Ask Dathomir Magic Words

[Darth Stolas]

Morgan's head tilted slightly, looking across the table at Renfry's face, silently considering something or other. She was inquisitive and curious, obviously, but there was much more to it than that. Fragments of the past two days passed behind the young Sith's eyes for several silent seconds before he said something.

"Sometimes. It may well be," he replied, pulling his commlink off his belt. He rattled a rapid series of commands in his native language that were answered by Dante's binary warbling, then returned it to its place. Golden eyes glanced down at the holocron once more, then the rest of the things in the room. They settled on the orange crystal ball.

"The holocron can be gone through later. I want to return this to Sile's people and tell them others will come to retrieve the ship and objects. Is this possible?" The stone was doubtless valuable, just not more to Morgan than his word. What it did was not something he needed, and observing it for now was enough. He doubted the people of Dathomir would be less suspicious of his presence just because he kept a single promise, but it would get his foot in the door, so to speak.

"I would be very grateful."

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Renfry was surprised to hear that he wanted to go out of his way to return it to Síle, and that he wasn't interested in dealing with the holocron now. Something about it struck her as peculiar but she didn't say anything about it for now.

I can take it, she said.

Síle's probably not going to tell anyone she came out to see us, and she wasn't allowed to come out and deal with him, she said, motioning back in the direction of the man they'd killed.

You might want to just get the ship and leave as quickly as possible, she suggested honestly. If he wanted a foot in the door with the Nightsisters, he was likely going to have to be more explicit with his intention, not because Renfry was intentionally being difficult, but just as a result of the history involved.

She headed back up in the direction of the body and stopped, letting out a sigh because of what she was going to do. She produced a knife and then paused to look up at him.

You may not want to stick around for this, she said. It wasn't clear yet what she was going to do with the body, but whatever it was wasn't likely to be pleasant. If he wanted to remain, she wouldn't force him to leave.

 

[Darth Stolas]

Morgan grinned at her, but didn't immediately respond. Instead he just followed her back to the main chamber, kicked a bit of stone over, and sat himself casually down on top of it. His commlink came out again and a few more details were hashed out with Dante, though he paused when Renfry spoke again.

The young Sith gave her a raised eyebrow and a dismissive look, casually waving a hand in the dead man's direction. "Why? I've seen a butchered corpse before," he responded breezily and went back to what he was doing. Another few words and he switched the commlink out for his datapad to arrangement for salvage pickup and his ship to show up so they could pack the artifacts aboard before leaving. He'd pre-arranged something, so it should only take a day or so at most for the salvage crew to arrive and retrieve the First Light.

Morgan didn't intend to leave the planet before it was in his hands and off to a drydock for refurbishment, though he'd acquiesce to avoiding Nightsister territory as much as possible. He idly lit a cigarra while he worked, alternating between burning through it and softly humming some jazzy tune to himself and occasionally looking up to see what Renfry was up to.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Renfry was fine with him staying around, it was his decision, and frankly, she wasn't shocked that he wasn't squeamish.

Okay, she said simply and knelt over the body. The scene was every bit as grizzly as she had warned. Already in two pieces, she focused on the upper body, stripping it of clothing and dragging it out to the front of the temple. She then proceeded to set it up on a pair of poles out front and turn it into something that resembled a blood eagle as a warning to others. She left the lower portion just below the torso.

Then she took a small wooden board and carved two messages into it. The first was in basic and simply read "Defilers be warned." The second, however, was written in the language of her people "You neglected your duty, Mother. Your First did not."

She hung the sign around the torso's neck and stepped back, wiping off the excess blood covering both herself and her knife. She returned inside to Morgan, seemingly uncaring of the fact that dried blood now covered her hands and a few splatters clung to her face.

That's done, what now? she asked. She got the impression he didn't plan to leave, and if more people were coming to deal with that ship, then she should probably remain with them until they'd been cleared out.

 

[Darth Stolas]

Morgan only looked up with mild interest a few times while he worked on his datapad, quiet beyond the humming that slid beneath the sounds of ripping flesh and cracking bone. He didn't look at the corpse so much as Renfry herself, however, not giving the cadaver a second glance. It was just some dead man, and it didn't matter anymore.

The smells of fresh blood, hot copper and iron, made his nostrils flare subtly behind his datapad, then again when Renfry returned covered in a more dried variety. How she didn't quickly tire of how sticky her hands were quickly becoming was a mystery. Morgan tilted his head slightly in her direction, eyebrow raised in amusement.

"I think you missed a spot," he commented dryly, tapping a key on his datapad and returning to his belt. He stood, rolling his shoulders and stretching a little. "I am going to move these things to my ship, then wait for the salvage crew to pick up the First Light."

As if on queue, his commlink beeped and the sound of repulsorlift engines reached the temple from the clearing outside the entrance. Morgan wordlessly hefted his new sword, cradled the holocron under an arm, and headed out to begin the loading process.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Renfry looked down at her hands when he mentioned that she had missed a spot. Yes, one could say that, but she shrugged.

I'll deal with it later, she said. She didn't have the water here to wash it all off right now. When they came across some - which likely wouldn't be in too long - she'd take advantage of it.

Renfry gathered up her things as well and headed out to see the ship descending near their location. The hum and hiss as it came down caused Renfry to frown. She didn't like having more people come here. The old habits of her childhood didn't go away, and she still valued and loved this world.

You're going to rebuild it? she asked. Perhaps it wasn't true to say "rebuild" but it got her point across well enough. She was curious if he was going to make the ship his own once it was extracted from Dathomir. It seemed useful. It's size made it optimal for having a mobile home or office.

 

[Darth Stolas]

Morgan whistled three tones after his ship landed and the ramp lowered a few seconds later, the ground sweeper dropping from next to it as well just in case. The young Sith paused in front of the ramp and turned around, his astromech emerging to assist in loading the various precious objects.

He smiled.

"I am, yes. But until the ship arrives to retrieve it, I will be waiting nearby." Then he turned and got to the loading part. Overall it didn't take all that long even just between the droid and himself, all the various items stored in a mostly-empty cargo storage section of a ship otherwise converted into something more like a flying apartment. Everything besides the items belonging to the Nightsisters was stored in various padded and reinforced crates, although the sword was shoved in a corner and the holocron placed atop a futon instead.

When it was done he found Renfry again and stepped close. "I am going to take my speeder back to the First Light. Will you join me?"

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Seems useful, she commented. For business or pleasure? she asked as a follow up. Perpetual curiosity was a staple if nothing else. She watched as everything was loaded into his ship and both Morgan and the droid went to work.

And then just like that it was finished up. She had used the time to clean herself up a bit more at the very least, though not entirely. It was good enough not to cause her annoyance anymore despite some of the stains remaining ever so slightly.

As she made her way back over, Morgan stepped surprisingly close. She said nothing, and her face betrayed nothing as he asked his question.

Okay, she consented after a moment, waiting for him to get ready to leave and she would follow him. She didn't know what he planned to do back at the First Light, but she didn't have anything else particularly planned. Worst case scenario she could meditate.

 

[Darth Stolas]

"Both."

The First Light would serve as a useful mobile base, this was true, but it was still a yacht. Commissioned by an eccentric crime lord with an eclectic collection and taste, it was full of interesting little details. Not to mention the ship itself was one of a kind and filled with top of the line engineering, for its time at least, in addition to the luxury features. It may have crashed but the First Light was built by Mandalorians and was quite durable, far from a wreck, though Morgan suspected most if not all passengers died on impact if not shortly after.

Morgan smiled at Renfry and slipped back on his speeder, Dante and a pilot droid taking the Karma Chameleon on ahead of them to the fallen ship. Once Renfry was aboard her own speeder he launched off, remembering the way back from the temple. It wasn't exactly a lengthy trip.

When they arrived he hopped off, looked for a moment at the crashed yacht, and then headed instead toward the Chameleon that was already parked nearby. He stepped up the ramp and immediately turned right into the cargo and passenger area, his droid beeping a greeting to him and Renfry if she joined him, then started messing about with a cooking area that partly unfolded from the wall.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Renfry climbed aboard her own speeder and hurried off after him through the jungle. Thankfully, it was not too thick, and with the aid of the Shadow, moving through was simple enough.

They arrived back at the First Light but she made her way inside his ship after him, waving at the droid that beeped at her. She didn't actually speak droid speak or binary or whatever it was called, so she had no idea what he was saying, but it seemed to be at least partially directed at her.

Do you mind if I use your fresher? she asked. Assuming he didn't object, she headed down to clean herself up properly. Good thing her shirt was red, because that wasn't all coming out, but at least her skin was now devoid of any residuals of her victim.

She watched him go to work in the cooking area, and her eyes scanned around the passenger area to see what she could see. She'd learned you could tell a great deal about someone from their ship, and she wondered what this one said about him.

You like to cook? she asked, heading over to see what he was doing in the kitchenette.

 

[Darth Stolas]

The contents of Morgan's refresher were were contained in labeled recesses in the wall, a large collection of varied hair and skin products, grooming tools, oils, and soaps. There were some things specifically for guests, though the young Sith wouldn't mind terribly if they were used so long as they were put back.

Renfry emerged and would see a patterned and freshly-sharpened and slightly curved chef's knife, with which he was rapidly slicing through a series of fruits and vegetables. The clack-clack-clack sound joined the sounds of the idle ship, but that doubtless wasn't the thing she was looking for.

The entire section of the ship had small art pieces over walls and sometimes perched precisely on top of his compact desk, detailed landscapes being the most common aside from a single chaotic abstract piece. A lovingly cared for Hallikset sat cradled in its stand in the corner by Morgan's futon. Three little glass orbs containing air plants hung from the ceiling out of the way of everything else. Partly recessed and glass-covered shelves held a variety of books and dataslates beside the desk.

Most notable, should Renfry take the time to listen, was the distant sound of music. It didn't come from any obvious source like a set of speakers, but instead came from the layered impressions of song that had sunken into the walls of the ship. It would fade into the background after a few seconds, replaced by the present sound of Morgan's voice.

"Yes," he answered, scooping up the things he'd been taking apart and placing them aside to move onto the next vegetable. "Much better than pre-made food."

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Renfry took in all the things she saw on the ship. There was an extensive collection of art layered across the walls and... was that music? She'd never seen anything like that before and looked around to try to find its source. Was this some sort of new trick or technology?

He spoke up a moment later, and as soon as he did, the music seemed to stop. She cast her gaze around once again in confusion and then walked over to where he was working.

Her eyes caught on the unusual piece of art that didn't seem to fit with the others here. She wondered if it had some sort of meaning either to him personally or a story behind it.

Would you like help? she asked as she watched him chopping. If not, she would find another way to entertain herself.

What's that music I heard? she asked after another moment. It had piqued her curiosity and she'd not seen him start any when they'd come aboard. Something about it struck her as almost unnatural in its own way.

 

[Darth Stolas]

His knife slid and scooped more slices to the side before he tilted his head slightly in Renfry's direction, hearing her speak. He slid a second cutting board over directly to his right, where a portion of some refrigerated meat had been placed for cutting.

"Small pieces, please," he answered, beginning to work on peeling and slicing a Jogan fruit into thin wedges and arranging them in a neat circle atop a small plate. Half the fruits got a light sprinkling of some small red granules that contrasted to the blue flesh and smelled faintly of fruit and chili.

Morgan turned to look at Renfry then, finally reacting to her second question. He gave her a flat look. "Music," he answered, an eyebrow raising. "I play in my spare time." Slender figures reached out to grab a mortar and pestle, several small leaves and berries thrown in along with some salt before he began to pound them into a paste.

"What do you do for fun?"

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Was this how she was with other people as well? She knew she had a tendency to answer questions exactly as they were asked, and that was similar to what he was doing now. Well... she wasn't likely to change, and she doubted he was either.

She smirked slightly nonetheless and took the knife and the meat and began cutting up into smaller pieces. With all her years hunting, this was something she was perfectly comfortable with. After the first few pieces, she turned over to look at him.

Good? she asked, ensuring they were the proper size before continuing. She didn't know what they were actually making, but she was fine with that. She was perfectly happy to be surprised by the final product in the end.

So he played music? That was interesting and somehow didn't shock her. She wasn't sure what it was, but he seemed like the musical type.

As the question turned to her, she decided to try to do a bit better than she normally would have, though she found herself to be a relatively uninteresting person to talk about. Except with Emryc... somehow she found herself wanting to tell him about herself despite the fact that he was the one person who couldn't seem to have cared less... right? That was irony for you.

I'm sure it's no big surprise that I like the outdoors, she said with a snicker. Hiking, camping, hunting, you name it, she said. None of that likely would be a shock to him.

And I enjoy reading, she said before motioning over to his books with her head.

Do you as well? she asked with a quirked eyebrow. Do you have a favorite type of book? she would also ask if he indicated she was correct about him enjoying reading as well.

 

[Darth Stolas]

"Yes," Morgan replied as he glanced over at the bits of meat, nodding slightly. The precise size mattered less than them simply being much smaller than a hunk of meat for cooking purposes. Meanwhile his pestle had switched from pounding to grinding, a little oil of some added to allow the mixture to become a kind of saucy and very fragrant paste.

"No surprise at all." The sauce was set aside for the moment alongside the other things that were already cut and a small hand towel was used to first go over his hands and then the cutting board. A Nightsister, former or not, who didn't have some appreciation for nature would be far more unusual. Dathomir wasn't exactly known as a technological hub, remaining more or less exactly as it has always been. Give or take a bombardment or two.

"I do. As for a favourite, I enjoy many works, although historical and instruction are near the top." The young Sith absorbed new information quickly, and so reading how to do one thing or another was a frequent and interesting pastime for him. History could be learned from and adapted, basic skills could be leveraged, and so on. It was how he did his work.

Morgan moved slightly to the side and flicked a switch, a curved electric stovetop coming to the surface. He placed a wok atop and began the process of heating it before turning back to look directly at Renfry.

"What do you think of your people?"

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Renfry could smell whatever he was grinding up. It was a relaxing smell and she began to realize just how hungry she was as her stomach growled involuntarily.

She listened to his answers to her questions, and Renfry was liking him more and more. She enjoyed the same things he mentioned, and she thought about the fact that Emryc did too. Perhaps that was simply the Sith way: a voracious hunger for knowledge that couldn't be satiated. They all seemed to fit the bill well enough.

However, when his eyes locked onto her and he asked about her people, she couldn't overcome the skepticism within her. The question was broad - too broad for her liking - and she couldn't help but feel there was an ulterior motive to the question.

She finished cutting the meat and washed her hands, saying nothing for a long moment as she weighed her words. She had family here and people she loved. Despite the strained relationship, she didn't wish them ill by any means. What was it he was after?

What do you think about them? she asked. People tend to have a lot of mistaken perceptions about them if they know anything at all, she said, suggesting she would be more helpful in sorting out misconceptions, and also keeping the more personal aspects of that question private... perhaps.

 

[Darth Stolas]

An eyebrow rose as a result of Renfry's counter-question, though it was paired with a small grin. His head tilted slightly and he was quiet for a moment while the wok heated in the background.

"Isolationist and rigid traditionalism rarely turns out well," he answered, referring to the Dathomirian insistence on remaining relatively primitive by galactic standards. They had powerful magic and well trained warriors, but they had no ships or armies, no allies to call on, no trade. They'd been in decline for centuries when the Seperatist army had invaded, and though they'd recovered from that they certainly weren't what Morgan would call thriving.

"But, I have very little personal experience with them," the young Sith added impassively, looking over the former Nightsister. "Which is why I asked." While it was true the planet's general hostility reminded Morgan of Firrerre, and the Nightsister system of individual clans was also similar, there was one big difference between their two cultures that drew his attention. The Firrerreo had kept their systems of clans and ruling monarchs, but also advanced technologically and culturally in the process.

The combination of a fierce warrior culture and modern technology meant they were one of the few planets near the Panathan Reach the Epicanthix had failed to conquer. Their cultures instead mixed some over time and had become friendly, but Firrerre maintained its independence beyond joining the Free Worlds like the other systems near it.

"Just curious of your opinion. You lived here, after all."

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Renfry considered what he said in silence for a moment. It wasn't unusual for outsiders to think similar things of the Nightsisters... if they had any opinion at all. Most people failed to understand anything about them, stating the world held "[nothing] but fog and witches." That suited the Nightsisters well in most instances, but certainly did nothing to improve people's view of them.

While she still didn't trust that Morgan had no ulterior motives, she decided to answer anyway. Besides... an actual intellectual exchange wasn't such a bad thing.

There are many who believe that technology will weaken our connection to the Spirits, she said. She wasn't sure whether or not she believed that. She'd traveled off world and managed to not only maintain but grow in power. And yet, there was something to be said for the fact that Dathomir - removed from technology - maintained a strength that few if any other planets could match.

And we're so welcoming to outsiders, she said, actually laughing a little. Even she had that tendency, and her first bump in with Morgan had been more confrontational than not.

What's your homeworld like? she asked after a moment more. She was curious to hear what things were like where he was from. Or perhaps he saw little connection to his homeworld anymore. It wasn't impossible that people were born off world and had never even been to the world their species came from.

 

[Darth Stolas]

Technology would weaken their connection to the spirits? Perhaps, Morgan wasn't an expert in how their magic worked, but they simply did have the numbers and power to fend off invaders. It was almost inevitable someone would try and claim Dathomir for their eventually, or wipe them out as a threat.

Their xenophobic hostility, while understandable considering past events, wasn't going to get them any allies. A culture that failed to adapt was doomed to die or be subsumed by another.

Morgan's head tilted slightly, expression pensive in response to Renfry's question. Firrerre was somewhat less welcoming to outsiders as well, though not necessarily because of it's people. They weren't insular, but they were very clan and family based and the planet itself was fairly hostile to foreign life.

"Rich in life fighting to dominate it," he answered after a few seconds, eyes turning back to the woman. They'd softened a little thinking of home. "It is a hostile landscape with many resources, and it belongs to us. We've made very sure of that."

Some of the flora and fauna on Firrerre could give some of the terrors oof other planets a run for their money. A species doesn't evolve the way Firrerreons have without it having been necessary to survive such a place after all.

Morgan reached over, slipping close to retrieve meats and move them closer to the wok, then tossed them into the oiled vessel along with a generous pinch of some mixed seasoning or other. Roasted bug wasn't the worst, but he was going to need more than breakfast anyway.

"How well do you handle heat?"

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Renfry listened to what he said about Firrerre, and thought it sounded... well, perhaps nice wasn't the right word, but familiar. It was somewhere she had a feeling she would have gotten along well. Add to that the general predatory characteristics of its population and... well, she didn't think it sounded so bad.

Maybe I'll have to make my way there some time. Assuming your people aren't as hostile as mine, she said with a smile. She knew her people were difficult - for that matter she knew she was difficult - and yet, she loved her home nonetheless.

She watched him throw together the remainder of the food and ask how she felt about heat. It took her a moment to register what he was asking and she leaned over the food.

I love it, she said. Everything on Dathomir is about surviving, too, which means most of the plants have developed defensive mechanisms for it, she said. That included being very spicy. Granted, Zabrak and Dathomirian tended to be much more carnivorous than herbivorous or even omnivorous, but that didn't mean they never ate anything else.

So tell me, Morgan Ali, Sith Lord, what is it that you want out of life? The deep questions, she asked after a moment, taking a step back and leaning against the counter. She had no idea if he'd answer and had low hopes of getting a sincere answer, but it was worth asking anyway. She was interested in him, and perhaps she was just a poor judge of character, but she felt she still didn't know much about him.