Witchcraft and Wizardry... sorta.

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Mara Sedaya"]

Dathomir

Evening


Solan was there for really no reason, having gotten bored and traveled to the sector to see what he could find. He was mindful of avoiding anywhere where he might be caught up in trouble. He was well aware of how the world of Dathomir worked when it came to their civilization so he decided to remain on the outskirts of things, hoping that it would allow him to look over the world without running into too much trouble. Of course, he could already tell that would not happen.

He sensed something or someone. They were not too far away, nor were they overly worrying.

All he could look for was hostility and danger, but neither popped up in his mind so he continued to walk on with curiosity overtaking him. He wanted to know for certain what it was that he was sensing, who he was sensing and he had figured that it wouldn't be too hard to find out.

So with his body wrapped in cloths and in the form of a desert wander with only sapphire eyes visible, he walked along the vastness of the planet. The wraps were tan in color, stretching from head to tow and obscuring any weapons or items he would have on him from sight, but not from one's senses. The Crystal he carried, contained in an inner breast pocket of his clothing under the wraps, was more than noticeable to any force user. It was like a beacon and made hiding virtually impossible anyways.

He did have one more feature visible, just above his eyes. a few strands of dark brown hair poking out from the wraps as he walked and looked around for the presence he had found out away from the others. Something that would be almost impossible to notice at first but would be there none the less.

 

[NightSister]

Mara was no stranger to her home planet of Dathomir - then again, she was also no stranger to getting lost on it. She'd gone out wandering, found her way into a cave, and resurfaced three hours later in the middle of a barren desert which if she was to guess, was bordering the settlement that she occupied.

And now the sun was sinking. Perfect. Sundown was when all the deadliest creatures came out to play, so she would have to stay in the cave until the sun came up or a lone explorer wandered into the same network of caves that she'd encountered. The next day she would have to return to map out the system - one could never know when such knowledge could come in handy, and more importantly the underground structures would not get the better of her twice. Until then...sighing, Mara wrapped her cloak around herself more tightly and kept a hand on her lightsaber as she took another look around the cave for potential threats.

That was when she sensed somebody approaching - whether they were directly seeking her Force-signature out or simply heading in the direction was hard to tell, but whatever their motives Mara wasn't keen to camp out in a desert cave if she could avoid it. Carefully, she but her saber back in its hilt and climbed to the opening.

"You wouldn't happen to know the way back to town?" She asked, addressing the seemingly male figure wrapped beneath layers of thick fabric. She doubted the answer was yes - something gave her the feeling that he wasn't Dathomiri - but it was worth a try. "Um. Please."

[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

On the list of things he had expected to find, a dathomiri woman was not one of them in the least. He had honestly almost been too surprised until her presence flared to life, even with him not searching for it. [member="Mara Sedaya"] was the woman in question and he blinked as he looked over to her with a bit of surprise, especially considering she was asking for his help back to town. Now he knew a good deal about how the Dathomiri worked but even then this one seemed sincere in her needing help.

So when she asked for help he reached up and peeled away the wraps around his head. Doing so until they collected around his neck and under his chin, leaving everything above that in clear view of the young woman. With a bow of his head to her he finally spoke an answer.

"I don't know the direction exactly, but i am sure i can help in some way where one mind would not be as able to. If you would not mind my help?"

He asked her even though she had asked first. This was mostly because he wanted to be sure that she would be ok with the help of an offworlder and even then one who was not of the same Gender. He was unsure if the Dathomiri still had such and extreme separation of their peoples, and he wanted to make sure that she would not regret her choice of asking for help.

He had a feeling that she wouldn't. Something about the situation told him that this was not a normal old lost woman. Why that was touching his mind was something that he would need to think about while he walked with this woman if she accepted.

 

[NightSister]

Narrowing her eyes as she analysed the man before her, Mara shook her head in an indication that she didn't mind.

"Just need to get home," she said, a hint of frustration in her voice. "Big planet, easy to get lost, you know." As she spoke, she turned her head, scanning the landscape.
In a moment she spotted some lights a way off. "That could be something, over there." Pointing in the general direction, Mara glanced behind her to see if the man would follow before setting off.

"What are you doing here, anyway?" There was an unintentionally accusatory note in her tone, but nothing about her expression or body language showed hostility. "On Dathomir, in the desert. Not like there's that much to see besides the rancors."
She was still tense with caution, but something about the stranger walking alongside her had piqued her curiosity enough to get her talking to him. There was nothing unusual about finding explorers wandering the countryside, but never at night and never like him. Sheer curiosity forced Mara's introverted instincts away for the moment.

[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Mara Sedaya"]

He walked with her in silence at first offering no directions or objections to the direction she had chosen, even if it was away from where he had landed his ship. It was rather amusing to watch the girl as she tried to find her way back in the lowering light of the desert, one in which lights could be spotted finally but were still a great distance away from them. He honestly would have stayed so for a while but her question had drawn his focus.

"Well besides random dathomiri women who are rather pretty, really can't say i was expecting much to find. Maybe i just enjoyed seeing stars from the surfaces of planets. You never can get quite the same view no matter which planet you are on, so ive made it a habit of mine to see the night sky from each and every planet i visit at least once. There is only so much beauty in the galaxy, so one must take the time to experience it all as best as he or she can."

He never looked at her as he gave her that answer, allowing her to think about what he said and even respond if she wanted to without worry of him glancing at her expression when she posed her next question. There was one feature he betrayed though and that was a hint of joy as he cast his eyes a bit more upwards with a smile, as if waiting for something to appear.

 

[NightSister]

Mara pursed her lips at the compliment, but decided to humour him. "The night sky is nice, I grant you, but it's really the only nice thing about the night here. You're lucky you didn't run into something less nice than me."
She kept her head facing forward, but allowed for a small smile as she slowed her pace to close the distance somewhat between them. Only somewhat.

"So you came, what, exclusively for the view? To explore? For work? There's never any good work around here, but I guess there is some work." Her tone was light, conversation even, and even though she was enjoying herself Mara remained slightly suspicious - view or no view, she still had a funny feeling and when logic offered little help, Mara usually went with her instinct.

[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Mara Sedaya"]

"Actually, it's honestly not complicated. My reason for being here that is. I was nearby in the crusader's space and decided that I needed to experience what the sky looked like from an influential place like Dathomir. I know it's a bit odd to hear and doesn't make much sense but... If I didn't make an effort to experience the greater galaxy and enjoy all the life and beauty around me, things would be much darker. Trust me, every planet holds a different experience, even if the change is small. Some hold fewer stars, some hold vibrant displays and some are simply awe-inspiring." HE smiled as he talked, relaxed in both tone and the way he walked.

He had decided that Mara would be of no danger to him, but not because she was weaker. No the woman was inquisitive and curious, humble in her truth of being lost and while he was not interested in getting caught up by one of the Dathomiri here, he was ok with walking with the woman. As they drew closer though, he would reach up to resecure the wraps around his head. There was still a distance to go, and he forewent the covering of his lower face for now, but he still covered most of his head and hair.

"I hope you don't mind my wraps. I have heard stories of your people and i'd rather not be caught up in anything if i can avoid it."

 

[NightSister]

"No, go ahead. I know, we're an odd bunch." Mara grinned as Solan affirmed the fabric obscuring his face. She was listening to his words with keen interest, and though others would perhaps not take well to not being able to see who they were speaking to, to Mara it made hardly any difference at all as long as the conversation was interesting enough.

A few more moments, and they were nearing a small town. "I can go ahead if you don't want to get involved," she offered, approaching a young woman who was apparently going to her house. She exchanged words with the woman for a minute or so, before turning back to face Solan with a victorious expression.

"My house is about fifteen minutes in that direction," she said, pointing ahead. "I don't know where you're staying, but if you need a place to rest, have a drink, whatever, then by all means come along." Assuming he said yes, she would set off, still interested to hear what he had to say.

[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Mara Sedaya"]

He smiled and nodded to her as she said to go ahead, resecuring it so that once more only his eyes were visible behind the wraps. He continued to walk with her as the tme passed and then her second sentence came, to which he thought on for a few moments before speaking.

"I am fine with coming along." Even after she spoke at how long it would take to reach the home, he didn't change his mind. The woman had interested him too and her offer of a place to rest wasn't too bad. Fifteen minutes was barely even a walk too, so he nodded. "It would be my pleasure. Though i must ask miss, what were you doing away from your home like that. You don't seem the kind to have devious intents and you seem bright enough to keep track of your actions. It surprises me that you were so far from your home."

He remained suppressing his signature in the force, turning his eyes on anyone that gave him a look before leaving the person. Dathomiri was a strange place to him, one he wasn't quite used to yet. Perhaps that was why the woman who he walked with was so curious to him, she was like her planet in that she was strange to him. Though not in the way that one would avoid a person, no she was strange in that way that you want to know more about this person. It was like meeting a completely different culture, which in truth he was but she was an exception even then.

 

[NightSister]

Following along contentedly, Mara flushed at the question - not because she had anything to hide, but because getting lost was highly embarrassing for somebody who held themselves to the set of standards that she did, and she'd never been the sort who could easily laugh off a bruised ago. All the same, it was a reasonable question and he had answered all of her questions thus far - as far as she was aware, that meant she was somewhat compelled to reply.

"I usually am," she replied after a moment's pause to formulate her response, "bright enough, I mean. I went exploring - did you know there's this cave system underneath the desert that's so big it can take hours to find an exit?" She made a noise somewhere in between a laugh and a sigh. "Because I do!"

There was a moment of quiet as they kept walking, then she spoke again with a faintly sarcastic smile.

"No devious intents. Not tonight, anyway. Sorry to disappoint."

[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Mara Sedaya"]

He laughed a bit, looking at the woman as she mentioned devious intents and for a moment his brow had risen. The comment was funny enough but considering the normal dathomiri native he came across... well actually there was just Isley Verd, and boy is he a standard to compare witches too.

Anyways, his mind focused back on her, thinking about it and running his eyes back to the far-off home. Finally, he spoke after those few moments of quiet thoughts.

"You know, and here I thought you were off sacrificing rancor babies or something. Good to know it was just a cave exploration gone wrong. Much less devious indeed." His smile could be barely seen in the way his eyes changed shape a bit, his cheek rising a tad more.

"Jokes aside though, do most of your people go out to explore the caves, or are you unique in that regard? I am rather surprised by the... lack of witches around this area that i can sense."

 

[NightSister]

"Nope, no rancor sacrifices tonight. Tomorrow, on the other hand..." Mara chuckled, pleased at her own joke, but quickly returned to her solemn and curious demeanour.

"As for how unusual that is...ah, I really don't know. You come across the odd explorer now and then, but I think most people find more productive ways to occupy their time." Then she paused as something in her brain registered at his last sentence.

"So you can sense witches." Not a question but a statement; she was repeating what he had said just a moment ago. "Making you a Force-user." She was surprised that she hadn't realised; that being said, she had heard of people suppressing their Force-signature either to conceal their alignment or their sensitivity.

"You didn't have to hide it," she said, eyebrows raising in mild surprise. "I don't bite. Well, apart from the rancor babies."

[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Mara Sedaya"]

He listened as he noticed her curiosity spike again and his laugh couldn't be held back as she added in the part about the Rancor babies. The short laugh was genuine and he blinked before simply smiling and looking over his shoulder at the direction they came from.

"Well, yes actually I am. Im no great master like you hear about in stories, rather weak in most regards to tell you the truth so i must apologize if i can't show you anything truly impressive. But i can assure you i am a force-user... and i assume that you are connected to the witches in some way, considering that you know the name of the Force?" He smiled at her.

It was rare for a being to know about the name of the force. Most called it space magic but he also forgot how many of those on Dathomir were sensitive or revered the force. It barely even crossed his mind that a Dathomiri might know about the force without being sensitive to it, something that he should have realized after being on Kesh and so many knowing about the force there. Either way he would make up for his mistake in hindsight and with them far enough away he pulled down the wraps enough for his face to be revealed at the very least.

 

[NightSister]

So Mara had guessed right. That was fortunate - it would have gotten rather awkward if she'd gotten it wrong, though that was mostly because Mara intensely disliked being wrong. And then it was his turn to guess correctly.

"The witches! Oh, I hope to be one someday. I've trained as a witch - well, sort of. I've studied...by myself, mostly, but - I've trained. A little. Less impressive than whatever you can do, I can promise." Flushing slightly at her admission of inexeperience, Mara blew a strand of hair out of her face, hard pressed for something to say.

"Sorry, did I ever ask your name?...I'm Mara. Um, hi."

She still spoke with some caution, though more out of her typical social discomfort than suspicion, as she was genuinely interested to learn more about him. It wasn't every day that you ran into a foreign Force-user while trying to find your way back home.

[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Mara Sedaya"]

He laughed a bit, her excitement rather infectious and his hand crossed behind him as he thought about it. Wanting to become one of the witches which were found on the planet? He had to admit it was something he had been curious about from an academic standpoint, but after knowing Isley, he had decided against such. Their culture and the way they drew on the force was strange to him and while she walked and talked he listened to her. Finally, though she had given him a name and he looked at her before bowing his head to her.

"Well then, Dathomiri Witch Mara. It is my pleasure to meet you. And you have no reason to be embarrassed, my abilities are nothing special or overtly threatening to most people. Most would consider them rather lacking to tell you the truth." He had caught her emotions in his empathy, the subconscious connection to those around him striking once more to inform him of the thoughts and feelings of the woman beside him.

He was curious about her, though, as she had mentioned her own self-studies. "If you don't mind my curiosity, though, would you show me what you were able to learn about so far. You have my curiosity sparked and i am interested in your progress."

 

[NightSister]

"Oh...um, okay, but it's nothing impressive," Mara said quickly, running through the pitifully short list in her head. "Things like mind tricks and fear I'm alright at, and jumps and chokes et cetera. I'm good with animals, and I've done healing once or twice before though I never exactly got the hang of it. And basic telekinesis, I guess." To demonstrate, Mara summoned her saber from the pocket in her cloak and levitated it a few feet in front of her head. The deactivated hilt floated contentedly for a few second before Mara lowered it back into the pocket, though she had some difficulty with stashing the hilt in the last second.

"So, I take it you aren't a wizard," Mara continued, giving up and grabbing the saber before stuffing it back in her pocket. "Not the Dathomiri kind, at least." She was still having trouble interpreting his Force-signature, although whether that was deliberate on his part she wasn't sure. "Jedi, then? Sith?"

[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Mara Sedaya"]

He watched her do so with full attention, showing her the respect of watching while she demonstrated and when she asked him her question, he turned his eyes on her and shook his head. He was not a witch... or wizard... what ever it was the term for Dathomiri men were. And he was by no means a Jedi or Sith, explaining it would be a bit har but he tried as his hand came up to scratch to rub at the bridge of his nose.

"Well, thats a bit hard to explain to tell you the truth. Im not exactly part of a group like most people. Even those who consider themselves Rogues are generally a part of one group or another... Best answer I can give you is that I am Solan, nothing more, nothing less. A man with the Force and trained in it." He avoided naming a group because like he said he was not easily categorized. He used the darkside, but was by no means a dark jedi or sith, and he was no Warden of the sky or Jensaari.

As far as he had been concerned all his life, he was just himself. He had the force, and he used it to do what was right. He fell into no archetype like most and that was fine with him because it made him feel more human rather than a categorized number. "And seeing as the answer is a bit obvious, you are one of the Dathomiri Witches on the planet... did someone teach you those little tricks? I know you said you studied by yourself but someone must have taught you something to progress from."

 

[NightSister]

Mara nodded with interest as Solan explained his alignment. She herself, as a witch, liked to tread freely between Light and Dark, feeling no particular allegiance to one or the other. It had always mattered less to her how one used the Force than what they used it for, but that being said she didn't like to explore the Darkness in too much depth for fear of losing herself to it.

Snapped out of her reverie by another question, Mara thought back to her training.
"Well, I've studied with some of the witch clans here on Dathomir, that's how I learned the fancier things, but that's only been for the past year. Before that...there was this woman my parents used to leave me with sometimes when they were away for work." She didn't add that this was almost always.
"She found me reading some book about the witches one day - turns out she was one. When she realised I could use the Force she showed me a few tricks, and I've just built on that since then. She moved away though, when I was eight. No idea where she is, else I'd be able to do a lot more."

[member="Solan Charr"]