[LM8] - Take Me Down to the Water

[Juri Saizesh]

The Witch returned to the grove. While supporting the nascent resistance was important, she still had her own obligations, her own path to walk. The effects of some of her private training were on her person.

The Amulet of Protection.

The Neural Charm.

And the newest, the three starburst jewels affixed to her lapel. One seemed to tug at her jacket as it hunger lower than the rest.

The entirety of her "survival" gear brought with her, to return to the sea of green. To Riule.

She still had to work to resurrect the Nightsisters. The Jedi forged their destiny.

Juri Saizesh, would have her own.

[Dapper Dog]

Riule waited, dressed in her old traditional garb of the Dathomiri, she waited in a darkened grove overlooking a large lake. She greeted Juri and said, “Welcome back sister, it is a dark day but also an important one.”

[Juri Saizesh]

Seeing the garb, the burning itch of hatred against the Crimson Dawn, her obligation to them, crept down her spine. Her red robes had been lost, removed in the need to hide. Her overcoat, the flashes of crimson, the memory of it she could wear.

Humbly, she approached Riule, looking to her eyes, warmth radiating as the garb also meant a return to what was.

"Thank you, sister. Blessed be. I could feel it, the darkness in the Force. But I trust in our path, and and I know our light will shine through." Her words were soft, compassionate.

[Dapper Dog]

"Do you have protection, we will have to swim deep," she said.

[Juri Saizesh]

Her hand went to the amulet around her neck, then slipped the scanner goggles on to see in the dark.

"The first talisman I learned with our magicks. Neither briny depths nor the emptiness of space threaten my ability to breathe or function." She nodded.

[Dapper Dog]

Riule nodded and dove into the dark waters and began swimming deep into the lake until they found an underwater cave, working through it they found a cave and were able to pull themselves up and out of the chilly waters. It was dark in here though before she used a glow rod to provide illumination.

[Juri Saizesh]

It was the first time she had truly relied on the dark amulet for it's full purpose. There was something surreal about being completely surrounded by water, yet having no difficulty breathing. Feeling the work of the Force around her, the swim was jarring.

Coming up from the water, the submerged cave felt alien and strange. The goggles adjusted, but with Riule's glowrod, Juri raised them. Rubbing her arms over her coat, the Witch followed.

"How did you find this place? It feels so... peaceful." She breathed in sharply after she spoke, steadying her nerves.

[Dapper Dog]

“Living alone even with the occasional pet gets… it gets very dull at times, and I wander the lands making sure to steer clear of the Aznuri or their sacred places. This though, I guess it found me, those waters are unsafe in the colder months deadly aquatic creatures inhabit them and they chased me into here,” she replied.

“It is peaceful, but also linked to the Calm, it’s an odd place with a deep connection to the land,” she said.

She started walking through the cave till they came to an ancient archway, and from beyond there was a deep cold.

[Juri Saizesh]

The cold was... almost unnatural. Piercing through the protection of the amulet. While it didn't impact her abilities, it was the feeling that cut through the bone. The younger Witch pulled her coat around herself.

"You can feel it. That closeness. A place that needs to be respected, honored."

[Dapper Dog]

"Or feared," she said.

"Beyond this archway may be the last remnant of what the Aznuri call the Cursed lands... I believe this is where we must go. There is a pool in there, it should be what you need."

OOC: Fear 3 check please. Riule suffers a strain.

Riule Fear Check: 2eP+2eA+3eD 1 success, 1 threat

[Juri Saizesh]

LM8 - Take Me Down to the Water - Fear 3 (Willpower 3, Discipline 1, +1eB Spider Person, Hard Difficulty, Confidence 1 reduces difficulty to Average): 1eP+2eA+1eB+2eD 3 successes, 1 Triumph
Gonna spend that Triumph that I do not suffer any other fear checks this encounter.

"Fear is a natural response. But it does not have to control anyone." She nodded to Riule, emboldened by her confidence. Moving through the archway, Juri explicitly trusted in the Force.

[Dapper Dog]

The interior was cold and made of stone with faded pictographs and murals depicting dark entities. It felt like something was watching them.

Something old.

She could hear murmurs and whispers all around them and at the edge of her vision she could see shadowy forms. There was a cold touch on her neck as they entered a chamber filled with bones on the stone floor and vaulted ceilings. In the center was a pool of water dark and still.

A figure knelt by it that would have been missed if not for it standing and speaking in a weak voice, “You… have come.”

[Juri Saizesh]

"I have." She spoke, a confident step forwards. A look to Riule, showing determination and conviction. Her eyes then turned to the murals, seeing the darkness in them.

"Who are you?" Juri asked, looking to the standing form.

[Dapper Dog]

"I am Servant... Nine," she said quietly, looking at you both. She is an unknown crimson alien species with ridges on her chin and yellowed eyes.

"Look at me."

[Juri Saizesh]

Juri watched the strange woman. "Servant Nine." She regarded her, observing her. "Why are you here? What brought you to this place?" She asked, her voice as soft as the strange beings own.

She let her vibrant purple eyes focus on the red woman's own yellow ones. "Do you need help?" Compassion radiated from her.

[Dapper Dog]

"Hold her," she said calmly.

Riule nodded and said, "Of course, my Master, she is ready now." She drew a sacrificial blade and advanced on the witch.

[Juri Saizesh]

The Witch's eyes narrowed. Her fingers splayed out. "No. You will not come any closer!" She grit her teeth and readied herself. The Fetish in her hairpin resonated with power.

Ooc: as an incidental, anyone must make a Hard Fear check to approach Juri into engaged range. If they fail, they cannot approach her. They may make a different maneuver instead.

[Dapper Dog]

Riule nodded and pushed through the Fear and tried to drive the knife home! She hissed venomous words, "Your blood is my life."

OOC: Hit for 4 wounds, Pierce 1.

Riule Fear Check: 2eA+2eP+3eD 1 success, 2 advantage


Riule Melee vs. Juri: 2eA+1eD+1eC 1 success

[Juri Saizesh]

LM8 - Take Me Down to the Water - Harm on Riule (Willpower 3, Discipline 1 vs. Riule Willpower 4, Discipline 2): 1eP+2eA+2eC+2eD+1eF 2 threat, 1 Despair, 1 Dark Side
So... nada. Not spending the Dark Side pip. 1 conflict for attempted Harm.

Juri hissed as the blade cut into her skin. Her eyes glowed green as the ichor of Dathomir flowed through her, but felt the great resistsnce of Riule as she pushed through intending to cause harm. She stepped back, and with great effort, drew her own blade. "Why!" She cried out, gritting her teeth.

Ooc: action to Harm and fail. Maneuver to draw survival knife. Two strain to move to short range from Riule, and remain at short range from Servant Nine.

Currently
2/12 wounds
4/13 Strain
Soak 3

[Dapper Dog]

Riule pulled the blade out painfully and paced and said, “I need to stay alive… I can’t die! I am the last of my coven I am the only one that remembers… and she has shown me how! Your death will not be in vain sister.”

“You will give your life for me!”

[Dapper Dog]

OOC: Riule gets a boost die to her next check against Juri and Juri is knocked prone.

[Juri Saizesh]

Falling backwards on her rear, Juri looked up at Riule. She felt no fear. Taking the time to stand, she gripped the knife tightly. Then, shook her head.

"No." Her eyes bored into Riule. Putting herself in a more defensive stance, but she didn't move forward. Breatjing heavily, trying to let go.

"I am sorry I tried to lash out. We are both the last of our covens, sister." Juri bit her lip. "But it doesn't have to be the end!"

Ooc: maneuver to stand up. 2 strain to assume a defensive stance (+1 melee defense). Action to try and reach out with compassion?

Soak 3
Wounds 2/12
Strain 8/13
Defense (M/R) 1/0

[Dapper Dog]

OOC: Charm check at Average with a boost die, flipping a Destiny.

[Dapper Dog]

Falling backwards on her rear, Juri looked up at Riule. She felt no fear. Taking the time to stand, she gripped the knife tightly. Then, shook her head.

"No." Her eyes bored into Riule. Putting herself in a more defensive stance, but she didn't move forward. Breatjing heavily, trying to let go.

"I am sorry I tried to lash out. We are both the last of our covens, sister." Juri bit her lip. "But it doesn't have to be the end!"

“She will kill you, she will die… she has lived longer than she has a right to.. You think you were the first?” a man said whispering in her ear.

“Trust nothing she says…”

[Juri Saizesh]

LM8 - Take Me Down to the Water - Reaching out to Riule (Presence 2, Charm 0, +1eB for RP, Destiny Flip, Average, DD Destiny): 1eP+1eA+1eB+1eC+1eD 2 failures, 1 advantage
One advantage to show earnestness?