Ask Onderon Onderon Path, On Da Right Track

[Hauron Solus]

Hauron was sure that if there was a Mandalorian covert on Onderon they were well hidden. He stood looking at a growing worshyr tree near the edge of the city but inside its walls. The seed of the tree had been placed long ago by a Jedi, or an ex-Jedi and her friends. The Mandalorian never learned the details of who or what they had been after.

It had been years since the Mikkian had last visited the planet as a warrior. Even now his leg felt an itch as he remembered the fight that had followed his previous visit and the victory that followed. Thoughts of combat were pushed aside as he heard the cheering and sounds of merriment towards the city of Iziz. The capital of Onderon was in preparation for its annual celebration of the Festival of Lights.

Hauron did not mix with the people of Iziz for now. Instead his attention turned towards the wall on the outer edge of the city. The wilds beyond it had been searched once by the lone badger but he had only found remnant markings of a possible covert. Maybe there was no hidden tribe on Onderon. He used this time to try and work out where to head next. As he did so, the Solus found his helmet tilting upwards to look at the canopy of the growing plant before him. His visor centered on the tippy top of the tree before focusing on the moon beyond it.

Dxun was a jungle moon and very much like Onderon in many respects but arguably even more wild and untamed. There were beasts, monsters of all shapes and sizes that called the place home and it was far from a safe place to visit. That made it perfect. He debated who to call since it was dangerous to go alone even for him. There could be local game hunters that were knowledgeable so he half turned towards Iziz, trying to remember where the best cantina was to stop at before he headed to the moon.

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[Rath Jell]

Rath had returned to Onderon following his failed yet enjoyable Dxun expedition. He needed to get his book translated and find these beast riders. He had spent a long day trying to find either to no luck. Defeated he made his way to the nearby cantina. The atmosphere of the place was completely different than the hutt space cantinas he normally frequented. It was much more lively and the establishment itself was of a higher standard. It even offered food instead of just drinks.

Taking a seat in the corner of the building he ordered a nerf burger and some blue milk. Taking off his helmet and looking at the scratches and dings it was covered in from the beasts. His armor wasn't in much better condition he definitely needed to repaint it. He would then begin to eat his food before an older gentleman from the bar came over to sit with him.

"Well son I'd say you've seen better days. A Mandalorian with scratched up armor like that must've been at the wrong end of an argument." The old man laughed loudly also getting a rise from some of the other patrons. "Well old timer taking a trip to Dxun is never a fun affair. Living through it is more rare than you leaving the city walls." The other patrons begun whispering amongst themselves and some even left while talking about the Mandalorian. "What do you know of surviving Dxun? You expect me to believe you went there?" The tone was challenging the mando. His wrist display lit up showing a scan of one of the beasts that attacked him disemboweled on the floor. It being wingless meant it could only have been killed on Dxun.

This caused the old man to get up and leave the establishment shouting back at it. "I'll be damned the day Mandalorians claim Dxun again! You killing one beast means nothing Buckethead!" Rath simply shook his head and went back to eating. Not letting the old man's words ruin his dinner.

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

The streets and architecture of Iziz was as beautiful as it had ever been. Hauron had seen the city during the last invasion he had been present for. The mandalorian had defended the world against the Sith. While the badger had fought alongside his clan mates against a pair of champions, but that did not stop Darth Raze from killing the king that day.

The planet and the system it resided in had a long history, one which Hauron could spend hours if not days studying. But the mandalorian was not seeking something in the past. The door to the cantina slid open and allowed the rally master to stride in just as a man was exiting, yelling back at another patron and nearly colliding with Hauron. "Geeze, they're comin' out of the woodwork." He muttered and continued on past Hauron, shaking his head as he went.

Turning to watch him go, Hauron would then look back to the drinking establishment and find the mandalorian in the corner. The armored mikkian walked to the table, looking the stranger's armor over and trying to discern any clan markings. <"How are you doing brother? I don't think I've seen you in here before. What brings you to this place?"> He turned his head to the side so he could look over his shoulder at the other patrons. It was unusual for two Mandalorians to be in the same place at the same time. A few were likely double checking that the bounty on Hauron's head had expired.

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[Rath Jell]

As he was enjoying his food a shadow appeared on the table. The Mandalorian couldn't help but sigh expecting another patron to have come to bother him. He planned to keep his head down and just ignore the drunk until he heard the mando'a. His gaze shot up to the mandalorian before him. He couldn't help but notice a handful of bounty pucks lighting up.

He studied the Mandalorian momentarily. <"And here I thought I was alone. I came planet side after a recent expedition on Dxun. Would you like to join me?"> He motioned the other Mandalorian to the empty chair across from him. The only form of a clan symbol was on the helmet above the visor. Yet it was doubtful he would recognize it. Rath being the only member of his clan left.

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

At hearing the mention of Dxun, the rally master could not help but cock his helmet to the side and raise an eyebrow behind his visor. <"I thought I heard that man mention the Demon Moon.."> Even Hauron had heard stories of the place but Onderon was as close as he got. It was impressive if the man spoke true since he did not seem to be boasting. <"Maybe. What did you have in mind?">

Hauron gave another look around the cantina, seeing the continued glances of a few. But nobody was making a move, yet. He slid into the seat opposite Rath but kept his helmet on for now. His left arm hung on the back of the chair since he did not face the other mandalorian directly. Instead he kept his body positioned so he could still keep the door within his peripheral vision. The badger realized he had yet to introduce himself. <"My name is Hauron Solus by the way.">

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[Rath Jell]

The Mandalorian looked up to the other as he mentioned the 'Demon Moon'. He chuckled slightly, "Well there was certainly some beasts but no demons I'm afraid. At least that I had run ins with." He watched as he slid into the seat but kept his body oriented to keep an eye on the surroundings. "My initial expedition was for information on something in my possession but left me with more questions than answers. So I was thinking of going and getting a cub of one of the grounded creatures to use as a guard dog for my ship."

As he scanned the cantina as the server droid made it's way over to the table. "Can I get you anything mister?" It handed a menu to the Mandalorian, and waited to hear his choice. Rath on the other hand gave the droid his plate and ordered a Spotchka. Hauron Solus, the name rung a bell to him. He leaned in, "Aren't you the leader of some Mandalorian rebel cell that rides Rancors? If so any advice taming dangerous creatures like the local Drexl? My name is Rath Jell."

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

Whether there were dangerous spirits or just wild animal the Solus would not take the alternate name of Dxun lightly. If they were anything like the beasts around Onderon then he would have his work cut out during such an excursion. <"Taming an animal is not easy and neither is raising one."> Hauron replied coolly from personal experience before the serving droid came over. Many people often confused the two things but they were very different.

"Cassius tea with a few ice cubes, please." He ordered the traditionally hot mandalorian beverage with ice since wearing his armor and the jungle would be warm enough. He did not so much as look at the menu, causing the droid to hold onto it. It was a tradition in his clan to drink to one another's health before embarking on a hunt or going to battle. However the mikkian was not particularly hungry at the moment.

Hauron nodded slowly. <"Aye, we're more of a PMC than a rebel cell."> He corrected Rath, although the mandalorian was more or or less correct. On the surface Rancor Squadron was a warband of mandalorian mercenaries under one organization. Publicly they were an official private military company but on the down low, a "known secret" was that they fought the Sith and disagree with the Empire. If that made them rebels than so be it. <"I've never heard of a drexl before. But I could help if I knew more about them, maybe."> He admitted and shrugged. <"Have any information on them?"> Before and after stealing his rancor egg as a child he had studied book after book, file after file on how to properly raise a rancor. It was a lot of information and not something Hauron expected himself to absorb overnight. But the prospect of taming wild beasts tickled the Solus's fancy.

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[Rath Jell]

Rath listened as the man spoke about the raising and taming of creatures being difficult. <"I never said that it was easy. I just wanted the added security plus I could bring it to missions as an aid."> He shrugged, showing he wasn't to sure on exactly what he was going back for. Although it wasn't fully a lie as to wanting to tame on of the beast they encountered. After all two of them caught him off guard.

The man quickly corrected him at the status of his group. <"A PMC you say? Interesting to see the leader of such a group here and not fighting against the beasties taking over the planet."> His gauntlet display lit up showing what looked like a copy of some bestiary on the Drexl giving the basic information of the beast. <"All I've found on it is that it can be tamed and ridden by a single person but the information I have is in the old Onderonian language and no one seems willing to help our kind here.">

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

<"Fancy a guard dog then ay?> Hauron slowly nodded in understanding. Solus were known to use dire badgers as hunting companions and pets. <"I have a similar interest as well."> The creatures on Dxun were probably the caliber of animal that could exist in a battlefield or dangerous territory.

<"Beasties? I thought the people of Onderon had a handle on the wildlife."> Hauron had not heard of any abominations or monsters coming to Onderon. He was ignorant of that information at this point and believed it to be safe.

The server droid came back with the rally master's beverage. Hauron produced his own metal induction device, also known as a straw and took a sip from the cassius tea on ice. The man could not help but lean in at the information Rath shared. <"Hmm, interesting."> His enthusiasm was clear as was his satisfaction with the tea. <"I can't help with the Onderonian dialect but I've raised a mandallian rancor from an egg."> He shrugged casually and leaned back in his seat.

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[Rath Jell]

Rath nodded in agreement to the Solus's question. His face bore curiosity as he mention having similar interest. <"I don't see how someone in possession of a Rancor needs a guard dog. Unless you simply wish to tame a creature from the moon."> He knew a majority of the known species on the moon were predators. Perhaps his statement was in regards to taming his own predator.

His expression switched from curiosity to confusion at the remark. <"Did you not hear of the royal family being murdered? As well as the fact that abominations were released shortly after?"> He was sure with the fact that missions were offered for wildlife control meant the news had spread. Yet he also didn't know of the hectic time the other Mandalorian had been going through.

He watched as Hauron pulled out some form of metal tube, he then used it to drink his tea. Rath chuckled as this happened, <"I'm sorry, I just wasn't ready for you to use a straw to drink."> Though he followed many of the traditional Mandalorian values, the helmet rule was one he wasn't raised on. He listened to Hauron's words, a sigh escaping him at the mention of him not knowing Onderonian. <"Would a Rancor be comparable?"> He thought aloud, unsure on hatching anything. <"So what exactly are you searching for on Dxun? After all you did mention the man yelling about Dxun."

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

Hauron took another sip from his tea and shrugged. He did not need another rancor. But there were other types of animals that had their own unique desirable aspects. <"More or less."> The Solus admitted and set the drink down.

The news Rath spouted made Hauron's hidden expression wrinkle in confusion. He had been on Onderon when Darth Raze had come but he had not brought abominations. Had their been an attack he had not heard about? <"What?">

The Solus was not bothered by Rath's reaction to him drinking and shrugged again. <"No worries."> He did not take offense. He was raised that it was pragmatic to keep one's helmet on and it was not too strange to follow the Way of the Mandalore to survive. Mandalorains have been hunted for years and there were those that still wanted to take from them. Even Hauron previously had a bounty on his head for two million credits. If that was not a reason enough to be cautious the badger did not know what did.

The rally master took another look at the information before answering him. <"Maybe easier since it's from a larva?"> he did not sound too sure and he was not going to pretend like he knew for sure. <"But uh...it says here that normally it takes three people to tame one. Are you confident just the two of us can do this or do you have a friend willing to go to Dxun?">

Normally Hauron would hesitate to share his details right away but he was getting to know Rath. The fellow mandalorian seemed trustworthy enough. <"You could say I'm doing a bit of scouting. There's a few different locations on the moon I've heard about that are worth checking out. One's a lightsaber forge. Another is an ancient mandalorian base. I have a feeling there's...other secrets that might yet be discovered there. I don't know how else to describe it."> The badger took another sip of his drink, quickly getting the volume to near its end.

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[Rath Jell]

Rath was still confused by his fellow Mandalorians confusion. He flipped through some screens quickly on his gauntlet before display was split. One side showing the Drexl information the other showing a Holonet Broadcast. <"I was hired to take care of a Drexl with some others due to the beast riders having to clean up the mess.">

He began scratching his chin at the mans words. <"Normally yes."> He pulled out an old looking book and quickly flipped through the pages. He eventually turn the book around and slid it towards the Solus. The pages it was showing appeared to be about the Drexl. One showed the need of three riders, the other showcased only one rider on a Drexl. Both pages were covered in Onderonian script on top of the pictures. <"It shows that one rider could tame one. I just can't infer how since I don't know the language. Also my potential third member probably wouldn't come after the last visit there.">

<"Hmm, a lightsaber forge and and ancient Mandalorian base. If we play our cards right we could claim both for our people. The base could be turned into a place for refugees from Onderon to go to. It may boost our numbers if people wish to become foundlings as a result. The forge on the other hand could be used to make our own weapons that are comparable to a lightsaber. Ones that wouldn't rely on one being force sensitive to properly wield.">

Though Rath kept himself seperated from the politics of the clan squabbles and crusades of his people. He still couldn't deny he wanted to do what he could to help them flourish. <"I'd recommend we go for the base first. It could be used as a starting point to began expeditions around the moon. I'm ready whenever you are." Rath than put his helmet on waiting for Hauron to signal he was ready.

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

Hauron took his eyes off of the Drexl information and flicked to the news. The only tell tale sign of his change in demeanor were his two hands which balled into fists. Hauron had felt the hand of Darth Raze once before and came close to crossing paths with him on more than one occasion. The Solus had even been on Onderon and thwarted the Sith when they first came to Onderon. But the wraith had evidently returned and with a different and arguably more monstrous army.

The rally master would relax and proceed to examine the book. His helmet tilted to the side as he tried to make heads or tails from the information. <"Have you tried finding a protocol droid? There might be one on Dxun if we're lucky. Then you might be able to decipher it."> Though the condition of said droid were not necessarily going to be great given the time they've gone without proper maintenance.

Hauron nodded since Rath got the general idea. <"My thoughts exactly. I don't know if a non-force user can make a lightsaber, but if there are those among us that can make them we can allow them access to the forge."> he kept to himself for now he intended to share this place with the Jedi Order if they could establish connections once again. <"Plus I really would hate for the Sith to get their hands on it."> He wanted to deny the dark siders as much as he could.

The armored mikkian leaned forward and drank the last of his tea until there was nothing but ice left. "Oya." He said calmly and rose from the table. Setting down credits he paid for his drink and would lead the way to the hangars. The mikkian had arrived in one of his "forgettable" starships, the Antillean Wedge. If there were abominations on Onderon he would be glad to be on Dxun where those monsters were. I should be careful what I wish for.

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[Rath Jell]

Rath could tell his display of the broadcast by his fists balling up. After it ended he closed the display completely. He watched as Hauron studied the book. He face turned to one of embarrassment at the mention of a protocol droid. <"That, didn't cross my mind."> He face palmed internally at himself for have overlooked such a simple solution.

He nodded along to the mans words. <"We should also see if we can replicate the lightsaber but make it not reliant on the force. It would allow us to be more able to combat both Sith and Jedi if needed."> Rath didn't trust either organization fully. They had caused the rise and fall of galactic peace numerous times. <"I think we should keep it hidden from both orders. Why fuel a war that has costed the lives of many across the galaxy?"> Sure the Jedi were the "good" guys yet they have also contributed to the death toll of the galaxy from this eternal war of light versus dark.

Rath stood up after Hauron. He paid for his meal and left a tip before following him to the hangars. While Hauron had a freighter of some kind it seemed Rath walked to his ship. <"Do you have any coordinates to meet at on the moon?"> He would ask, not wanting to be on the moon alone in any capacity.

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

Hauron nodded. <"Yup."> Rath understood some of the reasons for wanting the lightsaber forge. Their ancestor, Tarre Vizsla had crafted the first and only Darksaber. The specific workings of a lightsaber were beyond Hauron for the time being but they needed something better than beskads or thermic blades. Only time would tell if their venture would be successful.

The Rally Master did not intend on sharing the whereabouts of the lightsaber forge if they managed to find it let alone get it back up and running. Hauron was fine with gatekeeping such tools. They needed every advantage against those with the Force under their control.

When they headed for their ships he fished out his personav from a pocket. The device pulled up a search area on Dxun. <"I have a good idea where the outpost is. The saber forge on the other hand I only have a rough area."> The two locations were not near eachother. However the jungle moon was relatively easy to traverse with a starship.

Provided Rath was in agreement, the two mandalorians and their ships would begin heading towards the Demon Moon. They left the atmosphere of Onderon and were soon entering Dxun's cloudy skies. The Antillean Wedge's sensors would begin scanning the surface of the jungle and the layers beneath it. The light freighter moved at a relatively slow cruise speed as they approached the outpost's supposed location. After some thorough searching, the the ship's sensors would return a reading of a structure in the mountain.

There was enough space for the two ships to land and then some. There were a few archaic starships half hidden in the recesses of the hangar. Nature had clearly begun to reclaim the outpost. It seemed abandoned.

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[Rath Jell]

Rath looked at personav that Hauron pulled out. Taking in his explanation he simply nodded in agreement. His lack of information on the saber forge wasn't a bother as the primary goal was the outpost and trying to rebuild it potentially. "<We only need a rough estimate for both. They should show up on scanners.>"

He followed behind Hauron's ship as they made the trip from Onderon to Dxun. He flew behind and to the side of the freighter incase of an attack from an aerial creature. Almost as soon as they left the atmosphere of Onderon were they in the clouds of Dxun. While Hauron was scanning for structures Rath turned his weapon systems on and aerial scanners. He had faced one Drexel and that was enough times for one life.

As the base came into view he noticed it was on a mountain. Why a mountain? Now we may have to fight a Drexel. He landed his ship near where Hauron had landed. Grabbing the Z6 rotary blaster he took from a heist he took part in he also had his twin beskads and twin blasters. He opened his ramp and made his way to the other ship. Turning on his thermal vision to do a quick scan. The area was too quiet for his liking.

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

Hauron looked over the CX-133 starfighter and the ministry class shuttle. Under closer inspection they both lacked hyperdrives which was probably why they had been left behind, not that they were worth much compared to modern starships. There was a partially disassembled S-100 but it looked to have taken some damage from its last flight and never received the full repairs needed. There were enough dismantled sith fighter parts to probably craft a single fully working one too. The mandalorians that had operated this base must have salvaged a lot by the looks of it.

Sitting alone was a vehicle that stood out from the rest. Not because of its condition, it was damaged and likely inoperable based off of its appearance. Hauron instead recognized the fact that it was a more modern HMP gunship and had was from a different time period than the other ships. <"What's a droid gunship doing at a base from the ancient crusades?"> he asked out loud, not expecting Rath to have an answer. The mikkian's head tendrils twitched due to the unsettling feeling he was getting.

There was a brief buzzing sound and then the bark of blaster fire from overhead. The bolts impacted the ground in front of Hauron but still made the mandalorian jump. Coming into view were a pair of D1 series aerial battle droids. they each continued to fire at the mandalorians as they got closer, their aim getting progressively more accurate with each shot fired.

The badger began to run and tapped the controls on his wrist. A moment later he was taking into the air and was off the landing pad. Drawing his sidearm in the next motion he fired back at the flying target. They were sleek and surprisingly nimble. Squeezing off an accurate shot he caught one of the D1 battle droids in their center of mass. The damaged droid plummeted towards the jungle ground below.

@Javier esschoolbus

Spoiler: Dice

Danger level around mandalorian outpost
80/100 "Success" = low danger

 

[Rath Jell]

Rath was inspecting the ships along side Hauron. Though the Solus seemed to know and take in every ship the only that peaked Rath’s interest was the shuttle. It would allow them to begin transferring the first groups of refugees from Onderon. The fighters would be useful in taming the wildlife to avoid the area.

It was then they came across the HMP gunship. Rath didn’t even have time to answer as they were attacked by a pair of airborn droids. Rath retreated slightly till a shot barely missed him. He wheeled around and unloaded a burst from his Z6 into the droid that was after him. It falling towards the ground a smoking mess.

Rath let out a sigh as he went and kicked the droids to make sure they were dead. The surrounding area began to grow quieter and Rath knew what this meant. He quickly turned to Hauron haste in his voice, <“I think we should get inside before the wildlife comes to investigate the noise”>

He would then began to jog towards the main building of the complex and open the door by force as the power was out in the building. As the walked in the only proof that this was once a base was the numerous dead Mandalorians. There was also a bunch of the local predators inside dead as well. It’s obvious what wiped out the base was nature.

As Rath looked amongst the bodies noticing a doorway that was torn asunder by something large. The group that was mutilated outside all bore Skirata clan symbols. Walking in there was a set of armor pinned against the wall by the skeleton of a Drexl. The armor had a set of ornate Vambraces a battle scene was engraved of a Mandalorian with a jetpack stabbing through a Drexl with a spear. There was also a name inscribed below it, one that Rath had heard about but couldn’t quite remember, Dirr Skirata.

Rath called out to Hauron as he tried to get the vambrace’s display to power on. <“I may have found something you’d like to see.”> As he finished the display popped up showing coordinates to another location on the moon labeled ‘recon station’. It didn’t specify what they were performing reconnaissance on but it was worth checking out. For now it seemed the base was clear all the had to do was get the power back on.

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

The continuous controlled roar of the mandalorian's jetpack and the sound of the wind at his altitude was the only noise he heard. There appeared to be no further enemies but Hauron would remain on guard. Rath had expertly dispatched the other D1 droid allowing the rally master to return to his comrade directly.

Keeping his wondering to himself, Hauron nodded at Rath's suggestion. There was no point asking questions neither of them had the answers to. He kept a close eye on their backs as he continued onward with his comrade.

Once inside he was nearly stopped in his tracks. It could have been the number but it was also the manner in which the mandalorians had died. A battle, a last stand had occurred here and ended with many monsters and warriors dead. He examined the suites of armor and the remains that wore them. Most of them appeared to have been human or near-human but even back then the mandalorians had been diverse. Their faded armor colors were different patterns than the ones Hauron recognized but there were still a few familiar sigils.

As Hauron became lost in thought, examining the dead, he was just as quickly jerked out of his focus by Rath's announcement. The badger joined his partner to look at their findings. Hauron's eyes widened behind the T visor as he saw the quality of the craftsmanship. Then he leaned in closer to read the information on the display. <"Nice find. Let's get this place up and running. Then we can scope it out."> He nodded and clapped the man on the shoulder.

In a matter of minutes the two would work their way to the lower levels. A power droid that was still working, to a degree, helped jump start things. Running quick diagnostics the droid, like the mandalorian base, appeared for the most part to be operational. There were definitely some upgrades and renovations that were more than called for. But now the duo had a recon outpost to explore and a lightsaber forge to rediscover.

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[Rath Jell]

Rath headed down below with Hauron. It seemed the battle didn't extend to this level of the facility. With the aid of the power droid they got the base back up and running quickly. Various lights and systems cut on that were inactive when they first came in.

As they began making their way back up to the main floor it would be obvious that the base was heavily outdated. The technological and electrical aspects of the building were far from the current standard. But in terms of functionality the base was fully equipped. He was looking at the vambraces as they reached the top floor. <"Do you know of an armorer that could use these to be able to make more for our people?">

They had finally made it back to the main floor and the room with all the corpses. <"Do you want to go on one ship or two?"> It was an important inquiry in his mind. He looked amongst the corpses of the fallen warriors. He planned to burn the remains and request the armor to be used for new foundlings that may join up once the base is fully up and running.

@Darasuum