Log:Jedi Order: Island of Death Part II

A Jedi mission to Pamarthe

OOC Date: May 18, 2021
Location: Misty Veil, Pamarthe
Participants: Qutha Buvu Pah, Yuun, Ahsoka Tano (Had been disguised as Ostana), Aryn Cortess

The fog brought with it the solitude and insignificance when faced with the awesome machinations of nature. For awhile, sounds faded, and it was only the noise of the seawater slapping the hull, and the occasional gust of wind that swept through like a hot breath from a dragon. The mournful cries of unseen creatures occasionally cut through the solitude, but with nothing to see but fog, it was hard to discern if the sounds were friend or foe.

It had been some time since the pirates pulled away, persuaded to allow the runaways to test fate in the unknown of the misty veil. For centuries, the veil had been the crux of many sea tales, and often seen as the final voyage for those elderly enough to seek death in the unknown to never be seen again. When Ostana said they were living in a ghost story, there was merit to such. Countless generations had been lost to the fogs of the veil, and it was said the mournful cries were their spirits lost and roaming the mists with no hope to reach the heavens.

Some said, this was where hope came to die.

Aryn walked across the main deck with her arms wrapped about her torso, sheepishly looking and checking after the others like they might vanish if she took her gaze from them. Was there merit to a witch controlling these elements, she wondered?

"You spoke of a witch, Captain Ostana. Do you have more to share about them? About this place?"

The fog doesn't seem to bother the Togruta Captain. She braves these tretcherous waters with a cautious glance towards the call of distant unknown beast, but always with an easy grin barely seen through the dense tapestry of grey fog. Her hand resting on the wheel, making gentle corrections with a twist of her wrist. Following directions that are not obvious and certainly couldn't by sight.

The time since they were left to the dreariness of the veil saw her leave her post only once to grab a cloak from below deck. Returning with it up over her horned head to resume coursing them through the dreamscape... at least until Aryn comes back to ask of the witch she'd mentioned.

Turning with that easy smile as the woman approached, she nods to the question. "The witch has been here for decades as far as the stories go. Since after the rebellion, or shortly so anyways. Nobody really knows much about her, only that she came into port once, chartered a ship out into the isles, and never returned." Her grin widens, almost humored, "As to what brought her here, nobody can say for sure. The veil is as old as Pamarthe itself, the Isles hidden because of the volcanic activity beneath the water on this part of the planet."

She motions around with one sweep of her hand, "Magma against water creating a thick steam and boiling caverns-" She makes another correction, "- Anything could be hidden here, but I have heard of a half sunken prison near a nest of a particularly large sea dragon..."

Seated, still, as close to the center of the craft as he can make himself, Qutha's time for the voyage had been an affair of restless shifting where he had sat himself down. Spear rested to one side with his cloak weighing it from rolling away. Hands on his knees and hood drawn away to leave his face unshaded. Maybe a dozen glow-lamps are ignited around him, the majority hung from his waist with others on his wrists and one around his neck - turning the fog around him into a soft golden ball, purging darkness for several meters around him.

This much fog and mist makes it impossible to remain dry, leaving his hair a damp tangle falling about his mouth and droplets slipping along his features or beading on his clothing; sinking in or rolling away where he is too waterlogged. "Stories of a witch make me wonder after the legends I'd studied... somewhere. But then something simple can explode out into wild fancy with enough years from the epicenter... The prison being built within such a treacherous area formed by natural acts as you mentioned makes more sense. Can't fly them out, have to sail in - the old fashioned way."

Wiping water from his brow, though he looks less a drowned rat and more something waiting to unfurl with the sun for the sheer amount of water soaking him to his fibrous bones.

Yuun is sitting more towards the center of the craft as well, as they move about on the water, he seems to be enjoying himself. Though as he sits there, he was trying to meditate but the rocking of the craft, though he didnt' mind. He continues to sit there and listen to the story about the witch. He looks at each person and making sure they're ok. Upon seeing that and listening to the conversation.

The vessel continued to rock and tip, adjusting to the height of the waves. Tall shadow like shapes glide pass as if they might be large structures or rocks narrowly missed, or something else altogether. Sound does not feel trapped here, like it might were they in some vacuum or large cavern. The only sign that seemed to prove they were moving was the fact that the fog parted around them, opening like a slow airy door.

"No place would be more ominous than this fog. Though it seems hardly the place for anything to grow, yet stories flourish; and all feel true given this mysterious nature.." A long mournful cry pierces again, and the sound of water rippling unnaturally follows.. until the vessel shakes like something struck it from underneath. A water-muffled noise followed that vibrate the craft itself.

"They remind me of the mournful cries of the Thranta of Alderaan."

Each crest requires an adjustment, turning the wheel with a flick of her wrist to point them stern to wave and back on course once they come over the otherside. Against a spray of heated water that splashes against the lit features cast off Qutha's lanterns reflecting off the thick fog around them like cloth wrapping a newborn. Her blue eyes look momntarially mournful, but her smile never faulters.

"Stories always flourish, especially amongst people of the endless seas. You'll find no people more superstitious than sailors." More humor, even if it is muted against her features. An expression that fades as the sounds of distant calls of unseen creature grows closer. Close enough, in fact, that the ship vibrates when something dark looms inside a wave only a few hundred yards to port.

Without looking, she nods. Staring straight ahead as something runs along the bottom of the ship, "We're not alone." Another course correction, squinting against a squall spraying the sails to their port side when the shadow dips down through the crash of the rolling wave. "The dragons are native to these warmer waters, but they did not congregate so close to the prison until a few years ago." She says to something Qutha had said earlier.

"Some of the sailors believe the witch commands them. Calls them to her to swallow any ship that dares venture too deep into the Veil."

"It reminds me of Kilits when they swooped..." Swallowing hard and looking around with wide eyes, Qutha shakes for a moment to such a degree that the lights hanging from his jostle slightly and send his shadow splintering in different directions while he remasters himself. "No wonder few come this way, I expect most turn their back and try to find their way back... Only to see themselves lost and wallowing away their last when panic overtakes them."

Emerald eyes cast forward again and a blow of breath sends a spray of condensation from his moustache when Qutha finally stands again, spear held to aid in his balance. "If the prison was abandoned and there were no defenses, I suspect a reason for dragons to congregate as well.' the Zelosian's lips in thoughtful frown and he dares to go a little closer to the prow, his ability to clear his thoughts an impossibility for now it seems.

"But if there was a witch, then perhaps she was one to use her powers to ensorcell such beasts to her whim. Or maybe another sent them there to draw attention off. Unlimited stories, when there is no confirmation - sadly." turning to look towards Ostana briefly, at her wheel, before he gazes out again.

"And in the dark that would be created by such thick mist, figures jump out of nightmares and mirages are born of the mind..."

Yuun moves a little to adjust himself and as he does he stretches out his legs. and doesn't try to shift too much so as to not cause any problems for the skiff. "Fog does always give things a more ominus feel to places." he is about to say sonmething else until he feels the skiff shake as it hits something and he hears the muffled water sound. "I guess we d." he says simply.

Listening about the dragons, and that the witch may control them, he sighs a little bit. "If they moved here about a year ago and if some feel that this witch is controlling them, we should be cautious as we approach." Looking to Ostana, "Are you able to lose them? I know this is a dumb question as they are below us." he says wincing as they are not in a advantageous situation at the moment.

A loud thump sounds from something heavy landing on the ship. In the fog, it is not easy to see, but the figure rises up from a crouch to stand an easy six-foot in height, accumulating water, like a puddle, that spread over the deck which had not been there before. If any questioned whether it was one of their companions, there would not be time for it to leave their lips for the humanoid creature screeched loud and long, like some war-like cry.

"It seems the witch employs other guardians.." Aryn calls out, moving into the open to get a better look at what had landed to haunt them. Her path is interrupted when another landed right in front of her, taking hold of her frame and casting her to the air with a careless throw that saw Aryn land near the bow of the ship, sliding across the top deck after hitting hard. She slide to a stop near Qutha, and another figure landed not far from where Aryn tried to rise up. "I believe.. these mean us harm.. defend.." Aryn coughs, "..yourselves.." Cough, cough!

When the thuds sound across the deck of the ship, any who look towards Ostana would note she... doesn't seem that surprised by their appearance. She does reach out towards Aryn, but the young woman has already stepped out of range, so instead she turns the ships wheel sharply to starboard.. A third thud sounds against the side of the ship as one of their assailants hits the side rather than the deck when the vessel shifts out of position. "These aren't her guardians." She murmurs with a growing frown.

"These are what she's guarding against."

Fog collects around them like the draping cloth of her cloak, the Captain stalking directly towards the Water Savage who flung Aryn towards the bow of the ship. Coming out of the fog like a phantom, she lashes out at him but misses, and catches hold of the main mast instead. Stomping the release with a kick that drags her upwards towards the top sail where she crouches in the wind picking up across the side of the lurching ship. Cloak bellowing out in several directions as the wind kicks up around them with the ship listing in a circle after she'd left the wheel.

A sound errupts from her that mimics the distant cries they'd been hearing. Both hands cupping around her mouth to send it out in a projective concussion that booms into the veil.

"ARRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHH ARC ARC ARC..." 

"Oh!" the forms lighting on the ship cause the Zelosian to shift the grip he has on the old spear he's been using as a walking stick and no sooner than Aryn's slide stops near him that Qutha moves. The dangers of dusk and night on his homeworld having required years to study self defense. Where blasters are near pointless when the danger quickly moves to close quarters.

Normally peaceful, polite, gardening Qutha without so much as a sliver of mean in his whole stern and stem; becomes a whirl with the butt of his spear slammed into the instep of the assailant landing near Aryn, "Dear... oh dear! Aryn, watch out!" twisting to drag the point up under the savage's sternum while pushing with meager strength to send the figure over the railing and off the deck to tumble to the waves below.

"Are you alright Aryn?"

The thuds and the appearance of figures causes Yuun to get to his feet rather quickly, but not fast enough to catch Aryn as she is knocked back where he and Quatha is. "She's guarding against these things." he says as he quickly moves up, having seen that they can possibly be hurt. "Stand fast." he calls to them as he quickly rushes towards the front of the skiff, and quickly launches himself at the figure that attacked Aryn.

He does a spinning side kick which misses it's mark but Yuun completes the spin and drops into a low crouch and sweeps the leg in an attempt to take out it's legs and possibly drop it to the ground. A smirks shows on his lips. "How close are we to our destination Captian?" he asks quickly.

Aryn is slow to rise up, but she squares off with a water savage, drawing her lightsaber to a gloved hand to activate a moment later. The brilliant sapphire of the weapon casts bright blue against the fog as the blade extended to its full 1.2m length and hummed defiantly against the unknown with even the most subtle of movements. Adjusting her hold to salute her opponent, Aryn steps into a refined guard and cuts across the torso of a savage. She carves a small mark, only deep enough to prohibit movement and disable, but the pain from the weapon enough to dissuade further pursuit.

Aryn answers after disabling a second. "I think so.. just shaken up.." She pivots, spinning slightly in a circle and rotating her weapon with refined, practiced grace to cut a third and send it toppling over the edge of the gunwell to splash below. She orients her weapon's blade back to her side and moves to the center of the ship so her companions might know where she was. Six (6) more of these humanoid water savages begin to climb up over the sides of the ship, prompting Aryn to call, "More ascend the edges of our craft. Stay focused to the center lest we be dragged to the depths!"

A loud screech follows, like a war cry, but it's overshadowed by the mournful cry of something larger. The vessel is struck, hard, tipping to one side. Whatever noise the Captain had made stirs up the sea. The ship rocks to one side, then another, and when it finally lands firm and flat, the pressure cracks the central mast, and the wood cracks before it begins to favor the port side falling into the water. "LOOK OUT!" Aryn cries out.

As fast as the Captain holds, she weathers the turbulent rock of the vessel as more and more of the beast leap upon the deck. The distant cry echoing her own, it is the snapping of the mast that ultimately draws her full attention. Having wrapped her wrist in the sail line to keep her fixed upon her perch high above the combat with her cloak twisting around her in the savage winds of the growing storm inside the veil.

Protests of soaked wood made softer by the heated air of the fog, the mask begins to crack and creak as splinters shoot up the center like a lightning bolt ascending upwards into the heavens. Crashing down in the silent following one of those bellowing cries with the splash as the sail smacks the surface of the cresting wave upon which the savage beasts had assailed the ship.

Taking the Captain beneath the surface with it.

Scrabbling away from assaults by the savages, instincts guide Qutha that are charged with the momentary foreknowledge chasing through it that pivots him away from the first strike only to find a heel coming down for his neck when a roll for safety brings him far to close another. Eyes popping wide, he lets loose a mighty "OH! My!!" before he rolls again, coming to his feet with several of his hairs on the deck pinned by the opponents foot.

A good show, that. No injury for a change and an effective work in close quarters blinds him with momentary pride that clouds the foresight to get clear when the mast comes down. The heavy spar of wood narrowly missing him before the sail cloth slaps him down like a bug under a swatter, ropes swinging like vines in the madness wrapping about arms and legs - forcing him to stay down.

"Bother..." wheezed out as he tries to find a way out of this fine, salt brined, pickle. "Uhmnf..." wriggling and worming his way towards the edges and following loose loops. The mad quest for the edge of rope and sail!

When the water Savages attack him, Yuun slaps one of the fist that was aimed for his face away from him. The knee that was coming to his chest is easily dodged as he jumps back. He catches sight of the Captain falling into the drink, "Kriff! We have to end this quickly." he calls out in a calm voice. Yuun leaps backwards landing where Aryn and Quatha are, he could feel the skiff listing to one side, he looks and sees two of the Water Savages together he calms himself and he throws a back spinning kick and as he does so he exterts himself through the Force hitting both of the water savages in an attempt to knock them off the ship.

Aryn is forced to avoid being smashed by the falling mast and dodges to one side, slipping on the water-slick deck to tumble away from the danger. She manages to defend herself against two that swarm and attack her, encouraging them over the edge with a pair of swipes with her lightsaber.

WHHMMMPHHH---WHMMFF!

The boat begins to tip again as something large rises up out of the water like a towering serpent off the port side (where the mast, and Ostana had fallen.) The mournful cry is no longer muffled but loud, deafening loud. Aryn puts her hands over her ears as the remaining 2 creatures on their vessel do the same, paralyzed in fear by the presence of an elder water dragon!

The Water Dragon, with its massive head coils the length of its tail up the otherside of the ship ready to collapse the whole vessel down beneath the waves where none shall even know that it had passed into the darkness of the veil. Nothing but a memory to those who knew they had come here seeking the prison and treasures hidden there... The glow of its eyes cut through the gloom of fog as it lowers down with salt water dripping from bared fangs until the snout of its maw hovers only a few feet from the deck.

Low enough for a black clad, hooded figure to leap from the scaled head into the center of the pair of savages. Tilting her head to one side to stare at one with blue eyes as the glow of a long white blade erupts from her clinched fist in a whirling dance that cuts through it as cleanly as hot knife to butter.

The other hand thrust forward towards the second of two to push him back towards the snapping jaws of the dragon, who grab hold of the savage and hurl him several yard out to sea and chase after like a kath hound seeking its meal. Splashing into the water sending sprays of salt water crashing against the black cloak facing away from the trio as the blade disappears and leaves her bathed only in foggy darkness.

Curling before leaping to his feet, Qutha rises up into the bellowing of the beast and he is forced to turn his head away with his free hand clamped over an ear and his other hand somehow still clutching his spear. Lips moving, eyes wide, the sight of the creature is one to make his eyes bulge and mouth drop open.

The last of the savages gone, the dragon chasing after the latter and leaving only three figures on the skiff. Jaw working, staring openly the Zeolian mind races to take in all it has just witnessed and process it. To say something profound about the monstrosity that had risen and apparently allied with the torgruta woman now holding a lightsaber. To the dead on the deck, to the thought of those cast over.

A momentous rushing of ideas in the still yet barely adult, for his people, mind of the flora man who has come this far under the pretense of hiding his abilities to draw less attention only to be faced with those likened to he and his two traveling companions this day. What manner of wisdom will escape him? Shall he level worlds with the sage words that likely brew in him?

"Huh..."

Yuun couldn't believe what he was seeing, the water dragon, and it's deafing roar causes Yuun to cover his ears at the ear splitting roar it emits. Yuun has never seen a dragon in all of his life, not even a sea dragon. He grits his teeth as he holds his hands over his ears. Luckily for him he didn't have anything in his hands or else that would've been pressed against his head too.

He doesn't say anything as the last of the savages were taken care of, his head hurts a little bit as he looks in teh direction of Aryn and Quatha, "YOU ALL RIGHT?" he hollars. His clothes are a bit water soaked and he looks down around his feet to see if they are floating or sinking. He heard the loud crash of the mast hitting the skiff as it fell, and he remembered Ostana falling overboard. Yunn didn't know what to say to thier possible savior, but he looks in their direction.

"GOOD HERE!" Aryn called to Yuun, witnessing much like the others, as things transpired upon their vessel that seemed well out of their control. She held onto a line and brought her weapon up in guard, uncertain of what would follow.

Following it all:

"My master said there were no such things as coincidences. It seems the Force has brought us together." Aryn says as peace returns to the waters and their vessel continues to flounder until it's taken control of once again. "I suppose only one thing remains, once we are set to our course once again; that is the nature of your true name.."

Aryn recalls the sapphire blade, its length retreating with a protesting squeal back into the curved hilt she held. It did not seem like Aryn intended the Togruta any harm.

The shadowy figure slides her hand back behind her back to replace the lightsaber to her belt, hidden beneath layers of clothing, and turns towards the bewildered collection of Jedi. On her face is that same coy grin and just the bare hint of mischief in her eyes at the shock they're directing her way. From Qutha's Huh to Yuun's shouting in the aftermath of the resounding roar following the sea dragons return to the waves, it's Aryn's indirect question that captures her attention.

Reaching up with both hands to fold her hood back off the white horns atop her head, standing straight with her arms coming down to cross over her abdomen. "No, there are no such things as coincidence." The grin doesn't flinch, bowing her head in agreement with the Princess amongst them.

"The locals call me The Witch of the Veil."

"You may call me Ahsoka Tano."

"I... Qutha Buvu Pah, Miss Tano." rapid blinks following "So you know exactly what we're seeking out? And you control... dragons... and." babbling. The Zelosian realizes it and he stops himself short. "I mean... it should be a smoother journey? If that's not too presumptuous to say?" shifting from foot to foot his gaze flits to Aryn, to Yuun and finally back to Ahsoka.

"How long have you been living here? Why?" jaw setting as his brows try their very best to both become a single brow and to crawl up into his hairline. "I... uh..." he digs in his utility belt, drawing out a small waterproof flimsi pouch, "Tea?" when in doubt. Tea. Relief shows on his face as he sees that his friends are alright. A smile shows on his face and he looks around not seeing the sea dragon anymore. Rolling his shoulders a little, he takes a moment to catch his breath. He can hear a bit better now and as he looks to the cloaked figure and he hears Aryns voice and as she puts her ligthsaber away, he looks to Quatha for a moment then he looks forward.

"There is no coincidence." he repeats and he looks to the cloaked figure watching and as she speaks, his eyes widen. They were travelling with the witch...but she was nice. Then when she says her name, Yuun mulls the name over in his head, and shakes his head for a moment, then his eyes go wide. "Y...You're THE Ashoka Tano?" Excitement and the unbeliavable shows in his eyes and comes through his voice. He bows to her, "It's a pleasure to meet you Ahsoka Tano." he says deeply and respectfully. He looks back up to her and as he hears Quatha's questions, he had some as well. "I to would like to talk more with you but..." he looks at teh skiff, "Are we close to our distination?" he asks curiously.

The onslaught of questions seems to be something Ahsoka had expected, but hearing recognition in Yuun's voice was, perhaps, not. She tilts her head gently, watching him with that easy smile on her face. "I hope so." Is she THE Ahsoka Tano, "It's been my name for seventy years." She explains with a hint of playfulness. Her blue eyes slide away from him to the tattered remains of the mast, taking in a deep breath. "We're close enough, yes... Everyone don't look behind us."

Again with the mischief as the waves crack open to emit the head of the dragon she'd previously returned upon. Reaching out to lay her palm against the steaming snout hovering just before her. Murmuring something to the massive creature who pulls back away from her, at the same moment that she looks to the trio of Jedi. "Hold onto something."

It's their only warning before the boat is rocks and starts moving forward. Far faster than it had previously. The remains of the mast tear away with a flick of her wrist... disappearing near instantly into the thick fog surrounding them. "Once you cultivate enough stories about the existance of supernatural creatures, you don't actually have to stick around all the time. I told you, Sailors are supernatural. I let them believe something magical reside out here and they believed it... I've had to stay less and less over the years." In answer to Qutha.

"I am, however, protecting what I suspect you three are searching. When you touch a seeing stone, those of us who know what to look for, can see you too." Her hand teeters slightly, "I apologize for the ruse, but I had to make certain you were..." Craning her head, first looking up and then back over her shoulder at the Jedi. "I wont say worthy, but certainly just in your intentions... Which is good because I've never really like water very much and now it can be your problem."

That damn grin.

She's teasing them.

"We'll be there soon."