Taris

[extras]

(OOC: okie, thanks for the heads up )

Two warriors had unceremoniously dragged him from his cell, despite his protests over the fact he could have walked the distance to the membranous porthole. They seemed to delight in his humiliation...as he would enjoy exacting revenge on them once this whole mess was sorted out.

For now Tln'aa Shoolb resided - flanked by two low ranking members of the warrior caste - at a short distance from the crowd gathering around Kahn'ik du'l and Drevin. From this short way away he could just about see the events unfolding through occasional gaps in the crowd.
And what he saw displeased him.

Already someone had taken it upon themselves to show the Jeedai the way to the ground was sought quickest by a hard crack to the back of the knees. And the look of defiance Drevin bore upon his hideously symmetrical features would do him no favours before one who he was clearly inferior to. Indeed that applied to more than just Shedao Shai, but all members of the warrior caste present.

Tln'aa Shoolb could almost smell the anticipation flying off the crowd in droves, not to mention the ones who remained to keep an eye on him. What was his lot to be then? A simple blood sacrifice?
How pitiful, he thought with disdain.
He had hoped for more and considered the commander to be somewhat short-sighted when it came to dealing with what was possibly the greatest threat their forces faced. The jeedai.

The intendant shifted slightly to gain a better view of the events unfolding within the circle. The Jeedai appeared to be biding his time, something he was sure Commander Kahn'ik domain du'l would not. A calloused hand clamped down on his shoulder and shoved him back to where he had been standing. Tln'aa felt a low threatening growl well up in his throat but he quelled it.
What was this Jeedai waiting for?

[darklord]

(ooc ive broken it down into 2 or 3 parts so it doesnt all happen in 1 long go lol. hope thats ok)

Kahn'ik du'l charged at Drevin with all the speed and ferocity of a rampaging dewback. It was unexpected and the force of the warrior hitting him was like being kicked by an AT-AT.

Drevin hit the floor hard as the two combatants rolled across the ground, each attempting to gain an advantage. Kahn'ik du'l pinned Drevin to the ground as he swung a huge fist down toward his head. The punch that would probably have killed Drevin slammed into the dirt with a sickening crunch. Kahn'ik du'l growled in pain as Drevin used the brief moment of distraction to plant a fist to the side of the warriors enormous head, knocking him off balance.

Drevin stood and a heartbeat later was forced to back flip over a leg sweep. He landed a few meters away on the soft ground, his heart beating rapidly. The warrior was up before he had a chance to think of a strategy and was again charging at him. This time Drevin waited until he was just about to connect before performing a spinning kick that caught the huge warrior in the chin. Kahn'ik du'l's head snapped to the side but before Drevin could land another blow, the warrior caught him with a well aimed backhand to his jaw. Drevin fell to the ground as his face exploded in pain. He felt blood running down his face as he knelt on the ground. A heavily armored leg struck him hard in the ribs, almost lifting him off the ground.

This is not going to be easy... He began to wonder if he'd gone too far this time before another kick connected to his ribs.

[extras]

(OOC: yeah thats fine )

Obscured from view, Tln'aa Shoolb could not see the moment when the commander had rushed the Dark Jedi, but he had heard the results of the impact. Catching a brief glimpse of Drevin's back flip above the heads of the gathered crowd, he might have started to feel somewhat optimistic, had it not been for what followed.

He could see clearly the moment when the Jedi hit the dirt, just before the Yuuzhan Vong warrior almost launched Drevin from his knelt position with one foul blow to the ribs.

But Kahn'ik du'l was bleeding too, which meant that Drevin had been able to get a hit off after all. Still, the spectacle seemed all too evenly matched right now to tell either way who would win out and Tln'aa Shoolb was all too aware of the flicker of dread that threatened to consume him even now.

Another excitable howl escaped the crowd, the Jeedai was down again - another kick to the ribs. Tln'aa found himself shaking his head slightly without thinking too much about it.

"Yours will be an ignoble death for this Intendant." One of the warriors flanking Tln'aa Shoolb taunted.

He ignored them, as was wise and continued to watch.

[darklord]

The towering warrior spat at the floor where Drevin knelt, still clutching his broken ribs. Time seemed to slow as he looked up into the warriors gruesome features, watching as his cracked lips mouthed an insult in slow motion.

Anger began to rise inside Drevin like the beginnings of a turbulent force storm. Drevin envisioned that Kahn'ik Du'l was the personification of every single injustice that he had ever suffered, every bit of pain that he had ever felt, everyone and everything he had ever hated. The images passed through his mind rapidly, forming into the shape of the yuuzhan vong stood before him. Drevin lost all control over his body, the darkside had enveloped him and he was its weapon. For this brief moment, Drevin was the Darkside.

Before the yuuzhan vong could finish mouthing his insult, the Dark Jedi rose from the ground and delivered a lightening fast uppercut to the jaw of the warrior, knocking him off his feet and nearly snapping his neck in the process. Even as the warriors head fell back, Drevin pushed the attack, hammering at the broken jaw with his bare fists, dislodging it further. He kicked Kahn'ik du'l hard in the stomach, sending him further backwards before landing another flying kick to his face. This final kick knocked the warrior onto the floor, sending black blood spewing from his mouth.

The feeling of pure adrenaline and power left him feeling invincible as he stared down at the writhing form of the warrior. But it was in this seemingly invincible state that he made his biggest mistake. Turning his back on the downed warrior, Drevin turned to face Shedao Shai.

The look on shadao shais face was what alerted him to the coming attack, but it was too late. Drevin turned to be greeted by Kahn'ik Du'ls amphistaff swinging toward his face. As the staff struck his cheek he spun and fell to the ground as the amphistaff came down again. Something glinting in the sunlight seemed to catch his eye as he fell. Was that his lightsaber hanging from Shedao Shais belt?

If Kahn'k Du'l had a weapon...

[extras]

All of a sudden the Jedi seemed to draw strength from unseen sources and in a flurry of moves, that were all of a blur to onlooking eyes, he delivered a flawless attack to the Commander, sending him careening back until he too hit the earthen floor.

Several looks of puzzlement from the onlookers were replaced by snarls of anger and disdain. No one would dare step into this fight, but that was out of respect for the challenge, not that they did not want to.

The Jedi, it seemed, was overconfident and even Tln'aa Shoolb felt himself suppress a wince as Drevin turned his back on the downed and bloodied commander.
Kahn'k Du'l was not down for long, his amphistaff had already been unfurled by the time he regained his feet and struck out at the seemingly unaware Jedi.

It could only be down to Jeedai sorcery, Tln'aa Shoolb thought, that the attack had not killed Drevin instantly.
But he had appeared to have taken an amphistaff strike to the face.
Tln'aa Shoolb felt the talons of his own hands curl inwards and dig fresh wounds into his palms with anger. He couldn't believe what he was about to think, it disgusted him thoroughly.
Get up Infidel!

[darklord]

Drevins eyes came in and out of focus as blood rained from his fresh wounds. Calling once again on the force, Drevin reached out and gestured to the lightsaber at Shedao Shais side. It reluctantly tore away from the living garment, drawing a gasp from the crowd and landed in Drevins hand as he rolled away from an attack that would have skewered his body to the ground.

Still heavily dazed from the smack he'd recieved moments ago, his movement was unsteady but he quickly regained his composure. As he dodged the wild swinging attacks from the enraged warrior, Drevin waited for his moment to strike, using all of his acrobatic skill to dodge the staff. It came all too quickly and in one swift stroke Drevins lightsaber struck the solid form of the amphistaff...

Solid. Drevins face contorted in horror as the amphistaff kept its rigid form and repelled the fiery blade.
Thats not possible... he thought, and he recieved a hard blow to his arm for the distraction, nearly causing him to drop the lightsaber. Another blow caught him, slashing across his bare stomach.

Kahn'ik du'l swung the staff relentlessly, while Drevin desperately parried. The warriors brutal attack kept coming as the blood lust kicked in, but he was leaving huge gaps in his defenses that Drevin could have taken advantage of at any number of times. That didnt matter, Drevin was in control now and he wanted to do more than end this warriors life with a quick thrust to the stomach. He wanted a victory. If my body will allow me it. he silenly added.

The bulky commander lunged again in a final attack, Drevin knocked away the amphistaff and back-kicked the warrior as he stumbled past him, sending him crashing to the ground again.

Drevin stood over the warrior as he feabily attempted to rise. Covered in his own blood and that of his opponent, Drevin raised his ruby lightsaber as the gathered crowd grew silent. And in one final stroke, he decapitated Kahn'ik du'l.

[extras]

The snap hiss of a lightsaber igniting to life sounded out above the crowds' gasps and growls of objection. Tln'aa Shoolb kept a careful eye on Shedao Shai, who for this occasion it seemed had kept his face unmasked as he usually did not. His expression betrayed nothing until the blasphemous weapon had gone flying from his possession.
Now even he looked somewhat astounded, confused perhaps?

Again the motions were a blur, the Jedi parrying attacks from the warrior and vice versa. Was that a hint of surprise he saw on the previously confident face of the Jeedai as his attack struck amphistaff to no avail?
It mattered not, within moments of this sudden shock realization, the Jedi had the warrior on the run - so to speak. Each attack was blocked almost as though this was for show. Insult to injury, Tln'aa thought to himself.

As quick as he had thought that, he caught sight of a blinding slash of light followed by the scent of seared flesh filling the air as the commanders head fell to the ground with a dull, wet thump.

Tln'aa Shoolb was almost floored by the elation he felt, marred only by the disgust that this had come from direct actions the jeedai had taken. The warriors at either side of him did not drop their guard yet however, they were waiting for words of command from their leader.
Tln'aa Shoolb however, had other ideas. He wrenched his arms free of their grasp and glowered at them defiantly. Yes, he would see that they were 'rewarded' for their efforts here today.

With a contemptuous growl he made distance away from them towards the circle of gathered onlookers.

[darklord]

Drevin stood at the center of the circle with the dead warrior at his feet. He slowly turned to face Shedao Shai, expecting betrayal or some form of rebuke for using his own infidel weapon and prepared for the worst. If he decided to kill Drevin now then he would fight till the end. But when no rebuke came and it appeared that the commander had indeed kept his word, Drevin bowed his head deeply. The motion caused his vision to blur and his head began spinning but he stayed on his feet.

Shedao Shai drew himself to his full height and spoke in his own tongue to the crowd, no doubt issuing orders. Finally he turned to Drevin and spoke in basic.

"Perhaps you will live to see the end of your people after all.jeedai."

Drevins legs threatened to give way at any moment but he held on long enough to see Tin'aa Shoolb emerge from the crowd before finally collapsing.

[extras]

Tln'aa had been in range enough to hear Shedao Shai's words and as he approached he arrived to see the Jedi's collapse. Untimely but not unexpected, he noted, a sign of these infidels weakness was hardly to work in the Jedi's favour, but he'd shown his skills sufficiently, or so the Intendant hoped.

Now it was Shedao Shai that had to make the decision, he had merely offered up the means of doing so. Weather or not the commander intended to keep his word, Tln'aa had spoken true when he'd mentioned to Drevin all he knew on that matter.
The decision remained to be seen.
There would only be a limited ammount of time with which to administer the antidote to the poison inflicted by the amphistaff wound the jeedai had suffered.

A storm was brewing overhead, as seemed apt, it would wash away the foul stench of Kahn'ik du'l's blood that spattered the ground and surrounding spectators.
Tln'aa cast a glance in the fallen commanders direction, shaking his head once in silent comment to himself. Such a waste.

As the crowd began to disperse and carry out the tasks they had been assigned prior or immediately after this little blood-bath, he remained behind.
Kneeling at the feet of the commander, he waited to hear the decision...both decisions. Nothing was ever straight forward with this one, he thought.

[extras]

(OOC: posting as both Tln'aa Shoolb and Shedao Shai - coincidentally if anyone wants to play his character, give me a shout )

Commander Shedao Shai did not spare the fallen Jeedai a second glance as he toppled. Instead he barked out some orders to the crowd, many dispersing to carry on with their duties that had been interrupted by the sudden turn of events.

Tln'aa Shoolb had remained behind, as had a couple of subalterns. The intendant noted that they had the look of new recruits about them. Fresh out of the creche as it were, they merely observed all that was going on for now as part of their training here.
Here, Tln'aa thought, they had learned how not to approach a Jeedai.

It was then that Shedao Shai turned to Tln'aa Shoolb, expression one of disgust at having even proposed to the intendant's terms.

"You are certain this one has agreed to all terms of finding a solution to the Jeedai problem?" Shedao Shai asked, an impatient and malicious look in his eyes.

Tln'aa was certain not to meet the commanders gaze unless asked to, his eyes remained fixated on the rain-spattered ground.

" I am confident that he will abide to our terms of peace if you intend to keep your word to him, fearsome one."

Shedao Shai paused, mulling over the words that Tln'aa Shoolb had uttered. The very idea disgusted him, was this Jeedai not like all Jeedai? Of course he was, he was an infidel, a blasphemer, and how ironic then, that they would call upon him to use his sorcery against his own.

"Is your faith in the gods so low as to assume that we alone could not prevail Intendant?" He hissed, scarred visage twisting slightly in anger and disappointment.

Tln'aa Shoolb was all too aware of the precarious line he walked, warriors such as Shai were devout to the letter. There was no changing or molding fanatics like him- they were steadfast beyond change.

"Belek Tiu, Commander...." Tln'aa offered, touching a fist to opposite shoulders in a salute of respect and apology. "That was not what I intended to imply, but did you, yourself not also request an interest to learn more about the enemy? This is but the ideal opportunity to do so fearsome one."

Shedao Shai did not speak, but he did motion with one stiff motion of his taloned hand for the Intendant to continue. Good, Tln'aa thought, he had his audience now.

" The infidels know little of what we are capable of so far, we would be given the upper hand through this errant Jeedai,"

" - And when he is no longer of use?" Shai interrupted.

"Then...then he too will join the others on the sacrificial pyre." Tln'aa was quick to add, this gaining a nod of approval from Shai, causing the intendant to relax inwardly somewhat.

"The I entrust the overseeing of this one to you. You will report to me your findings, your plans...everything is that understood? If I suspect this plan will fall foul, your life will be forfeit for ever deigning to bring this infidel and his unholy abominations to my feet."

Tln'aa Shoolb inclined his head once more saluting as a mark of respect and understanding.
"It will be done, commander Shedao domain Shai."

Shai did not offer any form of response, content to merely leave the scene, and the Jeedai, to Tln'aa Shoolb. By the time that the commander had disappeared from sight, the intendant was already administering an antidote to the Amphistaff venom via a small needle-like thorn that he had somehow caused to eject from the end of one finger, another useful implant that he had never thought he'd use on one such as Drevin, but there it was.

[darklord]

Drevin awoke feeling groggy and confused that night. He steadily rose from the hard ground, propping himself up on his good arm. He looked down at his battered body, his undergarments seemed to be the only part of him not covered in blood.

How had he gotten back to this cell? His body was in agony and the wounds remained open and uncleaned, but the nauseating pain that had floored him earlier had dispersed now. Had it been poison? That would certainly explain a lot, his injuries however serious had not been fatal, or bad enough to bring him to his knees.

Assessing his injuries Drevin discovered that he'd broken a few ribs on his left side, along with his cheekbone and forearm. His dual scar now had another addition to it and his stomach still bled too heavily to determine the damage that the amphistaff had done. All in all not a bad outcome considering.

He tried to peer through the cell wall to see if Tin'aa Shoolb was there but the cell seemed to be empty. A thought struck him then. What if Shedao Shai had killed the intendant after all?

[extras]

The membranous entrance to the holding cells grashal irised open with a audible pop allowing Tln'aa Shoolb entry. The warriors stationed at every section of the curving grashal walls spared him a glance, but none moved to intercept him. Their time for taunting him was over.

Coming to a halt outside the cell which contained the dark jedi, Tln'aa Shoolb was surprised to see the being awake so soon. Perhaps this could be attributed to more of this Jeedai sorcery he kept hearing about?

" Welcome back." He offered stonily in basic, this was not meant as a welcome more of a acknowledgment of awakening.

" Commander Shedao Shai has agreed to keep his word on your bargain, for as long as you keep to your half of the agreement." He pressed his lips into a thin line as if there was more to be said than that, henceforth he delivered, "This is a lenient move on his part, but I managed to persuade him to believe that you are indeed worthy." Worthy of a choice of death perhaps, should his uses prove to be too little. Worthy of a choice of death of a selection Shedao Shai would personally offer.

" Should you not wish to continue with this arrangement, alternative means of disposing of you will be implemented." This time he allowed a slight smile to play across his scarred lips before adding,

"You have done the Commander a favor by slaying Kahn'ik du'l , he was as inept in his duties as he was at defeating a single infidel in combat. His ignoble death has pleased many...aside from his domain."

Letting his hand play across the small creature located on the outside of the cell wall, the membrane retracted to allow the Jedi to exit. Apparently free or not, if Drevin caused trouble he would find it hard to escape the plethora of warriors outside, or indeed the poisoned gas that could be excreted by small creatures secreted in the grashal walls.

[darklord]

Drevin felt a wave of relief pass over him as Tin'aa Shoolb entered the cell. He couldnt help but feel that if the intendant had been killed, Drevin wouldnt have survived long in the hands of Shedao Shai.

He allowed the intendant to finish speaking in his usual cheerful tone before responding.

"You have done the Commander a favor by slaying Kahn'ik du'l , he was as inept in his duties as he was at defeating a single infidel in combat. His ignoble death has pleased many...aside from his domain."

"Glad to be of service." he said rather hoarsely with a hint of a smile. It hurt too much to grin too widely.

Drevin made a move to stand and with a great effort he managed the task without making himself appear too weak. His whole body screamed in protest and his hand moved instinctively to his broken ribs.

"The amphistaffs. Are they poisonous?"

He waited for the intendants answer before moving further. He needed a few moments to rediscover the use of his legs. He wondered where his clothes and belt were, he hadnt seen them since he'd been thrown in his cell a few days ago. More to the point he thought, What happened to my lightsaber? Hopefully Tin'aa Shoolb had retrieved it, but he wouldnt place too much faith in that, especilly if Shedao Shai had gotten hold of it first.

[extras]

"The amphistaffs. Are they poisonous?"

Another ignorant question, as if they would be anything else! Tln'aa Shoolb was too tired of the infidels ignorance to give much of an answer. After the day he'd had so far a question of any sort seemed pointless.

" Yes, death brought by a strike from an amphistaff is inevitable." He responded coolly as he lead the way out into the main area of the holding cell areas.

He had been fortunate enough to keep a hold of the shameful weapon the Jeedai called a lightsaber. Shedao Shai had ordered it destroyed, so it was a great risk he had taken carrying it with him.
Why exactly he had done so, even Tln'aa himself could not understand. Perhaps it would serve as another false impression of why the dark jedi should trust them.
Trust, he thought, was a multifaceted word.

"It seems that our paths are yet to cross again infidel." He said with a hint of annoyance, he had actually quite hoped someone else would throw them self forward for this task, allowing him time to cleanse after possibly becoming tainted by this ones whims. The Lightsaber hooked onto his belt only served to prove that point.

"You have been given over to me and that, for the meanwhile, is how it will stay. There are many worlds in neighboring systems that we wish to clear to aide our advancement." He was careful not to say where and what just yet...let alone why.
"No doubt the Jeedai will wish to intervene, that is where you become useful. You spoke before about how they were your enemy? Are you known to them?"

He quirked a brow in question, already a plan had surfaced in his twisted mind and a backup one along with it. It all hinged on this Jeedai complying though...and he had so far, had he not?

[darklord]

He let the intendants response to the question of the amphistaff remain as it was. Evidently he was still alive so it didnt matter how that had come about. Drevin suspected that it had had something to do with the intendant since he was so reluctant to give further details on the subject.

"It seems that our paths are yet to cross again infidel."

Good he thought. Out of all the yuuzhan vong he'd come across, this Tin'aa Shoolb seemed to be the only one with any sense, the one in control. Yes, he had taken orders from Shedao Shai, but in Drevins mind it was the intendant who had been in control of the situation. If he was going to fight along side these yuuzhan vong then he would rather do it alongside Tin'aa Shoolb than some mindless warrior. The warriors hadnt even had the intelligence to recognize Drevin as a threat and their commander had paid dearly for it. But this Tin'aa Shoolb... there was power and knowledge in him.

"You have been given over to me and that, for the meanwhile, is how it will stay. There are many worlds in neighboring systems that we wish to clear to aide our advancement. No doubt the Jeedai will wish to intervene, that is where you become useful. You spoke before about how they were your enemy? Are you known to them?"[/b]

Drevin thought back to the time he went to retrieve his lightsaber. He'd encountered no one at the temple that night as he turned his back on them forever.

"I am known to them yes. But they know nothing of my whereabouts or actions since my release." He paused before adding "I suspect they will guess at my status as a Dark Jedi, since thats usually the path that exiled Jedi take."