A massive cataclysm has struck the universe, and destroyed most everything in its wake. The survivors are now trying to pick up the pieces, and figure out exactly what has befallen them. Gather together, lightsiders!! The darkness has shattered the peace and calm of the galaxy...and they will do anything to stop anyone from finding out exactly what has been done! This is our first sitewide RP plotline. Lightsiders, you are looking for the source of this massive event. Clues must be found, lackeys tracked down, and bits of memory discovered. Darksiders, you guys don't want that to happen....because of the one behind the whole thing is furthering his ultimate goal. Mandalorians, and non-force users, you guys can decide where you stand on this line....do you side with the Jedi, and try to discover the reasons behind the ruined universe, or will you side with the darkness, and protect those secrets. Will the secret of the cataclysmic reaping be kept under wraps? Or will the Jedi and their allies find out the truth? Your RP and writing will decide the outcome!
BATTLE ARENA
Welcome to The Saga Continues. We have a section called the Battle Arena. Here you can use your characters to fight other characters. Hone your skills and see what you are made of. Don't worry, anything that happens here, does not effect your characters in posts, so if your character dies, you can still use them over and over. Have fun and check it out!
The Saga Continues is the product of the mind of ADMIN ADI; all contents are copyright their original owners. All characters belong to their original creators, and may not be used or replicated without permission. All images are copyright their original owners. This skin Operation Mindcrime was made by pharaoh leap of Pixel Perfect and put together by ADMIN KRYSTAL
A harsh world of tundra and ice, Arkania was able to sustain life and civilization despite the harsh climate. Deep underground, the planet was fulled with diamond stores considered extremely valuable by those on the surface, resulting in the excavation of extensive mines across the world.
Our duelists find themselves in a howling blizzard far out on a frozen plateau, miles away from the nearest settlement. Every now and then a break in the relentless snow will reveal the blanketed tundra stretching off in every direction, laying far below the elevation of the plateau's top. Te air is bitingly cold, the height at which they were situated seeming to suck the warmth from their body's. Likely one of the harshest setting the GBA has ever thrown at its contestants it was unlikely either duelist would survive to grace the hallowed ranks of the arena's again, their frozen remains lying here preserved for all eternity.
The savage winds had cleared most of the snow from the rocky ground so footing would not be hampered by a layer of the white death, unlike the snow-covered plains below. Still, the rocky ground was treacherous in its own right, ice and loose rock promising stumbles with every step.
Our duelists will have to work to keep the cold at bay and stave off fatigue as the conditions will seep the energy from their limbs faster than they could swing their weapons. The real enemy here will be the environment, the victor the one best able to manage their body the better...
*My life for the last 72 hours has been a whirlwind of activity.
First there was the message from Darth Abaddon. "Hunt down the Jedi Blademaster Geir Hammand," sums up the essence of what I was told. Who he is, how we learned of him, what he is poised to do; none of these things matter to me. When Darth Abaddon has a name, and will entrust it to none other than myself to take care of, then I in turn need no further urging. I can trust in his estimate: that this will be a foe worthy of expending my power on.
Tracking him to Arkania amounted to no more than utilizing the Order of Ruin's ever-growing list of operatives. One of them uncovered an uncommon ship, model YX-1980, registered to Geir, in the departure logs from Honoghr air control, under a week ago. From the departure coordinates, leading on a course to the Parlemian Trade Route and then switching over to the Hydian Way, the list of most likely destinations was narrowed to Arkania, Taris, Coruscant, and Kuat. Furthermore, he queried the inbound arrivals of said planets and confirmed the YX's arrival over Arkania. What an overachiever. After preparing a departure of my own, I then recommended Abaddon to give that man a raise.
I arrived on Arkania 24 hours ago. After securing lodging in Adascopolis, and settling in to make myself comfortable in my room, I began the arduous task of scouring the planet with the use of Force Sight. Long-range surveillance and espionage is absolutely feasible with Force Sight, but requires a place free from interruption and relatively secure. The 'Do Not Disturb' sign sufficed for this purpose. In this endeavor, I have to say that the difficulty involved was not excessive. Geir's choice to venture into relative seclusion meant that it took a full six hours to locate him, but his aura, once spotted, was easy to identify at all points thereafter. Can't lose him in the crowd if there is no crowd at all.
A prefabricated shelter accompanies him on the plateau-top which would give him all the respite he needed from the cold. So, that's how he hasn't died yet, or suffered any ill effect from the cold. Is this a camping trip? Contemplative retreat? Research mission? Punitive measure? Voluntary asceticism? Who can tell but Geir himself. Jedi, man, trying to understand them is a waste.
I'm sure that he noticed me. Sense powers aren't completely passive, after all, especially when using such an aggressive means of locating a mark. Especially when a man goes to meditate all by himself and do nothing else.
Satisfied, I then felt it was in my best interest to rest. The mental fatigue induced by this application of Force Sight was significant. I slept, confident that after having felt my presence, he would be certain not to leave that spot. Jedi are, after all, honor-bound. As much as I despise many of their fool-hearted decisions, I must admit that I have never known a Jedi to flee from a threat. Courage in the face of overwhelming opposition is commendable. All the more, having demonstrated my ability to track him down, and given his current location in seclusion, I think that Geir could not opt for a more amenable location for his demise. Out there, there is no risk of collateral damage. If he tries to hide in a city on the other hand, innocents may perish in my quest to vanquish him.
And then, five hours ago, as Olim was just beginning its descent towards the horizon from its solar apex, I roused from slumber. After grabbing some food from the hotel restaurant, I made arrangements to rent a snowspeeder (it being the Arkanian winter, after all). A cursory check with Force Sight prior to departure confirmed that, indeed, Geir was still out there on that plateau. Wrapping myself tightly in the embrace of my trenchcoat, Freedom, I situated myself in the cockpit and prepared for the two hour flight.
Which brings us to the present. I fly over the highlands, homing in on the signature of my quarry, and pass over several times to ensure that he's aware of my arrival, and emerges from his shelter for the reckoning. As I circle overhead, I spy a suitable location to land the craft, on an adjunct butte to this plateau. After setting the airspeeder down and retrieving my effects from the vacant copilot's seat, I hoist open the cockpit and immediately wish that I hadn't.
The frigidity here is unbelievable! Easily ten degrees colder than in the city. My trenchcoat helps stave off the wind a little bit, but unless this fight resolves quickly, it'll get pretty dangerous really fast.
I am pleased, at least, to have been given the chance to get my blood flowing by the hike, making my way from the landing site to the summit where Geir awaits. On my way, I take one of the keys to the airspeeder, keeping the other for myself in one of Freedom's many pockets. I'll give it to him as a promise to let him take the craft to make his escape, should I somehow fail to kill him here and now; because it is perilous out there, and life is precious. I scoop several handfuls of snow and embed it in a snowball, which shall be the means of delivery to him; because life is also cruel and chilling.
Rounding the last bend in the path, I mount the plateau and try not to succumb to the temptation to rest, now that the sun is setting. The icy air burns my lungs, and the frosty breeze (unhindered now by the rock face) whips at me. Surprisingly enough, there's little snow on the peak here -- must be due to the fierce winds blowing it all from the top. I take a moment to observe the surroundings, and then, at my satisfaction, resume my march towards Geir. My left hand loosely grips the snowball present I've prepared for him. My right hand is empty, although the bracer of Saurez is clasped around the outside of Freedom. On my waist, waiting for my left hand to free up, is the hilt of Vol. Crisis and Crux, the two LL-30 pistols I carry, are holstered on my waist as well, concealed by Freedom. Trogdor does not appreciate the cold, so he refused to join me today; and Devient, though she wanted to come, I did not permit, because a metal mask is a good way to leach my body heat into the atmosphere far faster than needed.
I approach to earshot, and call out as I continue to march ever onward.*
[/ul]
*"...to die", I thought to myself. But that would make for a very rude greeting up front, so I left it unsaid.*[/font]
Death. Destruction. Chaos. Pain. Fear. The Dark Side had surged with a vengeance and lashed out across the galaxy with a show of Force not seen since the time of the time of the Infinite Empire. The galaxy had been brought to its knees as the servants of the Dark forced the will of Bogan upon it. And through all of this, the Jedi Master's underlying faith had actually been shaken.
Had 'he' been so naive and arrogant that he wouldn't have been able to sense the hastening approach of an event of this unimaginable scale? Had the Jedi grown so comfortable over the recent years that they believed themselves untouchable? Was 'he' responsible for the tragedy that had taken the galaxy so? This was the ultimate failure of a Jedi Order whose leadership, to include himself, believed themselves invincible. He'd been a part of this failure and that truth had really begun to wear on him. It was also what had brought him here to the icy, snow-capped plateau of Arkania.
He'd come here, not as a part of some archaic Jedi ritual, but rather as a means to meditate and reflect. Not only had the galaxy succumb to this vile disease that the Dark Side unleashed, but also the rise of a new Sith Order, headed by a Sith who was once though of as no more than mere legend. A tale to push a philosophy that sought power through violence and forcefully imposing their will on others. A sith, that by all accounts should have been death many, many years ago. Yet . . . the perversions of the Dark Side have a way of keeping those tyrannical beings around far longer than they ever should have been. He wouldn't have even believed the word of the existence of the man, had he not personally had to defend and stave of the Sith Lord upon razing of Honoghr just days before alongside the former Jedi Knight Kirwin.
But alas, as much as any of us may want, we can never change the past and instead must press on to the future. It is that, that brings us to the crossroads where we are now.
-------------------------
It had been a night since the arrival of a Dark presence on this world had been felt by Geir and he very much expected that the time would be quick upon him that their paths would cross. It was an inevitable fact that opposites attract and the opposite of 'Light' is indeed 'Dark.' So here we find ourselves. Geir sat cross-legged by a small fire beneath the lean-to style shelter he'd erected a few days prior. He was in a state of meditation, his eyes closed, as the newcomer approached the apex of the plateau, no doubt having had to endure the treacherous mountain pass to climb to the point as the snowspeeder had previously made several passes overhead - no doubt a fanfare to announce the occupant's presence - before landing some distance away. But now, he was much closer his strength of his aura steadily seemed to grow, an indication of the distance between the two shrinking as one pressed forward while the other remained.
Geir's eyes flashed open as the new arrival spat his words throw the howling wind the swept across the flat land though the eyes did not fall upon the figure of the man. How could they? The shelter obstructed the view after all. However, Geir frowned as he knew that in time, this encounter would come to blows, a fact he was well accustomed to. Sith allowed no alternatives. It was one thing or the other for the philosophy they lived their lives by was versed only in absolutes.
Beneath the folds of the thick cloak that caressed his winter weight Jedi tunic, there were but three items. All of which were secured to his utility belt in some form or fashion. Along his right hip hung the Neuranium hilt of a single-bladed lightsaber, that when ignited, produced a blade the shade of emerald. Opposite the that on his left hip hung an ultrachrome hilt with Nighthunter bone ring around the crystal. When ignited this weapon would produce a single sapphire blade of identical length to the weapon along his right his. Fastened in a parallel fashion the the group along his lower back, a larger Neuranium hilt was hidden which was unmistakably the hilt of the iconic double-blade lightsaber and would produce a blade of the same color as the weapon in which it shared the same material with. All three of the weapons are masterfully crafted, EMP shielded and fitted with bifurcating cyclical-ignition pulses, making them waterproof - though the waterproofing factor would mean nothing unless the Sith somehow melted on the slow surrounding area and forcibly made some kind of pool or lake, but it was much too frigid for that. These were most certainly not the ideal conditions for a pool party.
"I could ask you the same, as you traveled this far to make my acquaintance. But, you must be tire and cold for you have come a great distance for this meeting and have likely exhausted a great effort just to locate me here. Perhaps this doesn't need to come to violence just yet." Geir paused and flashed over what he was about to propose in his mind once more before he pressed on with it. "Allow me the honor of hosting you to some warmth and rest before will get to the fun stuff."
In all honesty, Geir wasn't certain how his offer would be taken by the man and even though his underlying faith in the Order he served had been shaken of late, it did not stop him from at least trying to dissuade the man from a path he was no doubt set upon for the Sith all had a singular focus on gathering as much power as they could and testing it to secure what they imagined was theirs.
"Come now, there's no need for humility. If I have come all this way, it can only be for one reason. You're an individual of great repute, Jedi Master Geir Hammand." *I close in, the shelter a mere five meters away now. And, with the conclusion of this statement, I lob the snowball I've created over the structure, on a course to pop Geir upside the head. Hit or miss, without breaking stride, I dust my left hand off on the outside of my coat and circle around the left side of the enclosure, to where we can see each other. Well...to where he can see me.
And I consider his request to entertain. In fact, I can see no downside. It's cold out here, warm in there (I can only assume); and it's not as though I am in any particular rush to get things done. Haste makes waste, as they say, and there is zero possibility for Geir to make an escape, especially if I follow him inside. The potential exists for Geir to have taken the time since announcement of my arrival to lay a trap for me, but I have Force Sight by which to perceive it, and thus I feel it would pose no danger to me. Yes, there no reason against it.
So why not indulge the last request of a dying man?*
"What I've got for you there--" *I refer to the key which I'd packed inside the snowball.* "--belongs to the snowspeeder that's landed back on that other ridge. You can hold on to that, it might prove useful to you." "In the meantime, you can call me Ryu. And since you asked me, I think it would be an excellent idea to step out of the cold for a bit." *I approach the fire where Geir sits, just to the point where I can feel the warmth starting to kiss the edge of my coat, and stop there, hands at my sides. I gaze at the man before me. You know, we say that all people are unique, but in practice I don't think we behave as if that's true. I bring this up because I want to address how interesting it is that he's referred to the inevitable as 'the fun'. I've never before encountered any Jedi who would describe it in such terms. Now to be fair, maybe that's the sort of attitude which gives him the qualifications of a blademaster; but still, it generates an impression in my mind that this is an unusual specimen of the Jedi archetype.
I get the feeling that if more Jedi were like this then I could probably get along with them.*
Geir leaned forward and prodded the fire with a stick he'd collected along his path to this location, to ensure the flames were not about to wither and die. It was at this point that the compacted ball of snow and ice impacted the back of his right shoulder, breaking apart and allowing for the keys to fall to the stone that acted as the ground here where the snow had retreated from the tendrils of flame that danced about bringing what warmth they could to the immediate area surrounding them. He couldn't help but to give off the hint of a smile to the playful gesture of the man hurling the snowball as to initiate a snowball fight - an event he'd not been a part of in a great many years, back when he was but an adolescent.
His head turned upward from the flames as the sound of padding feet and the crunching of snow beneath them increased in volume, signaling that the man approached closer and closer. It was only a second or two more before Ryu had rounded the corner and his full figure presented itself.
"My thanks," Geir replied as the man explained the reason behind the keys that had appeared by him after being hit by the snowball. "The warmth of the speeder would be a delightful change from the frigidness embraced from a hike to this plateau as before."
Geir gestured with a hand, inviting Ryu closer to the warmth of the flames as he had already accepted his original offer, though wouldn't be offended should the man now accept the invitation further than he had already. After all, the circumstances unfolding before the two were unusual as in most cases of Jedi and Sith intermingling, the two conflicting ideologies had the two trying to eliminate each other. But, in this particular situation, such things were not the initiating factor. But . . . this is where Geir was different from most Jedi and perhaps this is why his opinions and judgments often conflicted with that of the other council members when he had been a part of the council before there was no longer a council. So much was different in this day and age, to include the current absence of a council presence within what was left of the Jedi Order.
"You realize . . ." Geir paused for a moment before continuing. "The Sith and the Jedi are more alike than either cares to admit. And our views of good and evil, right and wrong, are but an established product of the society from which we grew within? And though I may believe that the path the Sith have chosen is innately misguided, I cannot fully fault them on their decisions. Likewise the opposite is true, for we both strive for a deeper understanding of the Force which in its own right is neither good nor evil. It is what those who have been gifted with the ability to call on the Force choose to do with it that bring about such labels as good and evil. It really is quite peculiar how what an individual society or culture deems to be right and wrong shapes our perception of good and evil, is it not?" It really was interesting the degree in which we are all a product of the society in which we are raised, but within that we are still unique based on our own personal likes and dislikes. For instance, where Geir, himself, preferred to avoid conflict if he could, he could not deny the thrill of a sparring contest when the adrenaline pulsed through his veins. It made it "fun" for lack of better terminology, but he preferred to avoid stooping to such things as he did not desire injury or death upon another, no matter the transgressions they had made against him.
*The thought of turning this into a snowball fight to the death had crossed my mind. But, the problem with the plateau is that, in the high wind conditions it is unceasingly subjected to, there is an insufficient amount of snow to be found for ammunition. That's why I had to bring mine up from the wind-shielded path below.
At Geir's opening statement, I furrow my brow and prepare my reply. There's so much to say about all of those things he mentioned. Therefore, what matters the most?
I sweep clean a space on the ground and cross my legs, gathering the excess material from Freedom underneath to form a seat and insulate as much of my body heat as possible from leaching into the ground. The fire helps. A lot.*
[/span][/ul] *Those are some heretical words, right there. If you take that thought to be true, you can come up with some wild possibilities. But they're possibilities that I think might be perfectly reasonable. In honesty, I've not fully evaluated all of that yet. Maybe I'm wrong.
Oh, and there's another possibility I've been considering. Does the title, "Jedi" or "Sith", impose the prerequisite that one has the ability to use the Force? I'm not sure that the answer is obvious. But I doubt we'll carry the conversation in that direction.*
[/font][/span][/ul][/font] *They say that knowing yourself and knowing your enemy means that you need not fear the outcome of a thousand battles. The same principle holds true here, with a slight twist (hint: Geir isn't the enemy). I know the Sith philosophy, know it to be absolutely true. Therefore, whether good and evil are relative or absolute, the outcome is the same. The only thing that changes, based on Geir's reply to that question, is the manner in which the truth is presented.
In time, he'll see that the path he considers "innately misguided" is the only Way. I'd add that it would be the only way to save him, but that's not true. The Way doesn't even save those who adhere to it. What the Way does is it elucidates the truth of life, and instructs on how to live while you are alive. Still, knowing the truth is a clear advantage to have. If you play a game versus someone who only knows half of the rules while you know all of them, then the outcome should be obvious.*
Unfortunately, I have no choice but to call an end to this fight due to extreme posting delays and lack of communication. I would have loved to see this play out- just the back and forth was a good read, and had it actually gotten to the fighting, I'm sure it would have gotten even better.
Since that's not the case, Ryu is hereby declared the winner due to his opponent's forfeiture.
