Private Shadows of Dantooine

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

The soft hum of Valery starship, The Bastion, faded into silence as it touched down on the grassy plains of Dantooine. Outside the cockpit window, the world stretched endlessly, a patchwork of tranquil meadows, rolling hills, and a sky so blue it felt otherworldly. But to Valery, the serene beauty of the planet carried an undercurrent of unease.

Dantooine.

The name alone stirred emotions she thought she had buried long ago. It wasn't the planet's fault — Dantooine was peaceful, quiet, and largely untouched by the chaos that wracked the galaxy. But her own history here had been anything but peaceful. Years ago, during one of the darkest chapters of her life, she had visited this world with someone she once believed she could find solace in. Their time here had been the beginning of the end — of that relationship, of that fragile attempt at normalcy, of trying to move on from Kahlil's supposed death.

The thought of Kahlil now, alive and at her side again, brought her a moment of solace. But the scars from those years were still there, faint reminders of how much she had lost and struggled to rebuild. And now, she was here again, not to dwell on the past, but to face a potential threat to the galaxy's future.

Reports had placed Diarch Reign, one of the enigmatic leaders of this growing new faction known as the Diarchy, on Dantooine. What his purpose was here, she didn't yet know, but she couldn't ignore the whispers of the Diarchy's rising influence. A neutral world like Dantooine, bordering Diarchy-controlled space, was an ideal staging ground for diplomacy or conquest. If Reign was here, Valery intended to find him — and confront him.

The ramp of The Bastion descended with a soft hiss, and Valery stepped into the open air. The scent of wildflowers and freshly churned soil filled her senses, a stark contrast to the tension simmering within her. She adjusted the belt around her waist, her lightsaber a comforting weight at her hip, and began walking toward the distant settlement nestled in the plains.

Her fiery amber eyes scanned the horizon, her senses reaching out into the Force. Somewhere on this peaceful, complicated world, the shadows of the Diarchy stirred. And Valery was ready to face them.

Diarch Reign ​

 

[Diarch Reign]

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Location: Dantooine
Tags: Valery Noble

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Reign had been spending a lot of time on Dantooine recently, the talks with the planetary government were going well and this most recent round had established integration and job creation, as well as a revitalization of Dantooine’s economy.

As well as a particularly fiery meeting with a man who had aspirations to be Dantooine’s governor. Reign was reflecting on all he had learned about the peaceful planet during his visits, as well as lessons with Roman Vossari when he was last here.

He had taken to visiting a quaint coffee shop on his visits. Finding its location near a river quite calming.. especially after more tense or tedious meetings.

He expected uproar from the galaxy when the news of Dantooine’s induction into the Diarchy broke.. but for now, he was content to enjoy the fresh caf and warm breeze rolling his way.

War on Muunilinst still replayed in his mind, and while Reign utilized the dark side, he did not revel in the bloodshed. Seeing the faces of those men and women he had lost. he whispered quiet apologies to them. While he showed no mercy to his enemies, the men and women of the Diarchy were beings that had put their faith in him, expected him to protect them..but he could not save them all.

But he could not dwell, he was a leader and his people needed him. So he took what reprieve he could, hence his presence at the cafe.. he’d taken in the sites of the old Jedi Enclave today as well. Fitting in his own mind that two places of power for both the established orders he was looking to face down would soon be new places of strength for the Diarchy.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

The settlement came into view as Valery crested a gentle rise, her fiery amber gaze scanning the modest cluster of buildings nestled against the horizon. The whispers of the Force guided her steps, weaving a subtle thread of direction that tugged her toward a particular presence — familiar in its darkness, yet tempered by something she couldn't quite place.

She followed the winding paths of the settlement, her boots crunching softly against the packed earth. The locals moved with the easy rhythm of rural life, their peaceful demeanor contrasting sharply with the tension Valery carried. It wasn't long before the scent of freshly brewed caf reached her, carried on the gentle breeze from a riverside café. The Force stirred again, a quiet confirmation that her destination was near.

Valery approached the café, her steps slowing as her gaze landed on the figure seated by the river's edge. Diarch Reign . His presence was unmistakable, even in the serene setting. Yet, there was something about the way he carried himself — an introspective air, perhaps — that caught her attention. This wasn't the overt arrogance she often encountered in those who wielded the dark side.

She stopped a short distance away, her eyes intense though her posture remained relaxed. "Reign," she called out, her voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of curiosity. "Dantooine is a quiet place for someone with a reputation as... ambitious as yours."

Diarch Reign ​

 

[Diarch Reign]

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Location: Dantooine | Riverside Cafe
Tags: Valery Noble

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He had sensed her presence before she had arrived of course. He would not soon forget the tempest of power that was the Grandmaster. But here, next to the river and amid the quiet peace of Dantooine, he was not concerned with conflict.

Looking up at the call of his name, he locked eyes with the Jedi. Not the fiery yellow and red eyes she’d last seen upon his face, but the vibrant green they truly were, green like the peaceful grasslands around them.

“Grandmaster Noble, what a surprise to see you here.. I find that the peaceful quiet is exactly what I need at times.. takes me away from the noise of the galaxy.. wouldn’t you agree?”

There was none of the animosity in his demeanor this time. Here he was at ease, comfortable. But.. if the Jedi were perhaps perceptive enough, she might feel the tinge of sadness and catch the weariness of the man.

“Please, join me, the caf here is delicious, and they hand make their pastries. It’s like a slice of home far away.”

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's fiery amber gaze lingered on Reign for a moment, studying the man before her. The vibrant green of his eyes and the calm demeanor he exuded were a stark contrast to the man she had encountered before. Yet, despite the tranquility he projected, she couldn't entirely let her guard down. The weariness she sensed in him, the faint sadness beneath his exterior, stirred her curiosity, but it also made her wary.

"Peaceful quiet is hard to come by," she replied, her tone steady but edged with skepticism. "For someone like you, it's even harder to believe it's the only thing you're looking for."

Still, the Grandmaster stepped forward, her presence calm but controlled as she approached the table. She eased herself into the chair across from him, her posture relaxed yet deliberate. Her hand rested lightly on the table, her other gently on her thigh.

"You're right, though," Valery admitted after a moment, her gaze drifting to the river. "Dantooine has a way of quieting the noise, if only for a while."

She returned her focus to Reign, the flicker of suspicion still in her eyes. "But you'll have to forgive me for not taking you entirely at face value. You've built quite the reputation, and the galaxy has a way of making people doubt what they see."

Her lips quirked into a faint, almost teasing smile as she added, "That said, I'll take you up on the caf and pastry. It's been a long journey, and I could use something warm."

Even as she accepted his invitation, Valery remained watchful, her senses extended through the Force to pick up on any subtle shifts in his emotions. Whatever had brought him to Dantooine, she intended to uncover it — one way or another.

Diarch Reign ​

 

[Diarch Reign]

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Location: Dantooine | Riverside Cafe
Tags: Valery Noble
Outfit [X]

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The Diarch’s eyes tracked the Grandmaster as she sat down, he waited for her to get comfortable, or as comfortable as she could be in his presence, before responding to her. The soft smile still on his lips as he spoke

“Someone like me.. tell me Grandmaster, who am I? A Sith Lord? A ruthless killer? A monster? You would be wrong on all accounts”

He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. All of which he was sure would be a surprise for the Grandmaster to hear.

“I will concede that I am not just on Dantooine for the caf and quiet though. I’ve just left a meeting with the planetary government, Dantooine is soon to enter the fold of the Diarchy.. and extra care is being taken on outlining how we can leverage our resources to revitalize the economy and security of this beautiful place. Dantooine has been plagued by chaos for far too long, and I want to help her people be free of it.”

He actually laughed a little bit as he asked his next question, he had ideas on what his “reputation” was in the galaxy at large.

“And what is my reputation, Grandmaster? A warrior? A ruthless enemy? A Tyrant? Or is it one of a loving father? A husband? Or a brother? Has the galaxy told of the countless hours I spend walking the streets of all planets within the Diarchy and listening to the citizens?.. no, I think not.”

He shook his head sadly before continuing.

“You may see me as a villain, Valery, but to my people? I’m their brother, their protector, and their friend.. to the people of Dantooine? My brother and I are the men who have come to deliver them from the poverty and chaos they have lived in”

as the server approached he ordered himself and Val another caf and a few of the pastries he had mentioned before. Smiling at the young woman as he did. As she left, his gaze returned to the Jedi across from him.

“I don’t hate you Valery, or the Jedi, or the Sith. Only what their perpetual conflict has done to the galaxy. In another life, I even believe we could have been friends..”

The sadness in him was much more palpable now, he believed with all his heart in his purpose to rid the galaxy of the chaos that plagued it, but he had met people that he had come to care about that would inevitably become enemies one day.