Begeren. Once a prosperous Sith world, it has been the site of numerous battles throughout the millennia. Grand halls and monuments were torn down and re-purposed by looting Republic forces thousands of years ago, before they were driven from the planet. Isolated settlements still dot the planet's surface, but the inhospitable, craggy, and desert-like terrain, along with the beasts common to many desert and Sith worlds, have kept most humanoids from colonizing. Occasional skirmishes have left debris scattered throughout the desert, and battles were fought here as recently as the Galactic Civil War. The planet is now under the control of the One Sith and is rumored to be full of all manner of priceless, ancient Sith artifacts.

The Dark Council has pushed forth to Begeren and the Grand Master, on his quest for ever more powerful items, has decreed the Clans and Houses seize anything of value. The unity shown by the Brotherhood during the beginning of this Crusade is fracturing, with the Clans and Houses growing tired and frustrated with the seemingly endless succession of battles. Tempers are flaring between former allies, with outright aggression no longer uncommon. Despite this, you have responded to the Grand Master's call—though whether it's to actually seize the items for the Brotherhood, destroy them, or use them for your own purposes, only you know. One such item, a Sith talisman, said to be inlaid with a dark side-infused gemstone, was lost in the quarries of Begeren during the liberation of the planet from Old Republic looters thousands of years ago.

The Force has drawn you here, to an abandoned quarry, in a mountainous region west of an expansive desert. Any mining equipment once used here is long gone, but the landscape itself remains surprisingly preserved from the days of the Old Republic's strip mining. Scrub brush, the only foliage present on this part of the planet, has taken root all along the sides of the quarry. The ledge overlooks a one-hundred meter drop into a crystal-clear basin of water; opposite the ledge is a more gradual, step-wise decline. The basin itself is peculiar, as no plants are growing in or around it, despite being one of the few bodies of liquid you have seen in the nearby area. A long, snaking ramp meanders down through the steps of the quarry towards the water below, beginning at the northward edge of the cliff you now find yourself on. You notice shards of gemstones crunch underfoot as you move, a hint as to the use of this quarry in ages past.

The newly knighted Jedi Edgar Drachen was sent to this destroyed planet and this abandoned mine in hopes of finding a Sith talisman that is said to have been lost here. Even though his orders came from the leaders of his House Summit even this The Grand Master wanted more more for the dark council and he was so adamant that he even calls upon House Odan-Urr to help him achieve his goals. Even though the House’s numbers have grown lately we are still under the heel of the Dark Council. This didn’t sit well with the new Jedi, but there was no time to think about that now. Climbing down from the ridge into the mine proper he knew he wouldn’t be the only one looking for the Talisman the odds of running into a Sith here was almost assured. Just before Edgar started moving towards the ramp in the middles of the quarry he took a minute to focus his thoughts to use the Force to help conceal his true nature in the Force. This precaution was needed just in case the Jedi Knight came face to face with a Sith. Even though they may take orders from the same Grand Master most Sith of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood would rather kill all the Jedi’s en masse than actually work with them. Edgar was trained as a Sentinel having learned ways to survive on his own and more importantly how to blend in. Of course being the rare Jedi that uses a red lightsaber he hoped this would work in his favour if he just so happened to meet a Sith intent on killing him for the artifact. He moved as carefully and as quietly as he possibly could towards the ramp. He hoped to get to bottom of the mine and start his search from there. Edgar scanned as much of the mine with his senses as he could. The hope was not only trying to pick up on the Force infused artifact but also to locate any other treasure hunters as well. He did pick up a large presence of dark energy. Before he could pinpoint the source of the dark energy Edgar spun around igniting his lightsaber and instinctively blocked the lightsaber of what appeared to be an albino Zabrak female. After locking sabers for a second, Edgar was able to push off to get some distance between them. With the two combatants staring at each other not sure what to make of the other there was an uneasy silence. The young Jedi realizing she was a powerful Sith put his faith in the Force and hoped he could hold on to his ruse just long enough to find the artifact.

Nath's predatory instincts kicked in. She could sense her opponant's uncertainty without having to harness the Force, it hung like a thick perfume in the air between them. She would not allow her own to be seen in such a physical manifestation. Carefully, she sidestepped, maintaining her distance, and prowled in a circle around the stranger, inspecting every aspect of him.

It didn't take her long to spot the Mandalorian necklace around his throat. To the Iridonian it mattered very little, but she couldn't deny she was curious. Perhaps when she finished toying with him she could ask his about Clan before disposing of him. The look of surprise on Nath's expression was caught swiftly and quashed down, her emotion only manifesting as a slight glint in her obsidian eyes. Idly, she wondered if he had caught it.

As she moved he turned, unwilling to allow his back to come into view; this only broadened the smirk on her slender lips as her amusement grew. His own expression remained akin to stone, keen eyes observing her every move.

She pressed forward, no longer having surprise on her side, but she was certainly confident in her abilities as the distance was closed; her enemy's hesitation only added to her certainty. In one smooth motion the Iridonian forced her lightsaber down from the high guard she had swiftly brought up. The blade was caught at the center of the length of his blade from his two handed grip on his own lightsaber. She pushed against him fractionally further with a feral snarl. He was shorter than her, but had more bulk to move behind his movements.

The Human bared down upon her with his weight. She smiled as her muscles eased to allow the movement, almost pleased, this would be one challange she was happy to accept. The Iridonian stepped back, allowing her lightsaber to break contact, he stumbled forward as she brought her leg up in a savage snap-kick.

Edgar caught her foot with his free hand and pushed her back. Nath went with the motion, rolling back as she deactivated her blade. The Human's lunge and swipe barely missed, leaving a scorched streak across the silt which now bubbled at the heat. As she brought herself back to her feet her lightsaber was already activated as she advanced upon him once more.

The Human was faster, closing the distance with speed but she stopped his advance, drawing on her hatred and loathing to strengthen her connection with the Force to channel it into a physical push of telekinesis, forcing him back. He went sprawling, his grip remained firm on his weapon as he skidded bodily along the floor.

Wasting no time Nath lunged forward, she lept and landed heavily on his chest elicting a grunt as the air was forced out of Edgar's lungs, but instead of ending it she brought her fist down in a pointy knuckled punch to his face, drawing crimson blood from breaking the skin inside his mouth. Her lightsaber had already deactivated, the weapon merely scraped across the skin leaving a trail of mild burns in its wake. Her slender hands were free to beat him for the moment; she used her legs to pin his arms down with her body.

Edgar didn't allow her to strike twice, his jaw should have stung with the beginnings of a bruise and imprint of the ring on her finger but with the sudden surge of adrenaline he didn't feel it. Forcing her back her head thudded harshly against the small rocks drawing small beads of blood to the surface and smearing them beneath her.