The Desert is no friend

[Darth Ren Malgus]

[SIZE=12pt]The twin suns of Tatooine hung low in the sky Tatoo I and Tatoo II were making the journey to light the other side of the desert world. The rocks and sand took on different colors as the suns set the red, orange, and deep browns streaked the walls of the canyons. [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]The sand bleached white from the sun began to cool, and the dry wind blew.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Serena was waiting something in her intuition told her that she would soon have company. Her gaze looked out over towards the direction of Hubba Heights out in the Jundland Wastes. It was out there that this latest investigation would take her and whoever it was the force was directing to be here too.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]The canyons of the wastes offered many places to investigate for the geologist. She was looking for something imparticular the cave of the an unnamed hermit who lived in a squill cave. Squills were carnivorous, had a leathery hide and there were different varieties. Desert, mountain, festering, noxious and malignant such variety she hoped to see. The hides were priceless and many looked for the dying creatures, or tried killing them on their own.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Still, Serena was ready to go out and try it, why not. Dark spirits on two different planets, one large spider on Dagobah, and let’s not forget surviving the rapture.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]She would however send a message off to Kei to tell him where she was, and what she was doing.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Hello [member="Kei Amadis"][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Here I am on Tatooine searching for a squill cave. Wish you were here. I hope to see you soon, hope you are safe.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]She did miss him but she was guarded he did willingly admit that he was attracted to another woman. Serena did not know what to say or do about that, but she knew this. Whatever was supposed to happen would. It was just a matter of waiting to see.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Anyhow, she looked behind her. So..who was coming? hmm[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]She picked up the comm again.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]By the way Kei, I miss you.[/SIZE]



[SIZE=12pt][member="Cronos Aegir"] and padawan[/SIZE]

 

[Qhorin Solas]

-- Tatooine, Desert Wastes

The air was dry and hot, and death waited in the dunes.

Sand swirled and danced in the air, caressing my face, pooling in the folds if my scarf, carried on heated winds that sailed the rolling sea of sand dunes. A treacherous sea, if there ever was one. The suns were setting, sitting low in the bronzing sky. Shadows grew steadily longer, hugging the rolling dunes. And there, at the base of a leaning dune, at the edge of the great sand sea where grainy bits of silicone gave way to splintered rock, was the Jedi I had come to find.

I angles my Eopie towards her, and eased her down the hill. My padawan rode one as well, and I had brought a third, along with three lesser dewbacks to carry provisions. There was something out there in the Jundland Wastes, something dark... and something light. That's why I'd come. Why the Force had chosen me.

I too, was something dark and something light. However much I meditated, no matter the good I did, the darkness in me persisted, weakened, perhaps, but not dead.

I came upon my fellow Jedi at the bottom of the dune, the Jundland Wastes before us, a tumbling sprawl of jagged rock and canyons like the stone maws if a great desert beast. It was barren, but oddly beautiful, in the way that something scorched clean could be beautiful, if only for that it was unmarred.

"Greetings," I said, pulling my red scarf from around my nose and mouth. "I am Knight Cronos Aegir, and this is my padawan, Morgana." I gestured to her. "You knew I was coming, didn't you? Not me, specifically, but someone..." My eopie gave a sort of grunting, warbling neigh. "Just as I knew you would be here." My pseudo herd came to a halt, the dewbacks anxious now that the suns were falling. The heat would soon turn to cold, and the dewbacks knew, could feel it in their bones. "You feel it too, don't you? The Force, guiding us?"

[member="Morgana Forceborn"] [member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Morgana Forceborn]

Like the others Morgana had been more dressed for the weathers of Tatooine. Instead of her more punk rock attire she instead had the trappings of a native to the desert planet. Tight wrappings around her body and limbs and a ravel of bandages over a hat with goggles to keep the same out of her face. Nimue usually didn't like places like this: though she doubted anyone really did. No exotic beauty to be found in nothing but sand, and barley any real connection with the Force. Just one big hot planet of sand.​

​

Following her Master [member="Cronos Aegir"] they both arrived to meet with [member="Serena Bouie"] . Upon arriving Morgana fixed her glasses so her eyes would be seen before bowing to yet another Jedi knight. Apparently this artifact was enough to warrant both of them along. While Morgana could sense it she felt as though this was more than just a trip by her Master, but possibly another test of sorts. The lesson itself was still unclear but she only looked around, awaiting the chance to speak, while looking around.​

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

[member="Cronos Aegir"] | [member="Morgana Forceborn"]​

​

"Greetings" Serena nodded to each of her fellow Jedi, "I am Jedi Knight Serena Bouie pleasure to meet you both" She smiled at them she couldn't help that part it was ingrained in her. Serena nodded again, "Yes I know someone was coming I was not sure who, and not clear on the why, but yes."

Serena half turned looking out over the waste, "yes something out there and we are meant to find it, or them. It is a fickle thing the force I find, never really gives a definitive answer but always seems to have a direction" She looked back at her new companions, "it will be cold in a few hours, we should make camp and head out in the morning." She lifted her hand and pointed to the waste, "wouldn't want to be out there right now."

"So let's find a spot, get acquainted and prepare for this unknown journey" Serena looked at Morgana interesting and yet her aura showed a great curiosity about her, and something..but Serena would not yet think or focus on it. "i have my mount and supplies just over this way, out of sight. Raiders have been seen about, and I would rather they keep walking.."

 

[Qhorin Solas]

Ah yes, Tusken Raiders. I'd noticed a band of them far out in the Dune Sea, but they hadn't noticed us. They could be problematic in great enough numbers, but I was worried less about them and more about the dune worms I'd sensed tunneling beneath the sand. On a cursory inspection, the desert might have seemed barren and lifeless, but beneath the sands was another matter entirely. Predators and prey both dwelled beneath the salt sea, and some of them lived their entire lives without ever breaching the surface.

I offered Serena the extra eopie then guided my own mount into a canter and followed her to her supplies, my little herd following behind Morgana. In the time we had been together, I'd never known her to hold her tongue. She was oddly silent. Did she sense something? I was not so prideful as to ignore her insights. Padawan or no, Morgana was strong in the Force. "Do you sense something?" I asked her in an aside.

The thick carpet of white sand gave way to jagged rock. The Jundland Wastes were a vast region of cliffs, canyons, and caves. Little more than shrubbery grew in the rocky soil, but all manner of creatures called it's caves home, and Raiders were known to dwell in its canyons, amongst far deadlier things.

Like krayt dragons. Sarlaccs. Wild, feral dewbacks. And there was something else, something dark, hidden from all but the most direct of probes. Something -- someone -- strong in the Force.

I spotted an outcropping of caves that felt empty, formed by crossing sections of cliffs and deep furrows in the earth, as if carved by giant claws. It seemed as good a spot as any, large enough for the banthas to crowd its entrance and keep the cold out. "We should camp there," I said, gesturing. "It seems sufficient enough."

[member="Serena"] [member="Morgana Forceborn"]

 

[Morgana Forceborn]

Hearing the sounds of the Sand People made Morgana looked around again, hoping they weren't too close by. She didn't like the stories she heard about the, nor the idea of having to deal with one on her first real outing with her master [member="Cronos Aegir"] ; and [member="Serena Bouie"] . She was hearing hoping the experience to find Jedi artifacts would be more inspiring. Too bad it was on Tatooie in the middle of the Junland Wastes. Why did people live here again?​

​

When both mentioned about making camp Morgana nodded and said "Yeah. Good. Before we wind up with more sand in our robes." she put her goggles over her eyes and waited to follow, asking "Are we sure those caves are even safe? What if something's hiding in them?"​

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

[member="Morgana Forceborn"] [member="Cronos Aegir"]

Serena looked to where Cronos was pointing, "Caves my favorite actually" and they were except when she could she preferred jumping into them not walking. But it would provide some protection, but it could also offer up opportunity.

A cave could be a walk into the past of any planet Serena looked at Morgana , "I would bet there is something hiding in there course now whether it wants to make us dinner or offer us dinner that remains to be seen" They moved along slowly and soon were at the juncture where Cronos had pointed.

Serena looked up again, the stars now littered the sky a reminder of her wanderlust and of someone else she met on her travels that she found herself wondering how he was and what he was doing. She touched her collar for a moment, "Ok, so..let's see what we can find yes?"

 

[Qhorin Solas]

With the setting of the suns, the temperature dropped sharply. All the more reason to build a fire and make camp. "When in doubt, padawan, use the Force."

I dismounted, leading the eopie into the cave. The gouges in the rock looked as if they could have been made by a Krayt Dragon. I reached deeper into the Force, focusing on sensing life. There were was something there, several somethings, small and scurrying. Bugs?

I was more worried about what was outside the cave. There were still raiders about -- I could feel them. Had they noticed us?

Probably, my mind supplied, even as I set up my sleeping area and started a fire with an old telekinetic trick. The fire would keep us warm, true, but it would also serve as a beacon to anyone and anything watching.

"I'll take first watch," I said, as I tied the banthas and eopies to thin lances of rock that jutted out around the mouth of the cave. The dewbacks joined the banthas at the cave mouth, eager for the banthas' warmth. "But in the meantime...why don't we search the Force together to discern all the reasons for this journey, and the evils that wait ahead."

[member="Serena Bouie"] [member="Morgana Forceborn"]

 

[Morgana Forceborn]

The more she listened to both [member="Cronos Aegir"] and [member="Serena Bouie"] the more Morgana thought they were sounding the same; either that or her master had a thing for this Jedi scientist. Either way she gave a roll of her eyes when they said to just check the gave and not worry so much about what they would find. Of course Morgana followed behind her master while seeing the giant marks made by whatever used to live here. She could feel the smaller lifeforms of the force, bugs, in the cave. It made her shiver in disgust before Cronos had started the fire. She picked a spot close enough to it and the opening of the cave where she would be both warm and be able to hear for anything or be the first out if any bugs started crawling up towards them. It was a decent spot in the corner and after Cronos asked to use the Force Morgana sighed, getting up after trying to relax in order to help with any sensing he had in mind.​

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Serena was moving around albeit silently as she could she worked at making no sound as her boots touched upon the sand, and rocks. "Thanks for taking first shift [member="Cronos Aegir"] " Serena looked at [member="Morgana Forceborn"] she seemed aggitated since her return Serena had been slowly regaining her empathy and as it grew so did her sensitivity to everyone's thoughts, and emotions.

"I never did do well when it came to training my Master and I actually got in to a fight the first day and she told me I was a poor example of a human and that she refused to be my mother, or something like that. Morgana" Serena was walking towards her.

"So where are from, and how long have you been a Jedi?" Serena always tried to find out things about everyone and since Cronos was on guard duty for the moment she would try and speak with Morgana.

 

[Morgana Forceborn]

Morgana had perked when [member="Serena Bouie"] had walked over and spoken about her experience with her master. She huffed before commenting "The first Master to try and train me said I was too dangerous and put me in the library to work for a month." Then when she asked about where she was from Morgana seemed to shy away from the question, saying "Nowhere. I was left with the Jedi when I was a baby. Don't know who or where I came from. So, technically, been a Jedi all my life."​

​

[member="Cronos Aegir"]​

 

[Qhorin Solas]

I reached into the Force and my senses expanded. I was a womp-rat burrowing into the sand. I was a blood ant carrying food to the colony. A desert boar snuggling at the bottom of a pile of brothers and sisters. I was a dune worm swimming through the sand sea, searching for a mate.

I was a Tusken Raider, rifle in hand, planning a night assault on the three bantha herders in the old dragon's cave --

"Serena, Morgana, prepare yourselves." I looked deeper into the raider's thoughts. When were they coming? "We'll be raided in the next three hours." Smart of them, to wait so late. If we were actual bantha herders, they'd expect us to be asleep and rely on the dewbacks for security.

[member="Morgana Forceborn"] [member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

[member="Morgana Forceborn"] | [member="Cronos Aegir"]​

​

Serena listened to Morgana her empathy skill thought she could feel uncertainty in her but it was not clear or perhaps Serena was not quite herself yet, or as strong as she could be she smiled even still, "I envy that you have been among Jedi all your life, there are many that would pay dearly to be to do so" Serena imagined however that having been among Jedi all her life that many placed an expectation on the girl an expectation that could easily become a burden.

Before Serena could speak another word Cronos was giving them warning, Serena was not one to fight without provocation she also was not one to fight unless she had to. "I do not wish to fight them if we can avoid it, perhaps moving into the cave or going out to meet them and creating an illusion through mind trick would be enough to deter them." Serena was not afraid she just believed in preserving life.

 

[Morgana Forceborn]

Given [member="Serena Bouie"] saying she was envious Morgana didn't think so. She was about to say something before [member="Cronos Aegir"] mentioned being raided within three hours. It didn't seem like that much time and yet there was only so little of it. She stood and looked around, seeing if anyone or thing was actually nearby. Instead she heard Knight Bouie suggest going deeper into the cave or creating some sort of illusion that would keep them away.​

​

"Not a bad idea." Morgana suggested. "Cave might make us cornered but at least this is the only way they get in. We could try and fortify it somehow. Otherwise I say go with the illusion thing." She stopped and thought for a moment before suggesting "If it works....can I learn it?" asking Serena.​

 

[Qhorin Solas]

I wasn't one for illusions. It was something I'd never cared to learn. "An illusion might deter them now...but what of the next band of raiders, or the band after that? Raiders are beasts of battle. They understand violence. They respect it." I held up my lightsaber. "And they fear these."

Yet, I could see the merits of a more subtle approach.

I climbed atop one of the banthas that were resting at the mouth of the cave, and looked out to the ridges that slanted up out of the ground in the distance. The shaggy beast beneath me grunted, but remained asleep. I gave his heavy pelt an affectionate pat. Banthas were strong, steady creatures... but they stank. "I would advocate we fight, but... perhaps, for now, we will see how your illusions work."

Morgana expressed interest in learning how to weave illusions. She had my full support, for all that I was somewhat disdainful of the practice.

"They are there," I said, gesturing towards a particular ridge. It seemed more jagged than the others, with a sharper, higher peak, and a cliff side that was dappled by thin, straggly shrubs and a few narrow caves. "There are about a dozen of them hiding at the top of the ridge." I looked to Serena and Morgana. "One of us should remain behind to mind the animals.

"I will stay. May the Force be with you."


[member="Morgana Forceborn"] [member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Serena nodded she was not a fighter she was a scientist to attack a group that so far had not attacked them seemed aggressive in nature. An Illusion would give them time to enter the cave many raiders would not enter a cave they preferred the open that was why they wandered and made camps in the open they wanted to be able to see. Caves offered too many dark corners, if there was no trace of them then the raiders should move past them without incident.

Serena looked at Morgana, "An illusion is nothing more than mind trick. Tricking the mind into believing what it sees or what it is told. We need only identify the leader of the group and trick him into moving on" She looked at Cronos even the great Obi Wan used mind trick.

Serena looked to the ridge, "Morgana are you ready?"

[member="Cronos Aegir"] | [member="Morgana Forceborn"]​

 

[Morgana Forceborn]

As she thought, given how often she'd sparred with him, [member="Cronos Aegir"] was more for fighting things out man-to-sand person. He was always ever the fighter, and that was why Morgana was lucky to have him as a lightsaber teaching. At least he did concede and allow both her and [member="Serena Bouie"] to try and use a mind trick on them. And for Morgana's benefit this would be her first attempt as a full mind trick on someone. She hoped, she PRAYED, it would work. She only nodded to her master before following Serena out of the cave towards where she pointed at the ridge.​

​

When asked Morgana sighed before answering with "As I'll ever be." before waiting to follow Serena's guide.​

 

[Qhorin Solas]

"A suggestion," I called out before they left. "Sand People are terrified of Krayt Dragons, as they well should be. A mating call would send them scampering. Or rather, the illusion of a mating call." Illusions were a step beyond the mind trick -- it was like the difference between mind barrier and Force immunity. The latter was born of the former, true, but they weren't quite the same; one required greater skill and focus.

[member="Morgana Forceborn"] [member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Serena felt certain she could instruct Morgana on mind trick it was a basic skill and then she could use illusion to reinforce the mind trick to send the raiders off, they were nearing the sand storm season and the clans would be headed to the Needles for protection. The only reason a raider would enter a cave would be if there was spiritual connection, or if it were where they were burying their dead, and as long as there was not a water source inside claimed by a clan they should still be ok.

Serena nodded to Morgana and off the pair went silently towards the point where they could see the raiders preparing to come down, Serena using life sense searched to see if anyone was closer.

She whispered to Morgana, "we must identify the leader" Serena looked for one that appeared more aggressive, that the others seemed to look at and react to. She tilted her head and listened to the different pitches of the sounds made.

[member="Cronos Aegir"] [member="Morgana Forceborn"]

 

[Morgana Forceborn]

Following Morgana kept low and close to [member="Serena Bouie"] as they came to the spot and overlooked the Tusken Raiders. She popped her head up and scanned the group before hearing Serena mention needing to locate the leader. It only took a few minutes for her to point out "That one." the larger of the raiders with more decorative jewelry and larger guns. "They always follow the biggest." she commented, knowing this from a documentary she'd seen about Sand People activity once; something from when she'd spent more time indoors and less actually training in her youth. "Now what?"​

​

[member="Cronos Aegir"]​