Andrea Member
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My character is a Drow who has only been recent to the surface, coming from a culture where a little sibling killing isn't that uncommon, and from her perspective, if it is them or precious me, I choose precious me and throw whatever bodies I can between me and whatever is trying to kill me. *hums innocently*
Alphakoka said
Ok, potential fight between 2 large spiders and 1 invisible illusionist vampire vs 1 Malaki vamp, 2 highly useless in a fight Diana vamps, 1 loud zealot, 1 mage drow and...1 archer drow. We can fight or we can try to deconvince Jeremy. Try to do both? Zin and Laenaia try to distract and convince Jeremy while the rest fight the spiders?
Sounds like a potential plan, though if the dear illusionist vamp does not listen to reason, might i suggest all friendly vampires to vacate the premises/run for cover as my mage-priestess might see just how much she can supercharge her holy magic to burn the unclean.
She was in reverie and was dreaming, eyes moving wildly behind her closed eyelids.
The Great Web, spun by her goddess, normally strong and resilient, gave way to something else. Black tendrils that tore and disintegrated the web whenever they touched it, spreading over it like wildfire. A flash of movement, a long arachnid leg, swinging down like a blade and cutting parts of the healthy web off to stop the spreading of the corruption that had befallen it.
The scene changed, marching, marching boots in the darkness, warriors with white hair and armoured for battle, obeying the commands of females who were also geared for battle, they spoke of cleansing, of extermination, to save the whole. Gesturing to what lay beyond. Others, white hair like theirs, black skin like theirs, but the eyes... the eyes were wrong, frenzied, madness, not armed with weapons and armour, but fists and pure rage as they charged without a mind of their own.
It was mercy.
It was slaughter.
It was filled with the laughter of the mad.
And...
It was a dream.
She opened her eyes and noticed she had a knife in her hand, the blade pressed against the throat of her servant and bodyguard, who looked calmly at it like she always did when this happened when she had to disturb her. She put the knife away and stretched, "What is happening? Have you found out what the delay is?"
Ceann shrugged and gestured behind her, where her mistress could see that the Queens Blades were gathering their gear and setting off, some together, some alone with others following. "There is something going on at the town where we were supposed to meet the two surface queens of Renalta. Illusions and what sounds like someone wanting to make a point, or example."
"I see." She made sure her knifes were in place and then traced her fingers over the handle of her whip on the hook of her belt with a soft smile. "Well then, I suppose that means we have to get to work, yes?" She grinned, showing her teeth and licked her lips. "About time, here I was thinking the surface world was boring, I cannot fathom how you have survived here for a century and a half without getting bored to dead."
Ceann checked her quiver, making sure her regular arrows were separate from the ones that her mistress had prepared for her when she heard to comment. "Not so bad once you get used to it, it offers perspective and a new way of thinking. I gathered the two queens were closest to the town square, the center of the town, I figured you would like to head there above all the other locations two of the 'Heroes' told us about."
She paused, frowning as she looked over her shoulder. "Heroes?"
"The ones called Mikan and Dean, some call them heroes, banishing the gods, restoring the kingdom of Renalta, bringing peace." She was replying before she noticed the look on her mistress's face and went quiet.
She had her eyes narrowed and shook her head speaking in drow, <"Heroes.... Fools, they were fools, they don't know what they have done or what it might unleash, not even we know. But what little we do has brought us here, has brought me here."> She finished preparing and resumed in the crude grumbling that passed as language on this part of the surface. "Lead on."
Moments later they arrived at the center of town and noticed some others had already arrived, Andrea gave them mostly a brief glance while looking elsewhere. Ceann, to her credit, had her bow already strung and a arrow at the ready, eyes darting around the square, rooftops and alleys for threats. Andrea suddenly hissed and waved Ceann away when she turned to look at her in alarm. Ceann could not feel this, there was another mage, a presence, not from the Queens Blades, though she could sense a few with magic potential as well. “Fiend, while you may hide, the devout will triumph yet! You merely prolong the inevitable for your crimes. Step forth and challenge me, foul one, and I shall issue you a swift and painless death!”
She blinked and looked to whom had shouted that and snorted, really? All armoured, waving a pointy metal stick around and saying that kind of prattle? Did that one wanted to be a target? How curious, she took her whip from her waist and tried to focus on the source of the presence of magic, trying to find exactly who or what was emanating it and from where. Then again if the owner of the presence was as brazen as the warrior woman loudmouth then it would be easy, though she doubted they had such luck.
I would but there aren't any Japanese schoolgirl characters in this RP so would be a waste really.
Hmm interesting method to heal, I'll keep it in mind.
And hey I have to do something! Because I don't think Brovo allows my 'Barbed Tentacles Of Forced Intrusion'
And hey I have to do something! Because I don't think Brovo allows my 'Barbed Tentacles Of Forced Intrusion'
Andrea and Ceann will see what assistance they can offer at the town square, perhaps it is best nervous town guards are silenced to prevent a panic... permanently *hums innocently*
Dark Rebirth,
Hyperspace Transit to Kessel.
Reneva was sitting in the command chair, she had to admit, Andrea did get some good toys, she was leaning back comfortable in the chair, her eyes looking at a holographic representation of the sector of the galaxy they were currently travelling through that surrounded the chair, she only had to reach out and the sensors in the chair would register which system she wanted to take a closer look at which would make the projectors enlarge the information she was after and also give her navigational data hovering in text next to the side. She was studying a lot of navigational data lately, apparently Andrea had seen it fit to give her the order to brush up her knowledge and to, quote: 'be more useful or suffer the consequences'.
She nodded and stood up from the chair, walking across the bridge to the navigator section and addressed the crew there. "Are we about to exit hyperspace around Trogan?"
The crew at their consoles and looked up in surprise and then at each other, one of them, a lieutenant from the looks of it, nodded slowly. "It seems so ma'am. We aren't going out of a job, are we?" His subalterns chuckled at that.
She showed a half-smile playing on her lips and shook her head, "Nothing to worry about just yet lieutenant, I am only getting the basics of navigation from my attempts at studying the subject." She looked up and nodded when one other bridge crew member reported they were about to drop out of hyperspace and once they did it was indeed confirmed they were now at Trogan. She was pleased with herself, only a few months ago all this talk about hyperspace navigational charts and hyperspace routes would make her head hurt, now she had fairly guessed where they were dropping out, granted she had mostly gotten lucky with her guess, but still the sense of accomplishment gave her some satisfaction.
She however straightened out her uniform and glanced around imperiously at the bridge crew, "We only finished the first trek of our longer journey, we will get supplies and then continue on our way, we are on orders of our mistress, Andrea, to rendezvous with the other ships at Kessel and wait for further instructions, now back to work." She received a numbers of 'ayes' and salutes in return and marched back to the command chair to resume her studies.
_________________________________
Korriban Academy,
Conference Room.
"Darth Hadzuska, how are you?" Darth Khanna asked as she saw the holographic projection of the Twi'lek sith instructor.
Hadzuska bowed, her image not perfect as she was transmitting from a large distance. "I am well, is Andrea present?"
She shook her head, "She is not, errands called her away from Korriban I am afraid, you have acquired new potential candidates to join our ranks?" She received a laugh in return and Khanna frowned, "Did I say something funny?"
The Twi'lek sith smirked and shook her head, "Private joke I suppose, I have not acquired any but... I have learned that a... individual in Hutt space might have a pair of slaves who are... strong in the force. The thing is, this individual is a Syndicate man and I wanted to converse with Andrea to see if she would allow me to, see if I could acquire them... and wanted to know if I should use all means, or only use diplomacy."
Khanna frowned and then chuckled, "You know your standing orders... any and all means necessary. She has already ruffled some Syndicate feathers, I think she can handle some more."
Smirking Hadzuska nodded, "I suppose so... I shall travel to Hutt space then... and see if I can acquire these twin slaves. Hadzuska out." And with that she terminated the call.
Chained Despair,
Andrea's journey to Dagobah
The Chained Despair dropped out of hyperspace, Andrea still frowning and shaking her head, "Why in the hells... would I ever wish to acquire snowglobes? Why would some merchant be travlling around the galaxy even selling them? It makes no sense." She muttered.
Karsk shrugged, "I actually might have bought one."
She raised a eyebrow and stared at the grizzled warrior. "You keep surprising me." In a bad way, she thought to herself before she shook her head. "Nyriss, have we arrived?"
The intercom flared to life and the voice of her pilot came through, "Making our approach of the world of Dagobah now, trying to find a suitable landing spot near the coordinates given."
Nodding Andrea smiled and cracked her fingers. "Right then, let's see what this wamp planet has to offer me..."
After too long searching the pilot reported back saying that the only suitable landing site, if one even existed, had to have been on the other side of the planet. Though he suggests maybe the foliage is thin enough to simply break through and land anyway.
Andrea had ordered the ramp to be lowered and stared down at the inhospitable planet with a frown. "Don't bother... I think if we land here we will only find out the ship will be sinking in the bog." She turned to some of the Sun Gaurd, attach some lines, Me, Talon, Trizz and Karsk will be rappelling down them, Rhak and Nyriss, you will remain on the ship while we are down there."
Moments later lines were secured and Andrea and the 3 others she had specied were moving down to the 'ground' below while the ship hovered above them.
The team dropping down arrive on the world safely... or so it seems to be for the moment anyway. Though some grumbling growls from the murky water advise against skinny dipping.
She looked at the mud already caking on her boots and sighed, this was going to be one of 'those' planets. "Right lets move on and get to the cave, Karsk, Trizz, in the middle, Talon you take the rear, use your senses and reach out with the force to beware of any dangers that might lurk here..." She frowned and shook her head, "Assuming you can sense any with the strong presence of so much... life... on this world." She blinked, untouched by civilization, or at least so it appeared and yet such a strong presence in the force. It was fascinating... and unnerving at the same time. "Let's move on." She said, mostly to herself as she took the lead, trying to follow the coordinates given by her explorers as well as attempting to sense the dark side presence of this cave.
As they move through the swamp suddenly a voice comes out of the air. "What doing are you, hmm? Of my garden get out. Yes, hmmm." The speaker a short greenskin about two feet tall with large prominent pointed ears said poking Talon in the back with a short stout stick.
Andrea and the others froze, she turned seeing Talon with wide eyes at the back of the line, reaching for her saber hilt but at a motion of Andrea she stopped, instead Andrea cocked her head and studied the... creature that had appeared.
She tried to sense if this creature was strong in the force but all this... background force presence was interfering and she shook her head. She cocked her head and addressed the little man. "I am Andrea and I came here looking for a cave... you said, this was your garden?"
"Yes and no. If looking for a cave, you are. To the right place you have come. Many caves on dagobah. Yeesssssss." The short fellow said oddly his speech disjointed. "Of the garden you out. Ruining the flowers, you are." The fellow solidly whacks Talon with his stick this time.
Talon yelps in surprised pain and then growls but again at Andrea's gesture she backed off. She was frowning now, this was his garden... a swamp garden? Well this was some weird hermit living here for sure. "Well... my apologies, the cave I am looking for is a particular one however, it probably... attracts the more ferocious of creatures this world has to offer while every other species would evade it with a wide berth, perhaps you can point me in the right direction? So I can get off your garden all the quick."
"On my garden, not, you are. Though, this great sleemo is. Yeesssssss." He whacked Talon again this time jabbing his stick into Talon's right foot.
Talon growled again and turned to the little bugger. "Would you stop that!"
Andrea looked puzzled now, first this hermit said they were on his garden, now they weren't? She sighed, "Right... well happy to have met you... we will be on our way." She snapped her fingers and turned around to take the lead again and search for the cave.
"No caves in that direction. Fools trek, on, you are. To my home come. Me, you shall share dinner yes? Then tell what you wish to know, I will. For fee." The little green fellow remarked.
She frowned not liking that in the slightest but one loo kat Talon told her that she too couldn't sense the cave so with a mental sigh she turned back to the fella. "I do not like accepting invitations... if the one inviting me has not introduced himself yet while I have said my name."
"Oday I am. To yoda I am groundskeeper. Been unpaid for 400 years I have. Hmmmmmm." The green fellow said heading off into the swamp. "Careful to stand not on Steve you be."
She had no idea who this Yoda person was or why one would needs a groundskeeper for a dump like this, she also had no idea what or who steve was but she decided to make sure where to step wherever that little green fella would step on, making sure her people did the same.
For some minutes the fellow marched on until reaching a composite mud hut, a mud hutt only just over four foot high... for the ceiling. Oday entered through a door archway only three feet high waving for his unexpected guests to follow.
Karsk took one look at the hut and its interior and then seemed to realize he was a 2 meter 10 giant. "I will remain outside my lady."
Andrea looked up at the big guy and couldn't blame him, she wish she had a excuse like that. "Any of you laugh..." She said, leaving the threat hang in the air as she bend over and crawled inside the hutt, followed by Talon and Trizz, the latter was hiding a smirk but once inside looked perfectly neutral.
Once inside Oday moved over to a pot of some unidentifiable stew cooking over the fire and began stirring it. "Guests in my home, you are. Know your names, I would, before we dine." He said as he got out some bowls from a shelf.
"As I said Andrea." She repeated, looking at the stew.... and frowned, making sure someone else would eat it first if she ever decided to take a bite, she gestured to the others.
"Talon." The Twi'lek sith responded warily, eyes on the stick at all times.
Trizz was looking all over the hutt at the snakes slithering about and the herbs, mostly thinking to herself what cures and poisons there were here in this hut before she looked up. "Trizz." She said with a shrug and resumed her observation.
From outside came a lumbering voice. "Karsk."
Oday worked to scoop the food into bowls, if it was food, the brown claggy consistency wasn't generally something most bipedals considered terribly appealing. "You seek the the dark cave, not do you, hmm?" He passed bowls to the three inside. It began to pour with a thick treacly rain. A rain typical of a swamp. "Full of dangers, the trek is. Many make the attempt and fail. Yes, hmmm. Do, or do not, there is no try." Oday shrugged, "Or say, so yoda would. I think, full of it, was he. Paid me he still has not. Yeesssssss."
She frowned raising a eyebrow. "Many have tried? I thought this planet was off the charts, not worth visiting and yet you say many have made the attempt?" Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"So say Yoda would. I think, full of shit, was he." Oday replied.
She drummed her fingers on the side of the cup. "Still you can point me in the right direction of the cave?"
"Yes. Two hours that way. Yes, hmmm." Oday pointed as he began eating.
She noticed Trizz seeming to study the dish before shrugging and eating some of it. Andrea took a polite bite, swallowing it without really tasting while she thought for a moment. "Anything I should know about the cave?"
"Of a bantha smells like the wrong side. If being generous, I am. Of snakes too lots." Oday shrugged.
She nodded, deciding to thank for his hospitality and assistance by finishing the bowl and then placing it near him. "Thank you, for the food and the direction, I hope this Yoda of yours pays you soon." With that she crawled back outside and let out a groan as she stretched, Trizz and Talon following. Talon had not touched the bowl at all and Karsk had not received one. "Right, this way then, two hours of a journey apparently, so no time to waste."
As the group advanced deeper into the swamps Andrea managed to avoid several nasty pitfalls that could have easily broken a leg before the sense of the cave began to make itself felt. A tugging on her subconscious barely perceptible.
She stopped for a moment, for the first since touching down on this soil a sliver of excitement entering her state of mind. "We are close now... be on your guard and follow my steps." She stressed to the others while she hoped to find the entrance to the cave soon.
Finally the sensation grew to be strong enough to be practically pricking the skin of both force users. It's appearance however left a lot to be desired. For one, it seemed that Oday had been using it as a dumping point from whatever latrine he had set up. Rubbish and other... bodily products... decorated the entrance to the otherwise simply dim cave overhung with rich moss and ... rich odour.
She pulled a cloth out and placed it on her mouth... this place... this was it? She had to admit some disappointment upon seeing this but it couldn't be helped. "Trizz, Karsk, you two remain outside... Talon and I will enter the cave." With a not to her Hand they stepped forwards and entered the cave, ignoring the wretched odour.
The deeper Andrea went into the cave the more her senses began to deceive her. She saw a woman rolling around with of all the creatures a Hutt. It didn't take long for her to realize that Talon was no longer with her. It took slightly longer to realize that the woman appeared to be her. "Come join us." The creature remarked. "You know you want to."
She looked at the scene with disgust and growled. "That never happened." She stated and then looked around. "Illusions? Bah, I am Sith. I conquer my fears, doubts and enemies at every turn so give me your best and not this pathetic display." She closed her eyes and focused on the force within, trying to reach out to Talon.
The image changed to reflect her daughter in the embrace of a hutt. "Why did you abandon me mother? I only wanted to be like you. And you've left me in the hands of a madman."
She opened her eyes and stared, narrowing her eyes and then snorted. "You... my real daughter doesn't even know I am her mother, much less spend any time with me, is this really the best you can do?" She said with disdain as she crossed her arms. "Bored now."
"She doesn't have to know. You do. Do you wonder what the animal whose only thought is sating his own desires does at night. But if that is not enough..."
The shapes change and merge. And suddenly it looms in the dim light of the cave.
A Terentatek.
She rose a eyebrow, "Now you get more interesting." But before she attacked she decided to see and sense if the Terentatek was not her own Hand, Talon, with these illusions it could be anything.
There is simply too much ambient force to be certain of anything. A situation made worse when the beast doesn't hesitate to strike. But it's clumsy attack doesn't even come close to breaking Andrea's defences.
She jumps back after the clumsy attack and frowns, reaching out with the force to use force horror on its psyche, that should reveal some clues.
The beast recoils shortly before charging back in but it.... slashes off its own hand on the other arm with a very Talon-like scream. The illusion shattered Talon falls to the ground scrabbling for the hand severed by her own... other hand.
She rolled her eyes. "Knew it, oh you big baby." She picked up the hand and slapped Talon's cheek with it so she would snap out of it. "Here." She pushed the hand in her remaining one that was still attached and pointed to back to the entrance of the cave. "Get to Trizz and have her give you a hand." She kept a straight face saying that.
Talon let out a whine but complied, gritting her teeth as she held onto her severed hand as she walked shakily to the exit, or she hoped it was the exit.
Shaking her head Andrea looked around. "Anything else? Maybe some visions of Gra'tua fucking Azazel? Anything?"
As the illusion fell a small starship, a pod really, revealed itself within the cave concealed deeply but open to the elements, within it sat a small skeleton of the same apparent race as Oday, on its lap a Lightsabre rested and in a small compartment the sight of Jedi holocrons was clearly visible.
She raised a eyebrow and then glanced back at the ceiling of the cave. "Thank you, it has been interesting." She looked at the pod. "Assuming this isn't another illusion." She stepped forwards and looked at the skeleton. "Explains the lack of payment that green fella was muttering about." She reached out for the saber and the holocrons, activating one to see what would happen or who would appear.
Images appeared and a soft voice, bit of a old person from the sound of it, started explaining how to bend the force to push away objects, people and she shut the holocron off. "Right... jedi or sith I wonder?" She murmured to herself looking at the skeleton and then shrugged, reaching out with the force in a attempt to close the pod and then lift it up to carry it outside.
A voice floats in the wind. "Do, or do not, there is no try."
She blinked and then frowned. "You read that in a fortune cookie or something?" She shook her head and continued walking.
She walked outside and rose a eyebrow at those standing outside, Talin was there with her stump outstretched while Trizz was looking over it with some medical equipment, Karsk had his blaster at the ready but relaxed when he saw it was Andrea. "I have returned, with a prize. Anyway..." She activated her comm and contacted the ship, giving their current coordinates and activating a beacon just in case so Nyriss would find them easily enough and then she turned to Karsk. "Go back to the hutt and tell our gardener I might have found his employer, what's left of him, if he wants proof, offer him a piggyback ride on your back back to me, somehow I think he might enjoy that."
Some time later Karsk returns with the green hobgoblin in tow looking very upset. "Broke my door getting in he did. Too tall by far is he."
Andrea had set the pod down and upon their approach just opened the door again, revealing the skeleton within. "Is this your master?"
Oday looks over the skeleton. "Think not I do. Saw him last with skin on."
She received a signal that Nyriss was on approach and then turned back to Oday. "Yes... I imagine he did, but how long ago was that." She gestured at the lightsaber in the pod, was he a force user?"
Oday looked closer at the Lightsaber. "His that is. Yes." He nodded.
She nodded and then looked up as the Chained Despair hovered into view, ramp being lowered and several Sun Guard appearing over the edge lowering lines once more. : Uh-hu, and what about these other items in the pod." She gestured to the holocrons. "Know what those are? Or perhaps which ones he valued most?"
Oday moves forwards with surprising agility for someone of his size and apparent frailty taking one of the Holocrons and activating it studying the projected information. "AH! Two parts Swamp Monster Bowels, four parts snake bile and only six parts swamp mud." You have a feeling that you just got the 'correct' recipe for whatever it was you ate four hours ago, your stomach rumbling in black sympathy.
At that point Nyriss came down one of the lines and raised a eyebrow. "You wished me to join you mistress?"
Andrea nodded and gestured for her to wait. "Karsk, work with the Sun Guard to bring Talon back in the ship." THe big commando nodded and without effort lifted up Talon, Trizz following closely to monitor her patient. Turning back to Nyriss she gestured to the pod. "Psychometry, every inch of that pod, the skeleton and the lightsaber, leave the holocrons for now."
The zeltron disciple nodded and approached the pod to use her psychometric ability to learn what she could.
The holocrons however had been steeped too long in the Darkside for anything meaningful to be determined and the same remained for the pod, though the psychometry did reveal that it had suffered significant damage to its inertial dampeners. Of the lightsaber and skeleton only a faint residue of the lightside remains. Not enough to even learn the name of the dead occupant with and certainty.
Andrea listened to it all and nodded, "Right back up you go, oversee the retrieval of the pod and its contents, we will take it with us back home." She then turned to Oday. "So... it seems your master is dead and you are stuck on this world, how do you feel about that?"
"Feel like all that property you're taking, cover my back-wages for 10 years at least, I do." Oday responded instantly.
Andrea smiled, "I actually have a different offer for you, how would you like to work for me? I have holdings and property that are not a swamp. And plent of gardens... actual gardens, that need attending to."
Oday puffs up almost turning red so offended was he. "Not actual garden is this!" He says with the deepest tone of hurt.
Andrea sighed. "Oh for the love... let's just get to the point." She spread out her fingertips and launched lightning at the creature.
The blast struck him solidly... leaving a slightly cooked green thing behind.
She cocks her head and shrugged, "Huh interesting, thought he was a force ghost. Ah well, too dangerous to be left alive with what he showed capable of doing. "She said, nodding to herself and then went to one of the lines, being the last that needed to get aboard her ship.
Once aboard she had the ramp closed and contacted Nyriss. "Set a course for Kessel, we stop at the nearest planet for proper medical care for Talon however, maximum speed." When confirmation came she let out a sigh and went to her section of the ship to meditate.
It had been a long day...
In Summation:
Random Filler stuff and Navigator trait gained for Severa after studying/training.
Hadzuska has learned of possible twins strong in the force who are slaves.
Andrea visits Dagobah, takes the cave tour and comes out with a couple of souvenirs, two of which she has to meditate on.
And her Hand, Talon, lost a hand, can be re-attached at proper medical facilities.
Hyperspace Transit to Kessel.
Reneva was sitting in the command chair, she had to admit, Andrea did get some good toys, she was leaning back comfortable in the chair, her eyes looking at a holographic representation of the sector of the galaxy they were currently travelling through that surrounded the chair, she only had to reach out and the sensors in the chair would register which system she wanted to take a closer look at which would make the projectors enlarge the information she was after and also give her navigational data hovering in text next to the side. She was studying a lot of navigational data lately, apparently Andrea had seen it fit to give her the order to brush up her knowledge and to, quote: 'be more useful or suffer the consequences'.
She nodded and stood up from the chair, walking across the bridge to the navigator section and addressed the crew there. "Are we about to exit hyperspace around Trogan?"
The crew at their consoles and looked up in surprise and then at each other, one of them, a lieutenant from the looks of it, nodded slowly. "It seems so ma'am. We aren't going out of a job, are we?" His subalterns chuckled at that.
She showed a half-smile playing on her lips and shook her head, "Nothing to worry about just yet lieutenant, I am only getting the basics of navigation from my attempts at studying the subject." She looked up and nodded when one other bridge crew member reported they were about to drop out of hyperspace and once they did it was indeed confirmed they were now at Trogan. She was pleased with herself, only a few months ago all this talk about hyperspace navigational charts and hyperspace routes would make her head hurt, now she had fairly guessed where they were dropping out, granted she had mostly gotten lucky with her guess, but still the sense of accomplishment gave her some satisfaction.
She however straightened out her uniform and glanced around imperiously at the bridge crew, "We only finished the first trek of our longer journey, we will get supplies and then continue on our way, we are on orders of our mistress, Andrea, to rendezvous with the other ships at Kessel and wait for further instructions, now back to work." She received a numbers of 'ayes' and salutes in return and marched back to the command chair to resume her studies.
_________________________________
Korriban Academy,
Conference Room.
"Darth Hadzuska, how are you?" Darth Khanna asked as she saw the holographic projection of the Twi'lek sith instructor.
Hadzuska bowed, her image not perfect as she was transmitting from a large distance. "I am well, is Andrea present?"
She shook her head, "She is not, errands called her away from Korriban I am afraid, you have acquired new potential candidates to join our ranks?" She received a laugh in return and Khanna frowned, "Did I say something funny?"
The Twi'lek sith smirked and shook her head, "Private joke I suppose, I have not acquired any but... I have learned that a... individual in Hutt space might have a pair of slaves who are... strong in the force. The thing is, this individual is a Syndicate man and I wanted to converse with Andrea to see if she would allow me to, see if I could acquire them... and wanted to know if I should use all means, or only use diplomacy."
Khanna frowned and then chuckled, "You know your standing orders... any and all means necessary. She has already ruffled some Syndicate feathers, I think she can handle some more."
Smirking Hadzuska nodded, "I suppose so... I shall travel to Hutt space then... and see if I can acquire these twin slaves. Hadzuska out." And with that she terminated the call.
Chained Despair,
Andrea's journey to Dagobah
The Chained Despair dropped out of hyperspace, Andrea still frowning and shaking her head, "Why in the hells... would I ever wish to acquire snowglobes? Why would some merchant be travlling around the galaxy even selling them? It makes no sense." She muttered.
Karsk shrugged, "I actually might have bought one."
She raised a eyebrow and stared at the grizzled warrior. "You keep surprising me." In a bad way, she thought to herself before she shook her head. "Nyriss, have we arrived?"
The intercom flared to life and the voice of her pilot came through, "Making our approach of the world of Dagobah now, trying to find a suitable landing spot near the coordinates given."
Nodding Andrea smiled and cracked her fingers. "Right then, let's see what this wamp planet has to offer me..."
After too long searching the pilot reported back saying that the only suitable landing site, if one even existed, had to have been on the other side of the planet. Though he suggests maybe the foliage is thin enough to simply break through and land anyway.
Andrea had ordered the ramp to be lowered and stared down at the inhospitable planet with a frown. "Don't bother... I think if we land here we will only find out the ship will be sinking in the bog." She turned to some of the Sun Gaurd, attach some lines, Me, Talon, Trizz and Karsk will be rappelling down them, Rhak and Nyriss, you will remain on the ship while we are down there."
Moments later lines were secured and Andrea and the 3 others she had specied were moving down to the 'ground' below while the ship hovered above them.
The team dropping down arrive on the world safely... or so it seems to be for the moment anyway. Though some grumbling growls from the murky water advise against skinny dipping.
She looked at the mud already caking on her boots and sighed, this was going to be one of 'those' planets. "Right lets move on and get to the cave, Karsk, Trizz, in the middle, Talon you take the rear, use your senses and reach out with the force to beware of any dangers that might lurk here..." She frowned and shook her head, "Assuming you can sense any with the strong presence of so much... life... on this world." She blinked, untouched by civilization, or at least so it appeared and yet such a strong presence in the force. It was fascinating... and unnerving at the same time. "Let's move on." She said, mostly to herself as she took the lead, trying to follow the coordinates given by her explorers as well as attempting to sense the dark side presence of this cave.
As they move through the swamp suddenly a voice comes out of the air. "What doing are you, hmm? Of my garden get out. Yes, hmmm." The speaker a short greenskin about two feet tall with large prominent pointed ears said poking Talon in the back with a short stout stick.
Andrea and the others froze, she turned seeing Talon with wide eyes at the back of the line, reaching for her saber hilt but at a motion of Andrea she stopped, instead Andrea cocked her head and studied the... creature that had appeared.
She tried to sense if this creature was strong in the force but all this... background force presence was interfering and she shook her head. She cocked her head and addressed the little man. "I am Andrea and I came here looking for a cave... you said, this was your garden?"
"Yes and no. If looking for a cave, you are. To the right place you have come. Many caves on dagobah. Yeesssssss." The short fellow said oddly his speech disjointed. "Of the garden you out. Ruining the flowers, you are." The fellow solidly whacks Talon with his stick this time.
Talon yelps in surprised pain and then growls but again at Andrea's gesture she backed off. She was frowning now, this was his garden... a swamp garden? Well this was some weird hermit living here for sure. "Well... my apologies, the cave I am looking for is a particular one however, it probably... attracts the more ferocious of creatures this world has to offer while every other species would evade it with a wide berth, perhaps you can point me in the right direction? So I can get off your garden all the quick."
"On my garden, not, you are. Though, this great sleemo is. Yeesssssss." He whacked Talon again this time jabbing his stick into Talon's right foot.
Talon growled again and turned to the little bugger. "Would you stop that!"
Andrea looked puzzled now, first this hermit said they were on his garden, now they weren't? She sighed, "Right... well happy to have met you... we will be on our way." She snapped her fingers and turned around to take the lead again and search for the cave.
"No caves in that direction. Fools trek, on, you are. To my home come. Me, you shall share dinner yes? Then tell what you wish to know, I will. For fee." The little green fellow remarked.
She frowned not liking that in the slightest but one loo kat Talon told her that she too couldn't sense the cave so with a mental sigh she turned back to the fella. "I do not like accepting invitations... if the one inviting me has not introduced himself yet while I have said my name."
"Oday I am. To yoda I am groundskeeper. Been unpaid for 400 years I have. Hmmmmmm." The green fellow said heading off into the swamp. "Careful to stand not on Steve you be."
She had no idea who this Yoda person was or why one would needs a groundskeeper for a dump like this, she also had no idea what or who steve was but she decided to make sure where to step wherever that little green fella would step on, making sure her people did the same.
For some minutes the fellow marched on until reaching a composite mud hut, a mud hutt only just over four foot high... for the ceiling. Oday entered through a door archway only three feet high waving for his unexpected guests to follow.
Karsk took one look at the hut and its interior and then seemed to realize he was a 2 meter 10 giant. "I will remain outside my lady."
Andrea looked up at the big guy and couldn't blame him, she wish she had a excuse like that. "Any of you laugh..." She said, leaving the threat hang in the air as she bend over and crawled inside the hutt, followed by Talon and Trizz, the latter was hiding a smirk but once inside looked perfectly neutral.
Once inside Oday moved over to a pot of some unidentifiable stew cooking over the fire and began stirring it. "Guests in my home, you are. Know your names, I would, before we dine." He said as he got out some bowls from a shelf.
"As I said Andrea." She repeated, looking at the stew.... and frowned, making sure someone else would eat it first if she ever decided to take a bite, she gestured to the others.
"Talon." The Twi'lek sith responded warily, eyes on the stick at all times.
Trizz was looking all over the hutt at the snakes slithering about and the herbs, mostly thinking to herself what cures and poisons there were here in this hut before she looked up. "Trizz." She said with a shrug and resumed her observation.
From outside came a lumbering voice. "Karsk."
Oday worked to scoop the food into bowls, if it was food, the brown claggy consistency wasn't generally something most bipedals considered terribly appealing. "You seek the the dark cave, not do you, hmm?" He passed bowls to the three inside. It began to pour with a thick treacly rain. A rain typical of a swamp. "Full of dangers, the trek is. Many make the attempt and fail. Yes, hmmm. Do, or do not, there is no try." Oday shrugged, "Or say, so yoda would. I think, full of it, was he. Paid me he still has not. Yeesssssss."
She frowned raising a eyebrow. "Many have tried? I thought this planet was off the charts, not worth visiting and yet you say many have made the attempt?" Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"So say Yoda would. I think, full of shit, was he." Oday replied.
She drummed her fingers on the side of the cup. "Still you can point me in the right direction of the cave?"
"Yes. Two hours that way. Yes, hmmm." Oday pointed as he began eating.
She noticed Trizz seeming to study the dish before shrugging and eating some of it. Andrea took a polite bite, swallowing it without really tasting while she thought for a moment. "Anything I should know about the cave?"
"Of a bantha smells like the wrong side. If being generous, I am. Of snakes too lots." Oday shrugged.
She nodded, deciding to thank for his hospitality and assistance by finishing the bowl and then placing it near him. "Thank you, for the food and the direction, I hope this Yoda of yours pays you soon." With that she crawled back outside and let out a groan as she stretched, Trizz and Talon following. Talon had not touched the bowl at all and Karsk had not received one. "Right, this way then, two hours of a journey apparently, so no time to waste."
As the group advanced deeper into the swamps Andrea managed to avoid several nasty pitfalls that could have easily broken a leg before the sense of the cave began to make itself felt. A tugging on her subconscious barely perceptible.
She stopped for a moment, for the first since touching down on this soil a sliver of excitement entering her state of mind. "We are close now... be on your guard and follow my steps." She stressed to the others while she hoped to find the entrance to the cave soon.
Finally the sensation grew to be strong enough to be practically pricking the skin of both force users. It's appearance however left a lot to be desired. For one, it seemed that Oday had been using it as a dumping point from whatever latrine he had set up. Rubbish and other... bodily products... decorated the entrance to the otherwise simply dim cave overhung with rich moss and ... rich odour.
She pulled a cloth out and placed it on her mouth... this place... this was it? She had to admit some disappointment upon seeing this but it couldn't be helped. "Trizz, Karsk, you two remain outside... Talon and I will enter the cave." With a not to her Hand they stepped forwards and entered the cave, ignoring the wretched odour.
The deeper Andrea went into the cave the more her senses began to deceive her. She saw a woman rolling around with of all the creatures a Hutt. It didn't take long for her to realize that Talon was no longer with her. It took slightly longer to realize that the woman appeared to be her. "Come join us." The creature remarked. "You know you want to."
She looked at the scene with disgust and growled. "That never happened." She stated and then looked around. "Illusions? Bah, I am Sith. I conquer my fears, doubts and enemies at every turn so give me your best and not this pathetic display." She closed her eyes and focused on the force within, trying to reach out to Talon.
The image changed to reflect her daughter in the embrace of a hutt. "Why did you abandon me mother? I only wanted to be like you. And you've left me in the hands of a madman."
She opened her eyes and stared, narrowing her eyes and then snorted. "You... my real daughter doesn't even know I am her mother, much less spend any time with me, is this really the best you can do?" She said with disdain as she crossed her arms. "Bored now."
"She doesn't have to know. You do. Do you wonder what the animal whose only thought is sating his own desires does at night. But if that is not enough..."
The shapes change and merge. And suddenly it looms in the dim light of the cave.
A Terentatek.
She rose a eyebrow, "Now you get more interesting." But before she attacked she decided to see and sense if the Terentatek was not her own Hand, Talon, with these illusions it could be anything.
There is simply too much ambient force to be certain of anything. A situation made worse when the beast doesn't hesitate to strike. But it's clumsy attack doesn't even come close to breaking Andrea's defences.
She jumps back after the clumsy attack and frowns, reaching out with the force to use force horror on its psyche, that should reveal some clues.
The beast recoils shortly before charging back in but it.... slashes off its own hand on the other arm with a very Talon-like scream. The illusion shattered Talon falls to the ground scrabbling for the hand severed by her own... other hand.
She rolled her eyes. "Knew it, oh you big baby." She picked up the hand and slapped Talon's cheek with it so she would snap out of it. "Here." She pushed the hand in her remaining one that was still attached and pointed to back to the entrance of the cave. "Get to Trizz and have her give you a hand." She kept a straight face saying that.
Talon let out a whine but complied, gritting her teeth as she held onto her severed hand as she walked shakily to the exit, or she hoped it was the exit.
Shaking her head Andrea looked around. "Anything else? Maybe some visions of Gra'tua fucking Azazel? Anything?"
As the illusion fell a small starship, a pod really, revealed itself within the cave concealed deeply but open to the elements, within it sat a small skeleton of the same apparent race as Oday, on its lap a Lightsabre rested and in a small compartment the sight of Jedi holocrons was clearly visible.
She raised a eyebrow and then glanced back at the ceiling of the cave. "Thank you, it has been interesting." She looked at the pod. "Assuming this isn't another illusion." She stepped forwards and looked at the skeleton. "Explains the lack of payment that green fella was muttering about." She reached out for the saber and the holocrons, activating one to see what would happen or who would appear.
Images appeared and a soft voice, bit of a old person from the sound of it, started explaining how to bend the force to push away objects, people and she shut the holocron off. "Right... jedi or sith I wonder?" She murmured to herself looking at the skeleton and then shrugged, reaching out with the force in a attempt to close the pod and then lift it up to carry it outside.
A voice floats in the wind. "Do, or do not, there is no try."
She blinked and then frowned. "You read that in a fortune cookie or something?" She shook her head and continued walking.
She walked outside and rose a eyebrow at those standing outside, Talin was there with her stump outstretched while Trizz was looking over it with some medical equipment, Karsk had his blaster at the ready but relaxed when he saw it was Andrea. "I have returned, with a prize. Anyway..." She activated her comm and contacted the ship, giving their current coordinates and activating a beacon just in case so Nyriss would find them easily enough and then she turned to Karsk. "Go back to the hutt and tell our gardener I might have found his employer, what's left of him, if he wants proof, offer him a piggyback ride on your back back to me, somehow I think he might enjoy that."
Some time later Karsk returns with the green hobgoblin in tow looking very upset. "Broke my door getting in he did. Too tall by far is he."
Andrea had set the pod down and upon their approach just opened the door again, revealing the skeleton within. "Is this your master?"
Oday looks over the skeleton. "Think not I do. Saw him last with skin on."
She received a signal that Nyriss was on approach and then turned back to Oday. "Yes... I imagine he did, but how long ago was that." She gestured at the lightsaber in the pod, was he a force user?"
Oday looked closer at the Lightsaber. "His that is. Yes." He nodded.
She nodded and then looked up as the Chained Despair hovered into view, ramp being lowered and several Sun Guard appearing over the edge lowering lines once more. : Uh-hu, and what about these other items in the pod." She gestured to the holocrons. "Know what those are? Or perhaps which ones he valued most?"
Oday moves forwards with surprising agility for someone of his size and apparent frailty taking one of the Holocrons and activating it studying the projected information. "AH! Two parts Swamp Monster Bowels, four parts snake bile and only six parts swamp mud." You have a feeling that you just got the 'correct' recipe for whatever it was you ate four hours ago, your stomach rumbling in black sympathy.
At that point Nyriss came down one of the lines and raised a eyebrow. "You wished me to join you mistress?"
Andrea nodded and gestured for her to wait. "Karsk, work with the Sun Guard to bring Talon back in the ship." THe big commando nodded and without effort lifted up Talon, Trizz following closely to monitor her patient. Turning back to Nyriss she gestured to the pod. "Psychometry, every inch of that pod, the skeleton and the lightsaber, leave the holocrons for now."
The zeltron disciple nodded and approached the pod to use her psychometric ability to learn what she could.
The holocrons however had been steeped too long in the Darkside for anything meaningful to be determined and the same remained for the pod, though the psychometry did reveal that it had suffered significant damage to its inertial dampeners. Of the lightsaber and skeleton only a faint residue of the lightside remains. Not enough to even learn the name of the dead occupant with and certainty.
Andrea listened to it all and nodded, "Right back up you go, oversee the retrieval of the pod and its contents, we will take it with us back home." She then turned to Oday. "So... it seems your master is dead and you are stuck on this world, how do you feel about that?"
"Feel like all that property you're taking, cover my back-wages for 10 years at least, I do." Oday responded instantly.
Andrea smiled, "I actually have a different offer for you, how would you like to work for me? I have holdings and property that are not a swamp. And plent of gardens... actual gardens, that need attending to."
Oday puffs up almost turning red so offended was he. "Not actual garden is this!" He says with the deepest tone of hurt.
Andrea sighed. "Oh for the love... let's just get to the point." She spread out her fingertips and launched lightning at the creature.
The blast struck him solidly... leaving a slightly cooked green thing behind.
She cocks her head and shrugged, "Huh interesting, thought he was a force ghost. Ah well, too dangerous to be left alive with what he showed capable of doing. "She said, nodding to herself and then went to one of the lines, being the last that needed to get aboard her ship.
Once aboard she had the ramp closed and contacted Nyriss. "Set a course for Kessel, we stop at the nearest planet for proper medical care for Talon however, maximum speed." When confirmation came she let out a sigh and went to her section of the ship to meditate.
It had been a long day...
In Summation:
Random Filler stuff and Navigator trait gained for Severa after studying/training.
Hadzuska has learned of possible twins strong in the force who are slaves.
Andrea visits Dagobah, takes the cave tour and comes out with a couple of souvenirs, two of which she has to meditate on.
And her Hand, Talon, lost a hand, can be re-attached at proper medical facilities.
Name: Andrea Llolth'Allin
Age: 543
Race: Dark Elf/Drow
Sex: Female
Homeland: The Underdark
The Underdark: A realm hidden underneath the world known as the Underdark, it is accessible through mostly mountainous areas. It leads miles into the ground, leading to the Drow, the Dwarves, and even Mindflayers. This land is entirely unmapped due to its chaotic and ever-changing nature; a tunnel that was there a week ago may no longer exist now. Most supernatural creatures hide within its depths as well, safe from the overworld thanks to the Drow’s inability to care that they exist, and the Dwarves mostly congregating near the surface.
The Drow live in a couple of large cities, where they sell indentured slaves, and have a primarily matriarchal government though men are not entirely excluded from power. Their architecture and general appearance often glorifies spiders and other arachnids, and they are infamous schemers and backstabbers, though few know the underground passages quite like they do, for even with its chaotic nature they know how to navigate it.
The Dwarves, on the other hand, live in great cities of iron and timber, and focus on living within mountains as natural fortresses. They are known as an eccentric people who have a love of all things rare and antique, and are often compared to the world’s greatest collective of librarians and collectors. They are also one of the only races whom speak and sometimes trade with the ever enigmatic Mechanists.
History:
So much had changed, the surface world had been turned upside by a blue haired woman of legend and her band of merry misfits. And in the ever darkness of the hidden world below the surface, the Underdark, eyes that belonged to powerful entities turned to the surface after the gods were banished. One such entity, who can count on the allegiance of a great amount of Drow decided to send several of her agents, her acolytes to the surface, doing it's bidding and seek out this new, true Queen of Renalta and see what fate will determine will fall upon both the surface world... and the world below.
Motivation: Because she was commanded to by *censored*
General Traits
--Trait 1,
--Trait 2,
--Trait 3,
--Trait 4,
Unique Traits
--Trait 1. Divine Connection II,
Lollth's blessing, Andrea's belief in her faith and her goddess while all gods are banished seems idiotic to some. And yet... somehow it seems that at times her spells are more powerful than one would expect. (Can ask her Goddess/GM to 'supercharge' a spell, be it using a minor heal to make a crit injured person or a damage spel that deals much more damage than one would expect, additional GM note, can only be used once in a battle/area and only for Holy/Divine Magic).
Lollth's Aura, knowing certain her goddess still blesses her Andrea can will people to fear or fall into submissiveness to her by summoning Lollth's strange allure and charisma into being like an aura, but as expected from a goddess who prides herself on Chaos, she is fickle. If Andrea relies too much on this gift, her goddess will have her amusement by making the opposite of what Andrea wants to happen occur.
--Trait 2. Snake Whip, either through her magic, or a blessing from her goddess, ignoring any claims that she is death or banished still, her whip has become alive, the length of the whip a sentient, living snake that will bite any target she would hit with it's fangs. With time she hopes to either with her magic or more gifts from Lollth, add more snake heads and perhaps have them deliver poison from their bites (eg with trait upgrades).
--Trait 3. Elementalist, Andrea has the potential to become a true elementalist with ease, to control the magic and power of all four elements, she also has more affinity with elemental magic than with any other type of magic. Currently she only has unlocked the powers of Fire and Air, but the other two will come to her in time...
Magic Schools Known:
Fire Magic
Air Magic
Holy/Divine Magic
Achievements:
--Purple Ribbon: You took a hit for Queen and Country, and have learned how to better handle pain. (Minor bonus to dealing with damage, less likely to fall into shock or succumb to injuries.)
--Mistress of Webs: You know exactly how to talk to beasts and animals, especially those related to arachnids in one form or another, and can often soothe them through magic. (Minor bonus to soothing animals, and to taking command of arachnids.) (Note: Webs also make for a useful ropes, or handcuffs... :unibrow)
Equipment List
A dress that is a mixture of robes/cloth and leather in crimson and black colours, with the leather covering her most sensitive organs.
A necklace with the symbol of her faith around her neck.
Assorted jewelry.
Three small knifes, one disguised as a hair decoration, the other two are divided over her boots.
A whip with thorns/nails (Rose Whip)
Spell Tome, attached with a chain to her waist.
Romance: I am the creator of the slut sisters... answer enough?
Does the Kouri Plushie exist?: Oh yes it does
Signature: Andrea agrees and signs the infernal contract *dips pen in blood*
Name: Ceann
Age: 232
Race: Dark Elf/Drow
Sex: Female
Homeland: The Underdark
History: UNDER DEVELOPMENT
Motivation: To serve House Llolth'Allin and the Goddess.
General Traits
--Trait 1,
--Trait 2,
--Trait 3,
--Trait 4,
Unique Traits
--Trait 1, Elemental Arrows, crafted for her by her mistress, these arrows are imbued with elemental abilities that take effect upon impact, depending on what element is used in their creation. (Fire, Lightning, Cold or Acid).
--Trait 2, Hidden In Plain Sight II, the way Ceann moves and acts, it is easy to forget or ignore her. She could be standing right in the middle of the room but is not noticed by anyone. (begin rank 2) She has become so apt to this craft now that she somehow makes people ignore her even while she is in plain sight of them, she could brush past someone and they would ignore her presence as if she is just the wind.(end rank 2)
--Trait 3, Shadowstep, the ability to move from shadow to shadow, but not (yet without upgrade) through walls or closed doors.
Achievements:
--Purple Ribbon: You took a hit for Queen and Country, and have learned how to better handle pain. (Minor bonus to dealing with damage, less likely to fall into shock or succumb to injuries.)
--Sharpshooter: You've become accustomed to aiming, then firing. Nifty. (Minor bonus to accuracy.)
Equipment List
Dark blue leather armour and black cloak with a hood.
Hunting bow & Arrow Quiver
12 Regular Arrows
6 Lightning Arrows
6 Fire Arrows
1 Hunting Knife
1 Longsword
Compass
Backpack
Rope
Grappling Hook (can be thrown or fired from a bow)
Flint and Steel
Waterskin
Rations
Romance: My choice
Does the Kouri Plushie exist?: yes
Signature: Andrea (and Selvi who will provide most of the input for this character)
saving a slot
Polith System, approaching Thyferra
Andrea walked into the cockpit section of the ship, standing behind her disciple, Nyriss, who was piloting the vessel as they entered the Polith system and made their approach to Thyferra. "So we have finally arrived, about time." She muttered to herself, "Use the contact information we have received..." She turned to the others of her disciples and inner circle who entered and stayed near the entrance. Her face contorting in a mask of suspicion and perhaps a hint of some worry. "And see if this is some kind of elaborate trap we are about to fall into."
As Andrea's vessel approached her sensors would inform there was a fair degree of traffic taking place in the system, especially around the world of Thyferra, what was surprising was that it was evident a large number of Republic marked vessels were there, as well as a equal number of ships belonging to the CIS and neither side were firing upon each other. Both sides needing the Bacta they acquire from the world they were orbiting to be delivered all across known space to supply to various hospitals and battlegrounds. It actually seemed both sides were also watching each other as droid fighters and republic fighter squadrons patrolled and guarded their various vessels.
Eventually after some time of broadcasting the signal on the frequency given it was answered with a simple text message that read the following: 'Lady Andrea so nice of you to come, please dock with my vessel and we can discuss the matter at hand.' The signal originating from a ordinary looking merchant bulk transport.
Frowning she rose her eyebrows upon reading the message and the read it out loud, turning to her people. "Am I the only one who thinks this sounds like a trap?" She received a series of head-shakes in the negative. "Thought as much... Nyriss, approach the transport and dock as requested. Rhak-Skuri, Karsk. You force protection or shield belt active you two will be the first to go in with myself to see what we might face." Her disciple and black-watch commander nodded.
The three of them were waiting at the airlock as Chained Despair docked with the transport, as the hatch opened and saw the interior on the other side of the other ship she took a deep breath and willed the force to form a protective bubble around herself, sensing Rhak-Skuri doing the same, while Karsk had his hand hovered over the controls of his shield belt. Nodding to them both she went first, followed closely by the two others as the three of them stepped into the transport.
Upon entering they were beholden to the sight of a cargo bay area of some kind, several cargo containers stacked together on either side of the airlock, between them and right in front of Andrea stood a lone figure, dressed in rather expensive looking clothes, as the figure approached she could see that this was a Squib of all species. The small stature alien smoothing his hands over his clothes and tried to appear taller than he was, a hand going over the fur on his head as if preening himself and then bowed. "Lady Andrea a pleasure to meet you, my name is Janeeiusnar-Korjakk, you may call me Jan for short."
She looked stunned and rather surprised at the... short... furry... Syndicate contact? Of all the things to expect a... Squib... was not among them. She shook of her surprised and crossed her arms. "Well... you know who I am, I now know who you are." She narrowed her eyes. "And you contacted me saying you were in the service of Zann, who last I recall would like nothing more than to have me killed. So why would one of his people want me to help out, hmm?"
At that Jan laughed, with good humour apparently, then he coughed and calmed down. "Ah yes, I suppose that would seem strange, but not to worry, not to worry. I can understand you might seem skeptical but I am thinking of opportunities here and hope you see the same. Yes you may consider my esteemed and wonderful employer might rather see your severed head on a platter but I see the bigger picture you see!" He said excitingly pointing at the ceiling to punctuate his words. "I consider the following, I wish to impress my employer, so I came here to acquire a great amount of Bacta Zann can use for himself or sell on the black market, there's always a demand for Bacta, especially in times of war. Now I sadly hit a snag that apparently someone informed the local dealers about my appearance and affiliations with the Syndicate so nobody would sell to me but then I had a ingenious idea!" He pointed at Andrea with a grin. "I thought of you! You could perhaps acquire the bacta in my place, in whatever way you wish as long as you can guarantee I can retrieve it. I get the Bacta, I pay you a nice reward for your trouble, I also inform my employer that you are not as bad as he thinks and even helped him get a tidy profit from selling Bacta and in turn I am rewarded for my service with a more prestigious position... as well as a bigger paycheck, of course. A fine proposal, don't you agree, yes? Oh please say yes, we have everything to gain and absolutely nothing to lose, pretty please? With a, as you humans sometimes say, cherry on top?"
She frowned as she listened to this irritating fuzzball, this sounded.... too good to be true. She closed her eyes as if lost in thought as if mulling this 'proposal' over, but in reality she reached out with the force to see if she could detect any hint of duplicity, lies or any kind of bad vibe from the Squib.
All Andrea could detect was a myriad of feelings from the Squib, too chaotic to get a definite reading and as she opened her eyes she would see a big smile on Jan's face and his head quickly nodding up and down in eagerness. "What do you say?"
She sighed and pinched her nose, "I suppose, against my better judgment, say yes, give me the details."
"Oh happy day! Thank you! You'll see this will earn us both a nice profitable outcome!" The next hour Jan explained the details, he had on good information that a human trader in Bacta, named Kevin Stahn, had a warehouse stocked with the medical wonder cure, ready to have it shipped out to a buyer in the Republic. He suggests to threaten, blackmail or otherwise convince Kevin Stahn to have the bacta be transported to this Syndicate vessel and in return Andrea would be handsomely rewarded with credits and perhaps even come into the good graces of notorious crimelord Antone Zann. Jan had already taken the liberty to set up a meeting with the Bacta trader on Andrea's behalf and all she had to do was show up and do her best to get this deal done.
When she heard that this little runt had already set up a meeting she hissed and showed her displeasure, "I do not like it when people make arrangement in my name without my prior knowledge or approval, I have executed people for less grievous offenses so keep that in mind if after this you might wish to continue dealing with me." She growled and then snorted. "Very well, I shall meet with this Mr. Stahn and see if he can be convinced to part with his precious bacta." With that she snapped her fingers and with her people returned to her ship.
They left Jan behind on his ship who was waving excitingly at their retreating back, grinning and merry as he shouted after them. "Good luck! I have faith in your persuasive abilities! I shall wait in eager anticipation!"
As the airlock sealed and locked itself behind her Andrea rolled her eyes and groaned, "What a insufferable little creature!" She rubbed her temples she had a headache due to irritating voice and too happy attitude of the Syndicate man. She gestured to Karsk who stepped forward, "Inform Nyriss to land the ship on Thyferra and then we head out to be on time for 'my' appointment with that bacta dealer." The grizzled veteran nodded and went on his way.
Rhak-Skuri coughed and spoke up, "What is the plan... mistress."
Andrea raised a eyebrow, snorting at the way her oldest disciple said that last word with such disdain but ignored the remark. "I will head to the meeting with my Zeltron aides I brought along, as well as Talon. She as a Twi'lek can appear, like the Zeltrons, to be eye-candy instead of my bodyguard. I will attend the meeting and see what might transpire, I already have some thoughts floating around in my head that could be used as arguments... it sadly all depends on the attitude of the dealer which can be completely unpredictable. Hell for all I know instead of a human its a floating brain in a jar than read my mind and sense I am a sith without any way to hide it." She shrugged. "I'll see when I get into the office."
With that said she decided it might be best not to show up in armour and instead went with some of her more luxurious looking clothing she had with her while Nyriss piloted the ship to the surface and landed, finding Talon and her Zeltron aides ready for her she smiled and nodded to them before looking at those that would be left behind. "You will all remain with the ship, no exploring and stand ready to perhaps... forcefully extract us if things go sour."
"Do you expect that to happen?" Came a reply of Trizz who was tossing and catching a knife in the air.
"I almost expect this bacta trader to have somehow have connections up high with both the Republic and the CIS which might mean that if I cross him both factions will hunt me down."
There was silence after those words and then Trizz just shrugged and nodded slowly. "Right... well at least life will be interesting that way." Most of the others just groaned or rolled their eyes in response to that.
_________________
Surface of Thyferra,
Outside the offices of Kevin Stahn....
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As the small party approaches and is welcomed into the building that housed several delegations and offices of some of the major bacta suppliers Andrea and Talon would both notice the presence of several small hovering droids recording everyone who entered the building, as well as the number of security droids that were silent watchers and guardians of the traders, two such droids were intently following the new party of Andrea as they crossed the threshold.
"Welcome, how can I be of assistance?" Came the voice of a feminine droid who instead of legs had a single wheel that enabled it to quickly move around as she approached the newcomers. "Do you wish to make a appointment or do you already have one?"
Andrea looked around, paying minor attention to the security, if everything went smoothly they wouldn't have any trouble with whatever security they had in place here. She turned to the droid and smiled, "Yes, in fact I have one. With Kevin Stahn."
The droid cocked her head and was silent for a moment before she nodded and made a u-turn with her wheel and gestured to follow. "So you have, allow me to take you to his office, this way please." The droid led the sith lord and her small retinue through a hallway, stopping in front of one of the offices on that floor and let out a series of vocal sounds no organic being could make. The reply was the door opening and she gestured in. "You are expected, may your business here be profitable to all. Good day." And she drove away, back to the entry hall of the building.
From within came a cultured sounding voice. "Do come in, I hate drafts." As they entered they would see a middle-aged man with white hair sitting behind a desk who nodded to them while he placed his signature on some documents along with his thumbprint before filing them away. Silver eyes with gold irises studied Andrea intently as he gestured to the empty seats in front of his desk. "Refreshments?" He asked as he reached for a decanter that seemed to be filled by something blue with green.
She put on her friendliest smile that she was capable off and walked in, closely followed by her aides and Talon, taking place on the offered seats and lightly shook her head. "Not for myself thank you, my aides are free to partake. If your offer includes them as well. A pleasure to meet you, I have heard much about you before coming here, my name is Andrieke, pleasure to make your acquaintance."
The trader nodded and poured some glasses presenting in front of the aides and then a fourth in front of Andrea if she decided to change her mind. "Kevin Stahn, at your service. Now what is...." He trailed off, frowning as he looked at Andrea's face as if it was familiar to him and he was trying to remember. He shook his head and smiled, "My apologies, I was distracted for a moment, where was I? Ah yes, how can I be of service to you? I am afraid I have no further information besides that we have an appointment at this time and place, but no further details as to discuss what, rather strange I must say though I suspect you wish to obtain some large quantities of Bacta otherwise you would not speak to one such as myself." He finished saying with a wry chuckle.
Her thoughts were running wild, had she met this man before? Did he knew her from somewhere? That was impossible wasn't? She kept her smile however and nodded, "Yes I am, I have under good authority you have a supply at hand, isn't that correct?"
He frowned and leaned back in his chair, bringing his hands together, looking quizzical. "You are well informed a large batch of Bacta is all ready to be shipped out but I am afraid that batch is already spoken for, I can however arrange for a similar amount to be ready for sale in six months, we have orders that need to be delivered upon from the Republic, CIS and other private buyers to handle first." He chuckled and shrugged apologetically. "There is a war going on after all and Bacta is in very high demand during times as these."
"Yes I am aware of the war, but I'd really like that shipment, I represent some people who desperately need it and I was hoping that you could perhaps be persuaded to change your mind and have the shipment to the Republic be delayed and give this batch of Bacta to the ones I represent." She said, still smiling.
Kevin frowned deeper. "I'm not sure what you are expecting of me? Delay a shipment... also how did you know it was going to the Republic? I never said as such." He narrowed his eyes. "You aren't some kind of CIS representative trying to give a edge to your side of the war are you? I must stress that Thyferra and it's Bacta trade are neutral in this conflict. Both sides need our Bacta and we do not tolerate any interference in our dealings from either side..." Again he trailed off and shook his head. "My apologies... you really do have a familiar face, have we met before?"
She almost cursed out loud, making such a simple mistake! She of course knew where the Bacta was going thanks to that irritating squib but obviously which sides buys what shipment isn't meant to be public knowledge. And where did this man knew her from!? She had never met any Bacta dealers before, that she could recall anyway. Her smile faltered a little and she shook her head. "Oh no, no. I represent some private buyers who purely need it for themselves and are not involved with either side of these horrid 'clone wars' as they call it. I was merely hoping that some deal could be arranged, are you sure there aren't any options available?" Perhaps she needed to risk using a small suggestion or nudge with the force to get what she wanted from this man. But for now she was hoping to find a hint if he could be bribed or otherwise persuaded. "As for us meeting before, I think I would have remembered that, I am sad to say that we have not met each other before today." She winked and grinned.
He shook his head in response. "I am very sorry to you but as I said if you wish a large shipment like that then I am afraid you must wait just like everyone else. Six months, though if I make some inquiries I could potentially make it five months and that is pushing things...." His eyes widened and he suddenly stood up from his desk and he pointed directly at Andrea. "I KNOW WHO YOU ARE!" He shouted.
She must have had a deer in headlights look on her face for a moment before she tried to calm down her breathing, know who she was? How!? She had never met this person before in her life, but she was not going to draw her lightsaber or hurl lightning around and she prayed to whatever infernal divine beings were out there that Talon kept her cool. Thankfully it seemed that she was taking her cues from Andrea as discussed and did not decided to reveal her saber from hiding and cut this man in two. Still trying to remain calm she kept smiling. "You.... do? And who am I exactly?" She placed her hands in her lap, slowly building up the power to unleash her lightning if he was about to call security or something.
Kevin Stahn was still staring wide-eyed at Andrea and his pointed finger was shaking. "You are the star of Hutts in Love! I watched the old series and have seen the first episode of the reboot! And you are now here!? In my office! Your holo-soap drama is one of the most watched series of all time at the moment!" The man sounded positively thrilled at having a celebrity in his office.
Andrea blinked.... and resisted the urge to groan and facepalm. Really? Was this something to worry about for all time now? That damned soap opera drama would haunt her for the rest of her life? First Azazels pet Hakkri and now this guy!? Then again on the other hand this might be her way in, so she quickly made a hushing gesture and spoke up. "Please! Not so loud, I am incognito here, do you know how hard it is to travel around without being hassled all the time?"
The dealer looked bashful and coughed, sitting back down, perhaps a bit ashamed and embarrassed of his reaction. "Ah yes. Of course, my apologies miss. It was just... unexpected." He blinked, "I actually thought you were somewhere in hutt space now, shooting the next episodes, at least according to the tabloids." He coughed and looked away for a moment. "If you read such materials of course." He rubbed his neck and tried to return to his professional self once more. "Still, why would you need so much Bacta? You are a star in a soap and not in the service of a private hospital or similar."
She was thinking quickly and then smiled wide at a idea, leaning in and whispered. "Can you be trusted with a secret Kevin? If I may call you Kevin of course."
"Oh of course you may, of course... uhm if you wish for privacy this office is soundproofed, you do not need to whisper." He said, perhaps a little bit flustered.
She grinned, "Well you see... I am probably going to spoiler a few of the future episodes with what I am about to tell you so keep it to yourself at all costs." She took a deep breath and acted as if she was nervous and fidgeting for a moment. "You see there is going to be a arc this season where it turns out that my big rival, you know, Anega the Huttspawn, has a daughter who wants to ruin my name, what is even a bigger reveal is that she is in fact a force user! A hutt jedi of all things!" She said with wonder and was not going to be surprised if those silly producers and script writers weren't going to really have something like that. "One of the producers actually managed to obtain one of those genuine swords of theirs, you know a lightsword or lightblade, whatever they are called. But to use that the insurance people demanded that safety was guaranteed because one slip-up and the paperwork would be a horror to behold. That and there is a speeder chase scene or two and the stunt crew want some proper medical aid on standby so they figured that perhaps a large stockpile of bacta in reserve might be for the best when we start shooting the episodes. And with everyone busy I had offered to see if I could get some shipment of bacta."
She bit her lip and blushed, looking away for a moment and then stood up, circling around the desk to stand right in front of Kevin and reached out to caress his cheek, letting out a purr and wink. "So.... I am now wondering... since you figured out who I am... if you really cannot be persuaded to give me that bacta so we can continue the shooting of those episodes on schedule...." She leaned in and licked over his neck to his ear and murmured. "I would most certainly.... love... to make it worth your while..."
Kevin coughed and shifted in his seat, looking at Andrea, he was sweating and quickly reached for his glass and took a large gulp of the nectar to cool his nerves, his eyes roving over her body. "I.... I see... well... I suppose I could... tell the republic that unfortunately their shipment has to be delayed because the batch is contaminated or some such..."
She purred again and smirked, "You could? Oh how wonderful Kevin!"
He nodded eagerly. "Yes, just tell me where it needs to go and I will have it arranged."
Still smirking she snapped her fingers and Talon produced the datapad with the details about that annoying squib's transport vessel. "If you could have it shipped to that transport currently in orbit I would be so pleased... in fact. If you make it happen now..." She grinned and turned to her aides and Talon. "You can leave us, return to the shuttle and inform the others I will be in later today... Kevin here, is going to take me out for dinner... and discover together what happens after dinner." She licked her lips while her two aides giggled and stood up, followed by Talon who only made to leave after a meaningful look from her mistress. Once they left she turned to Kevin again, "So... want to see how nimble I really am...?"
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Considerable time later.
On approach to Syndicate Transport....
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Andrea was humming to herself, it had been a good time... Kevin was good, it wasn't mind-blowing or anything but he left her well satisfied. She had ignored the looks from her people when she had finally returned to the Chained Despair and had at once ordered to lift off and head to the Syndicate transport and have this business settled. She looked up at the intercom when Nyriss's voice came and informed them all that they were about to dock with the transport again and she looked to Rhak-Skuri and Karsk. "Same deal as before, protective measures up and ready for any hint of betrayal, I still don't trust that little fuzzball or anyone linked to Zann." She looked at Trizz, Talon and the Sun Guard. "You all stay here and ready to come in if there is even any hint of a double-cross."
They all nodded in response except Trizz who raised her hand. "How do we know you need our help?"
Andrea snorted and rolled her eyes. "When you hear angry shouting, screams and sounds of blasters being fired, that is your cue. Now lets get this over with." She had put her armour back on and readied a bubble of protection just in case as she stepped back on the transport, Karsk and Rhak-Skuri in tow.
It was the same scene as before for the most part but this time Jan stood in front of a large canister that had various symbols on it in a variety of languages, all meaning the same thing: 'Medical Supplies, Bacta.' He clapped his hands together and smiled as Andrea and her people approached and bowed. "You managed it! I knew you would! Well done, well done indeed, the Syndicate, myself and Zann owe you thanks for the profits you will give us once we sell this on the black market! Oh yes!"
She snorted in response and crossed her arms. "I don't care, I am expecting to be paid, I did what you wanted now give me my credits." She narrowed her eyes. "And don't forget you also would put in a good word for me to Zann, so I wouldn't have to worry about him trying to have my killed any more."
Rhak-Skuri widened her eyes and drew her lightsaber igniting it at the same time and let out a hiss. "We are betrayed! I sense several people waiting in ambush!"
Andrea blinked and growled and turned to Jan. "What is the meaning of this you little runt!" She shouted, making sure her people would hear her agitation and charge in.
Jan smiled. "Ah yes... about that. There has been a change of plans." With the grinding of gears the airlock sealed shut behind Andrea, Rhak Skuri and Karsk. Only Talon had time to get through, preventing the others from coming in at the same time the scrambling of feet were heard and on top of the containers on either side of group came a gathering of humans, rodians, weequay and nikto with blasters trained on the foursome below. Jan was still smiling and chuckled to himself, "This is definitely my day, with this bacta I would already be in favour with the boss but once I hand over your corpse he will be really pleased with me! You have no idea how annoyed he was when that slime of a hutt put you under his 'protection'. Jabba can't save you now."
She growled and lashed out with lightning at the filthy rodent. "And nobody can save you!"
The lightning went right towards Jan... and made him flicker, revealing Jan to be a hologram, still smirking the Squib bowed. "Oh... I am so sorry, don't worry I am nearby but I am not that stupid... right enough talk, kill them and lets get out of here." With that he vanished and the men on top of the containers made ready to fire.
But because the Togruta sith had sensed the ambush Andrea and her people were ready and managed to use their reflexes and training to dodge the initial wave of blasterfire.
Enraged at this betrayal, even if it was expected but to have been fooled by a squib of all things! She would find that rodent and rip him apart! Almost in syn with Rhak-Skuri she took the left while her disciple took the right and they both unleashed a force storm from their hands towards the Syndicate thugs, hoping to see them burn alive with dark side lightning. Karsk just got out his blaster rifle and started firing at the thugs while Darth Talon made a attempt to jump on top of the containers and get within slicing and dicing distance with her saber.
The lightning storms came but did not hit any of their intended targets, in fact the arcs of lightning spoiled Karsk's aim and he was unable to get a shot off, at the same time Talon decided not to jump because she had no interest in jumping into the path of the lightning.
Disoriented and perhaps a little bit unsettled by the madwomen throwing lightning around from their fingertips the thugs continued to fire and some hit Andrea, her bubble of force protection soaking up the shots and protecting her from harm.
She roared in outrage and attempted to do it again, "Rhak-Skuri! Together on those fools on the left! You two deal with the others!" She shouted and combined her force storm with Rhak-Skuri, unleashing it towards the thugs on the left while Talon and Karsk would deal with the thugs on the right.
They had not expected the sith to do that trick twice in a row it seems and before they could step out of view five out of six thugs on the left container screamed out as the lightning coursed through them and fried them alive, screaming in pain and agony they shuddered as the storm hit them full on, when they finally stopped screaming they just fell over, their bodies still smoking.
On the other side Karsk was laying down covering fire while Talon made the jump with a fierce cry she managed to make it, landing right in front of one of the Syndicate thugs who stared open-mouthed, no sentient being, least of all a Twi'lek should be able to jump that high! Was his last though before Talon's blade cut him in half.
The lone survivor on the left container, shaken but not out of the fight, turned his blaster at Andre and fired, not believing what he saw when his shot punched through her armour and scored a grievous blow. The shot burning through her flesh and through her lung.
The others were in disarray with one of the sith suddenly on top of the container with them and were shooting wildly at her, with some shots missing her while the others were deflected away with her saber.
She coughed and reeled, blinking as she suddenly felt numb and looked down at her chest... seeing a rather big hole in her chest plate. "Oh frell me..." She muttered, coughing up some blood and went through her knees and then fell over. Coughing and wheezing as she placed her hand on the wound and tried to focus, use her rage, her despair, her fear to gather the dark side energies to heal herself.
Rhak-SKuri saw this and tried not to smile, was that bitch Andrea going to die here!? She could only hope but right now, even though she would love to blast lightning at the body of her 'mistress' she could not do it now, these Syndicate fools were trying to kill her too and Talon was still there... the loyalties of that Karsk were also in question. She reached out with the force in a attempt to grab hold of the single thug still up there, raise him up to the ceiling of the cargo bay... and then just let him drop to the ground to see if the fall would kill him.
Karsk saw his employer fall but ignored it, he was a trained warrior and would stop to investigate once all hostiles were dead as he resumed firing.
Talon saw the one she had sworn to protect fall to the ground and let out a scream of despair and loss, fearing her mistress, her sole purpose of existence was dead she turned to the thugs on top of the container. Raising her blade to let the crimson light cast a eerie glow on her face she let out a warcry and charged with the intent to dismember and kill...
Rhak Skuri thought she had the last thug but instead one of the corpses started to levitate up in the air, Karsk was still not hitting anything but Talon was clearly channeling her rage into something productive cleaving one of the thugs in half as if it was nothing.
At the same time lightning coursed over Andrea's body from her hand, the energies she was conjuring pouring into her lethal wound, repairing damages done to her lungs and internal organs. Her lung was not filling up with blood anymore and she gasped, gasping for air and coughing, but otherwise whole once more.
The Syndicate thugs had not trained for any of this, fighting force users and lightning, cutting people in half force users at that. The survivors dropped their weapons and started to beg for mercy.
Talon would have none of it and with a shriek of rage she cut down two other thugs and moved to another. "No mercy! Only death!" She shouted.
"Stop." She froze, her blade inches from the neck of another of the thugs as she looked below, seeing her mistress, alive and slowly standing up she backed away. Andrea took a deep breath, closing her eyes, feeling a shudder down her spine. So she was still capable of cheating death, good. She exhaled and opened her eyes. "Right then...." She looked at the surviving thugs. "First... one of you will open that airlock and let me people aboard... second... you will bring me before that coward of a Squib, do all that and I might decide to let you all continue your sorry existence." To emphasize her point she let lightning dance around her fingertips, her eyes completely turned crimson with gold from all the dark side energies she had summoned in this short encounter.
They did as commanded, one opening the airlock, letting Andrea's people in, the Sun Guard storming in with Trizz and Nyriss hot on their heels, they secured all but one of the thugs, that one brought Andrea, Talon and Rhak Skuri before a rather less confident looking Jan who seemed rather afraid upon seeing the still breathing Andrea before him. "Ah... uhm... you passed the test. He... hehe.... you are not falling for it I take it." He gulped and nervously looked for a way to escape, seeing that was not possible he knew he had lost but he could still bargain for his life. "Don't kill me! I can still pay you for the bacta!"
Andrea snorted, crossing her arms. "As if there was any doubt of that... transfer the credits to my account... with a bonus or I will flay you alive you miserable excuse of a life." She growled and stared with utter hatred and disgust at the Squib.
He made a eep sound and quickly hurried to a console, with Andrea watching over his shoulder she could see that he quickly transferred the credits, a very nice sum at that, to her account, the confirmation of which came in shortly afterwards that the money had indeed be transferred with success. "There, all good, yes? So... we all have a good laugh and we go our separate ways and live happily ever after?" He said, sounding hopeful.
"Not exactly..." Before the cowardly little creature could escape she placed both her hands around his head and unleashed sith lightning directly into his skull and liquefied his pathetic little brain. Not stopping till his eyes popped and she finally let go to let the corpse drop unceremoniously on the ground and turned to the thug who had brought her to him. "So... with him dead, it falls to you to return this transport to the Syndicate and I suppose get yourself a nice reward, enjoy."
The thug just looked at the corpse, pale as a sheet.
"Atta boy." She said, patting his head before she walked away, humming happily.
Rounding her people up she returned to the Chained Despair in a very good mood. "Well that wasn't so bad in the end." She said mostly to herself while Nyriss went back to the cockpit. "Earned some credits, was able to let loose of some anger issues after... after my conversation with Azazel." Her shoulders slumped a little after saying that but she let out a grunt and shook her head. "Time to continue, Nyriss, set a course for Dagobah. I have a dark side cave to explore..."
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