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Post by Whill Shaman Chrysanthe on Nov 14, 2017 13:02:12 GMT -8
The castle occupied by the Sith Lord Darth Vader was constructed by Vader himself as a testament to his own might. It was located on the site of his greatest defeat, and was built over an ancient Sith cave. The complex's location and design came as much from the dark side of the Force as it did Vader's personal history. The central tower was constructed out of obsidian, and its tuning towers served as conduits for the dark side. Within, Vader maintained a bacta tank which he would rest inside.
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Luxeria
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Post by Luxeria on Dec 24, 2017 9:00:47 GMT -8
The fit of giggling slowly subsided and she bit her lip no longer nervous by Luxeria's presence by or side or within her mind. Something was happening, and now that they had a moment to consider it along the short trip to the mouth of the Cavern she was able to focus more upon the link they were quickly forming with one another. She moved a little deeper into Luxeria's mind, not intrusively but simply curious as to what she would find there - knocking on doors and testing knobs as it were seeing which ones would open to her and which would remain closed. Likewise she opened her own mind allowing the girl access. Clearly she had great power in the mental manipulations of the force - one that might even rival her own power, but there was something there holding her back from her true potential... a mental block that seemed to be restricting her, or perhaps it was something else entirely but Vasari wanted to find out what that was."You were beautiful back there, the way you moved, how you carved our path through those droids... I'm not sure I would have done it quite like that, but by your side it seemed like the perfect thing to do... until I got shot that is... still not sure how that happened..."Vasari rubbed at her shoulder pad and winced slightly - there was an angry scorch mark right below the pad close to her collarbone... ~There goes my flawless skin... wont look as good topless anymore~ she thought to herself before recalling the extent her mind was open to Luxeria and blushed picking up her pace slightly as they approached the Lavafall. Ahead of them lay a clear path into the darkness of the Cavern - as the group moved around the edge of the cliff beneath the lavafall the heat would increase drastically but the light from the fire would illuminate their path quite clearly. A gash in the cliff face directly beneath the Castle that looked like a knife wound in the perfect obsidian flesh of the cliff face - here the rocky terrain would smooth out and as they neared the entrance the sight of perfectly carved stone steps would be visible to the group.
Vasari hesitated now - not out of fear or caution, but she had felt something earlier and was not too keen on leaping into the dark without knowledge of what that darkness was. Looking to Luxeria and silently asking her mind for strength and balance to aide in her search she allowed her mind to flow from their position deep into the depths of the Cavern. Tales from this place had been sporadic since the fall of the First Empire, a book she had read on Iridonia mentioned an expedition being planned for Mustafar but nothing had been written passed the planning stage - and the author had written nothing else since, at least that she could find. But now that she stood here, and was feeling the darkness coming off this place she got the feeling the Expeditionary Force never made it off this planet alive.
When Vasari finally spoke to her, her head tilted a bit. It was a compliment, sure, but it was the bit about it feeling right when by her side. The statement felt odd in some way. Was Vasari following into step with her own pattern from the exchange, choosing to step into her path instead of utilizing her own state of mind and abilities? Thinking on it a bit more, she didn't think that was it. There were aspects that Luxeria seemed to take from Vasari, especially when she took the lead as they came to the cave. Even her Soresu form seemed a bit more refined than when she used it herself. Shaking her head, she thought back on the comment. "It's the way I am. Through my training, I have learned that in order to best utilize my skills, I had to understand myself, the way I thought and moved. Once I came to understand that, I was able to adapt the Makashi form to revolve around me, not me around the form. Only then could I make the most of it. That movement and approach are derived from my state of mind. Grasp the full depth of yourself and you can make better use of your own style." She then picked up on Vasari's thought of her skin being scarred. "I wouldn't worry too much on that about. Scars heal. I've already had a few myself."As they reached the mouth of the cave, she noted the shift in the rock face to smooth obsidian. She guessed they were right below the castle now. She also sensed Vasari's hesitation and suddenly slowed pace. Caution and uncertainty circulated within the woman's mind, though fear wasn't present. Luxeria couldn't blame her. They were going in blind. Sure, they felt something off, but had no bearing otherwise on what awaited them. And with the dark-side in play, she imagined that anything could be waiting for them. Choosing to press ahead, she moved passed Vasari, placing a quick reassuring hand on her shoulder. She led them right up to the opening, quickly moving to the further side, pressing up against the wall. She waited for everyone to take positions, motioning for the Shadowtroopers to fall into cover with them. They had to be cautious from here. She opened her mind and senses, sharpening them as she nodded to Vasari, slipping into the cave entrance first. Her lightsaber remained at her side for now, but she was ready to throw up a defense for them should anything attack from out of the darkness.
Within, the dark-side was already strong. Most would collapse under it or flee before it if unprepared. Even a tiny bit of her own mind begged to turn and run. But she was stronger than that. She had endured this kind of darkness before. When she first arrived on Kuat to seek the Sith, her first days of training at the Estate of the Ten were spent adapting the the rich and thick presence of the dark-side in the Inner Sanctum. How many times did she turn and run before reaching the door, each time exhausted from the pressure it put on her? How many times did it take to try and open the door? And even after gaining access, how many more times did she have to leave to regain her strength before finally adapting to it completely? Too many times, too many days. That was all she could recall as they had all seemed to blur together at that point. But that experience made her strong now, able to endure and embrace such potent dark-side energy. |
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Vasari
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Post by Vasari on Dec 26, 2017 15:16:07 GMT -8
Vasari's thoughts began to grow distracted as she moved deeper and deeper into Luxeria's mind testing doors to find them only open partially giving her that rush of a feeling of acceptance, only to have them cease before any real information could be learned from the experience, still she seemed to be drawn in, accepted and comforted because of that feeling. The thought about a time and place hit her and she retreated slightly, focusing on what was going on... she felt foolish - Luxeria was right, now wasn't the time.Vasari blinked to clear her thoughts and then noticed Luxeria moving towards the mouth of the cave. Taking her saberstaff in hand she followed close after her partner, her eyes peering into the darkness down the staircase... The chamber that they were about to enter had been referenced in the texts she had read at the Academy but now that she was here it was not what she imagined, the moment the light from the surface faded into the blackness another light from deeper in the cavern took its place. The stairway they descended led them foot by foot down into the molten fabric of Mustafar's core.
If the passages were accurate, this was the place the Ancient Sith practitioners on this planet used to draw energy from the core of the planet itself. The heat here was growing inch by inch more unbearable and Vasari had to tighten the woven shield of the force around her to keep the heat from nearby lava from scorching her very skin and setting her flesh aflame from the simply proximity. As the Stairway ended they came to a narrow path that fell off on either side. One could walk easily across the platform if they were in control of their balance, but one slip up would have them plummeting to the pool of stagnant lava beneath them - a meager thirty foot fall to their fiery death.
"Across this bridge i know very little... the passages I read told me that there is another entrance to Vader's Castle from below. The Cave he built his Castle upon is right above us, this is the source of the energy he drew upon to built that great structure. I can feel it... the power here is... intoxicating... Its..."
Vasari's mind seemed to only now grasp the gravity of her surroundings, growing up on Iridonia she was used to the feeling of the darkside being close to her. Iridonia was a place of power in the Universe, the strength the planet held in the dark rivaled most. But this was something different. There was pain here... great pain, suffering, abandonment, resentment, hatred... the rush of feelings and emotions that came flooding into her mind were almost to much, only her mental blocks and discipline kept her on her feet, kept her in place, kept her strong as she reached into the power of the Dark Side here. The Living Force was painfully vibrant here, like there was so much life in this place, so much energy it was bursting from the seems. She had never felt such power coursing through her... had she been less disciplined she would have attempted to hold onto it... harness it towards her goals as Vader had done decades ago to build this great place, but Vasari knew better - instead she allowed the darkness to flow through her accepting its presence and its power and like she had done with the lightning beneath the Academy Dungeons she allowed the energy to pass harmlessly through her. That much power would have destroyed her - it would saturate her cells beyond their normal capacity and she would die attempting to control this much raw energy.Her eyes turned to Luxeria, noticing she also was struggling with the power of this place, but managed it quite better than she had. Moving to Luxeria's side she motioned towards the bridge.
"You first... Watch your step..."
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Luxeria
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Post by Luxeria on Dec 26, 2017 16:15:28 GMT -8
As they progressed further into the darkness, Vasari began to move up beside her, almost to the point of leading once again. With each step, the heat grew and wore on her body. She could sense the flow of the Force around Vasari, the way it wrapped around her, no doubt in a means to keep the heat of a bit. Luxeria drew upon the feelings of Vasari, the way her mind manipulated the Force so she could do so in a similar way. It was becoming increasingly obvious that their minds were connected enough to see and understand the other. But she still didn't realize what was truly going on, believing it to be part of the technique Vasari had begun back on the ship with everyone else. It was the first time she had encounter the feelings of Battle Meditation or similar skills, leading her to figure it just part of the ability.
But more was happening as they went. She was able to handle the darkness that resonated in the cave. Well enough, to keep moving without any real trouble, anyway. She figured it took those like Viox and Malvus to traverse such energy without the slightest issue. However, everyone once in a while, she'd find her body and mind shifting, ever so slightly, causing her to blink and shake her head. She guessed it was the heat taking its toll, causing her to draw more on the power of the Force around them, and with it, the darkness to repel the heat.
Coming to the bridge, they all stopped for a moment. Luxeria looked at the narrow bridge, then down to the pool of lava below. While she heard the words Vasari spoke, they seemed to pass through her mind as if she was only slightly paying attention. She gave a casual nod, the kind that came from those who instinctively acknowledged someone without any real understanding of what was said. But she responded enough to the last statement enough to make it seem she really was paying attention.
"Right. Slow and easy."
Luxeria stepped out onto the bridge, not worried about the narrowness of the path. She was certain of her balance, knowing what she gained in training with the Makashi form to be enough for such a task as this. Yet, about a quarter way across, she felt herself start to shift. It was an odd sensation that she was a little off balance. Still, holding out her arms and going a little slower took care of the problem. Pressing on, she made it halfway as she felt lightheaded. She stopped, her foot coming forward in an attempt to hold herself up. Her head dropped and her eyes closed as she knelt down to a knee, working to focus herself. Once again, she drew on the Force, working to harden her mind and senses from the simple heat and and low light. It was all it was. Taking a few deep breaths, she was able to gain her bearing again and she stood up.
"Make sure to watch yourselves as you cross!" She shouted back to them before moving the rest of the way across with relative ease.
Something was amiss, though, as she crossed. She heard no murmurs, or any kind of speech behind her. As she got to solid ground on the other side, she even realized she couldn't feel Vasari anymore, either. Turning around to check on the group, she was surprised to see no one there. She moved quickly to the edge, looking down at the lava pool. But it was still. As thick as it was, it would still be moving if they had fallen in. Even more, she would have hear crumbling rocks, screams and shouts behind her, yet there had been none. Even the feeling of Vasari in her mind would have been more chaotic before cutting off rather than simply not being there anymore. No, they hadn't fallen in. So what happened?
Her hand went quickly to her saber and it came to life as she looked around. Perhaps something had gotten to them. She began to reach out, thinking they had been carried off. She would have felt them further down the tunnels or something. But no, there was nothing. She stretched further, attempting to reach Viox and tell him of what has happening below, that something was happening. But as with Vasari and the Shadow troopers, she couldn't feel him or Xakire. Her eyes squinted as she tried focusing on all she could, figuring out what was happening. But no matter what, her mind only found silence. The sudden disappearance shouldn't have been possible for any of them, but it had. And it brought about only one thought to Luxeria's mind: betrayal.
Her anger began to grow as she looked down the bridge from where she came. She could see what this was all about. She was the expendable pawn in this whole operation. Not wanting to risk the life of anyone on the "true" Blackguard order, Viox played out this merger, seeking those he could exploit and send off on these death missions. He knew what was awaiting them and wanted to someone else into the nest. At best, she'd take out the enemy, then they'd take out her so no loose ends remained. At worst, she wore the enemy down enough before dying that they could finish the creature off with relative ease.
But no, that would be their mistake. She'd survive and she'd kill them all for this act against her. Turning from the bridge, she headed down the tunnel for the upper chamber of the cave, her footsteps hard with hatred, anger, focus, and determination. The anger swelling on her was greater than she had ever felt before, her grip becoming so tight on her hilt that she felt she'd crush it with her bare strength. The thoughts didn't end there, however, diving further into the darkness. Her thoughts were turning to Vasari. She was beginning to think she had found a friend, or at the very least, an ally she could trust in. At the end, she would have been able to meet with her master and tell him that she had found someone among her peers that she could consider them as such. Clearly, she was wrong. The Zabrak had known all along. She was tasked with manipulating Luxeria so that she'd be less on guard to everything around her. It seemed that for all the talk of Sith unification, it was all but a ruse to further their own goals. Hatred grew for her ex-partner, not even falling into the ranks of rivals, but merely another person that just needed to die for her own satisfaction.
It was here that her thoughts caused her steps to slow and eventually stop, her anger began to fade as doubt and realization took hold. She might have been sent here to be the expendable pawn, but for all her training to focus and control her mind against others, she had been manipulated by another. Someone had gotten into her head, toyed with it. Was Vasari truly that much stronger than her? No, while believing Vasari was no slouch, she couldn't have been that much better. But to have been manipulated, it meant that it was she who was that much weaker. But that couldn't be. She had resisted others, show her strength and power against those on Eriadu to progress herself. But it was everyone under Malvus she had beaten, even his son. He had to be stronger than her, having been training for so much longer. But she had stayed with him until the battle's end.
Her head dropped as her thoughts on the training bout with Vurkar the first time sent the cold stab through her. She had never been strong. Everything that transpired was scripted, meant to make her feel like she had power. It was all a ploy to make her think more of herself so not to fall crying like a spoiled brat who couldn't have her way. But why waste that time instead of just killing her? The saber fell from her hands as she put the pieces together. Malvus knew what Viox had in mind. He sent her as the pawn, seeing some form of use in her death. She was the joke everyone laughed at, bringing the original truth that she was never worth anyone's time, that she never manipulated anyone. She was always under the spells of others. And now there was nothing more to gain from her.
She fell to her knees as her body just seemed to give up, falling limp on herself. After a few moments of staring at the ground, she heard a voice speaking to her, right in front of her.
"Well, so much for you taking care of the problem for us. Absolutely worthless. Not even in this could be of any use to anyone. Guess it can't be helped. You are just a little rich brat, in the end. I guess all that's left is to end your life here. No matter. Killing you is my final trial before become a Sith Warrior. Doesn't matter how you died."
Luxeria looked up to see Vasari standing there, her saberstaff alive and ready to take her life. So that is what this was about. Take care of what waited in the cave, then be the sacrifice for Vasari's progression. Sith truly were ruthless selfish beings after all. And for her desire of power, she fell into their trap. Her end was here....
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Vasari
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Post by Vasari on Dec 28, 2017 20:13:53 GMT -8
Vasari watched on with no small amount of nervousness as Luxeria crossed the stone bridge suspended over the pit of lava that lay below. She was still slightly lightheaded from the near constant effort she was putting into the passive Tutaminis skills to direct the large amounts of the darkside energy she was wading through. The currents of the force felt sluggish, like they were drawing her in deeper but not in the ways she was used to - it was not a peaceful trusting relationship which she had been used to experiencing. Before the Force had been her ally, the strongest and most dedicated one she had ever had before meeting the members of the Blackguard she was still learning to call her new allies. Now it all felt like a rush of power and energy was beating against her mental defenses - forcing her, begging her, seducing her with its influence and its power. Regardless of the focus and drain it required she refused to draw upon the incredible source of dark side energy that was everywhere around her.
Luxeria was almost across and had called out for them all to keep their feet as they crossed and Vasari exhaled focusing herself and compelling the Force to work for her, her way... and in response she was rewarded with a momentarily clear head as she made her way across the narrow bridge - balance never an issue for one with near mastery of the most defensive saber form in existence. Halfway across she looked up to find Luxeria - who had turned to face her with a slightly bewildered look on her face as if she was looking for something... or someone? Stopping dead in her tracks she blinks looking at her partners face and calls out to her...
"What is it? What do you see?"
She gave no look of understand, comprehension, or even awareness that she had even been addressed. The look of complete blankness on her face sunk right to the bottom of Vasari's heart when she realized that the connection between their two minds had been severed leaving her once again... alone. Vasari's mind hardly seemed to notice the change - adapting at once to the same closed off form it had taken for years, but it was heart heart that felt the pinch. She tilted her head slightly watching Luxeria move off down the path that lead deeper into the cavern - strangely enough without Luxeria's presence within her mind the draw from the darkness was not as strong - but as she watched Luxeria move off she felt something else leaving her... something she couldn't quite explain.
Deciding it best to follow she moved the rest of the way across the bridge not even looking back to see if the Shadowtroopers were following - they didn't matter so much anymore, something was at play here, something had broken the link between her and Luxeria and for some reason Luxeria could no longer see or hear or feel her - that took priority for her. Clearly something within this dark place had overridden her partners senses - or maybe she was locked within some form of illusion, more powerful than anything Vasari had felt before. Vasari calmed her mind and reached out to Luxeria, she would break through this illusion and fix everything so they could be on their way... She felt nothing. There she was standing only a few feet in front of her... but her mind was... gone?
She turned around at last to look towards the Shadowtroopers, looking to access their minds as well... nothing? Heart hearts began to beat faster as a panic set in. She couldn't feel anything! The currents of the Force flowed around her, through her as was there way but she felt nothing. Her chest rose and fell quicker as her breathing started to get out of control and she attempted to harness her ichor lightning but nothing happened... not even the sparks that used to dance between her fingers. The Living Force was ignoring her, and still that ever present call to the darkness... a call she was no longer able to resist as easily as she strove for any connection to the Force that she could find. In her fear she sunk to her knees her cloak billowing around her hiding her from most of the world as the darkness slowly crept into her Heart, a darkness she was not ready for... not in the least...
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Luxeria
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Post by Luxeria on Dec 29, 2017 8:12:46 GMT -8
Luxeria's head fell, ready for the killing strike. There seemed to be no point in fighting back. She was weak and seen as worthless. She could hear the giggling that came from Vasari. No doubt she found it amusing. Made sense when she thought about it. The random giggling on the way to the cave was this. If she had tried to step into Vasari's mind when the barriers came down, maybe she would have seen it, been prepared. But no. She had trusted and this was the fate she'd endure. A lesson she'd never get to learn from. What really drove everything home, though, was realizing that the Jedi didn't deny her training because they saw her desire for power, but because they just saw her as worthless.
The Jedi. Luxeria's eyes opened as she looked at the floor. Despite hearing the movements of Vasari's saberstaff, her mind seemed to drown it out. From the empty darkness, there seemed to shine a light deep inside. While the idea of being pitied and allowed to succeed around those in training held some semblance of sense, it didn't account for her missions and time away from her master, especially when facing the Jedi. She had effectively hunted and taken down a Terentatek while training with her previous master, Darth Andor. That was no easy task, for any of them. And with three Terentateks, she had to face the one alone, as did her master and sibling apprentice. The mission to Alzoc III could be chalked up to Vurkar's support, which was easily understood as her first mission as such. But her work against the Sith heretics on Zoist, taking out Cuuldurach on Thule without her lightsaber, the six months of fighting off all sorts of opponents without her lightsaber as she sought for the pieces for a new one, the Jedi she fought on Vandelheim, the lost tribe of Sith on Kesh, all of it was achieved through her own work and strength. They couldn't have been manipulated for her own sake. Too much work, far too much to be worth the effort. No she was stronger than she thought. She wasn't some waste of space, a pawn to be thrown into the fray as a distraction or means of weakening the enemy before death. She was a warrior. She was a temptress. And she would become a master of the mind. She would be the Goddess of Illumination!
She then felt the heat of Vasari's blade under her chin, beckoning her to her to look at her adversary. "I want to see the life fade from your eyes as I kill you. Lift your head. Let's see the despair that resides within those pretty eyes of yours." Vasari giggled again, confidence turning to arrogance. She was so certain of Luxeria's demise. Who wouldn't be? With the loss of any will to fight, they were but a lamb waiting for slaughter. Unfortunately, the time spent savoring Luxeria's hopelessness was what had just cost Vasari victory.
Luxeria looked up, letting the look that resided in her eyes just a few moments ago return. She had the skill for manipulation. She knew it. All her work before had been real. And she'd utilize it here. Not enough to take control in such a small span of time, but enough to catch the Zabrak by surprise. The giggle returned as she pulled her saberstaff back, spun it a couple times behind her before driving it down hard upon Luxeria.
But Luxeria was no longer down and out. In the moment she begun to make her strike, Luxeria use the Force, beckoning the saber from its resting place on the ground to her hand and brought it to life as her purple blade met the crimson beam. She only used a single hand, slowing the force of the attack until it finally stopped. Had Vasari used her full strength to make the swing, Luxeria wouldn't have been able to use one hand. But arrogance and certainty had filled the woman's mind. One thing Luxeria took from this moment was while confidence was good, one's guard should never drop in the final moments. Never should victory be assumed until the last breath of life left her opponent. Until such had transpired, anyone could come back from the brink, no matter how far they had fallen. She had always kept her mind focused on the difference between confidence and arrogance, but this completed her mind on such matters. An unexpected lesson, but those were usually always the ones that drove itself home.
And as she suspected, Vasari looked at her with wide eyes, in complete disbelief that Luxeria found her strength. Luxeria smirked at this, taking grip of her saber with both hands, her toes folding under her feet as she pushed up with her entire body, breaking the hold and pushing Vasari's saber hard to the side while coming all the way up to her feet. The Zabrak took a few steps back to gather herself, her surprised look turning to one of anger. "How?! How can you have this strength?! I worked my magic on you, manipulated your thoughts! I pulled your uncertainty to trust in others, the fear that you were weak and worthless to the surface! You had collapsed under the thoughts and given up! So how can you now stand there as if it never affected you?!"
Luxeria gave a dark giggle. It was amusing to see her opponent in such disarray. It felt empowering to know that she had come back from such a successful mind job, just in time to save herself and begin breaking the mind of her enemy without doing truly anything except still standing there. As the words came from the one she had called ally, the next lesson for her came in her own answer. "You had, indeed, done quite well in breaking me down, Vasari. I must commend you for that. You have shown me just how much more I have to go before I, myself, can become a master of the mind. But if you want to break someone's mind so that they remain broken, make sure you hold back any thoughts that could counter those you bring up. Despite the darkness we wield, a little light within can always guide you back." She pointed at Vasari with her blade as her last statement was made, a confident smile resting on her face. With a quick flare of an "X" in front of her, her saber came to rest behind her as she stepped forward with her left foot. She looked at Vasari for a moment before raising her left hand and motioning for the woman to bring forth her attack.
She saw the anger that rose up in Vasari as she came at Luxeria, her staff spinning above her head as she approached. In a brilliant show of light, the two battled it out in the cave. Remaining calm and focused, Luxeria moved through each motion with fluidity and grace. With Vasari's rising anger, it became easier and easier to brush her aside. With each movement, the anger grew and the focus faltered. From what Luxeria saw on the surface and in her memories, Vasari put emphasis into the Soresu form, one made for defense more than offense. While it did work to keep Luxeria's attacks at bay, it was doing little to aid her in her own attacks. She could see her opponent growing exhausted with each strike.
Deciding to try something bold, she swung at Vasari, knowing the woman would block her. But she followed quickly with her left hand, grabbing the center of the staff as their blades collided. Vasari's weakening strength kept her from ripping it away from Luxeria and with her hand on it, it allowed her to manipulate the blades enough to keep it from hitting her as Vasari tried to strike at her. She stood there, using the action to mock Vasari further. And it was only driving the woman down further. The next lesson for Luxeria: manipulation could be utilized in many ways, at any time. Even in this fight, the simple way she fought, the way she had resisted, the way she mocked Vasari was all getting to her. It was almost too easy of a fight now. She had her looks to seduce the ones so weak they fell for her as if she were a siren. She had her developing skills in mental manipulation to redirect and control one's mind with her own will. Now, she was coming to understand and possess the manipulation of combat, to make her opponents lose focus, fall to their emotions, and give up their will.
Lifting her hand, she released her hold on the saberstaff as it lifted over their heads. Simultaneously, she swung hard at Vasari's side to finish the fight. But even then, the Zabrak still had some fight left, getting her saber down to block Luxeria's. The lock was held there as their eyes met. Luxeria looked long and hard into them, ready to see all that was first seen in hers. But as she stared into them, she saw nothing. They were empty, dark. It wasn't the harden heart, the cold spirit she saw. There was literally nothing behind her eyes. No life, just a bottomless pit of darkness. The thoughts then began to run rampant in her mind as it began to try and grasp what she was seeing. In this final test of strength, neither seemed to try and break free to make the next attack. And that was good. It gave Luxeria the time needed to formulate her thoughts, to reach her conclusion.
In a frustrated sigh, she pushed back hard against Vasari, effectively giving them distance. Eyes still on the woman for a few moments more, they closed as she shook her head. How could she have been so blind to this? She hadn't be facing Vasari at all. In fact, she hadn't been facing any living being. Even the coldest, darkest heart reflected something in their eyes. As she looked over the being before her, a simple thought resonated silently within her mind. ~I'm sorry, Vasari. It's never wrong to trust. And if any would have connected with me and understood who I was, it would have been you.~ In that moment, she felt something, something faint. It was like something calling to her in the distance. Reaching out, she grabbed hold of it. It was Vasari. She could feel her partner again. However, she was closed off from entering her mind. But she found the light in the darkness, the illumination needed to find her path again.
She began spinning them blade around her, switching back and forth between hands. "It's time to end this nightmare." With a sudden burst of speed, she moved forward, slicing through the false image of her friend. She stood beside it now, not turning to look at it, though she could see it fading from view like smoke out of the corner of her eye. Taking a deep breath, she turned around, facing back towards the direction the bridge had been. She could feel everyone now. They had never left. Her mind had been blocked and she had been lost to the illusion created for her. Reaching out to Vasari, she found that she still couldn't reach the woman. Her mind could be felt, but not entered. With quick steps, she began to move back down the tunnel, eventually taking off in a run. How far had she progressed down the tunnel in her fight? It seemed like ages as she hurried to get back to Vasari, to she what was disrupting the link between them.
Once her partner came into view, Luxeria came to a sudden halt. She was there, on her knees. It was now that she could feel the darkness settling around her, something that wasn't typical of Vasari, or at least from what Luxeria gathered thus far. She started to step forward, to reach out and help her, but stopped. She couldn't. Replacing her saber, she took a seat on the ground and began to meditate. She could only guess that Vasari had also fallen victim to an illusion. But there was nothing Luxeria could do to help her, nothing that she truly knew, at least. Cut off from the Zabrak's mind, the most she could do was believe that Vasari would find the strength to break free, just as she had. But Vasari's mind at been a light to help finish pulling her out of her own illusion, she let her mind reside as close as it could. That way, when her partner was able to fight back and start breaking free, she'd be there to guide her back. As she waited, she'd also work to sort out what had befallen them and why, all the while on guard for whatever waited for them up ahead.
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Vasari
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Post by Vasari on Dec 30, 2017 13:33:27 GMT -8
Vasari felt the darkness closing around her heart, she felt like it was quickly consuming her and she felt the power of the Dark Side begin to overcome her perfectly maintained balance, her calm. The currents of the Force were gone from her, all she felt now was the powerful fire of the darkness now burning all around her as well as inside her mind. Her eyes flew open - she still sat haphazardly upon the ground but now Luxeria was sitting in front of her, meditating, waiting - while Luxeria's mind had been cut off from hers to deal with the Illusion playing out within her thoughts Vasari had fell victim to something similar, but hers manifested her body as well as her mind. Given over completely to the darkness with little way of control the Zabrak girl was a vessel of raw power and energy. The lava beneath the group began to roil with her power reaching up to embrace them all with its deadly touch attempting to move closer to her... as if she was calling to it, calling for it, beckoning it to come closer - and the flames grew closer the temperature within the cavern grew unbearably hot.
Though her eyes were open there was no sign of life or understanding within them - everything that made the Zabrak girl what she was, was lost within a raging sea of her own thoughts, memories, and emotions... deep within her mind. Vasari was struggling to even keep her head above water - attempting to regain control of the second current of the force, a place she had always moved through and drawn power from but had never truly delved into. While the first current was that of the living force, where one could feel how the force moved through every living being - and the third current opened ones mind to the past and the future - The second current of the force was one of pure, raw, untamed energy. Regardless of how a Force User's mind viewed the Force it was from this place they drew the power required to change things in their surroundings. Whether that be conjuring an arc of Sith lightning, pushing or pulling through telekinesis, or even linking ones mind with another - the power to do so came from here. It was here where the Jedi of old first felt the call to the darkness, the raw power available to them was too tempting and the untamed nature made it so they could not control what they had stumbled upon and thus the understanding of the Dark Side first took shape within their minds. During training at the Academy they were taught about the force and how to give yourself over to the dark side, but that left most of the students in Vasari's mind a slave to its energy, simply calling on this current when they needed it, dropping their minds deep enough to pull from its reserve and do what was necessary, but to her this was not true understanding and so she had shunned such practices. This made her fall behind in most of her studies and made the Masters look over her during the crucial years where apprentices were chosen. Had she given herself to the Second current then perhaps this would not be happening, perhaps when exposed to such raw strength and dark side energy she wouldn't have folded beneath it, she would have been able to control it as she had learned to control the darkness on Iridonia. This planet was different, the darkness here was stronger, and even more she felt something working against her here... Upon Iridonia she had felt supported and embraced by the Force, like the planets energy itself wished her to succeed. Here the energy seemed unbalanced, filled with rage and pain. It was not listening to her call.
Vasari's fingers dug deeply into her knees - the only sign that there was an internal struggle being waged within her mind - otherwise her body remained perfectly still even as the lava began to rise from beneath them, answering her subconscious call. The roiling magma began to spray upwards like the fingers of a newborn reaching towards its mother - and as a result fire began to reign down upon those within the cave. Vasari's cloak seared and smoked from contact with the fire - but she remained unharmed... for the moment.
Vasari had only lost control this bad once before, the first time she had successfully summoned lightning for the first time. Her instructors had begun to catch onto the fact that she was separating herself from the darkness and surviving at the academy on the understanding of what she defined as a more true understanding of the Living Force. She had been tested - as most of the failing students were - and was given a task to prove her connection to the darkness. Taken to the Breeding Pits and set against an adolescent Reek that had yet been broken and trained as a mount. The grey skinned monsters responded to only one feeling - the shock of the lightning staves used in its training - but first they had to be taught to fear the pain of lightning... this had been her test. To break the young and still wild Reek with a show of Dark Side energy... Sith Lightning. She had made a show evading the beast for some time, but new the masters would not let her off so easily... it would take more than acrobatics show to get her out of this and so she had sunk into the Second Current of the force to harness the power necessary, and more importantly to her Academy Masters the connection to the Dark Side. With her understanding of the Living Force and the raw power taken from the Second current she not only taught the beast fear... in its last moments... but harnessed a blast of emerald lightning so powerful the beasts heart had stopped. The Masters had been concerned but had allowed her to remain at the academy to study... but it had taken her several more years to remove herself from their watchful gaze.
Vasari attempted to pull those memories to light, to remember how she had saved herself as she began to slip dangerously low into the Second Current of the Force back then. The memories were to far back to access with ease, and the power she felt surging around her made it difficult to focus, she could not even feel her own body anymore... she was slipping fast. The last thing she remembered was Luxeria moving away from her - that distant look on her eyes as if she hadn't seen any of them anymore. Her the Troopers... nothing. Something was messing with their connection, and although it was gone now she had not felt it fade, one moment it was simply gone. Whoever, or whatever... was responsible for these Illusions they knew exactly where to hit the two young sorceresses and with Vasari's connection to the living force being overrun she could not feel or think her way out of this mess... she was drowning after years of neglecting the lessons on how to swim.
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Luxeria
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Post by Luxeria on Dec 30, 2017 14:58:42 GMT -8
As Luxeria sat there a little distance away, she was noticing the growing sensation of the darkness around Vasari. It was becoming thicker, heavier. If she was to interpret what was happening, she'd easily say the dark-side was bearing down on her. She reflected on this, thought on what had led her to become victim to her own illusion. At first, she guessed her light-headed and strange feelings came from the immense heat. But thinking back, she had started drawing on the Force to protect from the heat, to which she then began feeling as such.
However, her mind was ripped from following the thoughts through to conclusion as she felt her mind getting shoved back away from Vasari. She wasn't able to enter her woman's mind yet, but remained there so her partner would feel it the moment she barriers came down. But being so close must have caused some reaction, whether from her or the dark-side energy around itself was unknown. It push away was so violent that it caused Luxeria to physically lean back, putting an arm behind her to brace herself. She could feel it, the pure untamed power of the dark-side flowing through Vasari now. Raw and powerful, it was starting to flare out wildly without any form of control. It further showed Luxeria the power of the Force at its height when all the barriers and blocks were undone, allowing it to flow freely at its greatest power. It was dangerous to say the least. Something she'd have to always be mindful of.
Standing to her feet, she began to feel the rising heat. But what was more, she felt life surging through the cavern. What was it? Suddenly, her eyes widened as she moved swiftly passed Vasari's kneeled body and to the edge. Looking down, she saw the lava rising, streaks of flame and lava stretching out every so often to catch them. Looking back across the bridge, the Shadowtroopers were still there. Whether they had become victim to some illusion like she had was complete uncertainty. But things had gotten so much worse than simply waiting out for each person to break free. With Vasari's flare of power, their lives had fallen to severe risks. She had to work fast to get to safety. She wasn't about to trust the bridge anymore, not knowing when a sudden flare would reach high enough to claim one of them. She couldn't even take the chance that the cavern would shake for any to lose their balance or the bridge would collapse completely. Reaching out with her hands, she focused on the Force around each of them. She felt it wrap around each of them snugly, ensuring she had a complete grip on them before flipping the palms of her hands up, raising her hands in the process. All the troopers were lifted from the ground, some uncertain as to what was happening. She couldn't blame them at the sudden progression of everything, but explanations would have to come after the danger had passed. Pulling her arms towards her, the troopers flew quickly across the gap and passed her. She wasn't as subtle when she pulled them across, the speed causing them to slide and roll across the ground when they landed behind her. Nevertheless, they were out of the path of the lava for now.
Not a moment after she succeeded in getting them to safety, fire began to rain down around her and Vasari. Raising her hands around her to cover herself, she bent down next to the Zabrak. Looking over, she saw her partner still just as out of it as before. Moving her wasn't a wise choice. She wouldn't do that until she had no other choice. A few bits of flame fell on her. She brushed the bits that fell on her clothing off before they had time to catch, though her left hand was slightly singed from a bit that fell on it. She was just fortunate she got it off before causing an real damage.
Standing once again, she lifted her hands up and drew on the Force. Keeping herself from touching the dark-side this time around, she projected it in front of her, creating another Force Barrier in front of her and Vasari, working to keep the flame away. She only hoped that Vasari would reclaim herself before things got too much further. Stopping a magma flow would be far from an easy task. While uncertain if she'd even be capable, she'd try, but she'd have to channel all she could of the Force, even the dark-side within it. While her formulating conclusions on what happened to them was giving her insight to aid her, she couldn't guarantee she was ready for it.
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Vasari
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Post by Vasari on Dec 30, 2017 15:41:22 GMT -8
Vasari's body remained firmly rooted in place, with the force barrier protecting her she was out of the path of the flame for the time being, but even the most powerful of force barriers would not protect them for long should the Lava rise high enough to engulf their position - her partners thoughts were most assuredly correct - they needed to move, and fast!Within her mind the sea's of the force had not calmed but she seemed to be keeping herself afloat much easier - through the storm she had felt a warming presence - there for but a moment then gone again. The memories she had been struggling with had finally been attained and now she was working on rebuilding her mental defenses while wading in the waters of the second current. Her mind - finally focused enough to split into two parts - fought to rebuild the mental barriers, chasing the foreign presence that had snaked its way into her mind through her use of Tutaminis, the other keeping her mind from sinking deeper into the dark side, the moment of connection had given her all she needed to root herself within the power of the dark side, even if she could not break free right away. That connection she could only assume was Luxeria attempting to free her.
~We need to move...~
The thought came to her mind but she was unsure of why. Where would she go? swept up in the sea of the force there was nothing nearby, nothing to hold on to, nothing to grasp for - in the infinite sea of raw energy where would they really have to go? Putting the riddle aside she continued to rebuild her minds defenses, unsure of how or why they had been stripped away. The power she was experiencing was helping her, but she was hesitant to rely upon it. She saw now she had weakened herself by neglecting the power of the darkside... all for the sake of inner balance and knowledge. Viox would not have fallen victim to this fate, even Xakire as primitive and elementary as his mental defenses were... was a truer student of the dark side than she. The words from her past came back to her... the Ghost of Ragnos has been right, she wasn't ready.
~Not today...~
Another thought passing through her mind this one caused the seas around her to die away a little, another step up, another barrier erected to protect her mind. Years ago she had attempted to teach Xakire how to form a mental defense, she started him off with simple constructions - doors which she explained could lock information memories secrets behind them. Her own form of defense came as this... the raging sea she was cast within, an intruding mind would be stopped here unless they knew how to calm the water and move deeper into Vasari's mind. She knew the Sea had stopped them - or else her mind would have been manifested deeper within her mind where the intruder had gotten to. This realization gave her a new clarity as her memories and emotions and sense of self began to return to her. Everything that made her who she was, once again began to solidify.
As the Troopers moved in a tight circle around Vasari weapons away and minds set to the task of helping Luxeria keep the Force Barrier up, the Lava continued to rise... ten feet was all that separated the rising heat and power from the lives of those working their way into Vader's Castle. Though none of them could hear it, a single soft exhale escaped Vasari's lips and her shoulders rolled back as she assumed a more ridged posture, her eyes closing finally as her mind began to take control of her body.
Vasari's mind began to calm, but instead of rising from the sea as she regained control she took a deep breath and let out an exhale, then sank into the water. Below the surface she was met with only darkness, the darkness of the force that had overcome her mental defenses. But why? how? The force was everywhere, and with everything. It did not take sides, it did not have an agenda, it did not set... traps... THIS WAS A TRAP! Vasari's eyes shot open in realization and she took a mouthful of water - the darkside once again praying upon her lack of focus, Exhaling the water through her lips she calmed herself at a loss for oxygen now, the symbolism of her mind attempting to fight to many problems at once.
~Regain control... ~
She continued to sink deeper and deeper her mind reorder itself to the point where eventually the water passed away and the mental construction of a massive labyrinth appeared within her mindspace - with her emerging with a great gasp of air from a pool in the exact center - she had reached the second layer of defense within her mind. She was free of whatever had broken into the sea of thought and memory and emotion she had set as a trap of her own around her mental defenses. From here she could work much faster, but now was not the time. She felt the waiting mind of her partner nearby and latched onto it once again pulling Luxeria closer in the process.. almost possessively. With the threat contained at least for the time being to the first layer of her mind, and her consciousness now free of the illusion and influence her mind retook control of her body......and her eyes opened once again.
"It was a trap!"
She half choked out - spitting a mouthful of saltwater from her lips which sizzled and evaporated on the hot rocks she was sitting around. For the first time Vasari became aware of her surroundings, the troopers and Luxeria were working with a force barrier - but why? Working herself to her feet she noticed the lava rising towards them... they were running out of time... they needed to move. The thoughts made so much more sense now - her subconscious had been attempting to warn her.
"Lux... we've got to move up the cavern, there is a path leading into a meditation chamber!"
It hadn't passed her mind yet that they were waiting for her, and had she hesitated any longer they might have simply left her there. Even though her mind was sluggish and her body was still stiff and refused to respond properly to even the simplest command she was on her feet again - and ready to run! The cavern path she had pointed towards snaked its way up against the outer wall of the chamber they were currently in and disappeared into another dark corridor of Obsidian steps leading upwards towards Vader's meditation chamber.
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Luxeria
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Post by Luxeria on Dec 30, 2017 16:37:10 GMT -8
As the troopers moved in to help reinforce the barrier, Luxeria felt a sense of ease in not having to maintain it herself, and even more, not having to dive into the potency of the dark-side around them it hold it. At first, she was merely holding it up around her and Vasari, but with all of them, they were able to expand it to cover the entirety of the space in front of them like a wall. It wouldn't matter though. Force Barriers, even with the greatest powers applied could only endure so much. And onslaught of lava was one such thing.
But as they held it, Luxeria still worked to keep her mind as close to Vasari as possible. It wasn't long before the darkness that surrounded her began to buckle in a way, more letting her through rather than dispersing. She could feel her partner slowly retaking control. ~Hurry, Vasari. We don't have much time.~ The thought echoed in her mind as she continued her tasks of trying to guide the woman and protect her from the fire at the same time. If this kept up, chances were she'd be exhausted of her Force reserves to truly utilize them in battle should there be something waiting. As such, she could only hope that whatever they felt was off in the castle amounted simply to this.
Suddenly, she felt herself being pulled. Like threads being stitched back together, she was feeling Vasari's mind once again. She was taking control and pulling on her mind as a guide to get her out. Once she felt that the connection was strong enough, Luxeria pulled back, using what she could to wrap around the Zabrak's mind and pull her out the rest of the way. Shortly, after she heard Vasari speaking, yelling it to be a trap. It was but a small and chaotic glimpse, but Luxeria saw what Vasari had, felt what she did, understood what she did. However, with the intensity of the situation, it faded as quickly as it came, not allowing her to process any of it. She only gave a shake of her head and a small chuckle. "Oh, really!? We didn't notice! We thought we were just sitting around, waiting for you to wake up from your nap!" Her tone dripped with sarcasm, almost to the point that she was irritated with Vasari for taking so long to get moving and lack of realizing they knew what was happening. It wasn't until her head turned back just a little, enough to see the side of her face that illuminated a different truth. There was a bit of a smirk there, but more towards a genuine smile. Despite what was happening, it was clear Luxeria held no ill feelings against her partner.
After a moment, her smile faded. "Get going then. I'll be right behind you." She then turned her head towards Locklear. "Colonel, you and your men get moving with Vasari. I'll hold this a bit longer to ensure you're clear. I'll join you afterwards." Turning her head back towards the rising lava, she knew there would be resistance on both fronts. For that, she gave a simple, firm command. "GO, NOW!"
Before they really had a chance to get moving, Luxeria pulled back her right hand and focused the Force there, a small orb taking shape. She had a plan that would work well enough in getting her free, but she wasn't going to try it with all of them, not in such a rush and her reserves already starting to drop. At half the size of her palm, she shoved it towards the ground, causing the ground to break apart. Looking over the broken pieces, she found one large enough for her to stand on well enough, She broke it free with the Force before lifting her right hand back up as she stepped onto it.
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Vasari
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Post by Vasari on Dec 30, 2017 17:01:30 GMT -8
"You heard the Woman... MOVE IT!"
Vasari pointed for those that hadn't noticed the break in the cavern wall that had formed a narrow footpath along the wall and up towards the opening, and then the staircase. Vasari looked back only long enough to catch a feint idea of what Luxeria had planned. Without hesitating any longer she forced herself into motion and followed the last of the troopers up the narrow pathway towards the obsidian staircase. One by one the troopers disappeared into the darkness of the overhang - hopefully moving without difficulty or trouble up the stairway. Vasari should have led them, not knowing what would be on the top end of that pathway, nothing here was as she had imagined, and now she had no difficulty in ascertaining what had happened to the expedition she had read about coming to this planet. No doubt if their plan was to enter this way, they did not get passed the first trap.
Reaching the pathway she stopped looking back to Luxeria and the ever rising lava. It had reached the edge of the platform they had stood upon, already completely engulfing the entrance to the cavern and by now was pouring out to add a second lavafall from the cliff face. This had slowed the rise of the lava slightly and had given them a chance to escape up the path, however the lake of fire continued to rise and now was pressed against the Force Barrier Luxeria had erected to protect their escape. The darkness clawed at her - manifested by the magma spraying upwards and splashing against the barrier forcing the young Sith to dedicate more and more of her mind to her own defense - or flee.
"Enough showing off hero! Get your ass up here!"
Vasari yelled over the crackle of fire and melting rock. There was a hint of desperation in her tone, and maybe worry for her partners life. Exhaling she attempted to reach out for Luxeria, feeling her partners mind already lacing itself once more into her own. It was different however, she couldn't feel or sense the thoughts and feelings and memories like before. Before the trap their minds had been like the embrace of two lovers... close in every way. Now it seemed like a feint understanding and an ever growing closer embrace, but it was not there yet. Something had been different about what had happened to them on the surface, and now it was like their minds were attempting to work back to that, but something hindered them. Vasari lifted a hand attempting to guide her in her levitation from the ground, knowing that to be the only course of action now as the Lava began to engulf the footpath they had taken cutting off the means of escape they had used, but the effort nearly took the breath from her lungs, her mind was no where near ordered enough even for this most simple task, and so she wrapped her conscious mind around the feint connection the two women shared and gave Luxeria what power she could, hoping that it would be enough to let her do whatever it was she had in mind.
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Luxeria
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Post by Luxeria on Dec 30, 2017 17:16:58 GMT -8
Luxeria grunted a bit as she heard Vasari begin to yell at the Shadow troopers to get moving. She didn't turn back, only heard the rapid crumbling of rocks underfoot as they ran. It wouldn't be long before the lava would reach the barrier and shatter it. If she was to escape, she couldn't afford putting in any more power. She had to trust that the others would get clear enough before it reached her.
Her focus pressed hard on the barrier, no longer letting itself touch Vasari's. With their connection broken, it would take time to rebuild it. But in the furthest depths of her mind, she wondered if she wanted that. She might have made her claims about it not being wrong to trust, and after realizing the truth of what was happening, the hint of being betrayed or used sat dormant deep in her mind. Right now, though, her only thought was survival of herself and her team. There was no intention of sacrifice here. Had she needed to go that far, she would have left them, at least she figured she would. But they truth was neither here nor there.
The lava finally reached the barrier just as Vasari yelled back to her. With a swift shift of focus, she redirected the flow of the Force to the rock she was upon. Her hands moved out to her sides slightly as the rock lifted off the ground, the lava immediately flowing underneath. She could feel Vasari's mind reaching out to her's now that she had avoided death. She had no skill in levitation, but she had learned to move herself by manipulating something under her feet. And so, she lifted herself high enough into the air and soared across the flowing lava to where her partner waited.
When she was close enough, she jumped from the rock to the overhang, breathing a bit heavily as she looked back to the lava. After a few moments, she took a finally deep breath before speaking. "As exhilarating as it was, here's a note for the future." She looked back to Vasari. "Let's not do that again." She gave off a faint laugh before nodding off towards the stairs. "Let's go."
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Vasari
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Post by Vasari on Dec 30, 2017 18:24:57 GMT -8
Vasari watched as the section of rock she has broken away from the Cavern floor began to lift into the air just as the Force Barrier came down - whether overpowering her or simply falling once she released her mind from its construction. Either way Vasari smiled at what she was doing. Simple telekinesis and balance. Much easier than full on levitation if you had the terrain for it, and this place was perfect - it wouldn't have been hard to separate the rock from the floor of the cave even without the use of... whatever that orb was she had smashed into the ground. Wide eyed for a half moment she watched as the Lava broke over the platform and pooled beneath her - she moved herself towards the mouth of the stairway. Vasari raised her arms towards Luxeria to catch her - but she landed surefooted against the landing. Regardless Vasari reached out wrapping her arms around the woman's waist and pulling her into the stairway away from the ledge.
She felt her back smash against the wall of the stairway her twin hearts beating fiercely with adrenaline and her eyes still a little wide from what had just happened, as if her sluggish mind was still attempting to understand what had just happened - all of it... had happened so fast, but here they were - safe - at least for the moment. Finally she realized that she was still holding onto Luxeria and quickly released her, but was unable to back away because of her position between the girls body and the wall. When Luxeria began to laugh Vasari did as well, though her laugh was a little more joyful than Luxeria's faint release of whatever she thought was amusing. Vasari enjoyed moments like this... the thrill of it all, it made her feel alive.
"I'm with you... on... on that one..."
She stammered out between giggles and was finally able to slip out from between the wall and her body to dart up the stairway after the troopers, into the darkness and towards whatever trial now lay ahead of them.
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Luxeria
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Post by Luxeria on Dec 30, 2017 18:40:41 GMT -8
Luxeria laughed a little more as Vasari broke out in giggle between words, shaking her head a bit. She didn't even really notice Vasari's arms around her for the duration they were, trying to calm and focus her mind from the near death experience. Thrilling as it was, it was usually good practice to avoid such close encounters. Death was not a mistress whose arms she wanted to be embraced with.
She gave a nod to Vasari whole finally was able to move out of the close space between Luxeria and the wall and headed up the stairs. Luxeria stayed behind a moment more, taking another heavy breath as she gazed at the lava that was now beginning to course beneath her. Vasari's words faintly echoed once in her mind as she thought on what they were facing. "A trap, huh? No telling what else is waiting for us then." She then made her way up the steps, working to catch up to the group. As she did, she momentarily thought on was happening above them. "Viox, Xakire. Be careful up there."
Finally catching up to Vasari, she watched the girl from behind, trying to sort out just what she had seen in her mind. It was so quick and sudden, more like random flashes than a coherent vision. But one thing that was evident was a strong hold of fear that resided deep within her. They all had fear, but whatever this was nearly brought the cave down around them or burned them alive in lava. Unlike her own, this fear wasn't just a danger to herself, but to all of them. She wasn't about to question the Zabrak on it now, not wanting to betray the woman's thoughts and perhaps secrets. She'd just have to work to keep Vasari's mind focused and calm, all the while keeping her own mind aware of the flow of darkness flowing through herself.
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Vasari
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Post by Vasari on Dec 30, 2017 19:16:32 GMT -8
The stairway they took snaked around in a wide circle skirting the inner wall of the cavern as it spiraled up towards the castle. Vasari was taking the stairs two at a time attempting to catch up with the Troopers, trusting Luxeria to follow, honestly glad to be alone in the darkness for a half moment with her thoughts. She still was not aware that it was her subconscious mind had caused the mini eruption within the cavern. The power of the darkside was subsiding within her the more of her mind she lashed under her own control, but she was hesitant about everything now, something still remained within her mind, something she had sectioned away but hadn't dealt with, not fully.
A light broke through from around the curve of the stairway and she heard the Troopers shuffling about speaking amongst themselves thought she wasn't close enough yet to hear about what. She slowed her pace slightly steps passing one at at time beneath her feet as she attempted to reach her mind out to Luxeria, if she had been affected by the power of the darkness as well then she might be more shaken than she seemed. Her touch was gentle upon her partners mind, she had felt the hesitance to repair their link and so Vasari had backed away, but if they were going to continue on this mission together then they had to trust one another. Vasari trusted her - it would have been the simplest thing for Luxeria to leave her to die... but she had not. Warmth, Comfort, and Gratitude passed from her mind to her partners as she moved into the small anti chamber - from the looks of things they were still well below the meditation chamber Vader had built his castle upon - what now? Vasari thought as she moved past the troopers to see what they were looking at - two bodies... bodies was a relative term - corpses or skeletons would be more accurate. Three of them, surrounding what looked to be a chest made out of obsidian. Vasari could feel a strange power coming from the chest. It held something... something dark. Whatever it was... it had the attention of all of the Troopers who seemed to know better than to approach the chest - they must have been able to feel the power coming off of it as well. She waited for several moments until Luxeria had joined them, looking over to her Partner she whispered...
"I guess we know what happened to the expedition that I was reading about..."
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Luxeria
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Post by Luxeria on Dec 30, 2017 20:06:31 GMT -8
As Luxeria moves up the steps in an ever quickening pace to catch up with both Vasari and the troopers, she felt her partner touch her mind only to back away. The hesitation of trust was elusive to her mind in the current moment, making her wonder why the slight retreat. She, too, felt the need to trust to get through this mission, feeling their trials weren’t over yet. In fact, she couldn’t help but get the feeling they would only get worse. Still, if they were more resilient to their individual attacks and trials, then they should be fine.
In retrospect, Luxeria’s illusion was trivial in comparison to Vasari’s. While it did play at her subconscious fears, she had found the thoughts and memories to counteract the effects that was being applied. With her focused, observant, and logical mind, once she found a bit of light to bring her back, it was all she needed to cast that fear away, at least in terms of being weak and worthless. There was no longer a reason to be crippled under it ever again. While there was a dormant hesitation to trust, the fault in the illusion was enough to reaffirm the trust she was placing in those on the mission with, especially Vasari.
It wasn’t long before she was by her partner’s side, gazing down at the chest surrounded by skeletons of the past. Looking around, she also got the sense they still hadn’t reached the main chamber yet. She let out a sigh as her shoulders and head fell limp for a moment, reflecting her irritation that there was still a fair ways to go. Her gazed returned back to the chest when the Zabrak spoke. As she felt the power of whatever lay inside, her mind reflected back on the thoughts she had earlier, finally establishing some sort of conclusion.
”Indeed. The real question, though, is what caused their deaths? My guess is that whatever or whoever has chosen to reside here has connected to the power of the dark-side within the castle and cave and basically rode it into the minds and bodies of those who utilized it. From there, they were broken by illusions or were controlled to kill each other. That or it’s the potency of the dark-side here that did them in. So strong that they feed on it without much thought, not realizing it was more powerful then they expected. In the end, that pure level of power enacted the same result.”
~That is same fault that pulled me in~ She wasn’t concerned about Vasari catching the thought that ran through her mind, but it wasn’t something she was about to broadcast to the troopers. For a moment, she thought back on her time at the Estate of the Ten, working to endure the darkness of the Inner Sanctum. There, she learned to endure the presence of such potent darkness. But that was the problem. It had been so long ago, she misinterpreted what she gained. So she went in, not arrogant or overconfident, but with a confidence lacking full understanding. She learned how to walk in it without faltering, but she hadn’t learn to harness and utilize that potent of darkness. She’d make sure she didn’t do that again. Next time might not be so easy to get out of.
Looking back to Vasari, she motioned to the chest. “So what do you think is inside?”
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Vasari
Blackguard Imperium
Tell me that I wont feel a thing...
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Post by Vasari on Dec 30, 2017 20:43:45 GMT -8
Vasari - not as hesitant as the troopers, or perhaps they were simply waiting for orders - moved towards the three dead bodies, kneeling slowly by their sides reaching out her hand hesitantly to touch the bone of the arm that was visible through his torn robe - no not torn... burnt, upon closer inspection even his bone had been burnt by what could only be assumed of as the fire from the cavern below. The moment her tattooed flesh made contact with the bone the skeleton came alive and its other hand reached out towards her quickly attempting to grasp at her throat - there was no sound, skeletons could truly make no sound, but the bones of their fingers might have been sharp enough to pierce skin. Vasari released the bone and fell back onto the ground a slight tremor of shock and fear flooding through her mind as she reached for her blade... The fingers of her other hand met the metal and as she looked back at the skeletons they hadn't moved an inch... she blinked several times attempting to focus her mind, it felt real... illusion!
"The umm... Illusions here are powerful. The pain and the fear of this place gives them strength. Vader's story was one of tragedy and betrayal, and he poured those sentiments into this place... This one was burned by the fire..."
Vasari commented pointing at the one she had touched - when the illusion had faded she was given a glance into his past, or rather the moment of his death. She wasn't willing to touch the other two, the power lingering even in their dead bodies had triggered the illusion, she was sure of it. Working her way back to her feet she gave Luxeria a shy smile and a shrug as her mind recoiled once again from the illusion and from her. Finally her gaze turned towards the chest, and the question Luxeria had asked about its content.
"Im not touching it... this one is all yours..."
She said with a smirk stepping away from the skeletons of the fallen expedition members. Closing her eyes Vasari attempted to work out what was happening within her mind - the relative safety of this antechamber giving her the time she needed to work her way outward from the second circle of her mind attempting to lock down and isolate the Illusion that was cast adrift in the sea of her mind. She did not want to allow Luxeria back in and potentially put her at risk as a result, but she did not push her partner away either, allowing her to feel the thoughts and hesitance about the situation. She had experienced something similar, the thought from her mind gave off that much, but what struggle had she went through, what was a woman like Luxeria afraid of? Opening her eyes splitting her mind into two parts she looked back at the chest - she wouldn't dedicate herself to any one thing, she had to be focused on what was happening as well as attempting to secure her mind from this unseen enemy.
"All i feel is a dark power coming from it... perhaps a relic taken from the castle... Its difficult to tell which way they were going, they could have been coming back through this chamber having taken it from the castle above?"
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Luxeria
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“Even the strongest mind can be manipulated. It’s simply a matter of finding its weakness.”
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Post by Luxeria on Dec 31, 2017 9:25:44 GMT -8
Luxeria watched as Vasari knelt down to the chest, her own hand close to her lightsaber, prepared for the revelation of the contents inside. She barely stepped back as Vasari touched the skeleton's arm and fell back. She could sense the slight rise of fear in her. Something had just happened, and Vasari's words gave more than enough insight. Were they to be victims of illusions for the entire duration of the mission now? No matter how much they broke free, would they always remain susceptible to the dark-side's power?
Luxeria's gaze shifted back to the skeleton as the Zabrak pointed to it, explaining what she felt his cause of death was. As Vasari stood to her feet, she felt her mind pull back a bit again. Was she ashamed of being caught up in the illusions? Or was she that afraid of what was happening? She gave a sarcastic scoff when Vasari chose not to touch the chest, deciding to believe that the recoil was more an instinctual reaction in order to refocus her mind. Letting out a quick, breath she shook her head lightly. "Fine. I'll do the work. You just stand back and look pretty." It was the second statement she had made to Vasari that seemed condescending, but with the connection to her mind as well as the sarcasm attached to it, she'd know it was more Luxeria trying to keep some humor in the moment, trying to distract any fear that would rise up.
Truth was, Luxeria knew better. Not even the troopers were too willing to step up and open the chest. Caution had to be exercised. The best choice would have been to just leave it and move on. But if there was, indeed, a relic inside, they needed to acquire it. Viox didn't seem like the man who'd tolerate a relic slipping from his grasp out of sheer caution and fear. Taking a deep breath, she knelt down, letting her head turn back to the others. "Be ready."
Snapping open the clasps that held the chest shut, she began to creep it open, the power within beginning to spill out. It was just as potent as the dark-side energies around them, but it was condensed, held in place for some time before being released. It was slightly overbearing but Luxeria focused herself and continued to flip the case open. Once it was opened, the retreating power eventually faded, now free to intertwine with the rest of the power around them. Letting out another breath, she looked inside.
There, resting in the bottom, was a necklace. She looked it over, taking in the faded silver of the chain and adorning piece, the teardrop style shape, the engravings, and the crimson jewel that resided in the center. It was quite beautiful, and while difficult to tell, she felt a power coming from it. Reaching in slowly, the closer her hand got, she started to feel her own presence starting to rise, growing as she drew closer. Did this pendant increase the presence of the one wearing it? It was still an uncertain truth, though Luxeria's curiosity began to rise with each passing moment. Something inside desired it for herself.
~That's right. Go ahead and take it. The are more than enough relics residing in the castle to satisfy Viox. He wouldn't miss such a tiny trinket as this. You deserve something for all you are having to endure for his goals. Besides, if he gets it, it'll just remained locked away in a vault somewhere, wasting away for all of time. It would serve you better. Just go on and take it.~ A voice resonated in the back of her mind, faint and dark. She was unable to place it, unable to truly hear it. Could it have possibly been her subconscious speaking to her? Maybe something darker hiding within? Reaching down into chest, her hand began to wrap around the chain, touching the edge of its container.
Suddenly, her mind was redirected to something behind her. Turning suddenly, she removed her lightsaber though it never came to life. All she could see was something already on top of her, sending a punch at her, or possibly clawing at her. She stepped back, tripping over the chest and falling to the floor. Looking back up, the creature was gone. She looked around, but still saw nothing. Shaking her head, she pushed herself to her feet. Looking into the chest, the necklace was also gone. She glanced around the floor, but it wasn't there. Sighing with a shake of her head, she looked back to Vasari.
"This group had taken a relic. Something then came for them, killed them, and took it back. I don't know what, but something will be waiting for us." Replacing her lighsaber, she looked to the group. "Let's get moving. We need to get this cavern secured and meet back up with Viox."
She then began heading down the cave trying to work her way up to the main chamber. They needed to hurry. If that necklace was taken back to the castle, she needed to get it. If Viox got to the relics before they were finished, they'd all be under his control and out of her reach. And if the necklace would suit her better, then what other relics would be of greater benefit? These thoughts stirred faintly in her subconscious, enough to pick up her pace, enough to make her rush a bit more, but not yet enough to show the sudden greed that had taken her. The next illusion had taken her, far more subtle this time, playing at her desire to grow and become stronger, pushing her forward to either make a mistake that would bring her death, or lead her to turn on her allies for the sake of obtaining that power.
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Vasari
Blackguard Imperium
Tell me that I wont feel a thing...
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Post by Vasari on Dec 31, 2017 14:55:04 GMT -8
Vasari moved back still struggling with the split in her mind, the powering to make both as affective as before without full access to her mind causing a slight drain on her consciousness and awareness - she had to get this sorted out before they met back up with Viox and Xakire, or even before they met whatever their next hurtle would be. Luxeria took the lead just as she had suggested - it wasn't that she was afraid of the chest... but with her mind in the state it was in she wasn't sure her reaction time would be up to par, she was already having difficulty keeping the two parts of her mind working on the tasks they had before them.
Luxeria's snarky comment almost brought an equally snarky remark from her lips, probably something about her being afraid to get pretty little hands dirty, but it didn't sound right even in her mind - Luxeria had just saved her life. She bit back her comment and tried not to foster any resentment towards the woman - the effort aided by the feeling of her mind there with hers and she smiled softly ducking her head and blushing at the feelings of humor and good nature. Right now Vasari was just trying to stay on top of things, pull her own weight and not get anyone else killed, and so far she had barely succeeded in that.
"oh... wait..."
Vasari said, holding out a hand waving her off slightly. Slipping her cloak to the side and off both shoulders it hung back from her shoulders revealing most of her body. Beneath that cloak that had until now covered most of her body she wore the same gear she had been given at the Academy. A black fabric mesh that wrapped around her breasts and fixed itself to a shoulder pad covering her guard arm - a pair of elbow length black gloves - and a black skirt - slit up both sides to reveal her tattooed legs from her boots all the way to her hip, while hanging nearly to the ground in the front and the back. She lifted her leg slightly resting her foot against a rock and flipped the hood of her cloak back attempting rather poorly if she was being honest with herself to look every bit the beautiful exotic beauty she was, and failing. But smiling none the less as she looked back at the soldiers then Luxeria.
"Ok... I've got this... go on."
She tried to keep herself from giggling but couldn't - and the blank metal stairs she received from the troopers made her pretty sure they did not appreciate her joke either. With a grumpy face she pulled the cloak back over her body and looked back at Luxeria moved to flip open the lid of the chest. She could feel the power escaping from it, and then she felt something in the back of her mind pulling at her, the feeling of waking up from a dream and if she had hair anywhere on her body it would have risen at the feeling. ~Magic... illusion!!~ she thought but before she could open her mouth to warn Luxeria the girl turned and drew her saber upon the troopers behind her. They all moved back a half step and drew their own weapons but Luxeria had not moved towards them, she was attempting to evade something. Vasari had felt it... how was that possible? She moved to Luxeria's side but the woman was still quite focused on clearing her own mind. Something was there however, she heard a voice echo from their connection - had they still been linked as strongly as before she would have been able to hear the words, but something was speaking to her... something was still interfering with her mind, just as something was still stuck within Vasari's mind. This was becoming a problem.
"The feeling is getting stronger.. that much is certain."
Vasari felt the truth in Luxeria's words, something was waiting for them, and she now believed that Luxeria had gotten a glimpse of what that 'something' was. They needed to wait, Vasari still had to clear her own mind and it was now clear that Luxeria was battling with something as well, but seemed content to keep that to herself. Before Vasari could mention waiting her for a time and focusing on what is happening and how they would face it, Luxeria ushered them onward. Vasari looked at the troopers who automatically fell into line behind her - regardless of how they felt or how they were dealing with the darkness that had surrounded them all since coming here, they were not about to stand down when there was a mission to do. Vasari nodded and bowed to luxeria's obvious experience and took up the rear heading up the stairs towards the next chamber - the one she hopped was Vader's meditation chamber - indicating they had actually reached the ground floor of the Castle itself.
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Luxeria
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“Even the strongest mind can be manipulated. It’s simply a matter of finding its weakness.”
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Post by Luxeria on Dec 31, 2017 15:15:31 GMT -8
As they progressed forward towards the main mediation chamber, Luxeria's pace quickened bit by little bit with every few steps. Using the sutblety that the illusion had paced on her, the power of the darkness within her now was brewing up under her nose. Her mind was slowly adapting to the feelings, letting them ever so slowly overrun her mental state. She had to get to the castle, had to get to the relics. She could feel them calling to her, promising her the power she sought. She couldn't let this chance go to waste, couldn't let someone else take what she wanted, what she deserved.
She didn't even notice the troopers occasionally falling back only to quicken their own pace suddenly to keep in step. With it, her mind was drowning out the muttering amongst them.They might have fallen in step as ordered at first, but they suddenly increasing pace was far from a wise choice, they knew. They were slowly seeing that Luxeria was starting to through caution to the wind, something that hadn't shown in her nature until now.
Her desire for power was becoming more evident in her mind, the fog hiding it clearing as it saw the control it instilled upon the woman. The previous illusion had ended up failing through not hindering the right memories from surfacing, by not filling it out to make it the most convincing. Her fears and doubts had proven to not be enough to hold her. So it would use her desires through subtle persuasion until it had infected the mind. And it was showing to be quite promising this time around. Unable to see the fault in her mind, convinced of her desire for the artifacts waiting for them, she would be unable to break free own her own this time.
Unlike before, the connection between Vasari and Luxeria hadn't been cut off. Yet, with Vasari focusing on her own mind to sort out what happened to her and not fully linked with her human partner, there was no telling how long Vasari would take to see what was peering through the clearing smoke to take over. Was it a darker version of herself? Or was it whatever was waiting for them, already planted in her mind? One thing would become clear: without the other, neither of them would see the end of this mission intact.
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