Occultastic [MA6]

[Nekoinu]

Ralnorrei glared at them both and then turned back to face the ancient Sith. "We are going to have a SERIOUS chat about this afterwards!" She bared her teeth and got to her feet. "You could help but I don't need it!"

She walked closer to the spirit inch by inch, the beams between them pressing together. "You think you're tough, don't you?! I am a slave to no one! Not any longer!" With a final scream, she pushed her energy into her opponent, sending into the raging storm.

"So be it," the traitorous Shadow Hand whispered as her form dissipated into dust.

The Zabrak then turned back to them, the fury apparent in her eyes. "Were you just standing by because you thought I had it or because you didn't want to help? Because if it was the latter, I swea-"

And before she could finish her sentence, she collapsed face first into the sand.

---

Ralnorrei:
D6 MA Dark Side is Strong?: 2eF 1 Light Side, 1 Dark Side


Shadow Hand
D6 MA Dark Side is Strong?: 5eF 4 Light Side, 3 Dark Side


Possession:
D6 MA Possession: 3eP+1eA+3eC+2eD+2eS 3 successes, 7 threat, 1 Triumph

[Zeno Deathwright]

"She's proven her strength of will," he says with a look to Moyr. He then reaches out to sense the presence of the Shadow Hand.

D6 MA, Sense, Shadow Hand?: 1eF 1 Dark Side

[Nekoinu]

The Shadow Hand had no more solid corporeal form in the realm, at least for the time being. Her presence was everywhere and yet nowhere in particular. However, it was clear that she was gathering hew power once more.

[Zeno Deathwright]

Closing his eyes, he reaches out towards the spirit, to provide what assistance he can to help her reform.

[Moyr Ahaya]

Moyr was unsure what had just transpired, but she had a feeling that it was something improbable. She thought she needed to determine two things though: what happened to Ral and if the environment changed in a way that a way out was discernible. She rose and cautiously approached the Zabrak.

[Nekoinu]

Ralnorrei was completely and utterly out of energy for the time being. Soon afterward, the former Shadow Hand reformed in front of them. "Thank you for your assistance, even if it was unnecessary." She then looked down at the unconscious Zabrak. "It would appear her will has severed me from possessing her, though it has incapacitated her. Another host will have to do."

She smiled at Moyr first. "My first instinct was to try overtaking you. However, in my bout I sensed that she was not the one I foresaw all those centuries ago."

The ancient Sith bowed her head to both of them. "I would appreciate another potential host. But otherwise, you may transport yourself to my domain to learn the secrets I have promised."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"Wonderful," Zeno says with a nod.

[Moyr Ahaya]

"My experience tells me the spirits of your era feel best when inhabiting species close to your origins, like another Trueblood Sith or a Massassi. Magara-sha lives as a Massassi Queen of Yavin today. A search for a suitable host for you may take some time. The real question is what is your aspiration. To be a teacher, like you wish to be for us? Or to be an enabler of greater change as you were when you lived for the first time?"

Moyr had felt she would have been next in line if Ral had not been spiritually accosted.

"Your relic is now being held by a group of unworthy scum, but the advantage of it is that they have no power to countermand you, or us. But it may not be so forever. I expect other Sith Lords trying to infringe on your domain. How would you like that to play out?"

[Zeno Deathwright]

"A massasi host would not be a bad choice. Keeping your mind within a powerful body. It's likely the most ideal situation, but it would be some time before one could be brought or your relic could be taken to Yavin," he says with a nod.

[Nekoinu]

"I have heard that my people have changed over the centuries. Perhaps you are right in that I need to find one of them. A massassi may be acceptable but their Caste is not my own." A pause. "Am I not ushering in greater change by teaching you? But I believe I could do more by your sides."

The woman nodded. "I know the cult of which you speak. They were useful for me to peak your curiosities. As to their fates now, I do not care for what you do with them."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"I am indeed one to usher change when empowered by knowledge, for it lies at the heart of my commitment to the Qotsisajak. We will look for a suitable host and bring it to you. Are there teachings you can impart now, before we return from the vision to make preparations for your incarnation?"

[Zeno Deathwright]

Zeno nods in agreement, waiting to see what the spirit had to say.

[Nekoinu]

"It will take extensive time of study for me to impart my knowledge. However, I am sure that you sensed that my power emanates from the statue. Until my spirit is released, you may move my statue to a place of your choosing. It will strengthen you, though any other rival Sith will also benefit."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"I wonder. Would it be possible for you to... ride along with someone rather than residing in the statue? Until you could gain a host body of your own?" he asks.

[Moyr Ahaya]

"We'll need to make arrangements then." She glanced at Zeno, a plan forming in her mind. "What will become of her?" She pointed to the Zabrak. "Can you erase any recollection of what has transpired here from her mind, now that it is weakened? It would be useful for her not to remember that we found this vessel."

[Nekoinu]

"If I were to do so, the temptation to overtake you completely would be too tantalizing," she replied to Zeno's suggestion.

The ancient Sith looked down at the fallen Zabrak. "A wise course of action." She held out her hand over Ralnorrei and began to channel into it. "Her barrier is proving to be strong. However, her unconscious will only seeks to maintain her identity. A few memories are nothing." She looked up to them and smiled. "And one day you may learn to erase memories all the same."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"It might be best to keep it here for now, and try to cultivate the cult. See if we can't turn them into something more useful with the influence of our guidance and the relic," he says to Moyr.

[Moyr Ahaya]

Moyr was glad at least that was sorted out. She noded to the Shadow Hand in appreciation and agreement. Then listened to zeno.

"I was thinking more about slaughtering them and hiding the relic at this point. With how weak they are and how easy to find, the vessel is in constant jeopardy."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"True enough. They did bend pretty easily and it was clear they aren't too bright," he says with a nod. "Let's head back and take care of that then and find a new hiding location for it. Perhaps a different abandoned building in shadow town that's a bit more well hidden so that any of the cultists that are still out there can't just walk in."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"I was thinking about my ship. At least there is some real security there. It worked with the Rodian."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"Do you want to give me free reign of it? I know you still have concerns about me," he says with a curious look. The implication being that it should be in a neutral location if she did not wish to do so.

[Moyr Ahaya]

"I won't deny you the access to it. Not least because the Shadow Hand has stated that for her teachings to take ground there is a need for both you and me to accept them." She caught his gaze with her golden one. "I have my reservations but they are more related to your weakness than to your strength. Zash has her eyes on the Moon, maybe she's even secretly here. She has manifested herself twice in visions experienced here already. I bet she knows there are things here that can make a difference. We've long been looking for ways to empower ourselves that are independent of her and can be turned against her. If you see this as an opportunity of this kind, rather than as a trophy to bring to her like an obedient, fetching dog then I am willing to take the risk."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"This is knowledge that can be used against her. If I'm ever going to be able to move past her I need to gain more than just what I learn from her," he says. "The knowledge to be gleaned is something that can be used to defend myself and grow outside of what she knows. I wouldn't turn that over to her. She may be my master but unlike most I work with she is simply a mutually beneficial relationship rather than anything based on loyalty. She knows that I know about her other apprentice. She will make use of me until I become more hassle than I am worth and then she'll attempt to eliminate me I'm sure. And I'll do as assigned as long as it doesn't break my loyalties, which she knows."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"I understand your path, Zeno, perhaps more than anyone else." She nodded. "What I would like not to doubt is your ability to pull it off and through. So what I am betting on right now is for you to be strong and resilient, impervious to her manipulations and defiant when it matters." She put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. "But if you end up giving in on this one, I'll never believe in you again."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"Nothing to worry about. I imagine that if she learns about it then I'll have been tortured to death for the information, or she'll have ripped it from my mind and I died attacking her for it," he says with a chuckle, cavalier with thoughts of his death as always.