No Place Like It

[Darth Valravus]

Location: Deucalia
Time: N/A
Participants: @Raven_41 @Darasuum @Painus
Theme: Algir - Togntale ❅ Wardruna
Intro: Initial interactions with the Deucalians proceed. Zandrali and her trio accompany her as representatives of the Sith Empire to speak with the authority of the Deucalians present. They have to convince them of allowing passage between planets and establishing a hyperspace route to and from Deucalia though the space warrior people are superstitious after so long and are conservative to the point of many people believing continued isolation is the best option.

Deucalia had for a long time been abandoned by its own people and the galaxy. It held secrets and resources of value to multiple parties but Zandrali wanted to seek it out for both the Empire and her own reasons. Accompanying her was Irola who had assisted her thus far on the journey in getting the coordinates and fighting off some opportunistic raiders.

The woman would be lying if she said she was not weary of the travel. She was not sure what to expect. The woman had only heard stories in her youth. It was tantamount to myth for her yet she believed now that she would see it.

The tunnel of hyperspace disappeared, giving the iconic streaking image of stars before sublight space came into view. In the distance a icy pearl gleamed against the blackness of space. All she could do was stare at the planet. Zan did not blink, her astromech turned to look at her but she had tunnel vision thanks to her mind just being in awe of this moment.

Coming to she whispered a small prayer to any gods that were listening. Realizing action was needed she moved her ship forward. "Keep your scanners active. Last I heard the planet was lacking in any presence. But others may have come to claim it."

Little did Zan know that a nomadic group of Deucalians had returned to the system. They lived a simple and isolated life but not one that could completely rely on self sufficiency. Her scanners ended up picking up some ships towards the planet but it was still too far to pick up specifics on the scanners for the time being. All that she could tell was that they were old models and there were more of them than there were of the Sith operatives. "This is a Deucalian world Shen. Follow my lead." If they were her people she wanted to greet them. If they were opportunists she wanted to purge them. Only time would tell.

 

[Irolia Shen]

Parrot, her little companion droid beeped curiously to its owner, "No, I doubt we'll get time for reading Parrot" replied Irolia to her droid as she was leaned back in her seat. "Coming out of hyperspace in 10 minutes," announced her co-pilot, sitting behind Irolia. After Irolia and Zan jumped to hyperspace, had the blue alien relaxed a bit more as they coursing through the hyperlanes towards their destination. Also, her men in the back of the ship also had a much more relaxed mood, since there wasn't really much that would happen in terms of danger.

Coming out of hyperspace, Irolia took her feet down from the panel in front of her and sat up straight. Her scanner picked up the other Sith she's been working with for the last two missions. "Copy that" replied the blue-skinned Sith and kept herself a bit behind Zan's ship as both girls flew closer to the planet they had been searching for. She's never been on a Deucalian world before, so she was very interested in seeing what kind of world it was. It looked very icy and shined almost like a minor star in a way, Irolia found it beautiful at least. "Scanner is picking up some contacts, further out, closer to the planet, but I'm unable to see what kind of ships it is" reported her co-pilot. "Alrighty, keep me posted, if anything changes," commented Irolia and just focused on following Zan to the planet.

@Darasuum @Painus

 

[The Storyteller]

The rune-priests had foretold of this day.

He stood silhouetted against the rising sun, eyes turned skyward in solemn reverence to the gods. He could see nothing beyond the clouds, but he had heard the report clear enough. Outsiders have arrived in the system. Outsiders were heading towards their home, the isolated bastion of their people.

It was said that Deucalia breeds cold souls. One had only to look at the world from orbit to see why. From above, no world looked bleaker – not the thirsting wastes of Tatooine, nor the tropical chaos of Yavin IV. Deucalia was a world at war with itself. Somewhere in the twisted trails of its history, something had aggravated the planet’s very soul. Even from orbit, it was clear Deucalia could never sustain civilised life. Cities would die at the whims of the freezing winds, and what few landmasses seemed stable were earth-dead from eternal winter. Agriculture didn’t exist on this world. No Deucalian was ever born a farmer, and none ever became one later in life. The people who called the world home were reavers, raiders, hunters, and star-sailors. It was their frozen, shining marble in space. It belonged to them, and them alone, and no other-world interloper would change that. They would see to it.

He was a curious man, however, and wished to speak to these trespassers, rather than have them sent to the void they flew through. With a guttural growl, he turned to the one who had delivered the news and spoke for the first time in nearly an hour.

”Bring them to me.”

By now, the outsiders would have picked up on their ships’ signals. They were making no attempt to hide themselves, nor did they feel a need to. Ten starfighters flew in formation towards the two ships, five dedicated to each vessel. Against the backdrop of infinite blackness, they looked like little more than swarming flies heading to a corpse. There was something about their movements, their formation, however; they were hunting, and would have continued hunting were it not for the voice speaking into their comms telling them that they were to escort the outsiders to the surface. Groans of disapproval were met with threats, and the pilots of the ships reluctantly agreed to the task.

As they approached, the leader of this pack opened a communications channel with the other-worlders, his gruff voice coming through with minor static. ”The Great Wolf wishes an audience,” he began, speaking at first in Deucalic, then again in Basic, ”You will obey.” There was no sign of malice in his tone, just that of simple command. If the outsiders ignored the summons of their chief, then it was simple – they would die. Five starfighters split off and surrounded each ship, flying around like wolves circling prey moments before attacking, the pilots eager for violence.

Should the outsiders accept the summons, the ships would escort them down to the surface of the great city Drekarheim, once-abandoned but now reclaimed by the new settlers. They would direct them towards a landing platform large enough to house the two Sith ships and, once they had landed, the fighters would return to their patrol duties. The platform itself was exposed to the elements and had a blanket of hoarfrost on the edges. Wind whipped the surface violently but posed no major risk aside from dropping the already-frigid temperature even more.

There, at the edge of the platform, stood the Great Wolf, his eyes still on the sky above awaiting the outsiders his rune-priests had warned him of years ago, his face frozen in a rictus of distaste.

@Darasuum @Raven_41

 

[Darth Valravus]

___________________

Contacts came in on the edge of the sensors. She too detected what Irolia had mentioned. After the recent dog fight above Tattoine her mind immediately went towards the more violent possibilities. As they neared she knew them to be starfighters by their speed and the fact that they were in formation like they were. But before the got within range a hail was recieved. She commanded both Irolia and her own gunners to hold their fire.

With them complying, though not fully standing down, she would respond. Zan understood the Deucalic and waited a moment after the basic repeating it as well as a statement. The Crusader took a deep breath and replied. "Understood. We'll follow you." She made sure that her reply was also heard by her wingmate and then switched to a closed channel. "We're not the first ones here. They're Deucalian. This has just become a diplomatic mission." She did not want a trigger happy acolyte ruining her homecoming.

After a tense transition to the planet Zan kept looking at her scanners seeing if there was any hint at hostility. But none came. Even with her paranoia seeping in the Deucalian woman kept staring out of her ship at the planet. The closer they got the bleaker it appeared. The more apparent it became the planet was not self sustainable. It rose many questions in the back of her mind. Many of which would not be answered today most likely but that was because her trivial curiosities were not the priority and as such would not be broached with this Great Wolf.

When they landed Zan told her crew to stay on board. Descending the ramp she had them lock the ship down and close the vessel behind them. Her harsh weather cloak whipped in the cold wind yet Zan stared ahead at the man who had come to meet them. Her large sword's handle protruded over her right shoulder. As always she wore her tribal paints on her face.

If Irolia had not descended yet Zanwould not wait. These were her people and she intended to meet them regardless of others. "Greetings. I am Zandrali Tuistco." Where she stood she eyed the man before her wondering how he would react. While she assumed he was the Great Wolf it was not verified as of yet that was the case.

@Raven_41 @Painus

 

[Irolia Shen]

"Roger," replied Irolia and followed the Crusader's ship as they both got escorted down to the planet's surface. As they were lead towards a landing pad Irolia glanced at the starfighters from her cockpit as they passed by, continuing their patrols. Well, at least they didn't attack. "What's your orders?" Asked the co-pilot while powering down the different systems. "Stay here, don't think coming down with you all would be a great first impression, from what Zan said" explained Irolia and rose from her seat.

She did, however, tell them to like Zan, lock down the ship and be ready for anything. Just because this was a more diplomatic mission now, didn't mean that it couldn't turn into a fight. Descending the ramp around the same time as Zan, she looked around the area. A cold wind grabbed around Irolia's cloak, making it flutter while she followed the Crusader. Not a very beautiful planet, it looked more like something had scared it many years ago.

Coming up to Zan's left, looked the man over, there was an authority aura to him. None the less Irolia introduced herself like Zan, "and I'm Irolia Shen." Irolia didn't take her own droid with her to this place and let it stay on the ship. She didn't felt it would be very safe for it on this planet and she didn't trust the people.

@Darasuum @Painus

 

[The Storyteller]

During the outsiders’ descent, the Great Wolf withdrew from the edge of the precipice and now stood some ten meters from the women in front of him. He was flanked by six of his honor guard, three on each side, each man and woman battle-scarred and wearing armors that depicted their glories in battle. They gripped their weapons, eyes trained on the newcomers with murderous intent. It was their solemn duty to defend their chief, and they would not allow some strangers, some other-worlder scum, to come and kill their leader without a fight. The honor guard took a step forward, weapons at the ready, until the Great Wolf raised a hand to halt them and watched the two women approach.

They introduced themselves, and the Great Wolf looked them in the eyes. His gaze was intense, piercing. Eyes like cold steel sat deep in their hollow sockets glared at both women in turn, their lids narrowing slowly. He looked like he was a hundred, even though he couldn’t be any older than forty. Crags and scars lined what was visible of his heavily bearded face, a hundred battles written on a canvas of human skin. His beard was a salt-and-pepper color and was neatly braided in two knots that reached down to his chest. His hair was just as long, albeit unbraided, and draped loosely over his shoulders. Beneath the massive pelt around his shoulders he wore his armor, scarred so deeply in places as to have the paint revealing the gunmetal grey of the metal beneath it. His hands hung loosely by his side next to his weapons, though they were not yet drawn.

After Irolia had finished introducing herself, the Great Wolf hawked a fat wad of snot onto the frigid plating of the landing platform, not once taking his eyes off the women. ”Why should I give a damn who the hell you are?” he challenged, his voice like gravel caught in a motor, the voice of a man who had been yelling orders over the din of battle for many years. ”Get off my world. You’re not welcome here, outsiders.” He folded his arms across his chest and cocked his head back slightly, regarding these outsiders with complete disdain. They were a disruption to the status quo; he didn’t like that.

@Darasuum @Raven_41

 

[Darth Valravus]

___________________

It had been a long time since Zan had been among her own people. It was both refreshing and a bit desturbing to be in the presence of her fellow beings. Turning her head to the side after the phlegm was spat she wondered if it was both of them that were offending this Great Wolf or if it was more Irolia. Had it been anyone else, some nemoidian merchant, a Hutt Vigio she would cracked their skull with her own hands.

Taking a deep breath she swallowed any pride that would have kept her from acting in her diplomatic interests. She knew her clan had been small, and perhaps a hundred or more years of isolation and separation had caused others of the Deucalians to forget her tribe. "I come with an opportunity Great Wolf. I do not wish to offend or trespass. That is not my intent..."

A moment passed as she stood and eyed the wary guards on either side wondering if they would move against her and her comrade. If they did than Zan would maybe, maybe, be able to defend herself. But even then they were surrounded by a fleet of enemies and a host of other forces that she was not informed. Even so it would be unlikely they would survive if an actual fight broke out.

With all that in mind she did not want to appear weak. Deucalians respected the strength of a warrior. A mighty defiant enemy earned more respect than a groveling weak ally. Next Zan spoke in Deucalic knowing that all but Irolia would understand. <"I am not from this world but I am no outsider. I would expect a leader to treat his guests with hospitality he would wish himself to receive."> It was bold and in all fairness a gamble to be so direct but Zan was nothing if not true to her principles. If she were the leader of her own people she would show the same courtesy she expected of others. The cold wind wipped past her to emphasize the harshness of the environment around them as she waited to see for the seasoned warriors' response.

@Raven_41 @Painus

 

[Irolia Shen]

The man in front of them looked much like an old tree that has grown over hundreds of years, all the years of harsh opposition he must have stood again and won. All that would have been impressive, if it wasn't for how annoyed Irolia got with him. She didn't show it on her face, as that was very stoic, but those with force sensitivity could feel the annoyance radiating off of her. It was a low boiling, like a small flame not yet catching on to a forest.

Crossing her arms, the blue-skinned Sith listened, but as soon as Zan spoke a foreign language, most likely what the people spoke on this planet, she let her eyes gaze at Zan. One thing Irolia was certain off, they have travelled far too long and went through far too much trouble, just to get to this stupid planet. She was not about to leave and if Zan wasn't finding a way to gain access to the place, Irolia would, though it seemed very likely that Zan was.

@Painus @Darasuum

 

[The Storyteller]

The Great Wolf kept his arms folded across his chest, staring at the newcomers through narrow eyes. They were a disruption to their cherished isolation, proof that the outside galaxy could find them; and if the outside galaxy could find them, it could invade them. There would need to be preparations made for that eventuality, more anti-aircraft emplacements. They could use the climate to their advantage, but he knew a prolonged siege would end in their defeat – they simply didn’t have the numbers or supplies to support that action. They relied on trade, but only on their terms and with trustworthy, reliable merchants.

The frigid wind buffeted them, and small ice flakes began to form on his beard. He huffed, sending a great cloud of breath out not unlike that of a dragon’s. The more vocal woman, the one who looked like a brick shithouse, apologized and offered an opportunity, but the Great Wolf simply stared at her, unimpressed.

It wasn’t until she spoke in Deucalic that she had his attention.

He bristled, unfolding his arms and flexing his hands, opening and closing them slowly. This woman, this… outsider, spoke perfectly in their language, challenging his hostility. For several tense moments, he simply stared at them. Then, completely unexpectedly, he laughed heartily. Once. ”Hah! You’re brave, girl,” he responded in Deucalic, ”Good thing I didn’t have you shot.” He turned his attention to Irolia, cocking his head. ”And you, girl? Lose your nerve? You’ve said naught but four words to me,” he said, this time in Basic. His voice sounded like gravel and his tone was less-than-pleasant. He shook his head and gestured towards the door behind him.

”Come, outsiders, we’ll discuss your little opportunity.” He turned around and began to walk inside, his honor guard watching the two women closely, ”And then you can feck right off Deucalia!” he shouted over his shoulder, stomping through the doorway to the warmth of the indoors.

He led them through the halls to a great chamber with a long – almost comically so – dining table, fit to host a battalion’s worth of soldiers. Many were eating now, and several heads turned to regard their chief when he entered the room. It was significantly warmer in here and smelled of good meat and ale. The Great Wolf brought his guests towards his end of the table, gesturing towards two open seats next to his at the end. His honor guard remained close by, having already eaten. The Great Wolf took a seat and immediately began digging into his food, tearing off chunks of roast chicken and swallowing gulps of ale between bites.

”Go on, then. Speak your piece.”

@Darasuum @Raven_41

 

[Darth Valravus]

___________________

The tension had grown increasingly with each moment. Zan prayed that Irolia would not do something stupid in a preemptive attempt to stifle any backlash. But the Pantoran Sith had not been triggered to act inappropriately and the local Deucalians had not thought the two Sith offensive enough to outright attack them.

She did relax as seemed to begin going towards the lower end of ideal. Things could still possibly be optimal however they could always take a turn for the worse depending on the events to come. Zan bowed her head in respectful thanks for the hospitality shown towards the two of them.

A pause came after the Great Wolf spoke to allow Irolia to answer his question. Zan would wait until she annswered if she spoke. If she ended up filling the conversational void with silence then the Deucalian Sith would speak anyways. "She knows her place and in this circumstance as a subordinate and pragmatically inferior to the situation she understands that I am the one to differ to." She hoped the man understood what she meant by her words. Those best suited for the job, even if of higher rank in an organization might be better suited to advise and lead in the given situation. However in this case Zan was both.

As the two made their way inside the woman observed the eating area. It was not too different from the common mess and eating area in the Empire social wise. However there was usually an officer area and Zan ate alone regardless. All the same she sat a spot away and across from the Great Wolf if he sat on one side. Otherwise she chose to sit a the corner of the end with him. The direct approach was the most comfortable with Zan yet so few Sith understood it. It was refreshing to be in an environment that appreciated that sort of mentality even when she was at odds with an individual of specific agenda.

"THank you, Great Wolf, for seeing us. You are not the type of man that dances around the subject at hand. Yes?" It was what she felt was a rhetorical question. It was pretty obvious the man was direct and to the point in most cases which was efficient. "I am Deuclian though not born of Deucalia as you may have guessed. I grew up for a significant period of time among the Sith Empire. I am here today to hopefully bridge that gap."

Looking up and down she looked at those still present, eating their foot. Zan took a drink to give her words a moment respite. "I am here to better both sides. The gods of the skies still embraced with the gods of the earth did they not? Here I am trying to be an emessary of our two worlds, of both and neither. Our people on Deucalia need supplies. The Empire needs a different type of supplies. All the same we can all provide one another with what the other needs yes? I want to make that happen." After she finished speaking Zan dug into the food provided. She did not hesitate to take strips off of the food regardless of present or clean silverware.

@Raven_41 @Painus

 

[Irolia Shen]

Irolia huffed, a bit offended by his allusion, "I don't lose my nerves" shoot the Pantoren back with her own less-than-pleasant reply. "I'm just along for the ride" commented blue-skinned Sith, to get it out of the way. Zan was lucky that Irolia's mind wasn't very unstable right now or she would have jumped the woman for calling her those things.

Following the warrior in front of them, Irolia glanced a bit around the place, a great hall of the sort. At least this eating area looked much more homely in a way. The Empire loved their clean steal walls with not much decoration or provide a sort of homeness to their rooms. Glancing around she did notice a few looked intensely at her, most likely because of her skin colour, however, she was used to that.

Irolia took the other provided seat and just listened to Zan talk about the reason for coming here. Not having anything to add, she just started to eat and drink, notice how everybody else is eating and drink, so she did the same.

@Darasuum @Painus

 

[The Storyteller]

The Great Wolf glared down at Irolia Shen as she spoke. "Eat or wait outside." He shook his head from side to side.

And suddenly, the chief went on and on. "I know everything about trading. But the one game changer now-- What do you think? And we get nothing? What do we get? We get nothing. We have leadership, again-- your leadership doesn't respect us. You can certainly vouch for that." The Great Wolf reached up to rub his chin, then he took a sip of his ale. "We spend as a tribe. You don’t think what I offer keeps it's value. It is a horrible, horrible way to think. You know, today I want to strengthen my army, because they took the fuel. And when I negotiate, I get the one group. The strongest one. They don’t get it." He drank more.

Suddenly, the chief stood up. "So ladies and gentlemen, we will stand up to the aggressive push to destabilize and dominate the region!" The men and women clapped maniacally.

"Our theme which I love may be the worst crisis, we will not only discuss a rebalancing of our affairs, but our traffic, and by the way it is. We’ve got to solve the problem. And that’s what a deal is."


@Raven_41 @Darasuum

 

[Darth Valravus]

___________________

She sat there quietly and listened to the man blabber on about something or other. Zan had no idea what he was talking about and sounded like he was just trying to slowly connect the dots in his own mind, figuring out what he thought and felt only as he was saying them rather than thinking of them before hand and then presenting them. How was he a Great Wolf, she wondered.

"It's quite simple really. The Empire comes and does trade with everyone here. We bring our resources and mine, establish some exchange of money and both side benefit. You and your tribe gain technology that the other tribes don't and also gain more money from the rewards from mining the resources here. There's no down side. What say you?" She raised a mug of ale waiting for him to agree and clink her own cup in agreement.

@Raven_41 @Ediwa

 

[The Storyteller]

It was too much for the chief. Way more than he can think through so quick. Yet she offered him upper hand over other tribes, but other than that, nothing sure was laid down. He wanted all cards on the table, not just thrown around words. Anyone can say what Zan said. "You look at these things here I say you know what’s happening more and more. I do not want your Empire to trade with everyone here." The Great Wolf felt sick of the idea. "I will be in charge of permits, no one hands out a chip without my authorization." The second part sounded better. "About mining. That’s going to have 250 or 300 people. It's going to see so many-- I guess thousands of credits from all of these on my lands." He looked at Zan's raised cup. "I believe in easing of tensions and improved relations with the Empire, with all of your many problems, and the tremendous fortune and great company. They’re saying, 'What’s happening here.' So we have great great power." The Great Wolf raised his cup and awaited. His head slightly tilted aside, satisfying smirk on his face.


@Raven_41 @Darasuum

 

[Darth Valravus]

___________________

He was still strange and continued to talk oddly but all the same it seemed like he was agreeing to what she was saying. Basic was not her standard tongue and maybe it was not his either. Still since Irolia was there she thought it best to continue talking in basic so the pantoran could understand. The Great Wold did not allow the acolyte to get a word in to add to Zan's own words though and seemed to accept what the Crusader was saying.

Bringing the cup to meet the Great Wolf she toasted before bringing the beverage to her lips and taking a deep drink. The container emptied as she guzzled the libation before wiping her lips and letting out a belch. "We'll be back with goods. Thank you for having us." she got up and looked towards Irolia and then got up to head out. There was much to report of her findings. Deucalia had been thought lost and now she had rediscovered it for the Empire. All it had taken was a lot of work, the threat of injury and death as well as probably quite a bit of money and patience. A small price to pay.

❅ END THREAD ❅​

@Raven_41 @Ediwa