Duel Closed RP: Art Unembraced. Darth Traya vrs Lord Vexx

[Darth Traya]

IC : Darth Traya
Location: Hapes, Ta’a Chume Da, Fountain Palace

For now the sun was still shining down upon Hapes; once a planet renowned for its bountiful and unrelenting light...but now a planet plunged repeatedly into brief periods of darkness as a rogue moon eclipsed the sun each day. This brief darkness was enough to plunge the once temperate planet into cold so persistent a layer of frost clung perpetually to every spire, pillar, buttress, and eleboatate statue. Frost obscured many of the delicate stained glass windows, the reflecting pools drifted with ice.
The cataclysmic changes to Hapes certainly disturbed the Hapan populous, this monserious phenomenon was obviously connected to the ascension of Aurelia Chume, yet few bothered to protest anymore. The executions were rampant enough to deter the pockets of rebellion, and the guns of command could subside any resistant masses.
The Chume herself, known better as Darth Traya, at least to the Sith, dwelled largely in solitude within the cold, marble, lovingly carved stone expanses of the Fountain Palace. She had a few loyal to her, yet still there was a wanting within the Miraluka. A craving unslaked by the Force, by food, eyes, mead and passion, and certainly unsatisfied with power. How long had it been since she’d tested herself in battle? It was a necessity her Miraluka heritage detested, yet a Sith embraced. She’d yet to embrace the elegance of the art of dueling.
It was inevitable that her battles couldn’t forever be fought with words, it wasn’t merely destiny she would need to wield a blade, it was simply reality. To this end she transmitted a holomessage to one new to her perceptions; yet a legendary name within the Empire. “Lord Vexx, we’ve yet to meet face to face, but as I endorsed you in the Kaggath, your devotion and talent impresses me. Let us meet in person; and engage in the age old tradition of the Sith, a duel to either surrender or unconsciousness. Meet me at the Fountain Palace, within Ta’a Chume Dan. I look forward to sensing your presence.”
Darth Traya shuffled her way toward the vast marble chamber in which many proving their worth had dueled before. Apart from six massive marble pillars, and intricate stained glass windows, the chamber was barren. She moved on serpentine appendages rather than legs; her muddled mind registering once again that something was not correct about her bodily form but her willpower suppressing the stray thought. She was born with no eyes; was it so strange to possess serpentine legs? After a few moments more of contemplation about her serpentine appendages she altered her appearance, discarding the pale Hapan silks of a Queen Mother in favor of her yet unused battle armor, and reverting to her birth form which possessed simple human legs. Unlike any armor she’d doned before, this slender songsteel suit felt natural and comfortable, its joints limber and flexible, a ethereal veil flowing from behind her helm as if caught in an unfelt breeze, she’d exchanged her trademark sundisk helm in favor of slender helm that obscured her face in dark veils and gleaming beads. The armor was a far cry from the clunky beskar armor she wore in her first Kaggath, trying to tank a battle with weapons she could hardly wield and armor she couldn’t properly move within.


She laid a slender gauntleted hand on her favored lightsaber hanging at her waist, such a simple thing possessing a basket hilt and smokey grey blade due to its Blackwing crystal. It was her first saber, and while she acquired others it was the only one she was attached to. Yet far more comforting was the yew bow slung across her back. Growing up in the mercliness wilds of Dathomir, the bow was always her choice weapon.
Perhaps now she could prove herself in a duel, not for glory or power….such things became lost in the Darkness she followed. Merely because a duel of skill was simply her will.

Tag: @Grievance Vexx
______________

Character Sheet
(Abridged for simplicity. No hidden gear.)

Name/Title: Birth: Lilium Kyrie
Adopted: Aurelia Illium
Sith Title: Darth Traya, the Second
Nicknames/Aliases: Aurelia Chume, the Saarai -Kaar , The Dark Sun , The Left Hand of Hesper

Age: appears about 25, but born in 3,952 BBY.

Sex: Female

Species: Miraluka

Homeworld: Kataar via birth. Dathomir via adoption.

Occupation: Chume of Hapes/ Queen Mother of Dathomir

Height: 5’7

Weight: 100lb

Class: Sorcerer. Sith Illusionist. Sith Enchantress.

Physical Description: Upon arrival among the Sith, Aurelia was a beautiful, stunning young Miraluka who often refused to cover her naturally missing eyes. When venturing off planet from Dathomir the rarity of her species was fetishized, thus she found herself an enslaved dancer in the Red District of Nar Shaddaa. Now reborn as Darth Traya the second;when dropping all illusion; she is a twisted and scarred creature.
When using her illusions she wears the visage of a fair Hapan Queen; with a golden sun disk shaped crown covering half her face. Her white blonde hair is thick, wavy and flowing down to the middle of her back; her body appears more curvaceous and femaine, however at one point she began to wear the illusions of serpents writhing about her form rather than human legs. The overuse of this horrific illusion caused her mind to twist and believe that these serpentine appendages are her true limbs. Only rarely does she change this projection, now believing she must assume illusions of human legs.
Her true form is ravaged by the Dark Magicks she channels, and by her trial and tribulations in becoming a Sith of her standing. Her arms are covered in lightning shaped scars via Darth Solus. Her eyesockets are burned completely black; horrific voids to belhold unmasked, a cosmetic fate that she shares with another ancient Miraluka of legend . A swath of black rot bisects her face; her right arm has shriveled to blacked bone due to use of Dark Shear, and as such is replaced with a basic cybernetic. She is thin and emaciated, often shunning food in favor of Force energies and freshly plucked eyes. She resembles a slowly decaying mummy rather than a living human; and knows her time within this fragile body is limited.

Biography:
“There is no truth in the Force. There is no great revelation. There is only you.” - Darth Traya

“One met the dark with learning. But in the end, learned knowledge was wanting.The world began without knowledge, and without knowledge will it end.Dost not this ring clear and true?
Fear not, the dark, my friend.
And let the feast begin.” - Dark Souls III


On Malachor V; a phantom appeared before the broken human form of what would soon become Darth Nihilus. The Phantom was of a humanoid woman; a Miraluka as her eyesockets were as empty as the void that crushed Malachor. She introduced herself as Darth Traya….the second. Perhaps it was merely a delirious vision conjured from his fractured psyche, but the fleeting vision was such an enticing glimpse of Darkness that the broken man was inspired to adhere himself to his purpose. He glimpsed his other half within the Darkness, a Dark Dyad. He began to consume the life force of others to claw his way toward his predestined beloved.
Several years later, on Kataar, twins were born to an inbred Miraluka family. Only moments after the birth; both the parents were stricken with horrific visions of a hungering, devastating Darkness that was approaching the planet. Hastily they booked an ill equipped ship for passage off their colony, and warned none of their departure. The ship left mere minutes before the Ravager made its final approach, before Darth Nihilus screamed and all life died, falling to his hunger...sparing only one, a Miraluka he mistook as his predestined beloved. At that moment; the Dyad bond that ensnared the Dark Lord and an infant Miraluka stretched and warped, seeking another moment in which their destinies might cross paths. The ill fated escape craft slipped into a gravity well that drastically distorted time, ejecting the refugee family into the year 135 ABY. Swiftly afterward the ship was hijacked by pirates, the parents were slaughtered and the twin infants sold as slaves. One, Lilium….to the witches of Dathomir. The other, Umaya, to moisture farmers on Lah’mu.
Lilium was adopted by the barren clan mother of the Singing Mountain; and renamed Aurelia Illium. Aurelia adapted remarkably well to her life as a witch of Dathomir; her naturally missing eyes were worshipped among the witches, and life was relatively calm and peaceful for the Aurelia until the age of 8 when a total solar eclipse gripped the planet. While blind to the physical sights of the phenomenon; she was not blind to the dramatic shifts of energy; to the moment when the darkness and shadow overpowered the day. Aurelia became transfixed; obsessed with finding some means in which the ethereal darkness could return.
She departed and journeyed to the ruins of the Infinity gateway; where she believed she would find the key to bringing back the Darkness. There she found a reliec that seemed to be placed there just for her sight; perhaps ejected from the gate before its destruction and hidden to all that possessed mere mortal eyes. It was a bone white mask.
Upon touching the mask she briefly saw the world as many sentiants do. Saw as it truly is, full of color, shadow and light. The encounter improved her vision, allowing her to see the Force more definitively and the auras of others with more color. At this moment a parasitic entity invaded her in an brutal act of symbolic rape and attached to her mind although it’s presence was unknown until she joined the Sith. She later learned it was in fact a lingering fragment of the spirit of Darth Nihilus that had attached to her. The mask itself wasn’t the genuine article, merely a copy with a sliver of his essence meant to infect another. Meant to infect her.
The clans Mother however noticed the infection and darkness within her and cast from the clan despite her young age. She found solace and care with the Nightsisters that embraced darkness.
At 16 she decided her destiny lay beyond the planet and stowed away on a transport ship. She found the galaxy to be horrifically disappointing, filthy, infested with mindless vermin. All was grey and translucent, nothing glowed as it did on Dathomir. She believed herself blessed that she possesses no eyes in which to look upon the vermin of the galaxy. When she became desperate for credit in the streets of Nar Shadda she wandered to the red sector where she was encouraged to audition as a cantina dancer. The rarity of her species and natural Nightsister grace made her a mesmerizing dancer, soon she drew customers. She earned contracts, and credits and when she took customers to her bed she earned more than enough credit. She spent a few years allowing herself to be blinded in the haze of drink, spice, lust and credit with the occasional kill to satisfy her true lust. However when a truly luminous being came to watch her dance she heard the first echos of her true calling. The male glowed with a burning crimson alignment, so magnificent it filled her vision. She invited him to her private chambers where he proudly proclaimed he was Sith. When their encounter was over the man drew an energy blade that glowed like him, and swung it in a blow meant to kill her. While she had never sensed such a blade she was used to clients attacking out of sheer cruelty ,but she had to call upon the magics within her to dodge the glowing blade. The Force as she’d heard it called outside Dathomir. She had killed with the Force before but this Sith didn’t fall easily, she cast aside all hesitation and clawed into the Siths mind and drove him mad with illusions she’d been gifted with. He took his own life with his glowing blade. Aurelia kept the lightsaber and raided the body for any clues as to where she might find more of these Sith.
She booked passage off Nar Shadda and searched for more Sith.
Shortly after enrolling in the Academy on Korriban...she found herself on a ship headed to Dathomir, headed back home. Only this time she had direct orders to conquer it from the Dread Emperor himself; in fact she swore an unbreakable vow via the Crown of Verity to serve him. With the help of several other Sith and a pirate named Jephego; she slaughtered the Singing Mountain clan and turned her encompassing gaze upon the White Throne of Hapes; for to rule Dathomir was to rule it’s sister, Hapes. Slowly she wore down the Royal Guard, and slipped within the fractures and confronted Amelia Chume in a final battle. They fought viciously, but in the end the Chume fell victim to the attack of her pet gizka, grasping an enchanted knife in its mouth. The slash delivered to the Chume’s ankles was enough to allow Aurelia to overpower her and slaughter her, and thus take her mantle as Aurelia Chume. Upon the end of the conquest she found a holocron crafted by Darth Nihilus; it did not impart any mythological knowledge or surge in power; rather it informed her that his presence clawing within her mind; wounding and devouring her; at times possessing her; was no mere accident. They were a Dyad; two halves of the same soul.
It is a fate which Aurelia has come to attempt to defy.
She swiftly molded Hapes into a world more suited to her; filling the minds of its populus with illusions of an eclipse that burned each day in the sky; the throne worlds temperature dropping until ice began to gather and snow began to dance in the sky. Soon after her reign began the first of many attempts was made on her life by a Hapan assassin; but she was able to break his mind and instead tempt him into swearing a vow of loyalty to her. She later accepted his request for marriage.
In shadow, she served the Sith Empire and after much trial, loss and betrayal she took the mantle of Darth Traya; an inherited title that had been missing from the galaxy for eons. As the echoes of the Force wounds rendered so long ago still echo in the galaxy, she knew she had to become the new bearer of the title of Darth Traya.

Weapons:
Yew Longbow; etched with Sith Runes.

Songsteel alchemised arrow, typically used as a catalyst to project an illusion of thousands of arrows, which can minutely drain their victims of their Force energy if they connect.

One standard Lightsaber with a rainbow gem.
One Rapier style saber, grey blade, with Blackwing crystal
One curved hilt white lightsaber.
Arrows:
30 forged of beskar. Tips poisoned with Amphistaff venom. 5 arrows with a cortosis edge.

Equipment: Songsteel Armor forged by Darth Skyllan,its graceful form appeared before her in a dream. Very lithe and lightweight, face covered by a beaded veil, an ethereal pale veil flows from the back of the helm.
Thud Bugs (2)
Blast bugs (2)

Points: 30
Mind Trick: 4
Telekinesis: 4
Force Rend: 2
Force Drain: 4
Force Defense: 4
Cryokinesis: 2
Shatterpoint: 3
Sith Illusions: 3
Darkshear: 2
Niman: 1
Trakata: 1
Force Sight: (passive)

 

[Grievance Vexx]

IC- Lord Grievance Vexx
Vassek III - Lair of Grievance

Grievance Vexx had received the transmission as his reluctant medical droid had been completing the last of the repairs to damage sustained during the Kaggath’s Trial of Blood. With his insatiable hunger for combat, the Kaleesh cyborg had quickly shrugged out from under EV-A4-D’s creepy little droid hands so he could listen to this unexpected summoning without distraction. Having heard of Lady Traya many times before, he had immediately recognized this representative of the higher ranks of the Empire. A duel with a Sith fully capable of thoroughly slaughtering him? Oh, hell, yes!



“Oh, hell, no!” EV-A4-D’s voice had all too quickly interrupted Vexx’s thoughts, “No, no, no! Absolutely not! As your doctor, I forbid it!”

Vexx had then turned a most venomous gaze to his medical droid who, incidentally, is perhaps the only being—aside from General Invadator—to never flinch under that deadly stare.

“Don’t look at me like that,” the droid continued, “You’re getting no from me. You just returned from a show of skill that darn near put you out of commission and I just finished implanting that blasted medallion back inside your rock-hard skull! Ignore the message. It’s that simple. Pretend you didn’t get it. You get lousy reception here on Vassek III anyway. Perfectly plausible excuse.”

“You fool!” Vexx snarled, “She is a member of the Dark Council! One does not ignore communications from the Dark Council!”

“Fine, then respond and tell her no,” A4-D pleaded, “No harm done. It might disappoint her a skosh, but you can make up an excuse. Aha! Tell her you have a doctor’s note excusing you! I will write one up right now and—“

“Silence!” Vexx had suddenly grabbed the droid’s neck without warning, admittedly startling the mechanical medic, “I will personally dismantle you if you do not mute yourself. Right now.”

He had then released EV-A4-D, who tottered away, muttering insults to his master’s intelligence all the while. No matter. At least now Vexx could send a transmission back to Lady Traya without the droid doctor chattering nonsense in the background.

“I am honored, Lady Traya, and on my way.” Never one for many words, the Krigsbefallaf of House Cruor had sent his brief response and wasted no time boarding his starfighter and plugging in the coordinates.

••••••••••••

Hapes, Ta’a Chume Da - Fountain Palace

Vexx guides the Coup De Grâs through the atmosphere of Hapes and touches down not terribly far, but not terribly close to the Fountain Palace. Trying to be respectful, he doesn’t want to accidentally park on top of any lavish landscaping or other such valued and costly things even though he himself really couldn’t care less.

Not exactly trusting his surroundings, he takes a stealthy and decidedly unorthodox method of entry into the palace, thereby avoiding guards who might delay him further. Lady Traya will doubtlessly sense the veteran warrior’s presence up above, skittering along the palace ceiling like an oversized metal lizard. He very easily could have had a taloned foot in both warrior’s and assassin’s classes, but the lifestyle of an assassin simply is not his forte, so he has never claimed it as an occupation.

“Greetings, Lady Traya,” he says from his upside down position on the vaulted ceiling above, “My apologies for the delay in my arrival.”

He moves to the wall and descends to the floor in his disturbing spider-like fashion, where he rises to a right-side up position and comes to the center of the room to kneel before the Dark Lady who had apparently seen value in him as she had publicly endorsed him as a Kaggath candidate. For this and his other endorsements, he will forever be grateful and willingly gives his Kaleesh loyalty in return for the good faith.

“I humbly submit to your wishes regarding this duel and am honored to be chosen as a target toward which to direct your skill, m’lady,” he continues, holding his position of servitude, “I come armed and ready to do battle with you at your command to begin and I look forward to the challenge.”



Name/Title: Darth/Lord Grievance Vexx
Nicknames/Aliases: Karolus Rexx Sheelal (birth name), Krigsbefallaf (Kaleesh title that refers to his past role as a war commander)
Age: 37 Standard Years
Sex: Male
Species: Kaleesh (cyborg)
Homeworld: Kalee
Occupation: Krigsbefallaf of House Cruor
Height: 2.16 Meters
Weight: 159 Kilograms

Physical Description: Intense golden reptilian eyes are his only feature that distinguish him as a living being. Cybernetics make up the rest of his body other than his vital organs encased in synthetic skin in his chest cavity, protected by alchemized durasteel and ceramiplast armor. Physically, he is a replica of General Grievous and his backstory reveals the reason for the heavy resemblance. The only thing that distinguishes him from the late cyborg general are the Sith tattoos that blacken portions of his armor. These are etchings infused with life through Sith alchemy and they glow, pulse, and change color (mostly fluctuating between crimson and ebony) in accordance with different emotional states Vexx finds himself in. His alchemized cybernetic body is also fully capable of physical feeling, which denies him invincibility as he experiences pain on the same level as if he were composed entirely of flesh and blood. Likewise, his stamina is unenhanced by request at the time of his original engineering because he wanted only to be fueled and driven by his own desire and skill as a warrior.

Clothing: Cortisis-weave cloak of General Grievous bearing the Sheelal insignia; also wears a shield-shaped pendant around his neck bearing the same insignia.

Weapons: Five custom lightsabers: White Death, Cold Blood, Bleeding Bone, and The Reprisals (set of two, each featuring two blades), flamethrower built into right arm

Equipment: Alchemized armor (enables a sense of feeling as though he were made of flesh and blood, but it is resistant to blaster bolts and minor lightsaber damage i.e. glancing blows, though pain is still felt), Amulet of Lord Rin Shuuir (able to be activated one time per IC day to heal one wound, poisoning, or disease; powered by the anger, pain, and hatred within the one wearing it), Medallion of Kaan (implanted in Vexx’s skull, grants invincibility to whatever it is attached to)

Vehicles: Belbussa 41 Starfighter,

Pets (if applicable): Grog (Roggwart), Sputnik (common jumping spider)

Languages: Kaleesh, Basic

Combat Skills: Mastery in Makashi, Soresu, and Jar’Kai lightsaber forms; well-versed in the art of war and its application to both large- and small-scale combat. He knows how to execute all basic Force-based combat moves (push, pull, wave, etc.), but seldom uses them.

Other Strengths: Strategizing skill applicable to ground combat; capable motivator for camaraderie and cooperation among ranks in war settings. Accomplished teacher and trainer in an informal sense.

Rank/Level: 35 - Sith Lord
Base Class: Warrior
Subclass: Sith Saber

Points: 30
Makashi (+2)
Jar’Kai (+1)
Soresu (+1)
Battlemind (+1)
Force Resistance (+4)
Force Defense (+4)
Force Sever (+4)
Force Storm (+1)
Waves of Hatred (+2)
Telekinesis (+2)
Mind Trick (+4)
Crucitorn (+1)
Darkshear (+1)
Deadly Sight (+2)

Tag: @Darth Traya

 

[Darth Traya]

IC: Darth Traya

She could hear him approaching a few moments before she “saw” him manifest. The gently rapping of metal against cold marble filled her senses a bit swifter than it did to most humanoids; an adaption needed to compensate for her lack of physical sight. As usual for her mannerisms, she did not crane her neck up when she sensed the aura of the Kaleesh skittering spider-like across the ceiling, her form of sight was all encompassing after all therefore she could see even what approached behind or right on top of her . She could not discern specific details, colors, or faces. Rather a vibrational aura filled her senses; her perception of color was primitive at best, but like most Sith his aura was a vibrant, malevolent red, it’s potency unsullied by the cybernrics that encased his life force.

“Greetings Lady Traya.” his voice echoed from above, “My apologies for the delay.” He swiftly skittered spiderlike down the wall and moved to the center of the chamber where he bowed, and
and spoke. “I humbly submit to your wishes regarding this duel and am honored to be chosen as a target toward which to direct your skill, m’lady. I come armed and ready to do battle with you at your command to begin and I look forward to the challenge.”

Traya allowed her senses to encompass the being she’d endorsed for leadership. Instantly she felt a pang of revulsion ; ordinarily she loathed machines, and there was precious little organic about Lord Vexx. Most droids she could not sense properly; Sith that doned themselves with layers technology reminded her of those witless juggernauts that were produced en masse by the sundered Houses of Settoku and Halcyon. Her loathing of technology drove her to align with the Yuuzhan Vong….but the aura of Lord Vexx was far different. Not just a machine body in which to hide behind, oh no, Lord Vexx was a vibrant being that effectively molded life and the Force with cybernetics. This wasn’t some popous youngling hiding behind technology at a desperate grasp for immortality, this was truly a Lord that mastered the will of machinery to lend him life.

He knelt to her and she bowed slightly to return the gesture, her preternatural revulsion calming as she was assured by the power of his aura. Then she began to truly focus upon the being, a now forgotten Lord once taught her that everything breaks. Her name sake had taught her through recorded words to seek the critical fracture points, without eyes such fracture points glimmered all the more brightly.

“You may find the desire for challenge a disappointment Lord Vexx.” spoke Traya from beneath the darkness of her helm. “I don’t have the reputation of a fierce duelist by any means, I have come to where I am today with the use of words and passion for Academics. Nonetheless, I cannot allow my sabers to grow dim nor my arrows to grow dull, thus I thank you kindly for this challenge Lord Vexx.”

She began simply, unclipped her Blackwing saber from her thin belt and ignited the vaguely white, smokey blade, holding it in her right hand and angled down toward the marble.


Powers: Shatterpoint :3 (Activated but not used. )

 

[Grievance Vexx]

IC- Lord Grievance Vexx
Hapes, Ta’a Chume Da - Fountain Palace

Grievance Vexx is so used to being reviled for his physical state, even the slightest inkling of distaste is now lost to him. At one time, in his early days as an apprentice, the feeling of being ostracized had been painful; being called a droid or compared to one, the highest offense. Things are different now though. While he still hates being likened to a droid, it doesn’t cut him quite so deep anymore. Rather, it stirs memories he has become fond of over the years. Thus, the slight sting of Lady Traya’s mild reflexive disgust doesn’t really faze him. Somehow, he knows it is a knee-jerk reaction to his presence. If he truly had been a disgrace in her opinion, would she have taken a chance on endorsing him? Probably not. She doesn’t seem like the type to waste her time or energy on anything she doesn’t believe in. Most Dark Lords and Ladies do not. Their time is too precious; their faith too valuable.

He looks up curiously as the Miraluka Sith Lady appears to make a confession of sorts. He is admittedly surprised by her transparency as he cannot honestly say he has encountered a great deal of this exhibited in many Sith, much less one who barely knows him well enough to merit trusting him with this information. Still, his guard is up. He had learned long ago to be careful with his trust and cautious with his empathy. Things are never quite the way they seem among Sith.

“Sharp words are equal to a sharp blade, m’lady,” he replies, “Perhaps the wars we wage are not so vastly different, but similar on levels that can only be seen by the extraordinarily perceptive. I highly doubt I will be disappointed.”

He is no stranger to the Miraluka people. He had learned about them as an apprentice; the Yuuzhan Vong as well. He can relate to their natural ways that other races deem primitive. He hides it well now, but he will always miss the way he was before he became a metal monster and no matter how closely he ties himself with the Sith, the deepest parts of him will forever miss the culture of his people. In a distant way, he wonders if he is not alone. Perhaps all Sith know this pain and have learned to feed off it rather than let it feed off them. Perhaps even the regal woman standing before him now has felt this same ache.

The snap-hiss of her lightsaber coming to life reels in his wayward thoughts and musings as he rises and takes a step back—a single stride that puts a substantial amount of distance between them as he gives himself room to activate his own blade. He chooses only his white saber, the White Death, for now. He may call upon a second blade later, but he prefers to start with one in order to fall accordingly into the fluidity of Form II. His opening move is the ever-graceful Makashi salute and flourish, the blade wielded to draw the shape of an X in the air. The cyborg has always thought of this as an “X marks the spot” technique as he uses the flourish to draw his attention and focus to key striking points on his opponent.



Knowing well from publicized executions he has witnessed in the past that Lady Traya is a master illusionist, he takes care to fortify his mind. He also braces himself for his tinnitus affliction to be on the rise, her statement on dueling itself giving him cause to expect more Force attacks than ones with blade or arrow. He takes to circling now, studying the Dark Lady of the Council, taking in every detail of her stance; her armor; her weapon and the strength of her grip on its hilt. Never once does he behave as though she cannot see him. He knows better than to even think about viewing this as a weakness or advantage. He knows she knows where he is at all times. Experience has taught him well that when one leans upon the Force, perceived weaknesses have the potential to become incredible strengths.

Powers used:
Form II/Makashi: 2
Mind Trick: 4
Force Resistance: 4

Tag: @Darth Traya

 

[Darth Traya]

IC: Darth Traya

Sharp words are equal to a sharp blade, m’lady,” he replied wisely, precisely the sort of knowledge that persuaded her endorsement, “Perhaps the wars we wage are not so vastly different, but similar on levels that can only be seen by the extraordinarily perceptive. I highly doubt I will be disappointed.”

In truth, Traya would have loved to trade wisdom learned through the years with him all day, but that would defeat the purpose of dueling. Now it was time to fight.

Vexx took a generous step backward and ignited his lightsaber with a Makashi flourish, an elegant style she’d tried to adopt what seemed like ages ago, only to be pulled into the lure of fighting with words instead and ultimately neglect all combat training. The Kaleesh circles, studying intently.. She could detect intense Force vibrations where his eyes must be, detect the organic vibrations cradled within his chest and could sense his scrutiny within the Force. Could he sense the pain in her legs...protesting that this wasn’t their true form? His defenses were raised, guarded. Excellent; he knew to expect tricks. Perhaps her inclination to approach duels with melee may prove to be in her favor, untrained as she was in melee combat. She still didn’t forget the time she dueled an Anzat with arrows, because she could not hope to match him with a lightsaber. How many times had she attempted Force ability only for it to be negated and have to revert back to weaponry? Traya knew well enough not to let her defenses slip, at least a Force attack caught her off guard, and thus summoned her own barrier of Force defense.

Vexx’s circling made it a challange where to calculate where to strike, she kept a flexible grip within the basket hilt, allowing it to cradle within her own hated cybernetic right hand sheathed with synth skin, her grip mobile should she need to change pace rapidly. She to began to circle, the rasping of his breath filling her mind, the oscillations of his cybernetics akin to ciciada’s shrieking on Dathomir. She wondered just how advanced his cybernetics where, if they granted him freedom from mortal pain or enhanced his strength.

She could still sense the shatterpoints due to her passive inclination to do as such but as Vexx had raised a defense their vibrations were presently rather dampened. The vibrations she’d detected earlier would need to serve if she could hold them in her memory. Traya raised her lightsaber as if to strike across his chest plate, a pale arc rising up from left to right; her right foot bringing her body a bit closer to her target yet the blade makes no true effort to connect to Vexx’s body. Rather she’d feinted and used the distraction to fling a beskar arrow projectile with her fearsome telekinetic prowess, the projectile plucked from her magnetic lined quiver and aimed for the elbow of his right arm. Whether or not the poisoned projectile would be of any significance to him if it connected….well Traya would only know if she tried.

Powers Used: Force Defense - 4
Shatterpoint: 3, continued but reduced in efficiency .
Telekinesis:4

Tag: @Grievance Vexx

 

[Grievance Vexx]

IC- Lord Grievance Vexx
Hapes, Ta’a Chume Da - Fountain Palace

As the deadly dance of the duelist begins with the two combatants circling one another as though they were Lady Hesper’s Loth Wolves challenging one another for dibs on a piece of meat, Vexx feels himself relax, though this is not to say he lets down his guard. Of all the places he has found himself in life, he is most at home on the battlefield, be it a war zone or a dueling arena. Nothing comes more naturally to him than the ability to fight, instilled in him by his upbringing at a very young age—almost from birth actually.

Beyond the tinnitus softly ringing in his head, he detects a sound he had not expected to hear from his opponent: the soft, almost untraceable whir of cybernetics. Granted, they are muffled more than his own, but they are most certainly there. This distracts him for a moment as he finds himself gazing hard at Lady Traya, trying to figure out if his hearing is deceiving him. He sees nothing that immediately stands out as cybernetic and he is not so inclined to pry beyond his natural senses with the Force. However, this puzzles him greatly and he starts to wonder if it isn’t an illusion meant to draw his attention into distraction.

Thankfully, his focus is quickly centered once again as the Dark Lady makes a feinted swipe toward his chest. With a single backward step, he takes himself further out of range, his own blade extended and prepared to parry should the two lengths of energized plasma connect, but Traya retracts and follows up with a second attack, making it clear that the first had merely been a distraction.

The arrow narrowly misses lodging itself in his elbow joint as he makes a quick turn as though he were pantomiming opening a door to let the arrow fly through with no damage done. Any eye able to follow the path of the arrow would see that Vexx does nothing to interfere with its trajectory. Every bit of his energy goes into a swift evasive maneuver. All the while, he never deviates from the grace and fluidity of his favored combat form, though the movement of such seems a far cry from what his heavy metal, brutishly built body would be capable of. This is no cybernetic enhancement, nor is it consciously Force-augmented. This is all the result of dedicated skill and passion.

He turns back to face Lady Traya once again with a dark chuckle, though it is not one of mockery or smugness over his own evasion. This is a soft laugh of pleasant surprise. Based on previously gathered knowledge from passive observation of his opponent, he had not expected her to engage him with her weapons first thing; he had expected the distant Force attacks that truthfully annoy the hell out of him. Contrary to her early belief and polite warning, Vexx is so far nowhere near disappointed.

He comes back within striking range to attempt a strike of his own. Stepping forward on his right foot and turning in a move that would rival the pirouette of a classical dancer, he aims to strike her core as he comes out of the turn, his hulking frame crouched low and made surprisingly smaller to aid the momentum.

Powers used:
Form II/Makashi: 2
Mind Trick: 4
Force Resistance: 4

Tag: @Darth Traya

 

[Darth Traya]

IC: Darth Traya
Location: Fountain Palace, Hapes

For a moment Traya sensed his aura shifting, as though partaken with a more curious and unexpected element of this meeting. For a moment the savage thought of how much she loathed her cybernetic limb rippled through her mind. Was that the curiosity Vexx detected or merely the element of surprise she’d managed in her feint?

Vexx easily evades her arrow, with a fluid and astonishingly graceful movement, and faced her uttering a low chuckle. Traya reciprocated with a smile although it would be hidden behind the chained veil of her helm. He steps forward in a graceful dance, turned in a pirouette, lowered his body and twirled toward her center mass. It was a move she wasn’t certain how to counter quickly without use of the Force.

With a mere thought she summoned a telekinetic wall in the hopes of shielding herself, and perhaps impact Vexx’s cybernetic form. But Traya couldn’t rely on the Force alone to defend her, she strived to have solutions in both weapons and the Force. She leapt backward, away from the graze of the saber and used a trick she’d learned from her clandestine husband. The moment her feet clattered on the marble, she wove the Force around her to project the sound of several pairs of feet landing on the marble, surrounding Vexx. A trick of the mind, but it’s use was experimental for Traya. When it had been used on her, to fool her senses on the position of her enemy, it had been performed when her mind was unguarded. At the very least perhaps the mind trick may cause Vexx a hint of confusion.

Traya switched off her saber, but rather than returning it to her belt, it remained suspended in the air. She reached back over her shoulder toward her longbow; a beautiful and ancient prize of Dathomir. While the bow was within her grasp, she didn’t yet arm herself. She needed to sense how Vexx would react to her defense.

Powers Used: Telekinesis: 4, Mind Trick: 4

Tag: @Grievance Vexx

 

[Grievance Vexx]

IC- Lord Grievance Vexx
Hapes, Ta’a Chume Da - Fountain Palace

The sudden resistance to his blade that mimics solidity nearly throws the cyborg off balance as his lightsaber seems to curse with a sputtering of plasma sparks. It doesn’t take him long to figure out that Lady Traya has raised a form of a Force barrier to deflect his strike. He quickly brings his left foot back to catch himself and thereby maintain his balance, a growl of annoyance rumbling in his chest.

Her swift retreat causes him to take another step back, just in case her retreat should about face into a second advance and attack. He is still analyzing the way she fights, even more intrigued knowing she does so without natural sight. Though one would never know it by looking at his perpetually scowling face, he is quite fascinated.

The steadily building tinnitus seems to nearly drown his audio receptors as she manipulates the Force to obscure and confuse his naturally sensitive hearing. He can’t help but sweep his gaze around the palace room briefly, almost believing she may have called an army to aid her in this battle. Not that she would need an army to help her defeat him. Vexx has no trouble believing she has plenty of ways she could kill him if she wanted to, but he will always do his best to make sure that doesn’t happen.

The mental guarding of the Force shields him from being overtaken by the impossible sound, but it is still very distracting; especially since it is coupled with his plaguing tinnitus. It sounds like the maddening whine of a teakettle with a counterpoint of clog dancing. What he wouldn’t do to clog his audio receptors against the former at least!

He shakes his head and growls like a feral beast, trying to banish both sounds from his focus as he draws deeper on the Force. He cannot rid himself of his affliction, but he can deaden the idea that there is more than one enemy to fight here. He begins to circle once again as the echoing footsteps recede from his consciousness. Perhaps it is time for him to counter with a distraction of his own and one that isn’t without some irony to it. He isn’t even sure it will have much impact on her, but so long as experimenting is permissible in this arena, why not give it a shot?

He draws upon the Force to channel Deadly Sight through the sort of scowling glare only a Kaleesh is capable of, staring Lady Traya down though she is physically unable to stare back. His thoughts revolve around ice as he locks his gaze, willing it to burn like bitter cold that bites into the skin and causes the bones to ache. He seldom draws upon the Force in this way, but for all the distracting tinnitus she has been causing him with her strength in the Force, he finds it worthwhile to attempt a Force-based distraction in retaliation.

Powers used:
Mind Trick: 4
Force Resistance: 4
Deadly Sight: 2

 

[Darth Traya]

IC: Darth Traya
Location: Fountain Palace, Hapes

Lord Vexx is slightly rattled by her telekinetic wall, his lightsaber blow is effectively deflected but with a well trained grace he regains his balance swiftly. She detects a shift in his aura, as though drawn to her trickery of the mind, but overall Lord Vexx dismissed it. But that minor shift of his aura, the slight
annoyance of a distraction does give
Traya the information she sought. His mind could be tricked, if only for a brief moment.

But there was something more…a peculiarity to the shaking of his head, and his feral and formidable growl. As though her trick had affected something deeper within Vexx, but what it was Traya could not discern through mere Force Sight.

Traya became acutely aware of his eyes burning as they trained on her, the gaze locking past her chained veil and projecting to where most humanoids possessed eyes. The sensation of ice beginning to claw through her veins flooded her senses. It was a quite curious feeling...long ago she’d become drawn to the rare powers of the ice. She’d studied its enchanting properties, and even molded Hapes into falling into an icy illusion. Yet despite being raised by the witches of Dathomir, despite managing to “see” without the presence of eyes, she was not a supernatural being. She could not hold a sliver of ice without the cold eventually beginning to burn her flesh. She could not long bear the pain of ice coursing through her blood, and creeping into her bones. She staggers backward, and drops to a knee, her hand freezing in place on her bow.

The sound of the armored knee clattering to the marble reverberated in an echo chamber around Vexx. She’d already laid the foundation of a trick, why not see if it could be built upon?

She’d never been attacked in such a manner before, all she could do was raise her defense and attempt to dispel its effects. She’d never felt such a power in a duel...yet she knew it. She could sense its vibration radiating from the Kaalesh’s eyes. Deadly Sight! That had to be what was causing such clawing agony! It was a power she’d once helped to refine in a former apprentice, although she didn’t possess it herself. How could she when she possessed no eyes in which to project it from? With her former apprentice it had not been a stare of ice, but rather fire. She’d commanded the student to stare at a captive Jawa until he killed it. The memory of the training Traya offered her many students could provoke either a positive or a negative response.

And nothing but rage, disappointment and sheer ire was summoned from the memory of this lesson. The memory of a skilled student that grew to be an apathetic Knight….and apathy was death. Worse than death!

Traya’s limbs are still reeling from the icy fire of the Kaleesh’s stare, but she’d bore worse agonies and hadn’t yet depleted herself. Her defenses
lessened a bit of the agony, but she needed to break that ghastly stare. To this effect, the very sunlight pouring in from the tall, fluted windows began to wane with drastic effect. As though the sun were being swallowed by a hungry serpent, casting the room into a deep twilight shadow. Once Hapes had been a planet of undying light….that changed under the reign of Aurelia Chume.

Her golden bow released from its harness across her back, and settled eagerly into her hands. The way of the arrow was the only method she truly felt at ease with. Her skill with a bow meant life, death and food on the fire pit on Dathomir. To the Sith, it was merely unusual.

She pulled two amphistaff venom tipped arrows into her hand, and laid them across the bow string. She hoped the shadows might conceal her and break that venomous stare as she drew the bow taunt, followed vibrations of energy radiating from the Kalesh’s eyes, and fired the arrows in lustful hope of piercing them, but knowing well enough one had to expect to miss their mark, especially while under duress.

Powers Used: Mind Trick: 4
Force Defense: 4
Sith Illusions: 3

Tag: @Grievance Vexx

 

[Grievance Vexx]

IC- Lord Grievance Vexx
Hapes, Ta’a Chume Da - Fountain Palace

The Krigsbefallaf does not waver in his icy stare, even as the sound of Lady Traya’s armored knee meeting the floor echoes disturbingly around him, once again causing a crescendo in his tinnitus. He gives a subtle flinch under the pressure of the sound, but otherwise remains fixed on his target. Truth be told, he is a bit surprised to see this attempt having an impact such as this. As an experimental attempt, he honestly hadn’t expected much to come of it and was already prepared to take alternate measures.

As it stands, he watches his opponent, wary that this very well could just be another trick. Perhaps there has been no true impact at all. How is he to truly know that she is experiencing some level of pain from his gaze—enough to bring her to her knees? It could all just be an act to lull him into complacency; a false sense of confidence. He really cannot stand not knowing for sure and so he opens himself up more to communication from the Force, inviting it to reveal its truths to him.

Like the echolocation of a bat, the Force goes out and bounces off the Dark Lady and returns to Vexx with information. Her pain is very real and is indeed caused by his use of Deadly Sight. Still, he refutes the temptation to feel as though he has the figurative high ground here, knowing full and well that overconfidence in one’s position leads to defeat, for in combat, one’s position is subject to change in an instant.

His peripheral vision captures sight of Traya taking up her bow once more. He really should retract his attack and avert his gaze, but as it was during his apprenticeship, tapping into the Force in this way brings with it a bit of addiction and he finds it difficult to comply with his own common sense as a warrior. Instead of pulling back, he intensifies his gaze. All seems to pass in slow motion in his peripheral vision. He can hear the string singing as the fingers of the Dark Lady Miraluka draw it taut; hear the two arrows scrape lightly against the bow; hear the snap as the string is released and a slight clatter as the arrows pass by the solid part of the bow once again, now traveling across in the opposite direction.

At the last possible second, Vexx finally breaks away from the addictive feeling of his own power and averts his gaze to the arrows traveling toward him with deadly precision and quickly ducks his head to the right just enough to avoid losing his left eye, but not enough to avoid being hit altogether. One arrow whizzes by harmlessly while the other arrow strikes the fin-like attachment that gives the appearance of an ear on the left side of his head, leaving enough of a mark as evidence that he had been struck by a projectile. Due to his armor being alchemized in a way that enables feeling, the strike does indeed cause him pain as is made clear when he shies to the right, crouched low and shaking his head furiously.

Forcing himself to ignore the sting of lingering pain from the glancing blow, the cyborg advances with his blade once again, aiming to disarm her of that blasted bow. Rather than thrust his blade in such a way as to destroy her favored weapon, he assumes that it may be lightsaber resistant and so he angles his blade so as to hopefully catch it and twist it from her grasp.

Powers used:
Mind Trick: 4
Force Resistance: 4
Deadly Sight: 2 (interrupted, retracted)
Makashi: 2

Tag: @Darth Traya

 

[Darth Traya]

IC: Darth Traya
Location: Fountain Palace, Hapes

Traya senses a subtle shift within his aura, perhaps a vibration of doubt that his attack had landed. It was a sensible doubt, by nature Traya carried an air of deception. The Miraluka kneeling in pain before the Kaleesh warrior was not her true form, yet it was not a mere projection nor falsified illusion of herself. She’d merely glossed over a few of her more horrific features, a pang of agony radiated from her knee reminded her of the effort of suppressing her default form.


She senses the wave of the Force, echolocating around her form, but to its purpose she was uncertain as she could not read the mechanized Kalessh’s intentions without attempting to plumb his thoughts. That was not to sort of duel she sought, the icy torment in her veins reminded her of that anew. How strangely invigorating it was to suffer from an attack of the Force rather than suffering the insidious schemes of a Sith Council!


The fierceness of his gaze is unrelenting, mitigated slightly by her defense but a gnawing frigid burn all the same. She can sense by the hiss of her arrows that the pain has affected her marksmanship a bit. He is fast enough to to avoid the arrows poised to strike his malicious eyes, but is clipped by one in what she supposed was an auditory sensing organ, and amazingly enough through the armor Lord Vexx reeled as if in pain, crouching and shaking his head to shrug off the blow. Was it possible the amphistaff venom could affect him as well? She didn’t know if it had any power against largely cybernetic beings, nor how he’d felt any pain at all. The perception of pain from one she was dueling was rare indeed.


Traya uses this brief mark on him to gather a defense. His saber hums in a arc she assumed meant to strike or wrench her bow from her grasp, yet the moment she heard the humming of the blade drawing near she reached out, seizing her unignited lightsaber from where she’d left it hovering in midair, now an instant from clattering to the ground as she’d slipped in her concentration of it while under the grip of his deadly stare. Cradled in her telekinetic grasp the saber sailed through the darkness which flooded the marble chamber, and hovered it in front of her bow. Traya pressed her mind upon the ignitor and caused the smokey blade to burst from its hilt and attempt to block the blade's path, and defend her bow. Perhaps if it was a bit brighter in color it might even shock the Kaleeh’s eyes, but sudden bursts of light and color were not well understood concepts to Traya.


She rose to a full stance, trying to ignore the throbbing ache in her shins and feet, an ache that felt almost as if the very flesh was splitting apart. It was a vestigial aching, not directly caused by the slowly abating ice of the Deadly Sight, but certainly exacerbated by it. She took a few steps backward, and pulled free her enchanted songsteel arrow from across her back. It had been her first creation upon rising as a Dark Lady, an immense gleaming arrow cast at a Nightbrother’s forge, alchemized with three measures of blood as per Naga Sadow’s ritual, and beneath the light of a burning eclipse, sealed with the blood of slaughtered Nightbrothers so that the secrets of such a delicate forging would die with them. The Arrow of the Dark Moon. The arrow itself could fly in dire need, but that was not its intention. It was always meant to be a catalyst to channel and focus her power more directly. Akin to a common arrow she placed it against the bow, and knocked the silvered metal against the string, and drew back, but remained poised in firing position. There was the snap of the drawstring being released, however the elegantly forged arrow did not move but clearly a dozen ethereal arrow projectiles of burning white light were fired, as if summoned from the faint streams of Hapan moonlight. The arrows manifested in a vertical formation, a shimmering volley aimed to strike the Kaleesh from head to clawed toe.

https://ashenvoidhollow.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F638975387952627712

Powers Used: Force Defense: 4

Telekinesis: 4

Trakata: 1 ( Used to ignite floating lightsaber)

Sith Illusions: 3


Tag: @Grievance Vexx

OOC: Sorry for the delay! Holiday madness.

 

[Grievance Vexx]

IC- Lord Grievance Vexx
Hapes, Ta’a Chume Da - Fountain Palace

In the back of his mind, Vexx had known his weakness to his own addiction would tip the scales unfavorably in this fight and he curses himself inwardly for allowing it to happen. His thoughts also direct a bit of aged resentment toward his master, whom he still blames for making him test his powers in the first place years ago. While he holds his master in highest regard and has pledged his loyalty to him, every once in a while he can’t help but be annoyed by the turning point in his apprenticeship.

As for the amphistaff venom, had Traya’s arrow struck an area that had openings to his minimal organic matter—her original target of his eyes, for example—the venom would have brought results, but as it stands, Vexx is spared whatever effects it may have had for now. All he is left with presently is a lingering sting, albeit an intense sensation.

In the here and now, with his mechanical ear still burning from the clip of the arrow, Vexx’s tinnitus alerts him to yet another culmination of the Force as Lady Traya uses it to call her lightsaber to her defense. He curses aloud in his native tongue as the two plasma blades collide in a shower of sparks, deferring his intent to disarm the Dark Lady of her long-range weapon. Most annoying. However, he isn’t long distracted by her lightsaber as he catches sight of her taking further measures of defense...with the bow once again. She just might catch him muttering yet another curse in Kaleesh as he backs away to give himself room for evasive maneuvering.

He is surprised, but wary as she raises the arrow to fire it on a vertical path instead of aiming directly for him. He knows better than to assume her aim is truly horrible. She had come far too close to sharing her blindness with him in her marksmanship only moments before. He knows she has another trick up her sleeve and he knows whatever it is will not be to his benefit or good health. His suspicions are confirmed when the single arrow spawns a shower of its likeness, arcing out to rain down on him like an ambush of javelins.

There is no time to outrun the speed with which the arrows rain down, penetrating even the marble floors around him. Vexx takes what is a gamble in his mind and trusts the Force to aid him in escape of becoming Lady Traya’s durasteel pincushion. Drawing his arms and neck into his torso and lowering himself to the ground to become a smaller target and close all gaps in his armor, he visualizes the arrows being pushed away from him in their trajectory so that, while they land deadly close, he will hopefully be spared.

As he focuses his telekinesis on interfering with the arrows’ trajectory, he divides his attention enough to attempt another counterstrike through the Force, again, uncertain as to whether it will actually work to his advantage.

‘If it is long range weaponry you wish to fight with, m’lady,’ he thinks with just a touch of spite, ‘I will do my best to oblige.’

With that thought, he calls upon yet another power he has not invested much experimentation in up until now; the Darkshear. Letting his aggravation culminate the Dark Side energy into a shadow of a javelin, he launches it at Lady Traya, though his body remains in its crouched and guarded position, somehow expecting either his telekinesis will fail or another wave of arrows may follow after the first.

Powers used:
Force Defense 4
Mind Trick 4
Telekinesis 2
Darkshear 1

Example of physical defensive maneuver described:


Tag: @Darth Traya

 

[Darth Traya]

IC: Darth Traya

Location: Hapes, The Fountain Palace



The Kaalesh utters in a language Traya cannot grasp, but assumes by the tone it’s a type of curse word. Once her hail of arrows is shot she uses a touch of telekinesis to delicately tug a metal clip attached into a braided leather cord that’s hanging just below the bow grip. Gently she guides this clip attachment to a matching braided leather circlet around her armored wrist. Thus she had an moderately effective bow sling and could drop the weapon and if needed grab the weapon a bit more freely. Vexx lowers himself to minimize his target area and rushes forward to attempt to evade the volley of shimmering arrows.She can sense waves of telekinesis radiating from him, and effectively pushing aside her cruel projectiles. The arrows buried themselves effortlessly in the marble, then glittered and faded away like wisps of moonlight but the ugly gouges in the stone remained.


Traya allows the bow to fall from her grasp, it falls gracefully to the level of her hip, as it is attached to her wrist she merely needed to twist her left hand to grip it properly again. As for her Arrow of the Dark Sun, tendril of shadow appears to curl around it, and suspend it in the air….or was it a serpent that grasped the arrow in its fanged mouth?


Traya feels a malevolent spear of darkness flying toward her. A spear of Midnight Black, certainly not the first time she’d experienced this power manifested from pure hatred. Her

Force barrier is able to deflect it, but such an attack carried quite a dramatic impact. She can feel a wave of dark agony burst past her shielding that causes her to stagger. It was a power that once almost killed her, when the assassin she would later marry made an attempt on her life. Lord Vexx’s casting of it could use some improvement.


“Spear of Midnight Black….also, falsely called Darkshear. I humored you in allowing you to stagger me. You have potential in the ablity Lord Vexx, but allow me to teach you something. I am after all one of the most capable teachers within the Sith Acedmy.’
begins Traya, still keeping her defense raised, her grey lightsaber suspended in the air and ignited.


“Somewhere in the history logs someone falsely named that projectile Darkshear. They were wrong; Darkshear is far more dire, it is a Rhandite ability. A power far Darker than most Sith tricks. It is Entropy, made to manifest. I can show you…” the Dark Lady muttered with a hint of malice in her voice. It was power she could wield with deadly intent; it flowed from her agonizing Force Dyad with Darth Nihilus. However she’d restricted this ability in challenging this duel as she had no intention of killing Lord Vexx.


She flung out her free hand and pushed out an invisible wave of entropy meant to wash quickly over the largely cybernetic Kaleesh. This twisted power stemmed from the Unknown corners of the galaxy where even Sith fear to tread. It was possible the Kaleesh's many joints might rust, strain and pop beneath the corrosive weight of time condensed into a singular wave. An entropic manifestation of all that can possibly fail, and ultimately failing should the wave land.


Powers Used: Telekinesis: 4

Sith Illusions: 3

Force Defense: 4

Darkshear:2

Tag: @Grievance Vexx

 

[Grievance Vexx]

IC- Lord Grievance Vexx
Hapes, Ta’a Chume Da - Fountain Palace

His own stamina taking a hit from these otherwise unused “gifts” of his, Vexx again mutters something derogatory in his native tongue, though the Kaleesh curse word is more directed at himself for being foolish enough to be sucked into dueling with the Force. At first his anger is directed at himself, but then he redirects it to the woman before him and her way of fighting. Like many others he has faced before her, she keeps attempting to corner him with the Force. How he despises this! Now he has to find his way back to how dueling should really work and he must do so with less energy than that with which he had started.

He realizes he is about to learn a dangerous and potentially painful lesson here as Traya explains to him his error, though he is unperturbed by the realization thanks largely in part to his master, who had made sure he was well acquainted with pain as he had trained him during his apprenticeship. The wave that strikes Vexx like a battering ram sends him back to his first encounter with the man who had forced him to fight back without the weapons he has become so skilled in using. Though this attack is not targeting the fragility of his mind, it is an equally destructive force attacking the body he has struggled not to resent for decades.

He can feel his joints stiffen under hastened corrosion, the rust as red as blood as it gnaws at every place where sockets and hinges grant him mobility. Ironically, he might have felt absolutely nothing at one time, but now, with his armor alchemized to enable him sensation, he feels what can be likened to severe arthritis grinding over his cybernetic skeleton. The pain is intense enough to tempt him to vocalize his agony, but he stubbornly stifles it, unwilling to give Traya the satisfaction to feed off of.

He knows he has to turn the tide in this fight, preferably back in his favor to duel as is proper in his mind, but he knows the effects of this more accurate Darkshear will at least temporarily cripple his speed. He must rely on the Force once more to attempt to shake her off this attack before it successfully brings him into submission. Bolstering his own Force Resistance to hopefully stall the entropy, he calls upon his Deadly Sight once again, passively attacking Traya’s form with a glare icier than the one before.

Again, this pulls on his own stamina, but he hopes it will be enough to distract her from rusting him solid. He has yet to verbally respond to the words she had spoken to him earlier. Speaking at this point will consume still more energy he must conserve, but he fully intends to thank her for this gracious lesson and correction to his error.

Powers Used:
Force Resistance (+4)
Deadly Sight (+2)

OOC- My deepest apologies for the extended absence. DRL’s demands pulled me into a far less enjoyable duel.


Tag: @Darth Traya

 

[Darth Traya]

IC: Darth Traya
Location: Hapes, The Fountain Palace

Darth Traya almost lets a smirk of satisfaction slide across her veiled face, the sounds of rust and corrosion stiffening and choking the smooth electromagnetic hum typical of cybernetic limbs filled her ears. How majestic she found the sympathy of corrosion, even if it’s touch was only slight! With the cacophony of rust; gleaming points centered around the Kaleesh’s joints filled her perceptions, points she’d noticed before, earlier in their battle but the weak points were glowing now, haloed by her enthropic wave. All they needed was a little jolt before fracture might be possible.

She sensed a slight hesitation in Lord Vexx, felt the glare of organic eyes before a deluge of ice crashed over her flesh. Her Force defense remained raised; yet all the same it did not act as carefree beskar barrier that needed no focus. She abandoned her subtle use of Sith illusions, meant to unnerve the enemy, and flung her telekinetically suspended lightsaber in an arc twirling towards Vexx’s face, aiming for his eyes. Traya fell again to her knees, and shrieked out in agony, both at the icy assault crackling her skin, and the natural torment of her frail leg striking the ground. It felt as if the ice were clawing her right down to the bone, especially her left leg. The muscles beneath the armor writhed and seized in an unnatural, lumpy malformation. True to nature of any tested Sith, the pain; so long as it wasn’t lethal, served to clear her senses. She poured her focus into defense to mitigate the effects, but she doubted if she could long maintain a sustained icy glare.

She thought briefly of Hoth….of a mission arranged by Lord Cruor. She’d been so inexperienced and naïvee during that mission; an untasked apprentice, yet General Invadator showed her how to survive. All others that ventured into the dark heart of Hoth were dead now; only the General, Lord Xxy’s and herself remained to regal the tale.

The memory of the cold heart of Hoth stirred her with a fresh wellspring of strength, enough to attack with the Force. Following the shatterpoints she’d sensed from the corrosion resulting from her Darkshear, she focused her telekinetic grip into trying to tear into those shatterpoints, hoping to yank on his cybernetic limbs with all her intent, and dreaming of hearing them snap free of their joints, and clatter on the ground.

Powers Used:

Force Resistance: 4
Telekinesis: 4, used to fling lightsaber, then focused into Force Rend.
Shatterpoint: 3
Force Rend: 2


Tag: @Grievance Vexx

 

[Grievance Vexx]

IC- Lord Grievance Vexx
Hapes, Ta’a Chume Da - Fountain Palace

As Traya continues to press the assault to his cybernetic body, Vexx is bound and determined to weather the storm and deliver a storm of his own. This is all in spite of the fact that the entropy is causing him to feel weary in addition to the pain similar to raging arthritis. He fixes his arctic stare on Traya, willing her control to shatter like hot glass plunged into subzero waters. First the level of pain on her is less than his own, then equal to, then it surpasses it. And she buckles.

He feels his own pain lessening to a dull ache that doubtlessly will linger due to the damage done. Her thrown lightsaber is just barely dodged, but still effective in averting his icy gaze. He is about to advance toward her kneeling form when his comlink brings in the displeased voice of his medical droid.

“See? I told you this would happen,” EV-A4-D chides him, “Your joints are a mess! I’ve seen cybernetics out of a scrap yard in better shape and who’s got to fix the damage? Me, one more time! Why can’t you just yield and switch occupations to something less dangerous?”

“I did not ask for your interference,” Vexx snarls, “No retreat. No surrender. If you have not learned that by now, perhaps it is time to relieve you of your duties. Permanently!”

“But, Master—“

“Mind your own business,” the Krigsbefallaf grumbles, killing the comlink and refocusing his attention on the duel.

He begins his approach toward Traya, more than ready to shift this duel to more blades and less Force. His way of going is slower and upon close observation, one can see the slightest pained glaze to his eyes. He is inwardly tempted to curse being able to feel what Traya has done to him, but he knows pain is a vital element to being Sith—not the reason he had agreed to his armor being alchemized, but oh well.

Just when he is close enough to deliver a punishing blow with his saber, he feels a new sort of pain radiating through every joint in his legs. Not a stiff, arthritic pain, but I prying, relentless pain as though his joints are being forced apart by EV-A4-D’s destructive little droid fingers tormenting him just because he can.

“I don’t think so,” he growls through the pain, fighting back with both Force Resistance and Defense, willing his cybernetics to withstand the pressure. “Enough with the distance attacks!” he roars, coming close enough to attempt a stout kick aimed at Traya’s side, though it is not as lightning-fast as it might have been before the corrosion, “I have met you halfway. Fighting with the Force alone causes me to question my own courage as well as yours. Now...trust your blade, Lady Traya. You see far better than those with eyes. Of this, I have no doubt.”

Coming from anyone else, it may have been purely manipulative, but Vexx does not pride himself in any abilities to manipulate others. He says what he says out of pure conviction and imploring Traya to take up her blade is based upon two things: one, true to his word, he has no doubt in her abilities; and two, if he is to yield or to die in combat, neither will come by way of the Force. Of that much, he is determined. To live and die by the blade is not merely a hollow mantra.

Powers used:
Deadly Sight (2) (mitigated)
Force Denfense (4)
Force Resistance (4)

Tag: @Darth Traya

 

[Darth Traya]

IC: Darth Traya

Location: Hapes, The Fountain Palace



From the heated….and icy thum of battle a strange cybernetic voice chattered from somewhere about the Kaalsh’s body. Naturally Traya’s sense of hearing could detect the inhuman chatter with ease, and she couldn’t help but to listen closely.


“See? I told you this would happen,” the droid chided, “Your joints are a mess! I’ve seen cybernetics out of a scrap yard in better shape and who’s got to fix the damage? Me, one more time! Why can’t you just yield and switch occupations to something less dangerous?”


“I did not ask for your interference,” Lord Vexx retorted, “No retreat. No surrender. If you have not learned that by now, perhaps it is time to relieve you of your duties. Permanently!”


“But, Master—“ the voice pleaded.


“Mind your own business,” He replied, and shut the channel off.


Traya couldn’t help but to spare a grin of triumph at the phrase “scrap yard”. How enthralling it was to have the very powers of entropy at her command! However, it was a power to be taken lightly. One could not advance the decay of the very universe without feeling adverse effects from such raw elemental power. She was lucky it hadn’t manifested in her own arm decaying in advanced rot as it once did, but it did present itself as increased fatigue and pain in her knees.


The droid chiming in was mildly amusing. It reminded her of the mental rapport she had with gizka, serpents and rancors; and the conversations she shared with them via their linked minds.They too could be critical, and snide.


Her attention turned back toward the advancing Vexx, his aura blazing with determination...and did she sense a slight ripple of pain? What sort of pain was a largely cybernetic being capable of feeling? His form halted, fighting off her telekinetic prying.


“I don’t think so, enough with the distance attacks!” he roared in defiance, and a clawed foot shot out and caught her in the side. The warriors of the Sith would never have allowed such a blow to slip their notice, yet Traya long dropped all illusion of battle and melee prowess. The kick found her and sent her sprawling unceremoniously to the floor. She was lucky merely her posture was broken; it wasn’t evident in the songsteel armor but the nature of her powers left her quite frail. As though a single strong gale might shatter her very bones.


“I have met you halfway.” challenged Vexx, his aura looming over her. “Fighting with the Force alone causes me to question my own courage as well as yours. Now...trust your blade, Lady Traya. You see far better than those with eyes. Of this, I have no doubt.”


If any other being uttered these words she might have thought them a challenge; yet in the heat of battle a curious feeling overcame her. One of kinship with the Kaleesh warrior; in all ways the opposite of her. There was an Echani saying that one only truly knew each other from having fought them. She didn’t profess to know anything more of the Echani yet the odd saying appeared to make more sense. In any case Lord Vexx proved to her again and again of his value, his mettle and strength of will.


She slung her bow onto her back as she pulled herself up; her face behind the helm contorted as the pain in legs ramped up to near unbearable levels. It was wonder these flimsy boney legs could support her weight at all. She telekinetically pulled her lightsaber to her left hand, trying to get used to the weight of its hilt in combination with the weightlessness of the grey plasma beam. She could bond with the blackwing crystal well enough, command it to fly though the air to harass or stun her enemies; but she didn’t understand any of the lightsaber forms. She didn’t trust this blade

in her hand; the only weapon she truly trusted was her arrows and her amphistaff, which she’d left in her chambers. She connected to the blackwing crystal; a relic found deep within the caves of Dathomir. She possessed other sabers on her person; but her telekinetic grasp instead pulled free a steel arrow tipped with cortosis from her quiver and held it in her cybernetic right hand, grasping it in the manner one would hold a shoto.


“Very well, I’ll meet you the rest of the way and fight with these primitive weapons. But answer me this; do you detest the Force, Lord Vexx?” she pried, her time begging an answer.


She assumed a defensive stance, her grey blade held diagonally across her midsection and steel arrow down beside her thigh, poised to move quickly if needed. She made no physical attack, but kept her senses trained upon the glowing points in Vexx’s throbbing aura, and kept her own Force Defense raised in case of trickery.


Powers Used:

Telekinesis: 4 - used to retrieve saber and arrow.

Shatterpoint: 3 - used passively

Force Defense: 4

Tag: @Grievance Vexx

 

[Grievance Vexx]

IC- Lord Grievance Vexx
Hapes, Ta’a Chume Da - Fountain Palace

Having never made physical contact with Traya before gives Vexx a bit of a shock as it feels like his kick has connected with cloth barely weighted by fragile twigs. Indeed, he almost feels remorse, but then he knows the Dark Lady is a master of illusion. Who can really say that what he had felt is actually accurate? So he does not express any remorse, though that doesn’t necessarily mean it does not trouble him in the back of his mind.

He winces as his joints creak like a forgotten rusty gate barely yielding to an autumn breeze. He feels about as old as the ancient shamans that hobble around with their canes on his home world, but his stubborn nature and his heart that shuns the attainment of pity will not allow him to show that he is in pain. There are only faint hints in his eyes. Of course, he cannot easily hide the fact that his signature in the Force is hampered by pain and this actually does transmit itself to a physical manifestation as the lava-like substance within he runes on his armor swirls and pulses in a manner that suggests some level of physical distress.

Of course, the cyborg is pleased to hear that Lady Traya is willing to meet on common ground as they continue. He knows better than to fully trust her word however as she is renowned throughout the Empire for her gifted way with illusions and mind tricks. This could be a way to try to catch him off guard. He willfully raises his mental defenses just in case. Nevertheless, he brandishes his blade with a graceful Makashi flourish, readying his fighting stance.

Her final question, however...that strikes a nerve; one that propels his mind back to an undisclosed cargo hold. He can almost feel the unyielding resistance of shackles holding his cybernetic wrists, ankles, and torso immobile against an upright steel table. The voice of the one who would later accept him as an apprentice whispers in the recesses of his memory.

“I sense it in you. I know you feel it too. Your hatred...disdain for it. A mark of shame you wish you could...rip out...tear from your own flesh. You are different, you know...yet you hate what you are...what you have...”

The emotions this voice in his memory evokes are intense. Helplessness, hatred, entrapment, longing...addiction. He remembers it as though it only happened yesterday. He misses his master, he realizes, but he seldom lets himself feel that. The powerful figure that had effectively turned his vehement resistance into dedicated loyalty will always hold a high place in his life, but the question Lady Traya had asked still remains: “Do you detest the Force, Lord Vexx?”

Does he still? After all these years? Is his stubborn streak that wide and far-reaching into his future as well as his past? Needless to say, the question has shaken his laser focus and that provokes his anger. Almost enough to show it by executing a prompt and remorseless Force Sever. But he abstains, choosing instead to focus on putting Traya’s word to the test.

“Perhaps that is a question you will be able to answer for yourself, m’lady,” he replies cryptically, “A wise warrior does not broadcast his flaws. Rather, he leaves them for his foes to discover for themselves. A word of caution though; illusions are everywhere in the art of war.”

He begins to circle once again. He has already made an aggressive and effective move in striking her with his taloned foot. He will let her make the next advance. In the meantime, he hopes the gentle movement of his pace will serve to loosen his joints and alleviate some of the pain he has taken on himself.

Powers used:
Force Resistance (4)
Force Defense (4)
Mind Trick (4)

Tag: @Darth Traya