Ask Korriban Paperback Writer

[Soleil Altan]

Korriban, Sith Academy
1137 local time

Ever since the Drommund Kaas academy's destruction at the hand of Free Worlds commandos, Soleil had felt like his life was steadily approaching a sense of chaos. Temporary housing with like eight other students, remote classes with questionable schedules, recovering lost things. He wasn't ashamed to admit he'd escaped to Aadya's carrier for most of it, spending hours and days locked away in his quarters working on art or writing. It'd taken a little while, but a a transfer request was finally approved.

Korriban's academy. His physiology hated the hot, dry weather, which was part of what kept him from going there to begin with. But now there was another bit of leverage at his disposal. Soleil had religiously read through books and datapads in the Drommund Kaas archives, and while he hadn't read all of it, his extremely accurate memory meant he memorized every detail. In return for copying down rare works he'd memorized, aided by his good grades, he transferred to Korriban.

He even got some accommodation pay for a desert suit he could wear to deal with the local environment. Korriban got a shitton of funding from the Imperial government, so although the outside was still an old-fashioned temple the inside had tech and climate controls far above Drommund Kaas. Combined with the frequent parties, Soleil was right at home. There were few noble types here- most went to Serenno instead- and instead, it was a collection of oddballs with potential. Mostly, anyway.

Sol stepped through the airlock-like doorway to the Korriban archives, a vast library of the Sith Empire's most ancient and venerated texts. Right after taking care to brush off any excess dust, he strode forward to collect a datapad copy of information related to today's assignment. He and a randomly assigned partner were to go off and explore one of the million ancient buildings still being rediscovered across the surface.

It looked like he was the first to arrive and so took the pad from a droid along with a second containing some extra stuff he'd requested. Korriban was renowned for producing a certain kind of Sith in part for a degree of freedom. This both weeded out the morons and encouraged ambition in its students.

He got to reading while he waited for his partner to arrive. Soleil was actually early to the whole thing, but they were supposed to trek on foot. Something about 'understanding the environment.'

@Braden

 

[Wodan]

The hot and dry world of Korriban, was not at the top of Wodan’s planetary bucket list. It hadn’t even made the cut, but the historic world of the Sith had become not only his most visited planet, but his home over the past year. But coming here was a necessity, Dromund Kaas had been destroyed and Serenno was for those with much more prestige and money than Wodan currently had. The lodgings within the Sith Academy here were nothing special, he had lived in far better as a child and far worse as a teenager, spartan as they were at least they were clean and lice free.

The door to his own little four man room slid open, the assignment today was to meet with a transfer and go hunting through the desert for something. Wodan was surprised there were still buildings left to explore considering Acolyte's had been trampling almost daily through the planet’s historic locations for the past decade. But he wouldn’t argue with his instructors, Wodan had learned that the hard way, the Last Prince had been a bit too argumentative when he first arrived, which almost ended with a Lightsaber through the chest. Instead only a dark scar remained where he the instructor had almost skewered him.

Collecting his things, Wodan dressed in light clothing suitable for Korriban’s weather and picked up his Spear and Lightsaber. The later was deemed a must have by his instructors though the Firrerro had hardly ignited the red blade since his arrival here. Before heading out towards the archives where he was due to meet his compatriot.

Stepping through the Airlock, he gazed around to see if he could spot his partner. A few dozen Sith were milling about the area, but only one looked dressed for the outdoors. Walking up to the man he placed the butt of his spear on the ground unintentionally making a rather loud bang which drew the attention of a number of the other Sith in attendance. “I guess you're my partner for today.”

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Soleil Altan]

Soleil abruptly stiffened, turning slowly after the sound of metal banging on stone and a greeting. His eyes, clearly visible through a wide visor, gave Wodan a brief look-over. They lingered briefly on the other acolyte's collection of shiny metal bits, ornate spear, uncovered skin, and face with no visible change in expression.

Instead, he turned fully around and extended his gloved right hand to offer a handshake. He nodded affirmatively, confirming that he was the one. 'Soleil' he introduced himself telepathically, his projected voice still somewhat monotone. He was working on adding more syllables after Raze's crash course, and to that end, his usual cat-shaped droid was silent.

Along with his lightsaber and vibrodagger, Soleil also carried a cross-shoulder canvas bag for his various supplies. His poor backpack had been worn down from constant use. 'Shall we?' Sol asked, nodding to the door and heading to the airlock. Outside was, as usual, hot and dry. The Wrean acolyte was ever thankful he had a desert suit to keep him cool and recycle moisture.


'First time?' he curiously asked Wodan after a few steps away from the temple itself, heading on course out into the wasteland.

@Braden

 

[Wodan]

His apparent partner turned around and held out his hand, Wodan went to take the extended arm when a voice shot through his head. It was the first time the Acolyte had experienced telepathy and it caught him by surprise. The Firrerian took a step back and slightly brought up his spear as if expecting something wrong to happen. He looked around and no one else seemed to be acting strange. After a second Wodan realised it was the Acoylte in front of him who had spoken.

Gingerly and with a puzzled look on his face, he re-extended his hand. “Wōđanaz, just call me Wodan.” After that awkward encounter Soleil gestured that the pair should make their way from the library. Still a little awkward with the telepathy thing, Wodan tried to reply in his mind to the other Acolyte. After an uncomfortable few seconds of silence he gave up and verbally told him he was ready.

The burning winds of Korriban blasted the pair as they began their little venture. “No, I’ve been studying for around nine months here. We have had a few class groups go into some of the closer tombs but I haven’t been into any without a teacher. You?” He replied as the pair reached the Academy’s bike store. All of the nearby tombs had been searched a long time ago, to find anything interesting they would have to travel a fair distance out from the more travelled valleys.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Soleil Altan]

Sol appeared unruffled by Wodan's spear movement, just blinking at the other acolyte and moving right along. 'Wodan' he'd repeated simply to get the pronunciation right. He was equally unbothered by the bout of silence, looking at one of his datapads in the meantime.

Once outside, Wodan seemed to have settled on speaking aloud. 'Five months' he replied back, swiping an academy ID to access the bikes. 'From Kaas' They'd specifically be taking the treadspeeder bike Aadya'd given him. Sol hopped up onto the front driver's portion. 'Aries and others' was his answer about tombs. A pause, during which he gestured for Wodan to get aboard.

'Mute. Limited speech,' he mentioned, tapping a finger against his throat to get across the point that Sol wasn't just fucking with Wodan. His bike got revved up and ready to go. Sol had been eyeing the other acolyte's ornate spear with open curiosity, and it wasn't long after they got moving that he had to ask about it.

'Why a spear?'


@Braden

 

[Wodan]

It seemed that his partner for the day was well prepared. Wodan was getting ready to convince the stubborn transport officer to lend them a pair of speeder bikes to get to their destination. The old man is well known for his reluctance to let Acolyte's off with ‘his’ speeders. But Soleil had his own. “Where did you get the speeder?” He asked as he got onto the back of the speeder. Most of the Acolyte's with money ended up on Serenno, their rich parents getting the into the ‘A tier’ Academy.

Luckily the size of the treadspeeder meant Wodan was able to easily store his weapon on the back whilst they travelled. “I found it more useful in a fight than a lightsaber.” He replied, having to shout to be heard over the Treadspeeder’s engine. Wodan didn’t add that he had also picked up the weapon as a way to stand out against the endless hordes of new Acolyte's being churned out of the Empire's numerous Academies. “Ready when you are.”

@Mr. Teatime