Kay'li Raganella
The Jedi Order
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Post by Kay'li Raganella on Oct 14, 2021 18:57:33 GMT -8
Everything hurt. Even before she finished regaining consciousness, that was Kay'li's primary conclusion.
Fortunately, landing flat on her back on the sand had spread the impact out throughout her body, and even though the wind had been knocked from her, nothing was broken. Well, nothing physical was broken, at least. Her connection to the Force felt like it had been burnt to a crisp. She would need time to recover her reserves. But first of all, could she stand?
Straining, the Jedi sat up... and almost passed out. "Fraaack." She groaned to herself.
Reaching out through the Force, she tried to sense her companions. Maybe she could call for help. But she was too weak, and they were still nearly strangers to her. She could sense their presence, vague, and distant, but that was it. They were not in any immediate danger, she presumed, or their sense would have been sharper. But forming a thought in either of those still-only-slightly-familiar minds was beyond her current faculties. She would have to wait - or hope that they realized she was missing.
Sighing, she carefully scanned her surroundings, looking for inspiration (and thanking the Force that no additional apparitions had appeared).
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Nartaga
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Post by Nartaga on Oct 14, 2021 22:32:02 GMT -8
Nartaga heaved as he stood up. His legs were still a little unsteady and were heavy as if weighed down with rocks in his boots, but he could walk. The Tusken signed to Zed to reassure him that he was alright, or at least he would be. His mind was now focused on ensuring that everyone he had guided into the Deadlands survived. If he lost someone who he had taken out into these sun-forsaken wastes, the Tusken did not think he could stand the guilt it would leave him with. Patashu let out a huff and got up as well, sensing the atmosphere change and the worry in her rider's tone of voice. "Too dangerous alone...Need to find." Knowing that his travelling companion would protest the Tusken leaving the camp by himself to go search, Patashu or no, Nartaga took hold of the reins of the Bantha and gestured for Zed to take them, followed by another sign. "Zed look for Marie. Take Patashu. Have lightsaber. Better in case run into more of....those." Nartaga signed to convey his words better to Zed. "Will stay here. Look after new one." Nartaga nodded his head towards Xarl.After Zed had taken his leave with Patashu, Nartaga would sit back down by the heat generator, opposite of the Yuuzhan Vong Xarl. Nartaga's head tilted in curiosity at the chances of them running into someone out in the Deadlands, let alone one who had such an imposing appearance. There was also something else, something that Nartaga could not quite place or understand; he could not feel the presence of this being. It was a completely new sensation to the Tusken shaman. Not something the Tusken would ever have thought to feel for, but when something was missing it was far more noticeable than if it were there. With a deep breath Nartaga held out his hands, daring to test his abilities this soon. The two blades that he had lost during the battle lifted from their resting place in the sands around the camp and into his hands, where he sheathed them back in their place on his belt. While it was a risk to expend energy on even such a miniscule ability, it was also a message to show the newcomer that he was not defenseless, nor was he unable to defend himself. Nartaga focused his thoughts and took another deep breath, staring silently at Xarl for another moment before gesturing at himself. "Nartaga." The Tusken then gestured to the stranger sat across from him.
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Nem Yin
The First Order
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Post by Nem Yin on Oct 15, 2021 6:21:45 GMT -8
Still seated around the heat generator, the warrior watched Zed leave at the behest of the other tusken. The smaller tusken appeared to be using some form of sign language that was unfamiliar to the Yuuzhan Vong, though connections were beginning to form in his mind. The tizowyrm biot in his right ear had created a symbiotic connection with his brain, which was one of the reasons he was able to understand and speak galactic basic, along with a few other common languages. It seemed to possess a rudimentary grasp of this form of sign language, though it was far from complete. He was able to piece together the intention of the smaller tusken as he handed the reigns of his bantha over to Zed, even if he couldn't understand all the words signed.
He was sending the larger tusken, the one that had identified himself as Zed, to go look for someone or something. Ah, most likely another of their mounts, the beasts they had called banthas, had gone missing. Whatever those wraiths were they must have been incredibly fearsome to scatter the tusken raiders war mounts across the dune sea as they had.
After the smaller tusken had taken a seat, Xarl's glowing mqaaq'it focused on him, studying the being across from him curiously. A sound quickly broke his trance, similar to a coufee blade being dragged across a wet stone, or steel sliding across something course. The next thing he knew two knives twirled through the air and slapped into the palms of the tusken across from him, he sheathed them a moment later, and then identified himself through sign as 'Nartaga'.
Some things were beginning to make sense, while other questions were being raised by everything he had seen. This was the same tusken that had been floating upside down before, when flames seemed to explode from his hands and immolate the invisible entity that had been assailing him. He clearly must be a powerful infidel sorcerer, for the abilities he had thus displayed were the sorts of things his fellow warrior caste had told him the Jeedai were capable of. Perhaps those abilities weren't exclusive to just the Jeedai, but were more common throughout the galaxy than he previously realized, which was disconcerting to say the least. No wonder his people had lost the war. In any event, he would need to be cautious around this one, he had abilities beyond the Yuuzhan Vong's current understanding.
He placed a hand on his vonduun encased chest, then attempted to sign his own name, though he spoke the words out loud as well in galactic basic. "Xarl." Sensing movement, the amphistaff coiled around his chest lifted its scaled head and licked at his fingers with a forked tongue. With an index finger he pushed the serpent's head aside. He then continued to do his best to sign with his hands while he simultaneously spoke out loud.
"I found your beast, your...bantha..." Yes, that was it. "...out in the dunes. As I was returning Patashu, I came across your encampment while it was under siege by those, things, though I arrived too late to help. Among my people I am a warrior of great skill, very hard to kill. If you will allow it I would like to stay in the event those..." His tizowyrm struggled to provide him with an appropriate word for the Force Wraiths. He settled on the next best thing. "...spirits, return again. I would like the chance to fight them."
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Nartaga
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Post by Nartaga on Oct 16, 2021 1:20:36 GMT -8
The dark circular goggles that hid the Tusken's eyes to the world seemed to stare holes into the Yuuzhan Vong as Nartaga just watched Xarl silently. The being before him seemed to struggle with sign language, as if they were unfamiliar with it, but continued in his attempt. The expressionless mask he wore offered no hint at what may be going on in the Tusken's mind. Though unseen to Xarl, his eyes did grow wide when what he had thought was either decorative fashion or some sort of trophy turned out to be a living serpent-like creature wrapped around the Vong's chest. Nartaga finally spoke, repeating the Vong's name aloud, speaking phonetically to learn its pronunciation. "Kss-ar-lll...X-arr-l...X-arl." It was an odd name; as outsiders had no shortage of different species and cultures each with their own naming conventions. Though the rarity of the letter "X" in the Tusken alphabet and his unfamiliarity made it a bit of a struggle at first, he would hopefully overcome this difficulty soon enough.Nartaga nodded as he thought on Xarl's request to join them, but the conversation he had heard between Xarl and Zed worried him. He did his best to explain his reservations to the outsider in Basic. "First thing hear, X-arl wish death." Tuskens had their own beliefs about ritual suicide and death, in the name of honor and tradition. A memory of watching the tribe's elder Storyteller proudly and willingly having his vocal chords cut out by his successor came to the forefront of his mind, what he had considered a pointless death, but was applauded by others of his tribe. Nartaga signed to reference his travelling companions as well as himself. "Important journey. Cannot die." He paused for a moment, trying to think of the way to translate his thoughts to words. He continued with another sign. "X-arl danger if accept death. Danger to all. Nartaga added another sign, adding extra emphasis on the word he was symbolizing with his movements. "Need know X-arl not danger to journey." Having an extra warrior, even a stranger, would hopefully increase their chances of living through these cursed lands. What would not be of help was someone with a death wish endangering the rest of them and possibly getting them all killed. The Tusken needed a better understanding of who this being was to trust him to watch their backs. "Who X-arl?"Xarl had proven himself to be somewhat trustworthy for bringing Patashu back to the camp, but there was still much unknown of this new being. An idea came to his mind to try and explain his question a bit better. The Tusken leaned forward and drew a symbol of two overlapping triangles in the sand to the side of the heat generator so that the Yuuzhan Vong could see it. He pointed to the top triangle, signing and speaking in Basic. "Mind." Nartaga pointed to the bottom triangle, signing again, as well as saying what it represented in Basic. "Body." Lastly, he pointed to the center third triangle, created by the other two overlapping each other. Nartaga signed and spoke again. "Soul." Nartaga pointed again to the center triangle representing the soul, then gestured to Xarl and repeating his question. "Who X-arl?" The Tusken waited for the answer of the Yuuzhan Vong silently, the goggles of the mask he wore once more boring holes into the eyes of the being to discern the truth of what he would speak.
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Zed Bakiska
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Post by Zed Bakiska on Oct 16, 2021 5:41:36 GMT -8
Walking beyond the rise that had hid the camp in the closest thing Tatooine had to a dell, Zed soon lost the path of Marie with the ever present wind having swept it away. Thankfully it had travelled in a nearly straight line so Zed simply followed the path it had been going. As he walked Zed absently sampled the extended force energy that emanated from this direction like ripples on a pond. This far and this long after their use they were faint and hardly had any substance to them. Still he could taste happiness and content in them. He was not sure what she had done to exert this much power in such a way, while one could certainly have a powerful aura and it could extend well beyond their body this was different. It was as if she had visited everywhere from a single place all at one.
Following them to their source would be fairly simple and he only needed to adjust his path somewhat to go in its direction. The closer he got though, the darker the force echoes got. She had also been attacked. Much like before he did not know what he was sensing but could tell it was powerful. Stumbling on the ground as he felt the death scream of the wraith it took him a few moments to stand back up. What she had done was different somehow than what Nartaga had done. The Tusken had only killed the wraith, but somehow Marie had caused it pain. Maybe that pain was what had caused the other wraiths to disappear.
Picking up his pace to a small run when he saw the woman laying on the sand atop a dune he shouted out in Basic at her Marie are you okay! What happened? As he said this he knelt down beside her checking for injuries.
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Nem Yin
The First Order
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Post by Nem Yin on Oct 16, 2021 15:56:57 GMT -8
Sharp mqaaq'it studied the floor next to the heat generator as Nartaga drew a symbol in the sand. He listened and watched respectfully, though he initially found himself at a loss for words. He shifted uncomfortably as he remained seated cross-legged on the floor. He had never been asked who he was before, at least, not in any deeper way than what his name was and what domain he belonged to. The Yuuzhan Vong were a deeply spiritual people, but ever since they lost the war he had felt like a coral skipper without a cognition hood, rudderless and without direction. He understood his longing for an end to this life was a result of that. He was a warrior caste without a war to fight, sentenced to etch out an existence on Zonama Sekot raising crops with the casteless. Better to suffer an honorable death than to linger on in shame. Yet it was the warrior inside of him that understood the tusken's reservations. What was to say that Xarl wouldn't up and abandon them in pursuit of a glorious death at the first sign of danger? All he had was his word of bond. He would have to espouse why that was enough.
Xarl nodded in understanding, his own hand gestures becoming more precise as he watched Nartaga sign, the tizowyrm in his ear almost acting like an organic super computer, filling his mind with the appropriate signs to convey his feelings. He continued to speak out loud as well.
"I am a warrior, bred to fight and die in service to the gods. Honour is everything to me, it inhabits every fiber of my being and it dictates my actions more so even than the orders of my superiors." The semi-sentient amphsitaff coiled around his crab plated chest hissed as it heard a few key words such as 'fight' and 'die', teasing its aggressive tendencies. Taking the serpents's head in hand, he began to unravel the creature until it hung loosely in his hands. He placed in on the ground and it quickly slithered across the sand, leaving the warmth of the heat generator as it disappeared from sight on a hunt for any vermin or insects that might inhabit the area. He watched it go and then turned his attention back to the tusken, his ocular implants glowing a cool blue.
"I understand your concerns, Nartaga." There was something familiar about that name, though he couldn't quite place it. It almost felt like he had spoken it before in another life, though that was impossible, right? "Know that my word is my bond. When I say something, it is so. My honour will not allow me to speak false truths. So I make you this pledge. Allow me to follow you on your journey and I will put the needs of your quest before my personal desires. I still seek death, nothing can change that, but it will not be at the expense of you and your warriors. If you let me fight for you, I will stand by your side as though you are a member of my domain..." Hmm, they might not understand that turn of phrase. "...my clan."
His left hand slid down to a scaled sheath on his hip and withdrew a serrated bone blade known as a coufee. He placed the blades edge on the palm of right hand and drew it across, slicing open the skin before squeezing his hand and letting a few droplets of his black blood drip onto the sand in front of him.
"This I swear before the gods. May they strike me down if I speak untrue."
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Nartaga
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Post by Nartaga on Oct 16, 2021 21:06:40 GMT -8
Nartaga was silent after Xarl had finished speaking and creating a blood oath to make himself honor bound to the group of travelers on their quest, his impassive mask staring blankly at Xarl. There was something that the Tusken saw behind the glowing eyes of the Yuuzhan Vong that the Tusken could just barely see, but it was there. Xarl had spoken of death, but to the Tusken there was also a longing for purpose, a reason to exist, at least Nartaga believed that was what he saw. He did not need to be able to read minds, something he was incapable of doing anyway, to try and discern what was between the words being spoken to him. Along with the readiness to dedicate oneself to a cause not their own; even if it may be a means to their own end, the Tusken believed Xarl. There was a bit of kinship in that feeling of aimlessness he believed to have discerned from Xarl, as he had experienced it himself in his exile from his tribe. "Looking for artifact. In Deadlands." Nartaga paused, trying to think of how to explain exactly what they were looking for. It was not something he completely understood himself, and the Tusken believed that Zed would be far better at describing, but he would do his best. "Artifact have outsider shaman power. Zed say Sith." Nartaga tried to chose his words carefully, but he also did not want Xarl to remain completely in the dark. Nartaga again pointed to himself as he spoke. "Nartaga R'Crurak tribe. R'Crurak small tribe. Ally of Or'Rrk'Rkr clan. Large clan. Powerful." Nartaga visibly struggled trying to explain the finer details of their quest, but he still tried. "Or'Rrk'Rkr Chieftain send find artifact. Want use power. Defeat other clans." He was excluding the decision he and Zed had come to between the two of them of what was to be done with the missing half they were searching for, but that was not something they had even shared with their other traveling companion: the one who called herself Marie.Nartaga stopped again for a moment as if remembering something. The Tusken reached into one of the pouches on his belt and pulled out the small circular holoprojector disk that had been given to Zed by the Chieftain back at the Enclave. Zed had taught him how to use the device, and as he was a skilled cartographer, at least between the two of them, and somewhat familiar with the terrain they had taken turns looking after the tech.The small disc lit up as the Tusken manipulated its controls and produced a blue hued and slightly staticky topographical map of Tatooine. With a push of a button the map zoomed out, and the Tusken traced a circle over the map with his finger. "Us. Here somewhere." Zooming out more until the curve of the planet's surface was slightly visible on the map, he traced another circle with his finger, indicating the vast expanse of what he had called this area of Tatooine. "This Deadlands." Nartaga set the holoprojector on his knee and signed to Xarl to convey the search area they were trying to cover. By the location of where the Tusken shown them to approximately be they were already deep into the Deadlands, as they had been searching for quite some time already. "Think Demons mean maybe close. No way know."As Nartaga tried to change the focus of the map, the hologram flickered out of existence with a small buzz and pop. Nartaga inspected the device and shook it slightly, tapping the display button to try and turn it back on. For a moment the projection returned, but quickly wavered and died once more. "Ur'Kf!" By the tone the Tusken grunted in his native language, it was obviously a curse of some sort, though it did not directly translate. The small projector disc must have been damaged during the battle, more than likely one of the two times he was dropped from the air by the wraiths onto the ground. "Zed look when return." The Tusken half-heartedly said as he looked off towards the Dune Patashu and Zed had gone over in search of Marie.
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Nem Yin
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Post by Nem Yin on Oct 16, 2021 23:48:12 GMT -8
What was it about being in a leadership position that made one crave the next great and powerful weapon? They were inexorably drawn to such things likes moths to a flame. When Nartaga spoke of the Or'Rrk'Rkr chieftain's desire for the Sith artifact, it sounded to Xarl like exactly the sort of thing the former warmasters and supreme overlords of his own people would have done. If history was any indicator, it was a flawed path to conquest over the other tribes. Better to place ones faith in the warriors fighting the battles than in the potency of the weapons they possessed. For instance, an amphistaff was a devastating tool when wielded by an experienced hand, but it could just as easily be turned on its owner if they were careless or unworthy. More to the point, if the artifact was Sith in nature, that was more of a reason not to trust it. He had heard the stories of the Jeedai's ancient enemy, of the the dark horrors their fell magics could unleash upon the undeserving. It seemed dishonorable to make use of such a device. Still, this was not his world and these were not his people. Nartaga already displayed an affinity for the mystic arts. Perhaps he could control the malevolent nature likely contained within the artifact.
Xarl leaned forwards as he studied the holographic map, noting some of the landmarks as ones he had seen when he had flown over the dunes in his fighter craft. He scowled as he considered the vast terrain to cover. It was a lot of desert to search. The sacs beneath his eyes bulged at the mention of demons.
Nartaga had a point. If the wraiths were not a common occurrence in the dune sea, then it stood to reason that they were tied to the artifact in question, given their dark nature. While he loved nothing more than a challenge, it was disturbing to think they might come up against such creatures again. At this current moment in time he had no idea how he would even begin to combat them. He would just have to pray to Yun-Yammka that he could defeat them through strength of arms. Failing that, well, he'd think of something. He certainly wasn't about to back down just because he faced an enemy he knew little about. That only made it more interesting.
He leaned back after the projector sputtered out and rested his hands on his knees. Part of him knew what he was about to ask was impolite, knowing full well it was a soldiers place to follow orders, but his curiosity got the better of him. If the tusken had already connected the dots between the artifact and the wraiths, he must also understand the implication of using it as a weapon against the tribes enemies.
"When you find this artifact, will you do as the Or'Rrk'Rkr chieftain wishes and use it to defeat the other tribes?"
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Nartaga
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Post by Nartaga on Oct 17, 2021 3:08:48 GMT -8
Xarl's question made the Tusken his head away from facing the Yuuzhan Vong. "Chieftain say return with artifact if can be used." His own thoughts were complicated and murky regarding the request Or'Rish had made of him and Zed, particularly about the chieftain in particular. The Tusken shaman knew they were but pawns being used so that none of the chieftain's own clan could be implicated directly in breaking the taboo of traversing the Deadlands. Conquering this far harsher and more desolate area of Tatooine's desert offered the conqueror a much more favorable path to flank many of the other larger clans in the area, but it was breaking against so many cultural norms it even made a progressive like Nartaga think twice. But he had fought alongside the chieftain and his warriors, before his exile. It was a gut--wrenching decision that, while he had discussed the plan with Zed, made him sick to his stomach. To break a bond of trust was no easy task. Nartaga stammered a bit, still looking to the side as he spoke. His face beneath his mask was a disgusted frown. "Chieftain trust Nartaga." Nartaga exhaled sharply from his nose. "Need shaman see artifact. Decide. Nartaga shaman. Zed outsider shaman. Will see."
If the wraiths were in any way connected to their search for the artifact and if they were somehow created or controlled by it, Nartaga knew he could not let such a power be used. In his mind thoughts of the massacres and horrors that those creatures would wreak upon anyone who controlled them would cause. Or'Rish was not a shaman, he did not have the blessing of Tatooine: the Force as Zed had called it. So it was likely he would have to entrust an actual shaman to control the artifact's power. No matter who it was or how much they were trusted, there was always the chance that they would take the opportunity to seize power from Or'Rish. The resulting chaos this unknown usurper could cause could throw their people into another dark age, to a time similar to before the Long Walk after the fall of the Kumumgah, the Tusken people's ancestors. "No honor fight with stolen power. No honor use demons." Nartaga squeezed his empty gloved hand into a tight fist. "Touch demon. Feel empty. Not live. Never live. No soul."
It was still unconfirmed that the wraiths and the artifact were linked, but Nartaga's intuition was screaming at him that they were. But why hadn't there been any similar abominations at the Enclave? The Or'Rrk'Rkr clan had half of the artifact. If all that was left to find was the other half, why was this one projecting such horrors and not the other? There was something else missing from this picture, or he was not looking at it the right way. He would need to talk to Zed and ask the Stennes man for his knowledge on the subject. Sadly, the Tusken shaman was very far out of his depth. With a sigh Nartaga shook his head and waved his hand at Xarl to forgive his extended silences. "Sorry. Maybe Zed explain better? Outsider Basic. Like talking with sand in mouth."
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Post by An tSúil on Oct 19, 2021 21:49:41 GMT -8
Like a needle in a haystack the wreckage of an aged pod racer lie on a spot of land. The ship was mostly covered by soil, as guided by the prevailing winds that ruled the wasteland. Hanging from the cockpit were the skeletal remains of the last pilot of the vessel. Just another lost and long forgotten victim of chance among legion that now called The Dune Sea their eternal home Far away from the wreck a figure could be observed approaching. A woman, so it appeared. One with striking red eyes. No.... Was it a dog? Yes. A dog. So, what was, or at least seemed to be, now materialized as a grey wolf. But it too had notable red eyes. And as the canine came closer into view, it too dissipated and was gone from sight in but the blink of an eye. A raven now sat perched stop the ruins of the old racer, observing the scenery around the bird. A black bird, with fire red eyes
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Nem Yin
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Post by Nem Yin on Oct 21, 2021 6:58:21 GMT -8
At first it didn't sound like Nartaga had made up his mind yet, but then he spoke of stolen powers and his reluctance to rely on demons, and it was clear to Xarl that they were of similar mind on the subject. Better the tried and true methods of war that you know than the demons you didn't. He wondered though whether the Or'Rrk'Rkr chieftain would see it the same way. The tusken shaman said it was his decision, but in Xarl's experience warmasters only tended to hear what they wanted to. Assuming they were able to locate the artifact and deliver it to the chieftain, they might find that choice stripped from them at the end of a gaderffii stick. Though frankly that prospect was just as enticing to the warrior caste as fighting demonic spirits, perhaps even more so, since he knew what to expect fighting beings of flesh and blood.
A rasping chuckle escaped Xarl's throat as he listened to Nartaga explain the difficulties of speaking galactic basic.
He had similar difficulty, given that it was so different from his native language. Maybe not like a mouth full of sand, but much of the speech was too intricate and soft, not enough harsh syllables uttered from the throat and barked off the tongue. It was the indirect language of liars, or so he thought. No wonder the intendant caste was so comfortable with it.
"I'll be sure to ask him." Said Xarl, placing his hands on the ground and pushing himself up until his feet were under him and he stood up slowly. Joints cracked as he flexed his stiff legs and back. He twisted his hips left and right, encouraging the flow of blood through his extremities. "I'm going to get some rest while we wait on his return. Something tells me there won't be much opportunity to do so once our search begins in earnest."
Without saying another word Xarl stepped out into the night air and walked to one end of the encampment. His glowing eyes served to illuminate his way, casting a red glare on the sand. A quiet 'hiss' nearby drew his attention, his lips peeling back to reveal his yellowed teeth in the Yuuzhan Vong approximation of a grin. He knew that sound well. His amphistaff Shem-Kreeto, or 'Blood Scourge' in basic, had found itself a meal to sate its ferocious appetite. Finding a flat spot in the sand, Xarl lowered himself to the ground and sprawled out, placing his hands behind his head while he stared up at the stars overhead.
It was colder away from the heat generator, but he didn't mind. The cold helped him diminish some of the aggression that always felt like was on the verge of boiling over into a fit of rage and violence. What he needed more than anything now was calm collected focus.
Within moments he had drifted off to sleep, snoring like a krayt dragon in heat.
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Kay'li Raganella
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Post by Kay'li Raganella on Oct 21, 2021 13:37:38 GMT -8
Walking beyond the rise that had hid the camp in the closest thing Tatooine had to a dell, Zed soon lost the path of Marie with the ever present wind having swept it away. Thankfully it had travelled in a nearly straight line so Zed simply followed the path it had been going. As he walked Zed absently sampled the extended force energy that emanated from this direction like ripples on a pond. This far and this long after their use they were faint and hardly had any substance to them. Still he could taste happiness and content in them. He was not sure what she had done to exert this much power in such a way, while one could certainly have a powerful aura and it could extend well beyond their body this was different. It was as if she had visited everywhere from a single place all at one.
Following them to their source would be fairly simple and he only needed to adjust his path somewhat to go in its direction. The closer he got though, the darker the force echoes got. She had also been attacked. Much like before he did not know what he was sensing but could tell it was powerful. Stumbling on the ground as he felt the death scream of the wraith it took him a few moments to stand back up. What she had done was different somehow than what Nartaga had done. The Tusken had only killed the wraith, but somehow Marie had caused it pain. Maybe that pain was what had caused the other wraiths to disappear.
Picking up his pace to a small run when he saw the woman laying on the sand atop a dune he shouted out in Basic at her Marie are you okay! What happened? As he said this he knelt down beside her checking for injuries. "I was attacked by a Force Wraith." She said, giving the phantasm a name from her academy training. Her voice was weak, and solemn. "It almost got me, too. Almost three meters tall and reeking of death. The Force was with me." She paused, and took a deep breath. "I reacted on instinct, and destroyed its dark side nexus." The Corellian woman fell silent for a moment, and looked away for a moment. "I'll be ok, don't worry. I just need time to recharge." She leaned forward and tried to stand up, but could not. Grunting, she extended her arms and looked expectantly at Zed. "A little help?" |
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Zed Bakiska
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Post by Zed Bakiska on Oct 23, 2021 8:27:25 GMT -8
Now that he was closer to the woman he could see just how bad off she was. It seems he had gotten off easy compared to the other two who had suffered some serious effects. As he reached down to grab her hands Zed released some of the excess Force power he had been able to absorb from all the powers that had been extended in the area. Once their palms touched he pushed that power towards Marie. The camp was attacked as well. Four of them. They seemed to disappear after Nartaga let some of them on fire. Are you able to walk or should I carry you?
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Kay'li Raganella
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Post by Kay'li Raganella on Oct 30, 2021 21:15:06 GMT -8
The Corellian grasped Zed's hands, weakly at first, but her grip got stronger almost immediately as her fellow Force-wielder channeled some of his own energy through their grip. She smiled as she stood up, and took a step hesitantly. "Thanks. I-I can walk now." Physically, she was recovering now that she'd gotten her breath back. Replenishing her Force reserves might take a bit longer. Trying to sense Corellia from way out here was absolutely at the end of her powers, even with her family history, and adding the Wraith into the equation had seriously overtaxed her abilities. If it was all the same, she thought wryly, she'd accept a Bantha ride this time.
As they set off, the full meaning of her very tall companion's other words set in. "Wait, you left Nartaga alone?" Her pace quickened from a slow trudge to what would otherwise be her normal pace. "What if we're attacked again?" She turned to stare at Zed in some concern. "Force Wraiths don't just happen, you know. I was taught that they-they have a creator. A powerful darksider." She paused to catch a breath. "I haven't sensed anyone like that around, but ...." Her voice trailed off as the camp came into sight.
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Zed Bakiska
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Post by Zed Bakiska on Oct 31, 2021 10:23:31 GMT -8
Staying at a normal pace despite Marie he called ahead to her as she left his side. He was more concerned about you when we realized you were not in the camp. In truth he agreed with the implied thought behind her words. He did not much care for leaving Nartaga alone let alone with an unknown person. He knew the Tusken was competent, but he also knew that he often understated the extent of his injuries. Although he had healed fast during their travels since leaving Mos Espa whether he was back to his prime could be debated. Plus we had a stranger show up shortly after the wraiths disappeared. Holding up his hands to allay her fears before she could voice them he continued on Don't worry it was purely happenstance. It's a Vong.
As the camp came into sight Zed raised waved in greeting to the two who still sat around the heater.
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Nartaga
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Post by Nartaga on Oct 31, 2021 21:31:36 GMT -8
As the returning pair of Zed and Marie would return with Patashu, they would find Nartaga upright close to the heat generator, his gaderffii laying in his lap and a tight grip on the weapon with his left hand. The Tusken's head was tilted slightly down, and his breathing was even. The Tusken, though having just been through a terrifying near death experience, was fast asleep sitting up. As the returning party members would return to the camp proper, Patashu would become slightly more restless. The bantha would slow her steady movement to a cautious crawl, as if still on alert for the evil spirits that had attacked earlier. After dropping off Marie, the bantha would patrol the area huffing before finally settling down a few feet behind Nartaga, closing it's dark eyes and joining him in sleep.
Though the wraiths had been defeated and the dark aura they brought dissipated, there was still a feeling in the air that had fallen over the area, like a bad aftertaste that had tainted the serene still beauty of the desert campsite. Like a stain on the land, left by former presence of the wraiths, though they were certainly no longer there. Those more skilled in sensing and feeling through the Force would pick up on it far easier, as it was faint; but it was still there. To Nartaga it was no more than enough to make him slightly uneasy, but the Tusken shaman was not particularly well versed in the skill to accurately sense and discern such things. In his dreams it would influence them into a nightmare, the attack replaying in his mind with the echo of the overwhelming feeling of emptiness and unnatural existence he had gleamed from direct contact with one of the apparitions. He felt himself falling into the maw of the wraith that had held him aloft, tumbling into the eternal unending pit of darkness that was the construct of its false soul.
"URK!" "NO!" Nartaga would wake with a jerk, bringing the twin piked end on his gaderffii up. The Tusken would freeze his attack just short of piercing the body of the person who had jostled him awake. Nartaga blinked a few times before lowering his gaffi stick down and bending his head in a deep apologetic bow. "Sorry. Bad time wake." Nartaga laid his gaderffii to the side on the sand, his hand shaking slightly as he did so. It had something to do with the fear he had remembered in his nightmare, but also the intense surge of adrenaline that was coursing through him. Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly as he observed the still dark sky, it had not been long since he had fallen asleep, but some time had still passed. On the horizon the smallest light signaling the rising of the Suns was soon to begin. Nartaga looked back to the member of his party. "What wrong? Something happen?" Nartaga's hand reached back down to wrap around his gaderffii.
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Nem Yin
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The dark expanse of the intergalactic void is not as empty as they would have you believe...
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Post by Nem Yin on Nov 1, 2021 3:36:03 GMT -8
The Dune Sea's sands muffled the approach of the other two in a way that flatter sterner terrain wouldn't of. It was for this reason that the Yuuzhan Vong warrior caste was still snoring away when they first returned, enjoying a dream of his own believe it or not, as rare a thing as that might be. Within the tight trapped mind of Xarl, he envisioned himself in mock combat with a Yuuzhan Vong female, sweating and bleeding in equal measure as they exchanged blows. There was something different about this one, something more exotic. They were stripped of their vonduun skerr kyrric, dueling in robeskin undergarments only, which was what made what was unusual with this female all the more apparent. She had six breasts! Harla's tits, could you imagine such a thing? He knew it was heretical, and yet there was something utterly alluring about it, he found himself enthralled in her every movement. The closest he had ever come to such an event was when he tripped and fell into a yammosks maturation tank. Now that was more tentacles than breasts, but it had been a rather enjoyable experience. By all the Yun'o that guided the stars, if he could just reach out and...Xarl's mqaaq'it ocular implants snapped open in crimson fury. He sat up and blinked the sand from his vision, before placing his hands on the ground and pushing himself up to his feet. Coiled around his crab armoured chest, Shem-Kreeto had returned sometime in the middle of the night, likely after filling its belly with some of Tatooine's rodent population. As he approached the source of the sound, he could see that Zed had returned, along with a female humanoid. Ah, so Marie wasn't another bantha? A shame. He had developed a bit of an appreciation for the war mounts. Though he supposed all that shaggy fur would wreak havoc on someone with pet allergies. The warrior caste arrived at the tent just as Nartaga had asked what had happened. Xarl sniffed through his stub like nose as he approached Zed and the female.While obviously having no connection to the Force himself, the encounter with the Force wraiths had left the encampment with something he could only describe as an ethereal stink. That same smell cloaked the female that had arrived with Zed. Perhaps it was more a mixture of shock inspired fear, adrenaline, and sweat from her exertions. Whatever it was, one thing was clear."She fought them." He said in harshly translated basic, somewhat annoyed. Had everyone gotten to kill these things but him so far? If he didn't get the chance to fight something soon he was going to lose it.
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Zed Bakiska
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Post by Zed Bakiska on Nov 2, 2021 13:55:17 GMT -8
After arriving back to camp and finding the others had been asleep he had taken it upon himself to watch the camp as the others slept. Walking beyond the light of the heater Zed had slowly paced a short while around the camp over and over both to keep warm and to keep an eye out in case other wraiths approached the camp. Other than a weird track from a snake like creature that he did not recognize however there was nothing that approached the sleeping camp. After a few more hours Zed made his way back to the others to get the day started.
Standing above Nartaga Zed had made no move to dodge the incoming attack from his companion. He had tried to wake the Tusken up gingerly and from his feet to avoid such a thing but Nartaga had seemingly been dead to the world. Exhausted from the attack no doubt. As such he had been forced to be a little more forceful in waking him up. Nothing is wrong, The suns will rise soon, should we break camp before the heat of the day sets in or would you rather sleep for a while longer?
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Nartaga
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Post by Nartaga on Nov 2, 2021 21:20:44 GMT -8
Nartaga looked back to the horizon for a moment, shaking his head and standing up and slinging his gaderffii across his back. "No. Need break camp. Need move. Too long one place already." Nartaga let out a short and sharp whistle, causing Patashu to raise her head and slowly get to her feet. Nartaga began to walk to the tents to begin packing up the camp, but paused for a moment and walked back to Zed. From his robes the Tusken produced the malfunctioning holoprojector disc that had been given to them by the Or'Rrk'Rkr chieftain. Nartaga signed an apology to Zed after handing the device over to him. "Map broken. Not know why. Zed look. Try fix?" Patashu moved over to the Tusken, who grabbed his water skin from the saddle, taking a long drag of water before clipping it to his belt and began packing up the camp, moving everything to the frame-like travois.Nartaga gestured to Marie and Xarl, handing them each a ration stick of dried dewback jerky and dried hubba gourd lengthwise slices each from their supplies. "Need eat before Suns rise. Beasts wake during day." Nartaga signed to signify the smell of open food. "More active during day. Smell bring unwanted attention." Nartaga demonstrated how to use the backpack sized mass-nulling chip water container on the travois to Xarl, in case he needed to refill his personal water container, refilling his own as an example. "Stop rarely. Refill now." Taking two sticks of jerky and sliced hubba gourd and moving back to Zed, handing the Stennes his share of the rations. He gestured to the holoprojector. "Zed think fix?" The Tusken awaited the word of his travelling companion, ripping a smaller piece off the dewback jerky and slotting it into the mouth of his mask to eat. He halfway glanced at Xarl who was a few meters away and spoke in a hushed tone so as not to offend the being. He was curious about his presence, or lack of one, but thought it rude to ask the Vong outright, as he had never encountered one of his kind before. As Nartaga's face was covered, it would be hard to tell he was talking if he did not want to be heard, and the natural funnel-like mouth of his mask did a good job of directing his voice so it did not carry into the open air. "Zed notice Xarl feel different? Like not there. Strange." Attempting to not appear suspicious, the Tusken inserted another piece of jerky into his mask.
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Xarl
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Post by Xarl on Nov 3, 2021 5:40:25 GMT -8
Xarl's crimson glowing eyes flared luminously. Beasts awaken during the day? He liked the sound of that. While he had never personally come across a Krayt Dragon or Sarlacc, among a plethora of dangerous creatures calling the planet home, he had heard about how fearsome those creatures could be. The thought of facing one in open combat beneath Tatooine's twin scorching suns was very appealing, though that clearly wasn't the purpose of their current fetch quest. He nodded at Nartaga as the tusken showed him how to use the water container on the travois, understanding the concept. He retrieved the bladder-flask from his hip, essentially a living organism that capable of containing all manner of fluids. He brought the bladder to his lips and suckled at the seal, draining the remaining third down his throat, Patashu having consumed the rest earlier when he came across the Bantha out in the dunes. No drop was wasted and he felt refreshed from only that small portion, due in part to the inclusion of a powdered mix of electrolytes added to the contents. He found the q'et, an organic pouch about the size of his palm, from within a gap between his crab armours elbow joint. Opening the pouch, he added a little bit of powder found within into the open flask, then filled it up with the water from the container on the travois.
As for food, he'd be going without. Part of the training members of the warrior caste received included going absent sustenance for weeks, given that on occasion they might find themselves in that very position. He had eaten his last meal in the cockpit of his coral skipper upon arrival. After that, his fast had begun in earnest. It was a calculated risk, but it was also tied to the religious extremism of the Yuuzhan Vong. After all, Xarl had come to this world with the intent of dying in battle, his journey was always intended to be a short one, bloody and final. A last act of devotion to the Slayer god, Yun-Yammka.
Ignorant of the hushed conversation taking place between Nartaga and Zed, Xarl retrieved his coufee from its sheath, and began to work at cleaning the dagger. He retrieved a small vial of venogel and poured a measure onto the flat face of the weapon, then rubbed the oily substance over the surface with a loose piece of tattered robeskin he kept for just such a purpose.
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