Before the Old Gods

[Diocletian Solus]

Location: Kashyyyk

Participants: @Critas @Mithias @Plebometer

Dice: HERE

Prompt: "Before the Old Gods" — The Tree of Life is scared to the Wookiees and to Life Day. But, in their desperation, a small force of Trandoshan slavers and mercenaries are threatening to burn the tree down, along with the surrounding forest. Ensure that their plans fail and that they never seek to deface another sacred place on Kashyyyk.

Diocletian walked along the forest path heading towards the Tree of Life. He was remembering earlier that year when he had spent several days on this planet, helping the Wookiee people fight against their Trandoshan slaver enemies. He had performed a variety of missions then, everything from escorting pilgrims to this very same tree to attacks on slaver bases to free captives. He had hoped that he would not have to return here for that purpose again.

Then the Mandalorians had built a base on Kashyyyk with the permission of the Wookiee elders. Dio had been visiting the base to resupply his ship when the call for help had gone out. The Wookiee’s had heard through their various intelligence networks that there was an attack imminent against the Tree of Life. A large group of Trandoshans were looking for payback for their losses during the recent Life Day celebration. They felt that attacking the Tree of Life was a good way to get back at the Wookiees for their dead friends.

Dio was not a fan of that plan. He liked the Wookiees, not too much, but enough that he preferred them over Trandoshans. Dio had answered their call for assistance almost immediately. He knew that there would be others on the way as well as he had heard his business partner was close by. There was no doubt in his mind that Vu’thari would heed the call for assistance and head straight for Kashyyyk.

 

[Eisa Swan]

Stepping through the undergrowth the slight framed figure gazed about her surroundings, a tentative look present over her features as her mind started to wonder. Stretching a hand out the young Padawan felt the damp bark shrouded roots of a near by tree, reaching out through the Force she could feel the life energies of the Force flow through it. A light smile curled on the teens lips as she continued along the path, noting in her moment of distraction she had fallen behind a little and quickened her pace to catch up with the Twi'lek Jedi master that he was assigned to for this mission.

The cyan haired female caught back up, falling into pace a several steps and off to the rear right-side of the man infront of her. As she fell onto rank so to speak the teens mind started to wonder into possible irony of it all. It was on Kashyyyk during the life day celebrations that the young girl had started to walk the path of a Jedi. And so it would also be here that her first mission as a Jedi would take place, back where it all began at the feet of the Life Tree and the point of her Force Awakening.

Clad in the simplistic mixture of her allotted Jedi robes and parts of her rebel fatigues. The young girl looked somewhat out of place in her miss matched attire, it wasn't helped by the additional fact that alot of the clothing she now possessed, were standard issue, either from the Galactic Alliance’s or the Jedi's stores. Something that didn't often work with the young Padawans slight and petite build. Though that being said she was working on having some robes made up that were bespoke and cut to fit the teens slight frame.

As the pair started to round off on their approach to the tree, the young Padawan reached over towards the holster that sat to the side of her hip, a light few fingers pressing against the metallic body of her holsterd weapon, reaching out with the Force Eisa briefly opened herself out to her kyber crystal that resided within the metallic body of her primary side arm. Taking a deep breath the teen centered herself and started to focus and channel the Force through her mind and body, knowing that they would soon be arriving at their rendezvous point. The teen prepared herself, as she waited for the direction and guidance of the Jedi Master.

 

[Vuthari]

Outskirts of the Tree of Life
Kashyyyk

Commander Greybok had his sights set on Kashyyyk, specifically wanting to help his people. Vu’thari understood the sentiment. His own efforts were going into Ryloth, hoping to put the Galactic Alliance in a spot where they could help the twi’lek homeworld and in return, them help the Alliance. As such, many different operations were underway. Many of them jointly with the Mandalorians due to their base they established on the wookie homeworld.

Vu’thari met Eisa at the small spaceport and they made their way to the Life Tree together. The twi’lek did not know the Padawan very well, but Leah had spoken highly of the young human. As they walked, it was a bit of small talk, mainly talking about anything but “business”. It went from ships, to sublight drives, to droids, to blasters, and even delved into a bit of slicing. As they approached, Vu’thari revealed, “The Mandalorian we are meeting, Dio, I have known him for many years. He is one of the most honorable among them…”

A few minutes later, the pair came up the next rise among the towering trees and interspersed brush. In his red beskar’gam, the Mandalorian was watching them as they approached. Vu’thari gave Dio a big smile and clasped forearms heartily with the warrior, "Burc’ya, su cuy’gar!"

Releasing his arm, he smirked and switched back to basic, “How do you not chafe in this heat? Forgive me, this is Eisa…Eisa, Dio.”

Allowing them introductions, he inquired of the Mandalorian, “What have you found out?”

@Critas
@Plebometer
OOC/Dice Thread

 

[Diocletian Solus]

Diocletian returned the handshake just as heartily and nodded his helmet towards his business partner’s greeting. “Yes I am alive, contrary to popular belief.” He nodded towards the blue haired woman as she was introduced to him. “Nice to meet you miss.” he added at the end in way of greeting. He looked the woman up and down, measuring her and deciding that she most likely would be placed in the category he reserved for Vu’thari. That being not a front-line fighter but hopefully useful. He and Vu’thari would have words if he had brought along dead weight.

Dio was dressed in his usual heavy besksr’gam, painted in the livery of Clan Solus, proudly bearing Jaig Eyes on his helmet and the rank insignia of a Field Marshall on his shoulder piece. He wore Mandalorian vambraces and a bandoleer went across his torso from right shoulder to left hip. A Strill blaster pistol rode in a thigh holster on his right leg and a Shriek-Hawk blaster rifle hung from a two-point harness across his chest. Across his back was the easily identifiable Bowcaster favored by many Wookiees. This also marked him as someone trusted by the race to be gifted with one of their weapons. The well-worn hilt of a vibro knife jutted above one greave on his left leg. He was a walking arsenal, every inch of his body having one focus, battle.

In answer to Vu’thari’s question about details, he shrugged slightly and passed on the little he knew. “We received word that there was to be an attack on the World Tree. We do not know direction, size of the enemy or its disposition at this time. I have Alpha and Omega squads on stand by in a nearby base in case this gets out of hand. They can be here in minutes. Have you heard anything else?”

Dio spoke with Vu’thari but was scanning the area around them. They were not quite to the Tree yet, but this would be a good place to ambush any reinforcements that might be coming to its aid. Dio did not like how exposed they were at this point and started walking towards the Tree as they talked. It was harder to ambush a moving target and Dio was all about not getting ambushed.

@Plebometer
@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

Outskirts of the Tree of Life
Kashyyyk

As they walked, he listened to Dio and silently began assessing how they approached this. Dio asked if they had heard anything else. Vu’thari answered, “I was just hear a few weeks ago and spoke to those wookies I met during that trip. I asked them about approaches to the Life Tree and they mentioned two trails to me that trandoshans would probably take.”

Thinking in this further, he added, “I have a thought. Two of us go and scout out the trails that they would take. The one of us remaining, stays at the Life Tree in case my contact is wrong—and neither of those routes are used.”

Pause.

“We keep the comlink lines open and reinforce whatever route they take. That is the best plan I have with the little amount of information we were given…thoughts?”

@Critas
@Plebometer
OOC/Dice Thread

 

[Eisa Swan]

A light smile crossed the teen's features as the Jedi master took the reigns of the greetings and introductions of the Mandalorian and the young padawan. "Su'cuy" Eisa offered in greeting with a respectful nod of her head towards the mandalorian, before her bright emerald hued eyes flitted between the two older men as they discussed the recent information they possessed and determined what would be the prudent course of action. The teen's brow furrowing as she processed the information that was being spouted back and forth, the Trandoshans were looking to attack the great Life Tree at the heart of the Forest, potentially along one of the two main trails that lead towards the Life Tree.

Pursing her lips in thought the teen mulled over the proposal voiced by the Twi'leki Master, two go on ahead and scout the paths whilst one remains by the tree and keeps watch. It seemed like a good plan, not that much different to some of the tactics deployed by the Star Squadron. Reaching down towards her secondary side arm the teen retrieved her blaster and made sure it was primed and fresh charge pack was in place, despite carrying her lightsaber the teen didn't want to risk exposing herself as a Jedi just yet. The recent galaxy wide declaration from the new Sith Emperor and the recent Tribunal held within the Galactic alliance had brought about warnings over further exposure of the Jedi order. Although the cat was out of the proverbial bag, her master, Leah Reach had cautioned her padawans about still trying to keep a low profile, unless it was completely necessary.

Although it seemed that Mater Vu'thari knew and possibly trusted the Mandalorian, the young teen was unsure if he had shared the true nature of his position within the Galactic Alliance with the warrior as of yet. Eisa knew better to risk exposing either of them as being Jedi, by inadvertently putting her foot in it, for now she would allow the Jedi master to set the tone and follow his lead.

"I can stay by the tree if you want?" Eisa offered breaking the silence that had fallen over the group as she looked up towards the towering tree up ahead of them. "I should be able to climb up to get to a vantage point and keep an eye out, and keep you both posted on any signs of movement" she added as she guestured towards a large branch that stemmed out towards the lower canopy that sat above the undergrowth.

 

[Diocletian Solus]

Diocletian had a little idea of what he got in terms of combat ability in the form of Vu’thari. He had fought beside the twi’lek in the past and the alien had shown promise. He was no Mandalorian, but he had not shot his own toes off either. Now this young girl was a completely unknown quantity, so it was no problem to Dio when she offered to remain behind at the Tree while the other two checked the trails heading away from the tree. Dio did not expect the attack to come from one of the main trails to be honest but they still had to check them to be sure. Besides, Trandoshans were not known for their subtlety.

Dio nodded as Vu’thari outlined the bones of a plan and then verbally agreed to it. “Alright, Ill take the North West path, Vu’thari you take the South East path. Do not engage, if you see something call it out and the other two will come running. Do not be a hero.” He pointed at Vu’thari as he said this last bit, not wanting to be misunderstood in any way. Call it pride or hubris but Dio always felt responsible for the people he fought with, especially if he considered himself to be the best warrior in the room so to speak.

With that said he turned to the girl who had spoken to him in his native language. “You talk the talk young lady, lets hope you walk the walk. Watch our six from here, if you see something let us know but do go charging off. Wait for the other two back you up and move as one.” Not really waiting for any sort of answer, he turned and headed towards the trail he had indicated he would be looking into. He stepped into the woods at the side of the trail and disappeared from view. He had grown up in forests like this back on Mandalor and knew how to move in them like he was crossing his own bedroom floor. He started to make his way down through the forest, mirroring the trail. He had not seen anything so far and hoped that their intel had been wrong.

@Mithias
@Plebometer

 

[Vuthari]

Trail of the Tree of Life
Kashyyyk

Vu’thari settled in at the top of a ridge overlooking the spanning forest of trees. It was peaceful and once again the Jedi Master felt the Force flow uninhibited through him when in the wilderness of Kashyyyk. Nostalgia crept into the twi’lek’s thoughts as he thought about his two padawans, Kae’Leigh and Ayasha at the Life Tree. He knew they were bound together and could not explain it then, but he understood now. There were strands of the Force strong with his padawans. They were all very much like family…

His thoughts turned to Eisa. He wondered what her journey had been like so far, as a padawan. He made a mental note to speak with her about it. Leaning up against the tree, he opened his senses to the Force so that he could better get a feel for the area he was responsible for.

This was the first time that Dio and Vu’thari had really even been beside each other since he told his Mandalorian companions that he was a Jedi. It had been…awkward. But they opted not to shoot him, so Vu’thari considered it a win. Suddenly, his comlink came to life with Dio’s voice…

“Contact, multiple bad guys my location. Move to support.”

Quickly, the twi'lek responded, "On my way..."

Tearing himself from the large tree, the Jedi soaked in the Force, feeling it lighten his legs. The Jedi Master tore through the forest at an increased rate of speed, trees and brush whizzing by him as he rapidly crossed the forest terrain. Moments later, he sensed Dio ahead…

@Critas
@Plebometer
OOC/Dice Thread

 

[Eisa Swan]

Well it seemed that no sooner had she finished scrambling up to her vantage point, that a call for assistance came ringing over the comms channel. The teen recognising thr voice to be that of the mandalorian warrior, the message was soon met with that of Master Vu'tharis voice as he acknowledged and advised he was moving to support.

Pressing against the stud of her ear piece, the teen acknowledged the series of messages herself. "Enroute" Eisa spoke out initially before pausing and looking around her "Will be coming in from above" she added, whilst she started to channel the force through her. Taking a deep breath she summoned her strength momentarily before springing into action, leaping off from the branch she was standing on over towards the nearest branch.

Swiftly the teen continued to channel the Force through her, as she darted from branch to branch. Making her way though the higher treeline towards the mandalorian, using the Force presence of the Jedi Master to guide her on the right direction. As she sped towards the mandalorians position, the teen reached down and retrieved her blaster pistol and saber pistol from their respective holsters, priming and disengaging the safeties of her weapons so that she could react as soon as she caught up with the others.

The sound of blaster fire signalling that she was immediately close by, taking a few deep breaths the young teen readied herself and reached her mind out into the Force. Allowing the cosmic energies to guide her hand so that she could assist the others as best as she can. As soon as her emerald hued eyes set upon the Trandoshian hunters the teen fired off several blaster rounds from her R5 Pistol, before dropping down out from her vantage point from above. Her lightsaber sparking into life with a snap hiss as she breached the lower canopy above.

as soon as she had touched upon the ground, rhe cyan haired teen maneuvered her lightsaber blade about to form a defencive barrier around her, deflecting the Incoming blaster rounds with the arc of peridot green light as the teen continued to move on her feet, being sure to become a moving target rather than a stationary one.

As the teen moved about in a swift and fluidic series of motions her blaster pistol continued to open fire as it was directed in a series of varying directions. The combination of using rhe lightsaber to repel incoming blaster fire and projecting her own blaster fire towards the hunters seemed to be allowing the teen to hold her own. Whilst she was able to deflect many if the incoming shots, the teen was still relatively inexperienced as several shots had managed to pass without being intercepted. Leaving her open for a few stay rounds that had caught the teen off-guard and forcing her to loose her footing alittle throwing her off balance for a few moments. Yet despite her setback and near stumble, Eisa had managed to incapacitate eight of the Trandoshian hunters though her own and the rebounded blaster shots, leaving by her count seven of the raiders left.

 

[Diocletian Solus]

DICE​

Diocletian was in cover, watching the approach of the large group of armed Trandoshans. They were moving like experienced hunters and their arms showed that they meant business. The hunting party had a good mixture of weapons and armor, even some explosives that Dio could only assume were for the Tree of Life. He set his mouth in a firm frown at the thought of the explosives being used for that particular task. He was not tree-hugger, but he had developed the odd Wookiee friend in their time on the planet and he did not like the idea of ruining their sacred site.

Rising from cover, he tossed a fragmentation grenade at the forward elements of the party. He wanted them to stay right here and by stopping their progression, he would do just that. The grenade exploded and sent the Trandoshans scrambling for cover. He even managed to catch one of them in the blast, noting it as the lizard’s friends left it lying on the trail. One of the mainstays of any military are the non-comms that do the actual leading. The officers might do the planning, but the non-comms actually got things done. Dio watched the reaction of the hunting party and immediately could see that one of the larger ones was standing on the trail shouting orders to the others. Well hello mister I am in charge.

Dio raised his bowcaster and promptly shot the large Trandoshan in the face at maximum range. He had been practicing with the bowcaster and the tips he had picked up from the local wookies had paid off. The non-comm Trando went down, half his head missing from the shot from Dio. Quickly Dio dropped the bowcaster to hang by its two-point harness and then grabbed the Shriek-Hawk from its harness. He raised it and started forward, firing as he moved from cover to cover. The technique was known as bounding over-watch and Dio had been practicing it since he was eight years old. It would keep him in cover but also firing and advancing on the enemy, Sulla had taught him well. That made two more Trandoshans down for the tally man.

@Mithias
@Plebometer

 

[Vuthari]

Trail of the Tree of Life
Kashyyyk

Perhaps it was the proximity to the Life Tree or being inspired by the impressive combat feats from Eisa, whatever it was, Vu’thari could feel the Force flowing through him like he was porous. The brylark hitled lightsaber sprang to his hand, a memoir of his time here on Kashyyyk and at the Life Tree. Springing from his perch, the Jedi Master ignited his green lightsaber. The remaining five tradoshans had formed a small perimeter to shield themselves from the grenades of the Mandalorian and the blaster attacks from the Jedi. The green lightsaber cut through the air deflecting the shots that came too close to the twi’lek’s frame. His feet found solid ground in the middle of the five trandoshans left. They quickly tried to get their bearing on the Jedi Master that was suddenly in very close proximity to them. Each movement was enhanced by speed and seemed to flow like a river among the opposition...

The green lightsaber, held in its inverted grip, whirled around the five trandoshans. The first one leveled a blaster rifle to fire on the twi’lek, but the blade whirled up through the rifle, splitting it in two and ripping into the creatures neck. The twi’lek was in a constant state of motion as the green blade deflected the next shot and ripped across another trandoshan’s torso as it came in with a haymaker. From behind, the third trandoshan slashed at him with his vibrosword. The Jedi Master doubled over to avoid the jab and kicked backwards, catching the trandoshan full in the stomach. Righting his body back upright, he lunged in and caught another in the belly as he leveled his dual pistols. Tearing the lightsaber out, the green blade went behind his back, deflecting another blaster bolt. On the balls of his feet, the twi’lek spun around low, catching the trandoshan that was kicked earlier right in the torso as he began to come in for another strike. The last one came in with his claws beared, lunging towards the Jedi. Deftly, the Jedi Master sidestepped the attack and countered with the lightsaber slashing across the trandoshan’s belly. And then it was over.

An uneasy quiet filled the forest as the three combatants carried out a successful ambush. The brylark lightsaber winked the green blade out of existence and he looked over to Dio and Eisa, “We better head back to the Life Tree in the event this was some diversion…”

@Critas
@Plebometer
OOC/Dice Thread

 

[Eisa Swan]

The bright peridot green glow of the young teen's lightsaber blinked out of existence, as the young Jedi Padawan deactivated her weapon as the last of the Trandoshians fell to the sudden surprise attack of the Jedi and Mandalorian ambush. A sigh escaping the teen's lips as she surveyed the aftermath around her, her conscious started to weigh down with the death that had been dealt to the Trandoshians. Pursing her lips in thought the teen fell into silence as her thoughts started to question whether it was the right thing to have done, she understood that the Jedi were permitted to kill when there was no other alternatives, or when there was a just cause. But part of her just wasn't sure whether there was a need for such a heavy handed assault to drive the slavers off of the planet.

Absent minded the teen turned her attention back towards the Jedi master as she spoke out, mentioning that they should fall back to the Life Tree to ensure that it was still safe and that the Trandoshian patrol was not a diversion. Eisa nodded, as she brought her mind into the present, dismissing her moral dilemma for a later time where she could either Meditate and reflect on her thoughts or possibly sit down with Master Reach and discuss the ramifications of her actions, figuring that her tutor would have an insight from her own experiences to share and guide her.

"I'll go on ahead" Eisa commented, before starting to channel the Force through her body. With a feline grace and speed the young teen sprang up from the ground upwards to the three line above, before swiftly traversing the dense woodland, carrying herself at full tilt, running at her fastest pace, weaving in and out of oncoming obstacles, and occasionally taking to higher ground by kicking off the side of tree trunks and using the momentum to carry herself towards overhanging branches. All the while reaching out through the Force to sense whether there were any other life signs around her.

Making her way back to the clearing in the Forest the teen cautiously slowed down in her advance, keeping herself low against the tree branches as her bright emerald hued eyes scoured the paths below her. Taking a deep breath the teen pushed her feelings out into the Force, reaching out into her surroundings, searching for any other presences beyond the Jedi master and Mandalorian she had left behind further up the path. A relieved sigh escaped the teen's lips as she slowly opened her eyes, she couldn't sense any other sentient life within the immediate vicinity. Reaching over for her comm link, the teen took a deep breath before pressing down on the device. "Life Tree is all clear, Can't feel any other presences near by either" she reported back to the others.