Whilst on the journey to Dromund Kaas Arianna decided to try something she's never done before. She'd read about it but this was her first time attempting such a thing: she tried to meditate - to open herself to the Force and not only try and touch it but she also tried calling upon the voice that had first spoken to her and told her to go to Dromund Kaas.

She asked the droid, again, to teach her some basics of the lightsaber such as stances and forms. Even if it was with a sword-shaped piece of word or metal. If he was amenable she would watch him and begin copying his motions.

"Kaas City," she said in awe once they broke atmo and were under the cloud cover. "Capital of the greatest Sith Empire since the very early days of Ludo Kresh, Ajunta Pall, and Marka Ragnos who established the Order. We are flying over city streets where the greatest Sith of all time once walked. From here they nearly crushed the Republic and their Jedi pets."

She circled the city and looked for a place to land. "The indigenous life here is dangerous. Made even more so by Sith Alchemy. We'll need to be very careful as we make our way to the beacon."

Arianna brought the shuttle in and set down at the edge of the city. "These skies were once crisscrossed by the Sith and the allies. Now the city lies in ruin but it can be restored. Just as Korriban can and lighting the beacon is the first step."

She went over to her bag and pulled out her armour, putting it on over the black undersuit she wore. She checked her ST-W48 blaster, pistol and her thermal detonator. Once she was fully enclosed she brought up the suit's systems and ran a thorough check. Once she was satisfied she put the hood and cloak back on.

"Does Master Shroud have equipment on board that could make our ascent of the mountain easier, T-4D?"

This message was last edited by the GM at 11:40, Sat 24 Oct 2020.

"From a certain point of view" The droid responded as it was also outfitted with a few weapons, including holding the lightsaber. "That communication tower is busted nine ways to Korriban, and that's a problem you can't fix with rousing speeches or shooting at it." The droid heaved a hefty a pack on its strong frame. "You have me, who will carry the parts we'll probably need to repair it, and can do the repairs once we get there."

"You don't fancy my rousing speeches? I suppose I can work on the rousing part whilst we're on our way. Does Master Shroud have a speeder we can use to get to the mountain," she asked, making one more check of her equipment.

"I am glad you're here with me, T-4D. Not many droids get to get down in history but you will and, despite of, our perhaps because of your rough edges, I've enjoyed your company. So, are we walking or riding there?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:09, Sun 25 Oct 2020.

"How little you understand the galaxy." The droid responded in derision. "Nobody complements the hydro spanner for the hyperdrive it maintained. The best that a droid can hope for is to become a footnote. Whatever I accomplish or contribute to Master Shroud, or to you. I am not here for the immortal glory of the Sith, I am not here for honor. I am here because I am told to, and I am programmed to do what I'm told. Now, let's this over with."

T4D pushed the mechanisms to lower the exit ramp.

As the ramp lowered Arianna's entire demeanour changed and she ignored the droid's caustic reply. She was out, weapon up, senses and sensors alert. She scanned the area they were in for threats before beginning to move towards the mountain. She was under no illusions as to the amount of danger this part of the mission could pose.

T4-D followed behind. The cracking sound as he ignited the lightsaber, followed by it's low humming sound, was the only sound of technology in this ancient, abandoned city.

"I have your back Arianna. I'm also programmed to commit fully to my orders. Just remember, they're the natives and we're the intruders. Some of them may fear us, some may ignore us, but there'll be some hunting for sure. Just before the Sith abandoned Droumund Kaas, they bred special Tukata Hounds. They can smell those who are strong with the Force, and have a hunger for it."

"Still" The droid quipped "At least that means I'm safe."

"Thank you for having my back. And thank you as well for letting me know how safe you area should the Tukata Hounds become aware of my presence here."

Arianna kept sweeping the area as she moved tactically from cover to cover. She continued doing until they were at the edge of the city. "The lightning rods still work; even thousands of years later. If not then the city would be a smoking crater now."

Among the scurrying of animals and drone of energy generators and lines still buzzing but not powering anything, there was a different noise. Several of them.

Voices in your mind. Voices through the Force. Each trying to get your attention, and all of them having a strong pull on your mind. Some of them are cacophonous shouts, others are mere whispers, and still more somewhere between the two extremes. The noise is not only distracting, but mentally exhausting.

Make a Use The Force Check: Your degree of success or failure will determine how well or poorly you react.

20:09, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 19 using 1d20+2.

Despite no real formal training in resisting mental controls or the more sinister nature of the Force, you're able to push out and silence some of the background noise. As they become less numerous, the remaining become louder, more distinct, and stronger.

"Come to me, young one, and be my servant, and I will grant you power beyond measure..."

"You are a weakling, an abomination! Leave the hallowed land of the Sith before the monsters pick at your bones!"

"Nothing good can come from here. The Sith are rightfully fallen in our hubris..."

In all the noise, you are now able to pick out a voice you recognize. The Sith who spoke to you before.

"Your arrival is welcome but not unexpected. The true test begins now. Show that you are strong in the mind, as well as in your convictions, if you are to succeed..."

"I will not fail you," she told the voice from before. She steels herself against the other voices and continues forward, her thoughts returned to other times she heard other voices telling her much the same: that a young girl, not human, would fail the Sith Eternal. That she had no place amongst the true followers of the Dark Side, that she was full of foolish pride to think she had any place as an officer in the Final Order. She had persevered then and would do so now.

"The voices of the dead are strong here, T4-D and they rest fitfully," she told the droid as they continued forward.

"For all of the supposed benefits of feeling the Force, it's certainly has more than it's share of dangers. Here especially. The ancient master and Lords of the Sith were mad with power and sought to singlehandedly control the entire galaxy. It's no surprise that their insanity would end with death."

"Makes me glad to be a droid."

Make another UTF check, as you continue on.

Walking along the streets, most of the wildlife is actually trying to avoid you. Perhaps it's instincts of recognizing bidpedal life as their masters, perhaps its fear of the new, and perhaps it's the influence of the Sith themselves.

Whatever it is, the rule is not universal. A pair of Kath Hounds, non-native to Dromund Kaas but adapted well to its hostility, are closing the distance between you, with probably intent to attack.

"Learning the ways of the Force is dangerous and conquering and ruling the galaxy is not for the weak-willed or the weak-spirited. Neither is the Game of Sith, for that matter. Hungry for power-most assuredly. The Dark Side thrives on conflict but don't forget that they waited, in the shadows for a thousand years laying foundations for a plan they knew they wouldn't live to see see. That plan, started by Darth Bane, eventually came to pass under the guidance of the Emperor.

"Hungry for power? Oh yes. Insane, no. And here comes the first threat, as you so rightfully called it."

She raised her rifle, sighted on the lead hound and opened fire.


OOC: 20:09, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 19 using 1d20+2 ((17)). Use the Force

21:50, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 9 using 1d20+5 ((4)).

This message was last edited by the player at 17:26, Sun 08 Nov 2020.

The shots from the rifle landed ahead of the approaching enemies, in an attempt to scare the Kath Hounds off. The maneuver didn't work, although it did slow them down.

T4D moved ahead with it's lightsaber drawn, ready to defend.

The lead Kath hound started to spring into action, closing the remaining distance quickly. Holding its ground, T4D remained stationary until the last moment, when the beast attacked. With a wide horizontal swing, he caught the Kath Hound right along it's snout. Injured, but alive and scared, it recoiled in the pain, raring to strike again.

Meanwhile, the other Kath hound, larger, older, stronger, slower, but wiser, had moved in more slowly than its young comrade.

You have a choice of targets. Join T4D in attacking the one up close, or try dealing with the more distant one.

Arianna knew the moment she turned her back on the other one, it would attack. She let T4D deal with the one he had on him and fired another volley of bolts at the one stalking her.

12:31, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 17 using 1d20+5 ((12)).

16:05, Today: Midichlorians rolled 10 using 3d8.  Damage.
The Rifle shots landed true and strong, striking the Kath Hound just near it's horns. The beast, wracked in pain, changed it's strategy for a desperate gambit, attacking with you an sudden charge. Trying to bite at your legs and heave you from the ground, it found its mark, but the protection provided by the technology of the First Order kept you safe, for now.

16:11, Today: Midichlorians, for the NPC Kath Hound, rolled 14 using 1d20+5.
Meanwhile, T4D contended well with his beast, which seemed on its last legs.

Arianna drove a crimson-armoured knee into the beast and fired her blaster into at point-blank range. She was, not for the first time, grateful for the armour-making skills of the Sith Eternal.


20:15, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 11 using 1d20+5 ((6)).

The beast just barely dodged the shot fired at it, and tried to retaliate by clawing at Arianna's armor, but still fails to break through.

A final cry of pain is let out by the first beast as T4D tore through him with his lightsaber.

All but snarling in anger Arianna puts her blaster almost on top of the thing's skull before letting fly another volley of blaster bolts.

17:32, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 18 using 1d20+5 ((13)).

The shots went straight the beats hide, putting the contest to a short but brutal end.

Arianna Vex'Morland, rolled 13 using 3d8

The droid turned to you, lightsaber still lit and ready
"Well, that wasn't so bad. But I think that was the easy part. My sensors are picking up some bigger things further up the hill."

Just as the violence ended, you begin to feel the soft patter of an oncoming storm, a faint drizzle that would surely begin to grow in time. As you heard the soft sound of water on metal, you begin to hear the voices of the Sith again, their call just as loud and strong as it was before. Yet, there was something different this time. Less a voice, and more a presence, though what it could be was more difficult to determine.

Make two Use the Force Checks, One to continue pushing out the voices of the Sith, and a second to determine what this new sensation is.

"Definitely the easy part. There's a storm coming and with it a presence. I sense something but I don't know what it is. And the voices of the Sith are getting louder again. More insistent. Some call to me to learn from them and others curse us for being here." She checked the charge on her blaster and gave her armour a good looking over.

"I think whatever it is I sense is coming."


20:16, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 18 using 1d20+2 ((16)).


20:18, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 22 using 1d20+2 ((20)).

"I'm sure they are. They're finally getting a chance to see someone they can use. You're a new pawn on the Dejarik board."

The two of you started to move forward along the path. "People have been driven into madness by the calls of the Sith. I'm glad that you don't appear to be having that problem." T4D stated, with his usual dark humor "It would be a shame if I had to report to my master that I was forced to kill his apprentice."

You have silenced most of the voices now. The voice you heard before, the voice that led you on this journey, rings loudest of all.

The presence you sense, now with greater clarity, does not resemble what the droid is detecting with his sensors. There is a manifestation of the force along the ridge.

Mobile
Strong
Humanoid

You are not alone here...

"That would be terrible," Arianna replied in a droll voice. "I'm sure you would cry great, oily tears. I'm not mad yet and have managed to shut out the rest save the one that first called me here. I may finally get a chance to talk with him and find out who he is."

She pointed her blaster towards the ridge and interfaced her helmet with the scope to see if she could pick up what was up there. "What I'm sensing is not what you're scanning. There's something alive there. Big, humanoid, and strong. I feel it in the Force."

"Well, I can't feel the force, and your fleshy visual sensors don't see infrared or synthetic aperture radar." The droid countered as the two of you slowly moved out of the periphery of the city, into the wilderness; an impossibly thick jungle. "Rather than argue who is correct or who is not, let us entertain the possibility that we're both right using the tools we have."

The droid looks around rapidly "Or, had. With how thick the trees and foliage is, it's hard for me to pick up much of anything."

Seemingly on cue, two terrors swoop in from the trees. Shyracks, winged predators and one of the oldest beasts to be manipulated by the Sith. Three swoop in on you, though it's too crowded for them all. Two fly away immediately, moving through the trees, while one is able to find a narrow gap in your armor and make a piercing bite into your skin.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals...5fdd93ec777765ff.jpg" data-lightbox="images-msg-25">https://i.pinimg.com/originals...5fdd93ec777765ff.jpg" alt=''>

11:08, Today: Midichlorians, for the NPC Shyrack, rolled 21 using 1d20+6.
11:14, Today: Midichlorians, for the NPC Shyrack, rolled 6 using 1d6+3.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:03, Sun 15 Nov 2020.

"I wasn't arguing and was, in point of fact, saying that you're scanning something different from what I'm sensing which means both of us are correct. My helmet does see into IR-" Arianna broke off as the Shyracks attacked and one bit her.

She grit her teeth, growled through the pain and opened fire on the beast.


14:32, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 14 using 1d20+5 ((9)).