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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2016 21:06:31 GMT -8
Following along with the Elder, he nods respectfully to the table as they pass.
-Mig
The Book of Sand.
Mig taps on one of the several pouches on one of the utility belts that crosses his chest, nearly dead center on his chest. The edge of a folded metal book-style datapad is barely visible between the fastenings for the pouch.
-Mig
It shows us the heroes of the past. It shows us what we should be. Be true, too many words clouds the truth. Never give up. Never show fear. Protect your own. Take pride in what you do. Respect is earned. Repay debts, both good & ill. Your mount is you life.
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Nartaga
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Post by Nartaga on Mar 8, 2016 18:25:45 GMT -8
The Elder resisted the urge to pry into Mig's mind to get a more complete understanding of the Book the Jawa spoke of. He tabled the questions for now, setting aside his curiosity. As the doors of the Great Hall opened with a wave of his hand the Elder walked out, next to Mig. The Tusken Shaman motioned for the Sentries who had escorted Mig to follow them, to aid with the moving of he water, though he did not say it with words.
-The Elder-
"We have received word that a clan of Jawas have moved into the old palace of Jabba the Hutt. The descriptions of the Jawas we have fit your clan very well. It seems we may be seeing much more of each other in the future."
The Elder stopped walking to allow a group of Tuskens and Jawas to pass by. They bowed their heads so as not to meet the eyes of the Elder, both out of respect but mostly fear. The Elder nodded at the Sentries and they left the sides of the Elder and Mig to go fetch the water. The old Shaman turned to Mig.
-The Elder-
"I have plans in motion for the mother world. Plans that I have been working on for an...incredibly...long...time. What the R'Crurak have built, are building...You may wish to be careful. There are those who are working against us. I would rather not hear that your clan has been slaughtered. You seem like a good man, for a Jawa."
The Elder chuckled to himself.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 15:59:49 GMT -8
-Mig
& you aren't bad for an overgrown dirt sucker.
The tilt of his hat gave the comment a more humourous tone that the words themselves would suggest.
-Mig
Don't start anything with us, & we won't start anything with you. No point in looking for more trouble than you are given. On the other hand, start something & you will discover that we aren't so easy to cow as some of our brothers.
The sentries would reach the convoy to discover the jug of water had already been unloaded & set aside from the vehicles.
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Nartaga
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Post by Nartaga on Mar 10, 2016 18:31:34 GMT -8
The Elder nodded with another chuckle at the Jawa's joke, but hesitated at the Jawas next statement. He may have worded his warning incorrectly. He tried to correct his mistake by reiterating his last statement in a different way.
-The Elder-
"We are always looking for more allies. A united Tatooine, ruled by her children is our goal. But the ones who lurk in the shadows do not want that. They are the ones you should worry about. You have been seen with us, on civil, if not friendly terms. They may not like that. We will all need to be strong in the coming days if we are to reach our dream."
The Elder crossed his arms as they reached the main gate of the Enclave. His gaze turned to the Sentries as they carried the jug back into the Enclave.
-The Elder-
"It is a shame Nartaga was not here to greet you properly. The Head Councilor is much better with the dealing of other clans. I am much more attuned to the background."
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2016 14:50:24 GMT -8
Mig nodded, beaded tassels waving slightly from the motion.
-Mig
If they cross us because of that, they will learn that lesson as well. As for your leader, well, that will be a pleasure for another time.
The Roughriders & other jawas of the convey seemed to be mostly satisfied with the state of their maintenance work. Most had switched over to doing what amounted to busy work, like scrubbing corrosion off spare parts. A few of the warpups, however, where more interested in the sneaked glances into the Tusken Compound.
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Post by Nartaga on Mar 12, 2016 19:09:00 GMT -8
The Elder bowed to Mig and turned to head back into the Enclave.
-The Elder-
"Until next time, then. I hope that your clan continues to prosper."
With that the Elder walked back into the Enclave, the gate closing behind him. He headed back to the Great Hall to join up with the rest of the Council to continue their meeting.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2016 19:26:36 GMT -8
It didn't take long for Mig to check over his own ride before mounting up. The others watched carefully. As Mig was the leader, the others were always keeping an eye out to pick up any new tricks, or any possibility that he might make an error. Once he swung back into the saddle however, all of that vanished as the others mounted up behind him without a shadow of doubt. Soon, the entire group was roaring off into the distance again.
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Post by Nartaga on Jun 15, 2016 9:05:08 GMT -8
In the Great Hall a meeting was being held. An open floor to those who wished to speak. The Enclave was bustling with rumors of attacks. The Tuskens city had already withdrawn some of its forces back to its heart to stay out of the Outsiders' way.
The Sentry Dunewalker Tic slammed her fist down on the cold stone table before her and shouted above the general ruckus of the assembly gathered within the Great Hall.
-Tic in Tusken-
"We continue to sit and do nothing! I came here to inform the Council of the attacks on peaceful tribes and all you do is talk! Blood has been drawn, Councilors, surely you can see that! The Outsiders are stirring. It is only a matter of time before a new war breaks out and the fate of our very existence is brought into question! Peace is an admirable goal but it has gotten us nowhere, while they continue to attack our kin! We must strike back! Blood must have blood!"
The Elder stood up and raised his hand to the crowd before him. Silence took hold quickly of the Tuskens and Jawas before the Council. The Elder led the silence go on for a moment before he spoke.
-The Elder in Tusken-
"If we were to attack the Outsiders now, it would only antagonize them more, and demonize us among their people even more. We must show them that we are not all the savages they think us to be. There will be no retaliation...Do not take this as us dismissing these attacks. We shall defend our kin, our allies and our lands with all that we have. But we shall not strike back."
The Elder's gaze turned to Tic, as he addressed her directly.
-The Elder in Tusken-
"You're father was a great warrior, Hr'Tic, but he was also a great leader. It is the role of a leader to tell those that follow them when to fight, and when not to. I believe Or'Rish would agree with me when I say that we should build hold our defenses as we always have and wait....for now. At least until we have a better understanding of why this is happening."
Tic bowed her head in respect. She did not agree with the Elder's judgment, but she was fiercely loyal to her clan, and would never betray it. As the people inside the Great Hall slowly left and once again more came in the members of the Council prepared for the next round of meetings that they had opened themselves up to for the day.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2016 15:47:46 GMT -8
The heavy roar of nearly a hundred repulsor craft raced directly toward the Tusken encampment. There was little organization to the attack. They simply raced directly toward the wall, pouring fire as they came. The two heavy laser cannons were the first to speak, based on a mix of their superior range & the over confidence of their gunners. A few moments later, the nearly ten mounted repeating blasters joined in. Scant breathes after that, nearly three hundred smaller weapons ranging for heavy blaster pistols to a smattering of shoulder mounted launchers began to pour fire into the wall or anything else that looked promising. The only real tactic in play was a quartet of swoops that had been heavily loaded down with grenades & began rapidly climbing, hoping to dump their load over the settlement. Even that little bit had not been ordered, & happened only on a whim of the leader of the four.
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Post by Nartaga on Jun 15, 2016 16:17:30 GMT -8
At the sight of the large group of vehicles approached the Sentries on the wall readied the blaster cannons mounted up on its walk-way. The AX-108s hummed with power and soon opened fire into the oncoming assortment of enemy combatants after they had started firing first. The wall took the brunt of the first salvo, though the aging defense against the outside was certainly not better for it. Pock marks appeared under the small blaster fire. Larger craters appeared in the side as the enemy blaster cannons bolts hit. A few unlucky Sentries were flung off the wall, being too close to the striking force. It took seconds for the Sentries to switch their priorities from greeting to defense. Up on the plateau of the left mountain the Bantha-class Assault shuttle lifted into the sky to join the fray and lay blaster fire into the attackers without prejudice. There were no friendlies in the target zone so the R'Crurak Engineers had freedom to spin up its two quad-laser cannons down and rain hell fire on anything that got close to the Enclave walls.
The moment the shooting first rung out through the air the atmosphere inside the Enclave changed drastically. Though the R'Crurak preached peace as one of its core beliefs the Tuskens and Jawas inside were no strangers to war. Arguably some of the most resilient people, every Tusken, Jawa, and any other species with a weapon that was inside the Enclave, which was nearly every single one, took up defense of the Enclave. Many off-duty Sentries armed with blasters and slugthrowers ran to the wall to increase the outgoing fire that was being directed at the enemy, while others ran throughout the Enclave itself, securing those unable to fight in their homes and ensuring the safety of non-combatants such as the sick and extreme elderly.
Inside the Great Hall the Council jumped to their feet. A Sentry scout burst through the doors of the room moments later.
-Sentry in Tusken-
"The Enclave is under attack!"
The Elder slammed the butt of his staff down on the floor.
-The Elder in Tusken-
"Who dares attack us?! Is it an enemy clan?!"
The Scout struggled to catch his breath and talk at the same time.
-Sentry in Tusken-
"No, they are not another clan. It appears to be an Outsider force."
Hr'Tic shot the Council a stare beneath her mask that could be felt by anyone who had caught it. Without a word she ran out to help defend her home and rally the warriors fighting for their home. The Elder cursed while the more able-bodied Councilors ran out as well to join in the battle, whether to fight or aid any injured. Councilor K'Shir had stayed behind, being too old to help and knowing she might just end up getting in the way, she walked to the side of the Elder.
-K'Shir in Tusken-
"Elder, what is going on? Why are Outsiders attacking us?"
The Elder turned and walked out of the room, and then the Great Hall, starting a chant under his breath to strengthen his resolve and those around him for battle.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2016 17:18:14 GMT -8
The return fire of the Tusken's own repeating blasters was a surprise to the attacking force. One that cost them heavily. The bolts played out across the massed collection of vehicles. While the shots were too weak individually to destroy the vehicles, few of them had covered passenger compartments. The bolts tore through flesh & light armour with equal ease. In many cases, even an attempt to duck did little to help, as the repeaters were set high enough up that only the back of the seat in front of them blocked the bolt's path. In three seconds nearly three dozen of the attackers had already died. Then the shuttle began to rain down fire. One of the heavy laser cannon technicals was the first hit, the damage splash taking out two nearby speeders as a bonus.
From the ground, the second wave of the attack was much weaker than the first. Several speeders had already broken off their attack under the unexpected resistance & were scattering in different directions. Many of those that remained were trying to remain as covered as possible from the repeaters pouring fire into them, firing their weapons blindly. Lining up the shot carefully, the gunner of the second heavy laser technical fired into the same crater as before, moments before both he & the pilot of the speeder were gunned down by a sweep of one of the repeater blasters.
Managing to avoid the firestorm that had targeted the main force by virtue of being unnoticed in comparison to the much larger force, the four swoops managed to reach their target above the Enclave. Each hitting the quick release on the two cargo pods attached to each swoop, the quartet immediately turned & raced back off toward Mos Espa. Falling from their previous position above the enclave was a spreading cloud of dark points. The cloud was a nearly random collection of fragmentation & concussion grenades. Just over a thousand & a half of the explosives fell toward the structures below.
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Post by Nartaga on Jun 15, 2016 18:12:52 GMT -8
As the battle continued to wage on outside, the Elder eyed the Swoop bikes in the air and raised a hand as they dropped the contents of their cargo pods. His chanting reached a louder volume as he channeled his energy to guiding a majority of the explosives to the rear of the Enclave, at the base of the mountains. As he felt the thud of each explosion the Elder lowered his hand and marched onward to the wall. The Sentries continued to pour fire towards the enemy. A second salvo from the enemy cannon rocked the wall and blasted a whole in it, small but a hole. The blast took one of the wall's cannons with it. The Elder dropped his staff and ran to the wall, jumping up and using the Force to land safely on top. Lifting his hands he took hold of several speeders and spun them into others nearby, causing more destruction among the enemy vehicles. Other Shamans jumped up and join in, both using their ranged weapons as well as their powers.
A shadow appeared above the enemy forces, blocking out the light from one of the Suns as the Shaadlar-type troopship flew overhead, firing its two turbolaser batteries, raining even more fire down upon he attackers of the Enclave, sweeping over and turning around for another run at the enemy, firing at any target it could acquire. Aboard the troopship Nartaga and Kar'Orzh were on the edge of their seats, as well as the rest of the crew of the ship as they maneuvered toward the Outsider force once again, putting their ship in between the Enclave and the enemy.
The Bantha-class shuttle moved upward to higher altitude to fire precise cannon fire from above and cover any targets the other R'Crurak ship missed.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2016 18:23:42 GMT -8
The last range of attacks was all it took to completely break the fighting spirit of those remaining. Those that weren't dead or stranded with broken vehicles, turned & fanned out away from the enclave. The survivors of the force would eventually gather at Mos Espa, but for now they were just trying to put as much distance between them & the ships as possible. Nearly half of the speeders remained scattered & smoking around the area. A those left stranded continued to fire at the wall, taking what cover they could behind the wrecked vehicles. They had all heard plenty of horror stories about what happened to those taken by the Tuskens & were unwilling to allow themselves to be taken alive.
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Post by Nartaga on Jun 15, 2016 19:15:34 GMT -8
The Shaadlar troopship flying over the stranded survivors and firing in the direction of the fleeing speeders. The ship lowered and opened its rear ramp and nearly two dozen Sentries jumped down onto the sand and began making their way through the wreckage towards the survivors. While their orders were to disarm and capture any survivors who surrendered, they were never given the opportunity. In the end all of the Outsiders either gave the Sentries no choice or took their own lives. Almost as quickly as it had began, the battle was over.
The Bantha-class shuttle moved to fly in slow circles around the Enclave to keep stay on guard as the Shaadlar troopship flew over to land on the plateau of the mountain. The insect leg-like landing gear dug into the sand on the ground and the ramp opened. Several more Sentries filed out, and Nartaga followed behind them. He looked over the Enclave below, smelling the smoke and fire that was drifting up from below. He did not show it openly, but inside he was shaken to his core at what had just come to pass.
The Elder picked up his staff and looked up as the Shaadlar troopship flew overhead to land on the mountain. The R'Crurak Tuskens had already began cleaning up. The dead, while few in number, were gathered and respectfully lined up for burial when the time came. Debris was gathered and moved. Several buildings had broken walls, holes in roofs, but nothing that could not be repaired. The Elder moved to the rear of the Enclave, where he had directed the explosives that were dropped. The damage here was the worst. This area had been where many of the Sentry barracks and temporary housing were. All of the Sentries had moved out during the battle to join in the defense of the Enclave, but the damage was still significant. Tusken and Jawa bodies alike were being moved from the area, as this was where most of the casualties came from. It would take much more time to rebuild here, but they would rebuild.
The Elder looked to the sky once more, as if waiting for more bombs to fall. Shaking his head he began to plan as he made his way towards the road that led up the mountain.
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Post by Nartaga on Jun 16, 2016 14:57:58 GMT -8
Nartaga shook his head in dismay and turned from his view of the Enclave below, heading towards the road leading down the mountain. He was met by the Elder at the beginning of the road down, who bowed in respect to Nartaga. Nartaga returned the bow, reciprocating the respect for the older Shaman. As the Elder straightened his posture he spoke.
-Elder in Tusken-
"Ah, Head Councilor, your timing is impeccable. It appears you arrived just at the moment we needed you most."
Nartaga, still deep in his bow, lifted his head to meet the goggled gaze of the Elder.
-Nartaga in Tusken-
"What was this, Elder? Those were Outsiders. Don't tell me you've started a war in my absence?"
The Elder dismissed Nartaga's assumption with a wave of his free hand, shaking his staff in the other hand. The Elder took a step forward and put his hand on Nartaga's shoulder.
-Elder in Tusken-
"They attacked us unprovoked, as far as I know. I was probably some other clan or tribe that attacked them and they blamed us. What is more interesting is how they found out about us. We are isolationists, after all. Few outside of these walls know the actual location of our home...."
Nartaga in Tusken-
"But they attacked us. They know where we reside, and can strike again once they gather a stronger force. We must let our allies know of this immediately. Kal'Shor!"
The leader of the Dunewalkers ran to the side of Nartaga and the Elder, He bowed in respect to both Tuskens and stood at attention awaiting orders.
-Nartaga in Tusken-
"Take one of our speeders and warn the Chieftains of the other clans, all of them, and any of our other allies. Anyone we know may be a target. We must tell them to be on guard and if they can withdraw to the safety of the Enclave. At the very least they should make themselves seem scarce for now..."
Kal'Shor raised a fist over his chest in a salute and was about to run off when he was stopped by the Elder's hand. The Elder first looked to Nartaga to explain his thoughts.
-Elder in Tusken-
"Head Councilor there is a Jawa clan that has taken up residence at the old Hutt palace. We should inform them of this attack as well. They are a bit strange, but giving them this information may open up dialogue in the future. We can never have enough allies on this world, especially given recent events..."
Kal'Shor looked to Nartaga, who nodded his approval. After the Elder lowered his arm the Dunewalker ran down the mountain to the small collection of speeders the R'Crurak had. Turning on the engines, Kal'Shor signaled to the Sentries at the gate and was soon on his way to spread the word to the R'Crurak's allies.
Progress cleaning up the Enclave was slow at first, but once everyone was accounted for and those with injuries tended to, which took priority, it dramatically sped up. The Clan was at war now, something Tuskens were exceedingly good at, and every moment when there was no action was time spent preparing....
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Post by Nartaga on Jun 18, 2016 17:57:53 GMT -8
War drums echoed throughout the Enclave, joined by chants by both Jawas and Tuskens around fires, burning the dead and feasting in their memory. They celebrated their victory with food and drink, thanking those that had died so that they could fight another day. Their home had been attacked, and they had destroyed the would-be invaders and shown them they would not be defeated easily. The Council had made the decision to declare war on any who dared attack the Enclave and its allies, but would not retaliate on Outsider settlements. While this was not the most popular decision, most of the inhabitants knew that they alone could not take on the entire Outsider population. That did not, however, mean they would sit around and twiddle their thumbs while waiting for the next attack.
Both R'Crurak and Jawa engineers had begun salvaging everything they could from the scrap that lay strewn across the area before the Enclave, all that remained of the attacking force. The Jawas would melt down the metal of anything they couldn't repair in their Sandcrawlers and use it to make what was needed for the Enclave. Weapons, barriers, armor, even buildings. The Outsiders had provided them with a small fortune of scrap and serviceable vehicles. With some work they could re-purpose the salvageable repulsorlifts from the wrecks for their own uses. Things were moving quickly now, and the Enclave had the might and manpower. The Outsiders had awoken a sleeping giant in the wastes, and they would reap the consequences of the seeds they had planted.
Repairing the hole in the wall was top priority, and the best Engineers of both species was chosen to oversee the project. It was obvious that the Enclave's previous defenses were inadequate, so a number of Jawas had been tasked with salvaging and repairing any of the cannons from the vehicles that the Outsiders had used. If they could be repaired they would be fitted onto the wall once it had been repaired as well. The wall itself was an easy fix. Being so close to the source of the stone used to create the wall, new slabs of stone were already being cut to replace the damaged or destroyed ones.
There was already a pre-existing tunnel system below the Enclave from the mountain, but it had been sealed years before after the discovery of the Dark Possessed right under their feet. The Council decided it was time to eliminate that threat and make use of those tunnels for themselves. Sentries and Shamans, led by Dunewalkers, watched over the diggers and prepared for the coming battle. The warriors were armed heavily with blasters and improvised flamethrowers instead of the usual Cycler rifle slugthrowers, which proved less effective against the Dark Possessed. The Shamans aided in the digging by lifting large rocks out of the way and clearing the path. When they struck the first of the tunnels they were greeting by a wall of darkness. They ventured deeper into the tunnels.
Up above in the Great Hall the R'Crurak Council was dealing with the aftermath of the attack. At the first break in their nearly constant work Nartaga rested his forehead in his hand. He sighed deeply, drawing the attention of the other Councilors. The elderly Councilor K'Shir was the first to speak to the younger Head Councilor.
-K'Shir in Tusken-
"Head Councilor, is something wrong?"
Nartaga lifted his head to look at K'Shir. His mind wandered to her deceased husband, who had been a member of the Council as well. He shook his head, both to escape from reminiscing on Ish as well as sooth her concern. Nartaga straightened his posture and put his hands in his lap.
-Nartaga in Tusken-
"No, Councilor. Everything is fine. I'm just a bit worried..."
Councilor K'Shir tilted her head in understanding. She looked to the other Councilors who all nodded their heads at her in agreement. K'Shir stood up and walked over to the center of the table, where Nartaga was sitting. She knelt down and put her arms around the Head Councilor. Nartaga was taken aback slightly by the show of affection, but lifted his arms to wrap K'Shir in them as well.
-K'Shir in Tusken-
"I know this is far from the warm welcome you expected when you came back to us, but we are all happy you have returned safely. I'm only sorry it had to be the only good thing among so much bad. But we will make it through this together."
Councilor Rik'Ur chuckled in agreement, raising his fist in the air to show his resolve.
-Rik'Ur in Tusken-
"The Outsiders have poked a sleeping Krayt Dragon with a stick. They shall not catch us off guard next time. We will be ready. You have the full backing of everyone at this table, Head Councilor."
There were a host of small cheers of agreement among the other Councilors, with even the Elder joining in. K'Shir released her grasp around Nartaga and touched the side of her mask to the side of his. After drawing back she placed her hand on the right side of his mask.
-K'Shir in Tusken-
"Your return was fortunate for us, Nartaga. Your arrival at such a time was a gift from the Gods. We must use it to our advantage. I am old enough to say this with certainty: We will emerge on the other side victorious. Not ever battle will be won, but the war will be, with you as our leader, and this Council behind you. With all of our clansmen, and our allies we shall defend our lands and continue to prosper as we have been."
Nartaga lowered his head at Councilor K'Shir words. He was deeply moved, to say the least. They had such confidence in him, even when currently he had very little confidence in himself. He had to pull himself together and lead the R'Crurak with all of his being, and he would. He drew his right hand into a fist, and nodded.
-Nartaga in Tusken-
"I greatly appreciate the Council's continued confidence in me, and its undivided belief in our future as a clan."
K'Shir bowed her head deeply and returned to her seat at the table. Nartaga gestured to the honor guard Sentries guarding the entrance to the room to allow the next group audience with the Council. They still had much to do. Everyone in the Enclave was doing their part to repair and prepare for the War.
From the tunnels of the mountains smoke billowed forth, black and smelling of unnatural death. Inhuman screams echoed from the deep depths. As time went on more and more fully armed R'Crurak Sentries moved into the tunnels, to reinforce those already within. The injured and dead R'Crurak were moved out on stretchers, along with the bodies of the twisted creatures that dwelt within the mountain. They would be decapitated and burned separately from the dead, with Shamans overseeing the spiritual purification rituals for those that had become corrupt by the darkness. While the horrors that echoed from the mountains reached the ears of many within the walls, they could sleep easy knowing that they no longer had to fear the demons below their feet.
It was slow going inside the tunnels, as the R'Crurak Sentries, Shamans and Dunewalkers had to map the area as they moved forward, while also remaining on alert for the enemy that they had ventured into the nest of. The Shamans chanted and lit the tunnels with rays of light from their beings, lighting to way and providing some protection from the Dark Possessed, who could not venture into the light. With each tunnel cleared actual lights were put into the walls, and marked with symbols which served as directions. Barricaded checkpoints were set up at some tunnels, to prevent the entire system being overrun, with explosive charges set to remotely go off in the case of the tunnel being lost. So far casualties were far more numerous on the side of the demons, and the R'Crurak were growing ever closer to fully regaining the tunnels which only only been partially open to them before.
Around the Enclave weapon encampments camouflaged to blend in with the dunes were made, and patrols were increased farther out from the Enclave, messengers from both the Enclave and other tribes were consistently flowing from the wastes from meeting with other tribes and clans, negotiating with them for support. Deliveries of radios were in the works, so a reliable communication system could be established. While the Enclave had been caught off guard by the Outsiders, they had successfully defended themselves from what many other tribes considered a technologically superior force, which had swayed many holdouts to join the growing list of allies the R'Crurak had. That and the threat of random Outsider attacks were working in their favor. Time would tell what would become of this, but as Nartaga was reading through the constant updates and reports on his datapad, he was hopeful.
Nartaga leaned his head down on his mat and continued to flip through the reports. There had been several other clans hit by the Outsiders, even Jawas were not safe from indiscriminate slaughter. The Council had heard from several allied tribes of Jawas, expressing their concerns about the ability of the R'Crurak to fulfill their promise of protection. It had been touch and go for some time, but after sharing with them the information regarding rival clans joining them, it placated them somewhat. Looking at the numbers carefully himself, Nartaga was somewhat surprised. Three more clans and five smaller tribes had opened negotiations to treaties with the R'Crurak Council. Overlaying the clans' and tribes' territories onto maps surrounding the Enclave, it would benefit them greatly, only extending their reach in the dunes. While the numbers of the clans and tribes would bolster their own, over-extension would still be an issue in the very near future. The sooner the tunnels were cleared and the wall repaired the sooner they could stop this from becoming a larger problem. Another issue would be feeding and supplying their warriors and clansmen in the case an extended conflict should arise. The Council had already given orders to begin stockpiling every necessity from ammunition and food to fuel and medicine.
Nartaga turned off his datapad after several hours of going through as many of the reports as he could before his eyes started to strain from the effort to keep them open. He set it to the side of the sleeping mat and exhaled slowly, and prayed to the Suns for peace. He knew it was a long shot, and conflict was now inevitable, but he longed for a united Tatooine. A Tatooine where it did not matter what species one was, but that they all called the same planet home. It seemed like a child's dream now, but he still hoped. It had always been his goal, long before he had even first become chieftain, when the R'Crurak clan was small and only claimed Fort Tusken as its home. If this war eventually led to peace, he could accept it. He was unsure if the different sides would be able to set aside their differences, and get past the large amount of bloodshed. Still, he believed it was possible. Nartaga only hoped he would live to see it.
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Nartaga
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Sometimes you must pick the gun up to put the gun down.
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Post by Nartaga on Jun 19, 2016 16:43:26 GMT -8
The Suns had not even risen as Nartaga awoke in his small hut. Getting up and preparing himself some H'Kak bean tea, he turned on his datapad, picking up where he left off before he went to bed the night prior. New reports were awaiting his review, news from across their territory. There had been no more attacks during the night, but tensions were still high among all the clans and tribes across the planet. There were many that were demanding retaliation in response to the attack. They would have to address this issue. If the clans flocking to them wish to continue their relationship, there could not be any violent response.
Inside the mountain a different war was on the verge of victory. Smoke had continued to billow from the tunnel entrances through the night, but as the night drew on it thinned out. A different smoke drifted up into the air, from the massive fires for burning the Dark Possessed. Around the fires were both Shamans and Sentries. The Sentries watched over the demons, being vigilant for any movement, while the Shamans chanted over the bodies. This had gone on continuously since the expedition into the mountains had begun. They had gotten their fair share of the creatures playing dead.
In the Great Hall Kal'Shor was reporting to the Council after returning from the wastes delivering the news of the attack to their allies. He held a deep bow as he spoke. The Councilors seated at the table, along with the Jawa representatives in the room, listened to the Dunewalker's report.
-Kal'Shor in Tusken-
"The word has been spread. All of the clans and tribes agreed that it was best if we amassed our forces here as a staging area, to bolster our core defenses and aid in the reconstruction and reinforcement of the Enclave."
The Council nodded in agreement. Gr'Ish spoke to the Dunewalker directly.
-Gr'Ish in Tusken-
"I think we can all agree we could use the help in rebuilding, but after that we need to have a tighter grip on our territories. We will need them to be vigilant, and will send them as many Sentries as they need once we have finished here. We cannot allow anything into our territory without us knowing about it, even a womprat."
Tuskens and Jawas from near and far were flocking to the Enclave. News spread fast, and the R'Crurak had many allies in the dunes. The repairs to the Enclave wall were well underway. The stones had been set, and they just needed to mortar to dry. When the Suns rose the heat would aid in this, but the Engineers had to be vigilant of any shifting and expansion in between the stone slabs. For the time being no Sentries were standing guard on that section of the wall, instead spreading out outside the walls and securing a swath of sand to prevent anyone from getting too close. The nodded to the patrols that crossed through their area, which had grown even more prevalent since the previous day. They had grown lax in the fact that they spoke only of peace and had adopted an isolationist doctrine. Security was tight, and while they had orders to take any intruders alive, even the R'Crurak Sentries wanted blood for what had happened. While the Enclave was a large settlement, many of the Sentries knew each other personally, and some of their brethren had died.
In the training yard Rik'Ur was holding early drills and training exercises with his Sentries, with the help of the Dunewalkers. Instead of sleeping he had devices an even more rigorous regimen than before. The Dunewalkers, the most experienced and deadly of the R'Crurak forces, were overseeing the training and acting as instructors, strengthening the regular Sentries and teaching them their techniques. While Rik'Ur always expected some type of complaints from his warriors, none here had so much as groaned unless it was to further push themselves. Everyone was pushing themselves, even Rik'Ur. The Leader of the Sentries and Councilor of the R'Crurak was usually out for blood even when there was no need, but the attack had sobered his normal hot headed nature to a simple fact: they had not been ready. He knew he was finally getting the war he had wanted all along, but he feared the possibility of defeat, and steeled himself to prepare his warriors. Every resource he had at his disposal he intended to use. The Sentry Shamans were undergoing the same training as the other Sentries now, while also balancing their studies and meditation. Rik'Ur was now thinking tactically, with the cool mind of a true warrior. He had been in countless conflicts before, but taking on the Outsiders, whether it was defensive or offensive, would take much preparation. He swore to himself that they would be ready.
Both ships under R'Crurak control were undergoing repairs and refits. With the access to the scrap from the battle, new plating could be made, wiring replaced. But the most important thing was the addition to the Tusken written language into the computer. An army of Jawas were overseeing the ships, with Kar'Orzh, the R'Crurak Chief Engineer, learning all he could from the diminutive species. Bickering was always an issue when it came to Jawas, but the resolve that had swept over the Enclave seemed to also be affecting the Jawas as well. They had just as much to lose if the Outsiders attacked again as well. Electrostatic repellers were being added to the landing gear and ramps to keep sand from gumming the mechanisms and locking them up. The entire power system on the Bantha-class shuttle was being rewired and repaired after months of being abused and overused. Aside from the occasional electrical fire everything was going well. While the Bantha-class shuttle was down for repairs they still had the Shaadlar shuttle, which was in much better shape.
-Tic in Tusken-
"If my father was still alive we would already be storming the Outsiders in retaliation for this attack! We should not let them get away with this!"
Nartaga stood up from his seat to address the Dunewalker directly. He maintained his calm demeanor while he spoke.
-Nartaga in Tusken-
"As far as we know this could have been an attack by a random group of Outsiders. We do not yet know for sure if this is the work of them as a whole or just another conflict built on the bones of previous ones from generations ago."
Tic scoffed at the Councilor, but bit her tongue when she realized what she had done. She bowed her head in apology to the Head Councilor.
-Tic in Tusken-
"I'm sorry, Head Councilor. I'm merely saying what everyone else is thinking. We should strike back now before they have a chance to hit us again. Allow me to take a group of Dunewalk-"
-Nartaga-
"No!"
The other Councilors looked to Nartaga in slight confusion. Looking around and taking in the shock of the room, he cleared his throat and regained control of himself.
-Nartaga in Tusken-
"No...We need you here. We need everyone here to strengthen our defenses. If we send a group of Dunewalkers out, we would be without some of our most formidable warriors. When the time comes to attack, however, the Council will keep you in mind. I'm sorry Tic but that is all we can do for now. We have to prepare."
Tic bowed again, turning on her heels and walking out of the Great Hall in a small huff. The Elder spoke out to Nartaga from across the table.
-The Elder in Tusken-
"She is as stubborn as her father, and his father before him."
Nartaga nodded his head in stern agreement.
-Nartaga in Tusken-
"And even more deadly. Maybe I should sleep with one eye open until this is over?"
The Elder chuckled, and dismissed the comment with a motion of his staff.
-The Elder in Tusken-
"She is a warrior and we are telling her not the fight. It is understandable Tic would be upset, especially when there is already so much blood between us and the Outsiders, but you need not worry. I can talk to her if you wish. Or'Rish may be gone, but his family has always held a great respect for the Shamans, even if it is tinted with distrust."
Nartaga shook his head and sipped from his now long cold cup of H'Kak tea.
-Nartaga in Tusken-
"No, I will speak to her later."
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Xxoxia Valuna
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Post by Xxoxia Valuna on Jun 20, 2016 9:52:55 GMT -8
=Later that day, just outside the perimeter of the Enclave=
The swoop crested a dune, coming to a jerking stop as Enam let the engine idle for the first time in almost twelve hours. He slowly got off and stretched, he'd been riding all night and at first daylight spotted the faintest signs of smoke off in the distance. At that point he didn't think it strange to see the smoke, but now as they drew closer and closer to the Enclave; Enam started to get a familiar feeling in the pit of his stomach. He took a deep breath and grimaced as he stared off into the near distance to the heat-hazed fortifications that were the Enclave. "I know this..." He said to himself, before taking another deep breath.
"Get your ass up kid!" He barked, giving the swoop a jarring kick to wake, Xia.
"We're here?" She remarked, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
"No, somethings wrong, every wrong."
Xia sat up straight to look past Enam. "Smoke... camp fires, right?"
Enam ruefully shook his head. "Smell the air, it don't smell right, it- ," he stopped himself, his upper lip curling back ever so slightly into a snarl. "It smells like battle."
Xia got to her feet and sniffed the air as Enam suggested. It did have the acrid tang of burning fuel-cells and something else, it was faint - so faint... burnt flesh. "What now?" She asked, before rummaging through a rook sack for a pair of macro-lenses.
"We go in, we watch our backs, we stay alert."
She gave a nod to Enam's words and held the lenses to her face, her mouth opening slightly in disbelief. "Look," was all she managed as she passed the lenses to Enam.
As Enam put the lenses to his face, his jaw set. There had been a battle, or a raid. Corpses littered the dunes outside the Enclave, along with the still burning hulls of ships. What in the Void - Enam thought to himself as he watched Tusken and Jawas working together to clear the dead, and salvage what they could from them. He took the lenses from his eyes and blinked. So, Nartaga had finally done it, he'd started his new age of Tusken and Jawas living in peace? Peace... maybe not.
"We leave the swoop here, and take only the necessities..." Enam patted his sabers under his tattered robes.
Xia gave him a nod. "So, we're looking for a fight?"
"No, but I doubt we'll get a hero's welcome."
And with that said the pair started towards the Enclave. |
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Nartaga
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Post by Nartaga on Jun 20, 2016 18:11:00 GMT -8
The air was nearly silent as the pair walked closer to the Enclave, with only feint thrum of drums echoing through the winds. As Xxoxia and Enam made their way towards the mountains the Enclave was nestled within, a sense the two were being watched would raise the hairs on the back of their necks, yet there was not even a sand fly that could be seen. The only persistent thing was the ever increasing sound of the drums, and that feeling of eyes one them at every moment. A light wind picked up, bringing the smell of fire, burnt electronics, flesh, and death to their noses, much stronger than before.
Suddenly there was movement. From beneath the sands around the pair leapt six Tusken Raiders, holding an array of Cycler rifles, gaderffii sticks, and blasters. The paint on their robes denoted four as R'Crurak Sentries, but there were two others that had slightly different symbols painted onto their robes and masks. The quiet chanting under the breath of one of them revealed her to be a Shaman. They yelled incoherently in their native language at both Xxoxia and Enam but did not fire, standing in the sands where they had emerged from. There was obvious rage in their tones, but they still held their ground. The sixth Tusken, who had remained silent up until this point, barked something out at the other Tuskens and the other five grew silent, save for the chanting of the female Shaman, still preparing her mind and gathering energy to attack. All of them were in a combat stance, and those with projectile weapons held their fingers firmly on the trigger.
The silence grew long among the eight beings until it was finally broken by the sixth Tusken, who spoke in basic.
-Kal'Shor-
"Outsiders have no business here! Turn back where you came from if you value your lives!"
The other Tuskens hooted angrily in agreement.
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Xxoxia Valuna
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Post by Xxoxia Valuna on Jun 20, 2016 20:09:11 GMT -8
Enam's first instinct was to fight, to draw his sabers and hack these savages down. That had been his conditioning under the Old Man's tutelage; to fight, to kill, and to have no remorse for it. He was the rabid dog on a very very flimsy leash, and he knew that - he'd come to terms with it long ago. That's what made this situation interesting. Despite being outnumbered, out gunned, and surrounded, He still had the instilled belief that he'd win. Enam gave a sly grin to the thought. If there was one thing he could give to the Old Sith, it was that he didn't train quitters.
He looked to Xia, who was unconsciously going towards her own sabers and gave her a terse shake of the head. Though he hated curbing his own bloodlust, they weren't in the position to get out of this alive. With a deep sigh Enam put his hands up and motioned for Xia to follow - which she did begrudgingly as well.
"Look..." Enam began, his body language showing that he wasn't going to be bullied. "Is Nartaga around?" He leaned forward a bit for an answer. "Tell him Enam's here. That's all you need to know. Oh, also tell him that Jud'dayus is missing - that should get his attention." Enam saw a slight stir in the Tusken's at the Old Man's name. " Well I'm glad something rings a bell."
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