Ask Plague Doctors

[Prani Shalrazi]

Prani was still mostly an outcast when she arrived at the Jedi. She was used to living in nature and moving with the gypsy caravans. Though she knew how to use some modern technology, it wasn’t a focal point for her. Several other padawans talked behind her back or teased her on Starlight, but it wasn’t in her nature to let it get to her. She performed her Jedi duties and attended her classes, feeling herself grow powerful in the Force every day.

She and another Padawan were sent to a planet to investigate a curious phenomenon. They had a designated Jedi Knight leading the party, but the man told the Padawans to investigate a little hamlet that backed to some woods. Their job was to ask around and investigate the residents that were ill from an inexplicable sickness. It started off like a flu, but soon gave way to delirium and with black streaks appearing across their bodies. They thrashed around before finally succumbing. Modern medicine couldn’t explain it so Jedi were asked to investigate, the backwater planet leaning more into superstitions.

Prani had arrived early and had commed her partner for the mission where she was. She was seated at the base of a large tree with her hallikset out as her delicate fingers strummed the strings. Prani played and sang a song she had composed about the recent gathering the Jedi had while she waited. She was thrilled to be away from the space station and among nature again.

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[M'Akio Beastmaster]

Akio had been tasked with aiding in looking into a mysterious sickness that had been spreading among the population. From the sounds of it, it was rather unassuming initially but quickly progressed to critical levels. Modern medicine didn’t work on it so the Jedi sent a group to investigate it. Akio was added to this group because of his familiarity with being in nature in case this was something of that nature.

The knight that he was assigned to follow was kind of meh. One of his first tasks was to send Akio and the other padawan present to go to a hamlet and investigate it themselves. Thankfully it was close to a forest so Akio on his way from the larger village detoured to get into the forest and get an idea on what the wildlife was like. Akio carried his twin vibroknives also keeping a spare in case he lost one. Sadly this being a Jedi sanctioned mission and the knight being somewhat strict on the subject meant he was wearing his robes.

After an uneventful trek along the forests edge he got to the outskirts of the hamlet. The other padawan was here already and had sent him the meeting location. So Akio not wanting to wander the village aimlessly and get sick himself went straight to it. As he got closer to the location he began to hear music, his ears swiveling around trying to get a read on where it was coming from till he pinpointed it to the tree. He got closer and stood there quietly listening to the song as his tail swung to the melody.

He waited till she was done playing before talking, “Hey I’m Akio. You played that very well. What’s your name?” He asked as his head titled to the side and his ear flicked curiously. He couldn’t remember her name if he was being honest with himself but normally most of the other padawans he never interacted with so he didn’t remember theirs either. So to be safe he just introduced himself. “Did you do any research without me?” He asked curious if she had any info to share before they got to work.

@Sreeya

 

[Prani Shalrazi]

Prani was totally lost in her playing and singing to notice someone else approaching. She gave an audible gasp upon spotting him, never having seen a Fiani before. Her gaze flicked to the ears and tail, but she politely met his eyes instead. Prani offered him a smile as she rose to stand, “Thanks! I’m Prani!” She said cheerfully, extending her hand to shake his.

When he asked if she had done extra research, Prani frowned slightly, “Aw shoot,” She said, a sheepish look on her face, “I didn’t know I was s’pposed to go on ahead. I’m real new at this whole Jedi thing,” She said with a smile, her accent heavily remnant of farmers from agriworlds, “Oh! Before I forget..” She reached into her pack and pulled something out, “I like ta give a gift when I’m ‘bout to meet new folks. I heard ya was a country boy so I got ya this,” Prani said as she extended a bracelet to him forged from branches intricately woven together. He would be able to tell it was twisted into shape and formed with the aid of Plant Surge, the bracelet still humming with the aura of the forests from whence it came. Prani had a habit of personalizing gifts as she had done for Rain and Natalie, “I figure ya can keep a bit o' living nature with ya wherever you go now,” She said with a smile before placing her hallikset on her back.

With that, she started walking towards the little village, “I think it’d help if we go see one of the silk folk,” Prani said as they walked into the town. She spotted a tavern nearby and decided to walk inside. There was a big, burly man that looked like he wanted to punch someone sitting by himself at the bar.

“‘Scuse me, sir!” Prani called out to him, the gruff guy glaring at her initially. Prani was entirely unfazed, “Sorry to bother ya, sir, but my friend an’ I are lookin’ to help y’all out with the strange sickness problem ya been havin’. Can ya possibly point us in the direction to talk to a family with someone that’s sick?”

The man glared in silence for a while. After a moment he gave a grumpy huff, “I wouldn’t be poking around about that. If you catch it it kills you within a day. Nasty stuff,” He drank deeply from his mug, “You kids are in over your heads trying to solve for this. But if you have a death wish, there are quarantine tents set up near the back of the village. The sick that are still alive have been moved there. But good luck getting in. No citizen is permitted.”

Dice: 12/20 for info gathering

@Javier esschoolbus

 

[M'Akio Beastmaster]

Akio extended his hand to shake hers. “Nice to meet you Prani.” He said with a smile. He couldn’t help the slight guilt he felt as she began to answer his question. “Oh, I wasn’t saying you were supposed to. I was just curious if you did.” He said sheepishly. Most of his missions had been with more experienced Jedi so he was used to them being a bit more proactive.

Did she say a gift? There’s no way she’s serious, right? “You didn’t need to ge…” He trailed off as he saw the bracelet. It was clearly woven together using the Force and that plant ability they talked about in class. He took it from her and looked up as she mentioned it gave him a piece of living nature to always have. He smiled brightly as his tail began to sway quickly and his ears perked up more, “Ok we’re friends now.” He said still smiling.

He followed her into the hamlet. He nodded along to her suggestion, “Yeah can’t treat something we know little about.” He responded confidently, as she walked towards the tavern. He followed her in looking up at the large man. There was a slight wave of fear that went through him as Prani boldly walked over to him and began asking him questions. Akio simply watched and listened as he gave his knowledge on the plague and where the housed the victims.

He looked over to Prani as he shrugged at the man’s warning, “We won’t get in standing here. Let’s go see if we can convince the guard to let us in.” He stated as he began heading towards where the tents were said to be. As they approached they could feel the death and suffering through the Force. It was almost suffocating to the two Padawans. He glanced over to Prani remembering how easily she walked up to the burly man, “Please be careful not to get too close. I’d hate for either of us to catch this plague.” He said with concern lacing his voice. She seemed bubbly and very sociable. Two things you don’t want to have in a plague environment.

When they got to the quarantine zone they were stopped by the guard, “No citizens allowed past this point. Only the doctors or victims may enter.” The guard stated slightly irritatedly. Akio quirked a brow at the man’s comment. He smirked as a plan hatched in his brain, “We’re the Jedi healers that were sent to the world. We would like to examine the victims here to compare with the other hamlets and cities of the area.” He stated with a professional tone. “Unless of course you want to be the one to turn us away.” He shrugged as he began turning around like he was going to walk away. The guard huffed, “Fine just make it quick.” He said annoyance seeping into his voice as he stepped to the side. Akio would lead the way whispering to Prani, “Who need mind tricks?” A smirk on his lips as they continued.

/rolled 15/20 for getting into quarantine zone

@Sreeya

 

[Prani Shalrazi]

Prani started laughing when he blabbered about her not needing to get him a gift, “Well if it’s an obligation, it ain’t a gift now, is it?” She said with a chuckle as she gave him the bracelet. The tail wagging and ear twitching made her giggle, “Good, I could use some friends. Most o’ the Jeedai find me real strange,” She admitted with a slight frown, but she cheered up again, not one to let things keep her down.

Prani hummed to herself as they walked to the tents. When Akio warned about not getting too close, Prani frowned, “Aww shucks, really? Here I was thinkin’ about given’ ‘em all hugs,” She said, her tone making it difficult to tell whether she was serious or not. However, her lips tugged towards a smirk to show she wasn’t quite that naive.

Akio was polite and articulate enough to get them through, “Jeedai use that on people?” Prani asked with wonder, having only used influencing tricks on animals to calm and tame them. The thought of using it on a person hadn’t even occurred to her and sounded odd.

They were led to a row of beds where the sick were in various stages of illness. The Jedi were provided gloves and masks to keep contamination at bay. Right away Prani had a feeling this wasn’t exactly something that spread through touch. The sick looked pale, had glassy eyes and streaks of black along their skin. Some had flecks of gold in their eyes. The moment the two Jedi entered, several of them hissed and recoiled. It was also unsettling to witness that they all had binds holding them to their beds.

Prani was about to move closer to inspect one of them when they tore through their binds. Before she knew it, the patient dove right at her with a hiss, fury and rage charging through him. The Dark Side pulsed angrily as the man tackled her to the ground.

@Javier esschoolbus