In-Depth Exploration [MM8]

[Moyr Ahaya]

Virginia's presence gave Moyr some reassurance, but she still remained scatter-minded. She approached Hala's side. For some reason, she shifted to a whisper, shooting side-glances. "Ready to to deploy them?"

[Col. Hala Moraal]

Hala nodded and tapped the controls on her datapad, causing a few of her flotilla of mini-drones which had been retrofitted to be water tight to hover forward. With a quick tech check that audio and visual were coming in from each, she keyed them to begin a search of the depths of the swamp.

[Dapper Dog]

OOC: Computer check at Hard with a setback due to the space weather.

[Moyr Ahaya]

[Would Codebreaker apply to this?]

[Col. Hala Moraal]

Hard computer with setback, plus assist: 2eA+1eB+3eD+1eS 0 successes, 2 threat


Despite their hardening against the wet, the solar flare above still seemed to be playing haywire with the remote's connection.

[Dapper Dog]

[Would Codebreaker apply to this?]

OOC: That sounds like a slicing tool, you are not slicing or breaking codes but controlling drones underwater in a place strong with the Dark Side in the rain during a time when the star is putting out bursts of radiation that interfere with electronics.

[Dapper Dog]

Some of the drones are lost... one moment they are there and then another they simply cease to be. The drones cannot relay an accurate image of what is going down there it may require someone going in there personally.

[Moyr Ahaya]

[Right. May I try this after Hala or one check per time slot?]

[Dapper Dog]

[Right. May I try this after Hala or one check per time slot?]

OOC: You can try again, difficulty increased to Daunting with the setback due to solar activity.

[Moyr Ahaya]

"We're not good at this." Moyr fumed. "Pull the rest back." She crossed her arms in quiet fury. "This thing in there doesn't allow us to be smart with it."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

Hala did as she was bid. Once the drones which could be recalled had returned, she wiped and cleaned them off and packed them away.

[Moyr Ahaya]

"Wait." Moyr interrupted promptly. "I want to see if any of them brought something interesting back on it." She started to examine them for marks or substances. And reached through the Force.

MM8. Sense. Mask.: 1eF 1 Light Side


[1 Dark Pip]

[Dapper Dog]

The drones feel dark and foreboding but otherwise just covered in muck and water. They have a resonance of darkness but as they are not organic thinking creatures that was about it.

[Moyr Ahaya]

"Enough."

I'll master my fear.

MM8. Swimming. Enhance. Mask.: 2eA+1eF+2eD 1 threat, 2 Light Side


MM8. Swimming. Forgotten Setback.: 1eS 1 failure


[Destiny to Flip Light to Dark, Using 2 Dark Pips for Successes and 1 to cancel Threat]

Moyr took out the breather out of her survival kit and put it on her head, then entered the lake.

"Get back to the ship and alert Gunnie to hover over me. If whatever happens and I can be rescued, you'll know what to do."

I hope Baes was right and this monster is sentient.

She started the crowl, sticking to the surface.

[Possibly with Sense on to detect the monster ahead of time.]

[Dapper Dog]

Yll'than.jpg (35.62 KiB) Viewed 10176 times

Moyr swims down into the mucky deep until the light no longer pierces into the deep and still she swam growing colder… things were down here… it was not as dead as it looks from the surface as she breaks free into clear but dark water and sees a large shape undulating through the water. Vibrant purple bioluminescence lines the back of this long serpentine thing as it turns what appears to be a head towards her and she feels pressure in the water…

The head is as large as she is and it has long graceful limbs that extend into the dark. It does not appear to have a mouth in the sense of humanoids but where one would be there is light filtering out… brief but chaotic flashes of purple.

[Moyr Ahaya]

Moyr regarded the creature with intense curiosity, trying to channel her earlier fear of into into a passionate thirst of knowing what it was, even though the awe remained. She kept the distance the creature had indirectly established, and reached out through the Force, exposing its thoughts. If this aquatic giant was as infused with the Force as it looked, it could probably read her mind anyway.

I am Moyr Ahaya. I've come to know about you and your role. I've been intensely curious who you are since I discovered your existence.

[Dapper Dog]

The creature replies with searing images in her thoughts.

You have entered my home, why should I not destroy you?

[Moyr Ahaya]

She accepted the searing in order to respond.

Because you likely haven't talked with anyone interesting in a very long time. And I am interesting. I bring a story of someone who might have visited you before.

[Dapper Dog]

Give me your words.

The creature lazily sways back and forth in the water. It undulates with ease in the clear dark waters and emanates darkness and mystery. Even directly in front of her, it is… hard to make out all the features.

[Moyr Ahaya]

I believe you may once have been visited by one calling himself Hazzan, a member of the ancient Sith race. In his time, he produced a map of stars and a holocron marking his spiritual journey. I have discovered several of those places, and one of them was marked here, on Evocar. I followed the local legends to reach this lake.

Moyr observed the creature with intensity.

I am a disciple of the Dark Side, as were all the ancient Sith. But Hazzan's journey led him to the Light. He was so horrified by the secrets he discovered and the rituals he learned that he fled from the power he had accrued. Another, my contemporary, calling herself Zash, has discovered many of those secrets Hazzan left behind and tried to gain power quickly through them, but proving herself too weak and unmaking her physical body in the process, changing herself into a living corpse. I refuse to believe these are the only two possible outcomes. I've come to learn the truth of it, and to find ways to destroy Zash.

Mesmerised, she mentally smiled.

Tell me about something about yourself, Guardian. How shall I address you?

[Dapper Dog]

You come for knowledge, you are a short lived thing. It matters not what you do.

The creature circles Moyr slowly.

Names. Yll'thal.

[Moyr Ahaya]

Creatures like you, Yll'thal, who have all the time in the world may build legacies across millennia. Creatures like me must rely on the intensity, but sometimes all it requires to make a difference is a spark. The Dark Side is about change. I represent a revolt against stagnation, I want to see the galaxy remade through conflagration. So it does matter what I know and what I can in my time.

She did not turn when she was at the back, focused on the clarity and strength of her thoughts.

[Dapper Dog]

Offering.

The creature drifts lazily once more waiting for a reply.

[Moyr Ahaya]

What would satisfy you, Yll'thal?

[Dapper Dog]

Blood.