Fallenreaper

[6 ATC 1, Korriban] Flower Fetch

Mara walked around her desk and took a seat, listening to the student’s tune change. As she faced the young hybrid, she folded her fingers into each other. Letting another moment pass, she turned to a top drawer. Her hand pulled out a datapad and wordlessly passed it over to him. On it was a three woody-stemmed plant with fungus growing on it.

“Within the catacombs underneath the Academy is that plant. Find it and break off a small section, the sticky sap will lessen the symptoms when swallowed. Do not taste too much. A small amount will do.”

She gestured for him to take the datapad with him as she retrieved a jar. It thumped on the table then she slid it over him.

“If you want to gain any favor from me, I require only one whole stem from it. Including the roots. The datapad will show you the general areas to look in order to find it. If you come back alive, I’ll consider giving you limited private lessons.”

Hai took the datapad after giving it a once over to try and memorize the plant and grabbed the jar with it. His grin got a little less tight and a bit more smirking, some of the confidence he’d arrived with returning now that he’d been given a potential way out.

“Consider it done. I’ll be back with the sample in short order.”

With that, he turned to walk out, already thinking over where the best place to start searching might be.

“If you manage to survive, be less foolish and open when you aim to gain favors. You will learn quickly it’s an exploitable weakness.” Mara’s ice-cold voice chased after him.

“I’ll keep it in mind.” Haiki muttered back to her as he walked out, not caring if she actually heard or not and trying to shake off his wounded pride considering his life was literally on the line.

From there he would go to the area used for sparring practice, hoping to break into a weapons locker and get one of the training sabers stored there for protection. Fortunately, he always carried a toolset on hand and between that and his innate talent for manipulating machinery with the Force he thought his chances were good.

He had only gone to the academy catacombs once before on a training exercise, but he still knew the way down well enough to get to the entrance. Once there he had Jana shine a light for him and use her sensors to try and map out the cave ahead as best she could.

“The thing has to be here somewhere Jana, try and fine-tune your sensory equipment while I look the inefficiently old fashioned way…”

As the droid’s light shined into one of the numerous tunnels, three pairs of eyes reflected the light back. A deep growl echoed off the walls as they vanished once more.

Hai flattened himself back against the closest tunnel wall and stilled everything about himself as much as he could: his movement, his breathing, even his heartbeat. He called the training saber he’d stolen to his hand with the Force but didn’t ignite the blade, instead of straining to sense the creature in the darkness before inching forward again, this time as slowly and quietly as possible.

The silence continued to settle in the scenery. Nothing seemed to move toward him.

Hai proceeded again but with greater caution, trying his best to silence himself as much as possible, drawing on what he could remember of his survival training for dealing with predators. At the same time, he tried to relax his body and seem unaware of the danger. Let the creature or creatures think he’d be easy prey. He briefly signaled Jana to ready the few combat countermeasures she had installed and continued down the tunnels.

Jana’s light caught a brief glimpse of something in the nearby shadows. It froze then turned to face the droid's light. A slender reptilian hound bore its several rows of sharp teeth. Its hunches rose on its as it straightened up from its stalking posture. About thirteen-foot in high of raw muscle covered with scales and spikes along the spine. It glared at the young acolyte before it charged right at him. Jaws widened and ready to sink it into the unprotected flesh.

Hai fought down his brief urge to panic and instead waited trying to read the creature’s movements and trust in his reflexes and the Force. As it charged in Jana shrieked a warning and he whipped the training saber up, aiming to ignite it right into the creature’s mouth as the beast opened wide to bite him.

A hiss and smell of charred flesh indicated that he struck true. A loud scream erupted from the creature's lungs as it backed away. Another blur launched itself at Hai from his left while a third one attacked Jana.

Hai’s right arm suddenly started to go numb and unresponsive just as he whirled to confront the second blur, but adapting quickly he just let go with his right hand and swung with his left along with the pivot. Jana responded to the charging monster by shooting out a length of fiber cord to entangle it and then firing out little bolts of electricity to discourage any followup if it broke free.

Another yelp and the second creature backed off. It whipped about and ducked back into the shadows where it came from. Its yellow eyes reflected lights back before it melted into the darkness. Meanwhile, J4n4’s opponent became entangled in the cord. It snarled then began to struggle free, left behind by its pack members.

[Korriban, 6 ATC 5] Passion and Fury

Dashara stood still. Her right side pointed at the door with a weapon in hand. She pointed the blade toward the floor in a non-aggressive, but ready stance. Her left hand rested on her hips while she studied the lighter weight weapon. With a flick to the right, it swung faster than she expected through the air. No effort needed to adjust the motion back to the left.

After a few more test swings before she lowered it down again. The faint hum rang in her ears. It reminded her of how much it could sting. The Inquisitor's words began to rumble in her head.

'Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, you gain strength.
Through strength, you gain power.
Through power, you gain victory.
Through victory, your chains are broken.
The Force shall free you.'

A perfect lie.

Dashara recalled the last time she used her anger or passion to free herself. Nothing happened when she applied to the force. These emotions failed to save her. Now they battered at her control. A fire under her surface began to rise from her core. The passion and fury began to swell in her. It sparked her into action when she decided to stop holding it back.

Her arm jerked out, then slashed to the right. She took a step forward then back, jostling for an advantage against an invisible enemy. She twisted to the left as she continued to circle about. Each movement held purpose and graceful intention. A dancer with a passion to maneuver her foe while defending her ground. Her father's description brought a smile to Dashara's lips.

[Korriban, 6 ATC 5] Passion and Fury

Blurb:

Selene and Dashara meet for the first time. Maybe a shared passion for combat might spark a connection, for better or worst, between the two. Only time will tell.

Setting: Korriban Academy, within one of the public combative rooms.
Time: Morning, just after breakfast. (Few days after her arrival)

⚫ The Fates' School for Gifted Monsters ⚫

🔥Ciara Smith🔥

&
Joseph

_{🔥 Location: Silvermist Academy, Baths--> Messhall
🔥 Time: Afternoon}

---

Ciara glided through the crowd of students moving past her. She shifted one way then the other before a larger student forced her to grind to a halt. A large grey skinned girl with a deformed nose, white tusks from her lower jaw and a hulk-like form. Ciara failed to puzzle how the student managed to fit, but she shrugged it off. She hated it when answers didn’t come easily.

Her arms crossed over her chest while she waited for the student to move. Red veins snaked across her surface, cracking the dark and flawless surface. Budding signs of her growing irritation. She hated being in close proximity to those who weren’t fireproof. Constance entered her thoughts causing Ciara to sigh, missing her usual partner on missions. Out of the numerous students, those who had powers associated with fire or resistant elements allowed her to be herself. Not tip-toeing all the time. This was the only drawback of being trapped in the Academy, but it wasn’t any better out there.

Her thoughts shattered when her ears caught a voice talk to her. She turned her head to catch the student’s image and clue her into his name. Joseph. The word hauled itself from the ashy remains of her mind. Her expression still looked annoyed despite him not being the source. Numerous black pustules covered areas near his fragile-looking body.

“Ciara Smith. I’ve seen you around, but why choose now to say hello? I figured you would’ve been with your own group of friends instead.”

Her ears caught a soft thump in the courtyard but ignored it. It was likely some snow falling to the ground from a tree or something.

The boy hesitated slightly before nodding, his voice echoing in a slightly raspy tone.

” Precisely - I would be, if I had a group of ‘friends.’ I do not, and am therefore attempting to join your group instead.

The boy then pulled his cloak around himself tighter, in a far too rigid and stiff motion. He paused briefly before continuing.

”Of course, that is only if you would want that - I can leave now, if you find my presence irksome.

Ciara turned to face him. She narrowed her eyes, studying him closely. Her head tilted as her smoky hair continued to float off into the air. Any heat that radiated off her had lowered in a few degrees from before.
“I guess? I don’t feel like I have a group. Just a few people I hang around with or go on missions with. It’s not easy getting close when you can burn someone. Know what I mean?” Her voice sounded unsure, but not an outright no. Her posture relaxed from its tense stance before gesturing for them to head out.

The boy’s facial features didn’t soften or change, but his cloak was clutched less closely, and the black tendrils inside of it occasionally twitches or grabs for his hands.

”Yes, I know what you mean - it sounds quite inconvenient. I would like to meet your partners, if you ever have time to spare. Alternatively, we could exchange personal information and resources at your leisure, as I have read ‘friends’ do on occasion.”

“Right now, I am heading to the mess hall for breakfast. I spent all night keeping the fires lit and need something to eat. Want to join me? Constance should meet me there soon.” Ciara offered as she decided to lead the way. Her feet moved toward the door and shivered at the chill greeting her, forcing her to core to increase her temperature.

“I fucking hate snow. Burns me when it melts and takes a while to stop.”

Joseph didn’t immediately respond to the request to join Ciara or her complaint about the weather, but he did follow her. His cloak responded to the sudden cold with a small hiss and small tremors, but the boy was calm otherwise. He only spoke a minute or two after Ciara spoke.

”It is understandable - snow was a very bad thing in my old home, so I have never found it comforting either.”

The pair quickly moved through the academy courtyard, crossing the plants that have died or lost their foliage. Joseph seemed to focus on a small structure close to the dorms, but made no motions to go towards it or point it out to Ciara.

Eventually, they finally arrived at the Mess Hall, where they started to get their food. As they did so, he addressed Ciara, attempting small talk.

” Where would you like to wait for your friend? I rarely eat in the Mess Hall, so I would not feel comfortable choosing where we will wait.”

Ciara pointed to the table near the kitchen as she moved toward it, expecting him to follow her. She didn’t sit when they arrived. Instead, her eyes looked to the staff walking in and out. They looked a bit busy, but she didn't mind. Her eyes caught the towering tinder box in order to avoid scorching him. She would never hear the end of it if he got singed and ignited the whole academy.

“I usually find it warmest near the kitchen, the fire is always going. I’ll grab us something. Want something specific? They have some pretty good stew and bread.” Ciara turned her head to show her attentiveness.

Joseph paused for a second in hesitation, before nodding his head and giving his normal monotone response.

”I would like that, yes. Please pick whatever you think is good, but please make sure there is a decent amount of meat, if you don’t mind. Thank you very much.

Joseph sat at the table, moving to take the corner seat and looking somewhat anxious.

@Lightning Fast

[Korriban, 6 ATC 5] Trial by Sith

Dash Horizon

---

Directed: Aria Saal @The Elvenqueen
Indirect Mentions: Haiki @Espada Emi, Tishombra @Almalthia

---

Feeling the storm die, Dash’s hands reached for her wrap. With a careful and quick movement, her hands began to move it. Her fiery red hair cascaded down across her shoulders to rest at the bottom of her shoulder blades. Curls twisted and spiraled ruffled by the harsher breeze rushing through the valley. Dash wrapped the cloth around her arm so as not to lose it, tying it off at the end. Her ears caught the sounds of a speeder approaching causing her head to turn into the owner’s directions. A woman with red hair drove then parked near the ruined tomb, pausing to take her goggles off. Dashara couldn’t stop her eyes from lingering a touch too long on the bike before she jerked it away. Hopefully no one saw it, she prayed.

Her arms moved onto her hips while she watched the exchange of the two female humans. Her nose gave a small quiet exhale from the not so subtle insult.

“I didn’t know Sith enjoyed taking bet.” Dashara nearly forgot to keep her tone free of sarcasm. Her phrasing likely hinted to her true thoughts about the subject.

She caught the kid out of the corner of her eye. He couldn’t have been any older than fourteen by her guess. Kids like him were often considered weak prey and time after time, they crumbled to the predators.

Outside Tomb

[Korriban, 6 ATC 5] Trial by Sith

Week 1, Dᴀʏ 1

---

Korriban's red sand kicked across the dusty terrain. Barren of life and water, only the wind dared to stir. Over the harsh terrain, a few dots made their way toward the hidden tomb in the dunes. The smoothed stone stood out against the grains. The large rectangular doorway oozing echoes of the past before the group. Ancient Pureblood language lined down the door, breaking the monotone surface. Cliff sides bordered it like guards protecting a secret.

A secret pillaged long ago.

Mara's narrow face turned up at the husk of the tomb. A meager donation to the Academy and freely used by the Overseers for various purposes. Today it would assist in exposing the week-old arrivals to the reality of the Sith world.

Her eyes slide over to Dashara Horizon and Mahree Mais-ede, both older force users. A heavy risk to take them out before fully being indoctrinated. If Overseer Corinth hadn’t agreed to accompany her, she would’ve had a struggle on her hands. Especially with the Zeltron hybrid.

After stopping at the door, she looked at Corinth before making her way into the tomb. The plan was simple. She would find a room in the tomb where she waited for the students to find her and receive a baton. Any non-student volunteers would sabotage or hinder the students, preventing them from completing their given task. While she couldn’t punish the non-students for their failure, the students weren’t under any such protection. They would suffer for it. Meanwhile, Corinth would inform them about their goals then force any unwilling to participants inside.

---

Dashara crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes scanned the horizon while she ignored the other individuals present. Rocks, sands and the academy loomed not too far from their location. The last building itself seemed to menace and taunt her. A faint reminder she couldn’t leave. She inhaled then exhaled to keep her emotions in check. From her peripheral vision caught Overseer Cessair glare in her direction. A bitter taste rose in the back of her throat. She could describe the horrible woman in a few words. A bitch with a stick stuck up her ass. It wouldn’t surprise her if the Overseer could shit at all. Shrugging the frustration off, her eyes fell on to Mahree. Guilt plowed into her as she jerked away. It was too much to handle.

She said nothing as she instead sized up the others.

[Deep Core, 6 ATC 4] Mission: Harvest Moon

Collab: Lieutenant Satra Maral
975th Special Duties
& Drey Rumen

---

Location: Bridge

---

@Moskau Spieluhr & @Fallenreaper

Contact, a commando signaled as a squads worth of weapons pointed towards a new set of figures that moved down one of the adjoining corridors leading to the bridge.”

Corporal Drey and his mercs covered the corridors effectively. Their eyes peeled and steps moved with purpose, heading to the bridge. As one merc turned the corner, his blaster rifle went up. Drey tensed as he moved forward to spot the threat. He sighed and pulled the merc’s twitchy weapon downward toward the ground.

He turned to the unknown squadron with a single, nonsense word. “Perf.”

Tension thick in the air, he waited for a reaction.

“Cakes”, came the predetermined reply from the closet commando as he signaled the commandos behind him with a hand still holding the compact blaster he wielded with the barrellel pointed towards the new arrivals and a finger still resting on the trigger. Friendlies.

Lowering her own weapon, Maral moved from behind her cover raising a hand peacefully as she stepped towards the newcomers. The countersign had been carefully shared. The risk that the Republic had managed to figure it out was minimal. And they could always use more bodies. Breaching into a bridge on lockdown was rarely pretty.

“L. Lokar,” Maral said, using the name she had been provided. It was a plausible enough cover, an unremarkable last name. She paused, giving the commanding officer of other group of soldiers time to identify himself. “Care to give us a hand?”

“C. Rumen and yes, I think we can do that,” Drey said, not saying the Corporal out loud. The ship still held security cameras and he didn’t know if they have been disabled yet.

“Just lead the way, and we’ll follow. Then we can likely get off this floating piece of metal before something else happens.”

“Sorotai, are we ready?” Maral asked as she returned to her former position beckoning the commanding officer and his mercs to follow. Her commandos wordlessly making room for the mercenaries as the two groups of soldiers stacked up alongside the blast door.

“Comms are down,” the commando splicing into the mainframe replied.

“Count us down from ten, if you please, Mr. Goran,” Maral said, nodding towards another commando that held a detonator in his hand.

“10, 9, 8,” the commando began, “7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Fire in the hole.”

The dim corridor exploded with light, noise, and heat as the thermal charges expertly placed along the weak spots of the blast door exploded. The heavy blast door itself sailed through the air, tumbling onto the bridge of the cruiser before crumbling into pieces of vicious shrapnel that cut through flesh and metal like Corellean butter. Primed stun grenades followed. Loud detonations and blinding flashes accompanied the Imperial soldiers as they burst onto the bridge.

When Drey entered, he went for the nearest body. His right hand gripped the wild punch tossed at him and jerked it to the side, twisting the man to expose his back. His free hand thrusted to the lower side nearest the ribs causing the man to tilt his balance. Drey’s foot kicked out at the knee, forcing the man down. His arm wrapped about the neck as he choked the life out of the target.

Meanwhile, his eyes spotted the other mercs start to fire or take down their targets. In the haze, the shapes were hard to distinguish. A blaster pistol shot sliced through landing on one of his earlier mercs. They took the shot into the chest and crumbled, never to rise again.

When his target went slack, Drey moved onto the next one. Slamming their face into the console while their back was turned.

Taking advantage of the additional chaos that the mercenaries created, Maral and the commandos of the 975th swept across the bridge without hesitation. Navigation systems and state-of-the-art firing computers became cover. Bracing against a chair scorched by blaster fire, Maral took careful aim. With a light squeeze of her finger, her disruptor rifle sent a brilliant bolt of energy smashing into the unfortunate Republic technician she had targeted. She watched as her target was torn apart atom by atom. She waited, tracking another Republic trooper as she tried to reach cover. Firing again, Maral did not need to see that she had hit her mark. She heard the screaming.

The haze was fading slowly as the Imperial commandos poured forth. It was only a matter of time. The Republic soldiers were scattered. They were too busy dying to notice that they were being flanked. They couldn’t breath. They could barely see. Maral felt no sympathy. They were weak. The corrupt Republic had doomed them from the start and had sold their lives for nothing. For some force user who’d never understand. For a cause that didn’t matter. Not any more. For a lie. A false peace. Yet another deception perpetrated by the Jedi. Villains ashamed of their own genocide. Cowards afraid of the truth. Arrogant children playing at war.

Maral did not feel hatred. A soldier had no use for hatred. A soldier has only to act. A soldier has only to win. A soldier had only to kill. Maral moved methodically, choosing her shots carefully. She moved as her commandos laid down suppressing fire. Expertly shifting from cover to cover. Presenting a target for only the briefest of moments as she fired at the surviving Republic naval personnel.

The tide turned quickly. The Republic soldiers fell back as the full weight of the two Imperial military units smashed into them. Pushed into a corner of the bridge, they died quickly. Their cover rapidly reduced to rubble under the increasingly overpowering fire of the Imperial forces.

As the battle began to die down, Drey took stock of the damage. Out of the mercs he brought, only he remained. His boots walked over the charred and fallen bodies, his gun raised to eliminate any further resistance. Both allies and enemies were downed, but the battle was obviously one-sided. Most of the corpses were Republic.

Drey inspected the bodies, shooting most of them in the head to ensure they were dead.

With the bridge secured, the commandos of the 975th went about their work carefully placing thermals explosives at critical locations across the bridge. They would take out all the systems in one fell swoop, leaving only a few minutes of emergency power, gravity, and air. A small detachment of commandos had already infiltrated the engine room. The reactor room would not go quietly in the void filled skies. There would be precious little left of the cruiser for the Republic to study. There would be enough uncertainty for the Sith Empire to handedly place the blame on some marauding band of pirates and mercenaries.

Confident in her commandos demolition preparations, Maral turned to the lone survivor of the other squad of Sith aligned soldiers, “Rumens. Your men fought well. A pity they didn’t make it.”

“They died in a fashion that suited them. It’s a merc’s life to live in uncertainty and risk. At least they didn’t die like whimpering dogs.” Drey’s voice sounded calm and cold but held hints of respect to the dead. His eyes turned to Maral both in a studying manner and with a hardened expression. One that cried a veteran in combative situations.

Maral gestured towards a now open blast door and a corridor past it, “That corridor should lead you to the shuttles. Expect resistance, there’s likely to be some Republic troopers still alive and able to fight. I don’t have any soldiers to spare, so you’re on your own. ”

Holding out a hand, Maral continued, “You won’t have much time, so don’t wait for us. If we’re not there when you are ready to dust off, then just leave.”

Drey shook the hand offered, his lips curled into a smile.

“Understood and happy to help. Don’t die or be late. I have a feeling that things are about to get much worse.” He took the hand and shook it. He didn’t feel the need to explain. It was just a gut feeling he learned to trust.

With quick respectful nod, he inhaled then exhaled. His figure vanished down the corridor. Several minutes later, a loud bomb sounded behind him. The metal walls rattled and the lights flickered before they immediately clicked off. Time to wrap up this mission, he thought.

[Approved] Telban Quoin Shipwright aka Smuggler

Second approval here.

[Korriban, 6 ATC 5] Trial by Sith

Dashara Horizon- Recent Student
Mara Cessair- Overseeer

⚫ The Fates' School for Gifted Monsters ⚫

🔥Ciara Smith🔥

_{🔥 Location: Silvermist Academy, Dorm-> Baths -> Mess hall
🔥 Time: Afternoon}

---

Ciara curled into a ball. The white ashes, remains of wood and coal, spread across her skin. Her eyes opened to observe her room. Her bedtime fire went out a few hours ago leaving a pleasant but cooling the heat in its wake. Already the red coloring had faded to white causing her to sigh. A mist floated into the chilly air. Casually she pushed herself upright and flipped her feet over the edge. Her feet hissed when they made contact with the cold floor. Ciara’s arms stretched out over her head while she collected herself before relaxing.

She took the measure of her surroundings. Unlike most students, she found it easier to sleep while engulfed by fire. Childhood memories from her mother and being placed in a stoked fire filled her mind. The heat cradled her and soothe her fears, encouraging peaceful sleep. Sometimes she thought she could hear her mother’s sweet voice ring out in the background. Without that comfort, nightmares plagued her. Nightmares led to eruptions and carnage.

Her head shook away the thoughts as she rose to her feet. Dragging herself to the end of the bed, she crouched down by a metal trunk. The lid flipped over with a little effort, exposing her clothing nestled safely inside. Ciara took out a simple loin cloth, breast wrap, dress, and apron. With a quick push down, the lid slammed down when she stood upright. Sleeping naked stopped nightmares from wasting her money.

Taking a sooty blanket, she wrapped herself in it for modesty. She pushed the door open and began to walk toward the baths. Ciara knew being covered in ‘ashes’ wouldn’t do for the cleanliness requirement at Silvermist Academy.

As she began to descendent down the stairs leading to the underground caverns, she entered the pool room. The waters bubbled slightly and heated the cavern. Already some students had stripped then waded into the inviting water. Ciara just shuddered and sped past them. Her ‘bath’ consisted of fire rather than water. Water hurt her in ways it didn’t for others causing scars that took years to fade.

She paused at a small hole. Leaving both the blanket and her clothes on the marble bench, she began to climb down the metal ladder. Her movement caused it to creak on her way down. Darkness crowded her as her veins gave off a faint light, illuminating close proximity. Ignoring her fear, Ciara stepped into the center and sat crossed legged.

A small breath inhaled then exhaled. With a little effort, her core began to heat. The section of her heart glowed orange then turned to white. Flames began to spew from the veins spread across her surface. With each passing minute, the lines grew brighter and wider until it engulfed her in a fire. Light erupted from her surface as it chased away the shadows. When the peak of the fury pass, Ciara’s skin darkened into its default state once more. She gradually lifted upright and walked back to the metal ladder, her surface clean of any blemishes. With a quick motion, she quickly made it to the top to dress.

Now for breakfast, she thought. Ciara dropped her blanket into the basket for someone else to clean and dry later. At least one perk of being so strongly associated with fire, she got out of certain chores. Laundry and dishes being the most notorious ones to her health.