Prospecting the Rimma V - Dwarfs & Men

[Jsc]

[member="Quenladose"] [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]

Karen's eyes grew as wide as the sun. What!? Good heavens. She was surrounded by crazy people! One million credits was a huge sum and the CEO just agreed to it, completely. That was ridiculous to Karen. A single map wasn't worth half that. ...And then Quen mentioned using their corpses as compensation!? Good heavens, no! If somebody dies out in the Dread Forest, don't send anybody after our items. They'll just end up dead too.

Roberts shook her head in disbelief. She was surrounded by crazy people.

"Um. Yes well. There you have it. A perfectly good business deal. ...Or something?"

It was all that she could mutter. However, the tiny Rikket man seemed marvelously impressed! One million credits? Just like that? Yippee! He was going to be rich! The old Dwarf practically treated Jaster like a son now,

"Hi ho, my boy! Did you say transfer? Goodness yes! Let's. Let's. My daughter will be happy to transfer the funds into our account. Here! Here! Just push the button on my datapad. Bingo! Perfect. Thank you mightily. The map is all yours good master giant-man."

Becket reached into his pants and withdrew a leather map. It was remarkably detailed with directions out into the forest. Sadly, none of the writing was in Galactic Basic. It was written in the Rikket language, Bronze Tongue.

"Oh now, my boy. Don't you mind the letters. Just follow the Ruins out yonder and you'll get there. ...Ah! But I should mention now. Since you're thinking the same thing. That Netherworld Portal closed many months ago. We called it the Door of Death. ...Oh yes. And when she closed we gathered up the city War Droids and purged that Ruin clear of any nasties. Dropped a few bombs on them too for good measure. Smashed everything into pieces we did. You'll not find anything special out there, let me tell you. I personally oversaw the operation. That portal is closed for good. ...But? If you want to be exploring the Ruins? I'll not stop you. You did just buy my only map, after all. Hehe."

Karen rolled her eyes. Of course the portal was closed. The moment Akala died at the hands of the Legendary Heroes, all the portals closed for good. Poor Corellia even got torn in two because of it. But that wasn't going to stop Karen from looking for clues about the Rogue Celestials. This was too perfect of an opportunity not to.

She looked at Jaster,

"Well. Since it's your map now? I suppose we're following you."

Karen shrugged. As long as Jaster had the map, she would have to follow him.

 

[Quenladose]

[member="Karen Roberts"] [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]

Quenladose looked up at the woman who seemed surprised and she spoke, more talking out of her backside then actually reading her mind or knowing what she seemed so surprised about. "Should we perish and become one with the force we will have no need of it and this humble man values material gain." Her eyes remained on the jedi peacock and then she gave the smile while stepping back and looking at the man who had bought the map. "Yes it is your map, you lead the way and we will back you up should you require it. If need be I can try and conceal us in the force." Her hands gently clasped in front of herself and she gave the diminutive look of a child for the moment but then smiled while adjusting her belt to hook twin sabers on them. She looked to the man. "I am the daughter of Essus, the clan of Sephi on Dagobah. Please inform them should something happen to me?"

 

[Jaster Awaud]

[member="Quenladose"] [member="Karen Roberts"]

Jaster got the map, not to big a problem, a million credits would piss off the Conglomerate Board, but they were always mad. Not only did Jaster buy a map with this money, but now a got a grumpy looking scientist and a creepy girl to tag along with him and his guards. Really, could he as for more trouble, but as he looked at them, saying no would probably be bad for his health.

"Fine, I have troopers camping at the edge of the forest near the ruins," Jaster headed to the door and mumbled something to himself, "I just hope their sober."


As they reached the ruined 20 Conglomerate Police officer where sitting at a camp site just at the edge of the forrest. The guns and electrical fences were a key sign as to why they weren't attacked or why there wasn't any wounded.

 

[Jsc]

[member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"] [member="Quenladose"]

As so it was that the party left the tinkering workshop and the fair city behind. Karen made a phone call to R2 to check up on things. Thank goodness, everything was still where she had left it. And so, Roberts was free to follow the Umbrella CEO out into the woods.

"Oh my?"

She gasped with surprise at the volume of men and equipment Jaster had brought with him. This was far more than a Special Forces Team or a simple Away Party. This was a whole military expedition. Fences and all.

"Well. He certainly has money behind his corporation. Mm. Interesting."

She looked around at the men there gathered. I don't think they were expecting their boss to return with company. A guide maybe? But two women with colorful hair? Almost certainly not. Well... She could let Jaster do the introductions later. The journey they were to undertake put them six hours into the mountains to the east. An uphill trek through rough terrain, even with vehicles. The gray stones and crags made the hillsides uneven and rocky. The moss made them slippery and the giant tree roots made even the Old Roads impassible. Oh yes... If Jaster wanted nature? He was sure to get it.

Karen looked at Quenladose then. Wondering all over again why the poor Selphi was still tagging along,

"If you'll pardon me Master Jedi. I'm afraid I missed our proper introduction. ...I am the Rogue Master Karen Roberts of our former mother, Corellia. Knightess of the Republic Order and specialist for the Omega Pyre. Former Mentor of the Jedi Academy and a once Captain of Navies. ...Yet. For all my titles and worldly gifts? I cannot seem to remember another Selphi amongst our Circles. From whence do you hail? ...If I might be so bold as to ask?"

The forest was ahead of them. Therefore, It was urgent that Karen put the present at the fore. Essus. Dagobah. The Jedi Peacock was not familiar with these terms. Quen remained, a rainbow colored mystery.

 

[Quenladose]

[member="Karen Roberts"] [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]

Quenladose followed with them remaining quiet while she observed what the man had brought with him. More then enough men to handle most situations they even had fences and she was walking among them while her eyes continued to look at each of them. "You humans are so strange, always bringing so many people for situations." She kept moving and was looking at Karen when the woman started speaking with the movements as she was moving. "That is a lot of title's and I am certain they are important. I am Quenladose Nic Essus, the daughter of Essus and Disciple of Twilight. Jedi knight of the New Republic before the darkness and child of the Shadowlands. I am nine hundred years old and do not know what you mean Karen Roberts. When you were there were you seeking Sephi's?" She kept walking with her hands in her robes.

 

[Jaster Awaud]

"After noon Jenessa," Jaster walk up to a women who was sitting down eating soup, "how's the men holding up?"

The officer just nodded while eating, he knew who Jaster was, but it seemed they worked together for a while, "Alive, so that's gata count for something." She continued to eat the soup as the officer around her saluted Jaster.

Jaster saluted back and returned to his conversation with Jenessa, "Your my XO, let's act like it, we have guest."

She growned for a second then got up and placed the bowl where she sat. Taking a look at the two Jaster brough with him, she stated, "So not only am I gana flower pick for you, I have to babysit to?"

"No," Jaster looked over the map he was given, one a Omega Scientist and Master Jedi [member="Karen Roberts"], the other Jedi Knight [member="Quenladose"], so they are more then capable to handle themselfs."

Things went along as they packed up to head out, the squad consisted of 4 droids, and 16 light armored Officers. There were no transport, or vehicles, they would be hiking the covered road the whole way. Jaster still wished to pick plants he could take back to the ship to analyze. The whole planet needed to be archived, and Jaster needed new product.

 

[Jsc]

[member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"] [member="Quenladose"]

Karen was even more baffled than before when Quen mentioned being 900 years old. A Knight before the Plague? A child of Shadowlands? Good heavens! Quenladose was immediately far more interesting than this whole planet had become. Karen had come for clues about Rogue Celestials and had stumbled upon the greatest artifact of all! ...This little Selphi woman.

Roberts almost forgot about the expedition entirely,

"Do you mean to tell me, that you have lived through the Long Night of Plague in it's entirety? That you've seen the great civilizations before the Great Collapse?"

No other had ever done so but for Grandmaster Teferi Effret. I mean, sure? Some other characters had come from foreign galaxies, been frozen in carbonite, or even been 1000 year old vampires? But... Well? Nobody had ever actually lived through the era of the Gulag Plague. This could make Quenladose, herself, the most important historical find of the century. Her memories alone would be worth billions.

Karen almost completely forgot that Jaster and his troops were moving out. Oops.

She unshouldered her disruptor and moved to keep up. Seemingly in awe of Quenladose the whole time,

"Please Knightess. Erm. Quenladose Nic Essus. You must tell me. Are recent events of any circumstance to you? Akala and her Realms, Omni and his machines, or even the Great Death Plague itself? ...Do you know more about any of these great calamities? Do you know why all this is happening?"

 

[Quenladose]

[member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"] [member="Karen Roberts"]

"And what makes a civilization great Karen Roberts? Is it their wealth? Their power? Their ability to grind lesser civilizations into dust? There are many things about a people that can be but I would never use great." She kept walking and being asked questions as her eyes remained on the woman. "I do not know, the galaxy ebbs and flows. Sometimes it will go for centuries without incident and then the tides will bring dangers, they will bring pain and suffering and sadness. The universe will continue to spin and recede until the time comes for it to return. Rogue celestials, plagues that wipe out civilizations, plagues that bring the dead back to life. These are trials that test the heart of the people and for those who rise up, who lift their fellows they can become a grand. Or will they just fall and seek to plunge the galaxy into their own darkness." She kept walking and noticed the men and others. "But you must endure, because you can take it, because you know it is the right things to do. You are asking for answers but I have none to give I am merely one person who was in one place at one time. I didn't see everything in the galaxy, I have not seen the cruelity that must have been needed to plague and kill the galaxy. I just am me and I go as needed throughout doing what good I can to try and help because you can not do big acts only small ones with great love and try to offer the people hope."

 

[Jaster Awaud]

[member="Quenladose"] [member="Karen Roberts"]

Jaster only looked behind him to confirm that both the Force Users were following them. Though they were just tag-a-longs, Jaster was still responcable for them, and if any Omega Py officials found out Jaster was responcable for one of theirs deaths, well guns pointed at him wasn't good for his aging health.

He looks back to get a lecture of galactic history of people killing each other. She's been alive for over 900 years and probably seen history constantly repeats itself right in front of her. That's why Jaster didn't ask, history or not, he only was interested in a future where he was able to help. So he looked back to the map whit Jenessa next to him.

"I really don't like Jedis, always cryptic in how that talk." Jaster said to himself.

"Can't be as bad as you snoring," she looked at Jaster, "sir." She then smiled.

"Funny Commander," Jaster smiled as well, "at least I keep my close on when.." Jaster stopped speaking when he saw the XO reach for her knife on her Military Vest. "I-I-I am in my quarters alone, yes.. that is what I was going to say."

The officer around Jaster and the Commander smiled and some even laughed, seemed like it was a common comedy act for the crew.

 

[Jsc]

[member="Quenladose"] [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]

Words like a philosopher. Quenladose was indeed fascinating to talk to. Though it appeared that she was no Rogue Celestial herself. Rather, an enduring specimen who had long lived past her history. A woman. Proud and completely. Truly, Quen was a role model for any Jedi. Man or woman. To have seen so much and yet remain so wise. So optimistic...

Karen almost felt ashamed for herself. How far into the galaxy had she journey to find these answers. To find something more powerful than wisdom. To find something more powerful than doubt. ...And yet. There is was. Life was life. Nothing conquering. Simply seasoning well with time.

"Your words humble me Knightess. In all my travels I have always sought for a power greater than the Force's simple respects. Something by which I could crush my enemies and reign forever as a God amongst men. Something that could remove all doubt and dispel any evil. Sith, or spawn, or even Celestial. My whole life has been spent pursing the illusion of magic and subtle power. To find real greatness, anywhere but in myself."

Roberts stopped for a moment and nodded. Could it really all be so simple? She just didn't know.

"Thank you Knightess. The Force is truly strong with your kind words. I hope your next 900 years of life might be as fruitful and welcoming as the last. And I hope that you find all that you ever seek."

The blue-haired woman turned and looked up the path that they had to walk. Listening to Jaster and his Lieutenants laugh and speak freely. What a fascinating experience. That she would be so lucky as these.

"Ah. But where are my manners. We have an expedition to complete. Carry on, carry on. I shall not keep you Knightess. Youth is always a fickle beast to bear. Pardon my idle thoughts, yes."

Karen readied her rifle and squinted with passion. Trudging on ahead falling in line behind the troopers. Now was not the time for pondering the mysteries of the universe. Now was the time for unearthing them. Ha. Forward ho!

 

[Quenladose]

[member="Karen Roberts"] [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]

Quenladose was looking at her and never changed her expression, never gave a hint she was thinking about anything else then the master in that moment as she was speaking. "It is alright and I have seen your struggle before Karen Roberts. Ones who believe they can solve all the problems of the galaxy be it with their sword or their will. The struggle is choice, the danger is that noble idea slowly becoming twisted until your good intentions have led you down a dark path." She kept moving forward while shifting her eyes to the man who had the map and had a small smile on her face. "They are a curious bunch though where you seek answers and I seek enlightenment the human seeks something else. Perhaps like many youth a way to turn anything into a weapon. It could explain the amount of people he has brought."

 

[Jaster Awaud]

[member="Quenladose"] [member="Karen Roberts"]

Jaster heard more philosophical gibber, and he truely wondered if she was as smart as she was stating. Jaster had seen the galaxy for what it truely was, he was a soldier during the old Republic and Mandalorian Conflicts. Then after that when he was exiled, he was a medical supply officer for refugee camps as the Sith marched tword the republic. He couldn't handle not helping everyone so he joined the Healer Guild, where they couldn't even help. Jaster then made medicine for those who couldn't afford it cutting cornors for them. There was no helping the galaxy a peaceful way, if there was, Jaster would have found it. People were programmed to kill one another for whatever reason they could make up.

This was when Jaster heard the knight mention Jasters judgement to bring so many men. He then stopped and turn to the all knowing Jedi, "You lived it ma'am, the great Galactic Civil War that lasted nearly 50 years, there is no such thing as safe in this galaxy," Jaster pointed to one of his officers, "I lived this long by always overreacting, so when my men put their life's on the line to protect you from some beast who want to kill you, will you question why I brought so many?"

Jaster was 42, not 900, but he probably been through enough wars, bar brawls, and close deaths then he would like to have been through. So this Jedi speaking of enlightenment was just dust to the wind to Jaster, even after so long the Jedi still stood in their high horses. As they sat on their thrown of enlightenment the sick got sicker and the poor got poorer. Jaster provided jobs for those who wish to work, brought food and medicine to those who couldn't get it.

Jaster returned to the side of his XO and moved the patrol along, since when did knowlage feed people or stop wars?

 

[Jsc]

[member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"] [member="Quenladose"]

Karen could only shrug as Jaster and Quen talked. She'd been with the Jedi Service Corps on Coruscant during Year One. She'd seen poverty and renewal. She'd built the Jedi Temples and Republic Encampments of Tython during Year Two. She'd seen motivation and rebirth. Robert's was even commanding a Watts-Class Star Destroyer during the One Sith Invasion of Coruscant. So yes... She'd seen war and desolation too. If anybody understood Jaster's perspective, Karen did. Though she did not share this view, nor acknowledge it out loud. She stood apart. Always had. Keeping her private thoughts to herself. Probably always would too. After all, Jedi didn't ride high horses out of pride or common prejudice. Jedi ride high horses because they have space magic. And was some crazy stuff right there. Let me tell you,

Still. She understood the lack of respect for her kind. The lack of acknowledgment for Force Users who practice charity and love. The Sith bathed whole sectors in fire and they were just Jedi who wore black. The common people couldn't tell the difference. One wizard was just as like to the other. Yet, all the while the other Jedi Sects practiced farming and philosophy in hidden enclaves all throughout the galaxy. Hardly the saviors of the universe. If even that title told a full story. ...No. Sadly. The most useful soldiers in the whole galaxy remained the Mandalorians. Culture, drive, speed, and aggression. Yep. The Mandos knew how to kick some serious tail. Lay down the law and really keep the peace. Thank goodness they liked killing Sith too. Otherwise even poor Karen might have been dead by now too. Ugh. Bleh. Go figure. What a horrible thing to say.

These are thoughts that contented Ol' Blue as she trudged through the Dread Woods. Politics, war, and an ever-changing; ever-expanding universe. Most of which she would never even see, nor experience in it's fullness. It was like the old saying of the Grandmasters: The more ya know? You more you understand how very little we really, truly perceive.

With the crunch of another stray branch, they finally came upon the marble statue of Diana. Situated at the foot of a thin waterfall and marking the beginning of the mountains. It would get even more rugged and uphill from here. Might even start to run into some of the wolf packs too. Bleh. What a long hike this was turning out to be. She should have gel'd her feet before she left. Good grief.

...

 

[Quenladose]

[member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"] [member="Karen Roberts"]

"Of course I shall, it is in my nature to question as much as it is in a humans." She continued to look at him and flicked her attention back to Karen but was curious how he would react should she answer the first part of what he said about living in a dangerous time. She was a child, she lived like a child, thought like a child and had the same fears as a child. She wasn't considered a preteen until the time was over mostly. By then though she still didn't fully know what was happening as she had said. One person at one time in the galaxy... in her case the deepest parts of the shadowlands away from the basics of communications.

That changed though while she watched Karen, the woman seemed to be thinking a mile a minute even letting her feet trudge over a branch that could alert others. Not something most would do while Quenladose moved forward looking at the mountains and the statue. She brushed aside some of the hair from her face while looking up and at the different soldiers. She should have brought her disc... it would make traveling with her tiny legs easier and she could have stored snacks.... trail mix was begging to be eaten here as she spoke. "Which way are we to go up the mountains according to your map?"

 

[Jaster Awaud]

[member="Quenladose"] [member="Karen Roberts"]

"It would seem that there is a hiking trail just a little farther." Jaster stated looking at the map, "It isn't used offend so it's goin to be hard to follow the path and one heck of a hike."

Jaster was still upset by the Jedis comment, to speak of him as if he was a child. In comparison to how old she was though, Jaster would be considered a child. This didn't change the facts though, Jaster wasn't after universal knowlage, just to survive lone enough to somehow help the galaxy. He meet Sith that massacred millions and others that were kind others, yet he never meet a Jedi who acted from their heart, it was always what was logical. Jaster wasn't different from that prospective, but he was a buisnessman, they were... they were.... to be honest Jaster didn't know what force users were. Scientist, Doctors, ---Soldiers? Jaster didn't understand them, but he knew the line, Jedi acted according to what was logical, Sith acted according to their feelings. Capable of so much power, Jaster always sided with Fallen Jedi and Compassionate Sith, both were in the grey area of both orders. This is all Jaster cared about with them.

Jaster moved his squad of officer to a beaten path that seemed to be more of an animal path then a hiking trail. "I think this is it."

 

[Jsc]

[member="Quenladose"] [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]

Karen knelled down to survey their new trail. The rocks were smooth and wet. There was water up above. The dirt was gritty and filthy. That meant mountains and rock. The path was brisk and polished. That meant it was used often. Either by water or by animals. Nobody from the city would have come out here often enough to keep this path dusted. No. This was definitely an animal trail.

"Hm. The rock doesn't keep prints. I can't tell what type of animals forged this path. But the width of the trail means smaller animals. Goats, sheep, wolves, lizards, or salamanders. Impossible to tell really. But their hips and stride would be smaller than a humans. ...Probably."

Roberts wasn't much of a tracker. She usually used Blood Trails and Force Sense to guide her. Looking at nature and creating a picture was far, far more difficult. They'd being walking into the unknown for this one.

"To bad we brought droids and not drones. Could really use some eyes in the sky about now."

Karen thought about putting a jetpack on R2 and sending him on up ahead. ...Nah. He's such a coward. Poor droid would run away at the first sign of a dove. Hehe. Oh bother.

She'd leave the expedition in Jaster's hands. It was his company after all. Best not to get in the way.

...

 

[Quenladose]

[member="Karen Roberts"] [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]

She gave a nod looking at the trail while she was letting that small bit of instincts she had from the shadowlands before she was looking up at the man and his team. She bowed her head in giving him leadership for this while she was walking towards Karen. "We will be fine, the force is our ally and drones will only tell you so much." She offered a smile though as the thrill of excitement showed in her eyes and she was walking towards the soldiers while climbing up the trail. "The fun is in the not knowing what is coming and I am more then certain we will be able to protect ourselves Karen Roberts."

 

[Jaster Awaud]

[member="Quenladose"] [member="Karen Roberts"]

The smaller female Jedi knight passed Jaster and some of his men, two Jedi in the forest, they must feel at home. Jaster was still a novice in the knowlage of the force, he had only recently picked it up. After working for so many force users Jasters curiosity got the letter of him, he spent eery free time he had at the Jedi Academy on Yavin, and sometimes in exchange for favors, the Sith Temples of Corasunt. Jaster was always naturally curious, yet every time he was, he narrowly missed death by the skin of his teeth. In his case, curiosity was what killed the cat.

He had his Droids perform thermal scans on the forest as they walked through it. It didn't really help as there were a lot of living creatures in the forest, and Jaster or the droids could not distinguish hostel from docile, it was very difficult. He always was on edge, this though was truely uncharted territory, and Jaster didn't like not knowing almost as much as he didn't like to wait.

"Well we got your six," Jaster said, "just give us a heads up on any danger so we can prepare, we only have scanners and boasters."

 

[Jsc]

The Forgotten City
[member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"] [member="Quenladose"]

Ten minutes up the trail lead them through a wet canyon and out into the jungle beyond the pass. Here they stepped foot into a cobblestone garden. An accessory plaza attached to a large stone mansion, forgotten even to time. This was the next checkpoint on their way to the Temple Ruins. The Forgotten City. A white limestone relic, now reclaimed by the jungle itself. Built into the mountain sides by ancient Rikket masons and supplied by the many waterfalls that decorated the landscape. It was as beautiful as it was deadly.

One of the droids up front came to a battle stance and voiced a loud yelp,

~/ Warning! ~/ Enemies detected...

No sooner had it chirped then a loud howl took to the air. A dozen reptilian looking beasts clamored about the walls and stones of the garden with glee. Jumping about and leaping from the stones. It was a wolf pack of the most local variety. Rockeaters.

"Rockeaters!" Karen screamed and unleashed a blast from her disruptor. The beasty leaped out of the way as she blew the whole garden wall in half. Kapow! "...Watch out! They jump!"

In the blink of an eye, (12) of the strange frog-like jumpers flew into the air. Eager to dive upon their prey like raining lightning. The quiet garden was now a bounding battlefield.

Ready or not, here they come...

___

*ooc: Rockeaters are large wolf-frog hybrids with scaly orange hides. Just slightly bigger than a normal wolf in size and girth. They leap about like frogs and can swing about like baboons. Covering great distances in the blink of an eye. Leaping and jumping as they go.

During combat, they usually try to knock their prey to the ground and gore them with their massive tusks. Spearing prey and shaking it loose. Always hunting and brawling in large packs. Preferring to attack from all sides and juggle their prey like a bouncy ball. However, since their giant maws can also break stone and crush large trees? They enjoy munching on troopers and then throwing them about like ragdolls. A blasters kill-setting can stun and knock about these creatures better than they actually kill them. It can take several powerful shots to actually leave one dead on the ground. Provided you can actually hit them too.

Rockeaters get their name from their strange habit of sharpening their tusks on sharp rocks for hours at a time. It makes them look like they enjoy chewing on boulders when lounging about. Actually, their primary diet is composed of rabbits, foxes, fish, and even birds. They are extremely territorial creatures and do not usually attack humans outside of their preferred hunting grounds. However, they have been known to attack even massive creatures who wander too close to their eggs.

When agitated these creatures are immune to Force Beast Control and Force Suggestion.

 

[Quenladose]

[member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"] [member="Karen Roberts"]

Quenladose was walking and listened to what was coming as she raised an eyebrow for a moment. Finding interest and seeing the architecture around them. The place they were being led to was a place of wonder while she was smirking and felt it a split second before the droids were talking. Her hands going to her sabers as she disappeared, her body slipping into that glove of bent light while she was moving side ways slowly with her mind focusing in on the force as she watched the creatures. her scent slowly dissipating and disappearing, her force signature slowly disappearing while she held herself ready observing and watching them. She was pulling the force into her when one of them jumped as she crouched low. Going over her head as she watched it with Karen and the soldier getting to their work. She activated the twin icy purple blades with a duel snap-hiss as the blade came out with the cloak dropping and she slashed leaping to meet one who jumped at her. Catching him as she was short and went under the snapping jaw while slashing to bisect it.