[Legend of Sacul] The Light and the Northmen of Whitestone

[TweedPawn]

The Gnaij was, in many respects, the very type of vessel the with alchemist Geist Weiss would own. I

It was clean, very clean. Not a single chore left undone no matter how mundane. It wasted little; lights were always turned off when someone left a room. It was efficient; whatever could be done quickly and accurately was usually the first choice. Gnaij was built for science. It was built for progress.

That progress did involve sacrifices. The sacrifices were often unwilling. By the time Geist Weiss had finished with the proper procedure, the participants no longer remembered resisting at all. They were eventually wiped clean of their past, new memories implanted like a computer hard drive.

That was the fate that fell a group of unlucky Jedi captives from the battle of Coruscant. By the time the Gnaij had reached the distant planet of Sacul, only one remained in his right mind. He was now alone. He was on a path to a fate he never could have imagined. It was unlucky in many ways, but there would always be a lifesaving rope available as long as he could find it.

In many ways, that Jedi would be like the natives of Sacul he would run into. They were lucky, very lucky. But only because it seemed that the will of the galaxy was to extinguish the light they desperately held onto.

If they could do it…

so could he.

 

[Tzeentch]

The first thing he noticed, even before he so much as opened his eyes, was the incessant sound of his heartbeat. It felt as if the organ resided within his head, each and every one of its beats trying to pound their way through his skull. With a grimace, he slowly lifted his hands to his head in order to ease the pain while trying to bite back a groan.

He failed to accomplish either.

After a few minutes, the pain subsided enough to the point where he wasn't outright debilitated by it. Still, his thoughts remained muddled as he opened his eyes and near blinded himself with the lone light that hung above him and sent a fresh wave of pain into his head. Carefully, he opened his eyes again, slowly, as he lifted his head.

From what he could see, the small room was clean. Too clean even for his liking. The walls, the ceiling, even the floor were spotless and bare. A door was the only thing he could lay his eyes on that broke the monotony of the room, aside from the light overhead and the table he was lying on.

With gritted teeth, he managed to sit up and bring his legs over the edge of the metal object. Setting his feet on the ground, he held fast to the table to keep himself from collapsing under his own weight. He staggered sluggishly towards the door and landed heavily against the wall just next to it - he needed a moment to try and regain his bearings.

He didn't need a clear mind to know that he didn't have a single clue as to where he was, how he got there, or how long he had been there. What he believed, however, was that it would likely be in his best interest to leave.

He looked down at himself to check if he was missing anything that he hadn't noticed prior; all of his limbs were attached and he was still fully clothed, but, after patting himself down, he was indeed missing a few things, namely his vibro-blade, whittling knife, and the small pouch of wooden carvings. Nothing of significant value, but he was defenseless regardless - he doubted he could effectively use what limited abilities he had in the Force in his current condition either, so he had to be careful.

He rubbed his chin, only to realize that there were no bandages covering the horrifically scarred features on his face. However, he didn't have any supplies with him to reapply them, nor would he have the time to do so even if he had the supplies. Instead, he reached behind him and pulled the hood of his cloak over his head, creating a shadow that concealed all but the lower half of his face.

Some might consider it an unsettling sight, considering the fact that, should someone stand in front of him and take so much as a glance, they'd easily see the old injuries on the left side of his face.

As prepared as he would ever be, Sajer opened the door and cautiously edged forward to get a look at whatever lied beyond it.

 

[TweedPawn]

It was not important for the Jedi to wonder how he was able to wake from the medical cocktail, or how he had found himself alone. Like many survivalists the test was not to come from the past, but from the immediate moment. The intelligent horrors of Sith experimentation were starting to circle like sharks around the science bay. They had sensed that something was not quite right. The Jedi was awake.

They were silent, and cunning. They moved through the heavy air effortlessly, but with caution. None of them wanted to be the one who was caught off-guard and killed for it. Still, they were hunting. It was open season on the Jedi. Let Geist Weiss deal with the disappointment of a dead test subject.

But Sajer wouldn't be alone. The Force was with him. On Sacul, it had another name. It was called the Divine Luck. It was precisely at times like this that an underdog like Sajer would need it the most. He was not the swiftest of Jedi, but he had his cunning and silence. It would be good enough.

 

[Tzeentch]

Unable to spot anyone, or anything, Sajer crept into the next room - if he wasn't so focused on trying to escape wherever he was, he might have noticed the vast assortment of scientific appliances and instruments carefully established in such a manner that would be best for allowing individuals to work at their highest efficiency. However, his attention would remain elsewhere until he felt that he was safe.

Almost immediately, a chill ran its course down his spine. Despite the protests from his recently awakened body, he quickly moved forward and crouched behind a counter, nearly brushing against beakers and vials on his way. It was almost as if he acted on instinct, and he had hidden himself not a moment too soon.

He couldn't see who had entered the room, but he could almost feel them - not physically, but rather, he felt their.. presence.

He dared not peek over the counter for the belief that they would easily spot any movements other than their own. Instead, he looked around the corner of his cover and down one of the pathways - it had numerous objects to hide behind.

Sajer wiped the sweat from his brow. He fought against the desire to get up and run, and to try and force his way through - at this time, doing so would likely get himself killed before he got to safety. Still, he couldn't stay here either. They would eventually find him if he did so. With that in mind, the Jedi slowly and carefully made his way through the maze of desks, counters, and racks filled with chemicals, tools, and other such objects, making use of them

What took a short time felt significantly longer to Sajer. His heart was beating at such a rate that he wasn't sure whether those those around him would be able to hear the vital organ or if he was going to have a sudden heart attack. The fact that he could see the door out, which was not more than a dozen feet away, would have been a relief. That is, it would've been if it wasn't for one of the individuals stopping next to it, eyes scanning the room.

He cursed in his mind. He was close, so very close. However, it appeared that the man was unwilling to move without the proper encouragement.

When the man's gaze turned elsewhere, the Jedi reached over the edge of the counter he placed himself against and grabbed hold of a vial. He cared not of its contents, but more on how he was about to use it.

If the man didn't move in the next few moments, Sajer would be forced to throw the vial, as he couldn't wait. He didn't plan on throwing it across the entire room, but just far enough from the man to attract his attention. It was incredibly risky, but he couldn't see any other exit and he doubted that he could force his way through however many people were in the room with him. He just hoped that it was him that moved rather than one of his colleagues.

 

[TweedPawn]

A suited figure heard a vial break somewhere out of his line of sight and quickly went to investigate it. It would provide Sajer the moment he needed to move past undetected. Elsewhere, there were others that were starting to get anxious that a Jedi was somehow able to still be alive on the ship. It was a matter of pride for those Sith.

The escape pods were luckily close to the science bay. This had been planned in case a test subject escaped and was ripping apart the crew. The escape pods would allow the scientists close enough the chance they needed to get away safely. It would be good enough for the Jedi.

 

[Tzeentch]

Luckily, the individual stationed in front of the door had been the one to take the bait. Taking a quick look around to make sure that no one else was looking in the direction of the exit, he turned back to see the guard a fair distance away. Without delay, he hurried toward the door, his form steadily rising as he got closer.

Just as he got close enough to open it, he heard someone shout behind him. The moment that the door fully, a surge of adrenaline coursed through his system as he pushed himself forward.

He ran. A corridor, split two ways. No time to think. Left. He ignored the stiff ache in his legs and arms, the thundering beats of his heart, the burning of his lungs, and his gasps echoed in his head, nearly burying the sound of the footfall behind him. He was now focused on the series of circular doors ahead.

On his left side, a burning and painful sensation erupted as he slammed into the sealed entrance to an escape pod. It took but a precious moment for him to open it and step inside, resealing it behind him to bar his pursuers from getting an easy shot. However, the Jedi was unwilling to try and catch his breath just yet - he seated himself in the small life vessel and strapped himself in, looking around for the controls. Thankfully, it wasn't long before he figured out how to detach the pod from the Sith vessel and activate the thrusters, immediately descending to the planet below.

Sajer slumped in the seat, the burst of adrenaline steadily declining. The dull throbbing in his limbs, the pounding in his skull, and especially the burning in his side came to his attention in force.

Wincing, he put a hand over his side and looked down to see it burned. Grimacing, he supposed that it would have been obvious to assume that there would be at least one person with a blaster.

It was a good thing that these pods were equipped with a medpac. He reached over and took it, put on the nearby breath mask and grabbed several air canisters just in case - he couldn't effectively patch himself up right then, so he would have to do so after the pod landed.. He felt the vessel shudder as it entered the planet's orbit.

Or crashed.

Sajer had little time to take in the scenery of the planet as seconds after the pod roared out from the clouds, it violently impacted the earth. He lurched forward against the straps, then back, his head bouncing off of the headrest. How many times or how long the pod tried to throw him from his restraints was unknown to him, as were most of any coherent thought. Eventually, the pod came to a halt, releasing a final, metallic groan.

He didn't move to exit the crashed pod. Instead, he remained still, vision not only blurry, but it also faded in and out of darkness. More than likely, he had also developed a concussion on top of everything else.

He wasn't in any condition to try and move for a while.

 

[TweedPawn]

There were fortunate news for the Jedi, and not fortunate news. The bad news was the the location of the escape pod was far away from the other Jedi that were struggling and adapting to Sacul and already aware of the Sith that were on the planet. Sajer had also landed in the middle of a valley within a snowy mountain range. It was a harsh land, rocky and it offered little cover for miles. There was also a darkness in the land. It was heavy and old, like fog at midnight. It was a terrible place to be alone.

The good news was that Sajer was not alone. There were inhabitants that had witnessed a bright light racing across the sky. It would take some time, but a scouting party was close enough to at least investigate. Five men quickly got onto their horses and rode out towards the crash site.

They noted the vessel's strange appearance. They knew it wasn't from their planet. It worried them. The Sorcerers had also come in spacecraft, but this one was much smaller. One of the horsemen agreed to alert a member of authority. It would take a day or two, but it would be done as quickly as possible. The remaining four men attempted to open the craft. Finally, the escape pod doors opened.

They saw the horribly scarred man inside. While he was not a pleasant sight, there were more important things to fuss over. He looked in bad shape. He likely had a head injury as he seem disoriented. The horsemen talked with each other. The most important thing was to create a fire. They were going to camp here for a while.

There was a beeping sound coming from the cockpit of the escape pod. The horsemen did not trust what was causing it or why it was beeping. So they quickly found the source and ripped it out. It was a homing device.

After the fire was built, a pile of thick furs was laid out. It would keep the stranger warm. It seemed better to most to let a potential threat die, but there was the possibility that this strange, scarred man would be useful. He would recover, and then studied for information to use against the oppressors of Sacul.

The horsemen were careful in moving the scarred man from the pod. They laid Sajer out on the furs and covered him. The fire and the furs would keep him warm in this harsh place. The men would tend for his food and water.

It had taken much longer than expected for more help to reach the camp. There was good reason.

The Prince of Whitestone had gone out to investigate the crashsite. He came with twenty men, and arrived with a few horses and a truck. The truck could only travel by road, which meant that the party had taken the long way of arriving. The Prince had also arrived with a pair of strange looking sentients that the scouts had never seen.

They were owl-like in movement and appearance. They did not speak in the native tongue, nor Basic. They hooted and made bird calls at the Prince, who understood them. They explained their opinion on Sajer, and made guesses on if he was a threat. The man was safe. Sajer was not a threat.

"<There's not very many of you, is there>?" Prince Blackelk said in Snamreg as he knelt by Sajer. He smiled. He had the owl-like humanoids medically investigate the man.

"<You can't understand us. But know that you're safe. Can you say anything? Just make a sound."

 

[Tzeentch]

Before he finally succumbed to unconsciousness, Sajer could hear the sounds of someone trying to pry the the doors of the wrecked pod open, as well as a sudden and merciless wave of chilled air that easily pierced his cloak and into his skin. Fortunately for the Jedi, these natives decided to help keep him alive for the time being.

Over the course of the next few days, his concussion subsided to the point where he, when awake, could ponder over the recent events and his other wounds were treated as best as they could be with the meager supplies from the medpac. Unfortunately, he had little recollection of what happened on the ship, other than small bits and pieces. Still, he felt incredibly weary, both physically and mentally. After making sure that those that rescued him didn't have any ill intent, he spent most of his time resting, albeit reluctantly.

Although he was unable to communicate verbally with the horsemen, he tried to show his thanks through what little motions he could do lying underneath the furs. Whether his intent to thank them managed to go through despite the language barrier was unknown to him.

His appearance, which remained uncovered as the contents of the medpac were used to dress other injuries, made it difficult to use facial expressions in such a way to properly express gratitude.

By the time that the Prince of Whitestone arrived with a number of others, Sajer had recently awakened from an extended slumber, so he noticed to the approaching group a fair distance away. With a grunt, he pushed himself up to a seated position as the man accompanied by two sentients, both avian-like in appearance and mannerisms, grew closer.

He was unable to discern what they or the man who knelt beside had said, whatever language they spoke was unfamiliar to his ears - even when he was awake earlier, he didn't recognize anything he heard from the scouts that pulled him from the wreckage of the pod. He might not have been able to speak any other language than Basic, but he had heard enough to pick commonly used words or phrases in several languages.

Regardless, the man knelt beside Sajer as the avian-like beings began to look for his injuries, quickly finding the patched up side where he had been shot. Wincing slightly, he attempted to speak before being forced to turn his head away to cough into a fist. Eventually it ceased, allowing him to clear his throat and turn to the man beside him, voice rough and undistorted by a mask, "My.. My name.. is Sajer Ar'kan. I am a.. a Jedi."

He was unsure whether or not he should have mentioned the fact that he was a Jedi, even though it appeared that no one here spoke Basic. However, if these people were with the ones he escaped from on the ship, then chances were that he wouldn't be there trying to communicate with this man. In fact, he likely never would have woken back up after falling unconscious inside the pod.

He just hoped that it didn't come back around to haunt him.

 

[TweedPawn]

One of the avian-like men began to hoot and chirp towards Black Elk. The Prince listened carefully. He seemed puzzled.

"<Jedi? Do you understand this term?>" he asked one of them. More bird-like sounds. The Prince nodded.

"<he's similar to the Sorcerers then.>" he replied. There was a sudden sense of alarm amongst the Snamreg that were with him. They expressed fears of Sajer turning against them. He was a potential enemy. He could be a trick to assassinate the Prince. The Prince said nothing. He waited for his men to quiet down.

Sajer would be able to sense affinity with the Force in Black Elk. It was dark, but not-threatening. It was like seeing invisible scars, instead of the kind Sajer was adorned with.

"<He is not a threat. But I fear he is in danger here. According to our nomadic friends here,>" he gestured to the birdmen. "<Jedi are known for amazing feats like the Sorcerers. But, they are not motivated like the Sorcerers. They are grave enemies, in fact. They would kill this man on sight. You're a long way from home, Sager Ar'kan. I'm afraid we have no means of getting you back.">

The men began to gather what they could from the escape pod. Whatever could not be scavenged, was left behind. Sager was moved to a rudimentary medical stretcher, then hoisted onto the back of the truck onto another pile of furs for him. The Prince got back onto his horse, his eyes fiercely faced the south east. So far, Skagrit had not been able to pass the border.

"< I'll take personal care of this man. Getting information will be difficult, but worthwhile.>" The Prince said. The journey took a little less than the five days it took for the party to arrive. Sager was brought to a city that had a mixture of ancient architecture, as well as buildings more advanced. However, they were nothing compared to galactic buildings. These people lived simple lives, but they were intelligent.

They brought Sajer to a home that was large, but modest in decor. It was built from white stone, and it was filled with activity. Sager could catch glimpses of daily lives, but it would be difficult to miss one aspect about these people. They were very quiet. They laughed, spoke, and even a musician was around. But when they were not communicating, their footsteps did not create any noise, and even their clothes hardly rustled. They moved like shadows, almost like they were born to do so. These were strange folk.

THrough the following weeks, as Sager recovered, there would be attempts to teach him Snamreg as quickly as possible. It seemed urgent. n the meantime, Sager was bothered little except for being nurtured and attended to. There were attempts to play card games or anything else that could pass the time, these attempts were often with mixed results. Language was a large barrier.

After a few weeks, the Prince came to check on Sager, he arrived with a member of the strange owl-like sentients.

"<Hello. How do you feel today?>"

 

[Tzeentch]

From the troubled reactions he saw within the contingent of natives shortly after he spoke, it appeared to the lone Jedi that they had understood what he had said, or, at least, a small part of it. To his relief, they eventually calmed themselves.

He wasn't, however, expecting to sense the Force within the man who had been accompanied by the owlesque sentients. He wasn't skilled in the use of the Force by any means nor had he had time to improve upon his abilities with it. So the fact that he was even capable of sensing it in the first place put him on edge, even more so when he realized that it felt dark. However, his nerves eased when he noticed that it felt more.. scarred than tainted by the Dark Side.

Granted, Sajer never encountered a practitioner of the more unsettling side of the Force, but he was entirely sure that he would know what it might feel like when he did.

His train of thought was interrupted by the man of interest himself when he began to speak in his tongue, completely lost to the Jedi. He did look more intently at the man when he uttered Sajer's name.

He was then moved to the back of the truck - an interesting and curious vehicle is what he would have stated, had he been able to communicate. Thereafter, he watched as the men scrambled around and within the pod, taking anything they deemed could be of use.

His eyes grew heavy and soon closed as he fell into a silent slumber, missing the Prince gaze to the southeast. Feeling that he was in company that would keep him safe, he was likely to rest well.

---

A number of weeks had passed since he had crash-landed on this planet. Upon the earlier days when he arrived to the manor, he had spent his time recuperating, with the assistance of others. Once he was capable of moving around without much trouble, he began working on regaining his physical strength - spending most of his time resting improved his health, but weakened his body somewhat, something he wasn't pleased with and was determined to fix.

Alongside his physical abilities, he was, at first, worried about his mental capabilities as well - he feared that, if he didn't regularly test himself, his ability to apply what he knew would diminish. However, that fear was quickly put down as the Snamreg, as he eventually learned, tried to teach him their language and even some of their activities.

He was particularly interested in the game of cards.. even though he still had some difficulty understanding how it was played.

However, these were not what interested him the most. What intrigued him more than anything else, more so than the blend of architecture, were the people. He couldn't quite put his finger on what it was about them that interested him so. They appeared to be just as every other race, interacting with one another and simply living their lives day to day. Perhaps it was their culture or even their relatively primitive, if not innovative, technology.

He had also decided, after a few weeks, to forgo applying bandages to his person whilst inside the manor. When he left his room, he wouldn't cover his arms, sans his hands, and left his face bare to avoid using the manor's medical supplies needlessly.

When the Prince entered the room, the Jedi was seated next to a window, pondering over this civilization built with stone as he watched the daily lives of the city's inhabitants from afar. A small table and unoccupied seat lay underneath the window, an unfinished card game on its surface. He hadn't noticed the Prince's entrance until he spoke.

Turning in his seat, Sajer stood and placed a bare hand over his chest, bowing his head slightly, as he always did when greeting those that lived within the manor. It was something he developed in the earlier days since his arrival in order to make up for the language barrier and kept the mannerism.

"<I am well.. this day. Thanks.>" While he had a basic understanding of the language, he had to pause and think about what to say most of the time and, more often then not, made mistakes. Usually, these mistakes did not cause any problems, but there have been a few incidents that were.. entertaining to onlookers.

He rubbed his chin, feeling the hairs of the growing beard scratching at his fingers, "<I have been.. learning about.. number of things recently. Interesting.>"

 

[TweedPawn]

The Prince simply smiled, as he always did. It was a relaxed smile, as if he had contemplated something and reached an agreeable conclusion about it. It was a man who had been dipped in Darkness, but yet was a source of calm and tranquility. He could have been a Jedi, an excellent one. But fate had chosen something unkind for him, and he understood it.

He gracefully sat next to Sajer, also looking out at the window. His eyes looked at the horizon, where the city of Skagrit was located out of sight.

"<I am glad you are well. What have you learned? I am interested in learning from you, as well." BlackElk had come with his own series of question for the Jedi. He had heard from one of his seers that comets of Light had fallen onto Sacul and that Sajer was only one of them. He needed to know where the others were. There was a terrible conflict on Sacul, and if these Lights were killed by the sorcerers, Sacul would never have hope of survival.

He knew, on some level, that his own darkness would make this harder. They would have reasons to distrust him. However, his intentions were purely to eliminate the sorcerers that resided in Skagrit. Black Elk's dark, rabbit-like eyes reflected a little of the light from a nearby lamp. His eyes were adapted for seeing in the snow, and his own knowledge of other tricks allowed Black Elk to not be incumbered by it.

 

[Dmitri]

Geist materialized before Gnaij's captain, a hologram rather than the typical illusion. The hardened man skipped a beat. It was no mystery why the illusionist had called him, contacting him likely from The Lock. A test subject had escaped a couple days ago. It had taken two days to locate the escape pod and by then the trail had gone cold. The alchemist had ordered a scan to be sent out to see if the medical scanner strapped to Sajer's arm had been detected. Unfortunately, the news he had were not what the man would wish to hear.

"Any progress?" inquired Geist.

The captain physically shivered. He did not wish to provide the latest piece of information he had obtained. The man had heard the stories of what Darth Vader had done to individuals who failed him. "Well... uh... that's the thing. We just found the scanner, uh, in storage. It-it appears we never... put it on." He immediately lowered his head, avoiding eye contact, well, at least looking at Geist.

The captain could hear a verbal "tch" then the hologram gave a command. "This oversight must not be repeated. Double inspections immediately. Had individuals done their job correctly, we could have used the scanner to locate the Jedi. Now I must depend on Eber and Reichtum to locate this runaway. Do we at least know a general area on the planet he is in?"

"Around Whitestone," the captain informed the Sith.

"Very well. For now, carry out inspection and stay in the moon's shadow. Also, send another shuttle down to Mt. Kamin. We'll need another squad." The hologram paused, as if thinking. "Send down the Castle Corps."

The captain was surprised Geist was sending down the Castle Corps. They were a unit developed to subjugate organizations and communities. They weren't even tested yet, and weren't marked for usage on Sacul for another month. He had heard the rumors of Eber and Reichtum not doing well, but he didn't expect this bad.

"It will be done, my lord."

An acknowledgement wasn't even given. Geist simply ended the transmission.

 

[Tzeentch]

Placing himself back into his seat, Sajer's eyes drifted back to the world beyond the window after glancing at the Prince, <"My thanks for.. checking on my health."> He released a quiet, content sigh and began to think of what he had learned over the past few weeks.

In terms of the Snamreg in their entirety, he hadn't learned much at all. In terms of what he was learning - the language, a few activities, some mannerisms he observed - he liked to believe he had a fair bit of knowledge. Although, he was willing to admit that he didn't know much. He had not completely learned what there was to learn from the few things he was currently delving into.

Language was difficult to learn and took an extended period of time to get used to it. The Jedi might be able to understand Snamreg and even speak it, but in no way was he capable of speaking it fluently. In comparison, smaller activities, such as cards, were varied in how well he performed them, especially early on when he couldn't understand verbal forms of communication. However, such things often required physical movements to perform, so, in some cases, he learned through the motions that his tutor used over time.

There were numerous other things to ponder over, but Sajer was fairly sure that he had spent enough time lingering on the subject. He couldn't lose himself to his thoughts so long as another person was around, waiting for an answer to his question.

<"In.. the short time I have been here, I have learned about small things, like your card game."> With a hand, he gestured to the unfinished game of cards laid out on the table between himself and the Prince before continuing. <"Mixed results. I have also.. observed a bit on how.. Snamreg people act - From what I see, they are willing to look after others.."> He turned to face the man across the table from him, <"Even strangers.">

<"But.."> He moved around in his seat to get slightly more comfortable, <"There are many other, smaller, things that I will not waste time on - day to day things, actions, movements, and such. All interesting.. but I don't know much about them, so I feel the need to study further.. It is a personal..> Erm.." He paused, trying to think about the proper word to use. "Hmm.. Ah! <Preference.">

He sighed - he might have to look into the language more extensively later on. It would certainly make his life, and the lives of any natives trying to talk to him, easier in the long run. <"So, I learned some things, but not much. Always willing to learn though. Now.."> He turned to face the Prince fully, <"What is it that.. you want to know?">

 

[TweedPawn]

Black Elk kept his smile. He was pleased that the Galactic already learned so much of the language, and even a way of passing the hours. Still, time was not a friend to the Snamreg. It rarely was. For Black Elk, he felt the weight of it increase daily. He knew that the Sorcerers found a way through the once impenetrable border of Whitestone. Rather than attack and destroy them as soon as they arrived, Black Elk observed. It allowed the Sorcerer's new fortress to be built with few defenses. It would advantageous. After all, the Men of the Mountains were not known as hostile.

But they were excellent craftsmen, and their weapons were silent and beautiful. They moved through the city of Skagrit more silent than a gentle night wind. They were the true might behind the resistance, but their stealth allowed this fact to be hidden. They were quite content with being unsung heroes.

"<Are there more Jedi?>" He asked. "<I do not want the Sorcerers to find them before we do.>"

 

[Tzeentch]

He scratched his chin lightly - The term 'Sorcerer' wasn't something he was quite familiar with, but he felt it safe to assume that they were individuals who utilized the Dark Side, or, perhaps, even Force-sensitives in general.

He leaned forward in his seat and looked down at the assortment of cards in front of him, his hands clasped together. <"Well.. there are many other Jedi in the galaxy. However.."> his eyes lifted upward to look at the Prince, <".. They were engaged in a war against the Sith.. or Sorcerers as you know them, and.. to be entirely honest, the scales have not been in our favor in recent time."> He paused and muttered in Basic, more to himself than the Prince. "Although, it's been a while since I've last heard anything about the war..."

He released a sigh, although he made sure to keep it relatively quiet as not to trouble the man across from him. <"But as for any other Jedi here - To my knowledge, there aren't any, other than myself, here. I'm certain that if there were, you would likely have heard about them long before me. My apologies for being the bearer of less-than-pleasant news, sir.">

Sajer became silent, looking at the Prince for a few moments longer before returning his gaze back out the window. Although his words were spoken more to himself, he spoke softly in Snamreg. <". . . I'll admit that it's quite peaceful here. . . It reminds me of home, a little..">

 

[TweedPawn]

The Prince's smile faded, but his face did not grow harsh. He understood harsh realities, for the lives of his countrymen were the hardest of Sacul. His country held terrible truths and the Darkness hung in the air like humidity. He could feel it more easily than the others. Especially since he knew the truth behind it. He was tied to it. He had dared it, it challenged him. He knew that he could not undo what was done to himself, what had been started before recorded history. However, his countrymen for generations that kept the darkness from spreading.

"<No war for 500 years. We are a peaceful people, though preoccupied with the challenges of survival. This planet is unforgiving, the God-Hound of Death standss over us all. But the Great Trickster gives us his secrets. We survive. >" The first flurries of winter were starting to drift, but it was too warm still for them to hit the ground.

"<We are also at war. With the Sorcerers who have come from your stars. Our spies became aware of them years ago, but getting rid of them has been a challenge. The best we can do is contain them in Skagrit. We have allies there, but mostly in the plains. Sajer, I would like to request your help. Information, Luck, resources, whatever you can give us. I sense we will soon reach the next step. Another split in a path before us. >"

"<It will be so much to ask of you. But will you help us?>"

 

[Tzeentch]

For a few seconds, he remained silent as he processed the words before replying. <"Of course."> The decision was a simple one - a foe to the Sith was an ally to Sajer, if only for a time. So long as they opposed the practitioners of the Dark Side, then the scarred Jedi would do what he could to aid them.

<"However, I must tell you that I am but a mere.. beginner, a Padawan, for the Jedi Order, so my skills in the use of the Force are.. lacking. It was something that I had thought of improving, but hadn't the time for. Regardless, I will provide whatever knowledge I can."> He paused, <".. Also, I've studied tactics and strategies, so I might be of some assistance in a strategic field, should it be necessary - however, I haven't been able to put anything to the test, so I am unsure of whether or not I am capable.">

He nodded toward the window, past which the city lied just beyond. His body remained facing the glass as he looked at Black Elk from the corner of his right eye, the intact half of his face bearing a grim expression. <"These people of yours... Do you believe that they are fully prepared for what is to come? Against the Sith, the Sorcerers.. sacrifice is inevitable. Unless you are willing to put everything on the line, you might not succeed in achieving the peace you once knew.">

<"Although, I'm sure that you already know this, correct?">

He felt that he needed to hear from the man himself as to what his resolve was - one couldn't stand against the Sith and hope to do so unscathed.

Or, perhaps, it wasn't the Prince's resolve that needed to be tested, but rather his own. While he learned of the Sith, he had never actually fought one before. He was untested. He needed to surpass his limitations if he were to survive.

He needed to adapt.

 

[TweedPawn]

Black Elk felt little reassurance. There was no doubt that this Jedi would be useful. He understood what Sajer meant by beginner. The galactic terms ,padawan and Jedi Order, did not stir any recollection in him. He was unfamiliar, and assumed that if he had been born outside of Sacul, that he would know them.

Sacrifice. The Prince understood the Darkness, the true darkness, more than he was willing to admit to Sajer. The truth was that Sacul had been cursed before the Sorcerers ever arrived. The Darkness observed, it had done so for thousands of years. It tempted the Snamreg, drove many of them to madness. In the past, it had been fought with the natural Light of the people. Their will to survive and thrive being the only lanterns they carried.

Now, the Prince saw more and more days pass until he would also be held accountable for foolish actions that set future destinies in place. He faced his fate. The other one who would be required was still running. He had ran for ages.

"<More than you know, Traveler.>" The Prince said in a somber tone. He then brought out a map.

"<Our men are known for their stealth. They have not failed me. We know the Sorcerers to be located in Skagrit, we know one of them built a fortress in our lands, and we know that they have been preoccupied with the Plainsfolk resistance fighters. We know their names, what they have done to force loyalty from Skagrit, and we know there is one man they report to. Information gathered cited him as Geist Weiss. Is this name familiar to you?> "

 

[Tzeentch]

Hearing the Prince's response, Sajer silently nodded - his voice was evident enough that he already knew what had to be done and required no other input from the Jedi.

Then, Black Elk laid out a map and proceeded to explain the situation. Sajer peered over the map, making note of everything marked on it - the terrain, notable landmarks, and cities - as he listened intently to the Prince. He wasn't particularly good at reading maps. Rather, when he was younger, he preferred to explore areas around his home thoroughly. This was not only to satisfy his youthful curiosity, but to also ensure that he knew the layout of the land - more for recreation than anything else.

<"When we have the chance, I'd like to see areas of strategic value in person - It usually helps when I see a place for myself rather than on a map. When there's time, I'd also like to learn about this.. fortress, the Si-.. Sorcerers, as well as the Plainsfolk and Skagrit.">

<"A few individuals skilled in keeping themselves hidden can cause significantly more harm than an actual army can, given time and resources."> Stealth was good, especially when there were too many unknowns about one's enemy. For the Prince's question however, Sajer frowned. Geist Weiss - the name wasn't one that he could remember ever hearing. <". . . I do not recognize the name. Sorry. I take it that he is a Sorcerer?">

 

[TweedPawn]

"<Yes. Rarely seen. But if they report to him, he must be very powerful.>" The Prince stood. He motioned for Sajer to follow him.

He led the Jedi through his home. It was well decorated, but in a humble manner. It was as if the ornate carvings were trying to blend into the walls, least their beauty cause them to appear immodest. The carvings were of the animals of Sacul. Giant predators and the smaller prey scattered along the walls. In other places, ancient swords, rifles, and other treasures decorated the home. Still modest, but they shined with the presence of their silent histories.

The Prince draped a fur cloak over Sager. The citizens of Whitestone were almost doting in their hospitality. Many things were offered to Sajer without even asking him. The Princed opened the doors to a balcony. The harsh cold air was clean, bit bitter.

"<That direction,>" he pointed towards the southeast "<is the city of Skagrit. They are the largest, and wealthiest. Their intellect is a source of pride for them, and they are very proud. hat is where the Sorcerers reside now. They killed the people's president, attempted to take my life, and allowed the businesses and money to become king there. >"

"< The fortress is in that direction as well. We have yet to go too near. Snamreg go in. They do not return.>" The Prince gestured to the direct south. There was a valley that flowed into vast fields.

"<The Plainfolk. Pioneers of the wildlands. Their daily lives are a struggle, but they are happy. They are swift, hardy, filled with a special kind of spirit that refuses to give up. Years ago, they had a terrible tragedy. Twelve children vanished. No bodies, nothing. The ones that escaped being taken spoke of strange men that ambushed them in the night. >" The Prince's face hardened.

"<Two are alive, according to my seer. We confirmed one survivor to work for the Sorcerers. The other was supposed to return. We do not know the child's name. The seer spoke the child as being with Light. Where she is now, we do not know. But the memories of the children lost fuel the Plainsfolk into defiance of the Sorcerers. They have bared much of the fighting, but they're not alone. >" The Prince said.

"<We could go see them. If you like. They should know you are with us.>"