Faction Tebori in the Trees (Kor’ethyr Students)

[Kivah]

Reaper Kai
Ran Dom Kuun
Outfit

The Reaper was too small. Granted the little shuttle was always a tight spot to live out of, but it wasn’t so bad when she was alone, the worst part was the loneliness. Which was ironic because as soon as you had more than two people in the thing, it was too small. Even then, the two had to like each other. Kivah looked back into the living quarters that separated the cockpit from the troop/cargo bay of the Reaper Kai. Yeah, she was glad they were almost there. Naamino had been a treat, the boy had taken to her ship with enthusiasm and been a decent copilot once she’d gotten him familiar with the ship. She’d even felt comfortable enough to take a nap or two while he minded the jumps along the Hydian Way. Of course he’d been under the watchful eye of the integrated pilot droid, Gem, the entire time.

Micah was also alright, but as much as he tried, Kivah felt that the ship was just too small for the boy. He needed more room to express his energy when he wasn’t being studious. A problem she’d always solved with intense work-outs and sleep or alcohol when she didn’t have a friend along. The last person on their little field trip was more of a mystery, a dark and quiet girl that reminded her of Das for some reason. Adean hadn’t really volunteered much and Kivah gave her the little space she could. “Alright Kiddos!” She called out, turning her piloting chair around so she could holler back at those deeper in the shuttle. “We’re nearly there. Just remember, this is my home, I know a lot of people here and they know me. And my family.” She added a little quieter. “So! You’re guests first and Siths never. You start harassing people or waving a lightsaber around, I’ll kick you out myself. And It’s a long way down.”

Having suitably chastened her passengers, Kivah brought the angular shuttle out of hyperspace above her home planet before guiding the ship down through the wispy clouds of the atmosphere and over the greenery of the jungle zones. Occasionally a tree pressed up from the surrounding canopy in a mountainous form, but their destination could be seen through the forward viewports in gargantuan form. Ran Dom Kuun, home of the Denik-Cathar, dominated the horizon. The scale of the singular tree was such that even its lower branches ended some kilometers above the jungle canopy below.

Kivah brought the Reaper Kai in for a smooth landing onto one of the landing pads nestled among the thick branches of the lower levels and began powering down. The ship was known here and the ‘welcome home’ chatter with the spaceport control officer brought a warm smile to her face. Yeah, being back was a good feeling. The opening hatch let in the warm air and familiar smells of her jungle home and she breathed deep before stepping down to the solid wood below. “Right, there’s stairs and such for you that can’t climb too well. If you ever get lost, just head to the trunk and look for a shop or something. People will give you directions as soon as you find one that speaks Basic, no need to be shy, we’re all friendly here.”

As she talks, she lead them towards the center of the tree and the many stairs that acted as the super highway of the City Tree. Down here were most of the shops that catered to the few travelers and offworlders visiting the city and Kivah made sure to point out a few that could serve as landmarks leading back to the ship. All around them in the tree and hanging over the edge or in little stands were things for sale. Trinkits, souvenirs, charms, and food. Both tea houses and grilled meats dominated, their spiced aromatic temptations promising a freshness impossible on many other worlds with their packaged and preserved foods. Her tattoo guy, the reason they were here, held his parlor much higher up in the tree out on one of the branches visitors rarely wandered onto. And while she was leading the others up, she also expected them to dart off to check something over and stopped to wait for them or snag something for herself, even picking up a skewer of grilled fruits and spiced game animal to snack on as they walked.

Naamino Zuukamano Micah tol Powl Adean Castor

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

Outfit
Belt of Strength, Field Com-Scan Link (pinned out of sight),
Saber (out of sight), and Traditional Iridonian Robes

​

The willingness Kivah showed to take Naamino "under her wing" so to speak was not lost on him. In fact he greeted that gesture with profound, if quiet, gratitude. His more solemn tendencies had finally started to melt away despite the somewhat mixed company and tight quarters. When he wasn't dutifully learning from Kivah, he was reading up on their destination, making more animated conversation with his companions than was typical for him, and secretively jotting things down in his datapad. Micah might have caught glimpses of the latter merely because Naami seemed to prefer taking his downtime very near wherever the kit did. Often choosing to lounge with his shoulder against the boy or share space while they quietly focused on their own things. He wasn't obtrusive about it, in fact he seemed to gravitate toward his friend without thought, but was also instantly receptive when it seemed the Rho needed his own time.

Their other companion was regarded by Naami with a respectful waryness. Originally Naami had invited Gavin Vel on this exciting adventure but his friend's duties required him elsewhere. In the course of that conversation, while they chatted in the common room, he'd caught the eye of his classmate Adean Castor and invited her to join on a whim. He still wasn't entirely certain what possessed him to do it. Excitement for the upcoming journey? A weird sense of confusion that after a concerted effort on his part to get to know his classmates more he knew almost nothing about her? Regardless, Naami's enthusiasm outweighed any sense of uncertainty he had about his mysterious peer. So he'd made polite conversation during their journey and played the careful game of sharing a bit about himself while seeking to learn all he could about her.

​

Finally they'd arrived! The zabrak nodded sternly at Kivah's warning, had taken care to make sure any Kor'ethyr insignia were out of sight and he'd even given himself a silent pep talk during landing. Naami's frame practically buzzed with pent up energy as they stepped out into fresh air and his blue eyes were wide with wonder. It was a rare expression on him and one that served to make him look more his age, a reminder that he was after all still just a kid. Naami followed Kivah and nudged Micah tol Powl with a look that said "can you believe this chit?"

An almost dopey bemusement came over him at the sight of so many colorful, food, folk, and fauna. Despite the awe and excitement, there was tension too. His fists were often clenched and he walked with a long, almost stalking stride, as if expecting to be caught unawares by something and therefore in need to guard against it preemptively. When he found his voice again he asked the group in general.

"Anyone else hungry?" He turned excitedly to Micah first, small smile animating his face, then considered the others even while he looked ready to leap toward the nearest stand.

 

[Adean Castor]

TAG: Kivah | Naamino Zuukamano | Micah tol Powl

Of all the things to agree to, tattoos hadn't been high on Adean's list of expectations.

'Stressed' didn't quite cover the state she'd been in when she received the invitation. Buried under the coursework of now two academies, each with comparable levels of expectations and severity, and the strain of now juggling at least two names in two way too close environments, there wasn't enough caf in the galaxy to make her feel at all ready to tackle such an endeavor. The dual bed she hadn't meant to make, she now had to lie in.

It occured to her briefly that she could just returned to Jutrand and seclude herself in those studies. Or commit to Korriban and pray that her exit from Jutrand went as seemingly unnoticed as her entrance. But the knowledge of Darth Carnifex having clocked and called her deception of Brassius ensured that at least the latter was not an option. The former, however, was still up for debate.

What she hadn't anticipated was being approached that day in the common room. Her lack of presence that waxed and waned between boon and bane was almost comical when it wanted to be. Taken aback by the attention suddenly cast on her, she'd accepted the invitation and had been regretting it since.

The journey itself was simple enough, just as her company seemed well meaning. Well, as well meaning as one could expect from one studying up be a Sith. Adean couldn't help but cast suspicion on every question, answering many with just enough information to get by and nothing more. She was still figuring out who 'Tavis Ordel' was, after all.

She nodded along with their host's instructions, each of which easy to follow. Adean also couldn't help but wonder how easy it'd be to just be left behind on such a world and leave her studies behind her.

The Epicanthix was pulled from that thought by the other acolyte's question. "Food before ink is good for you, I believe," she offered. That's at least what she'd gathered from some holonet searches.