Of Alien and Men - Act II

[Jartani Ponds]

Middle Rim, Bright Jewel Sector
Anobis system

Anobis has been infested by the group who calls themselves Plague Doctors, changing the very enviroment beneath the civilians noses. After a small meeting, adventures, fighters, mercenaries alike are ready to investigate the Plague Doctor grounds... or more.

Today, the group of brave adventures travel to the Doctor's village thanks to the help of a small few people of the scared Farmer's. The journey is short, but not tediously so. Upon the travels through the trees, and past the well thinned out bushes and vines of the ground, the village of wood soon comes into place. Simple huts, casual cooking and hunting equipment find themselves laying on the ground. It looks ancient, with barely a single holopad in sight. Upon each hut made from what looks to be only a stack of sticks piled in a small cone formation, usually keeps inside a singluar Plague Doctor, each fit with their own, or simular types of colored eyes. From black to white, and yellow to brown. Some are children, some are too old to even move from their piles of wood. With each hut or each division of the area, there is usually a small pot containing water, boiled or not, some cooking herbs and flowers. The storage of which are usually laced on the walls, leaving the whole village with a heavenly aroma of nature and tea. Nothing seems to be out of the ordinary. Fresh water some miles away, herbs, plants, flowers growing on every corner but for the walking grounds. To truly get a taste of what is going on, a ground sample would have to be made. Even that would be clean, but no one is to say anyone cannot contaminate it. The Doctors usually stay quiet and out of the way of the newcomers. They look like they know something is up, whatever it may be.

La'kuus, one of the leading of the expedition is quick to jump in front of most others and explore what the town has to offer. She even took sips of something at one point. Best investigator 10/10.

[member="Ek Vilibro Griz"]

[member="Kira Fenn"]

[member="Elmora Raa"]

[member="La'kuus Quelin"]

[member="Darth Erebos"]

[member="Olan Teff"]

 

[Elmora Raa]

Elmora paced around the village eagerly, not particularly knowing what was going on or what would happen. Typically she was hired on for better or more exciting jobs than this, whether it was to kill someone that had a number on their head greater than four digits at least, or to protect a village from attackers, or retrieve an item of importance, but never paid to represent some farmers that probably had nothing coming to them. She sighed heavily before scanning the other newcomers thus far, there weren't many, and if anyone turned on her she could tell it wouldn't be much of a challenge anyways. She found herself clutching one of her lightsabers at her belt for security none the less, her mind running over courses of action should anything out of the ordinary occur.

 

[Ek Vilibro Griz]

Ek Griz was not sure why so many were needed for what seemed to be a simple expedition, but so long as he got some recompense he had no problems. The village they entered was quaint and seemed rather peaceful. Ek deployed two of his ACS-301 Probe droids, one observer to scout the area and one protector which hovered just in front of Ek so that he was within its Icon-class personal energy shields. Ek couldn't attack while in the sheild but it would also be difficult to attack him. The observer droid would relay any information to Ek's bionic eye display. It would be very difficult to catch Ek by surprise.

 

[La'kuus Quelin]

[member="Ek Vilibro Griz"] [member="Elmora Raa"]

La'kuus eventually found an area to stop her exploring and looked back to the team, traveling a bit away or not. With a tiny scowl painted on her face, she took a few steps forward to the two she so far found interesting in means of damage, spy-like material, or strength. "I don't know either of you but I'm glad you came to help. Could you make yourself useful and do some closer inspections, or interrogate some of these... Things?"

 

[Elmora Raa]

@La'kuus Quelin [member="Ek Vilibro Griz"]
"Well I could certainly try, but I'm not sure they'll feel too keen on us being here should we provoke them," She suggested. She began moving between the subjects, asking questions and making sure not to stir up any unnecessary combat even if she kind of wanted some.

 

[Olan Teff]

[member="Jartani Ponds"] @La'kuus Quelin [member="Elmora Raa"] [member="Ek Vilibro Griz"]

Olan, unlike La, took his time really following his way to the small and quaint village. Most likely even trailing behind Marcus. He seemed in no rush, as he had been mulling over everything the doctor said. And the many reports of the exact, total opposite coming from multiple sources-including witnesses.

Upon arriving he looked over the village quietly at its edge. "These people seem harmless..." Eyes roving over the tepee-esque homes, the simple farming implements and the lack there of any sort of high tier technology. The smell though...it seemed to put the young merc at peace. Somewhat unlike his compatriots. Looking to La, Elm and Ek in turn.

Two of them seemed ready for anything to go wrong at any moment. Ek seemed the most relaxed, even in his shield bubble from his drone. Nodding to Ek in a respectful manner as he passes by from the rear of the pack towards one of the hut-tepees. Specifically aiming for this one which appeared to have children and an elder of some sort.

Putting up a hand and giving a warm smile as he approached. "Forgive me for disturbing you this day, I just have a few questions and I will be quickly out of your way. Don't mean to cause trouble, if this isn't the right moment to speak, I shall move to another hovel..." Nodding his head after, doing his best to be as civil and respectful as possible. Even if they may be evil.

Be nice...until its time to not be nice...

The voice of his father played through his head like a recording at that moment.

 

[Jartani Ponds]

[member="Olan Teff"]

A soft croon of a sigh filled the air of the hut as the dark figured being looked up with bright violet eyes. Speaking in a nearly broken elderly tone of a muffled woman, it raised it's cane up to point to Olan. "Come in, stranger. You are welcome to roam and ask." As she spoke, one of the younger bird-like creatures ran around the room, soon to fall onto a pale blue eyed creature of it's own to steal a beautiful multi-colored flower. Once it claimed victory over it, it ran away to make a soup.

The woman - so it seemed - slowly put the cane down to her side and opened her hands out to show the places people could sit, near the pot of boiling herbs.

 

[Elmora Raa]

[member="Olan Teff"] [member="La'kuus Quelin"] [member="Ek Vilibro Griz"]
"Excuse me miss, I just have a couple of things to ask and you're free of obligations, I promise..." She tryed a smile as to not make her feel attacked and gestured out her hands to make sure she catches that Elmora is not aggressive. She looks over at Olan speaking with some children and an old one, then turns her sight back to the woman. She quickly waved her hand in front of the woman's face, concentrating her energy as best she could and speaking, "You will tell me your villages plans with the environment.." She cringed waiting for a response from the lady as she looked dumb founded, but alas she spoke, "I will tell you my villages plans with the environment..." The lady's expression was blank, and Elmora grinned with pride.

EDIT: The woman I am talking to is not the one Doctor Ponds talks for, this message was meant to be sent before that one, my apologies

 

[La'kuus Quelin]

Nothing to see here. Edited.

 

[Olan Teff]

[member="Jartani Ponds"]

Olan bows his head gently and responds to the elderly crow masked woman with a kind tone. "Thank you for allowing me into your home, I shall try not to impose long." For all the anger the young man had broiling in him usually, this place seemed to put him at ease. A little chuckle escaping the Merc as he watched one of the youth run away with his prize, just as he sat down.

Unbelting his two blades and setting them to his side he crossed his legs and looked at the elder. One of his hands went down to untangle his blood red sash from around his bladebelt as it came undone, speaking to her as he idly untangle the two waist adornments. "I'm not generally one to mince words. And I usually cut to the point. But...there are many things here I do not fully understand, and I feel in order to properly ask questions pertinent to the situation at hand-the others must be asked first."

Tilting his head to the side as he looks at her. "Such as, why does everyone in your culture wear those...masks. Please, forgive my brash way of asking, grew up that way."

 

[Elmora Raa]

Her grin is cut short when the woman snaps out of it and looks around dazed, "My apologies miss... Thank you for your time..." I nod politely and walk over to where Olan went with the crow woman. I peak my head inside and see Olan sitting cross-legged and gesture for permission to enter.

 

[Jartani Ponds]

[member="Olan Teff"]

The woman in question gave a hearty weak chuckle, folding both of her legs in a fashion so one would go on top of another, and the one under would slip onto the upper knee. Thus, both feet were on top of both knees. "It is a tradition from a great plague wiped the planet. Ever since a few weeks the generations have been doing medicine, we have developed our masks to prevent the smell of the rotting corpses to fill our senses, and also to prevent us from catching sickness from airborne illnesses." She raised her hands again to the side. "Anything else?"

On the sidelines, more children started to come in to look for the flower, and upon seeing none, ran away without question. Like casual children, except they were playing games with more encouraging prizes.

Just then noticing the woman, she pointed her cane over to invite the stranger [member="Elmora Raa"] inside.

 

[Elmora Raa]

[member="Jartani Ponds"]
She curtsied, her metal skirt armour rattling slightly, "It's my pleasure to be welcome in your beautiful town Miss..." She smiled nicely and took a seat next to [member="Olan Teff"] and staying silent.

 

[Ek Vilibro Griz]

Ek saw some of the others questioning the villagers, he noticed Elmora use the force in her questioning. Ek disapproved; he felt that she was abusing her power in the force, but Ek, looking like the veritable walking arsenal that he did, thought it wise to leave the questioning to said others. Instead Ek found himself a tall tree with a good view and jumped up onto a high branch and used his bionic eye to scan the area and keep a lookout. These people were peaceful, but they seemed off. Afterall, why hire warriors such as himself if you did not expect to need them?

[member="Olan Teff"]
[member="Elmora Raa"]
[member="Jartani Ponds"]

 

[La'kuus Quelin]

Apparently ditched by the crew, La'kuus let out a long and heavy sigh before walking forward, only to half trip on a child running about with a strange looking flower. She scowled and gave a tiny growl to it, before walking on her way again. What were these things, from the stupid ages?

That's actually a good name for them... The Stupid Age people... Yee. La'kuus quickly walked to the edge of the village, then back, then to the edge again. It was small, but something was up. She could feel it.

Even from the tip top of the tree everything looked normal as it could for a village without superior technology. Access to water, land, and farming equipment in their own little circle.

[member="Ek Vilibro Griz"] [member="Elmora Raa"] [member="Jartani Ponds"] [member="Olan Teff"]

 

[Olan Teff]

Olan waits until [member="Elmora Raa"] takes a seat beside him, giving her a warm smile and nod in greeting-before responding to the elder. Only barely noticing Ek move outside the area and to a tree for a better lookout position.

Looking up at the Elder, Olan seemed to chew on her words a bit. "So it is tradition, and serves a purpose. From what it sounds like, your people have an amazing affinity for the medicae, disease and such. How their handled, prevention and curing, I assume. This probably also could lead to some thinking you could use this knowledge in a offensive fashion, endangering others with your knowledge." Tilting his head to the side again. "How many people have visited your village? Are you frequented by many?"

@La'kuus Quelin [member="Jartani Ponds"] [member="Ek Vilibro Griz"]

 

[Elmora Raa]

Elmora kept her eyes shut for a second, some thoughts passing through her mind. The village appeared to be completely normal and harmless... But why were we hired if that is true? Something was afoot and it sent a chill down her spine. @La'kuus Quelin [member="Ek Vilibro Griz"] [member="Jartani Ponds"] [member="Olan Teff"]

 

[Jartani Ponds]

"Endangering others..." The woman tilted her head down, then raised it back up a moment later. Her glowing eyes rested on both [member="Olan Teff"] and [member="Elmora Raa"] for a brief moment. "We are occasionally visited by the Farmer's of the town, but they always come bearing bad news of their crops not finishing on time, or growing extra lumps to their fertilizer. I'm afraid we are not farming people, but only medicine upon what we plant and find."

[member="Ek Vilibro Griz"] @La'kuus Quelin

The trees outside of the village rustled dangerously. The wind wasn't blowing in the right direction, but out from the edges could be seen bits and pieces of clothed figures, those of whom looked an awful lot like the Plague Doctors themselves. By the looks of it, there was plenty to go around.

 

[Olan Teff]

[member="Jartani Ponds"] [member="Elmora Raa"] @La'kuus Quelin [member="Ek Vilibro Griz"]

Raising a dark gloved hand to his chin, he tapped it a few times. "From what you are saying, it seems the Farmers were aggravated with your presence. Would you say they showed animosity over the issue?"

Olan continued as he stumbled over motives, actions, information. Doing his best to piece it all together. It all did not seem to fit. Was it something the Doctors were doing to cause the farms to falter, or was it tampering elsewhere? He had no clue.

 

[Elmora Raa]

Elmora grew tired, "I apologize for the bluntness but might I suggest that you may be causing these irregularities in the farmers crops?" She said, already knowing the true answer. She could sense the worry emitting from the elder and could hear rustling coming from outside but she ignored it.
[member="Jartani Ponds"] [member="Ek Vilibro Griz"] [member="La'kuus Quelin"] [member="Olan Teff"]