A Quest of Odd Parameter [open]

[Mr.Bøbert]

((ooc: Erm.... the lightsaber is green, not yellow.... lol))

Zeth took the saber back, stunned from seeing how Grizzelda had handled the weapon, and the way she talked about it was like a pilot looking over a friend's starfighter.
Then it hit him.
What she had said about the planet when he had called it Force-forsaken, her reflexes, her confidence, how she had thrown the knife and the grenade perfectly, and how she had just handled the lightsaber.... She was a Jedi. Or at least, a former Jedi. Or someone who had been trained in the Force somehow.... He suddenly felt a greater respect for her. Even now, she shrugged off Sinvrick's threat, and continued into the cave. Zeth hung the lightsaber on his belt, instead of hiding it in his pocket, and followed, still limping, though trying to hide it, a keeping an eye on Sinvrick through his 360 degree vision, and a hand on his holstered blaster.

[Kella]

(( It is? Oh fluff, I thought you'd said... nevermind. X) roffle. Ima go fix dat... Would love to post IC, but I've not much to say atm... hm.))

[Deceit *Drinker of Jawa-Juice*]

Strae watched Grizzelda keenly, taking special note in her graceful movements. In the back of her head, something clicked somewhere. She subconcsiously decided that she'd keep Grizzelda around. The notion seemed ridiculous, and Strae didn't even fully realize the decision for what it was. That it was even made. She just kept looking at the woman, her respect high, and her curiosity even higher.

In the wake of her thought, she almost forgot about Sinvrick. Almost. She still managed to keep herself in a position where there was somebody in between her and him, this time Zeth. Slowly, she opened her robe and pulled a large bag out of one of the inner pockets of the robe. The bag was no larger than a block of cheese, but much wider. She put it down in front of the cave along with a few other miscellaneous items.

The important thing about the bag, however, was that it held a very dangerous item. A remote detonator. Placing it casually against the wall, the bag hiding the item, she said alloud, "Just a few things weighing me down that I won't be needing. I expect it to still be here when I return." She said pointedly, almost conspiciously.

[Darksword]

OOC: Hmmm this looking interesting.... By the way, heya Kella/Ash, good to see ya. Anyways I have been considering if this looks like a good RP or not, and/or if I should bring in one of my charecters.... Though not sure. Anyways I'll shall just stay passive and observe for now....

[Kella]

ooc// Heya, Shinyman! ;D We'd be glad to have you, if you do so decide to join. Drop a line in the planning thread, (Link's in the first post) if you decide you want to join, and we can discuss plot options. X) //

Grizzelda's step was sure, but slow. There were many, many unknowns in a cave like this... it was a touch disconcerting. Grizzelda scanned the walls around, peering between the glowing fungi... Treacherous, they were, and deceptive. For they would light places that ought to have had shadows, yet leave some untouched... they would throw the light. Several times, Grizzelda noticed shadows which looked strangely humanoid... Though, the light must have been pulsating, for every time Grizzelda would look back for a second glance, the shadows were gone.
It took conscious determination to remain relaxed, but it was something Grizzelda happened to be quite used to. Strange noises echoed around the cave, most likely the plink of far-off water distorted by the cave's faceted walls... The noises almost sounded like footprints. Had she been any other place, Grizzelda would have put great stock in that notion... but here... all the facts told her she was not hearing what she thought she was. Then again, to ignore an instinct was probably foolish... She kept her mind open, and continued forward.
It was not long before she noticed something very peculiar, though it was quite entirely by chance. She was looking down at another shadow when she happened upon a bit of sludgy dirt; probably the decomposed remains of a Fungus. It was not the dirt that was interesting, however... it was the impression in the sludge. Four circles lay depressed, evenly spaces as if they were the points of a square. Two diagonals depressed slightly deeper and criss-crossed, each connecting two opposite circles. There was a lighter depression that ran between adjacent circles.
Grizzelda was no tracker, but if her life had depended on it... she would've said the tracks were made very recently... water had sprung up where the sludge was depressed, and the small, glistening puddle was slowly being re-absorbed...
Without looking up, Grizzelda motioned back to Strae.
"You're sharp; what do you make of this? It seems to be a foot-print, or some-such, but not of a species I've ever encountered." And that's what was bothering Grizzelda the most; there were very, very few species with which she was not familiar...

[Darksword]

OOC: Aye, alright then. Maybe I be interested... I haz one charecter that would fit very well: Derga Rem'nar, Grey Jedi Merc, assassin, bounty hunter, etc. He's basically a Dark Jedi but not with them haha. Anyways, I may bring him in..... on behalf of the ESA.... (look it up on here, if you don't know already).....

[Deceit *Drinker of Jawa-Juice*]

Strae noticed the sights and sounds as well. Even better than most, since she was naturally adept in the shadows. But she couldn't make out anything. However, she was absolutely sure they were being followed, though by what she did not know. It could be nothing, but she had noticed all of the tell tale signs. Some things in the shadows moved so silently, even when you could notice their markings, you passed it off. For instance, she had once been in a situation where there was a bodyguard hiding within a meeting room, a bodyguard who moved so quietly and swiftly, that when he passed by a curtain she had seen the flicker of movement, but thought it only the draft of the fan above.

Yes, they were being followed. Strae moved in on the foot print. She looked at it carefully, bending in close in the poor light source, making sure not to cast a shadow. After a moment she said, "This track was made anywhere between ten to thirty minutes ago. Its fortunate that this...dirt, was here...There are many creatures on Felucia we know not of, perhaps this is the print of one, however, it is in our best interests if I speculate...I did research before coming to this planet. Or more accurately, Tal told me stories of it. Do you know this planet was once inhabited by the Gossam? An odd, trickster race. Hooved feet, spread apart just about these widths. If I had to guess, I'd say its that. Also, we're being followed, and have been for a while." She replied, tilting her head and shifting her body into a position where she could dodge and move quickly, accentuated her point by pulling out a blaster pistol in her left hand and her vibro dagger, which gave off a soft glow.

[Sinvrick]

Shocked by the lack of the cunondrum Sinvrick holstered his weapons in disapointment. The others pressed forward further into the cave. Sinvrick decided that he would not be needing his jet pack for this part of the march. He dropped his pack and his helmet. He removed some of his armor on his arms to releave weight. The only weapons he now had on his was his trusty rifle and his pistol. He pressed forward as well rifle in hand. Eyes sharp and mind fully prepared for the insides of the cave. A representation of darkness, a friend that Sinvrick has known for many years now.

He caught up with the others, "Sorry bout back there, not use to rifles pointed at me that I can't put down, not use to this whole working with others thing aswell," Sinvrick awkardly spoke, friendly conversation was not his strong point. He then noticed Strea was in unease, "What's wrong Strea?" He asked gripping his rifle tighter preparing for more encounters. He stood waited for the news of the surrondings.

[Deceit *Drinker of Jawa-Juice*]

"I believe we're being followed, and I wasn't talking about you when I said it." She said, using the opportunity to walked forward and stopping the middle of everybody else. "Should we march on..." She asked, looking at Grizzelda.

[Kella]

Grizzelda nodded, her expression reserved. "No sense stopping now... We'll need to stay sharp though. There's no telling what..." Grizzelda trailed off, vision darting as if something caught her attention. An odd expression crossed her face, one of seeming concentration, mingled with surprise, but quickly faded, left with no explanation.
"No telling..." She repeated, as if dismissing the subject. Her expression relaxed again, Grizzelda continued down the tunnel, if not a bit more cautious in her mannerisms. Grizzelda sunk into a somewhat meditative state, focusing on what had caught her attention before... as if Felucia wasn't already strong in the force... she could feel other entities flitting about the edge of her consciousness... She was peeved by the fact she could tell nothing more than that they were there. Like phantoms, strong enough in the force that Grizzelda, with her bare comprehension, could identify their presence... like looking through a clouded glass; she knew something was there... she just couldn't tell what it was...
However, she didn't dwell on the difficulty too much. Whatever it was, if it was hostile, she had her blaster. Her confidence was unshaken; this was simply a new challenge, a new challenge to overcome. Perhaps the figures were even friendly. She wouldn't count on it, but it was possible.

~~~

Twenty minutes of silence and fleeting glimpses later, Grizzelda saw a change in the way the light hit the tunnel walls... the expanded outward... it was a cavern. For a moment, she wondered why they had not run into more carnivorous cave-dwellers... but that thought fled as she stepped into the cavern.

It was huge and grand; the ceiling must have extended all the way up to the surface; or at least close, for it was a good thirty meters above. Huge growths of fungus sprouted up along the ground, many fanning fronds in the shape of tree-branches. There were some stranger, smaller plants along the base of each of the large fungi.
Winding around the bases of the fungi was an underground pond, swirling erratically. The surface glowed florescent, algae shining pale blue, shimmering and swirling as larger animals zipped and swam through the pond.
Most stunning, however, was a great tree that grew in the center of the cave. But it did not root from the ground... no, it's roots wound into the ceiling, creating a dense network that formed the entire upper half of the cavern's inner wall. The trunk extended down thirty feet, then split into a million different fronds and branches. It bore no leaves, but instead, clumps of dull moss clung to the branch-like growths. The bark was soft white, mingled with streaks of violet vein. The plant exuded an ancient aura, and hummed in Grizzelda's mental eye as if its very lifeblood was the force.

Grizzelda, in all her travels, had never seen anything like it. Very few things could Grizzelda describe like she could describe that sight; breathtaking.

[Deceit *Drinker of Jawa-Juice*]

Strae looked up at the amazing tree. It captivated her beyond anything that had before. Looking about the cavern she felt like a small child. After a while of just taking in the beauty and harmony of the cavern, she smiled, lifted her head back and said, "The universe is quite grand. Only in the remote corners do you see a sight like this, though." She was so enthralled, she almost didn't care about anything else.

Almost. She carefully moved back to lean against one of the cavern walls. Observing the tree, she noticed that it seemed to pulse, seemed to have a life of its own. Not being a force sensitive person, she couldn't quite understand, but in the back of her mind she sort of knew. "Yes...The very remote corners."

[Mr.Bøbert]

Awestruck, Zeth stared up at the tree, roots coming from the ceiling. It was quite a sight. It seemed.... odd. It was as if it had its own life, but more so then the average plant-life. He was certain Grizzelda could feel it, even more so then he, as she was the Force-sensitive one here. "Kandosii..." he said quietly. "I'm assuming this is.... it...."



((ooc: Kandosii is a Mando'a word....))

[Sinvrick]

As the others gazed upon the marvel of the tree Sinvrick could care less, sights of beauty did no longer appeal to him. He opened his scanner, this was the plant that sustained the root that he was searching for. He then scanned for the location of a a good sample that he could seperate from the tree. He found a good spot and pulled a dagger out and began to carve. Once the root was extracted he pulled a circular ring that opened into a glass vile that enclosed itself automaticlly around the sample.
"We have what we came for, its time to leave this vile planet, before what ever or whomever is following us now, gets a jump on us, agreed?" Spoke Sinvrick.

Sinvrick attached the sample to his belt, "I will hold onto the sample for now, if we are all agreed?" He asked, expecting seperate rifles and blasters and knifes to be pointed at him with his question. "And before you all point and shoot, hear this I have no ship here anyway, so even if I stole this from you all, I wouldn't be able to get off planet, so this is the most logical choice, to avoid you lot to kill each other later once we get back to the ships," He explained. He scanned the group for body language waiting for what came next.

[Kella]

Grizzelda was about to make some comment as to Sinvrick's callousness, but she stopped cold as soon as his blade touched the root of the tree. The wave of pain eminating from the tree would have been crippling if Grizzelda were any more attuned to the force. As it were, she felt as if she'd been electrocuted, sparks of pain zinging along her muscles and through her head. She grimaced deeply.
The strange growths at the base of the fungi began to sway, as if rocked by some undetectable wind... But no, they weren't just swaying, they were... moving. Grizzelda was suddenly aware of the humanoid shape supporting each growth. Though, now she saw that the growth seemed to be the head of each creature...
Masks... Ornate masks...
Grizzelda quickly scanned each creature up and down, though they began to walk toward her and the others. To Grizzelda, they still looked like walking fungi; what, with the blue-green color of their skin, and the wild, frond-like masks. They each had four arms; two main ones that ended in four suction-cup like fingers, and another set that sprouted from the backs of the first, with three long, more mobile fingers. They all walked on two legs, each ending with a four-toed foot. Exactly the proper size and shape to have been the cause of the footprint earlier....
They've been following us.... Why do I not like the sound of that...
It was impossible to read their facial expressions around the mask, and Grizzelda wasn't the best at reading body language of completely alien species. She'd never seen anything like these. Which was saying something.
They must be native to Felucia...
One, larger than the others, approached fastest. He was speaking lowly in a strange tongue; though if Grizzelda's life depended on it, which it did, she would have guessed he was quite angry. Presumably due to the severing of the root. There was also the fact that these being seemed as tightly tied to Felucia's Aura of Force as the rest of the Flora and Fauna. Grizzelda got the distinct impression that they were angry, but cautious. Yet certainly sentient.
Grizzelda fought the urge to take a step backwards, resisted the need to glance around. No; some signs of fear and uncertainty were universal, and she wasn't about to go display two of them. She instead listened, and heard several more approaching from beyond her vision.
More and more emerged from the shadows, each coming forward, each hissing more angrily than the last. Grizzelda's hand found her way to her blaster.
"Sinvrick... I do not think you will live to regret that."


ooc// Don't you just love reclusive aliens? Felucians. Pic of a Felucian. //

[Mr.Bøbert]

As soon as Sinvrick cut a slice out of the root, the tree... radiated... something. Pain. Zeth felt pain, as well. As if he'd been shocked. Sinvrick apparently decided he would carry the root. Zeth looked into the dark shadows and saw something moving. He activated his night vision, and then saw... fungus. Moving fungus. "Shab, these must be natives," he said, his hands drifting towards his pistols. "Way to go, di'kut." he said to Sinvrick."


((ooc: lol, I'm reading the latest Republic Commando book, Order 66, and they use Mando'a alot, which has made me want to use it more often, lol))

[Deceit *Drinker of Jawa-Juice*]

Strae knew immediately that Grizzelda's reaction had something to do with the force. And she also knew that she herself didn't care about that. The next thing she noticed was the movement. Felucians, or strange plant people as she knew them, started moving in. Strae narrowed her eyes and whispered into her ear piece, "Native Danger. Lots of it. Prepare for possible attack, set the bomb."

In most situations Strae had this wonderful way of disappearing entirely. Not today, for two obvious reasons. The first was that she was holding a glowing dagger that basically screamed, "HERE I AM!" The second was that she was fighting on their turf, and they obviously had easier ways of seeing things than she. Backed up against the wall, she was starting to edge toward the exit.

She noticed then that there was something above her. It wasn't a sight or hearing thing, just that tingling feeling you get when something is really close or you just know its over there. Immediately she rolled forward a few feet, coming up on one knee. She spun around, her attire made of tough enough cloth not to scratch. ( As if she'd actually care. ) The second she was turned around she used her spin momentum to throw the dagger in her left hand. She wasn't an expert as throwing knives, but it wasn't made to kill.

The dagger bounced right off the Felucian, hitting hilt first. But it did make the warrior Shrub Man thing flinch. An instant later Strae had dived forward, jammed her blaster tip into the eye socket of the damned thing and fired. There was a loud screech, the thing flew back, its head burning and an odd colored ichor coming out along with smoke. She moved the tip up the rest of its head and put two more shots into its skull.

Turning to the exit, Strae decided she wanted to not be here anymore. Stopping in her tracks she said, "Anyone got a torch?" As four of the Felucians blocked the exit tunnel. "Cause I'm thinking we should burn our way out."

[Sinvrick]

Surrounded, Sinvrick couldn't be happier. This was either due to the fact that he had just extracted the root for a pay day, or that they have been following us since we entered the cave, possibly killing their pet and intruding in their home. Sinvrick shrugged at the thought. He pulled his dagger and sword out just as Strea asked if anyone had a torch. "Well I guess thats my cue," Sinvrick sighed. With a running start toward the exit where the group of threats was largest he armed his flame thrower and torched the plant people. "BEST FOLLOW ME GUYS, I DON'T THINK THEY WILL RESPOND TO WELL TO THIS!" He shouted. Half way through the pack his arm began to beep, his fuel was cutting low on his flame thrower, most likely to the amount that he had used it on the rankor, "THIS WONT LAST LONG SO GET A MOVE ON!" He shouted. He had about five minutes worth of fuel after that he would have to rely on his blades and blasters.

Sinvrick's mind had jolted with excitement with all of this. He always loves attacking such large groups with little chance of success. However this plan had a chance of greater success, flames against plant life, Sivnrick didn't even have to go with a gut feeling on this one, he knew that torching fungus people or plant people or plant fungus people or whatever people, people always burn well, and that thought always makes Sinvrick happy in a very sick and twisted way. This is Sinvrick Reaper Hawlks.

[Deceit *Drinker of Jawa-Juice*]

Strae kept close to Sinvrick, though notably behind him and not to the sides where flames could hit. As the plant people lit on fire, she shot them with her blasters, not wanting any flaming shrubs to come running up to them, hindering them or even blowing Sinvrick up as the fire collided. She signalled the others, "Cover our rears as we make progress forward." Strae also used the lightsource provided by the fire to look up, making sure none of the little bastards were using their suction cups to cling to the ceiling. She saw one of them, and quickly fired. The thing got such a jolt that it fell down, right into the path of the flame thrower. "I gotchya covered." She said, prompting him to move.

[Kella]

Grizzelda backed up now. She pressed back against the tree, eyes wary, as the others ran on. Her gut told her to stay. Grizzelda listened to her gut.
A feeling of forboding like a knotted viper settled in her stomach as she watched Sinvrick prepare to fire his flamethrower...

Pain. Unmistakable pain. Grizzelda could feel it in the air, feel it in the body of every Felucian that passed her. Blood-lust. She suddenly felt something rear up inside her consciousness, some primal instinct.
Kill, kill the ones who hurt the tree... kill...
Another wave of pain shot through her body, scouring like scathing water. Grizzelda buckled and fell to her knees. Coincidentally, she also stopped touching the tree. The pain immediately subsided.
That was the thing about the force... There were times when being aware of its biggest intentions was handy, useful. And then there were times like this, when it made getting the job done properly nigh on impossible.

Grizzelda looked up to find two masks glaring down at her. She Grimaced. This was not going to be fun... negotiations already down the drain, Grizzelda saw no reason to put on a peaceful front. And so, she turned around suddenly, blade-hilt in palm. This time she was ready; and as she grabbed the tree, she ignored the pain, the call. She raised her dagger and cut off only the very tip of the root; though it felt as if she were cutting off her own limb. She'd withstood worse before, though... Grizzelda let her mental recollection stay at that.
Quickly, she pocketed the root, and spun around.

She was alone.

The others had moved on ahead, and it was down to Grizzelda... and five Felucians, who all hissed with blood-lust.
Grizzelda cursed.
"What a fine day this is turning out to be... You know, I really would love to stay, guys, but I've got to fly. Sorry."
And with that, Grizzelda suddenly ducked aside, shoving her way between two before they'd realized she'd been so bold as to do so. Grizzelda sprinted head-long ahead, ducking and dodging blows swiped in her direction.
She did not avoid them all, however, as soon earned herself several bruises.
"Now," she huffed, "This... is my idea... of a... Good time." Her last two words were strained as she kicked a Felucian in the gut, preventing him from coming back and taking another swipe at her head.
She sprinted onward, though slightly faster than she should have been. She could feel that odd halo around her muscles; she knew she was not operating simply of her own power.
Soon, she caught up with Sinvrick and Strae.
"Thanks for waiting--" She ducked another swipe, voice strained, but still drenched in sarcasm, "-- Buddies."

[Deceit *Drinker of Jawa-Juice*]

"Awe, I was just about to go and get you." Strae retorted, her tone indicating that she was jesting, which actually hid the fact that she really was about to turn back for Grizzelda, though she did not understand why, and passed it off as repaying a favor. In the back of her head there was a split-second thought, 'Perhaps I enjoy this one beyond curiosity.' But was immediately dismissed. She punctuated her jest by firing a blaster over Grizzelda's head, hitting a tall Felucian right in the face. It was an aimed and calculated feat, Strae wasn't bad with blasters, but she was no gunsman as her current travel companions were.

"Once we've gotten out of the cave, I suggest we all get any dropped items in one quick swoop, cause I've had Tal and Will prepare something just in case I needed to make a quick exit and lose a couple of foes." She didn't add that she had actually planned on blowing up the entrance and caving it in on them.