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Post by Kohnyn Skirata on Aug 26, 2015 11:36:18 GMT -8
Kilia IV
The sun was rising over the mountains that formed boundaries between the valley and the badlands beyond. Dane Toril awoke there, in the tent he shared with his squire, and crawled out to stand in the rising light. There was a chill, but the sun reflected from myriad drops of frosty dew and he smiled as he took a deep breath. He reached out with the force and his lance came to him, and he inspected it as he had every morning since he had been a squire inspecting his ranger's own. The rites of inspection were so ingrained as to be instinctual and when he was satisfied he activated his shield gauntlet to check it as well. He felt out with the force, trying to detect anything in the vicinity. He sensed an animal nearby, and focusing on it he was able to know exactly where it foraged in the bushes and he expertly snapped his lance up, sending a thin crimson bolt into the bushes. He felt the animal's life cease, and he gave thanks to it's spirit for feeding him and his before he found it's body and set to dressing it for the fire.
It would be good to have a bit of meat, these mountains were remote, and the barley oats they had for rations grew wearying after a while. He and his squire had been tracking this band of outlaws for over a week, but he knew they were closing in. He set the lagom to cook and began brushing off his bantha, Vardis.
Emma would need to awake soon, or else he'd have words for her.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2015 12:06:56 GMT -8
Emma stirred as she heard Dane leave the tent. She stretched as taunt as she could with a yawn, before going limp and trying to snuggle deeper into the meager offerings of her pack. She was infamous for NOT being a morning person. With the long days they'd been pulling, trying to capture the outlaw crew that escaped towards the badlands, Emma had been struggling with getting enough sleep. It made her a bit cranky, but her ranger could give as much as take. She drew on the Force to refresh her in these moments. Dane never put up with crap, not even from her. He lamented that she should be used to such things after 8 years, but she wasn't. She much rather go after the criminals at night and sleep into the morning, but it simply wasn't practical.
Yawning again, she sat up with her eyes still closed, feeling like a zombie. She blinked her sleep-filled blue eyes as she reached out with the Force to send her lance toward her.When Dane acquired her, Emma was immediately taught how to inspect the lance and gauntlets to ensure good working order. It was a ritual she reflexively observed every morning now. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes with the palms of her small hands before giving her lance a once-over. The gauntlets followed.
Red hair sticking up in different directions, she doggedly crawled out of her and Dane's tent, already smelling the roast meat in the air. Her stomach tightened with hunger.This would be an amazing respite from their rations. For once in a long while, Emma actually smiled after exiting the tent in the morning. Good morning! Her voice was surprising cheerful, given the lack of caf that she sorely missed for such occasions.
She blinked a couple more times and yawned with a stretch yet again before attaching her gauntlets and securing her lance on her person. Emma smiled sleepily at Dane. It will be good to taste meat again.
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Post by Zik Kine on Aug 27, 2015 2:07:56 GMT -8
*Rebelious Whisper dropped out of hyperspace in the Kilia system after completing a series of random jumps in order to avoid being followed. The crew sat in silence as they waited for sensors to tell them anything about the system they had jumped to, but not even a communication signal could be found. A young Echani made his way to the cockpit, passing through the corridors with deliberate steps, full of purpose, stopping just behind the comm. officers chair*
Talk to me, Barcy, are you picking up anything?
Hardly, sir. We checked the charts and all the sensors three times. None of us are even sure how we got here, this system isn't on any astrogation chart that we have access too. Preliminary scans show only one habitable planet in the system. Orders?
Release the comm. buoy and patch into the network. Send them our coordinates and see if they can't find anything out about this system. Also have them dispatch a few scout teams, I want two people on Kuat, Coruscant, Nar Shaddaa, Bonadan, and Tattooine.
Yes sir.
*As the communications crew got to work, establishing a connection, Zik moved towards the pilots seat, putting his left hand on the man's right shoulder and staring out the viewport into space. There was a moment of silence as Zik inhaled deeply, calling on the Force for guidence. The Force filled his body and mind, a gentle pulsing pulling on his mind. Something in the system called to him, pulled at his mind like a youngling trying to garner someones attention with a slight tug of the sleeve. His gaze was pulled the the right, fixing on a planet in the distance, a look of new determination in his eye's.*
Is that the hospitable planet, Cal?
Yeah, but it doesn't look like most of it is that way...
Take us in easy, Cal. Something is tugging me towards the planet. See if we can find any settlements, I am going to prepare to land.
*Cal simply sighed and nodded, knowing there was no talking Zik down when he had that look in his eye's. As the man's hands danced over the controls, and the ship lurched forward, Zik turned and headed back to his quarters to prepare. He pulled this robes on over his tunic and pants, tightening buckles at his waist, over his chest, and on his arms. He sat on the edge of his bed and inspected his blade, every hammer mark and scrape left by a sharpening stone. He set the blade aside and slid his boots and gloves on before standing and slinging his sword over his right shoulder. As he went through his routine, the Rebellious Whisper cut through space and began to descend into Kilia IV's atmosphere.*
::Sir, We are entering the atmosphere, but we are only reading a small portion of the planet that can sustain life. We see what looks like a small settlement and a few farms, but we aren't getting any kind of signal from them. Orders?::
::Set down somewhere away from the settlement and farms. I will go out on foot once we land.::
*Zik moved for the ramp as the ship lowered into the valley, passing close enough to Dane and Emma's campsite to give them a clear idea of where the ship was landing. Unsure of what to expect, Zik slid his mask over his face and pulled his hood up, grabbing up a rifle and his cloak from the makeshift armory. He waited till he felt the ship touch down and settle before lowering the ramp and stepping out into the cool morning air, staying under the shadow of the ship as he tried to get a feel for the planet, breathing in deeply to take in the clean air*
This planet is so clean...unspoiled...We shouldn't stay here longer then we need to... Suppose I should set out to find what the Force was pulling me to...
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Post by Kohnyn Skirata on Aug 27, 2015 9:10:20 GMT -8
They were eating the small lagom when they heard a sound overhead. Dane looked up to see a metallic object descending, as if trying to land nearby.
A ship? Off worlders? Dane swore under his breath. As a ranger, part of his responsibility was to protect the people from offworlders, who never land on Kilia with good intentions. Still, Dane didn't need this now, but the universe loves its tricks. He tossed water onto the fire and his face grew grim.
"Come Emma."
Dane drew his lance from the specially made holster on his thigh and activated his gauntlet. Despite past experience, he hoped this would be friendly. He wasn't eager to fight a crew of offworlders before moving to fight an outlaw band and their renegade leader.
Hell of a day.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2015 9:19:46 GMT -8
Emma sighed. Great. Offworlders. She had only experienced them once, two years ago, but it was enough for her to no longer become excited of the idea of meeting people from the beyond. The Force always had a purpose though. Luck certainly didn't place them right here and right now for nothing. It would seem that capturing the outlaws must wait.
She wordlessly activated her own weapon and gauntlets, taking off after her ranger.
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Post by Zik Kine on Aug 27, 2015 10:43:08 GMT -8
*Zik closed his eye's and drew on the Force once again, the tingling sensation that had drawn him to the planet being felt with more prominence. His head turned as he felt their echos in the Force, coming closer. On a planet with so few people, Force users usually stood out, but now that he was on the planet, he could easily tell what had drawn him.* *This planet isn't on any star chart, who could these people be? Is it possible that an unknown planet has native inhabitants that have figured out how to draw on and use the Force? Were these people forgotten colonists? At this point, any option had at least some merit.* *Zik slid the claws that adorned the fingers of his robotic arm, over his mask, pulling it off and tucking it away into his robes. The hand came up again and pulled his hood back, revealing his slight mess of white hair, pulled back into a small knot. His silver eye's settled in the direction the pair were coming from, the E-11 he held in his left, leaving it pointed towards the ground as a show of good faith.*
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Post by Kohnyn Skirata on Aug 27, 2015 18:04:02 GMT -8
Dane knew these lands, knew them as only a ranger could. He and Emma moved swiftly and silently through the trees in the direction of the ship's trajectory. He knew there to be a large glade ahead, large enough, he supposed, for a skillful pilot to land. As they closed with ninety meters, Dane drew upon the force to leap into a tree, landing lightly and climbing a bit higher to find a good spot to reconnoiter.
He waved to Emma to stay low and he looked out toward the clearing, feeling with the force as well as scanning with his eyes. He could see the ship, and he could make out a white haired man standing. His probe with the force met another reaching, and he could sense this man was gifted as well.
Dane swore again, letting himself fall to the ground and landing on his feet.
"Emma, follow close, but stay far enough behind me to run or support. The man ahead is also gifted."
He trusted she would follow his orders and he advanced on the clearing, his lance propped on his shoulder and his gauntlet thrumming quietly. He emerged from the treeline, Emma four yards behind and he examined the man more closely. He had a weapon pointed at the ground, and he bore a blade as well, and a hand made of metal. Dane strode forward confidently, probing with the force, and primed to act on a hair trigger.
"I am Dane Toril, of the Kilian Rangers. What do you here on Kilia, outlander? We see very few of your kind here, and even fewer with innocent intention."
Dane continued to feel him out with the force, he didn't sense the darkness of a renegade, but perhaps he was hiding with arts unknown to him. He lowered his lance from his shoulder to a low ready, not taking chances.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2015 18:09:59 GMT -8
Emma listened attentively as her ranger quietly gave commands. As always, in times like these, very little needed to be spoken between them. They had been together long enough that it was nearly instinctual by now. He also knew her well enough that she would rather die than run if Dane was in need. She never left him, even if he chided her afterward for the few times he told her to leave him.
She took Dane's lead, but she pointed her lance directly at the offworlder, drawing on the Force as she did. If she needed to attack or defend she would do so in a heartbeat.
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Post by Zik Kine on Aug 27, 2015 19:38:39 GMT -8
*Zik let his pale eye's glide between Dane and Emma, noting the shield gauntlets and old blasters they used. He mused in silence for a moment, not actually expecting humans, let alone that they would speak basic. As Dane spoke, the mans gaze was ripped from his musings to Dan'es general direction.*
Well, to be honest, we had little idea where we were when we landed. Your system is not on any known star chart. We got here by complete accident, making random jumps. But as for what we are doing here specifically? You can feel it about me as much as I can around you and your...apprentice? The Force pulled me here, and now I can see why. You can lower your weapons though, my crew will remain on the ship. I am Zik Kine.
*Zik lifted his robotic hand up, palm facing them as he kneeled to set his rifle down in the dew covered grass, standing back up with both arms up. A small smile had made it's way across his lips as he waited for some indication that they would allow him to move freely. He would not deny Dane his slight probing, though what he would discern from it was not the Light or Darkness, but simply the Force. Zik was a man who held no malicious intent without reason.*
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Post by Kohnyn Skirata on Aug 28, 2015 12:48:31 GMT -8
Dane arched an eyebrow quizzically, but he felt no deception or hostility from the man. He looked human, but not quite, his eyes and hair being white and his skin pale as milk, save for the intricate designs drawn on his left. He lowered his lance but did not holster it, motioning to Emma to do the same.
"Zik Kine? What a strange name. Where are you from, and what is your trade?"
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2015 15:02:29 GMT -8
Emma did not like this. Just because the strange man put down his weapon did not mean they were not still in danger. She probed forth with the Force to conduct her own assessment, also sensing no deception...but she still mistrusted the man. With an irritated sigh, she lowered her weapon...but only just. Blue eyes piercing the offworlder with her gaze, she continued to draw on the Force in case she needed to use it]
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Post by Zik Kine on Aug 30, 2015 21:09:09 GMT -8
Hmm, that's a good question. The complicated answer is I was born on Rishi as a slave, but currently I would say I am from Honoghr. As for my trade...That is not so easily put. I was a Jedi, last, but it has been a while since then, so I suppose you could say I am between trades?
*Zik was maybe not as careful with his answer as he should have been, but given the location, let them speculate, he figured. He shifted his weight a bit as he brought his hands down and folded them over his chest. His pale eye's passed between the two, studying the way Emma held her weapon. The tension was still a bit thick there, but it was hardly a surprise given his landing on the planet. He let his gaze dart back to Dane, examining his curious looks.*
I suppose a bit more information might ease you mind? I am part of a near human race called Echani. My people are easily distinguished for our pale skin, white hair and eye's, and our race's martial prowess, though I am the only one of my kind on board my ship. The rest of the crew members are human.
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Post by Kohnyn Skirata on Aug 31, 2015 17:51:41 GMT -8
Dane felt the tension as well, and decided to try to reduce it a bit. He'd never met an Echani before, and so he approached, holstering his lance but still keeping some distance and keeping the force close at hand.
"You look a warrior, are you?"
Dane eyed the man up some more. He had the build of a lithe slayer, and he bore a straight sword of strange appearance.
"If so, I would ask a boon to prove your good intentions."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2015 18:27:25 GMT -8
Emma's eyes narrowed as Dane holstered his weapon. Despite that, she kept hers at the ready. She had drawn on enough of the Force that she could easily use it to defend or attack as necessary. She easily found Dane's bright Force presence, gently nudging it with her own, sending a concerned sensation to him as he neared the strange man.
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Post by Zik Kine on Sept 1, 2015 14:04:57 GMT -8
*Zik's eyes hardened at Dane's comment, not threatening, but more in confirmation that he was indeed a warrior. He could not help but wonder what it was that Dane had in mind, but if it was trouble for the people who lived on the planet, he found the right offworlder to help. Zik straightened his stance but crossed his arms over his chest, making his sleeves pull up and reveal his wrists, showing even more metal on his right arm, and the start of scars on his left. The hardened look in his eye's shifted to a fierceness akin to silver tongues of fire.*
What would you ask of me?
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Post by Kohnyn Skirata on Sept 2, 2015 7:31:49 GMT -8
Dane watched the change in his body language with interest, it was clear the man was in truth a warrior. Dane smiled somewhat, and spoke.
"My squire and I are tracking a band of outlaws. They've been causing trouble in the valley for some time. There are at least ten of them, perhaps a few more at their main camp. We will have to see them destroyed. Another force blessed warrior will be very welcome in this."
Dane's eyes were earnest. There was no deception in him.
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Post by Zik Kine on Sept 5, 2015 11:12:23 GMT -8
*Zik nodded along as he listened to Dane, his robotic arm sliding into his robes, pulling his mask back out.*
And you want these men destroyed? I trust their crimes are worth such a punishment, for that is a heavy choice your are making, Dane Toril. But you will have my blade for the time being.
*Zik slid the solid mask over his head, the shaped metal did not hold the defining features of flesh and bone, instead having embossed lines and curves that would impart an intimidating effect to see charging at you. He pulled his hood up over that and went to a knee to pick his rifle up from the grass, giving it a shake to rid the blaster of the dew that clung to it.*
Let us be off then, hmm?
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Post by Kohnyn Skirata on Sept 7, 2015 14:49:39 GMT -8
Dane nodded, his duty was to protect the people of the valley, and these men had caused them harm. He didn't revel in it, but he knew what must be done. He watched as Zik put the strange mask on and was curious about it's purpose, but he decided it would be better to discuss it later.
"They have. Killing them gives me no joy, but they have caused harm to many, and my oaths as a ranger bind me to the protection of the people. Follow me then Zik Kine."
Dane looked to Emma and nodded at her to fall in as he shouldered his lance.
"This is Emma Brix, my squire. She's a good lass, but suspicious, it's nothing personal."
Dane began to lead the group through the woods in the direction of the outlaw base, he knew there to be an old mining camp in these parts, where he suspected the outlaws gathered. There were always men who for some reason or another chose the life of rapine and pillage over lives of honest labor.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2015 15:08:28 GMT -8
Emma watched and listened as Dane and the offworlder spoke, still keeping her lance nearly at the ready.That was it? This Zik Kine fellow was just going to up and come with them to find the outlaws? She did not like this. She and her ranger had undergone trials of this nature before without the need for anyone else's help. She sighed. Well, she supposed it couldn't hurt...she just didn't understand why they were trusting this strange man. Although, if he wanted to harm them, it would make more sense to do so while still close to his ship and crew. She offered a curt nod of acknowledgment to Zik, eyes curiously studying him after he placed the mask on his face.
What is the mask for, Zik Kine? she asked bluntly, but not unkindly. She had yet to sheath her lance as Dane had, but follow her ranger into the woods.
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Post by Zik Kine on Sept 7, 2015 18:11:55 GMT -8
As I mentioned to Dane, my people are known for their martial ability. In many ways, you can learn more about someone by fighting them then you can by speaking. With that belief, martial arts both with a weapon, and unarmed, is very expressive. The mask forces people to read what I feel in my movements, not what they see in my face and eye's.
*Zik spoke with a somewhat pleased tone. He understand the girls suspicion,and saw her question as a chance to share what he knew, and about himself as well. His head turned towards Emma, then to her lance, before cutting back to Dane and his own as he followed the pair.*
If you will allow me a question, then? I find your gear very interesting, the lance's and gauntlets specifically. Are they unique to your order?
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