Ask The Old Crow and the Wild Child

[Laeonas Tannaras]

​

Laeonas slept as he always did; terribly. His dreams were once more plagued with the images of Firrerre, the burns on his psyche a permanent one even after all the years of healing and growth. It was a wonder he didn't look ten years older than he was (though in his mind he certainly did) with how little sleep he ever got. Perhaps it was all the time he'd spent away from home that kept him from looking like a dried up grape, or maybe it was his skincare routine. Ofcourse whatever it was that he did, it certainly wasn't enough; every time he looked in the mirror he (thought) he saw a new line on his forehead, an extra set of bags beneath his eyes.

"Why couldn't ma 'ave screwed a Morellian instead?" He muttered, walking through the hallways, sure to line the string behind him as he walked in the direction he thought his ship was in. Even stranded here, he didn't plan on letting his routine fall apart. As always he began the morning with 3 full hours of exercise in his gym, followed up by a hearty breakfast and another hour with his bathing and self care routine. He came out of his ship in another outfit, vibrosword hanging from his side all the same, some of his weights floating casually behind him as he went back and forth from the ship to his room. If he were going to stay on this planet for a few weeks, disappearing to his ship for any longer than he needed to be there was ridiculously impractical.

The sun had been up for a good two hours by the time he was back, gym equipment and holo set up in his room. It was... cramped, but he didn't really care all that much. He'd spent his entire nonadult life living in cramped tenements; even with half a gymnasium's worth of equipment in this largely empty, undecorated stone room, he stilll had more room than he ever would've had in his youth. His situation was still far, far better than the last time he'd been left stranded on a world without any prospects of escape for an extended period of time; there were actual people around, for one, and he was sure to have more than charred kath hound and Kinrath egg to eat.

With nothing better to do, he fell back on his teachings and decided to meditate, further contemplating his situation with the force serving to illuminate the paths before him. Kat's testimony indicated that there was at least a minor Sith presence on this world, and as isolated and irrelevant as it was, that didn't change the fact that their presence couldn't be tolerated. There'd be one or two at first, than a few more, and sooner or later imperial banners would be waving over every mudhut and caldera pit. They'd done it after they'd gone "extinct" 1100 years ago, and they'd done it after the Skywalkers had "destroyed" them a century and a half ago.

What better world would there be to retreat to once their empire was burning, than a backwater on the edge of the map?

​

@Shax

 

[Katherine Stargazer]

The day had not started well. Kat had been quite happy to have gotten a whole night's sleep, yet when she awoke, she knew that something would be off. Her regular ablutions were fine; the food was good for what it was, and yet she still couldn't shake the feeling of irritation that gnawed at her mind.

She went to do her duties because she wasn't a coward who would run from them simply because they were hard. Still, the always searching, constantly measuring faces of her so-called people made her want to lash out. Stetti, her friend, outlined what she needed to do today, which included 'holding court,' so to speak.

If someone took action against another, nothing stopped either party from murdering one another. Such is Rattataki justice. Still, there were situations where mediation and judgment were needed, which was just one of Kat's many responsibilities. It was not what she wished to be doing today.

Today, two tribes who fell under her control as Warlord of the Cauldron had brought grievances against one another. It was no minor matter, an alleged crime that the accusers are adamant about happening while no proof has been presented. So Stetti says, anyway.

Kat wondered why they couldn't just beat each other up like civilized folk instead of coming to her with their problems. She sighed and made to gesture for the representatives to be brought in before she stopped and quirked her eyes to the side in thought.

"I'll hear this petition in the arena and all the rest as well." She said in a voice that was not a request. "And bring me Laeo. The man who arrived just yesterday." She proclaimed, directing her gaze to Stetti, who nodded and sent a man Kat didn't know the name of to do her bidding. She wasn't sure why she wanted the off-worlder to be present, yet it felt like the right thing to ask for.

The arena was vast, its sandy floor had still not been cleaned of the blood Kat and her fellow escapees had spilled to escape, and as always, the mountain above their heads was oppressive and monolithic. She commanded braziers be brought in and lit, though the temperature in the arena was far from cold. The floodlights were shut off at her order, leaving the arena lit only by the flickering orange fires of the heavy bowl-like braziers. She watched the fire, waiting.

@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

​

The force was... quieter than it usually was on this world. It took heavy concentration to pick up on the currents of life, but with focus the tumult on Rattatak became clear. Conflict and struggle defined the lives of every living thing on this planet, from the plant in the crevice trying to eak out an existence on what meager water and sunlight it could, to the tribes of men and women fighting over food and water. Failure meant death, and there was plenty of opportunities to do so. In that regard, Rattatak wasn't all that different from the slums he'd grown up in.

"Laeo!" a voice called, and the former Padawan's musings were cut off as he was dragged back into profane. An exasperated sigh escaped his lips as he stood, turning his attention to the man who'd called his name.

"Yeah?" The Brentaalan answered, tapping his foot as he scowled. Most of Laeonas' time was spent alone on his ship, free of distractions and any prospective interlopers. As such, he wasn't accustomed to interruptions, which was exactly what that nameless man did as he barged into Laeonas room. Judging by his expression, the man didn't seem to care that much. "The Warlord wants an audience. Follow me." He explained.

"I'm busy; tell Kat that I'll join her in an hour." Laeonas answered, turning on his heel. "It isn't a request." The man replied, causing the Brentaalan to pause. "...'scuse me?" He muttered, turning back around and cocking an eyebrow. The attendant, messenger-- whoever he was, he was fairly large, half a head taller than the Brentaalan and with a lot more mass. Laeonas' figure, by contrast, looked thin, obscured by the layers of clothing that covered him from neck to toe.

"She wanted your presence. Now." The man repeated, taking a step forward. For a moment, Laeonas considered how he ought to bring the man down; perhaps a left hook, or maybe he could just toss him across the room? It was a line of thought that he quickly terminated; he didn't solve his problems like that anymore, especially over something as trivial as his presence at a meeting or function or whatever. He might not have been a Jedi anymore, but that didn't mean he'd returned to being a belligerent prick... at least, not entirely.

"Hey, relax; you caught me in the middle of something is all." The Brentaalan replied, flashing a grin that was halfway convincing. "Let me gather my things, I'll be with you shortly." He declared, to which the other man glanced, waited, and than nodded, walking outside. Laeonas slipped back into his boots and grabbed his vibrosword, strapping the sheathe along his back. "Alright lead the way." He called, walking after the attendant, messenger giant man person.

It took a good 10 minutes to get from his room to the arena, and suffice to say, Laeonas was... surprised. From how Kat had described the Rattataki, he'd assumed they still dwelt in mudhuts, at least when they didn't have the luxuries of hollowed out volcanic tunnels to call home. The arena wasn't much when compared to the Huttball stadiums of Nar Shaddaa, but it did it's job of providing a wide open playing field and the seating for a sizeable audience, while maintaining an imposing aesthetic thanks to the Braziers and that ever looming mountain that dominated the skyline.

They'd arrive at Kat's "box," which provided the best view available to any prospective spectators. "I brought the offworlder." The man declared, gesturing to Laeonas, who bowed his head. "Does Kat still work, or is there a title I'm expected to call you?" He asked, a grin slowly spreading across his face. "This guy acted like this was a pretty serious occasion; am I to fight some pit beast? I was hoping I could keep the sword in it's sheathe, haven't sharpened it in ages." He went on, the grin widening as he continued to crack his not all that funny jokes.

@Shax

 

[Katherine Stargazer]

Kat didn't turn to look at Laeo until he was finished talking. Had the subject squinted, her posture could have been generously described as regal. Her back was straight, but her shoulders were tense, and her legs were set almost as if prepared for a fight. When she turned to look at her new friend, the flickering light revealed the pale white makeup covering her body. Black lines ran from the corner of her mouth and down her shoulders, coiling into spirals and other, seemingly snake-like designs across the rest of her body. Notably, the markings intentionally avoided her scars, curling around them as if trying to find another path.

Most Rattataki are naturally extremely pale, but they are hardly homogenous. Primarily, only those who could trace their line back to the planet's original inhabitants were naturally that pale. Still, the vast majority use makeup to appear as their fellows.

She studied Laeo for a moment before speaking to the guards in the room. "Tækanan sa tribesmen thurH sa laŋōjanan weγaz, then breŋanan them Hin tiz miz." Her voice was stilted, not guttural or with enough flow to proclaim any mastery over the Rattataki language.

Still, her men understood her just fine, who nodded, snapped off a salute, and went to follow her order. Once they were gone, Kat returned her gaze to Laeo. "This is Stetti!" She proclaimed, her face breaking into a smile at odds with her formerly intimidating visage as she gestured to the thin Rattataki woman at her right. "She's been a great friend, helping me run the Cauldron and teaching me my duties. She's also the one requesting other fuel ships, though it's not clear when they'll be arriving. Stetti, this is Laeo; he arrived just yesterday." She proclaimed, happily introducing her friends to each other.

"Hello," Stetti said simply, with a face of reserved caution.

She let them say their hellos before continuing. Her face returned to her former, almost manic look. "Still, I felt I would need your advice today. I have two tribes in contention, and both are known for their... integrity." She almost asked because it wasn't entirely true. The Rattataki were straight shooters in every field, excluding war, so it was unfortunate that there weren't many fields on Rattatak that didn't involve everyone's favorite pass time. "It's likely to be a messy problem, and having an outside perspective might help." Leaving unsaid that she felt more at ease with Rattataki methods despite being an offworlder herself than that of the wider galaxies.

@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

​

Kat's apparent flare for the dramatic was something that the Brentaalan hadn't really appreciated until she'd turned to face him, to which he was greeted with the audacious makeup routine she had applied to herself. Giving her a once over, Laeonas remained speechless for a few seconds. He could hardly recognize the friendly teenager who he'd spoken to the previous night. Standing before him was a warlord.

Suffice to say, he wouldn't be cracking anymore jokes this morning.

He didn't understand a word of the girl's speech as she addressed some of her men. As one who'd become familiar with modulating his own native accent, he quickly picked up on the lack of flow and familiarity with the language she was speaking. Despite that, the girl's voice carried the commanding authority of a leader, to which her subjects obeyed without question. It was a remarkable achievement; he had seen men twice her age-- twice his age fail to command respect. Yet before him stood a girl who had won the loyalty of dozens, perhaps hundreds, all of which were foreigners to her.

As backward as this world was and as irrelevant as her achievements were on the galactic stage, Katherine's actions would have been impressive regardless of the context. To inspire loyalty and to exert real authority were the kind of skills on which empires were built. there were many a fae tale he'd been told as a child of the legendary Basilioi of old; so many stories of young and ambitious men and women inspiring a few and going on to command vast armies, forging legacies to which nobles millennia later tried to claim. Perhaps, if she was lucky-- and if she had the right help-- the girl before him might be remembered for similarly grand achievements.

But as effortlessly as she slipped into autocratic command, Kat stepped back into the persona of a friendly teenager. Laeonas quickly stopped analyzing the girl's potential and immediately addressed the girl before him with a nod. "I think Kat's told me a bit about you already; thanks for working on getting a fuel ship here." He said, nodding at her in a gesture of gratitude and respect that he'd oft been reminded to use by his master. "In the meantime, I'm at yours and Kat's disposal; it's the least I can do for the hospitality." He declared. "And tha longer Ai'm 'ere, tha longer Ai'll 'ave ta find yer Sith friends and drive them off this godfersaken world."

His attention was drawn back to Kat as she explained the situation. A dispute between tribals was usually used as the butt of a joke, but Kat's manic expression and her serious delivery told him that she was being 100% serious. It was when she explained the reason for which he had been summoned that Laeonas went from concealing his amusement to giving her a look of wide eyed surprise. "...you want my help deciding on a court case?" He asked, a bit bewildered.

"I'm... I'm sorry, but the last time I was summoned to a place like this, the person in charge was deciding on whether or not I should be locked in jail after I got in a fight at a--" He began, before shutting his mouth as he noticed the many confused and skeptical looks falling on him. "...ahem, what I meant to say is that I've got no experience helping to judge a situation like this... but if my opinion means so much to you, I'd be happy to provide it." He declared, bowing his head as another sign of respect and gratitude.

@Shax

 

[Katherine Stargazer]

Kat listened as Laeo spoke, one painted eyebrow raising ever higher on her brow until he finished talking. She considered how she wanted to phrase her statement before disregarding that caution, as it had never really been her style. "Without temperance, I would merely have the tribes fight to determine their honor, yet I know that some would frown on such action in the wider galaxy, despite it being the way of Rattatak for millennia." She said bluntly.

"I want you to advise me on how a man from the galaxy would handle the problem and why. There are many thoughts in the sea among stars, and I cannot know them all; I cannot know whether or not I make the best choices unless I see other paths." She continued, almost looking through the older man.

"The ultimate judgment shall remain mine alone, regardless of your thoughts. So feel no responsibility," she finished kindly. She would listen to him should he have a good argument, by her measure anyway, so he certainly could affect the futures of these tribes significantly if he were so inclined.

She found as she was talking that she felt more and more comfortable acting like the Warlord the Rattataki claim she is, regardless of how fake it could feel at times. The makeup denoted acceptance by the people and was applied with a certain excitement by Stetti and her subordinates. It helped make her feel like they wanted her around.

"Still, if you feel you are not up to advising me on these galactic morals, then you are free to leave; I will not hold it against you. Not all men have the constitution for conviction." Kat stated that it was a common fact. The sky was red; the ground was... red. Not all men were worth the morals they claimed to believe. "Choose quickly, however; the tribesmen will be here any moment." She said at length, watching Laeo's eyes.

@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

​

Laeonas resumed his listening posture as Kat summoned back that aura of authority she could so easily summon. Her request was simple, and she actually gave him the option of a choice, which prompted a bit of side eye from the Brentaalan towards the guard who'd all but dragged him here like he was about to be thrown into the caldera as a sacrifice to whatever Barbarian gods these people worshipped. All this boiled down to Kat simply wanting some advice from an offworlder, and with no others on hand, Laeonas had been summoned to play that role.

"I mean, if you value my opinion that much, it'd be rude for me to refuse." Laeo answered, ultimately agreeing to provide his insights into broader galactic views on justice... as heavily biased and arbitrary as they were. "I did say I was at your disposal for the time being, and if this is the kind of service you want me to provide, I'll do just that." He went on, reverting back to the traditional view of exchanging favors and services that defined most Brentaalan social interactions. In this case, the service he offered was twofold-- repaying her hospitality with a favor, as well as legitimizing her own authority by showing that even a foreigner submitted to her requests.

So, as heavily flawed as the man was, Laeonas began to speak about what he believed was appropriate for the situation.

"From... all I know about justice, when a crime is done the victim ought to be compensated for the equivalent of the damage done to them, their loved ones or things, or the offender ought to be punished equivalent to whatever damages were done to the victim. Usually if it's something petty like crashing your speeder into theirs or breaking a couple of their bones, you oughta make the guy who did it pay for the damages-- maybe punish him by taking his right to fly away." Laeonas said, providing a very basic example.

"If this is just some dispute over like, land, or a watering hole, or some Bantha or whatever... well, you oughta judge the claims both parties have. Did one of their ancestors own the watering hole? Maybe it was given to someone else from another tribe as part of some marriage contract or treaty. Maybe they've both got pretty good claims and it'll be up to you to decide which one is more legit." Laeonas went on, explaining the procedures he thought were appropriate in a civil case.

"If this is about property or whatever, than you could settle the case by asking whoever's dad owned what they're fighting over, and just give it to them. That's just common sense." Laeonas explained, lips twitching slightly at the thought of what his father owed him. "And it doesn't matter on whether or not it's a guy or a gal on whose dad it is. Believe me, most people in the galaxy think that's more backwards than slavery." Laeonas declared. "Emphasis on most; there's a couple worlds out there where that's law, but I'd say you'd be more forward thinking than them if you didn't do that." Laeonas went on.

"I hope you followed all that; that's really all I can tell you without knowing the specifics... which would be nice to know."

@Shax

 

[Katherine Stargazer]

Kat nodded along, listening intently to Laeo's words. Truthfully, she found what he said strange, though she wouldn't dismiss the ideas out of hand. This is the first time she's had to judge something of such alleged magnitude. She would not be happy if the tribes came to her with something petty. "I shall give your words due consideration," Kat replied, "I too would like to know this quarrel; it is good then that the tribesmen have arrived."

Her statement was followed by a small side tunnel gate sliding upwards into the rock. Three men walked through and into the arena; one was her guard, who quickly guided the two others into the room. The man on the left was tall but thin and seemed to stalk through the arena like some animal. The man on the right was at least a head shorter and quite a bit thicker, glancing around at the darkness surrounding them as if waiting for an ambush.

Kat waited for them to join her in the light of the braziers before speaking, "Be welcome in the Cauldron," Her voice echoed around the arena in the silence. She narrowed her eyes, studying both men. It didn't take long to notice that she had never seen these men before, which was odd.

Of course, she couldn't know everyone on the planet, but the tribes one and all have people they send to represent them to her, and bringing an issue such as this would more often than not be their responsibility. So, either this was too important to leave to intermediaries, or these were new tribes to her lands. "I am Katherine Stargazer; speak your names." She demanded.

They seemed confused that she was speaking basic for a moment, but they rolled with the change well. "I am Rek, of the Gordani tribe." Said the tall man.

"I am Samdi, of the Dvil tribe." Said the shorter man.

"What is your woe?" Kat asked because she enjoyed being dramatic.

"The Gordani encroach on our conquered lands, claiming ancestral rights." Samdi scoffed. "They claim they owe you fealty and yet quarrel still with your allied tribes and contribute nothing to your muster." Rek was visibly enraged at the claim, but a stern glare from Kat kept his mouth shut. "Worse yet, they gather allies from shunned tribes like the Shimna, vile corpse-takers!" Samdi spat.

There were differences between the semi-common Rattataki cannibalism and corpse-taking. Even the brutal Rattataki avoid the cruel tactic. Corpse-taking was about creating effigies and totems from your enemy, denying them rest in the afterlife, and using their mortal remains to terrify their families and sicken their food supplies with rotting bodies. Some even wear the skin of their enemy as masks.

Kat didn't let that phase her, merely turning her eyes to Rek. "The Dvil are dirty liars, Warlord. The Gordani have been loyal to the Cauldron, and we would not associate ourselves with those creatures!" The skinny man started; his voice was surprisingly deep. "The Dvil squat on unrightfully taken land; no challenge was issued, no rituals were observed. Even now, they greedily pick away at our people and our wealth of weapons; they take slaves against your mandates and continue to raid neighboring land, pillaging so greatly that nothing and no one remains."

Kat wanted to sigh because all of this was just one big mess she didn't want to untangle. War is life on Rattatak, yet there was common 'law,' so to speak. Rituals and challenges play a big part in tribal conflict, and not performing them is like spitting on your own people. Which isn't to say it wasn't done. Its simple tactics to strike at your enemies when they least expect it, especially without warning.

@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

​

"...wait, you didn't kn-" Laeonas began, his thoughts interrupted by the sound of metal grinding against stone. Turning his attention down to the arena, he'd watch as the tiny entourage made their way in. Kat's greetings and address were quite theatrical, and it became clear that she had as much a talent for dramatics as she did for commanding authority. What came afterwards were the testimony of the two men, conflicting in a myriad of different ways. The complexity of the case actually caught Laeo a bit off-guard, but he managed to process just about everything the two said by the end.

From how the shorter man spoke, it sounded like they didn't recognize hereditary land claims, and challenged that the tall man's tribe had been disloyal. Laeonas wasn't sure what "corpse taking" meant, but with the venomous tone of voice, the impression was that it was a particularly heinous crime. Based on what Kat had described, cannibalism was a cultural norm amongst some of this world-- the only thing he could think of that could be worse than eating the remains of his fellow man was what the most savage of Brentaal's gangs engaged in with the bodies of their dead enemies-- be it emasculation, crucifixion, dismemberment...

It was a punishment that the gangs inflicted on particularly heinous offenders; those that preyed upon children were a particularly favored target. Still, it was a monstrous punishment, and he could understand why these people would detest it so.

The hunched over lank spoke up next, accusing the opposition of lying and denying the allegations of corpse fuckery. From the sounds of it the shorter man's tribe had just waltzed into their land without going through any of the proper channels. More than that, they took slaves; Laeonas expression immediately darkened at the mention of it, brow furrowing and lips curling down.

"...so, if I'm following..." Laeonas muttered, looking first at "Samdi," "You conquered-- whatever that means-- a bunch of land, and you're mad," Laeonas went on, pointing to the tall one called "Rek," "because it belongs to your ancestors. But you," He went on, pointing back at the shorter man, "Say they're disloyal pricks, and that they fuck around with corpse takers." Laeonas bluntly finished, before turning his attention back to the tall one.

"And you're saying that they waltzed onto your land without any right, and that they're stealing your stuff and your people, to the point where your villages are practically razed to the ground when they're finished?" Laeonas went on, cocking his head a little. That he was speaking up before Kat had even said anything was... out of line, but from what was described he could hardly contain himself. He wasn't sure who was being honest, and who was lying-- from his experience, the answer was usually both. Yet in spite of that, he did have a bias.

"Tha Gord- Gordan-- whatever tha kark-- own tha land based off their blood. The Dvil are runnin' around, pillagin' and despoilin' it without goin' through ritual or law or even tradin' it away. Th'at ain't even mentionin' th'at tha Dvil' are claimin' they're fuckin' around with dead bodies." He thought to himself, and the longer he did the more obvious the right answer was to him. Still, all they'd heard so far were words-- words from two obviously very angry people with strong convictions, and equally strong incentives to do whatever it took to win Kat's favor in this dispute.

"Katherine," he muttered, leaning down to whisper in the painted warlord's ear, "Do you think you could ask if they've brought any evidence for what they're saying?" Laeonas asked. "It's one thing to say that your enemy's playing footsie with a bunch of corpse defilers, but it's another to prove it's happening. Same goes for the whole pillaging bit that the other one mentioned." Laeonas suggested. He wasn't about to let his thoughts on the case influence Kat's decision making until there was at least some proof that whatever either were saying was true.

@Shax

 

[Katherine Stargazer]

Kat gave Laeo the side-eye when he started speaking. What poor manners! Though, to be fair, Kat did summon him without warning and without letting him prepare for what they were doing today, so maybe he's just out of sorts? It was never good to assume someone is being a big jerk when there could be an innocent answer for their attitude.

Still, she listened intently, if only because his analysis of the problem was rather astute. The spokesmen each swelled in some indignity and attempted to sputter words that Kat quite honestly didn't care to listen to. Instead, she focused on Laeo when he started whispering to her, much to the dismay of both her guards and the tribesmen.

Proof is good; in fact, the possession of evidence would probably solve this entire issue. The problem, of course, is that it is entirely possible that either tribe could produce fake proof. They could claim recordings of the perpetrators, yet those recordings would be of a purposely homogenous people who change their markings on a whim. It would be impossible to identify the perpetrators by image alone, and justice cannot be carried out unless Kat knew who was committing the crime.

"Have you any proof of your dangerous claims?" Kat asked, glaring down at the two men. It was nice being tall. She echoed Laeo's request because it was smart, letting her retake control of the conversation.

The two men fidgeted for a moment, separate yet together under her scrutiny. "The Dvil have buried hundreds of our defiled tribesmen and burnt the posts they were tied to in great fires to cleanse the land. Even now, our water is tainted by corpse rot, and our homes are vandalized with the markings of the Gordani." Samdi said, quivering with some emotion.

"Our lands are barren like the wastelands they were before we made them bloom," Rek said, glaring at his contemporary. "We Gordani watch our stolen people slave away in the dust, as the Dvil abuse them like animals. We can offer no proof than that of our word, but if it is proof you seek, come and see our lands for yourself." Rek was daring, and he gazed up at Kat with conviction.

@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

​

The sputtering of the two differently flavored barbarians was completely ignored by the Brentaalan as he laid down his summary. It was harsh, and it wasn't entirely unbiased, but it didn't exactly paint either tribe in the shade of "poor, innocent victims" that they had each tried to lather themselves in. As far as he was concerned, there was only one appropriate course of action-- that being to confiscate the weapons of each tribe, send warriors to keep them in lilne, crack down on any resistance, and maintain the peace. That was how his own gang had operated when he'd still lived on Brentaal, and the result was a general reduction in the chaos and crime that defined daily life amongst the poor.

Ofcourse, it wasn't perfect; tribute collections were harsh, bribes to the police were seriously taxing, and even still the police often cracked down on them whenever there was a chance that they might win the gang war. Ofcourse, this situation was different in a myriad of ways-- there was no higher authority Kat had to bribe to let her maintain her power, and as far as he could tell there was no drug trade here, which had been the backbone of his gang's power. Still, the principles were there-- a strong hand, wielded by one with the power and wisdom to lead, was the best way to keep the peace.

But if Kat had been able to do that, he reasoned that she would've done so long before he'd arrived. No, she needed both tribes' cooperation, and if she pushed to hard, rebellion was certain. For that, she needed to lay down law-- something she could claim was impartial, and to which even she was bound to follow. It was a fiction ofcourse; all power came either from the end of the barrel of a blaster or the tip of a blade. This whole exercise was a means to win loyalty and wash her hands of the inevitable punishment that would fall on the guilty party.

Evidence was the biggest component of such an exercise, and each man offered up further testimony. They obviously didn't have the proof on them, but both the Gordani and Dvil representatives made hard, empirical statements-- statements which could either be proven to be true or false. The Gordani claimed that their waters were impure, that mass graves and bonfires littered their land, that their homes had been defiled. The Dvil claimed that many of his people had been carried away as slaves-- that their lands had been reduced to dust. In a bold move, he even offered Kat an invitation to see the wastes herself.

"He's confident." Laeonas whispered, eyeing the Dvil representative as he leaned in to whisper in Kat's ear. She was half an inch taller than he was, but his boots made it so he had to lean down just slightly. "Either what he's offering to show us is proof enough that he thinks you'll judge the Gordani guilty on the spot... or he's got something tricky in mind once we get there." Laeonas whispered on. "The other one's got some serious convictions; he's either putting on a performance that'd put most holodrama players out of business, or he's being genuine." Laeonas went on. Either one of them was playing a great deception, or there was a mix of truth and lie, twisted so perfectly together that they'd need to pull through it themselves.

He didn't say anything to the two delegates; he had neither the authority to make what he was about to suggest happen, nor the respect from either man to not reject what he was about to say outright. To them, he was barbaroi-- a foreigner, one who had no place making decisions that'd impact their lives. Kat, by contrast, was their acknowledged superior-- they deferred to her authority, and respected her. Anything he said had to come in the form of a suggestion, rather than a command. "You should accept this invitation-- under armed guard. He can show us what he wants to show us-- and what he doesn't, since your guards will make sure you'll be able to see whatever they might not want to share." He suggested. He'd dealt with plenty of stories like this before-- hell, he'd delivered some before a cop or judge-- and he knew from personal experience that people tended to obscure the less flattering pieces of evidence.

"Course, getting one side of the story isn't enough; you should check out what the other one is talking about to. See if the water's polluted, if the mass graves he's talking about exist. If he's telling the truth, producing that evidence shouldn't be a problem-- and if he's got one, that just makes him suspicious..." Laeonas went on. Ofcourse, he wasn't being entirely fair; the man might be reluctant to show what he said was there for completely different reasons. When port authorities searched him or his ship for contraband and weapons, he was as likely to be opposed on principle as he was out of actual guilt.

"Do whatever you think makes sense." He finally reassured her, pulling back and waiting to see Kat's response.

@Shax

 

[Katherine Stargazer]

Katherine considered for a moment. She had a war to plan, so this couldn't take too much time. However, if she doesn't take decisive action, it's likely these tribes will slip from her control, which is unacceptable. There might be more matters for her to oversee today, but this situation can't wait.

"My advisor gives good advice," Kat said, maintaining an enigmatic glare. "We will travel your lands and judge your words accordingly." The fires flickered ominously, and Kat was thankful that whatever vengeful spirits haunted the Cauldron enjoyed this kind of drama as much as she did.

"Prepare yourselves for the journey home, and be prepared to guide my soldiers and me by tomorrow." She waved, dismissing them but never taking her eyes off the two delegates. Before they could fully leave the arena, she spoke one last time. "I do not appreciate liar's when I should be amongst friends and allies. My judgment will be harsh if you have been false with me." The two men looked spooked for whatever reason but left without a word.

Kat sighed and turned to look at Laeo. "Blood and war are part and parcel on this planet; it will be long before I settle everyone into peaceful gladiator fights. I had hoped I could have focused on the coming fight, but this is just as important. I'll want you with me if you think you can stomach it. Regardless of what happens and what is true, someone will lose their heads over this." Perhaps more than their heads, and in something more violent than simple execution. Messages need to be sent, especially if this is somehow all a big ruse to lure her from her new home.

"I expect us to leave tomorrow; we'll be using local mounts, can't waste the fuel, you see."

@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

​

Laeonas let out a sigh of relief as Kat agreed with his suggestions. Even making a show of being impartial and going to see things for herself would go a long way in helping her reputation as a fair ruler. His relaxed expression twisted in surprised as Kat laid out the timetables for when they'd actually do it, saying they'd wait an entire day to actually leave. He didn't even pick up on both delegate's obvious concern by her demands for the truth. He'd grown up on a world where everyone was always moving to get to the next task or job on time-- the idea of just... sitting around for a day bothered him.

His urban-brained reflections ended when Kat spoke up again. She was asking him to be there. What about was unclear-- the possible fight, executions, the investigation and all the horrors they might witness. Regardless, his answer was the same. "I told you already that I'm at your disposal." He replied back, his demeanor calm and even. "Whatever atrocities these people are putting each other through, I've been through worse." The Brentaalan declared, and for a brief moment the force would ripple around him, an air of discomfort and pain radiating through the air.

"...it's not... ideal that any more people die, but dwelling on their lives won't help us." Laeonas segway'd, changing the subject. "Putting a stop to this conflict saves countless lives. If a couple murderers or corpse defilers need to be strung up... so be it." He declared. The Jedi would've disagreed with him, told him that sacrificing the lives of others wasn't right-- but from the way he saw it, they were protecting the most lives. "Just... always remember why you're doing it. These people... everyone you claim to rule is your responsibility. All this is to protect them." He declared. If Kat was to learn anything from him, he hoped that, more than anything else, would stick.

"Now... what's there to do for the rest of the day? I'm a bit thirsty after all that."

@Shax

 

[Katherine Stargazer]

Kat did her best to give Laeo's words the consideration they deserved. It was, of course, true that she was responsible for a great many people on Rattatak. She, however, had an inkling that the man's definition of protection is very different from the average Rattataki's.

Truthfully, she was of the very reasonable opinion that because so many of the planet's people had entrusted her with power for some reason, they would merely have to be content with the consequences. She knew she was not qualified for the job, but it felt good to have and wield power now that she had it. A lifetime of slavery made her ache to exercise her authority.

She thought that introspection never leads to anything good, which left her quite miffed that they couldn't leave for the tribes now. Unfortunately, the sun is already halfway through the sky, and traveling Rattatak's murderous terrain anyway less than prepared is just asking for a short drop into a death pit of snakes.

She grunted, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her companion's words. Death is just another thing, no reason to get hung up on it. "If you're looking for booze, there's some sort of still in the mountain, but I've yet to find it. The Rattataki won't tell me either, and they always look so smug whenever I ask." Kat said, throwing a half-hearted glare at one of her snickering guards. Not that she would drink it either; being drunk when cave burrowers hung about is just asking for trouble.

"I've got a better idea; you will show me how they fight, wherever it is you came from." She spoke like it was a foregone conclusion because, for her, it was. A good fight would help her destress, and it was always fun to learn about other cultures. She waved vaguely for someone to go turn on the arena's floodlights since it wouldn't do to break your ankle on uneven footing just before a day of traveling.

@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

​

Kat's answer to his question was, perhaps, the worst she could've possibly provided. There were drinks, sure-- they just weren't for him. That might not have been what she'd meant, sure, but it may as well have been. "...d'ya mean ta tell me th'at tha only booze ya'v--" he began, an indignant tone bringing out his accent, but he cut himself off after a few seconds. "...sorry. I'll find it on my own. Thanks for letting me know." He'd reply in a dry, emotionless tone, glancing over at one of her snickering guards. He'd tell him-- the Brentaalan could tolerate many things, but involuntary sobriety wasn't one of them. The liquor cabinet on his ship would be empty within the next few weeks, and should that happen...

He turned to make his way back to his chambers, but it seemed Kat had one last requirement of him. "...you... want to spar with me?" he asked. The girl was a fighter, and she'd known he was as well, but he hadn't expected this. "...alright. I'll show you what I was taught." Laeonas said. "One of our oldest traditions back home was pit wrestling-- never learned it though, only the nobles still play." The Brentaalan explained. The fighting styles he'd learned didn't belong to his people-- and the ones that did had always been out of his reach.

"...there was still a lot I learned back home though," He'd add. "C'mon, I'll show you."

It didn't take long for them to descend into the arena. Laeonas took his time dropping his sword, still in its sheathe, before letting his jacket fall as well. "We'll start with fist and foot." He declared. "I learned all this either by reading it in books, or by getting hit, and hitting back." The man went on, as he slowly fell into a stance. His legs were spread, one in front of the other. His arms were raised up far from his chest, fists up in front of his face and wrists bent inwards. A few seconds of posing was enough of a demonstration in his mind-- and that was when he threw the first punch.

His entire body seemed to move with his fist. Wrist, forearm, biceps, shoulders, the entire right side of his body all threw itself into the punch. It not only added reach-- for the warlord was a full meter away, yet a step forward and a swing had brought his fist within centimeters of colliding with her face. Whether or not it landed would prove what level of skill the Brentaalan was dealing with-- and considering she was a warlord, he was fairly confident that she'd dodge.

That was why he'd thrown his left leg back with the punch and brought it around fora kick to her ribs.

@Shax

 

[Katherine Stargazer]

Kat smirked at Laeo's grumbling. It amused her that the Cauldron had no bar despite being perhaps the best method to bring people together. She had never had the opportunity to visit these places of leisure until her unceremonious crash on Tatooine. Though she had snuck alcohol before, she found she enjoyed the atmosphere and easy fights of a proper cantina.

She put her arms up in a tight guard suitable for street fights and placed her left foot forward. She was ambidextrous, though perhaps a little weaker with her left side, so this would be good practice. Her smirk grew into a full grin as Laeo took his stance, and the adrenaline thrill shot its way through her veins the moment the older man started to swing. There was nothing more relaxing than a fight, the feeling of blood pumping through her body and her heart pounding in her chest was the best thing in the whole world.

It reminded her that she was real and not some faceless robot. Laeo's first strike, while obviously carrying power, was easily predicted. Machine loaded and piston-powered, her left arm struck out with genetic and cybernetic might towards his face just as she dodged forward into the slightly smaller man's guard. Just as she deftly avoided Laeo's powerful strike by the slimmest of margins, her right fist, curled against her chest, struck out in a viciously quick uppercut to capitalize on her previous attack.

Still, despite entering his guard, she was struck in the side by Laeo's kick. Despite the somewhat awkward position Laeo's full-body punch put him in, it was impressive that he managed to pull off a follow-up from his opposite side. It ended up being more of a knee to the side after Kat moved, but the pain still lingered where it hit her between the hip and her ribs.

She sprang backward, reset her guard, and watched her opponent with interest. He fought differently, with perhaps a bit more technique. Still, "So slow? I didn't take you for a tired old man Laeo. Sure you can keep up?" She couldn't help but taunt, smiling broadly.

@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

​

Kat's first punch radiated power as it flew through the air, the speed at which it flew causing his eyes to light up in surprise. He knew the girl was touched by the force, sure, but it took skill to deliver that kind of a blow-- or at least, try to. The Brentaalan's neck was long, and his figure was flexible, even heavy set with muscle that he'd spent years cultivating. It was no trouble to dodge the incoming punch-- less so to avoid the uppercut, however. He'd leaned forward and to the right as he'd dodged, right in the path of the of her fist.

But the Brentaalan wouldn't have gotten so "old" if he didn't know a few tricks.

He was supported entirely by his right foot, and it had bent at the knee and at the hip. From there, the Brentaalan kicked from the ground, the force twisting him like a corkscrew through the air. It was a theatrical display, one that had obviously taken supernatural help, and he wore the widest, most shit eating grin on his un-punched face as he stood by her left, side face. His ankle hurt just a bit from the awkward way it had twisted as he kicked, but not as much as his face would've hurt had her fist found its mark.

Not that the pain would've meant much to a man who'd taken more hits than a punching bag, many from blasters and blades instead of fists.

He could've tried throwing another punch immediately, but he didn't, allowing her to turn and face him. "Didn't take you for a talker," Laeonas answered, aquamarines flashing in amusement. "C'mon, throw another punch-- maybe it'll land this time." He taunted back, cracking his neck and bouncing up on his toes. He'd thrown the first punch-- he'd let her throw the next. It'd continue like that until they really got into the swing of it.

@Shax

 

[Katherine Stargazer]

Kat felt a mixture of emotions as Laeo neatly avoided her strikes. Frustration, because no one had ever done something like that in any of her fights, and interest, because despite its ridiculousness, Laeo made it work in a fight. Kat wasn't a stranger to unorthodox techniques, but this was something else. She would have to keep these kinds of acrobatics in mind.

Still, she wouldn't tell him no if he wanted to tire himself out with moves like that. She never dropped her guard, letting his words wash over her as she focused intently on the movement of his hips and eyes. She approached calmly because a few missed strikes weren't enough to get her worked up. Her right fist struck out in a lightning-fast jab, probing her opponent's defenses before resuming her guard.

She was certainly not in a rush; a more protracted fight could only benefit her. Her left fist struck out just after her right, leading into a pattern of strikes with almost machine efficiency. Her attack was uniform but relentless, designed to tire him out if he kept up his acrobatics instead of receiving her hits to force a counterattack. After each attack, without fail, she would bring her arm back into her tight guard before lashing out with her opposite limb.

She was watching intently, yet almost lackadaisical in the manner of her attack. Her feet pressed forward, driving power into the strikes of her arms and designed to push Laeo backward relentlessly. Her smile was wide as sweat started to build on her brow, though hardly winded by her own assault.

@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

​

Calm, quick, and to the point. It was no wonder why Kat had come this far-- she had all the hallmarks of an effective fighter. She was easily better than he was at his age, and that probably wouldn't change as the years wore on, though the Brentaalan hoped he wouldn't need to be fighting by the time his hair started to turn grey-- though seeing as he'd found a new, barely visible line on his temple, that would be next week.

The left and right strike were quick, mimicking his machine like precision with a slightly quicker edge. He narrowly avoided the first blow and dodged the second with a slightly greater window for a reaction. It was only a moment, but her arm was extended, the other up in a block. For others it would've been an opportunity to throw a punch or defend themselves, but for the Brentaalan... it was an opportunity to end the match.

Kat had been sending him back and back, his feet dancing behind him as he tried to put distance between the two of them. He was on his toes, and it didn't take much to shift his weight forward. It wasn't much for him to lean down, around the girl's midsection. It wasn't much for him to summon the force and kick off his toes with a speed and power that no man should've naturally been able to achieve.

Throwing himself forward, he would attempt to knock the girl to the ground, and hopefully pin her before he could start delivering some blows.

@Shax

 

[Katherine Stargazer]

Kat watched impatiently for Laeo to pick up her pattern. He was quicker than most, but his constant dodging should be tiring him out by her reckoning. She needed to be ready for a potential killing blow, whether from her or him. Despite her experience and enhanced eyes, she was still caught off guard when the man suddenly sprang forward with an almost supernatural speed.

If it were anyone else, she might have been able to stand her ground, yet with Laeo, she could only bring her elbows down on her opponent's back before hitting the arena's dirt. Her breath, machine regulated for optimal labor, cut off with a hitch, and five agonizing seconds went past before her cybernetics reset their rhythm, and she could breathe again. At that time, all she could do was protect her head and chest.

Laeo, until now, had been a somewhat skilled opponent, but in this dangerous position, he was a threat to her authority. Angry and such a brazen attack that had no right to work, Kat ignored whatever mad swings Laeo might make, intent on grabbing bodily, lifting and throwing the man off of her, springing to her feet as best she could.

A battle of wrestling would most likely end with her on the losing side, despite the greater edge she might possess with her cybernetics. It was never her area, and she couldn't let herself be drawn into a battleground where the opponent held a bigger advantage.

@Tom