on a night so freezing cold the earth stood still

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Apr 29, 2024 1:00 AM

occlus in exalted

meaner-than-my-demons

Even amidst all her responsibilities, Darth Occlus always makes time to review the reports from her archaeological teams. The knowledge of the ancient Sith is hers by right only so long as she is the first to claim it. The Sphere of Mysteries is always snapping at her heels, looking for shortcuts in their research. So she is one of the first to know that one of her teams at a very promising site is being stalked by some sort of monster, people vanishing without a trace. Now, unexpected disappearance are, well, not unexpected in this line of work, but typically there are bones or blood spatters or tattered gear or evidence of some sort. Not so in this case. Men and women along without their entire loadouts, gone without a trace.

Worthy of her attention, she would judge. Whether this monster is a guardian for something greater, or a power to harness in itself, she will face it and prevail.

So off she takes herself to Derit IV, to rendezvous with the expedition. She ascertains the pattern by speaking with the survivors and sets off on her hunt. Which is quickly successful, of course. Occlus is a Sith Lord and incredibly strong in the Force. One would have to be a great deal more powerful than some simple- giant snake with a mirror face? Hm. Not what she was expecting, but it should be simple enough to deal with. It begins to lunge, she makes to parry with her lightsaber-

-and then she is elsewhere.

Total: 12

Posts Per Page:

Landscape/Narrator

Murloc

The wind is strong, blowing around the snow into peaks, and then flattening them again. It’s not winter, not truly - it’s only a few inches deep, and not too cold yet,* even though night is falling.

A woman stands nearby, staring out into the distance. She is beautiful, like a statue. Her face is so pale as to be white, her lips are blue, and her hair a deep black, flecked with snowflakes. She stands atop the snow, as if she weighs nothing.

*15-20 degrees Fahrenheit

Darth Occlus

meaner-than-my-demons

Diaeresis

Assuredly unseasonal for any part of the Derit system with a breathable atmosphere. Occlus raises her saber to cast its bloody glow further.

"Who are you?" she calls out.

Landscape/Narrator

Murloc

The woman turns, and smiles slightly. She pauses for a long moment before speaking.

”Just a traveler, ma’am. Perhaps I might share your fire?”

Darth Occlus

meaner-than-my-demons

Diaeresis

"I do not have one to share."

Landscape/Narrator

Murloc

Her expression turns puzzled, then angry. She lunges for the other, trying to get skin contact.

Darth Occlus

meaner-than-my-demons

Diaeresis

How would she like lightsaber contact instead? Occlus twists to the side to dodge and flicks her blade down and out to cut off the woman's hands in the same smooth motion.

Landscape/Narrator

Murloc

She doesn’t like that at all! Burn marks appear across her wrists, and she draws back, shrieking in pain. Her hands, however, stay attached.

She stares longingly at the light for a long moment, and then attempts to disengage.

Darth Occlus

meaner-than-my-demons

Diaeresis

Occlus will shoot lightning at her to encourage this behavior. About twice as much as would leave a standard humanoid with permanent after-effects, as the creature is so unnaturally resistant to lightsabers.

Landscape/Narrator

Murloc

The woman - crumbles. Her body falls over, inanimate, and reverts to the snow and ice from which it was made, already starting to be blown about by the wind.

Darth Occlus

meaner-than-my-demons

Diaeresis

How odd.

Occlus casts her senses out, searching for any living beings in the area.

Landscape/Narrator

Murloc

Some plants, dormant under the snow. Some small mammals, some frozen insect eggs, waiting for warm weather. And...

A plant, but it's not dormant at all. It's hungry, too.