The Dark Academy on Korriban

As the others that fell behind were finally managing their way to camp. Kristal had attached herself to a patrol of Captain Harad's men as they were leaving the base. They had worked together before so few questions were asked as to why. It was a rather seamless addition.

Trekking out into the wilds that surrounded the camp the group maintained a rather standard scouting formation. Contact with the native Massassi hadn't been made yet. In the dense forest anything could be around the next set of trees.

Biggs falls in step and says, “You ever seen a Massassi, my lord?”

"Never," she answers with that cool crispness, "Even then, as Harad described them I find it likely the moment we see one it will not be much of a question."

Kristal's steps were solid, confident. Not hiding herself from the potential dangers she strode through the jungle alongside the squad. Chances were any predators would see her come from a mile away. Plenty of time for them to run.

Biggs laughs and says, “Wedge is just scared. Twenty credits says he craps his armor the first time we see a Massassi.”

Weaver, a woman, says “I’ll take that bet.”

Kristal smirked as the squad joked among themselves. However joining in the betting, or the banter, wasn't her style. Keeping herself attuned to the surroundings for a moment. As calming as the moment was, Kristal wasn't about to forget herself out here. Slowly she was getting more attuned with it. In the past she had a rather obvious tell of closing her eyes. Now, she merely needed to feel. Barely interrupting the squads banter as she sought out to their surroundings with the force.

Truthfully, it was in part because she had never felt with the force in a place so Vibrant before. Wondering how it might feel in a place like this. It as always great when something could be both practical and satisfying.

Day 9 | Boots on the Ground | Sense!: 1eF 1 Dark Side

The jungle is alive she can sense the squad and the insects in the earth beneath her in the trees, the plants… it is intense. The squad quiets their banter as they pick their way through the thick growth.

Weaver chimes in, “Movement, thirty meters at our seven.”

For perhaps a second she let her thoughts drift to the idea of just... disappearing here.

Then reality brought her back with Weaver's voice. Looking toward the position, weaver indicated. Trusting in the squad to perform their duties and not interrupting until she needed to direct action.

The Imperial soldiers take up positions moving into cover and covering each other seamlessly. They waited for Kristal to make the call.

OOC: Perception roll at Average with a boost die or Sense if she can reach out to short range.

Directing her efforts now, Kristal reached out with the force to identify just what it was that was approaching. Naturally bringing her hand to her belt but not quite unhooking the lightsaber yet.

Day 9 | Boots on the Ground | Sense! #2: 1eF 2 Dark Side

She could sense it, she could feel it. A predator crouched and watching the squad it was larger than a man by far and seemed cat like but with a thick scaly hide. Wedge says, “I don’t have a clear shot.”

"Behind me, slowly," she commanded with a clear voice. Not igniting the lightsaber yet, but pulling it to her side. It was a beast and she did not wish to startle it.

Trying to keep to the open, Kristal put herself in a spot that would attract the beasts attentions over those of the soldiers.

OOC: Leadership at Easy, well disciplined soldiers.

Kristal was born to lead people willing to be lead!

Day 9 | Boots on the Ground | Leadership!: 1eP+1eA+1eD 1 success, 1 advantage

The soldiers nod and fall back allowing her to take point. She can feel the predator moving forward and upward now in the trees.

"Attempt to identify but do not endanger yourselves," she continued.

The creatures movements were odd. Keeping herself between the beast and the squad as best as she might. Igniting her lightsaber, she prepared herself for anything. Be it a stand off till the creature backed off, or the simplest thing she had ever experienced. A fight to the death.

The predator jumps down from the trees and paces around Kristal with a low menacing growl. It stands at almost two meters at the shoulders with a body similar to a great cat but with ridges and hardened flesh with two whip like tails. The Imperial soldiers hold their fire, but they are tense.

OOC: Cool or Discipline at Hard.

As Kristal stood before the creature, her nerves faltered slightly.

Day 9 | Boots on the Ground | Discipline! Confidence!: 2eP+1eA+2eD 0 successes, 2 advantage


[Use Advantage to find a vulnerability or insight, not sure how that'd equate here]

The creature bares fangs and can see her fear but she stares it down regardless and it slaps her with its tale and bounds off into the jungle brush, she loses sight of it and cannot sense it before long. The creature does not seem intimidated by their presence.

Wedge chimes in, “You have a soul of steel, sir.”

Disengaging the lightsaber with that satisfying sound the blue blade disappeared. Followed with Kristal clasping her hands together behind her back. Easiest way to get herself in check without appearing weak. Can't ever appear weak. Looking about she assured herself of the relative safety and looked over her shoulder.

"I am a Serasai," she says flat. Needing no more explanation than that.

"Shall we continue on?"

“At your discretion, my lord,” Weaver says in reply.

Taking those solid steps forward there was a bit of silence for a moment, and then a rather casual remark from Kristal given her natural tone of authority.

"Can anyone tell me what the hell that was?"

Biggs says, “Looked like a vine cat my lord, they have some on Dromund Kaas out in the wilder places. Didn’t expect to see one here, much bigger than the ones I have seen though. Pretty vicious.”

"They can get that large?" she said, tone drifting slightly as if it was mostly to herself.

That spoke poorly for her nerves if she hadn't been able to identify a Vine Cat. Best not to mention having grown up on Dromund Kaas then, seeing her share of them in the past as it were. Kristal offered a bit of token honesty though,

"I am not sure what to make of it's disinterest, be on your guard moving forward."

“Largest I have seen, my lord,” Weaver adds. The squad stays alert as although this jungle seemed similar to Dromund Kaas the alien sky and well the feel was nothing like the Imperial world.

There was certainly something beautiful and mysterious about this world. Kristal could feel a bit of the temptation when she opened herself up with the Force before. Feeling the life of everything around her. There was something utterly calming about it. Yet, she of course knew better than to simply let herself get taken in by it all.

Remarkably, the trees themselves grew far larger than any the young Serasai had seen in the entirety of her life. Allowing a chance to marvel at something on this rather routine procedure to secure the area properly.

[Destiny for something beneficial to be found? Is that how the cool kids do it?]