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[Darth Caelestis]

The Jungle was stifling even through the filters of the armoured helmet, he could taste the moisture in the air. But at least the full body suit kept the bugs off, they buzzed around him like flies on a turd. Foliage was extremely thick forcing him to go a round about route to reach his intended target, his little escapade on Kafrane had found him not only his target but the person he was due to meet in a clearing a few meters ahead of him. He checked the blaster pistol on his hip, the sword on his back and the rifle in his hands, it had been a long while since had held one of these let alone used it. But this was the guise, here he was not a Sith Councillor, nor a King, not even Artorigas Wessex. No he was Trystan Drake, a Mandalorian of a fake house, this was the beginning of a scheme to use these warriors as his own army.

But for that he needed not only followers but prestige on the name. So he had used the slicer to find him some contacts within the Clans as well as a little gem in the deep dark jungle which could bring a little recognition to his name. Breaking through the edge of the clearing he spotted their destination, an old ruin once belonging to the Culture he now 'belonged' too, he only had to await his little friend on this adventure.

@Sicadorito

 

[Zaia Krodas]

Trystan Drake was the man’s name. There was little she knew about him other than the fact that he was a Mandalorian, but that was enough for her. Zaia was due to meet him at one of the ruins dating back to the era of the Crusaders on this jungle planet that she couldn’t even remember the name of. The flies buzzing around her, landing on her helmet and subsequently blocking her vision had made it extraordinarily difficult to navigate, but in the end, she was able to find the place.

It seemed like Trystan had gotten there before her. As she stepped out of the dense undergrowth of the jungle, she could see him standing near the edge of the clearing, heavily armed with what looked like a rifle in his hands as well as a blaster pistol, and even a sword on his back. Zaia wasn’t surprised. She, compared to other Mandalorians, carried around relatively few weapons, with just her two blasters. Well, simply observing him wasn’t going to get anything done, so she walked towards the middle of the ruins, pausing to stand underneath the rocky overhang.

“Su cuy'gar [Hello],” she called to him in greeting. “Gar copaanir at urcir? [You wanted to meet?]”

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

The bright blue of the Mandalorian's armour stood out against the deep green of the jungle around her, as Zaia made her way into clearing surrounding the ruins. As he turned to face her, Artorigas, no Trystan let the rifle fall to his side, a show of friendship between the two helmeted individuals. As she began to approach she called out in a tonged he did not know, he assumed it was Mando'a. He did not know the language and had not had the time to begin to learn it prior to his first foray as Trystan Drake. Luckily the Sith Councillor had thought ahead and planted this lack of knowledge into the fabricated backstory of he and his clan.

They had spent most of the last century in the mid rim, away from Mandalorian space and overtime the language had slowly fallen out of use, Galactic Basic taking its place. "Apologies, my parents never taught me Mando'a, little use when you are the only Mandalorian's in the sector." He replied back, "Trystan of Clan Drake, I assume you are Zaia of Clan Krodas?" He asked taking a few steps towards the women in blue.

@Sicadorito

 

[Zaia Krodas]

A Mandalorian who didn’t speak Mando’a? That was a first. Then again, it was a big galaxy, and his reasoning made sense. Mandalorian culture had been changing even since the days before the Clone Wars, and it was unfortunate that some elements of it were starting to be lost. Even the language. That made the reason she was here even more important. Hopefully with a few of the clans coming together and restoring some of Mandalore’s former glory, they would be able to live freely and openly again, while wearing this armor.

She noticed that Trystan had let the rifle fall to his side, and she relaxed slightly. Looking over at the man, she gave him a nod of acknowledgement as he introduced himself and asked about her. “I am. Nice to meet you, Trystan.”

She sat down on a rock close to where she had been standing, picking up a small pebble while she was at it. She tossed it up and caught it in her hand. For whatever reason, it felt better to hold something. Maybe she was too used to constantly having her blaster out.

“I was asking about how you wanted to meet before. Why me?” she asked, looking down to examine the pebble in her hand before looking over at Trystan again.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

He sensed some tension in her when he mentioned his lack of knowledge of the ancient language. "Perhaps you can teach me some in the future?" He said more to ease her than for the intent, though perhaps learning a little in the future would help the illusion. Zaia seemed to relax however taking a seat on a nearby rock, he was still getting used to the Medium armour and chose not to try and sit for the moment. "Well met." He replied before turning to scan the area around them.

He could sense life in the jungle beyond, the benefits of The Force the women would never know. Nothing seemed hostile yet, but he kept his senses alert just encase. "If I am honest, you were the easiest to find on the dark web." He replied turning back to face the women. "My Clan has spent to much time on the outskirts of our Culture, I intend to change that, so I need allies and friends."

@Sicadorito

 

[Zaia Krodas]

“Sure. It’s not very difficult to learn,” Zaia said with a shrug. She noticed that he didn’t sit down, and though it wasn’t anything strange, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was something he wasn’t telling her about. Something about him set him apart from the other Mandalorians she’d met so far, but she couldn’t put her finger on what. Maybe he just wasn’t much of a talker.

Zaia nodded as he explained how he’d found her. “My clan as well. It’s been a while since I’ve last seen them, but we were trying to return to how things were before, too. There are few allies left, though.” She looked into the woods, briefly thinking about what she’d just said. Outside of her clan, there were few that she could trust. She’d only met two other Mandalorians since she’d left, and though they had both been kind to her, she wasn’t sure if it would be the same way if she’d met a whole other clan.

“I can’t guarantee that my clan will join you. But I can help in whatever you’re trying to accomplish, if it’s for the good of Mandalore.” She got up and offered him a handshake. “It’s about time our people reunited. We’d be powerful if we worked together again.”

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

"I understand, you cannot speak for everyone in your Clan. But I hope that in winning your trust, we can take a step in that direction." He replied to the women, "Perhaps too powerful, maybe that is why the galaxy seems so against us reuniting." A bird squawked in the distance, followed by the rumbling growl of something big. This was not a friendly planet, no wonder a ruin such as this could be found here.

"Is there anything your clan specifically needs, today is about us, but I hope you leave with both a gift from myself as well as one for your clan as well. We do not have much in the ways of arms and armour, but we are finically stable." The fake Clan had been given deep pockets through its history in the mid rim, enough to explain Trystan's expenses during his travels.

@Sicadorito

 

[Zaia Krodas]

Zaia narrowed her eyes, though the man wouldn’t be able to see.

“Oh, you don’t have my trust just yet. I’m simply offering my assistance. As Mandalorians, I just think it would be better for us to help each other out when we can in times like this.”

She withdrew her hand and reached for her blaster when she heard the squawk in the words and the deep growl. On the way here, she hadn’t even been paying attention to what else was on the planet besides the flies. Getting attacked by something had not been what she had in mind for this meeting.

However, the mention of money got Zaia a little more interested. If there was something she didn’t have, it was money. Her own clan had enough to survive, but without its members having to go out to find jobs to keep their ship flying, they’d have nothing. But she couldn’t accept his gift. She’d never hear the end of it from her clan if she did.

“It’s alright, no need for a gift. I can help out where I can, free of charge,” she said with a shrug. “I’m sure my clan would be willing to sell you some arms, though. Assuming I can find them.” She muttered the last part. “Is there anything I can help you with now, though?”

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

"No, I cannot ask you for help and give nothing in return. That is not our way." He replied with a charming smile, once again forgetting that the women could not see his face, he cursed inward at himself, this pesky armour was inconvenient for a number of reasons but the inability to show a facial expression to help convey his words was one of the bigger ones he had noticed. "I trade deal in the future sounds good for both our Clan's in the future."

With her final question he turned back to the ruins behind him, they were ancient, once built into the side of the mountain it was now surrounded by it. Time burying the structure with rock, sand, dirt and plant life. "Well I would very much like your help getting in there. Sources tell me it was once a repository of arms for the Mandalorian's of old." Artorigas said as he began walking towards the entrance. "Even if what inside his of no use, it may still be valuable to the right bidder." Reaching the stone/metal surface which was once a door. "Any ideas on a way in, I would rather not blow in the door."

@Sicadorito

 

[Zaia Krodas]

“Nor is it ours.” Zaia gave Trystan a nod of understanding. She followed his gaze when he turned to the ruins and looked at the door. She’d had no intention of going in there, but now that he brought it up, she didn’t think that it would be such a bad idea, especially considering the fact that there might be weapons.

“I suppose you’re right. Let me see,” Zaia said, getting up from the rock and walking over to examine what used to be the door. She traced her hand along the doorway, trying to find a way in. “Do you think there’s some kind of button? I know this place is old, but…” Just then, her foot seemed to find something lodged behind a stone. She pushed it aside, revealing a large metal switch.

“Well, what do you know?” She pulled the switch, and the door slid open. It looked like it had opened just enough for them to squeeze through. She peered inside to try and get a better look, but it was dark. Waving Trystan over, she stepped aside so he could have a look as well.

“Want to check this out?”

@Braden

 

[Darth Caelestis]

Artorigas frowned behind the mask at the ease of the door opening, why did every Sith tomb/vault/old building have a solid door with no way in filled with death traps and the first Mandalorian one he visit have a bloody open switch on the side. He sighed as Zaia made her way through the gap, into the ancient building. He tried to follow but with his armour he was a little to big, the heavy stone door would be a pain to budge on its own, but he unlike the women ahead of him was not alone.

Pulling The Force through the air around him, around the tightly fitted armour panels and into his body Artorigas was able to strengthen his muscles, tendons and joints forcing the door open with relative ease. Opening it just enough to allow himself through but not show his apparent freakish strength to the women he followed Zaia into the darkness.

With his armoured bulk blocking much of the light the pair could see little ahead of them apart from the outlines of the corridor. Holding up his rifle, Artorigas pressed a button on the side switching on its flashlight, illuminating the steel walls all around them. Rust had settled along the rivets, moss surrounded the edges close to the entrance and the a blueish green patina was spotted all across the room. "Ladies first."

@Sicadorito

 

[Zaia Krodas]

When Trystan turned on his flashlight, Zaia let out a breath of amazement.

“Whoa.”

On the walls was a dusty, cracked mural of a battle long past. There was ivy crawling all over it, but she was still able to make out some of the colors and details. It was a painting of the war between the Mandalorians and the Jedi. The Mandalorians on one side, in the air with their guns and spears, the Jedi on the other, brandishing their green and blue lightsabers. Then she realized that she was holding both of them up by staring at the mural, and she muttered a quick apology to Trystan and moved down the hall, carefully stepping over fallen parts of the ceiling.

The place was bigger than she’d imagined. Thanks to Trystan’s flashlight, she was able to see the three hallways that diverged from the main one. There would probably be more within those halls as well, but they had plenty of time to explore if they so wished. Zaia decided to turn at the first hallway she saw. Why not?

In what little light there was, she noticed a couple pieces of dusty old armor lying on the ground. Curious, she headed over to look closer. That was when she noticed yet another door, though this time it was open. Inside was a giant statue of Kad Ha'rangir, the Mandalorian war god. Though her clan wasn’t as religious as some of the others she knew about, Zaia still pulled off her helmet and gave the statue a small bow of respect, then turned to look at Trystan.

“Well, what do you think of this place so far?”

@Braden

 

[Darth Caelestis]

As they walked the darkened corridors of this ancient burrow Artorigas spotted the clear signs of carbon scouring. Once a battle had taken place here, be it just before the close or years before he could not be certain. He shone his light down each of the three corridors and could see nothing which identified which would be the best so he followed Zaia down the first one. As they passed the dusty fallen armour he gave each a quick look to see if he could identify any Beskar, the centuries of grime and dust made it hard to see, without rummaging through and that was not something he could currently do in this guise. Perhaps he could send some men from Avillion out later to check it out, melt down what they could find, another commodity for the unknown Clan Drake.

The statue of the god was well made, but his eyes did not focus upon the sculpture for long. He had spent too much time thinking about immortality and godhood in the past and the removal of the women's helmet caught his attention instead. Artorigas kept his own mask on, mostly because his hands were occupied in keeping the light shining around the room so they both could see. "I am glad my helmet as a respirator, I hate dust." He replied back to her.

Turning away from the statue and back to the main corridor, he looked further along but couldn't see anything as it slowly curved away from the pair. "There was fresh air in here when we opened the door. Must mean there is at least another entrance or access point. We should keep looking." Without waiting for her to follow he began moving further down the first corridor, if she did not follow she would soon be left in darkness.

There was a minute of two of silence before he continued, though without looking behind him he did not know if he was talking to himself or Zaia. "If we can find the other entrance, we can work backwards, check each room and corridor, 'door's and corners.' Hopefully there is something for the pair of us down here."

@Sicadorito

 

[Zaia Krodas]

Zaia snorted at Trystan’s comment. “You’re lucky you have your helmet with you, then.” She put her own helmet back on and cleared her throat of the dust. Unlike him, she didn’t have a respirator, so she would just have to deal with it. She followed him over to where the hall connected back to the main corridor.

“Alright. Let’s go, then.” She followed Trystan down the hall as he went, partially because she wouldn’t be able to see a thing without him, and also because she was eager to get some fresh air. Along the way, she kept an eye out for a possible weapons storage room or the second entrance, but she didn’t see anything more. After a couple minutes of silence, the sound of Trystan’s voice nearly made her jump.

“Yeah, yeah, sure,” she responded, trying to calm herself. Then, she saw what looked like another metal doorway peeking out from a corner. Trystan’s flashlight had just grazed over it. Zaia walked over to check it out, trying to feel if there was another switch or something that could open the door. Nothing. That was strange. However, she did feel warm jungle air coming through the cracks.

“I guess I’ve found the other entrance. I don’t see why you’d want to lock yourself in, though,” she mused. “I don’t know. Do you want to go back and look for those weapons or should we open this first?”

@Braden

 

[Darth Caelestis]

His eyes scanned from side to side as they made their way down the corridor, the sensors in the helmet were state of the art but he preferred his own eyes and the free flow of The Force to aid his senses. As such he seemingly missed the second entrance into the structure which Zaia aptly found. Heading over he passed her the rifle so he could use both hands as he checked the door over, like the other it was solid stone and also like its brother had not been moved in a long time. "They may have had no choice in the matter." He began grimly, before changing to a more upbeat manner. "Although good news, this door hasn't been moved in a long time, so it shouldn't be pilfered."

With that confirmed Artorigas took the weapon back from Zaia before looking back the way they had come. Now he had stopped for a second he see a slight slope in the path, it seemed they were also slowly descending into the mountainside. "Looks like we are going deeper." He said pointing back at the slope. "Lets have a gander at whats at the bottom." He replied before heading back down the tunnel.

He had to admit he was enjoying the carefree attitude he could have behind the mask, no weight of expectation or over-demand on the correct words or actions. "So are we going to fight for the best loot, roll for it or does your clan have another tradition?"

@Sicadorito

 

[Zaia Krodas]

“That’s true,” Zaia murmured in response to both of Trystan’s statements. She held the rifle in her hands, weighing it as the man looked over the door. A pretty decent weapon. She gave it back to him after he was done, and followed his gaze down the tunnel.

“You think there’s really a stash down there?” Zaia asked as they walked. She thought for a moment when he asked his question. “Well, I wasn’t planning to take any of it with me. I have nowhere to put anything anyway, without a ship,” she said with a shrug. “You can keep it if you want it.”

When he asked about her clan’s tradition, Zaia rubbed a hand on the back of her neck. “I’m not even supposed to be taking anything at all from this place. My clan believes that stealing from the dead is… dishonorable.” She glanced over at Trystan, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“Doesn’t mean I feel that way about you. I just can’t do it myself,” she said. “Besides, you seem nice enough.”

@Braden