...And Through the Woods. (Gettin' Destructive!)

[Kella]

The air was frigid here. There were no thermals or updrafts, only cutting side-gusts, and the Graarl strained to maintain stable flight.

The mountains contributed to the unpredictable shifts in the wind. Ice crystals hung suspended in the air, like little flechettes insisting on making Roq's wings sore. He banked and turned to survey the valley below. The ruins below were like shadows of the mountains, with jagged spires and rocky slopes. They dripped down the side of the tallest peak, pooling in the valley below.

The planet contained, tucked within its dark forests, icy drifts, and formidable mountains, several similar ruins.

The muscles in his shoulder groaned, stiff with the cold, as he angled his wings forward, tucking into a dive.

Icy clouds whisked by as the air began to roar, the streamlined reptile no longer bothered by buffeting winds. Fog attempted to conceal the ground, but the Graarl reached out with the Force. He could feel the lingering darkness, but that was a lesser priority compared to being certain of where the ground was.

Three... Two... One...

Roq's wings snapped out to their full fifteen foot span, suddenly catching the air. He could feel the resistance in his shoulders, but they were built to handle such strain. Momentum carried him along as he skimmed the tops of the trees, reaching out and brushing the charcoal branches with his talons. The wind was lesser here, where the trees slowed the air. If he listened, he could hear...

There they were.

Roq purposefully overshot his target, then swept around in a languid curve. He swept his wings backward to halt his forward motion, focusing on not falling like a rock. Hovering was harder than it looked.

The frozen leaf litter crunched beneath Roq's talons as he landed, falling into step with the shadows. He suddenly realized his beak was covered in icicles, and snapped at them.

"We're still on course." He said, crossing his eyes to look at a stubborn icicle. "Just about there."

He shuffled his scales, shaking off a light dusting of frost.

But there was still ice on his beak. He thrummed at it. Maybe if he used his tongue...

[Silas]

Cold had befallen upon them from the moment they had stepped onto this world forsaken of heat. One hand pulled shut the cloak that he deeply wrapped himself in while the other held firmly onto the pike he placed lucidly into the ground. A gale ripped at the tops of the trees as if at any moment it might bring the entire forest down on itself. The cold sting of this winter’s wind brought a soft whisper through the heart of this decrepit forest long lost by the people who once inhabited it. It was a foul whisper full of threats that twisted through the Force to bring a message to them. A message of the Dark Side of the Force.

It was no secret that this was once their planet; the practitioners of destruction that had once ruled the ruins they approached. They had given it up, though, along with the rest of the worlds they own to the howl of this unearthly wind. Like the stained hands of a dyer so too had this planet been marked by that had once ravaged it like a plague. In the most bleak of circumstances one could find a beacon of hope in the darkness, though. It was in this pivotal moment that a lonely cardinal moved through the air to alight upon a branch. The sounds of its song amongst the gusts of frigid air brought him a message of peace amongst all this chaos and darkness. Suddenly it was a burst with red once more as it fled from the scene with the addition of one more person in their group.

A set of wings much larger than that of the small cardinal burst from the frame of a creature as wind rushed to bring it slowly down in front of them. Such grace lay within the creature as it alighted to their level; the tips of its talons brushed gently against the trees on its descent. This was the only Graal that Mordin had ever laid eyes on but it brought strength to their party just as Jace did. The wind still whispered its tales of the dark, though, and that almost left him colder than the environment ever could.

The Aquitan didn’t break stride as the other Jedi came to meet the two that were on ground level. A smile broached his lips as white teeth flashed in the harsh winter’s sun half-blocked by a passing cloud. The report was reassuring, for while he had little doubt of his ability to navigate, sometimes even Jedi made mistakes.

“That is good, for I am weary, my friends,” His voice cracked as the cold took grip.

All he desired was to stop right there, to turn around, and head back to the ship where they could find refuge. Despite his wishes they continued on through the cold, and the ice because that was their duty. In the distance, through the layers of trees he thought he could see what might be a tall structure up ahead. With eyes much more attune than that of a human he might be able to see it sooner, however the trees might inhibit that some. Luckily Roq was there to help with that as well as keep them on their path.

Whatever was in front of him radiated the very darkness he felt all around him, though, and he felt as though every step brought him closer towards that evil. It almost stifled his breath as he looked deep within the Force for answers to these questions that lingered about him. Suddenly a thought prickled his mind as he was walking amongst them, and the image of the ruins clearly began to appear before them.

“I feel a great disturbance in the Force,” Wearily Mordin told them.

The words felt weird on his lips as if they didn’t quite belong to him as they found themselves in the maws of an ancient beast. Long ago its brain had died, but even then the blood that drove it still pumped through its veins. Now it lingered here and they were its guest for as long as they might stay.

[Jace]

Jace wrapped his cloak around him tighter as he passed through the dark wood. He could have used the Force to shield himself from the elements, but he didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention. Using the Force was a single to other Force sensitives out there, you never knew who was watching, especially on a planet such as this one. Jace merely retreated back into his thoughts as he walked through the cold forest.

He was almost thirty now but still he wore the same dark blue robe he did years and years ago. In the missions he undertook, his survival and the success of said mission depended on keeping his identity a secret. Walking around wearing the standard Jedi robe was not the best way to do that. The robe was about as close as Jace got to owning a possession, it was a reminder of everything he and others had been through. Of course it also served as a trademark and added to his reputation in the underground.

Ziost was an interesting and disturbing planet at the same time. It had a strong presence in the Force, though something one shouldn't delve too deep into. Jace had lived most of his life in the presence of those who embraced the dark, and he strove to bring them to justice. It was a challenge to make sure one didn't fall down that path, but he had managed it so far. As far as Jace was concerned it was a mater of willpower, and if you truly wanted to stay in the light, then you could.

Jace's dark blue eyes looked up into the sky and spotted the rather odd being that flew towards him. Indeed, today he was accompanied by two rather rare people. So rare that they were the only ones of their species that he had ever seen. Roq, the Graarl and Mordin the Aquitan. They were capable and respectable Jedi as far as Jace could tell. Of course they were both some years older than him, he wasn't sure by how much though.

Truth be told, Jace was a little nervous about this mission. He had been in the den of some of the most dangerous crime lords in the galaxy and hadn't even blinked, but this was different. Ever since Jace had became a Shadow, his interaction with other Jedi was extremely limited. He had been purposely ostracized to complete his missions, he understood the sacrifice. Jace had been sent to Ziost to do some reconnaissance and based on his report the Council had decided to send him back up. He wasn't opposed to it, but he still couldn't shake the feeling of nervousness.

"We're still on course" stated the Graarl which was followed by Mordin's comment about a disturbance in the Force.

Honestly, this whole planet felt like a disturbance in the Force but even Jace could feel that something was off. He would trust in the words of the older Jedi, Jace had always held great respect for senior Jedi. His eyes scanned the surrounding forest but found nothing, so instead he waited to see what their next move would be.

[Kella]

The cold seemed to be taking its toll on Mordin. When Roq was a knight, he no doubt would have rationalized feeling superior to the Jedi, because of his percieved weakness. But Roq had been... humbled, since then, and he still had nothing but faith in the man.

The Master had yet to form an opinion about Jace, as the Jedi didn't offer much of himself up. In fact, if he had, Roq would have lost respect for him -- discretion was paramount to a Shadow.

“I feel a great disturbance in the Force,” Mordin reported.

The Graarl Jedi was, in many ways, in complete contrast to how he appeared. He was rarely more focused on the mission at hand than when he was making a joke, or grinning facetiously, or -- as the case may be -- still trying to lick an icicle from his beak.

It hadn't taken him long in the air to figure that the Force here was greatly disturbed. Darkness had long inhabited this place, and it stood to reason that the taint would linger long after the actual practitioners of the darkness left.

But there was also a shifting to it, a turmoil. It was like compost -- after a while, it stopped smelling, but if you took a pitchfork and turned it the stench returned with a vengeance.

"Proceed with caution," he counseled, a tinge of seriousness in his voice. He wasn't one to pull rank, but he was the senior Jedi here. He wouldn't just feel responsible -- he'd be responsible for anything that turned out badly today.

Roq could just start to make out the texture of stone beyond the trees, which meant it would be half-a-dozen yards before the others could distinguish the same detail.

"It is best we conceal our presences in the Force..." Roq said lowly. "It may be paranoia, but if anything here wishes us harm, the less they know the better."

Roq did his best to tread silently, but quietly was the best he could manage. He was heavy, his talons were sharp, and the ground cover was brittle. Altering his stride could only accomplish so much, but it was something.

[Silas]

"Proceed with caution," The words were aloft in his acute ears as he also listened to the sounds of the world around him. Carefully he made himself listen to the sounds of the soft crunch of ice and snow as four pair (an extra due to the Graal) of feet walked towards the ruins.

Of course his eyes scanned the trees with caution as he looked about as his pike would hit the ground every few steps. The long prehensile tail that followed behind him was curled around his leg to keep it from freezing off in the freezing weather; however his senses were entirely on his surroundings. The words of the older Jedi were of much consolation to the Aquitan for he was not simply interpreting his senses in the wrong way. The other, Jace was his name, seemed to be quiet as a shadow might rightly be. Whilst the other told them to cover their presence he simply looked out with a careful glance, for he knew the other was right.

“Of course,” He said muttered aloud, almost to himself as he trudged through the ice and the snow.

Suddenly he immersed himself into the allure that was the Force. A deity that was all around him yet it wasn’t till he let himself plunge into the temptation that it was apparent how much he needed it. A better part of his life had been dedicated towards controlling urges on the Force, so to divulge in the part that was safe felt perfect. With a practiced concentration he manipulated that ever present entity to disguise the light that shone in him as a beacon of light amongst this darkness. Those around would no longer be able to pinpoint him, and so too did those around him disappear as their path took them closer to the location they had sought.

One by one the buildings began to take from as the dark mass began to have clearly defined spires, walls, and depth that was not apparent at a distance. Keen eyes prowled over the grounds as soon as a new feature came into sight for any indication towards the threat that might be waiting for them. Steely gray fingers tightened around the base of his pike but he didn’t allow any emotions to breach his face aside from confidence. A sure willed poise that showed no matter the troubles they faced they would move past them, for no wind could be so strong as to push them over.

The ruins of this planet were filled with the dark around them and yet he couldn’t help but find himself intrigued as they came upon the first structure. Minute in size to many buildings of their time, it was a simple structure made of a few rooms perhaps. No matter what it was originally meant to be it seemed as though it was long forgotten any sentient beings. A window long broken was the entry point for the vegetation that sought to consume what had been stripped from it so long ago.

Long fingers brushed over the rough surface as they came up to it. What was to come next he did not know, however he was sure it would be interesting.

[Jace]

[Epic song is Epic. www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F7BYZ5KGTw]

Jace wrapped his cloak around himself just a little tighter. It wasn't just the weather that made him cold, but the dark feeling of the forest. The Jedi had never experienced such a heavy presence of the Force, it was overwhelming. It was dangerous to dwell on the feeling and so Jace turned his attention back to their mission. The forest was silent as they continued to walk until Roq finally spoke once again.

He was a cautious man, and had been suppressing his presence in the Force since his arrival. The only time he had truly relented was his initial meeting with the two. Jace had become quite skilled at hiding his presence in the Force, it was necessary for survival. He wasn't going to take a chance though and delegated more effort to hiding his presence. The Graarl advocated caution, if something was making Roq cautious, then Jace was apt to listen.

The Jedi trekked carefully through the forest behind Roq and Mordin. Though his eyes were ahead of him, he sent his conscience backwards to make sure they were not attacked from behind. Occasionally he would turn around and take a look the old fashioned way; he wasn't the only being that could suppress his presence after all. Jace kept getting the sense that something was off, but it was hard to pinpoint exactly what that was on a planet like Ziost.

His thoughts turned to the impressive ruins that appeared before them as they came out of the forest. The stone structure wasn't large by any standards but it felt as if the building had been infused with history. Ziost no doubt held many mysteries, most which were probably best left undiscovered. That being said, even a Jedi could appreciate the age of this place, and its ability to almost seemingly meld with the Force.

His admiration for the structure almost cost him his life. He had just sensed numerous presences coming towards them. Behind the structure, in the woods, all around them. It was an ambush, and a damn good one at that. Jace didn't have time to wonder how they had gotten so close without detection as the sound of a blaster fire suddenly rang through what had been a quiet night. The Jedi dived to the side just in time to dodge a rather deadly bolt of energy. As he came to his feet, he quickly studied their current situation.

Soldiers were all around them, or he assumed they were soldiers. There were no markings on their armor to indicate to whom they belonged. It was no mistake that they were here either, the Jedi were their target. Roq and Mordin both seemed fine, but even a child could tell that they were greatly outnumbered. It was then that Jace heard the low rumbling of an approaching vehicle not too far off, it seemed that these people weren't taking any chances. Jace remained silent as he removed his lightsaber from his belt, he was no doubt about to see why his two companions were Jedi Masters.

[Kella]

The air shifted, the Force stirred, and the ground trembled. The forest became suddenly alive.

Roq had a moment, but a moment was all he needed.

The raining blaster bolts were suddenly stopped short by a shimmering dome, just wide enough to encompass all three Jedi. 'Why' and 'How' were questions for later. Now was for surviving.

And maybe kicking some derriere while he was at it.

Roq backed towards Mordin and Jace, concentrating. As each bolt struck, the dome rippled and glowed brighter.

It wasn't just diffusing the energy. It was absorbing it.

And yet, it was all too soon before Roq could feel the energy slipping. Longer, he should have been able to hold it longer, and yet, if he did, he was sure to lose control altogether.

So the Graarl took a deep breath. Suddenly, the dome broke at its crown, collapsing in every direction towards the ground. The ring of concentrated energy exploded outward, sweeping a shockwave through the trees.

The forest was silent save for a nearing rumble.

But it would not stay that way for long. Roq had bought himself and his comrades some time. It was not much, but it was something. He could feel the vehicle drawing nearer, and the rumbling in the ground told him there was more than one.

A single brave blaster bolt opened the gates and the storm resumed. Roq's mind began to race ahead, and he summoned another smaller shield, one that protected only himself. He was confident in the capabilities of his fellow Jedi, though.

"Hello!" he said, voice resonating. "We come in peace! Just in case you were interested. If this is your home, we mean no intrusion! No hostility. Though, if you're enemies of the order... then yes intrusion! and hostility! So, cake and tea or the wrath of the order?"

His question was answered by the zing of blaster bolts and the growl of tank treads.

"Right! Wrath of the order it is." A glowing disc of energy sliced through the trees, and Roq watched as the black-clad soldiers dove out of the way. But he hadn't intended the attack to be lethal, and they soon resumed their fire. Roq reached with the Force, trying to get a better picture of the situation.

Time to get decisive...

[Silas]

It took him five breaths to get into the correct stance for any kind of defensive maneuver, exactly five. Suddenly, his cloak fell to the ground as did the long staff he used, for it might not be the best in this situation.

One. His breath inhaled as his finger curled around the cold air while the wall began to gather strength, or so it seemed. The bolts were absorbed, but something told him what was going on would be incredibly hard to keep controlled for very long. The sheer size of it amazed him, especially since the Force had never quite been his specialty, as the lightsaber came so much more naturally for him.

Two. One foot stepped forward to allow him a slight bend of the knees as the crown of the shield began to splinter, and for the slighter of the second he feared it might begin sooner than he’d expected. With his momentum on his right foot he released the breath with a calamity as the world began to shatter around him quite literally. His mind flipped through to the future with alarming variables; this could either be incredibly strenuous or completely without avail.

Three. The lightsaber leapt into his hands as the world seemed to slow down for this fraction of a moment. The ground went by in a fuzzy haze as he took another step towards the barrier.

Four. Suddenly, the ground shook as those machines came further, but the screech of his lightsaber as it burst into live gave him hope. There were three of them, they were outnumbered beyond comparison, the day was still young, and they would turn out victorious. One Jedi Knight was worth thirty regular men and two of their company were already masters.

Five. He flicked his wrists to bring the lightsaber in front of him as the shield pushed back against the imposing forces with enough strength to give all three of them a better chance.

With the tables turned he pulled his lightsaber around as he turned towards the others with an intent expression of courage on his face. “I don’t suppose tea would be completely out of the question. However, I’d suggest you drink fast.”

Light humor didn’t hurt in these situation as he found, especially in urban combat which he’d always found a rather dull affair. Open plains with large scale battles were much more interesting, but he’d suppose it would work for the moment as he twisted the blade in his hand to ricochet the first blaster bolt back towards where it had come from. He did not know if he’d hit his target, however his next attack was a large blast of telekinetic force that ripped from the ends of his clenched fist to pulse through the cold air. Second passed by as this cold, barren world suddenly teemed with life all with one direct purpose; kill the Jedi.

Perhaps his stance was offensive, perhaps it was defense, but one flowed right into the other as he began to dance with them. This was a kind of guttural, primitive dance to which he had devoted many years to the study of. These people were caught off guard by the display of power but far from scared by it, and if anything it simply fueled them more.

Keep Jace alive, a voice called to him as he searched for the young Jedi in the strange blue cloak, his eyes searched while he backed up a little. While aggression was appropriate in some places, right now he needed to protect these others above all else. For if they were not a team, what could they accomplish?

The Force had a purpose for all of this.