Log:As Above, So Below: Paid In Blood

As Above, So Below: Paid In Blood

OOC Date: March 10, 2025
Location: Umbara
Participants: Qar-duun, Aitax Rendon, Lynoriel Thrace

[ Lynoriel Thrace (Thrace) | 20:09:03 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

Thrace had said she wasn't returning to Umbara, but here they were not very long after something tried to crush her to death. Inside one of the labs in the University they are behind closed door and that black chest is covered in cloth until they get going. It was an open invitation to those that had been with her when things went poorly. Maybe whatever was in here would be of some help.

The tall woman is dressed in ebon robes with her hair braided back into one singular heavy braid that falls down her back. Her makeup isn't severe or pale, which might throw some off. She waits quietly to see who will attend and then they would move forward with opening the box.

[ Qar-duun (Qar) | 20:13:11 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><

Qar-duun admits: "We might be able to sense a curse or a spiritual hex through the Force, but are you comfortable opening it indoors? My archaeological training is wary of poison gas, or envenomed needles, or an explosive rigged to destroy the payload. Considering the obstacles we've already encountered-- ?" There is no question of their competence or willingness to proceed, only readiness. Preparation.

Thrace had said she wasn't returning to Umbara, but here they were not very long after something tried to crush her to death. Inside one of the labs in the University they are behind closed door and that black chest is covered in cloth until they get going. It was an open invitation to those that had been with her when things went poorly. Maybe whatever was in here would be of some help.

The tall woman is dressed in ebon robes with her hair braided back into one singular heavy braid that falls down her back. Her makeup isn't severe or pale, which might throw some off. She waits quietly to see who will attend and then they would move forward with opening the box.'

[ Aitax Rendon (Tax) | 20:30:47 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

Aitax Rendon is in attendance, dressed as he typically was in the scarlet-trimmed black uniform of the Navy. As was habit, he wore the floor-length quarter-cloak with its braided scarlet cord crossing his chest. The clear signal that he was off duty could be seen in the absence of a black cap, as well as the fact that the gloves he typically wore were folded and tucked into his belt rather than being worn. "Fair met once more, Lady Thrace," he offered in even greeting.

[ Lynoriel Thrace (Thrace) | 20:52:27 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

Thrace gives a look to Qar-duun and there is a chuckle, "Ah...given who it is from I'm afraid to open it anywhere really. For all I know she has managed to entrap some highly venomous creature in here to eat me after everything we've already went through." she sighs. "After this is open though hopefully there will be some sort of guidance on whatever test that I'm being given." she tells the larger Acolyte. Then Aitax arrives and there is a smile offered to him along with a dip of her head, "Welcome, Captain Rendon." she greets.

She reaches forward to grip the cloth that covers the container and pulls it off, the container has a sheen to it, like it is made from some black stone. The top is engraved with some sort of language, that most wouldn't recognize right off the bat given it's not a common one. Below it is a small indentation where something is to be sat or something can be poured into it.

"Apparently my Sith is a little rusty today." she murmurs as she runs her fingers over the engravings on the lid.

[ Qar-duun (Qar) | 20:57:01 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><

Qar-duun translates for the benefit of the gathered. "Is this your mother's handwriting? Or was it already on the box?"

[ Aitax Rendon (Tax) | 20:58:47 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

Aitax Rendon greets Qar'duun with a short dip of the head and shoulders and a slight smile to the word, "Acolyte." His eyes return to Lynoriel for a moment before shifting to the revealed prize. Blue stare narrows in study of the unfamiliar glyphs, but as the Zabrak shares his insights aloud, one of Tax's brown brows arches. "Is is overly dramatic of me to suspect that the desired offering is a measure of blood? Or perhaps the parcel is merely in want of a cup of kaf." He puts little stock in the latter deadpan jest.

[ Lynoriel Thrace (Thrace) | 21:09:21 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

Thrace gives a look over the hooked glyphs, "No, it's her writing." she states to Qar-duun. Which probably didn't bode well for her. Then she looks to Aitax and there is a chuckle, "No, I would not say it was dramatic. It seems that blood is the price that needs to be paid for most things on this quest." she states to the room. "Though I think we could try some kaf before blood if it would make anyone feel better?" she offers to them. Though with that joke being stated she pushes up the sleeve of her robe and then uses her free hand to pat her pocket, "I seem to have left my knives on the Herald. Captain Rendon, do you have a non-ceremonial knife that I might borrow?" she asks the Fleet Captain.

[ Qar-duun (Qar) | 21:13:40 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><

Qar-duun nods to Captain Rendon, although his manner is 'heightened.' He seems to insert himself between the box and the others? Perhaps after all they've been through on this journey he's become oddly protective. Ill-intentioned boxes aside, he guards or advises while saying little else.

[ Aitax Rendon (Tax) | 21:15:54 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

"At last I see that placing a ravenous beast to guard the parcel was in fact a courtesy of convenience," Aitax notes with a wry note, as Lynoriel also suspects a need for blood. Asked for a non-ceremonial blade, he bows his head. "As the lady likes," drawing a smallsword from his side. Longer than a proper knife- about the same length from his elbow to fingertip when drawn), but keenly pointed and sharp enough to offer a clean cut without clumsiness. It is reversed in his hand with an artful twirl, and offered hilt first to Lynoriel. "The edge is keen, a draw cut will serve."

[ Lynoriel Thrace (Thrace) | 21:29:13 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

"We won't make this a habit." Thrace comments to Qar-duun and Aitax with a bit of a chuckle. When the sword is offered there is a moment where a joke almost leaves the woman's lips, but she saves it for another time. Instead she reaches out to take the offered hilt with gentle fingers and make sure not to hit Aitax or Qar-duun with it. She flexes her hand a few times and then makes a fist before running the blade over the inside of her right arm in a quick motion. No palm cutting here! It's a deep enough cut that blood wells up instantly and rivulets run from the wound and down into the hole in the box.

And blood seemed to be exactly what it needed, because there is the faint sound of something creaking inside the box before the lid pops open with a little hiss. Lynoriel takes the moment to clean the blade of the sword before returning it to Aitax, because she wasn't going to run off with his sword, that would be rude!

[ Qar-duun (Qar) | 21:40:04 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><

Qar-duun, too, doesn't joke that Lynoriel still smells so strongly of the bacta-tank that she's probably protected from 'more harm,' but he does instinctively block for Captain Rendon, should any physical hazard present itself! Whatever alarm comes through on his face doesn't appear-- yet-- to translate to danger for the others involved...

[ Aitax Rendon (Tax) | 21:41:30 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

Aitax Rendon accepts the smallsword back, the brief flicker a smile tugging at the corner of his lip with some unspoken amusement as he catches Lynoriel's eye. The sword is re-sheathed and the officer's attention goes to the opening case. Though Qar-duun doesn't see it, perhaps he mist still sense a slight dip of the captain's head in gratitude for the defense against whatever miniaturized Vixus might be waiting to leap out at them.

[ Lynoriel Thrace (Thrace) | 21:58:19 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

Lynoriel sees that smile from Aitax and she lets herself smile back to him. Though when the other Acolyte moves to block for him there is a nod of thanks given to Qar-duun. She ties the sleeve of her robe around the wound she created and then reaches out to open the lid fully on the box. She reaches into the blackness and then pulls up a bundle of red fabric and armor plates. Then the last thing is a broken modified royal guard helm. "My mothers old armor..." she whispers as she sits the bundle to the side. She unties it quickly and then starts sifting through it. In the mass of tattered red there is a cylindrical hilt that rolls out. A lightsaber.

There is a moment of stillness from Lynoriel. As if seeing a ghost.

Then she reaches out to pick it up and she flicks it on, away from the others as a precaution. The violet blade shoots out of it and is whole and beautiful. Until it starts to sputter and then there is the sound of cracking before the electrum crystal inside shatters and the blade dies out.

[ Qar-duun (Qar) | 22:05:02 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><

Qar-duun suggests: "Many pieces of even a broken lightsaber are reusable in a remade blade." He relaxes, such as a son of Dathomir can relax? (That is to say, 'barely,') and resumes stalking corners and edges, surveilling hallways and planning his exit from enclosed spaces...

[ Aitax Rendon (Tax) | 22:06:30 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

The vibrant red of the revealed cloth is of interest to the officer, as Aitax had fully expected exciting new shades of black to be discovered. But it is the metallic clunk that precedes the lightsaber rolling into view that strikes the captain silent. The significance is impossible to mistake. Brown brows raise as he glances from Lynoriel to Qar-duun, to whom he begins to offer a comment, before the ominous sputtering precedes an unmistakeable shatter. Blue eyes widen. He is not so knowledgeable in the repair of lightsabers as the Zabrak, and visibly reacts as if what has just occured was an irreparable and unmitigated disaster: mute shock and horror.

[ Lynoriel Thrace (Thrace) | 22:15:15 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

Lynoriel holds the broken saber in her hands, but she doesn't know what to say. "This is not her Knights of Ren lightsaber...or armor." she whispers. She looks a little lost. Not sure if she broke it or if the ordeals did. She looks between Qar-duun and Aitax, both getting an apologetic look, "I was hoping that after everything we'd have some more solid answers." she states.

She then looks into the box again and realizes that something was missed. She pulls out the star chart in the bottom and places it down on the table. "Korriban." she smiles to that. "The Valley of the Sleeping Kings to be more exact." she runs a finger from the mark to the other points. "I wonder what horrors this place will hold." she frowns as she shakes her head.

[ Qar-duun (Qar) | 22:19:34 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><

Qar-duun, still looking to glimpse the sky through the ceiling, suggests: "A necropolis, at least, suggests any beasts left waiting to maul enterprising explorers will either be long-dead or extremely elderly. Pushovers." The 'we hope!' is silently implied!

[ Aitax Rendon (Tax) | 22:20:07 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

Neither of the acolytes responding very strongly to the breaking of the crystal lets Aitax breathe a bit more easily. After a few swift glances between the two, he regains his former calm and draws a slow breath. When Lynoriel wonders what new horrors lie ahead, the captain quips dryly, "T'would tempt fate overmuch if I guessed it couldn't be worse, wouldn't it?" He's in agreement with Qar, it seems.

[ Lynoriel Thrace (Thrace) | 22:34:50 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

There is that tell-tale sign of aggravation that is crawling up Lynoriel's pale throat, but she manages to throw a fit in front of Qar-duun and Aitax. "Korriban is not as abandoned as one would think." she muses to that. "But hopefully we will get...dare we say, lucky?" she smiles to them. She carefully repacks everything into the case and then closes the lid. Her crimson gaze rests on the words that are etched into the top and she runs her fingers over it for a moment, something flickering in her gaze as she does. "We have to finish a few campaigns before I can go looking for things on Korriban though. Hopefully we won't run into a Hssis or another Terentatek." she sighs out. "Thank you both for being here...I wasn't sure what was going to be in here, but at least we didn't have another Vixus situation." she grins at that.

Not yet at least. "I will let you return to what you were doing." she gives a bow of her head to them.

[ Qar-duun (Qar) | 22:36:19 ]<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><

Qar-duun nods. "As ever, call and I shall attend. We must cooperate if the Sith are to achieve our true place in the galaxy."