Taking some action sounded like a good idea. Rather tiring to always be sitting around when the fur hits the turbofan...

He nodded then at Galen and took a step back. "I'm in for getting the hell out of here myself and doing something about all this," he admitted, pretty much stating his former thoughts aloud. "Something tells me whomever wants us to take this layimng down, and perhaps even expects us to. Or maybe they are smart enough to know we are going to do something about this. In either case, let's surprise them...

...and disappoint them in the process as much as we can."

[ 03-21-2006 01:18 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Jasyn Lancaster ]

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Thoran pushed hard on the door, sending it open the rest of the way and just past Jasyn. Thoran pushed his way inside, then shut the door quickly.

“All right, I’m sorry about that, but I am really nervous about being out there. I don’t know if I can make you believe me on short notice, but if you have a place to go and a way to get there quickly, then I suggest we do it now. Hopefully you are going to preserve Gray here and take her someplace safe? I really truly hope so, or else I might as well leave now.”

He looked around the room at the strange looks he was receiving.

“All right, short version, then we leave. I was a slave to the Master, he made me do it, I am free with the help of a little imp, I want revenge, I can bring her back, not safe here, let’s go. So whoever can do the opening portal thing, do it!”

[ 03-21-2006 01:20 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Thoran ]

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He stood quiet, listening to the rush of words pouring out of Thoran's mouth, waiting for him to finish before speaking up once more.

"I can take us all to Khar Delba, or anywhere else for that matter," he said, the words simple, his tone very, very polite.

"That is, if all are in agreement as to where--?"

He cast a meaningful glance about the room, letting it rest briefly upon each one's face before it stopped upon that of the apparently subdued Phalomir.

--------------------

“If you are truly Thoran,” he said calmly, “then in ordinary circumstances the best thing for us all would be for me to kill you here and now.’

Phalomir lifted Thoran off of his feet.

“But these are not ordinary circumstances, and I am most curious to hear this story, especially the part when you explain the phrase ‘he made me do it’.”

Phalomir released Thoran, who coughed to regain his breath.

“You have strange powers, that is true,” continued Phalomir. “But if I for one second suspect you are betraying us, I will kill you.”

“Watch him, my friend, and remember who he says he is,” said Phalomir, turning his head to Panthar. “If you feel it necessary, knock him unconscious.”

He then turned to the bed and bent to pick up Jharmeen’s body. He cradled her in his arms, and visions filled his head of a time that seemed just moments before, when he held her close and felt truly alive for the first time since he could remember.

“Aelymaar,” he said hoarsely. “There is a special grove of trees on the planet Dagobah. Let us at least begin there. It is foremost in my mind, if you need to use our link to find it.”

[ 03-21-2006 01:48 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Phalomir ]

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"It shall be done, and easily," he said simply. Then raising his head he closed his eyes, concentrating on the link established between them, following this neuron, jumping that synapse, flitting through the Sith Lord's mind at the speed of thought itself.

There, in a particularly warm and cherished portion of Phalomir's brain, a ganglion pulsed a brilliant blue. A slow smile spread across Aeylmaar's features as, his eyes still closed in concentration, he continued forward...

And quite suddenly found himself, strangely enough, standing beside a bed laden with silken draperies and tapestries of fur and velvet and richly embroidered upholsteries. It looked completely natural, sitting as it was in the midst of a wild and primal swamp, surrounded by giant gnarl-trees upon whose bark millions of white spiders skittered up and down.

"Ahh yes."

The image of Aeylmaar now within Phalomir's brain actually smiled.

"Spiders."

The smile upon Aeylmaar's own features broadened then as, the movement almost dreamlike, he raised his arm and opened a portal in the fabric of space and time. The rent in the very atmosphere pulsed with a brilliant green light; odd bird-calls and hoots resounded faintly in the opulent chambers of the Dark Lady of the Warriors.

Aeylmaar opened his amber eyes, nodded toward the Portal he had created.

"Shall we go?" he asked, the smile still lingering on his lips. Then nodding once, he stepped forth, through the portal, and onto the rich and loamy soil of Dagobah.

--------------------

This place she knew of, had heard much of...

...but had never visited herself. Now was the time. For Jharmeen, and for nothing else. For no one else.

So, without hesitation, Shayla took a step inside the portal...

...her heart searching for answers that her mind was well aware of...
(((OCC: Follow Shayla into Within the Web of Life in the CSWU.)))

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(((OCC: Follow Phalomir, Jharmeen, Panthar, and Thoran into Within the Web of Life in the CSWU.)))

[ 03-21-2006 03:09 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Phalomir ]

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"Well then!" I said with a jocularity I was far from feeling.

"I suppose we can call this a 'here we go again' moment, ey? Been there, done that; anything's better than sticking around here with Rhylla turning our former friends into enemies, huh."

I swallowed thickly, tugged Terrin forward, capturing Darra's hand en route and dragging her along with us as well. A quick glance caught the rest of Terrin's men coming along in our wake; the only one not moving was the darkly shadowed individual who had been standing quietly off to one side after making his somewhat mystifying comment about Jharmeen's death.

Even from where we stood within Jharmeen's chambers the scent of greenness and moisture and overpowering life hit me. I drew in another deep breath, relishing the taste after so much darkness and death.

"Well, I hope Fido can find us; he did say he was going to help us too ya know--"

Still muttering along these lines I stepped into the portal, dragging my husband and daughter along with me, hoping the rest of our party would follow and not balk at the very last minute. I mean, Jasyn had spoken fightin' words moments ago, but this sure as Khaandon made li'l green worrts was gonna separate him from his beloved Sith brandy...

((OOC: Galen, Terrin and Darra follow Aeylmaar et. al. into Within the Web of Life in the "CSWU" forums, thank you.))

[ 03-21-2006 03:23 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Galen ]

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I bade her sit upon the fur-covered four-poster bed that dominated the room. "I assume you have many questions my lady, so I do invite you to ask."

I smiled and sat down, the tome sitting in my lap, seeming as light as a feather as I looked to her.

--------------------

But better to be on the move than to stand here and become Sithy fodder, he figured, and stated as much to his companion who nodded in agreement. So he stepped on through the portal, Matt following after, to a sight he couldn't have even dreamed up after an evening's worth of brandy consumption...

[](((OCC: Follow Jasyn and Matt into Within the Web of Life in the CSWU.)))[/b]

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Not that she feared him, no. She knew she was more than a match for even his honed magickal abilities. But even though she was furious with her father for subjecting her to this marriage, she hadn't quite divorced him completely from her heart. For now it would be best to suffer quietly along, and see where all might lead.

So she allowed Rykounagin to treat her softly, gently, using the anger to silently hone her mind. As soon as he had settled her upon the bed and made his final comment, she was more than ready with a reply.

"Yes, I do have questions," she shot back.

"Tell me more of this book; why it called out to you, and more importantly, what did it tell you? And why in all the universe would you concern yourself with such a thing anyway, when you are now a far greater thing than a mere--"

She sniffed, staring distastefully down her nose.

"Cult assassin."

--------------------

I ran a finger over the binding of the book and looked at it, slightly bemused. "It told me why I changed this way. It's part of the blood harvest that's comming up. An old tradition in a way."

I looked up from the tome. "It taught me many old and forgotten traditions of the cult, many... arts that are no longer in practice." I picked it up and held it in one hand, then tossed it aside and smiled at her.

"It is in the past, and is something that I no longer need to know of or remember."

--------------------

"Then you shall need this-- this thing no longer. I do not wish it to distract you further, or to ever come between us again."

With that she flicked out one hand in an almost offhanded gesture, aimed directly at the ancient Assassin's book. it immediately burst into flame, dissolved into ash, which in turn dissipated into thin air.

The dark gleam in ShaRhylla's eyes turned feral.

"Actually, Rykounagin, I am quite pleased that this little... event transpired. For it brought a small matter to my attention, one which I feel we should immediately deal with. Indeed I have taken the first steps in doing so; My Lord-"

Smiling prettily, she scooted over closer to Rykounagin, snuggled up against him, reached up one slender hand to toy deftly with a lock of his hair.

"It would please me greatly to rid our society of this blight, this unneeded blotch that has existed within our population for far too long a time.

"I wish to eliminate the Cult of Assassins altogether; destroy every bit of their artistry, their artifacts, their devices, their secrets and traditions. Bury them so deeply that nothing will unearth them, not even if given the rest of eternity in which to do so."

--------------------

As it faded, I began to catch her words:"...please me greatly to rid our society of this blight, this unneeded blotch that has existed within our population for far too long a time. I wish to eliminate the Cult of Assassins altogether; destroy every bit of their artistry, their artifacts, their devices, their secrets and traditions. Bury them so deeply that nothing will unearth them, not even if given the rest of eternity in which to do so."

I smiled faintly at this, already thoughts of destroying he I hated most of all coursing through my black heart. "I shall gladly perform such a duty for my dark lady."

I placed an arm around her side gently and turned to regard her, my eyes catching her own sight-seeing depths. "Tomorrow I shall leave with a squad of warriors to aid in the tracking- and to bear witness to the destruction of the ancient flaw. I know of only one surviving member. And I think I know how to find him."

I smiled and in turn with my dark lady's hand, ran a fingertip between her scarlet locks, another finger gently brushing the side of her horns. "It will be a privelege and honor to erase him from existance... I have long awaited the chance."

[ 03-21-2006 11:20 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Rykounagin ]

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ShaRhylla closed her eyes, snuggled against Rykounagin more closely. Let herself flow limpidly against him.

"Whoever this remaining member is, I wish his head brought to me. I wish every last trace of everything having to do with this cult totally eradicated from our worlds within a fortnight.

"There should be no one to bring it back, and no means by which to ever do such a thing. Quite the contrary; I wish you to eliminate this hazard so thoroughly and in such a manner that it would strike terror into the heart of anyone who would dare to even think of trying."

Turning her face to his, she opened her eyes and smiled up at him, one fang peeping from beneath her lips.

"This shall be our first official act as Dark Lord and Lady of the Warriors. Show me you are worthy of the title, that my father did not choose you for naught."

--------------------

"I will let him die in a most agonizing way..." I let out a quiet chuckle, and closed my eyes. "And if you wish... I shall have you brought to be present to watch an ancient and foul dynasty end."

I exhaled slowly, and as I did so, I felt as though something had left me. Humanity? My past? Whatever it was, it had lifted a burden, and as I inhaled, I felt myself take in something new... something stronger...

I smiled wickedly, and rose slowly with her under the crook of my arm. "Let us eat for lunch. I shall then go to select my cadre, chose a vessel, rest for the night, and tomorrow morning, set off to slay the last of the assassins."

--------------------

"Indeed, it is best to feast before the slaughter, is it not?" she smiled up at him, then gave no further thought to anything other than gaining the Dining Hall that they might break their fast.

Albeit somewhat late in the day.

--------------------

I looked too my dark lady, and smiled faintly. "I think finding a proper vessel is in order for the purging. Will you attend me? Or shall you stay in the temple?"

As I asked, I rose from the table and straightened my robes, smiling down at her from my newfound -if false- height.

--------------------

"Why, but of course I will attend you," she smiled as sweetly as she was able, one fang peeping out upon her lip.

"What in all the universe would bind me here, affairs of state? Pah; not a subject I wish to entertain at the moment."

Coming around the table she came up to Rykounagin and stood before him.

"A politician I most certainly am not; shall we go then, and on the route you may perhaps regale me with the delicious ideas that are undoubtedly running through your mind..."

[ 03-27-2006 11:14 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by ShaRhylla ]

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"There are many things in my mind. I hold no love for the assassin that I shall seek, and I have many thoughts as to how to dispose of him. There could be a flesh knit," As I spoke, entered the garden, the gentle nature of the place unnoticed by my harsh thoughts. ", in which I would remove his flesh and create a bolt of leather from it while he still breathed."

I smirked at the image of Sa'kal screaming in raw agony as I performed the deed.

"Or perhaps a Kekin'agrin, a wire cacoon. In this, I should wrap him in a net of micro razor wire, attach said wires to hooks, and then let him fall. The result is quite effective I can assure you."

I remembered the time my father, my old father, had caught a mynock, and seen it as an excellent example. He had done the said task, and that night we had feasted upon very fine, but most disgusting slices of meat.

"I could also merely eviscerate him, but that would be poor sport." I chuckled at the thought of watching his head merely roll across the floor.

As we progressed towards the starport, I continued naming many various and gruesome ways to undo the single individual I sought to destroy, from slicing to burning, to voiding him in space and seeing how long his body held it's preassure together.

As we boarded the underground that led towards the starport, I spoke a last few words. "Is there one you find appealing?"

--------------------

"This is a matter of your choice, my Lord," she smiled darkly, her eyes glittering.

"For what do I, a simple Lady, know of such dark deeds? Let your background arise one final time in the elimination of the same; this is most pleasing to me, and is something I could never come close to even imagining myself doing."

Yet even as she spoke the words she could not help but feel an unexpected little grumble, deep in her core, as if some abyssal, forgotten portion of her very self disapproved of the words she now spoke.

Liar-rr...

--------------------

"Of course you wouldn't..." I murmured, looking over the various sith fighters. "It seems a sith fighter will be our vessel."

"Tell me-" I said, turning back towards the underground. ", do you have a recommendation of warriors to accompany me upon this small crusade?"

The underground transit started to speed back towards the temple as the question was finished.

--------------------

"I should go to rest..." He murmured, sitting next to her now, sith brandy sitting in goblets before them, both having been used to varying degrees that evening.

--------------------

She could do as she pleased... and at the moment what pleased her was to just rest there, sipping upon her freshly filled goblet, twining a lock of her luxurious hair about one finger while she eyed her new lord and husband.

It had been... fun assisting him in choosing the strongest of the warriors to accompany him. Though that he didn't need so much as one to come along didn't deter her in the slightest as, after having returned to the temple from Ch'arlingua, where the fastest of the fighters had been ordered to begin preparations for morning departure, she led him to the barracks in the temple proper. There she had prowled the offerings like a hungry tuk'ata, running her eyes over this one, her hands over another, and letting Rykounagin know which ones she thought were the ablest.

Not to mention the most loyal.

Now, the comfort of the small lounge in the rear of the Dining Hall was their reward.

She smiled again at her recent memories and took another sip.

"Must you depart so soon; the night is yet young," she said, letting her voice go soft and low to mask the slurring of the words that she spoke.

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"Perhaps I could be tempted to stay... of course, we could always call for more and have our own private party..." Some part of him knew how cliche' it was to say that, but yet again, this was not his most clear of thoughts.

"I will be away for a short time. So for that, I will gladly spend as much time with you as you like." He smiled, an arm about her shoulders.

--------------------