Ask [Elphrona] Demon Hunt

Darth Tempest

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Truth be told, Vahliri had attempted to keep herself sufficiently busy since the Imperial ball on Eriadu. The ‘formal occasion’ had proven to be little more than heartache and embarrassment for the half-Annfyn in the end - and it was easier to commit herself to goals and objectives, rather than continue to linger on her own torrent of emotions. Such had been her reality for the prior few days, and it was only now that she was between assignments and had more free time for her own pursuits, that the half-Annfyn made the journey to Elphrona. This was something she’d wanted to do since the end of the party, and she was committed to seeing it through regardless of difficulty.

Against what was likely her better judgment, Vahliri had reached out and invited Sol to join her on the little expedition. While the pair simply.. Didn’t get along, their mutual friendship with Altair made them uneasy partners in the quest. If they would manage not to strangle each other along the way.

As a neutral world, Vahliri surmised that arriving to Elphrona in Sith attire was almost certain to draw attention and unease she didn’t want. Instead, the half-Annfyn was adorned in regular, civilian clothes - sporting an off-the-shoulder sweater, jeans and thigh-high boots. Her black hair was tied back into a loose bun, held together with a gemstone pin, familiar - albeit less flashy - than the one she had worn on Eriadu. Her saber and a few other supplies were tucked into the satchel slung across her shoulder.

Having arrived ahead of Sol, Vahliri decided to make her way into town and loung at a nearby coffee shop, occupying one of the curb-side, outdoor tables. The weather was pleasant enough that the half-Annfyn didn’t really mind waiting, taking small sips from her spiced tea. Of course, the more she thought about it, Vahliri couldn’t help but wince a bit as her mind traveled to Sol.

She was half-convinced the Kel’dor was going to show up to the coffee-shop in full Sith attire and with an alchemy-altered monstrosity on his shoulders, completely dousing the low-key vibe they were going for.


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Sol Kenuk

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Sol had enjoyed the ball, for the most part. Of course, there had been quite a bit of drama, thrown fists and even weapons, broken bones and broken hearts. It mattered little to the Kel'dor. He hadn't been in the middle of it, merely a bemused observer, someone who saw the action as little more than late night entertainment. It seemed that with drunk minds came hostile intentions. But, rather consistently through it all, Altair had been at the forefront of it. Or rather, most of it. Sol realizes now that his chances with the Tiefling were rather slim. Impossible, really. Despite the crude jokes and the teasing, Altair seemed to have a particular interest in women. The Kel'dor hadn't noticed any furious ex-boyfriends, after all.

He had been initially disappointed. Worse still after he had digested the fact later that evening. But it was easy enough to toss out of the window of his mind. Sol didn't love Altair. Not like those women apparently had. But he did like Altair. So, why bother with causing drama over it? Why start a scene? The Sith Master would never get to enjoy the tender touch of the famous Tiefling, but he could be a friend, just the same. Sol supposed the only real question remaining was what a friendship meant to the Kel'dor. Did it mean responsibility? Commitment? No, it wasn't so demanding as a romantic relationship, but nonetheless, it offered some companionship, some cheap thrills and exciting expeditions.

Sol supposed that, lover or not, Altair fit that mold nicely.

Would he ever give his life for the other man? Well, that was a different question entirely. Sol was bitterly selfish, at least in matters of life and death, but this was not one of those moments. There was no danger here, no threat of death. Only two people that both seemed to enjoy the presence of the bright-eyed Tiefling, each in their own separate ways. Vahliri was another story altogether. She was needlessly hostile and Sol trusted her about as far as he could throw her, which wasn't very much for the scrawny man at all. Still, their goals aligned. The Kel'dor wouldn't sabotage their shared mission for so long as she didn't try to stab him in the back.

When his shuttle touches down, there is little to mark him as a Sith. He strides through the streets in casual attire, an orange shirt and a sleek black jacket, with baggy dark pants to match. His lightsaber was tucked away, out of sight, as was his vibro-knife. He looked little more than the average person, a fatal mistake for anyone looking for a fight. Still, there were a few curious eyes upon him, likely due to the creature that was draped across his shoulders, it's tail flicking idly back and forth as the Kel'dor slipped through the town. It wasn't some giant, mutated rat, but rather, a pleasant looking cyber-cat, purring lightly against the Sith's neck.

It takes little effort to find Vahliri, given that she wasn't actively hiding herself from the force. Sol could sense her like a pebble against the current of a rushing river, and so he made his way toward the quaint looking coffee shop. He spots Vahliri with fiery eyes, and strides toward where she sits, sipping her spiced tea. The Kel'dor provides her with a dip of his head as he draws near, and that customary baritone drawn into a thunderous drawl, "Might a join you?" Because despite the tension between the pair, Sol was still polite and well mannered, and not so likely to start an argument in the middle of such a public space.

Sol was here for a reason, and that reason was the only thing he cared to focus on for now.

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Darth Tempest

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Minutes came and went, and Vahliri didn’t particularly mind the wait. Unlike most of the planets she’d been sent to, Elphrona was a genuinely pleasant planet - complete with chilly, autumnal weather that made her spiced tea all the more pleasant to drink. Sol could’ve completely fucked off for all she cared, perfectly content to do nothing but chill at the coffee shop for the foreseeable future. Of course, he didn’t.

It wasn’t too much longer before the half-Annfyn lifted her gaze - amber eyes fixating onto the familiar visage of Sol. Much to her relief, the Kel’dor had opted to dress like an actual person for once - opted to forgo the budget Hallowe’en aesthetic he usually went for. A fundamental positive, as it successfully didn’t draw unnecessary attention to themselves. A low bar, but off to a good start thus far.

Vahliri flashed a small smile, lifting her cup towards the Kel’dor. “Just this once? Sure, why not.” Likely a poor decision. She gestured for him to have a seat at the table she was occupying, glancing over at the menu in front of her. She didn’t have any real intentions of ordering food, and largely did it to pass the time. Now that Sol was here though, she could get right down to business.

“I took the liberty of doing some exploring before you arrived,” She looked over at Sol. “Overheard some conversation from local hunters. Apparently, a pack of young Charhounds has been spotted in the past few weeks - which they’ve been pursuing restlessly.” Despite their domesticable nature, the native creatures of Elphrona were rife with stigma. Many believed the animals to be hellish demons and bad omens, and it led to them being hated by many. Even those who didn’t buy into the suspicion looked upon the hounds as a pest, due to their fire-breathing tendencies that had caught entire crops ablaze in the past.

They were rare - hunted to near extinction - and Vahliri knew this wasn’t an opportunity they could afford to miss.

“We’ll likely need to do some more asking around for a location, though.”


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Sol Kenuk

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Ah, so Vahliri could be pleasant? Good. Sol takes a seat across the table, his eyes flickering through the crowds that wandered past. The ambience was pleasant, and the air was comfortable. With any luck, this would be a relaxing expedition with little to worry about. He listens silently as the woman goes on to mention the hunters, and the Charhounds that they had been tracking. A thoughtful talon taps lightly against the table in quiet response.

"It sounds as if speaking with these hunters might be a step in the right direction. They'll know the location of the animals, or at the very least, how to track them down." Of course, there was the matter of the hunters themselves. With the stigma surrounding the Charhounds, they'd want to kill the beasts before Sol and Vahliri could get their hands on one. He supposed it was probably as simple as getting ahead of the hunters themselves, securing one of the animals without having to worry about causing hostilities with the locals.

"Where did you see them last?" Sol inquires, asking about the hunters that had been tracking the beasts.

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Darth Tempest

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Despite the smiles and friendly demeanor, Vahliri wasn’t the least bit pleased having to share the same general vicinity as Sol. Their relationship had practically been defined by barbed comments and glares at one another - all rooted back in the fact that Sol couldn’t keep his creeper-ass talons to himself. All the same, their goals and mutual friend aligned enough that the half-Annfyn was willing to put aside their differences and work together to see the matter through.

Up until Sol royally got on her nerves. Which if historical precedent was anything to go off of, likely wouldn’t take long.

“That was my thought anyway,” She said after a moment, sipping down the last of her spiced tea and proceeding to place the mug back down onto the counter. “If we know their general vicinity or where they’ve been corralled, we can track them down easily enough.” They were Sith, and Vahliri was entirely confident in finding the Charhounds from her abilities alone. She gave a small nod at Sol’s question, jutting her chin for Sol to pick his ass up out of the chair. “Heading for a cantina a few blocks away. Willing to bet they’re still there and less sober than when they arrived.”

With that, Vahliri rose up from her seat - placing a few crowns down for the tea before casually strolling ahead. “Coming?”
 

Sol Kenuk

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A cantina? Well, that would certainly make things interesting. Bar fights, drunkards, and addicts, all in one place. Such locations were typically rife with chaos that the Kel'dor preferred to avoid, though he couldn't deny the aspect of taking advantage of such facilities. He rises from his chair, stepping gracefully after the woman as they leave the quaint little coffee shop behind.

He quietly responds to Vahliri's final question with a polite acknowledgement, "Of course." She'd sense that he was following. If the woman had already done some exploring, then her sense of direction was likely better than the Kel'dor's, at least in the town itself. The Cyber-Cat on his shoulders is still purring quietly against the Sith Master's neck.

He weaves through the crowd, his expression stony and his eyes as cold as ice. Now that the two seemed to have a general plan in mind on where to start their hunt, he's a bit less inclined to talk. Sol had little issue engaging in conversation when he needed to, but he wasn't about to try and make small talk with Vahliri, of all people. Chat didn't matter much, anyways. They were here to complete their objective and then leave.

Better that Sol focuses on that than trying to converse with the woman he knew to be needlessly hostile, from previous encounters. Ultimately, it was their shared relationship with Altair that seemed to keep the two from snapping at one another. How long that would last was yet to be discovered.

For now, he simply follows quietly behind the Champion, trusting that she knew where she was going.

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Darth Tempest

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Quite naturally, Vahliri had no qualms with taking the lead through the modestly populated town. The streets were busy and full of people at that particular moment - with a nearby Farmer’s Market drawing in a sizable crowd of people doing their daily shopping. The half-Annfyn kept her amber eyes fixed ahead, clearly on a mission as she carved a path towards the little cantina she’d seen the hunters head into. All the better for her. She didn’t need anyone questioning her sense of direction - least of all someone like Sol who already had earned a permanent place on her shitlist.

"Alright, I'm just gonna ask," As they walked, however, Vahliri couldn’t help but glance back over her shoulder. “What the hell’s up with Karfield over here?” She gestured a finger back vaguely in the direction of the Cybercat. She’d seen plenty of animal droids that were kept as pets, though couldn’t help but wonder why the Kel’dor felt the need to bring his own for their expedition.

Regardless of his answer, Vahliri continued to lead them through the town until they reached the cantina in question. The Lace Lady was illuminated by a violet, neon sign above the arched doors - from which the scent of spice and sound of music both permeated. The half-Annfyn only glanced back in the general direction of Sol before slipping inside. As she stepped in, Vahliri made a point to pop in a pair of noise-dampening earbuds she always carried - a necessity whenever entering club environments, due to her sensitive hearing.

Once inside, it only took Vahliri a few moments of glancing around to spot the trio of men - currently huddled around the bar laugh. “There,” Vahliri said back to Sol, immediately starting to cut her way through the crowds and dancefloor. Despite the desire to move to the music, Vahliri kept her attention strictly on the task at hand. Which was made even easier by the notion she’d sooner be caught dead than dance with the Kel’dor.

“Another round for these gentleman, on me,” Vahliri said as she reached the bar, signaling down the bartender to refill whatever the hunter’s had been drinking. She slid a few crowns across the bar to cover it, flashing the trio a smile. The free round of drinks was acknowledged by some slurred cheers from the men, all of them looking rather pleased at the prospect.

“Why thank ya darlin',” One of the hunters flashed Vahliri a yellowed grin, “What do we owe that for?”

“Just a conversation,” Vahliri said with a pleasant expression. “Was hoping you might be able to help me and my.. Friend,” She almost winced at the word, “In tracking down some wildlife.” She jutted her chin to Sol so that the Kel’dor might fill them in further.


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Sol Kenuk

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Behind his mask, the slightest hint of a smile ghosts across his maw. The Cyber-Cat was present for a few reasons, other than the fact that it was rather cute, of course. How many would look at a man with a cat droid and suspect him of being a Sith? Better still, the charm of the mechanical creature could come in handy when it came to swaying stubborn minds. As Sol was here not as someone advertising their place among the Sith, then he would act the part as well as he looked it.

"It's cute." Sol finally replies, though of course, he doesn't go into much more detail than that. If it had been a friend he were walking with, he might have eagerly delved into the more intricate details of why he had brought the droid. That was not a side that Vahliri would be given freely, though. She had likely caught a glimpse of it on Nar Shaddaa, between the chatter of Sol and Altair. Eventually, they find their way to the cantina in question, it's neon sign glowing overhead as the Kel'dor slipped inside after his partner.

Of course... he does note the earbuds that Vahliri slips into her ears. Sol supposed that he could be glad not to have such sensitive hearing. Perhaps if he ever found himself fighting an Annfyn, he would be wise to use this weakness against them.

Slipping toward the bar, the Kel'dor sets his sights upon the three hunters that his partner was carving her way towards. It was rather smart to raise the men's disposition before talks had even begun, but here in the bar, why not seize such an opportunity? Drinks led to loose tongues, which in turn, led to valuable information. When the half Annfyn brings up their hunt, Sol steps closer, flashes the trio a polite smile behind his mask.

"We're hunting Charhounds." Sol adds with honeyed vocals. "And we could use some assistance on where to begin our hunt." The Kel'dor crosses his arms with a relaxed posture, his talons tapping against the sleeves of his shirt. He could pay them for their words, even offer his Cyber-Cat to the trio, should they desire it. Sol had no personal connection to the droid, merely intended to utilize it for whatever the situation required. Perhaps Vahliri's purchase of their drinks would be enough, but if not, Sol had plenty more to offer.

Of course, there was always the path of simply utilizing the force. In such a crowded location, though? The Kel'dor had no interest in risking that exposure.

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