Ask A Game on Gwe'nee

[Alicia Drey]

A Game on Gwe'nee
​

L A Y P A - S I D I A N ;

It had been a standard two weeks Korriban-standard time since Alicia had departed the ancient world. From there to Dathomir she had learned of G'wenee: a tropical tradeworld located Braxant Run. Alicia had coerced an Imperial shuttle to bring her there so she could find other means of transportation towards the Core. As a hub for trade and commerce Alicia deduced the possibility that there could be some ship capable of the long journey from there to Chandrila which was her end destination. She certainly wasn't going to ask Verse Tillo to bring her there on the fact that she didn't want to be in another Sith's debt.

If anyone was going to be involved in debt with Alicia Drey it would be them with her.

Laypa-Sidian was a city located on the tropical world. It was here that Alicia had disembarked from the transport she had used from Dathomir and entered the city to begin her next search. Having grown up on Kalist meant that she was unaccustomed and inexperienced when it came to how the Galaxy operated. But she remembered tales from the other survivors of an ill-fated survey mission about how they missed the pleasant experience of simply being inside a bar, a restaurant or a simple walk in Hanna City. She had heard other similar tales from the Acolytes from her time on Korriban.

It was from these tales that Alicia put together that was in these types of places that she could find the type of person she was looking for. She imagined a pilot coming off a long journey looking for relaxation and a drink. So her first destination was one of the nearest bars to the port that she had just disembarked onto.

Looking up from the street Alicia read that the bar before her was called The Weneen Draw. No doubt the owner had drawn inspiration from the name of the sector that the G'wenee inhabited. Opening the door and stepping inside Alicia surveyed the bar for it's patrons. There was a drunk Nautolan; a Neimodian was playing Subacc against a house-droid; and several other near-Humans drinking, conversing or smoking together across the building. There were even a few Humans which made her feel more comfortable.

She approached the bar to converse with the bartender. Purchasing a glass of water (with ice) Alicia begun asking questions pertaining to transport down towards the Core.

@Krinn Nelthar

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

The streets are crowded, salt scented air dancing through alleys upon a humid breeze. Crowds chatter and hover over street vendors, exotic fruits that not even Krinn could recognize. The people seemed eager to enjoy the warmth of the coastal city, and Krinn could hardly blame them. Had his mind not been wrapped in such grim tangles of dark emotion, the Nautolan would be smiling right alongside them. Olive skin is still damp beneath dark robes as the Champion shifts quietly into a local bar, a habit of his, and one that another Sith on the planet had already been made aware of. But Krinn and the Acolyte had parted ways, or rather, the Nautolan had managed to slip away, because the boy had seemed rather persistent about sticking with him. Regardless, it was inevitable that Krinn would find his way into another cantina, though this one was not on the beach.

It's brightly lit and dazzling, music cutting through vocal ambience, holo-dancers glowing in vibrant display, and a menu of equally bright color hanging over the polished bar. The scent in the air is sour, alcohol and smoke, a mixture of freshly cooked foods and perfume that was nearly too much for him. Krinn goes forward anyways, blowing a sigh from olive lips as he settled down at the bar and surveyed the menu. It's glowing contents burned at his sensitive eyes, so he's quick to let his gaze catch upon the first beverage he recognizes before looking away, just as the Bartender arrived, a grizzled looking human male that's quick to take his request for Calamari Xinphar, a strong brew suited for the tastes of more aquatic races. While the bartender saw to making his drink, the Nautolan idly allowed his dark gaze to wander the interior, and his senses stretch outward, probing curiously at the other patrons. There was nothing of significant interest, though. Typical civilians, though he's almost certain one of them is passed out in the corner, probably too drunk to stand.

Krinn's maroon vision is eventually drawn back to the bar he's settled at when the Bartender returns with his pink colored brew. A quick sip provides a salty, yet sweet wash across his tongue, much like the many sea fruits of his home-world. He's quiet as he sips at the drink for a time, clawed hands clicking idly against the counter. It's only a few minutes later that he hears the front door swing open again. Normally, the Nautolan was quite paranoid of his surroundings. He's far too tired to devote energy to checking every single person and thing in his vicinity now, though. So he doesn't look up, just lets his heavy eyes linger upon the pink hue of his alcohol, before the newest patron finally finds herself at the bar he's already sitting at. Water. She was purchasing water at a bar. Any other day, that might have been amusing. The Sith doesn't really care to react to it now, though. He takes another sip of his drink as she goes on to ask for passage to the cove. That wasn't his problem, though.

@Exulae

 

[Alicia Drey]

Alicia listened intently as the bartender conversed with her. Every syllable she uttered was mixed with the essence of the dark side. It was an ability that she had managed to manifest over the past three years since she had begun studying the ways of the Force. She was not yet powerful enough to influence the minds of the Force-sensitive, let alone strong and powerful of the Force-strong, but men such as the one she was coercing for information about passage into the Core were easy to persuade.

It turned out that the man knew very little. He had described cargo haulers, light freighters- an assortment of ships- which passed through G'wenee but none that he knew of that came from the Core worlds. This made sense given the territories, factions and the war that was currently on-going in that region of space. It became clear to Alicia that in order to navigate her way down to Chandrila she would have to pass through the Empire into some neutral sectors down into Republic space. She gathered that in the case of the later- if she were discovered to be Sith- would result in death or imprisonment.

Neither outcomes were desirable.

"The Neimodian over there is a Captain of a cargo hauler," the Bartender explained. "He is a regular. Does regular runs along the Braxant. Work has been difficult recently for a lot of the Captains and their crews. With the war going on it's hard to get the permits to carry cargo regardless of what it is. A lot of that work has been picked up by the Imperials and their armoured escorts so the likes of my friend over there less then desirable. If their cargo got hit it could be bad for whichever side he is delivering for, see?"

Alicia averted her gaze from the bar towards the Neimodian. He was playing Subacc- a famous game for gamblers where the objective was to reach the score of 21 or as close too it with the cards dealt by the dealer. It could be a +21 or a negative score- if the player reached 21 then they could claim 'Subacc' and take the jackpot. She had been taught the rules by one of her Uncles on Kalist a couple of months before he had passed from a heart-attack.

"Thank you," Alicia said to the Bartender. Taking that as his cue that her inquiry was finished he turned to serve another Nautolan who had entered the room. Through the Force she sensed that he was a follower of the dark side. As she watched the Bartender serve the pink-coloured liquor to the other Sith she quietly watched Krinn as he took a gulp of his drink.

@Nevermourn

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

He's rigid, where he sits nearby, not necessarily all too eager in overhearing the conversation of the woman who speaks with the bartender, at least not until something sharp stabs at his mind, a corruption that drips like sour venom into the alcohol scented atmosphere. The Dark Side had become so suddenly palpable that Krinn thought he might choke on it. And... he isn't entirely sure about what Senin might think if he finds out that, not only did there appear to be another Sith on the planet, but this one was influencing civilians. Well, the Nautolan certainly wasn't one to tattle on the sins of others. It was in the nature of the Sith to use everything, and everyone, to their advantage, was it not? But why she would be seeking passage to the core worlds was a mystery. It was fairly rare for Sith to infiltrate that part of the galaxy, though he supposed it wasn't exactly his business. Krinn himself had snuck off to Coruscant nearly a month ago to sate his own desire for power. Perhaps this woman was on a similar quest?

The Champion draws his drink to his lips once more, taking a slow sip of the fruit and sea salt alcohol that burns as it washed down his throat.

He is curious about Alicia, but he's never been the type to initiate conversation with others. He's also not about to out her in front of everyone, because that was just common courtesy. They might be in Imperial Space, but that didn't mean the residents weren't terrified or distrustful of their force sensitive overlords. Of course, he's aware that she's watching him. She can probably sense what he is just as well. Krinn was far from friendly, though. No, he was an irritable and antisocial wretch of a man, and the other dark sider would no doubt discover that for herself, soon enough.

"Got a staring problem?" Krinn doesn't look up from his drink, but his voice is both dry and inquisitive.

@Exulae

 

[Alicia Drey]

"Yeah."

The nonchalant demeanour of the Nautolan- as he stood there, drinking his drink, expressing no concern for his surroundings- would be admirable if it wasn't for the fact that there something clearly wrong with him. Anger, a drunken stupor- something else that clung onto the man like a stench. Alicia was unconcerned with these things. She did not know who he was to care, and truth be told there wasn't anyone else that came to mind that she cared about save for herself.

"I am looking for passage down to the Core. Do you know how I might get there?"

@Nevermourn

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

If he weren't in such a sorry state, he might have snorted humorously at the simple response. Krinn leans forward upon the stool he sat stiffly upon, crossing his arms over the polished bar, as if he were jealously guarding his alcohol. He's not, of course. He's merely resting his weight on the counter. As for passageway into the core, the Nautolan offers little more than a light shrug. Sure, he knew how to get there, at least in his own experience, but that required subterfuge, and that wasn't something he was going to discuss in the middle of the bar. In any case, she seemed to have the right idea already by considering a cargo vessel as her method of transport, as long as she didn't walk around the Republic planets oozing the dark side of the force. Then again, with the outrage against the Jedi, perhaps it wouldn't even matter. What Jedi would be in the Core? Unless of course, like a Sith, they'd be undercover. It didn't matter, though. A Jedi seeking to go undetected wasn't going to challenge a Sith in the middle of the core worlds.

"You'd be better off asking the cargo haulers. Offer them enough in payment, and they'd take you just about anywhere." Krinn offers blandly, merely echoing the suggestion made by the bartender. "Or take a public shuttle from a neutral or allied world." Because, really, even with the war, it wasn't that hard for those who knew what they were doing. The Nautolan had been there, done that, as it was said.

@Exulae

 

[Alicia Drey]

"You sound experienced," Alicia smiled. Taking a gulp of the water she had purchased she then lowered the glass onto the bar counter and continued to summarize the taller Nautolan. "Have you been to the Core much, then?"

@Nevermourn

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

The olive skinned Nautolan raises a hairless brow, and then takes another sip of his alcohol, because a part of him just wanted to drink in peace, wallow in his emotions without being disturbed. He wasn't going to chat about personal business with another Sith, though. His time on Coruscant had been entirely his own business. At the time, he had been seeking to further his power in the Dark Side. Perhaps once he dragged himself out of this depression, he would pursue that path again.

"No." Krinn finally answers, because he realizes that he had gotten lost in his thoughts for a bit too long, and the other patron was likely still waiting for a reply. "I try to avoid the core worlds if I don't have business there." He finishes off his drink with another few gulps, and lets the glass slide across the polished countertop with a light push of his clawed finger. "Why do you want to go there?" Krinn isn't sure that he expects an honest response, and in all honesty, he doesn't really care. But the chatter is a distraction from his thoughts, at least.

@Exulae

 

[Alicia Drey]

Why?

Alicia picked up her glass again to take another swirl. But this time she didn't swallow it immediately. She allowed it to play in her mouth. Along the roof down to her cheeks and between her teeth. It was a practiced thing. During times of extreme thirst and rationing she had made up the routine to fill the recesses of her mouth so that by the time it was done it didn't feel so dry to her. Now, as she stood in the bar doing it- remembering the past as she considered the question- Alicia lowered the glass back as she swallowed.

"I had been left out in the sun for far too long." Snapping out of her nostalgia she turned her gaze back to the Nautolan and considered him. He was barely taller then her but more lean, muscular, and physically built in comparison to her. As if he had spent much of his life honing his body for physicality and strength. Alicia derived her strength from the dark side. Back on Korriban she had seen herself perform feats that she hadn't thought herself possible. Dylus' had shown her what she was capable of.

But as she appraised the Nautolan- sensing that he too was a member of the Force-strong- Alicia wondered what he was capable of. It occurred to her that the task ahead of her would be simpler if she could coerce another into assistance. There was no doubt in her mind that she could find out what she needed by herself, and if you heard her thoughts about the tenants of the Sith code then one might consider the idea of using another to her advantage hypocritical.

But Alicia had never cared about what others thought, and in spite of his obvious drunken stupor, this Nautolan might be of some assistance. He had already told her that he had been to the Core. Perhaps it was a mistake on his part (or Alicia had taken it in the wrong way) but the fact that he off-handily admitted that he never went to the Core unless he had business there implied that at some point in time he had some.

"Have you ever heard about the Lost 43?"

@Nevermourn

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

Left out in the sun? He's entirely uncertain as to what that even means, and Krinn blinks large eyes at the woman, confusion sparkling within the deep, maroon depths. When next she speaks, it's an inquiry, and not of something that the Nautolan is familiar with. The Lost Forty-Three? He's not entirely sure if he cares for an explanation, either. Typically curious in nature, recent events had dulled the mind of the Sith, tempered his desires like a chain of depression coiling tight around his thoughts.

"No." He finally responds, a simple enough answer to her question.

@Exulae

 

[Alicia Drey]

"That makes sense. Everyone forgot about them."

Alicia shifted her pose so that her hip was leaning on the bar. Facing Krinn directly she begun playing with the ice in her glass of water with the tip of her finger as she conversed with the Nautolan. A little chinks and dinks softly rattled the rim of the glass as she spoke: "I can tell you about the Lost 43 but my senses tell me that you do not really care for the tale. You are a member of the Sith Order, are you not? I know a tale that would weaken the position of our Empire's enemies. A mistake of the Jedi, of Chandrila, and of the Republic."

Alicia paused to let her words sink in for a moment. The exhilaration of sharing these small aspects of the Lost 43 and their story combined with the shame and fear that she was telling a mere stranger. But she had calculated that if the two parted ways and never saw each other again then it was likely that the man would forget. What did he care about some survey team that went missing twenty-nine years ago?

On the other hand Alicia could tell that this Nautolan was Force-strong. That presented another opportunity for her to exploit her own tale for her nefarious means. When a minute passed- enough time that Alicia felt for her words to sink in- she asked: "Do you have a name, stranger?"

@Nevermourn

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

Ah, well, this one really did not care to be subtle, did she? He knew they were in Imperial Space, but Krinn wasn't one to advertise being a Sith to the local populace. More often than not, it just caused more issues than it fixed. His dark eyes linger upon her with a jolt of annoyance, because no doubt the patrons nearby had heard her rather vocal inquiry, and with fangs glinting, he lets out a reply that was far drier than the last, seeped in venom.

"You lack subtlety." The Nautolan points out with a hint of displeasure. "You won't last long in the Core like that." Because he doubted the New Republic would tolerate the presence of a Sith anymore than that of a Jedi. And as for her little story about weakening the Empire's enemies, he knows that, as a Sith, he should be interested. He's not, though.

Not anymore.

Not like he would have been a month ago. At this point, Krinn was probably just waiting for his execution, because he couldn't linger on backwater planets, wallowing in his depression forever before the Empire's higher command began to take notice of his lack of so called work ethic. And, well, the dark lords of the sith did not take kindly to those who were no longer of any use to them. Krinn had yet to commit to anything treacherous, but his thoughts alone were vile enough to warrant punishment. He was likely to be labeled a failure, and... so be it.

Was death so bad a fate?

"Krinn." The Champion finally answers, because he had realized that she had been requesting his name. He doesn't offer much more than that. Rather, he waves down the Bartender for a refill of his alcohol, a clawed finger slicing through empty air. On any other day, he might have requested the other Sith's name in return for his own, but in that moment, there's very little that he finds himself capable of caring about. Except perhaps, the thought that he could forget the chaos of the galaxy for the next few hours, if he drank enough.

@Exulae

 

[Alicia Drey]

Alicia could not help but smirk at the snide comment about her subtlety. There was a part of her that was conceited enough to think that this Krinn had no idea how 'subtle' she could be. But since beginning her studies in the ways of the dark side some three years ago she had found brand new insights into herself and others with thanks to the Force.

Through meditation and internalisation of the self Alicia had gathered three facts she knew were absolutes about herself. Over the past three years much of her training had been around changing these facts.

She was a long way off from achieving this.

"I am sure that I will be fine," Alicia said about the Core. "Krinn..." She rolled the name along her tongue. Let it carry itself in her throat and mind. Attempted to replicate it the way the Nautolan had pronounced it. "That's a pretty name," she lied. Taking another sip of her water she asked next: "What is wrong with you?"

@Nevermourn

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

There's a buzzing in the air, a ringing of bells that burn like vibrations through the alcohol scented tavern. He breathes it in, head-tresses seeped in the tense sensation that suddenly rises from the Nautolan's churning mind. Is he offended? A question to consider, he thinks, but no, the Nautolan doesn't think that her blatant inquiry offends him. No... it endangered him.

There is nothing wrong. There is nothing wrong with me.

He's silent and cold for a few moments more, maroon eyes dark with a budding agitation.

"I like to drink." The Champion finally answers, and his words are sour and bland, like the beverages he chose to consume. "I'm not really a conversationalist." A dry explanation from Krinn's fanged maw, because he doesn't share his feelings, doesn't trust this woman he's never met, because she's a Sith, and he knows her kind well enough already. He was, after all, a Sith himself.

@Exulae

 

[Alicia Drey]

Alicia lowered the glass down onto the table. She hung her wrist on the edge of it to watch the small drops of water drip from the tip of her finger back into the basin as she thought of her response. "I can tell. You would think a drink would make you relax a little. Open up a bit more. But here you are staring into the glass trying to mind your own business."

She turned her body around so her upper back was leaning up against the bar with both elbows propped up to hold her there. Her eyes fell onto the Neimodian who was still playing his game. He was up against the house now having won a few games. From here she could feel how happy he was; the want to continue playing more games to win more credits; but also the hesitation. The realisation that he could quickly lose as quickly as he had won a small fortune. She peered into the Force and saw a future where he would leave the bar.

That would not be good, Alicia thought to herself. That is my ticket off this world. I do not think this Krinn is of any help. Unless...

Turning her gaze back to Krinn she asked: "Do you play Subacc?"

@Nevermourn

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

He lets out a breath, a near silent and annoyed thing, a gesture that slips unbidden, and perhaps even unheard to most. He knows the Sith are quite perceptive, however.

"I'm not nearly drunk enough to relax." A dryly spoken jolt of humor that slithers from his alcohol scented tongue. It bites into the stale air like the venom of a snake. It was true, however. But Krinn did not intend to get blackout drunk in a random bar on a planet he knew next to nothing about, and certainly not in the presence of another Sith such a this, one that smelled like underlying intentions that he would not dare to trust.

The Nautolan can trace her eyes, however, can see where she peers next. An interest in that Neimodian, and his little Subacc table. The following question that drifts into his thoughts prompts a rather incredulous frown. Did she really think he played games? Krinn couldn't remember the last time he had sat down to enjoy anything other than alcohol.

He didn't even know how to play Subacc.

"No." He responds simply, and doesn't feel the need to get into it, has no desire to spill his little sob tale to this woman. Krinn was simply a man of few words, and a man of even fewer hobbies. Bland, tasteless, and quite a bit less energetic than he had been before Kashyyyk. He was used to being driven by little more than greed, but even that sensation had numbed in the wake of recent events.

@Exulae

 

[Alicia Drey]

Alicia breathed it in. The dark side oozed from the Nautolan like blood does from an injured beast. It saturates the environment to a point that even the other patrons in the bar were noticing that something was wrong. She observed the setting of the bar and where there had been content- if not entirely happy- faces when she had first entered were now tense, quiet, seemingly anxious for reasons they could not quite put their finger on.

Lifting the glass to drain the glass and finish her water Alicia set it back on the top. "Your loss then."

Nonchalant she rolled her head around so it was almost resting sideways on her shoulder. Alicia looked up to Krinn with a sombre expression and her tone of voice was just as relaxed as she was: "We do not know each other. We have just met. We may never meet again. A lot of people like us in the Galaxy these days. Moving about this Empire which people like us are supposed to serve. But I do not need to be Force strong to see that something is eating you up."

"I see a man that used to be strong. Perhaps even recently. But whatever is driving you to stare down into that glass is stripping all that hard work and I can see you have worked hard for what little you have." Alicia raised a hand to study her finger nails. Remaining nonchalant as she continued speaking sombrely: "As followers of the dark side we embrace individuality. If it is you who is making you weaker then I do not know what else to say."

She smiled at a sudden thought. "Yeah, you may not have asked. I do not care. But if it is someone or something else that is affecting you then learn to kill it. Dead it." Admiring her fingers Alicia recognised that they were, in fact, clean. Satisfied she half-way turned towards the Subacc table when she paused with a sudden feeling. Her instincts were telling her what to do and she often operated on them.

Though she was new to the machinations of the Force she felt that this chance encounter with this sad man was not by co-incidence. Insight told her that she were no such things as chance. Everything was found to fate; an abolitionist view that all followers of the dark side should practice at least to her insights into the Force.

Producing a comlink she slid it across the bar to Krinn and gave a simple instruction: "Give me your contact details. When I am done in the Core I will find you."

@Nevermourn

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

He scowls, because he hadn't asked for a lecture from this woman he hardly knew, hadn't asked for her opinion. And he knows, deep down, that his irritable nature only serves to make him more temperamental, that the trauma he had endured had eaten into his spirit like a worm burrows through a rotted apple. That didn't mean he would accept her words, though, didn't mean Krinn would apologize for his agitation, or his desire to do little more than drink. So when she slides over her commlink, makes her demand, the Nautolan only blinks, stares with a coldness for a few moments before he rises from his stool.

"I'd rather you not find me." Krinn responds dryly, already turning toward the door. "Good luck getting to the core, though. Try not to make a mess down there." The Sith makes his way toward the exit, because he was far too uncomfortable to stay any longer. Perhaps it was time to leave G'wenee behind.

@Exulae

 

[Alicia Drey]

Alicia watched Krinn leaving the bar but made no effort to stop him. I will remember that man, she told herself while pocketing the comlink. Through the Force Alicia considered a future where she would bump into the Nautolan that called himself Krinn and found herself perceiving events that were to transpire. In that moment she knew- even though she did not understand it- that he still had a part to play in her life. But what or how remained to be seen for the consideration of the future and the power of Force-sensitives to see into it clearly had been absent in both the Jedi and Sith Orders for centuries now.

But even though Alicia could not see into the future with her powers in the dark side she could imagine one. Her yellow eyes fell upon Neimodian that she had first spotted when she had entered the bar and it was there that she decided that his earnings at the Subacc table were better in her hands. What followed was a scam in which Alicia used her abilities in the Force to manipulate the game and swindle the Neimodian's credits for herself.

By the time she had left the bar Alicia had won a small fortune. She would use the earnings that evening to book passage from the Braxant Run and onto the Hydian Way via the use of public transports made available in G'wenee's starport. By the the time she had left the planet to continue her journey towards Chandrila all thoughts or considerations about Krinn had completely left her mind.

@Nevermourn