounded himself. She wordlessly offered her med pack, so that he could dress his wounds himself. Though she had been taught a little in healing, she wasn't confident in them yet. She would hold off using it unless direly necessary.

She leaned back when he stated the news, golden eyes calmly meeting his.

"Up to you, chief, I'm just following this fun adventure," she quipped with a weak smile, which faltered soon after when regarding the Madclaw before them. A hint of sorrow for the Wookie's loss rested on her shoulders. Whatever he had faced... she hoped when they were done, he would find peace from his mental and physical torment.

@Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Taking her med pack with a little chuckle, he started dressing his own wounds. His fingers felt heavy and barely responsive but that was fine because he was still alive to feel it and he had helped Indy. Having to put up with having butterfingers until he got a chance to fully rest up was fine by him. Still, he hissed in annoyance and pain as he pulled the bandages tight enough for them to actually do something rather than just soak up blood.

He glanced at the Wookiee for a long moment before removing his gaze.

Looking at the poor creature didn't help him much with what he had seen considering it just reinforced how much suffering the creature had gone through. He sat heavily beside Indy as he thought about how best to actually convey what he had seen. Part of him wanted to just impress the memories onto her through the Force but it felt... cheap.

As though the suffering the Wookiee had enduring was something that could just be passed around like some parcel at a children's birthday party. Running a hand through his beard, he grimaced.

"A slaver's camp connected to a cave or dark place. Spiders within but..." he closed his eyes, "Deeper within the ground something far worse. Something dripping with the Dark Side, so hungry and so eager to shred his mind just to cause more pain to fuel itself that little bit more."

He forced himself to smile slightly.

"Guess I know where I'm going next."

@Killa Ree

 

[Indy Sati]

She listened patiently, letting him speak without interruption or question. A sick feeling touched in the bottom of her stomach at the thought of... whatever it was... twisting a Wookie's mind so much that he did the very thing their culture forbade. She knew they were both fortunate to have been guided in the Force to survive this dark, twisted encounter, but Max seemed to be a good companion to have with her in this perilous journey.

Her features grew more serious at the thought of a Thing so imbued with the Dark that it could twist a mind to breaking so. She glanced sideways at him, then giving a light nudge with her shoulder. "Where we're going," she corrected mildly, giving a faint smile. "If you think you'll be facing this madness alone after all this kark, you're wrong there, Knight Tionson." Despite the gravity of her words, a dim sparkle still remained in gold eyes.

"But before then... let's get some rest, old man. No point facing the Dark Side on an empty stomach and a tired mind." The faint lingering grin took any sting out of her words, and she rolled upright on her feet, offering a hand down to the fellow Knight. They both had much to dwell on between here and the cave to face ahead; they would need to be fully prepared, rested at least.

@Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Did he think he was going to be taking on the Darkness of Kashyyyk alone? No but he had also gotten used to working either by himself or with very limited back-up in recently weeks and months. There weren't many Jedi he could count on these days - so many of those he knew on a personal level had left on long missions, died or otherwise gone silent. He wasn't the best when it came to making friends at the best of times but in times such as these?

He sometimes felt very alone.

So having some young pup of a Jedi Knight decide she was tagging along was welcome if only because it seemed like a rather easy way to gain a companion and, potentially, a friend at the end of it all. He huffed out a little laugh at her basically inviting herself along on a trip that promised darkness of the sentient kind and Darkness of the Force kind as well.

"Watch your cheek, sprout." he joked back to her as he accepted her hand to help himself up, "Yes you look like you need a nap."

Using the Force, he lifted the incapacitated Madclaw up and levitated him over to the lift before setting him down gently within. Joining the Madclaw, he eyed the poor creature for a moment as the lift began to ascend.

"They'll execute him for this - they can't exile him now that he's shown himself to be so violent." he spoke quietly, looking out amongst the trees, "I... part of me thinks it would have been a mercy to have given him a warrior's end but mostly I just want him to try and get help. It might seem silly but I just want him to have a chance, you know?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Indy Sati]

She worked with Max silently in loading up the Wookie, keeping quiet for now. Eyes narrowed thoughtfully as they ascended, but seeing the fellow Knight showing such compassion made her reconsider Max. She didn't know much of the man; he was a very private individual, the most she had to go on were rumors and stories, but even they weren't painting a true picture. She lightly rested a hand on his shoulder.

"It's not our place to judge honor or dishonor in death," she replied softly, but those words didn't seem enough. She frowned slightly, then continued. "The best we can do is allow them their judgement with what we've learned; and hope that this madness can be spared another. He already died a warrior..." her eyes glanced down to the unconscious male, a flicker of empathy glittering in her lambent gaze.

"The best we can hope for is that this never happens again. The being we were against down below was a shell; hopefully now he'll find peace."

She moved her hand away, clearing her throat slightly. She wasn't one for giving many comforting words; she felt awkward, unsure of how to give comfort and assure that they were doing well, considering their limitations.

She just wished she were wiser, or better at talking in general. But this wasn't her peak type of subject.

@Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

He knew it.

All the arguments that Indy could have used? He'd used them himself at one point or another. Either used to reassure his allies even when he himself felt no such assurance or when he was trying to convince himself when he woke in the middle of the night. When he could no longer sleep and he had to think about what he had done.

Had he killed anyone personally?

No.

But he had delivered people to face justice in places he knew that justice would involve the ending of a life. Sometimes it was done humanely and other things it simply wasn't. He ran a hand through his hair and just stared out at the trees in silence for a long moment before he decided he had to just accept the way things were and move on.

"I guess we all have to accept that even if we don't ever take a life - there is always going to be some blood on our hands in the pursuit of a greater good."

@Killa Ree

 

[Indy Sati]

Standing beside the fellow Knight, Indy could feel the struggle to accept. That what they did was for a good intent, but that it didn't end with a good ending for an innocent twisted into this world of theirs. She knew that sleep tonight would be difficult, but they would get what they needed to get done.

It was the least they could do to see it through.

"There's always that risk," she agreed, nodding once. "But we do the best we can. Even with that risk." It wasn't the words anyone wanted... but it was the words that weren't the greatest comfort. She knew it, and she knew he would know it. But they weren't here for the easy job, but the greater good, whatever it could be. They would keep trying regardless. At least, that's what she considered.

@Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

We do the best we can.

If that wasn't the damned thing ever he didn't rightly know what was. It said something that he had heard that line so many times and it was only now beginning to grate on him. Because sometimes their best simply wasn't good enough and everyone knew it. Sometimes they could do things better but they were held back.

Sometimes he knew that he could have done more but hadn't because to push and pull at laws until their suited your own, personal, moral compass was not the actions of a Jedi.

The lift reached the top, the Wookiee village they had left, and they were greeted by the leader of the village and a small entourage. Max bowed his head as the chief bellowed a greeting.

"We have returned, wise chief, with the Madclaw captured to face your justice." he declared, looking at the ground slightly as he spoke, "I am afraid he is quite mad - his mind is broken. I will attempt to remove what drove him mad from your planet but I am afraid that he is... beyond what help I can offer."

That twisted something in his chest but he said it.

The chief thanked them in a subdued way and they left with the Madclaw. Max didn't know what they would do with the poor creature and he didn't really want to know. Instead he started off towards his ship.

"We'll be back for the source soon if the council will allow you to come, Indy. It will be perilous."

@Killa Ree

 

[Indy Sati]

She nodded once to his reply; she wished she were better at giving comfort, or at least saying things that were meaningful and deep, but she was never raised that way. She didn't know how to be that person; one of the many reasons she was grateful to not be of Master material. But giving comforting words considering this heavy subject would have felt and sounded false.

At the mention of danger, the characteristic slight grin kicked up one corner of her mouth, nodding once. "Danger's part of my job with artifacts," she replied calmly, giving a slight shrug. "Name the day and time, I'll be there Max. I'll come, even if I'm not wanted." But she wasn't going to linger; instead she gave a tilt of her hat, and another crooked, almost mischievous grin.

"Be seeing you, kid," she teased, lightly jogging to her own ship, the Galahad. Somehow, it felt wiser not to linger. She would do her best to help Max see this through; she too felt an obligation to justice, and balance. Both for the peace for the soul of the Madclaw they faced... and to cut down, even by the smallest measure, the darkness that seemed to pervade this jungle planet.

/End