Log:Sith Empire: Once More
The Sith investigate a long abandoned temple on Drumond Kass.
OOC Date: April 14, 2024
Location: Drumond Kass
Participants: Marcus Pram, Merulia, Qar'duur, as Self/GM, Tamsin Cas, Sith Empire
[ Qar-duun (Qar)]
Qar-duun, actually A Scout(TM) when he's not terrorizing teahouses and weapon-shops on Nar Shaddaa, has led the team to Dromund Kaas, deep within the jungles where the rain never ceases and the howling never stops. You know, just a 'blue milk run.' His training helps him locate lost artifacts and locations from Sith lore, and thus he's clearing the bedraggled overgrowth from the temple's exterior with a machete while he explains: "-- found this on an ostracon at the bottom of a well, so you know it's legitimate. In Sithese, although presumably the well was for water."
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
Achlys, having agreed to accompany the small group on their exploration, looked over as the way was cleared, though they seemed to be more attentive to mention of an artifact than to the jungle being cleared for their path, "And were you able to translate the text clearly? Sith is not the easiest language to parse, given how many dialects have existed over the years." It paid to measure twice and cut once, and all.
[ Marcus Pram (Mo)]
Marcus Pram is an adjutant probably more here to help transport even cargo more than the various members of the expedition. If Marcus even understands what they're talking about it isn't obvious as he mostly just casually surveys the area staying a bit behind the large droid.
[ Merulia (Meru)]
Merulia wasn't a scout...but she was technically a scholar, even if knowledge of Sith Magicks and the Nightsister ways wasn't always exactly what was known. Moving along, she continues to follow as the others talk, wrapped in her usual red tunic-shaped-from-wrappings and an outer cloak, the newly anointed Darth Arcana, better known as Merulia followed along.
[ Qar-duun (Qar)]
Qar-duun loses his footing on some rubble or scree, planting a heel more firmly as they climb to the yawning entrance-cavern. "Just up these-- accursed-- rocks and inside." He struggles before finding purchase and making it to the door.
[ Marcus Pram (Mo)]
Marcus Pram scrambles his way up carefully and curiously but he hangs back behind the rest. This definitely isn't his specialty but the pilot seems curious. He does wave a hand at his face and the heat watching each of the group with open curiosity. Qar's stumbling draws a look but Marcus is smart enough to hold back any comment or response as he looks around to the various Sith He does tap his chest to stifle a cough.
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
Achlys had a slightly easier time making their way down towards the entrance, as this appeared to be, though their attention remained on the rest of the team, to assist as needed, should the footing prove much more treacherous. Once they were all on stable ground, they stepped forward, using the systems built into the mask as well as their own keen eyes to make senses of the design of the place. There was a frown on their voice that did not translate past the mask, as hands rose to pull down vines which had long ago overtaken the building, "It is Sith, but an ancient mode," though everything was ancient on this fell world, "A place of training of the mind and spirit." It was a start, at any rate.
[ Qar-duun (Qar)]
Qar-duun's path takes them through halls patiently carved with blasphemous Sith runes. Though the stone is cracked and blistered, Tamsin is able to read the story of the temple's construction to protect the personal possessions of an aspiring Sith Lord. Though overgrown and disused, the tunnels the troupe explores are stable... for the moment, at least!
[ Merulia (Meru)]
Merulia herself moves with the confidence of one born to a jungle on a death-world, gently stepping, twisting and springing as needed to make the climb. As the search slows she moves closer, listening to Achlys' words with a nod before closing her own eyes to reach out with her senses and see what she might sense, be it beast or background in the force.
[ Qar-duun (Qar)]
The frescos Tamsin studies so intently are regularly drilled with grapefruit-sized holes that don't add anything to the text. Mysterious indeed until their occupants decide to visit our enterprising archaeologists: boa constrictors begin *flopping* and *plopping* onto the path ahead, hissing discontent!
[ Marcus Pram (Mo)]
Marcus Pram does not in any way shape move with comfort in the jungles and strange place. He looks jumpy moving away from each crack and drop of stone in the temple. He peers at the ruins that the others read and he looks over to the droid giving it a shrug. He then blinks as he stares at the large holes in the wall with a look of growing horror as hissing comes. "Snakes, why does it always have to be snakes."
[ Merulia (Meru)]
Elsewhere, a while ago, on a mission to her homeworld to investigate missing inhabitants of Dathomir Merulia had explained to the team that was with her at the time that many a young Nightsister charmed a Kodashi viper as one of their first pets. Was the serpent of Drummond Kas any more savage? Odds are the Nightsister would debate it, or at least say they were not as beautiful as the rainbow-colored deathdealer that she'd raised as a young girl.
Regardless she offers a soft little note from her lips, more an utterance than words but musical in nature while her hands sweep upwards and then out, as if invoking the world around her. By magic or mind trick, it didn't matter as the snakes slithered to a halt, coming to a little wavering dance while offering a path to the group who moved forwards. "Shall we?"
[ Qar-duun (Qar)]
Qar-duun sticks his chin out, proud, and marches past the danger at Merulia's urging. "I couldn't possibly, no. After you." He pantomimes such chivalry! Between residents of Dathomir it is merely comedy, but between a number of Sith it rises to the level of extremely cruel and heartless joke indeed!
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
"Because it is a tried and true classic. The Sith who once lived here might have had some power to make use of the Force," Achlys offered, in answer to the question, as they watched the legless predators being charmed out of their path by the Nightsister, "But their creativity only seems to extend so far, or so my many years of visiting here have led me to believe."
[ Qar-duun (Qar)]
Qar-duun leads the group at last to the terminal chamber: in this case there are statues of Sith luminaries long-deceased, some in better shape than others. Situated on rotating stone platforms, apparently the final test is one of wits! Which Lord faces which way and why-- perhaps the runes offer a solution, but perhaps in classic Sith fashion it is an exercise of *will...*
[ Marcus Pram (Mo)]
Marcus Pram watches the slithering come to a halt. He looks utterly dubious and then he moves a little closer to the robot moving very carefully it looks like he's trying to follow quite exactly in the footsteps of the other. clearly concerned. He consiers the next room watching and then he purses his lips, "Does every Sith have a riddle infested tomb?" He asks curiously and looks at the runes and things, "If this was a normal mission we'd just blow the door." He admits.
[ Qar-duun (Qar)]
Qar-duun says, "So: who's good with puzzles?"
[ Merulia (Meru)]
"One might suggest that treating a place such as this, having a little respect and awe for a tomb and its mysteries could be quite useful." As the Serpents are lulled to apeaceful sleep, she moves on forwards, folding her arms under her bust. "But if there is an obstacle that thwarts us? We could always cut through."
[ Qar-duun (Qar)]
Qar-duun suggests: "Respect. Awe. Usually delivered on a supplicant's knees." He takes a knee in front of the display, bowing low.
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
Achlys, who did not offer words immediately to the banter that was being thrown about, began a slow circuit of the room, paying more attention to the statues than the walls. or perhaps, to the bases, as they knelt, now and then, a hand reaching down to use the slightest bit of the force to dust away the sand which had accumulated there over the years. Even in the jungle, there was always sand, if only because stone was ground down to sand over the years. "I think we may have an easier time moving these statues than cutting through that door. Look," here they indicated grooves which had been ground into the bedrock of the floor, "The weight has carved grooves in the ground. We will have to move all of them, and likely at once." There were four statues, but only three force users, "We will be one short, but I will see what can be done with these two, if you two others can tackle the remaining pair."
[ Qar-duun (Qar)]
Qar-duun nods, moving at Achyls' direction. Now was not the time for dissent. He assumed his place before the statue they selected.
[ Marcus Pram (Mo)]
Marcus Pram snorts, "The only puzzles I solve are the simulators." He looks around the group and considers, "Which seems less and less to be the only thing worth being good at the longer I go." He murmurs absently and then he looks curiously at the talk of respect and awe which quiets him a little. He glances to Qar watching him bowing at the wall. He looks at the others for guidance on how to react perhaps trying to gauge if this is normal Sith behavior. When she suggests the grooves he blinks at them and he mvoes up waving for his following droid to push. Marcus himself applies a hand but it really seems like he's expecting the machine to do more.
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
"This is not a mortal place," Achlys offered towards the pilot and his droid, noting that the statue did not move, even under their combined strength. Their tone was not unkind, simply honest, "Such places were made for those who could wield the force, as much places to celebrate it as to test the will and power of the supplicants who came here." With Qar'duur and Merulia set to work on their own statues, Achlys' focus narrowed as the final two were left to them. A moment, to center themself, before they allowed two strands of will to project from their metaphysical body, two hands, one turning the statue to their left clockwise, and the one further away in the counterclockwise direction. The sound of grating was loud in the stillness of the tomb as the statues began to turn on their ancient pedestals.
They did not need to wonder whether they had been successful or not, at least in this first part of the endeavour. The statues sank nearly a full inch into their plinths when the rotation was complete. There was only the briefest ringing silence...before the door began to recede and slide back into the left-hand wall.
[ Qar-duun (Qar)]
Qar-duun nods. "Fascinating that it seems to have required a group, or a lone Lord of extraordinary power. Probably why the temple sank into the jungle, no?" The modulated dialogue echoes through the ruined edifice as Qar strides for the last portal...
[ Merulia (Meru)]
"Strength from many, or strength from one, it's power none the less..." Merulia offers as they move onwards, pondering aloud perhaps, or offering a glimpse at her own personal philosophy.
[ Marcus Pram (Mo)]
Marcus Pram blinks at that, "It's not a mortal place?" He murmurs under his breath more confused than anything but he nods and he steps back to let their powers do it. He shakes his head and just scoots a bit back sheepishly. He glances to Qar and starts to open his mouth then he looks to Merulia. Marcus' jaw goes shut with a click and he exchanges another look with the droid.
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
Achlys paused for a moment, as though to consider their words, and then, "This was not a place designed for those who make use of the mundane realms of body and strength. As with all of this world, it was a place made for those who had the ability to wield the force. To test them, and to break them, if that was what was required."
[ Qar-duun (Qar)]
Qar-duun points at the empty crypt, long ago raided by treasure-hunters. Cobwebs everywhere, the final antagonist merely a few spiders irritated their nap is interrupted! "And all I am rewarded is a map to another temple. Typical."
