The Witch's Trap

The Witch's Trap
Date of Scene:	19 July 2025
Location:	Aklyrr Bend - Tenoo - Outer Rim
Synopsis:	Malgabar's lair is located.
Cast of Characters:	159, Pike Windu, Cayde Alexis, Navi

Athena (159) has posed:
The group will make their way towards the ever increasingly bright green beacon at the end of the swath of burned vegetation. But once they arrive, they'll discover that the area surrounding the beacon is ... rather expansive, and the terrain is marshy and difficult to traverse. Not only that, but it's extremely foggy and visibility is low - so making their way towards the looming structure that the massive beacon seems to be emanating from will be harder than expected.

At some point, it will have grown too late and dangerous to continue on, so they'll have to camp in the bog and continue on their way the next morning. By morning, at least, the fog will have cleared some, and getting to the gloomy castle will prove easier. But as they near, they may find something quite unpleasant! Another dead body. But this one is much fresher, and isn't an animal...

Pike Windu has posed:
Pike looks around for some dry ground. Finding some, he pitches his great coat as a makeshift tent.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
No surprise that she has killed someone, and Cayde doubts this is the only one, either. Probably one of the people from the reports. Perhaps they should destroy it. Make sure it doesn't get back up and attack them in the night.

Athena (159) has posed:
With Vons, Thaarin, and Chad having been sent ahead to scout elsewhere in the area with Master Yutelli, Master Rykard hurries over to the dead body and moves it into the makeshift tent Pike had created with his robe.

"Master Windu," he asks Pike, "how did this person die? Do you recognize them? I ... am too new to the colony to discern whether or not he is a colonist."

Cayde will hear the sound of gears grinding and see that just up ahead, across the drawbridge, the gate to the loomy, foggy, dark castle up ahead has opened...

Pike Windu has posed:
Windu examines the corpse. "No one I know. Some bruising in the neck. HELLFIRE! This man was throttled with the Dark Side."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde watches the gate open, wondering if that structure had always been here or if she had created it.

Athena (159) has posed:
"Just as I thought," Rykard says gravely, shaking his head. "Bind it up, will you? We don't have time to burn it properly, and I would not like to see anymore reanimated corpses."

Cayde will feel a strong temptation to enter the looming castle thoughtlessly. The entryway itself looks like a yawning hole that seems to get bigger and bigger the longer he looks at it. It seems to be beckoning him, whispering things that don't sound like words but are seductive, and difficult to resist...

Rykard looks up. <Cayde!>

Pike Windu has posed:
With a SNAP-hiss, Windu's lightsaber ignites. With several neat cuts, the Jedi Master severs the body's limbs.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde stares at the yawning hole, his mind racing. But when Rykard calls out to him, he turns back around to find Master Pike dismembering the dead body. As the pieces fall, he churns the ground beneath it, burying it under a few layers of rocks and dirt.

Athena (159) has posed:
<My padawan> Rykard says, relieved. <We must go together>

He goes over to his padawan, and places a hand on his shoulder. Then he glances over at Pike, watching as he collaborates with Cayde to take care of the corpse. He nods solemnly, then says to the healer. "Come. Let us enter together -- but very carefully." He then starts across the drawbridge slowly, igniting his own saber and holding it aloft so that the others can see him as they enter the gloomy castle that reeks of the dark side...

Pike Windu has posed:
Windu shuts down his weapon and replaces his great coat. After a pause, he follows.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde nods and follows his master carefully, keeping his hand on his own saber.

Athena (159) has posed:
As soon as they enter the strange castle, things start to feel even more off than previously. The hallway ahead is dimly lit, lined with strange windows fogged with grime and ash. The entire thing looks like it might collapse at any moment.

The stench of the dark side is potent, here. At the end of the long hallway is a shaft, that doesn't look functional.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde frowns, hesitating a bit. She obviously wanted them to come in here. But perhaps they shouldn't walk into a trap. If she wanted to see him, why wouldn't she come out here?

Navi has posed:
Voices can faintly be heard echoing up the shaft. Some of them sound familiar; one of the clearest sets of voices is Peeka and her family, and one sounds at least a little bit like Navi.

Pike Windu has posed:
"Down, we must go down." Windu shudders. "They are in the dungeon."

Athena (159) has posed:
"Come," Rykard says to Cayde. "There are others here. Navi, some of the colonists, and others. Can't you sense them in the Force? They are suffering..."

Indeed, down the shaft they must go. The lift doesn't work, clearly, and the shaft itself is cob webbed and full of rafters than have fallen down, either over the years or perhaps Malgabar put them there.

But Cayde won't see that if he looks into the shaft. Instead, he'll see a yawning hole, black as night, and the dark side calling to him, whispering. Malgabar was down there. She wanted him to find her, to confront her, to kill her. That was the solution wasn't it?

Pike Windu has posed:
Windu groans as he inspects the shaft. "Well, nothing for it. I'll go first."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
No....no this wasn't right. This was a trap. She's trying to lure him into something. He isn't going to fall for it. She can see them, can't she? Or at least sense them.

Cayde begins to back away from the shaft slowly. It's him she wants. So she'd better come out here herself.

Navi has posed:
<Hello? Masters? Cayde? It's Navi! Are you here? Did you find the castle?>

Masters Windu and Rykard, and Cayde, can hear Navi trying to speak to them via her telepathy. The telepathic voice is a bit faint and wavery, but it's definitely Navi.

Athena (159) has posed:
"Thank you," Rykard says to Master Windu. "I'll follow with Cayde--" But then he notices Cayde backing away. <Cayde! We must rescue the hostages. Do not listen to the whispers of the dark side! They seek to deceive you and instill fear..!> However, Cayde will start to notice that for some reason, it's getting dimmer in here, and Rykard's voice sounds distant and hard to detect in the Force. He's also becoming hard to see physically, as well, as the lights start to dim..

And then he hears Navi calling out in the Force. <Navi! Do not go anywhere. There are illusions here... we are coming. Soon.>

Pike Windu has posed:
Windu leaps into the shaft. His control is not strong and he is wounded on the way down. And when he reaches the bottom, he is forced to soften the landing with his legs. They buckle and he hits the floor.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde doesn't move, and is as if he hasn't heard. He just stands there, rooted to the spot with a vacant expression on his face.

Navi doesn't get a response, but she may be able to feel the young Jedi's turmoil.

Navi has posed:
<Oh, I /know/... there's nine of us down here, and it's been a real job keeping everyone together. This place is /rotten/ with illusions and the Dark Side,> replies Navi's thought-voice. <It is /so good/ to know you all are here! I broke the spell on Mal... not sure how, but she was her normal self again, right before she left for what I'm assuming was the colony, to check on her sister. Apparently she can still teleport, even without the Dark Side driving her. Also, there are supposed to be more hostages down here somewhere, but I haven't found them. We don't even know how to get out of here.>

And then her telepathic voice gets louder, at least in Cayde's mind. <CAYDE! If you stumble into the deep end of the Dark Side, I'm gonna /slap you/! Get your head back in the game!>

Athena (159) has posed:
<You're right> Master Rykard says gravely. <and I fear I have succumbed to them as well -- for that reason alone I cannot come to you via the shaft. Master Windu is probably down there somewhere -- try to find him.>

He then begins to back away from it, and Navi will feel his presence receding. <Cayde...! listen to the sound of my thoughts in the Force! Follow them, if you can. I ... cannot see you anymore. But we cannot go down the shaft. The Dark Side plays tricks on us...>

Cayde won't be able to see Rykard anymore either, and his voice in the Force seems so faint. The hallway around him grows darker and darker, and suddenly, he'll find he isn't in a hallway anymore. He's in a room, covered in dust. Everything looks neglected -- except for a velvet futon near a cracked window in the back of the room. There's a figure lying on it. A woman. She's... so familiar, though he can't see her face...

Cayde Alexis has posed:
No, no that wasn't possible. If Malgabar left, then who was doing this? Who else would be doing this besides her?

Cayde tries to push Navi away, but she manages to edge her way in. Anyway, he ignores the woman on the futon and tries to follow Rykard's voice.

Navi has posed:
<All right, Master... I'll look for Master Windu. May the Force be with you,> Navi replies to Master Rykard. As she slips deeper into Cayde's thoughts, she gets a mental eyeful of just what he's seeing. <Okayyyyy... I can confirm I have /never/ seen that woman before... not here, not anywhere,> she says to Cayde. <It's an illusion for sure. Focus on Master Rykard's thoughts, and on mine. We can all get through this together. I know you can do it.>

Athena (159) has posed:
<Yes...! I can feel you nearing me> Rykard says, <Reach out your hand. We must not lose each other again>

<Navi, can you help us? Strengthen your will in the Force, as I strengthen mine. We must find another way to you, that isn't the shaft>

Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde reaches out, pushing on a wall in the room that isn't really there and hoping it will give way.

Navi has posed:
<I'm strengthening, I'm strengthening!> Navi replies telepathically, attempting to reinforce the telepathic connection between herself, Master Rykard, and Cayde. <Stay with us, Cayde. Right now we're probably the only things in this temple we can fully believe in.>

Athena (159) has posed:
the wall gives way, revealing Rykard. The elder Master hugs Cayde in relief. He holds onto Cayde's hand as he navigates towards Navi's beacon in the Force.

He starts for a stairwell full of what appears to be rickety stairs -- many of them are missing. They'll just have to rely on the Force to see which ones are there and which ones aren't!

Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde touches each of the steps lightly with the Force before he steps on any of them, to make sure they are actually there. Carefully, he makes his way down.

Navi has posed:
 Navi says, continuing to bolster the telepathic connection as best she can.

<That woman on the futon in the dusty room that Cayde saw... I wonder if she's the real Malgabar? The source of the beacon?> she speculates. <I likewise wonder if she's in this castle. When I shook Mal out of her Dark Side rage-fit, she had no idea where she was, or what had happened to her. At least she was able to remember something had happened to Gael, and I presume she teleported back to the colony to check on her.>

<Also, some of the marauders are here... I encountered Amarik in here, and he tried to shoot Mal. Another of his people, a twi'lek, is with us. She's unconscious, so we've had to gang-carry her whenever we go looking for a way out.>

Athena (159) has posed:
Together Cayde and Rykard manage to get down into the dungeons. Here, Cayde will feel the Dark side even more palpably. It feels almost suffocating...

IF not for Master Rykard gripping his hand tightly, Cayde might have become lost. He won't be able to see anything, except blackness. But in the not so distant distance, he'll be able to see one of his own memories of himself as a child playing out. He couldn't have been any older than two at the time, and he's alone, in a massive starport, tears streaming down his face.

Rykard frowns. <She must not have, how else are these illusions still plaguing us? She must be near. I can't sense her, though. Can you?> A pause. <Who is Amarik>

Cayde Alexis has posed:
The scene is familiar...he has seen it in his visions at night many times. It was years ago, but unlike many of the other visions this one actually had a small glimmer of hope in it in spite of everything.

But who was Navi talking about? 'Amarik'? However, he doesn't try to probe further, for fear she'll see something he doesn't want her to.

Navi has posed:
<The leader of a band of marauders, those masked pirates that are on-world,> Navi explains. <He is connected to me through the Force, but I have no idea how or why... I just know the connection is extremely strong. I don't know if he's still here; I didn't see him again after he tried to shoot Mal.>

<There is a chance that the castle or a Dark Side Force ghost is the source of the illusions... I have seen that happen before, but in my case it possessed individual members of the crew of a crashed ship and used their bodies to murder their fellow crew with my late Master's lightsaber,> she continues, a shiver coming into her mind-voice. <I have to wonder if anyone knew this castle was here before the colony initiative was assembled, or even before that, when the original settlement was founded. The surveyors and survey overflights may have missed it.>

Athena (159) has posed:
Cayde may find himself immersed in the memory. He'll see a beautiful Tholothian woman, approaching him, drawn to him by the Force. She scoops him up, wipes his tears, sings him a song. The young padawan may also suddenly sense that this illusion-memory is shared. There's someone else here, witnessing this same event, but from a different point of view ...

Rykard seems bothered by this. <You didn't think to tell us the name of this man, prior? And about your connection to him? I will tell Mondrian and Vons, and the rest of leadership at the colony. Perhaps if we can uncover his identity, the RDC can coax him into turning himself and the other marauders in without even having to make an arrest.> Navi may realize the error of her ways. If Xera found out Amarik was here, and alive, she would probably actively try to kill him. And that might ruin everything. <What does he look like> Rykard asks.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
Somehow, her presence seems to bring everything into focus. Where there had previously been a confusing mass of sensation, now there is clarity. And even the throbbing headache fades away. Cayde wonders who this woman was, if she was still out there, somewhere...

No...no now wasn't the time. He needed to focus. Pushing against the illusion, he finally shakes the vision off.

Navi has posed:
<You haven't been here very long, Master. It's a very complicated situation. It's been so busy that until now, it just didn't come up. And would /you/ trust Mondrian and his strutting security martinets to talk /anyone/ into turning themselves in? I know I wouldn't. He'd probably provoke a confrontation just to prove how big and bad he is, and get sentients killed needlessly,> Navi replies. <Also, Xera Graf also has a history with him, and would try to kill him if she knew he was here. It's a complicated situation all its own, and I don't know all the details. But I do know they're very interested in killing one another, and I don't want either of them to be killed.>

<Anyway, I think he's Tholothian, but I've never seen him unmasked.> This is a lie that she regrets uttering, but hopefully Master Rykard won't catch it...

Athena (159) has posed:
Cayde will suddenly sense a nudge in the Force. That other presence, that had also been watching the illusion-memory. They're reaching out to him, in the Force, trying to say something, but they're not as skilled as he is. The presence is familiar, too...

Rykard pauses. <You didn't think this was something that was... a priority?> the Jedi master asks, genuinely puzzled and rather concerned. <Mondrian may not be trustworthy but we are aligned in wanting to keep the colony safe. He answers to me, and I will not allow a confrontation with needless blood shed, only lawful arrest.> When Navi tells him an outright lie, he doesn't respond right away. But she'll be able to tell that he doesn't fully believe her. However, he's distracted when Peeka suddenly runs up and hugs his leg tightly. Turns out him and Cayde aren't far away from her at all - just a few meters down the hall. "We're finally getting out of here!" Peeka cries, relieved.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
Suddenly, it dawns on him. The woman...she was Tholothian. There was only one other Tholothian he remembered seeing recently. That pirate who called himself 'Crane', but he doesn't think that's the man's real name. but why was he in this same vision? Was it Malgabar's doing? But why?

He reaches out to the presence, attempting to identify it and confirm his suspicions. He must be here. And even if he's a criminal, he could be useful right about now...

Athena (159) has posed:
<You> The reply is brief. <This is not her doing>

His suspicions are confirmed. It is that fellow, 'Crane'. <You know what must be done> He tells the young padawan. <She cannot be. She kills now, she will kill later>

<You are a Jedi. A Jedi would stop this> A pause. 'Crane' is considering his words. <If you help me>

 Another pause. <And I will show you who killed Dresda>

Navi has posed:
<I made him promise me that he would take no action against Xera if I could get her to change her manipulative ways within a year... which so far hasn't worked. I was trying to work the situation out behind the scenes to ensure there was no confrontation, no bloodshed. I didn't trust Mondrian and his people to handle the situation responsibly, and Xera and her security droids going after him would have been even worse,> Navi replies. He may be able to sense a faint blush of shame through her mind-voice. <Also, Amarik said that a catastrophe was bound to occur in the colony, one that would end up costing the lives of colonists, but he didn't know its nature. To me, finding out what that catastrophe was and ensuring it didn't happen seemed more important. I don't remember if I told you about the potential catastrophe, but I've mentioned it several times to Master Windu, Anna, and Cayde.>

<It has occurred to me more than once that our present situation may be that very catastrophe.>

Cayde Alexis has posed:
 

 He could make her drop her guard...if she had wanted to kill him, she wouldn't have been trying so hard not to harm him earlier. No, he would threaten to run himself through his own blade...and perhaps even follow through with it, if necessary. That surely would cause her to become emotional. That would be the right moment to strike.

 <No one else knows...keep it that way.>

Athena (159) has posed:
<Then let us not wait> 'Crane' considers his words. 

<Yes. It will not work otherwise>

Cayde will then feel his presence rapidly receding, zigging and zagging as he takes his own advice. His presence in the Force is pulsates as if summoning Cayde to follow him.

Rykard sighs <You told no one about this? Until now?> He shakes his head. <Nevermind. Now is not the time. But we will discuss all of this in forum with the rest of leadership once we returns> He turns to Peeka and the group. "We shall try very hard. Navi, how did you end up down here? Perhaps we can simply return the way she came."

Peeka shrugs. "I guess, but I thought you should know while you guys were doing the Force thing, the pirate lady woke up and ran off."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
<No...you find her...and then tell me> Cayde tells the man. If it was so easy for him, why couldn't he just do it? Reaching into Malgabar's mind again was the last thing he wanted to do, anyway.

Navi has posed:
<I've told most of it to my closest friends, and that mostly weeks and months ago. But not everything, and I mentioned nothing to Mondrian or Xera, for the reasons I've already mentioned,> Navi replies. <And I'd advise you to keep this information close, rather than discussing it with the leadership, at least for now... and for the same reasons. But you must do what you feel is right.>

When Peeka rushes to meet Master Rykard, Navi follows, more slowly, since she's still using her telepathy. The blonde Sephi is a mess; for whatever reason, she is stripped down to her shirt over her underwear and boots, her hair giving any epic bedhead a run for its credits, and her body streaked with dust from the walls and floors of the dungeons. A bundle of filthy clothes, tied together by the heavy suspenders from her pants, hangs from her left hand. "I went down the shaft with Peeka. We tried to climb down using the lift, but it broke loose and fell to the bottom. From there we hunted down the dungeons and confronted Mal."

Athena (159) has posed:
'Crane' doesn't respond, but Cayde will be able to sense his presence in the Force pulsating even more strongly than before. Then he'll experience some sensations that the man is transmitting to him via telepathy. Wet. Fog. Marsh. Somewhere behind this gloomy keep...

<There> 'Crane' says back to him faintly. <She tries to escape> And then Cayde will feel it. Her presence very faintly in the Force, though it feels less malevolent now and less powerful.

<We'll speak about this once we're back> Rykard says. <And decide then. Now is not the time>

"The shaft? Then perhaps we should try the stairs, though I think it's quite risky." He looks at the others, who are in worse condition than Navi. "... we may have to carry some of them."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
Escape her own fortress? But didn't she want him? What was she running from?

Well, it didn't matter. Cayde starts back up the stairs, back the way he'd come, intending to make his way to the marshes on the other side.

Navi has posed:
<It sure isn't,> Navi agrees. "By the way, where's Cayde going?"

Athena (159) has posed:
Rykard's eyes widen. <Cayde! Wait! Where are you going? We must go together - we haven't even found Master Windu yet!>

"Stay here!" he says to Navi. "I must go after my padawan...!"

Cayde had better hurry. If Rykard discovered his intentions -- his plan would be ruined. But he can feel 'Crane's' presence in the Force even more succinctly now, and feel him closing in on Malgabar's position.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
Cayde doesn't respond to the question, instead he hurries back out the gate and starts making his way around the fortress toward the Tholothian's presence. However, he doesn't do anything to hinder his master's pursuit.

Navi has posed:
"Oh, I wish he wouldn't wander off like this..." Navi murmurs, rubbing her forehead with her palm.

"Yes, Master. I'll see who among us can walk without assistance and who will need to be assisted," she replies to Master Rykard, already moving to do so.

<Cayde, I don't know what you're doing right now, but it's a really bad idea to go off on your own in a castle drowning in Dark Side illusions. Come back, please!> she adds telepathically to Cayde.

Athena (159) has posed:
But as Cayde hurries back out of the gate and across the drawbridge, the fog closes back in, and Rykard loses sight of him completely. <Cayde... Cayde! Answer me!> he cries desperately.

Navi has posed:
<Right away, Master. Cayde /always/ wanders off with something in mind. I don't think I've ever seen him do so randomly,> Navi adds. <Anne was very good at collaring him, sometimes literally, and bringing him back.>

She takes Peeka's hand and tugs her back toward the others. "Come on, Peeka. Maybe Master Windu tried to go down the shaft, too. We'll look there first."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
When attempting to contact Cayde, Rykard will get a sense of determination about something...something that his padawan doesn't seem to want anyone else here to know about, not even his own master. He is...still convinced that the only solution to this problem for Malgabar to become one with the Force, here and now. Navi will feel some of the same, that is, before he intentionally shuts her out.

Navi has posed:
<Cayde..!> Navi cries through the connection, just before she's locked out of Cayde's psyche.

<Force help us, Master... he's still fixated on killing Mal! He thinks it's the only solution... and I don't know if he's right or wrong. I just know this feels... /wrong/! I don't know what will happen to him, Mal, or Gael if either of them is killed!>

The Witch's Trap

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