Log:Jedi Order: What Was Lost Part 3
Another part of the Jedi have split off and found a rather direct route to what they are looking for.
OOC Date: February 11, 2022
Location: Ossus
Participants: Vhe Tenara as GM, Rune, Vega, Bizz Bliptettjupp, Kasia Ashkuri, Jedi Order
The Praxeum is large, immense even and as the groups split apart to cover more ground. As the group makes their way further to the right of where they entered through the ceiling it becomes hard to see and it will take some matter of light or lightsabers to guide their way. Rubble, plant growth and even some water have taken up their positions now as permanent fixtures within the architectural marvel. The soft crunch and scrape, sometimes splash of a footfall echoes lightly. After several turns down hallways they can see a light glow to the left of the fork they come to, as if some illumination is being provided by an unnatural source.
To the right.
More darkness. Endless and empty as far as they can tell. The feeling of being watched has left them presently but there is the heavy feeling of ages. Jedi long ago strode these halls once complete upon a world that used to be lush and verdant, filled with possibilities.
And the Force.
The Force remains but its like a whisper, a soft undertone to the Praxeum's aged walls and ruined corridors.
All the time that he strode over the surface of the world, all the moments during his dreams when he felt the call of something, of history, of greatness, all the years that he fought for his survival on this planet, he never knew what lay just beneath his feet.
Having caught up to his Master Kasia after they entered the Praxeum, Rune is only able to stare in wonder at what lay hidden from sight. The weight of the Force, of the past, all presses in causing the familiar grounds that he thought he knew to seem vastly different, unfamiliar. Of course, the last time he was on Ossus he was little more than a snarling beast himself, rescued by Vhe, Kasia, and others from his fate of solitude. Now Rune returns as a Jedi Padawan, robes that are not made from furs and the hides of slaughtered animals cover his upright form, a lightsaber strapped to the belt at his side instead of a spear fashioned from whatever he could get his hands on.
Needless to say, the young Ysannan's journey has been remarkable in the little more than a year since he left the planet but the wonder, the feeling of history, the call of the Force never left.
Rune shakes his head from side to side as he takes it all in, hazel eyes finding his friends and Master as they trek through the near darkness. "I never knew..." he says in awe.
Vega's a bit distracted or having a sensory overload, if she senses anything of the Force, she doesn't voice it. The Echani gives a look over the area as her pale gaze settles over paintings that have grown dim with the ravages of time. "I think this might have been a meditation area a long time ago. Or a training area. It's hard to tell." she states quietly.
Brother Bizz uses his unetiwood walking stick as a steadying influence, but also to tap in front of him, making certain there are no loose rocks and such. In his other hand he holds an antique fusion lantern to give off proper light, but it is quickly hooked to his bandolier when he sees somewhere to take a sample. He pops open a sample container and, using a small brush, sweeps some moss and then some rock-dust into the container then snaps it shut. The ugnaught sniffs the air but doesn't bother mentioning what he smells. "Perhaps we should go toward that light source, down there." He points.
This is a wild place, and the last time she was here it involved exploring a cave that tried to collapse in on them, so Kasia is cautious with each step and frequent wary glances upward. "It's so strange being in places like this that are so... abandoned?" She struggles with the last word, as though she's not sure it's the correct one for what she's trying to say, but her focus is divided, and when looking at the variety of directions before them she points off to the left, where the light comes from. "There is something dark in that direction. Corrupted. That's the only direction that feels any different, the rest of it just feels like it does here." She shoots a glance over at Rune, saying more softly than before, "Be on your guard." It's not so quiet that the others can't hear the warning as well, and once it's given her own hand settles on the weapon visible at her hip.
Paths chosen can be both fruitful and risky, in this case it can be both. The light source is constant, some soft glow that emits from something just around the next corner. Nothing unexpected happens and there is no roof cave in fortunately. They do have some water to step through up to an ankle deep but otherwise their path is mostly still.
Rounding the corner the light source becomes evident, an old lantern that is already starting to fade given how long its likely been on because beside it is a corpse, bones showing, likely some humanoid but the clothes that remain show burn marks, as if melted and fried in a central location on the poor creature's chest.
But beside him, where a door once was is a gaping hold. The metal which one composed the door as some gateway to the next room was melted in an oval fashion, allowing all of them a gap to fit through. And beyond? Darkness again. A well of it where the eye creates hazy grey replacements to deal with how dark it is.
Rune forces the nostalgia and wonderment to the back of his mind, nodding to Kasia as he removes the black metal hilt from his belt. She's rarely wrong... to be precise, he can't remember a moment where she actually was... and caution is well warranted in a place that hadn't seen the light of day in ages.
Aside from the gentle foot falls and the soft sound of sloshing as they pass through the water, the cavern is eerily quiet. So quiet that it's even more jarring when they come across the aged corpse and its lantern. The native of this planet scrutinizes the body for a short while, his head turning this way and that, before the call of the darkness that lies beyond the hole.
Everything is overwhelming and, though he tries to keep his emotions at bay, simply being back on the soil of his birth brings with it many thoughts that are hard to shake. With a grimace, Rune mutters to himself to 'focus on the task at hand.' and bends to scoop up the lantern left discarded through death. There has to be more beyond this darkness and, as the young Padawan passes through the melted hole, he forces the light from the lantern to drive some of the inky blackness away.
Vega trails after the group, having put her lightsaber away earlier so she wouldn't skewer anyone. She catches a glimpse of something that's lower to the ground than she is and she crouches down to see if she can make out what it is. "Rune, have you ever seen anything like this before?" she asks him.
Brother Bizz sniffs again. "This place must have rats." He tucks his little sample container and brush back into his kod'yok hide bandolier, then raises his fusion lantern again. "Do we, uh, go through the hole?" He doesn't want to be the first one through it.
Kasia's steps are again cautious, because this is an ancient place and she's not looking to get smooshed beneath rocks. Thankfully that continues to not happen. Her steps through the ankle deep water as also tentative because in water lurks danger, but she trudges right on through hoping that the water proofing holds out and she doesn't end up with wet socks. Wet socks also present danger, if nothing else it leads to a cranky Kasia. All thoughts of wet socks and rocks falling are pushed aside as they round the corner to find the corpse and the lantern. She leaves the lantern to others, spotting something else in the low light of the space.
A moment is spent to dig something out from beneath the front of her top -- a handkerchief -- that she she shakes out and uses to scoop up something from beside the body. Something metallic. An amulet with a strange symbol etched into the gold that she cradles in the palm of her hand. Her eyes close as she concentrates on the object itself, and she stays that way for a handful of moments. Long enough to see something that eventually makes her flinch, and then her eyes flutter open. "A dark force user killed this man, and went that way." She points at the hole Bizz inquired about. "I think that means we have to go that way." She rises, folding the kerchief around the amulet carefully, then moves toward that dark, gaping doorway.
Its not all together welcoming, the expanse beyond and within is a larger room, benches and chairs toppled, rows of tables that leads to several short flights of broken and crumbling stairs to a door - intact. It stands like a monolith untouched and seems almost pristine. Strangely so. Rune's lantern helps to reveal this with carved pillars supporting the high ceiling. Depitctions of Jedi on several of them, worn, faded, the carvings all but unrecognizeable.
Their sounds echo in here, footfalls, words, even the hushed movement of cloth can find amplification if needed. There is a scent but for those unable to sniff it out its hard to truly put a finger on. It does make the nosehairs tingle just a bit, somewhat sharp.
But inside this gathering place, it is quiet save for soft drops of water and the passage of their own footsteps.
Kasia's comment on this man's cause of death is enough to raise the hairs on the back of his neck, much less the looming black that she indicated he entered. Fortunately, Rune has a moment of reprieve when Vega's question reaches his ears. He stops and turns to raise the lantern, illuminating what she inquired about, stepping closer with a raised eyebrow to investigate. "Hmmm... it looks... that looks like the sort of mark a Kirruk would make." Rune finally answers, straightening to his full height though his eyes remain on the print. "They are creatures my clan would use as mounts, lizard type creatures, nasty claws."
The momentary distraction resolved, Rune turns back to the hole with nothing left to do but progress. With a deep sigh he steps forward, illuminating the room beyond with the light he holds.
The quiet is more deafening in here and, though he reaches out to the Force for some idea as to what occurred here in the past, the Force is as quiet as this chamber, the sounds of the drips the only echo he receives.
Vega looks to the print at Rune explains and there's a nod of her head to the man. She gives a look to see where Kasia and Bizz are, noting where people are. "Thank you." she tells the young man as she stands up from her crouch. She lets the Force guide her for the moment, trying to see if there is anything else here with them. Her hand stretches out, tracking something, "We're not alone, it's moving along the wall...whatever it is." she tells the others.\
Bizz wipes some dust from the drawings on the pillars, attempting to recognize the writing or the depictions of Jedi figures. "If I am correct, this is the hall of gathering! Perhaps the garden and the library of the praxeum are near." He takes a square of thin paper from his robe pocket and some charcoal. Placing it against one of the pillars, he hurriedly rubs the charcoal bit against the paper, making a crude tracing of the carving. "This might do nicely!"
Kasia steps into the larger room with the help of Rune's lantern, moving to the side as much as she can to not block the entryway and again she closes her eyes. She tries to expand that sense of things around her through the force, and again it works. It takes several moments for it all to unfold, giving the others time to look around. "The dark force user went to the door, but we need to be cautious. She touched something and it seemed to have hurt her. I don't know what, it wasn't clear enough, but just... be aware." With that she moves further in, trying to get closer to the aforementioned dangerous door.
Vega's assertions of something being near are eventually secured when there is a tumble of rocks and a hissing sound from the side just after the others chime in with their information. The opening in the door was big enough for something else to enter and the light is drawing it towards them, the scrape of feet against the group carries through the hall.
Another hiss and it draws closer and within moments Rune's lantern light illuminates the large teeth and sunken eyes of a Kirruk. It seems ALMOST humanoid with how it walks and as it lumbers towards them its teeth clack and its tongue slips quickly after.
What was a hiss now becomes a roar as it makes it presence known, a few pieces of the wall falling from the reverb. They have a moment to breathe as it begins to circle, considering Bizz.
"Something is in the ro...." **HISSSSSSSSSS** "..oh." Rune asks and finishes, the tumble of rocks and subsequent loud hiss from the Kirruk drawing the Ysannan's immediate attention. As the light bathes the beast in a soft glow, what is revealed is anything but soft or friendly. "Yes, that is a Kirruk." He remarks, as if the discovery of the claw print in the dirt outside of the room wasn't a really good indication.
Clutching the saber hilt in his hand, Kasia's Padawan doesn't activate the emerald blade just yet, instead his free hand comes up to signal at the creature, calling to the Force in an attempt to ease its angry mind. It seems to work, if nothing else the Kirruk is no longer considering attacking Bizz... but it seems that whatever happened has brought its attention squarely on Rune. "This could be good... or very, very bad."
Vega's black clad form skitters out of the way when she sees teeth. Kasia's words register and she looks to where the stairs are, then back to the creature that is eyeing Bizz. She reaches out with the Force, trying to see if she can aid in helping...but it goes very wrong. "Whoa, we aren't going to hurt you..." she raises her hands to try to show that they are friendly.
Bizz drops his charcoal and paper. "Watch out!" He sees that the large animal has taken an interest in one of the padawans, so the squat monk whips out crackling stun baton and menaces the creature with it. "Back you devilsquid!" WHACK WHACK WHACK. He smacks it about the head, attempting to prod or stun the kirruk into fleeing. It's an animal after all!
There is something /large/ and Kasia is not thrilled about that. Her face scrunches up a bit as she glances up at it, over at Rune, then around to the others. "Do something about that please." Very helpful. She trusts that they'll definitely be able to see it done while she carefully steps up to the door. She doesn't immediately touch it, trying to pick up something off the door with the force, but it's just not cooperating right now. There's a slow exhale through her nose, a quick glance back as Bizz batters the beast, and then she focuses ahead again. One tentative hand reaches out tentatively to try and touch the door, but her fingers brush against the force field instead. "There's something protecting the door. I can't tell what yet," she tosses over her shoulder to those busy with the creature.
The Kirruk is getting mixed signals, the calming presence of the Force from Rune - in such a familiar way starts to ease the creature. Vega's attempts to help have the opposite effect and just as it is rounding on her Bizz gives it what for! Have at thee! It shudders and steps back, lifting a clawed arm to try to stop the brazen and bold attacks. The baton sends shocks through its body and unfamiliar with this sort of pain it looks...well stunned. Confusion draws a snarl from its maw and as Kasia leaves the others it ignores for the moment, turning its attention right back on Bizz.
When Kasia reaches out there is a buffer and though it does not hurt her, it keeps her out. Physically unable to touch the door itself the barrier she can not see does no harm either. She finds nothing but possibly irritation at finding something blocking their path.
Below, the Kirruk takes a step forward, talons scraping the rubble strewn floor.
With a snap, crackle, and pop, the work he had been doing with the Kirruk was undone, Bizz battering the fellow about the neck and shoulders. Rune takes a hesitant step back and assesses the situation... most likely they're not going to get anywhere with the creature now. It doesn't deserve to die, but then again, if it can't be reasoned with, it's an us or it situation.
Rune's thumb slides over the ignition button on the black hilt in his hand causing a bright green energy blade to extend from the cylinder in preparation to attack. The beast is much quicker than he looks and, with all the waving about of his lightsaber, he ends up just giving the Kirruk a free light show sans music. The column of energy hums and zooms around the creature, causing more commotion and aggravation than good.
Vega gives a look between the stairs and the creature again and when people start trying to hit it she withdraws to help with the door. The white haired woman reaches out to touch the side of the door and there is a frown, "The connection is on the other side...but we need to get through the field." she states. "We have to find a way to work with the door. But maybe I can do that with a little more persuasion." she states.
Brother Bizz watches these Jedi either miss completely or mess around with a force field. "Hey, any help over here? It does not take two Jedis to work a door!" He twirls his stun baton menacingly, landing a single blow on the kirruk's arm with a loud BZZZZZ ZZZZZZ ZZZZZT. The creature does not seem phased.
Kasia shoots another nervous look over her shoulder at the creature and those fighting it, then looks ahead to the door. "I understand needing to make it difficult to get in places, but..." There's a few muttered words that definitely involve a curse or two. "Okay. You see that?" she says to Vega, pointing to the disc of gold in the middle. "I'm going to try and turn that. See if that gets us anywhere. You have my permission to flee if it starts to go bad." Though flee where? Into the arms of the Kirruk? Bizz gets another look as he shouts. "Evidently this one does. You're doing great! Rune let the force guide your hand," she adds very helpfully, and then focuses on that golden disc. It turns with some concentration. "You try to help with it too," she says to Vega.
The door begins to shudder, bits of dust and ruble falling from the wall around it though it remains untouched and unmarred. Perfect in every way. The gold disk at its center has a perimeter of symbols that match similar symbols in the warm colored stone around it - in the same order. As the disk turns the symbols are moving closer to alignment. Ages without use make the disk hard to move.
The Kirruk cares not about the door letting out a roar as it thorws its head back and swings at the glowing bright stick that is held by Rune. Its massive claw comes rushing in to take a swipe at him and thankfully misses the padawan by a few feet as it pivots. It sends water spraying when its massive foot comes down in a puddle.
The situation has gone from tense to outright panic inducing. Kasia gets a quick look of 'REALLY?!' at her suggestion before he's back to defending and attacking, trying to cause the creature to either flee, die, or just leave them the hell alone. Rune's lightsaber moves to parry and fend off the Kirruk's advances, twirling about his body and creating interesting shadows tinged with green on the walls around them.
Three more slices are flung at the beast and three more attacks swing well wide of its form. So wide, in fact, that the last attack ends up slicing the opposite wall from where the Kirruk stands. "The Force does not seem to like me today!" Rune calls, a few beads of sweat popping out on his forehead as the creature proves much more adept at this whole thing than he is.
Vega looks over her shoulder and then back to the disk that is being pointed out, "On it." she states to the Knight. Because they needed to get this opened before someone was eaten. She regretted leaving Round one on the ship now. She focuses, helping with the rotating of the disk. Trying not to focus on the the growling behind her, "We're going to get it." she states quietly. Hopefully!
Brother Bizz mutters to himself. "Thrust, parry!" he says to Rune. "Try to scare it off, back to the surface or something!" The guardian of the Whills smashes his stun baton against the kirruk's foot twice, then backs up, twirling the electro-stun device in a threatening manner.
"Trust it to lead you," Kasia calls back to Rune, which is both probably the right answer and also not the least bit helpful. "We just need to get this open," she adds, nodding to Vega as she watches it continue to turn. Once again she focuses on that disc trying to turn it, to make it move with that unseen force they can control. CLICK, it starts to open. She rounds on the others, hand on her saber ready to fight if need be. "We've got it open. Go through, I'll take up the rear." Just in case the thing decides it's actually more hungry than annoyed.
The door opens into another hallway and sadly its just as broken down as the rest of the Praxeum but still intact, thankfully. The Kirruk is thwacked a few times and is blinded by the dancing bright sword. These creatures are just not worth its time, hissing at them and growing it backs up, melding back into the shadows nearly as quickly as it came. it is quickly enveloped and only the scraping sound of its passage can be heard as it grows further away.
Ahead the door is open, Kasia waiting for the others atop the stairs as Vegas is directed through. Hopefully there will be no other native surprises for them as they continue on their search. But it becomes clear Darth Setis could not get past this section for the generator does not power back up and the door does not rise after Vega passes.
The hallway is a short one and diverges two ways to go around a wall that will help with foot traffic. But once they step through they arrive in a sort of vault like creation. Pedestals line the walk. Obviously meant to hold something.
"What do you think I am doing?!" Rune replies to Bizz, the lightsaber swinging about in front of the angry beast more as a distraction device than anything else. Whatever the pair of them did to the thing it was enough, the Kirruk deciding to retreat rather than continue to fool around with the two waving glowing tools at it.
Wiping his brow with the back of his sleeve, Rune waits until the sounds of the creature completely fade before extinguishing his verdant blade. "There... worked like a charm." He says, a crooked smile creeping across his lips, more out of exhaustion and relief than actual joy.
Hazel eyes shift to Kasia and Vega, noting the door having been opened while the fuss with the Kirruk had transpired. Stepping their way, he nods to the pair before slipping through into the next area, the hallway providing a measure of interest with the ornamentation and pedestals that carry down the hall.
"And there we go." Vega states as the door starts to lower. She gives a dip of her pale head to Kasia when she is sent ahead, bringing her lightsaber up to light the way as she does. The pedastles are given a look and she makes a low hmmm sound as she examines them. "Do you think they kept holocrons here?" she asks no one in particular. If there were any ghosts floating about they might answer her before the others.
Brother Bizz deactivates his stun baton, hooking it to his belt, and goes to retrieve his paper and charcoal. They are both awkwardly stuffed into a pouch on his bandolier. "Hurry up!" He waddles through the door at double speed just in case the kirruk decides to come back.
"You did well," Kasia tells both Rune and Bizz, true to her word that she'll wait until they're all inside before she follows. She keeps a wary eye on the door out in case the thing decides to come back, stepping backward through the door into the hall, hand on her saber ready to whip it up if needed. But so far it isn't, and she lets herself relax just slightly as she turns to look around the space they find themselves in now. She moves ahead to the vault area, peering inside curiously. "I'd love to know what they kept in here."
As if to answer Kasia's words there is a rumbling sound from the far end of the room. Its hard to see where the pedastals end at this point and what waits for them at the end of the walkway. Hard to say in that moment in a room where stories are many and the details of its history has been forgotten. There is rubble on the ground but mixed in are small boxes, intricate and ornate in their filigree and for all intents and purposes...they were likely once holocrons but long ago and long since destoryed by the passage of time and the nova.
There is little time to consider as the footsteps approach from the far end of the hall.
