[Takadona Maz Kanata’s Castle](Asset Not Found)

When the First Order beset on Takadona, Maz Kanata’s castle took the brunt of the assault. Located on the shore of a lake that was owned by the pirate Maz Kanata, it served as a haven for travelers, smugglers and other unsavory characters. Sensor grids and advanced communication gear secured the castle from unannounced attacks, giving its owner and visitors enough notice to flee the scene.

The area around it is rumored to have been the battleground for the Jedi and Sith, being of strategic value for those willing to seek control over Takadona. Inside, the castle’s gray exterior vanishes into shades of brown, the color of sandstone. Tables and chairs fill the cluttered spaces where travelers could share tales or pursue their own controversial interests. Unfiltered smoke permeates the air, clogging the senses with a sweet odor. Various criminal groups have at some time or another sought shelter in the castle, their passage evidenced by the many-colored banners outside bearing their insignia.

[Takadona Maz Kanata’s Castle](Asset Not Found)

Now, the castle remains uninhabited. Several of its towers have crumbled under the First Order’s assault. Stonework pillars have toppled over, scorched from turbolasers and blaster fire. Other segments lie in ruin, still too new for the forest to have reclaimed the land around the castle.

Kordath Bleu didn't hold much hope for the job he'd been sent on. Leads on the whereabouts of the missing lunatic sitting on the Iron Throne weren't likely to pop up in a ruined castle turned tavern. Still, someone had dropped a comm transmission to Arcona suggesting a former member of Taldryan, suddenly having deserted, might have some intelligence on the matter.

So it was with little surprise to the paranoid Ryn that his target had laid a trap for him in the ruins. Kordath had been a bit shocked, though his precognitive talents saved him from getting caught by the brunt of it, when he'd triggered a booby trap. The ostentatious cloak, a stylized creature emblazoned across it, had seemed liked a solid clue for the Arcanist. When he'd picked it up to try his Force-fueled tracking, it'd caused a strange, red ringed item to fall to the cracked foundation. When the Force screamed at him to run he'd thrown himself backwards and covered his head.

The flash of light and concussive shockwave buffeted him and caused his head to ring, making him stumble as he tried to stand. Kord found himself facing a tall, darkly-armored figure holding a simple, red-bladed saber. The quaintness of the weapon made it no less dangerous, he knew well enough from his own scars.

“I knew I'd catch a tail if I laid a trap here,” came a chuckle from the man. The red blade was pointed at the disoriented Ryn, an obvious threat. “I'm not going back, and the likes of you won't be dragging me back alive.”

“Tha’ kark are ya goin’ on about?” muttered the Arconan, holding his head as the world spun around him. He stuck out a leg and began pushing himself up, tail held high as he tried to find his balance. “Ain’t with Tal, mate, just, ooooh boy,” mumbled Bleu, nearly falling over once more. He blinked and saw that his target had begun circling, forcing him to try and turn despite his dizziness. At least the ringing was abating.

“Not here ta drag ya anywhere, pal, just heard ya might know where tha big bad man on tha Throne had wandered off ta. My people wanna know where that'd be, so, come along and you'll get a proper bit of compensation, eh? No need for all tha saber swingin’ and tha fightin’, yeah?”

The Quaestor was under no illusions while trying to talk the taller man down, his hand unsheathing his alchemically treated dagger as a precaution. He let out an undignified yelp when the Umbaran took a swing at him, stepping back instead of trying to block with his much smaller weapon.

“Knowledge is power, Arconan, and if I do know the whereabouts of Pravus, the price will be higher than you can offer. You're just a hindrance, an obstacle who managed to track me — and that means leaving you alive could lead my pursuers to me. That cannot be allowed.”

So much for tha diplomatic approach, eh?

Kord ducked the next swing, tucking his tail in and cursing while gathering power to his free left hand. He winced as he parried a thrust aside and spun away from the impact, smelling the acrid scent of burnt metal from his dagger. With a sense of amusement and irony, he brought his off hand up and released the stored Force energy in a blinding flash of light. Goggles or not, the Sith attacking him reeled back, clutching at his covered eyes and crying out in pain.

“Do nae like havin’ it done ta you, eh!?”

With that shouted taunt, Kord pressed the attack while he could.

Tail or not, his adversary was not to be trifled with, cursed Thorn. Dammit! I can’t see a thing! Him and his honeyed words!

The Umbaran clutched at his eyes, his left hand involuntarily shielding his eyes from another disastrous flash like that. He held his lightsaber in his right hand defensively. His face was tensed, and his teeth were champed shut from the pain. Like a blind man, he staggered forward. He immediately started using the Dark Side to guide him, trying to sense the proximity of Kordath through the Force. Only the Dark Side can save him now!

Almost immediately, he felt the Force scream out a warning, betraying the proximity of Kordath. Thorn brought his red-bladed lightsaber into an uppercut to guard his torso and head with a frustrated roar, where he surmised the blow would be sure to fall. However, nothing happened. His foe was playing with him! Mostly likely, he just made a feint.

Things are not looking good. If this keeps up, he’ll be dragging me back to Arcona for questioning in no time.

Thorn started backing away slowly, his weapon still in his hand guarding his body. As for his eyes, they were still hurting considerably even after a few minutes. However, he could by now make out very hazy outlines.

Without warning, Kordath went for the Sith. Quickly he closed the distance between them, dropped to the floor into a roll and landed a roundhouse kick to the side of Thorn’s head. The Umbaran, already dazed from the light felt his heart beating lightly in protest from the blunt impact! The Sith assassin’s head swam. He bit the dust as he fell on the damaged floor, the lightsaber flying out of his hands. Now there was no moment to be lost! There was only one way out of this.

“Kordath, I’ve decided to turn myself in.”

Sure enough a voice came from behind him “Oh you did, did you mate? Pray what brought on yer miraculous transformation?” Most likely his foe was circling him. The voice chuckled, amused.

“Let’s just say…I saw the light, a whole lot of it lot of it!”

“That you did. I had to do it, mate. There are bigger issues at stake here. You understand, yes?”

“Of course I do. I’ll come quietly, but give me a minute, will you?”

“Of course…but don’t try anything funny this time.”

"I said I won't, you karking Ryn!" snarled he Sith as he started to get up despite the soreness in his head and the throbbing behind his eyes. He had to keep Kordath busy talking. That would serve two purposes. Firstly, in case he moved, the gravel and stones under his fit would betray his presence. Secondly, hopefully the Ryn would never suspect what he was about to do.

Thorn "Now...what is this about Pravus again? He has disappeared, has he?"

"Mhm, that is right. And we are are left wondering where the kark he ran off to. By the way, give your lightsaber here for safe keeping"

Thorn had no choice but to give his weapon over. A wave of rage rose at seeing the forcible exchange, but he knew masking his emotions for the time being would save him. "And you think I have something to do with that? I'm not exactly hiding the Grand Master under my cloak, Kordath."

"Of course not mate, but we need to question everyone who worked for him in some capacity. Yer an Inquisitor we know." The Ryn ended with a statement.

The Sith's eyes narrowed in white anger, his hands already feeling for the Dark Side behind his back. "So what if I am? You lot think that Pravus tells his daily itinerary to every minion of his?" His eyes have almost stopped hurting by now. Only a slight throbbing remained. The borrowed time has certainly been valuable.

Kordath pondered about his for a moment. "Something in what ye tell. Regardless, I need to take yer to back ter Arcona. Any information would be welcome mate. And like I said, we shall be comp...HEY!"

The Umbaran struck without warning, blasting the Ryn with a wave of darkness. While that did not physically harm his foe, it caused a sphere of darkness to descend around him. This rim of darkness spanned 6 meters in diameter and negated the entry of all light within.

"I CAN'T SEE!" Kordath staggered blindly, not knowing which way would help him escape.

"Welcome to my world, Ryn." Thorn smirked as he aimed his Fibercord Whip at Kordath. The darkness soothed his eyes and his newfound sight gave him both renewed accuracy and rage. He pulled it back taut, took aim and quickly let it fly. The whip sped through the air and ensnared his foe who was still struggling to find his way in the darkness. He saw Kordath drop to the ground, unable to get free from the bonds that tied up his torso and his upper legs.

"What the kark are yer doing!? You made a deal!"

Only a sinister laugh greeted him "A Sith deals in absolutes. Don't you know?" Thorn lost no time in finding his lightsaber. Its crimson blade erupted once more in a fury baying for blood in that baleful blackness. Raising it above his head, Thorn made ready to make a kill.

Thorn has gone over the word cap and this match is now closed by DQ.