Nightsister Fortress

As she had trekked through the myriad of terrain upon the planet, accompanied by her EG droids, in search for the perfect spot to begin her work, Sirona had felt a shift in the Force. She followed this sense and before long emerged to see in the distance the signs of a great battle being waged. Sirona ordered a halt to her two companions and sat down on an elevated, but out of the way cliff side and began to record the sights, sounds, and shifts in the living Force she felt. It was the last stand of the Nightsisters. It was not the first time the order of Force Witches would be driven out of their sacred and ancestral home, and Sirona hypothesized it would not be the last time the Witches would rise to attempt to tame the other Clans. Sirona watched through binoculars as the combined forces of the First Order and the other Clans breached the Fortresses defenses. The Darth felt her rage swell as the fortress was stormed. This was not the First Order's place. This should have been left as a native affaire, they had no right to interfere. The First Order troops would likely also show less care around artifacts of cultural significance not only of Nightsister Origin but of Dathomir's greater culture. But for the silver lining to this storm cloud of a happening, Sirona now knew where she needed to be to create her Holocron.

After the battle had ended, Sirona sat down and began to meditate. She was searching for any potential survivors, hoping to draw them to her. It was not long before a trio of Nightsisters broke through the nearby brush, two badly wounded and one still clutching the blaster rifle taken from a felled enemy. Sirona rose from her seated position. She could see the hesitancy and mistrust of an outsider, but could also tell that the uninjured and armed one read that this was not a fight they could win. I am Darth Sirona, Alchemist and Historian, I had hoped to treat with your people and gain greater understanding of your people, but I see that will now be harder than anticipated. I can offer shelter and aide in exchange for your assistance.

Why should we trust you, outsider! The Sith were meant to be our allies, and where has that gotten us? Exiled yet again from our ancestral home! The leader spat at Sirona's offer. They had just survived a fight for their life, and at times literally dragging her injured comrades out of the mud and blood.

I understand your hesitation, and if I had arrived sooner, I would have aided in your defense, but I do not believe that even the Sith Conclave could have stood against the First Order if committed. Sirona shuddered at the failings of yet another organization of the Sith, at least that one would be fully documented. As unlike many of my kind it may be, my offer is genuine and all I would ask in return is to know the paths you took to escape your assailants so that I may study and learn from your people's wisdom. Sirona's gaze shifted to the injured sisters. And I need not tell you the odds of your Sister's survival in those conditions out in the wild. I can protect you. The threat, while vailed, was still obvious.

The Nightsister thought for a few moments before relaxing. Very well outsider. I suppose trusting you is better than running afoul of a Nydak in our state. Or you betray us and we die anyway. I will show you the way if your automatons take my people to safety.

Sirona smiled in thanks to her new assistant. She gave the orders to her droids to escort the injured witches back to the ship take everything they had brought except for the materials essential for the creation of and first entry into the Holocron. And once all this was in order, Sirona and her guide departed and started to sneak back toward the Fortress. Sirona did not wish to encounter any Imperial patrols, but was confident in her own abilities that they would not hold them up for long...

The pair, Darth Sirona and her new guide, was slow but steady. The escaped Nightsister had already timed out the guards patrols on her way out. This proved to be a boon as they managed to avoid those patrolling the exterior of the fortress. Once inside however, things became more fraught. It was fortunate that the exit the Nightsisters had used remained hidden, but the hallways around it were not so. The looting, or 'clean up' had already begun to Sirona's disgust. From a hiding spot around a corner Sirona could see a team of troopers and witches going through a room. Hearing the smashing of pots and ripping of cloth made Sirona cringe. But she couldn't move just yet, there was a guard at the door watching the hallway they needed to go down. If not handled carefully, the alarm could be raised and all Chaos would break loose. As options were being weighed a voice came from the room, calling the attention of the guard. Sensing their opportunity, the infiltrators moved began to move. They were passing the door when it became clear what the troopers and witch had found. Hiding in a large pot, likely once used to store extra drinking water or possibly grain (Sirona would need a closer look to determine which it was), was a Nightsister youngling. She was being held by the arms with a trooper on each while the other two troopers started checking the other large pots in earnest. It seemed the commanding witch was considering which of the Clans would be best suited to raise the child when the youngling spotted the two sneaking past and cried out seeing the Nightsister, Maywyn! Help! Her voice was trembling as she had been trying to be brave in the face of her people's enemies, but she was so young. Too young for Maywyn to ignore.

Let go of her, invaders! Her stollen blaster rang out, aiming for those targets that would not endanger the youngling if a shot missed.

Sirona's frustration was palpable as her cover was blown. But she needed the assistance of this Maywyn and so wouldn't allow her to be killed. The flash of red light illuminated Sirona's right half as her saber sprung to life. The Darth knew that the witch was the most dangerous combatant, but the real danger lay with the troopers and their communicators. Force Lightning would have made this trivial had a child not been jolting range. So, Sirona took a defensive stance with intent to reflect back and shots fired on her or Maywyn.

Sirona attempted to keep be blaster fire at bay, however being a user of Makashi it was proving difficult. Then the witch started to lash out with the Force. Sirona couldn't help but smirk. She held out her free hand and caught her blasts of energy, utilizing the technique Gavin had taught her back in her early days of Sith training. Using this newly collected energy, she did the neighborly thing and returned it. With dark ripple in the Force, Sirona reached out and grasped the necks of those standing opposed to her. She knew the troopers wouldn't be capable of putting up much if any resistance to the Force Grip, so much of her focus turned to the Witch. Leave the Witch alive, I have questions for her. Kill the troopers. Sirona grunted through clinched teeth to her companion who had taken cover behind a wall.

Maywyn slunk out from the corner and with her blaster moved to give the troopers more merciful deaths than what they were experiencing now.

The child had hidden once again inside the pot she had been sheltering in before the troops found her.

The shockwave broke Sirona's concentration and sent her stumbling back a few steps. The last trooper was allowed a few precious moments of breath before Maywyn was upon him, devolving into a brawl as both were too close now for blasters. Sirona grimaced and reignited her saber. I am no Nightsister. I am Sith! The Darth declared proudly as she leapt forward, in an unusual display of physical aggression. Sirona aimed to disable her opponents limbs. It would leave her vulnerable and open for Sirona to drain the witch's knowledge. Her use of Form II would be an advantage now in a duel.

Off to the side another duel was unfolding as Maywyn attempted to subdue the trooper in hand-to-hand combat. This fight was no doubt in the favor of the larger, better trained and equipped, and not tired from running and hiding for days trooper. However Maywyn fought ferociously, not just as someone defending their home, but someone protecting a youngling.

As the fighting had continued, the youngling had slipped from their hiding spot and grabbed a smaller pot. Her small arms struggled to lift the water filled ceramic above her head as she snuck up on the embattled stromtrooper. And with a crash that made Sirona wince mid battle, the pot was brought down as hard as she could against the back of the trooper. At the very best but most unlikely given the troopers armor, it would be a knockout, but most likely just serve as a distraction to give Maywyn an opening.

Sirona knew that this woman would not go down without a fight, and her staff proved resistant enough to parry several of the opening blows. In truth, Sirona didn't even need to injure the woman, she just needed to get one of her hands in close proximity to the witches head. Drain Knowledge would do the rest. Since her first times using this power, Sirona had learned to control it when needed so that it wouldn't leave it's victim irreversibly broken, but in this rushed and aggressive application Sirona would not be gentle. The Sith continued her assault, striking low and to the opponents left with the saber, while reaching for her head on the right.

The Nightsisters, Maywyn and the child who was called Liwen watched as the two witches dueled. Maywyn was ready to fire off the blaster if Sirona was shunted out of the way, but dared not fire into the fierce melee that had begun.

Sirona watched, pitiless, as the witch fell while still holding her enemy's weapon. She snuffed out her saber and then tossed the staff to Maywyn. The Nightsister caught the staff and affixed the blaster to her belt, far more comfortable with the more traditional weapon. While Maywyn then checked on the child, Sirona removed on of the comlinks from the stormtroopers. She would use it to monitor Imperial communications and hopefully avoid any more patrols. The Sith turned to the Nightsister and the pair seemed to have a wordless conversation about what to do with the child. Eventually Sirona yielded and would allow the youngling to accompany them. The historian would have been loath, after all, to put a darkside society in an even worse position to revive by abandoning one of their young. With that last decision made, the trio departed the store room and with the aid of the Imp communicator, managed to avoid any further... entanglements.


After being guided deeper into the depths of the fortress, Sirona could feel the Darkside growing. It was familiar to her times spent on Korriban, Drommond Kaas, and countless other worlds touched by the darkness. Finally they came to a set of massive double doors that lay hidden in an unsuspecting cave. Sirona inspected them, no clear locking mechanism, yet they were sealed shut. She tried to reach out with the Force to make the doors yield to her telekinetic powers. But they didn't even budge. After failing, Sirona was made keenly aware of faint snickering coming from the two Nightsister she had brought along. Going slightly red, Sirona turned to scold them. Then why don't you open the way if you know so much!? The youngling immediately stopped, but Maywyn continued struggling to stifle her laughter as she began to explain. This is no mere door. This path has been sealed by Nightsister Magick and it will take two to open the way. The Sith felt the sting of disappointment. She noted that the youngling was likely not skilled in it and they only had one Nightsister. Sirona leaned against the door with one hand and staired at the ground. Such high hopes, now dashed upon the floor of this chamber. The disappointment was nearly unbearable as she struggled to keep her eyes from leaking and showing such weakness in front of her allies.


Perhaps it was because of the Sith's help in assisting her friends outside and the youngling inside, or maybe it was pity for the desperation to gain access to the secrets of her dying people and the hope that their legacy would live on. Whatever her reasons, Maywyn stepped forward and put a hand on SIrona's slumped shoulder. I will show you what I know. And we will open this door together, Sister. Sirona looked up and met Maywyn's eyes. They shared a bond now, forged through blood and combat. Maywyn motioned for Sirona to sit upon the ground opposite her. Upon closer examination Sirona noted that deep, narrow channels had been carved into the ground here, that ran in intricate looping patterns that joined with similar patterns upon the door. Maywyn lifted a hand and with her own limited abilities, she uncorked a previously hidden vessel that sat high above. From it poured a glowing green liquid that seemed to emit equally green smoke. The liquid filled the channels and soon the room was filled with an eerie green light. Once the channels on the floor were filled the flow stopped on its own and Maywyn took a deep breath and then began to coach Sirona on the manipulation of Ichor...


Some time later, after a few close calls with patrols, the pair were ready to begin. Sirona had grown eager and excited to learn this new way of manipulating the Force. It was difficult at first, Sirona found that manipulating the Ichor and using Magick was very unlike what she had been taught as a Jedi or a Sith, but soon, with further coaching from Maywyn the Ichor was manipulated up through the channels in the door. Once the Ichor had been fully transferred from the floor to the door there was a thud, and it began to open.


Sirona couldn’t help but gasp as she saw beyond. A trove of artifacts and relics safely hidden and guarded by the doors. She moved into the room quickly, followed closely by her Nightsister companions. The doors shut behind them, seemingly of their own accord. But Sirona did not care, she could spend years in this room, studying, cataloging, and researching every single item. But she knew it was not to be. She had come here for a purpose. She found the middle of the room and knelt down. Unslinging her pack, she withdrew the components she needed, along with a fraction of her prepared materials. The darksider sat them all out before her and before she began to work she told the other two to gather what items from this room they deemed “the most culturally significant,” but to do it quietly.


For some time all was silent as Sirona knelt, hands resting flat on her thighs with eyes closed, and focused on her objective. Soon though, a slight rustling could be heard as the materials lifted into the air before the Sith. She focused on each piece, careful not to lose track of any or let any fall to the ground. Thus, one by one, the parts came together, first the inner core, primarily made from a modest amount of kyber. After this was the outer container, she had opted for a rhombohedron shape. With the screws and other seals in place, Sirona opened her eyes and reached out and touched the device. A rush of the Force flowed past her as she felt the Holocron drawing from her the personality that would become the Gatekeeper. The exertion was nearly too much as Sirona’s vision began to blur. Her balance started to go and she held onto the Holocron tighter. It kept drawing the Force through her. The breath caught in her lungs, she began to gasp. She felt herself falling with no way to stop herself, she clutched the Holocron tightly against her chest, her legacy would not shatter on the floor, even if it killed her.


The next thing Sirona felt was a slight shaking, her eyes weakly opened to see two faces looking down at hers. The youngling audibly cheered while Maywyn was a bit more reserved, but was nonetheless relieved. We gathered what we could, like you asked. The rest will have to stay-


Until we can return. Sirona interjected, reassuring the downcast Nightsister. I do not intend for your people’s legacy to be left here for Imperials to decide what is done with it. And if I can, I will help you rebuild. Maywyn seemed surprised. A Sith making a genuine offer to help, and with such earnesty in their eyes, now she had seen it all. The pair of Dathomir natives helped the Echani off her back and back to her feet. It seemed that Maywyn and the child had packed a couple of bags that they could carry. They were filled with many different things, but most importantly, Maywyn had packed several waterskins of Ichor. The youngling had grabbed mostly sentimental items, to remind her of home. Sirona gently placed the holocron back in her bag and quickly collected a couple of items herself before the trio turned back to the door.


Opening the massive from the inside was a far simpler affair. A simple application of telekinetic ability and it swung back open. The trio, still tuned into Imperial coms, made a hasty escape, taking another secret back passage out, since it sounded like their earlier scuffle had been discovered. Before long they had emerged and were able to catch their breath where Maywyn and Sirona had first met. And what is your name, youngling? Sirona finally remembered to ask, after having almost blown her cover saving her it had slipped her mind to even ask.


Tesh. She replied.


Well, Tesh, you are going to be my new research assistant, how does that sound?


The young girl cheered enthusiastically as the trio made their way back to the XoXaan.