Log:Sith Empire: The Storm Above Onderon
The Empire arrives at an oddly convenient time for Onderon.
OOC Date: December 23, 2024
Location: Iziz, Onderon
Participants: Qar-duun, Alys Zapal, Bors Thul, Merulia, Aryn Cortess
The Grimoire departs the belly of the Merciless and begins its descent toward Onderon, a world closely circled by its emerald jungle moon, Dxun. The entourage aboard the Upsilon Shuttle is not a large one, and is intended to be one charged with a diplomatic mission to obtain royal permission to search out Onderon lands for a rumored Sith ruin and cult. What the Sith divulge to the royalty has not been dictated.
What has been conveyed to Onderon, and the Japrael system as a whole, is that the Empire is not here to conquer despite... appearances. The expeditionary fleet /is/ a show of strength, but the Empire only speaks and negotiates from positions of strength (if Empress Kessa is to be believed, and devoutly followed). To that end, Merciless and the fleet maintain a safe distance from the world, uninvolved in its space traffic so long as vessels steer clear of Imperial proximity.
The Empire also conveyed that they wanted an audience with the rulers of Onderon. Unfortunately, that is currently up for debate. A Mandalorian clan leader named Talion Kast, or Alor'Kast, has given himself the title Despot of Onderon after executing the King, and forcing the royal Princess into marriage. He has forcibly ended a feud that has lasted tens of thousands of years, and hopes that the children born to this union will be King or Queen, and will usher in a new era of peace between Onderonians and Mandalorians.
Complicating matters further, a rebel entity has formed in open opposition of this union and of the Despot of Onderon. They would see their Mandalorian conquerors overthrown, and their Princess liberated to return things to they way they were.
Unfortunately for the Empire, their arrival and timing have made their presence an opportunity for both sides. Who will the Imperials favor?
One of the Acolytes brought along for this show of force is Alys. Recently having crafted her lightsaber, she feels more than ready to do something she is very good at. In this instance, it's stand there and look intimidating. Granted, this -is- somewhat difficult when you are a short and petite woman, but she does well.
Mostly because her eyes are often full of murder.
Swathed in her robe with the hood up, Alys is a shadow in the shuttle. Silent, not moving, barely seeming to breathe. Only her presence in the Force makes it a surety she is alive.
Qar-duun's stylized oni mask is meant to unsettle, but he has no strategy to contribute yet. "The Mandalorians: are they encamped permanently on Dxun? Is this the time of the so-called Demon Moon's nearness?"
Before the acolytes, a blue holo-image is projected and it forms the shape of Darth Kalus, a hooded figure occupying the bridge of the Merciless. <"Acolytes,"> She greets neither cordial or disrespectful, just direct.
Qar-duun's question does not go unanswered. <"Clan Kast occupy Iziz, the Despot is living in the palace. Dxun has become a thing of their past. They do not presently share atmosphere, so I suspect it will be of little concern.">
The ship began to shake as it hit atmosphere. <"A complication has transpired. Your flight is being diverted to a safe landing zone just outside the city of Iziz. Scouts report that Iziz is under siege. Advantageous. As this is likely your first mission representing the Empire, I am entrusting you to make a decision on how to approach the situation. Either lift the siege by destroying the architects of this attack outside the city (the rebels) thus siding with the Despot; or.. seize control of the city using the siege to your advantage.">
<"Our mission is to find the Sith ruins and discover the truth around a Sith Cult. How you go about getting the permission to do that.. I leave up to you. -- Darth Kalus out.">
The ship rattles again, and the pilot's voice from up front announces over the intercom, <"We are two minutes out from landing, my lords.">
The hologram rezzes in, and Alys's head swivels towards it, not moving otherwise. She is silent, listening. Thinking. She doesn't ask questions. She just takes in what the Master has to say, and considers. An attack to be used to their advantage. Even if these rebels aren't friendly with the Rebellion at large, they're still rebels. An enemy to order. She knows what -she- thinks.
As the holo switches off and the pilot signals the two minute mark, Alys looks at her fellow Acolyte. "My suggestion is that we crush the rebels and garner debt with the current regime. At a later time, if the deal seems to not be worth it ... we just alter it."
Qar-duun says, "We do not presently know which side will provide us with the greatest advantage. Until we have that information, we are blind and deaf. Watch first, wait next."
The shuttle begins its landing ritual, large and long wings folding upward whilst landing struts are pushed out. They settle just outside Iziz, the immediate view of a lake that surrounds the entire city. In their immediate vicinity, violet colored palm trees droop in various ways with tall, unmanaged foliage masking much of the surrounding jungle.
Tall, crag like rock spires peak (and peek) above the tallest reaches of distant jungle, and cloudy skies, not dominated by the green presence of the 'Demon moon', are dotted by wild avian creatures (likely predatory).
All the sounds of a jungle can be heard once they exit the steaming ramp and step onto the jungle floor. Nearby, discerned by sound, a battle is taking place at one of the main gates into the city. Explosions rattle off, and blaster fire is traded back and forth.
The pair are not able to /see/ it, but they can hear and determine from which direction it is coming from.
Alys's purple eyes seem to gleam under her hood. "If we wait, the fight will be over and we will have -no- advantage," she almost growls. As the ship lands, she rises, steady on her feet as she reaches under her robe. "Do as you wish. Play the hunter. I am going to succeed on this mission."
As the ramp drops, she exits the shuttle in a way that can only be described as the 'Horror Holo Slasher Walk'. It's not rushed, but it's focused and eats as much ground as her slight frame is capable of. Her hand comes out from under her robe holding the plain black cylinder of her lightsaber hilt. Is she actually going to solo march into an ongoing firefight and turn the tide by herself? She certainly thinks so. Without even a look back at her fellow Acolyte, Alys begins to jog towards the sounds of combat, slipping into the shadows of the drooping palms and, possibly, vanishing entirely.
Qar-duun stalks at a measured pace, the diplomat's walk! As an official representative of the Sith Empire, he expects to be catered to. He marches in synch with Alys, so as to appear 'a delegation,' that the Powers That Be will acknowledge in the name of hospitality. It is Expected.
As the pair move into view, they come upon the sight of a siege. While it is only one part of a siege, it appears to be pretty large. A massive bridge leading toward the main gate of Iziz is being invaded by mechanized infantry. This is no organized military, but the work of a militia making do with the munitions and speeders they had. The invasion is mostly a few speeders transformed into technicals, with men on the heavy turrets firing 'up' at the ramparts of the tall walls.
Infantry take cover behind hastily made (yet effective) barricades that they move closer and closer toward the main wall. One could safely assume, in the absence of tactics or formal military training, that these moving barricades likely had explosives they intended to plant on the wall.
Despite a show of lethal force, the siege rebels are being held back by a handful of Mandalorians who have stationed themselves high up to enjoy the advantage of an overwatch position. Despite receiving constant, automatic blaster fire, the periodically pop up and fire down, each shot is accurate, scoring kills and slowing the progress of the siege/invasion party. It is slow going, but they have every advantage.
Apart from the siege itself, the small army's camp is set up on the main road into Iziz, blocked off by barricades. Commanders watch from the safety of their camp as they try to determine if the attack is going to bear any fruit or not.
Alys knows almost immediately that her attempt to hide in the Force fails. This just makes her annoyed. Under her hood, she just rolls her eyes at Qar-Duun doing the DiploMarch. She steps out from the dappled shadows onto the road and spins the lightsaber hilt in her palm as they start coming up on the camp.
Her voice raises to be heard. Not exactly shouting, but it carries. "Go home. This is your only warning," she projects to the sentries at the rebel camp.
She punctuates this by igniting her weapon.
Expression hidden behind the helmet worn, Bors catches up in due time. The old man walking with his cane held in his right hand. The faint tap of its preceding him on his route. He'd been on the perimeter, observing, noting and studying in order to give the Sith a lay of the land, so to speak. Spying the engaged lightsaber and the people it is meant to cow, the old Thul frowns inwardly.
Not that anyone can see it.
Quickening his pace, the old man makes for where Alys stands, helmed head canting to the side to look to the rebels again, <"This, ere, may yet be poorly timed if to defuse thusly, yonder mob, thee wish to do..."> head then inclining towards the saber.
Pale painted features, dark black accents typical of her people, Merulia was here...or Darth Arcana, Nightsister of Dathomir. Slipping from the darkness, she too has her hands empty, but the lightsaber at her hip and indeed their magics keeps it fairly clear that any of their number could be a threat.
With the presentation of a lightsaber made, the rebel commands regard Alys, Bors, and Merulia before consulting amongst themselves. When one spoke, it was to address them all. "It seems you have chosen a side, Imperials. We are oath bound to oppose you and the Despot. We will not surrender, and we will not stop our siege. Do what you must, but we are prepared to defend ourselves -- KILL THE IMPERIALS!"
A small contingent of rebels from the encampment rush the Sith group, blasters and melee weapons ready.
Meanwhile, the siege is still taking place BEHIND them, though the Mandalorians still have things well in hand.
The sudden appearance of Bors and Merulia do not shock Alys. Did she know they were there, or is she just unflappable? It's hard to say. Purple eyes slide to the side, looking at Bors, the corner of her mouth twitching upwards. "I wasn't trying to cow them, sir knight," she says, her tone respectful. "I was giving them a fair chance to leave with their lives intact. It seems," she says as they shout at the Sith. "They have chosen poorly."
As the squad of rebel commandos charge, blasters at the ready, Alys fills herself with the Dark Side, making herself quicker. Her boot grinds in the dust, and she throws herself at the mob, moving like a dancer, her weapon whirling through the air as she strikes out like some crimson whirlwind.
The first real blood for her new weapon.
Qar-duun breaks into a run, overtaking a fleeing rebel and swinging gauntleted fists. No lightsaber. Rage, fists, blood! Meat!
Sometimes negotiations turn bad, sometimes they turn violent and when that happens? Well, militaries have long held the solution: bring weapons. Bring friends with weapons. Bring more than the other guy.
When the commandos charge, Merulia's black-painted lips pull to a light twitch of a smile before she moves forwards, a swift surge of motion and a flash of crimson as her lightsaber comes to her hand. It wasn't wild slashing, the woman moved with swift, sharp strokes like the artist with a brush while she danced between the commandos, cutting three of their number down swiftly.
<"Indeed.">
Thumb brushing one of the contacts and sheathing the 'business' end of the cane in ionized energy, the Black Knight turns with a sweeping motion as if saluting with a traditional dueling blade even as Alys weave into the mix of them. Perhaps a chance for some to survive this - if only to provide information.
But he wasn't taking life today.
Three steps forward carry him close enough to one who has their blaster raised with intent to crash the stock against his helmet - only to have the stunning tip jabbed roughly into the solar plexus. Sending arcs of blue coursing over them and Bors moving past with controlled, if age stiffened, grace - not looking when the younger opponent hits the ground in convulsions.
<"Surrender and dispersal remain options, yet."> Announced with another battered to the ground, the tap against their face light yet the manner in which they fall suggestive of being punched by a binary load lifter.
Still Bors keeps forward, looking to the thinning ranks through the visor of his helmet.
Three of the attackers in the camp remain within proximity to Alys, Sir Bors, and Merulia. Three of the commanders who had begun their retreat were pursued by Qar-duun, who took to closing the distance quickly and beginning his own attack upon them. The fight was almost over as soon as it started, and the Onderonians realized that this wasn't some ploy by the Despot, these were real Sith Lords, and they were cutting through their number as easy as carving a cake.
Members of the siege took notice and began to switch their focus from attacking the wall to closing in on the Sith. Another 10 charge in, opening fire.
More come, and Alys stays in the fight, the Force singing in her veins, but it seems to betray her at the wrong moment. Well, it could have been a worse moment. Blaster fire comes in, and the meter long blade of red energy bats the blaster bolts away harmlessly. The last volley comes from a heavy rifle. Alys sees it coming, and bats it aside, but she needs both hands on the hilt, and the step-through from the deflection makes her footing odd.
Thusly, her lightsaber swirls around in her hands menacingly, but the commando stays inches out of range, the red trail of energy in its wake close enough to reflect in the man's eyes.
"Blast it all!"
Such harsh language grunted within the confines of his helmet when the blaster bolt takes him the bicep of his left arm - thankfully not his sword arm, forcing him a step back and into several steps intended to make him a harder target - turning to shrink his profile in the haze of the crimson rainstorm seeking to ventilate him.
Skidding around a touch of stone and greenery to come face to face with one of the attackers with a huff of resignation when the barrel lowers with intent to cook his guts.
Hopefully none see this move, for perhaps only old Comrades from the Pirate Moons might appreciate when the ionized cane tip lances up between their legs to gain a pained howl that disappears quickly with the crumpling of the would be destroyer of The Lord Thul.
"Bollocks..."
LANGUAGE... Bors.
Qar-duun's distorted vocalizations are something between a scream and a howl; whether that's built into the mask or 'pure Qar' is hard to determine in the moment. He moves like a wrestler, a tower of muscle and rage who can deconstruct jaws and spines with revolting precision? With a hefty SQUELCH he pummels one rebel into menudo!
Blaster fire erupted all around the Imperials, scoring only minor hits on the time, each connection spawning sparks (especially in Bors case when his plasteel took a hit). Retaliation took shape in the form of twisting red lightsaber blades and people dying, but the Imperials appeared outnumbered, a grim picture to the outside perspective.
Holding their ground wasn't expected, but it earned the respect from the Mandalorians who watched from their wall. When the fighting intensified, well they took to the air to join the Imperials, making the assumption that the Sith Lords had chosen their side in the conflict.
<"Form a perimeter around the Sith.."> Called out a Kast Supercommando. Knee pad rockets, and wrist rockets fired in unison as they closed the distance to help.
Her footing back, Alys flings herself back into the chaotic firefight. Blaster bolts come in, and she moves like a dancer, pivoting and twirling, throwing the bolts aside. She even throws herself in front of the Black Knight, parrying projectiles sent at the old war horse, slapping them away so he doesn't get any more injured.
Mostly because she doesn't want to hear about it on the shuttle.
She gathers the Force again and leaps, arcing up and into the crowd of rebels, landing hard and driving her lightsaber down upon the head of one, splitting him in two. She lashes out in her landing crouch, trying to take a man's knees out, but he dances out just in time.
Another comes up behind her, leveling a blaster, and she switches her lightsaber off, spinning the hilt into a reverse grip and igniting it again, punching the tip through a lung. When she wrenches it upwards, his torso falls in a grotesque half, and she rises.
In a most -dignified- manner, with the oncoming aid of the Mandalorians mixing with the fusillade of tibanna plasma being hurled his way - Bors begins using the scrum of rebels as a form of cover - to trust in battle comrades trying not to blast their own. Falling to a kneel when one of the Onderonians comes too near and the ionizer of his cane finds it's way to tap the woman at the hollow of her clavicle.
Finding bare skin that smokes before she is flung to the ground, pole-axed.
"Keep moving, old man."
Muttering and trying to hunker past another whom evades the sparking end of Bors's cane when he lashes out anew - attempting to move towards Alys's position again when he spies her heading for him, offering a
<"M'lady"> once the distance closes.
A bolt hits Meru as she moves, chasing down the foe who'd managed to avoid her swings...but as the bolt hits the woven-silk of her tunic and doesn't leave so much as a burn, the force her shield from the damage that should have been done. Still working her way forward, Merulia's own lightsaber slashes again, cutting down what she could while she made her way to regroup with the Sith side.
"Apologies for the delay."
Qar-duun dispatches another resistor, elbows and fists covered in gore! Exultant, he shatters knees and dislocates arms as he stalks the field, tearing a path through muscle and bone as he advances implacably in his expressionless mask. Is the screaming coming from the mask? Or the man?!
The siege is shattered as a series of explosions form a perimeter around the Sith. Those foolish enough to close the distance and attack are promptly cut down by the Sith Lords. Mandalorians land within their ranks, taking up natural fighting positions where there's space and begin to blast down the remaining ones until there are none left.
The final shot is fired from where the Sith and Mandos stand, covering a vast 50 yards before finding the back of the head of the final fleeing commander. The impact saw their body flinch, chest arching forward as they fell mid-run; a cloud of red mist poofing out from the face exit wound.
After a moment of silence, the sound of fire crackling and the jungle filtering back in, the Mandos fan out to establish a protective detail around their guests. The largest of the Mandos lowers their weapon and addresses the group.
<"Alor'Kast bids you welcome and expresses his gratitude for your aid against the siege. Without further delay, we are prepared to take you to the palace for the scheduled meeting.">
