Hunt for the Gorax - Endor

[Aeaolen Kicka]

Solis stepped out of the Sith Temple on Endor. It was erected by the One Sith years ago and it was one of the only remaining Sith temples out of the Sith Worlds in the Outer Rim. His data pad chimed and a droids voice came over the data pad, which also acted as a form of communicator. The droids voice explained that a series of attacks on Sith settlements had been perpetrated by a roaming tribe of Goraxes. The Goraxes ranged from small to large, as they usually did. The Gorax were a fierce species and Solis was of the mind to save a baby Gorax and return it to the Sith Temple to the Sith beast-masters.

Solis responded to the droid with a low growl. “It will be done by the Dark Lord.” The One Sith were fanatically loyal to the Dark Lord of the Sith. They were either taken from loyal supporters of the Sith or were taken as children and raised. Solis joined the One Sith after being sent by his parents, both descendants of followers and Sith of earlier empires. Solis has begun his training underneath the various instructors at the Sith Academy and had yet been assigned a Sith Master. He had begun down the path of the Sith Warrior, his twin lightsabers hung from either side of his belt.

Solis motioned to his fellow apprentice, Karawn Amersu and nodded. “We’ve received instructions to handle a local Gorax threat.” Solis hissed, he had begun to enrage himself so he could deepen his ties to the Force. He walked around, seething and taking deep breaths. “We must eliminate them.” Solis continued his walk from the temple, hoping Amersu knew to follow him. Solis motioned again to a Sith Officer, wearing the grey color uniform of the old Sith Empire and a group of silver armored Sith Troopers. “Sergeant. Follow me.” The Sergeant leaped to his feet and the trooper followed close behind. The Sith themselves possessed near ultimate authority over non-Force users with a few exceptions.

@Aronis

 

[Aronis]

Karawn had heard stories and rumors about the Goraxes, but he had never seen one in person. The thought of hunting them down left him with a sense of nervous excitement. He'd heard that they could grow up to 100 feet tall. They also had a knack for eating Ewoks. He figured that if they'd eat Ewoks, they wouldn't pass up the opportunity to consume something a little bit more... hearty. But at the same time, it provided a good opportunity to prove himself. He'd been practicing his Force Choke abilities recently and what better opportunity to fully test it out than crushing the windpipe of a beast twenty times his size? The chance to practice on a living creature wasn't something he was going to pass up.

Karawn nodded back at Solis and followed him. He walked a couple paces behind Solis and in front of the Sith Troopers. He thought about starting some small talk to pass the journey, but didn't. The other apprentice's tone told him that chatting about the weather probably wasn't appropriate right now. He could already vaguely sense the dark energy the other individual was letting off. He glanced back at the Sith Troopers. Although he wouldn't publicly admit it, he was glad to have backup. If nothing else, the extra soldiers could provide some cannon fodder for the gigantic monsters. Karawn kept his head down and walked quickly, with determination. He wanted to make sure he didn't fall behind.

@Aeaolen Kicka

 

[Aeaolen Kicka]

Solis turned and waved Karawn on, he didn't want to lose his fellow apprentice. "Don't mind me Karawn. It's the way I deepen my connection to the Force." Solis motioned to the Sith Trooper and the Sergeant that had been with them. "Thank god for them, we need someone to distract the Goraxes." Solis winked. Solis, despite his rough exterior, had a sadistic streak in him. Solis continued the walk through the forests of Endor, they were deep and vast. It was called a forest moon for a reason. Solis thought to himself that the planet had a natural pull to it, it was as if the Dark Side called to him and had called to the Sith who had retreated from the known galaxy under the guise of "extermination" by the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order. Members of the One Sith had provided basic intelligence and movement patterns for the Gorax and they were downloaded to the datapad that Solis had received the orders on. "Goraxes. Hideous creatures." Solis commented and the gaggle of Sith Troopers behind him chuckled. He turned to them and nodded.

Soldiers, warriors, that was his element, he bonded and felt for them. It was perhaps the most compassionate thing about him. He didn't care if they died or if they perished in combat, no, he didn't care about that but he did bond with them when he could. He was raised a warrior, he would be raised to lead One Sith soldiers and officers, it was the path of the Sith Warrior. They had ventured outside the perimeter of the Sith Temple, outside the temple's outermost defenses. It had taken them nearly an hour to reach the outer defenses and the last known place of the Gorax tribe, or clan or whatever they called themselves. Solis muttered to himself "Can...they even speak?" Solis stopped himself as a surge in the Force rose around him and he looked up as a massive clawed paw threw Solis clear across the forest. They had found the Goraxes.

 

[Aronis]

Karawn chuckled at Solis's comment about the soldiers. "Indeed." He remarked. The forest was overwhelming, it made a good place for even the biggest creatures to hide. Karawn couldn't help but notice some damage to the forest around them as they approached. Something had clearly trampled through various parts of the underbrush. There were also trees- well tree stumps that had been snapped. It could have just been a natural occurrence, but he doubted that. Something had clearly been here.

"Do we have a plan-" Karawn was about to ask Solis for guidance before he was thrown by the monster. Karawn looked back as Solis flew- he winced. That couldn't have felt good. He motioned for the troopers to disperse and quickly ducked behind a tree taking his lightsaber into hand. He peaked around and spotted the closest beast, the one that had thrown Solis. It stood about sixty feet tall. He paused for a moment behind cover as he wondered how to go about killing it- slice its ankles off? Maybe he should've researched how to kill the Goraxes before he rushed into the mission. Oh, well. Too late now.

@Aeaolen Kicka

 

[Aeaolen Kicka]

Prior to Solis flying into the air, he realized that he might've been too enraged to pay attention to his surroundings. Solis rolled in the air and used the Force to repulse himself from the massive tree that he was headed towards. The bark splintered and Solis was launched backward, he then proceeded to land on his back but avoided the tree. It was a success, a limited one, but a success nevertheless. Solis grunted as he attempted to stand and struggled for a minute. His bones ached, his back was most certainly not in a good spot and he grunted as he stood, attempting to commune with the Force to give him a little reprieve of the pain. Solis had always had the ability to ordain the future, especially in battle and even had the ability to ordain the future when he wasn't in combat but apparently, the Gorax had a little trouble with that plan. Solis had finally stood when he heard a raging growl behind him. It wasn't solely a growl, it was loud thumping and the sound of snapping trees. Solis turned and jumped out of the way as another Gorax lunged forward at him and ripped a tree from its stump. The tree wasn't small, it wasn't as large as the one that Solis had avoided hitting into but it was certainly not small.

"Oh, this is lovely!" Solis used the Force to augment his speed and he rushed up a tree and used the Force to lunge towards the Gorax who swung on him. Solis leaped at the 50-something foot giant that now wheeled, slowly, on him and Solis began to drop. Solis ignited his lightsabers and with a diagonal slash sliced the right arm of the Gorax. If Solis had done this to another human being, hell, even a wookie, the arm would've been sliced properly off. The Gorax, once again, did not care much for Solis' plans and as he landed he realized that he had only caused perhaps a slightly deeper surface wound and the Gorax became further enraged. The Gorax kicked and Solis barely dodged its massive foot, it clipped his right shoulder and Solis flipped backward. His anger was now boiling, he was angry before but now he had reached the stage of anger where he began to see, metaphorically, red. Solis grunted and let out a howl...as he howled a wave of force energy waved out and kicked up the brush and some smaller trees had been pushed back.

Solis raced towards the Gorax and wondered how his partner Karawn was doing.

@Aronis

 

[Aronis]

Karawn started to cut through the base of the giant tree he was behind with his lightsaber. He had no idea if it would work, but he needed to try something. He glanced around at the Sith Troopers that were taking cover behind him and they seemed just as clueless as he was. He had no idea if blaster bolts would hurt the beasts or just serve to enrage them more. The Goraxes keen sense of hearing had instantly picked up on the hum of the lightsaber as Karawn started to cut through the tree. He had initially hoped that they would be able to sneak up on the Goraxes and take them down quitely, but that clearly wasn't the case. As it turned out, they had been more aware of their surroundings than he was.

Hearing Karawn's location, the monster started to move towards him. Branches snapped and the ground shook as he approached. Karawn hurried his cutting. He placed his left hand just above the spot where he was cutting to steady it with the force. He finished slicing through the tree just as the Gorax was upon him. With a grunt, Karawn blasted the tree with the force. The massive tree shook and started to move. Karawn stumbled backwards, already starting to feel tired just from pushing such a massive tree down. It slowly started to fall towards the massive Gorax picking up speed on its way down. Karawn watched anxiously, praying it would do something to the massive creature.

@Aeaolen Kicka

 

[Aeaolen Kicka]

Solis leaped and the Gorax again slapped him out of the way but this time Solis was prepared and he caught himself. He used the Force to push down and landed on his feet, sliding back on the brush. Solis sneered and he jumped again at the Gorax, this time tapped into his rage and the Force propelled him where he needed to go, he slammed one of the two lightsabers into the left part of the neck of the Gorax who howled in terror. It was far from over, it was more like...getting there. As he slashed the neck with his one lightsaber he brought the other to the other side of the neck and pushed back with his right hand, propelling him backward. Solis then motioned forward, augmented with the Force and hit into the Gorax with the full force of the Force behind him. His hand was enclosed around his lightsaber and the punch sent the Gorax stumbling backward. Solis eventually landed on his feet and he sighed heavily. "Oh, this is just grand." Solis was annoyed, more than annoyed. Two apprentices going and trying to kill behemoths, that was the One Sith way.

Solis stood feet away from the Gorax, clipped his lightsabers to his belt and send a rush of the Force towards the Gorax and within a single movement rushed towards the split in the Goraxes legs and sliced the Gorax at the upper ankle, about as tall as Solis was. Solis realized that the legs were a weaker point versus the neck or the body or the arms. Why were the legs weaker? Solis wasn't sure why they were but it was something. As Solis turned around and rushed towards the howling beast, he again sliced at the legs above the ankles and he heard another yell, the beast stomped and stomped, faltering slightly. Solis turned towards Karawn who was fighting his own battle and he yelled, booming his voice via the Force. "THE LEGS! GO FOR THE LEGS!"

@Aronis

 

[Aronis]

The tree crashed downwards toward the Goraxes head. Then with only a moment to spare, the beast reached up and caught the tree, haphazardly tossing it off to the side. Karawn doubled back, clearly in shock at its brute strength. The beast continued towards him, not letting anything stop it. For a brief moment, Karawn though about turning and running. He was clearly in over his head with the creature. But running wasn't the Sith way and besides, he wasn't about to let a fellow apprentice see him bail on such a crucial mission. Instead Karawn dug deep and begin drawing on his concentration to the Force. He drew his hands together and erected a barrier in front of him. The Gorax let out a roar and swung its long arm at Karawn. It smashed through his barrier and hit him squarely in the chest. The sheer strength of the blow knocked Karawn off his feet and onto the forest floor. He let out a groan, he was almost certain the creature had broken something. For a second Karawn just lied there, motionless. He was clearly dazed. The barrier had done little to weaken the impact of the hit and the sheer force of the blow was remarkable. The Gorax let out another roar and lifted its foot, preparing to stomp on Karawn.

"THE LEGS! GO FOR THE LEGS!" The cry from the other apprentice shook Karawn from his daze. He quickly rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the Goraxes foot as it hurtled down. Reigniting his lightsaber, Karawn sliced a large gash just above the ankle of the beast. It let out another howl. He made a couple more quick strikes, further harming the creature. With each swing of the saber Karawn felt like somebody was stabbing him in the side, but he pushed through the pain focusing all his energy and strength into attacking the creatures leg. Surely it couldn't withstand that many blows from a lightsaber.

@Aeaolen Kicka

 

[Aeaolen Kicka]

Solis slid underneath the Gorax and with his sabers extended horizontally cut the beast's ankles. It caused a yelp and a growl, Solis could feel the creatures mix of anger and pain. The Dark Side benefited from such emotions, it benefited Solis greatly as the air around the creature was boasted with Dark Side energies and Solis took a deep breath. It was delicious. Solis stood up and he turned around the beast was still reeling and he leaped up and stabbed his twin lightsabers into the back of the Goraxes neck. The creature let out a ferocious growl and Solis screamed in furious pleasure. "Die!" While the Gorax flailed attempted to get him off his back, he continued to push his lightsabers deeper and deeper. Blaster shots from the Sith Troopers were landing on Solis' Gorax as they had been focused primarily on Karawn's Gorax. Solis pushed off as the Gorax's blood began to pool on the back of its neck and Solis used the all Dark Side energies that had stored within him and screamed as he pushed his hands forward, causing a wave of destruction. The Gorax faltered and fell to the ground. Solis rushed forward with the Force, mid-air, and stabbed again into the Goraxes neck, causing one final yelp of pain and despair.

Solis was covered in Gorax blood, his paints and bare chest stained with Gorax blood and he revealed in the defeat of such a strong opponent. Solis turned his head and launched himself from tree to tree towards Karwan and his Gorax.

@Aronis

 

[Aronis]

Karawn's Gorax stumbled backwards, weakened and in pain. As it retreated, it let out another cry. It knocked down a small tree behind it, trying to injure or delay Karawn, but it didn't work. He pursued the creature quickly, using the force to enhance his movement. The pain in his side still hurt sharply, but he wasn't about to let it stop him. If anything, the wound served as motivation. This monstrosity had wounded him and threatened the Sith Temple, it deserved to die for its insolence. He lunged at the creature and struck it's lower leg with his saber again. The creature roared and clumsily swung back at him. Clearly weakened, the creature's swing lacked the strength or precision of the first blow it had landed on Karawn. He easily sidestepped its pitiful attack and swung his saber at it again, this time chopping off a portion of the monster's toe.

For all the blows Karawn had landed on the legs, the creature was still holding up okay. Due to its size, it was impossible for Karawn to completely sever its leg with his lightsaber. He anticipated he would need to go for a more vulnerable area- such as its heart or head- but the pain in his side left him hesitant about jumping. He was already suffering and the last thing he wanted to do was jump at the Goraxes face and get swatted away like a fly.

@Aeaolen Kicka

 

[Aeaolen Kicka]

Solis leaped to his fellow apprentice's aid from tree to tree. Ironic, it was a forest planet and he was acting as if he was of some species that dwelled in the trees. Solis launched himself towards the weakened creature and shouldered the Gorax, sending it just enough off-balance for it slam into a tree and pause its movement. Solis was not in the business of giving up a fight nor trading prizes but Karawn had fought admirably and he believed that the deserved the honor of killing the Gorax. Despite the teachings of the One Sith, there was one thing that Solis always retained from his Zabrak culture and that was a sense, or a twisted sense, of honor and that he intended to uphold. "Its all your Karawn!" Solis shouted, his voice augmented with the Force and sounding as bellicose as ever. While he was going to give his fellow apprentice the honor of killing the Gorax, he was going to continue to strike and weaken in. Solis leaped at the struggling Gorax and brought his twin lightsabers to focus on one of the Gorax's arms, cutting deeply and being nearly flung back from the force of the Gorax's swing. "Finish it Karawn!" Solis yelled again, his choler palpable.

@Aronis

 

[Aronis]

The Gorax slammed against the tree with the help of the other apprentice. The creature was dazed and temporarily immobilized. The other apprentice beckoned him to finish the creature. Karawn gathered up all of his strength and leaped into the air, he plunged his lightsaber through the thick hide and into the heart of the beast. The creature let out another cry, this one much weaker and slumped back. Karawn deactivated his saber and fell onto the forest floor, landing on his feet. "Thanks." He quietly muttered to the other apprentice.

With both creatures disposed, Karawn glanced around the forest looking for any more signs of Goraxes. From what he knew, Goraxes were a rare sight on Endor, but the datapad's language seemed to indicate their might be quite a few. Besides, the last thing Karawn wanted was another surprise attack. He didn't spot any in the immediate vicinity, so they would have time to rest at least. "Are there more?" Karawn asked Solis. Perhaps the other apprentice had more insight or had noticed something Karawn had not.

@Aeaolen Kicka

 

[Aeaolen Kicka]

Solis shook his head. "I don't believe so." Solis was still panting from ramming the Gorax. Solis looked around, he saw several of the Sith Troopers had been killed. One of them had their armor clawed over his chest, exposing his muscle and tissue. Solis gritted his teeth. Solis had served in a number of warbands and raiding parties on Iridonia and he never liked seeing fellow warriors and soldiers die. Solis looked and shook his head. "Shame, he served the Dark Lord with honor." Solis shrugged and motioned to Karawn. "I think our job is done here. Let us report back to the temple and we can show we've done the Dark Lord will." Solis turned on his heel, motioned for Karawn and the remaining Sith Troopers to follow him. Solis attached his two lightsabers to his belt and he pressed forward. The journey back to the temple had been relatively short compared to the battle that had taken place. Solis and others had taken trophy's of their enemies defeat, including the severed head of one of the Goraxes. Solis had handed it to a Sith Trooper who was visibly disturbed and Solis had to laugh. He had seen war, he had seen death but the stench of the Gorax was something else.

Their arrival at the temple was met with some greetings from other Sith, some cautious looks and others who wished they hadn't returned. Solis and Karawn strode into the temple. It was of modest size the temple, build on the back of Sith slaves that had been brought. They were failed apprentices, failed soldiers and others. Most of them had died in the construction of the temple but the Dark Lord didn't care. The temple had been "updated" when the arrival of the remnants of the Sith Empire had arrived. Underneath a series of upgrades, the temple was enhanced with more crew quarters, increased non-force sensitive training areas and a command and control post near the top of the temple. Leaders such as Admiral Osiss Drale, General Tym Mereel, and others had provided the expertise to allow the One Sith to build such things and Solis took great pleasure in knowing that he was going to have the former leadership of the Sith Empire at their backs...by former he means those who wanted to help not those who were in actual leadership positions.

Solis and Karawn had arrived within the main temple. The mission was completed. @Aronis