Private A Walk in the Woods (Braze)

[Vulpesen]

Over the decades, Vulpesen had come to wear many hats. Planetary leader, CEO, Arch-Wilder, and most recently, liaison between force orders. It was in this capacity that he found himself peering over a bit of paperwork that made him raise a brow. Due to their status as a non-conventional force tradition, there was a small process to the integration between Wilders and Jedi, little more than a single small form requiring approval by the liaisons. Mostly it was there to ensure that the Wilders did not corrupt the jedi with some of their darker practices. But it also allowed the benefit of allowing Vulpesen to know just who was coming to his planet. In this case, he found a familiar name on the form in front of him. Braze . Quickly, the form was approved and a note added to its post-text. 'Will be handled by the Vitae Arch-Wilder.'

Any questions Braze had on who the Vitae Archon was would be answered after his soon thereafter arrival as the black haired Valde stood to greet him at the entrance to the spaceport. "Padawan Braze, good to see you again," he offered, his black tail swishing behind him. The last time they had met, there had been a bit of trickery on Amar, ironically, another planet that Vulpesen had considered to be his Homeworld. "So tell me, what made you want to come visit the wilders?"

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Vulpesen

Braze stepped off the ramp of his ship, eyes scanning the bustling spaceport until they settled on the figure awaiting him. Vulpesen's presence was commanding, a mix of regal authority and approachable demeanor. The last time Braze had seen him, it had been under entirely different circumstances, but the memory was clear in his mind. He walked over, offering a respectful bow, drawing his fist to an open hand.

"Vulpesen, it's good to see you too," Braze began, a hint of surprise in his voice. "I must admit, I didn't expect someone like you to take the time to greet me personally. I appreciate it."

Braze's somber jade green eyes, studied the Arch-Wilder with curiosity and a touch of respect. The swishing black tail and the familiar face brought a sense of continuity to the otherwise new environment.

"A little girl ( Pitie ) from here seemed to think I would die upon visiting, which piqued my interest," Braze continued with a slight chuckle. "So, I decided to put in my request for an educational visit. I want to learn more about her people while I'm here."

He paused, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "The Jedi are constantly evolving, adapting to new challenges and perspectives. The Wilders offer a unique approach to the Force, one that isn't bound by the conventional teachings I'm used to. I believe there's a lot to learn from different traditions, and the Wilders' connection to nature and balance intrigued me. I want to understand your ways and see how they can complement my training."

Glancing around at the unfamiliar surroundings before returning his gaze to Vulpesen, Braze's expression grew a bit more serious. "Besides, there's always been a part of me that seeks understanding beyond the structured confines of the Jedi Order. I'm on a sabbatical, interested in learning all I can. I feel that small sabbaticals allow me to simultaneously learn about other cultures, traditions, histories, and methods of other groups I am not entirely familiar with. The Force is vast, and I feel that learning from you and your people will broaden my perspective and enhance my abilities."

He hesitated, a hint of worry crossing his features. "I have to admit, considering our last encounter, I was a bit worried. You left me wrapped up in a tree, hanging at the mercy of anyone who came by to assist me after I pranked you. But I'm here now, eager to learn and put that behind us if you're interested in calling a truce. "

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen smiled as he listened tot he Jedi's explanations. Each one offered a perspective, not only on the padawan, but what his order represented. Both implications sparked a sense of joy within the elder force user. When he finally spoke, Vulpesen addressed Braze's last concern first. "I would consider us even, given all that transpired. But if it makes you feel any better, I grew up in those woods. And I figured that if no one else did, Sera would be along to help cut you down eventually. Regardless, I'm always happy to spread our teachings to the outer galaxy, especially when it lets me stretch my legs out of my office."

Walking out from the port, Vulpesen made his way to a chauffeured speeder, motioning for the jedi to follow. "If you want to learn our techniques, there's certainly a host of things we might teach you. Like the jedi, we have capable beast tamers and those who can manipulate plant life. That is of course, in addition to those abilities that I have found replicated in few other orders such as shape shifting and elemental manipulation." To demonstrate his point, the Wilder lifted a hand, displaying his clawed nails as they hardened and grew into fearsome talons from which sparks of fire jumped and crackled.

"Or you could always try to test yourself as all Zorrens do. The trials are a right of passage among my people. A month in the wilds, surviving by your own wit and skill. It was the trials that first showed me what I was, though I took them unintentionally during a bit of a vacation on Myrkrr." He spared a glance to his driver who stepped out, revealing a full military uniform before the man opened both the rear doors then returned to his seat behind the wheel. "Padawan Braze, I'm happy to accept your truce. So tell me, where would you like to begin?"

Braze

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Vulpesen

"You sound like an old adventurer who's tired of being stuck at a desk job and longing for the good old days again," Braze commented on Vulpesen's words. He padded along after him, quickly following on his heels, listening with rapt attention. His snowy white brows knitted as he leaned back, eyeing the fiery claw with concern and morbid curiosity. "Is there anything else your trials consist of?" Braze asked curiously.

He offered a smile to the driver, inclining his head and thanking him.

"I am at your disposal. I am happy to start where you think is best. I have come to learn and will do what your people do. Though I am interested in the prospect of trials, I am not certain what they may entail and will yield to the idea that perhaps it is best to listen to my elders, in this case, you, as you are by far wiser than I. I am only grateful that I may be able to learn at your... uh... discretion." He said trying toremeber all his vocabulary words he shoudl use for political company. He seemed to await Vullpse to do things first or wait for permission or direction to do anything. This war perhaps markedly differnt outwards behavior than he was well known for.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen stopped just sort of the speeder and turned to look at Braze with an upraised brow. "You are frighteningly accurate in your observation." The sentiment that Vulpesen would rather be roaming the galaxy rather than behind his desk was one that had frustrated his advisors and nearly every level of the Veran government for decades. Recently, he had gotten better at balancing his responsibilities, but there were still days where he simply turned off his comlink, forcing the Excelsi to invoke the regency Act whether they liked it or not. He knew that behind closed doors, magni would sometimes call him a poor Valde, but it was hard to remove the man who resurrected your people.

"The trials are just as I said. Survive a month in the wilds. A young Zorren is given a simple bag with a few survival materials. A knife, some line, flint, and a few other necessities. Then told not to die. There are of course, emergency beacons if they need assistance, but the threat is intentional. Its the only way for a Zorren to go from indistinguishable from humans, to this," he said, motioning towards himself, from his golden eyes down to his flicking tail. Hopping into the speeder, he motioned for Braze to do the same. "We'll hit my stables then ride out beyond the wall. Once you've seen a bit of what you're in for, you can certainly have a taste of the trials."

Braze

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Vulpesen

Braze squinted at his appearance before settling in when instructed to do so. "Stables? What kinda critters you got in the stable?" he asked curiously. "I imagine your people are taught about what dangers lurk in the woods from a young age?" Braze gently inquired, settling in and getting cozy. "So... do you normally have a military chauffeur or... do you sometimes drive?" Braze asked, then added, "What kind of training do your people undergo to handle these dangers? Are there any specific rituals or practices unique to your culture that you'd recommend I learn about?"​

 

[Vulpesen]

"There's a few, but we'll be saddling up on a Veran fox or two. My daughter keeps a few of her favorite pets there as well, so you'll have a chance to see creatures from a few other regions." He settled into his seat as they rode, the speeder swiftly moving up to race above the crowd. "Speaking of which, yes. My own children walked the woods almost as soon as they could take their first steps, though of course, they didn't go unescorted until they were old enough to defend themselves. The wilds can be dangerous, but make no mistake, this is our planet. Few fail in their trials, particularly not without excessive outside factors."

"The Valde doesn't like riding anything without a sense of self preservation." The voice came from the front seat of the speeder, the pilot's eyes catching Braze from the rear view mirror. "Even Ace has piloted his ship more than him in the past few decades."

Vulpesen cleared his throat, signaling the man to return to his task, though he said nothing to rebuke him for his speech. It was, after all, all true. "We live here. You'd be hard pressed to find a Zorren who hasn't spent time outside the walls. Now if you want to see what that life's like, I'm happy to teach some of our techniques. I'm particularly fond of shapeshifting though we could find what element resonates best with you. On a more culture based side, I'm sure we'll find time to visit one of the food halls. It might be a little rowdy, but its certainly a way to jump headfirst into our way of life."

Braze

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Vulpesen

Braze stifled a chuckle that threatened to bubble up at what the driver had said to them. "Food sounds good. I'm not so sure I'd be good at shape-shifting... I'm already uncertain about how I feel in my own skin; I couldn't imagine changing it. I think I'd feel ten times more self-conscious," Braze offered softly. "I would love to learn your ways. I seem to resonate well with wind and fire and have come to use them in tandem. I find earth and water much harder to grasp," Braze admitted lightly. "Although I do have some ideas about water manipulation," he added thoughtfully. "I suppose I am an easy guest to please."

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen nodded and tapped on the back of his driver's seat. "Divert to the Fox. Might as well fill our bellies while we're still in town." The speeder took a right in response to his words and Vulpesen leaned back into his seat. "Wind and lightning tend to be my specialties, though I could certainly help you develop in those that you just mentioned. Most wilders believe that everyone identifies certain elements more than others, so there's no shame in showing a lack in aptitude in some, especially those that are opposite in nature to those you excel in. There's also a line of thought that says that learning to embody those elements anyways can help someone reach some level of enlightenment."

Being driven through the dense streets of Veradune's capitol, Braze would be offered a first hand view of the architecture of Veradune’s capitol city. Old Fashioned Buildings, often built atop one another and rising into tall spires which poked up among the trees around which even the roads wound by and gave way to. Zorros was a dense city, not so much because of how much had been built over nature, but rather because everything had been built into it. Even many of the buildings, when not made in their ancient style, were simply hollowed out trees that rose tall and round enough to survive inhabitation by its occupants.

Despite the dense winding roads, Vulpesen’s driver was swift in his work, zipping through the streets with an uncanny familiarity until their destination came into view. The Fox, or rather, The Long Tailed Fox was a towering building with transparisteel windows lining its painted wooden walls. At the door, a single man stood guard beside a large locker. The man smiled as Vulpesen exited the craft. “Remove your weapons. Food halls are about the only place where even I'm not allowed to be armed.” Even as he spoke, Vulpesen reached into his coat and produced his saber, a pistol and several daggers, each of which were handed to the bouncer. “I promise, he’ll defend them with his life and he’ll be sure to give everything back as it was given.”

Braze

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Vulpesen

​

As Braze absorbed the sights along the way, his attention shifted between the passing structures and the vast stretches of nature that framed them. Amidst this tranquil backdrop, he took a moment to focus on his lightsaber. Skillfully, he disassembled it, exposing the glowing Kyber Crystal within. Holding the crystal delicately, he presented the saber to the man whom Vulpesen gave his weapons too and offered his crystal to Vulpesen to hold momentarily as a symbol of his trust and openness.

"This tradition seems quite severe—weapons are replaceable, lives are not," Braze remarked thoughtfully, seeking to bridge the gap between their perspectives. "I'm puzzled by the rationale behind risking lives for material things. Could you explain the philosophy or tradition that values such risks? It troubles me to think someone might die protecting an object of mine." His voice carried a genuine concern and a deep desire to understand. He did want to understand and was hoping on learning from the cultural nuances of the Wilders.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen took the crystal, his golden eyes locking on it for a moment. He understood Braze's desire to disassemble his weapon before giving it up, but there was certainly a sense of honor as Braze went the extra mile and gave the heart of his weapon to him. Regarding Braze's question, the Valde took on a look of mild confusion as he pondered what had been asked. Most might wonder why the weapons were given up in the first place, rather than the efficacy of their guardianship. In the end, it wasn't Vulpesen, but rather the armorer who spoke.

"Most people around here are armed. We're all fighters, and many are soldiers by trade. Our weapons are the tools by which we defend our lives from the wilds, or outside foes. Every weapon beneath my care is used to protect its owners life. So anything lost beneath my watch, is a risk to the lives of those who've entrusted their weapons to me." The armorer's words were gruff but understanding and the man continued his work, even as he spoke, taking blasters and virbroblades from other entering patrons and offering them tickets of return in exchange.

Vulpesen upon taking his and Braze's tickets, placed them into one of his inner pockets. Braze hadn't been the only one to learn from the discussion. Vulpesen might have spent the majority of his adult life on Veradune, but he hadn't been raised here from birth. As such, there were questions that even he had not thought to ask. "There you have it. Now, word to the wise, keep to the edges if you want some more quiet." With that, Vulpesen strode into the Long Tailed Fox.

The interior of the food hall was a raucous affair that could be heard even from the street outside. While most of the patrons were zorren, there was still a spattering of humans, zabraks, twileks, and other races scattered about the three long tables that dominated the large room. The center table was easily held the highest concentration of chaos as patrons laughed, roared, and brawled about its center, reaching over the table which was a mess of spilled ale and food. The center of the outer tables fared little better with its denizens shouting just to be heard over the din. Though, an observant eye would notice that the vigor of merriment would decline sharply as one went further down each table, each end being a place of near solitude as the sitters spoke quietly or not at all amongst themselves. Sparsely along the wooden walls were small intimate booths with only a few having more than two seats a table. Above it all, an upbeat tune of music played just loud enough to be heard over the din of the room's center. "Its one of the rowdier places in town, but the foods the best and the company beyond compare," Vulpesen stated, his tail swishing in satisfaction as his eyes took in the sights around them, soaking in every scene as if he hadn't seen it a hundred or more times before.

Braze

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Vulpesen

Braze's gaze lingered intently on Vulpesen, observing each meticulous step as the tickets were placed. The armorer's instructions, though clear and simple, resonated with a deep significance. For Braze, the utility of weapons was undisputed, essential for protection. Yet, the prohibition of weapons indoors puzzled him—was the general populace truly incapable of handling arms responsibly within a civilized setting?

This brought back memories of his early years in the creche, where training sabers were regularly stowed out of reach. Even then, it was clear to him: children were not expected, nor trusted, to wield such tools responsibly. The parallel was striking, yet unsettling—were adults in this society viewed similarly, just as incapable of responsible weapon use?

As they stepped into the Long Tailed Fox, Braze's senses were immediately assaulted by the vibrant chaos of the hall. His gaze swept over the diverse crowd, the cacophony of sounds, and the dynamic energy that filled the space. The atmosphere was very different compared to the quiet, introspective moments he often found himself in when visiting the cafeteria in the temple on Coruscant, but there was a certain allure to it.

Braze's eyes lingered on the center table, where the most boisterous activity took place. The sight of patrons laughing, arguing, and even engaging in friendly scuffles over mugs of ale and plates of food was both intimidating and fascinating.

He followed Vulpesen's suggestion and steered towards the quieter edges of the room. As they walked, he couldn't help but admire the way Vulpesen navigated the space with ease, his presence commanding respect and admiration from those they passed.

"Your home truly is remarkable," Braze said, his voice barely rising above the ambient noise. He held his tongue however and just watched and tried to learn.

 

[Vulpesen]

Humming along with the tune, Vulpesen started towards the right hand long table, this tail flicking as he kept his eyes on the center of the room. He didn't go far in his quest for a seat, going only a couple feet down the long bench that made up its seats. "Pardon me," he motioned for a small group of men and women to scoot over, to which they quietly complied, giving him a place for himself and Braze to sit. "The closer to the center you go, the more noise is acceptable. Here's a good place for us to relax and talk without being shushed or getting dragged into the party," he said to the jedi as he sat down.

"Over Right!" The shout of course, came from the center of the room and Vulpesen turned just in time to see the center of their own table part for a twilek to go sailing over, narrowly avoiding the patrons who parted for his passing and subsequent crash into the ground.

"And if you look to the corners of the room, you'll see a couple aid stations. Its all good fun, but when most people have claws and fangs, we figure that having blades and blasters help us avoid needing full trauma centers in every eatery." As if hearing the Wilder's words, the Twilek picked himself up and started towards the nearest aid station, his hand grasping a small cut on his arm that had been earned in his fall. Of course, Vulpesen hadn't read Braze's mind, but he could see the consternation on his face as he wondered at the restriction of weapons. And of course, knowing what he did of his people's love of weapons, he had been one of his first questions upon diving into his forgotten culture. "These people have had centuries of heartache and pain. They they still come here to laugh, dance, and eat together, enjoying life to their fullest. I spent my boyhood on Amar, but I'm proud to call Veradune home."

Braze

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Vulpesen

Braze cast a cautious glance around, his snowy white brows knitting into a frown before he reluctantly approached the table. "Ah, charming," he murmured dryly, the irony barely veiled in his voice. "I would have thought that food and fighting were distinct occasions," he remarked as he gingerly took a seat. Despite his reservations, the novelty of the situation seemed to spark a hint of curiosity in him.

He looked towards the adult at the table, his expression softening into one of deference. "I must admit, the concept of brawling in a dining area is quite peculiar to me," he confessed, shifting slightly in his seat. "Perhaps you could guide me on the proper etiquette here?" His tone was earnest, indicating his willingness to learn and adapt to this unusual dining scenario.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen tapped on a button at the edge of the table, bringing up a holographic menu for him to look over while he spoke. "Just a few people getting into an argument after a few drinks. Happens quite a bit, but it'll pass eventually." Even as he spoke, the punches and claws were slowing to a stop, settling into roars of laughter as combatants started to clap each other on the back and resume their meal. "We live according to the code. So when we eat out, we eat together, hence the long tables. If you just want a quiet meal with a few friends, sit at the ends of the table." He motioned to the booths at the edges of the room. "Its rare to eat out with an expectation of privacy, but on occasion some will do it. Its generally considered a sort of romantic gesture and very rude to interrupt those on the sides."

Raising a hand, he called over one of the servers. "Western Ale and an arlusk steak, please. Medium rare." The server offered a quick nod, jotting down the order before bustling off. "We're near the end of the table, but not at the end. We're expected to talk normally to each other and maybe someone near us. They," he pointed to the epicenter, "are likely strangers come to meet new friends and have a good time. Talk to whom you please, as much as you please. Most zorrens are trained to fight from a young age, and sometimes we decide to have it out for little more reason than to stretch our muscles. There are of course place where dueling is more organized and combat is regulated. But no matter where we are, dueling to the death is generally forbidden and we try not to do more than shed a little bit of blood. Nothing that can't be fixed with a bit of bacta. Either way, alcohol and weapons don't mix, hence the door policy. Speaking of which, try the paki juice. Its fairly sweet and it won't leave you stumbling out of here. I doubt your master would appreciate me contributing towards delinquency."

Braze

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Vulpesen

Braze perked up hearing about a 'code' this prompted his next question. " What code is that?" He asked. It likely was one that Braze didn't know anything about. He tried to remain to himself and be as polite as possible by maintaining distance and keeping well aware of how much space he took up and tried to stay out of the way of any one and everyone around them.

"Do you like to cook?" Braze asked wondering if they just stayed home and cooked all their meals if going out wasn't a typical occasion.

He did as Vulps instructed and ordered the kind of juice he suggested not really certain what else to order.

 

[Vulpesen]

"Life Freedom Unity." The words were spoken with a reverent conviction, each one seemingly infused with power in the Valde's voice though he added no influence from the force. None the less, while the center of the table didn't change, there appeared to be a ripple down their table, like a drop in a pond as surrounding Zorren's flicked their ears and glanced towards the pair. "All Zorrens, wilder or no, believe in the code. And some have spent millennia thinking over its three words. Its simpler than your jedi code to be sure, but it means just as much to everyone here, if not more."

Vulpesen glanced up and down Braze after the young jedi ordered his drink, then flagged down the server for one last call. "Slice of an elmury leg for him, untrialed portions. Put it all on me." Returning his attention to the young jedi, he spared only a passing glance to those that had started to recognize who he was. "Not particularly, but thankfully, being Valde has some perks. I've a host of cooks who work for me. But yes, most people will eat at home, though I think we eat out just as much as your typical being. We just do it a bit differently around here."

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Vulpesen

"Unity in what?" Braze asked. " What if Some one doesn't want to be in unity?" Braze followed up finding that word kinda funny. He didn't seem to mind the looks that came Vulpesen way. "Thank you. " he chirped once Vulpesen ordered for him. When they were given their orders he happily took a sip of the juice to try it and relaxed in his seat looking things. "What kind of position is Valde ? How does one become one?" Braze asked before tying to try to eat what he was served.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen rose a bow at Braze's question. For as long as he had known his people, as long as he had known the code, it was perhaps the most common philosophical challenge. Still, despite the commonality, Braze certainly had his mind in the right place. "Unity is standing besides your brothers. Working together to a greater galaxy. But the words of the code are not the the absolute of importance. Also necessary, is their order. Unity never comes before freedom."

Leaning back, Vulpesen flashed a smile as the server came with their food, a truly massive steak by most human standards was placed infront of him and a cut of fried meat with grilled vegetables was placed before Braze/ While perhaps a bit large, the human's meal wasn't out of the realm of his stomach's possibility. "The Valde is the planet's figurehead. Veradune is led by the Vitae Alliance made of the Howlaw Court, the Armis Militia, and the Tenevi Order. Anytime they disagree or work together, I am involved. I inherited the rank from my father. But after made I name, its now an elected position. All citizens vote once every ten years. Its just hard to lose an election when you've freed your people and brought back those who died under centuries of tyranny."

Braze

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Vulpesen

Braze listened intently to Vulpesen's explanation, his curiosity piqued. As the server placed their meals before them, he took a moment to appreciate the presentation before turning his attention back to Vulpesen.

"Centuries of tyranny?" Braze asked, his tone respectful but inquisitive. "I'd like to understand more about what your people faced and how you managed to free them. Could you give me a history lesson on what happened and how the Valde's role has evolved through these events?"

Braze was eager to learn about the past struggles and triumphs of Vulpesen's people.