Vasari
Blackguard Imperium
Tell me that I wont feel a thing...
Posts: 1,244 
Affiliation: Academy of Iridonia - Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Vasari on Oct 19, 2018 4:20:27 GMT -8
Invisible within the Force but still able to be seen by the normal means of simply looking - Luxeria would find the Zabrak woman laying on her stomach about halfway up the rock face giggling softly at her prank like a school girl. She was wearing the norm for her - a simple breast wrap that was secured over one shoulder, but instead of her traditional battle skirt - short and split up both thighs to grant full range of motion - she was wearing skin tight compression pants generally worn under heavier armor plating - a product of spending time with Viox's troopers no doubt, and a pair of rugged and scuffed up combat boots that she had been running in since she had been back on Mustafar. She watched her friend catch the rock - to her credit only dipping slightly in her course and giggled some more watching the rock being crushed to dust before Luxeria landed and surveyed the Arena for her. She did nothing more to hide simply looked back at her friend with a rather leased grin on her face - both at successfully remaining hidden until now, and being able to disrupt her friends focus, if even for a moment.
"Play?"The Zabrak girl giggled rolling forward and up onto her hands as the rock moved through the air towards her. Balancing perfectly even without the use of the Force to steady her she maintained her veil and when the rock drew close enough she kicked the rock aside with a spinning motion while pushing herself off the ground and allowing the rotational momentum of her body to turn her around as she dropped down to a lower rock landing on her feet in a half crouch. Looking down over the edge of the rock she was now perched upon she gave her friend a wide beckoning smile while palming another rock - this one much smaller.
"I would love to play with you!"
Pulling her arm back she shot the rock directly at Luxeria's forehead with a good amount of strength and speed - a mere distraction, as soon as the rock left her fingers she was on the move, darting downwards and behind a larger rock - using that one to mask her movements and with all her natural stealth moving as quietly as she could to another hiding place picking up two more rocks as she moved - peaking out occasionally to keep a bead on Luxeria's movements as she started a game of cat and mouse. Without the use of the Force that generally would have made her the mouse...
|
|
Luxeria
Member
“Even the strongest mind can be manipulated. It’s simply a matter of finding its weakness.”
Posts: 1,898
Affiliation: Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Luxeria on Oct 19, 2018 10:55:14 GMT -8
Luxeria gave a humorous scoff at Vasari's attempt at a distraction. It was beneath both of them to actually work, not to mention a head on attack while moving in one's field of view rarely did much good. With her focus completely clear, it would have been nothing to stop the rock, but opted for a easier and more effortless solution. Moving her hand in front of her as if batting away a bug, she used the Force to redirect the rock slightly off course, passing by just clear of the left side of her head.
The whole time her eyes never left the Zabrak as she ducked behind another formation of rocks. Even now she couldn't feel Vasari's presence, much like on Felucia when the raid began. No doubt it was some technique that allowed her to completely hide her presence in the Force. Something she'd have to ask about later. But two could play at that game and it would provide an excellent test at its effectiveness. While having seen where Vasari disappeared, she didn't know if she had altered her position while remaining behind the formations. As she couldn't see her friend, she held out a little hope that neither could Vasari see her. If she did, it wouldn't really matter. Giving a final smirk, she focused the Force around her, bending light until she disappeared. Thankful she had been working on this ability as well for a bit, it made it so much easier disappearing from sight now.
Once she was gone, she moved slowly and quietly, being cautious about where she stepped so not to give away anything by sound or the signs of footsteps. It meant she couldn't move very fast right now, but as long as her friend couldn't pick her out, it was of little consequence.
|
|
Vasari
Blackguard Imperium
Tell me that I wont feel a thing...
Posts: 1,244
Affiliation: Academy of Iridonia - Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Vasari on Oct 19, 2018 11:41:27 GMT -8
Vasari caught sight of Luxeria a few times as she moved between the rocks changing course once and then again later, doubling back to keep her path from being predictable. When she attempted to peek out again at her friend she couldn't find anything. She hadn't been moving, and now she seemed to just be gone. In most situations an untrained predator or a fearful victim would keep moving, frantically looking this way and that searching for and sign of their assailant - but Zabrak were natural hunters, natural predators and Vasari had been taught to hunt at a young age, making her first kill for the Clan at Five - bare handed. She had moved away from such brutish tactics and practices when she realized her true potential within the force, refining them into a rare martial arts form and the endurance and power that came from its discipline, however that instinct remained strong within her being.
She didn't know as of yet if Lux had simply ducked behind a rock as well to pursue her or was using some other art of concealment to hide herself from sight - she had read about a version of camouflage that was the given with bending light around ones self effectively creating a cocoon around the person using the ability in which the light would simply pass around them - it was generally impossible to see within the cocoon without the assistance of the force - which would prove problematic. Vasari slowed her racing heartbeat with several long shallow breaths - perfectly silent now that she was no longer moving she attempted to use her other senses to locate her friend. Her inhales took in the scent of the world, ash and dirt... perfume would move through this air like a wave, but also the smell of sweat, soap... anything out of the norm of ash and dirt she sought for. She listened as well... out of practice on the hunting trails as she was her ears heard more than most and so she waited for any sort of motion or movement, the rustling of clothing or the falling of rocks - another reason she wore such tight clothing - no access noise. The even rock and dirt of the training arena floor was one thing, but if she moved onto the rocks to attempt to hunt for her even someone trained in moving slowly and noiselessly made mistakes, and so pressed up against the rock- her back flat her head on the swivel for any sign of a subtle bend in light or space or even the sight of red or purple moving between the rocks - she was ready...
|
|
Luxeria
Member
“Even the strongest mind can be manipulated. It’s simply a matter of finding its weakness.”
Posts: 1,898
Affiliation: Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Luxeria on Oct 19, 2018 14:04:25 GMT -8
It was here that a stand off was found between the two. Vasari had the mind and skills of a hunter, knowing that she was also the hunted. By staying in place and not trying to seek Luxeria out kept the human from locating her position and being hidden in the Force didn't help either. For how the situation played out, she was just as invisible as Luxeria was. On the other hand, Luxeria was training to be an assassin. Not quite as skilled in the hunt as her friend, but well enough skill to know how to render herself near silent and to plot her approach without giving her position away.
Vasari's position made it difficult to simply walk up on, which ultimately granted her the advantage. As suspected, the uneven ground presented the possibility of causing loose rock to fall or even herself to loose her footing and slip. There was only one way to flush her friend out and that was with a distraction of her own. But how to do it? Simply picking up a rock and throwing it would easily reveal her location, even if thrown from behind one of the formations present in the arena. And she did not possess the confidence yet to utilize another ability, even one as simple as Telekinesis, without giving herself away. And despite this being just a little game, it was an excellent training session. It was the first real partner she had outside of Gavin and he certainly didn't count considering what she currently learned from him. She could have gotten away with ducking away and switching between abilities, but she had no sense of Vasari's exact position, so hiding away could have actually put her in clear view. Her options were dwindling by the second.
For now, as she processed her next move, she continued her slow, steady path as she reached the furthest edges of the arena that she could easily navigate. She hoped that by doing so, she'd be able to see some hit of her, enough to make her next move. But currently, patience was key, something both women possessed. It was only a question of whose won out.
|
|
Vasari
Blackguard Imperium
Tell me that I wont feel a thing...
Posts: 1,244
Affiliation: Academy of Iridonia - Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Vasari on Oct 20, 2018 10:10:35 GMT -8
The silence was nearly deafening as she attempted to listen for any sign of Luxeria's approach, she picked up next to nothing save the twin beats of her own hearts echoing against one another. She blinked at the thought... an echo... She looked about the cavern
the dueling arena was situated within and a sly smirk crossed her lips. She wasn't hunting an animal, she was hunting a very intelligent woman who was quite skilled at hunting herself - she couldn't use the same tactics.
On Felucia she had been able to throw her voice through the Archives as an intimidation tactic but without the use of the force she would have to rely on the natural formations around her and hope the effect would be similar enough to do what she had in mind. Keeping herself as low to the ground as possible she shifted from rock to rock, keeping her head on the swivel for the same signs of light and motion she had been looking out for as she 'lead' Luxeria away from the open Arena and towards the cliff face that looked down into the cavern, her shallow breaths grew stronger as she pressed herself up against a different rock facing the cavern and finally spoke - loud enough for the voice to create an echo through the various rocks near the caverns edge."Closer...""...Closer..." "...Closer..." "...Closer..." "...Closer.!" The echo gave her a moment to climb, moving higher up the cliff face still covered by a rock but only for half the climb up the section of the cliff she was near. And so she used the echo to cover the sound of her moving faster up the face turning and perching on the higher elevation looking over the cliff for a second before disappearing moving along the ledge to low now to be seen from below, giggling - her laughter echoing off the rocks below with the increase of elevation she had a better vantage to the maze of rocks below and she could not see any indication of movement below.
|
|
Luxeria
Member
“Even the strongest mind can be manipulated. It’s simply a matter of finding its weakness.”
Posts: 1,898
Affiliation: Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Luxeria on Oct 20, 2018 10:48:39 GMT -8
Continuing to move ever so slowly, she kept her ears and eyes open for the slightest sound or visual of movement. A couple times, she could have sworn she heard the crumbling of rocks, each time she stopped to focus on it. During these moments, it was either a trick of the ears or just random loose rocks falling, nothing to indicate Vasari was in the vicinity.
But then came the words. The same words over and over in her friend's voice, echoing off the rocks. Her fists tightened slightly as the Zabrak's still played at the advantage. At first, there was no way to guess which direction it was coming from. But as the words continued, they seemed to centralize at the cliff face, causing Luxeria to smirk. It was clever in trying to confuse her further, but the constant echo eventually gave direction. She started moving towards it, sure her friend had lost their little game, but came to a sudden halt about halfway there. She had to remember who she was hunting. Her friend was very capable and good at mental manipulation, no matter the form. This, in a sense, was just that put into a hunting game. If the echo was leading Luxeria here, it was no doubt a trap, meaning Vasari was near and waiting for Luxeria to reveal herself. But Vasari was just as aware at Luxeria's skill, which could allow her to plan even further. The conundrum of the situation was sorting out whether Vasari was actually there hoping to uses Luxeria's own knowledge against her, or actually waiting in another location.
Either way, she was running out of time. She wouldn't be able to maintain the cloak for much longer, meaning she had to make the first move. Luckily, she had one, though only one. It would either expose her friend first, or herself. Moving back to another rock resting in the arena, she chose one angled towards the open view of Mustafar. Keeping herself hidden there so not to be seen from the considered front, back, and opposite side of her location, she began to let the cloak fade. At the same time, to better ensure she wasn't noticed, she started to form a Doppelganger halfway towards the cliff face, taking shape in a way that made it seem the cloak was fading. She hoped that this would draw her friend out, at least a little to catch any movement from the rocks. It was highly possible Vasari would continue their cat and mouse game even when revealed, but it was just as equally possible she'd make a grander move considering she carried the advantage of positioning and surprise.
She was hoping for the later as the copy took shape in the arena and her own cloak faded in the shadow of the rock. One more move was all she'd be able to manage. Which was fine as the next move would be the deciding factor. As the Doppelganger moved closer and closer to the cliff face, the real Luxeria kept her eyes alert all around her, even behind for any sign of her friend.
|
|
Vasari
Blackguard Imperium
Tell me that I wont feel a thing...
Posts: 1,244
Affiliation: Academy of Iridonia - Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Vasari on Oct 20, 2018 14:04:03 GMT -8
Vasari lay in wait once again, the full length of her body pressed against the rock beneath her as she crept her way back to the edge, the armorweave wrap and the compression pants never making a sound - only the soft creek of the the combat boots that she was still breaking in. Her eyes peered over the edge of the cliff seeking any sign of Luxeria. She lay in wait only a half moment or so before she caught a flash of red between the rocks, a glimmer of her friends hair through the failing light. Vasari's lips cut into a smirk - she was right about the cloak, and Luxeria was losing control of it. Vasari moved at once her giggles falling silent, everything silent, she had a bead on her prey now, and it no longer mattered to toy with her. As Vasari moved quickly and as silently as she could parallel with her prey's movement along the edge of the cliff. She maintained her own veil all the while her muscles tensing and releasing with the care she was taking to muffle her movements. After a few bounds she reached the edge of the cliff closest to Luxeria and leaped fully and without fear through the air down into the rocks below.
There would have been a soft sound as she left the side of the cliff - a louder sound as she made landing on a rock near where Luxeria had last been seen as then a feral growl as Vasari leaped again without hesitation into the shimmering light and the form of purple and red as if to tackle her to the ground - Vasari's arms aimed to wrap right around Luxeria's torso, her shoulder primed to hit her right at the hip with the hope of bearing her into the ground below her. All of her movements were close to perfect, her instincts on point, she could even smell her prey now that she was closer - in her mind there was no sense she could have made a mistake.
|
|
Luxeria
Member
“Even the strongest mind can be manipulated. It’s simply a matter of finding its weakness.”
Posts: 1,898
Affiliation: Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Luxeria on Oct 20, 2018 14:43:29 GMT -8
The Doppelganger turned at the sound of Vasari landing near her, accompanied by the growl as the Zabrak flew at her. She made no movement to avoid her, her appearance looking as if completely surprised. Still, just before impact, a smirk came across the face of the copy. As Vasari reached her target, she would find no purchase being an illusion and slip through her and fall to the ground.
A giggle escaped the copy's lips as it turned to Vasari, giving a shrug. "Save the best trick for last, yes?"
At that very moment, Luxeria peeked around the corner of her rock. Vasari was in clear view and in her path. Time to show her how much control she now had at her friend's exposure. As the projection faded from sight, Luxeria lifted a hand and began wrapping the Force around her, seeping it into her. She wasn't going to simply grip her with the Force, but encase her within a Force Stasis. She wouldn't be able to hold it long, but just enough to completely freeze her and walk out. If the field worked as she read it, it could deaden the senses and put her into a near catatonic state. In which case, what happened between being frozen and and when the power was released would be unknown to Vasari. And with Vasari's willpower, the easier Force Stun wouldn't be of any use.
Once she was certain the ability took hold, she'd walk out and release it, standing in front of her where the Doppelganger had already vanished from.
|
|
Vasari
Blackguard Imperium
Tell me that I wont feel a thing...
Posts: 1,244
Affiliation: Academy of Iridonia - Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Vasari on Oct 20, 2018 16:10:07 GMT -8
Vasari realized too late that she had been tricked. Everything had seemed right, but that was the entire point of the illusion - had she been less focused on hiding herself within the force it would have been an easy thing to catch, those that worked illusions or worked within the minds of others within the force could feel the difference with some effort - but even as this thought flashed through her mind she knew that she had given away her greatest asset. Her mind shot into overdrive as she dropped back into the currents of the Force with a plunge flooding her mind into the currents of the force as her head swirled around just in time to see Luxeria slip out from behind another rock. She didn't have time for a witty re joiner, she didn't have time for anything, her hearts raced with that understanding that she would soon be dead, it was the only way that one could seriously train ones self when hunting. You had to kill what you were tracking, and when the tables were turned you had to expect to die.
The moment she laid eyes on Luxeria she could already feel the stasis trap closing around her body - soon enough she wouldn't be able to move but she didn't want to, what Luxeria said was true, and her most practiced trick was all she had thought of now, it had saved her life once before already and she had successfully used it against the full onslaught of Xakire's saber offensive during training on Iridonia, and it was the only thing that she could think of now to save her.
"Stop. It. And. Kiss. Me!"
She spoke the words quickly but pronouncing each one flawlessly and with an unseen power. Something else she had been practicing moving from behind her veil to combat ready within only moments. The stasis was already working to dull her mind but all she needed was a moment of power and balance and the full focus of her mind was dedicated to the task - she didn't even have to worry about standing or defending herself she dedicated the full power of her mind and focus to her use of the Qazoi Kyantuska a powerful and highly effective form of mental dominance even over other force sensitives with roots in ancient Sith Magic. It was among the first of the ancient magical spells Vasari had Mastered. She only hoped that now it was enough to hold sway over the focused assassin opposite her.
|
|
Luxeria
Member
“Even the strongest mind can be manipulated. It’s simply a matter of finding its weakness.”
Posts: 1,898
Affiliation: Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Luxeria on Oct 21, 2018 6:49:55 GMT -8
Luxeria could feel the sudden return of the Force seconds before the Force Stasis began to take hold. It made her wonder was it from holding the ability for too long or just because Vasari fell into her trap. It really didn't matter. When she felt the Stasis had taken hold, she moved out from behind the rock and began moving towards her friend. She was a little surprised when the Zabrak spoke. Despite being cast into a state of immobilization, she still hadn't gone fully under and was actively trying to fight it. Still, the words themselves did little to deter her. After the night they had on Coruscant, such a statement did nothing to surprise her or disrupt her thoughts.
It wasn't long after that, however, she began to feel something. It was like a pressure upon her mind, trying to enter it. It didn't take much to sort out what was happening. With the last bit of her control, she was seeking to enter Luxeria's mind and take control to stop the Stasis and win this little game. At first, she wasn't concerned, already having been crafting her own inner defenses like Vasari had. But for some reason, they seemed to be failing. It became a fight in her mind to resist the Zabrak's influence, but one that wasn't getting too far for her friend. It was then she caught on to what was happening. Their abilities were working to cancel out the other. By using the Stasis ability, Luxeria was effectively deadening her senses and ability to use her powers at their most effective level. At the same time, the bits of the mind control that was seeping in was keeping Luxeria from finishing the job and freezing Vasari completely. Still, it wasn't enough to take control and stop her, at least, not in the time it would take to reach her.
Her steps were casual as she approached her friend. The advantage Luxeria had in this was getting to her friend first. If she had gotten to the woman sooner, she wouldn't have been able to use the Force, still being held back by her Quey'tek as Luxeria now figured. But the advantage for Vasari was the low power Luxeria had. Not that it mattered though, as she had enough to hold the Zabrak in to finish her if that was the task. But it wasn't.
Reaching Vasari, Luxeria lifted a finger and placed it on the woman's forehead. "Always remember the trapper's trap can trap the trapper." She giggled slightly before stepping back and letting go of her Stasis. "I think we can settle on a stalemate."
|
|
Vasari
Blackguard Imperium
Tell me that I wont feel a thing...
Posts: 1,244
Affiliation: Academy of Iridonia - Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Vasari on Oct 21, 2018 7:26:23 GMT -8
Vasari's body could no longer even shiver as Luxeria stepped closer and when she noticed her friend pause in her approach she had thought for a moment in her foolishness that she had been able to break through somehow, but it was a pointless undertaking, Luxeria was much too disciplined for such a rushed and desperate ploy to be effective. Had she more time or had the stasis not caught her so completely unawares because of the projection she could have pushed back and perhaps beaten through but now it was to late, and she found herself perfectly frozen as Luxeria reached up and touched her gently on the forehead.
When the stasis was released she shifted on her feet slightly, an abashed look crossing her face as she gave her friend a nervous smile. It was a kindness that Luxeria named it a stalemate, and Vasari nodded slowly accepting the grace. The truth was she had been handedly beaten because of a glaring hole in her own abilities. Being unable to feel and see when using her veil of Quey'tek can easily get her killed... it could have easily gotten her killed on Felucia. She had been lucky to be able to avoid confrontation. This lesson taught her that she needed one of two things... to perfect her hunting skills to learn how to interact with force users while she remains apart, or finally to break through the veil on her end and learn how to feel the Force while remaining apart from its embrace. Both tasks seemed daunting to her now... perhaps Viox could offer advice on the matter, but she still had difficulty addressing her own failures before her master.
"You're a good friend..."Vasari whispered raising her head a little. regardless of the overall failure she had done rather well she thought, and it was a moment to progress, and learn."I wasn't expecting that to work... but when the trap closed around me it was the only thing I could think of."
|
|
Luxeria
Member
“Even the strongest mind can be manipulated. It’s simply a matter of finding its weakness.”
Posts: 1,898
Affiliation: Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Luxeria on Oct 21, 2018 7:37:48 GMT -8
Luxeria shrugged a little. "To be honest, you still could have taken me down had I been anyone else. If I didn't know you and how you thought and the abilities you utilized, I would have been out of it much sooner. Had I been just another cocky Sith, so confident in my victory that I tried to savor it, I would have depleted my reserves and not realized it, leaving you open to move against me. Even if I had taken a few seconds more, this could have been yours. It's not like I gave you many options. Any small ability would have been wasted with how far I was away at the start. Really, it was the only option you had, and a good one. Like I said, what helped me push through was knowing you and immediately being able to link sensations with your attempts."
She then gave a small giggle. "I'll definitely need to watch my back, though, next time. Might have to start carrying my secret weapon even during my training sessions."
|
|
Vasari
Blackguard Imperium
Tell me that I wont feel a thing...
Posts: 1,244
Affiliation: Academy of Iridonia - Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Vasari on Oct 21, 2018 7:51:33 GMT -8
She smiled softly at the praise her friend gave her - Since Luxeria 'graduated' from her apprenticeship with Malvus she seemed different, more sure of things perhaps. It was difficult for Vasari to lock down exactly, even now as she stood here so casually speaking of these things."My being predictable isn't exactly a good thing either... I'm supposed to be a Sorceress, but seems like the only think I can do is talk with a silver tongue... and that only works half the time."She shook her head slightly but smiled despite herself. It was true she had spent much more time perfecting her mental arts on her own and not against real opponents, and even then when she did duel it was rarely for her life... Save for the few missions she had been on, and the raid on Felucia.
"Watching your back is my job though..."She gave her friend a sly wink as she walked back towards the level ground of the training Arena, her friend at her side."Quey'tek is more of a liability to me now than a weapon... It has its uses, but regardless, I'm not like you, even if i'd like to be at times... I may be a hunter, but I am not an assassin."
|
|
Luxeria
Member
“Even the strongest mind can be manipulated. It’s simply a matter of finding its weakness.”
Posts: 1,898
Affiliation: Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Luxeria on Oct 21, 2018 8:07:29 GMT -8
Whereas Vasari felt Luxeria had changed since ending her apprenticeship, Luxeria, herself, felt she was no different. In fact, she would never had thought anything actually changed in her, still holding the same mindset she always did. Her was her goal to learn and achieve, no matter the cost. Sure, she might have gained a much more open mind lately due to the teachings of a few others, but outside of that, she remained the same old Luxeria.
Moving back towards the center of the arena, she listened to Vasari's words. She never recalled the Zabrak being this hard on herself and doubting her abilities to such a degree. From what Luxeria could see, she was doing fine and over reacting to her failures. "Is it really being predicable when only one person is able to sort out your plans? And even then, it wasn't so much that you were predictable that allowed me to catch you. I still had to process quite a few options on the matter. All it comes own to is me being capable of sorting out what routes you'd take and plan accordingly. It was only on a guess that I hid behind a rock you couldn't see. I suspected the chance that you were on the opposite side of the arena and could have noticed me sooner and got me from behind. And if you feel it's still predictable, then figure out a few new things that you never show anyone, something different than your typical M.O. That way, you always have an ace." She laughed a little as she spun around and sat on a formation of rock. "No one else knows, but I've begun dabbling into poisons, if only to eventually beat Malvus down the road. I keep it secret and out of my mind, so that way, it's not something he's prepared for. Especially considering the best one I have is Senflax. With all his power, he can't overcome its effects."
She then gave a sigh at the suggested defeat she gave at her ability's current level and the skills as an assassin. "Well, that just means you keep training, just like I've been doing since returning from the pirate raid I did. Dedicate your time to improving your abilities and learning new ones. And a hunter and assassin really aren't that much different. You have more than enough of the making of such if you really wanted to pursue it."
|
|
Vasari
Blackguard Imperium
Tell me that I wont feel a thing...
Posts: 1,244
Affiliation: Academy of Iridonia - Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Vasari on Oct 21, 2018 8:22:18 GMT -8
Vasari sat on the ground below Luxeria leaning back and resting against her palms which pressed gently into the sand of the arena floor. She smiled when Luxeria brought up the poisons shifting her head back and forth with a giggle."You told me!"She giggled again and then her look grew a little more thoughtful."Or rather I told you...I never got the chance to tell you I found what my book was referencing... or rather its location."She shook her head slightly as her thoughts bounced back and forth."On Felucia... I found where it grows... if you were still intersted in going back. I tore a page from a book on herbology i found in their library then i burned it so no one knows it was missing... well I burned a lot of things that day..."Her look grew a little more distant as if she was remembering something, her eyes grew a little hazy as if she was looking off into a far distant place while not exactly going there, and not exactly staying here. After a moment she shook her head and reached into the cleavage created by her breast wrap and pulled free a piece of paper folded several times and levitated it up towards her friend."I've kept it close the entire time... no one knows of it."
She allowed her friend to look over the paper in silence for a few moments. The plant the poison was extracted from grew within the maw of what was only refered to as "the Ancient One" she of course had her suspicions about what the creature referenced was but she waited in silence wondering, or perhaps hoping that Luxeria would come to the same conclusion that she did - depending on her memory of the study of the planet. It wasn't exactly top on her list of things to do... go back to that place. But if the plant was rare enough that it only grew on a handful of jungle worlds and they knew its exact location then it seemed almost irresponsible not to go back. During the silence she considered Luxeria's words about learning a few new skills or discovering a secret weapon of her own. Viox had already put her on the course, and she had been studying and practicing on her own but as her own experiences had taught here there was only so much she could do by herself, and she did not want to fall into the same mistakes as she had with her other book learned skills. Besides this one almost required an outside source to even put into practice... perhaps several outside sources, and that wasn't something she could exactly keep in her back pocket as it were. She shifted her hips one way then another lookin down at her butt almost comically searching for a back pocket and giggling to herself as Luxeria read the page. After a while she spoke almost absentmindedly.
"I want to learn and practice... but I dont think i'll ever be an assassin..."The words seemed to carry more weight than she actually let on, and despite her giggly nature there was a shadow of a threat looming behind her eyes when she thought to hard on this particular topic.
|
|
Luxeria
Member
“Even the strongest mind can be manipulated. It’s simply a matter of finding its weakness.”
Posts: 1,898
Affiliation: Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Luxeria on Oct 21, 2018 8:41:08 GMT -8
Luxeria chuckled but her smirk faded when Vasari spoke of the plant on Felucia. Holding out her hand, she took the paper as it levitated up to her. She studied it, reading the lines over and over, her face becoming a bit more tense as she read on. It was not going to easy. As Vasari suspected, she had learned a bit about Felucia before the attack, but learned a bit more afterwards. This was one of the locations she came across.
All the while, she listened as her friend went on, able to register the words and form a response. "Then don't. If that is not a path you wish to follow, take only the knowledge you feel will benefit you and seek out that which matters to you. If your heart is not into the task, the effects of it will be diminished. A line of thought to think on that I was asked not long ago. Who are you? What kind of person do you wish to be? What do you hope to achieve and what do you wish from the power you crave? If you can easily answer these questions, then your path is set. No need to think or worry on other skills and professions as they do not fit you or settle into your plans."
She then set the paper down and lifted her left arm, easily showing the bangle and the purple Dantari crystal within. Wrapping her right hand around it, she began to draw upon the power it had collected from her in her use of the Force for the past couple hours. "Midwan." It was all she said as she felt some of her power return to her. As it did, she looked back to her friend. "Getting that flower won't be an easy task, not if they grow around the Ancient Abyss. If you are up for it, we can head there, but it'll be some time. Need to wait until my ship has been finished being built. The stealth systems will help us get passed the Jedi easy enough. That being said, do you know the effects of the poison?"
|
|
Vasari
Blackguard Imperium
Tell me that I wont feel a thing...
Posts: 1,244
Affiliation: Academy of Iridonia - Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Vasari on Oct 21, 2018 8:58:49 GMT -8
"My path has already been laid before me..."
She replied with a somewhat dismayed yet accepting expression, the tone in her voice indicated that she was not exactly happy with the choice but ahd come to accept that it was meant to be over the years and so here she was. She continued to consider her friends words however, once that particular path had run its course - if she survived - then perhaps she would need to re-examine who she was. She watched Luxeria - easily believed that she was watching the essence transfer between the bangle and herself - but really the Zabrak was studying the curve of the woman's cheek, and the way her eyes set her mind on a task and would not be moved from it, the way her lips thinned when she focused upon something before her. Would she even have a place here after?
When the plant was brought up once again she blinked refocusing herself and leaned forward slightly crossing her legs beneath her."The writer simply described it as a biotoxin... he didn't even bother to name it in the text, which is why it took me so long to track down. He used the effects to dull the mental processes of his living alchemaic experiments, it made them more compliant towards laying there and being experimented on, Like i told you before... mental manipulation and suggestion. If the text is to be believed... most of them simply lay there silently while he cut them up and stitched them back together. The being we fought below the castle... it was a live... or was perhaps. There is no mention towards an antithetic or any pain killers ANYWHERE in the text... just this plant."
|
|
Luxeria
Member
“Even the strongest mind can be manipulated. It’s simply a matter of finding its weakness.”
Posts: 1,898
Affiliation: Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Luxeria on Oct 21, 2018 13:33:11 GMT -8
Luxeria took note of the way Vasari said those words. It was almost as if she was forced to follow a certain path not in line with her desires. She hoped it wasn't the case, but if so, she hoped that the Zabrak would find the freedom to choose it for herself in time.
Thinking back on the plant, she actually wondered if it was something she needed. She had a few select poisons already on hand and by what she was told, it had similar effects as a couple of what she had. Still, it did have some uses outside of assassinations. Would work well in mental torture. Not something that was her thing. Still, it was possibly worth going after, if not for making it useful to someone else. "Not sure if I would have any real need for it, but it could still be valuable to the Blackguard in some form or another. We'll just have to keep it in the backs of our mind for a rainy day."
|
|
Vasari
Blackguard Imperium
Tell me that I wont feel a thing...
Posts: 1,244
Affiliation: Academy of Iridonia - Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Vasari on Oct 21, 2018 14:31:28 GMT -8
Vasari wasn't surprised to find that she was more excited about the effects of the plant than Luxeria, she was already considering a half dozen applications of such a plant that would allow someone mental manipulation and control over another's mind. If the effects could be controlled or replicated then how many people could the plant influence... if that was the case what could be done? If the powers could be turned towards alchemy could the effects be longer lasting? Even permanent?
"The applications are numerous..."
She said simply but didn't pursue it any further than that. She had already proved her point and Luxeria was on her side - willing to go. When the time was right. She looked off towards the horizon - the sun already breaking towards midday. They had been out here for quite a while. She stood and brushed the dirt from her compression pants an looking up at Luxeria still sitting on the rock. She tilted her head slightly a smile faintly touching the corner of her lips.
"I think I am going to make my way back... I need a shower. Care to join me?"
|
|
Luxeria
Member
“Even the strongest mind can be manipulated. It’s simply a matter of finding its weakness.”
Posts: 1,898
Affiliation: Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Luxeria on Oct 22, 2018 1:17:06 GMT -8
Luxeria raised an eyebrow as she watched Vasari begin her trek back inside. "A shower already? It's only midday. Dislike being sweaty and grimmy that much?" She turned to fully face the Zabrak, crossing her arms. "Not calling it quits, are you?"
|
|
